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  • iWork ’11 to Launch Alongside Mac App Store?

    // Gradly // Apple, blog 1 Response

    iWork

    The next major revamp of Apple’s iWork productivity suite is finished and ready to go, but the company may hold back the release until it gets around to launching the Mac App Store early next year, AppleInsider has been told.

    People familiar with the matter say development of iWork ’11 wrapped up this fall and the software was initially slated for an introduction alongside iLife ’11 last month, but was held back at the last minute for undisclosed reasons.

    Apple’s revised plans currently call for the company to launch the new productivity suite alongside the forthcoming Mac App Store, these same people say. The applications included in the bundle — Pages, Numbers and Keynote — will be available for purchase individually when the Mac App Store debuts.

    Those familiar with the matter said it remains undecided whether Apple will also release a retail box version of the iWork suite, as it has been sold previously. Alternatively, it could become the first piece of major Mac software from the Cupertino-based company to be available exclusively online.

    Last month, visual cues presented during Apple’s “Back to the Mac” media event suggested that it would sell the iWork and iLife suite applications individually on the Mac App Store. Images of the forthcoming software download destination included the ability to purchase iWork apps for $19.99 each, while iLife applications were shown at $14.99.

    While Apple highlighted updates to GarageBand, iMovie and iPhoto at the event, no mentions of iWork were made. The same event saw the announcement of the Mac App Store, which is scheduled to launch before the end of January 2011. Like the App Store on iOS devices, it will allow users to download and install software with just one click. Developers will take a 70 percent cut of sales, while Apple will retain 30 percent.

    Apple began the sale of mobile versions of the iWork suite applications individually earlier this year, when Pages, Keynote and Numbers debuted on the iPad. Priced at $9.99 each, the multi-touch versions of iWork have consistently been among the top grossing options on the iPad App Store.

    Though Apple has not yet announced a firm launch date for the Mac App Store, it has already begun accepting submissions for the digital service. Like with the existing App Store for the iPhone and iPad, software will be hosted and licensed by Apple.

    The current version, iWork ’09, was released in January of 2009 and sells for $79 as a standalone product, or $49 with the purchase of any Mac. It was introduced alongside iWork.com, Apple’s online document sharing service.

    [via: Appleinsider]

  • iPhone may not wake you up on time tomorrow morning

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, iPhone, Mobile 1 Response

    Apple is warning iPhone users that the daylight savings time glitch that plagued Europe affects US iPhones too, meaning you’ll wake up an hour late if you rely on the Clock app built into the device. Though Apple representatives say there’s a permanent fix in the works, it’s not due until iOS 4.2, so the company suggests you set a new alarm today if you want to rise on time. Since the bug apparently only affects certain repeating alarms, you can create a new one-time alarm (i.e. with the repeat option set to “never”) instead, and the iPhone clock will take care of the rest.

    [via: CNN]

  • Apple could have had Microsoft’s Kinect controller?

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, Consoles, Microsoft, Tech. 1 Response

    Microsoft’s Kinect

    Yes, says PrimeSense, the company whose technology is behind Microsoft’s new Xbox Kinect, originally tried to sell it to Apple. What went wrong and why didn’t Apple get it? Yup, secrecy and control!

    Apple has a history of interface innovation, of course, and had recently introduced the iPhone with its paradigm-shifting multitouch UI. PrimeSense’s system went one step further: It was multitouch that you didn’t even have to touch. Apple seemed like a natural fit.

    Yet the initial meetings hadn’t gone so well. Obsessed with secrecy, Apple had already asked [PrimeSense CEO Inon Beracha] to sign a stack of crippling legal agreements and NDAs.

    He shook his head. Why didn’t he want to do a deal with Apple? No need. The technology was hot. He could sell it to anyone.

    [via: cult of mac]

  • MGM Officially Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

    // Gradly // blog, Movies, News 1 Response

    MGM

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (“MGM”) today announced that it and approximately 160 of its affiliates have filed Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court”) to seek confirmation of their “pre-packaged” plan of reorganization (“Plan”).

    MGM has sufficient cash on hand, and the consent of its lenders to use this cash, to fund normal business operations throughout the Chapter 11 process. MGM has filed “first-day” motions seeking immediate Court approval to continue paying its employees, vendors, participants, guilds and licensors in the ordinary course of business during the entire Chapter 11 process, for both pre-petition and post-petition obligations. MGM anticipates that the Plan will be confirmed by the Court in approximately 30 days.

    As previously announced on October 29, 2010, MGM’s secured lenders, voting in the Company’s solicitation process, overwhelmingly approved the proposed plan of reorganization. After considering a range of strategic alternatives over the course of the last 15 months, MGM and its secured lenders determined this plan will allow the Company to emerge as a stable enterprise with new leadership at the helm to move MGM forward.

    The Plan provides for the Company’s secured lenders to exchange more than $4 billion in outstanding debt for most of the equity in MGM upon its emergence from Chapter 11.

    Following the receipt of the requisite consents from its lenders for the Plan, the Company and certain significant consenting debt holders continued efforts to reach agreement with several affiliates of Carl Icahn, which directly or indirectly hold significant MGM debt, regarding the Icahn entities’ support of the Plan. The Company, several Icahn entities, and certain significant consenting debt holders reached agreement regarding certain immaterial modifications to the transaction documents that are exhibits to the Plan. Subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, the transaction documents will be modified with respect to certain corporate governance provisions and to eliminate the contribution of assets by Cypress and Garoge, two affiliates of Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, and the receipt of stock in reorganized MGM by these entities. Based on these modifications, Mr. Icahn will support the Company’s Plan. Under the Plan, Messrs. Barber and Birnbaum, currently co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spyglass Entertainment, will serve as co-Chief Executive Officer of MGM Holdings Inc. and as co-Chairman and co-Chief Executive Officer of the primary operating subsidiary of MGM Holdings Inc. In addition, Messrs. Barber and Birnbaum will serve as members of the board of directors of MGM Holdings Inc., along with seven lender appointees, including several independent directors.

    “For many months, we have been working with our lenders to explore the strategic options available to MGM to improve MGM’s financial position and maximize the Company’s value,” said Co-Chief Executive Officer Steve Cooper. “By sharply reducing MGM’s debt load and providing access to new capital, the proposed plan of reorganization achieves these goals. Having received approval through our recently completed solicitation process, we are pleased that the lenders support MGM’s approach. We now look forward to quickly emerging from Chapter 11.”

    Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum said, “MGM is emerging from one of the most challenging periods of its storied history. We are honored and inspired at the prospect of leading one of Hollywood’s most iconic studios into its next generation of unforgettable filmmaking, global television production and distribution, and aggressively pursuing, developing and exploiting new digital entertainment platforms.”

    Upon its exit from bankruptcy, MGM expects to raise approximately $500 million in financing to fund operations, including production of a new slate of films and television series. MGM will retain ownership of all of its assets.

    The Company’s restructuring counsel are Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Klee, Tuchin, Bogdanoff & Stern LLP and its restructuring advisor is Zolfo Cooper.

    Carl Icahn later stated his support for the plan:

    Today Carl Icahn announced that he has reached an agreement with MGM and the Lender Subcommittee for Icahn to support MGM in its prepackaged bankruptcy.

    Carl Icahn stated: “I am pleased that we were able to obtain an agreement to make changes to the MGM Prepackaged Plan that allows me to support it and enables the Company to avoid a potentially costly and disruptive bankruptcy process.” Under the revised terms of the MGM Prepackaged Plan that the parties will seek to implement, MGM will not acquire the Cypress film library and will have a strong corporate governance structure, including the ability of stockholders to call special meetings, and there will be restrictions on poison pills and staggered boards. Mr. Icahn will also have the right to designate a member on the MGM Board following its emergence from bankruptcy.