News Archive for 07/02/12

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The Beatles sing more than just iTunes

02/12, 6:30pm

Beatles not just on iTunes

Apple may soon be offering songs and albums by The Beatles, but not as an exclusive arrangement with iTunes. Contradicting several previously published rumors, Roger Friedman of Fox News reports that the popular pop band's songs and albums will be released via several different digital music services. Speaking with Neil Aspinall, head of The Beatles' label Apple Corps, Friedman learned that all 13 Beatles LPs are being remastered with the expectation of an online release "soon" and that none of them are limited to iTunes or any other specific music store. The report also claims that the recent Apple brand name agreement between the two firms includes a royalty agreement for every iTunes song or iPod bought, guaranteeing revenue for the music label regardless of perceived losses due to brand confusion.

Tekkeon unveils myPower GO power source

02/12, 5:30pm

myPower GO power source

Tekkeon today unveiled its myPower GO universal emergency power source for iPods, popular mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras, and more. The new device uses four AA batteries and comes with multiple tips to provide connectivity to a wide range of mobile devices, adding up to eight extra hours of video playback on an iPod or up to six hours of talk time to mobile phones. MyPower GO doubles as a battery charger for four rechargeable AA batteries via a USB port. The ten tips included with the power source accommodate Blackberry handhelds, iPods, and mobile phones -- including Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson. Add-on adapters are also available for Bluetooth headsets, digital cameras, othe rmobile phones, MP3 players, and more. MyPower GO is priced at $20.

Samsung takes on iPhone with F520

02/12, 4:45pm

Samsung takes on iPhone

Samsung is once again taking on Apple's iPhone and complementing its Ultra Smart F700 that it unveiled last week by debuting the F520. The new device trades sleekness for screen area, providing a slightly larger 3-inch touchscreen with a higher 480x272 resolution. The F520 features a two-way slider that extends laterally for a keyboard or downward for a number pad and arrow keys. The device also features a 3-megapixel camera on the back, outperforming Apple's iPhone which includes a 2-megapixel sensor. A front VGA camera permits video calls, according to Electronista, and the phone includes faster HSDPA internet access with support for less common portable media formats such as Real and full HTML browsing.

NexTune to open up iTunes tracks?

02/12, 1:45pm

NexTune to open up iTunes?

A company called NexTune is claiming to have developed software that will bridge all the major DRM (Digital Rights Management) technologies protecting musical tracks to offer consumers a simple, unified means of acquiring music without locking them into one particular type of player. Apple in recent months has come under intense scrutiny -- especially overseas -- for binding iTunes Store customers to its iPod portable player and iTunes software. NexTune "puts all the pieces of the puzzle together and provides a complete user experience," according to NexTune president and CEO Michael DuKane. The company is planning to release NexTune 3.0 next month, offering compatibility with Apple's FairPlay DRM-protected tracks sold from the iTunes Store. Apple has thus far refused to license its FairPlay DRM to competitors, and has historically worked aggressively to update its protection scheme whenever it becomes compromised.

Canada moves to tax MP3 players

02/12, 11:20am

CPCC lobbies for iPod tax

Canada's Private Copyright Collective (CPCC) is again moving to tax consumers who purchase iPods in an effort to compensate artists for revenue lost to private copying. The group lobbied to add MP3 players to the tariff last year, but a Canadian Federal court struck down the notion. The Canadian Supreme Court in late July of 2006 refused to hear further arguments on the matter because the law did not explicitly include digital music players' memory and hard drives among its list of recording media, according to Reg Hardware.

Apple adds Lionsgate films to iTunes catalog

02/12, 8:55am

Lionsgate films on iTunes

Apple today announced that movies from Lionsgate Entertainment will be available for purchase and download from the iTunes Store starting today. iTunes can now purchase films, such as "Terminator 2," "LA Story," "Basic Instinct," "The Blair Witch Project" and "Dirty Dancing". The companies said that more than 150 titles are expected to available through iTunes this month, broadening the iTunes catalog to more than 400 titles. "We're delighted to offer these incredibly popular Lionsgate films on iTunes, and look forward to adding even more films in the future," said Steve Beeks, president of Lionsgate. "iTunes lets users download these wonderful films to watch on their computer, TV or iPod, so movie fans can take their favorite Lionsgate films with them anywhere." Lionsgate is the third major movies studio to add films to iTunes, following the addition of Paramount's catalog earlier this year. Recent data has shown that Apple has seized over 90 percent of the paid video download market.

Apple seeks to end 'iPod Monday' bar promo

02/12, 2:40am

'iPod Monday' bar promo

Apple has ordered a downtown Des Moines (Iowa) bar to no longer use its "iPod Monday" promotion. The Cupertino-based company sent Clint Curtis, the operator of the Lift, a cease and desist e-mail to stop using the iPod name in its weekly event where customers share music via their iPods, according to The Associated Press. According to the report, the owner is "perplexed by the letter because he has never tried to hide his use of the iPod name." The report also says that Curtis tried mailing Apple to ask the company for permission to use the 'iPod' name in his weekly event. Curtis claims that he also spoke with Apple employees and never was told not to use the name, the report said. Apple has been aggressively protecting its iPod trademark, paying one woman last year to stop using the word "pod" in the name of a protective case she designed for laptop computers; the company also also asked a Japanese company to change the name of its "gPod" pleasure product.

Omnifone takes on iPhone, iTunes

02/12, 1:20am

Omnifone's MusicStation

British firm Omnifone opened the 3GSM expo in Barcelona by announcing a new software music solution for cell phones. Offered as an alternative to non-Apple cell phones, MusicStation aims to offer an iPhone and iTunes-like experience for music playback and organization and simple music purchase--without, however, an tethered PC: MusicStation provides convenient over-the-air music downloads and purchases, challenging Apple's industry-leading iTunes interface. Central to the design is a consciously iPod-influenced jukebox program, according to the company. "Installing on top of any Java or Symbian phone, regardless of carrier, the software is built to recreate the experience of both a dedicated portable music player as well as an online store," Electronista reports. The extra layer will give an iPhone-like experience without the absolute need for a computer, Omnifone claimed. Based on a weekly-subscription model for unlimited downloads, it also automatically recommends concerts, music, and news based on listening habits as well as offers social networking features, according to the report.