Continuous WWDC keynote coverage
11:25--Jobs appears to be wrapping up, pitching the developers on the sessions available to them this week. He exits stage right to U2's Beautiful Day, and that ends WWDC 2007.11:24--These Web applications know they are working on a phone. So you can click on a phone number in a contact window, and the iPhone starts dialing. Click on an e-mail address, and a new e-mail window opens. Tap on the address, and it goes directly to the built-in Google Apps application that pulls up the map and satellite imagery. Web standards are the key to iPhone applications; these aren't built-in apps. They are Web apps that take advantage of Safari, but they are not applications running on the iPhone. Not sure if that will make a performance difference or not, but third-party iPhone apps can be created for the launch date by Web developers.11:21--Scott Forstall comes onstage, he's the VP of iPhone software for Apple. All applications will run inside Safari. Custom applications can be created that have the look and feel of the phone, he says. Apple built one called Apple Directory that lets you get into a corporate contacts database using Web standards. It lets you search for contact names in an application that looks like just another Web page, pulling up a contact card that gets the same behavior for a built-in application.11:18--This being WWDC, the talk turns to developers and the iPhone. Apple has a new way to create applications for mobile devices, Jobs says. That's based on the full Safari engine inside of the iPhone, he says. This paves the way for Web 2.0 and Ajax apps that integrate perfectly with the iPhone. There's actually no software developer kit required. If you know how to write Web apps using modern standards, you can go live with your apps on June 29.This being WWDC, the talk turns to developers and the iPhone.James Martin/CNET News.com11:16--"But i do have one last thing that I want to talk about. And that, of course, is the iPhone." The iPhone goes on sale at 6 p.m. on the 29. No word on Eastern Daylight Time vs. Pacific Daylight Time. 11:15--Distribution is the next topic. There are over 500 million downloads of iTunes for Windows out there. Apple's going to have three editions of Safari, one that's for Leopard, one for XP, and one for Windows on Tiger. It's a public beta available today on Apple's Web site.11:13--Jobs switches over to a Windows XP window. "This is strange," he jokes. He demonstrates the Windows Safari browsing through various sites, showing off a new tabbing feature. The benchmark we didn't catch is called iBench, and Jobs does a side-by-side comparison of Safari and IE 7 loading a bunch of Web sites. Safari's twice as fast, as you might expect during a WWDC demo. Try it yourself, he says.11:11--Safari 3 runs on Windows XP and Vista, and it exists today. Jobs says Safari's HTML performance is twice as fast as IE using a benchmark that Ina and I didn't catch. It's also faster than IE on Javascript performance, Jobs says, and it also beats Firefox (althoughby not as much).11:09--Safari: The Safari Web browser's got about 5 percent market share across the Internet, Jobs says. He'd like to make that number grow. How to make that happen? A version of Safari for Windows.11:08--But, there is one more thing.11:08--Those are the 10 key new features. There will be a total of 300 new features. Developers are getting a copy of Leopard today, for testing and feedback, but it's still on track for October. Jobs makes a joke about the various versions of Windows Vista, noting that Apple will ship a basic, ultimate, business and other versions for $129.Jobs shows off the new Leopard packaging.James Martin/CNET News.com11:05--The backup, of course, is only as good as the recovery experience. Jobs starts a demo of Time Machine to show how a lost file that was backed up can be recovered. The Time Machine application basically zooms backward in time (it looks like you're traveling into a black hole), until Spotlight finds the missing file. To restore the file, hit the Restore button, and it is restored onto the local machine.11:02--Feature No. 10: Time Machine. Apple unveiled this last year. It's an automatic backup feature that lets you scroll backward through windows of "time" that represent disk images from the past. It backs it up to a local hard drive, or server, and can also work wirelessly, Jobs says. All the Macs in a home can share one drive.11:00--A hologram-like Photo Booth effect gets the biggest laughs from the crowds. There's also one that mimics the Conan O'Brien skit where somebody's lips are moving behind a famous picture, as Phil attempts to pass as George Washington, and then Steve Ballmer.10:59--The chat window can be minimized to a corner of the screen with photos, presentations or other documents, scrolling through the main part of the window. Video works this way, too. Anything that works with QuickBook works with iChat Theatre, Schiller says. You can also set "backdrops" that let you set wallpaper-like effects behind you as you chat.10:54--Feature No. 9: iChat. iChat's going to have better audio, tabbed chats, Photo Booth effects, and something called iChat Theater, which lets you take photos from iPhoto to iChat. Jobs hooks up with Phil Schiller, Apple's senior VP of marketing, over an iChat session to show off the new features.Jobs shows of iChat's new features.James Martin/CNET News.com10:51--The solution? Web Clip. This lets you troll the Internet and make your own widgets. It breaks Web pages up into sections that might be appropriate for widgets. Rotten Tomatoes, the movie reviews site, is used as an example. A widget is created that automatically updates with basic reviews of new or soon-to-be released movies.10:49--Feature No. 8: Dashboard. Dashboard lets you put up little "widgets," or Java applets, that have helpful information like stock quotes, weather,or sports scores. Apple's adding a movie times widget to Leopard that hooks into Fandango to buy tickets. But customers want widgets that we don't make, Jobs says.10:47--Feature No. 7: Spaces. Applications in Leopard can be grouped into "spaces of apps," in the four corners of the screen, for instance, that make it easier to find the application you're looking for if you've got a bunch of apps open. You can switch pretty quickly between the spaces, move the spaces themselves around, or move applications between spaces. It's like having four separate environments on one screen.10:45--Feature No. 6: Boot Camp, as expected, is going to be built into Leopard. Windows drivers are on the Leopard CD, and it's a great complement to Parallels and VMware, Jobs says. 10:43--CNET News.com's Ina Fried notes that the Mac Mini is conspicuously missing from a lineup of Macs in the presentation.10:43--Feature No. 5: Core Animation. Jobs has shown Core Animation before. It's a feature that helps developers create more graphically rich applications. He demos an application that lets a user search for live videos that are all running in the background--not stills, but actual live videos that you can search for by typing in keywords like "beach."Jobs shows off Core Animation feature that helps create more graphically rich applications.James Martin/CNET News.com10:40--Jobs demos an application running in 64 bits and one in 32 bits. Of course, the 64-bit one cleans up a high-resolution photo more quickly. It's not just for HPC (high-performance computing) stuff; media professionals are starting to ask for 64 bits as well.10:37--Feature No. 4: Leopard is 64-bit, top to bottom. It has the 64-bit underpinnings from the Unix base for Mac OS X, but it's also extended up into Cocoa. It's the first mainstream 64-bit operating system, he says, because Apple does not plan to have a 32-bit version of Leopard.10:35--Feature No. 3: Quick Look. It's a file preview feature that lets you see what's in the file without having to launch an application. Jobs says it works with tons of regularly used document types, including Office documents. He demonstrates it on a PDF, Keynote and Excel document. You can also play videos right from the Finder.10:32--The .Mac interaction is called "Back to my Mac." It pulls the IP addresses that have logged into a .Mac account. The service lets you drag and drop icons from the Cover Flow application, which is now searching your work computer, right to the local Mac.10:31--Jobs demonstrates Cover Flow in Finder, and then goes over to the sidebar. He opens up the shared computers, which include a Windows machine. You can trade files with the Windows machines. So you can use the Finder on your local machine to search for documents on other computers in the local network.10:29--It also extends to the Internet. Say you've left a file on the home Mac that you need on the road. The .Mac service knows the IP of computers that log into it, so it can transfer the IP address of a home Mac to the Mac on the road. No word yet on whether this feature works in a mixed Mac-Windows environment.10:27--The Cover Flow feature lets you look at your documents in Finder as if you're in the iTunes Store, browsing for movies or songs. The new sidebar is focused on search, allowing you to see the documents you've used in the last week, day, month, etc. That search also extends to other computers on a local network.10:26--Feature No. 2: Leopard has a new Finder feature. Much applause for that one. It's got a new sidebar, it can search other computers on a local network with improvements to Spotlight, and .Mac subscribers can share documents with other Macs over the Internet. Cover Flow, previously discussed, is also making an appearance in the new Finder.10:24--You can also use Stacks as an application launcher. Just drag the Applications folder into the dock, and you can bring up a translucent window with all your applications when you click on that icon in the dock.Jobs shows off Leopard's new desktop, including a new stacking feature.Ina Fried/CNET News.com10:22--The active application window will also be easier to see. Stacks is a feature in the dock that will pop up the contents of a folder, the files in the folder, above the dock. Also, a new addition to the dock called "Downloads" will be inserted, to keep track of what you've downloaded through the browser. 10:19--Feature No. 1: Leopard has a new desktop. They're dropping the usual background and have picked one that adapts to whatever digital photo you want to use as your desktop. A new menu bar and dock helps that work. It also has tools to help clean up a desktop, which they are calling Stacks.10:18--Jobs shifts into the Mac OS X section, which is expected to dominate the day. "We are really excited about Leopard," he says. It's the sixth major release of OS X, and he will be showing 10 key features.10:15--And the game news keeps coming. John Carmack, CTO of Id Software, comes up on stage. He says they've been working on next-generation technology that they are showing publicly for the first time today. He outlines through demos what appears to be a new gaming engine that allows developers to customize details like mountain colors. Carmack hints at an announcement at E3 related to Macs.10:12--But there's more: EA sports games. Starting in August, Apple will begin releasing simultaneous titles. Madden 08 and Tiger Woods Golf 08 will be available in Apple stores from EA games.Steve Jobs addresses developers at WWDC.James Martin/CNET News.com10:10--Games news: Electronic Arts is coming back to the Mac. Bing Gordon, co-founder and chief creative officer of EA, is onstage. Gordon announces that EA, starting in July, will bring four titles to run on OS X. Command and Conquer 3, Battlefield 2142, Need for Speed Carbon, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.10:08--Otellini calls working with Apple "one of the best things that's ever happened to Intel." Jobs hints at future products jointly designed with Intel.10:07--Jobs starts talking about the Intel transition and how far developers have come since last year. He singles out Intel for its contribution, and CEO Paul Otellini especially. Otellini takes the stage alongside Jobs. Jobs presents Otellini with a plaque, a custom Jonny Ive design.10:05--The real Steve Jobs takes the stage, to a round of applause. Some 5,000 developers are in attendance, the biggest WWDC yet, he says, sporting the usual attire.10:02--The lights dim as Apple unveils a new PC guy commercial, with the PC guy dressed up in Steve Jobs' trademark black turtleneck and jeans. PC guy, pretending to be Jobs, announces, tongue firmly in cheek, that he's quitting. 9:58--It's the usual crush of developers and press at Moscone West this Monday morning, as we await the start of WWDC 2007. Apple's playing the same familiar mix of famous iTunes songs, including Green Day, Coldplay, U2 and those other one-hit wonders. We just got the two-minute warning, so get ready.
Rhapsody bites back at Apple
Rhapsody bites back at Apple
With Apple officially sharing the details of its new App Store subscription plan, which lays the groundwork for Apple to take a 30-percent cut from publishers who sell content within their apps, we were waiting for some reaction from content providers. Well, one, Rhapsody, has finally braved Apple's wrath and issued a statement saying Apple's new arrangement was "economically untenable." And while it didn't threaten legal action, it certainly hinted at it.Here's the full statement from Rhapsody's President, Jon Irwin: Rhapsody is the leading digital music subscription service in the U.S.,with 750,000 subscribers.Music fans can access the service using free apps from any Internet-connected device, be it on an Android, Sonos, Tivo, BlackBerry, iOS or personal computer. Today, Rhapsody subscriptions are available for purchase exclusively via Rhapsody.com.Rhapsody offers a content-based subscription service that makes millions of tracks available to fans pursuant to longstanding partnerships with thousands of rights holders, all of which then distribute revenues to artists and other creators.Our philosophy is simple too--an Apple-imposed arrangement that requires us to pay 30 percent of our revenue to Apple, in addition to content fees that we pay to the music labels, publishers and artists, is economically untenable.The bottom line is we would not be able to offer our service through the iTunes store if subjected to Apple's 30 percent monthly fee vs. a typical 2.5 percent credit card fee.We will continue to allow consumers to sign up at www.rhapsody.com from a smartphone or any other Internet access point, including the Safari browser on the iPhone and iPad.In the meantime, we will be collaborating with our market peers in determining an appropriate legal and business response to this latest development.While Apple is reportedly giving publishers and content sellers several months (June 30) to remove any links within their apps to outside-the-App Store purchasing options, a major battle is brewing and it remains unclear just what heavyweights such as Netflix, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, which has sold millions of e-books via its iPad and iPhone apps, will do. Under the new rules, it appears that Amazon will be forced to sell those e-books directly from the app, with Apple taking its 30 percent royalty.For iPad-centric publications like the recently launched The Daily, Apple's 30 percent is baked into the business plan. But this probably doesn't work for many content sellers that can't afford to have those percentages skimmed off sales. Whether there's a viable workaround for companies or whether this is a negotiating tactic by Apple is unclear. But eventually this may develop into a game of chicken, with companies threatening to pull their apps from the App Store and initiate legal action while Apple continues to flex its muscles and demand what it feels is its proper due for creating a huge market. According to law professors interviewed for a Wall Street Journal article, Apple's new subscription service could draw antitrust scrutiny.As we said, Rhapsody hasn't quite played the pull-out card yet, but it seems to be moving in that direction. Should make for an interesting few months and I'm sure we'll be writing a lot more about this growing tussle as we get closer to June. More: Apple unveils subscription service in App Store
With Apple officially sharing the details of its new App Store subscription plan, which lays the groundwork for Apple to take a 30-percent cut from publishers who sell content within their apps, we were waiting for some reaction from content providers. Well, one, Rhapsody, has finally braved Apple's wrath and issued a statement saying Apple's new arrangement was "economically untenable." And while it didn't threaten legal action, it certainly hinted at it.Here's the full statement from Rhapsody's President, Jon Irwin: Rhapsody is the leading digital music subscription service in the U.S.,with 750,000 subscribers.Music fans can access the service using free apps from any Internet-connected device, be it on an Android, Sonos, Tivo, BlackBerry, iOS or personal computer. Today, Rhapsody subscriptions are available for purchase exclusively via Rhapsody.com.Rhapsody offers a content-based subscription service that makes millions of tracks available to fans pursuant to longstanding partnerships with thousands of rights holders, all of which then distribute revenues to artists and other creators.Our philosophy is simple too--an Apple-imposed arrangement that requires us to pay 30 percent of our revenue to Apple, in addition to content fees that we pay to the music labels, publishers and artists, is economically untenable.The bottom line is we would not be able to offer our service through the iTunes store if subjected to Apple's 30 percent monthly fee vs. a typical 2.5 percent credit card fee.We will continue to allow consumers to sign up at www.rhapsody.com from a smartphone or any other Internet access point, including the Safari browser on the iPhone and iPad.In the meantime, we will be collaborating with our market peers in determining an appropriate legal and business response to this latest development.While Apple is reportedly giving publishers and content sellers several months (June 30) to remove any links within their apps to outside-the-App Store purchasing options, a major battle is brewing and it remains unclear just what heavyweights such as Netflix, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, which has sold millions of e-books via its iPad and iPhone apps, will do. Under the new rules, it appears that Amazon will be forced to sell those e-books directly from the app, with Apple taking its 30 percent royalty.For iPad-centric publications like the recently launched The Daily, Apple's 30 percent is baked into the business plan. But this probably doesn't work for many content sellers that can't afford to have those percentages skimmed off sales. Whether there's a viable workaround for companies or whether this is a negotiating tactic by Apple is unclear. But eventually this may develop into a game of chicken, with companies threatening to pull their apps from the App Store and initiate legal action while Apple continues to flex its muscles and demand what it feels is its proper due for creating a huge market. According to law professors interviewed for a Wall Street Journal article, Apple's new subscription service could draw antitrust scrutiny.As we said, Rhapsody hasn't quite played the pull-out card yet, but it seems to be moving in that direction. Should make for an interesting few months and I'm sure we'll be writing a lot more about this growing tussle as we get closer to June. More: Apple unveils subscription service in App Store
The 404 740- Where your mom hates The 404 (podcast)
The 404 740: Where your mom hates The 404 (podcast)
Apologies for skipping yesterday's show, but Jeff and Wilson were at a Nintendo event where the company revealed big news: the Nintendo 3DS will be available on March 27 for $250.DragCloseThis 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.Nintendo also showed off 10 games for the 3DS that will be for sale at the release, all developed specifically for a 3D environment, like Steel Diver, Kid Icarus Uprising, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, and Super Street Fighter IV 3D.CNET's Scott Stein's impression of the device involved taking issue with the 3D effect breaking as you engage the accelerometer and tilt the unit, but we'll have a more thorough examination for you when it finally launches on March 27.In more video game news, a clever viral ad for Dead Space 2, banking on the idea that gamers love what their mothers hate, shows a group of mothers reacting to the intense gameplay. The outer space horror game will be available on January 25.Good news for select Google Voice users: the search giant is offering the ability to port your phone number to Google Voice. Prior to this new feature, you had to memorize a unique number to give out to friends and family, but now you can pay $20 to give your number over to Google; then all you have to do is sign up for a new contract and you'll never have to send out the classic "hey this is my new number" message again.CNET's Jessica Dolcourt also adds this tip: "Just keep in mind that jumping ship on any current mobile contract will incur your carrier's wrath in the form of early termination fees. Therefore, port wisely, young Googlers." Thanks Jessica!Episode 740PodcastYour 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 YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Apologies for skipping yesterday's show, but Jeff and Wilson were at a Nintendo event where the company revealed big news: the Nintendo 3DS will be available on March 27 for $250.DragCloseThis 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.Nintendo also showed off 10 games for the 3DS that will be for sale at the release, all developed specifically for a 3D environment, like Steel Diver, Kid Icarus Uprising, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, and Super Street Fighter IV 3D.CNET's Scott Stein's impression of the device involved taking issue with the 3D effect breaking as you engage the accelerometer and tilt the unit, but we'll have a more thorough examination for you when it finally launches on March 27.In more video game news, a clever viral ad for Dead Space 2, banking on the idea that gamers love what their mothers hate, shows a group of mothers reacting to the intense gameplay. The outer space horror game will be available on January 25.Good news for select Google Voice users: the search giant is offering the ability to port your phone number to Google Voice. Prior to this new feature, you had to memorize a unique number to give out to friends and family, but now you can pay $20 to give your number over to Google; then all you have to do is sign up for a new contract and you'll never have to send out the classic "hey this is my new number" message again.CNET's Jessica Dolcourt also adds this tip: "Just keep in mind that jumping ship on any current mobile contract will incur your carrier's wrath in the form of early termination fees. Therefore, port wisely, young Googlers." Thanks Jessica!Episode 740PodcastYour 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 YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Parallels remote desktop app arrives on Android and iPhone
Parallels remote desktop app arrives on Android and iPhone
Remote desktop access company Parallels has stretched its services to cover Android devices and Apple's iPhone, giving smartphone owners the chance to log in to their home PC or Mac on the move. The company's mobile software, which is dubbed Parallels Access, was previously only available to iPad owners, but the 2.0 update makes that app more broadly available. The Access app uses an Internet connection to let you get at your home computer's software on a mobile device, letting you do things like -- for instance -- edit a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet from your Android tablet. To use the new version, which is now live oniTunes and Google Play, you'll need an iPhone 4S or a more recent iPhone, and you must be running iOS 7. As for Android, Parallels claims that "most tablets and phones running Android 4.0 and later" will be supported. Your computer will also need to be either running Windows 7 or a more recent version of Windows, or Mac OS X Lion (10.7) or a more recent version of Mac OS X. Splashing outThe bad news is that Parallels isn't free. While there's a two-week free trial, subscriptions will cost you $20 in the US, £14 in the UK and AU$25 in Australia for one year, and $35, £24 or AU$38 for two years. To lure new subscribers, those who sign up to Parallels Access before 30 June can get a two-year subscription for $30 (roughly £21 or AU$32). These subscriptions let you access up to five remote computers from an unlimited number of Android and iOS devices.In last year's CNET review, my colleague Jason Parkerawarded Parallels Access for iPad four stars, praising the clean and simple touch-friendly interface, but noting that there is a slight delay between touching a button and the reaction.Parallels has plenty of competition when it comes to remote access on smartphones, from services such as LogMeIn or GoToMyPC, as well as from Microsoft, which offers its own Remote Desktop app for connecting to a PC from iOSor Android. There are also a few free alternatives for those of you who don't like the thought of paying for remote access to your PC.
Remote desktop access company Parallels has stretched its services to cover Android devices and Apple's iPhone, giving smartphone owners the chance to log in to their home PC or Mac on the move. The company's mobile software, which is dubbed Parallels Access, was previously only available to iPad owners, but the 2.0 update makes that app more broadly available. The Access app uses an Internet connection to let you get at your home computer's software on a mobile device, letting you do things like -- for instance -- edit a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet from your Android tablet. To use the new version, which is now live oniTunes and Google Play, you'll need an iPhone 4S or a more recent iPhone, and you must be running iOS 7. As for Android, Parallels claims that "most tablets and phones running Android 4.0 and later" will be supported. Your computer will also need to be either running Windows 7 or a more recent version of Windows, or Mac OS X Lion (10.7) or a more recent version of Mac OS X. Splashing outThe bad news is that Parallels isn't free. While there's a two-week free trial, subscriptions will cost you $20 in the US, £14 in the UK and AU$25 in Australia for one year, and $35, £24 or AU$38 for two years. To lure new subscribers, those who sign up to Parallels Access before 30 June can get a two-year subscription for $30 (roughly £21 or AU$32). These subscriptions let you access up to five remote computers from an unlimited number of Android and iOS devices.In last year's CNET review, my colleague Jason Parkerawarded Parallels Access for iPad four stars, praising the clean and simple touch-friendly interface, but noting that there is a slight delay between touching a button and the reaction.Parallels has plenty of competition when it comes to remote access on smartphones, from services such as LogMeIn or GoToMyPC, as well as from Microsoft, which offers its own Remote Desktop app for connecting to a PC from iOSor Android. There are also a few free alternatives for those of you who don't like the thought of paying for remote access to your PC.
From headphones to earbuds- quiet is the new loud
From headphones to earbuds: quiet is the new loud
Rob Walker, the author of the just-released "Buying in," is a marketing connoisseur, an expert in reading the cultural underpinnings of commerce. In his Consumed column for the New York Times Magazine, he examines how technology shapes consumer culture and vice versa. In tomorrow's piece he elaborates on the history of headphones, and how their role evolved in modern society, from the first Bose set to the Sony Walkman to the iPod earbuds. With the miniaturization of devices, the public exposure of personal space increased. I remember that when I was 14, I came home from school, had lunch, and didn't wait a second to lie down on my bed, put my clunky Sennheiser headphones on, and listen to an album I had just bought. Thomas Dolby's "Aliens Ate My Buick" or Prince's "Sign of the Times." I closed my eyes and forgot the world around me. It was a moment of total immersion and uncompromising intimacy, both with the artist and myself. I wasn't ready to share the music with anyone else until I had fully experienced and vetted every single note through the immediacy of the headphone connection. Looking back, headphones seem to have anticipated the era of performance-enhancing body extensions that we may be entering soon, but at the same time they now appear like a nostalgic relict of a time when the supply of attention among young consumers was still excessive. Having their social function shifted from providing excessive to expressive intimacy, headphones have become a status symbol for consumers who want to consume in between or parallel to other activities, and who want do that on their own terms -- in public, alone; in a perfect manifestation of what psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan coined "extimacy." The album has dissolved into 99-cent units on iTunes, and the headphone experience has been succeeded by portable soundtracks for permanent distraction.Rob Walker will read from his new book "Buying In" at the frog Design Mind speaker series in New York on June 11.
Rob Walker, the author of the just-released "Buying in," is a marketing connoisseur, an expert in reading the cultural underpinnings of commerce. In his Consumed column for the New York Times Magazine, he examines how technology shapes consumer culture and vice versa. In tomorrow's piece he elaborates on the history of headphones, and how their role evolved in modern society, from the first Bose set to the Sony Walkman to the iPod earbuds. With the miniaturization of devices, the public exposure of personal space increased. I remember that when I was 14, I came home from school, had lunch, and didn't wait a second to lie down on my bed, put my clunky Sennheiser headphones on, and listen to an album I had just bought. Thomas Dolby's "Aliens Ate My Buick" or Prince's "Sign of the Times." I closed my eyes and forgot the world around me. It was a moment of total immersion and uncompromising intimacy, both with the artist and myself. I wasn't ready to share the music with anyone else until I had fully experienced and vetted every single note through the immediacy of the headphone connection. Looking back, headphones seem to have anticipated the era of performance-enhancing body extensions that we may be entering soon, but at the same time they now appear like a nostalgic relict of a time when the supply of attention among young consumers was still excessive. Having their social function shifted from providing excessive to expressive intimacy, headphones have become a status symbol for consumers who want to consume in between or parallel to other activities, and who want do that on their own terms -- in public, alone; in a perfect manifestation of what psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan coined "extimacy." The album has dissolved into 99-cent units on iTunes, and the headphone experience has been succeeded by portable soundtracks for permanent distraction.Rob Walker will read from his new book "Buying In" at the frog Design Mind speaker series in New York on June 11.
Friday Poll- Are you happy with iOS 8 so far-
Friday Poll: Are you happy with iOS 8 so far?
Onward iOSAre you happy with iOS 8 so far? Hot on the heels of the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch announcement comes the wide availability of Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 8. Download day is often full of early upgraders rushing to be the first to try out the new system. It also means some people run into speed bumps during the upgrade or discover hiccups in the software. For starters, iOS 8 is only good for certain devices, including the iPhone 4S and later and the iPad 2 and later. Early-generation Apple device owners have reached the end of the line for iOS updates. Actually getting the update may involve cleaning up space on your gadget and backing up your data, just in case something goes wonky. Check out CNET's full iOS 8 upgrade guide. Related storiesHow to use iOS 8, the complete guideHow to prepare your iPhone or iPad for iOS 8iOS 8 also comes with bucket of security fixes Assuming everything went well and you're running the latest system, you now have access to the new bells and whistles. This list includes custom keyboards, a revamped Camera app, a new widgets feature, battery-usage information, location privacy and interactive notifications. Another big move is Apple's new Health app, which is designed to keep an eye on your physical activity. There's quite a bit going on with this upgrade, but not everyone has been eager to embrace it. Some users are still gun-shy over issues that cropped up during the iOS 7 upgrade. That experience may be partly to blame for why iOS 8 adoption is lagging a bit behind iOS 7. As to be expected with any new offering, there are some mixed opinions floating around. CNET user cange30 falls on the side of the fans, writing, "I love the updated iOS. I see a difference subtly but an update that is effective but doesn't take away the overall platform." On the other side of the equation, reader jagreenwoddjr--2008 calls the update "bloatware." Now it's your turn to share your iOS 8 experience. Has it been smooth sailing or a bumpy ride? Vote in our poll and talk it out in the comments.
Onward iOSAre you happy with iOS 8 so far? Hot on the heels of the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch announcement comes the wide availability of Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 8. Download day is often full of early upgraders rushing to be the first to try out the new system. It also means some people run into speed bumps during the upgrade or discover hiccups in the software. For starters, iOS 8 is only good for certain devices, including the iPhone 4S and later and the iPad 2 and later. Early-generation Apple device owners have reached the end of the line for iOS updates. Actually getting the update may involve cleaning up space on your gadget and backing up your data, just in case something goes wonky. Check out CNET's full iOS 8 upgrade guide. Related storiesHow to use iOS 8, the complete guideHow to prepare your iPhone or iPad for iOS 8iOS 8 also comes with bucket of security fixes Assuming everything went well and you're running the latest system, you now have access to the new bells and whistles. This list includes custom keyboards, a revamped Camera app, a new widgets feature, battery-usage information, location privacy and interactive notifications. Another big move is Apple's new Health app, which is designed to keep an eye on your physical activity. There's quite a bit going on with this upgrade, but not everyone has been eager to embrace it. Some users are still gun-shy over issues that cropped up during the iOS 7 upgrade. That experience may be partly to blame for why iOS 8 adoption is lagging a bit behind iOS 7. As to be expected with any new offering, there are some mixed opinions floating around. CNET user cange30 falls on the side of the fans, writing, "I love the updated iOS. I see a difference subtly but an update that is effective but doesn't take away the overall platform." On the other side of the equation, reader jagreenwoddjr--2008 calls the update "bloatware." Now it's your turn to share your iOS 8 experience. Has it been smooth sailing or a bumpy ride? Vote in our poll and talk it out in the comments.
Unofficial iMessage app for Android appears, likely unsafe
Unofficial iMessage app for Android appears, likely unsafe
A functional version of Apple's iMessage has arrived on Google's Android platform, though not with Apple's blessing, or without potential security risks.The software is called iMessage Chat and was created by developer Daniel Zweigart. Users enter their Apple ID and password credentials and can text with registered iMessage phone numbers and e-mail addresses freely.CNET has tested the software with dummy accounts and confirmed it works.Per iOS developer Adam Bell, the service appears to be tricking Apple's iMessage server into thinking it's a Mac Mini -- Apple's entry level Mac desktop -- in order to send and receive the messages. Jay Freeman, the creator of the third-party App Store alternative Cydia believes the app is piping the data through Chinese servers as well. "This not only means that Apple can't just block them by IP address, but also that they get to keep the 'secret sauce' on their servers," Freeman wrote in a post on Google Plus. To that end, users should not install this software or offer their Apple ID account credentials. Apple introduced iMessage alongside iOS 5 in 2011. The messaging service lets users on iOS devices and Macs chat with one another like they would send a text message. The service is not tied to any carriers and has been designed to work on non-cellular devices like Wi-Fi-only iPods and iPads. The protocol has remained exclusive to Apple devices since its debut, and served as way to keep users locked into Apple's ecosystem of devices. BlackBerry used a similar tactic with its BBM service, which was set to arrive on iOS and Android devices this past weekend, but now faces a delay. (via 9to5Mac)
A functional version of Apple's iMessage has arrived on Google's Android platform, though not with Apple's blessing, or without potential security risks.The software is called iMessage Chat and was created by developer Daniel Zweigart. Users enter their Apple ID and password credentials and can text with registered iMessage phone numbers and e-mail addresses freely.CNET has tested the software with dummy accounts and confirmed it works.Per iOS developer Adam Bell, the service appears to be tricking Apple's iMessage server into thinking it's a Mac Mini -- Apple's entry level Mac desktop -- in order to send and receive the messages. Jay Freeman, the creator of the third-party App Store alternative Cydia believes the app is piping the data through Chinese servers as well. "This not only means that Apple can't just block them by IP address, but also that they get to keep the 'secret sauce' on their servers," Freeman wrote in a post on Google Plus. To that end, users should not install this software or offer their Apple ID account credentials. Apple introduced iMessage alongside iOS 5 in 2011. The messaging service lets users on iOS devices and Macs chat with one another like they would send a text message. The service is not tied to any carriers and has been designed to work on non-cellular devices like Wi-Fi-only iPods and iPads. The protocol has remained exclusive to Apple devices since its debut, and served as way to keep users locked into Apple's ecosystem of devices. BlackBerry used a similar tactic with its BBM service, which was set to arrive on iOS and Android devices this past weekend, but now faces a delay. (via 9to5Mac)
Unlocked iPhone 5 prices leak on Apple's site
Unlocked iPhone 5 prices leak on Apple's site
Apple's Web site may have unintentionally leaked yet another detail about the iPhone 5: the prices for the unlocked version. A search on Apple's Web site for "iPhone 5 factory unlocked" initially comes up empty, but a sidebar shows results for the iPhone 5 with prices that would fall in line with past unlocked prices. Apple Insider reader Dhaval Dinani first spotted the results.The prices range from $649 and $849, depending on the amount of memory space, and the Apple page lists both the GSM and CDMA and the white and black versions of the smartphone. Screenshot taken by Roger Cheng/CNETWhile the iPhone is sold unlocked early on in other countries, Apple typically releases the unlocked version in the U.S. after the device debuts with the various carriers, giving the carriers some window of exclusivity with the iPhone. Consumers who don't want to get stuck in a contract often will prefer to spend the extra money upfront to get the unlocked version.The GSM version of the iPhone 5, for instance, can work on T-Mobile USA's network, although in many places the network connection is still slow. T-Mobile actually welcomes the iPhone 5 to its network, and has demonstration models in its stores. It's unclear when Apple will sell the unlocked version of the iPhone 5; supply issues continue to keep the company from getting phones immediately into the hands of its customers. CNET has contacted Apple for comment on when the unlocked iPhone 5 would be available in the U.S., and we'll update the story when the company responds.
Apple's Web site may have unintentionally leaked yet another detail about the iPhone 5: the prices for the unlocked version. A search on Apple's Web site for "iPhone 5 factory unlocked" initially comes up empty, but a sidebar shows results for the iPhone 5 with prices that would fall in line with past unlocked prices. Apple Insider reader Dhaval Dinani first spotted the results.The prices range from $649 and $849, depending on the amount of memory space, and the Apple page lists both the GSM and CDMA and the white and black versions of the smartphone. Screenshot taken by Roger Cheng/CNETWhile the iPhone is sold unlocked early on in other countries, Apple typically releases the unlocked version in the U.S. after the device debuts with the various carriers, giving the carriers some window of exclusivity with the iPhone. Consumers who don't want to get stuck in a contract often will prefer to spend the extra money upfront to get the unlocked version.The GSM version of the iPhone 5, for instance, can work on T-Mobile USA's network, although in many places the network connection is still slow. T-Mobile actually welcomes the iPhone 5 to its network, and has demonstration models in its stores. It's unclear when Apple will sell the unlocked version of the iPhone 5; supply issues continue to keep the company from getting phones immediately into the hands of its customers. CNET has contacted Apple for comment on when the unlocked iPhone 5 would be available in the U.S., and we'll update the story when the company responds.
Unboxing meets Pinterest meets the iPad
Unboxing meets Pinterest meets the iPad
With the launch of every Apple product comes the excitement and drama of the unboxing. It's like waking up on Christmas morning and ripping, carefully, the wrapping off presents and reverently exploring the contents, documenting every step in the process with a video or still camera to share the experience with the world via social networks. Today, fresh from taking receipt of their new iPads, regular users and professional reviewers across America, and other parts of the world, shared their unboxing experiences. The new, fastest-growing network Pinterest (see Sree Sreenivasan's take on the service), has become a home to unboxers, who "pin" their unboxings to "boards." Related storiesSpeedy, pretty new iPad leads tablet packEverything you need to know about the new iPadPhotos: Apple's new iPad goes on saleThe unboxings are like the unveiling, or undressing, of sacred objects, and they are destined to become an art form. Well, perhaps not. The iPad unboxings begin with an examination of the white box, detailing its serial numbers, bar codes, logos, and drawings, before peeling off the plastic from the device and illuminating its features and the other contents included in the box. Unboxing won't supplant foodspotting, planking, or other activities shared online, but the term "unboxing" will enter respected dictionaries in the very near future.For a taste of the art of unboxing, check out the videos below. The first is four minutes of unbridled unboxing from reviewers in Vietnam, which started selling iPads ahead of the U.S. The unboxing has received nearly 900,000 views to date. The second is CNET's shorter, less ornate unboxing.
With the launch of every Apple product comes the excitement and drama of the unboxing. It's like waking up on Christmas morning and ripping, carefully, the wrapping off presents and reverently exploring the contents, documenting every step in the process with a video or still camera to share the experience with the world via social networks. Today, fresh from taking receipt of their new iPads, regular users and professional reviewers across America, and other parts of the world, shared their unboxing experiences. The new, fastest-growing network Pinterest (see Sree Sreenivasan's take on the service), has become a home to unboxers, who "pin" their unboxings to "boards." Related storiesSpeedy, pretty new iPad leads tablet packEverything you need to know about the new iPadPhotos: Apple's new iPad goes on saleThe unboxings are like the unveiling, or undressing, of sacred objects, and they are destined to become an art form. Well, perhaps not. The iPad unboxings begin with an examination of the white box, detailing its serial numbers, bar codes, logos, and drawings, before peeling off the plastic from the device and illuminating its features and the other contents included in the box. Unboxing won't supplant foodspotting, planking, or other activities shared online, but the term "unboxing" will enter respected dictionaries in the very near future.For a taste of the art of unboxing, check out the videos below. The first is four minutes of unbridled unboxing from reviewers in Vietnam, which started selling iPads ahead of the U.S. The unboxing has received nearly 900,000 views to date. The second is CNET's shorter, less ornate unboxing.
Universal search reportedly vanishes from Galaxy S3
Universal search reportedly vanishes from Galaxy S3
As Apple and Samsung spar over universal search in the new Galaxy Nexus, it appears Samsung has quietly removed the feature from the Galaxy S3 in an effort to keep the new smartphones on retailers' shelves.Soon after a U.S. judge denied Samsung's request earlier this month to suspend a ban on U.S. sales of its Galaxy Nexus phone over a patent spat with Apple, Google said it was already working on a patch to address the issue. However, while that patch hasn't materialized, it appears Google has gone on the defensive by removing the offending feature with an over-the-air software update, Android Central reports.CNET has contacted Google and Samsung for comment and will update this report when we learn more.U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh in June granted Apple's request for the preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Nexus and later said there was insufficient evidence to stay the injunction for the duration of a Samsung appeal. A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the injunction could be lifted temporarily while it considers eliminating the injunction altogether.Google began selling Samsung's Galaxy Nexus directly to consumers in April. The device, which now costs $349, originally debuted at a Google-hosted event last October in hand with Android 4.0, code-named Ice Cream Sandwich. The Galaxy S3, which offers a dual-core processor, a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a 1,280x720-pixel resolution, has also been the target of an Apple injunction attempt, but that effort was tabled last month when Koh ruled there were already too many issues to consider.
As Apple and Samsung spar over universal search in the new Galaxy Nexus, it appears Samsung has quietly removed the feature from the Galaxy S3 in an effort to keep the new smartphones on retailers' shelves.Soon after a U.S. judge denied Samsung's request earlier this month to suspend a ban on U.S. sales of its Galaxy Nexus phone over a patent spat with Apple, Google said it was already working on a patch to address the issue. However, while that patch hasn't materialized, it appears Google has gone on the defensive by removing the offending feature with an over-the-air software update, Android Central reports.CNET has contacted Google and Samsung for comment and will update this report when we learn more.U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh in June granted Apple's request for the preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Nexus and later said there was insufficient evidence to stay the injunction for the duration of a Samsung appeal. A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the injunction could be lifted temporarily while it considers eliminating the injunction altogether.Google began selling Samsung's Galaxy Nexus directly to consumers in April. The device, which now costs $349, originally debuted at a Google-hosted event last October in hand with Android 4.0, code-named Ice Cream Sandwich. The Galaxy S3, which offers a dual-core processor, a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a 1,280x720-pixel resolution, has also been the target of an Apple injunction attempt, but that effort was tabled last month when Koh ruled there were already too many issues to consider.
Ultrabooks, 'every screen' eventually touch, says Intel
Ultrabooks, 'every screen' eventually touch, says Intel
Apple take note. An Intel executive says everything is going the way of touch. "Intel has put its money where its conviction is" and invested heavily in touch screens, Rob DeLine, director of Ultrabook product marketing at Intel, said in an interview. DeLine pointed out that although there are plenty of touch screens that are 10 inches and smaller avaialable, that isn't the case for larger sizes. The larger-screen ecosystem "really didn't exist," he said. "The ecosystem for 10-inch and below for tablets is pretty mature. So, we've made investments to ensure that there is capacity [for larger touch screens]." Touch screen-related companies that Intel has invested in "to make sure capacity is not an issue" include Cando, HannsTouch, TPK, and Wintek. And every ultrabook, laptop, all-in-one (AIO) desktop will eventually have some touch capability, DeLine said.Related storiesIntel invests in ultrabook touch displays"Every screen in the future is going to have some level of touch. We're looking for a pretty aggressive ramp" in 2013, he said.Apple indicated earlier this year that touch isn't suitable for a MacBook-like device. But Microsoft is pushing PC makers to include this capability on all kinds of Windows 8 computers because of Windows 8's touch-centric interface. DeLine also talked about ultrabook pricing. He pointed to Dell's $599 ultrabook, the Inspiron 14z and said that a number of ultrabooks priced around $699 can be found on Amazon. "There will be more and more [models] at $699," he said.And what kind of premium will consumers pay for touch? "Touch adds maybe $100," he said. So, until touch-panel pricing comes down, ultrabooks with that capability will be more expensive.
Apple take note. An Intel executive says everything is going the way of touch. "Intel has put its money where its conviction is" and invested heavily in touch screens, Rob DeLine, director of Ultrabook product marketing at Intel, said in an interview. DeLine pointed out that although there are plenty of touch screens that are 10 inches and smaller avaialable, that isn't the case for larger sizes. The larger-screen ecosystem "really didn't exist," he said. "The ecosystem for 10-inch and below for tablets is pretty mature. So, we've made investments to ensure that there is capacity [for larger touch screens]." Touch screen-related companies that Intel has invested in "to make sure capacity is not an issue" include Cando, HannsTouch, TPK, and Wintek. And every ultrabook, laptop, all-in-one (AIO) desktop will eventually have some touch capability, DeLine said.Related storiesIntel invests in ultrabook touch displays"Every screen in the future is going to have some level of touch. We're looking for a pretty aggressive ramp" in 2013, he said.Apple indicated earlier this year that touch isn't suitable for a MacBook-like device. But Microsoft is pushing PC makers to include this capability on all kinds of Windows 8 computers because of Windows 8's touch-centric interface. DeLine also talked about ultrabook pricing. He pointed to Dell's $599 ultrabook, the Inspiron 14z and said that a number of ultrabooks priced around $699 can be found on Amazon. "There will be more and more [models] at $699," he said.And what kind of premium will consumers pay for touch? "Touch adds maybe $100," he said. So, until touch-panel pricing comes down, ultrabooks with that capability will be more expensive.
Android gains on Apple in U.S. mobile Web use
The latest report from Quantcast shows that Apple's lead in mobile Web usage is declining.The data, published Friday, shows that at the end of August 2010, iOS devices accounted for 56 percent of mobile Web usage in the U.S. The reason the chart is making news is because a year ago, iOS had closer to a 70-percent share. At the same time, Android use is growing. Quantcast shows Android's mobile Web share at 25 percent at the end of August, up from below 10-percent share a year ago.Research In Motion devices stayed relatively steady at 9 percent, and "other" came in at 10 percent share.iOS devices losing share is not exactly surprising. It's likely they'll continue to lose share of mobile Web use as Apple's competitors continue to churn out more Android devices. Quantcast counts iOS mobile devices as the iPhone and iPod Touch. The number of handset makers using Android on mobile devices is in the double digits--it's unrealistic to think Apple's mobile OS would continue to outpace the sales of many companies combined.Put another way, iOS could only maintain its dominance in mobile Web use if every one of its competitors failed to design an even halfway-decent mobile device.
Android ends 2013 on a high note
The Android mobile OS finished 2013 with a rise in market share in 12 major regions around the world, research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech said Monday.For the three months ending December 2013, Google's mobile OS showed market share gains in the US, Europe, Latin America, China, and Japan. In Europe alone, Android now holds a 68.6 percent slice of the market, according to Kantar.In second place, Apple's iOS lost steam in virtually all regions, slipping to a 43.9 percent share in the US, 29.9 percent in the UK, and 19 percent in China. Apple's slice of Europe overall dropped to 18.5 percent from 23.7 percent a year prior.Third-place Windows Phone saw its European market share leap to 10.3 percent from 5.6 percent. Microsoft's mobile OS took home gains in all other regions tracked by Kantar with the exception of Latin America where its share dropped to 4.9 percent from 6.8 percent.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)