The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/iTunes LP now available for Apple TV customershttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/itunes-lp-now-available-for-apple-tv-customers/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/itunes-lp-now-available-for-apple-tv-customers/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/itunes-lp-now-available-for-apple-tv-customers/#commentsFiled under: iTS, Multimedia, iTunes, Apple TV

A few of us here at TUAW received an email from Apple this morning stating that Apple TV-compatible versions of previous iTunes LP purchases are available for download. You'll remember that LP purchases made before the Apple TV 3.0 release would need a second download to work with the Apple TV. Apple is now offering those downloads.

The email from Apple is very straight-forward:

"With the latest versions of iTunes (9.0.2) and Apple TV software (3.0), you can now use iTunes LP on your Apple TV. We have updated the iTunes LP that was included with [your previous purchase here] so that it can now be viewed on Apple TV in addition to your Mac or PC...."

From there, the message provides a download link. Grab it, sync your Apple TV and you're off. My own is syncing as I type this, so we'll let you know how it looks and behaves later today. In the meantime, enjoy iTunes LP on your Apple TV!

iTunes LP now available for Apple TV customers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iTunes LP now available for Apple TV customers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple tvAppleTvitunesitunes lpItunesLpDave CaoloFri, 06 Nov 2009 08:45:00 ESTPrepare for digital music from the Beatles -- but not on iTuneshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/prepare-for-digital-music-from-the-beatles-but-not-on-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/prepare-for-digital-music-from-the-beatles-but-not-on-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/prepare-for-digital-music-from-the-beatles-but-not-on-itunes/#commentsFiled under: iTunes, Music

In a limited run of 30,000 units, Apple Corps Ltd. will be releasing the Beatles' remastered catalog for your consumption in a green apple USB device. Unfortunately, I didn't say anything about iTunes in that sentence... It looks like the Apples still can't play nice together, so we're left to dream that one day the Beatles collection will make it to the big download cloud in the sky.

Our sister site, Engadget, reports that these drives are available for pre-order now but will not ship until December 7th in the UK and December 8th in the US for $279.99. The 16GB USB drive will include the Beatles' 14 stereo tracks in FLAC (for the audiophiles in the audience) as well as the rest of their collection in 320 Kbps MP3s. The drive will also include 13 documentaries about the studio albums, expanded liner notes, re-touched album art, and several rare photos.

What does all of this mean? The Beatles' record company basically created a massive iTunes LP without iTunes. According to The Beatles' website, there's a special Flash interface for consumer interaction with the extra content. Some would say that this is just another stepping stone in the road to online distribution... while that may be true, I'm getting tired of all the back-and-forth. I own a good majority of the Beatles albums on CD and have already ripped them into iTunes. I expect that most anyone who really wants these in their iTunes library has already gone through the motions to accomplish that. I could pay the $280 for a USB drive, or buy all of the CDs from Amazon.com for half that price and spend several hours putting them on my computer. Sure, sure, I'm not getting the officially remastered files from the Beatles themselves... but I'm willing to make that sacrifice. Even still, this may be the perfect Holiday gift for the Beatles fanatic in your household. (Honey, I don't want one.)

Prepare for digital music from the Beatles -- but not on iTunes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Prepare for digital music from the Beatles -- but not on iTunes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>digital downloadsDigitalDownloadshggiTunes LPItunesLpthe beatlesTheBeatlesJosh CarrWed, 04 Nov 2009 14:30:00 ESTApple launches Music Movies on iTuneshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/apple-launches-music-movies-on-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/apple-launches-music-movies-on-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/apple-launches-music-movies-on-itunes/#commentsFiled under: iTunes, Music

In an attempt to increase movie sales, Apple is pushing out more alternative content on the iTunes Store. Today, they've spruced up their "Music Movies" library and added a landing page to promote upcoming releases. Music Movies are music-themed movies, concerts and documentaries that generally feature exclusive content and behind-the-scenes footage.

While the selection is currently limited, Apple does offer a few movies that are not available anywhere else, such as an exclusive Kings of Leon concert DVD among other selections such as U2's "Rattle and Hum" and "John Lennon Imagine". In addition to the added content, a prominent landing page has been created that is dedicated to this genre of film.

Apple also plans to negotiate early access to music-themed movies and is trying to make the content available for download long before it is available in stores.

Apple launches Music Movies on iTunes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple launches Music Movies on iTunes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>concertsexclusive contentiTunesMusic MoviesMusicMoviesJohn BurkeWed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 ESTAsk TUAW: Arranging icons on the iPhone, installing Windows on a Mac, Airport networks and morehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/ask-tuaw-arranging-icons-on-the-iphone-installing-windows-on-a/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/ask-tuaw-arranging-icons-on-the-iphone-installing-windows-on-a/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/ask-tuaw-arranging-icons-on-the-iphone-installing-windows-on-a/#commentsFiled under: Wireless, Features, Airport, iMac, iTunes, Ask TUAW, Snow Leopard

Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we have questions about arranging icons on the iPhone, installing Windows via Boot Camp, AirPort networks, iMac rotation support, replacing the video card in an iMac, and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Leave your questions for next week in the comments section at the end of this post. When asking a question, please include which machine you're using and what version of Mac OS X is installed on it (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

Leah asks:

Is there a better way to arrange icons on my iPhone than by trying to drag them around on the phone itself. I can't seem to get it to work very well and usually mess it up.

Apple provided a better way of organizing iPhone icons in iTunes 9. In the past, I always tried to arrange my icons on the iPhone the same way you do, by dragging them around on the device itself. This isn't as easy as it sounds, especially if you have larger hands.

Now, with iTunes 9 or higher installed and your iPhone connected to your Mac or PC, launch iTunes, click on the Applications tab, and you will not only see the apps you have installed on your iPhone, but the iPhone screens and the placement of the icons as well.

Simply drag the icons around in iTunes and put them in the desired order. The next time you sync, the icons are arranged identically on your iPhone as well. It's so much easier.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Arranging icons on the iPhone, installing Windows on a Mac, Airport networks and more

Ask TUAW: Arranging icons on the iPhone, installing Windows on a Mac, Airport networks and more originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ask TUAW: Arranging icons on the iPhone, installing Windows on a Mac, Airport networks and more originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>airportask tuawAskTuawboot campBootCampfusiongmailitunesmailplaneparallelsprismvmwarewindowswirelessChris UllrichWed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 ESTiTunes 9.0.2 adds extra home screens to app managementhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/itunes-9-0-2-adds-extra-home-screens-to-app-management/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/itunes-9-0-2-adds-extra-home-screens-to-app-management/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/itunes-9-0-2-adds-extra-home-screens-to-app-management/#commentsFiled under: iTunes, Software Update, iPhone, iPod touch

It's funny -- when the iPhone App Store first opened up, the first thing I asked for next was a way to manage apps from directly within iTunes. But when that finally did show up, I was still left unsatisfied for some reason. I'm not sure why -- app management offers drag-and-drop functionality with your app icons, and that's about the easiest way to organize things across the home screens. But for me, it still seems unwieldy somehow -- dragging icons onto full pages stlll creates empty pages, and dragging icons between screens is awkward to me.

I'm not an interface designer, but having more than one home screen open at a time seems like it would be nice, and being able to assign my own tags and categories to apps (combined with an auto-sort function) seems nicer. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that we can manage apps from iTunes, but it just seems harder than it should be.

Fortunately, iTunes 9.0.2 snuck a few updates to the system under our radar last week -- you can now put more than 176 apps in the organizer, and those will move on to grayed-out homescreens. You can still access them on the iPhone by using Spotlight, but those grayed-out homescreens only serve as a buffer to hold your overflow apps while you're organizing them. Doesn't really help the actual experience of sorting apps, but it should give you some breathing space when dealing with lots and lots of apps.

Speaking of buffers, it would also be nice to have a "shelf" to store app icons on while you're moving them around (you can use the bottom 4 apps as a minishelf, but that's not really enough). Maybe you could pile them into different areas on a screen and then drag them in the way you want onto your homescreens. Like I said, it's great that we do finally have an app management system in iTunes. But my feeling is that it's a little too much like the awkward iPhone-based system, especially with large numbers of apps, to be much help.

iTunes 9.0.2 adds extra home screens to app management originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iTunes 9.0.2 adds extra home screens to app management originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app managementAppManagementappsfunctionsiphoneiphone app managementIphoneAppManagementipodipod touchIpodTouchitunes 9.0.2Itunes9.0.2Mike SchrammWed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:00 ESTApple's iTunes Affiliates site briefly subjected to image swapshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/apples-itunes-affiliate-site-briefly-subjected-to-image-swaps/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/apples-itunes-affiliate-site-briefly-subjected-to-image-swaps/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/apples-itunes-affiliate-site-briefly-subjected-to-image-swaps/#commentsFiled under: Hacks, iTunes, Apple

Our friends over at OS X Daily passed along their story noting that Apple's site for iTunes Affiliates was vulnerable to a cross-site URL trick, letting you substitute your own images for the ones normally displayed on the page. Since the site is intended to let websites display a custom top banner, this was 'as designed' -- at least until jokesters began taking advantage.

The trick works (or at least, it did) by taking the default URL from the web browser and replacing a few things like the artist name, album name, album thumbnail source and the image link.

The Internet moves pretty fast, though. As I was typing this, Apple removed the top banner altogether, preventing the customized image display. No more pranks for us.

In any case, OS X Daily pointed out that the image issue could allow malicious folks to redirect would-be Apple visitors to malware sites or other bad destinations. Even an innocent image viewer that appears within an iframe on a branded page can cause problems; that's what the folks at Wired found out last January, when someone took advantage of their image tool to post a hoax "Steve Jobs had a heart attack" news story.

Props to Apple's web development team, though, for taking this down within the ten minutes it took me to finish the post.

Apple's iTunes Affiliates site briefly subjected to image swaps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple's iTunes Affiliates site briefly subjected to image swaps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple.combughackimagesitunesxssJosh CarrTue, 03 Nov 2009 20:00:00 ESTI heart my Apple TV, but as for 3.0 ...http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/i-heart-my-apple-tv-but-as-for-3-0/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/i-heart-my-apple-tv-but-as-for-3-0/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/i-heart-my-apple-tv-but-as-for-3-0/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, iTunes, Apple TV

As we learned yesterday, not everyone loves the update to Apple TV.

For me, however, the upgrade was an improvement to an adequate piece of hardware -- when it chose to work. By mid-afternoon, I was listening to classical music being streamed over Internet radio, and I was very happy with the Apple TV for the most part. The flagship new features -- iTunes Extras and iTunes LPs -- were finicky and hard to work. Trying to navigate through iTunes Extras was akin to herding cats. When it works, it's fantastic. When it doesn't, you want to hurl something at the wall.

I'm quite the opposite of fellow blogger Steve Sande when it comes to the Apple TV. I chose the device over getting cable back in February. I promptly did the hacks to open up the USB port and utilize Boxee (with Hulu) and XBMC. Please note that these hacks will be wiped when you upgrade to 3.0.

I frequently use it because it became the perfect home for streaming content from first an external hard drive, then my new iMac. I'm an anime fan, and used the chance to rip my DVDs to my hard drive and have all the episodes in one place. It's very nice not to have to get up and change DVDs after every 3-4 episodes. I also stream YouTube content and play music over it.

Here's a look at some of the new features:

Continue reading I heart my Apple TV, but as for 3.0 ...

I heart my Apple TV, but as for 3.0 ... originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I heart my Apple TV, but as for 3.0 ... originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Apple TVApple TV 3.0AppleTvAppleTv3.0iTunesopinionMegan LaveyFri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST5 Smart Playlists to help you manage your iTunes libraryhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/5-smart-playlists-to-help-you-manage-your-itunes-library/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/5-smart-playlists-to-help-you-manage-your-itunes-library/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/5-smart-playlists-to-help-you-manage-your-itunes-library/#commentsFiled under: How-tos, iTunes, TUAW Tips

Smart playlists have been a feature of iTunes since version 3.0 (circa 2002), and they provide a means for you to create automatically-updated playlists that fit a certain criteria. For me, they serve as a hands-off way to stay up-to-date on my latest music and Podcasts, as well as a repository for a certain genre of music. To create a smart playlist, click on "File" and select "New Smart Playlist" (or you can use the command-option-n keyboard shortcut).

If you want a playlist that contains only holiday music, you could specify that the playlist include all songs with either the "Christmas" or "Chanukah" genre tag on it. Because smart playlists auto-update, you needn't worry about adding songs to it: as long as the track's tags meet the criteria, it is automatically included in the playlist -- unless, of course, you choose the "limit to" option, which limits the the tracks in the playlist based on your choosing.

Read more for five of my favorite smart playlists, as well as criteria for how to create them.

Continue reading 5 Smart Playlists to help you manage your iTunes library

5 Smart Playlists to help you manage your iTunes library originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

5 Smart Playlists to help you manage your iTunes library originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>audioiTunesmusicmusic managementMusicManagementPlaylistsmart playlistsmart playlistsSmartPlaylistSmartPlayliststipstricksSang TangFri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 ESTHands-on with the underwhelming Apple TV 3.0 updatehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/hands-on-with-the-underwhelming-apple-tv-3-0-update/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/hands-on-with-the-underwhelming-apple-tv-3-0-update/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/hands-on-with-the-underwhelming-apple-tv-3-0-update/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, iTunes, Software Update, Apple TV

Regardless of some of the breathless comments coming out about the Apple TV 3.0 update, it appears that Apple TV is still a "hobby" to Apple. That is my impression after updating my Apple TV this afternoon and giving it a short run around the block.

To start with, I need to qualify this post with a quick reminder that I rarely use my Apple TV. But the gyrations I went through to get it updated are an indication that it still needs a real update, not just a facelift.

I began the update by turning on my Panasonic Viera Plasma TV and flipping the various switches to get the Apple TV on the display. Shortly after, the Apple TV woke up from a few months of sleep and I began flipping screens to find the Update button. I saw something that said "Downloads," and decided that was where I needed to go.

It asked for my Apple ID and password, and then told me I had the password wrong or it couldn't find the Apple ID. All of this was done not by typing on a keyboard, but by using the old white plastic Apple remote to pick one letter at a time off of a grid of letters and numbers. So much for Apple's vaunted skills in user interface design...

Continue reading Hands-on with the underwhelming Apple TV 3.0 update

Hands-on with the underwhelming Apple TV 3.0 update originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hands-on with the underwhelming Apple TV 3.0 update originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple tvAppleTviTunes 9.0.2itunes extrasitunes lpItunes9.0.2ItunesExtrasItunesLpsoftware updateSoftwareUpdateSteven SandeThu, 29 Oct 2009 18:00:00 ESTiTunes 9.0.2 is out, Apple TV 3.0 as well, and they love each otherhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/itunes-9-0-2-is-out-apple-tv-3-0-as-well-and-they-love-each-ot/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/itunes-9-0-2-is-out-apple-tv-3-0-as-well-and-they-love-each-ot/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/itunes-9-0-2-is-out-apple-tv-3-0-as-well-and-they-love-each-ot/#commentsFiled under: iTunes, Software Update, Apple TV

Engadget is reporting what everyone who has a twitchy refresh button already knows: iTunes 9.0.2 is out, bringing support to Apple TV 3.0. The iTunes update is available through Software Update, and the Apple TV update is right there in the box that says "Apple TV" on it.

The Apple TV update refreshes the look of the main menu, Genius Mixes and internet radio. It also adds iTunes Extras and LP support. Here's the official press release.

Notice any other new stuff? Tell us in the comments.

iTunes 9.0.2 is out, Apple TV 3.0 as well, and they love each other originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iTunes 9.0.2 is out, Apple TV 3.0 as well, and they love each other originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple tvAppleTvitunessoftware updateSoftwareUpdateVictor Agreda, Jr.Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:40:00 ESTBatch move your playlists to an iTunes folderhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/batch-moving-playlists-to-an-itunes-folder/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/batch-moving-playlists-to-an-itunes-folder/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/batch-moving-playlists-to-an-itunes-folder/#commentsFiled under: How-tos, Tips and tricks, iTunes, AppleScript

Folders, which have been a feature of iTunes since iTunes 5.0, serve as a means to better organize your music. For example, you could create genre- or artist-based folders with corresponding playlists nested within them. But moving playlists into folders isn't the most fun thing, and can be especially time consuming if you're going to be moving a bunch. Fortunately, the "Move Playlists to Folder" script provides a means for you to easily move multiple playlists over to a specified folder in iTunes.

First, download and install the script: the file should reside in your [username]/Library/iTunes/Scripts/ folder. After successful installation, the script will now appear as an item in the scripts menu. If you didn't already have any scripts installed, the script menu allows you to access and run scripts for a specific app.

This AppleScript, along with a host of many other iTunes script goodies, is available as a free download at Doug's Scripts. However, Doug would also be more than happy if you were generous enough to donate a buck or two to help buy him a latte.

Batch move your playlists to an iTunes folder originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Batch move your playlists to an iTunes folder originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applescriptDougs AppleScriptsDougsApplescriptsfoldersiTunesplaylistsSang TangThu, 22 Oct 2009 15:00:00 ESTApple creates new iTunes Twitter accountshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/apple-creates-new-itunes-twitter-accounts/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/apple-creates-new-itunes-twitter-accounts/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/apple-creates-new-itunes-twitter-accounts/#commentsFiled under: iTunes, Apple

Just like the Facebook pages that Apple has set up for iTunes and the iTunes Trailers Twitter account, Apple has just set up several Twitter accounts for iTunes, which cover Music, Podcasts, Movies and TV Shows.

First, the Music account, twitter.com/iTunesMusic , will provide information on "new releases, pre-orders, iTunes LP, exclusive offers and more."

Second, the Podcasting account, twitter.com/iTunesPodcasts , will provide a "Podcast Episode of the Day, from iTunes Podcasting."

Next, the iTunes Movies account, twitter.com/iTunesMovies , doesn't contain a description, but does contain one tweet so far, and it looks like it will be used for Movies on the iTunes Store.

Finally, the iTunes TV account, twitter.com/iTunesTV , which contains no tweets yet, will provide "Official TV updates from the U.S. iTunes Store on Twitter."

Will these accounts make a impact on what you discover in the iTunes Store? Let us know in the comments below!

Apple creates new iTunes Twitter accounts originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple creates new iTunes Twitter accounts originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>iTunesmoviesmusicPodcastsTVTwitterJoachim BeanTue, 20 Oct 2009 09:10:00 ESTDistributing iTunes LPs without iTuneshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/distributing-itunes-lps-without-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/distributing-itunes-lps-without-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/distributing-itunes-lps-without-itunes/#commentsFiled under: iTunes, Music

Within days of the iTunes 9 and iTunes LP announcement, people had already thoroughly hacked apart the iTunes LP format only to discover it was just a clever combination of images, HTML, CSS and Javascript. Because any web developer could create an iTunes LP, it seemed strange that indie labels were left out in the cold, with LPs having a high cost of entry and no distribution of their LPs on the iTunes Store.

We do have a report this morning of Apple announcing that they'll be opening up the LP format, but a few inventive artists appear to have leapfrogged that step towards glasnost. It was only a matter of time before someone starting offering iTunes LPs in other ways, and iTunesLP.net is that someone. They're already offering up Disney's Fantasia in the iTunes LP format, but no music is included.

Installing the LP is as easy and double-clicking the downloaded file, but for the music to play properly it must be correctly tagged and named, and of course you need a legitimate way to get the music in question. Even though the site only offers 1 LP currently, it has plenty of tutorials and directions on how to create and distribute your own.

As long as no copyright laws are being broken, I think creating and distributing these LPs is a great idea. It offers users the chance to create visually stunning LPs for older music that the labels wouldn't bother with, and it offers indie labels the chance to get iTunes LPs out there, even if they're not yet available directly in the iTunes Store. With Apple's new policy towards opening up the LP format, this may be a brief opportunity for the workaround, but it's nice to see.

Distributing iTunes LPs without iTunes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Distributing iTunes LPs without iTunes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>disneydistributionfantasiaitunesitunes lpItunesLpTim WassonTue, 13 Oct 2009 09:02:00 ESTiTunes LP broken for indie record labels?http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/11/itunes-lp-broken-for-indie-record-labels/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/11/itunes-lp-broken-for-indie-record-labels/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/11/itunes-lp-broken-for-indie-record-labels/#commentsFiled under: iTunes, Music

Update: ElectricPig is reporting on 10/13 that an Apple spokesperson said the LP format will be opened up for all, indies and majors alike.

There's word from an indie record-label that iTunes LPs are not for the indies. Introduced at Apple's "It's Only Rock and Roll" event in September, the iTunes LP format adds "bigger than a matchbook" album art, song lyrics, video clips, and other extra content to albums sold through the iTunes store.

Brian McKinney of Chicago-based label Chocolate Lab Records saw some promise in the new format and started looking into the idea of producing for iTunes LPs himself. But the truly small labels may have a hard time getting in. McKinney spoke to the digital distribution manager at his label's distributor, who reportedly told him that Apple charges a $10,000 production fee for iTunes LPs. $10,000 may be less than the heads of Warner Music Group, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and EMI spend on breakfast, but could be cost prohibitive for the little label that could (if it had $10,000 handy for each of its acts).

It's not just the cost that prohibits the little labels. According to McKinney, it's also Apple. McKinney says his dude in distribution was told "that LPs aren't being offered to indies and that there are only about 12 LPs being offered right now."

"Foul, foul, filth and foul," cries Cult of Mac's Pete Mortensen. Like a financial analyst moving a stock from "buy" to "sell," Mortensen says iTunes LP has gone from "the first digital album good enough to criticize," to "the first major content misstep in the history of the iTunes Store." Assuming that Chocolate Lab's distributor info is on the up-and-up, Mortensen thinks iTunes LP is "less a new format for music than it is a new form of paid advertising on the iTunes store."

Continue reading iTunes LP broken for indie record labels?

iTunes LP broken for indie record labels? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iTunes LP broken for indie record labels? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>emiitunesitunes lpItunesLpsony bmgSonyBmguniversal music groupUniversalMusicGroupwarner musicWarnerMusicKen RaySun, 11 Oct 2009 13:30:00 ESTDoubletwist introduces in-app music store powered by Amazonhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/doubletwist-introduces-in-app-music-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/doubletwist-introduces-in-app-music-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/doubletwist-introduces-in-app-music-store/#commentsFiled under: iTS, Software, Freeware, iTunes, Deals, Music

We posted about Doubletwist earlier this year -- it's a pretty innovative music app (developed in part by Jon Lech Johansen, otherwise known as DVD Jon) that not only plays you play whatever you like, obviously, but even lets you share and send music off to anyone, even other people who don't have the app itself. Now Doubletwist is stepping up even more closely to becoming an iTunes competitor: they've announced a partnership with the Amazon music store to sell music directly from within the app. No TVs or movies -- just music, purchased directly within the app, and then able to be sent out to any devices or social networks as usual.

TechCrunch says the store's simplicity is actually a selling point -- iTunes has ballooned up to do way more than just sell music, and in Doubletwist it's much more straightforward. Here's the other bonus for Mac users: while we originally had to wait for an app release, the music store is currently only available on the Mac version of the software. A PC version is coming soon.

It's doubtful Doubletwist will replace iTunes for many people, given all of the various things iTunes does for a Mac user. But then again, if you are using the Amazon MP3 store with any frequency, Doubletwist is probably worth a look: it's a free download on the website.

Doubletwist introduces in-app music store powered by Amazon originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Doubletwist introduces in-app music store powered by Amazon originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>amazon-music-storedoubletwistmoviessimplicitytechcrunchtvsMike SchrammThu, 08 Oct 2009 10:30:00 ESTWhy the App Store is working just righthttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/07/why-the-app-store-is-working-just-right/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/07/why-the-app-store-is-working-just-right/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/07/why-the-app-store-is-working-just-right/#commentsFiled under: Gaming, Software, iTunes, Developer, App Store

Edible Apple has an interesting analysis up about this Newsweek article claiming that App Store developers aren't getting rich. Newsweek basically claims that all those success stories we've heard about App Store developers have a darker side: if they aren't already buried in costs from developing that hit app, they're desperately scrambling to rise above the noise and get another one's sales up on the App Store. [For a similar perspective to Newsweek's, check out this post from Ged Maheux at the Iconfactory.]

Edible Apple replies that that's true, but a closer inspection of the numbers shows that these devs are actually making plenty of money -- while their costs are going higher than they expected (one example has a developer paying over $100,000 to make $200,000) there is still money to be made. What developers are actually discovering, says Edible Apple, is that the App Store isn't a gold rush -- it's a business.

That's an interesting point. In the beginning, the App Store was a gold rush -- you could hack together a fart app and come up with a few month's worth of beer money over night. But with almost 100,000 apps, it's a different ballgame. You either need to come up with an original idea that people are interested in, or polish an existing idea until it shines so bright it's unavoidable. And as Edible Apple says, that's actually a good thing. There is money to be made in the App Store these days -- multiple developers have proven that already. It'll take work and luck to do it, but isn't that the case with any successful business?

Why the App Store is working just right originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Why the App Store is working just right originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>analysisapp-storecostsedible-applegold-rushiphonemoneymoneymakingnewsweekpricingMike SchrammWed, 07 Oct 2009 23:00:00 ESTTUAW Interview: Andrew Lacy of Tapulous on Tap Tap Revenge 3http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/06/tuaw-interview-andrew-lacy-of-tapulous-on-tap-tap-revenge-3/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/06/tuaw-interview-andrew-lacy-of-tapulous-on-tap-tap-revenge-3/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/06/tuaw-interview-andrew-lacy-of-tapulous-on-tap-tap-revenge-3/#commentsFiled under: Gaming, Software, Features, iTunes, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, Music

By the time you read this, Tap Tap Revenge 3 should have made its way to the App Store. The latest version of the rhythm game/music platform for the iPhone and iPod touch is a huge release for Tapulous -- from the series' humble beginnings as a pre-App Store bit of code to the more recent incarnations of artist-specific music collections, Tapulous has taken Tap Tap a long way in the still short history of this gaming platform. And now they're trying to go even farther: they've introduced in-app purchases to the game (you can find a full list of songs available now as in-app purchases inside the interview below), and they've added in social features, from customizable avatars to in-game chat and score sharing.

Tapulous COO Andrew Lacy sat down to talk with us just before the release of the software, both about how he thinks consumers will react to the new business model, and what's next for Tapulous and this series that has come so far already. Tap Tap Revenge 3 should be in the App Store very soon -- it's available for 99 cents, with extra music packs at six songs for $2.99, or two songs for 99 cents.

Gallery: Tap Tap Revenge 3

Continue reading TUAW Interview: Andrew Lacy of Tapulous on Tap Tap Revenge 3

TUAW Interview: Andrew Lacy of Tapulous on Tap Tap Revenge 3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Interview: Andrew Lacy of Tapulous on Tap Tap Revenge 3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>andrew-lacyapp-storegallerygaminginterviewiphonemusic-packsmusic-systemreleasetap-tap-revenge-3tuawMike SchrammTue, 06 Oct 2009 00:01:00 ESTPalm webOS 1.2.1 fixes iTunes sync... againhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/03/palm-webos-1-2-1-fixes-itunes-sync-again/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/03/palm-webos-1-2-1-fixes-itunes-sync-again/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/03/palm-webos-1-2-1-fixes-itunes-sync-again/#commentsFiled under: iTunes, Software Update, Apple, iPhone

Okay kids, this is starting to get a little out of hand now. Palm has once again pushed back at Apple, releasing webOS 1.2.1 today that "resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with the latest version of iTunes." What's that issue, you might ask? Well, I'd say the fact that Apple isn't too happy that Palm is breaking all sorts of rules to make their device appear as an iPhone.

It all started back in May, when it was determined that plugging a Palm Pre into a Mac will allow it to sync content with iTunes with no issues. This honeymoon period didn't last too long and once Apple figured out what was going on, Apple swiftly released an update to iTunes that prevented syncing from non-Apple devices.

Apparently, that wasn't good enough for Palm and it was determined that they were trying to make the Pre appear to be an Apple device when it was plugged in for syncing. Palm turned around and released yet another webOS update that fixed the sync and it worked well until the USB-IF got involved and sided with Apple, telling Palm they had to cease and desist.

Looks like Palm is back on the attack and this latest release is sure to stir up the pot once again.

Palm webOS 1.2.1 fixes iTunes sync... again originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Palm webOS 1.2.1 fixes iTunes sync... again originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleiphoneiTunesmediapalmpresoftwaresyncupdateUSBUSB-IFwebOSJohn BurkeSat, 03 Oct 2009 15:00:00 ESTMac 101: iTunes artist alertshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/mac-101-itunes-artist-alerts/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/mac-101-itunes-artist-alerts/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/mac-101-itunes-artist-alerts/#commentsFiled under: iTS, iTunes, Mac 101

Welcome back to Mac 101, our series of tips for new and novice Mac users.

iTunes gets easier to use with every update. One feature, however, has gotten lost in the changes. Artist Alerts lets you receive email notifications of new releases from your favorite artists, which is great. The trouble is that the link to tag an artist isn't easy to find.

There are two ways receive alert updates from a given artist. First, navigate to that artist's page (for example, here's Paramore's page). On the right hand side, you'll see "Alert Me." Click it, enter your account password and then click "OK."

The other method is from an album page. Here's the page for Paramore's album Brand New Eyes. Scroll down a bit and you'll see "Artist Alerts" under "More Paramore."

To manage your alerts, click your account name in the upper right-hand corner. Once you've entered your password, a new window appears. Scroll down a bit and click "Manage My Alerts." From there you can de-select certain artists or clear the entire list.

Have fun and spend less time checking up on your favorites manually.

Mac 101: iTunes artist alerts originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mac 101: iTunes artist alerts originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>artist alertsArtistAlertshow toHowToitunesitunes storeItunesStoremac 101Mac101Dave CaoloFri, 02 Oct 2009 15:00:00 ESTBlackBerry alert! BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac arriveshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/blackberry-alert-blackberry-desktop-software-for-mac-arrives/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/blackberry-alert-blackberry-desktop-software-for-mac-arrives/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/blackberry-alert-blackberry-desktop-software-for-mac-arrives/#commentsFiled under: Software, Wireless, Odds and ends, Freeware, iTunes, Developer

A TUAW reader zapped us a note with his BlackBerry device to tell us that as of today, BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac is available (we first noted it as "coming in September" back in July).

It's a free download [link], and requires Mac OS X 10.5.5 or better, BlackBerry device software version 4.2 or higher, and iTunes 7.2 or newer. Key features of the software include the ability to synchronize your iTunes library with your CrackBerry, sync calendars, contacts, and appointments, & add or delete apps and files.

This is the first time that Research In Motion (RIM) has developed their own solution for syncing Macs and BlackBerry handhelds. In the past, the company made a version of PocketMac for BlackBerry available at no cost to Mac-owning customers, and other third-party developers such as Mark/Space have had BlackBerry solutions available for many years.

Thanks to Storry for the tip!

BlackBerry alert! BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac arrives originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

BlackBerry alert! BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac arrives originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>blackberrydesktopmacsoftwareSteven SandeFri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST