Apple gambling on Papermaster's leadership skills
Apple knew full well that Mark Papermaster would have to learn his new role as iPod and iPhone chief "on the job" when it hired him.Papermaster's former employer, IBM, filed a lawsuit against him last week, claiming that he broke the terms of a noncompete contract with IBM in accepting a high-profile job with Apple. InformationWeek spotted Papermaster's formal response Friday morning, in which he declares that the two companies are not competitors and that his experience at IBM is not the primary reason why Apple sought his services.The court filings reveal the interesting process Apple used to hire Papermaster to replace Tony Fadell, a longtime executive in charge of Apple's iPod group. And contrary to speculation, it appears that Papermaster--a well-respected chip executive--will have nothing to do with chip design at Apple on Day 1. News.com PollApple began searching within the consumer electronics industry in October 2007 for a lieutenant and eventual successor to Fadell, but it couldn't find anyone it liked, according to the court filing. Instead, the company decided to search for an executive with strong overall technology skills who would be a good fit inside Apple, modeling the search on the process used to find current Mac hardware leader Bob Mansfield.Mansfield was the one who suggested Papermaster as a candidate, though he didn't exactly roll out the welcome mat for his college buddy. On a list of potential candidates sent to Vice President of Human Resources Danielle Lambert (who is married to Fadell), Mansfield described Papermaster: "Mark fits the bill wrt (with respect to) systems and semiconductor understanding, but in every other way is a long shot."Nonetheless, he was brought into Cupertino in February 2008 to interview with CEO Steve Jobs and Fadell. Apple liked Papermaster in many ways, but it wasn't sure that his experience in server development was the proper background for the role--especially in light of the fact that in February, Apple was working hard on getting the iPhone 3G out the door, and it wanted someone who could hit the ground running.However, as Lambert said in a statement attached to Papermaster's response, "nobody questioned Mark's ability to lead a development team." The company offered him a role designing laptops, and while Papermaster was intrigued by the possibility of working at Apple, he wasn't all that crazy about that particular role.But after Apple got this year's crop of iPods out the door in September, the search for Fadell's replacement intensified. Papermaster was offered that role, and he jumped at what he called "the opportunity of a lifetime."As Papermaster sees it, his role is fairly narrow: he's tasked with overseeing the development of iPod and iPhone hardware. He won't be working on personal computers, he won't be working on servers, and perhaps most surprisingly, he won't be working on microprocesors.Papermaster's court filing says the P.A. Semi team acquired by Apple earlier this year is part of the group managed by Mansfield, not part of the iPod and iPhone group. That's a surprising organizational decision, given that Jobs has said publicly that P.A. Semi was brought into the fold to work on chips for the iPhone and iPod Touch.Despite a career spent developing chips at IBM, Papermaster supposedly won't have anything to do with Apple's budding chip team.CNETThe filing notes that Apple currently acquires iPhone microprocessors from an outside vendor, widely believed to be Samsung. Unsurprisingly, it stops short of mentioning whether or not Apple plans to eventually design and develop its own microprocessors for that product, as seems evident. In a declaration accompanying the formal court response, Papermaster notes that "it is also my understanding that I will not be responsible for developing the microprocessors that are used in the iPod and iPhone products, but rather those will be procured from sources outside my group." Whether those sources are outside Papermaster's group but inside Apple is left unstated, but Papermaster also says, "I will be acting solely as a product manager--I am not being hired to develop technology across product lines."An Apple representative declined to comment on Apple's organizational structure or the court filings, only to say, "We think IBM will see that the iPod and iPhone are not competitive with their business." IBM likewise declined to comment on Papermaster's response beyond the statements they have already made regarding their intention to "vigorously" pursue the case against Papermaster.Papermaster's argument against the lawsuit is that since Apple and IBM aren't true competitors, and since he isn't working on the small slice of Apple's business--servers--that does overlap with IBM's business, the noncompete should not apply. Likewise, he believes that he's not in a position to divulge any IBM trade secrets because "Mr. Papermaster's position at Apple will involve a completely different product using different technology that Mr. Papermaster will have to learn on the job."It's quite possible that Papermaster's lawyers are deliberately downplaying his connections to Apple's budding chip design team in order to make this lawsuit go away, since the chip angle is IBM's only real argument. Even if Papermaster isn't directly involved on a day-to-day basis with the P.A. Semi team, he will be in charge of specifying the hardware requirements for the iPhone, and part of that includes the chips that go into that system.Apple appears to be making a bit of a gamble with this hire, entrusting the care of what has become its most important product to an executive who, though well-regarded, has no experience working inside the fast-paced consumer electronics industry. And the most relevant part of his IBM experience doesn't appear to be part of his marching orders at Apple.But the company believes that his leadership skills will serve him well at Apple, according to one of the court filings: "Apple has hired Mark Papermaster because he has strong general engineering skills, is an outstanding leader, and because we believe he will be a good cultural match at Apple."
Is Google preparing to challenge iTunes in the cloud-
Is Google preparing to challenge iTunes in the cloud?
If Google did acquire the company, it could help the search giant keep pace with Apple's expected efforts to take iTunes to cloud computing. Last month, CNET reported that Apple has spoken to the top labels about plans to offer a streaming music service free of charge to consumers. Before agreeing to any new licensing deals, the labels are waiting for Apple to supply more information.A Google spokesman responded to a request for comment by writing: "While we're always talking to various people about various things, we don't comment on rumor or speculation." A representative from Catch declined to comment. Catch doesn't offer or store content. The company wants to be to digital media what Plus, Cirrus, and ATM networks are to the banking industry. Catch has developed a technology that helps hardware companies and service providers register, track, route and clear digital media as it moves across different platforms. If Catch has its way, consumers will one day access media from different vendors and devices as easily as people withdraw money from any available ATM.Founded in 2003 by brothers Boaz Ben-Yaacov and Yaacov Ben-Yaacov, Catch is focused on cloud-based music at this early stage in its development, sources said. In order to enable the cross-platform accessing of songs, Catch has licensed music from all four major record labels: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Music. Conceivably, Catch is one way Google could equip Android cellphone owners with a means to access their iTunes music libraries.Google's interest in a start-up focused on cloud music has sparked speculation within the recording industry about the search engine's music plans. According to a December story in The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), Google was attempting to buy Lala, but Apple won out. In December, Apple paid more than $80 million to acquire the company, which enables users to store a copy of their music libraries on the its servers and then access those songs from anywhere they can connect to the Web. Barely two months prior to Lala's acquisition, Google made news by partnering with the streaming service on a music-search deal. One music industry source said Google began circling Catch soon after losing Lala. Because Google was pursuing an acquisition of Lala, some in the music industry see the search engine's interest in Catch as part of a larger effort by Google to go deeper into digital music. According to music sources, the industry would welcome a new music venture from Google CEO Eric Schmidt with open arms, sort of like how the chiefs of three of the largest labels literally welcomed Schmidt to the Vevo launch party in December. Google's YouTube has already become one of the Web's biggest music outlets. Music videos at YouTube and Vevo, a site created by three top labels with YouTube's help, attract millions of viewers each day. The music industry has said for years that it would prefer an iTunes rival to emerge. As Apple and Google's businesses increasingly begin to collide, who better than to face down Jobs and Apple than Schmidt and Google?
If Google did acquire the company, it could help the search giant keep pace with Apple's expected efforts to take iTunes to cloud computing. Last month, CNET reported that Apple has spoken to the top labels about plans to offer a streaming music service free of charge to consumers. Before agreeing to any new licensing deals, the labels are waiting for Apple to supply more information.A Google spokesman responded to a request for comment by writing: "While we're always talking to various people about various things, we don't comment on rumor or speculation." A representative from Catch declined to comment. Catch doesn't offer or store content. The company wants to be to digital media what Plus, Cirrus, and ATM networks are to the banking industry. Catch has developed a technology that helps hardware companies and service providers register, track, route and clear digital media as it moves across different platforms. If Catch has its way, consumers will one day access media from different vendors and devices as easily as people withdraw money from any available ATM.Founded in 2003 by brothers Boaz Ben-Yaacov and Yaacov Ben-Yaacov, Catch is focused on cloud-based music at this early stage in its development, sources said. In order to enable the cross-platform accessing of songs, Catch has licensed music from all four major record labels: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Music. Conceivably, Catch is one way Google could equip Android cellphone owners with a means to access their iTunes music libraries.Google's interest in a start-up focused on cloud music has sparked speculation within the recording industry about the search engine's music plans. According to a December story in The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), Google was attempting to buy Lala, but Apple won out. In December, Apple paid more than $80 million to acquire the company, which enables users to store a copy of their music libraries on the its servers and then access those songs from anywhere they can connect to the Web. Barely two months prior to Lala's acquisition, Google made news by partnering with the streaming service on a music-search deal. One music industry source said Google began circling Catch soon after losing Lala. Because Google was pursuing an acquisition of Lala, some in the music industry see the search engine's interest in Catch as part of a larger effort by Google to go deeper into digital music. According to music sources, the industry would welcome a new music venture from Google CEO Eric Schmidt with open arms, sort of like how the chiefs of three of the largest labels literally welcomed Schmidt to the Vevo launch party in December. Google's YouTube has already become one of the Web's biggest music outlets. Music videos at YouTube and Vevo, a site created by three top labels with YouTube's help, attract millions of viewers each day. The music industry has said for years that it would prefer an iTunes rival to emerge. As Apple and Google's businesses increasingly begin to collide, who better than to face down Jobs and Apple than Schmidt and Google?
Apple Store now lets you buy items via PayPal
Apple Store now lets you buy items via PayPal
You can now pay for your next iPhone or iPad at Apple's online store using your PayPal account.Previously, you could pay for Apple products and accessories online using only a credit card, special financing or an Apple Store gift card. But now when you order an item through Apple's online store, you'll see PayPal listed as an additional payment option. Select PayPal, and Apple will direct you to the PayPal site to sign in and confirm your purchase.So far, the PayPal option is available only on Apple's website and does not appear on the Apple Store mobile iOS app. Support is limited to just the US and UK.PayPal has long been an option for Apple iTunes and App Store content. You can set up your Apple account to pay for such digital items via a credit card or PayPal. But this is the first time Apple has supported PayPal as an online payment option for physical items, such as iPhone, iPads, Macs and all the related products and accessories.Apple and PayPal have had a seemingly more competitive relationship as of late. Apple's new mobile payments system, Apple Pay, certainly stands to rival PayPal for mobile transactions. Launching Apple Pay during the iPhone 6 event in September, Apple didn't announce PayPal as one of its partners. Shortly after the event, PayPal took a dig at Apple Pay by by hinting that it may not be as secure as Apple claims.Related storiesVideo: Apple Pay vs. Google Wallet vs. PayPalWill PayPal work with Apple Pay? eBay CEO is receptiveRetail group MCX says it's not telling merchants to block Apple PaySo just why have Apple and PayPal come together for this new option?For PayPal, the move gives it access to the second largest online retailer in the US, according to Internet Retailer. And for Apple, the move lets it expand the ways that its customers can afford its products.PayPal gives you the ease of use and the security of using a single online account rather than forcing you to juggle with credit cards. Further, Apple is offering PayPal credit with no interest, so you can take as long as 18 months to pay off any purchase more than $250. That could certainly help people better afford Apple's pricier items, such as a Retina Display iMac or a top-of-the-line Mac Pro. PayPay credit could also serve as a handy option to pay for the most luxurious and expensive edition of the Apple Watch when that device launches sometime early next year.Apple and PayPal did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Via Recode)
You can now pay for your next iPhone or iPad at Apple's online store using your PayPal account.Previously, you could pay for Apple products and accessories online using only a credit card, special financing or an Apple Store gift card. But now when you order an item through Apple's online store, you'll see PayPal listed as an additional payment option. Select PayPal, and Apple will direct you to the PayPal site to sign in and confirm your purchase.So far, the PayPal option is available only on Apple's website and does not appear on the Apple Store mobile iOS app. Support is limited to just the US and UK.PayPal has long been an option for Apple iTunes and App Store content. You can set up your Apple account to pay for such digital items via a credit card or PayPal. But this is the first time Apple has supported PayPal as an online payment option for physical items, such as iPhone, iPads, Macs and all the related products and accessories.Apple and PayPal have had a seemingly more competitive relationship as of late. Apple's new mobile payments system, Apple Pay, certainly stands to rival PayPal for mobile transactions. Launching Apple Pay during the iPhone 6 event in September, Apple didn't announce PayPal as one of its partners. Shortly after the event, PayPal took a dig at Apple Pay by by hinting that it may not be as secure as Apple claims.Related storiesVideo: Apple Pay vs. Google Wallet vs. PayPalWill PayPal work with Apple Pay? eBay CEO is receptiveRetail group MCX says it's not telling merchants to block Apple PaySo just why have Apple and PayPal come together for this new option?For PayPal, the move gives it access to the second largest online retailer in the US, according to Internet Retailer. And for Apple, the move lets it expand the ways that its customers can afford its products.PayPal gives you the ease of use and the security of using a single online account rather than forcing you to juggle with credit cards. Further, Apple is offering PayPal credit with no interest, so you can take as long as 18 months to pay off any purchase more than $250. That could certainly help people better afford Apple's pricier items, such as a Retina Display iMac or a top-of-the-line Mac Pro. PayPay credit could also serve as a handy option to pay for the most luxurious and expensive edition of the Apple Watch when that device launches sometime early next year.Apple and PayPal did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Via Recode)
Sony announces second-gen W-Series Walkman
Sony announces second-gen W-Series Walkman
As with the previous version, the new W-Series Walkman has no screen and is pretty light on extras. Music plays in shuffle mode by default, though Sony continues to offer its innovative Zappin feature, which lets you browse through tracks by ear by playing a snippet of the chorus of each song. You can choose between long and short settings for this mode, and if you come across a song you want to hear, a press of the jog button will start it from the beginning. Getting songs onto the player is a simple drag-and-drop affair using Sony's great Content Transfer app with iTunes, Windows Media Player, or the Windows desktop. (It's also Mac-compatible as a standard UMS device.)The W-Series Walkman, more formally termed the W252, has a rather paltry rated battery life by Sony's standards--a mere 11 hours--but given the ultracompact form factor, I can overlook this detail. Besides, 11 hours is more than enough for any workout I can think of. Plus, as someone who often pulls out a nearly dead device on her way to the gym, I'd rather have the included quick charge feature than an ultralong-lasting battery. This functionality gives you 90 minutes of battery life from a 3 minute charge, and the entire 11 hours in just 30 minutes.With the previous version of the player, there were many complaints that the earphones weren't actually sweat-resistant. Sony has made design improvements in order to address the issue and asserts that the W-Series Walkman will withstand sweaty workouts and jogs in the rain; the player can even be safely run under the faucet for cleaning after particularly grueling sessions. Fitness fiends can buy the player starting today on SonyStyle.com.
As with the previous version, the new W-Series Walkman has no screen and is pretty light on extras. Music plays in shuffle mode by default, though Sony continues to offer its innovative Zappin feature, which lets you browse through tracks by ear by playing a snippet of the chorus of each song. You can choose between long and short settings for this mode, and if you come across a song you want to hear, a press of the jog button will start it from the beginning. Getting songs onto the player is a simple drag-and-drop affair using Sony's great Content Transfer app with iTunes, Windows Media Player, or the Windows desktop. (It's also Mac-compatible as a standard UMS device.)The W-Series Walkman, more formally termed the W252, has a rather paltry rated battery life by Sony's standards--a mere 11 hours--but given the ultracompact form factor, I can overlook this detail. Besides, 11 hours is more than enough for any workout I can think of. Plus, as someone who often pulls out a nearly dead device on her way to the gym, I'd rather have the included quick charge feature than an ultralong-lasting battery. This functionality gives you 90 minutes of battery life from a 3 minute charge, and the entire 11 hours in just 30 minutes.With the previous version of the player, there were many complaints that the earphones weren't actually sweat-resistant. Sony has made design improvements in order to address the issue and asserts that the W-Series Walkman will withstand sweaty workouts and jogs in the rain; the player can even be safely run under the faucet for cleaning after particularly grueling sessions. Fitness fiends can buy the player starting today on SonyStyle.com.
Interact with OS X screensavers
Interact with OS X screensavers
Advance photos in slideshowsApple includes a number of slideshow screensavers that will present built-in images or those from various photo libraries on the system. With these slideshows active, if you press the left or right arrow keys, then the system will advance through its choice of photos being used for the slideshow. Unfortunately in doing so it will avoid the transition effects for the slideshow; however, it will allow you to in a way peruse through pictures in your library.Change albums in iTunes artworkAnother popular screensaver is the iTunes artwork saver, which will show a grid layout of the albums in your iTunes library. With this screensaver, moving the mouse will not deactivate it but instead allow your cursor to hover over an album. In doing so you can then click the album to play or pause songs from it.Function keys still workWith all screensavers, you should be able to use the Apple-supplied Function key commands without deactivating the screensaver, which include adjusting the screen brightness, keyboard backlight, volume, and the music playback controls. Do keep in mind that for these to work they will have to be the default function for these keys. Apple supports switching these keys to be regular F-keys in the Keyboard system preferences; however, with this setup they cannot be accessed if the screensaver is active.Tab does nothingA last key that will not disable the screensaver is the Tab key. Unfortunately this key also does not provide any input to the screensaver, so while its lack of input may simply be a bug, currently pressing it will simply do nothing.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.
Advance photos in slideshowsApple includes a number of slideshow screensavers that will present built-in images or those from various photo libraries on the system. With these slideshows active, if you press the left or right arrow keys, then the system will advance through its choice of photos being used for the slideshow. Unfortunately in doing so it will avoid the transition effects for the slideshow; however, it will allow you to in a way peruse through pictures in your library.Change albums in iTunes artworkAnother popular screensaver is the iTunes artwork saver, which will show a grid layout of the albums in your iTunes library. With this screensaver, moving the mouse will not deactivate it but instead allow your cursor to hover over an album. In doing so you can then click the album to play or pause songs from it.Function keys still workWith all screensavers, you should be able to use the Apple-supplied Function key commands without deactivating the screensaver, which include adjusting the screen brightness, keyboard backlight, volume, and the music playback controls. Do keep in mind that for these to work they will have to be the default function for these keys. Apple supports switching these keys to be regular F-keys in the Keyboard system preferences; however, with this setup they cannot be accessed if the screensaver is active.Tab does nothingA last key that will not disable the screensaver is the Tab key. Unfortunately this key also does not provide any input to the screensaver, so while its lack of input may simply be a bug, currently pressing it will simply do nothing.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.
Updating iTunes will break custom sidebar coloring
Updating iTunes will break custom sidebar coloring
Despite having color in the sidebar again, people wondered if updating the program in the future would break the modifications, and this turns out to be the case. Any time the program is updated, Apple could include an updated iTunes.rsrc file, which will replace any modified ones people have installed.Despite this, you can still use your old iTunes.rsrc file and retain your sidebar colors if you remember to back it up before updating iTunes. To do this, go to the Applications folder, right-click iTunes, and select "Show Package Contents." From here, navigate to the Contents/Resources/ folder and copy the iTunes.rsrc file from this folder to the desktop. Then upgrade iTunes to the desired version (you can leave the Resources window open when doing this) and copy the iTunes.rsrc file back to its location, replacing the updated one.If you did not make a backup of your iTunes.rsrc file, you can get it from a Time Machine backup or just reapply it using the original instructions.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.
Despite having color in the sidebar again, people wondered if updating the program in the future would break the modifications, and this turns out to be the case. Any time the program is updated, Apple could include an updated iTunes.rsrc file, which will replace any modified ones people have installed.Despite this, you can still use your old iTunes.rsrc file and retain your sidebar colors if you remember to back it up before updating iTunes. To do this, go to the Applications folder, right-click iTunes, and select "Show Package Contents." From here, navigate to the Contents/Resources/ folder and copy the iTunes.rsrc file from this folder to the desktop. Then upgrade iTunes to the desired version (you can leave the Resources window open when doing this) and copy the iTunes.rsrc file back to its location, replacing the updated one.If you did not make a backup of your iTunes.rsrc file, you can get it from a Time Machine backup or just reapply it using the original instructions.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.
Update- iTunes 9 Error- iTunes Store requires Safari 4.0.3
Update: iTunes 9 Error: iTunes Store requires Safari 4.0.3
So, before I checked out a single feature of the new iTunes, I started troubleshooting it. I clicked the option to "Open Software Update" thinking that perhaps I had not updated. Sure enough, I was met with:Yes, I thought so.Screenshot by Joe AimonettiSo my first thought, and hope really, was that this was a simple permissions error that Disk Utility could solve. Unfortunately, this was not the case. After verifying the permissions and the disk, the error continued.My next step was to reinstall iTunes. Again, no luck. I then created a new user to see if my issue was system-wide. The same error appeared on my test user and I was still no closer to figuring out a solution. I attempted to download and install a fresh copy of Safari 4.0.3, however, the versions available for download from apple.com are not able to be installed on Snow Leopard. I clicked through and attempted to change security settings in both Safari and iTunes, all to no avail. I did realize though, as some Apple Support Discussion forums users noted, that although most of the iTunes Music Store could not be accessed, I was able to get into my account settings as well as the iTunes U. section of the store. It was this discovery that leads me to believe the issue is with the iTunes Music Store and how it is interpreting what browser I have installed. I will continue to look into this issue and post an update as soon as a solution is come by. In the meantime, if you have experienced this issue and have a workaround or solution, let us know in the comments!Test Environment: Black MacBook running Mac OS X 10.6 (10A421), Safari 4.0.3 (6531.7), and iTunes 9.0 (70)
So, before I checked out a single feature of the new iTunes, I started troubleshooting it. I clicked the option to "Open Software Update" thinking that perhaps I had not updated. Sure enough, I was met with:Yes, I thought so.Screenshot by Joe AimonettiSo my first thought, and hope really, was that this was a simple permissions error that Disk Utility could solve. Unfortunately, this was not the case. After verifying the permissions and the disk, the error continued.My next step was to reinstall iTunes. Again, no luck. I then created a new user to see if my issue was system-wide. The same error appeared on my test user and I was still no closer to figuring out a solution. I attempted to download and install a fresh copy of Safari 4.0.3, however, the versions available for download from apple.com are not able to be installed on Snow Leopard. I clicked through and attempted to change security settings in both Safari and iTunes, all to no avail. I did realize though, as some Apple Support Discussion forums users noted, that although most of the iTunes Music Store could not be accessed, I was able to get into my account settings as well as the iTunes U. section of the store. It was this discovery that leads me to believe the issue is with the iTunes Music Store and how it is interpreting what browser I have installed. I will continue to look into this issue and post an update as soon as a solution is come by. In the meantime, if you have experienced this issue and have a workaround or solution, let us know in the comments!Test Environment: Black MacBook running Mac OS X 10.6 (10A421), Safari 4.0.3 (6531.7), and iTunes 9.0 (70)
Boxee Box now available for preorder
Boxee Box now available for preorder
After several months of delay, the Boxee Box set-top box is now available for preorder.It won't ship until November, and when it does it will have new chips inside: instead of the previously announced Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset, the oddly shaped set-top will feature Intel's Atom processor instead. The switchover was responsible for the delay, according to Boxee.The device will sell for $200 through Boxee.tv or Amazon.com. Before it was a piece of hardware, Boxee was a software download that put Internet content on a TV screen. The Boxee Box, which was built by D-Link, is a media player that allows 1080p HD videos to be streamed to a TV from the Web or a local network. It can also run a browser on the TV, including Flash content. Though it's been talked about for almost two years, Boxee Box has managed to arrive just in time to compete with both Apple's revamped Apple TV set-top box, and Google's new take on Internet video and TV, called Google TV.Google TV will be available as a set-top box from Logitech and built into a TV from Sony. The price hasn't been announced. It could arrive sometime this month, according to Intel CEO Paul Otellini.Apple TV just had a drastic makeover, is now a quarter of the size of the previous version, and got a large price cut, from more than $200 to $99. Apple TV allows 99 cent TV rentals through iTunes, as well as streaming content from iTunes on other devices in the house.While neither Google's nor Apple's take on the set-top box has been proven yet, taking on both at the same time will be a huge challenge for a small player like Boxee. CEO Avner Ronen addressed the Apple TV announcement on Boxee's corporate blog last week, saying he felt "strongly confident" about the space Apple left for Boxee to compete. "We have a different view of what users want in their living rooms. We are taking different paths to get there," he wrote. "The Boxee Box is going to be $100 more expensive than the Apple TV, but will give you the freedom to watch what you want. We think it's worth it."This post was updated at 1:01 p.m. PDT to correct Boxee's Web address and the price of rentals on Apple TV.
After several months of delay, the Boxee Box set-top box is now available for preorder.It won't ship until November, and when it does it will have new chips inside: instead of the previously announced Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset, the oddly shaped set-top will feature Intel's Atom processor instead. The switchover was responsible for the delay, according to Boxee.The device will sell for $200 through Boxee.tv or Amazon.com. Before it was a piece of hardware, Boxee was a software download that put Internet content on a TV screen. The Boxee Box, which was built by D-Link, is a media player that allows 1080p HD videos to be streamed to a TV from the Web or a local network. It can also run a browser on the TV, including Flash content. Though it's been talked about for almost two years, Boxee Box has managed to arrive just in time to compete with both Apple's revamped Apple TV set-top box, and Google's new take on Internet video and TV, called Google TV.Google TV will be available as a set-top box from Logitech and built into a TV from Sony. The price hasn't been announced. It could arrive sometime this month, according to Intel CEO Paul Otellini.Apple TV just had a drastic makeover, is now a quarter of the size of the previous version, and got a large price cut, from more than $200 to $99. Apple TV allows 99 cent TV rentals through iTunes, as well as streaming content from iTunes on other devices in the house.While neither Google's nor Apple's take on the set-top box has been proven yet, taking on both at the same time will be a huge challenge for a small player like Boxee. CEO Avner Ronen addressed the Apple TV announcement on Boxee's corporate blog last week, saying he felt "strongly confident" about the space Apple left for Boxee to compete. "We have a different view of what users want in their living rooms. We are taking different paths to get there," he wrote. "The Boxee Box is going to be $100 more expensive than the Apple TV, but will give you the freedom to watch what you want. We think it's worth it."This post was updated at 1:01 p.m. PDT to correct Boxee's Web address and the price of rentals on Apple TV.
Box.net brings cloud storage to the iPhone
Box.net brings cloud storage to the iPhone
If you're done playing around with Google Earth for the iPhone, you might be interested in checking out something with some everyday utility. Last week Box.net dropped its iPhone application on the App Store. Just like the mobile Safari-friendly version of yore, this lets you access your cloud-stored files on the go, including documents, music, and movies.The big difference is that this new version takes advantage of your phone's hardware, letting you upload snapped photos and keep an eye on any updates.In the future, once Apple flips the switch on its live notification service this means you'll be able to keep track of file changes as they happen, which makes Box.net's collaborative features all the more attractive. Currently, the only way to see updates is to hit a big refresh button, which will show you any additions or edits to existing files since you launched it. One thing to note is that while the tool lets you see all the files in your cloud storage folders, items must be specifically formatted to play back on the device. I tried to play several Quicktime files (including MP4s, which are supported), and got error messages. This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you're trying to view something important that hasn't been formatted correctly, you're out of luck.That said, if you do have a properly formatted file, it plays great--and in full quality, meaning you don't even need to use iTunes to sync up your content if you're near a high-speed connection. Box.net's iPhone app is completely free and available on the App Store. Box.net's service offers 1GB for free, with two paid monthly plans that cost $8 and $20 and offer 5GB and 15GB of space, respectively.[via Macrumors iPhone blog]
If you're done playing around with Google Earth for the iPhone, you might be interested in checking out something with some everyday utility. Last week Box.net dropped its iPhone application on the App Store. Just like the mobile Safari-friendly version of yore, this lets you access your cloud-stored files on the go, including documents, music, and movies.The big difference is that this new version takes advantage of your phone's hardware, letting you upload snapped photos and keep an eye on any updates.In the future, once Apple flips the switch on its live notification service this means you'll be able to keep track of file changes as they happen, which makes Box.net's collaborative features all the more attractive. Currently, the only way to see updates is to hit a big refresh button, which will show you any additions or edits to existing files since you launched it. One thing to note is that while the tool lets you see all the files in your cloud storage folders, items must be specifically formatted to play back on the device. I tried to play several Quicktime files (including MP4s, which are supported), and got error messages. This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you're trying to view something important that hasn't been formatted correctly, you're out of luck.That said, if you do have a properly formatted file, it plays great--and in full quality, meaning you don't even need to use iTunes to sync up your content if you're near a high-speed connection. Box.net's iPhone app is completely free and available on the App Store. Box.net's service offers 1GB for free, with two paid monthly plans that cost $8 and $20 and offer 5GB and 15GB of space, respectively.[via Macrumors iPhone blog]
Apple rolls out iBookstore in Japan
Apple rolls out iBookstore in Japan
Japan is the newest country to get Apple's iBookstore. The tech giant announced today that it is rolling out a diverse array of books for Japanese readers in its iTunes bookstore."We're excited to launch the iBookstore in Japan with a wide selection of Japanese publishers and authors," Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue said in a statement today. "We think customers are going to love how engaging and interactive the books are to read, and how beautiful they look on iPad."The books range from novels to cookbooks to children's literature. Both major and indie publishers are represented in the collection, as well as up-and-coming and well-established authors, including Shyotaro Ikenami, Jiro Akagawa, Atsuko Asano, and Ryu Murakami.Several of the books have digital-only features, such as Murakami's "I'll Always Be With You, Always," which features interactive e-mails in every chapter. "As an author and Apple user for 20 years, the arrival of the iBookstore allows me to tell stories in a way you simply can't in a physical book," Murakami said in the statement.Adding Japan to its roster, Apple's iBookstore is now available in 51 countries around the world. In October, the tech giant debuted its iTunes bookstore in 18 new countries, including Bolivia, New Zealand, and Nicaragua. According to Apple, the iBooks app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch has been downloaded around 130 million times worldwide.While Apple is moving quickly to make its iBookstore completely international, Amazon beat it to the punch for Japan last October. Amazon made its first Kindle push into Japan with its Paperwhite device. At that time, Amazon also launched its Japanese Kindle Store offering more than 50,000 Japanese-language Kindle books.
Japan is the newest country to get Apple's iBookstore. The tech giant announced today that it is rolling out a diverse array of books for Japanese readers in its iTunes bookstore."We're excited to launch the iBookstore in Japan with a wide selection of Japanese publishers and authors," Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue said in a statement today. "We think customers are going to love how engaging and interactive the books are to read, and how beautiful they look on iPad."The books range from novels to cookbooks to children's literature. Both major and indie publishers are represented in the collection, as well as up-and-coming and well-established authors, including Shyotaro Ikenami, Jiro Akagawa, Atsuko Asano, and Ryu Murakami.Several of the books have digital-only features, such as Murakami's "I'll Always Be With You, Always," which features interactive e-mails in every chapter. "As an author and Apple user for 20 years, the arrival of the iBookstore allows me to tell stories in a way you simply can't in a physical book," Murakami said in the statement.Adding Japan to its roster, Apple's iBookstore is now available in 51 countries around the world. In October, the tech giant debuted its iTunes bookstore in 18 new countries, including Bolivia, New Zealand, and Nicaragua. According to Apple, the iBooks app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch has been downloaded around 130 million times worldwide.While Apple is moving quickly to make its iBookstore completely international, Amazon beat it to the punch for Japan last October. Amazon made its first Kindle push into Japan with its Paperwhite device. At that time, Amazon also launched its Japanese Kindle Store offering more than 50,000 Japanese-language Kindle books.
Apple rolls out fix for iPhone 5 Wi-Fi network data bug
Apple rolls out fix for iPhone 5 Wi-Fi network data bug
Less than two weeks after the release of iOS 6, Apple is apparently still working out the bugs.Today the company released a fix for a bug that allowed some devices on Verizon Wireless' network to consume cellular data while connected to a Wi-Fi network, unnecessarily depleting users' precious data minutes.Apple encourages Verizon users to complete the following instructions to install an update to address the problem: Tap Settings > General > About.Wait for the following alert to appear:Apple Tap OK to install the update.Hold the Sleep/Wake button down until you see "slide to power off".Slide to power off.After the device powers off, hold the Sleep/Wake button to turn your phone back on. Note: To finish the installation of the update, your iPhone 5 must be turned off and then on again. After your iPhone restarts, tap Settings > General > About, then scroll down to Carrier and verify that "Verizon 13.1" is displayed.The fix materialized after iPhone 5 owners bombarded Apple's Support Communities with complaints about Wi-Fi issues they were experiencing with the new handset. Many users have complained about not being able to connect to Wi-Fi networks after the new mobile operating system's installation. Though generally receiving positive reviews, the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 both come with a laundry list of complaints from users.The new iPhone has presented its share of technical flaws, including scrapes and scratches around the edge, static lines on the keyboard when keying in your password, light leaks behind the front display, and a purple halo effect on certain photos.Apple's new OS has been dinged most severely for its buggy Maps app, which many users found to be underwhelming or inaccurate when compared with Google's offering.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
Less than two weeks after the release of iOS 6, Apple is apparently still working out the bugs.Today the company released a fix for a bug that allowed some devices on Verizon Wireless' network to consume cellular data while connected to a Wi-Fi network, unnecessarily depleting users' precious data minutes.Apple encourages Verizon users to complete the following instructions to install an update to address the problem: Tap Settings > General > About.Wait for the following alert to appear:Apple Tap OK to install the update.Hold the Sleep/Wake button down until you see "slide to power off".Slide to power off.After the device powers off, hold the Sleep/Wake button to turn your phone back on. Note: To finish the installation of the update, your iPhone 5 must be turned off and then on again. After your iPhone restarts, tap Settings > General > About, then scroll down to Carrier and verify that "Verizon 13.1" is displayed.The fix materialized after iPhone 5 owners bombarded Apple's Support Communities with complaints about Wi-Fi issues they were experiencing with the new handset. Many users have complained about not being able to connect to Wi-Fi networks after the new mobile operating system's installation. Though generally receiving positive reviews, the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 both come with a laundry list of complaints from users.The new iPhone has presented its share of technical flaws, including scrapes and scratches around the edge, static lines on the keyboard when keying in your password, light leaks behind the front display, and a purple halo effect on certain photos.Apple's new OS has been dinged most severely for its buggy Maps app, which many users found to be underwhelming or inaccurate when compared with Google's offering.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 reversible USB cable allegedly revealed in video
Apple reversible USB cable allegedly revealed in video
Apple could have a reversible USB cable up its sleeves for the anticipated iPhone 6, at least according to a video leaked by known Apple leaker Sonny Dickson.Popping up on one of Dickson's tweets and via YouTube, the 10-second video shows what is purportedly an Apple Lightning to USB cable and its box. The video then switches to someone removing the USB cable from an Apple computer, reversing the cable, and then plugging it back in.The video follows a claim made by Dickson on Monday that Apple has in store a new type of Lightning cable with a reversable USB connection at the other end. If true, the new cable would be an improvement over existing USB cables that require you to plug it into a computer or port in one direction, and only one direction. That limitation has alwaysbeen one of the annoying aspects of the standard USB cable as users sometimes struggle and fidget to figure out which way to plug it in. Related StoriesApple plans reversible USB cable for iPhone 6, leaker saysApple sets Sept. 9 for new iPhone debut, report saysiPhone 6 RumorsiPhone 6: Most-wanted featuresDickson also sent other alleged evidence of the new cable to the folks at 9to5Mac. Two photos reveal the cable charging the iPhone via both directions, while a video shows the USB cable being removed from an iPhone and then reinserted in the reverse direction to continue charging the phone.Apple declined to comment on the videos.The new cable will reportedly be included with the iPhone 6, which is expected to be unveiled at a media event on September 9. The new iPhone itself would then likely hit the market sometime later in the month.
Apple could have a reversible USB cable up its sleeves for the anticipated iPhone 6, at least according to a video leaked by known Apple leaker Sonny Dickson.Popping up on one of Dickson's tweets and via YouTube, the 10-second video shows what is purportedly an Apple Lightning to USB cable and its box. The video then switches to someone removing the USB cable from an Apple computer, reversing the cable, and then plugging it back in.The video follows a claim made by Dickson on Monday that Apple has in store a new type of Lightning cable with a reversable USB connection at the other end. If true, the new cable would be an improvement over existing USB cables that require you to plug it into a computer or port in one direction, and only one direction. That limitation has alwaysbeen one of the annoying aspects of the standard USB cable as users sometimes struggle and fidget to figure out which way to plug it in. Related StoriesApple plans reversible USB cable for iPhone 6, leaker saysApple sets Sept. 9 for new iPhone debut, report saysiPhone 6 RumorsiPhone 6: Most-wanted featuresDickson also sent other alleged evidence of the new cable to the folks at 9to5Mac. Two photos reveal the cable charging the iPhone via both directions, while a video shows the USB cable being removed from an iPhone and then reinserted in the reverse direction to continue charging the phone.Apple declined to comment on the videos.The new cable will reportedly be included with the iPhone 6, which is expected to be unveiled at a media event on September 9. The new iPhone itself would then likely hit the market sometime later in the month.
Apple reveals top apps of all time
Apple reveals top apps of all time
Apple has unveiled its list of the all-time top iPhone and iPad apps as it inches closer to the 10 billionth download in its App Store.According to the company, Doodle Jump is the most popular paid iPhone app of all time. The game is followed up by Tap Tap Revenge 3 and Pocket God. Surprisingly, Angry Birds, which has 50 million active users across several different platforms, took the fourth spot. Tap Tap Revenge 2.6 captured the fifth spot in Apple's list.Out of the top 10 paid iPhone apps of all time, 9 are games.On the free side of iPhone apps, Facebook reigns supreme, inching out Pandora and Google's mobile app. Song-discovery app Shazam captured the fourth spot in Apple's list, followed by Movies by Flixster. Paper Toss was the only game to make it into the top 10 free apps.When it comes to the iPad, games haven't taken on as much importance, Apple revealed. The top paid iPad progam of all time is music-discovery app, SoundHound. It's followed by StickWars, FlightTrack, Backbreaker Football, and Calorie Tracker.When it comes to free iPad apps, the list isn't all that different from the iPhone's. Pandora took the top spot for free apps on Apple's tablet, followed by Google's Mobile app, Movies by Flixster, and Google Earth. Yelp rounded out the top five.Facebook didn't make it in the free iPad list for one good reason: the company has yet to offer an official iPad app.Apple's App Store has enjoyed unbridled growth since its launch in 2008. In just nine months, it hit 1 billion downloads, and followed that up with 5 billion downloads back in June. Now, the marketplace is closing in on 10 billion downloaded apps. As of this writing, more than 9.9 billion apps have been downloaded.Apple announced last week that the person who downloads the 10 billionth app or fills out an entry form just prior to the 10 billionth app being downloaded will receive a $10,000 iTunes gift card to commemorate the event.
Apple has unveiled its list of the all-time top iPhone and iPad apps as it inches closer to the 10 billionth download in its App Store.According to the company, Doodle Jump is the most popular paid iPhone app of all time. The game is followed up by Tap Tap Revenge 3 and Pocket God. Surprisingly, Angry Birds, which has 50 million active users across several different platforms, took the fourth spot. Tap Tap Revenge 2.6 captured the fifth spot in Apple's list.Out of the top 10 paid iPhone apps of all time, 9 are games.On the free side of iPhone apps, Facebook reigns supreme, inching out Pandora and Google's mobile app. Song-discovery app Shazam captured the fourth spot in Apple's list, followed by Movies by Flixster. Paper Toss was the only game to make it into the top 10 free apps.When it comes to the iPad, games haven't taken on as much importance, Apple revealed. The top paid iPad progam of all time is music-discovery app, SoundHound. It's followed by StickWars, FlightTrack, Backbreaker Football, and Calorie Tracker.When it comes to free iPad apps, the list isn't all that different from the iPhone's. Pandora took the top spot for free apps on Apple's tablet, followed by Google's Mobile app, Movies by Flixster, and Google Earth. Yelp rounded out the top five.Facebook didn't make it in the free iPad list for one good reason: the company has yet to offer an official iPad app.Apple's App Store has enjoyed unbridled growth since its launch in 2008. In just nine months, it hit 1 billion downloads, and followed that up with 5 billion downloads back in June. Now, the marketplace is closing in on 10 billion downloaded apps. As of this writing, more than 9.9 billion apps have been downloaded.Apple announced last week that the person who downloads the 10 billionth app or fills out an entry form just prior to the 10 billionth app being downloaded will receive a $10,000 iTunes gift card to commemorate the event.
Apple reveals details of 50 billionth App Store download
Apple reveals details of 50 billionth App Store download
The Apple App Store odometer was spinning furiously en route to the 50 billionth app download.Apple on Thursday morning formally announced the passing of the milestone and named the winner of the race to reach 50 billion. That honor went toBrandon Ashmore of Mentor, Ohio, who downloaded Say the Same Thing by Space Inch. Along with bragging rights, Ashmore receives a $10,000 App Store gift card. The threshold was reached Wednesday just before 2 p.m. PT when the counter on Apple's Web site turned over the 50 billion mark. A tweet from Apple's App Store acknowledged the moment a few minutes later.The 50 people who downloaded apps right after Ashmore are each set to receive a $500 gift card.That really big round number is defined this way by Apple: it's 50 billion unique downloads, excluding re-downloads and updates.And that number keeps Apple only just a little bit ahead of a key rival: Google announced Wednesday at its I/O conference that the tally for the Google Play store now stands at 48 billion app installations. Apple said that its customers have been downloading more than 800 apps per second at a rate of over 2 billion apps per month on the App Store, which opened in July 2008 with 500 apps. That adds up to some serious dollars: Apple also said the app ecosystem enabled by its App Store has led to an overall payout to developers of more than $9 billion.It took App Store customers 14 months to get from 25 billion downloads to 50 billion.The App Store offers more than 850,000 apps to iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users worldwide, including more than 350,000 native iPad apps, according to Apple.
The Apple App Store odometer was spinning furiously en route to the 50 billionth app download.Apple on Thursday morning formally announced the passing of the milestone and named the winner of the race to reach 50 billion. That honor went toBrandon Ashmore of Mentor, Ohio, who downloaded Say the Same Thing by Space Inch. Along with bragging rights, Ashmore receives a $10,000 App Store gift card. The threshold was reached Wednesday just before 2 p.m. PT when the counter on Apple's Web site turned over the 50 billion mark. A tweet from Apple's App Store acknowledged the moment a few minutes later.The 50 people who downloaded apps right after Ashmore are each set to receive a $500 gift card.That really big round number is defined this way by Apple: it's 50 billion unique downloads, excluding re-downloads and updates.And that number keeps Apple only just a little bit ahead of a key rival: Google announced Wednesday at its I/O conference that the tally for the Google Play store now stands at 48 billion app installations. Apple said that its customers have been downloading more than 800 apps per second at a rate of over 2 billion apps per month on the App Store, which opened in July 2008 with 500 apps. That adds up to some serious dollars: Apple also said the app ecosystem enabled by its App Store has led to an overall payout to developers of more than $9 billion.It took App Store customers 14 months to get from 25 billion downloads to 50 billion.The App Store offers more than 850,000 apps to iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users worldwide, including more than 350,000 native iPad apps, according to Apple.
What Famous Comic Stories Might Be Used for the 'Justice League' Movies
Titles like The Winter Soldier and Age of Ultron come with Marvel brand recognition. They’re not literal adaptations but cinematic springboards within an established corporate identity. It’s why talk of a Civil War movie makes sense; it’s why Marvel announcing a new Secret Wars book feels smart. These well-known storylines were already on the brain as Warner Bros. rolled outits plan to take the fight directly to Disney’s door with nine newly announced films. After Batmanv Superman: Dawn of Justice, we get -- in order -- Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League 1, The Flash (unrelated to the new hit TV show), Aquaman, Shazam, Justice League 2, Cyborg and a Green Lantern reboot. Could Warners mine any well-known existing DC Universe comic book events for these films? Probably not. Almost all of the most recognizable DC company crossovers deal with alternate worlds merging together. Starting with 1986’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, we’ve seen Zero Hour, Infinite Crisis, Final Crisis and Flashpoint, which all deal in varying ways with the merging of branching realities. DC is even running three crossovers right now, all dealing with alternate realities and timelines - Future’s End, Earth 2: World’s End and Multiversity. Most of these events are created to reconcile the long, often-conflicting histories of the 75-year-old DC universe and provide a modern entry point to new readers without a reliance on that history. They smash all possible timelines together and come out the other side with a new unified universe. Would we pay to see a Crisis movie, in which the worlds of Adam West’s Batman, Michael Keaton’s Batman and Christian Bale’s Batman collide with Tom Welling’s Superman, Dean Cain’s Superman and Henry Cavill’s Superman? It sounds unbelievable, and it probably won’t happen in that way. The first episode of CW’s The Flash ended with a tease toward an eventual “crisis” but it’s too early in the life of that show to know what that means. It’s highly unlikely that DC’s TV world and DC’s movie world would ever collide. Lending credence is the casting of Ezra Miller as the Flash for the cinematic universe, while Grant Gustin fills the scarlet speedster’s boots on the small screen. The “Crisis” name means a lot to DC, and I could see them using it in some way for a film title, but not in the world-melding way in which it’s usually intended. One exception is Identity Crisis, a tale of rape and cover-up within the superhero community that would make for a pretty bad time at the movies, to be honest. Lesser known crossovers like Final Night, Our Worlds at War and 52 don’t have the cultural cache of “Crisis” nor a recognizable title like Marvel’s Civil War or Infinity Gauntlet has. DC’s Kingdom Come is closest to that Marvel level of visibility, but it’s associated with the future of these characters, not the present. The chances of these DC films borrowing their titles from the comics just seems unlikely. That doesn’t mean that the comic stories won’t be mined for film. Justice League’s first villain is said to be the living computer Brainiac, and we could see either Geoff Johns or Grant Morrison’s recent takes on the Superman villain as a blueprint for the film. Maybe the underappreciated;90’s crossover “Panic in the Sky,” which sees Brainiac attempt to take over the Earth, has enough DC team-up action to fire up the Justice League screenwriters (whoever they may be). If intergalactic despot Darkseid is the villain in the second Justice League movie, as rumored, then we assume plans are for the sequel to ape the 2010 “New 52” Geoff Johns/Jim Lee Justice League comic arc (recently adapted as the animated film Justice League: War). When the original rumblings about a post-Batmanv Superman JLA movie started, some pointed to Justice League of America #183-185, a 1980 storyline (“Crisis on New Genesis”) that pitted the JLA against Darkseid for the very first time, as a possible inspiration. That storyline is probably still of interest to any screenwriters hired to plot out DC’s films for the next10 years. It would seem that for now, no matter how recognizable the name is, a Crisis on Infinite Earths film is simply out of the question. Even if DC’s characters have been run roughshod in multiple forms over every type of media outside of comics, there’s no feasibility in teaming them all up for one big hurrah. Keep an eye on that “Crisis” naming convention, though. DC sure likes that word. Follow @Gholson Follow @MoviesDotCom
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