Amazon

Apple has reportedly held internal discussions about launching a cloud gaming service

Evan Selleck ∙ October 18, 2021

Technically speaking, after plenty of attention and pressure put on Apple, the company does allow for cloud-based streaming services to be used on its devices. However, it's not via the App Store, and it's not with an app via the App Store. Instead, services like Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming, Google's Stadia, and Amazon's Luna are accessible via Safari. But it sounds like Apple's considered something else for its own service.

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Amazon got Apple to pull the Fakespot iOS app from the App Store

Evan Selleck ∙ July 16, 2021

Apple has rules and regulations in place for all sorts of things, but especially for the App Store. Developers must follow those rules if they want to keep their app(s) in the digital storefront. Sometimes those apps only get discovered for bypassing the rules, either in big ways or small, only after the app's been available for some time. (The App Store review process doesn't always catch the offenders.)

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Andy Jassy will become Amazon’s CEO beginning July 5

Evan Selleck ∙ May 26, 2021

A lot has happened since February of this year, so it's understandable if the fact that Amazon is getting a new CEO slipped the mind. But, it's happening! And now there's an official transition date.

Today, Amazon confirmed during a call to shareholders that Amazon will commit to the transition of a new Chief Executive Officer as of July 5, 2021. That means that Andy Jassy will be picking up the new role on that date. Amazon confirmed all of this would be happening back in February of this year.

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Amazon Music HD drops to $10 per month

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 17, 2021

Amazon Music is reducing the price of its high-fidelity audio service just as Apple announced today that it's bringing lossless audio to Apple Music subscribers at no extra charge.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS:

Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers get HD audio for free. High-fidelity streaming used to be a $14.99 per month option. Amazon Music Unlimited is priced at $9.99 per month. Prime members can get it for just $7.99 per month.

Amazon Music HD drops to $10 per month

Apple announced today that all Apple Music subscribers will be able to enjoy Dolby Atmos spatial audio in lossless quality at no additional charge beginning next month. Ahead of Apple's announcement, Amazon had lowered the price of its high-fidelity offering.

Steve Boom, Amazon Music's Vice President:

It’s something we’ve all we’ve been wanting to do for a long time. When we launched, we already broke the mold by taking a service that had been $19.99—and really just for the audiophile at that price point—and brought it down to something that was much more mass-market at $14.99.

According to Billboard, the high-fidelity service is now available to all Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers at no additional cost. Before the change, Amazon Music HD was a $14.99 per month value, or $12.99 per month for Prime members.

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Family plans are eligible for Amazon Music HD at no extra charge.

What is Amazon Music Unlimited?

Amazon Music Unlimited is currently available in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The service is priced at $9.99 per month, just like the individual Apple Music subscription. However, Amazon Music Unlimited is available to Amazon Prime members in exchange for a lower price of just $7.99 per month.

Streaming heavyweights going in on lossless audio

Amazon Music HD debuted in September 2019.

The service brings more than 70 million songs in CD quality (16 bit at 44.1 kHz). Out of that number, some seven million tracks are available in ultra HD quality which exceeds CD quality (24 bit at 48kHz, 96 kHz and 192 kHz). Apple Music also offers a hi-resolution Lossless tier all the way up to 24 bit at 192 kHz.

→ How to watch Apple Music TV on all your devices

HD streaming is also offered by the likes of Deezer and Tidal, with Tidal continuing to charge $19.99 per month for the service. Spotify is apparently working on a similar offering of its own.

Apple has worked with artists to record tracks in Dolby Atmos with spatial audio. Apple's offering will be ready for public consumption next month, with thousands of spatial audio tracks available at launch and more to come later.

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