Amazon and the problem with plagiarism
We're not talking about people downloading TV shows without paying for them, or about the broke student who finds musicians to love via Limewire. This, in my mind at least, is much more heinous: the blatant plagiarism that dogs Amazon, where opportunistic intellectual property (IP) thieves upload the work of other authors in the hopes of making a quick buck.It has been a persistent problem. The resale of free public-domain books from Project Gutenberg was such a big problem that Amazon had to update its policies in 2011 to disallow a straight lift of public domain ebooks. But while reselling the work of deceased authors is a bit skeevy, at least it usually gives credit where it's due, leaving the author's name where it should be.But Amazon's self-publishing system allows anyone to upload and sell a book, and it seems to lack the checks and balances that weed out the brazen plagiarists who take someone else's work, slap a new title and name on the cover and sell it as their own.Earlier this month, sci-fi authors CH Cherryh and John Scalzi issued Amazon with DMCA takedown notices for books of theirs that one Ibnul Jaif Farabi had uploaded, with titles slightly changed, under his own name. He had also done the same thing with works by deceased authors, such as Robert Heinlein and Arthur C Clarke, who, of course, are slightly too deceased to notice.Amazon has pulled the books from the store, as have Smashwords and Scribd (although titles by Farabi are still available on Smashwords, which has not yet responded to CNET Australia's request for comment) â€" but this is not the first time that something like this has happened on Amazon, as a quick Google search will rapidly uncover.Author and owner of publishing house 1001 Nights, Sharazade, discovered early this year that plagiarists were ripping off works from free erotic-fiction website Literotica.Users of marketing forum Warrior, who had been buying what they thought were original IPs to sell on Amazon, started to find last year that the books that they had thought they had been buying in good faith via private label rights were, in fact, plagiarised. You can read an account from one of those poor saps on FastCompany.Also earlier this year, Romance Writers of America: Kiss of Death member Kay Manning was caught plagiarising the works of several of her peers, changing the text slightly and uploading the results across the web â€" not just to Amazon, but also iTunes, Sony, Kobo, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.Then there was Peter Michelsen, Robin Scott and many others. In fact, Amazon admitted that it has removed "thousands" of copyright violations, telling CNET Australia:We have processes and systems to detect and remove books that violate copyright or don’t improve the customer experience. Over time, we’ve rejected or removed thousands of such offending titles, and we expect to keep improving our approach.Amazon has also told PaidContent that it uses screening software to check for duplication.I get it. There are a lot of opportunists out there who don't care who they tread on in order to get what they want, and Amazon is a big site. It would be very difficult for Amazon to employ people to check every manuscript that gets submitted, as Apple does, for example.Its software does seem to be pretty good at picking up violations â€" eventually â€" but there is another problem: compensation for plagiarised copies of the book sold.A number of burned authors have been told that it's not Amazon's problem â€" that the author needs to take it up with the plagiariser.One problem I see with this is that Amazon has pocketed the money from those sales already; it has profited from copyright violation; but, under current US copyright laws, it is unclear what Amazon ought to do. To qualify under the current safe-harbour provision, Amazon must not have received financial benefit. But it doesn't say what Amazon is supposed to do with the money it has received.I am impressed with what Smashwords tries to do in these circumstances, which is to compensate the author: Today, for the first time ever, we confirmed a real honest-to-goodness case of plagiarism affecting a Smashwords author. That's right, every author's worst fear. Your book stolen and then resold with someone else's name. Only, in this instance, the so-called Smashwords author was the plagiariser. He stole another person's story that was available free on the web, put his name as the author, formatted it nicely to the style guide (nice touch!) and then even sold a few copies. Needless to say, a good samaritan caught him in the act and we've taken the book down and should be able to divert the ill-gotten profits to the real author.My issue with all of this is that it always seems to be the "little guys" who get hurt the most; not the big-name authors, who have big-name publishing houses to throw a few law people around, but the independent authors who are trying to get their work out there.It's heartening that Amazon is addressing this problem (slowly), but it really doesn't feel like enough for the people who can't afford legal counsel, who have been ripped off and then left to pick up the pieces themselves.No system can be perfect; even a human pair of eyes is subject to error (no one can have read and memorised every book on the market). A lot of things seem stacked against the creators of the content we all love: legal costs, big corporations that don't really care a great deal and vermicious little thieves who want to profit from someone else's work.But, at the end of the day, it's market leaders like Amazon that should be setting the example, looking after its sellers and making sure that those who drive its business are cared for and happy. There may be a lot of authors out there, but making them unhappy can only do a business such as Amazon more harm than good.If you do see a copyright violation, please report it to the relevant seller using the links below.AmazonAppleBarnes & NobleGoogle BooksKoboLuluScribdSmashwords
I'm no Zune hater--really
I'm no Zune hater--really
Some people commenting on my most recent post have accused me of being a Microsoft-hater. That's ironic, given my job. (See my bio below.) To be perfectly clear, I use a 30GB original Zune as my primary music player, after my fourth-generation iPod died about a year and a month out of warranty. I think my Zune's onscreen interface is great. I love the way I can create on-the-fly playlists and switch to random shuffle from within any song (not possible on the fourth-generation iPod, fixed in the fifth-generation). And I prefer the way it natively plays all the WMA files on my computer. (I have a big library of vinyl ripped using Microsoft's now-discontinued Digital Media Plus Pack for Windows XP.)But...the Zune client software is poor compared with iTunes. Zune's software mangles user-entered metadata by trying to auto-update it without permission; it lacks certain playback functions (no EQ or gapless playback); and it seems to have performance problems--this on a Dell XPS G2, not exactly a doorstop. I'm hoping they fixed these problems with the new Zunes.Also, I've never found the Wi-Fi sharing useful--not only because I don't know anybody else with a Zune (the "first man with a telephone" problem), but also because of the three days/plays restriction (not Microsoft's fault, but the fault of the content owners.)I will concede that the 4GB and 8GB Zunes stack up pretty well against the iPod Nanos. They have a built-in Wi-Fi transceiver and FM radio tuner; the Nanos don't. That's worth the extra 99 cents.My broader point is simply that Microsoft is not keeping up with Apple's pace of innovation. You can dismiss the touchscreen and Wi-Fi iTunes store as gimmickry, but they're new, they're immediately intuitive, and people are excited--I saw huge crowds in the Apple Store the day after they were announced, and nearly everybody was asking to demo the iPod Touch (which wasn't in the store until a few weeks later).The point for Microsoft: you can't expect people to choose a newcomer over the leader unless you're clearly better, or clearly cheaper. The new generation of Zune makes it a credible music player, but I don't see anything really superior to what the iPod offers.Then again, Microsoft's goal is to be No. 2 in this generation, and if you don't want an iPod, the Zune is a good choice. I'm certainly keeping mine, and looking forward to testing it with the new software.It's just...if I didn't already have one, I'd buy an iPod. I was hoping Zune 2 would be great enough to make me say otherwise.
Some people commenting on my most recent post have accused me of being a Microsoft-hater. That's ironic, given my job. (See my bio below.) To be perfectly clear, I use a 30GB original Zune as my primary music player, after my fourth-generation iPod died about a year and a month out of warranty. I think my Zune's onscreen interface is great. I love the way I can create on-the-fly playlists and switch to random shuffle from within any song (not possible on the fourth-generation iPod, fixed in the fifth-generation). And I prefer the way it natively plays all the WMA files on my computer. (I have a big library of vinyl ripped using Microsoft's now-discontinued Digital Media Plus Pack for Windows XP.)But...the Zune client software is poor compared with iTunes. Zune's software mangles user-entered metadata by trying to auto-update it without permission; it lacks certain playback functions (no EQ or gapless playback); and it seems to have performance problems--this on a Dell XPS G2, not exactly a doorstop. I'm hoping they fixed these problems with the new Zunes.Also, I've never found the Wi-Fi sharing useful--not only because I don't know anybody else with a Zune (the "first man with a telephone" problem), but also because of the three days/plays restriction (not Microsoft's fault, but the fault of the content owners.)I will concede that the 4GB and 8GB Zunes stack up pretty well against the iPod Nanos. They have a built-in Wi-Fi transceiver and FM radio tuner; the Nanos don't. That's worth the extra 99 cents.My broader point is simply that Microsoft is not keeping up with Apple's pace of innovation. You can dismiss the touchscreen and Wi-Fi iTunes store as gimmickry, but they're new, they're immediately intuitive, and people are excited--I saw huge crowds in the Apple Store the day after they were announced, and nearly everybody was asking to demo the iPod Touch (which wasn't in the store until a few weeks later).The point for Microsoft: you can't expect people to choose a newcomer over the leader unless you're clearly better, or clearly cheaper. The new generation of Zune makes it a credible music player, but I don't see anything really superior to what the iPod offers.Then again, Microsoft's goal is to be No. 2 in this generation, and if you don't want an iPod, the Zune is a good choice. I'm certainly keeping mine, and looking forward to testing it with the new software.It's just...if I didn't already have one, I'd buy an iPod. I was hoping Zune 2 would be great enough to make me say otherwise.
Apple e-mail hints at multi-user account feature for iPad
Apple e-mail hints at multi-user account feature for iPad
Apple's iPad could one day get support for multiple user accounts if an e-mail purportedly sent to a developer from Apple's Worldwide Developer Relations group is to be believed.Apple Insider on Monday posted a reply an unnamed developer received from Apple after requesting that the company add support for multiple user accounts on the iPad. "After further investigation it has been determined that this is a known issue, which is currently being investigated by engineering," the reply read.That reply doesn't go so far as to say such a feature is coming, but comes at a curious time. Apple is a few weeks away from taking the wraps off "the future of iOS" at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The show is expected to bring the introduction of iOS 6, the release of which will likely coincide with Apple's next iPhone later this year. Unlike Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch, the iPad has been pitched as a device that is more communal, yet like those other devices it remains tied to a single user account. But that wasn't Apple's original plan, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal that ran just a few days ahead of the first iPad's unveiling.Related storiesWhy doesn't the iPad support multiple users?Will Retina-ready iPad apps explode in size? Not necessarilyManage multiple accounts on iPad using official Facebook appCould lack of iPad accounts put kids, data at risk?Citing sources, the Journal said that Apple put "significant resources" into making the iPad "intuitive to share," going so far as to use a built-in camera to identify the person using it. What happened instead was the first-generation model shipping without a camera, and for the next two generations to continue on the single-user model. Some app makers responded by adding support for multiple users, but it's not the standard. Also worth mentioning is one major hurdle for turning the iPad into a device that works for multiple users: storage. The iPad has only ever sold in three storage configurations (16GB, 32GB and 64GB), and by adding a Retina Display on the third-generation model, some (but not all) applications have ballooned in size. Apple's also done things like increased the quality, and thus the size, of video content in iTunes. Add in multiple users with their own apps and content, and problems could arise -- all things that could require workarounds before such a feature arrives.Update at 2:20 p.m. PT: Instapaper developer Marco Arment rains on the rumor parade, noting that the "known issue" mention is Apple's standard go-to response: "It's a form letter. It means nothing, except that he was not the first person to make that suggestion." (via The Loop)
Apple's iPad could one day get support for multiple user accounts if an e-mail purportedly sent to a developer from Apple's Worldwide Developer Relations group is to be believed.Apple Insider on Monday posted a reply an unnamed developer received from Apple after requesting that the company add support for multiple user accounts on the iPad. "After further investigation it has been determined that this is a known issue, which is currently being investigated by engineering," the reply read.That reply doesn't go so far as to say such a feature is coming, but comes at a curious time. Apple is a few weeks away from taking the wraps off "the future of iOS" at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The show is expected to bring the introduction of iOS 6, the release of which will likely coincide with Apple's next iPhone later this year. Unlike Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch, the iPad has been pitched as a device that is more communal, yet like those other devices it remains tied to a single user account. But that wasn't Apple's original plan, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal that ran just a few days ahead of the first iPad's unveiling.Related storiesWhy doesn't the iPad support multiple users?Will Retina-ready iPad apps explode in size? Not necessarilyManage multiple accounts on iPad using official Facebook appCould lack of iPad accounts put kids, data at risk?Citing sources, the Journal said that Apple put "significant resources" into making the iPad "intuitive to share," going so far as to use a built-in camera to identify the person using it. What happened instead was the first-generation model shipping without a camera, and for the next two generations to continue on the single-user model. Some app makers responded by adding support for multiple users, but it's not the standard. Also worth mentioning is one major hurdle for turning the iPad into a device that works for multiple users: storage. The iPad has only ever sold in three storage configurations (16GB, 32GB and 64GB), and by adding a Retina Display on the third-generation model, some (but not all) applications have ballooned in size. Apple's also done things like increased the quality, and thus the size, of video content in iTunes. Add in multiple users with their own apps and content, and problems could arise -- all things that could require workarounds before such a feature arrives.Update at 2:20 p.m. PT: Instapaper developer Marco Arment rains on the rumor parade, noting that the "known issue" mention is Apple's standard go-to response: "It's a form letter. It means nothing, except that he was not the first person to make that suggestion." (via The Loop)
Rumor- iOS 4.2 waylaid by Wi-Fi bug-
Rumor: iOS 4.2 waylaid by Wi-Fi bug?
A Wi-Fi bug has reportedly sidelined Apple's iOS 4.2 update, which was rumored to be launching today.MacStories, Engadget, and other blogs have pinned the cause of the delay on a Wi-Fi connectivity bug affecting the iPad. Users who've been testing the Gold Master release of the update on Apple's popular tablet reportedly have been able to establish a connection but not able to actually connect to anything, or are simply losing the connection after a few minutes.Though Apple never announced an official release date for iOS 4.2, CEO Steve Jobs has said that it would be coming in November. On Tuesday, MacStories claimed that an AT&T insider had told it today would be the launch date.But iTunes 10.1 is required for certain features in iOS 4.2, including AirPrint, which would let iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users print to their local printers via their home Wi-Fi networks. Several reports had pegged Wednesday as the date that iTunes 10.1 would be available. But as of this morning, iTunes 10.0.1 is still listed as the current version on Apple's iTunes download site. Checking for updates within iTunes also indicates 10.0.1 as the current version. iPad users have been awaiting iOS 4.2 as the release that would finally bring them folders, multitasking, and a host of other features that iPhone and iPod Touch users have had access to since iOS 4.0 was released this past summer.But iOS 4.2 will also offer iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users AirPrint and AirPlay, a feature that will wirelessly stream audio, video, and photos to other devices on a Wi-Fi network. Even iPhone 3G owners are supposed to benefit from the new update though an improvement in performance.With the Wi-Fi connectivity glitch purportedly now delaying the release, MacStories says that Apple could roll out a second Gold Master build to deal with the issue as early as tomorrow. But even with extensive testing, the site expects the final release of iOS 4.2 to be out before Thanksgiving.
A Wi-Fi bug has reportedly sidelined Apple's iOS 4.2 update, which was rumored to be launching today.MacStories, Engadget, and other blogs have pinned the cause of the delay on a Wi-Fi connectivity bug affecting the iPad. Users who've been testing the Gold Master release of the update on Apple's popular tablet reportedly have been able to establish a connection but not able to actually connect to anything, or are simply losing the connection after a few minutes.Though Apple never announced an official release date for iOS 4.2, CEO Steve Jobs has said that it would be coming in November. On Tuesday, MacStories claimed that an AT&T insider had told it today would be the launch date.But iTunes 10.1 is required for certain features in iOS 4.2, including AirPrint, which would let iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users print to their local printers via their home Wi-Fi networks. Several reports had pegged Wednesday as the date that iTunes 10.1 would be available. But as of this morning, iTunes 10.0.1 is still listed as the current version on Apple's iTunes download site. Checking for updates within iTunes also indicates 10.0.1 as the current version. iPad users have been awaiting iOS 4.2 as the release that would finally bring them folders, multitasking, and a host of other features that iPhone and iPod Touch users have had access to since iOS 4.0 was released this past summer.But iOS 4.2 will also offer iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users AirPrint and AirPlay, a feature that will wirelessly stream audio, video, and photos to other devices on a Wi-Fi network. Even iPhone 3G owners are supposed to benefit from the new update though an improvement in performance.With the Wi-Fi connectivity glitch purportedly now delaying the release, MacStories says that Apple could roll out a second Gold Master build to deal with the issue as early as tomorrow. But even with extensive testing, the site expects the final release of iOS 4.2 to be out before Thanksgiving.
How to hide, unhide purchased apps in the Mac App Store
How to hide, unhide purchased apps in the Mac App Store
Most apps in the Mac App Store tend to lend themselves to being downloaded for either the sheer novelty of the app, or to fill a one-time need.The long list of purchased apps (free or paid) you have uninstalled from your Mac and never intend on using again do nothing more than clutter your purchased list. The good news is you can hide these types of apps from your purchased list with the click of a mouse. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiWhile viewing your purchased items in the Mac App Store, as your mouse moves down the list you will see an X show up next to the Install button. Clicking on it will remove, or hide, the app from your purchased list. The bad news is you can't easily find the apps you have previously hidden, should you change your mind and want to reinstall an app. Granted, you can just look up the app in the App Store again and reinstall from there, but what if you just can't remember the name of the app?Here's how to view the list of the apps you have hidden:Screenshot by Jason CiprianiWith the Mac App Store open, click on Store in the menu bar and then select View My Account. You will then be asked to log in to your account. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiAfter logging in to your account, you will be presented with your account screen. You should see an "iTunes in the iCloud" section. You will then be able to see the number of hidden apps, as well as see a link to view hidden purchases. Click on the link to view all of your hidden purchases. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiAt last, a list of your hidden purchases. When viewing the list, you can unhide an app and have it placed back into your purchased list. From your purchased list, you can either reinstall the app, or (for whatever reason) hide the app again. (Source: Mac OS X Hints)
Most apps in the Mac App Store tend to lend themselves to being downloaded for either the sheer novelty of the app, or to fill a one-time need.The long list of purchased apps (free or paid) you have uninstalled from your Mac and never intend on using again do nothing more than clutter your purchased list. The good news is you can hide these types of apps from your purchased list with the click of a mouse. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiWhile viewing your purchased items in the Mac App Store, as your mouse moves down the list you will see an X show up next to the Install button. Clicking on it will remove, or hide, the app from your purchased list. The bad news is you can't easily find the apps you have previously hidden, should you change your mind and want to reinstall an app. Granted, you can just look up the app in the App Store again and reinstall from there, but what if you just can't remember the name of the app?Here's how to view the list of the apps you have hidden:Screenshot by Jason CiprianiWith the Mac App Store open, click on Store in the menu bar and then select View My Account. You will then be asked to log in to your account. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiAfter logging in to your account, you will be presented with your account screen. You should see an "iTunes in the iCloud" section. You will then be able to see the number of hidden apps, as well as see a link to view hidden purchases. Click on the link to view all of your hidden purchases. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiAt last, a list of your hidden purchases. When viewing the list, you can unhide an app and have it placed back into your purchased list. From your purchased list, you can either reinstall the app, or (for whatever reason) hide the app again. (Source: Mac OS X Hints)
Steve Jobs quote app rejected by Apple, report says
Steve Jobs quote app rejected by Apple, report says
A new app has surfaced that features Steve Jobs quotes. But it turns out Apple wasn't impressed, according to a new report.Quoth Steve has cropped up on the Web as a mobile app that users can run in the browser. The app provides daily Steve Jobs quotes that can be saved, shared via social networks, or synched to different devices. The app was initially planned for Apple's App Store, but according to co-creator John Gill, who coincidentally works as a developer at Amazon, Apple denied its entry into its marketplace.Speaking to Recode in an interview published Monday, Gill claims that he attempted to have his app approved by Apple, only to be told by the company that it won't accept any apps focused solely on its co-founder. Apple asked that he add quotes from other popular figures in addition to Jobs, but Gill told Recode that he didn't feel it was in the spirit of the app.Apple has caught some heat in the past for its approval policies for the App Store. That the company didn't approve an app highlighting the wisdom of its co-founder perhaps adds some credibility to its approval process, which requires programs to be useful as its cornerstone approval mechanism.For now, Gill has decided to keep the app Jobs-only and leave it online. CNET has contacted Apple for comment on Gill's claim. We will update this story when we have more information.
A new app has surfaced that features Steve Jobs quotes. But it turns out Apple wasn't impressed, according to a new report.Quoth Steve has cropped up on the Web as a mobile app that users can run in the browser. The app provides daily Steve Jobs quotes that can be saved, shared via social networks, or synched to different devices. The app was initially planned for Apple's App Store, but according to co-creator John Gill, who coincidentally works as a developer at Amazon, Apple denied its entry into its marketplace.Speaking to Recode in an interview published Monday, Gill claims that he attempted to have his app approved by Apple, only to be told by the company that it won't accept any apps focused solely on its co-founder. Apple asked that he add quotes from other popular figures in addition to Jobs, but Gill told Recode that he didn't feel it was in the spirit of the app.Apple has caught some heat in the past for its approval policies for the App Store. That the company didn't approve an app highlighting the wisdom of its co-founder perhaps adds some credibility to its approval process, which requires programs to be useful as its cornerstone approval mechanism.For now, Gill has decided to keep the app Jobs-only and leave it online. CNET has contacted Apple for comment on Gill's claim. We will update this story when we have more information.
Steve Jobs posthumously inducted into Bay Area Business Hall of Fame
Steve Jobs posthumously inducted into Bay Area Business Hall of Fame
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was posthumously inducted into the Bay Area Business Hall of Fame last week.Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue tweeted a video tribute to Jobs and his speech accepting the award in his former leader's honor. Cue said in his tweet that the acceptance was "an honor, a privilege."Related storiesPatents suggest stylus; Mode-based interface customizationWhat the tech industry can learn from Detroit20 percent of Brits thinks Steve Jobs is a soccer playerApple officially announces January 27 event"Steve Jobs is no longer with us, but his influence as the co-founder and visionary force behind one of the world's most iconic companies and brands places him among the greatest business leaders and most brilliant thinkers of all time," Bay Area Council President and CEO Jim Wunderman said last week.In his speech, Cue commemorated his former boss, saying that "even in my darkest days, he was there for me." Cue credited Jobs with helping him and his wife get through her cancer diagnosis, saying that "in many ways, she's here tonight because of him, so thank you, Steve."Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison also was inducted to the hall of fame last week.Here's the video tribute to Steve Jobs:(Via TechCrunch)
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was posthumously inducted into the Bay Area Business Hall of Fame last week.Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue tweeted a video tribute to Jobs and his speech accepting the award in his former leader's honor. Cue said in his tweet that the acceptance was "an honor, a privilege."Related storiesPatents suggest stylus; Mode-based interface customizationWhat the tech industry can learn from Detroit20 percent of Brits thinks Steve Jobs is a soccer playerApple officially announces January 27 event"Steve Jobs is no longer with us, but his influence as the co-founder and visionary force behind one of the world's most iconic companies and brands places him among the greatest business leaders and most brilliant thinkers of all time," Bay Area Council President and CEO Jim Wunderman said last week.In his speech, Cue commemorated his former boss, saying that "even in my darkest days, he was there for me." Cue credited Jobs with helping him and his wife get through her cancer diagnosis, saying that "in many ways, she's here tonight because of him, so thank you, Steve."Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison also was inducted to the hall of fame last week.Here's the video tribute to Steve Jobs:(Via TechCrunch)
Apple said to be embedding Beats music service into iOS
Apple said to be embedding Beats music service into iOS
By preloading the service -- which may not use the Beats name -- on its devices, Apple gains an edge in promoting its own offer over the competition, which includes Spotify and Rhapsody. A subscription music service would represent a new revenue stream and keeps customers locked into the Apple ecosystem.A spokesman for Apple declined to comment on the report. Given the high-profile nature of Apple's acquisition of Beats -- the $3 billion purchase was the biggest in the company's history -- a dedicated push to make Beats Music an integral part of Apple's hardware comes as no surprise. However, such an integration of Beats Music into the Apple mobile operating system would represent the Cupertino, Calif., company's final seal of approval on the subscription-streaming-music model.Apple long shunned the format: Founder Steve Jobs referred to it as "bankrupt" and insisted "people want to own their music." But as the listening trends shift from purchasing music to renting through a service like Beats, the streaming format has become too important to ignore.Attention, artists: Streaming music is the inescapable future. Embrace itApple could also use its TouchID fingerprint reader as an easy way to subscribe to the service, the FT said. The company has already enabled TouchID for mobile payments in stores and on select websites, as well as for in-app purchases.While getting a service preloaded onto a device helps with consumer adoption, it doesn't guarantee success. Apple bundled iTunes Radio into its iTunes music app, but the service hasn't made a dent against Internet radio giant Pandora. And Beats Music itself only drew minimal consumer adoption as a standalone service sold exclusively through carrier partner AT&T. Still, integrating such a high-profile service into iOS could be a good in-road for untapped consumers who represent potential first-time subscribers. CNET's Shara Tibken contributed to this report.
By preloading the service -- which may not use the Beats name -- on its devices, Apple gains an edge in promoting its own offer over the competition, which includes Spotify and Rhapsody. A subscription music service would represent a new revenue stream and keeps customers locked into the Apple ecosystem.A spokesman for Apple declined to comment on the report. Given the high-profile nature of Apple's acquisition of Beats -- the $3 billion purchase was the biggest in the company's history -- a dedicated push to make Beats Music an integral part of Apple's hardware comes as no surprise. However, such an integration of Beats Music into the Apple mobile operating system would represent the Cupertino, Calif., company's final seal of approval on the subscription-streaming-music model.Apple long shunned the format: Founder Steve Jobs referred to it as "bankrupt" and insisted "people want to own their music." But as the listening trends shift from purchasing music to renting through a service like Beats, the streaming format has become too important to ignore.Attention, artists: Streaming music is the inescapable future. Embrace itApple could also use its TouchID fingerprint reader as an easy way to subscribe to the service, the FT said. The company has already enabled TouchID for mobile payments in stores and on select websites, as well as for in-app purchases.While getting a service preloaded onto a device helps with consumer adoption, it doesn't guarantee success. Apple bundled iTunes Radio into its iTunes music app, but the service hasn't made a dent against Internet radio giant Pandora. And Beats Music itself only drew minimal consumer adoption as a standalone service sold exclusively through carrier partner AT&T. Still, integrating such a high-profile service into iOS could be a good in-road for untapped consumers who represent potential first-time subscribers. CNET's Shara Tibken contributed to this report.
Apple said to be buying Google-backed Swell for $30M
Apple said to be buying Google-backed Swell for $30M
Apple is reported to be buying Google-backed podcast app Swell. The iPhone and iPad manufacturer is said to be spending $30 million (around £17.6 million or AU$32 million) to buy the app, shutting it down in the process.More Apple newsApple reportedly readying record production for iPhone 6Inside Scoop: Mixed results for Apple's Q3Three things we learned from Apple's Q3 earnings callApple responds to complaint over diagnostic 'back doors' in iOSApple inching closer to a mobile-payment serviceSamsung meets with Under Armour as Apple cozies closer to NikeAmazon shares take a beatingYouTube music chief leaving for undisclosed startupSwell is an iOS app that plays you a continuous stream of podcasts, saving you the hassle of finding and downloading podcasts yourself. If you don't like what it plays, you swipe to a new one. The app then learns what you like and don't like based on what you listen to and what you reject. Swell is available in all countries, but primarily offers content from the US and Canada.The company previously raised $7.2 million in funding from investors including DFJ, InterWest Partners and Google Ventures. Google Ventures is the Big G's investment arm, which dishes out capital to companies both to see a return on that investment and to help develop technology that could potentially be absorbed into Google later.According to Recode, the Swell app will be shut down. That suggests the technology will be absorbed into Apple's much-maligned Podcast app, or used to bolster the iTunes Radio streaming service, perhaps adding more talk radio options. Swell employees are said to be joining Apple as part of the deal.This year Apple notably has spent $3 billion to acquire headphone maker and music service Beats, and somewhere between $10 million and $15 million to reportedly pick up book recommendation service BookLamp. Discussing its financial performance earlier this year, Apple revealed it has acquired 29 companies over the past year or so.
Apple is reported to be buying Google-backed podcast app Swell. The iPhone and iPad manufacturer is said to be spending $30 million (around £17.6 million or AU$32 million) to buy the app, shutting it down in the process.More Apple newsApple reportedly readying record production for iPhone 6Inside Scoop: Mixed results for Apple's Q3Three things we learned from Apple's Q3 earnings callApple responds to complaint over diagnostic 'back doors' in iOSApple inching closer to a mobile-payment serviceSamsung meets with Under Armour as Apple cozies closer to NikeAmazon shares take a beatingYouTube music chief leaving for undisclosed startupSwell is an iOS app that plays you a continuous stream of podcasts, saving you the hassle of finding and downloading podcasts yourself. If you don't like what it plays, you swipe to a new one. The app then learns what you like and don't like based on what you listen to and what you reject. Swell is available in all countries, but primarily offers content from the US and Canada.The company previously raised $7.2 million in funding from investors including DFJ, InterWest Partners and Google Ventures. Google Ventures is the Big G's investment arm, which dishes out capital to companies both to see a return on that investment and to help develop technology that could potentially be absorbed into Google later.According to Recode, the Swell app will be shut down. That suggests the technology will be absorbed into Apple's much-maligned Podcast app, or used to bolster the iTunes Radio streaming service, perhaps adding more talk radio options. Swell employees are said to be joining Apple as part of the deal.This year Apple notably has spent $3 billion to acquire headphone maker and music service Beats, and somewhere between $10 million and $15 million to reportedly pick up book recommendation service BookLamp. Discussing its financial performance earlier this year, Apple revealed it has acquired 29 companies over the past year or so.
Apple iPad jumps to 128GB, starting at $799
Apple iPad jumps to 128GB, starting at $799
Apple today said it would begin offering its fourth-generation iPad with double the storage capacity. The 128-gigabyte Wi-Fi-only iPad will cost $799, while a cellular version pushes close to four figures at $929. The new iPads will be available on Feb. 5.Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and Sprint Nextel both confirmed they would carry the higher capacity iPad. The updated iPad represents a minor update to a device that already got a slight overhaul late last year. Many expect Apple to unveil a new iPad with more significant changes in the coming months. The 128GB iPad has all of the same features as before, including a 9.7-inch Retina Display, a FaceTime HD camera, and an A6X processor. Apple is hoping the higher-capacity iPad will be better suited for the business world. Over the past few years, the company has made a concerted push to get into companies for professional use. The press release pointed out the potential appeal of the higher storage volume to businesses that traffic in data-intensive materials such as 3D CAD files, X-rays, film edits, music tracks, and project blueprints.While Apple's share in the tablet market remains dominant, the company is starting to see increasing competition from lower-priced devices such as Amazon's Kindle Fire HD and Google's Nexus 7 tablets. In response, the company late last year unveiled the iPad Mini.Update at 9:04 a.m., 9:35 a.m., and 12:25 p.m. PT: Sprint and Verizon confirmed that it will be offering the 128GB iPad.
Apple today said it would begin offering its fourth-generation iPad with double the storage capacity. The 128-gigabyte Wi-Fi-only iPad will cost $799, while a cellular version pushes close to four figures at $929. The new iPads will be available on Feb. 5.Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and Sprint Nextel both confirmed they would carry the higher capacity iPad. The updated iPad represents a minor update to a device that already got a slight overhaul late last year. Many expect Apple to unveil a new iPad with more significant changes in the coming months. The 128GB iPad has all of the same features as before, including a 9.7-inch Retina Display, a FaceTime HD camera, and an A6X processor. Apple is hoping the higher-capacity iPad will be better suited for the business world. Over the past few years, the company has made a concerted push to get into companies for professional use. The press release pointed out the potential appeal of the higher storage volume to businesses that traffic in data-intensive materials such as 3D CAD files, X-rays, film edits, music tracks, and project blueprints.While Apple's share in the tablet market remains dominant, the company is starting to see increasing competition from lower-priced devices such as Amazon's Kindle Fire HD and Google's Nexus 7 tablets. In response, the company late last year unveiled the iPad Mini.Update at 9:04 a.m., 9:35 a.m., and 12:25 p.m. PT: Sprint and Verizon confirmed that it will be offering the 128GB iPad.
Apple- iPad charging fine, keep it plugged in
Apple: iPad charging fine, keep it plugged in
Apple says its latest iPad model has been designed to keep charging, even after its indicator says it's reached 100 percent.Following questions about the accuracy of the new iPad's battery status indicator and its recharging technology, Apple now says that it's part of its software to continue charging and discharging the battery when it nears 100 percent, and that there's no harm in leaving it plugged in."That circuitry is designed so you can keep your device plugged in as long as you would like," Apple VP Michael Tchao told AllThingsD today. "It's a great feature that's always been in iOS."Last week a report from research firm DisplayMate made waves for saying that Apple's latest iPad was not fully charged when it showed a 100 percent reading on its indicator, adding that Apple's math for calculating that charge was off. More recently, a CNBC news report relayed a message from Apple suggesting that this process could actually damage the longevity of the battery.Related storiesResearcher says new iPad's charging math is 'wrong'New iPad's battery life (nearly) the same as the old iPad'sMore LEDs in new iPad can mean less battery lifeCNET review: Apple's new iPadApple's latest iPad has a battery with considerably higher capacity than its predecessors, jumping from a 25-watt-hour lithium-ion battery to a 42.5-watt-hour battery. That change came in order to power a display with four times the number of pixels as previous generations, a dual-core processor with a quad-core graphics chip, and 4G LTE wireless networking on some models.Apple rates its latest iPad at 10 hours over Wi-Fi, and 9 hours for models with 4G LTE wireless networking. In CNET's own testing, we found it to be very nearly the same to that of the iPad 2, and were able to push the tablet to nearly 13 hours when viewing a movie with airplane mode enabled.Updated at 3:35 p.m. PT to note that the longevity claims came from CNBC, and once again at 10:30 p.m. to note differences between capacity and overall power.
Apple says its latest iPad model has been designed to keep charging, even after its indicator says it's reached 100 percent.Following questions about the accuracy of the new iPad's battery status indicator and its recharging technology, Apple now says that it's part of its software to continue charging and discharging the battery when it nears 100 percent, and that there's no harm in leaving it plugged in."That circuitry is designed so you can keep your device plugged in as long as you would like," Apple VP Michael Tchao told AllThingsD today. "It's a great feature that's always been in iOS."Last week a report from research firm DisplayMate made waves for saying that Apple's latest iPad was not fully charged when it showed a 100 percent reading on its indicator, adding that Apple's math for calculating that charge was off. More recently, a CNBC news report relayed a message from Apple suggesting that this process could actually damage the longevity of the battery.Related storiesResearcher says new iPad's charging math is 'wrong'New iPad's battery life (nearly) the same as the old iPad'sMore LEDs in new iPad can mean less battery lifeCNET review: Apple's new iPadApple's latest iPad has a battery with considerably higher capacity than its predecessors, jumping from a 25-watt-hour lithium-ion battery to a 42.5-watt-hour battery. That change came in order to power a display with four times the number of pixels as previous generations, a dual-core processor with a quad-core graphics chip, and 4G LTE wireless networking on some models.Apple rates its latest iPad at 10 hours over Wi-Fi, and 9 hours for models with 4G LTE wireless networking. In CNET's own testing, we found it to be very nearly the same to that of the iPad 2, and were able to push the tablet to nearly 13 hours when viewing a movie with airplane mode enabled.Updated at 3:35 p.m. PT to note that the longevity claims came from CNBC, and once again at 10:30 p.m. to note differences between capacity and overall power.
Apple iPad 3 may get March release date, 4G
Apple iPad 3 may get March release date, 4G
Apple's iPad 3 will reportedly hit the market in March and work with Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.According to Bloomberg, the iPad 3 will land in the calendar first quarter. Bloomberg cited manufacturing partners in Asia. In addition, the iPad 3 will sport a quad-core chip.The iPad 3 is expected to be one of Apple's big revenue drivers for the upcoming year. While the iPad 3 is critical, most analysts expect the iPhone 5, which is also expected to be 4G friendly, to drive sales more.Volume manufacturing is expected to ramp up in February, according to Bloomberg.If Bloomberg's report is on target, Apple is likely to see a slowdown in iPad 2 sales, which may already be taking a hit from Amazon's Kindle Fire. There has also been speculation that Apple will keep the iPad 2 around and play multiple price points.Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster handicapped Apple's iPad plans in a recent research note. He said: Our model currently assumes iPad 3 will simply replace iPad 2; however, if Apple expands the iPad lineup to both higher and lower price points, the new iPads could support growth well above our current estimates. Our current CY13 revenue growth estimate for the iPad is 11%, with the bull case at 30%. In a research note, Wedbush Securities analyst Craig Irwin said that the iPad 3 is likely to be a boon for battery suppliers. The iPad 3 is likely to have much more battery material in it. Irwin said suppliers like Simplo, Dynapack, and Polymore are likely to benefit.This story originally appeared at ZDNet's Between the Lines under the headline "Apple iPad 3 to go HD, 4G?"
Apple's iPad 3 will reportedly hit the market in March and work with Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.According to Bloomberg, the iPad 3 will land in the calendar first quarter. Bloomberg cited manufacturing partners in Asia. In addition, the iPad 3 will sport a quad-core chip.The iPad 3 is expected to be one of Apple's big revenue drivers for the upcoming year. While the iPad 3 is critical, most analysts expect the iPhone 5, which is also expected to be 4G friendly, to drive sales more.Volume manufacturing is expected to ramp up in February, according to Bloomberg.If Bloomberg's report is on target, Apple is likely to see a slowdown in iPad 2 sales, which may already be taking a hit from Amazon's Kindle Fire. There has also been speculation that Apple will keep the iPad 2 around and play multiple price points.Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster handicapped Apple's iPad plans in a recent research note. He said: Our model currently assumes iPad 3 will simply replace iPad 2; however, if Apple expands the iPad lineup to both higher and lower price points, the new iPads could support growth well above our current estimates. Our current CY13 revenue growth estimate for the iPad is 11%, with the bull case at 30%. In a research note, Wedbush Securities analyst Craig Irwin said that the iPad 3 is likely to be a boon for battery suppliers. The iPad 3 is likely to have much more battery material in it. Irwin said suppliers like Simplo, Dynapack, and Polymore are likely to benefit.This story originally appeared at ZDNet's Between the Lines under the headline "Apple iPad 3 to go HD, 4G?"
Apple iPad 2, packing 3G, arrives in China
Apple iPad 2, packing 3G, arrives in China
Apple began selling version of its iPad 2 with built-in 3G networking in mainland China today, some four months after the Wi-Fi only version made its debut there.MarketWatch notes that sales of the device began today, both in Apple's online and retail stores, and through authorized resellers in the country. A quick check on Apple's online store in China shows the device as being out of stock (see photo above).Up until now, customers in the region have only been able to buy the Wi-Fi version of the device through Apple, leading some to pick up gray market 3G models imported from other countries. A report from The Wall Street Journal earlier this month noted that Apple had been cleared to sell a version of the iPad 2 with built-in 3G networking through China's Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center. And as The Next Web notes, pricing for the unannounced devices appeared on Apple's Chinese site a week and a half ago.China is a key area of interest to Apple watchers given its sales potential. During July's quarterly earnings conference call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company was just "scratching the surface" of the Chinese market, with quarterly revenue of $3.8 billion, a six-fold increase from the same quarter the year before. A big part of that growth has been sales of the iPhone, which could see a substantial increase if Apple inks deals with additional carriers in the region, something that is expected to happen with the release of the next generation model.
Apple began selling version of its iPad 2 with built-in 3G networking in mainland China today, some four months after the Wi-Fi only version made its debut there.MarketWatch notes that sales of the device began today, both in Apple's online and retail stores, and through authorized resellers in the country. A quick check on Apple's online store in China shows the device as being out of stock (see photo above).Up until now, customers in the region have only been able to buy the Wi-Fi version of the device through Apple, leading some to pick up gray market 3G models imported from other countries. A report from The Wall Street Journal earlier this month noted that Apple had been cleared to sell a version of the iPad 2 with built-in 3G networking through China's Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center. And as The Next Web notes, pricing for the unannounced devices appeared on Apple's Chinese site a week and a half ago.China is a key area of interest to Apple watchers given its sales potential. During July's quarterly earnings conference call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company was just "scratching the surface" of the Chinese market, with quarterly revenue of $3.8 billion, a six-fold increase from the same quarter the year before. A big part of that growth has been sales of the iPhone, which could see a substantial increase if Apple inks deals with additional carriers in the region, something that is expected to happen with the release of the next generation model.
Apple iOS users hit by online access glitches
Apple iOS users hit by online access glitches
Apple iOS users bumped into some trouble with several online services today.Updates on Apple's status page this morning revealed that users might get an error when signing into their iCloud accounts or creating new accounts.Users may incorrectly receive an authentication error when attempting to use iCloud. Setting up a new iCloud account from an eligible device may be temporarily unavailable.Additionally, some people were unable to create new Apple IDs or sign into the Game Center app. Some iTunes users had been unable to access the iTunes store or make purchases, but Apple's status page indicates that problem was resolved at 6:32 a.m. PT.The problems overall were cleared up by about 1 p.m. PT, when Apple's status page once again showed all services functioning normally.In all of these cases, the problems surfaced around 4:20 a.m. PT today and affected only some users, according to Apple. However, it's unclear just how many people "some users" represents. As usual, many of those affected have taken to Twitter to express their frustration over what some reports are calling a global outage.Apple's online services have suffered their share of outages in the past.On April 9 of this year, iMessage and FaceTime were both down throughout the day. On February 28, iCloud was taken down by an early morning outage. On February 21, Apple's App Store, iTunes, iCloud, and the Mac App Store were inaccessible to some users for several hours. And last September, iCloud was unavailable to a small number of users for several days.Last December, Apple beefed up its status page specifically to provide more details in the event of service outages.Update 1:02 p.m. PT: Added that Apple's status page again shows normal functioning for all the affected services.
Apple iOS users bumped into some trouble with several online services today.Updates on Apple's status page this morning revealed that users might get an error when signing into their iCloud accounts or creating new accounts.Users may incorrectly receive an authentication error when attempting to use iCloud. Setting up a new iCloud account from an eligible device may be temporarily unavailable.Additionally, some people were unable to create new Apple IDs or sign into the Game Center app. Some iTunes users had been unable to access the iTunes store or make purchases, but Apple's status page indicates that problem was resolved at 6:32 a.m. PT.The problems overall were cleared up by about 1 p.m. PT, when Apple's status page once again showed all services functioning normally.In all of these cases, the problems surfaced around 4:20 a.m. PT today and affected only some users, according to Apple. However, it's unclear just how many people "some users" represents. As usual, many of those affected have taken to Twitter to express their frustration over what some reports are calling a global outage.Apple's online services have suffered their share of outages in the past.On April 9 of this year, iMessage and FaceTime were both down throughout the day. On February 28, iCloud was taken down by an early morning outage. On February 21, Apple's App Store, iTunes, iCloud, and the Mac App Store were inaccessible to some users for several hours. And last September, iCloud was unavailable to a small number of users for several days.Last December, Apple beefed up its status page specifically to provide more details in the event of service outages.Update 1:02 p.m. PT: Added that Apple's status page again shows normal functioning for all the affected services.
Apple hits record revenue per store visitor, says analyst
Apple stores continue to outpace the rest of the retail industry in sales per customer.The company took in record revenue per visitor of $57.60 during the first quarter, mobile analyst Horace Dediu said Monday in his Asymco blog. That's up from $51.75 per visitor in the first quarter of 2012.At the same time, the number of visitors rose by 7 percent from the prior year's first quarter. And the average revenue per Apple store reached $13 million for the quarter, its highest number ever for a non-holiday quarter, Dediu noted.The average number of visitors per store hit 250,000 per quarter (averaged over the prior 12 months) -- a healthy leap from 170,000 visitors per store per quarter three years back. More space in new stores and renovations in older stores may be the reason behind this jump in visits, Dediu speculated. Looking at sales per square foot in the United States, Apple did twice as well as second-place Tiffany and three times as well as third-place Lululemon Athletica.Overall, Apple stores are now ringing up a profit of around $12 per visitor per quarter, Dediu added.
Apple hires Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve
It appears that Apple will soon be taking tips from a fashion insider. The tech giant officially announced that it hired Paul Deneve -- the former CEO of luxury fashion goods company Yves Saint Laurent -- to work on "special projects," according to Bloomberg."We're thrilled to welcome Paul Deneve to Apple," Apple told Bloomberg. "He'll be working on special projects as a vice president reporting directly to Tim Cook."Earlier Tuesday, AppleInsider reported on a tip it received that Deneve had been hired. The news source speculated that Deneve may be filling John Browett's shoes. Browett resigned from his position as Apple's retail chief last fall and the company has yet to hire his replacement. However, according to Bloomberg, Deneve won't be working on retail.It's unclear what "special projects" entails. It could mean that Deneve might be working on Apple's design side or even on the company's rumored iWatch. During an interview at the D11 conference in May, Cook said that he finds wearable computing "profoundly interesting", but that "you have to convince people it's so incredible you want to wear it." Cook pointed out that most young people don't wear watches, so it would be the company's job to make them appealing.CNET contacted Apple for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.
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