MacRumors

Apple is encouraging customers who have previously trialed Apple Music, but were not convinced to pay for the service, to try it again.

For several months, some users who have already taken advantage of Apple Music's initial free three-month trial period, but do not currently have a subscription, have been offered an additional month of complimentary access.

Apple has been alerting users to the offer at random with push notifications and emails in several countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. It's unclear what the exact parameters are to qualify, but it may be limited to users who trialed Apple Music prior to its iOS 10 redesign.

"Come see what you've been missing in the new Apple Music, like a simpler design that makes finding what you want, and discovering new music, easier than ever," says Apple's email, which contains a unique code to redeem the offer.

For users who are alerted about the offer via push notification, tapping on it brings them to a landing page with steps to redeem the code.

Apple Music has around 40 million paid subscribers across 115 countries, plus around eight million people enrolled in a trial, according to Apple.

Earlier this month, reports suggested Sprint and T-Mobile had once again resumed merger talks, and now it appears the two U.S. carriers may be close to inking a deal.

According to Reuters, Sprint and T-Mobile have "made progress" negotiating merger terms and are aiming to complete deal talks as soon as next week.

T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom and Sprint parent company SoftBank are said to be discussing an agreement that would "dictate how they exercise voting control over the combined company."

This could allow Deutsche Telekom to consolidate the combined company on its books, even if it does not have a majority stake in the combined company, one of the sources added. Deutsche Telekom owns more than 63 percent of T-mobile, while SoftBank owns 84.7 percent of Sprint.

Previous merger talks between Sprint and T-Mobile failed after the two companies were unable to reach "mutually agreeable terms." Sprint parent company SoftBank was said to be unsatisfied with the deal because of ownership terms, with SoftBank concerned about losing control of the combined company after Deutsche Telekom requested a controlling stake.

If T-Mobile and Sprint are able to establish a satisfactory deal, the combined company would have more than 100 million customers.

Sources that spoke to Reuters said there is "no certainty" a deal will be reached, given the dissolution of the previous merger talks.

Citi today announced that its credit cards issued in Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong can now be used with Apple Pay, followed by Taiwan later this year.

Citi cardholders can activate Apple Pay by opening the Wallet app, tapping the plus sign in the top-right corner, tapping the continue button, and positioning the credit card into the on-screen frame or entering the card details manually.

Apple Pay is accepted at thousands of locations with contactless payment systems in each country. A compatible iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch is required.

In related news, Apple today announced that Apple Pay will soon be offered by BBVA, the second largest bank in Spain. Bankia, the fourth largest bank in Spain, also remains listed as coming soon on the localized Apple Pay page for Spain.

This week's Apple Pay promotion is a partnership with furniture and décor app Hayneedle [Direct Link], allowing customers to get 10 percent off their orders when using Apple Pay to check out. No promotional code is required, and the offer will last through May 2, 2018.

The Hayneedle iOS app lets customers discover new home furniture and other items, including sofas, art, dining sets, outdoor/patio furniture, and more. Any orders over $49 get free shipping as well.

Apple's new promotional email focuses on home renovation projects, encouraging users to "show your abode a little love" and use Apple Pay to shop at Ace Hardware, Crate & Barrel, and Big Lots. Within apps, Apple mentions Jet, Kohl's, and Houzz as ways to shop and check out using Apple Pay "from the comfort of your own home."

The Hayneedle promotion follows similar Apple Pay offers for McDonald's, Adidas and Hotwire, Fanatics, Grubhub and Seamless, TouchTunes, and Fandango.

Following a series of rumors, Snapchat today launched the latest version of its connected sunglasses, the Spectacles. The company says that the new pair of Spectacles have a smaller profile, so they're slightly less bulky on the face than the original.

Additionally, Snapchat is pitching the new Spectacles as a go-to summer accessory for its users thanks to added water resistance. Snapchat's web page for the device says that users will be able to wear them at pool parties and on rainy days, and they "can even take a photo or video in shallow water."

We want Spectacles to be the simplest and easiest way to make memories from your point of view, and we appreciate all of your thoughtful feedback — many of these improvements were inspired by you!

The second version of the Spectacles has improved audio, and can record clips that last up to 30 seconds long by tapping a button on the left side of the frames, like the original pair. Pictures can be captured now as well by tapping and holding the same button. Snapchat says the HD transfer process to the mobile app is "up to four times faster," and the Spectacles can take up to 150 videos or 3,000 photos before needing to import to the Snapchat app.

iOS 11 and later include a neat built-in dictionary feature that lets you quickly look up the definition of words on your iPhone or iPad, even if an internet connection is unavailable.

It's a handy recourse if someone breaks out a "big word" during a conversation, or you come across an expression in a book or on the web that you don't quite understand.

There are a couple of ways to access the dictionary which we've outlined below. Keep them in mind, and with a little luck, you won't have to consult a physical dictionary, a third-party dictionary app, or an online definition service the next time you want to know the meaning of a word.

How to Get a Word Definition

1. On your iOS device, swipe right on the Lock screen or Home screen to display the Today view. Alternatively, swipe down on the Home screen to invoke the Search screen.
   

2. Tap the search field if it isn't already active, and begin typing the word that you want to define. (You can also tap the microphone icon and say the word – if you know how to pronounce it.)
   

3. Read the dictionary definition preview that appears in the search results, or tap it to see the extended definition.

In our experience, these definitions can occasionally get mixed up with Wikipedia suggestions from Siri. If you want to increase the chances that you get a dictionary definition first, go to Settings -> Siri & Search and toggle off Suggestions in Search.

How to Look Up a Word Within an App

If you come across a word you don't know in a document or email, or even when browsing the web, use the following method to look up its definition.

1. Tap and hold your finger on the word to highlight it.
   

2. Tap Look Up in the pop-up menu.
   

3. Read the dictionary definition preview that appears in the Look Up results, or tap it to see the extended definition.

If you don't see any word definitions in the search results, it's likely you haven't got any dictionaries installed on your iOS device.

To remedy this, scroll down to the bottom of the results screen and tap Manage Dictionaries. You'll be presented with a list of dictionaries available to you. Simply tap the ones you want to download and they'll be automatically installed on your device.

The next time you look up a word, you'll get individual definitions from every dictionary that's installed. Note that you can add and remove dictionaries at any time by ticking/unticking them in Settings -> General -> Dictionary.

Finally, if you're seeking a more feature-rich lexical resource to explore words and phrases, check out the Terminology app for iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]

When Sonos introduced the new Sonos One back in October, the company confirmed it would add AirPlay 2 support to Sonos speakers later in 2018.

At the time, Sonos did not specify which of its devices would support the new protocol, but Sonos has offered some clarification in the form of a new blog post that includes AirPlay 2 details.

According to Sonos, native AirPlay 2 support will be available on the Playbase, the newest version of the Play:5, and the Sonos One.

Older Sonos speakers will not support AirPlay 2 on their own due to processor limitations, but they can be paired with the Playbase, the Play:5, or the Sonos One to enable AirPlay 2 functionality. A Sonos Play:1 grouped with a Sonos One, for example, will support AirPlay 2.

The computing platforms and software architecture in some of the older Sonos players like Play:3 and Play:1 simply don’t have the horsepower to support AirPlay 2. The original Play:1, for example, has about 1/16th the processing power of its modern equivalent, the Sonos One. But by taking advantage of newer Sonos hardware, we’re able to make AirPlay 2 funtionality available throughout the house on speakers old and new.

Apple thus far has not released AirPlay 2, despite the fact that it was first introduced as a feature of iOS 11 back in June of 2017. AirPlay 2 functionality was initially included in iOS 11.3 and tvOS 11.3 betas, but it was pulled ahead of the release of those updates.

AirPlay 2 functionality is now included in iOS 11.4 and tvOS 11.4, but it is not yet clear if the features will be included in the final version of the software.

Concert discovery app Bandsintown Concerts received a major update today, introducing native Apple Music integration to allow Apple Music subscribers to listen to music without needing to leave the Bandsintown app.

For those unfamiliar with Bandsintown, it's a website and app that's designed to allow users to discover when their favorite bands are performing live in their local area.

When you search for a performer in the Bandsintown app, or look for nearby concerts, you can now select an artist and listen to their catalogue of music to decide whether or not to purchase tickets to an event.

Bandsintown says the new feature is designed to help fans discover more artists, attend more shows, and help artists grow their fanbases.

Bandsintown managing partner Fabrice Sergent said the company is "thrilled" to offer fans access to Apple Music. "Promoting artist discovery is very important to us, and Apple Music subscribers can now browse and listen to an artist's catalog without having to switch between apps."

In addition to introducing Apple Music support, the new update to the Bandsintown iOS app also adds tools to make it easier for customers who do not currently subscribe to Apple Music to sign up for an account.

Though native Apple Music integration is new to the Bandsintown Concert app, it has previously worked with Spotify and Soundcloud.

Apple Music integration is available in the latest version of the Bandsintown Concerts app, which can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Jam City's highly anticipated game in the Harry Potter universe, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, saw a worldwide launch this morning on iOS and Android devices.

In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, players are able to take on the role of a student at Hogwarts, going to classes, learning spells, building friendships, and making decisions in an "encounter system" that influences each player's personal story in Hogwarts castle.

Jam City co-founder and CEO Chris DeWolf said in early April that the company's goal with the game is to "make players really feel for the first time like they're attending Hogwarts."

The game takes place in the 1980s before Harry Potter attended Hogwarts, so players won't run into iconic characters like Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and others, but well-known professors and minor characters will be present to provide an engaging Hogwarts experience.

It's important to note that Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Mystery is not the promised Niantic augmented reality game that's also set in the Harry Potter universe. That app, titled Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, is said to take cues from Pokémon Go, allowing players to explore real-world neighborhoods to discover, fight, and capture the fantastic beasts of the Harry Potter series.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite does not have a release date as of yet.

Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Mystery can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Snapchat today announced the launch of Snappables, which are new Snapchat Lenses that are designed to allow Snapchat users to play augmented reality games with their friends.

To use a Snappable, tap the Snappable icon and then follow the on-screen directions.

Some of the available Snappables let you create a dance party or a rock band with friends, while others are more game-like in nature and can be controlled through facial expressions, touch, and motion. You can play a game where you fight virtual aliens, for example, and then send a Snap to a friend to play along.

According to a Snapchat spokesperson, Snappables are the beginning of a new type of augmented reality experience on Snapchat. Prior to now, Lenses have focused on transforming your look or the world around you, while Snappables are sharable AR experiences.

In other Snapchat-related news, Snapchat parent company Snap is said to be planning to introduce new Spectacles later in the week. Little is known about the new glasses, and it's not yet clear if they will feature major design changes.

Snapchat can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]