Meet the concept iPhone Air and iPhone 6C
Here's a new concept video for the next iPhone that takes thinness to an extreme. The video from Set Solution offers its take on a theoretical "iPhone Air," and another envisions an iPhone 6C (the C here stands for curve, not color).The videos offer some beautiful renderings, particularly of the imagined iPhone Air, which it posits would be 1.5 millimeters thin at the top and 3 millimeters thick at the bottom, weigh 70 grams, and feature an edge-to-edge glass display.The iPhone 6C concept features a number of different colors like the iPhone 5C, but a pronounced curve on the screen similar to that of the LG G Flex, though the back is flat. Some of these videos have been floating around for a while, but are worth a look. While the videos are impressive, they are no way based in reality, and perhaps a little too good to be true. They also aren't the first concept videos to take a crack at an iPhone Air. We'll see if Apple comes out with something that looks like the products in these videos -- or perhaps something that looks even better. Via Nowhereelse.fr
Monday, March 23, 2015
Media group concerned about Apple subscription service (podcast)
Media group concerned about Apple subscription service (podcast)
On the following day, Google announced a rival service called Google One Pass which would take only 10 percent of the revenue and allow publishers to retain control over user data. While happy about these potential sources of new readers and increased revenue, Nina Link, the CEO of the Association of Magazine Media, has some concerns about Apple's approach. "Publishers have historically had relationships directly with the consumer and have access to data as they renew them year after year and as they offer them additional products that are targeted to their interests,"she said in a podcast interview.But with Apple's service, "it now becomes Apple's relationship and Apple's data," which she described as "problematic for us." Click below to hear the entire interview.PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
On the following day, Google announced a rival service called Google One Pass which would take only 10 percent of the revenue and allow publishers to retain control over user data. While happy about these potential sources of new readers and increased revenue, Nina Link, the CEO of the Association of Magazine Media, has some concerns about Apple's approach. "Publishers have historically had relationships directly with the consumer and have access to data as they renew them year after year and as they offer them additional products that are targeted to their interests,"she said in a podcast interview.But with Apple's service, "it now becomes Apple's relationship and Apple's data," which she described as "problematic for us." Click below to hear the entire interview.PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
May AT&T leaks bring June iPhones
May AT&T leaks bring June iPhones
It's practically become a rite of spring.First, AT&T tells employees they are not allowed to take avacation in June. Then the company leaks to Boy Genius Report that the next iPhone is coming--right when everyone is supposed to not be on vacation. It's hardly surprising anymore, since we saw this same pattern last year. And the year before that. And the year before that.Here's the ever-so-brief blurb BGR ranWednesday under the headline "AT&T confirms to employees new iPhone launching in June": "Title says it all, but you didn't really need a confirmation, did you? The phone will be available for purchase in June, not July, and from what we've heard, it won't even be late June."The timing would be a minor change, since the iPhone has in the past gone on sale in either late June or early July. So if not late June, then perhaps early- to mid-June? We'll find out for sure on June 7 at the WWDC, where Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to introduce the next iPhone and release the official sale date.
It's practically become a rite of spring.First, AT&T tells employees they are not allowed to take avacation in June. Then the company leaks to Boy Genius Report that the next iPhone is coming--right when everyone is supposed to not be on vacation. It's hardly surprising anymore, since we saw this same pattern last year. And the year before that. And the year before that.Here's the ever-so-brief blurb BGR ranWednesday under the headline "AT&T confirms to employees new iPhone launching in June": "Title says it all, but you didn't really need a confirmation, did you? The phone will be available for purchase in June, not July, and from what we've heard, it won't even be late June."The timing would be a minor change, since the iPhone has in the past gone on sale in either late June or early July. So if not late June, then perhaps early- to mid-June? We'll find out for sure on June 7 at the WWDC, where Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to introduce the next iPhone and release the official sale date.
Manic market back to buying Apple -- at least for today
Manic market back to buying Apple -- at least for today
One day after they closed at a five-month low, shares of Apple rebounded more than 1.6 percent in early afternoon trading as Wall Street decided the recent selling spree was an overreaction. Since reaching its all-time high of $705.07 on September 21, the day the iPhone 5 became commercially available, Apple's stock has dropped about 24 percent.Why the Friday turnaround? Take your pick: Only a few weeks before the holiday season kicks into high gear, AT&T said its iPhone 5 supply situation is improving. Separately, Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster said in a note that iPhone 5 supplies are improving both at AT&T and Verizon outlets. As a result Munster remains comfortable forecasting iPhone sales of 45 million between October and November. China Telecom announced plans that it would start to sell the iPhone 5 either later this month or in early December.Apple's shares started the day well below the $763-per-share consensus.UBS put out a note on Friday encouraging investors to buy with a$780 price target. "With earnings momentum bottoming and near-term upside EPS surprises more likely, we continue to like the stock here," it said.Doug Kass of Seabreeze Partners Management also said the selling spree was overdone. "At $536 a share, a discounted dividend model implies that the future growth rate in profits at Apple will be only about 5 percent. This is too low."
One day after they closed at a five-month low, shares of Apple rebounded more than 1.6 percent in early afternoon trading as Wall Street decided the recent selling spree was an overreaction. Since reaching its all-time high of $705.07 on September 21, the day the iPhone 5 became commercially available, Apple's stock has dropped about 24 percent.Why the Friday turnaround? Take your pick: Only a few weeks before the holiday season kicks into high gear, AT&T said its iPhone 5 supply situation is improving. Separately, Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster said in a note that iPhone 5 supplies are improving both at AT&T and Verizon outlets. As a result Munster remains comfortable forecasting iPhone sales of 45 million between October and November. China Telecom announced plans that it would start to sell the iPhone 5 either later this month or in early December.Apple's shares started the day well below the $763-per-share consensus.UBS put out a note on Friday encouraging investors to buy with a$780 price target. "With earnings momentum bottoming and near-term upside EPS surprises more likely, we continue to like the stock here," it said.Doug Kass of Seabreeze Partners Management also said the selling spree was overdone. "At $536 a share, a discounted dividend model implies that the future growth rate in profits at Apple will be only about 5 percent. This is too low."
Major Apple product announcement set for January 27
Major Apple product announcement set for January 27
So, that rumored Apple event everyone has been jawing about these past few weeks? It's on and it's going to be a big deal. Sources in a position to know tell me Appleis indeed planning a media event later this month at which the company will announce a major new product. The gathering is to be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, a space Apple often uses for media events like this. According to other sources, it will occur on Wednesday, January 27, not Tuesday, January 26, as had been rumored. No definitive word on what that product is, but I think we all have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Incidentally, this won't be the first time Apple has scheduled a special event on a Wednesday as opposed to Tuesday, which it has historically preferred for such things. The "It's Only Rock and Roll" iPod event held last September, which was also rumored to be scheduled on a Tuesday, was ultimately held on Wednesday, September 9. Evidently, Wednesday is the new Tuesday.
So, that rumored Apple event everyone has been jawing about these past few weeks? It's on and it's going to be a big deal. Sources in a position to know tell me Appleis indeed planning a media event later this month at which the company will announce a major new product. The gathering is to be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, a space Apple often uses for media events like this. According to other sources, it will occur on Wednesday, January 27, not Tuesday, January 26, as had been rumored. No definitive word on what that product is, but I think we all have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Incidentally, this won't be the first time Apple has scheduled a special event on a Wednesday as opposed to Tuesday, which it has historically preferred for such things. The "It's Only Rock and Roll" iPod event held last September, which was also rumored to be scheduled on a Tuesday, was ultimately held on Wednesday, September 9. Evidently, Wednesday is the new Tuesday.
Macintosh designer linked to Google+ user interface
Macintosh designer linked to Google+ user interface
One of the crowning design elements in Google+ is "circles," an interface for grouping together users into different privacy sets. You can, for instance, make a circle for family, and another for co-workers. Google has included a tool for doing this efficiently just by having users drag and drop, with a person's icon dropping into place like a gumball to show that the addition was a success. Hertzfeld famously dropped out of graduate school at University of California at Berkeley to join Apple in the summer of 1979, later working on the Macintosh team alongside Bill Atkinson, Burrell Smith, Steve Wozniak, and (now Apple CEO) Steve Jobs. Hertzfeld specifically wrote some of the initial Mac system software including the user interface toolbox, window manager, menu manager, and control manager. After Apple, Hertzfeld went on to co-found Radius, General Magic, and Eazel, later starting up the site Folklore.org, and writing "Revolution in the Valley: The Insanely Great Story of How the Mac was Made."
One of the crowning design elements in Google+ is "circles," an interface for grouping together users into different privacy sets. You can, for instance, make a circle for family, and another for co-workers. Google has included a tool for doing this efficiently just by having users drag and drop, with a person's icon dropping into place like a gumball to show that the addition was a success. Hertzfeld famously dropped out of graduate school at University of California at Berkeley to join Apple in the summer of 1979, later working on the Macintosh team alongside Bill Atkinson, Burrell Smith, Steve Wozniak, and (now Apple CEO) Steve Jobs. Hertzfeld specifically wrote some of the initial Mac system software including the user interface toolbox, window manager, menu manager, and control manager. After Apple, Hertzfeld went on to co-found Radius, General Magic, and Eazel, later starting up the site Folklore.org, and writing "Revolution in the Valley: The Insanely Great Story of How the Mac was Made."
Roku adds Google Play channel
Roku adds Google Play channel
Add Google Play to Roku's long list of video channels.The Google movies and TV app is now available on current-generation Roku boxes and streaming sticks in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland. (Roku says the app is "coming soon" to Roku TVs; we had it up and running on our TCL Roku TV for a few minutes, but now it's gone again.) The service, also available on Android and iOS devices, is Google's answer to iTunes, Vudu and Amazon Prime video, offering a similarly wide selection of movies and TV shows.The Roku app includes a "gifts from Google" option, which is currently offering a free copy of the original "X-Men" movie to new Play subscribers. It also offers Google Play's "info cards" feature, which is said to identify actors when you press pause.Google Play joins Roku's stable along with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, Watch ESPN and more than 1,600 other video and music apps (many of which are small niche services).In my opinion, the addition of Google Play Movies and TV is not a huge feather in Roku's otherwise superb content cap, if only because its offerings are mostly duplicative of services you can already get on Roku (including Amazon, Vudu and M-Go, to name a few). But it's certainly nice for anyone who's already invested in the Play ecosystem. And -- more interestingly -- it seems like a disincentive to buy Google's own new $99 Nexus Player: Why buy that when you can get Google Play and far more content channels on the Roku platform?Editors' note (11:50 a.m. PT): This story has been updated to clarify availability of the app on Roku TVs, and to add analysis at the end.
Add Google Play to Roku's long list of video channels.The Google movies and TV app is now available on current-generation Roku boxes and streaming sticks in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland. (Roku says the app is "coming soon" to Roku TVs; we had it up and running on our TCL Roku TV for a few minutes, but now it's gone again.) The service, also available on Android and iOS devices, is Google's answer to iTunes, Vudu and Amazon Prime video, offering a similarly wide selection of movies and TV shows.The Roku app includes a "gifts from Google" option, which is currently offering a free copy of the original "X-Men" movie to new Play subscribers. It also offers Google Play's "info cards" feature, which is said to identify actors when you press pause.Google Play joins Roku's stable along with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, Watch ESPN and more than 1,600 other video and music apps (many of which are small niche services).In my opinion, the addition of Google Play Movies and TV is not a huge feather in Roku's otherwise superb content cap, if only because its offerings are mostly duplicative of services you can already get on Roku (including Amazon, Vudu and M-Go, to name a few). But it's certainly nice for anyone who's already invested in the Play ecosystem. And -- more interestingly -- it seems like a disincentive to buy Google's own new $99 Nexus Player: Why buy that when you can get Google Play and far more content channels on the Roku platform?Editors' note (11:50 a.m. PT): This story has been updated to clarify availability of the app on Roku TVs, and to add analysis at the end.
Palm responds to Apple's warning
Palm responds to Apple's warning
On Tuesday, Apple issued a warning that it does not support iTunes synchronization with "non-Apple digital media players" and that future versions of the software may put an end to any such capability. While Apple didn't point any fingers, it's hard to believe the warning wasn't directed right at the Palm Pre, which shows up as an iPod when connected to iTunes and allows you to sync non-DRM media to the smartphone.Palm isn't taking it lying down and has responded to Apple's threats. Speaking to John Paczkowski of the Wall Street Journal, Palm spokesperson Lynn Fox said:Palm's media sync works with the current version of iTunes. If Apple chooses to disable media sync in a future version of iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience. However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we could consider.Also, as MyPre.com points out, Apple would have to specifically block the Pre since it shows up as an iPod and any casual changes to iTunes could affect legacy iPod support. Either way, things are getting pretty sticky. Apple, your move.
On Tuesday, Apple issued a warning that it does not support iTunes synchronization with "non-Apple digital media players" and that future versions of the software may put an end to any such capability. While Apple didn't point any fingers, it's hard to believe the warning wasn't directed right at the Palm Pre, which shows up as an iPod when connected to iTunes and allows you to sync non-DRM media to the smartphone.Palm isn't taking it lying down and has responded to Apple's threats. Speaking to John Paczkowski of the Wall Street Journal, Palm spokesperson Lynn Fox said:Palm's media sync works with the current version of iTunes. If Apple chooses to disable media sync in a future version of iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience. However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we could consider.Also, as MyPre.com points out, Apple would have to specifically block the Pre since it shows up as an iPod and any casual changes to iTunes could affect legacy iPod support. Either way, things are getting pretty sticky. Apple, your move.
Is shopping site selling pirated iTunes gift cards-
Is shopping site selling pirated iTunes gift cards?
Chinese hackers have figured out a way to generate iTunes gift card keycode numbers and help themselves to songs from Apple's music store. The hackers have been selling pirated $200 iTunes gift cards on Taobao for as little as 17.9 RMB, or just $2.60--a savings of almost 99 percent!Taobao's shop owner told Outdustry, "the gift card codes are created using key generators" and that he "paid money to use the hackers' service." All the seller actually sells is the gift voucher code, which is sent to you directly through Taobao's IM software. You can then redeem the card in your iTunes account. TaobaoHe continues on to say, "Half a year ago, when they started the business, the price was around 320 RMB for $200 card; then more people went into this business and the price went all the way down to 18 RMB per card, but we make more money, as the amount of customers is growing rapidly."Unfortunately, that means for every illicit iTunes card sold, a legitimate iTunes gift card potentially becomes invalid.Has anyone scratched off their gift cards recently only to find the codes don't work?Hit me up on the comments below.[via Load This]
Chinese hackers have figured out a way to generate iTunes gift card keycode numbers and help themselves to songs from Apple's music store. The hackers have been selling pirated $200 iTunes gift cards on Taobao for as little as 17.9 RMB, or just $2.60--a savings of almost 99 percent!Taobao's shop owner told Outdustry, "the gift card codes are created using key generators" and that he "paid money to use the hackers' service." All the seller actually sells is the gift voucher code, which is sent to you directly through Taobao's IM software. You can then redeem the card in your iTunes account. TaobaoHe continues on to say, "Half a year ago, when they started the business, the price was around 320 RMB for $200 card; then more people went into this business and the price went all the way down to 18 RMB per card, but we make more money, as the amount of customers is growing rapidly."Unfortunately, that means for every illicit iTunes card sold, a legitimate iTunes gift card potentially becomes invalid.Has anyone scratched off their gift cards recently only to find the codes don't work?Hit me up on the comments below.[via Load This]
iAds in iBooks may be closer than you think
iAds in iBooks may be closer than you think
With the amount of information Apple has on the purchasing habits of iTunes account holders, iAds represents the most dynamic way for publishers to reach an e-book audience that has (so far) been lucky to avoid the advertisement monsoon currently engulfing television, movies, and games.Other than the obvious built-in market (more than 3 million iPads sold with no signs of slowing), publishers might also look to iAds for the aesthetic value they offer. If you flip to page 40 of Jonathan Lethem's "Chronic City," you may be served an iAd instead of page 41. But don't worry, it won't be based on the book you're reading. The formula is much more complex. And more accurate. The ad you see will have everything to do with your account habits--what you've purchased, downloaded, read, and played.Of course, none of this is currently happening, but as the WSJ article conjectures, it does seem inevitable. And I have to agree. Perhaps more interesting than publishers pumping ads into their best sellers is the thought that independent authors could publish e-books and have a viable income stream, which would put more attention on the content of the book, rather than a mass market approach as seen from big publishing houses. This approach is similar to indie game developers' use of iAds to fund their future creations.Advertisements are almost certain to appear in iBooks. Is this a good thing? Will you go back to paper? Let us know in the comments!
With the amount of information Apple has on the purchasing habits of iTunes account holders, iAds represents the most dynamic way for publishers to reach an e-book audience that has (so far) been lucky to avoid the advertisement monsoon currently engulfing television, movies, and games.Other than the obvious built-in market (more than 3 million iPads sold with no signs of slowing), publishers might also look to iAds for the aesthetic value they offer. If you flip to page 40 of Jonathan Lethem's "Chronic City," you may be served an iAd instead of page 41. But don't worry, it won't be based on the book you're reading. The formula is much more complex. And more accurate. The ad you see will have everything to do with your account habits--what you've purchased, downloaded, read, and played.Of course, none of this is currently happening, but as the WSJ article conjectures, it does seem inevitable. And I have to agree. Perhaps more interesting than publishers pumping ads into their best sellers is the thought that independent authors could publish e-books and have a viable income stream, which would put more attention on the content of the book, rather than a mass market approach as seen from big publishing houses. This approach is similar to indie game developers' use of iAds to fund their future creations.Advertisements are almost certain to appear in iBooks. Is this a good thing? Will you go back to paper? Let us know in the comments!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)