News
Apple Reports First Quarter Results
Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2007 first quarter ended December 30, 2006. The Company posted record revenue of $7.1 billion and record net quarterly profit of $1.0 billion, or $1.14 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $5.7 billion and net quarterly profit of $565 million, or $.65 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 31.2 percent, up from 27.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 42 percent of the quarter’s revenue.
Apple may open up Fairplay DRM to accessory makers
The iPod maker is expected to make two announcements this week - the first will be to allow streaming of protected AAC content via USB; the second will be to licence its Fairplay DRM to the company's Made For iPod licencees.
This will have the effect of enabling you to play songs bought from the iTunes Store through third party devices like hi-fis using digital connections. It may also mean that devices like iPod docks will be able to display more information - artwork and other track info, for example - which is stored alongside the protected audio. Tech.co.uk
How Apple kept its iPhone secrets
Apple, legendary for the ferocity with which it safeguards new product announcements, had extraordinary challenges in keeping the iPhone under wraps for 30 months. Besides involving Cingular, Google and Yahoo, not to mention the unnamed Asian manufacturer, the project touched nearly every department within Apple itself, Jobs said, more so than in any previous Apple creation.
No one thinks Apple went to the draconian lengths of some rivals, like Hewlett-Packard, which bugged phones, read e-mail, riffled through trash and otherwise spied on board members, employees and journalists in order to track down leaks of confidential company information. However, Apple does make it clear to employees and business partners that they will be dismissed and possibly prosecuted for leaking company secrets. Apple has also played the bully role, suing bloggers and other independent journalists for posting purported advance information about unannounced Apple products.
Microsoft says iPod phone a challenge for Apple
Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, said it too is considering a mobile phone integrated with its Zune digital music player, but launching such a device is not at top of its priority list.
Microsoft launched its Zune portable music player in November and set a sales target of more than one million units by the end of June. It is the first Microsoft-designed device in a market dominated by Apple, which has sold more than 70 million iPods since it was launched in October 2001.
DLO AND ABT COMBINE FORCES TO CREATE A POWERHOUSE OF FUTURE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS FOR IPOD AND MORE
San Francisco, CA. Tuesday January 9, 2007. Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) and Advanced Bridging Technologies (ABT) announced an alliance to combine the best of both companies and deliver amazing, technically advanced products to the iPod and portable electronics market. Future products will be developed jointly and then released under the DLO brand. The first products of this partnership will be announced later this spring and will be available in all major DLO outlets.
ABT Inc, part of the Secure Wireless family of companies, is best known commercially for its iJet line of iPod RF Remote Controls that Andrew Green, DLO's VP of Marketing called "the best performing iPod remote ever released". Along with their iPod accessories, ABT has developed over 100 products ranging from life safety devices to digital entertainment products and holds multiple patents for its technology. Their secure wireless technology can be found in most major security brands worldwide. Now ABT brings their wireless expertise and technical skill to DLO to reach an even wider consumer audience.
Apple Computer to offer Paramount films in iTunes
Apple Computer Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs announced on Tuesday that movies from Paramount films would be sold in iTunes in addition to titles from Disney.
Speaking at the annual Macworld user conference, Jobs also said Apple's iTunes store has sold more than 2 billion songs since inception.
Jobs said the company has renamed its iTV device that will let users stream movies, music, photos, podcasts and TV shows to their home entertainment systems "AppleTV." The product will have a 40 gigabyte hard drive.
Apple introduces iPhone
Apple Computer Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs on Tuesday introduced an eagerly-anticipated Apple-branded mobile phone with a touch-screen that combines features from the company's popular iPod music player.
While Apple watchers were expecting details on an Apple smartphone able to play music, make calls and perform other functions, the announcement at the annual Macworld conference still helped push the company's shares up more than 5 percent.
CES: Ford reveals voice-activated in-car iPod controls
Ford has announced its very own factory-installed, in-car communications and entertainment system that offers support for iPods.
The technology is based on Microsoft Auto software (Sync), and supports virtually any mobile phone or digital media player. Drivers can operate their iPod (or other device) using voice commands or the vehicle's steering wheel or radio controls.
Users can plug their devices into the system using a USB 2.0 port or using Bluetooth. Supported formats include MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV and PCM.
Will Jobs unveil the iPhone tomorrow
Even with the consumer product frenzy peaking at CES in Las Vegas, the tech world is awaiting Steve Jobs' next big magic trick. Will he or won't he produce an Apple cell phone–not an iPhone because that name is taken, but perhaps something called the iPod Phone or iPod C or iPod X or whatever. More important than the name it must eliminate all the well known problems and complexities of the current breed of cellular devices that numbers more than a billion.
Studios OK technology for movie downloads
Hollywood studios have approved a new technology and licensing arrangement that should remove a major obstacle consumers now face with burning movies they buy digitally over the Internet onto a DVD that will play everywhere.
Sonic Solutions Inc. is introducing on Thursday the Qflix system for adding a standard digital lock to DVDs burned in a computer or a retail kiosk.
The lock, known as "content scrambling system," or CSS, is backed by the studios, TV networks and other content creators and comes standard on prerecorded DVDs today. All DVD players come equipped with a key that fits the lock and allows for playback.
But movie download services such as Movielink, CinemaNow and Amazon.com's Unbox haven't been able to use CSS because studios fear widespread DVD burning could lead to piracy.
Studios have experimented with an alternative to CSS used by movie downloading service CinemaNow, but only a small number of titles are available for such burning and some users have complained of problems with playback.
yahoo
Nike + iPod Equals Smooth Runnings
If you're among the scores of Americans who overindulged this holiday season (and even if you didn't), there's a good chance you're kicking off the New Year with a vow to get in better shape. In the interest of helping readers stick to such resolutions, we're starting a series of reviews of high-tech fitness gear, beginning with a look at the $29 Nike + iPod Sport Kit.
I have typically regarded running as an almost equipment-free exercise—in contrast to, say, gear-intensive sports such as biking or backpacking. A decent pair of shoes and a pair of sweats make up the basics, whether you're Marion Jones or, like me, just trying to keep your post-college gut in check. Yahoo
Over 50 Internet iPod Download Companies Reviewed
The iPod has become one of the most popular electronic devices in recent history. With its technological advancement of the way we listen to music, watch videos or play games, it is a wonder how we can do with out it. Every new iPod release adds more to the addiction of having that little box attached to your body with a set of ear phones sticking out of your ear.
With all the new iPod releases, such as the iPod Nano and iPod video, many Internet software companies have shown up to the Internet to provide iPod downloads such as iPod music downloads, iPod movie downloads, iPod game downloads and iPod software downloads. Now you can download Movies, Music and Games and much more with the touch of a button directly to your iPod.
Microsoft to Offer Shows on Xbox Live
Microsoft Corp. has teamed up with a handful of Hollywood studios to sell TV shows and rent movies that can be downloaded through the software maker's Xbox Live online video-game service and beamed straight onto television sets.
The company announced Monday that beginning Nov. 22, Xbox Live users with the latest console will be able to choose from shows including "South Park," which airs on MTV's Comedy Central, and CBS Corp.'s "CSI," and movies including Warner Bros.' "V for Vendetta" and Paramount Pictures' "Mission Impossible III."
Nvidia to buy PortalPlayer for $357 mln in stock
Semiconductor maker Nvidia Corp. said on Monday that it agreed to buy PortalPlayer Inc. a maker of computer chips used in portable digital media players, for about $357 million in stock.
Graphics chip maker Nvidia plans to pay $13.50 for each share of PortalPlayer, a 1 percent premium to the company's closing price of $13.36 on Friday. The deal has a value of about $161 million net of cash on PortalPlayer's balance sheet.
Small Number of Video iPods Shipped With Windows Virus
We recently discovered that a small number - less than 1% - of the Video iPods available for purchase after September 12, 2006 left our contract manufacturer carrying the Windows RavMonE.exe virus. This known virus affects only Windows computers, and up to date anti-virus software which is included with most Windows computers should detect and remove it. So far we have seen less than 25 reports concerning this problem. The iPod nano, iPod shuffle and Mac OS X are not affected, and all Video iPods now shipping are virus free. As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it. Apple Page
Disney sells films through iTunes store
The Walt Disney Co. has sold 125,000 digital copies of films through Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes store in less than a week, generating $1 million, Disney chief executive Robert Iger said Tuesday. Disney expects revenue of $50 million in the first year from its iTunes partnership, Iger said at an investment conference in New York sponsored by Goldman Sachs. "Clearly customers are saying to us they want content in multiple ways," Iger said.
Rivals seek to imitate iPod-iTunes success
Several rivals of Apple Computer Inc. plan digital music devices to work closely with their own online music services, just as Apple's iPods and iTunes do, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
RealNetworks Inc. on Monday plans to announce a deal with SanDisk Corp. to sell a digital music device that is designed to work with RealNetworks' online music service, Rhapsody, according to The Journal.
NFL and Apple offer highlights on iTunes
The National Football League (NFL) and Apple® announced that they will bring 2006 NFL regular season action to the iTunes® Store (www.itunes.com ), offering video downloads of highlights from individual NFL games the day after they are played.
For the first time ever, football fans will be able to download highlights of each NFL regular season game for $1.99 per game. Fans may purchase a "Follow Your Team" Season Pass for $24.99 and have game clips from their favorite teams delivered automatically as they become available for viewing on a computer or iPod®.
Apple Announces iTunes 7 with Amazing New Features
Apple® today announced iTunes® 7, the most significant enhancement to the world’s most popular music jukebox and online music and video store since it debuted in 2001. iTunes 7 delivers stunning new features such as the new album and Cover Flow views of music, TV shows and movies, enabling users to quickly find titles in their library as well as casually browse through and re-discover titles they already own. In addition, the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) is now offering over 75 movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films, that customers can purchase and download to watch on their computers and iPods, and soon on their flat screen televisions with Apple’s upcoming iTV* player. Movies will become available on the iTunes Store the same day they are released on DVD, with new releases priced at $12.99 when pre-ordered and during their first week of availability, and $14.99 thereafter, and library titles available for just $9.99 every day.
“Here we go again! First music, then TV shows, and now movies,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “In less than one year we’ve grown from offering just five TV shows to offering over 220 TV shows, and we hope to do the same with movies. iTunes is selling over one million videos a week, and we hope to match this with movies in less than a year.”
Apple Introduces the New iPod nano
Apple® today introduced the all-new iPod® nano with a new aluminum body, an incredible 24 hours of battery life and more than twice the music capacity for the same price as the previous generation. The new iPod nano features Apple’s innovative Click Wheel and an even smaller, thinner and lighter design available in silver, pink, green, blue and black.
“iPod nano is the world’s most popular digital music player, and we’ve completely redesigned it to make it even better,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The all-new iPod nano gives music fans more of what they love in their iPods—twice the storage capacity at the same price, an incredible 24 hour battery life and a gorgeous aluminum design in five brilliant colors.”
