Are record shops worth saving? (Part 2)
Last week, I offered five reasons record stores are worth saving from extinction. As someone who's spent plenty of time on both sides of the music retail counter, I believe that the world still needs record stores; however, I also have a laundry list of record-store failures.Many record stores are going out of business for perfectly good reasons that have little to do with iTunes or Amazon. In general, the brick-and-mortar music retail experience is antique and frustrating, and when it's bad, it's enough to make you swear off record shops for good. Consider my complaints below, and then click over to part three to learn what strategies record stores could take to stay relevant and vital.Just because a store doesn't sell MP3s doesn't mean it can't innovate in the music retail space. These seven trivial brick-and-mortar aggravations keep me from coming back.Music classificationIt's not always easy or intuitive figuring out how my favorite band is classified in a given store. Does DJ Shadow live in hip-hop or electronic? Why is Gorillaz filed under indie rock? I wonder where they put Willie Nelson's one-off reggae album? Shopping for music online doesn't require you to be an amateur musicologist; just key in the name of your favorite band and break out the credit card. WaitingI'll admit that the instant-gratification of the download era has made me less patient. Waiting in lines just to flip through CD bins or make a purchase can feel intolerable compared with online shopping. If I'm waiting at the back of a long line with just one CD in my hand, I'm likely to just toss it aside and make a note to myself to download it when I get back home. In fact, anyone with an iPhone could probably download the album on the walk back to the car.Bin card discriminationSometimes I feel personally dissed when an artist I love doesn't have his or her own proper card in the CD bin. What kind of world do we live in where Squarepusher's dozen albums are loosely filed under S and Miley Cyrus gets her own roped-off section? Online, there are no second-class seats.Getting helpWhen I have to ask for help in a store, I feel like a failure as a consumer. In the best-case scenario, a nice employee is immediately available to help, plucking the album I'm looking for from thin air. In most cases, however, I have to wait on a clerk who's only there to inform me that they're out of stock. Either way, I risk the emotional scars of having the store's resident Suicide Girl wince at my musical choices. By contrast, searching through Amazon or iTunes is swift, anonymous, and they never run out of stock.Album onlyFor the most part, music stores sell albums, not singles--too bad, since most people are now accustomed to cherry-picking songs and paying for just the music they want. Music retail's unspoken answer to this dilemma is to buy back the CD as "used" after you've ripped the tracks you want, but returning CDs is a hassle, and you can never be sure how much money you'll get back.Music previewsI remember how revolutionary it seemed when record stores introduced listening stations that let you preview a handful of new releases. Unfortunately, more often than not, these listening stations were stocked with major label pabulum I was already hearing on the radio. The albums I really wanted to preview never got the listening station treatment. The idea of picking a CD out of a bin and not being able to instantly sample the music seems like an incredible leap of faith these days. On the Web, every song has at least a 30-second preview, and a service like Lala will even give you full-song and -album previews. Whether your music store is download-only or brick and mortar, customers now expect everything to be in stock--even Zappa.WikipediaSelectionThere's no way for mom-and-pop shops to match iTunes' always-open, always-in-stock catalog of over 10 million songs. Some may try (including California's Amoeba Records), but even the best shops are subject to the frailties of a physical supply chain and the constraint of shelf space.In their defense, these stores often face the impossible task of trying to satisfy both mainstream and niche listening habits. One minute you're being scolded for running out of a Josh Groban CD the neighborhood Starbucks is selling for a dollar less, and the next minute, a long-time customer is silently walking out of the store, deeply disappointed that you don't have Frank Zappa's "Burnt Weeny Sandwich" on vinyl.A recipe for survivalI'm sure there are dozens of other complaints to be leveled against music retail establishments (be sure to add your own in the comments section), but in spite of its flaws, I can't bear the thought of a world where record stores are nothing more than an antique curiosity.In the next--and final--chapter of this series, I'll do my best to outline some strategies that may keep these shops relevant in the download era.(Continue to Part 3.)
No movable feast for portable TV
No movable feast for portable TV
It was not long, though, before a new crop of digital televisions rose to take their place. Hailing from lesser-known companies such as Evizen, Viore, and Eviant and often touting 7-inch displays, these TVs can tap into a slightly wider array of free over-the-air broadcasts just like home TVs receiving over-the-air signals. Consumers have embraced these inexpensive sets that regularly sell for less than $100. According to NPD's Retail Tracking Service, sales of digital TVs with 7-inch screens have grown more than sevenfold in the past year.There's a catch, though. The ATSC standard that these TVs use was not designed to support products in motion such as rear-seat video systems, digital music players, and cell phones. Moving these small sets just a bit can disrupt their reception. Though the TVs may continue to work indefinitely, their technology may be a practical dead end. Beginning later this year, local broadcast stations will begin testing a new version of the ATSC digital broadcasting standard that can work with mobile devices. Unlike the FLO TV Personal TV that debuted earlier this year, the stations will be free to view, supported by ads. However, just like the regular broadcast system, it won't include content from cable networks such as ESPN, MTV, Bravo, and Fox News Channel. Some of these networks are available on FLO TV.Tivizen's iPhone appValupsBut those who have bought the stationary portable sets shouldn't feel too much buyer's remorse. The new mobile digital broadcasts probably won't be available nationally until sometime in 2011. Products are being held up as broadcasters work with the FCC to ensure that the new standard complies with regulations, including a few that were clearly written without mobile digital television in mind.Unlike at the dawn of the Watchman, there are now a host of portable screens consumers have embraced in the millions, including notebook PC, portable DVD players, portable navigation devices, portable media players and, of course, cell phones. However, free mobile broadcasts may be slower to come to cell phones because carriers would rather have customers pay for live TV via a subscription service such as FLO TV or MobiTV.One of the most novel ideas around mobile DTV is a product called Tivizen. The small receiver can send free over-the-air DTV to practically any product that supports Wi-Fi and which can download a dedicated app. In fact, the Tivizen app for iPhone is already available in Apple's iTunes app store, but the hardware is not yet available due to some last-minute regulatory concerns. Ironically, though, while this new age of over-the-air mobile DTV may be accessible to do-it-all notebooks and cell phones, there seems to be little interest in producing a dedicated portable TV device. What was once a lack of demand for diminutive displays has been replaced by oversupply.
It was not long, though, before a new crop of digital televisions rose to take their place. Hailing from lesser-known companies such as Evizen, Viore, and Eviant and often touting 7-inch displays, these TVs can tap into a slightly wider array of free over-the-air broadcasts just like home TVs receiving over-the-air signals. Consumers have embraced these inexpensive sets that regularly sell for less than $100. According to NPD's Retail Tracking Service, sales of digital TVs with 7-inch screens have grown more than sevenfold in the past year.There's a catch, though. The ATSC standard that these TVs use was not designed to support products in motion such as rear-seat video systems, digital music players, and cell phones. Moving these small sets just a bit can disrupt their reception. Though the TVs may continue to work indefinitely, their technology may be a practical dead end. Beginning later this year, local broadcast stations will begin testing a new version of the ATSC digital broadcasting standard that can work with mobile devices. Unlike the FLO TV Personal TV that debuted earlier this year, the stations will be free to view, supported by ads. However, just like the regular broadcast system, it won't include content from cable networks such as ESPN, MTV, Bravo, and Fox News Channel. Some of these networks are available on FLO TV.Tivizen's iPhone appValupsBut those who have bought the stationary portable sets shouldn't feel too much buyer's remorse. The new mobile digital broadcasts probably won't be available nationally until sometime in 2011. Products are being held up as broadcasters work with the FCC to ensure that the new standard complies with regulations, including a few that were clearly written without mobile digital television in mind.Unlike at the dawn of the Watchman, there are now a host of portable screens consumers have embraced in the millions, including notebook PC, portable DVD players, portable navigation devices, portable media players and, of course, cell phones. However, free mobile broadcasts may be slower to come to cell phones because carriers would rather have customers pay for live TV via a subscription service such as FLO TV or MobiTV.One of the most novel ideas around mobile DTV is a product called Tivizen. The small receiver can send free over-the-air DTV to practically any product that supports Wi-Fi and which can download a dedicated app. In fact, the Tivizen app for iPhone is already available in Apple's iTunes app store, but the hardware is not yet available due to some last-minute regulatory concerns. Ironically, though, while this new age of over-the-air mobile DTV may be accessible to do-it-all notebooks and cell phones, there seems to be little interest in producing a dedicated portable TV device. What was once a lack of demand for diminutive displays has been replaced by oversupply.
Can McTivia take over for Apple TV in a pinch-
Can McTivia take over for Apple TV in a pinch?
Apple, what are you doing to me lately? Fresh off the Apple hard-drive crash that forced me to turn to my iPad for word processing, my Apple TV home unit stopped cooperating, leaving me without access to my favorite computer-archived TV shows and movies.Fortunately, this presented the perfect opportunity to review a new McTivia unit sent my way. Could the McTivia stand in immediately for my late Apple TV? And could I get it set up quickly and easily?For the still uninitiated, Apple TV is the technology giant's in-house media receiver that allows users to broadcast the contents of iTunes, Netflix, YouTube, and other video sources through their Apple device over to their TV wirelessly via an Airplay network. For the record, Apple TV setup is easy and offers the intuitive interface you'd expect from an Apple product. But for reasons as of yet unknown, my Apple TV and in-house network stopped cooperating.McTivia goes a step further than Apple TV in design, looking to broadcast via Wi-Fi everything on your Apple computer or PC to your TV or home entertainment system--not just limiting itself to iTunes content or other pre-approved streaming services. The device is about the size of an iPad and resembles a wireless router, complete with adjustable rear antennae to transmit the wireless signal. McTivia essentially transforms your TV into a full-service computer monitor, opening up access to your Apple or PC to your living room or anywhere else in your house equipped with the McTivia receiver. So, McTivia immediately has one up on Apple TV as it opens more content to your home entertainment network.AwindThe problems emerge when it's time to get the McTivia set up and running. The Apple TV installation process is quick and easy, and networking between the unit and my MacBook Pro was painless and by the book. But the more elaborate McTivia system demanded more steps.To try to explain the setup simply, you must connect an HDMI output on the McTiVia to your TV. You then connect the power source to your McTiVia and plug it into an outlet. Then, you can set up your network wirelessly, via an Ethernet cable, or via third-party modems. The last option still sounds like a nightmare, and the Ethernet model seemed clunky, even for my flat-screen monitor. So I went with the wireless option.But the setup wasn't over yet. I needed to install special software on my Apple and get it all to cooperate with the "McTiVia MirrorOps Sender" application. To make a legitimately long story short, it took me a little less than 90 minutes to get McTivia up and running. In this day and age of networking technology, that's a long time. However, once it was truly up and running, the McTivia wireless image provided adequate resolution. I also enjoyed the wider selection of media I could now share to my TV.Final analysis? The McTivia seems less fancy and polished than Apple TV, even though it essentially offers more functionality than the big-name competitor. It lacks the slick interface on Apple TV and offers a more complicated setup. But, if you can master that setup process, I can recommend the end result. Have you had any experience with McTivia? If so, what's your take?
Apple, what are you doing to me lately? Fresh off the Apple hard-drive crash that forced me to turn to my iPad for word processing, my Apple TV home unit stopped cooperating, leaving me without access to my favorite computer-archived TV shows and movies.Fortunately, this presented the perfect opportunity to review a new McTivia unit sent my way. Could the McTivia stand in immediately for my late Apple TV? And could I get it set up quickly and easily?For the still uninitiated, Apple TV is the technology giant's in-house media receiver that allows users to broadcast the contents of iTunes, Netflix, YouTube, and other video sources through their Apple device over to their TV wirelessly via an Airplay network. For the record, Apple TV setup is easy and offers the intuitive interface you'd expect from an Apple product. But for reasons as of yet unknown, my Apple TV and in-house network stopped cooperating.McTivia goes a step further than Apple TV in design, looking to broadcast via Wi-Fi everything on your Apple computer or PC to your TV or home entertainment system--not just limiting itself to iTunes content or other pre-approved streaming services. The device is about the size of an iPad and resembles a wireless router, complete with adjustable rear antennae to transmit the wireless signal. McTivia essentially transforms your TV into a full-service computer monitor, opening up access to your Apple or PC to your living room or anywhere else in your house equipped with the McTivia receiver. So, McTivia immediately has one up on Apple TV as it opens more content to your home entertainment network.AwindThe problems emerge when it's time to get the McTivia set up and running. The Apple TV installation process is quick and easy, and networking between the unit and my MacBook Pro was painless and by the book. But the more elaborate McTivia system demanded more steps.To try to explain the setup simply, you must connect an HDMI output on the McTiVia to your TV. You then connect the power source to your McTiVia and plug it into an outlet. Then, you can set up your network wirelessly, via an Ethernet cable, or via third-party modems. The last option still sounds like a nightmare, and the Ethernet model seemed clunky, even for my flat-screen monitor. So I went with the wireless option.But the setup wasn't over yet. I needed to install special software on my Apple and get it all to cooperate with the "McTiVia MirrorOps Sender" application. To make a legitimately long story short, it took me a little less than 90 minutes to get McTivia up and running. In this day and age of networking technology, that's a long time. However, once it was truly up and running, the McTivia wireless image provided adequate resolution. I also enjoyed the wider selection of media I could now share to my TV.Final analysis? The McTivia seems less fancy and polished than Apple TV, even though it essentially offers more functionality than the big-name competitor. It lacks the slick interface on Apple TV and offers a more complicated setup. But, if you can master that setup process, I can recommend the end result. Have you had any experience with McTivia? If so, what's your take?
The 404 422- Where Rana Sobhany is the frosting on The 404 cupcake
The 404 422: Where Rana Sobhany is the frosting on The 404 cupcake
Who cares about Apple's little iPod refresh yesterday--it's Rana Sobhany's birthday!! We were already excited to have Rana on the show today, but we had no idea that she'd be bringing treats. Turns out that Ms. Sobhany has been indulging her foodie side recently and baked us CUPCAKES to celebrate! Since we always strive to be perfect gentlemen on the show, we don't pry too much into how many birthdays she's celebrated so far, so I think it's safe to assume that Rana has spent a cool 19 years on this Earth. We all get a little nervous when Rana quiets us down for some real talk, and lo and behold, she calls me out big time on my Valentine's Day fumble. Be sure to watch the video show to see how I make it up to her on the air.Click the thumbnail for a larger picture.Wilson G. TangOn the second half of the show, Rana shows us a really cool iPhone app called Sonifi. Created by electro artist BT, the sensory application lets users physically manipulate the artist's work, essentially performing a live remix! Rana demos the app for us and soon the studio transforms into a big birthday rave.Also, a big thanks goes out to Joshua Chu for Photoshopping us into a scene from "Futurama!" We can't believe you don't do this for a living, Josh. I think our favorite little Easter egg is the Apple logo on Wilson's case. Great work, dude!Leave us a voice mail at 1-866-404-CNET or e-mail the404(at)cnet(dot)com and let us know what you think of the show! Also, be sure to wish Rana a very happy birthday!EPISODE 422PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Who cares about Apple's little iPod refresh yesterday--it's Rana Sobhany's birthday!! We were already excited to have Rana on the show today, but we had no idea that she'd be bringing treats. Turns out that Ms. Sobhany has been indulging her foodie side recently and baked us CUPCAKES to celebrate! Since we always strive to be perfect gentlemen on the show, we don't pry too much into how many birthdays she's celebrated so far, so I think it's safe to assume that Rana has spent a cool 19 years on this Earth. We all get a little nervous when Rana quiets us down for some real talk, and lo and behold, she calls me out big time on my Valentine's Day fumble. Be sure to watch the video show to see how I make it up to her on the air.Click the thumbnail for a larger picture.Wilson G. TangOn the second half of the show, Rana shows us a really cool iPhone app called Sonifi. Created by electro artist BT, the sensory application lets users physically manipulate the artist's work, essentially performing a live remix! Rana demos the app for us and soon the studio transforms into a big birthday rave.Also, a big thanks goes out to Joshua Chu for Photoshopping us into a scene from "Futurama!" We can't believe you don't do this for a living, Josh. I think our favorite little Easter egg is the Apple logo on Wilson's case. Great work, dude!Leave us a voice mail at 1-866-404-CNET or e-mail the404(at)cnet(dot)com and let us know what you think of the show! Also, be sure to wish Rana a very happy birthday!EPISODE 422PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Microsoft's latest iOS app- Kinectimals
Microsoft's latest iOS app: Kinectimals
First came OneNote, then SkyDrive. Now, Microsoft is jumping into the iOS games market with Kinectimals, a mobile version of the popular Kinect console title."Game" might not be the right word. Kinectimals simulates adopting and playing with a tiger cub (your choice of five breeds at the beginning, with five more you can unlock). Target audience: 3-year-olds.OK, slightly older kids might enjoy this as well, but Kinectimals is so simplistic that I think anyone over the age of 7 is likely to lose interest pretty quickly.That's not to say this Tamogotchi-style experience is bad, because it's not. Rather, it's cute as the dickens, with frisky tiger cubs who jump and coo and catch (or at least paw at) tennis balls. Soothing new-agey music plays in the background.For the first few minutes, it's not immediately obvious what you're supposed to do with your cub. If you tap him, the camera zooms in and lets you "pet" him. Eventually he'll wander off and get a ball or a jump-rope, both used for kid-friendly mini-games.Tip: tap the trophy icon, which offers challenges (starting with basic tutorials) that earn you experience points and coins you can spend on extra items.Those items can be found by tapping the inventory icon, which also reveals options like Food, Care Items, Trick Mode, and so on. There's even a weird but cute Camera option that sends you to a studio for a photo shoot with your cub. (The snapshots are automatically saved to your iDevice's photo library.) You'd think each photo would show just your pet, but they include the studio surroundings--lights, backdrops, etc.--as well. Like I said: weird.Some of this can be figured out just by tapping around, but I think parents should read the How to Play guide so they can properly instruct kids, who might get frustrated by the lack of progression. (Embarrassing admission: I didn't read the instructions, and I got frustrated by the lack of progression. Once I learned the basics, however, I started having some fun.)By the way, Kinectimals for iOS has the enviable capability to transfer cubs to and from the Xbox version.Speaking of which, the latter costs $50 at Amazon. Kinectimals for iOS is $2.99. I think I know which one I'd start with.
First came OneNote, then SkyDrive. Now, Microsoft is jumping into the iOS games market with Kinectimals, a mobile version of the popular Kinect console title."Game" might not be the right word. Kinectimals simulates adopting and playing with a tiger cub (your choice of five breeds at the beginning, with five more you can unlock). Target audience: 3-year-olds.OK, slightly older kids might enjoy this as well, but Kinectimals is so simplistic that I think anyone over the age of 7 is likely to lose interest pretty quickly.That's not to say this Tamogotchi-style experience is bad, because it's not. Rather, it's cute as the dickens, with frisky tiger cubs who jump and coo and catch (or at least paw at) tennis balls. Soothing new-agey music plays in the background.For the first few minutes, it's not immediately obvious what you're supposed to do with your cub. If you tap him, the camera zooms in and lets you "pet" him. Eventually he'll wander off and get a ball or a jump-rope, both used for kid-friendly mini-games.Tip: tap the trophy icon, which offers challenges (starting with basic tutorials) that earn you experience points and coins you can spend on extra items.Those items can be found by tapping the inventory icon, which also reveals options like Food, Care Items, Trick Mode, and so on. There's even a weird but cute Camera option that sends you to a studio for a photo shoot with your cub. (The snapshots are automatically saved to your iDevice's photo library.) You'd think each photo would show just your pet, but they include the studio surroundings--lights, backdrops, etc.--as well. Like I said: weird.Some of this can be figured out just by tapping around, but I think parents should read the How to Play guide so they can properly instruct kids, who might get frustrated by the lack of progression. (Embarrassing admission: I didn't read the instructions, and I got frustrated by the lack of progression. Once I learned the basics, however, I started having some fun.)By the way, Kinectimals for iOS has the enviable capability to transfer cubs to and from the Xbox version.Speaking of which, the latter costs $50 at Amazon. Kinectimals for iOS is $2.99. I think I know which one I'd start with.
Game of Thrones finale piracy hits 2 petabytes in 12 hours
Game of Thrones finale piracy hits 2 petabytes in 12 hours
Yesterday saw the airing of the final episode for season four of HBO's "Game of Thrones". According to data from the official US ratings, "The Children", as the episode was titled, was the most watched GoT episode to date, hitting 7.1 million viewers. Continuing the ongoing trend, it was also popular with pirates, breaking the series' own torrenting records. According to TorrentFreak -- almost the unofficial industry body for this sort of information -- the episode also saw "roughly" 1.5 million downloads in the first 12 hours after airing. That equates to around 2 petabytes of data. (For some scale on just how big a petabyte is, Deloitte Analytics offers this: it would take 233,000 DVDs to store a single PB.) The episode also broke the record for the largest "swarm" -- the number of people sharing the same file. Back in May, 207,054 people shared the same torrent file for the episode "First of his Name". This time round, "The Children" managed a total of 254,114 sharers. Australia has always been one of, if not the, top torrenter of GoT and this season saw many Australians putting the blame on pay TV service Foxtel's exclusive deal for the show. A similar deal exists in the UK, with Sky's Now TV bagging exclusive streaming rights -- and making a shoddy job of showing it. It's only now that the full season is over that other video services and broadcasters are able to offer the season for download or streaming. Foxtel unsurprisingly reacted angrily to the claims, telling CNET unequivocally that "piracy is theft" and noting that it had special pricing deals in place for GoT to make it more accessible. HBO, which makes the show, is apparently more sanguine, with programming boss Michael Lombardo quoted last year as saying that illegal downloads are "a compliment of sorts". Now that the final episode has aired, the full season can be bought in HD from Google Play for AU$35 -- £18.49 in the UK -- and from Australian streaming service Quickflix at AU$34 to name just two. It has yet to be made available on iTunes for the Australian audience -- a fact that some commentators suggest shows a dissatisfaction with the Foxtel exclusivity.
Yesterday saw the airing of the final episode for season four of HBO's "Game of Thrones". According to data from the official US ratings, "The Children", as the episode was titled, was the most watched GoT episode to date, hitting 7.1 million viewers. Continuing the ongoing trend, it was also popular with pirates, breaking the series' own torrenting records. According to TorrentFreak -- almost the unofficial industry body for this sort of information -- the episode also saw "roughly" 1.5 million downloads in the first 12 hours after airing. That equates to around 2 petabytes of data. (For some scale on just how big a petabyte is, Deloitte Analytics offers this: it would take 233,000 DVDs to store a single PB.) The episode also broke the record for the largest "swarm" -- the number of people sharing the same file. Back in May, 207,054 people shared the same torrent file for the episode "First of his Name". This time round, "The Children" managed a total of 254,114 sharers. Australia has always been one of, if not the, top torrenter of GoT and this season saw many Australians putting the blame on pay TV service Foxtel's exclusive deal for the show. A similar deal exists in the UK, with Sky's Now TV bagging exclusive streaming rights -- and making a shoddy job of showing it. It's only now that the full season is over that other video services and broadcasters are able to offer the season for download or streaming. Foxtel unsurprisingly reacted angrily to the claims, telling CNET unequivocally that "piracy is theft" and noting that it had special pricing deals in place for GoT to make it more accessible. HBO, which makes the show, is apparently more sanguine, with programming boss Michael Lombardo quoted last year as saying that illegal downloads are "a compliment of sorts". Now that the final episode has aired, the full season can be bought in HD from Google Play for AU$35 -- £18.49 in the UK -- and from Australian streaming service Quickflix at AU$34 to name just two. It has yet to be made available on iTunes for the Australian audience -- a fact that some commentators suggest shows a dissatisfaction with the Foxtel exclusivity.
'Game of Thrones' Bush head episode spiked from HBO Go, iTunes
'Game of Thrones' Bush head episode spiked from HBO Go, iTunes
One of the wonderful benefits HBO subscribers get these days is HBO Go, an online -- or mobile -- service that lets them access almost all of the network's archive. But today, clearly embarrassed by the firestorm caused by an episode of its hit series "Game of Thrones" featuring former President George W. Bush's decapitated head on a spike, HBO has yanked the episode from both HBO Go and iTunes.Episode 10 of season 1 of 'Game of Thrones' featured former U.S. President George W. Bush's head on a spike. HBO has pulled the episode from HBO Go and iTunes.Screenshot by CNETThe controversy first arose earlier this week when the Web site io9 posted a story about its discovery of the Bush head in episode 10 of the show's first season. The producers of the show have insisted that the use of the head was simply because they had it lying around, and that it wasn't political in any way. HBO seems not to agree that it was harmless."We were deeply dismayed to see this and find it unacceptable, disrespectful, and in very bad taste. We made this clear to the executive producers of the series who apologized immediately for this careless mistake," HBO said in a statement published by the Chicago Tribune. "We condemn it in the strongest possible terms and have halted all future shipments of the DVDs, removed it from our digital platforms, and will edit the scene for all future airings on any distribution domestic or international."But HBO's statement to the Tribune did not address the show's digital availability. The Web site Yidio.com wrote this afternoon about the episode having been removed from HBO Go and iTunes, presumably until an edited version can be finished.
One of the wonderful benefits HBO subscribers get these days is HBO Go, an online -- or mobile -- service that lets them access almost all of the network's archive. But today, clearly embarrassed by the firestorm caused by an episode of its hit series "Game of Thrones" featuring former President George W. Bush's decapitated head on a spike, HBO has yanked the episode from both HBO Go and iTunes.Episode 10 of season 1 of 'Game of Thrones' featured former U.S. President George W. Bush's head on a spike. HBO has pulled the episode from HBO Go and iTunes.Screenshot by CNETThe controversy first arose earlier this week when the Web site io9 posted a story about its discovery of the Bush head in episode 10 of the show's first season. The producers of the show have insisted that the use of the head was simply because they had it lying around, and that it wasn't political in any way. HBO seems not to agree that it was harmless."We were deeply dismayed to see this and find it unacceptable, disrespectful, and in very bad taste. We made this clear to the executive producers of the series who apologized immediately for this careless mistake," HBO said in a statement published by the Chicago Tribune. "We condemn it in the strongest possible terms and have halted all future shipments of the DVDs, removed it from our digital platforms, and will edit the scene for all future airings on any distribution domestic or international."But HBO's statement to the Tribune did not address the show's digital availability. The Web site Yidio.com wrote this afternoon about the episode having been removed from HBO Go and iTunes, presumably until an edited version can be finished.
Hacker- I've ported Google Maps to iOS 6
Hacker: I've ported Google Maps to iOS 6
Google Maps seems to have found its way onto iOS 6 with help from a hacker, though it's not quite ready for its public debut.Self-proclaimed iOS hacker and engineer Ryan Petrich tweeted yesterday that he was able to coax Google Maps to work on iOS 6 "with a little trickery." Though mum about his methods, he said that he was able to port the iOS 5.1 version of Google's app to run on an iPhone 3GS that had been updated to iOS 6. Petrich also included a short video clip showing Google Maps in action on Apple's new mobile OS.Before iOS users get too excited, there are a few caveats. Petrich admitted that the port is prone to crashes and that it can't yet be distributed to the public. And apparently, your mobile device must be jailbroken for the hack to even work.Maps woes in Apple iOS 6: How bad? (pict...See full gallery1 - 4 / 16NextPrevPetrich also tweeted that he would not release a "bootlegged" copy since he wants to play by the rules. He promised to include an installer if he's able resolve the distribution issues.Apple carved out some trouble for itself last week when its new Maps app launched as part of iOS 6. Users soon discovered a rash of problems with the app, including missing or lost cities, duplicated islands, mislabeled locations, and fuzzy images. The company specifically kicked out Google Maps from iOS to make way for its own Maps app.iOS 6 users in search of an alternative to Apple's app have a few choices. The simplest option is to open the Google Maps site in mobile Safari. Then click on the Send button on the bottom toolbar and select the option to Add to Home Screen. A shortcut to Google Maps appears on your home screen, which you can use as easily as the dedicated mobile app. Google Maps running under iOS 6
Google Maps seems to have found its way onto iOS 6 with help from a hacker, though it's not quite ready for its public debut.Self-proclaimed iOS hacker and engineer Ryan Petrich tweeted yesterday that he was able to coax Google Maps to work on iOS 6 "with a little trickery." Though mum about his methods, he said that he was able to port the iOS 5.1 version of Google's app to run on an iPhone 3GS that had been updated to iOS 6. Petrich also included a short video clip showing Google Maps in action on Apple's new mobile OS.Before iOS users get too excited, there are a few caveats. Petrich admitted that the port is prone to crashes and that it can't yet be distributed to the public. And apparently, your mobile device must be jailbroken for the hack to even work.Maps woes in Apple iOS 6: How bad? (pict...See full gallery1 - 4 / 16NextPrevPetrich also tweeted that he would not release a "bootlegged" copy since he wants to play by the rules. He promised to include an installer if he's able resolve the distribution issues.Apple carved out some trouble for itself last week when its new Maps app launched as part of iOS 6. Users soon discovered a rash of problems with the app, including missing or lost cities, duplicated islands, mislabeled locations, and fuzzy images. The company specifically kicked out Google Maps from iOS to make way for its own Maps app.iOS 6 users in search of an alternative to Apple's app have a few choices. The simplest option is to open the Google Maps site in mobile Safari. Then click on the Send button on the bottom toolbar and select the option to Add to Home Screen. A shortcut to Google Maps appears on your home screen, which you can use as easily as the dedicated mobile app. Google Maps running under iOS 6
Grand Central Apple store rumor heats up again
Grand Central Apple store rumor heats up again
Apple is once again said to be vying for a space in New York's Grand Central Terminal to serve as a future retail store.The Wall Street Journal reported today that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is on the hunt to fill 15,230 square feet of retail space in the landmark transportation hub, and Apple has "expressed interest."The space in question is currently taken by Charlie Palmer's Metrazur restaurant, and stretches two balconies located on the north and east sides of the terminal. According to the Journal, whoever goes in there next has to pay Palmer to vacate the lease, which runs through 2019.In February, reports emerged that Apple was evaluating a space at Grand Central, and had already begun what was said to be a long approval process for a spot inside the landmark. That process involves pitching the MTA with a proposal, including how much the tenant wants to pay.Apple's retail empire has grown substantially since 2001, the year the company opened up its first stores. Last week marked the 10th anniversary of that effort. Apple has opened more than 320 retail locations around the world.Apple currently has four retail locations in New York City: Fifth Avenue, SoHo, Upper West Side, and West 14th Street. The 10,000-square-foot Fifth Avenue location is one of the busiest of all the stores, pulling in around $1 million in sales per day according to estimates in 2009. The larger space within the terminal has the potential to bring in similarly impressive numbers, with around 750,000 visitors coming through the station each day, ranging up to a million a day during the holidays.
Apple is once again said to be vying for a space in New York's Grand Central Terminal to serve as a future retail store.The Wall Street Journal reported today that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is on the hunt to fill 15,230 square feet of retail space in the landmark transportation hub, and Apple has "expressed interest."The space in question is currently taken by Charlie Palmer's Metrazur restaurant, and stretches two balconies located on the north and east sides of the terminal. According to the Journal, whoever goes in there next has to pay Palmer to vacate the lease, which runs through 2019.In February, reports emerged that Apple was evaluating a space at Grand Central, and had already begun what was said to be a long approval process for a spot inside the landmark. That process involves pitching the MTA with a proposal, including how much the tenant wants to pay.Apple's retail empire has grown substantially since 2001, the year the company opened up its first stores. Last week marked the 10th anniversary of that effort. Apple has opened more than 320 retail locations around the world.Apple currently has four retail locations in New York City: Fifth Avenue, SoHo, Upper West Side, and West 14th Street. The 10,000-square-foot Fifth Avenue location is one of the busiest of all the stores, pulling in around $1 million in sales per day according to estimates in 2009. The larger space within the terminal has the potential to bring in similarly impressive numbers, with around 750,000 visitors coming through the station each day, ranging up to a million a day during the holidays.
Google's Nexus 7 has smart cover-type sensor just like iPad
Google's Nexus 7 has smart cover-type sensor just like iPad
Has Google's Nexus 7 borrowed its magnetic personality from the iPad?As detailed in the YouTube clip online and below, a curious Nexus 7 user ran a magnet along the edges of the tablet as the device was asleep. After the user pulled the magnet away from the lower left edge, the tablet's screen came to life. And when the magnet was placed in the same spot, the tablet went back to sleep.That behavior mimics the process used by Apple's Smart Cover, which turns the display of the iPad on as the cover is pulled away from the tablet. As noted by Android Police, the Nexus 7 seems to be the only known Android device with this feature.Google sells covers for the Nexus 7, though no mention is made of a Smart Cover type of technology. Asus, which manufacturers the tablet, also sells a cover, which it specifically calls a "smart cover." But again, there's no reference as to whether this employs a similar magnetic process.Related storiesGoogle Nexus 7 reviewGoogle's Nexus 7 tablet is here: What do you think? (poll)The inside scoop on the Nexus 7 tablet (Q&A)Google Nexus 7 tablet available through StaplesThe position of the so-called cover sensor is also odd, notes Android Police, as it's on the left side.Since covers open from right to left, the sensor would have to be on the right side for the whole scheme to work properly.A Google spokeswoman did confirm to CNET that this functionality exists in the tablet but didn't provide any further details. A look at the Nexus 7's magnetic charms:Updated 12:15 p.m. PST with response from Google.
Has Google's Nexus 7 borrowed its magnetic personality from the iPad?As detailed in the YouTube clip online and below, a curious Nexus 7 user ran a magnet along the edges of the tablet as the device was asleep. After the user pulled the magnet away from the lower left edge, the tablet's screen came to life. And when the magnet was placed in the same spot, the tablet went back to sleep.That behavior mimics the process used by Apple's Smart Cover, which turns the display of the iPad on as the cover is pulled away from the tablet. As noted by Android Police, the Nexus 7 seems to be the only known Android device with this feature.Google sells covers for the Nexus 7, though no mention is made of a Smart Cover type of technology. Asus, which manufacturers the tablet, also sells a cover, which it specifically calls a "smart cover." But again, there's no reference as to whether this employs a similar magnetic process.Related storiesGoogle Nexus 7 reviewGoogle's Nexus 7 tablet is here: What do you think? (poll)The inside scoop on the Nexus 7 tablet (Q&A)Google Nexus 7 tablet available through StaplesThe position of the so-called cover sensor is also odd, notes Android Police, as it's on the left side.Since covers open from right to left, the sensor would have to be on the right side for the whole scheme to work properly.A Google spokeswoman did confirm to CNET that this functionality exists in the tablet but didn't provide any further details. A look at the Nexus 7's magnetic charms:Updated 12:15 p.m. PST with response from Google.
Google's Chrome adds support for Retina Display
Google's Chrome adds support for Retina Display
Google's Chrome can now serve up Web pages that show off Apple's Retina display in all its glory. Until now, Google's popular browser did not support the display on Apple's newest MacBook Pro. The Retina screen has a 2880x1800 pixel density (220 pixels per inch). It is the highest pixel density, by far, of any laptop in its class. Chrome support for Retina smooths out those fuzzy, jagged edges.GoogleBack in June, Google said: "Apple recently announced a new laptop with a Retina high-resolution screen, and we're committed to polishing Chrome until it shines on that machine."And that's exactly what Google did yesterday. Related storiesAT&T to sell Moto Backflip March 7?Dialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast) Google didn't stop there, though.Chrome now includes an API that "lets you grant web apps access to your camera and microphone without a plug-in."The GetUserMedia API is the "first step" in WebRTC, a standard that allows high-quality video and audio communication on the Web, Google said.What else can you do with the latest version of Chrome, you ask? The Sketchbots "experiment" uses GetUserMedia to "let you take a picture of your face, which is then converted to a line drawing and sent to a robot in the Science Museum in London. The robot then draws out your portrait in a patch of sand, which you can watch live on YouTube and visitors can watch in person at the museum." Forget Retina support.There's the real must-have feature.
Google's Chrome can now serve up Web pages that show off Apple's Retina display in all its glory. Until now, Google's popular browser did not support the display on Apple's newest MacBook Pro. The Retina screen has a 2880x1800 pixel density (220 pixels per inch). It is the highest pixel density, by far, of any laptop in its class. Chrome support for Retina smooths out those fuzzy, jagged edges.GoogleBack in June, Google said: "Apple recently announced a new laptop with a Retina high-resolution screen, and we're committed to polishing Chrome until it shines on that machine."And that's exactly what Google did yesterday. Related storiesAT&T to sell Moto Backflip March 7?Dialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast) Google didn't stop there, though.Chrome now includes an API that "lets you grant web apps access to your camera and microphone without a plug-in."The GetUserMedia API is the "first step" in WebRTC, a standard that allows high-quality video and audio communication on the Web, Google said.What else can you do with the latest version of Chrome, you ask? The Sketchbots "experiment" uses GetUserMedia to "let you take a picture of your face, which is then converted to a line drawing and sent to a robot in the Science Museum in London. The robot then draws out your portrait in a patch of sand, which you can watch live on YouTube and visitors can watch in person at the museum." Forget Retina support.There's the real must-have feature.
Google's AdMob delighted with new Apple policies
Google's AdMob delighted with new Apple policies
Count Google's AdMob division among those glad to see that Apple has had a change of heart regarding restrictions on App Store development.Omar Hamoui, former CEO of AdMob and currently vice president of product management at Google, had been worried that changes to Apple's iPhone Developer Agreement prohibited developers from using AdMob's in-application advertising products--Apple had banned the use of third-party analytic data by companies "owned by or affiliated with a developer or distributor of mobile devices." But Apple's decision Thursday to strip its agreement of that language elicited a thank-you note from Hamoui."Apple's new terms will keep in-app advertising on the iPhone open to many different mobile ad competitors and enable advertising solutions that operate across a wide range of platforms," Hamoui wrote in a blog post. "We're pleased that Apple has clarified its terms and we're 100 (percent) committed to developing the best possible advertising solutions and formats for the iPhone - as well as for Android devices, Blackberries, Palm devices, Windows mobile devices and undoubtedly many more to come - in the years ahead."Apple never appeared to actually enforce the terms of the agreement, Hamoui told attendees at the MobileBeat 2010 conference in July. Still, Apple's decision removes some of the uncertainty among application developers associated with using AdMob's services to earn a little extra money from their iPhone applications.
Count Google's AdMob division among those glad to see that Apple has had a change of heart regarding restrictions on App Store development.Omar Hamoui, former CEO of AdMob and currently vice president of product management at Google, had been worried that changes to Apple's iPhone Developer Agreement prohibited developers from using AdMob's in-application advertising products--Apple had banned the use of third-party analytic data by companies "owned by or affiliated with a developer or distributor of mobile devices." But Apple's decision Thursday to strip its agreement of that language elicited a thank-you note from Hamoui."Apple's new terms will keep in-app advertising on the iPhone open to many different mobile ad competitors and enable advertising solutions that operate across a wide range of platforms," Hamoui wrote in a blog post. "We're pleased that Apple has clarified its terms and we're 100 (percent) committed to developing the best possible advertising solutions and formats for the iPhone - as well as for Android devices, Blackberries, Palm devices, Windows mobile devices and undoubtedly many more to come - in the years ahead."Apple never appeared to actually enforce the terms of the agreement, Hamoui told attendees at the MobileBeat 2010 conference in July. Still, Apple's decision removes some of the uncertainty among application developers associated with using AdMob's services to earn a little extra money from their iPhone applications.
Apple releases Mac OS X Lion developer preview
Amid the flurry of news surrounding Apple's updated line of MacBook Pros, the company also announced today that it's one step closer to launching Mac OS X Lion.Starting today, software developers will be able to get their hands on Mac OS X Lion. The developer preview is available to members of Apple's Mac Developer Program, and will give folks time to create programs that take advantage of Mac OS X Lion's new features before it hits store shelves.Apple first announced Mac OS X Lion last year. The next version of Apple's operating system will deliver several new features, including Mission Control, which shows what's running on a given Mac, and Launchpad, which displays the user's many apps to help them find what they want to boot up. Apple says that Mac OS X Lion "takes some of the best ideas from iPad and brings them back to the Mac."Mac OS X Lion will also come with support for Apple's Mac App Store. That marketplace launched last month to Mac OS X Snow Leopard users. Those running previous versions of Apple's operating system aren't able to access the App Store.Mac OS X Lion is expected to launch this summer.
Apple releases iOS 8 beta 2 to developers
Less than three weeks after Apple announced iOS 8 at the 2014 Worldwide Developers Conference and delivered the first beta to developers, the company has released iOS 8 beta 2.According to iMore, the new update emerged Tuesday and is available via Apple's iOS Dev Center or over-the-air download on your device.Related storiesiOS 8 appears open to jailbreaking, but...Apple announces iOS 8 at WWDC 2014Apple brings predictive text to iOS 8Apple's release notes (as published by BGR) indicate that beta 2 mostly deals with bugs in the OS, with a long list of items ostensibly "fixed in beta 2." If history is a guide, developers can look forward to several additional beta releases as iOS 8 makes its way toward a fall release, though Apple hasn't announced an exact date. It will likely arrive in September, in tandem with the expected debut of an iPhone 6.If you're a developer, hit the comments and share any noteworthy additions/changes you've discovered in beta 2.
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