Click HERE to download and watch the conversation that took place on June 3rd at the Apple Store SoHo with Stephen King, John Mellencamp, and T Bone Burnett, co-creators of the southern gothic supernatural musical “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County.”
This extraordinary collaboration—13 years in the making—is a haunting tale of fraternal love, jealousy, and revenge.
The moderator, Anthony DeCurtis from Rolling Stone talks to the special guests about the inspiration behind the project and the all-star recording, with music and lyrics by Mellencamp, libretto by King, and musical direction by Burnett.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces the Man of Steel game for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, as well as Android smartphones and tablets, will be available beginning June 14, 2013 on the App Store, Google Play and Amazon Appstore for Android. Based on DC Comics’ iconic Superman character and inspired by the Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures feature film “Man of Steel,” the game is a 3D-brawler that lets players combat General Zod and his invading Kryptonian forces on both ground and air in a fast-paced mobile adventure.
Developed by Phosphor Games Studio, Man of Steel provides players with two diverse game modes. Featuring custom, console-quality cinematic sequences, Story Mode transports players directly to Smallville, the Kent Farm and other familiar settings to battle General Zod and save Earth from its destruction. In Survival Mode, fans see how long they can last against a progressively more difficult swarm of Zod’s forces. Players can share their scores with friends to see who the ultimate Man of Steel is, as well as upgrade their skills and unlock new suits by winning battles and earning experience points along the way.
The Man of Steel App is available for $2.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.AppStore.com. An HD version is available for $4.99 on iPad.
The game is available for $4.99 for Android smartphones and tablets from Google Play or Amazon Appstore for Android.
Apple today showed a sneak peek into the future of the pro desktop with a first look at the next generation Mac Pro. Designed around a revolutionary unified thermal core, the Mac Pro introduces a completely new pro desktop architecture and design that is optimized for performance inside and out. With next generation Xeon processors, dual workstation-class GPUs, Thunderbolt 2, PCIe-based flash storage, and ultra-fast ECC memory, the new 9.9-inch tall Mac Pro packs an amazing amount of power into an incredibly small package.
The next generation Mac Pro is architected around an ingenious unified thermal core that allows the desktop to efficiently share its entire thermal capacity across all the processors. The result is a pro desktop with breakthrough performance packed into a design that is one-eighth the volume of the current Mac Pro. Next generation Intel Xeon E5 processors with up to 12 core configurations deliver double the floating point performance. With two AMD FirePro workstation-class GPUs, the all-new Mac Pro is up to 2.5 times faster than the current Mac Pro and delivers up to an amazing 7 teraflops of compute power. The new Mac Pro also features PCIe-based flash storage that is up to 10 times faster than conventional desktop hard drives and includes the latest four-channel ECC DDR3 memory running at 1866 MHz to deliver up to 60GBps of memory bandwidth. With all that power, the new Mac Pro lets you seamlessly edit full-resolution 4K video while simultaneously rendering effects in the background.
The next generation Mac Pro is the most expandable Mac ever built. With six Thunderbolt 2 ports that can deliver up to 20Gbps of bandwidth to each external device, Mac Pro is perfect for connecting to external storage, multiple PCI expansion chassis, audio and video breakout boxes, and the latest external displays, including 4K desktop displays. Each of the six Thunderbolt 2 ports supports up to six daisy-chained devices, giving you the ability to connect up to 36 high-performance peripherals. Thunderbolt 2 is completely backwards compatible with existing Thunderbolt peripherals, and allows you to transfer data between Macs faster and easier than ever.
The next generation Mac Pro will be available later this year. To learn more, visit www.apple.com/mac-pro.
Apple today released a developer preview of OS X Mavericks, the 10th major release of the world’s most advanced operating system. With more than 200 new features, OS X Mavericks brings Maps and iBooks to the Mac, introduces Finder Tags and Tabs, enhances multi-display support for power users, delivers new core technologies for breakthrough power efficiency and performance, and includes an all new version of Safari. The preview release of OS X Mavericks is available to Mac Developer Program members starting today. Mac users will be able to download Mavericks from the Mac App Store this fall.
Maps brings advanced mapping technologies from iOS to the Mac, including crisp vector graphics, stunning 3D view and interactive Flyover. With Maps you can plan a trip from your Mac, then send it to your iPhone®for voice navigation on the road. Maps integration throughout Mavericks gives users helpful maps from within Mail, Contacts and Calendar, and developers can integrate the same powerful mapping features into their apps through the Map Kit API.
With iBooks you have instant access to your existing iBooks library, as well as the more than 1.8 million titles in the iBooks Store, from textbooks and classics to the latest best sellers. iBooks also works seamlessly across your devices, so you can read a book on your Mac, make notes or highlights, and then pick up exactly where you left off on your iPad.
OS X Mavericks introduces new power user features for the ultimate Mac experience. Tags are a powerful new way to organize and find your files anywhere on your Mac or in iCloud. You can easily tag any file in the Finder, in iCloud, or when saving a new document. Tags appear in the Finder Sidebar to enable you to view files by project or category.
Finder Tabs reduce the clutter on your desktop by consolidating multiple Finder windows into one window with multiple tabs. You can customize the view for each tab, move files between tabs, and even run the Finder with multiple tabs open in full-screen.
Mavericks also makes using multiple displays even easier and more powerful. The menu bar and dock are available on any display, and users can now easily run windowed or full-screen apps on whichever display they choose, with no configuration required. With Mavericks you can also use your HDTV as a second display using Apple TV and AirPlay.
New core technologies in OS X Mavericks improve the energy efficiency and responsiveness of your Mac. Timer Coalescing intelligently groups together low-level operations so that the CPU can spend more time in a low-power state, saving energy without affecting performance or responsiveness. App Nap reduces the power consumed by apps that you’re not using. Compressed Memory technology keeps your Mac fast and responsive. When your system’s memory begins to fill up, Compressed Memory automatically compresses inactive data. When these items are needed again, Mavericks instantly uncompresses them.
The new version of Safari delivers blazing performance, innovative features and breakthrough technologies. Safari outperforms other browsers in energy efficiency, memory efficiency and JavaScript performance. Safari’s new process-per-tab architecture makes the browser more responsive, stable and secure. Safari also introduces innovations like Shared Links, which make it easy to discover, read and share interesting new content from Twitter and LinkedIn, all in one place.
Additional features in OS X Mavericks include:
- iCloud Keychain, which safely stores your website login information, credit card numbers and Wi-Fi passwords, and pushes them to all of your devices so you don’t need to remember them. Information is always protected with AES-256 encryption when it’s stored on your Mac and when it’s pushed to your devices;
- an updated Calendar, which adds integration with Maps, continuous scrolling so you can zip through weeks or months, and a new Inspector to simplify event creation and editing;
- interactive Notifications, allowing you to reply to a message, respond to a FaceTime call or even delete an email without leaving the app you’re using. Websites can now use notifications to keep you up to date on the latest news, scores and other information. While You Were Away Notifications make sure you see what happened while your Mac was asleep; and
- Xcode 5, with powerful, intuitive new tools for developers that measure every aspect of app performance and energy use, as well as app testing.
Apple today announced iTunes Radio, a free Internet radio service featuring over 200 stations and an incredible catalog of music from the iTunes Store, combined with features only iTunes can deliver. When you tune into iTunes Radio on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC or Apple TV, you’ll have access to stations inspired by the music you already listen to, Featured Stations curated by Apple and genre-focused stations that are personalized just for you. iTunes Radio evolves based on the music you play and download. The more you use iTunes Radio and iTunes, the more it knows what you like to listen to and the more personalized your experience becomes. iTunes Radio also gives you access to exclusive “first listen” premieres from top selling artists, Siri integration, plus the ability to tag or buy anything you hear with just one click.
iTunes Radio offers music fans access to thousands of new songs every week, as well as serving up exclusive music from new and popular artists before you hear them anywhere else. Whether it’s an exclusive single from an up-and-coming band or a pre-release stream of an entire album, iTunes Radio has it all. iTunes Radio will also be home to special events including live streams direct from the iTunes Festival in London and other exclusive iTunes Sessions.
Coming this fall, iTunes Radio will offer you an incredibly personalized experience on day one based on your listening history and past purchases from iTunes. In addition, if you’re listening to a song you like from iTunes Radio or your music library you will be able to have a station built around those. It’s easy to create and customize stations based on whatever you want to hear. Search for artists, songs, or genres, and iTunes Radio will instantly build a station around your choice.
Let Siri make your listening experience even more fun. Ask Siri “Who plays that song?” or “Play more like this” and Siri will make it happen. Say something like “Play Jazz Radio” or ask for any of your existing favorite stations and genres. Shape your stations by telling Siri what you like and don’t like, or tell Siri to pause, stop or skip. You can also have Siri add songs to your Wish List to download later.
iTunes Radio is ad-supported and free for everyone. iTunes Match users get iTunes Radio ad-free, so instead of hearing the occasional ad on iTunes Radio, iTunes Match makes your listening completely ad-free. With iTunes Match, all your music—even songs you’ve imported from CDs—are stored in iCloud. So iTunes Radio can use information about your entire music collection to make your stations even more personalized. iTunes Match costs $24.99 for a year.
Apple today unveiled iOS 7, the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone, featuring a stunning new user interface. iOS 7 is completely redesigned with subtle motion, an elegant color palette and distinct, functional layers that make it feel more alive. The typography has been refined for a cleaner, simpler look, and the use of translucency and motion makes even simple tasks more engaging. iOS 7 has hundreds of great new features, including Control Center, Notification Center, improved Multitasking, AirDrop, enhanced Photos, Safari, Siri and introduces iTunes Radio, a free Internet radio service based on the music you listen to on iTunes.
iOS 7 is completely redesigned with an entirely new user interface, but will be instantly familiar to the hundreds of millions of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users around the world. The new interface actually makes your phone appear bigger because everything is designed to take advantage of the entire screen. The redesigned fonts look amazing on the Retina display, creating even sharper text.
iOS 7 introduces Control Center. Now the controls you want to access quickly are all in one convenient place. With just one swipe from the bottom of your screen, you have access to controls for Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Do Not Disturb, and the ability to adjust screen brightness, pause or play a song, jump to the next track and stream your music with AirPlay. Control Center also gives you instant access to apps such as Clock, Camera, Calculator and the Flashlight.
With iOS 7, Notification Center is now available from the Lock screen so you can see all your notifications with a simple swipe, and the new Today feature in Notification Center gives you an at-a-glance view of your day with a summary of the important details such as weather, traffic, meetings and events.
With improved Multitasking in iOS 7, developers have the ability to enable any app to multitask in the background with a new API. Users have the ability to switch between their apps in a more visual and intuitive way, and iOS 7 pays attention to which apps you use most and automatically keeps your content up to date in the background.
AirDrop is an entirely new way to quickly and easily share content with people nearby. When you’ve got something you want to share, AirDrop shows you your contacts close by. Just select who you want to share with and AirDrop does the rest. AirDrop transfers are peer-to-peer so you can use it anywhere, without any network or set up required, and transfers are fully encrypted so your content is protected and private.
iPhones are used to take more photos around the world every day than any other camera, and with iOS 7 the new Camera app features filters so you can add real-time photo effects. The Camera app now includes a square camera option, and you can quickly and easily switch between your four cameras—video, photo, square and panorama—with just a swipe.
iOS 7 includes a redesigned Photos app that introduces Moments, a new way to automatically organize your photos and videos based on time and location. You can zoom out to see all your photos organized by Moments, Collections of Moments and Years. iOS 7 includes iCloud Photo Sharing, the easiest way to share just the photos you want with just the people you want. With iCloud Photo Sharing, family and friends can contribute their own photos and videos to your shared photo streams, and the new Activity view displays updates from your shared streams all in one place.
Safari’s redesigned user interface lets you see more of your content—starting with full-screen browsing. The new smart search field helps simplify searching, and there’s a new view for your bookmarks and your Safari tabs. With iCloud Keychain, your passwords and credit card information are securely stored and available on all your devices, so navigating password protected sites or autofilling during transactions is simple and secure. Enhanced Parental Controls allow you to automatically block access to adult websites or only allow access to a specific set of permitted websites.
Siri sounds better than ever with new male and female voices and includes Twitter search integration, so you can ask Siri what people are saying on Twitter. Siri also now has Wikipedia integration, providing access to the world’s most popular Internet reference site. Siri offers Bing web search within the app and the ability to change device settings and play back voicemail.
The Music app has a beautiful new design and includes the new iTunes Radio, a free Internet radio service featuring over 200 stations and an incredible catalog of music from the iTunes Store, combined with features only iTunes can deliver. iTunes Radio is the best way to discover new music. When you tune into iTunes Radio on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC or Apple TV, you’ll have access to stations inspired by the music you already listen to, Featured Stations curated by Apple and genre-focused stations that are personalized just for you. iTunes Radio evolves based on the music you play and download. The more you use iTunes Radio and iTunes, the more it knows what you like to listen to and the more personalized your experience becomes. iTunes Radio also gives you access to exclusive “first listen” premieres from top selling artists, Siri integration plus the ability to buy anything you hear with just one tap.
With over 900,000 apps, the App Store is the world’s largest app marketplace. iOS 7 now features Popular Apps Near Me, a new way to find apps based on your current location, and iOS 7 will automatically keep your apps up to date. The App Store also comes with a new Kids category, allowing teachers and parents to easily discover apps for children by age.
Additional new iOS 7 features include:
- a new Find My iPhone Activation Lock feature that requires your Apple ID and password before you can turn off Find My iPhone, erase data or re-activate a device after it’s been remotely erased;
- Night Mode in Maps that responds to ambient light when you use it in the dark;
- FaceTime audio for high quality calls over a data network;
- Notification sync, so when you dismiss a notification on one device it is dismissed on all of your devices;
- Phone, FaceTime and Messages blocking to prevent specific people from being able to contact you;
- Tencent Weibo support for users in China, a Chinese-English bilingual dictionary, and improved Chinese input including handwriting recognition for multiple Chinese characters;
- the ability for businesses to more efficiently deploy and manage iPhones and iPads; and
- enhanced in-car integration, bringing an Apple designed experience into the car for the first time.
iOS 7 will be available as a free software update for iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, iPad mini and iPod touch (fifth generation) this fall. Some features may not be available on all products.
Apple will be running live video of its keynote event today, both on its website, and via an “Apple Events” channel on Apple TV. Starting at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EST, viewers will be able to tune in and watch as the company is expected to introduce iOS 7, iRadio, as well as new Macs, and an update to OS X.
Apple has released iTunes 11.0.4, which “fixes a problem that may cause iTunes to quit if you switch between wired and wireless syncing.” Also, an issue that forced users to repeatedly login to the iTunes Store is resolved. The update is available through the Mac App Store and theiTunes download page.
Walt Disney Studios is making it easier for consumers to access a movie digitally that they buy on Blu-ray Disc or DVD by doing away with the cumbersome “digital copy” process and launching a new website that streamlines the film’s digital delivery.
The debut of the Disney Digital Copy Plus website has been set for June 11, the same day the studio’s Oz the Great and Powerful is released on disc.
Instead of accessing the digital copy from a disc in the “superset” combo pack, a digital copy of the film can now be accessed directly from the website by consumers who purchase any disc configuration of the film. The website then facilitates the digital delivery of the movie through the consumer’s provider of choice — in this case, either iTunes, Amazon Instant video or Vudu — and eliminates the need for a digital copy to be included in the disc package.
Brothers of Darkland County, (Hear Music/Concord Music Group), the long-awaited southern gothic supernatural musical from co-conspirators Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett, will be released as an illustrated digital book created and designed especially for Apple’s iBooks on June 3rd, 2013.
Blending the special project’s Stephen King-penned libretto, original songs and lyrics written by John Mellencamp, excerpts of key dialog along with interactive video, sound effects and graphics, the digital book will provide readers a one-of-a-kind immersive experience into this extraordinary collaboration.
A stellar cast of guest artists including Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, Taj Mahal, Ryan Bingham, Will Dailey and Kris Kristofferson, along with actors Matthew McConaughey, Samantha Mathis and Meg Ryan perform the book’s songs and audio excerpts.
In an historic note, the Ghost Brothers of Darkland County digital book edition is Stephen King’s very first digital book conceived and designed especially for Apple’s iBooks in the legendary author’s long and illustrious career.
Pre-order Ghost Brothers of Darkland County exclusively on the iBookstore: iTunes.com/GhostBrothers
There are a few stipulations: you must be eligible for a phone upgrade and sign a two-year contract for the phone to get the offer. However you’re able to select the carrier of your choice.
This deal will not be available online, only is stores!
Apple has introduced a new model of its iPod touch. The new iPod touch comes in a 16 GB capacity and lacks the rear iSight camera of other iPod touches with Retina displays. This new model of iPod touch does still feature the front-facing FaceTime camera. With the introduction of this new low-cost iPod touch it appears Apple has discontinued the old fourth-generation 3.5-inch screen iPod touches.
Besides lacking the rear iSight camera, the new low-cost iPod touch with Retina display only comes in black or silver colors. Its siblings that have a rear iSight camera and come and 32 GB or 64 GB capacities are available in multiple colors. The new low-cost iPod touch does contain the same A5 chip and comes with the same Apple Earbuds as its higher-priced siblings, however.
The new 16 GB iPod touch without the rear iSight camera is US$229.
Apple CEO Tim Cook made his second appearance on the D: All Things Digital stage yesterday in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
Cook was reluctant to reveal details about new Apple products, he did say the company has “several more game changers.” Cook spoke about television being an outdated experience, and said Apple has “a very grand vision.” He did note that Apple has sold 13 million Apple TVs, and “about half” were sold in the last year.
Cook was even more vague on wearable technology, saying the area was “ripe for exploration,” without answering if Apple had any specific plans. He said the wrist “is more natural” than wearing glasses, but that “you still have to convince people it is worth wearing.” Cook doesn’t see Google Glass as having broad appeal, and mentioned that he wears a Nike FuelBand.
Regarding iOS 7, Cook was still vague, but verified “the future of iOS” would debut at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Cook also confirmed that Apple Senior Vice President of Industrial Design Jony Ive was key to the new operating system.
On larger screens for phones, he again mentioned the tradeoffs that come with those screens, and reiterated his belief that the iPhone 5’s Retina display is the best screen on the market.
Superman needs his Fortress of Solitude and Batman has the Bat Cave. We all need a favorite space to relax, reflect, write, read a book, watch a movie or showcase a favorite collectible or souvenir.
Maybe it’s a game room, library or secret space hidden by a moveable bookcase that leads to a man cave.
I’ve always been curious what curios J.J. Abrams keeps close by, what books fill Stephen King’s shelves, what collectibles does Patton Oswald possess, what artwork lines Jim Lee’s walls, how many toys fill John Lasseter’s Pixar office and what movie memorabilia does Steven Spielberg showcase? Perhaps someday I will find out!
The answers would reflect the owner’s personality, interests, accomplishments, etc. Equally as fascinating to me would be how the items were displayed.
So, I thought I would let you into my world and show you my office and give you the nickel tour.
More prints fill the walls such as Batman’s Rogues Gallery by Olly Moss, The Creature From The Black Lagoon by Francesco Francavilla and Dracula by Martin Ansin.
I lucked out and was able to get a Mike Mitchell Batman print. He releases very small runs and only made 20 of this image.
The Frankenstein print was rendered by the great poster artist, Drew Struzan. I was able to meet him at the Los Angeles MONDO screening of the film.
I am a huge Batman fan and my favorite graphic novel is The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller. This statue pays homage to that book. It was made by Kotobukiya, a Japanese manufacturer of science fiction, comic and movie sculptures.
A replica of the 1964 Batmobile from my favorite television show as a child. The Batman and Robin figures did not come with the vehicle and had to be hunted down separately.
Another Kotobukiya Batman statue based on the art of Jim Lee, another favorite artist of mine. I love the cape!
A one of a kind Batman commision created by the Brazilian artist, Rafael Grampa. Trust me, you will be hearing a lot more about this amazing artist over the next year.
More Batman Black & White statues by David Mazzucchelli , Alex Ross, Mike Mignola, Jim Lee and Brian Bolland.
A close-up of the Olly Moss Rogues Gallery piece. I love that Moss hides clues and hints in his work. The Joker has a Bat symbol hidden in his smile, Poison Ivy’s lips are composed of a leaf and the Riddler’s hat is formed with a question mark.
A prized possesion from my bookshelf is this inscribed Marvel book from my childhood idol, Stan Lee, the creator of Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor and countless other iconic characters.
Another favorite book is Icons by Jim Lee. Jimtook the time to sketch Batman for me.
Apple has released iTunes 11.0.3, adding a new MiniPlayer, improved Songs view, and support for multi-disc albums. A greater emphasis has been put on allowing users to showcase album artwork in the redesigned MiniPlayer and Songs view, and the MiniPlayer now includes a built-in progress bar.
In addition, users with multiple disc albums can now have them appear as a single album. Apple also notes that the update provides performance improvements for working with large iTunes libraries.
The first wireless headphones from Bose give you the freedom to enjoy your movies, videos and music unplugged. AE2w Bluetooth headphones ($250) offer full, natural sound and a comfortable, around-ear fit plus freedom of movement. You can watch your video on your iPad and reach for your coffee, or talk on your smartphone and retrieve those notes from your desk, untethered and untangled. No cords.
- Immersive sound with wireless convenience
- Cushioned around-ear fit for comfortable listening
- Bluetooth control module controls certain iPad functions, Bluetooth connectivity and more
- Simultaneously connect to two devices and easily switch between media and calls
Pizza Compass ($1) is a new Avenir Next-friendly app that features a spinning slice of pie that will point you towards the nearest pizza purveyor, releasing steam the closer you get. As you might expect, there’s also a map view to provide more precise directions, as well as the ability to see ratings, operating hours, and reviews, and an option to share your favorite spots with your friends.
Apple has released iOS 6.1.4, an iPhone 5-only update. The software update lists an updated speakerphone audio profile as its only revision. Apple is currently working on iOS 7 which is expected to be previewed in June and should hit devices in the fall.
Apple has launched a new contest, this time for the 50 billionth iOS app downloaded. The person who downloads that app will win a $10,000 App Store Gift Card, and the next 50 people will win $500 App Store Gift Cards.
Along with the prizes, Apple has listed the top 25 all-time paid and free apps, for both iPhone and iPad, with Angry Birds, Facebook, Pages, and Skype for iPad at the top of the lists.
Whether you have the latest iPhone 5 or less recent iOS devices, iHome has got you covered. Charge and play via flexible Lightning dock or USB port (with your own cable).
The iPL10 ($80) is a great looking, space-saving speaker system for listening to all your music. Wake or sleep to your favorite iPhone or iPod tunes or FM radio stations through high fidelity drivers in a specially designed Reson8 speaker chamber with EXB expanded bass circuitry. Auto sync feature instantly sets clock to iPhone or iPod time.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games today announced the release of LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, available now on the App Store. Delivering action-adventure gameplay to touchscreen devices, this latest caper is based on LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, the game which released to critical acclaim in June 2012 and was one of the best-selling videogames of the year.
LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes for iOS gives players the opportunity to join their favorite DC super heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and scores of others to save Gotham City from the menacing partners in crime, The Joker and Lex Luthor. Players can unlock 80 usable characters through battling enemies and exploring numerous levels. Or, they can gain instant access to their favorite iconic DC characters through In-App Purchases to harness full control of the vast array of powerful super heroes and nefarious villains.
Utilizing two distinct control schemes, Classic and Touch Screen, players will be able to take advantage of amazing super-powers and fun gadgets in order to defeat foes, solve puzzles, and even create unique super heroes with customizable characters. LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes is the fourth LEGO game for the iOS platforms, joining its predecessors that have generated close to four million downloads to date.
LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes App is available for $4.99 from the App Store or at www.AppStore.com.
Apple’s iTunes store is now featuring “A Decade of iTunes,” an interactive timeline celebrating the past 10 years of iTunes. The 10th anniversary of the iTunes Store is this Sunday, April 28. The timeline lets users view the top selling songs and albums each year from 2003 onward and lists a number of Apple and iTunes milestones along the way.
Belkin announced today the availability of a breakthrough new iPad keyboard case—the Ultimate Keyboard Case. Using a revolutionary aluminum alloy and magnet construction, Belkin’s Ultimate Keyboard Case is now the slimmest and lightest keyboard folio of its kind on the market, with a keyboard that is just 6.4mm thin and weighing 17 ounces.
The Ultimate Keyboard Case conveniently folds flat to hide the keyboard when watching movies or reading. When not in use, the keyboard automatically shuts off, to offer instant access to the iPad’s onscreen keyboard and help save battery life.
Features include:
- Specially machined aluminum alloy base reduces thickness while improving durability
- Keyboard is only 6.4mm thin and 17 ounces in weight providing a slim ¾” profile that highlights iPad’s design and minimizes bulk
- Magnet sensors automatically turn keyboard on or off
- Media Mode flat-fold hides the keyboard away for reading, watching movies or playing games
- Well-spaced, TruType keys for comfortable, laptop-like typing experience
- Three viewing and typing angles, with magnets that hold the iPad in place
- SoundFlow design for enhanced audio power
- Auto-awake magnets wake up your iPad when opened
- Shortcut keys for easy media control
- Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity
- 160-hour battery life under constant use, 6-month standby battery life
- Rechargeable battery uses included Micro USB cable
- Compatible with iPad 2, 3rd generation and 4th generation
Pricing & Availability:
The Ultimate Keyboard Case is available in two color options—black ($99.99) and white ($129.99). Belkin’s Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad is available for pre-order sale online athttp://www.belkin.com/us/Ultimate-Keyboard-Case-for-iPad and will be available at select retailers in May.
The Bowers & Wilkins Z2 AirPlay Speaker System ($400) features a top-mounted Lighting dock that fits iPhones and iPods, as well as built-in Wi-Fi for AirPlay support. Other features include class D amplifiers, custom 3.5-inch drivers with fiberglass cones, a glass-reinforced ABS enclosure, a 3.5mm auxiliary input and your choice of black or white.
Apple has released Apple TV software version 5.2.1 for Apple TV.
The update notably features a redesigned Hulu Plus app, now sporting a horizontal bar and banner-based navigation design closer to the iTunes Store access points on the Apple TV, as well as various bug fixes. It’s available now from the General settings menu of the Apple TV interface.
