Apple has picked up the rights to “A Christmas Carol,” which is a live action musical that’s set to star Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, reports Variety.

Prior to acquiring the musical, based on the classic novel “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, Apple entered into a heated bidding war with rivals like Netflix, Warner Bros., and Paramount Pictures.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Apple is said to have offered a “lavish” deal that “blew away other offers.” Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds will both make millions, with Apple planning to shell out “north of $60 million” just for talent.

Reynolds and Ferrell stand to make a staggering amounts as producers and stars, along with significant paydays for writer-directors Sean Anders and John Morris (“Daddy’s Home,” “Instant Family”). Fees for talent alone will clock in at north of $60 million, according to numerous insiders. That includes Anders and Morris’ $10 million to $15 million paydays for creating the movie and overseeing its production.

Reynolds is said to have been asking for as much as $27 million for acting and producing services during early negotiations, and ultimately was requesting as much as $35 million. Ferrell, meanwhile, was asking for $25 million to star and produce.

It’s not known what Apple ultimately paid, but the deal supposedly includes “unusual provisions” that may ultimately become the standard for digital content.

The filmmakers wanted to keep the rights to the original music written for the film, though Apple might have negotiated to retain those rights. Filmmakers also asked for the movie’s copyright to revert back to them in 20 to 25 years, though it is also not known if Apple agreed to that.

“A Christmas Carol” will be added to Apple’s Apple TV+ streaming service, and it could also see a theatrical release as some of the films that Apple has purchased will be in the theater before debuting on Apple TV+.

Separately, Variety also did an interview with Jennifer Aniston, who is starring in the upcoming Apple TV+ show “The Morning Show.” Aniston goes into some detail about working for Apple and preparing for the role, and it’s worth a read for those interested in the series.

Apple TV+ will premiere on November 1 with titles like “The Morning Show,” but it’s not known specifically when “A Christmas Carol” will be available.

This article, “Apple Inks Deal for ‘A Christmas Carol’ Musical Starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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One of macOS Catalina’s biggest new features for developers is Mac Catalyst—initially known as Project Catalyst—which Apple says makes porting iPad apps to the Mac as easy as checking a box in Xcode.

However, more work is required for the iPad apps to truly resemble native Mac apps, and Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reports that some developers have encountered “several problems” with Catalyst so far.

For example, the report claims that James Thomson had to work harder than he expected to get his popular PCalc calculator app for iPad to run well on the Mac. Thomson said the Mac version initially “looked like an iPad app floating on a larger Mac screen,” so he had to redesign much of the user interface.

Thomson added that some older Macs struggle to handle Catalyst-based apps that use Apple’s high-level 3D graphics framework SceneKit.

Lukas Burgstaller, developer of the RSS reader Fiery Feeds for iPad, also “ran into all sorts of walls” trying to adapt the iPad app to the Mac interface using Catalyst, but the report does not mention any specific issues he faced.

On the consumer side of things, the report notes that Catalyst results in users paying twice for the same app across iOS and macOS.

“As a user, I don’t want to pay again just to have the same app,” well-known developer Steven Troughton-Smith told Bloomberg. “As a developer, I don’t want my users to have to make that decision.”

Troughton-Smith touched on some of the issues developers are facing with Catalyst, noting that Mac versions of some apps can’t hide the mouse cursor while video is playing, or may have issues with video recording, two-finger scrolling, or using the keyboard and full-screen mode in video games.

The report adds that two upcoming Catalyst apps that had been featured on Apple’s website since June were removed this week, including comic book app DC Universe and the racing game Asphalt 9. It is unclear if the Mac apps are no longer planned or delayed, or if any of the Catalyst issues reported were a factor.

DC Universe for Mac preview on Apple’s website prior to being removed

Netflix also confirmed that it has no plans to develop a Mac app using Catalyst at this time, according to the report.

Despite all of this, Troughton-Smith believes Catalyst is the “future of Mac app development,” and he is impressed with many of the first apps. There might just be a few growing pains along the way.

macOS Catalina was widely released on Monday.

Update: Gameloft says Asphalt 9 for Mac via Catalyst has been “slightly delayed” in order to “polish the experience” and that it will launch later this year, according to a follow-up tweet from Gurman.

This article, “Some Developers Facing ‘Several Problems’ Porting iPad Apps to the Mac With Catalyst [Updated]” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Tap, the company that makes a futuristic, wearable keyboard, today announced the launch of its second-generation keyboard, the Tap Strap 2.

The Tap Strap 2 is similar in design to the original Tap Strap, fitting over the fingers and allowing for typing via a series of different finger taps.

Compared to the original Tap, the Tap Strap 2 offers up a new thumb ring glider and better mouse functionality that’s more sensitive. Tapping on soft surfaces to type letters is better than it was with the original Tap version, and it now supports 10 hours of battery life.

It connects to devices via Bluetooth, and sports a new feature called AirMouse. With AirMouse, users can control iPads, smart TVs, set-top boxes like the Apple TV, and more using hand gestures.

AirMouse mode works out of the box without the need for calibration or software drivers. There are multiple modes of operation, which vary based on what the user needs to get accomplished.

In Mouse Mode, the Tap Strap 2 can be used to control a cursor, scroll, and click, just as one can do with a standard mouse. In Multimedia Mode, users can play, pause, adjust volume, or skip a track, and in Smart TV mode, users can navigate through menus, select items, and search for content to watch. There’s also a separate selfie tap option for snapping photos from afar.

All of the modes work through different hand gestures, and the Tap Strap 2 is designed to anticipate what the person wearing the device wants to do. When a hand is horizontal, the Tap Strap 2 works in keyboard mode for typing via different finger taps. When the thumb is resting on a surface, it switches over to mouse mode, and when the hand is rotated vertically, it swaps over into AirMouse Mode.

Tap says that the Tap Strap 2 is designed to offer enhanced support for the iPad, offering up interactions like horizontal swipes, getting to the Home screen, and launching the app switcher.

In the future, Tap plans to expand its gesture-based capabilities to work for gaming and with AR and VR devices. Starting in 2020, developers will be able to create applications that incorporate AirMouse capabilities using an AirMouse SDK.

Tap Strap 2 can be purchased from the Tap website for $199.

This article, “Tap Launches Second-Generation Wearable Keyboard With Gesture Controls” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Linksys today announced the launch of a new subscription service that lets you use some of the company’s existing Velop mesh Wi-Fi router systems as motion-sensing security devices.

Dubbed Linksys Aware, the technology is initially compatible only with the company’s Velop Tri-Band AC2200 routers, but will be rolling out to some of the brand’s other mesh Wi-Fi products in a phased rollout.

Linksys Aware is able to sense motion in your house without the need to add cameras or other accessory devices, with the various mesh nodes detecting how movement in the vicinity affects Wi-Fi signals as the nodes communicate with each other.

Users can customize the sensitivity level of the system to filter out pets of various sizes, for example, and once the motion threshold is exceeded you’ll receive a notification on your phone.

As the system doesn’t involve a camera, there’s no way to remotely check in on the detected motion to see what it is, but at least you’ll be alerted if unexpected motion is detected in your home. Motion events are stored for 60 days, so you can check back to see a recent history by hour, day or week.

Linksys Aware is free for the first 90 days, after which a subscription priced at $2.99 monthly or $24.99 annually will be required. A firmware update and App Store app update will be rolling out today to add support for the feature.

With the discontinuation of its AirPort lineup of wireless routers, Apple has embraced Linksys as one of its primary third-party partners, selling several configurations of the Velop system online and in its retail stores.

This article, “Linksys Introduces ‘Linksys Aware’ Service for Sensing Motion Using Mesh Wi-Fi” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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“The iTunes Store is unable to process purchases at this time. Please try again later.”

If you are receiving this error when opening third-party apps on an iPhone or iPad today, you are not alone. We’ve been alerted to the issue by several MacRumors readers, and there are many more complaints flowing in on Twitter.

The cause of the issue is not yet known. Apple’s system status page does not currently reflect any issues with the iTunes Store or App Store, but the page is often delayed. We’ll update this story as new information becomes available.

This article, “iPhone and iPad Users Seeing ‘iTunes Store is Unable to Process Purchases’ Error When Opening Apps” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In an interview with WIRED, Apple Music head Oliver Schusser has revealed that Apple has a team of employees listening to songs and transcribing the lyrics to ensure they are accurate for iOS 13’s new real-time lyrics feature:

In probably the most bizarre example of Apple spending to get the experience right, Schusser says that Apple has “a team of people listening to music and transcribing the lyrics” to ensure they’re accurate enough for Apple Music’s new time synced lyrics feature; “we don’t get them from the usual sites.”

With iOS 13’s real-time lyrics feature, each verse appears in time with the music so you can follow along as you listen. To jump to a certain verse, just scroll and tap any line. The feature is not available for all songs.

The interview contains a few other notable tidbits from Beats 1 radio host Zane Lowe, including the possibility of the Apple Music Festival returning in the future and “some big new names” who will accompany Ebro Darden, Julie Adenuga, Matt Wilkinson, and himself as Beats 1 hosts in the future.

Full Interview: More radio, more live: where Apple Music’s headed in 2020

This article, “Apple Employees Help Transcribe Music for iOS 13’s New Real-Time Lyrics Feature” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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UBTECH Robotics today introduced a new version of its programmable robot MeeBot, known for its dancing skills.

MeeBot 2.0 is 30 percent larger and adds new programmable technologies, including two programmable LED “eyes” and a programmable color sensor that responds to included color cards or other colorful objects to make the robot move.

The new robot also has a new gear system, providing an opportunity to learn about engineering movement and motion.

UBTECH Robotics says the MeeBot 2.0 kit will be available exclusively at select Apple Stores in the United States and Canada starting today, priced at $129.99 USD, although it has yet to appear on Apple.com.

The robot can be built, programmed, and controlled with the companion Jimu app for iPhone and iPad, free on the App Store.

This article, “MeeBot 2.0 Programmable Robot for Kids Available Exclusively at Select Apple Stores Starting Today” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon is discounting the 38mm GPS Apple Watch Series 3 to just $189.00 this week, which is $10 below its previous Amazon list price and $90 off the regular price tag of $279.00. Amazon has both the Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band and Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band on sale this week.

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

In regard to Amazon’s prices, this is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 38mm aluminum Apple Watch Series 3 on the retailer’s website. If you’re looking for the larger size, Amazon also has the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 3, priced at $229.00 in both previously mentioned case and band combinations.

The Apple Watch Series 3 launched in 2017 with an optical heart sensor, Digital Crown, dual-core S3 processor, accelerometer, and gyroscope. This was also the first generation to support cellular capabilities, denoted by models with a red Digital Crown, but Amazon’s sale this week does not extend to these LTE models.

Head to our full Deals Roundup for a deeper look into all of the best Apple-related sales happening right now.

This article, “Deals Spotlight: Amazon Discounts 38mm GPS Apple Watch Series 3 to $189 (42mm at $229)” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amid rumors that Apple is developing a Tile-like accessory that will help users keep track of their personal belongings, Tile today announced a new smart tracker called the Sticker, along with an updated Tile Slim.

About the size of a quarter, the Tile Sticker is the company’s smallest tracker to date, and features waterproofing and a 3M adhesive backing for attaching it to most metal and plastic objects, including remote controls, cameras, and outdoor gear. The Tile Sticker is available in black and in twin packs for $39.99, or a pack of four for $59.99.

Meanwhile, the Tile Slim assumes a new compact form factor that’s the shape and thinness of a credit card. It also now features a three-year battery life, a speaker that’s twice as loud as the previous model, and a 200-foot range. The Tile Slim also comes in black and costs $29.99 for a single device.

In addition, Tile’s most popular tags – the Mate and Pro – have had their ranges extended to 400 feet. The Tile Mate costs $24.99 and the Tile Pro can be had for $34.99. All Tile trackers are available today from Tile’s website, Amazon, and other retailers.

Based on assets discovered in iOS 13 by MacRumors, Apple’s equivalent electronic tracker accessory is expected to be a small, circular tag with an Apple logo in the center.

The tags will be closely integrated with the new Find My app in iOS 13 and macOS Catalina, which merged Apple’s previous Find My iPhone and Find My Friends services into one.

Apple Tags concept by MacRumors

While not available in public betas of iOS 13, the internal build contains a new “Items” tab in the Find My app for iPhone and iPad, which allows users to track the location of personal belongings.

Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said he expects Apple’s tags to feature ultra-wideband or “UWB” technology, which can be found in the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Ultra-wideband is a short-range, low-power radio technology that is able to provide more precise indoor positioning than Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi, suggesting that Apple’s tags will be more accurate at pinpointing the location of lost items than Tile’s current item trackers, which rely on Bluetooth LE.

Apple’s tagging products went unmentioned at its September 10 event, but it’s possible the company could make some sort of announcement soon, possibly during an October event.

Apple has several rumored products in its pipeline that could make an appearance as early as this month, including a 16-inch MacBook Pro with a scissor keyboard and an all-new design, refreshed iPad Pro models that will possibly sport triple-lens rear camera systems, and a refreshed Apple TV.

This article, “Amid ‘Apple Tag’ Rumors, Tile Announces New 3M Adhesive ‘Sticker’ and Updated ‘Slim’ Electronic Trackers” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is on course to recapture second place from Huawei in the global smartphone vendor ranking in the fourth quarter of 2019, reports DigiTimes.

The change in ranking is said to be a combined effect of strong sales of Apple’s iPhone 11 lineup and the impact of Huawei’s trade ban in the United States.

Despite being blacklisted by the U.S. government in the middle of the second quarter this year, Huawei has managed to ship 60 million handsets, which is around the same amount it shipped in the previous quarter, according to data from Gartner.

However, as the trade ban drags on, Huawei is expect to see sales slide over the second half of this year. Gartner estimates that shipments could fall to about 50 million units in the third quarter, before bouncing back to 60 million units going into the holiday period.

According to IDC, Apple shipped 36 million iPhones in Q1 2019. Sales are said to have dropped to 34 million in the second quarter, with an expected slide to 30 million units in Q3 as people waited for Apple’s next-generation flagship devices, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

But with reports of higher-than-expected sales of its iPhone 11 lineup both domestically and abroad, Apple could see its handset shipments reach 70 million units in the fourth quarter, which would exceed the 60 million units Huawei is expected to ship in Q4 2019.

This article, “Apple on Course to Retake Second Place in Global Smartphone Vendor Ranking” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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