Don't call it a comeback: iPod line expected to see a refresh

With Apple Music showing a renewed interest in the consumption and enjoyment of music, many have wondered what was to happen to the Apple's iPod line.

Well, wonder no more. There have been various leaks and indicators that we are going to see updates to the iPod Touch, iPod nano and iPod Shuffle. French website iGen has earmarked July 14 for an iPod refresh. Aside from bold new colours, the iPod Touch is likely getting a processor upgrade which should at least put it at par with the iPhone 5s. As for the iPod Classic? it is still gone but not forgotten.

Transformers: Devastation game brings back a lot of what was good about the original Transformers

For many who grew up with the Transformers comics, the animated TV show and the corresponding cult classic Transformers: The Movie (1986, gosh!), there's a certain mystique and honesty to the animation and characterization of that time that wasn't recaptured by subsequent reboots or the over the top feature films. It is for these purists that the Transformers: Devastation video game seems to have been created. An all-out brawler that brings the comics and 80's era animation style to gaming consoles and to PCs.

Players will have the ability to shift between vehicle and robot mode, environments are expected to be immersive and they've even brought in the original TV voice actors for added authenticity  including Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), Dan Gilvezan(Bumblebee), Michael Bell (Sideswipe), Gregg Berger (Grimlock) and Frank Welker (Megatron, Soundwave). Transformers: Devastation comes this Fall to n Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Apple celebrates iPhone appreciation with new series of ads

iPhone is Apple's most important and profitable product, it is also the nerve-centre of various expanding ecosystems (i.e. HealthKit, watchOS, CarPlay, AirPlay, HomeKit). The latest series of ads titled 'If it's not an iPhone," celebrate iPhone ownership while possibly shooting missives at some rival devices that have copied aspects of the iPhone's look and feel. The new ads have a slick yet playful vibe, reminiscent of the classic iPod advertisements of years past.

Source: Apple

First Apple-designed packaging for third-party peripherals shows up at stores

There's a huge ecosystem of Apple and Mac peripherals ranging from MacBook cases to external hard drives and docking solutions to an endless assortment of iPhone and iPad cases, battery solutions and add-ons. Few of these products are lucky to be selected by Apple to be featured in the Apple Retail Store displays. 

Apple has apparently redesigned the packaging for many of these products so that they look more pleasing and also represent the products more accurately. There's a certain familiar Apple-ness to the way the above products are represented. 

Source: 9to5Mac