5:00 PM, Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 - Posted by John Wilson
Apple announced plans Wednesday to allow users to rent high-definition TV shows for just 99 cents on Apple TV.
So far, just ABC and Fox have agreed to stream their series on the set-top device, but Apple CEO Steve Jobs expects more nets to sign up soon. "ABC and Fox are taking the steps with us, offering the shows for 99 cents and we think the rest of the studios will see the light and get on board fast," he said at a press event in San Francisco.
New Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch is said to have joined the six-month pricing trial period because it will cement his relationship with Jobs, according to the Los Angeles Times, and make money for the company's newspapers, which include the New York Post and Wall Street Journal. (Although several News Corp. executives believe the low price of renting the shows -- which had previously been available for purchase on iTunes for $3.99 -- will cut into lucrative DVD sales.)
It will cost $4.99 to rent movies on Apple TV the same day they're released on DVD, and then get cheaper the longer they're available. Apple TV will also stream Netflix movies, but won't charge a monthly fee to rent movies through its own service.
Movies and TVs can be streamed into a TV in high definition. Apple TV has no storage capability; all the content will be rented. It will see a price drop from $99 to $229 and be available to purchase in about a month.
The first iteration of Apple TV flopped. "We introduced it four years ago and we sold a lot but it's never been a huge hit. Nor has any competitive product," said Jobs. "What have we learned [from Apple TV], is the No. 1, 2 and 3 thing [consumers] want is Hollywood movies and TV shows whenever they want.... The don't want amateur hour. They want professional content and they want everything in HD."
Still, consumers may not be ready to go broadband only just yet. A study by the Leichtman Research Group, which analyzed official data from cable and satellite providers, found that 1.7 million new customers signed up for cable last year alone.
Also announced on Wednesday: several new iPod players, including a Touch with a higher-resolution screen, a Nano with a touch-screen instead of click wheel, and an easier-to-use iPod Shuffle.
A social networking feature called Ping will be added to iTunes, and a new operating system for the iPad will be released in November.
2:00 PM, Friday, August 27th, 2010 - Posted by John Wilson
Image Comics has teamed up with comiXology to launch its own digital comic app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
Available to download via iTunes and the App Store, the application includes books from the Top Cow, Shadowline and Skybound imprints, as well as the publisher's core titles.
A total of 60 different series are available through the program, including bestsellers Chew, Haunt, Savage Dragon, Youngblood and Wanted. The app launches with over 30 issues available to download for free.
"With the launch of the Image Comics app, we have an opportunity to provide our creators with the digital support that, for many of them, was unattainable before," said Image publisher Eric Stephenson.
"comiXology has established a very impressive track record of bringing independent content into the digital world. Today represents a milestone in our growth as a company and enables us to increase the availability of the fantastic titles we publish."
The Image Comics app is now available to download for free.
12:00 PM, Friday, August 27th, 2010 - Posted by John Wilson
Netflix has hit the iPhone.
The popular video subscription service just updated its Apple app to support the iPhone and iPod Touch, which now join the iPad in offering streaming videos. Netflix members can download the free 1.1.0 version to watch their favorite TV shows and movies.
The Netflix app lets you access your Instant Queue to view videos you've already saved. You can browse by genre or search for specific titles from the service's growing library of streaming content. You can also stop a video and then resume where you left off, whether you're watching on your iPhone, your computer, or your game console.
To tap into this app, you must be a paying Netflix subscriber (plans start at $8.99 a month) or set up a free 30-day trial. On the mobile side, you need to be running iPhone OS 3.1.3 or later.
The app's debut on the iPhone is not unexpected. After launching its mobile version for the iPad in April, Netflix confirmed that it was working on porting the app to the iPhone and iPod Touch.
What's next for Netflix? The company may be prepping an Android version of its mobile app. Reports recently surfaced that Netflix is hiring an Android video playback expert to work on a new project.
1:15 PM, Thursday, August 26th, 2010 - Posted by John Wilson
Since comics first moved to the internet, there's been a lot of discussion about how the digital world could potentially change the way people make and read comics. A new iPad and iPhone comic titled "The First Witch" is trying a new experiment: using the screen as a window into the comic book world, where the scene changes as you physically move your device around.
The comic was written and drawn by Karrie Fransman and created by Jonathan Plackett, who explained that the comic "uses the accelerometer in iStuff to create a new reading experience. Tilting the device changes the part of the comic you're looking at, giving the appearance of looking through a window into the scene."
While this might not be practical for most traditional comics, it could have some applications. Imagine a tilt-based splash page inserted into a typical digital comic, perhaps simulating the experience of a character gazing outside at a particular scene. Or imagine a promotional teaser for an upcoming superhero event where the tilt effect allows you to look around a character's secret lair, revealing clues. It's a fun experiment, and the sort of thing that's great to see people playing with in the digital landscape.
12:00 PM, Thursday, August 26th, 2010 - Posted by John Wilson
Digital comic reader ComicBookPad is now available to download for the iPad.
Available via iTunes and the App Store, the software allows users to listen to music while viewing their comics.
The reader supports all major digital comic file types, including CBR, CBZ, RAR and ZIP. Books are uploaded into the program through iTunes.
"ComicBookPad displays comic book pages quickly and lets you flip right through while listening to music all at the same time. That's right. It IS possible," the product's description reads.
ComicBookPad is available to purchase for $8.99 in North America and £5.49 in the UK.
9:00 AM, Thursday, August 26th, 2010 - Posted by Chuck Moore
Independent Creators Gain Unparalleled Access to Digital Distribution Through Leading Comic Platform
Image Comics enters the digital market today with the launch of the Image Comics app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. The app, developed on the leading digital comic book platform by comiXology, allows fans unprecedented digital access to the creator-owned comics that Image proudly publishes.
The partnership between Image and comiXology offers Image creators a direct line to digital distribution. Among the independent content now available digitally are Image's most popular titles, including SAVAGE DRAGON, CHEW, BATTLE POPE and Rob Liefeld's YOUNGBLOOD. The Image Comics app will also be the first to feature work from Todd McFarlane with the inclusion of HAUNT, created in collaboration with Robert Kirkman (THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE).
"With the launch of the Image Comics app, we have an opportunity to provide our creators with the digital support that, for many of them, was unattainable before," says Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. "comiXology has established a very impressive track record of bringing independent content into the digital world. Today represents a milestone in our growth as a company and enables us to increase the availability of the fantastic titles we publish."
"Our partnership with Image is indicative of our shared vision to help independent creators thrive in the traditional print community as well as the explosive digital marketplace," adds David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. "The demand for creator-owned content is at an all time high, and we are thrilled to be able to provide fans with what they want. We're lucky now to work directly with Image and to offer the creators a clear path to the digital market."
The Image Comics app is now available for free download from the iTunes App Store. In addition to individual issues for ongoing series, which are priced for $1.99, Image will also offer fans issues of several popular Image titles, sneak peeks of upcoming titles, and other exclusive content for free.
3:00 PM, Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 - Posted by Chuck Moore
The following comes to us via the good folks at Graphic.ly...
Waddup!
The other day, the freshman arrived at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Its always an interesting time, when the town of Boulder all of a sudden adds 30,000 or so people, most of whom have never lived away from home. It got me thinking about Graphic.ly and the journey we have taken.
Did you know that we didnt really release our first product, the Adobe AIR app until April of this year? Since then, we have released a Windows 7 (touch enabled) app, an iPhone app and an iPad app. In the next few months, we will have a web app, a Windows Phone Series 7 app and an Android app (that will also work on the coming Android tablets). Whew. Thats a lot.
We also released the Adobe AIR app with (I think) 5 books total. We now have more than 500, and more than 50 publishers lined up. We are a bit overwhelmed with the amount of content we are converting, and are moving as fast as we can. (We even fed the hamsters double to make sure that the wheels turn faster!)
We added Bonus Content to Irredeemable #1, Berserker #0 and #1, and it was quite the hit! Now, we have a long list of creators we are working with to get more bonus content. (If there is anything specific you would like to see, just hit reply to this email).
Now as September approaches, we are taking a bit of a step back, and walking through each application and figuring out how to improve it. You may not see new platforms or features released for a bit, but you will see what we have built get better (and faster)!
1:00 PM, Thursday, August 19th, 2010 - Posted by John Wilson
Artist Frank Cho's cool scene of Spider-Man clutching an iPad as he dangles over a fight ended up putting the web-slinger much closer to the action than the artist originally intended.
A tight deadline from Marvel Comics and Cho's faulty guess about the size of the Spider-Man and Wolverine logo left him scrambling to fix the image, a variant cover for the iPad version of the comic.
Working fast to get the artwork ready for a Comic-Con International debut in the Marvel Comics app, Cho produced the image based on detailed descriptions from Marvel.
"I submitted my pencil drawing and proceeded to ink the image before the official approval was given, since deadline was super-tight," Cho told Wired.com in an e-mail.
"When I got the approval, the cover was completely inked and finished," he said. "Unfortunately, Marvel wanted Spider-Man lowered to make room for the logo. (It was my fault. I didn't know how tall the logo was going to be.)"
No superhero saved the day: This time, it was Photoshop to the rescue.
"I lowered Spider-Man in Photoshop and delivered it before the deadline. And I completely forgot about the cover," Cho said.
"Couple of months later at San Diego Comic-Con, I was floored to see my Spider-Man image from the cover on one entire side of the Marvel booth. It was awesome."
Cho posted his original black-and-white artwork, pictured at top, on his Apes and Babes website Wednesday.
"I don't know how many of this variant cover was printed," Cho said of the corrected, color version on his website. "So good luck finding them for all you complete-ists out there."
6:00 PM, Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 - Posted by John Wilson
HBO will begin streaming shows and movies on mobile devices -- including the iPad -- within the next six months, a company spokesperson confirmed to TheWrap.
The content will be available through HBO Go, the Hulu-like service that the premium cable channel makes available to subscribers. The company currently has agreements in place with Verizon and Comcast.
Subscribers won't have to pay anymore to watch HBO on their mobile devices, but the company is still working with manufacturers and carriers to ensure that some authentication process will be in place when the service goes live.
"We can't lock into anything specific, but this part of an overarching plan to make HBO available everywhere," Jeff Cusson, a spokesperson for HBO, told TheWrap.
The news comes just a week after Netflix announced that it would stream movies from HBO's rival EPIX. That move was widely seen as a pay TV land grab for the subscription rental service.
Though Netflix says it remains open to a similar deal with HBO, the cable channel is not returning the love.
"There is value in exclusivity," HBO co-president Eric Kessler told Bloomberg.
7:00 PM, Sunday, August 15th, 2010 - Posted by Chuck Moore
BOLT CREATIVE'S best selling game, POCKET GOD, is now the FIRST iOS original creation to get its very own COMIC BOOK. Follow the adventures of Ooga, Noobie, Klik, and the rest of the Pocket God Pygmy tribe as they try to outsmart the angry gods. PLUS — LEARN the secret of how the Pygmy's come back to LIFE. You'll never look at the world of POCKET GOD the same AGAIN!
The first issue of this new comic book series is available for the first time on your iPhone and iPad! Each issue of the series will be available as In-App-Purchases inside this application!
BUT WAIT — Pocket God is also coming to a COMIC BOOK STORE near you!!! Inside Pocket God Comics you'll even find the COMIC SHOP LOCATOR service application which will allow you to locate your local comic book store with just the press of a button!
New Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch is said to have joined the six-month pricing trial period because it will cement his relationship with Jobs, according to the Los Angeles Times, and make money for the company's newspapers, which include the New York Post and Wall Street Journal. (Although several News Corp. executives believe the low price of renting the shows -- which had previously been available for purchase on iTunes for $3.99 -- will cut into lucrative DVD sales.)
Image Comics has teamed up with comiXology to launch its own digital comic app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
Netflix has hit the iPhone.
Digital comic reader ComicBookPad is now available to download for the iPad.
Image Comics enters the digital market today with the launch of the Image Comics app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. The app, developed on the leading digital comic book platform by comiXology, allows fans unprecedented digital access to the creator-owned comics that Image proudly publishes.
"Our partnership with Image is indicative of our shared vision to help independent creators thrive in the traditional print community as well as the explosive digital marketplace," adds David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. "The demand for creator-owned content is at an all time high, and we are thrilled to be able to provide fans with what they want. We're lucky now to work directly with Image and to offer the creators a clear path to the digital market."
Did you know that we didnt really release our first product, the 
Artist Frank Cho's cool scene of Spider-Man clutching an iPad as he dangles over a fight ended up putting the web-slinger much closer to the action than the artist originally intended.
The content will be available through HBO Go, the Hulu-like service that the premium cable channel makes available to subscribers. The company currently has agreements in place with Verizon and Comcast.
BOLT CREATIVE'S best selling game, POCKET GOD, is now the FIRST iOS original creation to get its very own COMIC BOOK. Follow the adventures of Ooga, Noobie, Klik, and the rest of the Pocket God Pygmy tribe as they try to outsmart the angry gods. PLUS — LEARN the secret of how the Pygmy's come back to LIFE. You'll never look at the world of POCKET GOD the same AGAIN!
