Apple Music 11m, Mac Exploits, Keynote, Flash, ITunes Illegal In UK, Microsoft Sway

Apple Music reaches 11 million subscribers as Mac users face security threats

Apple Music, the streaming service launched by Apple in 2015, has reached 11 million subscribers as of February 2021, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The service offers access to millions of songs, curated playlists, live radio and exclusive content for a monthly fee of $9.99 or Â980.

Apple Music is available on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod and CarPlay devices. It also supports Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, which creates an immersive sound experience for compatible headphones and speakers[^1^].

However, not everything is rosy for Apple users. Recently, several security vulnerabilities have been discovered in Mac computers that could allow hackers to take control of the system or steal sensitive data. One of them is a zero-day exploit that affects macOS Big Sur 11.3 and earlier versions, which was disclosed by security researcher Cedric Owens on April 9[^2^]. Another one is a malware campaign that targets Mac users with fake Flash Player updates, which was reported by security firm Intego on April 15[^3^].

Apple has not yet released any patches for these issues, but it has advised users to update their software and avoid downloading files from untrusted sources. Users can also use antivirus software or firewall applications to protect their devices from malicious attacks.

In other news, Apple is expected to hold a special event on April 20, where it will announce new products and services. The event is titled \"Spring Loaded\" and will be streamed online at 10 a.m. PDT (2 a.m. JST). Some of the rumored announcements include new iPad Pro models, AirTags trackers, AirPods 3 earbuds and a subscription bundle called Apple One.

One of the features that could be unveiled at the event is Microsoft Sway, a web-based presentation tool that allows users to create interactive stories with text, images, videos and audio. Microsoft Sway is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of apps and services, which competes with Apple's iWork suite that includes Keynote, Pages and Numbers. Microsoft Sway is currently available on Windows, iOS and Android devices, but it could soon be compatible with Mac computers as well.

Meanwhile, iTunes, the popular media player and store that was launched by Apple in 2001, could soon be illegal in the UK due to a new law that bans ripping CDs and DVDs. The law, which was passed by the UK government in 2014 but has not yet been enforced, prohibits copying music or movies from physical discs to digital formats without permission from the rights holders. This could affect millions of iTunes users who have imported their CD collections to their iTunes libraries over the years.

Apple has not commented on the legal situation of iTunes in the UK, but it has been gradually phasing out the app in favor of separate apps for Music, TV and Podcasts on its devices. However, iTunes is still available for Windows users and for older versions of macOS. aa16f39245