iTunes 11.0.3 released with revamped MiniPlayer

By Jeff Benjamin on May 16, 2013

Apple just dropped a 129 MB iTunes 11.0.3 update and it brings quite a few new features to the iconic app. The big ticket item, if you will, is a new MiniPlayer, which is a bit ironic given the release schedule of the jailbreak version of MiniPlayer for iOS.

iTunes’ updated MiniPlayer now features a beautiful new view that shows off album artwork. The new MiniPlayer also includes a handy progress bar this time around to track the song’s playhead location.

You’ll also find an improved songs view, which allows you to enjoy album artwork in that view. Lastly, you’ll notice support for proper multi-disc albums. Check inside for the full change log. Read More

 

Microsoft can’t convince Apple to update iTunes for Windows 8 Metro devices

By Ed Sutherland on May 10, 2013

Remember all the back-and-forth between Apple and Microsoft before tablets? We heard echoes of that earlier this week when the software giant announced Apple’s iTunes app won’t be available for Windows 8 Metro tablet users any time soon. Although iTunes continues to be available as a Windows 8 Desktop mode app, the lack of a Metro edition leaves owners of Windows tablets in the cold. Even worse is that owners of the Surface RT tablet – which by the way runs only Microsoft apps – will be stuck with just Redmond’s Music app… Read More

 

You can now sign up for Boingo subscriptions with iTunes credentials via Wi-Finder

By Cody Lee on May 7, 2013

You wouldn’t think that an update to an app that maps out Wi-Fi hotspots would be newsworthy, but this new release from Boingo Wireless could have a significant impact on how travelers access the internet.

The hotspot provider updated its Wi-Finder app today with the ability to sign up for access to its wireless internet in-app. So signing up for a Bingo subscription is now as easy as typing in your iTunes password… Read More

 

Apple publishes ‘A Decade Of iTunes’ interactive anniversary timeline

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 24, 2013

Hot on the heels of announcing its quarterly earnings yesterday and promising this morning to show off the next major versions of iOS and OS X at WWDC 2013, Apple has posted a new web page in celebration of ten years of the iTunes Store.

What started out twelve years ago as a jukebox application eventually evolved into the Internet’s biggest content store responsible for the vast majority of a record $4.1 billion in Apple’s first quarter revenue from its software and services division. The interactive web page titled “A Decade Of iTunes” features ten tabs, each corresponding to a particular iTunes milestone… Read More

 

Surprise, Apple continues to lead the pack in US online movie rentals and purchases

By Cody Lee on Apr 23, 2013

Most folks are in agreement that Apple revolutionized the digital music industry, and the music industry as a whole, when it launched its iTunes store in April of 2003. At the time, there was no other service offering easy access to digital tracks for $0.99.

And I would argue that it did the same thing for digital movies and TV shows when it added them to iTunes in 2005 and 2006. No one came close to what Apple was doing in the space back then. And judging by the latest numbers, that still holds true today… Read More

 

Apple adds new ‘Later’ download option for iTunes media purchases

By Cody Lee on Apr 22, 2013

Good news iTunes users. It’s been discovered today that Apple has added a new download option for folks purchasing a variety of iTunes content including movies, TV shows (episodes, Season Passes, and complete seasons) and boxed music sets.

Now, when purchasing any of the above items using iTunes 11 or a device running iOS 6+, you’re presented with ‘Later’ and ‘Download’ buttons. This gives you the option to either download your purchase immediately, or delay it to a later date… Read More

 

China app store features pirated iOS apps

By Ed Sutherland on Apr 18, 2013

It wasn’t long ago that Apple was being labeled a pirate in China. Now comes word of a pirate version of Apple’s App Store, selling iOS apps that let iPhone or iPad owners skirt iTunes and install apps, no jailbreak required. However, there’s one major catch: the website is available only within China, likely to dissuade Apple lawyers coming down like a ton of bricks.

Ironically, the service is called KuaiYong, which means “use quickly” in Chinese. We’re unsure whether this refers to ease of use or “hurry before we are shut down.” … Read More

 

Tip: turn your coinage into iTunes credits with Coinstar vending machines

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 17, 2013

The popular coin-counting service, Coinstar, is great for people who just want to get rid of their spare change in return for a cash back minus a small fee.

The company operates vending machines at supermarkets such as Walmart where people frequent for shopping.

What you may not have known, although Coinstar has been doing this for several years now, is that its machines can take your loose coins and spill out a receipt with an iTunes redemption code that you can use to refill your iTunes balance… Read More

 

Bump update breaks iTunes sharing at Apple’s (music biz’s?) request

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 11, 2013

If you use Bump, a cross-platform app for sharing photos, contacts, music and more between different devices, you may want to pass on today’s update as it’s removed the handy ability to share songs from your iTunes library.

“We’re sorry, but we are no longer permitted access to iTunes audio files on the device,” release notes accompanying the download read. In removing access to iTunes audio files in the file sharing section, Bump didn’t just appease to Apple, it’s also a little less useful now… Read More

 

Apple patents offline iTunes purchases

By Ed Sutherland on Apr 9, 2013

Could Apple be preparing a prepaid version of iTunes of sorts, one that could allow users to purchase music and other digital media from the Apple cloud without an Internet connection? Tuesday, the iPhone maker was granted a patent for a system permitting iTunes purchases using offline credits, according to the 2010 filing. At the heart of the system is the ability to buy credits while online. The credits would also get stored locally on your device, not just in your online iTunes account.

Those ‘offline’ credits can then purchase and enable various media that would first have to be cached automatically on your device, based on top sellers, recommendations, past purchases and other criteria.

In turn, people could make iTunes transactions whenever they happen to be, even when being online is impractical. Reportedly, the proposed technology could also increase iTunes sales by offering restricted usage of the material… Read More

 

Google: missing iTunes Store search links only technical mistake

By Ed Sutherland on Apr 4, 2013

If you’re one of those conspiracy theorists, there’s a bit of a tempest in a teapot happening over Google’s search results. On the surface, it appears web links to iOS apps hosted on iTunes are being buried under related but not Apple-endorsed web sites. Meanwhile, some iOS apps from Google prominently appear at the top of search results. Is Google, which promotes its Android mobile operating system as an alternative to Apple’s iOS, using its mammoth search database as a competitive weapon?

Or are Apple fans seeing phantoms? The Mountain View, California-headquartered Internet giant blames it all on a technical problem… Read More

 

Court rules you can’t resell your iTunes songs

By Cody Lee on Apr 1, 2013

While it’s legal in the US to purchase a physical CD or DVD and then resell it to someone else, that’s not the case with digital media. The unauthorized transfer of digital music is considered to be illegal under the Copyright Act of 1976.

And that sentiment was reaffirmed this weekend by US District Court Judge Richard Sullivan, as he ruled in favor of Universal Music Group’s Capitol Records in its lawsuit against digital music reseller ReDigi for copyright violation… Read More

 

China’s oldest animation studio sues Apple over improper downloads

By Christian Zibreg on Mar 29, 2013

Apple’s legal woes in the 1.33 billion people market of China have worsened as Shanghai Animation Film Studio filed a lawsuit over the allegedly improper iTunes downloads. The studio asserts that Apple’s been illegally selling its content and is seeking north of half a million dollars in damages. Shanghai Animation is China’s first and oldest animation studios and their complaint alleges in no ambiguous terms that Apple blatantly stole their content without paying any royalty at all.

Note that Apple doesn’t offer movies on the Chinese iTunes Store so the issue is thought to involve App Store apps which bundle the studio’s movies. Apparently, Apple made available as much as 110 unlicensed Shanghai Animation titles for download via the App Store back in July 2012. The suit was reportedly filed with the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court, which has allegedly accepted the case.

So what’s going on here? Did Apple intentionally steal and pirate someone else’s content through its content store? Read More

 

Apple launching redesigned ‘Report a Problem’ tool for iTunes purchases

By Cody Lee on Mar 28, 2013

Earlier this month, Apple started rolling out a new ‘Report a Problem’ tool to a select group of customers. The feature, for those who haven’t used it before, allows iTunes users to report a problem with a recent purchase of an app, song or other iTunes content.

And the tool’s been redesigned this month to be easier to use, and more accessible to users. The previous version was only available in the actual Mac/Windows iTunes app, and the new edition will be available through any device with a web browser… Read More

 

Apple fixes iForgot security hole that compromised Apple ID passwords

By Cody Lee on Mar 23, 2013

That was fast. Earlier today, Christian told you that a major security hole had been discovered involving Apple’s iForgot page that allowed someone to reset your Apple ID password with just your birthdate and email address.

Unsurprisingly, Apple immediately took the password page down after getting word of the vulnerability. And after just a few hours of ‘maintenance,’ the page is back up and—we’re happy to report—once again safe to use… Read More

 

Apple adds ‘in-app purchase’ warning to freemium apps

By Cody Lee on Mar 22, 2013

Apple today has added a new ‘Offers In-App Purchases’ warning in the description of App Store apps that utilize the feature. The new disclosure can be seen in the App Store, located just beneath the Buy/Free button of pertinent applications.

The move comes amidst multiple reports of children running up monster iTunes bills, unbeknownst to their parents, via in-app purchases. Earlier this month, a young boy from the UK racked up $1,300 in charges buying virtual donuts… Read More

 

Apple blames high Aussie iTunes prices on content owners stuck in the old ways

By Ed Sutherland on Mar 22, 2013

Why does digital content in Australia cost more than elsewhere? It’s not our fault, one Apple executive told a government panel investigating the pricing disparity.

The company (rightfully) blamed “old-fashioned notions” held by content owners for markups as high as 61 percent on music and other digital media sold in the region.

Apple’s Australian Vice President Tony King told the panel the company would prefer to offer music, movies, TV shows, along with hardware at lower prices, hinting that movie studios, record labels and other content owners are forcing the company’s hand… Read More

 

Apple bolsters account security with new two-step verification process

By Cody Lee on Mar 21, 2013

It feels like every day we hear a new story about a major internet company like Evernote, Twitter or Facebook getting hacked. And when it happens, user passwords, personal information and uploaded content are all compromised.

With this in mind, it’s nice to hear that Apple has given its account security a boost today with a new two-step verification process. The safeguard requires users to verify their identity on a trusted device before making any changes… Read More

 

Best Buy (again) has $100 iTunes gift card for $80

By Christian Zibreg on Mar 18, 2013

Retailer Best Buy is known for discounting iTunes Gift Cards from time to time, with their last offering dating back to December 2012. Today, it started selling the $100 iTunes gift card for $80, a cool twenty percent discount. Lower-denominated iTunes Cards still go for their usual prices so this promotion only applies if you’re willing to add a hundred bucks worth of iTunes credits for $80 and save $20 doing so. You can order the card at one of Best Buy’s outlets, place an order via Best Buy’s web store or have it delivered directly to your home… Read More

 

Viral video star ‘Sweet Brown’ suing Apple over copyright infringement

By Cody Lee on Mar 11, 2013

While she may not have time for bronchitis, it appears that Kimberly ‘Sweet Brown’ Wilkins has plenty of time for lawsuits. The viral video star has reportedly filed a copyright infringement suit against Apple for selling a track on iTunes that featured her voice.

The song was called ”I got bronchitis,” and it used several samples of Wilkins’ catchphrases from an early 2012 interview that turned her into an internet sensation. She is suing Apple, along with the producers of the track, for some $15 million in damages… Read More

 
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