Byliner: 'Three Cups of Deceit' publisher chases next hit
Last month, an unknown San Francisco publishing start-up had just about the best debut imaginable. Byliner's first product became an instant best-seller and seriously called into question the reputation of an international sensation a decade in the making--all in less than 25,000 words that never touched a printing press.The tiny operation released Jon Krakauer's "Three Cups of Deceit"--a scathing deconstruction of alleged fraud and mismanagement at the hands of world-famous do-gooder Greg Mortenson of "Three Cups of Tea" fame--as a free PDF in mid-April. The launch got a big boost from a story that aired last month on "60 Minutes" about Mortenson, based largely on Krakauer's research. (Disclosure: "60 Minutes" is broadcast by CBS, publisher of CNET.)"Reaction has been extraordinary," Byliner.com founder John Tayman told CNET. "In the 72 hours it was available as (a) free download, more than 70,000 readers downloaded a copy. It then moved to the Amazon Kindle Singles store, and it went to No. 1 within six hours."As of this writing, the 75-page narrative--a riveting account despite being based largely on a review of financial records and interviews with people with ties to Mortenson's nonprofit--remains in that top slot (even as Mortenson's supporters, including one of his former climbing partners quoted by Krakauer, have come to his defense). Now, Byliner is looking for a repeat performance with its follow-up release in its "Byliner Originals" series--20,000 words from award-winning author William T. Vollmann titled "Into the Forbidden Zone: A Trip Through Hell and High Water in Post-Earthquake Japan." Byliner commissioned Vollmann, who has written about Japan in the past, and paid for his trip to the triple-disaster area to gather stories of survivors, the aftermath, and implications for the future."We want to take advantage of the swiftness that digital publishing allows to get these great reads in front of readers," said Tayman, himself a writer and editor who has worked at Business 2.0 and Outside magazine. "Our first two titles are excellent examples of that approach. These are stories that have complexity and currency, tackled by two of the most acclaimed writers in America."Related link• Amazon officially launches Kindle SinglesThat swiftness offers a new experience for readers of long-form nonfiction. I downloaded and read the free PDF of Krakauer's "Three Cups of Deceit" on my Kindle within hours of its becoming available. By the time I reached the final few pages--after less than 90 minutes of reading--I was taking in updates from Krakauer that he had penned less than 48 hours prior. The space provided by the digital format allowed him to expand at length with blow-by-blow details of his efforts to pin down the evasive Mortenson for a last-minute interview.Tayman says Byliner has more than 20 original titles in development from name authors, but acting as a sort of nouveau digital publishing house producing new, timely work is just part of what Byliner will be when it launches in full. The other part of the business, as Tayman describes it, is essentially a discovery engine for fans of nonfiction.Vollmann's tour of the aftermath in Japan is already selling well.Byliner"When we launch, Byliner will allow readers to get easy access to more than 25,000 of the best feature articles ever written. These are articles that may have been published mere hours ago, or 50 years ago. We'll also make it easy for readers to explore the work of more than 2,000 of the best nonfiction writers working. We're curating the full author directories by hand--the writers don't need to do a thing--and we'll roll them out in stages."He says a beta version of the site, expected to launch in the next few weeks, will include archives for nearly 200 writers featuring their new and old work, as well as any Byliner originals they might have done. Sales of those in-house originals will be the main revenue stream, but Tayman says the site will also produce advertising and sponsorship revenue, as well as revenue from affiliate sales--Krakauer's piece is already available in audio through iTunes for $4.99. Over the years, it's become a common assumption that the Internet drives the trend toward more brevity in everything we read, but Tayman is in the smaller camp that also sees an opening for another niche."Some stories aren't suited to either books or magazines, because of length or timing. Byliner was created to allow writers (to) get those sorts of stories to readers."And it looks as though there are plenty of readers hungry for those stories. Some other content producers, notably investigative journalism outfit ProPublica, have experimented and had some success with posting long stories in Amazon's Singles section, but Byliner appears to be one of the first to attempt building a business model around it. So far, it's a promising gamble. Just a few days after debuting on Amazon, the Byliner Originals story by Vollmann is currently stalking Krakauer's No. 1 ranking. "Into the Forbidden Zone" currently sits at No. 5 on Amazon's list of nonfiction best-sellers.
Rabbis call on Apple to ban anti-Semitic iTunes book
Rabbis call on Apple to ban anti-Semitic iTunes book
Apple is again facing controversy over an item being sold through iTunes.The Conference of European Rabbis wants Apple to remove a book known as "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," which is being sold as a 99-cent e-book through iTunes.The Protocols, which surfaced early in the 20th century, purports to reveal a Jewish conspiracy to take over the world. The book has since been discredited as a fake but was used by Nazis and is still used by some hate groups to justify their anti-Semitism.The rabbis are concerned that the book's availability in a mobile format will make it easier to be used by "bigots and conspiracy theorists," according to USA Today."'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' can and should be available for academics to study in its proper context, (but) to disseminate such hateful invective as a mobile app is dangerous and inexcusable,"Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, conference president, said in a statement.The publisher's description of the book on iTunes does label it as a fraud:The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is the one of the world's most famous conspiracy theories. It is a statement of prejudice and paranoia, a fake historical record and a grand hoax all rolled into one. The Protocols claim to prove that there is a Jewish plot to take over the world and purport to show that socialism, liberalism and every other reformist idea or activity are just tools of a Jewish secret cabal. The Protocols have been discredited many times over their 110-year-old history and would be laughable, except for the tragic role they played in the Twentieth Century..But Goldschmidt told USA Today that the app is being sold in a context aimed at "propagating hatred."Related storiesApple criticized for approving 'gay cure' appPoll: Should Apple ban adult-themed apps from the App Store?Apple approves 'Baby Shaker' for App StoreHitler's 'Mein Kampf' a brief Kindle best sellerThe effort to ban the book presents a thorny dilemma: how far should Apple should go in restricting certain material?In this case, the publisher seems to want to expose "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" as a hoax rather than promote it as factual. As such, should the book be banned, or should it be allowed in hopes that it will shine a light on anti-Semitism?Apple has faced similar storms in the past. In 2009, Hitler's "Mein Kamph" made a brief appearance as an iTunes app before Apple quickly took it down, according to the Jerusalem Post.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story when we get more information.
Apple is again facing controversy over an item being sold through iTunes.The Conference of European Rabbis wants Apple to remove a book known as "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," which is being sold as a 99-cent e-book through iTunes.The Protocols, which surfaced early in the 20th century, purports to reveal a Jewish conspiracy to take over the world. The book has since been discredited as a fake but was used by Nazis and is still used by some hate groups to justify their anti-Semitism.The rabbis are concerned that the book's availability in a mobile format will make it easier to be used by "bigots and conspiracy theorists," according to USA Today."'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' can and should be available for academics to study in its proper context, (but) to disseminate such hateful invective as a mobile app is dangerous and inexcusable,"Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, conference president, said in a statement.The publisher's description of the book on iTunes does label it as a fraud:The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is the one of the world's most famous conspiracy theories. It is a statement of prejudice and paranoia, a fake historical record and a grand hoax all rolled into one. The Protocols claim to prove that there is a Jewish plot to take over the world and purport to show that socialism, liberalism and every other reformist idea or activity are just tools of a Jewish secret cabal. The Protocols have been discredited many times over their 110-year-old history and would be laughable, except for the tragic role they played in the Twentieth Century..But Goldschmidt told USA Today that the app is being sold in a context aimed at "propagating hatred."Related storiesApple criticized for approving 'gay cure' appPoll: Should Apple ban adult-themed apps from the App Store?Apple approves 'Baby Shaker' for App StoreHitler's 'Mein Kampf' a brief Kindle best sellerThe effort to ban the book presents a thorny dilemma: how far should Apple should go in restricting certain material?In this case, the publisher seems to want to expose "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" as a hoax rather than promote it as factual. As such, should the book be banned, or should it be allowed in hopes that it will shine a light on anti-Semitism?Apple has faced similar storms in the past. In 2009, Hitler's "Mein Kamph" made a brief appearance as an iTunes app before Apple quickly took it down, according to the Jerusalem Post.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story when we get more information.
eMusic adding majors, real prices
eMusic adding majors, real prices
Today, online music retailer eMusic announced a deal with Universal Music Group that will bring 250,000 new songs to its catalog starting in November. Along with the expanded catalog, the retailer will begin displaying song and album prices in dollar values, instead of the obscure credits system that has been in place for years. These changes are part of a larger effort by eMusic to bring the service and its music catalog in line with the big guns of Apple and Amazon. After appointing a new CEO in August (Adam Klein), the company has been working to swiftly add all the major labels to its extensive, predominantly indie music catalog. Even with the addition of recent releases from UMG, there are still gaps in the eMusic catalog. The big fish eMusic still needs to reel in is EMI, though there is reason to believe a deal will be finalized by the November relaunch.Historically, major labels have been resistant to license songs to eMusic out of fear that the lower prices offered by the retailer would devalue their music. Songs sold using eMusic's unique DRM-free subscription system are typically sold at a 40-percent to 50-percent discount compared to iTunes or Amazon. As a concession to labels, eMusic's new pricing system allows for finer control over pricing, so new or popular content can be priced at a premium. Previously, eMusic subscribers were given a monthly allotment of song credits, guaranteeing a set number of downloads each month. Under the new system, subscribers are charged the same amount, but shown their monthly allotment in dollars. Songs are priced individually between $0.49-$0.89, with albums priced between $5.19-$8.99. The fundamental value of eMusic remains the same, though, with $0.49 songs representing a 50-percent savings over a $0.99 iTunes song, or an $0.89 song saving users approximately 20 percent compared to the $1.29 price on iTunes. The company's switch to pricing in dollars also opens the site to better indexing by search engines, such as Google. A sample album page on eMusic.eMusicThese changes may seem minor and arguably long overdue, but they have the potential to put eMusic back in the game as a more aggressive contender to iTunes and Amazon. The most common complaint I hear about eMusic is the difficulty in finding popular music and artists. Otherwise, the retailer's connected album pages, emphasis on community and staff reviews, curated playlists, and championing of great indie music, makes it a haven for serious music fans. Unfortunately, without marquee albums and artists available, even eMusic's most devout users have been forced to buy some of their music elsewhere. The rest of us are just left questioning the value of a bulk discount music service stocked with music we've never heard of. By making the catalog more competitive with Apple and Amazon, eMusic has the chance to finally cash in on the potential it's been sitting on since 1998.
Today, online music retailer eMusic announced a deal with Universal Music Group that will bring 250,000 new songs to its catalog starting in November. Along with the expanded catalog, the retailer will begin displaying song and album prices in dollar values, instead of the obscure credits system that has been in place for years. These changes are part of a larger effort by eMusic to bring the service and its music catalog in line with the big guns of Apple and Amazon. After appointing a new CEO in August (Adam Klein), the company has been working to swiftly add all the major labels to its extensive, predominantly indie music catalog. Even with the addition of recent releases from UMG, there are still gaps in the eMusic catalog. The big fish eMusic still needs to reel in is EMI, though there is reason to believe a deal will be finalized by the November relaunch.Historically, major labels have been resistant to license songs to eMusic out of fear that the lower prices offered by the retailer would devalue their music. Songs sold using eMusic's unique DRM-free subscription system are typically sold at a 40-percent to 50-percent discount compared to iTunes or Amazon. As a concession to labels, eMusic's new pricing system allows for finer control over pricing, so new or popular content can be priced at a premium. Previously, eMusic subscribers were given a monthly allotment of song credits, guaranteeing a set number of downloads each month. Under the new system, subscribers are charged the same amount, but shown their monthly allotment in dollars. Songs are priced individually between $0.49-$0.89, with albums priced between $5.19-$8.99. The fundamental value of eMusic remains the same, though, with $0.49 songs representing a 50-percent savings over a $0.99 iTunes song, or an $0.89 song saving users approximately 20 percent compared to the $1.29 price on iTunes. The company's switch to pricing in dollars also opens the site to better indexing by search engines, such as Google. A sample album page on eMusic.eMusicThese changes may seem minor and arguably long overdue, but they have the potential to put eMusic back in the game as a more aggressive contender to iTunes and Amazon. The most common complaint I hear about eMusic is the difficulty in finding popular music and artists. Otherwise, the retailer's connected album pages, emphasis on community and staff reviews, curated playlists, and championing of great indie music, makes it a haven for serious music fans. Unfortunately, without marquee albums and artists available, even eMusic's most devout users have been forced to buy some of their music elsewhere. The rest of us are just left questioning the value of a bulk discount music service stocked with music we've never heard of. By making the catalog more competitive with Apple and Amazon, eMusic has the chance to finally cash in on the potential it's been sitting on since 1998.
The 404 671- Where wait, Canada didn't have Netflix- (podcast)
The 404 671: Where wait, Canada didn't have Netflix? (podcast)
Despite being an excellent location for bachelor parties, Canada is apparently a laggard when it comes to country-wide tech proficiency. Case in point: it just got Netflix. Our northern neighbors can now sign up for Netflix's streaming service for as little as $7.99 per month, which includes feature films from major film studios like MGM, Paramount, Universal, Sony, and more.We applaud Canada for joining the streaming game, but the news has a catch: although they can access the content online through a computer, a Blu-ray player, and the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, Canadians still can't sign up for Netflix movie deliveries--it's just streaming, for now. However, they can get the first month free if they sign up now.Two strange announcements from the world of video games: first, Christopher Nolan revealed that a video game based on "Inception" is in the works. That's all we know for now, but we're looking forward to zero gravity fight sequences...as long as game play isn't as difficult to follow as the film!Next, the King of Pop is getting his own online game called Planet Michael.The game will be a massively multiplayer online role-playing game like WAR or Guild Wars 2 and will take players through multiple realms, each based on one of Jackson's famous albums.Even better, Los Angeles-based SEE Virtual Worlds is offering the 3D game for free when it comes out in late 2011.You still have time to win a pair of tickets to see "The Social Network" with The 404 next Tuesday, September 28. To enter, simply follow us @The404 and RETWEET THIS.Yes, all you have to do is hit that "Retweet" button OR become a fan of The 404 Facebook Fan Page and you'll be automatically entered to twin. If you're a fan of us on Facebook already, you're already grandfathered in, so good luck!Episode 671PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Despite being an excellent location for bachelor parties, Canada is apparently a laggard when it comes to country-wide tech proficiency. Case in point: it just got Netflix. Our northern neighbors can now sign up for Netflix's streaming service for as little as $7.99 per month, which includes feature films from major film studios like MGM, Paramount, Universal, Sony, and more.We applaud Canada for joining the streaming game, but the news has a catch: although they can access the content online through a computer, a Blu-ray player, and the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, Canadians still can't sign up for Netflix movie deliveries--it's just streaming, for now. However, they can get the first month free if they sign up now.Two strange announcements from the world of video games: first, Christopher Nolan revealed that a video game based on "Inception" is in the works. That's all we know for now, but we're looking forward to zero gravity fight sequences...as long as game play isn't as difficult to follow as the film!Next, the King of Pop is getting his own online game called Planet Michael.The game will be a massively multiplayer online role-playing game like WAR or Guild Wars 2 and will take players through multiple realms, each based on one of Jackson's famous albums.Even better, Los Angeles-based SEE Virtual Worlds is offering the 3D game for free when it comes out in late 2011.You still have time to win a pair of tickets to see "The Social Network" with The 404 next Tuesday, September 28. To enter, simply follow us @The404 and RETWEET THIS.Yes, all you have to do is hit that "Retweet" button OR become a fan of The 404 Facebook Fan Page and you'll be automatically entered to twin. If you're a fan of us on Facebook already, you're already grandfathered in, so good luck!Episode 671PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Nike selects 10 startups to build apps for Nike+
Nike selects 10 startups to build apps for Nike+
Nike has awarded 10 startups $20,000 each to build applications for its Nike+ products. The giant sporting goods company is striving to turn its digital gadget success into a technical platform.In December, Nike announced a program, in partnership with TechStars -- a startup mentoring and investment organization -- to offer money and mentoring to companies interested in creating health- and fitness-related applications that use the Nike+ technology. The idea is to seed app development for products, such as Nike+ FuelBand, to create a platform in much the same way that Apple has created a platform with iTunes and Microsoft, with Windows."We recently celebrated the first year of NikeFuel, and the Accelerator program is a natural next step to broaden and enhance the Nike+ ecosystem -- allowing Nike to offer richer experiences to athletes of all levels," said Stefan Olander, vice president of digital sport at Nike, in a press release.Some proposed app ideas among the 10 companies, selected from the "hundreds" that applied, according to Nike's press release, include games that encourage users to exercise and a corporate wellness app that espouses healthy living habits.Related stories Nike launches app accelerator program to fuel developers Nike FuelBand review Putting Nike's FuelBand (and me) through the pacesThe chosen startups include FitDeck, which develops digital decks of playing cards with prescribed workouts on each card, and CoachBase, a playbook tech tool for sports coaches.In addition to the funding, the companies will receive mentoring from Olander, TechStars founder and CEO David Cohen, Foursquare co-founder Naveen Selvadurai, Birchbox co-founder Katia Beauchamp, Mayfield Fund Managing Director Tim Chang, and Tim Ferriss, author of the best-selling book, "The 4-Hour Workweek."The companies will work for the next three months in Portland, Ore., near Nike's Beaverton headquarters, to develop their applications. In mid-June, they will pitch their products to angel investors, venture capitalists, industry leaders, and Nike executives at headquarters and in Silicon Valley.
Nike has awarded 10 startups $20,000 each to build applications for its Nike+ products. The giant sporting goods company is striving to turn its digital gadget success into a technical platform.In December, Nike announced a program, in partnership with TechStars -- a startup mentoring and investment organization -- to offer money and mentoring to companies interested in creating health- and fitness-related applications that use the Nike+ technology. The idea is to seed app development for products, such as Nike+ FuelBand, to create a platform in much the same way that Apple has created a platform with iTunes and Microsoft, with Windows."We recently celebrated the first year of NikeFuel, and the Accelerator program is a natural next step to broaden and enhance the Nike+ ecosystem -- allowing Nike to offer richer experiences to athletes of all levels," said Stefan Olander, vice president of digital sport at Nike, in a press release.Some proposed app ideas among the 10 companies, selected from the "hundreds" that applied, according to Nike's press release, include games that encourage users to exercise and a corporate wellness app that espouses healthy living habits.Related stories Nike launches app accelerator program to fuel developers Nike FuelBand review Putting Nike's FuelBand (and me) through the pacesThe chosen startups include FitDeck, which develops digital decks of playing cards with prescribed workouts on each card, and CoachBase, a playbook tech tool for sports coaches.In addition to the funding, the companies will receive mentoring from Olander, TechStars founder and CEO David Cohen, Foursquare co-founder Naveen Selvadurai, Birchbox co-founder Katia Beauchamp, Mayfield Fund Managing Director Tim Chang, and Tim Ferriss, author of the best-selling book, "The 4-Hour Workweek."The companies will work for the next three months in Portland, Ore., near Nike's Beaverton headquarters, to develop their applications. In mid-June, they will pitch their products to angel investors, venture capitalists, industry leaders, and Nike executives at headquarters and in Silicon Valley.
DIY- jailbreaking iPhone and back again
DIY: jailbreaking iPhone and back again
To successfully jailbreak your phone, you are going to need to use one of the jailbreaking tools created by small teams of iOS hackers. There are half a dozen or so similar tools, but for this exercise we're going to use the Absinthe 2.0 untethered jailbreaking tool, as it is among the simplest we've come across, and it supports the most recent version of iOS at the time of writing. You'll notice the term "untethered" used to describe Absinthe. This refers to the fact that once the exploit is applied, you won't have to reapply it every time you reboot your phone. Tethered jailbreak tools are also available, and will require you to jailbreak each time your phone is rebooted. This may be a good option for users who want to test the waters with jailbreaking, with an easy way out afterwards.Each version of a jailbreak tool is divided into a number of sections based on iOS device types and the version of iOS that these devices are running. Make sure you download the version that correlates with the iPhone you are using. We tested Absinthe using an iPhone 4 with iOS 5.1.1 installed. Absinthe 2.0 is a ridiculously easy tool to use. After you download and unzip it, you simply run the executable, plug your phone in and click the start button. This process takes a couple of minutes to complete. Afterwards, you will find everything exactly as you left it, with the addition of the Cydia app-store icon. To make the most of your new-found freedom, start browsing the Cydia store for packages to further modify your iPhone experience.Help! Freedom was not for meIf you complete the steps above, and then decide that jailbreaking is not for you, the good news is that it is very easy to reverse. Simply plug your phone in to iTunes and restore the last backup image you saved before you installed the jailbreaking tool.To do this, plug your phone in, select it under "Devices", then hit the Restore button found under the Summary tab. A few moments later, you should be back to where you started. This process will even back-up your phone, so that it restores all your files and apps exactly as you left them, minus any jailbroken tools or features you may have installed.
To successfully jailbreak your phone, you are going to need to use one of the jailbreaking tools created by small teams of iOS hackers. There are half a dozen or so similar tools, but for this exercise we're going to use the Absinthe 2.0 untethered jailbreaking tool, as it is among the simplest we've come across, and it supports the most recent version of iOS at the time of writing. You'll notice the term "untethered" used to describe Absinthe. This refers to the fact that once the exploit is applied, you won't have to reapply it every time you reboot your phone. Tethered jailbreak tools are also available, and will require you to jailbreak each time your phone is rebooted. This may be a good option for users who want to test the waters with jailbreaking, with an easy way out afterwards.Each version of a jailbreak tool is divided into a number of sections based on iOS device types and the version of iOS that these devices are running. Make sure you download the version that correlates with the iPhone you are using. We tested Absinthe using an iPhone 4 with iOS 5.1.1 installed. Absinthe 2.0 is a ridiculously easy tool to use. After you download and unzip it, you simply run the executable, plug your phone in and click the start button. This process takes a couple of minutes to complete. Afterwards, you will find everything exactly as you left it, with the addition of the Cydia app-store icon. To make the most of your new-found freedom, start browsing the Cydia store for packages to further modify your iPhone experience.Help! Freedom was not for meIf you complete the steps above, and then decide that jailbreaking is not for you, the good news is that it is very easy to reverse. Simply plug your phone in to iTunes and restore the last backup image you saved before you installed the jailbreaking tool.To do this, plug your phone in, select it under "Devices", then hit the Restore button found under the Summary tab. A few moments later, you should be back to where you started. This process will even back-up your phone, so that it restores all your files and apps exactly as you left them, minus any jailbroken tools or features you may have installed.
Discover new iOS apps with Hip
Discover new iOS apps with Hip
To get started, you'll need to sign in via Facebook or Twitter. And if you let the app know your location, you'll get app suggestions based on your location. After signing in, you can customize this feed by selecting any or all of the 10 tech blogs to follow. After your initial selection, you can return to the list of blogs to make changes by tapping the Edit button when viewing your News feed.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETRelated storiesApps for your new iPhoneSix iOS apps you need right nowThe best apps for your new iPadTap the button in the upper-left corner to view Hip's menu. Under the News by Location, you'll see three other feeds: Friends, Categories, and Deals. To build the Friends feed, use the Find Friends or Invite Friends buttons. Find Friends will let you find friends via Facebook or Twitter who are already using the app. Likely, you don't have many friends who fit this description. Thus, you'll want to use the Invite Friends buttons to invite friends via Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail. As an incentive, Kinetic will send you an iTunes gift card if you get friends to sign up. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETThe Categories feed lets you narrow your search, using such categories as Games, Education, Music, Photography, and Social Networking. The Deals feed displays free and discounted apps.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETNo matter which feed you are viewing, you get a scrollable list of apps. Each app displays a large screenshot or two. Below the screenshot are buttons not just to like but love the app, block the app from your feed, add it to your wish list, and view comments or add your own. Tap on the screenshot of an app to see a scrollable collection of high-resolution screenshots. And from this scrollable list of screens, you can tap the small "i" button to read the developer's description of the app. Tapping on the price or Free button takes you to the App Store. There is also a share button if you stumble across an app you absolutely must tell someone about on Facebook, Twitter, or by e-mail.(Via AddictiveTips)
To get started, you'll need to sign in via Facebook or Twitter. And if you let the app know your location, you'll get app suggestions based on your location. After signing in, you can customize this feed by selecting any or all of the 10 tech blogs to follow. After your initial selection, you can return to the list of blogs to make changes by tapping the Edit button when viewing your News feed.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETRelated storiesApps for your new iPhoneSix iOS apps you need right nowThe best apps for your new iPadTap the button in the upper-left corner to view Hip's menu. Under the News by Location, you'll see three other feeds: Friends, Categories, and Deals. To build the Friends feed, use the Find Friends or Invite Friends buttons. Find Friends will let you find friends via Facebook or Twitter who are already using the app. Likely, you don't have many friends who fit this description. Thus, you'll want to use the Invite Friends buttons to invite friends via Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail. As an incentive, Kinetic will send you an iTunes gift card if you get friends to sign up. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETThe Categories feed lets you narrow your search, using such categories as Games, Education, Music, Photography, and Social Networking. The Deals feed displays free and discounted apps.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETNo matter which feed you are viewing, you get a scrollable list of apps. Each app displays a large screenshot or two. Below the screenshot are buttons not just to like but love the app, block the app from your feed, add it to your wish list, and view comments or add your own. Tap on the screenshot of an app to see a scrollable collection of high-resolution screenshots. And from this scrollable list of screens, you can tap the small "i" button to read the developer's description of the app. Tapping on the price or Free button takes you to the App Store. There is also a share button if you stumble across an app you absolutely must tell someone about on Facebook, Twitter, or by e-mail.(Via AddictiveTips)
Rare Apple computer sells for $210,700
Rare Apple computer sells for $210,700
Talk about a smart tech buy. An Apple computer purchased more than 30 years ago has sold for 425 times its original selling price.An Apple-1, one of only about 200 such machines built in Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' parents' garage, sold at Christie's auction house in London today for 133,250 pounds (about $210,700). The Apple-1, which didn't include a casing, power supply, keyboard, or monitor, originally retailed for $666.66 in 1976. Apple discontinued the model in 1977. Christie's called the computer a "historic relic" and said the auction included all the original components, including its 8K bytes of RAM, in its original shipping box, as well as a signed letter from Jobs to the original owner. The winning bidder was Italian businessman and private collector Marco Boglion, who made his offer over the phone, according to the Associated Press. In a time when most personal computers were sold as self-assembly kits, the Apple-1 broke new ground as the first personal computer sold with a fully assembled motherboard.Fellow Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who attended the auction in London, threw in an autographed letter with the sale. Wozniak said he was proud to have his work auctioned alongside such technologically notables as an Enigma, the World War II German code-making machine, and documents from British mathematician Alan Turing, a pioneer of modern computing."Today my heart went out as I got to see things auctioned off like the Turing documents and the Enigma machine--and the Apple I," Wozniak reportedly told journalists after the auction. "It really was an important step, (even though) I didn't feel that way when I designed it."
Talk about a smart tech buy. An Apple computer purchased more than 30 years ago has sold for 425 times its original selling price.An Apple-1, one of only about 200 such machines built in Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' parents' garage, sold at Christie's auction house in London today for 133,250 pounds (about $210,700). The Apple-1, which didn't include a casing, power supply, keyboard, or monitor, originally retailed for $666.66 in 1976. Apple discontinued the model in 1977. Christie's called the computer a "historic relic" and said the auction included all the original components, including its 8K bytes of RAM, in its original shipping box, as well as a signed letter from Jobs to the original owner. The winning bidder was Italian businessman and private collector Marco Boglion, who made his offer over the phone, according to the Associated Press. In a time when most personal computers were sold as self-assembly kits, the Apple-1 broke new ground as the first personal computer sold with a fully assembled motherboard.Fellow Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who attended the auction in London, threw in an autographed letter with the sale. Wozniak said he was proud to have his work auctioned alongside such technologically notables as an Enigma, the World War II German code-making machine, and documents from British mathematician Alan Turing, a pioneer of modern computing."Today my heart went out as I got to see things auctioned off like the Turing documents and the Enigma machine--and the Apple I," Wozniak reportedly told journalists after the auction. "It really was an important step, (even though) I didn't feel that way when I designed it."
Purported new-look iPhone 5 gets video treatment once again
Purported new-look iPhone 5 gets video treatment once again
For the second time, a purported iPhone 5 chassis has popped up in a video on the Web.Japanese site Macotakara posted a video -- dubbed "iPhone 5 Housings?" -- from YouTube that shows a person holding what could be the next iPhone. The device appears to come with the long-rumored, taller 4-inch display, and a plate on the back that extends for part, but not all, of the device's backside.In addition, the video shows the purported iPhone 5 with a smaller dock connector port as well as the headphone jack on the bottom.The video is notable for showing what appears to be the same chassis found in a clip uploaded to YouTube last month. Like this chassis, the hardware in the previous video shows a unibody case that seems to confirm a host of rumors that have surfaced, including talk of Apple moving the headphone jack from the top of the device to the bottom and a smaller dock connector port.That earlier video followed the publication of a host of photos showing what appeared to be the same device. With this latest video now out in the wild, it's possible the rumor mill might be closing in on the eventual design of Apple's next iPhone.Then again, it might not. Apple has not, of course, confirmed that there is such a thing as the iPhone 5, let alone when the much-anticipated device might launch or what sort of features it'll have. And until the company confirms that the device exists, all videos, photos, and rumors should be taken with the proverbial grain of salt.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the video. We will update this story when we have more information.Here's the latest video:(Via The Verge)
For the second time, a purported iPhone 5 chassis has popped up in a video on the Web.Japanese site Macotakara posted a video -- dubbed "iPhone 5 Housings?" -- from YouTube that shows a person holding what could be the next iPhone. The device appears to come with the long-rumored, taller 4-inch display, and a plate on the back that extends for part, but not all, of the device's backside.In addition, the video shows the purported iPhone 5 with a smaller dock connector port as well as the headphone jack on the bottom.The video is notable for showing what appears to be the same chassis found in a clip uploaded to YouTube last month. Like this chassis, the hardware in the previous video shows a unibody case that seems to confirm a host of rumors that have surfaced, including talk of Apple moving the headphone jack from the top of the device to the bottom and a smaller dock connector port.That earlier video followed the publication of a host of photos showing what appeared to be the same device. With this latest video now out in the wild, it's possible the rumor mill might be closing in on the eventual design of Apple's next iPhone.Then again, it might not. Apple has not, of course, confirmed that there is such a thing as the iPhone 5, let alone when the much-anticipated device might launch or what sort of features it'll have. And until the company confirms that the device exists, all videos, photos, and rumors should be taken with the proverbial grain of salt.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the video. We will update this story when we have more information.Here's the latest video:(Via The Verge)
Purported iPhone 5, iPad Mini 'engineering samples' crop up
Purported iPhone 5, iPad Mini 'engineering samples' crop up
They may or may not be the real deal, but somebody has gone to the trouble of creating purported "engineering samples" of Apple's next iPhone, as well as a smaller version of the iPad.In a pair of reports today, tech site GottaBeMobile offers photos and speculation about both sample devices, which the outlet says come courtesy of "a trusted source inside the Apple supply chain." Of note, neither of these units is functional or looks anything like a finished product. Instead, the iPhone looks to be nothing more than milled aluminum, while the iPad-like device is made out of molded plastic. The bottom side of the smaller iPad design.GottaBeMobileBetween the two, the smaller iPad appears to be a more complete representation of a product. It sports a smoothed, orange facade that GottaBeMobile estimates to be about 8.4 inches tall and 5.65 inches wide. Similar to recent iPhone 5 computer mock-ups (which have been based on rumors), the device has a bottom with a pill-shaped dock adapter, and nearby speaker and microphone grills that are a bit of a throwback to the underside of Apple's first iPhone. As for the iPhone 5 sample, the noteworthy changes are a taller screen as well as what appears to be a hole for a microphone between where the rear camera and LED flash have been on the iPhone 4 and 4S. Apple currently puts its second microphone, which is used for noise-canceling, on the top of the device, right next to the headphone jack.For those hoping that Apple is, in fact, at work on a smaller iPad, this ain't exactly the smoking gun. However their proximity to a recent pair of reports from The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch as well as Bloomberg suggesting that Apple was gearing up for mass production of such a device, makes the "samples" noteworthy.
They may or may not be the real deal, but somebody has gone to the trouble of creating purported "engineering samples" of Apple's next iPhone, as well as a smaller version of the iPad.In a pair of reports today, tech site GottaBeMobile offers photos and speculation about both sample devices, which the outlet says come courtesy of "a trusted source inside the Apple supply chain." Of note, neither of these units is functional or looks anything like a finished product. Instead, the iPhone looks to be nothing more than milled aluminum, while the iPad-like device is made out of molded plastic. The bottom side of the smaller iPad design.GottaBeMobileBetween the two, the smaller iPad appears to be a more complete representation of a product. It sports a smoothed, orange facade that GottaBeMobile estimates to be about 8.4 inches tall and 5.65 inches wide. Similar to recent iPhone 5 computer mock-ups (which have been based on rumors), the device has a bottom with a pill-shaped dock adapter, and nearby speaker and microphone grills that are a bit of a throwback to the underside of Apple's first iPhone. As for the iPhone 5 sample, the noteworthy changes are a taller screen as well as what appears to be a hole for a microphone between where the rear camera and LED flash have been on the iPhone 4 and 4S. Apple currently puts its second microphone, which is used for noise-canceling, on the top of the device, right next to the headphone jack.For those hoping that Apple is, in fact, at work on a smaller iPad, this ain't exactly the smoking gun. However their proximity to a recent pair of reports from The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch as well as Bloomberg suggesting that Apple was gearing up for mass production of such a device, makes the "samples" noteworthy.
Public at last- Apple II DOS code that launched an empire
Public at last: Apple II DOS code that launched an empire
If ever source code can be said to have helped launch an empire, the code behind the Apple II DOS would qualify. And now it's available to everyone.Last spring, CNET was first to report on the surfacing of documents that led to Apple's commissioning the creation of a disk operating system (DOS) for the young company's new computer, the Apple II.Without that DOS, the computer would probably never have made a mark, since the only storage option otherwise available was a tape drive. Over the Christmas holidays of 1977, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak designed a disk controller, but he needed a DOS. The original Apple OS documents (picture...See full gallery1 - 4 / 22NextPrevIn early 1978, Apple signed a $13,000 contract with Shepardson Microsystems to create the DOS. The contract was addressed to Steve Jobs. Once it was written, programs like VisiCalc, which led to the Apple II's tremendous success, were possible. Now, thanks to the help of the DigiBarn, a vintage computer museum in Santa Cruz County, Calif., the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., has officially published the DOS source code for all to see.According to Bruce Damer, the founder and curator of the DigiBarn, Apple, which still owns the code, gave its blessing for the documents to be made public. What anyone will do with them is unclear, but this is one of Silicon Valley's most important treasures -- a disk operating system that helped a young company become a behemoth. Without it, we might never have seen Apple become the company it is today.
If ever source code can be said to have helped launch an empire, the code behind the Apple II DOS would qualify. And now it's available to everyone.Last spring, CNET was first to report on the surfacing of documents that led to Apple's commissioning the creation of a disk operating system (DOS) for the young company's new computer, the Apple II.Without that DOS, the computer would probably never have made a mark, since the only storage option otherwise available was a tape drive. Over the Christmas holidays of 1977, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak designed a disk controller, but he needed a DOS. The original Apple OS documents (picture...See full gallery1 - 4 / 22NextPrevIn early 1978, Apple signed a $13,000 contract with Shepardson Microsystems to create the DOS. The contract was addressed to Steve Jobs. Once it was written, programs like VisiCalc, which led to the Apple II's tremendous success, were possible. Now, thanks to the help of the DigiBarn, a vintage computer museum in Santa Cruz County, Calif., the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., has officially published the DOS source code for all to see.According to Bruce Damer, the founder and curator of the DigiBarn, Apple, which still owns the code, gave its blessing for the documents to be made public. What anyone will do with them is unclear, but this is one of Silicon Valley's most important treasures -- a disk operating system that helped a young company become a behemoth. Without it, we might never have seen Apple become the company it is today.
Proxy adviser backs Apple in stock buyback fight with Icahn
Proxy adviser backs Apple in stock buyback fight with Icahn
A prominent proxy advisory service has sided with Apple, recommending to its clients that they vote against a proposal by activist investor Carl Icahn that calls on the company to initiate a $50 billion stock buyback.In a report to clients Sunday, Institutional Shareholder Services said the share repurchase proposal was unnecessary after recent stock buybacks and dividend payouts."In light of these good-faith efforts and its past stewardship, the board's latitude should not be constricted by a shareholder resolution that would micromanage the company's capital allocation process," according to the report, which was obtained by Reuters and The New York Times.Apple has roughly $160 billion in the bank and investors -- most notablyIcahn -- have been appealing to the company to return some of that money to shareholders. Icahn, who owns about $4 billion in Apple shares, has been waging a campaign since last summer that urged the company to step up its share repurchases. However, Apple has urged investors to reject Icahn's "precatory proposal." Shareholders will be asked to vote on this at the company's annual shareholder meeting on February 28.The report comes on the heels of an Apple stock buyback that resulted in the repurchase of $14 billion of its own shares in two weeks. Apple has now repurchased more than $40 billion of its shares within the last year, which is a record for any company over a similar time span, according to The Wall Street Journal.
A prominent proxy advisory service has sided with Apple, recommending to its clients that they vote against a proposal by activist investor Carl Icahn that calls on the company to initiate a $50 billion stock buyback.In a report to clients Sunday, Institutional Shareholder Services said the share repurchase proposal was unnecessary after recent stock buybacks and dividend payouts."In light of these good-faith efforts and its past stewardship, the board's latitude should not be constricted by a shareholder resolution that would micromanage the company's capital allocation process," according to the report, which was obtained by Reuters and The New York Times.Apple has roughly $160 billion in the bank and investors -- most notablyIcahn -- have been appealing to the company to return some of that money to shareholders. Icahn, who owns about $4 billion in Apple shares, has been waging a campaign since last summer that urged the company to step up its share repurchases. However, Apple has urged investors to reject Icahn's "precatory proposal." Shareholders will be asked to vote on this at the company's annual shareholder meeting on February 28.The report comes on the heels of an Apple stock buyback that resulted in the repurchase of $14 billion of its own shares in two weeks. Apple has now repurchased more than $40 billion of its shares within the last year, which is a record for any company over a similar time span, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Comics on Film: Will Comic Book Movies Burn Out Soon? Have They Already
As we sit on the cusp of the most anticipated weekend of the year for many comics and movie fans, there are a lot of details that we actually alreadyknowabout the future of the comic book movie for the next several years. Recently,Marvel Studios announced release datesfor several untitled films on up through 2019, and rumors continue to persist about Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment readying a slew of DC Comics-related films to match their already impressive lineup of forthcoming TV programs. While many fans see these things as new projects to look forward to, some fans are becoming vocal about worries of dreaded oversaturation. The idea isn;t without merit. When one kind of product floods a marketplace, it tends to devalue all of the other participators of the trend that follow. Comic books have spawned some of the hottest properties in the history of the film medium from 1978;sSupermanand 1989;sBatmanthrough 2002;sSpider-Man, 2008;sThe Dark Knight and 2012;sThe Avengers. The success of these movies has led to reboots and sequels that are still coming (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,The Amazing Spider-Man 3,Avengers: Age of Ultron), and there;s no sign of comic book adaptations slowing down for many summers to come. That will certainlylead to the idea of the comic book movie burning out and becoming unsuccessful, right? Well... not exactly. Have Comics FilmsAlreadyBurned Out? Some fans think that comics-based cinema has already started showing signs of burnout, particularly with this year;s release ofThe Amazing Spider-Man 2. People are correct in pointing out that not only was the filmcritically the most poorly receivedof the fiveSpideyfilms thus far, but it hasalso grossed the least amount of money. Instead of taking this as proof that thefranchise may need to be reevaluated, some are saying this is obvious empirical proof that comic book cinema is on its way out the proverbial door. Of course, these same fans fail to see some pretty big signs pointing to the contrary. There;s the improved critical and financial reception for two comic book sequels released this year:Captain America: The Winter Soldierand X-Men: Days of Future Past. The year 2011;sCaptain America: The First Avengerwas considered a critical and commercial success, but its performance in both departments was decidedly modest when compared to other entries in the Marvel cinematic universe,only outdoing 2008;sThe Incredible Hulkin box office take.Winter Soldierwas not only received more positively by critics, but it set box office records for an April release and has gone on to make$712 million worldwide. In the case ofDays of Future Past, it is largely seen to correct many of the X-Men movies; previous mistakes. It also earned the best reviews of the series so far, and it currently has thehighestworldwidegross of the entire franchise(a franchise thatpretty much gave birth to the whole age of comics films we;re in now, by the way). Anyway,ASM2has still grossed $700 million worldwide. Why You Can;t Lump All Comic Book Movies Together One problem with the argument claiming a burnout is occurring is the idea that all comic book movies can be placed in the same category. That adheres to a rather old misconception about comic books themselves. Neil Gaiman explains this in theSecret Origin: The Story of DC Comicsdocumentary, stating that he always needs to make a distinction to people thatcomics is a medium, not a genre. The old analogy of a medium as a beverage pitcher comes to mind. The comic books are the delivery system. Like pitchers, you can fill them up with whatever you want, and chances are that no two will pour the same drink. The same can be said of comic book cinema. While you can lump the movies together as their own genre a bit more feasibly, there are many other genres which inspire individual superheroes. Batman and the X-Men are characters inverydifferent kinds of stories. And the upcoming Marvel Studios releaseGuardians of the Galaxyisbased on a comic book and part of the same franchise as The Avengers, yet it;snotexactly a superhero movie.The new DC-based seriesConstantineis also definitely not a superhero show. Instead, it dives into the darker realm of mysticism and the world beyond. Movie and television studios alike are beginning to embrace the various genres featuring comic book characters that don;t wear capes and cowls. While they may have all originated on the comic book page, that;s usually where their similarities begin and end. After this coming weekend, who knows what other new projects we;ll learn about?We;ll see if Hollywood begins to more actively diversify among the many genres you can pull from comic book source material. The possibilities are practically limitless. ChrisClowis a geek. He is a gamer, a comic book expert and former retailer, and freelance contributor toGeekNation.com,The Huffington Post, andBatman-On-Film.com. You can find his weekly pieceComics on Filmevery Wednesdayright here at Movies.com. Check out hisblog
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