Building Björk's "Biophillia" iPad app

Creative Applications has got an interesting post on the development of Björks new app album, Biophillia, as well as the in-app purchased track, "Virus."

As mentioned on TUAW a few weeks back, Björk released what she refers to as the first "app album" on the iOS App Store. The Icelandic artist is renowned for being different, particularly when it comes to her music, and the app album, Biophillia, is certainly different from most other traditional album releases.

Creative Applications got in touch with Scott Snibbe -- co-creator of the app -- to get some insight into how Biophillia came about. The post includes details on the journey of the app's development, including some concept sketches by Björk and Scott, the tools used to code the app and some of the inspirational imagery behind it.

While Biophillia is a free app download, users are required to purchase the songs of the album via in-app purchase as they are released, though the song "Cosmogony" comes free with the app. Each song brings with it an additional component to the world of Biophillia -- lyrics, the score, animation, credits and a blurb about the song. It's all very interactive and certainly a unique way to listen to an album.

If you're a fan of Björk's Biophillia app, the post is certainly worth a read. And from an app developers point of view, it's an unique eye opener into the work that's gone on behind the scenes.

Building Björk's "Biophillia" iPad app originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.tuaw.com/2011/09/02/building-bjorks-biophillia-ipad-app/

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Apple Claims Key Android Framework 'Inspired' by Andy Rubin's Work at Apple

FOSS Patents reports on an interesting twist in Apple's case against HTC currently underway with the U.S. International Trade Commission. According to a recently-filed brief, Apple claims that a key patent for a "real-time signal processing" API which HTC is accused of infringing in its Android devices was developed by a team of Apple engineers, of which Android co-founder and current Google executive Andy Rubin was a member.

While the revelation is not directly relevant to Apple's case against HTC , the claim is provided primarily to bolster Apple's case that HTC has not been entirely truthful in presenting its case by omitting discussion of Rubin's time at Apple. According to Apple, Rubin was a "low-level engineer" at Apple reporting directly to the inventors of the patent in question at the time the invention. Apple suggests that Android's alleged infringing framework was the result of "Mr. Rubin's inspiration" from that work at Apple. From the legal brief:

Android and Mr. Rubin's relevant background does not start, as HTC would like the Commission to believe, with his work at General Magic or Danger in the mid-1990s. In reality, as the evidence revealed at the hearing, Mr. Rubin began his career at Apple in the early 1990s and worked as a low-level engineer specifically reporting to the inventors of the '263 [realtime API] patent at the exact time their invention was being conceived and developed. [...] It is thus no wonder that the infringing Android platform used the claimed subsystem approach of the '263 patent that allows for flexibility of design and enables the platform to be "highly customizable and expandable" as HTC touts. [...] While Mr. Rubin's inspiration for the Android framework may not be directly relevant to the pending petitions for review, that HTC felt compelled to distort this history is illustrative of the liberties it takes in attacking the ALJ's [initial determination] and the substantial evidence supporting the ALJ's findings.
Apple is of course not claiming that the entire basis of Android was actually developed at Apple, but its assertion that Rubin may have utilized some of Apple's work within Android could be problematic for Google should Apple decide to press a case directly against Google.

Rubin's behavior has already been called into question in a separate case brought by Oracle over the use of Java in Android. In that case, evidence in the form of an email written by Rubin in which he suggested that Google could use Java within Android without permission from Sun (now a part Oracle) has been introduced, leading to accusations of "willful infringement" against Rubin and Google. It seems that Apple may be at least planting the seed that Rubin could have engaged in similar activity dating back to his time at Apple twenty years ago.


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Source: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/02/apple-claims-key-android-framework-inspired-by-andy-rubins-work-at-apple/

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Apple Genius Bar Didn't Recognize MacBook Pro 3G Prototype, Apple Now Wants it Back

CNet reports that Apple has finally contacted Carl Frega about a prototype laptop that he had put on sale earlier this month. The laptop appeared for sale on eBay where it received bids upwards of $70,000 before it was pulled at the request of Apple.

The 2007-era MacBook Pro featured a Magsafe Antenna and SIM slot that suggested it was an early prototype of a 3G-capable Apple laptop. CNet reports that Frega was contacted by Apple this afternoon to have someone pick it up.


It seems the laptop had a strange journey before ending up in Frega's hands. He originally picked up the machine off someone on Craigslist. He repaired the machine and tried selling it again on Craigslist. The new owner brought the machine to an Apple Store Genius Bar, where the machine was opened and determined to have non-standard parts. The repair invoice describes the reason they refused repair.

Opened machine to observe that nearly every internal part was 3rd party; main logic board, optical drive, display, hard drive, top case, and others. Machine number (W8707003Y53) is also not recognized as a valid number.
Proposed Resolution: Denied services; machine has been modified by unauthorized providers beyond repair."
As a result of these "3rd party" parts, Apple's store refused service. That second buyer took Frega to small claims court thinking the machine was a fake, after which Frega had to accept the machine back and refund the money. It was only after that that Frega tried to sell the laptop on eBay.

Due to the publicity surrounding the eBay sale, Apple has contacted Frega and asked to set up a time to pick up the machine. No word on when it is expected to be returned to Apple.


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Source: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/30/apple-genius-bar-didnt-recognize-macbook-pro-3g-prototype-apple-now-wants-it-back/

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Apple's Eddy Cue Promoted to Senior Vice President for Internet Software and Services


Just yesterday, we noted that Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president for Internet services, had been responding to customer emails redirected to him via Tim Cook. 9 to 5 Mac now notes that Cue has been officially promoted to a senior vice president position, reporting directly to Cook.

Cue has already received his own page on Apple's list of senior executives, which now includes nine senior vice presidents under Cook. From an internal Apple email sent by Tim Cook:

Team,

It is my pleasure to announce the promotion of Eddy Cue to Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services. Eddy will report to me and will serve on Apple?s executive management team.

Eddy oversees Apple?s industry-leading content stores including the iTunes Store, the revolutionary App Store and the iBookstore, as well as iAd and Apple?s innovative iCloud services. He is a 22-year Apple veteran and leads a large organization of amazing people. He played a major role in creating the Apple online store in 1998, the iTunes Music Store in 2003 and the App Store in 2008.

Apple is a company and culture unlike any other in the world and leaders like Eddy get that. Apple is in their blood. Eddy and the entire executive management team are dedicated to making the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do.

Please join me in congratulating Eddy on this significant and well-deserved promotion. I have worked with Eddy for many years and look forward to working with him even closer in the future.

Tim

In addition to overseeing the iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, and iCloud, Cue will also take over leadership of the iAd mobile advertising group at Apple. iAd had been led by Quattro Wireless founder Andy Miller, who came to the company with Apple's acquisition of Quattro last year. It was revealed several weeks ago that Miller is leaving Apple to take a position with a venture capital firm.

Cue's promotion may be the first move in a reshuffling of Apple's leadership following Tim Cook's ascension to the CEO position. There has been speculation about what Apple might do to fill the currently-vacant Chief Operating Officer position previously held by Cook, and Ron Johnson's position as senior vice president for retail will soon be vacant as he leaves to take the CEO position at department store chain J.C. Penney.


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Source: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/01/apples-eddy-cue-promoted-to-senior-vice-president-for-internet-software-and-services/

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Daily Update for Sept. 1, 2011

It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes, which is perfect for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world.

You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for listening through iTunes, click here.

Daily Update for Sept. 1, 2011 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.tuaw.com/2011/09/01/daily-update-for-sept-1-2011/

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