News World Wild…..iphone, ipod, ipad,….

Apple just updated its End User License Agreement for the iBooks Author application, and the changes clearly outline the Cupertino, Calif.-based Company only requires .iBooks formatted products created in iBooks Author to sell through the iBookstore.

With that said, Apple aims to sell the packaged format without claiming the content nor restricting where else authors can distribute the content.

iBooks Author released alongside iBooks Textbook last month and controversy immediately brewed over its terms and conditions, which many claimed infringed upon software rights and imposed unjust requirements…

The uncertainty stemmed from Apple’s language in the agreement, with critics convinced that Apple tried to claim content rights to all books created for iBooks Textbooks. Questions also arose concerning whether Apple intended to control books from publishing elsewhere in another form.

The modified license agreement simplified complex wording— especially in Section 2, which originally stated:

B. Distribution of your Work. As a condition of this License and provided you are in compliance with its terms, your Work may be distributed as follows:
(i) if your Work is provided for free (at no charge), you may distribute the Work by any available means;


(ii) if your Work is provided for a fee (including as part of any subscription-based product or service), you may only distribute the Work through Apple and such distribution is subject to the following limitations and conditions: (a) you will be required to enter into a separate written agreement with Apple (or an Apple affiliate or subsidiary) before any commercial distribution of your Work may take place; and (b) Apple may determine for any reason and in its sole discretion not to select your Work for distribution.

The new update reflects the following changes to Section 2:

B. Distribution of Works Generated Using the iBooks Author Software. As a condition of this License and provided you are in compliance with its terms, works generated using iBooks Author may be distributed as follows:
(i) if the work is provided for free (at no charge), you may distribute it by any means;

(ii) if the work is provided for a fee (including as part of any subscription-based product or service) and includes files in the .ibooks format generated using iBooks Author, the work may only be distributed through Apple, and such distribution will be subject to a separate written agreement with Apple (or an Apple affiliate or subsidiary); provided, however, that this restriction will not apply to the content of the work when distributed in a form that does not include files in the .ibooks format generated using iBooks Author. You retain all your rights in the content of your works, and you may distribute such content by any means when it does not include files in the .ibooks format generated by iBooks Author.

The new agreement explained that Apple never planned to confine the distribution of non-.iBooks content, and the EULA clarified users are allowed to distribute .iBooks formatted documents elsewhere—they just cannot charge elsewhere.

“If you charge a fee for any book or other work you generate using this software (a “Work”), you may only sell or distribute such Work through Apple (e.g., through the iBookstore) and such distribution will be subject to a separate agreement with Apple,” Apple stated in a note at the beginning of the license agreement.

The updated license agreement is a free download through the App Store.

In related news, Apple also updated its iBooks application to version 2.0.1 today. It fixes an issue concerning various iBooks Textbooks unable to successfully open. Although the problem was not fully detailed by the company, it did release a statement last month promising a prompt fix.

iBooks 2.0.1 is a free download through the App Store.

Research firm comScore is out with its latest numbers for the month of December, giving us a glimpse at the current United States mobile market. The report indicates that mobile sales are up-and-rising for the holiday month. comScore found that Google’s Android is leading with a 47.3-percent OS market share (rising 2.5 points) and Apple’s iOS is in second with a 29.6-percent market share (rising 2.2 points).

When it comes to device market share for both smartphones and non-smartphones on the OEM side, Samsung tops the charts with a 25.3-percent market share, which did not change from the previous month. LG and Motorola place second and third, both losing a small amount of market share during December. Apple comes in fourth in market share, and now boasts 12.4-percent of total mobile subscribers (rising 2.2 points).

The U.S. still ranks in as one of the world’s most important places for smartphones, with 97.9 million people owning smartphones during Q4 2011. When it comes to worldwide sales, Research Firm IDC  yesterday released its estimates for December. They found that Apple passed LG to become the third-largest smartphone manufacturer worldwide, with an 8.7-percent market share in Q4 2011, and a 6 percent market share in 2011 as a whole. Nokia remains in the top spot with 26.6-percent, followed by Samsung who has 22.8-percent. You can check out the graphs after the break for the full run-down:

IDG global smartphones

Sprint is showing its loyal customers some appreciation in the coming weeks with SprintFeed informing us starting Feb. 5 select customers will receive a discount up to $100. The discounts will come in $25, $50, and $100 and will be offered to select “upgrade eligible customers that are at high risk of leaving Sprint” via email and snail mail. So the deal does apply to eligible upgrades, but will as always require a new two-year commitment. Yes, this is a great way to get yourself sorted out with a less expensive iPhone.

The promotion is running from Feb. 5 to March 18, so you might want to check if your account has been flagged for the discount.

Related articles

• Sprint offers early upgrades to good customers on all CDMA phones (9to5google.com)
• Sprint offering early upgrades to good customers, iPhones included (9to5mac.com)

Earlier this month, we reported that China Telecom earned the necessary approvals to launch the iPhone 4S on China’s third-largest carrier. Today, the China Telecom subsidiary Beijing Telecom issued a press release (via China Daily) and said the Beijing-based company will launch the iPhone 4S as early as the end of February or beginning of March.

A CDMA version of the iPhone 4S will launch on the network. The press release gave no word on pricing for the device, but it will likely fall in line with the other networks.

China Telecom currently boasts 36.3 million 3G subscribers, while in comparison the nation’s largest carrier China Mobile Ltd., boasts 51.2 million 3G subscribers. Obviously, the launch of the iPhone 4S brings a lot of excitement in China, and it gives Apple the chance to add new customers. Moreover, launching on China Mobile would add an abundance of new customers, but that does not look to be happening anytime soon.

This month’s earlier launch of the iPhone 4S in China was temporarily halted by a riot caused by scalpers. In order to combat scalpers, Apple is launching a new lottery system at its Hong Kong store.

Related articles

• iPhone gets necessary approval from China Radio Management agency for use on China Telecom (9to5mac.com)
• China Unicom offering free iPhone 4S on multiyear agreements (9to5mac.com)
• Huge lines form at Apple Stores in China for iPhone 4S launch (9to5mac.com)
• Apple combats scalpers with new lottery system for iPhone reservations in Hong Kong (9to5mac.com)

iPhone NFC by moneto

We had some time to talk to a well-connected developer at Macworld who was building an app that— among other capabilities— includes NFC reading for the purpose of mobile transactions.  We were obviously curious why they would do that, noting that third party NFC readers for iPhone were not popular (aside from the recently announced Moneto, above).  The developer told us that he had no hardware knowledge, but he had spoken to Apple iOS engineers on multiple occasions, and they are “heavy into NFC.”

I asked how confident he was, and he said, “Enough to bet the app development on.”

This is not the first we have heard that iPhone 5 would have NFC, however.  Besides the deluge of ideas Apple has patented with NFC, the New York Times said pre-iPhone 4S that an upcoming iPhone would have NFC.  While it did not turn out to be the iPhone 4S, it could be the one coming up.

(Moneto again)

The question is now: Who will Apple partner with for its payment systems?  Over the weekend we received some hints…

Ed McLaughlin, who heads emerging payments at MasterCard, had an exchange with Fast Company that went as follows:

…when asked to give an estimate for when smartphone payments would become commonplace (in other words, would 2012 be the year of NFC or contactless tech?), McLaughlin demurred–and may have dropped a hint about Apple’s future in the industry.

“The timeline is always as rapid as it makes sense for consumers,” he says. “That’s a combination of having a critical mass of the merchants, which is what you’re seeing right now, and getting devices into the hands of consumers. I don’t know of a handset manufacturer that isn’t in process of making sure their stuff is PayPass ready.”

So that would include Apple then?

“Um, there are…like I say, [I don't know of] any handset maker out there,” McLaughlin says. “Now, when we have discussions with our partners, and they ask us not to disclose them, we don’t.”

Apple, of course, has the magical ability to transform whole industries. No one paid for music digitally before Apple unveiled iTunes; virtually no one listened to MP3 players, or carried smartphones, or played with tablets before Apple entered the markets. (And we have good reason to believe they are angling into wireless payment territory.) I asked whether the contactless payments industry needs Apple to hit critical mass.

“Well, anytime someone with a major base moves forward, it advances what you’re doing. So of course,” McLaughlin says.

It seems pretty clear that he wants so badly to say Apple is partnering but he cannot.

NFC for mobile devices is not cut and dry, however.  As Google would tell you with its Google Wallet platform, carriers can actually prevent device companies from putting apps on phones.  The well-covered Verizon blockage of Google Wallet on the Galaxy Nexus in favor of Verizon’s own ISIS NFC standard could also block an Apple/MasterCard entry.

Like all things iPhone 5, we will likely hear more in the coming weeks and months.

Related articles

• MasterCard Emerging Payments Chief Hints Apple Looking Into Smartphone Contactless Payments (fastcompany.com)
• Apple’s next iPhone (iPhone 5,1) gets its first reference thanks to iOS 5.1 (9to5mac.com)
• Apple combats scalpers with new lottery system for iPhone reservations in Hong Kong (9to5mac.com)

Since the iPhone 4S landed on Sprint in October, users have not had access to an official Sprint iOS app to manage their account like most other iPhone carriers provide. Now the carrier has launched a new Sprint Mobile Zone app (via SprintFeed) allowing users to manage their online accounts, access promotions and Sprint news, and more. The app is available for free from the App Store now (iTunes link). Despite account access seemingly just serving web pages from the carrier’s existing browser experience, in contrast to the un-installable carrier apps on Android, this is how all carrier apps should be.

In addition to the features mentioned above for Sprint customers, both Sprint and non-Sprint iPhone users will be able to access “Device Info” with the usual battery stats, data connections info, and available resources. There is also an Apple and Sprint store locator and quick links to Sprint support and Apple Care. Get the app now for iOS devices running iOS 5.0 and up.

T-Mobile will begin offering more than 1 million unlocked iPhone customers additional support starting Jan. 30, according to a report from TMO News who obtained internal documents. The documents said the new support offerings would include, “common procedures, information about feature and specifications and other basic device questions.”

The carrier is also updating the iPhone website within its Community so it fits in with the rest of the T-Mobile supported device pages and “Integrated Scope of Support” for representatives. Earlier this month, we had a chance to talk with T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray regarding the failed AT&T merger and the carrier’s plans to hit the switch on 1900 MHz HSPA+ spectrum in a number of cities in the Eastern U.S.

Steam, the popular game distribution network for the Mac and PC, released a companion application for iOS. The application does not bring an actual Steam gaming experience to the iOS platform, but functions similarly to Microsoft’s Xbox Live companion application. The application features a section with Steam game sales, and allows you to chat with Steam friends, browse community groups of the platform, and view user profiles.

Former Apple iPhone marketing executive Bob Borchers

One of the most critical aspects of Apple is its public relations team— the team that puts out press releases, deals with the press, runs keynote presentations, Apple events, and more. Adam Lashinsky’s upcoming book ”Inside Apple” provides detail on Apple’s public relations team, noting its secrecy, thoroughness, and tactics with the upper echelon of the technology-reporting world. According to the book, Apple’s public relations department is divided up into product categories, with certain staff assigned to specific Apple products and services.

The PR team obviously sets questions about unreleased products, personal information about Apple’s leadership team, and details about Apple’s future events, as noted by Inside Apple. Perhaps the best demonstration of Apple PR’s control is how communication about the iPhone following its 2007 unveiling was handled. According to the book, the PR department allowed only five Apple employees to discuss the breakthrough product following the announcement.

Read below for more information: 

This list was comprised of then Apple CEO Steve Jobs, then Apple COO Tim Cook, Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing Phil Schiller, iPhone marketing chief Greg Jozwiak, and former Apple marketing executive Bob Borchers.

Missing from that list are at least three notable names: Jony Ive (who designed the iPhone), Tony Fadell (who worked heavily on the product’s engineering), and Scott Forstall (The man in charge of the iPhone’s breakthrough software). Borchers, the lowest ranking employee on that list, explained in “Inside Apple” why the aforementioned top names were excluded:

The challenge with those guys is that they’re super smart and they know a lot of details, but they haven’t spent a lot of time in front of the press. They’re likely to get asked questions that they know the answers to but that they haven’t learned how to gracefully avoid answering.

Notably, Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller were a part of two very public discussions about the new iPhone following the 2007 Macworld keynote address. The video right below is of an interview with Steve Jobs and CNBC:

Below is an interview with Phil Schiller and CBS, a hands-on iPhone interview that has garnered over 12 million views on YouTube alone:

“He had three things that he wanted to reinvent: the television, textbooks and photography,” biographer Walter Isaacson said in an interview following the release of his biography of Steve Jobs. Part one, television, is already underway with reports claiming that Apple is set to unveil an advanced television set with Siri voice-recongotion software as soon as 2013. More recent reports even suggest that Apple is already planning its assault on the television market by meeting with television show networks.

Part two of the Apple co-founders three-part-plan of reinvention was completed just last week with the release of the iBooks 2 platform and iBooks Author, two Apple products designed to replace the old, paper textbooks in students’ backpacks with just one iPad. Part three, though, photography, is certainly still amidst reinvention. Some may say that Apple’s iPhone 4S that allows for facial recognition, almost-instant photo captures, HDR-photo taking, 1080P video recording, and on device photo editing, all through a high-quality Sony eight-megapixel sensor is mobile photography at its finest, but Steve Jobs was thinking way beyond that. Read on for all of the details:

Lytro’s standalone cameras

In his final months, the upcoming book Inside Apple by Adam Lashinsky explains, Jobs made an effort to meet with Ren Ng, a Stanford graduate and the CEO of a photography company named Lytro. After is became known to Ng that Jobs wanted to meet, Ng rushed to Jobs’ Palo Alto home to discuss product design and photography. From the Inside Apple book:

The company’s CEO, Ren Ng, a brilliant computer scientist with a PhD from Stanford, immediately called Jobs, who picked up the phone and quickly said, “if you’re free this afternoon maybe we would could get together.” Ng, who is thirty-two, hurried to Palo Alto, showed Jobs a demo of Lytro’s technology, discussed cameras and product design with him, and, at Jobs’s request, agreed to send him an email outlining three things he’d like Lytro to do with Apple.

Jobs was actively pursuing his goal of reinventing photography, asking the CEO of Lytro to outline three specific things that the company would want to work on with Apple. As Lytro explains on their official website, their technology is extremely unique, and fits the build of reinventing something as apparently simple as capturing a photo. Apple made a point to explain how much light the new iPhone 4S camera can take in with its new sensor and its newly designed 5-lens optics system. Instead of working in a single-pane fashion – like most cameras today – Lytro’s technology is able to actually instantly intake an entire light-field at one time.

Behind the scenes of Lytro’s camera technology

Lytro says this means their sensor can take in ”all the light traveling in every direction in every point in space.” Of course, this incredibly advanced and seemingly futuristic camera technology would be perfect in a thin and light mobile device for the mass-market consumer. It would push this future into millions of customer’s hands. While the iPhone 4S camera is incredibly speedy, in comparison to competing smartphone camera systems, Lytro’s technology would make picture taking instant. The company claims this instant photo taking makes the Lytro system like no-other.

Lytro’s official video

The other headline feature of the Lytro camera system is its ability to take photos without being focused on a particular object. The photos that the Lytro camera can take can be focused after the fact. In terms of integration in a product like an iPhone, a user can instantly snap a photo with the lens, then use the iPhone’s (hypothetical) built in software to choose a focus on particular objects in the frame. With Steve Jobs just meeting with Lytro’s CEO this past summer, it’s difficult to tell if or when we will see this breakthrough photography technology in upcoming Apple products. It is nearly certain, though, that we will see part three of Steve Jobs’ plans for reinvention to follow Apple’s work on textbooks and the television.