Spotify hits 70 million paying subscribers

Spotify just hit a significant milestone. The music streaming service just hit 70 million subscribers and the company made the announcement on Twitter. Spotify last released its subscriber count back in July 2017 where they counted over 60 million users. The company hasn’t released the number of its total active users. Last we heard they were up to 140 million back in June 2017. When compared to its competitors, Apple Music reported back in September to have over 30 million subscribers. Tidal, on the other hand, hasn’t released its own subscription numbers.

Hello 70 million subscribers 👏

— Spotify (@Spotify) January 4, 2018

Source: Billboard

Jimmy Iovine rumoured to be leaving Apple Music in August

Rumour has it Apple Music is losing one of the key figures that has helped the service grow to over 30 million paying subscribers. It’s said Jimmy Iovine is set to leave Apple in August when his shares have fully vested. Iovine, the former Interscope CEO, joined Apple back in 2014 after he, together with Dr. Dre, sold Beats, both the electronics business and music service to Apple. But Iovine’s relationship with the company started back in 2003 when he first met Apple founder Steve Jobs and exec Eddy Cue. He’s considered a key proponent of Apple’s iTunes and iPod.

While neither Iovine nor Apple commented on the report, Billboard asked Iovine back in a September interview what he planned to do after Apple Music, he spoke about bringing music streaming up to speed. He disputes a report by Goldman Sachs that predicts subscription streaming would turn the global record business into a US$41 billion business by 2030. He says, “I’m 64 years old. I have no idea [what I’m doing next]. There’s just a problem here that needs some sort of solution, and I want to ­contribute to it. Goldman Sachs may think it’s solved, but I don’t. We’re not even close.”

Source: Billboard

All Mac and iOS devices are affected by Spectre and Meltdown flaw

Apple has released a statement concerning the Spectre and Meltdown exploits that are affecting all Intel, AMD and ARM processors and, by extension, the hundreds of millions of devices they are running on.

Apple says that ‘all Mac systems and iOS devices are affected’ by the vulnerability, but that there are no known exploits impacting customers right now.

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The OnePlus 5T Sandstone White Limited Edition is an object of desire

Adding new colour variants to an exisiting model is usually considered something of a copout from smartphone manufacturers, a sly way to repackage something old with a fresh coat of exclusive paint to move more units.

In the case of OnePlus and their SandStone White Limited Edition there's a complex paint and treatment process that adds hours to make the device in order to give it that cool matte texture and white colour.  OnePlue is selling the 5T for the same price as the regular coloured models but possibly in limited quantities. Orders will begin on January 9th.