Apple Mac app store coming next week? |
- Apple Mac app store coming next week?
- Smartphone, tablets will outship PCs by 2012
- Single Avast Pro license used by 744,651 pirates
- Google buys video DRM company
- Sorry Windows Phone 7 fans, no Pandora for you?
- Google finally launches e-book store
- AT&T sucks, says latest Consumer Reports survey
- Google introduces Nexus S with Gingerbread
| Apple Mac app store coming next week? Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:03 PM PST  Although unconfirmed, multiple sources are reporting that Apple will launch its Mac app store next week, on December 13th. The Mac app store will give third-party developers a chance to create low-cost apps for Mac users, basically becoming a desktop version of the iOS App Store. One source says "Apple is targeting a Monday, December 13 launch of the Mac App Store," although CEO Steve Jobs has reportedly pushed for an earlier launch date. Other sources claim Apple will use this month to launch iOS 4.3, which will bring the addition of subscription-billing APIs, and "The Daily," a cheap, iPad-only newspaper created in conjunction with News Corp. iOS 4.3 should also bring an update to AirPlay.
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| Smartphone, tablets will outship PCs by 2012 Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:32 PM PST  Market research firm IDC has said today that the end of the PC-centric era is near, with tablet and smartphone shipments set to overtake PC shipments in 2012. IDC makes sure to note, however, that PC sales will continue to increase, as well, just at a much slower rate than gadgets that rely on touchscreen and apps. Worldwide shipments of "app-enabled devices" will reach 377 million in 2011, and 462 million shipments in 2012, exceeding PCs which are expected to ship 402 million in 2011 and 448 million in 2012. Frank Gens, chief analyst at IDC says tablets and smartphones are "not replacing the PC -- that's a key point -- but [they are] expanding the market." Overall, global IT spending will jump 5.7 percent to $1.6 trillion in 2011. (Pic via Flickr)
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| Single Avast Pro license used by 744,651 pirates Posted: 06 Dec 2010 07:22 PM PST  Avast, the company behind the anti-virus software Avast Pro, had a very interesting story to tell this week, in regards to piracy of the company's flagship AV suite. The company noticed that a license meant for a 14-PC business had made its way online, and was being shared via warez sites. Instead of killing the license, however, the company let it be, calling the situation an "experiment." Over the course of 18 months, that single license was used on 744,651 different PCs in 200 countries. Even the Vatican City, with under 900 residents, had two pirates using the license. Avast says that anyone using that license will now be hit with nagware asking them to buy a real license, or switch to the free version of Avast. If they do neither, the software will stop working. A Pro license costs $35.
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| Posted: 06 Dec 2010 06:43 PM PST  Google has purchased the video DRM company Widevine this week, saying GoogleTV and Android will benefit from the tech that allows video to be delivered securely over the Internet. Widevine calls itself "a content delivery optimization and security company." YouTube will likely be the top user of the technology, as Google needs to convince distribution partners that their content is available securely, and in good quality, on a variety of platforms. Google says of the acquisition: The Widevine team has worked to provide a better video delivery experience for businesses of all kinds: from the studios that create your favorite shows and movies, to the cable systems and channels that broadcast them online and on TV, to the hardware manufacturers that let you watch that content on a variety of devices. By forging partnerships across the entire ecosystem, Widevine has made on demand services more efficient and secure for media companies, and ultimately more available and convenient for users. Widevine claims AT&T, Netflix, Blocbuster, NBCU, Samsung, Best Buy, DISH, LoveFilm and VUDU as customers. All customers will have their current agreements kept in place, adds Google.
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| Sorry Windows Phone 7 fans, no Pandora for you? Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:42 PM PST  Earlier this year, Microsoft proclaimed that its Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system would be getting the popular free music streaming service Pandora. It appears this week, however, that Pandora may have had a change of heart, possibly stopping development of an app for the new operating system. In a Tweet to its followers, the company said a WP7 app was out of the question, before backpedaling later and saying: "I'm not sure if/when we will be available on [Windows Phone 7]. Appreciate everyone's enthusiastic suggestions. I'm passing the feedback on." Pandora's largest rivals, Last.fm and Slacker, have already released Windows Phone 7 applications. Finally, speaking to BGR, the company said: "While we're excited to see companies innovating and while we're not ready to make an announcement specifically related to the Win 7 phone, we generally want to be everywhere our listeners want us to be."
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| Google finally launches e-book store Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:54 PM PST  Google has finally delivered on their promise of the Google eBookstore, starting the service with 3 million books available in a number of formats. The ebooks will be playable on the Nook, iPad and others, but notably not on the Amazon Kindle. Google's entry to the market could challenge Amazon's monopoly, which is estimated at 72 percent of the market in 2010. The Kindle store will sell an estimated $250 million worth of ebooks this year. One analyst firm believes Google's service, along with Apple's iBook Store, should turn Amazon's share of the ebook market to 35 percent by 2015, down from the current 72. The books available through the eBookstore are priced almost identically to books available through Amazon, Apple and Barnes & Noble, with some exceptions. Google promises the largest collection of ebooks online, thanks mainly to a long-standing process of scanning out-of-print library books. Google started the process in 2004. Outside of downloading the ebooks, Google also offers a free "Web Reader" which allows you to view the ebooks wherever you have a computer with Internet access.
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| AT&T sucks, says latest Consumer Reports survey Posted: 06 Dec 2010 12:50 PM PST  According to the latest Consumer Reports survey, AT&T has received the all-around worst scores in customer satisfaction for 2010, ranking it last behind US Cellular, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. AT&T got the lowest scores in eight out of the nine categories, and tied for worst in the last category. The categories included overall value, voice service, data service, texting services, phone support, staff knowledge, and resolution of issues, and other customer support issues. AT&T scored a 60/100, putting it 9 points behind T-Mobile, and 22 points behind the leader, US Cellular. The U.S.' second largest carrier scored a 66 in 2009. Consumer Reports says "AT&T is now the worst carrier." It is also the only carrier to see its numbers drop significantly from last year. Apple iPhone owners were particularly displeased with AT&T, giving much lower scores than smartphone owners on other carriers. AT&T responded: "We take this seriously and we continually look for new ways to improve the customer experience."
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| Google introduces Nexus S with Gingerbread Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:15 AM PST Google has officially unveiled the Nexus S smartphone today, the first device to use Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Additionally, the company says the Gingerbread SDK is now available for developers. The Nexus S is built by Samsung, and will be a "pure Google" experience, unlocked and "vanilla," with no special user interface layers. Google says the smartphone will have a 4-inch "Contour Display designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand and along the side of your face." The smartphone runs on a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, has 16GB internal memory, standard and front-side cameras and NFC (near field communication) hardware. Google says "NFC is a fast, versatile short-range wireless technology that can be embedded in all kinds of everyday objects like movie posters, stickers and t-shirts." Coming with Android 2.3 are "user interface refinements, NFC support, a new keyboard and text selection tool, Internet (VoIP/SIP) calling, improved copy/paste functionality and gyroscope sensor support." The phone will be available through T-Mobile and Best Buy starting on December 16th.
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