Apple is reportedly working on a ‘non-iPhone Apple Watch’

A new Apple Watch might be popping up on our horizon and it’ll have one big advantage over its predecessors: it won’t need an iPhone to work. Bloomberg reports that Apple is reportedly working on a version of its smartwatch that will connect to LTE mobile networks. They have supposedly started talking to providers in the US and Europe to launch this device later this year. And Intel will supposedly be supplying the LTE modems for the new Apple Watch.

If there is some truth to the report, this will help boost Apple’s recent focus on the fitness benefits/credentials of the Apple Watch. Being able to untether the Apple Watch from the iPhone can bring with it the capabilities to let users bring songs with them to listen to when they’re running or are at the gym. Direct connection might even let them reply to messages and calls right from the wearable device. One of the biggest concerns will be battery life, though. With the iPhone augmenting some of the computational strain on the Apple Watch, making the wearable a standalone device would need a better battery.

LG rumoured to be sole battery supplier for ‘iPhone 9’

Sure we’re still waiting for the ‘iPhone 8’ to come out but the rumour mill doesn’t stop. And this time we’re talking about the battery supplier of the next iPhone, which we shall just call iPhone 9 for continuity. A new report by Korea Economic Daily cites an unnamed source that says Apple has picked LG Chem as its exclusive battery supplier for the iPhone 9, which is expected to come out in the second half of 2018. LG Chem has supposedly invested “hundreds of billions” of won to have dedicated battery manufacturing facilities that’ll be up and running for full-scale product early next year.

The report claims the iPhone 9 will have a “bent” battery module or one that’s extended to one side at the bottom and form an “L” shape. This type of battery doesn’t just maximize space but is also meant to improve charging speeds and battery life. Apple has been using the standard rectangular “jelly roll” lithium-ion batteries for its iPhones since the beginning. Again these are all just rumours and it’s definitely a long way away before we hear anything official.

Source: Apple Insider

Apple leak shows a completely new look for ‘iPhone 8’

We’ve see different leaks about Apple’s upcoming ‘iPhone 8,’ the device which marks 10^th anniversary of Apple’s smartphone, and a new one shows a much more detailed look at its almost bezel-less design. This time, Steve Hemmerstoffer a.k.a. @onleaks is adding to the conversation. The dummy models shows an elongated 18.5:9 aspect ratio, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, and bezels just 4mm thick (or thin) on all sides. The top of the device houses the front-facing camera and sensors.

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Apple reportedly asking music labels to take smaller revenue cut from Apple Music

Apple is supposedly renegotiating its licensing deals for Apple Music and iTunes with major music labels. Apple is hoping the labels are up for reducing revenue shares from streaming to bring them closer to the rate that Spotify pays labels. The deals with the record labels are said to expire at the end of the month but there’s a likelihood it will be extended if the parties can’t agree on new terms—at least according to the sources of Bloomberg who asked not to be identified since they’re sharing private information.

Streaming has been seen to be a source of hope for the music industry after a decade of decline in this digital age. With the help of the likes of Apple Music and Spotify, the industry grew by 5.9 percent last year worldwide. Under Apple’s existing deal, labels get around 58 percent of revenue from Apple Music subscribers, which is considered a higher cut than other services. But labels are supposedly amenable to the cut, if Apple meets other requirements. Apple overpaid labels to placate those concerned that the streaming service will cannibalize iTunes, which as shown hasn’t quite happened. But labels are still asking for precautions. Apple won’t comment about the report.