iLounge

Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corp, has confirmed that an iPad application for the Wall Street Journal is presently under development. This follows a report that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had visited the Wall Street Journal last month to provide a personal demonstration of the iPad. According to Murdoch, WSJ developers have been given access to a pre-release iPad for development purposes but that the device is “kept under padlock and key” by an Apple employee. The iPad WSJ app is expected to expand upon the publication’s existing iPhone app to take better advantage of the larger screen on the iPad.  [via TUAW]

Apple has recently been pressuring the major music labels to stop participating in the Amazon MP3 Daily Deal promotions, according to a Billboard report. Citing multiple anonymous label executives, the report claims that Amazon originally launched the promotions as a way to drive traffic to the store, but more recently began asking for one-day exclusives prior to the featured albums’ release dates and digital marketing support from the labels in exchange for featuring the albums as Daily Deals. “When that happened,” the executive said, “iTunes said, ‘Enough of that [crap].’ ” According to the report, Apple has since been urging labels to rethink their participation in the Daily Deal, even going so far as to withdraw market support for certain releases featured in Amazon’s promotion. In response, Amazon has reportedly been fine-tuning the promotion, agreeing to forgo the one-day exclusive window on new releases, but Apple and iTunes have continued to voice displeasure over other aspects of the promotion, including label-provided marketing support.

As a result of the tension between iTunes and Amazon, most labels are now said to be hesitant to allow new releases to be part of the Daily Deals promotion; one major label head of sales said it is now sometimes sensible to partner with Amazon on releases that might not receive the same marketing support on the iTunes Store. “The whole issue is a kind of interesting dynamic,” a senior major-label distribution executive said. “Amazon is fighting a guerrilla war against iTunes, and now iTunes is getting frustrated because they work hard to set up and promote a release weeks in advance of the street date, and then lo and behold, Amazon jumps in there with this deal of the day and scrapes off some of the cream.”

Apple will begin training its retail employees on the iPad beginning March 10, according to a new report. Citing anonymous inside sources, as well as an Apple Store manager in Southern California, The Examiner reports that commercials for the device will begin airing on March 15, with e-book capabilities as a point of emphasis, and that Friday, March 26 is a “very likely” date for the device’s launch, although the official date has yet to be set. Finally, the report states that 3G versions of the device won’t be available until April or possibly May, and that customers who “camp out” for the iPad launch will receive an unspecified “special gift.” At its iPad special event on January 27, Apple declined to give an exact launch date for the device, saying instead that the Wi-Fi version would launch in roughly “60 days,” with the 3G version launching about 30 days after its Wi-Fi-only counterpart.

Speaking at an investor conference this week, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson made several comments concerning the iPhone and iPad. Regarding the iPhone, Stephenson said he expects the device to be an important part of the company’s handset lineup for “quite some time.” The Wall Street Journal reports that he also said that major carriers will eventually move to a “variable pricing model” to help deal with the large amount of data consumed by smartphone users, noting that AT&T handles half of all U.S. data traffic. Regarding the iPad, Reuters reports that Stephenson said he does not expect the device to help drive new service subscriptions for the company as most users will choose a prepaid data plan. “My expectation is that there’s not going to be a lot of people out there looking for another subscription,” he said, adding that the device would be a mainly “Wi-Fi driven product.” [via Mac Rumors]

This week’s featured photo is from our iPods Around the World gallery, and shows a third-generation iPod at the Nami Beach Resort in Boracay. To share your photos and to be considered for our Photo of the Week, you simply need to submit your own photo to one of our galleries. So get out there, take some pictures with your iPod or iPhone, and maybe your submission will be our next Photo of the Week!

MLB.com has released the 2010 season edition of its popular sports app. MLB.com At Bat 2010 allows iPhone and iPod touch users to watch or listen to Major League Baseball games live on their device, view up to the minute scores and player stats and watch in-game highlights and condensed games. The 2010 edition introduces several new features including Spring Training statistics, breaking news, schedules, rosters, player stats and a searchable video library. The application also provides support for push notifications and background audio playback. MLB.com At Bat 2010 is available on the App Store for $15. A free Lite version is also available which provides scores, schedule, news and standings information only.

Vestalife has announced its new Mantis speaker system, the first speaker system with an iPad-compatible dock. The new Mantis will increase in overall size 25% from its predecessor to accomodate docking of the iPad, and will also see an increase in overall power to accomodate the iPad’s charging demands, which will also increase acoustic performance. Other features such as the folding speaker “wing” design, digital amplifier, down-firing ported subwoofer, auxiliary input and video output jacks, optional 4 AA battery operation, built-in USB port for syncing, and the included, full-function remote will remain from the original Mantis. The new Vestalife Mantis will be compatible with the iPad, iPhone, and iPod and will come in black, red, or silver; pricing and release information has yet to be announced.

A handful of new Apple job postings suggest the company is looking to expand its iBookstore into foreign markets and strengthen its mobile advertising team. A listing for an iBooks Asia Pacific & Canada manager describes the position as working with management, partners, production, and marketing to determine strategies for iBooks in “Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries,” coordinating launches, and securing content. Separately, a listing for an iPhone Advertising SDK Manager calls for “managing a talented team of developers working on the frameworks included in the iPhone SDK,” a job that will include “day to day management of the engineering, as well as related frameworks” and “interacting with the engineering team, program managers, other engineering teams, and executives.” Other mobile advertising-related postings for a Product UX/Design Engineer, a Senior Interactive Designer, and Senior Interactive Web Developer describe a job with Apple advertising as “an opportunity to redefine the advertising on mobile devices.” [via Silicon Alley Insider/Mac Rumors]

ThinkFlood has introduced its new RedEye mini IR transmitter for the iPhone and iPod touch. Unlike the company’s full-size RedEye Universal Remote, which is comprised of a small IR transmitter box with built-in Wi-Fi and an accompanying app that transmits commands to the box using the Wi-Fi connection, the new RedEye mini is a small, cylindrical 3.5mm IR transmitter that connects to the iPhone’s or iPod touch’s headphone jack, communicating directly with the company’s RedEye app and eliminating the need for the larger separate transmitter box. The RedEye mini draws power from the device itself, and includes a carrying case. ThinkFlood’s new RedEye mini IR transmitter requires the company’s free RedEye app and will be available this spring for $50.

FreshDirect, a leading online grocer in New York City, has released a new application to allow FreshDirect users to place grocery orders directly from their iPhone or iPod touch. Developed by digital firm Schematic, the application is designed to deliver the same functionality as the FreshDirect web site, allowing users to create, submit, and update orders and schedule and update delivery times right from their device. Users can search the FreshDirect store for items, shop from their previous orders or favorites and see product recommendations based on past orders. In-progress orders can be saved and resumed allowing users to build their grocery lists on the go and place them later. The application is also integrated with the FreshDirect web service so orders started on the iPhone can be completed on the web site or vice-versa. The FreshDirect application is available on the U.S. App Store as a free download.

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and NEA’s Read Across America Day, Oceanhouse Media has dropped the price of its Dr. Seuss iPhone and iPod touch applications to $1 for today only. The licensed developer of Dr. Seuss applications for the iPhone platform, Oceanhouse Media currently offers six interactive eBooks, games and activity applications including titles such as The Cat in the Hat, How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Dr. Seuss Camera. Oceanhouse Media’s Dr. Seuss applications are available on the App Store.

In response to an inquiry from iLounge, HTC offered its initial response to Apple’s lawsuit, which claims that HTC has infringed on 20 iPhone-related hardware and software patents. “HTC only learned of Apple’s actions this morning via media reports, and therefore we have not yet had the opportunity to investigate the filings,” a HTC representative told iLounge. “Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made against HTC.” The representative also said the company “values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations,” adding that “HTC is a mobile technology innovator and patent holder that has been very focused over the past 13 years on creating many of the most innovative smartphones.”

Gameloft has released an iPhone version of the highly-acclaimed console game Rayman 2: The Great Escape. Rayman 2 is a 3D-rendered platform game where the player must travel through a sequence of levels, fighting enemies, solving puzzles and collecting lums in search of four magical masks that will save the world from evil robot pirates from outer space. The game features 45 environments fully rendered in 3D through which the player must control Rayman as he runs, climbs, swims, water-skis and flies. Rayman 2: The Great Escape is available on the App Store for $7.

Starbucks has released its myStarbucks iPhone application in the Canadian and UK App Stores. Previously released only in the U.S. myStarbucks allows iPhone and iPod touch users to locate nearby Starbucks stores, browse the menu and create and share their favorite Starbucks beverages. The original U.S. version of the application has also been updated to provide more detailed information on Canadian and UK Starbucks locations for users travelling in those countries. The companion Starbucks Card management iPhone application, Starbucks Card Mobile, remains available in the U.S. only at this time. myStarbucks Canada and myStarbucks UK are available from their respective App Stores as free downloads.

Apple has announced that it has filed a lawsuit against HTC “for infringing on 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture and hardware.” According to the announcement, the suit was filed concurrently with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware. “We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.” Apple filed a similar suit against Nokia in December 2009, but only after Apple itself was sued by the Finnish cell phone maker earlier in the year.

DiGi Telecommunications has reached an agreement with Apple to offer the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in Malaysia. According to the company, it will launch the handsets “in the coming months,” with an exact launch date and package details to be released later. According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, DiGi signed a three-year agreement with Apple, which will signal the end of Maxis Communications’ exclusivity in the region. “The competition is going to be brutal,” said Scott Lim, CEO of MIDF Amanah Asset Management Bhd. in Kuala Lumpur. Maxis first launched the iPhone 3G in Malaysia in March 2009.

According to a recent report from Hacking Netflix, several Netflix users have received a survey suggesting that an iPhone streaming application may be in development. The survey describes a hypothetical iPhone app that would allow Netflix members to stream movies and TV show episodes over Wi-Fi at no additional fee and with no advertisements or trailers. The proposed application would also include the ability to fast-forward, rewind, pause and watch content again. Last fall Netflix CEO Reed Hastings told Reuters that an iPhone application is “likely to come over time” but that the company was not yet focusing on mobile solutions. Netflix has previously used surveys like this prior to releasing support for other platforms such as the PS3 and Wii. [via TechCrunch]

Jays has announced its new q-Jays Custom earphones. The q-Jays Custom feature dual armature q-Jays earphones mounted in a silicone mold, made by Bellman & Symfon, that is casted to fit the individual user’s ear canal for increased comfort and sound quality. Unlike most custom molded earphones, the q-Jays Custom can be removed and placed back in the mold, allowing for use as a normal in-ear headphone, and allowing the user to change the silicone mold without investing in a new headphone. Jays q-Jays Custom earphones will be available in April 2010; pricing has yet to be announced.

Pablo Calamera, former director of MobileMe for Apple, has left the company to join mobile entertainment group Thumbplay as Chief Technology Officer. Calamera had spent ten total years with Apple, the most recent stint being 2006-2010, and has also worked with Sidekick-maker Danger and WebTV. In his new role with Thumbplay, Calamera will have oversight of all technology initiatives for the company, including its recently launched Thumbplay Music, a cloud-based music subscription service offering on-demand access to more than eight million tracks under license from EMI, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and more than 25,000 independent labels. Thumbplay Music is currently being offered in the U.S. as an invitation-only private beta; the company says the service will be available on iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry devices in the first quarter of 2010. [via AppleInsider]

Bioserie has announced its new bioplastic covers for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. The eco-friendly cases are made from plastic derived entirely from plants instead of petrochemicals, and offer open access to all ports, controls, and the camera, as well as a leaf-inspired design on the rear of the case. Bioserie’s bioplastic covers for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS are available now in white, green, orange, red, mauve, and black, and sell for $35 each.