Apple has updated its Logic Pro X professional audio editing software with the second bug fix update since it was released back in July. This fix addresses undo commands, graphical issues with the Piano Roll Editor and more.
What's new
This update improves overall stability and performance issues including:
• Undo commands work as expected after Flex Pitch editing • The Vintage Electric Piano plug-in now performs correctly at all sample rates • The Capture Last Take key command no longer erases a MIDI recording • Double-clicking on a Drummer region now opens or closes the editor • Addresses a graphic issue where the Piano Roll Editor could display an empty window
This release is recommended for all Logic Pro X customers.
Logic Pro X is available on the Mac App Store for $200. [Direct Link]
Streaming music service Radical.FM launched a new iOS app today, providing users with access to more than 22 million songs at no cost and with no advertising. Rather than charging a subscription fee, Radical.FM asks its customers to "pay what you can" for the service.
While Radical.FM is similar to Pandora in that it allows users to create personalized stations, Radical.FM's content is centralized around genres rather than specific songs and artists. Users can select a percentage of each genre to listen to in one station, creating a playlist that mixes a variety of content.
Radical.FM is a complete music and audio content delivery service with unique features and controls. Unlike other services, Radical’s Stations do not "guess" what you might like based on song choices and subjective computer parameters. Instead, Radical divides its library into Genres and allows you to blend as many as desired and assign each a value relative to the others. Blending can be changed instantaneously, creating an endless stream of precisely the kind of music and other material toy want to hear at any given moment.
In addition to allowing users to create genre-based playlists, the app also includes tools for blocking unwanted songs and artists and functionality that lets users add and delete genres and adjust genre values.
Apple's iTunes Radio will debut in September with a number of brand partners including McDonald's, Nissan, Pepsi, and Procter & Gamble, reports AdAge. Under the terms of the deal, Apple's launch partners will get exclusive ads within their industries through the end of 2013.
The deals range from the high single-digit millions of dollars to tens of millions of dollars and include a 12 month advertising campaign to run within the streaming music service for each of the participating brands.
First introduced at WWDC, iTunes Radio is Apple’s upcoming Internet radio service that functions similarly to Pandora, offering up personalized radio stations based on artist or song selections.
iTunes Radio is free, but is supported with both interstitial audio and video ads along with standard mobile ads. iTunes Match subscribers, however, can enjoy an ad-free experience.
Advertisements on iTunes Radio will come in three forms: interstitial audio and video ads and "slate" ads; interactive display ads that will take over whatever screen the consumer is using. That includes iPhones, iPads, all desktops and laptops loaded with iTunes (including Windows PCs) and Apple TV, the Apple device that brings Internet connectivity and apps to TVs.
iTunes Radio listeners will hear one audio ad every 15 minutes and will see a video ad each hour. While initial ads will run on all devices, advertisers will later be able to target ads to specific devices. Launch partners will also have the opportunity to create sponsored stations that have fewer ads than standard radio stations.
According to reports, Apple's iAd staff is responsible for securing the advertising deals that support the streaming music service. iTunes Radio represents a new opportunity for iAd, which was originally envisioned as a way to help developers earn money on the iOS platform. iAd has been historically unsuccessful in terms of attracting both developer interest and revenue, but with the new audio ads, Apple will be able to keep 90% of the money it earns instead of shelling out a large portion to developers.
iTunes Radio is bundled into iOS 7 and will likely debut during Apple's September 10 iPhone event.
YouTube has updated its iOS app with new support for continuous, touch-free playback of playlists as well as a new picture-in-picture mode that allows viewers to keep watching a video while still browsing through search results or the rest of the app.
More YouTube in your YouTube apps
With the swipe of a finger, you can watch a video at the bottom of your screen while you keep exploring. Think about it this way--you can watch a video about making the perfect fried chicken while searching for homemade salted caramel sauce recipes. You can always go back to full screen with a swipe up so you never lose your place, or swipe right or left to dismiss the video. Just try to not drop your phone in the sauce.
Play ALL the videos!!!
Want to sit back and watch all of Epic Rap Battles Season 2? You can now search and browse channels for playlists on mobile apps, and watch great collections of back-to-back videos. Finally, you and your friends can decide if Season 2 is better than Season 1.
The YouTube app also has a new logo. It's a free download for the iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]
Apple has released new details (via @cabel) on the security flaw that caused the Developer Center to be down for more than a week, noting via its Apple Web Server notifications page that a "remote code execution issue" was fixed.
On the site, Apple credits 7dscan.com and SCANV of www.knownsec.com for reporting the bug on July 18, which is the same day the Developer Center was taken offline. During the downtime, Apple reported that the Developer Center website had been hacked, with an intruder attempting "to secure personal information" from registered developers. The company noted that while sensitive information was encrypted, some developer names, mailing addresses, and/or email addresses may have been acquired.
The eight-day outage required a complete overhaul of Apple's developer systems and a restoration plan that slowly brought services back online.
While security researcher Ibrahim Balic speculated that he might have been behind the security breach, it is now clear that the issue he reported was unrelated to the major flaw that caused the downtime. Apple credits Ibrahim with reporting a separate iAd Workbench vulnerability on July 22. The vulnerability allowed Balic to obtain both names and Apple IDs of users.
On August 10, Apple reported that all of its developer services were back online, a full 23 days after the outage first occurred. As a result of the downtime, Apple gave all developers a one month extension on their developer memberships.
Apple is now selling JJ Abrams' Star Trek Into Darkness on the iTunes Movie Store three weeks ahead of its September 10th general release.
The film is available in HD for $20 and SD for $15, or as a $25 HD bundle with the prior Star Trek film. There is no rental option -- rentals will be available September 10th -- and it appears to only be available to U.S. iTunes customers.
J.J. Abrams STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS is the best-reviewed blockbuster of the year. When a ruthless mastermind known as Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) declares a one-man war on the Federation, Captain Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), and the daring crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise will embark on the greatest manhunt in history. It will take all of their skills and teamwork to defend Earth and eliminate Khan’s threat in this “sleek, thrilling epic.” (Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly)
A number of independent or smaller-budget films have launched day-and-date or even ahead of their theatrical release on iTunes, but the three-week early purchase window ahead of a DVD/Blu-Ray release is part of an effort by the major studios to jumpstart more profitable digital sales. Apple has offered early streaming access to music albums in the past.
Star Trek Into Darkness is available in HD on iTunes for $20. [Direct Link]
Magazine publisher Conde Nast has partnered with Amazon for a new "All Access" partnership that allows consumers to subscribe and manage their print and digital magazine subscriptions through a single website.
The program lets readers subscribe to a number of Conde Nast titles at introductory rates of $3-6 for a six-month print and digital subscription with support for the iPad, Kindle Fire, Nook and most Android devices. All Access offers Bon Appetit, Glamour, Golf Digest, Lucky, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and Wired at launch and will gain the rest of Conde's library by the end of the year.
With "All Access," consumers can use their Amazon account to easily purchase, manage and renew their print and digital magazine subscriptions through Condé Nast and Amazon websites, mobile, direct mail and other marketing channels. The new service also gives consumers immediate access to their digital magazines on the device or platform of their choice, including Kindle Fire, iPad, Android tablets and phones, among others.
“Combining Condé Nast's must-have content with Amazon's 1-Click shopping platform is a huge win," said Bob Sauerberg, president of Condé Nast. “Our influential and loyal customers want to be the first to know, purchase and share, which is why we wanted to be the first to develop a service like 'All Access' with Amazon, the world’s most trusted and proven e-commerce platform.”
Conde Nast was one of the first publishers to offer In-App Subscriptions for the iPad when that feature first launched, but those subscriptions are digital only and do not include the print versions.
EA today announced that Plants vs. Zombies 2 has been downloaded 16 million times worldwide since being released last Thursday. Plants vs. Zombies 2 is the followup to EA's popular Plants vs. Zombies title, which originally debuted on the App Store in 2010.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 utilizes the same lane defense gameplay that made the original game a hit, but it also offers up some new plants, new gameplay mechanics, and time travel to settings like ancient Egypt. With 16 million downloads, it represents EA's most successful mobile game launch to date.
During EA's Gamescom press conference this morning (via Joystiq), franchise director Tony Leamer also announced an upcoming content pack for the game, called "Far Future." There are no further details about the content pack at this time, so it is unclear when it might be released.
Though Plants vs. Zombies 2 is a freemium game, much of the content is available without paying. Our sister site TouchArcade has released a guide on how to spend as little money as possible (which actually shows that gamers can play through the entire game without spending any money) and has also published a detailed review of the game that calls it an "incredible sequel."
Icahn is famous for putting pressure on companies that he invests in, and some believe he could press Apple to purchase Nuance.
He has been publicly calling for Apple to dramatically increase its share repurchase program since he invested in the company.
Shareholder rights plans -- often called a 'poison pill' -- are a defensive tactic used by corporations to ward off unwanted takeovers. In Nuance's case, the company will allow shareholders to purchase additional shares of stock, thus diluting the whole stock pool, if any one investor holds more than 20 percent of the company. Icahn currently holds 16 percent of Nuance.
Nuance Communications, Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a stockholder rights plan. Under the Rights Plan, stockholders of record at the close of business on August 29, 2013 will receive one right for each share of Nuance common stock held on that date. Initially, these rights will not be exercisable and will trade with the shares of Nuance common stock. If the rights become exercisable, each right will entitle stockholders to buy one one-thousandth of a share of a new series of participating preferred stock at an exercise price of $87.00 per right. The Rights Plan expires on August 19, 2014.
The Rights Plan is intended to enable all Nuance stockholders to realize the long-term value of their investment in Nuance. It is also designed to reduce the likelihood that any person or group would gain control of Nuance through open market accumulation or other coercive takeover tactics without paying an appropriate control premium. The Rights Plan was not adopted in response to any current effort to acquire control of Nuance.
The rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires 20% or more of Nuance’s common stock in a transaction not approved by Nuance’s Board of Directors.
TiVo has announced a new line of DVR models that will eventually include support for streaming of live and recorded shows to the iPhone and iPad. The new TiVo, called the Roamio, includes built-in wireless and a new TiVo Stream feature that will allow users to connect their iPhones and iPads to the Roamio remotely and stream live channels and recorded shows.
The press release from TiVo features a host of disclaimers, however -- the TiVo Stream feature is not available at launch but should be available in the next few months, streaming is "restricted to a limited number of devices owned" by the subscriber, and not all content can be streamed out of the home. Some unspecified content is restricted to mobile devices on the local network rather.
The new box also includes a new HTML5-based platform that TiVo says will allow for faster app rollouts and upgrades -- TiVo already supports apps from YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, among others.
"While so many people love TV, they have no idea what TiVo can do for their love of TV. TiVo Roamio is so much more than just the best DVR, it's for people who are all about loving their TV -- that's why we call our latest offering Roamio," said Tom Rogers, TiVo's President and CEO. "Now, wherever you roam your TiVo Roamio is there. In the next room, in the kitchen, in a hotel room across the world -- connecting you right to your living room TV recordings, so you can get them immediately wherever you are. Moreover, you can get all your regular cable channels, the best DVR features available, all combined with favorite streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube in one box, using one remote. With up to six tuners, tons more space to record your shows so on those Sunday nights when all the great TV is on you can capture it to watch throughout the week. Take every box or device out there -- Roku, Apple TV, Slingbox, Google TV, your standard cable box -- all rolled into one. This is quite simply the best TiVo we have ever made and is truly for people who love TV."
The TiVo Roamio is available in $200, $400 and $600 models with four to six tuners and up to 3TB of storage. TiVo boxes require a CableCard from a cable company or HD antenna and do not work with satellite services like DirecTV.
Google announced in a blog post today that it is implementing some of Waze's features in the Google Maps applications for both iOS and Android. Beginning today (the update is rolling out gradually), users of both devices will be able to view real-time incident reports from Waze users, including accidents, construction zones, road closures and more.
The rollout is currently limited to 13 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Mexico, and will rely on data from Waze's user base, which was reported in June to be nearing 50 million users.
Users of Waze are not being left in the dark either, as Google will be gradually rolling out its powerful Search feature into both the web and mobile versions of the Waze service, which will allow for more accurate search results, including the ability to search for local businesses and specific addresses. The Waze Map Editor also features Google Street View after a public beta testing period, which should allow for more accurate maps and route planning.
Waze began as an Israeli startup back in 2008 and was acquired by Google in June of this year for a reported $1.03 billion. It had been rumored that Apple was considering purchasing the company in order to improve its own mapping service, which suffered a number of teething problems since the start, but the deal reportedly fell through over differences in Waze's perceived valuation. Unlike other Google buyouts, such as that of Sparrow, the development of Waze is still active and there are currently no plans to merge the two products.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a newly-granted Apple patent (via AppleInsider) addressing a means for extending the multi-touch input present on Apple's touchscreen devices to the airspace above the screen, allowing for 3D manipulation of objects via 3D gesture inputs.
The patent, which was filed in July 2012 and is entitled "Working with 3D objects", describes a system that detects both 2D objects in a user interface and a 3D gesture input close to the device's surface, which then generates a 3D object that is presented in the user interface of the device.
According to the patent, the device detects the location of the user's fingers using a combination of both the capacitive touch sensors and the proximity sensors located in the display. The new technology would work in combination with the existing touchscreen controls on the device, and would allow users to lift their fingers off the screen in order to "pull out" a 3D shape from a 2D one (as the drawing in the patent shown above demonstrates), just like in most existing CAD programs.
Techniques and systems that support generating, modifying, and manipulating 3D objects using 3D gesture inputs are disclosed. For example, 3D objects can be generated based on 2D objects. A first user input identifying a 2D object presented in a user interface can be detected, and a second 3D gesture input that includes a movement in proximity to a surface can be detected. A 3D object can be generated based on the 2D object according to the first and second user inputs, and the 3D object can be presented in the user interface where the 3D object can be manipulated by the user.
Other uses for the new technology include the ability to use 3D gestures to sculpt using virtual clay-like materials and to change parameters such as shadows, brightness, textures and more. The patent may mark Apple's move to push the iPad more as a creative device which can be used in a variety of industries, including computer-aided design (CAD).
The idea of controlling a device using gestures is not new, however. The Samsung Galaxy S4 currently features a technology known as "Air Gesture", which allows the user to control their device using a number of simple gestures. But Apple's patent covers different technology -- whereas Samsung uses a light sensor to detect the user's gestures, Apple's technology would instead be embedded into the device's screen.
Hasbro and mobile game developer DeNA/Mobage are bringing popular fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons to mobile platforms with the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons: Arena of War later this month. The game will be free-to-play and is accepting early registrations at its official website, with an exclusive character upgrade available upon sign-up.
Arena of War, the first free-to-play Dungeons & Dragons game on mobile, is a thrilling 3D battle role-playing game that takes place in the famous Forgotten Realms.
Our sister site, TouchArcade, ran a preview of the game a few weeks ago. While the series has remained the best-known and best-selling role-playing game since its original release in 1974, the upcoming iOS title will be the first time the game makes an appearance on mobile platforms.
While Apple has experienced tremendous growth in China over the past several years and the market is now responsible for approximately 15% of Apple's revenue each quarter, Apple's momentum has slowed there recently with the most recent quarter seeing a 14% decline in revenue in China year-over-year.
A Morgan Stanley analyst team led by Katy Huberty released a bullish new report yesterday suggesting, however, that Apple's rumored lower-cost "iPhone 5C" could spark a surge in consumer interest for Apple in China. According to a survey of 2,000 Chinese consumers in "Tier 1-2" cities, an iPhone 5C could lead to a 13-point smartphone market share boost for Apple in China, with a rumored China Mobile deal potentially adding another six points. Combined, those two scenarios could push Apple to a 36% share of the market in those cities, taking the lead from Samsung.
Apple could significantly disrupt the Chinese smartphone market by launching iPhone 5C. We asked respondents that are very likely to purchase smartphones in the next 12 months but did not choose the iPhone whether they would purchase a redesigned and lower-priced iPhone 5C, one of the “Mini” products from international brands, or a comparable smartphone from one of China’s domestic brands. The survey indicates Apple could gain 13 points of unit share with iPhone 5C. About half of that share gain would come from Samsung, while most other vendors lose some share.
According to the survey, the "sweet spot" for pricing on the iPhone 5C among Chinese consumers is around RMB 4000 ($486), significantly higher than Morgan Stanley's estimated $399 pricing for the device, suggesting that consumers there will generally be satisfied with the iPhone 5C as a mid-range device rather than Apple needing to compete at low-end price levels.
Morgan Stanley's results also show that two-thirds of potential iPhone 5C customers would be happy with a 3G device, as 4G networks have yet to see widespread deployment in many areas of China. The data suggests that Apple could boost profit margins and increase differentiation with the iPhone 5S by not supporting 4G LTE on the iPhone 5C, although the company's plans for the iPhone 5C in countries where 4G LTE is more prevalent could drive Apple to support the faster networks.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5S at a media event on September 10, with the iPhone 5C most likely appearing at the same event.
Logitech announced two new additions to its line of iPad mini accessories today, including the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio for iPad mini and the Logitech Folio Protective Case for iPad mini. Both accessories feature two-sided protection that cover the iPad with water-repellant materials as well as a built in “SecureLock” system that clips the corners of the iPad mini to the frame of the respective cases.
Specifically, the Logitech Folio Protective Case offers dual-sided protection with a built-in stand that holds the iPad mini in several different positions based on the activity of the user. The case also weighs in at less than half a pound and measures a bit over a half an inch thick, and includes the built-in ability to auto-wake and auto-sleep the device much like Apple’s own Smart Cover for the iPad mini.
The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio includes features such as a new, smaller profile for the keyboard itself with bigger keys, as well as special iOS shortcut keys for functions such as copy, paste, and undo. The case also offers two-sided protection and can act as a stand with the keyboard tucked away, and offers up to three months of battery life on a full charge.
The Logitech Folio Protective Case for iPad mini retails for $49.99, while the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio retails for $89.99, with both available to purchase at Logitech’s official website.
Illustration app Procreate released a significant update to its iPad app yesterday, including various new features such as HD canvas recording that records the real-time progress of an illustration in 1080p, as well as unlocking the “Artery” brush pack that was previously exclusive to an In-App Purchase.
The app also includes support for the forthcoming Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus for iPad announced yesterday, as well as updated support for the Adonit Jot Touch stylus and improved export options for Dropbox and iTunes.
With its gorgeous interface and incredible Silica painting engine, it’s easy to see why Procreate® is one of the hottest iPad apps available today. Packed with 120 beautiful brushes, from true-to-life sets of pencils, inks and paint brushes, to unique digital tools, Procreate is a full digital studio at your finger tips.
Previously, the illustration app was notable for winning an Apple Design Award at WWDC 2013. Procreate is $4.99 and can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Wacom today debuted its Intuos Creative Stylus (via Engadget), which uses Bluetooth 4.0, integrated shortcut buttons, and 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity to create "a realistic pen-on-paper feel" when drawing on an iPad. It's designed for sketching, drawing, and painting and aims to deliver "professional-grade performance" to iPad users.
The pen comes in blue or black brushed aluminum with a case, extra nibs, and a replacement AAA battery. It is compatible with the third generation iPad, the fourth generation iPad, and the iPad mini. While it is meant to work with the company's Bamboo Paper app, it will apparently be compatible with other apps as well, including SketchBook Pro, ArtRage, and ProCreate.
Providing the power to produce professional results on an iPad, the Intuos Creative Stylus's advanced technology comes in form of a best-in-class pen experience and pressure sensitivity of 2048 pressure levels. This means that it can reproduce the feel and artistic control of traditional brushes and markers, so it's ideal for sketching, illustrating and image editing. It is also highly responsive, even reacting to light strokes, while rejecting unintentional touches when used with compatible creative apps that integrate Wacom's industry-leading technology.
In addition to announcing the stylus, Wacom has released a new version of its Bamboo Paper app. Version 2.0 of the app includes Tumblr and Dropbox sharing, along with premium notebooks, improved palm rejection software, new color palettes, and new tools.
Wacom's Intuos Creative Stylus will be available in Best Buy Stores for $99 beginning in October.
Bamboo Paper is an iPad app that can be downloaded for free from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Apple's Mac sales continue to come in flat year over year, according to a new report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster who looked at July data from market research firm NPD.
Based on the data, he maintains his outlook of a 5% year over year drop in Mac sales for the September quarter and continues to note that Mac sales are becoming less significant in light of iPhone and iPad sales, representing just 15% of Apple's total revenue.
As with his previous reports, Munster notes that it remains difficult to extrapolate NPD data to Apple's global sales performance, but he views the July data as “neutral to slight positive,” down from slightly negative in a June report.
Overall, we believe this July data point is likely a neutral to slight positive given that Macs should have a slight tailwind from updated Macbooks in June. We remain comfortable with our down 5% y/y estimate for Macs in the September quarter.
As for iPods, Munster's analysis of NPD data suggests that units are down 41% year over year on a global basis and that iPods will remain down 20% year over year for the September quarter. Because iPods now represent just 2% of all Apple’s revenue, the overall impact of this sales decline is minor.
Apple has updated its Logic Pro X professional audio editing software with the second bug fix update since it was released back in July. This fix addresses undo commands, graphical issues with the Piano Roll Editor and more.
YouTube has 
Apple has released new details (
Nuance, the company that makes some of the voice recognition technology 
Illustration app 
