Apple has pushed iTunes 10.5, the latest version of its media management software, live for users to download via its official website. The latest version of iTunes brings support for iOS 5 and iCloud, as well as some small changes to the user interface. Read more »
Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) chose to spend most of its time during its special event Tuesday recapping the company’s strengths and highlighting the n… Read more at paidContent »
Apple finally talked about when people can expect to get their hands on iTunes Match, and it’s later than iCloud in general. Later in October is as specific as the company got to putting a release date on the cloud-based subscription music service. Read more »
The arrival of Apple’s iCloud service has now been dated along with iOS 5. We’ll get our hands on iCloud for Mac and iOS beginning Oct. 12, and it should make everyone’s mobile lives a lot simpler. Here’s a quick look at exactly what it offers. Read more »
Apple previewed iOS 5 in July, so it isn’t exactly a surprise announcement at today’s event. But we did nail down a firm release date for Apple’s next major mobile operating system update, and got a better look at how some of its features will work. Read more »
Apple executives will take to Town Hall stage at the company’s campus in Cupertino, Calif. Tueday morning to at long last “talk iPhone.” Follow along with us here for live, up-to-the-minute updates about all the hardware and software revelations beginning at 10 am PT. Read more »
Apple is reportedly close to permanently cutting the iPod classic and shuffle from its line of media players. It isn’t the first time we’ve heard that, but now it makes more sense, and it might actually be great news for iPod fans in the long run. Read more »
As our demand for data increases, so too do the number of mobile devices and services. Add to that the infrastructure needed to support such connectivity, and a wide, complex picture of the mobile industry emerges. This report examines the various sectors of the mobile landscape and what the future holds for each. Hardware, cloud services, mobile search, advertising, location-based services and the growing ubiquity of the Internet of Things will all play an important role in the concept of mobility as it shifts and evolves over the next several years. With the help of more than a dozen contributors, GigaOM Pro presents a comprehensive analysis of the companies and trends that will lead us into the next era of mobile. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Managing multiple personalities is hard enough offline, but it’s also difficult on the Internet. Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) is reportedly working to… Read more at paidContent »
On my iPhone and iPad, I have to sign in to two different Apple IDs in order to get everything set up the way it should be. When iCloud arrives, things could get worse. But they might get better, if Apple finally allows Apple ID merging. Read more »
The leaves are changing color, there’s a chill in the air, and some stores already have Christmas merchandise on shelves. Fall is basically here. So what’s the status of iCloud and iOS 5, which should be arriving during the season, according to Apple at WWDC 2011? Read more »
Apple’s executive team is undergoing some changes, and one of those changes is a promotion for Eddy Cue to Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services. Cue will continue to oversee Apple’s online stores and iCloud and take on the challenge of iAd, too. Read more »
Four out of five people are aware of the terms “personal cloud” or “digital locker” according to a new survey. But consumers want such services to be secure, convenient and they don’t want to pay a lot for them. Surprised? Read more »
Apple is including a tool in iCloud that should make signing up for it a no-brainer for Mac owners: Find My Mac, which went live for iCloud beta users Wednesday. Like Find My iPhone, the service provides an approximate location for all a user’s iCloud-connected Macs. Read more »
Apple released a preview version of its upcoming iCloud web apps late Monday afternoon, alongside new pricing info for iCloud storage space upgrades. Here’s a look at how the iCloud.com contact and calendar management apps work, along with a peek inside other aspects of the beta. Read more »
All iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion users can get 5 GB of storage in iCloud for free, but those who need more storage can pay $20 per year for 15 GB, $40 per year for 25 GB, or $100 per year for 55 GB. Read more »
The second quarter of 2011 was a fast-paced one for the connected consumer segment, with every sector of the digital media landscape — music, e-books, online video and gaming — experiencing significant events and changes. Media consumption, purchase and management continued its shift towards the cloud, ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
For once, the biggest news in social media and real-time technologies didn’t come from Facebook. Rather, it was Google that, at the end of the second quarter, introduced an innovative collection of technologies, under the Google+ label. Another big headline was the return of digital music: Pandora filed a successful IPO, and Google and Apple unrolled cloud-based music offerings. Meanwhile, other social networks generated valuable lessons about technology and business strategies. LinkedIn went public, while Myspace was sold. And Apple essentially appointed Twitter its mobile social network infrastructure supplier. Additional companies mentioned in this report include Skype, Groupon, Turntable.fm and Amazon. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
If I were a cloud-service provider, I’d consider investing in television advertising. If I didn’t know better, TV, and the media, in general, the cloud is a fairly useless and highly insecure place to store my data. Perhaps worse, I might think it’s a joke. Read more »
In case you were an existing MobileMe subscriber wondering what services will and won’t make it through the transition to iCloud, Apple has posted an official FAQ detailing exactly what will make the cut, and addressing what will happen to iWeb and other services that don’t. Read more »
PARC is working on a new networking technology that would make it possible for end users to connect with each other through “a Facebook without Facebook.com.” With Content-Centric Networking, data would self-organize, benefiting both end users and enterprises. First commercial applications could emerge within 18 months. Read more »
Apple unveiled new Time Capsule wireless router / hard drive combo options today, including a 3 TB version that ups the maximum storage available for the device. It’s a sign that despite its move to the cloud, Apple still respects the average Mac users’ local storage needs. Read more »
Apple’s iCloud and other consumer-focused cloud efforts represent a golden opportunity for startups to raise venture capital, but it might not be from jumping on the bandwagon. According to NEA’s Peter Sonsini, the key to getting VC investment is selling the infrastructure that underlies popular clouds. Read more »
Apple failed to update iWeb in its latest iLife refresh, and at last week’s keynote at WWDC, there was no mention of hosting support in iCloud. Here are some alternative strategies for those who were using Apple as their web hosting solution. Read more »
At the WWDC keynote this week, Steve Jobs remarked that the file system is the trickiest part of adjusting to a new OS. Apple seems intent on a future where the file system is invisible to the user. Is that a good or a bad thing? Read more »
Steve Jobs said at the WWDC keynote this week that “the truth is in the cloud.” He wasn’t just being hyperbolic when he said this, though. It’s actually a clever reference to how iCloud will work behind the scenes, and how it will make apps better. Read more »
Apple appears to be getting a little help from its frenemies in getting iCloud off the ground. A series of screenshots posted at InfiniteApple indicates that iCloud may be utilizing Amazon’s cloud storage system AWS and Microsoft’s Azure cloud service to help run iMessage. Read more »
Apple’s refresh of the MacBook Air last fall did much to improve the fortunes of the company’s ultra-slim notebook. And with its next iteration, it could be getting ready to step into the spotlight as the quintessential Mac computer, alongside the release of OS X Lion. Read more »
iTunes Match, and its ability to deliver high-quality DRM-free versions of music in your library to all your iOS, Mac and PC devices via iCloud seems like a reward for music piracy. But it might also be a way of getting back what once was lost. Read more »
When Steve Jobs flashed inside images of Apple’s new cloud data center during his WWDC keynote on Monday, he ignited a mini firestorm of speculation about just kind hardware is filling its immense surface area. Everyone seems to agree that HP and Teradata were big winners. Read more »
Although Apple discontinued new signups for MobileMe on Monday, iCloud syncing won’t be available until the fall, and most likely will only be available for those running iOS 5 and Lion. What’s an Apple fan to do in the meantime? Go to a competitor. Read more »
Apple officially abandoned DRM for its iTunes music store more than two years ago. However, users who re-download any of their past copy-protected purchases as part of Apple’s new iCloud offering once again get files with DRM. Is the company punishing its most loyal customers? Read more »
The iTunes 10.3 beta is now available for download for any and all from Apple’s official site. The iTunes build brings support for some basic iCloud functionality. Specifically, you’ll be able to view and download any past purchases you’ve made through the iTunes store. Read more »
Are iCloud and iOS 5 just Apple playing catch-up with Google and Android? No way, according to Steve Jobs himself in 1997. In fact, the WWDC announcements are actually Apple making good on long-standing promises. Check out Jobs describing the Apple of today 14 years ago Read more »
Apple’s iCloud product poses a threat and an opportunity for ISPs. The product — which will deliver music and photo content on demand — is an acknowledgement that people are ready to stream content rather than store it on local hard drives. This has huge repercussions for ISPs. Read more »
iCloud doesn’t fully launch until iOS 5 arrives this fall, but you can check out some features right now. Apple has pushed out updates to the iOS 4.3 App Store, iBooks and iTunes apps that let you check out your purchase history, and setup Automatic Downloads. Read more »
Apple showed its hand today during the WWDC keynote, and the company is clearly all-in on a cloud-based mobile future. In fact, in many ways it looks a lot like the approach Android has taken, but in fact, Apple’s strategy couldn’t be more different. Read more »
Now that Apple has announced its new iCloud service, which will be available at no charge, MobileMe users who have been spending $99 a year will be entitled to a refund. Anyone having an active MobileMe account will have their service extended through June 30, 2012. Read more »
iCloud can sync your personal music library between all your devices without long-winded uploading sessions to Apple’s servers, but it won’t be able to do the same thing for movies. Hollywood studio content was notably absent from other parts of Apple’s WWDC keynote as well. Read more »
Steve Jobs joked about MobileMe when he announced iCloud, noting that it wasn’t the company’s “finest hour.” The new iCloud, instead, looks to be a major improvement, without automatic syncing between devices. And it’s free, for the core product at least. Read more »
