Apple launches iTunes Match cloud music service

After months of waiting, another massive piece of Apple’s cloud giving has finally been released to the public: iTunes Match.

You might keep in mind the name from approach back at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference 2011 in June, when then-CEO Steve Jobs announced the service as a part of Apple’s iOS five operating system. in conjunction with iTunes within the Cloud, iTunes Match permits users access to their music wherever they're, with the employment of many completely different devices.

Unlike Google Music or the Amazon Cloud Player, each streaming music services where users upload their actual music tracks to a cloud server and then stream them back to numerous devices, iTunes Match includes minimal actual uploading. Instead, iTunes scans users’ music libraries and “matches” all the tracks that are contained in Apple’s servers. something you bought from iTunes goes in automatically, and the rest is matched by the system to convey you a high-quality 256 kilobits per second version of the track, notwithstanding whether or not your copy is of a lesser quality.

Anything from your library that Apple doesn’t have in its iTunes servers and can’t match gets uploaded to Apple’s cloud servers, that still provides you access to your tracks notwithstanding you didn’t purchase them from iTunes. And with iTunes within the Cloud, you’re capable of seeing each track you’ve purchased with the service and might redownload it at can (instead of simply streaming with iTunes Match). As Mashable found out in its review of the service, you'll be able to produce playlist and sensible playlists on your iOS devices, and iTunes within the Cloud can share them along with your different devices, like your computers (and vice versa).

According to laptop World, however, there are still some limitations on the iTunes Match service. in contrast to Amazon or Google’s cloud music services, iTunes Match doesn’t nonetheless support massive music libraries – users are restricted to twenty five,000 songs apiece for his or her $25 per year price of entry. However, something you get from iTunes doesn’t count toward that total; it’s solely tracks that you simply haven’t purchased through Apple. Also, a minimum of for currently, iTunes Match is barely offered within the us.

The and facet is that iTunes Match permits die-hard iTunes users a cloud various to the services offered from the likes of Google, Amazon and players like mSpot. Services offered by iCloud mean that Apple users don’t need to keep plenty of music tracks stored on a machine for all eternity: New cloud-based services mean that if you’ve got a reliable web association, you may presumably ditch all of your stored copies of songs and simply stream to your heart’s content.

Apple’s iCloud service and every one the items that keep company with it are the newest iterations of its MobileMe service, however despite their similarities, it looks Apple has rethought how it handles the cloud when the relative failure of the MobileMe service. Whereas that service handled countless various things like calendars, tasks, email and thus on (many of that are still handled by iCloud), when it involves a subscription service, Apple is streamlining its approach all the way down to simply music and maybe another items of purchased content. during this approach, it looks that Apple are ready to (hopefully) avoid service interruptions and keep customers happy as they transition to the cloud. It’s possible that iTunes Match are a well-liked service if Apple has learned from its mistakes and runs iTunes Match also because it sounds like it'll.

Apple is Removing Cloud Music Apps from the App Store

In the latest example of Apple’s worry of competition, the corporate has removed a third-party app from its App Store that permits individuals to access music stored on Amazon’s Cloud Drive.

Amazon’s Cloud Drive could be a direct competitor of Apple’s iCloud service, that stores a range of content — music, books, photos, contacts, calendars, and a lot of — related to a person’s Apple ID account and pushes it to all or any their iOS devices.

While Amazon doesn’t have a Cloud Drive iOS app, development company Interactive Innovative Solutions (IIS) has developed an application, known as aMusic, which will enable iOS device house owners to access Amazon’s service. However, the aMusic app was recently removed attributable to legal problems with the music business, in keeping with a report from Evolver.fm.

Unlike each Apple’s iCloud and Google’s Music Beta services, Amazon’s Cloud Drive doesn’t catalog all the licensed music in a very person’s account. however cataloging is vital to music labels as a result of it allows them to require a cut when individuals upload copyrighted music to their account. Since Amazon isn’t lucrative for the music labels, the labels had no drawback contacting their buddies at Apple to urge any Cloud Drive app or service removed.

Normally, i might simply blame the music labels for this mess, however Apple is additionally delaying an update to IIS’ Google Music Beta app, gMusic. “I submitted it two weeks ago. each different update I even have submitted at intervals the two weeks has been approved in beneath eight hours. thus undecided what the deal is,” said IIS’ James Clancey in a very statement to Evolver.fm.

I can’t entirely blame Apple for its behavior, since it clearly has no incentive to permit its customers to use a competitor’s music service like Music Beta or Cloud Drive on iOS devices. Doing thus would provide individuals a reason to not register for Apple’s iTunes Match — a $25-per-year music service that has legal access to any songs currently in a very user’s iTunes music library.

At identical time, it's obtaining slightly ridiculous for Apple to stay removing all potential competitors within the streaming media front out of worry that it'd take business away. Yesterday, I reported on the ridiculous lengths Apple has gone to to prevent iOS customers from viewing streaming video service Hulu on a tv set.

I highly doubt Apple’s hardcore fan base goes to prevent using Apple services simply because there are competitors obtainable. maybe a number of them can, however not enough to create a big impact on business selections.

Apple iOS5 vs iCloud

Apple iOS5 vs iCloud

Considering that Apple has been talking concerning iOS five for many months currently, and developers are testing it out and showing it off for nearly that long, I’m not reaching to concentrate on it an excessive amount of. I too are employing a developer build of iOS five for months, and it's while not question a worthwhile upgrade. If you've got an iPhone 3GS or iPhone four, you fully have to be compelled to download it immediately (starting when it’s obtainable tomorrow). With the iPhone 4S, all the new options merely run faster and somewhat bit a lot of smoothly.

The best addition to iOS five is that the revamped Notifications system. Yes, it’s a little just like the system that Android and webOS have had for a jiffy, however once more, Apple took their time to form certain they did this right. Gone are the annoying blue pop-ups that may stray when another notification came in. currently you've got a full-on notification center to stay track of everything you miss when you’re aloof from your phone or just not within the mood to ascertain it. Again, having used it for some months currently, I’m spoiled. there's no means I might return to the previous system.



Other key new options of iOS five we have a tendency toll as|together with} Twitter integration (which we talked concerning a lot of in-depth here), the new iMessage (SMS killer), Reminders (an Apple-built to-do list), and a faster version of the Safari net browser.

But the largest modification of iOS five is also that you simply will currently setup and manage your iOS device while not having to use a laptop or a Mac in any respect. after you boot up a brand new device, a brief tutorial walks you thru the way to enable the services you would like to use, and activate your phone. It’s fast and painless.

You can additionally currently use iCloud to keep a copy your phone and for the don’t-call-it-syncing of your information. iTunes within the Cloud and Photo Stream are nice additions for folks that merely don't need to manage content through the iTunes desktop software. Apple comes nearer to an “it simply works” system than something I’ve seen previously. Regular folks are able to use this.

Source: Apple iOS5 vs iCloud

Apple Resetting iCloud Backup Data on Sep 22; iOS 5 Launch Soon

Apple posted an announcement on its developer boards on Sunday, warning existing users of the beta builds of iOS 5 and Mac OS X that the backup data on iCloud will be removed from its servers on September 22, according to a report by 9to5Mac:

On Thursday, September 22, the iCloud Backup data will be reset. Backing up to iCloud or restoring from an iCloud backup will be unavailable from 9 AM PDT – 5 PM PDT. If you attempt a backup or restore during this time, you will receive an alert that the backup or restore was not successful. After this reset, you will be unable to restore from any backup created prior to September 22. A full backup will happen automatically the next time your device backs up to iCloud.

The move reinforces rumors that Apple is launching iOS 5 and the next-generation iPhone, either an iPhone 5 or iPhone 4s, or both, sometime next week.

Since Apple has already missed June, late August, and early September launches of the iPhone 5, rumors we'd previously picked up, the latest blogosphere buzz pins an announcement from Apple in late September with products hitting stores on October 7.

Apple's iCloud—Steve Jobs' last major announcement as CEO—is a way for users to store and quickly access vast amounts of data through a remote server. Developers were given beta access over the summer. Jobs said Apple will launch iCloud this fall.

Apple CEO Tim Cook Statement: In New Charity Matching Program

Team:

I am very happy to announce that we are kicking off a matching gift program for charitable donations. We are all really inspired by the generosity of our co-workers who give back to the community and this program is going to help that individual giving go even farther.

Starting September 15, when you give money to a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Apple will match your gift dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000 annually. This program will be for fulltime employees in the US at first, and we’ll expand it to other parts of the world over time.

Thank you all for working so hard to make a difference, both here at Apple and in the lives of others. I am incredibly proud to be part of this team.

If you’d like more information on the program, you can get it on HRWeb, which can be easily accessed through AppleWeb.

Tim

Apple iStores start iCloud and iOS 5 Mobile Operating System Training

In yet one more sign of an imminent launch of Apple Inc.’s iCloud service and iOS five mobile operating system, the tech giant’s stores have begun to supply coaching programs for the 2 upcoming offerings.

Apple enthusiast web site 9to5mac.com cited sources who said coaching with retail store workers has started on the iOS 5 and iCloud.

“Training is completed through a replacement section inside the company’s recently released internal RetailMe application," it cited the sources as saying.



The site noted Apple generally rolls out major iOS releases within the days surrounding new iPhone launches.

On the opposite hand, Apple Stores sometimes begin coaching of recent software in an exceedingly number of weeks leading up to a respective product launch.

“Apple starting their iOS five coaching inside the previous couple of days might mean a launch ahead of the recently rumored dates of mid-to-late October," it said.

Yet another “evidence" of Apple nearing completion of iCloud may be a pickup of iCloud for Mac and Mac OS 10.7.2 betas to developers, the location said.

“If anything, this iOS 5 and iCloud training news helps support our original report of late September iPhone 5 pre-orders and an early October launch," it said.- TJD, GMA News

It likewise cited Apple’s recent betas of iOS five that centered on performance, speed, and therefore the removal of bugs.

Also, the location noted Apple Store workers have begun receiving detailed data on Apple’s upcoming iCloud service.

It said Apple had originally said iCloud would be launching alongside iOS five – a necessary move owing to iCloud’s integration into the next-generation iPhone, iPad, iPod bit devices and therefore the Apple TV operating system.

Apple vs. Android

Companies concerned in mobile tech flip to patents to safeguard analysis and innovation from being employed by competitors. obtaining intellectual property (IP) protected could be a major effort by all firms, not solely to safeguard its own IP however to stay from obtaining challenged by competitors as is occurring frequently. Apple and HTC are going head-to-head currently over patent infringement, and also the former has won its initial victory in court where it's been determined that HTC has improperly used Apple’s IP in a number of its Android smartphones. This has brought Apple and Android to a vital crossroad which will possible impact the mobile section for a protracted time.

HTC has stated it's willing to barter with Apple over the patents beneath litigation. That’s not stunning, as firms are invariably willing to avoid legal battles when it makes monetary sense to try to to therefore. HTC is terribly} very vulnerable position having a court already dominated against it, therefore it should count on negotiating a license agreement with Apple to stay manufacturing Android phones. What isn’t clear is what Apple’s response to HTC are going to be relating to such a license deal.

HTC recently announced it had been shopping for graphics company S3. This was in little doubt owing to the legal state of affairs with Apple, as S3 has won infringement suits against Apple. HTC most likely hopes to trade IP licenses with Apple to create the infringement selections against each side depart. Apple hasn’t acknowledged this case nonetheless, and possibly can’t till HTC closes the deal to shop for S3.

Apple isn't within the business of licensing its technology, and also the company is in such a robust monetary position there's extremely no reason for it to try to to therefore. HTC is maybe able to hand over a billion bucks or therefore to create the Apple state of affairs depart, however this cash won’t extremely impact Apple’s core business. there's a mistaken belief that firms like Apple should license their patented technology to competitors, however that’s not the case. Apple might merely tell HTC no deal, and acquire injunctions to prevent them from manufacturing any Android devices within the future.

I will envision Steve Jobs showing on camera for a straightforward statement in reaction to the outcry that might happen ought to Apple refuse to take care of HTC. He would possibly denote that Apple isn't within the business of licensing its technology, it builds things. Things based mostly on technology it develops, and it recommends that HTC and others do a similar.

If Apple puts HTC out of the Android device business, its next order would possible be to travel when Samsung. Samsung is drawing near sturdy within the mobile section, due primarily to its Android business. Apple laid the groundwork to travel when Samsung with the present suits for copying style, and also the next step are going to be to file infringement suits for a similar Android technology it's successfully defended in court against HTC. that might nearly be a slam-dunk.

That would pave the thanks to stop Samsung from selling Android devices since the infringed technology is really a part of Android. With the highest 2 Android device manufacturers out of play, the platform would be in serious hassle. that's when Apple would possibly finally go directly when Google for developing the infringing Android platform.

However this shakes out it's progressing to be a bumpy ride for Android device manufacturers. Apple was sensible to travel when them and not Google, because it keeps the platform beneath a dark cloud for a extended amount. it's not sure that Apple can ultimately win all legal battles against Android, however the ruling against HTC offers it a good begin.

Upcoming Apple iCloud Features in New OSX 10.7.2

Recent findings recommend that Apple’s iCloud service is obtaining shut. Apple is as a result of unharness the highly awaited cloud service when iOS five launches later the autumn, however the new options released to developers via OSX 10.7.2 may probably be an enormous step towards an earlier unharness in September.

The new OSX 10.7.2 released to developers is a sign that Apple is actually attending to have most likely the foremost advanced cloud syncing service this fall.


For example, iCloud appears to own its own dedicated section for Mail, Contacts & Calendars preferences which will permit us to setup selective pushes to Apple’s cloud counting on what proportion storage we'd like to use for syncing our knowledge.

According to AppleInsider, the new iCloud service can most likely have choices to selectively enable or disable mail syncing, however conjointly the power to try and do identical for documents, Photo Stream, and different bandwidth-heavy things.

The pictures shared by AppleInsider show that the OSX beta includes iOS backups and different things. a remarkable new feature is that the “Buy a lot of Storage” button, that appears to point that users are going to be ready to purchase a lot of syncing capability beyond the free 5GB given by Apple. No pricing details are found however. additionally, developers will currently check iCloud capabilities for Mac applications yet.

The official switch to iCloud isn't due till this fall. However, these new pictures and details show that Apple is nearly able to open its cloud to all or any folks. Get your iPad, iPhone and iPod bit prepared. keep tuned!

Haverty Says Apple's ICloud May Be `Big Barn Burner'

Haverty Says Apple's ICloud May Be `Big Barn Burner'

Lawrence Haverty, portfolio manager at Gamco Investors Inc., talks about Apple Inc.'s third-quarter profit and the company's product pipeline. Net income in the period more than doubled to $7.31 billion, or $7.79 a share, Apple said yesterday in a statement.

Why People Want to Use Apple iCloud?

Apple iCloud News

The new cloud computing service from Apple, iCloud, permits users to store just about all of their information on remote servers. Apple has place an awful ton of cash into this project, from paying $4.5 million for the domain name to investing $500 million in an exceedingly purpose designed information center in North Carolina.

Clearly they see iCloud as a significant part for the long run of computing, and simply as Microsoft are pushing their biggest product, Microsoft workplace, to run along similar principles, thus Apple is adjusting things to put their key product – like iTunes – within the cloud, utilizing iCloud because the good storage and delivery system to moveable and wireless devices alike.

These 5 reasons for using iCloud options ought to prove simply how exciting this all is…

Apple iCloud - iTunes

Apple has gone to an awful ton of bother making certain that huge record labels like EMI, Warner and Sony are concerned with the amendment to iTunes that permits you to wirelessly download you bought music from iTunes to any of your iDevices, while not having to resort to wireless sync. This actually looks like a small relaxing of the foundations on how iTunes content is employed, {and actually|and positively|and definitely} with the extra giving of a $25 per month service that provides DRM free versions of your tracks in 256 kbps AAC format it certainly looks that Apple are addressing issues over the DRM restrictions via iCloud.

Apple iCloud - App Store and iBookstore

The central information server nature of the iCloud permits you to require advantage of viewing an equivalent information in multiple places, from multiple devices. think about it as an IMAP email account, where an equivalent folders and information are synced within the same method, and you ought to be pretty shut.

This centralization not solely advantages iTunes, however. The App Store and iBookstore currently permit you to simply download purchased apps and books to any of your devices, instead of simply the pc, phone or pill that they were purchased on. It’s conjointly a lot of easier to look at purchase history, thus due to iCloud all of those options are tightened up!

Apple iCloud - Contacts, Calendar and Mail

While the recent MobileMe service might need offered an internet part to those options, they need been rewritten for iCloud, and can be accessible for free of charge when iCloud launches. this implies that emails, calendar things and contacts will all be synched effortlessly via the cloud to computers, phones and tablets, enabling you to stay track of where you would like to be, when, and with whom.

As with the opposite examples shown here, no cable is required for this cloud sync – all you would like may be a wireless or mobile web connection!

Apple iCloud Storage

In addition to apps, music, emails and photos, the iCloud system conjointly offers seamless storage of documents, with the power to sync Pages, Numbers and Keynote documents effortlessly. These are then created accessible to the rather generous five GB of storage provided only for document!

Therefore, if you have got any appropriate apps for gap these file varieties on your iPad or iPhone, you'll be able to simply open files on the opt for no matter purpose; you would possibly be operating remotely, or have left your laptop behind when about to run a Keynote presentation. In cases like this, having access to iCloud storage from an iPad or iPhone might prove very important.

Photo Stream

Finally, you not have to be compelled to worry regarding the trouble of keeping photos synced across many various devices, due to Photo Stream, an iCloud primarily based syncing version of Flickr.

Using Photo Stream you'll be able to instantly sync photos across all devices, and also the last a thousand photos are stored within the cloud. Apple offers users thirty days to maneuver photos stored on iCloud into albums so as to stay the photographs permanently, and also the storage for these is separate to that of the most iCloud storage!

These options are solely the tip of the iceberg of what's coming back with iCloud – we’ll be taking a glance at all over the approaching weeks, however don’t be shocked to check them added to with alternative widespread Apple services!