Apple Pushing Record Labels for More Exclusive Beyonce-Like iTunes Albums

Apple's iTunes chief Robert Kondrk met with record label executives during Grammy Week in January about the potential of more exclusive album releases, like Beyoncé's iTunes-exclusive album last December, according to Billboard.

Apple Inc.’s music chief Robert Kondrk has been pressuring major labels for releases similar to last year's Beyonce exclusive, excluding services like YouTube and Spotify to help shore up slowing download sales, according to music executives familiar with the conversations.

While digital music track sales fell from 1.34 billion units to 1.24 billion units in 2013 due to the rise of streaming services like Spotify and YouTube, Beyoncé's album sold 1 million copies globally on in a week iTunes alone.

Kondrk is using the album's success to sell label executives on the prospect of exclusively releasing albums on digital storefronts like iTunes. He told executives the exclusives don't have to be limited to iTunes as long as they weren't on streaming services like Spotify. The move would be to preserve sales on digital storefronts.

Finally, Kondrk asked executives if they could lock down individual track sales until after a certain window of time, which would then allow users to purchase individual music tracks and listen to albums on streaming services. This is in stark contract to Steve Jobs' sell of unbundled legal access to music when the iTunes Music Store was introduced in 2003.

In January, it was reported that digital music sales declined year-over-year for the first time since the opening of the iTunes Music Store as more users opt for streaming services such as Spotify, Rdio, Pandora and iTunes Radio.

DODOcase leather wallet for iPhone review

The DODOcase leather wallet for iPhone is everything you love about the DODOcases for iPad made pocket-sized. Made in San Francisco, the DODOCase leather wallet for iPhone combines fine, old world leather sewn onto sturdy book backing with three "slash" pockets and one window pocket to hold your credit and ID cards, and a tray to hold your iPhone. So how does it stack up?

The DODOcase fits the iPhone very well. It easily snaps into and out of place, so you can keep it secure without making it inaccessible. There's an easy slider for the credit card pockets as well, so they're likewise easy in, easy out. As is typical with these types of cases, however, I have to fold my — Canadian sized! — money carefully to avoid it getting crumpled when I fold the DODOcase closed. There's no place for coins so you'll need a pocket or change purse if you're not plastic and paper only.

Thankfully the DODOcase leather wallet for iPhone includes an elastic strap that you can fold over to keep the case closed when you're carrying it or even placing it on the table, or keep the case open when you're talking on the phone. It can cover the camera cutout, so if you're leaving your iPhone in place while recording video or something similar, you'll want to make sure you're not just getting a whole lot of elastic for your trouble.

You can choose between black and tannish natural leather and can even add a gold or black monogram for an additional $10.

The DODOcase leather wallet for iPhone is really well made and, for this type of case, really convenient to use. While far less ornate than some other competition, they're every bit solid and the elastic is really useful.

Recommended!

Tim Cook says if you can't handle environmental responsibility, get out of the AAPL

When Apple CEO Tim Cook was told by the National Center for Public Policy Research general council Justin Danhof that stopping Apple's environmental initiatives could lead to higher profits, Cook reportedly told them where exactly they could shove their lack of climate change responsibility. Mashable:

Cook's response was blistering. First of all, he insisted, environmental efforts also make economic sense. Even so, "we do a lot of things for reasons besides profit motive," the CEO said. "We want to leave the world better than we found it."

Anyone who had a problem with that? They should sell their Apple shares. "Get out of the stock," Cook suggested. Danhof's proposal was voted down by shareholders.

Cook is known for his almost unnerving calm but obviously he — and Apple — care very deeply about social issues as well. Does Apple's conscience matter to you or would you rather they just stuck to the ones and zeroes?

Excerpt From New Book Offers Look at Tim Cook's Management Style

The Wall Street Journal today published a new excerpt from former WSJ reporter Yukari Iwatani Kane's new book Haunted Empire, Apple After Steve Jobs, offering a new look into the management style of Tim Cook.

Kane notes that when Cook started at Apple in 1998, he set high expectations for everyone working for him, asking them to act like Apple was a $20 billion company when they were a $6 billion company and to procure the best yields, delivery and prices on components.

To some, Cook was a machine; to others, he was riveting. He could strike terror in the hearts of his subordinates, but he could also motivate them to toil from dawn to midnight for just a word of praise.

Cook ran his operations meetings in an orderly and disciplined fashion, going through every item and finding any possible error in meetings that could last up to six hours long. These meetings, according to Kane, could sometimes be terrifying for employees.

Meetings with Cook could be terrifying. He exuded a Zenlike calm and didn't waste words. "Talk about your numbers. Put your spreadsheet up," he'd say as he nursed a Mountain Dew. (Some staffers wondered why he wasn't bouncing off the walls from the caffeine.) When Cook turned the spotlight on someone, he hammered them with questions until he was satisfied. "Why is that?" "What do you mean?" "I don't understand. Why are you not making it clear?" He was known to ask the same exact question 10 times in a row.

Unlike Jobs, Cook apparently used deafening silence when he wasn't happy with something. For instance, the excerpt explains an incident where someone was unable to answer one of Cook's questions so Cook didn't say a word and let the silence fester, causing everyone in the room to stare at the table. The atmosphere of the room would grow to intense levels as Cook kept his eyes on the person who wasn't able to answer until Cook pulled out an energy bar from his pocket to eat as he waited for an answer.

However, once Cook became CEO he made moves to make Apple feel more open internally than it had under Jobs. He opted to communicate with employees more often via emails and town-hall meetings. And, unlike Jobs, who opted to have lunch with Jony Ive, Cook would have lunch at the cafeteria and introduce himself to employees he didn't know and ask to eat with them.

Haunted Empire, Apple After Steve Jobs will be published on March 18.

iOS in the Car reportedly launching next week — anyone up for a new Ferrari, Merc, or Volvo?

Apple's iOS in the Car is reportedly set to launch next week. The bi-directional feature that will let you bean select elements of your iPhone's interface — like Maps, iMessage, and music — to your in-vehicule display will initially roll out in partnership with Ferrari, Mercedes Benz, and Volvo. That's according to Henry Foy and Daniel Thomas of the Financial Times:

The official announcement of Apple’s deal will be made at next week’s Geneva Motor Show, sources told the Financial Times. A number of other manufacturers are expected to incorporate it into models in 2014. Apple, and the carmakers declined to comment

Even though I won't be buying a new Ferrari any time soon I'm incredibly excited by iOS in the Car because I believe it will one day lead to iOS everywhere, and person-centric computing beyond that.

Since Apple won't be making their own cars any time soon — sorry Tesla rumor-mongers — nor anything outside their narrow focus, nor will they be licensing their operating system to other manufacturers to load into their cameras, fridges, or other electronics, this feels like a way to get the best of both. To own the experience without having to become a sprawling conglomerate or barely-debugged stack of drivers.

But that's then, this is now. If the reports are accurate, anyone considering a new car and soon?

Source: Financial Times

The Apple Core Blog RSS | ZDNet

Sorry to say that Apple platforms are still more secure Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:07 AM PST Even after Apple dragged its brand through the mud over the recent SSL/TLS coding bug for iOS and Macs, its computing platforms are still the better choice for security.

Apple Launching 'iOS In The Car' Next Week With Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz

Nearly a year after it was announced, Apple appears ready to introduce launch partners for its "iOS in the Car" initiative, according to a report in the Financial Times. The piece claims Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari -- where Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue is a board member -- will be Apple's initial partners.

Though it does not mention iOS in the Car by name, the article claims drivers will be able to use Apple Maps for navigation on the car's in-dash screen, as well as watch movies, listen to music, make calls and send text messages through the system with full Siri integration.

The FT says the announcement will be made at the Geneva Motor Show next week, one of the premier motor shows on the calendar.

The technology group will next week launch its first in-car operating system with Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo as it attempts to take the lead in a fierce race to dominate tomorrow’s smart cars.

[...]

The deal marks the first time that Apple is embedding its software in devices other than its own branded products. The choice of the Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz is seen to be in keeping with the US tech group’s high-end phones.

Apple executives have said in the past that iOS in the Car is and is an essential "part of the ecosystem". At it's WWDC keynote last year, Apple claimed it was working with a number of partners including Honda, Nissan, Chevrolet, Hyundai, and more, in addition to Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes. It was reported earlier this year that iOS in the Car had been plagued by organizational issues but, if the FT report is accurate, it would appear the project is quickly moving towards a public launch.

ETA is a helpful app for estimating your arrival time

ETA (U$1.99 on sale for a brief time) is a helpful app that estimates the driving time from your current location to your destination, taking local traffic tie-ups into consideration.

To get started, you type in the name or address of a destination, clicking the '+' button to add it to your list. Once that's done, your location appears on a map. If you type a fairly common name, like Olive Garden, you may see more than one location. Check the one that has the address you want.

When you tap on your saved location, you'll get an option to get directions and the app launches Apple Maps, Google Maps (If you have it on your iPhone) or Waze (if you have that app).

One of the nice things about ETA is that you can get driving times to multiple locations with a glance. As traffic conditions change, those driving estimates change as well.

Of course you can get estimated driving time in Apple Maps, Google Maps or other navigation apps, but it takes several steps. Here, all your favorite destinations with driving times are listed as soon as you launch the app.

There are a couple of things that would make this excellent app even better. If you want a home address or anyone else's that is not a business, you have to type it in manually. It would be oh-so-much-better if the app had access to your contacts. Also, your list is in chronological order by when you entered the locations. I would like to be able to edit the order of the list, perhaps putting my home at the top.

Other than that, ETA is an extremely useful app that I will use all the time. It's the kind of thing Apple should build into Maps. Yes there are bookmarks, but this is far better than fumbling around with buttons in maps.

ETA requires iOS 7 or later. It's not universal, but should work on any Apple hardware that supports iOS 7. ETA is optimized for the iPhone 5. I like it.

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Tim Cook Angrily Rejects Political Proposal Asking for Profits-First Policies

During Apple's annual shareholder's meeting today, CEO Tim Cook angrily rebuffed a representative from the National Center for Public Policy Research or NCPPR -- a conservative think tank -- that asked the company to disclose the costs of its sustainability programs, such as solar energy facilities, and to embrace a corporate policy that focused on profits above all else.

The representative asked Cook about the impact of the company's renewable energy programs on its bottom line, and also asked Cook to commit to only undertaking projects that were explicitly profitable.

The CEO did not take this well, according to a report from MacObserver , which said that Cook's body language changed significantly and his gentle and controlled speaking style gave way to a rapid-fire response.

What ensued was the only time I can recall seeing Tim Cook angry, and he categorically rejected the worldview behind the NCPPR's advocacy. He said that there are many things Apple does because they are right and just, and that a return on investment (ROI) was not the primary consideration on such issues.

"When we work on making our devices accessible by the blind," he said, "I don't consider the bloody ROI." He said that the same thing about environmental issues, worker safety, and other areas where Apple is a leader.

Finally, Cook looked at the questioner and said "if you want me to do things only for ROI reasons, you should get out of this stock."

Following the meeting, the NCPPR released an incendiary press release that is heavily critical of Cook, flaming that shareholder value is destroyed in favor of efforts to combat climate change.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Best Buy Offering Free 16GB iPhone 5s With Trade-In of iPhone 4s or 5 [iOS Blog]

Best Buy is introducing another special deal this weekend, offering a minimum of $150 for trade-ins of working iPhone 4s and iPhone 5 smartphones. Customers must buy a new smartphone with two-year contract on AT&T, Sprint or Verizon, however. The offer is good through the end of the day tomorrow, March 1. The chain has also reduced the price of the base 16GB iPhone 5s to $150 to match the buyback.

With a number of carriers moving away from two-year contracts for its customers -- instead focusing on non-subsidized, but cheaper, monthly plans -- it may be affecting the bottom line of retailers like Best Buy because plans like AT&T Next do not, in many cases, require customers to pay money up front.

For upgrade-eligible iPhone-owners looking to move to the iPhone 5s, this promotion could be an inexpensive way to do that.

A Simple reminder: Update iOS or else

As soon as Apple updated iOS to versions 7.0.6 and 6.1.6 to fix an SSL vulnerability, TUAW let you know about it. Apparently some people still haven't updated, and app-enabled bank Simple has sent out a tersely-worded reminder to its customers letting them know that if they don't update before Monday morning, they'll be unable to sign into Simple.

Although updating is a good thing for any iOS user, it's critical for those who are using banking apps like Simple. As the company notes, "Why the drastic measures? A security flaw was recently found in older versions of iOS, and if your network were compromised (say on a public wifi hotspot), it could expose any data you send. Updating iOS fixes that vulnerability. This measure is part of our ongoing commitment to protecting your banking information."

The company also provided the simple steps for performing the update, which we repeat here: "It's easy to update your iOS: tap Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install. You must be connected to a wifi network in order to download and install the update."

If you haven't yet updated to either iOS 7.0.6 or 6.1.6 on your iOS devices, or run the OS X Updater for your Mac, please do so as soon as possible. And if you're not familiar with Simple, be sure to take a look at our review of the service and app.

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Source: http://simple.com/

How to install a fresh copy of OS X on your Mac

Most of the time you'll never have to worry about having to install a new operating system on your Mac - the one that's on there should work fine through thick and thin. But every once in a while you might want or need to - here are step by step instructions for making it happen.

Use Recovery Mode

Every Mac operating system since Lion (OS X 10.7) has included Recovery Mode, a special boot partition that enables you to recover from catastrophic failures and problems. This can be used to install a fresh copy of Mavericks on your hard drive, provided you have Internet access. To use Recovery Mode, follow these instructions:

1. Shut down your Mac.


2. Press the Power button (the button marked with a O with a 1 through it)


3. Immediately press the command (cloverleaf) key and R together.


4. Make sure you're connected to the internet through Wi-Fi. If you're not, choose a network from the Wi-Fi menu that appears at the top-right corner of the screen.


5. Select Install Mac OS X, then click Continue.


6. Wait.

It's worth noting that this installs a fresh copy of OS X on your Mac without affecting either your files or your user settings, so you should be good to go as soon as it reboots. All applications are maintained, as well. This system simply replaces the core files that enable OS X to operate.

I've had occasion to see systems that don't work with Recovery Mode, for some reason. For those computers, it's often possible to restore access to the Recovery Mode partition by resetting the System Management Controller (SMC). To reset the SMC on most Macs:

1. Shut down the Mac. If it's a laptop, make sure it's connected to the power cord.


2. Hold down the Control, Option, and Left Shift keys simultaneously, then press the Power button.


3. Release the keys.


4. Press the Power button again. The system should turn on and you can give Recovery Mode another try.

If that fails to work, you can always download a fresh copy of the Mavericks installer from the Mac App Store.

Download a fresh copy of Mavericks from the Mac App Store

1. Open the Mac App Store application, either from your Dock or from the Applications folder.


2. Click on the Purchases tab at the top of the window or press command and 4 on your keyboard. (I'll assume for the moment that you have already installed Mavericks once - if you haven't, you should see an installation option in your Updates folder, assuming you have Snow Leopard or later installed.)


3. Find OS X Mavericks in the list of files, either scrolling through the list or using the Search field in the upper right hand corner of the window.


4. Click the Download button.


5. You may get a dialog box advising you that OS X 10.9 is already installed on this computer. It's safe to click the Continue button.


6. Be prepared to wait a while. Even over a fast Internet connection, it'll take a little while to download, since it's more than 5 GB.


7. Once it's downloaded, it'll launch automatically. Follow the directions to install OS X.

Hopefully this will help you get started if you need to install a fresh copy of Mavericks. Questions? Fire away in the comments.

The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for February 28, 2014

It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world.

You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.

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The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Jumper Card puts power and sync into your wallet without emptying it Posted: 28 Feb 2014 03:00 PM PST It's always fascinating to see how people seem to get the same idea at the same time on Kickstarter or Indiegogo, but usually the one company that is ultimately successful is the first to get an idea to market. In the new accessory category of...

iPad vs. Kindle, fight! Posted: 28 Feb 2014 02:30 PM PST The iPad is taller and has the reach advantage, but the Kindle seems suspiciously confident. The Vegas oddsmakers will have a field day with this one. [Photo credit: Dan Farber]...

Monkey Boots is stealing my minutes and turning them into hours Posted: 28 Feb 2014 02:00 PM PST Even before Flappy Bird turned the App Store on its head, there was a bit of a casual gaming renaissance taking place on iOS. When I say "casual," I mean games that are easy to learn, but not necessarily so easy to master. Monkey Boots fits perfectly...

Poll: Tim Cook promises new product categories Posted: 28 Feb 2014 01:00 PM PST The Wall Street Journal recently interviewed Tim Cook, who revealed "that Apple plans to enter a new category this year." "There will be new categories. We're not ready to talk about it, but we're working on some really great stuff," Mr. Cook said....

Apple finally patches vulnerability that led to Jurassic Park fiasco Posted: 28 Feb 2014 12:30 PM PST Following hot on the heals of the recent SSL connection update -- and in response to criticism that the company is too slow to fix critical software issues -- Apple today released an update to its System 7 OS that corrects a crucial vulnerability...

Daily Deals for February 28, 2014, featuring the New Spark Hi-Def In-Ear Headphones Posted: 28 Feb 2014 11:30 AM PST It's time to save some of that hard-earned cash with our Daily Deals, featuring exclusive TUAW Deals, a handy list from Dealnews and our own handpicked iOS and OS X selections. TUAW's Daily Deals The New Spark Hi-Def In-Ear Headphones + Free...

Apple TV comes with a $25 iTunes gift card through March 5th Posted: 28 Feb 2014 10:45 AM PST Have you been thinking about buying one of the latest generation Apple TV boxes? If so, now's the time to do it -- Apple is selling the little black boxes through March 5th for the regular price of US$99, but you'll also get a $25 iTunes gift card to...

Let It Go wants you to get some things off your chest Posted: 28 Feb 2014 10:00 AM PST Life can be frustrating, but given the sheer number of hours most people work these days finding time to vent those frustrations can be difficult. Let it Go wants to help you let it out. Think of it as Snapchat for the soul if you will. Let It Go's...

Reports say OS X 10.9.2 breaks AirPlay Mirroring, and other news for Feb. 28, 2014 Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:00 AM PST Are you noticing any AirPlay issues on your Mac after updating to OS X 10.9.2? You might not be alone. There's a growing thread on Apple's support communities saying the OS X 10.9.2 update breaks AirPlay on a number of older model Macs. As...

How to watch the Oscars on your iPhone, iPad or Mac Posted: 28 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST ABC announced this week that it will be live streaming the Oscars to its Watch ABC service, but the broadcast won't be easy to watch on your iOS device or Mac. You will need to subscribe to a participating pay-TV provider and live in one of eight ABC...

Apple isn't updating Snow Leopard anymore, here's what you should know Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:00 AM PST Update: post clarified regarding the "gotofail" bug, which is not present in Snow Leopard and did not require a security patch. Snow Leopard has been a wonderful operating system for Macs, but more than four years into its life span, Apple is posed...

Daily App: Bridge Constructor challenges you to build radical bridges Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:30 AM PST Bridge Constructor is bridge construction game developed by ClockStone Studio and published by Headup Games that challenges you to build a bridge that is strong enough to support the weight of cars and trucks. Each level in Bridge Constructor...

Emulsio does an excellent job of stabilizing your iOS videos Posted: 27 Feb 2014 06:00 PM PST Emulsio (free, but more about that later) takes a shaky video and really smooths it out. Shoot a video of up to 15 minutes in length with your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and load it into Emulsio. The app fixes horizontal or vertical movement, and...

An iPad as nightmare fuel Posted: 27 Feb 2014 05:30 PM PST That's just about the creepiest thing I've ever seen. Thanks for that. [Photo credit: Joe_murphy]...

New and notable apps for iOS and OS X Posted: 27 Feb 2014 05:00 PM PST It's always busy in the App Store with a never-ending flood of new apps landing on iOS and OS X. Take a few minutes and check out our list of stand-out titles from the past few weeks! If that's not enough, you can also follow our ongoing coverage of...

OMG, is that thing what I think it is? Posted: 27 Feb 2014 04:30 PM PST Serbian sculptor Dragan Radenovic unveiled his Steve Jobs tribute in Belgrade yesterday according to Business Insider. Clearly inspired by the neo-Roccoco-Pez-Bauhaus school, the new sculpture succeeds at both being scary art and a scrumptious candy...

The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for February 27, 2014 Posted: 27 Feb 2014 03:30 PM PST It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's...

Jumper Card puts power and sync into your wallet without emptying it

It's always fascinating to see how people seem to get the same idea at the same time on Kickstarter or Indiegogo, but usually the one company that is ultimately successful is the first to get an idea to market. In the new accessory category of "connection cable/battery pack/flashlight that fits in your wallet", that first product is Jumper Card. Yes, it is all of those things in one credit card-sized package: a USB to 30-pin Dock Connector/micro-USB/Lightning charge/sync adapter, a battery pack, and an LED flashlight. The manufacturer refers to it as the "geek Swiss Army Knife", which is an apt description of this useful accessory

Specifications

• Price: US$25 (pre-orders now being taken for mid-March delivery)


• Connectors: USB to 30-pin Dock Connector, micro-USB, and Lightning


• Battery capacity: 480 mAh (by comparison, iPhone 5s capacity is 1570 mAh)


• Dimensions: 3.625" x 2.3125" x .25" (9.2 x 5.87 x .64 cm)


• Weight: 1.1 ounce (31.1 grams)


• Shelf life of fully charged battery: one year


• Battery can be recharged/discharged approximately 300 times

Design Highlights

OK, so it's just a tiny bit bigger and thicker than a credit card, but it can help you charge or sync your iOS devices -- can a credit card do that? I was quite impressed with the build on this device; to be honest, I am underwhelmed with the fit and finish of a lot of crowd or self-funded project, and these guys definitely have the understanding that people demand quality.

It's simple to figure out how to use the Jumper Card. You just push the cables out of the card from the back, plug 'em in the appropriate places, and you're set. On one side there's a three-position switch that is clearly marked with Off, LED, and Power. Want the LED flashlight? Switch it to LED and two surprisingly bright LEDs turn on to shed some light on whatever you're looking at. Want to get some emergency power for your iPhone? Flip the switch to Power and a tiny green LED in the three-in-one connector head lights up indicating that you'll be able to give your device enough of a charge to provide about an hour of talk time.

Does it fit in a wallet? Well, if your wallet is like mine (I have a nice SFBags Finn Wallet), it's easy to slide it in and always have the assurance that you're ready for a quick charge. My wife tried this in her purse and she's very happy that she doesn't have to carry around an easily-tangled USB to 30-pin cable anymore.

Functionality

I like everything about the Jumper Card. It's light, it has clean lines, and I can use it to charge or sync just about any Apple iOS device. The flashlight is bright, the extra battery capacity puts just enough in your iPhone to let you make an hours worth of calls, and as I mentioned, nothing gets tangled.

Conclusion

If you own any smartphone and want a way to quickly charge it when you're near a USB charging plug, or need a way to grab emergency power for your smartphone in a pinch, then the Jumper Card is $25 well spent. It's always going to be available when you need it, without taking up space or adding weight to your kit.

Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible

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Source: http://jumpercard.com/