The Apple Beat: Apple to fill out product size gap in today’s announcement

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

An Apple Special Event in March is a little unusual but given the fact that the company omitted an October launch even (traditionally reserved for iPad and Mac refreshes) to host a packed September event to usher in a new AppleTV, iPhone 6S, iPad Pro and some new Apple Watch variants.

September's Special Event feels like a long time ago, and Apple must feel it needs to get back on the news cycle with products and not controversies. While CEO Tim Cook and the entire company have been on heavy news rotation by being caught in the centre of the FBI iPhone discussion (a topic that’s landed Tim Cook on the cover of Time to discuss privacy instead of revolutionary new products and technologies), the time is ripe for Apple to make some noise on the product end.

Aiming for a more exclusive venue at their HQ in Cupertino inside the Town Hall auditorium that sits 350 guests, Apple will live stream the event so that everyone can peep into the proceedings virtually.

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Samsung's experimental Hum On! app can turn your humming into a piece of music

Samsung has got a skunkworks operation where it dreams up new apps and solutions including Hum On! Samsung says "Hum On! is an app that allows just about everyone—from industry veterans to the less tonally-aware—to score, arrange and share hummed melodies in mere minutes."

The app records hummed melodies, instantly transcribes them into musical notation, and then plays it back to you using your preferred arrangement style: R&B, classical or rock. “For hundreds of years, music has only been created by a select few, but that will no longer be the case,” explains David Choi, Creative Leader of the project. “With Hum On!, we aim to provide a platform where anyone can turn their inspiration into great music.” Currently in Beta, Hum On! is expected to come to market soon.

Facebook and WhatsApp pull support for BlackBerry OS devices

Social network Facebook and its WhatsApp messaging subsidiary have pulled their support for BlackBerry OS and BB10 devices and have even gone so far as to suggest users 'move to a newer device from Apple, Android or Windows phone by the end of 2016.' WhatsApp's statement is as follows.

As we look ahead to our next seven years, we want to focus our efforts on the mobile platforms the vast majority of people use. So, by the end of 2016, we will be ending support for WhatsApp Messenger on the following mobile platforms:

• BlackBerry, including BlackBerry 10
• Nokia S40
• Nokia Symbian S60
• Android 2.1 and Android 2.2
• Windows Phone 7.1

This isn't really surprising since developer support for BB10 has been dwindling due to lack of interest in a platform that is no longer profitable on a scale that competing platforms currently offer. BlackBerry, whose biggest launch last year was an Android-powered flagship smartphone. BlackBerry has reiterated their support for BB10 and for the devlopers that are continuing the good fight. 

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Cookie Monster, Jim Croce star in latest Siri-focused iPhone 6S ad

In case iPhone 6S users have forgotten, their device features an always listeing personal assistant that can be invoked by the 'Hey Siri' trigger phrase. The above ad shows Cookie Monster using Siri to time the cookies he is baking and also to access his playlist. Jim Croce's haunting "Time in a Bottle" plays as Cookie Monster agonizes over how long it is taking to get his treats baked. Its a simple, funny ad that appeals to everyone.