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¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/24/2010 05:57:00 PM 0 comments
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Walt Disney Co. and CBS Corp. are considering participating in Apple's future plan to offer subscriptions for television shows through iTunes, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. CBS would offer programs from its parent network as well as CW, while Disney would offer programs from its ABC, Disney Channel, and ABC Family networks.
Apple would pay the content providers $2 to $4 a month per subscriber for a broadcast network like CBS or ABC, and about $1 to $2 a month per subscriber for a basic-cable network." Via AppleInsider .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 12/21/2009 08:55:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
iTunes 9.0.2 adds support for Apple TV software version 3.0, adds an option for a dark background for Grid View, and improves support for accessibility.
iTunes 9 comes with many new features and improvements, including:
* An improved look and feel, including a new Column Browser for easily browsing your artists or albums, movies, TV shows, and more.
* iTunes Store has a brand new look, with improved navigation for quick and easy exploration.
* iTunes LP and iTunes Extras create unique experiences that feature exclusive interviews, videos, photos, and more — available with select album and movie purchases on the iTunes Store.
* Home Sharing helps you manage your family's iTunes collection between computers in your home. iTunes can automatically transfer new purchases, or you can choose just the items you want.
* Genius Mixes are created for you by iTunes and play songs from your library that go great together.
* iPod and iPhone syncing now allows you to organize your iPhone and iPod touch home screens directly in iTunes. Syncing is now also more flexible, allowing you to sync individual artists, genres, or TV show and Podcast episodes.
* iTunes U items are now organized into their own section in your iTunes library.
* Sync with iPod nano (5th generation), iPod classic (Fall 2009), and iPod touch (Fall 2009).
* iTunes 9 also includes many other improvements, such as HE-AAC encoding and playback, more flexibility with Smart Playlists rules, simpler organization of your media files inside an iTunes Media folder, and more.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/29/2009 10:27:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Apple knows iTunes has become part of life, we all use it (love it or hate it), so why should the baby not have an App Store section with Apps handpicked for them, and packaged as "Apps For Toddlers"? I applaud Apple on tapping into a new segment and for getting the message out early to toddlers, if you want to play with Apple it's not going to be free;)
***Apps for Animals is expected to be added in an update to iTunes 9.8.7.6, which will also most likely disable syncing of the Palm Pre while adding support for animals accessing iTunes.***
Labels: apple, culture, itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/12/2009 04:50:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
"“As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.” Presumably, iTunes 9.0.2 will disable Palm’s latest fix."
You can bet that Palm will re-enable iTunes syncing (they've been successful every time Apple has done this) with an update after Apple releases a new version of iTunes that breaks the sync.
Labels: apple, itunes, palm, palm webos, pre
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/05/2009 10:52:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
"webOS 1.2.1 re-enables it by settings its Manufacturer to Apple and also perhaps by changing the USB Product ID to the iPod Video's (they're even changing the serial number that appears when you plug it in with Media Sync)."
As the Editor of PreCentral, Dieter Bohn points out, If it wasn't clear before, it's clear now - Palm is committed to making iTunes sync work, USB-IF be damned."
Labels: apple, itunes, palm, palm webos, pre
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/05/2009 12:35:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Version information
Version information
* Version: webOS 1.2.1
* Release date: 2 October 2009
Feature changes to existing applications Email
* Resolved an issue where after installing the 1.2.0 webOS update some customers running Exchange 2007 could no longer synchronize with their Exchange account for Email, Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks. System
* Resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with latest version of iTunes (9.0.1).
* Media sync now synchronizes photo albums, maintaining the album structure in the Photos app.
* Media sync now allows for synchronizing photos without requiring the full-resolution originals. This provides faster display of high-quality full-screen images and enables users to store more photos on the phone.
Web
* Resolved an issue where if a user tried to play streaming music or video, the media stream might drop out or have a long delay before starting.
Security
This release implements several security fixes, including the following:
* Addresses a security issue encountered by webkit developers. This issue did not impact end users.
Individuals interested in contacting Palm to report suspected security issues can find more information at palm.com/security.
It's great to see David (Palm) go at Goliath (Apple) and succeed. Palm has grown a set of balls not seen by any other company to take on such a huge giant as Apple. Nice work Palm!!!!
Labels: apple, itunes, palm, palm webos, pre, sprint
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/05/2009 12:17:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Labels: itunes, palm webos, pre, rumors, sprint
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/23/2009 10:13:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
iTunes 9 makes organizing applications on your iPhone or iPod touch the way it was meant to be, intuitive and easy. Hands down best feature!
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/09/2009 03:57:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Labels: apple, itunes, palm, pre
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/09/2009 03:49:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
TMZ is reporting that the administrator's of Michael Jackson's estate have struck a deal with Apple.
"In docs filed with the court, lawyers for the estate say they've negotiated a very favorable agreement for the estate with Apple Inc., for the promotion, distribution and sale of the audio and audiovisual recordings of Jermaine Jackson's performance of the song, "Smile" at the memorial service.
They claim there is currently "a heightened demand for such products due to Jermaine Jackson's moving performance during the memorial service, which may diminish over time."
Elizabeth Taylor is also in talks with Apple to release "Liz Taylor Howls remix". ;)
Labels: apple, culture, itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/04/2009 09:17:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
* Resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with latest version of iTunes (8.2.1).
Labels: itunes, palm, palm webos, pre, sprint
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/23/2009 07:17:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
If you're a Palm Pre user and upgraded to iTunes 8.2.1 and lost the seamless ability to sync with iTunes. There's a way to sync with iTunes 8.2.1, as well as future versions of iTunes. Check out doubleTwist .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/16/2009 12:01:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
We all knew Apple wasn't going to let the Palm Pre sync with iTunes after Palm first revealed that the Pre would sync with iTunes right out of the box (it showed up as an iPod). Apple was not happy about that, Palm even warned Pre users that the syncing would probably be broken with an iTunes update, and to stick with the current version of iTunes if you still wanted to sync your Pre with iTunes. Apple always seems to make vague statements when it comes to the Pre. When the Pre was announced, Tim Cook was asked about the Pre, he said that Apple would legally go after anyone who infringed on the IP. Palm hit them right back and said:
"Palm spokesperson Lynn Fox described her company as “confident” that they had the tools, “robust patent portfolio” and “long history of innovation” to defend themselves.“Palm has a long history of innovation that is reflected in our products and robust patent portfolio, and we have long been recognized for our fundamental patents in the mobile space. If faced with legal action, we are confident that we have the tools necessary to defend ourselves” Lynn Fox, spokesperson, Palm."
***UPDATE"*** "Apple's now gone beyond the "verification of Apple devices" phrase, calling out the Pre by name in a statement issued to BusinessWeek: "It also disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we've said before, newer versions of Apple's iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players." In other words, "we told you this was going to happen, and it did." For its part, Palm appears to have re-issued the same statement it made a while back, saying that Apple's move is a "direct blow" to its users. Words are one thing, but here's the real question: is there a quick counterstrike fix planned from Palm's side?" Via Engadget .
Labels: apple, itunes, palm, pre
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/15/2009 10:16:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Labels: apple, itunes, palm, pre
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/17/2009 11:24:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Summary
This article is about iTunes and unsupported third-party digital media players. Products Affected
iTunes
Apple designs the hardware and software to provide seamless integration of the iPhone and iPod with iTunes, the iTunes Store, and tens of thousands of apps on the App Store. Apple is aware that some third-parties claim that their digital media players are able to sync with Apple software. However, Apple does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players and, because software changes over time, newer versions of Apple's iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/16/2009 11:28:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
When Apple released iTunes 8.2 yesterday a lot of people thought it was Apple's way of breaking the syncing relationship that Palm showed off with the Pre. iTunes 8.2 was actually out before the Palm announcement, it was available to developers to use with iPhone 3.0 OS. Gizmodo is now confirming that iTunes 8.2 still syncs and recognizes the Pre as an iPod.
Labels: apple, itunes, palm, palm webos, pre
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/02/2009 06:12:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"we can now confirm this little secret:
Plug a Pre into a Mac and it syncs, seamlessly, with Apple’s (AAPL) iTunes.
In fact, the iTunes Store treats the Pre just as it would an iPod or an iPhone with one exception: it can’t handle old copy-protected songs."
Nice!!!
Labels: itunes, palm, palm webos, pre
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/28/2009 09:49:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
An anonymous tipster sent me the above screenshot. Apple will be introducing iPhone/iPod touch note syncing through iTunes when it releases Mac OS X 10.5.7. This feature has been requested when Apple launched the 1st generation iPhone. This will make many people happy, the feature should have been there since day one. Better late than never.
Labels: apple, iphone, iphone 3G, itunes, touch
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/08/2009 12:00:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
As of today, nearly one billion apps have been downloaded around the globe. So we just want to say thanks — a billion. Download an app and you’ll automatically get the chance to win a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card, an iPod touch, a Time Capsule, and a MacBook Pro. Just go to the iTunes Store, browse the App Store, and download your best app yet.
Labels: app store, iphone, iphone 3G, itunes, touch
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 4/10/2009 12:13:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
I just checked the Software Update control panel on my MacBook and I was informed that iTunes 8.1 and Front Row 2.1.7 have finished baking and are ready for download.
As a follow on to the article that Jimmie posted earlier today about iTunes 8.1 coming soon, I happened to notice today that the Apple Remote application appeared as having been updated. With changes to iTunes in the works, it isn't surprising that Remote would also get an update. Maybe "Coming Soon" means sooner than later. We'll see.
Labels: apple, iphone, ipod, itunes
¶ posted by Alan Grassia, Editor @ 3/11/2009 11:44:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Apple has listed iTunes 8.1 as "coming soon" on the iTunes download page.
AppleInsider is reporting new features in iTunes 8.1 with the picture below.
Labels: app store, apple, iphone, iphone 3G, itunes, touch
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/10/2009 09:22:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Under the terms of the deal, song prices will be broken down into three categories--older songs from the catalog, midline songs (newer songs that aren't big hits), and current hits--said one of the sources. Apple has offered songs free of digital rights management protections from EMI for more than a year. But EMI accounts for less than 10 percent of music sold in the U.S.; these new deals will expand iTunes' DRM-free library to include songs from the other three major labels (Sony BMG, Universal, and Warner Music).
Apple and the music labels have also apparently come to terms on over-the-air downloads, according to a source. That would allow iPhone owners to download songs to their mobile devices via cell networks and without the aid of Wi-Fi. Apple, which closed the deals last week, could announce the agreements as early as Tuesday at the Macworld Conference and Expo in San Francisco." Via CNET .
Labels: apple, iphone, iphone 3G, itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 1/06/2009 09:31:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
RIM is offering a preview version of their BlackBerry Media Sync application for Mac users. BlackBerry folks will now have a very easy way to sync their iTunes music right from their Macs to their BlackBerry. I just tried it out and it works great.
BlackBerry Media Sync – Tuned Up
Your Music on Your BlackBerry Smartphone. It’s That Simple.
Sync your desktop iTunes® music files with your BlackBerry® smartphone. BlackBerry® Media Sync makes getting more from your music quick and easy!1,2,3,4 Want a specific playlist for the gym? With just a few simple clicks, you can choose the playlists you want from your collection.
Or, if you just need a mix of tunes to get you through the day, songs can be randomly chosen from your collection. And, to make sure you’ve always got enough free memory on your BlackBerry smartphone, BlackBerry Media Sync lets you set a limit as to how much—or how little—of your music to sync.
Labels: blackberry, itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 12/20/2008 04:34:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
With iTunes 8, browse your artists and albums visually with the new Grid view; download your favorite TV shows in HD quality from the iTunes Store; sync your media with iPod nano (4th generation), iPod classic (120GB), and iPod touch (2nd generation); and enjoy a stunning new music visualizer.
iTunes 8 and iTunes U are now accessible with VoiceOver on your Mac.
iTunes 8.0.2 improves stability and performance and provides a number of important bug fixes, including:
• Addresses a quality issue creating MP3s on some computers.
• Fixes a connectivity issue with the iTunes Store when using some Internet proxies with Mac OS X.
• Improves accessibility with VoiceOver.
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 11/20/2008 10:38:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
“We’ve got an incredible Fall 2008 TV lineup with over 70 primetime comedies and dramas, including many of the most popular shows on TV in stunning HD,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services. “With over 200 million episodes sold, iTunes customers have proven they love watching television on their computer, iPod, iPhone and TV with Apple TV.”
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/16/2008 02:22:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"Genius solves my 'iTunes laziness' problem. I’ve got 4,000 items in my library, I listen to genres as diverse as gospel, alternative and hip-hop, to and I’m too lazy to make good playlists out of it all. I used to count on the Party Shuffle feature to save me, but got tired of how it would end up throwing in random Christmas carols at the wrong times of year," Fortt explains.
"A couple of reasons Genius is a good move for Apple, business-wise: One, it encourages people with decent-sized iTunes libraries to listen more... Two, it increases the 'stickiness' of iTunes," Fortt writes.
"Apple is making great use of the computing power in its data centers to unobtrusively provide a feature that any music lover will understand," Fortt writes.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/14/2008 03:13:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Another little birdie told us that it's widely expected within some Apple circles that iPhone 2.1 will be released on September 9. We were told that, aside from what we already know about iPhone 2.1 from leaked info on the web, there are other parts to 2.1 that were specifically removed from developer seeds in order to keep them secret from the world." Via Ars Technica .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/07/2008 08:42:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
TUAW is reporting that you can now download the speeches and video highlights from the Democrat and Republican National Conventions. If you want to relive any parts of the conventions iTunes has got ya covered, regardless of your party affiliation.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/05/2008 02:24:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Apple has released iTunes 7.7.1
iTunes 7.7.1 is not showing up on Apple's download site, so be sure to hit software update on you Mac to get the download.
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/30/2008 11:00:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Now that the iPod touch 2.0 update is finally available on Apple's iTunes servers, we iTouch owners can join in on the App Store fun for $9.95 which is billed directly to our iTunes Store account.
The purchase transaction took as long as it does to purchase a song or video from the iTunes store. The download took about 6-8 minutes on my cable modem connection. The process to backup, prepare, reload, and verify the software on my iPod took a good 10-15 minutes or so.
Now that the 2.0 software is loaded, iTunes needs to reload all of my music, movies, pictures, and PIM data. There is no time estimate given, this looks like it is going to be the longest part of the upgrade process as I am using about 12GB of my 14.6GB on the iPod touch.
While my data is reloading, I'm off to the App Store!
¶ posted by Alan Grassia, Editor @ 7/12/2008 10:26:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Starting earlier this afternoon I've been trying to purchase the 2.0 software for my 16GB iPod touch since 5pm. Each time I click on the "Buy the Software Update" link I get dropped into the home page of the iTunes Store.
Apple fan site, AppleInsider.com has been reporting a number of problems with the iTunes servers bogging down under the stress of all the new iPhone activations and updates to existing iPhone 1.0 devices.
I'll update this article as soon as I'm able to purchase, download, and apply the iPod touch 2.0 software.
UPDATE 9:20pm:
I just clicked the "Check for Update" button in iTunes with my iPod touch selected in the Source side bar and received the dreaded, "This version of the iPod software (1.1.4) is the current version" message that I received at 6:30am before Apple released the 2.0 software. It looks like it is going to be a long weekend for Apple and their customers. At least I don't have to work overtime tonight.
UPDATE 10:40pm
Not wanting to give up on my iPod touch OCD, I just checked the update status again, and I received a message reading:
"The iTunes Store is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."
Maybe a fix is on the way?
UPDATE 10:20am - 7/12/08:
What a difference 12 hours makes! The iPod touch 2.0 software update is ready to roll!
Labels: apple, iphone, ipod, itunes
¶ posted by Alan Grassia, Editor @ 7/11/2008 08:42:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
When I got home I was able to restore all of my information, music, videos, and applications that got backed up with iTunes from my 1st iPhone.
I am very impressed with the look and feel of the iPhone 3G. It feels great in the hand due to it's curved back. Surfing the web with 3G kicks EDGE to the curb, and being able to download apps from the AppStore anywhere i very cool. Playing music through the speakers of the iPhone 3G also sounds much better than the original.
I used my iPhone for a few hours until out of the blue I got a white screen of death. I tried to turn the iPhone 3G off and nothing happened, I then reset it holding the power button and the hold button, all I got was a white screen.I had to connect the iPhone 3G to iTunes and force it into recovery mode. iTunes gave me a message that the iPhone's software needed to be restored, so I restored. After the restore was finished I got the screen below.
It turns out that history is repeating itself, just like last year the iTunes activation service could not handle rush of activations.
Gizmodo has received an official statement from AT&T about the issue:
"We have had reports that customers attempting to download new iTunes 7.7 software to their new iPhone may get an error message saying "page not found." We have reported this issue to Apple. While Apple works to resolve this issue, we are asking customers to sync their newly activated phone later at home."
Apple is working on resolving all theses issues, the link to download iTunes 7.7 has been removed from the site.
Stay tuned.
Labels: apple, iphone 3G, itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/11/2008 02:02:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Labels: app store, iphone, iphone 3G, itunes
¶ posted by Rocco Mandaglio, Staff Writer @ 7/10/2008 05:42:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
MacRumors is reporting that Apple has released a pre-release version of iTunes 7.7 for developers tonight. The Read Me of the installer lists:
"Use iTunes 7.7 to sync music, video, and more with iPhone 3G, and download applications from the iTunes Store exclusively designed for iPhone and iPod touch with software version 2.0 or later. Also use the new Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch to control iTunes playback from anywhere in your home -- a free download from the App Store."
Of course it's not completely free as iPod touch users will have to pay $9.99 to upgrade to the 2.0 software (iPhone owners get this update for free), but still a very nice added benefit to doing so.
Labels: iphone, iphone 3G, itunes, touch
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/26/2008 10:07:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
CUPERTINO, California—June 19, 2008—Apple® today announced that music fans have purchased and downloaded over five billion songs from the iTunes® Store (www.itunes.com). iTunes is the number one music retailer in the US* and features the largest music catalog with over eight million songs. Also, iTunes customers are now renting and purchasing over 50,000 movies every day, making iTunes the world’s most popular online movie store.
iTunes features movies from all of the major movie studios including 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Lionsgate and New Line Cinema. Users can rent movies and watch them on their Macs or PCs, all current generation iPods**, iPhone™ and on a widescreen TV with Apple TV®. iTunes Store customers can also purchase new movie releases from major film studios and premier independent studios on the same day as their DVD release.
The iTunes Store is the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over eight million songs, over 20,000 TV episodes and over 2,000 films including over 350 in stunning high definition video. With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod® and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac® and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/19/2008 05:46:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
NEW YORK and CUPERTINO, California—May 13, 2008—HBO and Apple® today announced that programming from HBO is now available for purchase and download on the iTunes® Store (www.itunes.com). New HBO programs on iTunes include the Emmy Award-winning programs "The Sopranos," "Sex and the City," "Deadwood" and "Rome," as well as the critically acclaimed hits "Flight of the Conchords" and "The Wire." The iTunes Store is the world's most popular online TV store with over 150 million episodes sold and features the world's largest catalog with over 800 shows (over 20,000 episodes).
"We're very excited to make these legendary HBO programs available on the iTunes Store," said Henry McGee, president of HBO Video. "Whether catching up on 'Sex and the City' in anticipation of its upcoming movie release or reliving a favorite 'Sopranos' episode, we think viewers will love being able to watch these shows on their iPod or iPhone."
"We're thrilled to bring this incredible lineup of programming from HBO to the iTunes Store," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes. "These are some of the most talked about television shows ever, as well as some of the most requested by our customers."
"Sex and the City: The Movie" premieres in theaters on May 30, and in preparation for the movie's debut, fans can choose any or all 94 episodes from the entire six seasons of the program.
Television shows purchased and downloaded from the iTunes Store can be viewed on a Mac® or PC, iPod® nano with video, iPod classic, iPod touch, fifth generation iPod, iPhone™ or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV®. "Sex and the City," "The Wire" and "Flight of the Conchords" are $1.99 per episode, and "The Sopranos," "Deadwood" and "Rome" are priced at $2.99 per episode. iTunes customers can also choose to purchase entire seasons of their favorite programs.
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/13/2008 09:41:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
“We’re thrilled to bring iTunes Store customers new films for purchase day-and-date with the DVD release,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We think movie fans will love being able to buy their favorites from major and independent studios.”
New releases available for purchase on the iTunes Store this week, concurrent with their DVD release, include “American Gangster” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” Other popular titles now available for purchase include “Juno,” “Cloverfield,” “I Am Legend,” “There Will Be Blood,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.”
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/01/2008 09:08:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
iTunes Store Top Music Retailer in the US
CUPERTINO, California—April 3, 2008—Apple® today announced that the iTunes® Store (www.itunes.com) surpassed Wal-Mart to become the number one music retailer in the US, based on the latest data from the NPD Group*. With over 50 million customers, iTunes has sold over four billion songs and features the world’s largest music catalog of over six million songs.
“We launched iTunes less than five years ago, and it has now become the number one music retailer in the world,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We are thrilled, and would like to thank all of our customers for helping us reach this incredible milestone.”
*Based on data from market research firm the NPD Group’s MusicWatch survey that captures consumer reported past week unit purchases and counts one CD representing 12 tracks, excluding wireless transactions. The iTunes Store became the largest music retailer in the US based on the amount of music sold during January and February 2008.
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 4/03/2008 03:45:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
The news was announced in an e-mail sent this afternoon to some Apple employees, a copy of which was seen by Ars Technica. It includes a screenshot of an Excel file showing the top ten music retailers in the US for January 2008, and Apple is at the top of the list. The iTunes Store leads the pack with 19 percent, Wal-Mart (which includes the brick-and-mortar stores as well as its online properties) is second with 15 percent, and Best Buy is third with 13 percent. Amazon is a distant fourth at 6 percent, trailed by the likes of Borders, Circuit City, and Barnes & Noble. Rhapsody is in the tenth slot with 1 percent.
The fact that a digital-only retailer has ascended to the top of the sales charts is not unexpected, but it does demonstrate just how much the music landscape has changed since the beginning of the decade. The NPD Group has been tracking a "sharp increase" in digital downloads over the past several months as physical sales dry up. According to NPD's research, 48 percent of US teens didn't buy a single CD in 2007, compared to 38 percent in 2006." Via Ars Technica .
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 4/03/2008 12:14:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Labels: apple, iphone, ipod, itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 3/18/2008 10:43:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
• iTunes Store as hub - as expected, Apple will require future iPhone and iPod Touch applications to be distributed through Apple's iTunes Store.
• Apple as Application Gatekeeper - iLounge believes that Apple will act as a gatekeeper for the applications themselves and will formally approve or deny all software releases:
• No Accessory Support - no ability to support dock-based accessories (such as a GPS module), though the iPhone's own phone, Wi-Fi, and camera will reportedly accessible.
iLounge corroborates earlier rumors that the final SDK would be not ready for release at Apple's March 6th event. Instead, they echo that a beta will be available then, with the final release to await WWDC in June. Via MacDailyNews .
Labels: apple, iphone, itunes, software, touch
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/29/2008 11:58:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Apple has finally added the ability to manually manage music and videos on an iPhone with iTunes 7.6. Better late than never.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 1/15/2008 06:09:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Apple is now shipping the iPod touch with Mail, Google Maps, Notes, Weather, and Stocks (applications already found on the iPhone). If you own an iPod touch already you can buy the "January Upgrade" via iTunes for $19.99.
Labels: itunes, software, touch
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 1/15/2008 05:53:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Touchstone, Miramax, MGM, Lionsgate, Newline, FOx, WB, Disney, Paramount, Universal, Sony all on board.
Rules: 30 days to start watching. 24 hours to finish.
Library titles: $2.99, New Releases: $3.99.
iTunes Movie Rentals launches today in the U.S. International will launch later this year. Software updates for iPods and iTunes will be forthcoming."
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 1/15/2008 12:36:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Currently, subscribers can watch anywhere from 5 to 48 hours a month, depending on their plan, although I don't see how anyone could be on the "eight-at-a-time" plan. (My two-at-a time plan came with 14 hours.)
The new, unlimited plan will be available to all subscribers, except for those on the two-rentals-per-month plan." Via CNET .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 1/14/2008 12:55:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"Major motion picture studio Warner Bros, which was reported earlier this month to be mulling a deal with Apple to offer up its catalog for a new iTunes rental service, is now said to have inked a deal with the iTunes operator that will see its films available through the service at launch.
Citing people familiar with the agreements, Bloomberg claims that Warner will join Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount, Walt Disney and Lions Gate as initial content providers for the iTunes movie rental service, which is widely expected to make its debut next Tuesday at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco.
New releases and older titles will both fetch $3.99 for a 24-hour rental, according to the report, which echos claims published last month by the Financial Times.. However, other reports have suggested Apple might adopt a slightly different pricing structure that would charge more nominal fees for older library titles."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 1/09/2008 03:17:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"The agreement will allow consumers to rent the latest Fox DVD releases by downloading a digital copy from Apple’s iTunes platform for a limited time, according to a person familiar with the situation," Garrahan and Allison report.
"The Apple-Fox deal, likely to be announced at the Macworld show on January 14, has the potential to transform film distribution. Apart from letting people rent online, Apple will also for the first time extend its FairPlay digital rights management system beyond its own products," Garrahan and Allison report. "A digital file protected by FairPlay will be included in new Fox DVD releases, enabling film content to be transferred or 'ripped' from the disc to a computer and video iPod."
"Apple, whose shares hit $200 for the first time yesterday in intra-day trade, is understood to have been in talks with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Paramount and Warner Bros about making their new releases available on iTunes to buy and rent," Garrahan and Allison report."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 12/27/2007 07:18:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Demand melted the music firm’s servers shortly after When You Believe went on sale at midnight on Saturday.
The problem was only resolved some 15 hours later leading to thousands of punters being unable to get their hands on the ballad.
Last year LEONA LEWIS’ winning single shifted an astonishing 50,000 downloads on its first hour of sale.
The Scottish teen logged just 36,669 sales in three days and record label bosses are furious.
An insider at SonyBMG said: “Everybody here is up in arms.
“There’s been a monumental cock up. Simon is hugely disappointed about the situation and is considering launching legal proceedings.
“Everybody is really upset for Leon and don’t want technical malfunctions to mar his big week.”
A spokesperson for iTunes declined to comment."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 12/24/2007 08:18:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
One new feature I just came across in iTunes 7.5 is a charging battery icon next to my 3rd generation iPod nano. As you can see my iPhone does not display the battery icon. A bug on Apple's part, or an upcoming iPhone update?? Stay tuned.
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 11/06/2007 12:23:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Voice memo syncing with iTunes
Manually managing your music
Enabling disk use
Whether or not Apple actually enables these features is a whole other story. We've been seeing these strings since iTunes 7.3
"4301.079" = "The mobile phone “^1” contains new voice memos. Would you like to move these voice memos to your iTunes library?";
"4320.300" = "iTunes has detected a Macintosh-formatted iPhone. You must restore this iPhone before you can use it on Windows.";
/* ===== iPhone Game Item Strings ===== */
"4329.001" = "Are you sure you want to remove the selected game from your iPhone?";
"4329.002" = "Are you sure you want to remove the selected games from your iPhone?";
Labels: iphone, itunes, rumors
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 11/06/2007 12:22:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
"In an interview, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said music on iTunes Plus – the portion of Apple's online music store featuring songs without digital rights management, or DRM, anti-copying software – will feature the reduced price later today or tomorrow. That applies mainly to songs from EMI Group Plc, the only major recording company with which Apple has cut a deal for DRM-free music so far. Apple has also already begun adding new music to iTunes Plus from independent recording companies at 99 cents a song.
Songs on iTunes Plus originally came at a premium though: 30% more than the standard 99 cent song price for tracks long available with DRM. "It's been very popular with our customers, and we're making it even more affordable," Mr. Jobs said."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/16/2007 06:40:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
TUAW has a screenshot from Apple's website of a version of iTunes showing the iPhone's battery status in the iTunes list. The current version of iTunes does not have this feature, and TUAW thinks an iTunes update will be released very soon.
"What's this picture, sent to us by reader Mike, and found on Apple's website? Why, it's a screengrab from iTunes, with a nifty little battery icon right there next to the iPhone listing.
Yes, but Mike, I hear you saying, what does that mean? It means, my friends, that a new iTunes update is right around the corner. 7.4.3 doesn't have this icon, and so it's very likely that within the next day or two, we'll see a brand new version of iTunes, complete with this nifty battery icon, and who knows what else."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/28/2007 11:46:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Apple flipped the switch on 2 new features to iTunes. Ringtones have finally been added so you can create your own ringtone. A new feature is the Spotlight-esque auto complete feature in the iTunes store (very nice).
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/11/2007 07:23:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
"You might have noticed there's an empty spot there on that dock. What could that possibly be for, you might ask? It's for a new application we've written for the iPod touch, it's called the iTunes WiFi music store."
Four buttons: featured, top tens, search, downloads... "If you see something you like, tap it, free preview of the song." "You are now downloading the song... when it's done you can listen to it on your iPod touch, and it syncs back up to itunes."
"You can search for anything in the entire iTunes store. You can search for any artist, any song name, any album name, preview it, and if you love it go buy it. This is the new itunes WiFi music store."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/05/2007 01:49:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/05/2007 01:14:00 PM 0 comments
links to this post
This is pure rumor and speculation, but I could definitely see Apple rolling out iTunes 8 later today. 9to5mac also believes this could be possible since Apple is widely expected to announce new iPods today and updates to iPhone software and iTunes are almost guaranteed. iTunes 7 was made available almost a year ago today, it was released on September 12, 2006. Stay tuned.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/05/2007 10:31:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
I came across this post @ 43folders.com . We always want our music to sound the best and this equalizer setting is supposed to be the "perfect" setting, so give it a try and listen.
"Open the equalizer, and from the pop-up menu, select “Make Preset.” Call it “Perfect,” because it is, and set the following levels, from left to right (skip the Preamp section):
db +3, +6, +9, +7, +6, +5, +7, +9, +11, +8 db".
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/04/2007 09:18:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
“We are disappointed to see NBC leave iTunes because we would not agree to their dramatic price increase,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We hope they will change their minds and offer their TV shows to the tens of millions of iTunes customers.”
Apple’s agreement with NBC ends in December. Since NBC would withdraw their shows in the middle of the television season, Apple has decided to not offer NBC TV shows for the upcoming television season beginning in September. NBC supplied iTunes with three of its 10 best selling TV shows last season, accounting for 30 percent of iTunes TV show sales.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/31/2007 12:20:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
In addition to purchasing new songs as ring tones, users will also be able to convert tracks they have already purchased. The online music download store will also offer a collection of pre-designed ring tones.
There is no word yet on how much the company will charge for ring tones, and Apple is not offering any comment. All of the labels except for Universal are said to be on board with the deal." Via the iPod observer .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/31/2007 09:42:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Via WebbAlert.com and AppleInsider:
...the Beatles' final April 10, 1970 press release...ends:
"Spring is here and Leeds play Chelsea tomorrow and Ringo and John and George and Paul are alive and well and full of hope. The world is still spinning and so are we and so are you... When the spinning stops -- that'll be the time to worry, not before. Until then, the Beatles are alive and well and the beat goes on, the beat goes on."
Are The Beatles finally coming to iTunes? Coupled with the cryptic message, iTunes has also heavily featured the solo music of Lennon, McCartney and Starr. Hmmm...
¶ posted by Rocco Mandaglio, Staff Writer @ 8/30/2007 11:18:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
SwapTunes is a very cool program that allows you to sync your iPhone with more than one computer.
"This simple app lets you sync your iPhone music/videos with more than one computer by keeping two iTunes libraries on the iPhone and allowing you to quickly swap between them whenever you like.
The reason I wrote this is because I have different videos and music on both my home PC and my work PC. Unfortunately, iTunes does not allow you to sync music/videos to more than one computer. So, until there is software like Floola, Poddox or Sharepod for the iPhone, I created this simple solution.
From now on, every time you run the SwapTunes app, it will switch to your other library, effectively allowing you to have two complete iTunes libraries on your iPhone and effortlessly swap between them. It will even keep any bookmarks you had on a video or audiobook before the swap and resume playing from where you left off." Find more information here .
This application is GREAT. I was able to get all of the music I wanted from my work pc to my iPhone. It's great being able to just tap the SwapTunes icon on my iPhone and have both my home and work pc's iTunes library.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/28/2007 10:08:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
"The yet-to-launch collaboration among the three companies will combine MTV's relatively unsuccessful Urge music store, the Real-owned Rhapsody subscription download service, and Verizon's V Cast mobile media service to create a music store that reaches across the PC, digital music player, and mobile phone platforms.
The new Rhapsody America company is officially a joint venture between MTV Networks and Real Networks, with Verizon Wireless as its exclusive mobile partner. Urge as a brand will cease to exist, with Rhapsody becoming the service of choice for MTV Networks' MTV, VH1, and CMT music brands. Michael Bloom, general manager of MTV's Urge, has been appointed head of the new company, and the company's offices will be located in New York, San Francisco and Seattle.
Urge had been launched as a music store in conjunction with MTV Networks' music brands, but its highly publicized deal with Microsoft had fallen by the wayside as the software company launched its Zune music player and accompanying music store."
I have a sneaky suspicion this isn't going to take on iTunes as the three companies hope. Real has a reputation for never giving up. MTV still thinks they are very influential over young people. Verizon Wireless needs something to help sell more phones and compete with the iPhone. The joint venture sounds delusional, and the name "Rhapsody America" even makes it sound more so. Someone on the marketing team could have come up with a better name.
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/21/2007 02:59:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Going through the iTunes Localizable.strings file showed some interesting things that could be coming to an iPhone near you . * /* ===== iPhone Game Item Strings ===== */ * "4329.001″ = "Are you sure you want to remove the selected game from your iPhone?"; * "4329.002″ = "Are you sure you want to remove the selected games from your iPhone?"; and * "4320.077″ = "Voice Memos"; * "4320.079″ = "The iPhone "^1" contains new voice memos. Would you like to move these voice memos to your iTunes library?"; * "4320.080″ = "Moving voice memos to your iTunes library…"; and * “4320.295″ = “You must connect using FireWire to update the iPhone “^FILENAME”.”; * “4320.296″ = “You must connect using FireWire to restore the iPhone “^FILENAME”.”; Source .
Labels: iphone, itunes, software
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/10/2007 09:27:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Apple has released an update to iTunes. iTunes 7.3.2 provides bux fixes to improve stability and performance.
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/02/2007 06:07:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Apple announced today that more than 3 BILLION songs have been purchased and downloaded from the iTunes store.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/31/2007 12:53:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
About iTunes 7.3.1
With iTunes 7.3, you can now activate iPhone service and sync it with your music, TV shows, movies and more. Also, you can now wirelessly share and enjoy your favorite digital photos from any computer in your home with Apple TV.
iTunes 7.3.1 addresses a minor problem with iTunes 7.3 accessing the iTunes Library.
About QuickTime 7.2
QuickTime 7.2 addresses critical security issues and delivers:
- Support for full screen viewing in QuickTime Player
- Updates to the H.264 codec
- Numerous bug fixes
This release is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users.
Labels: apple, itunes, software
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/11/2007 05:24:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"The move does not mean, however, that Universal will remove its vast catalog... from iTunes in the foreseeable future. Instead, Universal, which is the world's largest music company by market share, expects to go to a short-term sales agreement," Smith and Nick Wingfield report. "Though it is unlikely to have sweeping effects immediately, the change could give Universal more flexibility in its dealings with competitors to iTunes." Via MacDailyNews.
Labels: itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/01/2007 10:32:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Apple has released iTunes 7.3 .
New features:
• Activate your iPhone service
• Sync iPhone with your music, movies, TV shows, and more
• Wirelessly share digital photos from any computer in your home with Apple TV
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/29/2007 10:25:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
iTunes 7.3 is listed as a requirement for the iPhone but has not yet been released by Apple. Reportedly, the new version of iTunes will allow you to convert any song that is available on iTunes into a ringtone with the "Make into Ringtone" feature. The cost for this service is $.99," arn reports."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/27/2007 10:10:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
The move marks two major breaks from Apple's current offerings, which are download-to-own only and come solely from Disney and Paramount—a rental store with several major studios would not only shift the way users can view movies using iTunes, it would dramatically expand Apple's catalog. Not to mention the number of people using VOD, which is a boon for studios, and no doubt their incentive to come to the table." Via Gizmodo .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/11/2007 08:42:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Even before Apple Inc.'s much anticipated iPhone hits the shelves later this month, users of many different kinds of phones can listen to their iTunes music, via a new service from Seattle company Melodeo Inc.
Anyone can use the beta version of NuTsie, launched on Tuesday, by signing up and then exporting their iTunes playlists to NuTsie. Users don't actually upload their music files, only the metadata of the files which identifies the songs. After receiving an application via text message to their phones, they can start listening to their playlists.
On the backend, Melodeo is assembling a library of music so it can stream the songs to users. When a user chooses to listen to music from their playlist, Melodeo streams it from its own library. The company adheres to "radio rules," the same guidelines that govern how broadcast radio and online stations play music and then pay artists and record companies for the right to play the songs.
Because Melodeo follows radio rules, NuTsie has a few quirks. For instance, users can't pick individual songs from their libraries, they can only listen to their playlists. Also, playlists don't play in the order that the user made them -- NuTsie shuffles the order. If a user's playlist includes a full album, Melodeo must insert random songs into its playback in order to comply with the rules.
For now, NuTsie supports 15 phones, although the Java application may work on other phones. Melodeo is developing a Brew version and a Windows Mobile client." Via PC World .
Labels: cell phones, itunes
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/06/2007 09:50:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
We guess it's really a list of "The 100 Best Products of 2007, So Far." Therefore, products like Apple's iPhone are not on the list, but iPhone is #1 atop PC World's "Most Anticipated Products of the Year" list.
Numbers 1-3 are Google Apps Premier Edition, Intel Core 2 Duo, and Nintendo Wii respectively.
Apple hits the 2007 list six times:
9. Apple Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" (released April 29, 2005!)
11. Apple TV
26. Apple iPod (80GB) (released September 12, 2006!)
45. Apple iPod Nano (8GB) (released September 12, 2006!)
61. Apple iTunes
82. Apple MacBook Pro (released January 10, 2006!)
Notably absent from PC World's list is Microsoft's critically panned Windows Vista." Via MacDailyNews .
Labels: apple, apple tv, ipod, itunes, os x
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/22/2007 09:03:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Forbes: Apple CEO Steve Jobs highest paid U.S. CEO last year at $647 million
"The highest-paid boss of the 500 companies we tracked: Apple (AAPL) chief Steve Jobs. He drew a nominal $1 salary but realized $647 million from vested restricted stock last year," DeCarlo reports." Via Forbes.com .
Labels: apple, apple tv, iphone, ipod, itunes, mac
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/03/2007 09:43:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"Never say never, but customers don't seem to be interested in it,' Jobs told Reuters in an interview after Apple reported blow-out quarterly results. 'The subscription model has failed so far.' His comments come as the company he co-founded gears up for contract renewal negotiations with the major record labels over the next month," Martell reports." Via MacDailyNews .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 4/26/2007 09:16:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
The media outlet cited Les Ottolenghi, chief executive of INTENT MediaWorks, a digital distribution system that works with peer-to-peer networks, as saying that he’s had meetings with people from Apple and believes the company will announce a subscription service for iTunes within the next six months.
"I think Apple is seriously considering a subscription offering right now even though they will probably tell you otherwise," he said." Via AppleInsider .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 4/11/2007 06:42:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"With DRM-free music from the EMI catalog, iTunes customers will have the ability to download tracks from their favorite EMI artists without any usage restrictions that limit the types of devices or number of computers that purchased songs can be played on. DRM-free songs purchased from the iTunes Store will be encoded in AAC at 256 kbps, twice the current bit rate of 128 kbps, and will play on all iPods, Mac® or Windows computers, Apple TVs and soon iPhones, as well as many other digital music players.
So, it looks like we'll be able to put our music on our Treos now! Cool! ;-)"
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 4/02/2007 12:09:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
“We are going to give iTunes customers a choice—the current versions of our songs for the same 99 cent price, or new DRM-free versions of the same songs with even higher audio quality and the security of interoperability for just 30 cents more,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, in the press release. “We think our customers are going to love this, and we expect to offer more than half of the songs on iTunes in DRM-free versions by the end of this year.”
“EMI and iTunes are once again teaming up to move the digital music industry forward by giving music fans higher quality audio that is virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings, with no usage restrictions on the music they love from their favorite artists,” said Eric Nicoli, CEO of EMI Group, in the press release.
With DRM-free music from the EMI catalog, iTunes customers will have the ability to download tracks from their favorite EMI artists without any usage restrictions that limit the types of devices or number of computers that purchased songs can be played on. DRM-free songs purchased from the iTunes Store will be encoded in AAC at 256 kbps, twice the current bit rate of 128 kbps, and will play on all iPods, Mac® or Windows computers, Apple TVs and soon iPhones, as well as many other digital music players.
iTunes will also offer customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their entire library of all previously purchased EMI content to the higher quality DRM-free format for 30 cents a song. All EMI music videos will also be available in DRM-free format with no change in price." Via MacDailyNews .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 4/02/2007 09:14:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Contact Jimmie Geddes here: gadgetsonthego at gmail dot com.
