A copyright proponent's wish for the presidential debate (Q&A)

A copyright proponent's wish for the presidential debate (Q&A)
The goal of technology companies is to stuff their pockets with money, said Robert Levine. "Venture capitalists may -- I haven't confirmed this -- also want to make money," Levine told snickering audience members, who were mostly from book publishing, during a panel discussion last March at the On Copyright conference. What Levine wants to know is why everyone in tech gets upset when musicians and filmmakers try to earn a living. Levine has become a notable proponent of copyright and a defender of protecting the work of artists. Since the publication last year of his book, "Free Ride: How the Internet is Destroying the Culture Business," which is now out on paperback, Levine has become the creative sector's answer to Mike Masnick, the noted publisher of Techdirt and a prominent critic of the entertainment industry and current copyright laws. U.S. President Barack Obama has previously promised to fight online piracy and protect the country's intellectual property. With the president and Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate, scheduled to debate in just a few hours, Levine shared some of what he wishes the candidates would discuss if the topic of Internet piracy ever comes up.Q: This president has said he wanted to support copyright and do battle against piracy. Has he made good?Levine: The answer would have to be a little bit of both. I'm a business and culture journalist, so my insight into politics isn't perfect, but I know there's enormous pressure on Obama from both sides. On the one hand, you have the entertainment business, which is a traditional Democrat power base and donates accordingly. On the other hand, you have Google and other technology companies, which define themselves as progressive -- wrongly, since they seem to dislike regulation as much as Romney -- that are spending an enormous amount of money as well. Everyone is in favor of a free and open Internet, but I'm not sure what that means. (Generally, when used in D.C., it seems to mean an Internet that's regulated to favor Google.) Some of the issues involved in this are obviously extremely important, and I'm not making light of them, but I think it's important to talk about them with some specificity. How do you rate President Obama's action or inaction during the SOPA and PIPA debate?Levine: I think he did what was practical -- withdrew his support once it was clear the law wouldn't go through. Look, SOPA and PIPA had huge flaws. I think they also had some interesting ideas, and that they could have been the starting point for a productive discussion. Certainly, once the amendment process got underway, things seemed headed in that direction. Why didn't this happen? I think there's plenty of blame to go around. On one hand, you have an entertainment business that tried to get the bills through using a process that wasn't open enough. It was shameful. On the other, you had technology lobbyists who misrepresented what was in the bills -- which was also dishonest. And the fact that the bills were so long and complicated meant they were open to misinterpretation. I'm not sure Obama could have made much of a difference.If the candidates were to speak about copyright, what would youwant them to say about Web piracy?Levine: I'd want them to say something nuanced, but I don't think that will happen. Some politicians will tell you that any time you download an MP3 without paying for it, this is theft and you're a horrible, immoral person. Others will tell you that this is somehow really innovative. Some say that every download represents a lost sale; others say file-sharing fuels music purchases. All of these ideas are really pretty silly. It's a lot more complex than that. I don't know very many people seriously involved in these issues who think that piracy doesn't hurt sales -- they just argue over how much. I think we need to establish boundaries that can limit commercial-scale piracy like what you see on the Pirate Bay. But I don't think that means we ought to be suing individuals -- it's just not effective. I'd love to see politicians talk about this issue like serious adults. But based on the past few months, that might be a lot to ask during this election. Harvey Weinstein, one of the best known indie film producers in Hollywood, went off the other day about piracy. He said piracy is hurting the industry. Do you think the film sector is heading the same way as music?Levine: To some extent. If you look at box office receipts, as technology lobbyists do, the film business looks pretty healthy. But that's not the movie business -- it represents about a quarter of the revenue for the average film. (The percentages vary, but you get the idea.) If you look at the DVD business, which is really important, it's just dying. Digital rentals are doing OK, but sales aren't. So the film business has a problem. That said, I think it will fare better than music, since it has more digital retailers to do business with. The labels only have iTunes, and now Spotify -- the studios have iTunes, Amazon, and Netflix, plus the UltraViolet initiative and other ideas that they're still working on. That will help them enormously. You have become a spokesman for copyright owners, certainly as muchas Mike Masnick is a spokesman for the copy left. When everyone seems to be dumping on copyright owners, why do you defend them?Levine: I would defend the idea of copyright, if only because the vast majority of evidence suggests that, first, it's helpful, and, second, many of the attacks on it come from the self-interest of technology companies. When I talk about the idea of copyright I mean the idea, not the current laws -- I think copyright lasts too long and covers too much, but I do think artists have a natural right to their work. That's a human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, not something that comes from the MPAA.Obviously, there's a world of difference between the idea of copyright and the behavior of media companies. Media companies are motivated by their desire to make money -- same as technology companies, same as all companies -- but copyright gives creators a way to negotiate with them. The contracts that result often leave much to be desired, but that has more to do with an imbalance of negotiating power than copyright. If creators didn't have any rights to their work, they'd have nothing to sell -- a far worse situation than what we're seeing now.

How to send your favorite iPhone picture on a postcard

How to send your favorite iPhone picture on a postcard
We recently covered the launch of Postagram, an iPhone app that allows you to send your Instagram pictures as a postcard via snail mail. This simple guide will walk you through using both your Instagram pictures as well as the pictures stored in your iPhone's photo album with the Postagram app.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiThe first thing you will need to do is download Postagram from the App Store (iTunes Link).Screenshot by Jason CiprianiAfter Postagram is installed you will be presented with the home screen. Here you can pick whether you want to use a picture from your Instagram account, or a picture from your iPhone's photo album.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani If you choose to use Instagram, you will have to authorize Postagram access to your account. Simply login to Instagram authorization page in the app, scroll to the bottom of the screen and select yes. You will then be presented with all of the pictures you have uploaded to Instagram, select one. If you chose to use your iPhone's photo album, the next screen will present you with your photo album. Navigate to the picture you wish to use, select it. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiThe next screen will allow you to edit the message that is sent on your postcard. You are only allowed 140 characters for your message, so make sure to keep it short and personal. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiOnce you have refined your message, press next. You will then be presented with a screen asking you to set up a Postagram account. Fill out the information requested, and press next. When you have finished setting up your Postagram account, you will be able to enter the address to the lucky recipient of your postcard.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiIf you have sent a postcard to someone previously, his or her name and address will be saved for quick access, or you can select a contact from your address book to populate the fields for you. Screenshot by Jason CiprianiLast you will have to fill out some information regarding your credit card. Apple does not allow vendors to sell physical goods using the App Store, thus your credit card information is required. After your credit card information is entered, press the order button. You will receive an order confirmation e-mail after your order is placed and another e-mail from Postagram once your postcard has been mailed. The postcard should arrive at the recipients door within 2-5 business days. Each postcard will set you back 99 cents.One side note, you can also order a postcard using Postagram's Web site, but keep in mind that only your Instagram photos are currently available for order through the Web site.

Analyst- Apple's 'lifetime' customers locked in and lovin' it

Analyst: Apple's 'lifetime' customers locked in and lovin' it
Those who buy Apple products, keep on buying them and show few signs of stopping, a new analyst report suggests.In a research note sent out to investors today, Toni Sacconaghi of Bernstein Research makes the case that Apple's built up a product platform the likes of a cable company, with many of its customers coming back again and again to re-purchase devices like they would a paid subscription.That may not be such a new idea given the fortune the company's made selling a new version of the the iPod, and now iPhone and iPad every year. But with that in mind, Sacconaghi argues that you can take a look at certain existing sales numbers and draw some conclusions about sales in each product category over the next two years, all based on buying habits and studies on consumer loyalty. "One common concern is the sustainability of iPhone sales and profitability levels in light of the handset industry's competitiveness and transactional nature," Sacconaghi writes. "However, we believe that rather than being a transactional company with volatile revenues, Apple is a platform company with stable, almost annuity-like revenue streams, driven by strong user lock-in."That so called lock-in comes in the form of Apple's platform, which includes iTunes, the App Store, iBookstore, iMessage, iCloud, and Siri. Sacconaghi suggests that because of that, about 90 percent of iPhone buyers intend to repurchase when it's time to buy a new phone. That data comes from both the firm's own study in 2010, as well as one from Strategy Analytics published last October. Sacconaghi does not provide similar data sets and surveys to back up that that's happening with Apple's iPad and Mac business, except to say that they are "similarly high." So how does that work out for each product? The report suggests the following "lifetime value(s)" of each customer--by product--based on data about retention rates, replacement time and Apple's margins on each device type (among other data):iPhone: $700-$900 (replaced every 2 years)Mac: $600-$650 (replaced every 3 years)iPad: $275-$300 (replaced every 3 years)Related storiesiPhone soaks up 75 percent of all mobile phone profitsiPhone 4S propels Apple to massive earningsiPhone 4S pushes Apple into No. 3 spot for global phone salesApple tops in smartphone sales, but Samsung hot on its heelsBased on Bernstein's projections, that works out to a "total lifetime customer value" of $204 billion in revenue for Apple in the end of its fiscal 2012, which Sacconaghi projects to reach $373 billion by the end of fiscal 2014. Throw in Apple's projected cash balance to all that, and you get $548 billion at the end of fiscal 2014, an amount the firm says falls "under conservative assumptions." Sacconaghi notes that there are a number of risks that throw these estimates off. That includes: poor execution down the line, with existing customers jumping to rival platforms; carriers reducing how much they're subsidizing devices and extending contract lengths; and people flat out moving away from phones and computers with something completely different that Apple does not offer."Clearly, if a new technology emerged that challenged or superseded the smartphone (like wireless did to wireline; or arguably satellite did to cable), lifetime values of Apple's customers would be undermined," Sacconaghi said.

Ripple effect of Japan disasters on consumer electronics (podcast)

Ripple effect of Japan disasters on consumer electronics (podcast)
But even plants in other parts of the country can be affected by rattling and, of course power glitches. "These are very sensitive plants because they are using extremely advanced optics to lay down lines as small as 25 nanometers, that's 25 billionth of a meter," Handy said (scroll down to listen to entire interview).Handy said that Freescale operates a wafer fab in Sendai, the city that appears to have endured the brunt of the damage. The company issued a statement saying it "safely evacuated everyone from our Sendai fabrication facility following the earthquake and confirmed that no one was injured during that process." But Handy said that it's not clear when the plant might reopen.He said Toshiba and Sandisk's flash memory fab, which is 500 miles from the earthquake, shut down for a few hours but quickly reopened. No likely consumer price hikesHandy does expect some shortages and some increase in the wholesale prices of flash memory and other components from Japan, but "typically when this kind of a thing happens or when there is any kind of a jump in semiconductor prices, that jump is not passed on to the consumer." He added that manufacturers realize that price increases could "scare the consumer away, especially if they cross certain thresholds."Unlike gasoline, consumer electronics are mostly discretionary purchases, so if consumers sense a temporary increase in price, they may just wait for prices to come down. Apple not likely to be affected He said not to expect any shortages of iPad 2s or other Apple products. "Apple's strength as a buyer is positively frightening to chip manufacturers," he said.He added that Apple typically places orders for "a half billion dollars" and pays in advance. "Apple is the last company that is going to get short shrift when it comes to getting their fair share or unfair share." He says he does worry about smaller companies or "companies that for some reason have questionable credit." He said that start-ups might have trouble getting flash memory.Click below to listen to the entire 7 minute, 30 second interview. PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)

How there's still room for a Facebook app store

How there's still room for a Facebook app store
Are there too many app stores out there? Surprisingly, maybe not. Facebook is the latest entrant into the increasingly crowded world of app stores with its App Center, which got its formal debut Thursday.My initial reaction: another app store? Really? Our lives are already inundated with several app stores. Of course, there's Apple's App Store and iTunes, and Google Play on Android. Microsoft has an app store for Windows and Windows Phone. The carriers offer their own stores, as do handset manufacturers such as Research In Motion (BlackBerry App World) and the Nokia Store.But the more I heard about it, the more promise I saw with Facebook. The App Center currently is a place for social apps, and despite being accessible via Android and iOS, appears to be mainly a desktop resource.Related storiesHow an AT&T tool can make your app more efficientHow Gas Guru is the app for gas guzzlers out thereHow to render 3D images on your iPad for freeHow money matters when luring developers to RIM, Windows PhoneMost interestingly is how Facebook plans to tackle the issue of discovery. Few app stores, even Apple's behemoth App Store, have really tackled the problem of getting people to the right apps. It's an issue I've written about many times. Facebook's killer app (so to speak) could be the recommendation engine that's designed to offer you apps you may like based on your behavior, say for example, word games or "Farmville." For now, Facebook is relying on a mix of algorithms and humans to decide which apps to feature, but eventually, every person will get her or his own personalized App Center with custom recommendations. That could be a powerful incentive for developers, especially ones that fear getting lost in the shuffle at other app stores, which typically display the most popular or best-selling apps. Of course, there's a difference between the apps found in Google Play and the ones on Facebook, but it's something for developers to consider. Facebook, a newly public company, wants to find new ways of generating revenue. The App Center is a good way of garnering developer support. Of course, having a base of more than half a billion daily users doesn't hurt either.

Should you wait for Intel's Sandy Bridge laptops-

Should you wait for Intel's Sandy Bridge laptops?
"They have to get smarter about how they improve performance. You have to shift where the focus on performance is. So things like Turbo Boost and integrating the graphics into the CPU (main processor) is how they do that," said Bob O'Donnell, an analyst at IDC. "Application authors can use graphics and expect that the better graphics will be there," he said. And smarter also means intelligent designs, yielding laptops that, while running faster, run cooler.Some models now feature Intel cooling technology, which means they don't get as hot in the hot spots, typically on the bottom of system. That also means more laptops should emerge that are slimmer and lighter, using processors like the rumored ultra-low-power LM and UM series of Sandy Bridge chips.Lenovo will undoubtedly tap Sandy Bridge for thin designs, while Sony and Toshiba should update their well regarded thin-and-light laptop lines. And large laptop stalwarts like Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Apple should follow suit.

Shipments of larger Apple tablet overtake iPad Mini

Shipments of larger Apple tablet overtake iPad Mini
The large iPad is back in vogue.Totals for iPad Mini (7.9-inch) display shipments in the first quarter came to just more than 6 million, according to a report from ZDNet Korea(Korean language), via an English-language BrightWire News report.That's less than 8.4 million logged for the 9.7-inch iPad models in the same period, according to an earlier ZDNet Asia report.The 9.7-inch size includes both iPad Air and the iPad with Retina Display, aka iPad 4.This follows a similar trend in the previous quarter. Shipments of the 9.7-inch iPad "really pulled away from the mini in [the fourth quarter of 2013], after running very close to each other during 2013," NPD's Paul Semenza, who manages NPD's DisplaySearch and Solarbuzz businesses, told CNET in an email.Shipments of the larger iPad (not just the display) were 16.8 million in the fourth quarter, compared to 9.2 million for the iPad Mini, according to Semenza. "I would say it is a fair conclusion to say that iPad out-shipped the iPad mini in Q1 [2014]," he said.Related storiesApple leans on Samsung for iPad displays, says researcherAnd that reverses a trend seen at the beginning of last year when the Mini was out-shipping its larger cousin. The popularity of the larger iPad means that Samsung has become Apple's largest display supplier of the 9.7-inch model.For both sizes combined, LG Display is the biggest supplier.

Apple eyes device that's smart to all music, video streams

Apple eyes device that's smart to all music, video streams
Apple is eyeing a way to make devices smarter about the media you want to see and hear. Dubbed "Auto-station tuning," a patent published Tuesday by the US Patent and Trademark Office envisions a media player that will analyze content streams -- over-the-air radio or television, satellite, cable, Internet content, fiber optic, etc. -- to figure out what's playing and what content will be forthcoming and switch from one source of content to another to match user preferences or criteria.That could mean switching from one source to another "based a user's tastes for music, a give volume level, an aversion to talk radio, or other user preferences or criteria," the patent said. Diagrams in the patent envision three possible media players under the scope of the invention described in the patent, one that looks like an iPod, another that looks like an iPad, and a third that looks like an iPod with an integrated receiver. It also raised the example of a configuration that would have the media player automatically move from one FM radio station to a different one when an advertisement comes on.The media player may generate playlists based on the matching content, and switch between sources of the matching content automatically, according to the patent. "As if the user were tuning a radio dial," the media player may determine what content to play back for each station, the patent says. "The media player may procure content and generate playlists to represent each station focus on by the user."Apple is already delivering on some of these features with its iTunes Radio product, but the prospect of an Apple device that integrates all sources of video content -- even live TV -- is a further tease of a longtime Apple ghost: an Apple HDTV. The latest discussion around Apple's television aspirations -- as it has been for more than a year -- is that late 2014 will be the time for a launch of any ultra-high definition Apple TV.The patent was originally filed more than five years ago, in the September 2008.(Via Apple Insider.)

Apple eyes $5 per month for Beats Music, report says

Apple eyes $5 per month for Beats Music, report says
Apple's Beats Music could be substantially cheaper, if Apple gets its way.The iPhone maker is sounding out the music labels on the possibility of offering its Beats Music streaming service for $5 per month, Recode is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of its plans. Beats Music is currently offered at $10 per month.The $60-per-year figure is not something Apple is pulling out of the air, according to the report. Sources told Recode that $60 is the same amount that heavy iTunes users pay each year to download music from Apple's marketplace.Apple closed its $3 billion Beats acquisition in August. The company made no indication at that time what it had planned for Beats Music, but the service is still operating. Recent reports have suggested that Apple could do everything from scrapping Beats Music entirely to simply modifying it. The latest report suggests that changes are coming to Beats Music, but they won't occur until next year, giving Apple ample time to negotiate with the labels.Earlier this month, a report surfaced saying that Apple was in talks with record labels to discuss reducing the cost of fees paid to those companies to lower its price on Beats Music. Apple did not comment on the rumor, and at the time no indication was given of how much Apple would want to charge for the service.At $10 per month, Beats Music is in line with the vast majority of streaming-music services in the wild. Companies like Rhapsody and Spotify both offer streaming plans at that rate and reflect a fee that record labels can live with. Record labels receive fees from the services when songs are played.That Apple is considering dropping the price on Beats Music comes with news that Spotify is also effectively cutting the price on its own service. While current, individual customers will need to pay $10 per month for its Premium service, a new Family plan will feature 50 percent discounts for specific users. That is, if a person joins Premium for $10 per month, a family member will get the same service for $5 per month.Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Apple could sell up to 5.3 million Macs this quarter

Apple could sell up to 5.3 million Macs this quarter
Sales of Apple's Mac are already off to a cheerful start this quarter and could reach as many as 5.3 million units by the end of December, according a new report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.Based on data from NPD Group, Munster found that Mac sales in the United States rose 19 percent in October over the same month last year. The year-over-year growth is especially strong, given that Apple had just refreshed the MacBook Air that month last year.Looking at the global picture, Wall Street is projecting a 25 percent gain in worldwide Mac sales for the three months ending in December. If that estimate proves true, it means that Apple would sell 5.2 million units for the quarter, leading Munster to maintain his forecast of 5.1 million to 5.3 million.The analyst expects Mac sales to account for 18 percent of Apple's total revenue for the final quarter of the year.Related storiesOne in five Chinese wants a Mac, Morgan Stanley saysMac sales surge, PC sales stay steadyMac sales up 15 percent in April, MayThe Mac is also proving to be one of the few bright spots in the European PC arena, where the market has been in a slump. Third-quarter PC shipments across Western Europe dropped more than 11 percent from last year, according to new data from Gartner.Looking at three of the five major PC vendors in Europe, HP, Acer, and Dell all saw a decline in shipments from 2010. Acer was hit the hardest, with a 45 percent drop.Only Asus and Apple witnessed growth in shipments--20.3 percent and 19.6 percent, respectively. Although it is still in fifth place among the top five personal-computer makers, Apple boosted its market share to 7.6 percent from 5.7 percent, and it captured double-digit gains in both the consumer and business markets, Gartner said.

Apple could sell record 4.6 million Macs this quarter

Apple could sell record 4.6 million Macs this quarter
Apple could break a record this quarter by selling as many as 4.6 million Macs, according to the latest forecast from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.Based on robust demand for OS X Lion and July's refreshed MacBook Airs and Mac Minis, Munster is callling for Mac sales of between 4.4 million and 4.6 million for the quarter ending this month, with an expected target of 4.5 million, in line with Wall Street estimates.Mac sales in the U.S. for July and August were up 22 percent over the same period last year, according to data from NPD. Hitting 4.5 million for the current quarter would score a new record for Mac sales and a 16 percent gain from a year ago.The previous record for Mac sales was 4.1 million during the holiday-shopping quarter of 2010, according to AppleInsider. This year, Apple sold 3.95 million Macs in its fiscal third quarter, which ended in late June, and 3.76 million during its fiscal second quarter, which ended in late March.Related stories:• Mac sales surge, PC sales stay steady• Mac OS X Lion review: A worthy upgrade for the price• Mac OS X Lion pounces• Apple updates MacBook Air and Mac MiniThe wait for Lion, which debuted on July 20, created some pent-up demand for Mac users, Munster said, since Mac sales in June inched up only 7 percent. Sales were also boosted by the MacBook Air, which is expected to account for between 10 and 20 percent of all Mac units sold for the quarter.The initial demand for Lion and the new Macs will start to ease off this month, added Munster, as the tailwind from the new releases fades. For now, though, sales from Macs alone will likely represent around 20 percent of Apple's overall revenue for the third quarter.

Apple could sell 250 million iPhone 5s, analyst says

Apple could sell 250 million iPhone 5s, analyst says
The iPhone 5 could be an unprecedented hit for Apple, according to one analyst.In a research note to investors last week, FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger wrote that Apple could sell a whopping 250 million iPhone 5 units over the device'slifespan. The device could also drive $50 in earnings per share, or a $47 billion profit, during its lifecycle, "representing one of the largest single product opportunities in Apple's history."All Things Digital was first to report on the note.If Apple were to sell 250 million iPhone 5 units, it would mark a dramatic uptick in total sales for its iOS-based devices. At the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple announced that it had sold a cumulative 365 million iOS devices at the end of March.How, then, could Apple's iPhone 5 be so successful? Berger says that the device's expected improvements, including a larger display, better processor, and maybe even near-field communication, will help drive strong sales. In addition, he believes that Apple will be able to launch the iPhone 5 on China Mobile's service early next year."If China Mobile launches the iPhone in early 2013, we anticipate that Apple could generate 13 million units sold [to China Mobile customers] in the first half of 2013," Berger wrote.Apple has reportedly been working on bringing China Mobile into the iPhone mix for a long time. China Mobile is the world's largest mobile carrier with 688 million subscribers. And although just a small portion of those are smartphone owners, it's a huge opportunity for Apple.But before any of that can happen, Apple needs to actually announce the iPhone 5. According to reports, Apple will announce the device next month and launch it soon after. However, the iPhone maker hasn't yet confirmed that this is the case.

Apple could sell 175M iPhones in fiscal 2014 -- analyst

Apple could sell 175M iPhones in fiscal 2014 -- analyst
Apple's iPhone 5S could see sales of 175 million for the current fiscal year and 193 million the following year, predicts Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley.These latest estimates are an upgrade from the previous predictions of 171 million for fiscal 2014-- which ends next September -- and 186 million for fiscal 2015. Why the bump? Walkley attributed the new forecast to two factors.Surveys taken by Canaccord Genuity point to strong iPhone 5S sales, pegging it as the top-selling smartphone around the world and at all four of the major US carriers. A report out Thursday from Counterpoint Research tagged the 5S as the world's best-selling smartphone in October. The 5S' availability has improved as Apple and its suppliers have worked to meet the heavy demand.A launch of the iPhone 5S through China Mobile is also "imminent," according to Walkley, who expects strong sales through China's largest carrier. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Apple had already reached a deal with China Mobile to offer the iPhone to its subscribers. Neither company has revealed any such agreement, but a preorder page posted Thursday on China Mobile's Web site clearly shows an image of the 5S.Fiscal 2015 won't start for another year, so analyst estimates that far in advance should be taken with a grain of salt. From that point on, Apple's sales will depend largely on demand for the iPhone 6. But assuming a major upgrade and a launch by China Mobile and potentially other new carriers, iPhone sales for that year are certain to top those of 2014.

Apple could sell 17M iPhones via China Mobile, analyst says

Apple could sell 17M iPhones via China Mobile, analyst says
Apple could add as many as 17 million iPhones to its 2014 sales tally in a reported deal with China Mobile, said Piper Jaffray analyst Gene MunsterThe two companies have signed an agreement, the Wall Street Journal said on Wednesday, citing a "person familiar with the situation." The source told the Journal that -- after months of speculation and anticipation -- the iPhone is expected to roll out through China Mobile on December 18 to the carrier's 760 million subscribers.If the December date is accurate, the 17 million in sales predicted by Munster would raise next year's Wall Street revenue estimates for Apple by 5 percent. That assumes China Mobile will sell the iPhone at an average non-subsidized price of $525 versus $575 for the rest of the world.The sales forecast represents around 2 percent of China Mobile's total customer count, a number that Munster called "conservative" in an investors note released Thursday. The analyst said he believes a larger slice of devices would be sold during the first month or two, meaning January and February of 2014. But the deal could also eventually lower the non-subsidized price of the iPhone 5C, boosting its appeal."We also note that if Apple updates the iPhone in the fall, China Mobile would likely get both the new device in addition to the typical pricing changes to existing devices, which could put the iPhone 5C at a more attractive mid-end price (we believe the iPhone 4 has seen significant success in China given the pricing discounts applied by Apple in CY13)," Munster said.

Apple eyes magnets to attach camera lenses to iPhone

iPhone owners who want to take better pictures with their phones may be interested in a new patent filing.Published Tuesday by the US Patent and Trademark Office, an Apple patent called "Magnetic add-on lenses with alignment ridge" describes how a camera lens would be attached to the iPhone and aligned with its camera. An entire camera module would come with magnets to lock securely onto the iPhone at various points. The module would align with the iPhone's camera, allowing it to extend the lens and tap into the phone's on-board optics and sensors. A voice coil motor would support the moveable parts of the external lens, allowing it to zoom, autofocus, and resist shaking.A patent application granted to Apple on Tuesday describes a method of using removable lenses with the iPhone. Known as "Back panel for a portable electronic device with different camera lens options," the patent discusses the use of an image sensor and lens outfitted directly into a smartphone via a removable panel. Users would be able to swap out one lens for another.Several manufacturers already make camera lenses and similar accessories that adhere to the iPhone. Assuming they ever become a reality, Apple's inventions could further expand the iPhone's picture-taking abilities.(Via AppleInsider)

Apple eyes LG as panel supplier for rumored TV, report says

Apple could tap into LG Display for the panels for its much-rumored television, at least according to the latest scuttlebutt uncovered by DigiTimes.Rumors have popped up that Apple is interested in buying 55-inch and 65-inch ultra HD TV panels from LG, DigiTimes said on Thursday. But LG hasn't won the deal just yet. Apple is reportedly still checking out the technology and hasn't actually finalized any orders.Apple is also chatting with Taiwan-based AU Optronics about producing the panels, according to DigiTimes, while Sharp is on the list of potential suppliers as well.DigiTimes does have a hit-and-miss record at ferreting out items that prove to be accurate. And the Taiwan-based site even chalks all of this up as rumors. But if Apple is lining up suppliers for its own TV, LG would certainly be at the top of list, especially since Apple wants to reduce its dependence on archrival Samsung.