Paul McCartney has signed a $400 million deal with Apple for the distribution of the entire Beatles’ back catalog on iTunes. Under the deal, the money will be distributed to Ringo Starr, the families of George Harrison and John Lennon, Michael Jackson, EMI and Sony, along with McCartney getting his share as well. It appears that this deal is NOT exclusive to iTunes. Not the smartest move by Apple, how are they going to make back all that money? If you already have all the Beatles tracks, why would you buy them again?
Apple rumor site, ThinkSecret, issued a statement today indicating that they would no longer be published due to terms of a confidential settlement with Apple.
Apple and Think Secret have settled their lawsuit, reaching an agreement that results in a positive solution for both sides. As part of the confidential settlement, no sources were revealed and Think Secret will no longer be published. Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret’s publisher, said “I’m pleased to have reached this amicable settlement, and will now be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits.”
We will miss ThinkSecret. They were one of the sites that inspired us to start up back in November 2003. I think this case puts into perspective what a community the Mac web is and MacShrine will strive forward against Apple’s wish to knock us back.
So finally after 2 years it’s ready. Apple will officially release Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard tonight worldwide at 6pm. They do seem to have broken their own ship date as many customers have already got them delivered to them as far back as Tuesday and shops in the UK ignored the instructions and started selling copies this morning. We’re waiting for the launch though, for anyone who has it - how is it?
As reported earlier this week Apple is giving a $100 rebate to all consumers who purchased an iPhone prior to the price cut last week (August 22nd). If this applies to you then check it out. The credit can be used for any Apple Store and iTunes.
We shall be reporting live from the event via an affiliate site. So you can keep checking here in addition to Gizmodo, Engadget, Slashgear and MacObserver.
Engadget claims to have received an internal Apple memo about a company-exclusive mini Stevenote tomorrow. He’ll just go on about how revolutionary the iPhone release is for Apple and the market, like back at the iPod launch. Here is the memo:
From: Steve Jobs
Date: June 27, 2007 1:47:55 PM PDT
To: [redacted]
Subject: Town Hall Meeting Tomorrow
Team,
We’re launching the most revolutionary and exciting product in Apple’s history this Friday. And given Apple’s legacy of breakthrough products, that’s saying a lot.
I’d like to get together and share my thoughts about this amazing moment for our company. So please join me for a company-wide communications meeting tomorrow, Thursday, at 11:00AM in Town Hall.
This meeting will also be broadcast to other Apple campus locations. Please check [redacted] for details.
See you there,
Steve
Update: Steve Jobs did hold a company-wide town hall today and announced that Apple employees will get free 8GB iPhones this July. This applies to all full-time Apple employees as well as part time employees who have been with Apple for more than 1 year.
The phones are expected to be delivered to employees by the end of July, after initial consumer demand has subsided. According to Yahoo! Finance, Apple has 17,787 full-time employees.
We got so caught up in the Keynote we forgot to post the winners of this years Apple Developer Awards. The winners all get snazzy gifts like new MacBook Pros, passes to next years WWDC… we’re jealous, yes. Congratulations to all.
Best Leopard App Winner: Delicious Library 2.0
Best Leopard App Runner Up: iBank
Best Mac OS X Developer Tool Winner: CSS Edit 2.5
Best Mac OS X Developer Tool Runner Up: rooSwitch
Best Mac OS X Dashboard Widget Winner: Bart Widget
Best Mac OS X Dashboard Widget Runner Up: Pemdas
Best Science Computing App Winner: Papers
Best Science Computing App Runner Up: Single Crystal
Best Mac OS X Game Winner: WOW Burning Crusade
Best Mac OS X Game Runner Up: Wacky Mini Golf
Best Mac OS X Student Product Winner: Picturesque
Best Mac OS X Student Product Runner Up: Pathway
Best Mac OS X User Experience Winner: Coda
Best Mac OS X User Experience Runner Up: Sandvox
Apple today launched a total refresh of their website. Featuring a new “Leopard” inspired theme. The site takes advantage of many new Web 2.0 technologies such as Ajax and advanced CSS to great effect. Check it out now at Apple.com!
Following on from the recent Apple-YouTube announcement it appears there will be even more integration between the two companies. Apple’s upcoming iPhone is now set to include an widget to view YouTube clips. It’ll be similar in appearance to Apple TV’s application. We still wonder why they videos can’t be displayed in Flash? Wouldn’t that save battery life compared with H.264 files?
Update: There are quite a few of you emailing in asking to know more. Doesn’t the title explain itself? There’ll be an widget to let you watch YouTube videos. We made a mockup to make it even clearer.
Update 2: Can we also put out a request to stop these “hoax” calls. We MADE the MOCKUP on the LEFT. Comprende? That’s how it should look like.
Apple today also introduced a new 160GB Apple TV retailing for $399. The current Apple TV costs $299 for the 40GB model. Way to go Apple!
Apple TV, which includes the Apple Remote, is available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $299 (US). Apple TV with a 160GB hard drive will be available tomorrow for a suggested retail price of $399 (US). The YouTube feature for Apple TV will be available as a free software update in mid-June.
Apple today confirmed they have banned access to MySpace.com from all Apple Stores. This is the first time Apple has blocked a specific website. The ban was brought about because “heavy MySpace use was simply getting in the way of business”.
Apple has sent out brief teaser emails to developers inviting them to WWDC 2007. “Feature-complete” presumably indicates that Apple would finally be revealing the “secret” features that they have been hinting at for months. The email reads:
See the future.
Then take it home with you.
At the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, we’re planning to show you a feature-complete version of Mac OS X Leopard, and you can take home a beta copy. Be the first to get your hands on the Leopard beta and get a huge head start on development. Register now for WWDC 2007 — it’s your ticket to the future of Mac OS X.
For the third year in a row, Apple lead the pack of creative firms on the BusinessWeek list of the “World’s Most Innovative Companies”. Apple manages to dominate any would-be contenders, beating out two-time runner-up Google with more than twice as many votes. The top 10 on the list were Apple, Google, Toyota, General Electric, Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble, 3M, Walt Disney, IBM and Sony. BusinessWeek says:
“Apple tops the BusinessWeek-Boston Consulting Group’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for the third year in a row. That sort of staying power speaks volumes about the sort of innovation that matters today. Unlike the Post-it Note, which proves the value of lone inventors, the iPod epitomizes today’s innovation sensibilities. These include the ascendance of design, the focus on the user’s experience, and the power of ecosystems: The iPod is a hit because it works so seamlessly with the iTunes software. The company’s much-anticipated iPhone, which launches in June, will likely keep Apple high on our list next year too.”
Steve Jobs today layed out his plans on how he’ll make our Earth that little bit greener. Basically it all revolves around switching over to LED displays.
We plan to introduce.. LED backlight technology in 2007… Apple plans to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of mercury by transitioning to LED backlighting for all displays when technically and economically feasible.
Steve also goes on to slam rivals.
Apple completely eliminated the use of CRTs in mid-2006. A note of comparison - Dell, Gateway, Hewlett Packard and Lenovo still ship CRT displays today.
Who knew a hippie could be so tough - kick it Steve! It’s enough to make us go hug a tree and turn veggie.
Apple released their second quarter 2007 financial results today. Apple posted revenue of $5.26 billion and net quarterly profit of $770 million, or $.87 per diluted share. This compares to revenue of $4.36 billion and net profit of $410 million in the year-ago quarter (Q2 2006). Apple shipped 1,517,000 Macs and 10,549,000 iPods this quarter, representing a 36% increase in growth in Macs and 24% increase in iPods.
“The Mac is clearly gaining market share, with sales growing 36 percent — more than three times the industry growth rate,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re very excited about the upcoming launch of iPhone in late June, and are also hard at work on some other amazing new products in our pipeline.”
Bloomberg reports that Apple, Dell, Sony and five other technology companies were added to an ongoing lawsuit over patents covering Bluetooth technology. The suit is being brought by Washington Research Foundation, a non-profit organization.
The suit threatens the ability of the computer and device makers to deliver wireless capabilities to customers. The companies are accused of infringing four patents covering technology that lets users exchange data among mobile phones, personal computers and other devices without using cables.
The suit is specifically aimed at CSR, the maker of the Bluetooth chips used in Apple’s computers. CSR believes the “suit is without merit in relation to CSR’s Bluetooth chips and CSR will defend its products rigorously.”
Apple UK has started showing some new ‘Get A Mac’ ads. These include: “Naughty Step” where PC suggests that doing fun stuff should be punishable; “Magic” where PC exchanges a file with Mac to much funfair; and “Court” which examines how easy it is to make a photo book.
Today is Apple CEO Steve Jobs 52nd Birthday! We wish him all the best and many happy returns. I know we all can’t wait to see what new products Apple have yet to release - all made possible because of Steve.
We were browsing the MacShrine archives and found a story from December 2005 regarding Apple looking for more Front row developers. What sparked our interest was a line in the job application:
Revolutionary new multi-media software… would you like to create software for a centerpiece in Apple’s digital hub?
Since nothing new has happened to Front Row since 2005, we’re guessing this job was in fact for the new Apple TV. How exciting!
Apple have finally let users purchase the 802.11n enabler for just $1.99 (instead of the rumored $4.99) from the online Apple Store. Alternatively you can download it for free *cough* here.
Apple UK and Ireland have released a set of new “I’m A Mac” ads. They feature David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Last year Apple made some Japanese versions as well. We do prefer the original US ones.
Following on from the recent Apple-YouTube announcement it appears there will be even more integration between the two companies. Apple’s upcoming iPhone is now set to include an widget to view YouTube clips. It’ll be similar in appearance to Apple TV’s application. We still wonder why they videos can’t be displayed in Flash? Wouldn’t that save battery life compared with H.264 files?
