Sprint partners with Spotify for music streaming
Sprint has struck a deal withSpotify, the carrier announced Tuesday, in hopes of capitalizing on the popularity of streaming music services.Sprint CEO Dan Hesse introduced Sprint Sound Session, which gives premium access to live events and Spotify. The wireless carrier is including access to Spotify's service with its Framily Plan. Starting May 2, all Framily customers will get a six-month trial of Spotify. Once the trial is over, they will get Spotify at the discounted rate of $7.99 a month. For six to 10 members, the rate falls to $4.99 a month.Spotify CEO Daniel Ek told the audience at a press event in New York that this is "the biggest deal" Spotify has ever made. "When I first met Dan, we didn't talk about pricing plans, we talked about speakers and audio quality and Pharrell," Ek said. "That's when I knew we had to partner with Sprint." Related LinksSprint aims to make all its devices unlockable by FebruaryFCC to promote competition with rules for upcoming spectrum auctionSprint's HD Voice to go nationwide in JulyThe deal was announced with the unveiling of a new version of the HTC One M8, called the HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon, a device focused on music. Check out CNET's first take of the device. The company was expected to announce news around its HD voice andaudio services, including the deal with Spotify. Sprint needed somebuzz.It's still bleeding customersas a result of a complicated network upgrade. The nation'sthird-largest wireless carrieris overhauling its existing 3G networkand adding faster 4G LTE, but it's been a rocky transition.News reports indicated that Sprint would unveil its deal with music-streaming service Spotify, possibly at a discounted rate. Music-streaming services are gaining popularity right now, and many players are competing for a piece of the pie, including Spotify.Updated 8:39 a.m. PT: Added more details from the event.Correction, 11:35 a.m. PT: The story incorrectly stated when the six-month trial of Spotify starts for Framily customers. It starts on May 2.Inside Sprint's exclusive HTC One M8 Harman...See full gallery1 - 2 / 7NextPrev...PrevNext...
iPhone bookworm- Reconnecting with the classics
iPhone bookworm: Reconnecting with the classics
Wish you were a big reader? There's definitely something impressive about someone who's read Bram Stoker's Dracula as well as all the Ann Rice Vampire Chronicles.There are a million good reasons for not having read those dusty old tomes, but not having a library card is no longer one of them. Classics on the iPhone brings 20 truly classic titles in their entirety including Pride and Prejudice, The Time Machine, Alice in Wonderland and Frankenstein, plus more books promised by the developers in free updates to come.We know what you're thinking: who in their right mind wants to read an entire novel on their phone's tiny screen? Well, you'd be surprised at not only how attractive this apps looks, but how easy the books are to read. Classics renders the books in a simple layout with brown text on off-white "pages" which is very easy on the eye. It also has a cute page-turning animation and a bookmark for when you choose to stop reading.The only downside with Classics is its lack of settings. We've found the font and colours fantastic, but if you disagree you're pretty much out of luck. In this case you could try Stanza, an app we included in our first Best Free iPhone Apps feature. Stanza has everything Classics doesn't, and will save you the hefty AU$1.19 App Store fee to boot.Stanza accesses a range of online libraries including the enormous Project Gutenberg for literary works in the public domain, such as the titles included in Classics, plus over 100,000 more. There's also newspaper and magazine articles, self-published e-books and free Harlequin romance novels for those cool, lonely winter's nights.On top of an extensive collection, Stanza also includes a slew of customisations. We loved the look of Classics so much that we chose to replicate it in Stanza, matching the font, size and background colour in no time at all.Both Classics and Stanza are available through the Apple App Store, though Classics does have that tiny price tag to consider.
Wish you were a big reader? There's definitely something impressive about someone who's read Bram Stoker's Dracula as well as all the Ann Rice Vampire Chronicles.There are a million good reasons for not having read those dusty old tomes, but not having a library card is no longer one of them. Classics on the iPhone brings 20 truly classic titles in their entirety including Pride and Prejudice, The Time Machine, Alice in Wonderland and Frankenstein, plus more books promised by the developers in free updates to come.We know what you're thinking: who in their right mind wants to read an entire novel on their phone's tiny screen? Well, you'd be surprised at not only how attractive this apps looks, but how easy the books are to read. Classics renders the books in a simple layout with brown text on off-white "pages" which is very easy on the eye. It also has a cute page-turning animation and a bookmark for when you choose to stop reading.The only downside with Classics is its lack of settings. We've found the font and colours fantastic, but if you disagree you're pretty much out of luck. In this case you could try Stanza, an app we included in our first Best Free iPhone Apps feature. Stanza has everything Classics doesn't, and will save you the hefty AU$1.19 App Store fee to boot.Stanza accesses a range of online libraries including the enormous Project Gutenberg for literary works in the public domain, such as the titles included in Classics, plus over 100,000 more. There's also newspaper and magazine articles, self-published e-books and free Harlequin romance novels for those cool, lonely winter's nights.On top of an extensive collection, Stanza also includes a slew of customisations. We loved the look of Classics so much that we chose to replicate it in Stanza, matching the font, size and background colour in no time at all.Both Classics and Stanza are available through the Apple App Store, though Classics does have that tiny price tag to consider.
Will Apple release a TV by end of 2012-
Will Apple release a TV by end of 2012?
Apple may have some big plans for 2011, but one analyst believes the company may be saving one of its biggest announcements for 2012--a television.Gene Munster, a Piper Jaffray senior research analyst, said in a research note today that he believes Apple will enter the TV set market by the end of next year. If Munster is right, that gives Apple two years to design and manufacture the television."While Apple's commitment to the living room remains a 'hobby,' we continue to believe the company will enter the TV market with a full focus, as an all-in-one Apple television could move the needle when connected TVs proliferate," Munster said.An all-in-one TV could include built-in Apple TV, MobileMe access, the iTunes Store, and use of the same network as computers.Apple said in late December that its new Apple TV digital media receiver sold 1 million units since its launch in September.In 2011, Munster expects Apple to release new versions of existing products but does not expect the company to enter any new product categories. Products he expects to see this year include a Verizon iPhone, Mac App Store, iTunes cloud services, iPad expansion to other countries, and the release of Mac OS X Lion.
Apple may have some big plans for 2011, but one analyst believes the company may be saving one of its biggest announcements for 2012--a television.Gene Munster, a Piper Jaffray senior research analyst, said in a research note today that he believes Apple will enter the TV set market by the end of next year. If Munster is right, that gives Apple two years to design and manufacture the television."While Apple's commitment to the living room remains a 'hobby,' we continue to believe the company will enter the TV market with a full focus, as an all-in-one Apple television could move the needle when connected TVs proliferate," Munster said.An all-in-one TV could include built-in Apple TV, MobileMe access, the iTunes Store, and use of the same network as computers.Apple said in late December that its new Apple TV digital media receiver sold 1 million units since its launch in September.In 2011, Munster expects Apple to release new versions of existing products but does not expect the company to enter any new product categories. Products he expects to see this year include a Verizon iPhone, Mac App Store, iTunes cloud services, iPad expansion to other countries, and the release of Mac OS X Lion.
Will AOL's iPhone app pave way for Pandora-
Will AOL's iPhone app pave way for Pandora?
Details of AOL's streaming radio application for the Apple iPhone 3G have surfaced after it was revealed that the application won an Apple design award for "Best Entertainment Application" at this year's WWDC. The free application will be available for the iPhone 3G next month, allowing users to stream 200 AOL online radio stations and 150 terrestrial radio stations over both Wi-Fi and 3G cellular connections. While news of streaming radio capabilities coming to the iPhone is certainly exciting, personally, the thought of listening to terrestrial and AOL online stations doesn't exactly get my blood pumping. The larger story here is that Apple and AT&T have shown a willingness to integrate streaming media into the iPhone, opening a door for streaming audio services such as Pandora, Last.fm, Muxtape, and others. Of course, converting interactive Adobe Flash-based streaming audio Web services into iPhone applications is no easy task, and the payoff has yet to be proven worthwhile. The possibilities are promising, however, and if the same application can be ported over to the iPod Touch (maybe even integrated with the iTunes Wi-Fi music store), consumers really will have a new way to discover music on the go.
Details of AOL's streaming radio application for the Apple iPhone 3G have surfaced after it was revealed that the application won an Apple design award for "Best Entertainment Application" at this year's WWDC. The free application will be available for the iPhone 3G next month, allowing users to stream 200 AOL online radio stations and 150 terrestrial radio stations over both Wi-Fi and 3G cellular connections. While news of streaming radio capabilities coming to the iPhone is certainly exciting, personally, the thought of listening to terrestrial and AOL online stations doesn't exactly get my blood pumping. The larger story here is that Apple and AT&T have shown a willingness to integrate streaming media into the iPhone, opening a door for streaming audio services such as Pandora, Last.fm, Muxtape, and others. Of course, converting interactive Adobe Flash-based streaming audio Web services into iPhone applications is no easy task, and the payoff has yet to be proven worthwhile. The possibilities are promising, however, and if the same application can be ported over to the iPod Touch (maybe even integrated with the iTunes Wi-Fi music store), consumers really will have a new way to discover music on the go.
Deck- An iPad music app for people with big fingers
Deck: An iPad music app for people with big fingers
iPad users challenged by the Music app's tiny controls may appreciate an alternative audio player dubbed Deck.Selling for $1.99 in the Apple Store, Deck provides a large interface with simple features and big controls so you don't need to struggle to manage and play your favorite music. I've been using the app frequently since Apple -- in my opinion -- screwed up the tablet's Music app with iOS 5.Launching Deck displays its hefty audio player with all the standard buttons--Play, Pause, Back, Forward, Volume, and more. You tap on the Menu button to access your music library. From there you can view your music by Playlist, Artist, Album, Song, or Podcast. My only gripe here is that there's no way to view iTunes U content as there is with Apple's Music app. But I can launch the dedicated iTunes U app for that.Tapping a particular album or playlist displays all of the tracks. Tapping a song loads it into the music player. The large buttons let you control the song, change the volume, and jump to the next or previous track. Other buttons let you rewind by 30 seconds or shuffle through your entire library.The album's cover art appears in the background and as a thumbnail. You can clearly see the name of each track, the artist, and the album near the audio controls. A large slider lets you easily move forward or back along the current track. And you can use the app in either portrait or landscape mode.Related storiesHow Apple screwed up the iPad music app with iOS 5How to stream any music player app to AirPlay-enabled speakersSony's Music Unlimited coming to iOS in a 'few weeks'Deck lacks one detail offered by Apple's Music App. You won't see the length of a track until you start playing it. But that's a small price to pay for the app's more user-friendly look and feel.If you've been struggling with the small and awkward controls of the iPad's default Music app, you may want to take Deck out for a spin.
iPad users challenged by the Music app's tiny controls may appreciate an alternative audio player dubbed Deck.Selling for $1.99 in the Apple Store, Deck provides a large interface with simple features and big controls so you don't need to struggle to manage and play your favorite music. I've been using the app frequently since Apple -- in my opinion -- screwed up the tablet's Music app with iOS 5.Launching Deck displays its hefty audio player with all the standard buttons--Play, Pause, Back, Forward, Volume, and more. You tap on the Menu button to access your music library. From there you can view your music by Playlist, Artist, Album, Song, or Podcast. My only gripe here is that there's no way to view iTunes U content as there is with Apple's Music app. But I can launch the dedicated iTunes U app for that.Tapping a particular album or playlist displays all of the tracks. Tapping a song loads it into the music player. The large buttons let you control the song, change the volume, and jump to the next or previous track. Other buttons let you rewind by 30 seconds or shuffle through your entire library.The album's cover art appears in the background and as a thumbnail. You can clearly see the name of each track, the artist, and the album near the audio controls. A large slider lets you easily move forward or back along the current track. And you can use the app in either portrait or landscape mode.Related storiesHow Apple screwed up the iPad music app with iOS 5How to stream any music player app to AirPlay-enabled speakersSony's Music Unlimited coming to iOS in a 'few weeks'Deck lacks one detail offered by Apple's Music App. You won't see the length of a track until you start playing it. But that's a small price to pay for the app's more user-friendly look and feel.If you've been struggling with the small and awkward controls of the iPad's default Music app, you may want to take Deck out for a spin.
dBpoweramp for music file format conversion
dBpoweramp for music file format conversion
But since 2006, I've been using a Zune (review unit) as my primary music player. Zune plays both AAC and WMA files, and it automatically reads your iTunes library.I got lazy and stopped converting my vinyl from WMA to AAC. Now I've got a Shuffle. And a library full of WMA files that it can't play. Of course, I could do what I used to do--import the folders from My Music into iTunes, convert to AAC, then delete the originals. But what if I want to convert those WMAs into MP3s to make sure they can play on any device with any software app? OK, I guess I could change the default on iTunes. But what happens when you add a bunch of downloaded FLAC files into the mix? Or Ogg files? What about converting AAC back to WMA--I can't see any reason why I'd want to do that today, but who knows where Microsoft and Apple are heading with their file format support?I needed to future-proof my music collection, while still maintaining the best quality-to-size ratio possible. (MP3 is one of the lossiest formats.)dBpoweramp Music Converteris the solution. $18 for the regular edition. (The $28 reference edition has features for professionals and more serious amateurs.) You can download just about any imaginable codec from the associated Web site. By default it performs file conversion within the same folder as the original files, so you can easily keep track of what's where. (Not like iTunes, which moves every converted file into the iTunes library by default.) Or, if you want to export directly to an iTunes folder, it can do that. It even adds a feature to the Windows Explorer so when you hover over a file, it'll display full ID3 tag information for that file--useful for changing mysterious file names to match song titles. Highly recommended. dBpoweramp shows ID3 tags within Windows Explorer. So you can find out the real title of that Track 4.WMA file you've been carrying around..Screenshot
But since 2006, I've been using a Zune (review unit) as my primary music player. Zune plays both AAC and WMA files, and it automatically reads your iTunes library.I got lazy and stopped converting my vinyl from WMA to AAC. Now I've got a Shuffle. And a library full of WMA files that it can't play. Of course, I could do what I used to do--import the folders from My Music into iTunes, convert to AAC, then delete the originals. But what if I want to convert those WMAs into MP3s to make sure they can play on any device with any software app? OK, I guess I could change the default on iTunes. But what happens when you add a bunch of downloaded FLAC files into the mix? Or Ogg files? What about converting AAC back to WMA--I can't see any reason why I'd want to do that today, but who knows where Microsoft and Apple are heading with their file format support?I needed to future-proof my music collection, while still maintaining the best quality-to-size ratio possible. (MP3 is one of the lossiest formats.)dBpoweramp Music Converteris the solution. $18 for the regular edition. (The $28 reference edition has features for professionals and more serious amateurs.) You can download just about any imaginable codec from the associated Web site. By default it performs file conversion within the same folder as the original files, so you can easily keep track of what's where. (Not like iTunes, which moves every converted file into the iTunes library by default.) Or, if you want to export directly to an iTunes folder, it can do that. It even adds a feature to the Windows Explorer so when you hover over a file, it'll display full ID3 tag information for that file--useful for changing mysterious file names to match song titles. Highly recommended. dBpoweramp shows ID3 tags within Windows Explorer. So you can find out the real title of that Track 4.WMA file you've been carrying around..Screenshot
Apple to close in-app purchase hack in iOS 6, offers interim fix
Apple to close in-app purchase hack in iOS 6, offers interim fix
Apple has outlined a way for iOS developers to protect themselves against an exploitthat lets users gain free access to paid add-on content sold within their apps.In a new support document posted today, the company provided detailed guidelines, urging developers to use its receipt validation system that cross-checks purchases made inside applications with the company's own records. It also said that it will be taking extra precautions to keep this from happening in the next version of iOS, due out later this year."We recommend developers follow best practices at developer.apple.com to help ensure they are not vulnerable to fraudulent In-App purchases," Apple spokesperson Tom Neumayr told CNET. "This will also be addressed with iOS 6." The exploit was created by Russian programmer Alexey Borodin, and appeared late last week. It uses a proxy system to send purchase requests to third-party servers where they are validated and sent back to the application as if the transaction had gone through. In order to use the trick, users needed to install special security certificates on their devices, as well as be on a Wi-Fi network. The new support document includes details on how to set up protection through Apple's receipt validation system as well instructions for validating transactions that have already been completed. In addition to posting the information on its site, Apple sent out the following e-mail to developers urging them to set up the receipt validation:Message sent to Apple developers on Friday.CNETIt's unclear how many developers were, and continue to be targeted by the exploit. In an interview with The Next Web last week, Borodin said that more than 30,000 in-app purchases were made using the service.
Apple has outlined a way for iOS developers to protect themselves against an exploitthat lets users gain free access to paid add-on content sold within their apps.In a new support document posted today, the company provided detailed guidelines, urging developers to use its receipt validation system that cross-checks purchases made inside applications with the company's own records. It also said that it will be taking extra precautions to keep this from happening in the next version of iOS, due out later this year."We recommend developers follow best practices at developer.apple.com to help ensure they are not vulnerable to fraudulent In-App purchases," Apple spokesperson Tom Neumayr told CNET. "This will also be addressed with iOS 6." The exploit was created by Russian programmer Alexey Borodin, and appeared late last week. It uses a proxy system to send purchase requests to third-party servers where they are validated and sent back to the application as if the transaction had gone through. In order to use the trick, users needed to install special security certificates on their devices, as well as be on a Wi-Fi network. The new support document includes details on how to set up protection through Apple's receipt validation system as well instructions for validating transactions that have already been completed. In addition to posting the information on its site, Apple sent out the following e-mail to developers urging them to set up the receipt validation:Message sent to Apple developers on Friday.CNETIt's unclear how many developers were, and continue to be targeted by the exploit. In an interview with The Next Web last week, Borodin said that more than 30,000 in-app purchases were made using the service.
Apple to begin production of new iPhone in August-
Apple to begin production of new iPhone in August?
Following meetings in Taiwan last week, presumably with Apple suppliers, Huberty said in an investor's note yesterday that she expects Apple to start ramping up production of the iPhone "aggressively" in mid- to late August and on into the fourth quarter.Following the August push, the analyst believes, Apple will launch the iPhone in September and ship 2 million units in the fourth quarter, a shift from her previous estimate of 2 million in the third quarter. But Huberty notes that an early September launch would bump up the third quarter estimate and that Apple will still be able to ship 72 million iPhones for the entire year.Along with the iPhone, Apple is also expected to ramp up production of the next iPad in August, Huberty said. For the year, she sees iPad shipments reaching 30 million, giving Apple a 60 percent slice of the tablet market.Looking into the crystal ball for 2012, Huberty expects the debut of both a 4G LTE iPhone and a lower-priced 3G model, prompting Apple to forecast a large increase in iPhone shipments in 2012.Commenting on another recent rumor, the analyst believes Apple is getting into the TV business by developing its own Apple-branded Smart TV, a move that could add $19 billion to the company's annual revenue.Finally, with supply constraints having eased following the immediate aftermath of the Japanese earthquake, Apple has been negotiating lower prices with some of its suppliers, according to Huberty, which she feels could help the company's margins a bit both in the second and third quarters.
Following meetings in Taiwan last week, presumably with Apple suppliers, Huberty said in an investor's note yesterday that she expects Apple to start ramping up production of the iPhone "aggressively" in mid- to late August and on into the fourth quarter.Following the August push, the analyst believes, Apple will launch the iPhone in September and ship 2 million units in the fourth quarter, a shift from her previous estimate of 2 million in the third quarter. But Huberty notes that an early September launch would bump up the third quarter estimate and that Apple will still be able to ship 72 million iPhones for the entire year.Along with the iPhone, Apple is also expected to ramp up production of the next iPad in August, Huberty said. For the year, she sees iPad shipments reaching 30 million, giving Apple a 60 percent slice of the tablet market.Looking into the crystal ball for 2012, Huberty expects the debut of both a 4G LTE iPhone and a lower-priced 3G model, prompting Apple to forecast a large increase in iPhone shipments in 2012.Commenting on another recent rumor, the analyst believes Apple is getting into the TV business by developing its own Apple-branded Smart TV, a move that could add $19 billion to the company's annual revenue.Finally, with supply constraints having eased following the immediate aftermath of the Japanese earthquake, Apple has been negotiating lower prices with some of its suppliers, according to Huberty, which she feels could help the company's margins a bit both in the second and third quarters.
Apple to add 500 new jobs in Ireland
Apple to add 500 new jobs in Ireland
Apple plans to add more employees to its European headquarters in Cork, Ireland, the company announced today.Over the next 18 months, Apple plans to add 500 employees to its Ireland-based operation to help "support our growing business across Europe." Apple currently has 2,800 employees in Cork. In order to make room for the new hires, Apple will build a three-story office building next to the existing facility, according to Ireland's RTE News.Although Apple hasn't said what kind of jobs will be created in the move, Cork provides a host of back-office and supply-chain functions for the company. It's also a key player in Apple's distribution across Europe. According to RTE News, Apple has employed workers in Cork for 30 years.Related storiesApple engineers: Work on fake gear, earn company trust?Are Apple products really fueling the U.S. job market? Eh, maybeCNET's review of the Apple iPhone 4SCNET's review of Apple's new iPadApple has always had a high opinion of its workers and their ability to contribute to the economy. Last month, the company released a study, claiming 514,000 jobs across the U.S. have either been "created or supported" by the iPhone maker. Although just 47,000 of those people were actual Apple employees, the remaining workers were made up of people employed at other companies engaged in engineering, manufacturing, and transportation, among other tasks."Throughout our history, Apple has created entirely new products--and entirely new industries--by focusing on innovation," Apple wrote at the time. "As a result, we've created or supported more than 500,000 jobs for U.S. workers: from the engineer who helped invent the iPad to the delivery person who brings it to your door."Apple hasn't conducted a similar study on how it may impact economies across Europe.
Apple plans to add more employees to its European headquarters in Cork, Ireland, the company announced today.Over the next 18 months, Apple plans to add 500 employees to its Ireland-based operation to help "support our growing business across Europe." Apple currently has 2,800 employees in Cork. In order to make room for the new hires, Apple will build a three-story office building next to the existing facility, according to Ireland's RTE News.Although Apple hasn't said what kind of jobs will be created in the move, Cork provides a host of back-office and supply-chain functions for the company. It's also a key player in Apple's distribution across Europe. According to RTE News, Apple has employed workers in Cork for 30 years.Related storiesApple engineers: Work on fake gear, earn company trust?Are Apple products really fueling the U.S. job market? Eh, maybeCNET's review of the Apple iPhone 4SCNET's review of Apple's new iPadApple has always had a high opinion of its workers and their ability to contribute to the economy. Last month, the company released a study, claiming 514,000 jobs across the U.S. have either been "created or supported" by the iPhone maker. Although just 47,000 of those people were actual Apple employees, the remaining workers were made up of people employed at other companies engaged in engineering, manufacturing, and transportation, among other tasks."Throughout our history, Apple has created entirely new products--and entirely new industries--by focusing on innovation," Apple wrote at the time. "As a result, we've created or supported more than 500,000 jobs for U.S. workers: from the engineer who helped invent the iPad to the delivery person who brings it to your door."Apple hasn't conducted a similar study on how it may impact economies across Europe.
Apple tips chip spending scales in favor of wireless
Apple tips chip spending scales in favor of wireless
The popularity of Apple's iPad and iPhone is driving the shift of chip spending to wireless from computers, according to IHS-iSuppli. Global spending by the world's top device makers on chips for wireless products amounted to $58.6 billion in 2011, up 14.5 percent from $51.2 billion in 2010, according to IHS iSuppli.As a result, spending for computers was topped by wireless, which became the world's largest semiconductor spending segment for device makers--aka, OEMs or original equipment manufacturers--in 2011. Though this is not the first time wireless spending has exceeded that of computer-related spending (it happened in 2009), 2011 "does mark the beginning of a period when the balance of semiconductor spending will shift decisively toward wireless and away from computing," IHS-iSuppli said. In 2013, OEM wireless spending is projected to jump to $72.9 billion, while computers will remain flat at $53.4 billion, the market research firm said. While mobile handsets continue to account for most of the wireless semiconductor segment sales, tablets--a relatively new device category--are a big factor behind wireless spending growth, iSuppli said.Among tablet suppliers, Apple in 2011 spent more than any other OEM on semiconductors--a whopping $4.6 billion.Samsung was a distant second after Apple with $603.2 million, followed by HTC with $199.2 million.Computer semiconductor spending in 2011 rose by just 4 percent to $53.7 billion, up from $51.8 billion in 2010. "The market for desktops and notebooks has stumbled in the shadow of smartphones and tablets, whose portability and computer-like features have usurped the position of the once-mighty PCs," said Wenlie Ye, an analyst at IHS-iSuppli. Total semiconductor spending among the industry's major OEMs for all application markets in 2011 reached $240.6 billion, up approximately 5 percent from $230.1 billion in 2010, according to IHS-iSuppli.
The popularity of Apple's iPad and iPhone is driving the shift of chip spending to wireless from computers, according to IHS-iSuppli. Global spending by the world's top device makers on chips for wireless products amounted to $58.6 billion in 2011, up 14.5 percent from $51.2 billion in 2010, according to IHS iSuppli.As a result, spending for computers was topped by wireless, which became the world's largest semiconductor spending segment for device makers--aka, OEMs or original equipment manufacturers--in 2011. Though this is not the first time wireless spending has exceeded that of computer-related spending (it happened in 2009), 2011 "does mark the beginning of a period when the balance of semiconductor spending will shift decisively toward wireless and away from computing," IHS-iSuppli said. In 2013, OEM wireless spending is projected to jump to $72.9 billion, while computers will remain flat at $53.4 billion, the market research firm said. While mobile handsets continue to account for most of the wireless semiconductor segment sales, tablets--a relatively new device category--are a big factor behind wireless spending growth, iSuppli said.Among tablet suppliers, Apple in 2011 spent more than any other OEM on semiconductors--a whopping $4.6 billion.Samsung was a distant second after Apple with $603.2 million, followed by HTC with $199.2 million.Computer semiconductor spending in 2011 rose by just 4 percent to $53.7 billion, up from $51.8 billion in 2010. "The market for desktops and notebooks has stumbled in the shadow of smartphones and tablets, whose portability and computer-like features have usurped the position of the once-mighty PCs," said Wenlie Ye, an analyst at IHS-iSuppli. Total semiconductor spending among the industry's major OEMs for all application markets in 2011 reached $240.6 billion, up approximately 5 percent from $230.1 billion in 2010, according to IHS-iSuppli.
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