Android Atlas Weekly 89: YouTube vs Android: a war for content (Podcast)
A nexus tablet, Instagram is here, but not really and google fails to entertain, all that and more on this week's episode of Android Atlas Weekly for March 14th, 2012.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.PlayListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)EPISODE 89NEWS:Jessica Dolcourt with the Samsung Galaxy S II on US Cellular-Samsung Galazy S II-Google Pin Frenzy-Google’s entertainment strategy is in disarray-Nokia Maps gives turn-by-turn walking navigation to all-Hottest new apps out of SXSW 2012-Instagram coming to Android ‘really soon’-Android Tablets Will Overtake iPad by 2015, IDC Says-Digitimes echos our "Nexus tablet" by ASUS rumor, could launch as early as May-Tag Heuer launching eye-wateringly priced Android smartphoneVOICEMAIL:Caller has a question about the Chrome browser.-How-to-switch-from-iphone-to-android/EMAIL:Listening to the broadcast yesterday and by the way I like the little more involvement StephenBeacham has been adding,he's funny and brings a lot to BOLwould love to see you guys let him loose on Android Atlas as well.But that's a different topic. In reference to the email about Android Tablet apps.It was situation you both are right and both are wrong. The emailer was right in the fact there are a lot more Tablet Optimized apps then what is either thought to be out there and is reported on. Justin was right in the fact that Google does a horrible job of centralizing them.I found this website which is also an Android app called Tablified MarketHD. It's actually both a wonderful app and website that does a great job of finding Android Tablet optimized apps.You guys should check it out. There is both a free and a paid version.And maybe even consider it as an app of the week? I think it will be very helpful to Android users who have tablets . Website:http://www.tablified.com/APP:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tablified.tablifiedmarket_pro&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS50YWJsaWZpZWQudGFibGlmaWVkbWFya2V0X3BybyJdThanks love the show and how Jaymar is coming into his own.Williaâ€"â€"Hi,This is the first time I am writing to you. I have been listening to your show for a couple of weeks now, I’ve really enjoyed it.In the last show (Ep. 88) you mentioned several times, that you do not want to pay for the applications that you use on your phone. Come on, guys, do not bite the hand that feeds you. If you want to have a high quality software on your phone, you should sometimes support the effort of developers and pay for the application every now and then. You often review cool Android apps in your, show after all. Where do you think these apps come from ?And boasting about blocking the internet access in order to prevent ads from displaying on your screens in your FREE apps… this is not what I would expect from the journalists that â€" among other things â€" write, speak and do shows about Android “â€ecosystemâ€".There are many decent applications that were not preinstalled on my phone or that are way better than stock counterparts.- gReader Pro for RSS reading,- Read It Later Pro for saving interesting URLs,- Pocket Casts for podcast listening (I will not believe that any of you, guys, really like the Google Listen app),- Winamp, for listening and synchronizing my mp3 music,- Smart Keyboard Pro, great keyboard by the way,- ezPDF reader, for reading PDFs, making notes in PDFs and much more,to name only a few. Without these apps, my smartphone would not be “â€smartâ€" at all. In the last show, you asked “â€Who buys the apps, anyway?â€".Well, I do. If I like the application, I do not mind spending a couple of bucks on it. Best regards,Pawelâ€"â€"SHOW DETAILS:BLOG cnet.com/android-atlasSTREAM cnet.com/live/TIME Wednesdays @ 10am PTEMAIL androidatlas@cnet.comTWITTER @androidatlasJAYMAR@jaymarcabebeJUSTIN @notmyrealnameJESSICA @jdolcourtPHONE 866-344-CNET (2638)
iPad Mini with Retina Display vs. Nexus 7 vs. Kindle Fire HDX 7
iPad Mini with Retina Display vs. Nexus 7 vs. Kindle Fire HDX 7
Almost one year to the day that Apple unveiled its first small iPad, the company launched its successor, the iPad Mini with Retina Display. The much-anticipated device sports expanded LTE support, in addition to a better-looking screen.Related storiesNew announcements from Apple (pictures)Apple to release OS X Mavericks for freeApple announces new, faster MacBook Pros with Haswell chips, Thunderbolt 2, starting at $1,299Apple iTunes Radio notches 20M listeners, 1 billion songsApple by the numbers: 64% of iOS devices on iOS 7Mac Pro available by end of year, starting at $2,999Apple updates iLife for iOS and OS XApple's Cook on competitors: 'They're confused'Complete coverage of Apple's Oct. 22 eventApple wasn't the only company to release new tiny tablets this year. In 2013, Google and Amazon refreshed their lineups with the Nexus 7 (2013 edition) and the Kindle Fire HDX 7-inch. Now that Apple has taken the wraps off the iPad Mini 2 at its October 22 event, we can see how each tablet stacks up against the other.Right off the bat, the iPad Mini 2 is the most expensive of the bunch starting at $399 for the 16GB version. Both the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HDX start at $230 for 16GB of storage. Other than that, all three tablets have a lot in common as far as camera quality and storage options, though the iPad Mini comes in a 128GB model.Decide for yourself which tablet has the best features for you, and let us know your pick in the comments.table.geekbox th{background-color:#E6ECEF;text-align:left;font-weight:bold;}table{width:610px;}table.geekbox tr.even{background-color:#CCCCCC;}.ratingGood{color:#093;} .ratingAverage{color:#666;} .ratingBad{color:#C00;}Apple iPad Mini 2Google Nexus 7 (2013)Kindle Fire HDX 7-inchOperating systemiOS 7Android 4.3Amazon Android Mojito 3.0PriceWi-Fi: $399 (16GB), $499 (32GB), $599 (64GB) $699 (128GB).Cellular: $529 (16GB), $629 (32GB), $729 (64GB) $829 (128GB).$230 (16GB), $270 32GB (32GB), $350 (32GB and 4G LTE)$230 (16GB), $270 (32GB), $310 (64GB)Display7.9-inch IPS,2,048x1,536 pixels (324ppi)7-inch IPS,1,920x1,200 pixels (323ppi)7-inch IPS,1,920x1,200 pixels (323ppi)Size7.8 inches x 5.3 inches x 0.3 inch7.8 inches x 4.5 inches x 0.3 inch7.3 inches x 5.0 inches x 0.3 inchWeight11.7 ounces (331 grams)10.5 ounces (299 grams)10.9 ounces (311 grams)Processor A7 processor1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800Memory16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB16GB or 32GB; 2GB RAM16GB, 32GB or 64GB; 2GB RAMCamera5-megapixel rear-facing; 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera5-megapixel; 1.2-megapixel front-facing5-megapixel; 1.2-megapixel front-facingBattery23.8-watt-hour; 10 hours battery life3,950mAh4,550mAhNFCNoYesNoPortsLightning connectorMicro-USBMicro-HDMI, Micro-USBColorSpace gray and silverBlackDark gray
Almost one year to the day that Apple unveiled its first small iPad, the company launched its successor, the iPad Mini with Retina Display. The much-anticipated device sports expanded LTE support, in addition to a better-looking screen.Related storiesNew announcements from Apple (pictures)Apple to release OS X Mavericks for freeApple announces new, faster MacBook Pros with Haswell chips, Thunderbolt 2, starting at $1,299Apple iTunes Radio notches 20M listeners, 1 billion songsApple by the numbers: 64% of iOS devices on iOS 7Mac Pro available by end of year, starting at $2,999Apple updates iLife for iOS and OS XApple's Cook on competitors: 'They're confused'Complete coverage of Apple's Oct. 22 eventApple wasn't the only company to release new tiny tablets this year. In 2013, Google and Amazon refreshed their lineups with the Nexus 7 (2013 edition) and the Kindle Fire HDX 7-inch. Now that Apple has taken the wraps off the iPad Mini 2 at its October 22 event, we can see how each tablet stacks up against the other.Right off the bat, the iPad Mini 2 is the most expensive of the bunch starting at $399 for the 16GB version. Both the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HDX start at $230 for 16GB of storage. Other than that, all three tablets have a lot in common as far as camera quality and storage options, though the iPad Mini comes in a 128GB model.Decide for yourself which tablet has the best features for you, and let us know your pick in the comments.table.geekbox th{background-color:#E6ECEF;text-align:left;font-weight:bold;}table{width:610px;}table.geekbox tr.even{background-color:#CCCCCC;}.ratingGood{color:#093;} .ratingAverage{color:#666;} .ratingBad{color:#C00;}Apple iPad Mini 2Google Nexus 7 (2013)Kindle Fire HDX 7-inchOperating systemiOS 7Android 4.3Amazon Android Mojito 3.0PriceWi-Fi: $399 (16GB), $499 (32GB), $599 (64GB) $699 (128GB).Cellular: $529 (16GB), $629 (32GB), $729 (64GB) $829 (128GB).$230 (16GB), $270 32GB (32GB), $350 (32GB and 4G LTE)$230 (16GB), $270 (32GB), $310 (64GB)Display7.9-inch IPS,2,048x1,536 pixels (324ppi)7-inch IPS,1,920x1,200 pixels (323ppi)7-inch IPS,1,920x1,200 pixels (323ppi)Size7.8 inches x 5.3 inches x 0.3 inch7.8 inches x 4.5 inches x 0.3 inch7.3 inches x 5.0 inches x 0.3 inchWeight11.7 ounces (331 grams)10.5 ounces (299 grams)10.9 ounces (311 grams)Processor A7 processor1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800Memory16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB16GB or 32GB; 2GB RAM16GB, 32GB or 64GB; 2GB RAMCamera5-megapixel rear-facing; 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera5-megapixel; 1.2-megapixel front-facing5-megapixel; 1.2-megapixel front-facingBattery23.8-watt-hour; 10 hours battery life3,950mAh4,550mAhNFCNoYesNoPortsLightning connectorMicro-USBMicro-HDMI, Micro-USBColorSpace gray and silverBlackDark gray
Apple names Levinson as chairman, adds Iger to board
Apple names Levinson as chairman, adds Iger to board
Apple named Arthur D. Levinson as non-executive chairman of its board and added Disney CEO Robert Iger as a board member, the first board-level reshuffle the company has made since the passing of co-founder Steve Jobs almost six weeks ago.Jobs became Apple chairman after stepping down from the CEO post in late August. The company did not name a successor following his death.Levinson, a molecular biologist who is also chairman and former CEO of Genentech, has been the co-lead of Apple's board since 2005. Before that, he came on as a board member in 2000, and has served on all of its committees. Levinson is also on Roche's board of directors, and a director at the biotech companies Amyris and NGM Biopharmaceuticals, as well as at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.Iger, meanwhile, is credited with helping to broker the 2006 deal in which Disney acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion and made Jobs a Disney director. Iger also paved the way for bringing ABC's TV shows to the iTunes Store."I am honored to be named chairman of Apple's board and welcome Bob to our team," Levinson said in a statement. "Apple is always focused on out-innovating itself through the delivery of truly innovative products that simplify and improve our lives, and that is something I am very proud to be a part of.""Bob and I have gotten to know one another very well over the past few years and on behalf of the entire board, we think he is going to make an extraordinary addition to our already very strong board," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. "His strategic vision for Disney is based on three fundamentals: generating the best creative content possible, fostering innovation and utilizing the latest technology, and expanding into new markets around the world which makes him a great fit for Apple."When Jobs returned to Apple, he cleaned house on Apple's board in 1997, putting into place a boardroom of business titans including Oracle chairman and CEO Larry Ellison, former CFO of IBM and Chrysler, Jerry York, and Bill Campbell, the CEO of Intuit. A report in the Wall Street Journal last month suggested that Campbell would get the nod as chairman. Prior to Jobs assuming that role, Apple had two co-lead directors--Levinson and Campbell.As it stands, Apple's board is comprised of individuals with an unusually broad range of business experience, from technology and biotechnology to government, retail and beauty products. The addition of Iger adds more depth to that talent pool, given his role an entertainment heavyweight.As Apple's biography of Levinson notes, he's authored or co-authored in excess of 80 scientific articles, and is listed as the inventor on 11 U.S. patents. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Washington, and a doctorate in Biochemical Sciences from Pinceton University. Three years ago he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Apple named Arthur D. Levinson as non-executive chairman of its board and added Disney CEO Robert Iger as a board member, the first board-level reshuffle the company has made since the passing of co-founder Steve Jobs almost six weeks ago.Jobs became Apple chairman after stepping down from the CEO post in late August. The company did not name a successor following his death.Levinson, a molecular biologist who is also chairman and former CEO of Genentech, has been the co-lead of Apple's board since 2005. Before that, he came on as a board member in 2000, and has served on all of its committees. Levinson is also on Roche's board of directors, and a director at the biotech companies Amyris and NGM Biopharmaceuticals, as well as at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.Iger, meanwhile, is credited with helping to broker the 2006 deal in which Disney acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion and made Jobs a Disney director. Iger also paved the way for bringing ABC's TV shows to the iTunes Store."I am honored to be named chairman of Apple's board and welcome Bob to our team," Levinson said in a statement. "Apple is always focused on out-innovating itself through the delivery of truly innovative products that simplify and improve our lives, and that is something I am very proud to be a part of.""Bob and I have gotten to know one another very well over the past few years and on behalf of the entire board, we think he is going to make an extraordinary addition to our already very strong board," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. "His strategic vision for Disney is based on three fundamentals: generating the best creative content possible, fostering innovation and utilizing the latest technology, and expanding into new markets around the world which makes him a great fit for Apple."When Jobs returned to Apple, he cleaned house on Apple's board in 1997, putting into place a boardroom of business titans including Oracle chairman and CEO Larry Ellison, former CFO of IBM and Chrysler, Jerry York, and Bill Campbell, the CEO of Intuit. A report in the Wall Street Journal last month suggested that Campbell would get the nod as chairman. Prior to Jobs assuming that role, Apple had two co-lead directors--Levinson and Campbell.As it stands, Apple's board is comprised of individuals with an unusually broad range of business experience, from technology and biotechnology to government, retail and beauty products. The addition of Iger adds more depth to that talent pool, given his role an entertainment heavyweight.As Apple's biography of Levinson notes, he's authored or co-authored in excess of 80 scientific articles, and is listed as the inventor on 11 U.S. patents. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Washington, and a doctorate in Biochemical Sciences from Pinceton University. Three years ago he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
See which apps are hogging your Mac's resources
See which apps are hogging your Mac's resources
When you click on System Lens' icon in your menu bar, you'll see the apps you have currently running with a Low, Medium, High rating. The icon itself tells you how stressed your system is -- one bar means overall usage is low, two bars is medium, and three bars means things are about to boil over. In settings, you can change the icon's bar-rating system to a numbered system. And should you (logically) take issue with running an additional app in an effort to better manage a slow system, you can check a box in settings to disable System Lens from intermittently taking your Mac's pulse, which means the app itself will use fewer system resources. Lastly, if, like I did, you find most of the apps get a Low rating, you can tweak the threshold for the ratings in advanced settings. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETRelated storiesCompletely uninstall Mac apps with AppCleanerHow to quickly force-quit the current application in OS XHow to migrate Time Machine backups to a new driveSystem Lens not only monitors your system, but it also provides a quick and easy way to close any app that you deem too much of a resource hog. Click on an app from System Lens' drop-down window and an X button will appear where its rating was before. Click on the X to close the app. In my experience, System Lens is far more effective at closing apps than I am. Firefox, for example, almost always refuses to close when I first ask it to, but System Lens closed it instantly. Same for bloated iTunes and slow-as-molasses iPhoto.System Lens provides a free and easy way to monitor and manage the apps on your Mac. The only issue I found with the app is that it didn't always show all of the apps I had running, no matter if they were minimized or open and running right there in front of me. Just for its ability to close apps instantly, however, it's worth checking out.
When you click on System Lens' icon in your menu bar, you'll see the apps you have currently running with a Low, Medium, High rating. The icon itself tells you how stressed your system is -- one bar means overall usage is low, two bars is medium, and three bars means things are about to boil over. In settings, you can change the icon's bar-rating system to a numbered system. And should you (logically) take issue with running an additional app in an effort to better manage a slow system, you can check a box in settings to disable System Lens from intermittently taking your Mac's pulse, which means the app itself will use fewer system resources. Lastly, if, like I did, you find most of the apps get a Low rating, you can tweak the threshold for the ratings in advanced settings. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETRelated storiesCompletely uninstall Mac apps with AppCleanerHow to quickly force-quit the current application in OS XHow to migrate Time Machine backups to a new driveSystem Lens not only monitors your system, but it also provides a quick and easy way to close any app that you deem too much of a resource hog. Click on an app from System Lens' drop-down window and an X button will appear where its rating was before. Click on the X to close the app. In my experience, System Lens is far more effective at closing apps than I am. Firefox, for example, almost always refuses to close when I first ask it to, but System Lens closed it instantly. Same for bloated iTunes and slow-as-molasses iPhoto.System Lens provides a free and easy way to monitor and manage the apps on your Mac. The only issue I found with the app is that it didn't always show all of the apps I had running, no matter if they were minimized or open and running right there in front of me. Just for its ability to close apps instantly, however, it's worth checking out.
How to use iCloud with GarageBand for iOS
How to use iCloud with GarageBand for iOS
To get started, you will need to make sure iCloud is turned on in GarageBand. When viewing all of your songs in GarageBand, tap on the + icon, then turn on iCloud. Repeat these steps on each iOS device you want GarageBand to use iCloud on. iCloud support with GarageBand is only available on the iPhone 4/4S, fourth-gen iPod, and all iPads.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNETWhen you want to send a song to iCloud, tap on the Edit button and select a song (or songs). With iCloud enabled in the app, you will now see an iCloud icon along the top bar. Tapping on the iCloud icon will bring up a prompt, asking if you want to send the song(s) to iCloud. After the song is uploaded to iCloud, you will see an iCloud logo in the top-right corner of the song thumbnail, indicating a successful upload and the fact that the song is stored in the cloud.Here we have a song downloading, one stored in iCloud, and one awaiting download on an iPad.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNETWhen you open GarageBand on another iOS device, you will see the song thumbnail, but now it will have a green arrow in the top-right corner. The arrow indicates the song hasn't been downloaded to your device yet. When you tap on the thumbnail, the song will then be downloaded from iCloud. Going forward, each time you finish editing a song, it will automatically upload the changes to iCloud.Once you store a song in iCloud, it's going to take up part of your iCloud storage allotment. Make sure to keep an eye on your iCloud storage levels and remove any songs you no longer need stored in iCloud. GarageBand songs can be, and more often than not, are fairly big files. You can remove a song from iCloud by repeating step 2, but by selecting the song that's already uploaded. Instead of being asked if you want to upload, you will be prompted to confirm you want to remove the song from iCloud. Unfortunately, at this time Apple is yet to provide an official way to use the iCloud stored files with GarageBand on OS X. You'll have to stick with syncing via iTunes to share with your Mac. Perhaps iCloud sync with OS X is a feature we will have to wait for OS X Mountain Lion to see.
To get started, you will need to make sure iCloud is turned on in GarageBand. When viewing all of your songs in GarageBand, tap on the + icon, then turn on iCloud. Repeat these steps on each iOS device you want GarageBand to use iCloud on. iCloud support with GarageBand is only available on the iPhone 4/4S, fourth-gen iPod, and all iPads.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNETWhen you want to send a song to iCloud, tap on the Edit button and select a song (or songs). With iCloud enabled in the app, you will now see an iCloud icon along the top bar. Tapping on the iCloud icon will bring up a prompt, asking if you want to send the song(s) to iCloud. After the song is uploaded to iCloud, you will see an iCloud logo in the top-right corner of the song thumbnail, indicating a successful upload and the fact that the song is stored in the cloud.Here we have a song downloading, one stored in iCloud, and one awaiting download on an iPad.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNETWhen you open GarageBand on another iOS device, you will see the song thumbnail, but now it will have a green arrow in the top-right corner. The arrow indicates the song hasn't been downloaded to your device yet. When you tap on the thumbnail, the song will then be downloaded from iCloud. Going forward, each time you finish editing a song, it will automatically upload the changes to iCloud.Once you store a song in iCloud, it's going to take up part of your iCloud storage allotment. Make sure to keep an eye on your iCloud storage levels and remove any songs you no longer need stored in iCloud. GarageBand songs can be, and more often than not, are fairly big files. You can remove a song from iCloud by repeating step 2, but by selecting the song that's already uploaded. Instead of being asked if you want to upload, you will be prompted to confirm you want to remove the song from iCloud. Unfortunately, at this time Apple is yet to provide an official way to use the iCloud stored files with GarageBand on OS X. You'll have to stick with syncing via iTunes to share with your Mac. Perhaps iCloud sync with OS X is a feature we will have to wait for OS X Mountain Lion to see.
The wait resets- New 27-inch iMacs to ship in January
The wait resets: New 27-inch iMacs to ship in January
The 27-inch iMac now has a vague ship date of January, not exactly an improvement over the previous estimate.Unveiled in October, the 27-inch iMac popped up for preorder on Apple's online retail site on November 30. The initial ship time was pegged at two to three weeks, but that shot up to three to four weeks after just a few hours.Three to four weeks after November 30 takes us to December 21 to December 28. That estimate already meant the 27-inch iMac wouldn't make it on the shopping lists of holidays buyers. And now a fuzzy forecast of January means it will be delayed even further, perhaps not even available until late next month.The news shouldn't come as a big surprise.At Apple's fourth-quarter earnings call on October 25, CEO Tim Cook warned that supplies of the iMac would be "constrained" the rest of the year, leading to a "signficant shortage."The 21-inch model has so far avoided the severe delays affecting its bigger brother. Apple currently lists the ship time for the smaller iMac at 7 to 10 days.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
The 27-inch iMac now has a vague ship date of January, not exactly an improvement over the previous estimate.Unveiled in October, the 27-inch iMac popped up for preorder on Apple's online retail site on November 30. The initial ship time was pegged at two to three weeks, but that shot up to three to four weeks after just a few hours.Three to four weeks after November 30 takes us to December 21 to December 28. That estimate already meant the 27-inch iMac wouldn't make it on the shopping lists of holidays buyers. And now a fuzzy forecast of January means it will be delayed even further, perhaps not even available until late next month.The news shouldn't come as a big surprise.At Apple's fourth-quarter earnings call on October 25, CEO Tim Cook warned that supplies of the iMac would be "constrained" the rest of the year, leading to a "signficant shortage."The 21-inch model has so far avoided the severe delays affecting its bigger brother. Apple currently lists the ship time for the smaller iMac at 7 to 10 days.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
The iPhone tops J.D. Power satisfaction rankings -- again
The iPhone tops J.D. Power satisfaction rankings -- again
Apple's iPhone satisfaction streak is alive and well.J.D. Power and Associates today released its rankings of the most popular smartphone vendors. And for the ninth-consecutive time, Apple took the top spot with a score of 855 out of 1,000. Back in September, when J.D. Power last conducted a study on smartphone customer satisfaction, Apple scored 849.The second-place smartphone vendor in the latest J.D. Power survey was Nokia, scoring a 795. Samsung came in a close third at 793, followed by Motorola and HTC with 792 and 790, respectively. The average vendor score was a 796 -- a far cry from BlackBerry's lowly 732.J.D. Power's findings are based on customer experiences with specific products. In this case, customers said that smartphone performance was their most important metric, followed by a device's design and features. Ease of operation was also important in their evaluations.In addition to smartphone rankings, J.D. Power gleaned some interest information from smartphone customers, discovering that 17 percent of them have experienced a software or hardware malfunction. Those folks also spend an average of 115 minutes per week using social-networking apps on their devices.One other tidbit from the J.D. Power survey: among traditional mobile phones, LG was the leading vendor with a score of 719. Nokia came in second place with a score of 714.
Apple's iPhone satisfaction streak is alive and well.J.D. Power and Associates today released its rankings of the most popular smartphone vendors. And for the ninth-consecutive time, Apple took the top spot with a score of 855 out of 1,000. Back in September, when J.D. Power last conducted a study on smartphone customer satisfaction, Apple scored 849.The second-place smartphone vendor in the latest J.D. Power survey was Nokia, scoring a 795. Samsung came in a close third at 793, followed by Motorola and HTC with 792 and 790, respectively. The average vendor score was a 796 -- a far cry from BlackBerry's lowly 732.J.D. Power's findings are based on customer experiences with specific products. In this case, customers said that smartphone performance was their most important metric, followed by a device's design and features. Ease of operation was also important in their evaluations.In addition to smartphone rankings, J.D. Power gleaned some interest information from smartphone customers, discovering that 17 percent of them have experienced a software or hardware malfunction. Those folks also spend an average of 115 minutes per week using social-networking apps on their devices.One other tidbit from the J.D. Power survey: among traditional mobile phones, LG was the leading vendor with a score of 719. Nokia came in second place with a score of 714.
Apple, Ferrari in talks to broaden in-car infotainment pact
Apple, Ferrari in talks to broaden in-car infotainment pact
Ferrari is in negotiations to expand its in-car entertainment partnership with Apple, the luxury-car maker's chairman revealed today as the company unveiled a car with Siri and two iPad Minis.The companies will be "more precise" about their partnership in the coming months, Luca Cordero Di Montezemolo said today at the Geneva International Motor Show, according to a Bloomberg account of his comments. CNET has contacted Apple for more comment and will update this report when we learn more.The partnership apparently began last November when Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president for Internet software and services, was invited to join Ferrari's board of directors. Cue is said to be a collector of sports cars, including a Ferrari.Di Montezemolo's comments come on the same day Ferrari unveiled the new FF, the first four-wheel-drive four-seater in the company's history. The car features "seamless integration" with an Apple infotainment system via the Siri-based Eyes Free voice-command system and two iPad Minis for the use of passengers in the backseat.The Eyes Free functionality, which was introduced at last year's WWDC, allows drivers to interact with Apple's iOS voice assistant without having to rely on visual cues, or interact with on-screen menus.The luxury-car maker's big moment came when it took the wraps off the much-anticipated LaFerrari, which happens to be a hybrid. The next-generation supercar delivers an astounding 949 horsepower via a 789-horsepower 6.3-liter V12 gasoline engine and a 160-horsepower electric motor. Together, they propel it to 62 miles per hour from a dead start in less than three seconds and a top speed of 217 miles per hour.Only 499 were made, each of which will sell for at least 1 million euros ($1.3 million).
Ferrari is in negotiations to expand its in-car entertainment partnership with Apple, the luxury-car maker's chairman revealed today as the company unveiled a car with Siri and two iPad Minis.The companies will be "more precise" about their partnership in the coming months, Luca Cordero Di Montezemolo said today at the Geneva International Motor Show, according to a Bloomberg account of his comments. CNET has contacted Apple for more comment and will update this report when we learn more.The partnership apparently began last November when Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president for Internet software and services, was invited to join Ferrari's board of directors. Cue is said to be a collector of sports cars, including a Ferrari.Di Montezemolo's comments come on the same day Ferrari unveiled the new FF, the first four-wheel-drive four-seater in the company's history. The car features "seamless integration" with an Apple infotainment system via the Siri-based Eyes Free voice-command system and two iPad Minis for the use of passengers in the backseat.The Eyes Free functionality, which was introduced at last year's WWDC, allows drivers to interact with Apple's iOS voice assistant without having to rely on visual cues, or interact with on-screen menus.The luxury-car maker's big moment came when it took the wraps off the much-anticipated LaFerrari, which happens to be a hybrid. The next-generation supercar delivers an astounding 949 horsepower via a 789-horsepower 6.3-liter V12 gasoline engine and a 160-horsepower electric motor. Together, they propel it to 62 miles per hour from a dead start in less than three seconds and a top speed of 217 miles per hour.Only 499 were made, each of which will sell for at least 1 million euros ($1.3 million).
Apple yields to NBC Universal on price, packaging
Apple yields to NBC Universal on price, packaging
To get TV shows from NBC Universal back on iTunes, Apple yielded to some demands on pricing and packaging made by the media conglomerate, NBC executives said Tuesday.Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced at the company's "Let's Rock" press event on Tuesday that NBC shows such as 30 Rock and The Office would return to iTunes a year after the entertainment company pulled out of iTunes. Examples of how NBC can set its own prices on some shows came after the event. NBC announced that it would offer some catalog titles for 99 cents rather than the traditional $1.99 that Apple charges for TV downloads. JB Perrette, NBC's president of digital distribution, said in addition the company will be allowed to set its own prices on special packages. For example, NBC could elect to offer a best-of Heroes compilation at a price that might offer consumers a better value than buying individualshows for $1.99.What this means for consumers, however, is that Apple is slowly losing control over pricing of video content at iTunes. Earlier this year, Apple allowed the studios to set multiple prices for movie downloads. Having a greater say over what to charge for content on iTunes has been a thorny issue with content companies. The question raised by NBC Universal's apparent victory is how long before the music labels demand the same concessions?Apple stuck to its guns for a long time, say sources close to the negotiations. NBC, which claimed to have once accounted for 35 percent of TV-show downloads on iTunes, announced in August 2007 that it was pulling out of iTunes. The company said then that it was unhappy Apple wouldn't allow it to charge what it wanted for TV shows. Since then, the companies have held talks, but it took a year to get a deal done. "To their credit, what (Apple) has realized is that having the best content and the widest breadth of content is more important than being too rigid," Perrette said. A source close to the negotiations said that under the old terms, Apple wouldn't allow NBC to charge less for shows. This meant that selling catalog titles for 99 cents couldn't have happened.Apple representatives could not be reached for comment. Click here for full coverage of Apple's "Let's Rock" event.
To get TV shows from NBC Universal back on iTunes, Apple yielded to some demands on pricing and packaging made by the media conglomerate, NBC executives said Tuesday.Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced at the company's "Let's Rock" press event on Tuesday that NBC shows such as 30 Rock and The Office would return to iTunes a year after the entertainment company pulled out of iTunes. Examples of how NBC can set its own prices on some shows came after the event. NBC announced that it would offer some catalog titles for 99 cents rather than the traditional $1.99 that Apple charges for TV downloads. JB Perrette, NBC's president of digital distribution, said in addition the company will be allowed to set its own prices on special packages. For example, NBC could elect to offer a best-of Heroes compilation at a price that might offer consumers a better value than buying individualshows for $1.99.What this means for consumers, however, is that Apple is slowly losing control over pricing of video content at iTunes. Earlier this year, Apple allowed the studios to set multiple prices for movie downloads. Having a greater say over what to charge for content on iTunes has been a thorny issue with content companies. The question raised by NBC Universal's apparent victory is how long before the music labels demand the same concessions?Apple stuck to its guns for a long time, say sources close to the negotiations. NBC, which claimed to have once accounted for 35 percent of TV-show downloads on iTunes, announced in August 2007 that it was pulling out of iTunes. The company said then that it was unhappy Apple wouldn't allow it to charge what it wanted for TV shows. Since then, the companies have held talks, but it took a year to get a deal done. "To their credit, what (Apple) has realized is that having the best content and the widest breadth of content is more important than being too rigid," Perrette said. A source close to the negotiations said that under the old terms, Apple wouldn't allow NBC to charge less for shows. This meant that selling catalog titles for 99 cents couldn't have happened.Apple representatives could not be reached for comment. Click here for full coverage of Apple's "Let's Rock" event.
Apple named in Chinese porn probe
Apple named in Chinese porn probe
Apple is again in the crosshairs of the Chinese government.The iPhone maker has turned up on a list of companies being investigated in China over allegedly offering pornographic material through their Web sites or app stores, The Wall Street Journal said today.Apple isn't highlighted in the story from the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's Communist Party. Rather, it's just one of many companies named in the probe. In total, the investigation is looking at 198 Web sites and several app stores beyond Apple's.Based solely on a rough Google-translated version of the People's Daily piece, it's difficult to tell exactly what type of X-rated material has raised China's hackles.Apple is typically quite cautious about letting any "adult" content get through its app store approval process. And the company is usually quick to bar any app that violates its guidelines.In January, Apple removed an app called 500px allegedly over concerns that people could use its photo-sharing feature to search for naked bodies. Only after adding a "report" button to flag questionable content and a "17 and up" warning label did the app find its way back into the App Store.Apple also recently removed an iOS bookstore app from China since it offered electronic versions of books banned by the Chinese government.This is just Apple's latest run-in with China. The company was recently criticized by Chinese media over its hardware warranty policy, forcing CEO Tim Cook to publicly apologize and announce changes to that policy.
Apple is again in the crosshairs of the Chinese government.The iPhone maker has turned up on a list of companies being investigated in China over allegedly offering pornographic material through their Web sites or app stores, The Wall Street Journal said today.Apple isn't highlighted in the story from the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's Communist Party. Rather, it's just one of many companies named in the probe. In total, the investigation is looking at 198 Web sites and several app stores beyond Apple's.Based solely on a rough Google-translated version of the People's Daily piece, it's difficult to tell exactly what type of X-rated material has raised China's hackles.Apple is typically quite cautious about letting any "adult" content get through its app store approval process. And the company is usually quick to bar any app that violates its guidelines.In January, Apple removed an app called 500px allegedly over concerns that people could use its photo-sharing feature to search for naked bodies. Only after adding a "report" button to flag questionable content and a "17 and up" warning label did the app find its way back into the App Store.Apple also recently removed an iOS bookstore app from China since it offered electronic versions of books banned by the Chinese government.This is just Apple's latest run-in with China. The company was recently criticized by Chinese media over its hardware warranty policy, forcing CEO Tim Cook to publicly apologize and announce changes to that policy.
Apple nabs Xbox marketing manager for App Store
Apple nabs Xbox marketing manager for App Store
Apple might be a hardware company, but the iPhone maker seems to be increasingly focused on gaming.Robin Burrowes, former marketing manager at Xbox UK and head of product marketing at Microsoft UK, has moved to Apple's European office to handle App Store Marketing, several reports out of the country and Burrowes' own LinkedIn profile claim.As U.K. gaming publication MCV points out, Apple has been aggressively attracting gaming public relations professionals over the last several months. The company has brought on former Nintendo UK PR boss Robert Saunders, as well as Nick Grange, who worked in the PR departments at Electronic Arts, Activision, and Xbox. According to research firm Flurry Analytics, Apple's iOS-based devices are becoming increasingly popular in the gaming space. In 2009, for example, iOS- and Android-based games accounted for just 19 percent of all gaming software revenue. That figure grew to 34 percent in 2010 and an estimated 58 percent last year.Meanwhile, so-called "traditional" gaming companies, like Nintendo and Sony, have watched their market share slide over the last few years. In 2009, Nintendo's portable game software revenue stood at 70 percent in the U.S., but dropped to 36 percent last year. Sony's PSP owned 11 percent of the space in 2009, but that figure declined to 6 percent in 2011."Portable console gaming no longer has a practical place in the current landscape of casual flick, drag, and swipe games," CNET's Jeff Bakalar wrote in a discussion on portable systems last year. "There is no room for the 3DSes and Vitas of the world when all-in-one functionality is now more important than high-tech, gaming-focused mobile systems."Apple did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment on its recent hires.
Apple might be a hardware company, but the iPhone maker seems to be increasingly focused on gaming.Robin Burrowes, former marketing manager at Xbox UK and head of product marketing at Microsoft UK, has moved to Apple's European office to handle App Store Marketing, several reports out of the country and Burrowes' own LinkedIn profile claim.As U.K. gaming publication MCV points out, Apple has been aggressively attracting gaming public relations professionals over the last several months. The company has brought on former Nintendo UK PR boss Robert Saunders, as well as Nick Grange, who worked in the PR departments at Electronic Arts, Activision, and Xbox. According to research firm Flurry Analytics, Apple's iOS-based devices are becoming increasingly popular in the gaming space. In 2009, for example, iOS- and Android-based games accounted for just 19 percent of all gaming software revenue. That figure grew to 34 percent in 2010 and an estimated 58 percent last year.Meanwhile, so-called "traditional" gaming companies, like Nintendo and Sony, have watched their market share slide over the last few years. In 2009, Nintendo's portable game software revenue stood at 70 percent in the U.S., but dropped to 36 percent last year. Sony's PSP owned 11 percent of the space in 2009, but that figure declined to 6 percent in 2011."Portable console gaming no longer has a practical place in the current landscape of casual flick, drag, and swipe games," CNET's Jeff Bakalar wrote in a discussion on portable systems last year. "There is no room for the 3DSes and Vitas of the world when all-in-one functionality is now more important than high-tech, gaming-focused mobile systems."Apple did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment on its recent hires.
Apple nabs more patents for multitouch, iWork
Apple nabs more patents for multitouch, iWork
As the patent battles and bubbles continue to grow, Apple has secured the rights to several more patents of its own.The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published a series of 16 patents now owned by the Cupertino, Calif.-based company, according to Patently Apple.Here's a rundown on some of the patents that stand out and where we could see them implemented within the Apple empire: A multitouch related patent designed to reduce the manufacturing cost and performance of these types of displays. (Likely for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch collection, but possibly for a new Mac desktop series too?)A patent for Numbers, the spreadsheet app within the iWork productivity software suite.A patent for "Methods and systems for providing sensory information to devices and peripherals."(Possibly for iPhone/Mac accessories such as wireless keyboards and headphones)An iOS camera-related patent about rotating the display orientation of a captured image.A patent for a solar-powered tracking apparatus that includes a voltage converter and a controller coupled to the voltage converter.A patent for a 3D video viewer for iMovie.Patents for docking station peripherals in automobiles. Some of these have taken awhile to get approved. A few seem rather useless at this point (an iPhone 3G dock?), although they still prevent other companies from using elements of the technology for other devices down the line. We all know how popular that kind of lawsuit is.It's questionable whether any of these will help Apple in any current legal battles over patents, but it could stave off some competition in the future.This story was originally published at ZDNet's Between the Lines.
As the patent battles and bubbles continue to grow, Apple has secured the rights to several more patents of its own.The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published a series of 16 patents now owned by the Cupertino, Calif.-based company, according to Patently Apple.Here's a rundown on some of the patents that stand out and where we could see them implemented within the Apple empire: A multitouch related patent designed to reduce the manufacturing cost and performance of these types of displays. (Likely for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch collection, but possibly for a new Mac desktop series too?)A patent for Numbers, the spreadsheet app within the iWork productivity software suite.A patent for "Methods and systems for providing sensory information to devices and peripherals."(Possibly for iPhone/Mac accessories such as wireless keyboards and headphones)An iOS camera-related patent about rotating the display orientation of a captured image.A patent for a solar-powered tracking apparatus that includes a voltage converter and a controller coupled to the voltage converter.A patent for a 3D video viewer for iMovie.Patents for docking station peripherals in automobiles. Some of these have taken awhile to get approved. A few seem rather useless at this point (an iPhone 3G dock?), although they still prevent other companies from using elements of the technology for other devices down the line. We all know how popular that kind of lawsuit is.It's questionable whether any of these will help Apple in any current legal battles over patents, but it could stave off some competition in the future.This story was originally published at ZDNet's Between the Lines.
Apple nabs former TI engineers for chip push, report says
Apple nabs former TI engineers for chip push, report says
Reports suggest that Apple is in the hunt for former Texas Instruments engineers in Israel, in a bid to expand its operations in the country. According to sources speaking to The Next Web, Apple has been hiring "dozens" of engineers after the chipmaker cut 250 jobs from one of its Israeli operations center.Apple is ramping up its efforts to build research and development centers in Herzliya and Haifa, the report said.TI this month announced a round of redundancies, in the region of 1,700 employees worldwide, as it aims to pull out of the consumer market while focusing on embedded systems. The company aims to focus on selling its chip technology into embedded markets and the automotive sector.According to the report, the engineers were working on radio chips, such as those supporting Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology, used in a number smartphones and tablets. But TI began to wind down its OMAP operations -- or Open Multimedia Applications Platform, a system-on-a-chip (SoC) used in such products as the Kindle Fire -- while shifting its research and developments efforts back to the U.S.Related stories:Apple rethinking Samsung chip partnership, say sourcesWant to work for Apple? Try IsraelZDNet: Apple management reshuffle: The who, the why, and the next Earlier this year, Apple was reportedly on the lookout for talent for its Israel research and development center in Haifa, including recruiting new employees. Last month, amid the departure of iOS chief Scott Forstall, Apple's top executive team was shaken up, and hardware engineering chief Bob Mansfield was pulled out of retirement to head up the Cupertino, Calif.-based technology giant's Technologies unit.The new division is understood to oversee the company's wireless networking efforts, along with its chipmaking business, giving Apple an opportunity to turn its chip design and building efforts in-house, cutting out smartphone rival Samsung, which currently manufacturers chips for the company, and gaining a firmer grip on its increasingly leaky supply chain.We've put in questions to Apple, and we will update the post if we hear back.
Reports suggest that Apple is in the hunt for former Texas Instruments engineers in Israel, in a bid to expand its operations in the country. According to sources speaking to The Next Web, Apple has been hiring "dozens" of engineers after the chipmaker cut 250 jobs from one of its Israeli operations center.Apple is ramping up its efforts to build research and development centers in Herzliya and Haifa, the report said.TI this month announced a round of redundancies, in the region of 1,700 employees worldwide, as it aims to pull out of the consumer market while focusing on embedded systems. The company aims to focus on selling its chip technology into embedded markets and the automotive sector.According to the report, the engineers were working on radio chips, such as those supporting Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology, used in a number smartphones and tablets. But TI began to wind down its OMAP operations -- or Open Multimedia Applications Platform, a system-on-a-chip (SoC) used in such products as the Kindle Fire -- while shifting its research and developments efforts back to the U.S.Related stories:Apple rethinking Samsung chip partnership, say sourcesWant to work for Apple? Try IsraelZDNet: Apple management reshuffle: The who, the why, and the next Earlier this year, Apple was reportedly on the lookout for talent for its Israel research and development center in Haifa, including recruiting new employees. Last month, amid the departure of iOS chief Scott Forstall, Apple's top executive team was shaken up, and hardware engineering chief Bob Mansfield was pulled out of retirement to head up the Cupertino, Calif.-based technology giant's Technologies unit.The new division is understood to oversee the company's wireless networking efforts, along with its chipmaking business, giving Apple an opportunity to turn its chip design and building efforts in-house, cutting out smartphone rival Samsung, which currently manufacturers chips for the company, and gaining a firmer grip on its increasingly leaky supply chain.We've put in questions to Apple, and we will update the post if we hear back.
Apple nabs 68 percent of tablet market in second quarter
Apple nabs 68 percent of tablet market in second quarter
Apple's iPad has watched its market share in the worldwide tablet space grow over the last year, according to new data from research firm Strategy Analytics.During the second quarter of 2012, 25 million tablets were shipped worldwide. Out of that, Apple accounted for 17 million units, helping it secure 68.3 percent of the marketplace. Android-based devices combined for 7.3 million shipments and 29.3 percent market ownership, according to Strategy Analytics."Despite high expectations for companies like Amazon, Samsung, Acer, and Asus, the Android community has yet to make a serious dent in Apple's dominance of the tablet market," Strategy Analytics Executive Director Neil Mawston said today in a statement. "Unspectacular hardware designs, limited uptake of cellular models, and a modest number of tablet-optimized services have been among some of the main reasons for Android's mixed performance so far."Still, Android has held steady. During the second quarter of 2011, devices running the platform were also able to grab 29.3 percent of the tablet market. Apple, meanwhile, owned 62 percent of the tablet market last year.It should be interesting to see how these figures will change in the third quarter. Google's Nexus 7 is selling extremely well, and its 16GB model has already sold out. Google has not yet said when it expects to have more 16GB Nexus 7s in stock.Still, it'll be extremely difficult for the Nexus 7 to match Apple's iPad. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company announced yesterday that it sold 17 million iPads during the second quarter, setting a new record and jumping 84 percent over sales during the same period last year.
Apple's iPad has watched its market share in the worldwide tablet space grow over the last year, according to new data from research firm Strategy Analytics.During the second quarter of 2012, 25 million tablets were shipped worldwide. Out of that, Apple accounted for 17 million units, helping it secure 68.3 percent of the marketplace. Android-based devices combined for 7.3 million shipments and 29.3 percent market ownership, according to Strategy Analytics."Despite high expectations for companies like Amazon, Samsung, Acer, and Asus, the Android community has yet to make a serious dent in Apple's dominance of the tablet market," Strategy Analytics Executive Director Neil Mawston said today in a statement. "Unspectacular hardware designs, limited uptake of cellular models, and a modest number of tablet-optimized services have been among some of the main reasons for Android's mixed performance so far."Still, Android has held steady. During the second quarter of 2011, devices running the platform were also able to grab 29.3 percent of the tablet market. Apple, meanwhile, owned 62 percent of the tablet market last year.It should be interesting to see how these figures will change in the third quarter. Google's Nexus 7 is selling extremely well, and its 16GB model has already sold out. Google has not yet said when it expects to have more 16GB Nexus 7s in stock.Still, it'll be extremely difficult for the Nexus 7 to match Apple's iPad. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company announced yesterday that it sold 17 million iPads during the second quarter, setting a new record and jumping 84 percent over sales during the same period last year.
Apple by the numbers: 700M iOS devices shipped
Onstage at Apple's iPhone 5S and 5C launch, CEO Tim Cook told audience members Tuesday that Apple is shipping the 700 millionth iOS device next month.Those figures are sure to rise even more significantly in the coming months given that Apple replaced the iPhone 5 with the cheaper color-coded 5C, made the 4S free with a two-year contract, and unveiled an all new high-end model 5S with an the 64-bit A7 chip. Related stories:Apple launches iPhone 5S and $99 iPhone 5C with five colorsWhat we didn't get from Apple's iPhone eventiPhone 5S fingerprint reader: The end of passwords?Another factor that will likely contribute to the ever-burgeoning number of iOS sales is Apple's aggressive marketing push for the 5C in China. The company is set to host an event exclusively for the lower-end device for the fast-growing Chinese mobile market later this week.
Apple buys virtual assistant app maker Siri
Another day, another Apple acquisition.On Wednesday, an application developer called Siri confirmed to the Business Insider blog that it had been acquired by Apple. There were no details about the transaction available.Siri's main product is a mobile virtual personal assistant that allows users of the iPhone or iPod Touch, to ask questions about finding consumer goods, services, or destinations. The company developed out of an artificial intelligence project at SRI International, and was financed by DARPA. The free iPhone app lets users speak or type questions, such as "What's a romantic place for dinner?" The app uses an algorithm that interprets the request as it applies the person's location, time, preferences, and other context. It was first demonstrated for the public at last year's D: All Things Digital conference.This is the second Apple acquisition this week. On Tuesday, the company confirmed it had acquired Texas-based chipmaker Intrinsity. The rumored price for that acquisition was $121 million.This post was updated at 11:48 a.m. PDT to correct the name of the non-profit where Siri originated.
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