Apple roundup: Steve’s big media push
So Apple made some news today. Specifically, chief executive Steve Jobs took the stage in San Francisco, where he showed off major upgrades to the company’s music and TV services.
As happens on anytime Apple holds a press event, there was a flood of coverage, both on VentureBeat and elsewhere. To help you sort through it all, here’s a roundup of all the Apple-related stories we published today. The list starts with the big product news, followed by videos and analysis.
— In what seemed like a tacit admission that its iconic iPod, famed for its simplicity and standout design, had strayed off course, Apple released all-new designs for its entire lineup of music players.
— Jobs also announced the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 4.1. The new OS will include bug fixes for many iOS 4 issues, as well as some new features including high-dynamic range (HDR) photos, Game Center, high-definition video uploads over Wi-Fi, and TV-show rentals.
— Apple revealed a number of upgrades to its music and media service, iTunes. Most importantly, it’s giving iTunes a social layer.
— And for his “one more thing,” Jobs showed off a new version of Apple TV. The device plays movies on your TV and is one fourth the size of the original version, and it can stream movies from the Netflix movie service.
— When it comes to the new Apple TV, analyst James McQuivey doesn’t sound impressed.
— Here’s our video of the new Apple TV’s user interface.
— It’s no surprise that Ge Wang, cofounder and chief technology officer of music app-maker Smule, sounds excited about Ping. But Wang said he sees greater potential in what Apple might do with Ping in the future.
— VentureBeat’s Devindra Hardawar said he’s disappointed with Apple TV: Instead of being a revolutionary upgrade, the new device is just a smaller and cheaper iteration on what Apple has done before.
— Here’s a video demo of Ping in action.
— What’s exciting about Ping? It’s a social network based around content and consumption, not status and comments.
And here’s our today. Lastly, here’s a link to a video of Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, singing one of his piano solo songs at the close of the event.
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