An Apple watch? The hints have been out there
Apple has strongly hinted that it will enter new product categories in 2014. And it's about time -- not in the sense that it's been too long, but in the sense that the timing follows a pattern of a major new product category every few years. Two of the most oft-speculated devices for the Apple queue are a television and a watch (known by its rumor-mill shorthand as the "iWatch").The company's recent video service moves beyond offering just Netflix and iTunes -- the addition of many streaming services on Apple TV such as Qello, Vevo, Crackle, Hulu Plus, ESPN, and PBS -- have led some to speculate that Apple is gearing up to launch a television; such a product would likely depend on Apple being able to put together a broadband video delivery service, the kind of which eluded Intel.An iWatch with the look of a fitness band...See full gallery1 - 4 / 7NextPrevBut one doesn't need to find evidence of a team of 100 people working in secret at Apple to develop a connected timepiece. One can find far more signs of the company gearing up to launch a watch and of the kinds of content we might expect to see on it by just looking at some other product decisions it has made.In 2011, you could get a Mickey Mouse watch skin for your iPod Nano.AppleiPod Nano. Apple first flirted with the idea of a watch with the sixth generation of an iPod Nano that included watch faces; more of these were added with the seventh generation device. These spurred a number of add-on watch bands that sprang up on Kickstarter. Some of these, like the LunaTik, were Kickstarter successes. Others like the Syre, which brought Bluetooth to the Nano, burned through all their funds and never shipped to backers. But in any case, the iPod Nano -- never having really been designed to be a watch -- didn't provide a great watch experience. Apple switched back to a larger, multitouch design that looked like a baby iPod Touch. Still, the idea of an Apple watch certainly aroused interest.iPhone. When the iPhone was announced, Apple noted that it was based on OS X. And to help prove the point of all the OS X features that it supported, it included widgets, the mini programs that were available at the touch of a keystroke. The idea had origins in some of the earliest days of the Mac OS, which featured "desk accessories" such as an alarm clock and calculators that were available from the Apple menu. However, the iPhone widgets were not really widgets in the OS X or Android sense; they were just other, simpler apps. An Apple watch could fill in the gap, allowing true widgets to be available without disrupting what's on the watch screen.Mac. Speaking of widgets, Dashcode was Apple's easy-to-use development language for creating OS X widgets. Or at least it was until Apple ceased its use last year. What might replace Dashcode? Perhaps a system for creating widgets that would run on OS X, be suitable for iPhone widgets, and operate on one's wrist.Bluetooth. Throughout its product line, Apple has embraced Bluetooth and abstained from near-field communications (NFC). It was the first of the major mobile ecosystem providers to use Bluetooth LE in its phone lineup (which admittedly was a lot easier for a company with so few phones). Bluetooth LE has been a key technology for companies contemplating devices like the Fitbit One and Pebble watch that need wireless connectivity but which have to operate for days or weeks at a time. Via the iBeacon technology that Apple has integrated into iOS 7, a watch could obtain information about many objects in its immediate location or even confirm transactions.We still won't know for sure what Apple's actual iWatch plans are until Tim Cook pulls one out of his pocket on a stage in front of an enthralled audience. But before Apple asks you to make room for such a product on your wrist, it has certainly made room for a smartwatch in its product line.
iOS app makers targeted in patent spat
iOS app makers targeted in patent spat
In Computer LogicX's case, the U.S. patent is No.7,222,078, which Macrumors discovered is owned by holding firm Lodsys. That patent, titled "methods and systems for gathering information from units of a commodity across a network," was acquired by the firm in 2004, and deals with the set up and completion of a transaction.A snippet from the patent attempts to sum up what the invention is about:"Simply put, this invention helps vendors and customers by transforming their learning cycle: It compresses the time and steps between setting business objectives, creating effective products and services, and improving them continuously. It also alters their roles: Customers become partners in the improvement process along with vendors and distributors."Rob Gloess of Computer LogicX weighed in on the matter in an e-mail to Macrumors, saying the patent holder was taking aim specifically at an upgrade mechanism that involves in-app purchasing. Users hit a button in a free, "lite" version of a Computer LogicX app to download and pay for the premium version."Our app, Mix and Mash, has the common model of a limited, free, lite version and a full version that contains all the features," Gloess told the site. "We were told that the button that users click on to upgrade the app, or rather link to the full version on the app store, was in breach of U.S. patent No. 7222078. We couldn't believe it, the upgrade button!?!"Lodsys did not immediately respond to a request for comment as to whether it is cautioning other developers on the use of the technology. And it's not clear why, exactly, the firm chose to single out Computer LogicX (and perhaps Thomson). Thomson hasn't officially named the party who sent him the cease and desist letter, but he hinted it might be Lodsys. The developer says he's waiting to hear back from Apple on the matter before making the information public. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the situation.Apple introduced in-app purchasing in early 2009, and later that year enabled the feature to work inside of free applications. The feature was designed to add more flexibility to app upgrades, as well as simplify the process of publishing two versions: a free and a paid, into a single free version that could be easily upgraded with additional functionality. Developers can design the button or the user interface to enable the upgrade in any manner they see fit, though a pop-up notification that describes what you're purchasing, and an account-confirmation mechanism that allows you to actually make the purchase with your iTunes account, are a part of iOS itself, making it unclear why these infringement claims are not being aimed at Apple, which makes the OS and maintains the payment system. This is not the first patent-infringement pressure Lodsys has applied. Earlier this year, the firm took aim at a number of tech companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Lexmark International, Novell, and Canon U.S.A., over a patent pertaining to printer software.
In Computer LogicX's case, the U.S. patent is No.7,222,078, which Macrumors discovered is owned by holding firm Lodsys. That patent, titled "methods and systems for gathering information from units of a commodity across a network," was acquired by the firm in 2004, and deals with the set up and completion of a transaction.A snippet from the patent attempts to sum up what the invention is about:"Simply put, this invention helps vendors and customers by transforming their learning cycle: It compresses the time and steps between setting business objectives, creating effective products and services, and improving them continuously. It also alters their roles: Customers become partners in the improvement process along with vendors and distributors."Rob Gloess of Computer LogicX weighed in on the matter in an e-mail to Macrumors, saying the patent holder was taking aim specifically at an upgrade mechanism that involves in-app purchasing. Users hit a button in a free, "lite" version of a Computer LogicX app to download and pay for the premium version."Our app, Mix and Mash, has the common model of a limited, free, lite version and a full version that contains all the features," Gloess told the site. "We were told that the button that users click on to upgrade the app, or rather link to the full version on the app store, was in breach of U.S. patent No. 7222078. We couldn't believe it, the upgrade button!?!"Lodsys did not immediately respond to a request for comment as to whether it is cautioning other developers on the use of the technology. And it's not clear why, exactly, the firm chose to single out Computer LogicX (and perhaps Thomson). Thomson hasn't officially named the party who sent him the cease and desist letter, but he hinted it might be Lodsys. The developer says he's waiting to hear back from Apple on the matter before making the information public. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the situation.Apple introduced in-app purchasing in early 2009, and later that year enabled the feature to work inside of free applications. The feature was designed to add more flexibility to app upgrades, as well as simplify the process of publishing two versions: a free and a paid, into a single free version that could be easily upgraded with additional functionality. Developers can design the button or the user interface to enable the upgrade in any manner they see fit, though a pop-up notification that describes what you're purchasing, and an account-confirmation mechanism that allows you to actually make the purchase with your iTunes account, are a part of iOS itself, making it unclear why these infringement claims are not being aimed at Apple, which makes the OS and maintains the payment system. This is not the first patent-infringement pressure Lodsys has applied. Earlier this year, the firm took aim at a number of tech companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Lexmark International, Novell, and Canon U.S.A., over a patent pertaining to printer software.
Apple iTunes Radio available September 18 with iOS 7
Apple iTunes Radio available September 18 with iOS 7
Apple's radio service, iTunes Radio, will be part of the company's newest operating system for its mobile devices on September 18.Related stories:Apple launches iPhone 5S and $99 iPhone 5C with five colorsiPhone 5C First TakeiPhone 5S First TakeApple's new announcements (pictures)Apple to release iOS 7 on Sept. 18Wall Street shrugs as Apple can no longer keep a secretThe computer maker made the official announcement at an event at its Cupertino, Calif., home base Tuesday. Headlining the same presentation was its introduction of a new budget smartphone, the iPhone 5C, and its new flagship iPhone 5S, as it seeks to attract more customers and revitalize interest in its devices. iTunes Radio, the long-awaited online radio service from Apple, was unveiled in June at Apple's WWDC presentation to developers. The service was widely expected to launch Tuesday in the US as part of iOS 7. Streaming music -- a rare corner of growth for the otherwise beleaguered music industry -- is already a field crowded by the likes of Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Rdio, Google Music All Access, et al., but Apple's base of at least 575 million iTunes customers worldwide makes up for missing out on first-mover advantage. Pandora, by comparison, is the current king on streaming radio with about 72 million active users as of last month, and it surpassed 200 million registered users earlier 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.PlayiTunes Radio is a free, ad-supported service for iPhones, iPod Touches, Apple TV and iTunes on Macs and PCs, with 200 stations built by Apple's music team to adapt to a user's listening history. Apple has said subscribers of its cloud-based music library product, iTunes Match, could access an ad-free version. Cloud Match costs $24.99 a year. With Apple striking direct deals with the three major music labels to kickstart iTunes Radio, the service holds the promise of a greater degree of user control over what is played. Pandora, the biggest online streaming music service, operates under a blanket Internet radio licensing system that saves it from the work of sealing deals with labels but limits how often users can skip songs or select precisely which song they want to hear. Apple isn't bound by such strictures, and developer versions of iTunes Radio indicated users would be able to adjust how much playtime is given to recognizable hits versus discovery of lesser-known tracks. But Apple provided little further detail Tuesday about the service, nor did it offer insights about several other product that were expected to get an update. This year has been choppy for Apple, which encountered pressure from activist investors, a verdict that it led an antitrust conspiracy at its e-book store, and continuing criticism of its labor practices in China. The troubles have allowed Samsung, the world's biggest phone maker, to eat away at Apple's mobile share, a market it upended with the iPhone.
Apple's radio service, iTunes Radio, will be part of the company's newest operating system for its mobile devices on September 18.Related stories:Apple launches iPhone 5S and $99 iPhone 5C with five colorsiPhone 5C First TakeiPhone 5S First TakeApple's new announcements (pictures)Apple to release iOS 7 on Sept. 18Wall Street shrugs as Apple can no longer keep a secretThe computer maker made the official announcement at an event at its Cupertino, Calif., home base Tuesday. Headlining the same presentation was its introduction of a new budget smartphone, the iPhone 5C, and its new flagship iPhone 5S, as it seeks to attract more customers and revitalize interest in its devices. iTunes Radio, the long-awaited online radio service from Apple, was unveiled in June at Apple's WWDC presentation to developers. The service was widely expected to launch Tuesday in the US as part of iOS 7. Streaming music -- a rare corner of growth for the otherwise beleaguered music industry -- is already a field crowded by the likes of Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Rdio, Google Music All Access, et al., but Apple's base of at least 575 million iTunes customers worldwide makes up for missing out on first-mover advantage. Pandora, by comparison, is the current king on streaming radio with about 72 million active users as of last month, and it surpassed 200 million registered users earlier 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.PlayiTunes Radio is a free, ad-supported service for iPhones, iPod Touches, Apple TV and iTunes on Macs and PCs, with 200 stations built by Apple's music team to adapt to a user's listening history. Apple has said subscribers of its cloud-based music library product, iTunes Match, could access an ad-free version. Cloud Match costs $24.99 a year. With Apple striking direct deals with the three major music labels to kickstart iTunes Radio, the service holds the promise of a greater degree of user control over what is played. Pandora, the biggest online streaming music service, operates under a blanket Internet radio licensing system that saves it from the work of sealing deals with labels but limits how often users can skip songs or select precisely which song they want to hear. Apple isn't bound by such strictures, and developer versions of iTunes Radio indicated users would be able to adjust how much playtime is given to recognizable hits versus discovery of lesser-known tracks. But Apple provided little further detail Tuesday about the service, nor did it offer insights about several other product that were expected to get an update. This year has been choppy for Apple, which encountered pressure from activist investors, a verdict that it led an antitrust conspiracy at its e-book store, and continuing criticism of its labor practices in China. The troubles have allowed Samsung, the world's biggest phone maker, to eat away at Apple's mobile share, a market it upended with the iPhone.
Scoop up 10 top apps free for iTunes anniversary
Scoop up 10 top apps free for iTunes anniversary
Has it really only been five years? It seems that the iTunes App Store has been around for much longer. And what a road it's been, from the 552 launch apps â€" including Facebook, Shazam and Super Monkey Ball â€" to the over 50 billion downloads across more than 900,000 apps today.We've had our favourites in that time; we still play 2009's Doodle Jump, for example. And, although mobile apps were around before the iPhone, we'd have to say that iOS brought them into the mainstream, opening up a brave new world of accessibility on the go: email, banking, shopping, gaming, social networking and much more, always in your pocket.One thing for which we've always lauded the platform is providing a place for indie developers to express their creativity outside of the restrictions set by big publishers. Indeed, mobile has proved to be a fertile bed for innovation as developers hone their skills and release some titles that possibly never would have come to light if left to rely on publisher approval.To celebrate, Apple has made some of those amazing apps free on iTunes, so it's a perfect time to get your mitts on some of the very best the iTunes App Store has to offer.Today, there are 10 apps to be snapped up: five games and five ... well, not games.Badland (usually AU$4.49)Infinity Blade II (usually AU$0.99)Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (usually AU$5.49)Tiny Wings (usually AU$0.99)Where's My Water? (usually AU$0.99)Barefoot World Atlas (usually AU$5.49)Day One (Journal/Diary) (usually AU$5.49)How to Cook Everything (usually AU$10.49)Over (usually AU$1.99)Traktor DJ (usually AU$5.49)Do you have a favourite app from the past five years? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Has it really only been five years? It seems that the iTunes App Store has been around for much longer. And what a road it's been, from the 552 launch apps â€" including Facebook, Shazam and Super Monkey Ball â€" to the over 50 billion downloads across more than 900,000 apps today.We've had our favourites in that time; we still play 2009's Doodle Jump, for example. And, although mobile apps were around before the iPhone, we'd have to say that iOS brought them into the mainstream, opening up a brave new world of accessibility on the go: email, banking, shopping, gaming, social networking and much more, always in your pocket.One thing for which we've always lauded the platform is providing a place for indie developers to express their creativity outside of the restrictions set by big publishers. Indeed, mobile has proved to be a fertile bed for innovation as developers hone their skills and release some titles that possibly never would have come to light if left to rely on publisher approval.To celebrate, Apple has made some of those amazing apps free on iTunes, so it's a perfect time to get your mitts on some of the very best the iTunes App Store has to offer.Today, there are 10 apps to be snapped up: five games and five ... well, not games.Badland (usually AU$4.49)Infinity Blade II (usually AU$0.99)Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (usually AU$5.49)Tiny Wings (usually AU$0.99)Where's My Water? (usually AU$0.99)Barefoot World Atlas (usually AU$5.49)Day One (Journal/Diary) (usually AU$5.49)How to Cook Everything (usually AU$10.49)Over (usually AU$1.99)Traktor DJ (usually AU$5.49)Do you have a favourite app from the past five years? Tell us about it in the comments below.
How to share iTunes libraries between user accounts in OS X
How to share iTunes libraries between user accounts in OS X
Now use your mouse to highlighted the path text in blue, and then right-click the selection and choose "Reveal in Finder" from the Services contextual submenu. This will show the iTunes media folder in the Finder, which you can move to a common location accessible from all user accounts. Some options for this include the "Macintosh HD > Users > Shared" folder, or a secondary hard drive (external or internal).With the folder moved to this location, click the Change button next to the media folder path in iTunes, and select the media folder in its new location. Update the iTunes preferences similarly for other accounts, and now all should use the same iTunes folder.Keep in mind that iTunes may report some songs missing for some user accounts after changing their iTunes media locations, so in these cases you will have to re-import the songs by dragging them from these accounts' old media folders to the iTunes window or to the new media folder. Alternatively you can manually drag the contents of each user's old iTunes Media folder to the new one, to consolidate it in this new location (you will have to manually manage duplicate files when doing this).A second approach to this is to decentralize your iTunes media folders, so you can maintain a separate private music collection, but also include music files from public folders, external drives, and other commonly accessible folders. To do this, instead of changing your iTunes Media folder location, leave it as-is and uncheck the option to "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library file" that is located under the media folder path.With this setting unchecked, new songs you import from CDs or download from iTunes will be placed in your private collection in your user account; however, you can also drag a music collection folder from a shared drive to your iTunes window, and iTunes will add the files to your library but keep them in their current location instead of copying them to your private collection. Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.
Now use your mouse to highlighted the path text in blue, and then right-click the selection and choose "Reveal in Finder" from the Services contextual submenu. This will show the iTunes media folder in the Finder, which you can move to a common location accessible from all user accounts. Some options for this include the "Macintosh HD > Users > Shared" folder, or a secondary hard drive (external or internal).With the folder moved to this location, click the Change button next to the media folder path in iTunes, and select the media folder in its new location. Update the iTunes preferences similarly for other accounts, and now all should use the same iTunes folder.Keep in mind that iTunes may report some songs missing for some user accounts after changing their iTunes media locations, so in these cases you will have to re-import the songs by dragging them from these accounts' old media folders to the iTunes window or to the new media folder. Alternatively you can manually drag the contents of each user's old iTunes Media folder to the new one, to consolidate it in this new location (you will have to manually manage duplicate files when doing this).A second approach to this is to decentralize your iTunes media folders, so you can maintain a separate private music collection, but also include music files from public folders, external drives, and other commonly accessible folders. To do this, instead of changing your iTunes Media folder location, leave it as-is and uncheck the option to "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library file" that is located under the media folder path.With this setting unchecked, new songs you import from CDs or download from iTunes will be placed in your private collection in your user account; however, you can also drag a music collection folder from a shared drive to your iTunes window, and iTunes will add the files to your library but keep them in their current location instead of copying them to your private collection. Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.
That pesky taller iPhone 5 screen pops up on video
That pesky taller iPhone 5 screen pops up on video
What may or may not be the larger screen adorning the next iPhone has been captured on video.No, you won't see the actual screen. Instead it's the glass panel that your fingers and face grease up.Japanese Apple blog Macotakara today published a visual comparison of the mystery part that's been floating around for the past few days, putting it next to the existing iPhone to show just how much bigger the screen would be:The two notable changes, of course, are that the screen is taller, and that the FaceTime camera has been moved to the very top, center of the device -- just as it is on the iPad. It also matches up with the look of the purportedly leaked parts that surfaced last week, as well as the ones posted on Apple blog 9to5Macthis week. Numerous reports have suggested Apple's moving to a slightly bigger screen with its next iPhone. The change is expected to bring a change in both resolution and aspect ratio, both of which might be new considerations for developers on Apple's platform.You can get more info about that, and other iPhone 5 rumors in CNET's roundup. (via MacRumors)
What may or may not be the larger screen adorning the next iPhone has been captured on video.No, you won't see the actual screen. Instead it's the glass panel that your fingers and face grease up.Japanese Apple blog Macotakara today published a visual comparison of the mystery part that's been floating around for the past few days, putting it next to the existing iPhone to show just how much bigger the screen would be:The two notable changes, of course, are that the screen is taller, and that the FaceTime camera has been moved to the very top, center of the device -- just as it is on the iPad. It also matches up with the look of the purportedly leaked parts that surfaced last week, as well as the ones posted on Apple blog 9to5Macthis week. Numerous reports have suggested Apple's moving to a slightly bigger screen with its next iPhone. The change is expected to bring a change in both resolution and aspect ratio, both of which might be new considerations for developers on Apple's platform.You can get more info about that, and other iPhone 5 rumors in CNET's roundup. (via MacRumors)
Texas Instruments exits consumer phones, lays off 1,700
Texas Instruments exits consumer phones, lays off 1,700
Texas Instruments is officially getting out of the consumer smartphone business, as major phone suppliers like Apple turn to internal chip designs. "TI...will reduce costs and focus investments in its wireless business on embedded markets with greater potential for sustainable growth. Cost reductions include the elimination of about 1,700 jobs worldwide," TI said in a statement today. While TI didn't mention any names, one of the most telling statements alluded to companies that are now designing their own chips.That would include Apple, which designs processors for its iPhone. "Large customers are increasingly developing their own custom chips," TI cited as a reason to focus onembedded applications "with long life cycles."Embedded systems include automative and industrial device markets. At one time, Texas Instruments OMAP processors had been a mainstay in Motorola Droid phones and Amazon's Kindle Fire.And OMAP chips even made their way into Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2, among other tablets. Its chips were also slated to appear in Windows RT tablets from vendors like Toshiba.
Texas Instruments is officially getting out of the consumer smartphone business, as major phone suppliers like Apple turn to internal chip designs. "TI...will reduce costs and focus investments in its wireless business on embedded markets with greater potential for sustainable growth. Cost reductions include the elimination of about 1,700 jobs worldwide," TI said in a statement today. While TI didn't mention any names, one of the most telling statements alluded to companies that are now designing their own chips.That would include Apple, which designs processors for its iPhone. "Large customers are increasingly developing their own custom chips," TI cited as a reason to focus onembedded applications "with long life cycles."Embedded systems include automative and industrial device markets. At one time, Texas Instruments OMAP processors had been a mainstay in Motorola Droid phones and Amazon's Kindle Fire.And OMAP chips even made their way into Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2, among other tablets. Its chips were also slated to appear in Windows RT tablets from vendors like Toshiba.
Apple TV won't handle surround sound
Apple TV won't handle surround sound
With HDMI and optical digital output, Apple TV should eventually be able to pass DVD-like surround sound just as soon as Apple adds surround-encoded movies and TV shows to its iTunes Store--right?Wrong.According to the specs on Apple's Web site, the Apple TV's maximum audio track bandwidth for video files is 160Kbps (that doubles to 320Kbps for audio-only files such as MP3s and AACs).That is far below the 640Kbps and 768Kbps surround Dolby and DTS soundtracks you'll find on any old DVD. And that doesn't even begin to account for the next-gen Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD soundtracks available on HD DVD and Blu-ray discs, which start at 3,000Kbps and may eventually go as much as six times higher. Basically, more bandwidth means there's more space in a file for the actual bits that make up a soundtrack--the more space, the better quality and more channels (six or more surround versus just two for stereo) are available. And because 160Kbps is a pretty tight fit for anything beyond very compressed MP3-like sound, it's a safe bet you won't be seeing surround-encoded files on the Apple Store--and thus the Apple TV--anytime soon. And because this appears to be a hardware limitation, it's probably not something that could be changed with a firmware update.Yes, you can still connect an A/V receiver or home theater system and get a sorta/kinda surround effect from your Apple TV--just choose the Dolby Digital Pro-Logic II or DTS Neo:6 decoding option that's available on nearly all recent home audio systems. That will deliver a decent faux surround effect from the Apple TV--or any stereo source--but it won't be nearly as rich or detailed as the true multichannel bitstreams found on DVDs or HD discs. For all the hype about digital delivery replacing optical disc media (DVDs, HD DVDs, Blu-rays), it's worth remembering that even the lowliest DVD holds up to 4.7GB of data. Even with improved compression, you'll need some serious broadband bandwidth to begin to offer a DVD-equivalent video and audio experience (true 480p and true surround sound)--and that's not even high-def. That's why I'm happily sticking with my DVD player and Netflix account for the foreseeable future.
With HDMI and optical digital output, Apple TV should eventually be able to pass DVD-like surround sound just as soon as Apple adds surround-encoded movies and TV shows to its iTunes Store--right?Wrong.According to the specs on Apple's Web site, the Apple TV's maximum audio track bandwidth for video files is 160Kbps (that doubles to 320Kbps for audio-only files such as MP3s and AACs).That is far below the 640Kbps and 768Kbps surround Dolby and DTS soundtracks you'll find on any old DVD. And that doesn't even begin to account for the next-gen Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD soundtracks available on HD DVD and Blu-ray discs, which start at 3,000Kbps and may eventually go as much as six times higher. Basically, more bandwidth means there's more space in a file for the actual bits that make up a soundtrack--the more space, the better quality and more channels (six or more surround versus just two for stereo) are available. And because 160Kbps is a pretty tight fit for anything beyond very compressed MP3-like sound, it's a safe bet you won't be seeing surround-encoded files on the Apple Store--and thus the Apple TV--anytime soon. And because this appears to be a hardware limitation, it's probably not something that could be changed with a firmware update.Yes, you can still connect an A/V receiver or home theater system and get a sorta/kinda surround effect from your Apple TV--just choose the Dolby Digital Pro-Logic II or DTS Neo:6 decoding option that's available on nearly all recent home audio systems. That will deliver a decent faux surround effect from the Apple TV--or any stereo source--but it won't be nearly as rich or detailed as the true multichannel bitstreams found on DVDs or HD discs. For all the hype about digital delivery replacing optical disc media (DVDs, HD DVDs, Blu-rays), it's worth remembering that even the lowliest DVD holds up to 4.7GB of data. Even with improved compression, you'll need some serious broadband bandwidth to begin to offer a DVD-equivalent video and audio experience (true 480p and true surround sound)--and that's not even high-def. That's why I'm happily sticking with my DVD player and Netflix account for the foreseeable future.
Apple TV to hit 1 million unit sales this week
Apple TV to hit 1 million unit sales this week
Who said the Apple TV was just a hobby?Apple announced today that unit sales of its tiny set-top box are expected to reach 1 million by the end of this week.The Apple TV, which launched in September, is one-quarter the size of its predecessor, and allows users to rent and stream television shows and movies from iTunes on their televisions. The set-top box also features access to Netflix, podcasts, and Flickr. Users can stream music content from their computers, and use AirPlay to send multimedia content from their iOS-based devices to the Apple TV. It retails for $99.But that success didn't come overnight. Quite the contrary--Apple TV's trek to get to this point has been one for the ages.The first Apple TV launched in 2007 as a "hobby" for entertainment-seekers. Unlike the latest Apple TV, the first version of the device featured onboard storage, allowing users to store their entire iTunes library content on the device. However, over the next three years, Apple offered few updates to the device, allowing it to languish on store shelves.At a press event in September, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that his company believed consumers didn't want to store content on their set-top boxes, and instead preferred to stream content. The result was the latest Apple TV, which Jobs said, was no longer the "hobby" its predecessor was.With the company expecting to have sold 1 million units of the new Apple TV by the end of the week, it certainly seems that way. It also seems that Apple is throwing down the gauntlet in the living room against the countless competitors it faces.Roku's XDS set-top box, for example, boasts a $100 price tag, and includes a slew of streaming options, including Hulu Plus, Netflix, and Pandora. Others include the recently released Boxee Box and the Logitech Revue, which offers Google TV software.But Apple didn't limit its chest-thumping to the set-top box market. The company also announced today that iTunes customers are "renting and purchasing over 400,000 TV episodes and over 150,000 movies per day."
Who said the Apple TV was just a hobby?Apple announced today that unit sales of its tiny set-top box are expected to reach 1 million by the end of this week.The Apple TV, which launched in September, is one-quarter the size of its predecessor, and allows users to rent and stream television shows and movies from iTunes on their televisions. The set-top box also features access to Netflix, podcasts, and Flickr. Users can stream music content from their computers, and use AirPlay to send multimedia content from their iOS-based devices to the Apple TV. It retails for $99.But that success didn't come overnight. Quite the contrary--Apple TV's trek to get to this point has been one for the ages.The first Apple TV launched in 2007 as a "hobby" for entertainment-seekers. Unlike the latest Apple TV, the first version of the device featured onboard storage, allowing users to store their entire iTunes library content on the device. However, over the next three years, Apple offered few updates to the device, allowing it to languish on store shelves.At a press event in September, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that his company believed consumers didn't want to store content on their set-top boxes, and instead preferred to stream content. The result was the latest Apple TV, which Jobs said, was no longer the "hobby" its predecessor was.With the company expecting to have sold 1 million units of the new Apple TV by the end of the week, it certainly seems that way. It also seems that Apple is throwing down the gauntlet in the living room against the countless competitors it faces.Roku's XDS set-top box, for example, boasts a $100 price tag, and includes a slew of streaming options, including Hulu Plus, Netflix, and Pandora. Others include the recently released Boxee Box and the Logitech Revue, which offers Google TV software.But Apple didn't limit its chest-thumping to the set-top box market. The company also announced today that iTunes customers are "renting and purchasing over 400,000 TV episodes and over 150,000 movies per day."
Apple may face e-book price-fixing lawsuit tomorrow
Apple may face e-book price-fixing lawsuit tomorrow
The U.S. Department of Justice may file an antitrust lawsuit against Apple for alleged e-book price fixing as early as tomorrow, according to Reuters.Apple had reportedly been in talks with federal regulators but had failed to come to an agreement to settle their concerns. Along with Apple, five book publishers are also reportedly under investigation for alleged price fixing: HarperCollins Publishers, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group, and Simon & Schuster. (CBS owns Simon & Schuster and CBS Interactive, which publishes CNET News.)Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Justice Department could not be reached for commentRelated storiesApple, publishers to settle e-books price-fixing suit: ReportApple finally meets its match (Hint: It's called the DOJ)Apple, book publishers face e-book antitrust lawsuitSome of the publishers under scrutiny are expected to settle with the Justice Department this week, two unidentified people familiar with the matter told Reuters.The probe apparently stems from changes made to how publishers charge for e-books when Apple released the first iPad two years ago. Book publishers began using an "agency model" in which publishers set their own e-book prices, rather than the traditional wholesale model in which publishers set a retail price and retailers set their own sales price. The pricing model materialized in 2010 after book publishers asked Amazon to increase the price of e-books on its Web site, but Amazon stood firm in its contention that anything above $9.99 was too high. Amazon eventually relented after many popular Macmillan titles disappeared from the e-tailer's site. A separate lawsuit objecting to the pricing model was filed against Apple and the publishers last year. The plaintiffs alleged that they paid higher prices for their book purchases as a result of the agency model.
The U.S. Department of Justice may file an antitrust lawsuit against Apple for alleged e-book price fixing as early as tomorrow, according to Reuters.Apple had reportedly been in talks with federal regulators but had failed to come to an agreement to settle their concerns. Along with Apple, five book publishers are also reportedly under investigation for alleged price fixing: HarperCollins Publishers, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group, and Simon & Schuster. (CBS owns Simon & Schuster and CBS Interactive, which publishes CNET News.)Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Justice Department could not be reached for commentRelated storiesApple, publishers to settle e-books price-fixing suit: ReportApple finally meets its match (Hint: It's called the DOJ)Apple, book publishers face e-book antitrust lawsuitSome of the publishers under scrutiny are expected to settle with the Justice Department this week, two unidentified people familiar with the matter told Reuters.The probe apparently stems from changes made to how publishers charge for e-books when Apple released the first iPad two years ago. Book publishers began using an "agency model" in which publishers set their own e-book prices, rather than the traditional wholesale model in which publishers set a retail price and retailers set their own sales price. The pricing model materialized in 2010 after book publishers asked Amazon to increase the price of e-books on its Web site, but Amazon stood firm in its contention that anything above $9.99 was too high. Amazon eventually relented after many popular Macmillan titles disappeared from the e-tailer's site. A separate lawsuit objecting to the pricing model was filed against Apple and the publishers last year. The plaintiffs alleged that they paid higher prices for their book purchases as a result of the agency model.
Apple may be sued in Brazil for updating the iPad too fast
Apple may be sued in Brazil for updating the iPad too fast
Apple could be facing a lawsuit in Brazil for updating the third-generation iPad so fast last year.According to a report from Brazilian newspaper Jornal do Comércio, the Brazilian Institute of Politics and Law Software (IBDI) has targeted the iPad maker for what it says were unfair business practices with the release of the fourth-generation iPad model five months after launching the third-generation model in the country.In a follow-up, Brazilian news site O Hoje adds that the suit wants Apple to give those who bought third-generation models with the latest versions and/or give buyers half of what they paid. The complaint also seeks to fine Apple a fixed amount for each unit sold. The Jornal do Comércio report has since come under fire by tech blog Techlinhas, which notes that the IBDI has no knowledge of the complaint in the region. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Up until the fourth-generation iPad, Apple was on an annual release cycle, debuting a new model near the beginning of the year. That changed last October, when Apple released a new version alongside the debut of the iPad Mini. The fourth-generation is nearly indistinguishable from the second- and third-generation iPads (short of the same Retina Display found in the third-gen), though packs a faster processor, improved cameras, newer wireless networking hardware, and Apple's smaller Lightning port.Apple last week lost the rights to the iPhone name in Brazil, a move that it's currently fighting. Local technology company Gradiente filed for the iPhone naming rights in the country years before Apple's device came to be. However the company didn't put out its own iPhone-branded product until last December when it began selling a line of touch-screen smartphones running Google's Android. (via MacRumors)
Apple could be facing a lawsuit in Brazil for updating the third-generation iPad so fast last year.According to a report from Brazilian newspaper Jornal do Comércio, the Brazilian Institute of Politics and Law Software (IBDI) has targeted the iPad maker for what it says were unfair business practices with the release of the fourth-generation iPad model five months after launching the third-generation model in the country.In a follow-up, Brazilian news site O Hoje adds that the suit wants Apple to give those who bought third-generation models with the latest versions and/or give buyers half of what they paid. The complaint also seeks to fine Apple a fixed amount for each unit sold. The Jornal do Comércio report has since come under fire by tech blog Techlinhas, which notes that the IBDI has no knowledge of the complaint in the region. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Up until the fourth-generation iPad, Apple was on an annual release cycle, debuting a new model near the beginning of the year. That changed last October, when Apple released a new version alongside the debut of the iPad Mini. The fourth-generation is nearly indistinguishable from the second- and third-generation iPads (short of the same Retina Display found in the third-gen), though packs a faster processor, improved cameras, newer wireless networking hardware, and Apple's smaller Lightning port.Apple last week lost the rights to the iPhone name in Brazil, a move that it's currently fighting. Local technology company Gradiente filed for the iPhone naming rights in the country years before Apple's device came to be. However the company didn't put out its own iPhone-branded product until last December when it began selling a line of touch-screen smartphones running Google's Android. (via MacRumors)
Apple may be close to resolving Brazilian iPhone trademark fight
Apple may be close to resolving Brazilian iPhone trademark fight
An iPhone trademark dispute between Apple and Brazilian telcomm firm IGB Eletronica could be one step closer to a resolution.Both companies have reportedly decided to settle their legal skirmish and reach a peaceable agreement, says Brazilian news site Folha de Sao Paulo as cited by Forbes.Lawyers for the two companies had filed a court document late last month asking that any legal action be suspended for 30 days as the two sides try to settle the matter, according to Folha de Sao Paulo.In December, IGB Eletronica unveiled a lineup of devices branded IPHONE, claiming it has had exclusive rights to the name since January of 2008. The company had filed for naming rights in 2000, years before Apple's flagship phone first hit the market, but wasn't granted the rights until eight years later. Unlike Apple's iPhone, IGB's phone is an Android device.Last month, Brazil's regulatory body, the Institute of Industry Property (INPI), ruled that IGB's 2000 registration for the iPhone name was valid, which meant that Apple could not use the name in Brazil. Apple immediately challenged the ruling, requiring IGB to prove that it actually used the iPhone name between January 2008 and January 2013.Related storiesBrazilian electronics company offers up the 'IPHONE'Apple's ownership of 'iPhone' name in Brazil in perilApple loses iPhone trademark in Brazil -- reportApple fights back against iPhone ruling in Brazil -- reportAny agreement would likely see Apple pay IGB for use of the iPhone name in Brazil, according to Forbes.In January 2007, Apple ran into a similar trademark issue over the iPhone name with Cisco Systems. The two companies had reached an agreement by February.Last year, Apple faced a trademark dispute over the iPad name with China-based Proview. Apple ended up paying Proview $60 million to settle that fight.
An iPhone trademark dispute between Apple and Brazilian telcomm firm IGB Eletronica could be one step closer to a resolution.Both companies have reportedly decided to settle their legal skirmish and reach a peaceable agreement, says Brazilian news site Folha de Sao Paulo as cited by Forbes.Lawyers for the two companies had filed a court document late last month asking that any legal action be suspended for 30 days as the two sides try to settle the matter, according to Folha de Sao Paulo.In December, IGB Eletronica unveiled a lineup of devices branded IPHONE, claiming it has had exclusive rights to the name since January of 2008. The company had filed for naming rights in 2000, years before Apple's flagship phone first hit the market, but wasn't granted the rights until eight years later. Unlike Apple's iPhone, IGB's phone is an Android device.Last month, Brazil's regulatory body, the Institute of Industry Property (INPI), ruled that IGB's 2000 registration for the iPhone name was valid, which meant that Apple could not use the name in Brazil. Apple immediately challenged the ruling, requiring IGB to prove that it actually used the iPhone name between January 2008 and January 2013.Related storiesBrazilian electronics company offers up the 'IPHONE'Apple's ownership of 'iPhone' name in Brazil in perilApple loses iPhone trademark in Brazil -- reportApple fights back against iPhone ruling in Brazil -- reportAny agreement would likely see Apple pay IGB for use of the iPhone name in Brazil, according to Forbes.In January 2007, Apple ran into a similar trademark issue over the iPhone name with Cisco Systems. The two companies had reached an agreement by February.Last year, Apple faced a trademark dispute over the iPad name with China-based Proview. Apple ended up paying Proview $60 million to settle that fight.
Apple manager pleads not guilty in kickback case
Apple manager pleads not guilty in kickback case
Paul Shin Devine, an Apple global supply manager arrested last week for allegedly taking large kickbacks from several suppliers, pleaded not guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif. Devine was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on 23 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and accepting kickbacks, according to court documents. The indictment alleges that he took advantage of his role at Apple to acquire confidential information, which he then allegedly sold to several suppliers to help them negotiate better contracts.Beyond the grand jury indictment, Apple has also filed a civil suit against Devine, charging him with accepting more than $1 million in bribes from suppliers over the past few years.The six Asian companies that are mentioned in the indictment supply accessories for the iPhone and iPod. Two have announced their own internal investigations while a third has denied engaging in any illegal practices in the matter.Taiwan-based Pegatron, which is owned by Netbook maker Asus, said Tuesday it is investigating its Kaedar Electronics segment. Pegatron has already suspended one senior manager at Kaedar over alleged payments made to Devine, according to Bloomberg. Pegatron's name has surfaced in recent Verizon iPhone rumor stories as reportedly working on a CDMA version of the iPhone 4.Singapore's JLJ Holdings, which owns Jin Li Mold Manufacturing, also said it's looking into the matter internally and announced that Andrew Ang, the other person named in the federal indictment, is one of its former employees,A third company, earphone and headset maker Cresyn, denied Tuesday that it had made improper payments to Devine, according to Reuters.The three other suppliers named by Apple are Glocom/Lateral Solutions and Fastening Technologies, both based in Singapore, and Taiwanese company Nishoku Technology.A hearing to determine bail for Devine is scheduled for Wednesday.
Paul Shin Devine, an Apple global supply manager arrested last week for allegedly taking large kickbacks from several suppliers, pleaded not guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif. Devine was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on 23 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and accepting kickbacks, according to court documents. The indictment alleges that he took advantage of his role at Apple to acquire confidential information, which he then allegedly sold to several suppliers to help them negotiate better contracts.Beyond the grand jury indictment, Apple has also filed a civil suit against Devine, charging him with accepting more than $1 million in bribes from suppliers over the past few years.The six Asian companies that are mentioned in the indictment supply accessories for the iPhone and iPod. Two have announced their own internal investigations while a third has denied engaging in any illegal practices in the matter.Taiwan-based Pegatron, which is owned by Netbook maker Asus, said Tuesday it is investigating its Kaedar Electronics segment. Pegatron has already suspended one senior manager at Kaedar over alleged payments made to Devine, according to Bloomberg. Pegatron's name has surfaced in recent Verizon iPhone rumor stories as reportedly working on a CDMA version of the iPhone 4.Singapore's JLJ Holdings, which owns Jin Li Mold Manufacturing, also said it's looking into the matter internally and announced that Andrew Ang, the other person named in the federal indictment, is one of its former employees,A third company, earphone and headset maker Cresyn, denied Tuesday that it had made improper payments to Devine, according to Reuters.The three other suppliers named by Apple are Glocom/Lateral Solutions and Fastening Technologies, both based in Singapore, and Taiwanese company Nishoku Technology.A hearing to determine bail for Devine is scheduled for Wednesday.
Apple makes boffo battery life new killer tech spec
Apple makes boffo battery life new killer tech spec
Apple hasn't lost its touch yet. Not if it can take a two-and-half-year-old design and turn it into one of today's hottest laptops. That would be the 2013 MacBook Air, of course.CNET Reviews' take on the Air's battery life bears repeating.While the previous 13-inch Air ran for 7 hours and 27 minutes in CNET Reviews' video playback battery drain test, "the 2013 version blows that out of the water, with an astonishing 14 hours and 25 minutes on the same test." Reviewers and consumers don't seem to care that the Air's external design hasn't changed in two and a half years for either the 11.6- or 13.3-incher (since the fall of 2010).The display's resolution hasn't budged either. All-day battery life is that important.Related storiesCNET's 2013 MacBook Air reviewSo, is this a sign of the rebirth of the laptop -- or at least a brake on its decline? After all, Windows 8 thin-and-light laptops, aka ultrabooks, should be able to achieve similar battery-life feats.A key reason for the MBA's lasting power is Intel's new fourth-gen Core "Haswell" chip -- which is available to all takers. Like Acer.If the upcoming Acer Aspire S7 -- which tops the Air with a high resolution 1,920x1,080 touch screen -- is any indication, PC makers will be bragging about the battery life of their machines too. And newfangled hybrid designs like Microsoft's Surface Pro (which has been dinged for its battery rundown time) should be able to make decent battery life gains.Problem is, this year the MacBook Air is crushing the thin-and-light Windows competition in the U.S. And all the rave 2013 MBA reviews could make life worse for PC makers.. The 2013 MacBook Air's battery life is game changing.CNET Reviews
Apple hasn't lost its touch yet. Not if it can take a two-and-half-year-old design and turn it into one of today's hottest laptops. That would be the 2013 MacBook Air, of course.CNET Reviews' take on the Air's battery life bears repeating.While the previous 13-inch Air ran for 7 hours and 27 minutes in CNET Reviews' video playback battery drain test, "the 2013 version blows that out of the water, with an astonishing 14 hours and 25 minutes on the same test." Reviewers and consumers don't seem to care that the Air's external design hasn't changed in two and a half years for either the 11.6- or 13.3-incher (since the fall of 2010).The display's resolution hasn't budged either. All-day battery life is that important.Related storiesCNET's 2013 MacBook Air reviewSo, is this a sign of the rebirth of the laptop -- or at least a brake on its decline? After all, Windows 8 thin-and-light laptops, aka ultrabooks, should be able to achieve similar battery-life feats.A key reason for the MBA's lasting power is Intel's new fourth-gen Core "Haswell" chip -- which is available to all takers. Like Acer.If the upcoming Acer Aspire S7 -- which tops the Air with a high resolution 1,920x1,080 touch screen -- is any indication, PC makers will be bragging about the battery life of their machines too. And newfangled hybrid designs like Microsoft's Surface Pro (which has been dinged for its battery rundown time) should be able to make decent battery life gains.Problem is, this year the MacBook Air is crushing the thin-and-light Windows competition in the U.S. And all the rave 2013 MBA reviews could make life worse for PC makers.. The 2013 MacBook Air's battery life is game changing.CNET Reviews
Adobe claims 10x performance from Flash Player 10.2
Adobe claims 10x performance from Flash Player 10.2
Recent drama in the Apple versus Adobe debacle was stirred again when Apple shipped the new MacBook Air without a version of Flash Player installed, claiming it was more effective for users to keep Flash updated themselves. With HTML5 continually nipping at Flash's Internet dominance, Adobe must act fast.Currently, no iOS device has native Flash support. The mobile Web space is quickly growing beyond Flash, and Apple is leading the push with its support of HTML5 for video playback. Despite Android tablets and smartphones including Flash support, I still have not seen any mobile device provide a useful experience while using Flash. Short battery life and poor CPU performance generally take the spotlight from the novelty of having Flash Player installed.Perhaps Flash Player 10.2 will get Adobe back on track. Certainly 10 times better performance on your CPU is a good start. The video below shows off a new, optimized, video playback mode called Stage Video that builds on GPU acceleration added to Flash Player earlier this year.Early reviews on Flash Player 10.2 beta, including this small forum on the Apple Support Discussions, seem to be largely positive. But again, I have to wonder if this is enough. It seems the wheels are rolling in the other direct and Adobe must greatly improve its product if it is to maintain its market (and mind) share.What has been your experience with Flash Player? Are you for it, or moving on? Let me know in the comments!Be sure to follow MacFixIt on Twitter and contribute to the CNET Mac forums.
Recent drama in the Apple versus Adobe debacle was stirred again when Apple shipped the new MacBook Air without a version of Flash Player installed, claiming it was more effective for users to keep Flash updated themselves. With HTML5 continually nipping at Flash's Internet dominance, Adobe must act fast.Currently, no iOS device has native Flash support. The mobile Web space is quickly growing beyond Flash, and Apple is leading the push with its support of HTML5 for video playback. Despite Android tablets and smartphones including Flash support, I still have not seen any mobile device provide a useful experience while using Flash. Short battery life and poor CPU performance generally take the spotlight from the novelty of having Flash Player installed.Perhaps Flash Player 10.2 will get Adobe back on track. Certainly 10 times better performance on your CPU is a good start. The video below shows off a new, optimized, video playback mode called Stage Video that builds on GPU acceleration added to Flash Player earlier this year.Early reviews on Flash Player 10.2 beta, including this small forum on the Apple Support Discussions, seem to be largely positive. But again, I have to wonder if this is enough. It seems the wheels are rolling in the other direct and Adobe must greatly improve its product if it is to maintain its market (and mind) share.What has been your experience with Flash Player? Are you for it, or moving on? Let me know in the comments!Be sure to follow MacFixIt on Twitter and contribute to the CNET Mac forums.
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