Amazon adds streaming Prime Music to play against Apple's Beats
Amazon launched a streaming-music service called Prime Music, making the gamble that adding on-demand tunes to its $99-a-year Prime service will be more important in drawing new members than matching the exhaustive catalog offered by rivals Spotify and Apple's to-be-acquired Beats Music. Prime Music goes live Thursday with more than 1 milliontracks pulled from the catalogs of two of the top three record labels -- WarnerMusic Group and Sony Music -- as well as from large independentlabels. Universal, the world's biggest recorded music company, is absent.Bycomparison, Spotify, the leader in subscription streaming music with 10million paying members, andBeats Music, which Apple agreedto buy last month for $3 billion, have catalogs withmore than 20 million tracks."A lot of these services have more music than people will ever listen to,"Steve Boom, Amazon's vice president of worldwide digital music, said in an interview. "People are paying for a lot of music they're never going to listen to." AmazonThe Seattle-based e-commerce company is the latest tech giant to turn on a subscription streaming-music service. In the past few years, services offering all-you-can-eat music for a monthly fee have become recorded music's brightest spot of revenue growth. Revenue from subscription and streaming services rose 51 percent to top $1 billion for the first time last year, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Those sales countered a slide in physical sales (think CDs) and a slight decline in digital music download revenue.But the nascent model has yet to prove it can be profitable --reportedly, even as Spotify's revenue has grown, so too have its losses.Amazon's unique take, bundling music as part of its Prime service,underscores how companies are still trying to figure out a business model that works. The Prime program, which has tens of millions of members, already offers two-day shipping on select Amazon purchases, a Netflix-like streaming video service, and a lending library of e-books for Kindle devices, the Amazon family of tablets and e-reader.The number of songs in a catalog is a "red herring," Boom said. Amazon's music download store has almost 30 million tracks, and a "substantial" portion are never downloaded, he said.And,as reported earlier by Buzzfeed, Prime Music won't always get tracks as soon as they are available. Amazon said its deals bring some songs on board right after they're released, but others will be delayed, a tactic known as "windowing." None of its deals with music providers have delays longer than six months, the company said. The trade-off in agreeing to such windows is that Amazon lowers the cost of licensing.Given the limitations of its music offerings, Amazon is unlikely to attract new Prime members solely by the virtues of its music-streaming product. Amazon's advantage, however, is the package including both music and video -- plus shipping and e-books -- for a lower yearly price than the sum of the parts elsewhere. The Beats service and Spotify each charge subscribers $10 a month; Beats also charges $99 for an annual membership, the same price as more diverse Prime. Netflix charges about $8 a month and is rolling out a price increase to $9.Prime Music makes Amazon one of the rare companies offering both music downloads (songs that you can buy) and subscriptions. Most subscriptions services like Beats Music and Spotify focus on streaming the songs for a set fee, though Spotify and Pandora each offer a free, ad-supported streaming service. With Prime Music, Amazon joins Google in offering both options to a huge base of customers, as Google's Play store sells downloads and also offers an All Access subscription option for $10. Google executives have said that subscription has helped its store, rather than hurt it.Apple, which defined the music downloads market with its iTunes store in 2003, had for years dismissed the subscription model, based on the presumption that consumers didn't want it and that an all-you-can-eat buffet of tunes would keep customers from paying for songs. That will change when Apple closes its deal for headphone maker Beats, which is expected later this year. Related links:Apple finally confirms it's buying Beats for $3BGoogle Play Music quietly coats the globe (Q&A)Amazon Fire TV has videos, games -- where’s the shopping cart?How Amazon Studios went from grassroots idealist to Hollywood threat Prime Music, which is ad-free, will be available as an automatic over-the-air update to Kindle Fire HD and HDX devices. It is available online at primemusic.com, and through the latest Amazon Music app for iOS, Apple's mobile operating system, and Android, the mobile operating system from Google that runs the majority of the world's smartphones. Amazon also has desktop clients for Windows and Mac computers.The service allows people to pick specific tracks to add to a library, which can also be populated by music the member has purchased either through Amazon or a rival download store if they're in an Amazon Cloud Player, a storage locker for music. Adding a song or album to a library will trigger a song recommendation carousel familiar to anyone who has shopped on Amazon before: "Customers who bought this album also bought..."Prime Music also has hundreds of playlists compiled by experts that Amazon drew from music publications, labels, radio stations, and musicians themselves. The playlists are based on artists such as "Pink's Top Songs," genres such as "50 Great R&B Slow Jams," mood such as "Pop to Make You Feel Better," or activity such as "Rock for Runners."Amazon's service also allows off-line caching of music, so users can listen without being connected to a network.Playlists are designed to have about 20 to 50 tracks, so they won't hog storage space on phones or kill a mobile device's data limit. On Kindle Fire HD and HDX devices, lyrics to songs will automatically scroll when a song is playing.Much like Prime Instant Video, Prime Music will offer buttons to buy music that isn't available as part of the subscription. But, at least initially, commerce integration with the broader Amazon store stops there. For example, adding a SpongeBob SquarePants song to your library won't prompt you to buy a SpongeBob backpack.Even without that, Prime Music -- like every Amazon move -- is ultimately aimed at ushering users back into its store. Analysts say that Prime customers buy more than regular shoppers. Now they can shop while listening to some of their favorite tunes.It would make a perfect Prime Music playlist: "Music for 1-Click Ordering."
iHeartRadio retunes iOS, Android apps for more talk radio
iHeartRadio retunes iOS, Android apps for more talk radio
The updates get talk content more quickly to listeners' ears where people are looking for digital radio most -- on their phones. Unsurprisingly, with most online radio listening is moving to mobile devices, 60 percent of people listening to iHeartRadio Talk since its beta launch in late July are doing so with a portable device, the company said. iHeart Radio's app updates will be available for iOS on Monday and on Thursday for Android, including the Kindle. It's the latest maneuver by an online radio challenger to Pandora that tests out weak spots in the armor of the biggest online radio service in the US. With about 72 million active users a month, Pandora dominates online radio listening. By comparison, the monthly unique visitors to iHeartRadio are less than one-fourth that level, according to figures from ComScore, and iHeartRadio is one of the closest competitors. Yet Pandora's strongest suit has always been music, going back to its origins with the Music Genome Project that catalogs songs by their musical DNA to make recommendations. While Pandora also has a talk element, Clear Channel's long history with talk radio provided iHeart a way to attract an audience that the online leader in radio wasn't as well equipped to woo. And that audience was already tuning in: Before the dedicated talk feature launched, talk content already accounted for 25 percent of iHeartRadio listening, compared to about 16 percent of terrestrial radio listening.Launched in late July, iHeartRadio Talk brought online a cache of talk content, not only fromshows from big-name personalities on Clear Channel's network of stations but also will allow aspiring talk-radio stars to record their own episodes on Spreaker and submit them to the iHeartRadio library for listeners to pick out.Overall, the iHeartRadio app has been downloaded 225 million times. The crowded field of contenders reflects how streaming music is the fastest growing segment of the recorded music industry.But it still lags far behind traditional AM/FM radio. Even at its perch on the top of the online world, Pandora only represents about 7.5 percent of all US radio listening. And the iHeartRadio app updates arrive on the stage with another competitive threat waiting in the wings: iTunes Radio. The online radio service from Apple is set to launch Tuesday in the US as part of iOS 7. While iTunes Radio may be coming to the game late by tech standards, the 575 million customers iTunes already means Apple is getting an airlift into the race near the front of the pack.
The updates get talk content more quickly to listeners' ears where people are looking for digital radio most -- on their phones. Unsurprisingly, with most online radio listening is moving to mobile devices, 60 percent of people listening to iHeartRadio Talk since its beta launch in late July are doing so with a portable device, the company said. iHeart Radio's app updates will be available for iOS on Monday and on Thursday for Android, including the Kindle. It's the latest maneuver by an online radio challenger to Pandora that tests out weak spots in the armor of the biggest online radio service in the US. With about 72 million active users a month, Pandora dominates online radio listening. By comparison, the monthly unique visitors to iHeartRadio are less than one-fourth that level, according to figures from ComScore, and iHeartRadio is one of the closest competitors. Yet Pandora's strongest suit has always been music, going back to its origins with the Music Genome Project that catalogs songs by their musical DNA to make recommendations. While Pandora also has a talk element, Clear Channel's long history with talk radio provided iHeart a way to attract an audience that the online leader in radio wasn't as well equipped to woo. And that audience was already tuning in: Before the dedicated talk feature launched, talk content already accounted for 25 percent of iHeartRadio listening, compared to about 16 percent of terrestrial radio listening.Launched in late July, iHeartRadio Talk brought online a cache of talk content, not only fromshows from big-name personalities on Clear Channel's network of stations but also will allow aspiring talk-radio stars to record their own episodes on Spreaker and submit them to the iHeartRadio library for listeners to pick out.Overall, the iHeartRadio app has been downloaded 225 million times. The crowded field of contenders reflects how streaming music is the fastest growing segment of the recorded music industry.But it still lags far behind traditional AM/FM radio. Even at its perch on the top of the online world, Pandora only represents about 7.5 percent of all US radio listening. And the iHeartRadio app updates arrive on the stage with another competitive threat waiting in the wings: iTunes Radio. The online radio service from Apple is set to launch Tuesday in the US as part of iOS 7. While iTunes Radio may be coming to the game late by tech standards, the 575 million customers iTunes already means Apple is getting an airlift into the race near the front of the pack.
Apple could let you sell your iTunes content to other people
Apple could let you sell your iTunes content to other people
Want to sell that movie you bought on iTunes but never watch? You may be able to one day if a new Apple patent filing ever comes to life.Published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and filed last June, an Apple patent application named "Managing Access To Digital Content Items" conjures up a system for legally selling or loaning iTunes items to another person.Related storiesAmazon patents way for you to sell your digital itemsCook reportedly discussed music streaming service with BeatsHow YouTube could ignite streaming music: Go mobile, go freeGet 100 free MP3s from SXSW 2013The method involves transferring digital access rights from the original owner to someone else. Once those rights are transferred, the new owner would gain access to the content while the original owner would lose them.As the original seller of the item, Apple would keep track of who currently has the rights to it and get a cut of the action. The actual publisher or developer might also share in the proceeds, as described in the patent:After the change in access rights, only the transferee is allowed access to the digital content item. As part of the change in access rights, the transferee may pay to obtain access to the digital content item. A portion of the proceeds of the "resale" may be paid to the creator or publisher of the digital content item and/or the entity that originally sold the digital content item to the original owner.The system could also allow more than one person to buy a "copy" of the digital item. Content owned by one user could be provided to multiple people, so the original owner and the new owners all have access to it at the same time. Apple would restrict the number of times that an item could be copied. For example, a movie may be copied just once, while an e-book could be copied twice.Limitations would also likely be placed on how often an item could be sold and its selling price. The buyer of an app may have to wait a year before transferring the rights to another person. Someone who purchases a digital film might have to set a minimum price of $10 for the first six months. After six months, the minimum price would drop to $5.Amazon was recently granted a patent exploring the same concept of an electronic flea market for digital goods. In Amazon's patent, you would house your music, videos, apps, and e-books online. One you got tired of an item, you could transfer it to someone else's storage space.The seller would receive a credit for the item, while the buyer would be debited a certain amount. Like Apple, Amazon would take a cut of the proceeds for facilitating the transaction.As more people buy movies, music, and books digitally instead of physically, an online marketplace for selling and swapping those items seems like a logical next step.(Via AppleInsider)
Want to sell that movie you bought on iTunes but never watch? You may be able to one day if a new Apple patent filing ever comes to life.Published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and filed last June, an Apple patent application named "Managing Access To Digital Content Items" conjures up a system for legally selling or loaning iTunes items to another person.Related storiesAmazon patents way for you to sell your digital itemsCook reportedly discussed music streaming service with BeatsHow YouTube could ignite streaming music: Go mobile, go freeGet 100 free MP3s from SXSW 2013The method involves transferring digital access rights from the original owner to someone else. Once those rights are transferred, the new owner would gain access to the content while the original owner would lose them.As the original seller of the item, Apple would keep track of who currently has the rights to it and get a cut of the action. The actual publisher or developer might also share in the proceeds, as described in the patent:After the change in access rights, only the transferee is allowed access to the digital content item. As part of the change in access rights, the transferee may pay to obtain access to the digital content item. A portion of the proceeds of the "resale" may be paid to the creator or publisher of the digital content item and/or the entity that originally sold the digital content item to the original owner.The system could also allow more than one person to buy a "copy" of the digital item. Content owned by one user could be provided to multiple people, so the original owner and the new owners all have access to it at the same time. Apple would restrict the number of times that an item could be copied. For example, a movie may be copied just once, while an e-book could be copied twice.Limitations would also likely be placed on how often an item could be sold and its selling price. The buyer of an app may have to wait a year before transferring the rights to another person. Someone who purchases a digital film might have to set a minimum price of $10 for the first six months. After six months, the minimum price would drop to $5.Amazon was recently granted a patent exploring the same concept of an electronic flea market for digital goods. In Amazon's patent, you would house your music, videos, apps, and e-books online. One you got tired of an item, you could transfer it to someone else's storage space.The seller would receive a credit for the item, while the buyer would be debited a certain amount. Like Apple, Amazon would take a cut of the proceeds for facilitating the transaction.As more people buy movies, music, and books digitally instead of physically, an online marketplace for selling and swapping those items seems like a logical next step.(Via AppleInsider)
Rumor Has It, Ep. 25- We're just gonna wait for Windows 8 (podcast)
Rumor Has It, Ep. 25: We're just gonna wait for Windows 8 (podcast)
Back on Episode 3, Emily was on vacation, and put all her faith and trust in Sharon Vaknin. We took a vote on whether Microsoft would reveal the next-generation Xbox at E3 2012 (Sharon said yes, I said no). Well this week, Microsoft told everyone not to expect a new Xbox anytime soon, which means I won a point! It also means that Sharon and Emily are in a fight. Today's show gets wild and crazy with two Windows 8 rumors, but no iPad rumors. Imagine that. Will Lenovo be the first to launch a Windows 8 tablet? Rumors surround music subscription service Mog, and whether it's been purchased by none other than Beats audio! Awesome! But not so awesome, apparently, was the ending to Mass Effect 3. Fans of the series want a redo. And they want it now.EPISODE 25This 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.PlaySubscribe:Â RSS (MP3) |Â RSS (320x180) |Â RSS (640x360) |Â iTunes (MP3) |Â iTunes (320x180) |Â iTunes (640x360)PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Links from the show!Lenovo to launch first Windows 8 tablet--in October, report saysWindows 8 reportedly set for October debutMog rumored to have been sold to HTC BeatsBioWare considering changing Mass Effect 3's endingYay or Nay?Android to pwn iPad market share by 2016?Is an Office Web Apps refresh likely on Microsoft's menu?Will the HTC One X be Sprint's first LTE smartphone?Heard a tech rumor you think we should cover?E-mail us at Rumorhasit [at] cnet.com, or directly at karyne.levy [at] cnet.com or emily.dreyfuss [at] cbsinteractive.com. And call and leave us a voice mail at 1-800-750-CNET!And don't forget to follow us on Twitter! @EmilyDreyfuss, @karynelevy, @RumorShow, @stephenbeacham.
Back on Episode 3, Emily was on vacation, and put all her faith and trust in Sharon Vaknin. We took a vote on whether Microsoft would reveal the next-generation Xbox at E3 2012 (Sharon said yes, I said no). Well this week, Microsoft told everyone not to expect a new Xbox anytime soon, which means I won a point! It also means that Sharon and Emily are in a fight. Today's show gets wild and crazy with two Windows 8 rumors, but no iPad rumors. Imagine that. Will Lenovo be the first to launch a Windows 8 tablet? Rumors surround music subscription service Mog, and whether it's been purchased by none other than Beats audio! Awesome! But not so awesome, apparently, was the ending to Mass Effect 3. Fans of the series want a redo. And they want it now.EPISODE 25This 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.PlaySubscribe:Â RSS (MP3) |Â RSS (320x180) |Â RSS (640x360) |Â iTunes (MP3) |Â iTunes (320x180) |Â iTunes (640x360)PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Links from the show!Lenovo to launch first Windows 8 tablet--in October, report saysWindows 8 reportedly set for October debutMog rumored to have been sold to HTC BeatsBioWare considering changing Mass Effect 3's endingYay or Nay?Android to pwn iPad market share by 2016?Is an Office Web Apps refresh likely on Microsoft's menu?Will the HTC One X be Sprint's first LTE smartphone?Heard a tech rumor you think we should cover?E-mail us at Rumorhasit [at] cnet.com, or directly at karyne.levy [at] cnet.com or emily.dreyfuss [at] cbsinteractive.com. And call and leave us a voice mail at 1-800-750-CNET!And don't forget to follow us on Twitter! @EmilyDreyfuss, @karynelevy, @RumorShow, @stephenbeacham.
How to hide App Store purchases in iOS 8
How to hide App Store purchases in iOS 8
The new Family Sharing feature in iOS 8 is a great way for family members to share purchases, but you may not want each and every family member to have access to each and every app you download. Thankfully, each member of your family can hide his or her own purchases from showing up on their My Purchases list. And you can do so right on your iPhone without needing to involve your computer and iTunes. To unhide an app you have hidden, however, requires a visit to iTunes.In the App Store app, if you tap on the Updates button in the lower-right corner, you can view your apps that have been updated recently or have an update available. Tap the large Purchased button at the top to view the apps you and your family have purchased.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETTap on My Purchases, and from this list you can swipe left to bring forth a red Hide button for any app listed here. (Each member in a Family Sharing group can hide apps from his or her own My Purchases list but not from the purchase lists of the other family members.) Hiding doesn't remove purchase; the app will still be available to be downloaded again for free if you search for it in the App Store. If you mistakenly hide an app or would like to restore a previously hidden app to your purchased list, you will need to go into iTunes, I'm sorry to report. In iTunes, go to the iTunes Store view (as opposed to Library view). From the Quick Links section in the lower-right corner, click Account. After signing into your account, go to the iTunes in the Cloud section and click the Manage link on the right. Click on Apps from the top banner and you can then unhide any app listed by clicking the gray Unhide button beneath it.Try as I might, I was unable to hide any music, movie, TV show or book purchases using the iTunes Store or iBooks apps on my iPhone, but if you had hidden any such purchases previously using iTunes, you can unhide them here as well.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETiOS 8 also introduced the ability to hide photos; learn how the feature works. And for more iOS 8 tips, check out our complete guide on how to use iOS 8.(Via AppleInsider)
The new Family Sharing feature in iOS 8 is a great way for family members to share purchases, but you may not want each and every family member to have access to each and every app you download. Thankfully, each member of your family can hide his or her own purchases from showing up on their My Purchases list. And you can do so right on your iPhone without needing to involve your computer and iTunes. To unhide an app you have hidden, however, requires a visit to iTunes.In the App Store app, if you tap on the Updates button in the lower-right corner, you can view your apps that have been updated recently or have an update available. Tap the large Purchased button at the top to view the apps you and your family have purchased.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETTap on My Purchases, and from this list you can swipe left to bring forth a red Hide button for any app listed here. (Each member in a Family Sharing group can hide apps from his or her own My Purchases list but not from the purchase lists of the other family members.) Hiding doesn't remove purchase; the app will still be available to be downloaded again for free if you search for it in the App Store. If you mistakenly hide an app or would like to restore a previously hidden app to your purchased list, you will need to go into iTunes, I'm sorry to report. In iTunes, go to the iTunes Store view (as opposed to Library view). From the Quick Links section in the lower-right corner, click Account. After signing into your account, go to the iTunes in the Cloud section and click the Manage link on the right. Click on Apps from the top banner and you can then unhide any app listed by clicking the gray Unhide button beneath it.Try as I might, I was unable to hide any music, movie, TV show or book purchases using the iTunes Store or iBooks apps on my iPhone, but if you had hidden any such purchases previously using iTunes, you can unhide them here as well.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETiOS 8 also introduced the ability to hide photos; learn how the feature works. And for more iOS 8 tips, check out our complete guide on how to use iOS 8.(Via AppleInsider)
Steve Jobs movie starring Kutcher to focus on CEO's early years
Steve Jobs movie starring Kutcher to focus on CEO's early years
The upcoming biopic starring Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs will cover the Apple co-founder's early years, the film's producer said in an interview.The independent movie, which has been given the unfortunate working title of "Jobs: Get Inspired," will focus on Jobs' life from 1971 to 2000, Mark Hulme told Neowin magazine. The rookie producer said work on the movie's script, which is based on widely available information rather than a book, began when Jobs announced his retirement last August.Kutcher was chosen for the role based on this physical resemblance to the late Apple executive during his younger years, Hulme said."When Ashton read the script he was immediately attracted to the project," Hulme said. "He is a Steve Jobs and Apple fan, and is technologically savvy, as well, so he recognized the historical importance of Steve Jobs and the potential of the project."In addition to Kutcher, the film's producers are trying to cast "some exciting actors" to portray key figures in Jobs' early years (Steve Wozniak, John Scully, Mike Markkula, and Daniel Kottke), although Hulme declined to identify who they might be.The movie, which was announced on April 1, is scheduled to begin filming in May in Los Angeles, with theatrical release expected in the fourth quarter this year.
The upcoming biopic starring Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs will cover the Apple co-founder's early years, the film's producer said in an interview.The independent movie, which has been given the unfortunate working title of "Jobs: Get Inspired," will focus on Jobs' life from 1971 to 2000, Mark Hulme told Neowin magazine. The rookie producer said work on the movie's script, which is based on widely available information rather than a book, began when Jobs announced his retirement last August.Kutcher was chosen for the role based on this physical resemblance to the late Apple executive during his younger years, Hulme said."When Ashton read the script he was immediately attracted to the project," Hulme said. "He is a Steve Jobs and Apple fan, and is technologically savvy, as well, so he recognized the historical importance of Steve Jobs and the potential of the project."In addition to Kutcher, the film's producers are trying to cast "some exciting actors" to portray key figures in Jobs' early years (Steve Wozniak, John Scully, Mike Markkula, and Daniel Kottke), although Hulme declined to identify who they might be.The movie, which was announced on April 1, is scheduled to begin filming in May in Los Angeles, with theatrical release expected in the fourth quarter this year.
Steve Jobs manga comic book debuts in Japan
Steve Jobs manga comic book debuts in Japan
Steve Jobs is now a manga comic book character courtesy of a new series that debuted today in Japan.The first installment of the manga series known as "Steve Jobs" is now on Japanese newsstands in the April issue of a monthly publication called Kiss. Created by award-winning manga author Mari Yamazaki, the book plays out as a manga version of Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Jobs.The first chapter is available on the Web thanks to Yahoo Japan's online bookstore and shows Jobs talking to Isaacson about writing the biography.Since his death in 2011, Jobs has been the subject of several books, including Isaacson's biography. He's even been the star of his own comic book. But this is the first time he's been given the manga treatment for a Japanese audience.Additional chapters of the serialized comic book will appear each month in Kiss.(Via AppleInsider)
Steve Jobs is now a manga comic book character courtesy of a new series that debuted today in Japan.The first installment of the manga series known as "Steve Jobs" is now on Japanese newsstands in the April issue of a monthly publication called Kiss. Created by award-winning manga author Mari Yamazaki, the book plays out as a manga version of Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Jobs.The first chapter is available on the Web thanks to Yahoo Japan's online bookstore and shows Jobs talking to Isaacson about writing the biography.Since his death in 2011, Jobs has been the subject of several books, including Isaacson's biography. He's even been the star of his own comic book. But this is the first time he's been given the manga treatment for a Japanese audience.Additional chapters of the serialized comic book will appear each month in Kiss.(Via AppleInsider)
Apple rolls out iBookstore in Japan
Apple rolls out iBookstore in Japan
Japan is the newest country to get Apple's iBookstore. The tech giant announced today that it is rolling out a diverse array of books for Japanese readers in its iTunes bookstore."We're excited to launch the iBookstore in Japan with a wide selection of Japanese publishers and authors," Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue said in a statement today. "We think customers are going to love how engaging and interactive the books are to read, and how beautiful they look on iPad."The books range from novels to cookbooks to children's literature. Both major and indie publishers are represented in the collection, as well as up-and-coming and well-established authors, including Shyotaro Ikenami, Jiro Akagawa, Atsuko Asano, and Ryu Murakami.Several of the books have digital-only features, such as Murakami's "I'll Always Be With You, Always," which features interactive e-mails in every chapter. "As an author and Apple user for 20 years, the arrival of the iBookstore allows me to tell stories in a way you simply can't in a physical book," Murakami said in the statement.Adding Japan to its roster, Apple's iBookstore is now available in 51 countries around the world. In October, the tech giant debuted its iTunes bookstore in 18 new countries, including Bolivia, New Zealand, and Nicaragua. According to Apple, the iBooks app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch has been downloaded around 130 million times worldwide.While Apple is moving quickly to make its iBookstore completely international, Amazon beat it to the punch for Japan last October. Amazon made its first Kindle push into Japan with its Paperwhite device. At that time, Amazon also launched its Japanese Kindle Store offering more than 50,000 Japanese-language Kindle books.
Japan is the newest country to get Apple's iBookstore. The tech giant announced today that it is rolling out a diverse array of books for Japanese readers in its iTunes bookstore."We're excited to launch the iBookstore in Japan with a wide selection of Japanese publishers and authors," Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue said in a statement today. "We think customers are going to love how engaging and interactive the books are to read, and how beautiful they look on iPad."The books range from novels to cookbooks to children's literature. Both major and indie publishers are represented in the collection, as well as up-and-coming and well-established authors, including Shyotaro Ikenami, Jiro Akagawa, Atsuko Asano, and Ryu Murakami.Several of the books have digital-only features, such as Murakami's "I'll Always Be With You, Always," which features interactive e-mails in every chapter. "As an author and Apple user for 20 years, the arrival of the iBookstore allows me to tell stories in a way you simply can't in a physical book," Murakami said in the statement.Adding Japan to its roster, Apple's iBookstore is now available in 51 countries around the world. In October, the tech giant debuted its iTunes bookstore in 18 new countries, including Bolivia, New Zealand, and Nicaragua. According to Apple, the iBooks app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch has been downloaded around 130 million times worldwide.While Apple is moving quickly to make its iBookstore completely international, Amazon beat it to the punch for Japan last October. Amazon made its first Kindle push into Japan with its Paperwhite device. At that time, Amazon also launched its Japanese Kindle Store offering more than 50,000 Japanese-language Kindle books.
Apple reveals top iTunes content of 2010
Apple reveals top iTunes content of 2010
Apple has divulged the top sellers this year across several iTunes categories in its annual "Rewind" feature.In 2010, more people spent their hard-earned cash on "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train than on any other song. The track was followed by Katy Perry's "California Gurls" and Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie." "Airplanes" by B.O.B and "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz rounded out the iTunes top-five best-selling songs of 2010.On the album side, it was Eminem's year as the artist's "Recovery" outsold all others. Kesha's "Animal" and Lady Gaga's "The Fame" captured the second and third spots.Television episodes were also winnowed out. Apple reported that "Glee: The Power of Madonna" was the top-selling television episode of 2010. It bested the "Lost" finale and "iCarly: iSaved Your Life Special Extended Version," which took second and third place.According to Apple, the fourth season of "Mad Men" was the most popular season on iTunes this year. It was followed by "Glee" (season 2) and"Doctor Who" (season 5). "Dexter" (season 4) and "Futurama" (season 7), rounded out the top five.Games led the way for the top paid programs in Apple's iPhone App Store this year. On the iPhone side, Angry Birds was the most-downloaded paid app, followed by Doodle Jump, and Skee-Ball. Bejeweled 2 + Blitz and Fruit Ninja took the fourth and fifth spots.When it came to iPad apps, though, Apple reigned supreme. The company's Pages app was the most-downloaded option this year. It was followed by GoodReader for iPad and Apple's Numbers app. Angry Birds came in fourth on the iPad, followed by Keynote.Finally, Apple examined the top-selling movies this year. However, rather than breaking out rentals and sales, the company combined the two. In that list, "The Hurt Locker" led the way, followed by "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," "Hot Tub Time Machine," "Iron Man 2," and "Zombieland."Like last year, when Apple revealed the top performers of 2009, the company did not provide sales figures. It's worth noting that the company's sales figures are not necessarily representative of overall sales, but rather those on iTunes. Regardless, given the importance of iTunes, especially as a music store, the data would be worth knowing.For more details of the iTunes 2010 Rewind, click here.
Apple has divulged the top sellers this year across several iTunes categories in its annual "Rewind" feature.In 2010, more people spent their hard-earned cash on "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train than on any other song. The track was followed by Katy Perry's "California Gurls" and Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie." "Airplanes" by B.O.B and "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz rounded out the iTunes top-five best-selling songs of 2010.On the album side, it was Eminem's year as the artist's "Recovery" outsold all others. Kesha's "Animal" and Lady Gaga's "The Fame" captured the second and third spots.Television episodes were also winnowed out. Apple reported that "Glee: The Power of Madonna" was the top-selling television episode of 2010. It bested the "Lost" finale and "iCarly: iSaved Your Life Special Extended Version," which took second and third place.According to Apple, the fourth season of "Mad Men" was the most popular season on iTunes this year. It was followed by "Glee" (season 2) and"Doctor Who" (season 5). "Dexter" (season 4) and "Futurama" (season 7), rounded out the top five.Games led the way for the top paid programs in Apple's iPhone App Store this year. On the iPhone side, Angry Birds was the most-downloaded paid app, followed by Doodle Jump, and Skee-Ball. Bejeweled 2 + Blitz and Fruit Ninja took the fourth and fifth spots.When it came to iPad apps, though, Apple reigned supreme. The company's Pages app was the most-downloaded option this year. It was followed by GoodReader for iPad and Apple's Numbers app. Angry Birds came in fourth on the iPad, followed by Keynote.Finally, Apple examined the top-selling movies this year. However, rather than breaking out rentals and sales, the company combined the two. In that list, "The Hurt Locker" led the way, followed by "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," "Hot Tub Time Machine," "Iron Man 2," and "Zombieland."Like last year, when Apple revealed the top performers of 2009, the company did not provide sales figures. It's worth noting that the company's sales figures are not necessarily representative of overall sales, but rather those on iTunes. Regardless, given the importance of iTunes, especially as a music store, the data would be worth knowing.For more details of the iTunes 2010 Rewind, click here.
Apple iOS users can get the new FileMaker Go app for free
Apple iOS users can get the new FileMaker Go app for free
FileMaker Pro users can download the latest iOS version of the program for free starting today.FileMaker Go 12 lets iOS users access databases created by the full desktop edition of FileMaker Pro 12. Dedicated versions are available for the iPhone/iPod Touch and the iPad.The new iOS apps coincide with new editions for the PC and Mac. Customers who want to try before they buy can download trial versions for both desktop platforms.The latest iOS upgrade offers a variety of enhancements.You can now multitask FileMaker Pro with other apps, letting you pick up where you left off. You can record video or audio from your iPhone or iPad and play it back through the app. You can also export your data from FileMaker into different formats, including Excel, CSV (comma-separated values), Tab (a delimited text file), and HTML.And organizations that store their databases on FileMaker Server 12 can stream movies and music directly to an iOS device. Databases can be accessed on the iOS app by copying or e-mailing them from a PC or by connecting to them on FileMaker Server.But it's the "free" part that's likely to prove the most appealing. Version 11 of FileMaker Go cost $19.99 for the iPhone and $39.99 for the iPad. Why offer the app as a freebie?FileMaker spokesman Kevin Mallon told CNET that "FileMaker Go for iPad and iPhone are now free so that users can more easily trial both FileMaker Pro 12 and FileMaker Go 12 free and deploy FileMaker Go 12 much more widely throughout their companies and organizations."
FileMaker Pro users can download the latest iOS version of the program for free starting today.FileMaker Go 12 lets iOS users access databases created by the full desktop edition of FileMaker Pro 12. Dedicated versions are available for the iPhone/iPod Touch and the iPad.The new iOS apps coincide with new editions for the PC and Mac. Customers who want to try before they buy can download trial versions for both desktop platforms.The latest iOS upgrade offers a variety of enhancements.You can now multitask FileMaker Pro with other apps, letting you pick up where you left off. You can record video or audio from your iPhone or iPad and play it back through the app. You can also export your data from FileMaker into different formats, including Excel, CSV (comma-separated values), Tab (a delimited text file), and HTML.And organizations that store their databases on FileMaker Server 12 can stream movies and music directly to an iOS device. Databases can be accessed on the iOS app by copying or e-mailing them from a PC or by connecting to them on FileMaker Server.But it's the "free" part that's likely to prove the most appealing. Version 11 of FileMaker Go cost $19.99 for the iPhone and $39.99 for the iPad. Why offer the app as a freebie?FileMaker spokesman Kevin Mallon told CNET that "FileMaker Go for iPad and iPhone are now free so that users can more easily trial both FileMaker Pro 12 and FileMaker Go 12 free and deploy FileMaker Go 12 much more widely throughout their companies and organizations."
Apple iOS developers- We'll adjust to privacy change
Apple iOS developers: We'll adjust to privacy change
Facebook app users won't see any change because a dialog box makes it clear that user's data may be shared, the company says. Twitter is reportedly planning to update its app to make it clear when users click "Find Friends" that their address book is being downloaded. Meanwhile, Foursquare just updated its iOS app to include this warning when people want to add friends: "To find your friends, we send your address book information to our servers. Don't worry, it's sent securely and we don't store it!"A Foursquare spokesperson said the company had no comment on the Apple announcement.May suggested that a good practice for apps that do grab user data is to obscure the data using a hash method so that anyone snooping on a Wi-Fi network wouldn't be able to see it. But Apple wouldn't necessarily be able to police that even if it were required. And the Apple policy change only goes so far in protecting users from unscrupulous app developers who might try to sell the data to advertisers in that as long as permission is granted the data can be accessed, even if it is not needed for the purposes of the app. "Users should question why does the app want the data and what is it going to do with it," said Libin of Evernote. "That distinction won't get adequately communicated just by saying 'yes' or 'no.' ... Eventually, the industry will have to grapple with this issue of intent." CNET's Daniel Terdiman, Paul Sloan and Roger Cheng contributed to this report.
Facebook app users won't see any change because a dialog box makes it clear that user's data may be shared, the company says. Twitter is reportedly planning to update its app to make it clear when users click "Find Friends" that their address book is being downloaded. Meanwhile, Foursquare just updated its iOS app to include this warning when people want to add friends: "To find your friends, we send your address book information to our servers. Don't worry, it's sent securely and we don't store it!"A Foursquare spokesperson said the company had no comment on the Apple announcement.May suggested that a good practice for apps that do grab user data is to obscure the data using a hash method so that anyone snooping on a Wi-Fi network wouldn't be able to see it. But Apple wouldn't necessarily be able to police that even if it were required. And the Apple policy change only goes so far in protecting users from unscrupulous app developers who might try to sell the data to advertisers in that as long as permission is granted the data can be accessed, even if it is not needed for the purposes of the app. "Users should question why does the app want the data and what is it going to do with it," said Libin of Evernote. "That distinction won't get adequately communicated just by saying 'yes' or 'no.' ... Eventually, the industry will have to grapple with this issue of intent." CNET's Daniel Terdiman, Paul Sloan and Roger Cheng contributed to this report.
Apple 'investigating' in-app purchase freebie exploit
Apple 'investigating' in-app purchase freebie exploit
Apple says it's investigating an exploit that currently allows users to purchase digital goods inside of iOS apps without actually paying for them."The security of the App Store is incredibly important to us, and the developer community," Apple spokesperson Natalie Harrison told CNET in a prepared statement. "We take reports of fraudulent activity very seriously and we are investigating."The company did not provide any estimate of when action would be taken. Russian technology blog i-ekb.ru, which first reported on the exploit earlier today, noted that the hosting company that currently serves the Web site and the details on how to enable it has already been contacted by Apple with a take-down notice.The exploit was created by a Russian programmer named Alexey V. Borodin. In an interview with The Next Web earlier today, Borodin said that the more than 30,000 in-app purchases have been made using the service. The technology behind the exploit re-routes in-app purchase requests. Instead of going to Apple, or a developer's secured server, they go to an external server which pretends to be Apple giving it the OK. The setup requires installing two special security certificates on the phone, as well as making purchases when on Wi-Fi with modified DNS settings, meaning it doesn't just work without some modifications. Affected developers, as well as Apple, face a loss of profits if the exploit remains in use from would-be spenders. Developers get 70 percent of the revenue from purchases made inside their apps, while Apple gets the other 30 percent.
Apple says it's investigating an exploit that currently allows users to purchase digital goods inside of iOS apps without actually paying for them."The security of the App Store is incredibly important to us, and the developer community," Apple spokesperson Natalie Harrison told CNET in a prepared statement. "We take reports of fraudulent activity very seriously and we are investigating."The company did not provide any estimate of when action would be taken. Russian technology blog i-ekb.ru, which first reported on the exploit earlier today, noted that the hosting company that currently serves the Web site and the details on how to enable it has already been contacted by Apple with a take-down notice.The exploit was created by a Russian programmer named Alexey V. Borodin. In an interview with The Next Web earlier today, Borodin said that the more than 30,000 in-app purchases have been made using the service. The technology behind the exploit re-routes in-app purchase requests. Instead of going to Apple, or a developer's secured server, they go to an external server which pretends to be Apple giving it the OK. The setup requires installing two special security certificates on the phone, as well as making purchases when on Wi-Fi with modified DNS settings, meaning it doesn't just work without some modifications. Affected developers, as well as Apple, face a loss of profits if the exploit remains in use from would-be spenders. Developers get 70 percent of the revenue from purchases made inside their apps, while Apple gets the other 30 percent.
Apple intros Mac Pro with 12 processing cores
Apple intros Mac Pro with 12 processing cores
In addition to releasing updated iMacs and the Magic Trackpad, Apple on Tuesday refreshed its high-end Mac Pro, giving it up to 12 processing cores.The new Mac Pro uses quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors with speeds up to 3.33GHz. According to Apple, these machines use a single-die design, so they can share 12MB of L3 cache, further improving speed.The Mac Pro also features Turbo Boost, a process to dynamically boost processor speeds up to 3.6GHz, and Hyper-Threading to create up to 24 virtual cores. The Mac Pro uses the ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics processor with 1GB of memory, although you can add the faster ATI Radeon HD 5870 as a build-to-order option.Mac Pro users can now order solid-state drives for performance. In fact, users can install up to four 512GB SSDs in a single Mac Pro. Apple says these drives provide up to twice the performance as a standard mechanical disk drive.The new quad-core Mac Pro starts at $2,499 for a 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Xeon W3530 processor and goes up to $3.499 for an 8-core with two 2.4 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon E5620 processors.The Mac Pro will ship in August, according to Apple.Compared to the old Mac ProApple's last-generation Mac Pro came in two configurations: a quad-core and an 8-Core.The first had one 2.66GHz quad-core Intel Xeon "Nehalem" processor, 3GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, 18x SuperDrive and the Nvidia GeForce GT 120 with 512MB. This Mac Pro cost $2,499.The high-end 8-core Mac Pro model had two 2.26GHz quad-core Nehalem processors, 6GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, an 18x SuperDrive, and the Nvidia GeForce GT 120 with 512MB. This Mac Pro cost $3,299.
In addition to releasing updated iMacs and the Magic Trackpad, Apple on Tuesday refreshed its high-end Mac Pro, giving it up to 12 processing cores.The new Mac Pro uses quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors with speeds up to 3.33GHz. According to Apple, these machines use a single-die design, so they can share 12MB of L3 cache, further improving speed.The Mac Pro also features Turbo Boost, a process to dynamically boost processor speeds up to 3.6GHz, and Hyper-Threading to create up to 24 virtual cores. The Mac Pro uses the ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics processor with 1GB of memory, although you can add the faster ATI Radeon HD 5870 as a build-to-order option.Mac Pro users can now order solid-state drives for performance. In fact, users can install up to four 512GB SSDs in a single Mac Pro. Apple says these drives provide up to twice the performance as a standard mechanical disk drive.The new quad-core Mac Pro starts at $2,499 for a 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Xeon W3530 processor and goes up to $3.499 for an 8-core with two 2.4 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon E5620 processors.The Mac Pro will ship in August, according to Apple.Compared to the old Mac ProApple's last-generation Mac Pro came in two configurations: a quad-core and an 8-Core.The first had one 2.66GHz quad-core Intel Xeon "Nehalem" processor, 3GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, 18x SuperDrive and the Nvidia GeForce GT 120 with 512MB. This Mac Pro cost $2,499.The high-end 8-core Mac Pro model had two 2.26GHz quad-core Nehalem processors, 6GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, an 18x SuperDrive, and the Nvidia GeForce GT 120 with 512MB. This Mac Pro cost $3,299.
Apple iMac line gets $1,099 option
Apple iMac line gets $1,099 option
Apple updated its iMac array of all-in-one computers on Wednesday with a low-end model priced at $1,099. The new iMac features a 21.5-inch screen and a 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor -- the same speed as a MacBook Air laptop -- along with 8GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive. This latest edition is available now, Apple said. In the UK, the new 21-inch model costs £899. In Australia, it's AU$1,349. Previously, the low-end iMac price had been $1,299. That wad of cash now buys you the midrange iMac model, which features a 2.7GHz quad-core i5 processor. Apple announcementsApple breaks the annual Mac upgrade cycleMac OS X 10.10 Yosemite The iMac update follows Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month, which didn't include any hardware announcements, unlike the previous year when a new MacBook Air was revealed with Intel's Haswell processor. Last year's WWDC also saw the coming of the radically redesigned Mac Pro, which still reminds us of Darth Vader's bin. At this year's WWDC, Apple did show off new desktop software, OS X 10.10 Yosemite. Set for release this autumn,Yosemite adds new cloud-focused features and also brings your MacBookor iMac closer together with your iPhone or iPad by connecting with the mobile iOS 8 software. You'll even be able to take calls on your computer. As is traditional, the online Apple Store had closed its doors earlier this morning for the California-based technology giant to update its listings. The design of the iMac all-in-one desktop computer has been the same since September 2012. And the last time the iMac got any kind of iMakeover was back in September 2013, which added the Haswell chip, Nvidia's graphics processors, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The current 27-inch model's screen boasts 2,560x1,440 resolution. Previous rumours suggested a Retina display for the iMac and perhaps a new processor. Intel's Broadwell chip, the successor to Haswell, made its debut in new devices at the Computex trade show this month. Meanwhile, the Mac Mini hasn't been updated since October 2012.
Apple updated its iMac array of all-in-one computers on Wednesday with a low-end model priced at $1,099. The new iMac features a 21.5-inch screen and a 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor -- the same speed as a MacBook Air laptop -- along with 8GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive. This latest edition is available now, Apple said. In the UK, the new 21-inch model costs £899. In Australia, it's AU$1,349. Previously, the low-end iMac price had been $1,299. That wad of cash now buys you the midrange iMac model, which features a 2.7GHz quad-core i5 processor. Apple announcementsApple breaks the annual Mac upgrade cycleMac OS X 10.10 Yosemite The iMac update follows Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month, which didn't include any hardware announcements, unlike the previous year when a new MacBook Air was revealed with Intel's Haswell processor. Last year's WWDC also saw the coming of the radically redesigned Mac Pro, which still reminds us of Darth Vader's bin. At this year's WWDC, Apple did show off new desktop software, OS X 10.10 Yosemite. Set for release this autumn,Yosemite adds new cloud-focused features and also brings your MacBookor iMac closer together with your iPhone or iPad by connecting with the mobile iOS 8 software. You'll even be able to take calls on your computer. As is traditional, the online Apple Store had closed its doors earlier this morning for the California-based technology giant to update its listings. The design of the iMac all-in-one desktop computer has been the same since September 2012. And the last time the iMac got any kind of iMakeover was back in September 2013, which added the Haswell chip, Nvidia's graphics processors, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The current 27-inch model's screen boasts 2,560x1,440 resolution. Previous rumours suggested a Retina display for the iMac and perhaps a new processor. Intel's Broadwell chip, the successor to Haswell, made its debut in new devices at the Computex trade show this month. Meanwhile, the Mac Mini hasn't been updated since October 2012.
Apple implements 'Answers from the Community' in the Apple Store
Apple has also added the ability to participate in the community discussions from the product pages in the Apple Store. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see a community section that contains recent or common questions that people ask in the support communities. It will also offer you options to search questions, answer those listed, or search for similar questions by clicking a link. In addition, you can browse through questions by category and sort them by various criteria.This change appears to be an effort to bring the Apple Communities and the rest of the Apple Web site together, with a question and answer option that users can quickly access.This option is one of several that are available to Mac users for getting help with their systems. Another one that we offer here is the Question and Answers feature at MacFixIt. You can use the submissions box to the left of MacFixIt articles or the e-mail links at the bottom of each article to submit questions you have about Mac systems, some of which we publish in our weekly MacFixIt Answers column.When you click the link, this page will show where you can search for questions and answers.Screenshot by Topher KesslerQuestions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.
Apple iCloud services offline for a few million users
Update at 9:30 a.m. PT: All services were restored as of 8:30 a.m. PT.Apple iCloud users were hit by yet another outage, though this one seems to have affected a relatively small percentage of users.As of Thursday 4 a.m. PT, Apple's status page reveals issues with iMessage, Photo Stream, Documents in the Cloud, Backup and Restore, and iPhoto Journals. Apple's description of the problem reports that people may be unable to use those services and unable to send or download attachments in iMessage.The page says that less than 1 percent of users were affected. Just how many people does that include? In April, Apple said that its iCloud user population had jumped to 300 million. So that means these services may have been out of commission for just under 3 million people.Apple's status page also indicates that the outage started Wednesday around 9:30 p.m. PT and that it was resolved Thursday around 8:30 a.m. PT.(Via AppleInsider)
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