Year: 2018

NASA makes it easier to spot the International Space Station via its own Website

Dan Uff December 2, 2018 0

For those of us who keep track of what's up with the International Space Station (ISS), NASA has put up a dedicated web site for just that.

The web site (called Spot The Station) includes information about not only where the ISS currently is, but why it is up there, when the station's passing overhead, an FAQ area, and more.

The web site is geared more towards educating people about the ISS, but can also be used by people who are interested in information and even photos of the space station.

For more information, just go to: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

Use Apple Pay, help (Product) RED

Dan Uff December 1, 2018 0

From December 1st thru December 7th, when customers make a purchase via Apple.com or through the Apple Store app. and use Apple Pay, the company will donate $1.00 towards (Product)RED. (Product) RED is an organization that helps persons with AIDS.

Press Release: Apple Music coming to the Amazon Echo

CompuScoop Staff November 30, 2018 1

Music has always been one of Alexa’s most popular features and today we’re excited to announce that Apple Music will be available on Echo devices beginning the week of December 17.

Apple Music subscribers will be able to enjoy Apple Music’s 50 million songs on Echo devices. Customers will be able to ask Alexa to play their favorite songs, artists, and albums—or any of the playlists made by Apple Music’s editors from around the world, covering many activities and moods. Customers will also be able to ask Alexa to stream expert-made radio stations centered on popular genres like Hip-Hop, decades like the 80s, and even music from around the world, like K-Pop. Just ask Alexa to play Beats 1 to hear Apple Music’s global livestream including in-depth artist interviews— all completely ad-free. Simply enable the Apple Music skill in the Alexa app and link your account to start listening.

“Music is one of the most popular features on Alexa—since we launched Alexa four years ago, customers are listening to more music in their homes than ever before,” said Dave Limp, senior vice president, Amazon Devices. “We are committed to offering great music providers to our customers and since launching the Music Skill API to developers just last month, we’ve expanded the music selection on Alexa to include even more top tier services. We’re thrilled to bring Apple Music – one of the most popular music services in the US – to Echo customers this holiday.”

Customers tell us that the simplicity and ease of asking Alexa for the content they want to hear has brought more music into their homes. Customers ask Alexa to play all kinds of music in many different languages. They stream tens of millions of hours of radio per month and have set tens of millions of music alarms since the feature launched less than a year ago.

Fun fact: Top country is the most requested music to wake up to.

We’re excited to bring Apple Music to our Alexa customers this holiday season.

Apple Removes over 700 apps from the China App Store

CompuScoop Staff November 30, 2018 1

“Apple has removed hundreds of iPhone apps from its App Store in China, in the company’s latest crackdown in one of its biggest markets,” James Titcomb reports for The Telegraph. “More than 700 apps have been removed from the Chinese App Store in recent days, according to local reports. They include apps developed by Sogou, a Chinese alternative to Google, and Pinduodo, an online retail app.”

“The apps have been banned for flouting App Store rules that prohibit companies from installing software updates on their apps without Apple’s permission, it is understood,” Titcomb reports. “Apple requires that app updates, such as new features or security improvements, are downloaded via the App Store itself, so that the company can approve them. The company warned developers of the new rule two years ago, but appears to have removed the Chinese apps this week.”

“Chinese state media has previously demanded that Apple control the App Store in China more effectively,” Titcomb reports. “Other apps, such as those for Western news organisations and virtual private networks, which allow citizens to skirt China’s internet controls, have also been removed from the Chinese App Store in recent years.”

Read more in the full article here.