Have music downloads hit their peak, with streaming taking over?

What do 1980, 1989 and 2003 have in common? They were the peak sales years for LPs, cassettes and CDs respectively. After that, a very slight resurgence in vinyl aside, it was all downhill.

Billboard magazine has an interesting piece in which they suggest that perhaps 2012 might join that list – as the year that saw peak sales for music downloads, with streaming services like Spotify, Rdio and now, of course, iTunes Radio the heir apparent …

The fall in music downloads is small so far, but the numbers do seem suggestive of a trend.

Digital purchases are down almost across the board this year. Track sales are down 4.4% through Nov. 24, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Track-equivalent albums, where 10 tracks equal one album, are down 2.1%. Total digital purchases — tracks and digital albums — are down 4%.

Track sales have been falling all year. In the first half of 2013, U.S. consumers bought between 23 million and 25 million tracks per week. In October and November, weekly track sales dropped below 20 million.

A piece in the NY Times quotes Doug Morris, chairman of Sony Music Entertainment, as seeing the same pattern.

The buying habits of music lovers are changing. Rather than buying physical records, or even digital downloads, consumers are starting to prefer buying music on demand from streaming services.”

In the same piece, Neilsen says that YouTube music videos are the most popular source of music among younger listeners.

Billboard points to catalog sales – everything other than new releases – as a key indicator of the state of the nation for a music format.

The current weakness in catalog sales mimics what happened with CDs, according to NPD Group analyst Russ Crupnick, who says consumers began showing “apathy” about CD purchases roughly eight to nine years ago. “People were starting to say, ‘I’m good. I have all the catalog I want. If you don’t ‘wow’ me with something new, I’m going to stay on the sidelines.’”

The big question being asked of the streaming services, of course, is whether their business model is sustainable. Of the 24M users Spotify reported back in March (the last time it talked numbers), only a quarter of them had paid subscriptions. Music downloads and physical media sales are still where the money is so far – generating $5.6B revenue against around $1B for streaming services – but that’s a pretty rapid shift for a format that, until recently, appeared to be much better at attracting listeners than parting them from their cash.

But if anyone is well-placed to make money from streaming music, it has to be the company which turned a break-even service designed to promote hardware sales into a multi-billion dollar business in its own right. Apple’s move into the streaming music business is looking like it was particularly well-timed.

Written by: Ben Lovejoy @benlovejoy December 16, 2013/4:43 am - 9to5mac.com

Report: Apple focusing iAd sales on iTunes Radio, building real-time exchange for in-app ads

Adweek is reporting that Apple is focusing the iAd sales department almost exclusively on iTunes Radio, rather than developing its in-app ad portfolio, which is how the service originally started. According to the report, Eddy Cue told the advertising unit that iTunes Radio advertisements are a top priority, presumably as Apple is preparing to expand the music service into more countries next year.

AdWeek quotes an ‘apple insider’:

“The message that came across was basically if you’re not working on iTunes Radio, you’re irrelevant,” an Apple insider said.

The report reaffirms suspicions that Apple is quickly expanding its ad sales managers for iTunes Radio, in the wake of news that Apple hired a terrestrial radio ad sales executive last week. The report indicates that although sales managers are focused on iTunes radio campaigns, Apple is quietly working on changing the dynamics of its in-app display advertising as well.

The report says that Apple is developing a real-time bidding exchange to automate the management and distribution of campaigns for advertisers. This system is similar to a stock exchange, where ads are bought and sold dynamically over time. This is a big departure from how iAds was initially envisioned as a platform for distinct, big-budget movie-like campaigns. Adweek speculates that the real-time system would make iAds more accessible both in terms of adversity diversity and price.

Written by: Benjamin Mayo @BenjaminZAMayo December 16, 2013/1:10 pm - 9to5mac.com

Apple releases Mavericks OS X 10.9.1 with improved Gmail support, Shared Link improvements, more

Apple has released OS X 10.9.1 for Mac via the Mac App Store today. The update includes a number of Mail related fixes including improved support for Gmail as well as numerous bug fixes. The update also fixes a VoiceOver issue that prevented sentences with emoji characters from being read…

Apple previously released a Gmail fix in early November after issues with Mavericks created instability.

What’s New in Version 10.9.1

The 10.9.1 update improves the stability and compatibility of your Mac.

This update includes the following fixes:
• Improved support for Gmail in OS X Mail, and fixes for users with custom Gmail settings
• Improves the reliability of Smart Mailboxes and search in Mail
• Fixes an issue that prevented contact groups from working properly in Mail
• Resolves an issue that prevented VoiceOver from speaking sentences that contain emoji
• Updates Shared Links periodically when open in the Safari Sidebar

Apple first issued OS X 10.9.1 to developers in November followed by additional test releases, but today’s release is public and available to all Mavericks users via the Mac App Store. Support documents for today’s release should be available here later today.

Written by: Zac Hall @apollozac December 16, 2013/1:11 pm - 9to5mac.com

President Obama will meet w/ Tim Cook & tech execs tomorrow to discuss Healthcare.gov & NSA surveillance

The White House has announced (via TIME) that President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with a long list of high-profile tech executives tomorrow to discuss the controversial rollout of the Healthcare.gov website as well as NSA surveillance programs that have recently come to light:

“Tomorrow, President Obama will meet with executives from leading tech companies to discuss progress made in addressing performance and capacity issues with HealthCare.Gov and how government can better deliver IT to maximize innovation, efficiency and customer service,” a White House official said. “The meeting will also address national security and the economic impacts of unauthorized intelligence disclosures.  Finally, the President will discuss ways his Administration can partner with the tech sector to further grow the economy, create jobs and address issues around income inequality and social mobility.”

First on the list is Apple CEO Tim Cook who will also be joined by CEOs from Twitter, Netflix, Dropbox, Yahoo and many others.

Last month Apple participated in an open letter signed by Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and other tech companies expressing support for the USA Freedom Act that would limit the NSA’s ability to run its surveillance programs and keep them secret from the public. Another open letter to the President and congress was published earlier this month with support from Apple and other companies urging Washington to reform laws related to government surveillance.

The full list of tech executives scheduled to meet with Obama tomorrow is below:

· Tim Cook, CEO, Apple

· Dick Costolo, CEO, Twitter

· Chad Dickerson, CEO, Etsy

· Reed Hastings, Co-Founder & CEO, Netflix

· Drew Houston, Founder & CEO, Dropbox

· Marissa Mayer, President and CEO, Yahoo!

· Burke Norton, Chief Legal Officer, Salesforce

· Mark Pincus, Founder, Chief Product Officer & Chairman, Zynga

· Shervin Pishevar, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Sherpa Global

· Brian Roberts, Chairman & CEO, Comcast

· Erika Rottenberg, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, LinkedIn

· Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook

· Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Google

· Brad Smith, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Microsoft

· Randall Stephenson, Chairman & CEO, AT&T

Written by: Jordan Kahn @JordanKahn December 16, 2013/2:18 pm - 9to5mac.com

Apple airs touching holiday commercial featuring the iPhone 5s and AirPlay

As is tradition, Apple is airing a new holiday commercial this evening, this time highlighting the iPhone 5s, its movie making capabilities, and AirPlay with the Apple TV. The ad is set to the tune of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”. As you may recall, last year Apple highlighted the iPad and FaceTime, with an ad set to “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”. In 2011, Apple featured Siri and the then-new iPhone 4S.

This year’s ad takes an entirely different approach, focusing on the iPhone and real world usage scenarios for it. Apple has also posted the full length video depicted in the advertisement, shot entirely on an iPhone 5s:

 

Thanks Kylene!

Written by: Michael Steeber @MichaelSteeber December 16, 2013/6:11 pm - 9to5mac.com

Apple launches Best of 2013 page on iTunes, highlights top music, apps, books, and more

Apple has just published its Best of 2013 page, highlighting some of the most popular music, movies, TV shows, iOS apps, ebooks, and podcasts from the past year. In the music section, Lorde’s “Royals” took the pick for Song of the Year, while Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ The Heist was named Best Album.

Gravity, the box office hit starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, was named Movie of the Year. Despite the confusion it caused when its final season was broken into two separate purchases earlier this year, Breaking Bad was Apple’s pick for Show of the Year.

On the App Store, the language-learning app Duolingo (which we covered earlier this year) took home the title of iPhone App of the Year, while Disney Animated won the iPad’s version of that award.

You can find the entire list—including more awards, best sellers, and a solid editor’s choice lineup—on the Best of 2013 page in iTunes.

Written by: Mike Beasley @MikeBeas December 16, 2013/9:45 pm - 9to5mac.com

Watchdog group forces Apple to change Australian refund policy, review two years of possible violations

 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, a business competition watchdog organization, has forced Apple to make modifications to its refund policy in order to comply with consumer protection legislation, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. According to the group, Apple misled customers with regard to what types of refund or repair they were entitled to.

According to the claims, the U.S.-based company did not provide customers with sufficient compensation for faulty devices to comply with Australian law. Now Apple has been forced to re-evaluate its practices and will have to re-examine countless potential violations that took place over the past two years. Failure to comply with the new policy could result in a massive class-action lawsuit against Apple.

The review of previous claims will take approximately three months, and each case found to be in violation of the law will result in proper legal restitution to the affected customer. Part of this process will require Apple to place a message on its Australian website notifying customers of the change and inviting them to alert Apple of any instances in which they declined a warranty claim due to Apple’s misleading information.

Written by: Mike Beasley @MikeBeas 21 hours, 5 minutesago - 9to5mac.com

Apple releasing ‘assembled-in-USA’ 2013 Mac Pro tomorrow

After three years without a substantial update and several months of teasing and promoting, Apple has finally announced that tomorrow it will begin selling the newly designed and more powerful Mac Pro it first showed off at WWDC back in June. (Full press release below.)

We have begun manufacturing the Mac Pro in Austin. It’s the most powerful Mac ever. Orders start tomorrow. http://t.co/Jrd1Gic3Ya

—
Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 18, 2013

The road was certainly not rapid between update cycles with two years of nary a word on whether or not the Mac Pro line had any life left in it and a full year of teasing and promoting the 2013 model being released tomorrow. Let’s take a look at the Mac Pro saga that led to today’s debut…

Tim Cook offered the first tease of the Mac Pro way back in December 2012 during an appearance on NBC’s now-cancelled Rock Center with Brian Williams. Apple’s CEO described the company’s investment in bringing production of what we would later learn to be the new Mac Pro into the United States:

“Next year we are going to bring some production to the U.S. on the Mac. We’ve been working on this for a long time, and we were getting closer to it. It will happen in 2013. We’re really proud of it. We could have quickly maybe done just assembly, but it’s broader because we wanted to do something more substantial. So we’ll literally invest over $100 million. This doesn’t mean that Apple will do it ourselves, but we’ll be working with people, and we’ll be investing our money.”

Months later in May, Mr. Cook described the unreleased American-assembled Mac line during an unrelated Senate hearing as being built in Texas with components and equipment sourced from Illinois, Florida, Kentucky, and Michigan.

It was June 10th during WWDC that Apple surprised us all with its theatric reveal of the professional desktop line with a Hollywood-style trailer showcasing the 2013 Mac Pro.

SVP of Marketing Phil Schiller revealed the all new design of the Mac Pro as well as other details like 4K display support and Thunderbolt 2. Schiller famously followed up the trailer presentation by teasingly saying “Apple can’t innovate, my ass.” What Schiller did not express at the time was pricing and availability short of later this year.

Fast forward to October 22 during Apple’s Fall Event for the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display. Here the company revealed the professional desktop’s $2,999 and $3,999 price tagfor quad-core and 6-core base models, respectively. However, the company did not reveal the 2013 Mac Pro launch date, opting instead to simply commit to a vague December launch.

Apple also continued the marketing campaign for the unreleased computer offering a highly produced video look at the Mac Pro assembly process.

A Jony Ive and Marc Newson designed (PRODUCT)RED 2013 Mac Pro was listed and sold at auction for $977,000 between October and November (and once believed to be purchased by Tony, Fadell, former head of Apple’s iPod division and Nest founder and CEO).

Interestingly, select journalists began receiving marketing posters for the highly anticipated Mac Pro around the same time showing Apple’s continuos effort in drumming up interest and anticipation for the next-generation Macintosh.

Now the real excitement unfolds with the all new Mac Pro shipping to the handful of Mac fans and professionals lucky enough to pick one up.

Our own Jordan Kahn interviewed extreme sports photographer Luca Gilman (pictured above) who was included in among select few professionals Apple chose to test drive the 2013 Mac Pro ahead of its December debut.

Expect more great stories like Gilman’s to come as the brand new Mac Pro finally enters the market for the first tomorrow.

Written by: Zac Hall @apollozac 15 hours, 15 minutesago - 9to5mac.com

AAPL stock down as market ponders the mystery of the missing China Mobile deal

AAPL stock took a 1.8 percent hit in pre-market trading as China Mobile not only failed to announce its iPhone launch today as had been expected, but its chairman Xi Guohua specifically told reporters that the world’s largest carrier had no announcement to make.

While neither Apple nor China Mobile ever officially confirmed today as the launch date, the Chinese government confirmed the date as the one on which 4G service would begin, China Mobile had said it would launch “a new brand” today and the WSJ seemed confident last month that today was the day.

The deal has been a very long time in the coming, but all the pieces of the puzzle looked to have fallen into place … 

The Chinese regulator signed-off the final licence in early September, Apple announced that the handsets would go on sale in China as of the opening weekend, we’ve had leaked China Mobile posters, a pre-order website, in-store displays (photo, above) - and 4G service in China did indeed begin today as promised. That the iPhone launch hasn’t happened is very odd.

While there are already millions of iPhones in use in China (one source claiming as many as 42M unofficially using China Mobile’s network already), and the iPhone has already officially launched on smaller Chinese carriers, the China Mobile deal is expected to generate tens of millions of extra sales for Apple. Estimates have ranged from 38M for China and Japan combined to 70M for China Mobile alone.

Via Fortune

Written by: Ben Lovejoy @benlovejoy 13 hours, 55 minutesago - 9to5mac.com

Two-thirds of Americans will own an iPhone by 2017, calculates analyst

Smartphones will reach saturation point in the U.S. by 2017, and by that time two-thirds of all Americans will own an iPhone – the conclusions Asymco’s Horace Dediu reaches through a series of calculations.

Dediu bases his calculation on three factors. First, that the rate of growth seen in the smartphone market so far will continue at the same pace. Second, saturation point for smartphones will be 90 percent (no technology ever achieves 100 percent). Third, that Apple’s market share will remain roughly constant, Dediu pointing out that iPhone growth has pretty much exactly mirrored the smartphone market as a whole … 

Or, in rather more detailed terms:

One can simply draw a line extending the existing red segment above and read the F/(1-F) figure at any point in time. Solving for F results in a measure of penetration and hence number of users (if population is known.)

An alternative is to use the following formula derived from the linear interpolation of the two measured market shares. iPhone market share is y/(1+y) where y=0.21x and x = F/(1-F) and F is the expected market penetration of smartphones.

So if F = 91%, x = 10, y = 2.11 and therefore the iPhone market share =  68%.

We also know from the plot of the market that F = .91 is reached around February 2017. So we can suggest that at 90% penetration (approximately saturation) the iPhone will have 68% market share of users in the US. Forecasting the addressable market (US population aged older than 13) at about 266 million that implies 180 million US users of the iPhone by early 2017.

Of course, four years is a very long time in the tech industry, and both Nokia and Blackberry prove that past success is no guarantee of future prospects, but it’s certainly a forecast that will put a smile on some faces at 1 Infinite Loop.

Written by: Ben Lovejoy @benlovejoy December 16, 2013/5:07 am - 9to5mac.com

Yahoo Weather goes universal, brings same award-winning design to the iPad

At WWDC, Yahoo received an Apple Design Award for Yahoo Weather. This coincided with the unveiling of iOS 7 and its Weather app, which displayed striking similarities to Yahoo’s effort.

With the latest update to the app, Yahoo has brought the same award-winning design to the iPad. The full-bleed imagery from Flickr really shines on a larger display. The layout for iPad is largely a port of the iPhone design with upgraded icons and assets but refinements have been made for the iPad where necessary. For example, forecast information can be much larger because of the additional real-estate.

Weather apps for iPad are in higher demand than on the iPhone, because Apple chooses not to include a stock weather iPad on its tablets. Yahoo’s offering is a good choice for anyone searching for a decent iPad weather app.

 In fact, it’s probably a good approximation of what Apple might do if they every decide to bring a native Weather app to the iPad, seeing how similar the iPhone counterparts of these apps are.

As you would expect, Yahoo Weather remains free to download on the App Store, now universal.

Written by: Benjamin Mayo @BenjaminZAMayo December 16, 2013/5:17 am - 9to5mac.com

iPhones and iPads make up three-quarters of mobile devices used in small & medium businesses

Apple has a 76 percent share of the mobile device market among small to medium businesses (SMBs), according to SMB cloud services company Intermedia. Samsung took second place with 12 percent.

The company also reported seeing spikes in new device activations when Apple launched the new iPhones and iPads. Unsurprisingly, most businesses opted for the iPhone 5s over the 5c … 

Intermedia based its numbers on use of ActiveSync, a means of synchronising mobile devices with Microsoft Exchange. The company has around 700,000 business customers.

Apple sees the business market as an important one for both Macs and iOS devices. The company created a new webpage in June promoting the business features of iOS 7, followed up in August showing how iPad apps can help businesses and in October with a new volume purchasing program for Mac apps.

Written by: Ben Lovejoy @benlovejoy December 17, 2013/4:04 am - 9to5mac.com

Google Glass companion app MyGlass launches for iPhone

Google has just increased compatibility between its Google Glass wearable computer and iOS: the company has released its MyGlass companion app for the iPhone. The application allows users to setup their Glass, connect to WiFi networks, install Glassware apps, integrate with contacts, and mirror content from Glass to the iPhone’s display. The app is free, but it (obviously) requires the $1,500 computerized shades. Update: Looks like the app has been pulled. Google offered a mention of the app on a help document discussing the XE12 update to Glass:

Google Glass X12 release notes mentions the update should come later (officially) this week:

MyGlass for iOS is ready. MyGlass has almost all of the features of the Android app, but designed especially for Apple mobile devices. Set up Glass, get turn-by-turn directions, add new contacts, and turn on Glassware. It’s made especially for XE12, so you’ll want to plug in Glass to your charger and upgrade before downloading the app if you haven’t already. We’ll be releasing it on the App Store later this week.

Written by: Mark Gurman @markgurman December 17, 2013/9:59 am - 9to5mac.com

Jordan’s holiday gift guide – the perfect companions to your Mac & iOS setup

We’ve already heard from Michael, Zac, and Ben on their last minute gift picks for the holiday season. For my gift guide, I’ve decided to only include products that I’ve personally been using on a daily basis. I review a lot of products in all of these categories, and below you’ll find only the best of the best that have earned a permanent place in my setup for both at home and on the go:

Synology DiskStation |

We’ve reviewed a couple of Synology’s network attached storage products and love them. It’s newly redesigned web-based DiskStation Manager OS looks better than ever on the Mac, and a number of free slick iOS apps make it easy to access all of your content from the cloud, AirPlay video, and auto backup photos and more from your iPhone or iPad. The company sells 1 and 2-bay DiskStations as low as $150, and it also offers more expensive options for business users that can scale up to 24 drives. If you haven’t entered the world of network attached storage, now is the time. There’s nothing quite like having total control over your content in the cloud and not having to worry about upload limits and monthly fees.

iOS apps exist for just about everything you want to access from your DiskStation including videos, audio, photos, organizing files, and you can also manage your downloads, monitor network connected cameras, and much more. Check out our full review of the DiskStation here.

Mujjo touchscreen gloves |

There are a lot of touchscreen gloves available on Amazon and elsewhere, but we’ve yet to come across a pair that lives up the quality of one of the original companies making the product, Dutch designer Mujjo. Unlike others, Mujjo’s gloves allow you to use your knuckle, palm, fingertips or just about any part of your hand to interact with the display, opposed to others that have a small touch area on the fingertips only. Available in various colors in fabric and leather options for men and women, the gloves range from €20 to €74. 

Samsung Galaxy NX |

Until Apple decides to make professional quality camera that runs iOS, I’ll be sticking to the first pro mirrorless camera running Android with the new Samsung Galaxy NX ($1,600). The camera essentially builds in a high-end smartphone with a gorgeous 4.8-inch touch display right into the back of the camera, and that means WiFi, LTE, and access to all the apps on Google Play. The Galaxy NX is truly a first of its kind camera for professionals that follows in the footsteps of the more consumer oriented Galaxy Camera. There’s really nothing else like it and if, like me, you’ve grown tired of the stale camera user interfaces that feel outdated compared to our smartphones, the Galaxy NX will definitely be a breath of fresh air. You can check out my full review here.

iPad DJ controllers |

DJ midi controllers used to be relatively intimidating to the average person, but thanks to iPad just about anyone these days can be up and running with the basics in a matter of minutes. No need to fumble around mapping your controller to your favorite programs on the Mac, now you can simply drop in your iPad and begin mixing immediately with built in support for apps like Djay and Traktor DJ. My go to recommendation would be anything from Native Instruments: The $199 Z1 or Kontrol  S4 will work great with its Traktor DJ software.

Other options include the Pioneer Pro DJ DDJ-WeGO2: $284 (Reg. $430) and the Numark iDJ Pro for iPad: $269 (Reg. $700).

Kata camera backpacks |

I’ve looked for a long time for the perfect backpack to carry my MacBook alongside my camera gear when traveling and covering shows for 9to5. I had the same problem with the majority of bags I’ve tried: most were big, bulky, and uncomfortable while catering only to professionals that wanted to carry just camera gear. I needed a lightweight, compact backpack that would protect my Galaxy NX and DSLR, but also have room for my MacBook, iPad, and other gadgets I need on me when traveling. I finally found the perfect bags from a company called KATA.

I personally use the $85 (reg. $150) KATA Bumblebee Backpack in black (pictured in dark grey on the right), but the company has a ton of great configurations no matter what your needs for carrying gear are. Another great option for those that need more room for camera gear is the $199 Mini Bee (pictured right). If you’re looking for a backpack with compartments for your camera, you won’t be disappointed with anything from KATA’s collection.

Apogee Duet |

Whether you are an experienced professional or just making demoes on your Mac or iPad, Apogee is widely considered to offer some of the best quality audio recording devices available. They are also the only interfaces around that actually look like Apple could have designed them.

The Apogee Duet is an expensive option compared to others at $649, but you get what you pay for here, and in this case it’s quality. The Duet comes with 2 analog combo Line/Mic/Instrument inputs along with Apogee’s world class A/D conversion at up to 24 bit/192kHz. Add that to the 4 analog outputs (2x balanced line outs for monitoring and 1 1/4″ stereo headphone out), and you’ve easily got one of/ if not the best singer/songwriter home demo recording devices on the market. The Duet, and most of Apogee’s other sub $2000 interfaces work with all iOS and Mac Core Audio compatible applications and ship with everything you need including a Lightning and 30 pin iOS cable.

KRK Studio Monitors |

KRK’s monitors have long been a standard in the recording industry, offering up some of the best sounding speakers available with its V-series. They’ll cost you around $600 a side with the V-series, but KRK’s more affordable line of monitors — the Rokit series — are also a great sounding option as well for a home studio setup. You can pick up a pair of 5-inch Rokits for as low as $300, compared to a bangin’ $1200 set of VXT 8s.

Whether you are just watching movies, listening to music, or doing more intensive video editing and audio work, there simply isn’t a better monitoring solution out there in my opinion.

Pad & Quill cases |

Handcrafted, high-quality leather and wood cases from Pad & Quill have become my go-to recommendation for some of the best iPhone, Mac and iPad cases around. The $85 Luxury Pocket Book is my number one pick for iPhone as is the $99 Aria for iPad (pictured above). I’ve been known to not use cases– I prefer using my Apple devices naked, to experience the design the way the creators intended. These cases, however, are the first I’ve owned that I can truly say don’t take away from Apple’s design, but instead add to it.

Satechi USB Hub |

Since most of the products in my guide are a little on the high-end for gifts (you’ll probably be keeping those for yourself), I’ve decided to throw in a less expensive option that will please any Mac user. If you haven’t yet noticed, I like when the other products I use look like they could have been designed by Apple. My 7-port Satechi USB 3.0 hub certainly fits that criteria and looks perfect next to an Apple keyboard and mouse setup. It’s available to ship immediately from Amazon for $55.

Check out our complete gift guide to home music production on your iPad or Mac. 

Written by: Jordan Kahn @JordanKahn 5 hours, 16 minutesago - 9to5mac.com

San Francisco district attorney calls on Apple to enable Activation Lock by default on all iPhones

When Apple debuted iOS 7 earlier this year, one of the many new features covered at the keynote event was Activation Lock. The feature is an addition to the existing Find My iPhone system that helps recover lost or stolen iOS devices. While Find My iPhone mainly focuses on locating tracking the missing device on a map, Activation Lock is designed to keep thieves from using stolen phones.

George Gascón, San Francisco district attorney, has called on Apple to enable this feature by default, requiring users to opt-out of the service rather than opting in. Gascón cites a recent survey of 313 San Franciscans which revealed that 79% of responding iPhone users had enabled Find My iPhone and Activation Lock.

Despite the ridiculously tiny sample size and geographical bias toward a tech-savvy citizenry, Gascón says that this number is high enough to indicate that most users want the feature enabled, and Apple should automatically enable it on all new devices.

The survey was being conducted as part of a revitalized effort to create a carrier “kill switch” that would allow stolen phones to be remotely disabled by the carrier, even if they have been restored to factory settings. Carriers were not too pleased with the idea when it first came up several years ago, and it appears attitudes have not changed much following these recent developments.

Written by: Mike Beasley @MikeBeas 4 hours, 19 minutesago - 9to5mac.com

Qualcomm employee claims 64-bit A7 hit company ‘in the gut’

Earlier this year, a Qualcomm executive said the 64-bit processor in the Apple iPhone 5s was a marketing gimmick and pointed out how the chip did nothing to help consumers. Qualcomm eventually retracted those comments and said it was working on its own 64-bit chip. That is only part of the story — new details suggest the A7 took Qualcomm by surprise, and the company is in a panic as a result.

According to Hubspot columnist Dan Lyons, Apple’s announcement of the A7 “Hit [Qualcomm] in the gut.” An anonymous Qualcomm employee told Lyons that the A7 took not just Qualcomm, but everyone by surprise. Though the company is publicly downplaying the advancement in mobile technology, internally people are freaking out.

“The 64-bit Apple chip hit us in the gut,” says the Qualcomm employee. “Not just us, but everyone, really. We were slack-jawed, and stunned, and unprepared. It’s not that big a performance difference right now, since most current software won’t benefit. But in Spinal Tap terms it’s like, 32 more, and now everyone wants it.”

Qualcomm is working on its own 64-bit processor, the Snapdragon 410, which will land in smartphones in the second half of 2014. If Qualcomm keeps to its timetable, it will be about a year behind Apple in the 64-bit processor market.

[Via MacRumors]

Posted by Kelly on Dec 17, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

China Mobile still in talks with Apple over the iPhone

Earlier this month, the WSJ claimed that Apple and China Mobile had inked a deal that would bring the iPhone to the world’s largest carrier. This report was quietly refuted by a China Mobile representative, who said talks were still ongoing. Another report today from Reuters confirmed there is still no new announcement to make.

Speaking to reporters during a conference in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, China Mobile chairman Xi Guohua said on Wednesday that his company is not ready to announce a deal with Apple to carry the iPhone. Though nothing is official, a deal can’t be too far away as the carrier is still accepting iPhone 5s pre-orders on its Beijing site, as noted by Forbes.

A deal with China Mobile is significant for Apple as the company stands to earn up to $3 billion from China Mobile sales, analysts predict. China Mobile is the world’s largest mobile phone carrier with 759 million customers. It eclipses carriers like Verizon Wireless and AT&T, which have approximately 120 and 110 million customers each, respectively. Wall Street is anxious for a China Mobile deal. When an official announcement didn’t hit the news wire today, Apple’s stock fell slightly as a result.

Posted by Kelly on Dec 18, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

iPhone 5s and iOS 7 rank high in Google’s 2013 Zeitgeist list

According to Google, 2013 was a pretty good year for Apple. So good that several Apple related products were among the most searched for terms on Google during 2013.

Not surprisingly, the top ranked Apple term was “iPhone 5s,” which ranked #3 in Google’s annual Zeitgeist list. Zeitgeist means “spirit of the times,” and the list is Google’s way of reflecting on the previous year by analyzing popular and trending search terms. Using search as a cultural indicator makes sense — if people are talking about it and it’s important, then they are also searching for it. Rounding out the top five were Nelson Mandela, Paul Walker, Cory Monteith and Harlem Shake.

Following close to the iPhone 5s was iOS 7, which climbed to the #11 spot. The iPad Air also made Google’s full list, clocking in at number 68. This is an impressive showing as Zeitgeist includes all search categories, not just technology. Besides its trending list, Google also released a video that summarizes the year in small bites as well as an interactive map that shows the top five searches in different geographic areas across the world.

Posted by Kelly on Dec 18, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

Report: iPhone could grab 68% market share in the US by 2017

The US smartphone market is expected to reach its saturation point in 2017, according to estimations and calculations performed by Asymco analyst Horace Dediu. The iPhone is expected to hit 68 percent market share by then, based on the assumption that its growth mirrors that of the overall US smartphone market.

Based on historical data, Dediu expects the US to have 266 million smartphone users (90 percent penetration) by February 2017, with nearly 180 million of them using an iPhone. In other words, two in every three smartphone users will own an iPhone.

(Green: US smartphone, Red: iPhone, Yellow: Android)

From Asymco:

If we believe that the iPhone can be modeled behaviorally then it may be possible to forecast its growth. One can simply draw a line extending the existing red segment above and read the F/(1-F) figure at any point in time. Solving for F results in a measure of penetration and hence number of users (if population is known.)

An alternative is to use the following formula derived from the linear interpolation of the two measured market shares. iPhone market share is y/(1+y) where y=0.21x and x = F/(1-F) and F is the expected market penetration of smartphones.

So if F = 91%, x = 10, y = 2.11 and therefore the iPhone market share =  68%.

We also know from the plot of the market that F = .91 is reached around February 2017. So we can suggest that at 90% penetration (approximately saturation) the iPhone will have 68% market share of users in the US. Forecasting the addressable market (US population aged older than 13) at about 266 million that implies 180 million US users of the iPhone by early 2017.

The assumption here is that the iPhone’s growth is parallel to that of the overall smartphone market, which depends on Apple’s ability to make sure the iPhone is the most popular smartphone over the next three years. Do you think that is a reasonable assumption or it’s too far fetched?

Posted by Jason on Dec 16, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

AT&T criticized for shamelessly whining about the ‘burden’ of subsidizing the iPhone

Last week, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson told attendees at a NYC investor conference that the era of subsidizing phones is coming to an end as carriers can no longer “afford” to foot up the bill. If you think this sounds ridiculous coming from the same carrier that crows about its record smartphone sales and increasing wireless revenues, then you are not alone.

Former Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassée takes AT&T to task over this comment by CEO Stephenson, saying this shameless whining needs to stop. Gassée points out that there is no subsidy absorbed by the carrier as customers are locked into a contract for two years. By reducing the price on a phone and requiring a minimum term of service, Gassée argues that carriers are offering a loan to customers that is paid back as part of the monthly service plan. Gassée likens a carrier to a loan shark that wants its customers to get hooked on the service and encourages them to come back for new phones, thereby securing a never-ending revenue stream.

I don’t know if Stephenson is speaking out of cultural deafness or cynicism, but he’s obscuring the point: There is no subsidy. Carriers extend a loan that users pay back as part of the monthly service payment. Like any loan shark, the carrier likes its subscriber to stay indefinitely in debt, to always come back for more, for a new phone and its ever-revolving payments stream.

This ever-revolving payment stream can be quite substantial for carriers like AT&T. A quick look at AT&T’s Q3 2013 earnings report reveals that AT&T sold a record number of smartphones in the quarter, increasing its postpaid smartphone subscriber base by 66 percent year over year. As a result, wireless data revenues increased 17.6 percent and postpaid data ARPU (average revenue per user) increased 16.7 percent year-over-year. In fact, AT&T points out in its earnings report that its ARPU for smartphones is more than twice that of non-smartphone subscribers. It appears that these customers that AT&T can no longer afford are the same ones bringing in all the revenue for the carrier.

What smartphones are causing all this money trouble for carriers like AT&T? It’s primarily the iPhone, which fetches top dollar from Apple and from AT&T. As noted by Horace Dediu, “the iPhone is primarily hired as a premium network service salesman. It receives a “commission” for selling a premium service in the form of a premium price. Because it’s so good at it, the premium is quite high.” It’s this commission that has AT&T in a tizzy.

Gassée concludes by saying, “All this leaves carriers with conflicted feelings: They like their iPhone salesman but, like short-sighted bosses who think their top earner makes too much money, they angle for ways to cut commissions down.”

Posted by Kelly on Dec 17, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

12 Days of Gifts Bonus: Download Lorde’s “No Better” song and “Royals” video for free

Last week, Apple kicked off the 12 Days of Gifts promotion with the release of the iOS app. For the first time ever, Apple is bringing the giveaway program to the US.

The daily promotion was supposed to start on December 26th and last until January 6th. Each day, Apple will give away a new gift that’s available for you to download for free. It can be a music track, a free book, an app or a movie.

But Apple has a surprise for us today, as it is giving away Lorde’s “No Better” song and the video of her super hit song “Royals” for free.

So download the 12 Days of Gifts app and don’t miss the chance to get them for free. With 10 days still to go for the promotion, it remains to be seen if Apple will have any more surprises in store for us, though the app does say “Check back on Dec 26 for another gift.”

Posted by Gautam on Dec 16, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

Apple supplier Pegatron uses Face Recognition to screen for underage workers

Apple supplier Pegatron is using face recognition to combat the problem of underage workers in its factories in China, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Pegatron and Apple recently came under fire over the death of 15-year old worker Shi Zhaokun due to pneumonia. The two companies say their investigations showed that the boy’s death had no connection to the working conditions in Pegatron’s factory, but the incident did raise concerns over underage employment.

Pegatron says that although it has thorough checks in place to ensure that employees are above the legal working age of 16, some manage to obtain fake IDs, and cheat the system:

Pegatron said applicants for its assembly line have their government-issued IDs checked for authenticity. Their faces are then matched to their ID photos through facial recognition technology, to weed out those using borrowed ID cards. Their names are also checked against police records.

In theory, these measures should keep out underage workers, as they should catch people using fake or borrowed IDs. In Mr. Shi’s case, he was able to obtain a government-issued ID card that included his photo but another person’s identifying information, the company said.

Pegatron is a Taiwanese electronics manufacturing company that operates the bulk of its factories in China and Taiwan. The company made headlines earlier this year when it was reported that Apple was moving away from Foxconn and choosing this smaller firm to assemble its lower-cost iPhone model. Besides the iPhone 5c, Pegatron also was a minor producer of the iPhone in 2011 and the iPad mini in 2012.

WSJ’s report says that Foxconn and Pegatron are making efforts to make their factories more automated, but costs and technology are proving to be a problem.

[via WSJ]

Posted by Jason on Dec 16, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

Apple’s new holiday commercial will leave you teary eyed

Apple is known for its once-a-year holiday commercials that showcase its flagship products in a holiday setting. Two years ago, Apple focused on the iPhone 4s and Siri, while last year the iPad and FaceTime took center stage. This year’s clip features the iPhone, its movie making capabilities and the convenience of AirPlay streaming to an Apple TV.

Set to the tune of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” the video shows how a teenager, seemingly on the outside with an iPhone always in his hand, can capture a family holiday using only his phone’s camera and a movie editing app. It’s a touching clip that’ll resound with the nostalgic softie and displaced techie inside all of us. You can watch the clip below and share your reactions in the comments. There’s also a second video showing the full-length home video that was featured in the commercial.

[Via 9to5Mac]

Posted by Kelly on Dec 17, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

Apple releases the Best of 2013 for the App Store and iTunes

Apple has announced its annual iTunes Store awards for 2013.

It has announced the best apps, music, movies, TV shows, books and podcasts of the year.

Here are some of the winners for 2013:

Apps:

• iPhone app of the year: Duolingo: Learn Languages for free (iTunes link)
• iPad app of the year: Disney Animated (iTunes link)
• iPhone game of the year: Ridiculous Fishing: A Tale of Redemption (iTunes link)
• iPad game of the year: Badland (iTunes link)

Music:

• Artist of the year: The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience by Justin Timberlake (iTunes link)
• Album of the year: The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (iTunes link)
• Song of the year: Royals by Lorde (iTunes link)
• Breakthrough Artist: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City by Kendrick Lamar (iTunes link)

Movies:

• Best Movie: Gravity (iTunes link)
• Best Animated Movie: Despicable Me 2 (iTunes link)

Check out the best TV shows, books, and podcasts by following this iTunes link.

Once you’ve had a chance to look at the picks, what do you think should have made the list and didn’t? Or, and more interesting, what’s on the list that is just too lame for words?

Posted by Gautam on Dec 17, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide for Apple owners

There is little over a week left until Christmas, which means it is time to get those items on your holiday shopping list checked off as soon as possible. If you have a few Apple owners on your list, we are here to help with a handful of hardware and accessory recommendations that’ll please even the seasoned Apple veteran.

Recommended Full-Sized Tablet: iPad Air ($499)

The iPad Air is Apple’s showcase iOS tablet. It’s smaller than its predecessor, making it the perfect size for tossing in your bag. It is also an awesome tablet for using around the house with a large display that’s great for movies and web browsing. The iPad is powered by Apple’s 64-bit A7 processor and runs iOS 7, making it powerhouse that few tablets can compete with.

Hardware-wise, the iPad Air sports an A7 processor with M7 motion coprocessor, a 9.7-inch Retina Display with 2048×1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch, 1GB of RAM, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera, optional LTE, dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) 802.11n Wi-Fi and MIMO and more.

The WiFi-only version starts at $499 for 16GB of storage, the WiFi + Cellular model tacks $129 on the base cost, cost ing you $629 for the 16GB model. The iPad Air is available online and in stores from Apple and from third-party retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, Radio Shack, Target and Staples.

Recommended Medium-Sized tablet: Retina iPad mini ($399)

The Retina iPad mini is tiny, but it packs a punch. It’s about the same size as the original iPad mini, but now the tablet sports a retina display and almost the same internal hardware as its bigger brother, the iPad Air. It’s the right size for using on the go and is the perfect weight for long gaming sessions. Like the iPad Air, the Retina iPad mini is powered by Apple’s 64-bit A7 processor and runs iOS 7.

Hardware-wise, the Retina iPad mini sports an A7 processor, a 7.9-inch Retina Display with 2048×1536 resolution, 1GB of RAM, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera, optional LTE, dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) 802.11n Wi-Fi and MIMO and more.

The WiFi-only version starts at $399 for 16GB of storage, the WiFi + Cellular model tacks $129 on the base cost, costing you $529 for the 16GB model. The Retina iPad mini is available online from Apple and from third-party retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, Radio Shack, Target and Staples.

Recommended Smartphone: iPhone 5s ($649; $199 with a contract)

Like the iPad Air, the iPhone 5s is Apple’s showcase iOS smartphone. It’s powered by the latest version of iOS and features some extras like a fantastic 8-megapixel camera, a fingerprint sensor, and M7 motion coprocessor.

Hardware-wise, the iPhone 5s sports a 64-bit A7 processor with M7 motion coprocessor, a 4-inch Retina Display with a pixel density of 326 dots per inch (dpi) and 1136X640 resolution, 1GB of RAM, 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture, 1.2-megapixel front-facing FaceTime camera, Touch iD fingerprint sensor, international LTE bands (more LTE bands than any other iPhone or any other smartphone in the world), dual-band WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. It ships with iOS 7.

The iPhone 5s is available in Apple retail stores and online with a starting price tag of $649 ($199 with contract) for the 16GB model. It’s also available from Best Buy,  Radio Shack, Walmart and carriers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.

Recommended Entry-Level Smartphone: iPhone 5c ($549; $99 with a contract)

The iPhone 5c is Apple’s mid-range iOS smartphone. It’s powered by the latest version of iOS and comes in with a price tag that is a $100 less than its bigger brother, the iPhone 5s. It’s the colorful model, available in five different hues.

Hardware-wise, the iPhone 5c sports an A6 processor, 4-inch retina display, 8-megapixel iSight camera, and improved FaceTime camera, international LTE bands (more LTE bands than any other iPhone or any other smartphone in the world), dual-band WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. It ships with iOS 7.

The iPhone 5c is available in Apple retail stores and online with a starting price tag of $549 ($99 with contract) for the 16GB model. It’s also available from Best Buy, Radio Shack, Walmart and carriers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.

Recommended Rugged Case: OtterBox ($25-90)

Otterbox is known for its rugged and durable cases that’ll protect your iOS devices from the elements as well as unexpected falls. They have a variety of options including the Armor series, which is crush-proof, waterproof and dust-proof and the more slim-fitting commuter series that is less bulky, but still offers protection from a fall. The OtterBox cases are pricey, but they are worth the cash if you are the type of person who works or plays in an environment where falls are common.

Recommended Case: Any Griffin Model ($20-50)

Griffin offers a variety of mid-range cases that’ll suit your personal style. It’s most popular model is the Survivor case which is made of shock-absorbing silicone, hard plastic and offers a kickstand. Griffin cases are protective, stylish and won’t break the bank. Prices for the basic hard shell cases start in the $20 range.

Recommended Battery Case: Mophie Juice Pack Plus ($119)

Mophie sells the Juice Pack Plus,  an excellent case and backup battery combo that’ll power your iPhone 5/5s for days at a time. It’s great for traveling or for those iPhone owners who live in areas where weak cellular signal drains their battery dry. The case adds some bulk to the iPhone, but it is worth the extra weight to be able to move about without always scanning for a power source. If you prefer a standalone backup battery, Mophie also sells the Powerstation Pro, which will charge an iPhone, iPad and other USB devices.

Recommended Case Alternative: Invisible Shield ($49)

If you prefer to go caseless, you still should consider an Invisible Shield skin to protect your device’s case and screen from unexpected scratches. The Invisible Shield is colorless and adds little to no bulk to the form factor of a device. It has a grippy feel which prevents a device from slipping from your hand. The Invisible Shield comes with a lifetime guarantee for the lifespan of your device.

Recommended Fitness Tracker: Fitbit Force ($129)

The Fitbit Force landed a few months ago and it has quickly become the “must-have” fitness tracker for 2013. The latest entrant in the fitness category includes an LED display, stair counting, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity and an improved motion sensor. It retails for a very reasonable $129 and syncs with both your iOS devices and your Mac. 

Recommended smartwatch: Pebble ($149)

The Pebble Smartwatch went on sale earlier this year and allows you shuttle data between your phone and your wrist. You can see incoming emails, text messages and caller ID on the wristwatch. It also interacts with some apps allowing you to control music playback and more from the watch.

The Kickstarter Smartwatch is coming into its own with an ongoing set of updates that provide improved notifications, better control of alarms and more. It is available for $149 from Pebble’s website and can also be purchased from retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.

Recommended Personal Music System: Bose Soundlink Mini ($199)

The Bose Soundlink Mini is at the top of its class in the ultracompact wireless speaker category. It has a gorgeous design and an excellent sound, despite its small size. It’s small size is its biggest benefit, allowing you to fit the speaker any nook and cranny. It also features a charging cradle that you can always leave plugged in. The Bose Soundlink is available for $199 directly from Bose or retailers like Best Buy, Amazon and others.

Recommended Household Music System: Sonos Play: 1 ($199)

The Sonos Play: 1 is an affordable option for people who want the Sonos audio experience without breaking the bank. The wireless speaker system is priced at $199, though you can get it cheaper if you shop around. It offers near perfect wireless streaming with support for services like Spotify, Pandora and Rdio. Pair the Sonos speaker with the Sonos Controller app to control all your Sonos devices from your smartphone or tablet.

Recommended Home Entertainment device: Apple TV ($99)

The Apple TV connects to your HDTV and allows you to receive streaming content from a variety of sources including Netflix, YouTube, iTunes and more. It also supports AirPlay, allowing you to stream content from your iPad and iPhone to your TV. The Apple TV is simple to install — just plug it in and starting sending videos and more from your smartphone, tablet or computer right to your TV. Just make sure you setup the Remote app for iOS because the included physical remote is easy to lose.

Recommended Mac Accessory: Leap Motion Controller ($79)

The Leap Motion Controller connects to your Mac and allows you to control your computer using in-air hand gestures. You can swipe, pinch, wave, and grab using your hands and fingers and the Leap module will translate those motions into gestures that your Mac can understand. There are over 150 apps in the Leap App Store that support this innovative technology. If someone on your list loves cutting edge technology, then they will love the Leap Motion device.

 

Recommended Miscellaneous Gift: Apple Store or iTunes Gift Card ($10 – $2000)

An iTunes or Apple Store Gift Card is the perfect gift for the iOS or Mac owner who already has everything. This simple and easy gift will give the recipient a lump of cash that they can use to buy Apple hardware, music, movies, apps and more. Available in a variety of denominations, the gift card can be purchased online from Apple and from retailers like Best Buy, Walgreens, Target, Walmart and more.

[Header image from flickr member zaimoku_woodpile]

Posted by Kelly on Dec 17, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

Video shows jovial start to Obama meeting with Tim Cook and other tech leaders

Apple CEO Tim Cook and other Silicon Valley tech executives met with President Obama to talk about the Healthcare.gov website, the NSA and more. The early meet and greet part of the discussion was captured on film, giving us  quick, albeit semi-staged, look at the meeting.

As reported by Politico, details on the serious topics discussed in the meeting were closely guarded secret. Thanks to the video below, we did get a few lighthearted gems about House of Cards from the President and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

“I’m just wondering if you brought advance copies of ‘House of Cards’?” Obama said to Netflix head Reed Hastings. The executive chuckled and invited the president to show up for a cameo, according to a pool report.

“I wish things were that ruthlessly efficient,” Obama said in reference to the show and its Machiavellian lead character. “This guy’s getting a lot of stuff done.”

Following the meeting, the White House announced that it was hiring former Microsoft Office exec Kurt DelBene to help fix the remaining issues that are plaguing the Healthcare.gov website. Bloomberg also caught up with Tim Cook after the meeting and he spoke highly of his time with President, saying it was “a great meeting.”

Posted by Kelly on Dec 17, 2013 - iphonehacks.com

Apple forced to change refund policy under new Australian Consumer law

Apple has got into trouble with the Australian regulator again.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has found that Apple’s warranty policies violated the new Australian law.

Under the new law, Apple is required to provide either a full refund, repair or replace products with a major failure and to offer free repairs, refunds or replacements for products with minor faults.

Apple warranty policies did not comply with this, as ACCC found that Apple only offered a full refund if the product was returned within two weeks, and it offered a refund or replacement if the products were damaged within a year of purchase.

Apple also did not take responsibility for non-Apple products sold through Apple stores; and offered a store credit rather than a full refund for faulty products. Apple will have to comply with the policies for non-Apple products as well that are sold through Apple stores.

Apple has also been asked to put the following note on its Australian website:

“If you believe that you have been denied a statutory right or remedy by Apple in the past in relation to a product sold to you by Apple or did not pursue a warranty claim because of representations made to you by Apple, please contact Apple … and your claim will be assessed.”

Apple has also promised to reassess all claims about faulty products purchased over the past two years starting on January 6.

Last year, Apple ran into issues with the Australian regulator over the naming of the iPad model with cellular capabilities, and was forced to change the name from “iPad Wi-Fi + 4G” to ”iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular.”

[via The Sydney Morning Herald]

Posted by Gautam on Dec 18, 2013 - iphonehacks.com