AppleMagazine #586

Apple has unveiled the highly-anticipated second generation of the HomePod, a smart speaker that boasts next-level acoustics and an iconic design. Packed with Apple innovations and Siri intelligence, the HomePod 2 offers a powerful tool for entertainment and everyday tasks. The new device features advanced computational audio for a revolutionary listening experience, including support for immersive Spatial Audio tracks. Users can access a vast catalog of over 100 million songs with Apple Music and create a captivating home theater experience with Apple TV 4K. With Siri, users can search for music by artist, song, lyrics, decade, genre, mood, or activity. The HomePod 2 also offers convenient new ways to manage everyday tasks and control the smart home. Users can now create smart home automations using Siri, get notified when a smoke or…

While still grappling with the fallout from a company he did take private, beleaguered billionaire Elon Musk is now facing a trial over a company he didn’t. Long before Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion in October, he had set his sights on Tesla, the electric automaker where he continues to serve as CEO and from which he derives most of his wealth and fame. Musk claimed in a August 7, 2018 tweet that he had lined up the financing to pay for a $72 billion buyout of Tesla, which he then amplified with a follow-up statement that made a deal seem imminent. But the buyout never materialized and now Musk will have to explain his actions under oath in a federal court in San Francisco. The trial was triggered by a class-action…

Does The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have too much power and influence? It’s a question the foundation’s CEO Mark Suzman raised in its annual letter released this week that outlines the organization’s priorities and announces its budget for the coming year. With $8.3 billion to give away in 2023, the Gates Foundation is the largest private philanthropic donor. And with an endowment of more than $70 billion, its spending power is likely to continue for many decades. When asked in an interview what he thought the answer to that question was, Suzman said, “No.” He said the Seattle-based foundation takes its direction from the Sustainable Development Goals, set by the United Nations and its member countries in 2015, and knows that with its great resources come great responsibility. “We try to use our…

After months of rumors, Apple finally lifted the lid on specced-up MacBook Pros with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips and an M2 Pro Mac mini, perhaps the most affordable and compelling Mac ever released. Combined, the products take Apple computing to even greater heights. CREATING A TRULY COMPELLING DESKTOP OFFER WITH THE MAC MINI It’s no secret that Apple has been working on next-generation Mac mini models. Indeed, we were expected to get our hands on them as early as October 2022. Still, the keynote was canceled due to manufacturing delays brought about by ongoing restrictions caused by COVID-19 in China. Three months later than initially planned (as confirmed by a keynote statement titled ‘2022’ alongside the release of the new machine), Apple has announced the new Mac mini, now equipped…

Apple Music and Apple TV apps for Windows have made an appearance, with preview versions of the apps being spotted on the Microsoft Store. Last October, Microsoft announced they were coming to the platform, letting users finally ditch the old iTunes app and Apple TV web player for native software that is closer to the experience embedded in macOS. But it’s not just the Music and TV apps that are now available for Windows users. There’s also a third preview of an app called Apple Devices, which is meant to let you manage and sync things like iPods and iPads — functionality that’s currently handled by iTunes on Windows and Finder on the Mac. It also, apparently, contains some references to Reality OS and xrOS, two codenames that have reportedly been…

Apple Music is one of the most popular streaming services in the United States that allows users to access millions of songs, albums, and playlists. Whether you’re a casual listener or a hardcore music lover, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your Apple Music subscription. Here are some tips and tricks to help you enjoy your music to the fullest. USE SIRI TO CONTROL YOUR MUSIC Siri is a handy tool that can be used to control your music without having to open the Apple Music app. Simply say “Hey Siri” and give a command like “Play my Daily Mix” or “Skip this song” to control your music hands-free. You can even ask Siri to play a specific song, artist, or album by saying something like “Play ‘Shape of…