â€&lsqauo;iOS 8 features already available on Android
Apple on Monday unveiled the latest version of its iOS mobile operating system at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. The company has labeled iOS 8 as "the biggest release since the launch of the App Store," however Android fans have nothing to fear. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery -- well, many of Apple's "new" features are already available on Google's operating system and have been for quite some time. iCloud Photo Library Apple improved cloud photo and video storage in iOS 8. Users previously were limited to storing 1,000 photos for up to 30 days. With the new iCloud Photo Library, photos are automatically stored in the cloud and can be accessed from all of your devices. AppleAndroid users have Google+ photos, which will also automatically sync all of your photos in the cloud. Unlike Apple, which only offers 5GB for free, Google gives users unlimited storage for photos and videos. iCloud DriveThe other improvement Apple announced for iCloud was iCloud Drive, a Dropbox-like service for storing documents in the cloud. In addition to Dropbox, Android and Apple users already have Google Drive. Yet again, while iCloud is limited to 5GB of free storage, Google Drive offers 15GB for free, while Dropbox initially offers 2GB for free with the ability to earn up to 20GB for referring others. AppleiCloud Drive will be available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC, while Google Drive and Dropbox also support Android. QuickType and third-party keyboardsApple made a big deal about its brand new QuickType keyboard. The keyboard features predictive typing and is able to learn based on your typing habits. In addition to QuickType, iOS 8 will also bring support for third-party keyboards. This all sounds fine and dandy, but Android users have had these features for years.Tim Stevens/CNETBoth the official Google Keyboard and SwiftKey, another popular third-party keyboard, among many others, have predictive features, gesture typing, and more. WidgetsApple users will finally get access to basic widgets in iOS 8. Unlike on Android where you can place widgets on your home and lock screens, however, iOS 8 widgets will be limited to the iPhone and iPad's pull-down Notification Center.'Hey Siri'The iOS 8 update also brings improvements to Siri. Apple's voice assistant has added 22 new dictation languages and will now be capable of song recognition with Shazam, purchasing iTunes content, and streaming voice recognition. One of the biggest changes is the ability to launch Siri by speaking the phrase "Hey Siri" when the phone is plugged into a car.Sound familiar? Android 4.4 owners are able to launch Google Now with the phrase "OK, Google" from the phone's home screen, while the Moto X can actually wake the phone up with the same phrase. Interactive NotificationsiPhone and iPad users will have the ability to respond to a notification without launching an app with Interactive Notifications. Simply swipe down and quickly reply to a text message or even like a Facebook post. Tim Stevens/CNETThis feature is also built into Android. For example, a Gmail notification can be quickly archived in the notification menu, although the Gmail app will be opened when you attempt to respond to the message. CyanogenMod, a popular third-party Android interface, adds the ability to quickly call or respond to a text message notification. TestFlight TestFlight, a technology Apple acquired earlier this year, will give iPhone and iPad owners the ability to beta test apps before they are officially released in the App Store. It shouldn't be a surprise that Google has allowed Android users to beta test apps for quite some time now. App PreviewsAnother improvement to the App Store is what Apple calls "App Previews," which gives users the ability to watch a video demo of an app before downloading it. Android developers have always had the ability to add video demos of their apps on Google Play. Tim Stevens/CNETiMessage voice and videoApple's messaging app will also be getting an update with iOS 8. iMessage users will be able to send audio and video messages and share their location with others. Audio and video messages can also be set to self-destruct after a set time, a feature Snapchat is known for on Android and iOS. WhatsApp, another popular cross-platform messaging app, allows users to share their location with contacts and also send audio and video messages.
How Starbucks is trying to change the media
How Starbucks is trying to change the media
Caffeine behemoth Starbucks on Tuesday finally unveiled its revamped Web hub, a landing page that's only accessible from its in-store Wi-Fi networks in the U.S. Teaming with the likes of Yahoo (the main technology partner), The Wall Street Journal, GOOD, The New York Times, iTunes, LinkedIn, and Foursquare, Starbucks has packed the new site full of news both local and mainstream (including content that would normally be behind paywalls), free music download promos, local information like weather and bike trails, and movie trailers.It's an interesting concept. Starbucks calls this the Starbucks Digital Network, or as senior vice president of digital ventures Adam Brotman called it in an interview with CNET last week, "the digital version of the community corkboard."But what's almost equally as interesting is what Starbucks isn't calling it: the Starbucks Digital Network could easily have been pitched to consumers as a "digital newspaper." The slick, iPad-optimized news and media site is designed to effectively take the place of the stack of newspapers next to the cash register that many a caramel macchiato buyer has simply stopped noticing. And "digital newspaper" has become a sort of a buzzword of late, mostly because of News Corp.'s current construction of one, but also because of interest on behalf of other brands--not even necessarily news outlets--in seizing upon the mobile-reader craze to revive interest in reading what would otherwise be print content. Case in point: the Virgin Group and its forthcoming "Maverick" publication.The content on the Starbucks Digital Network is carefully selected to be of interest to coffee-shop-goers: local information, downloadable music, quick bites of news and video. This ties into something that has always been true but conceptually hasn't been feasible for a media company to address until our current age of mobile devices and ubiquitous Wi-Fi: that consumer choice in news consumption may depend not solely on personal interest or geographic location but on a far more immediate notion of when and where. Restricting access to the Starbucks Digital Network to company-operated stores can give them an idea of just who's reading and what they might want to read. They're not at home. They're not at the office. They probably aren't sticking around for more than a few minutes.To Starbucks, the concept of the hyper-hyper-local--not only are you in a given neighborhood in a given city, but you're in a specific coffee shop--is more than marketing. It's a new, more malleable way to detect what kind of content consumers are more likely to want to pair with their coffee to go.The Starbucks Digital Network will, quite likely, be visited by many people. Through a new deal with AT&T this summer, Starbucks Wi-Fi has gone from paid to free. Brotman told CNET that there are now about 30 million logins to the chain's Wi-Fi each month and that the majority are on mobile devices like cell phones and iPads.The challenge for Starbucks is to make sure those customers stick around rather than just hastily click through to their FarmVille homesteads.
Caffeine behemoth Starbucks on Tuesday finally unveiled its revamped Web hub, a landing page that's only accessible from its in-store Wi-Fi networks in the U.S. Teaming with the likes of Yahoo (the main technology partner), The Wall Street Journal, GOOD, The New York Times, iTunes, LinkedIn, and Foursquare, Starbucks has packed the new site full of news both local and mainstream (including content that would normally be behind paywalls), free music download promos, local information like weather and bike trails, and movie trailers.It's an interesting concept. Starbucks calls this the Starbucks Digital Network, or as senior vice president of digital ventures Adam Brotman called it in an interview with CNET last week, "the digital version of the community corkboard."But what's almost equally as interesting is what Starbucks isn't calling it: the Starbucks Digital Network could easily have been pitched to consumers as a "digital newspaper." The slick, iPad-optimized news and media site is designed to effectively take the place of the stack of newspapers next to the cash register that many a caramel macchiato buyer has simply stopped noticing. And "digital newspaper" has become a sort of a buzzword of late, mostly because of News Corp.'s current construction of one, but also because of interest on behalf of other brands--not even necessarily news outlets--in seizing upon the mobile-reader craze to revive interest in reading what would otherwise be print content. Case in point: the Virgin Group and its forthcoming "Maverick" publication.The content on the Starbucks Digital Network is carefully selected to be of interest to coffee-shop-goers: local information, downloadable music, quick bites of news and video. This ties into something that has always been true but conceptually hasn't been feasible for a media company to address until our current age of mobile devices and ubiquitous Wi-Fi: that consumer choice in news consumption may depend not solely on personal interest or geographic location but on a far more immediate notion of when and where. Restricting access to the Starbucks Digital Network to company-operated stores can give them an idea of just who's reading and what they might want to read. They're not at home. They're not at the office. They probably aren't sticking around for more than a few minutes.To Starbucks, the concept of the hyper-hyper-local--not only are you in a given neighborhood in a given city, but you're in a specific coffee shop--is more than marketing. It's a new, more malleable way to detect what kind of content consumers are more likely to want to pair with their coffee to go.The Starbucks Digital Network will, quite likely, be visited by many people. Through a new deal with AT&T this summer, Starbucks Wi-Fi has gone from paid to free. Brotman told CNET that there are now about 30 million logins to the chain's Wi-Fi each month and that the majority are on mobile devices like cell phones and iPads.The challenge for Starbucks is to make sure those customers stick around rather than just hastily click through to their FarmVille homesteads.
$20 Ultraviolet dongle on the way -- but will anyone buy it-
$20 Ultraviolet dongle on the way -- but will anyone buy it?
Ultraviolet has struggled to match the popularity of streaming providers such as Netflix and iTunes. The service, which is backed by all the major movie studios except Disney, allows you to own a cloud-based digital version of movies and TV shows -- often thrown in as a freebie with DVD and Blu-ray purchases. Now, a new HDMI dongle aims to make it easier for you to access your Ultraviolet digital "locker". The proposed dongle, from startup Toggle Inc, would act as a physical key to your cloud locker and stream supported content to any TV with an HDMI input. The idea has the backing of movie studio Warner, and Toggle expects the dongle will compete at a similar price to the Google Chromecast -- about $20.The Toggle device would include a remote, come with apps preloaded, and be "easy to navigate", Toggle promises. At least one retailer is already lined up to sell the device in October, Home Media reports.Is hardware the real problem?While anything at such a low price has marketplace potential, it's important to note that Ultraviolet is already available on some of the best-selling mobile and home video hardware, thanks to Ultraviolet-compatible apps like Vudu and Flixster.What the proposed device would look like.Toggle Inc.Using those apps, you can access your Ultraviolet collections on your iPhone, iPad, Android device, and -- on your TV -- your Roku box, which start at just $50. The $35 Chromecast doesn't have an Ultraviolet-compatible native app yet, but you can "cast" Web-based Vudu or Flixster streams from your laptop to the Google dongle.The point is: anyone with an Ultraviolet collection can watch it on their TV or mobile device already. Instead of a new dongle, the Ultraviolet group should instead focus on making the content easier to setup and access to begin with. Unlike, say, iTunes or Amazon, Ultraviolet usually requires you to establish at least three accounts -- one with Ultraviolet, one with the studio that released the movie, and one with the Ultraviolet-compatible app. In fact, Ultraviolet was so confusing for new users that Warner was forced to offer rebates to viewers of the "Veronica Mars" movie earlier this year, after many simply gave up on the UV version and opted for easier iTunes and Amazon downloads instead.That issue, and the aforementioned dearth of Disney content -- which includes Marvel, Pixar, and "Star Wars" movies -- seems like it should loom larger on Ultraviolet's to-do list.(Via Home Media Magazine.)
Ultraviolet has struggled to match the popularity of streaming providers such as Netflix and iTunes. The service, which is backed by all the major movie studios except Disney, allows you to own a cloud-based digital version of movies and TV shows -- often thrown in as a freebie with DVD and Blu-ray purchases. Now, a new HDMI dongle aims to make it easier for you to access your Ultraviolet digital "locker". The proposed dongle, from startup Toggle Inc, would act as a physical key to your cloud locker and stream supported content to any TV with an HDMI input. The idea has the backing of movie studio Warner, and Toggle expects the dongle will compete at a similar price to the Google Chromecast -- about $20.The Toggle device would include a remote, come with apps preloaded, and be "easy to navigate", Toggle promises. At least one retailer is already lined up to sell the device in October, Home Media reports.Is hardware the real problem?While anything at such a low price has marketplace potential, it's important to note that Ultraviolet is already available on some of the best-selling mobile and home video hardware, thanks to Ultraviolet-compatible apps like Vudu and Flixster.What the proposed device would look like.Toggle Inc.Using those apps, you can access your Ultraviolet collections on your iPhone, iPad, Android device, and -- on your TV -- your Roku box, which start at just $50. The $35 Chromecast doesn't have an Ultraviolet-compatible native app yet, but you can "cast" Web-based Vudu or Flixster streams from your laptop to the Google dongle.The point is: anyone with an Ultraviolet collection can watch it on their TV or mobile device already. Instead of a new dongle, the Ultraviolet group should instead focus on making the content easier to setup and access to begin with. Unlike, say, iTunes or Amazon, Ultraviolet usually requires you to establish at least three accounts -- one with Ultraviolet, one with the studio that released the movie, and one with the Ultraviolet-compatible app. In fact, Ultraviolet was so confusing for new users that Warner was forced to offer rebates to viewers of the "Veronica Mars" movie earlier this year, after many simply gave up on the UV version and opted for easier iTunes and Amazon downloads instead.That issue, and the aforementioned dearth of Disney content -- which includes Marvel, Pixar, and "Star Wars" movies -- seems like it should loom larger on Ultraviolet's to-do list.(Via Home Media Magazine.)
Qualcomm- Microsoft's Surface 2 can't compare to Nokia's Windows tablet
Qualcomm: Microsoft's Surface 2 can't compare to Nokia's Windows tablet
However, Windows RT has some big drawbacks compared with Windows 8. For one, it's not compatible with many older applications, including iTunes. Few companies have introduced products running the operating system. Dell, Samsung, Toshiba, and Hewlett-Packard are several who dropped their Windows RT plans. "We have a longer term view on these things," Talluri said. "The RT of today may not be the RT of tomorrow. But the vision of a device that's both your entertainment and productivity device that you want to carry with you is going to be there. We invest for the longer term."In smartphones, meanwhile, Qualcomm is the undisputed king. It either provides the wireless chips, such as 4G LTE, or the application processor in most major devices on the market, including the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S4. It also is the chip provider for Windows Phones, partnering closely with Nokia over the years. However, Qualcomm has lagged rivals when it comes to tablets. That recently has started to change, with Qualcomm providing chips for recent hot tablets such as the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 and the Google Nexus 7.Qualcomm said partners are working on more than 40 tablets using its processor that should hit the market within the next year. A big reason companies are choosing Qualcomm chips is the ability to support high screen resolutions, Talluri said, and many who work with Qualcomm on smartphones find it easy to shift to tablets with the chipmaker. "Once you make the phone, it's an easy step to make a great tablet because you've already done the hard work and the same processor can support both," Talluri said.And Horton pointed out that the first Android devices, such as the T-Mobile G1, also were panned."Google and Microsoft are very capable organizations, [with] lots of technologies," Horton said. Microsoft "didn't hit a home run out of the gate on the very first product, but they're working on it." A look at Nokia's first tablet, the Lumia...See full gallery1 - 4 / 18NextPrevZack Whittaker contributed to this report.Updated at 8 a.m. PT on Oct. 29 with comment from Qualcomm.
However, Windows RT has some big drawbacks compared with Windows 8. For one, it's not compatible with many older applications, including iTunes. Few companies have introduced products running the operating system. Dell, Samsung, Toshiba, and Hewlett-Packard are several who dropped their Windows RT plans. "We have a longer term view on these things," Talluri said. "The RT of today may not be the RT of tomorrow. But the vision of a device that's both your entertainment and productivity device that you want to carry with you is going to be there. We invest for the longer term."In smartphones, meanwhile, Qualcomm is the undisputed king. It either provides the wireless chips, such as 4G LTE, or the application processor in most major devices on the market, including the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S4. It also is the chip provider for Windows Phones, partnering closely with Nokia over the years. However, Qualcomm has lagged rivals when it comes to tablets. That recently has started to change, with Qualcomm providing chips for recent hot tablets such as the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 and the Google Nexus 7.Qualcomm said partners are working on more than 40 tablets using its processor that should hit the market within the next year. A big reason companies are choosing Qualcomm chips is the ability to support high screen resolutions, Talluri said, and many who work with Qualcomm on smartphones find it easy to shift to tablets with the chipmaker. "Once you make the phone, it's an easy step to make a great tablet because you've already done the hard work and the same processor can support both," Talluri said.And Horton pointed out that the first Android devices, such as the T-Mobile G1, also were panned."Google and Microsoft are very capable organizations, [with] lots of technologies," Horton said. Microsoft "didn't hit a home run out of the gate on the very first product, but they're working on it." A look at Nokia's first tablet, the Lumia...See full gallery1 - 4 / 18NextPrevZack Whittaker contributed to this report.Updated at 8 a.m. PT on Oct. 29 with comment from Qualcomm.
Google DNS slowing down iTunes and Apple TV
Google DNS slowing down iTunes and Apple TV
If you are experiencing slow network performance with iTunes you can check for alternate DNS settings on your system by going to the Network system preferences, select each network connection individually, and click the "Advanced" button for that connection. When the advanced window pops up, choose the "DNS" tab and remove any servers listed that are not grayed out. If you use an Apple TV, go to the settings and choose your network connection (Ethernet or wireless), from where you can edit the DNS settings.The Google DNS servers are "8.8.8.8" and "8.8.4.4" and while removing them may help, if you have other public DNS options such as OpenDNS or UltraDNS servers, then you might also try removing them and rely on your local ISP-supplied DNS servers, which should be supplied automatically, to see if network performance increases.Keep in mind that if you use a router for your network connection you will need to log in to its administrative settings to remove custom DNS entries. Computer systems on the local network will use the DNS entries in the router, but may only show the router's IP address as the DNS server it is using.Using custom DNS servers may still be desired, but unfortunately there is no way to prevent certain services or applications from using a given DNS server. One way around this might be to create a specific network location in the network system preferences (using the menu at the top of the window) and save one with the desired DNS servers and one without. When multiple network locations are configured, the system will add a "Location" submenu to the Apple menu, which can be used to quickly switch to the faster one for iTunes downloads.Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.
If you are experiencing slow network performance with iTunes you can check for alternate DNS settings on your system by going to the Network system preferences, select each network connection individually, and click the "Advanced" button for that connection. When the advanced window pops up, choose the "DNS" tab and remove any servers listed that are not grayed out. If you use an Apple TV, go to the settings and choose your network connection (Ethernet or wireless), from where you can edit the DNS settings.The Google DNS servers are "8.8.8.8" and "8.8.4.4" and while removing them may help, if you have other public DNS options such as OpenDNS or UltraDNS servers, then you might also try removing them and rely on your local ISP-supplied DNS servers, which should be supplied automatically, to see if network performance increases.Keep in mind that if you use a router for your network connection you will need to log in to its administrative settings to remove custom DNS entries. Computer systems on the local network will use the DNS entries in the router, but may only show the router's IP address as the DNS server it is using.Using custom DNS servers may still be desired, but unfortunately there is no way to prevent certain services or applications from using a given DNS server. One way around this might be to create a specific network location in the network system preferences (using the menu at the top of the window) and save one with the desired DNS servers and one without. When multiple network locations are configured, the system will add a "Location" submenu to the Apple menu, which can be used to quickly switch to the faster one for iTunes downloads.Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.
Quick tip- iPhone, iPad, iPod photo syncing could be filling your hard drive
Quick tip: iPhone, iPad, iPod photo syncing could be filling your hard drive
If you change the folder that is syncing to your Apple device, the old photo cache is not deleted, but a new folder is created. Changing the folders that you are syncing many times could quickly fill up smaller hard drives with unnecessary photo duplicates.To get rid of old iPod Photo Cache folders, simply drag that folder to your Trash (on a Mac) or Recycle Bin (on a PC). If you're having trouble finding that folder, you are probably syncing your photos from iPhoto on your Mac. Follow these steps to find it:Click on Go from the Finder menu bar and choose Home.Open the Pictures folder and highlight the iPhoto Library file.Secondary-click (CTRL + Click) and choose, Show Package Contents from the contextual menu. Note: the iPhoto Library file is an enclosed package, much like an installer. This is done to protect users from moving essential files that iPhoto needs to operate smoothly.Locate the iPod Photo Cache folder and drag it to your Trash. Close the Finder window and you're all set.
If you change the folder that is syncing to your Apple device, the old photo cache is not deleted, but a new folder is created. Changing the folders that you are syncing many times could quickly fill up smaller hard drives with unnecessary photo duplicates.To get rid of old iPod Photo Cache folders, simply drag that folder to your Trash (on a Mac) or Recycle Bin (on a PC). If you're having trouble finding that folder, you are probably syncing your photos from iPhoto on your Mac. Follow these steps to find it:Click on Go from the Finder menu bar and choose Home.Open the Pictures folder and highlight the iPhoto Library file.Secondary-click (CTRL + Click) and choose, Show Package Contents from the contextual menu. Note: the iPhoto Library file is an enclosed package, much like an installer. This is done to protect users from moving essential files that iPhoto needs to operate smoothly.Locate the iPod Photo Cache folder and drag it to your Trash. Close the Finder window and you're all set.
Purported pics of Apple's iPad 5, iPad Mini 2 hit the Web
Purported pics of Apple's iPad 5, iPad Mini 2 hit the Web
Apple's upcoming iPad line might have been leaked onto the Web before the company would have liked.Sonny Dickson, a site that has quickly made a name for itself by publishing leaked images of devices that have proven to be real, posted photos on Thursday of what the site claims is the iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2.The images, which are not accompanied by any information on where they were obtained or how likely it is that they are real, show both tablets featuring much the same design, including an aluminum finish on the back and a prominent Apple logo at the center. The devices appear to come with speakers at the bottom and standard black buttons for volume controls and locking the screen.The iPad Mini features a white plastic piece at the top-back of the device, but again, Sonny Dickson provided no insight into what that might be or why the larger iPad doesn't come with the same component.Apple has yet to announce plans to launch a new iPad, but it's believed to be eyeing an iPad Mini 2 and iPad 5 launch sometime before the year is up.It's unclear whether the devices in the Sonny Dickson images are real or just prototypes that might never see the light of day. However, Sonny Dickson was spot-on with the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S leaks, lending some credence to the new photos.
Apple's upcoming iPad line might have been leaked onto the Web before the company would have liked.Sonny Dickson, a site that has quickly made a name for itself by publishing leaked images of devices that have proven to be real, posted photos on Thursday of what the site claims is the iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2.The images, which are not accompanied by any information on where they were obtained or how likely it is that they are real, show both tablets featuring much the same design, including an aluminum finish on the back and a prominent Apple logo at the center. The devices appear to come with speakers at the bottom and standard black buttons for volume controls and locking the screen.The iPad Mini features a white plastic piece at the top-back of the device, but again, Sonny Dickson provided no insight into what that might be or why the larger iPad doesn't come with the same component.Apple has yet to announce plans to launch a new iPad, but it's believed to be eyeing an iPad Mini 2 and iPad 5 launch sometime before the year is up.It's unclear whether the devices in the Sonny Dickson images are real or just prototypes that might never see the light of day. However, Sonny Dickson was spot-on with the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S leaks, lending some credence to the new photos.
4 ways to score free iPhone apps
4 ways to score free iPhone apps
When it comes to freebies, the iTunes App Store offers an embarrassment of riches. I'm routinely surprised, and delighted, by some of the superb apps you can get without spending a cent.Ah, but how do you find them? Sure, iTunes lists the "top free apps" for various categories, but those lists rarely show new items. Also, what about those apps that are only temporarily free?I've rounded up four free and easy ways to find, monitor, and fetch free apps.New site Free App a Day offers exactly what you'd expect: a new freebie every day. However, each one is free for that day only, so you need to check in regularly. Better yet, sign up for e-mail notification, which you can filter based on categories of interest--a nice touch, or follow its Twitter feed.I continue to be a big fan of FreeAppAlert, which produces a daily roundup of apps that previously cost money but are now free (either temporarily or permanently, though it doesn't indicate which). The site is great, with full-size screenshots that appear when you mouse over thumbnails, but I like the reminders I get from FreeAppAlert's Facebook feed.Hardcore Twitter users will definitely want to sign up for app-review Web site 148Apps' feed. Then, be prepared for a daily deluge of tweets about newly free apps. Yes, it's the same idea as FreeAppAlert; however,here you get individual app listings and not a single aggregated link. Find out more in my original write-up of 148Apps.What would the iPhone and iPod Touch be without free apps that steer you to other free apps? BargainBin and PandoraBox serve up new apps that are free as well as newly free apps. Even better, they can monitor selected paid apps (like the pricey new Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars) and notify you of price drops. I can't decide which one I like better--so I use both!Now you have all the tools you need to find free apps--both on your PC and on your device.Do you have your own sources for free apps? If so, talk 'em up in the comments! While you're at it, let's hear about any good freebies you've discovered recently. Me, I'm still loving on Gorillacam.
When it comes to freebies, the iTunes App Store offers an embarrassment of riches. I'm routinely surprised, and delighted, by some of the superb apps you can get without spending a cent.Ah, but how do you find them? Sure, iTunes lists the "top free apps" for various categories, but those lists rarely show new items. Also, what about those apps that are only temporarily free?I've rounded up four free and easy ways to find, monitor, and fetch free apps.New site Free App a Day offers exactly what you'd expect: a new freebie every day. However, each one is free for that day only, so you need to check in regularly. Better yet, sign up for e-mail notification, which you can filter based on categories of interest--a nice touch, or follow its Twitter feed.I continue to be a big fan of FreeAppAlert, which produces a daily roundup of apps that previously cost money but are now free (either temporarily or permanently, though it doesn't indicate which). The site is great, with full-size screenshots that appear when you mouse over thumbnails, but I like the reminders I get from FreeAppAlert's Facebook feed.Hardcore Twitter users will definitely want to sign up for app-review Web site 148Apps' feed. Then, be prepared for a daily deluge of tweets about newly free apps. Yes, it's the same idea as FreeAppAlert; however,here you get individual app listings and not a single aggregated link. Find out more in my original write-up of 148Apps.What would the iPhone and iPod Touch be without free apps that steer you to other free apps? BargainBin and PandoraBox serve up new apps that are free as well as newly free apps. Even better, they can monitor selected paid apps (like the pricey new Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars) and notify you of price drops. I can't decide which one I like better--so I use both!Now you have all the tools you need to find free apps--both on your PC and on your device.Do you have your own sources for free apps? If so, talk 'em up in the comments! While you're at it, let's hear about any good freebies you've discovered recently. Me, I'm still loving on Gorillacam.
Tackle 'you need to free up space' warning on your Mac
â€&lsqauo;Tackle 'you need to free up space' warning on your Mac
For example, in my iTunes library I have a number of songs that show in iTunes as only being one copy; however, if I go to the iTunes folder for many of them, there is clearly a second version of the song. While this may not appear to be much space used for a single song, it represents a large number of gigabytes collectively for all my iTunes songs.From here, you can manage any duplicate files you have created, by deleting the ones not linked to your library.Beyond application library contents, you can delve further into what might be using up your hard drive space by using a program like GrandPerspective or DaisyDisk to analyze your disk usage and give you a visual aid to what files and folders are the largest on your system.Using programs like these, you might find an unused collection of movies that you might have inadvertently duplicated, or you might find a massive system log file (which sometimes can become gigabytes in size), or other collection of files that appears to be massive, and remove them.These visual approaches for managing your hard drive's contents can also be beneficial for seeing what regular actions may be resulting in massive hard drive use. For instance, if you regularly take videos with your phone and synchronize them to your computer, then you might not realize the videos can take up many gigabytes, expanding your iTunes library to use a massive amount of your disk space.At this point, it is up to you how to proceed. For large libraries you can move them to an external hard drive, or downsize them by deleting unwanted content, and for files scattered on your hard drive, you can back them up to an external drive and then delete them. However, regardless of what you do, you should clear enough space to have about 10 percent of your hard drive's capacity free, since free space on the drive is required to allow the system to run smoothly.Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Be sure to check us out on Twitter.
For example, in my iTunes library I have a number of songs that show in iTunes as only being one copy; however, if I go to the iTunes folder for many of them, there is clearly a second version of the song. While this may not appear to be much space used for a single song, it represents a large number of gigabytes collectively for all my iTunes songs.From here, you can manage any duplicate files you have created, by deleting the ones not linked to your library.Beyond application library contents, you can delve further into what might be using up your hard drive space by using a program like GrandPerspective or DaisyDisk to analyze your disk usage and give you a visual aid to what files and folders are the largest on your system.Using programs like these, you might find an unused collection of movies that you might have inadvertently duplicated, or you might find a massive system log file (which sometimes can become gigabytes in size), or other collection of files that appears to be massive, and remove them.These visual approaches for managing your hard drive's contents can also be beneficial for seeing what regular actions may be resulting in massive hard drive use. For instance, if you regularly take videos with your phone and synchronize them to your computer, then you might not realize the videos can take up many gigabytes, expanding your iTunes library to use a massive amount of your disk space.At this point, it is up to you how to proceed. For large libraries you can move them to an external hard drive, or downsize them by deleting unwanted content, and for files scattered on your hard drive, you can back them up to an external drive and then delete them. However, regardless of what you do, you should clear enough space to have about 10 percent of your hard drive's capacity free, since free space on the drive is required to allow the system to run smoothly.Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Be sure to check us out on Twitter.
13-inch Retina MacBook Pro displays in production
13-inch Retina MacBook Pro displays in production
Production is under way for a Retina display targeted at a more mainstream MacBook Pro, CNET has learned. Production has begun of a 2,560-by-1,600 pixel density display that will land on a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro, NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim told CNET. "The supply chain indications are that it's for a MacBook Pro 13.3 -- not a MacBook Air," said Shim.Displays are being made by Samsung, LGD, and Sharp, he said.Shim said that production volume is expected to be substantially higher out of the gate compared to the current 15.4-inch Retina MacBook Pro."With 15.4 it's production of a few hundred thousand units versus one to two million for the 13.3," he said. That 13.3-inch production began in the third quarter.He also said the volume depends on production yield rates. "It depends on how the yield rates turn out. If the yield rates are really good and they're at 70, 80, 90 percent, then they'll probably be in the million and a half range," he said. Related storiesIs the MacBook Pro 13-inch Retina on its way?Shim also touched on the differences between the display suppliers Samsung and LGD. "With Samsung, if you look at the new [Retina] iPad, they had fewer issues reaching the higher resolution requests from Apple. They were the first vendor to get to volume with that panel."Apple's Retina displays cram an astounding number of pixels into a relatively small area.The current 15.4-inch MacBook Pro Retina boasts an IPS display with 2,880-by-1,800 pixel density, far more than any PC laptop maker can deliver at the screen size. Probably one of the biggest draws of the 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pro will be price, likely significantly below the $2,199 starting price for the 15.4-inch model.And, of course, weight.A 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pro with a thinner chassis could be a lot more portable than its 15.4-inch cousin.With production starting now, that could mean the arrival of a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro this fall.
Production is under way for a Retina display targeted at a more mainstream MacBook Pro, CNET has learned. Production has begun of a 2,560-by-1,600 pixel density display that will land on a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro, NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim told CNET. "The supply chain indications are that it's for a MacBook Pro 13.3 -- not a MacBook Air," said Shim.Displays are being made by Samsung, LGD, and Sharp, he said.Shim said that production volume is expected to be substantially higher out of the gate compared to the current 15.4-inch Retina MacBook Pro."With 15.4 it's production of a few hundred thousand units versus one to two million for the 13.3," he said. That 13.3-inch production began in the third quarter.He also said the volume depends on production yield rates. "It depends on how the yield rates turn out. If the yield rates are really good and they're at 70, 80, 90 percent, then they'll probably be in the million and a half range," he said. Related storiesIs the MacBook Pro 13-inch Retina on its way?Shim also touched on the differences between the display suppliers Samsung and LGD. "With Samsung, if you look at the new [Retina] iPad, they had fewer issues reaching the higher resolution requests from Apple. They were the first vendor to get to volume with that panel."Apple's Retina displays cram an astounding number of pixels into a relatively small area.The current 15.4-inch MacBook Pro Retina boasts an IPS display with 2,880-by-1,800 pixel density, far more than any PC laptop maker can deliver at the screen size. Probably one of the biggest draws of the 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pro will be price, likely significantly below the $2,199 starting price for the 15.4-inch model.And, of course, weight.A 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pro with a thinner chassis could be a lot more portable than its 15.4-inch cousin.With production starting now, that could mean the arrival of a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro this fall.
4G LTE heads to wireless carriers in China next month
4G LTE heads to wireless carriers in China next month
Wireless carriers in China next month will begin offering 4G LTE service, a potential boon to Apple, which is hoping to gain ground on Samsung's lead in the country.The speedier wireless network will debut in China on December 18, according to a report Monday in Xinhua, China's official state news agency. China Mobile, the world's largest wireless carrier with nearly 760 million customers, will launch high-speed Internet and data services with new mobile brand partner Hé, a Mandarin word that translates to "all" in English.There was some speculation that China Mobile's new partner might be Apple, which has been courting wireless carrier for years. The iPhone is currently offered by China Unicom and China Telecom, but support from China Mobile would open up a vast number of new customers for Apple.While nothing has yet been announced, Monday's Xinhua report goes on to note ongoing negotiations between the two companies and states that the iPhone will "officially" launch on China Mobile's network on December 18. CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.Apple was granted a government license to operate on China Mobile's network in August, and an Apple job posting In October sought an engineer with extensive knowledge of TD-SCDMA, the communications protocol used exclusively by China Mobile, leading many to believe an iPhone launch was imminent. Apple CEO Tim Cook has visited China twice this year, meeting with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua as recently as July. During a press conference in August, Xi said discussions with Apple were "ongoing," focusing on "commercial details and technology issues."A deal with the world's largest mobile telcom provider could go a long way toward chipping away at the smartphone market lead enjoyed by Samsung in China. The South Korean electronics giant sold 30 million smartphonesin the country last year for a 17.7 percent market share, according to Strategy Analytics figures, outpacing No. 2 Lenovo's 13 percent share and No. 3 Apple's 11 percent share.[Via TechCrunch]
Wireless carriers in China next month will begin offering 4G LTE service, a potential boon to Apple, which is hoping to gain ground on Samsung's lead in the country.The speedier wireless network will debut in China on December 18, according to a report Monday in Xinhua, China's official state news agency. China Mobile, the world's largest wireless carrier with nearly 760 million customers, will launch high-speed Internet and data services with new mobile brand partner Hé, a Mandarin word that translates to "all" in English.There was some speculation that China Mobile's new partner might be Apple, which has been courting wireless carrier for years. The iPhone is currently offered by China Unicom and China Telecom, but support from China Mobile would open up a vast number of new customers for Apple.While nothing has yet been announced, Monday's Xinhua report goes on to note ongoing negotiations between the two companies and states that the iPhone will "officially" launch on China Mobile's network on December 18. CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.Apple was granted a government license to operate on China Mobile's network in August, and an Apple job posting In October sought an engineer with extensive knowledge of TD-SCDMA, the communications protocol used exclusively by China Mobile, leading many to believe an iPhone launch was imminent. Apple CEO Tim Cook has visited China twice this year, meeting with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua as recently as July. During a press conference in August, Xi said discussions with Apple were "ongoing," focusing on "commercial details and technology issues."A deal with the world's largest mobile telcom provider could go a long way toward chipping away at the smartphone market lead enjoyed by Samsung in China. The South Korean electronics giant sold 30 million smartphonesin the country last year for a 17.7 percent market share, according to Strategy Analytics figures, outpacing No. 2 Lenovo's 13 percent share and No. 3 Apple's 11 percent share.[Via TechCrunch]
4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook may debut this month
4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook may debut this month
Consumers still interested in Research In Motion's BlackBerry PlayBook may get a chance at the long-awaited 4G model.The new model tablet is expected to launch in Canada through Bell and possibly other Canadian carriers on July 31. Citing an internal document from Bell, blogging site MobileSyrup says the tablet will be priced at $549.95.The specs revealed by the document point to a 7-inch 1,024x600-pixel display, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage.Running BlackBerry OS 2.0, the tablet will offer a 5-megapixel rear camera capable of 1080p videos and a 3-megapixel front camera. Support for 4G LTE and HSPA+ will be part of the package.A 4G PlayBook tablet has long been in the works but has struggled to hit the market.RIM first announced such a tablet at Mobile World Congress in 2011. Sprint initially planned to introduce a 4G PlayBook using its WiMax network, but the two companies later canceled that plan as RIM wanted to switch its focus to LTE.CNET contacted RIM for comment and will update the story when we get more information.If the report is true, one big question arises: Will consumers buy a new BlackBerry PlayBook, even one equipped with 4G LTE?RIM faces a more crowded and competitive tablet market than it did last year, especially among the 7-inch variety. Amazon's Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus 7 have both seen robust demand. And reports say Apple will unveil an iPad Mini later this year.Of course, the Fire and Nexus 7 are Wi-Fi-only devices, targeted more toward individual budget-conscious consumers. The iPad Mini is still a mystery in the making, so it's unknown whether such a tablet would support 4G.RIM has aimed the PlayBook more toward the enterprise crowd, but the tablet has failed to catch on with either businesses or consumers even after RIM cut the price last September. With such rivals as Apple, Amazon, and Google, RIM will be hard pressed to interest enough buyers in a new tablet at this point, 4G or not.
Consumers still interested in Research In Motion's BlackBerry PlayBook may get a chance at the long-awaited 4G model.The new model tablet is expected to launch in Canada through Bell and possibly other Canadian carriers on July 31. Citing an internal document from Bell, blogging site MobileSyrup says the tablet will be priced at $549.95.The specs revealed by the document point to a 7-inch 1,024x600-pixel display, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage.Running BlackBerry OS 2.0, the tablet will offer a 5-megapixel rear camera capable of 1080p videos and a 3-megapixel front camera. Support for 4G LTE and HSPA+ will be part of the package.A 4G PlayBook tablet has long been in the works but has struggled to hit the market.RIM first announced such a tablet at Mobile World Congress in 2011. Sprint initially planned to introduce a 4G PlayBook using its WiMax network, but the two companies later canceled that plan as RIM wanted to switch its focus to LTE.CNET contacted RIM for comment and will update the story when we get more information.If the report is true, one big question arises: Will consumers buy a new BlackBerry PlayBook, even one equipped with 4G LTE?RIM faces a more crowded and competitive tablet market than it did last year, especially among the 7-inch variety. Amazon's Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus 7 have both seen robust demand. And reports say Apple will unveil an iPad Mini later this year.Of course, the Fire and Nexus 7 are Wi-Fi-only devices, targeted more toward individual budget-conscious consumers. The iPad Mini is still a mystery in the making, so it's unknown whether such a tablet would support 4G.RIM has aimed the PlayBook more toward the enterprise crowd, but the tablet has failed to catch on with either businesses or consumers even after RIM cut the price last September. With such rivals as Apple, Amazon, and Google, RIM will be hard pressed to interest enough buyers in a new tablet at this point, 4G or not.
$3,500 MacBook Air Retro goes beige with rainbow logo
$3,500 MacBook Air Retro goes beige with rainbow logo
If you're looking for screaming green-and-orange Beats headphones, a glow-in-the-dark Sony DualShock 4 controller, or a leopard-print Bluetooth speaker, then you might want to head over to ColorWare, a company that customizes existing tech products with unusual colors and patterns. Its latest offering is the MacBook Air Retro, an homage to classic Mac looks of the 1980s.The 13-inch MacBook Air Retro turns back the clock to when Macs came in a weird beige color described as "putty." Its most noticeable feature is the cheery rainbow Apple logo, a look that Apple phased out in the late '90s after a couple of decades of service. The overall appearance of the laptop is inspired by Apple's IIe, which was originally released in 1983. ColorWare even added fake IIe-style vents along the lid of the laptop.Related storiesNewest Apple-inspired product is...two cups and a string?'Kids React' drags out a vintage Apple computer20th Anniversary Mac on eBay is new-in-the-boxThe Air Retro comes at a precious price of $3,499, which is $2,300 more than a regular top-of-the-line MacBook Air will cost you from Apple. That converts to about £2,155 or AU$3,870 (ColorWare ships internationally.) The MacBook Air Retro will be limited to an edition of just 10 computers, so you'll want to hurry up and plunk your money down if you absolutely have to have one. ColorWare describes the look of the Air Retro as a "thrilling contradiction." Depending on your personal tastes, you may find this combination of nostalgia and modern technology to be extremely funny, slightly unsettling, or uber-hip. The rainbow logo lights up and the beige color will cause people to look twice. If you do buy one, you can rest easy in your individuality know that only nine other people in the whole world have one. Plus, it's a lot easier to carry around than an actual IIe.
If you're looking for screaming green-and-orange Beats headphones, a glow-in-the-dark Sony DualShock 4 controller, or a leopard-print Bluetooth speaker, then you might want to head over to ColorWare, a company that customizes existing tech products with unusual colors and patterns. Its latest offering is the MacBook Air Retro, an homage to classic Mac looks of the 1980s.The 13-inch MacBook Air Retro turns back the clock to when Macs came in a weird beige color described as "putty." Its most noticeable feature is the cheery rainbow Apple logo, a look that Apple phased out in the late '90s after a couple of decades of service. The overall appearance of the laptop is inspired by Apple's IIe, which was originally released in 1983. ColorWare even added fake IIe-style vents along the lid of the laptop.Related storiesNewest Apple-inspired product is...two cups and a string?'Kids React' drags out a vintage Apple computer20th Anniversary Mac on eBay is new-in-the-boxThe Air Retro comes at a precious price of $3,499, which is $2,300 more than a regular top-of-the-line MacBook Air will cost you from Apple. That converts to about £2,155 or AU$3,870 (ColorWare ships internationally.) The MacBook Air Retro will be limited to an edition of just 10 computers, so you'll want to hurry up and plunk your money down if you absolutely have to have one. ColorWare describes the look of the Air Retro as a "thrilling contradiction." Depending on your personal tastes, you may find this combination of nostalgia and modern technology to be extremely funny, slightly unsettling, or uber-hip. The rainbow logo lights up and the beige color will cause people to look twice. If you do buy one, you can rest easy in your individuality know that only nine other people in the whole world have one. Plus, it's a lot easier to carry around than an actual IIe.
Apple, Microsoft, Sony sell smartphone patents for $900M
â€&lsqauo;Apple, Microsoft, Sony sell smartphone patents for $900M
Apple and other high-profile tech companies sold 4,000 smartphone patents for $900 million to a clearinghouse, the patents' new owner announced Tuesday, in an effort to put a long-fought courtroom battle behind them.The Apple-led Rockstar Consortium -- which includes Microsoft, BlackBerry, Ericsson and Sony -- sold the patents, initially purchased for $4.5 billionfour years ago, to the San Francisco-based RPX Corp. RDX plans to license the patents to another group of about 30 tech companies,including Google and Cisco Systems, according to a press release.The deal is expected to end a series of lawsuits -- which effectively pitted Rockstar against smartphone makers who developed Android phones -- around patents for some basic smartphone technology, including navigating through documents, data networking and Internet access. "Today's announcement is good news for our industry as it demonstrates our patent system working to promote innovation," said Erich Andersen, vice president and deputy general counsel of Microsoft, said in the release. "We joined Rockstar to ensure that both Microsoft and our industry would have broad access to the Nortel patent portfolio, and we're pleased to have accomplished that goal through this sale and our valuable license to the patents being sold." BlackBerry and Google declined to comment. Apple, Ericsson and Sony did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This could indicate the tech companies willingness to move away from often drawn-out and expensive patent lawsuits. Rights to a patent typically prevent competitors from profiting from a company's original ideas. Rockstar beat out Google in a bidding war to purchase the portfolio of patents from a bankrupt Nortel Networks in 2011. The consortium used the patents to file suit against Google and Android handset makers Samsung, Huawei and HTC in 2013. They settled the suit last month under undisclosed terms. (Via the WSJ)
Apple and other high-profile tech companies sold 4,000 smartphone patents for $900 million to a clearinghouse, the patents' new owner announced Tuesday, in an effort to put a long-fought courtroom battle behind them.The Apple-led Rockstar Consortium -- which includes Microsoft, BlackBerry, Ericsson and Sony -- sold the patents, initially purchased for $4.5 billionfour years ago, to the San Francisco-based RPX Corp. RDX plans to license the patents to another group of about 30 tech companies,including Google and Cisco Systems, according to a press release.The deal is expected to end a series of lawsuits -- which effectively pitted Rockstar against smartphone makers who developed Android phones -- around patents for some basic smartphone technology, including navigating through documents, data networking and Internet access. "Today's announcement is good news for our industry as it demonstrates our patent system working to promote innovation," said Erich Andersen, vice president and deputy general counsel of Microsoft, said in the release. "We joined Rockstar to ensure that both Microsoft and our industry would have broad access to the Nortel patent portfolio, and we're pleased to have accomplished that goal through this sale and our valuable license to the patents being sold." BlackBerry and Google declined to comment. Apple, Ericsson and Sony did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This could indicate the tech companies willingness to move away from often drawn-out and expensive patent lawsuits. Rights to a patent typically prevent competitors from profiting from a company's original ideas. Rockstar beat out Google in a bidding war to purchase the portfolio of patents from a bankrupt Nortel Networks in 2011. The consortium used the patents to file suit against Google and Android handset makers Samsung, Huawei and HTC in 2013. They settled the suit last month under undisclosed terms. (Via the WSJ)
Apple leaks the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3
â€&lsqauo;Apple leaks the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3
In an unusual blunder, Apple accidentally posted screenshots of its upcoming iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 in the iTunes Store on Wednesday. The company is expected to unveil these two new devices during a press event on Thursday.Related StoriesApple's Oct. 16 event: Here's what we expectWhat the iPad needs nextHow to watch Apple's iPad and Mac event liveiPad's moment of truth? Apple looks to new Air to reverse tablet slideImages of the new iPad Air and iPad Mini were revealed in an official user guide to Apple's iOS 8 operating system for iBooks in the iTunes Store. As of this writing the images are still public. The user guide shows images of both devices with a new addition of the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. The leak also reveals that Burst Mode, which lets users take "rapid-fire" photos, will be available for the iPad Air 2. Besides these new features, the iPads appear to be similar to their previous editions.Apple likely hopes its new lineup of iPads will give the company's tablet offerings a boost. Sales of the iPad have slowed as consumers have increasingly turned to smartphones. While the iPad remains a top seller in the tablet market, it hasn't radically changed sincethe first model in 2010. Unlike smartphones, which get replaced everytwo years or less, consumers are happy holding on to their iPads formuch longer.Besides the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3, Apple is expected to announce new Macs and further details on its OS X Yosemite operating system at the event in Cupertino, Calif., on Thursday. Last month, during another event, the company debuted two larger iPhones and gave users a glimpse of its first wearable, the Apple Watch.(Via 9to5Mac).This leaked image reveals that Burst Mode will be available on the iPad Air 2.Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET
In an unusual blunder, Apple accidentally posted screenshots of its upcoming iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 in the iTunes Store on Wednesday. The company is expected to unveil these two new devices during a press event on Thursday.Related StoriesApple's Oct. 16 event: Here's what we expectWhat the iPad needs nextHow to watch Apple's iPad and Mac event liveiPad's moment of truth? Apple looks to new Air to reverse tablet slideImages of the new iPad Air and iPad Mini were revealed in an official user guide to Apple's iOS 8 operating system for iBooks in the iTunes Store. As of this writing the images are still public. The user guide shows images of both devices with a new addition of the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. The leak also reveals that Burst Mode, which lets users take "rapid-fire" photos, will be available for the iPad Air 2. Besides these new features, the iPads appear to be similar to their previous editions.Apple likely hopes its new lineup of iPads will give the company's tablet offerings a boost. Sales of the iPad have slowed as consumers have increasingly turned to smartphones. While the iPad remains a top seller in the tablet market, it hasn't radically changed sincethe first model in 2010. Unlike smartphones, which get replaced everytwo years or less, consumers are happy holding on to their iPads formuch longer.Besides the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3, Apple is expected to announce new Macs and further details on its OS X Yosemite operating system at the event in Cupertino, Calif., on Thursday. Last month, during another event, the company debuted two larger iPhones and gave users a glimpse of its first wearable, the Apple Watch.(Via 9to5Mac).This leaked image reveals that Burst Mode will be available on the iPad Air 2.Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET
Apple locks iPhone 6 NFC to Apple Pay
â€&lsqauo;Apple locks iPhone 6 NFC to Apple Pay
After months of speculation, Apple finally came good on rumours of NFC functionality at last week's launch of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and Apple Watch. However, the NFC capability on the new devices is set to be locked down for use only with Apple Pay mobile payments. While NFC has been present in Android smartphones for some time -- Samsung, Sony, and Nokia have all rolled the technology into their flagship device launches -- Apple is a new arrival in the realm of near field communications. At last week's Apple event, the company announced Apple Pay -- a new mobile payments service that utilises NFC technology in conjunction with its Touch ID fingerprint scanner for secure payments that can be made from the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus or Apple Watch.Apple also announced a number of retailers that would accept Apple Pay for mobile payments at launch. However, Cult of Mac reports that NFC will be locked to the Apple Pay platform, meaning the technology will not be available for other uses. An Apple spokesperson confirmed the lock down of the technology, saying developers would be restricted from utilising its NFC chip functionality for at least a year. Apple declined to comment on whether NFC capability would remain off limits beyond that period. NFC can be used for a wide range of tasks, including pairing a smartphone to speakers for audio playback and sharing contact information between devices, while NFC tags open up the world of customisable automation to anyone with an NFC-enabled device. However, this latest word from Apple seems to indicate that after the long wait, Apple fans may not have all the NFC functionality they desired.
After months of speculation, Apple finally came good on rumours of NFC functionality at last week's launch of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and Apple Watch. However, the NFC capability on the new devices is set to be locked down for use only with Apple Pay mobile payments. While NFC has been present in Android smartphones for some time -- Samsung, Sony, and Nokia have all rolled the technology into their flagship device launches -- Apple is a new arrival in the realm of near field communications. At last week's Apple event, the company announced Apple Pay -- a new mobile payments service that utilises NFC technology in conjunction with its Touch ID fingerprint scanner for secure payments that can be made from the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus or Apple Watch.Apple also announced a number of retailers that would accept Apple Pay for mobile payments at launch. However, Cult of Mac reports that NFC will be locked to the Apple Pay platform, meaning the technology will not be available for other uses. An Apple spokesperson confirmed the lock down of the technology, saying developers would be restricted from utilising its NFC chip functionality for at least a year. Apple declined to comment on whether NFC capability would remain off limits beyond that period. NFC can be used for a wide range of tasks, including pairing a smartphone to speakers for audio playback and sharing contact information between devices, while NFC tags open up the world of customisable automation to anyone with an NFC-enabled device. However, this latest word from Apple seems to indicate that after the long wait, Apple fans may not have all the NFC functionality they desired.
10 million Galaxy S phones sold, says Samsung
Samsung has sold 10 million Galaxy S smartphones since their launch in June, according to the company.That means the Korean phone maker has reached its sales target for the Android-based phones, the company said yesterday in an e-mail to Bloomberg. The phones also helped Samsung boost overall sales and earnings for the third quarter.Samsung hopes to double smartphone sales this year, driven by both the Galaxy S and the new Nexus S, according to Bloomberg.Breaking down the results, the company sold more than 4 million Galaxy S devices in North America, around 2.5 million across Europe, and 2 million in Korea, according to The Korea Times.In the United States, the Galaxy S series actually comprises seven different models, including the Fascinate, Captivate, and Vibrant. Different models are available from all the major carriers, one factor that has helped its adoption among U.S. consumers.Samsung still faces intense competition from Apple, which sold 14.1 million iPhones in its fiscal quarter that ended inSeptember.
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