Apple

Apple have updated GarageBand for iOS, adding some serious new music-making features. The popular iOS app has added a Sound Library featuring downloadable loops, one-shots and packs for your projects.

There’s also a new Beat Sequencer instrument inspired by classic drum machines like the 808 and 909 and the display has been adapted for Super Retina devices. New drummers for extra grooves and a new group of Asian Touch instruments including Koto, Taiko Drums and Guzheng round off the update.

Apple unveiled a new voice-activated smart speaker dubbed HomePod during this year’s developer conference in California. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said the device will “reinvent home audio”.

The device comes equipped with Siri and shares the iPhone 6 processor, Apple’s A8 chip. It will work seamlessly with Apple Music and the tech giant’s HomeKit.

For Amazon Echo and Sonos users, the HomePod has the capabilities (and enhanced security features) to replace both. For those seeking stereo sound, or multi-room audio, Apple’s new AirPay 2 will make that feasible.

Apple has announced that it is launching new iMac Pro and iPad Pro models.

The new iMac Pro will land at the end of the year with a starting price of $4,999.

Billed as “the most powerful Mac ever”, the top of the range model will feature an 18-core processor that supports up to 4TB of SSD memory and comes with a 5K 27" retina display.

The music community will be also happy to know that the new iMac Pro also ships with a good selection of connection options, unlike the recent MacBook Pro upgrade, which dropped all of the legacy connectors.

Sonos has announced a 25% increase in UK prices, thanks to Brexit and a weakening pound.

Whilst the effects of the UK’s decision to leave the EU have largely yet to be felt, one major change has happened — the collapse in the value of the pound versus the dollar.

FL Studios is still set to land on Mac OS X.

Apple fans are a step closer to getting popular loop-based music creation programme, FL Studio, on Mac computers — though a finalised release date for the new softwear is still unconfirmed. 

Image Line, the tech developer behind FL Studio, has released a survey to aid in getting FL Studio ready for a Mac release, by asking a selection of FL Studio fans to take part — you can check out the survey via their site. 

Brexit is set to cause nearly a 25% increase in the price of Mac and iOS apps from the UK App Store, reflecting the sudden collapse of the pound. Price increases are also expected to hit other facets of Apple, such as the iTunes Store.

The new prices highlight the changing value of the pound against the US dollar. For example, an app that costs $0.99 in the US used to cost £0.79 in the UK; but will now upswing to £0.99.

Algoriddim has released djay Pro for iPhone. The popular DJ app and winner of two Apple Design Awards has been redesigned from the ground up for iPhone 7, taking advantage of the phone's unique capabilities such as haptic feedback and 3D Touch. 

With Haptic Feedback and 3D Touch djay Pro provides unique feedback on its high definition waveforms so users can literally feel the beats while scratching and scrubbing the music. And with 3D Touch, users can precisely set a cue point without having to lift up their finger while interacting with the waveforms.

Yes, you read that correctly. Apple's new upcoming iOS 10.2 update is set to include male and female emojis based upon the late, great David Bowie.

The "singer" characters (ebowji anyone?) will sport the iconic lightning bolt from Bowie's 1973 album 'Aladdin Sane'. Other new emojis will include a face palm, shrug and fist pump, plus a host of new foods, animals and professions.

As if confirming out regression into a heiroglyphic state, New York's MoMA gallery also recently added 176 original emojis to its permanent collection. Who needs words anyway?