Brace Yourselves, the iPad is Getting a Notch

The launch of iOS 12 beta this week indicates that we’ll see more than a simple performance upgrade to the iPad this year, with several changes pointing to a new design that looks a lot more like the iPhone X, including Face ID, no home button, and a notch.

Apple Ad Highlights Animoji Ahead of WWDC Keynote

An Animoji ad originally posted to Apple’s Korean YouTube channel last month was just posted on its main channel today in the hours before the company’s WWDC keynote. The ad features three Animoji characters singing along to Citizen Kane by the Korean group HYUKOH. The timing of the video’s re-posting suggests that the Animoji feature may see updates during today’s keynote, both in terms of capabilities and device compatibility. The song is kind of catchy, too.

These iOS Ringtones Use the Maximum Potential of Your Speakers

Reddit user u/ILIJAC recently made a post about how he created special iOS ringtones. Mr. Cvetkovski is a sound designer and wanted ringtones that used the full potential of the iPhone X. He did this by testing the frequency range of the iPhone X speakers, and designed the ringtones with a specific EQ and limiter. By using pink noise, he figured out the frequencies in which the speakers sound distorted, and leveled them. Then he boosted the other frequencies where the loudness level is greater. This results in ringtones that are clean and at the maximum safe level the iPhone X allows. All of Mr. Cvetkovski’s ringtones are free to download here.

[iOS 11: How to Install the iPhone X Ringtone on Your iPhone]

Samsung Thinks Galaxy S9 Is at Least Better than iPhone 6

Check it out. Samsung is positioning its two-month old flagship Galaxy S9 against an iPhone. And when I say “iPhone,” I mean iPhone 6 [via MacRumors]. The ad appears to be a pitch to owners of old iPhones, but it feels more like a Freudian slip to me. “This,” Samsung appears to believe, “is all we can do.” Even if the psychology behind the ad isn’t as twisted and warped as my Samsung-loathing mind wants it to be, comparing a brand new flagship device to a three-and-a-half year old competitor is terrible, awful, absurd positioning. Perhaps that’s part of why iPhone 7 is still selling as well as the Galaxy S9, let alone the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, all of which handily outsell the Samsung device. Anyhoo, you can watch it and judge for yourself.

The Myth of the Failing iPhone X and Other Earnings Report Notes - ACM 460

Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet discuss the myth of the failing iPhone X, where that myth comes from, how it’s sustained, and how Apple’s own data says otherwise. They also talk about how Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri tried to dispel those reports during Apple’s quarterly conference call with analysts. They also look at the indicators that HomePod, on the other hand, isn’t doing well, and Tim Cook’s continued insistence on focusing on sound quality when we really want a capable home assistant. They cap the show with some perspective on just how much money Apple is paying out to shareholders.

iPhone X 'Fly Market' Commercial: Song, Dance, Face ID, and Apple Pay

Apple has a new spot out, and I love it. It’s called Fly Market, and it features a young man dancing through a street market using Apple Pay and Face ID on his iPhone X to buy clothes and a present for his mom. The song is “Back Pocket” by Vulfpeck, a great tune. This commercial has charisma, and I love the imagery—I think it’s great. I’d love to hear what you think.

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