Global BBC iPlayer App Coming To The iPhone & iPod Touch This Thursday

Update: The iPhone version of the BBC iPlayer (Global) app is now available for free on the App Store - it comes as a universal app that runs on both the iPad and iPhone.

The global version of BBC iPlayer first began rolling out internationally five months ago and is now available in sixteen countries around the world. So far the video-on-demand service, offering BBC content to an international audience, has only been available on the iPad. That will change this Thursday when the BBC iPlayer app will become available for the iPhone and iPod touch.

The announcement was made by Jana Bennett, President of Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer who noted that “moving to iPhone and iPod Touch allows us to take the service to a significant new potential audience and deliver fantastic programme content from the BBC and the UK’s creative industry”.

This platform extension shows how Global iPlayer isn’t just about moving TV to tablet devices, it’s also about a mobile strategy – about truly getting TV everywhere in a way that it hasn’t been before.

Bennett also announced that programs from DRG will also begin to appear on the BBC iPlayer service in early 2012. DRG is a program distributor that owns programs such as Peep Show, Father Ted, Black Books and Shameless.

[Via The Next Web]

European Commission Begins Antitrust Investigation Into Ebook Publishers, Apple

In a statement released today, the European Commission has revealed that it is opening formal antitrust proceedings to investigate the possible presence of anti-competitive practices within the ebook industry.  The investigation will target a number of international publishers including Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster and Penguin. The Commission will also be investigating whether Apple has helped the publishers engage in anti-competitive practices.

The European Commission has opened formal antitrust proceedings to investigate whether international publishers Hachette Livre, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin and Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holzbrinck have, possibly with the help of Apple, engaged in anti-competitive practices affecting the sale of e-books in the European Economic Area, in breach of EU antitrust rules.  [Shortened]

The Commission will examine the ‘agency agreements’ entered into by the publishers — with concerns that they may breach EU antitrust rules that “prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices”. It isn’t yet known for how long the commission will run for.

The Commission will in particular investigate whether these publishing groups and Apple have engaged in illegal agreements or practices that would have the object or the effect of restricting competition in the EU or in the EEA.

[Via The Verge]

How the iPad 2 Became My Favorite Computer→

How the iPad 2 Became My Favorite Computer

This hasn’t been one of those experiments-for-the-sake-of-experimentation in which someone temporarily forsakes a PC for another device in order to write about the experience (like, say, this). No, I’ve been using the iPad for my daily activities–running Technologizer, writing for TIME, CNET, and AllBusiness.com, and more–because I find it to be the preferable tool in multiple respects. I’ve been using it about 80 percent of the time, and using my MacBook Air about 20 percent of the time. I have no desire to go back.

I think Harry McCracken is an excellent example of how and where the iPad can be used to replace a laptop computer in a professional industry (i.e. journalism). McCracken’s setup relies on three main benefits of the iPad: its ten hour battery life, 3G integration (AT&T), and its unique app ecosystem. To bolster the lack of a keyboard, a combination case+keyboard is used. While I don’t agree with McCracken’s desktop-OS comments, and while I personally couldn’t use the iPad as a replacement for a MacBook, I do agree with his conclusion. And yes Harry, I do think you’re ahead of the times.

Personally, I don’t see how McCracken’s setup is vastly different from the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime. Samsung’s Windows 8 Developer PC is another example of this, where you can dock the Metro-based tablet for use with a keyboard. What you want is a tablet to futz around with on the couch and in bed, but a working, cool, and quiet laptop with long battery life when you want to be productive. What tablet makers are starting to present is the coveted all-in-one solution. While there’s accessories (like an external keyboard) to manage, these qualities have even replaced the MacBook Air (which is surprising to me) for McCracken. As CES 2012 rolls around, I’m willing to bet you’re going to see a lot more of this. But for now, the iPad’s glowing qualities in all the categories mentioned have it coming out on top for the tech-savvy individuals bold enough to try going iPad-only.

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Apple Could Set Up Shop Next to Facebook’s Server Farm in Oregon

Facebook could have a new neighbor as Apple decides whether Prineville, Oregon, would make a suitable location for their next data center (codenamed Maverick). Apple is reportedly looking at a 160 acre plot of land in Crook County that’s a quarter mile south of Facebook’s nearby sever farm. Apple’s option to buy the land will expire at the end of the month, so a decision has to be made soon.

Sources with inside knowledge of Apple’s plans have told The Oregonian that Apple might be looking to take advantage of Oregon’s low power cost and property tax exemptions. Server farms are popular in Oregon, where rural “enterprise zones” free companies from paying property taxes on computer equipment, and the mild climate helps offset energy costs.

There are a couple of snags hanging up the decision. One revolves around a tax on intangibles, which take the value of a company’s brand into consideration. Intangible fees can undercut the tax exemptions that companies like Apple, Facebook, and Google are granted.

On the topic of energy, Apple’s plans aren’t finalized as they await word on whether Prineville can provide enough electricity for their Data Center. Apple will have to wait behind other local companies as transmission capacity is increased via the Bonneville Power Administration. Rackspace has already opted to build their new server farm elsewhere (Morrow County). However, the region’s transmission capacity is looking to be expanded a year ahead of schedule thanks to state delegation, and it’s possible Apple might have an open door thanks to recent developments.

To serve Facebook and other data centers in Crook County, the BPA says that it must upgrade the nearby Ponderosa Substation, add transmission lines and eventually add another substation. The full build-out would take two or three years and cost around $26.5 million.

Apple’s next data center will continue bolster their online offerings such as iCloud, which will require 31-Megawatts of power to operate. Currently, electrical transmission in Prineville is maxed out.

Data centers also generate franchise fees for local governments with their high electricity use, and Apple would bring its Prineville property onto local tax rolls by acquiring it from the county.

Apple’s data center will bolster their online offerings such as iCloud, mirroring the data center that was constructed in Maiden, North Carolina. The Maiden data center came under scrutiny as it was questioned whether the tax exemptions granted to Apple was worth the number of jobs (only 50) it brought to the region. While the data center won’t solve Crook County’s record 15.8 percent unemployment rate, the data center would provide a short term stimulus as construction of the facility (and expansion of other facilities like Facebook’s) takes place.

[The Oregonian via Macgasm]

Thailand Flooding Affects iMac Shipments, Western Digital Resuming Hard Drive Production

Flooding in Thailand has caused a worldwide shortage in hard drives as manufacturers of platter based hard drives and hard drives components have gone underwater. Hard drive motor supplier Nidec (whom supply 100% of drive motors to companies such as Seagate, Toshiba, and Western Digital) have many factories that are offline and inaccessible, straining the supply. Consequently, hard drive prices have risen dramatically and products are seeing longer wait times. 14,000 factories in the region have shut down, suspending work and leaving 600,000 people without a job. Over half of the world’s hard drives are made in Thailand.

On Friday, AppleInsider wrote that Apple’s build-to-order iMacs were seeing wait times up to 5-to-7 weeks as 2TB hard drives are running short. iMacs with smaller hard drive configurations will ship within a few days. During Apple’s conference call in October, Cook noted that there would be an industry shortage of hard drives (and that they sourced many components from Thailand), though Apple’s thoughts remained with the people affected by the flooding.

As factories are scrambling to pump out water and refurbish damaged equipment affected by the flooding, there is a glimmer of hope as the year ends. Western Digital announced on Thursday that the production of hard drives has resumed in one of its buildings.

Specifically, the company indicated it [has] re-started production of hard drives this week in one of its buildings in Bang Pa-in (BPI), Thailand, one week ahead of internal schedules. This facility had been submerged in some six feet of water since October 15, the estate was pumped dry on November 17, main power was restored on November 26 and production restarted November 30.

This doesn’t mean hard drive production will dramatically pick up anytime soon. Many factories have to assess damages, and Western Digital has said that specific components such as head sliders aren’t likely to resume production until March, 2012. It won’t be until after the next quarter that hard drive component manufacturers will finally be able to have a handle on the situation, but it’ll likely take much longer to resume production at scale thanks to the scale of the Thailand flooding.

[via AppleInsider, Ars Technia, and OWC] Header image via NikonRumors.

Apple’s Grand Central Retail Store Opening This Friday at 10 AM

Apple’s already teased Grand Central commuters with a December 9th unveiling on their storefront, but today Apple updated their Grand Central Retail Store page with a 10 AM date for the store’s grand opening. The Grand Central Retail Store will open regularly at 7:00 AM for early commuters (stores typically open at 10:00 AM) on weekdays, and Apple has published an Extended Holiday Hours guide for late shoppers still buying gifts for the holidays. The store will of course be closed on December 25th for Christmas.

[via MacRumors]

Apple Denied A Preliminary Injunction Against Samsung Galaxy Products In The US

There have been a lot of twists and turns in the Apple and Samsung legal battle and the latest milestone saw a US judge deny Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction to stop sales of some Galaxy devices in the US. What this means is that Samsung can continue to sell all their Galaxy devices in the US for the time being. Interestingly, Judge Lucy Koh noted that Apple will likely succeed in proving that Samsung’s Galaxy products infringe Apple’s patents, but she didn’t grant the injunction because it wasn’t demonstrated that it would cause irreparable harm to Apple if the Galaxy products stayed on sale.

The Verge got a statement from Samsung on the ruling:

Samsung welcomes today’s ruling denying Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction. This ruling confirms our long-held view that Apple’s arguments lack merit. In particular, the court has recognized that Samsung has raised substantial questions about the validity of certain Apple design patents. We are confident that we can demonstrate the distinctiveness of Samsung’s mobile devices when the case goes to trial next year. We will continue to assert our intellectual property rights and defend against Apple’s claims to ensure our continued ability to provide innovative mobile products to consumers.

It was also revealed yesterday that Apple had given some work-around options to Samsung for how they could side-step their iPhone and iPad design patents. Matt Macari from The Verge has an excellent article that covers the issue in great depth and clarity. In short, Apple had to make a list of alternative design choices to make the argument that Samsung did have other choices when designing their smartphones and tablets and they chose to emulate Apple instead. Some of the alternatives Apple made include:

  • Front surface that isn’t black
  • Display screens that aren’t centred on the front face and have substantial lateral borders.
  • No front bezel
  • Front surface that isn’t entirely flat
  • Cluttered appearance

[The Verge (1) (2)]

iPhone 4S will Go on Sale in Russia and Brazil on December 16

Our South American and chilly Siberian friends will have the opportunity to grab an iPhone 4S as soon as December 16th. While Apple themselves haven’t indicated any upcoming launch dates, advertisements and announcements are confirming the details. Currently the iPhone 4S is available in 44 countries, with plans to bring it to 70 countries by the end of the year.

Russian retailer Digital.ru has already announced they’ll be selling the iPhone 4S on the 16th. Brazil carrier Claro has published their promotional page noting the 16th as well.

MacRumors:

Brazil and Russia are not the only countries set to see iPhone 4S launches on December 16th, as reports are also coming in from Taiwan, the Philippines, South Africa, and Malaysia citing that same date for their iPhone 4S debuts.

Thanks to a quick international rollout, it looks like plenty of new iPhones will be available just in time for the holidays.

[MacRumors via iDownloadBlog]