Video traffic has exploded on Facebook, which now receives three-quarters of its quarterly ad revenue from mobile advertising up from zero 30 months ago. Read a larger summary
Thank you for reading article Facebook is disrupting YouTube
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Apple Explored 4K Video Distribution in 2013
Apple requested 4K video content from Sony Pictures for the purpose of digital distribution and on-demand streaming testing, according to a new document [PDF] released by WikiLeaks from the Sony data breach (via AppleInsider).
The document is a materials access letter from Culver Digital Distribution Inc, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, to Apple. It served as a formal agreement between the two companies for the "testing and / or preparing" of 4K content from Sony movies and TV shows. The letter is dated September 26, 2013, hinting that Apple has been exploring distributing 4K content for the past two years.
The Cupertino company has been rumored to be working 4K in the past, most notably in 2013 when two reports suggested Apple was working on a 4K TV set. Those plans were eventually nixed and reports emerged of a brand new set-top box Apple TV with an A8 chip alongside a TV streaming service. Speculation suggested the new Apple TV's rumored A8 chip, which is capable of playing 4K content, would result in a 4K-capable Apple TV and streaming service. However, a report earlier this year confirmed that a new Apple TV would not support 4K content.
While 4K, also known as Ultra HD, has seen an increased amount of popularity recently with more affordable 4K TV sets from manufacturers and some availability of 4K content on streaming services like Netflix, the format is not yet ubiquitous.
The document is a materials access letter from Culver Digital Distribution Inc, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, to Apple. It served as a formal agreement between the two companies for the "testing and / or preparing" of 4K content from Sony movies and TV shows. The letter is dated September 26, 2013, hinting that Apple has been exploring distributing 4K content for the past two years.
The Cupertino company has been rumored to be working 4K in the past, most notably in 2013 when two reports suggested Apple was working on a 4K TV set. Those plans were eventually nixed and reports emerged of a brand new set-top box Apple TV with an A8 chip alongside a TV streaming service. Speculation suggested the new Apple TV's rumored A8 chip, which is capable of playing 4K content, would result in a 4K-capable Apple TV and streaming service. However, a report earlier this year confirmed that a new Apple TV would not support 4K content.
While 4K, also known as Ultra HD, has seen an increased amount of popularity recently with more affordable 4K TV sets from manufacturers and some availability of 4K content on streaming services like Netflix, the format is not yet ubiquitous.
Thank you for reading article Apple Explored 4K Video Distribution in 2013
412: Yosemite public beta, Q3 2014 earnings
Rene and Peter talk about the the OS X Yosemite public beta going live today, Apple's Q3 2014 financial results, and allegations of iOS backdoors.
Thank you for reading article 412: Yosemite public beta, Q3 2014 earnings
Friday, January 30, 2015
413: New MacBook Pros, best apps of July
Rene, Peter, and Ally talk best apps and games of July, 2014, streaming music, Facebook and Instagram making separate apps, the new MacBook Pro bumps and price cuts, and more!
Thank you for reading article 413: New MacBook Pros, best apps of July
Trenta OS A Linux Based Mac OS X clone
Trenta OS is a Linux based operating system that aims to compete graphically with some well known premium operating systems but in the free & open-source Linux world. Read a larger summary
Thank you for reading article Trenta OS A Linux Based Mac OS X clone
Apple Removes Original iPad Mini From Apple Online Store
Apple has quietly pulled the original iPad mini from the Apple Online Store this week and removed other references of the tablet from its website, as noted by 9to5Mac. The nearly three-year-old iPad mini was announced in October 2012 as a smaller 7.9-inch version of the iPad, but the tablet has since been succeeded by the iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3, the latter featuring a Retina display, Touch ID and 64-bit A7 processor.
Apple dropped the price of the first-gen A5-based iPad mini to $299 in October 2013 and further discounted the tablet to $249 in October 2014, but the device was a hard sell given the iPad mini 2 starts at $299 with newer features. The original iPad mini remains available in the refurbished section of the Apple Online Store for between $209 and $409 depending on the specific model and storage capacity.
The original iPad mini remains available in limited quantities through authorized third-party resellers such as Amazon, although likely only until leftover stock is depleted. Apple's remaining tablet lineup for sale includes the iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 3 and iPad mini 2, and the company is widely rumored to introduce a larger 12.9-inch "iPad Pro" targeted at professional users later this year.
Apple dropped the price of the first-gen A5-based iPad mini to $299 in October 2013 and further discounted the tablet to $249 in October 2014, but the device was a hard sell given the iPad mini 2 starts at $299 with newer features. The original iPad mini remains available in the refurbished section of the Apple Online Store for between $209 and $409 depending on the specific model and storage capacity.
The original iPad mini remains available in limited quantities through authorized third-party resellers such as Amazon, although likely only until leftover stock is depleted. Apple's remaining tablet lineup for sale includes the iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 3 and iPad mini 2, and the company is widely rumored to introduce a larger 12.9-inch "iPad Pro" targeted at professional users later this year.
Thank you for reading article Apple Removes Original iPad Mini From Apple Online Store
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Apple Not Coercing Indie Artists Into Apple Music Deals With iTunes Removal Threats
Earlier this week, singer-songwriter Anton Newcombe of The Brian Jonestown Massacre took to Twitter to rant about the Apple Music terms he had allegedly been offered by Apple, accusing the company of threatening to take his music off iTunes if he did not agree to the three-month free trial period that's been a sticking point with indie artists. Calling Apple a "satanic corporation," (and mistakenly tweeting at an "Apple Official" Twitter account not run by Apple) Newcombe said Apple offered him a deal that required him to provide his music for free for three months, and when he asked what would happen if he refused, he was told his music would be removed from sale on iTunes.
The biggest company on earth wants to use my work to make money for 3 months and pay me nothing - of I say no,I'm banned
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015Newcombe's representative did not respond to a request for comment following Apple's statement, but Newcombe has continued his tirade against Apple Music on Twitter.
Apple plans to offer consumers a three-month trial for Apple Music, but during that period, the company will pay no royalties or fees to artists and labels. Several indie labels have spoken out against the move, claiming the trial period will "literally put people out of business."
Following the free trial period, Apple will give labels a 71.5 percent split of subscription revenue in the United States and will pay out a slightly higher percentage outside of the U.S., but labels say the numbers do little to alleviate the sting of three months of no royalty payments at all.
Apple Music will launch in a week in a half, going live on June 30 as part of an upcoming iOS 8.4 update. The service will be free for the first three months, after which it will cost $9.99 for individuals and $14.99 for families up to 6.
Thank you for reading article Apple Not Coercing Indie Artists Into Apple Music Deals With iTunes Removal Threats
414: iPhone 6 rumors, next Macs, retro games
Rene, Peter, and Ally talk about the iPhone 6, NFC, our next dream Mac, retro Mac games, iPad PDF readers, iPhone for contractors, healthcare and Apple, rating reviews, and more!
Thank you for reading article 414: iPhone 6 rumors, next Macs, retro games
Why a smarter Twitter would look a lot like Google, Facebook, and Apple
Twitter has just purchased a new machine learning company that could fix Twitters design, but will Twitter cease to be different for it? Read a larger summary
Thank you for reading article Why a smarter Twitter would look a lot like Google, Facebook, and Apple
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
The DxO One makes your iPhone better than most compact cameras
The fixed lens gives you the equivalent of a 32mm wide focal length, opens all the way up f1.8 (with a pretty great minimum focusing distance of just 20cm) and can stop down to f11. Read a larger summary
Thank you for reading article The DxO One makes your iPhone better than most compact cameras
415: Overcompensation, Extremes, and conspiracies
Rene, Peter, and Ally talk about the pros and cons of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, the value of the AirPort Extreme and Express, apps for finding good food, and changes to the podcast!
Thank you for reading article 415: Overcompensation, Extremes, and conspiracies
Sprint Expands 'Slash Your Payment in Half' Promo to Boost Mobile [iOS Blog]
Sprint today expanded its ongoing bill-slashing promotional campaign to its subsidiary Boost Mobile, giving Cricket and MetroPCS customers a chance to lower their monthly cell phone payments by switching to Boost Mobile service.
Through July 20, Cricket and MetroPCS subscribers who bring their phone number to Boost Mobile can save between $20 and $30 per month for a full year with the promotional plan. Customers will be required to purchase a compatible Boost device to take advantage of the deal.
Sprint began running its bill slashing promotion in December, offering Verizon and AT&T customers a chance to cut their payments in half by switching to Sprint. The promo is still available for eligible AT&T and Verizon customers.
Through July 20, Cricket and MetroPCS subscribers who bring their phone number to Boost Mobile can save between $20 and $30 per month for a full year with the promotional plan. Customers will be required to purchase a compatible Boost device to take advantage of the deal.
The value associated with the Slash Your Payment in Half promotion from Boost Mobile is undeniable. A MetroPCS customer that is currently receiving 2GB of data for $40 a month, can now get 2.5GB of high-speed data from Boost Mobile for just $20, while a Cricket customer receiving 10GB of data for $60, can now get the same amount of data for only $30 a month.Following the year-long promo period, customers who switched to Boost Mobile will be migrated to the Boost Mobile plan that offers a comparable amount of data, with prices that range from $30 to $55 per month.
Sprint began running its bill slashing promotion in December, offering Verizon and AT&T customers a chance to cut their payments in half by switching to Sprint. The promo is still available for eligible AT&T and Verizon customers.
Thank you for reading article Sprint Expands 'Slash Your Payment in Half' Promo to Boost Mobile [iOS Blog]
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