iTunes

Mar 7 2012

Apple Releases iTunes 10.6

Apple has updated the iTunes Application for the Mac.   iTunes 10.6 was released to address the new 1080P HD movies available in the iTunes Store and to make them playable.  Other items covered in this upgrade include:

  • Improved song matching
  • Improved album artwork handling, downloading, and display
  • Addresses an issue where songs may skip when playing from iCloud

You must be running Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later in order to use this latest upgrade to the iTunes Application.  Also a 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 or faster is also required.

You can download the latest iTunes upgrade through the Software Update feature under the Apple Menu on your Mac or from the iTunes support page at:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1426

By admin • Apple Computing, iTunes, iTunes Match, Macintosh • 0 • Tags: , ,

Mar 5 2012

Apple Announces Winner of $10,000 USD Prize for 25 Billionth Download

Apple has finally announced that a user in China was the winner of the Apple Inc. sponsored prize for downloading the 25 billionth iTunes App.  The user, one Chunli Fu of Qungdao, China downloaded the free Disney app, “Where’s My Water” to push the download mark over the 25 billion mark.  He will receive $10,000 USD in the iTunes App Store int he form of a gift card.

Currently, there are more than 550,000 apps in the iTunes App Store and now more than 170,000 of those apps are iPad native apps.  According to Apple, they have paid out more than $4 Billion USD to the developers of those apps.

Source: Apple

By admin • App Store, Apple Computing, Apple Inc., China, Global Markets, iPad, iPhone, iTouch, iTunes • 0 • Tags: , , ,

Mar 4 2012

Apple Updates Application Loader to Version 2.5.1

Apple has updated the Application Loader for iTunes Connect.   iTunes Connect allows those authors using the iBooks Author Application to publish their books in the Apple iBookstore. The Version 2.5.1 update of the Application Loader  includes the following enhancements and fixes:

  • Improved error messaging
  • Creating and sending In-App Purchase details for apps directly from Application Loader
  • Send to Apple command now creates logs for troubleshooting delivery issues
  • Updated system requirements and newly supported formats
  • Updated server IP addresses and port information

 

You can find more information about this update and the complete Application Loader guide at:

http://itunesconnect.apple.com

You will need an iTunes Connect account in order to log into this page.

By admin • Apple Computing, Apple Inc., Books, iTunes • 0 • Tags: , ,

Mar 3 2012

Apple Apps Store Downloads Crosses The 25 Billion Mark

More than 25 Billion Apps and counting have been downloaded from the Apple App Store.  Apple held a contest for the mark, giving the person who downloaded the 25 Billionth app a $10,000 USD gift card to the App Store, however, who that lucky person was still has yet to have been announced.  This mark was reached in just over 3.5 years with the current pace of downloads reaching a staggering 15 million apps per year.  There are currently 550,000 approved apps in the Apple App Store.

By admin • App Store, Apple Computing, Apple Inc., iPad, iPhone, iTunes • 0 • Tags: , , , , ,

Feb 25 2012

Apple iBooks DRM Hacked

A posting on Mobileread.com is suggesting that Version 3.3 of Requiem by the hacker “Brahms” is capable of removing Apple’s DRM from iTunes and iBooks.  While the software has been capable of iTunes DRM removal for some time, this is the first time that it can also crack the iBooks format as well.

This type of hack does not bode well for Apple or those authors who are trying to make money from the Apple Book Store, as users would be able to crack the content and put it out on the internet for free viewing.  However, it is highly likely that a new DRM system will be pushed out in the next update of iTunes and iBooks, iBooks Author in order to block the current hack.

For more on the hack, check out the posting at:

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170053

By admin • Apple Computing, Apple Inc., Books, iPad, iPhone, iTunes • 0 • Tags: , , , ,

Jan 31 2012

Office2 Version 5.0.2 Released

Byte Squared has updated  their Office2 suite to version 5.0.2.  The Office2 suite allows users to create and edit Word, Excel and Powerpoint files on their iPhone or iPad.  The $#5.99 App is a must for users who just cannot live without their Office suite.   Some of the changes in the latest version of Office2 Suite include:

☆ Document saving now preserves 100% existing content fidelity
☆ New page layout based document editor interface option
☆ Ruler bar with ability to set paragraph margins and tab stops
☆ Floating and inline images with multiple wrap options
☆ Floating shapes with embedded text and multiple wrap options
☆ Text boxes
☆ Footnotes and endnotes
☆ Ability to change paragraph spacing
☆ Ability to change line spacing
☆ Insert section breaks (continuous and next page)
☆ Insert page breaks and column breaks
☆ Ability to format text into multiple columns
☆ View headers and footers
☆ Improved support for right-to-left languages
☆ Revert to a previous version of a file

You can download the latest version of the Office2 Suite from the iTunes App Store at:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id350399839?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

By admin • Apps, iPad, iPhone, iTunes, Software • 0 • Tags: , , , ,

Jan 24 2012

iTunes U Now Has Support Website

Apple has finally created a support website for the iTunes U.  Introduced along with Apple’s Education Initiative last week in New York City, iTunes U is intended to give students of all ages materials which are downloadable to their iPads as well as instructurs the tools with which to reach the student easily and interactively.

Lack of a real support structure has been hindering usage of the facility so far, however Apple eliminated that issue yesterday.   You can check out the website at:

http://www.apple.com/support/itunes-u/

Included in the site are instructions for using the facility, a course manager primarily for instructors, and a Public Site Manager for those institutions that are providing their content to the public or to their own students.

By admin • Apple Computing, Apple Inc., Education, iPad, iPhone, iTunes, Itunes U, Support • 0 • Tags: , , , , ,

Jan 20 2012

iTunes 10.5.3 Update Released

Apple has released an update to iTunes to reflect the new introductions of software in New York City yesterday.  This new version of iTunes allows users to sync their ipads with the new iBook textbooks purchased from Apple through the iTunes store.

For more information about the update, go to:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1426

By billm • Apple Computing, Apple Inc., Apps, iTunes, Software, Updates • 0 • Tags: , , ,

Jan 19 2012

Apple Introduces iBooks 2.0, ibooks Author and Opens iTunes U to k-12

Apple held an event this morning in New York to announce a slew of education related items.  The first thing off the blocks was the introduction of the update to the iBooks franchise with a version 2.0.  This new version includes a ton of rich media capabilities and allows the introduction of school textbooks, which was one more thing Apple did this morning.

As we so rightly predicted last week, Apple also introduced a publishing tool, iBooks Author for those people who wish to easily produce their own media rich textbooks and really books in general.  This was show to be handling almost everything from Pages, Microsoft Word and Keynote and the outcome was brilliant.  Even HTML and Javascript is acceptable within the authoring program.  iBooks Author provides true WYSIWIG publishing capabilities just as the other Apple produced apps do.

The next thing that was introduced was the Textbook  section of the site which includes textbooks from some of the largest publishers in the world including McGraw Hill, Pearson’s and Houton Miffin Harcourt.  With books already in the textbook store, this is due to be a popular thing, especially since Apple announced the pricing as $14.99 and less and the students keep all books forever.  No more turning in the books.

One of the last items announced was the inclusion of the k-12 group into the iTunesU realm.  The education courseware currently being offered in the iTunesU will now be included in the new iTunesU App which will allow students and teachers much more flexibility and focus of studies.  Not only is the course materials there, but also the lectures and the ability to have students study sections that the teachers and professors specify for them to read.

The best part of today’s announcements is that all of the apps included in today’s presentation are free!

The new iBooks 2.0 is available for download from:

http://itunes.apple.com/app/ibooks/id364709193?mt=8

The new iBooks Author program can be downloaded at:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibooks-author/id490152466?mt=12

The iTunesU Application is downloadble from:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itunes-u/id490217893?ls=1&mt=8

By admin • Apple Computing, Apple Inc., Education, iPad, iTunes, Macintosh • 0

Dec 16 2011

iTunes Match Having Startup issues

iTunes is having a number of issues according to reports we have received from our members and readers.  Reports late last night of Apple rolling the system out early in the wrong parts of the world and then refunding the monies hours later were rampant.  Then it was Apple ID’s not being recognized.  Now it seems as though some of our readers are having issues with getting through the screens associated with registering for the service.

Unfortunately, this issue is not likely to disappear anytime soon.  With the many thousands of songs some people have in their libraries, the system is likely to be sluggish, slow, and outright non-existent for days to come due to the requirements of the millions of users globally that are all trying to use the iTunes Match service.

In spite of the issues, Apple’s stock was up from the close yesterday although it was about $4 off the high of the day.

By admin • Apple Inc., iTunes, New Product • 0 • Tags: , ,

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