Back in November, we first previewed a version of Algoriddim's Djay for iPad which took advantage of the new iOS 4.2 firmware to provide a low latency DJ experience on your iPad. The company has just released an iPhone and iPod Touch version of the app that offers many of the same features as the iPad version. While some were quick to note that such a system wouldn't be used by DJ's in a professional setting, it's still a very impressive use of the audio capabilities of the the most recent versions of iOS.
The iPhone version includes iPod library access, automix, beat matching, recording capabilities, and many of the same effects as the iPad version. The iPhone version is $9.99 [App Store] and is distinct from the iPad version which sells for $19.99 [App Store]
TechCrunch points out that Apple today approved updates to two major iOS applications that some had feared would be affected by the new in-app purchasing rules that Apple announced in February. The new rules required that any subscription based services must also provide the same service via the in-app purchase mechanism which is subject to Apple's 30% cut.
Subscriptions purchased from within the App Store will be sold using the same App Store billing system that has been used to buy billions of apps and In-App Purchases. Publishers set the price and length of subscription (weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-yearly or yearly). Then with one-click, customers pick the length of subscription and are automatically charged based on their chosen length of commitment (weekly, monthly, etc.). Customers can review and manage all of their subscriptions from their personal account page, including canceling the automatic renewal of a subscription. Apple processes all payments, keeping the same 30 percent share that it does today for other In-App Purchases.
Around the same time, Apple stated that eBook applications would also be required to offer in-app purchases for their content. Apple even rejected Sony's Reader from the App Store for this very reason.
Both of these restrictions generated concern about the future of popular apps such as Netflix and Kindle, which would be affected by a strict interpretation of the rules. Apple, however, has approved updates for both apps that went live today. It's not clear if Apple's rules have changed or if Netflix and Kindle are being given any special treatment. Apple has made no further official clarification about the policies beyond the initial announcements.
Update: Several have noted that Apple has given existing publishers until June 30th to comply with the new rules.
At the time of the Verizon iPhone launch just over a month ago, we pointed to a live tracker set up by mobile ad firm Chitika measuring the balance of AT&T and Verizon devices registering on its network. At the time, just one day after the device launched to the general public, the Verizon iPhone accounted for 3% of the U.S. iPhone base as measured over a rolling 24-hour window.
Chitika has continued to monitor the iPhone balance in the U.S., and today reported that the Verizon iPhone now accounts for 12.7%, or over 1/8th of the U.S. iPhone base, although the Verizon iPhone's share has since sunk to 11.9% due to measurement fluctuations over time.
Since the launch of the Verizon iPhone, we've been tracking iPhones through our system and breaking down what percentage come from AT&T vs. Verizon. As of today, Verizon is up to 12.7% of all iPhone web usage, based on data from the Chitika ad network.
Apple has of course been expanding its partnership with Verizon in recent months, beginning with packages including the original iPad and a MiFi hotspot device before moving on to the iPhone 4 last month. And just last Friday, Apple debuted the second-generation iPad, which comes in a series of models directly compatible with Verizon's network.
Update: Chitika has updated its post to note that issues with servers earlier today caused the tracker to "jump around a bit". The tracker is currently showing Verizon's share at 10.4%.
AppleInsider reports that Apple is preparing a new software update for the Apple TV to address issues with flickering when used with certain televisions.
An Apple support representative has confirmed that Apple is aware of the issues caused by the latest update to the Apple TV, software version 4.2, AppleInsider has learned. The Cupertino, Calif., company is said to be working on a fix that will address the screen flickering problems for a small number of users.
Apple TV software version 4.2, which is actually a build of iOS 4.3, was released last week ahead of the iPad 2 launch.
The issue seems to appear on certain televisions attempting to convert the Apple TV's 720p output to a 1080i format for display. With the new software version, users are experiencing flickering and flashing on both direct HDMI output and HDMI to DVI video adapter output. In addition, some users are finding that the video output settings on their Apple TV have been permanently set on the "Auto" option with a 480p resolution.
U.S. digital movie unit share for January-February 2011 (NPD)
Last month, we reported that Apple was dominating the market for individual download and streaming movie content in the United States, representing nearly 65% of total spending. We noted at the time that the survey did not include streaming services such as Netflix and on-demand streaming offerings from cable companies, but new data from NPD on the broader market now puts those omissions into context.
According to NPD's data, Netflix represented 61% of movies downloaded or streamed in the U.S. during January and February, easily topping second-place Comcast at 8%. Apple finished in a three-way tie for third at 4% with Time Warner Cable and DirecTV.
NPD also compared consumer-reported satisfaction with four modes of digital-video acquisition: electronic sell-through (EST), Internet VOD (iVOD), cable VOD, and subscription streaming. Consumers clearly recognize that EST services like iTunes have the most "current releases available," while Netflix streaming gets credit from customers for providing the best "overall shopping experience" and "value for price paid."
According to NPD, digital video now makes up one quarter of the entire home video market in the United States, with customers increasingly embracing the instant and easy access aspects of digital video.
Apple today released a minor update to its Remote application for iOS devices, bringing performance enhancements and a new "skip back" button for video content.
What's new
- Improvements when connecting to iTunes or Apple TV - Addition of a "skip back" button when playing video - Additional stability and performance improvements
Apple last updatedRemote in late December to add AirPlay video and Internet radio support.
Reuters reports that Apple has delayed the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan following last week's earthquake and tsunami that have devastated significant parts of the country. The iPad 2 had been scheduled to debut in Japan as part of a broad international to over two dozen countries on March 25th.
"We are delaying the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan while the country and our teams focus on recovering from the recent disaster," said Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris.
Apple has yet to announced a rescheduled Japanese launch date for the device.
The delay comes as Apple continues to accept donations via iTunes to support aid efforts by the American Red Cross in Japan.
Meanwhile, Digg founder Kevin Rose yesterday shared an email from a friend in Japan relaying Apple's efforts to support its customers and employees in the aftermath of the earthquake. In the hours after the earthquake, the company's retail stores served as point of connectivity to allow people to gather information and contact friends and family, while the company also allowed employees and their families to temporarily seek shelter in the retail stores and offered to assist those attempting to return to their homes.
The Register reports that performance of web apps saved to the home screen on iOS devices running iOS 4.3 is significantly crippled compared to those loaded directly through the Safari browser for iOS, although it is unclear if the issue is caused by bugs or a conscious move by Apple to favor App Store apps over web app experiences.
If a web app is run from the iOS 4.3 home screen - in other words, if it is saved to the screen alongside local apps downloaded from the Apple App Store - it runs roughly two to two and a half times slower than it does in the browser, according to various tests. It appears that whereas Apple has updated the iOS 4.3 Safari browser with its high-speed Nitro JavaScript engine, Nitro is not used when web apps are launched from the home screen.
"Essentially, there are two different JavaScript engines," says Alex Kessinger, a mobile application developer and blogger who has focused on building web-standards-based apps for the iPhone. "They're not using the new JavaScript engine with applications that launch from the home screen."
In addition, web apps saved to the home screen are unable to take advantage of HTML5 web caching capabilities, preventing them from running while offline.
Sunspider loaded in Safari (left) and as home screen web app (right)
One example given in the article is the Sunspider JavaScript benchmarking test, which was demonstrated running in 4047 ms when loaded within Safari but taking 10747 ms when loaded as a web app from the home screen.
The report notes that developers have filed multiple bug reports with Apple regarding the issues, with Apple apparently aware of at least some of the limitations currently being experienced with web apps saved to the home screen. Apple has reportedly acknowledged, however, that at least some of the issues, including ones related to the use of lower-quality synchronous mode rendering for home screen web apps as opposed to asynchronous mode used for content loaded directly in Safari, are not scheduled to be addressed by the company.
A pair of chip teardown firms this weekend stripped down the new A5 system-on-a-chip used in the Apple's iPad 2, finding that the package is indeed being manufactured by Samsung. Several rumors in recent weeks have claimed that Apple is shifting production from Samsung to TSMC, and while that may still be the case for future production, Samsung is clearly responsible for early production runs.
Comparison of A4 and A5 packages (UBM TechInsights)
UBM Techinsights performed a complete teardown of the iPad 2, with a special focus on decapsulating the A5 package.
Based on analysis performed by UBM TechInsights Lab and Process Analysis personnel, we can say that the A5 in our possession is definitely manufactured by Samsung using their 45nm process. UBM TechInsights used optical die and SEM cross-section images to analyse important features such as die edge seal, metal 1 pitch, logic and SRAM transistor gate measurements. These features were then compared to other manufacturers in our database, including other Samsung 45nm parts. The previous generation Apple A4 processor was also fabbed on Samsung's 45nm process.
UBM TechInsights also discovered that the A5 packages from two iPad 2 units used DRAM from two different sources, Samsung and Elpida, indicating that Apple has tapped multiple suppliers even for portions of the complex A5 package in order to meet demand.
Scanning electron microscope cross-section of A5 (Chipworks)
Chipworks has also performed a decap of the A5, similarly revealing that the package is being manufactured by Samsung.
At this scale even electron microscopes start to run out of steam, so not the clearest of images in either case, but good enough to see the similar shape of the transistor gates and the dielectric layers. So at least this sample of the A5 is fabbed by Samsung, just as all Apple's processor chips have been for the last while.
Also of interest, iOSnoops discovered that the while the A4 chip found in the original iPad clocked in at a consistent 1 GHz, each of the two cores in the new A5 seems to run at a variable speed between 861 MHz and 894 MHz depending on the app being run, suggesting that Apple has built in more advanced power management features for the A5.
iPad 2 availability continues to get worse with Apple's online store citing 4-5 week ship times for new iPad 2 orders. Several Apple Retail stores are planning on opening early tomorrow to accommodate the continued high demand for the iPad. Based on what we've heard from readers, retail stores have remained sold out since the initial launch day. Apple has not released official numbers but it seems supplies have been limited since launch day. Apple's only statement on the matter has been that there has been "amazing" demand for the new product.
Meanwhile, at least some of the first online orders are arriving. One reader reported to us that his first day AT&T order for the new iPad arrived on Monday. Many who have ordered through Apple's online store are still waiting for their initial orders.
Bloomberg reports that Microsoft is canceling future development of its line of Zune hardware devices, shifting the focus of Zune services to Windows Phone 7 smartphones.
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) will cease introducing new versions of the Zune music and video-player amid tepid demand, helping the company shift its focus to mobile phones, according to a person familiar with the decision.
The company will concentrate on putting Zune software onto mobile phones such as those running Microsoft's Windows operating system, said the person, who declined to be identified because the decision hasn't been announced.
First introduced in mid-2006 as an answer to Apple's successful iPod line, the first Zune devices debuted later that year but never achieved substantial share in an MP3 player market that continues to be dominated by the iPod.
The company will reportedly continue to sell existing Zune devices, but will no longer develop new hardware for the line.
Apple today seeded a new version of Mac OS X 10.6.7, termed Build 10J869, to developers for testing. The update comes six days after the company pushed Build 10J868 to developers.
According to those familiar with the new build, Apple continues to list no known issues and asks developers to again focus their testing on Safari, Mac App Store, AirPort, Bonjour, SMB, and Graphics Drivers .
With the build increment increasing by only one since the previous build and very little change in file size, Apple may be nearing completion of work on the update and preparing for a public release in the relatively near future. This new build marks the eighth version of Mac OS X 10.6.7 to make its way into developers' hands since seeding began in late January.
Time Warner Cable iPad app prototype discussion - Part 1 (Additional videos: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)
The Associated Press reports that cable and Internet giant Time Warner will release a new iPad application tomorrow morning that will allow subscribers to the company's services to watch live television on their tablet devices. The app is said to initially support 30 basic cable channels, and access is limited to the customer's home Wi-Fi network.
The app will be free to download on Tuesday morning, but it will only work for people who subscribe to both video and Internet service from the New York-based cable company. Even then, it only works in the home, when the iPad is connected to the company's cable modem via a Wi-Fi router.
Rob Marcus, the company's chief operating officer and president, said the app will play 30 basic cable channels in high definition to start, but that number should expand soon.
"For all intents and purposes ... this enables you to convert any room in a house into a TV room," Marcus said.
On-demand content and support for using the iPad as a remote control will not be included at launch, but will be added in the future.
Time Warner Cable is the second-largest cable company in the United States, with 12.4 million customers across 28 states.
Update: The TWCable TV iPad app is now available in the App Store.
Apple Bitch reports that some Apple retail stores around the United States will be opening an hour early tomorrow in anticipation of receiving more iPad 2 shipments after quickly running dry this weekend.
While no official announcement has been forthcoming from Apple, anecdotal reports from shoppers across the country trying get an iPad 2 this morning, say they were told by retail staff that even if the Apple Stores were re-stocked today, the iPad 2 would not be sold until tomorrow and for this reason, the Stores would open early for dedicated iPad 2 sales. We have confirmed this with three retail stores.
With most retail stores typically seeing 10:00 AM openings, the change means that these stores will be opening at 9:00 AM tomorrow.
We've independently checked with ten Apple retail stores, but only four of them disclosed plans to open early tomorrow. All stores note that shipments are unpredictable, and even those expecting to receive shipments tomorrow do not know what mix of models they will be receiving. All sales are first-come, first-served, so customers may experience lines should they be hoping to pick up an iPad 2 tomorrow.
Launch day at Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan (Source: BGR)
Fortune provides a nice summary of feedback from research analysts regarding the iPad 2 launch weekend in the United States, with the analysts weighing in with sales estimates ranging from 500,000 up to one million units.
Most analysts were cautious, fearing perhaps that whatever they wrote would soon be overtaken by an Apple (AAPL) press release. Most, like Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, stuck with 500,000 units. But Baird's William Power estimated that Apple sold "roughly 1 million" the first weekend, Wedbush's Scott Sutherland "wouldn't be surprised" by that number and Global Equities Trip Chowdhry thought Apple "may have sold" three times as many iPad 2s as iPad 1s its first weekend, which amounts to the same thing.
Launch supplies of the iPad 2 were obviously concentrated at Apple's own retail stores, where the longest lines were also seen. Headcounts at Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan ranged from 1,200 to as high as 3,000 customers. Meanwhile, third-party retailers such as Best Buy with smaller stocks typically saw units sell out in just a matter of minutes at their stores.
For its part, Apple has yet to announce specific iPad 2 sales figures, although a spokesperson did issue a statement to The Loop calling demand "amazing".
"Demand for the next generation iPad 2 has been amazing," Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller, told The Loop. "We are working hard to get iPad 2 into the hands of every customer who wants one as quickly as possible."
Apple should be restocking iPad 2 units at its retail stores on a nearly-daily basis, but the timing of those shipments is unknown and potential customers may find lines as other shoppers seek to bypass the 3-4 week wait now in place for new online orders.
Apple executive Phil Schiller yesterday confirmed in a Tweet that Apple still intends on delivering a white iPhone "this spring". While Schiller did not explicitly note that the device would be an iPhone 4, he is presumably referring to the much-delayed white iPhone 4 given that the fifth-generation iPhone is almost certainly not set to launch until the summer timeframe of June or July.
The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!).
Originally announced in June 2010 alongside the black iPhone 4, the white version has been delayed several times by Apple, reportedly due to issues with paint application that have caused issues with light leaking through and affecting the device's rear-facing camera.
Apple's last public comments on the delays came in October, when Apple pegged the launch for spring of this year. While several indications since that time, including claims from just last week that the device should ship in early April, have continued to point to a spring release, Schiller's comment marks the first specific word from Apple management about the white iPhone 4 in many months.
Noted teardown firm iFixit reported today that it has performed a teardown of the Apple's highly-publicized Smart Cover for the iPad 2, revealing a plethora of magnets inside the device to keep it aligned on the surface of the iPad and to turn the iPad on and off.
There are a total of THIRTY ONE magnets within the iPad 2 and Smart Cover: 10 magnets in the iPad 2, and a whopping 21 magnets inside the Smart Cover. They're the reason why the cover works so well with the iPad 2.
Long, thin magnets are embedded in the sides of the iPad in order to hold the Smart Cover firmly in place on the left side and keep the cover closed on the right side.
iPad 2 sleep sensor (red) and magnets for keeping cover closed (yellow)
A single round magnet in the rightmost panel of the Smart Cover interacts with a sleep sensor embedded in the right edge of the iPad to turn the iPad on and off as the cover is opened and closed.
Steel plate (red) and 15 magnets (yellow) interact to stabilize stand
The Smart Cover is broken into four panels to allow it to fold into a triangular shape to serve as a stand. A total of 15 magnets in the rightmost panel of the cover are used to bond to a steel plate in the leftmost panel to stabilize the stand.
Apple offers polyurethane Smart Covers in five colors priced at $39 each, with leather covers also available in an additional five colors for $69 each.
Over the weekend, Apple has set up a donation system that allows iTunes customers to easily donate to the Red Cross' Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. The donation page is linked from the iTunes Store and can be accessed by following this link.
Donation amounts range from $5 to $200, and the entire amount is sent to the American Red Cross.
Apple set up a similar system last year to support victims of the Haitian earthquakes.
