iTunes

The iPhone gets pwned

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:59:59 -0400

When Apple released its iPhone SDK a few weeks back, the computing giant also introduced the App Store, which will serve as the exclusive platform for all iPhone application distribution. Asked to address the concerns of developers resistant to heed Apple's demands for sole distribution rights and 30 percent of all revenues, CEO Steve Jobs was characteristically blunt, outlining a love-it-or-leave-it argument that mandates developers either agree to Apple's terms or forget about iPhone distribution altogether. "We think this is going to be a boon for developers," Jobs insisted. "They can download applications from a version of the App Store, which is loaded on the Mac or PC. We don't intend to make money off the App Store. We don't make a lot of money off of iTunes, and the split with the music companies is about the same. We just want to create a very efficient channel for these developers to reach every iPhone user. Most developers don't have a store to sell their apps on their website."

According to Apple, more than 100,000 developers are apparently choosing to love it. That's the number of developers the company says downloaded the beta iPhone SDK in its first four days of release. In addition, more than a million watched the iPhone SDK launch video on the Apple website, which the company cites as further proof of the developer community's enormous interest in creating iPhone applications.

But not everyone is so enamored with Apple's policies. Independent software developer group the iPhone Dev Team claims it is close to releasing Pwnage, a new product enabling iPhones to download and run software programs regardless of whether they've received the official Apple seal of approval. "You can do things like installing custom-made files, straight from iTunes," writes iPhone Dev Team member MuscleNerd on the group's website. "The tools are undergoing intensive developing and soon will be ready for public consumption." Apple is about to learn the hard way that asserting control and maintaining it are two radically different concepts. -Jason

Apple introduces iPhone software updates

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:59:58 -0500

During his annual Macworld keynote last week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced a series of iPhone software updates highlighted by a redesigned Maps application enabling users to triangulate their position via nearby WiFi base stations or cellular towers. The new hybrid map view combines map view and satellite view featuring major street names overlaid on satellite imagery. Apple also introduced Web Clips (customizable home screen icons that take iPhone users directly to favorite websites) as well as SMS updates enabling users to text the same message to multiple recipients. The iPhone is also optimized for Apple's new iTunes Movie Rentals service, also announced last week. According to Jobs, the iPhone has sold four million units to date. "iPhone doesn't stand still--we're making it better and better all the time," he said in a prepared statement.

For more on the iPhone updates:
-read this release

Related article:
What will Apple do for its iPhone encore?

Apple working on third-party iPhone applications?

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Despite Apple's draconian measures to shut down iPhone software hacks and unauthorized applications, 9to5Mac reports the computing giant is hard at work with its partners to develop new third-party games and applications for both the iPhone and the iPod. Sources suggest Apple is consciously modeling its efforts after T-Mobile's successful Sidekick application development and distribution platform, granting developers limited platform access and making available new apps only after they pass internal checks for security, compatibility and marketability. To that end, Apple has brought in alumni from Sidekick creator Danger Inc. to create the iPhone/iPod software development architecture.

According to 9to5Mac, it is uncertain whether Apple will make new applications commercially available for download via its iTunes digital storefront or an over-the-air upgrade protocol--one probable break from the T-Mobile formula is billing consumers through their iTunes accounts, effectively removing wireless network operators from the revenue chain.

In related iPhone news, DigiTimes reports Apple is mulling adoption of Intel's mobile Internet device platform for a future iteration of the device. According to OEM sources, Intel unveiled a Moorestown-based MID product closely resembling the iPhone at its recent Intel Developer Forum--the Moorestown platform is expected to launch in 2009, and Apple is reportedly smitten with the chipset's size, speed and power consumption.

For more on Apple's application development efforts:
- read this 9to5 Mac article

For more on the Apple/Intel rumors:
- read this DigiTimes article

Related articles:
Apple at work on touch-screen PDA
Recapping Apple's European iPhone deals
Apple slashes iPhone price, offers mea culpa
Rumor: iPhone upgrades imminent
Hacking your iPhone: Windows users

Apple to debut new iPods, iPhone successor?

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Apple stock rose sharply last week following company-stoked rumors the computing giant will release as many as four new iPod devices at a "special event" scheduled to take place in San Francisco Wednesday. Industry speculation says Apple will debut a video-enabled iPod nano, a full-screen iPod and a new multimedia mobile phone to follow on the recent release of the iPhone. Moreover, invitations to the Apple event include the statement "The beat goes on," which some commentators noted were also the last words in the Beatles' final press release, generating buzz that the Fab Four's catalog finally will make its digital debut via Apple's iTunes music platform.

Outside of introducing new colors to its iPod shuffle device, Apple has not updated its iPod roster since fall 2006, at which time it premiered the redesigned iPod shuffle alongside a slimmed-down incarnation of the mid-range iPod nano. With the flagship iPod remaining unchanged for two years, sales have grown stagnant--in the first quarter, Apple reported diminished year-over-year iPod sales for the first time. Investors nevertheless are bullish on the promise of a new iPod release: "The almost certain launch of a new family of iPods next Wednesday…creates another opportunity for upside in the back half of the year and provides another reason to own Apple shares," writes Goldman Sachs' David Bailey.

For more on the Apple buzz:
- read this San Jose Mercury News article

Related articles:
Next-gen Apple devices like Zune?
Apple, EMI lift DRM; still no Beatles on iTunes
Can anyone dethrone iTunes?

Rumor: iPhone upgrades imminent

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:59:58 -0400

While Apple's new iPhone is earning largely positive consumer buzz, AppleInsider reports a host of upgrades are already in the pipeline, timed to coincide with the October release of the computing giant's revamped Mac OS X version 10.5, dubbed "Leopard." According to an Apple insider, some iPhone updates may arrive sooner rather than later: An instant messaging client likened to a mobile version of iChat will reportedly arrive in the imminent future, with customized ringtones scheduled to debut around the same time. Sometime this autumn, Apple will add to the iPhone a disk mode for transferring computer files as well as a file browser to store and open documents. And in a move reminiscent of the iPod shuffle, consumers will have the choice to reserve a certain percentage of iPhone flash storage for iTunes content, with the remainder allotted for other data.

Leopard itself will allegedly arrive with its own iPhone bells and whistles, including an enhanced file window for dragging content to and from the device. Other alleged iPhone upgrades: a mobile edition of iWork (the Mac alternative to Microsoft Office), an auto-discovery file system, search and widescreen typing, not to mention third-party applications including Adobe's Flash.

In related news, technical investigation firm Semiconductor Insights is touting the first known iPhone video teardown, revealing design wins by brands including Samsung, Intel and Balda. Watch the video here.

For more on the iPhone upgrade rumors:
-read this AppleInsider post

Related article:
-Jobs: You don't need an SDK for iPhone

Editor's Corner: iPhone bad for developers

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:01:39 -0500

iPhone: Now for the bad news
Apple announced the iPhone last week, and in many ways it blew away expectations. Widescreen video playback, a slick Web browser and WiFi support are excellent surprises. And, of course, the phone looks fabulous.

But a few days have passed since the MacWorld keynote, and Steve Jobs' Reality Distortion Field has begun to dissipate. It was inevitable; the level of buzz leading up to the MacWorld keynote was so high that some people were bound to feel let down.

The iPhone is neither the first button-less phone (check out LG's award-winning design) nor is it the first iTunes compatible phone (who could forget the ill-fated Motorola ROKR?). It's also got a mere 8GB of non-expandable storage at best, which means that any self-respecting music fans is going to have to lug around an iPod too. Mobile phone geeks are bummed that the iPhone won't ship with 3G support out of the box, though HSDPA will probably be added later and, frankly, EDGE+WiFi is good enough for most users. A bigger issue for consumers is the Cingular-only distribution strategy, which is a mistake, but it's not fatal.

The real problem with the iPhone is Apple's complete lack of concern for third-party developers. Not only is there no SDK available, but Apple has expressed a desire to maintain compete control over the "consumer experience." Apple won't even disclose what processor the phone is running. (According to an FBR Research report cited by the EE Times, the CPU is made by Samsung.) The iPhone also has no memory card slot and no support for Java or Flash. It's not even clear if Apple will allow users to install unapproved ringtones.

According to a Newsweek interview, Steve Jobs said: "You don't want your phone to be an open platform...You need it to work when you need it to work. Cingular doesn't want to see their West Coast network go down because some application messed up." It's a laughable excuse; Cingular offers plenty of other Smartphones with open platforms and none of them have crashed the network yet. I'm sure that I'm preaching to the choir, but an open platform benefits everyone. Well, nearly everyone. I imagine some people drop the 15-cents-per-message SMS-based chat client once third-party developers port iChat to the platform (a suspicious oversight on Apple's part).

What can concerned developers do about the iPhone? Not much. Apple's plans are still largely a mystery, and presumably there will eventually be some system that allows developers to submit applications to Apple so they can be approved to distribution. In the meantime, some indie developers are to filing bug reports about the lack of support. I guess it can't hurt, but I don't think this is a decision Apple made lightly. Apple managed to sell millions of iPods without opening up the DRM to competitors, and the company is hoping to do the same here. -Eli

Editor's Corner

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:01:39 -0400

DRM--Defective by Design?
Happy belated Day Against DRM! Or is that the right attitude? I agree that DRM has serious problems (that seem to be getting worse, not better), but there's no easy answer here.

I don't believe that digital rights technology is inherently evil. Programmers deserve to be compensated for their applications and artists deserve to be compensated for their art--not everyone can make money on support contracts or "donationware" apps. Without some form of data protection, piracy will undoubtedly increase. And a rise in piracy will likely result in a loss in legitimate sales (though I suppose that's not always a bad thing)

The current problem with DRM is that content publishers are abusing the power given to them with this new technology. Content licensing needs to be as unobtrusive and invisible as possible in order to really succeed.

Mobile phones are already emerging as a key battle in the DRM war, and so far it isn't looking so good for the media companies. The classic example is Motorola's iTunes phone, which is generally considered a failure at least partly because the phone's restrictive DRM prevents users from loading more than 100 songs at once, no matter what.

Similarly, media industry intervention torpedoed TiVoToGo, the mobile counterpart to TiVo's home video recorder. Techdirt explains how the media industry killed the whole product due to piracy concerns.

What are your thoughts on piracy and DRM? Post a comment on FierceDeveloper.com. -Eli

Apple iPhone rumors heat up again

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 20:01:38 -0400

About five months ago I wrote that the Apple iPhone is not a question of "if" but "when." Well, now it seems like the "when" date is rapidly approaching. Motorola and Apple are rumored to be working in earnest on a phone destined for the Cingular network. Motorola, of course, previously collaborated with Apple for the ROKR, a modified E398 with support for iTunes DRM. Blog

QUICKLINKS: Pearl has great hardware, unfinished software; Mobile Digg for J2ME devices; Much more...

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 20:01:35 -0400

Sprint gets more than they bargained for in this LG Fusic review. Article

Mobile Digg: a J2ME Digg.com client. Web site

Opinion: RIM Pearl has great hardware, unfinished software. Blog

A Palm Treo timeline. Article

Wireless execs to testify on privacy before House subcommittee. Article

Opinion: QWERTY keyboards aren't for mobile devices. Blog

Microsoft looking for a few good Seattlites to test new devices. Blog

ELSPA's list of top 10 mobile games for May & June. Blog

Motorola on the Symbol deal. Interview

Rumor: iTunes 7 tracks don't work on iTunes phones. Blog

Editor's Corner: The future of ringtones

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 20:01:39 -0400

As I've said before, ringtones may be big business, but I don't think it can last. Of course, that's just my opinion. Research and Markets has released a new report with some interesting predictions:

The report predicts that full-length song downloads will remain popular in Japan, but that the success will not carry over to Europe and the U.S.
Covertones--ringtones of popular songs covered by other, less expensive artists--are here to stay.
Creating your own ringtones will remain difficult thanks to DRM and other restrictions.
Pure-play mobile aggregators are in trouble since operators and content providers are increasingly going direct-to-consumer.
The report says, "price differentials between ringtones, online music and mobile music will converge." I take this to mean that ringtone and full-length mobile music tracks will fall in price to around the iTunes $0.99 price.

- Eli