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Replacements for First-Gen iPod Nano Models at Risk of Overheating Now Arriving
Nov 17, 10:05PM
Late late week, Apple announced a worldwide replacement program for owners of the first-generation iPod nano. The program was instituted due to battery issues that could cause the devices to overheat and in extreme cases catch fire.
While Apple officially notes that it may take up to six weeks for customers to receive their replacement devices, some users are reporting that their replacements have already arrived. And while some had hoped that Apple might offer newer-generation iPod nano models given a potential shortage of units that officially went out of production nearly five years ago, the replacement units are indeed still first-generation iPod nanos.
According to one customer who received a replacement, the new unit is an exact duplicate of his original iPod nano in terms of color and capacity, although it feels brand-new without the wear and tear of five or six years' worth of use. Apple is almost certainly utilizing refurbished units for the replacements, but Apple's standard refurbishment program includes the use of brand-new batteries and outer shells to make the devices appear and function as new.
I wanted to pass along some info about the iPod Nano exchange program Apple started over the weekend. I just received the replacement and it is an exact replacement. No upgrade. Same capacity and everything. The only upside is that it is "new" (probably refurbished), so it's clean in comparison to my old one.The replacement iPod nano units come with a 90-day warranty, offering users a chance to make sure that they are operating properly upon receipt. As evidenced by the units coming through already, they should be essentially identical to customers' original devices, although Apple notes that any personalization on the original devices will not be included on the replacements.
U.S. Carriers Still Struggling to Meet iPhone 4S Demand
Nov 17, 8:15PM
The Wall Street Journal reports on continuing shortages of the iPhone 4S at U.S. carriers, more than a month after the device went on sale. Carriers indicate that the shortages are due to very strong customer demand rather than any shortfall in Apple's production.
Verizon Wireless customers may have to wait more than three weeks for the device, according to the carrier's website. That compares with as much as 21 days at AT&T; and up to 14 days at Sprint Nextel. While some tech blogs have suggested Apple's manufacturing isn't keeping pace, the carriers point to unexpectedly strong demand for the handset.Apple typically prioritizes its own distribution channels in the face of tight supplies, but even its online store is citing shipping estimates of 1-2 weeks on iPhone 4S orders, while its retail stores are utilizing a reservation system to manage the tight supplies. Through the system, customers are able to reserve iPhone 4S units each night from the available stock at their local store, stopping by the following day to make their purchase. Any unreserved stock is then made available for walk-in purchase, although even reservation customers have been having some difficulty finding availability of the popular device.
"We are having some supply issues in the sense that demand's huge," AT&T;'s president of emerging devices, Glenn Lurie, said Wednesday. "We have had just record-breaking sales on it."
Apple sold a record-setting four million iPhone 4S units in its opening weekend, and the company is confident that it will see record sales for the iPhone during the current quarter. In addition to the strong sales in its launch markets, Apple has also been pursuing an aggressive international rollout for the iPhone 4S. With two new rounds of international launches having occurred since the original seven-country debut on October 14th, the iPhone 4S is now available in 44 countries around the world.
Google Debuts New Android-Focused Music Download Store
Nov 17, 7:37PM
Google yesterday officially unveiled its full Google Music service, including a music download store offering a number of the same features as Apple's iTunes Store. The new Google Music store arrives as part of the Android Market and seems designed to attract users to the Android platform by offering an alternative to Apple's iTunes ecosystem. Like the iTunes Store, Google Music offers per-track pricing typically ranging from $0.69-$1.29, with over 13 million tracks available for purchase.
The store offers more than 13 million tracks from artists on Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI, and the global independent rights agency Merlin as well as over 1,000 prominent independent labels including Merge Records, Warp Records, Matador Records, XL Recordings and Naxos. We've also partnered with the world's largest digital distributors of independent music including IODA, INgrooves, The Orchard and Believe Digital.Google Music also includes some of the same cloud-based services offered by Apple as part of iCloud and iTunes Match, features that Google rolled out in beta form earlier this year without the support of its own music store. With Google Music, all music purchases from the market are stored online, with users also able to upload up to 20,000 of their own tracks for free.
You can purchase individual songs or entire albums right from your computer or your Android device and they'll be added instantly to your Google Music library, and accessible anywhere.
The company is also integrating the new music service with its Google+ social networking platform, allowing users to post individual tracks to their Google+ pages where friends can take advantage of a one-time free stream of each track.
Google is also rolling out an "artist hub" feature, which allows any signed or unsigned artist with distribution rights for their material to create a dedicated Google Music page for a one-time $25 fee. Artists can use their pages to share information and sell their music, with artists able to set their own pricing and receiving 70% of revenue.
One missing piece for Google is Warner Music Group, one of the four major music labels in the United States and which has yet to reach an agreement to have its content distributed through the store. Warner, which is said to still be in talks with Google, is the third-largest record label and holds approximately 20% of the market.
Signal Snowboards Honor Steve Jobs With the iShred [Mac Blog]
Nov 17, 7:20PM
Every third Thursday, the guys at Signal Snowboards make a custom (and a little off-the-wall) board to push the limits of snowboard design. This month, the guys built iShred, an aluminum-based board with a built-in iPad 2 and a light-up wi-fi beacon. The board turned out to be much more difficult to make than Signal had anticipated, but they got it done in the end -- though with the aluminum base, it wasn't the best board to actually ride:
The thing is like a missile -- it doesn't like to turn, but its pretty fast and heavy... it's like a lead weight. It's probably the heaviest board I've ridden. I give it a negative review on turnability.Signal said they wanted to honor "the man who inspired and built products that almost every snowboarder we know loves and uses in their daily lives."
Djay 4 for Mac Packs Pro Features and Analyzes Tunes for Musical Key [Mac Blog]
Nov 17, 6:55PM
Algoriddim has released the latest version of its well-regarded DJing software djay for Mac. The software allows DJ's, both amateur and professional, to perform and record music sessions via a number of unique and easy-to-use features. Perhaps the largest new feature in version 4 is Harmonic Match. Djay analyzes the entire iTunes Library detecting musical key for each song, allowing the software to match up songs of the same key for seamless transitions.
Djay also includes a number of real-time audio effects, fully analyzed waveforms, auto-syncing to match BPM between songs, iCloud integration for sharing cue points and other metadata between Djay for Mac, iPad, or iPhone, and supports a number of third-party accessories.
djay for Mac continues to build upon algoriddim's philosophy of creating accessible DJ tools for all users. Pros and beginners alike will find new features, such as Harmonic Match™ and enhanced audio FX, significantly improve the experience of mixing music on the Mac. With the introduction of the new visual key match wheel, djay automatically registers a song's key and matches it to songs of the same key within an iTunes music library. This first-of-its-kind integration of harmonic mixing capabilities enables easy mashups that are pitch-perfect.Djay for Mac is normally $49.99, but is on sale on the Mac App Store for $19.99 for a limited time. [Direct Link]
Apple Releases 4.4.3 Software Update for Apple TV [Updated] [iOS Blog]
Nov 17, 6:40PM
Apple today pushed out a new 4.4.3 software update for the Apple TV, although the company has yet to specify what improvements are included in the update.
The new release, which arrives as Build 9A4051, comes on the heels of a series of releases last month that started with version 4.4 to include support for iCloud's Photo Stream feature as well as several other additions but which required several minor follow-up updates to resolve issues.
Update: Apple has updated its release notes to reveal that the 4.4.3 update adds support for Netflix streaming in Mexico and an audio output issue when the connected television set is turned off.
Netflix: Added support for Netflix in Mexico.
Audio Output: Addresses an issue in which audio may not play through the optical port when the TV is turned off.
Skype Adds Facebook Video Calling Support [Mac Blog]
Nov 17, 4:32PM
Back in September, Skype debuted a new Skype 5.4 for Mac Beta offering Facebook integration in the form of chat and news feed support. The company has now expanded that integration to include support for Facebook video calling.
Initiating a Facebook-to-Facebook call from within Skype is quite easy; all you need to do is connect your Skype and Facebook accounts. Then, select a Facebook friend and hit the video call button in Skype- your friend simply picks up the call from Facebook. This new feature lets you maintain social connections with your Facebook friends and compliments previously announced features such as being able to see when your Facebook friends are online, read their status updates and IM them all from Skype.
Skype is a free download and service, although the company also offers a premium subscription service offering such features as group video calling and group screen sharing.
Code Strings Hint at Possible iChat Services for iOS [iOS Blog]
Nov 17, 4:17PM
RazorianFly points to a Tweet from developer John Heaton revealing strings within the iOS code making reference to iChat-related services such as Jabber and AIM that are not currently supported directly by Apple on iOS.
Speculation has naturally turned to the possibility that Apple is working on an application to integrate full iChat capabilities into iOS, although that may be something of a stretch. Rather, it seems more likely that the code is part of a general IMService framework to support all of Apple's messaging protocols regardless of whether support for the actual services is included on a given platform.
Apple currently supports a variety of messaging and video communication services on its Mac OS X and iOS platforms, using a somewhat complex array of applications. On iOS, Apple's new iMessage service is handled through the Messages app that also handles SMS and MMS on the iPhone, while FaceTime is handled through the Phone app itself on the iPhone and a standalone app on the iPod touch and iPad 2.
On Mac OS X, iChat handles basic messaging services such as AIM and Jabber, as well as audio and video chat capabilities of those services, while FaceTime is supported in the form of a separate application. iMessage is not yet supported on Mac OS X, although code strings and rumors have suggested that the feature will be coming to the Mac.
Apple Pulls Back on iPad 2 Display Orders as iPad 3 Production Begins to Ramp Up
Nov 17, 3:52PM
Digitimes reports that Apple has pulled back on its fourth-quarter orders for iPad 2 display panels, although the reduction appears to be part of an overall strategy to prepare for the launch of the iPad 3 early next year rather than a shortfall in customer demand. According to the report, Apple stockpiled components for an extra 4-5 million iPad 2 units during the third quarter, allowing it to reduce its orders for the fourth quarter.
Sales of iPads at the end market totaled 11.12 million units in the third quarter of 2011, according to data released by Apple. However, inventories of parts and components prepared by the makers in the supply chain for the production of iPad 2 in the quarter are sufficient for the production of 15-16 million iPads, leaving a stockpile of 4-5 million units of iPad 2 in the supply chain, the sources noted.That explanation is in line with claims from analyst Chris Caso following rumors in late September that Apple would be cutting fourth-quarter iPad production. Caso claimed that Apple had "pulled in" production from the fourth quarter to the third quarter, accelerating its manufacturing timetable ahead of the holiday quarter.
The reason for this stockpiling of iPad 2 components appears to be preparations for the iPad 3 launch, as Digitimes also notes that suppliers of both display and touch panels for the iPad 3 have either already begun or will soon begin shipments to Apple.
While Apple is adjusting panel inventory for iPad 2, Samsung and Sharp already began shipping panels for the next-generation iPads to Apple in October, and Taiwan-based touch panel makers TPK Holding and Wintek will begin to ship touch panels for the new iPads to the supply chain in November-December, the sources noted.The iPad 3 has been rumored to see an early 2012 introduction and is expected to carry a higher-resolution "Retina" display, although display suppliers have been said to be struggling to produce the panels in volume.
Apple Removes 'Texas Hold'em', its Only iOS Game, from App Store
Nov 17, 2:40PM
In a bit of an interesting move, Apple has removed its Texas Hold'em game from the App Store, potentially marking the end of the only game Apple ever produced on its own for the App Store.
Texas Hold'em began life as a game for non-iOS iPod models, debuting in late 2006. As Apple introduced the iPhone just a few months later, rumors circulated that Apple was getting serious about gaming, in part evidenced by its in-house work on Texas Hold'em for the iPod.
When Apple officially launched the App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch in 2008 to allow third-party developers to create apps for iOS, Texas Hold'em appeared as a debut title with greatly enhanced functionality over the traditional iPod version, further fueling claims of Apple's interest in pursuing game development of its own.
Apple's early interest in producing its own games for the iPod and later iOS appear to have stemmed from concerns over its ability to attract third-party developers to the platform, or at least to provide those developers with an example of what could be done on the devices. As large developers such as EA and Gameloft and a host of smaller developers all flocked to the platform, Apple undoubtedly quickly discovered that it did not need to support its devices with its own gaming content.
Unsurprisingly, Apple has not released any information on the reason behind the disappearance of Texas Hold'em, which sold for $4.99 and was last updated in September 2008. A dedicated page about the game remains active on Apple's site at this time, although it is not featured on or linked to from other App Store pages on the site.
(Thanks, Travis!)
Update: Apple has now removed the Texas Hold'em feature page from apple.com.
"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.
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