Amazon Cloud adds support for Apple's iOS; UK Queen orders an iPad
Amazon has silently added support for browser-based playback of music in its new cloud streaming service on iOS-powered devices. Also, after using iPads owned by Princes Wills and Harry, the Queen of the United Kingdom decided to buy her own.
Amazon Cloud gets browser-based iOS support
Amazon quietly added support for iOS devices through its built-in Safari browser, as noted by TechCrunch. Users can log into their account on Amazon and access the Cloud Player, which now allows streaming of audio files stored on its servers.
Users who visit the site will still be prompted with a message warning them that their browser is not supported. However, music playback now works through the service, and audio is even paused when a push notification or call is received.
"Of course, this implementation is still not as good as it is on Android, where Cloud Player is part of a native app," author MG Siegler wrote. "But if Amazon did a little web work and made the web-based player optimized for the iPhone and iPad, it would certainly be very useable on a regular basis."
Amazon's cloud streaming service launched in March, but initially only had support for streaming via the Web and on Android devices. Amazon Cloud Drive offers 5GB of free online storage, with premium accounts expandable to up to 1,000GB.
The push to launch the service, which requires users to upload their own songs and is not backed by any recording industry licensing deals, was seen as a move to preemptively take on Apple and its own anticipated cloud music streaming service. AppleInsider reported exclusively last month that Apple is expected to unveil its "iCloud" service this year with support for bookmarks, e-mail, contacts and more, in addition to music streaming.
The Queen opts for an iPad
The 85-year-old monarch of the United Kingdom has asked her staff to buy her an iPad after she was "wowed" by Apple's tablet when her grandsons showed it off to her, The Sun reported Monday. Queen Elizabeth II was said to be impressed by the large screen and the light weight of what was presumably a second-generation iPad.
A "royal insider" reportedly told the publication that the Queen hadn't seen anything like an iPad before. The royal Princes apparently thought it was "hilarious" that their grandmother ordered one so quickly.
The tabloid reported that the Queen is apparently a "big fan" of Apple's products, and owns at least two iPods -- a £169 model bought back in 2005, and another given as a gift from U.S. President Barack Obama in 2009.
Amazon Cloud gets browser-based iOS support
Amazon quietly added support for iOS devices through its built-in Safari browser, as noted by TechCrunch. Users can log into their account on Amazon and access the Cloud Player, which now allows streaming of audio files stored on its servers.
Users who visit the site will still be prompted with a message warning them that their browser is not supported. However, music playback now works through the service, and audio is even paused when a push notification or call is received.
"Of course, this implementation is still not as good as it is on Android, where Cloud Player is part of a native app," author MG Siegler wrote. "But if Amazon did a little web work and made the web-based player optimized for the iPhone and iPad, it would certainly be very useable on a regular basis."
Amazon's cloud streaming service launched in March, but initially only had support for streaming via the Web and on Android devices. Amazon Cloud Drive offers 5GB of free online storage, with premium accounts expandable to up to 1,000GB.
The push to launch the service, which requires users to upload their own songs and is not backed by any recording industry licensing deals, was seen as a move to preemptively take on Apple and its own anticipated cloud music streaming service. AppleInsider reported exclusively last month that Apple is expected to unveil its "iCloud" service this year with support for bookmarks, e-mail, contacts and more, in addition to music streaming.
The Queen opts for an iPad
The 85-year-old monarch of the United Kingdom has asked her staff to buy her an iPad after she was "wowed" by Apple's tablet when her grandsons showed it off to her, The Sun reported Monday. Queen Elizabeth II was said to be impressed by the large screen and the light weight of what was presumably a second-generation iPad.
A "royal insider" reportedly told the publication that the Queen hadn't seen anything like an iPad before. The royal Princes apparently thought it was "hilarious" that their grandmother ordered one so quickly.
The tabloid reported that the Queen is apparently a "big fan" of Apple's products, and owns at least two iPods -- a £169 model bought back in 2005, and another given as a gift from U.S. President Barack Obama in 2009.
Comments
I think iPads are generally quite popular with the elderly, once they are given the chance to actually use one.
Watch for her to hit high score in Angry Birds very soon!
It's kind of sad that people complain about how heavy the iPad is, and a woman of 85 finds it lightweight.
It depends what you use it for. It's light compared to a laptop, but it's heavy compared to a book.
It depends what you use it for. It's light compared to a laptop, but it's heavy compared to a book.
Not compared to a big hardcover book. And my books do a terrible job of games / media playback.
It depends what you use it for. It's light compared to a laptop, but it's heavy compared to a book.
A popular paperback sure.. It is lighter then many books.
What's this world coming to?
I know few give a crap (perhaps justifyable so), and at the risk of being picayune, I should point out that Queen Elizabeth II isn't only the queen of the UK. Her actual title is Queen of the Commonwealth realms, since she is also the queen of sixteen sovereign independent states.
I think iPads are generally quite popular with the elderly, once they are given the chance to actually use one.
I?m not aware of other UK queens. Could you post a link to a detailed list?
It depends what you use it for. It's light compared to a laptop, but it's heavy compared to a book.
I can?t imagine the Queen is reading a bunch of cheap paperbacks. And have you seen the size of old books found among parliament, churches and royalty?
Here is a book about here that weighs more than the iPad: http://www.amazon.com/Queen-Country-.../dp/0743226763
...did nobody tell the Queen that she can't compile the kernel herself like on Android?
I?m not aware of other UK queens. Could you post a link to a detailed list?
You might like to reread that which you have quoted.
That's really scary - did nobody tell the Queen that she can't compile the kernel herself like on Android? (Well, assuming she's more special to Google anyway...)
What's this world coming to?
Humor a Yank a moment, will you?
When the non-American world buys an Apple iPad, Apple pays US taxes and therefore supports the US. When the world buys Android, Honeycomb (to supported manufacturers) is free and Google pays no US taxes and therefore nothing goes to the US. Non-American manufacturers invest in the hardware and all profits go to paying taxes to their home countries.
So thank you Queen Mother, and screw you Android. Screw you Google.
You might like to reread that which you have quoted.
Ah, yes, I read it as: "I should point out that Queen Elizabeth II isn't the only the queen of the UK.?
It depends what you use it for. It's light compared to a laptop, but it's heavy compared to a book.
Depends. A little paperback? Sure. A textbook? No way. Any of the Absolute Editions of comics I have? Not even close. My copy of Marcella Hazan's "Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking?" Uh-uh.
Humor a Yank a moment, will you?
When the non-American world buys an Apple iPad, Apple pays US taxes and therefore supports the US. When the world buys Android, Honeycomb (to supported manufacturers) is free and Google pays no US taxes and therefore nothing goes to the US. Non-American manufacturers invest in the hardware and all profits go to paying taxes to their home countries.
So thank you Queen Mother, and screw you Android. Screw you Google.
Although US corporations rarely bring their foreign profits home (because of, you guessed it, higher US corporate tax rates), but that's another topic.......
The Googles and the Microsofts can sell many multiples of Apple (which, with today's Apple products, they don't), but even if they did, they couldn't remotely match that type of market segment.