iCloud online music streaming announcement imminent?

The much rumoured iCloud online music streaming service may soon be announced, if recent buzz online is anything to go by. Rumours are that Apple is close to completing all the required deals with the big four record labels (EMI, Sony, Warner and Universal Music). Universal has been the one that has been holding out, it seems, but rumours are that they are close to signing an agreement with Apple to license its portfolio for the iCloud service.

As well as the record labels of course, Apple has had to negotiate with the music publishers, of which there are many more than there are major record labels. One issue has been that the music publishers are to get more than their fair share of the royalties, at least according to the record labels. It seems Apple has been playing the two off against each other in order to get the best deal it can. As far as the customer is concerned, all this can only be good news as it will mean cheaper subscriptions. Lets hope that everyone comes to a mutually satisfying arrangement soon. Better still, lets hope its all a done deal in time for the WWDC on 6th June.

Related articles

• Apple Also Negotiating with Music Publishers for Cloud Service (macstories.net)
• Apple, publishers reportedly close to completing cloud music deal (tuaw.com)
• Apple inching closer to inking licensing deals for clould-based music (edibleapple.com)
• Sony joins Apple cloud-music scheme; Universal accord imminent? (slashgear.com)
• Gap closing quick on Apple cloud music deal, say sources (ipodnn.com)
• iCloud Coming? Apple May Be Close To Signing Cloud Music Deals (huffingtonpost.com)
• iTunes cloud locker all but ready as Apple signs a deal with EMI (9to5mac.com)
• Apple, EMI ink deal for ‘iCloud’ streaming service (intomobile.com)
• Apple iTunes iCloud Music Service Might Not Launch At WWDC? (slashgear.com)
• Little divides Apple, music publishers on cloud deal (news.cnet.com)
• Apple Inks Deal with EMI, Cloud Music Almost Finalized (macstories.net)
• Apple gets cozy with EMI, Universal, and Sony over cloud music licensing (engadget.com)
• Sony joins EMI and Warner in Apple cloud music service (tuaw.com)
• “Apple Signs Sony, EMI, and Warner For Cloud Music Service” and related posts (pulse2.com)
• “Apple signs up EMI for iCloud music service” and related posts (pocket-lint.com)
• Apple Is One Label Away From Dominating Cloud Music (AAPL, AMZN, GOOG) (businessinsider.com)

Google Chrome Canary for Mac available

If you are a fan of Google’s Chrome Browser than you will be interested in Google latest incarnation for the Mac – Chrome Canary. It is now available from Google’s Chrome Canary download site.

Canary is a developer version of Google Chrome, not unlike Chromium. However, Canary comes with some extras. Windows users have had the option to download Canary, essentially an experimental build of the Chrome browser, for some time now. Now, at least, Mac users get the same access to these developer versions and the great thing about them is they don’t overwrite your existing installation of Chrome.

To get Chrome Canary for Mac, head to the download page or check out some of the other more stable releases on the Chromium Early Access Release Channels page.

Related Articles

• Google rolls out Chrome Canary to Mac (tuaw.com)
• Google Chrome Canary for Mac browser launches with no testing (slashgear.com)
• Chrome Canary is Coming to a Mac Near You (thechromesource.com)
• Google Chrome Canary Lands On OS X (macstories.net)
• Google Chrome Canary About To Hit OS X – Chrome 16 Due Before End Of Year (techcrunch.com)
• Early Chrome Build, Canary for Mac, is Now Available [Blip] (fakeiitian.com)
• Google debuts Chrome Canary for Mac (9to5mac.com)
• Yep, Google Just Pushed Chrome Canary For Mac Out Of The Nest (techcrunch.com)
• Google Releases Mac Version of Chrome Canary (searchenginejournal.com)
• Cutting-edge Chrome Canary arrives for Mac (news.cnet.com)

MacScan 2.8 Released for Mac

MacScan anti-spyware and anti-malware software for Mac

According to the press release, MacScan 2.8 Anti-Malware Privacy & Security for Mac OS X “enhances protection against the latest threats for Mac OS X” whilst “adding usability enhancements and bug fixes. Apparently, it has also been updated to work with Firefox 4 when removing blacklisted tracking cookies. Users can now remove over 10000 known cookies for adware and malware with a single click and without losing any of their saved cookies. Originally introduced in January 2006, the software has been continually developed by SecureMac. It protects against Spyware and rogue cookies.

Upgrades for previous 2.x versions is free. You can also download a demo at http://macscan.securemac.com

It is available for $29.99 or you can purchase a Family Pack (for three Macs) for $49.99. UK pricing depends on currency conversion at the time of purchase (PayPal’s conversion isn’t as favourable as some other means of payment).

MobileMe to be a free service?

Apple has long received criticism for the both the cost of and the lack of features available in its MobileMe service. I have persevered for many year with the service, mainly because its been reliable and unlike some services, is sure to be around for a ling time. There’s nothing worse than backing up your gigabytes of data to the cloud only to find that some months later the service has ceased to exist and you have to start all over again. Not only that, in the early days many such services were not Mac friendly and so Apple’s offering was often the best option, even it left a lot to desire in terms of features and value for money.

Now it seems we may be about to see the service go free. You can no longer purchase MobileMe from Apple’s Store, though the 60-day trial remains available. It does tell you the price if you wish to continue after the trial period but there appears no way to actually purchase. There has been much talk o MobileMe going free with Apple about to open a new massive data centre in North Carolina, bigger than its existing data centre in Newark, California.

Rumours too of a mini iPhone that relies on the user being able to store their data ‘in the cloud’ have added weight to the rumours, with a revamped MobileMe providing a digital “locker” for photos, video and online music. let’s hope that if true, Apple has some reward for long-time users like myself who kept faith with them all these years.