How to convert video for the iPod
A key draw of the iPod as a portable video player (PVP) is the fact that its complementing software, iTunes, offers a cheap, easy, and legal way to get content that will play on the device. But what if you already own the video files you'd like to watch, but they're in any variety of formats that aren't natively supported by the iPod? iTunes has a built-in converter, but then you'd be limited to the file types that QuickTime supports. If you want the capability to convert from the full gamut of video file types, check out the tip below.A note before starting: There's quite a selection of free software programs available that convert from nearly every file type to an iPod-friendly format, but many of the ones I tried in the service of this tutorial had drawbacks, such as processor hang ups and unclear conversion progress monitoring. In testing, I found that Videora didn't choke up my system, and it's so clear on its own that you'll scarcely need to follow this tutorial. If nothing else, the walkthrough below will at least give you a feel for the interface--including the extensive ad placement that lets you enjoy the software for free.Cost: FreeLevel: BeginnerTime commitment: Varies, but figure on about one hour per hour of video (unmonitored)System requirements: WindowsDownload and install Videora iPod ConverterOpen Videora and select your iPod type. If you have more than one iPod, start with the one you use most for video. You can adjust settings later for different players. Add videos Click the Convert button at the top of the window, then select the Video File tab. Select user profileClick Normal Mode for the least amount of tweaking on your part. You can always go under the settings tab to adjust video output type, should you choose. For the iPod Touch (or iPhone), videos are automatically converted to H.264 at 480x320. For the iPod Classic or Nano, videos will be H.264 QVGA.Add videoClick Select File, then navigate to the window that contains the video that you want to convert.Select output directoryClick Browse, then navigate to the folder where you want your output file saved. I have a specific folder named iPod Videos for such purposes. Click Next.Name the videoType in a name for the video. This is how the title will be displayed on your iPod. Click Next.Adjust video settingsThe better the video quality you select, the larger the output file will be. I left the settings as is and the result was passable when played back on the iPod. Click Next.Convert videoClick Start Converting.Monitor progress You'll be taken to a screen with two options. Click View Conversion in Process. You can also get to the monitoring screen by clicking the Convert button at the top of the screen, and then the Progress tab.Add files to the queueRepeat steps 2 through 9, adding as many videos as you wish to convert. I recommend doing this at night before you go to bed, as the process is time consuming and slows your machine somewhat. You can check the box labeled Shutdown When Complete if you want your computer to be automatically shut down at the end of the process.Videora should automatically add the completed files to iTunes--it did for me most of the time. In the event that it fails to add a file, simply navigate to the output folder you selected and drag the file directly into the iTunes interface. Videos automatically show up under Movies unless you edit each one's information in iTunes. To do so, right click the file, select Get Info, then click the Video tab. Under the Video Kind drop-down, select the appropriate category. If it's a TV Show, you can add the show name, season number, and episode number.
5-year-old sorry for racking up $2,500 iPad bill in 10 minutes
5-year-old sorry for racking up $2,500 iPad bill in 10 minutes
Weapons cost money.This is something we hear all the time in discussions about budgets cuts. It's also something the Kitchen family discovered when they gave their little 5-year-old Danny the passcode for their iPad.Danny, you see, wanted to play Zombies vs. Ninja, a game that somehow has passed me by. Still, the future brigadier-general of the British army explained to his parents that the game was free.Greg and Sharon Kitchen of Warmley, England, were busy entertaining, so what better way to keep their little 5-year-old quiet than to bury his fascination in an iPad? As the Telegraph reports, everyone had a lovely evening.The following Monday, however, the Kitchens received 19 e-mails from iTunes. They had allegedly spent 1,710.43 British pounds (around $2,570) through the iTunes store.Oh, and then their credit card company called, reminding them of their sudden expenditure on bombs.Yes, these were virtual ecstasy bombs. But ecstasy bombs can be expensive.The Kitchens seemed to have bought a lot of virtual keys too. They had surely not been partaking of a key party.Sharon Kitchen quickly realized who the culprit was. She told the Telegraph: "I realized what happened and told Danny he'd better get ready for bed and run and hide before daddy got home. He was crying, as the rest of the children were telling him we could have bought a house with the amount he had spent."Children can be cruel, as well as expensive. Kitchen believes it was far too easy for Danny to go to town on the bombs. For his part, Danny admits to having cried and isn't even aware how he bought so much stuff.He also added: "I'm banned from the iPad now, but I am still going to play games when I can, but I will be careful now." The timing of this unfortunate incident is quite eerie. Just a couple of days ago, Apple settled a lawsuitbrought by parents who thought it far too easy for their kids to make in-app purchases.In the Kitchens' case, the company refunded the money, saying that they had alerted Apple quickly to the issue.An Apple spokesman also told the Telegraph that parental controls exist on all iOS devices. He added: "Our parents' guide to iTunes details the steps and measures parents and guardians can take to make sure younger players have access to the right content. The first thing we recommend is not to share your password." May I translate?: "You must be mad if you trust your 5-year-old with your password. Have you any idea what 5-year-olds are like?"
Weapons cost money.This is something we hear all the time in discussions about budgets cuts. It's also something the Kitchen family discovered when they gave their little 5-year-old Danny the passcode for their iPad.Danny, you see, wanted to play Zombies vs. Ninja, a game that somehow has passed me by. Still, the future brigadier-general of the British army explained to his parents that the game was free.Greg and Sharon Kitchen of Warmley, England, were busy entertaining, so what better way to keep their little 5-year-old quiet than to bury his fascination in an iPad? As the Telegraph reports, everyone had a lovely evening.The following Monday, however, the Kitchens received 19 e-mails from iTunes. They had allegedly spent 1,710.43 British pounds (around $2,570) through the iTunes store.Oh, and then their credit card company called, reminding them of their sudden expenditure on bombs.Yes, these were virtual ecstasy bombs. But ecstasy bombs can be expensive.The Kitchens seemed to have bought a lot of virtual keys too. They had surely not been partaking of a key party.Sharon Kitchen quickly realized who the culprit was. She told the Telegraph: "I realized what happened and told Danny he'd better get ready for bed and run and hide before daddy got home. He was crying, as the rest of the children were telling him we could have bought a house with the amount he had spent."Children can be cruel, as well as expensive. Kitchen believes it was far too easy for Danny to go to town on the bombs. For his part, Danny admits to having cried and isn't even aware how he bought so much stuff.He also added: "I'm banned from the iPad now, but I am still going to play games when I can, but I will be careful now." The timing of this unfortunate incident is quite eerie. Just a couple of days ago, Apple settled a lawsuitbrought by parents who thought it far too easy for their kids to make in-app purchases.In the Kitchens' case, the company refunded the money, saying that they had alerted Apple quickly to the issue.An Apple spokesman also told the Telegraph that parental controls exist on all iOS devices. He added: "Our parents' guide to iTunes details the steps and measures parents and guardians can take to make sure younger players have access to the right content. The first thing we recommend is not to share your password." May I translate?: "You must be mad if you trust your 5-year-old with your password. Have you any idea what 5-year-olds are like?"
Rapper DMX blows off ringtones, online music biz
Rapper DMX blows off ringtones, online music biz
"I don't even think about it," the multiplatinum-selling rapper told a writer for hip-hop magazine XXL in a recent interview. The response came when the journalist was trying to ask how DMX feels about music increasingly being distributed through the Internet. Here's a snippet of the interview:XXL: How do you feel about the digital--like, everything going through the Internet as far as...DMX: I don't even think about it. I don't even think about it.XXL: The music business is pretty much going in that direction.DMX: I don't know. That's just...that's probably not...People want the actual CDs not no s--- that's disposable.XXL: It's like the ringtone rappers are the guys that are selling right now. DMX: Good for them, good for them. I'm glad they eating right now. XXL: You don't feel a certain way about that. DMX: Nah, I don't even think about it, for real. I mean, it's a waste of energy to think about what somebody else is doing and how they doing it. I'ma just do what I do. All that s--- is a headache. That's the front he's showing at least, because his music is definitely available online. DMX, who's preparing to release two albums later this year, shares some tracks on his official MySpace.com page, just as so many signed and aspiring artists do.And I have to wonder, has DMX bothered to log onto Apple's iTunes store recently? I just did and found not only an ample catalog of his works, but an exclusive 15-track "Essential DMX" compilation featuring anthems like Party (Up in Here") and What's my Name?Online music, by the way, isn't the only thing that's not on DMX's mind. He apparently wasn't familiar with Barack Obama at the time of the interview in late January.
"I don't even think about it," the multiplatinum-selling rapper told a writer for hip-hop magazine XXL in a recent interview. The response came when the journalist was trying to ask how DMX feels about music increasingly being distributed through the Internet. Here's a snippet of the interview:XXL: How do you feel about the digital--like, everything going through the Internet as far as...DMX: I don't even think about it. I don't even think about it.XXL: The music business is pretty much going in that direction.DMX: I don't know. That's just...that's probably not...People want the actual CDs not no s--- that's disposable.XXL: It's like the ringtone rappers are the guys that are selling right now. DMX: Good for them, good for them. I'm glad they eating right now. XXL: You don't feel a certain way about that. DMX: Nah, I don't even think about it, for real. I mean, it's a waste of energy to think about what somebody else is doing and how they doing it. I'ma just do what I do. All that s--- is a headache. That's the front he's showing at least, because his music is definitely available online. DMX, who's preparing to release two albums later this year, shares some tracks on his official MySpace.com page, just as so many signed and aspiring artists do.And I have to wonder, has DMX bothered to log onto Apple's iTunes store recently? I just did and found not only an ample catalog of his works, but an exclusive 15-track "Essential DMX" compilation featuring anthems like Party (Up in Here") and What's my Name?Online music, by the way, isn't the only thing that's not on DMX's mind. He apparently wasn't familiar with Barack Obama at the time of the interview in late January.
Google sued over kids racking up in-app purchases
Google sued over kids racking up in-app purchases
Not two months after details emerged about the US$32.5 million Apple will be required to pay in damages to parents as part of a US Federal Trade Commission settlement over in-app purchases, Google has landed in the same pot of hot water.A class action has been filed by Ilana Imber-Gluck, whose five-year-old son spent US$65 on in-game currency in the game Marvel Run Jump Smash!, currently available on Google Play for AU$0.99. The suit alleges that Google targets children with low-cost or free-to-download games, then entices them to make purchases within the game without the authorisation of a parent or guardian.The core of Imber-Gluck's argument seems to be a 30-minute window after entering the password into Google Play during which a user can make unrestricted purchases. "Google requires its users to authenticate their accounts by entering a password prior to purchasing and/or downloading an app or buying game currency," the suit reads. "However, once the password is entered, Google permits the user, even if a minor, to buy game currency for up to 30 minutes without re-entering the password."This is similar to the claim against Apple, which was based on a similar 15-minute window enabled by default in iOS devices for iTunes purchases. Like iOS devices, Android devices allow you to tweak the settings to require the password every time â€" but Apple was still required by the FTC to change its billing methods to ensure "express, informed consent" for every single purchase.It is worth noting that, with Android 4.3 for tablets, Google enabled the ability to set up restricted user profiles that cannot make any purchases at all. The device Imber-Gluck's son used was the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, which runs Android 4.2; however, as Google has already taken steps to improve parental control over spending, the FTC's ruling over the case â€" if there is one, although the precedence set by the Apple case makes a hearing probable â€" is likely to involve emphasising and clarifying this feature, as well as password protecting purchases by default.You can view the suit in full below. Google App Class Action
Not two months after details emerged about the US$32.5 million Apple will be required to pay in damages to parents as part of a US Federal Trade Commission settlement over in-app purchases, Google has landed in the same pot of hot water.A class action has been filed by Ilana Imber-Gluck, whose five-year-old son spent US$65 on in-game currency in the game Marvel Run Jump Smash!, currently available on Google Play for AU$0.99. The suit alleges that Google targets children with low-cost or free-to-download games, then entices them to make purchases within the game without the authorisation of a parent or guardian.The core of Imber-Gluck's argument seems to be a 30-minute window after entering the password into Google Play during which a user can make unrestricted purchases. "Google requires its users to authenticate their accounts by entering a password prior to purchasing and/or downloading an app or buying game currency," the suit reads. "However, once the password is entered, Google permits the user, even if a minor, to buy game currency for up to 30 minutes without re-entering the password."This is similar to the claim against Apple, which was based on a similar 15-minute window enabled by default in iOS devices for iTunes purchases. Like iOS devices, Android devices allow you to tweak the settings to require the password every time â€" but Apple was still required by the FTC to change its billing methods to ensure "express, informed consent" for every single purchase.It is worth noting that, with Android 4.3 for tablets, Google enabled the ability to set up restricted user profiles that cannot make any purchases at all. The device Imber-Gluck's son used was the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, which runs Android 4.2; however, as Google has already taken steps to improve parental control over spending, the FTC's ruling over the case â€" if there is one, although the precedence set by the Apple case makes a hearing probable â€" is likely to involve emphasising and clarifying this feature, as well as password protecting purchases by default.You can view the suit in full below. Google App Class Action
Report- Apple cuts some Final Cut staff
Report: Apple cuts some Final Cut staff
"Apple laid off 40 of my old Final Cut team yesterday, lots of good people, despite high profits," said Pete Warden in a tweet last week. Warden, a data-mining former Apple employee who writes plug-ins for Adobe Systems' After Effects video software, also noted the cuts on his blog.The tweet surfaced at Rich Young's AE Portal News blog, which deals with After Effects.Apple declined to comment on the matter.With successful products such as the iPhone, iPod, and iTunes, Apple has grown well beyond its digital publishing stronghold to become an increasingly consumer-oriented company. But Apple remains active in digital media, too.Apple released its most recent Final Cut Studio suite in July, including Final Cut Pro 7, and in February released its Aperture 3 photo-editing software. In December, it updated its Mac Pro computer to accommodate dual quad-core 3.33GHz Intel processors.
"Apple laid off 40 of my old Final Cut team yesterday, lots of good people, despite high profits," said Pete Warden in a tweet last week. Warden, a data-mining former Apple employee who writes plug-ins for Adobe Systems' After Effects video software, also noted the cuts on his blog.The tweet surfaced at Rich Young's AE Portal News blog, which deals with After Effects.Apple declined to comment on the matter.With successful products such as the iPhone, iPod, and iTunes, Apple has grown well beyond its digital publishing stronghold to become an increasingly consumer-oriented company. But Apple remains active in digital media, too.Apple released its most recent Final Cut Studio suite in July, including Final Cut Pro 7, and in February released its Aperture 3 photo-editing software. In December, it updated its Mac Pro computer to accommodate dual quad-core 3.33GHz Intel processors.
Report- A CDMA iPhone in testing
Report: A CDMA iPhone in testing
Apple is reportedly testing a version of the iPhone with CDMA chips. At least that's what Daring Fireball's John Gruber says. He cites "a few little birdies" when reporting late Wednesday that the prototype in testing is codenamed "N92."N92 is "certainly not in production," but is currently at the engineering verification test level, or EVT, according to Gruber. That's one level below DVT, or device verification test. And that is itself a level below an actual product currently being manufactured.Now, as we know, Verizon operates a CDMA network. Does this mean a Verizon iPhone is imminent? As has been the case for the past few years, and despite multiple reports, it's still very unclear. Gruber acknowledges that in his own blog post."That doesn't make it a sure thing. It is essential to reiterate that for all I know, it is coming to market but has nothing to do with Verizon. GSM is more popular worldwide, but Verizon is not the only major CDMA carrier in the world," he writes. That's essentially what my colleague Kent German wrote earlier this week. Besides, Verizon, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, China Telecom, and others have boatloads of CDMA customers it could funnel to Apple and its smartphone.So here we are again, with a few clues of something that could be or could not be an iPhone for Verizon. And because Apple is still good at keeping secrets, we're still not any closer to knowing for sure.
Apple is reportedly testing a version of the iPhone with CDMA chips. At least that's what Daring Fireball's John Gruber says. He cites "a few little birdies" when reporting late Wednesday that the prototype in testing is codenamed "N92."N92 is "certainly not in production," but is currently at the engineering verification test level, or EVT, according to Gruber. That's one level below DVT, or device verification test. And that is itself a level below an actual product currently being manufactured.Now, as we know, Verizon operates a CDMA network. Does this mean a Verizon iPhone is imminent? As has been the case for the past few years, and despite multiple reports, it's still very unclear. Gruber acknowledges that in his own blog post."That doesn't make it a sure thing. It is essential to reiterate that for all I know, it is coming to market but has nothing to do with Verizon. GSM is more popular worldwide, but Verizon is not the only major CDMA carrier in the world," he writes. That's essentially what my colleague Kent German wrote earlier this week. Besides, Verizon, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, China Telecom, and others have boatloads of CDMA customers it could funnel to Apple and its smartphone.So here we are again, with a few clues of something that could be or could not be an iPhone for Verizon. And because Apple is still good at keeping secrets, we're still not any closer to knowing for sure.
Almost every iPhone app to cost a buck someday-
Almost every iPhone app to cost a buck someday?
As many people have noted before, all this doesn't bode well for Nintendo or Sony in the portable gaming category. To get people to pay $30-$40 for a title is going to get harder and harder--even for AAA franchises that have traditionally sold millions of copies. The fact is that a $25 iTunes gift card goes a long way for parents having to fund their children's gaming habits. You're looking at supplying your child with a dozen or more games versus one. That's a big difference.As a consumer, you have to like where all this is going. From a developer standpoint, things become trickier. Yes, if your app's a big hit in the App Store, you're going to rake it in, even if it sells for 99 cents, because the market is so large (at last count, about 65 million people owned an iPhone or iPod Touch). But you also hear plenty of stories of developers who invest good money in creating an app only to see it virtually disappear and earn almost nothing.Will the price erosion ever stop? I think the only way for that to to happen is if Apple raises the minimum price that someone can charge for an app. It may just have to do that someday, because the competition among developers is so fierce that if Apple set the minimum price at 49 cents, you'd see plenty of app makers rushing to lower their prices.Of course, the other alternative is to bundle multiple apps into a single app and charge 99 cents, just like Triniti and a few other developers do. The way it's going, we may start seeing more of that. And if the limited-time-only $4.99 e-book package of three early Michael Connelly novels I bought on Amazon the other day (it's now $9.99) is any indication, we might start seeing a lot more bundling in the e-book world, as well.Let me know what you think. Is this price erosion bad or good? And what are your favorite 99-cent apps?
As many people have noted before, all this doesn't bode well for Nintendo or Sony in the portable gaming category. To get people to pay $30-$40 for a title is going to get harder and harder--even for AAA franchises that have traditionally sold millions of copies. The fact is that a $25 iTunes gift card goes a long way for parents having to fund their children's gaming habits. You're looking at supplying your child with a dozen or more games versus one. That's a big difference.As a consumer, you have to like where all this is going. From a developer standpoint, things become trickier. Yes, if your app's a big hit in the App Store, you're going to rake it in, even if it sells for 99 cents, because the market is so large (at last count, about 65 million people owned an iPhone or iPod Touch). But you also hear plenty of stories of developers who invest good money in creating an app only to see it virtually disappear and earn almost nothing.Will the price erosion ever stop? I think the only way for that to to happen is if Apple raises the minimum price that someone can charge for an app. It may just have to do that someday, because the competition among developers is so fierce that if Apple set the minimum price at 49 cents, you'd see plenty of app makers rushing to lower their prices.Of course, the other alternative is to bundle multiple apps into a single app and charge 99 cents, just like Triniti and a few other developers do. The way it's going, we may start seeing more of that. And if the limited-time-only $4.99 e-book package of three early Michael Connelly novels I bought on Amazon the other day (it's now $9.99) is any indication, we might start seeing a lot more bundling in the e-book world, as well.Let me know what you think. Is this price erosion bad or good? And what are your favorite 99-cent apps?
All-robot band teams with Squarepusher for new EP
All-robot band teams with Squarepusher for new EP
It seems Compressorhead, a literal metal band consisting entirely of robots, has some hot competition. For his upcoming EP "Music for Robots," Tom Jenkinson, aka Squarepusher, has engaged the musical help of Japanese three-piece all-robot band the Z-Machines. Or rather, the Z-Machines' musical producer Kenjiro Matuso engaged Squarepusher. In 2013, Matsuo and his team assembled the band, with the aim of creating machines that could perform in ways no human could. Several artists were invited to compose for the band -- which includes a 78-fingered guitarist (like Compressorhead's hydraulic guitarist, Fingers) and a 22-armed drummer.Related storiesJust a four-armed mohawked robot playing a Ramones coverRobot construction crew works autonomously, is kind of adorable"In this project the main question I've tried to answer is 'can these robots play music that is emotionally engaging?'" Squarepusher said. "Each of the robotic devices involved in the performance of this music has its own specification which permits certain possibilities and excludes others -- the robot guitar player for example can play much faster than a human ever could, but there is no amplitude control. In the same way that you do when you write music for a human performer, these attributes have to be borne in mind - and a particular range of musical possibilities corresponds to those attributes. Consequently, in this project familiar instruments are used in ways which till now have been impossible."There are five tracks on the EP, which is due to be released on April 7, with a music video for the actually rather impressive single "Sad Robot Goes Funny." If you preorder now through Bleep and iTunes, you can grab the single early.Now we just need to see a Compressorhead/Z-Machines epic rock battle. Or collaboration. We don't mind which.(Source: CNET Australia)
It seems Compressorhead, a literal metal band consisting entirely of robots, has some hot competition. For his upcoming EP "Music for Robots," Tom Jenkinson, aka Squarepusher, has engaged the musical help of Japanese three-piece all-robot band the Z-Machines. Or rather, the Z-Machines' musical producer Kenjiro Matuso engaged Squarepusher. In 2013, Matsuo and his team assembled the band, with the aim of creating machines that could perform in ways no human could. Several artists were invited to compose for the band -- which includes a 78-fingered guitarist (like Compressorhead's hydraulic guitarist, Fingers) and a 22-armed drummer.Related storiesJust a four-armed mohawked robot playing a Ramones coverRobot construction crew works autonomously, is kind of adorable"In this project the main question I've tried to answer is 'can these robots play music that is emotionally engaging?'" Squarepusher said. "Each of the robotic devices involved in the performance of this music has its own specification which permits certain possibilities and excludes others -- the robot guitar player for example can play much faster than a human ever could, but there is no amplitude control. In the same way that you do when you write music for a human performer, these attributes have to be borne in mind - and a particular range of musical possibilities corresponds to those attributes. Consequently, in this project familiar instruments are used in ways which till now have been impossible."There are five tracks on the EP, which is due to be released on April 7, with a music video for the actually rather impressive single "Sad Robot Goes Funny." If you preorder now through Bleep and iTunes, you can grab the single early.Now we just need to see a Compressorhead/Z-Machines epic rock battle. Or collaboration. We don't mind which.(Source: CNET Australia)
Analyst- Apple's iCloud could see 150 million users
Analyst: Apple's iCloud could see 150 million users
Apple could sign up as many as 150 million iPhone users to its new iCloud service, according to projections based on a survey from RBC Capital Markets.In a report released today, RBC found that 76 percent of the 1,500 iPhone users polled from June 7 to 14 intend to use the iCloud service. Unveiled at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month, iCloud will allow iOS device users to store, access, and sync their iTunes content online.iMessage also should be a hot item, according to RBC. The survey found 73 percent of iPhone users plan to use Apple's upcoming new text messaging service, which RBC projects might mean 150 million iMessage users in total.The iMessage service, a feature in iOS 5, could boost loyalty among existing iPhone users and convince the 60 million iPod Touch users to pick the iPhone over Android or other competing phones if they upgrade, according to the report.Finally, iTunes Match proved enticing to 30 percent of those surveyed, who said they'd be likely to spend $24.99 per year for the new service. Part of iCloud, iTunes Match lets users store any music not purchased or available through iTunes in the cloud. Based on the survey, RBC is projecting that iTunes Match could add another $1.5 billion a year to Apple's annual revenue.Looking down the road, RBC believes Apple will add additional services through iCloud, including audio and video streaming, photo and video sharing, hosted Time Machine backups, and document management and storage. The iCloud service will be accessible from all iOS devices and possibly even entry-level items like the iPod Nano and Shuffle, the report said. Overall, RBC sees iCloud and iTunes as a strong combination, helping Apple continue to retain and grow a devoted customer base."Because it stores user data, iCloud, along with iTunes is expected to enhance loyalty and stickiness of Apple's customers, helping defend against threats from Android, helping grow a defensible install base of users who continually upgrade to next generation Macs, iPhones, iPads, and iPods," the report said.
Apple could sign up as many as 150 million iPhone users to its new iCloud service, according to projections based on a survey from RBC Capital Markets.In a report released today, RBC found that 76 percent of the 1,500 iPhone users polled from June 7 to 14 intend to use the iCloud service. Unveiled at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month, iCloud will allow iOS device users to store, access, and sync their iTunes content online.iMessage also should be a hot item, according to RBC. The survey found 73 percent of iPhone users plan to use Apple's upcoming new text messaging service, which RBC projects might mean 150 million iMessage users in total.The iMessage service, a feature in iOS 5, could boost loyalty among existing iPhone users and convince the 60 million iPod Touch users to pick the iPhone over Android or other competing phones if they upgrade, according to the report.Finally, iTunes Match proved enticing to 30 percent of those surveyed, who said they'd be likely to spend $24.99 per year for the new service. Part of iCloud, iTunes Match lets users store any music not purchased or available through iTunes in the cloud. Based on the survey, RBC is projecting that iTunes Match could add another $1.5 billion a year to Apple's annual revenue.Looking down the road, RBC believes Apple will add additional services through iCloud, including audio and video streaming, photo and video sharing, hosted Time Machine backups, and document management and storage. The iCloud service will be accessible from all iOS devices and possibly even entry-level items like the iPod Nano and Shuffle, the report said. Overall, RBC sees iCloud and iTunes as a strong combination, helping Apple continue to retain and grow a devoted customer base."Because it stores user data, iCloud, along with iTunes is expected to enhance loyalty and stickiness of Apple's customers, helping defend against threats from Android, helping grow a defensible install base of users who continually upgrade to next generation Macs, iPhones, iPads, and iPods," the report said.
Amazon- We're selling over 1 million Kindles per week
Amazon: We're selling over 1 million Kindles per week
Amazon announced today that Kindle devices, and the Kindle Fire in particular, continue to fly out of the warehouse in dizzying numbers. "For the third week in a row, customers are purchasing well over 1 million Kindle devices per week, and Kindle Fire remains the #1 bestselling, most gifted, and most wished for product across the millions of items available on Amazon.com since its introduction 11 weeks ago," the company said. And it's getting more popular by the week, with sales increasing week over week for each of the past three weeks, according to Amazon. The Fire, which has taken its lumps in the media because of a minimalist feature set, is nonetheless the most successful product Amazon has ever launched, according to today's announcement. "And we're building millions more to meet the high demand."Amazon did not break out specific numbers for the Kindle Fire versus other Kindle products. "We spotted that uptick in Kindle Fire sales. So, we can confirm that the trend continues," said Carter Nicholas, CEO of eDataSource. The market researcher, which tracks sales through Amazon.com, showed data earlier this month that jibes with what Amazon is saying. Sales jumped around November 15--when the Fire went on sale--and have been generally trending upward ever since. And analysts see plenty of opportunity for low-budget tablets."Amazon and Barnes & Noble are shaking up the media tablet market, and their success helps prove that there is an appetite for media tablets beyond Apple's iPad," Tom Mainelli, an IDC analyst, said today in a research note. The tablet sells for $199, $300 less than Apple's least expensive iPad. Customers prefer the less-expensive Kindle e-reader ($79) for long-form reading, the company said, adding: "In fact we've seen many customers buy two Kindles--both a Kindle Fire and a Kindle or Kindle Touch." Updated at 2:30 p.m. PST: with analyst comments.
Amazon announced today that Kindle devices, and the Kindle Fire in particular, continue to fly out of the warehouse in dizzying numbers. "For the third week in a row, customers are purchasing well over 1 million Kindle devices per week, and Kindle Fire remains the #1 bestselling, most gifted, and most wished for product across the millions of items available on Amazon.com since its introduction 11 weeks ago," the company said. And it's getting more popular by the week, with sales increasing week over week for each of the past three weeks, according to Amazon. The Fire, which has taken its lumps in the media because of a minimalist feature set, is nonetheless the most successful product Amazon has ever launched, according to today's announcement. "And we're building millions more to meet the high demand."Amazon did not break out specific numbers for the Kindle Fire versus other Kindle products. "We spotted that uptick in Kindle Fire sales. So, we can confirm that the trend continues," said Carter Nicholas, CEO of eDataSource. The market researcher, which tracks sales through Amazon.com, showed data earlier this month that jibes with what Amazon is saying. Sales jumped around November 15--when the Fire went on sale--and have been generally trending upward ever since. And analysts see plenty of opportunity for low-budget tablets."Amazon and Barnes & Noble are shaking up the media tablet market, and their success helps prove that there is an appetite for media tablets beyond Apple's iPad," Tom Mainelli, an IDC analyst, said today in a research note. The tablet sells for $199, $300 less than Apple's least expensive iPad. Customers prefer the less-expensive Kindle e-reader ($79) for long-form reading, the company said, adding: "In fact we've seen many customers buy two Kindles--both a Kindle Fire and a Kindle or Kindle Touch." Updated at 2:30 p.m. PST: with analyst comments.
Amazon readying 9-inch Kindle Fire for 2012, analyst predicts
Amazon readying 9-inch Kindle Fire for 2012, analyst predicts
Amazon is nearing the launch of a 9-inch Kindle Fire, Pacific Crest analyst Chad Bartley says.Bartley told investors in a research note this week that the 9-inch Kindle Fire could launch by the middle of the year. He didn't provide further details on the tablet, but did say that the 9-inch model should increase Kindle Fire sales this year from an expected 12.7 million units to 14.9 million.Bartley wrote that his prediction is based on his own recent checks with Amazon component suppliers. While such checks can be helpful in getting a sense of a company's future plans, they're by no means definitive, and can often lead analysts down the wrong path.Back in November, the often unreliable Digitimes reported that Amazon could start production of an 8.9-inch Kindle Fire in May 2012, with an eventual launch at the end of the second quarter. That report has been flanked by several reports, claiming Amazon could launch a 10-inch Kindle Fire.Related storiesDOJ, schools settle over Kindle's blind accessThe Amazon.com of potAmazon expands Kindle self-publishing worldwideWhat's the difference: Dynamic vs. lossy audio compression?Fingers-on with Stantum's touch-screen Dell tablet prototype Amazon has so far not commented on its future plans, and did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment. However, a larger Kindle Fire could help the company compete more effectively against Apple's iPad.Last year, Amazon seemed unwilling to say that its Kindle Fire was an iPad competitor, but earlier this week, its attitude changed with the release of a new commercial discussing why its Kindle line is a better option than Apple's iPad. The company pointed to the iPad's high price and screen glare outdoors as two major factors consumers should consider before they decide to buy Apple's tablet.Still, Amazon's estimated 6 million Kindle Fire sales last quarter were no match for Apple's iPad 2. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company reported recently that it sold 15.43 million iPads during the fourth quarter, alone.(Via All Things Digital)
Amazon is nearing the launch of a 9-inch Kindle Fire, Pacific Crest analyst Chad Bartley says.Bartley told investors in a research note this week that the 9-inch Kindle Fire could launch by the middle of the year. He didn't provide further details on the tablet, but did say that the 9-inch model should increase Kindle Fire sales this year from an expected 12.7 million units to 14.9 million.Bartley wrote that his prediction is based on his own recent checks with Amazon component suppliers. While such checks can be helpful in getting a sense of a company's future plans, they're by no means definitive, and can often lead analysts down the wrong path.Back in November, the often unreliable Digitimes reported that Amazon could start production of an 8.9-inch Kindle Fire in May 2012, with an eventual launch at the end of the second quarter. That report has been flanked by several reports, claiming Amazon could launch a 10-inch Kindle Fire.Related storiesDOJ, schools settle over Kindle's blind accessThe Amazon.com of potAmazon expands Kindle self-publishing worldwideWhat's the difference: Dynamic vs. lossy audio compression?Fingers-on with Stantum's touch-screen Dell tablet prototype Amazon has so far not commented on its future plans, and did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment. However, a larger Kindle Fire could help the company compete more effectively against Apple's iPad.Last year, Amazon seemed unwilling to say that its Kindle Fire was an iPad competitor, but earlier this week, its attitude changed with the release of a new commercial discussing why its Kindle line is a better option than Apple's iPad. The company pointed to the iPad's high price and screen glare outdoors as two major factors consumers should consider before they decide to buy Apple's tablet.Still, Amazon's estimated 6 million Kindle Fire sales last quarter were no match for Apple's iPad 2. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company reported recently that it sold 15.43 million iPads during the fourth quarter, alone.(Via All Things Digital)
Amazon responds to Apple's 'Appstore' suit
Amazon responds to Apple's 'Appstore' suit
It's been more than a month since Apple sued Amazon over the use of the term "Appstore" for its mobile software distribution marketplace, and Amazon has finally fired back with a countersuit. In a 10-page document filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and picked up GeekWire, Amazon goes through Apple's original claims one by one, saying that "App Store" is too generic, and that it wants Apple's case dismissed. To back up those claims, the company even cites a quote from Apple CEO Steve Jobs during an Apple earnings call from back in October, where Jobs refers to similar offerings on Android as "app stores."Apple sued Amazon last month in a response to the company's use of the term "Appstore" as the name for its application market for Android. At the time, and in its claim against Amazon, Apple said the move was to keep people from getting confused or misled.As for whether Apple actually owns the rights to the two words, that's still up in the air. The company is in the middle of trying to get the "app store" name trademarked, a move that hasn't gone unnoticed by competitors. Back in January, Microsoft began a legal battle with the company urging the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to deny Apple's claims, saying the term was too generic. Both sides have since brought on numerous linguistic experts and researchers who have pointed to dictionary entries as well as press coverage to paint a picture that the term is either owned wholly by Apple, or not by anyone. The most recent movement in that case was a filing at the beginning of the month, with Apple requesting oral arguments between the two companies, since the filings from both sides have reached 1,400 pages.Apple spokesperson Kristin Huguet said the company had no new comment on the suit. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It's been more than a month since Apple sued Amazon over the use of the term "Appstore" for its mobile software distribution marketplace, and Amazon has finally fired back with a countersuit. In a 10-page document filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and picked up GeekWire, Amazon goes through Apple's original claims one by one, saying that "App Store" is too generic, and that it wants Apple's case dismissed. To back up those claims, the company even cites a quote from Apple CEO Steve Jobs during an Apple earnings call from back in October, where Jobs refers to similar offerings on Android as "app stores."Apple sued Amazon last month in a response to the company's use of the term "Appstore" as the name for its application market for Android. At the time, and in its claim against Amazon, Apple said the move was to keep people from getting confused or misled.As for whether Apple actually owns the rights to the two words, that's still up in the air. The company is in the middle of trying to get the "app store" name trademarked, a move that hasn't gone unnoticed by competitors. Back in January, Microsoft began a legal battle with the company urging the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to deny Apple's claims, saying the term was too generic. Both sides have since brought on numerous linguistic experts and researchers who have pointed to dictionary entries as well as press coverage to paint a picture that the term is either owned wholly by Apple, or not by anyone. The most recent movement in that case was a filing at the beginning of the month, with Apple requesting oral arguments between the two companies, since the filings from both sides have reached 1,400 pages.Apple spokesperson Kristin Huguet said the company had no new comment on the suit. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Amazon PriceCheck app- Use it, get a discount
Amazon PriceCheck app: Use it, get a discount
People who use Amazon's PriceCheck app to compare prices while holiday shopping can score a 5 percent discount this coming Saturday.Here's how it works:Amazon's free PriceCheck app lets you look up almost any item to compare the store's price with that of other retailers. You can either scan the product's barcode, snap a picture of it, speak its name, or just simply type its name. In return, the app shows you prices from both online and offline retailers, including of course, Amazon.The new holiday promotion will start on December 9 at 9 p.m. PT and end on December 10 at 11:59 p.m. Any PriceCheck user shopping in a store at that time automatically qualifies.After turning on location services for the app on your mobile device, simply find an item in the store that you want to buy. Then click on the app's Submit Price button to send Amazon the store price of that item.Next, place that item in the app's Amazon shopping cart. You then have to pay for it within 24 hours, though you can buy it through PriceCheck, through other Amazon apps, or through Amazon's Web site. At checkout you'll automatically receive the 5 percent discount (or up to $5 off Amazon's advertised price).Related storiesAmazon iPhone app helps you find the best pricesRafe Recommends: Apps for dumb gadget shoppersTips for safe online holiday shoppingSo, what does Amazon get out of this? Besides more business, the retailer can use the store price data through this crowdsourcing approach to make sure its own prices stay competitive.iOS users can download PriceCheck from Apple's App Store, while Android users can grab it either from Google's Android Market or Amazon's Appstore.Amazon's PriceCheck is only one of a growing number of apps that help you compare prices on retail items. Amazon's own Flow app, Google Shopper, and RL Classic are just a few that can locate the best deals on products, both online and offline.
People who use Amazon's PriceCheck app to compare prices while holiday shopping can score a 5 percent discount this coming Saturday.Here's how it works:Amazon's free PriceCheck app lets you look up almost any item to compare the store's price with that of other retailers. You can either scan the product's barcode, snap a picture of it, speak its name, or just simply type its name. In return, the app shows you prices from both online and offline retailers, including of course, Amazon.The new holiday promotion will start on December 9 at 9 p.m. PT and end on December 10 at 11:59 p.m. Any PriceCheck user shopping in a store at that time automatically qualifies.After turning on location services for the app on your mobile device, simply find an item in the store that you want to buy. Then click on the app's Submit Price button to send Amazon the store price of that item.Next, place that item in the app's Amazon shopping cart. You then have to pay for it within 24 hours, though you can buy it through PriceCheck, through other Amazon apps, or through Amazon's Web site. At checkout you'll automatically receive the 5 percent discount (or up to $5 off Amazon's advertised price).Related storiesAmazon iPhone app helps you find the best pricesRafe Recommends: Apps for dumb gadget shoppersTips for safe online holiday shoppingSo, what does Amazon get out of this? Besides more business, the retailer can use the store price data through this crowdsourcing approach to make sure its own prices stay competitive.iOS users can download PriceCheck from Apple's App Store, while Android users can grab it either from Google's Android Market or Amazon's Appstore.Amazon's PriceCheck is only one of a growing number of apps that help you compare prices on retail items. Amazon's own Flow app, Google Shopper, and RL Classic are just a few that can locate the best deals on products, both online and offline.
Amazon, eBay, Apple among top retail sites visited
Amazon, eBay, Apple among top retail sites visited
Amazon was the most visited retail site in June, according to new data out today from Comscore.Compared with all other online retailers, Amazon.com grabbed more than 282 million visitors in June, reaching 20.4 percent of the entire Internet population around the world.Trailing in second place was eBay.com with 223.5 million visitors, or 16.2 percent of the global audience. Across the world, China's Alibaba Corporation (which includes Taobao, Alibaba.com and Alipay) saw 156.8 million people, or 11.3 percent of all Internet users, visit its sites.In fourth place in June was Apple.com, which grabbed more than 134 million visitors, or almost 10 percent of the global online population. Another tech company in the top ten was Hewlett-Packard, which attracted 38.5 million people, accounting for 2.8 percent of all Internet users.Looking at the data by region, ComScore found that both Amazon and Apple reached more users from around the world than did other retailers. Amazon saw 35.4 percent of its audience coming from North America, 31.8 percent from Europe, and 24.1 percent from Asia Pacific. Echoing a similar pattern, Apple won 32 percent of its visitors from North America, 29.6 percent from Europe, and 24.9 percent from Asia Pacific.Related stories:• Amazon, Apple, Netflix tops in customer satisfaction• Amazon tops list for customer service• Survey: Online shopper satisfaction risesA survey conducted by the Temkin Group this past April revealed Amazon as the top company in terms of customer satisfaction, while another survey from ForeSee Results last December saw Amazon and Apple among the favorites chosen by satisfied shoppers.
Amazon was the most visited retail site in June, according to new data out today from Comscore.Compared with all other online retailers, Amazon.com grabbed more than 282 million visitors in June, reaching 20.4 percent of the entire Internet population around the world.Trailing in second place was eBay.com with 223.5 million visitors, or 16.2 percent of the global audience. Across the world, China's Alibaba Corporation (which includes Taobao, Alibaba.com and Alipay) saw 156.8 million people, or 11.3 percent of all Internet users, visit its sites.In fourth place in June was Apple.com, which grabbed more than 134 million visitors, or almost 10 percent of the global online population. Another tech company in the top ten was Hewlett-Packard, which attracted 38.5 million people, accounting for 2.8 percent of all Internet users.Looking at the data by region, ComScore found that both Amazon and Apple reached more users from around the world than did other retailers. Amazon saw 35.4 percent of its audience coming from North America, 31.8 percent from Europe, and 24.1 percent from Asia Pacific. Echoing a similar pattern, Apple won 32 percent of its visitors from North America, 29.6 percent from Europe, and 24.9 percent from Asia Pacific.Related stories:• Amazon, Apple, Netflix tops in customer satisfaction• Amazon tops list for customer service• Survey: Online shopper satisfaction risesA survey conducted by the Temkin Group this past April revealed Amazon as the top company in terms of customer satisfaction, while another survey from ForeSee Results last December saw Amazon and Apple among the favorites chosen by satisfied shoppers.
'Activation lock' to tighten iOS security
Apple may not be able to do anything to stop a mugger from stealing your iPhone, but changes in iOS 7 will prevent the thief from trying to sell the phone as new.More from WWDCMeet iTunes Radio, Apple's long-awaited streaming music serviceApple gives the iPhone a user interface face-lift with iOS 7 Editors' Take: iOS 7 gets a new look and several new featuresApple unveils new MacBook Air, gives Mac Pro sneak peek Editors' Take: Apple updates MacBook AirEditors' Take: A bold new look for the Mac Pro desktopEditors' Take: Apple Mac OS X 10.9 MavericksWWDC 2013: Full coverage At its Worldwide Developers Conference here on Monday, Apple unveiled several security enhancements. Activation Lock is the most interesting. Though the company didn't go deep into detail on the new feature, Apple's head of Mac software engineering, Craig Federighi, said the feature prevents unauthorized resetting of an iPhone or iPad.Basically, if the Find My Phone tracking utility has been deactivated, or if the phone has been wiped, the thief will have to know the owner's Apple ID and password before the device will work again.Smaller security improvements in iOS 7 will include per-app activation for a Virtual Private Network (VPN), allowing people to have more granular control over how their VPN settings get used; and the operating system update also will include message blocking.
Windows 8 devices not cheap, will rival pricey Apple
With all the Windows 8 hoopla at Computex, it's easy to forget that Microsoft's next operating system isn't a price panacea for consumers. Acer Chairman JT Wang said Wednesday that the initial crop of Windows 8 devices will be pricey enough that they will be more suitable for "developed economies" like North America where "where purchasing power is strong," according to a report in Taipei-based DigiTimes.And that means they'll have to be competitive with anything Apple has on the market in the September-October time frame when Windows 8 is projected for release. A crush of new Windows 8 ultrabooks, hybrids, and tablets is expected at that time. "Windows 8 needs to be as successful as Apple in the higher-end of the PC market," Wang said. Apple is expected to refresh its MacBook line with a MacBook Air-like 15-inch model, among other models.The new MacBooks will likely have Retina-class displays and Intel's new "Ivy Bridge" silicon.Related storiesDual-screen Taichi leads lineup of unique Asus Windows 8 PCsComputex 2012: Acer Aspire S7 Ultrabook hands-onCNET Asia covers ComputexSamsung Series 5 Ultra ConvertibleComputex 2012: Qualcomm S4 tablet
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