Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Teen Hearing Loss Increases, Researchers Blame Loud MP3 Players]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/teen-hearing-loss-increases-researchers-blame-loud-mp3-players/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/teen-hearing-loss-increases-researchers-blame-loud-mp3-players/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/teen-hearing-loss-increases-researchers-blame-loud-mp3-players/#commentsFiled under:

Study claims loud MP3 players decrease teen's hearingWhat? We couldn't hear our parents when they told us rock-and-roll would make us deaf, and teens today still ignore the dangers of loud (but inherently awesome) noises. A recent nationwide study found that teenage hearing loss has increased drastically over the past 20 years -- with one in five teens now suffering slight hearing loss. The number of teens incapable of hearing levels from 16- to 24-decibels has increased from 15-percent to 19.5-percent (or to about 6.5 million teens) in the past two decades. In this study, researchers analyzed data on 3,000 teens between the ages of 12 and 19 from 1988 and 1994, and put them up against 1,800 teens surveyed in 2005 and 2006. Dr. Gary Curhan, a lead author of the study, didn't name any specific devices, but he told the AP that blasting music through earbuds at high volumes could be a problem. Apparently, the research showed a large bump in high-frequency hearing loss, which indicates that loud noises had done the damage.

Of course, people love to make Apple the villain, but a judge ruled earlier this year that the iPod's 115-decibel max volume level wasn't responsible for two plaintiffs' hearing loss. However, it's always a good idea to practice some restraint and common sense when you are listening to Blood Dragons on Speed or whatever the kids like today. If not for yourself, do it for the old lady sitting next to you. [From: AP/Huffington Post]

SwitchedTeen Hearing Loss Increases, Researchers Blame Loud MP3 Players originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DecibelLeveldecibelshearingHearingLossiPodMp3PlayermusicresearchsoundstudytopThu, 19 Aug 2010 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[JailbreakMe Leads to iPhone Security Fears]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/jailbreakme-leads-to-iphone-security-fears/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/jailbreakme-leads-to-iphone-security-fears/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/jailbreakme-leads-to-iphone-security-fears/#commentsFiled under: , ,

JailbreakMe.com
Some news outlets have gotten a little hot and bothered over the latest jailbreak app for the iPhone 4. JailbreakMe.com, which was posted this weekend by the iPhone Dev Team, allows you to circumvent Apple's lock on the device and run unapproved apps and code -- just like every jailbreak before it. What makes JailbreakMe unique is that, rather than requiring you to connect to a PC and load a modified operating system to the device over USB, it jailbreaks your iPhone via the Web. The site uses a vulnerability in the PDF viewer built in to Safari to gain access to the inner-workings of iOS and disable the blocks against unsigned code.

The hoopla has been over how this vulnerability could be exploited by more nefarious individuals to do harm to your phone or steal your personal data. But the truth is, every jailbreak exploits a vulnerability that could potentially be used for both good and evil. That is simply how jailbreaking works. The Safari/PDF exploit is hardly the only security flaw in iOS or Safari. Security firm F-Secure discovered exactly how the flaw worked, but it's important to note that there is no reason to fear this hole more than any other. If you want to make sure you're safe from it our pals at Engadget suggests being careful around PDFs and installing an app that warns you before you open a PDF and allows you to decline opening it. Of course, it's only available from Cydia, the app super store you can only access from a jailbroken phone. [From: Engadget]

SwitchedJailbreakMe Leads to iPhone Security Fears originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecydiaiosios4iphone 4Iphone4jailbreakjailbreakingjailbreakme.compdfsecuritytopWed, 04 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jailbreak Matrix Makes Navigating iPhone Underworld Easy]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/01/jailbreak-matrix-makes-navigating-iphone-underworld-easy/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/01/jailbreak-matrix-makes-navigating-iphone-underworld-easy/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/01/jailbreak-matrix-makes-navigating-iphone-underworld-easy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

jailbreak matrix
If you love your iPhone but hate Apple's often draconian and seemingly arbitrary restrictions on what apps you can install, then you've likely at least thought about the prospect of jailbreaking. Yet, knowing whether or not your device is even jailbreakable, much less picking the proper tool and finding the right firmware to download, is about as difficult to comprehend as string theory. Someone finally took pity on us poor iPhoneites and put together the iPhone Jailbreak Matrix guide.

The handy color-coded grid breaks down your device's jailbreakability (yes, that is a word, starting today) and unlockability by operating system, and provides the appropriate software and directions you need. The Jailbreak Matrix leaves no stone unturned, so take a break from 'StarCraft II,' hit the source link and dive into the wonderful world of Cydia. [From: Jailbreak Matrix, Via: Lifehacker]

SwitchedJailbreak Matrix Makes Navigating iPhone Underworld Easy originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecellphonesipadiphoneipod touchIpodTouchjailbreakjailbreakingjailbrokenjailbroken iphoneJailbrokenIphonesmartphonestopSun, 01 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Obama Says Presidential BlackBerry Is 'No Fun,' But His iPod's Stocked With Jay-Z]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/30/obama-says-presidential-blackberry-is-no-fun-but-his-ipods-s/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/30/obama-says-presidential-blackberry-is-no-fun-but-his-ipods-s/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/30/obama-says-presidential-blackberry-is-no-fun-but-his-ipods-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Obama and Hist BlackBerry
It's a well known fact that President Obama has a bit of a BlackBerry addiction -- so much so, the man fought long and hard to keep his beloved device once he entered the White House, making him the first sitting president to use one of the e-mail centric smartphones. But Obama revealed on 'The View' Thursday that, perhaps, it wasn't worth all the trouble. Though White House security and IT personnel eventually succumbed to the president's desires, only a select few are authorized to contact him on the device. A grand total of ten individuals know the President's BlackBerry info. As he told the coven round table on 'The View,' it's "no fun" because people refrain from sending him the "real juicy stuff" in order to avoid being archived under the Presidential Records Act.

There are some other tantalizing tech bits. "Some 20-year-old" person tweets for the presidential Twitter account. And, while he hasn't "made the switch" to an iPhone, he does have a fully loaded iPod upon which he's dependent. His music choices? "You name a song, I've got it," the President explains, mentioning Jay-Z, Frank Sinatra and Maria Callas -- but definitely not Justin Bieber. [From: AFP, via: Engadget]

SwitchedObama Says Presidential BlackBerry Is 'No Fun,' But His iPod's Stocked With Jay-Z originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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new kindle dictionaryEarlier this week, we reported that Amazon was upping its game with even cheaper versions of the Kindle, but it has also updated the Kindle app on the iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, adding a couple of unremarkable yet needed features.

The Kindle app now has a search function, which was inexplicably absent before. It's also able to look up words and phrases through Wikipedia and Google, but not within the app itself. (It just moves into Safari, but with fast-app-switching celerity.) We very much enjoy the included 250,000-word dictionary, which takes a minute to download, and runs within the software, so that readers don't have to lose their places. That's great news for us, since we still have not grown accustomed to the Kindle app's bizarre line/page numbering system. [From: iTunes, via: Wired]

SwitchedKindle App for Your iPhone and iPad Gets Dictionary, Search originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese Burger King's 'musical showers.'
At a recently opened Burger King in Japan, customers can get a Whopper, french fries, a Coke and a shower, too -- not the wet and naked kind, but a "musical shower," designed to drench your newly sated ears in delicious sounds. According to Engadget, certain booths at Japanese BKs feature docks for your iPod and a clear, bowl-shaped speaker hanging above the table. As a result, your personalized tunes rain down on your table while you munch on a value meal. The sound supposedly doesn't bleed from one table to the next, but we cannot confirm that to be true.

We love the idea of replacing the din of a fast-food restaurant with a personalized playlist, but aside from installing soundproof boxes, there's no way the shouts and clanks from the kitchen won't trump whatever is playing on an iPod. While the individualization isn't an unwanted touch, the Muzak isn't the first thing we'd change about our average Burger King experience. [From: Engadget]

SwitchedJapanese Burger Kings Think Patrons Want 'Musical Showers' With Their Whoppers originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BurgerKingdesigndiningFastFoodfoodiPodipoddockjapanMp3PlayermusicMusicalShowertopSun, 11 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Solar-Powered 'Uplink' Gives Joggers That Goofy Look They Love]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/11/solar-powered-uplink-gives-joggers-that-goofy-look-they-love/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/11/solar-powered-uplink-gives-joggers-that-goofy-look-they-love/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/11/solar-powered-uplink-gives-joggers-that-goofy-look-they-love/#commentsFiled under: , ,

uplink vest
You can tell somebody is into exercise for the right reason (namely, to stay healthy, and not to get "totally ripped"), when they're willing to look completely goofy while doing it. "After all," says the true health nut, "the more comfortable I am, the further I can run/bike/speed-walk!" Well, sir, meet your new best friend: the Uplink.

Designed by Adam Hammerman, this solar-powered personal speaker system comes in the form of a vest, and, its creator claims, allows for comfortable listening while also permitting the wearer to hear crucial ambient noises -- like the roars of oncoming vehicles, or the taunts of neighborhood toughs. The key to the gadget's success lies in its four ultrasound speakers, which are compatible with any number of gadgets -- from an iPod, to a BlackBerry, to a GPS unit. So, don your Uplink, short-shorts and neon safety vest, dial in to that conference call and jog with the certainty that -- when those kids start throwing rocks -- you'll hear them hurtling toward you, and know when to really start sprinting. [From: Adam Hammerman, via: Engadget]

SwitchedSolar-Powered 'Uplink' Gives Joggers That Goofy Look They Love originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reports of Hacked iTunes Accounts
While most of us were relaxing and getting our BBQ on this weekend, a story was breaking that saw rogue developers hacking iTunes accounts and buying their own apps to both steal your cash and improve their own App Store rankings. In particular, Asian developer Thuat Nguyen has hijacked accounts across the globe and pushed 40 apps into the top 50 of the books category and racked up over $1,000 in charges on some accounts. But though Nguyen appears to be the largest offender -- and the first to draw media attention -- it (he?) is hardly alone.

Thuat Nguyen is just one of several "app farms" that have sprung up to scam users out of their money. Another one of them, 'Storm8,' has already been busted for collecting the phone numbers of its customers and has been accused of charging for "points" in their games without a player's approval. Some of the rogue developers are using hacked accounts to simply purchase their own apps, while others are using the in-app purchasing feature to milk customers for dough after luring them in with a free game.

Continue reading iTunes Accounts Hacked, App Store Swamped With Rogue Developers

SwitchediTunes Accounts Hacked, App Store Swamped With Rogue Developers originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kindle app gets embedded audio and video

Not even a week after slashing its e-reader's price, Amazon has also revamped its Kindle application for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch with shiny new upgrades. According to Engadget, the Kindle app now features embedded audio and video on select titles. The first e-books making use of this feature are Rick Steves's "London," which features a walking tour of the town narrated by Steves, and "Together We Cannot Fail" by Terry Golway. Of the dozen titles with this functionality, there are also, for example, e-books with embedded video clips showing how to bake a cake, and e-books with embedded audio clips of bird calls. Of course, we expect Amazon will incorporate audio and video into more titles in the near future -- unless consumers totally reject this move.

By embedding audio and video within an e-book, Amazon has certainly blurred the lines between a digital text and a full-blown multimedia experience. Many users will no doubt embrace the chance to watch videos and to hear authors talk about their work (a "sexy" feature, if reading, even on an Apple device, can be described as such). But more traditional readers, who may already be hesitant to jump on the e-reader bandwagon, could be totally turned off by so much stimuli. We'll keep an eye on this move, while reading our paperback books by candlelight. [From: Engadget]

SwitchedKindle Editions for Apple Devices Gets Embedded Audio and Video originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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james joyce on the ipadThe Puritans who govern Apple's App Store have struck once again, and this time, have targeted a titan of 20th century literature. Robert Berry, the creator of a Web comic based on James Joyce's seminal novel 'Ulysses,' recently told the New York Times that Apple had forced him to remove "offensive" illustrations from his publication before allowing it for sale as an iPad app. Berry, who illustrates the comic, called 'Ulysses Seen,' said the company cited images of a woman's bare breasts as justification for the censorship. After Apple rejected his offer to cover or pixelate the images, Berry was forced to remove the woman's body altogether, and focus on her face, instead.

Chad Rutkowski, a business manager for the comic's publisher, said he strongly objected to Apple's decision, claiming that "[t]he way Rob drew it is important to what's being expressed there." Berry, for his part, admitted that the move was "rather disappointing," but acknowledged that the company was completely within its rights. "It's their rules," he ceded. "We're coming to their dinner party at their house."

UPDATE: The New York Times is now reporting that Apple has decided to reconsider the 'Ulysses Seen' app for admission into the App Store. According to Rutkowski, the company "basically apologized," and will reportedly allow the comic for sale as an application.

Continue reading Apple Says James Joyce is Too Obscene for the App Store

SwitchedApple Says James Joyce is Too Obscene for the App Store originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We Heart Apple Ad
We've been wondering where the skirmishes between Apple and Adobe would lead, and today we were shocked (pleasantly so) to see that Adobe had decided to launch an all-out PR assault on Apple. Adobe bought a full-page ad in the Washington Post and a banner ad on our sister site Engadget. Both read, "We [heart] Apple," and then continued: "What we don't love is anybody taking away your freedom to choose what you create, how you create it, and what you experience on the Web."

Clicking on the ad leads to an open letter from Adobe chairmen Chuck Geschke and John Warnock. The pair espouse the importance of open markets and an open Web, painting the battle with Apple in terms of consumer and developer choice:
We believe that consumers should be able to freely access their favorite content and applications, regardless of what computer they have, what browser they like, or what device suits their needs. No company - no matter how big or how creative - should dictate what you can create, how you create it, or what you can experience on the Web.
The letter ends with the Adobe co-founders declaring that no single company controls the Web.

Continue reading Adobe Launches All Out War on Apple Over Flash

SwitchedAdobe Launches All Out War on Apple Over Flash originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 13 May 2010 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeadobe airadobe and appleAdobeAirAdobeAndAppleadvertisingairapplebusinessflashipadIphone4.0stevejobstopThu, 13 May 2010 17:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Steve Jobs Goes on the Attack Against Adobe's Flash Player]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/04/29/steve-jobs-goes-on-the-attack-against-adobes-flash-player/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/29/steve-jobs-goes-on-the-attack-against-adobes-flash-player/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/29/steve-jobs-goes-on-the-attack-against-adobes-flash-player/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today, Steve Jobs mounted one of his more blatant assaults on Adobe's Flash in a letter posted on the Apple Web site. The letter seeks to explain Apple's position against allowing Flash on the iPhone and iPad, painting the conflict as one of ideology and battery performance rather than a business dispute.

Unfortunately, it's hard to take Jobs' argument in favor of open standards seriously since Apple is the poster child for closed and proprietary environments. We're torn. We agree with almost all of Jobs' criticisms. Flash is proprietary and inefficient, and other open standards such as HTML5 are closing the feature gap pretty quickly.

Continue reading Steve Jobs Goes on the Attack Against Adobe's Flash Player

SwitchedSteve Jobs Goes on the Attack Against Adobe's Flash Player originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The newly independent Rhapsody is moving at lightning speed to steal back some market share by slashing prices and marketing the iPhone's offline playback support of the service. The former Real subsidiary has beaten other would-be killer iPhone music apps to the punch, as it's the first on the block (in the U.S., anyway) allowing users to tag songs they want to play -- even when no Internet connection is available. MOG plans to offer the feature starting in May, while Spotify has been offering it in Europe for sometime now.

We put the new 'Rhapsody 2.0' app through a trial, and witnessed the offline caching abilities handle sporadic drops in connection without breaking a sweat. Even when we went and turned off both the Wi-Fi and cellular radios while streaming a song (thanks to the magic of jailbreaking), Rhapsody just kept going. The app was quick to recognize when there was a Web connection available, and changes the interface (blue for online, orange for off) to reflect the app's status.

Gallery: Rhapsody 2.0 for the iPhone

Continue reading Rhapsody iPhone App Introduces Reliable (But Confusing) Offline Playback

SwitchedRhapsody iPhone App Introduces Reliable (But Confusing) Offline Playback originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiofeaturesiphoneiphoneappmusicmusicstreamingrhapsodysmartphonestreaming musicStreamingMusictopTue, 27 Apr 2010 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Nuclear Sub Crash Occurred While Navigator Was Jamming to iPod]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/04/12/nuclear-sub-crash-occurred-while-navigator-was-jamming-to-ipod/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/12/nuclear-sub-crash-occurred-while-navigator-was-jamming-to-ipod/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/12/nuclear-sub-crash-occurred-while-navigator-was-jamming-to-ipod/#commentsFiled under:

According to The Sun, a recent official report stated that the navigator of a U.S. nuclear submarine was listening to an iPod when he crashed into a transport ship in the Persian Gulf. The collision, which occurred in March 2009, caused about $92 million in total damages and injured 15 sailors on board the sub.

The U.S. Navy spent the last year investigating the crash and discovered some interesting facts. First, the crew had rigged speakers throughout the sub so everybody could listen to music while they worked (No word on what they enjoyed, but we hope, for dance purposes, it was The Village People). Second, the guy steering the USS Hartford was also studying for an exam while at the helm. Even worse, sonar and radio operators were inexplicably missing from their posts when the Hartford crashed into the USS New Orleans. All in all, the official report found more than 30 errors, and as a result, Commander Ryan Brookhart was relieved of his duties.

Continue reading Nuclear Sub Crash Occurred While Navigator Was Jamming to iPod

SwitchedNuclear Sub Crash Occurred While Navigator Was Jamming to iPod originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funnyiPodmusicnavynuclearNuclearSubmarinessailorsailorssubsubmarinetopMon, 12 Apr 2010 12:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Announces Powerful, In-App, Mobile Ad Platform]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/04/08/apple-announces-powerful-in-app-mobile-ad-platform/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/08/apple-announces-powerful-in-app-mobile-ad-platform/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/08/apple-announces-powerful-in-app-mobile-ad-platform/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Apple Announces Powerful, In-App, Mobile Ad Platform
All of the fun stuff that Apple has announced with regards to this summer's iPhone OS 4.0 update (e.g., multi-tasking, location awareness, background streaming, etc.) seems to have all only led up to the really big news: iAd. This is the mobile advertising platform that has been churning about the rumor mill for some time. While it's not quite truly revolutionary, it does look to be quite an impressive way for companies to drum up interest in their products.

Many free applications for the iPhone already pack ads, but tapping on them often takes you out of the app, both fracturing the experience and frustrating consumers. iAd is integrated with the OS, so tapping a banner essentially launches a pop-over browser window that keeps your program running in the background. Since it is part of the OS, it can also use some of the iPhone's more advanced features to provide interactive and video content. During the demo, Jobs showed off an advertisement for the upcoming movie 'Toy Story 3' that offers clips from the film, uses GPS to find the nearest theater playing it, and even presents an in-ad mini game. All of the ads are built using HTML5 (another blow to Adobe), making it easy for developers to create rich, custom experiences for consumers.

Continue reading Apple Announces Powerful, In-App, Mobile Ad Platform

SwitchedApple Announces Powerful, In-App, Mobile Ad Platform originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We were, by turns, underwhelmed and pleasantly surprised by the much anticipated Apple keynote this afternoon. To distill it down for you, Apple is releasing a preview of the iPhone OS 4.0 software for developers today, and you can expect to see it available for your mobile device starting this summer. But there's a caveat: only certain devices (the newest ones, to be exact) will get all of the fancy new features that we will describe in detail below. 3G iPhones and second-generation iPod touches will only get some of the features, while old-school EDGE users will be left entirely out of the upgrade. iPad users will see 4.0 available in the fall.

We have some theories as to why only the iPad, iPhone 3GS and third-generation iPod touch will receive all of these new features, but let's just get into exactly what they are. Jobs announced seven "tentpole" features for the new OS including:

Continue reading iPhone 4.0 Keynote Means Multitasking, Mail, Microsoft Exchange and... Folders

SwitchediPhone 4.0 Keynote Means Multitasking, Mail, Microsoft Exchange and... Folders originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleApple keynoteAppleKeynoteBreakingNewsfeaturesipadiphoneiphone 3giphone 3gsiPhone 4.0iphone updateIphone3gIphone3gsIphone4.0iphoneosIphoneUpdateipod touchIpodTouchtopThu, 08 Apr 2010 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[DoubleTwist Syncs iTunes With Your Non-iPod Devices]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/04/07/doubletwist-syncs-itunes-with-your-non-ipod-devices/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/07/doubletwist-syncs-itunes-with-your-non-ipod-devices/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/07/doubletwist-syncs-itunes-with-your-non-ipod-devices/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DoubleTwist Syncs iTunes With Your Non-iPod Devices

What it is:

DoubleTwist is a music manager and media syncing tool for those who don't want to join, or are looking to leave, the cult of Apple. It has gained particular notability ever since T-Mobile agreed to package the application with some of its Android-powered handsets.

What we like:

Aesthetically, we find DoubleTwist rather pleasing. While others have described it as "rough," we quite enjoy the soft, matte colors and basic control elements. Those pared-down controls mean that it has a very low learning curve. If you've ever used any media management software, you'll feel right at home in DoubleTwist.

Continue reading DoubleTwist Syncs iTunes With Your Non-iPod Devices

SwitchedDoubleTwist Syncs iTunes With Your Non-iPod Devices originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddoubletwistfeaturesipodMediaManagermoviesmusicreviewssongbirdswitcheddownloadsynctopWed, 07 Apr 2010 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix Coming to the iPhone and iPod Touch]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/04/03/netflix-coming-to-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/03/netflix-coming-to-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/03/netflix-coming-to-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Netflix Shows the iPhone and iPod Touch Some Love
Netflix confirmed in a blog post last night that it plans to continue its march towards mobility. We've seen the streaming app for Windows Phone 7 in action, and the iPad version is already available for you lucky few who braved the Apple store lines. Now we have confirmation that the iPhone and iPod touch will be joining the mobile Netflix party too.

We know nothing about timeframe or features, though we wouldn't count on streaming Netflix movies over 3G. All we know is the company is "working on it." Versions for Android, Palm, or BlackBerry, though, don't seem to be in the immediate future. [From: Netflix, Via: Engadget]

SwitchedNetflix Coming to the iPhone and iPod Touch originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 03 Apr 2010 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleipadnetflixtopSat, 03 Apr 2010 09:48:00 EST<![CDATA[iTunes LP Seems Bound for Failure After Just Six Months]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/03/09/itunes-lp-seems-bound-for-failure-after-just-six-months/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/09/itunes-lp-seems-bound-for-failure-after-just-six-months/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/09/itunes-lp-seems-bound-for-failure-after-just-six-months/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Six Months Later iTunes LP Seems Bound For Failure
In September, Steve Jobs unveiled the latest attempt to add value to the digital music download, and to distract people from the Web's vast stores of free and illegal content. The iTunes LP adds photos, lyrics, liner notes, and other bonus content, and offer material not found on file-sharing networks -- all to lure customers into buying full albums instead of individual songs. It's been six months, though, and there are only 29 iTunes LPs available. And almost half of those were available at launch.

So why did Apple's supposedly revolutionary format fail? Well, GigaOM points to a number of different factors, one of which is price. And we don't mean the price for consumers. The initial batch of LPs were subsidized by Apple, according to one person who worked on the project, at a cost of up to $60,000 apiece. Then, there's the fact that the format seemed better suited for tablet devices, like the recently announced but still unavailable iPad. Artists have also begun opting to package bonus materials as apps for the iPhone and iPod touch, which offer a level of interactivity not afforded by the iTunes LP format.

Continue reading iTunes LP Seems Bound for Failure After Just Six Months

SwitchediTunes LP Seems Bound for Failure After Just Six Months originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleenhancedcditunesItunesLpmusicmusicdnapiracytopTue, 09 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MLB Exploits Loophole to Add 'Multitasking' to iPhone App]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/03/05/mlb-exploits-loophole-to-add-multitasking-to-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/05/mlb-exploits-loophole-to-add-multitasking-to-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/05/mlb-exploits-loophole-to-add-multitasking-to-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: ,

MLB iPhone App Adds Background Streaming Trick

Baseball season is upon us, and iPhone owners around the country have started plunking down $14.99 for the new 'MLB at Bat 2010' app so they can stay abreast of their favorite teams and listen to live streams of games. Purchasers of the app found a pleasant surprise when they booted up the new version to listened to the first batch of spring training games... streaming in the background. Yes, the MLB has forced the iPhone to multitask.

The developers at MLB are taking advantage of a little known loophole that allows iPhone apps to stream audio and video while the user performs other tasks. With the tap of an icon, users can send audio streams of games to Safari, where they're opened with the in-built Quicktime plug-in. Since Safari, like the included phone and messaging apps, can be run in the background, iPhone owners are free to tap out text messages, browse the Web and use other applications while listening to the game.

Continue reading MLB Exploits Loophole to Add 'Multitasking' to iPhone App

SwitchedMLB Exploits Loophole to Add 'Multitasking' to iPhone App originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appstorebaseballiphonemlbmlb at batMlbAtBatsportstopFri, 05 Mar 2010 16:05:00 EST