Check out these great music streaming apps for Windows Phone
Price: 30-day free trial;$9.99/month If you're using a Windows Phone, you're likely familiar with Microsoft's Xbox Music app. It's more of a traditional music store, in the vein of something like iTunes; you can browse for new songs, listen to 30-second snippets, and buy the tracks or albums you like. Paying $10 a month gets you access to Xbox Music Pass, which unlocks unlimited, ad-free music streaming and offline listening on just about every device under the sun: there are Xbox Music apps for iOS and Android, and you can also listen to music on Windows PCs and on the Web. And then there's the Radio and Smart DJ tools, which will build smart playlists on the fly of music related to artists you like. That Xbox Music pass becomes especially valuable if you also own an Xbox 360 and Xbox One, as you can stream music videos too. There's also a 30-day free trial, so you can spend a month giving it a whirl to see if the music you want is available. What's great: Support for plenty of platforms and extra benefits for Xbox fans make this a solid option if you're already enmeshed in Microsoft's ecosystem. What's not: There's no free, ad-supported option, so if you're wary of paying a subscription for streaming music, this one likely won't be for you.Pandora Pandora is one of the more popular music streaming services around.Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET Price: Free; $4.99/month to remove ads Pandora is one of the oldest and most popular streaming services, and its Windows Phone app is one of the more robust ones you'll find. For the uninitiated, the service is basically a do-it-yourself Internet radio station: pick an artist or song you like, and it'll attempt to line up tracks that should match your tastes. You can't build playlists of favorite tracks, though; instead, you'll create radio stations that remember your preferences. The app does give you an option to buy songs you like on Xbox Music, so you can check them out later. It also offers a Live Tile that'll show you what track is currently playing, and it can take over your lock screen, so you can see track info without unlocking your phone.You can even pin the radio stations you create to your home screen, which is a great way to get right to the music you want to listen to.I prefer a more hands-on approach to curating a streaming music library, but if you just want music you like playing in the background, this might be the app for you. It's also free, though there are ads. To get rid of them, you can sign up for a Pandora One premium account for a mere $5 a month. What's great: Pandora is a great way to discover new music based on your existing favorites and offers neat Windows Phone-only features. What's not: There's no way to create playlists of particular tracks, nor offline playback. Spotify Spotify's Windows Phone app lags behind other mobile platforms.Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET Price: Free; $9.99/month for more features Spotify is a popular music streaming option that's available on every platform under the sun, and the Windows Phone incarnation is a solid effort. It's really attractive, adopting Windows Phone's flat aesthetic to create its own singular look and feel for fans of the operating system. But the app lags behind the versions on other platforms, which can create big problems if you plan on using Spotify elsewhere. Earlier this year, Spotify changed the way its apps organize music. Instead of "starring" songs and creating a favorite music playlist, you can now simply add music you like to an all-encompassing music library. The Windows Phone app has yet to be updated, and it's still stuck on the Starred music system. Songs you star will still appear on a generic "Starred music" playlist, and you can create your own playlists, as expected. But if you also use Spotify on the Web or a non-Windows Phone device, there's no elegant way to get the music you've added to your general library onto your Windows Phone, short of creating a whole bunch of playlists.If this seems like a minor inconvenience to you, then there's a good chance you'll like Spotify -- an update should alleviate that complaint, too. Spotify is also free to try (with ads), so there's no harm in signing up. A premium account will set you back $10 a month, but it removes ads and offers offline playback. What's great: Spotify is available on just about every platform under the sun, including the Web, so you'll always have access to your music. What's not: The lack of support for Spotify's new Your Music library makes the Windows Phone vastly inferior if you're using Spotify elsewhere.Slacker Radio Slacker Radio offers plenty of stations to choose from.Screenshots by Nate Ralph/CNET Price: Free; $3.99 and $9.99 monthly subscription plans for more features Slacker has a lot in common with Pandora. It's a streaming radio service that lets you build stations around particular artists and songs, and then finds related music you might also like. In some respects, Slacker goes quite a bit further: artist- and genre-centric music stations are joined by proper radio stations with DJ personalities and the like, so you can get something like the terrestrial-radio experience on your Windows Phone. Or on the Web, or iOS and Android devices -- Slacker is available there, too. Slacker's interface is a bit garish. The resolution of the album art on the playback screen is really low, and advertisements run along the bottom of the currently playing track; that's in addition to the ads that'll occasionally interrupt music playback. And while the app also offers more robust features, like the ability to create a radio station for a single artist, download music, and listen to radio stations from media outlets like ABC and ESPN, all of that is locked behind a paywall: $4 a month for an enhanced radio experience, and $10 for on-demand music. What's great: Slacker's radio stations are a great way to replicate the old-fashioned radio experience on your phone. What's not: Most of the best features are locked behind a paywall, and a basic account doesn't get you much more than competing services.
Report- Apple iAds deals could cost $1 million
Report: Apple iAds deals could cost $1 million
And marketers who want to be part of the launch of iAd, Apple's new platform for serving ads on its mobile devices, could pay as much as $10 million for the privilege, said the Journal, citing a source familiar with the matter. At the moment, advertisers reportedly pay somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000 for similar placement on mobile phone apps.Set to launch with Apple's new iPhone OS 4.0 in June, iAd will give marketers the ability to embed dynamic and interactive ads within a mobile app. In his iPhone OS 4.0 demo earlier this month, Apple CEO Steve Jobs touted the ability of iAd to smoothly display ads within an app rather than bring the user to a separate Web page.The process and price scheme for advertisers starts with the banner ads that attempt to lure people to view the full ad. Advertisers will have to pay Apple a penny each time a user sees a banner ad and then an additional $2 if the user clicks on the ad, according to the Journal. Given enough views and clicks, a large ad buy could easily cost an advertiser $1 million.Advertisers will be able to target specific ads to users based on such factors as their iTunes download choices and their location, though they won't be able to direct ads based on a user's personal information. Initially, Apple will create the ads itself to ensure that they meet a certain style, format, and functionality. But the company plans to eventually release a developers kit to allow advertisers to build their own ads. Even then, each ad will also have to go through a review process at Apple to determine if it meets the company's approval.Despite the high visibility and potential profits, at least one advertiser quoted in the Journal story expressed concern over Apple's initial control of the ads. "As a creative director, I can completely understand that they created this new baby and they want to make sure it gets born looking gorgeous," said Lars Bastholm, chief digital creative officer at WPP's Ogilvy, according to the Journal. "But as a creative director, I don't feel completely comfortable letting Apple do the creative."Jobs has also promoted iAd as a way for developers offering free and inexpensive apps to recoup some of their development costs. On its end, Apple would sell and serve the ads, taking in 40 percent of the sales and leaving 60 percent for developers who embed the ads in their apps.Apple has set a date of June 7-11 for its upcoming World Wide Developers Conference, at which time the company will offer sessions for developers interested in creating apps for the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0. The new iAd advertisements should start popping up on the iPhone and iPod Touch in June, followed by the iPad later in the year, according to the source cited by the Journal.
And marketers who want to be part of the launch of iAd, Apple's new platform for serving ads on its mobile devices, could pay as much as $10 million for the privilege, said the Journal, citing a source familiar with the matter. At the moment, advertisers reportedly pay somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000 for similar placement on mobile phone apps.Set to launch with Apple's new iPhone OS 4.0 in June, iAd will give marketers the ability to embed dynamic and interactive ads within a mobile app. In his iPhone OS 4.0 demo earlier this month, Apple CEO Steve Jobs touted the ability of iAd to smoothly display ads within an app rather than bring the user to a separate Web page.The process and price scheme for advertisers starts with the banner ads that attempt to lure people to view the full ad. Advertisers will have to pay Apple a penny each time a user sees a banner ad and then an additional $2 if the user clicks on the ad, according to the Journal. Given enough views and clicks, a large ad buy could easily cost an advertiser $1 million.Advertisers will be able to target specific ads to users based on such factors as their iTunes download choices and their location, though they won't be able to direct ads based on a user's personal information. Initially, Apple will create the ads itself to ensure that they meet a certain style, format, and functionality. But the company plans to eventually release a developers kit to allow advertisers to build their own ads. Even then, each ad will also have to go through a review process at Apple to determine if it meets the company's approval.Despite the high visibility and potential profits, at least one advertiser quoted in the Journal story expressed concern over Apple's initial control of the ads. "As a creative director, I can completely understand that they created this new baby and they want to make sure it gets born looking gorgeous," said Lars Bastholm, chief digital creative officer at WPP's Ogilvy, according to the Journal. "But as a creative director, I don't feel completely comfortable letting Apple do the creative."Jobs has also promoted iAd as a way for developers offering free and inexpensive apps to recoup some of their development costs. On its end, Apple would sell and serve the ads, taking in 40 percent of the sales and leaving 60 percent for developers who embed the ads in their apps.Apple has set a date of June 7-11 for its upcoming World Wide Developers Conference, at which time the company will offer sessions for developers interested in creating apps for the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0. The new iAd advertisements should start popping up on the iPhone and iPod Touch in June, followed by the iPad later in the year, according to the source cited by the Journal.
Facebook throws potentially suicidal users a Lifeline
Facebook throws potentially suicidal users a Lifeline
Facebook announced today that it's working with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on a program designed to help save lives. The new service will enable Facebook users to click on a link and be taken to a page where they can enter into a live chat with a suicide prevention specialist.There is also a reporting link where users can alert Facebook, if they see something on a person's profile that causes them to think that the person is in severe distress. Facebook will send a message to that person to encourage them to contact the Lifeline.The company isn't using technology or people to look for suicidal posts. It is relying on users to reach out.In the past, Facebook would contact the Lifeline with the name, e-mail address, and city of anyone who had been reported as potentially suicidal, but with this new system, the communication goes only to the person in distress, according to Lidia Bernik, associate project director of the Lifeline (scroll down for the full podcast interview).Service lets users chat with a suicide prevention specialist.Screenshot by Larry Magid/CNETThe Lifeline has been working with Facebook since 2006, according to Bernik, "to basically reach out to individuals who are flagged or reported for suicidal content." She said the Lifeline has heard from its users that "a lot of people would rather communicate via chat or text, as opposed to calling." She added that "this is an attempt to reach people in a medium where they are most comfortable." The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached via chat or by phone at 800-273-TALKScreenshot by Larry Magid/CNETBernik said "it's probably pretty surprising to folks how many people will disclose thoughts about suicide on Facebook."She saidLifeline encourages people to "reach out directly to their friends, and offer them the Lifeline and offer them support, but if they don't feel comfortable doing so, they can also report it, and Facebook will do the same thing."In a guest post linked from the Facebook safety page, Dr. Regina Benjamin, the Surgeon General of the United States," said, "I'm excited about the new initiative to augment its response to potentially suicidal members by offering the opportunity for a private chat with a trained crisis representative from the Suicide Prevention Lifeline in addition to providing the Lifeline's phone number."Disclosure: Larry Magid is co-director of ConnectSafely.org, which receives financial support from Facebook. ConnectSafely was involved in some early meetings between Facebook and suicide prevention experts. Click below to listen to seven-minute interview Listen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
Facebook announced today that it's working with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on a program designed to help save lives. The new service will enable Facebook users to click on a link and be taken to a page where they can enter into a live chat with a suicide prevention specialist.There is also a reporting link where users can alert Facebook, if they see something on a person's profile that causes them to think that the person is in severe distress. Facebook will send a message to that person to encourage them to contact the Lifeline.The company isn't using technology or people to look for suicidal posts. It is relying on users to reach out.In the past, Facebook would contact the Lifeline with the name, e-mail address, and city of anyone who had been reported as potentially suicidal, but with this new system, the communication goes only to the person in distress, according to Lidia Bernik, associate project director of the Lifeline (scroll down for the full podcast interview).Service lets users chat with a suicide prevention specialist.Screenshot by Larry Magid/CNETThe Lifeline has been working with Facebook since 2006, according to Bernik, "to basically reach out to individuals who are flagged or reported for suicidal content." She said the Lifeline has heard from its users that "a lot of people would rather communicate via chat or text, as opposed to calling." She added that "this is an attempt to reach people in a medium where they are most comfortable." The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached via chat or by phone at 800-273-TALKScreenshot by Larry Magid/CNETBernik said "it's probably pretty surprising to folks how many people will disclose thoughts about suicide on Facebook."She saidLifeline encourages people to "reach out directly to their friends, and offer them the Lifeline and offer them support, but if they don't feel comfortable doing so, they can also report it, and Facebook will do the same thing."In a guest post linked from the Facebook safety page, Dr. Regina Benjamin, the Surgeon General of the United States," said, "I'm excited about the new initiative to augment its response to potentially suicidal members by offering the opportunity for a private chat with a trained crisis representative from the Suicide Prevention Lifeline in addition to providing the Lifeline's phone number."Disclosure: Larry Magid is co-director of ConnectSafely.org, which receives financial support from Facebook. ConnectSafely was involved in some early meetings between Facebook and suicide prevention experts. Click below to listen to seven-minute interview Listen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
The 404 694- Where all kids in the future wear their pants inside out (podcast)
The 404 694: Where all kids in the future wear their pants inside out (podcast)
For example, cops in the 21st century may not have scrolling LED hats, but walk into any mall and you'll see a dude walking around in an LED message belt buckle. Same goes for bar code license plates and modern vehicle identification numbers.Be sure to check to see if your local movie theater is screening the movie tonight at 7 p.m., exactly 25 years from when Marty first went back in time!Halloween is coming up fast, and the holiday wouldn't be complete without the annual American tradition of forcing your dog to wear uncomfortable costumes for the enjoyment of others. On Saturday I attended the yearly Halloween dog parade in Tompkins Square Park, so check out that link to see some of the funnier costumes, like the "Tron" console, a couple of bedbugs, and my favorite: Antoine Dogson.In other nerdly news, 23-year-old Brittney Schnecks just finished rebuilding her 1994 Dodge Caravan to look exactly like the Ninja Turtles van from the comic book/cartoon series!A dedicated fan of the original TV series, Brittney has been building the van since last July using money she saved at her cashier's job. She used a Dodge Caravan instead of a VW due to availability of parts, but the final outcome looks great and even includes fake gun turrets, a spoiler, and hand-painted decals!Finally, thanks to the two Zachs and Jennifer in the U.K. for sending the following video voicemails. We love watching these, so keep them coming by sending your YouTube link to the404(at)cnet.com!Jenny from the U.K. has a message for the dudes.Zach thinks The 404 is the best...we agree!Episode 694PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
For example, cops in the 21st century may not have scrolling LED hats, but walk into any mall and you'll see a dude walking around in an LED message belt buckle. Same goes for bar code license plates and modern vehicle identification numbers.Be sure to check to see if your local movie theater is screening the movie tonight at 7 p.m., exactly 25 years from when Marty first went back in time!Halloween is coming up fast, and the holiday wouldn't be complete without the annual American tradition of forcing your dog to wear uncomfortable costumes for the enjoyment of others. On Saturday I attended the yearly Halloween dog parade in Tompkins Square Park, so check out that link to see some of the funnier costumes, like the "Tron" console, a couple of bedbugs, and my favorite: Antoine Dogson.In other nerdly news, 23-year-old Brittney Schnecks just finished rebuilding her 1994 Dodge Caravan to look exactly like the Ninja Turtles van from the comic book/cartoon series!A dedicated fan of the original TV series, Brittney has been building the van since last July using money she saved at her cashier's job. She used a Dodge Caravan instead of a VW due to availability of parts, but the final outcome looks great and even includes fake gun turrets, a spoiler, and hand-painted decals!Finally, thanks to the two Zachs and Jennifer in the U.K. for sending the following video voicemails. We love watching these, so keep them coming by sending your YouTube link to the404(at)cnet.com!Jenny from the U.K. has a message for the dudes.Zach thinks The 404 is the best...we agree!Episode 694PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Now playing- Adobe Media Player 1.0
Now playing: Adobe Media Player 1.0
Clarification: Adobe TV is one of many channels available from the Adobe catalog.Adobe Systems on Wednesday plans to release Adobe Media Player (AMP), a free download for playing Flash-based Web videos on Macs or PCs. (Get it from Download.com for Windows or Mac.)Written with Adobe's AIR, AMP is a hybrid online/offline application that lets people subscribe to different video Webcasts. Adobe has signed on some initial partners including CBS, PBS, MTV Networks, Universal Music Group, CondeNet, and Scripps Networks. (See my colleague Rafe Needleman's review of AMP on Webware.)The videos are either streamed from the content producer's Web site or they can be downloaded. Adobe will host a catalog on its site where people can find videos, including one on Adobe-related content called Adobe TV. Because it's written with AIR, people can be offline or online when they watch.Initially, many of the videos available will have advertising attached to them. Using Adobe's digital rights management server, content producers are able to put controls on their media.Later, Adobe intends to enhance the client software so that different business models can be used, such as paying to download a video or renting videos, said Ashley Still, a senior product manager at Adobe.There are already a number of existing media players, like iTunes.But Adobe thinks that having its own player will be strategic for a number of reasons, Still said.PBS is one of the content partners to use the Adobe Media Player.AdobeAdobe is trying to garner more revenue from online services; the company will be sharing revenue from advertising with content producers.The player complements Adobe's multimedia content-creation multimedia products and Adobe wants to make sure there is a high-quality way to deliver that video to consumers, Still said."This is the first time Adobe is participating directly in the playback of Internet video content," she said.With the 1.0 version, the player will only display Flash content, but Adobe could add support for other formats, Still said.
Clarification: Adobe TV is one of many channels available from the Adobe catalog.Adobe Systems on Wednesday plans to release Adobe Media Player (AMP), a free download for playing Flash-based Web videos on Macs or PCs. (Get it from Download.com for Windows or Mac.)Written with Adobe's AIR, AMP is a hybrid online/offline application that lets people subscribe to different video Webcasts. Adobe has signed on some initial partners including CBS, PBS, MTV Networks, Universal Music Group, CondeNet, and Scripps Networks. (See my colleague Rafe Needleman's review of AMP on Webware.)The videos are either streamed from the content producer's Web site or they can be downloaded. Adobe will host a catalog on its site where people can find videos, including one on Adobe-related content called Adobe TV. Because it's written with AIR, people can be offline or online when they watch.Initially, many of the videos available will have advertising attached to them. Using Adobe's digital rights management server, content producers are able to put controls on their media.Later, Adobe intends to enhance the client software so that different business models can be used, such as paying to download a video or renting videos, said Ashley Still, a senior product manager at Adobe.There are already a number of existing media players, like iTunes.But Adobe thinks that having its own player will be strategic for a number of reasons, Still said.PBS is one of the content partners to use the Adobe Media Player.AdobeAdobe is trying to garner more revenue from online services; the company will be sharing revenue from advertising with content producers.The player complements Adobe's multimedia content-creation multimedia products and Adobe wants to make sure there is a high-quality way to deliver that video to consumers, Still said."This is the first time Adobe is participating directly in the playback of Internet video content," she said.With the 1.0 version, the player will only display Flash content, but Adobe could add support for other formats, Still said.
Facebook Messenger- Reach out to friends, contacts (podcast)
Facebook Messenger: Reach out to friends, contacts (podcast)
Facebook's new standalone Messenger appfor iPhone and Android is designed to help you reach out to Facebook friends or people in your mobile contact list in what Facebook spokesperson Meredith Chin described as a "fast and easy way." Facebook spokesperson Meredith Chin The app can be used to reach out to a single friend or a group of friends but you have to select each member of the group individually. It doesn't support the "group" or "list" functions in Facebook that make it possible to post messages to entire groups on the Facebook Web site. It does, however, allow people who receive messages to add their friends, according to Chin.As an example, Chin (scroll down to listen to the full interview) talked about a group of people wanting to see a movie together. "You can add all these people to a conversation on Facebook Messenger," she said, "and you can coordinate in real time who's going to meet where and where you guys are sitting."The release of Facebook Messenger comes at the same time that some British politicians are asking for the suspension of the use of BlackBerry Messenger in London because of the role BBM has reportedly played in helping coordinate rioting and looting. One concern expressed by some is that BBM messages are anonymous, password-protected, and hard to trace, With Facebook Messenger, all messages are associated with the "real name" the sender used when signing up with Facebook. The messages will only go to the people who are part of the conversation and won't be posted on your Facebook profile, according to Chin. Listen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) | RSS (audio)
Facebook's new standalone Messenger appfor iPhone and Android is designed to help you reach out to Facebook friends or people in your mobile contact list in what Facebook spokesperson Meredith Chin described as a "fast and easy way." Facebook spokesperson Meredith Chin The app can be used to reach out to a single friend or a group of friends but you have to select each member of the group individually. It doesn't support the "group" or "list" functions in Facebook that make it possible to post messages to entire groups on the Facebook Web site. It does, however, allow people who receive messages to add their friends, according to Chin.As an example, Chin (scroll down to listen to the full interview) talked about a group of people wanting to see a movie together. "You can add all these people to a conversation on Facebook Messenger," she said, "and you can coordinate in real time who's going to meet where and where you guys are sitting."The release of Facebook Messenger comes at the same time that some British politicians are asking for the suspension of the use of BlackBerry Messenger in London because of the role BBM has reportedly played in helping coordinate rioting and looting. One concern expressed by some is that BBM messages are anonymous, password-protected, and hard to trace, With Facebook Messenger, all messages are associated with the "real name" the sender used when signing up with Facebook. The messages will only go to the people who are part of the conversation and won't be posted on your Facebook profile, according to Chin. Listen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) | RSS (audio)
Facebook Gifts is laid to rest
Facebook Gifts is laid to rest
Facebook already wounded its Gifts service last year when it stopped selling physical goods and went with only gift cards, and now it's letting the entire feature go to the grave. The social network confirmed Tuesday that Gifts will be no more."We'll be using everything we learned from Gifts to explore new ways to help businesses and developers drive sales on the web, on mobile, and directly on Facebook," a spokesperson told CNET.Gifts was launched in September 2012 as a way for users to buy real gifts for friends through the social network. The gifts -- which included items like cupcakes, stuffed animals, fresh flowers, and even a bacon-of-the-month-club membership -- came from more than 100 retail partners. Related storiesFacebook stops peddling physical gifts (no one wants)Send your Facebook friends real gifts through their TimelinesFacebook launches Facebook Card, a reusable gift cardFacebook tests 'buy' button on adsLess than a year after it opened up its gift shop, however, Facebook announced it would no longer sell physical goods. Instead, the social network started filling the shelves of its Web and mobile marketplace with digital gift cards from companies like Starbucks, Target, and Apple's iTunes store.It's apparent the Gifts service wasn't doing much for the company. So, a refocus on helping businesses boost their sales -- rather than being an online marketplace itself -- might seem to make sense. However, Facebook isn't giving up on product sales entirely. Earlier this month, the company announced it was testing a "Buy" button that lets users purchase items through ads they see on their feeds. Instead of sending users to merchants' websites, Facebook will take care of the purchases directly within its network. Facebook's Gifts service is officially shuttering August 12. Those people who have outstanding gifts will still be able to redeem them after that date.
Facebook already wounded its Gifts service last year when it stopped selling physical goods and went with only gift cards, and now it's letting the entire feature go to the grave. The social network confirmed Tuesday that Gifts will be no more."We'll be using everything we learned from Gifts to explore new ways to help businesses and developers drive sales on the web, on mobile, and directly on Facebook," a spokesperson told CNET.Gifts was launched in September 2012 as a way for users to buy real gifts for friends through the social network. The gifts -- which included items like cupcakes, stuffed animals, fresh flowers, and even a bacon-of-the-month-club membership -- came from more than 100 retail partners. Related storiesFacebook stops peddling physical gifts (no one wants)Send your Facebook friends real gifts through their TimelinesFacebook launches Facebook Card, a reusable gift cardFacebook tests 'buy' button on adsLess than a year after it opened up its gift shop, however, Facebook announced it would no longer sell physical goods. Instead, the social network started filling the shelves of its Web and mobile marketplace with digital gift cards from companies like Starbucks, Target, and Apple's iTunes store.It's apparent the Gifts service wasn't doing much for the company. So, a refocus on helping businesses boost their sales -- rather than being an online marketplace itself -- might seem to make sense. However, Facebook isn't giving up on product sales entirely. Earlier this month, the company announced it was testing a "Buy" button that lets users purchase items through ads they see on their feeds. Instead of sending users to merchants' websites, Facebook will take care of the purchases directly within its network. Facebook's Gifts service is officially shuttering August 12. Those people who have outstanding gifts will still be able to redeem them after that date.
Samsung reigns with 30% of Q4 smartphone shipments
Samsung reigns with 30% of Q4 smartphone shipments
Samsung was the clear leader in the smartphone market last quarter, according to new data from Juniper Research.The research firm today reported that Samsung shipped 63 million smartphones in the fourth quarter, accounting for 30 percent of all shipments worldwide during the period. Apple came in second with 47.8 million sold. Most companies report shipments into the retail channel. Apple, however, reports total sales, which is why Juniper was forced to interchange those measures.Apple and Samsung have easily separated themselves from the rest of the mobile pack. Nokia was only able to ship 6.6 million smartphones in the fourth quarter, while RIM is estimated to have shipped 6.7 million smartphones during that time.Still, the smartphone market as a whole had a huge 2012, according to Juniper, with 671 million smartphones shipping last year. That figure was up nearly 42 percent year over year and includes over 200 million smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter alone.Juniper wasn't the only research firm chiming in on the smartphone market. Research firm IDC reported today that based on its checks, 219.4 million smartphones shipped last quarter. Samsung led the way with 63.7 million shipments and 29 percent market share, IDC said, and Apple nabbed 21.8 percent of the market on its sales. As with Juniper, IDC reported a stellar fourth quarter for smartphone makers. IDC estimates 219.4 million smartphones shipped during the period, up 36.4 percent compared to the 160.8 million that shipped in the fourth quarter of 2011.Meanwhile, Strategy Analytics yesterday reported worldwide shipments of 700 million smartphones last year -- also noting the dominance of Samsung and Apple.
Samsung was the clear leader in the smartphone market last quarter, according to new data from Juniper Research.The research firm today reported that Samsung shipped 63 million smartphones in the fourth quarter, accounting for 30 percent of all shipments worldwide during the period. Apple came in second with 47.8 million sold. Most companies report shipments into the retail channel. Apple, however, reports total sales, which is why Juniper was forced to interchange those measures.Apple and Samsung have easily separated themselves from the rest of the mobile pack. Nokia was only able to ship 6.6 million smartphones in the fourth quarter, while RIM is estimated to have shipped 6.7 million smartphones during that time.Still, the smartphone market as a whole had a huge 2012, according to Juniper, with 671 million smartphones shipping last year. That figure was up nearly 42 percent year over year and includes over 200 million smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter alone.Juniper wasn't the only research firm chiming in on the smartphone market. Research firm IDC reported today that based on its checks, 219.4 million smartphones shipped last quarter. Samsung led the way with 63.7 million shipments and 29 percent market share, IDC said, and Apple nabbed 21.8 percent of the market on its sales. As with Juniper, IDC reported a stellar fourth quarter for smartphone makers. IDC estimates 219.4 million smartphones shipped during the period, up 36.4 percent compared to the 160.8 million that shipped in the fourth quarter of 2011.Meanwhile, Strategy Analytics yesterday reported worldwide shipments of 700 million smartphones last year -- also noting the dominance of Samsung and Apple.
Samsung pulls Galaxy Tab 7.7 tablet from IFA booth
Samsung pulls Galaxy Tab 7.7 tablet from IFA booth
Samsung has yanked its Galaxy Tab 7.7 tablet from the show floor at the IFA consumer-electronics confab in Berlin after Apple received an injunction against the device to go with an earlier ban on sales and marketing of the larger Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany.Intellectual-property blog Foss Patents reported the news of the removal yesterday, speculating that it had to do with the 10.1 injunction or a newly issued ban specific to the 7.7. Bloomberg today confirmed the issuance of the 7.7 ban.The 7.7 had been on display at IFA on Friday bearing a sticker that read "Not for sale in Germany."According to Bloomberg, Samsung representative James Chung said the ban on the 7.7 was issued Friday. "Samsung respects the court's decision," the news service quoted Chung as saying, adding that he said Samsung believes the court order "severely limits consumer choice in Germany." Bloomberg said Apple did not immediately comment.Apple was granted the preliminary injunction on sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 last month by a court in Dusseldorf. The ban originally applied to nearly all European Union countries, but the court later limited the injunction's scope to just Germany, saying it had no jurisdiction over other nations.Apple claims Samsung ripped off technology and design details from the iPad in developing the Galaxy Tab (which Samsung denies), and the two companies have been engaged in a sue-me, sue-you struggle.Foss Patents also reported on Saturday that Samsung had removed the Galaxy Tab 7.7 from its German Web site. And blog This Is My Next posted before-and-after photos showing that Samsung had scraped 7.7-related decals from its IFA booth.Note: This story was originally published on September 3. It has been updated and republished to reflect the Bloomberg report.
Samsung has yanked its Galaxy Tab 7.7 tablet from the show floor at the IFA consumer-electronics confab in Berlin after Apple received an injunction against the device to go with an earlier ban on sales and marketing of the larger Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany.Intellectual-property blog Foss Patents reported the news of the removal yesterday, speculating that it had to do with the 10.1 injunction or a newly issued ban specific to the 7.7. Bloomberg today confirmed the issuance of the 7.7 ban.The 7.7 had been on display at IFA on Friday bearing a sticker that read "Not for sale in Germany."According to Bloomberg, Samsung representative James Chung said the ban on the 7.7 was issued Friday. "Samsung respects the court's decision," the news service quoted Chung as saying, adding that he said Samsung believes the court order "severely limits consumer choice in Germany." Bloomberg said Apple did not immediately comment.Apple was granted the preliminary injunction on sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 last month by a court in Dusseldorf. The ban originally applied to nearly all European Union countries, but the court later limited the injunction's scope to just Germany, saying it had no jurisdiction over other nations.Apple claims Samsung ripped off technology and design details from the iPad in developing the Galaxy Tab (which Samsung denies), and the two companies have been engaged in a sue-me, sue-you struggle.Foss Patents also reported on Saturday that Samsung had removed the Galaxy Tab 7.7 from its German Web site. And blog This Is My Next posted before-and-after photos showing that Samsung had scraped 7.7-related decals from its IFA booth.Note: This story was originally published on September 3. It has been updated and republished to reflect the Bloomberg report.
Samsung plans Apple-OK'd Galaxy Tab Down Under
Samsung plans Apple-OK'd Galaxy Tab Down Under
Apple Inc. filed a complaint with the Federal Court of Australia involving a Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 variant that Samsung Electronics had no plans of selling in Australia. No injunction was issued by the court and the parties in the case reached a mutual agreement which stipulates that the variant in question will not be sold in Australia.A Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 for the Australian market will be released in the near future.This undertaking does not affect any other Samsung smartphone or tablet available in the Australian market or other countries.Samsung will continue to actively defend and protect our intellectual property to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communication business. That statement obviously does not go into detail about what changes will be made to that device in order to keep Apple from going on the legal offensive once again.Yesterday Bloomberg reported that Samsung agreed to provide Apple three samples of its tablet ahead of it going on sale, which Apple can review to make sure there's no violation of its intellectual property, including patented technology or design and trademark flourishes. The original dispute between the two companies began with a lawsuit filed by Apple against Samsung in the U.S. back in April. In that suit, Apple alleged that Samsung was violating its intellectual property in the design of its mobile devices, specifically the Galaxy series smartphones and tablets, and other smartphones. Samsung later countersued against Apple, saying the company was infringing on multiple patents.
Apple Inc. filed a complaint with the Federal Court of Australia involving a Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 variant that Samsung Electronics had no plans of selling in Australia. No injunction was issued by the court and the parties in the case reached a mutual agreement which stipulates that the variant in question will not be sold in Australia.A Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 for the Australian market will be released in the near future.This undertaking does not affect any other Samsung smartphone or tablet available in the Australian market or other countries.Samsung will continue to actively defend and protect our intellectual property to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communication business. That statement obviously does not go into detail about what changes will be made to that device in order to keep Apple from going on the legal offensive once again.Yesterday Bloomberg reported that Samsung agreed to provide Apple three samples of its tablet ahead of it going on sale, which Apple can review to make sure there's no violation of its intellectual property, including patented technology or design and trademark flourishes. The original dispute between the two companies began with a lawsuit filed by Apple against Samsung in the U.S. back in April. In that suit, Apple alleged that Samsung was violating its intellectual property in the design of its mobile devices, specifically the Galaxy series smartphones and tablets, and other smartphones. Samsung later countersued against Apple, saying the company was infringing on multiple patents.
Samsung may have let slip Apple's iPad Mini plans
Samsung may have let slip Apple's iPad Mini plans
Samsung may have accidentally spilled the beans on Apple's plans to sell a smaller iPad. By the end of the year, Apple will release an iPad with a 7.85-inch screen, according to a report from the Korea Times, which cited an unnamed Samsung official. The disclosure comes with Apple just days away from releasing the new iPad, which has an enhanced resolution display, but remains the same 10-inch size as previous models. Steve Jobs had previously dismissed the size and usability of a 7-inch tablet, saying it was too small to be used as a touchscreen tablet device.Still, with the success of the lower cost Amazon Kindle Fire, which is a 7-inch tablet, Apple may look to get into that segment of the market as well. A rumored iPad Mini, which is what it is referred to in tech circles, was among the announcements people had hoped for when Apple announced the iPad last week. Samsung's comments, meanwhile, illustrate the strong ties between it and Apple despite their ongoing legal dispute. The executive said Apple's contract would rise to $11 billion by the end of the year, based on demand for the various components Samsung supplies. Samsung supplies the processor (which Apple designs), LTE chips, and solid-state storage drives to various Apple products. Apple bought $7.8 billion worth of parts from Samsung in 2011, the report says. The bipolar relationship underscores the size of Samsung, whose various units as like separate multinational corporations in their own right. Samsung will also supply new LCD screen technology for the smaller iPads, the report said, and is currently in talks to have its LCDs go into the next iPhone. Hands on Apple's new iPad (photos)See full gallery1 - 4 / 23NextPrev
Samsung may have accidentally spilled the beans on Apple's plans to sell a smaller iPad. By the end of the year, Apple will release an iPad with a 7.85-inch screen, according to a report from the Korea Times, which cited an unnamed Samsung official. The disclosure comes with Apple just days away from releasing the new iPad, which has an enhanced resolution display, but remains the same 10-inch size as previous models. Steve Jobs had previously dismissed the size and usability of a 7-inch tablet, saying it was too small to be used as a touchscreen tablet device.Still, with the success of the lower cost Amazon Kindle Fire, which is a 7-inch tablet, Apple may look to get into that segment of the market as well. A rumored iPad Mini, which is what it is referred to in tech circles, was among the announcements people had hoped for when Apple announced the iPad last week. Samsung's comments, meanwhile, illustrate the strong ties between it and Apple despite their ongoing legal dispute. The executive said Apple's contract would rise to $11 billion by the end of the year, based on demand for the various components Samsung supplies. Samsung supplies the processor (which Apple designs), LTE chips, and solid-state storage drives to various Apple products. Apple bought $7.8 billion worth of parts from Samsung in 2011, the report says. The bipolar relationship underscores the size of Samsung, whose various units as like separate multinational corporations in their own right. Samsung will also supply new LCD screen technology for the smaller iPads, the report said, and is currently in talks to have its LCDs go into the next iPhone. Hands on Apple's new iPad (photos)See full gallery1 - 4 / 23NextPrev
Samsung loses bid to lift U.S. sales ban against Galaxy Tab
Samsung loses bid to lift U.S. sales ban against Galaxy Tab
A U.S. judge today rejected Samsung's appeal of a preliminary injunction against U.S. sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1, according to Reuters.U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh granted an Apple request last week for a preliminary injunction against the Android-powered tablet, largely considered a front-runner to challenge the iPad. Samsung had asked the court to suspend the order pending resolution of an appeal.While Apple has already posted a $2.6 million bond as required to initiate the injunction, that doesn't necessarily mean sales of the tablet will immediately cease in the U.S. Samsung has also appealed the injunction to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, a Washington, D.C. court that specializes in intellectual property disputes.CNET has contacted Apple and Samsung for comment and will update this report when we learn more.Apple has been trying desperately to secure a U.S. ban on Samsung's tablet since April 2011, when it filed a lawsuit in California accusing the Korea-based electronics giant of copying "the look and feel" of its iPad tablet and iPhone smartphone. Apple scored a win last October when Koh ruled that Samsung's line of Galaxy tablets infringe on Apple's patents. Samsung, meanwhile, has fired back with its own patent-related claims against Apple. In addition to the U.S., the battle has touched down in Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, parts of Asia, France, and Italy. Samsung is also fighting an Apple-requested preliminary injunction against its Galaxy Nexus phone. The company filed an appeal of the order with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that seeks a stay of the injunction for the duration of the appeal.
A U.S. judge today rejected Samsung's appeal of a preliminary injunction against U.S. sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1, according to Reuters.U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh granted an Apple request last week for a preliminary injunction against the Android-powered tablet, largely considered a front-runner to challenge the iPad. Samsung had asked the court to suspend the order pending resolution of an appeal.While Apple has already posted a $2.6 million bond as required to initiate the injunction, that doesn't necessarily mean sales of the tablet will immediately cease in the U.S. Samsung has also appealed the injunction to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, a Washington, D.C. court that specializes in intellectual property disputes.CNET has contacted Apple and Samsung for comment and will update this report when we learn more.Apple has been trying desperately to secure a U.S. ban on Samsung's tablet since April 2011, when it filed a lawsuit in California accusing the Korea-based electronics giant of copying "the look and feel" of its iPad tablet and iPhone smartphone. Apple scored a win last October when Koh ruled that Samsung's line of Galaxy tablets infringe on Apple's patents. Samsung, meanwhile, has fired back with its own patent-related claims against Apple. In addition to the U.S., the battle has touched down in Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, parts of Asia, France, and Italy. Samsung is also fighting an Apple-requested preliminary injunction against its Galaxy Nexus phone. The company filed an appeal of the order with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that seeks a stay of the injunction for the duration of the appeal.
Box Office Report: 'Hobbit' Handily Tops Weekend
Here areyour three-day box office returns (new releases bolded): 1. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - $73.6 million 2. Frozen - $22.1 million 3. Tyler Perry;s A Madea Christmas - $16.0 million 4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - $13.1 million 5. Thor: The Dark World - $2.7 million 6. Out of the Furnace - $2.3 million 7. Delivery Man - $1.87 million 8. Philomena - $1.75 million 9. The Book Thief - $1.67 million 10. Homefront - $1.63 million The Big Stories That faint sound you hear in the background may be the dwarves of Middle-earth sadly singing their song of Desolation. At least that is the story making the rounds about this week;s leader at the box office. Let;s be honest for a second and admit that The Hobbit is not The Lord of the Rings. It;s like comparing Narnia to Harry Potter. Or maybe even better, the Star Wars prequels to the original trilogy. Oops, that;s going to hit a nerve. A simple story about a journey to steal back some gold from a dragon got stretched from 300 pages to nearly nine hours and it;s made the walking gags of Fellowship and Two Towers look petty. However real fans feel about the latest Tolkien stretch, it;s easy to see the decline in box office and write that they have woken up to the money grab. But if you look further, it really is no big deal. The Desolation of Doubters An Unexpected Journey opened to $84.6 million on the same weekend last year. So a decline of $11 million was sure to raise some eyebrows. Let;s look at the bigger picture though. That $84.6 million was the biggest December opening of all time. Back in 2003, The Return of the King;s $72.6 million was tops in the final month. Neither Fellowship nor Two Towers reached those heights and yet all four films are amongst the top10 December openers ever. The Desolation of Smaug will push its way into the top five but $300 million is the number everyone will be focused on. Of the 19 films that have opened between $70-80 million in history, only five of them hit the $300 million mark (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Avatar, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Transformersand Finding Nemo.) An arbitrary statistic when nearly as many films (three) reached those heights in between $60-70 million (including The Two Towers). Only six movies have ever opened in December and reached $300 million. Four of them are Tolkien. Two of them are Cameron. That;s a lot to live up to for Smaug. But Unexpected Journey took over two months to reach $300 million. Day 67 was its happy day and it was just hanging on in the weekly top 10 over Presidents; Day weekend. Sure it;s going to get beaten handily by Anchorman 2 next weekend, but if it drops less than 56% then Tolkien fans can rest a bit easier that the universe is starting to get the film back on track. Anything less than $250 million might be a letdown here in the States. But the real money is going to be made overseas anyway. The last two Tolkien entries did over a billion dollars worldwide. Anything less than the $871.5 million of Fellowship and the fans may have officially spoken. But who cares? The Desolation of Tyler Perry It would have made me happy if A Madea Christmas had opened to over $30 million. That would have put the film closer on pace to the $100 million I;ve been saying its possible for Tyler Perry;s latest holiday-themed drag show to make. That would have made me look good professionally. But it makes me so much happier to see it be one of the weakest openings of his career. Yes, world, there apparently is a Santa Claus. And no matter what color Megyn Kelly wants Jolly St. Nick to be, he has surely saved us from the knowledge this holiday that Tyler Perry is again laughing all the way to the bank. Madea Goes to Jail ($41.0), Madea;s Family Reunion ($30.0), Madea;s Witness Protection ($25.3), Madea;s Big Happy Family ($25.0), I Can Do Bad All by Myself ($23.4), Meet the Browns ($20.0) Those are all the movies where Tyler put on the dress. Not one of them opened to under $20 million. Not one of them with that hypocritical ear sore Madea in the title to open under $25. Excuse me while I kiss the sky seeing that A Madea Christmas only did $16 million. That;s barely half of what The Best Man Holiday opened to last month. Only Good Deedsand Daddy;s Little Girls (Perry;s third film and only second as a director) opened to less than A Madea Christmas. Since Perry;s films cost about a buck o;four, just a cent less than true freedom (costar Larry the Cable Guy might back that up) Other than grabbing as much cash as possible, the only true motive for the film;s existence is to increase the suicide rate amongst film critics this holiday season. (Unless you;re Owen Gleiberman.) Sorry Perry, but try as you might to ironically fight against the War on Christmas, you have failed on all fronts. If you want to do the world some good, start donating your money to filmmakers with talent. Erik Childress can be seen each Thursday morning on WCIU-TV;s First Business breaking down the box office on the Movies & Money segment.
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