The Tech Media Minute: The Dual Camera on the 'IPhone 7 Plus' Makes an Appearance as Amazon Preps New Music Service
It’s a big day in the technology world as we heard more about the dual-camera on the “iPhone 7 Plus.” Elsewhere, Amazon looks like it will soon offer a music streaming subscription service to take on Apple Music and Spotify. The rumored service comes with a big twist. Here’s our daily look at what’s in the news.
Top news stories
Report: Amazon preps two music stream services
The largest online retailer in the world is about to launch a music streaming subscription service, according to Recode.
The Kindle maker plans to launch two music streaming services. The first, for $10 per month, will offer unlimited, ad-free music you can play on any device you want and also download for offline playback. Apple Music, Spotify, and others offer similar plans.
The second service will cost between $4 and $5 per month and only work on Amazon’s Echo hardware, not phones.
As Recode explains:
The lower-priced service would represent a novel approach. Other services have tried, without success, to offer subscriptions in the $5 range. But those have usually been variants of web radio services, which don’t let users play any song they want, whenever they want.
Amazon is expected to launch both plans in September.
Facebook loves video
Your Facebook News Feed could soon include autoplay videos with sound. Different variations of the feature are currently being tested in Australia, according to Mashable.
They note:
In one version of the test, sound plays immediately as the video begins, if you have sound enabled on your device. Another group is able to turn sound on during the test session using an icon that will sit to the bottom right of videos.
Dumb idea? Facebook notes that during the test, users can turn off autoplay from the Settings screen or on the video.
iPhone 7 renderings
Credit: Martin HajekPrimax behind “iPhone 7 Plus” camera
Chinese-language Economic Daily News (via DigiTimes) says that Taiwanese supplier Primax Electronics is manufacturing some of the dual-lens camera modules for the so-called “iPhone 7 Plus.” The report notes that these are 13-megapixel units. The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus feature a 12-megapixel camera.
The larger iPhone 7 version has long been rumored to include a dual-lens system, which would offer some type of optical zoom. As we’ve already noted, one lens could support a wide field of view while the other might feature telephoto technology.
Apple is likely to announce the next-generation iPhone on Wednesday, Sept. 7.
Trending today
Indeed, it’s trending: #ICantBeUrFriendBecause.
Also being discussed on this Tuesday:
On this day
Today, Aug. 23 is Ride the Wind Day.
Rewind: On this day in 1966, the first picture of Earth from the moon was taken by Lunar Orbiter 1.
Extra reading
We’ve looked around the web and found these other stories worth considering:
- Microsoft acquired Genee, an AI startup that can help manage your life, Business Insider
- Review: Siri-controlled August Smart Lock is a key upgrade to a HomeKit house, 9to5Mac
- iPhone blitzes Samsung’s new Note 7 in speed test, The Telegraph
Want even more? Check out Tech Media Extra.
The Tech Media Minute is published Monday through Friday on AppAdvice to highlight the biggest stories in technology.