Apple's plan to wipe out disc drives is nearly complete
The disc drive is dead -- or it's at least issuing a triumphant death rattle.Not in PCs just yet, but certainly in Apple's Macs. Earlier this week Apple introduced updated versions of its MacBook Pro with Retina Display, alongside an all new Mac Pro. What wasn't updated was Apple's line of non-Retina MacBook Pros, the only Apple devices that were still sporting a disc drive. In fact, Apple axed the 15-inch version and trimmed the non-Retina line to a single, 13-inch machine. The company has whittled away at product lines like this in the past, and it's usually a sign of imminent extinction. Related storiesRed Mac Pro to be auctioned off by Bono's charityli>A US-made Mac Pro is a token gestureMac Pro available in December, starts at $2,999All this started with the arrival of the MacBook Air in 2008. The specialty computer trimmed the MacBook Pro's inch-thick size by getting rid of the disc drive and many of the ports.A high price tag kept most people from snapping up an Air over one of Apple's less expensive notebooks. But as time went by, slimmer, cheaper, and more powerful models came out, and it eventually replaced Apple's plastic MacBooksas the entry level notebook. But rewind back to 2008, and Apple was making a gamble. It was a whole three years before the company wouldintroduce its Mac App Store for distributing software -- both its own, and apps made by other companies. It was also years before some major third-party companies, namely Adobe and Microsoft, were pushing their biggest products as cloud subscriptions. Even Netflix's streaming service -- now usedby more than 40 million subscribers worldwide -- was still in its infancy. There were some stopgap measures though. One was a new feature built into OS X, Apple's desktop operating system, as well as a utility for PCs that let Air users tap a working disc drive from another computer using Wi-Fi. Apple also sold a standalone external disc drive for $79,as well as offering its OS recovery tools on USB sticks. Those USB dongles were later replaced by a recovery tool that could download a fresh copy of the OS over a broadband connection.Click to enlarge.Josh Lowensohn/CNETApple wasn't the first company to exclude a disc drive from its machines, though Apple's move came at a time when many PC competitors were aiming to upgrade the disc drives on notebooks from DVD readers to drives that could read high-definition discs. For Apple, which was making an increasingly large amount of money selling movies and TV shows through iTunes, this never made much sense. Also, the battle between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray -- which were two warring hi-def disc formats -- didn't end until a month after the Air's 2008 debut. Some of the initial notebooks with those drives were not only big but also required high-end hardware that ballooned costs.Hindsight is 20/20/>The benefits of all this seem obvious. Since the Air, ditching optical drives has led to slimmer and svelter devices all around. Last year's iMac redesign was one of the most dramatic. By removing the drive and using new manufacturing technology, the once boxy machine was cut down by 40 percent. Its sides were tapered down into a 5mm edge, which is close to the thinnest part of the newest MacBook Air. The same goes with the new Mac Pro, which Apple says is one eighth the volume of the previous generation. That change was not just the optical drive but changes to other components as well, like moving from hard drives to flash storage, and a redesigned cooling system that pulls air through a hollowed out central core. Like the original Air, all that comes at a price. The machine starts at $2,999, and a second, higher-end version runs $3,999. Apple's MacBook Pros with Retina Display have two Thunderbolt 2 ports.Josh MIller/CNETThe new Mac Pro is indicative of a direction Apple started back in 2008 but never quite perfected, which is offering future expandability on its nearly tinker-proof notebooks. That's not a new thing for computing, but it's been limited somewhat by the ports Apple's gone with. Many, like Firewire 800 and ExpressCard were offered up only on the higher end products, and phased out of the consumer machines.That changed in 2011 when Apple started using Thunderbolt, a collaboration with Intel that combined DisplayPort technology with PCI Express. That consolidated ports to the point where Apple made a sister product -- its now languishing Thunderbolt Display -- that requires only one jack on a computer to supply it with an Internet connection, USB, and visual information. The only thing missing is enough power to run the computer, something that could change with future chips, and versions of Thunderbolt.The next generation of the technology, Thunderbolt 2, is now starting to make its way into the Mac Pro and MacBook Pros, and promises even faster speeds. So as the disc drive has disappeared, Thunderbolt has flourished among Macs. PC makers, however, have opted for USB 3.0 instead.The new Mac Pro: You have to see to believe...See full gallery1 - 4 / 10NextPrevIn hindsight, it seems painfully obvious that trimming drives, and thus size, would help other parts of Apple's business. Between making both its gadgets and its packaging smaller, the company can get more product to places in one shipment. For something like the iPhone (which, to be fair, never had a disc drive), that's resulted in a 60 percent increase in the number of boxes Apple can ship versus the one it made in 2007. That makes a big difference when those devices are being loaded into an airplane for a big launch, which can cost $242,000 a flight, according to a recent Bloomberg report. The big question going forward is what else can be cut to trim size? Products like the iPhone and iPad have shown that something as basic as a keyboard or mouse pad can be successfully reimagined as one big screen. Perhaps just as big of a jump could happen with Apple's computers as well.
New TV Guide app tries to bridge gap between TV and streaming
New TV Guide app tries to bridge gap between TV and streaming
Finding streaming TV shows or movies is a mess. No service or app has a complete collection, and getting what you want often feels like rummaging at the Internet's garage sale.Some services have risen up to try to help; the Xbox 360 offers excellent Bing-based search of Xbox media apps, while Fanhattan does the same on iOS, although you have to enter the app to begin searching.Fanhattan lacks one important feature, though: a listing of shows on actual, live TV.TV GuideBridging the cord-cutting and cable/antenna TV landscape is TV Guide, which tries to implement streaming-media hooks into its existing tradition TV listings service.How does that work, exactly? TV Guide does it by offering a separate Watchlist area where searched-for shows will show every instance on TV listings, streaming services, and even on-demand cable channels. When you click the "streaming services" area, listings from other apps appear. Currently, the connected video apps are limited to ABC, ABC Family, CW, Hulu Plus, HBO GO, MAX GO, Crackle, and iTunes. Notably missing are Netflix and Amazon, although TV Guide's executives say that more services will be available in the coming weeks.Searching for streaming videos can be done in several ways: through a discovery-type curated grid of shows not unlike what Netflix and Amazon Prime already offer up, or via a search for shows or even artists/celebrities. Adding these shows to your watchlist creates a tracker for your interests.TV Guide still has its old-fashioned listings, too.TV GuideThe feature, however, is currently far from perfect. I added David Lynch (always my favorite test) and found a number of episodes of "Twin Peaks" scattered hodgepodge, with links to iTunes and Hulu Plus, along with movies like "Eraserhead" and "Blue Velvet," but TV shows weren't collected into a single "Twin Peaks" show icon. Clicking the Hulu Plus link on these shows didn't successfully launch the episode in Hulu Plus, either: I received the Hulu Plus message "an error has occurred." Also, for some odd reason, my David Lynch page has dozens of episodes of "The Cleveland Show."The TV Guide app update just launched this morning, and it's free via ad support. Some of these kinks will hopefully be ironed out soon. If an app designed to be a media hub doesn't work perfectly, then I won't use it until it does. The spirit behind TV Guide's app is smart and necessary; standard TV listings and a search directory for an ever-growing rat's nest of TV and movie-streaming apps both need to be integrated in the future landscape of television. Apple's likely to crack the nut best whenever the Apple TV finally emerges in its next evolution, but until then, TV Guide might be a smart, easy solution, provided the app can start working better and manage to be intuitive for TV viewers who could be streaming app-averse.TV Guide's universal app works on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.
Finding streaming TV shows or movies is a mess. No service or app has a complete collection, and getting what you want often feels like rummaging at the Internet's garage sale.Some services have risen up to try to help; the Xbox 360 offers excellent Bing-based search of Xbox media apps, while Fanhattan does the same on iOS, although you have to enter the app to begin searching.Fanhattan lacks one important feature, though: a listing of shows on actual, live TV.TV GuideBridging the cord-cutting and cable/antenna TV landscape is TV Guide, which tries to implement streaming-media hooks into its existing tradition TV listings service.How does that work, exactly? TV Guide does it by offering a separate Watchlist area where searched-for shows will show every instance on TV listings, streaming services, and even on-demand cable channels. When you click the "streaming services" area, listings from other apps appear. Currently, the connected video apps are limited to ABC, ABC Family, CW, Hulu Plus, HBO GO, MAX GO, Crackle, and iTunes. Notably missing are Netflix and Amazon, although TV Guide's executives say that more services will be available in the coming weeks.Searching for streaming videos can be done in several ways: through a discovery-type curated grid of shows not unlike what Netflix and Amazon Prime already offer up, or via a search for shows or even artists/celebrities. Adding these shows to your watchlist creates a tracker for your interests.TV Guide still has its old-fashioned listings, too.TV GuideThe feature, however, is currently far from perfect. I added David Lynch (always my favorite test) and found a number of episodes of "Twin Peaks" scattered hodgepodge, with links to iTunes and Hulu Plus, along with movies like "Eraserhead" and "Blue Velvet," but TV shows weren't collected into a single "Twin Peaks" show icon. Clicking the Hulu Plus link on these shows didn't successfully launch the episode in Hulu Plus, either: I received the Hulu Plus message "an error has occurred." Also, for some odd reason, my David Lynch page has dozens of episodes of "The Cleveland Show."The TV Guide app update just launched this morning, and it's free via ad support. Some of these kinks will hopefully be ironed out soon. If an app designed to be a media hub doesn't work perfectly, then I won't use it until it does. The spirit behind TV Guide's app is smart and necessary; standard TV listings and a search directory for an ever-growing rat's nest of TV and movie-streaming apps both need to be integrated in the future landscape of television. Apple's likely to crack the nut best whenever the Apple TV finally emerges in its next evolution, but until then, TV Guide might be a smart, easy solution, provided the app can start working better and manage to be intuitive for TV viewers who could be streaming app-averse.TV Guide's universal app works on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.
Brains behind Hulu leaves NBC
Brains behind Hulu leaves NBC
After a little more than two years as NBC's chief digital officer, Kliavkoff says he has accomplished the goals he set for himself and the company's digital unit when he joined in August 2006. He is taking time off before jumping into his next project. Kliavkoff, 41, has chosen to exercise an option in his contract and leave NBC at the end of the year but will remain available to CEO Jeff Zucker "during and after the transition," he said in an internal e-mail. "I believe in my heart that this is a best time to start, run, or invest in digital companies and I am very excited about moving on to my next challenge," Kliavkoff wrote. In Silicon Valley, the book on old media executives is that they're not supposed to "get it." Nobody says that about Kliavkoff. "George came to NBC Universal when we were nowhere in digital," said Zucker in a statement. "We asked him to help us change the fundamental orientation of a traditional media company from an analog to a digital mindset. George did that, and did an outstanding job job for us. "George came to NBC Universal when we were nowhere in digital. Today, our digital properties are thriving across the company."--Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal CEO"Today, our digital properties are thriving across the company, and are now embedded in each of our divisions. So I completely understood when he said he was ready for the next phase of his life, and I am grateful for all of his efforts. We wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career."He was Hulu's first CEO and helped set the strategy for the site. In its first four months, the video portal leaped into the top 10 among video sites and has become the one legitimate challenger to YouTube. Kliavkoff's group oversaw the online distribution of NBC's Olympics coverage, which delivered 1.3 billion page views and streamed 10 million hours of video to 52 million unique visitors. According to the internal memo from Kliavkoff, it was the "largest digital media event of all time." Digital revenues across NBC will exceed $1 billion in 2009, Kliavkoff wrote. Even before arriving at NBC, Kliavkoff was a rising star in digital media. He was executive vice president at the digital arm of Major League Baseball Advance Media (MLBAM). At a time when all the other sports were offering only stats and player bios on the Web, MLBAM began generating big revenue by charging fans to watch games online.
After a little more than two years as NBC's chief digital officer, Kliavkoff says he has accomplished the goals he set for himself and the company's digital unit when he joined in August 2006. He is taking time off before jumping into his next project. Kliavkoff, 41, has chosen to exercise an option in his contract and leave NBC at the end of the year but will remain available to CEO Jeff Zucker "during and after the transition," he said in an internal e-mail. "I believe in my heart that this is a best time to start, run, or invest in digital companies and I am very excited about moving on to my next challenge," Kliavkoff wrote. In Silicon Valley, the book on old media executives is that they're not supposed to "get it." Nobody says that about Kliavkoff. "George came to NBC Universal when we were nowhere in digital," said Zucker in a statement. "We asked him to help us change the fundamental orientation of a traditional media company from an analog to a digital mindset. George did that, and did an outstanding job job for us. "George came to NBC Universal when we were nowhere in digital. Today, our digital properties are thriving across the company."--Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal CEO"Today, our digital properties are thriving across the company, and are now embedded in each of our divisions. So I completely understood when he said he was ready for the next phase of his life, and I am grateful for all of his efforts. We wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career."He was Hulu's first CEO and helped set the strategy for the site. In its first four months, the video portal leaped into the top 10 among video sites and has become the one legitimate challenger to YouTube. Kliavkoff's group oversaw the online distribution of NBC's Olympics coverage, which delivered 1.3 billion page views and streamed 10 million hours of video to 52 million unique visitors. According to the internal memo from Kliavkoff, it was the "largest digital media event of all time." Digital revenues across NBC will exceed $1 billion in 2009, Kliavkoff wrote. Even before arriving at NBC, Kliavkoff was a rising star in digital media. He was executive vice president at the digital arm of Major League Baseball Advance Media (MLBAM). At a time when all the other sports were offering only stats and player bios on the Web, MLBAM began generating big revenue by charging fans to watch games online.
The 404 407- Where we pack Vienna Teng's lunch into the PS3 Slim box
The 404 407: Where we pack Vienna Teng's lunch into the PS3 Slim box
SonyAt the top of the show, we do a little unboxing of the new PlayStation 3 Slim. While Vienna and Justin may not care too much about the game console, Jeff and Wilson don't particularly like its new finish.In almost all respects, however, it functions just like the original 80GB model that it replaces, plus it comes with a 120GB hard drive. (No Linux for those homebrew fans out there.)The star of the show is Vienna, a singer, songwriter, and pianist from the San Francisco Bay Area who graduated from Stanford University. Vienna later took up a job at Cisco as a computer programmer and made the leap to musician during her time there. We end the first half of the show with a track from her first album "Waking Hour," called"Gravity." The song is about the ups and downs of her roommate's relationship.On the second half of the show, we listen to her song "Radio" from her current album "Inland Territory." And we talk about how now one in four songs sold in the United States is through iTunes.Finally, we end the show with her song "Augustine."You can find her music on iTunes, Amazon, MySpace, Last.fm, and her own Web site. (Editor's note: Last.fm is a part of CBS Interactive, which also publishes CNET.)EPISODE 407PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayVienna Teng's Web siteVienna Teng's MySpaceVienna Teng's Last.fmVienna Teng's iTunesBuy "Inland Territory" on AmazonPlayStation 3 Slim videoFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
SonyAt the top of the show, we do a little unboxing of the new PlayStation 3 Slim. While Vienna and Justin may not care too much about the game console, Jeff and Wilson don't particularly like its new finish.In almost all respects, however, it functions just like the original 80GB model that it replaces, plus it comes with a 120GB hard drive. (No Linux for those homebrew fans out there.)The star of the show is Vienna, a singer, songwriter, and pianist from the San Francisco Bay Area who graduated from Stanford University. Vienna later took up a job at Cisco as a computer programmer and made the leap to musician during her time there. We end the first half of the show with a track from her first album "Waking Hour," called"Gravity." The song is about the ups and downs of her roommate's relationship.On the second half of the show, we listen to her song "Radio" from her current album "Inland Territory." And we talk about how now one in four songs sold in the United States is through iTunes.Finally, we end the show with her song "Augustine."You can find her music on iTunes, Amazon, MySpace, Last.fm, and her own Web site. (Editor's note: Last.fm is a part of CBS Interactive, which also publishes CNET.)EPISODE 407PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayVienna Teng's Web siteVienna Teng's MySpaceVienna Teng's Last.fmVienna Teng's iTunesBuy "Inland Territory" on AmazonPlayStation 3 Slim videoFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
M-Go offers on-demand and UltraViolet on TVs, tablets
M-Go offers on-demand and UltraViolet on TVs, tablets
A new on-demand streaming video service called M-Go is coming to a TV or tablet near you and promises user-friendly features and UltraViolet support.M-Go offers movies and TV shows on a "pay per play" or download (SD/HD) basis and will be available from January 2013 on televisions from Samsung (2012/2013 models), Vizio, and LG (coming later in April), plus Samsung tablets (now) and most Web browsers. The service boasts content from most popular movie studios -- Paramount, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. -- with the exception of Disney, which just signed an exclusive deal with Netflix. However, M-Go's chief media officer, Ted Hong, said that this deal doesn't affect M-Go directly, as the company offers a transactional service, similar to DVD. Hong said that additional content deals with studios such as Lionsgate are in development.Uniquely, if M-ÂGo doesn't have the movie you are after, it will suggest other competing services that do, including Amazon, iTunes, Netflix, and Vudu.The user interface is quite stark, just purple "cards" on a white background, but Hong said this makes it "people-friendly.""One of the things we've differentiated ourselves on is a really clean, simple user interface; not just a wall of box art," Hong said.The service went live in a "public beta" as of January 4, but Hong said there will be no official launch as such."We think of ourselves as a service, not a store; the world doesn't need another store," Hong said. "We really want to be the hub and the starting point for all of your digital entertainment. Day one, it's about movies and TV shows for rent or purchase, but live TV is on the roadmap."Hong said M-Go uses the same technology that is behind Lovefilm in the U.K., as both were developed by M-Go's founder, Technicolor.Users of the service can create up to five additional profiles per account and include parental controls.Previously, the UltraViolet movie locker service was only available to select users, but M-ÂGo supports multiple digital lockers including UltraViolet. Other current services that include UV lockers are Vudu and Flixster.
A new on-demand streaming video service called M-Go is coming to a TV or tablet near you and promises user-friendly features and UltraViolet support.M-Go offers movies and TV shows on a "pay per play" or download (SD/HD) basis and will be available from January 2013 on televisions from Samsung (2012/2013 models), Vizio, and LG (coming later in April), plus Samsung tablets (now) and most Web browsers. The service boasts content from most popular movie studios -- Paramount, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. -- with the exception of Disney, which just signed an exclusive deal with Netflix. However, M-Go's chief media officer, Ted Hong, said that this deal doesn't affect M-Go directly, as the company offers a transactional service, similar to DVD. Hong said that additional content deals with studios such as Lionsgate are in development.Uniquely, if M-ÂGo doesn't have the movie you are after, it will suggest other competing services that do, including Amazon, iTunes, Netflix, and Vudu.The user interface is quite stark, just purple "cards" on a white background, but Hong said this makes it "people-friendly.""One of the things we've differentiated ourselves on is a really clean, simple user interface; not just a wall of box art," Hong said.The service went live in a "public beta" as of January 4, but Hong said there will be no official launch as such."We think of ourselves as a service, not a store; the world doesn't need another store," Hong said. "We really want to be the hub and the starting point for all of your digital entertainment. Day one, it's about movies and TV shows for rent or purchase, but live TV is on the roadmap."Hong said M-Go uses the same technology that is behind Lovefilm in the U.K., as both were developed by M-Go's founder, Technicolor.Users of the service can create up to five additional profiles per account and include parental controls.Previously, the UltraViolet movie locker service was only available to select users, but M-ÂGo supports multiple digital lockers including UltraViolet. Other current services that include UV lockers are Vudu and Flixster.
Former Apple retail chief- 'I just didn't fit'
Former Apple retail chief: 'I just didn't fit'
Apple's former retail chief apparently harbors few hard feelings about his previous employer, and says his brief stint at the company was "probably the best thing" that happened to him."Apple is a truly fantastic business. The people are great. They've got great products. It's got a great culture. And I loved working there -- it's a fantastic business," John Browett said during an on-stage interview at the Retail Week Live conference earlier this week."The issue there was that I just didn't fit within the way they ran the business," he added. "For me, it was one of those shopping things where you're ejected for fit rather than competency."Apple originally hired Browett to replace Ron Johnson, who left to become CEO of JC Penney. His brief tenure brought both positive and negative publicity to Apple's retail empire, though much of the focus centered on reports of budget cuts, employee layoffs, and other scale-backs. Browett left the company just six months later, a move Apple tucked away within news of a management shuffle that also saw the departure of former iOS software chief Scott Forstall.Before Apple, Browett ran U.K.-based electronics retailer Dixons. Since his stint at Apple, Browett has landed at U.K.-based retail chain Monsoon Accessorize, as the company's CEO. Browett now oversees more than 1,000 stores, a fiefdom more than twice the size of Apple's retail empire, which is currently at 400 stores.Apple remains on the hunt for a new retail chief to replace Browett, though the company has not let on to progress on that effort. Here's a clip from the interview: (Via The Independent)
Apple's former retail chief apparently harbors few hard feelings about his previous employer, and says his brief stint at the company was "probably the best thing" that happened to him."Apple is a truly fantastic business. The people are great. They've got great products. It's got a great culture. And I loved working there -- it's a fantastic business," John Browett said during an on-stage interview at the Retail Week Live conference earlier this week."The issue there was that I just didn't fit within the way they ran the business," he added. "For me, it was one of those shopping things where you're ejected for fit rather than competency."Apple originally hired Browett to replace Ron Johnson, who left to become CEO of JC Penney. His brief tenure brought both positive and negative publicity to Apple's retail empire, though much of the focus centered on reports of budget cuts, employee layoffs, and other scale-backs. Browett left the company just six months later, a move Apple tucked away within news of a management shuffle that also saw the departure of former iOS software chief Scott Forstall.Before Apple, Browett ran U.K.-based electronics retailer Dixons. Since his stint at Apple, Browett has landed at U.K.-based retail chain Monsoon Accessorize, as the company's CEO. Browett now oversees more than 1,000 stores, a fiefdom more than twice the size of Apple's retail empire, which is currently at 400 stores.Apple remains on the hunt for a new retail chief to replace Browett, though the company has not let on to progress on that effort. Here's a clip from the interview: (Via The Independent)
Former Apple exec roping in old colleague at J.C. Penney
Former Apple exec roping in old colleague at J.C. Penney
Apple's former retail chief may be looking to get some of his old gang back together at his new gig.J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson, who officially left his post as Apple's senior vice president of retail operations this month, is now said to be in the process of trying to hire a former Apple executive he worked with while at the technology company.Citing sources, The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that Johnson in trying to hire Michael Kramer, who was the chief financial officer of Apple's retail operations between 2000 and 2005. The Journal says Johnson is vying to get to get Kramer--who is currently the CEO of fashion company Kellwood Co.--to come on as J.C. Penney's chief operating officer. That's with the help of Daniel Walker, Apple's former chief talent officer, and the one who brought Johnson to Apple, the report says. Johnson decided to leave Apple for retailer J.C. Penney in June, having spent more than a decade working to build Apple's retail ambitions into an empire. Under Johnson's direction, Apple's stores became a major success, helping to fuel record sales and act as service stations for the company's growing product line. Johnson is credited both with the strategy of the stores, as well as much of the micromanaging that goes into the details, from materials used, all the way to the layout of each store. Apple has not yet announced a successor for Johnson's position. In a statement issued last week, the company said it was still searching for a replacement.
Apple's former retail chief may be looking to get some of his old gang back together at his new gig.J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson, who officially left his post as Apple's senior vice president of retail operations this month, is now said to be in the process of trying to hire a former Apple executive he worked with while at the technology company.Citing sources, The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that Johnson in trying to hire Michael Kramer, who was the chief financial officer of Apple's retail operations between 2000 and 2005. The Journal says Johnson is vying to get to get Kramer--who is currently the CEO of fashion company Kellwood Co.--to come on as J.C. Penney's chief operating officer. That's with the help of Daniel Walker, Apple's former chief talent officer, and the one who brought Johnson to Apple, the report says. Johnson decided to leave Apple for retailer J.C. Penney in June, having spent more than a decade working to build Apple's retail ambitions into an empire. Under Johnson's direction, Apple's stores became a major success, helping to fuel record sales and act as service stations for the company's growing product line. Johnson is credited both with the strategy of the stores, as well as much of the micromanaging that goes into the details, from materials used, all the way to the layout of each store. Apple has not yet announced a successor for Johnson's position. In a statement issued last week, the company said it was still searching for a replacement.
Former Apple exec- PC 'in its twilight'
Former Apple exec: PC 'in its twilight'
Jean-Louis Gassée, a former Apple executive and now a general partner for Allegis Capital,wrote in his "Monday Note" blog that the PC market is in its death throes.His comments come after a rumor Web site claimed that Apple will abandon Intel processors in favor of processors based on the power-frugal ARM chip architecture."Now that the PC market is in its twilight, with mobile devices proliferating and stealing growth from the PC, surely Intel has to get into the race," Gassée wrote.While not mentioning Intel's power-efficient Atom processor by name, Gassée had harsh words for Intel's lack of competitiveness in the smartphone world--where its Atom chip is intended to compete. "Let's consider Intel's complete absence from the mobile scene. Not a single smartphone contains an x86 processor," he wrote.Gassée continues. "For the past four years, Intel has told us we'd see [Intel] x86 mobile devices Real Soon Now. The company developed its own mobile version of Linux, MobLin, and they made a big deal of joining forces with Nokia's Maemo to create MeeGo. But Nokia's new CEO, Stephen Elop, kicked Meego to the [curb]," he wrote.Gassée goes on to write that ARM continues to out-maneuver Intel on the power-efficiency front.He also cast doubt on the significance of Intel's 3D transistor announcement last week."Will this be enough to unseat ARM? Most observers doubt it. The big news was received with an equally big yawn...We've been here before: The 'product' of the announcement is the announcement. (And there's the suspicion that 'breakthrough' revelations are an attempt to mask a lack of spanking new products.)," he wrote.
Jean-Louis Gassée, a former Apple executive and now a general partner for Allegis Capital,wrote in his "Monday Note" blog that the PC market is in its death throes.His comments come after a rumor Web site claimed that Apple will abandon Intel processors in favor of processors based on the power-frugal ARM chip architecture."Now that the PC market is in its twilight, with mobile devices proliferating and stealing growth from the PC, surely Intel has to get into the race," Gassée wrote.While not mentioning Intel's power-efficient Atom processor by name, Gassée had harsh words for Intel's lack of competitiveness in the smartphone world--where its Atom chip is intended to compete. "Let's consider Intel's complete absence from the mobile scene. Not a single smartphone contains an x86 processor," he wrote.Gassée continues. "For the past four years, Intel has told us we'd see [Intel] x86 mobile devices Real Soon Now. The company developed its own mobile version of Linux, MobLin, and they made a big deal of joining forces with Nokia's Maemo to create MeeGo. But Nokia's new CEO, Stephen Elop, kicked Meego to the [curb]," he wrote.Gassée goes on to write that ARM continues to out-maneuver Intel on the power-efficiency front.He also cast doubt on the significance of Intel's 3D transistor announcement last week."Will this be enough to unseat ARM? Most observers doubt it. The big news was received with an equally big yawn...We've been here before: The 'product' of the announcement is the announcement. (And there's the suspicion that 'breakthrough' revelations are an attempt to mask a lack of spanking new products.)," he wrote.
Forget the iTV, Steve Jobs wanted an iCar
Forget the iTV, Steve Jobs wanted an iCar
Televisions weren't the only product late Steve Jobs wanted to revamp. According to one of Apple's current board members, Jobs was eyeing automobiles too.That tidbit came during an interview with J. Crew CEO and Apple board member Mickey Drexler at Fast Company's Innovation Uncensored conference in New York last month. The outlet released a video of the interview late yesterday. "Look at the car industry; it's a tragedy in America. Who is designing the cars?" Drexler said. "Steve's dream before he died was to design an iCar."Drexler suggested that automobile "would've been probably 50 percent of the market," and that Jobs "never did design it." The project joins a short list of others that did not come to fruition ahead of Jobs' death last October, but have since been revealed. Per a conversation noted in Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs last year, the CEO and inventor was also eyeing a TV set, which Apple is rumored to still be working on. Jobs had also worked with French designer Philippe Starck to architect the interior design of a yacht, a project that has since been taken over by Jobs' wife.Related storiesThe 'Starck' truth about Apple's 'revolutionary' productApple TV: Did Steve Jobs crack the code?Draft Steve Jobs to run GM? Why not?Apple has historically been hands-off in developing any specific technologies for automobiles, though during the iPod's boom years the company dabbled in partnerships that more deeply integrated the device inside of automobiles. A more recent effort by Mercedes-Benz aims to integrate Siri, Apple's voice assistant for the iPhone 4S, in the company's A-Class cars.Here's the snippet from the interview:
Televisions weren't the only product late Steve Jobs wanted to revamp. According to one of Apple's current board members, Jobs was eyeing automobiles too.That tidbit came during an interview with J. Crew CEO and Apple board member Mickey Drexler at Fast Company's Innovation Uncensored conference in New York last month. The outlet released a video of the interview late yesterday. "Look at the car industry; it's a tragedy in America. Who is designing the cars?" Drexler said. "Steve's dream before he died was to design an iCar."Drexler suggested that automobile "would've been probably 50 percent of the market," and that Jobs "never did design it." The project joins a short list of others that did not come to fruition ahead of Jobs' death last October, but have since been revealed. Per a conversation noted in Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs last year, the CEO and inventor was also eyeing a TV set, which Apple is rumored to still be working on. Jobs had also worked with French designer Philippe Starck to architect the interior design of a yacht, a project that has since been taken over by Jobs' wife.Related storiesThe 'Starck' truth about Apple's 'revolutionary' productApple TV: Did Steve Jobs crack the code?Draft Steve Jobs to run GM? Why not?Apple has historically been hands-off in developing any specific technologies for automobiles, though during the iPod's boom years the company dabbled in partnerships that more deeply integrated the device inside of automobiles. A more recent effort by Mercedes-Benz aims to integrate Siri, Apple's voice assistant for the iPhone 4S, in the company's A-Class cars.Here's the snippet from the interview:
For 99 cents, Amazon sells shows, Apple rents them
For 99 cents, Amazon sells shows, Apple rents them
As an eagle-eyed CNET reader noted, Amazon is selling some TV shows for the same price that Apple plans to charge for rentals.A number of ABC and Fox shows, including hits like "Glee," are available on Amazon's service for 99 cents per episode--the same price as Apple's coming rental option. But with Amazon, the episodes can be downloaded or streamed and do not expire.Other shows, such as AMC's Mad Men, still fetch $1.99 on Amazon's site.Here's what Amazon says of the rights that come with videos sold on its site, including the 99-cent TV shows."When you buy a video, your viewing rights do not expire (except as provided in our Terms of Use)," Amazon states. "You can watch a video you own online and download it to 2 locations (TiVo, DVRs, and Windows PCs). You can also transfer a video you own to 2 portable devices. Note: Some new release movies will become unavailable for viewing or downloading for an unspecified period of time due to licensing restrictions. You will be notified about this before we process your order."While Amazon only offers downloads to Windows machines and TiVo boxes, purchased shows can be streamed on a wider array of devices, including Macs, PCs or TVs connected to compatible devices from, among others, Samsung, Vizio, Sony, Panasonic, and Roku. Apple announced the 99-cent video rental option earlier on Wednesday. For now it is in the U.S. only and is limited to certain programs from Fox and ABC. Apple sells a much wider array of TV shows, typically charging $1.99 for standard-definition and $2.99 for HD episodes.
As an eagle-eyed CNET reader noted, Amazon is selling some TV shows for the same price that Apple plans to charge for rentals.A number of ABC and Fox shows, including hits like "Glee," are available on Amazon's service for 99 cents per episode--the same price as Apple's coming rental option. But with Amazon, the episodes can be downloaded or streamed and do not expire.Other shows, such as AMC's Mad Men, still fetch $1.99 on Amazon's site.Here's what Amazon says of the rights that come with videos sold on its site, including the 99-cent TV shows."When you buy a video, your viewing rights do not expire (except as provided in our Terms of Use)," Amazon states. "You can watch a video you own online and download it to 2 locations (TiVo, DVRs, and Windows PCs). You can also transfer a video you own to 2 portable devices. Note: Some new release movies will become unavailable for viewing or downloading for an unspecified period of time due to licensing restrictions. You will be notified about this before we process your order."While Amazon only offers downloads to Windows machines and TiVo boxes, purchased shows can be streamed on a wider array of devices, including Macs, PCs or TVs connected to compatible devices from, among others, Samsung, Vizio, Sony, Panasonic, and Roku. Apple announced the 99-cent video rental option earlier on Wednesday. For now it is in the U.S. only and is limited to certain programs from Fox and ABC. Apple sells a much wider array of TV shows, typically charging $1.99 for standard-definition and $2.99 for HD episodes.
Apple pushes out sixth beta of iOS 7 to developers
Apple has given developers a sixth beta of iOS 7, its upcoming software update for iPhones, iPods, and iPads.The update went out late Thursday, which is unusual timing given that past releases went out in the morning.iOS 7 brings an overhauled design for every part of the operating system, while remaining largely the same in terms of functionality. Onlookers are expecting a few more changes before it's finalized. As usual, Apple's only saying the software "contains bug fixes and improvements," though 9to5Mac notes that the update fixes an issue with iTunes in the Cloud, Apple's service that lets users stream and re-download items from multiple devices.It's the norm for iOS to undergo several beta versions before it's ready for public consumption. For iOS 6 it was five betas, whereas with iOS 5 it was eight separate releases. The "golden master" version represents the final release that goes out to consumers, and what has historically shipped on Apple's new iPhone.Apple's last iOS 7 beta arrived early last week, and came about a week after the one before it. An earlierreport from BGR claimed that iOS 7 beta 6 would be the last beta release ahead of the gold master. That software is expected to be finalized in time for the release of Apple's next iPhone, which is widely rumoredto be announced on September 10.Updated at 6:30 p.m. PT with additional update details.
Apple pushes iTunes for Valentine's Day (podcast)
For decades people have been making mix tapes for their love interests. There was a time when that meant gathering up all your favorite CDs or vinyl albums to make a tape, but now it's easy to create a playlist in iTunes or any other music player. This Valentine's Day, Apple is making it even easier. The company has a section on iTunes where you can purchase albums or collections of love songs for setting that special mood.In a recorded interview, Alex Luke, Apple's director of programming and label relations, explains how you can give the gift of music whether it's a gift card, an album, or a custom playlist of special songs.As you would expect, Luke doesn't recommend that you make a CD or give away files from your collection without purchasing a copy for your loved one. "The music you buy on iTunes is for personal use and when you gift it, you're gifting a copy for personal use so that's really the experience we're working to build."PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
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