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| Apple reveals new Music app to rival Spotify | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Apple has announced a new app that combines a streaming song and music video library, an internet radio station and a way for artists to share unreleased tracks and other material. | |
| It includes a recommendation system that uses both human curators and computer algorithms to suggest songs. | |
| The service is set to challenge Spotify, Tidal and other music apps. | |
| Apple also revealed that the UK will be the first country to get its Apple Pay service outside of the US. | |
| "A lot of people in the industry see the launch of the music service as a big deal, and their hope is that this will help take subscription-based streaming mainstream," commented Chris Cooke, from the news site Complete Music Update | |
| "Apple already has a large user base, which has handed over its credit card information and is already buying music. Everyone is hoping that Apple can now take streaming beyond the early adopters." | |
| The service will include access to the Beats One radio station, featuring the ex-BBC Radio One DJ Zane Lowe among other big name sign-ups. | |
| "Apple is arriving late to the music streaming business, due in part to Steve Jobs' refusal to believe that music subscription services would ever work," said James McQuivey from the Forrester consultancy. | |
| But Mr McQuivey added that he believed the firm would be able to catch up with Spotify's paid subscriber base in less than a year. | |
| "Not because its service will be any better - but because it can build its new music service into the hundreds of millions of devices that its loyal Apple users already love," he said. | |
| Apple said the service would launch in more than 100 countries on 30 June, and would cost $9.99 (£6.50) per month in the US for one person - the same as Spotify - or $14.99 for families containing up to six people. | |
| It will initially be restricted to iOS and Mac devices, but will extend to Android later in the year. | |
| Apple Pay | |
| Apple Pay will allow Brits to make payments by waving their iPhone or Apple Watch at contactless payment terminals from next month. | |
| The firm said its service would be offered at about 250,000 locations across the UK and would cover 70% of issued credit and debit cards. | The firm said its service would be offered at about 250,000 locations across the UK and would cover 70% of issued credit and debit cards. |
| Take-up of Apple Pay has been limited since it launched in the US in October. | Take-up of Apple Pay has been limited since it launched in the US in October. |
| A survey by the Reuters news agency recently indicated that less than a quarter of the US's leading retailers accept the facility. | A survey by the Reuters news agency recently indicated that less than a quarter of the US's leading retailers accept the facility. |
| Part of the problem for Apple is that Wal-Mart and 18 other stores have teamed up to launch a rival digital wallet scheme, and they have agreed not to support Apple's facility until 2016 at the earliest. | Part of the problem for Apple is that Wal-Mart and 18 other stores have teamed up to launch a rival digital wallet scheme, and they have agreed not to support Apple's facility until 2016 at the earliest. |
| However, one expert said that the tech firm should find it easier to attract support in the UK, where machines that accept tap-and-go payment card transactions will be able to work with Apple Pay. | However, one expert said that the tech firm should find it easier to attract support in the UK, where machines that accept tap-and-go payment card transactions will be able to work with Apple Pay. |
| "The equipment is already out there and Visa Europe has made the necessary infrastructure changes that pave the way for an Apple Pay rollout - it just hasn't flipped the switch yet," explained Chris Green from the Davies Murphy Group consultancy. | "The equipment is already out there and Visa Europe has made the necessary infrastructure changes that pave the way for an Apple Pay rollout - it just hasn't flipped the switch yet," explained Chris Green from the Davies Murphy Group consultancy. |
| "In the US there have been instances where retailers have been committed to specific payment handling service contracts that have prohibited them from being involved in Apple Pay as it would represent a breach of contract for them. | "In the US there have been instances where retailers have been committed to specific payment handling service contracts that have prohibited them from being involved in Apple Pay as it would represent a breach of contract for them. |
| "In contrast in the UK there aren't those types of roadblocks." | "In contrast in the UK there aren't those types of roadblocks." |
| Apple said that the pharmacy Boots, the coffee chain Costa, the supermarket Waitrose and the London transport network were among British organisations that would support Apple Pay. | Apple said that the pharmacy Boots, the coffee chain Costa, the supermarket Waitrose and the London transport network were among British organisations that would support Apple Pay. |
| However, Barclays Bank was a notable omission from the list of lenders it said were committed to the plan. | However, Barclays Bank was a notable omission from the list of lenders it said were committed to the plan. |
| Siri intelligence | Siri intelligence |
| Earlier during its developers conference, Apple's software chief Craig Federighi revealed that the next version of its iOS mobile operating system would give its virtual assistant Siri a new look and make it more "proactive". | Earlier during its developers conference, Apple's software chief Craig Federighi revealed that the next version of its iOS mobile operating system would give its virtual assistant Siri a new look and make it more "proactive". |
| This will include: | This will include: |
| "We do it in a way that does not compromise your privacy - we don't mine your email, your photos or your contacts in the cloud to learn things about you," said Mr Federighi, contrasting Apple's approach with Google's Android. | "We do it in a way that does not compromise your privacy - we don't mine your email, your photos or your contacts in the cloud to learn things about you," said Mr Federighi, contrasting Apple's approach with Google's Android. |
| "We honestly just don't want to know." | "We honestly just don't want to know." |
| He also announced iPads would gain "multitasking" in iOS9, allowing two apps to be run side-by-side. | He also announced iPads would gain "multitasking" in iOS9, allowing two apps to be run side-by-side. |
| This includes the ability to watch streamed video in a resizable box that can be repositioned above another program. | This includes the ability to watch streamed video in a resizable box that can be repositioned above another program. |
| The firm also confirmed that the next version of its Maps app would provide information about public transport in London and nine other cities - something Google Maps has offered for years. | The firm also confirmed that the next version of its Maps app would provide information about public transport in London and nine other cities - something Google Maps has offered for years. |
| It showed off a News app that brings together a personalised selection of content from different sources to provide an experience similar to Flipboard. | It showed off a News app that brings together a personalised selection of content from different sources to provide an experience similar to Flipboard. |
| And Mr Federighi raised one of the biggest applauses of the event when he revealed that Apple's Swift programming language was going open source - making its underlying code accessible to everyone - as well as making it available to Linux-powered PCs. | And Mr Federighi raised one of the biggest applauses of the event when he revealed that Apple's Swift programming language was going open source - making its underlying code accessible to everyone - as well as making it available to Linux-powered PCs. |
| WatchOS revision | WatchOS revision |
| Apple also announced a new version of its Watch operating system that will allow third-party apps to run on its smartwatch natively. | Apple also announced a new version of its Watch operating system that will allow third-party apps to run on its smartwatch natively. |
| That should make the software launch and run faster, addressing a common complaint from early adopters of the wearable tech and developers alike. | That should make the software launch and run faster, addressing a common complaint from early adopters of the wearable tech and developers alike. |
| "Latency is a critical success factor for any new technology, including the Apple Watch, and vital to adoption rates," commented Stephanie Uhlig from Opodo, a travel booking service that recently launched a Watch app. | "Latency is a critical success factor for any new technology, including the Apple Watch, and vital to adoption rates," commented Stephanie Uhlig from Opodo, a travel booking service that recently launched a Watch app. |
| "If service is slow, consumers will likely be inclined to rely on their existing devices. The delivery of enhancements required from Apple to improve speed and user experience will be crucial." | "If service is slow, consumers will likely be inclined to rely on their existing devices. The delivery of enhancements required from Apple to improve speed and user experience will be crucial." |
| Third-party apps will also get access to the Watch's motion sensors, wrist tap facility and microphone. | Third-party apps will also get access to the Watch's motion sensors, wrist tap facility and microphone. |
| And Apple's own email app will allow users to dictate and send replies for the first time. | And Apple's own email app will allow users to dictate and send replies for the first time. |
| OS X update | OS X update |
| Mr Federighi also announced several new features that will appear in the next version of its Mac operating system, called OS X El Capitan, which is due to be released in the autumn. | Mr Federighi also announced several new features that will appear in the next version of its Mac operating system, called OS X El Capitan, which is due to be released in the autumn. |
| They include: | They include: |
| More to follow |