Amanda Palmer confronts the 'current nightmare of the modern musician' (Q&A)
Amanda Palmer is no stranger to controversy.One of the first musicians to successfully use Twitter to spread word of her music, Palmer, 37, is known for her cabaret punk band the Dresden Dolls, her career as a solo artist, her performance art, and for engaging her fans in ways not easy to achieve before social media.She's run several successful Kickstarter campaigns to fund her touring and album production. But her decision to not pay musicians who joined her onstage despite having raised about $1.2 million from one of her crowdsourcing efforts has made her many enemies.The prolific musician, artist, and author, who's married to popular writer Neil Gaiman, decided to talk frankly about the music business last December at BitTorrent headquarters in San Francisco. BitTorrent, the company behind the file-sharing protocol, posted on Thursday the Amanda Palmer Town Hall conversation on the future of music and the music business.The Town Hall video is being offered as a free BitTorrent Bundle, the company's experiment to provide people a way to make money from content they share through the service. BitTorrent holds weekly Town Hall-style conversations called "Tech Talks" to discuss issues facing the Internet.In a wide-ranging, nearly two-hour long conversation, Palmer and musician Zoe Boekbinder chatted with an audience of around 100 fans and music lovers about the problems and new frontiers facing the music business: streaming music, pirating, record labels, and Kickstarter-style crowdfunding. Related storiesWill streaming music services ever make money? 2014 may tellGeek-A-Week cards: Collect your favorite nerd celebsNeil Gaiman's "The Sandman" returnsAfterward, Palmer sat down with CNET to answer even more questions. Here are combined, edited versions of both conversations. Q: What works best for releasing new songs? Palmer: Before we throw it out to the audience, I'd just like to suggest the obvious options that are open to me and Zoe right now. Obviously, I've had a huge success with my Kickstarter. It was definitely a success on paper. What I did on the back end is my problem.The one big problem with Kickstarter -- as I've gone around talking to, especially, musicians -- is that you don't necessarily want to put all of your time and energy, every time you have a project, into convincing those same people, "Please Kickstart my record, and here are all the things you'll get; I spent all this time building this page; I spent all this time coming up with these fanciful rewards that you will get, and I spent so much time fulfilling them."And all these things will go wrong, and things will be misprinted, and FedEx will not come, and that is the current nightmare of the modern musician. This is the recurring theme, that yes, Kickstarter works, but it's a ton of work and you have to keep doing it -- every time. You fulfill that one album and you're looking at the next mountain. And that doesn't make a lot of sense because a lot of those people are the same people.And a lot of those people just want to support you. And will kind of go through the fiction of, "Yes, I will take the package, and I don't know if I can get another poster that's printed on silver paper of your band."There's also the idea of subscription, which is the way I've seen a lot of my independent musician friends going, which is kind of taking it to the next level, which is: I know you're out there, and I know you love me, and I know you want to help me, and I know we don't need to have fictional packaging in order for you to help me. So can you just agree that when I put out a piece of art, you pay me and it's on a kind of rolling basis. I think Kickstarter is maybe heading in that direction, and there's things like Patreon, which is being used by bloggers, where you basically agree to pay 3, 5, 10, whatever dollars...for a monthly pass. [Some] fans are building their own subscription sites. What's the difference between swag and music? Palmer: The music is not a poster, the music is the music. The bridge that needs to be gapped or crossed or whatever is that we're using physical stuff to justify your giving me money. Is there a way to get around us having this relationship and for me to have more money for me to send you more s--t? What are some of the problems in choosing appropriate crowdfunding incentives? Palmer: When I did my first big proto-Kickstarter, which I actually did straight off my Web site, when I put out my EP of ukulele covers of Radiohead songs, and that was my first big independent: here's a bunch of levels, here's a bunch of options, and one of the options was a Skype call, I hated it.I kind of hate Skype, mostly because when I talk on the phone, I pace and move, and in front of the screen it makes me feel really awkward. If we're here, I know how to take my environment into account. But when faced with Skype, I felt kind of paralyzed, and I felt like the technology wasn't really there in terms of being with the person. Being with someone is different than being on Skype with someone. And to sell it as the same product is kind of a con. An audience member asked about the value in fans sharing different versions of the same songs, especially those from concerts. Palmer: There was a site started by basically my favorite Deadhead. We encouraged [music sharing].Bringing up the Grateful Dead is always interesting in this case, because one could make the case that [Deadheads] were the original file-sharers via tape. The band was smart enough to not shut it down and to encourage people to plug into the board. It created not only sales, but it created community of awesome people.The Dresden Dolls didn't hire someone on salary to track all this stuff down, although I tried. It was always someone from the community who was, like, I actually care enough about this to do it. Which actually ties back into torrenting and people who want music to exist, and are very happy to share and happy to hook it up.People who don't want to necessarily go out and use the cutting-edge technology to make all the profit, but actually just want to make music and hopefully get paid, which is most musicians, you run up against this weird ball of artists versus technology.Getting a bunch of artists to agree to converge their separate islands into one continent is impossible. Amanda Palmer at BitTorrent headquarters, December 2013.Seth Rosenblatt/CNET What about albums as apps? How can they change fan engagement with the musician? Palmer: Seeing albums released as apps seems really interesting to me, but also again seems really limiting. My app, which came out around a year ago, turned into a therapy session. And I didn't guide it, didn't suggest it. But all of a sudden I turned around and the comments section, the community section -- and I think that happened because it was not on the Internet.It wouldn't have happened anywhere that the general public could come in and pooh-pooh it and snark on it. It happened in a place where it was, like, oh, we're all alone here. We're totally safe, we can talk about our f---ed up problems and our families and our body issues and our suicides and our friends dying and whatever. It was, like, I can't believe what I'm reading, I'd log into my app and it was, like, walking into AA and I'm not even there.And what does that say to you about the general Internet that it's gotten so muddied and f---ed up and sort of fight-y that people don't open up. LiveJournal used to be a little bit like that, and people would open up a lot, and there's no longer a lot of places to go on the Internet where people are real... they're so afraid of being judged. It's gotten insane. How do we get people to buy into paying for music all the time? Palmer: Paying for s--t on the Internet is kind of a pain in the ass.I psychologically have felt way better about torrenting, downloading, asking my friend to email a ZIP of the artist who is giant and doesn't need the money. I'm going to illegally download Miley Cyrus' new album because clearly going to iTunes and giving her the $10 is not going to make a difference to Miley Cyrus. The artist who is huge doesn't need your community support. If they're rolling up in a limousine, you giving them your hard-earned cash isn't important.And I think that's kind of a problem because if every audience member of that particular artist felt that way period, that artist would clearly sink. But to me, that gets to the big question: as an audience member, how do you feel about the music you're listening to? What responsibility do you feel to the person whose music you're singing in your kitchen or listening to in your car? What do you feel to that person for having made that music? And what if they're dead?I grew up in the '80s and it was all simple. I took the bus to the mall and I went to Musicland and I either shoplifted or bought that Depeche Mode record that I wanted, but I never thought about Depeche Mode. I never once in that time thought about how much money Depeche Mode was making. It was just all laid out for me. It was some unknowable, complicated system.Teenagers now are reading the Internet and know that there's a system behind the system, and need to be educated about whether the musicians are or are not making money, based on that one decision. Are you making anything off of streaming? Palmer: Nope. I wasn't expecting to.An interesting story that I wasn't expecting was when I signed with Roadrunner records. It was the dawn of social media, the dawn of fan forums, we were offered our major record label contract the same year that we bought a CD burner, a tower, one of those toasters that could burn three CDs at a time. Brian [Viglione, Palmer's partner in the Dresden Dolls] and I were sitting in my kitchen and cranking out 100 CDs at a time. We'd sit there all night drinking and listening to music and burning Dresden Dolls CDs and stamping them with cool stamps and putting them in xeroxed artwork and selling them at our shows.What that meant was that when we were offered a major label contract, I didn't see it as a locked cage. I knew that they weren't going to be able to lock up our content the way that they locked up the content of my forefathers in the millions of interviews that I'd read, where they get to just shelf your record. I knew in the worst-case scenarios, we'd just bootleg our own music.In a weird way, that's kind of what happened. Because the minute that things went south with the record label and they stopped promoting us, we just took to the Internet with more fury and encouraged our fans to share our music. And they did. Amanda Palmer on where social media, the music business, and music itself collide.Seth Rosenblatt/CNET Do you think that was a turning point with your fans that they saw that you could get your music out no matter what the record label wanted? Palmer: No, it wasn't. Because from the very dawn of the band, we encouraged the fans to connect with each other and share our music. It didn't change overnight because we thought it was a clever marketing tactic.And I think for that very same reason, the fans knew that we were genuine about it and just wanted everyone to share with each other. And it was partly that attitude that made it all possible.What do you do if you're Zoe Boekbinder, and you love the making of the music, but the idea of being at all involved in its promotion makes you want to die?Palmer: You have two options, and you take them both. You need social help and crutches and advocates, barkers who are willing to step out in front of your tent and tell people to go in it.And you also need to accept the fact that part of the agony of being an artist in today's age is connecting. It's never been easy. No introverted artist has ever gotten a free pass, you've always had to do it one way or another. Today it just happens to be prescription X. How do you discover music? Palmer: I have a dirty secret. I don't listen to music anymore.I have friends and the general Internet. Twitter, honestly. If three of my fans on Twitter are like, Amanda I think you'll like this artist, this video, and I know they know me, I'll go look at it. And the music of friends.But this is the thing: The mainstream has become a niche. And the mainstream -- Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Rhianna, whatever's on the radio, and whatever the mainstream decides to pick up from the underground and transmit -- is only a narrow piece of the spectrum. Will distribution ever flatten out into one service? Palmer: Probably not.One thing that Neil, my husband, is always harping on is the fact that as bad as the major label system was, at least it redirected money and resources and energy back into content creation. Which Apple doesn't do, and Spotify doesn't do, and YouTube doesn't do. As sleazy as those labels were, there was at least a window and a system in which content continued to be supported and created. Are the problems better or worse than when the labels ruled the ecosystem? It's still a problem of distribution, finding your audience. Palmer: I don't think there's an answer to that question. I think it's like saying, are people happier in 2013 or in 1756? I think every era has favored certain kinds of artists. Technology and environment have dictated and informed who we listen to and who we like. Is it good, is it bad? It doesn't work that way. We know that. That's like saying, is literature better now than when it used to be? Is science better than when it used to be? It's not better or worse, it just keeps changing.That's why it's so troubling to see people looking at the music industry so linearly. The music industry isn't dying, music isn't dying. Artists aren't disappearing, everything's in a constant state of flux.We would do better to actually look at what is changing and respond to it in a positive way, rather than running around like chickens with our heads cut off, saying, it's changed, it's changed, holy f--- it's changed. What does that mean, to respond to things in a positive way? Palmer: The biggest overarching thing that's changed is the fall of the middleman. If I was a teenager, if I wanted to get my music out to the masses, I had to work through somebody else. That somebody else wasn't an ISP, it was a music-industry gate, a music-specific gate. We still have bizarre middlemen, gatekeepers, in the forms of Google and YouTube and etcetera. One thing that's really ironic is that when people think that they're totally free. It's not f---ing free! If you're logging on to the Internet and downloading it, paying a service provider and using bandwidth that you don't control, it's not f---ing free -- there's still somebody out there controlling the airwaves. It's just not the way you're used to.And this is what worries me. Especially with the younger artists. They're just like, I'm totally free! I can do whatever I want!If you don't protect the freedom that you think you have, you're going to be f---ed. Somebody is still running the traffic, it's just not who your parents are used to. What should younger artists do? Palmer: Tour. Meet their fans. Suffer.Should an amazing artist, who just can't deal with the road, suffer?Palmer: If you're not willing to go play the music for the people who are willing to [pay for it,] your options are severely limited. There are other options, but they're not easy. Why do you make art? Palmer: Honestly, I've been struggling with that question since I married a rich guy. I've had to really face having done 10 years of hustling, hustling, hustling and my band has to make money or I'm f---ed, to all of a sudden I'm married to a rich guy and I have a safety net. That's been very f---ed up for me. First-world problem, fine, but that has changed and confused my approach to things.I did [made art] because I loved making music and I loved being on stage, and I didn't want another job. I didn't want to have to keep working at the coffee shop, because it was boring. I wanted to do my band. I didn't want to have a s---ty job. The obvious thing to do was to make money writing songs for the band.I would get confused and irritated when journalists would ask, "why do you make music?" I dunno. Why are you a journalist? I dunno. Something happens, and then now this.Having a safety net, whether that safety net is that my husband is a rich author or my fan base is so fanatic that I actually feel like I could make totally experimental piano music without merits that I feel I could totally survive.That question, it never stops. I don't have an answer. I'm glad I don't have an answer. If I had one specific answer, and that answer stayed static, that'd suck. It would be boring.Getting back to the social capital or being with people, I look back at the 12-year-old Amanda who wanted to be a rock star and wanted to write songs and wanted to play piano because looking at Cyndi Lauper and Madonna, that was, like, that was the best job, it was because I wanted to find a community of people that I liked being with, because I didn't like where I was, I wanted to go there, wherever "there" was...[I]f I strip everything down, take the money away, take the Internet away, take everything away, I want to be with people that I like and that I can talk to and that don't judge me.It's probably the same for most musicians that I know. Zoe Boekbinder pointed out that many reporters don't want to talk about how good a musician may be at her music, but that they want to talk about how good she is at the Internet. Palmer: I suffered that greatly in the last year. I haven't done an interview in the last year that wasn't 90 percent about the Internet and Kickstarter and crowdfunding. And my album, which I thought was great, suffered a deep death at the hands of the Internet. Do people recording shows on their smartphones change how you perform? Palmer: Being at shows has its own educational learning curve. I have learned to accept it. I still get irritated at it. I just did a year-and-change-long tour where I crowd-surfed every night. And often, I crowd-surfed into a sea of people, who didn't seem conscious of the fact that I needed their hands to hold my body up, because they were all so fascinated by the image on their phones.And I started taking their phones, and I think we're all like gaga right now about technology because it's exciting, it's cool, it's exciting that on your phone you can take a really decent picture and share it. But do we need 150 s---ty, blurry pictures of a singer on stage in a badly lit nightclub?...[W]e know how much social capital and help it provides for a fan in the front row to take a great photo and send it back to us so that we can put it on our blog. That has value, and you don't want to just shut everyone down. A lot of my viral YouTube clips, most of them have been from fans, not some person I hired for $500.So you want to appreciate it, but at the same time you don't want everybody's experience to be minimized. What about "community supported music," where fans pay to get a song per month or something similar? Palmer: I have to [play] devil's advocate. One of the things that musicians don't like, artists don't like, is the idea that they are production machines, and that the way art works is that we put out a thing every month. Artists don't necessarily work that way.They can, but do you want to be the kind of patron that insists that your artist works in a sort of weird capitalist structure where they have to put out a product like a factory every two weeks to your liking or you're going to take away the money?As a content creator, what can you give to an audience...some kind of appreciable token of your time and energy? Because something has to happen. If you are a quiet, soulful, very, very introverted banjo player and want to write amazing songs and slip them under the door, probably you're just f---ed. You have to do something, you have to open the door occasionally. And historically, you've always been f---ed.
iHeartRadio music shimmies onto PS4, TiVo and more
iHeartRadio music shimmies onto PS4, TiVo and more
The music-streaming company said it will integrate its service into a number of high-profile products, including Sony's Playstation 3 and 4 gaming consoles, TiVo's digital video recording devices and Dish's Hopper set-top box. On the car front, iHeartRadio will be available in car system manufacturer Clarion's newest cloud-connected in-dash infotainment system, and was part of a concept car unveiled by BlackBerry's QNX unit. iHeartRadio, which is also a terrestrial radio giant, is following the strategy of other online services and ensuring its streaming music can be heard from all manner of devices. The service is one of the top four online streaming music players, which include leader Pandora, Spotify and Apple's iTunes Radio.These announcements in particular push iHeartRadio past just being a smartphone app, providing access to televisions and video game consoles. "This is a big step into the home," said Brian Lakamp, president of technology and digital ventures for iHeartMedia. "We're making sure we're everywhere our consumers are." He said roughly 60 percent of its users listen to iHeartRadio on their phone. While much younger than Pandora, iHeartRadio has shown impressive growth, hitting 50 million users three years into its existence. That's faster than Pandora, and even popular social networks Facebook and Twitter. Lakamp said it has 60 million registered users. The streaming service will be on a number of Sony products, including select television and mobile devices, as well as the Playstation 4 and its predecessor system, the Playstation 3. In the next few weeks, iHeartRadio will be available on the TiVo Roamio, TiVo Mini and TiVo Premiere after a rolling software update. iHeartRadio was also part of the unveiling of the Google Cast, a Chromecast-like dongle that enables people to fling music from their smartphones to nearby speakers. LG is also getting into the mix, integrating iHeartRadio into its latest smart televisions, as well as its new LG Flow Wi-Fi series home audio system. Dish will update its Hopper set-top box and Joey speakers so that they can play "streaming zones" that can be controlled from an Android or iOS app. The app will allow users to stream music to any room in the house through a Joey speaker. Clarion will include the iHeartRadio app in its latest cloud-connected in-dash infotainment system. The service's Total Traffic Network information will be integrated into Clarion's GPS, allowing for real-time updates of incidents and traffic speeds.
The music-streaming company said it will integrate its service into a number of high-profile products, including Sony's Playstation 3 and 4 gaming consoles, TiVo's digital video recording devices and Dish's Hopper set-top box. On the car front, iHeartRadio will be available in car system manufacturer Clarion's newest cloud-connected in-dash infotainment system, and was part of a concept car unveiled by BlackBerry's QNX unit. iHeartRadio, which is also a terrestrial radio giant, is following the strategy of other online services and ensuring its streaming music can be heard from all manner of devices. The service is one of the top four online streaming music players, which include leader Pandora, Spotify and Apple's iTunes Radio.These announcements in particular push iHeartRadio past just being a smartphone app, providing access to televisions and video game consoles. "This is a big step into the home," said Brian Lakamp, president of technology and digital ventures for iHeartMedia. "We're making sure we're everywhere our consumers are." He said roughly 60 percent of its users listen to iHeartRadio on their phone. While much younger than Pandora, iHeartRadio has shown impressive growth, hitting 50 million users three years into its existence. That's faster than Pandora, and even popular social networks Facebook and Twitter. Lakamp said it has 60 million registered users. The streaming service will be on a number of Sony products, including select television and mobile devices, as well as the Playstation 4 and its predecessor system, the Playstation 3. In the next few weeks, iHeartRadio will be available on the TiVo Roamio, TiVo Mini and TiVo Premiere after a rolling software update. iHeartRadio was also part of the unveiling of the Google Cast, a Chromecast-like dongle that enables people to fling music from their smartphones to nearby speakers. LG is also getting into the mix, integrating iHeartRadio into its latest smart televisions, as well as its new LG Flow Wi-Fi series home audio system. Dish will update its Hopper set-top box and Joey speakers so that they can play "streaming zones" that can be controlled from an Android or iOS app. The app will allow users to stream music to any room in the house through a Joey speaker. Clarion will include the iHeartRadio app in its latest cloud-connected in-dash infotainment system. The service's Total Traffic Network information will be integrated into Clarion's GPS, allowing for real-time updates of incidents and traffic speeds.
Apple by the numbers- 80M Macs, 40M Mavericks downloads
Apple by the numbers: 80M Macs, 40M Mavericks downloads
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference kicked off with a bang on Monday, as CEO Tim Cook announced several data points in an attempt to prove just how successful his company is.As he has in previous keynote addresses, Cook started his company's presentation talking about Apple's successes. Cook said that the company now has 9 million developers, representing a 47 percent jump compared with last year. In addition, there are now 1.2 million apps in the App Store and 300 million App Store visitors each week, and over 75 billion apps have been downloaded so far.Cook was quick to point out that while computer shipments dropped 5 percent in the last year, Apple's Mac shipments are up 12 percent, growing its user installed base to 80 million units. Mavericks, the OS X platform running on Macs, has been installed 40 million times, which Cook says, is the fastest adoption ever of any PC operating system.Tune into CNET's live show and blog at 9 a.m. PT on June 2.Moving to iOS, Cook noted that his company has now sold over 800 million iOS-based devices. The iPod Touch has passed 100 million units sold; the iPad has reached 200 million units; and the iPhone has surpassed 500 million units sold. All of that has helped bring more customers to Apple. In the past 12 months alone, 130 million were new to Apple. Right now, Cook said during the keynote address, 89 percent of current iOS users are running his company's latest launch, iOS 7.The Cupertino, Calif.-based company holds only two or three major events a year, and WWDC is one of them. The annual confab for developers takes place June 2 to 6 in San Francisco's Moscone Center, with about 5,000 lucky, lottery-winning app makers descending on the city. Apple kicked off the event Monday with its highly anticipated keynote event featuring Cook and other executives.Related linksWWDC 2014: The pre-show Mac lineup report cardWith no 'amazing' devices due at WWDC, Apple's Tim Cook feels the heatApple has its best product lineup in 25 years in store for 2014, says iTunes head CueFor Apple, this year's developer conference comes at a critical time. Apple continues to sell millions of iPhones and iPads, but demand for the devices has started to slow. Google' Android software, and particularly vendors such as Samsung, have been gaining market share and have made inroads in former Apple strongholds like education. Apple also hasn't released any truly revolutionary products since the iPad in 2010, while rivals such as Samsung introduce new devices every few months.Apple has used its WWDC keynote event as a chance to introduce new products in the past. But it more recently has focused on software, saving new mobile device announcements for separate events. The company is expected to launch many new devices in the fall as part of what it calls its "best product pipeline in 25 years." However, concerns have emerged that Apple may have lost some of its innovation edge -- a worry that Cook and his team have tried to quell by promising "exciting new product categories" for 2014.This year, WWDC celebrates its 25th year. The first time around, Apple had 1,300 developers attend that event -- a far cry from its 6,000 attendees this year. Apple WWDC 2014 event photosSee full gallery1 - 4 / 30NextPrev This is story is developing. To read more about news from the event, follow along in the CNET liveblog. Check out all of our WWDC coverage here.
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference kicked off with a bang on Monday, as CEO Tim Cook announced several data points in an attempt to prove just how successful his company is.As he has in previous keynote addresses, Cook started his company's presentation talking about Apple's successes. Cook said that the company now has 9 million developers, representing a 47 percent jump compared with last year. In addition, there are now 1.2 million apps in the App Store and 300 million App Store visitors each week, and over 75 billion apps have been downloaded so far.Cook was quick to point out that while computer shipments dropped 5 percent in the last year, Apple's Mac shipments are up 12 percent, growing its user installed base to 80 million units. Mavericks, the OS X platform running on Macs, has been installed 40 million times, which Cook says, is the fastest adoption ever of any PC operating system.Tune into CNET's live show and blog at 9 a.m. PT on June 2.Moving to iOS, Cook noted that his company has now sold over 800 million iOS-based devices. The iPod Touch has passed 100 million units sold; the iPad has reached 200 million units; and the iPhone has surpassed 500 million units sold. All of that has helped bring more customers to Apple. In the past 12 months alone, 130 million were new to Apple. Right now, Cook said during the keynote address, 89 percent of current iOS users are running his company's latest launch, iOS 7.The Cupertino, Calif.-based company holds only two or three major events a year, and WWDC is one of them. The annual confab for developers takes place June 2 to 6 in San Francisco's Moscone Center, with about 5,000 lucky, lottery-winning app makers descending on the city. Apple kicked off the event Monday with its highly anticipated keynote event featuring Cook and other executives.Related linksWWDC 2014: The pre-show Mac lineup report cardWith no 'amazing' devices due at WWDC, Apple's Tim Cook feels the heatApple has its best product lineup in 25 years in store for 2014, says iTunes head CueFor Apple, this year's developer conference comes at a critical time. Apple continues to sell millions of iPhones and iPads, but demand for the devices has started to slow. Google' Android software, and particularly vendors such as Samsung, have been gaining market share and have made inroads in former Apple strongholds like education. Apple also hasn't released any truly revolutionary products since the iPad in 2010, while rivals such as Samsung introduce new devices every few months.Apple has used its WWDC keynote event as a chance to introduce new products in the past. But it more recently has focused on software, saving new mobile device announcements for separate events. The company is expected to launch many new devices in the fall as part of what it calls its "best product pipeline in 25 years." However, concerns have emerged that Apple may have lost some of its innovation edge -- a worry that Cook and his team have tried to quell by promising "exciting new product categories" for 2014.This year, WWDC celebrates its 25th year. The first time around, Apple had 1,300 developers attend that event -- a far cry from its 6,000 attendees this year. Apple WWDC 2014 event photosSee full gallery1 - 4 / 30NextPrev This is story is developing. To read more about news from the event, follow along in the CNET liveblog. Check out all of our WWDC coverage here.
Rumor Has It, Ep. 24- Google's gunning for iPad, with Asus' help (podcast)
Rumor Has It, Ep. 24: Google's gunning for iPad, with Asus' help (podcast)
I am writing this blog post from under my desk, because I am too embarrassed to face my esteemed colleagues after the stunt we pulled today. We play the most embarrassing Internet video yet. Starring moi. I have been blushing a deep purple ever since, and because I may now be notorious in downtown San Francisco as that crazy girl in front of the Apple store, I have decided to wear a disguise in public at all times. Guys, it's mortifying. Go watch it.But--sweet relief!--with the new iPad no longer on our rumor roster, we get down to non-Apple-related business. We bet on whether Intel is as sick of cable TV as we are; Amazon plans to make its own TV shows; a Google-made tablet is coming soon; and maybe a Windows 8 tablet, too. Watch the episode to see if we think any of that is likely to happen. And to find out why Instagram coming to Android phones soon makes half of my heart cry and the other half weep...with joy.EPISODE 24This 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.PlaySubscribe:Â RSS (MP3) |Â RSS (320x180) |Â RSS (640x360) |Â iTunes (MP3) |Â iTunes (320x180) |Â iTunes (640x360)PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Links from the show!7-inch Google-branded tablet in the works?Amazon exec leaks the secret future of original pogramming on his LinkedIn page!Intel building subscription TV serviceInstagram coming to Android really soonYay or Nay?CNN to acquire Mashable?PayPal to launch mobile payments dongle?Will the iPad come to Sprint?Is Dan Hesse going to be booted from Sprint?Nokia to launch Windows 8 tablet later this year?Heard a tech rumor you think we should cover?E-mail us at Rumorhasit [at] cnet.com, or directly at karyne.levy [at] cnet.com or emily.dreyfuss [at] cbsinteractive.com. And call and leave us a voice mail at 1-800-750-CNET!And don't forget to follow us on Twitter! @EmilyDreyfuss, @karynelevy, @RumorShow, @stephenbeacham.
I am writing this blog post from under my desk, because I am too embarrassed to face my esteemed colleagues after the stunt we pulled today. We play the most embarrassing Internet video yet. Starring moi. I have been blushing a deep purple ever since, and because I may now be notorious in downtown San Francisco as that crazy girl in front of the Apple store, I have decided to wear a disguise in public at all times. Guys, it's mortifying. Go watch it.But--sweet relief!--with the new iPad no longer on our rumor roster, we get down to non-Apple-related business. We bet on whether Intel is as sick of cable TV as we are; Amazon plans to make its own TV shows; a Google-made tablet is coming soon; and maybe a Windows 8 tablet, too. Watch the episode to see if we think any of that is likely to happen. And to find out why Instagram coming to Android phones soon makes half of my heart cry and the other half weep...with joy.EPISODE 24This 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.PlaySubscribe:Â RSS (MP3) |Â RSS (320x180) |Â RSS (640x360) |Â iTunes (MP3) |Â iTunes (320x180) |Â iTunes (640x360)PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Links from the show!7-inch Google-branded tablet in the works?Amazon exec leaks the secret future of original pogramming on his LinkedIn page!Intel building subscription TV serviceInstagram coming to Android really soonYay or Nay?CNN to acquire Mashable?PayPal to launch mobile payments dongle?Will the iPad come to Sprint?Is Dan Hesse going to be booted from Sprint?Nokia to launch Windows 8 tablet later this year?Heard a tech rumor you think we should cover?E-mail us at Rumorhasit [at] cnet.com, or directly at karyne.levy [at] cnet.com or emily.dreyfuss [at] cbsinteractive.com. And call and leave us a voice mail at 1-800-750-CNET!And don't forget to follow us on Twitter! @EmilyDreyfuss, @karynelevy, @RumorShow, @stephenbeacham.
How to give an e-book as a gift
How to give an e-book as a gift
There's something wonderful about gifting someone with a book you read and loved, knowing they'll dive in to the same world you explored through text on a page. These days, you're likely to find that friends are instead reading their books on an e-reader like the Nook, Kindle, or iPad, a transition that seemingly makes book-gifting a challenge. After all, you can't put a bow on an intangible file.Gifting someone with an e-book is a lot easier than it seems, but will vary depending on which e-reading device he or she owns. Once you find out what kind of e-reader your friend uses, follow the respective instructions for gifting that person with an e-book.NookFind the Nook Book on the Barnes and Noble Web site, and click "Buy as gift." You'll have to register for an account -- which is annoying -- and then you'll fill out a form before completing the purchase. During the purchase process, you can set a delivery date, so that the recipient receives your gift on his or her birthday (or other special occasion). When the e-book gift is received, your friend will have the option to redeem the book or trade it in for a gift card or Nook app.KindleHead to Amazon and find the Kindle version of the book you want to gift. Then click the "Give as Gift" button.You can choose to e-mail the e-book gift to the recipient with a future delivery date, or print out a voucher (which you can then place in a greeting card). iPad, iPhone, or iPod TouchWith an iOS device, e-book gift-giving is a little trickier. You can't gift books from the iBookstore in iTunes, so instead you'll have to purchase a gift card with a note that includes your suggested book title.The other option is to buy your friend a Nook or Kindle book and suggest he or she reads the book with one of those free iOS apps.Android phones and tablets Although Google Play does indeed sell e-books, there's currently no way to gift them. Instead, buy the recipient a gift card and attach a note that includes a suggested title. Alternatively, purchase an e-book for Kindle, Nook, or even Kobo, and suggest that your friend download one of the free accompanying apps. Related tips Kindle vs. Nook vs. iPad: Which should you buy? 10 most useful Nook tips and tricks Get free e-books for your Kindle or Nook
There's something wonderful about gifting someone with a book you read and loved, knowing they'll dive in to the same world you explored through text on a page. These days, you're likely to find that friends are instead reading their books on an e-reader like the Nook, Kindle, or iPad, a transition that seemingly makes book-gifting a challenge. After all, you can't put a bow on an intangible file.Gifting someone with an e-book is a lot easier than it seems, but will vary depending on which e-reading device he or she owns. Once you find out what kind of e-reader your friend uses, follow the respective instructions for gifting that person with an e-book.NookFind the Nook Book on the Barnes and Noble Web site, and click "Buy as gift." You'll have to register for an account -- which is annoying -- and then you'll fill out a form before completing the purchase. During the purchase process, you can set a delivery date, so that the recipient receives your gift on his or her birthday (or other special occasion). When the e-book gift is received, your friend will have the option to redeem the book or trade it in for a gift card or Nook app.KindleHead to Amazon and find the Kindle version of the book you want to gift. Then click the "Give as Gift" button.You can choose to e-mail the e-book gift to the recipient with a future delivery date, or print out a voucher (which you can then place in a greeting card). iPad, iPhone, or iPod TouchWith an iOS device, e-book gift-giving is a little trickier. You can't gift books from the iBookstore in iTunes, so instead you'll have to purchase a gift card with a note that includes your suggested book title.The other option is to buy your friend a Nook or Kindle book and suggest he or she reads the book with one of those free iOS apps.Android phones and tablets Although Google Play does indeed sell e-books, there's currently no way to gift them. Instead, buy the recipient a gift card and attach a note that includes a suggested title. Alternatively, purchase an e-book for Kindle, Nook, or even Kobo, and suggest that your friend download one of the free accompanying apps. Related tips Kindle vs. Nook vs. iPad: Which should you buy? 10 most useful Nook tips and tricks Get free e-books for your Kindle or Nook
Steve Jobs' early home, garage tapped to become historical site
Steve Jobs' early home, garage tapped to become historical site
The home and garage where Apple began could soon become a protected historical site. The Los Altos, Calif., home where Apple co-founder Steve Jobs grew up is closing in on the end of a nearly two-year review by the Los Altos Historical Commission, CNN reports.Related storiesAfter 30 years, lost 'Steve Jobs Time Capsule' finally recoveredApple's 'Twiggy Mac' comes back to lifeMarc Benioff explains Steve Jobs' spirituality and chides AppleThe garage, which belonged to the Jobs family, was Apple's official headquarters before the company moved to a rented office space in Cupertino, Calif. It was the birthplace of the first Apple computer, as well as the Apple II, which became the company's first real hit.In a report of the house published Monday (PDF), the Commission notes that the first 50 Apple I computers were assembled there, as well as the incorporation of the company between Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne. The location was also used in the filming of "Jobs", the film about Apple's early beginnings, which starred Ashton Kutcher and was released earlier this year. A protected status would primarily bring tax benefits for building owners, who also stand to pay less in permit and construction fees for any upkeep.
The home and garage where Apple began could soon become a protected historical site. The Los Altos, Calif., home where Apple co-founder Steve Jobs grew up is closing in on the end of a nearly two-year review by the Los Altos Historical Commission, CNN reports.Related storiesAfter 30 years, lost 'Steve Jobs Time Capsule' finally recoveredApple's 'Twiggy Mac' comes back to lifeMarc Benioff explains Steve Jobs' spirituality and chides AppleThe garage, which belonged to the Jobs family, was Apple's official headquarters before the company moved to a rented office space in Cupertino, Calif. It was the birthplace of the first Apple computer, as well as the Apple II, which became the company's first real hit.In a report of the house published Monday (PDF), the Commission notes that the first 50 Apple I computers were assembled there, as well as the incorporation of the company between Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne. The location was also used in the filming of "Jobs", the film about Apple's early beginnings, which starred Ashton Kutcher and was released earlier this year. A protected status would primarily bring tax benefits for building owners, who also stand to pay less in permit and construction fees for any upkeep.
Steve Jobs comic book 'biography' arrives--Gates is next
Steve Jobs comic book 'biography' arrives--Gates is next
After a delay, the comic book biography of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has arrived."Steve Jobs: The co-founder of Apple" from publisher Bluewater Productions was released for the Kindle and Nook today, with analog versions of the 32-page book going on sale tomorrow. The title, which was announced in June, was originally scheduled for an August release. It promises to give readers "unique insight" into the late Apple CEO's "legendary drive to the top and his continuing fight to stay there."In a note today, Bluewater Productions said the book was completed before Jobs' passing last year, and therefore does not include details of it. Bluewater's biography of Jobs follows the authorized one from author Walter Isaacson. Originally dubbed "iSteve: The Book of Jobs," the Isaacson book was retitled simply to "Steve Jobs," and it went on to become Amazon's best seller for all of 2011, despite its release near the very end of the year.Along with announcing the availability of its Jobs biography, Bluewater today said it has a similar comic book biography for Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, called simply "Bill Gates: Co-Founder of Microsoft." That title, which will also run 32-pages, is set to go on sale March 1.
After a delay, the comic book biography of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has arrived."Steve Jobs: The co-founder of Apple" from publisher Bluewater Productions was released for the Kindle and Nook today, with analog versions of the 32-page book going on sale tomorrow. The title, which was announced in June, was originally scheduled for an August release. It promises to give readers "unique insight" into the late Apple CEO's "legendary drive to the top and his continuing fight to stay there."In a note today, Bluewater Productions said the book was completed before Jobs' passing last year, and therefore does not include details of it. Bluewater's biography of Jobs follows the authorized one from author Walter Isaacson. Originally dubbed "iSteve: The Book of Jobs," the Isaacson book was retitled simply to "Steve Jobs," and it went on to become Amazon's best seller for all of 2011, despite its release near the very end of the year.Along with announcing the availability of its Jobs biography, Bluewater today said it has a similar comic book biography for Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, called simply "Bill Gates: Co-Founder of Microsoft." That title, which will also run 32-pages, is set to go on sale March 1.
Apple reveals top apps of all time
Apple reveals top apps of all time
Apple has unveiled its list of the all-time top iPhone and iPad apps as it inches closer to the 10 billionth download in its App Store.According to the company, Doodle Jump is the most popular paid iPhone app of all time. The game is followed up by Tap Tap Revenge 3 and Pocket God. Surprisingly, Angry Birds, which has 50 million active users across several different platforms, took the fourth spot. Tap Tap Revenge 2.6 captured the fifth spot in Apple's list.Out of the top 10 paid iPhone apps of all time, 9 are games.On the free side of iPhone apps, Facebook reigns supreme, inching out Pandora and Google's mobile app. Song-discovery app Shazam captured the fourth spot in Apple's list, followed by Movies by Flixster. Paper Toss was the only game to make it into the top 10 free apps.When it comes to the iPad, games haven't taken on as much importance, Apple revealed. The top paid iPad progam of all time is music-discovery app, SoundHound. It's followed by StickWars, FlightTrack, Backbreaker Football, and Calorie Tracker.When it comes to free iPad apps, the list isn't all that different from the iPhone's. Pandora took the top spot for free apps on Apple's tablet, followed by Google's Mobile app, Movies by Flixster, and Google Earth. Yelp rounded out the top five.Facebook didn't make it in the free iPad list for one good reason: the company has yet to offer an official iPad app.Apple's App Store has enjoyed unbridled growth since its launch in 2008. In just nine months, it hit 1 billion downloads, and followed that up with 5 billion downloads back in June. Now, the marketplace is closing in on 10 billion downloaded apps. As of this writing, more than 9.9 billion apps have been downloaded.Apple announced last week that the person who downloads the 10 billionth app or fills out an entry form just prior to the 10 billionth app being downloaded will receive a $10,000 iTunes gift card to commemorate the event.
Apple has unveiled its list of the all-time top iPhone and iPad apps as it inches closer to the 10 billionth download in its App Store.According to the company, Doodle Jump is the most popular paid iPhone app of all time. The game is followed up by Tap Tap Revenge 3 and Pocket God. Surprisingly, Angry Birds, which has 50 million active users across several different platforms, took the fourth spot. Tap Tap Revenge 2.6 captured the fifth spot in Apple's list.Out of the top 10 paid iPhone apps of all time, 9 are games.On the free side of iPhone apps, Facebook reigns supreme, inching out Pandora and Google's mobile app. Song-discovery app Shazam captured the fourth spot in Apple's list, followed by Movies by Flixster. Paper Toss was the only game to make it into the top 10 free apps.When it comes to the iPad, games haven't taken on as much importance, Apple revealed. The top paid iPad progam of all time is music-discovery app, SoundHound. It's followed by StickWars, FlightTrack, Backbreaker Football, and Calorie Tracker.When it comes to free iPad apps, the list isn't all that different from the iPhone's. Pandora took the top spot for free apps on Apple's tablet, followed by Google's Mobile app, Movies by Flixster, and Google Earth. Yelp rounded out the top five.Facebook didn't make it in the free iPad list for one good reason: the company has yet to offer an official iPad app.Apple's App Store has enjoyed unbridled growth since its launch in 2008. In just nine months, it hit 1 billion downloads, and followed that up with 5 billion downloads back in June. Now, the marketplace is closing in on 10 billion downloaded apps. As of this writing, more than 9.9 billion apps have been downloaded.Apple announced last week that the person who downloads the 10 billionth app or fills out an entry form just prior to the 10 billionth app being downloaded will receive a $10,000 iTunes gift card to commemorate the event.
Apple reshuffles top brass- iOS chief to leave in 2013
Apple reshuffles top brass: iOS chief to leave in 2013
Apple is hitting shuffle on its top management. The company today announced that it's rejiggering its executive lineup to add extra responsibilities for some, along with the planned exit of iOS software chief Scott Forstall in 2013. A more immediate departure is John Browett, the head of Apple's retail unit, a move that appears to be sudden given that the company says it's currently seeking a replacement. Meanwhile, Jony Ive, Bob Mansfield, Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi will stay on with expanded roles.Apple says Forstall will effectively be replaced by Craig Federighi, who will oversee both the iOS and OS X groups under one umbrella. Jony Ive will take on "leadership and direction for Human Interface across the company" while continuing as the company's top designer. Meanwhile, Eddy Cue now oversees Siri and Maps as part of a new "online services" group that includes iTunes, iCloud and Apple's various digital stores.Curiously enough, Apple is also bringing Bob Mansfield back into a leadership role. Apple's former hardware chief will now lead a "Technologies" group within the company, which is made up of wireless and semiconductor groups. Mansfield was replaced by Dan Riccio earlier this year, though stayed on to "work on future products" for Apple CEO Tim Cook. All Things Digital is reporting that he's agreed to stay on at Apple through 2014. "We are in one of the most prolific periods of innovation and new products in Apple's history," Cook said in a statement about the changes. "The amazing products that we've introduced in September and October, iPhone 5, iOS 6, iPad mini, iPad, iMac, MacBook Pro, iPod touch, iPod nano and many of our applications, could only have been created at Apple and are the direct result of our relentless focus on tightly integrating world-class hardware, software and services."It's impossible to get a read on what the market thinks about the move. U.S. trading was closed today because of Hurricane Sandy, and will be closed again on Tuesday.
Apple is hitting shuffle on its top management. The company today announced that it's rejiggering its executive lineup to add extra responsibilities for some, along with the planned exit of iOS software chief Scott Forstall in 2013. A more immediate departure is John Browett, the head of Apple's retail unit, a move that appears to be sudden given that the company says it's currently seeking a replacement. Meanwhile, Jony Ive, Bob Mansfield, Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi will stay on with expanded roles.Apple says Forstall will effectively be replaced by Craig Federighi, who will oversee both the iOS and OS X groups under one umbrella. Jony Ive will take on "leadership and direction for Human Interface across the company" while continuing as the company's top designer. Meanwhile, Eddy Cue now oversees Siri and Maps as part of a new "online services" group that includes iTunes, iCloud and Apple's various digital stores.Curiously enough, Apple is also bringing Bob Mansfield back into a leadership role. Apple's former hardware chief will now lead a "Technologies" group within the company, which is made up of wireless and semiconductor groups. Mansfield was replaced by Dan Riccio earlier this year, though stayed on to "work on future products" for Apple CEO Tim Cook. All Things Digital is reporting that he's agreed to stay on at Apple through 2014. "We are in one of the most prolific periods of innovation and new products in Apple's history," Cook said in a statement about the changes. "The amazing products that we've introduced in September and October, iPhone 5, iOS 6, iPad mini, iPad, iMac, MacBook Pro, iPod touch, iPod nano and many of our applications, could only have been created at Apple and are the direct result of our relentless focus on tightly integrating world-class hardware, software and services."It's impossible to get a read on what the market thinks about the move. U.S. trading was closed today because of Hurricane Sandy, and will be closed again on Tuesday.
Apple iMac gets a refresh
Apple iMac gets a refresh
Apple on Tuesday brought out a refresh of its iMac all-in-one desktop line.Under the hood of the latest iMacs, available Tuesday, are Intel's fourth-generation quad-core Haswell processors, 802.11ac Wi-Fi capabilities, and faster PCIe flash storage options, Apple said.Here's a breakdown of pricing and configurations: The 21.5-inch iMac is available with a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.2GHz and Intel Iris Pro for a suggested retail price of $1,299. With a 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 and Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz and Nvidia GeForce GT 750M, the suggested retail price is $1,499.The 27-inch iMac, meanwhile, comes with a 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6GHz and Nvidia GeForce GTX 755M for a suggested retail price of $1,799. With a 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 and Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.8GHz and Nvidia GeForce GTX 775M, the suggested retail price is $1,999.In announcing the refresh, Apple put an emphasis on speed. For instance, the new iMacs, when connected to an 802.11ac base station, can get up to three times faster wireless performance than did the previous desktop generation, according to Apple.Standard with the latest iMacs is 8GB of memory and a 1TB hard drive, expandable to 32GB of memory and up to a 3TB hard drive. All-flash storage options are available in configurations up to 1TB, Apple said. The desktop computers also pack two Thunderbolt and four USB 3.0 ports. The new iMacs come with Apple's Mac OS X Mountain Lion.
Apple on Tuesday brought out a refresh of its iMac all-in-one desktop line.Under the hood of the latest iMacs, available Tuesday, are Intel's fourth-generation quad-core Haswell processors, 802.11ac Wi-Fi capabilities, and faster PCIe flash storage options, Apple said.Here's a breakdown of pricing and configurations: The 21.5-inch iMac is available with a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.2GHz and Intel Iris Pro for a suggested retail price of $1,299. With a 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 and Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz and Nvidia GeForce GT 750M, the suggested retail price is $1,499.The 27-inch iMac, meanwhile, comes with a 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6GHz and Nvidia GeForce GTX 755M for a suggested retail price of $1,799. With a 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 and Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.8GHz and Nvidia GeForce GTX 775M, the suggested retail price is $1,999.In announcing the refresh, Apple put an emphasis on speed. For instance, the new iMacs, when connected to an 802.11ac base station, can get up to three times faster wireless performance than did the previous desktop generation, according to Apple.Standard with the latest iMacs is 8GB of memory and a 1TB hard drive, expandable to 32GB of memory and up to a 3TB hard drive. All-flash storage options are available in configurations up to 1TB, Apple said. The desktop computers also pack two Thunderbolt and four USB 3.0 ports. The new iMacs come with Apple's Mac OS X Mountain Lion.
Apple ID security issue fixed, password page back online
Apple ID security issue fixed, password page back online
Apple has fixed the security issue involving its Apple ID password-reset page, a vulnerability that had made it possible for hackers with a user's e-mail address and birth date to reset the user's password.Apple said yesterday that it was aware of the issue and was preparing a fix. Meanwhile, the company had taken the "iForgot" reset page offline for maintenance. Now the page is back up, and Apple has confirmed the fix with CNET.The security exploit made use of a special URL that got around the need to answer a security question. Apple had added the question step last April.The exploit didn't work on the accounts of users who had enabled two-step verification, which Apple introduced Thursday. That system does away with the security question in favor of sending a request for a four-digit PIN code to a cell phone. The user enters the PIN along with the typical password.However, as reported by The Verge, a number of Apple ID holders were told they'd have to wait three days before they could enable the two-step verification setup. Also, at this point, the two-step system is available only inthe U.S., Britain, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.There are more than 500 million active Apple ID accounts, which are used for the company's various stores and online services, including iCloud.Update, 9:40 a.m. PT: We just received official confirmation from Apple that the company has fixed the issue. This story has been updated to reflect that.
Apple has fixed the security issue involving its Apple ID password-reset page, a vulnerability that had made it possible for hackers with a user's e-mail address and birth date to reset the user's password.Apple said yesterday that it was aware of the issue and was preparing a fix. Meanwhile, the company had taken the "iForgot" reset page offline for maintenance. Now the page is back up, and Apple has confirmed the fix with CNET.The security exploit made use of a special URL that got around the need to answer a security question. Apple had added the question step last April.The exploit didn't work on the accounts of users who had enabled two-step verification, which Apple introduced Thursday. That system does away with the security question in favor of sending a request for a four-digit PIN code to a cell phone. The user enters the PIN along with the typical password.However, as reported by The Verge, a number of Apple ID holders were told they'd have to wait three days before they could enable the two-step verification setup. Also, at this point, the two-step system is available only inthe U.S., Britain, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.There are more than 500 million active Apple ID accounts, which are used for the company's various stores and online services, including iCloud.Update, 9:40 a.m. PT: We just received official confirmation from Apple that the company has fixed the issue. This story has been updated to reflect that.
Apple ID password reset exploit reportedly in the wild
Apple ID password reset exploit reportedly in the wild
A new exploit lets anyone who knows your birthday and e-mail address reset your Apple ID password, according to a new report.The exploit, described by The Verge though not posted publicly, makes use of a special URL that gets around the need for a security question, a security measure Apple put in place on all Apple ID accounts last April. The reported exploit does not work on accounts with two-step verification enabled, which Apple introduced yesterday, and does away with the security question in favor of sending a four-digit PIN code to a cell phone that needs to be entered along with the typical password. "Apple takes customer privacy very seriously," an Apple spokesperson told CNET. "We are aware of this issue and working on a fix."In the interim, the company put its password reset tools into maintenance mode. Apple did not provide an estimate for when they would be back up again.Related storiesApple adds two-step verification option for Apple IDsApple responds to journalist's iCloud hackApple ratchets up App Store securityAccount security is a touchy subject for Apple and any other tech company these days, especially after the high-profile hacking of a technology journalist last year. That all kicked off with an iCloud account and eventually led to access of his personal e-mail and Twitter accounts. Apple and others have hardened their account security since. Apple has more than 500 million active Apple ID accounts as part of its system. Those accounts are used for its various stores and online services, including iCloud.Update at 1:30 p.m. PT to note that Apple put its password reset tools in maintenance mode, and once again at 3:25 p.m. PT with comment from the company.CNET
A new exploit lets anyone who knows your birthday and e-mail address reset your Apple ID password, according to a new report.The exploit, described by The Verge though not posted publicly, makes use of a special URL that gets around the need for a security question, a security measure Apple put in place on all Apple ID accounts last April. The reported exploit does not work on accounts with two-step verification enabled, which Apple introduced yesterday, and does away with the security question in favor of sending a four-digit PIN code to a cell phone that needs to be entered along with the typical password. "Apple takes customer privacy very seriously," an Apple spokesperson told CNET. "We are aware of this issue and working on a fix."In the interim, the company put its password reset tools into maintenance mode. Apple did not provide an estimate for when they would be back up again.Related storiesApple adds two-step verification option for Apple IDsApple responds to journalist's iCloud hackApple ratchets up App Store securityAccount security is a touchy subject for Apple and any other tech company these days, especially after the high-profile hacking of a technology journalist last year. That all kicked off with an iCloud account and eventually led to access of his personal e-mail and Twitter accounts. Apple and others have hardened their account security since. Apple has more than 500 million active Apple ID accounts as part of its system. Those accounts are used for its various stores and online services, including iCloud.Update at 1:30 p.m. PT to note that Apple put its password reset tools in maintenance mode, and once again at 3:25 p.m. PT with comment from the company.CNET
Apple hypes largest Asia store yet, as it looks to conquer China
Apple hypes largest Asia store yet, as it looks to conquer China
Apple touted a new retail store in Beijing today, as it looks to pump up its presence in China's huge market for smartphones and other tech products, where it's recently seen a decline.At a media preview, Apple Senior Vice President John Browett talked up what will be the company's third store in China's capital city and -- at three stories and more than 300 employees --its largest in Asia.Related storiesApple looks to Beijing for new store openingSales pinch? 6 Apple stores for all of ChinaApple in iPhone talks with China MobileThe store is located in one of Beijing's most famous shopping areas, Wangfujing street. Browett also confirmed that another Apple store is scheduled to open in Shenzhen and said the company has aggressive plans for further expansion, with the goal of one day serving "every customer in every city," according to The Next Web.Apple needs a big boost in China. A recent report from IDC found that the company's Chinese smartphone market share had dropped to 10 percent in the second quarter, from almost half during the prior year's quarter. Apple actually finished in fourth place behind Samsung, Lenovo, and ZTE.But that could change before too long, with both China Unicom and China Telecom planning to offer the iPhone 5 around the end of the year, leaving China Mobile as the only one of the three major Chinese providers still without the iPhone.The absence of the phone on China Mobile is largely because of the phone's lack of support for the TD-SCDMA network used by the carrier. However, a recent teardown of the new iPhone by iFixit revealed a Qualcomm modem that can talk to TD-SCDMA networks.Apple has also reportedly spoken with China Mobile about offering the iPhone to its subscribers, according to the carrier's chairman. But there's been no recent word of any progress from either company.
Apple touted a new retail store in Beijing today, as it looks to pump up its presence in China's huge market for smartphones and other tech products, where it's recently seen a decline.At a media preview, Apple Senior Vice President John Browett talked up what will be the company's third store in China's capital city and -- at three stories and more than 300 employees --its largest in Asia.Related storiesApple looks to Beijing for new store openingSales pinch? 6 Apple stores for all of ChinaApple in iPhone talks with China MobileThe store is located in one of Beijing's most famous shopping areas, Wangfujing street. Browett also confirmed that another Apple store is scheduled to open in Shenzhen and said the company has aggressive plans for further expansion, with the goal of one day serving "every customer in every city," according to The Next Web.Apple needs a big boost in China. A recent report from IDC found that the company's Chinese smartphone market share had dropped to 10 percent in the second quarter, from almost half during the prior year's quarter. Apple actually finished in fourth place behind Samsung, Lenovo, and ZTE.But that could change before too long, with both China Unicom and China Telecom planning to offer the iPhone 5 around the end of the year, leaving China Mobile as the only one of the three major Chinese providers still without the iPhone.The absence of the phone on China Mobile is largely because of the phone's lack of support for the TD-SCDMA network used by the carrier. However, a recent teardown of the new iPhone by iFixit revealed a Qualcomm modem that can talk to TD-SCDMA networks.Apple has also reportedly spoken with China Mobile about offering the iPhone to its subscribers, according to the carrier's chairman. But there's been no recent word of any progress from either company.
Apple hit with lawsuit over noise-canceling technology
Apple hit with lawsuit over noise-canceling technology
Apple has been slapped with yet another patent-infringement lawsuit.A California-based company, Noise Free Wireless, last week filed a complaint against Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that Apple violated its noise-canceling technology patents. In addition, the company charged Apple with breach of contract and trade secret theft.GigaOm, which was first to report on the lawsuit, also pointed out that a third-party, Audience, was included in the lawsuit.According to Noise Free, it met with Apple in 2007 to discuss the potential of the Cupertino, Calif.-based company using its technology in the iPhone and iPad. Noise Free says it showed Apple PowerPoint presentations on how its technology works, and even gave it circuit boards and a phone to try out. Apple cut off all communication with Noise Free in 2009 before eventually communicating with the company again in 2010.However, Noise Free claims, two people present at the meetings between the companies filed for a patent application on behalf of Apple for a "user-specific noise suppression for voice quality improvements" patent. Soon after, Apple decided to work with Audience on noise-cancellation, according to the company.Apple and Audience's partnership was revealed earlier this year when the company, which delivers noise-cancellation technology, filed paperwork for an initial public offering. In the iPhone 4, Apple included a dedicated Audience chip, but in the iPhone 4S, it integrated the company's "EarSmart" technology directly into the A5 processor.For its part, Apple hasn't commented on the lawsuit, let alone noise-reduction technology in its mobile products. However, the company might need to fire back soon: Noise Free is asking for everything from a permanent injunction against the company's infringing products to damages and attorneys cost.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the lawsuit. We will update this story when we have more information.
Apple has been slapped with yet another patent-infringement lawsuit.A California-based company, Noise Free Wireless, last week filed a complaint against Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that Apple violated its noise-canceling technology patents. In addition, the company charged Apple with breach of contract and trade secret theft.GigaOm, which was first to report on the lawsuit, also pointed out that a third-party, Audience, was included in the lawsuit.According to Noise Free, it met with Apple in 2007 to discuss the potential of the Cupertino, Calif.-based company using its technology in the iPhone and iPad. Noise Free says it showed Apple PowerPoint presentations on how its technology works, and even gave it circuit boards and a phone to try out. Apple cut off all communication with Noise Free in 2009 before eventually communicating with the company again in 2010.However, Noise Free claims, two people present at the meetings between the companies filed for a patent application on behalf of Apple for a "user-specific noise suppression for voice quality improvements" patent. Soon after, Apple decided to work with Audience on noise-cancellation, according to the company.Apple and Audience's partnership was revealed earlier this year when the company, which delivers noise-cancellation technology, filed paperwork for an initial public offering. In the iPhone 4, Apple included a dedicated Audience chip, but in the iPhone 4S, it integrated the company's "EarSmart" technology directly into the A5 processor.For its part, Apple hasn't commented on the lawsuit, let alone noise-reduction technology in its mobile products. However, the company might need to fire back soon: Noise Free is asking for everything from a permanent injunction against the company's infringing products to damages and attorneys cost.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the lawsuit. We will update this story when we have more information.
Apple in talks to create custom Net music service, says report
Apple may be looking to expand its dominance of the online music landscape with a Pandora-like service. The company is in talks with record companies to license music for a custom music service that would create "virtual" music stations based on a song or artist of choice, sources familiar with the matter tell The Wall Street Journal. The service would reportedly operate on the family of Apple devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and Macs, and possibly on Microsoft's Windows. However, Google's Android operating system would be cut off, one source said, as a result of the growing fight for dominance of the mobile sector between the two tech giants.CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.Apple would be competing against Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Pandora, which uses an algorithm to create custom radio stations based on a single song or artist and offers paid subscriptions as well as a free, ad-supported version and a suite of popular mobile apps. However, Apple is negotiating different licenses to offer greater interactivity than that offered by Pandora, which limits how users choose and skip songs, the Journal reported.
Apple in talks to acquire company behind Microsoft's Kinect
Apple could be treading on Microsoft's territory before long.Apple has offered $280 million to acquire Primesense, an Israel-based 3D-sensor company, the newspaper Calcalist reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the negotiations. According to that report, Apple has designs on including the sensor technology in some of its products and would rather acquire the company than license its services.That stands in stark contrast to Microsoft, which used Primesense's technology to help bring its Kinect sensor to the market. The technology is also available in 3D scanners, iRobot's Ava, and the Asus Xtion. It's not clear how those products would be affected if Apple ends up acquiring Primesense.Apple has found Israel to be a veritable treasure trove: last year, the company confirmed that it acquired Israel-based flash storage maker Anobit for $400 million.(Via The Verge)
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