Beats

Beats launches $300 Solo2 Wireless Headphones

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2014

A re-engineered version of Beats by Dr. Dre Solo2 headphones, revealed last week in FCC documents, officially went on sale Wednesday morning. Like its predecessor, the new Solo2 Wireless offers much the same features while ditching the cord in favor of Bluetooth-enabled connection which lets you listen to your music wirelessly from up to 30 feet away from the device that you're streaming from, The Verge reported.

Compared to its wired counterpart, the Solo2 Wireless has the same on-ear design and is available in the same red, black, white and blue variants, with the exception of the red version that remains a Verizon Wireless exclusive through the end of 2014.

Walmart discounting iPads, iPhones and more in Black Friday sale

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Following Target and Best Buy, Walmart today released its Black Friday circular, showing what deals it will be offering during the holiday shopping weekend at the end of the month. As usual, it plans to discount a number of items, including several Apple products.

Among the promotions is an original 16GB Wi-Fi iPad mini for $199 with a free $30 gift card, essentially knocking the tablet's price tag down $80. The retailer is also offering original 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Airs for $397 with a $100 gift card, pushing the price under $300.

FCC documents reveal Apple-branded Beats Bluetooth Solo2 headphones

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Newly discovered FCC documents have leaked what may be the first Beats product released under Apple's banner: Bluetooth-enabled Beats Solo2 headphones. First spotted by 9to5Mac, the new Solo2s look nearly identical to their predecessor, with the exception that they're wireless.

The headphones will utilize Bluetooth Low Energy tech, and won't be Beats' first cordless can offering. The company has, for a while now, carried the Beats Studio Wireless–although looking at previous line pricing, it's likely that the new Solo2 product will be a bit more affordable.

Southwest Airlines brings free Beats Music streaming to in-flight entertainment service

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 3, 2014

Southwest Airlines on Monday announced an interesting partnership with Apple bringing Beats Music streaming music app to its in-flight entertainment service.

The subscription on-demand streaming music service, which Apple acquired as part of its $3 billion Beats buy in May of this year, is offered for free.

Beginning today, Beats Music is available onboard select Southwest Airlines WiFi-enabled aircraft featuring a library of hundreds of human-curated playlists.

Trent Reznor talks new role at Apple in Billboard interview

Cody Lee ∙ October 31, 2014

Adding to the stack of Apple executive interviews we've seen in recent weeks, Billboard has published an article with Beats' Trent Reznor today, where he discusses his new role in Cupertino and what he's been working on.

Reznor is of course the frontman for the rock band Nine Inch Nails, a film score composer, and the Chief Creative Officer for Beats Music. He came over to Apple with Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine following the Beats acquisition.

Pandora, Spotify beating Apple’s Beats handsomely on App Store

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Pandora and Spotify rank as the number one and number two music streaming apps in terms of downloads, analytics firm AppAnnie reports - no big surprise. However, where things become interesting is that Apple's Beats Music, which the company purchased for $3 billion in May, is placed ninth, below iHeartRadio, SoundCloud and Apple's GarageBand.

Apple reportedly negotiating to cut Beats Music prices by half

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

As Swedish music startup Spotify announced Monday giving family members a 50 percent discount on additional accounts, Apple is reportedly pushing Beats Music, acquired as part of its $3 billion purchase of Beats Electronics, to cut the price of its monthly subscription by half, according to Peter Kafka of Re/code on Monday.

Beats Music, a free download for the iPhone and iPad, currently requires users to pay a subscription fee of ten bucks per month for unlimited streaming of tens of millions of songs from its catalog.

Apple removes Bose products from online store

Cody Lee ∙ October 17, 2014

Bose products disappeared from Apple's online store in several countries (still in at least the UK Store) this afternoon. The change, first spotted by 9to5Mac, follows rumors that the long-standing retail relationship between the two companies has soured.

Customers will no longer come across Bose speakers and headphones in device accessory pages on Apple.com, and a search for 'Bose' on Apple's website comes up empty. It's believed that we will soon start seeing similar removals from Apple's retail stores.

AT&T stops offering Beats Music subscriptions to customers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

AT&T is no longer in the business of selling Beats Music subscriptions, reports MacRumors. The site spoke with an employee for the carrier who said he's been instructed to stop offering the service to customers as a monthly plan add-on.

Additionally, AT&T has pulled all references to Beats Music from its website, and no longer offers the option to sign up for the service when selecting a new phone plan. Beats Music has also removed "Subcribe with AT&T" from its website.

Apple to add after-sales service for Beats headphones and speakers

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 14, 2014

Apple mays start providing after-sales service for Beats headphones and speakers soon, according to a report from Greek technology blog TechInGreek.com [Google Translate] which dug up an internal document showing that Apple Service Providers in the country are gearing up to provide service for Beats Electronics gear.

If authorized Service Providers are going to be adding Beats after-sales service, Apple should follow suit.

Indeed, “in the near future, Apple will be responsible for providing service to customers with Beats Electronics products and accessories,” reads the memo Apple sent out to its Service Providers.

Bose and Beats settle noise-canceling patent infringement suit

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Premium audio company Bose Corp. and the now Apple-owned Beats Electronics have settled their patent infringement suit, reports Bloomberg. The two companies a U.S. court in Delaware they’ve settled their claims, and asked the International Trade Commission to cease its investigation.

Bose originally filed the complaint against Beats in July, claiming that Beats Studio and Studio Wireless headphones, which both feature "adaptive noise cancelation," infringe on five of its noise-canceling patents. Clearly a settlement was reached here, but terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Apple said to remove Bose products from store shelves next week

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 10, 2014

Apple is reportedly on the verge of removing audio products and accessories by the audio equipment specialist Bose from both its store shelves in addition to the demo units as early as next week, MacRumors learned Friday from a source privy to the matter.

Although the report comes short on specifics, the decision may have something to do with Bose's patent infringement lawsuit against Beats. As you know, Apple purchased Beats Electronics and Beats Music for $3 billion earlier this year.

The development seemingly coincides with a new agreement Bose signed with the National Football League banning its players from wearing Beats headphones while on television.