Apple CEO Steve Jobs to take medical leave again
Apple's Steve Jobs will be taking a medical leave of absence for the second time in two years but will remain CEO of the company, involved in strategic decision-making.Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook will assume responsibility for the company's day-to-day operations, amid continuing investor concerns over Apple's plans for eventual transition in the corner office.#nlrText { float: right; width: 170px; padding: 5px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; border: 1px solid #999; background: #FFFFEF; } #nlrText h4{display: block; font-size: 1.4em; padding: 0; margin: 0; color: #900; }The Steve Jobs eraSome notable moments for Jobs and his companies over the years. 1976Co-founds Apple with Steve Wozniak. 1984Apple introduces the Mac. 1985CEO John Sculley engineers Jobs' ouster from Apple.1985Founds Next Computer (later becomes Next Software). 1986Buys computer graphics division of LucasFilm, to be renamed Pixar. 1996Returns to Apple as adviser when Apple buys Next Software 1997Named interim CEO of Apple. 2001Apple introduces iTunes software and the iPod; the iTunes store follows in 2003. 2006Disney buys Pixar; Jobs becomes largest shareholder. 2007Apple introduces the iPhone. 2009Takes 6-month leave of absence for medical reasons. 2010Apple introduces the iPad. January 2011Takes medical leave of absence. The stock market is closed today for a federal holiday. Apple is scheduled to report its first-quarter fiscal 2011 earnings tomorrow after 1 p.m. PT.Jobs, a pancreatic cancer survivor, took a leave in the first half of 2009 to deal with issues related to his medical treatments. In announcing that hiatus, he said he would step away for six months, and he returned to full-time work on schedule.This time around, the 55-year-old Jobs did not give a time frame for his return. Here's the text of his e-mail to employees, provided by Apple this morning:Team,At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.Steve In January 2009, Jobs said that he was suffering from a hormone imbalance that was impeding his body's ability to absorb certain proteins. In April of that year, Jobs underwent liver transplant surgery, and he returned to work by early July. Cook was the one to step in to run the day-to-day operations of the company during that leave as well, guiding the company through the launch of the iPhone 3GS, as well as some of the final stages of the production of the iPad.In the months preceding that announcement two years ago, Jobs' health had been the topic of intense speculation. Inan appearance at the company's 2008 Worldwide Developers Conference, Jobs appeared to have lost a considerable of weight. Apple and Jobs rebuffed any questions on the matter, calling his health a "private matter."No such speculation led up to today's announcement. Jobs has made regular appearances in support of new Apple products, most recently at an October event introducing the latest MacBook Air and Mac OS X Lion. He was supposed to appear at an event in San Francisco this week with Rupert Murdoch to announce the launch of The Daily, an iPad-only newspaper, but the event was rescheduled late last week.Though his immediate health was no longer a major focal point with the press or the public, the topic of who will take over for Jobs at Apple remains a hot one with investors. Many investors feel that Jobs can never truly be replaced as CEO, since his vision and persona are so fundamentally linked with the company, but Apple has been criticized for not publicly grooming a successor. Apple COO Tim Cook at the company's October eventJosh Lowensohn/CNETJust recently it came to light that Apple's board of directors had fielded a stockholder request that Apple make its succession plan public knowledge. Apple refused, saying that privately there is an established a plan in place and that disclosing it to the public and competitors would damage the company's ability to retain and recruit top executive talent. From the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, Jobs was absent from Apple after a conflict with the board over leadership style. Since his return to Apple in 1997, Jobs has rebuilt the company he co-founded with Steve Wozniak, taking it from near bankruptcy to the most influential consumer electronics company in the world. With more than $50 billion in the bank, Apple now has the second-highest market capitalization in the world, behind ExxonMobil. Beyond the Mac lineup of desktops and laptops, Jobs has transitioned the company into the entertainment business with iTunes and the iPod, and into a leading mobile phone maker with the iPhone. Last year, Apple introduced the touch-screen iPad, which has created a third mobile device category and a success that all of Apple's competitors have recently flocked to try to reproduce.Cook capably handled the reins during Jobs' 2009 leave of absence. While Jobs was away, Apple delivered two back-to-back blow-out quarters, as well as an updated iPhone OS and new iPhone hardware. Under Cook, Apple also put the finishing touches on the company's new iPods, MacBooks, and Mac OS, which were released shortly after Jobs' return to the helm in late June.He was rewarded handsomely for keeping Apple on track, getting a bonus of $5 million plus 75,000 stock options for his work filling in for Jobs. He is Jobs' most trusted executive, handling all earnings calls with Wall Street investors and analysts for the last few years, and has had an increasingly larger role at major product introductions. Cook most recently appeared on behalf of Apple last week alongside Verizon executives in New York City to announce the first iPhone that works on Verizon's network. Cook, 50, joined Apple in 1998 and was promoted to COO in 2004. It was at Cook's behest that Apple pulled out of building its own products and moved to contract manufacturers like Foxconn and others, reducing the company's inventory and drastically improving its margins.Editors' note: This story was updated several times with background and additional information, most recently at 8:10 a.m. PT.
iPhone 5 to restore Apple as smartphone leader, says analyst
iPhone 5 to restore Apple as smartphone leader, says analyst
Apple should regain its spot as the smartphone leader courtesy of the iPhone 5, says J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz.Unveiled yesterday at Apple's launch event, the new iPhone could surpass the sales of rival handsets such as Samsung's Galaxy S3 for a variety of reasons, according to the analyst. The 5 arrives CNET editors' take: iPhone 5 Apple out to prove it's still king Pictures: Apple's big iPhone 5 reveal Ho-hum. iPhone 5 won't wow anyone iPhone 5: No Steve Jobs, no sizzle iPhone 5: What we didn't get Comparing the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Lumia 920 Poll: Will you buy the iPhone 5? Apple springs leak - rumors were right An awful dock-connector change Developers scramble to ready apps for iPhone 5 Start your iOS 6 downloads September 19 iOS 6 hits major marks Apple reworks, simplifies iTunes New iPod Touch: Siri and a 4-inch screen New Nano: Remembering the iPod MiniFull coverage: The iPhone 5 arrives The new phone is thinner, lighter, and faster than its predecessor, Moskowitz said in an investors note out today. It also throws in a 4-inch screen and support for 4G LTE. But the iPhone 5's design and battery should help it avoid certain problems faced by other large LTE smartphones."The longer form factor provides more real estate, helping preserve the battery performance," Moskowitz wrote. "Apple commented that the new device can provide up to 8 hours of talk time on 3G or 8 hours of data on LTE. We think that these specs augur well for Apple's competitive edge in the growing LTE market, where many of the smartphones so far have been hurt by the 'pocket hog' or 'battery hog' criticism."Apple is also aiming to ramp up the new phone's global rollout.The phone will debut in 9 countries on September 21, followed by 22 more on September 28. By December, the phone will be available in 100 different countries across 240 different carriers.Having enough supply to meet demand is always a challenge. But Moskowitz believes the fast rollout is a sign that Apple can avoid delays in receiving the phone's new in-cell displays and the 28-nanometer chips used for the Qualcomm LTE modem. Slow production of those two components had been cited as a concern by some analysts in the months prior to the iPhone 5's debut yesterday."Following the product announcement, we are increasingly confident that Apple is on the brink of a 12-18 month product cycle with the iPhone 5, helping sustain its above-peer growth potential," the analyst added.Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty sees the phone's new display, form factor, and LTE support as "significant" and also likely to drive a "strong product cycle." Huberty estimates iPhone 5 shipments of 180 million for the rest of 2012 and as many as 266 million for 2013.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.PlayEyes on Apple's new iPhone 5 (pictures)See full gallery1 - 4 / 22NextPrev
Apple should regain its spot as the smartphone leader courtesy of the iPhone 5, says J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz.Unveiled yesterday at Apple's launch event, the new iPhone could surpass the sales of rival handsets such as Samsung's Galaxy S3 for a variety of reasons, according to the analyst. The 5 arrives CNET editors' take: iPhone 5 Apple out to prove it's still king Pictures: Apple's big iPhone 5 reveal Ho-hum. iPhone 5 won't wow anyone iPhone 5: No Steve Jobs, no sizzle iPhone 5: What we didn't get Comparing the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Lumia 920 Poll: Will you buy the iPhone 5? Apple springs leak - rumors were right An awful dock-connector change Developers scramble to ready apps for iPhone 5 Start your iOS 6 downloads September 19 iOS 6 hits major marks Apple reworks, simplifies iTunes New iPod Touch: Siri and a 4-inch screen New Nano: Remembering the iPod MiniFull coverage: The iPhone 5 arrives The new phone is thinner, lighter, and faster than its predecessor, Moskowitz said in an investors note out today. It also throws in a 4-inch screen and support for 4G LTE. But the iPhone 5's design and battery should help it avoid certain problems faced by other large LTE smartphones."The longer form factor provides more real estate, helping preserve the battery performance," Moskowitz wrote. "Apple commented that the new device can provide up to 8 hours of talk time on 3G or 8 hours of data on LTE. We think that these specs augur well for Apple's competitive edge in the growing LTE market, where many of the smartphones so far have been hurt by the 'pocket hog' or 'battery hog' criticism."Apple is also aiming to ramp up the new phone's global rollout.The phone will debut in 9 countries on September 21, followed by 22 more on September 28. By December, the phone will be available in 100 different countries across 240 different carriers.Having enough supply to meet demand is always a challenge. But Moskowitz believes the fast rollout is a sign that Apple can avoid delays in receiving the phone's new in-cell displays and the 28-nanometer chips used for the Qualcomm LTE modem. Slow production of those two components had been cited as a concern by some analysts in the months prior to the iPhone 5's debut yesterday."Following the product announcement, we are increasingly confident that Apple is on the brink of a 12-18 month product cycle with the iPhone 5, helping sustain its above-peer growth potential," the analyst added.Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty sees the phone's new display, form factor, and LTE support as "significant" and also likely to drive a "strong product cycle." Huberty estimates iPhone 5 shipments of 180 million for the rest of 2012 and as many as 266 million for 2013.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.PlayEyes on Apple's new iPhone 5 (pictures)See full gallery1 - 4 / 22NextPrev
Apple shrinks its iPod Shuffle
Apple shrinks its iPod Shuffle
Updated at 6:22 a.m. PDT with more details and new images, and 8:45 a.m. PDT with comments from Apple.Apparently the tiny iPod Shuffle wasn't tiny enough. On Wednesday, Apple unveiled a 4GB Shuffle that's half the size of its predecessor.The new device is smaller than a AA battery yet holds up to 1,000 songs, Apple said. The preshrunk Shuffle also adds a new VoiceOver feature that can recite song titles, artists, and playlist names, as well as provide status information, such as battery life. Speaking of which, Apple said the gadget's battery life clocks in at 10 hours.Priced at $79, it comes in silver or black. The aluminum body of the third-generation Shuffle stands 1.8 inches tall and is 0.3 inch thick. The navigation and volume controls are in a small protrusion on the right earphone cord.With the new Shuffle, users can organize songs by multiple playlists. The VoiceOver feature can speak in 14 languages: English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.VoiceOver is Apple's term for the text-to-speech engine built into Mac OS X Leopard in order to let blind people use a Mac more easily. The "Alex" voice generated by that software is the one that Leopard users will hear, while Windows users and Mac OS X Tiger (10.4) users will hear a different voice, said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of iPod and iPhone marketing.New Apple iPod Shuffle photosSee full gallery1 - 4 / 17NextPrevThe first time you sync one of the new iPod Shuffles with iTunes, Apple will install software on your Mac or PC that makes the voice feature possible. This isn't speech recognition; you can't speak into your iPod headphone and order up Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks," but the voice feature is more useful than just reminding you of the name of that song you downloaded three years ago but had forgotten about until it randomly came up on your Shuffle.Apple now supports playlist discovery with the new iPod Shuffle. A button in the center of the headphone controls, when held down for a few seconds, takes you into a playlist mode where the speech engine recites the names of your playlists in alphabetical order, allowing you to select a playlist by pushing the button again, Joswiak said.The only controls on the device itself are the on/off switch and the shuffle/llnear switch, Joswiak said. Apple will ship its own in-ear headphones with the Shuffle, but third-parties will be able to make their own headphones that have the controls, and they'll also make adapters that will let you use the controls with existing headphones, he said.Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster put out a research note Wednesday upgrading his expectations for Apple's earnings per share in fiscal 2009 based on his belief that the new Shuffles will generate more profit for Apple. The $79 price returns Apple to the price point used for the second-generation Shuffle, which was cut to $49 last year. Apple is discontinuing a 2GB $69 Shuffle introduced at last year's iPod event, but will continue to sell the older $49 1GB Shuffle, Joswiak said.Don't mistake that new iPod Shuffle for a stick of gum.Jonathan Skillings/CNET, from Apple video
Updated at 6:22 a.m. PDT with more details and new images, and 8:45 a.m. PDT with comments from Apple.Apparently the tiny iPod Shuffle wasn't tiny enough. On Wednesday, Apple unveiled a 4GB Shuffle that's half the size of its predecessor.The new device is smaller than a AA battery yet holds up to 1,000 songs, Apple said. The preshrunk Shuffle also adds a new VoiceOver feature that can recite song titles, artists, and playlist names, as well as provide status information, such as battery life. Speaking of which, Apple said the gadget's battery life clocks in at 10 hours.Priced at $79, it comes in silver or black. The aluminum body of the third-generation Shuffle stands 1.8 inches tall and is 0.3 inch thick. The navigation and volume controls are in a small protrusion on the right earphone cord.With the new Shuffle, users can organize songs by multiple playlists. The VoiceOver feature can speak in 14 languages: English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.VoiceOver is Apple's term for the text-to-speech engine built into Mac OS X Leopard in order to let blind people use a Mac more easily. The "Alex" voice generated by that software is the one that Leopard users will hear, while Windows users and Mac OS X Tiger (10.4) users will hear a different voice, said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of iPod and iPhone marketing.New Apple iPod Shuffle photosSee full gallery1 - 4 / 17NextPrevThe first time you sync one of the new iPod Shuffles with iTunes, Apple will install software on your Mac or PC that makes the voice feature possible. This isn't speech recognition; you can't speak into your iPod headphone and order up Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks," but the voice feature is more useful than just reminding you of the name of that song you downloaded three years ago but had forgotten about until it randomly came up on your Shuffle.Apple now supports playlist discovery with the new iPod Shuffle. A button in the center of the headphone controls, when held down for a few seconds, takes you into a playlist mode where the speech engine recites the names of your playlists in alphabetical order, allowing you to select a playlist by pushing the button again, Joswiak said.The only controls on the device itself are the on/off switch and the shuffle/llnear switch, Joswiak said. Apple will ship its own in-ear headphones with the Shuffle, but third-parties will be able to make their own headphones that have the controls, and they'll also make adapters that will let you use the controls with existing headphones, he said.Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster put out a research note Wednesday upgrading his expectations for Apple's earnings per share in fiscal 2009 based on his belief that the new Shuffles will generate more profit for Apple. The $79 price returns Apple to the price point used for the second-generation Shuffle, which was cut to $49 last year. Apple is discontinuing a 2GB $69 Shuffle introduced at last year's iPod event, but will continue to sell the older $49 1GB Shuffle, Joswiak said.Don't mistake that new iPod Shuffle for a stick of gum.Jonathan Skillings/CNET, from Apple video
SlingPlayer for Mac gets an Aqua makeover
SlingPlayer for Mac gets an Aqua makeover
After many months of promises, Sling Media finally delivered a Mac version of the SlingPlayer software in October 2006.There was just one problem: the public beta disappointed many Mac owners because--and I'm not making this up--it looked too much like Windows software. For instance, MacWorld's review noted:Although the Brushed Steel interface skin approximates the QuickTime Player interface, it's betrayed by the series of Windows-style buttons in the top left corner. (It could be worse--they could be in the top right instead!) It's a little thing, but it's still ugly, and I hope that the final version of the software replaces those buttons with ones of a more Mac-friendly variety.Five months on, Sling has moved the Mac version of its viewing software from beta to version 1.0--and this time, the Apple faithful will find it more to their liking. This one has a native "Aqua" interface, so it looks more at home on the OS X desktop. Further cementing the Mac street cred: the development effort for this latest version of the player is being led by former Apple employees, according to a Sling Media spokesman.Sling also reports that the new build includes "numerous under-the-hood bug fixes" and supports additional source devices, including Apple TV.The "ugliness" of the previous Mac version was, in my opinion, something of a non-issue.That said, I was able to preview the updated version last week (the screenshot above is from the CNET Labs' resident iMac), and there's no denying that the look and feel of the application--the translucent remote background, for instance--is more Mac-friendly. The new version should be available for download at Sling Media's Web site by the end of the day, and--like the Windows version--the Mac one will be completely free. Windows purists, meanwhile, can look forward to a Vista-optimized version of the SlingPlayer (first shown at January's CES) to appear later this year.Related: Slingbox models compared
After many months of promises, Sling Media finally delivered a Mac version of the SlingPlayer software in October 2006.There was just one problem: the public beta disappointed many Mac owners because--and I'm not making this up--it looked too much like Windows software. For instance, MacWorld's review noted:Although the Brushed Steel interface skin approximates the QuickTime Player interface, it's betrayed by the series of Windows-style buttons in the top left corner. (It could be worse--they could be in the top right instead!) It's a little thing, but it's still ugly, and I hope that the final version of the software replaces those buttons with ones of a more Mac-friendly variety.Five months on, Sling has moved the Mac version of its viewing software from beta to version 1.0--and this time, the Apple faithful will find it more to their liking. This one has a native "Aqua" interface, so it looks more at home on the OS X desktop. Further cementing the Mac street cred: the development effort for this latest version of the player is being led by former Apple employees, according to a Sling Media spokesman.Sling also reports that the new build includes "numerous under-the-hood bug fixes" and supports additional source devices, including Apple TV.The "ugliness" of the previous Mac version was, in my opinion, something of a non-issue.That said, I was able to preview the updated version last week (the screenshot above is from the CNET Labs' resident iMac), and there's no denying that the look and feel of the application--the translucent remote background, for instance--is more Mac-friendly. The new version should be available for download at Sling Media's Web site by the end of the day, and--like the Windows version--the Mac one will be completely free. Windows purists, meanwhile, can look forward to a Vista-optimized version of the SlingPlayer (first shown at January's CES) to appear later this year.Related: Slingbox models compared
IMDb's vision- Offer streaming for every title
IMDb's vision: Offer streaming for every title
Ostensibly, Needham was talking about the history of IMDb--from its founding even before the advent of the World Wide Web, to its launch as a dot-com site to its being bought by Amazon.com. But late in the talk, he explained how he wants to make it possible for the 57 million monthly unique visitors to the site to watch, with the click of one button, all the movies, TV shows, and other video content indexed on the site.It will be difficult to fulfill the vision, Needham said, "because many of the films may not exist anymore and many may not be available for streaming."But these days, free or paid streaming of movies is available from a number of sources, including: Netflix, Hulu, TV.com (a part of CBS Interactive, which publishes CNET News), Amazon, iTunes, and others. Each of those sources, though, has its own arrangement with the content owners, so for IMDb to get access to the entire library would be a massive undertaking.Still, rather than being a throw-away line that didn't carry any weight, Needham reiterated at the end of the talk that the vision was one of the company's major goals for 2009 and beyond.Already, IMDb has begun adding streaming content to the site, a program that began in September. Right now, Needham said, there are 14,000 full-length TV episodes and a couple of thousand full-length movies available on the site, as well as 120,000 other pieces of video content, many of which are movie trailers, interviews, and featurettes.And he said that the site is adding thousands of new pieces of video content per week.At that rate, however, it's sure to take the site quite some time to achieve the goal.Needham said he imagined a time three years from now when we will all look back at early 2009, when so many media sites are trying to solve the problem of making content available to those who want it in the face of resistance from the Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association of America, and we'll shake our heads at where we were at."We'll laugh at how little we knew about what business models would work," Needham said.
Ostensibly, Needham was talking about the history of IMDb--from its founding even before the advent of the World Wide Web, to its launch as a dot-com site to its being bought by Amazon.com. But late in the talk, he explained how he wants to make it possible for the 57 million monthly unique visitors to the site to watch, with the click of one button, all the movies, TV shows, and other video content indexed on the site.It will be difficult to fulfill the vision, Needham said, "because many of the films may not exist anymore and many may not be available for streaming."But these days, free or paid streaming of movies is available from a number of sources, including: Netflix, Hulu, TV.com (a part of CBS Interactive, which publishes CNET News), Amazon, iTunes, and others. Each of those sources, though, has its own arrangement with the content owners, so for IMDb to get access to the entire library would be a massive undertaking.Still, rather than being a throw-away line that didn't carry any weight, Needham reiterated at the end of the talk that the vision was one of the company's major goals for 2009 and beyond.Already, IMDb has begun adding streaming content to the site, a program that began in September. Right now, Needham said, there are 14,000 full-length TV episodes and a couple of thousand full-length movies available on the site, as well as 120,000 other pieces of video content, many of which are movie trailers, interviews, and featurettes.And he said that the site is adding thousands of new pieces of video content per week.At that rate, however, it's sure to take the site quite some time to achieve the goal.Needham said he imagined a time three years from now when we will all look back at early 2009, when so many media sites are trying to solve the problem of making content available to those who want it in the face of resistance from the Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association of America, and we'll shake our heads at where we were at."We'll laugh at how little we knew about what business models would work," Needham said.
Twitter revamping mobile site for iPad users
Twitter revamping mobile site for iPad users
Twitter is enhancing its mobile site to make it more friendly for iPad users.Tweeting the news earlier this week, Twitter said it plans to roll out an HTML5 version of twitter.com to iPad owners over the next week or so.Though Twitter was mum on any further details, TechCrunch offered a peek at the mobile site's new look and feel. Taking advantage of HTML5, the new design uses a dual-pane approach, improving on the current mobile site's single-pane display.Twitter did not immediate return CNET's request for further details. But company spokeswoman Carolyn Penner told TechCrunch that "the HTML5 app provides a great option for people who prefer to use the browser over native apps. Its two-column view is consistent with the Twitter experience you're used to (on Twitter.com), and it takes advantage of touch gestures and other device capabilities."Beyond using the mobile site, iPad users can of course access their tweets via a variety of dedicated apps, including Twitter's own iOS app, Twitterific, TweetCaster, and Echofon, to name a few.
Twitter is enhancing its mobile site to make it more friendly for iPad users.Tweeting the news earlier this week, Twitter said it plans to roll out an HTML5 version of twitter.com to iPad owners over the next week or so.Though Twitter was mum on any further details, TechCrunch offered a peek at the mobile site's new look and feel. Taking advantage of HTML5, the new design uses a dual-pane approach, improving on the current mobile site's single-pane display.Twitter did not immediate return CNET's request for further details. But company spokeswoman Carolyn Penner told TechCrunch that "the HTML5 app provides a great option for people who prefer to use the browser over native apps. Its two-column view is consistent with the Twitter experience you're used to (on Twitter.com), and it takes advantage of touch gestures and other device capabilities."Beyond using the mobile site, iPad users can of course access their tweets via a variety of dedicated apps, including Twitter's own iOS app, Twitterific, TweetCaster, and Echofon, to name a few.
Twitter Music to shut down
Twitter Music to shut down
The app and web presence were Twitter's attempts to merge social sharing and music in one. Launched with a fanfare of celebrity endorsements, the service made use of hashtags such as #NowPlaying to aggregate songs and music suggestions from people you follow.Announced on Twitter, the app has now been removed from the iTunes Store. For users who already have the app installed, it will continue to work up until 18 April.Later this afternoon, we will be removing Twitter #music from the App Store. If you have the app, it will continue to work until April 18.â€" Twitter Music (@TwitterMusic) March 21, 2014Twitter built its music app on the Australian discovery service We Are Hunted, which the social network acquired in 2012. The actual music streaming was powered by third-party services like Rdio, Spotify and iTunes Radio.In a follow-up tweet, the company said that is continuing to experiment "with new ways to bring you great content based on the music activity we see every day on Twitter."While Twitter Music had a lot of initial buzz surrounding its launch, its popularity soon shrunk, with sources telling AllThingsD that numbers were "abysmal" in terms of app downloads and engagement.Twitter turned eight last week, rolling out a way to easily uncover any user's first tweet.
The app and web presence were Twitter's attempts to merge social sharing and music in one. Launched with a fanfare of celebrity endorsements, the service made use of hashtags such as #NowPlaying to aggregate songs and music suggestions from people you follow.Announced on Twitter, the app has now been removed from the iTunes Store. For users who already have the app installed, it will continue to work up until 18 April.Later this afternoon, we will be removing Twitter #music from the App Store. If you have the app, it will continue to work until April 18.â€" Twitter Music (@TwitterMusic) March 21, 2014Twitter built its music app on the Australian discovery service We Are Hunted, which the social network acquired in 2012. The actual music streaming was powered by third-party services like Rdio, Spotify and iTunes Radio.In a follow-up tweet, the company said that is continuing to experiment "with new ways to bring you great content based on the music activity we see every day on Twitter."While Twitter Music had a lot of initial buzz surrounding its launch, its popularity soon shrunk, with sources telling AllThingsD that numbers were "abysmal" in terms of app downloads and engagement.Twitter turned eight last week, rolling out a way to easily uncover any user's first tweet.
AT&T adds wireless emergency alerts update to iPhones
AT&T adds wireless emergency alerts update to iPhones
AT&T announced that it is rolling out wireless emergency alerts to all of its U.S. customers that have an iPhone 5 or 4S.This means that anytime there is a government-issued safety announcement, like when there's natural or man-made disaster, a presidential alert, or an Amber alert for a missing child, a message will pop up on users iPhones explaining what's happening. Such alerts are critical for getting information out to people who aren't immediately tuned into a television or radio, and would have been helpful during disasters such as the floods from Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, or the September 11 attacks. These alerts are geographically targeted, so, for example, users in Florida won't get messages about North Dakota.To get the alerts, users will have to update their phones with AT&T's new software -- this update should appear on iPhones automatically. The update will only be sent over-the-air to users with iOS 6.1 or higher. Those users with an iPhone 5 or 4S but not on iOS 6.1 or higher will get the update when they plug their device into iTunes. For those users who don't want to get these alerts, it's possible to turn off most of them. In the iPhone's settings, under notifications, users can toggle off Amber and emergency alerts. However, there's no way to turn off the presidential alerts."Wireless Emergency Alerts are part of the FCC's CMAS program and are mandated by law," AT&T wrote in a blog post. "While the software update is mandatory, you are not charged for the data to deliver it and Wireless Emergency Alerts will never count against your messaging plan."Last year, it was revealed that Apple had been working on adding national alerts software to iOS 6. The push for alerts to appear on phones has gone on for a while and several manufacturers have already put the feature into their phones.
AT&T announced that it is rolling out wireless emergency alerts to all of its U.S. customers that have an iPhone 5 or 4S.This means that anytime there is a government-issued safety announcement, like when there's natural or man-made disaster, a presidential alert, or an Amber alert for a missing child, a message will pop up on users iPhones explaining what's happening. Such alerts are critical for getting information out to people who aren't immediately tuned into a television or radio, and would have been helpful during disasters such as the floods from Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, or the September 11 attacks. These alerts are geographically targeted, so, for example, users in Florida won't get messages about North Dakota.To get the alerts, users will have to update their phones with AT&T's new software -- this update should appear on iPhones automatically. The update will only be sent over-the-air to users with iOS 6.1 or higher. Those users with an iPhone 5 or 4S but not on iOS 6.1 or higher will get the update when they plug their device into iTunes. For those users who don't want to get these alerts, it's possible to turn off most of them. In the iPhone's settings, under notifications, users can toggle off Amber and emergency alerts. However, there's no way to turn off the presidential alerts."Wireless Emergency Alerts are part of the FCC's CMAS program and are mandated by law," AT&T wrote in a blog post. "While the software update is mandatory, you are not charged for the data to deliver it and Wireless Emergency Alerts will never count against your messaging plan."Last year, it was revealed that Apple had been working on adding national alerts software to iOS 6. The push for alerts to appear on phones has gone on for a while and several manufacturers have already put the feature into their phones.
At what point does lousy sound interfere with enjoying music-
At what point does lousy sound interfere with enjoying music?
I've always been obsessed with sound, and I've always wanted to hear my music with the best possible sound. It enhances the experience for me, because I can more clearly hear what the musicians are playing, and the subtleties in the mix, so I get more out of the music. That's true at home and for on-the-go listening, and even when I didn't have much money I still managed to put together a pretty good hi-fi. Then again, good sound is in the ear of the beholder, and that beholder may not be so sure about what good sound really sounds like. It's a moving target.I'm a high-end guy, but I can enjoy music with dirt cheap gear like my $23 MonoPrice 8323 headphones, Dayton B652 speakers, or Lepai LP-2020A integrated amplifier. Some low-bit MP3s and streaming audio sources might be acceptable, but I draw the line at the $100 or even $200 Bluetooth speakers. I love when people describe their sound with lines like, "I was surprised by its big sound given its size." Yuck, Bluetooth is always coarse and grating, I'd rather listen to nothing. The free earbuds that come with Apple products are a wee bit better, but still wretched. That's me, everyone has a different threshold and priorities when it comes to sound.The bottom image illustrates what compressed sound looks like.John AtkinsonThe quality of the gear is one thing, but some recordings, like Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs" also fall below my acceptable range. It's a nasty sounding album, and no release format -- MP3, iTunes, FLAC, or LP-- makes it any more palatable to my ears. The recording itself is at fault, or maybe it's just that the goals of the engineers and the band are at odds with my taste. Whatever, I like their music, and don't have a problem with the sound of Arcade Fire's earlier albums. Once recordings are overcompressed they can never sound good.What about you? What does it take for you to turn off the music or gear, how bad does the sound have to be to fall below what you find acceptable?
I've always been obsessed with sound, and I've always wanted to hear my music with the best possible sound. It enhances the experience for me, because I can more clearly hear what the musicians are playing, and the subtleties in the mix, so I get more out of the music. That's true at home and for on-the-go listening, and even when I didn't have much money I still managed to put together a pretty good hi-fi. Then again, good sound is in the ear of the beholder, and that beholder may not be so sure about what good sound really sounds like. It's a moving target.I'm a high-end guy, but I can enjoy music with dirt cheap gear like my $23 MonoPrice 8323 headphones, Dayton B652 speakers, or Lepai LP-2020A integrated amplifier. Some low-bit MP3s and streaming audio sources might be acceptable, but I draw the line at the $100 or even $200 Bluetooth speakers. I love when people describe their sound with lines like, "I was surprised by its big sound given its size." Yuck, Bluetooth is always coarse and grating, I'd rather listen to nothing. The free earbuds that come with Apple products are a wee bit better, but still wretched. That's me, everyone has a different threshold and priorities when it comes to sound.The bottom image illustrates what compressed sound looks like.John AtkinsonThe quality of the gear is one thing, but some recordings, like Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs" also fall below my acceptable range. It's a nasty sounding album, and no release format -- MP3, iTunes, FLAC, or LP-- makes it any more palatable to my ears. The recording itself is at fault, or maybe it's just that the goals of the engineers and the band are at odds with my taste. Whatever, I like their music, and don't have a problem with the sound of Arcade Fire's earlier albums. Once recordings are overcompressed they can never sound good.What about you? What does it take for you to turn off the music or gear, how bad does the sound have to be to fall below what you find acceptable?
Apple ratchets up App Store security
Apple ratchets up App Store security
iOS and iTunes users have been bumping into new and stricter security measures as they use their accounts.The new security demands, apparently implemented yesterday, have been asking users to choose three security questions and answers that are then required to download a new app from the App Store. A backup e-mail address is also being required, presumably in case a user's primary address and associated Apple ID become compromised.In threads on the Apple Support forums, a number of users confused by the new security steps have sounded off because there was no official word from Apple prior to the new security requests.Related storiesiTunes customers reportedly under threat from digital thievesFacebook says ID theft threat only on jailbroken phonesApple helps you protect your iTunes Store accountAs described by the Next Web, a "Security Info Required" popup window explains that creating the backup or "rescue" e-mail address gives Apple a way to contact you if any account questions arise.With the ever-growing popularity of the iPhone and iPad, more Apple users have been the victims of phishing attacks aimed at taking over their accounts, TNW noted. Some compromised accounts were used to purchase expensive apps.The additional security is aimed at accounts that may have triggered a flag for one reason or another. I tried logging in and out of my iPhone and iTunes accounts, and no additional security requests popped up.An Apple representative confirmed to CNET that the company has been rolling out the extra measures to shore up security.Updated 11:00 a.m. PT with response from Apple.
iOS and iTunes users have been bumping into new and stricter security measures as they use their accounts.The new security demands, apparently implemented yesterday, have been asking users to choose three security questions and answers that are then required to download a new app from the App Store. A backup e-mail address is also being required, presumably in case a user's primary address and associated Apple ID become compromised.In threads on the Apple Support forums, a number of users confused by the new security steps have sounded off because there was no official word from Apple prior to the new security requests.Related storiesiTunes customers reportedly under threat from digital thievesFacebook says ID theft threat only on jailbroken phonesApple helps you protect your iTunes Store accountAs described by the Next Web, a "Security Info Required" popup window explains that creating the backup or "rescue" e-mail address gives Apple a way to contact you if any account questions arise.With the ever-growing popularity of the iPhone and iPad, more Apple users have been the victims of phishing attacks aimed at taking over their accounts, TNW noted. Some compromised accounts were used to purchase expensive apps.The additional security is aimed at accounts that may have triggered a flag for one reason or another. I tried logging in and out of my iPhone and iTunes accounts, and no additional security requests popped up.An Apple representative confirmed to CNET that the company has been rolling out the extra measures to shore up security.Updated 11:00 a.m. PT with response from Apple.
Apple randomizing Web order numbers to veil iPad 2 sales-
Apple randomizing Web order numbers to veil iPad 2 sales?
Since Apple has still not announced how many iPad 2s it's sold since the device went on sale last Friday, analysts and onlookers alike have tried to scrap together numbers from line counts, anecdotal stock reports, and order numbers.That last part of the strategy may no longer work, however. Citing sources familiar with Apple's ordering system, Apple Insider reports that Apple has tweaked its Web ordering tools to randomize order numbers so that users can't figure out how many units the company has moved between two different points in time.During the first iPad launch, forum users on Investor Village's AAPL Sanity Board shared Web order numbers with one another and put them into a spreadsheet, eventually discovering that they were in a specific order. Putting them in line and with time codes, the group was able to determine that Apple was selling around 25,000 per hour, well ahead of company's official announcement a day and a half later. Along with the randomization claim, Apple Insider says Apple's early opening at its retail stores yesterday to cope with long lines was actually using stock delivered the day before. That move, the blog's source says, was to keep mistakes from being made in the rush to get freshly-delivered iPad 2 units to buyers. So far analysts have estimated that on its first day of iPad 2 sales, Apple sold to frenzied buyers anywhere from half a million of the devices, all the way to 1 million, compared to the 300,000 it sold on the first day of sales for the first-generation iPad. Last year the company revealed its first day sales just two days after the device went on sale.
Since Apple has still not announced how many iPad 2s it's sold since the device went on sale last Friday, analysts and onlookers alike have tried to scrap together numbers from line counts, anecdotal stock reports, and order numbers.That last part of the strategy may no longer work, however. Citing sources familiar with Apple's ordering system, Apple Insider reports that Apple has tweaked its Web ordering tools to randomize order numbers so that users can't figure out how many units the company has moved between two different points in time.During the first iPad launch, forum users on Investor Village's AAPL Sanity Board shared Web order numbers with one another and put them into a spreadsheet, eventually discovering that they were in a specific order. Putting them in line and with time codes, the group was able to determine that Apple was selling around 25,000 per hour, well ahead of company's official announcement a day and a half later. Along with the randomization claim, Apple Insider says Apple's early opening at its retail stores yesterday to cope with long lines was actually using stock delivered the day before. That move, the blog's source says, was to keep mistakes from being made in the rush to get freshly-delivered iPad 2 units to buyers. So far analysts have estimated that on its first day of iPad 2 sales, Apple sold to frenzied buyers anywhere from half a million of the devices, all the way to 1 million, compared to the 300,000 it sold on the first day of sales for the first-generation iPad. Last year the company revealed its first day sales just two days after the device went on sale.
Apple R&D spending up nearly 40 percent in 2012
Apple R&D spending up nearly 40 percent in 2012
Apple increased the amount it spent on research and development during 2012, though it remained a fraction of its overall spending. According to the company's annual report, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this afternoon, Apple spent $3.4 billion on research and development during its fiscal year, up $952 million, or 39 percent from last year. The year prior, the company spent $2.4 billion, up $647 million or 36 percent from the year before.While the cost went up, the amount Apple spends on R&D versus its overall sales remained tiny. As in 2011, Apple's tally for 2012 remained at 2 percent.Apple's R&D spending has been under close watch for years, in no small part because it spends considerably less than many of its rivals. Microsoft, for instance, spent $9.8 billion in its fiscal 2012, while Google spent $5.2 billion in its fiscal 2011."[Apple] continues to believe that focused investments in R&D are critical to its future growth and competitive position in the marketplace and are directly related to timely development of new and enhanced products that are central to the Company's core business strategy," Apple said in its filing. "As such, the Company expects to make further investments in R&D to remain competitive."Part of Apple's proposed R&D building in its new campus.AppleOne of those is an expansion to its current R&D operations as part of its new Cupertino headquarters. That project, which Apple aims to have approved and built by 2015, will bring a new 300,000 square foot research facility. Renderings of that project, submitted by Apple last year, showed multiple research facilities both above and below ground (pictured right).Apple CEO Tim Cook famously knocked competitors during an earnings call with analysts in April, saying other companies needed to be more inventive. Answering a question about ongoing litigation, Cook said he wanted to make sure the company did not "become the developer for the world," adding that "we need people to invent their own stuff."
Apple increased the amount it spent on research and development during 2012, though it remained a fraction of its overall spending. According to the company's annual report, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this afternoon, Apple spent $3.4 billion on research and development during its fiscal year, up $952 million, or 39 percent from last year. The year prior, the company spent $2.4 billion, up $647 million or 36 percent from the year before.While the cost went up, the amount Apple spends on R&D versus its overall sales remained tiny. As in 2011, Apple's tally for 2012 remained at 2 percent.Apple's R&D spending has been under close watch for years, in no small part because it spends considerably less than many of its rivals. Microsoft, for instance, spent $9.8 billion in its fiscal 2012, while Google spent $5.2 billion in its fiscal 2011."[Apple] continues to believe that focused investments in R&D are critical to its future growth and competitive position in the marketplace and are directly related to timely development of new and enhanced products that are central to the Company's core business strategy," Apple said in its filing. "As such, the Company expects to make further investments in R&D to remain competitive."Part of Apple's proposed R&D building in its new campus.AppleOne of those is an expansion to its current R&D operations as part of its new Cupertino headquarters. That project, which Apple aims to have approved and built by 2015, will bring a new 300,000 square foot research facility. Renderings of that project, submitted by Apple last year, showed multiple research facilities both above and below ground (pictured right).Apple CEO Tim Cook famously knocked competitors during an earnings call with analysts in April, saying other companies needed to be more inventive. Answering a question about ongoing litigation, Cook said he wanted to make sure the company did not "become the developer for the world," adding that "we need people to invent their own stuff."
Apple quietly pulls Lion amid Mountain Lion launch
Apple quietly pulls Lion amid Mountain Lion launch
Apple today replaced last year's version of OS X with a shiny, new model. But in the process, it also quietly scrubbed that older version from its digital and physical stores.Several readers have reached out to let us know that Lion, which was replaced with Mountain Lion today, can no longer be found on the Mac App Store. The same goes for the USB thumb drive Apple sold with a Lion installer for those who could not purchase it online. Links to Lion in the Mac App Store now show a warning message that the product is not available. Apple confirmed the removal of the software this afternoon, and said that customers can still purchase a copy from its online store's telesales agents.It's worth pointing out that this has long been Apple's standard operating procedure, going back to the days when OS updates came in disc form. The company typically pulls old versions of its software off shelves in favor of the latest and the greatest. And perhaps more important, the company is unlikely to want people mistakenly purchasing last year's software.With that said, the move creates an unusual situation for the crop of Mac owners who bought certain machines between 2006 and 2008. These users might have Macs are compatible with Lion, but that won't run Mountain Lion (see the full list here). Those users have had a full year to upgrade their machines, but now have to jump through an extra hoop if they want it.For those who may have purchased it and want to re-download the software, Macworld points out that you can un-hide it on your purchases list by holding the "Option" key.Updated at 3:44 p.m. PT with information about alternate purchase methods and re-download instructions.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 today replaced last year's version of OS X with a shiny, new model. But in the process, it also quietly scrubbed that older version from its digital and physical stores.Several readers have reached out to let us know that Lion, which was replaced with Mountain Lion today, can no longer be found on the Mac App Store. The same goes for the USB thumb drive Apple sold with a Lion installer for those who could not purchase it online. Links to Lion in the Mac App Store now show a warning message that the product is not available. Apple confirmed the removal of the software this afternoon, and said that customers can still purchase a copy from its online store's telesales agents.It's worth pointing out that this has long been Apple's standard operating procedure, going back to the days when OS updates came in disc form. The company typically pulls old versions of its software off shelves in favor of the latest and the greatest. And perhaps more important, the company is unlikely to want people mistakenly purchasing last year's software.With that said, the move creates an unusual situation for the crop of Mac owners who bought certain machines between 2006 and 2008. These users might have Macs are compatible with Lion, but that won't run Mountain Lion (see the full list here). Those users have had a full year to upgrade their machines, but now have to jump through an extra hoop if they want it.For those who may have purchased it and want to re-download the software, Macworld points out that you can un-hide it on your purchases list by holding the "Option" key.Updated at 3:44 p.m. PT with information about alternate purchase methods and re-download instructions.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 quietly pulls 'editors' choice' of Twitter's Vine
Apple quietly pulls 'editors' choice' of Twitter's Vine
Following recent controversy over nudity found in Twitter's Vine service, Apple has recanted its promotion of the software in the App Store.The software itself remains available, though it's unclear whether that will continue to be the case. Popular photo-sharing service 500px was recently removed by Apple from the App Store following issues over nudity, which is not allowed under Apple's App Store Guidelines. An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the choice. The change, which was noted earlier by Business Insider, follows controversy over Twitter's Vine app, which facilitates the creation and exploration of short-form videos. The service launched last week (first on Apple's iOS platform with plans for Google's Android) and quickly garnered buzz, followed by controversy after its editors promoted a pornographic video clip. Twitter pulled down the video in question and apologized, calling it a "human error." Apple's staff recommendations can provide a serious boost to an app's chances in success in the App Store. Anointed apps get front page promotion in iTunes and in the App Store in iOS, drawing more users who discover apps that way. Apple typically cycles through these recommendations on a weekly basis, but can change them at a moment's notice around a new app's release, feature updates, or social relevance. Complicating matters in this situation is that Apple and Twitter are close business partners, with Apple deeply integrating Twitter into its desktop and mobile operating systems.
Following recent controversy over nudity found in Twitter's Vine service, Apple has recanted its promotion of the software in the App Store.The software itself remains available, though it's unclear whether that will continue to be the case. Popular photo-sharing service 500px was recently removed by Apple from the App Store following issues over nudity, which is not allowed under Apple's App Store Guidelines. An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the choice. The change, which was noted earlier by Business Insider, follows controversy over Twitter's Vine app, which facilitates the creation and exploration of short-form videos. The service launched last week (first on Apple's iOS platform with plans for Google's Android) and quickly garnered buzz, followed by controversy after its editors promoted a pornographic video clip. Twitter pulled down the video in question and apologized, calling it a "human error." Apple's staff recommendations can provide a serious boost to an app's chances in success in the App Store. Anointed apps get front page promotion in iTunes and in the App Store in iOS, drawing more users who discover apps that way. Apple typically cycles through these recommendations on a weekly basis, but can change them at a moment's notice around a new app's release, feature updates, or social relevance. Complicating matters in this situation is that Apple and Twitter are close business partners, with Apple deeply integrating Twitter into its desktop and mobile operating systems.
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