News Archive for 06/02/14

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Avanquest launches iPod apps

02/14, 4:50pm

Avanquest iPod apps

Avanquest Software has announced several new applications designed for use with Apple's iPod, and has already released WebPodStudio as well as PodPresenter. WebPodStudio helps users create podcasts, and utilizes RSS support to maintain or create feeds. PodPresenter allows users to run iPods as PowerPoint graphics presentation devices. Additional applications in the series are expected in the U.S. over the next few weeks, with a worldwide release set for the second quarter, according to a report from Macworld UK. "We're working with retailers to add software to areas of their stores where they typically are putting only the hardware accessories for the iPods," said Bob Lang, president of Avanquest. Both WebPodStudio ($50) and PodPresenter ($30) will be available in U.S. stores this week, and are compatible with Apple's fifth-generation iPod video. Additional titles expected by the first week of March include iPocketBible ($40), PodMediaCreator ($30), and DVD2POD.

Virgin Mobile launches TV service

02/14, 4:00pm

Virgin Mobile TV service

Virgin Mobile today became the first European cellular operator to deliver live TV to its customers, a move that could impact the Apple's own move into the digital video world with the iTunes Music Store video. Virgin partnered with Microsoft and wireless technology firm BT to provide both audio and video content using new broadcast technologies, according to a report from CIO Today. "We are at a point where the industry is looking at new ways to leverage the technology in their new handsets," IDC analyst Dave Linsalata said. "Certainly, smartphones won't replace TV sets, but the popularity of mobile games and ringtones indicates that people are using the devices for more than making calls." Virgin is using BT's Movio system, which is based on the digital audio broadcasting (DAB) standard. The company is also offering a new "smartphone" that is optimized for TV viewing, which it calls the Trilogy. Customers will have access to a variety of digital TV content and approximately 350 DAB stations, according to the report.

SigmaTel wants more Apple business

02/14, 2:45pm

SigmaTel wants more Apple

SigmaTel--a maker of chips for MP3 players which currently serves up components for the iPod shuffle--is hoping to win bigger contracts from Apple in the second half of 2007, despite at least one analyst's doubts about whether the company can even hold existing business. SigmaTel chief executive Ron Edgerton said a window of opportunity should open in the second half when players with longer battery lives, as well as video by Sony and Creative Technologies hit the market to surpass Apple's iPod nano, according to a report from Reuters UK. "We're hoping [...] in the second half of this year, there will be a lot of players that are much better than Nano on the market," Edgerton said. The executive added "if that takes market share from Apple, then I think they will be more likely to come to us." One research firm in January said there was an increasing chance SigmaTel would lose its deal to supply chips for the iPod shuffle to rival chip maker PortalPlayer--which may establish a common hardware platform and drive additional features, such as wireless capability.

EvolutionTV offers iPod compression

02/14, 1:05pm

EvolutionTV update

Miglia Technology today released a free software update for its digital video recorder, EvolutionTV. Version 2.6 includes video iPod and Sony PSP real-time compression, which negates the need to go through a lengthy software export step. The software allows users to watch and record TV on a Mac, while offering iPod, PSP, MPEG-2/4 and DivX hardware compression. EvolutionTV comes with software enabling users to watch live TV, pause, rewind, and skip forward. Additionally, the device can store hours of TV programs on a single DVD for playback. "Many users submitted suggestions that were implemented in the final release, like an iTunes integration plug-in, which adds your iPod files automatically to Apple’s iTunes 6," said Eric Ferraz, vice president of product development for Miglia. EvolutionTV is available for $250 and requires a PowerPC G4 1GHz processor or better, as well as Mac OS X 10.4.x or later.

Sony sells 3M walkman phones

02/14, 12:40pm

Nano-style Walkman phone

Sony Ericsson today unveiled its latest Walkman phone, and announced it has sold over 3 million Walkman phones since their debut last year. Reuters reports that the W950 phone has 4GB of memory, thus providing the same storage as an Apple iPod nano. The new iPod-competing phone comes as more companies are planning MP3 capable phones. The phone will reportedly cost between 300 and 400 euros, and will run on the Symbian operating system (availability was not stated).

Creative facing pressure from Apple

02/14, 9:05am

Creative downgraded

Standard & Poor's Equity Research analyst Megan Graham-Hackett today said she downgraded shares of Apple's rival Creative Technology. Graham-Hackett lowered Creative's rating to "sell" from "hold" citing increased competition from Apple in the MP3 player market, according to Forbes. "The analyst sees Creative Technology facing a 'challenging' March quarter due to Apple's product introductions in the lower-end MP3 market. She said Apple has broadened its MP3 product portfolio, 'thereby increasing the competitive dynamics, in our opinion.'" The firm lowered the price target from $8 to $7, based on revised price-to-sales analysis, according to the report.

Digital sales drive Warner Music profit

02/14, 8:55am

Warner Music profit

Warner Music Group on Tuesday said that its quarterly profit nearly doubled due to higher margin digital music sales during the holiday season and lower expenses. Reuters reports that the company's net income for the first quarter ended on Dec. 31 rose to $69 million, or 46 cents per share, from $36 million, or 31 cents per share, a year earlier, while revenue fell 4 percent to $1.04 billion--due to the exchange-rate fluctuations and the May 2005 sale of its sheet music business, which had contributed $15 million in the year-earlier period. The report says that Warner's digital revenue rose to $69 million, up 30 percent from the fourth quarter, and nearly triple that of a year earlier, due in part to online music sales at services such as Apple iTunes music store and Napster as well as mobile ringtones. Interesting, the US accounted for about 70 percent of digital music sales, which were split evenly between Internet downloads and ringtones.