Apple

Asian iPhone Partners Named; U.K., U.S. Online Stores Sold Out

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 13, 2008 - 9:26am.

Cupertino, Calif. - Apple (NASD: AAPL) has signed deals with Singapore's Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) to launch the iPhone in Singapore, India, Philippines and Australia later this year. In related news, Apple said its online stores in the U.S. and U.K. are sold out of the iPhone -- although retail stores still hold stock -- likely an inventory sell-off making room for the expected launch of the next-generation iPhone.

NBCU and iTunes Make Nice, in U.K. at Least

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 13, 2008 - 7:27am.

London - In a sign that the companies may be resolving their dispute over TV show pricing at Apple's (NASD: AAPL) iTunes Store that led NBC (NYSE: GE) to remove its programs late last year, five NBC shows are now available for purchase from the U.K. version of the iTunes Store, Macworld.com reported. The series -- "Heroes," "House," "The Incredible Hulk," "Eureka" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" -- are all produced by Universal Media Studios, and notably feature variable pricing -- one of the sticking points in failed negotiations in the U.S.

Report: HBO Shows Coming to iTunes with Flexible Pricing

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 12, 2008 - 8:52am.

New York - Apple (NASD: AAPL) will soon announce a new deal with Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX) HBO that will bring TV episodes to its iTunes Store under a new, separate pricing structure from other partners, Portfolio.com reported, citing HBO employees involved in executing the agreement.

BlackBerry Bold to Support Music Sync with iTunes

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 14, 2008 - 11:44am.

Waterloo, Ontario - Research in Motion's (NASD: RIMM) new BlackBerry Bold smartphone will feature a new BlackBerry Media Sync application that lets users sync their iTunes (NASD: AAPL) digital music libraries on the device. Slated to hit stores this summer, the BlackBerry Bold will also ship with Roxio music, video and photo management software.

"Passing Strange" First iTunes Exclusive Broadway Cast Album

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 12, 2008 - 1:04pm.

Los Angeles - Ghostlight Records will be the first to offer an original cast recording from a Broadway show exclusively on iTunes when it adds the "Passing Strange" album to the store on May 27, Variety reports. The CD version of the album is not expected in stores until July.

Emmis Pacts with Apple for iTunes-Enabled Radio Station Stores

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 12, 2008 - 1:02pm.

Chicago - Emmis Interactive, the online unit of the radio broadcaster, on Monday announced a licensing agreement with Apple (NASD: AAPL) to market its custom Storefront technology to other radio stations. The technology lets radio stations build a storefront where listeners can purchase songs they hear on-air using their own existing iTunes Store accounts.

Zune MP3 Player Market Share Up to 4%; Creative Drops to 2%

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 12, 2008 - 11:12am.

Los Angeles - Microsoft's (NASD: MSFT) Zune digital media player gained a bit of the MP3 player market share in NPD Group's latest rankings, now accounting for 4% of the total market, up from 3% in the first quarter of 2007, Wired.com reported.

Orb Networks Enables Live TV Streaming to iPhone

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 9, 2008 - 10:52am.

Emeryville, Calif. - Orb Networks, a developer of media place-shifting technology, announced that it has enabled live TV streaming to Apple's (NASD: AAPL) iPhone and iPod touch. The video stream must originate from a PC with a TV tuner card. The company said it created a special application called OrbLive to get around the iPhone's extreme limitations on supported video formats.

Apple Canada Settles iPod Battery Suit, Offers $45 Credit

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 9, 2008 - 10:46am.

Cupertino, Calif. - Apple's (NASD: AAPL) Canadian unit has settled a class action lawsuit with Canadian iPod owners over claims to the device's battery life, and will pay consumers there who purchased an iPod before June 24, 2005 a $45 credit, Canada's Gazette reported. The settlement is similar to one Apple made with U.S. iPod owners in 2005. Some 80,000 Canadian should be eligible for the $45 credit, which is redeemable through Apple's online store.

tags: Law | Lawsuits | iPod | Apple |

NBC Offers Full Episodes of "The Office," "30 Rock" on iPhone

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 8, 2008 - 12:10pm.

New York - Despite its much-publicized removal of its programs from Apple's (NASD: AAPL) iTunes Store in December, NBC (NYSE: GE) has begun offering streaming full-length episodes of shows including "The Office" and "30 Rock" for free on the iPhone, Silicon Alley Insider reports. The episodes, which are broken into four parts, included standard TV ads at the end of each segment.

tags: Mobile | Video | TV | Apple | NBC | iPhone |

America Movil to Bring iPhone to Latin America

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 8, 2008 - 8:40am.

Mexico City - America Movil, a provider of wireless services in Latin America that claims 159.2 million subscribers in 16 countries, has announced a deal with Apple (NASD: AAPL) to launch the iPhone in the areas it serves later this year. The company, which offers mobile phone service in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and other countries, did not provide any other details on the partnership.

New Apple iPhone Carrier Partners: Vodafone, Telecom Italia

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 6, 2008 - 12:11pm.

Los Angeles - Apple (NASD: AAPL) has signed deals with international wireless carrier Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) to distribute its iPhone in 10 countries, and with Telecom Italia to distribute the device in Italy. Vodafone will offer the iPhone in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey. Apple recently partnered with Rogers Communications to distribute the iPhone in Canada, and is already offering the device in the U.K., France, Germany and Spain.

Nine Studios to Release Movies on iTunes on Same Day as DVD Release

Authored by Ned Sherman on May 2, 2008 - 10:55am.

Cupertino, Calif. - Nine major Hollywood studios said that they will begin releasing their movies on Cupertino-based Apple's iTunes on the same day they're released on DVD.

tags: Apple | iTunes | Studios |

A Hole in the Apple?

Authored by Paul Sweeting on May 2, 2008 - 5:37am.
If further proof were needed that Apple's much-ballyhooed deal with the major studios to start selling movies through iTunes on the same day they become available on DVD is somewhat-less than a game-changer, the Wall Street Journal is reporting this morning that Apple is taking a haircut on every movie it sells. Citing a "person familiar with the matter," the Journal said the studios are getting a wholesale price close to $16 for the movies Apple plans to sell for $14.99.
tags: Video | Marketing | Apple | Movies | iTunes | Film |

Movie Studios Add Day-and-Date DVD Releases to iTunes Store

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 1, 2008 - 8:54am.

Cupertino, Calif. - Apple (NASD: AAPL) on Thursday announced that new release movies from the major Hollywood studios will now be made available for purchase and download from the iTunes Store on the same day as their DVD releases, and will be priced at $14.99. Participating studios include 20th Century Fox (NYSE: NWS), The Walt Disney Studios (NYSE: DIS), Warner Bros. (NYSE: TWX), Paramount Pictures (NYSE: VIA), Universal Studios Home Entertainment (NYSE: GE), Sony Pictures Entertainment (NYSE: SNE), Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and First Look Studios.

Buzz Watch: The BlackBerry 9000 - an iPhone Killer?

Authored by Jay Baage on April 30, 2008 - 8:09pm.

Yes, Research in Motion (NSDQ: RIMM) is trying to jazz up it's popular email cell phone, the BlackBerry, (read our previous coverage here) and rumors are that the new 9000 model will be sexy enough to take on Apple's (NASD: AAPL) iPhone. As the funny financial web video show Wallstrip notes in the episode embedded above, if the company succeeds in making the new Blackberry appeal to both business as well as "regular" consumers, it may be a stock to keep an eye on. But then again, it is very hard to try to be everything to everybody...

BBC America Adds TV Episodes to iTunes Store

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 29, 2008 - 11:28am.

New York - The BBC announced on Tuesday that it has made BBC America programming available for purchase for the first time from Apple's iTunes Store. The offering will include episodes of "Little Britain," "Torchwood" and "Robin Hood," with new episodes of the latter to debut on iTunes 24 hours after their network premieres.

Apple, Rogers to Launch iPhone in Canada This Year

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 29, 2008 - 8:53am.

Toronto - Canadian telecommunications firm Rogers (NYSE: RCI) announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with Apple (NASD: AAPL) to launch the iPhone in Canada this year, but declined to provide details on pricing or a release date for the device.

Apple Threatens U.K. Sellers of Cheaper Imported iPods

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 28, 2008 - 9:22am.

London - Apple (NASD: AAPL) has threatened legal action against nearly a dozen U.K.-based online retailers who are buying Apple iPods in the U.S., where they cost about $30 less, and then reselling them in the U.K. at a discount on Apple's pricing, The Register reported.

tags: Law | Lawsuits | Music | iPod | Apple | Retail |

Apple Files for Patent on Possible iPhone Chat Application

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 22, 2008 - 12:56pm.

Los Angeles - Apple (NASD: AAPL) has filed a patent application on a universal interface for real-time text chat on touchscreen devices, which could result in the release of a chat application for the iPhone or iPod touch, Apple Insider reported. The application was published in March by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. The iPhone already offers standard mobile text messaging, while AOL has developed a version of its AIM application for the device.