After rumors that Apple attempted to block Spotify from entering the US market, now there’s a suggestion they might just be negotiating with the Swedish-based streaming music startup over a possible acquisition. TechCrunch reports:

“Apple and Spotify are in on-again, off-again discussions about an acquisition, but at best it's very early in the process. No firm price has been offered, no term sheet tabled. Still, it's interesting that the two are talking.”

Now, it’s important to understand that these rumors are just that — rumors — and as such, you should be taking this with a massive data center-sized grain of salt. However it’s still rather interesting to hear that these two clashing companies have been in possible talks.

Apple purchased Lala late last year, a streaming music service similar to Spotify, and many were under the assumption that Apple might create an online iTunes music service with streaming and possibly subscriptions. Now Lala has closed and there’s still no iTunes.com in sight.

What do you think, should Apple buy another streaming music company? And if Apple did buy Spotify would anything come of it, or would it disappear as fast as Lala? Sound off in the comments!

[TechCrunch]

by Andrew Wray

Apple in early stage negotiations to buy Spotify? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

AdobeMAX got what RIM’s own DevCon was denied — an actual working demo of the upcoming iPad competitor, the BlackBerry PlayBook. I guess now we know why RIM co-CEO Balsillie mentioned Flash 3 times and RIM’s own technology approximately zero in his hot retort to Steve Jobs last week — they’re going all in on AIR and Flash, at least at first.

Is that risky, tying your platform’s future to technology another company controls? Hey, they did it for years with Java 2ME on the BlackBerry, though arguably they suffered as much as they gained. Flash will no doubt get them to market faster, but after buying QNX to serve as their next-generation operating system, I can’t help but wish they’d taken the time to roll their own user interface and software developer kit and come to market better. ActiveX waned, consumer-facing Java has waned, Flash might be next. It’s a gamble but it’s also one that could pay off, especially in the short term.

As to the demo itself, as Dieter noted it looks almost like what we’d expect from an HP PalmPad, cards and all, rather than a BlackBerry device, and what else can I say, it gave CrackBerry Kevin a happy.

Check out the video after the break and let us know what you think — does it make this iPad competitor more real?

RIM shows off BlackBerry PlayBook at AdobeMAX [the competition] is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Last night Apple updated the Apple Store app for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and decided to tease us by including what looks to be white iPhone 4 reservations as part of the new functionality.

The caveat to this, however, is that not everyone is seeing the white iPhone 4 listed, and even if you do, when you try and reserve it you get a popup stating they are not taking reservations for that product at this time.

So given that it is still not available to be reserved but that Apple updated their app to include the white iPhone 4 does this mean we will be seeing them sooner rather than well…never?

If you’re using the Apple Store app, let us know if you can see the white iPhone 4, if you can whether it lets you try and reserve one at your local store, and whether or not you’re having your dreams crushed with a notification saying unable to reserve?

[ iTunes Link via BGR ]

by Brian Tufo

Apple updates Apple Store app, teases white iPhone 4 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Apple is now offering free iPad engravings, just in time for the holidays. Apple have always offered free 'personalised' iPod engravings, however, this marks the first time Apple have unveiled the same laser-engraving program for the iPad.

Like iPod engraving, the iPad engraving is available at no additional cost and you can add up to 2 lines of text. However, it will increase the shipping time by 1-3 days.

Will you be buying an iPad with personal engravings, this holiday season?

[store.apple.com]

by George Lim

Apple now offering free iPad engravings is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Not to get in the way of any analyst/speculator/tabloid fed interweb crazy, but Apple probably isn’t buying Sony, Facebook, or Disney, or Google, AT&T, or the continent of Australia for that matter.

While there could be some interesting manufacturing, social networking, and studio plays there (or just a lot of land for a really huge data center), Apple is about less, not more. After all the success Steve Jobs and Apple have had in simplifying and clarifying their products and production, in spending less on R&D and earning more on profits than pretty much anyone in the industry, would they really frak it all up just to stick fruit logo on a PS3 or cute cartoon mouse on an iPhone?

Then again, these rumors probably started after Steve Jobs said Apple is saving their $51 billion bank account for (paraphrased):

We don't make stupid acquisitions but want to keep powder dry for 1 or 2 strategic acquisitions in the future.

So if Apple isn’t buying Sony [Reuters] or Facebook [MediaMemo] Who do you think they should buy?

Apple not buying Sony, Facebook, Disney, AT&T, Google, Australia, etc. is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

If your looking for a fun, simple racer with awesome graphics, then Reckless Racing HD might be for you. Playing this game reminds of RC Pro Am Racing on the original Nintendo, or NES. The premise is simple; beat other racers to win the championship.

The game is played with an overhead isometric view. There are several different control options, but I enjoy the default which is gas and break on the far right and left and right turn arrow on the left, the control is spot on too.

Starting off with the game you get a brief tutorial which also allows you to try out the different controls in real-time. Just tap the one you want to try while playing and you are good to go. Next, you can complete in a championship and more. There are three different classes to choose from; bronze, silver and gold. I personally had no challenge at all on bronze, so I bumped it up right to gold and had a blast. As you race there are obstacles to avoid, but the biggest challenge is just staying on the road! The game has you racing laps on dirt, gravel and paved roads and each feels succinctly different.

There are a few obstacles to watch out for while you race like cans, barrels and boxes. But what is great is that if you are a slick enough driver, you can discover nice shortcuts to help you through the level. The 8 tracks had me wanting a little more levels, though if you place first in the track you unlock the reverse course. I did find the three game modes (race, hot lap and delivery) to be fun as well.

The bonus with this game is with the multiplayer. You get 4 player racing online with Reckless Racing and it adds a whole other level racing with real people. You have leader boards and can save ghosts too. The only real issue I had with the multiplayer aspect is that you don’t know if people are in the middle of a race till you enter their game. If they are racing, you have to wait till the race is over to join. I wish there was a way to see what games were already racing so you could find a game that much easier, or a quick match might work too.

Overall Reckless Racing HD is a blast to play, but is just shy of total greatness due to a few nicks here and there. However, I am sure EA will have new levels and cars with downloadable content soon.

[$4.99- iTunes Link]

Pros

• Fun, fun game
• A variety of levels
• Online multiplayer

Cons

• Additional levels would be nice, the variety is good, but I feel I race the same levels over and over
• A few quirks with multiplayer

Reckless Racing HD for iPad – app review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Square is a new credit card payment service that allows users to take credit card payments directly to their mobile devices. Businesses can now apply for a Square merchant account, and if approved, will be given a free reader. Square was first announced last year and gained quite a bit of interest. The above tweet is from Jack Dorsey, founder of Square and co-founder of Twitter.

One of the perks for merchants is that there are no annual fees tied to the service. Each transaction will be charged 2.75% of the purchase price plus $0.15 per credit card swipe. For those of you familiar with some of the fees some companies stick to merchants, this isn’t a bad deal – especially considering you can accept payments on the go, which is ideal for smaller businesses and contractors. You can check out the Square website for more information.

Square is currently available on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and a handful of Android devices. iPhone 4 users can also enjoy the new second generation reader that is not only slimmer, but is better at capturing images at varying speeds.

[via Mashable]

Square Mobile Credit Card Service Now Up and Running is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

VLC has been updated as a universal app that now supports iPhone as well as iPad. The update is now available in the iTunes App Store and allows you to:

• Watch natively unsupported videos on your iPhone or iPad (WMV, AVI etc)
• Open natively unsupported video attachments from emails/internet
• Open natively unsupported videos from other apps, like Dropbox

VLC also allows you to sync your favourite videos to your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad without having the need to convert them.

[ Free - iTunes link, thanks to everyone who sent this in! ]

by George Lim

VLC for iPhone now available in the App Store is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

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We’re listening to Steve Jobs lay the smackdown on Android and BlackBerry tablets, and watching Apple take the iPad back to the Mac. The stage is set for 2011 folks. This is iPad live!

Credits

Thanks to the the iPhone Blog Store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!

iPad live #27: Dead on Arrival is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog