This is a well done breakdown of the many services available for people that want to cut off their current cable TV subscription.

Currently, app-specific passwords are used to allow non-native apps like email clients to sign in to iCloud accounts that are protected by two-factor authentication. The security measure ensures that users can still link up their iCloud account to apps and services not provided by Apple, while also avoiding the need to disclose their Apple ID password to third parties.

Privacy and security are very important to Apple.

Universal Audio updated its software on Tuesday adding five new plug-ins. The plug-ins include Antares Auto-Tune Realtime; SSL 4000 G Bus Compressor Collection; Pure Plate Reverb; Fuchs Train II Amplifier; Eden WT800 Bass Amplifier.

There are videos on the product page introducing plug-in and what you can expect when using it. AS usual, UA has done a great job in choosing which plug-ins to release.

While we were on stage, Jack asked me to come back to work at Twitter. People cheered. But I wasn’t really sure if he meant it. After Tea Time, we spoke privately and Jack told me that he really did — he wanted me to come back and work at Twitter. The company I co-founded, the service I co-invented. I was stunned, but I knew the answer.

Other companies have brought back their founders—it has worked very well for some (Apple), and not so well for others (Yahoo).

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It’s a big day for Apple software updates. The company released macOS Sierra 10.12.5, iOS 10.3.2, watchOS 3.2.2, and tvOS 10.2.1. You can apply the update by going to Software Update on each device. The Apple Watch will need to updated from your iPhone.

Dore said companies that faced disruptions because they did not run the Microsoft update or because they were using older versions of Windows could face lawsuits if they publicly touted their cyber security. His law firm sued LinkedIn after a 2012 data breach, alleging individuals paid for premium accounts because the company falsely stated it had top-quality cyber security measures. LinkedIn settled for $1.25 million in 2014.

It’s amazing to me that so many institutions have such poor security.

Apple Watch is an incredible device for many reasons, but none are as great as how it helps people track their exercise and movement. The watch does this by using rings—closing the rings means you had a great day of standing, exercising, and movement. But what if you don’t close the rings? […]

Another new one from Apple.

London’s Victoria and Albert Museum has announced the first major international retrospective of Pink Floyd, one of the world’s most pioneering and influential bands. To mark 50 years since the band released their first single Arnold Layne, and over 200 million record sales later, The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Moral Remains experience will be a spectacular and unparalleled audio-visual journey through Pink Floyd’s unique and extraordinary worlds; chronicling the music, design, and staging of the band, from their debut in the 1960s through to the present day.

I wish I could see this.

I don’t even know what to say, this is just cool.

The latest court ruling in a high-profile trade secrets case from U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco, made public on Monday, granted a partial injunction against Uber, which Waymo has accused of using stolen information to accelerate the building of its autonomous cars.

Clearly the judge didn’t believe Uber.

Rene Ritchie put together a Q&A for last week’s ransomware attack.

Satellite is all about bringing no-compromise audiophile sound to your daily life. Whether listening to streaming audio or digital remasters on your commute and at the office, or enjoying vinyl box sets at home, Satellite delivers iconic Blue studio sound wherever you go.

These over-the-ear headphones were released this week and they are great. I’ve been using them for a couple of weeks and will have a more detailed write-up coming out shortly.

A large number of hospitals, GPs, and walk-in clinics across England have been locked down by a ransomware attack, reports suggest. There are also some reports of a ransomware attack hitting institutions in Portugal and Spain, with telecoms provider Telefonica apparently hit hard. Further attacks have been reported in Russia, Ukraine, and Taiwan. Batten down the hatches: we might be in the middle of a global ransomware attack.

Apple’s iPhone 7 is the top selling smartphone model in Q1 2017, according to a new research report from Strategy Analytics released this week. When is it okay to be No. 2? When you’re also No. 1—the second top selling smartphone model is the iPhone 7 Plus, according to the report. […]

Thanks to Jamf Now for sponsoring The Loop this week. Jamf Now is an on-demand mobile device management solution for the iPads, iPhones and Macs in your workplace. We make device management simple and affordable for everyone, so businesses can support their users; no IT required. Manage your first three devices for free and add more for just $2 per device per month. Get started for free today!

Apple posted a new Web page showing you how to shoot a picture in different situations using the iPhone 7. This is a page I will definitely use.

John Paczkowski writing for BuzzFeed:

Sources in position to know tell BuzzFeed News that Amazon’s Prime video app — long absent from Apple TV — is indeed headed to Apple’s diminutive set-top box. Apple plans to announce Amazon Prime video’s impending arrive to the Apple TV App Store during the keynote at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 5 in San Jose, CA. A source familiar with the companies’ thinking say the app is expected to go live this summer, but cautioned that the hard launch date might change. Amazon had previously declined to even submit a Prime Video app for inclusion in Apple’s Apple TV App Store.

John certainly knows his stuff and this has been rumored before. It would be great if Amazon and Apple could get things worked out, release a video app, and get the Apple TV back in the Amazon store again.

“We are taking a careful yet balanced approach to incorporating autonomous vehicles on our roads to reduce dangerous driving habits, decrease the number of accidents and save lives on New York roadways,” Cuomo said in a statement.

Says a lot about the driving habits of many on the roads today.

Companies in New York must have a $5 million insurance policy, submit reports to the state, be overseen by the state police and pay the state police for supervising each test.

Testing also cannot take place in construction or school zones – which take up huge swaths of land in New York City – and must adhere to a predesignated route shared in advance with the state.

No doubt there will be challenges or suggestions from the companies developing the technology.

Axios provided a list of highlights from the conference.

This is one of the most incredible stories I’ve read in quite some time.

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Apple’s stock is currently trading above the $150 mark for the first time ever, after factoring in a 7-for-1 split in 2014, giving the company a record-high market cap of nearly $790 billion. That means Apple is just over $200 billion away from becoming the world’s first trillion dollar company.

It’s mind boggling to think of that much money.

The Android operating system clearly dominates the mobile market, with a share of around 72 percent. In Germany alone, around 67 percent of smartphone owners use a device with an Android operating system (source: Statcounter). G DATA security experts discovered over 750,000 new Android malware apps in the first quarter of 2017. That represents almost 8,400 new malware instances every day.

This is an absolutely staggering number. I don’t know how anyone using an Android device feels the least bit safe.

A comprehensive security solution is becoming more and more important for smartphones and tablets.

Yes, I agree. It’s called an iPhone and iOS.

I read through Gruber’s piece and tried to pick out one point to quote here, but it’s so thoughtfully woven together, you should just read it all.

Jessie Char joins me this week to talk about Apple’s WWDC, the preparations she’s making for The Layers Conference being held the same week, and how she goes about finding compelling speakers for the conference.

Layers Conference

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This is great news for music fans. Ulrich’s show is called “It’s Electric!” and debuts this Sunday, May 7 at 3pm PT. He explains more about the show in the video below.

Amazon and Apple may have reached a truce.

The tech giants, who are increasingly competing for customers’ time, eyeballs and money, are close to an agreement to bring an Amazon video app to Apple’s Apple TV set-top box, according to people familiar with the two companies.

This agreement will benefit both companies. Amazon subscribers want to be able to use their Apple TVs to watch videos without using AirPlay and Apple wants to offer a full complement of programming options for its customers.

The company will fund more than 40 original shows and movies in the next year, spending hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a person familiar with the plans. YouTube is betting high-profile stars will attract more advertisers like Johnson & Johnson, which is sponsoring “Best.Cover.Ever,” a music competition from Ryan Seacrest that’s scheduled for later this year.

I think this is great. The original programming from Netflix and others over the past few years has been fabulous. Hopefully that trend will continue.