iTunes Match subscribers late Friday reported a problem with iTunes Match playback failing. Anyone on a desktop, whether Mac or Windows, couldn't play cloud-stored songs unless they were already matched with the iTunes Store. The problems didn't appear to be limited to particular app or OS revisions, and iOS users could still access the service.
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Creative has introduced a pair of noise-canceling headphones. The HN-900 integrates an in-line microphone with the over-the-ear headset. The Aurvana X-Fi 2 is a pure headphone, but supports a multi-dimensional surround-sound effect.
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Fri February 3, 2012 | Posted in: accessories, iPad
StudioProper has released a new iPad stand designed for in-car use. The Wallee Headrest can be attached to any car seat and positioned either on the back of a headrest or in a central position between the front seats. Support is also offered for holding the device in both portrait and landscape orientations. The Wallee Headrest can be purchased through StudioProper's online store for $40 with free shipping around the world.
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Apple has pushed out an update to iBooks Author, the company's recently-launched publishing tool. The sole change in v1.0.1 is a new end-user agreement, clarifying a controversial portion of the document which initially suggested that any material produced with the software could only be sold through the iBookstore if it was sold at all. "If you charge a fee for any book or other work you generate using this software (a 'Work'), you may only sell or distribute such Work through Apple (e.g., through the iBookstore) and such distribution will be subject to a separate agreement with Apple," one part of the previous EULA read.
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Fri February 3, 2012 | Posted in: Apple
Today's deals from DealNN include price breaks on iPads, external hard drives, and more. Apple.com is currently offering sales on a wide range of refurbished iPads, one of which is the refurb. 64GB iPad 2 that includes both Wi-Fi and 3G support, HD video recording, dual-core A5 processing chip, and FaceTime support with two cameras. Currently featured at DealNN, this iPad 2 has now dropped to only $729, and delivers savings of up to $100.
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Fri February 3, 2012 | Posted in iphone apps

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Twitterrific for Twitter 4.4.6 is a new version of the popular twitter client for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. With this upgrade comes a new “Summarize” URL tap-and-hold option for users who have Summly installed, as well as improved handling of tweet gaps in the timeline. Several bug fixes are also included, which enhances compatibility with iOS 5.
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Readdle has launched a new note creation and editing tool for the iPad, Remarks. Through the program users can keep a record of their thoughts, annotate documents, and customize notes with a variety of highlighters, floating text boxes, and shapes. A built-in co-edit function allows users to edit notes made by other Remarks users, and to share notes with friends via e-mail.
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Robokill 2: Leviathan Five is a sequel to the arcade-style shooter game for iOS devices. It features over 600 enemy filled rooms spread over 12 different missions and three chapters. When compared to the previous version the game offers more than 25 additional enemies, along with tons of new pickups and powerups. An in-app purchase system also enables users to level up early and purchase upgrades quickly.
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AcePlayer is designed to support almost any video and audio file format, and allows users to stream movies directly on iPhone/iPad. The latest version adds a new “Open in” feature, which enables users to open unknown files in other applications. Additional changes include support for the .ape file format, the ability to display playback time in the detail of the movie files, and support for hiding password folders in the settings.
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Glu Games recently unveiled a new racing game for iOS devices, Rogue Racing. The game delivers 24 different customizable cars ranging from hot rods to muscle cars, which can be used for any of the three game modes including Street, Time-Attack, and Elimination. When customizing cars players can alter the rims, spoilers ,exhausts, intakes, decals, paintjobs, and even add neon ground effects.
Fri February 3, 2012 | Posted in: industry, audio, Apple
Sister Sledge has filed a lawsuit Thursday against Warner Music Group. The San Francisco complaint caught by the Hollywood Reporter accused Warner of cheating the "We Are Family" singers of revenue on iTunes, Amazon MP3, and other stores through purportedly deceptive terms. By counting a download as a one-time sale rather than a license, Warner was taking the group down from a 25 percent cut to much less.
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Jawbone's plans for a bigger Bluetooth speaker were given away late Thursday after an FCC filing showed a new device. Just called the Big Jambox, the diagramming hints that it might represent a literal upsizing of the brick-shaped audio device. Not much is hinted at in directly by the filing besides the inclusion of Bluetooth.
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A flaw in iTunes Match may inadvertently replace "explicit" tracks with "clean" versions for some users, according to reports by Cult of Mac reporters and corroborated by users elsewhere. A later update on 9to5Mac indicates that at least one user has heard back from Internet Software and Services head Eddy Cue's office that acknowledged the issue and said the company is working on on a fix.
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Thu February 2, 2012 | Posted in iphone apps

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PhatWare has unveiled an upgrade to its note-taking app with handwriting recognition technology, PhatPad 2.0. One of the main features of the update is the new multilingual handwriting recognition engine, which supports English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. The user interface has also added compatibility for multiple languages, and can be set to English, German, or French.
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Bean's Quest Final is a new version of the platform-based adventure game for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The upgrade delivers two new worlds called Dusty Desert and Wizards Lair, and offers a total of 22 additional levels between the two. Other changes range from a final boss battle to new user interface graphics, and include a new intro movie, final credit roll, and other minor enhancements.
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A new 6.6 version of Note Taker HD, the powerful iPad app for writing and organizing handwritten notes, is now available for download. This update is not recommended for users still running iOS 3.2, and includes folder password protection, a pen memory setting, and support for the iOS Data Protection API. Additionally, the update also provides transparency support for the new clip art now available on the company's website.
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Avid Technology has launched a new video and audio editing tool for the iPad, Avid Studio. The app is designed to work with any media on the user's device, as well as media from external devices via an iPad Camera Connection Kit. It allows users to create multi-layer 3D animations, transitions, and titles, as well as soundtracks and high-impact slideshows.
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Reckless Racing 2 is a sequel to the high-paced racing game for iPhone and iPad devices. It offers a selection of 18 different, highly detailed cars, ranging from dirt buggies to fast supercars. During the Career mode players can earn money for new cars and upgrades, as well as tune and tweak the performance, handling, tires, and colors of cars. Support is also includes for an Arcade mode, complete with 49 pre-defined challenges.
Wed February 1, 2012 | Posted in: iPod
The newly-leaked iPod nano images do indeed represent a camera-equipped prototype, but one about two months old, according to MIC Gadget. The site quotes "factory sources," who further describe the camera as using a 1.3 megapixel sensor, but with serious problems when it comes to image quality. In essence the unit produces overexposed images, with blurring and diffraction in bright conditions when the aperture is too small.
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Wed February 1, 2012 | Posted in: industry, audio, Apple
Spotify scored a more symbolic win Wednesday after checks found that Coldplay had put its latest album, Mylo Xyloto, back on Spotify (link). The appearance, which includes other streaming services like We7, follows after the rock band kept its whole album off of streaming music services for fear of losing album purchases at iTunes and elsewhere. The decision was unusual as it came just weeks after the band's manager David Holmes had reiterated his objections to what he saw as lost revenue.
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Wed February 1, 2012 | Posted in iphone apps

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TurboScan 2.5.1 is a new version of the document scanning tool for iOS devices, is designed to quickly scan multipage documents into high-quality PDFs. The upgrade provides several new and improved features, such as the ability to search for documents by title, and enhanced edge detection when scanning books or documents. Lastly, new document navigation buttons make it easy to move back and forth through documents.
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A new vegetarian cooking app has recently been announced for the iPad, known as Veggie Meals. The program contains up to 55 simple vegetarian and vegan recipes with ingredients that are easy to find. Each recipe comes with a detailed photo of the finished product, as well as instruction on how to prepare it. Support is offered for a wide range of food selections, ranging from burgers to pizza, and including soups and desserts.
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Viet Tran has launched a new version of the handwriting, note-taking, and audio recording tool for iPad, Notes Plus 3.0.2. Features of the upgrade include new Dropbox Sync support, and additional languages for handwriting recognition. Multiple bug fixes are also provided in this release, along with the ability to alter the page settings for an entire notebook.
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Food Network In the Kitchen offers iPhone/iPad users thousands of recipes from popular chefs and shows. With the latest 2.0 version a brand new user interface and design has been introduced, along with support for adding personal notes to recipes, and a variety of performance and stability enhancements. The update also delivers a new recipe comparison tool to view recipes side-by-side.
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Elf Defense Eng is a new tower defense game for iPhone/iPad, where players must defend the elven homeland against the intrusion of human oppressors. The game includes 60 different stages with different difficulty modes, along with 100 different enemy types to defend against. Special items can be used to help enhance tactics, and upgrades can be purchased using in-game currency.
Wed February 1, 2012 | Posted in: iPod
New photos could signal that Apple is still working on the idea of a modern, camera-equipped iPod nano. Images obtained by Apple.pro show a recent Nano casing design, but with a camera hole situated in the clip. Housing for a camera assembly, notably, fills the space between the hole and the main body of the Nano.
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For those who like to make their electronics serve multiple purposes, JVC Japan has just introduced an iPod and iPhone dock that doubles as a nightstand. Called the N-BX3, it sports a glass top that measures 11.8 by 4.3 inches across and is nearly 20 inches tall. Two 30W satellite speakers reproduce sound, and a shelf pulls out for docking users' iOS devices.
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Wed February 1, 2012 | Posted in: industry, audio
On his last day as chairman of Warner Music Group, industry leader Edgar Bronfman Jr. sat down for an interview at the D: Dive Into Media conference in Dana Point, California. He was asked about a wide variety of topics, including his thoughts on various technological aspects of music which inevitably includes Apple, Spotify, Google and other players in the digital music scene. While defending the necessity of record labels, he warned of over-consolidation.
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Zite, the magazine-style feed aggregator for the iPad, iPhone and HP Touchpad has announced in a blog post that chipmaker Intel will be sponsoring the Technology section of the app, the second such sponsor the magazine has had. The company says the sponsorship will last "a few months" and will consist of the usual assortment of tech articles along with "promoted" news stories.
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Two online petitions that look to address issues around claims of factory worker abuse among the Chinese suppliers of Apple and other electronics firms have been launched online, while accessory maker Mophie has won a case against a counterfeit case producer in Texas.
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After a brief period of exclusivity, Valve has opened up the Steam Mobile beta to the general public. Previously just a select group of Steam users were allowed to try the beta, although invites handed out to testers gradually increased the userbase. Free Android and iPhone versions of the mobile client are available.
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