Apple takes wraps off iPhone 5, 4 inch screen and all
One of the biggest additions is the new 4 inch display, besting its predecessor's 3.5-inch screen. The device once again comes with the Retina display and has the same 326 pixels per inch found in the iPhone 4S. In terms of resolution, users can expect 1,136 x 640, Apple senior vice president for worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller said today during the unveiling. The screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio.The 5 arrives CNET's iPhone 5 reviewApple out to prove it's still kingPictures: Apple's big iPhone 5 revealHo-hum. iPhone 5 won't wow anyoneiPhone 5: No Steve Jobs, no sizzleiPhone 5: What we didn't getComparing the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Lumia 920Poll: Will you buy the iPhone 5?Apple springs leak - rumors were rightAn awful dock-connector changeApple shares up, down, then upStart your iOS 6 downloads September 19 iOS 6 hits major marksApple reworks, simplifies iTunesNew iPod Touch: Siri and a 4-inch screenNew Nano: Remembering the iPod MiniFull coverage: The iPhone 5 arrivesWith the bigger displays comes more space for your goodies. In fact, Apple says that the device will be able to accommodate a fifth row of icons. Previously, Apple's iPhones only supported four rows of icons.Apple says that it has updated its software, including iLife, iWork, and the native apps, among others, to accommodate the larger display. In addition, the company will allow developers to update their apps to work with the larger screen.Moving onto the Web, Apple announced that, as expected, the iPhone 5 will come with support for 4G LTE service, delivering what it calls "Ultrafast Wireless." The device's LTE service will be available in the U.S. on the Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T networks.In addition, Apple says that the platform will offer up HSPA+ and DC-HSPDA. On the Wi-Fi side, the device will boast support for 802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals.Apple's ultrafast wireless is coming to the iPhone 5.James Martin/CNETPerformance-wise, Apple is making some big promises, thanks to its inclusion of the A6 processor. According to Schiller, the chip is 22 percent smaller than the previous A5, featured in the iPhone 4S, but is twice as fast and doubles the graphics performance of its predecessor. Saving an image from an iPhoto app, for example, is 1.7-times faster on an iPhone 5 than on the iPhone 4S.Despite the LTE and better chip, Apple is promising strong battery life in the iPhone 5. The company claims it'll deliver 8 hours of 3G talk time and 8 hours of LTE browsing. On standby, the device will last 225 hours on a single charge, the company says.Apple showing off its new iPhone 5 camera.James Martin/CNETGiven the popularity of the iPhone's iSight camera, it's not surprising that it has been updated, as well. According to Apple, the camera now comes with an 8-megapixel sensor and 3,264 x 2,448 resolution. Backside illumination, a five-element lens, and better low-light performance are just a few of the upgrades that have made their way to the iSight. Users will also be able to take panoramic shots, thanks to built-in software.As one might expect, the camera also supports video capture. Apple says that the lens will deliver 1080p video and facial detection for up to 10 people. As Apple announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this year, FaceTime, the company's video chatting feature, is available on both Wi-Fi and cellular networks.Apple says that it has bundled an additional speaker in the iPhone 5, bringing the grand total to three. The device will also come with a noise-canceling earpiece to improve call quality.Not willing to leave anything untouched, Apple also took to its Dock connector and replaced it with a new one. According to the company, the 30-pin connector is now being replaced by an all-digital connector, called Lightning. The connector is 80 percent smaller than the 30-pin connector and according to Apple, will deliver "improved durability" and be "easier to use."Say hello to LightningJames Martin/CNETThe trouble with the smaller connector, however, is that it's not compatible with accessories featuring the old design. To make good on that, Apple's Schiller also unveiled a new adapter that will allow the iPhone 5 to connect to standard, 30-pin ports. For the low, low price of $29.The Lightning adapter.James Martin/CNETApple's handset will ship in the customer's choice of white or black, and run on iOS 6. The device will offer the same storage options as its predecessor -- 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB -- and come with identical pricing of $199 to $399, depending on storage needs, with a two-year contract.iPhone 5 pricing.James Martin/CNETMeanwhile, Apple has decided to kill off the iPhone 3GS and cut the price of its iPhone 4 8GB device to free. The iPhone 4S will be available in its 16GB flavor for $99.Apple's new iPhone pricing.James Martin/CNETApple plans to open pre-orders for the iPhone 5 on September 14. The device will hit store shelves on September 21.This story has been updated throughout the morning.
Microsoft could create the ultimate mobile music service
Microsoft could create the ultimate mobile music service
First, Microsoft confirmed that Windows Phone 7 devices, like the last couple generations of Zune players, will be able to sync music, video, and large images with a user's PC over a wireless home network--no sync cable required. Wireless sync is one of my favorite features of the much-maligned Zune, and something I've been hoping Apple would add to its devices for years. Second, Microsoft announced an online service called Windows Phone Live that will provide backup for photos, notes, and other information. This service is similar to MyPhone for Windows Mobile 6.5, but will use Microsoft's SkyDrive service (registration required), which offers 25GB of free online storage and is rapidly becoming a very interesting part of Microsoft's arsenal. (SkyDrive also provides a way to send very large virtual attachments through the recently revamped Hotmail, and is the main entry point and storage space for Microsoft's Office Web Apps.)With these announcements in mind, I looked back at my recent survey of cloud-based music services for mobile devices. Microsoft has the technology in place to compete with every single one of them. For users who want a subscription service, which lets you pay a monthly fee for unlimited streams from a catalog of millions, there's the Zune Pass. The company hasn't officially confirmed to me that Zune Pass will be available on Phone 7 devices--there may be licensing issues, since the Zune Marketplace is currently available only in the U.S. and Phone 7 will be available elsewhere--but I fully expect it to happen. For users who want to store their personal music collections in their own online music locker, then stream or download it to their mobile device, Microsoft could add music to the type of material that can be synced with SkyDrive. The easiest way would be to add an option to the Zune PC software that would let users upload their libraries to SkyDrive, then update Phone 7 to enable streaming or downloading from that service. Windows Live ID (formerly Passport) would make the experience relatively seamless--just sign in once from Zune, SkyDrive, or Phone 7, and Microsoft would be able to associate your music in the cloud with all the devices you have.The third option would be streaming directly from a PC over the Internet to a phone with no intermediary service--like Simplify Media offered before being bought by Google. Here, Microsoft could use the technology from the Remote Media Streaming feature of Windows 7, which lets you stream music and video from your Windows 7 PC's library to any other Windows 7 PC, again using Windows Live ID for authentication. Microsoft would simply put a Remote Media Streaming option into the Zune client software (it's in the Windows Media Player today), then make sure that Phone 7 could connect to it. Bonus: this might be a Windows 7 feature only, spurring upgrades to the new OS.Many users of Apple's iTunes have already said that they'd be willing to pay for a cloud-based music service from Apple. Imagine if Microsoft launched a similar set of services for free. Surely that would get Apple fans talking, if not switching.
First, Microsoft confirmed that Windows Phone 7 devices, like the last couple generations of Zune players, will be able to sync music, video, and large images with a user's PC over a wireless home network--no sync cable required. Wireless sync is one of my favorite features of the much-maligned Zune, and something I've been hoping Apple would add to its devices for years. Second, Microsoft announced an online service called Windows Phone Live that will provide backup for photos, notes, and other information. This service is similar to MyPhone for Windows Mobile 6.5, but will use Microsoft's SkyDrive service (registration required), which offers 25GB of free online storage and is rapidly becoming a very interesting part of Microsoft's arsenal. (SkyDrive also provides a way to send very large virtual attachments through the recently revamped Hotmail, and is the main entry point and storage space for Microsoft's Office Web Apps.)With these announcements in mind, I looked back at my recent survey of cloud-based music services for mobile devices. Microsoft has the technology in place to compete with every single one of them. For users who want a subscription service, which lets you pay a monthly fee for unlimited streams from a catalog of millions, there's the Zune Pass. The company hasn't officially confirmed to me that Zune Pass will be available on Phone 7 devices--there may be licensing issues, since the Zune Marketplace is currently available only in the U.S. and Phone 7 will be available elsewhere--but I fully expect it to happen. For users who want to store their personal music collections in their own online music locker, then stream or download it to their mobile device, Microsoft could add music to the type of material that can be synced with SkyDrive. The easiest way would be to add an option to the Zune PC software that would let users upload their libraries to SkyDrive, then update Phone 7 to enable streaming or downloading from that service. Windows Live ID (formerly Passport) would make the experience relatively seamless--just sign in once from Zune, SkyDrive, or Phone 7, and Microsoft would be able to associate your music in the cloud with all the devices you have.The third option would be streaming directly from a PC over the Internet to a phone with no intermediary service--like Simplify Media offered before being bought by Google. Here, Microsoft could use the technology from the Remote Media Streaming feature of Windows 7, which lets you stream music and video from your Windows 7 PC's library to any other Windows 7 PC, again using Windows Live ID for authentication. Microsoft would simply put a Remote Media Streaming option into the Zune client software (it's in the Windows Media Player today), then make sure that Phone 7 could connect to it. Bonus: this might be a Windows 7 feature only, spurring upgrades to the new OS.Many users of Apple's iTunes have already said that they'd be willing to pay for a cloud-based music service from Apple. Imagine if Microsoft launched a similar set of services for free. Surely that would get Apple fans talking, if not switching.
Arctic Monkeys and Pink Floyd spinning record sales of vinyl records
Arctic Monkeys and Pink Floyd spinning record sales of vinyl records
Hoary old rockers like Pink Floyd and young upstarts like Arctic Monkeys are driving a resurgence in popularity for the humble vinyl record -- and for the first time in nearly two decades, more than 1 million vinyl records have been sold in the UK.Vinyl is riding a groove it hasn't reached since the heady days of Britpop. The last time a million records were sold was 1996, in the days before iTunes and digital downloads, when all music came in physical form.LP! I need somebody. LP! Not just anybodyApple reveals drop in sales of iTunes musicFresh music that'll make your headphones & speakers sound better than everCan one man buy all the records in the world?Can 50-year-old records still sound great?Taylor Swift is right about music, wrong about Spotify, says Daniel EKAttention, artists: Streaming music is the inescapable future. Embrace itVinyl still sells only a fraction of the numbers of songs and albums bought digitally: Pink Floyd's latest opus "The Endless River" shifted 6,000 units in its first week, but that was enough to make it the fastest-selling vinyl release since 1997.Vinyl is popular enough that the Official Chart Company has plans for a weekly vinyl chart. "Only five years ago this business was worth around £3 million a year," the Chart Company's Martin Talbot told the BBC. "This year it's going to be worth £20 million."This year's best-selling record is "AM" by Arctic Monkeys, pictured above. The bands doing well on vinyl signal the two distinct demographics of vinyl lovers: old-school record buyers continuing to buy vinyl as they always have, and a younger generation that appreciates the physical artifact as a reaction against the ephemeral nature of digital music.The older demographic is made clear by the presence in the vinyl charts of heritage acts such as David Bowie, Status Quo, Bryan Ferry and the Floyd. Newer acts to be successful also tend to be rock acts, including Jack White, Temples and Royal Blood.It's easy to see the appeal of vinyl records: the physical object comes complete with giant artwork, the nuances of which have been lost in the thumbnail age. Vinyl fans claim a warmth to the sound of records that isn't found on other formats. And there's the fragility of vinyl, making a record and the music it contains something to be cherished.Last month, Apple noted that sales of digital music from the iTunes store have declined in the past year.
Hoary old rockers like Pink Floyd and young upstarts like Arctic Monkeys are driving a resurgence in popularity for the humble vinyl record -- and for the first time in nearly two decades, more than 1 million vinyl records have been sold in the UK.Vinyl is riding a groove it hasn't reached since the heady days of Britpop. The last time a million records were sold was 1996, in the days before iTunes and digital downloads, when all music came in physical form.LP! I need somebody. LP! Not just anybodyApple reveals drop in sales of iTunes musicFresh music that'll make your headphones & speakers sound better than everCan one man buy all the records in the world?Can 50-year-old records still sound great?Taylor Swift is right about music, wrong about Spotify, says Daniel EKAttention, artists: Streaming music is the inescapable future. Embrace itVinyl still sells only a fraction of the numbers of songs and albums bought digitally: Pink Floyd's latest opus "The Endless River" shifted 6,000 units in its first week, but that was enough to make it the fastest-selling vinyl release since 1997.Vinyl is popular enough that the Official Chart Company has plans for a weekly vinyl chart. "Only five years ago this business was worth around £3 million a year," the Chart Company's Martin Talbot told the BBC. "This year it's going to be worth £20 million."This year's best-selling record is "AM" by Arctic Monkeys, pictured above. The bands doing well on vinyl signal the two distinct demographics of vinyl lovers: old-school record buyers continuing to buy vinyl as they always have, and a younger generation that appreciates the physical artifact as a reaction against the ephemeral nature of digital music.The older demographic is made clear by the presence in the vinyl charts of heritage acts such as David Bowie, Status Quo, Bryan Ferry and the Floyd. Newer acts to be successful also tend to be rock acts, including Jack White, Temples and Royal Blood.It's easy to see the appeal of vinyl records: the physical object comes complete with giant artwork, the nuances of which have been lost in the thumbnail age. Vinyl fans claim a warmth to the sound of records that isn't found on other formats. And there's the fragility of vinyl, making a record and the music it contains something to be cherished.Last month, Apple noted that sales of digital music from the iTunes store have declined in the past year.
The 404 1,066- Where it's the CNET minority report (podcast)
The 404 1,066: Where it's the CNET minority report (podcast)
Joseph Kaminski, Ariel Nunez, and Richard Peterson all chime in as guest hosts on today's episode while Jeff fends off Kings fans at E3 this week, so don't forget to check out all of CNET's show coverage this week.We'll wait on Jeff's return to go over all the gaming news going on, but in the meantime we'll check out a couple stories from today's rundown. Joey joins us today to lend his parenting experience to the rumor that Facebook might starting allowing kids under 13 to sign up for an account.Kids won't be able to just do whatever they want, however -- they'll have restricted access that links their profile to a parent's so they can decide who gets friended, and who doesn't.Jeff and I usually have to keep a finger on the censor button while Joseph's talking, but I'm taking a big risk today by letting him introduce a story he found about a dad in Arizona who's in trouble for creating a fake adult profile for the principal at his kid's middle school. Tune in for plot, the fallout, and Richard's story about his own capricious youth pranks.After a quick break, we'll hear from some 404 listeners in Calls From the Public, and feel free to send us your own! I'm screening the voice mails all week in Jeff's absence, so you have about an 87 percent better chance of getting airtime!Call us at 866-404-CNET or send a YouTube video voice mail to the404(at)CNET(dot)com. Bathroom break video: Darth Vader gets snubbed by a NYC cop.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.PlayEpisode 1,066PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff Bakalar
Joseph Kaminski, Ariel Nunez, and Richard Peterson all chime in as guest hosts on today's episode while Jeff fends off Kings fans at E3 this week, so don't forget to check out all of CNET's show coverage this week.We'll wait on Jeff's return to go over all the gaming news going on, but in the meantime we'll check out a couple stories from today's rundown. Joey joins us today to lend his parenting experience to the rumor that Facebook might starting allowing kids under 13 to sign up for an account.Kids won't be able to just do whatever they want, however -- they'll have restricted access that links their profile to a parent's so they can decide who gets friended, and who doesn't.Jeff and I usually have to keep a finger on the censor button while Joseph's talking, but I'm taking a big risk today by letting him introduce a story he found about a dad in Arizona who's in trouble for creating a fake adult profile for the principal at his kid's middle school. Tune in for plot, the fallout, and Richard's story about his own capricious youth pranks.After a quick break, we'll hear from some 404 listeners in Calls From the Public, and feel free to send us your own! I'm screening the voice mails all week in Jeff's absence, so you have about an 87 percent better chance of getting airtime!Call us at 866-404-CNET or send a YouTube video voice mail to the404(at)CNET(dot)com. Bathroom break video: Darth Vader gets snubbed by a NYC cop.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.PlayEpisode 1,066PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff Bakalar
J.P. Morgan analyst talks iCloud, iPhone advances
J.P. Morgan analyst talks iCloud, iPhone advances
Huge support from content providers will give Apple's new iCloud service an edge over the competition, while the iPhone 4 will go through a slight revamp this year, followed by a 4G iPhone 5 next year.Those are some of the thoughts shared by J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz in an investor's note released just ahead of the opening of Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) today.Apple last week already revealed that it would be talking about iCloud, its new cloud-based service, at WWDC. With news that Apple has already signed up several top record companies as partners, Moskowitz believes that iCloud will be unveiled this week with much greater support from content providers--music, film, and TV studios--giving it an advantage over similar cloud-based services recently launched by Amazon and Google.The analyst expects iCloud to build off Apple's MobileMe platform and provide users with a way to stream content purchased from iTunes directly to their mobile devices without having to first sync through their PCs.Moskowitz also sees iCloud as a game changer in the way consumers think of storage. As Apple and other industry players move users more toward the cloud, it could pave the way for PC makers to gravitate further toward smaller-capacity SSDs (solid-state drives) rather than the bulkier hard drives typically found on most computers these days."If iCloud serves as primary storage for this data, then the PC's internal storage will not require as much capacity, particularly in notebook PCs," the analyst said.Looking beyond iCloud to the iPhone, there's been much speculation as to when Apple would release a new iPhone and what form it might take. Moskowitz's take? Apple will refresh the iPhone later this summer as an iPhone "4 plus," with some improvements but no major changes. But 2012 will see a 4G LTE iPhone 5 once the networks mature a bit further and the 4G technology itself becomes less of a drag on battery consumption.
Huge support from content providers will give Apple's new iCloud service an edge over the competition, while the iPhone 4 will go through a slight revamp this year, followed by a 4G iPhone 5 next year.Those are some of the thoughts shared by J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz in an investor's note released just ahead of the opening of Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) today.Apple last week already revealed that it would be talking about iCloud, its new cloud-based service, at WWDC. With news that Apple has already signed up several top record companies as partners, Moskowitz believes that iCloud will be unveiled this week with much greater support from content providers--music, film, and TV studios--giving it an advantage over similar cloud-based services recently launched by Amazon and Google.The analyst expects iCloud to build off Apple's MobileMe platform and provide users with a way to stream content purchased from iTunes directly to their mobile devices without having to first sync through their PCs.Moskowitz also sees iCloud as a game changer in the way consumers think of storage. As Apple and other industry players move users more toward the cloud, it could pave the way for PC makers to gravitate further toward smaller-capacity SSDs (solid-state drives) rather than the bulkier hard drives typically found on most computers these days."If iCloud serves as primary storage for this data, then the PC's internal storage will not require as much capacity, particularly in notebook PCs," the analyst said.Looking beyond iCloud to the iPhone, there's been much speculation as to when Apple would release a new iPhone and what form it might take. Moskowitz's take? Apple will refresh the iPhone later this summer as an iPhone "4 plus," with some improvements but no major changes. But 2012 will see a 4G LTE iPhone 5 once the networks mature a bit further and the 4G technology itself becomes less of a drag on battery consumption.
Apple's iOS 6 works with national alerts program
Apple's iOS 6 works with national alerts program
Here's an iOS 6 feature Apple didn't talk about at WWDC: the ability to receive government alerts during an emergency or disaster.Devices running on the company's next mobile operating system, everything from the next iPhone to the iPhone 3GS and iPad 2, will be able to get wireless emergency alerts, also known as the commercial alerting system, according to the publication Emergency Management. The system allows for the government to broadcasat emergency messages, as it's already done on television and radio. The push for alerts to appear on phones has gone on for a while, with other manufacturers already putting the feature into their phones. With iOS 6, Apple joins the fold. Such alerts are critical for getting information out to people who aren't immediately tuned into a television or radio, and would have been helpful during disasters such as the floods from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans or the Sept. 11 attacks in New York. "The stage has been set for a consistently growing number of people in the US to have capability to receive alerts from local, state, and federal officials through the initiative led by FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System program," Rick Wimberly wrote on his blog on Emergency Management. The slick new features of Apple iOS 6 (p...See full gallery1 - 4 / 14NextPrevConsumers wondering if their phones can access the emergency alert system can check with their wireless carrier, or look up "wireless emergency alerts" on carrier Web sites. CNET has contacted Apple to confirm the feature and get more details. We'll update the story when we get a response.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
Here's an iOS 6 feature Apple didn't talk about at WWDC: the ability to receive government alerts during an emergency or disaster.Devices running on the company's next mobile operating system, everything from the next iPhone to the iPhone 3GS and iPad 2, will be able to get wireless emergency alerts, also known as the commercial alerting system, according to the publication Emergency Management. The system allows for the government to broadcasat emergency messages, as it's already done on television and radio. The push for alerts to appear on phones has gone on for a while, with other manufacturers already putting the feature into their phones. With iOS 6, Apple joins the fold. Such alerts are critical for getting information out to people who aren't immediately tuned into a television or radio, and would have been helpful during disasters such as the floods from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans or the Sept. 11 attacks in New York. "The stage has been set for a consistently growing number of people in the US to have capability to receive alerts from local, state, and federal officials through the initiative led by FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System program," Rick Wimberly wrote on his blog on Emergency Management. The slick new features of Apple iOS 6 (p...See full gallery1 - 4 / 14NextPrevConsumers wondering if their phones can access the emergency alert system can check with their wireless carrier, or look up "wireless emergency alerts" on carrier Web sites. CNET has contacted Apple to confirm the feature and get more details. We'll update the story when we get a response.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
Apple's iMessage service experiencing another disruption
Apple's iMessage service experiencing another disruption
Updated at 5 p.m. PT with service restored.Apple's iMessage service has again been experiencing issues, the third major disruption in the past two months.The proprietary text messaging platform used between iOS devices, as well as Macs, on Sunday was not allowing some users to send or receive messages from other users.Apple's support status update from 1:34 p.m. PT said that "some users are unable to use iMessage" and promised a quick solution but did not go into further detail about the scale of the issue. The same status page also indicated that "some" FaceTime users are also unable to use that service but that all other services are functioning normally.Both the iMessage and FaceTime services were restored this afternoon, according to a 4:41 p.m. PT status update.CNET has contacted Apple for more information and will update this report when we learn more.This is the third disruption in recent weeks. Outages in October and September left many users with the same message sending issues. Frustrated users turned to Twitter to voice their displeasure with the service:not receiving any texts... iMessage, you're annoying!â€" Kendall Jenner (@KendallJenner) November 18, 2012Apple introduced iMessage as part of iOS 5 in October 2011, offering users on the iPhone, iPod, and iPad a way to communicate with one another for free as long as they had an Internet connection. Apple added the functionality to its Macs as part of Mountain Lion in July.
Updated at 5 p.m. PT with service restored.Apple's iMessage service has again been experiencing issues, the third major disruption in the past two months.The proprietary text messaging platform used between iOS devices, as well as Macs, on Sunday was not allowing some users to send or receive messages from other users.Apple's support status update from 1:34 p.m. PT said that "some users are unable to use iMessage" and promised a quick solution but did not go into further detail about the scale of the issue. The same status page also indicated that "some" FaceTime users are also unable to use that service but that all other services are functioning normally.Both the iMessage and FaceTime services were restored this afternoon, according to a 4:41 p.m. PT status update.CNET has contacted Apple for more information and will update this report when we learn more.This is the third disruption in recent weeks. Outages in October and September left many users with the same message sending issues. Frustrated users turned to Twitter to voice their displeasure with the service:not receiving any texts... iMessage, you're annoying!â€" Kendall Jenner (@KendallJenner) November 18, 2012Apple introduced iMessage as part of iOS 5 in October 2011, offering users on the iPhone, iPod, and iPad a way to communicate with one another for free as long as they had an Internet connection. Apple added the functionality to its Macs as part of Mountain Lion in July.
Apple's iMessage protocol headed to iChat-
Apple's iMessage protocol headed to iChat?
Following in the footsteps of Apple's FaceTime video chat, Apple's iMessage could be the next feature to make the jump from iOS to Apple's Mac OS X. MacRumors today points to a code string within OS X Lion's iChat software noting when messages are both delivered and read, receipts that are currently available as part of its upcoming iMessage service. The outlet notes that these particular code strings haven't appeared in previous versions of the iChat software, suggesting support for the protocol will be there when iMessage officially launches this fall.Apple introduced iMessage as part of its unveiling of iOS 5 at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The new messaging service lets users on iOS devices chat with one another like they would send a text message. However, the service itself is not tied to any carriers and has been designed to work on non-cellular devices like the Wi-Fi only version of the iPad, and current model iPod Touch. FaceTime, which is Apple's video chat service, made a similar jump from iOS to Mac OS X users last October. Apple first offered the software only to iPhone 4 users to chat with one another while on Wi-Fi networks. The company later brought the software to Mac users as a free public beta, before selling it for 99 cents on the Mac App Store and including it as a freebie on new machines. That Apple could be including iMessage in iChat is of special note given questions about the future of the desktop software. While iChat remains a real-time chat solution, iMessage pulls double duty enabling both real-time and asynchronous communication through the same protocol. Apple also broke out iChat's one-on-one video chat feature as its own app with FaceTime, which strayed from depending on third-party protocols.Apple is expected to launch iOS 5 alongside its next iPhone next month.
Following in the footsteps of Apple's FaceTime video chat, Apple's iMessage could be the next feature to make the jump from iOS to Apple's Mac OS X. MacRumors today points to a code string within OS X Lion's iChat software noting when messages are both delivered and read, receipts that are currently available as part of its upcoming iMessage service. The outlet notes that these particular code strings haven't appeared in previous versions of the iChat software, suggesting support for the protocol will be there when iMessage officially launches this fall.Apple introduced iMessage as part of its unveiling of iOS 5 at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The new messaging service lets users on iOS devices chat with one another like they would send a text message. However, the service itself is not tied to any carriers and has been designed to work on non-cellular devices like the Wi-Fi only version of the iPad, and current model iPod Touch. FaceTime, which is Apple's video chat service, made a similar jump from iOS to Mac OS X users last October. Apple first offered the software only to iPhone 4 users to chat with one another while on Wi-Fi networks. The company later brought the software to Mac users as a free public beta, before selling it for 99 cents on the Mac App Store and including it as a freebie on new machines. That Apple could be including iMessage in iChat is of special note given questions about the future of the desktop software. While iChat remains a real-time chat solution, iMessage pulls double duty enabling both real-time and asynchronous communication through the same protocol. Apple also broke out iChat's one-on-one video chat feature as its own app with FaceTime, which strayed from depending on third-party protocols.Apple is expected to launch iOS 5 alongside its next iPhone next month.
Apple's iMac grabs lion's share of all-in-one PC market
Apple's iMac grabs lion's share of all-in-one PC market
Apple's iMac captured the biggest slice of all-in-one computer sales in the third quarter, according to data out this week from NPD DisplaySearch.For the quarter, the iMac scooped up 32.9 percent of all sales of all-in-one (AIO) PCs, loosely defined as computers with their inside components squeezed into the monitor chassis.Taking second place behind Apple in the third quarter was Lenovo, with 22.7 percent of all AIO sales, followed by HP with a 21.4 percent share.Other PC players, including NEC, Sony, and Fujitsu, managed to eke out only 2 or 3 percent of the AIO market.Apple refreshed its iMac lineup last May, introducing a 27-inch model to join its smaller 21.5-inch cousin. Powered by an Intel quad-core i5 processor, the new iMacs include support for the high-speed Thunderbolt interface.Related storiesApple refreshes iMacs with faster CPUs, Thunderbolt portsApple iMac 27-inch ReviewFinally, HP announces a 27-inch Windows all-in-oneAll-in-one desktopsNot to be outdone, HP has announced its own 27-inch AIO, dubbed the Omni 27.Due to hit the U.S. in just a few days, the Omni 27 will offer a choice of processors ranging from Intel's Core i3 to the Core i7. The new 27-incher will join HP's 23-inch TouchSmart 610 as part of its AIO lineup.Meanwhile, Lenovo is carving out its own niche in the AIO market with its IdeaCentre and ThinkCentre computers.Though currently in second place, Lenovo could eventually surpass Apple as the top AIO seller, says NPD DisplaySearch. At the same time that Apple is de-emphasizing the desktop PC in favor of portables and mobile devices, Lenovo is gaining more traction in its home base of China, which is now the biggest market for AIOs.Unit sales of all-in-one PCs likely hit 14.5 million last year, estimates DisplaySearch, a gain of 39 percent from 2010. Sales could climb as high as 23.3 million in 2014, although the annual growth rate is expected to drop this year and then level off over the next couple of years.
Apple's iMac captured the biggest slice of all-in-one computer sales in the third quarter, according to data out this week from NPD DisplaySearch.For the quarter, the iMac scooped up 32.9 percent of all sales of all-in-one (AIO) PCs, loosely defined as computers with their inside components squeezed into the monitor chassis.Taking second place behind Apple in the third quarter was Lenovo, with 22.7 percent of all AIO sales, followed by HP with a 21.4 percent share.Other PC players, including NEC, Sony, and Fujitsu, managed to eke out only 2 or 3 percent of the AIO market.Apple refreshed its iMac lineup last May, introducing a 27-inch model to join its smaller 21.5-inch cousin. Powered by an Intel quad-core i5 processor, the new iMacs include support for the high-speed Thunderbolt interface.Related storiesApple refreshes iMacs with faster CPUs, Thunderbolt portsApple iMac 27-inch ReviewFinally, HP announces a 27-inch Windows all-in-oneAll-in-one desktopsNot to be outdone, HP has announced its own 27-inch AIO, dubbed the Omni 27.Due to hit the U.S. in just a few days, the Omni 27 will offer a choice of processors ranging from Intel's Core i3 to the Core i7. The new 27-incher will join HP's 23-inch TouchSmart 610 as part of its AIO lineup.Meanwhile, Lenovo is carving out its own niche in the AIO market with its IdeaCentre and ThinkCentre computers.Though currently in second place, Lenovo could eventually surpass Apple as the top AIO seller, says NPD DisplaySearch. At the same time that Apple is de-emphasizing the desktop PC in favor of portables and mobile devices, Lenovo is gaining more traction in its home base of China, which is now the biggest market for AIOs.Unit sales of all-in-one PCs likely hit 14.5 million last year, estimates DisplaySearch, a gain of 39 percent from 2010. Sales could climb as high as 23.3 million in 2014, although the annual growth rate is expected to drop this year and then level off over the next couple of years.
Apple's iconic earbuds may be in line for a unibody tweak
Apple's iconic earbuds may be in line for a unibody tweak
Apple dislikes seams in things. This very obsession led it to the point where it spent an estimated $6.6 million on a remodel of its Fifth Avenue store in New York to cut the number of glass panels it was using in its exterior cubic entrance from 90 down to 15.Now another iconic Apple-made item could be in line for a seamless makeover: the company's earbuds.In a patent application published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and picked up by Apple Insider, Apple has laid out a plan for ultrasonically welded, unibody headphones.Before jumping to the conclusion that Apple is ditching its iconic white for aluminum, the design involves joining together multiple pieces of plastic. That's accomplished with ultrasonic welding, a technique that melts together just the contact points to create a firm bond. This is as opposed to using a liquid, or structural adhesive. By comparison,Apple suggests that the ultrasonic method would lead to a more "aesthetically pleasing" and "seamless" device.Seamless bonds are pictured here.USPTO/AppleThis is not the first such mention of ultrasonic as a means of bonding materials in a patent application from Apple. One published last month by the USPTO involved bonding plastic to metal, a process that is more complex than doing plastic to plastic given the difference in melting points between the two materials. Apple's solution in that case was to add texture to the metal, allowing for the plastic to melt in, and bond with the natural grooves. Since 2008 Apple has made efforts to make its computers and mobile devices using so-called "unibody" construction techniques, a form of manufacturing that takes a single material and cuts away room for circuitry, batteries, and other components. The end result is a structure that can be thinner, lighter, and stronger than some traditional, multi-piece designs. Earlier this week, the company was rumored to be using that technique in the production of its next iPhone, which is expected in the fall.
Apple dislikes seams in things. This very obsession led it to the point where it spent an estimated $6.6 million on a remodel of its Fifth Avenue store in New York to cut the number of glass panels it was using in its exterior cubic entrance from 90 down to 15.Now another iconic Apple-made item could be in line for a seamless makeover: the company's earbuds.In a patent application published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and picked up by Apple Insider, Apple has laid out a plan for ultrasonically welded, unibody headphones.Before jumping to the conclusion that Apple is ditching its iconic white for aluminum, the design involves joining together multiple pieces of plastic. That's accomplished with ultrasonic welding, a technique that melts together just the contact points to create a firm bond. This is as opposed to using a liquid, or structural adhesive. By comparison,Apple suggests that the ultrasonic method would lead to a more "aesthetically pleasing" and "seamless" device.Seamless bonds are pictured here.USPTO/AppleThis is not the first such mention of ultrasonic as a means of bonding materials in a patent application from Apple. One published last month by the USPTO involved bonding plastic to metal, a process that is more complex than doing plastic to plastic given the difference in melting points between the two materials. Apple's solution in that case was to add texture to the metal, allowing for the plastic to melt in, and bond with the natural grooves. Since 2008 Apple has made efforts to make its computers and mobile devices using so-called "unibody" construction techniques, a form of manufacturing that takes a single material and cuts away room for circuitry, batteries, and other components. The end result is a structure that can be thinner, lighter, and stronger than some traditional, multi-piece designs. Earlier this week, the company was rumored to be using that technique in the production of its next iPhone, which is expected in the fall.
The Geek Beat: The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good Movies We Can't Help But Love
There is a spot in my heart reserved for American Ninja. I;m not sure exactly when I first saw the 1985 movie that dared to cast Michael Dudikoff as an American ninja, but it was sometime during the late ;80s, amid what can only be described as my “ninja phase” that involved the consumption of every movie, book, television series, comic book and action figure with the word “ninja” in its title. Nine Deaths of the Ninja? Saw it. Revenge of the Ninja? Saw it in theaters. (Twice.) Ninja Magazine? Bought it, ripped out the pages, and pasted them all over my bedroom walls. Even so, I don;t harbor any misconceptions about the quality of American Ninjanor its prospects for inclusion in the National Film Registry. It is -- to put it kindly -- a very bad movie. But for some reason, this story of a soldier with a mysterious past who brings down an entire school full of ninja terrorists with the help of a kindly old Japanese man and Steve James, the guy who played Kung Fu Joe in I;m Gonna Git You Sucka, well... it spoke to me. In fact, the movie spoke to me so often that I had to buy multiple VHS cassettes of American Ninja over the years, because I kept wearing them out. (Thankfully, it;s available on DVD now. I;m not sure I could;ve justified spending any more money on that movie.) And when it comes to love affairs with bad movies, I know I;m not alone. While I don;t know anyone else who shares my affection for American Ninja, I do know lots of people who like certain movies more than anyone ever should. And if you;re reading this, you probably do, too. But it;s okay -- you;re in good company. This weekend;s kickoff of Fantastic Fest -- an annual celebration of genre movies that tend to fly under the radar (often on their way to “cult classic” status) -- is what got me thinking about all of the virtually unknown, relatively unwatched, and frequently underwhelming genre movies I;ve consumed over the years. Sure, there are a few cinematic success stories on that list, but for the most part my movie-watching tendencies resemble the eating habits of a goat. Basically, I;ll watch anything. (Especially if it has ninjas.) That;s why, even though American Ninja makes a strong case for being the gold standard (though the chrome standard is probably more accurate) of bad films I;ve obsessed over, it;s one of many on a crowded list. In last week;s column, I waxed poetic about Condorman, the Disney film about a bumbling comic book creator who becomes a superhero that was one of my earliest bad-movie obsessions. As I got older, my list of Hollywood “comfort food” grew to include films like Krull, Howard the Duck and The Beastmaster, to name a few. Over time, cheesy genre films that would make today;s Syfy original movies look like Citizen Kane became some of my favorite sick-day screenings. Heck, the complete works of Chuck Norris still occupy a place of honor on my former VHS -- now DVD and Blu-ray -- shelf. Here;s the thing, though: I;ve never really considered my favorite bad movies “guilty pleasures.” I want to share them with people. Unfortunately, there are about as many people who appreciate the finer points of Howard the Duck as there are people who look forward to a dentist appointment. It;s probably for the best, though, as our reasons for liking the dregs of Hollywood tend to be of the personal variety. The memory of running around the neighborhood in black pajamas with a stick sword and pinecone shurikens, for example, looms large over American Ninja for me. Likewise, every frame of The Beastmaster conjures thoughts of lazy Saturdays in the winter months curled up on the floor watching Marc Singer defeat an evil sorcerer with help from a pair of ferrets. For me, bad movies can be chicken soup for the soul. They;re a reminder of simpler times, when acting and script and cinematography didn;t matter as much as ninjas and robots and cool-looking monsters. And they;re also an important counterweight when it comes to dealing with the modern movie world and all of the minutiae that come with contemplating, analyzing and otherwise critiquing it. It;s all too easy to get caught up in the search for the perfect cinematic experience, and there;s no shortage of movies -- and studios -- claiming to provide it. But if what you;re really looking for is something to put a smile on your face for a few hours, sometimes all you need is a bad movie that comes with good memories. Oh, and possibly a few ninjas, too. Rick Marshall is an award-winning writer and editor whose work can be found at Movies.com, as well as MTV News, Fandango, Digital Trends, IFC.com, and various other online, print, and on-air news outlets. He;s been called a “Professional Geek” by ABC News and Spike TV, and is still not quite sure how he ended up writing (and talking) about comics, video games, and movies for a living. His personal blog can be found at MindPollution.org, and you can find him on Twitter as @RickMarshall.
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