Thursday, September 13, 2012

Software : Apple to shut down Ping on September 30

Software : Apple to shut down Ping on September 30

Apple to shut down Ping on September 30

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Apple to shut down Ping on September 30

A new version of iTunes will launch in October, but Apple's music-themed social network Ping will not be part of it.

Apple says the service, which allowed users to follow artists and recommend music, will shut down on September 30 and, as a result, has ceased accepting new members.

The quiet termination was announced through its section of iTunes immediately following the iPhone 5 keynote address, during which the new iteration of the content portal was extensively previewed.

Ping launched in 2010 to promote music discovery and, above all, sell more digital music through iTunes.

More Facebook and Twitter integration

In one of Apple's few failures of recent years, Ping was never widely adopted and served only to cause friction between Cupertino and Facebook - a relationship which is still somewhat in recovery.

During a recent interview Apple CEO Tim Cook said: "We tried Ping, and I think the customer voted and said 'This isn't something that I want to put a lot of energy into.'"

It seems that Apple is abandoning its own social networking aspirations in order to focus on deeper integration with Twitter and Facebook.

The new version of the iTunes Store will have a Facebook 'Like' button on every page to enable easier sharing of albums, music, apps, movies and more.

Microsoft offering Windows Phone 8 SDK Preview to devs

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Microsoft offering Windows Phone 8 SDK Preview to devs

Microsoft today opened sign-ups for a preview version of the Windows Phone 8 SDK to enable developers to begin working on apps for the platform.

The Windows Phone 8 SDK Preview will be available to a limited amount of existing developers, who have until September 17 to register their interest.

But why is Microsoft only releasing a preview version to current devs rather than the public version?

Well, it's because all of the Windows Phone 8 features have not yet been announced and it wants to maintain the element of surprise in the build up to the launch of the first wave of devices.

Generating excitement

The company says: "I know that many of you want to know why we simply don't publically release the full SDK now. The reason is that not all Windows Phone 8 features have been announced and our SDK includes comprehensive emulators that allow developers to test apps against a wide range of Windows Phone features.

"We recognize that this is a different approach to delivering tools than we've taken in the past. Our goal is to generate as much Windows Phone 8 excitement as possible to attract new customers when phones go on sale. This is one of many steps we're taking to help give you what you (and we) want most."

In other news, the company has now confirmed that the Windows Phone Marketplace will be renamed the Windows Phone 8 Store, when the new OS arrives before the turn of the year.

The launch of the SDK comes just 24 hours after reports that Microsoft was rushing to complete Windows Phone 8 before the expected launch this autumn.

Microsoft opens Windows 8 app store to all developers

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Microsoft opens Windows 8 app store to all developers

The Windows 8 Store has been open for a bit already, but Tuesday, Microsoft opened the store's doors to more than just verified developers.

Now, anyone with an app they wish to submit for approval can sign up to use the development tools, and start the process of getting their app up for sale.

According to Microsoft, this is the "last significant milestone in the rollout of the Windows Store" before the Oct. 26 release of Windows 8.

In addition to allowing any and all developers to submit apps to the Windows 8 Store, Microsoft increased the amount of markets that can contribute.

Microsoft added 82 new markets (more than double the original amount) available, bringing the total to a robust 120.

Feels good to be a dev

Anyone who has an eligible subscription to one of the MSDN services will gain a one-year developer subscription as part of their benefits.

Eligible packages include Visual Studio Professional, Test Professional, Premium, Ultimate, and BizSpark, as well as the student version, DreamSpark.

According to a published report, Microsoft's corporate vice president for Windows Web Services Antoine Leblond said his team has been "focused on making sure the Windows Store is the best and greatest opportunity for developers."

Leblond added he believes Microsoft offers "flexible, clear, and transparent policies for developers," and related how favorable the compensation packages were.

For example, developers will earn 70 percent of all sales up to $25,000, at which point the developer share increases to 80 percent.

With just a little over a month to go until the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft should have no trouble getting the Windows 8 Store up, running, and full of quality apps as soon as it's open to the public.
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