A year on, Psystar still defying Apple

A year on, Psystar still defying Apple
Today, the essential question regarding Psystar is unchanged: does the company have the right to sell computers with Apple's Mac OS X Leopard preinstalled, as it has been doing since April 14, 2008? Psystar set off shock waves through the Apple world that week, as an army of journalists, bloggers, fanboys, and detractors set off on a manic search for anything and everything related to the company and its desktops.Psystar emerged a year ago as a small independent system builder, the likes of which can be found in any medium-size town in the U.S. What provoked the interest and ire of the Mac community was Psystar's decision to ship so-called "white box" systems with Mac OS preinstalled alongside systems with Windows Vista and Linux, in defiance of Apple's licensing policies for that operating system.Psystar recently updated its flagship product, the Open Computer, and CEO Rudy Pedraza promises that more products are yet to come.In an interview, Pedraza acknowledged that the past year has been quite a challenge, but he's glad that at least so far, Psystar has been able to provide an alternative to Apple. "(Our customers) are people who would otherwise be unable to afford an Apple computer, and they are just happy about it."Whether or not Psystar sees another anniversary will depend in large part on legal wrangling in Northern California, far from Psystar's Doral, Fla., headquarters. The litigation between Apple and Psystar appears to be in a bit of a lull as the one-year anniversary passes, with lawyers immersed in the discovery phase of the trial following months of lawsuits and countersuits from both companies.Apple's stance is pretty clear: the end-user licensing agreement that comes with Leopard forbids the user from installing that operating system on anything other than an Apple-labeled computer. Psystar, on the other hand, is attempting to argue that Apple is abusing its copyright on Mac OS X in requiring the operating system to run on Apple hardware after Psystar unsuccessfully tried to lodge an antitrust defense.Little has changed on the legal front in recent months, but it seems worthwhile to take a step back and look at how Psystar has, and hasn't, changed the nature of the computer business. First off, Psystar does not appear to have made a huge dent in Apple's Mac business.I've been using one of the original Psystar Open Computers for almost a year.James Martin/CNETMac desktop shipments have indeed slipped since March 2008, from 856,000 units in the quarter ended March 2008 to 728,000 units in the quarter ended December 2008. But Apple and analysts attributed that decline to three main factors: an aging iMac lineup (refreshed in March 2009), the ongoing shift in consumer preferences from desktops to notebooks (Apple's notebook shipments increased 17 percent over that time span), and the general slump in the economy that took hold in the second half of 2008.Psystar will not release sales figures, but Pedraza said that sales have exceeded his expectations to date. Pedraza said the company is still planning to release a notebook, but hinted that it might be something more along the lines of a Netbook rather than a full-sized notebook.What Psystar has accomplished is to prove that a Mac OS computer that was not designed by Apple can deliver a satisfactory experience. CNET was one of the first to order an Open Computer in April 2008, and I've been using that machine as my primary work system ever since with few issues.It's certainly not perfect: while I've been able to download every update to Leopard released since last April, I have not always been able to download and install updates for Apple application software through Software Update, such as iTunes and iLife. If something goes wrong with the OS, I'll have to venture down a complicated restore process involving a second installation CD that likely contains the magic files Psystar needs to bypass Apple's restrictions on where Leopard can be installed. And needless to say, the Open Computer is not the sort of thing that makes an IT department all giddy.Still, the Open Computer is otherwise an almost identical Mac experience to the MacBook Pro I use at home. When it comes to reliability and service, Psystar may not be able to compete with Apple, but for people who know their way around a computer, the Open Computer is a Mac.And that could have huge ramifications for the software industry if Psystar is able to overturn Apple's end-user licensing agreement, which could usher in another Mac clone era just when the operating system's popularity is arguably at an all-time high. The first Mac clone era did not go well for Apple, and it's not hard to see similar problems occurring if the perception of Mac OS X as stable and reliable start to wane as it is forced to interact with hardware for which it was not designed. Already, Psystar imitators such as PearC are trying their hand at the market.An awful lot has to happen before Apple has to worry about anything like that. Psystar is a clear underdog against Apple, and the trial is not scheduled to begin until November.But the Little Mac Cloner That Could is a year old this week, and is continuing to sell Open Computers under Apple's nose. How many more years does Psystar have?

How to use Photovine

How to use Photovine
Photovine, Google's photo-sharing app for iOS devices, is now open to all. Let's take a quick look at how this free app works.Photovine is set up similarly to Instagram, with a large button centered in the bottom menu for snapping a picture, which you can attach to a "vine" or create your own. A vine is a theme around which photos are grouped. Vines I saw included Nutella, Out a Plane's Window, Jordans, Breakfast of Champions, Green, and (of course) Kittens.When viewing a vine, you can "like" a photo and add a comment. You can "watch" vines that interest you by tapping the Watch button in the upper-right corner, and they are then added to your Watching list. Two other lists of vines are labeled Fresh and Popular. Vines that you create or contribute to get added to your Watching list. You can also follow other users, which helps you keep tabs on their Photovine activity. You can find friends through Facebook, Twitter, your address book, or searching by Photovine user name.When you are browsing a vine and tap the center button in the bottom menu, the camera app opens and the picture you snap will then get added to that vine. You can then add a 40-character caption and choose to share on Facebook or Twitter, currently your only social-networking options. (Why Google launched Photovine without Google+ integration is a mystery to me.) You can also "loop in your friends." Looped-in friends will receive a message in their Photovine inbox about your recent post. Tap the Post button in the upper-right corner and your photo gets added to the vine.Here I am adding to the Nutella vine with--what else?--a picture of Nutella.Matt ElliottIf you are not viewing a particular vine when you snap a photo, you can then create your own vine. As you type out a title, existing vines appear to avoid duplication. To flip through the photos in a vine, you can use the arrow buttons below the images or just swipe sideways.You can add vines that interest you to your Watching list.Matt ElliottIn addition to the photo button on the bottom menu, you'll find buttons labeled Activity, Vines, Inbox, and Profile. The Activity page simply lists the photos you've added to vines. The Vines page lists various vines, under the Fresh, Popular, and Watching headers. You inbox includes notifications and messages; you'll get a notification when someone chooses to follow you or loops you when they post a photo, and messages are simply text messages sent from user to user. Lastly, from your Profile page, you can see your followers, those you are following, the photos you've liked, and thumbnails of your posts. You can also upload an image for your profile picture, which by default is a monkey because, I suppose, monkeys like climbing on vines.Your profile page shows who is following you, who you are following, and your recent posts.Matt ElliottThe design is very un-Google like, with no mention of Google in the branding and a light-green-and-brown color scheme. There are also no filters, which I would consider the biggest omission of Photovine. Photo filters are what make apps like Instagram and Hipstamatic so creative and fun.So, that's Photovine in a nutshell. Do you think you'll try it in addition to or in place of Instagram or Hipstamatic? Please share your photo-sharing habits in the comments below.

App store downloads shine on Christmas

App store downloads shine on Christmas
The volume in overall App Store downloads also grew by more than 50 percent in December (with estimates for the final week of the month) over November, surpassing Flurry's estimate of only 20 percent.Flurry's Vice President of Marketing Peter Farago spoke with CNET about the success of the App Store. Though some forecasts question how much further the App Store can grow, Farago thinks this is just the beginning. "The growth has been meteoric for Apple for iPhone and iPod Touch penetration," he said. "They're already past 50 million units in the marketplace for iPhone and iPod Touch."Farago notes that while the iPhone is a killer device that gives people a portable computer in their pocket, Apple knows it needs third-party developers, which is one reason the company controls the store. And developers will go wherever they can get a good customer base, realizing that they can build an app once for the App Store and draw in a lot of consumers.Even recent criticisms leveled against the App Store haven't dented its growth. Though some developers have complained that the App Store is hard to deal with, Farago says there are a lot of success stories from people who have created and sold apps through Apple.Farago also sees the iPod Touch as Apple's silent killer, with a huge market share that will help the company in the years to come. "What I'd be scared about if I were a phone maker is that Apple has a relationship now with all these teens and pre-teens using a device that is basically an iPhone with the radio turned off," he said. "They've got 24 million [customers], and with Christmas, probably add a couple million or so to that. All those kids are getting trained to be iPhone users in the next two to five years."Google's Android Market can't compare with the App Store at this point, but its recent download volume should offer Android vendors some holiday cheer. December downloads from the Android Market store grew by more than 20 percent over November. Downloads for Motorola's Droid, in particular, rose 93 percent on Christmas Day compared with the three previous Fridays of the month. The Droid also captured 48 percent of all download volume versus other top Android devices, including the myTouch 3G, G1, and the HTC Hero).FlurryFarago also sees the Android market off to a promising start. The installed hardware base isn't there yet, but that may start to change next year as Flurry expects about 50 new Android devices to hit the market. Once enough of those devices get into the hands of consumers, more developers may be drawn to create Android apps.Of all Android devices, the Droid is so far leading the way. "It's the most successful [Android] headset that enables downloading pretty easily," said Farago. "For a phone that's not the iPhone, it's got a pretty good installed base."Though Android may always play second fiddle to Apple, at least in the foreseeable future, that doesn't mean the Android Market can't have a significantly good business, notes Farago. Flurry predicts that by the end of next year, 150,000 apps will be available for Android phones, up from around 20,000 to 25,000 now. Flurry provides analytics for mobile app developers to help them track downloads for their applications. As such, the company is able to determine which mobile devices are downloading which apps.

Rumor- Details on the next Nintendo DS

Rumor: Details on the next Nintendo DS
Take this story with a grain of salt, but rumors are beginning to swirl around Nintendo and the possible successor to the DS portable gaming system; and no, we're not talking about the DSi XL. According to a post on CrunchGear, a writer for RPAD.tv has revealed some top-secret details about the yet-to-be announced handheld. Though none of this information has been confirmed by Nintendo, the most notable specs are as follows: Two screens, larger in both size and resolution and close enough together that they can be used as one big screen.Built-in accelerometer Processing power comparable to that of the GameCubeRegardless of whether this information is accurate, there is no doubt that the next Nintendo portable needs to alter its focus toward competing with the iPhone. Whether you think the iPhone needs buttons to be considering a gaming machine aside, the device has proven itself as a legitimate casual gaming platform and has no doubt cut into what the Nintendo DS is able to provide.If Nintendo wants the next iteration of the DS to be successful, the company will have to jump a few hurdles in the process. By far the largest room for improvement would be Nintendo's online store presence. This service needs to be as seamless and intuitive as iTunes. Though the current DSi Shop works, it is nowhere near the experience had with the App Store.The new DS will also need improved functionality. Sure, a phone would really make things interesting, but Nintendo should start first with a higher-resolution camera and the ability to record video. People need an incentive to want to own this device, so give them that. Finally, it all comes down to exclusive and compelling games. By continuing to develop titles that appeal to more hard-core and loyal fans, Nintendo can make the case that a "true" immersive gaming experience can only be had on a device built for such applications.If Nintendo does have plans for a new DS system, we're betting on an announcement at this year's E3 expo in June. Until then, let us know what you'd like to see in the next version of DS.

How to disable automatic app updates on iOS 7

How to disable automatic app updates on iOS 7
I think Sen. John McCain spoke for a lot of iOS users when he quizzed Apple CEO Tim Cook about why he had to constantly update his apps. His view, and the view of many other users, is that iOS should automatically download and install any app updates when they are available. The senator (and a lot of iOS users) will be happy to know that on iOS 7, apps will automatically update in the background. Just to be sure you realize an app has updated, the App Store will display a notification in Notification Center listing any updated apps. Hooray! While this sounds like a great idea to ensure your apps are always up-to-date and full of the latest features, there are some downsides. Most notably, sometimes app updates break features we've come to know, love, and depend on. Either intentionally, or out of mistake, but still these changes can have a big impact. Apple, realizing not all users will appreciate the auto-update feature, built in the ability to give control back to the user by disabling automatic updates. Should you prefer the old manual method of updating apps you can turn off automatic updates by launching the Settings app, then scrolling down and selecting "iTunes & App Store."Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNETUnder the Automatic Downloads section you'll see an Updates listing. Slide the switch from the green "on" position, to the blank "off" position to stop the App Store from updating your apps for you. With it turned off you'll need to launch the App Store to check for and download any updates. If for whatever reason you change your mind down the road, just come back to this same place and turn the switch back on. It's that easy. This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play

Some iTunes special promotions aren't so special

Some iTunes special promotions aren't so special
On iTunes homepage today, Apple posted an ad linking to a list of nine songs from independent artists, including "Too Much" from Sufjan Stevens, "Golden Haze" from Wild Nothing, and "Revival" from Deerhunter.According to the blog Digital Audio Insider, a Web search found that the first five songs are available for free elsewhere on the Web. "The first five tracks are all songs the respective artists and record companies are already giving away online," DAI wrote. "The Sufjan Stevens track is a freebie at his Bandcamp page. Songs from Wild Nothing and Deerhunter are authorized free downloads at Pitchfork." Apple reported $42 billion in revenue last year, so it's hard for me to believe iTunes managers did this intentionally. A company representative didn't respond to an interview request.Apparently, the lesson here is that it pays to shop around regardless of how many bells and whistles surround a promotion. Regardless of the retailer, "special promotions" often prove not to be very special.

Some iPhone 5 buyers no longer face shipping delays online

Some iPhone 5 buyers no longer face shipping delays online
Seventy-seven days after putting the iPhone 5 on sale, there's no longer a wait to buy one from Apple in some countries.Today the company began showing online iPhone 5 shoppers a notice that the gadget was "in stock" in a handful of its online stores, including the U.S. and Canada. That's versus the previous estimate of two to four business days, notes MacRumors. It's the shortest estimated wait time for the phone, which launched in the U.S. and eight other countries on September 21. Quickly after the device went on sale, wait times for new orders of the phone stretched to three to four weeks, but have since been on the decline. Buyers of the unlocked version, which went on sale last week, face a delay of one to three business days. The change comes just a day after Apple launched the iPhone 5 in South Korea. Earlier this week, the company said it planned to bring the device to an additional 50 countries before the end of the month, including Brazil and Russia. This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play

Apple Newsstand ropes in longtime holdout WSJ

Apple Newsstand ropes in longtime holdout WSJ
Longtime holdout of Apple's Newsstand service, The Wall Street Journal changed course today, and is now offering a complete version of its paper through the paid subscription service.The Journal has had a reader app on the App Store since early 2010, but did not allow users to subscribe using their Apple ID and linked credit card account, something that gives Apple a cut of the profit. That business model, along with a system that requires users to opt-in to sharing some of their demographic information, has been irksome for some publishers.The new service, which went into effect yesterday and was noted by All Things D this morning, has two tiers of service. One for smartphones only that costs $12.99 a month, and a higher tier at $21.99 a month that also includes access from the iPad and the Journal's online site.Apple launched Newsstand as part of iOS 5 in in 2011, providing a way for users to view newspapers and magazines they've purchased or subscribed to. The app also doubles as its own storefront, where users can browse and purchase content, similar to Apple's App Store, iBooks, and iTunes apps.The Newsstand app.CNETApple does not disclose what individual app makers and content providers earn on its store. The company doles out 70 percent of each sale to content creators, taking a 30 percent cut for itself. Publishers can also let existing subscribers view digital editions of content to which they already subscribe, however they're not allowed to link to outside Web sites where subscriptions can be struck outside of the App Store.The model has had a mixed reception by publishers, some of which have sidestepped selling through Apple and opted to offer tablet-optimized subscription versions of their sites through the Web instead. One of those publishers was Time Inc., which reached a deal with Apple in June to sell some 20 of its titles including Sports Illustrated, Entertainment Weekly, and People magazine through the App Store. The Journal's change in digital strategy comes just a week after WSJ parent company News Corp. killed off The Daily, a paid news service that launched on Apple's iPad. That project was one of the first to make use of Apple's subscription service, though failed to gain traction with users.

Apple may lease data center space in Silicon Valley

Apple may lease data center space in Silicon Valley
Apple's data center efforts could be expanding yet again, with the company reportedly leasing space from a new wholesale data center facility in Silicon Valley.Data Center Knowledge reports that Apple signed a seven-year lease with DuPont Fabros Technology last month, worth approximately 11,000 square feet of data center space in its Santa Clara, Calif., facilities. The beginning of the deal is slated for sometime in the third quarter, when the facility is up and running.This data center effort would differ from Apple's existing strategy, which has involved the company building its own facilities. Apple has data centers in Newark, Calif., as well as in Maiden, N.C. The latter facility is 500,000 square feet, roughly five times the size of the one in Newark. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the lease, and DuPont Fabros does not reveal the name of its tenants. Nonetheless, the company listed details about the lease within its first-quarter earnings report (PDF), with executives noting that it was a Fortune 50 technology company. Data Center Knowledge pegged Apple as that company based on confirmation from "multiple sources." What Apple does within its data centers continues to be a topic of interest for industry observers. Most of that curiosity still centers on Apple's efforts in the cloud, particularly with user data and media storage. Apple this year is widely expected to re-launch its MobileMe service as a storage locker, offering users a way to access myriad files no matter what device they're on. The data centers could also play a crucial role in Apple offering an iTunes subscription service. Apple spent more than $1.7 billion during fiscal 2010 on IT assets, according to an analyst report from Bernstein Research published in March. The firm estimated that Apple plans to spend close to a billion more than that during 2011's fiscal year, which ends September 24.

Apple extends lead over Samsung in U.S. smartphones

Apple extends lead over Samsung in U.S. smartphones
Maybe it's time to hold off on the Apple negativity.The iPhone franchise captured 39 percent of the U.S. smartphone market in the first quarter, extending its lead over Samsung, which garnered 21.7 percent of the market, according to research firm ComScore. Interestingly, Apple's iOS took market share away from Google's Android, which traditionally has seen more rapid growth. Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Samsung's diva actKodak patent complaints target Apple, RIM3D TV FAQVerizon Wireless revamps unlimited calling, data plans Apple saw its smartphone market share rise by nearly 3 percentage points in the quarter, while Samsung's share inched up slightly. The next three largest handset vendor, HTC, Motorola, and LG, all lost market share in the period. The first quarter was fairly quiet when it came to new smartphones hitting the market, with heavy hitters such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One not debuting in the U.S. until early in the second quarter. As a result, it appears the incumbents continued to flourish, giving the edge to the iPhone 5 and its older models, as well as the Galaxy S3.The numbers come as Apple continues to get hit with concern that the company has lost its edge, and that it won't be able to continue the torrid pace of growth it has enjoyed for the last several years. In addition, there's an increasing view that the competition, particularly Samsung, has caught up.But the first-quarter results show Apple still has some mojo left, although it may fade in the second quarter as several high-profile phones go on sale. Google's Android remains the largest platform, with 52 percent of the market, although it lost more than 1 percentage point of market share. Microsoft's Windows Phone was the only other gainer, inching up to 2.9 percent.

Apple explores 30 years of the Mac with video shot via iPhones

Apple explores 30 years of the Mac with video shot via iPhones
Apple used the iPhone to compose a Happy 30th Birthday ode to the Mac.Appearing Monday on Apple's Web site, the 90-second video takes us around the world as we watch people of different ages and nationalities using the Mac in their personal and professional lives. We peek in on kids, students, designers, researchers, inventors, and musicians tapping into the Mac with some scenes of the iPhone and iPad as well. The video ends by telling us that it was all shot in one day using iPhones.A follow-up page explains that on January 24, 15 camera crews trekked around the world to shoot more than 70 hours of footage all with the iPhone 5s. In total, they covered 15 locations on 5 continents in the space of 36 hours, accounting for time differences.The director of this mobile production was Jake Scott, son of famed Hollywood director Ridley Scott, who shot Apple's famous "1984" Super Bowl spot more than 30 years ago. The younger Scott was able to direct all of the shots remotely using FaceTime, according to Apple. The footage was sent back to the studios where a team of 21 editors snipped it into just 90 seconds.The real story here is less about a celebration of the Mac and more about the techniques used to shoot the video using mobile devices with a director who supervised the production remotely."Many involved in the production believe this innovative approach to a multilocation shoot will be adopted by other filmmakers," Apple said on its Web site.(Via Recode)

Apple expands iBooks Textbooks around the world

Apple expands iBooks Textbooks around the world
Apple has aimed two of its educational offerings at more schools, teachers, and students throughout the world.iBooks Textbooks and iTunes U Course Manager have both rolled out to new markets in Asia, Latin America, and Europe, Apple said on Tuesday. iBooks Textbooks is now available in 51 countries, including Brazil, Italy, and Japan. iTunes U Course Manager can be found in 70 countries, now including Russia, Thailand, and Malaysia.Related stories:Apple launches iBooks 2 digital textbooksHow to figure out the new iTunes UiBooks Textbooks offers iPad users interactive textbooks with straight text, animations, videos, rotating 3D diagrams, and photo galleries, all of which can be updated when new information is available. Almost 25,000 textbooks are available from such publishers as Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press, according to Apple."Oxford University Press is using iBooks Author for Headway, Oxford's all-time best-selling English language series, to create engaging iBooks Textbooks for iPad," Peter Marshall, managing director of the ELT Division at Oxford University Press, said in a statement. "In releasing 13 new iBooks Textbooks, including 'Headway Pre-Intermediate,' the best-selling level in the series, we are enriching the language learning experience for students around the world."iTunes U Course Manager lets teachers and others create their own course material for the iPad. They can combine their own documents with content from the Internet, other iTunes U collections, and iOS apps to design their own courses. Teachers can then distribute those courses to their own classrooms or post them via iTunes U for the public to access.

Apple executive e-mail explains new iPod's missing light sensor

Apple executive e-mail explains new iPod's missing light sensor
For those wondering why Apple did not include an ambient light sensor in its latest iPod Touch, a purported e-mail exchange between a top executive and a customer -- ahem -- shines some light on the subject.Apple news site iDownloadBlog posts what it says is a back and forth between Apple Marketing Chief Phil Schiller and a customer talking about the lack of a sensor in Apple's recently released fifth-generation iPod model. According to Schiller's message, which remains unconfirmed, the device is "just too thin" to fit one: The purported e-mail exchange.Rahig HarakeThe ambient light sensor does just what the name suggests, scanning for ambient light and adjusting screen brightness based on conditions. It's been around in previous models, and helps mainly when going between light and dark areas. The feature can be turned off from iOS' settings menu, though is not present in the new iPod models since there is no sensor.Related storiesCNET Review: 2012 iPod TouchApple ships mic-less EarPods with new iPod TouchApple's fifth-generation iPod Touch debuted alongside the iPhone 5 at Apple's event last month. According to Apple the device is 6.1 mm thick, though its camera model juts out slightly from the main body. That's as opposed to the fourth-generation model's 7.2 mm thickness.CNET has contacted Apple about the legitimacy of the e-mail exchange, though the company has a history of not confirming executive e-mails. Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs would frequently correspond with customers over e-mail, something that current CEO Tim Cook does as well.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play

Apple exec- Television may not be in the cards for now

Apple exec: Television may not be in the cards for now
If you're waiting for Apple to revolutionize the TV business, you may be sitting on your hands for a while. Apple executive Eddy Cue, who runs the company's Internet software and services business, downplayed the idea in a chat with Pacific Crest analyst Andy Hargreaves. His note, published today, was picked up by Fortune. Apple wouldn't enter a new business unless it could create a great user experience and fix existing problems, Cue told Pacific Crest. While Apple could make an attractive user interface, it still can't address the problems that stem from the pay-TV system, which is controlled by the cable and telecom providers. The cable and telecom companies act as a pipe for television shows, movies, and other entertainment, and operate with the studios and networks under a lucrative model that none of the parties really want to shake up. As an outsider looking in, Apple would have considerable challenges if it were to propose radical changes. Apple, in particular, would find it difficult to sign deals with the movie and TV companies in an effort to bring its own media directly to its customers. Apple was awarded a patent for its own cable box, and the company is reportedly talking to cable companies. Apple declined to comment to CNET.The television business is one many expect Apple to eventually enter as its next big venture. But it's a tough industry, with low margins and multiple competitors. Many expect Apple to produce a premium item that's significantly more expensive than the typical television.Updated at 9:12 a.m. PT: with a response from Apple.

Apple giving $100 refund on recent iPad purchases

If you bought the iPad very recently, you may qualify for a $100 refund.Apple is offering $100 back to customers who purchased the iPad at its former price, an Apple customer-service rep confirmed to CNET today. The refund, which will be applied to a person's credit card, applies to all versions of the first-generation iPad.Of course, there is a catch. According to the customer-service rep, Apple is offering the $100 refund only to those who purchased the last-gen tablet within 14 days of yesterday's announcement of the iPad 2. The customer-service rep wouldn't nail down a date, but the cut-off would seemingly be February 16.The iPad 2, which comes with two cameras, a dual-core processor, and either a black or white finish, is scheduled to hit store shelves March 11 for a starting price of $499.Apple also said yesterday that it has started selling first-generation iPad models for $100 less than their previous price tags. Online customers who already made their purchase must call Apple customer service to process the refund, the customer-service rep said. In-store purchasers must bring their receipt with them to the brick-and-mortar to get their money back.

Apple gives iTunes-in-the-cloud features to more of Europe

Nearly a dozen European countries now have access to a key iTunes feature that lets users re-download purchased video content.iTunes users in 11 countries, including France, Sweden, and Belgium, can now view and re-download movies they bought from Apple. Previously, users in those countries would have needed to back up that file in the event that the device it was on was damaged or stolen.The full list of countries in this latest batch (per The Next Web) includes Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. France was reportedly the only one to get re-downloads of purchased TV shows as part of the rollout too.Besides video content like movies and TV shows, the feature also works with music, music videos, apps, and books -- all purchased through Apple's various digital stores. Apple maintains a list of countries that can use the feature, which remains unavailable for many when it comes to music, TV shows, and movies, which are tied to deals Apple has made with studios. The expansion is the latest for Apple, which introduced the feature alongside iCloud at its annual developers conference in June 2011. Apple's last big rollout of it outside the U.S. was last July, which brought movies to the U.K., Canada, and about 35 other countries.