Can Apple maintain iPod's relevance?
Long before the iPhone, the iPod was the device that helped transform Apple from computer company into a consumer electronics company.But today, the ubiquitous music player has become less relevant to the company that essentially owns that product category. Apple still sells three-fourths of all MP3 players sold, but multifunction gadgets like the iPhone and iPad are getting the most attention from Apple customers, not to mention the rest of the electronics industry, and bringing in more revenue than iPods these days.So when Apple convenes a special event in San Francisco to discuss music this Wednesday--as it has every September for the last five years--we think that Steve Jobs and Co. will touch on the iPod but also talk more broadly about media, including a more evolved iTunes and new ways to watch content in the living room.Apple's invitation to the event this year featured a picture of an acoustic guitar, complete with an Apple logo, naturally, and, as usual, it has prompted a guessing game.New iPods? New Apple TV? New streaming-video service? Perhaps all of the above. Here are some of our thoughts on what we think we might see and what we hope Apple will reveal on Wednesday morning.iTunes onlineWe've long imagined a Web-based version of iTunes that could store and organize all our music and media in the cloud without bogging down our computers. The full realization of this dream is probably still a ways off, but we think that Apple may take a big step in the right direction by opening a Web-based music store.Purchasing media through iTunes is a relatively archaic process that works in spite of the Web, not because of it. Currently, downloading music and media from the iTunes Store to your computer requires a sizable software download (with frequent updates) and a brain-numbing installation process. Competitors such as Amazon.com, Rhapsody, and eMusic all host their storefronts online, giving them several competitive advantages over iTunes. For example, online music content is more easily embeddable on artist pages, and links to purchase songs don't bounce users out of the browser. Currently, Apple includes listings for much of its media and app content online, however, these pages include scripts that automatically direct users to the iTunes desktop software or prompt users to download the software, if it isn't already installed. Even under the best circumstances, it's a bumpy ride.Steve Jobs introduces the updated iPod Touch at the 2009 event.Stephen Shankland/CNETHosting and indexing iTunes Store content online may give Apple an advantage in search, as well. Google's tendency to serve preferential music search results from online services such as Pandora, iLike, and Rhapsody may have little to do with corporate rivalry with Apple, and more to do with the fact that Apple's iTunes content simply does not live on the Web in any meaningful way. With Apple's acquisition of online-music retailer Lala in 2009, it would seem taht Apple has everything it needs to bring iTunes to the Web (at least for music downloads). For anyone who's breathed a heavy sigh every time they launch iTunes on a sluggish computer just to buy a 99-cent song, let's hope the time has come for iTunes to finally pull itself into the Web era.MobileMe for musicWhen Apple launched its online service MobileMe in 2008, it gave users a way to back up their photos, calendar, address book, e-mail, and other files online, for a $99 annual fee. Curiously, one type of media not covered by MobileMe is music.With Apple already in charge of the most popular way to purchase and organize digital-music collections (iTunes), it seems like a no-brainer to offer users a means to back up their iTunes libraries to the cloud. An online music locker would also potentially offer consumers a means to truly sync their music libraries across the multiple computers in their lives, regardless of location.Of course, music labels may have a thing or two to say about users making digital backups of their music collections online, but several online services, such as MP3tunes, Mspot, and Lala, have already broken ground with similar solutions. iPod TouchLike clockwork since introducing the iPod Touch in 2007, Apple has upgraded the device every year to almost match the most recent features of the iPhone. Nothing less is expected this year.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayThe new iPod Touch is widely expected to be fitted with the same bright "retina" display sported by the iPhone 4, introduced in June. Apple's special display technology has a native resolution of 960 by 640. That's 614,400 pixels on a 3.5-inch diagonal screen (326 pixels per inch), or four times as many pixels as contained in the 320x480 screen on the current-generation iPod Touch.There's also speculation, based in part on some wayward photos of iPod parts that wound up on the Internet, that the new iPod Touch will get a camera to enable video calling using the FaceTime software developed for the new iPhone 4.Steve Jobs also may have hinted that this was coming. At WWDC in June, while introducing FaceTime for iPhone, he later added, "Apple will ship tens of millions of FaceTime devices this year." If he were only speaking of iPhones, "tens of millions" would be an exaggeration--Apple has sold more than 3 million iPhone 4s with FaceTime installed (through early July), but to get to "tens" of millions by the end of December would be tough. By saying "devices" rather than phones, it makes sense that iPod Touches with FaceTime--which could sell in the millions, once released--might help boost those numbers.The major difference between an iPod Touch and an iPhone, however: you don't get a phone number. But, the rumor is that Apple will connect FaceTime calls, which are Wi-Fi-only now, anyway, via e-mail addresses. Nanos, Classics, and ShufflesApple's iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) may be getting all the attention, but their tried-and-true iPods still make up a healthy slice of Apple's business. Last year, Apple all but froze its designs for the iPod Classic, iPod Nano, and iPod Shuffle, making only slight changes to capacity, colors, and specs, as well as adding video camera capabilities to the iPod Nano. This year, we're hoping to see something a little more daring for Apple's sidelined iPods. It could be a touch-screen iPod Nano, or the inevitable iPod Shuffle that's too small for the human eye to see. Who knows?That said, the iPod Classic has probably hit its apex of design and capacity, and will likely stay unchanged or possibly disappear. Once you've named something "Classic," you don't change it much.iPad updatesApple promised that iPad users would receive an iOS 4 update in the fall, and now may be the perfect time to roll the update out. It seems unlikely, though, since Apple has yet to release a beta of iOS 4 for iPad to developers, which usually comes first. Still, next week's event could show us what's in store for the iPad, when the iOS 4 update does eventually hit later in the year. The checklist of things we'd like to see announced for iPad include: iTunes LP compatibility, iLife apps such as iMovie, iWeb, and GarageBand, and support for Apple's FaceTime video calls (at least as a receiver).Apple TVLong considered a "hobby" for Apple, Apple TV might get a snappy new look and price this week. There have been few changes to the streaming set-top box since its introduction in 2008, but a persistent rumor has been that it will get shrunk to the size of an iPod Touch/iPhone, be priced at $99, get outfitted with the homegrown A4 chip and iOS 4, do away with the 160GB mechanical hard drive, and scale down to 16GB of flash storage. There's also word that Apple could revert back to the original name for Apple TV, iTV, to bring it in line with the rest of the company's iDevices. Apple TV as it looks today.CNETThe current incarnation of Apple TV costs $229 and runs a stripped-down version of the company's desktop operating system, Mac OS X. Swapping out a touch-screen OS for the desktop OS would present a simpler way of running similar apps across all mobile devices, but the idea of doing away with a hard drive--which enables people to download and own lots of content--suggests more streaming of content to a new Apple TV. That could be done using app versions of Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, and most likely iTunes itself. But whether Apple has the necessary deals in place to enable streaming of video content has been unclear.TV rentalsPart of the update for iTunes--something possibly pegged to a revamped Apple TV--may be the ability to rent TV show episodes for 99 cents. It would be similar to the way you can already rent movies from iTunes--once rented, you have a specified amount of time to watch the content before it expires. Currently, you can only buy TV episodes for $1.99 for standard definition and $2.99 for HD.Several reports noted that Apple is working with CBS, NBC, Walt Disney, and News Corp. on instituting 99-cent rentals, though the deal did not appear to be sealed late last week. The TV show rental concept could be meant to replace the long-rumored iTunes subscription service, which Apple has been working on for at least five years.Apple's event starts Wednesday at 10 a.m. PDT, and we'll be live-blogging from the Yerba Buena Theater in San Francisco. Be sure to come back then for up-to-the-moment coverage.
Rafe recommends- Downcast smokes iTunes for podcasts
Rafe recommends: Downcast smokes iTunes for podcasts
I used to be a slave to iTunes. It's where I put my music and where I managed my podcast subscriptions. But times change, and Apple's apps don't change fast enough. For managing podcasts, there is a far better solution than sticking with the combo of iTunes and the Music app on your iOS device. Downcast is an upbeat little app that smokes Apple's own app in the podcast department.First of all, it's an integrated podcast player and manager. It's easy to find a podcast, subscribe to it, and play it all from one app. Yeah, you can already do that inside OS X iTunes on your Mac, but on iOS you have to leave the player app (Music) to go to the store app (iTunes) when you want to add a new podcast (there is a workaround for emergency podcast downloads from iOS, but it's clunky).And both the podcast subscription and playback functions work beautifully. Finding a podcast is fast in the app, or you can enter in its URL if you want to do that. Downcast downloads new episodes when you want: On demand, or when you're on wi-fi, or every hour, it's up to you. Downcast even makes playback special. You can use gestures to control the stream: A double-tap on the screen to pause or resume, a swipe left or right rewind or advance a few seconds, etc. I listen to podcasts in the car (using a Jawbone headset; when I update to a Bluetooth-equipped car I'll let you know) and not having to hunt around for tiny onscreen buttons is a big safety feature.Downcast is Airplay-friendly (so is the iOS Music app, of course). Sometimes after I'm part-way through listening to a podcast as I walk in the door at home, I throw the stream onto my stereo system (I have an Airport Express) to finish it up.The app is not iCloud friendly, however. If you have more than one iOS device, you have to subscribe to your podcasts on each of them, and you can't stop a show on one device and then pick it up on another. There's more to this app, including nice geeky features for podcast junkies. But despite the app's depth, for simply subscribing to and listening to podcasts, it is actually easier to use than Apple's solution. I paid for this app two weeks ago and have not regretted my purchase for a moment.Coming up soon: how to leave iTunes behind for music and videos, too.Gratuitous plug: You know what looks really good on Downcast? My own Reporters' Roundtable podcast.The endorsement: DowncastPlatform: iOS Universal appPrice: $1.99Summary: Forty billion times better than Apple's own patched-together podcast management solution. Well worth the price.Get it: Download.com | iTunes
I used to be a slave to iTunes. It's where I put my music and where I managed my podcast subscriptions. But times change, and Apple's apps don't change fast enough. For managing podcasts, there is a far better solution than sticking with the combo of iTunes and the Music app on your iOS device. Downcast is an upbeat little app that smokes Apple's own app in the podcast department.First of all, it's an integrated podcast player and manager. It's easy to find a podcast, subscribe to it, and play it all from one app. Yeah, you can already do that inside OS X iTunes on your Mac, but on iOS you have to leave the player app (Music) to go to the store app (iTunes) when you want to add a new podcast (there is a workaround for emergency podcast downloads from iOS, but it's clunky).And both the podcast subscription and playback functions work beautifully. Finding a podcast is fast in the app, or you can enter in its URL if you want to do that. Downcast downloads new episodes when you want: On demand, or when you're on wi-fi, or every hour, it's up to you. Downcast even makes playback special. You can use gestures to control the stream: A double-tap on the screen to pause or resume, a swipe left or right rewind or advance a few seconds, etc. I listen to podcasts in the car (using a Jawbone headset; when I update to a Bluetooth-equipped car I'll let you know) and not having to hunt around for tiny onscreen buttons is a big safety feature.Downcast is Airplay-friendly (so is the iOS Music app, of course). Sometimes after I'm part-way through listening to a podcast as I walk in the door at home, I throw the stream onto my stereo system (I have an Airport Express) to finish it up.The app is not iCloud friendly, however. If you have more than one iOS device, you have to subscribe to your podcasts on each of them, and you can't stop a show on one device and then pick it up on another. There's more to this app, including nice geeky features for podcast junkies. But despite the app's depth, for simply subscribing to and listening to podcasts, it is actually easier to use than Apple's solution. I paid for this app two weeks ago and have not regretted my purchase for a moment.Coming up soon: how to leave iTunes behind for music and videos, too.Gratuitous plug: You know what looks really good on Downcast? My own Reporters' Roundtable podcast.The endorsement: DowncastPlatform: iOS Universal appPrice: $1.99Summary: Forty billion times better than Apple's own patched-together podcast management solution. Well worth the price.Get it: Download.com | iTunes
Engineer predicts Apple's iTunes Radio will put an end to overly loud recordings
Engineer predicts Apple's iTunes Radio will put an end to overly loud recordings
I caught up with my old friend, mastering and recording engineer Bob Katz at the Audio Engineering Society convention held last week in NYC. He was there to proclaim an end to the "Loudness Wars," which refers to the overuse of dynamic range compression to flatten the soft-to-loud volume changes that naturally occur in music. Katz was way ahead of the pack in decrying the overzealous use of compression in mastering recordings, he has been in the trenches, fighting the good fight for more than 20 years. Katz is thrilled that Apple's new streaming music service, iTunes Radio, has Sound Check as the default setting (and cannot be turned off), and he thinks iTunes Radio sounds wonderful. As we asked Katz clarified his stance, he thinks the latest version of iTunes' Sound Check, version 11.1.1, on iTunes Radio, phones, computers and iPods marks the beginning of the end of the loudness wars. Mastering engineers will no longer have to overcompress because Sound Check maintains a more consistent volume level for a Miley Cyrus, Wilco or a Metallica tune on iTunes. You can turn off Sound Check on your computer or phone, but if you turn it on, Sound Check will provide a more consistent volume level from one tune to the next, even if one is maximally compressed, and the next tune has wide, soft-to-loud dynamic range. Sound Check doesn't compress dynamics, it automatically adjusts the volume level from one song to the next.Bob Katz in his studioMary KentWith iTunes Radio gaining in popularity, Katz hopes record companies will no longer feel a need to squash (compress) dynamics to ensure consistent volume level, which makes it more likely that labels will start to release recordings with their dynamics intact. Which is, after all, the way music sounds in real life. The iTunes Radio/Sound Check "breakthrough" is just the beginning; recordings that are already over compressed will still be over compressed, but on iTunes with Sound Check the heavily compressed songs won't be any louder than the more natural sounding ones. So the payoff, Katz hopes, will come when the engineers start to take full advantage of the technology. Katz went on to say, "There will be still some skirmishes (in the Loudness Wars), but the main battle has just been won. Producers, engineers and musicians will ultimately discover this news themselves, but journalists and producers can hasten the close of the war, starting right now." When I reminded Katz that a lot of listeners don't use iTunes, so the Loudness War may still have a few battles yet to be fought, he said, "There's going to be a transition period. We can never fully predict what's going to happen, that's why I set up a forum on my Web site where people can discuss the issue."
I caught up with my old friend, mastering and recording engineer Bob Katz at the Audio Engineering Society convention held last week in NYC. He was there to proclaim an end to the "Loudness Wars," which refers to the overuse of dynamic range compression to flatten the soft-to-loud volume changes that naturally occur in music. Katz was way ahead of the pack in decrying the overzealous use of compression in mastering recordings, he has been in the trenches, fighting the good fight for more than 20 years. Katz is thrilled that Apple's new streaming music service, iTunes Radio, has Sound Check as the default setting (and cannot be turned off), and he thinks iTunes Radio sounds wonderful. As we asked Katz clarified his stance, he thinks the latest version of iTunes' Sound Check, version 11.1.1, on iTunes Radio, phones, computers and iPods marks the beginning of the end of the loudness wars. Mastering engineers will no longer have to overcompress because Sound Check maintains a more consistent volume level for a Miley Cyrus, Wilco or a Metallica tune on iTunes. You can turn off Sound Check on your computer or phone, but if you turn it on, Sound Check will provide a more consistent volume level from one tune to the next, even if one is maximally compressed, and the next tune has wide, soft-to-loud dynamic range. Sound Check doesn't compress dynamics, it automatically adjusts the volume level from one song to the next.Bob Katz in his studioMary KentWith iTunes Radio gaining in popularity, Katz hopes record companies will no longer feel a need to squash (compress) dynamics to ensure consistent volume level, which makes it more likely that labels will start to release recordings with their dynamics intact. Which is, after all, the way music sounds in real life. The iTunes Radio/Sound Check "breakthrough" is just the beginning; recordings that are already over compressed will still be over compressed, but on iTunes with Sound Check the heavily compressed songs won't be any louder than the more natural sounding ones. So the payoff, Katz hopes, will come when the engineers start to take full advantage of the technology. Katz went on to say, "There will be still some skirmishes (in the Loudness Wars), but the main battle has just been won. Producers, engineers and musicians will ultimately discover this news themselves, but journalists and producers can hasten the close of the war, starting right now." When I reminded Katz that a lot of listeners don't use iTunes, so the Loudness War may still have a few battles yet to be fought, he said, "There's going to be a transition period. We can never fully predict what's going to happen, that's why I set up a forum on my Web site where people can discuss the issue."
The 404 673- Where we turn it off and on again (podcast)
The 404 673: Where we turn it off and on again (podcast)
Peter Ha from TIME Magazine's Techland joins us again today to wrap up a week's worth of stories, including yesterday's Facebook meltdown, Adidas sneakers inspired by Boba Fett, Wil Wheaton, Halo: Reach, Moleskines, and more!We kick off the show with Peter showing off his new limited-edition Star Wars X Adidas Originals ZX800 sneakers with side panels inspired by Boba Fett! You can see that the shoes are influenced by Boba Fett's weathered armor, and the special Mandalorian patches on the heels. Peter definitely made the right choice...the Adidas Chewbacca shoes from the same collection aren't quite as subtle.Peter also tells us about the news around Techland, and apparently actor Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation) is now writing for the Web site. Check out all of Wil's articles online, including The Evolution of E-mail Spam, Why I Hate DRM, and Recovering from W00tstock.Apparently CNET wasn't the only office that almost went up in smoke after Facebook mysteriously displayed a DNS error yesterday afternoon. Soon after, Facebook software engineering director Robert Johnson blamed the technical error on a change to the site that caused configuration value errors for every client, causing Facebook's clusters to be "overwhelmed by hundreds of thousands of queries a second.To fix this error, engineers utilized a classic troubleshooting method that's spanned a hundred of years of electrical design: turn it off, and then back on again. That's all it took, and while some users might still experienced intermittent errors over the next few days, the majority of us can sleep well knowing our profiles are still intact and open for liking.Today is the last day to sign up for our Twitter contest for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see "The Social Network" with The 404 next Tuesday, September 28. To enter, simply follow us @The404 and RETWEET THIS. You can also become a fan of The 404 Facebook Fan Page to enter, and while you're at it, add Peter Ha on Twitter as well!Episode 673PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Peter Ha from TIME Magazine's Techland joins us again today to wrap up a week's worth of stories, including yesterday's Facebook meltdown, Adidas sneakers inspired by Boba Fett, Wil Wheaton, Halo: Reach, Moleskines, and more!We kick off the show with Peter showing off his new limited-edition Star Wars X Adidas Originals ZX800 sneakers with side panels inspired by Boba Fett! You can see that the shoes are influenced by Boba Fett's weathered armor, and the special Mandalorian patches on the heels. Peter definitely made the right choice...the Adidas Chewbacca shoes from the same collection aren't quite as subtle.Peter also tells us about the news around Techland, and apparently actor Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation) is now writing for the Web site. Check out all of Wil's articles online, including The Evolution of E-mail Spam, Why I Hate DRM, and Recovering from W00tstock.Apparently CNET wasn't the only office that almost went up in smoke after Facebook mysteriously displayed a DNS error yesterday afternoon. Soon after, Facebook software engineering director Robert Johnson blamed the technical error on a change to the site that caused configuration value errors for every client, causing Facebook's clusters to be "overwhelmed by hundreds of thousands of queries a second.To fix this error, engineers utilized a classic troubleshooting method that's spanned a hundred of years of electrical design: turn it off, and then back on again. That's all it took, and while some users might still experienced intermittent errors over the next few days, the majority of us can sleep well knowing our profiles are still intact and open for liking.Today is the last day to sign up for our Twitter contest for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see "The Social Network" with The 404 next Tuesday, September 28. To enter, simply follow us @The404 and RETWEET THIS. You can also become a fan of The 404 Facebook Fan Page to enter, and while you're at it, add Peter Ha on Twitter as well!Episode 673PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Nintendo DS lookalike app hits the App Store
Nintendo DS lookalike app hits the App Store
Dubbed DS Double Sys, the iPhone app from ZM2 Dev "can turn your device into a 'Handheld Game Console.'"When users boot up the app, the DS's familiar design is featured on the screen, including its dual displays.App owners can change the color of the DS to match their real-life version, zoom in on individual screens, and even play games.ZM2 Dev said that gamers receiving higher scores on its Pixel Mania title will be able to unlock more DS colors and a "secret game."According to the app's App Store listing, more games, case colors, and microphone functionality will be made available at some point in the future.After fielding several complaints over its app-approval policy, it seems rather ironic that Apple would allow an app that looks (and works) exactly like a Nintendo DS into its App Store.That said, it could have something to do with the way the app works.Early last month, Apple rejected a Commodore 64 emulator called C64 that was trying to gain entry into its App Store.The app, which allowed owners to use Commodore BASIC, also allowed users to play authentic Commodore 64 titles.In a rejection notice sent to the app's developers, Apple cited section 3.2.2 of its iPhone Developer's Agreement, which states that "an application may not itself install or launch other executable code by any means."DS Double Sys is not, theoretically, an emulator.The game is a simulation of a Nintendo DS.That might have helped the app gain admission into the App Store.Regardless, it should be interesting to see how long it stays in the store.Nintendo can't be happy about an app that costs $4.99 depicting its hardware.And if more games are made available, it might cause even more trouble for the app's developers.Look for more news on this once Nintendo catches wind of it.Via Gizmodo (Link)
Dubbed DS Double Sys, the iPhone app from ZM2 Dev "can turn your device into a 'Handheld Game Console.'"When users boot up the app, the DS's familiar design is featured on the screen, including its dual displays.App owners can change the color of the DS to match their real-life version, zoom in on individual screens, and even play games.ZM2 Dev said that gamers receiving higher scores on its Pixel Mania title will be able to unlock more DS colors and a "secret game."According to the app's App Store listing, more games, case colors, and microphone functionality will be made available at some point in the future.After fielding several complaints over its app-approval policy, it seems rather ironic that Apple would allow an app that looks (and works) exactly like a Nintendo DS into its App Store.That said, it could have something to do with the way the app works.Early last month, Apple rejected a Commodore 64 emulator called C64 that was trying to gain entry into its App Store.The app, which allowed owners to use Commodore BASIC, also allowed users to play authentic Commodore 64 titles.In a rejection notice sent to the app's developers, Apple cited section 3.2.2 of its iPhone Developer's Agreement, which states that "an application may not itself install or launch other executable code by any means."DS Double Sys is not, theoretically, an emulator.The game is a simulation of a Nintendo DS.That might have helped the app gain admission into the App Store.Regardless, it should be interesting to see how long it stays in the store.Nintendo can't be happy about an app that costs $4.99 depicting its hardware.And if more games are made available, it might cause even more trouble for the app's developers.Look for more news on this once Nintendo catches wind of it.Via Gizmodo (Link)
DOJ- Apple colluded with publishers to raise e-book prices
DOJ: Apple colluded with publishers to raise e-book prices
Apple violated antitrust laws by colluding with book publishers to raise the price of e-books in an effort "to strip retailers of pricing authority," federal prosecutors said in a court filing released Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.In an antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in April 2012, the government accused Apple and five book publishers of conspiring to illegally fix e-book prices to boost profits and force e-book rival Amazon to abandon its discount pricing. All five of the publishers involved -- Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Simon & Schuster (owned by CBS, which publishes CNET), Macmillan Publishers, and Penguin Group -- have now settled.The prosecutors' filing, which was released Tuesday but originally filed on April 26, detailed e-mails and depositions of some of Apple's top brass, including the company's late founder Steve Jobs and Senior Vice President Eddy Cue, according to Bloomberg. In one published e-mail, Jobs told James Murdoch, then CEO of News Corp, the parent company of HarperCollins, that Apple's millions of customers could be an important asset to publishers. "Apple's iTunes Store and App Store have over 120 million customers with credit cards on file and have downloaded over 12 billion products," Jobs wrote, according to Bloomberg. "This is the type of online assets that will be required to scale the e-book business into something that matters to the publishers." For its part, Apple also filed a document with the court that was released to the public Tuesday and originally filed on April 26. In this document, the tech giant denied prosecutors' accusations and said no collusion took place but rather constant, detailed, one-on-one negotiations. "Early -- and constant -- points of negotiation and contention were over Apple's price caps and 30 percent commission. After Apple sent draft agency agreements to each publisher CEO on January 11, each immediately opposed Apple's price tiers and caps," Apple said its 81-page filing, according to Reuters.In March, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote ruled that Apple CEO Tim Cook must testify in the case if it goes to court. Currently, the case is set to go to trial in Manhattan in June.CNET contacted Apple for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.
Apple violated antitrust laws by colluding with book publishers to raise the price of e-books in an effort "to strip retailers of pricing authority," federal prosecutors said in a court filing released Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.In an antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in April 2012, the government accused Apple and five book publishers of conspiring to illegally fix e-book prices to boost profits and force e-book rival Amazon to abandon its discount pricing. All five of the publishers involved -- Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Simon & Schuster (owned by CBS, which publishes CNET), Macmillan Publishers, and Penguin Group -- have now settled.The prosecutors' filing, which was released Tuesday but originally filed on April 26, detailed e-mails and depositions of some of Apple's top brass, including the company's late founder Steve Jobs and Senior Vice President Eddy Cue, according to Bloomberg. In one published e-mail, Jobs told James Murdoch, then CEO of News Corp, the parent company of HarperCollins, that Apple's millions of customers could be an important asset to publishers. "Apple's iTunes Store and App Store have over 120 million customers with credit cards on file and have downloaded over 12 billion products," Jobs wrote, according to Bloomberg. "This is the type of online assets that will be required to scale the e-book business into something that matters to the publishers." For its part, Apple also filed a document with the court that was released to the public Tuesday and originally filed on April 26. In this document, the tech giant denied prosecutors' accusations and said no collusion took place but rather constant, detailed, one-on-one negotiations. "Early -- and constant -- points of negotiation and contention were over Apple's price caps and 30 percent commission. After Apple sent draft agency agreements to each publisher CEO on January 11, each immediately opposed Apple's price tiers and caps," Apple said its 81-page filing, according to Reuters.In March, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote ruled that Apple CEO Tim Cook must testify in the case if it goes to court. Currently, the case is set to go to trial in Manhattan in June.CNET contacted Apple for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.
Does streaming lift music sales-
Does streaming lift music sales?
Free streaming music turns people on to new music and encourages them to buy, says social-networking site Last.fm. In the music industry, this will not come as a huge revelation. Last.fm, acquired by CBS last May, announced Wednesday that since the company launched its on-demand streaming service two months ago, CD and download sales through its partnership with Amazon.com have more than doubled.So what does that mean? Music discovery continues to be one of digital music's greatest vulnerabilities. Nobody has come up with a sure or simple way to help people wade through the millions of tracks available on the Web. Last.fm's numbers seem to confirm long-held beliefs of many that enabling people to sample full-length tracks is one way to spur demand. So Last.fm can take pride in knowing it was early to an offering that some music fans might find useful--albeit one that isn't exclusive to Last.fm. Indeed, when it comes to allowing users to test drive music before they buy, Last.fm is definitely in the back seat. Imeem offers unlimited plays while London-based Last.fm only allows a user to listen to an individual song three times. In addition, MySpace.com is preparing to launch its own streaming service that will offer unlimited plays. Christian Ward, a Last.fm spokesman, said the company is talking to the labels about rolling back some of the restrictions, presumably the three-play rule. "We wanted to see how this service works first," Ward said. "(The spike in sales) will encourage more discussion about pushing those limits back." Ward added that his company isn't worried much about competitors. He said what separates Last.fm from the others is its music-discovery engine that can suggest songs based on what a user has listened to in the past. "Offering free access to music is one thing but finding your way through all that is another," Ward said. "Music discovery is a lot easier on Last.fm."
Free streaming music turns people on to new music and encourages them to buy, says social-networking site Last.fm. In the music industry, this will not come as a huge revelation. Last.fm, acquired by CBS last May, announced Wednesday that since the company launched its on-demand streaming service two months ago, CD and download sales through its partnership with Amazon.com have more than doubled.So what does that mean? Music discovery continues to be one of digital music's greatest vulnerabilities. Nobody has come up with a sure or simple way to help people wade through the millions of tracks available on the Web. Last.fm's numbers seem to confirm long-held beliefs of many that enabling people to sample full-length tracks is one way to spur demand. So Last.fm can take pride in knowing it was early to an offering that some music fans might find useful--albeit one that isn't exclusive to Last.fm. Indeed, when it comes to allowing users to test drive music before they buy, Last.fm is definitely in the back seat. Imeem offers unlimited plays while London-based Last.fm only allows a user to listen to an individual song three times. In addition, MySpace.com is preparing to launch its own streaming service that will offer unlimited plays. Christian Ward, a Last.fm spokesman, said the company is talking to the labels about rolling back some of the restrictions, presumably the three-play rule. "We wanted to see how this service works first," Ward said. "(The spike in sales) will encourage more discussion about pushing those limits back." Ward added that his company isn't worried much about competitors. He said what separates Last.fm from the others is its music-discovery engine that can suggest songs based on what a user has listened to in the past. "Offering free access to music is one thing but finding your way through all that is another," Ward said. "Music discovery is a lot easier on Last.fm."
Report- Foxconn workers charged for iPad 2 leaks
Report: Foxconn workers charged for iPad 2 leaks
Three employees of Foxconn, which manufactures Apple products and other electronics, are said to have been charged for violating the company's trade secret agreement by allegedly leaking design details of Apple's iPad 2 ahead of its release.Citing reporting from Chinese-language source Sznews, Digitimes says the three employees were arrested by local police in Shenzhen, China near the end of December of last year, and were formally charged last week. The alleged leaks gave several accessory makers time to draw up designs ahead of the iPad 2's unveiling. While some of those designs did not match up to what Apple eventually unveiled on March 2, a handful nailed features like the cameras, rounded back, relocated speaker and microphone, and thinner enclosure. Foxconn, which is part of Hon Hai Precision Industries, produces the iPhone, iPad, and MacBooks for Apple along with consumer electronics for other companies including, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Microsoft, Sony, and Samsung. The company employs more than a million workers in China, and is in talks with Brazil to expand its operations to South America as part of a reported $12 billion investment.Following controversy over worker suicides at the manufacturer, Apple, Dell and HPbegan investigations into working conditions. Apple released its report based on audits of 127 facilities back in February. Foxconn has since raised worker wages, with Apple working to train workers and supervisors alike in worker rights, labor laws, and safety measures.
Three employees of Foxconn, which manufactures Apple products and other electronics, are said to have been charged for violating the company's trade secret agreement by allegedly leaking design details of Apple's iPad 2 ahead of its release.Citing reporting from Chinese-language source Sznews, Digitimes says the three employees were arrested by local police in Shenzhen, China near the end of December of last year, and were formally charged last week. The alleged leaks gave several accessory makers time to draw up designs ahead of the iPad 2's unveiling. While some of those designs did not match up to what Apple eventually unveiled on March 2, a handful nailed features like the cameras, rounded back, relocated speaker and microphone, and thinner enclosure. Foxconn, which is part of Hon Hai Precision Industries, produces the iPhone, iPad, and MacBooks for Apple along with consumer electronics for other companies including, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Microsoft, Sony, and Samsung. The company employs more than a million workers in China, and is in talks with Brazil to expand its operations to South America as part of a reported $12 billion investment.Following controversy over worker suicides at the manufacturer, Apple, Dell and HPbegan investigations into working conditions. Apple released its report based on audits of 127 facilities back in February. Foxconn has since raised worker wages, with Apple working to train workers and supervisors alike in worker rights, labor laws, and safety measures.
Report- Backlit keyboards returning to MacBook Air
Report: Backlit keyboards returning to MacBook Air
It's not unusual for Apple to remove features in new versions of things. It happens in software, and it happens in the company's computers, too. One notable removal that accompanied the MacBook Air's overhaul last October was the nixing of the backlit keyboard--the feature that lights up the keys so you can see them in the dark. According to AppleInsider, the eyeball-friendly feature is making a comeback in the much-expected refresh of the MacBook Air line, which is the same update that's expected to bring Intel's Sandy Bridge Core i series processors, along with a Thunderbolt port to bring high-speed I/O connectivity.The MacBook Pro and iMac lines already received those last two features in updates earlier this year.Apple first introduced its backlit keyboard technology as a top-of-the-line feature in the 17-inch model of its PowerBook G4 notebook, later adding it to the rest of the Pro notebook line. The original MacBook Air, which made its debut at the Macworld expo in 2008, came with the feature from the get-go.In a poll last month, CNET readers voted it the second-most wanted feature in an updated Air, beating out Thunderbolt, a black version, and a mobile broadband antenna.Alleged part numbers for the new MacBook Air models, along with new versions of Apple's Mac Pro desktop towers, popped up yesterday. New versions of those products are expected to coincide with Lion, Apple's upcoming Mac OS X update, scheduled for release this month.
It's not unusual for Apple to remove features in new versions of things. It happens in software, and it happens in the company's computers, too. One notable removal that accompanied the MacBook Air's overhaul last October was the nixing of the backlit keyboard--the feature that lights up the keys so you can see them in the dark. According to AppleInsider, the eyeball-friendly feature is making a comeback in the much-expected refresh of the MacBook Air line, which is the same update that's expected to bring Intel's Sandy Bridge Core i series processors, along with a Thunderbolt port to bring high-speed I/O connectivity.The MacBook Pro and iMac lines already received those last two features in updates earlier this year.Apple first introduced its backlit keyboard technology as a top-of-the-line feature in the 17-inch model of its PowerBook G4 notebook, later adding it to the rest of the Pro notebook line. The original MacBook Air, which made its debut at the Macworld expo in 2008, came with the feature from the get-go.In a poll last month, CNET readers voted it the second-most wanted feature in an updated Air, beating out Thunderbolt, a black version, and a mobile broadband antenna.Alleged part numbers for the new MacBook Air models, along with new versions of Apple's Mac Pro desktop towers, popped up yesterday. New versions of those products are expected to coincide with Lion, Apple's upcoming Mac OS X update, scheduled for release this month.
Report- Apple's 30-year ban at California resort lifted
Report: Apple's 30-year ban at California resort lifted
Thirty years is a long time to suffer for the bad behavior of a few young and boisterous tech workers. But after being permanently banned from the posh La Playa Carmel resort in 1983 for an evening of skinny-dipping and other misdeeds, Apple executives appear to be back in the fold.According to SFGate, the new ownership of the La Playa Carmel has decided to extend an olive branch, and Apple seemingly has booked an event there.Welcome back, Apple: All is forgiven.That was the message from the new owner of the recently restored La Playa Carmel, where Cupertino's i-Thingies company has booked its first meeting since a raucous Macintosh team retreat in 1983 that reportedly included skinny-dipping and led the previous owners to ban further Apple gatherings.Author Frank Rose memorialized the hijinks in his book "West of Eden: The End of Innocence at Apple Computer," writing that the 1983 retreat was like a "college beer bash" and noting that some of the hotel's guests were none too pleased with the behavior. As a result, the whole team was asked to leave the following day and never come back.According to the SFGate report, La Playa Carmel's new ownership seems to recognize the value of having Apple as a client. The resort, located in Carmel, Calif., is about three hours south of San Francisco. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.It does appear that the hotel still has a pool. So future guests, beware: Apple is back.
Thirty years is a long time to suffer for the bad behavior of a few young and boisterous tech workers. But after being permanently banned from the posh La Playa Carmel resort in 1983 for an evening of skinny-dipping and other misdeeds, Apple executives appear to be back in the fold.According to SFGate, the new ownership of the La Playa Carmel has decided to extend an olive branch, and Apple seemingly has booked an event there.Welcome back, Apple: All is forgiven.That was the message from the new owner of the recently restored La Playa Carmel, where Cupertino's i-Thingies company has booked its first meeting since a raucous Macintosh team retreat in 1983 that reportedly included skinny-dipping and led the previous owners to ban further Apple gatherings.Author Frank Rose memorialized the hijinks in his book "West of Eden: The End of Innocence at Apple Computer," writing that the 1983 retreat was like a "college beer bash" and noting that some of the hotel's guests were none too pleased with the behavior. As a result, the whole team was asked to leave the following day and never come back.According to the SFGate report, La Playa Carmel's new ownership seems to recognize the value of having Apple as a client. The resort, located in Carmel, Calif., is about three hours south of San Francisco. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.It does appear that the hotel still has a pool. So future guests, beware: Apple is back.
Report- Apple slips in mobile market, remains in top five
Report: Apple slips in mobile market, remains in top five
Despite ZTE's surge, the horse race to win one of top five spots in shipments and market share is one that can easily change from quarter to quarter, IDC noted."Change-up among the number four and five vendors could be a regular occurrence this year," Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Devices Technology and Trends team, said in a statement. "Motorola, Research In Motion, and Sony Ericsson--all vendors with a tight focus on the fast-growing smartphone market who had ranked among the top five worldwide vendors during 2010--are well within striking distance to move back into the top five list."Overall, the global mobile phone market rose 17.9 percent in the fourth quarter compared with 2009's final quarter. Collectively, vendors shipped 401.4 million units in the quarter versus 340.5 million a year ago.For 2010 as a whole, the industry saw shipments of 1.39 billion units, a jump of 18.5 percent from the 1.17 billion shipped in 2009.The surge in annual shipments came courtesy of an improved economy and a wider selection of more affordable smartphones, helping the industry enjoy its highest annual growth rate since 2006.Looking ahead, the worldwide mobile phone market will continue to be boosted by demand for smartphones."Feature phone users looking to do more with their devices will flock to smartphones in the years to come," Kevin Restivo, a senior IDC research analyst, said in a statement. "This trend will help drive the smartphone sub-market to grow 43.7 percent year over year in 2011."
Despite ZTE's surge, the horse race to win one of top five spots in shipments and market share is one that can easily change from quarter to quarter, IDC noted."Change-up among the number four and five vendors could be a regular occurrence this year," Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Devices Technology and Trends team, said in a statement. "Motorola, Research In Motion, and Sony Ericsson--all vendors with a tight focus on the fast-growing smartphone market who had ranked among the top five worldwide vendors during 2010--are well within striking distance to move back into the top five list."Overall, the global mobile phone market rose 17.9 percent in the fourth quarter compared with 2009's final quarter. Collectively, vendors shipped 401.4 million units in the quarter versus 340.5 million a year ago.For 2010 as a whole, the industry saw shipments of 1.39 billion units, a jump of 18.5 percent from the 1.17 billion shipped in 2009.The surge in annual shipments came courtesy of an improved economy and a wider selection of more affordable smartphones, helping the industry enjoy its highest annual growth rate since 2006.Looking ahead, the worldwide mobile phone market will continue to be boosted by demand for smartphones."Feature phone users looking to do more with their devices will flock to smartphones in the years to come," Kevin Restivo, a senior IDC research analyst, said in a statement. "This trend will help drive the smartphone sub-market to grow 43.7 percent year over year in 2011."
Report- Apple, RIM losing market share to Android
Report: Apple, RIM losing market share to Android
The explosive growth of Android phones at the expense of the competition has been noted by several market researchers. Recent reports from Gartner and IDC both forecast Android's market share as surpassing Apple's by 2014. Another study from Quantcast has also tracked the gains in Android against Apple.Although rivals may have shed market share to Android, overall smartphone platforms are still scooping up more subscribers in total as demand continues to surge. For the three months ending in July, 53.5 million people in the U.S. owned a smartphone, an 11 percent jump from the prior three-month period, ComScore said.In a broader look at the wireless segment, ComScore also ranked all mobile phone makers in the U.S. market. Samsung took the top spot with a 23.1 percent of the market for the period, a gain of 1 percentage point. In second place was LG with a 21.2 percent share (down 0.6 point), followed by Motorola with a 19.8 percent share (down 1.8 points), RIM with 9 percent (0.6 point), and Nokia with 7.8 percent (down 0.3 point).What are people doing with their mobile phones these days besides talking? Texting was the most popular activity, according to ComScore, with 66 percent of mobile users sending text messages on their devices. That was followed by Web browsing (33.6 percent), using a downloaded app (31.4 percent), playing games (22.3 percent), accessing social networks and blogs (21.8 percent), and listening to music (14.7 percent).
The explosive growth of Android phones at the expense of the competition has been noted by several market researchers. Recent reports from Gartner and IDC both forecast Android's market share as surpassing Apple's by 2014. Another study from Quantcast has also tracked the gains in Android against Apple.Although rivals may have shed market share to Android, overall smartphone platforms are still scooping up more subscribers in total as demand continues to surge. For the three months ending in July, 53.5 million people in the U.S. owned a smartphone, an 11 percent jump from the prior three-month period, ComScore said.In a broader look at the wireless segment, ComScore also ranked all mobile phone makers in the U.S. market. Samsung took the top spot with a 23.1 percent of the market for the period, a gain of 1 percentage point. In second place was LG with a 21.2 percent share (down 0.6 point), followed by Motorola with a 19.8 percent share (down 1.8 points), RIM with 9 percent (0.6 point), and Nokia with 7.8 percent (down 0.3 point).What are people doing with their mobile phones these days besides talking? Texting was the most popular activity, according to ComScore, with 66 percent of mobile users sending text messages on their devices. That was followed by Web browsing (33.6 percent), using a downloaded app (31.4 percent), playing games (22.3 percent), accessing social networks and blogs (21.8 percent), and listening to music (14.7 percent).
Why Are TV Series Based on Movies More Acceptable Than Feature Remakes
Many of us have our thoughts on the whole remake, reboot and sequel/prequel machine that Hollywood has become. Bankrupt of creativity, the studios are constantly rehashing or extending properties instead of coming up with something new. Maybe you hate them all on principal, as a lot of people seem to. Maybe you make some exceptions (The Thing, The Fly, The Departed) but mostly despise that sense of laziness from the industry. And maybe you couldn;t care less about what happens on television. The last maybe is worth discussing right now because it appears a TV show based on a movie is announced daily, if not twice daily. For instance, today has seen both an American Psycho sequel series and a Man on Fire series adaptation in the news. The former seems to fit with all the shows based on or related to specifically horror movies, thanks to the success of both Bates Motel and Hannibal. It helps that, as with these two shows, if they;re actually well done. They ruin Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs less than their respective sequels, prequels and remakes do partly because the quality is better. But it;s also that they;re another medium, even if one that;s especially now rather similar. Just as we don;t have as much problem with novel series or comic book series or a lot of merchandising based on our favorite movies, we shouldn;t care about TV series. For years and years, we didn;t. Whether it was a cartoon like Back to the Future: The Animated Series or Beetlejuice, the latter of which really altered the premise, or a dumb sitcom like Ferris Bueller or Weird Science or Uncle Buck (hmm, all Hughes properties), it;s like, eh, who cares? Plus, then, like with movie remakes and sequels, sometimes they;re decent, maybe even more popular than the movie. Buffy the Vampire Slayer,The Odd Couple, M*A*S*H, Catfish and the current Parenthood series, for example, and prematurely what we hope for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Maybe that last one will turn out to actually be awful and feel like it ruins the Avengers movies as a result. Of course, that;s actually tied to the movies in a crossover way. But if it sucks, and a lot of other shows based on Blade Runner, Bad Teacher, Heathers,Reality Bites,Rambo and El Mariachi, etc., suck too, we may have a more heated response to each one that;s announced. I have to put it out there, though, that the Harry and the Hendersons show kinda ruined the movie for me. Now I;m more game for a reboot. Which is more acceptable, your favorite movie being redone as a TV series or movie? Here are some responses received so far via Twitter: @thefilmcynic Option C) Mini-series. A fun format that doesn;t stretch itself too thin. — PeterSHall (@PeterSHall) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic a movie so we can ignore it and don;t have to be reminded every week of the TV series. — FirstTimeWatchers (@1sttimewatchers) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic Both are unthinkable, but if The Godfather 1 & 2 had to get remade, I;d rather it be a 13-episode series on Showtime or HBO. — Kyle Ailinger (@KAilinger) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic In my case (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), an HBO or Showtime show would be incredible with those characters. — Cameron Carpenter (@Lumetian) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic TV series. Perfect example: HANNIBAL, the series is better than RED DRAGON in so many ways. — Marcelo J. Pico (@FramedPanda) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic i think the TV series is the obviously more acceptable. — justin robinson (@jrsuicide) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic remakes almost always suck & you;ve had lots of great tv shows based on movies (MASH, Parenthood, Buffy, Friday Night Lights) — justin robinson (@jrsuicide) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic TV format allows for more creative exploration of a movies characters or story where as a remake is usually a poor copy. — justin robinson (@jrsuicide) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic this is obviously not universally true, but in general i would much rather see a TV series based on a film than a remake. — justin robinson (@jrsuicide) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic TV series for sure. I;m kind of excited to see what they will do with American Phycho. — Thaddaeus Immink (@ThaddaeusImmink) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic even when they were talking about about a TV series in which Boba Fett worked up the crime climb ladder got me stoked. — Thaddaeus Immink (@ThaddaeusImmink) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic depends. TV format is excellent but shows are hindered by money and effects. A&E has proven zombies are better for tv and... — Aaron E Jungling (@Ajungling) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic and comic book movies would be better on TV but writing, and effects have been poor in previous ventures. — Aaron E Jungling (@Ajungling) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic TV Series as long as it;s on HBO or Showtime. — John Andrews (@Jandies1) September 10, 2013 Join in the next discussion: and
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