Apple Wants to Kill Free Music Streaming
Earlier this week, The Verge
reports that the Department of Justice (DoJ) is looking into Apple\'s business practices ahead of the rumored Beats Music revamp and integration into iOS. The DoJ has already taken interviews of highly-ranked music industry executives about the matter. Apple\'s "aggressive tactics" has gotten the attention of the DoJ, which contradicts with Apple\'s push to kill free music streaming services such as Spotify, cites multiple sources. If the company does take on this move, they have a potential of killing services such as YouTube, Rdio and Pandora. The report goes onto say that Apple is “using its considerable power in the music industry” to stop labels from renewing its deal with Spotify to stream music free. “Sources also indicated that Apple offered to pay YouTube’s music licensing fee to Universal Music Group if the label stopped allowing its songs on YouTube." Alongside its music streaming service, which, presumably is going to be running under the iTunes brand, Apple tried to reduce the price on its upcoming streaming service. Typically, services like Spotify or Rdio offer its premium unlimited ad-free service at $9.99, though Apple is trying to push a reported failed pricing of $7.99.
If you take a peek at Apple\'s Online Store you\'ll see that Apple is preparing to offer the Watch in-store in the United States and other launch countries, listing that the Watch is "available soon" on the Apple Store iOS app and Apple Online Store. The option is greyed and is not selectable by the user. 
Up until this point, all Apple Watch orders including Watch bands must be ordered online, exclusively. Soon, customers will be able to order online and pick up their Watches in store. Upon arriving at the Apple Store, customers will be required to provide valid government photo ID and must match the name on the reservation and product. Apple originally planned to offer the Watch in-store, but due to manufacturing issues and high demand, the company revoked the idea.
