iLounge

AT&T: All video chat apps will work over cellular in 2013

• May 20, 2013
• iPad, iPhone

AT&T has made a statement suggesting the carrier will allow all mobile video chat apps over cellular on its network by the end of the year. In a statement made to The Verge, AT&T said that pre-loaded Apple, Samsung and BlackBerry’s video chat apps will be enabled by mid-June “over cellular for our unlimited plan customers who have LTE devices from those three manufacturers.” Additionally, “Throughout the second half of this year, we plan to enable pre-loaded video chat apps over cellular for all our customers, regardless of data plan or device; that work is expected to be complete by year end.” The company notes that any mobile video chat app downloaded from the Internet can already be used. AT&T said due to the higher usage of pre-loaded apps, the carrier took a “deliberate” approach on enabling the apps on its network.

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Apple releases testimony before CEO’s Senate appearance

• May 20, 2013
• Apple

Apple has released a document containing CEO Tim Cook’s testimony ahead of his scheduled appearance tomorrow before US Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Responding to questions about the company keeping more than $100 billion overseas, Apple used the testimony to state that it does not use tax gimmicks, and “has substantial foreign cash because it sells the majority of its products outside the US.” The company also points out that it is “likely the largest corporate income tax payer in the US” and notes that it has “created or supported approximately 600,000 jobs in the US.”

As anticipated by comments from Cook last year, Apple proposes that the current US corporate tax system must be reformed — “to reflect both the digital age and the globalization of commerce.” The company believes comprehensive reform should “be revenue neutral; eliminate all corporate tax expenditures; lower corporate income tax rates; and implement a reasonable tax on foreign earnings that allows free movement of capital back to the US.” It does not make more specific proposals in the testimony, but suggests that the simplification of the tax system is in line with its long-held belief system that simplicity is superior to complexity.

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New Apple offers in India can reduce iPhone price

• May 20, 2013
• iPhone

Apple has introduced incentives to make the iPhone more affordable for customers in India. Indian students who trade in an old smartphone will get 7,777 rupees ($144) toward a new iPhone. Non-students will earn the equivalent of $130 toward an iPhone purchase. Additionally, customers who use an American Express credit card to purchase an iPhone will receive ten percent cash back — a maximum refund of $111 to customers who purchase an iPhone 4, 4S or 5 before June 10. [via ZDNet]

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Report: Apple testing 1.5” OLED displays for iWatch

• May 20, 2013
• Apple

Apple is testing a 1.5” OLED display for use in its smart watch, according to a report in Taiwan’s Economic Times. Reportedly, the company was looking at a 1.8” display, but decided for some reason that it was too big. For comparison, the sixth-generation iPod nano contained a wearable 1.5” touchscreen. Another report from the same publication notes that Foxconn has received a small-scale order for the smart watch for about 1,000 units, suggesting that Apple will be testing the device within the company. [via Macotakara]

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Song skipping terms slowing iRadio negotiations

• May 20, 2013
• Apple

A new report sheds light on the latest issue alleged to be delaying negotiations for Apple’s streaming radio service: Apple and Sony Music have yet to agree on how much Apple should pay for songs which people only listen to partially before skipping. The report notes that Pandora pays full royalties for each skipped song, as per the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, even if the song “only plays for a few seconds.” Another recent report indicated Apple’s streaming music service could miss debuting at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference next month based on negotiation delays. Neither Sony Music nor BMG Rights Management — two of the largest music publishers — have apparently agreed to terms with Apple as of yet. [via CNET]

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iLounge Weekly arriving Monday, giveaway reminder

• May 17, 2013
• Site News

The latest edition of iLounge Weekly, our weekly newsletter covering all things iLounge, will be arriving in subscribers’ inboxes early next week. iLounge Weekly is a summary of the week’s best news, reviews, and feature articles we’ve published, and it also features giveaways and accessory discount offers from various companies. There’s still plenty of time to sign up and receive this week’s edition — just use the simple form below to submit your email address, if you haven’t done so already.

IMPORTANT: Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Earthlink and others, make sure we don’t end up in your spam box. Please accept emails from iLounge.com. Thank you.

Also don’t forget about our May giveaway, in which iLounge and Kensington are giving away ten KeyCover iPad keyboard cases. Simply fill out and submit the form on the giveaway page to enter; the giveaway will end on May 31, 2013 at 11:59PM Pacific Time. Good luck!

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Report: BBM iOS app won’t support iPad at launch

• May 17, 2013
• iPad, Apps + Games

BlackBerry’s recently announced iOS app for its BBM messaging service is expected to launch this summer, but it apparently won’t be coming to iPad right away. According to a report, Vivek Bhardwaj, head of software portfolio at BlackBerry, said BBM will be coming to “iOS phones running iOS 6 and higher.” Bhardwaj said smartphone is the company’s “real focus” for BBM. “When you start looking at tablets, computers and other screens, the usage model changes and behaviour changes. For us right now the absolute focus is getting BBM onto smartphones,” he said. [via Trusted Reviews]

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Report: iRadio might miss WWDC debut

• May 17, 2013
• Apple

Apple’s continuing negotiations with record labels could prevent the company from debuting its streaming music service by its Worldwide Developers Conference next month, according to a new report. Sony still hasn’t agreed to royalty terms with Apple, and BMG Rights Management, the fourth-largest music publisher, is also said to be holding out. But Universal Music Group, among other industry heavyweights, would like to see iRadio launch “as soon as possible.”

The article also notes how Google beat Apple to a steaming music service with the launch of Google Play Music All Access. While Google’s service is more of a standard subscription service similar to existing services, Apple is building a hybrid service — streaming with on-demand features. “Of course [Apple’s] negotiations were going to take longer,” a source said. Apple’s reluctance to pay advances has also reportedly played a role in slowing the pace of negotiations. [via The Verge]

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Fair Labor Assoc.: Foxconn, Apple still exceed work hours

• May 17, 2013
• Apple

The Fair Labor Association has released a report acknowledging that Foxconn and Apple are making progress on improving work conditions, but the companies are still exceeding working-hour laws. Apple and Foxconn have agreed to comply with Chinese working-hour law by July — under the law, workers may work 40 hours per week and work 36 hours of overtime per month — but the report finds workers at three facilities have worked between 40 and 60 hours every week. The findings were based on observations and interviews at the facilities. Those same three Foxconn facilities have met more than 98 percent of the action items agreed upon by Foxconn and Apple, the FLA reports. The FLA report also notes “Progress has been made with respect to election of worker representatives to unions.” [via The Wall Street Journal]

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CW to bring content to Apple TV

• May 17, 2013
• Apple TV

CW announced its TV Now app will be coming to Apple TV. Much like the Xbox and mobile TV Now apps, the Apple TV app will offer full episodes of ad-supported CW shows the day after airing.

No cable authentication will be required to watch the shows. TV Now will be the first network television app on Apple TV — it’s reportedly set to launch sometime “in the coming weeks.” [via Deadline, MacRumors]

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Moshi debuts aluminum USB Cable with Lightning Connector

• May 16, 2013
• iPod Accessories, iPad Accessories, iPhone Accessories

Moshi has released its USB Cable with Lightning Connector ($20). While it’s not terribly different in price or size from Apple’s official Lightning to USB Cable, this one-meter Lightning cable uses fancy aluminum plug jackets rather than the plastic ones favored by Apple.

Moshi’s USB Cable with Lightning Connector comes in black or white. Teased by the company at CES earlier this year, it is available now.

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Cook talks Apple’s taxes ahead of Senate testimony

• May 16, 2013
• Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook has spoken out on the company’s tax practices prior to his scheduled testimony at a Senate hearing next Tuesday. Under pressure over Apple keeping more than $100 billion overseas, Cook told Politico that the company has acted legally. “I can tell you unequivocally Apple does not funnel its domestic profits overseas,” said Cook, “We don’t do that. We pay taxes on all the products we sell in the U.S., and we pay every dollar that we owe. And so I’d like to be really clear on that.” Like many companies, Apple allegedly keeps money overseas to avoid paying high U.S. taxes. Cook noted that Apple is one of the largest U.S. taxpayers — the company paid almost $6 billion in taxes in the 2012 fiscal year. Interestingly, it’s expected that Cook will share Apple’s ideas for comprehensive tax reform at Tuesday’s testimony. [via Politico]

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iLuv intros Aud 5 Lightning speaker dock for iPhone 5

• May 16, 2013
• iPhone Accessories

Following an announcement earlier this year, iLuv has released Aud 5 ($150), a Lightning speaker dock for iPhone 5. Aud 5 features both full-range speakers and a passive radiator for bass. An iPhone 5 can be charged while docked in the center of the speaker on a pivoting Lightning connector.

iLuv’s Aud 5 also features a 3.5mm auxiliary input for backward compatibility. It’s available now.

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Apps: Can Knockdown 3, eBay 3.0/2.3, Jungle Book + Sonic the Hedgehog 2.0

• May 16, 2013
• iPad, iPhone, Apps + Games, iPod

Each time there’s a new version of Can Knockdown, we stand up and take notice. On the surface, the universal iOS release Can Knockdown 3 ($2) is the type of super-simple game that once dominated the App Store—flick to toss balls at cans, knocking them over. Yet developer Infinite Dreams keeps raising the bar with each iteration, this time improving the realtime 3-D graphics to virtually photorealistic levels on Retina iPads, and adding puzzles to the 100 included levels. While the music is only alright, the sound effects, controls, and graphics otherwise work really nicely together, and the levels continue to evolve in challenge as you continue playing. Currently on sale for only $1, this should be a no-brainer download if you’re looking for something fun to occupy your spare time.

eBay has updated its free iOS apps for both the iPhone and iPad, bumping them to versions 3.0.0 and 2.3.0, respectively. The iPhone app has been redesigned, including larger photos for users of iOS 6 and beyond. Most notably, the app allows users of some US states to scan in their drivers licenses for fast and easy eBay registration. Last minute bidding has also been improved, and the new eBay Shopping Cart lets users check out multiple items at once. The updated iPad app makes a number of changes as well, including improved photos and easier browsing.

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Creating or Importing your own Ringtones into iTunes

• May 16, 2013
• iPad, iPhone, iPod, iTunes

While Apple still allows you to purchase alert tones directly from the iTunes Store, many users may already have their own sound effects or songs that they already own that they’d like to use as ringtones or alert tones. Unfortunately, while iTunes doesn’t provide any way to do this directly, if you already have a short sound file in the AAC format you can actually import it straight into the “Tones” section in iTunes simply by renaming the file, changing the extension from M4A to M4R before importing it.

If your file is longer than about 30 seconds and/or in a format other than AAC, however, you’ll need to take some additional steps. See this week’s Ask iLounge article Setting up a ringtone in iTunes for more information.

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Apple releases iTunes 11.0.3 with new Mini Player

• May 16, 2013
• Apple, iTunes

Apple has released iTunes 11.0.3, adding a new MiniPlayer, improved Songs view, and support for multi-disc albums. A greater emphasis has been put on allowing users to showcase album artwork in the redesigned MiniPlayer and Songs view, and the MiniPlayer now includes a built-in progress bar.

In addition, users with multiple disc albums can now have them appear as a single album. Apple also notes that the update provides performance improvements for working with large iTunes libraries.

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Apple patent filing uses multiple devices to light a scene

• May 16, 2013
• Apple, iPad, iPhone, iPod

A newly published Apple patent application reveals a system whereby one iOS device could control the flashes on other devices to better light a scene for photos. The method would allow an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch to use the flashes on multiple other iPhones, for instance, by initiating a master-slave connection. A signal can be sent from the primary device to the secondary devices to adjust timing, intensity, duration, or flash angle.

As described in the filing, instructions sent from the primary device could be displayed as text on the secondary device’s screen. The devices could also be paired using Bluetooth to trigger the flash at the right time. [via Apple Insider]

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Jays debuts a-Jays Five earphones

• May 16, 2013
• iPod Accessories, iPad Accessories, iPhone Accessories

Swedish headphone maker Jays has announced its new a-Jays Five ($100) earphones. The in-ear earphones feature a custom driver and flat, tangle-free cables. A redesigned three-button remote is thinner than previous Jays remotes, and the microphone with built-in echo cancellation won’t degrade over time, according to the company.

Offered in black or white, a-Jays Five will come with five different sizes of silicone tips, a cable clip, and a carrying case. No current release date is listed, but the earphones are “coming soon,” according to Jays’ website.

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