-What's up?
Brian Tong here, and welcome to the Apple Byte for everything good and bad inside the world of Apple.
Now, I know last week kinda felt like a Google Byte but we have bunch of stories this week so, let's get started.
Now, we've heard all the talk about Apple working with music labels to lock-in deals for their upcoming iRadio service.
But according to CNET, one of the issues holding up negotiations has to do with the economics of skipping
songs.
Now, Apple or Sony are still trying to hammer out details for how much Apple would pay for songs that people listened to a fraction of and then skip.
See the big A service resembles Pandora more than anything else but has the iTunes machine and advertising that will give labels more revenue streams.
And this is the real sexy stuff that goes on behind the scenes.
Now, Apple's reached an agreement with the Universal Music.
They are closed with Warner and they've been pushing hard to get their service out this summer.
But with Pandora, Spotify
and even Google getting in to Music streaming, we'll see how different the service really is.
Now, there are also new tidbits about iOS 7 from 9 to 5 Mac.
They report that Apple plans to increase its integration of third party social networks including Flickr and Vimeo.
Now, Twitter and Facebook are already plugged into the iOS and users will be able to sign into the social networks through the settings and will have full sharing access.
Vimeo would be the first video partner plugged in iOS after Apple removed their pre-loaded Youtube app.
Also you guys heard about this: Tim Cook recently appeared at the Senate hearing to address claims that Apple uses gimmicks and tax loopholes.
-You swear that the testimony you're about to give will be--
-Now, the hearing didn't leave to any real resolution and there was a lot of back and forth.
But we do have footage from inside the event.
-We recommend a dramatic simplification of the corporate tax code.
We don't depend on tax gimmicks.
We don't move intellectual property offshore and use it to sell our products back to the United
States to avoid taxes.
We don't stash money on some Caribbean Island.
This reform should be revenue-neutral--
-That's right Tim.
-Eliminate all corporate tax expenditures--
-You tell tem Tim.
-Lower corporate income tax rates.
-You tell them baby.
-And implement a reasonable tax that allows the free flow of capital back to the United States.
-We know Apple isn't the only major company with holdings or operations in Ireland, known for their friendly corporate
tax rates.
And the hearing wrapped up when John McCain jokingly asked--
-Why the hell I have to keep updating apps on my iPhone all the time?
And why you don't fix that?
-Everybody, nor senior public servants hard at work.
All right, let's do a quick rumor mill update.
We're still expecting to see a MacBook speed bump refresh at WWDC this year in top in the past couple of years.
So, there's no surprise there, and don't buy right now please?
Also, DigiTimes reports that production of
Apple's 5th generation 9.7-inch iPad will begin soon with volume production in July.
The iPad will still have the same retina display resolution but it will be build on a thinner piece of glass at 0.2 millimeters compared to 0.25 on the last gen and it will only use 1 LED for backlighting instead of 2. The report claims that changes will contribute to making the 5th gen iPad 25 to 33 percent lighter than the 4th gen.
And even if
the iWatch hype has died down, some which I'm totally okay with, Japanese blog Macotakara says, "Apple is currently testing 1.5-inch OLED displays for the rumored iWatch that could possibly launch in December." We'll see.
Also, Apple said they intended to manufacture one of its existing Mac lines exclusively here in the US.
And Tim Cook revealed it will be in Texas, the Long Horn State.
Now, Cook added, they're investing $100 million.
The product will be
assembled in Texas, it will include components made in Illinois and Florida ad rely on equipment produced in Kentucky and Michigan.
They also say the new name of the product line will be the "AmeriMac".
All right, let's announce the winners of our AL13 Aluminum frame cases worth 80 bucks a pop.
We asked you the name of the person we identified as the Apple beta tester.
And it was the one-- the only DJ Pauly D. But some of you guessed
like really bad, but it's okay.
So, congrats go out to our winners from Twitter: Louis Bacera and Sherynn Ninn, with two "N".
And our e-mail winners are Christopher Carr, Kathy Lee and Nathan Smart, who went the extra mile and said, "DJ Pauly D has nothing on DJ B Tong", and I like that one.
Plus, will be in touch with the winners and congrats go out to you.
But, before we go, we get some really interesting e-mails once in a while like this one.
The e-mail reads, "Hey, Brian.
Could you wink in your next episode of Apple Byte and I will know it's for me." Seriously, you know that would be really unfair to all the Apple Byters and kind of awkward, so, no.
I'm not going to do that and now?
I feel all weird.
All right.
That's gonna do up for this week's show.
Send me your e-mails to the Apple Byte at cnet.com and I'll keep answering them.
I'm Brian Tong.
Thanks for watching and we'll catch you guys next time for another byte of the Apple.
Oh, hey there.
Aren't you glad you didn't leave yet?
Now, look.
I got all dressed-up for this.
Oh, yeah.
Now, I saved this for the very end because I wanted to make sure no one else was watching and I didn't wanna make anyone jealous.
So here's what you
asked for.
Just like that.
Just for you and no one else.
