Rumor- Apple to license FairPlay DRM

Rumor: Apple to license FairPlay DRM
Apple may begin licensing its FairPlay digital rights management technology to third-party manufacturers in the near future--at least, that's the rumor. According to an unsubstantiated and unsourced item appearing at tech.co.uk, Apple plans to allow iPod-accessory makers to stream copy-protected iTunes content. To date, that feature has been restricted to Apple products, such as the AirPort Express wireless router and the forthcoming Apple TV. Other digital media products can stream only non-protected iTunes content--essentially, music and movies you've ripped to your PC. If it pans out, the change could be a big deal and a positive development for consumers. Thus far, paid iTunes content has remained locked within Apple's proprietary ecosystem, shackling buyers with "iHandcuffs" that essentially forces them to use Apple hardware and software if they wish to enjoy iTunes-purchased media (music, movies, TV shows). By licensing FairPlay to other companies, iTunes media get the potential to be more transportable.But for now, this remains nothing more than a rumor--and one that's a bit hard to swallow, at that. The tech.co.uk report highlights "USB streaming" as one of the big advantages of the alleged Apple licensing liberalization, despite the fact that a handful of USB devices (such as the Logitech Wireless DJ) are the only non-Apple products to date that can play FairPlay-protected iTunes audio tracks. It's also unclear why Apple wouldn't have used last week's Macworld show to make such a big announcement. Or why the company would cannibalize sales of its Apple TV product, due next month, by letting in a host of potential competitors. In a perfect world, Apple would dump FairPlay DRM altogether. That's not going to happen, of course, so licensing FairPlay would be the next best thing. It will be interesting to see whether or not it happens, and what restrictions Apple places on the licensing if it does.Source: tech.co.uk via iLoungevia CrunchGear

How to change slideshow duration times in OS X

How to change slideshow duration times in OS X
The first thing you will need for this is a program that can edit property lists. While a plist editor is convenient, a quick solution is to use a text editor that supports authentication such as the free TextWrangler. This will allow you to edit system files without needing to change permissions.With the text editor downloaded, launch it and then choose "Open" from the File menu. Then navigate to the following directory and open the file called "EffectDescriptions.plist":System > Library > PrivateFrameworks > Slideshows.framework > Versions > A > Resources > ContentIn this file, locate the key entry called "JustASlide" and then locate the child entry below this called "mainDuration." This file contains thousands of lines, so you can best locate these lines by performing a search for "JustASlide" and then scroll down about 20 lines to see the "mainDuration" entry.You will see the default value of the "mainDuration" entry as 3, but can change it followed by saving the file. Since this file is owned by the system you will be asked to authenticate but it should save. After this, when the screensaver activates it will read the new value and dwell on a photo for the time you specified before changing.You can always access this file again to adjust the value of this transition, and editing it in this manner will not harm your system; however, as with any settings or configuration change, be sure your system is backed up before you implement it.This tip is a modification of the steps outlined here (thanks to MacFixIt reader Roger for writing in about this).Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.

Sling improves video quality in iPhone app

Sling improves video quality in iPhone app
Sling Media has updated its SlingPlayer iPhone app to feature "high-quality streaming," the company said, though it didn't provide exact resolution for the new offering.There are some limitations with the addition of high-quality streaming in SlingPlayer Mobile version 2.0 for the iPhone. Sling said that to take advantage of high-quality streaming, users will need an 800 kilobits per second download speed over Wi-Fi and a 500Kbps speed on 3G. The company also said that "users with the Slingbox Classic, Tuner, AV, and Pro can stream with this update, but they can't use the high-quality video mode." High-quality video is available only on the Slingbox Solo or a Slingbox Pro-HD.In addition, the update has added a new program guide. It allows users to see DVR listings, schedule recordings, and see shows that are airing at that time.Sling's update to the iPhone app comes on the heels of its launch of the iPad app at the end of November. That app, like the iPhone version, retails for $29.99.

Slimmer iPad on tap for second-quarter 2011-

Slimmer iPad on tap for second-quarter 2011?
Apple could release a more svelte iPad by the end of the second quarter of 2011, Goldman Sachs said in an investment report yesterday.According to the analysts, Apple will keep the 9.7-inch display in the new iPad, but will attempt to make it easier on the grip by reducing its weight and thickness. The analysts also expect Apple to throw in a built-in camera and a mini USB drive for additional connectivity.Goldman Sachs also touched on the possibility of Apple finally releasing the long-rumored 7-inch iPad, saying that plans for the smaller tablet have yet to be "finalized."As expected, Apple isn't talking. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it's planning a new iPad next year.But if it does release an iPad in the coming months, it will find a new competitor on store shelves. Yesterday, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion announced the PlayBook, a 7-inch tablet. The device includes Wi-Fi connectivity, a 1GHz dual-core chip, and two cameras. It's scheduled to launch early next year.(Via Bloomberg)

Apple kills TV rentals, subscription offer not coming

Apple kills TV rentals, subscription offer not coming
Apple has done away with the 99-cent video rentals of TV shows it began offering last year via the Apple TV and iTunes. Despite Apple's best efforts, most of the top networks weren't willing to offer shows for that price. News Corp.-owned Fox Television and Disney's ABC were the only two majors that were involved and even they offered a limited amount of content at 99 cents.Now does this sound like the studios are willing to back a new subscription service from Apple or for anyone else for that matter? No. Don't put any stock in the rumors that began circulating today. My sources at the studios said three weeks ago that an Apple subscription service is not coming anytime soon, if ever. The Hollywood studios and TV networks don't want another Netflix. Look around. They're trying to stuff that genie back into the bottle. The talk coming out of Hollywood is about raising prices for content and offering Netflix less, not more. They don't want to discount content just because it's on the Web. There is no consensus in Hollywood about anything, but a large number of decision makers want to see their shows and films offered online on a pay-per-view basis as they try to protect their margins. In addition, the execs I spoke with said Apple hasn't really talked about subscription --although one of the sources said Apple has at one time or another discussed numerous business models. One thing others and I have reported now for more than a year is that Apple indeed is focusing on a cloud offer, where users access video content from Apple's servers. "iTunes customers have shown they overwhelmingly prefer buying TV shows," said Tom Neumayr, an Apple spokesman in a statement this afternoon. "iTunes in the Cloud lets customers download and watch their past TV purchases from their iOS devices, Apple TV, Mac, or PC allowing them to enjoy their programming whenever and however they choose."

Apple kills iPhone app, claiming API violation

Apple kills iPhone app, claiming API violation
Apple has rejected an iPhone application that supposedly uses off-limits technology just like Google's mobile application--only the developer swears it's not true.Landon Fuller, who developed a photo contact management system called Peeps, said on his blog that Apple had rejected Peeps from the App Store because, "Peeps cannot be posted to the App Store due to the usage of a non-public API.Usage of non-public APIs, as outlined in the iPhone SDK Agreement section 3.3.1, is prohibited." The thing is, Fuller insists that Peeps does not use any programming tools but the public ones Apple exposes to developers as part of the iPhone SDK, saying "the last thing I would do is deliver time-bomb code to a paying customer." (Thanks to Daring Fireball for the link.)APIs are tools that applications use to exploit parts of a computer's operating system. Operating system developers usually label some proportion of the various APIs in the OS as "public," meaning they'll support the use of those APIs well into the future to ensure applications will not break with future OS updates.There are usually lots of other APIs lying around that the OS vendor doesn't make public, but that developers can see if they poke around a little bit. Google used such an API to trigger a voice prompt from the iPhone's proximity sensor in its Google Mobile application, which the company admitted was against the rules of the App Store.Fuller seems to believe this is all just a misunderstanding, since his application looks an awful lot like Apple's Cover Flow feature but doesn't actually use the same implementation Apple does to display album covers in iTunes. Maybe he just needs a bigger market cap: Google Mobile is still available on the App Store, and a Google representative said he had no updates on whether Apple had ordered any changes to Google Mobile or if Google planned to make any changes on its own. An Apple representative did not return a call seeking comment, but Apple representatives have never returned any calls seeking comment about the App Store approval process.Sometimes it really does seem that getting your iPhone application approved or rejected for the App Store comes down to whether or not you draw Inspector No. 1 or Inspector No. 2 that day.

Apple envisions an iTunes Radio with more advanced features

Apple envisions an iTunes Radio with more advanced features
A future version of Apple's iTunes Radio could let you reveal why you liked or disliked a certain song in your playlist.Published Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, an Apple patent application called "Playlist Configuration and Preview," describes some handy ways to customize and manage your playlist of streaming songs.Most streaming music services let you vote thumb's up or thumb's down on a certain song to gauge your musical tastes. But they don't give you the ability to explain why you voted the way you did.The service described by Apple would offer you a menu of reasons as to why you liked or disliked a certain tune. Maybe you didn't care for the particular genre. Or maybe you thought the arrangement was too fast or too slow. Providing a reason would help the service more accurately determine what music to offer you in the future.You could also peek ahead a few tracks in your playlist to see what songs are coming up. You could then switch their order or even remove certain tunes. You could even change certain tags, or metadata, of the songs in your playlist to further define what types and styles of music you prefer.Finally, you'd be able to compare your playlist with those of other users. But beyond just checking out the tunes of fellow users, you could view the metadata of their selections to help you decide which ones to add to your own playlist.The patent was filed in December of 2011, so Apple may have envisioned a few of these concepts for the initial release of iTunes Radio. Instead, some of them may just pop up in a future version.(Via AppleInsider)

Apple envisioned Siri on tablets back in 1987

Apple envisioned Siri on tablets back in 1987
Siri, the new voice technology unveiled yesterday that's coming to the iPhone 4S, may not be such a new idea for Apple after all, at least according to a 1987 concept video showing a vaguely similar system designed for tablets.Andy Baio over at Waxy posted a video of Apple's "Knowledge Navigator," a concept video put together for the Educom computer trade show in 1987, to be delivered alongside the keynote of then Apple CEO John Sculley. The video, which cost Apple some $60,000 and six weeks to create from start to finish, features a professor going about comparing research notes and studies, as well as collaborating with others over video chat on a foldout tablet device running an older version of the Mac OS. Included is a plethora of concepty goodness, from touch screens and video conferencing to translucent removable memory that looks like it's straight out of "Star Trek."But the glue that holds it together is the artificial intelligence assistant: A smooth-talking man who is a dead ringer for Bill Nye, the science guy, has complete conversations with the professor and is able to pull up charts and data based on plain language requests. It was more advanced than the Siri technology we saw demoed yesterday, but there are clearly some shared ideas.The fact that this idea's been around so long does beg the question why Siri's being launched as a "beta" with the iPhone 4S next week. It also brings up the idea of the technology making it to other Apple devices, particularly the iPad. Here's the Knowledge Navigator video, and beneath that is Apple's demo of Siri:2011's Siri:

Apple drops patent claim against Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini

Apple drops patent claim against Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini
Apple has agreed to withdraw patent infringement allegations against Samsung's new Galaxy S3 Mini in exchange for assurances that the South Korean electronics giant will not market the smartphone in the U.S. Apple disclosed the agreement today in a filing with the U.S. District Court for Northern California. The iPhone maker requested last month that the new smartphone and other Samsung products be added to the ongoing patent dispute between the two companies. Samsung countered that the S3 Mini was unavailable for purchase in the United States, however Apple noted that the new smartphone was listed on Amazon's U.S. storefront and had been purchased and delivered to multiple U.S. addresses."Apple will agree to withdraw without prejudice its request to include the Galaxy S III Mini in this case given Samsung's representation that it is not making, using, selling, offering to sell, or importing that product into the United States," Apple said in its filing.The unlocked phone quietly appeared on Amazon last month, running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and featuring a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, a dual-core 1-gigahertz processor, 1 gigabyte of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. While the new phone supports either T-Mobile USA or AT&T, it lacks support for any 4G LTE connectivity.Apple had previously argued that the device infringed on the same patents included in its $1.5 billion verdict against Samsung. However, Apple has been unsuccessful in securing sales bans.Representatives for Apple and Samsung declined to comment.

Apple- Don't get excited about that new Apple TV box

Apple: Don't get excited about that new Apple TV box
Less than a day after a schematic of what appeared to be the fourth-generation Apple TV set-top box appeared in a U.S. regulatory filing, the company says it's not a new version at all, but a minor behind-the-scenes hardware change. In a statement today provided to The Verge, the company said it had to file new paperwork with the Federal Communications Commission following a change to one of the internal components."We sometimes make component changes which require an updated model number for regulatory approval," an Apple spokesperson said. "The component changes we made don't affect product features and Apple TV customers will continue to have the same great user experience."The component in question appears to be an updated A5X processor, as well as antenna technology, according to AnandTech, which yesterday went through both the FCC filings and the iOS 6.1 firmware file, which contained references to the hardware.Related storiesSmaller Apple TV box hinted at in FCC filingApple TV rumor roundupNot mentioned was the apparent size difference, something originally spotted by Engadget, that suggested the updated hardware was slightly smaller than the second- and third-generation models. A person familiar with Apple's plans says these updated models are the same size, and are headed to stores soon.Apple's last big Apple TV hardware update came last March with a third-generation model that added 1080p playback. Since then, Apple has put out a handful of interim software updates that added new features, including compatibility with iTunes Match and more recently, Bluetooth keyboards. The company is still expected to roll out a full-fledged TV set, possibly as soon as this fall.

Apple doesn't want to reveal CEO succession plans

Apple doesn't want to reveal CEO succession plans
Apple is once again being asked to discuss what the company would do without CEO Steve Jobs. Apple said today in regulatory filings that it was informed that Central Laborers' Pension Fund, which owns over 11,000 shares of Apple stock, plans to submit a proposal at Apple's annual shareholder's meeting on February 23, that if passed would require Apple to "adopt and disclose a written and detailed succession planning policy." Apple's board of directors said in the filings that it has recommended shareholders vote against the proposal. They say they have already established a succession plan and disclosing it publicly would only hurt the company's ability to retain and recruit top executive talent. Apple wrote that competitors could poach top Apple execs who learn they aren't in line for the top jobs or those execs might leave voluntarily. Few leaders are as closely identified with their companies as Jobs. Some shareholders appear to get nervous anytime there's a debate about what the company's prospects are without him. In the event that Jobs won't or can't continue with his duties, some shareholders want to know how Apple would respond. Those plans haven't been publicly disclosed. The debate took on a greater urgency after Apple revealed that Jobs underwent a liver transplant in 2009. As part of Central Laborers' plan, Apple's board would be required to "develop criteria for the CEO position which will reflect the company's business strategy and will use a formal assessment process to evaluate candidates" as well as identify and develop top candidates from within the company. The proposal also calls for Apple to maintain nonemergency and emergency succession plans.