MacRumors

Boy Genius Report provides additional information on the rumored updates to iTunes 9 initially reported over the weekend, which included the addition of Blu-ray support and the ability to organize iPhone applications, as well as some form of social networking integration.

The same source who provided the initial information gave additional details on the social networking integration, describing that it "seems to be part of a bigger social networking push by Apple" and that the application would be a separate application from iTunes, merging multiple social networking services into a single interface. This social networking application would allow users to share music and update their status on multiple networks at once.

- The social networking integration that we reported iTunes 9 would have seems to be part of a bigger social networking push by Apple. We've been informed that Apple has plans to tie iTunes 9 into a "Social" application that they plan to release in the future. It was said that the application (separate from iTunes) will be similar to Yahoo's OneConnect offering and consolidate all your social networking services. (iPhone application? Desktop app? Wasn't clarified to us).

- The application will allow you to broadcast what music you're currently listening to, allow you to share your music with people on your network, connect with your friend's friends (no clue on that one), and update all of your statuses at the same time. ITunes 9 will let you broadcast music statuses as well.

Regarding iPhone application organization, multiple options will reportedly be available to let users sort applications "alphabetically, by genre, date added, and of course, custom arrangement."

Update: Tobias Bischoff claims [Google translation] to have grabbed several iTunes 9 screenshots from the forums at Chinese site WeiPhone. While the authenticity of the screenshots is unknown and they do not demonstrate the functionality of the new features, they are included here for discussion.

CNET reports that Apple has officially acknowledged problems with some 500 GB, 7200 rpm MacBook Pro hard drives and promised that a software fix to address the issue is on the way, although no timeframe for a release of the update has been given.

"We are aware of the issue and are working on a software update," Apple representative Bill Evans, told CNET News on Monday. He gave no time frame for the release of the software update.

Users of the drives have been reporting for several months that their drives periodically make a "beeping" noise that is frequently accompanied by brief freezes of their systems.

A representative from Other World Computing reported to MacNN as the issue was first gaining attention that the beeping was likely stemming from the G-Force anti-shock protection mechanism found in the Seagate Momentus drives used by Apple, a feature which is essentially redundant to Apple's own Sudden Motion Sensor technology included in its notebook computers.

A member of storage maker Other World Computing observes that the issue may be with Seagate's Momentus 7200.4 G-Force hard drives, which in the case of MacBook Pros may be creating a conflict. Affected units are said to spin up and down frequently, which may be generating the sounds reported by users. Beyond hurting access times, the behavior could pose a risk to the lifespan of a drive by producing unnecessary strain. The G-Force technology is said to be mostly irrelevant on Macs in the first place, as a result of pre-existing anti-shock protection.

The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) on CourseSmart, a service now offering e-textbooks for students on the iPhone and iPod touch. The platform consists of a free eTextbooks for the iPhone application [App Store] that interfaces with a student's free CourseSmart account, where the student is able to rent electronic editions of over 7,000 textbooks for his or her iPhone or iPod touch.

The new applications, free for subscribers to CourseSmart LLC, will let students access their full electronic textbooks, read their digital notes and search for specific words and phrases.

"Nobody is going to use their iPhone to do their homework, but this does provide real mobile learning," said Frank Lyman, CourseSmart's executive vice president. "If you're in a study group and you have a question, you can immediately access your text."

Subscriptions are priced at an average of approximately 50% that of corresponding printed editions, although the electronic versions typically expire after 180 days and resale is not permitted.

CourseSmart, which was created in 2007 as a joint venture of six higher-education publishers, including McGraw-Hill Education and Pearson PLC's Pearson Education, operates on a subscription model. Typically students rent a book for 180 days; when their subscription expires, they lose access to the title.

The company, which doesn't release financial results, offers its digital books at about 50% of the retail price of the corresponding physical textbook. Although students can't resell their e-textbooks, Mr. Lyman said they typically don't get more than 50% of what they paid for a new book when they resell it.

TechCrunch reports that Apple and Google had an unofficial policy not to poach each others' employees during Google CEO Eric Schmidt's tenure on Apple's Board of Directors. The policy only covered contact initiated by the two companies in "head-hunting" capacities, and not unsolicited applications from employees.

This news follows a report by The Washington Post in early June that the Justice Department was looking into this very issue. That report cited sources close to the investigation stating that the government was looking for possible antitrust violations among several tech companies, including Google and Apple, with regard to their hiring policies. But that report didnt say whether or not it was actually taking place. According to our sources, it is.

It is unclear whether the policy remains in effect with the departure of Schmidt from Apple's Board, although one of TechCrunch's sources claims that the agreement may now be off.

A source has also provided TechCrunch with an edited copy of an e-mail from a Google representative to a prospective employee who was apparently at Apple at the time contact was initiated. Based on the e-mail, it appears that contact was initiated by Google, and the representative acknowledges that the prospective employee's application will have to be canceled because Google had an "agreement with Apple that [they] will not cold call their staff.

A Rogers Wireless web page appears to confirm last week's alleged screenshots of the company's internal retail software revealing a forthcoming 8 GB iPhone 3GS model. The "iPhone Comparison" tab on Rogers' iPhone 3GS page contains a chart listing the features of the iPhone 3G and 3GS, noting near the bottom that the 3GS is available in 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB capacities.

The comparison chart currently appears to be the only portion of Rogers' public site reflecting the existence of an 8 GB iPhone 3GS model, as other description pages and the site's ordering system list only the 16 GB and 32 GB models.

The screenshots that surfaced last week appear to reveal that Rogers is working to sell through its existing stock of the 8 GB iPhone 3G before transitioning to the new iPhone 3GS at the same capacity. Pricing for the new model remains unknown, and it is unclear whether the new 8 GB iPhone 3GS will be available in all markets.

Update: Rogers has removed the 8 GB iPhone 3GS entry from the table, and Gizmodo has received a report from a Rogers spokesperson claiming that it was posted in error.

You're right, there is no 8GB 3G s iPhone. There is a formatting error on our website. It is being corrected asap

Rogers, however, likely wouldn't be able to confirm the existence of a new iPhone model without the express permission of Apple, which would almost certainly want to make the announcement itself. Whether Rogers is being truthful about the situation or covering for the screenshot leak and a pre-mature publication of the comparison chart, possibly due to its contractual obligations with Apple, remains unknown.

Boy Genius Report has received a tip from a "pretty reliable source" claiming to have knowledge of several new features to be included in iTunes 9. The rumored features include support for Blu-ray media and visual organization of iPhone and iPod touch applications within iTunes, as well as some form of social networking/media integration.

One of the new additions to iTunes is said to include Blu-ray support which lines up nicely with a recent Apple Insider report about Apple integrating Blu-ray into their new iMac line-up. Something else that will most likely make a bunch of people happy is that we've been told iTunes 9 will finally include the ability to visually organize and arrange your iPhone and iPod touch applications. Something that wasn't so clearly described was some kind of Twitter/Facebook/Last.fm integration. Maybe broadcasting what song youre playing to your friends?

While no timeframe for a launch of iTunes 9 was suggested by the source, Apple has in recent years held special media events to update its iPod line and iTunes each September, so it is reasonable to speculate that iTunes 9 could make an appearance within the next month or two.

AppleInsider reports that the next-generation iMac will see the inclusion of two "compelling" new features, although sources refuse to provide anything more than suggestions as to what those features might be.

One of those features is said to have long been on the wish-lists of many Mac users while the other is expected to cater to the semi-professional audio/video crowd. This is according to cryptic tips from people often familiar with the Mac maker's future product initiatives, but who declined to elaborate because they were not authorized to discuss the matter in detail.

The report speculates that one of those features may relate to Blu-ray, a technology that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has in the past referred to as a "bag of hurt", although recent licensing changes may result in Apple taking a closer look at bringing the technology to its computers.

The report also echoes previous assertions that Apple is likely to bring price reductions to the next-generation iMac line similar to those seen for its notebooks at WWDC earlier this year. Finally, sources suggest that Apple may be undertaking a redesign of the iMac enclosure, possibly patterned after the 24" LED Cinema Display introduced last October. It is unclear, however, whether such a redesign would be ready for the next-generation iMac or if it would be deployed as part of a subsequent update to the line.

BusinessWeek reports that Google CEO Eric Schmidt received no salary or stock compensation for his service on Apple's Board of Directors, accepting only Apple gear and a "commemorative gift" in exchange for his services. Schmidt recently resigned from Apple's Board due to limitations on his effectiveness as the two companies have become competitors in an increasing number of areas.

Schmidt's decision not to be paid for his Apple service differs from the compensation plan Apple put in place for directors in 1997, around the time Steve Jobs returned as CEO. Under the plan, Apple grants outside directors the option to acquire 30,000 Apple shares. The options vest over three years. For every year after that, directors are granted options to purchase an additional 10,000 shares, which vest immediately.

Additionally, Apple pays directors an annual fee of $50,000, in quarterly increments of $12,500. Apple filings show that Schmidt, from the beginning of his service as a director in 2006, declined both the retainer fee and the stock options.

Schmidt did reportedly receive Apple gear valued at $8,712 in fiscal 2008 as part of Apple's program offering to Board members one of each new product introduced and discounts on additional merchandise. Each director, including Schmidt, also received a "commemorative gift" in fiscal 2008 valued at $7,580, as well as a cash payment to offset the tax liability of the gift.

Like Jobs at Apple, Schmidt accepts only a $1 per year salary for his CEO position at Google, and has also declined stock options for the past several years.

Fortune summarizes a new research report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who estimates that Apple could sell two million of its rumored tablet computer in 2010 at $600 each, adding a small but not inconsequential 3% to Apple's revenue stream for the year. Munster also provides a mockup (above) of what he believes the device will look like.

The device, as he sees it, will

- Be similar to an iPod touch, only larger, capable of running most of the 70,000 applications on the iPhone App Store plus a new category of apps designed for the bigger screen.
- Will be used primarily for Web surfing, e-mail, and digital media, competing with netbooks without being a netbook.
- Will be priced between an iPhone and a MacBook -- between $500 and $700.
- Is likely to include a 3G cellular modem and could be subsidized by a carrier -- either AT&T or Verizon.
- Will sell better than Apple TV did its first year (1.2 million units).
- Could in fact sell 2 million units at $600 each to generate $1.2 billion and add about 3% to Apple's revenue stream in calendar 2010.

Munster stands by his previous comments claiming that the device will launch in 2010, noting that he has received word from component suppliers in Asia that Apple's orders with them for the new parts of the new device are scheduled for delivery late this year, pushing the device's launch into early 2010. Other sources, however, have claimed that Apple's tablet computer could launch as early as September.

Yesterday, we reported on Daring Fireball's coverage of Apple's lengthy approval process for the Ninjawords Dictionary iPhone application that ultimately resulted in the application not only receiving a "17+" age rating but also having removed a number of "objectionable" words, including some with non-objectionable definitions, from the application.

In a follow-up post, Daring Fireball's John Gruber reports that he received a detailed e-mail from Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing Phil Schiller explaining the situation. Briefly, Apple's App Store approval staff objected to the presence of a number of vulgar "urban slang" terms that appeared in the application upon its initial submission in May and recommended that the developers resubmit their application after iPhone OS 3.0 was released so that it could carry a "17+" rating and be subject to 3.0's Parental Controls. Rather than choosing that route (as iPhone OS 3.0 had no known ship date at that time), the developers opted to press ahead in advance of Parental Controls implementation and stripped "objectionable" content from the application itself. Schiller wrote:

You are correct that the Ninjawords application should not have needed to be censored while also receiving a 17+ rating, but that was a result of the developers' actions, not Apple's. I believe that the Apple app review team's original recommendation to the developer to submit the Ninjawords application, without censoring it, to the App Store once parental controls was implemented would have been the best course of action for all; Wiktionary.org is an open, ever-changing resource and filtering the content does not seem reasonable or necessary.

Gruber reports that Ninjawords Dictionary's developers agree with Schiller's assertions, noting that they did wish to push ahead with the application's launch by whatever means necessary instead of waiting for Parental Controls to be launched in iPhone OS 3.0.

Gruber does, however, point out that Apple should do a better job of applying reasonable uniform standards and communicating with developers looking for clarification on or appealing reviewers' decisions. In particular, the dictionary entries Apple specifically objected to in Ninjawords' rejection notice did not include the so called "urban slang" that Schiller references, and if Apple's reviewers had found other examples of "urban slang" that it felt pushed the application to a "17+" rating, those specific objectionable terms should have been communicated to the developer.

Schiller's closing comments to Gruber lay out Apple's goals for the App Store and acknowledges that while the process is not always perfect, Apple is working to fix those errors and deliver the best experience possible for all parties.

Apple's goals remain aligned with customers and developers -- to create an innovative applications platform on the iPhone and iPod touch and to assist many developers in making as much great software as possible for the iPhone App Store. While we may not always be perfect in our execution of that goal, our efforts are always made with the best intentions, and if we err we intend to learn and quickly improve.

New Scientist points out an Apple patent application published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that discloses techniques for digitally "detecting whether consumer abuse has occurred in an electronic device." The application cites as examples assessing exposure to liquids, extreme temperatures, or excessive shock, as well as unauthorized tampering, all conditions which could cause damage to the device that may not be covered by manufacturers' warranties.

In general, such warranty and return policies are intended only to cover failures and defects relating to the manufacture or design of the product, and typically do not cover product failure that occurs as the result of consumer abuse. In fact, many warranty policies explicitly exclude returns or repair when damage from consumer abuse, whether intentional or unintentional, is the underlying cause of the product failure. For example, consumer abuse may include exposing an electronic device to liquids, extreme temperatures, or excessive shock (e.g., the resulting impact from dropping the device). Consumer abuse may also result from tampering which may include any interaction with the device that is not related to operating the device in a normal manner (e.g., opening the casing or housing of a device and adding, removing, or altering the internal components).

Records of "abuse events" would be stored in the device's memory and be accessible through a diagnostic interface, allowing service technicians to more easily assess whether a given issue should be covered by the product warranty. The patent application also suggests that the device could turn off individual components or the entire device in response to an abuse event in order to reduce the potential for damage to the device.

In accordance with another disclosed embodiment, the abuse detection circuitry may be configured to disable operation of an electronic device upon detecting the occurrence of a consumer abuse event, for example, by disabling power to the device. Subsequent to disabling operation of the device, the abuse detection circuitry may be further configured to periodically check the sensors to determine whether the detected abuse event is still occurring and to re-enable operation of the device if it is determined that the abuse event is no longer occurring. By disabling operation of the device upon detection of a consumer abuse event, the risks of damage to the device from the abuse event may be reduced.

Many of Apple's current portable devices contain sensors that irreversibly change color upon contact with liquid, allowing service technicians to determine whether an issue may have been caused by consumer behavior that could result in the issue not being covered by warranty. The use of enhanced "abuse" tracking would enable Apple to monitor a wider range of potentially damaging events and more accurately assess the extent and timing of those events.

TUAW reports that Apple is now rejecting all e-book iPhone application submissions under the rationale that such applications are commonly used to distribute content to which the applications' authors do not hold publication rights. Rather than taking on the daunting task of assessing publication rights for each application submitted, Apple has apparently chosen to exclude all such applications.

TUAW has learned that Apple has begun rejecting all e-book submissions because "this category of applications is often used for the purpose of infringing upon third party rights. We have chosen to not publish this type of application to the App Store." At first glance, this policy seems in line with Apple's approach to applications that promise charitable contributions. Apple cannot police the developers and will not allow possibly fraudulent postings on their store. Apple does not want to be in the position of vetting rights claims.

Apple's policy appears to extend even to developers who are able to prove that they do in fact hold the rights to the content being submitted and to e-book reader applications providing no direct content of their own.

Recent reports regarding Apple's rumored tablet computer have driven speculation that Apple may be interested in entering the e-book market on its own, but industry sources report that the move is unlikely. And while TUAW is careful to note that it has no evidence that Apple is using the rejections to remove competition against a future foray into the e-book market, the move is likely to draw increased scrutiny from regulators already interested in potential anti-competitive actions in both Apple's corporate behavior and ties to AT&T.

Update: Gizmodo reports that Apple has issued a statement denying that it is rejecting e-book application submissions outright and noting that it does contact developers for clarification if there is doubt about whether the developer holds the rights to publish the content included in the submitted application.