La App Store de iOS envía mucho más dinero a los desarrolladores que Google Play. Foto: Ed Hardy/Cult Mac
Los usuarios de iPhone gastaron casi 25 mil millones de dólares en la App Store durante el primer trimestre de 2024, según la firma de investigación de mercado. Por el contrario, los usuarios de Android gastaron sólo 11 mil millones de dólares en Google Play en el mismo período.
Esto a pesar de que el número de descargas de Google Play es más del triple que el de la App Store. Está claro que una gran cantidad de usuarios de Android no quieren pagar por aplicaciones.
Los usuarios de iPhone pagan por las aplicaciones, a diferencia de los usuarios de Android
Es una perogrullada, pero vale la pena señalar que los desarrolladores de software necesitan ganar dinero con sus productos para tener éxito comercial. No tiene sentido desarrollar una aplicación si la gente no está dispuesta a comprarla. “Por diversión” no paga alquiler.
Esta es la situación a la que se enfrentan los desarrolladores de Android. Las 25.500 millones de descargas de la App Store en el primer trimestre del año se convirtieron en sólo 11.200 millones de dólares en ingresos, según datos de Torre de sensores.
Por el contrario, 8.400 millones de descargas de la App Store de iOS se convirtieron en 24.600 millones de dólares en ingresos. Esto es más del doble de ingresos.
La App Store está creciendo más rápido que su competidor. Sus ingresos aumentaron un 11,5% año tras año, mientras que los ingresos de Google Play aumentaron un 5,3%.
“iOS ha experimentado un crecimiento positivo constante, aunque modesto, en las descargas en los últimos años. Las descargas en el primer trimestre de 2024 se acercaron a los 8.400 millones en la plataforma, el mejor total desde el segundo trimestre de 2020”, según el informe de Sensor Tower. otra caída en el primer trimestre de 2024 de un -5,2% interanual”.
El gasto de Apple App Store eclipsa a Google Play en el primer trimestre de 2024 Diagrama: torre de sensores
No todo es diversión y juegos.
Los juegos siguen siendo la categoría de aplicaciones más popular en la que los usuarios de teléfonos gastan su dinero. Los usuarios de iPhone gastaron 13.000 millones de dólares en juegos en el primer trimestre, en comparación con 11.600 millones de dólares en todos los demás tipos de software. Esto es el 53% del total. El porcentaje es mayor para Android: 65%
No debería sorprender a nadie que Estados Unidos sea responsable de la mayor parte del dinero que se destina a los desarrolladores. Combinados con iOS y Android, los ingresos totales en EE. UU. en el primer trimestre de 2024 fueron de 12.400 millones de dólares, un aumento interanual del 16 %. China ocupa el segundo lugar con 6.000 millones de dólares, seguida de Japón (4.100 millones de dólares), Corea del Sur (1.600 millones de dólares) y el Reino Unido (1.100 millones de dólares).
Apple publicó hoy su segundo informe anual Tienda de aplicaciones Informe de transparencia [PDF]destacando detalles como la cantidad de aplicaciones que fueron rechazadas durante el año, la cantidad de cuentas de clientes y desarrolladores que se desactivaron, la cantidad de aplicaciones que se eliminaron de la App Store y más.
En 2023, había un total de 1.870.119 aplicaciones disponibles y Apple revisó 6.892.500 aplicaciones enviadas. Se rechazaron 1.763.812 aplicaciones, y el rendimiento, el diseño y los aspectos legales figuraron como las principales razones para no aprobarlas. Se aprobaron 277,923 aplicaciones luego de ser rechazadas luego de cambios en la aplicación.
Se eliminaron 116,117 aplicaciones de la App Store, y las principales categorías de eliminación incluyen Utilidades, Juegos y Negocios. Se eliminaron 76,887 aplicaciones por violar la Directiva de diseño 4.0 y 35,245 aplicaciones se eliminaron por violar las reglas de la App Store que previenen el fraude.
Apple eliminó 1.285 aplicaciones a petición del gobierno chino y 103 aplicaciones a petición del gobierno de Corea del Sur. Las aplicaciones también fueron retiradas en India, Rusia, Indonesia, Lituania, Ucrania y varios otros países a petición de sus gobiernos.
398.499.012 cuentas de clientes buscan en la App Store en promedio semanalmente, y 166.360 aplicaciones aparecen entre los 10 primeros resultados para al menos 1.000 búsquedas cada semana. como manzana Dijo a principios de esta semanaCanceló 373.739.771 cuentas de clientes y evitó aproximadamente 1.838.127.451 dólares en transacciones fraudulentas.
Puede encontrar más información sobre los números de la App Store de Apple en el informe completo. [PDF]
manzana El martes reveló sus esfuerzos para prevenir transacciones fraudulentas a través de la App Store entre 2020 y 2023. El gigante tecnológico con sede en Cupertino destacó la aparición de amenazas digitales y las medidas que ha tomado para proteger a los usuarios de caer en estafas y ataques de phishing. La compañía dijo que evitó el fraude en transacciones. Tienda de aplicaciones Por un total de 7.000 millones de dólares (alrededor de 58.440 millones de rupias) en el período especificado. También evitó que más de 14 millones de tarjetas de crédito fueran robadas y que más de 3,3 millones de cuentas fueran procesadas nuevamente.
La compañía publicó detalles de los esfuerzos de Apple en la sala de redacción. correoElla dijo: “A medida que las amenazas digitales han evolucionado en alcance y complejidad a lo largo de los años, Apple ha ampliado sus iniciativas antifraude para abordar estos desafíos y ayudar a proteger a sus usuarios. Todos los días, los equipos de Apple monitorean e investigan la actividad fraudulenta en la App Store. y utilizar herramientas y tecnologías avanzadas para eliminar a los malos actores y ayudar a fortalecer el ecosistema de la App Store.
Al compartir más datos, el gigante tecnológico dijo que en 2023 pudo prevenir un fraude por valor de 1.800 millones de dólares (alrededor de 15.030 millones de rupias). Además, rechazó más de 1,7 millones de aplicaciones de la App Store por no cumplir con los estándares de privacidad, seguridad y contenido de Apple. También canceló las cuentas de casi 374 millones de desarrolladores y clientes y eliminó casi 152 millones de calificaciones y reseñas debido a preocupaciones de fraude.
Apple también ha tomado medidas para evitar actividades maliciosas que podrían ocurrir a nivel de cuenta de cliente. Destacando las cuentas de bot creadas para enviar spam o manipular calificaciones y reseñas en la App Store, el gigante tecnológico dijo que bloqueó la creación de más de 153 cuentas fraudulentas y desactivó otras 374 millones de cuentas.
Al explicar el proceso de selección de aplicaciones, la compañía dijo que su equipo de revisión de 500 empleados evalúa cada aplicación en todo el mundo antes de que aparezca en la tienda de aplicaciones. Este equipo revisa aproximadamente 132.500 solicitudes semanalmente y examinó aproximadamente 6,9 millones de solicitudes el año pasado. El equipo de revisión realiza numerosas comprobaciones y utiliza una combinación de procesos automatizados y revisión humana para detectar aplicaciones potencialmente maliciosas y fraudulentas.
Apple quiere que sepas que trabaja arduamente para prevenir el fraude en la App Store y en otros lugares. Imagen: manzana
La App Store ha evitado más de 7 mil millones de dólares en transacciones potencialmente fraudulentas en los últimos cuatro años, dijo Apple el martes cuando publicó su cuarto informe anual de análisis de prevención de fraude.
Apple publica su cuarto análisis anual de prevención de fraude, citando grandes cifras en la App Store
Apple dijo que la cifra de 7 mil millones de dólares incluye 1.8 mil millones de dólares en transacciones potencialmente fraudulentas frustradas solo en 2023. También bloqueó más de 14 millones de tarjetas de crédito robadas e impidió que más de 3,3 millones de cuentas volvieran a realizar transacciones.
Otras estadísticas de 2023:
Más de 1,7 millones de solicitudes de aplicaciones fueron rechazadas porque no cumplían con los estándares de privacidad, seguridad y contenido de la App Store.
Se han cancelado casi 374 millones de cuentas de desarrolladores y clientes.
Se cancelaron casi 118.000 cuentas de desarrollador, frente a las 428.000 cancelaciones del año anterior, gracias a las mejoras continuas para evitar la creación de cuentas potencialmente fraudulentas.
Se bloquearon más de 153 millones de creaciones fraudulentas de cuentas de clientes, como spambots.
Se han eliminado casi 152 millones de calificaciones y reseñas debido a preocupaciones de fraude.
Se evitó que más de 3,5 millones de tarjetas de crédito robadas realizaran compras fraudulentas y se bloquearon más de 1,1 millones de cuentas para que no pudieran realizar transacciones nuevamente.
Apple describe sus medidas contra los pagos en la App Store y el fraude con tarjetas de crédito. Imagen: manzanaEstá surgiendo una sorprendente cantidad de irregularidades en torno a las calificaciones y reseñas de la App Store. Imagen: manzanaAquí Apple explica cómo la revisión y desaprobación de aplicaciones ayuda a proteger a los usuarios de la App Store. Imagen: manzana Apple también toma medidas para prevenir el fraude de cuentas. Imagen: manzana
When I was growing up, NASA was this unreachable entity that I wanted to know more about. Much of what they did, at least to me, was shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Astronauts performed incredible feats as I watched in awe – the exact same thing that I see happening with my son as well. When he made a rocket out of recycled materials a little while ago, he slapped a big NASA badge on the front of it. The generations roll on, but the love continues.
Recent years have seen NASA open its doors to the world in new and exciting ways. Children and adults alike are now treated to behind-the-scenes missions and adventures. Astronauts and engineers are put before audiences for podcasts, TV shows, and films. With unprecedented access, it’s an exciting time for space lovers to be alive.
All this amazing content is now available in one incredible app, which is simply called NASA. It is an absolute treasure trove of exciting and varied content, all centered around the world of NASA and it’s well worth a look.
Homescreen heroes
This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps that we couldn’t live without. Read them all here.
At the heart of it is a free video streaming service called NASA+ that collates all the video content from various NASA departments. There is live coverage, original on-demand series, one-offs, and videos organized by theme. Think of Netflix but where all the content is space-themed. Through all of this, it is possible to lift the lid on NASA and be treated to all its inner workings. If you’re remotely interested in space, you’ll probably find yourself drawn in and amazed at what goes on at the government agency.
It’s not just videos, though; my favorite section of the app is all devoted to images. With over 21,000 of the latest NASA images, there is no shortage of jaw-dropping photos to enjoy and it’s certainly got me hooked. It’s now possible to view images related to specific themes or see the latest ones.
(Image credit: Future)
Under each section of images, you can view all and that’s what I love to do. Swiping through images is best on a tablet, as it can be hard to appreciate the scale of these things on a phone. It’s no replacement for the real thing (being an astronaut in space or viewing the cosmos through a massive telescope) but much of this is beyond the reach of the average person.
The inclusion of captions helps to put photos into context and provides a level of education that you wouldn’t otherwise have. You can rate each photo based on how much you love it or favorite the best ones for easier viewing later. And if a photo particularly grabs your attention, sharing it is as simple as it is in any other app.
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(Image credit: Future)
The other part of the app where I find myself spending most of the time is in the ‘Missions’ section. Who doesn’t love a space mission? If Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Richard Branson have their way, I’ll make it into space at some point, but for now, I have to live that reality through others. It’s easy to do with content devoted to a range of missions, including Artemis, NASA’s plan to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, as well as establish the first long-term presence there. You can also find out more about the James Webb Space Telescope and the Europa Clipper. What a collection of content!
(Image credit: Future)
One of the most engaging parts of the app, especially for younger space enthusiasts, is the augmented reality functionality. With simple controls, even the youngest of users can visualize space models in their own environment. The level of detail is impressive, helping to ignite a sense of passion and wonder. I particularly enjoyed exploring the Curiosity (MSL) model. Being able to rotate and zoom in on the model is impressive but I would have liked to have been able to interrogate the model a bit further. Maybe we’ll see that in a future release.
Whether you’re interested in space or not, the NASA app opens up a universe of never-before-seen content. It’s great for all ages and has enough about it to keep you coming back time and again.
Buried in this week’s flurry of Apple announcements for the iPad Pro (2024), M4 chip and Apple Pencil Pro was some fascinating news for video shooters – an updated ‘Final Cut Pro for iPad 2’ app and an even more intriguing app, for both Apple’s tablets and the iPhone, called Final Cut Camera.
What’s particularly interesting about Final Cut Camera is that it’s designed to both work as a standalone app for shooting video, and also in tandem with that clunkily-named new Final Cut Pro editing app. When working with the latter, it introduces multi-cam capabilities when shooting video on iPads and iPhones.
Multi-cam functionality has been around for a little while now, with Blackmagic and LumaFusion paving the way for a new mobile way of filming and editing videos. This has represented a significant shift for the industry and it’s great to see Apple weighing in with their own solution.
After using LumaFusion, I’m really looking forward to seeing how Apple’s offering compares – the app is due out “later this spring” (in other words, sometime before the end of June) and will cost $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99 a month. But it’s Apple’s free app Final Cut Camera, that’s arguably more interesting – particularly as it’s separate from the iPhone’s standard Camera app.
Final Cut Camera delivers pro video controls to iPhones and iPads, letting video shooters to take control of fine-tuning settings – and also combining up to four different video feeds from those devices, live-cutting between them.
Until now, Apple has left this kind of thing to third-party app makers – but if it can do it for video, there’s no reason it might not also do the same for photography, too.
What does Final Cut Camera do?
Through this free standalone app, which will also land “later this spring” (sometime by mid-June), it’ll be possible to adjust a whole host of pro video settings – and also sync your live video feed to an iPad running the Final Cut Pro 2 app.
Those settings include ISO, shutter speed, white balance, focus and more, to help you get professional-grade recording. The interface even lets videographers monitor incoming footage with a zebra stripe pattern tool and audio meter. Doing all this across up to four cameras would be a hassle with an iPhone – not to mention impossible without at least an M1 chip – which means a relatively recent iPad is essential for the multi-cam workflow.
(Image credit: Apple)
The multi-cam feature, which you get when using Final Cut Camera in tandem with the Final Cut Pro 2, instantly turns a group of Apple devices into a mini production studio. This makes it possible for any iPhone user to take ultimate control of their video capture and for more complex setups to all be controlled from a single device.
Everything is, of course, wireless, which makes for a super straightforward setup on the ground. The seamless syncing of both video and audio also dramatically streamlines editing workflows and allows videographers to turn projects around in a fraction of the time.
The Blackmagic Camera app offers very similar functionality to the Final Cut Camera app. (Image credit: Blackmagic)
What has been possible with the Blackmagic Camera App for a while is now possible with Final Cut Pro and Apple tech.
Looking at the two apps side by side, it’s clear how similar they are in terms of functionality. Both offer manual control over the lens but Blackmagic provides a much greater level of audio data as well as an RGB histogram.
The Final Cut Camera App follows all of Apple’s design rules, which looks great but I can’t help but feel that providing a little more data to users would have been helpful. Perhaps it’s filling a gap in between the stock Camera app and a truly pro option like the Blackmagic Camera app.
Will Apple make a pro photo app?
It’s a shame that Apple’s new Final Cut Camera app doesn’t also include photography controls or functionality. But I hope this means we’ll also see a photo-leaning equivalent of the app, maybe even around WWDC 2024.
The default Apple Camera app has been substandard, for keen shooters at least, for a long time now and many have turned to the likes of Halide for more pro control over their photos. But a free alternative would be a nice partner to the Final Cut Camera app.
Not everyone would need it – for most iPhone users, the point-and-shoot experience of the stock Camera app is fine. But being given full access to ISO and shutter speed settings, plus visualization tools like a histogram or zebra stripes are all very handy if you’re looking to shoot in raw and maximize image quality.
(Image credit: Apple)
If Apple does decide to do something on those lines, it’d that be another app to go alongside Final Cut Camera. Final Cut has always been video-focused and Apple has been loathe to clutter its stock Camera app with new controls, even within a sub-menu.
For now, the release of multi-cam functionality and a dedicated video camera app is a great step forward. It puts Apple on a par with LumaFusion and BlackMagic and makes for a very exciting and competitive video space on iPhones and iPads. In this area at least, the best Android phones are playing catchup.
My iPhone beeps. I slide the screen and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s face stares back at me. But this isn’t my dream interview; the fake phone call is part of the intro sequence for his new fitness app.
“The Pump” is the bodybuilder-turned-movie-star, turned-politician’s next big project; a new contender for the best fitness app, designed to share his considerable training expertise with the masses. And as both a strength training fan and long-time Arnie-admirer, I’m excited to give it a go.
I’m not usually the type for classic fitness apps like Peloton—quick HIIT workouts and the like seldom serve my goals of building muscle, growing stronger and developing an enviable engine. I’m more likely to use my Notes app as a training log, instead of a dedicated app focused around tracking strength training. But can Schwarzenegger change my mind?
The Pump app: at a glance
What is it? The Pump is a fitness app from Arnold Schwarzenegger and his team. On it, you’ll find a series of workout plans to follow, as well as blog posts, Q&A opportunities with Arnold, and even a goal-setting section for life both in and out of the gym.
Who is it for? In Arnold’s (marketing team’s) words, this app is for “anyone with access to a phone”. In mine, it’s for anyone interested in strength training, with plans to suit beginner, intermediate and advanced lifters. There are also bodyweight, dumbbell-only and gym-based plans available.
How much does it cost? The Pump app is available via a monthly $9.99 subscription, or you can pay $99.99 for a full year. There is also a seven-day free trial for newcomers.
The Pump app: why try it?
I’ve tried a lot of workout apps in my time as a fitness writer. The first thing I noticed about The Pump is that it’s not trying to go toe-to-toe with big hitters like Peloton, Apple Fitness+ and Chris Hemsworth’s Centr app.
These rivals boast a plethora of plans and workouts to choose from. But when I signed up to The Pump, I was asked to provide my training goal (get shredded or get big), available equipment (bodyweight or gym) and experience level (beginner, intermediate or advanced). Then I was served a solitary 90-day, three days per week program to follow: ”The Foundation: Advanced Muscle Gain”.
You need to complete the workouts in order to unlock the next one, and there’s a one workout a day limit to keep you from overtraining. In every session, you’re asked to input the amount of weight you lift and the number of reps you complete for each exercise, then certain moves are repeated later down the line so you can build on your performance from previous weeks.
This is progressive overload in action—the principle behind any successful muscle-building training plan, and something that’s missing if you’re just selecting random workouts from the thousands on offer from another fitness app’s stable of videos.
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(Image credit: The Pump app)
A few other workout plans are unlocked once you complete the initial 90-day program—among them, Schwarzenegger’s current training schedule and “The Classic Arnold Throwback”, which is a six-day split reminiscent of his Mr Olympia-winning routines. However, by limiting your choice, The Pump aims to keep you consistent for continued results.
That’s why I personally prefer this app to others like Peloton, and it’s also why I feel The Pump would better-serve the strength and muscle-based goals of intermediate-to-advanced lifters.
Another element of this app I like is the focus on community. Peloton users will tell you this isn’t unique, with the platform’s live classes curating impressively authentic camaraderie through shoutouts, leaderboards and strategy to serve you up content it knows will keep you coming back. Arnold’s team again does things differently.
There are educational yet colloquial blog posts, comments sections for members and the opportunity to participate in Q&As—submit questions via the comments section, and roughly once a fortnight Schwarzenegger will answer a selection in a blog post. And if there’s one thing that’s going to keep a lifting fan motivated, it’s personalized advice or a pat on the back from the Austrian Oak.
What happened when I tried Arnold Schwarzenegger’s workout from The Pump
The (very enjoyable) Arnold Netflix documentary claims that, as a beginner lifter, Schwarzenegger gained a staggering 15.2kg (33.5lb) in just 12 months. The Austrian village of Thal where he grew up didn’t have high-tech fitness equipment; simple barbells, dumbbells and bodyweight moves dominated.
This reinforces my view that bodybuilding staples are staples for a reason: they’re effective. And when I tackled my first workout on The Pump app, I found a routine that was chock-full of them.
I started proceedings with pyramid sets—a favorite training technique in bodybuilding’s golden age—of the barbell bench press, T-bar row and barbell back squat.
Pyramid sets involve lowering the number of reps and raising the weight you use with each set of an exercise. In the case of the bench press here, I tackled sets of 15, 12, eight and six reps, while adding plates to the bar after each round. This approach encouraged me to lift heavier loads than I might have otherwise, providing the challenging stimulus needed for strength gains and muscle growth.
(Image credit: The Pump app)
By the time this first phase of the session was finished, I had already completed a full-body workout of sorts, hitting every major muscle group with a compound push, pull and leg exercise. Next came three rounds of a superset containing dumbbell flys and chin-ups, followed by a few straight sets of cable crunches and leg extensions to finish. All in all, it took me about 60 minutes.
I’ve found an hour is the sweet spot for a strength training session; long enough to deliver a comprehensive full-body workout without being such a slog that I’d need to wake up super early to fit it in before work. This isn’t something I can say for Arnold’s twice-a-day, two-hour routines of old; I tried it once and barely lived to tell the tale.
As you might expect from a Schwarzenegger routine, there was an enjoyable “pump” in the aftermath, inflating my muscles, ego and spirit simultaneously. But because the session was kept to roughly 60 minutes, I didn’t feel ruined for the rest of the day. Lightly aching? Yes, but ready to go again for my next workout in two days’ time.
Would I use Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Pump app again?
Arnold’s team says this app is for “anyone with a phone”, but I can’t help but feel the target market is a little more niche than that. I’d instead say it’s aimed at existing fans of Arnie with an interest (old, new, or burgeoning) in lifting weights. Fortunately for him and his vast appeal, that still casts a very wide net.
What I saw of the app was old-school bodybuilding at its best, so if you’re in the market to build muscle and become stronger, I would definitely recommend it. I was buoyed by the community aspect, and the blog posts were genuinely interesting, providing training and nutritional resources to help users hit their fitness goals.
As someone who likes to keep their gym sessions a largely tech-free oasis (I’ve been known to take a pen and paper into the gym to record my results), the app was a fairly innocuous addition to my training arsenal. It only took a couple of seconds to type in my weights and reps for each set, and the rest timer was a handy addition for helping me stick to the task at hand. That’s why, if I was to use any of the mainstream fitness apps, it would be this one.
The only reason I won’t be subscribing to The Pump long-term is because I have wider training goals. My regular training is tailored to preparing me for CrossFit and functional fitness competitions, where I need to develop my athleticism, cardiovascular capacity, gymnastic skill and Olympic lifting technique alongside my ever-stubborn muscles.
For this, I’ve found the best platforms for training are apps like Fitr and Beyond The Whiteboard, which offer third-party programming companies the option to share specific training plans to fit your needs. A little like TrainingPeaks for functional fitness.
But rest assured, The Pump, next time I’m on the hunt for some pure bodybuilding fun, I’ll be back.
Sonos this week released a major redesign for the Sonos app, introducing customizable home screen meant to deliver a personalized listening experience. The update was announced back in April, but just went live, and unfortunately, it removes a number of features while also introducing several bugs.
Multiple complaints on social media have called the app a “step back” with missing features like editing a song queue, managing playlists, shuffling a music library, and setting alarms and timers, along with slow performance and hard-to-access system controls. There has also been feedback from users about missing accessibility features.
The Verge asked Sonos about the negative feedback, and in response, Sonos said that it’s aware of the complaints, but “it takes courage” to rebuild a core product.
Redesigning the Sonos app is an ambitious undertaking that represents just how seriously we are committed to invention and re-invention. It takes courage to rebuild a brand’s core product from the ground up, and to do so knowing it may require taking a few steps back to ultimately leap into the future.
The app’s revitalization not only aims to address what customers have been asking us for in the short-term, but is also critical for supporting the exciting innovations to come from Sonos in the years ahead.
We realize there are beloved features our listeners are eager to continue enjoying now. We are working diligently to reintroduce them in the coming months, alongside additional enhancements that will make for an even better app experience.
This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Sonos as we continue to expand the way listeners can access and enjoy all the content they love in a more personalized and seamless way. We have always and will continue to listen to customer feedback so we can create sound experiences that well exceed both our standards and the standards of our listeners.
Sonos said that it is working to address the missing features “in the coming months,” and the update will ultimately lead to “exciting innovations” in the years to come. There is no way for iOS customers who have already upgraded their apps to go back to the prior version, though users are calling for Sonos to roll back the update until the new app is more fully fleshed out.
Apple today unveiled redesigned iPad Pro models featuring the M4 chip, Ultra Retina XDR OLED displays, a nano-texture display option, and more. The new iPad Pro offers a considerably thinner design and slightly larger 11- and 13-inch display size options. The 11-inch model is 5.3mm thick and weighs less than a pound, while the 13-inch model is just 5.1mm thick and weighs a quarter pound less …
Apple’s “Let Loose” event kicks off today at the unusual time of 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and we’re expecting to see an iPad-focused event with new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, updated Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard accessories, and perhaps some other announcements. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company’s TV app across various platforms. We…
Apple today held the first event of 2024, debuting new iPad Air and iPad Pro models and accompanying accessories. While the event was faster than normal and took 40 minutes, we’ve condensed it down even further for those who want a quick overview of everything that was announced. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We’ve also got a full recap of all of the coverage…
Apple at its “Let Loose” event today announced a new Magic Keyboard for the latest iPad Pro models, with a thinner, lighter design. Apple says the Magic Keyboard has been redesigned to be thinner and lighter, while maintaing the same floating design. Two colors are available that match the new iPad Pro. New features include a function row with screen brightness controls, an aluminum…
Apple today announced that iOS 17.5 will be released to the public “soon,” following over a month of beta testing. While the software update is relatively minor, it does have a few new features and changes, as outlined in the list below. “The new Pride Radiance watch face and iPhone and iPad wallpapers will be available soon with watchOS 10.5, iOS 17.5, and iPadOS 17.5,” said Apple, in its…
Sonos, maker of quality audio kit and some of the best wireless speakers out there, has released a new mobile app for connecting and controlling Sonos devices – but not everyone is happy with the change.
A large number of users are complaining about the new companion app, which was substantially redesigned after years of “extensive user research” and released to iOS and Android users on May 7 alongside a new browser application for desktop. App marketplaces have been flooded with one-star reviews since the new version dropped.
Here’s how Sonos’ social accounts describe the app: “A fresh look. Quicker access to your music. Easier control.” It’s meant to offer a simpler interface that’s more customizable to each user, offering something of a reset from previous versions of the app.
And here’s how a post on the Sonos subreddit with 700 upvotes describes it: “they royally screwed up.”
Sonos has since responded with an official statement to The Verge, from Maxime Bouvat-Merlin, chief product officer. “Redesigning the Sonos app is an ambitious undertaking that represents just how seriously we are committed to invention and re-invention … It takes courage to rebuild a brand’s core product from the ground up, and to do so knowing it may require taking a few steps back to ultimately leap into the future.”
The company has also reached out to members of r/Sonos subreddit, where most of the unhappy discussion has been happening (along with some in the TechRadar email inbox), to explain that feedback is being discussed internally and to solicit more feedback. “These team conversations have been tough, but ultimately very helpful in highlighting the features and functionality that are most important to you,” says community manager KeithFromSonos.
So, if you’re one of the people affected by the missing features (more on these below), be sure to take your opportunity to be heard (hopefully).
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So, what went wrong? There are many reports of bugs and apps not loading properly, but the most common complaints appear to be about small missing features that people relied on, such as sleep timers, alarms and specific numbers for volume control – with users claiming they’re either well hidden or entirely absent from the app. (For what it’s worth, I couldn’t find them in my Android app. And this is my job.)
Given people use alarms to, you know, wake up on time and get to their jobs, this seems like a risky thing to remove suddenly as a feature in case someone was caught unawares.
The new app also doesn’t allow users to edit their song queue, which is such a core aspect of music streaming today that its absence is a little shocking – even if Sonos intends to add it back in later.
The redesign is certainly sleek, with all those rounded edges beloved of UI designers these days, and there’s a permanent ‘now playing’ menu, which takes up a notable portion of the screen. It’s worth noting that some users are happy, or less affected by certain features having changed, and Sonos’ aim of simplifying the UI, and bringing important information together at a single glance, is clear from the new software.
Releasing a new application is often fraught, and we live in a time when companies are pressured to release fast and improve through successive updates, rather than getting everything out the door in the first instance. However, when you already have a substantial user base who are used to an app and family of devices in a certain way, removing those features is unlikely to ever go down well.
It feels like a beta iteration of the app, with Sonos acknowledging that the limited feature set will be gradually added in the future. In the case of that message, screen reader support is another very significant feature to have left behind.
But the promise of future updates at some point are little consolation for people finding their home audio setup is suddenly dumber than before. We’ve reached out to Sonos for comment on what kind of timelines to expect for features to be added and will update you if more information comes through.
We recommend holding off on the update for now if you’re more than a casual user of your Sonos system, as there’s no way to undo it. (Perhaps Sonos could allow the previous S2 app to become available as a separate download – this would provide a great bridge while things get ironed out.) And if you have updated already, we recommend setting up an alarm somewhere else. However, the app does feature dark mode, so at least it’ll get you in the right frame of mind before bed.
US President Joe Biden signed legislation last month that could trigger a nationwide ban of the popular social-media app TikTok within a year. Researchers who use the app to communicate science to curious followers, study social trends and earn money to support themselves are dismayed and frustrated.
Creating YouTube and TikTok videos is improving my lab leadership
TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a firm based in Beijing, China — which, amid growing US–China tensions, has raised national-security concerns among US officials, related to the Chinese government’s access to user data. On 7 May, TikTok filed a lawsuit calling the legislation, which gives ByteDance nine months to a year to find a US-based buyer for the app, an “extraordinary intrusion on free speech rights”. If the ban goes into effect, users in the United States will no longer be able to add the app to their devices or install updated versions.
Morgan Johnston, a neuroscientist at the University of Texas at San Antonio, worries that young people who use TikTok will lose an outlet to learn about science and find community. Sixty-three per cent of US teenagers aged 13 to 17 and 33% of US adults use the app, according to several surveys conducted last year by the Pew Research Center in Washington DC and market-research firm Ipsos in New York City. Although dance routines and pop-culture discussions are often trending on the app, many people use it to learn about science, says Johnston, who runs the account @askaneuroscientist. She posts videos about her research on the impact of stress on learning and answers questions from her 37,600 followers. “I love the interaction part of it,” she says.
Nature spoke to five scientists and communicators in the United States about what they will do if the ban goes into effect. Most of them acknowledge the data-security concerns, but say that the legislation would cut off a thriving platform for science education and outreach, especially among young people who are seeking information from trusted sources.
“We need stricter laws on what data can be collected and sold, but this legislation doesn’t do that,” says Johnston, who uses her channel to talk about her mental-health journey as she navigates graduate school as a first-generation PhD student from a rural area. “My following is young adults who are in the process of making their career decisions — and they’re really curious.”
Engaged audiences
The seismic growth of the app during lockdowns initiated because of the COVID-19 pandemic helped to make TikTok a “massive platform for outreach”, says Jamie Zaccaria, a media and outreach specialist at the Ocean Exploration Trust, a research-focused non-profit organization in New London, Connecticut. In 2022, the trust launched its TikTok account, @nautiluslive, which streams footage of deep-sea expeditions narrated in real time by excited researchers discovering striking marine creatures. The account has more than half a million followers, and some ask for educational resources or advice on how to pursue a career in ocean science.
Researchers with the Ocean Exploration Trust marvel at a mysterious deep-sea jellyfish in this video (shown here on YouTube, but also available on TikTok).
The Ocean Exploration Trust declined to comment on the legislation, but it has several successful social-media accounts, including on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, to which it could shift its focus if the ban goes into effect.
Some content creators with smaller online followings might not have that option. Michael Rhodes, a neuroscientist at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, started posting on his TikTok account, @rhodeslovesneuroscience, in 2020 to boost morale among undergraduate students in his classes. With their help and with help from researchers in his lab, Rhodes posts educational videos about anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, including dance routines that demonstrate the actions performed by specific muscle groups and skits that explain how drugs work. “I’ve become a better professor because it makes me take a step back and look at information differently,” he says.
Rhodes says that most of his roughly 189,000 followers are students or early-career health-care professionals. But with all his academic responsibilities, he isn’t sure that he will be able to pivot to a new platform if TikTok disappears in the United States. “If a third of the country is using TikTok, that should tell you something about its popularity,” he adds.
Secret sauce
One thing that makes TikTok different from other social-networking apps is how its algorithm curates content from across the platform — not just the accounts a user follows — to appeal to the specific interests of each user, says Matt Motta, a health-communications researcher at Boston University’s School of Public Health. “That becomes a way for scientists to have their messages transmitted to audiences that may not self-select into them,” he says.
TikTok’s critics say that this proprietary algorithm imbues the app with addictive properties that can drive the spread of misinformation and contribute to the US mental-health crisis. But, recognizing its reach, Motta and his colleagues are studying how TikTok could be harnessed for good by training mental-health content creators on the app to disseminate evidence-based information among their followers1.
“It’s important to remember that some scientists are working with TikTok to study social phenomena. And if TikTok were to go away, our ability to do that would be significantly hindered,” Motta says. At the same time, Motta and others acknowledge concerns about data security related to the use of social-media apps such as TikTok.
The TikTok creator and organic chemist known as Chem Thug explains why batteries bounce when they run out of juice (shown here on YouTube, also available on TikTok).
Digital privacy is part of the reason that the organic-chemistry PhD student behind the viral @chem.thug TikTok account does not share his real identity or the university that he attends. His conversational explainer videos put scientific concepts in a real-world context for more than 284,300 followers on TikTok and around 10,000 on YouTube. For example, in one of his popular clips about household chemicals, Chem Thug explains why zinc-based batteries become “bouncy” as they lose charge. “I think everybody’s life is enriched by a better, deeper understanding of chemistry,” he says. Like Johnston, Chem Thug has monetized his account as a supplemental line of income to support himself during graduate school.
Chem Thug is cautious about putting his personal information on the Internet, but says that he doesn’t “see Bytedance as being any more nefarious than any other large corporation with interest in making as much money as possible”.
Few sources who spoke to Nature anticipate that a ban will go into effect on the proposed timeline, especially considering that the lawsuit filed by TikTok will undoubtedly tie up the legislation in courts. But the spectre of the ban is sparking serious conversations among TikTok scientists, especially those who sought refuge on the app after billionaire Elon Musk bought the social-media platform Twitter (now X) and made many unpopular changes. “Where are we going to recreate this community?” Johnston asks. “There’s not really a consensus.”