Category: I-phone

Here’s more good news for Apple from the Chinese front: Katy Huberty and Mathew Schneider from Morgan Stanley have released a report saying that Apple could make as much as $9 billion from China in the fiscal year of 2012, as opposed to $2.9 billion in the last fiscal year. That kind of growth would be better than the rest of the world, which means that if there are any problems with Apple’s revenue in the US and Europe over the next few years, China will likely make up for them.

The report says all of that growth will come from two major factors. First, Apple is expected to expand its sales network in China. Apple has already founded four major retail stores and begun device sales through China Unicom and its online store, but there will have to be more ways for Chinese customers to find and buy Apple products in the future. Secondly, as we’ve heard before, China is about to go through a major surge in the middle class, bringing more people than ever into the range of buying and using Apple’s products. If Apple can take advantage of that upcoming rise in income over much of the country, it’ll be well on the way to the $9 billion number.

This isn’t a huge surprise — we’ve known for a while that China will be a big source of growth for a lot of consumer electronics companies in the next few years. But it’s interesting to see some numbers out there about just how big Apple’s business in China might get.

Analyst: Apple’s sales in China could triple in two years originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple is already pretty tight with the film production industry. Final Cut Pro has a big chunk of the high-end editing business, and Apple continues innovating to keep their spot secure. A 2007 survey showed that Final Cut Pro had 49 percent of the professional editing market.

A new patent granted to Apple, number 7,827,489, describes a system to make it easier for filmmakers to edit to tape. Most editing today is non-linear, with the video and audio on a hard disk that allows random access. Apple proposes that the media clips get transferred to a sequential medium (tape) for storage. Apple seems to see this as both an easy distribution method and a way to keep a secure permanent record of all the edit clips and have this done within a video editor.

The system Apple describes has icons that represent a function to be saved to the storage device. Apple thinks this method is viable now because of the availability of faster processors. Lots of patents never get very far and never appear as products, but it’s always interesting to get some insight into what Apple is thinking and what may turn up on either the professional or consumer side. How busy is Apple at applying for and getting patents? On November 2, Apple was granted 14!

New Apple patent features video editing innovation and simplification originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve Jobs emails tend to lie along a spectrum: at one end, they’re pretty much useless (and probably often fake), and at the other end, they’re interesting little glances at features we might get in the future. I’m putting this one in the second category, but of course, as usual, it’s up to you what you think of it. Jobs allegedly replied to a question about iTunes LPs and iTunes Extras arriving on the new Apple TV software anytime soon, and his one word reply, sent directly from his iPhone, is supposed to be: “Coming.”

So presumably we’ll see those features added back in soon. We already know there’s a firmware update coming for AirPlay functionality, and that one’s due out as soon as next week, so we can hope that iTunes Extras and LP support will be included in there. Steve’s not known for being too garrulous in these emails, and in this one, he didn’t have to be. If you buy that it’s a real email from Jobs, those extra features are “coming” to the Apple TV soon.

[via MacStories.net]

Jobs says iTunes extras are “coming” to Apple TV originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the first time since its launch, the availability of the iPhone 4 in Apple’s US Online Store has dropped to “within 24 hours.” This should be welcome news to investors and analysts as it shows that Apple has successfully ramped up production enough to have a good amount of stock on hand going into the holiday season. Maybe that production line that was working on prototype white iPhone 4s has finally been brought into the main flow.

During Apple’s financial call with investors last month, Apple said the company was selling iPhone 4s as fast as they could be manufactured, and the only reason it didn’t sell more than 14.1 million is because of supply. However, even with supply constraints, Apple still sold 2 million more iPhones than some of the higher Wall Street estimates.

US iPhone 4 availability finally “within 24 hours” originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Music site Symphonic Distortion reports Apple has sent word that song previews in the US iTunes Store will soon be extended to 90 seconds, up from the 30-second previews the store has featured until now. The only caveat is that songs must be longer than 2 minutes, 30 seconds in order to get a 90-second preview; shorter songs will stay at a 30-second preview. Makes sense.

The extension in song preview lengths was reportedly supposed to happen earlier this year, but the complex state of licensing issues in the music industry reportedly held up the process. Either those issues have been resolved, or Apple has decided to play hardball — the new licensing agreement basically states that by keeping their music on the iTunes Store, labels agree to allow 90-second song previews. Any label that doesn’t want 90-second previews of its songs must withdraw its music from the iTunes Store under the new licensing terms … and since doing so would do serious damage to the bottom line of most music labels, it looks like 90-second song previews are finally here, and hopefully here to stay.

[via Mac Rumors]

iTunes song previews will be extended to 90 seconds in US store originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Regular users may not have noticed this, but I’m sure developers have — the App Store’s charts have been in a freeze for the past few days, leaving apps in exactly the same positions as they were last Thursday.

That might not seem like too big a deal, but for many developers, the App Store charts are where they make or break a profit — not only do the charts provide a good inkling of how popular an app is compared to others, but the top 10 on the charts provides a huge amount of exposure — just getting in the top 10 often boosts app sales just by virtue of the extra eyeballs.

For the past few days, though, the App Store charts haven’t changed, and that usually means that Apple is messing with something, either tweaking the way the charts are calculated, or just plain changing the way that they work. Last year the company fixed an issue where developers could constantly update their apps to keep them on “Recently Released” charts, but this year we haven’t quite figured out what changes have been made.

At any rate, it seems likely Apple was simply getting things ready for what’s sure to be a busy holiday season for the App Store. Hopefully developers who released their apps on Halloween didn’t fall too far through the cracks while things were down.

App Store algorithms down and back up, probably tweaked originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is interesting — a consultant for Apple on the recent “iAd” trademark settlement accidentally disclosed some information about how much the payout was, and apparently it wasn’t cheap. Consor says that it helped Innovate Media (the firm which has used the iAd trademark since 2006) pick up “a 7-figure settlement from Apple Computer [sic] in a trademark infringement case.” That’s probably over a million dollars, which actually sounds low, considering how solid a grip Innovate Media actually had on the mark. But when Apple comes calling, so does the big Apple wallet.

What’s interesting about this is that we’ve seen Apple “ignore” trademarks a few times before, only to pay out with what we’d presume is a large settlement. But we’ve never actually heard any numbers on this, so Consor’s little release shows that Apple has been writing some pretty substantial checks each time the name issue comes around.

Then again, with $51 billion in the bank Apple can afford to not be so picky when it comes to the trademarks on names they don’t own.

Report: Apple may have paid over $1M in iAd trademark settlement originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the better part of a decade, Apple has consistently shown that having a comparatively small market share by volume is no impediment to making money, and lots of it. Despite the company’s PC share hovering in single digits through most of the 2000s, Apple has been far and away the most profitable computer hardware maker for many years (and generally coming second only to software-centric Microsoft in generating cash). Now that inverse relationship between share and profits continues into the mobile space.

Analysis firm Canaccord Genuity estimates that Apple accounts for only 3.9 percent of total global volume sales of mobile handsets. However, the iPhones sold in the third quarter of 2010 accounted for approximately 47 percent of all profits in the industry. While the vast majority of handsets sold around the world still fall into the feature phone segment, smartphones are where the money is.

Smartphone specialists Apple, HTC, and RIM grabbed 71 percent of the net profits. Even Motorola — which has had a long string of money-losing quarters — has finally returned to the black thanks to its emphasis on Android-based smartphones. Nokia may be outselling everyone else by a wide gap, but they certainly don’t seem to be making it up on volume.

Even with Android as a whole gaining market share, the proliferation of different phones will limit economies of scale for manufacturers — so Apple looks likely to continue its cellphone profitability for some time to come.

Apple grabs nearly 50 percent of handset industry profits originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook 3.3.1 for iPhone is now available for download in the App store. Facebook 3.1.3 app for iOS comes with new Groups interface, Deals, and the ability to tag friends and add photos after you check-in with Places.

What’s new is Facebook 3.1.3

• Groups: share photos and posts with small groups of friends
• Deals: discover great deals around you
• Places: tag more friends after you check in, add photos
• Various bug fixes

You can download Facebook 3.3.1 for iOS from the App Store for free. [iTunes link]

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Also checkout:

• VLC Media Player for iPhone
• FolderEnhancer for iOS 4.1
• Google Goggles for iPhone
• Lockdown Pro: Password Protect iPhone Applications

We recently interviewed Gregg Weiss, President of Blue Whale Web Solutions. You can check out their impressive >iPhone App Development portfolio on their web site.

Mobile Orchard: Please tell our readers about Blue Whale App Solutions.

Gregg Weiss: Blue Whale Web Solutions is an app development company based in South Florida, with offices in NYC and Chicago. We focus mainly on iOS apps but as of the last 2 months are starting to dive into Android. We have created apps for clients such as SummerFest (the largest music festival in the world), Porsche Club of America and Engadget among others. We also work with entrepreneurs and small businesses to help them define their objectives in the mobile app space.

MO: How did you get into iPhone app development?

GW: Like most app development companies, our previous expertise stems from the web world. I started Blue Whale over 5 years ago doing custom website designs, application development and SEO. When the iPhone came out and the iOS SDK became available it was a natural progression. There are a lot of apps that require server side integration so there still remains a big “web” part to app development.

MO: What changes the iPhone/iOS were you most excited to see?

GW: Multitasking getting released this past summer was huge with the 4.0 update. Integrating twitter and facebook APIs provides that viral effect for apps that can really help get the word out in a natural way.

MO: Which app has been the biggest challenge for you as far as development goes?

GW: Ha – great question! Some projects are more challenging than others, but often it’s not a direct correlation between one app being more difficult to do than another. The challenges mostly arise when you have a 3rd party, like a client’s IT dept that is in control of the API and the data. Because you have to rely on someone else, that tends to add time to the project plan. Other common challenges are speaking with people who have “ideas” but no clearly defined requirements document or they havent thought about how much the entire process will cost, so they have unrealistic expectations as to what they can accomplish within their budget.

MO: How do you think app developers will benefit from Verizon having the iPhone?

GW: Glad to see this is finally happening after a year of rumors! Combined both carriers account for 62% of US mobile subscribers. Verizon alone has about 90 million subscribers. I personally know a lot of people on Verizon who want the iPhone and will get it, but wont switch to ATT b/c of the spotty reception. What this means for app developers is that next year we should see a huge boom in app downloads, as Verizon gets the iPhone. Very excited for this. Same goes for the iPad being sold at Walmart, Target and ATT/Verizon stores.

MO: Do you think it is a good time to get into iPhone app development?

GW: It’s always a good time to get into anything. What if Google decided not to get into the search business because there were already 5 major search engines? From a business perspective, whether large or small, you need to have a mobile strategy. Apps cannot be ignored and they are here to stay, its not a fad.

MO: What tips would you give someone who is just starting out developing apps?

GW: First and foremost, understand what you are trying to accomplish and start a requirements document. Whether you are hiring a developer or trying to do it yourself, you need to have a clear roadmap and understanding of the features and functionality.

Use mock up/wire framing tools (there are several on the web) to help you establish the user flow and user exeperience. Lastly, if you are not a designer, don’t pretend to be one. Hire a great designer.

MO: What is going on with app development for the iPad?

GW: We have an iPad app called Boating Weather, which is a port from an existing iPhone app that shows you the local marine forecast from NOAA. We have an app we are submitting this week called Motion Doctor. It is for a Physical Therapy practice and includes over 60 videos to help pain prevention. It also has a national directory so you can find a licensed PT practice. Medical iPad apps are already having a big impact in productivity for Physicians, Healthcare and Patients. I just spoke on a panel at the Mobile Health Expo in Las Vegas a few weeks ago all about apps. From a strategic standpoint, Blue Whale will be focusing on Medical iPad apps over the next year or so.

MO: Finally, what is your favorite app?

GW: Hmm…..my favorite depends on what the situation is. If I’m needing to kill some time – I’m always on Facebook, Twitter or playing Angry Birds or Cut the Rope (both are additive games).

Productivity wise, I use Grocery IQ for my shopping list pretty much everytime I go food shopping.

I use Boating Weather iPhone app to check the marine forecast a few days before I’m about to go out fishing.

Our Night Reader app is a great handy flashlight app for iPhone 4. I use this all the time when I cant find my key to the front door and I forgot to put my outside lights on!

I play guitar and the Ultimate Guitar Tabs app is great.

Pandora of course for streaming radio

Dropbox for sharing files.

Last but not least, Position App for checking the position of all the apps we have done.

MO: Thanks for the excellent list of apps and also for the great interview, we appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions. Best of luck to you and Blue Whale Web Solutions.

If you have any questions you would like to ask Gregg please post them in the comments and I will see if we can get him to answer them. As always, we hope you enjoyed this interview.

Today we presents collection of best 3DS Max tutorials.

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For the better part of a decade, Apple has consistently shown that having a comparatively small market share by volume is no impediment to making money, and lots of it. Despite the company’s PC share hovering in single digits through most of the 2000s, Apple has been far and away the most profitable computer hardware maker for many years (and generally coming second only to software-centric Microsoft in generating cash). Now that inverse relationship between share and profits continues into the mobile space.

Analysis firm Canaccord Genuity estimates that Apple accounts for only 3.9 percent of total global volume sales of mobile handsets. However, the iPhones sold in the third quarter of 2010 accounted for approximately 47 percent of all profits in the industry. While the vast majority of handsets sold around the world still fall into the feature phone segment, smart phones are where the money is.

Smart phone specialists Apple, HTC, and RIM grabbed 71 percent of the net profits. Even Motorola — which has had a long string of money-losing quarters — has finally returned to the black thanks to its emphasis on Android-based smart phones. Nokia may be outselling everyone else by a wide gap, but they certainly don’t seem to be making it up on volume.

Even with Android as a whole gaining market share, the proliferation of different phones will limit economies of scale for manufacturers — so Apple looks likely to continue its cellphone profitability for some time to come.

Apple grabs nearly 50% of handset industry profits originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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