The AppAdvice Week In Review: Apple Is Getting Ready To Trick Or Treat Fans
October 6, 2013
Welcome to October, folks. Like September, October will be huge for Apple as the company is likely to announce a second round of new products before the end of the month. As we wait, enjoy some of the stories we covered during the week that was.
It's still very hard to find iPhone 5s units in stock two weeks after Apple's new flagship device was first released. At the same time, we're already seeing discounts on the colorful iPhone 5c.
Walmart and Best Buy are just two of the retailers now offering the iPhone 5c at 50 percent off.
Are you still on the lookout for an iPhone 5s handset? If so, one useful online tool – called iPhone Checker – could help.
As first noted by Joe White, the Web-based service allows iDevice fans to check nearby retailers for iPhone 5s stock, and even allows users to specify the color of their desired iPhone, and the carrier. Options include space gray, silver, and gold, while carrier choices include AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and unlocked (there’s no option for T-Mobile iPhone 5s handsets).
Still hope to snag a gold iPhone 5s? Then you may want to take a look here.
Eddy Cue recently said that Apple wants iTunes Radio to be “in more than 100 countries.” Cue had specifically mentioned the United Kingdom, which hosts the annual iTunes Festival, as one of those countries.
Before that happens, Canada will become just the second country to have the service after the United States. In a new job posting, Apple is looking for an "iTunes Canada Music Programmer."
Meanwhile, Rdio has launched its own free streaming music service. Under the new free tier, you can listen to all stations on Rdio, including the personalized You FM, at no cost — no subscription required. It’s available now on the official apps of Rdio for iOS and Android.
At the end of the week, Apple released the gold master version of OS X Mavericks to developers. This means that the new operating system should be made available to the public very soon.
You might not know Susan Bennett, but we’re pretty sure you know what she sounds like. The Atlanta-based voice actress recently came forward to announce that she provided the original U.S. voice for Siri, Apple’s digital assistant.
Bennett says that she recorded the tracks four hours a day over the course of a month for ScanSoft in 2005. As with many of her voice jobs over the years, she never knew where the recordings would eventually go.
As recalled via CNN:
The latest on iPhone supplies
It's still very hard to find iPhone 5s units in stock two weeks after Apple's new flagship device was first released. At the same time, we're already seeing discounts on the colorful iPhone 5c.
Walmart and Best Buy are just two of the retailers now offering the iPhone 5c at 50 percent off.
Are you still on the lookout for an iPhone 5s handset? If so, one useful online tool – called iPhone Checker – could help.
As first noted by Joe White, the Web-based service allows iDevice fans to check nearby retailers for iPhone 5s stock, and even allows users to specify the color of their desired iPhone, and the carrier. Options include space gray, silver, and gold, while carrier choices include AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and unlocked (there’s no option for T-Mobile iPhone 5s handsets).
Still hope to snag a gold iPhone 5s? Then you may want to take a look here.
Nice music, eh?
Eddy Cue recently said that Apple wants iTunes Radio to be “in more than 100 countries.” Cue had specifically mentioned the United Kingdom, which hosts the annual iTunes Festival, as one of those countries.
Before that happens, Canada will become just the second country to have the service after the United States. In a new job posting, Apple is looking for an "iTunes Canada Music Programmer."
Meanwhile, Rdio has launched its own free streaming music service. Under the new free tier, you can listen to all stations on Rdio, including the personalized You FM, at no cost — no subscription required. It’s available now on the official apps of Rdio for iOS and Android.
OS X Mavericks GM arrives
At the end of the week, Apple released the gold master version of OS X Mavericks to developers. This means that the new operating system should be made available to the public very soon.
The voice behind Apple's Siri steps forward
You might not know Susan Bennett, but we’re pretty sure you know what she sounds like. The Atlanta-based voice actress recently came forward to announce that she provided the original U.S. voice for Siri, Apple’s digital assistant.
Bennett says that she recorded the tracks four hours a day over the course of a month for ScanSoft in 2005. As with many of her voice jobs over the years, she never knew where the recordings would eventually go.
As recalled via CNN:
“A colleague e-mailed me [about Siri] and said, ‘Hey, we’ve been playing around with this new Apple phone. Isn’t this you?’” Bennett went to her computer, pulled up Apple’s site and listened to video clips announcing Siri. The voice was unmistakably hers. “Oh, I knew,” she said. “It’s obviously me. It’s my voice.”In addition to Siri, Bennett’s voice can be heard on GPS systems, and airport intercom systems. She also provided the voice behind the first ATM machine.
Recommended Reading
- Apple Hires CableLabs Exec Jean-François Mulé As Engineering Director by Aldrin Calimlim suggests work on the "iTV" continues.
- FiftyThree Partners With Moleskine To Turn Your Paper iPad App Journals Into Books by Aldrin Calimlim takes a look at this new collaboration.
- Jimmy Kimmel Has A Solution For Those Reportedly Getting Sick From Apple's iOS 7 by yours truly offers this hilarious video.
- Apple To Fix Widespread iMessage Issues On iOS 7 With Upcoming Software Update by Aldrin Calimlim explains that help is coming.
