#picknroll

The company said Tuesday that it sold 47.5 million iPhones in the three months ended June 27, an increase of about 35% from a year earlier and more than double the tally from four years ago. The strong sales come in a traditionally weaker quarter for iPhones as consumers hold off on purchasing new models until the fall when Apple typically introduces them.

Apple Music bows down to Taylor

Taylor swift performed at BST

Taylor Swift has reversed her Apple stance.

The pop singer wrote on Twitter Thursday morning that her best-selling album “1989” will be available on the tech giant’s forthcoming streaming service, Apple Music. Apple Inc. confirmed the news. A representative for Swift’s label, Big Machine, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Swift made headlines over the weekend after posting an open letter to her Tumblr, criticizing the service because she said artists would receive no money during a an initial three-month free trial period for new users. “We don’t ask you for free iPhones,” she wrote. “Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.” In the letter she said she wouldn’t put “1989” on Apple Music; the album, which has been out for about nine months, hasn’t been available on competing streaming services such as Spotify AB or Google Play All Access.

The letter prompted Apple to reverse course, and pledge to pay artists when their songs were streamed during the free-trial period. Swift’s letter was applauded by the industry.

Many independent labels had held off from licensing Apple Music partly because they wanted royalties during the free trial period. Shortly after Apple’s reversal on the issue, several thousand independent labels struck deals with Apple.

The American Association of Independent Music, a trade group, said on Wednesday: “We thank Apple Music for hearing our concerns.”

As of mid-day on Thursday, Apple still hadn’t told the major record labels what it proposed paying them for their music during the free trial. But people close to those companies described the issue as largely symbolic, since Apple is likely to offer a relatively low rate during the temporary free trial, but is offering higher rates than competitors once users start paying $10 monthly subscription fees.

Microsoft Corp. CEO Satya Nadella continues to put his stamp on the company, announcing Wednesday an executive shuffle that involves the departure of former NokiaCorp. chief Stephen Elop.

Mr. Elop was the biggest surprise departure in the executive shuffle. Two other Microsoft executives, Kirill Tatarinov and Eric Rudder, will, like Mr. Elop “leave Microsoft after a designated transition period,” the company said in a news release. Separately, Mark Penn, who had served in a senior strategist role, is leaving Microsoft as well.

Mr. Elop’s departure is the latest sign Microsoft is hitting the reset button on its struggling smartphone hardware business. The more than $9 billion purchase of Nokia’s handset business—a deal struck by Mr. Nadella’s predecessor Steve Ballmer in late 2013—was supposed to make Microsoft a relevant player in smartphones.