Belkin today introduced a certified Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable, and announced that pre-orders will begin on its website today.
The cable has a male Lightning connector on one end and a 3.5mm output on the other, allowing iPhone models that lack a headphone jack to be connected to a car stereo via the AUX port without the need for any adapters.
The cable can also be used to connect an iPhone to other products with 3.5mm inputs, ranging from home speaker systems to over-ear headphones. This is possible because the cable has a built-in digital-to-analog converter.
Lightning to 3.5mm audio cables have been available for several years, but Belkin's edition is certified by Apple under its MFi Program, which was recently expanded to include specifications for this type of cable.
Belkin's cable will be available in a three-foot length for $29.99 or in a six-foot length for $34.99 in the United States, with prices varying elsewhere. In addition to pre-orders on Belkin.com, the cables will available in the coming weeks at Apple Stores, Best Buy, Target, and select other retailers worldwide.
For a pricing comparison, Master & Dynamic recently released an Apple-certified Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable with an in-line microphone for $69.
Instagram today announced the ability for you to mute accounts in your feed, so that you can hide posts from people or brands you may not want to see anymore without needing to unfollow them completely. Instagram says that the change is another update to make your feed "even more personalized to what matters to you."
Account muting will be in the ellipsis menu at the top right of each post, and you can choose to "Mute Posts" or "Mute Posts and Story," to also prevent that account's stories from appearing at the top of the Instagram app. You can also mute accounts by pressing and holding on a story in the story tray, or from a user's profile.
After you mute someone you can still navigate to their profile page to look at their posts, and if you're tagged by them the app will still send you a push notification. Instagram says that people will not be made aware that you muted them, and you can unmute people whenever you like. Facebook has a similar muting feature, allowing users to unfollow other people without directly unfriending them.
Instagram is routinely working on new additions for its photo-sharing social network, with new digital health features like "Time Spent" usage and "You're All Caught Up" notifications said to be coming soon. In March, the company updated its feed algorithm to focus on newer posts, although many users frequently request an option to return to the simple, reverse chronological feed.
Instagram says that the mute feature will be rolling out to its users "over the coming weeks."
The wall plate includes a double receptacle on the left side with a built-in USB-A port, and a wireless charging pad with a holder for smartphones on the right side, with an overall 3.1 amps of power for charging capabilities.
A small LED light at the base of the charger indicates the smartphone's charging status, showing red while charging and green when charging is complete, but this feature isn't compatible with iPhones.
Legrand describes the wall plate as the first product of its kind to be released, providing homeowners with a convenient way to charge their iPhone or other Qi-certified device in the kitchen, bedroom, or wherever it is installed.
For installation, the wall plate is designed to replace any standard, single-gang box using existing electrical wiring in a home.
The wall plate is available in White, Ivory, Light Almond, and Black at select retailers across the United States, including Lowe's and Fry's Electronics, for around $65 to $70, but prices vary. It's also available in Canada.
By the end of 2018, an estimated 23.4 million users in the United States will be paying for their coffees and bakery items at Starbucks using the company's own in-store mobile payment system. The estimate comes from research firm eMarketer (via Recode), which also predicts that Apple Pay will hit 22 million users by the end of the year.
Starbucks itself says that its mobile order-and-pay system accounted for 12 percent of all U.S. transactions in the quarter that ended April 1, and eMarketer predicts the company will hit 29.8 million in-store mobile payment users by 2022. According to the data, Starbucks rises above Apple Pay (predicted at 27.5 million in 2022), Google Pay (14.9 million), and Samsung Pay (13.2 million).
This could be due to the Starbucks app's cross-platform availability on iOS [Direct Link] and Android, whereas Apple Pay is locked to iPhones for mobile payments and Google Pay and Samsung Pay are found on Android. Still, it's an impressive feat for a single-restaurant payment app to gather enough users to compete with mobile wallets that are aiming for more universal, multi-location appeal, if eMarketer's estimates are correct.
eMarketer also points out that Starbucks launched in-store mobile payments before Apple, Google, and Samsung debuted their dedicated mobile wallets, so early adoption could be helping its success. The app also includes a rewards program that earns customers free food and drinks every time they pay using the Starbucks app.
Other points in the report state that Apple Pay is accepted at more than half of U.S. merchants, while Samsung is the most widely accepted at around 80 percent of merchants, while still being the least popular on a user basis. In total, a quarter of U.S. smartphone users over the age of 14, around 55 million owners, will use their devices to make an in-store purchase by the end of 2018.
Image via eMarketer and Recode
Apple doesn't divulge its Apple Pay usage, leaving researchers and analysts to estimate how many users might be paying for items in store using the NFC system. Earlier this year, Loup Ventures did just that, estimating that 127 million people were using Apple Pay globally at the end of 2017, 38 million of which were in the U.S. -- a much higher estimate in comparison to eMarketer's report.
About one year ago, The Wall Street Journalhighlighted Apple's launch troubles with Apple Pay. In an interview around the same time, senior vice president Eddy Cue said that Apple Pay was growing faster than other mobile wallets and believed it could go so far as to replace cash, debit and credit cards as a primary payment system. "Does it matter if we get there in two years, three years [or] five years?" Cue asked. "Ultimately, no."
Podcast app "Castro" updated to version 3.0 this week, introducing a collection of notable additions like a rebuilt player engine, cleaner layout, Apple Watch app, and more.
Developer Supertop Software says that Castro 3 is "much faster" when users start streaming a podcast and the app's controls are more responsive thanks to a simpler layout on the player screen. Users can now star the current episode they're listening to from the player by double tapping the artwork, and in this screen there are also newly accessible AirPlay controls for streaming podcasts to other devices with fewer steps.
Additionally, Supertop has rolled out an Apple Watch app for podcast playback, letting users control their podcasts and choose new episodes from their queue to play.
Castro is a free app to download [Direct Link], and the app supports in-app purchases for Castro Plus at $8.99 per year or $2.99 per quarter. Castro Plus offers advanced features like mono-mix, chapter skipping and selection, trim silence and enhanced voices for an improved listening experience, and more.
Many users have grown frustrated with Apple's own dedicated Podcasts app, despite an update last year that Apple said was aimed at introducing a "richer" user experience. As more and more companies begin looking into the podcast market, Apple has been making moves that should beef up its own app, including the acquisition of podcast search startup Pop Up Archive last December.
Yubico is a company that sells the "YubiKey," a small piece of hardware that protects access to computers and online accounts by providing strong two-factor authentication in lieu of receiving a text message code on a smartphone or other 2FA steps. With the NFC-equipped YubiKey NEO, Android users have been able to authenticate their log-ins with a tap, and this week Yubico announced that ability has launched for iPhone users as well (via The Next Web).
With the launch of the YubiKit 1.0.0 iOS SDK, the company is allowing developers to add support for the YubiKey NEO into their iOS apps, starting with sole support from LastPass. Once set up with a LastPass account, the YubiKey NEO generates a one-time password, and when the user gets to the 2FA log-in screen, they simply tap the NEO near the back of the iPhone to authenticate.
It has been possible for developers to integrate with YubiKey NEO since iOS 11 launched in September, but the debut of the SDK should lead to wider adoption since it will be far easier for developers to introduce support for the device's NFC abilities.
The NEO does not require a battery to function, nor does it need network connectivity, and Yubico says that it is "four times faster" than typing a traditional one-time passcode. In addition to NFC, the device has a dongle for USB-A connectivity so it can double as an authenticator on laptop and desktop computers, and Yubico says that it's crush resistant and waterproof.
The YubiKey NEO is supported on iPhone 7 devices and newer, and for LastPass the feature is supported under the Premium, Families, Teams, and Enterprise subscription tiers. Yubico hasn't yet revealed which apps might next launch support for the YubiKey NEO on iOS devices. YubiKey can already securely log users in on macOS 10.12 or later, and the product integrates with hundreds of services and applications online.
Those interested can purchase the YubiKey NEO from the company's website for $50.
Readdle, the company behind the popular Spark email client for Mac and iOS, today announced the launch of Spark 2.0, a free update to the existing line of Spark apps.
Spark 2.0 continues to offer the same feature set for individual users, but it introduces a new collaborative email experience for teams.
Teams can use Spark 2.0 to discuss email using private in-line conversations, share emails through email threads rather than forwarding, collaborate on emails, and create links to email threads that can be shared in various ways with security settings to control who can view it.
In Spark 2.0 for Mac, there's a full-featured Calendar available to Spark for teams users, and on iOS, there are third-party integrations for Reminders, 2Do, Omnifocus, Things, Wunderlist, Todoist, Asana, Trello, Bear, and Files.
Spark is going to continue to be free for all individual users and core team functionality will be available at no cost, but a fee will be charged for teams who want upgraded features.
A premium Spark subscription for teams is priced at $7.99 per month per user, a fee that includes additional storage for comments and file sharing (5GB is available free), 3 or more collaborators for composing an email, premium customer support, advanced link sharing options, and access to admin settings and controls for the team.
Spark 2.0 can be downloaded on iOS devices from the iOS App Store [Direct Link], and on the Mac from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]
Feral has announced that Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia will be released this week for macOS. The epic historical strategy game made its way onto Windows last month to generally favorable reviews, and from Thursday, May 24, Mac owners too can test their strategic nous on the battlefield, provided they can match the system requirements.
Originally developed by Creative Assembly, Thrones of Britannia is the first in the new Total War Saga series of standalone titles inspired by great turning points in history.
The first game in the new series sets Anglo-Saxons, Gaelic clans and Viking settlers against each other as they vie for supremacy across the British Isles, circa 878 AD. Players can command one of ten factions, each with a unique branching narrative, and make decisions that reshape history in unexpected ways.
Combining huge real-time battles with engrossing turn-based strategy, THRONES OF BRITANNIA challenges players to build and defend a kingdom. Players will forge alliances, manage settlements, raise armies and embark on a campaign of conquest from the snowbound highlands of Gaelic Scotland to the green fields of Anglo-Saxon Kent.
Focusing on a specific historical flashpoint, Thrones diverges from typical Total War titles, with some changes to the series' standard game mechanics, including variations in building construction and military training to better reflect geographical differences.
As for spec requirements, the game officially runs on the following:
All 13-inch Retina MacBook Pros released since 2016
All 15-inch Retina MacBook Pros released since Mid 2012
All 15-inch MacBook Pros released since Mid 2012 with a 1GB Graphics Card
All 21.5-inch iMacs released since Late 2013 with a 1.8GHz i3 processor or better
All 27-inch iMacs released since Late 2013 (late 2012 models with Nvidia 675MX or Nvidia 680MX graphics card are also supported)
All 27-inch iMac Pros
All Mac Pros released since Late 2013.
Visit the minisite for more information. Thrones of Britannia can be pre-ordered now for $39.99/£29.99 from the Feral Store and Steam.
Google Photos is set to plug a couple of holes in its basic feature set over the next few days, bringing it in line with similar functions available in Apple Photos.
Up until now, the cloud-based photo service has lacked the ability to favorite photos, but that's about to change. Google says it's rolling out an option for users to tap a star in the upper right of any photo in their library, and the photos will be automatically added to a new Favorites album.
Google Photos will also soon let users "heart" photos that have been shared with them, which essentially functions the same way the "Like" button does in Apple's Shared Photo Albums, adding a touch of social interaction to the service.
It’s OK to play favorites. Rolling out this week, tap the ⭐️ button to mark a photo as a favorite. Head to the Albums tab and view all your favorites in one place. pic.twitter.com/eWnSMDKQ72
— Google Photos (@googlephotos) May 21, 2018
Google has promised additional Photos features powered by some AI innovations the company showcased at its I/O event earlier this month. They include suggested quick edits to improve images, color pop, and the ability to colorize old photos.
Razer today announced the launch of its latest external graphics enclosure, the Core X, and alongside the debut of the new accessory, the company is also adding Mac support to its enclosure lineup.
Both the new Core X and the existing Core V2 external graphics enclosure are now compatible with all Macs that offer support for Thunderbolt 3, including the MacBook Pro, iMac, and iMac Pro.
The Razer Core X, which also works with Windows machines, has been designed based on customer feedback Razer received after releasing the Core V2. Users wanted a wider external graphics enclosure able to fit larger 3 slot PCIe graphics cards, which the Core X delivers along with better cooling capabilities.
Razer designed the Core X to be future proof with the aforementioned larger enclosure and a 650W power supply that offers enough power to support all graphics cards on the market today and those coming in the future. While this is larger than the Core V2, Razer still designed it with desktop use in mind, so it's relatively slim and compact.
For those unfamiliar with Razer's Core series, the enclosures are designed to add additional graphics power to a Mac or a PC for tasks like gaming and system intensive workflows. With an external graphics enclosure, a machine not normally capable of handling GPU-intensive tasks can be hooked up to a powerful GPU. You will, of course, need to purchase a GPU alongside the Razer Core accessories - these are just enclosures.
To use the Razer Core X with a Mac, the machine must be running macOS 10.13.4 or later, and the Razer Core X needs to be equipped with an AMD Radeon card. It is not compatible with NVIDIA cards when used with a Mac at this time.
Pairing the Core X to a Mac is as simple as plugging the accessory into the Thunderbolt port on a compatible machine, with no restarting or fussing with settings needed. 100W passthrough charging is supported, so even the 15-inch MacBook Pro can charge when plugged into the Core X.
Following two months of beta testing, AgileBits has announced that 1Password 7 for Mac will be released for all users at some point on Tuesday.
The latest version of the popular password manager is a major update with dozens of new features and improvements, including a new dark-themed, collapsible sidebar that makes it easier to use and manage password vaults.
Users can now access their vaults by clicking on "All Vaults" in the sidebar, with full drag-and-drop support to conveniently move or copy items from one vault to another, including between different accounts. Users can also drag items onto the "New Vault" menu item and one will be created automatically.
1Password 7 for Mac integrates with Have I Been Pwned? to securely check a user's passwords against a database of passwords that have been compromised in known data breaches, such as when a popular service or website is hacked.
The app's security-focused Watchtower feature can also identify any login items that support two-factor authentication and help users enable it on those websites. Watchtower can now also keep track of expiring items so users know in advance if they need to renew their credit cards, passports, licenses, and more.
1Password now helps users sign in to their favorite apps by showing them suggested logins for the app they are currently using. If a user is signing into the App Store, for example, they can click the 1Password icon in the menu bar to see their Apple ID and simply drag and drop their username and password to log in.
The app's redesign extends to the lock screen, login icons, tags, pop-out windows for items, and more, while there is a new custom font Courier Prime Bits, by Alan Dague-Greene, that makes it easier to view passwords.
A quick list of other changes from AgileBits:
Every pixel has been put under the microscope and polished for maximum upgradedness.
The new "pop-out" feature allows you to view an item in a window of its own and keep it handy.
Secure notes are now rendered using Markdown.
Quick Open allows you to quickly jump to your items or vaults (find it under the File menu).
A custom password font, all our own, courtesy of Alan Dague-Greene.
A new password strength meter.
Touch ID now leverages your computer's Secure Enclave, making it more secure than ever before.
Login items now have a gorgeous, custom rendered icon by default.
Remove duplicate items on a per-vault basis by clicking Help > Tools > Clean Up Duplicate Items.
Integration with Spotlight allows you to find your items using Apple's built-in search engine.
Nested tags allow you to up your organization: add tags with / in them and 1Password will break them down into groups.
Opt in to automatic updates and never be left behind again.
1Password is a popular tool for storing usernames, passwords, credit cards, addresses, notes, bank accounts, driver's licenses, passports, and more behind one master password, with end-to-end encryption. A built-in password generator lets users create strong, unique passwords and memorizable pass-phrases.
1Password 7 for Mac is the first paid upgrade to the desktop version of the app in five years, meaning that users of previous versions will need to purchase a new license, or have a subscription, to use the new version.
Users with an active 1Password subscription, which start at $2.99 per month for individuals, can simply install 1Password 7 from the Mac App Store or AgileBits website and be ready to go. Otherwise, after installing the latest version, there is a prompt to sign up for a 1Password membership.
For those who wish to purchase a license for 1Password 7 for Mac, instead of a subscription, the app must be downloaded directly from the AgileBits website. Licenses are $49.99 for a limited time, and $64.99 after that, and are per-person, per-platform. macOS Sierra or later is required.
The version of 1Password 7 rolling out on the Mac App Store later on Tuesday is a new, separate app listing from 1Password 6, which has been removed from the Mac App Store, and will only be available for users via subscription.
Instagram has not used a chronological feed for years now, making it difficult to determine when you've seen all of the new content on the social network.
Instagram may be planning to fix this issue with a new "You're All Caught Up" feature that's designed to notify users when all unseen posts from the last 48 hours have been viewed.
The feature was first noticed by TechCrunch, and an Instagram spokesperson confirmed that it is being tested and will show up for a limited number of users.
Instagram did not, however, share details on how it works and whether it includes every single post from the people you follow or just the best ones that its algorithm has decided to display.
The new "You're All Caught Up" text is part of Instagram's pledge to offer a Usage Insights feature that will let users know just how much time they're spending in the Instagram app.
"We're building tools that will help the IG community know more about the time they spend on Instagram - any time should be positive and intentional. Understanding how time online impacts people is important, and it's the responsibility of all companies to be honest about this. We want to be part of the solution. I take that responsibility seriously," Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom wrote on Twitter last week.
Intel, Google, and Microsoft today disclosed a new variant of the Spectre design flaw and security vulnerability that impacts millions of computers and mobile devices from a range of manufacturers.
Called Variant 4, or the Speculative Store Bypass, the vulnerability is similar to Spectre, taking advantage of the speculative execution mechanism of a CPU to allow hackers to gain access to sensitive information. Variant 4 was demonstrated by researchers in a language-based runtime environment.
CVE-2018-3639 - Speculative Store Bypass (SSB) - also known as Variant 4
Systems with microprocessors utilizing speculative execution and speculative execution of memory reads before the addresses of all prior memory writes are known may allow unauthorized disclosure of information to an attacker with local user access via a side-channel analysis.
According to Intel, the new vulnerability has a "moderate" severity rating because many of the exploits that it uses have already been addressed through mitigations that were first introduced by software makers and OEMs in January for Meltdown and Spectre. Intel is, however, releasing a full mitigation option that will "prevent this method from being used in other ways."
This additional mitigation for Variant 4 has been delivered in beta form to OEM system manufacturers and system software vendors, and Intel is leaving it up to its partners to decide whether or not to implement the extra measures. Intel plans to leave the mitigation set to off by default because of the potential for performance issues.
This mitigation will be set to off-by-default, providing customers the choice of whether to enable it. We expect most industry software partners will likewise use the default-off option. In this configuration, we have observed no performance impact. If enabled, we've observed a performance impact of approximately 2 to 8 percent based on overall scores for benchmarks like SYSmark(R) 2014 SE and SPEC integer rate on client1 and server2 test systems.
The Spectre and Meltdown family of vulnerabilities affect all modern processors from Intel, ARM, and AMD, but Intel has faced more scrutiny over the design flaw due to its high-profile position in the processor market. Apple's iOS and Mac devices are affected by these vulnerabilities, but Apple has historically been quick to patch them.
Prior to when Spectre and Meltdown were initially discovered, for example, Apple had already implemented some patches and has since addressed known Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities with little impact to performance on Macs or iOS devices. As mentioned above, many of the exploits in Variant 4 have been previously addressed by Apple and other manufacturers in already-existing software patches.
Spectre and Meltdown-related vulnerabilities are hardware-based and therefore must be mitigated rather than outright fixed, but future Intel chips will not be as vulnerable. Intel has said that its next-generation Xeon Scalable processors (Cascade Lake) and its 8th-generation Intel Core processors will feature redesigned components to protect against some Spectre and Meltdown flaws.
Apple today updated its Clips video app for iOS devices to introduce new soccer assets ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off in Russia on June 14.
Apple has added new soccer graphics that can be added to video clips, and there's a new soccer label and a soccer-related background poster that includes customizable text elements.
Today's Clips update comes several months after the launch of Clips 2.0, a new version of the app that introduced 360-degree selfie scenes, a feature limited to the iPhone X and its TrueDepth camera.
Clips, for those unfamiliar with the app, is a video editing app designed to allow users to combine several video clips, images, and photos with voice-based titles, music, filters, and graphics to create enhanced videos that can be shared on social media sites.
Clips can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Sonos today introduced several new speaker bundles, which are designed to allow customers to purchase more than one Sonos speaker at a discounted price.
The new bundles range in price from $379 to $1,899 depending on the products included, with discounts up to $157 on the highest priced bundles.
A two room set that includes two Sonos One speakers is priced at $379, for example, down from the regular price of $398 that the speakers would cost when purchased separately.
A two room pro set, which includes two of the Sonos Play:5 speakers, is priced at $899, almost $100 off the separate pricing.
Sonos has options for multi-room speaker setups and entertainment arrangements that include the Playbase and the Playbar, along with more expensive setups designed for vinyl records.
All of the new speaker bundles can be viewed and purchased on the Sonos website.
Sonos is one of Apple's main competitors, with the Sonos One, which includes support for Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, designed to compete with the HomePod. Sonos first introduced bundles when the HomePod launched, selling two of the Sonos One speakers for $349, the same price as the HomePod. The new bundle that includes two Sonos One speakers is more expensive than that original deal, but, along with other offerings, allows for Sonos equipment to be purchased at a discounted price.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sonos and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.
Our next exclusive partner sale is debuting this week, and it allows our readers the chance to save on nine Apple accessories from well-known company RavPower. The products on sale focus on power delivery for your Apple devices, with Qi mats, Lightning cables, portable battery packs, and more available at a discount.
All of RavPower's products included in the sale are on Amazon, so if you're interested in any of the accessories simply add one to your cart, proceed to the checkout screen, enter the relevant promo code into the Gift cards & promotional codes field, and then click "Apply." As usual, Amazon Prime customers can get free two-day shipping on all orders.
In the list below you'll find every RavPower product offered in the sale, all of which will remain active through 11:59 p.m. PT on June 15, 2018. Note that only one code can be used per order, so if you'd like to order more than one type of item, you'll need to place separate orders. Prices listed below also exclude additional taxes.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with RavPower. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple yesterday shared a new Animoji karaoke ad on its Korean YouTube channel to highlight the newly released "Citizen Kane" single from Korean indie group HYUKOH.
As with previous Animoji karaoke songs Apple has shared, the new spot features Apple's Animoji characters lip syncing to the new song.
HYUKOH's "Citizen Kane" single comes ahead of the planned release of the group's newest album on May 31.
Apple first adopted Animoji karaoke for two ads that were created for the 2018 Grammys, with Apple's characters singing "Redbone" by Childish Gambino and "Stir Fry" from Migos.
Animoji karaoke is a concept that was conceived by iPhone X users back in November of 2017 shortly after the release of the new device. People discovered that Apple's 3D emoji characters that are designed to mimic facial expressions and emotions could be used for lip syncing to songs, and for a short period of time, Animoji karaoke took over the internet.
Animoji are limited to iPhone X users because the front-facing TrueDepth camera is required to create the depth map that's used to animate them with a person's facial expressions, but in the future, Animoji will be available on additional devices. The next-generation iPad Pro, which is rumored to be adopting the TrueDepth camera, is likely to be the next device that will support Animoji.
Since the launch of the iPhone X, Apple has added four new Animoji characters, including the dragon, bear, skull, and lion, two of which are used in the new Animoji karaoke ad.
Apple is planning additional updates to Animoji karaoke in iOS 12, with rumors suggesting Apple will add more new Animoji characters. Apple is also said to be planning an overhauled Animoji interface and Animoji integration in FaceTime. Animoji support for FaceTime would allow users to use Animoji characters during FaceTime calls.
Former United States President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have signed a multiyear production deal with Netflix that will see the two producing television shows and films for the service, reports The New York Times.
Though Netflix had been in negotiations with the Obamas for several months, Apple was rumored to be interested in working with the duo had the Netflix deal fallen through. Apple has been developing a slew of original television shows, and a deal with Michelle and Barack Obama would have been a big win.
Obama's deal with Netflix will allow for him to create content that will reach millions of people both in the United States and internationally through a new production company he created alongside Michelle Obama called "Higher Ground Productions."
According to Netflix, the Obamas will create "scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries, and features" that are meant to highlight the issues and themes the president worked on during his eight years in office.
"One of the simple joys of our time in public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people from all walks of life, and to help them share their experiences with a wider audience. That's why Michelle and I are so excited to partner with Netflix -- we hope to cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples, and help them share their stories with the entire world."
Obama has said that he does not plan to use Netflix to wage a public campaign against current president Donald Trump or to fight against conservative media outlets.
While Apple did not secure a deal with the Obamas, the company has more than a dozen original television shows in the works at the current time. Most of the shows are dramas, with one real estate-related docu-series in the works. Apple does not have any politically-oriented shows planned, and is said to be aiming to keep its content family friendly.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
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