Apple in talks to offer unlimited downloads of purchased music
Apple Inc. is in talks with record companies to give iTunes music buyers easier access to their songs on multiple devices.
According to sources, Apple is negotiating with music companies, including Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp. and EMI Group Ltd. An agreement may be announced by midyear.
The arrangement would give users more flexibility in how they access purchased music. Apple and the record labels are eager to maintain demand for digital downloading in the middle of rising popularity for Internet services such as Pandora Media Inc., which don’t sell tracks and instead let users stream songs from the Web with whatever the device.
Sources added that a deal would provide iTunes customers with a permanent backup of music purchases if the originals are damaged or lost. The service would also enable downloads to iPad, iPod and iPhone devices linked to the same iTune’s account. The move would be a step closer to universal access to content centrally stored on the Internet.
Apple IPad users unwilling to pay for Entertainment
New survey has revealed that the iPad is still a ways off from becoming a fourth screen and creating new revenue streams for content providers. A survey of 205 iPad owners and users, the report found early adopters are not demonstrating unique behaviors: six of the seven top reported activities are familiar ones, like web surfing and email.
The report also found that 76% of owners use the iPad at least five days a week, while 55% of owners use the device everyday.
But these users are bringing the free Internet mindset to the iPad, and only a small portion of users is willing to pay for content. This is a trend worth watching, as the iPad’s advertising-supported media model is different from that of any other medium, since iPad users must register with iTunes, providing much personally identifiable information through a pay wall. At the same time, Apple’s iAd advertising product can be purchased only through Apple, creating an entirely different advertising ecosystem that industry analysts are watching closely.
Early-adopters are currently treating the iPad as an Internet appliance. Media companies and other content creators cannot assume that iPod behaviors – purchasing content for the device – will be immediately transferred to the iPad. In early-adopter group, it was seen that iPad users prefer an ad-supported model over a pay model to gain access to content. At this point, a pay-for-content model would appeal only to a niche group of consumers.
Ironically, users who watch TV episodes or movies on their iPads most often learn about them from branded apps created by services like YouTube, Netflix and SlingBox. Word-of-mouth, typically the most common information source, came in second in the survey, just ahead of TV network apps, with iTunes mentioned less.
The study also shows that 70% of iPad owners/users have read an e-book on the device; 61% electronic magazine or journal; and 51% have watched network TV programs. Yet only 13% of iPad owner/users would be willing to pay extra for an iPad-friendly version of a magazine or TV show they already pay for in its standard format (such as a cable or magazine subscription).
Skype launches new iPhone application
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A completely new version of the iPhone application has been launched by VoIP services provider Skype which will enable iPhone users to make and receive Skype-to-Skype calls, and to call mobiles and landlines around the world over their 3G data connection.
CD-quality sound for Skype-to-Skype calls using wideband audio on iPhone 3GS or second generation iPod touch and onwards, enhanced call quality indicator and enhanced access to the dial pad from the home screen are some of the new features of the for iPhone application. All iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch and iPad are compatible with the new version.
iPhone OS version 3.0 and above is required by Skype and calling functionality is available on iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and second generation iPod touch onwards. The Skype for iPhone application can be currently downloaded for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch and Skype to Skype calls over Wi-Fi will also remain free. Details of pricing will be announced in the coming months
10.7m iPhone devices in April on AdMob network in the USA
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In April, the USA had 10.7 million iPhone devices as compared to 8.7 million Android devices. Unique devices that requested at least one ad from the AdMob network in April are represented by these numbers.
IPhone, iPad and iPod Touch shipments have been 18.3 million during the same period. The gap between platforms increases to two to one in the US with the inclusion of the iPod touch. The iPhone platform has considerably more exclusive devices than Android in the AdMob network at an international level.
There were 27.4 million iPhone devices compared to 11.6 million Android devices globally and the ratio between iPhone OS devices and Android devices was 3.5 to 1. In North America, there are around 75 percent of Android devices as compared to 49 percent of iPhone OS devices.
Apple may unveil new version of iPhone at WWDC in June
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Worldwide Developers Conference of Apple will be addressed by the Chief Executive Officer of the company Steve Jobs, in June and it can be assumed that the firm is planning to unveil the next version of its super hit device, iPhone. Keeping a track of the Apple record in the past, analysts also feel that they’ll introduce new hardware, in this case the latest iPhone.
The five day meeting will be given a flag off by Jobs on June 7, and most of the products are typically introduced in this event namely, WWDC. The iPhone was first introduced in June 2007 and since then; it has been offering a new version every summer. In July 2008, the iPhone 3G, which added support for third-generation wireless networks, was kicked off for sale followed by an upgraded version in June 2009.
The newest iPhone is expected to have improved battery life and a front-facing camera and the device would probably be shown during keynote address by Jobs. Apple’s top-selling product in the last quarter was iPhone which earned $5.45 billion in sales, or 40 percent of revenue. 28 percent of sales had been represented by the Macintosh computer while the iPod media player accounted for 14 percent.
IPhone 3GS was introduced by Apple’s marketing chief Phil Schiller, at last year’s event because Jobs, 55, was out on medical leave. An unreleased iPhone prototype, lost by an Apple engineer at a bar in March, was disassembled and photographed by technology blog last month. If the type comes out to be true, then the features of the new iPhone can be a front-facing camera, camera flash, higher-resolution screen, bigger battery and boxier design than the current iPhone 3GS. According to Apple, the WWDC sold out in eight days to more than 5,000 developers.
Apple undermining WEB- Adobe
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The war between Adobe Systems-Apple over Flash is heating up. Adobe cofounders John Warnock and Chuck Geschke have accused Apple through an open letter to be the company behind the iPhone, iPod and iPad of undermining “the next chapter of the web.”
A letter has been posted on the website of Adobe and an advertising campaign has been started under the name, The Freedom of Choice as per which, while Adobe loves Apple, the iPhone maker is “taking away your freedom.” The ads are also displayed in The New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as technology blogs and news sites including TopTechNews.com.
According to the Adobe co- founders, consumers should be able to freely access their favorite content and applications, regardless of what computer they have, what browser they like, or what device suits their needs and if the web fragments into closed systems, come at the expense of the very creativity and innovation that has made the Internet a revolutionary force.
Since they publish Flash specifications are made by them, anyone can make a player. The letters by the cofounders also pointed to Postscript and PDF, two Adobe cross-platform software solutions with openly published specifications. It has to be kept in mind that Adobe is not only resorting to the letter and ads to pressurize Apple, as it has been reported that a possible federal antitrust investigation might also be there in response to a complaint from Adobe.
Apple on the other hand has also replied through an open lengthy in which the cofounder and CEO Steve Jobs has attempted to explain why Adobe’s nearly ubiquitous Flash technology is not allowed on Apple’s mobile devices calling Flash a proprietary, closed system.
Opera crosses 100m Users, Launches on iPhone
Opera Software recently revealed that their browsers are being used by over 100 million people worldwide. While over 50 million users are on Windows, Mac and Linux computers another 50 million use Opera Mini on mobile phones, plus a smaller number use Opera browser on game consoles, TVs and set-top boxes.
According to Opera CEO, Lars Boilesen, Opera’s record growth shows that they are on the right track, and that as user needs grow, they are growing right along with them.
In his opinion, Opera for Desktop delivers the fastest browsing experience on the planet, with a visionary approach to features and a user-friendly design.
The software has also announced of the approval of Opera Mini for iPhone and iPod touch on the Apple App Store. Depending on the market the software will be available for free download very soon.
Ten One launches Autograph for iPhone
Autograph for iPhone has been launched by Ten One Design. It is an iPhone app aimed to enable users to create digital signatures directly on the iPhone’s touchscreen and automatically insert them into electronic documents on their Mac or PC via wi-fi.
The function of the app takes place in conjunction with Ten One Design’s free Autograph Helper program that, once downloaded, runs on the user’s computer to quickly and conveniently receives signatures from iPhone or iPod touch devices.
IPad to have faster growth rate than iPhone: Research
According to a research, Twenty-three percent of all mobile WiFi consumers plan to buy Apple’s iPad in the next year.
The report has claimed that that it saw about 5,000 sessions from iPad users in public WiFi venues in less than 24 hours after the much-anticipated device debuted in stores. It has also predicted that though the 3G version is not available yet, the WiFi capability will be more popular.
According to Kevin McKenzie, founder of JiWire, from over 850 survey responses, randomly selected across JiWire’s media channel, an exciting 23 percent of the on-the-go audience plans to buy an iPad in the next 12 months.
In his opinion, of the 23 percent of people who plan to buy an iPad, 57 percent own an Apple iPhone or iPod touch, 43 percent own a non-Apple mobile device, and 27 percent are BlackBerry owners.
These stats indicate that the iPad is going to be the big crossover device for a lot of non-Apple mobile owners
