Steve Jobs

Jobs: App Store launch features 500 iPhone applications

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:28:16 -0400

As previously reported, Apple will officially launch its iPhone App Store in advance of the iPhone 3G's U.S. retail introduction Friday, opening the store today to coincide with the device's on-sale debut in New Zealand. Forbes first reported the news, citing three sources briefed on the matter. Apple has reportedly instructed developers to keep any announcements on their iPhone applications under embargo until noon EDT today.

In an interview with The New York Times, Apple CEO Steve Jobs says the App Store will initially feature more than 500 applications including educational programs, mobile commerce and business productivity tools, with games representing about a third of the first-wave apps. According to Jobs, 25 percent of the first 500 applications at the store will be free, with roughly 90 percent of the premium applications priced at $9.99 or less. Jobs insists Apple will not rely on the App Store as a source of significant revenue, in much the same way iTunes music sales have contributed little to the firm's bottom line: "We are not trying to be business partners," he said. The goal is to "sell more iPhones."

For more on the App Store launch:
- read this New York Times article

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CTIA = Can't Tell If Accurate

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0400

Sure, you've been following all of the news coming out of CTIA Wireless 2008 in Las Vegas, but what about the news that's not fit to print--the rumors and insider dish circulating like wildfire across the convention center floor? Here's the juiciest gossip overheard this week, absolutely none of it sourced or fact-checked to guarantee its veracity. And if any or all it all sounds completely made up…well, you're probably correct.

Rumor: CTIA president Steve Largent's opening keynote was lifted verbatim from late comedian Redd Foxx's Vegas stand-up routine.
Rumor: The main entrées served at this year's CTIA Wireless Gala were all cooked from exotic animals left over from Siegfried and Roy's old show at The Mirage.
Rumor: Despite his unfathomable personal wealth, Apple CEO Steve Jobs owns only one black turtleneck, which he has worn to work every single day for more than a decade.
Rumor: One of the private meeting rooms in the CTIA media center was just a front for an illegal cockfighting pit.
Rumor: Due to an ill-considered bluff in after-hours Texas Hold 'Em action, a prominent mobile entertainment firm is now owned solely by poker legend Doyle Brunson.
Rumor: The CTIA is launching another of its AMBER Alert initiatives, this time to determine the whereabouts of the Verizon Wireless/RealNetworks/MTV Rhapsody America service.
Rumor: After Yahoo rejected its acquisition advances, Microsoft is now targeting beverage maker Yoo-hoo.
Rumor: A beloved mobile content newsletter editor woke up Friday morning in a bathtub filled with ice to find one of his kidneys harvested. - Jason

Apple releases iPhone SDK, adds features

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:59:59 -0500

As expected, Apple released its iPhone software development kit Thursday--the SDK is available for download now at developer.apple.com. Apple also touted a June software update that will enable a series of new iPhone games capitalizing on the device's touchscreen and motion-sensing capabilities as well as the addition of Microsoft Exchange, which promises users access to email, calendars and other enterprise tools. All upgrades are tied to Apple's stated goal of selling 10 million iPhones by the end of the year--according to CEO Steve Jobs, the device already boasts a 28 percent smartphone marketshare, behind BlackBerry maker Research In Motion at 41 percent.

While Apple will make the iPhone SDK available for free, developers must also join Apple's developer program for $99 to secure distribution for their applications via the App Store, a new application the computing giant will embed on all iPhones. The App Store will deliver all iPhone applications, both free and premium, and will serve as the exclusive platform for iPhone app distribution. Apple will also create a section of its iTunes digital storefront where users may browse available iPhone apps. According to Apple, developers will name the price of their premium applications, with Apple taking 30 percent of revenues off the top "to pay for running the App Store." Apple will refuse applications that fall into the following categories: "Porn, privacy, bandwidth hog, illegal, malicious and 'unforeseen,'" with further clarification no doubt to follow.

A Q&A followed Thursday's presentation at Apple's Cupertino, Calif. headquarters, with Jobs asked what safeguards will be implemented to guarantee apps that are secure and in accordance with user privacy concerns. According to a live blog at Gearlog, Jobs replied "This is a big concern. It is a dangerous world out there. We tried to strike a really good path here. On one side you have a closed device like iPod, which always works ... on the other side you've got a Windows PC. We want to take the reliability and the dependability of that iPod, and we want to take the ability to run third-party apps from the PC world, but without the malicious applications. The developers have to register with us and for that $99 they pay...they actually get an electronic certificate. We can track them down, we can tell their parents and we will know who they are. If we're alerted to a malicious app that we didn't catch, we'll cut off the spigot."

A subsequent question asked "What if a developer doesn't want to distribute through the App Store?" Jobs' response: "Then they won't be able to distribute their app on the iPhone. We think this is going to be a boon for developers. They can download applications from a version of the App Store, which is loaded on the Mac or PC. We don't intend to make money off the App Store. We don't make a lot of money off of iTunes, and the split with the music companies is about the same. We just want to create a very efficient channel for these developers to reach every iPhone user. Most developers don't have a store to sell their apps on their website."

For more on the iPhone's evolution:
- read this New York Times article

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Jobs: Adobe Flash not good enough for iPhone

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:59:57 -0500

According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, a large chunk of web video content is unavailable for viewing via the computing giant's iPhone because software developer Adobe Systems' Flash Player mobile media player simply isn't good enough. Speaking at Apple's annual shareholder meeting Tuesday, Jobs said the iPhone requires a media player more robust than the current Flash mobile solution, arguing that while the Flash Player for laptops fits the bill, it is designed for devices larger than the iPhone, and therefore performs too slowly on handsets. "There's this missing product in the middle," Jobs said. Web-based videos for iPhone must be optimized for Apple-endorsed file formats--at present, only user-generated video site YouTube is willing to jump through that particular hoop, greatly limiting the video content available to iPhone users.

For more on Jobs' comments:
- read this MarketWatch article

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Apple premieres iTunes Movie Rentals

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:17:41 -0500

During his annual Macworld keynote, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the launch of the much-rumored iTunes Movie Rentals service, which will offer digital rentals from major studios including 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, MGM, Lionsgate and New Line Cinema. Rentals are compatible with Macs or PCs as well as current-generation iPods, iPhone and Apple TV--following download, customers have up to 30 days to begin watching a film, and once viewing begins, they have 24 hours to complete it or screen it again. Apple promises the iTunes Movie Rentals catalog will expand to more than 1,000 films by the end of February--while library titles are priced at $2.99, new releases are $3.99. High-definition versions complete with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound are also available for some features--library titles are $3.99 and new releases are $4.99.

Apple also unveiled at Macworld an iPhone software update highlighted by a redesigned Maps application enabling users to triangulate their position via nearby Wi-Fi base stations or cellular towers. The new hybrid map view combines map view and satellite view featuring major street names overlaid on satellite imagery. Additional iPhone updates enable users to text multiple recipients in one message, create web clips for their favorite websites, customize their home screen and, of course, view iTunes Movie Rentals. According to Jobs, the iPhone has sold four million units to date.

For more on iTunes Movie Rentals:
- read this release

Apple premieres iTunes Movie Rentals

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:59:59 -0500

During his annual Macworld keynote today, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the launch of the much-rumored iTunes Movie Rentals service, which will offer digital rentals from major studios including 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, MGM, Lionsgate and New Line Cinema. Rentals are compatible with Macs or PCs as well as current-generation iPods, iPhone and Apple TV--following download, customers have up to 30 days to begin watching a film, and once viewing begins, they have 24 hours to complete it or screen it again. Apple promises the iTunes Movie Rentals catalog will expand to more than 1,000 films by the end of February--while library titles are priced at $2.99, new releases are $3.99. High-definition versions complete with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound are also available for some features--library titles are $3.99 and new releases are $4.99.

For more on iTunes Movie Rentals:
- read this release

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SPOTLIGHT: Sour Apple?

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Apple CEO Steve Jobs: "Android hurts Google more than it helps them." Article

Apple to standardize iTunes pricing across Europe

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:59:59 -0500

Apple announced that within the next six months it will lower download fees on its U.K. iTunes storefront to match standardized pricing across its other European iTunes sites, threatening to "reconsider" its continuing relationship with any British record label that does not lower its wholesale prices. According to Apple, at present it must pay some labels more to distribute their music in the U.K. than it pays to distribute the same content across 16 European markets including Germany, France, Italy and Spain. "This is an important step towards a pan-European marketplace for music," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs in a prepared statement. "We hope every major record label will take a pan-European view of pricing."

For more on Apple's price reductions:
- read this release

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Report: Jay-Z, Apple to partner on record label

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:59:55 -0500

After resigning as president of Def Jam Records at year's end, rapper/hip-hop mogul Jay-Z is reportedly in negotiations to launch a new label with Apple. According to The Boy Genius Report, Jay-Z and Steve Jobs (Steve-J?) are discussing an imprint that would expand beyond hip-hop to embrace rock and country as well--while Jay-Z will not run the label a la Def Jam, he will be vital in attracting and developing new talent.

What's interesting is that late last year, Jay declined to license his latest opus American Gangster to Apple's iTunes storefront because he refused to allow consumers to cherry-pick individual tracks for downloading, insisting listeners experience the album as a whole. "No one can dictate to an artist, any artist, how they should express themselves," Jay-Z said at that time. "Let me make it clear--I don't have a problem with iTunes. It's just our interests were not in line."

For more on the Apple/Jay-Z negotiations:
-read this Boy Genius Report entry

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Apple to sell unlocked iPhone in France

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:59:59 -0400

Apple announced an exclusive partnership with French operator Orange to market its iPhone in France--due to a French consumer law that prohibits carriers from selling handsets tied to exclusive contracts, the computing giant will also sell an unlocked edition of the device. Orange will sell the iPhone for €399 ($565 U.S.) to subscribers under contract--according to the Financial Times, the unlocked phone will arrive at retail with a higher price tag. The legislation means Apple may not be required to share revenue on any iPhone purchase not tied to an Orange contract.

The Apple/Orange deal has already faced a series of speed bumps. Earlier this month, French newsweekly Challenges reported Orange was objecting to Apple's demands for iPhone commissions, said to total more than one third of each subscription fee. Moreover, Apple CEO Steve Jobs was reportedly fuming after Didier Lombard, CEO of Orange parent firm France Telecom, broke ranks to announce its iPhone distribution deal prior to an official statement. Analysts expected Apple to confirm the agreement at its Apple Expo in late September, but no official announcement materialized until now.

For more on the Apple/Orange deal:
- read this Financial Times article

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Orange's iPhone launch in jeopardy

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 06:59:59 -0400

Bad blood is simmering between Apple and mobile operator Orange, reportedly jeopardizing the iPhone's anticipated French launch. French newsweekly Challenges reports Orange is objecting to Apple's demands for iPhone commissions, said to total more than one third of each subscription fee--the magazine adds if an agreement is not reached by the middle of next week, Orange may not receive authorization to initiate iPhone sales prior to the holiday season.

This is not the first bump in the road for the Apple/Orange partnership: Apple CEO Steve Jobs was reportedly fuming after Didier Lombard, CEO of Orange parent firm France Telecom, broke ranks to announce its iPhone distribution deal prior to an official statement. Analysts expected Apple to confirm the agreement at its Apple Expo in late September, but no official announcement ever materialized.

Another wrinkle: French law states mobile phone operators must manufacture handsets available for sale without subscriptions, so consumers may purchase devices for use with SIM cards from any carrier they choose. Because Apple demands a share of monthly subscriber tariffs from its operator partners, it is firmly opposed to marketing iPhones without a carrier contract. It is presently unknown how or if the law will impact the iPhone's French debut.

For more on the iPhone's troubled French launch:
-read this EURSOC article

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Apple offers $100 credit to iPhone early adopters

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:59:58 -0400

One day after announcing it will cut prices on its iPhone handset from $599 to $399, Apple said it will bow to consumer frustration and offer a $100 store credit to consumers who purchased the device at full MSRP. In an open letter published on the Apple website, CEO Steve Jobs writes "I have received hundreds of emails from iPhone customers who are upset about Apple dropping the price of iPhone by $200 two months after it went on sale…Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store…We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you."

For more on the iPhone rebate:
-read Jobs' open letter

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Apple slashes iPhone price, debuts new services

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:59:59 -0400

At a San Francisco media event Wednesday, Apple announced that it will drop the price of its 8GB iPhone by $200 while discontinuing the 4GB version of the device. The 8GB model will now retail for $399, down from the $599 price tag attached at its late June commercial debut; the 4GB model previously sold for $499.

The iPhone pricing news was one of a series of announcements Wednesday--Apple CEO Steve Jobs also introduced the new iPod Classic (featuring 80GB or 160GB of storage for $249 and $349, respectively), a video-enabled iPod Nano and the new iPod Touch, which features the multi-touch user interface first introduced via the iPhone.

Apple also unveiled the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, which enables consumers to browse, search, preview, purchase and download music from the iTunes digital storefront directly to their iPod Touch or iPhone devices via Wi-Fi connection. In conjunction with the Wi-Fi Music Store, Apple announced an exclusive partnership with coffee behemoth Starbucks enabling customers to download music onto their iPod Touch, iPhone or PC or Mac running iTunes at participating Starbucks locations.

As anticipated, Apple additionally introduced a custom ringtone creation service--users may select 30-second segments from over a million participating tracks, setting personalized fade in and fade out points and syncing the resulting ringer with the iPhone. Still no word on the much-rumored addition of the Beatles digital catalog, however.

For more on the Apple announcements:
- read these releases

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Apple finalizes European iPhone operator deals

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:59:59 -0400

Apple has reportedly finalized a series of partnerships with European operators to begin overseas sales of its iPhone device. According to The Financial Times, the computing giant inked deals with the U.K.'s O2, Germany's T-Mobile and France's Orange--the agreements call for each operator to share 10 percent of revenues derived from all iPhone-initiated calls and data services with Apple. The three operators are set to officially announce their iPhone partnerships at the IFA trade fair in Berlin at the end of this month; so far, T-Mobile, Orange and O2 are all declining comment.

According to The Financial Times, T-Mobile chairman Hamid Akhavan and O2 CEO Peter Erskine both lobbied for one-on-one discussions with Apple CEO Steve Jobs: "These are not negotiations among equals. Apple clearly had the upper hand," one industry insider told the newspapers' sister publication FT Deutschland. Apple previously announced it would limit the iPhone's European launch to the British, French and German markets, rolling out in other regions next year concurrent with its expansion into Asia.

For more on Apple's Euro deals:
- read this Financial Times article

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Akoo debuts location-aware content app

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 06:59:55 -0400

Location-aware media solutions developer Akoo International announced the release of an m-Venue application enabling consumers to use their mobile handsets as "remote controls" to activate in-store entertainment and marketing. According to Akoo, the app allows mobile users to search, select and activate songs, music videos, sports highlights, user-generated content and related programming for shared public performance over standard audio/video systems. The m-Venue library includes content licensed from providers like Universal Music Group--subscribers may identify and tag music for subsequent purchase via premium digital storefronts such as Apple's iTunes, and earn and redeem loyalty and rewards points via handset. Each m-Venue interaction simultaneously captures consumer usage and behavioral data, promising retailers insight to launch targeted marketing messages, mobile coupons and incentives at the point-of-sale and after consumers exit participating locations.

"m-Venue supports Steve Jobs' vision of extending the iPhone's capabilities through innovative third-party applications, as expressed during WWDC 07, while addressing retailers and brand marketers' need to engage consumers at the critical point-of-sale, or 'moment of truth,' in more targeted and measurable ways," said Niko Drakoulis, Akoo CEO. "Mobile devices such as the iPhone are a catalyst for the growth of social networking and real-time consumer-to-brand interactivity in public venues."

For more on m-Venue:
- read this release

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