Apple
A new digital battlefield
TV shows are emerging as a new front in the war over digital media between Amazon and Apple. Hours after Apple said it would begin renting some shows for 99 cents per episode, Amazon cut its price on a similar set of shows. And—unlike Apple, which rents the videos, Amazon lets its customers buy the shows. Some media executives worry low prices could eventually undermine the existing TV business. Full Article.
Apple buzz reaches fever pitch
After a couple of uncharacteristic missteps and mishaps, will Apple be getting the magic back with its next big announcement? Apple seems to be back in the swing of things, at least as far as creating that patented Apple buzz around product announcements. The prevailing opinion at this point is that Apple will announce a new iPod. Full Article.
Apple: More security issues?
A German government agency says there are two weak points in the operating systems for iPads, iPhones and iPod touches, and opening a compromised website or file could allow unauthorized access to information, or allow others to listen to conversations. Apple recently indicated that it is aware of the problem and has investigations underway. Full Article.
Microsoft Working on iPad's Rivals
Microsoft’s Chief Executive said Microsoft needs to do better in the market for tablet computers that Apple Inc. has found success in with its iPad. Microsoft is working closely with hardware partners to improve the quality of tablet devices that run Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system. Tablet or slate devices, which are the thin, keyboard-free computers with touch screens that run Windows 7 haven't caught on yet, as computer makers struggle to create products with the responsiveness and ease of use of the iPad. Full Article.
Amazon bets the Kindle will grow
When Apple released the iPad in April, obituaries for Amazon's Kindle e-reader proliferated. However, instead of planning a funeral, Amazon decided to bet on growth for its Kindle and placed it at the center of Amazon’s digital media strategy. The company announced on July 19 that Kindle sales had accelerated every month since the iPad's debut, and Amazon plans to introduce two new versions of the device July 29. Full Article.
Antenna-gate is over: Steve Jobs, Apple Get Vote of Confidence
Judging from the two- to three-week waiting lists to buy an iPhone 4, "Antenna-gate," as Jobs calls it, has not caused Apple-entranced consumers to lose faith. Apple’s Chief Operating Officer: "Let me be very clear on this. We are selling every unit we can make." One of the primary reasons for Apple's success: It doesn't specialize in software like Microsoft or hardware like HP or Samsung. It does both, and brings the same obsessiveness to its dealings with suppliers and distributors that it does to industrial design. Full Article.
Is Apple slated to bring out another new product?
Some new Apples may be growing in Cupertino. An analyst for Digitimes Research believes Apple may soon be coming out with a new Macbook Air. The new light computer would supposedly have an eleven point six inch display screen, and use Intel's power-saving processor. Full Article.
Apple phone fix: Free bumpers to all iPhone 4 owners
Today, as expected, Steve Jobs announced that Apple would offer free rubber "bumpers" to anyone who bought an iPhone 4 in order to fix the problem caused by the antenna's design flaw. The free offer is available through Sept. 30, and a full refund will be issued to those who already bought the $29 case. The deal will appear on Apple's website "late next week," and if the supply of bumpers runs out, Apple will offer "a choice of cases," presumably all in the $29-or-less price range. Full Article.
Apple replacing defective Time Capsule backup systems
Apple is in the process of replacing defective Time Capsule backup devices that offers both automatic backups for Macs running Mac OS X 10.5 or newer as well as acting as an 802.11n Wi-Fi base station. Problems include trouble starting up and shutting down unexpectedly while in use. Affected Time Capsule devices have serial numbers from XX807XXXXXX to XX814XXXXXX. Full Article.
Apple Studies User Downloads
Apple, Inc. is studying the buying habits of many of its iTunes users in order to show more appealing mobile ads and fuel competition with Google. At stake is mobile ad leadership, which is expected to amount to $1.56 billion in 2013. Regulators in the U.S. and Europe are paying heed to privacy practices, and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation began an inquiry into a security breach that exposed the e-mail addresses of as many as 114,000 users of the iPad. Full Article.
