To further its in-house video catalog, Apple is reportedly about to ink a deal to create its first animated film. Bloomberg reports that Apple is currently in talks with Ireland-based animation studio Cartoon Saloon. The movie in question has yet to be created and is reportedly more than a year from release, but Apple has been looking to buy distribution rights in the U.S. as well as other countries. Right now, it’s unclear how Apple plans on releasing the film — whether that’s online only or in theaters....

Advertisers looking to make automated ad purchases on Apple’s iTunes Radio platform will finally be able to do so thanks to changes the company is rolling out now. While in-app iAds have been available for automated targeting for some time now, audio ads that run on free iTunes Radio accounts have always only been available through Apple’s sales representatives. Enhanced customer targeting is also being added to the iAd offering. User phone numbers and email addresses can be anonymously compared against advertisers’ in-house data....

Apple is now offering its annual Boxing Day sale for Canadians with select discounts on albums and songs through the iTunes store. The sale is accessible through the iTunes store on both iOS devices and on the desktop in Canada and will likely remain available through at least Dec. 26, the day officially recognized in Canada and elsewhere as Boxing Day. Retailers typically hold Black Friday-type event for Boxing Day with many sales lasting the week of Dec....

There have been many signs over the years that the music business has changed from one where people buy music to one where they only rent it, but Warner has just become the first major music label to cross that line. Recode reports that streaming now earns the company more money than music sales. The company revealed that revenue from physical sales fell by $6M, downloads were down by $17M but streaming was up by a massive $72M for the quarter....

The Mac/PC is no longer the hub of your digital world according to Steve Jobs and while the traditional computer was demoted to just a ‘device’, iOS devices did get some promotions at WWDC this week as well. One notable addition is that you can set up an Apple Airport or Time Capsule from an iOS 5 device, like in the screenshots above. Let’s just say this one more time: No Mac Needed....

Update: Apple says it will appeal. We may have finally reached the finale in Apple’s years-long patent case with VirnetX. The firm announced on Monday that it was awarded $439.7 million in its case against Apple over patents it claims Apple used for iMessage and FaceTime. The firm’s announcement highlights that the court sided with it on all motions filed: VirnetX’s case started picking up steam last year when the firm was seeking $532 million over patents related to FaceTime, iMessage, and VPN....

Apple innovation grants worth $5 million each have been given to four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The grants are geared to silicon engineering, including chip design, and students also get access to Apple engineers. The funding, announced today, is part of Apple’s $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative … USA Today reports. It comes at a time when the US government is planning a $52 billion investment in US chip production to help address the global shortage....

Apple has been working with several third-party App Store developers at its Cupertino, California offices to assist developers in finishing up applications for the upcoming Apple Watch. Development and design representatives from dozens of different development firms have visited Apple last week, or are coming to Cupertino this week, to work with Apple engineers to finish up WatchKit-based applications. One source claims that Apple is holding workshops for over 100 different developers across February....

Apple has launched a dedicated Facebook page for Beats 1, the free worldwide Apple Music radio station run by human hosts, unlike other Apple Music stations which are generated by computer algorithms and require an Apple Music streaming subscription. The new Beats 1 account is currently highlighting Zane Lowe’s exclusive interview with Lady Gaga, featuring video snippets and quotes. Although the page is not yet verified on Facebook, the account’s legitimacy is confirmed as the verified Apple Music account shared a post from the Beats 1 page....

Apple’s dramatically smaller bluetooth wireless keyboard that debuted alongside the redesigned iMac is not just thinner but it also loses the number pad arrow keys and that little area with “Help”, Home” etc. Size-wise it is very similar to just lifting the MacBook keyboard off of its body and carting it around. This isn’t a device for the desk. This is a remote control. Obviously a good fit for the iMac that is an entertainment device....

In an ongoing effort to bring people into the Apple Pay ecosystem, Apple is now offering $15 off at 1-800-Flowers when checking out with its mobile payment service. Just in time for Valentines Day, Apple is giving users a $15 discount at the merchant when checking out with Apple Pay. This offer is valid online, or through the app, making it the first Apple Pay promo to be available both in-app and online....

Another interesting development that has emerged from Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder’s meeting is a new iOS game, Warren Buffett’s Paper Wizard. Notably, Apple helped out with the development and holds the rights to the new free game. As reported by CNN (via MacRumors), Tim Cook had some fun with Warren Buffett and at the start of the shareholder’s meeting on Saturday and appeared in a lighthearted video as Buffett was trying to brainstorm app ideas:...

Apple has placed a heavy focus on the Activity functionality of Apple Watch, using it throughout its marketing for the device and encouraging users to take advantage of it with challenges and sharing. Internally, however, Apple has taken things a step further and has been running a #CloseTheRings competition, offering free physical goods such as t-shirts and pins. As detailed in a report from French website WatchGeneration, Apple has internally organized a program offering retail and corporate employees physical rewards for filling their rings....

Apple has released iOS 10 beta 8 for developers to test on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iOS 10 brings a refreshed look to Apple Music and News plus loads of new features to the platform. The software update will be ready for everyone likely sometime next month, and we’ll dig through the eight developer version of the iOS 10 beta below. The seventh public beta version of iOS 10 is also available....

Update: Apple has removed the job listing from its website, but we grabbed a screenshot below. Apple appears to be investigating the use of thin film solar technology for future mobile products with a new job listing on the company’s website looking to hire an engineer with experience in the solar industry. The thin films engineer would join Apple’s Mobile Devices group and “assist in the development and refinement of thin films technologies applicable to electronic systems....

Following a report from Strategy Analytics earlier this month that had Apple as the No.1 mobile phone vendor in the United States for the first time, research firm comScore is out today with its stats for the three-month period ending in December 2012. ComScore looked at the top smartphone subscribers by OEM and the top smartphone platforms, which doesn’t include mobile phones other than smartphones like Strategy Analytics’ report. According to the report, Apple was able to increase its share from 34....

This September, one of Apple’s top stores in the U.S. will once again host a series of music leaders with the goal of supporting local arts communities. The second annual Chicago Music Industry Summit at Apple Michigan Avenue has been announced with registration for the first two weeks of sessions now live. Apple describes the Chicago Music Industry Summit as a time to “connect with others and tap into creative resources to help further your career in music and the arts....

Although you can enable Lossless with any pair of headphones in the Settings app, an Apple spokesperson has told us that “Lossless doesn’t work over Bluetooth.” In order to experience the Lossless songs, users need a good, wired headphone. In other words, none of the AirPods work with Lossless. But what about AirPods Max? Well, we asked Apple about it too since users can plug in a Lightning cable with a 3....

Apple has shifted the role of one of its longtime marketing executives. Bloomberg reports this evening that Frank Casanova has moved from leading iPhone marketing to heading up Apple’s marketing for augmented reality. Casanova has been at Apple for 30 years. He led marketing for the original iPhone’s launch, spearheading efforts with carrier promotions. He also worked on developing older things such as QuickTime. According to Casanova’s LinkedIn, he is “responsible for all aspects of Product Marketing for Apple’s Augmented Reality initiative....

Foxconn’s bid to acquire a share of Toshiba’s chip unit seems to be turning into something of a Who’s Who of the tech industry. After confirming that Apple’s participation in the bid had now been approved by Tim Cook and the full board, Foxconn CEO Terry Gou has named other companies who may join … A Reuters report named three further companies apparently considering backing Foxconn’s bid. It’s still not clear whether the tech companies would be making individual bids for shares in Toshiba’s chip-making business, or providing funds to Foxconn to support a single bid, but the latest report does seem to suggest the former approach....