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Welcome to the first installment of the MacLife.com Morning Report, where we’ll round up the latest and greatest news for your consumption each weekday as the sun rises. We’re kicking things off with a trio of Apple stories, including iTunes Festival’s return to merry old England this fall…
8th Annual iTunes Festival Coming to U.K. in September
Apple today announced that the annual iTunes Festival will once again be hopping across the pond this September for the eighth time in a row, taking over the legendary Roundhouse in the United Kingdom for an entire month.
“The iTunes Festival in London is back with another stunning line-up of world class performers and tremendous new acts,” remarked Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “These live shows capture the heart and soul of iTunes and we love bringing them to our customers in the Roundhouse, as well as to the millions of people watching all over the world for free.”
Featuring more than 60 acts, the event is entirely free, with tickets offered for U.K. residents by entering ballots on iTunes, or through a variety of media promotions from partners such as Global Radio and the London Evening Standard; music fans elsewhere in the world will also have a chance to win through local competitions.
For those unable to score tickets, iTunes Festival will once again be beamed live on demand to iOS devices, Apple TV, or computers with iTunes installed. This year’s lineup includes Maroon 5, Pharrell Williams, Beck, Sam Smith, Kylie, David Guetta, 5 Seconds of Summer, Calvin Harris, Blondie, Chrissie Hynde, Kasabian, Robert Plant, Kiesza, and Jungle, with others likely to be added in the coming weeks.
Intel Delays Affecting Rumored 12-Inch MacBook with Retina
MacRumors reported Friday that ongoing delays with Intel’s next Broadwell chips may have a ripple effect on the launch of Apple’s next MacBook as well. According to Taiwan’s Economic Daily News (via Google Translate), an “insufficient supply” of the 14-nanometer chips may force the Cupertino company to delay a rumored 12-inch version of the MacBook Pro with Retina Display to early or mid-2015, instead of a plum launch date this fall. Earlier rumors claim the notebook will feature a “redesigned ultrathin chassis” and “revamped trackpad design” that ditches the mechanical button, along with “quieter operation” from a “no-fan assembly.”
Apple Brings Two-Step Verification to 48 More Countries
Are you keeping your Apple ID safe with two-step verification? If not, Apple has given you one less excuse for not doing so by
