Control music at home with Android
BluetoothEvery decent Android phone or tablet will offer a Bluetooth connection to stream music to any compatible speaker in a 30-40-foot range. You can buy decent Bluetooth speakers for as little as $100 (pay no attention to the man in the video above), but if you already have a great home stereo, get a Bluetooth adapter. They cost around $40, and you just connect it to an AUX input on your existing stereo.The Smart Hub on recent Samsung TVs is an example of a DLNA-compatible device. With a little patience you can train other DLNA devices (phones, tablets, audio receivers) to all share media with each other across your wireless network.Brian Bennett/CNETDLNAIf you need the extra range or just don't like the audio quality over Bluetooth, there are a few ways to send and control music over your home Wi-Fi. The method that most closely matches Apple's Airplay is called DLNA. To confuse things, Samsung rolls this into their AllShare app, but it's essentially the same thing. It's an open standard that's popping up on a lot of new TVs, mobile devices and home theater receivers. Like Airplay, as long as all the devices are on the same network, they can all see each other and share media. The trouble is, most people don't know they have it, or they have it on their phone but don't have a compatible TV or stereo to send things to. If you can make it work, great. If not, let's try another solution.Wi-Fi radios like the Logitech Squeezebox pack a ton of streaming audio features into a slick little system that you can control with a comprehensive Android app.Sarah Tew/CNETWi-Fi RadiosGet a Squeezebox. Logitech sells these Wi-Fi music systems in all shapes and sizes. The Squeezebox Radio can be had for around $150 and it has a big sound for its size. It streams Pandora, Spotify and Last.fm, hooks into your computer's music collection, and it can all be controlled from a free Android app. Put a few of these around your house, and you've got a budget version of the next option...For a wireless audio system that can be expanded throughout your entire home and controlled via Android or iOS, the family of Sonos products is an excellent way to go.SonosSonosIf you have some money to throw at a top-notch solution, get a Sonos. The entry-level model is the Play:3, which will set you back $300. Once you get hooked on it, though, expect to pay twice that to expand it around your home. It works with practically every music service on the planet but you can also pull from your local music collection. The Android app does a great job weaving everything together, and you can even use it to send different music to separate speakers in your house and individually adjust the volume.Google's own media streaming hub, the Nexus Q, allows Android users to stream music and video over their Wi-Fi network.Sarah Tew/CNETNexus QFor you true Google fanatics, there's the $300 Nexus Q. This one also works over Wi-Fi, so you're getting great audio quality and wide coverage. It has a built-in amp, so it can power speakers on its own. If you're like me, though, the best speakers in your home are connected to your TV -- so I'd just use the HDMI out on the back and play it through the home theater setup you already have. At the moment, it has a tenth of the features offered on Sonos, but its value as a conversation piece can't be overstated. Plus it has a trippy music visualizer, so you're just a blacklight and a bean bag chair away from the perfect chill room.The AirSync app enables wireless syncing of iTunes playlists, videos, and podcasts, and lets you stream to your Apple TV (second-gen), Xbox, and PS3 from your Android device. This means you can keep your phone with you while it syncs instead of leaving it tethered to a computer that might be in another room.Screenshot by Joshua Goldman/CNETAppsFinally, one option I left out of the video for the sake of time are app-based solutions. You can find apps that will control music on your home computer, or even stream music to an Apple TV, Xbox 360, or PlayStation 3. A search for iTunes Remote in the Google Play store generates around 250 results. Dig around, and you could find an inexpensive solution that works with the living room tech you already have.Final thoughtsThere have never been more options on the market for streaming music around your home, and many of them are Android-compatible. But before you rush off and drop $300 on some new tech, let me caution you that the thrill of going wireless is a fleeting one. Eventually it will seem as basic to you as changing the channel on your TV from the comfort of your couch.And as the tech involved in pulling off this wireless magic gets cheaper and baked into our gadgets as a matter of practice (see DLNA), you may just want wait until your next TV or home stereo upgrade brings this feature with it. But then again, what fun is that?
Rhapsody hits 2 million paid members
Rhapsody hits 2 million paid members
For Rhapsody, being first meant the road to 1 million members was a lot longer than the hop to the 2 million milestone. Rhapsody, a trailblazer in subscription streaming music, said Tuesday it has reached its 2 millionth paying member. The company, which essentially invented the all-inclusive music subscription model in 2001, took a decade to hit its first million subscribers in December 2011. The second million comes a year and a half later. Despite its first mover status, Rhapsody has been overshadowed in recent years by the likes of Spotify, Beats Music, and the offerings by companies like Google and Amazon, which benefit from their giant size giving their new services automatic recognition. While the 2 million markerputs Rhapsody well behind market leader Spotify, which announced 10 million paying members in May, it puts it far ahead of Beats Music, set to become part of Apple in company's $3 billion acquisition of headphone maker Beats Electronics. Beats had 250,000 subscribers as of May, after four months operating with a high-profile partnership with AT&T, the second biggest carrier in the country by number of customers. "All the major player are jumping into this space. Jumping in is the easy part," said Paul Springer, chief product officer of Rhapsody, in an interview with CNET News. "Learning how to swim in the deep and growth is the hard part." Related links:T-Mobile unveils 'UnRadio' service, offers data-free musicRhapsody's UnRadio with T-Mobile: How it measures upRhapsody tells (almost) all to get you listeningTelefonica tunes in Rhapsody's Napster for streaming music Springer said that reaching the 2 million mark so quickly is significant as many entrants -- Beats, Amazon, Apple with iTunes Radio -- are competing in the same arena. Though still a relatively new and untested format, subscription streaming, in which members pay a flat rate monthly to for all-you-can-eat access to huge catalogs of songs, is one of the fastest growing sectors in music sales. The milestone also comes after Rhapsody disclosed 1.7 million members in April. Since that time, the company launched a high-profile carrier partnership of its own, "unRadio" with T-Mobile in the US in June. It's a model Rhapsody plans to move overseas. Tuesday, Rhapsody said it would launch a similar offering through its international arm, Napster (yes, that Napster), in France with the country's second largest mobile operator, SFR. Called Napster Découverte, or Napster Discovery, it will be available for 3.95 euros a month. The Rhapsody unRadio concept differed other streaming/carrier partnerships in the US by offering a modified on-demand streaming service at an outright, unending discount to T-Mobile customers. UnRadio -- which has no ads or skip limits but walls off the number of songs you can hear on-demand at 25-- is a dollar cheaper for any T-Mobile customer at $3.99 a month, and it's totally free to customers on a T-Mobile unlimited data plan. AT&T's deal with Beats Music and Sprint's with Spotify offer customers extended free trials of a music subscription service but later charge individuals the same amount anyone else would pay. (Both the AT&T-Beats offer and the Sprint-Spotify offer have discounted options for customers on a family plan.) In addition to moving the "unRadio" format to France, Rhapsody said Tuesday that it has launched its Premier subscription service in several new Latin American countries though its existing partnership Telefónica's Movistar.
For Rhapsody, being first meant the road to 1 million members was a lot longer than the hop to the 2 million milestone. Rhapsody, a trailblazer in subscription streaming music, said Tuesday it has reached its 2 millionth paying member. The company, which essentially invented the all-inclusive music subscription model in 2001, took a decade to hit its first million subscribers in December 2011. The second million comes a year and a half later. Despite its first mover status, Rhapsody has been overshadowed in recent years by the likes of Spotify, Beats Music, and the offerings by companies like Google and Amazon, which benefit from their giant size giving their new services automatic recognition. While the 2 million markerputs Rhapsody well behind market leader Spotify, which announced 10 million paying members in May, it puts it far ahead of Beats Music, set to become part of Apple in company's $3 billion acquisition of headphone maker Beats Electronics. Beats had 250,000 subscribers as of May, after four months operating with a high-profile partnership with AT&T, the second biggest carrier in the country by number of customers. "All the major player are jumping into this space. Jumping in is the easy part," said Paul Springer, chief product officer of Rhapsody, in an interview with CNET News. "Learning how to swim in the deep and growth is the hard part." Related links:T-Mobile unveils 'UnRadio' service, offers data-free musicRhapsody's UnRadio with T-Mobile: How it measures upRhapsody tells (almost) all to get you listeningTelefonica tunes in Rhapsody's Napster for streaming music Springer said that reaching the 2 million mark so quickly is significant as many entrants -- Beats, Amazon, Apple with iTunes Radio -- are competing in the same arena. Though still a relatively new and untested format, subscription streaming, in which members pay a flat rate monthly to for all-you-can-eat access to huge catalogs of songs, is one of the fastest growing sectors in music sales. The milestone also comes after Rhapsody disclosed 1.7 million members in April. Since that time, the company launched a high-profile carrier partnership of its own, "unRadio" with T-Mobile in the US in June. It's a model Rhapsody plans to move overseas. Tuesday, Rhapsody said it would launch a similar offering through its international arm, Napster (yes, that Napster), in France with the country's second largest mobile operator, SFR. Called Napster Découverte, or Napster Discovery, it will be available for 3.95 euros a month. The Rhapsody unRadio concept differed other streaming/carrier partnerships in the US by offering a modified on-demand streaming service at an outright, unending discount to T-Mobile customers. UnRadio -- which has no ads or skip limits but walls off the number of songs you can hear on-demand at 25-- is a dollar cheaper for any T-Mobile customer at $3.99 a month, and it's totally free to customers on a T-Mobile unlimited data plan. AT&T's deal with Beats Music and Sprint's with Spotify offer customers extended free trials of a music subscription service but later charge individuals the same amount anyone else would pay. (Both the AT&T-Beats offer and the Sprint-Spotify offer have discounted options for customers on a family plan.) In addition to moving the "unRadio" format to France, Rhapsody said Tuesday that it has launched its Premier subscription service in several new Latin American countries though its existing partnership Telefónica's Movistar.
The 404 756- Where we stop eating your sesame mooncake (podcast)
The 404 756: Where we stop eating your sesame mooncake (podcast)
Last year Erin Lee and Lani Nguyen from the fashion blog SugarRockCatWalk.com joined us in the studio to report on Fashion Week, but we're tackling the runways ourselves today and apparently the hottest trend is "belted satchels"-- a fancy name for fanny packs!Sartorial designer Diane von Furstenberg has already released a $325 version of the "hands-free bag" that fastens around the waist, but don't call it a fanny pack--international designers are trying to edit the lexicon to "bum bags," since the word "fanny" is slang in the U.K. and Australia for the female genitalia.The French have already started calling them "le sac banane," which references the banana-shape in the pouch, but something tells me Americans already have that area covered.In other news, you may want to use this weekend to throw away all those plastic Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk: Ride toys, because Activision just announced today in a quarterly earnings statement that it's pulling both games off the market for good.After two years of faux guitar plucking, sales for the Guitar Hero franchise have plummeted so low that the last iteration, Warriors of Rock, sold fewer than 100,000 copies during its debut month last year. The Tony Hawk: Pro Skater series is also done after more than a decade of churning out skateboarding games that even roped in nongamers like myself with Tony Hawk: Pro Skater 2. IntoMobileThe last story of the day (aside from a couple hilarious listener-submitted voice mails) is about RIM testing piezoelectric technology that imprints a copy of your text messages on your fingertips! This is not a joke! The company is partnering with SkinDisplay and the practical application would let cell phone addicts and workaholics check their messages discreetly without actually pulling out their phones. Sounds like the perfect technology for Wilson!Have a great weekend everyone, and keep the quality audio and video voice mails coming! Call us up and leave a message at 1-866-404-CNET or link us to your YouTube video at the404(at)cnet(dot)com.Episode 756PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Last year Erin Lee and Lani Nguyen from the fashion blog SugarRockCatWalk.com joined us in the studio to report on Fashion Week, but we're tackling the runways ourselves today and apparently the hottest trend is "belted satchels"-- a fancy name for fanny packs!Sartorial designer Diane von Furstenberg has already released a $325 version of the "hands-free bag" that fastens around the waist, but don't call it a fanny pack--international designers are trying to edit the lexicon to "bum bags," since the word "fanny" is slang in the U.K. and Australia for the female genitalia.The French have already started calling them "le sac banane," which references the banana-shape in the pouch, but something tells me Americans already have that area covered.In other news, you may want to use this weekend to throw away all those plastic Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk: Ride toys, because Activision just announced today in a quarterly earnings statement that it's pulling both games off the market for good.After two years of faux guitar plucking, sales for the Guitar Hero franchise have plummeted so low that the last iteration, Warriors of Rock, sold fewer than 100,000 copies during its debut month last year. The Tony Hawk: Pro Skater series is also done after more than a decade of churning out skateboarding games that even roped in nongamers like myself with Tony Hawk: Pro Skater 2. IntoMobileThe last story of the day (aside from a couple hilarious listener-submitted voice mails) is about RIM testing piezoelectric technology that imprints a copy of your text messages on your fingertips! This is not a joke! The company is partnering with SkinDisplay and the practical application would let cell phone addicts and workaholics check their messages discreetly without actually pulling out their phones. Sounds like the perfect technology for Wilson!Have a great weekend everyone, and keep the quality audio and video voice mails coming! Call us up and leave a message at 1-866-404-CNET or link us to your YouTube video at the404(at)cnet(dot)com.Episode 756PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Patent- iPhones could get offline app purchasing power
Patent: iPhones could get offline app purchasing power
Using a credits-based system, Apple is proposing (via a new patent filing) an option for offline purchasing of iPhone and iPad games and apps.When you do not have a network connection, you will still be able to purchase items using the credits you purchase from Apple (much like an iTunes Gift Card currently), except the credits would be on your iPhone locally instead of in your iTunes Store Account.The next time you have a network connection, your local iPhone account would sync with your iTunes Store Account and the credits discrepancy would be settled."When a user later wishes to play back one of the media items, but the device cannot connect to a communications network to provide payment information for purchasing the media items, the electronic device can use prepaid credits that were purchased and stored by the device when a communications network was available to complete the purchase. By using prepaid credits, the media store can be assured that the user has sufficient funds for the media item purchase." Of course the big question is, how do you buy new media items when you're not online?9to5MacThe patent has that covered as well. Your device would carry a cache of media items available for purchase offline. Using the credits stored on your iPhone to ensure that you have the proper purchasing power, you are able to fully enable the cached apps. Basically, you can make a wishlist of apps and other media you may want to use later and if you choose to do so, and have the necessary credits, you would be able to purchase those items when you wish.This wishlist could be automated using Apple's existing Genius technology:"The recommended items can be selected based on any suitable criteria, including, for example, the media items of the user's library, recently played back media items, media item rankings, recently purchased or added media items, a preference profile defined by the user, or combinations of these." Would you like to see an offline mode for purchasing media on your iOS device? Let me know in the comments!
Using a credits-based system, Apple is proposing (via a new patent filing) an option for offline purchasing of iPhone and iPad games and apps.When you do not have a network connection, you will still be able to purchase items using the credits you purchase from Apple (much like an iTunes Gift Card currently), except the credits would be on your iPhone locally instead of in your iTunes Store Account.The next time you have a network connection, your local iPhone account would sync with your iTunes Store Account and the credits discrepancy would be settled."When a user later wishes to play back one of the media items, but the device cannot connect to a communications network to provide payment information for purchasing the media items, the electronic device can use prepaid credits that were purchased and stored by the device when a communications network was available to complete the purchase. By using prepaid credits, the media store can be assured that the user has sufficient funds for the media item purchase." Of course the big question is, how do you buy new media items when you're not online?9to5MacThe patent has that covered as well. Your device would carry a cache of media items available for purchase offline. Using the credits stored on your iPhone to ensure that you have the proper purchasing power, you are able to fully enable the cached apps. Basically, you can make a wishlist of apps and other media you may want to use later and if you choose to do so, and have the necessary credits, you would be able to purchase those items when you wish.This wishlist could be automated using Apple's existing Genius technology:"The recommended items can be selected based on any suitable criteria, including, for example, the media items of the user's library, recently played back media items, media item rankings, recently purchased or added media items, a preference profile defined by the user, or combinations of these." Would you like to see an offline mode for purchasing media on your iOS device? Let me know in the comments!
Nexus 7 16GB tablet out of stock at Google Play store
Nexus 7 16GB tablet out of stock at Google Play store
The 16GB version of Google's Nexus 7 is out of stock, as evident by the "Coming Soon" Google Play store. The 8GB version is in stock and ships within 3 to 5 business days. Apparently, Google thought that the $199 8GB version would be the big seller, according to reporting by the Guardian:"The Guardian understands that Google's planners had thought that buyers on the Google Play store, more than from physical or online retailers, would be more committed to the company's "cloud" concept, and so would have more of their content stored online, rather than wanting to keep it on the device."  Retailers such as Staples, Sam's Club and Office Depot are also having a hard time satisfying demand for the Nexus 7. Buyers who can't wait to procure a 16B Nexus 7 tablet might find one at a cost of $300 to $400 on eBay.CNET reviewer Eric Franklin rated the Nexus 7 as the best 7-inch tablet available at this time (read the full review). He wrote, "With a beautiful screen, fast performance, a comfortable design, and overall great media options, the Nexus 7 is easily the best 7-inch tablet available and one of the top tablets on the market." Apple is rumored to be prepping a 7.85-inch iPad to compete in what is turning out to be a popular form factor for tablets.
The 16GB version of Google's Nexus 7 is out of stock, as evident by the "Coming Soon" Google Play store. The 8GB version is in stock and ships within 3 to 5 business days. Apparently, Google thought that the $199 8GB version would be the big seller, according to reporting by the Guardian:"The Guardian understands that Google's planners had thought that buyers on the Google Play store, more than from physical or online retailers, would be more committed to the company's "cloud" concept, and so would have more of their content stored online, rather than wanting to keep it on the device."  Retailers such as Staples, Sam's Club and Office Depot are also having a hard time satisfying demand for the Nexus 7. Buyers who can't wait to procure a 16B Nexus 7 tablet might find one at a cost of $300 to $400 on eBay.CNET reviewer Eric Franklin rated the Nexus 7 as the best 7-inch tablet available at this time (read the full review). He wrote, "With a beautiful screen, fast performance, a comfortable design, and overall great media options, the Nexus 7 is easily the best 7-inch tablet available and one of the top tablets on the market." Apple is rumored to be prepping a 7.85-inch iPad to compete in what is turning out to be a popular form factor for tablets.
Full Review- Apple Magic Mouse makes big splash, can't tread water
Full Review: Apple Magic Mouse makes big splash, can't tread water
At first glance, Apple's new Magic Mouse might change your thoughts about love at first sight. The curvature of the soft white shell paired with the speckled silver underbelly is enough to make any Applehead salivate, but we warn prospective buyers to head out to your local Apple Store before taking the plunge, because you might be disappointed.The first issue we raise with the Magic Mouse is its size and shape. While there's no way anyone can dispute its simple hotness, we struggled through a difficult learning curve due to its uniformly narrow profile that sits too low for comfort. It might be because we're so used to the Logitech MX 1100 cradling each of our fingers with a designated resting point, while the Apple Magic Mouse just feels like a chunk of finely carved polycarbonate.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayNext, we also had a problem with the multitouch functionality. Specifically, we felt awkward and unnatural sliding our middle and index fingers across the flat surface of the shell to navigate through several Web pages. Even worse, if you don't have a uniform grip on the sides of the mouse with your thumb, ring, and pinky fingers, the shell can easily get away from your hand--this is why a touch surface with no hard buttons just doesn't make sense on a mouse. Although Apple's instructions tell you otherwise, we did find it easier to use our middle and ring finger to swipe from left to right.Finally, the Apple mousing preferences don't allow you to reassign the action that happens when you swipe. We'd love to be able to direct the mouse to open a program or advance a track in iTunes with a simple finger gesture, but as it stands, the custom preferences for the Magic Mouse only include check boxes to turn off the secondary click, momentum scrolling, and screen zoom, as well as options to alter tracking, scrolling, and double-click speed.Want to hear more? Check out our full review of the Apple Magic Mouse.
At first glance, Apple's new Magic Mouse might change your thoughts about love at first sight. The curvature of the soft white shell paired with the speckled silver underbelly is enough to make any Applehead salivate, but we warn prospective buyers to head out to your local Apple Store before taking the plunge, because you might be disappointed.The first issue we raise with the Magic Mouse is its size and shape. While there's no way anyone can dispute its simple hotness, we struggled through a difficult learning curve due to its uniformly narrow profile that sits too low for comfort. It might be because we're so used to the Logitech MX 1100 cradling each of our fingers with a designated resting point, while the Apple Magic Mouse just feels like a chunk of finely carved polycarbonate.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayNext, we also had a problem with the multitouch functionality. Specifically, we felt awkward and unnatural sliding our middle and index fingers across the flat surface of the shell to navigate through several Web pages. Even worse, if you don't have a uniform grip on the sides of the mouse with your thumb, ring, and pinky fingers, the shell can easily get away from your hand--this is why a touch surface with no hard buttons just doesn't make sense on a mouse. Although Apple's instructions tell you otherwise, we did find it easier to use our middle and ring finger to swipe from left to right.Finally, the Apple mousing preferences don't allow you to reassign the action that happens when you swipe. We'd love to be able to direct the mouse to open a program or advance a track in iTunes with a simple finger gesture, but as it stands, the custom preferences for the Magic Mouse only include check boxes to turn off the secondary click, momentum scrolling, and screen zoom, as well as options to alter tracking, scrolling, and double-click speed.Want to hear more? Check out our full review of the Apple Magic Mouse.
Verizon drops a hint on a possible Q4 iPhone 5 launch
Verizon drops a hint on a possible Q4 iPhone 5 launch
Apple's next iteration of the iPhone could drop in the fourth quarter. That's according to Verizon CFO Fran Shammo, who hinted at the possible timing during the company's quarterly conference call today with a vague reference to a major phone the carrier expects to launch in the fourth quarter. The next iPhone is widely believed to feature a new design, bigger display, and the ability to tap into the faster 4G LTE network. It's also expected to launch in the fall, although the timing remains unclear. A fourth-quarter launch suggests Apple may move in October, similar to its launch of the iPhone 4S last year. The iPhone continues to be the biggest smartphone seller at the carriers, often topping the bestseller list. Verizon said it sold 2.7 million iPhones in the period, Shammo said. While the iPhone sales are primarily made up of iPhone 4S and, to a lesser extent, the discounted iPhone 4, several phones use the Droid name, including Motorola's Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx, and HTC's Droid Incredible. Verizon sold 2.9 million Droid phones, Shammo said.In total, it sold 5.9 million smartphones. Apple has been mum on the timing of the launch of the next iPhone. CNET has contacted Apple for a response to Verizon's comments. We'll update the story when the company responds. This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Apple's next iteration of the iPhone could drop in the fourth quarter. That's according to Verizon CFO Fran Shammo, who hinted at the possible timing during the company's quarterly conference call today with a vague reference to a major phone the carrier expects to launch in the fourth quarter. The next iPhone is widely believed to feature a new design, bigger display, and the ability to tap into the faster 4G LTE network. It's also expected to launch in the fall, although the timing remains unclear. A fourth-quarter launch suggests Apple may move in October, similar to its launch of the iPhone 4S last year. The iPhone continues to be the biggest smartphone seller at the carriers, often topping the bestseller list. Verizon said it sold 2.7 million iPhones in the period, Shammo said. While the iPhone sales are primarily made up of iPhone 4S and, to a lesser extent, the discounted iPhone 4, several phones use the Droid name, including Motorola's Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx, and HTC's Droid Incredible. Verizon sold 2.9 million Droid phones, Shammo said.In total, it sold 5.9 million smartphones. Apple has been mum on the timing of the launch of the next iPhone. CNET has contacted Apple for a response to Verizon's comments. We'll update the story when the company responds. This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
VC Fred Wilson- Apple won't rule tech in 2020
VC Fred Wilson: Apple won't rule tech in 2020
NEW YORK -- Venture capitalist Fred Wilson doesn't expect Apple to be in the upper echelon of tech companies in 2020, saying the top three will be Google, Facebook, "and one that we've never heard of." Apple is "just too rooted in the hardware, they don't have anything in the cloud," he said Tuesday, speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt event here. "They don't think about data." Apple shares were recently up less than a percentage point, or $2.08, to $594.66. Wilson, co-founder and partner at venture capital firm Union Square Ventures, is known for investing early in companies that have grown into major forces in technology and the Web, such as Twitter, Foursquare, and Kickstarter. However, he didn't see Twitter in one of the very top spots in the coming years. "Twitter maybe will be maybe four, five, six, seven -- but I'm not sure they'll be one or two," he said. The final unknown company rounding out the top three? Wilson says he doesn't know for sure which one it is, but he hopes he's already found it among his portfolio. While a lack of data and cloud business is Apple's Achilles heel, neither do the majority of consumers think about data much either, he said, discussing privacy worries. "We ought to know what people are doing with our data and we ought to have some ability to control that," he said. "I think that people should be able to opt out of services that essentially mine their personal data and do things with it, but the majority of us probably will not do that."
NEW YORK -- Venture capitalist Fred Wilson doesn't expect Apple to be in the upper echelon of tech companies in 2020, saying the top three will be Google, Facebook, "and one that we've never heard of." Apple is "just too rooted in the hardware, they don't have anything in the cloud," he said Tuesday, speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt event here. "They don't think about data." Apple shares were recently up less than a percentage point, or $2.08, to $594.66. Wilson, co-founder and partner at venture capital firm Union Square Ventures, is known for investing early in companies that have grown into major forces in technology and the Web, such as Twitter, Foursquare, and Kickstarter. However, he didn't see Twitter in one of the very top spots in the coming years. "Twitter maybe will be maybe four, five, six, seven -- but I'm not sure they'll be one or two," he said. The final unknown company rounding out the top three? Wilson says he doesn't know for sure which one it is, but he hopes he's already found it among his portfolio. While a lack of data and cloud business is Apple's Achilles heel, neither do the majority of consumers think about data much either, he said, discussing privacy worries. "We ought to know what people are doing with our data and we ought to have some ability to control that," he said. "I think that people should be able to opt out of services that essentially mine their personal data and do things with it, but the majority of us probably will not do that."
Verizon doubles iPhone sales over last quarter
Verizon doubles iPhone sales over last quarter
Verizon had a happy holiday thanks to the Apple iPhone. The company's wireless unit sold 4.2 million iPhones in the fourth quarter, Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo said during an investor conference. The figure was more than double the number of iPhones sold in the previous quarter. The figure underscores the enduring popularity of the phone and the importance of the device to each of the carriers, even if it is available now on three national carriers. Verizon considers it an important tool for convincing basic phone users to upgrade to a smartphone and pricier data plan. The sales jumped thanks to the introduction of the iPhone 4S in October. Prior to the launch, Apple saw disappointing iPhone sales figures as consumers held off on buying the device until the new model arrived. Verizon said it ended the year with a backlog of 120,000 iPhone orders.Adding the fourth-quarter figure, backlog, and sales from the rest of the year, and Verizon said it sold nearly 11 million iPhones in 2011.As with the other carriers, the success of the iPhone comes at a cost to Verizon. The more iPhones it sells, the larger hit it takes on the upfront subsidy it must pay to Apple to keep the phone at $199. Shammo said the iPhone would cut gross margins by 500 to 600 basis points. The carriers have been largely happy to take the margin hit because it leads to customers who pay more and stay with the service longer. Verizon Wireless is jointly owned by Verizon and Vodafone Group.
Verizon had a happy holiday thanks to the Apple iPhone. The company's wireless unit sold 4.2 million iPhones in the fourth quarter, Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo said during an investor conference. The figure was more than double the number of iPhones sold in the previous quarter. The figure underscores the enduring popularity of the phone and the importance of the device to each of the carriers, even if it is available now on three national carriers. Verizon considers it an important tool for convincing basic phone users to upgrade to a smartphone and pricier data plan. The sales jumped thanks to the introduction of the iPhone 4S in October. Prior to the launch, Apple saw disappointing iPhone sales figures as consumers held off on buying the device until the new model arrived. Verizon said it ended the year with a backlog of 120,000 iPhone orders.Adding the fourth-quarter figure, backlog, and sales from the rest of the year, and Verizon said it sold nearly 11 million iPhones in 2011.As with the other carriers, the success of the iPhone comes at a cost to Verizon. The more iPhones it sells, the larger hit it takes on the upfront subsidy it must pay to Apple to keep the phone at $199. Shammo said the iPhone would cut gross margins by 500 to 600 basis points. The carriers have been largely happy to take the margin hit because it leads to customers who pay more and stay with the service longer. Verizon Wireless is jointly owned by Verizon and Vodafone Group.
Verizon CEO casts doubt on getting iPhone
Verizon CEO casts doubt on getting iPhone
Despite recent reports that a CDMA-based iPhone is headed to Verizon, the CEO of the wireless carrier didn't sound hopeful about that happening in the near term in a speech today, according to news stories.Verizon's Ivan Seidenberg addressed an investor conference and in response to when his network would offer the iPhone, he said, "We would love to carry it, but we have to earn it." He also said that as Verizon rolls out its 4G LTE network over the next year that Apple would get on board. "At some point, Apple will get with the program," he said, according to The Wall Street Journal, which noted that some frustration crept into his voice.As recently as yesterday there have been reports that Apple has been ordering massive amounts of CDMA chips, which has been interpreted as prepping for a CDMA-based phone on Verizon. But while Verizon is the U.S.'s largest CDMA carrier, it's not the only one: Sprint is another that uses the same technology.But Seidenberg didn't deny that his network would eventually get the iPhone. It could be that he still has no deal in place because there are details to still work out with Apple, or there is a deal signed and he knows that Apple wants to be the one to make the announcement.A Verizon iPhone is likely to happen at some point--both because it's in Apple's best interest to gain more customers by adding a carrier in the U.S. besides AT&T, and because it wants to keep customers away from Android.
Despite recent reports that a CDMA-based iPhone is headed to Verizon, the CEO of the wireless carrier didn't sound hopeful about that happening in the near term in a speech today, according to news stories.Verizon's Ivan Seidenberg addressed an investor conference and in response to when his network would offer the iPhone, he said, "We would love to carry it, but we have to earn it." He also said that as Verizon rolls out its 4G LTE network over the next year that Apple would get on board. "At some point, Apple will get with the program," he said, according to The Wall Street Journal, which noted that some frustration crept into his voice.As recently as yesterday there have been reports that Apple has been ordering massive amounts of CDMA chips, which has been interpreted as prepping for a CDMA-based phone on Verizon. But while Verizon is the U.S.'s largest CDMA carrier, it's not the only one: Sprint is another that uses the same technology.But Seidenberg didn't deny that his network would eventually get the iPhone. It could be that he still has no deal in place because there are details to still work out with Apple, or there is a deal signed and he knows that Apple wants to be the one to make the announcement.A Verizon iPhone is likely to happen at some point--both because it's in Apple's best interest to gain more customers by adding a carrier in the U.S. besides AT&T, and because it wants to keep customers away from Android.
Using social media to track public's reaction to iPhone 5
Using social media to track public's reaction to iPhone 5
As the good and the bad gets hashed out over blogs and on news sources in the aftermath of Apple's highly-anticipated debut of the iPhone 5 today, it's interesting to take a look and see what was the public's reaction on social media when the device was released.The start-up Taykey produced this data-rich infographic on iPhone 5 reactions from around the Web today. In gathering the data, Taykey monitored 50,000 user-generated online sources, like Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, and blogs. With this data, it analyzed trends and conversations to create the graphic that measures both user volume and sentiment. As people followed Apple's press conference today, the overall attitude was positive. But, the crowd's reactions definitely peaked both in volume and sentiment when certain features were announced, such as the new design and bigger screen. The biggest volume peak hit when the September 21 release date was announced. And the features that got the most ho-hum sentiment were the A6 chip and better camera. Even though the dock connector is now getting some flak for being consumer-unfriendly and bad for the environment, the audience didn't seem to disapprove when it was announced.It'd be interesting to see another infographic once people have had awhile to read all the tech expert's opinions and let the new features marinate.See CNET's full coverage of Apple's iPhone 5 eventTaykey
As the good and the bad gets hashed out over blogs and on news sources in the aftermath of Apple's highly-anticipated debut of the iPhone 5 today, it's interesting to take a look and see what was the public's reaction on social media when the device was released.The start-up Taykey produced this data-rich infographic on iPhone 5 reactions from around the Web today. In gathering the data, Taykey monitored 50,000 user-generated online sources, like Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, and blogs. With this data, it analyzed trends and conversations to create the graphic that measures both user volume and sentiment. As people followed Apple's press conference today, the overall attitude was positive. But, the crowd's reactions definitely peaked both in volume and sentiment when certain features were announced, such as the new design and bigger screen. The biggest volume peak hit when the September 21 release date was announced. And the features that got the most ho-hum sentiment were the A6 chip and better camera. Even though the dock connector is now getting some flak for being consumer-unfriendly and bad for the environment, the audience didn't seem to disapprove when it was announced.It'd be interesting to see another infographic once people have had awhile to read all the tech expert's opinions and let the new features marinate.See CNET's full coverage of Apple's iPhone 5 eventTaykey
Android continues to surge, report shows
Among the other major players, RIM was the leading smartphone platform with 37.6 percent of U.S. subscribers. Apple was next in line with 24.2 percent. Microsoft accounted for 10.8 percent, and Palm came in last with 4.6 percent. These four companies shedded market share to Android during the quarter, but ComScore noted in its press release yesterday that most smartphone platforms still won more subscribers outright over the summer due to ever-increasing consumer demand.The 55.7 million people in the U.S. who owned smartphones during the three months ending August represented a jump of 14 percent over the prior three months.Analyzing the overall mobile phone market, Samsung was the top handset manufacturer for the three months with 23.6 percent of U.S. subscribers, ComScore noted. LG was in second place with a 21.2 percent share, followed by Motorolawith 18.8 percent, RIM with 9 percent, and Nokia with 7.6 percent. Among the top five handset makers, only Samsung and RIM took home gains in market share.Over the same period, 67 percent of the mobile users texted on their devices, 34.5 percent used mobile browsers, 32 percent downloaded apps, 23 percent played games, 22.5 percent visited social networks and blogs, and 15 percent listened to music. All six activities rose in popularity among subscribers compared with the prior three months.
Android beats surging iOS again on mobile ad network
Android remains top dog among all mobile platforms as seen by mobile ad network Millennial Media.For the second quarter of 2013, Android snared 51 percent of all ad impressions on the network, according to the latest Millennial Media Mobile Mix report released Friday. That number was up from the 46 percent seen in the second quarter of 2012 and down just one percentage point from this year's first quarter.iOS remained firmly in second place. But it showed a healthy gain in ad impressions, rising to 42 percent last quarter from 34 percent in the same period last year. Combined, Android and iOS snagged 93 percent of all impressions, leaving little room for other mobile platforms.BlackBerry OS saw its share fall to 7 percent from 15 percent. Windows Phone and Nokia's Symbian, which scored 4 percent and 1 percent, respectively, in 2012's second quarter didn't even register a blip last quarter.Among device makers, Apple continued to reign with 39 percent of all ad impressions. The iPhone was the leader with a 22 percent share. The iPad and iPod Touch took third and fourth places, respectively, among the top 20 devices.Samsung followed with a 26 percent share thanks to its Galaxy S smartphone, which was the No. 2 device among the top 20 with a 9.8 percent share. The Galaxy Note also proved popular with a 44 percent gain in its ad impressions.
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