Tuesday, 18 February 2020

Apple Music Makes It Easier to Find Alternate Versions of Albums

Apple Music has introduced a new UI for alternate albums in an effort to declutter artist pages and make it easier to find these albums. Now, when an alternate version of an album is available (a non-explicit version or a remaster, for example), it will be listed underneath the main album's track list (via MacStories).


This way, the "Albums" section on the artist's main ‌Apple Music‌ page is a bit more focused on their main studio albums and doesn't have clutter of deluxe editions, live albums, or explicit and non-explicit versions. This update does appear to be rolling out slowly, however, as some artist pages still have numerous versions listed under the "Albums" section.

To find if an album has the "Other Versions" list, simply open the album in ‌Apple Music‌, scroll down past the track list, and if there are alternate options you'll see them listed at the bottom of the page. If any of your friends have listened to the album, "Other Versions" will be stacked beneath "Friends Who Listened."

Apple has made quiet changes like this to its music streaming platform in the past, previously revamping artist pages with enlarged portraits and a shuffle all "play" button. More recently, the service gained a new "For You" tab layout that updates throughout the day with artists, songs, and moods that match various themes.

Yesterday, Apple also launched the "Replay 2020" playlist for its users, which will keep track of their most streamed songs throughout the year.


This article, "Apple Music Makes It Easier to Find Alternate Versions of Albums" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Kuo: Supply Chain to Ramp Up for Apple's Ultra Wideband Tags in Second to Third Quarter of 2020

Shanghai-based manufacturing company Universal Scientific Industrial will begin supplying the system-in-package for Apple's upcoming Ultra Wideband item tracking tags in the second to third quarter of 2020, with shipments to reach tens of millions of units by the end of the year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a research note with TF International Securities, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said Universal Scientific Industrial will be the primary supplier of the system-in-package for the tags, fulfilling around 60 percent of orders. Similar to the one inside AirPods, the system-in-package would be a densely packed circuit board, and it would likely include the Apple-designed U1 chip for Ultra Wideband support.

Apple's tag image asset in iOS 13 code

Last month, Kuo said the Ultra Wideband tag would be one of Apple's major new hardware products in the first half of 2020, but he has yet to provide a more specific release date for the accessory.

Multiple reports this week have indicated that a new lower-cost iPhone model and refreshed iPad Pro models with 3D sensing could debut as early as next month, possibly at an as-yet unannounced Apple event on Tuesday, March 31. It is certainly possible that the Ultra Wideband tags could also be unveiled at the March event, if one transpires, but the second to third quarter timeframe for system-in-package shipments leaves room for an announcement at WWDC 2020 in June as well.

It is worth noting that Apple has introduced many of its first-generation hardware products several months in advance of their release, including the original iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod, so whether the Ultra Wideband tags are announced in March or June, they might not ship until later in the year.


MacRumors uncovered evidence of Apple working on Tile-like item trackers in iOS 13 code last year, including an unreleased "Items" tab in the Find My app and a potential "AirTag" name for the small, circular tags.

Users would receive a notification when they are separated from a tagged item and, if necessary, they would be able to tap a button in the Find My app that would result in Apple's tag chiming. It would also be possible to disable notifications for "safe locations" such as a home or workplace.

Apple's internal "Items" tab in the Find My app for its Ultra Wideband tags

Apple's tags will likely incorporate augmented reality. Last year, for example, MacRumors discovered that a 3D red balloon could help a user pinpoint a lost item after scanning a room with their iPhone. In his research note today, Kuo echoes that the Ultra Wideband tags will benefit augmented reality applications.

iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models are also equipped with an Apple-designed U1 chip with Ultra Wideband, which Apple's website says will lead to "amazing new capabilities," and AirTags will likely be one of them.


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Deals: Apple's Leather, Silicone, and Smart Battery Cases for iPhone Receive Major Discounts (Up to $65 Off)

Best Buy is offering a collection of Apple's official iPhone cases at notable low prices in today's flash sale, and Amazon is matching a few of the discounts. During the event, you can get the iPhone XS Smart Battery Case for $64.99 ($65 off) and the Leather Folio for $49.99 ($50 off).

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You'll find every iPhone case on sale today in the lists below, along with relevant links to Amazon if they apply. Case styles include Smart Battery Cases, Leather Cases, and Silicone Cases, and all of them are Apple's first party accessories.

iPhone XS


iPhone XS Max


iPhone 11 Pro


iPhone 11 Pro Max


iPhone 7 Plus/8 Plus


Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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Chinese Media Declares Hospital Director Dead From COVID-19, Then Alive, Then Dead Again

Liu Zhiming, the 51-year-old director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, China, died at 10:54 AM local time Tuesday morning after being infected with coronavirus, according to the Wuhan Health Commission. Multiple Chinese state media outlets like the People’s Daily and Global Times reported Liu’s death yesterday but…

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Warren Buffett Sold Off $800 Million of AAPL Stock Last Quarter

Berkshire Hathaway sold $800 million in Apple stock over the last quarter, according to SEC filings published on Friday. Depending on when Warren Buffett's real estate company sold the 3.7 million Apple stock, it will have earned between $806 million and nearly $1.1 billion.


According to Business Insider, what might look like a massive sale is actually only a small portion of Buffett's investment in the tech company. Berkshire is Apple's biggest shareholder with a 5.4 percent stake worth $72 billion, according to Bloomberg data.

It's unclear what prompted the sale, but the company may have wanted to diversify its holdings, given some of its other investments in the last quarter, such as Kroger and Biogen. Apple accounts for 30 percent of Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio. Another possible reason for the sell-off is to cash out after Apple's stock surged by a third last quarter, from around $219 to $294.

Historically, Buffett has shied away from investing in technology companies, but the business magnate has suggested he sees Apple more as a consumer company and has been a long-term investor in the iPhone maker.

Last month, Apple reported quarterly revenue of $91.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $22.2 billion, or $4.99 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $84.3 billion and net quarterly profit of $20.0 billion, or $4.18 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. The quarter was the best in Apple's history, topping the first fiscal quarter of 2018.


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