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Opening
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Opening Music
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Music is Say Anything by Manda and the Marbles
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News
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iPhone Event Aftermath
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Apple TV+ is only one free year per family
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No stacking, no banking
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Auto renews at $4.99/mo after the year is up.
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Apple leaker Sonny Dickson claims his sources say the iPhone 11 and 11 Pros have bilateral charging hardware, but Apple has disabled it in software.
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Kuo had said Apple cancelled the feature possible because the charging efficiency did not meet Apple’s requirements
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Not a surprise, but they have gigabit Intel LTE modems.
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Batteries appear to be up to 20-25 percent larger on the iPhone Pro models. The Max has an L shaped batter that could be a single cell.
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Geek bench scores seem to indicate ALL of this years iPhone models are shipping with 4GB of RAM
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Apple Watch Titanium IS lighter than the stainless steel model, but NOT by 45 percent
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Apple had wrong specs in the marketing and tech specs on their site and that has been corrected.
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Series 5 CPU seems to be the same S4 chip as in the Series 4
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Apple TV+ is just 99 Rupees a month, or about USD $1.40
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India only gets a 7 day free trial as opposed to a month in other markets
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U1 chips untapped potential
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Right now Apple is using it just to pinpoint other devices for AirDrop
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Rumors about that Apple “tracker”
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Can detect items down to an accuracy of 10cm and be further tuned to about 5mm
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UWB uses time-of-flight calculations to come up with an accurate distance
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Has a directional antennae, so can also detect direction and the angle of an incoming signal
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Transfer speeds up to 27 megabits per second
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Kuo expects demand to be good
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He thinks demand is ahead of expectations based on online shipping estimates following pre-orders
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In the US the iPhone 11 Pro seems to be out selling the iPhone 11. The reverse seems to be true in China.
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New colors, Midnight Green, green and purple seem to be very popular
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Though says production problems with the midnight green phone have been keeping it’s supply constrained.
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Says upgrades are being helped by the trade-ins and zero interest payment plans
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Raised his estimate for 2019 new iPhone shipments up about 5 million units to 70-75 million
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Apple has filed for a trademark on the word “Slofie”. Honestly they can have it because nobody else wants to use it.
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iPhone XR ‘saved’ Apple
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At least according to the global affiliate marketing firm Awin
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They say that model outsold the iPhone XS models at launch and has sold consistently well since
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I take issue with a few of their statements
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“Saved Apple”
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For the average consumer the price savings was “worth” the loss of features
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Many users were upgrading from something and the XR is a lot of phone
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The iPhone XR is also profitable for Apple
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Likely a BIG reason for the iPhone 11
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Their data showed Apple gained brand share against Samsung and Google in 2019.
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App Store billing grace period
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Apple has added a “grace” period for apps that require a subscription.
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The idea is that you won’t lose access to the app or services if there is a momentary issue with your payment
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You can continue to use the app and the features you paid for while things get sorted
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The grace period will vary depending on the terms of the subscription
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A six day grace period on weekly subscriptions
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16 day grace period on longer subscriptions.
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Developers will continue to get revenue without interruption if a successful payment is made within the grace period.
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Apple has expanded 3% cash back on Apple Card Apple Pay payments to Walgreens
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Apple TV+ benefits from iPhone Sales
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Goldman Sachs points out that Apple doesn’t record all revenue from iPhone sales as hardware revenue
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They treat it as a hardware / software “bundle”
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It takes the “cost” of free services offered, like iCloud, and applies that to Services revenue
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The concern is that this years free year of Apple TV+ (~USD $60) will have a significant impact on Apple’s iPhone hardware revenue numbers and that will freak out investors.
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Goldman thinks so much it could give Apple stock up to a 26% down kick.
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Stock disclosure
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Apple responded saying that they do not expect Apple TV+ to have a “material impact” on their financial results.
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Apple TV+ News
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Apple couldn’t land Bad Robot and JJ Abrams because they wanted exclusivity
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Bad Robot ultimately turned down a lot more money, reportedly $500 million, from Apple and stuck with WarnerMedia because they wanted to be able to produce shows for other services
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The reports say Apple’s terms would have also limited Abrams ability to do projects for other studios and Apple’s lack of original IP that could be adapted into shows or films.
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There were also concerns over Apple’s lack of a theatrical distribution model
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Even without an Apple exclusive deal J.J. Abrams is still working with Apple on at least three projects.
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"Little Voice," "My Glory Was I Had Such Friends," and the adaptation of the Stephen King novel "Lisey's Story."
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Disney’s Bob Iger leaves Apple’s board
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The details came out in an SEC filing, but were not a surprise
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It had been speculated this would happen once Apple announced their streaming service due to the perceived conflict of interest
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Back in April Iger said he had been careful to recuse himself at board meetings when the subject of the Apple TV+ service would come up.
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Iger had been on the board at Apple for eight years.
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New shows coming
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“El Gato Negro”, based on a Mexican comic book, coming
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Robert Rodriguez will direct and executive produce
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Diego Boneta will produce and also star in the series
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“Shantaram” is a series based on the novels by Gregory David Roberts
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The story focuses on a convict named Lin who escapes from an Australian prison and flees to the city of Bombay
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It will star Charlie Hunnam who has starred in Sons of Anarchy, King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword and Pacific Rim.
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“The Mosquito Coast” based on the novel by Paul Theroux
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Will start Justin Theroux, and no you didn’t hear that wrong. Justin is Paul’s nephew.
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Mosquito Coast was done as a movie in 80’s starring Harrison Ford, River Phoenix, and Helen Mirren
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It is the story of brilliant inventor Allie Fox takes his family to live in the Honduran jungle, determined to build a civilization
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Leaked iPad with ‘Cracker’ bump
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Again from Sonny Dickson
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Said to be a “Design mock-up”
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Lenses are not in the same position as on the iPhone 11 Pros.
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Square orientation with the flash in the lower right.
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Also no glass cover. With just a square metal frame looks like it’s just “plopped” on the back.
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Sponsor: Mint Mobile
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Mint Mobile
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Mint Mobile saves on retail locations and overhead, then passes those savings directly to you
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They provides the same premium network coverage you’re used to, but at a fraction of the cost because everything is online.
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They also give you all the service and features you need without all the extras you don't allowing you to cut your costs.
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Why pay for a bunch of data that you never use?
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Mint offers plans with 3, 8, or 12 gigabytes of data for as $15/mo.
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And yes that includes unlimited nationwide talk and text. And yes, hotspot
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I've been using Mint Mobile and the coverage and performance has been great.
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Not surprising since they use the T-Mobile network for its service
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You can bring your own device and you can even keep your same phone number along with all your existing contacts.
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Sign-up was SO easy.
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They sent the SIM, you activate online via their site, pop in the SIM.
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After that everything just worked. I was up and running in minutes.
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Sponsor: Masterclass
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Masterclass
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One of my favorite things about Masterclass is the amazing depth and variety of the courses taught by the masters in their fields.
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No place else do you have access to this kind of talent.
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I've been taking Neil Gaiman's course on writing so I can improve my Podcasting
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Yeah, he's teaching writing, but more than that how to engage and entertain an audience
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He had a lesson called "Rules for writers", but this was really "rules for creators"
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Things like "finish" and "send it out into the world".
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Keep creating, iterate.
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Plus his lessons, like many I've taken, feels very intimate. It's like he's speaking just to you. A classroom of one.
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My daughter put it succinctly, they are "inspiring and informative".
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The quality and presentation of the courses is the best I've ever seen and they're each unique in their style which keeps them interesting.
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Plus they are presented in small chunks, typically 10-15 minutes so I can easily fit then into my schedule
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That's made even easier by the fact I can access them on any device iPhone, iPad, Mac, and best of all my Apple TV.
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While you can get courses individually I really love having the all-access pass because here's what happens…
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You'll want one course, like Documentary Filmmaking with Ken Burns
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But if you're like me… you'll see Aaron Franklin will show you how to make Smoked Pork Ribs (I love ribs)
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I'm not kidding I watched this and learned how to trim up and prep ribs and why it's important. Something I've never even thought was part of cooking ribs
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And then I've always been fascinated with wanting to learn magic. I've tried other videos, but the Pen & Teller one was hands down the best
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They went though the concept, then teaching to a group, then detailed step by step
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Also supplemental downloadable PDF with photos and instructions.
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They have over 60 classes and they are constantly adding more, so I think it's a great investment in learning.
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Now you can have unlimited access to EVERY MasterClass, and as a [program name] listener, you’ll get $30 off!
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I highly recommend you check it out.
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Get unlimited access to EVERY MasterClass, and as a MACCAST listener, you get 15% off the Annual All-Access Pass!
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Go to MASTER CLASS dot com slash MAC. That’s MASTER CLASS dot com slash MAC for 15% off MasterClass.
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Feedback, commentary, opinions
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Ordering the iPhone 11 Pro
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Share my experience
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Paid off my existing payment plan prior to the order date since I'm handing it down and not turning it in
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Set-up and got approval for the iPhone Upgrade Program in advance
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Had to choose the option to get a new loan and get pre-approved since I wan't continuing with my existing program
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Down side is this probably dinged my credit
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On order day
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Took about a minute for the App to let me in.
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Tapped buy, FaceID for Apple Pay, order was complete.
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Start to finish in under a minute
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Went for a midnight green 256GB model
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Also ordered a new Meyer Lemon leather case since, my old case won't work with the new camera bump.
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Apple TV app not “recommended”
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I’m already discussed this, but some listener feedback this week reminded me what an issue this really is.
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Ken wrote to share his experience
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Was using the TV app to watch a series he had purchased via iTunes
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Later the next episode was in his “Up Next”, but when he played it had ads in it
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Confused he though at first Apple was injecting ads into his purchased content
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Really what happened is the TV app had linked him to a version of the show through a channel on Amazon prime
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I “get” why Apple made the changes they did when they added “Channels”, but it has completely ruined the user experience for me to the point where i no longer prefer to use the TV app
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That make me sad
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“Recommendations” for content I don’t own or don’t want to buy are completely useless.
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It’s be like them promoting a killer new feature on a phone that is NOT an iPhone and then heavily handedly trying to get me to buy it
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Apple has managed to make what might be the worst "freemium" app on iOS.
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This behavior should NOT be the default and we need
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A way to opt out of the hard up sell
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Or at least a way to have “recommended” content more clearly labeled as, “you can’t access this content without paying up first”.
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At least some sort of segregation of owned/subscribed vs. stuff you can access
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I also HATE that Amazon content doesn’t distinguish between what is available through Prime Video and what it’s a Prime Channel
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Like Showtime which is now a double whammy because it is an Apple TV Channel and an Amazon Prime Channel.
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The whole point is the TV app was supposed to “simplify and unify” the TV experience.
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Most frustrating was that it’s WAS doing that and then they broke it.
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To help you navigate this maze here’s a tip if you click on a recommended show:
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Do NOT click the big blue button that says “Play” or “Play Episode”
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Scroll down to the “How to watch” section to see where it is available and which services you might have free access to
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Or just use the services App which defeats the whole purpose of the Apple TV app, but oh well.
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No, I'm not bitter. Why?
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Apple Arcade is a winner
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I lucked out and got early beta access to Apple Arcade and it's AMAZING
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I have been sampling a handful of the 64 titles that are currently available and so far each one has been unique, innovative, well designed, visually engaging, and most of all FUN.
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The quality of ALL the titles I have tried has been top notch
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Developers not having to pressure you for in app purchases or micro transactions has really let them focus on the gameplay and the result are stunning
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I ran across one title that does have a "Store", but it uses currency you earn during gameplay to let you "buy" more levels and content. It's an in game element, reward system, that makes the game more fun. It's not oppressive and soul crushing.
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Some titles I have tried so far:
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Sayonara Wild Hearts, Patterned, Shinsekai Deep Sea, Tint, Hot Lava, Where Cards Fall, Dear Reader
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There have only been a few downsides so far
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Not all titles seem to support external game controllers, though many do
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I can see storage becoming an issue. Some title do run in the 1GB+ range for storage
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The value here is real if you are a moderate level or up game player. It also might convert some more casual players into player that play more.
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I do have a small concern at what this might do to other titles outside the Arcade?
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best case scenario is devs see that there are MANY of us who HATE IAP and freemium and are willing to PAY to play.
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worst case, it pushes games out of the App Store or to more heavily adopt the "freemium" model to compete.
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I also have concern for the developers as there seems to be a lot of unanswered questions about how they make their money
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We know up front that Apple partnered with some developers even providing funding in some cases
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Do they each share a pool of money? How is it divided? Equally? By download? By playtime?
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What happens as the number of titles grow?
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Is it sustainable?
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Closing
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Supporters
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