iTunes U downloads top 300 million
Apple's iTunes U is growing at an unprecedented rate, the company announced on Tuesday.According to Apple, its online store's educational section has hit more than 300 million downloads. Currently, more than 800 universities have iTunes U sites, and almost half of those schools, including Harvard University and Oxford University, offer content through the iTunes Store. Apple said that users can now access "over 350,000 audio and video files" through iTunes U.iTunes U, which launched in 2007, has been seeing steady, but somewhat subdued growth since its launch. That's why the company's latest announcement of 300 million downloads is all the more staggering. In December, Apple announced that it had recorded 100 million downloads on content from 175 organizations. Part of the reason for that immense growth could be the recent addition of content from universities in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, and Singapore. Plus, since all the content is free to download, the barriers to entry are quite low.
Monday, March 23, 2015
iTunes Ping comes to Twitter
iTunes Ping comes to Twitter
There's a crucial new partnership for Ping, the social music service that Apple launched as part of its iTunes 10 unveiling this summer: Twitter users can now link up their accounts."Once you've linked the accounts, whenever you post, like, review, or tell your friends why you purchased a song or album on Ping, this activity will also be tweeted to your Twitter followers--complete with playable song previews and links to purchase and download music from iTunes," a post on the Twitter blog explained.This is big, because Ping was one of those rare Apple product launches that legitimately underwhelmed, largely because the long-rumored iTunes social-networking initiative did not sync up to either Facebook or Twitter. Apple said at launch that Ping users would be able to sync up with their Facebook friends, something that never came to fruition. Apple CEO Steve Jobs hinted that negotiations with Facebook had soured, citing "onerous terms" on behalf of the massive social network. It's not like Facebook and Apple have never partnered before: Facebook Connect is available for iPhoto uploads, and there's a separate version of the universal log-in tool just for the iPhone.But Twitter's terms are apparently more flexible, and they're even integrating an iTunes song preview into the Twitter.com interface, adding yet another feature to the "New Twitter" redesign that the company launched several months ago.
There's a crucial new partnership for Ping, the social music service that Apple launched as part of its iTunes 10 unveiling this summer: Twitter users can now link up their accounts."Once you've linked the accounts, whenever you post, like, review, or tell your friends why you purchased a song or album on Ping, this activity will also be tweeted to your Twitter followers--complete with playable song previews and links to purchase and download music from iTunes," a post on the Twitter blog explained.This is big, because Ping was one of those rare Apple product launches that legitimately underwhelmed, largely because the long-rumored iTunes social-networking initiative did not sync up to either Facebook or Twitter. Apple said at launch that Ping users would be able to sync up with their Facebook friends, something that never came to fruition. Apple CEO Steve Jobs hinted that negotiations with Facebook had soured, citing "onerous terms" on behalf of the massive social network. It's not like Facebook and Apple have never partnered before: Facebook Connect is available for iPhoto uploads, and there's a separate version of the universal log-in tool just for the iPhone.But Twitter's terms are apparently more flexible, and they're even integrating an iTunes song preview into the Twitter.com interface, adding yet another feature to the "New Twitter" redesign that the company launched several months ago.
iTunes Radio snags 11 million users
iTunes Radio snags 11 million users
Apple's iTunes Radio has already picked up 11 million listeners since its launch last week, Apple announced Monday.Related postsDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)The 404 Podcast 498: Where Jeff battles the TriadBuzz Out Loud Podcast 1145: China to Google: Suck itNutsie brings iTunes to Android via the cloudThe Real Deal 193: Road Test - CES edition (podcast)Available through iTunes 11 and iOS 7, iTunes Radio takes a page from Pandora's playbook. You can create and add different music stations to your feed based on your tastes and listen to songs streamed from each one. You can fine-tune each station to play only hits, a variety of songs, or a "discovery" of music new to you.Apple also naturally makes it easy to buy any song via iTunes with a price tag that you can click on to make your purchase. So far, the most popular song is "Hold On, We're Going Home" by Drake, according to Apple.iTunes Radio is currently available just in the United States.Apple also announced today that more than 200 million devices are now running iOS 7, while iPhone sales surpassed 9 million during the launch weekend of the new 5S and 5C.Correction, 11:10 a.m. PT: This story originally misstated the number of devices now running iOS 7.
Apple's iTunes Radio has already picked up 11 million listeners since its launch last week, Apple announced Monday.Related postsDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)The 404 Podcast 498: Where Jeff battles the TriadBuzz Out Loud Podcast 1145: China to Google: Suck itNutsie brings iTunes to Android via the cloudThe Real Deal 193: Road Test - CES edition (podcast)Available through iTunes 11 and iOS 7, iTunes Radio takes a page from Pandora's playbook. You can create and add different music stations to your feed based on your tastes and listen to songs streamed from each one. You can fine-tune each station to play only hits, a variety of songs, or a "discovery" of music new to you.Apple also naturally makes it easy to buy any song via iTunes with a price tag that you can click on to make your purchase. So far, the most popular song is "Hold On, We're Going Home" by Drake, according to Apple.iTunes Radio is currently available just in the United States.Apple also announced today that more than 200 million devices are now running iOS 7, while iPhone sales surpassed 9 million during the launch weekend of the new 5S and 5C.Correction, 11:10 a.m. PT: This story originally misstated the number of devices now running iOS 7.
iTunes now Apple's fourth-largest business, says analyst
iTunes now Apple's fourth-largest business, says analyst
Apple's iTunes generated revenue of $13.5 billion last year, making it the company's fourth-largest business, according to Asymco analyst Horace Dediu.A business that simply broke even a few years ago has been rising "steadily and rapidly," Dediu said in a post yesterday. iTunes has averaged growth of more than 30 percent over the past two years. The $13.5 billion in sales in 2012 was up from $10.2 billion in 2011.At the same time that iTunes is adding a greater chunk of sales to Apple's overall results, the Mac and iPod lineups are contributing less. If this trend continues, iTunes could become Apple's third-largest business sometime this year, forecasts Dediu.Another business already bigger than the Mac is Apple's Accessories line, which includes products such as Apple TV. As Dediu points out, iTunes and Apple accessories depend on hardware sales to thrive. But the results show that these "ancillary" businesses are contributing more than their fair share."Indeed, if seen in isolation, iTunes plus Accessories combined is a bigger business in terms of revenues than any of the other phone vendors except Samsung," Dediu said.
Apple's iTunes generated revenue of $13.5 billion last year, making it the company's fourth-largest business, according to Asymco analyst Horace Dediu.A business that simply broke even a few years ago has been rising "steadily and rapidly," Dediu said in a post yesterday. iTunes has averaged growth of more than 30 percent over the past two years. The $13.5 billion in sales in 2012 was up from $10.2 billion in 2011.At the same time that iTunes is adding a greater chunk of sales to Apple's overall results, the Mac and iPod lineups are contributing less. If this trend continues, iTunes could become Apple's third-largest business sometime this year, forecasts Dediu.Another business already bigger than the Mac is Apple's Accessories line, which includes products such as Apple TV. As Dediu points out, iTunes and Apple accessories depend on hardware sales to thrive. But the results show that these "ancillary" businesses are contributing more than their fair share."Indeed, if seen in isolation, iTunes plus Accessories combined is a bigger business in terms of revenues than any of the other phone vendors except Samsung," Dediu said.
iTunes movies in the Cloud expands across the world
iTunes movies in the Cloud expands across the world
Many iTunes Cloud users outside the U.S. can now watch their favorite synced movies on any computer or iDevice.As of yesterday, such countries as the U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, along with several in Latin America and the Asia Pacific region, are now on Apple's list for cloud-based movie support. This means that movies purchased from iTunes are automatically synced to the cloud and made available for viewing on any eligible device -- computer, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Apple TV.Entertainment available through iTunes in the Cloud includes music, videos, movies, TV shows, books, and apps. People in the U.S. have long been able to synchronize all of these things. But the rollout has been slower for those abroad.Related storiesApple overhaul of iTunes to focus on iCloud, music sharing?iTunes in the iCloud, First TakeDuplicate music woes? Let iTunes Match clean up the mess!How to share your iTunes account with multiple iOS devicesAnything you purchase through iTunes is stored online via iCloud. But it doesn't count against your iCloud quota, giving you a healthy amount of space to house your movies, music, and other items.You can stream your movies and showsdirectly from the cloud or download them onto your device to watch them offline.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story if we get more information.
Many iTunes Cloud users outside the U.S. can now watch their favorite synced movies on any computer or iDevice.As of yesterday, such countries as the U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, along with several in Latin America and the Asia Pacific region, are now on Apple's list for cloud-based movie support. This means that movies purchased from iTunes are automatically synced to the cloud and made available for viewing on any eligible device -- computer, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Apple TV.Entertainment available through iTunes in the Cloud includes music, videos, movies, TV shows, books, and apps. People in the U.S. have long been able to synchronize all of these things. But the rollout has been slower for those abroad.Related storiesApple overhaul of iTunes to focus on iCloud, music sharing?iTunes in the iCloud, First TakeDuplicate music woes? Let iTunes Match clean up the mess!How to share your iTunes account with multiple iOS devicesAnything you purchase through iTunes is stored online via iCloud. But it doesn't count against your iCloud quota, giving you a healthy amount of space to house your movies, music, and other items.You can stream your movies and showsdirectly from the cloud or download them onto your device to watch them offline.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story if we get more information.
iTunes chief joins Ferrari board
iTunes chief joins Ferrari board
Ferrari, one of the iconic names in high-performance sports cars and Formula 1 racing, has invited Apple's iTunes' chief to join its board of directors. Related storiesTesting the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT RaptorThe 404 Podcast 503: Where everything was better in the '90sBuzz Out Loud Podcast 1150: Up the creek without a BibleDNA helps link Obama and Senator-elect BrownFive ways to put your music in the cloudEddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president for Internet software and services, said in a statement released by the Italian car company that he is "proud to become a member of the board." Cue owns a collection of sports cars, including a Ferrari, according to people who were interviewed for a CNET profile on Cue that was published last week. In the statement about his board position, Cue said that five years ago he finally realized his childhood dream of owning a Ferrari. "I continue to be awed by the world-class design and engineering."Cue is obviously confident he can find the time to help Ferrari when Apple is relying on him more than ever. Not only does he oversee the iTunes Store but he's also responsible for iAds and iCloud, and was recently asked to turn around Siri and Maps.
Ferrari, one of the iconic names in high-performance sports cars and Formula 1 racing, has invited Apple's iTunes' chief to join its board of directors. Related storiesTesting the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT RaptorThe 404 Podcast 503: Where everything was better in the '90sBuzz Out Loud Podcast 1150: Up the creek without a BibleDNA helps link Obama and Senator-elect BrownFive ways to put your music in the cloudEddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president for Internet software and services, said in a statement released by the Italian car company that he is "proud to become a member of the board." Cue owns a collection of sports cars, including a Ferrari, according to people who were interviewed for a CNET profile on Cue that was published last week. In the statement about his board position, Cue said that five years ago he finally realized his childhood dream of owning a Ferrari. "I continue to be awed by the world-class design and engineering."Cue is obviously confident he can find the time to help Ferrari when Apple is relying on him more than ever. Not only does he oversee the iTunes Store but he's also responsible for iAds and iCloud, and was recently asked to turn around Siri and Maps.
Songl music-streaming service relaunches
Songl music-streaming service relaunches
As reported last month, the joint venture between Sony Music, Universal Music and Southern Cross Austereo has exited beta status. The music-streaming service will be available as a 30-day trial for new and existing users when signing up using an email address or Facebook login.While the interface has been given a new lick of paint, Songl hopes to differentiate itself from other streaming services on the market with its label and radio tie-ins. Listeners familiar with Austereo shows will see a range of hosts providing playlists, while videos of guest interviews can be streamed directly from the site.After the initial trial period, fees will be AU$12.99 per month for unlimited desktop, mobile and Sonos listening. Streaming quality will be available as either 128kbps or 320kbps, and mobile users can cache up to 1000 tracks on their device for offline listening.Songl has updated apps available for Android and iOS, though at the time of writing, the app wasn't found on the iTunes Store and the Android version on Google Play has not yet been updated. Existing playlists created previously are still available through the new interface.What Songl looked like before relaunch (top) and how it appears now (bottom).(Screenshot by CBSi)At AU$12.99 per month, Songl is on par with other streaming services for Australian listeners, which offer mobile and desktop listening.According to Songl, the catalogue spans "over 100,000" artists, though an exact number of tracks available is only cited as being in the millions. The service has music from artists signed to Universal Music, EMI Music and Sony Music, with some independent labels also represented.
As reported last month, the joint venture between Sony Music, Universal Music and Southern Cross Austereo has exited beta status. The music-streaming service will be available as a 30-day trial for new and existing users when signing up using an email address or Facebook login.While the interface has been given a new lick of paint, Songl hopes to differentiate itself from other streaming services on the market with its label and radio tie-ins. Listeners familiar with Austereo shows will see a range of hosts providing playlists, while videos of guest interviews can be streamed directly from the site.After the initial trial period, fees will be AU$12.99 per month for unlimited desktop, mobile and Sonos listening. Streaming quality will be available as either 128kbps or 320kbps, and mobile users can cache up to 1000 tracks on their device for offline listening.Songl has updated apps available for Android and iOS, though at the time of writing, the app wasn't found on the iTunes Store and the Android version on Google Play has not yet been updated. Existing playlists created previously are still available through the new interface.What Songl looked like before relaunch (top) and how it appears now (bottom).(Screenshot by CBSi)At AU$12.99 per month, Songl is on par with other streaming services for Australian listeners, which offer mobile and desktop listening.According to Songl, the catalogue spans "over 100,000" artists, though an exact number of tracks available is only cited as being in the millions. The service has music from artists signed to Universal Music, EMI Music and Sony Music, with some independent labels also represented.
Rhapsody approved for iPhone
Rhapsody approved for iPhone
Rhapsody was a pioneer in subscription-based music, and I'm a big fan of the service; in 2005, it was the first one to turn me on to the thrill of chasing your whims and surfing randomly among genres, which you can't do with per-download services like iTunes. In my most recent trial late last year (in conjunction with the Sonos multiroom audio system), I wasn't able to find any significant gaps--if anything, there was too much music, including more versions of the novelty song "Kung Fu Fighting" than I ever imagined--and there is some excellent curation and editorial work, particularly for indie rock artists. The iPhone app is pretty straightforward: you can search for songs, surf genres and chart-toppers, and create queues and playlists. If you're a fan of Pandora, you'll also appreciate the Rhapsody Radio feature, which creates tailor-made stations built around particular artists or genres. As long as you have an active Wi-Fi or 3G connection, the music should keep playing without interruption. It's a free download, but to use it, you'll need a Rhapsody to Go subscription, which costs $14.99 a month. That's not quite as good a deal as Microsoft's Zune Pass, which costs the same and gives you 10 permanent MP3 downloads a month, but of course that service requires a Zune, which means that it applies only to about 1.1 percent of the MP3 player market (according to a statistic that Apple snarkily included in its presentation Wednesday) and exactly zero mobile phones. Apple appears to have seen the light, as it is now allowing subscription-based music to come to the iPhone. It makes my phone's 8GB storage size seem a lot less limiting. Follow Matt on Twitter.
Rhapsody was a pioneer in subscription-based music, and I'm a big fan of the service; in 2005, it was the first one to turn me on to the thrill of chasing your whims and surfing randomly among genres, which you can't do with per-download services like iTunes. In my most recent trial late last year (in conjunction with the Sonos multiroom audio system), I wasn't able to find any significant gaps--if anything, there was too much music, including more versions of the novelty song "Kung Fu Fighting" than I ever imagined--and there is some excellent curation and editorial work, particularly for indie rock artists. The iPhone app is pretty straightforward: you can search for songs, surf genres and chart-toppers, and create queues and playlists. If you're a fan of Pandora, you'll also appreciate the Rhapsody Radio feature, which creates tailor-made stations built around particular artists or genres. As long as you have an active Wi-Fi or 3G connection, the music should keep playing without interruption. It's a free download, but to use it, you'll need a Rhapsody to Go subscription, which costs $14.99 a month. That's not quite as good a deal as Microsoft's Zune Pass, which costs the same and gives you 10 permanent MP3 downloads a month, but of course that service requires a Zune, which means that it applies only to about 1.1 percent of the MP3 player market (according to a statistic that Apple snarkily included in its presentation Wednesday) and exactly zero mobile phones. Apple appears to have seen the light, as it is now allowing subscription-based music to come to the iPhone. It makes my phone's 8GB storage size seem a lot less limiting. Follow Matt on Twitter.
Opt out of Apple's iAds data collection for iOS 4 devices_0
Opt out of Apple's iAds data collection for iOS 4 devices
Apple has partnered with several big-name brands to provide content-based, personalized advertising solutions to your iOS-enabled devices. Apple "uses cookies and other technologies in mobile advertising services to control the number of times you see a given ad, deliver ads that relate to your interests, and measure the effectiveness of ad campaigns."While opting out of the iAd data collection program will stop Apple from collecting and analyzing data from your iTunes account habits, Apps that take advantage of the iAd program will continue to show iAds--but they may be less relevant to you. iAd advertisements will still use data from individual Apps to determine which ads are shown, though your personal data will no longer be used.Keep in mind that you will need to have iOS 4 installed to opt out of the iAd data collection and you must opt out from each iOS device you own. Opting out also does not affect other Internet-based advertising that may be incorporated into Apps.To opt out, simply navigate to the following link on your iOS 4 device: https://oo.apple.com/If you receive an error message, "Unsuccessful Opt Out", you may need to wait a few hours and try again.Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.Submit a fix to MacFixIt! Email Us.
Apple has partnered with several big-name brands to provide content-based, personalized advertising solutions to your iOS-enabled devices. Apple "uses cookies and other technologies in mobile advertising services to control the number of times you see a given ad, deliver ads that relate to your interests, and measure the effectiveness of ad campaigns."While opting out of the iAd data collection program will stop Apple from collecting and analyzing data from your iTunes account habits, Apps that take advantage of the iAd program will continue to show iAds--but they may be less relevant to you. iAd advertisements will still use data from individual Apps to determine which ads are shown, though your personal data will no longer be used.Keep in mind that you will need to have iOS 4 installed to opt out of the iAd data collection and you must opt out from each iOS device you own. Opting out also does not affect other Internet-based advertising that may be incorporated into Apps.To opt out, simply navigate to the following link on your iOS 4 device: https://oo.apple.com/If you receive an error message, "Unsuccessful Opt Out", you may need to wait a few hours and try again.Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.Submit a fix to MacFixIt! Email Us.
iPhone OS 3.1.3 battery and sync problems reported
iPhone OS 3.1.3 battery and sync problems reported
Since Apple introduced iPhone OS 3.1.3 last week, we've found a number of complaints about two issues with the firmware update.Battery lifeAlthough the update was supposed to address issues with iPhone 3GS battery life, it appears to have caused battery problems for some users. According to users on Apple Discussions under the topic iPhone 3GS OS 3.1.3 battery percentage fail?, the iPhone's battery indicator can rapidly swing between 7 and 25 percent before suddenly going back up to 24 percent after the point upgrade.Some users also complain that battery life is unusually short after the firmware update, lasting some 3 to 4 hours with the iPhone possibly running hotter than normal. Playlist sync problemsUsers are complaining about playlist sync problems under the topic Anyone who has installed the new update (3.1.3): Any issues with it? on the iPod Touch. In this case, the files are copied onto the device, but the playlists themselves are either missing or empty.According to posts under this topic, the problem seems to only affect smart playlists and seemingly only those with more than one criteria. Suggested temporary workarounds include making your smart lists less "smart" by removing criteria down to a single iTunes field, creating list names without spaces, or deleting and adding them again. Apple hasn't provided a solution to these problems yet, although it is likely that an update to iTunes or iPhone OS may address them. (This isn't the first time users have reported problems with iTunes playlists.) Are you experiencing problems with this recent iPhone OS update? Tell us about it in the comments.
Since Apple introduced iPhone OS 3.1.3 last week, we've found a number of complaints about two issues with the firmware update.Battery lifeAlthough the update was supposed to address issues with iPhone 3GS battery life, it appears to have caused battery problems for some users. According to users on Apple Discussions under the topic iPhone 3GS OS 3.1.3 battery percentage fail?, the iPhone's battery indicator can rapidly swing between 7 and 25 percent before suddenly going back up to 24 percent after the point upgrade.Some users also complain that battery life is unusually short after the firmware update, lasting some 3 to 4 hours with the iPhone possibly running hotter than normal. Playlist sync problemsUsers are complaining about playlist sync problems under the topic Anyone who has installed the new update (3.1.3): Any issues with it? on the iPod Touch. In this case, the files are copied onto the device, but the playlists themselves are either missing or empty.According to posts under this topic, the problem seems to only affect smart playlists and seemingly only those with more than one criteria. Suggested temporary workarounds include making your smart lists less "smart" by removing criteria down to a single iTunes field, creating list names without spaces, or deleting and adding them again. Apple hasn't provided a solution to these problems yet, although it is likely that an update to iTunes or iPhone OS may address them. (This isn't the first time users have reported problems with iTunes playlists.) Are you experiencing problems with this recent iPhone OS update? Tell us about it in the comments.
Hudway AR HUD with new voice assist is 'a professional co-driver on your phone'
Hudway AR HUD with new voice assist is 'a professional co-driver on your phone'
Hudway is one of the cleverest driving apps we've seen. You place your Android or iOS phone on your dashboard, and it reflects a head-up display on to your windshield, giving you driving directions in low-visibility driving conditions.Related articlesHudway app delivers windshield HUD for drivingGarmin HUD projects directions onto your windshieldAnd it's just about to get even more user-friendly, by adding direction-giving voice assistance in a similar manner to what a GPS might do. But it's a little better than that."It is more than just a regular assistance in any other GPS navigation app," Hudway co-founder Ivan Klabukov explained to CNET. "Hudway has a new approach to voice assisting in navigation systems. Besides main road intersections, Hudway Voice Assistant alerts you on every dangerous curve on the road ahead, creating an audio-image for the next one-two turns in your head. This is like a professional co-driver on your phone."Hudway, which uses Google Maps to provide its directions, will be adding the new feature for Pro users on iOS by June, with Android to follow. The app is free to download and use, but a one-off payment of $1.99 (£1.49, AU$2.49) to upgrade to Pro adds features such as customisation and a red warning when approaching a dangerous road.You can download the app for free from iTunes or Google Play. Check out a demo of the new feature in the video below.
Hudway is one of the cleverest driving apps we've seen. You place your Android or iOS phone on your dashboard, and it reflects a head-up display on to your windshield, giving you driving directions in low-visibility driving conditions.Related articlesHudway app delivers windshield HUD for drivingGarmin HUD projects directions onto your windshieldAnd it's just about to get even more user-friendly, by adding direction-giving voice assistance in a similar manner to what a GPS might do. But it's a little better than that."It is more than just a regular assistance in any other GPS navigation app," Hudway co-founder Ivan Klabukov explained to CNET. "Hudway has a new approach to voice assisting in navigation systems. Besides main road intersections, Hudway Voice Assistant alerts you on every dangerous curve on the road ahead, creating an audio-image for the next one-two turns in your head. This is like a professional co-driver on your phone."Hudway, which uses Google Maps to provide its directions, will be adding the new feature for Pro users on iOS by June, with Android to follow. The app is free to download and use, but a one-off payment of $1.99 (£1.49, AU$2.49) to upgrade to Pro adds features such as customisation and a red warning when approaching a dangerous road.You can download the app for free from iTunes or Google Play. Check out a demo of the new feature in the video below.
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