Study: Music, not apps, rules iTunes
Software apps, which enable iPhone and iPod Touch users to do everything from play games to keep track of their weight, continue to grow in popularity. But music is"still central to the iTunes experience," according to a new survey from market researcher NPD Group. In contrast with years past, NPD said Tuesday, "when every dollar spent at iTunes was on music and video," apps now vie for a chunk of that cash. NPD said that an online survey in May of more than 3,800 members of the company's Web panel showed that all iPod Touch and iPhone users have downloaded a free app. By contrast, 82 percent of the respondents reported making a music purchase, and 56 percent said they bought music exclusively. More than half said the majority of their time at iTunes is spent searching for music."Sales growth in digital music has been slowing," Russ Crupnick, senior entertainment analyst for NPD, said in statement. "Some of that decline might be related to the distraction from apps. However, iTunes shoppers are still completely engaged with music, whether it's about listening, discovering, or buying,"Apple's iTunes, the world's largest music retailer, in February reported topping more than 10 billion song sales since its founding. Music was one of iTunes primary building blocks. In recent years, however, songs have become much more of a commodity. Free songs are available at sites such as YouTube and Pandora. In addition, music must compete with videos, social networking sites, video games, and now apps.Two out of three iPhone and iPod Touch owners who have downloaded apps said they use them regularly, according to NPD. On Monday, CNET reported that Apple is working on improving iTunes' music discovery abilities, according to numerous sources with knowledge of the talks. At a media event set for Wednesday, Apple is expected to announce that it will boost the length of song samples--the snippets of music that iTunes users are allowed to hear to decide whether they like a song--from 30 seconds to at least 60 seconds and possibly as long as 90 seconds.
Is Apple's iBooks e-reader app a rip-off-
Is Apple's iBooks e-reader app a rip-off?
If you're among those wondering why Apple's new iBooks e-reader app may have looked vaguely familiar, the answer is Apple may have ripped off the user interface from an existing iPhone app, according to Wired blogger Brian Chen.The app in question is a popular book-reading app called Classics, which rounds up a bunch of public-domain titles in a slick-looking package that features a user interface with various titles perched on a bookshelf.The article also suggests that the UI similarities extend beyond the top-level interface. "The pages emulate the look of a printed book page," Chen writes. "The 3D page-flipping effect looks almost exactly the same. The only major difference is iBooks has a tool to change font point and type." Also, Apple's app integrates access to the iBooks store, which will feature titles from Penguin, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and Hachette book group.Interestingly, however, Phillip Ryu, one of the people behind Classics,acknowledges that Classics' bookshelf view was inspired by another app, Delicious Library. However, he asked Delicious Library creator Wil Shipley for his blessing before Classics was released. (A reader pointed out that Shipley is now an Apple employee, but that doesn't appear to be the case based on Shipley's recent Twitter post stating, "I guess it's not enough Apple has hired every employee who worked on Delicious Library, they also had to copy my product's look. Flattery?"). Ryu told Wired he felt a little hurt, but he remains loyal to Apple and isn't "planning on picking a fight."That said, he doesn't seem to mind the publicity and is offering Classics as a free download (iTunes required) for a limited time so people can check it out for themselves and make their own comparisons to iBooks.Comments?The Classics app as it appears on the iPhone.Apple
If you're among those wondering why Apple's new iBooks e-reader app may have looked vaguely familiar, the answer is Apple may have ripped off the user interface from an existing iPhone app, according to Wired blogger Brian Chen.The app in question is a popular book-reading app called Classics, which rounds up a bunch of public-domain titles in a slick-looking package that features a user interface with various titles perched on a bookshelf.The article also suggests that the UI similarities extend beyond the top-level interface. "The pages emulate the look of a printed book page," Chen writes. "The 3D page-flipping effect looks almost exactly the same. The only major difference is iBooks has a tool to change font point and type." Also, Apple's app integrates access to the iBooks store, which will feature titles from Penguin, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and Hachette book group.Interestingly, however, Phillip Ryu, one of the people behind Classics,acknowledges that Classics' bookshelf view was inspired by another app, Delicious Library. However, he asked Delicious Library creator Wil Shipley for his blessing before Classics was released. (A reader pointed out that Shipley is now an Apple employee, but that doesn't appear to be the case based on Shipley's recent Twitter post stating, "I guess it's not enough Apple has hired every employee who worked on Delicious Library, they also had to copy my product's look. Flattery?"). Ryu told Wired he felt a little hurt, but he remains loyal to Apple and isn't "planning on picking a fight."That said, he doesn't seem to mind the publicity and is offering Classics as a free download (iTunes required) for a limited time so people can check it out for themselves and make their own comparisons to iBooks.Comments?The Classics app as it appears on the iPhone.Apple
Zynga listens to users with Draw Something update
Zynga listens to users with Draw Something update
Draw Something (iPhone|Android) hit it big at the iTunes App Store by following a simple concept: draw a picture that describes a word, then send it to a friend to guess the word. The game took off immediately at the iTunes App Store for its close resemblance to board game Pictionary, but there were still rumblings from users of features that could make it better.Today, Zynga released an update (for both iOS and Android) that brings many of those features to the game and should spark another resurgence in the top paid apps list. Probably the biggest feature is that you'll now be able to send comments along with your drawings. After you finish your drawing and touch "done," the app brings up a field so you can send a comment along with it. Once sent, you go on to another screen that lets you post your drawing to Twitter or Facebook, or you can touch a disc icon to save it to your camera roll.Players will also appreciate the new undo last line feature. I can't tell you how many times I've been frustrated by having to erase a last line (I'm a terrible artist) only to draw it badly again and have to switch back to eraser to get rid of it.Draw Something has been floating around the top of the iTunes App Store paid apps list since its initial release in February. Expect it to hit the top once again with these incredibly helpful new features.
Draw Something (iPhone|Android) hit it big at the iTunes App Store by following a simple concept: draw a picture that describes a word, then send it to a friend to guess the word. The game took off immediately at the iTunes App Store for its close resemblance to board game Pictionary, but there were still rumblings from users of features that could make it better.Today, Zynga released an update (for both iOS and Android) that brings many of those features to the game and should spark another resurgence in the top paid apps list. Probably the biggest feature is that you'll now be able to send comments along with your drawings. After you finish your drawing and touch "done," the app brings up a field so you can send a comment along with it. Once sent, you go on to another screen that lets you post your drawing to Twitter or Facebook, or you can touch a disc icon to save it to your camera roll.Players will also appreciate the new undo last line feature. I can't tell you how many times I've been frustrated by having to erase a last line (I'm a terrible artist) only to draw it badly again and have to switch back to eraser to get rid of it.Draw Something has been floating around the top of the iTunes App Store paid apps list since its initial release in February. Expect it to hit the top once again with these incredibly helpful new features.
Apple will replace faulty Apple TVs for free
Apple will replace faulty Apple TVs for free
9to5Mac is reporting that according to internal communications, Apple has implemented a new policy at its retail stores and support centers that a small number of its Apple TV media devices may be faulty and be eligible for a free replacement.The applicable systems are third-generation Apple TVs that are experiencing network connectivity issues where they either cannot locate or are unable to join wireless networks, or they can only successfully connect part of the time.This issue affects only a small number of devices that Apple has identified. To qualify, your Apple TV's serial number must meet the following qualifications:The last four letters of the serial number must be DRHNThe fourth and fifth alphanumeric characters of the serial number must contain one of these pairs:H9, HD, HD, HF, HG, HH, HJ, HK, HL, HM, HN, HP, HQ, HR, HT, HV, HW, HX, J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6, J7, J9For affected systems, Apple's employees will ensure they are running version 5.2.1 of the Apple TV operating system or later, and then test for potential noise interference issues with the device. If they cannot resolve the issue after these and additional basic troubleshooting steps, then they will replace the device with a new one, free of charge.UPDATE (4/25/2013): The characters in pairs must be the fourth and fifth of the serial number, and not the third and fourth as was originally reported.Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.
9to5Mac is reporting that according to internal communications, Apple has implemented a new policy at its retail stores and support centers that a small number of its Apple TV media devices may be faulty and be eligible for a free replacement.The applicable systems are third-generation Apple TVs that are experiencing network connectivity issues where they either cannot locate or are unable to join wireless networks, or they can only successfully connect part of the time.This issue affects only a small number of devices that Apple has identified. To qualify, your Apple TV's serial number must meet the following qualifications:The last four letters of the serial number must be DRHNThe fourth and fifth alphanumeric characters of the serial number must contain one of these pairs:H9, HD, HD, HF, HG, HH, HJ, HK, HL, HM, HN, HP, HQ, HR, HT, HV, HW, HX, J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6, J7, J9For affected systems, Apple's employees will ensure they are running version 5.2.1 of the Apple TV operating system or later, and then test for potential noise interference issues with the device. If they cannot resolve the issue after these and additional basic troubleshooting steps, then they will replace the device with a new one, free of charge.UPDATE (4/25/2013): The characters in pairs must be the fourth and fifth of the serial number, and not the third and fourth as was originally reported.Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.
Apple Watch said to hit mass production in January
Apple Watch said to hit mass production in January
The Apple Watch may run into some early production issues.A new report from Taiwanese news source AppleDaily claims that the watch won't actually reach the mass production stage until January. And blog site G for Games is reporting the watch will be assembled by a single supplier instead of two, as initially rumored.Unveiled on September 9 at Apple's iPhone 6 launch event, the Apple Watch is the company's first attempt to crack the wearables market. At the event, Apple said the watch would be available in early 2015 but didn't give a specific time frame. To launch the watch first thing next year, large-scale production should have already gotten under way. But that doesn't seem to be the case, at least according to AppleDaily. Assuming the AppleDaily is accurate, the problem could rest with the suppliers.Rumors had suggested that the watch would be assembled by two suppliers -- Quanta Computer and Inventec. But the report from AppleDaily says Quanta will be the lone supplier. with Inventec having dropped out of the picture for unspecified reasons.Quanta has reportedly starting preparing for mass production of the watch by upping the number of its workers to 4 million, according to G for Games. Apple and Quanta have also allegedly agreed to a deal in which Quanta would not make smartwatches for any of Apple's rivals. But if mass production doesn't start until January, Apple could be hard-pressed to launch its new product in a time frame truly considered "early 2015."Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.(Via MacRumors)
The Apple Watch may run into some early production issues.A new report from Taiwanese news source AppleDaily claims that the watch won't actually reach the mass production stage until January. And blog site G for Games is reporting the watch will be assembled by a single supplier instead of two, as initially rumored.Unveiled on September 9 at Apple's iPhone 6 launch event, the Apple Watch is the company's first attempt to crack the wearables market. At the event, Apple said the watch would be available in early 2015 but didn't give a specific time frame. To launch the watch first thing next year, large-scale production should have already gotten under way. But that doesn't seem to be the case, at least according to AppleDaily. Assuming the AppleDaily is accurate, the problem could rest with the suppliers.Rumors had suggested that the watch would be assembled by two suppliers -- Quanta Computer and Inventec. But the report from AppleDaily says Quanta will be the lone supplier. with Inventec having dropped out of the picture for unspecified reasons.Quanta has reportedly starting preparing for mass production of the watch by upping the number of its workers to 4 million, according to G for Games. Apple and Quanta have also allegedly agreed to a deal in which Quanta would not make smartwatches for any of Apple's rivals. But if mass production doesn't start until January, Apple could be hard-pressed to launch its new product in a time frame truly considered "early 2015."Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.(Via MacRumors)
Apple Watch faces battery life challenges -- report
Apple Watch faces battery life challenges -- report
Apple has aimed for its upcoming smartwatch to last a full day on a single battery charge, but the reality may fall short of the goal, according to news site 9to5Mac.Apple chose to use a fairly beefy processor and high-quality screen for its Apple Watch, sources told 9to5Mac in a story published Thursday. But that combination impacts how long the watch functions on a single charge.Apple initially planned for the watch to run 2.5 to 5 hours based on active use. It was also eyeing a goal of three days on standby mode and four days in sleep mode. But the wearable device may last only two to three days in either standby or low-power mode, according to 9to5Mac. Battery life is critical to smartwatches since device owners expect such a device to last through the day. In addition, owners will want the ability to tap into its full array of apps and features without draining the battery too quickly. In October, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that he expects people to charge the watch on a daily basis. because they will be using it so frequently. Still, 9to5MAc's report -- if accurate -- may not be so damning if people use the watch sporadically. The watch won't be on or active all the time. As a partner to the iPhone, it will spring to life only when you receive an incoming phone call, text message or alert. The watch's animated clock face will last for around three hours straight, but that's only when the watch is in use. When you're not using or checking the watch, the display shuts off, thereby preserving battery life. Also, the average person may use the watch as a fitness tracker only during a workout or only to occasionally check health stats.However, Apple is a company known for perfectionism, so battery life has been a concern. That's reportedly one reason the company pushed back the launch of its smartwatch from late 2014 to early 2015. Apple continues to gauge the watch's performance with almost 3,000 units being tested under real-world conditions.
Apple has aimed for its upcoming smartwatch to last a full day on a single battery charge, but the reality may fall short of the goal, according to news site 9to5Mac.Apple chose to use a fairly beefy processor and high-quality screen for its Apple Watch, sources told 9to5Mac in a story published Thursday. But that combination impacts how long the watch functions on a single charge.Apple initially planned for the watch to run 2.5 to 5 hours based on active use. It was also eyeing a goal of three days on standby mode and four days in sleep mode. But the wearable device may last only two to three days in either standby or low-power mode, according to 9to5Mac. Battery life is critical to smartwatches since device owners expect such a device to last through the day. In addition, owners will want the ability to tap into its full array of apps and features without draining the battery too quickly. In October, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that he expects people to charge the watch on a daily basis. because they will be using it so frequently. Still, 9to5MAc's report -- if accurate -- may not be so damning if people use the watch sporadically. The watch won't be on or active all the time. As a partner to the iPhone, it will spring to life only when you receive an incoming phone call, text message or alert. The watch's animated clock face will last for around three hours straight, but that's only when the watch is in use. When you're not using or checking the watch, the display shuts off, thereby preserving battery life. Also, the average person may use the watch as a fitness tracker only during a workout or only to occasionally check health stats.However, Apple is a company known for perfectionism, so battery life has been a concern. That's reportedly one reason the company pushed back the launch of its smartwatch from late 2014 to early 2015. Apple continues to gauge the watch's performance with almost 3,000 units being tested under real-world conditions.
Apple wants to let you know when to buy new shoes
Apple wants to let you know when to buy new shoes
Hold the phone -- Apple wants to let you know when it's time to buy your next pair of shoes.In a recently published patent application, the tech giant has proposed embedding sensors in footwear that would track the wearer's activity and send a notification when it's time for a new pair. The application describes a "Shoe wear-out sensor, body-bar sensing system, unitless activity assessment and associated methods."The application's summary describes the system thus:A body bar sensing system for sensing movement of a body bar may be provided. The body bar sensing system may include a housing having a coupling mechanism operative to couple to the body bar, a detector disposed within the housing and operative to sense movement of the body bar when the housing is coupled to the body bar, and a processor operative to determine a number of repetitions of the movement based on the sensed movement.The summary describes a variety scenarios for the device:In one embodiment, a shoe wear out sensor includes at least one detector for sensing a physical metric that changes as a shoe wears out, a processor configured to process the physical metric, over time, to determine if the shoe is worn out, and an alarm for informing a user of the shoe when the sole is worn out.The application also suggests the sensor could have practical applications besides letting the owner know when it's time for a new pair, including helping to measure a child's daily activity or to determine whether an injured leg is getting the proper amount of activity to facilitate recovery.AppleOne diagram included with the application, which was filed last July, showed how the device could be implanted in the shoe's heel, but Apple said the sensor could be placed anywhere in the shoe to provide similar functionality.The sensors could include wireless transmitters, accelerometers, pressure sensors, with alerts being communicated to the wearer via an LED-powered display or speaker sound.
Hold the phone -- Apple wants to let you know when it's time to buy your next pair of shoes.In a recently published patent application, the tech giant has proposed embedding sensors in footwear that would track the wearer's activity and send a notification when it's time for a new pair. The application describes a "Shoe wear-out sensor, body-bar sensing system, unitless activity assessment and associated methods."The application's summary describes the system thus:A body bar sensing system for sensing movement of a body bar may be provided. The body bar sensing system may include a housing having a coupling mechanism operative to couple to the body bar, a detector disposed within the housing and operative to sense movement of the body bar when the housing is coupled to the body bar, and a processor operative to determine a number of repetitions of the movement based on the sensed movement.The summary describes a variety scenarios for the device:In one embodiment, a shoe wear out sensor includes at least one detector for sensing a physical metric that changes as a shoe wears out, a processor configured to process the physical metric, over time, to determine if the shoe is worn out, and an alarm for informing a user of the shoe when the sole is worn out.The application also suggests the sensor could have practical applications besides letting the owner know when it's time for a new pair, including helping to measure a child's daily activity or to determine whether an injured leg is getting the proper amount of activity to facilitate recovery.AppleOne diagram included with the application, which was filed last July, showed how the device could be implanted in the shoe's heel, but Apple said the sensor could be placed anywhere in the shoe to provide similar functionality.The sensors could include wireless transmitters, accelerometers, pressure sensors, with alerts being communicated to the wearer via an LED-powered display or speaker sound.
Apple wants to help you correct a text message after you send it
Apple wants to help you correct a text message after you send it
We've all made embarrassing mistakes in text messages, whether on our own or through the device's autocorrect feature. An Apple patent filing envisions a way to fix those mistakes before anyone else sees them.Published Thursday by the US Patent and Trademark Office, a patent application named "Transient Panel Enabling Message Correction Capabilities Prior to Data Submission" outlines a technology that would give you a chance to correct any mistakes before the message is actually on its way.As Apple acknowledges in the patent filing, autocorrect is a handy feature but it's hardly perfect. Though it's designed to help you type your message by predicting your words, autocorrect has a tendency to predict the wrong word at times. Further, typos you make yourself can often escape your attention, especially if you're in a rush to send out that text.Via Apple's invention, you'd be able to review and make last-minute corrections to a text after you hit the Send button but just before the message is actually sent. After you send your text, you'd have a moment to fix any errors; otherwise the message goes out as is. That moment would be quick so as not to delay the back-and-forth exchange between you and your fellow texter.As Apple describes it in the usual patentese:A programmable device such as a smartphone allows a user an opportunity to make final corrections to textual data in a message after the user has instructed the device to send the message, but before transmittal of the message. The opportunity is temporary, to avoid impeding the flow of communication, and the textual data is transmitted unmodified if the opportunity to modify it is not accepted. Modifications made during the opportunity period may be used to adapt an autocorrect functionality of the programmable device.As always, a patent filing doesn't necessarily mean the technology will ever hit the real world. But here's hoping this one does.(Via CultofMac)
We've all made embarrassing mistakes in text messages, whether on our own or through the device's autocorrect feature. An Apple patent filing envisions a way to fix those mistakes before anyone else sees them.Published Thursday by the US Patent and Trademark Office, a patent application named "Transient Panel Enabling Message Correction Capabilities Prior to Data Submission" outlines a technology that would give you a chance to correct any mistakes before the message is actually on its way.As Apple acknowledges in the patent filing, autocorrect is a handy feature but it's hardly perfect. Though it's designed to help you type your message by predicting your words, autocorrect has a tendency to predict the wrong word at times. Further, typos you make yourself can often escape your attention, especially if you're in a rush to send out that text.Via Apple's invention, you'd be able to review and make last-minute corrections to a text after you hit the Send button but just before the message is actually sent. After you send your text, you'd have a moment to fix any errors; otherwise the message goes out as is. That moment would be quick so as not to delay the back-and-forth exchange between you and your fellow texter.As Apple describes it in the usual patentese:A programmable device such as a smartphone allows a user an opportunity to make final corrections to textual data in a message after the user has instructed the device to send the message, but before transmittal of the message. The opportunity is temporary, to avoid impeding the flow of communication, and the textual data is transmitted unmodified if the opportunity to modify it is not accepted. Modifications made during the opportunity period may be used to adapt an autocorrect functionality of the programmable device.As always, a patent filing doesn't necessarily mean the technology will ever hit the real world. But here's hoping this one does.(Via CultofMac)
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