Engadget

Adobe upgrades its Digital Publishing Suite with iPhone viewer, improved social media features

Dana Wollman — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:30:00 EST

Between rolling out Creative Suite 6, Creative Cloud and a new video platform for broadcasters, Adobe's been mighty busy lately. If that's not evidence enough that the outfit is making good on its promise to restructure around digital media, hear this: the company just announced a slew of enhancements to its Digital Publishing Suite (DPS), which Conde Nast and others use to format magazines for mobile devices. For starters, publishers now have a way to tailor content specifically for the iPhone, just as they can for the iPad, Kindle Fire and Android tablets. So far, we know Conde Nast will be using this tool to build a modified edition of The New Yorker, though Conde Nast hasn't announced when it will become available for download. Meanwhile, art departments used to working in InDesign can now take a single a layout and repurpose it across multiple devices. Similarly, DPS is now integrated with Adobe Edge, which means publishers can create HTML5 animations and then easily port them over to their digital editions.

Moving on, SocialSharing is exactly what it sounds like: it promises to make it easier for people reading these magazines to share stories using built-in email, Twitter and Facebook functionality. Getting more granular, a new font rights policy means that once a publishing company buys rights to use a certain font, it won't have to pay additional per-usage fees every time someone downloads the app. Lastly, Adobe announced that Meredith, the company that brings you (yes, you) Better Homes and Gardens, Parents and Fitness will also begin using the platform to create digital editions. Hold onto your britches, kids.

Continue reading Adobe upgrades its Digital Publishing Suite with iPhone viewer, improved social media features

Adobe upgrades its Digital Publishing Suite with iPhone viewer, improved social media features originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Times nears half-million online subscriber mark, halves free article allowance to celebrate

Zach Honig — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:37:00 EST

The New York Times just gave you more reason to consider making the jump to a paid online subscription -- beginning in April, that free article allowance will see a 50-percent cut, from 20 monthly articles to just 10. This modification comes one year after NYTimes.com launched its infamous content paywall, and following an announcement that the publisher has signed up 454,000 digital subscribers. Paying readers will receive a 12-week subscription that they can gift to anyone on the fence about swiping for access, and smartphone and tablet app users will continue to have access to the "Top News" sections for free. You'll also be able to read articles linked from other sites on the web, including your inbox, and can access five free posts a day that appear in search engine results. Completely unfettered access will range in price from $15 to $35 per month -- you'll find full details in the PR just past the break, and at the source link below.

Continue reading New York Times nears half-million online subscriber mark, halves free article allowance to celebrate

New York Times nears half-million online subscriber mark, halves free article allowance to celebrate originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ion's Drum Master and Drum Apprentice help you embrace your inner Travis Barker

Billy Steele — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:45:00 EST

Looking to add some back beats to your iPad-only band? Ion is looking help you achieve quasi-Questlove status with the Drum Master -- and we caught a glimpse at CES. The full-size kit for your Apple tablet affords you the ability to capture tracks with GarageBand while playing nice with other Core MIDI apps. Is the idea of larger set too daunting? Snag the Drum Apprentice for your iOS slate or handheld. Connecting via a free app, you'll learn all the basics and be well on your way to rock star status.

Continue reading Ion's Drum Master and Drum Apprentice help you embrace your inner Travis Barker

Ion's Drum Master and Drum Apprentice help you embrace your inner Travis Barker originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Digital music finally outsells physical media, books look on in alarm

Terrence O'Brien — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:02:00 EST

That sharp sucking of air you heard at the end of 2010, well, that was the record industry wincing as sales of CDs continued to tumble while digital media sales remained flat. The relieved exhale that you just heard echoing through the atmosphere? That was the collective sigh of executives who just picked up the latest Nielsen report indicating that digital music sales are on the rise again and, for the first time ever, have finally surpassed physical media. Sales as a whole were up, but while CDs were down 5.7 percent, digital track sales were up 8.4 percent and digital albums a stunning 19.5 percent (perhaps most interestingly, though, vinyl was up over 36 percent). CDs still outsell virtual albums by a factor of two, but it's clear the trend toward binary media is back on track. It may be a narrow victory but, with 50.3 percent of the market, audio files are new king of the hill. Check out the full report at the source.

Digital music finally outsells physical media, books look on in alarm originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe to lay off 750 workers, restructure around digital media, marketing

Christopher Trout — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:14:00 EST

The company made famous by the ubiquitous Flash Player and multimedia software like the Adobe Creative Suite has announced its plans to eliminate 750 full-time positions in attempts to reposition itself as a leader in digital media and marketing. In two separate press releases, Adobe gave a glimpse into the restructuring, which it will cover in-depth at a financial analysts meeting in New York tomorrow. The company expects the plan to result in pre-tax charges somewhere in the ballpark of $87 million and $94 million, a large chunk of which will come from expenses "related to employee severance agreements."

According to one of the two press releases, the master of Flash plans to continue offering the Creative Suite as well as expanding "tablet-based touch apps" and cloud-based software. It's also promised to invest further in HTML 5 through tools like Dreamweaver, the recently announced Edge and PhoneGap, which it acquired with the purchase of Nitobi. Despite the shakeup, Adobe expects to meet its previous Q4 projections of between $1.075 billion and $1.125 billion. A bunch of corporate what-nots await you in the dual press releases after the break.

Continue reading Adobe to lay off 750 workers, restructure around digital media, marketing

Adobe to lay off 750 workers, restructure around digital media, marketing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AP, Google offer $20,000 scholarships to aspiring tech journalists, we go back to school

Amar Toor — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:56:00 EST

Love technology? Love journalism? Well, the AP-Google Journalism and Technology Scholarship program might be right up your alley. The initiative, announced earlier this week, will offer $20,000 scholarships to six graduate or undergraduate students working toward a degree in any field that combines journalism, new media and computer science. Geared toward aspiring journalists pursuing projects that "further the ideals of digital journalism," the program also aims to encompass a broad swath of students from diverse ethnic, gender, and geographic backgrounds. Applications for the 2012-2013 school year are now open for students who are currently enrolled as college sophomores or higher, with at least one year of full-time coursework remaining. Hit up the source link below to apply, or head past the break for more information, in the full presser.

Continue reading AP, Google offer $20,000 scholarships to aspiring tech journalists, we go back to school

AP, Google offer $20,000 scholarships to aspiring tech journalists, we go back to school originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Times reveals labyrinthine subscription plans, Canadian readers already hitting paywall

Christopher Trout — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:11:00 EST

We knew it was coming, and now The New York Times has followed through on its promise to erect a paywall for online content, which means no more free news -- kind of. Starting today in Canada and March 28th in the US, NYTimes.com will ask visitors reading more than 20 articles per month to pay for their info fix. The new plan offers monthly subscriptions of $15 with a smartphone app, $20 with tablet app, or $35 for complete digital access -- subscribers with a physical subscription will be granted a full pass, except on e-readers. Further convoluting the pay structure, entry from sites like Twitter and Facebook won't face the same restrictions, and access via Google is set at five free visits per day. Other news sources, including The Wall Street Journal, have already started charging for online content in the face of declining ad revenue, but this is certainly one of the most elaborate systems we've seen so far. The subscription plan was unleashed in Canada today, allowing the paper to iron out any kinks before hitting the US, which means you've got just under two weeks to hit NYTimes.com completely free -- after that, prepare to be confused.

New York Times reveals labyrinthine subscription plans, Canadian readers already hitting paywall originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Amazon building prototype hardware other than Kindle

Laura June — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:52:00 EST

The New York Times' Bits blog is reporting that "people with direct knowledge" of Amazon's plans say that Lab 126 -- the division of the company which designed the Kindle -- is currently looking into other hardware, i.e. devices that are not the Kindle. One unnamed source reports that such devices would be a "means to an end," meant to enable easy purchasing of Amazon's content, which currently includes music, movies, and digital books. The source said that CEO Jeff Bezos' intent for Lab 126 was initially to build multiple devices -- including apparent discussions to enter the mobile phone market -- but that the Kindle eventually became the main hardware focus. The report also notes that Amazon's hardware division currently has about 80 job openings, which would lend credence to the idea that more devices could be on the way.

Report: Amazon building prototype hardware other than Kindle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VLC 1.1 released, adds hardware acceleration and new codec support

Ben Bowers — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:57:00 EST

VLC 1.1 was just released, adding hardware acceleration on Windows Vista, 7, and Linux (no mention of the Mac just yet), along with a general 40 percent speed boost from a massive code cleanup. A new add-on and script framework now enables extensions, which should lead to some interesting additions, and the VP8 and MEPG-4 lossless codecs have been added, along with container support for MKV HD and Google's open-source WebM format. We just gave it a quick try and things certainly do seem to perform as advertised -- hit the source link for the download.

Filed under: Players

VLC 1.1 released, adds hardware acceleration and new codec support originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBC and Time Warner inform Apple they'll be sticking to Flash, thank you very much

Vlad Savov — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:55:00 EST

When the iPad bandwagon was launched in late January, ABC and Netflix quickly jumped onboard with tailor-made apps, while CBS and others started transitioning their content to HTML5-compliant formats, all in the name of not being left behind by the revolution. As it turns out, however, some content providers will be letting this ride pass them by, at least for the moment. The New York Post today reports that big media heavyweights Time Warner and NBC Universal have turned their noses up at the iPad's high entry demands and will be sticking to what works:

Sources said several large media companies, including Time Warner and NBC Universal, told Apple they won't retool their extensive video libraries to accommodate the iPad, arguing that such a reformatting would be expensive and not worth it because Flash dominates the Web.

According to the NYP article, these conglomerates have been emboldened by the forthcoming arrival of competing tablets from the likes of Dell and HP, and will be seeking their fortunes in the mobile space atop Adobe's winged stallion of web domination that we commonly know as Flash. This is a decision sure to end in tears -- we just don't know who'll be doing the crying when it all shakes out.

NBC and Time Warner inform Apple they'll be sticking to Flash, thank you very much originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung, Microsoft work PlayReady DRM support into upcoming devices

Richard Lawler — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:31:00 EST

The reality of PlayReady's ability to extend DRM'd media across devices still seems to be more theory than reality (just ask Nokia) but if/when protected content wants to stay that way, Samsung hardware will be ready. The first of the company's products with Microsoft's DRM scheme baked in are expected to ship this year, with an expected migration from the old Windows Media DRM wrapping up across all product lines by 2012. We're still dreaming about sliding content access from Zune to Galaxy S to Media Center PC to our remote and back, and will remain secure in our cryosleep chambers until it comes true...

Samsung, Microsoft work PlayReady DRM support into upcoming devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2Wire's MediaPoint HD streamer box is special just like everybody else

Laura June — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:01:00 EST

2Wire's announced a 7-inch square set-top box designed to "bridge television and the internet." Called MediaPoint, it seems to be nearly identical to every media streamer we've seen -- it will multitask as a digital media player that delivers HD video and access streaming media on your home network via broadband. The box will boast HDMI ouput, WiFi, USB expansion, UPnP and DLNA compatibility. Sounds unbelievably enticing, right? Well, unlike most media streamers, you'll have to buy MediaPoint through a broadband service provider which will distribute the boxes under their own branding, and you'll presumably have to pay a subscription fee -- hopefully so you can enjoy some WWE Raw. Wow! So a product that's pretty much the same as a bunch of things that already exist, but we get to deal with a cable / internet service provider? Sounds fun, where do we sign up? They're expected to be available "very soon" though there's no word on pricing plans for the box or the subscriptions.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Media streamers

2Wire's MediaPoint HD streamer box is special just like everybody else originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2Wire's MediaPoint HD streamer box is special, just like everybody else

Laura June — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:01:00 EST

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

2Wire's MediaPoint HD streamer box is special, just like everybody else originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T signs on to distribute Move-enabled video content

Darren Murph — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:26:00 EST

It's still a touch unclear to us exactly what this means for end-users, but AT&T has just inked a deal with Move Networks that will enable it to "deliver Move-enabled video content to companies and their users." The release states that Move Networks technology allows "media and entertainment companies to deliver live and on-demand high-definition programming to computers over the internet in a true television-like experience," so we're wondering if AT&T won't start offering some type of HD content via the web. Then again, this whole agreement may be focused on the business sector, so we lowly consumers may never be able to take advantage. Guess we'll see in time, huh?

[Thanks, Anthony]

Filed under: Industry, Fiber, Internet

AT&T signs on to distribute Move-enabled video content originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Interview: J Allard, Microsoft Corporate Vice President

Ryan Block — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:58:00 EST

We only got a mere 20 minutes of his time, but Peter and I got a chance to talk to the one and only J Allard about the Zune, digital media, and the direction Microsoft is taking things in what could be their most public marketplace battle since the browser wars. We'll let J do the talking.

So, you guys have heard an awful lot about Zune already leading up to the press release, what can we clarify?

Well, we've been following it pretty closely, obviously, since we first started hearing about it. Obviously today is the big unveiling, and we wanted to get a better idea of Zune not just as a device, but as a platform, and where you guys want to take all this stuff. So maybe you can start off by giving us an overview of where the device is, and where you see it going both as a device and as a platform.

Sure, I think it's a great question the way you phrased it because we actually really think about Zune more as a platform than a device; you used both those two key words. If you step back a little bit in terms of where we're going as a company and where we think we can move forward with the industry in the entertainment space, we have this idea of connected entertainment. You're too familiar with the transition from analog to digital, we think there's a transition that goes one step beyond that called "connected," where the community gets to have greater participation with their entertainment experiences. We want to bring that across all forms of entertainment. What we're doing with Xbox and Xbox Live in the gaming space, what we're doing with MS TV and the Media Center in the television space, and Zune is really our first foray into a deep connected music experience. The first product we'll introduce this holiday will be a connected one -- that's why we put in WiFi in every device, because we think those connected experiences are really going to signal what the future of the music industry looks like, and the future of television and film and everything else. And the community wants to play a big part in it. So while we're starting now and sharing between devices where you can share songs with your friends (3 plays for 3 days), and sort of get the recommendations of your trusted circle of friends and experience and discover new music. You guys know all too well 802.11 devices there are out there. Think about what else we can connect to. Think about all the other scenarios we could do, whether location-based, etc. The device itself is intended to be a future-proof platform that's part of this connected entertainment world where entertainment will become more personal, more interactive, and more engaged with community.

Continue reading The Engadget Interview: J Allard, Microsoft Corporate Vice President

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

The Engadget Interview: J Allard, Microsoft Corporate Vice President originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insurers starting to reimburse for digital content

Evan Blass — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:22:00 EST

One of the main problems with the gradual transfer of content from physical media (CDs, DVDs, books) over to digital media (MP3s, movie downloads, e-books) is that when something happens to the devices storing your swag, you're basically out of luck -- most insurance companies will tell you to go take a hike. Well that's all about to change, according to a recent article in British newspaper The Independent, as insurers like Nationwide will now reimburse you for digital content stored on stolen or destroyed electronics as long as you can provide proof of purchase. Nationwide's even got your back for such seemingly trivial fare as games and ringtones downloaded to your cellphone, though its policies specifically state that if you lose your digital goods due to a wiped hard drive / memory card that's your own damn fault, and there'll be no reimbursement for you. Unfortunately some insurance companies -- like the cheapskates at esure -- seem dead set against the idea, claiming that owners of a stolen iPod still have the tracks on their PC and don't deserve digital coverage; well, while that may be true in cases of theft, esure's stance isn't very helpful for the unlucky individual whose house just burned down and whose DAPs and computers have all melted into the floorboards.

[Via Techdirt]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Insurers starting to reimburse for digital content originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Universal Music Group going to free downloads with SpiralFrog

Ryan Block — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 11:21:00 EST

Alright everybody, witness the latest trend to sweep the out of touch music industry: free ad-supported music downloads. And one company planning to offer such a gig, SpiralFrog, has found itself a pretty big taker in the Universal Music Group, whose catalogue of artists (some of which include Eminem, U2, Kanye, Bon Jovi, etc.) will be online and freely downloadable to those willing to sit through "non-intrusive, contextually-relevant, targeted advertising," according to SpiralFrog. It's a step in the right direction, but what do you think the odds are that Universal is still going to require DRM even on free downloads? Now, DRM-free costless downloads with ads, that's fine, but when is someone just going to offer what we really want: straight up DRM-free media downloads? We're willing to freaking pay for it, you know? And we're sure a lot of other people out there are willing to, as well.

[Via Reuters, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Universal Music Group going to free downloads with SpiralFrog originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Aug 2006 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft DAP said to be part of Xbox-branded product lineup

Evan Blass — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 13:49:00 EST

Some more details have leaked out about Microsoft's unannounced-but-well-known WiFi-enabled digital music player that shed some light on its role in Microsoft's overall home entertainment strategy -- though you'll still have to deal with that blurry pic for now. According to sources cited by The Seattle Times, the upcoming DAP is only one of several offerings that will be part of a larger lineup of Xbox-branded products, which will also include Microsoft's upcoming online media service -- the one that will dupe all your iTunes tracks for free -- and a dedicated software media player. Codenamed Project Argo, this initiative is said to be spearheaded by Xbox co-founder J Allard, and is rumored to support the so-called XNA toolkit for allowing developers to easily port games to multiple platforms -- possibly setting the stage for that heavily-rumored Xbox2Go. There's not too much here that we didn't already know, but it's becoming increasingly clear that Redmond has a definite battle plan for waging war against Apple and others in your living room (and pocket), and that the company is starting to make good on its promise of turning the 360 into a true digital hub.

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Portable Audio, Portable Video, Wireless

Microsoft DAP said to be part of Xbox-branded product lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Jul 2006 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cable giants being sued for VOD patent infringement

Evan Blass — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 09:32:00 EST

If nothing else, you've got to admire the tenacity of a Connecticut-based firm called USA Video Interactive, which just days after losing what seems to be a final appeal in its lawsuit against Movielink, decided to go after almost all of the country's major cable operators for supposedly infringing on the same patent. Comcast, Cox, Charter, and Time Warner (disclosure: Time Warner owns the company that owns the network that includes Engadget) are all named in a suit filed Tuesday in a U.S. District Court in Texas by USA Video (maybe Cablevision got spared because of all its other legal woes), which claims that like Movielink, the cable giants are violating its so-called Store-and-Forward Video-on-Demand patent (#5,130,792, filed in 1990) by using protected technology in their own VOD services. Besides making patents, the company also offers various products revolving around email, web tools, digital video watermarking, and content delivery infrastructure, so it's probably not appropriate to bunch it in with other lawsuit-happy -- but seemingly less legitimate -- claimants such as NTP and Visto.

[Via TechWeb and Digital Media Thoughts]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Cable giants being sued for VOD patent infringement originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Jun 2006 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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