Music exec says Apple’s iTunes cloud is real, coming in 2010
Another prediction that Apple’s acquisition of streaming music service Lala will result in a cloud-based iTunes service was offered Tuesday, with a digital music executive suggesting purchased content will be available from any browser or Internet-connected device.
In a guest column on TechCrunch, Michael Robertson, a 12-year veteran of the digital music business, former CEO of MP3. com and current CEO of MP3tunes, said he believes Apple will not offer a subscription music service in the future. Instead, he said, the purchase of Lala will allow Apple to create an iTunes service that will make content accessible from anywhere.
"An upcoming major revision of iTunes will copy each user’s catalog to the net making it available from any browser or net connected ipod/touch/tablet," he wrote. "The Lala upload technology will be bundled into a future iTunes upgrade which will automatically be installed for the 100+ million itunes users with a simple ’An upgrade is available…’ notification dialog box.
"After installation iTunes will push in the background their entire media library to their personal mobile iTunes area. Once loaded, users will be able to navigate and play their music, videos and playlists from their personal URL using a browser based iTunes experience."
Robertson’s column echoes what was said over a month ago by The Wall Street Journal: Apple will change its iTunes business model to focus on Internet-based content. The $85 million purchase of Lala will allow users to access and manage their iTunes purchases directly through the Internet without downloading the content in question, or the iTunes software.
In its current form, iTunes requires users to download and manage purchased content on a per-computer basis. But with Internet-based management, users could log into their iTunes account and access and stream all of their music from any computer, or device, with an Internet connection. Apple could even sell music on other Web sites or through Web-based search results.
In addition, analyst Maynard J. Um of UBS Investment Research said in early December that he believes iTunes content will become available from a Web browser and other Apple devices. The purchase of Lala could tie in to Apple’s $1 billion server farm in North Carolina.
The presence of iTunes on the Web has already grown, with the iTunes Preview Web page being introduced in early 2009, and browser-based 30-second song samples coming soon after. The iTunes Preview site allows users to view content available from the service without opening the media suite software.
Robertson wrote Tuesday that he expects a mobile iTunes to appear in 2010, allowing Apple to "protect their media franchise from encroachment." Such a move, he said, would allow the Cupertino, Calif., company to stay well ahead of the competition.
"Think Amazon/e-commerce, Microsoft/OS, Google/search, Apple/media," he wrote. "(Apple co-founder Steve) Jobs is keenly aware of the digital transition from PC to cloud centric programs and services. It’s imperative Apple lead in this transition or risk ceding leadership in media to others such as Amazon, Real, Microsoft, Yahoo, etc."
Apple updates Boot Camp with Windows 7 support
Apple on Tuesday updated its Boot Camp software and issued new drivers and utilities to allow users to run Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 7. The Mac maker also issued its first security update of 2010, addressing 12 vulnerabilities.
The Boot Camp software was updated to version 3.1 for both 32-bit and 64-bit users of Windows 7. The updates add native support for the Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate versions of Windows 7.
In addition, Boot Camp Software Update 3.1 for Windows addresses issues with the Apple trackpad, turns off the red digital audio port LED on laptop computers when it is not being used, and supports the Apple wireless keyboard and Apple Magic Mouse. The 32-bit version is 380.73MB, while the 64-bit update is 274.58MB. The software requires either Windows XP or Windows Vista SP2 before installing Windows 7.
To further support the Microsoft OS, system-specific drivers are available. Those with the new late 2009 iMac, both 21.5-inch and 27-inch models, can download the iMac Late 2009 Windows 7 Drivers, while iMac and Mac Pro users can use the Graphics Firmware Update 1.0 update for compatibility.
Finally, Apple has also released the Boot Camp Utility for Windows 7 Upgrade, which safely unmounts the read-only Macintosh volume on Microsoft Windows Vista. The utility must be used before upgrading from Vista to Windows 7.
Also Tuesday, the first security updates of 2010 for Snow Leopard and Leopard were released. Security Update 2010-001 is recommended for all users of Mac OS X, and it addresses a number of potentially dangerous security issues.
The updates are available for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard (21.90MB), Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Server (248.11MB), and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Client (159.58MB). They can also be downloaded via Software Update.
The vulnerabilities addressed in the update, according to Apple, include CoreAudio, the Flash Player plug-in, OpenSSL, Image RAW, and Image IO.
Apple fires back at Nokia, asks ITC to ban handset imports
The ongoing patent and licensing dispute between handset makers Apple and Nokia took yet another twist this week, as the iPhone maker has asked the International Trade Commission to ban the import of Nokia’s phones into the U.S.
Apple’s latest move is in response to a move in December from Nokia, when it too asked the ITC to ban the import of Apple products. This week’s latest patent infringement suit is the latest in a list of legal battles the two companies are engaged in.
A notice of complaint from Apple was posted on the ITC Web site Friday without any detail. The ITC oversees U.S. trade and deals with matters that include patent infringement.
The battle first began in October, when Nokia sued Apple over the use of patented wireless standards. Nokia has alleged that the iPhone maker has infringed on GSM and wireless LAN related patents it owns.
Two months later, Apple countersued Nokia over its own patented technologies. Apple has alleged that Nokia has attempted to obtain more money from it than other companies, as well as rights to Apple’s intellectual property.
Nokia previously asked the ITC to ban the import of Apple products, including iPhones, iPods and MacBooks, into the U.S. Nokia’s ITC complaint accuses Apple of treading on seven distinct patents applying to user interface, camera, antenna and power management.
iPhone OS 4.0 could see ‘imminent’ release, developer hints
Evidence continues to suggest Apple could soon introduce a new version of the iPhone operating system, this time with an alleged high-profile developer claiming their software was just updated for iPhone OS 4.0.
Rick Broida with CNet’s iPhone Atlas said Friday that he received an e-mail from a "prominent app developer" regarding an update to the iPhone operating system. "Just wanted to give you a heads up that we’ve submitted an updated app for the new iPhone OS 4.0 software," the e-mail allegedly said. Additional details on the supposed software were not given.
Earlier this month, it was alleged that Apple’s rumored Jan. 27 event could include the introduction of iPhone OS 4.0. One report claimed the new software developer kit includes a "simulator" that makes it easy for developers to adapt to different screen resolutions.
Apple is widely expected to introduce its long-rumored tablet device at the event later this month. This week, one rumor claimed that Apple has not issued any updates for the iPhone in some time because the next version has many tablet-related references that the company did not want to leak in advance of its planned unveiling.
Also this week, one developer contacted AppleInsider when a single handset using iPhone OS 4.2 appeared in his Pinch Media statistics for an iPhone application. The identifier could theoretically have been faked, and it’s not clear why a new version of the iPhone OS being tested would skip the 4.0 distinction.
As rumors in recent weeks about the tablet have continued to pick up steam, talk of iPhone models and software has also gained traction. Rumors have ranged from an uncharacteristically early April debut to a potential Magic Mouse-like touch panel on the device’s plastic backing.
Inside track on Apple’s tablet: history of tablet computing
Apple’s anticipated press event later this month is widely expected to debut a new tabled-sized device as a sibling to the company’s Mac, iPod and iPhone product lines. Here’s what has led up to the launch, and why the futuristic tablet hasn’t taken off so far.
Mac OS X dev reflects on Apple; $100K tablet bounty; App Store piracy
Former Apple executive Avie Tevanian discussed his former company as he joins a Palm investor, a Web site has offered up to $100,000 for information on Apple’s rumored tablet, and iPhone App Store piracy has been estimated to cause $450 million in losses.
Former Apple exec Avie Tevanian on Apple
Avie Tevanian, in an interview with CNET, weighed in on Apple’s history with the touch interface: "The whole touch interface is probably at its very early stages, which is interesting because I know when I was at Apple we were working on it many years ago, certainly before I had left. It’s good to see it getting out there. Everybody is starting to use it, but my guess is there is still a lot more to be done there."
Tevanian added that along with Apple, he keeps a close eye on Google and Facebook. "Everybody else is at a level below," he said.
He said he is "thrilled" with Apple’s success and mentioned that prototypes of many of Apple’s new products existed in one form or another back during his time at the company.
"The products you see I saw early versions of them when I was there," he said. "It is great to see them turn out so well."
Elevation Partners, a private equity firm announced Tuesday that Tevanian had joined the company as managing director. Tevanian served as chief technology officer at Apple up until 2006, and was instrumental in the development of Mac OS X.
App Store piracy losses estimated at $450 million
In an analysis by 24/7 Wall St., it was determined that the App Store has lost nearly $450 million due to software piracy since the store opened in 2008. Although it is difficult to exactly measure rates of piracy, apps that "phone home" when run on a jailbroken phone can be used to provide a rough estimate. Using these figures it can be determined that piracy rates among apps can be as high as 90 percent.
The $450 million result was reached by a long series of estimates and assumptions. By taking into account the number of total app downloads (3 billion) and an estimate of the portion of these that are paid (17 percent or 510 million) along with an assumed piracy rate of 75 percent and an average paid application price of $3.00, the result is $4.59 billion potentially lost. Finally, the legitimate app purchase rate if the app could not be pirated was pegged at 10 percent, giving the final number of $459 million.
While these numbers are admittedly rough, the report surmises that Apple has largely ignored the piracy problem due to their focus on selling actual iPhone and iPod Touch units, much like the hands-off stance that that the company has taken with illegal music being loaded on iPods.
Site offers $100,000 Apple Tablet bounty
Today Valleywag announced a reward for information on Apple’s much-rumored tablet device. Titled "Valleywag’s Apple Tablet Scavenger Hunt," the blog is offering amounts of money that increase with the level of information provided:
- $10,000 for bona fide pictures
- $20,000 for video of one in action
- $50,000 for pictures or video of Steve Jobs holding one
- $100,000 to let them play with one for an hour
As of now, while details about the device seem to be popping up at an increasing rate, no one knows for sure how the device will work or how one would interact with it at this point, hence the hefty reward.
Last year, AppleInsider first reported that the device would be launched early in 2010. Currently, all signs now point to a debut at Apple’s planned event on Jan. 27 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.