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NBCUniversal to sell ads in Apple News following iAd’s demise

As you know, Apple shuttered its in-app iAd advertising network back in the summer because selling ads is “just not something we’re good at”. A new report this morning from Recode revealed that the iPhone maker is leaving the creation, selling and management of ads on its Apple News service to the ad sales teams over at NBCUniversal.

“Apple is going to hand over ad sales for the app to Comcast’s NBCUniversal in an exclusive deal that starts in January,” reports the outlet.

New “Dive” ad from Apple promotes iPhone 7 stereo speakers and water resistance

Apple today shared a new television commercial via its YouTube channel highlighting stereo speakers and the improved IP67 water resistance on the iPhone 7 series. Titled “Dive”, the 60-second video opens with a pool scene depicting an older guy who is soaking up sun rays whilst listening to “La Virgen de la Macarena” by Arturo Sandoval playing through the iPhone's stereo speakers.

He then turns up the volume and proceeds to climb the high dive as everyone else is watching with anticipation. As the song climaxes, he jumps off causing his device to get splashed with water poolside. The video closes with Apple's “practically magic” tagline used consistently in iPhone 7 advertisements.

Early App Store Search Ads adopters seeing $0.40 CPA and 49.4 percent conversion

Announced in June of this year, first ads started cropping up in search results on the App Store beginning October 5. Aside from a few launch hiccups, App Store search advertisements seem to be performing pretty well in their early days.

A new study by mobile data intelligence firm Mobile Action—based on a random and anonymous sampling of 77 Search Ads campaigns—has determined that the average Conversion Rate (CR) is 49.4 percent while Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) sits around $0.40.

Search Ads, the survey concludes, is “the biggest opportunity in app marketing right now.”

Apple posts new ad showcasing revamped Apple Music service

Apple late Wednesday night posted a new commercial to its YouTube channel titled "Explore the All-New Apple Music." The ad showcases the company's revamped streaming music service, spotlighting several of its features.

It works essentially as an overview of the iOS 10 Music app, demonstrating how you can build your own personal music library based on custom recommendations and new content discovered via Apple's Beats 1 Radio station.

Search Ads are now live in the App Store

As promised, Apple on Wednesday officially launched Search Ads in the App Store. You'll notice them at the top of select App Store search results, denoted by a light blue background and a clear 'Ad' placed just below the app's name.

In our few quick tests, we saw Search Ads for generic terms like 'email,' 'weather,' and 'calendar,' as well as for specific app names like 'Uber.' Sometimes the ad matched our search term, and sometimes it showed a competing product.

Apple airs new ‘Balloons’ ad highlighting iPhone 7 and expressive messaging

Apple's much improved Messages app in iOS 10 is more expressive than ever, especially with nicely done animations that take over the entire screen.

One of the fullscreen effects in Messages, a bunch of balloons that fly up from the bottom of the screen, is the central theme of a new iPhone 7 commercial that Apple posted on its YouTube channel today.

The 30-second commercial wraps up with the message, “The all-new iPhone 7, with expressive messages. Practically magic.”

James Corden pitches commercial ideas in new Apple Music ad

Apple on Sunday night aired a new Apple Music ad during the 2016 Emmy Awards starring "Late Late Show" host James Corden. The spot is called "The all-new Apple Music," and it highlights the content and discovery features of the company's streaming service.

In the humorous clip, Corden pitches Apple Music commercial ideas to executives Jimmy Iovine, Eddy Cue and Bozoma Saint John. As you can imagine, most of Corden's concepts are off-the-wall, and in the end the team decides the collaboration isn't going to work.

Check out the latest Apple Watch Series 2 ad

In addition to a pair of iPhone 7 ads showcasing water resistance and all-new camera sensors that capture more light in low-light situations, Apple today also released on its YouTube channel a new commercial for the Apple Watch Series 2.

Titled “Go Time,” the 60-second video takes us through the device's major enhancements like a faster processor, built-in GPS, improved water resistance, swim tracking and more.

Apple airs new iPhone 7 ads, “Morning Ride” and “Midnight”

Following its inaugural iPhone 7 commercial focused on water resistance, dual cameras and other new features, Apple today posted a pair of new videos on its YouTube channel. Titled “Morning Ride” and “Midnight,” these commercials challenge customers to “brave the elements with the water-resistant iPhone 7” and take better low-light pictures thanks to all-new sensors that capture more light than before.

Watch the product videos from today’s iPhone 7 event

Apple has posted the product videos shown during today's iPhone 7 event to its YouTube channel. Included in the spots are clips showing off the Apple Watch Series 2, the iPhone 7, and the all-new, wireless, in-ear headphones it's calling "AirPods."

Of course if you missed the keynote this morning, we recommend watching a replay of it in its entirety, or at the very least check out this humorous highlight reel. But for folks who just want to get to the meat of the event, these videos will do the trick.