Cody Fink

1547 posts on MacStories since January 2010

Former MacStories contributor.

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UK Won’t Get iTunes Match, Cloud Until 2012

Those living in the United Kingdom will get to enjoy Spotify for a bit long as those living in the United States get to enjoy Apple’s iCloud and iTunes Match services between iOS 5 and Lion. Apple is still in the early stages of negotiations with the Performing Rights Society, who ensure composers, songwriters, and publishers all receive fair compensation for their works.

A music executive at one of the major record labels, who wished to remain unnamed, said: “Tentative talks have begun between the major labels and Apple in the UK. However, all talks are at the really early stages and no one expects to see the cloud music service live on this side of the pond until 2012.”

Even here in the United States, Apple still has yet to make deals with independent labels, and as with the initial launch of iTunes, Apple took their time as the rolled out their service to other countries. Mark Mulligan, VP and research director at Forrester Research, comments:

These types of negotiations take a long time… For one thing the UK arms of all the major record labels are biding their time and waiting to see how the service affects download sales in the US before they sign up to anything.

While the The Telegraph specifically exams licensing agreements in the UK, it’s likely that this situation holds true for the remainder of the world as well. For those in Europe, you’ll need to hang tight as Apple’s iCloud and the companion iTunes Match service go live. At the very least, iOS 5 doesn’t officially launch until this fall, so you just might not have to wait that long once iOS 5 devices start shipping.

[The Telegraph via MacRumors]

Will Older Devices Get All of iOS 5’s Features?

It doesn’t come as a surprise when Apple’s latest and greatest software updates end up killing off compatibility with older devices, but the intrigue here is that something as recent as the original iPad may not be included in iOS 5’s full feature set. For example, developers have access to enabling special multi-touch functions for multitasking between apps, launching the multitasking bar, and closing apps with a four finger pinch in iOS 4.3. These functions, that work well on any enabled iPad or iPad 2, may not be included for use on the original iPad. According to Appadvice the iPhone 3GS doesn’t have access to many of the photo features available on the iPhone 4.

Perhaps these are temporary bugs, or Apple is really looking for reasons for people to buy an iPad 2 when iOS 5 drops over the less expensive iPad elsewhere. Bryan M. Wolfe from Appadvice writes,

We’ve received numerous reports the upcoming gesturing feature in iOS 5 will not work on the original iPad. If proven correct, this would be the first time the first-generation iPad was denied a key feature besides those that require the iPad 2′s camera.

The iPad’s touchscreen is exceptional, and there’s no reason why Apple wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) enable these features. If Apple does remove any features, I’d bet the iPhone 3GS and the 3rd generation iPod touch would be the most likely to be at risk.

[Appadvice via Cult of Mac]

Apple Goes Shopping, Comes Back with Over 50 Domains

In a move to protect key terms and product features related to Monday’s Keynote that kicked off WWDC 2011, Apple decided to go domain shopping. Obviously you’d want to protect product names like Lion and iOS 5 from being abused, but Apple may have overdone it with their acquisition of over fifty domain names, including goodies like “macmailconversationview.com” and “pcfreeiphone.com”. Robin Wauters from TechCrunch was quick to point out that Apple still doesn’t own ipad.com or ipods.com, but what is Apple really afraid of?

You can tell Apple is clearly trying to protect their branding, but are they going too far? Do they have anything to worry about? I guess iTunes in the cloud is pretty important. But Mac gestures? Apple should definitely put a tutorial there.

Here’s some good examples of what Apple has picked up.

  • airplaymirroring.com
  • itunesinthecloud.com
  • macgestures.com
  • osxlionairdrop.com

For the full list, be sure to hit up the source link below.

[via Techcrunch]

Apple to Reject Apps that Identify DUI Checkpoints

After four US Senators sent a letter to Apple’s Scott Forstall concerning apps that reveal DUI Checkpoints, Apple has updated their App Store Review Guidelines to reject apps that aid drunk drivers (and sober drives who just don’t want to be bothered by the delay) from evading the law. Senators Harry Reid, Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg and Tom Udall expressed grave concerns about apps that enabled those who drink and drive to escape law enforcement, and cited the apps as harmful to public safety. Apple’s new rules can be found in section 22.8:

Apps which contain DUI checkpoints that are not published by law enforcement agencies, or encourage and enable drunk driving, will be rejected.

If flashing your lights to alert oncoming drivers to a speed trap is against the law in the United States, why shouldn’t these iPhone apps be banned as well? This certainly opens up the opportunity for drunk drivers to break the law, but what about other iPhone apps that can check into police radio and point out speed traps? Just like with sexually explicit apps, this is going to be another hot topic of debate as Apple curates content on the App Store.

[via Autoblog]

iPhone 4 Ousts BlackBerry For Top Spot→

IPhone 4 Dethrones BlackBerry for Top Spot

Despite RIM’s gradual slide in market share as Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms grow, the company still has three of the top ten models. The 9700, meanwhile, plunged to sixth – the first time in two years that RIM didn’t have a model in the top three, suggesting that it needs to get its next-generation of QNX-based handsets out the door sooner rather than later to stop the bleeding.

RIM’s top selling BlackBerry has now fallen to the iPhone 4, according to a report from Strategy Analytics. The iPhone 4 has sold the most smartphones in the first quarter of 2011, surprisingly followed by Nokia’s N8. Nokia also has two other phones competing in the top ten. The iPhone is available through 200 carriers worldwide, and iOS has captivated 44% of the mobile market, while RIM holds on to 19%.

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Introducing Evernote Peek: An App that Helps you Study with Apple’s Smart Cover

“What’s the best Apple blog on the Internet?” Hopefully “MacStories” is the answer to be revealed by Apple’s Smart Cover, via an app that’s from the same folks who help translate business cards to text and take notes on the fly. Evernote Peek is a brand new app that’s now available for free on the App Store. As a study aid designed specifically around Apple’s Smart Cover, Evernote Peek integrates with your Evernote account: create a new notebook with a subject title, with note titles as the question and note bodies as the answer. Evernote peek is designed to help you strengthen your memory, retain information, all while utilizing the best accessory for your iPad. As you answer questions, Evernote Peek will keep score of the questions you got right and wrong, and you can even add in images for visual aids. Since closing the iPad lid will lock the iPad, Evernote recommends the following.

There are two quick iPad adjustments that we recommend. First, turn up your iPad brightness to about 75%. Second, turn off your iPad’s auto-lock. Now, start studying.

While not completely magic, the idea behind Evernote Peek is pretty great. No more holding your hand over a study sheet or wasting index cards – the iPad’s Smart Cover reveals clues then unfolds as you answer the question. Past the break, we have a quick promotional video of Evernote Peek in action – we think it’s pretty great. When you’re done watching the vid, you can download it here.

[TechCrunch via Evernote Blog]

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Apple Among World’s Most Reputable Companies According To Customers

In a survey of 48,000 consumers across 15 countries, the Reputation Institute named Google, Apple, Disney, BMW, and LEGO as the world’s most reputable companies overall. While I am a little astonished that Google made the top of the list, no one can argue that Google’s search engine is the front and center when we load up web browsers or open new tabs. However, while Apple and Disney were among the most reputable overall, it was Kelloggs that was the clear favorite in the United States, and LEGO took the crown in Europe. Speaking on company excellence, Reputation Institute Executive Partner Nicolas Georges Trad says,

“To build a strong reputation on a global level requires a broad platform that covers all seven dimensions of reputation, including Products & Services, Innovation, Workplace, Governance, Citizenship, Leadership, and Performance.”

Reputation is important for these companies not just for bragging rights, but because being reputable pays off in a big way. Companies with a strong reputation, on average, receive three times the support of less reputable competition. The loyal customer base is more willing to stand-by the brands the associate themselves with, spend more, and say good things about those products. As said by Reputation Institute Chairman, Dr. Charles Fombrun,

The greater the reputation of a company, the more support it earns from consumers, the better its operating performance, and the more money investors are willing to pay for its shares.

Below, we’ve highlighted the top ten overall most reputable brands below. Google edged out Apple (who are neck-and-neck), and Microsoft just missed the list in the 11th spot.

  1. Google
  2. Apple
  3. The Walt Disney Company
  4. BMW
  5. LEGO
  6. Sony
  7. Daimler
  8. Canon
  9. Intel
  10. Volkswagon

The Reputation Institute measures company reputation via a RepTrak Pulse statistic, and looked at over one hundred different companies before reaching their conclusion. Fore more information, check out the source link below.

[via PRNewswire]

Free Upgrade to Lion with a New Mac Purchase

If you’re in the market for a new Mac, you’ll be eligible for a free upgrade to Lion once it hits the Mac App Store in July, thanks to Apple’s Up-To-Date program which keeps new customers on top of the latest technology. From the OS X Lion press release:

The Mac OS X Lion Up-To-Date upgrade is available at no additional charge via the Mac App Store to all customers who purchased a qualifying new Mac system from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller on or after June 6, 2011. Users must request their Up-To-Date upgrade within 30 days of purchase of their Mac computer. Customers who purchase a qualifying Mac between June 6, 2011 and the date when Lion is available in the Mac App Store will have 30 days from Lions official release date to make a request.

As MacRumors points out, you originally had to pay $9.95 for the installation DVD. However, as Lion is a download from the Mac App Store, there’s no longer going to be a charge to make up for packaging and shipping. Once Lion hits in July, you’ll have thirty days to request your free download through the program.

With new MacBook Airs around the corner, however, you might just want to wait to buy a shiny new Mac with Lion already installed.

[via MacRumors, OS X Lion Press Release]

Apple’s 3rd Data Center

At around one hour, fifty-five minutes, and fifty seconds into Monday’s Keynote, Steve Jobs riposted, “If you don’t think we’re serious, you’re wrong.” The audience, wide-eyed with the announcement of iTunes Match, quickly hushed as Jobs paced across the stage. “This is our third data center that we just completed. It’s in Maiden, North Carolina.” Steve Jobs emphasized the enormous size of the data center, briefly revealing some of the technology inside. “We’re pretty proud of it.”

Apple’s 3rd data center had been at the center of speculation in the months leading up to Monday’s keynote, and while everyone agreed that the servers packed inside would host a myriad of iTunes content, no one really understood its true purpose. Many expected a much bigger announcement from Apple yesterday, with many eager to see music, video, and movie streaming at their fingertips. Instead, the iTunes services offered present a solution that met the demands for streaming half way: while files are still stored natively on devices, they’re available for access from iCloud itself. iTunes Match is agreeably head scratching, but the promise of a service that will just work by a Fall release gives me the feeling Apple hasn’t shown us everything there is to the un-locker service.

So with the focus on pushing content rather than streaming, the question that many are now asking is, “What exactly does Apple’s 3rd data center do if they’re not (yet) streaming content?” It’s a fair question, especially when Apple’s equipment is examined more closely. Many of the racks shown in Apple’s data center are capped with nothing but filler panels, and there’s an obvious mix of machines presented that were chosen more for show than to reveal Apple’s inner workings. With the brief glimpse Jobs gave us, however, it is possible to make a couple good guesses as we identify all of the equipment. Read more