Apple won't own the dashboard with CarPlay
At the 2014 Geneva auto show, we got the first hands-on demonstrations of CarPlay, the feature of iOS7 that Apple announced last year as iOS in the Car. From comments on the Internet, you might think Apple software has now taken over car dashboards, leaving Android users the choice to convert or walk.It may seem unlikely, but many Internet commenters are wrong, at least about CarPlay. I was one of the first journalists to get a demonstration of the system at the show, and I was impressed.Click here to read my take on the CarPlay demonstration.Rather than a revolution in dashboard infotainment, what I saw in CarPlay was an evolution of iOS music library integration in cars. For the last 10 years, cars have increasingly featured USB ports that let you plug in an iPod, iPhone, or iPad with its white cable, and control music playback using the car's own touch screen LCD or dashboard controls. With this integration, you can browse music by artist, album, genre, and track, select something, and play it.CarPlay takes a step forward from there. You still have to plug the iOS device into the car's USB port, but then the CarPlay interface takes over the car's LCD, with all processing running on the device. Much like the iOS interface, CarPlay shows app icons, although in a bigger format. For the Geneva demonstration, CarPlay gave me the choices of Apple Maps, iTunes music, and iOS phone and text messaging. The only third party apps were iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Beats Music, and Spotify. I'm sure the folks at Pandora are feeling snubbed.Additional apps will come, but they will go through far more scrutiny than the great variety found in the iTunes app store. Apple will be the primary gatekeeper of apps approved for CarPlay, but automakers will definitely need some say, and probably veto power, as they will be in the sights of any lawsuits over distracting features in the car. Apple demoes CarPlay in a Mercedes-Benz...See full gallery1 - 4 / 16NextPrevWorth plugging in?Given the need to plug the iOS device into the car, I don't see drivers turning to CarPlay for casual trips. The more likely scenario is that, on a trip to the grocery store for example, most drivers might listen to music over a Bluetooth connection or not bother with any phone functions at all. Commuters will likely appreciate the text messaging features of CarPlay, and there is certainly room for voice-oriented social media apps in this context. An app with a stronger focus on traffic congestion than Apple Maps would also be a welcome addition.CarPlay will certainly come in handy for trips involving navigation, as long as the route doesn't cover a lot of data-less ground. Take a camping trip to the mountains and most of CarPlay's apps will be useless.In fact, navigation tends to be most crucial in areas which lack wireless data connections. In those driving situations, automaker-installed navigation systems with stored maps will continue to prove their worth.The type of car will likely play a big part in how often CarPlay sees use. In an economy car, such as the Honda Civic, a buyer may forgo the navigation option in favor of CarPlay. However, in a luxury vehicle like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which comes standard with excellent navigation, would a driver bother to plug in her phone and fire up the CarPlay interface?A future version of CarPlay will work over Wi-Fi, which should give it a big boost in usage, but will also require the automakers to install new hardware to support this type of wireless connection, so adoption won't be quick.Not a competitionComing up on CarPlay's heels is Automotive Link from Google's Open Automotive Alliance. The Open Automotive Alliance was only announced a few months ago, but it will likely offer similar functionality as CarPlay, except for Android. Then there is MirrorLink, an open standards means of mirroring any mobile OS on a car's dashboard.Click here to read more about these different mirroring schemes.From an automaker's point of view, CarPlay, Automotive Link, and MirrorLink are not competitors. These three children might be squabbling, but their automaker parents are packing all of them into the car for the ride to grandma's house. The technology is not exclusive, and automakers will want to accommodate the rabid Apple fanboy as much as the fanatical Android partisan. A sale is a sale, no matter in which camp the buyer lives.And along with these connectivity features, cars will continue to include native software to support Bluetooth hands-free phone calls and music streaming, stereo control, car maintenance and fuel economy information, and the host of other features that must always be available to the driver, with or without a phone.
MTV, Real, and Verizon to take on iTunes with new music initiative
MTV, Real, and Verizon to take on iTunes with new music initiative
With their new joint digital music initiative, MTV Networks, RealNetworks and Verizon Wireless are taking a direct aim at Apple's iTunes powerhouse.Called Rhapsody America, the yet-to-launch collaboration among the three companies will combine MTV's relatively unsuccessful Urge music store, the Real-owned Rhapsody subscription download service, and Verizon's V Cast mobile media service to create a music store that reaches across the PC, digital music player, and mobile phone platforms.The new Rhapsody America company is officially a joint venture between MTV Networks and Real Networks, with Verizon Wireless as its exclusive mobile partner. Urge as a brand will cease to exist, with Rhapsody becoming the service of choice for MTV Networks' MTV, VH1, and CMT music brands. Michael Bloom, general manager of MTV's Urge, has been appointed head of the new company, and the company's offices will be located in New York, San Francisco and Seattle.Urge had been launched as a music store in conjunction with MTV Networks' music brands, but its highly publicized deal with Microsoft had fallen by the wayside as the software company launched its Zune music player and accompanying music store.Executives from MTV, Real, and Verizon held a joint conference call on Tuesday morning, filled with talk of "alliances" and "joining forces" that evoked superhero Captain Planet or Voltron. "The collaboration of these three companies is like a perfect storm," said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks' Music/Logo/Films group, who added that they're striving to make Rhapsody America "the best service out there, hands-down.""The notion of combining with these two marketing behemoths is very, very exciting from our standpoint," said Rob Glaser, chairman and CEO of RealNetworks. "This is a relationship that we spent a long time putting together." RealNetworks, which holds the larger stake in Rhapsody America, has been trying to expand its footprint in the music sales world for some time now through high-profile partnerships.Few details about the revamped Rhapsody were actually disclosed--pricing, for example, or details regarding finances--but the executives hinted that Rhapsody tie-ins will start to appear as part of the MTV Video Music Awards, which will be broadcast from Las Vegas on September 9.The executives from all three companies talked up the Verizon deal as crucial to the nature of Rhapsody America. "Our audiences have made it crystal clear that they really want their music accessible wherever they might be," Toffler said. Glaser added that over-the-air downloads through V Cast epitomize Real's goal of a "jukebox in the sky," which he said has been the company's aim since it launched the first RealPlayer in 1995.More importantly, it's a potential arsenal in the fight to catch up with Apple's iTunes store, the inarguable leader in the digital music sales industry: iTunes offers no mobile download capabilities. John Stratton, Verizon's executive vice president and chief marketing officer, reminded those listening to the conference call that V Cast mobile phones now support 4GB of storage and will support eight by the end of the year--an underhanded nod to the storage capacity of Apple's own iPhone.The formation of Rhapsody America is the latest move in a music industry trend to prime new strategies for an assault on iTunes. Most recently, Universal Music Group announced that it would not be renewing its contract with Apple's music store and that it would be making portions of its catalog available without digital rights management protection to a number of non-iTunes outlets, one of which is Rhapsody.
With their new joint digital music initiative, MTV Networks, RealNetworks and Verizon Wireless are taking a direct aim at Apple's iTunes powerhouse.Called Rhapsody America, the yet-to-launch collaboration among the three companies will combine MTV's relatively unsuccessful Urge music store, the Real-owned Rhapsody subscription download service, and Verizon's V Cast mobile media service to create a music store that reaches across the PC, digital music player, and mobile phone platforms.The new Rhapsody America company is officially a joint venture between MTV Networks and Real Networks, with Verizon Wireless as its exclusive mobile partner. Urge as a brand will cease to exist, with Rhapsody becoming the service of choice for MTV Networks' MTV, VH1, and CMT music brands. Michael Bloom, general manager of MTV's Urge, has been appointed head of the new company, and the company's offices will be located in New York, San Francisco and Seattle.Urge had been launched as a music store in conjunction with MTV Networks' music brands, but its highly publicized deal with Microsoft had fallen by the wayside as the software company launched its Zune music player and accompanying music store.Executives from MTV, Real, and Verizon held a joint conference call on Tuesday morning, filled with talk of "alliances" and "joining forces" that evoked superhero Captain Planet or Voltron. "The collaboration of these three companies is like a perfect storm," said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks' Music/Logo/Films group, who added that they're striving to make Rhapsody America "the best service out there, hands-down.""The notion of combining with these two marketing behemoths is very, very exciting from our standpoint," said Rob Glaser, chairman and CEO of RealNetworks. "This is a relationship that we spent a long time putting together." RealNetworks, which holds the larger stake in Rhapsody America, has been trying to expand its footprint in the music sales world for some time now through high-profile partnerships.Few details about the revamped Rhapsody were actually disclosed--pricing, for example, or details regarding finances--but the executives hinted that Rhapsody tie-ins will start to appear as part of the MTV Video Music Awards, which will be broadcast from Las Vegas on September 9.The executives from all three companies talked up the Verizon deal as crucial to the nature of Rhapsody America. "Our audiences have made it crystal clear that they really want their music accessible wherever they might be," Toffler said. Glaser added that over-the-air downloads through V Cast epitomize Real's goal of a "jukebox in the sky," which he said has been the company's aim since it launched the first RealPlayer in 1995.More importantly, it's a potential arsenal in the fight to catch up with Apple's iTunes store, the inarguable leader in the digital music sales industry: iTunes offers no mobile download capabilities. John Stratton, Verizon's executive vice president and chief marketing officer, reminded those listening to the conference call that V Cast mobile phones now support 4GB of storage and will support eight by the end of the year--an underhanded nod to the storage capacity of Apple's own iPhone.The formation of Rhapsody America is the latest move in a music industry trend to prime new strategies for an assault on iTunes. Most recently, Universal Music Group announced that it would not be renewing its contract with Apple's music store and that it would be making portions of its catalog available without digital rights management protection to a number of non-iTunes outlets, one of which is Rhapsody.
Back-to-school laptops- we have a winner (two, actually)
Back-to-school laptops: we have a winner (two, actually)
Entry-levelYou can spend less than $700 and find a very respectable laptop. Our favorite among the Entry-level group is the Sony VAIO NR430E/L. We were surprised to see a Sony lead the pack here, since its VAIO brand is more commonly associated with high design and high prices. But Sony cooked up a winner with the VAIO NR430, which we like at $699 and love at its current discount of $599 at Best Buy. This 15-inch laptop features a sturdy and attractive design, awesome keyboard, and leading performance and battery life among its class. Runner-up: Dell Inspiron 1525-121B.Gateway T-6836BudgetIf your budget allows you to spend up to $800, we'd point you toward the Gateway T-6836, our pick among what we're calling the Budget category. While most laptops here weigh in around 6 pounds and feature a 15-inch screen, the Gateway saves your shoulder about a half pound or more of weight while still serving up a 1,280x800 resolution found on most 15-inch displays and packing it in its 14-inch display. It's also the only system in this group to serve up 64-bit Vista and 4GB of RAM, which helped it lead the way in labs testing. It also fared well on our battery drain test. Again, we like it at its $799 list price, but Best Buy's site currently has it for sale with a sizable $150 discount. Runner-up: HP Pavilion dv2915nr.A trend we soon discovered after getting these systems up and running in the labs (and you can see clearly illustrated by any of the performance charts in the reviews) confirmed what we've known for a while: Intel's mobile platform is superior to that of its rival AMD. On our multitasking, Photoshop, and iTunes benchmarks, the Intel-based systems clearly outpaced the AMD-based systems. While we'd be willing to give up a bit of performance for increased processing efficiency and better battery life, the AMD systems delivered merely average battery life at best, making it hard to recommend an AMD-based system unless you stumble across one at a deep discount. As it stands now, our current winners and runners-up of the Entry-level and Budget categories feature an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Perhaps this trend will change as we move up in price. We'll be posting reviews of the large mainstream category over the next week or so. Check back on this earlier Crave post, which lists all the back-to-school laptops we have reviewed and will be reviewing. We'll update it with links to the new reviews as we move along.See more laptops in CNET's back-to-school gift guide.
Entry-levelYou can spend less than $700 and find a very respectable laptop. Our favorite among the Entry-level group is the Sony VAIO NR430E/L. We were surprised to see a Sony lead the pack here, since its VAIO brand is more commonly associated with high design and high prices. But Sony cooked up a winner with the VAIO NR430, which we like at $699 and love at its current discount of $599 at Best Buy. This 15-inch laptop features a sturdy and attractive design, awesome keyboard, and leading performance and battery life among its class. Runner-up: Dell Inspiron 1525-121B.Gateway T-6836BudgetIf your budget allows you to spend up to $800, we'd point you toward the Gateway T-6836, our pick among what we're calling the Budget category. While most laptops here weigh in around 6 pounds and feature a 15-inch screen, the Gateway saves your shoulder about a half pound or more of weight while still serving up a 1,280x800 resolution found on most 15-inch displays and packing it in its 14-inch display. It's also the only system in this group to serve up 64-bit Vista and 4GB of RAM, which helped it lead the way in labs testing. It also fared well on our battery drain test. Again, we like it at its $799 list price, but Best Buy's site currently has it for sale with a sizable $150 discount. Runner-up: HP Pavilion dv2915nr.A trend we soon discovered after getting these systems up and running in the labs (and you can see clearly illustrated by any of the performance charts in the reviews) confirmed what we've known for a while: Intel's mobile platform is superior to that of its rival AMD. On our multitasking, Photoshop, and iTunes benchmarks, the Intel-based systems clearly outpaced the AMD-based systems. While we'd be willing to give up a bit of performance for increased processing efficiency and better battery life, the AMD systems delivered merely average battery life at best, making it hard to recommend an AMD-based system unless you stumble across one at a deep discount. As it stands now, our current winners and runners-up of the Entry-level and Budget categories feature an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Perhaps this trend will change as we move up in price. We'll be posting reviews of the large mainstream category over the next week or so. Check back on this earlier Crave post, which lists all the back-to-school laptops we have reviewed and will be reviewing. We'll update it with links to the new reviews as we move along.See more laptops in CNET's back-to-school gift guide.
The 404 319- Where Dan the Mantern is locked in
The 404 319: Where Dan the Mantern is locked in
Apparently, EA sent out packages of brass knuckles for the release of its video game version of "The Godfather II."Unbeknownst to them, it is a crime in most states to send brass knuckles, as they are in the same category of weapons as switchblades and gas guns.Also on today's show, we cover Vermont legalizing "sexting," a special eBay auction just in case you need to tell someone off, and Disney releasing a controversial animated movie featuring a black princess.We've got a special treat for you today, as well.If you check your RSS or iTunes feed, you'll discover that we've officially pushed to you The 404 ringtones, including our main theme courtesy of Mr. Jamie Lewis and a Tom Merritt-inspired "Calls from the Public" ringtone.Also, if you have an iPhone, we've got special instructions on how to use our ringtones on your Jesus Phone.But wait, there's more!Yes, because of popular demand, we're pushing out acoustic versions of Jonathan Coulton's performances of "Codemonkey" and "Re: Your Brains" performed in our very own podcast studios.Don't you just love us?!?!Remember to mark Thursday, April 16, as the day your life changes when Bore Out Loud and the Snore Oh Four battle to the death in a dance off (bring your tap shoes).Be sure to RSVP.We'll be partying hard at the whole upstairs floor of The Delancey in New York City at 7:30 p.m.EPISODE 319Download today's podcast |Â Subscribe in iTunes |Â Subscribe in RSSSome one at EA might be going to jailVermont legalizes "sexting"An eBay auction in case you need to tell someone offDisney release a controversial animated film featuring a black princessFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangDan the Mantern
Apparently, EA sent out packages of brass knuckles for the release of its video game version of "The Godfather II."Unbeknownst to them, it is a crime in most states to send brass knuckles, as they are in the same category of weapons as switchblades and gas guns.Also on today's show, we cover Vermont legalizing "sexting," a special eBay auction just in case you need to tell someone off, and Disney releasing a controversial animated movie featuring a black princess.We've got a special treat for you today, as well.If you check your RSS or iTunes feed, you'll discover that we've officially pushed to you The 404 ringtones, including our main theme courtesy of Mr. Jamie Lewis and a Tom Merritt-inspired "Calls from the Public" ringtone.Also, if you have an iPhone, we've got special instructions on how to use our ringtones on your Jesus Phone.But wait, there's more!Yes, because of popular demand, we're pushing out acoustic versions of Jonathan Coulton's performances of "Codemonkey" and "Re: Your Brains" performed in our very own podcast studios.Don't you just love us?!?!Remember to mark Thursday, April 16, as the day your life changes when Bore Out Loud and the Snore Oh Four battle to the death in a dance off (bring your tap shoes).Be sure to RSVP.We'll be partying hard at the whole upstairs floor of The Delancey in New York City at 7:30 p.m.EPISODE 319Download today's podcast |Â Subscribe in iTunes |Â Subscribe in RSSSome one at EA might be going to jailVermont legalizes "sexting"An eBay auction in case you need to tell someone offDisney release a controversial animated film featuring a black princessFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangDan the Mantern
LaCie's LaCinema Premier- The DVD ripper's friend-
LaCie's LaCinema Premier: The DVD ripper's friend?
As good as the Apple TV 2.0 is, it's still pretty limited on what sort of videos it can stream from a networked computer--if it hasn't been imported into iTunes, you're pretty much out of luck. If you're looking for something with more file format flexibility--and the simplicity of drag-and-drop operation--the LaCie LaCinema Premier may be just the ticket. The LaCinema Premier has a full set of AV outputs.LaCieOn one hand, it's a standard USB 2.0 external hard drive, available in beefy 500GB ($250), 750GB ($350), and 1TB ($500) capacities. But on the other hand, unlike standard backup drives the LaCinema Premier has a full set of AV outputs (composite, S-Video, and component video--but no HDMI--analog stereo, optical and coaxial surround-capable digital jacks). The idea is that you load the drive with all of your digital movies, music, and photos (via a USB connection from a Mac or Windows PC), and then connect it to your TV.You can then use the included remote control to select whichvideos, songs, or photos you would like to enjoy via an onscreen interface. Though the lack of DivX compatibility is notable, the LaCinema Premier looks to support a reasonable variety of file formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and--rippers take note--the ISO, IFO, and VOB files of DVDs. (Repeat after me: you're only legally allowed to rip DVDs that aren't copy-protected--which pretty much eliminates any Hollywood release.) The spec sheet also mentions "1080i upscaling." So while it's always a crapshoot to judge products from afar (which is to say: we haven't reviewed this LaCie drive, or even seen it in person), the LaCinema Premier may well be a "just right" sneakernet alternative to the too-small SanDisk Sansa TakeTV ($150) and the way-too-expensive Kaleidescape movie server ($20,000)--assuming the network-enabled Apple TV or Xbox 360 doesn't already handle those needs for you. Use the included remote to choose the video, music, or photo of your choice.LaCieOne final note to LaCie: In addition to adding that missing DivX support, you might also want to throw in an extra power adapter--one to leave at the computer (when you're loading up the drive with content), and one to leave by the TV (when you're enjoying it on the big screen).
As good as the Apple TV 2.0 is, it's still pretty limited on what sort of videos it can stream from a networked computer--if it hasn't been imported into iTunes, you're pretty much out of luck. If you're looking for something with more file format flexibility--and the simplicity of drag-and-drop operation--the LaCie LaCinema Premier may be just the ticket. The LaCinema Premier has a full set of AV outputs.LaCieOn one hand, it's a standard USB 2.0 external hard drive, available in beefy 500GB ($250), 750GB ($350), and 1TB ($500) capacities. But on the other hand, unlike standard backup drives the LaCinema Premier has a full set of AV outputs (composite, S-Video, and component video--but no HDMI--analog stereo, optical and coaxial surround-capable digital jacks). The idea is that you load the drive with all of your digital movies, music, and photos (via a USB connection from a Mac or Windows PC), and then connect it to your TV.You can then use the included remote control to select whichvideos, songs, or photos you would like to enjoy via an onscreen interface. Though the lack of DivX compatibility is notable, the LaCinema Premier looks to support a reasonable variety of file formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and--rippers take note--the ISO, IFO, and VOB files of DVDs. (Repeat after me: you're only legally allowed to rip DVDs that aren't copy-protected--which pretty much eliminates any Hollywood release.) The spec sheet also mentions "1080i upscaling." So while it's always a crapshoot to judge products from afar (which is to say: we haven't reviewed this LaCie drive, or even seen it in person), the LaCinema Premier may well be a "just right" sneakernet alternative to the too-small SanDisk Sansa TakeTV ($150) and the way-too-expensive Kaleidescape movie server ($20,000)--assuming the network-enabled Apple TV or Xbox 360 doesn't already handle those needs for you. Use the included remote to choose the video, music, or photo of your choice.LaCieOne final note to LaCie: In addition to adding that missing DivX support, you might also want to throw in an extra power adapter--one to leave at the computer (when you're loading up the drive with content), and one to leave by the TV (when you're enjoying it on the big screen).
Apple's Passbook scores home run with Major League Baseball
Apple's Passbook scores home run with Major League Baseball
Passbook has already found one big fan in Major League Baseball.Still in its initial innings, Apple's new electronic ticketing system scored well in a recent test conducted by MLB. In the final two weeks of the regular season, four teams tried out Passbook. Among 1,500 e-ticket buyers, 12 percent chose to receive their tickets via Apple's service, reports The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch."That adoption rate really floored us -- there is no question our fans want digital tickets," Bob Bowman, CEO of MLB Advance Media, told MarketWatch. "Fans can use the tickets, forward them to a friend, resell them, or even donate them to charity -- and they never get lost or left at home."Related storiesGiving Apple's Passbook a real-world spinGetting started with Passbook on iOS 6Starbucks iOS app adds support for Apple's PassbookApple's Passbook gets some love from Airbnb, Eventbrite, McDonald'sElectronic ticket delivery has already been a hit among baseball fans.Traditional paper tickets were used for just one-third of all single-game seats sold in the 2012 season, down from 55 percent last year, MarketWatch noted. That number is expected to fall to 10 percent next season as Passbook and similar services prompt more people to receive tickets via e-mail or text message.CNET's own Josh Lowensohn recently gave Passbook a workout at the ballpark, using the service to generate tickets for aSan Francisco Giants game. The transaction required one piece of paperwork in the form of a printed receipt. But Passbook did offer distinct advantages over paper tickets, including the ability to alert you to changes and offer access based on your location. As Passbook gains more traction and sophistication, the process should get even smoother.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Passbook has already found one big fan in Major League Baseball.Still in its initial innings, Apple's new electronic ticketing system scored well in a recent test conducted by MLB. In the final two weeks of the regular season, four teams tried out Passbook. Among 1,500 e-ticket buyers, 12 percent chose to receive their tickets via Apple's service, reports The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch."That adoption rate really floored us -- there is no question our fans want digital tickets," Bob Bowman, CEO of MLB Advance Media, told MarketWatch. "Fans can use the tickets, forward them to a friend, resell them, or even donate them to charity -- and they never get lost or left at home."Related storiesGiving Apple's Passbook a real-world spinGetting started with Passbook on iOS 6Starbucks iOS app adds support for Apple's PassbookApple's Passbook gets some love from Airbnb, Eventbrite, McDonald'sElectronic ticket delivery has already been a hit among baseball fans.Traditional paper tickets were used for just one-third of all single-game seats sold in the 2012 season, down from 55 percent last year, MarketWatch noted. That number is expected to fall to 10 percent next season as Passbook and similar services prompt more people to receive tickets via e-mail or text message.CNET's own Josh Lowensohn recently gave Passbook a workout at the ballpark, using the service to generate tickets for aSan Francisco Giants game. The transaction required one piece of paperwork in the form of a printed receipt. But Passbook did offer distinct advantages over paper tickets, including the ability to alert you to changes and offer access based on your location. As Passbook gains more traction and sophistication, the process should get even smoother.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Apple's ownership of 'iPhone' name in Brazil in peril
Apple's ownership of 'iPhone' name in Brazil in peril
Apple could soon lose its rights to use the iPhone name in Brazil as part of a decision expected from the local patent and trademark office next week. Citing an unnamed source, both Reuters and Folha de S.Paulo today say the Brazilian Institute of Intellectual Property plans to award an exclusive iPhone name trademark to Brazil-based electronics company Gradiente. Gradiente filed for the iPhone naming rights in the country years before Apple's device came to be. However the company didn't put out its own iPhone-branded productuntil last December when it began selling a line of touch-screen smartphones running Google's Android.In a release about the new products, Gradiente said it had secured the legal rights to the name through 2018.An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the reports. Apple famously wrested the rights to the iPhone name in the U.S. from Cisco Systems in early 2007, just months before the product's release. Cisco sued Apple for trademark infringement immediately after the iPhone was unveiled at the annual Macworld conference in January that same year. In its complaint, Cisco said Apple had approached the company over the name a number of times, even using a shell company in an attempt to acquire the moniker. The two ended up settling in February 2007.Internationally the story has been a bit more interesting, including a fight in China over the rights to the "iPad" trademark with a company called Proview. That dispute, which threatened sales of the popular tablet in the country, was settled last Julyfor $60 million. A similar result is expected in Brazil if the patent office sides with Gradiente, with a report earlier today quoting a company official saying he was "open to a dialogue" of such a deal.
Apple could soon lose its rights to use the iPhone name in Brazil as part of a decision expected from the local patent and trademark office next week. Citing an unnamed source, both Reuters and Folha de S.Paulo today say the Brazilian Institute of Intellectual Property plans to award an exclusive iPhone name trademark to Brazil-based electronics company Gradiente. Gradiente filed for the iPhone naming rights in the country years before Apple's device came to be. However the company didn't put out its own iPhone-branded productuntil last December when it began selling a line of touch-screen smartphones running Google's Android.In a release about the new products, Gradiente said it had secured the legal rights to the name through 2018.An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the reports. Apple famously wrested the rights to the iPhone name in the U.S. from Cisco Systems in early 2007, just months before the product's release. Cisco sued Apple for trademark infringement immediately after the iPhone was unveiled at the annual Macworld conference in January that same year. In its complaint, Cisco said Apple had approached the company over the name a number of times, even using a shell company in an attempt to acquire the moniker. The two ended up settling in February 2007.Internationally the story has been a bit more interesting, including a fight in China over the rights to the "iPad" trademark with a company called Proview. That dispute, which threatened sales of the popular tablet in the country, was settled last Julyfor $60 million. A similar result is expected in Brazil if the patent office sides with Gradiente, with a report earlier today quoting a company official saying he was "open to a dialogue" of such a deal.
Apple's OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 update arrives
Apple's OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 update arrives
After nearly three months of beta testing with developers, Apple has rolled out another update to its desktop operating system. OS X 10.8.5, which went out as a free update on Thursday, brings a handful of bug fixes and security patches. Key among them is a fix for a bug in Apple's mail software that would keep the program from displaying messages, the company said in its change log, pasted below:The OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.5 Update is recommended for all OS X Mountain Lion users. It improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac. This update:Fixes an issue that may prevent Mail from displaying messagesImproves AFP file transfer performance over 802.11ac Wi-FiResolves an issue that may prevent a screen saver from starting automaticallyImproves Xsan reliabilityImproves reliability when transferring large files over EthernetImproves performance when authenticating to an Open Directory serverAddresses an issue that prevented a smart card from unlocking preference panes in System PreferencesContains the improvements included in MacBook Air (Mid 2013) Software Update 1.0 Apple first began testing the 10.8.5 update in late June and has rolled out eight additional beta versions of the software since. The update comes weeks ahead of when Apple is expected to release OS X 10.9, dubbed "Mavericks." That software, which is rumored to be arriving near the end of October, brings over a few more iOS features like Apple's Maps software and iBooks, as well as under the hood changes designed to improve battery life.
After nearly three months of beta testing with developers, Apple has rolled out another update to its desktop operating system. OS X 10.8.5, which went out as a free update on Thursday, brings a handful of bug fixes and security patches. Key among them is a fix for a bug in Apple's mail software that would keep the program from displaying messages, the company said in its change log, pasted below:The OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.5 Update is recommended for all OS X Mountain Lion users. It improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac. This update:Fixes an issue that may prevent Mail from displaying messagesImproves AFP file transfer performance over 802.11ac Wi-FiResolves an issue that may prevent a screen saver from starting automaticallyImproves Xsan reliabilityImproves reliability when transferring large files over EthernetImproves performance when authenticating to an Open Directory serverAddresses an issue that prevented a smart card from unlocking preference panes in System PreferencesContains the improvements included in MacBook Air (Mid 2013) Software Update 1.0 Apple first began testing the 10.8.5 update in late June and has rolled out eight additional beta versions of the software since. The update comes weeks ahead of when Apple is expected to release OS X 10.9, dubbed "Mavericks." That software, which is rumored to be arriving near the end of October, brings over a few more iOS features like Apple's Maps software and iBooks, as well as under the hood changes designed to improve battery life.
Apple's OS X 10.8.4 arrives with fix for annoying iMessage bug
Apple's OS X 10.8.4 arrives with fix for annoying iMessage bug
Apple released what is likely to be the last round of fixes to 10.8 Mountain Lion ahead of a look at the next major version of OS X at next week's Worldwide Developer conference. 10.8.4 -- which has been in developer testing for months -- went out Tuesday and fixes a handful of bugs while promising "improvements' in other areas. Key among them is a fix for a bug in Apple's Messages software that would display messages out of order, an issue that could make the app's conversational style useless and confusing. On the official change list:• Compatibility improvements when connecting to certain enterprise Wi-Fi networks• Microsoft Exchange compatability improvements in Calendar• A fix for an issue that prevented FaceTime calls to non-U.S. phone numbers• A fix for an issue that may prevent scheduled sleep after using Boot Camp• Improved VoiceOver compatability with text in PDF documents• Includes Safari 6.0.5A larger list of changes that come with the update can be found here. Apple has said it will unveil the next version of OS X at WWDC, which kicks off next Monday. The company typically puts its development efforts only into the newer versions of the software, though it has occasionally released standalone security updates to older versions of the OS. The last minor update to Mountain Lion came back in March, with support for Windows 8 in its Boot Camp software, as well as a fix for a security loophole that could crash apps malicious URLs.
Apple released what is likely to be the last round of fixes to 10.8 Mountain Lion ahead of a look at the next major version of OS X at next week's Worldwide Developer conference. 10.8.4 -- which has been in developer testing for months -- went out Tuesday and fixes a handful of bugs while promising "improvements' in other areas. Key among them is a fix for a bug in Apple's Messages software that would display messages out of order, an issue that could make the app's conversational style useless and confusing. On the official change list:• Compatibility improvements when connecting to certain enterprise Wi-Fi networks• Microsoft Exchange compatability improvements in Calendar• A fix for an issue that prevented FaceTime calls to non-U.S. phone numbers• A fix for an issue that may prevent scheduled sleep after using Boot Camp• Improved VoiceOver compatability with text in PDF documents• Includes Safari 6.0.5A larger list of changes that come with the update can be found here. Apple has said it will unveil the next version of OS X at WWDC, which kicks off next Monday. The company typically puts its development efforts only into the newer versions of the software, though it has occasionally released standalone security updates to older versions of the OS. The last minor update to Mountain Lion came back in March, with support for Windows 8 in its Boot Camp software, as well as a fix for a security loophole that could crash apps malicious URLs.
Apple's newly renovated NYC 'cube' to reopen tomorrow
Apple's newly renovated NYC 'cube' to reopen tomorrow
Apple's highest-profile store in the Big Apple is set to re-open tomorrow following a nearly five month construction overhaul.Work on the store, which is one of the most photographed landmarks in New York, began in mid-June. A note put up by Apple in early August noted that Apple was "simplifying" the design of its iconic glass cube "by using larger, seamless pieces of glass." Macrumors today notes that Apple has put up a note on its retail store's site to note that the 24/7 store will be reopening at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 4.All told, the renovation--which Apple retail tracking blog ifoAppleStore estimated to cost some $6.6 million dollars--will bring the outside design down to 15 panels from the 90 it was using before. Besides work to the cube itself, a list of permits pulled together by ifoAppleStore listed that the company is also renovating part of the drainage system above the square, then repaving it when done.Apple is currently in the process of juggling its retail stores in New York City, with the company having closed down its store in nearby SoHo so that it can begin an expansion project that will wrap up in early to mid-2012. The company is also at work constructing its newest store in Grand Central Station, a long-rumored deal that wrapped up a few months ago. Most recently, Apple opened up a temporary retail store on Greene Street, one that's unlike many of its others. Since opening in 2006, the company's Fifth Avenue location has gone on to become one of the company's busiest, and reportedly the most profitable.
Apple's highest-profile store in the Big Apple is set to re-open tomorrow following a nearly five month construction overhaul.Work on the store, which is one of the most photographed landmarks in New York, began in mid-June. A note put up by Apple in early August noted that Apple was "simplifying" the design of its iconic glass cube "by using larger, seamless pieces of glass." Macrumors today notes that Apple has put up a note on its retail store's site to note that the 24/7 store will be reopening at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 4.All told, the renovation--which Apple retail tracking blog ifoAppleStore estimated to cost some $6.6 million dollars--will bring the outside design down to 15 panels from the 90 it was using before. Besides work to the cube itself, a list of permits pulled together by ifoAppleStore listed that the company is also renovating part of the drainage system above the square, then repaving it when done.Apple is currently in the process of juggling its retail stores in New York City, with the company having closed down its store in nearby SoHo so that it can begin an expansion project that will wrap up in early to mid-2012. The company is also at work constructing its newest store in Grand Central Station, a long-rumored deal that wrapped up a few months ago. Most recently, Apple opened up a temporary retail store on Greene Street, one that's unlike many of its others. Since opening in 2006, the company's Fifth Avenue location has gone on to become one of the company's busiest, and reportedly the most profitable.
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