Banned in Cupertino
Add one more headache for whoever is running Apple's App Store approval process: edgy books.Books aren't a huge part of the App Store, but there are more than 600 titles for sale, ranging from classics to Japanese comic books. CNET's own David Carnoy has a new detective thriller out called Knife Music, but you won't find it on the App Store.That's because when Carnoy enlisted a software developer to submit the book to the App Store, Apple rejected the book for containing "objectionable content," citing a clause in the iPhone SDK that states: "Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple's reasonable judgement may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users." You've got two basic choices if you want to buy a book on the App Store; you can buy an application like Stanza or eReader and then download the books themselves from a Web site, or buy a book with self-contained e-reader software, which is how Carnoy's book was submitted.In its rejection letter, Apple singled out the passage in question, which we actually can't print either. Let's just say it involves a teenage girl telling a detective that she overheard her friend asking a gentleman caller to "love me like you mean it," just with a slightly more emphatic verb.Carnoy's developer, Alex Brie, believes Apple is checking for objectionable content using word-matching software, as it would be hard to believe that the company hired someone to read every book submitted to the App Store."Apple's staff shouldn't be allowed to refuse to publish works of literature based only on word matching. Even more, what would happen if I (a Romanian) would publish an ebook filled with Romanian obscenities? - would Apple's staff need to learn Romanian...and read the entire ebook...to make sure this doesn't happen?" he said in an e-mail.Trying to determine the exact definition of terms such as obscene, pornographic, and objectionable is always a controversial issue. And Apple is within its rights to dictate what it will sell on its store.Right from the start of Apple's decision to open the iPhone up to third-party applications, CEO Steve Jobs singled out "porn" as one of the things that would be prohibited from the App Store, but Carnoy's book, while racy in parts, would not be described as "porn" by any reasonable observer.Apple's definition of "objectionable" has been questioned before. After initially balking, Apple finally relented to the extremely influential fart joke lobby last week and permitted applications such as Pull My Finger and iFart Mobile (ranked 3rd and 10th, respectively, among paid App Store applications at the moment) under what was described as a "Mature" section.Joel Comm, the developer of iFart Mobile, said in an e-mail that he was told Apple had decided to rate his app "Mature 17+," and that would-be downloaders would have to certify their age before purchasing the application. But that wasn't the case when I tried to download the app Friday, and there is nothing in the description of iFart Mobile that indicates it is only suitable for those over 17. Nor is there any section of the App Store labeled as "Mature 17+" at the moment.Once again, we're realizing just how overwhelmed Apple has become serving as the exclusive gatekeeper for iPhone applications without clear rules and regulations for its inspectors to follow--and developers to heed--in making calls about what can stay and what must go. Apple representatives did not return several calls seeking comment; as far as I can tell, Apple has never commented on the App Store approval process, six months after its debut.Apple offers plenty of movies that a lot of people would consider "objectionable" over in the iTunes Store, but movies have a well-known and widely accepted rating system. (For what it's worth, Apple does not offer NC-17 movies on the iTunes Store.)There is no such standard for rating books. Valuable pieces of English literature contain the word that appears to have killed the chances of Knife Music making it into the App Store. And equally well-regarded books have dealt with the subject of teenage sexuality in frank terms.If Apple really wants to offer books on the App Store, it is going to have to strike a balance between a desire to keep out-and-out porn off the App Store while avoiding comparisons to a modern-day Anthony Comstock. Apple doesn't have to sell erotica if it doesn't want to, but simply rejecting books because they use one of George Carlin's seven favorite words is going to exclude an awful lot of literature.
Pandora reports Q1 loss, guidance hits sour note again
Pandora reports Q1 loss, guidance hits sour note again
Pandora Media, the operator of the Web's top radio service, Thursday reported a narrower-than-expected loss in the first quarter, but shares still plunged as the company's outlook for the current quarter again disappointed.Shares fell $2.19, or 7.8 percent, to $26.01 in after-hours trading.It follows Pandora's last report of its biggest quarterly profit since going public in 2011, with the swing to a loss reflecting seasonal slowness and investments to turbocharge its advertising capabilities. With the share price doubling in the last year, investors have generally been patient with Pandora's spending, looking forward to the payoff from a bigger sales force and technology investments to improve the value of the ads Pandora broadcasts. Investors have been less patient with indications that growth in listener hours is slowing, as Chief Executive Officer Brian McAndrews said at a conference in March. Listener-hour growth was 12 percent in the latest period. Comparisons to other periods are imperfect: Fourth-quarter growth in listener hours was 16 percent, but seasonality can skew the metric. And the growth was 35 percent in the year-earlier quarter, but Pandora has shifted the timing of its quarterly calendar, so the dates of the quarters don't line up. Even without an apples-to-apples comparison, the trend is clear: The growth isn't what it used to be. Chief Financial Officer Mike Herring said the law of large numbers -- that it's simply harder to have big growth numbers when your user numbers have grown big themselves -- explains the cooling momentum.Related storiesPandora sued by record labels for copyright infringementIn Q4, Pandora posts highest profit as public company "We had all-time record hours in the first quarter. Listeners are growing; we're at a large number here," he said in an interview with CNET. "Those listeners are listening more than ever before." The number of active listeners increased 8 percent to 75.3 million.Herring dismissed the idea that competition in digital streaming music was having any effect. "We really don't see the competition affecting our numbers," he said. "Pandora is the only one who has been able to effect the numbers over time."Competition in intensifying in Pandora's universe. The company continues to lead the market, but giants like Apple and Google added new services like iTunesRadio and All Access last year. Subscription heavyweights like Spotify and upstarts like Beats' continue to gain users, and Google is said to be rolling out another subscription service through YouTube.Pandora's guidance for the second quarter ranged from breakeven to a profit of 3 cents on revenue of $213 million to $218 million. Analysts were expecting a profit of 5 cents a share on $219 million in revenue. However, for the full year, Pandora raised its guidance thanks to beating predictions in the first part of the year.In the latest three-month period, Pandora posted a loss of $28.9 million, or a 14 cents a share, compared with $38.7 million, or a 22 cents a share, a year earlier. Stripping out unusual items, its per-share loss narrowed to 13 cents from 18 cents. Revenue jumped 69 percent to $194.3 million, while revenue excluding unusual items rose to $180.1 million. In February, the company projected a first-quarter loss of 14 cents to 16 cents a share on revenue of $170 million to $176 million. Update, 1:48 p.m. PT: With executive interview, details of listener growth. Correction, 2:34 p.m. PT: The original article misstated Pandora's bottom-line guidance. Pandora expects it to range from breakeven to a 3 cent profit.
Pandora Media, the operator of the Web's top radio service, Thursday reported a narrower-than-expected loss in the first quarter, but shares still plunged as the company's outlook for the current quarter again disappointed.Shares fell $2.19, or 7.8 percent, to $26.01 in after-hours trading.It follows Pandora's last report of its biggest quarterly profit since going public in 2011, with the swing to a loss reflecting seasonal slowness and investments to turbocharge its advertising capabilities. With the share price doubling in the last year, investors have generally been patient with Pandora's spending, looking forward to the payoff from a bigger sales force and technology investments to improve the value of the ads Pandora broadcasts. Investors have been less patient with indications that growth in listener hours is slowing, as Chief Executive Officer Brian McAndrews said at a conference in March. Listener-hour growth was 12 percent in the latest period. Comparisons to other periods are imperfect: Fourth-quarter growth in listener hours was 16 percent, but seasonality can skew the metric. And the growth was 35 percent in the year-earlier quarter, but Pandora has shifted the timing of its quarterly calendar, so the dates of the quarters don't line up. Even without an apples-to-apples comparison, the trend is clear: The growth isn't what it used to be. Chief Financial Officer Mike Herring said the law of large numbers -- that it's simply harder to have big growth numbers when your user numbers have grown big themselves -- explains the cooling momentum.Related storiesPandora sued by record labels for copyright infringementIn Q4, Pandora posts highest profit as public company "We had all-time record hours in the first quarter. Listeners are growing; we're at a large number here," he said in an interview with CNET. "Those listeners are listening more than ever before." The number of active listeners increased 8 percent to 75.3 million.Herring dismissed the idea that competition in digital streaming music was having any effect. "We really don't see the competition affecting our numbers," he said. "Pandora is the only one who has been able to effect the numbers over time."Competition in intensifying in Pandora's universe. The company continues to lead the market, but giants like Apple and Google added new services like iTunesRadio and All Access last year. Subscription heavyweights like Spotify and upstarts like Beats' continue to gain users, and Google is said to be rolling out another subscription service through YouTube.Pandora's guidance for the second quarter ranged from breakeven to a profit of 3 cents on revenue of $213 million to $218 million. Analysts were expecting a profit of 5 cents a share on $219 million in revenue. However, for the full year, Pandora raised its guidance thanks to beating predictions in the first part of the year.In the latest three-month period, Pandora posted a loss of $28.9 million, or a 14 cents a share, compared with $38.7 million, or a 22 cents a share, a year earlier. Stripping out unusual items, its per-share loss narrowed to 13 cents from 18 cents. Revenue jumped 69 percent to $194.3 million, while revenue excluding unusual items rose to $180.1 million. In February, the company projected a first-quarter loss of 14 cents to 16 cents a share on revenue of $170 million to $176 million. Update, 1:48 p.m. PT: With executive interview, details of listener growth. Correction, 2:34 p.m. PT: The original article misstated Pandora's bottom-line guidance. Pandora expects it to range from breakeven to a 3 cent profit.
Could MetaMirror reflect future of interactive TV-
Could MetaMirror reflect future of interactive TV?
Like to get instant player stats and trivia while watching TV sports matches? MetaMirror, a concept software platform out of Ireland, would overlay such data on a secondary device, keeping your television screen free of extra clutter while you watch the big game.The product would display real-time contextual content over a "mirror" of the television broadcast that simultaneously plays on an iPad, iPhone, Netbook, or other gadget. That might make for some visual cacophony at touchdown time, but Dublin design firm Notion, which came up with the idea, insists that it's a seamless way to connect Web and television experiences, which are becoming increasingly entwined, and make TV more like the interactive devices to which we are all becoming accustomed. "By bringing together live television, real-time contextual information, and an intuitive user interface, Meta Mirror is positioned to update television from unidirectional broadcast to two-way interaction," Notion says. It envisions several models for doing this: For sports events, that giant flat-screen on the wall would be dedicated to the game, leaving the device running MetaMirror to show real-time game info, Twitter updates, and other sports scores, which come in via XML feeds. New forms of online betting (uh-oh)/merchandising/purchasing could also be enabled.Direct links to iTunes, Ticketmaster, Wikipedia, and music Web sites could allow viewers to delve further into the music onscreen (click to enlarge).Notion Music broadcasts could be enriched by track names, album details, and artist information, while direct links to iTunes, Ticketmaster, Wikipedia, and music Web sites could enable viewers to delve further into the music.For lifestyle shows, meanwhile, onscreen objects--that seersucker swatch recommended by Martha Stewart, say--could become clickable and tied in with third-party shopping plug-ins for easy online buying from the couch. The MetaMirror concept does raise a question that popped up as soon as we first got sight of Google TV, a technology that will be built into TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, and other devices to enable people to search the Web, watch full-screen YouTube videos, find shows on Hulu, and otherwise multitask: why is this better than just sitting in front of a TV and browsing the Web on a laptop or iPad?We'll have to wait to test this product when and if it comes out (Notion is now looking for a partner to help build functioning prototypes, says creative director Ian Walton), but at first glance, the overlay feature could offer a cool way to let viewers shift their eyes from primary device to secondary device without losing sight of their favorite program. It could make for a more smooth interactive-TV experience. And it could give antisocial tube watchers an easy way to ignore their living-room compatriots.
Like to get instant player stats and trivia while watching TV sports matches? MetaMirror, a concept software platform out of Ireland, would overlay such data on a secondary device, keeping your television screen free of extra clutter while you watch the big game.The product would display real-time contextual content over a "mirror" of the television broadcast that simultaneously plays on an iPad, iPhone, Netbook, or other gadget. That might make for some visual cacophony at touchdown time, but Dublin design firm Notion, which came up with the idea, insists that it's a seamless way to connect Web and television experiences, which are becoming increasingly entwined, and make TV more like the interactive devices to which we are all becoming accustomed. "By bringing together live television, real-time contextual information, and an intuitive user interface, Meta Mirror is positioned to update television from unidirectional broadcast to two-way interaction," Notion says. It envisions several models for doing this: For sports events, that giant flat-screen on the wall would be dedicated to the game, leaving the device running MetaMirror to show real-time game info, Twitter updates, and other sports scores, which come in via XML feeds. New forms of online betting (uh-oh)/merchandising/purchasing could also be enabled.Direct links to iTunes, Ticketmaster, Wikipedia, and music Web sites could allow viewers to delve further into the music onscreen (click to enlarge).Notion Music broadcasts could be enriched by track names, album details, and artist information, while direct links to iTunes, Ticketmaster, Wikipedia, and music Web sites could enable viewers to delve further into the music.For lifestyle shows, meanwhile, onscreen objects--that seersucker swatch recommended by Martha Stewart, say--could become clickable and tied in with third-party shopping plug-ins for easy online buying from the couch. The MetaMirror concept does raise a question that popped up as soon as we first got sight of Google TV, a technology that will be built into TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, and other devices to enable people to search the Web, watch full-screen YouTube videos, find shows on Hulu, and otherwise multitask: why is this better than just sitting in front of a TV and browsing the Web on a laptop or iPad?We'll have to wait to test this product when and if it comes out (Notion is now looking for a partner to help build functioning prototypes, says creative director Ian Walton), but at first glance, the overlay feature could offer a cool way to let viewers shift their eyes from primary device to secondary device without losing sight of their favorite program. It could make for a more smooth interactive-TV experience. And it could give antisocial tube watchers an easy way to ignore their living-room compatriots.
The 404 540- Where we find out if that's your REAL name (podcast)
The 404 540: Where we find out if that's your REAL name (podcast)
Today's episode of The 404 Podcast starts off with a intimate glimpse into Justin's mind, so we recommend throwing on some goggles before watching. He reveals that his name was initially supposed to be Jonathan, but due to complications surrounding the pronunciation of his name, the doctor just shortened it to the simpler-sounding Justin. Jeff also has a funny story about his father's name, and it turns out it wasn't always Sweet Lou! It's Thursday, so you know what that means: Natali Del Conte joins the fun and adds a valuable female perspective on our motley crew. We've been talking about the Sony PlayStation Move since it debuted at last week's Game Developers Conference, and Sony just announced its first Move commercial, brought to you by...the future. The video features a very Colberian Kevin Butler, the PlayStation's VP of Realistic Movements, who takes sarcastic shots at Nintendo and Microsoft in the very distant future (November 2010).We could spend an entire show on this next topic, a list of 10 things women do that turn men off. It's all in good fun and we're obviously generalizing, but we're finding it hard to dispute the irritations that writer Brendan Tapley brings up, including "assuming we know what you want us to do," "smothering instead of mothering," and "over-sharing." Thanks to NDC for sticking around to keep us in check!Finally, a new study in the latest Retrevo Gadgetology Report (gadgetology?) anecdotally shows that one in 10 people under 25 would pause coitus to check their social networking updates, which begs the question: is Facebook better than sex?Short answer: No, dude. Long answer: Listen to the show!EPISODE 540PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video 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.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Today's episode of The 404 Podcast starts off with a intimate glimpse into Justin's mind, so we recommend throwing on some goggles before watching. He reveals that his name was initially supposed to be Jonathan, but due to complications surrounding the pronunciation of his name, the doctor just shortened it to the simpler-sounding Justin. Jeff also has a funny story about his father's name, and it turns out it wasn't always Sweet Lou! It's Thursday, so you know what that means: Natali Del Conte joins the fun and adds a valuable female perspective on our motley crew. We've been talking about the Sony PlayStation Move since it debuted at last week's Game Developers Conference, and Sony just announced its first Move commercial, brought to you by...the future. The video features a very Colberian Kevin Butler, the PlayStation's VP of Realistic Movements, who takes sarcastic shots at Nintendo and Microsoft in the very distant future (November 2010).We could spend an entire show on this next topic, a list of 10 things women do that turn men off. It's all in good fun and we're obviously generalizing, but we're finding it hard to dispute the irritations that writer Brendan Tapley brings up, including "assuming we know what you want us to do," "smothering instead of mothering," and "over-sharing." Thanks to NDC for sticking around to keep us in check!Finally, a new study in the latest Retrevo Gadgetology Report (gadgetology?) anecdotally shows that one in 10 people under 25 would pause coitus to check their social networking updates, which begs the question: is Facebook better than sex?Short answer: No, dude. Long answer: Listen to the show!EPISODE 540PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video 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.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Music app Shazam gets new Facebook features
Music app Shazam gets new Facebook features
Shazam, the mobile application that has enthralled millions of listeners with its ability to detect and identify a song--largely ending the need to Google lyrics--has gotten a little bit more social. Namely, the latest update to its iPhone app (and soon Android app) added Facebook integration, which wouldn't be a terribly big deal except that the social music space continues to be so interesting to watch.Now, when you "tag" a song by running it through the Shazam system to identify it, or just open up the app for browsing purposes, you have an option called "Shazam Friends" that lets you see a feed of songs that your Facebook friends have tagged lately. This makes it significantly easier to navigate friends' individual song discoveries--something that a new music-sharing app that launched to positive buzz at SXSW earlier this month, Soundtracking, has as its centerpiece--and may mean that people will now start spending time on the Shazam app for reasons other than identifying the soundtrack to the local Urban Outfitters store."Our new feature not only allows Shazamers to see what their friends on Facebook are tagging, but they can also listen to the track and go on to purchase it," Shazam CEO Andrew Fisher said in a statement. "Shazam Friends is an exciting new feature for our community of Shazamers, that will make it easier than ever before to learn about new music and share those moments."The app already had basic Facebook and Twitter share buttons (as does a competitor, SoundHound), but basic social-media sharing for music hasn't had the best track record of late--iTunes Ping, after a much-hyped launch, has turned out to be one of Apple's more disappointing product offerings in terms of usage and uptake.Three million songs are "Shazammed" each day, the company said. Its app was initially a free download, but in late 2009 the company restricted the number of songs that could be "tagged" for free and started charging for the full version.
Shazam, the mobile application that has enthralled millions of listeners with its ability to detect and identify a song--largely ending the need to Google lyrics--has gotten a little bit more social. Namely, the latest update to its iPhone app (and soon Android app) added Facebook integration, which wouldn't be a terribly big deal except that the social music space continues to be so interesting to watch.Now, when you "tag" a song by running it through the Shazam system to identify it, or just open up the app for browsing purposes, you have an option called "Shazam Friends" that lets you see a feed of songs that your Facebook friends have tagged lately. This makes it significantly easier to navigate friends' individual song discoveries--something that a new music-sharing app that launched to positive buzz at SXSW earlier this month, Soundtracking, has as its centerpiece--and may mean that people will now start spending time on the Shazam app for reasons other than identifying the soundtrack to the local Urban Outfitters store."Our new feature not only allows Shazamers to see what their friends on Facebook are tagging, but they can also listen to the track and go on to purchase it," Shazam CEO Andrew Fisher said in a statement. "Shazam Friends is an exciting new feature for our community of Shazamers, that will make it easier than ever before to learn about new music and share those moments."The app already had basic Facebook and Twitter share buttons (as does a competitor, SoundHound), but basic social-media sharing for music hasn't had the best track record of late--iTunes Ping, after a much-hyped launch, has turned out to be one of Apple's more disappointing product offerings in terms of usage and uptake.Three million songs are "Shazammed" each day, the company said. Its app was initially a free download, but in late 2009 the company restricted the number of songs that could be "tagged" for free and started charging for the full version.
Google changes tempo of music approach
Google changes tempo of music approach
Harry Fox licenses mechanical and digital rights for thousands of publishers. Last month, CNET reported that Google could launch a music service this fall. Google declined to comment for this story.Launching a music service would be simple if all Google intended to do was offer digital downloads or a subscription service. But Google has more ambitious plans to strike an unprecedented cloud-music licensing deal with the four major record companies, music industry sources told CNET. That is why music industry insiders believe Google went outside for legal help. The cloud is supposed to represent the next step in the evolution of digital media services. Apple and Google have both discussed building cloud services for both film and music, according to numerous sources at the major movie studios and record labels. Each company has discussed hosting their users' media on their servers. Users could then access their movies, music, and e-books from Web-connected devices. At this point, Google appears further along in launching a cloud service than Apple, sources said. To reach an agreement on cloud music will not be easy. The labels have yet to license music rights for the kind of offerings that Google and Apple are said to be working on. "There's no template," said one music source. "They're going to be starting from scratch and that's not easy." What that means is that if negotiations go poorly, they could conceivably delay the launch offering until next year. But Moody could help speed things up. She has worked for years with tech-music guru Fred Davis at the firm of Davis Shapiro, Lewit & Hayes, a firm that has represented such services as Spotify, MySpace Music, iMeem, MOG, iLike, Bebo and Playlist, according to TechCrunch. Moody knows all the major players at the big record companies and is well respected, sources said.Coming up with a cloud deal won't be Moody's only chore at Google. Some of YouTube's licensing deals that enable users to incorporate songs from the major labels into their videos are coming up for renewal.
Harry Fox licenses mechanical and digital rights for thousands of publishers. Last month, CNET reported that Google could launch a music service this fall. Google declined to comment for this story.Launching a music service would be simple if all Google intended to do was offer digital downloads or a subscription service. But Google has more ambitious plans to strike an unprecedented cloud-music licensing deal with the four major record companies, music industry sources told CNET. That is why music industry insiders believe Google went outside for legal help. The cloud is supposed to represent the next step in the evolution of digital media services. Apple and Google have both discussed building cloud services for both film and music, according to numerous sources at the major movie studios and record labels. Each company has discussed hosting their users' media on their servers. Users could then access their movies, music, and e-books from Web-connected devices. At this point, Google appears further along in launching a cloud service than Apple, sources said. To reach an agreement on cloud music will not be easy. The labels have yet to license music rights for the kind of offerings that Google and Apple are said to be working on. "There's no template," said one music source. "They're going to be starting from scratch and that's not easy." What that means is that if negotiations go poorly, they could conceivably delay the launch offering until next year. But Moody could help speed things up. She has worked for years with tech-music guru Fred Davis at the firm of Davis Shapiro, Lewit & Hayes, a firm that has represented such services as Spotify, MySpace Music, iMeem, MOG, iLike, Bebo and Playlist, according to TechCrunch. Moody knows all the major players at the big record companies and is well respected, sources said.Coming up with a cloud deal won't be Moody's only chore at Google. Some of YouTube's licensing deals that enable users to incorporate songs from the major labels into their videos are coming up for renewal.
Gmail push on iPhone- Meet GPush
Gmail push on iPhone? Meet GPush
The arrival of push notification in Apple's 3.0 iPhone software whipped up excitement, though its real-world application still left users wanting more. On Monday, Tiverias Apps released GPush, a small (0.3MB), 99-cent application that fills in a gap with push notification for your Gmail account. GPush alerts you to incoming Gmail messages with a red icon badge, a chime, and a semitransparent alert window that reads the sender's name and the subject line. (You can change these in the Notification settings.) The application interface itself does little, apart from collecting your log-in information once, and manually reregistering your credentials. All the rest works behind the scenes.How did GPush do? Fair, in our tests, but not worthy of the hype we've seen elsewhere. Many alerts for incoming e-mails came through, either after sliding the phone to wake it from sleep, or while actively using the iPhone. However, many other messages lagged or weren't passed down from the server at all, though they still showed up in the Mail box.GPush's developers said in a phone call that there could be issues if the phone frequently switches between Wi-Fi and 3G data and loses the data connection. During these moments of instability, GPush will queue the new messages for notifications. When the iPhone regains its service, GPush sends out only the most recent notification, an Apple limitation to keep alerts from flooding your screen. If you rely on Gmail, GPush is probably worth the dollar for the risk, particularly if it's not your habit to incessantly check your in-box. PushMail ($4.99) is a competitor, another third-party workaround in the iTunes App Store, though it differs. Pushmail sends along any e-mail redirected to your "dopushmail.com" address, not just inbound Gmail messages. It takes more setup and maintenance work since you'll need to forward messages to a different account e-mail, but for those who crave privacy above all else, avoiding giving up your password and log-in may be worth the extra cost and setup. GPush is available now in the iTunes store for 99 cents.
The arrival of push notification in Apple's 3.0 iPhone software whipped up excitement, though its real-world application still left users wanting more. On Monday, Tiverias Apps released GPush, a small (0.3MB), 99-cent application that fills in a gap with push notification for your Gmail account. GPush alerts you to incoming Gmail messages with a red icon badge, a chime, and a semitransparent alert window that reads the sender's name and the subject line. (You can change these in the Notification settings.) The application interface itself does little, apart from collecting your log-in information once, and manually reregistering your credentials. All the rest works behind the scenes.How did GPush do? Fair, in our tests, but not worthy of the hype we've seen elsewhere. Many alerts for incoming e-mails came through, either after sliding the phone to wake it from sleep, or while actively using the iPhone. However, many other messages lagged or weren't passed down from the server at all, though they still showed up in the Mail box.GPush's developers said in a phone call that there could be issues if the phone frequently switches between Wi-Fi and 3G data and loses the data connection. During these moments of instability, GPush will queue the new messages for notifications. When the iPhone regains its service, GPush sends out only the most recent notification, an Apple limitation to keep alerts from flooding your screen. If you rely on Gmail, GPush is probably worth the dollar for the risk, particularly if it's not your habit to incessantly check your in-box. PushMail ($4.99) is a competitor, another third-party workaround in the iTunes App Store, though it differs. Pushmail sends along any e-mail redirected to your "dopushmail.com" address, not just inbound Gmail messages. It takes more setup and maintenance work since you'll need to forward messages to a different account e-mail, but for those who crave privacy above all else, avoiding giving up your password and log-in may be worth the extra cost and setup. GPush is available now in the iTunes store for 99 cents.
iPhone 5 order- 15 million for Sept. launch, report says
iPhone 5 order: 15 million for Sept. launch, report says
Citing sources from upstream component makers, DigiTimes said that Taiwan-based notebook maker Pegatron Technology received the new orders from Apple.Pegatron was responsible for shipping Verizon's CDMA version of the iPhone 4, but it reportedly had to cut back on its production due to sluggish demand for the phone. The company had ramped up its facilities and plants to handle orders for 10 million CDMA iPhone 4 units, but it shipped less than 4 million, taking a bite out of its bottom line, according to DigiTimes.To ramp up production of the iPhone 5, component makers have already been sending parts to Pegatron's plants in Shanghai, while Pegatron has been hiring more personnel, added the sources.The iPhone 5, also referred to as the iPhone 4S by DigiTimes, does not seem to include any major updates from the current iPhone 4, according to the sources. Rumors have been flying lately as to when the next iPhone would be released and whether it would be a major upgrade from the current version. Some sources, including Morgan Stanley and Bloomberg, have also cited September as the likely launch date for the next model iPhone.But there's been disagreement over whether the new iPhone would present a major revamp. Jefferies & Co. analyst Peter Misek believes it will be a minor update over the iPhone 4, also referring to it as an iPhone 4S. J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz is predicting an an iPhone "4 plus," a unit with some improvements but no major changes.However, Bloomberg and other sources still expect the next iPhone to sport several significant changes.
Citing sources from upstream component makers, DigiTimes said that Taiwan-based notebook maker Pegatron Technology received the new orders from Apple.Pegatron was responsible for shipping Verizon's CDMA version of the iPhone 4, but it reportedly had to cut back on its production due to sluggish demand for the phone. The company had ramped up its facilities and plants to handle orders for 10 million CDMA iPhone 4 units, but it shipped less than 4 million, taking a bite out of its bottom line, according to DigiTimes.To ramp up production of the iPhone 5, component makers have already been sending parts to Pegatron's plants in Shanghai, while Pegatron has been hiring more personnel, added the sources.The iPhone 5, also referred to as the iPhone 4S by DigiTimes, does not seem to include any major updates from the current iPhone 4, according to the sources. Rumors have been flying lately as to when the next iPhone would be released and whether it would be a major upgrade from the current version. Some sources, including Morgan Stanley and Bloomberg, have also cited September as the likely launch date for the next model iPhone.But there's been disagreement over whether the new iPhone would present a major revamp. Jefferies & Co. analyst Peter Misek believes it will be a minor update over the iPhone 4, also referring to it as an iPhone 4S. J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz is predicting an an iPhone "4 plus," a unit with some improvements but no major changes.However, Bloomberg and other sources still expect the next iPhone to sport several significant changes.
iPhone 5 leaked photos show tall white frame with center camera
iPhone 5 leaked photos show tall white frame with center camera
Possible images of the next-generation iPhone continue to pop up online, with the latest allegedly revealing a peek at the front frame.Two photos merged into one image posted by Taiwan-based blog Apple.pro display a white frame and the same white frame flipped over to reveal its back. 9to5Mac says the image is the first peek of a white front frame for the upcoming iPhone.The width of the alleged frame is apparently the same as that of the iPhone 4S, according to Apple.pro, but the length is greater. That description follows several reports this year claiming that the next iPhone will receive a bump up in screen size to 4 inches from the current 3.5 inches. The screen would offer an aspect ratio of 16:9, with Apple increasing the length of the phone but maintaining the current width.Related storiesiPhone 5 rumor roundupWhat if iPhone 5 isn't called 'iPhone' at all?iPhone 5 'already in production,' says Japan-based blogAt it again: Sellers in China offer iPhone 5 preordersThe phone's FaceTime camera also is located at the top center, according to the image, as opposed to the top left of center on the iPhone 4S.The iPhone 5 itself has reportedly already gone into production, according to Japanese blog Macotakara, which says that cases for the next-gen model have been spotted by China's Alibaba.com Web site.The next iPhone is expected to launch in early fall, either in September or October.
Possible images of the next-generation iPhone continue to pop up online, with the latest allegedly revealing a peek at the front frame.Two photos merged into one image posted by Taiwan-based blog Apple.pro display a white frame and the same white frame flipped over to reveal its back. 9to5Mac says the image is the first peek of a white front frame for the upcoming iPhone.The width of the alleged frame is apparently the same as that of the iPhone 4S, according to Apple.pro, but the length is greater. That description follows several reports this year claiming that the next iPhone will receive a bump up in screen size to 4 inches from the current 3.5 inches. The screen would offer an aspect ratio of 16:9, with Apple increasing the length of the phone but maintaining the current width.Related storiesiPhone 5 rumor roundupWhat if iPhone 5 isn't called 'iPhone' at all?iPhone 5 'already in production,' says Japan-based blogAt it again: Sellers in China offer iPhone 5 preordersThe phone's FaceTime camera also is located at the top center, according to the image, as opposed to the top left of center on the iPhone 4S.The iPhone 5 itself has reportedly already gone into production, according to Japanese blog Macotakara, which says that cases for the next-gen model have been spotted by China's Alibaba.com Web site.The next iPhone is expected to launch in early fall, either in September or October.
iPad- Yankees say no, minors team says yes
iPad: Yankees say no, minors team says yes
The New York Yankees made tech news earlier this week when it was confirmed that the most successful baseball team in history wouldn't be allowing fans to bring Apple's iPad to games at the New Yankee Stadium. In response, a minor league team announced this week that it will welcome iPad owners with open arms.The Hudson Valley Renegades, a class-A Tampa Bay Rays affiliate, released a statement earlier this week confirming that it would allow Apple's iPad into its stadium. Even better, the team said that on every Monday game during the season, fans will be able to bring their iPads to the ballpark and get a free ticket. It gets better. The team will even open a ReTweet booth where fans can "get assistance with setting up or updating their social-media networking sites, such as Twitter, Foursquare, and Facebook.""Technology is constantly evolving and enhancing the way fans are able to follow the game," General Manager Eben Yager said in a statement. "This season we are focusing on the fan experience, and utilizing this new technology at the ballpark [allows] fans to do everything from watch a Major League game to checking stats on former Renegades players only improves the fan's experience. It allows everyone to be their own fan."The Renegades' decision to allow iPads into its stadium was a direct response to the New York Yankees deciding that Apple's tablet fell under its "No laptops" policy.Monday games at the Renegades' Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., start on June 21.
The New York Yankees made tech news earlier this week when it was confirmed that the most successful baseball team in history wouldn't be allowing fans to bring Apple's iPad to games at the New Yankee Stadium. In response, a minor league team announced this week that it will welcome iPad owners with open arms.The Hudson Valley Renegades, a class-A Tampa Bay Rays affiliate, released a statement earlier this week confirming that it would allow Apple's iPad into its stadium. Even better, the team said that on every Monday game during the season, fans will be able to bring their iPads to the ballpark and get a free ticket. It gets better. The team will even open a ReTweet booth where fans can "get assistance with setting up or updating their social-media networking sites, such as Twitter, Foursquare, and Facebook.""Technology is constantly evolving and enhancing the way fans are able to follow the game," General Manager Eben Yager said in a statement. "This season we are focusing on the fan experience, and utilizing this new technology at the ballpark [allows] fans to do everything from watch a Major League game to checking stats on former Renegades players only improves the fan's experience. It allows everyone to be their own fan."The Renegades' decision to allow iPads into its stadium was a direct response to the New York Yankees deciding that Apple's tablet fell under its "No laptops" policy.Monday games at the Renegades' Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., start on June 21.
iPad with improved display to launch this fall-
iPad with improved display to launch this fall?
Apple is planning to launch a new iPad "at the end of the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter," according to DigiTimes.Apple will reportedly call the new device the iPad 2 Plus, the Taiwan-based news site said today, citing anonymous sources. For now, details on the rumored device are slim, but the publication said it could be thinner than the iPad 2 and come with an improved display.Other recent rumors have also suggested that an updated tablet will feature a high-quality screen. Last week, This Is My Next said Apple's upcoming "iPad HD" tablet could feature a 2,048x1,536 resolution display. The tech enthusiast site reported that the iPad HD would be sold alongside the current iPad 2."The idea behind the product is apparently that it will be a 'pro' device aimed at a higher-end market--folks who work in video and photo production possibly--and will be introduced alongside something like an iPad version of Final Cut or Aperture," This Is My Next said at the time.DigiTimes' claim that the new iPad might also feature a thinner body is somewhat surprising. When Apple launched the iPad 2 earlier this year, the company touted how thin its tablet is. According to Apple, its latest iPad is just 0.34 inch thick. Whether Apple could make its next iPad even thinner remains to be seen.Either way, as with all other Apple rumors, be sure to take this latest report with a grain of salt: Apple has so far made no indication that it's launching another iPad later this year.Apple did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment.
Apple is planning to launch a new iPad "at the end of the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter," according to DigiTimes.Apple will reportedly call the new device the iPad 2 Plus, the Taiwan-based news site said today, citing anonymous sources. For now, details on the rumored device are slim, but the publication said it could be thinner than the iPad 2 and come with an improved display.Other recent rumors have also suggested that an updated tablet will feature a high-quality screen. Last week, This Is My Next said Apple's upcoming "iPad HD" tablet could feature a 2,048x1,536 resolution display. The tech enthusiast site reported that the iPad HD would be sold alongside the current iPad 2."The idea behind the product is apparently that it will be a 'pro' device aimed at a higher-end market--folks who work in video and photo production possibly--and will be introduced alongside something like an iPad version of Final Cut or Aperture," This Is My Next said at the time.DigiTimes' claim that the new iPad might also feature a thinner body is somewhat surprising. When Apple launched the iPad 2 earlier this year, the company touted how thin its tablet is. According to Apple, its latest iPad is just 0.34 inch thick. Whether Apple could make its next iPad even thinner remains to be seen.Either way, as with all other Apple rumors, be sure to take this latest report with a grain of salt: Apple has so far made no indication that it's launching another iPad later this year.Apple did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment.
iPad users finally get Skype app
iPad users finally get Skype app
iPad users can finally get their hands on a native Skype app. For real. More than a month after it was expected to make its official debut, the iPad-optimized Skype client began appearing in Apple App Stores on August 1. The new app takes advantage of the tablet's larger screen real estate, making for crisp and clear video chat over Wi-Fi, and often less crisp chat over 3G.However, not long after the app appeared, Skype pulled it, saying it was released prematurely. "To ensure your best Skype experience, we've temporarily removed Skype for iPad which went live prematurely today," Skype said on its Twitter feed. "We know you've been eagerly awaiting Skype for iPad and apologize for the inconvenience."Then some hours later, on the morning of August 2, Skype proclaimed again that Skype is available for download.Skype had whetted iPad owners' appetite in June when it posted a video of its not-yet-released iPad application to its YouTube channel before quickly setting it to private. The video demos the application's video chat capabilities, which rival that of Apple's built-in FaceTime service with a window for both the person you're chatting with, and one to view yourself in. Also included is standard phone dialing and integrated text-chat, the latter of which can be used during a video chat. The big difference from Apple's own FaceTime service is that Skype's application brings video chat over 3G networks. FaceTime currently only works over Wi-Fi, something Apple has said will change eventually.CNET's Josh Lowensohn contributed to this report.Read CNET's hands-on review of the app from June.Updated at 10:15 p.m. PT on Aug. 1 to reflect app being pulled from store, and then again at 8:17 a.m. on Aug. 2 after Skype again said that the app is available.
iPad users can finally get their hands on a native Skype app. For real. More than a month after it was expected to make its official debut, the iPad-optimized Skype client began appearing in Apple App Stores on August 1. The new app takes advantage of the tablet's larger screen real estate, making for crisp and clear video chat over Wi-Fi, and often less crisp chat over 3G.However, not long after the app appeared, Skype pulled it, saying it was released prematurely. "To ensure your best Skype experience, we've temporarily removed Skype for iPad which went live prematurely today," Skype said on its Twitter feed. "We know you've been eagerly awaiting Skype for iPad and apologize for the inconvenience."Then some hours later, on the morning of August 2, Skype proclaimed again that Skype is available for download.Skype had whetted iPad owners' appetite in June when it posted a video of its not-yet-released iPad application to its YouTube channel before quickly setting it to private. The video demos the application's video chat capabilities, which rival that of Apple's built-in FaceTime service with a window for both the person you're chatting with, and one to view yourself in. Also included is standard phone dialing and integrated text-chat, the latter of which can be used during a video chat. The big difference from Apple's own FaceTime service is that Skype's application brings video chat over 3G networks. FaceTime currently only works over Wi-Fi, something Apple has said will change eventually.CNET's Josh Lowensohn contributed to this report.Read CNET's hands-on review of the app from June.Updated at 10:15 p.m. PT on Aug. 1 to reflect app being pulled from store, and then again at 8:17 a.m. on Aug. 2 after Skype again said that the app is available.
iPad owners older and richer than other tablet owners, says study
iPad owners older and richer than other tablet owners, says study
Own an iPad? Then there's a good chance you're old and rich, uh, well, at least older and richer than other tablet owners.A new study from the folks at NPD Group claims that iPad owners tend to be older and make more money than their non-iPad peers. Among the people polled who bring home an income of $100,000 or more, 40 percent were iPad owners while only 26 percent owned other types of tablets.Those buying tablets toward the end of 2011 were 50 percent more likely to have an income less than $45,000, while 33 percent were more likely to be under 34 years old.Whatever their ages and incomes, tablet buyers still see the need for the old-fashioned PC.Only 10 percent of the tablet owners surveyed said they don't need a laptop. Among those who don't already own a tablet, 18 percent said they plan to buy one this year, but 26 percent are looking to pick up a laptop."Even as consumers increasingly use tablets for tasks that were once exclusively done on their PC, they continue to plan new PC purchases," NPD analyst Stephen Baker said in a statement. "Usage is still evolving and most people, being inherently conservative in their device outlook, continue to hedge their bets on their device preference by planning to maintain an array of products to afford them maximum flexibility."To compile its study, NPD surveyed around 4,700 people in December. Out of the group, 3,600 were tablet owners with 2,570 of them iPad owners and 1,030 owners of other tablets.Updated 12:30 p.m. PT with details on the number of people surveyed.
Own an iPad? Then there's a good chance you're old and rich, uh, well, at least older and richer than other tablet owners.A new study from the folks at NPD Group claims that iPad owners tend to be older and make more money than their non-iPad peers. Among the people polled who bring home an income of $100,000 or more, 40 percent were iPad owners while only 26 percent owned other types of tablets.Those buying tablets toward the end of 2011 were 50 percent more likely to have an income less than $45,000, while 33 percent were more likely to be under 34 years old.Whatever their ages and incomes, tablet buyers still see the need for the old-fashioned PC.Only 10 percent of the tablet owners surveyed said they don't need a laptop. Among those who don't already own a tablet, 18 percent said they plan to buy one this year, but 26 percent are looking to pick up a laptop."Even as consumers increasingly use tablets for tasks that were once exclusively done on their PC, they continue to plan new PC purchases," NPD analyst Stephen Baker said in a statement. "Usage is still evolving and most people, being inherently conservative in their device outlook, continue to hedge their bets on their device preference by planning to maintain an array of products to afford them maximum flexibility."To compile its study, NPD surveyed around 4,700 people in December. Out of the group, 3,600 were tablet owners with 2,570 of them iPad owners and 1,030 owners of other tablets.Updated 12:30 p.m. PT with details on the number of people surveyed.
iPad Mini won't eat into its big brother's sales, analyst says
iPad Mini won't eat into its big brother's sales, analyst says
Apple's iPad Mini won't cannibalize too many fourth-generation iPad sales, a new study has found.Analyst Cowen and Co. recently conducted a survey of 1,225 U.S. adults on their upcoming tablet buying preferences. According to All Things Digital, which obtained a copy of the survey's results, just 12 percent of respondents said that they would buy an iPad Mini within the next 18 months. Out of that group, just 16.6 percent said that they were buying the tablet to replace it with another tablet. Moreover, just 29 percent of those folks said that the tablet they were replacing was an iPad.Given that, Cowen analyst Matthew Hoffman argued that the "iPad Mini creates more demand than it cannibalizes."Not all analysts would be quick to agree. Last month, for example, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster wrote to investors that the iPad Mini will have a 20 percent cannibalization rate."For every five million smaller iPad [sales], you lose one million standard iPads," Munster said.Munster said last week that he still believes the iPad Mini will "have a slight cannibalization effect" on Apple's larger slate, adding that his checks seemed to indicate 90 percent of customers waiting in line for the new Apple products were actually looking to buy the iPad Mini rather than the full-sized iPad.Still, the iPad Mini won't have the biggest impact on the iPad. According to Cowen, 42 percent of iPad Mini buyers plan to replace a Windows PC. Another 13 percent of iPad Mini owners will ditch an Amazon Kindle Fire.One other interesting tidbit from the Cowen study: 52 percent of iPad Mini buyers currently don't even own a tablet.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Apple's iPad Mini won't cannibalize too many fourth-generation iPad sales, a new study has found.Analyst Cowen and Co. recently conducted a survey of 1,225 U.S. adults on their upcoming tablet buying preferences. According to All Things Digital, which obtained a copy of the survey's results, just 12 percent of respondents said that they would buy an iPad Mini within the next 18 months. Out of that group, just 16.6 percent said that they were buying the tablet to replace it with another tablet. Moreover, just 29 percent of those folks said that the tablet they were replacing was an iPad.Given that, Cowen analyst Matthew Hoffman argued that the "iPad Mini creates more demand than it cannibalizes."Not all analysts would be quick to agree. Last month, for example, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster wrote to investors that the iPad Mini will have a 20 percent cannibalization rate."For every five million smaller iPad [sales], you lose one million standard iPads," Munster said.Munster said last week that he still believes the iPad Mini will "have a slight cannibalization effect" on Apple's larger slate, adding that his checks seemed to indicate 90 percent of customers waiting in line for the new Apple products were actually looking to buy the iPad Mini rather than the full-sized iPad.Still, the iPad Mini won't have the biggest impact on the iPad. According to Cowen, 42 percent of iPad Mini buyers plan to replace a Windows PC. Another 13 percent of iPad Mini owners will ditch an Amazon Kindle Fire.One other interesting tidbit from the Cowen study: 52 percent of iPad Mini buyers currently don't even own a tablet.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 may be looking to smarten up its Genius Bars
Apple could be changing how its brick-and-mortar stores are laid out, according to a new report.Apple Store tracker ifoAppleStore.com reported yesterday that Apple is currently testing out a new Genius Bar layout in its stores. Rather than have the table run parallel to the wall at the back of the store, the company is considering turning it 90 degrees to make it perpendicular to that wall.The blog claims to have obtained an image of the new layout, which shows a table stretched from the back wall, and flanked on two sides with stools. That effectively increases the number of stools for customers and would theoretically increase customer "throughput" at Genius Bars.It's not clear whether Apple has decided to make this change in a single store or if it's testing the new layout for use in all locations. One odd consequence is that the redesign also appears to nix the kids section in some stores, which is popular among children and parents alike.As Apple sells more products, the Genius Bar will play an increasingly important role in after-sale care. To maintain status quo and not increase capacity could be an issue for Apple and its crowded Genius Bars.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the image. We will update this story when we have more information.
Apple marketing chief takes to the stand, briefly
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Testimony from Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, was cut short today, but not before the executive made claims that the company did not rely on market research."We don't use any customer surveys, focus groups, or typical things of that nature," Schiller said. "That plays no role in the creation of the products."The claims come on the heels of court filings unearthed earlier this month that show Apple's internal market research from May of last year. That study focused on iPhone owners, asking them specifically why they purchased an iPhone over competing products. Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs famously denounced market research, saying "it's hard for customers to tell you what they want when they've never seen anything remotely like it." On the stand, Schiller took a similar line."We never go and ask the customer 'what features do you want in the next product?'" he said. "It's not the customer's job to know. We that accumulate ourselves." Schiller is the highest ranking Apple officer to testify in the trial against Samsung, which has both companies swinging patent-infringement claims at each other. The trial, which kicked off after jury selection yesterday, is slated to last four weeks. Schiller continues his testimony this Friday when court is back in session.
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