iPhone 3.0 To Stop Allowing You To Re-Download Apps For Free

It looks like Apple is on to the “account sharing” loophole with the App Store, because iPhone 3.0 firmware is going to make you go to iTunes to re-download apps you’ve already bought. Here’s how the loophole works:

Currently, you’re able to hook your friends up with free apps by logging their phone into your iTunes account. Then, when they go to buy an app you already own, iTunes lets them download it again for free. No more!

It’s a mild inconvenience to have to sync your phone up with your computer to redownload apps you’ve already bought, but it’s a move by Apple that’s pretty understandable. Way to ruin it for the rest of us, unscrupulous loophole-exploiters! [The iPhone Blog via ZDNet]

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Palm Pre Will Work with iTunes & Twitter Search

Palm revealed today that the upcoming Palm Pre will include Palm media sync, which will allow it to synchronize with iTunes to transfer DRM-free music, photos, and videos.

Jon Rubinstein, Palm’s Chairman, and Roger McNamee, a Palm director and co-founder of Elevation Partners, made a presentation at the Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital conference, where they talked about iTunes support and other new Pre features.

Palm Media Sync
Thanks to Palm media sync, users will be able to connect their Pre to a PC or Mac via the USB cable, select “media sync” on the phone, and iTunes will launch on the desktop computer. The user will then be able to choose which DRM-free media files to transfer.

“We designed Palm media sync to be an easy and elegant way for you to take the content you own and put it on Pre, and it’s just one of the ways we think you’ll be amazed by webOS,” said Rubinstein.

Twitter Support
One of the hallmarks of the Palm Pre’s webOS is giving users access to online information, and there’s a new addition to this: Palm also announced that Twitter search will be integrated into webOS universal search.

This function will allow those with a Pre to look for a contact or an application on the device, and also search the Web via Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia, and now Twitter.

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iTunes Tiered Pricing Goes Live

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple and major music labels are betting that the launch of three-tier pricing at the iTunes Music Store will boost music sales with a new mix of song-based packages and give consumers more options.

Apple will announce its new three-tier price points at 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29 on Tuesday, according to several people familiar with its plans. Since opening in 2003 all songs in the iTunes store have been priced at 99 cents. Some songs were already reflecting the new pricing scheme.

The previous ‘one price fits all’ strategy has long caused friction between Apple and the music labels, who argued that songs should be priced differently to reflect their perceived value by consumers.

The labels will finally get their wish.

While the majority of songs will still be sold at 99 cents, a certain number of new hit songs will now be raised to $1.29. Many older catalog songs will now go for 69 cents.

Perhaps anticipating a consumer backlash against price increases executives, who spoke to Reuters on background ahead of the launch, pointed out that for every one song they raise to $1.29 they will be reducing 10 songs to 69 cents.

But these executives said the biggest advantage of the new pricing would be flexibility to create new digital products beyond the album.

“We’re thinking outside of the disc to reach a new generation of consumers who are able to consume music on any device, it’s not just the track any more,” said one music label executive, who was involved with the talks, but did not want the label identified ahead of the launch.

For instance, a label could sell a brand new song and its music video for $1.29 or package it with a ringtone. The lower pricing could eventually mean that iTunes can sell albums at more competitive prices though early indications are that album prices will not change right way.

Major label owners like Vivendi’s Universal Music Group, Sony Music, Warner Music Group and EMI Music say they can make money with more flexible prices and possibly help make music retail a profitable enterprise again.

“If we can gain traction with $1.29 that will be good for greater margin,” said another label executive, also involved in discussions, but who did want to identify the record label.

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iTunes Gift-Card Algorithm Hacked

According to a spate of recent reports, iTunes gift cards are selling for a song on Chinese Web sites, with $200 cards retailing for as little as $2.60. The illegal bargains are apparently the work of Chinese hackers who have successfully penetrated the iTunes gift-card system.

The card sharks were first reported by Outdustry, a music-industry consultancy that follows developments in China and other emerging markets. The biggest outlet for illegal cards is Taobao, a consumer-to-consumer shopping site that at any given time has thousands of iTunes cards for sale.

Stolen Vouchers

According to Outdustry’s report, no physical cards actually change hands. Instead, hackers use key generators to create gift-voucher codes. Once payment is sent through the Taobao site, a seller uses the built-in IM system to transmit the voucher code. Once the purchaser enters the voucher code in his or her iTunes Store account, the face value of the code is credited to the account and can be used to purchase iTunes products.

The practice is, of course, illegal, and anyone who uses a hacker-generated gift code runs the risk of not only finding the credit wiped out, but potentially more serious consequences ranging from the shutdown of their iTunes account (for violation of terms of service) to prosecution for theft.

In the interim, Michael Gartenberg, vice president of Interpret, says Apple will take steps to cut off the flow of fake vouchers.

“Look,” Gartenberg said, “it’s generally true that anything that can be hacked will be hacked. But there’s plenty that Apple can do to protect the value of its iTunes content. The first thing will be to change or reconfigure the algorithm so that the hacker key generator no longer works.”

Gartenberg said that while the hack is undoubtedly annoying to Apple, in the longer run it’s little more than an interesting blip…

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iTunes 8.1 Now Available

With the iTunes 8.1 update, you can now sync with the new iPod shuffle, take iTunes DJ requests from friends, rip CDs at iTunes Plus quality and use Genius with movies and TV shows. There are other features, like bugfixes and stability updates, but you can read up on that yourself. [Apple via MacRumors]

iTunes 8.1 is now faster and more responsive. You will enjoy noticeable improvements when working with large libraries, browsing the iTunes Store, preparing to sync with iPod or iPhone, and optimizing photos for syncing.

In addition, iTunes 8.1 provides many other improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Supports syncing with iPod shuffle (3rd generation).
• Allows friends to request songs for iTunes DJ.
• Adds Genius sidebar for your Movies and TV Shows.
• Improves performance when downloading iTunes Plus songs.
• Provides AutoFill for manually managed iPods.
• Allows CDs to be imported at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus.
• Includes many accessibility improvements.
• Allows iTunes U and the iTunes Store to be disabled separately using Parental Controls.

iTunes app store surpasses 6,000 game mark

1UP points out that, according to iPhone app tracking site Mobclix, more than 6,000 iPhone / iPod Touch games are now available via Apple’s iTunes App Store. The digital distribution service, which launched July 11, 2008, is home to over 20,400 apps across multiple categories, of which games comprise 23% (the largest slice). 17% of all iPhone games are in the puzzle genre.

Each week, Joystiq’s newest feature, iPhone It In, takes a look at one prominent iPhone game. If you’re looking for something new to play on your phone this weekend, you absolutely can’t go wrong with Edge, Rolando, Zen Bound, Sway or Fieldrunners. They’re swell.

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Viz Media to Distribute Anime Through Warner Home Video

Viz Media LLC and Warner Home Video have reached an agreement under which WHV will distribute all new and catalog DVD releases from Viz Media starting on April 1st. The first new titles that WHV will handle are Naruto Uncut Box Set 13 and Hunter vs. Hunter Box Set, Vol.2, which are slated for release on April 7th. On April 1st Warner Home Video will begin distributing the entire Viz Media catalog backlist, which also includes other potent anime properties such as Pokemon, Bleach, Death Note and Inuyasha.

Warner Home Video is distribution powerhouse that not only distributes home entertainment from Warner Bros. studios, but has also signed agreements with the owners of a number of major brands including BBC, National Geographic, Peanuts, Dr. Seuss, Cartoon Network, Popeye, American Girl, plus the NFL, the NBA, and the NHL.

Hidemi Fukuhara, the President and CEO of Viz Media, commented “We look forward to joining forces with Warner Home Video and are confident that in working with their strength in sales and distribution, we will continue to grow the anime category even more effectively than we have over the last several years.”

While Viz Media does not have a huge number of anime properties, the titles it does have rank among the best performers in the North American market and, thanks to the popularity of Naruto, Death Note, Bleach and Pokemon, Viz Media has been able to expand its market share during the past two years in spite of rough conditions in the U.S. anime market.

Source: icv2.com

‘Batman: Black & White’ Motion Comics Now Available On iTunes

In continuing with their series of motion comics based on classic stories, today, Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution have announced “Batman: Black & White” is now available exclusively on iTunes (and coming soon to Amazon Video On Demand and Verizon Wireless VCAST). This new series of motion comics will include stories created by the numerous comic book icons who contributed to the original series of “Batman” books, which were told using black and white art.

The stories are available on iTunes as five episodes of two shorts each and can be purchased and downloaded for $0.99 per episode. In addition, comic book fans can download a free podcast, also available on iTunes, featuring “Batman: Black & White” illustrator Alex Ross.

Check out a sample of ‘Batman: Black & White’ below: Read more

‘Ghost Whisperer’ Now A Digital Comic On iTunes

IDW Publishing and iVerse Media are proud to announce the immediate availability of Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted #1 in the iTunes App Store. This five-issue comic book miniseries, licensed from CBS Consumer Products, is based on the hit CBS series starring Jennifer Love Hewitt as Melinda Gordon, the medium who helps ghosts cross over. “Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted” is written by Carrie Smith and Becca Smith, who are both writers on the CBS series, and features art by Elena Casagrande.

The story in the comic fits in between Seasons 2 and 3 of the show, and follows Melinda as she spends her days and nights helping earthbound spirits cross over into the Light. In the comic series, however, Melinda gets more than she bargained for when she comes face-to-face with Osiris, Egyptian God of the Dead, who wants the souls for himself.

The comic follows the same format as the show, with a ghost that needs to cross over in each issue. Unlike the show, however, another ghost - Osiris - appears in each issue, tying the miniseries together and keeping the tension on the rise from one issue to the next.

The digital version of the comic was adapted to the iPhone and iPod touch by iVerse Media. A new issue of the series will be released every few weeks until all 5 issues of the series have been adapted digitally.

“Many fans of the Ghost Whisperer TV show may not even realize that the comic book exists so this presents an excellent opportunity to reach out to both existing and new readers. The digital format is a no-brainer for this type of content,” IDW’s CEO Ted Adams said.

“We’re very excited to be making Ghost Whisperer available to iPhone and iPod Touch owners,” said Michael Murphey, owner of iVerse Media. “IDW has created a fantastic comic book that is true to the television series, and a great gateway into digital comic books for new readers of the format.”

“Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted #1″ is available in the iTunes App Store now for $0.99:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/appstore/

Ghost Whisperer airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Source: ComicsBulletin.com

Funimation Posts Free 1st Episodes of 4 Anime on iTunes

Anime New Network has some cool info about some free downloads on iTunes…

The North American anime distributor FUNimation has begun offering the first episodes of the Afro Samurai, Burst Angel, Basilisk, and MoonPhase anime series for free on the iTunes Store service. The FUNimation 4 Episode Sampler requires an account on the iTunes Store in the United States. The first episode of Witchblade debuted on iTunes for free last month.

FUNimation’s own website is also offering selected episodes of Aquarion, Baki the Grappler, Black Blood Brothers, Burst Angel, Glass Fleet, Gunslinger Girl, Guyver, Kiddy Grade, MoonPhase, Mushishi, Ouran High School Host Club, Ragnarök, School Rumble Season 2, Shikabane Hime, Shin-chan, Shuffle!, Solty Rei, and Suzuka.

Source: Anime News Network Read more

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