Year: 2018

Apple Music now tops Spotify in the United States

CompuScoop Staff December 31, 2018 1

“Stockholm-based Spotify, which listed on the New York Stock Exchange earlier this year and has 87 million paying subscribers, has already effectively squeezed out competitors such as Rdio Inc., thanks to market timing, brand recognition and an ad-supported free version,” Josh O’Kane reports for The Globe and Mail. “But Apple Music is catching up at an impressive clip: Since its launch, it’s signed up 56 million users.”

“Long-time music industry analyst Mark Mulligan has watched Apple elbow its way into streaming, and has noted an emphasis on service businesses that could see Apple Music’s visibility grow further,” O’Kane reports. “Apple doesn’t share country breakdowns, but according to an analysis by Mr. Mulligan’s firm Midia Research, Apple Music pulled ahead of Spotify in the United States, the No. 1 recorded music market, in 2018 – with Apple at 26.3 million users and Spotify at 25.5 million.”

Read more in the full article here.

Netflix exiting iOS App Store

CompuScoop Staff December 31, 2018 1

“We believe the investing view on Apple is shifting to Apple as a Service,” Gene Munster writes for Loup Ventures.

“The news that Netflix is leaving the App Store is somewhat expected, given the company began testing alternatives to the App Store last summer. The move is a fractional negative to earnings, along with a psychological headwind to investors embracing the theme of Apple as a Service,” Munster writes. “That said, we believe Spotify is the only other brand at risk of leaving, and the Apple as a Service theme is intact.”

“Netflix leaving the App Store only affects new subscriptions, therefore, the financial impact on Apple will be de minimis (0.07% of Apple’s overall revenue and 0.14% of earnings),” Munster writes. “If Apple loses their cut of all Netflix and Spotify subscription revenue long-term (not just new subscriptions), it would reduce the overall Services revenue by about 0.4%, and Apple’s overall revenue by 0.07%. This headwind would lower the Services growth rate in 2020 from 15% to 14%.”

Much more in the full article here.

See how others bring in the New Year by going around the world at your computer!

Dan Uff December 31, 2018 1

Well, 2018 is almost over, and instead of doing a boring year-in-review, we decided to look ahead by letting you know how to bring in the New Year by viewing the celebrations around the world.

A web site called Earthcam.com has dedicated a page to just that, including seeng the famous ball drop in Time Square in New York City at midnight local time.

To see the page (and bookmark it for later), click here.

FYI: Quickly Get Support for that New device directly from Apple – Here’s how!

Dan Uff December 29, 2018 1

So, you got that shiny new iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device but don't know how to do something. You don't feel like going to your local Apple Store's Genius Bar for help. So, what can you do?

Many people do not know, by going to http://support.apple.com you'll have access to various support options right at their fingertips. From a comprehensive online knowledge base, to the ability to chat online or have a customer support rep. call them back with over-the-phone assistance.

Give it a try sometime!