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"VolumeSnap" Feature Returns to Camera+ [iOS Blog]
Nov 16, 11:43PM
VolumeSnap has returned to the excellent iOS photography app Camera+. Last year, developer TapTapTap released an update to its Camera+ application with a small hack -- users could press the volume-up button to take a picture, instead of needing to press a soft-button on the screen.
This was considered an unauthorized hack and Apple banned the app until TapTapTap removed the feature. Apple then borrowed this innovation for iOS 5, and now users can press the Volume Up button to take pictures in the native iPhone camera app.
Camera+ for iPhone is available for $0.99 on the App Store [Direct Link].
Apple Releases Final Cut Pro 10.0.2 Update [Mac Blog]
Nov 16, 11:26PM
Apple has released an update to Final Cut Pro X, taking it to version 10.0.2. What's new in version 10.0.2:Final Cut Pro is available for $299.99 on the Mac App Store [Direct Link].
- Fixes an issue in which a title may revert to the default font after restarting Final Cut Pro X
- Resolves an issue that could cause files recorded with certain third-party mobile devices to play back incorrectly
- Addresses a stability issue caused by changing the start time on a Compound Clip
This update is recommended for all users of Final Cut Pro X. For more information, visit www.apple.com/finalcutpro.
Stanford Offers iPhone App Development Course Free on iTunes U [iOS Blog]
Nov 16, 7:40PM
Stanford University is offering the iOS 5 edition of its well-regarded iPhone and iPad application development course free on iTunes U. Instructor Paul Hegarty attributes the course popularity to the appeal of Apple products and the instant gratification of creating apps for mobile devices. "There's something about developing for the iOS platform that's really exciting and fun because it runs on devices that everybody has in their purses or pockets, " he said.The offering includes the same course lectures and slides that Stanford students experience, but without the Stanford credit or access to instructors. Still, for burgeoning developers, iTunes U is an excellent opportunity to get world-class instruction for free.
"There aren't a lot of courses you can take that when you get to the end, to your final project, you can take it out of your pocket and show your friends."
Hegarty said that his students develop a wide array of applications for the iPhone and iPad, including many that improve or automate their daily lives. Those include apps that manage laboratory experiments, keep track of food choices at campus eateries, or access the works of Shakespeare. Games and social networking applications are also popular.
The university notes that the two Stanford prerequisite courses, Programming Methodology [Link] and Programming Abstractions [Link], are also available on iTunes U.
iPhone Application Development is available free on iTunes [Link].
What Camera to Buy? Annie Leibovitz Recommends the iPhone [iOS Blog]
Nov 16, 7:36PM
When friends ask famed photographer Annie Leibovitz what camera they should buy, she suggests the iPhone. Appearing on NBC's new Rock Center news program, Leibovitz suggested the iPhone because it is "the snapshot camera of today", saying it is "accessible and easy".
It appears Leibovitz is a firm believer in the theory that the best camera in the world is the one you have with you.
Native Gmail App Returns to App Store [iOS Blog]
Nov 16, 6:42PM
As noted by Google, the company's native Gmail app for iOS has returned to the App Store. The app debuted two weeks ago, but was quickly pulled after a bug breaking notifications was discovered as soon as users began installing the app.
Two weeks ago, we introduced our Gmail app for iOS. Unfortunately it contained a bug which broke notifications and displayed an error message, so we removed it from the App Store. We've fixed the bug and notifications are now working, and the app is back in the App Store.Google notes that in addition to the notification bug fix, the company has also improved the handling of image HTML messages and has promised to continue "iterating rapidly" to bring new features to the app.
iOS 5.0.2 Coming Soon to Address Battery Issues? iOS 5.1 to Bring New Siri Integration?
Nov 16, 6:21PM
German site Macerkopf reports [Google translation] that Apple is working on two separate software updates for iOS 5, looking at both near-term battery fixes and longer-term improvements to Siri. Macerkopf tells us:
iOS 5.0.2 coming very soon, solving the battery bugs. Should arrive before the end of next week. Apple is working hard on the update. In addition Apple ist working on the first big iOS 5 Update (iOS 5.1), bringing some siri-extensions. Also the Siri hardware-control is in work "take a picture", "make a video", "switch on/off WiFi", "switch on/off BT" and more.According to the report, a new update presumably coming as iOS 5.0.2 is set to be released "no later than next week" to address continued battery life issues even after last week's release of iOS 5.0.1 intended to target those problems. A release next week would be a fast turnaround given that there has not yet been any sign of developer testing for an iOS 5.0.2, although iOS 5.0.1 spent only about a week in testing as Apple rushed to release the update to the public.
Beyond the near-term battery fixes, the source also suggests that Apple is working hard on enhancements to the Siri functionality of the iPhone 4S, with the update apparently set to come early next year in a more significant software update probably dubbed iOS 5.1. The report points to Apple's Siri FAQ to note that additional language support and expansion of maps and local search to new countries will be included in the update. In addition, Apple is said to be looking at a significant expansion of Siri's capabilities for controlling iOS devices, implementing commands for such tasks as taking photos and videos, and turning connectivity such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on and off.
Macerkopf has not been a frequent source of rumors regarding Apple's plans, and thus the report should be taken with some skepticism, but the claims do seem to line up with Apple's priorities of addressing continuing battery issues and increasing the functionality of the flagship feature of the new iPhone 4S.
Minecraft Pocket Edition for iPad and iPhone Goes Live Worldwide Tonight [iOS Blog]
Nov 16, 5:54PM
Minecraft, the block-building phenomenon, arrives on the iPhone and iPad for all iOS users tonight.
TouchArcade reports that initial impressions on its forums "seem positive, although some have noted disappointment with how limited the game feels compared to the 'full' version. There's no online play, for instance, only local WiFi, and your portable Minecraft worlds are devoid of both animals and creepers."
Minecraft - Pocket Edition allows you to build on the go. Use blocks to create masterpieces as you travel, hangout with friends, sit at the park, the possibilities are endless. Move beyond the limits of your computer and play Minecraft everywhere you go.Minecraft Pocket Edition is already available in New Zealand and should be available in the U.S. at 11 PM Eastern. Minecraft - Pocket Edition will be available for iPhone or iPad as a universal app, for $7.99. [Direct Link]
Samsung Tweaks Galaxy Tab 10.1 Design for Relaunch in Germany
Nov 16, 4:34PM
German site mobiFlip.de reports (via FOSS Patents) that Samsung has apparently relaunched the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany, tweaking the design and releasing it under a new Galaxy Tab 10.1N name in an attempt to skirt around the injunction against selling the original design.
New Galaxy Tab 10.1N (top) vs. Galaxy Tab 10.1 (bottom)
The most obvious difference from the front of the device is that the metal frame around the edges of the device now wraps around slightly toward the front along two of the edges. It is unclear what, if any, other changes Samsung made to the device to address the court's view that Samsung had copied the iPad with its initial design.
As FOSS Patents notes, it is also unclear exactly how Samsung arrived at the slightly-tweaked design, although it likely was a result of consultation between designers and the company's lawyers well-versed in the court's findings and likelihood of accepting the design as different enough from the iPad to pass muster.
AT&T Customers Remaining Loyal as Verizon and Sprint Gain iPhone
Nov 16, 4:03PM
MarketWatch reports on comments from AT&T; executive Glen Lurie noting that the carrier's churn rate has remained steady since Verizon and Sprint began offering the iPhone earlier this year. Some observers had expected that AT&T; might experience a significant amount of customer defection once it lost iPhone exclusivity in the United States, as the carrier has been the target of a number of complaints about network coverage and other issues.
"Churn has not moved at all," said Glen Lurie, president of emerging devices for AT&T.; Churn refers to the number of customers who cancel services.AT&T; continues to hold several advantages over its rivals when it comes to the iPhone, with one of the major ones being network data speed. With the iPhone 4S supporting HSPA+ technology, AT&T; can offer significantly faster speeds for the iPhone than Verizon and Sprint can on their CDMA networks. Sprint users in particular have complained of very slow data speeds on the iPhone 4S so far.
Lurie said the carrier's relationship with Apple Inc. AAPL +0.06% , maker of the iPhone, has been positive, and they've had record-breaking sales of the latest iPhone 4S which has led to some supply issues. U.S. consumers are looking at a week to two week wait times to get the latest iPhone 4S from AT&T;, he said.
As the only GSM-based iPhone carrier in the United States, AT&T; is also able to offer the iPhone 3GS free on contract, while Verizon and Sprint start with the $99 8 GB iPhone 4 as their low-end devices. While the pricing difference becomes negligible once the total cost of a two-year service contract is accounted for, customers are still attracted to the low upfront cost of the iPhone 3GS, as evidenced by the fact that it remained the second best-selling smartphone in the U.S. behind the iPhone 4 heading into the iPhone 4S launch.
While a loss of iPhone exclusivity has apparently proven to not be an issue for AT&T;'s customer retention, the expansion to Verizon and Sprint has had an effect on the one major U.S. carrier still not offering the iPhone: T-Mobile USA. That carrier noted as part of its earnings discussion last week that customer churn due to the iPhone continues to be an "area of concern" for T-Mobile.
Sony Looking to Cut Out Cable Providers with Web-Based TV Service
Nov 16, 3:04PM
Last week, we noted that Sony was working hard on efforts to change the way users interact with and view content on their television sets, with CEO Howard Stringer openly acknowledging that the company was trying to find a way to compete with Apple's integrated ecosystem that is expected to expand to include television sets in the relatively near future.
The Wall Street Journal now reports that Sony is working on the next phase of its efforts, seeking to launch a Web-based alternative to traditional TV that would skirt around cable companies' control of the market.
Sony is proposing to beam the channels over Internet connections to Sony-made devices, including PlayStation gaming consoles, TV sets and Blu-ray players, the people said. Sony has sold about 18.1 million PlayStation 3 consoles in the U.S. alone, according to NPD Group Inc., and many homes have other Internet-connected Sony devices.Sony has reportedly reached out to a number of content providers, including Comcast NBCUniversal, Discovery, and News Corp., in attempt to strike deals to offer their shows on the service.
One stumbling block could be Sony's desire to license a smaller bundle of channels than existing cable operators offer to undercut the incumbents on price and flexibility, according to people familiar with the matter. That could be a nonstarter for media companies, which would prefer not to undercut their biggest customers.The report notes that Apple made a similar effort several years ago, seeking to put together a "best of TV" package for delivery to viewers via iTunes, but those negotiations failed to produce a deal after content providers refused to budge on their demands for bundling channels together.
Apple clearly remains interested in the television market, with rumors of a Siri-enabled TV set launching in late 2012 or early 2013. It is not entirely clear what efforts Apple may continue to pursue on the content side of the TV market to complement the hardware and software, but just two months ago the company was said to have developed a "new technology to deliver video to televisions". As part of that work, the company was said to still have an interest in offering some sort of subscription TV packages.
Apple Seeds Lion 10.7.3 Beta to Developers [Mac Blog]
Nov 15, 10:49PM
As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple has seeded a beta of OS X Lion 10.7.3 to developers. The beta, build number 11D16, asks developers to focus testing on iCloud document storage, Address Book, iCal and Mail.
OS X 10.7.2 was released to the public in mid-October with iCloud support being its most notable feature.
Apple Names Art Levinson Chairman, Disney's Bob Iger Joins Board of Directors
Nov 15, 9:45PM
Apple today announced that Art Levinson has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors. The former Genentech executive has served on Apple's board since 2000 and has been a co-lead director since 2005. In addition, Disney president and CEO Bob Iger has been named to the board."Art has made enormous contributions to Apple since he joined the board in 2000," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "He has been our longest serving co-lead director, and his insight and leadership are incredibly valuable to Apple, our employees and our shareholders."Levinson had served on all three of the board's committees, and will continue to serve on the audit committee following his elevation to chairman. Iger will also serve on the audit committee.
"Bob and I have gotten to know one another very well over the past few years and on behalf of the entire board, we think he is going to make an extraordinary addition to our already very strong board," said Tim Cook. "His strategic vision for Disney is based on three fundamentals: generating the best creative content possible, fostering innovation and utilizing the latest technology, and expanding into new markets around the world which makes him a great fit for Apple."
Disney and Apple have a relatively close relationship given that Disney had purchased Pixar back in 2006 when it was owned by Steve Jobs. Jobs had subsequently served on Disney's board of directors and was the company's largest individual shareholder.
New Netflix App for iPad Coming in Next Few Weeks [iOS Blog]
Nov 15, 9:19PM
Netflix today released an updated app for Android tablets, namely the just launched Kindle Fire and the new Barnes and Noble Nook, and says the update will be coming to the iPad in the next few weeks.
The new design is much more immersive and provides greater focus on the growing number of titles in the Netflix catalog. In fact, the new interface displays twice as many movies and TV shows as before, enabling you to discover even more titles you'll love. Also, we've taken greater advantage of the tablet's unique features, inviting you to swipe through rows of titles featuring larger artwork.Netflix for iOS is a free universal app, though it does require a $7.99/month streaming subscription.
Annual iTunes Connect Shutdown Set for December 22nd-29th [iOS Blog]
Nov 15, 9:01PM
As noted by MacStories, Apple has sent out an email informing developers that it will be shutting down the iTunes Connect portal for the App Store over the Christmas holiday as it has the past several years. This year's shutdown will extend from December 22nd through 29th, two days longer than in past years.
We strongly recommend that you do not schedule pricing changes through the interval pricing system in iTunes Connect that would take effect from December 22 through December 29. Pricing changes scheduled to take effect during this date range will not be reflected in the App Store and the app will become unavailable for purchase.Most of Apple's corporate employees in the United States will also be taking all of next week off in recognition of the company's success this year, but the company has made no announcement about whether this will include employees responsible for app reviews and other App Store functions.
We also recommend that you do not schedule any apps to go live during the shutdown. Releases scheduled with a sales start date between these dates will not go live until after the shutdown.
Apple TV Drops to $89.99 at Amazon and Best Buy [iOS Blog]
Nov 15, 8:23PM
As noticed by 9to5Mac, both Amazon and Best Buy have dropped their prices on the Apple TV by $10 to $89.99. Interestingly, Amazon has also added a "2010" designation to its Apple TV title, leading to speculation that the retailers may be making room for a potential update to the device.
Third-party retailers are, however, usually not particularly accurate sources of information on new product releases given that Apple does not generally keep them apprised of its product plans. But despite that caveat and the fact that mid-November is beyond Apple's usual timeframe for new product introductions ahead of the holiday shopping season, the developments may spark some interest among those who have been eagerly awaiting word of a new Apple TV model.
With iOS 5 released back in June opening the door to a 1080p Apple TV and references to a new Apple TV model showing up in iOS 5, it seems that Apple may unsurprisingly be working on a hardware update for the Apple TV, but the timeframe for such a release is unknown. Apple is also said to be working on a Siri-enabled television set, but that product is reportedly not set to debut until late 2012 or 2013 and it is unclear how that product would affect or relate to the Apple TV set-top box.
Steve Jobs Envisioned Using Unlicensed Wi-Fi Spectrum for Apple Mobile Phone Network
Nov 15, 8:00PM
IDG News Service reports on comments made yesterday by venture capitalist John Stanton claiming that Steve Jobs had been investigating the possibility of using unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum as way to bypass carriers in setting up a mobile phone network in the years before the iPhone debuted. While the idea proved to be infeasible, Stanton's description of Jobs' vision fits with the Apple co-founder's overall goal of controlling the entire user experience from end to end.Stanton, currently chairman at venture capital firm Trilogy Partnership, said he spent a fair amount of time with Jobs between 2005 and 2007. "He wanted to replace carriers," Stanton said of Jobs, the Apple founder and CEO who passed away recently after a battle with cancer. "He and I spent a lot of time talking about whether synthetically you could create a carrier using Wi-Fi spectrum. That was part of his vision."According to Stanton, Jobs gave up on the idea by 2007 as the company pursued a more traditional arrangement for the iPhone through existing carriers, but still managed to have a significant influence on eroding the control carriers had previously exerted over the devices on their networks.
"If I were a carrier, I'd be concerned about the dramatic shift in power that occurred," he said.Stanton was one of the early entrepreneurs in cellular technology, founding a small company called Western Wireless that later spun out part of itself as VoiceStream and which became T-Mobile USA following a 2001 acquisition by Deutsche Telekom. The remainder of Western Wireless was acquired by Alltel in 2005, and it appears that Jobs' conversations with Stanton occurred immediately after that time.
Companies like Apple and Google, which develops Android, sell a variety of software and services that capture revenue streams that might have otherwise gone to the operators.
Quickly Upgrade All iTunes Matched Songs to 256Kbps [Mac Blog]
Nov 15, 7:03PM
The first thing many iTunes Match users will want to do upon purchasing the service is to upgrade all their matched music to the 256Kbps. Unfortunately, there is no push-button ability to do this, but it is possible with a few simple steps -- but make sure you've already turned iTunes Match on and it has finished running its initial match.
>From Macworld:
Make a Smart Playlist Create a Smart Playlist with the following attributes:Once the smart playlist is created, select all the files by pressing Command-A or going to the Edit Menu and choosing "Select All." Then, press Option-Delete to remove all the songs from iTunes -- however, make sure not to select the box that removes the songs from iCloud. We only want to remove the local, lower quality sound files. When iTunes asks, select to move the files to the trash.
- Bit Rate is less than 256kbps
- Media Kind is Music
- Any of the following are true: (to create this conditional, option-click on the plus button in the Smart Playlist window) iCloud status is Matched, iCloud status is Purchased.
This creates a list of all your low-bit-rate files that are upgradeable—namely, ones iTunes Match has deemed Matched or Purchased.
Finally, make sure that all the songs remain selected and right- or control-click any song and choose Download. This will start the long (depending on how many songs there are, possibly very long) downloading process. iTunes only downloads 3 items at one time, but Apple's iTunes servers are generally very responsive.
Apple and NTT DoCoMo Still Discussing iPhone Agreements in Japan [iOS Blog]
Nov 15, 4:40PM
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple and NTT DoCoMo are still in discussions over a potential agreement to bring the iPhone to Japan's largest carrier. The carrier is concerned, however, over Apple's unwillingness to allow DoCoMo to install its own applications such as its popular e-wallet and mail services on the device. NTT DoCoMo is also concerned over Apple's unit volume commitment demands.
"We haven't given up our hope of introducing the iPhone" but Apple typically asks carriers to commit a large volume, Ryuji Yamada, president and chief executive of Japan's biggest mobile operator by subscribers, told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview Tuesday.Apple and NTT DoCoMo have long been rumored to be in talks regarding the iPhone, but the device was until just recently available in Japan exclusively through SoftBank, which launched the iPhone in 2008. With the launch of the iPhone 4S, KDDI has begun offering the iPhone, putting additional pressure on NTT DoCoMo.
"If the introduction of the iPhone results in the mass majority of our products occupied by the iPhone, then that's a scenario that's difficult to us to swallow."
Samsung's Patent Cases Against Apple to Ramp Up in 2012
Nov 15, 4:24PM
Following a recent commitment to step up its attacks on Apple over claims of patent infringement related to 3G technologies, Samsung appears set to launch into the primary phase of its campaign during the first half of 2012. While some initial posturing has seen some early discussions in court over Samsung's claims, Samsung appears to be opting to forego seeking temporary injunctions against Apple and attempting to proceed as quickly as possible to full trials.
Notably, Bloomberg reports that Samsung has won an early trial date of March 2012 for its case against Apple in Australia, with the judge accepting that proposal over Apple's opposition that requested a trial date of August 2012. With the decision, the Australian trial will come before Samsung's action in the United States ramps up with an International Trade Commission case in May or June.
Australia Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett today ordered that a trial on Samsung's claims be held in March. Cupertino, California-based Apple had opposed an early trial, with its lawyer Stephen Burley saying the company needed more time to prepare the case and favored a hearing in August.Samsung is currently targeting the iPhone 4, iPad 2, and iPhone 3GS with its Australian lawsuit, although it will presumably attempt to add the iPhone 4S to the lawsuit at some point as well. With the trial not set to kick off until March, Samsung may also find itself needing to add other new devices such as iPad 3, which is rumored for an early 2012 launch.
Samsung, the world's biggest maker of smartphones last quarter, dropped its bid for a temporary injunction barring Apple from selling the iPhones and iPad 2 and instead is seeking an early hearing. The Australian trial will be a prelude for Samsung in its U.S. case before the International Trade Commission on similar claims, which Burley said will be heard in May and June.
Court cases between Apple and Samsung are also playing out in a number of other countries, but Australia has been one of the focus points for the two companies, with Apple having won an injunction blocking the sale of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the country. Samsung has appealed that ruling, with a court date set for late next week to begin arguing its case on the topic. The company had previously indicated, however, that it might scrap the device's launch entirely in Australia if the injunction was granted, given that it would prevent Samsung from having it on the market in time for for the lucrative holiday shopping season.
Android Tops 50% Share of Smartphone Sales, But Apple Still Dominating Profits
Nov 15, 2:44PM
Research firm Gartner today released its results of worldwide mobile phone sales for the third quarter of 2011, once again revealing how delayed purchases ahead of the iPhone 4S resulted in a dip in unit sales and market share for Apple. According to the report, Apple's share of the total mobile phone market came in at 3.9% for the quarter, down from 4.6% in the previous quarter. The performance was strong enough, however, to maintain fourth place in the rankings behind Nokia, Samsung, and LG.
Apple shipped 17 million iPhones, an annual increase of 21 percent, but down nearly 3 million units from the second quarter of 2011 because of Apple's new device announcement in October. Gartner believes Apple will bounce back in the fourth quarter because of its strongest ever preorders for the iPhone 4S in the first weekend after its announcement. Markets such as Brazil, Mexico, Russia and China are becoming more important to Apple, representing 16 percent of overall sales and showing that the iPhone has a place in emerging markets, especially now that the 3GS and 4 have received price cuts.Looking at the narrower smartphone market, which represented 26% of mobile phone sales during the quarter, iOS slipped from an 18.2% share in the second quarter to 15.0% in the third quarter, trailing market leader Android and Nokia's soon-to-be-defunct Symbian platforms. Notably, Android leapt to grab 52.5% of the smartphone market during the quarter, more than doubling year-over-year and up significantly from 43.4% just last quarter.
But even as Android surges to take more than half of the worldwide smartphone market by units, Apple continues to increase its share of mobile phone industry profits, with several studies showing that Apple currently takes in more than half of the industry's profits.
In another stark example of Apple's rise to dominance in profit share, Fortune yesterday published several charts from a new report from analysts at Oppenheimer & Co. The graphs show that while Apple's share of smartphone unit sales has somewhat stagnated over the past couple of years, its share of smartphone profits has soared to an estimated 65% during 2011. That trend is predicted to continue in 2012, with Apple pushing toward 70% profit share.
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