New reports suggest discount retail giant Wal-Mart will begin selling the iPhone Dec. 28, a move raising some eyebrows while also expanding Apple’s retail strategy, according to other experts. An AT&T memo obtained by the Boy Genius Report outlined plans to offer the iPhone first in select Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations, followed by nationwide availability [...]

New reports suggest discount retail giant Wal-Mart will begin selling the iPhone Dec. 28, a move raising some eyebrows while also expanding Apple’s retail strategy, according to other experts.

An AT&T memo obtained by the Boy Genius Report outlined plans to offer the iPhone first in select Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations, followed by nationwide availability to more than 3,000 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores.

“We are pleased to announce that Wal-Mart has reached agreement with Apple to offer iPhone 3G in Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart managed Sam’s Club Connection Centers nationwide beginning December 28, 2008,” according to the memo.

In November, Boy Genius wrote that Wal-Mart would start offering the iPhone on November 15, prior to the traditional Black Monday period that kicks off holiday sales.

Backing up the memo was a Wednesday e-mail from Jamie Townsend, a JRPG Research analyst. Townsend told clients he expects the iPhone will appear at Wal-Marts before the end of the year.

Townsend predicted the iPhone would require the same two-year AT&T contract and be priced at or below Apple handsets sold by AT&T or Cupertino.

The post-Christmas timing of the iPhone’s unveiling at Wal-Mart gave one analyst reason to pause.

“Retail orthodoxy states that to get the most of the holiday sales season, products need to be in stores by Black Friday at the latest,” Avi Greengart, Current Analysis analyst, told Cult of Mac.

The JRPG analyst offered the economy as one reason for the timing.

Townsend believes the move comes as AT&T looks to bolster mobile subscribers as consumers curtail expenses. Apple could also use Wal-Mart to discount the iPhone as handset makers rush to attract buyers during a period when handset demand is expected to fall.

Strategically, adding the discount chain to the list of retailers offering the iPhone could boost the handset’s profile among price-sensitive shoppers.

Adding Wal-Mart shows “that the iPhone is not a premium/elite product out of reach to the masses: there is nothing more mainstream than a product available at Wal-Mart,” Greengart told Cult of Mac.

If the report is confirmed, Wal-Mart would join Apple’s ever-growing list of retailers selling the iPhone. Earlier this year, electronics giant Best Buy began offering the handset.

However, Greengart believes Wal-Mart’s massive reach would overshadow Best Buy’s 950 stores.

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Microsoft, a day after slashing prices of its Zune media player, Thursday threw a bone to fans of DRM-free music, offering a $15 per month Zune Pass subscription for essentially $5. Microsoft said it would allow Zune Pass subscribers to keep 10 songs (worth around $10) per month that they can own, even if the [...]

Microsoft, a day after slashing prices of its Zune media player, Thursday threw a bone to fans of DRM-free music, offering a $15 per month Zune Pass subscription for essentially $5.

Microsoft said it would allow Zune Pass subscribers to keep 10 songs (worth around $10) per month that they can own, even if the subscription ends. Previously, copy-protection meant songs downloaded from the Zune marketplace would be disabled if the $15 per month subscription service expired.

“People want the freedom to listen to whatever they want across millions of songs, combined with the confidence that they can keep their favorite tracks forever,” Chris Stephenson, Zune’s general manager of global marketing, said in statement.

The DRM-free songs will be available from Sony BMG and Universal Music Group. Microsoft also inked agreements with EMI, Warner Music Group and several independent music publishers.

Microsoft rival Apple reportedly is in talks to add Sony and Universal Music Group to its iTunes Plus program offering DRM-free music downloads. Currently, EMI is the only publisher offering copy protection free songs through iTunes.

On Wednesday, Microsoft cut prices on its flash-memory based Zune media players. The software giant said it would slash $20 from its 4GB Zune to $99 while dropping the 8GB Zune by $10 to $139 and trimming its 16GB media device by $20 to $179.

In a statement, Zune marketing head Adam Sohn attributed the hardware price cuts to “realities of the market.”

“For the Zune team, future success will have as much to do with the marketplace/store and the subscription service as it does the hardware,” Gartner media analyst Mike McGuire told Cult of Mac.

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Image: http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/20/apple-releases-itunes-8-0-2/) Apple has released an update to iTunes to version 8.0.2. The update is available in your Mac OS X software update. —Quote— iTunes 8.0.2 improves stability and performance and provides a number of important bug fixes, including: - Addresses a quality issue creating MP3s on some computers. - Fixes a connectivity issue with the iTunes Store when using some Internet proxies with Mac OS X. - Improves accessibility with VoiceOver. —End Quote— The update comes just one day ahead of the rumored release of iPhone Firmware 2.2. Article Link: Apple Releases iTunes 8.0.2 (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/20/apple-releases-itunes-8-0-2/)

Apple has released an update to iTunes to version 8.0.2. The update is available in your Mac OS X software update.

Quote:

iTunes 8.0.2 improves stability and performance and provides a number of important bug fixes, including: - Addresses a quality issue creating MP3s on some computers. - Fixes a connectivity issue with the iTunes Store when using some Internet proxies with Mac OS X. - Improves accessibility with VoiceOver.

The update comes just one day ahead of the rumored release of iPhone Firmware 2.2.

Article Link: Apple Releases iTunes 8.0.2

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Flickr user raneko had a mucky Mighty Mouse, and decided to take it to pieces and clean it. This wasn’t something Apple intended to happen, so it’s quite an involved process - you can follow raneko’s progress from this photo in his Apple set (which has a bunch of other great Apple pics in it). (Photo [...]

Flickr user raneko had a mucky Mighty Mouse, and decided to take it to pieces and clean it. This wasn’t something Apple intended to happen, so it’s quite an involved process - you can follow raneko’s progress from this photo in his Apple set (which has a bunch of other great Apple pics in it).

(Photo used under Creative Commons license. Thanks to raneko.)

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Image: http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/20/official-mms-may-arrive-for-iphone/) MacWorld Sweden (http://macworld.idg.se/2.1038/1.193858/macworld-avslojar-telia-erbjuder-mms-till-iphone) caught the attention of iPhone users when they reported that Swedish carrier Telia is planning on bringing Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) to their iPhone users. MMS is a feature that has been long requested by iPhone users and would allow the easy sending of multimedia (photos, video) to your contacts. Their solution appears that it may be (http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/mms-coming-to-iphone-via-re-branded-mobispine-app/15732) a third party application developed by Swedish developer Mobispine. Mobispine is marketing (http://blog.mobispine.com/2008/11/first-native-mms-app-for-iphone.html) their MMS application to mobile carriers (such as AT&T) as a solution to provide the service to their end users. —Quote— We’re confident that operators will find the service easy to use and profitable with an opportunity to expand messaging usage, improve subscriber retention and hopefully increase revenue. The service will also increase customer loyalty and recognition as the brand is displayed on the user’s phone. The application is white-labelled and will be branded for each operator and distributed via the App store. —End Quote— While there have been many MMS-like applications that have appeared in the App Store, this solution appears like it would tie in directly with the carrier, allowing more seamless messaging between mobile phones. Of course, this would also mean that carriers would likely be able to charge a premium for MMS messages. Image: http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/11/20/173428-mms.jpg Mobispine describes their app: —Quote— MMS on iPhone enables easy, convenient and cost-effective communication with colleagues, friends and family. Users can easily create a new MMS and attach a picture from an album on the phone or simply take a new snapshot with the camera. The application is integrated with the iPhone’s contacts for easy access. Some of the key features for end-users include the ability to easily send and receive messages from iPhone to any phone with a native and intuitive user interface. The application also offers the ability to capture a picture via the iPhone camera or the option to select from existing photos. —End Quote— Apple will still have to approve the application for inclusion in the App Store, but with the mobile carrier’s blessing, it seems likely this app would see approval. Article Link: ‘Official’ MMS May Arrive for iPhone (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/20/official-mms-may-arrive-for-iphone/)

MacWorld Sweden caught the attention of iPhone users when they reported that Swedish carrier Telia is planning on bringing Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) to their iPhone users. MMS is a feature that has been long requested by iPhone users and would allow the easy sending of multimedia (photos, video) to your contacts.

Their solution appears that it may be a third party application developed by Swedish developer Mobispine. Mobispine is marketing their MMS application to mobile carriers (such as AT&T) as a solution to provide the service to their end users.

Quote:

We’re confident that operators will find the service easy to use and profitable with an opportunity to expand messaging usage, improve subscriber retention and hopefully increase revenue. The service will also increase customer loyalty and recognition as the brand is displayed on the user’s phone. The application is white-labelled and will be branded for each operator and distributed via the App store.

While there have been many MMS-like applications that have appeared in the App Store, this solution appears like it would tie in directly with the carrier, allowing more seamless messaging between mobile phones. Of course, this would also mean that carriers would likely be able to charge a premium for MMS messages.

Mobispine describes their app:

Quote:

MMS on iPhone enables easy, convenient and cost-effective communication with colleagues, friends and family. Users can easily create a new MMS and attach a picture from an album on the phone or simply take a new snapshot with the camera. The application is integrated with the iPhone’s contacts for easy access. Some of the key features for end-users include the ability to easily send and receive messages from iPhone to any phone with a native and intuitive user interface. The application also offers the ability to capture a picture via the iPhone camera or the option to select from existing photos.

Apple will still have to approve the application for inclusion in the App Store, but with the mobile carrier’s blessing, it seems likely this app would see approval.

Article Link: ‘Official’ MMS May Arrive for iPhone

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Judging by the company’s corporate image, you might imagine working for Apple is a pretty laid-back experience, free from the stifling rulebooks of most major organizations. That may not be the case, but it’s emerged that the company’s policy on storing e-mails is [...] Read the original post here:

Image: http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/20/ibm-to-acquire-transitive/) Earlier this week, IBM announced (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/IBM-Announces-Plans-Acquire-Transitive/story.aspx?guid=%7B9ED065D0-F8EB-4A79-8EBE-A3C045034D46%7D) its plans to buy Transitive, a small cross-platform virtualization company. MacRumors readers will remember the company for providing (http://www.macrumors.com/2005/06/08/transitive-technologies-power-rosetta/) the technology behind Rosetta, Apple’s PowerPC emulator for Mac OS X. Rosetta played a major role in allowing Apple to transition from PowerPC to Intel architectures and remains a part of Mac OS X. Apple’s need for Rosetta, of course, has lessened over the years as the switch to Intel has progressed. It’s not clear if this will affect Apple’s ongoing license for Transitive technologies. Article Link: IBM to Acquire Transitive (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/20/ibm-to-acquire-transitive/)

Earlier this week, IBM announced its plans to buy Transitive, a small cross-platform virtualization company.

MacRumors readers will remember the company for providing the technology behind Rosetta, Apple’s PowerPC emulator for Mac OS X. Rosetta played a major role in allowing Apple to transition from PowerPC to Intel architectures and remains a part of Mac OS X. Apple’s need for Rosetta, of course, has lessened over the years as the switch to Intel has progressed.

It’s not clear if this will affect Apple’s ongoing license for Transitive technologies.

Article Link: IBM to Acquire Transitive

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Italian priest Father Paolo Padrini came up with the idea of a free prayer app for iPhone and iPod Touch users. This virtual breviary, or book of hours, gives the morning prayer, evening prayer and night prayer or complines for the day. Right now, it’s available only in Italian but Spanish and English versions are [...]

Italian priest Father Paolo Padrini came up with the idea of a free prayer app for iPhone and iPod Touch users. This virtual breviary, or book of hours, gives the morning prayer, evening prayer and night prayer or complines for the day.

Right now, it’s available only in Italian but Spanish and English versions are on the way.

It certainly looks less clunky than the iRosary.

Via American Magazine

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