Archivi Blog
iTunes refresh delayed till ‘end of November’
We were all a little shocked when Apple failed to deliver a redesigned iTunes at its last keynote. The company promised a major revamp of the service would land in October yet, here we are with one day left in the month, and no iTunes overhaul in sight. Today Tom Neumayr, a spokesperson for the Cupertino firm, confirmed to AllThingsD that the software release had indeed been pushed back by a month. Only a few short days ago CFO Peter Oppenheimer was touting the refresh during the company’s earnings call saying, “We look forward to looking to launching a redesigned iTunes. The new iTunes has a dramatically simpler and cleaner interface.” But he made no mention of a delay. Neumayr says the goal now is to release the update before the end of November stating that development is “taking longer than expected and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right.” While the issue primarily cited in Neumayr’s statement is “seamless integration with iCloud” we wouldn’t be shocked if it’s rumored internet radio service also is playing a role in the delay. Read the complete statement below.
“The new iTunes is taking longer than expected and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right. We look forward to releasing this new version of iTunes with its dramatically simpler and cleaner interface, and seamless integration with iCloud before the end of November.”
Angry Birds sequel ‘Bad Piggies’ launches today on iPad, we go hands-on
Finnish game studio Rovio went from relatively unknown to center stage with the Angry Birds franchise. And in record time, too — the first Angry Birds landed on Apple’s iOS App Store in December 2009, less than three years ago, and has since become an international sensation. The birds spawned a flock of sequels, branded tie-ins, and tons of merchandise. All this adds up to quite a bit of chicken scratch for Rovio, and also quite a bit of pressure to keep the money train rolling.
Today marks Rovio’s first true sequel to the original Angry Birds, and it’s focused on the other side of the farm: the pigs. Enter Bad Piggies. Unlike Angry Birds, Bad Piggies isn’t about flinging anything towards a complicated structure in order to knock it down. Instead, it’s about moving one very green, goofy sounding pig to various points on a map to collect items and reach a goal — it’s much more Cut the Rope than Angry Birds. The same physics-based game mechanics are at play in Bad Piggies that made both Cut the Rope and Angry Birds so popular, and they’re just as fun in this time around. But how do you get said piggy to the goals? You build a contraption, of course.
Each level starts with a build section, allowing players to create all types of vehicles in order to transport the pig from point A to point B (while grabbing collectibles along the way). Only a small handful of build options are available, keeping Bad Piggies just as speedy of a game — to pick up and play while commuting or while waiting at the dentist’s office — as its wildly successful progenitor. It’s hard to say if Bad Piggies will recapture the success that Rovio found with Angry Birds proper, but all the hallmarks are there: quick, fun gameplay, colorful characters, goofy sounds, and accessibility (we couldn’t help but get all three stars on every level, but you don’t have to in order to proceed, should it prove too difficult). Bad Piggies launches tomorrow morning for iOS devices, Mac, and Android.
Apple launches incremental iTunes 10.7 update: supports new devices and iOS 6
While we won’t be seeing the heavily redesigned iTunes 11 until October, Apple has unveiled a new update ready for its roster of new devices, not to mention the incoming iOS 6. The refresh will work with the fresh-off-the-production-line iPod Nano and Shuffle hardware — but that’s the extent of what’s new in the 165MB download. You can grab it at the source below.
Amazon rumored clinching major labels for cloud music rights, iTunes Match feels the heat
When we last checked in, Amazon was thought to finally be pushing for full music rights in its Cloud Drive and Cloud Player services. It might be a smooth operator at the negotiating table: subsequent tips to CNET maintain that the top four major labels (a currently-independent EMI as well as Sony, Universal and Warner) have all signed deals that will let Amazon offer the same scan-and-match music downloads and streaming as Apple’s iTunes Match. The pacts would let Amazon offer access to every song a listener owns without having to directly upload each track that wasn’t bought directly from Amazon MP3. Aside from closing a conspicuous gap, the deal could end a whole lot of acrimony from labels who were upset that Amazon preferred a free-but-limited service over having to charge anything. The online shop hasn’t said anything official yet (if at all), but any signatures on the dotted line will leave Google Music as the odd man out.
Apple releases Mountain Lion Preview 4 and iOS 6 for developers, iTunes 10.6.3 for everyone else
Looking to tame Apple’s Mountain Lion? Step right up, Cupertino’s latest build of OS X is ready for consumption — assuming you’re a registered developer, of course. Following WWDC’s reveals and teases, Apple has released an updated preview of its desktop and mobile operating systems, serving up Mountain Lion Preview 4 and an iOS 6 beta to developers. The rest of us will have to console ourselves with iTunes 10.6.3, which adds support for the mobile and desktop OS’ those fancy devs are getting their hands on. Don’t worry, the updated music management software will be able to make full use of Mountain Lion next month, but you’ll have to wait until this fall to sync with iOS 6. Hit the source link below to get your update.
Facebook App Center launches tonight on Android and iOS with access to over 600 apps
The next big thing for Facebook? Apparently, acting as a guide to which apps users may want to check out on their Android or iOS devices. Its App Center is launching tonight with a listing of over 600 curated apps and just as the leaks indicated, puts your friends recommendations of what to use front and center. The app center itself is available on the mobile device’s Facebook apps or the desktop website, where users can send apps to their phone and then get redirected to the App Store / Google Play to download it if necessary. Facebook also has guidelines for developers on how they can get their software in front of a few more eyeballs (we haven’t read them, but we’re guessing a tie-in with the Book of Face won’t be frowned upon).
While Google has gotten a bit of a head start on this functionality by showing what people in your circles have +’d on Google Play, the crossplatform nature of the Center and Facebook’s massive reach make this a pretty easy fit. Of course, with rumors of deeper integration between Facebook and iOS 6, it will be interesting to see if today’s developments are referenced at WWDC next week. Check after the break for a couple more pictures and a press release, or the source links for info from Facebook’s PR and developer blog.
iTunes 11 With Improved iCloud And iOS 6 In The Works
According to the guys over at 9 to 5 Mac, Apple are working on a new version of iTunes, iTunes 11, which will come with support for iOS 6 and also improved iCloud integration.
iTunes 11 is reported to feature much improved iCloud integration with a centralized place for users to control all iCloud features within iTunes, which will include iTunes Match, iTunes in the Cloud, iCloud iOS devices backup and more.
Also discovered was the support for iOS 6, which will be the next major release of Apple’s mobile software for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, there are no details as yet on when we may see iTunes 11 and iOS 6 released.
Source 9 To 5 Mac
iTunes Movie Trailer App Update For New iPad 3 Retina Display
Today Apple has rolled out new high-definition iTunes Movie Trailers to app to support the Retina Display on their new iPad 3 tablet. The new iTunes Movie Trailers application has now jumped to version 1.1 and allows you to view the newest and most exclusive movie previews in glorious HD on your new iPad 3.
Apple’s new iPad which launched a week ago today, features a massive 2048 x 1536 resolution, creating 3.1 million pixels on the iPad’s 9.7-inch screen. Which Apple, says is about four times as many pixels you find on the older iPad 2, and more than many HDTVs.
Even thought the new Apple iPad has only been out for juts a week, Apple has already sold three millions new iPads, and today has launched the new iPad in another 25 countries.
Source: Mac Rumours
Flutter For Mac Lets You Playback Your Tunes With Hand Gestures (Video)
Flutter is a new free program for OS X that lets you control your music on your Mac using hand gestures, the app works with your Mac’s web camera and you can play and pause music by moving your hand in front of the web camera.
The application will work with iTunes and Spotify, and the video below shows Flutter in action, the application is currently in alpha, and it can be downloaded for free.
You can find out more information about Flutter over at their website, and you will have to sign up with your email to download the app.
Source The Next Web, Technabob
iTunes 10.6 Includes 192, 256kbps Sync Feature
The Apple Insider website has discovered a handy new features which was rolled out by Apple in its last iTunes 10.6 update, which rolled out last week. The new features tables you to down-convert higher bitrate songs to a low-end 128kbps. Allowing you to save space on your mobile devices when away from your main music library.
In previous versions of iTunes Apple only allowed 128kbps as the option to down-convert. But in the latest iTunes 10.6 release Apple has now enabled 192kbps or 256kbps quality levels. Providing you with more scope and higher quality when required if you have the available space.
iTunes music purchased directly from Apple are encoded at 256kbps, and CD’s burnt to your mac or PC iTunes software has a bitrate of 320kbps. So the new options will be handy if you have smaller iOS devices or you just like to pack in as much music as you can.
Source: Apple Insider
iTunes 10.6 now available for download, includes support for 1080p videos
Apple crosses 25 billion App Store downloads, thanks all the little people
If you’ve ever downloaded an app from iTunes then congratulations, you are a part of history. Just a few minutes ago Apple notched its 25 billionth download, thanking all involved for getting there, and of course (like it did for 10 billion, and 1 billion), gifting the lucky individual who crossed the line with another $10k gift card. Not sure what you would buy with $10,000 in App Store bucks? That’s ok, since you probably don’t have it, but don’t forget — our official Engadget and Distro apps are free, and will love you back all the same. Remember way back in 2008 when all this was fresh and new? Relive the iPhone SDK press conference via our liveblog right here.
Apple patent application points to DJ-like beat matching, pairs iTunes with fist pumps
Once upon a less digital time, there existed the art of the mixtape: a tedious labor of love that required timing, taste and a penchant for musical progression. No longer in this iTunes-era, where personally curated song collections that once served as the background to our lives can now be automated by our dear friends in Cupertino. And, based on a patent application filed back in August of 2010, those Apple-made robo-playlists could get even smarter and slicker, with your perennially hip, millennial compadres being none the wiser. According to the claims covered, “an electronic device” (insert Mac or iOS product here) would be able to locate and interpret beats from a preceding AAC, MP3 or WMA file and crossfade them into those of the following track. In other words, it’s a virtual disc jockey built into your machine; one that would supercede the currently available DJ feature. Whether or not this Sven Väth-like software will pan out in the company’s favor remains to be seen. So, until that fateful day arrives, the creation of those fist-pumping, house mixes is better left to the few, the proud, the orange-skinned.
Apple’s iTunes To Get New Design This Year?
According to a recent report by 9 to 5 Mac, Apple plans to launch a newly designed iTunes store and new versions of iTunes for both the Mac and PC, later this year, this will be the first major design overhaul for iTunes since 2009.
The re-design of the iTunes store is apparently a top priority for Apple, and the design is reported to be even simpler and more user friendly than the current version of iTunes.
Apple is also reported to be working on new versions of its iTunes store for its iOS devices, like the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, although we dont as yet have any details on exactly what the new design will look like.
As soon as we get some more information on what Apple has planned for iTunes in 2012 we will let you guys know, but from the sounds of it, iTunes is going to be getting a major new look later this year.
Source 9 To 5 Mac
Vonage Mobile app allows free calls and texts worldwide to fellow Android and iOS users
Apple iTunes U hands-on (video)
Would you like to make more money? Sure, we all would, and a great way to do that is to get a better education. There was a time when you had to go to schools or rely on shady mail-order diplomas. Now you can use your iPad and get the same thing with the new iTunes U app. It’s an extension of the existing iTunes U service, which has been around for about four years despite few people knowing anything about it. This new apps should change that. Join us for a full exploration of why.
Previously, iTunes U was just educational content in iTunes that you could download. Now, its basically full course materials. We looked into a sample Chemistry course to get a feel. It all starts with an overview of the course, including the description, bio of the teacher, even a complete syllabus. This will help you know whether you want to commit to this course, but realistically that is just the beginning.
Find My Car Smart app uses Bluetooth 4.0 to help iPhone 4S owners do the obvious
iTunes Match goes live: sync up your entire music collection for $24.99 a year
Apple reportedly trying to add movie streaming to its iCloud
Apple’s iCloud may have only just launched but according to rumors reported by the LA Times and Wall Street Journal, it’s already negotiating with Hollywood to add movies to the service (funny how things have changed in five years.) The timing is particularly curious because Apple, along with Disney, is one of the notable holdouts from the movie studio-backed Ultraviolet scheme with similar buy once / stream anywhere aspirations that just hit the streets this week. However, according to “people familiar with the matter” it could allow Ultraviolet access on iThings via app, while also bringing its usual media lock-in magic by also throwing in streaming copies of any flicks purchased on iTunes, but only on its own hardware. Recently activated streaming of purchased TV shows to the Apple TV shows the cloud’s potential, but we’ll have to wait for deals to be signed before that North Carolina datacenterputs Hollywood’s best on its to-do list.
Apple releases iTunes 10.5 with iTunes in the Cloud
