Apple's best iWatch strategy: Reinvent the iPod
Apple hasn't had a new iPod since 2012. There were two that year, debuting alongside the iPhone 5: an updated iPod Touch and a redesigned Nano. It's been a while. And during that time, the iPod line's share of Apple's revenue -- once the company's bread and butter -- continues to fade. Meanwhile, even as rival companies like Google and Samsung laying their cards on the table of the nascent wearable tech market, Apple has yet to announce -- or even hint at -- a wearable product. It's mid-2014, and we still don't know what Cupertino has in the works yet. All we're left with are guesses. I have no more insight into Apple's plans than anyone else outside Apple's campus, but there's one thing I do know: when it comes to wearable tech, there's not much competition out there worth being scared of. The whole category, such as it is, is still a mess. And even though Apple fanboys pray for the company to make its presumed future mythical device magical, or captivating, it might make a lot more sense for Apple to just take the boring path. And by boring, I mean useful. Practical. And possibly a little unexciting. The product that most fits the bill? The iPod. I've felt all along that an Apple wearable shouldn't just be a watch. It should be modular. It should...well, it should feel a lot like the iPod lineup of old. And given that the line is already a recognizable brand -- albeit one that's in need of a turnaround -- it would make sense if Apple's rumored wearables turn out to also be the new iPods. I've been feeling that way for a while, and recent articles by others like John Gruber show I'm not alone in that opinion.It's already a perfect name The name iPod has always been enigmatic and a little futuristic. It's not iMusic, or iPlayer. It doesn't have to just be about music. It suggests something small. Why not make iPod the name for Apple wearables? And, iPods have already been wearable. The Shuffle and Nano are already clip-on devices that can slide easily into a tiny pocket. Some people already wore the old Nano as a watch. I was one of those people. Hex watchbands for the 2011 Nano.Sarah Tew/CNETThe return of the Nano plus wristband Apple already cracked the solution: a small puck that can snap into a wristband or clip on a pair of running shorts. It's the 2011 iPod Nano. That device didn't have Bluetooth, but it did have some basic Nike+ software. The old Nano, the one that fit on optional wristbands and was, already, a watch, could be a really model for what comes next. A modular, Bluetooth-connected device, that could also track steps and be a good overall music player, would solve a lot of needs. It wouldn't necessarily be super-exciting, but it could also get to a price that wasn't too expensive.How the product lineup could work Yes, the Nano could return as a wrist-worn, more advanced health tracker and smartwatch alternative. But maybe there's more than one Apple wearable. The Shuffle could incorporate an M7 processor -- Apple's motion co-processor that debuted in the iPhone 5S -- and double as an entry-level pedometer (think Fitbit Zip). And maybe there's an even higher-end product, one that casts a wider net on lifestyle beyond fitness. A new Nano could add wireless connectivity for subscription music services, and maybe even some connected smartwatch-like features, if it's Bluetooth linked. Just adding M7 processors and Bluetooth would be a big first step to giving Apple, essentially, wearable fitness products. Even in its reduced state with no new products, Apple still sold 2.75 million iPods last quarter -- a number that dwarfs the number of Samsung Gear watches sold to date. It wouldn't take much for Apple to go from zero to 100 in the wearable space, if its wearable products could at least double as iPods.CNETStandalone vs. "phone accessory" I can't think of a single wearable I've seen that isn't function-challenged. It's a glorified pedometer, or it's got half-baked apps, or it has a ridiculously short battery life, or...it doesn't do anything a phone doesn't already do. That's the story of most bands and glasses. And almost all of them suffer a fate of being a phone accessory, serving a role that most people haven't found a need for yet. Most of these watches have awkward chargers, unreliable connectivity, and questionable apps. Apple would have to solve these problems, and I'm not sure all of them can be solved right now. So maybe the answer is baby steps. Create a product that does a few things well now, and wait until next year or the year after to take the next leaps. Make it small, make it affordable, make it stand apart from an iPhone. That's something that even the lowly, screenless, 4-year-old $50 iPod Shuffle does well -- once you load it full of music, at least.Let someone else figure out the wristbands It's hard to make a great wristband. Snapping a band out and finding the right design is a pain. Most smartwatches also have to deal with wear and tear on those parts, too. Selling the bands separately -- or, whatever other accessories are compatible -- seems most like the path of the iPhone, iPad and iPod. Apple has created a massive halo industry based on docks, headsets, cables, chargers, and especially cases. The wearable iPod can follow in that tradition. Sure, Apple can toss in a default band, but the core device shouldn't be married to one. Letting accessory partners fill in the gaps will make it easier to appeal to both men and women. The Misfit Shine and Withings Pulse have already taken this path.Misfit Shine: already has an iPod Shuffle-like design.Sarah Tew/CNETMore fitness tracker, less smartwatch I can't help wondering about who would buy a mythical iWatch, and what it would actually do to convince people to buy one. When the iPad debuted, it wasn't the first tablet. The iPhone emerged when a fair number of people owned cellphones, and even smartphones. The iPod wasn't the first MP3 player. But the smartwatch market feels a lot less mature than those tablet, smartphone, and music player markets were at the time. Fitness trackers are a different story. Because they're affordable and simpler to use, I know more people who bought or want to buy Fitbits, Fuelbands, Jawbone Ups and other bands. Fitness tracking is the market that makes the most sense for Apple. An M7 chip-equipped iPod with a pedometer and Bluetooth audio may not sound exciting, but a lot of people would use one. Who? Anyone who's in the market for a basic fitness tracker. Add in an ability to transfer music wirelessly via iTunes, or work with a subscription music service like the one that Apple might have from a partnership with Beats, and knit in more advanced Nike+ Fuelband-like connectivity, and you have an equation for a better, more attractive iPod.Beats might just sweeten the deal Is that enough for now? Maybe not if you're expecting a revolutionary device, but watches studded with features that can also run apps are only as good as the use cases they're able to be amazing for. Samsung's Gear watches are full of features, but they're not very easy to use, and they don't do all that many things exceptionally well. They're forward-thinking, but unfinished. Alternatively, a new wearable-friendly iPod could work in some new advanced tech and be really good at it: excellent heart rate monitoring that worked as well as Touch ID does for fingerprints, for instance. Or, maybe the much-discussed but still not finalized Apple-Beats deal could provide new headphone tech, or extra features that enhance sound. Is Beats necessary for a future iPod? No, but if any Apple device seems like a no-brainer for Beats integration, it would be the iPod. In a landscape as messy as wearables, I'm increasingly of the opinion that any gadgets are better off doing one or two things well or not do them at all. If this is the humble iPod's destiny, I'm all for it.
My name is Matt Elliott, and I'm a Droboholic
My name is Matt Elliott, and I'm a Droboholic
I'm hooked on network attached storage and need a fix. You see, I've been testing out DroboShare this week, and I quickly grew accustomed to having a simple, always connected backup device and a stash of mixed media freely available on my home network. As I boxed up my Drobo and DroboShare loaners this morning to send back to Data Robotics, I began debating whether I could justify dropping $700 for a networked storage device, which would also involve me purchasing at least two high-capacity hard drives.My current backup situation is not what you would call elegant.I have a pile of external hard drives that I occasionally dig out of a desk drawer and connect to my PC or laptop. I use one drive to back up my iTunes library, another to back up my digital photos, and another where I keep backups of home videos. I then have a larger Western Digital drive where I keep backup copies up everything. It may take a while to get there, but it does qualify as redundant storage.My current backup system isn't pretty but it works.Matt Elliott/CNET NetworksFor $500 (plus the cost of two, three, or four hard drives), Drobo gives me redundant storage without having to think about it. For another $200, the DroboShare companion piece lets me put my Drobo volume on my network. And I really like being able to access my entire music library and digital photos from any PC in the house.The Drobo and DroboShare duo is certainly superior in every way to my current system, but do its benefits add up to $700? I'm not so sure. Drobo's automated and flexible RAID-like technology is tempting, and its storage expansion is as simple as popping in a new hard drive. DroboShare's ridiculously simple setup and maintenance puts other NAS products to shame. And the product design is excellent, even down to the packaging. No other NAS product comes close to matching Drobo's offerings, which is why Data Robotics can set the price where it sees fit. If Drobo itself included an Ethernet jack and, perhaps, threw in a 500GB hard drive to get me started, I could probably come up with around $400 and feel good about purchasing it.Any Drobo users out there? If so, are you also using DroboShare? Can you help me find a justification for dropping $700 on the pair? Any other would-be Drobo users sitting on the fence? Are you waiting for a price drop or features to get added before taking the plunge, or did you go with another NAS product? I welcome you to comment below.
I'm hooked on network attached storage and need a fix. You see, I've been testing out DroboShare this week, and I quickly grew accustomed to having a simple, always connected backup device and a stash of mixed media freely available on my home network. As I boxed up my Drobo and DroboShare loaners this morning to send back to Data Robotics, I began debating whether I could justify dropping $700 for a networked storage device, which would also involve me purchasing at least two high-capacity hard drives.My current backup situation is not what you would call elegant.I have a pile of external hard drives that I occasionally dig out of a desk drawer and connect to my PC or laptop. I use one drive to back up my iTunes library, another to back up my digital photos, and another where I keep backups of home videos. I then have a larger Western Digital drive where I keep backup copies up everything. It may take a while to get there, but it does qualify as redundant storage.My current backup system isn't pretty but it works.Matt Elliott/CNET NetworksFor $500 (plus the cost of two, three, or four hard drives), Drobo gives me redundant storage without having to think about it. For another $200, the DroboShare companion piece lets me put my Drobo volume on my network. And I really like being able to access my entire music library and digital photos from any PC in the house.The Drobo and DroboShare duo is certainly superior in every way to my current system, but do its benefits add up to $700? I'm not so sure. Drobo's automated and flexible RAID-like technology is tempting, and its storage expansion is as simple as popping in a new hard drive. DroboShare's ridiculously simple setup and maintenance puts other NAS products to shame. And the product design is excellent, even down to the packaging. No other NAS product comes close to matching Drobo's offerings, which is why Data Robotics can set the price where it sees fit. If Drobo itself included an Ethernet jack and, perhaps, threw in a 500GB hard drive to get me started, I could probably come up with around $400 and feel good about purchasing it.Any Drobo users out there? If so, are you also using DroboShare? Can you help me find a justification for dropping $700 on the pair? Any other would-be Drobo users sitting on the fence? Are you waiting for a price drop or features to get added before taking the plunge, or did you go with another NAS product? I welcome you to comment below.
Beats' curated music service heading for summer launch
Beats' curated music service heading for summer launch
DANA POINT, Calif.--Jimmy Iovine has worked as a producer with everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Lady Gaga over his 40-year career, and is currently chairman of Interscope Geffen-A&M.As a second, or companion, act he cofounded the popular Beats by Dr. Dre headphone company in 2006 because he thought the iPod earbuds were terrible. "If Beats did anything, it got kids interested in audio again. We turned an entire generation on to sound," Iovine said in conversation with Walt Mossberg at the AllThingsD Dive Into Media conference here.But his third act is even bolder -- taking on Apple iTunes, GoogleSpotify and other music subscription services. Iovine has 100 people working on what he described as a "curated" music subscription service, called Beats, that he expects to launch this summer."There is a sea of music, an ocean of music and absolutely no curation for it. You friends can't currate for you. No one knows what song comes next," Iovine said. "Apple knows a lot about your music taste. Google knows a lot, and Facebook. But no one is using it to curate."For Iovine, knowing what song comes next is essential to the music listening experience. "No one listens to one song," he said. Iovine worked with Springsteen on "Born to Run," spending months working to put eight songs in the perfect order, and he believes that iPod shuffle and purely math-driven playlists don't present music in the right way. And, as with headphones, he believes that only people who come from the music culture can crack the code for a music service. "You want a trusted source to make a list with you," Iovine said. For that service, Beats will likely charge around $10 per month. Songza, a free streaming music service, also offers what it calls expert-made playlists for a variety of occasions.Iovine has enlisted music masters--artists, DJs and others with deep knowledge and experience in producing music--to create lists for a variety of music listener archetypes and situations. Beats bought the MOG music service last year as a foundation for the new service."Most tech companies never get curation right. It's not in their culture. We will be miles ahead of them," he said. "If you are going to the gym five days a week, we know that, and when you wake up we will have a list for you." The curation won't be math-free, Iovine said, but it will rely more on the human touch, marrying math and emotion. Beats users will be able to contribute to the music curation, but it wasn't clear as to how it will work with the trusted expert playlists.On the business side, Iovine has a larger vision than just curated lists for the masses who are going to the gym or commuting. The service could integrate ticket and merchandise sales; include photos, videos and other content associated with the music; and give artists more direct access to their fans. Iovine hired a CEO, Ian Rogers, the former head of Yahoo Music and Topspin Media, to bring Beats to life and also recruited Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails to focus on protecting the interests of artists. iTunes, Amazon and other services don't give artists the option to connect with fans buying or listening to their music.Music was a $41 billion business in 2001, Iovine said, but now it's only about $17 billion. "We are not getting back to $41 billion...iTunes needs a step forward. Iovine is taking that forward step with Beats, counting on longtime music industry connections, superior curation and a more equitable ecosystem for artists and labels to succeed where others have failed.
DANA POINT, Calif.--Jimmy Iovine has worked as a producer with everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Lady Gaga over his 40-year career, and is currently chairman of Interscope Geffen-A&M.As a second, or companion, act he cofounded the popular Beats by Dr. Dre headphone company in 2006 because he thought the iPod earbuds were terrible. "If Beats did anything, it got kids interested in audio again. We turned an entire generation on to sound," Iovine said in conversation with Walt Mossberg at the AllThingsD Dive Into Media conference here.But his third act is even bolder -- taking on Apple iTunes, GoogleSpotify and other music subscription services. Iovine has 100 people working on what he described as a "curated" music subscription service, called Beats, that he expects to launch this summer."There is a sea of music, an ocean of music and absolutely no curation for it. You friends can't currate for you. No one knows what song comes next," Iovine said. "Apple knows a lot about your music taste. Google knows a lot, and Facebook. But no one is using it to curate."For Iovine, knowing what song comes next is essential to the music listening experience. "No one listens to one song," he said. Iovine worked with Springsteen on "Born to Run," spending months working to put eight songs in the perfect order, and he believes that iPod shuffle and purely math-driven playlists don't present music in the right way. And, as with headphones, he believes that only people who come from the music culture can crack the code for a music service. "You want a trusted source to make a list with you," Iovine said. For that service, Beats will likely charge around $10 per month. Songza, a free streaming music service, also offers what it calls expert-made playlists for a variety of occasions.Iovine has enlisted music masters--artists, DJs and others with deep knowledge and experience in producing music--to create lists for a variety of music listener archetypes and situations. Beats bought the MOG music service last year as a foundation for the new service."Most tech companies never get curation right. It's not in their culture. We will be miles ahead of them," he said. "If you are going to the gym five days a week, we know that, and when you wake up we will have a list for you." The curation won't be math-free, Iovine said, but it will rely more on the human touch, marrying math and emotion. Beats users will be able to contribute to the music curation, but it wasn't clear as to how it will work with the trusted expert playlists.On the business side, Iovine has a larger vision than just curated lists for the masses who are going to the gym or commuting. The service could integrate ticket and merchandise sales; include photos, videos and other content associated with the music; and give artists more direct access to their fans. Iovine hired a CEO, Ian Rogers, the former head of Yahoo Music and Topspin Media, to bring Beats to life and also recruited Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails to focus on protecting the interests of artists. iTunes, Amazon and other services don't give artists the option to connect with fans buying or listening to their music.Music was a $41 billion business in 2001, Iovine said, but now it's only about $17 billion. "We are not getting back to $41 billion...iTunes needs a step forward. Iovine is taking that forward step with Beats, counting on longtime music industry connections, superior curation and a more equitable ecosystem for artists and labels to succeed where others have failed.
The 404 342- Where doctor says I need a 'backiotomy'
The 404 342: Where doctor says I need a 'backiotomy'
Dr. Todd Sinett is in today to talk about his revolutionary idea about chronic back pain and his book "The Truth About Back Pain: A Revolutionary, Individualized Approach to Diagnosing and Healing Back Pain."Meanwhile, Justin is still out with the swine flu, but Dr. Sinett more than fills the gap left by Justin's absence with his first appearance on The 404.We promise he'll be back again soon.There are times when we get a call from a PR rep about a possible guest and we get skeptical.After all, The 404 is a show ostensibly about technology and culture.But then we get gems like Dr. Michael Breus, the Sleep Doctor, and now Dr. Todd Sinett, the Back Doctor.According to the Back Doctor, there are three primary causes of back pain, and for the most part, we only treat the first, which is physical and structural.He says that, actually, digestive and mental health are incredibly important to the health of your back, and high stress plays a key role in back pain.On the show, he demonstrates some health exercises to strengthen your back.Additionally, he teaches us how to sit properly at work and eat properly at home.He doesn't believe that people "don't have time" to eat well.Apparently, salads and oatmeal every single day of your life isn't healthy for you.He even says that food from McDonald's occasionally is OK, as long as you eat a balanced diet every day.Check out today's show and call us out if we're talking crap about your health.Leave us a voice mail at 1-866-404-CNET (2638).It's all toll free.Finally, we love your e-mails to the show: the404 [at] cnet [com].EPISODE 342Download today's podcast Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video Dr. Todd Sinett's Web siteBuy "The Truth About Back Pain" from Amazon.comFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson Tang
Dr. Todd Sinett is in today to talk about his revolutionary idea about chronic back pain and his book "The Truth About Back Pain: A Revolutionary, Individualized Approach to Diagnosing and Healing Back Pain."Meanwhile, Justin is still out with the swine flu, but Dr. Sinett more than fills the gap left by Justin's absence with his first appearance on The 404.We promise he'll be back again soon.There are times when we get a call from a PR rep about a possible guest and we get skeptical.After all, The 404 is a show ostensibly about technology and culture.But then we get gems like Dr. Michael Breus, the Sleep Doctor, and now Dr. Todd Sinett, the Back Doctor.According to the Back Doctor, there are three primary causes of back pain, and for the most part, we only treat the first, which is physical and structural.He says that, actually, digestive and mental health are incredibly important to the health of your back, and high stress plays a key role in back pain.On the show, he demonstrates some health exercises to strengthen your back.Additionally, he teaches us how to sit properly at work and eat properly at home.He doesn't believe that people "don't have time" to eat well.Apparently, salads and oatmeal every single day of your life isn't healthy for you.He even says that food from McDonald's occasionally is OK, as long as you eat a balanced diet every day.Check out today's show and call us out if we're talking crap about your health.Leave us a voice mail at 1-866-404-CNET (2638).It's all toll free.Finally, we love your e-mails to the show: the404 [at] cnet [com].EPISODE 342Download today's podcast Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video Dr. Todd Sinett's Web siteBuy "The Truth About Back Pain" from Amazon.comFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson Tang
Let guests DJ your party
Let guests DJ your party
The real fun comes into play when a guest first picks a track they want to play. Jukebox Hero offers them three playback options. They can either add their song to the end of the queue for the price of one virtual token, or have the song play next for a few extra tokens, or have the song start playing immediately for even more tokens. Users are allotted 25 tokens to play with by default, and it's all funny-money. At no point do your guests have to cough up actual dough for the privilege of playing songs from your music collection. That would be lame. These virtual tokens are a great idea, though, since they prevent any single person from dominating the playlist. Also, as jukebox administrator, you can always dole out extra tokens to your guest to keep the good times rolling. You do this by selecting the gear icon in the upper right corner that only you can see. From here you can reset the tokens for everyone and even raise or lower the default number of tokens handed out. From the remote view, users can individually request more tokens, which you can approve or reject as you see fit.And that's about all there is to it. To get a better sense of what you're in for, sure to check out the video at the top of this post or the slideshow I made of several of the screenshots. And before the comment thread becomes a shouting match of all of the dozens of other ways to accomplish this same idea, let's recap what makes Jukebox Hero uniquely awesome: it's free, it works on both iPhone and Android, and all you need is your phone. There are plenty of remote apps out there that can control iTunes or Winamp running on your computer -- but if you want to get a jukebox started on a family road trip, a summer barbeque, or just not have an open computer in your living room, then this is a great way to go.
The real fun comes into play when a guest first picks a track they want to play. Jukebox Hero offers them three playback options. They can either add their song to the end of the queue for the price of one virtual token, or have the song play next for a few extra tokens, or have the song start playing immediately for even more tokens. Users are allotted 25 tokens to play with by default, and it's all funny-money. At no point do your guests have to cough up actual dough for the privilege of playing songs from your music collection. That would be lame. These virtual tokens are a great idea, though, since they prevent any single person from dominating the playlist. Also, as jukebox administrator, you can always dole out extra tokens to your guest to keep the good times rolling. You do this by selecting the gear icon in the upper right corner that only you can see. From here you can reset the tokens for everyone and even raise or lower the default number of tokens handed out. From the remote view, users can individually request more tokens, which you can approve or reject as you see fit.And that's about all there is to it. To get a better sense of what you're in for, sure to check out the video at the top of this post or the slideshow I made of several of the screenshots. And before the comment thread becomes a shouting match of all of the dozens of other ways to accomplish this same idea, let's recap what makes Jukebox Hero uniquely awesome: it's free, it works on both iPhone and Android, and all you need is your phone. There are plenty of remote apps out there that can control iTunes or Winamp running on your computer -- but if you want to get a jukebox started on a family road trip, a summer barbeque, or just not have an open computer in your living room, then this is a great way to go.
Are iOS apps more popular than 'American Idol'-
Are iOS apps more popular than 'American Idol'?
Games running on Apple's iOS are starting to match prime-time television shows in overall consumption, a new study from Flurry Analytics claims.According to the research company, 19 million people currently spend an average of 22 minutes each day playing iOS games, or accessing social networks on their iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. That total number of users easily eclipses viewership of Sunday Night Football games, "Undercover Boss," and other top shows. It's also just 4 million viewers shy of top show "American Idol."That said, Flurry's numbers could be quite low, compared to the real number of people using iOS apps each day. The company said its analytics tool is running on just 20 percent of the 250,000 applications currently available in Apple's App Store. The company also said its analysis for this study focused only on games and social-networking apps, which means that overall usage of all the apps in the store could be much higher.Comparing a television show and an iOS application can also be difficult. They exist in much different spaces. And they deliver much different experiences. It's also worth noting that no single game can even come close to matching the viewership of the top television shows. Flurry's figures are a grand total of all the apps it monitors.But Flurry's study is important--it's a proof of concept for advertisers. The company noted in a blog post announcing its findings that "these applications' reach takes place every day, 365 days a year." The company went on to say a single television show might air only 22 times per year, which means that "advertisers can reach a larger consumer audience through applications 15 times more frequently."It indeed looks as if advertisers are starting to see more value in mobile apps. A recent IDC study found that mobile advertising will reach $500 million this year. In 2009, that figure was estimated at $250 million.
Games running on Apple's iOS are starting to match prime-time television shows in overall consumption, a new study from Flurry Analytics claims.According to the research company, 19 million people currently spend an average of 22 minutes each day playing iOS games, or accessing social networks on their iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. That total number of users easily eclipses viewership of Sunday Night Football games, "Undercover Boss," and other top shows. It's also just 4 million viewers shy of top show "American Idol."That said, Flurry's numbers could be quite low, compared to the real number of people using iOS apps each day. The company said its analytics tool is running on just 20 percent of the 250,000 applications currently available in Apple's App Store. The company also said its analysis for this study focused only on games and social-networking apps, which means that overall usage of all the apps in the store could be much higher.Comparing a television show and an iOS application can also be difficult. They exist in much different spaces. And they deliver much different experiences. It's also worth noting that no single game can even come close to matching the viewership of the top television shows. Flurry's figures are a grand total of all the apps it monitors.But Flurry's study is important--it's a proof of concept for advertisers. The company noted in a blog post announcing its findings that "these applications' reach takes place every day, 365 days a year." The company went on to say a single television show might air only 22 times per year, which means that "advertisers can reach a larger consumer audience through applications 15 times more frequently."It indeed looks as if advertisers are starting to see more value in mobile apps. A recent IDC study found that mobile advertising will reach $500 million this year. In 2009, that figure was estimated at $250 million.
Apps inch up toward iTunes users' favorite activity
Apps inch up toward iTunes users' favorite activity
Apple's iTunes platform may have started with music in mind, but over the last couple years, a rival for people's attention has arisen from within, according to new research.Although 54 percent of U.S.-based iTunes users in 2010 headed to the software to listen to music, that figure dropped to 41 percent of users in 2013, according to new data from research firm NPD. At the same time, the amount of people downloading apps has jumped. For free apps, the figure has grown from 24 percent in 2010 to 35 percent in 2013. For paid apps, the figure has shifted from 12 percent in 2010 to 18 percent in 2013.Just to be clear, the figures don't add up to 100 percent because NPD didn't make it an either-or inquiry.Although it appears apps might eventually win out over music, both activities are extremely popular and iTunes itself continues to grow. According to NPD, iTunes now has 67 million users in the United States, up from 50 million in 2010.Related storiesDialed 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)Apple's iTunes platform was originally designed as a way for users to manage tracks and listen to songs. Over time, however, the platform has grown into a full-fledged marketplace, offering everything from games and movies to e-books and podcasts. Free apps, however, are becoming more and more significant.According to NPD, 95 percent of iOS users download free apps and, on average, have 35 free downloads on their devices. Paid app downloads have declined from 72 percent of users in 2012 to 69 percent this year, according to NPD.Not surprisingly, games are the most popular apps, with 81 percent of iOS users downloading free titles. Social-networking applications come in second with 70 percent usage.One other interesting tidbit on the state of music downloads: just 9 percent of iTunes users download a full digital album, compared with 29 percent who download individual songs.
Apple's iTunes platform may have started with music in mind, but over the last couple years, a rival for people's attention has arisen from within, according to new research.Although 54 percent of U.S.-based iTunes users in 2010 headed to the software to listen to music, that figure dropped to 41 percent of users in 2013, according to new data from research firm NPD. At the same time, the amount of people downloading apps has jumped. For free apps, the figure has grown from 24 percent in 2010 to 35 percent in 2013. For paid apps, the figure has shifted from 12 percent in 2010 to 18 percent in 2013.Just to be clear, the figures don't add up to 100 percent because NPD didn't make it an either-or inquiry.Although it appears apps might eventually win out over music, both activities are extremely popular and iTunes itself continues to grow. According to NPD, iTunes now has 67 million users in the United States, up from 50 million in 2010.Related storiesDialed 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)Apple's iTunes platform was originally designed as a way for users to manage tracks and listen to songs. Over time, however, the platform has grown into a full-fledged marketplace, offering everything from games and movies to e-books and podcasts. Free apps, however, are becoming more and more significant.According to NPD, 95 percent of iOS users download free apps and, on average, have 35 free downloads on their devices. Paid app downloads have declined from 72 percent of users in 2012 to 69 percent this year, according to NPD.Not surprisingly, games are the most popular apps, with 81 percent of iOS users downloading free titles. Social-networking applications come in second with 70 percent usage.One other interesting tidbit on the state of music downloads: just 9 percent of iTunes users download a full digital album, compared with 29 percent who download individual songs.
Apple's WWDC keynote- What didn't we get-
Apple's WWDC keynote: What didn't we get?
Apple touted several new and improved products at its keynote event at the Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, from a revamped iOS design to a music streaming service to a new MacBook Air. But some items were noticeably missing in action.Apple revealed several changes to its MacBook Air, including the adoption of Intel's fourth-generation Core "Haswell" processor, built-in support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and beefier battery life. But the new version of Apple's ultrabook will be stuck with the same resolution as always since the Retina Display wasn't on the list of enhancements.Although Apple touted a new Mac Pro, the company didn't announce anything new for the MacBook Pro. Mingchi Kuo of KGI Securities, an analyst who's usually on the money, predicted a slimmer design for the MacBook Pro as well as an upgrade to Intel's Haswell chip. But Apple didn't even mention its Pro notebook at the WWDC keynote event.Related postsIBM grabs largest enterprise cloud deploymentSmartphones to dominate PCs in Gartner forecastConti develops pedal to cut fuel, emissionsConsumers to spend big on mobile appsTesla Motors finalizes DOE loan for Model SApple was also mum with details on any new devices outside of its Mac lineup. So, there were no tidbits about an iPhone 5S, a low-cost iPhone, or new iPads or iPad Minis. Plus, no peeks at an Apple smartwatch or the much-rumored Apple television set. Earlier this year, Kuo and fellow Apple analyst Gene Munster had been eyeing a June announcement for a new iPhone.But the lack of news about these products wasn't exactly a surprise.At Apple's quarterly earnings announcement on April 23, CEO Tim Cook specifically said the company would announce some new products this fall. That means we likely won't hear a peep about new iPhones, iPads, or other gadgets until the summer is over.Are there any other missing products you expected Apple to announce at Monday's keynote event? Let us know in the comments section.
Apple touted several new and improved products at its keynote event at the Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, from a revamped iOS design to a music streaming service to a new MacBook Air. But some items were noticeably missing in action.Apple revealed several changes to its MacBook Air, including the adoption of Intel's fourth-generation Core "Haswell" processor, built-in support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and beefier battery life. But the new version of Apple's ultrabook will be stuck with the same resolution as always since the Retina Display wasn't on the list of enhancements.Although Apple touted a new Mac Pro, the company didn't announce anything new for the MacBook Pro. Mingchi Kuo of KGI Securities, an analyst who's usually on the money, predicted a slimmer design for the MacBook Pro as well as an upgrade to Intel's Haswell chip. But Apple didn't even mention its Pro notebook at the WWDC keynote event.Related postsIBM grabs largest enterprise cloud deploymentSmartphones to dominate PCs in Gartner forecastConti develops pedal to cut fuel, emissionsConsumers to spend big on mobile appsTesla Motors finalizes DOE loan for Model SApple was also mum with details on any new devices outside of its Mac lineup. So, there were no tidbits about an iPhone 5S, a low-cost iPhone, or new iPads or iPad Minis. Plus, no peeks at an Apple smartwatch or the much-rumored Apple television set. Earlier this year, Kuo and fellow Apple analyst Gene Munster had been eyeing a June announcement for a new iPhone.But the lack of news about these products wasn't exactly a surprise.At Apple's quarterly earnings announcement on April 23, CEO Tim Cook specifically said the company would announce some new products this fall. That means we likely won't hear a peep about new iPhones, iPads, or other gadgets until the summer is over.Are there any other missing products you expected Apple to announce at Monday's keynote event? Let us know in the comments section.
Apple's WWDC 2013 sells out in two minutes
Apple's WWDC 2013 sells out in two minutes
Well that was quick.After just 2 minutes, tickets for Apple's upcoming annual developers conference in San Francisco are gone. The show took 2 whole hours to sell out last year. Apple caught many developers by surprise last April when it began selling tickets immediately upon announcing the conference at 5:30 a.m. PT. This time around the company gave developers a little more than a day of advance notice. The event will be held June 10-14 at Moscone West Center.Apple's WWDC, or "dub-dub" as it's often referred to casually, is a mecca for Apple's third-party development community, given that it's the only Apple-run developer event of the year. The rest of Apple's product unveilings and software releases take place at press events, and there hasn't been one since the company unveiled the iPad Mini in October.AppleThe conference, which runs the whole week and costs $1,599 to attend, is made up of developer sessions and labs, and is staffed by some 1,000 of Apple's own engineers. However the main draw for outsiders is the keynote address that kicks it off, where the company has a long history of announcing new products. Last year the keynote speech was used to debut new notebooks, a price tag for OS X Mountain Lion, and the first preview of iOS 6, which went on to be released to the public three months later. This year, Apple has already said it will show off new versions of iOS and OS X to developers.Apple is not alone in the growing popularity of its developer events. Google, which hosts its annual Google I/O conference in the same location on May 15, had a sellout of this year's show in less than an hour. It was just 20 minutes the year before, a big surprise given that the 2010 version of the conference took 50 days before tickets were snapped up.
Well that was quick.After just 2 minutes, tickets for Apple's upcoming annual developers conference in San Francisco are gone. The show took 2 whole hours to sell out last year. Apple caught many developers by surprise last April when it began selling tickets immediately upon announcing the conference at 5:30 a.m. PT. This time around the company gave developers a little more than a day of advance notice. The event will be held June 10-14 at Moscone West Center.Apple's WWDC, or "dub-dub" as it's often referred to casually, is a mecca for Apple's third-party development community, given that it's the only Apple-run developer event of the year. The rest of Apple's product unveilings and software releases take place at press events, and there hasn't been one since the company unveiled the iPad Mini in October.AppleThe conference, which runs the whole week and costs $1,599 to attend, is made up of developer sessions and labs, and is staffed by some 1,000 of Apple's own engineers. However the main draw for outsiders is the keynote address that kicks it off, where the company has a long history of announcing new products. Last year the keynote speech was used to debut new notebooks, a price tag for OS X Mountain Lion, and the first preview of iOS 6, which went on to be released to the public three months later. This year, Apple has already said it will show off new versions of iOS and OS X to developers.Apple is not alone in the growing popularity of its developer events. Google, which hosts its annual Google I/O conference in the same location on May 15, had a sellout of this year's show in less than an hour. It was just 20 minutes the year before, a big surprise given that the 2010 version of the conference took 50 days before tickets were snapped up.
Apple's WWDC 2013 keynote- Join us Monday (live blog)
Apple's WWDC 2013 keynote: Join us Monday (live blog)
Editor's note: Apple cranked out the news during the WWDC keynote, from the Mac Pro and MacBook Air to iOS 7, Mac OS X Mavericks, and the long-awaited iTunes Radio. Follow all the news from WWDC 2013 here. Apple kicks off its annual developers conference Monday, June 10, and we'll be there to bring you all the news.The press conference, where the company has promised a first look at new versions of iOS and OS X, kicks off at 10 a.m. PT at the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco. We'll also be running a live video show starting at 9 a.m. PT. You can tune into both right here:CNET's live coverage of Apple's WWDC 2013 keynoteThe event will be Apple's first since showing off the iPad Mini, new iMacs, and several other product updates last October. The company has been unusually quiet during a period when it has typically unveiled new iPads and updated versions of its various software programs.Related storiesApple launches WWDC app in time for big showApple reaches iRadio deal with Warner Music, suggesting WWDC launchNew MacBook Pro and MacBook Air may debut at WWDCAt the event, Apple is expected to unveil new versions of iOS and OS X, the company's mobile and computer software operating systems. By this time last year Apple had already shown off the next version of OS X and ended up releasing it to consumers about a month later.Apple is also expected to put out updates to some of its Mac portables, which have gone nearly a year since their last refresh. CNET will use ScribbleLive to bring you live text and photos, blow by blow. We'll start the live blog about an hour before Apple officially kicks off its event. CNET editors Molly Wood, Brian Tong, and Donald Bell will get things started with running commentary which you'll be able to watch from the same link as our live blog above.Stay tuned for more on what we expect to see.Editors' note: The original version of this story was published June 4 at 4 a.m. PT.
Editor's note: Apple cranked out the news during the WWDC keynote, from the Mac Pro and MacBook Air to iOS 7, Mac OS X Mavericks, and the long-awaited iTunes Radio. Follow all the news from WWDC 2013 here. Apple kicks off its annual developers conference Monday, June 10, and we'll be there to bring you all the news.The press conference, where the company has promised a first look at new versions of iOS and OS X, kicks off at 10 a.m. PT at the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco. We'll also be running a live video show starting at 9 a.m. PT. You can tune into both right here:CNET's live coverage of Apple's WWDC 2013 keynoteThe event will be Apple's first since showing off the iPad Mini, new iMacs, and several other product updates last October. The company has been unusually quiet during a period when it has typically unveiled new iPads and updated versions of its various software programs.Related storiesApple launches WWDC app in time for big showApple reaches iRadio deal with Warner Music, suggesting WWDC launchNew MacBook Pro and MacBook Air may debut at WWDCAt the event, Apple is expected to unveil new versions of iOS and OS X, the company's mobile and computer software operating systems. By this time last year Apple had already shown off the next version of OS X and ended up releasing it to consumers about a month later.Apple is also expected to put out updates to some of its Mac portables, which have gone nearly a year since their last refresh. CNET will use ScribbleLive to bring you live text and photos, blow by blow. We'll start the live blog about an hour before Apple officially kicks off its event. CNET editors Molly Wood, Brian Tong, and Donald Bell will get things started with running commentary which you'll be able to watch from the same link as our live blog above.Stay tuned for more on what we expect to see.Editors' note: The original version of this story was published June 4 at 4 a.m. PT.
How to set up Chrome Remote Desktop for iOS
Chrome Remote Desktop is hardly a new service from Google. It's been around for years, allowing users to access a Windows or Mac computer from another computer or an Android device. When it came to this Google service, iOS had been left out.
Then on Monday Google unceremoniously released the iOS Chrome Remote Desktop app into the App Store, making it super-easy to access your computer (or a family member's computer) from your mobile device wherever you have a connection.
Before we dive into setting up the iOS app -- or lack of required setup -- you'll need to make sure you have two things installed on the computer you plan on connecting to.
Chrome Remote Desktop app in the Chrome Web Store.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
The first is, naturally, Chrome. Second, you'll need to install the desktop version of the Chrome Remote Desktop app from the Chrome Web Store.
Once you have those two items installed, launch the app on your desktop and follow the prompts to complete the setup process. A video walking you through it all can be found here. Trust me when I say, you need very little technical expertise to get it installed.
The most important aspect of setting up the service is to remember your PIN. You did write it down, didn't you? OK, good.
chrome-remote-desktop-screens.jpg
Chrome Remote Desktop on an iOS device.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Now that you have a PIN and the app is installed on your computer, download the iOS app from the App Store here. After its installed on your device, sign into the same Google account you used in Chrome and your computer should show up in the list. Tapping on the computer name will launch a remote session, where you'll be prompted to enter your PIN. After successfully entering it, you'll gain complete control over your computer.
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