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Tuesday 11 June 2013

How To: Setup Apple iMessage to use all its features

How To: Setup Apple iMessage to use all its features
The entire iMessage package is something that redefines the way Instant Messaging works. The fundamentals being simple – multi-device messaging which goes through via the internet instead of the mobile network.
For anyone who wants to save on SMS costs in the monthly billing, the data plan will pretty much take care of that. The iMessages feature has been around for a long time now, but we still get user feedback and queries enquiring about how get certain things set up.
Which is why, we have this guide that helps you get the most out of this interesting feature. And if you have multiple iOS devices, all the better.
No DuplicatesIt is all exciting and heartwarming that you can be having an iMessage conversation with someone on your iPhone, and you get up to go to the next room, and pick up that conversation from the iPad. Or have them pop up on the MacBook and you don’t even have to pick up the phone to reply. But, unless you have a serious demarcation of the territory per device within your home or during the day at work, getting the same iMessage notification within seconds of each other, on multiple devices, can be a considerable annoyance. But thankfully, Apple has a solution, which is integrated within the system.
When you set up the device, by default, your iCloud ID is set up with iMessages. This is true for all devices you have set up this ID with. This will be an email ID to start off with. However, this isn’t the end of it. On each device iMessage is configured on, head to the Settings app and then tap on Messages. Scroll down to the Send & Receive option, and tap through to that option to open the details. You’ll see your Apple ID at the top in the section titled, “You can be reached by iMessage at”. Here, you can add multiple email IDs and even your phone number if you so desire. Below that option is the option of “Star conversation from:” option. Here also, you can add email IDs and phone numbers.
The way to use this is to prune how each of these options are set up on each device. For example, if you are using an iPhone, configure that device to receive iMessages sent by the contacts who will be sending it to your mobile number. On the iPad, MacBook or the iPod, you can have the email IDs working in tandem, and not the phone number. Or you could have different phone numbers working on different devices. This is just one way of ensuring that duplicate notifications do not become annoying or overwhelm every device. Unchecking the option individually means no one can reach you on that contact point on that particular device.
Data Dark Spots At the time of writing this, iMessage has been hit by a bug that is truncating messages or not delivering them at all. There have been service outages in the past. Apple has installed an alternative method within the service. Not that it was expecting iMessage to fail, but to give you the option of sending the text via the mobile service provider’s network in case data services (2G, EDGE or 3G) are not available.
In the Messages settings menu, you have the option of “Send as SMS” in cases when iMessages cannot be used. If you set that toggle to “On”, you are pretty much sure that the message will be delivered to the destination, one way or the other. If sent as a text message, the message will be charged at the rate applicable on your billing plan. The trick to know whether a message is sent as an iMessage or as an SMS lies in the colour – it’s the Blue send button of it is an iMessage, and Green if it is a simple SMS.
Privacy AspectsThis has happened. You have kept the phone on the table, and a message pops up on the screen – complete with all the glory of the sender’s name and the first few lines of the message, if not the full thing. And that has revealed information you didn’t want to, or cheesed off someone sitting with you. There are ways of dealing with that. On the iOS device, go to Settings app, the Notification option and slide the “Show Preview” toggle to off. Next time onwards, only the sender’s name and the type of message – iMessage, mail, SMS, will be revealed on the screen!
Hang On to the ReportIf you don’t like revealing too much information, surely BlackBerry Messenger’s Delivered and Read receipts would have annoyed you a bit. With iMessage, you have the option of turning that off. Within the Messages options in the Settings app, you can decide whether you want to share the read receipt with the sender or not. This setting is controlled by the “Send Read Receipts” toggle, which can be turned off and on at your own convenience, without getting in the way of any existing conversations.

Apple's streaming music service: Why iRadio is surely a go-ahead for WWDC

Apple's streaming music service: Why iRadio is surely a go-ahead for WWDC 
We have been hearing a lot about the possible launch of the streaming music service that Apple has been readying for quite some time now. Hence, all the excitement when the information trickled out little by little regarding major labels signing up for what was called an upcoming music streaming service. But, there really is more to that than just the excitement surrounding a new service.
It is pretty much a given that new versions of iOS and OS X are on the way. But, on the hardware side of things, it is still pretty much something akin to walking on a ground made of jelly! Whether we see the new iPhone or not is anyone’s guess. Whether we see an iPad update is also anyone’s guess. Whether the iPad Mini gets a Retina Update is also anyone’s guess. It is generally believed the MacBooks will get a processor update, Intel’s Haswell, but that is possibly more out of compulsion than anything else.
On the software side of things, we will surely be given a peek at the newer versions of the mobile and the desktop OSes, but it’ll still be some time before they actually get to reach your devices. Post Sir Jonny Ive taking charge, we have heard numerous reports about Apple CEO, Tim Cook, giving Sir Ive all the time he needs to set iOS right, exactly the way he wants it. The fact that the redesign is taking so long means two things – 1. There was a lot of housekeeping to do, before the process started, and 2. Sir Ive really wants to make his mark with the very first major build of iOS to be released after he took charge.
But, first things first, Apple may not really be able to call the service iRadio. That is because Vodafone already has a service by that name. (Check service here: www.iradio.ie/ishow/itest). We wonder how the copyright thing would work on that one.
Which is what makes the music streaming service the assured basket that Apple can attempt to keep some of its eggs in. We list three reasons why we believe the music streaming service is Apple’s best bet at a polished product this time around.
Google is doing it: Well, Google has already launched the All Access streaming service in the U.S., and worldwide roll-outs should not be far away. For the demographic of users that Apple wants to wean away from the likes of Pandora, it is critical to not let Google steal the lead. Even more critical – the All Access app for iOS is not too far away.
Not too many baskets to deal with: Sad to say, but it is a fact to a certain extent – Apple doesn’t have much else to show in the non-hardware area. Numerous delays with iOS 7 means it could be ready only for a peek at the most. The real deal, landing on your phones and iPads, could still be quite some distance away. Also, the Mac OSX 10.9 has witnessed an unusually high number of test builds, which means things are not going as smoothly as Apple would have hoped. Again, OSX could be showed off, with the real thing only arriving on Macs a few weeks down the line.
Developers need to feel loved: There have been murmurs of discontent from developers for quite some time now. First was the issue of in-app purchases, and who gets what cut from each sale. That was solved eventually, and Apple started iAds to support developers and their apps with in-app advertising. Now, with a streaming service, Apple can make another attempt to involve them in the entire process. For a service that is essentially targeting the complete demographic that use their iPhone, iPod or iPad for music, getting the developers involved would be a very good step. You could end up with apps that work with the service, apps that offer premium features and the in-app monetization that could help Apple’s service get a huge advantage over Google’s All Access and services like Pandora.
With WWDC just hours away, we wouldn’t have to wait too long for the suspense to be broken.

Apple seals the deal with Sony Music; big three now signed up for expected iRadio


Apple seals the deal with Sony Music; big three now signed up for expected iRadio

Apple has signed a deal with Sony Music Entertainment, the major label that had remained a tough nut to crack all these months, for the much anticipated iRadio service. This is the third of the Big Three lablels, after Universal and Warner Music deals were sealed sometime back. Vivendi SA is also on board, for the music streaming service. Cracking the deal with Sony Music was turning out to be a very tough nut to crack, and is the last label to sign, after prolonged negotiations.
Bloomberg reports that Sony signed the agreement late last week. It is believed that Apple plans to announce the service, unofficially referred to asd iRadio, at the WWDC conference on June 10. This speculation is further fuelled by sources close to the entire process. Sony’s deal with Apple is believed to have been penned for a two-year introductory period and provides the label with 10 percent of all advertising revenue generated from its library.
“This is a wonderful recognition of songwriters and their contributions to hit records,” said Chief Executive Officer Marty Bandier said in an interview. “For so long they have received the short end of the stick.”
With the record labels signed up, it is believed that Apple will launch a music streaming service to compete with the likes of Pandora. This will be a free to use service, supported by advertisements. Apple believes that the integration with iTunes will help boost download numbers from the store.
It is believed that the “iRadio” service will be unveiled at WWDC. Honestly, Apple cannot afford to delay this service any further. Google recently launched its all All Access streaming service in the U.S. only, recently, and the iOS version is expected soon.

Thursday 6 June 2013

Apple inks deal with Warner Music; 'iRadio' launch possible at WWDC


It is being reported that Apple has reached a deal with Warner Music, for the oft rumored “iRadio” service. This makes Warner the second major label to sign up with Apple, with Universal being the first one. Apple is working overtime to get labels signed up before WWDC kicks off on June 10 in San Francisco, fueling speculation that the service could be launched at the event.
One thing that still needs to be ironed out is a deal with Sony Music. The two have not reached any agreement yet, and Sony Music is the third of the big three that Apple would want to see on board. Incidentally, Sony Music has a portfolio that includes artists like Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk, Taylor Swift and Lady GaGa.
Apple, it was believed, was in close negotiations with Universal and Warner back in April 2013, and the deal with Universal was finalized soon after. However, while the agreement with Universal only includes recorded music rights, the deal with Warner Music is also believed to include publishing rights.
It is believed that Apple’s radio service would be on the lines of Pandora’s offering, and will be a free to use service supported by advertising. The fact that Google launched its own music streaming service in the U.S. sometime back, would have brought the urgency back into the process, because any delay now would be a major embarrassment for Apple. On the other hand, major music labels would be treating Apple with utmost respect, because the iTunes’ download business, earned them an estimated $3.4bn last year.

Saturday 1 June 2013

Apple iPhone sales jump 400% in India


Equal monthly installments and cash back schemes have worked wonders for Apple in India as iPhone's monthly sales have risen by 300% to 400% over the last few months. The Cupertino-based company has managed to dramatically push up its sales by figuring out trends of consumer demand and changing the iPhone's perception from being a high-end product to an affordable one.

Compared to average monthly sales of 70,000-80,000 smartphones before the EMI schemes were offered to consumers in India iPhone sales have zoomed up to stratospheric levels, analysts at Credit Suisse said. "From our channel checks we believe that iPhone sales are nearing 400,000 units per month in India - that is nearly 3% share of handset sales for a single top-end product in a market that has long been dominated by low-end feature phones," Credit Suisse's research analyst Sunil Tirumalai said in a note to clients that was accessed by ET.

Apple does not reveal its sales figures for a particular market. The company did not comment on the sales figures quoted by the agency.

About four months ago, Apple began its EMI scheme that offered potential buyers to make a partial payment of iPhone 4 and 4S models upfront and pay the rest of the amount in installments over 6 to 12 months without paying any interest. The super aggressive pricing and advertising blitzkrieg on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S older models that are not sold in any other country, created a strong foothold for iPhone as a product in India.

"The 4-9% implicit discount coupled with the option of easy EMIs spread over 6-12 months became popular. Within a few months, our discussions with handset retailers indicated that iPhone sales went up 3-4x, forcing companies to respond," Tirumalai added.

The Swiss brokerage firm and research agency said its estimates were based on checks with mobile store retailers across the country and from distributors mandated to sell Apple products. In September last year, Apple changed its retail strategy from partnering with telecom operators in India (Bharti Airtel and Aircel as its preferred partners), and brought on board Redington and Ingram Micro as official distributors for its handsets. IDC's Asia-Pacific Mobile Phone Tracker for October-December 2012 revealed that Apple increased its value share in the smartphone market rapidly to 15.6% from 3.9% in the previous quarter while its share in shipments rose to 4.7% from 1.3% in the same time.

Korean smartphone maker Samsung that led with 38.8% share in value and 33.2% share in volumes in the fourth quarter offered more number of models to consumers on EMI schemes. Galaxy Note II almost matched the EMI payment of iPhone 5 as it sold for 12 EMIs of Rs 2,999 each compared to a down payment of Rs 16,990 for the iPhone 5 followed by EMIs of Rs 2,376 for every month in a year.

By April, Apple pushed the pedal harder by offering an 18% cash discount on top of the earlier iPhone 4 offer, thus nearly taking away the down-payment. This resulted in an effective 23-27% discount on the product which made it an affordable option for new smartphone buyers rather than a premium product. This time, apart from Samsung that began selling its flagship S4 on monthly installments, other rivals like Nokia and BlackBerry also joined the race.

However, in the smartphone price wars, telecom operators ended up with most benefits as larger smartphone sales resulted in higher data usage and thus, higher data revenue. The number of data subscribers for Bharti rose to 43.4 million in the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2013 from 41.4 million in the three months ended December 2012. The country's largest mobile phone company's average revenue per user (Arpu), an indicator of profitability, rose by 16% in a quarter - from Rs 47 in December 2012 to Rs 55 in March 2013. Idea Cellular's blended data Arpu (2G and 3G) was Rs 55 for the three months ended March 2013, up by Rs 3 over the previous quarter. Data ARPU for 3G subscriber babase had risen to Rs 105 against from Rs 97 in the same period while each 3G subscriber was using an average of 608 MB Megabyte. The number of customers taking up 3G plans from Bharti Airtel has also risen by 23% in the same period, indicating rising demand for high-speed data services as more and more consumers shift to smartphones.

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