Apple Maps stinks, iOS 6 leaks data: Should I get the iPhone 5?
The Web app version will create a little Google Maps icon you can put on your home screen. So it can be accessed like a native app, but unfortunately, it doesn't act like the real Google Maps app. What this means is that certain features will be missing and even the features that are there may not behave like the native app.My CNET Reviews colleague Scott Steinposted a story on one such feature yesterday. Previously, Google Street View couldn't be accessed via the Google Maps Web app on the iPhone. That feature has now been added. But it still doesn't behave like the native Google Maps App. Here's a list of some of the limitations from Scott's piece:Yes, you can move down city streets virtually for a little stroll...but it's choppy.It's easy to look around, but Street View images are distorted.You can't zoom in.You can't just drop a pin. There is no question that that Apple's move to use its own maps app instead of Google's has been a disappointment to many people. The biggest problem is missing or inaccurate data. Apple Maps uses location information from Yelp, which is less reliable than Google's own database. In Scott's review of the iPhone 5 he noted that searching for a coffee shop only turned up a Starbucks and not a different coffee shop across the street. Another big loss is integrated transit information that you could get in Google Maps. There are third party apps you can use for this information, such as HopStop and Embark (both are also free.) But CNET's Kent German and Josh Lowensohn note in their FAQ regarding the maps flap that using a third party app for transit means switching back and forth between the transit information and the Apple Maps app, which offers a map of the area. This makes it more difficult for people who need directions to and from transit stops. By contrast, transit information was integrated into Google Maps, which meant no switching back and forth.The other big complaint about Apple Maps is that some of the information and location of things is simply wrong. Whether this is a problem for you will depend on where you live. Kent and Josh noted in their FAQ that CNET didn't see any major issues in either New York City or San Francisco. This makes sense, given these cities are two of the most well-mapped places on the plant. So depending on where you live, this could be really irksome. The Apple Map problems are particularly bad outside the U.S.But that doesn't mean that Apple Maps is worthless. There are some very useful things have been added to the app that iPhone users didn't have previously. The most important is turn-by-turn directions. Previously, iPhone users had to rely on third-party apps for this features. Kent and Josh note in their FAQ that some of these apps are free, but the better ones cost money. Meanwhile, Google Android users get this feature for free on every Android handset. (I must admit it's always been one of my favorite things about a Google Android phone.)Related stories Finally, the iPhone we've always wanted (iPhone 5 Review) Apple Maps in iOS 6: What you need to know (FAQ) Google Maps with Street View on iOS: What it can and can't do Another newly added feature in iOS 6 for iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and the new iPad, users is 3D views. And there is also a flyover feature that lets you feel like you're zooming over a city in a low-flying airplane. These features may not necessarily be that useful, but they do look cool. You can also see reviews of points of interest directly on your map, which can be useful if you're looking for a nearby restaurant. (Of course, you can't be sure if the app is really giving you all the nearby options and if they're actually in the place that the app says they are.)Apple has finally recognized that this is a significant problem. And the company's CEO Tim Cook issued an apology to customers and promised the Apple Maps app will get better. In the meantime, he suggested that iOS 6 users use a third party app to augment Apple Maps.He suggested using Bing, MapQuest, or Waze maps apps. And he even said that users should check out the Google Maps Web App, and a mapping Web app from Nokia. The Nokia version works very much like Google. It's accessed through the Safari browser, but you can download a little icon to put on your home screen for easy access. Again, because these Web apps operate through the browser performance can be less than optimal.There are also other third party alternatives. CNET's car tech editor Wayne Cunningham has put together a list of five free or mostly free navigation and mapping apps. . Now to answer your final question: should you go with another device, such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, because the iPhone 5 lacks Google Maps? First, let me say that the Samsung Galaxy S3 is a great choice regardless of the maps issue. So if you like the bigger screen and the look and feel of the handset and the Android software, go for it. But I probably would not make the mapping feature alone my sole basis for not buying the iPhone 5 and instead buying the Samsung Galaxy S3. I asked Scott Stein this question too and here's what he had to say:"If I really needed a solid mapping and navigation solution, because I needed it for my job. Like let's say I was a UPS driver or something, then I would go with an Android phone," he said. "Otherwise, I think Apple Maps is fine. The things it's missing are annoying. But I think they're going get to better. Or I think Google will offer a Google Maps app for the iPhone."I tend to agree with Scott. It's clear that Apple Maps has some problems. And it is not as good or as accurate as Google Maps. But Apple has a heck of a lot of money. And they have a lot of smart people working for the company. So I think they will invest rather quickly in making improvements. I also think that there is a good possibility that Apple and Google could reach an agreement. And even though I don't think that Apple will integrate Google Maps into the software out of the box, Google could submit an app to the Apple App store, which users could download either for free or for a fee.Kent and Josh noted in their FAQ that the fact that the YouTube app has recently gotten approval for the iTunes App Store is a good sign that Google Maps may follow a similar path. YouTube had also been integrated in the Apple iOS software since the first iPhone, but it was removed from iOS. (YouTube is owned by Google.)That said,Apple's customer satisfaction has taken a bit of a hit after the upgrade to iOS 6. The mobile customer research firm On Device recently conducted a poll of nearly 16,000 iPhone owners in the U.S. The survey found that owner satisfaction dropped slightly compared with previous surveys conducted after software updates to iOS 4 and iOS5 were launched. Although the drop is small, OnDevice noted it's the first time they've seen any drop in customer satisfaction after the release of a software update for Apple mobile products.Still, the map issues don't seem to have dampened enthusiasm for people buying the iPhone 5. Sales are solid and some people are still waiting three and four weeks for their devices. My advice to you is to buy the iPhone 5 if you like everything else about the device. The maps issue will either be worked out or improved by Apple or there will eventually be a Google Maps app available for download. In the meantime, there are third party alternatives and work-arounds available. While this is not ideal, it's workable. But if there are other things bothering you about the iPhone 5, or you simply like Android and the Galaxy S3 better, then I say buy the Galaxy S3. The bottom line is that you will probably be happy with either one. They are both fantastic smartphones.How can I conserve data and protect against overages from data leaks?Dear Maggie,I switched to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone 5. This means I had to get one of those Family Share plans. I think I will be fine with the 1GB data I am getting, so long as I use Wi-Fi. But I am worried about the "data leakage" issues that I've read about. I don't want to go over my data usage! Has Verizon really fixed this issue? And what can I do to protect myself if this happens again?Thanks, GraceDear Grace, Apple fixed the problem in a software update for iOS6. And Verizon issued a statement earlier this week stating that customers who experienced this issue would not be charged for these data overages.AnchorFree"Under certain circumstances, iPhone 5 may use Verizon cellular data while the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network," said Verizon's Torod Neptune in a statement. "Apple has a fix that is being delivered to Verizon customers right on their iPhone 5. Verizon Wireless customers will not be charged for any unwarranted cellular data usage."You should download the software update and then check your usage to make sure you don't see something out of the ordinary.. While you can't prevent a software glitch like this from happening again, you can download an app that will compress the data that do you use. This won't fix the problem of wrongly being charged for data usage. But an app that compresses data should help you stay within your data cap. Apps, such as AnchorFree's HotSpot Shield, can help subscribers reduce their data usage to half. This means that if you typically use 4GB of data, you would likely use about 2GB of data. The amount of data each consumer saves can vary. It depends on what you do online. Right now, HotSpot Shield and other apps like it, such as Onavo only compress text and images. They do not yet compress video or audio, which can be the biggest data hogs.That said, uploading pictures to Flikr or Facebook or viewing pictures on Instagram or any other social media site can gobble up a lot of data. Checking Twitter constantly or receiving updates from other apps can also be data intensive. All of this data can add up. Apps like HotSpot Shield and Onavo can compress this traffic and help you reduce data usage. David Gorodyansky, CEO AnchorFree, said that when his app and others are able to compress video and audio, they will be able to reduce data usage even more."Now you can use about two times as much data and we're only compressing images and text," he said. "I think you could see a 300 percent improved if we could compress video."This could save wireless subscribers a lot of money on their data plans. If a subscriber watches a lot of streaming video, he can blow through a monthly data plan within the first week of the month. Nailing down the video compression problem will help alleviate this problem.AnchorFree and Onavo aren't the only companies offering a data compression app. XVision's DataMan and Webrich Software's My Data Usage Pro are similar solutions.These apps all work in a similar way. And they provide you with details about your data usage. With HotSpot Shield you can get live usage information. And you can see which apps are using the most data. Onavo also allows you to set alerts so that if a certain app is hogging your data, you will get a message warning you.HotSpot Shield also provides another feature as part of the app: secure Web browsing. Through its mobile VPN, it provides a temporary IP address and encrypts data so that users can browse safely on unsecured networks. This protects passwords, financial information and all other personal or sensitive data while using a public Wi-Fi hotspot. The company has offered secure Web browsing on laptops and desktop computers for years. More than 70 million computers use its software today.The iOS mobile version of the software has been out for almost a year, and the Android version came out in May. Since then, the company says that it's been downloaded more than 1 million times on iOS and Google Android devices.The bottom line here is that if you are on a capped data service, you should definitely download one of these free apps so that you can preserve and save as much data as you possibly. And if by chance there is another data leakage and if Verizon doesn't catch it, hopefully your data usage will still be below your cap since your data will be compressed. I'll keep an eye out for when any of these apps add video compression to their capabilities. When that happens, it will be a huge benefit to all data customers.Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions. The column now appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double dosage of Ask Maggie's advice. If you have a question, I'd love to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put "Ask Maggie" in the subject header. You can also follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.
Keep your iPad data safe
Keep your iPad data safe
From this screen you can also prevent apps from using location services, block changes to account settings, filter music and videos with explicit content, allow or block movies and TV shows by rating (G, PG, R, etc.), age-restrict apps, and disable the ability to add friends and play multiplayer games.Use passwords rather than four-digit passcodesThe iPad's numeric passcodes are not difficult to crack, in part because the onscreen keypad for entering them always appears in the same area. A person wanting entry can simply look for the smudge marks to figure out which four numbers are used and then enter them in their 24 possible sequences. Keeping your screen clean and using the same number twice can slow down the would-be interloper, but a better way is to enable text passwords. Choose the Passcode Lock option under General in the iPad Settings, make sure Simple Passcode is Off, select Turn Passcode On, and enter a password twice. You may want to change the time after which a passcode will be required from the default 15 minutes, but as the iPad warns, shorter times are more secure.Locate your iPad and lock or wipe it remotelyApple's free Find My iPhone app won't ship your lost iPad, iPhone, or iPod back to you via overnight delivery, but it can increase the odds of recovery by letting you locate the device and send a message to the person who "found" it. The app also takes some of the pain out of losing the device by letting you lock it or wipe its data remotely.You need a free MobileMe account to use the service. After the Find My iPhone app is installed on the device, sign into your account at me.com from any PC and select Find My iPhone to pinpoint your iPad's location on Google Maps. Click it to view options to display a message or play a sound, lock the device with a passcode, or wipe its data.Apple's Find My iPhone app lets you locate your iPad, send it a message, play a sound, lock it with a passcode, or wipe it via the free MobileMe service.screenshot by Dennis O'Reilly/CNETOf course, the first thing a thief will do to thwart Find My iPhone is to disable location services on the iPad. To prevent this, open the iPad Settings, choose General > Restrictions > Location, and select Don't Allow Changes. (Note that this option is available only if you have enabled restrictions on the device.)Last resort in guarding against brute-force access attemptsThere's no self-destruct switch on an iPad, but the closest thing to it is the option to erase the data on the device after 10 failed passcode attempts. To enable this feature, open the Passcode Lock options in the General section of the Settings app and set Erase Data to On. This setting is available only if passcodes are enabled.You may consider this a high price to pay to protect your data, but you can minimize the damage by having a recent backup available. iTunes creates a backup each time you sync your iPad. Apple's support site lists the information on the iPad that's backed up automatically and where the backup is stored.To restore a backup, right-click or Control-click the device in iTunes' left pane and choose Restore from Backup. You can also encrypt your backup or set up your device as it was when it was new. To delete a backup, click Edit > Preferences (Windows) or iTunes > Preferences (Mac), choose Devices, select the device, and click Delete Backup.Bonus tip: Clear private data from Safari. Wiping your tracks from Safari is as easy as opening the iPad Settings, choosing Safari in the left pane, and selecting Clear History, Clear Cookies, and Clear Cache. You may also want to set AutoFill to Off and/or select Clear All in the AutoFill settings.
From this screen you can also prevent apps from using location services, block changes to account settings, filter music and videos with explicit content, allow or block movies and TV shows by rating (G, PG, R, etc.), age-restrict apps, and disable the ability to add friends and play multiplayer games.Use passwords rather than four-digit passcodesThe iPad's numeric passcodes are not difficult to crack, in part because the onscreen keypad for entering them always appears in the same area. A person wanting entry can simply look for the smudge marks to figure out which four numbers are used and then enter them in their 24 possible sequences. Keeping your screen clean and using the same number twice can slow down the would-be interloper, but a better way is to enable text passwords. Choose the Passcode Lock option under General in the iPad Settings, make sure Simple Passcode is Off, select Turn Passcode On, and enter a password twice. You may want to change the time after which a passcode will be required from the default 15 minutes, but as the iPad warns, shorter times are more secure.Locate your iPad and lock or wipe it remotelyApple's free Find My iPhone app won't ship your lost iPad, iPhone, or iPod back to you via overnight delivery, but it can increase the odds of recovery by letting you locate the device and send a message to the person who "found" it. The app also takes some of the pain out of losing the device by letting you lock it or wipe its data remotely.You need a free MobileMe account to use the service. After the Find My iPhone app is installed on the device, sign into your account at me.com from any PC and select Find My iPhone to pinpoint your iPad's location on Google Maps. Click it to view options to display a message or play a sound, lock the device with a passcode, or wipe its data.Apple's Find My iPhone app lets you locate your iPad, send it a message, play a sound, lock it with a passcode, or wipe it via the free MobileMe service.screenshot by Dennis O'Reilly/CNETOf course, the first thing a thief will do to thwart Find My iPhone is to disable location services on the iPad. To prevent this, open the iPad Settings, choose General > Restrictions > Location, and select Don't Allow Changes. (Note that this option is available only if you have enabled restrictions on the device.)Last resort in guarding against brute-force access attemptsThere's no self-destruct switch on an iPad, but the closest thing to it is the option to erase the data on the device after 10 failed passcode attempts. To enable this feature, open the Passcode Lock options in the General section of the Settings app and set Erase Data to On. This setting is available only if passcodes are enabled.You may consider this a high price to pay to protect your data, but you can minimize the damage by having a recent backup available. iTunes creates a backup each time you sync your iPad. Apple's support site lists the information on the iPad that's backed up automatically and where the backup is stored.To restore a backup, right-click or Control-click the device in iTunes' left pane and choose Restore from Backup. You can also encrypt your backup or set up your device as it was when it was new. To delete a backup, click Edit > Preferences (Windows) or iTunes > Preferences (Mac), choose Devices, select the device, and click Delete Backup.Bonus tip: Clear private data from Safari. Wiping your tracks from Safari is as easy as opening the iPad Settings, choosing Safari in the left pane, and selecting Clear History, Clear Cookies, and Clear Cache. You may also want to set AutoFill to Off and/or select Clear All in the AutoFill settings.
Apple unveils new iMacs, updated apps
Apple unveils new iMacs, updated apps
But there's more to come. Stay tuned; Jobs is just getting warmed up and he's starting to talk about applications.Update at 10:35 a.m.: Apple's second announcement involved iLife, the company's suite of multimedia applications. Apple is skipping right over iLife '07 to release iLife '08, Jobs said, calling the latest version "the biggest jump in iLife since we introduced it."Jobs first walked attendees through iPhoto, the picture management application. The primary enhancement to iPhoto '08 is a new feature that sorts by events--it automatically sorts photos by date and can preview the photos in an event without opening the folder. Events can be "merged" or "split" as needed.The new iPhoto '08 is designed to work alongside some new .Mac services also unveiled Tuesday. The .Mac Web Gallery can take photos directly from iPhoto and publish them to a Web page. It also syncs up with the iPhone so iPhone users can share their galleries or individual photos.The Web gallery also incorporates the skimming feature from iPhoto '08, letting users preview photos in a given event or album without having to open the entire gallery.Update at 10:53 a.m.: Apple will be releasing a completely new version of the iMovie application with the new iLife suite. Jobs said the new software came out of an Apple engineer's realization that he couldn't make a short 5-minute movie in less than half an hour using either iMovie or Final Cut Pro, Apple's high-end video editing application.The new iMovie allows you to drag and drop movie clips from your library of videos into a new movie template. You can pick how long each individual clip will run, set transitions between scenes and upload those videos to your iTunes, the new .Mac Video Gallery or YouTube right from the menu selections.These nine ports--audio, USB, FireWire, Ethernet and video--are on the back of the iMac's monitor (on the lower right corner if you're facing the screen).AppleJobs created a very short movie in just a few minutes--of course, he probably practiced first--in a demonstration for attendees. The application can process high-definition video from multiple sources.Update at 11:13 a.m.: Jobs unveiled new editions of iWeb, iDVD and GarageBand, the remainder of the iLife suite. The iWeb and iDVD applications received minor updates, but one interesting one involved allowing iWeb users to sign up for Google's AdSense program in the Web site creation process.Jobs also demonstrated a new feature in GarageBand called Magic GarageBand, which essentially lets you create a backing band for your own performance. There are several different themes, such as rock, blues, jazz and latin.But Jobs then plunged into the new version of iWork, Apple's productivity suite. Keynote, the presentation application, comes with several new themes and better support for manipulating photos to serve as background for a slide. Pages, the word processing application, also received updated templates.But the big part of the new iWork suite is a spreadsheet application called Numbers. Numbers is designed to work with Keynote and Pages, allowing people to drop in pictures, graphs and photos alongside spreadsheet tables. You can also import and export with Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet.iWork '08 costs $79 and is available today.
But there's more to come. Stay tuned; Jobs is just getting warmed up and he's starting to talk about applications.Update at 10:35 a.m.: Apple's second announcement involved iLife, the company's suite of multimedia applications. Apple is skipping right over iLife '07 to release iLife '08, Jobs said, calling the latest version "the biggest jump in iLife since we introduced it."Jobs first walked attendees through iPhoto, the picture management application. The primary enhancement to iPhoto '08 is a new feature that sorts by events--it automatically sorts photos by date and can preview the photos in an event without opening the folder. Events can be "merged" or "split" as needed.The new iPhoto '08 is designed to work alongside some new .Mac services also unveiled Tuesday. The .Mac Web Gallery can take photos directly from iPhoto and publish them to a Web page. It also syncs up with the iPhone so iPhone users can share their galleries or individual photos.The Web gallery also incorporates the skimming feature from iPhoto '08, letting users preview photos in a given event or album without having to open the entire gallery.Update at 10:53 a.m.: Apple will be releasing a completely new version of the iMovie application with the new iLife suite. Jobs said the new software came out of an Apple engineer's realization that he couldn't make a short 5-minute movie in less than half an hour using either iMovie or Final Cut Pro, Apple's high-end video editing application.The new iMovie allows you to drag and drop movie clips from your library of videos into a new movie template. You can pick how long each individual clip will run, set transitions between scenes and upload those videos to your iTunes, the new .Mac Video Gallery or YouTube right from the menu selections.These nine ports--audio, USB, FireWire, Ethernet and video--are on the back of the iMac's monitor (on the lower right corner if you're facing the screen).AppleJobs created a very short movie in just a few minutes--of course, he probably practiced first--in a demonstration for attendees. The application can process high-definition video from multiple sources.Update at 11:13 a.m.: Jobs unveiled new editions of iWeb, iDVD and GarageBand, the remainder of the iLife suite. The iWeb and iDVD applications received minor updates, but one interesting one involved allowing iWeb users to sign up for Google's AdSense program in the Web site creation process.Jobs also demonstrated a new feature in GarageBand called Magic GarageBand, which essentially lets you create a backing band for your own performance. There are several different themes, such as rock, blues, jazz and latin.But Jobs then plunged into the new version of iWork, Apple's productivity suite. Keynote, the presentation application, comes with several new themes and better support for manipulating photos to serve as background for a slide. Pages, the word processing application, also received updated templates.But the big part of the new iWork suite is a spreadsheet application called Numbers. Numbers is designed to work with Keynote and Pages, allowing people to drop in pictures, graphs and photos alongside spreadsheet tables. You can also import and export with Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet.iWork '08 costs $79 and is available today.
Spotify's 2012 dominated by Gotye, Rihanna
Spotify's 2012 dominated by Gotye, Rihanna
Spotify has rounded up its 2012, and revealed that Gotye, Rihanna, and David Guetta had huge years on its service.According to Spotify, the most popular track this year was Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" both in the U.S. and worldwide. Fun's "We Are Young" and Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" rounded out the top three most popular songs in the U.S. this year.Spotify then turned its attention to artists, and discovered that Rihanna was the most popular female artist this year. David Guetta took the top spot for most popular male performer. Guetta's album "Nothing but the Beat" earned top honors for most popular album and most shared album on the service.Related storiesSpotify has much to do before U.S. launchWas Spotify too optimistic about U.S. launch?Pandora spurs music sales; Spotify not so muchSpotify adds two new levels of serviceStats don't support hype: Digital music is ailingColdplay was the most popular band and Adele was the top shared artist.Despite some good news this year -- it announced earlier this month that it now has 1 million paid subscribers in the U.S. -- Spotify has faced real trouble competing in the global streaming-music space. Earlier this year, PrivCo, a company that sells data on non-publicly traded companies, said that Spotify generated over $244 million in revenue last year, but lost a whopping $59 million. It was caused by a business model, PrivCo says, that's "unsustainable."Responding to its obvious troubles, Spotify has become more Pandora-like by offering a free mobile radio service. The company still, however, relies mainly on monthly payment plans to monetize its operation.Still, Spotify's user base in the U.S. appears to be quite similar to those heading to iTunes to get their favorite tracks. According to Apple, "Call me Maybe," "Somebody That I Used to Know," and "We Are Young" were also the top three most popular songs on iTunes this year.
Spotify has rounded up its 2012, and revealed that Gotye, Rihanna, and David Guetta had huge years on its service.According to Spotify, the most popular track this year was Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" both in the U.S. and worldwide. Fun's "We Are Young" and Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" rounded out the top three most popular songs in the U.S. this year.Spotify then turned its attention to artists, and discovered that Rihanna was the most popular female artist this year. David Guetta took the top spot for most popular male performer. Guetta's album "Nothing but the Beat" earned top honors for most popular album and most shared album on the service.Related storiesSpotify has much to do before U.S. launchWas Spotify too optimistic about U.S. launch?Pandora spurs music sales; Spotify not so muchSpotify adds two new levels of serviceStats don't support hype: Digital music is ailingColdplay was the most popular band and Adele was the top shared artist.Despite some good news this year -- it announced earlier this month that it now has 1 million paid subscribers in the U.S. -- Spotify has faced real trouble competing in the global streaming-music space. Earlier this year, PrivCo, a company that sells data on non-publicly traded companies, said that Spotify generated over $244 million in revenue last year, but lost a whopping $59 million. It was caused by a business model, PrivCo says, that's "unsustainable."Responding to its obvious troubles, Spotify has become more Pandora-like by offering a free mobile radio service. The company still, however, relies mainly on monthly payment plans to monetize its operation.Still, Spotify's user base in the U.S. appears to be quite similar to those heading to iTunes to get their favorite tracks. According to Apple, "Call me Maybe," "Somebody That I Used to Know," and "We Are Young" were also the top three most popular songs on iTunes this year.
iPhone app streams 'This American Life' on demand
iPhone app streams 'This American Life' on demand
I'm a giant fan of public radio show "This American Life," and I'm not alone: it's long held the No. 1 spot on the iTunes podcast charts.That being the case, you might wonder why there's now an app for that. Simple: This American Life, the app, lets you stream or download any episode of the show, not just the current week's as with the podcast.Suppose, for example, you want to hear the much-ballyhooed episode about the subprime mortgage meltdown, or the classic about the "squirrel cops." The "TAL" app provides access to every episode in the show's history.You can stream episodes for free or download them for 99 cents apiece. The app also provides summaries, preview clips, and buying options for both seasons of the "This American Life" TV show.But wait, there's more. A tap of the Share It button lets you e-mail an episode to a friend, post it on Facebook, or tweet it. You can add individual episodes to a favorites list, read the "This American Life" blog, and listen to a smattering of nifty extras (such as "Fresh Air's" Terry Gross interviewing "TAL" host Ira Glass).The app's Live Stream option shows how many days/hours/minutes left until you can listen to the next live broadcast of the show on WBEZ, and lets you set a weekly push-notification reminder.Perhaps best of all, the app offers many ways to peruse the "TAL" library. You can scroll through the entire thing in chronological order, browse favorites (your own and various collections of staff picks), and find episodes that have specific contributors (John Hodgman, anyone?).In short, there's never been a better way to enjoy "This American Life." My one complaint is with the search feature, which is accessible only when viewing the chronological list of shows and doesn't always produce the desired results. For example, I went looking for the aforementioned "squirrel cops" episode and found only the follow-up, not the original.Even so, this $2.99 app is a no-brainer for any fan of the show, or anyone who enjoys interesting stories well told.
I'm a giant fan of public radio show "This American Life," and I'm not alone: it's long held the No. 1 spot on the iTunes podcast charts.That being the case, you might wonder why there's now an app for that. Simple: This American Life, the app, lets you stream or download any episode of the show, not just the current week's as with the podcast.Suppose, for example, you want to hear the much-ballyhooed episode about the subprime mortgage meltdown, or the classic about the "squirrel cops." The "TAL" app provides access to every episode in the show's history.You can stream episodes for free or download them for 99 cents apiece. The app also provides summaries, preview clips, and buying options for both seasons of the "This American Life" TV show.But wait, there's more. A tap of the Share It button lets you e-mail an episode to a friend, post it on Facebook, or tweet it. You can add individual episodes to a favorites list, read the "This American Life" blog, and listen to a smattering of nifty extras (such as "Fresh Air's" Terry Gross interviewing "TAL" host Ira Glass).The app's Live Stream option shows how many days/hours/minutes left until you can listen to the next live broadcast of the show on WBEZ, and lets you set a weekly push-notification reminder.Perhaps best of all, the app offers many ways to peruse the "TAL" library. You can scroll through the entire thing in chronological order, browse favorites (your own and various collections of staff picks), and find episodes that have specific contributors (John Hodgman, anyone?).In short, there's never been a better way to enjoy "This American Life." My one complaint is with the search feature, which is accessible only when viewing the chronological list of shows and doesn't always produce the desired results. For example, I went looking for the aforementioned "squirrel cops" episode and found only the follow-up, not the original.Even so, this $2.99 app is a no-brainer for any fan of the show, or anyone who enjoys interesting stories well told.
Why it pays to shop around for music
Why it pays to shop around for music
So. Lana Del Rey. Overnight sensation. Controversial pop figure. Atrocious "Saturday Night Live" performer.Me, I've always had a soft spot for deep, drawling female voices, and they don't get much deeper or drawl-ier than Del Rey's. So I thought I'd spring for her album and see what all the fuss was about.Because Google's been hypercompetitive in the music market of late, I started my "Born to Die" shopping at Android Market. The price there: $11.49.Next stop: iTunes. I don't typically buy my music there, even though I'm a heavy iDevice user, but Apple often has deals on popular albums, sometimes with bonus tracks not available elsewhere.At the very least, I stood to save quite a bit: iTunes charges $7.99 for "Born to Die."Next stop: my usual go-to music source, Amazon. Score! I could pick up the album for just $5.99.I also checked out eMusic, which had a matching price. However, you can't just buy an album outright; you need to be an eMusic subscriber, which costs a minimum of $11.99 monthly. Granted, the $5.99 album price would have been deducted from my available credit, but ultimately Amazon offered the best deal for this one-off purchase.That's not the case with every album, but it underscores my point: When you're looking to buy music online, it pays to shop around. A track that's $1.29 here might be 99 cents or even 69 cents there. And as you can see, album prices often vary greatly from one store to another.Where do you usually shop for music? Do you ever price-compare between stores? And what do you think of the galvanizing Ms. Del Rey?
So. Lana Del Rey. Overnight sensation. Controversial pop figure. Atrocious "Saturday Night Live" performer.Me, I've always had a soft spot for deep, drawling female voices, and they don't get much deeper or drawl-ier than Del Rey's. So I thought I'd spring for her album and see what all the fuss was about.Because Google's been hypercompetitive in the music market of late, I started my "Born to Die" shopping at Android Market. The price there: $11.49.Next stop: iTunes. I don't typically buy my music there, even though I'm a heavy iDevice user, but Apple often has deals on popular albums, sometimes with bonus tracks not available elsewhere.At the very least, I stood to save quite a bit: iTunes charges $7.99 for "Born to Die."Next stop: my usual go-to music source, Amazon. Score! I could pick up the album for just $5.99.I also checked out eMusic, which had a matching price. However, you can't just buy an album outright; you need to be an eMusic subscriber, which costs a minimum of $11.99 monthly. Granted, the $5.99 album price would have been deducted from my available credit, but ultimately Amazon offered the best deal for this one-off purchase.That's not the case with every album, but it underscores my point: When you're looking to buy music online, it pays to shop around. A track that's $1.29 here might be 99 cents or even 69 cents there. And as you can see, album prices often vary greatly from one store to another.Where do you usually shop for music? Do you ever price-compare between stores? And what do you think of the galvanizing Ms. Del Rey?
Whoops! Warner Brothers app was mistakenly released in U.S.
Whoops! Warner Brothers app was mistakenly released in U.S.
Warner Bros. seemingly threw a bone to cord-cutters and mobile TV watchers on Friday with the release of an app for hit shows such as "Gossip Girl" and "The Big Bang Theory." It turns out, not so much. The company pulled the app from the U.S. iTunes store shortly after it was made available. The Day After US app was actually intended just for the Benelux region -- Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg -- to give them a place to purchase TV shows.The app was free to download, although the shows had to be purchased. Only three shows were available on the app: "The Big Bang Theory," "Gossip Girl," and "The Vampire Diaries." As an example of pricing, individual episodes in standard definition cost $3, while the HD versions are $4. Season passes for the current seasons of "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Vampire Diaries" run $38 in SD or $44 in HD, while the current season of "Gossip Girl" costs $25 for SD or $31 for HD. Mobile apps have increasingly filled the hole of TV and movie entertainment for cord-cutters, or consumers who choose to opt out of paying for traditional cable TV service. Netflix, Hulu+, and several network apps are available to tablets and smartphones. But there remains resistance to getting newer shows available either online or through mobile apps.
Warner Bros. seemingly threw a bone to cord-cutters and mobile TV watchers on Friday with the release of an app for hit shows such as "Gossip Girl" and "The Big Bang Theory." It turns out, not so much. The company pulled the app from the U.S. iTunes store shortly after it was made available. The Day After US app was actually intended just for the Benelux region -- Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg -- to give them a place to purchase TV shows.The app was free to download, although the shows had to be purchased. Only three shows were available on the app: "The Big Bang Theory," "Gossip Girl," and "The Vampire Diaries." As an example of pricing, individual episodes in standard definition cost $3, while the HD versions are $4. Season passes for the current seasons of "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Vampire Diaries" run $38 in SD or $44 in HD, while the current season of "Gossip Girl" costs $25 for SD or $31 for HD. Mobile apps have increasingly filled the hole of TV and movie entertainment for cord-cutters, or consumers who choose to opt out of paying for traditional cable TV service. Netflix, Hulu+, and several network apps are available to tablets and smartphones. But there remains resistance to getting newer shows available either online or through mobile apps.
Dan Brown book selling better on Kindle than hardcover-
Dan Brown book selling better on Kindle than hardcover?
Best-selling author Dan Brown's latest novel, "The Lost Symbol," is apparently selling better on the Kindle than in hardcover on Amazon.com.In Amazon's overall sales listing, Brown's book is listed as the best-selling title on the site.But that listing includes both the book's hardcover version and the Kindle version.On Amazon's Mystery and Thrillers page, the two versions are independently listed.At the top of that list is the Kindle version for $9.99. In the No. 2 slot is the hardcover version offered for $16.17.That list is updated hourly.Blog site The Kindle Nation noticed the phenomenon early Wednesday morning. As of late morning, the Kindle version is still atop the list.That said, it's important to note that this is one store. The hardcover version is still tops at rival Barnes and Noble, which also sells a digital version. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment and exact sales figures.The possibility that the Kindle version of "The Lost Symbol"--which follows Brown's wildly popular "Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons"--is outselling hard copies on Amazon could be a monumental moment in the e-book industry.Prior to the release of the book, its publisher, Random House, was mulling the possibility of not even releasing a Kindle version.Eventually, the company relented.The Kindle version is leading the way on Amazon.Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETRandom House's aversion to releasing a version for the Kindle e-reader was apparently rooted in its worries over "security and logistical issues."This underscored what has become a battle between publishers and Amazon's Kindle that mimics the battles Apple was forced to deal with when iTunes and iPods were under attack from the music industry.But if the likely biggest book release of the year sells better on Amazon's Kindle than in hardcover in the massive online bookstore, that's undoubtedly big news for the publishing business.Companies that were suspect of Amazon's potential dominance in the space might realize the value of offering e-books on its device.Amazon itself hasn't confirmed that more Kindle copies of "The Lost Symbol" have sold and it's possible that the Kindle version is only leading the pack for now, but it's still a significant event that could send shock waves through the publishing business.
Best-selling author Dan Brown's latest novel, "The Lost Symbol," is apparently selling better on the Kindle than in hardcover on Amazon.com.In Amazon's overall sales listing, Brown's book is listed as the best-selling title on the site.But that listing includes both the book's hardcover version and the Kindle version.On Amazon's Mystery and Thrillers page, the two versions are independently listed.At the top of that list is the Kindle version for $9.99. In the No. 2 slot is the hardcover version offered for $16.17.That list is updated hourly.Blog site The Kindle Nation noticed the phenomenon early Wednesday morning. As of late morning, the Kindle version is still atop the list.That said, it's important to note that this is one store. The hardcover version is still tops at rival Barnes and Noble, which also sells a digital version. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment and exact sales figures.The possibility that the Kindle version of "The Lost Symbol"--which follows Brown's wildly popular "Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons"--is outselling hard copies on Amazon could be a monumental moment in the e-book industry.Prior to the release of the book, its publisher, Random House, was mulling the possibility of not even releasing a Kindle version.Eventually, the company relented.The Kindle version is leading the way on Amazon.Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETRandom House's aversion to releasing a version for the Kindle e-reader was apparently rooted in its worries over "security and logistical issues."This underscored what has become a battle between publishers and Amazon's Kindle that mimics the battles Apple was forced to deal with when iTunes and iPods were under attack from the music industry.But if the likely biggest book release of the year sells better on Amazon's Kindle than in hardcover in the massive online bookstore, that's undoubtedly big news for the publishing business.Companies that were suspect of Amazon's potential dominance in the space might realize the value of offering e-books on its device.Amazon itself hasn't confirmed that more Kindle copies of "The Lost Symbol" have sold and it's possible that the Kindle version is only leading the pack for now, but it's still a significant event that could send shock waves through the publishing business.
DAR.fm is TiVo for radio. That's not necessarily good
DAR.fm is TiVo for radio. That's not necessarily good
At Launch, music industry disruptor Michael Robertson (MP3.com, Lindows, SIPphone) rolled out DAR.fm, a service that records radio shows to the cloud. Think TiVo, but for radio.Existing online audio services offer some of what DAR.fm already does. Free services like Pandora replace the traditional experience of listening to radio stations for music. And they're better, since you get music more in tune to your tastes. If you want to listen to specific songs or just one artist, there are subscription services such as Rhapsody. Talk show listeners can get their tracks whenever they want via a podcast service, like iTunes.So where does DAR.fm fit? Oh, and did I mention that since it picks up audio from radio stations, its audio quality is noticeably lower than other services ("sounds more like DAR.am," as elliotloh Tweeted)? Robertson is threading the needle with this business, but he does have a niche. First of all, it's free, and it gives you some of what you can only get when you pay for a service like Rhapsody: If you record your favorite radio station for a few hours, you can see all the songs played during that time and skip around to them by name, which you can't do for free with another service.Second, it's legal, or so Robertson believes--and he does have experience battling the music industry in court. The radio stations can't compete thanks to copyright laws, and the legality of letting users record what they hear, even to a cloud service, has precedent. Robertson also is getting his service baked into, or least working on, other products besides the browser: There are smartphone apps, plus it works on Roku, Squeezebox, and on some $150 Internet radios you can get at Best Buy, he says.For me, the poor audio quality of DAR.fm is a stopper. For younger users, I'm not convinced that they hew to radio stations the way I did in my youth, which I think is another problem. But there may be a big enough user base who likes the new features DAR.fm offers to give it some wings. It does make saving radio shows easier than almost any other service.
At Launch, music industry disruptor Michael Robertson (MP3.com, Lindows, SIPphone) rolled out DAR.fm, a service that records radio shows to the cloud. Think TiVo, but for radio.Existing online audio services offer some of what DAR.fm already does. Free services like Pandora replace the traditional experience of listening to radio stations for music. And they're better, since you get music more in tune to your tastes. If you want to listen to specific songs or just one artist, there are subscription services such as Rhapsody. Talk show listeners can get their tracks whenever they want via a podcast service, like iTunes.So where does DAR.fm fit? Oh, and did I mention that since it picks up audio from radio stations, its audio quality is noticeably lower than other services ("sounds more like DAR.am," as elliotloh Tweeted)? Robertson is threading the needle with this business, but he does have a niche. First of all, it's free, and it gives you some of what you can only get when you pay for a service like Rhapsody: If you record your favorite radio station for a few hours, you can see all the songs played during that time and skip around to them by name, which you can't do for free with another service.Second, it's legal, or so Robertson believes--and he does have experience battling the music industry in court. The radio stations can't compete thanks to copyright laws, and the legality of letting users record what they hear, even to a cloud service, has precedent. Robertson also is getting his service baked into, or least working on, other products besides the browser: There are smartphone apps, plus it works on Roku, Squeezebox, and on some $150 Internet radios you can get at Best Buy, he says.For me, the poor audio quality of DAR.fm is a stopper. For younger users, I'm not convinced that they hew to radio stations the way I did in my youth, which I think is another problem. But there may be a big enough user base who likes the new features DAR.fm offers to give it some wings. It does make saving radio shows easier than almost any other service.
Apple to unveil 12.9-inch iPad, claims report
Apple to unveil 12.9-inch iPad, claims report
Apple is reportedly cooking up a tablet that would outsize the current iPad by more than two inches.Citing an official at a Korean Apple supplier, news site Korea Times said on Tuesday that an iPad with a 12.9-inch Retina Display screen will launch in early 2014. The new iPad would boast a better picture than the current model, offering a display almost equal in quality to an ultra high-definition screen, according to the report.The screen itself is currently being produced by one of Apple's major suppliers, the source added.Why would Apple produce such a huge iPad? Two reasons, according to the Korea Times' source. First, Apple wants to introduce larger tablets as an alternative to PCs. Second, it wants to compete with Samsung and other tablet makers. Samsung is reportedly prepping a 12.2-inch version of its Galaxy Note tablet, according to Korean news site ETNews.How credible is this rumor? Other sources have served up the idea of a big iPad.In July, The Wall Street Journal said that Apple was tinkering with an iPad display measuring almost 13 inches diagonally. In September, supply chain scuttlebutt pointed to a 12.9-inch iPad under development. And last month, investment firm Barclays Equity Research said it believes a 13-inch iPad could be in the works as a replacement for laptops.Reports like these should always be taken with a grain of salt. A 12.9-inch screen would require a tablet measuring around 15 inches diagonally, negating the whole idea of a mobile device. But when seen as an alternative to a laptop, a large-screen iPad sounds more feasible.Apple also triggered speculation in October when it announced the iPad Air, a thinner and lighter version of its traditional 9.8-inch tablet. Following the naming convention of the Mac, an iPad Pro could be on Apple's agenda. If so, such a model would likely be more powerful and potentially bigger than the current version.
Apple is reportedly cooking up a tablet that would outsize the current iPad by more than two inches.Citing an official at a Korean Apple supplier, news site Korea Times said on Tuesday that an iPad with a 12.9-inch Retina Display screen will launch in early 2014. The new iPad would boast a better picture than the current model, offering a display almost equal in quality to an ultra high-definition screen, according to the report.The screen itself is currently being produced by one of Apple's major suppliers, the source added.Why would Apple produce such a huge iPad? Two reasons, according to the Korea Times' source. First, Apple wants to introduce larger tablets as an alternative to PCs. Second, it wants to compete with Samsung and other tablet makers. Samsung is reportedly prepping a 12.2-inch version of its Galaxy Note tablet, according to Korean news site ETNews.How credible is this rumor? Other sources have served up the idea of a big iPad.In July, The Wall Street Journal said that Apple was tinkering with an iPad display measuring almost 13 inches diagonally. In September, supply chain scuttlebutt pointed to a 12.9-inch iPad under development. And last month, investment firm Barclays Equity Research said it believes a 13-inch iPad could be in the works as a replacement for laptops.Reports like these should always be taken with a grain of salt. A 12.9-inch screen would require a tablet measuring around 15 inches diagonally, negating the whole idea of a mobile device. But when seen as an alternative to a laptop, a large-screen iPad sounds more feasible.Apple also triggered speculation in October when it announced the iPad Air, a thinner and lighter version of its traditional 9.8-inch tablet. Following the naming convention of the Mac, an iPad Pro could be on Apple's agenda. If so, such a model would likely be more powerful and potentially bigger than the current version.
Apple to triple its presence in India by 2015 -- report
Apple to triple its presence in India by 2015 -- report
Apple plans to dramatically expand the number of stores it'll allow to be opened in India over the next couple of years.According to the India Times, Apple is planning to triple the number of "exclusive stores" in the country by 2015. The India Times' sources, who currently run some of Apple's exclusive stores, say that the iPad maker will have around 200 of those locations around India by 2015.Apple operates its stores a bit differently in India than in, say, the U.S. In India, Apple has found 17 franchisees that operate stores that exclusively sell its products. Those stores, called Apple Premium Resellers, have been popular destinations for the people in India who want to buy the iPhone maker's products.In addition to upping the number of exclusive stores, the franchisees told India Times, Apple could expand the number of big-box retailers that sell its products around India.Apple's India push comes as the company tries to make a bigger dent in a country that could prove to be an important battleground in the coming years. Apple CEO Tim Cook has acknowledged his company's difficulties gaining market share in India -- it accounted for just a single-digit percentage of handset sales in the country last year -- and blamed most of it on the complex process of actually distributing products to India. That process adds extra costs the company must account for.Chief among the issues could be India's law that requires all foreign retailers to source 30 percent of their product sales from local companies. In other words, 30 percent of the products sold in Apple's own stores must have come from an Indian partner. For a company that relies on China-based companies like Foxconn to produce its devices, that's a problem.Apple's solution, therefore, has been to work with franchisees for its Premium Resellers initiative. And it appears it will be doing so even more in the future.
Apple plans to dramatically expand the number of stores it'll allow to be opened in India over the next couple of years.According to the India Times, Apple is planning to triple the number of "exclusive stores" in the country by 2015. The India Times' sources, who currently run some of Apple's exclusive stores, say that the iPad maker will have around 200 of those locations around India by 2015.Apple operates its stores a bit differently in India than in, say, the U.S. In India, Apple has found 17 franchisees that operate stores that exclusively sell its products. Those stores, called Apple Premium Resellers, have been popular destinations for the people in India who want to buy the iPhone maker's products.In addition to upping the number of exclusive stores, the franchisees told India Times, Apple could expand the number of big-box retailers that sell its products around India.Apple's India push comes as the company tries to make a bigger dent in a country that could prove to be an important battleground in the coming years. Apple CEO Tim Cook has acknowledged his company's difficulties gaining market share in India -- it accounted for just a single-digit percentage of handset sales in the country last year -- and blamed most of it on the complex process of actually distributing products to India. That process adds extra costs the company must account for.Chief among the issues could be India's law that requires all foreign retailers to source 30 percent of their product sales from local companies. In other words, 30 percent of the products sold in Apple's own stores must have come from an Indian partner. For a company that relies on China-based companies like Foxconn to produce its devices, that's a problem.Apple's solution, therefore, has been to work with franchisees for its Premium Resellers initiative. And it appears it will be doing so even more in the future.
Apple to talk iOS security at Black Hat confab
Apple to talk iOS security at Black Hat confab
Apple will not only be at this week's Black Hat security confab, but also offer a presentation there too.Bloomberg today notes that Dallas De Atley, Apple's manager of the platform security team, will be on the scene in Las Vegas to host a security briefing on the company's mobile operating system."Apple designed the iOS platform with security at its core," the description reads. "In this talk, Dallas De Atley, manager of the Platform Security team at Apple, will discuss key security technologies in iOS."An Apple spokesperson declined to provide further information about the talk.Per an interview with Bloomberg, Black Hat's general manager Trey Ford notes that it's Apple's first appearance at the security-focused show, which began in the late 1990s. The talk comes on the heels of a high-profile exploit that targeted Apple's in-app purchase system. Apple last week offered a way for developers to protect themselves from it, as well as promising to patch it completely in the next major version of iOS, which is due out in the next few months. It also follows a particularly frenetic year in the world of Mac security. That includes the prevalence of the Flashback Trojan, which at its height infected an estimated 600,000 Macs. Apple is also taking more steps to add malware protection to its OS X operating system, with the release of Mountain Lion, due out within the next week.CNET will be at Black Hat, along with Defcon all week. You can follow along with our coverage here.
Apple will not only be at this week's Black Hat security confab, but also offer a presentation there too.Bloomberg today notes that Dallas De Atley, Apple's manager of the platform security team, will be on the scene in Las Vegas to host a security briefing on the company's mobile operating system."Apple designed the iOS platform with security at its core," the description reads. "In this talk, Dallas De Atley, manager of the Platform Security team at Apple, will discuss key security technologies in iOS."An Apple spokesperson declined to provide further information about the talk.Per an interview with Bloomberg, Black Hat's general manager Trey Ford notes that it's Apple's first appearance at the security-focused show, which began in the late 1990s. The talk comes on the heels of a high-profile exploit that targeted Apple's in-app purchase system. Apple last week offered a way for developers to protect themselves from it, as well as promising to patch it completely in the next major version of iOS, which is due out in the next few months. It also follows a particularly frenetic year in the world of Mac security. That includes the prevalence of the Flashback Trojan, which at its height infected an estimated 600,000 Macs. Apple is also taking more steps to add malware protection to its OS X operating system, with the release of Mountain Lion, due out within the next week.CNET will be at Black Hat, along with Defcon all week. You can follow along with our coverage here.
Apple to sign Kobe Bryant as spokesman-
Apple to sign Kobe Bryant as spokesman?
When a covert lens meets fame, rumors attempt a slam dunk. That's what happened this week when a man with a remarkable resemblance to Los Angeles Lakers star player Kobe Bryant wassecretly photographed on a visit to Apple's Cupertino campus.As 9to5Mac reported, Bryant was not only seen in the heart of Apple territory on Thursday, he also apparently met with the company's design doyen, Jony Ive, and his team.Was this merely a courtesy call? Ive being courteous enough to spend five minutes with Bryant, that is. Or was this something more? Might Bryant be courted by Apple to endorse its supposed steps into wearable tech? He already has a contract with watchmaker Hublot. He's also one of Nike's men, so might this have something to do with all that fitness band mullarkey that everyone is getting excited about.Perhaps Bryant's ego, enjoying a very healthy nature, might drive him toward Apple because LeBron James is a very visible presence for Samsung. However, does Apple and Bryant really make sense? More Technically IncorrectStephen Colbert on Amazon's crazy photo patent: A fecal mistakeReading this on your iPhone? You're a Dem. (Desktop? Probably GOP)The zombie apocalypse: How the Pentagon is readyHis career is sliding toward its sunset. Injuries, aging, and a frightful team have come together to make his presence superfluous to the NBA playoffs.If Apple were to hire a spokesman from the NBA, the Thunder's Kevin Durant, an elegant and understated presence, would surely be a more forward-thinking idea.Moreover Lenovo recently announced that it had extended its relationship with the Lakers star. In which case it's a wonder that Apple's famously secure tentacles actually allowed Bryant on the campus at all.Perhaps he really was there just to have lunch.
When a covert lens meets fame, rumors attempt a slam dunk. That's what happened this week when a man with a remarkable resemblance to Los Angeles Lakers star player Kobe Bryant wassecretly photographed on a visit to Apple's Cupertino campus.As 9to5Mac reported, Bryant was not only seen in the heart of Apple territory on Thursday, he also apparently met with the company's design doyen, Jony Ive, and his team.Was this merely a courtesy call? Ive being courteous enough to spend five minutes with Bryant, that is. Or was this something more? Might Bryant be courted by Apple to endorse its supposed steps into wearable tech? He already has a contract with watchmaker Hublot. He's also one of Nike's men, so might this have something to do with all that fitness band mullarkey that everyone is getting excited about.Perhaps Bryant's ego, enjoying a very healthy nature, might drive him toward Apple because LeBron James is a very visible presence for Samsung. However, does Apple and Bryant really make sense? More Technically IncorrectStephen Colbert on Amazon's crazy photo patent: A fecal mistakeReading this on your iPhone? You're a Dem. (Desktop? Probably GOP)The zombie apocalypse: How the Pentagon is readyHis career is sliding toward its sunset. Injuries, aging, and a frightful team have come together to make his presence superfluous to the NBA playoffs.If Apple were to hire a spokesman from the NBA, the Thunder's Kevin Durant, an elegant and understated presence, would surely be a more forward-thinking idea.Moreover Lenovo recently announced that it had extended its relationship with the Lakers star. In which case it's a wonder that Apple's famously secure tentacles actually allowed Bryant on the campus at all.Perhaps he really was there just to have lunch.
Apple to show off iPad Mini at Oct. 23 event, report says
Apple to show off iPad Mini at Oct. 23 event, report says
Apple's long-rumored iPad Mini will be outed in less than two weeks, a new report claims.Apple plans to hold a special press event on October 23 to unveil its iPad Mini, All Things Digital is reporting today, citing sources.Following the report, iMore, The Loop and The New York Times weighed in, saying the date is legit.Rumors have been swirling for months that Apple is planning to launch a smaller iPad. More recently, reports had claimed that Apple had hoped to get it outlast month but production issues have caused it to push the launch back. An October 23 launch date would be two days before Apple's quarterly earnings are announced and three days before Microsoft's Windows 8 launch event in New York.Artist rendering of iPad and the MiniThe widely rumored iPad Mini, or whatever its official name will be, is expected to have a 7.85-inch screen and come with Apple's new Lightning connector. If Apple follows its past form, the iPad Mini would be available to customers within a few weeks of the unveiling. The company is reportedly manufacturing up to 10 million of the smaller iPad for the fourth quarter.See also: Apple iPad Mini: The ultimate rumor roundupIf and when the iPad Mini finally hits store shelves, it'll be going head-to-head with Google's Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire. Both of those devices come with displays in the 7-inch range and are notably cheaper than more powerful devices, like Apple's new iPad. Given that, it's believed that the iPad Mini will be substantially cheaper than the new iPad, though it's not known by how much.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the iPad Mini report. We will update this story when we have more information.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play Updated at 12:29 p.m. PT to include additional claims of event date.
Apple's long-rumored iPad Mini will be outed in less than two weeks, a new report claims.Apple plans to hold a special press event on October 23 to unveil its iPad Mini, All Things Digital is reporting today, citing sources.Following the report, iMore, The Loop and The New York Times weighed in, saying the date is legit.Rumors have been swirling for months that Apple is planning to launch a smaller iPad. More recently, reports had claimed that Apple had hoped to get it outlast month but production issues have caused it to push the launch back. An October 23 launch date would be two days before Apple's quarterly earnings are announced and three days before Microsoft's Windows 8 launch event in New York.Artist rendering of iPad and the MiniThe widely rumored iPad Mini, or whatever its official name will be, is expected to have a 7.85-inch screen and come with Apple's new Lightning connector. If Apple follows its past form, the iPad Mini would be available to customers within a few weeks of the unveiling. The company is reportedly manufacturing up to 10 million of the smaller iPad for the fourth quarter.See also: Apple iPad Mini: The ultimate rumor roundupIf and when the iPad Mini finally hits store shelves, it'll be going head-to-head with Google's Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire. Both of those devices come with displays in the 7-inch range and are notably cheaper than more powerful devices, like Apple's new iPad. Given that, it's believed that the iPad Mini will be substantially cheaper than the new iPad, though it's not known by how much.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the iPad Mini report. We will update this story when we have more information.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play Updated at 12:29 p.m. PT to include additional claims of event date.
Apple tinkers with iPen stylus and haptic feedback
Apple tinkers with iPen stylus and haptic feedback
Despite the late Steve Jobs' mockery of a stylus, Apple has been tinkering with the notion of an iPen complete with haptic feedback. That's according to a newly published patent application unearthed by enthusiast site Patently Apple. Apple's idea for an iPen would include haptic feedback to improve the user interface.Users would feel a small vibration depending on how much pressure they applied to the stylus, or whether the stylus moved over a link on the screen, creating a more realistic experience. It could also vary depending on the angle of the stylus, orientation to the screen, and how quickly it is moving. In addition, the iPen could include a speaker that simulates sounds of brush or pen strokes; the sounds would rise or lower in volume depending on the pressure applied. A stylus would be useful for the iPad, but could be applied to its other touch-screen devices, such as the iPhone or iPod Touch. While Jobs has famously decried the use of stylus on mobile devices, several apps have sprung up that require such a device for accurate drawing and writing. Paper and Autodesk's SketchBook are two popular apps ideally suited for a stylus, rather than a finger. Gaming is another area where a stylus may come in handy. Of course, Apple files patent applications for technology it may never use in commercial products.The application was originally filed in the fourth quarter of 2010 and was made public by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today.CNET contacted Apple regarding any plans to incorporate an iPen into future products. We'll update the story when we get a response.
Despite the late Steve Jobs' mockery of a stylus, Apple has been tinkering with the notion of an iPen complete with haptic feedback. That's according to a newly published patent application unearthed by enthusiast site Patently Apple. Apple's idea for an iPen would include haptic feedback to improve the user interface.Users would feel a small vibration depending on how much pressure they applied to the stylus, or whether the stylus moved over a link on the screen, creating a more realistic experience. It could also vary depending on the angle of the stylus, orientation to the screen, and how quickly it is moving. In addition, the iPen could include a speaker that simulates sounds of brush or pen strokes; the sounds would rise or lower in volume depending on the pressure applied. A stylus would be useful for the iPad, but could be applied to its other touch-screen devices, such as the iPhone or iPod Touch. While Jobs has famously decried the use of stylus on mobile devices, several apps have sprung up that require such a device for accurate drawing and writing. Paper and Autodesk's SketchBook are two popular apps ideally suited for a stylus, rather than a finger. Gaming is another area where a stylus may come in handy. Of course, Apple files patent applications for technology it may never use in commercial products.The application was originally filed in the fourth quarter of 2010 and was made public by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today.CNET contacted Apple regarding any plans to incorporate an iPen into future products. We'll update the story when we get a response.
Apple Time Capsule refresh to coincide with Lion-
Apple Time Capsule refresh to coincide with Lion?
Supply of Apple's Time Capsule hardware is reportedly becoming scarce in the days ahead of the company's Worldwide Developers Conference, a sign that a new version of the product could be just around the corner.Time Capsule, which was released at the beginning of 2008, combines a wireless router with a hard drive, giving users a way to store files on the device. It's also tied to Apple's built-in Time Machine backup software, which made its debut as a part of Leopard. That software is able to tap into the Time Capsule to wirelessly store backups of a user's applications and settings.The timing around said shortage is of special interest given Apple's upcoming presentation of Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion," the follow-up to Snow Leopard. It includes a new feature called "versions" that makes Apple's Time Machine feature more granular, saving different iterations of a document every time it's opened, and on the hour. Apple has also said it will be unveiling its iCloud service, which could make use of the Time Capsule hardware for ferrying data back and forth between the cloud and Apple devices.9to5mac reports that Apple has been working on one such software tool in-house, which automatically fetches software updates based on the products that have been connected to it. That means the next time an iPhone software update is released, it would quietly download it for you to have it ready the next time you ran the update, potentially saving time that would be spent downloading it from Apple's servers. Related links• How to Fix Apple's Time Capsule• CNET's review of the current Time Capsule modelApple's last major updates to the Time Capsule hardware came in 2009 with the release of a model that combined 2.5GHz and 5GHz dual-bands, as well as new antenna designs that Apple promised to bring 50 percent better performance, and 25 percent better range than the previous-generation product. Apple kicks off next week's WWDC with a keynote address by CEO Steve Jobs. Besides iCloud, the company has said it will take the wraps off iOS 5, the software that runs on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
Supply of Apple's Time Capsule hardware is reportedly becoming scarce in the days ahead of the company's Worldwide Developers Conference, a sign that a new version of the product could be just around the corner.Time Capsule, which was released at the beginning of 2008, combines a wireless router with a hard drive, giving users a way to store files on the device. It's also tied to Apple's built-in Time Machine backup software, which made its debut as a part of Leopard. That software is able to tap into the Time Capsule to wirelessly store backups of a user's applications and settings.The timing around said shortage is of special interest given Apple's upcoming presentation of Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion," the follow-up to Snow Leopard. It includes a new feature called "versions" that makes Apple's Time Machine feature more granular, saving different iterations of a document every time it's opened, and on the hour. Apple has also said it will be unveiling its iCloud service, which could make use of the Time Capsule hardware for ferrying data back and forth between the cloud and Apple devices.9to5mac reports that Apple has been working on one such software tool in-house, which automatically fetches software updates based on the products that have been connected to it. That means the next time an iPhone software update is released, it would quietly download it for you to have it ready the next time you ran the update, potentially saving time that would be spent downloading it from Apple's servers. Related links• How to Fix Apple's Time Capsule• CNET's review of the current Time Capsule modelApple's last major updates to the Time Capsule hardware came in 2009 with the release of a model that combined 2.5GHz and 5GHz dual-bands, as well as new antenna designs that Apple promised to bring 50 percent better performance, and 25 percent better range than the previous-generation product. Apple kicks off next week's WWDC with a keynote address by CEO Steve Jobs. Besides iCloud, the company has said it will take the wraps off iOS 5, the software that runs on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
Apple tightening design and software teams, report says
Apple tightening design and software teams, report says
Secrecy at Apple is alive and well, though there's less of it going on between its hardware and software groups, a new report says.Citing unnamed sources, The Wall Street Journal says Apple's industrial design team now lets the company's software teams in on plans for future devices earlier than ever before, a process that was once made more secret with the use of "stealth software developers." The change come some four months after a change within Apple's top ranks that more closely tied Apple's hardware and software teams. Jonathan Ive, who was previously just the company's lead designer, took on "leadership and direction" for Apple's Human Interface group, a role that involved software as well. Ive now "sits in on" key review meetings by the software group, The Journal adds.Much of Apple's success is tied to its development of both hardware and software, a strategy that's led to hits like the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Microsoft has done the same with the XBOX and some of its hardware peripherals, and is trying it once again with the Surface tablet. In testimony last July, one of Apple's top designers under Ive described the creation process at Apple like working "together around a kitchen table," adding that "in some ways it feels like a small company." Even so, that process was said to be uniquely separate from Apple's software efforts, something Ive alluded to in an interview with the Guardian early last year before the executive shuffle. Apple is expected to take the wraps off the next major version of iOS at its annual developers conference, which has not yet been announced, though though typically takes place in early June. OS X (which runs on all of Apple's computers) is now run by the same Apple executive, and might debut at the same time.
Secrecy at Apple is alive and well, though there's less of it going on between its hardware and software groups, a new report says.Citing unnamed sources, The Wall Street Journal says Apple's industrial design team now lets the company's software teams in on plans for future devices earlier than ever before, a process that was once made more secret with the use of "stealth software developers." The change come some four months after a change within Apple's top ranks that more closely tied Apple's hardware and software teams. Jonathan Ive, who was previously just the company's lead designer, took on "leadership and direction" for Apple's Human Interface group, a role that involved software as well. Ive now "sits in on" key review meetings by the software group, The Journal adds.Much of Apple's success is tied to its development of both hardware and software, a strategy that's led to hits like the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Microsoft has done the same with the XBOX and some of its hardware peripherals, and is trying it once again with the Surface tablet. In testimony last July, one of Apple's top designers under Ive described the creation process at Apple like working "together around a kitchen table," adding that "in some ways it feels like a small company." Even so, that process was said to be uniquely separate from Apple's software efforts, something Ive alluded to in an interview with the Guardian early last year before the executive shuffle. Apple is expected to take the wraps off the next major version of iOS at its annual developers conference, which has not yet been announced, though though typically takes place in early June. OS X (which runs on all of Apple's computers) is now run by the same Apple executive, and might debut at the same time.
Apple ties CEO bonus to stock performance
Apple ties CEO bonus to stock performance
Apple on Friday modified its CEO compensation policy, potentially trimming how much Tim Cook will earn in bonuses over the next few years based on Apple's stock price.This measure was approved by Apple's board on Friday, the company said, while noting that CEO Tim Cook was applying it to his existing and future stock awards.In Cook's case, he's got serious incentive to stick around with some 800,000 restricted stock units that are set to finish vesting in annual chunks of 80,000 through the fall of 2021. That reward was previously time-based, meaning that if Cook simply stayed on he'd receive the full amount, something that's no longer the case as part of the changes. Cook also won't receive more than the original amount if Apple performs better than expected, the company said. Related storiesApple gives most of its top execs $60M bonusesApple's latest top executives get $50M stock perksCook given 1 million share bonus as new Apple CEOIn terms of how all this works out for Cook's bonuses, Apple (in its filing) said that it will track the company's performance based on stock price compared to others in the S&P 500, splitting it up into thirds. If Apple performs in the top third, any stock awards remain the same. But if Apple comes in the middle, the award gets cut by a quarter, and will be trimmed to by half if the company comes in on the bottom third.Cook and other Apple executives received considerable bonuses in 2011 following leadership changes that came with the departure of Steve Jobs. That continued last September, with the company doling out what was worth more than $50 million in stock to executives, some of whom had been newly promoted as part of a reorganization. Along with the change, Apple executives disposed of some $86.5 million in newly vested shares for tax purposes. Correction at 3:35 p.m. PT: This story incorrectly accounted restricted stock payments of exercise price or tax liability as sales.
Apple on Friday modified its CEO compensation policy, potentially trimming how much Tim Cook will earn in bonuses over the next few years based on Apple's stock price.This measure was approved by Apple's board on Friday, the company said, while noting that CEO Tim Cook was applying it to his existing and future stock awards.In Cook's case, he's got serious incentive to stick around with some 800,000 restricted stock units that are set to finish vesting in annual chunks of 80,000 through the fall of 2021. That reward was previously time-based, meaning that if Cook simply stayed on he'd receive the full amount, something that's no longer the case as part of the changes. Cook also won't receive more than the original amount if Apple performs better than expected, the company said. Related storiesApple gives most of its top execs $60M bonusesApple's latest top executives get $50M stock perksCook given 1 million share bonus as new Apple CEOIn terms of how all this works out for Cook's bonuses, Apple (in its filing) said that it will track the company's performance based on stock price compared to others in the S&P 500, splitting it up into thirds. If Apple performs in the top third, any stock awards remain the same. But if Apple comes in the middle, the award gets cut by a quarter, and will be trimmed to by half if the company comes in on the bottom third.Cook and other Apple executives received considerable bonuses in 2011 following leadership changes that came with the departure of Steve Jobs. That continued last September, with the company doling out what was worth more than $50 million in stock to executives, some of whom had been newly promoted as part of a reorganization. Along with the change, Apple executives disposed of some $86.5 million in newly vested shares for tax purposes. Correction at 3:35 p.m. PT: This story incorrectly accounted restricted stock payments of exercise price or tax liability as sales.
Apple- The iPad Mini has stereo speakers
Apple: The iPad Mini has stereo speakers
Apple's new iPad Mini does have two stereo speakers, despite Amazon's attempt to fudge the facts.On Sunday, the retail giant unveiled a comparison chart on its home page pitting its own Kindle Fire HD against Apple's iPad Mini. With all the stats stacked in favor of the Kindle, Amazon said that its tablet offers dual stereo speakers while the iPad Mini is stuck with just mono sound.Though Amazon has since taken down the chart from its home page, another chart contrasting the two 7-inch rivals now says the iPad Mini has a single speaker.Related stories:Amazon pits Kindle Fire HD vs. iPad MiniiPad Mini vs. Google Nexus 7 vs. Amazon Kindle Fire HDiPad Mini, up close (pictures)But the iPad Mini's product page and confirmation from Apple seem to have shot down Amazon's claims.Apple's iPad Mini specs simply list a built-in speaker. However, a photo of the bottom of the tablet clearly shows two speakers, one on each side of the Lightning connector.Responding to a 9to5Mac reader confused by the lack of specificity, Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller reportedly said that the tablet does indeed offer stereo speakers. Joshua Topolsky from the Verge said he also received the same confirmation from Apple.The iPad Mini is the first iPad to offer dual stereo speakers. Even the new fourth generation model comes with just a single speaker.CNET contacted Apple and Amazon for comment and will update the story if we receive any information.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Apple's new iPad Mini does have two stereo speakers, despite Amazon's attempt to fudge the facts.On Sunday, the retail giant unveiled a comparison chart on its home page pitting its own Kindle Fire HD against Apple's iPad Mini. With all the stats stacked in favor of the Kindle, Amazon said that its tablet offers dual stereo speakers while the iPad Mini is stuck with just mono sound.Though Amazon has since taken down the chart from its home page, another chart contrasting the two 7-inch rivals now says the iPad Mini has a single speaker.Related stories:Amazon pits Kindle Fire HD vs. iPad MiniiPad Mini vs. Google Nexus 7 vs. Amazon Kindle Fire HDiPad Mini, up close (pictures)But the iPad Mini's product page and confirmation from Apple seem to have shot down Amazon's claims.Apple's iPad Mini specs simply list a built-in speaker. However, a photo of the bottom of the tablet clearly shows two speakers, one on each side of the Lightning connector.Responding to a 9to5Mac reader confused by the lack of specificity, Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller reportedly said that the tablet does indeed offer stereo speakers. Joshua Topolsky from the Verge said he also received the same confirmation from Apple.The iPad Mini is the first iPad to offer dual stereo speakers. Even the new fourth generation model comes with just a single speaker.CNET contacted Apple and Amazon for comment and will update the story if we receive any information.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
The Best Surprises and Worst Snubs of the 2014 Oscar Nominations
Every year the Academy Awards has the chance to surprise and disappoint movie fans with extreme measure. We live for this day, when the Oscar nominees are announced and we feel happiness for a certain beloved movie slipping into the Best Picture race (Philomena!) and anger that another favorite was left out of the same category (Inside Llewyn Davis!). And of course with only nine titles named for the top award, it;s both fun and frustrating wondering what should have been the 10th. With this year;s nominations, announced this morning, there were fewer shockers than usual. Maybe because there weren;t any really popular mainstream movies that didn;t actually have a chance. No fanboys are crying for the lack of Pacific Rim in the Best Picture bunch, are they? If anything, it is a bit baffling that the movie isn;t among the visual effects nominees. But great effects are all over the place these days. I;m almost more suprised that The Wolf of Wall Street didn;t show up in the category (see the astonishingFX reel among others here). Some of the unexpected nominations we;re glad to see include Jonah Hill for Best Supporting Actor in The Wolf of Wall Street -- it was uncertain given his lack of Golden Globe recognition -- and the Cannes-winning Cambodian documentaryThe Missing Picturein the Best Foreign Language category. We;re also pleasantly surprised to see Cutie and the Boxer and Dirty Wars in the Best Documentary Feature category, as they also weren;t necessarily front-runners there. My snub list also starts in the doc category, though, as Sarah Polley;s Stories We Tell is my favorie movie of last year. Though less a favorite of mine, Blackfish being absent there is more of a shocker given its popularity and its influence. My second favorite movie of 2013 is Inside Llewyn Davis, and while I;m upset it;s not up for any major awards I don;t know that I believe its performances were among the best of the year. Tom Hanks and Robert Redford and maybe (maybe) even Joaquin Phoenix seem more absent from the Best Actor category than Oscar Isaac. As far as other actual acting snubs go, my biggest issue is with Margot Robbie not being recognized for The Wolf of Wall Street. Not only is she terrific, but now Scorsese;s near-record, career-wide success with acting nominations from his films is imbalanced in favor of male performances 12 to 10. It still would have been with Robbie nominated, but less so. And speaking of the women of The Wolf of Wall Street, how on Earth did editor Thelma Schoonmaker not get a nomination? Because the movie is long, I bet. What were the best surprises and worst snubs of the 2014 Oscar nominations? Here are some responses received so far via Twitter: @thefilmcynic Redford is the biggest snub to me, along with Inside Llewyn Davis for BP — SKOLNEY (@Rogerwhutwhut) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic Best Surprise- Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine (she;s better than Blanchett). Worst Snub- Overall lack of Mr. Banks and Llewyn. — Daniel Howat (@howatdk) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic Inside Llewyn Davis for Best Actor, Original Screenplay and Director. — Juan Carlos Ampié (@juancarlosampie) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic Inside Llewyn Davis. what;s the point of them having the possibility of nominating 10 films if they;re gonna only do 9? — justin robinson (@TheJSRobinson) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic Inside Llewyn Davis snubbed for Best Picture. And Lone Survivor. Surprised about all the Philomena stuff. — John Andrews (@Jandies1) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic Snubs- nothing for ST12, not enough for Inside Llewyn Davis, Bobbitt for 12YAS. Surprise- DiCaprio — Teri (@tmvogel) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic nicest surprise is The Missing Picture for foreign language film. — Samuel Smucker (@SamuelSmucker) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic Snubs: Her for Best Director, Short Term 12 for Song, Actress, Screenplay. — Conor Holt (@conor_holt) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic Surprise: PHILOMENA screenplay. Snub: Emma Thompson. — Edwin Arnaudin (@EdwinArnaudin) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic spike jonez needs at least a nomination like he is one great film maker in today;s world and he is underrated by far — Brandon;ndp; (@Brandonsndp) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic no surprises. Snubs are tie between, Evil Dead for Make-up and Hair and Pacific Rim for sound editing/mix and visual effects. — Kenton Bowton (@KBowton) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic @ErikDavis @moviesdotcom now that there;s a twitter graphic for it i do think Lone Ranger for VFX instead of PacRim is insane — ProgGrrl (@ProgGrrl) January 16, 2014 @thefilmcynic @moviesdotcom Glad IRON MAN 3 was recognized. Really wanted PRISONERS for Best Score. — North/South Film (@NorthSouthFilm) January 16, 2014 Join in the next discussion: and
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