Amazon exec slams some in music sector
As Amazon's senior manager of digital music, Reilly oversaw content deals, operations and helped maintain the relationships with the labels. On Monday, he starts work running business development for Kindle periodicals. Neither Amazon nor Reilly were immediately available for comment. Reilly, a former executive at Web music-subscription service eMusic, wrote in the e-mail that among Amazon's accomplishments he is most proud was getting under the skin of rival iTunes' on the issue of song prices. Reilly wrote that "11.5 million tracks (are) available in six countries.All DRM-free which they said couldn't be done just three years ago.How can I not be proud of the Daily Deal that has been so successful it riled the Cupertino beast?"The "beast" Reilly is obviously referring to is Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple. Last month, Billboard magazine reported that Apple was pressuring recording companies to drop support for Amazon's practice of slashing prices on specific titles and promoting them heavily the day they were released.Amazon called this the Daily Deal. The labels and their artists would often support the Daily Deal by promoting them on their Web sites. According to music industry sources, Amazon's Daily Deal ended after Apple managers told the labels that any music included in the Daily Deal would receive no promotion at iTunes. In one case, Apple complained to Sony Music Entertainment after seeing material from Alicia Keys on the Daily Deal, according to one industry source.Apple can throw its weight around like that because it is the largest music retailer in the land, online or off. Is the decision by the labels to abandon the Daily Deal the source of Reilly's frustration? Maybe, but ever since Amazon launched its MP3 music store in September 2007, the labels have acted as if they appeared to favor the service. In January 2008, Amazon became the first music store to sell tunes from the major labels free of digital rights management software. Then there was the issue of price. Amazon was ahead of iTunes in introducing variable pricing and, at least initially, often sold songs for less than the standard iTunes' price of 99 cents.Music industry sources have said that Amazon decided on its own to cut prices. The labels don't set minimum prices and as long as a retailer pays the agreed upon wholesale price, they can sell songs at a loss as much as they want. Whether or not Amazon's price cutting was done with the labels' blessing, what is certain is that the record industry wanted another strong player in digital music to help counter Apple's enormous power. As for Reilly, he won't have to worry about jumping into a segment dominated by Apple. When it comes to e-books, Amazon is the heavyweight and Apple is the novice. Still, with the launch of Apple's iPad, the video-playing, Web-surfing, and e-book reading device, Reilly and Amazon may be looking at a whole new Apple threat. Below is a copy of Reilly's e-mailFrom: Reilly, Scott Ambrose [mailto:e-mail redacted]Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 3:02 PMTo: XXXXXSubject: Sad EyesDear friends and music business colleagues,On Monday I start a new position running business development for Periodicals for the Amazon Kindle team.It is an exciting opportunity to be on the ground floor of another exciting opportunity.The many years of experience in digital music provides a great insight into some of the challenges and opportunities ahead for the digital periodical space.Monday will be the first day in nearly 20 years I won't spend the entire day thinking, working and plotting how to get more music in front of more people.Monday will be the first day in a long time where growing the digital music space will not occupy 100% of my awake time.Monday also means I get to listen to music just for pleasure.Just because I want to and just because it moves me.It will be lots of Tom Jones, Tom Waits, Dolly Parton, The Yayhoos and Ryan Bingham on Monday.I am very proud of my 20 years in music.I still remember selling tickets online via the Sonicnet bulletin board for a God Street Wine show at Irving Plaza in 1993.I distinctly remember a conversation with Jim Griffin in the Geffen offices about how to use the Internet to promote the next God Street Wine album and he said "have you heard of the World Wide Web?".Had band websites up in 1994, MP3 downloads in 1996.Got a small piece of the late 90s new media bubble in the way of advances for Mojo Nixon for digital rights to his catalog.Between the years at Digital Club Network, eMusic and Amazon I have been responsible for more than 10,000 digital licensing deals.I am particularly proud of the last 3½ years at Amazon.11.5 million tracks available in six countries.All DRM-free which they said couldn't be done just three years ago.How can I not be proud of the Daily Deal that has been so successful it riled the Cupertino beast?Having the opportunity to lead the content acquisition, vendor management and operations teams for this brand new digital music category at Amazon has been a privilege and responsibility I have not taken lightly.Being the co-chair of the NARM Digital Think Tank Operations Work group has been a good way to give back to an industry that has given so much to me.I appreciate all that Pete Baltaxe and Bill Carr have taught me and have allowed me to accomplish in 3 1/2 years.I have had an amazing team of people working with me and working hard everyday to make this the best customer experience possible for digital downloads.Most of you have made this journey memorable, introduced me to some great music, allowed me to try some cockamamie schemes, made a few bold bets and I will miss the characters that make up the music business.A few of you have been a total pain in the ass and really should think about trying to make this business a better place once in awhile.Maybe listen to Elvis' "If I Can Dream" on your way into the office.The music business and the world could use more positive energy.Jill Chapman will continue to run the operations team and will report directly to Pete Baltaxe.Jill knows more about digital operations than I ever could but she is much shyer about it.The indefatigable Griff Morris will take over all the content acquisition and vendor management responsibilities also reporting to Pete Baltaxe. I am honored to have had Griff handling all content acquisition for the last 3 years and have utmost confidence he will bring a grace and compassion to the role where I have many times faltered.Remember, always bet on bald if you want to get the job done.I have a few things to still wrap up over the coming weeks so some of you will continue to hear from me.Some of you will continue to hear from me just cause I like you or want to talk about music.But if you want to argue Sinatra vs Dino or talk about the new Band Of Horses it will just be as a fan so don't bring up units or demographics.Thanks to all my team over the last 3½ years and my extended family in the MP3 and CD teams here at Amazon.Thanks to every nutjob in the business that can't stop trying to spread the music and still find themselves in the midnight hours in loud clubs, feet tapping, hips swaying trying to keep the madness locked behind their glowing eyes (at least until the boss and the bloggers leave).I'll probably shed a few tears over the weekend.But then on Monday it is time to start the adventure of Kindle Periodicals.I am thrilled Amazon is giving me another great opportunity like this to help develop and grow a burgeoning digital media space.And now I get to listen to music just for PLEASURE!!!Scott Ambrose ReillySr. Manager, Digital MusicAmazon.com(phone numbers and e-mail redacted)
In iOS 7, Twitter takes over social -- again
In iOS 7, Twitter takes over social -- again
Showing some repeat favoritism, Apple has once again picked Twitter to power the coolest social experiences for its 600 million iOS device owners.In Safari, see all the URLs in your Twitter timeline, who posted them, and what they had to say about them.AppleDuring a keynote address at its annual Worldwide Developer Conference, the Cupertino company lifted the veil on iOS 7, its next-generation mobile operating system that reflects a new way of thinking around design. Aside from its altered appearance, the redone OS -- coming to consumers' iPhones and iPads this fall -- features a new Control Center, improved multitasking, iTunes Radio, better Camera and Photos apps, and an updated Safari browser.Twitter is also ever-present in the release, having been upgraded from dumb social pipe to intelligent content provider. The information network has had an intimate connection to Apple and iOS customers since getting system-level integration in the 2011 release of iOS 5. The blessing helped Twitter instantly triple its iOS sign-ups. A year later, Facebook got the same treatment. (Curiously, both Twitter and Facebook status update options have been removed from the Notification Center in iOS 7.)With iOS 7, Twitter will further infiltrate your device, going deeper into the operating system and becoming one with the system. Facebook not so much.For starters, in the new version of Safari, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch owners will find something called Shared Links, a pre-populated reading list of articles as shared by the people they follow on Twitter. Here they can scroll through all the URLs from their Twitter timeline, as plucked out by Apple and Twitter. The Twitter browser addition, also coming to the new version of Safari for OS X Mavericks, acts as an alternative to searching, and gives people a no-nonsense, all-content view of what's happening on Twitter, as it's happening.Siri searches Twitter. Want to know what people are tweeting about a certain topic? Just ask.AppleBut when it comes to searching,Siri and Twitter can do that too. In iOS 7, Siri has sucked in Twitter intelligence so that when you ask what people are saying about certain topics, she (or he now!) can tell you by showing you their tweets.As an extra bonus, Twitter gets to play along with Apple's iTunes Radio, the brand-new Pandora-like digital radio service for Apple devices. iTunes Radio comes with more than 200 promoted genre-based stations, including one featured station that plays tracks trending on Twitter. The music inclusion means that Twitter's own two-month old radio offering won't be getting trounced by the far bigger digital media player. Instead, it will be boosted by the association. It's not as if Facebook has been booted from Apple handsets -- it's still a part of share sheets for one-click posting -- but the social network has certainly being pushed to the background, relegated to a distance second place in social in Apple's world. History could repeat itself with Facebook eventually getting the same treatment, but for now Apple is team Twitter.
Showing some repeat favoritism, Apple has once again picked Twitter to power the coolest social experiences for its 600 million iOS device owners.In Safari, see all the URLs in your Twitter timeline, who posted them, and what they had to say about them.AppleDuring a keynote address at its annual Worldwide Developer Conference, the Cupertino company lifted the veil on iOS 7, its next-generation mobile operating system that reflects a new way of thinking around design. Aside from its altered appearance, the redone OS -- coming to consumers' iPhones and iPads this fall -- features a new Control Center, improved multitasking, iTunes Radio, better Camera and Photos apps, and an updated Safari browser.Twitter is also ever-present in the release, having been upgraded from dumb social pipe to intelligent content provider. The information network has had an intimate connection to Apple and iOS customers since getting system-level integration in the 2011 release of iOS 5. The blessing helped Twitter instantly triple its iOS sign-ups. A year later, Facebook got the same treatment. (Curiously, both Twitter and Facebook status update options have been removed from the Notification Center in iOS 7.)With iOS 7, Twitter will further infiltrate your device, going deeper into the operating system and becoming one with the system. Facebook not so much.For starters, in the new version of Safari, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch owners will find something called Shared Links, a pre-populated reading list of articles as shared by the people they follow on Twitter. Here they can scroll through all the URLs from their Twitter timeline, as plucked out by Apple and Twitter. The Twitter browser addition, also coming to the new version of Safari for OS X Mavericks, acts as an alternative to searching, and gives people a no-nonsense, all-content view of what's happening on Twitter, as it's happening.Siri searches Twitter. Want to know what people are tweeting about a certain topic? Just ask.AppleBut when it comes to searching,Siri and Twitter can do that too. In iOS 7, Siri has sucked in Twitter intelligence so that when you ask what people are saying about certain topics, she (or he now!) can tell you by showing you their tweets.As an extra bonus, Twitter gets to play along with Apple's iTunes Radio, the brand-new Pandora-like digital radio service for Apple devices. iTunes Radio comes with more than 200 promoted genre-based stations, including one featured station that plays tracks trending on Twitter. The music inclusion means that Twitter's own two-month old radio offering won't be getting trounced by the far bigger digital media player. Instead, it will be boosted by the association. It's not as if Facebook has been booted from Apple handsets -- it's still a part of share sheets for one-click posting -- but the social network has certainly being pushed to the background, relegated to a distance second place in social in Apple's world. History could repeat itself with Facebook eventually getting the same treatment, but for now Apple is team Twitter.
Apple files patents to manage home energy
Apple files patents to manage home energy
One patent application called "Intelligent Power Monitoring" says that the system would allow people to reduce energy use by giving them tools to better control how connected devices are powered.Consumers could get recommendations on when to schedule gadget charging to take advantage of off-peak rates, for example. Or the electronics controller could put devices in hibernate mode after a set amount of time. Users could have a display, such as an LCD screen, or a movable projector to control these tasks and monitor electricity use. With people increasingly reliant on computers and mobile devices, the issue of power management and costs is becoming more acute, Apple argues in its patent:"Some personal computers sometimes are being left on simply to serve as power supplies for the charging of the aforementioned portable devices via connections, such as Universal Serial Bus ("USB") connections, that provide power in addition to data (rather than charging those devices from the household electric service using their dedicated chargers), even though the power supply of a personal computer is much larger than is needed for such a function, and as such draws much more power than such a function would otherwise demand. As the price of electricity increases, such uses of power can cost users more." The second patent application, titled an "Intelligent Power-enabled Communications Port," describes a system that would parse out the amount of power to different electronics in an efficient manner.It calls for using the wiring of buildings to run direct current devices without the need for the AC-to-DC adapters that come with all electronic gear. The port will also be able to deliver data over home wires and store it:"Rather than continually upgrade standards such as the USB or FireWire standards, a variable power supply may be provided for the power conductor of a port."Apple not aloneThe tech industry's biggest companies and dozens of start-ups are devising ways to give consumers more insight into how they use energy. Many are providing tools to curb electricity use, which continues to climb as people use more electronic gadgets, such as power-hungry smart phones and e-readers. Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, developed PowerMeter, a Web application for monitoring home energy use that it offers mainly through utilities at this point. Company executives have indicated that Google intends to add additional features, such as allowing consumers to ratchet down power use during peak times to get cheaper rates. Microsoft last yearreleased Hohm, another Web application that provides recommendations on how people can better weatherize their home or reduce energy use through behavior changes. It also offers historical energy use data through partnerships with utilities. In addition, there are many companies developing in-home displays for tracking electricity use that provide feedback on energy use and ways to control appliances. General Electric and Whirlpoollast week at the Consumer Electronics Show announced they are working with display maker OpenPeak to provide energy cost monitoring and control over appliances.Many of these companies expect to use wireless home network protocols, such as Zigbee or Z-Wave, to share information between appliances, a central console, and smart meters. An alternative approach is smart plugs, which allows people to monitor and control home electronics and appliances without the need for a smart meter.
One patent application called "Intelligent Power Monitoring" says that the system would allow people to reduce energy use by giving them tools to better control how connected devices are powered.Consumers could get recommendations on when to schedule gadget charging to take advantage of off-peak rates, for example. Or the electronics controller could put devices in hibernate mode after a set amount of time. Users could have a display, such as an LCD screen, or a movable projector to control these tasks and monitor electricity use. With people increasingly reliant on computers and mobile devices, the issue of power management and costs is becoming more acute, Apple argues in its patent:"Some personal computers sometimes are being left on simply to serve as power supplies for the charging of the aforementioned portable devices via connections, such as Universal Serial Bus ("USB") connections, that provide power in addition to data (rather than charging those devices from the household electric service using their dedicated chargers), even though the power supply of a personal computer is much larger than is needed for such a function, and as such draws much more power than such a function would otherwise demand. As the price of electricity increases, such uses of power can cost users more." The second patent application, titled an "Intelligent Power-enabled Communications Port," describes a system that would parse out the amount of power to different electronics in an efficient manner.It calls for using the wiring of buildings to run direct current devices without the need for the AC-to-DC adapters that come with all electronic gear. The port will also be able to deliver data over home wires and store it:"Rather than continually upgrade standards such as the USB or FireWire standards, a variable power supply may be provided for the power conductor of a port."Apple not aloneThe tech industry's biggest companies and dozens of start-ups are devising ways to give consumers more insight into how they use energy. Many are providing tools to curb electricity use, which continues to climb as people use more electronic gadgets, such as power-hungry smart phones and e-readers. Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, developed PowerMeter, a Web application for monitoring home energy use that it offers mainly through utilities at this point. Company executives have indicated that Google intends to add additional features, such as allowing consumers to ratchet down power use during peak times to get cheaper rates. Microsoft last yearreleased Hohm, another Web application that provides recommendations on how people can better weatherize their home or reduce energy use through behavior changes. It also offers historical energy use data through partnerships with utilities. In addition, there are many companies developing in-home displays for tracking electricity use that provide feedback on energy use and ways to control appliances. General Electric and Whirlpoollast week at the Consumer Electronics Show announced they are working with display maker OpenPeak to provide energy cost monitoring and control over appliances.Many of these companies expect to use wireless home network protocols, such as Zigbee or Z-Wave, to share information between appliances, a central console, and smart meters. An alternative approach is smart plugs, which allows people to monitor and control home electronics and appliances without the need for a smart meter.
Rumor- New Apple iDevice to be 55-inch OLED TV
Rumor: New Apple iDevice to be 55-inch OLED TV
Though portability has been at the forefront of Apple's game plan since the introduction of the first iPhone, a new rumor reinforces recent speculation that your living room could be where Apple sets its sights next--specifically with a 55-inch OLED TV.Apple may be introducing the set sometime in 2012, according to a source cited by Smarthouse, an online lifestyle technology guide, who claims that recent deal-seeking from Apple includes distribution rights for the television.Among the rights Apple are after are current TV shows being aired in the U.S.A., claims a Hollywood lawyer who believes that Apple will launch a new TV in 2012. A big-screen television running iOS is certainly intriguing, especially with the breadth of content deals Apple already has in place through iTunes.Recent reports have Apple at the table with LG Display, the company that helps produce screen technology for many Apple products, to possibly discuss screen requirements for the rumored new OLED TV. LG just announced its own plans to produce a 55-inch OLED TV.LG, along with Samsung, is rumored to be vying to supply Apple with LCD panels for the third-generation iPad. Related links• Analyst: Apple ripe for HDTV and 'Genius Squad'• Analyst: iCloud linked to Apple's TV ambitions• Report: Apple TV set could be coming this yearThe implications are interesting, as rumors of Apple acquiring streaming video content site Hulu have been hot for the last few weeks. With Apple dominating the tablet market with the iPad and maintaining a strong hold on the smartphone market with the iPhone and the high-end PC market with Macs, it seems like logical timing to explore another market. A report by UBS Investment Research earlier this month suggested that very market could help boost Apple's market cap anywhere from $50 to $100 billion. And before you think that there's no way Apple could penetrate an already oversaturated big-screen television market, remember how no one thought the iPhone would make a difference. Right now it would be hard to bet against any product Apple releases, especially if its current product lineup (and stock price) is any indication.Would you be into buying a 55-inch OLED TV from Apple? What features would it have to have? Let me know in the comments!
Though portability has been at the forefront of Apple's game plan since the introduction of the first iPhone, a new rumor reinforces recent speculation that your living room could be where Apple sets its sights next--specifically with a 55-inch OLED TV.Apple may be introducing the set sometime in 2012, according to a source cited by Smarthouse, an online lifestyle technology guide, who claims that recent deal-seeking from Apple includes distribution rights for the television.Among the rights Apple are after are current TV shows being aired in the U.S.A., claims a Hollywood lawyer who believes that Apple will launch a new TV in 2012. A big-screen television running iOS is certainly intriguing, especially with the breadth of content deals Apple already has in place through iTunes.Recent reports have Apple at the table with LG Display, the company that helps produce screen technology for many Apple products, to possibly discuss screen requirements for the rumored new OLED TV. LG just announced its own plans to produce a 55-inch OLED TV.LG, along with Samsung, is rumored to be vying to supply Apple with LCD panels for the third-generation iPad. Related links• Analyst: Apple ripe for HDTV and 'Genius Squad'• Analyst: iCloud linked to Apple's TV ambitions• Report: Apple TV set could be coming this yearThe implications are interesting, as rumors of Apple acquiring streaming video content site Hulu have been hot for the last few weeks. With Apple dominating the tablet market with the iPad and maintaining a strong hold on the smartphone market with the iPhone and the high-end PC market with Macs, it seems like logical timing to explore another market. A report by UBS Investment Research earlier this month suggested that very market could help boost Apple's market cap anywhere from $50 to $100 billion. And before you think that there's no way Apple could penetrate an already oversaturated big-screen television market, remember how no one thought the iPhone would make a difference. Right now it would be hard to bet against any product Apple releases, especially if its current product lineup (and stock price) is any indication.Would you be into buying a 55-inch OLED TV from Apple? What features would it have to have? Let me know in the comments!
How to move files between accounts in OS X
How to move files between accounts in OS X
While using the Public folder is one option, its read-only permissions (and write-only permissions for the Drop Box subdirectory) mean that if you use this setup regularly, you can end up with multiple copies of the file in each user's Public and Drop Box folders as they get copied back and forth, which may be a bit of a burden to manage.The second option is to use the system's "Shared" account folder, which is located in the Macintosh HD > Users directory, and should be fully accessible by all users to read and write files. This option may be more appealing than the Public folders, especially if you are sharing files that are regularly accessed, such as a common iTunes library for all users.Another option is to use secondary partitions, which include those on the main boot drive, secondary internal drives, and external drives. Similar to the Shared folder, these locations will be fully accessible to all users by default. The benefit of using these is that the Finder has preference for users to display them on their desktops and in the Finder sidebar, so they will be quickly accessible by everyone with a simple Finder settings change instead of having to navigate to a specific folder path.You can authenticate to copy or move an item to a restricted folder in OS X.Screenshot by Topher Kessler/CNETThe aforementioned approaches all require intermediary folders or storage options, and are great if you plan on moving files back and forth between accounts; if you only wish to move files to one account, then you can use a standard authenticated move feature of the OS X Finder. To do this, simply select the files you wish to move, and drag them to the Documents, Movies, Music, Desktop, or other restricted folder of the targeted account. Since you cannot open the folder, you can only access the top level of the folder tree in this manner (i.e., the Desktop folder itself, and not a subdirectory in it). When you do this, the system should issue you a warning about not being able to access the folder, but provide an option to authenticate and continue moving the files.Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.
While using the Public folder is one option, its read-only permissions (and write-only permissions for the Drop Box subdirectory) mean that if you use this setup regularly, you can end up with multiple copies of the file in each user's Public and Drop Box folders as they get copied back and forth, which may be a bit of a burden to manage.The second option is to use the system's "Shared" account folder, which is located in the Macintosh HD > Users directory, and should be fully accessible by all users to read and write files. This option may be more appealing than the Public folders, especially if you are sharing files that are regularly accessed, such as a common iTunes library for all users.Another option is to use secondary partitions, which include those on the main boot drive, secondary internal drives, and external drives. Similar to the Shared folder, these locations will be fully accessible to all users by default. The benefit of using these is that the Finder has preference for users to display them on their desktops and in the Finder sidebar, so they will be quickly accessible by everyone with a simple Finder settings change instead of having to navigate to a specific folder path.You can authenticate to copy or move an item to a restricted folder in OS X.Screenshot by Topher Kessler/CNETThe aforementioned approaches all require intermediary folders or storage options, and are great if you plan on moving files back and forth between accounts; if you only wish to move files to one account, then you can use a standard authenticated move feature of the OS X Finder. To do this, simply select the files you wish to move, and drag them to the Documents, Movies, Music, Desktop, or other restricted folder of the targeted account. Since you cannot open the folder, you can only access the top level of the folder tree in this manner (i.e., the Desktop folder itself, and not a subdirectory in it). When you do this, the system should issue you a warning about not being able to access the folder, but provide an option to authenticate and continue moving the files.Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.
Study- iOS, Android users average $14 per in-app buy
Study: iOS, Android users average $14 per in-app buy
Perhaps more interesting about that 71 percent number in the under $10 range is that the majority of purchases Flurry tracked trend towards the top end of the scale."Within the 'under $10' bucket, most transactions are at the $9.99 level, followed by $4.99, and finally $0.99," wrote Jeferson Valadares, the general manager of games at Flurry in a post on the company's findings. "In fact, in total, consumers spent 99 cents less than two percent of the time."The study does not break down spending differences between the two mobile platforms, which now offer many of the same titles.A Flurry spokesman told CNET that this data came from a sampling of the top apps from a group of 90,000 that it tracks. While the time observed varied for each application, each application was being tracked for an average of six months. With iOS 4.3 released earlier this year, Apple added a parental control mechanism that requires an iTunes password each and every time an in-app purchase is to be made. The previous policy opened up a 15-minute window post-purchase for additional purchases and downloads to be made without the need to re-enter a password. The loophole became a point of controversy following reports of children racking up four-figure bills on their parents' iTunes accounts.Google added an official in-app billing solution to Android back in March after announcing the feature in early February.
Perhaps more interesting about that 71 percent number in the under $10 range is that the majority of purchases Flurry tracked trend towards the top end of the scale."Within the 'under $10' bucket, most transactions are at the $9.99 level, followed by $4.99, and finally $0.99," wrote Jeferson Valadares, the general manager of games at Flurry in a post on the company's findings. "In fact, in total, consumers spent 99 cents less than two percent of the time."The study does not break down spending differences between the two mobile platforms, which now offer many of the same titles.A Flurry spokesman told CNET that this data came from a sampling of the top apps from a group of 90,000 that it tracks. While the time observed varied for each application, each application was being tracked for an average of six months. With iOS 4.3 released earlier this year, Apple added a parental control mechanism that requires an iTunes password each and every time an in-app purchase is to be made. The previous policy opened up a 15-minute window post-purchase for additional purchases and downloads to be made without the need to re-enter a password. The loophole became a point of controversy following reports of children racking up four-figure bills on their parents' iTunes accounts.Google added an official in-app billing solution to Android back in March after announcing the feature in early February.
Still plenty to see at Macworld 2012
Still plenty to see at Macworld 2012
SAN FRANCISCO--The Macworld expo isn't what it once was, but you wouldn't know it from the excitement of both vendors and Mac faithful attending this year's show.The show started today at Moscone Center West here, and though Macworld no longer attracts the big crowds and big-name vendors it once did, I saw plenty of enthusiastic vendors and showgoers checking out the latest wares for Mac and other Apple products.When Apple stopped presenting at Macworld in 2009, everyone wondered what would become of the show. As Apple's launching point for new products until 2009, Macworlds of the past often took up two giant rooms at Moscone Center and everyone involved with making Macs, iPhones, and the products that surround them would come for the event. Ever since Apple stopped showing at Macworld and making product announcements on its own, the show has lost some of its magic, but you wouldn't know that by talking to some of the vendors on the floor.In this slideshow, I give you a taste of what it's like to walk around the floor from my perspective. I couldn't take pictures of everything, but hopefully it will give those who have never been an idea of what it's like to check out the yearly Macworld show in its current state.A visit to the Macworld 2012 floor (phot...See full gallery1 - 4 / 17NextPrev
SAN FRANCISCO--The Macworld expo isn't what it once was, but you wouldn't know it from the excitement of both vendors and Mac faithful attending this year's show.The show started today at Moscone Center West here, and though Macworld no longer attracts the big crowds and big-name vendors it once did, I saw plenty of enthusiastic vendors and showgoers checking out the latest wares for Mac and other Apple products.When Apple stopped presenting at Macworld in 2009, everyone wondered what would become of the show. As Apple's launching point for new products until 2009, Macworlds of the past often took up two giant rooms at Moscone Center and everyone involved with making Macs, iPhones, and the products that surround them would come for the event. Ever since Apple stopped showing at Macworld and making product announcements on its own, the show has lost some of its magic, but you wouldn't know that by talking to some of the vendors on the floor.In this slideshow, I give you a taste of what it's like to walk around the floor from my perspective. I couldn't take pictures of everything, but hopefully it will give those who have never been an idea of what it's like to check out the yearly Macworld show in its current state.A visit to the Macworld 2012 floor (phot...See full gallery1 - 4 / 17NextPrev
Apple sets WWDC 2014 for June 2 to 6
Apple sets WWDC 2014 for June 2 to 6
Mac and iOS software developers, mark your calendars: Apple's next Worldwide DevelopersConference will take place the first week in June.Apple on Thursday announced that WWDC 2014 has been scheduled for June 2 to 6 and will take place where it's often been found in the past: San Francisco's Moscone West center. Tickets will be available through the WWDC Web site now through 10 a.m. PT Monday, but they'll likely be gone long before then. WWDC tickets typically are gone within the first couple hours afterApple puts them on sale. Last year, the conference sold out in mere minutes.Apple said that tickets will beissued through random selection and that developers will know theirstatus by 5 p.m. PT Monday. Those selected will have to pony up $1,599 per ticket.The company plans to have more than 1,000 of its engineers at the conference to lead hands-on labs and other events to guide attendees through the inner workings of iOS and OS X.One big question leading into this year's WWDC: will Apple introduce iOS 8, and what new features will come in that next version of the mobile operating system? Rumors have suggested changes including Mac apps coming to the iPhone and iTunes Radio being broken out as a separate app. The most recent significant update, iOS 7.1, brought CarPlay for integrating the iPhone into car dashboards, along with updates to Siri and Touch ID.Last fall's OS X Mavericks release, meanwhile, brought some iOS features into the fold for Mac users. CNET reviewer Jason Parker considered the update "more evolutionary than revolutionary."But don't go looking for a merger of iOS and OS X. Apple execs have been quite clear that they consider such an effort a "waste of energy."Update 6:45 a.m. PT: This story has been expanded with additional background.
Mac and iOS software developers, mark your calendars: Apple's next Worldwide DevelopersConference will take place the first week in June.Apple on Thursday announced that WWDC 2014 has been scheduled for June 2 to 6 and will take place where it's often been found in the past: San Francisco's Moscone West center. Tickets will be available through the WWDC Web site now through 10 a.m. PT Monday, but they'll likely be gone long before then. WWDC tickets typically are gone within the first couple hours afterApple puts them on sale. Last year, the conference sold out in mere minutes.Apple said that tickets will beissued through random selection and that developers will know theirstatus by 5 p.m. PT Monday. Those selected will have to pony up $1,599 per ticket.The company plans to have more than 1,000 of its engineers at the conference to lead hands-on labs and other events to guide attendees through the inner workings of iOS and OS X.One big question leading into this year's WWDC: will Apple introduce iOS 8, and what new features will come in that next version of the mobile operating system? Rumors have suggested changes including Mac apps coming to the iPhone and iTunes Radio being broken out as a separate app. The most recent significant update, iOS 7.1, brought CarPlay for integrating the iPhone into car dashboards, along with updates to Siri and Touch ID.Last fall's OS X Mavericks release, meanwhile, brought some iOS features into the fold for Mac users. CNET reviewer Jason Parker considered the update "more evolutionary than revolutionary."But don't go looking for a merger of iOS and OS X. Apple execs have been quite clear that they consider such an effort a "waste of energy."Update 6:45 a.m. PT: This story has been expanded with additional background.
Apple sets sights on students with iTunes U, iBooks 2
Apple sets sights on students with iTunes U, iBooks 2
Apple didn't surprise anyone at its New York City event today, but the company did underscore its intention to make its market in education.The company kicked off its event at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum today discussing the troubles American students are having competing against those in other countries. Apple, vying to be the hero, said it has some solutions to improve educational quality for students.The first is iBooks 2 for iPad. The offering allows textbook makers to sell their titles to iPad owners for $14.99 or less. In a demonstration, Apple showed how interactivity stands at the center of its textbook push, allowing students to view videos and even 3D images from within a title. In addition, the textbooks support note-taking, flash cards, and highlighting.Apple says iBooks 2 is designed to solve the major issues hurting today's textbooks--a lack of durability, portability, searchability and interactivity, not to mention outdated content. Related storiesApple's education event: What to expect (live blog 7 a.m. PT)Apple launches iBooks 2 digital textbooksApple revamps iTunes U, makes it class portalApple's new iBooks Author targets e-book creatorsApple also announced a new application, called iBooks Author, that will help writers publish their iBooks with all the interactive elements shown off in Apple's digital textbooks. The free Mac OS X app lets authors drag-and-drop their text into chapters, add multimedia content, and once complete, publish the books (or textbooks) to Apple's iBookstore.Finally, Apple unveiled the new iTunes U, an application designed to be an educational hub for both educators and students to manage all their classes in one place. The service includes panes for professors to create and manage their courses, and places for students to see and complete assignments, find notes, and more. As one might expect, iTunes U works alongside Apple's digital textbooks.Apple says it won't charge users to download the iBooks 2 app or iBooks Authors. iTunes U is also available for free. Apple plans to generate revenue on royalty splits with textbook makers, education app developers.
Apple didn't surprise anyone at its New York City event today, but the company did underscore its intention to make its market in education.The company kicked off its event at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum today discussing the troubles American students are having competing against those in other countries. Apple, vying to be the hero, said it has some solutions to improve educational quality for students.The first is iBooks 2 for iPad. The offering allows textbook makers to sell their titles to iPad owners for $14.99 or less. In a demonstration, Apple showed how interactivity stands at the center of its textbook push, allowing students to view videos and even 3D images from within a title. In addition, the textbooks support note-taking, flash cards, and highlighting.Apple says iBooks 2 is designed to solve the major issues hurting today's textbooks--a lack of durability, portability, searchability and interactivity, not to mention outdated content. Related storiesApple's education event: What to expect (live blog 7 a.m. PT)Apple launches iBooks 2 digital textbooksApple revamps iTunes U, makes it class portalApple's new iBooks Author targets e-book creatorsApple also announced a new application, called iBooks Author, that will help writers publish their iBooks with all the interactive elements shown off in Apple's digital textbooks. The free Mac OS X app lets authors drag-and-drop their text into chapters, add multimedia content, and once complete, publish the books (or textbooks) to Apple's iBookstore.Finally, Apple unveiled the new iTunes U, an application designed to be an educational hub for both educators and students to manage all their classes in one place. The service includes panes for professors to create and manage their courses, and places for students to see and complete assignments, find notes, and more. As one might expect, iTunes U works alongside Apple's digital textbooks.Apple says it won't charge users to download the iBooks 2 app or iBooks Authors. iTunes U is also available for free. Apple plans to generate revenue on royalty splits with textbook makers, education app developers.
Apple iWatch eyed by 14% of those polled
Apple iWatch eyed by 14% of those polled
Around 14 percent of people polled would pick up an Apple iWatch priced at $350, says investment firm Piper Jaffray.The 14 percent interested in an iWatch compares with the 12 percent lastOctober and the 17 percent of teens this past spring who echoed thesame sentiment about an Apple smartwatch. Surveying 100 people over the past month regarding watches and wearable tech, the Piper Jaffray team targeted mostly consumers in North America with an average age of 32 and a household income of $130,000. Related storiesApple's iWatch said to hit in October with 2.5-inch screenApple, Google, Samsung to take on diabetes with wearables -- reportSamsung, Pebble lock up smartwatch sales in USAt WWDC, more clues for those watching for Apple wristwearReports have been rampant that Apple plans to dive into the still nascent smartwatch arena with its much-rumored iWatch later this year. If true, Apple would face a host of other contenders, such as Samsung and Pebble, who so far have virtually locked up the market, at least in the US. An iWatch would also have to compete with new smartwatches from Samsung, LG, and Motorola -- which may be unveiled at the Google I/O developer conference next week -- that run Google's Android Wear operating system for smartwatches and other wearable devices.Consumers still haven't conveyed much excitement over smartwatches, certainly not enough to truly rev up the market. The iWatch would reportedly combine a watch with a fitness band, potentially offering a more innovative product that could score well if it includes the usual Apple polish.Among the people polled by Piper Jaffray, 18 percent said they already own a fitness band -- half of those are Fitbit devices. Among those that do own a band, 56 percent wear them every day. Among those who don't yet have a fitness band, 18 percent said they plan to buy one over the next year.
Around 14 percent of people polled would pick up an Apple iWatch priced at $350, says investment firm Piper Jaffray.The 14 percent interested in an iWatch compares with the 12 percent lastOctober and the 17 percent of teens this past spring who echoed thesame sentiment about an Apple smartwatch. Surveying 100 people over the past month regarding watches and wearable tech, the Piper Jaffray team targeted mostly consumers in North America with an average age of 32 and a household income of $130,000. Related storiesApple's iWatch said to hit in October with 2.5-inch screenApple, Google, Samsung to take on diabetes with wearables -- reportSamsung, Pebble lock up smartwatch sales in USAt WWDC, more clues for those watching for Apple wristwearReports have been rampant that Apple plans to dive into the still nascent smartwatch arena with its much-rumored iWatch later this year. If true, Apple would face a host of other contenders, such as Samsung and Pebble, who so far have virtually locked up the market, at least in the US. An iWatch would also have to compete with new smartwatches from Samsung, LG, and Motorola -- which may be unveiled at the Google I/O developer conference next week -- that run Google's Android Wear operating system for smartwatches and other wearable devices.Consumers still haven't conveyed much excitement over smartwatches, certainly not enough to truly rev up the market. The iWatch would reportedly combine a watch with a fitness band, potentially offering a more innovative product that could score well if it includes the usual Apple polish.Among the people polled by Piper Jaffray, 18 percent said they already own a fitness band -- half of those are Fitbit devices. Among those that do own a band, 56 percent wear them every day. Among those who don't yet have a fitness band, 18 percent said they plan to buy one over the next year.
Apple iTunes nears 800 million mark
Apple iTunes nears 800 million mark
Apple now has nearly 800 million iTunes accounts, a number that CEO Tim Cook described as "staggering" during the company's conference call today to discuss its March quarter financial results.The last time Apple talked about iTunes accounts was during its annual developers conference last June when the company announced575 million accounts."We now have an almost 800 millioniTunes accounts, most of these with credit cards," Cook said during the call Wednesday. "This is a staggering number."Related storiesApple tops estimates, announces 7-for-1 stock splitApple has sold 20 million Apple TV units, CEO saysSiri in the works for Apple TV, iOS 7.1 code revealsDespite the sharp uptick in iTunes accounts, iTunes sales did show signs of deceleration."Keep in mind, in that categorythere's several things -- not just the App Store kind of revenues," Cook said responding to a question from an analyst on the call. "So if you lookedat App Store only, it would look a little different than what you're saying. Butin terms of your question about monetization, I do believe that we can monetizemore than we are from a services point of view in existing areas and in newareas. And I'm particularly encouraged that when I look at the App Store and howit's doing, the strength was broad-based. In fact, in China, the growth was inthe triple digits."The 800 million number was just one headline in what amounted to a blowout quarter by Apple which upped its dividend and raised its forecast for its next quarter, which runs through June. In after-hours trading on Wednesday, Apple's stock soared by more than 8 percent.
Apple now has nearly 800 million iTunes accounts, a number that CEO Tim Cook described as "staggering" during the company's conference call today to discuss its March quarter financial results.The last time Apple talked about iTunes accounts was during its annual developers conference last June when the company announced575 million accounts."We now have an almost 800 millioniTunes accounts, most of these with credit cards," Cook said during the call Wednesday. "This is a staggering number."Related storiesApple tops estimates, announces 7-for-1 stock splitApple has sold 20 million Apple TV units, CEO saysSiri in the works for Apple TV, iOS 7.1 code revealsDespite the sharp uptick in iTunes accounts, iTunes sales did show signs of deceleration."Keep in mind, in that categorythere's several things -- not just the App Store kind of revenues," Cook said responding to a question from an analyst on the call. "So if you lookedat App Store only, it would look a little different than what you're saying. Butin terms of your question about monetization, I do believe that we can monetizemore than we are from a services point of view in existing areas and in newareas. And I'm particularly encouraged that when I look at the App Store and howit's doing, the strength was broad-based. In fact, in China, the growth was inthe triple digits."The 800 million number was just one headline in what amounted to a blowout quarter by Apple which upped its dividend and raised its forecast for its next quarter, which runs through June. In after-hours trading on Wednesday, Apple's stock soared by more than 8 percent.
Apple iTunes makes sweet music in online video market
Apple iTunes makes sweet music in online video market
iTunes tops the charts in online video sales, according to market research firm The NPD Group.Apple claimed 66 percent of all TV shows sold and 65 percent of all movies sold online last year. In second place, Amazon took home 14 percent of all TV shows sold in cyberspace. Amazon and Xbox Video each grabbed a 10 percent chunk of all feature-length films sold over the Internet in 2012.iTunes also scored the lead in the video-on-demand market, biting off a 45 percent share of all online movie rentals. Amazon Instant Video accounted for 18 percent, leaving Vudu with 15 percent. Netflix wasn't included in the mix because NPD's report focused specifically on video content bought for permanent ownership and "a la carte" paid rentals downloaded for limited-time viewing -- in other words, non-subscription services.Apple has leveraged the popularity of "iTunes, iOS, and the popularity of iPhone and iPad to dominate the digital sale and rental markets for movies and music," Russ Crupnick, senior vice president of industry analysis at NPD, said in a statement. "While worthy competitors have come along, no other retailer has so thoroughly dominated its core entertainment product categories for so long."NPD GroupiTunes also boasted a fair share of satisfied customers, according to the report. An NPD poll found that 77 percent of iTunes shoppers rated their experience as excellent or very good, 75 percent were pleased with the current releases, and 73 percent liked the selection."We've seen big-name entertainment retailers lose share, and even close, as their customer satisfaction metrics faded; however, that's clearly not the case with iTunes," Crupnick said. "Customers are quite happy with the store."NPD compiled the report based on data from its VideoWatch Digital consumer service, which tracked the online purchases of 26,176 video-on-demand users between January 2012 and January 2013. NPD also used information from its spring 2013 "Entertainment Trends in America" study.
iTunes tops the charts in online video sales, according to market research firm The NPD Group.Apple claimed 66 percent of all TV shows sold and 65 percent of all movies sold online last year. In second place, Amazon took home 14 percent of all TV shows sold in cyberspace. Amazon and Xbox Video each grabbed a 10 percent chunk of all feature-length films sold over the Internet in 2012.iTunes also scored the lead in the video-on-demand market, biting off a 45 percent share of all online movie rentals. Amazon Instant Video accounted for 18 percent, leaving Vudu with 15 percent. Netflix wasn't included in the mix because NPD's report focused specifically on video content bought for permanent ownership and "a la carte" paid rentals downloaded for limited-time viewing -- in other words, non-subscription services.Apple has leveraged the popularity of "iTunes, iOS, and the popularity of iPhone and iPad to dominate the digital sale and rental markets for movies and music," Russ Crupnick, senior vice president of industry analysis at NPD, said in a statement. "While worthy competitors have come along, no other retailer has so thoroughly dominated its core entertainment product categories for so long."NPD GroupiTunes also boasted a fair share of satisfied customers, according to the report. An NPD poll found that 77 percent of iTunes shoppers rated their experience as excellent or very good, 75 percent were pleased with the current releases, and 73 percent liked the selection."We've seen big-name entertainment retailers lose share, and even close, as their customer satisfaction metrics faded; however, that's clearly not the case with iTunes," Crupnick said. "Customers are quite happy with the store."NPD compiled the report based on data from its VideoWatch Digital consumer service, which tracked the online purchases of 26,176 video-on-demand users between January 2012 and January 2013. NPD also used information from its spring 2013 "Entertainment Trends in America" study.
Apple 'iPhone Lite' pictured in two versions -- report
Apple 'iPhone Lite' pictured in two versions -- report
Another day, another rumor about Apple's plans to launch a "lite" version of its iPhone. Apple could be planning to launch two versions of an "iPhone Lite," claims a report out of China that was discovered by Phone Arena on Friday. The report, which included images claiming to show Apple's plans, indicates that one of the handsets is codenamed "iPhone Zenvo," while the other comes with the name, "iPhone Zagato/Bertone."Both devices, according to the leaked documents, will come with 4-inch displays and be available in multiple colors. The Zenvo model will come with a dual-core processor from Samsung and 1GB of RAM, while the Zagato/Bertone version will have an unidentified "H6P" processor and support for TDD-LTE, according to the report.In terms of design, the device looks similar to the current iPhone 5, but if the specs are accurate, it looks to be the cheaper model that has been bandied about for the last several months. There has been some disagreement over the device's name, however, as many reports suggest it'll be called the iPhone Mini.Before we get ahead of ourselves, it's important to note that there's no way to confirm the accuracy of the leaked documents. Apple is notoriously secretive about its plans, and the company has been known to use decoys to throw folks off the scent of new products. In other words, as with all Apple rumors, take this one with a grain of salt until the iPhone maker actually shows off a new device.
Another day, another rumor about Apple's plans to launch a "lite" version of its iPhone. Apple could be planning to launch two versions of an "iPhone Lite," claims a report out of China that was discovered by Phone Arena on Friday. The report, which included images claiming to show Apple's plans, indicates that one of the handsets is codenamed "iPhone Zenvo," while the other comes with the name, "iPhone Zagato/Bertone."Both devices, according to the leaked documents, will come with 4-inch displays and be available in multiple colors. The Zenvo model will come with a dual-core processor from Samsung and 1GB of RAM, while the Zagato/Bertone version will have an unidentified "H6P" processor and support for TDD-LTE, according to the report.In terms of design, the device looks similar to the current iPhone 5, but if the specs are accurate, it looks to be the cheaper model that has been bandied about for the last several months. There has been some disagreement over the device's name, however, as many reports suggest it'll be called the iPhone Mini.Before we get ahead of ourselves, it's important to note that there's no way to confirm the accuracy of the leaked documents. Apple is notoriously secretive about its plans, and the company has been known to use decoys to throw folks off the scent of new products. In other words, as with all Apple rumors, take this one with a grain of salt until the iPhone maker actually shows off a new device.
Apple iPhone fingerprint scanner reportedly confirmed
Apple iPhone fingerprint scanner reportedly confirmed
Apple will include a fingerprint scanner on a high-end iPhone the company is expected to announce on Tuesday, according to The Wall Street Journal.If true, gone will be the days of using four-digit passcodes on iPhones. The new technology will supposedly work by a simple touch on the front of the smartphone. The idea is to fool thieves and hackers.Evidence has been mounting about Apple jumping into fingerprint technology. After the iPhone maker bought fingerprint sensor and identity management software company Authentec last year, rumors floated that it was aiming to use the technology in its new devices. In July, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published an Apple patent application that described a technology in which a sensor is used to trace a person's finger and fingerprint and determine, based on that, if they have proper credentials. Then, last week, leaked photos surfaced that suggested Apple's next iPhone will come with fingerprint scanning technology on its home button. If Apple does indeed include a fingerprint scanner on its rumored iPhone 5S, it's likely other smartphone makers will follow suit, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apparently, a couple of companies that make smartphones for Google Android have also been working on adding fingerprint sensors -- although it's unclear which devices these will be.Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5S and a cheaper iPhone 5C model at a press event on Tuesday. Tune into CNET's live blog at 10am PT to get a real-time breakdown of the event.CNET contacted Apple for comment on the fingerprint scanner. We'll update the story when we get more information.
Apple will include a fingerprint scanner on a high-end iPhone the company is expected to announce on Tuesday, according to The Wall Street Journal.If true, gone will be the days of using four-digit passcodes on iPhones. The new technology will supposedly work by a simple touch on the front of the smartphone. The idea is to fool thieves and hackers.Evidence has been mounting about Apple jumping into fingerprint technology. After the iPhone maker bought fingerprint sensor and identity management software company Authentec last year, rumors floated that it was aiming to use the technology in its new devices. In July, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published an Apple patent application that described a technology in which a sensor is used to trace a person's finger and fingerprint and determine, based on that, if they have proper credentials. Then, last week, leaked photos surfaced that suggested Apple's next iPhone will come with fingerprint scanning technology on its home button. If Apple does indeed include a fingerprint scanner on its rumored iPhone 5S, it's likely other smartphone makers will follow suit, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apparently, a couple of companies that make smartphones for Google Android have also been working on adding fingerprint sensors -- although it's unclear which devices these will be.Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5S and a cheaper iPhone 5C model at a press event on Tuesday. Tune into CNET's live blog at 10am PT to get a real-time breakdown of the event.CNET contacted Apple for comment on the fingerprint scanner. We'll update the story when we get more information.
Apple looking at 5.7-inch iPhone, claims report
Apple is exploring iPhones as large as 5.7 inches, as it feels the heat from large-screen rivals, according to Reuters. The company is considering the introduction of "at least two bigger iPhones next year," the report said.One could sport a 4.7-inch screen and the other a 5.7-incher, Reuters said, citing sources in the Asia supply chain. "Suppliers have been approached with plans for the larger screens," the report claimed, adding that the move is "still under discussion." The motive appears to be a growing need to respond to large-screen smartphones from rival Samsung -- its Galaxy S4 sports a 5-inch screen -- as well as phone-tablet hybrids, aka phablets, which boast even larger screens. Indeed, if Apple offered a 5.7-inch device that would fall into phablet territory.Samsung's Galaxy Note II, for example, has a 5.5-inch screen. There have also been rumors about multi-colored iPhones coming down the pike.In an investors note last week, analyst Brian White cited research suggesting that the low-cost iPhone, aka "iPhone Mini," would come in five different colors.Reuters says Apple is mulling a $99 iPhone, which the company needs for growth in markets like China and India.
Apple logos in backdrop for Samsung in-store display
Without a fantastic investigative journalism budget that would allow me to fly to the Italian store in question on the company jet on a moment's notice, I'm left to assume one of three things has happened here:1. The display was left over from another mobile promotion and only truly nitpicky geeks like us and the folks at All Things D would ever dream of making an issue about a few little icons that only the aforementioned geeks would ever recognize anyway.2. Samsung has a terribly backward understanding of the meaning of the term "product placement."3. Samsung is stalking Apple. It has Korean factories making nothing but black turtlenecks and jeans. It also has that Safari icon tattooed on its buttocks. And sometimes it just slips up.You can decide for yourself what the most likely explanation is, but Samsung doesn't have a great track record here. Back in 2008 it let it slip that a version of Safari was going to be coming to one of its old-school Symbian phones. Turns out they meant "s60 safari," which is a different browser based on some of the same components as Apple's browser, but it still belies the company's apparent ignorance of the concept of a trademark.Well, at least one mystery may have been solved here. Perhaps we now know what became of the errant promotional backdrops for those s60 safari phones.
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