Google – as you probably already know – today introduced a new Google Maps app for the iPhone.

Google says:

People around the world have been asking for Google Maps on iPhone. Starting today, we’re pleased to announce that Google Maps is here—rolling out across the world in the Apple App Store. It’s designed from the ground up to combine the comprehensiveness and accuracy of Google Maps with an interface that makes finding what you’re looking for faster and easier.

While Google is putting a positive spin on this, it’s actually a huge win for Apple and iPhone users, and a validation of their app strategy.

As usual, John Gruber is one of the few tech analysts looking at the real implications of the news:

This iOS 6 mapping saga has been a source of tremendous controversy, but here we are three months after iOS 6 was released and iPhone users now have a better Google Maps experience than they did when Google was providing the back-end data for the built-in Maps app. It all worked out.

Before Apple introduced its new Maps app, Maps on the iPhone was becoming second rate, with features that many users were asking for missing in action.

Now Google has to compete for users on the iPhone, has to ask for permission to use your location and has to deliver a great mapping app for people to even bother with using it.

Expect more jockeying on this – but Apple’s strategy successfully neutralized a potential threat from Google.

I-Jingle Pro is an app that turns your iPad into a professional jingle/sample cart player.

Easy to use controls let you either play up to 8 jingles simultaneously, cross fade 2 jingles, fade out the first jingle while starting the next or simply stop the first and start the next. So called 2nd touch settings allow you to stop, fade out or re-start a jingle.

At any moment you have 35 jingles on screen and scrolling up and down through the jingles or quickly switching between presets allows you to access up to 300 jingles without leaving the main screen.

I-Jingle Pro is $24.99 in the App Store.

Note: I-Jingle Pro is not recommended for the iPad 1.

AllThingsD’s Peter Kafka reports today Apple is planning to move podcasting out of iTunes and into a new dedicated application.

He writes:

Why have podcasts disappeared from the new version of iTunes that Apple started showing to developers this week?

Because Apple plans on giving the recordings their own bit of digital turf.

People familiar with Apple’s plans tell me that when its new iOS 6 software becomes widely available this fall, podcasts will have their own app, where users will be able to discover, download and play them on mobile devices. Users who access iTunes via laptop and desktop machines will still find them in that version of iTunes, though.

This could be simple housecleaning. iTunes has become a bloated jack-of-all-trades app, and it could use simplification.

The success of iOS devices has shifted Apple’s priorities, too. iPhones and iPads are no longer primarily peripherals to computers, but are Apple’s most important platform.

There may be much more to the news, though. Instagram’s billion dollar sale to Facebook highlighted that mobile devices are rapidly becoming the default platforms for content creation.

With Apple’s existing strengths in mobile audio and video content creation, they have a huge opportunity in rethinking their approach to podcasting.

Think podcasting is getting demoted? Or do you think Apple see a bigger opportunity for mobile media sharing?

Apple has quietly updated iMovie for iOS so that it will run on the original iPad.

iMovie for iOS now is supported on these devices:

• iPhone 4
• iPhone 4S
• iPod touch (4th generation
• iPad 2 Wi-Fi
• iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G
• iPad (3rd generation) and
• iPad Wi-Fi + 4G.

Previously, Apple only supported iMove on the iPad 2. As of iMovie version 1.3, though, you can officially install it on the iPad 1.

To install iMovie on the original iPad:

• Select your iPad in iTunes and navigate to Apps;
• In the Sync Apps area, find and select iMovie;
• Sync your iPad and you’re done!

Note: iOS 5.1 or higher is required.

iMovie is $4.99 in the App Store.

via hhh

Apple today released a major update to iMovie and also introduced iPhoto for iPad:

• iMovie now allows you to turn the HD video on your iPad and iPhone into trailers, even as you’re recording. The new Theater view lets you preview and choose from nine templates in a range of genres including Fairy Tale, Superhero and Romance. Trailers feature  customizable graphics with soundtracks written by legendary composers such as Academy Award-winner Hans Zimmer and performed by world class musicians like the London Symphony Orchestra. You can also share your movie trailers to YouTube, Vimeo and Facebook, and use AirPlay to stream them to Apple TV in high definition resolutions up to 1080p.
• iPhoto has been reimagined for iOS to take full advantage of the Retina display and intuitive Multi-Touch gestures on iPad and iPhone. Simple gestures can be used to select and compare photos side by side and flag your best shots. iPhoto gives you full control over color, exposure and contrast, and you simply touch the parts of the image you want to change. You can enhance pictures by adding beautiful Apple-designed effects with just a tap, or apply adjustments exactly where you want them with fingertip brushes. In addition to posting photos to Facebook, Flickr and Twitter, you can beam photos between your iPhone and iPad; stream photos and slideshows to your Apple TV with AirPlay; and use iCloud to publish photo journals to the web and share your stories with friends and family in a whole new way.

Apple also released an update to GarageBand that adds social media sharing.

iPhoto, iMovie 1.3 and GarageBand 1.2 are available today for $4.99 (US) each from the App Store. iPhoto is a universal app that runs on iPad 2 or later and iPhone 4 or later. iMovie is a universal app that runs on iPad 2 or later, iPhone 4 or later and iPod touch (4th generation).

Apple today updated GarageBand for iOS, adding new collaboration and editing features for musicians, and social network sharing that could be useful for podcasters.

Here are the highlights:

• GarageBand 1.2 introduces Jam Session, a feature that lets groups of people wirelessly connect their iOS devices to play instruments and record live music together. Jam Session automatically synchronizes the tempo, key and chords of your Touch Instruments. After jamming, everyone’s tracks are automatically collected on your iOS device for you to edit and mix.
• GarageBand also introduces Smart Strings, a new Touch Instrument that allows you to ‘play’ a string orchestra with one finger.
• The new Note Editor is probably the most welcome addition. It allows you to fine tune a Touch Instrument recording instead of replaying it from scratch.
• Integration with iCloud keeps your GarageBand songs up to date across your iOS devices, and you can share your finished songs directly to Facebook, YouTube and SoundCloud.

GarageBand 1.2 will be released today for $4.99. Updates are available for free to existing customers.

New iPad Features Retina Display, A5X Chip, 5 Megapixel iSight Camera & Ultrafast 4G LTE

Apple today introduced the iPad 3, featuring the company’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight camera that can capture 1080p HD video. The new iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G connects to AT&T’s and Verizon’s 4G LTE networks.

The new iPad Wi-Fi models will be available in black or white on Friday, March 16, priced at:

• $499 (US) for the 16GB model
• $599 (US) for the 32GB model and
• $699 (US) for the 64GB model.

iPad Wi-Fi + 4G for either AT&T or Verizon will be priced at:

• $629 (US) for the 16GB model
• $729 (US) for the 32GB model and
• $829 (US) for the 64GB model.

Beginning today, iPad 2 will be priced starting at $399.

Here are the details on the new features:

• The new iPad’s Retina display delivers four times the number of pixels of iPad 2, so dense that the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels when held at a normal distance, making web pages, text, images and video look incredibly sharp and realistic. The 3.1 million pixels in the Retina display are more than one million more pixels than an HD TV, and with 44 percent increased color saturation the new iPad displays colors that are unbelievably richer, deeper and more vivid. Movies are now capable of playing at full 1080p HD-resolution, delivering an incomparable viewing experience on a mobile device.
• The new A5X chip with quad-core graphics was specifically designed by Apple to deliver a fast, responsive user experience while supporting the incredible Retina display.
• The 5 megapixel iSight camera features advanced optics for taking stunning pictures and recording full HD video. Backside illumination allows you to take great photos in low-light conditions and a new video image stabilization feature removes the bumps and shakes typically seen when filming with a hand-held device. Images can be enjoyed on the large Retina display, then edited, enhanced and easily shared with friends and family using the built-in Photos app on iPad.
• iPad Wi-Fi + 4G with built-in next generation 4G LTE has support for fast networks worldwide including HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA, and now both CDMA and GSM iPad users have the ability to easily roam internationally. The world-ready iPad delivers blazing download and upload speeds so web pages load incredibly quickly and email with large attachments can be sent and received easily. Personal Hotspot can be used to share the fast network connection on your iPad with up to 5 other devices using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB.
• With iOS 5.1, the latest update to the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, the new iPad has a number of new features and enhancements including: a redesigned Camera app with video stabilization technology; the ability to delete photos from Photo Stream; support for dictation in English, French, German and Japanese; and Personal Hotspot; iOS 5.1 also works seamlessly with iCloud, a breakthrough set of free cloud services including iTunes in the Cloud, Photo Stream and Documents in the Cloud, that works seamlessly with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content and push it to your devices.
• The new iPad also supports dictation. Instead of typing, tap the microphone icon on the keyboard, then say what you want to say and the new iPad listens. Tap done, and iPad converts your words into text. You can use dictation to write messages, take notes, search the web and more. Dictation also works with third-party apps, so you can update your Facebook status, tweet, or write Instagram captions.

“The new iPad redefines the category Apple created less than two years ago, delivering the most amazing experience people have ever had with technology,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The new iPad now has the highest resolution display ever seen on a mobile device with 3.1 million pixels, delivering razor sharp text and unbelievable detail in photos and videos.”

Apple also introduced the iPhoto app, along with major updates to iMovie and GarageBand, completing its suite of iLife apps for iOS. iLife and the iWork apps, Pages, Keynote and Numbers, have all been updated to take advantage of the new iPad Retina display.

Apple today announced an update to Final Cut Pro X that addresses some of the criticisms that many FC users had with the latest version.

Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3 features:

• Multicam editing that automatically syncs up to 64 angles of video and photos;
• Advanced chroma keying for handling complex adjustments right in the app; and
• Enhanced XML for a richer interchange with third party apps and plug-ins.

Available today as a free update from the Mac App Store™, Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3 also includes a beta of broadcast monitoring that supports Thunderbolt devices as well as PCIe cards.

• Multicam Editing: Final Cut Pro X automatically syncs clips from your shoot using audio waveforms, time and date, or timecode to create a Multicam Clip with up to 64 angles of video, which can include mixed formats, frame sizes and frame rates. The Angle Editor allows you to dive into your Multicam Clip to make precise adjustments, and the Angle Viewer lets you play back multiple angles at the same time and seamlessly cut between them.
• Chroma Keying: Final Cut Pro X builds upon its one-step chroma key with the addition of advanced controls including color sampling, edge adjustment and light wrap. You can handle complex keying right in Final Cut Pro X, without having to export to a motion graphics application, and view your results instantly with realtime playback.

Apple notes:

In the seven months since launch, the third party ecosystem around Final Cut Pro X has expanded dramatically.

XML-compatible software like DaVinci Resolve and CatDV provide tight integration for tasks such as color correction and media management. The new 7toX app from Intelligent Assistance uses XML to import Final Cut Pro 7 projects into Final Cut Pro X. In addition, some of the industry’s largest visual effects developers, including GenArts and Red Giant, have developed motion graphics plug-ins that take advantage of the speed and real-time preview capabilities of Final Cut Pro X.

Broadcast monitoring in Final Cut Pro X is currently in beta and allows you to connect to waveform displays, vectorscopes, and calibrated, high-quality monitors to ensure that your project meets broadcast specifications. Final Cut Pro X supports monitoring of video and audio through Thunderbolt I/O devices, as well as through third party PCIe cards.

Apple today announced that Steve Jobs has died:

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.

Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) had been struggling with health problems publicly since 2004, when he announced that he had pancreatic cancer.

He announced his resignation as head of Apple on August 24, 2011, saying that he could “no longer meet his duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO.

Under Jobs, Apple was arguably the leading influence on the development of new media and especially podcasting.

In the 80′s, Apple and Adobe established desktop publishing. Apple quickly moved into other media, though, becoming a key tech company in digital audio, digital music and digital video, too.

More recently, Apple’s release of the iPod, iPad and iPhone created new platforms for media.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do,” Jobs told Stanford grads in 2005.

The biggest news in tech this week has been Steve Jobs‘ announcement that he was resigning as CEO of Apple.

Jobs’s run at Apple has been exceptional. As CEO, he took an also-ran tech company and turned it into the most valuable company in the world, introducing a lot of cool technology, along the way.

But, while the world of technology struggles to figure out what Jobs’ announcement means for the future of Apple, it’s clear that Jobs’ achievements at Apple are more than the Mac, the iMac, the iPhone or the iPad.

Steve Jobs’ Two Greatest Achievements

Steve Jobs’s two greatest achievements weren’t new computers or gadgets, but revolutionizing how we create and consume media in ways that have ultimately changed the world: the computerization of media creation and the computerization of media consumption.

The Computerization Of Media Creation

When the Apple Macintosh was introduced in 1984, it was a great idea, constrained by underpowered hardware. It came with MacWrite and MacPaint, but practical applications for the machine were hard to find.

That changed in 1985, with the introduction of Aldus Pagemaker, which allowed what-you-see-is-what-you-get page layout, and Apple’s release of the LaserWriter printer. Instantly, the benefits of using a graphic user interface were made apparent.

It’s difficult to understand, after so many years, how radically the Mac + Pagemaker + LaserWriter combination changed things. But the rise of desktop publishing revolutionized publishing.

It wasn’t until a decade later, with the introduction of Windows 95, that the benefits of the ideas embodied in the original Macintosh went mainstream. In that intervening decade, though, the Mac had begun an inexorable process of decimating old approaches to media production.

People realized that they could set type themselves, killing off typesetting businesses. Then people realized they could compose and output completed layouts themselves, killing off the ‘stripping’ business. Then people started doing their own image retouching and color work, killing off the color house business.

And the destruction of traditional print production was just the beginning.

While Apple stagnated during Job’s years away from the company, his return in 1995 signaled a new emphasis on creating media on the Mac.

In 1999, Apple introduced iMovie and the iMac DV – a combination designed to bring digital video editing to mainstream consumers. And, in 2004, Apple introduced GarageBand. The combination turned every Mac sold into a platform for audio and video media creation, and established the platform as the de facto standard for digital media creation.

While other platforms have clearly been important in the transition to digital content creation – Apple did more than any other company to mainstream desktop publishing, digital audio editing and digital video editing. This trend has radically democratized the way we create books, music, magazines, music videos and just about any type of media.

The Computerization Of Media Consumption

Just as Apple, under Jobs, mainstreamed new media publishing, the company has relentlessly worked on mainstreaming digital media consumption.

Maybe Jobs was uniquely capable at capitalizing on this trend, having previously led the pioneering digital animation company, Pixar.

Jobs’ second reign at Apple has been defined by three media consumption devices: the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad.

It’s easy to see the iPod, introduced in 2001, as a digital version of its predecessor, the Sony Walkman. And that’s exactly how most tech analysts viewed it – a way to carry your music around with you.

But the iPod was such a quantum leap over the Walkman that it was really something different – the replacement for personal CD libraries – and the status quo for music and audio delivery.

Jobs understood that the iPod was more than a better Walkman. So Apple introduced the iTunes store, which, for better or worse, made music stores irrelevant.

And Apple mainstreamed podcasting, adding support for it to iTunes, the iPod and GarageBand. By the mid 90′s, anybody with a Mac could create music or audio shows and deliver it, completely digitally, to anyone, anywhere in the world.

This was a radical change, but one that has been duplicated with digital photos and digital video.

The iPhone is a phone, obviously, but when Jobs introduced the device, he emphasized that it had three main functions: phone, iPod and Internet. Two thirds of its features focused on media consumption.

The iPad is the culmination of this trend. It’s a pure digital media device that becomes a newspaper, magazines, the radio and a television as you need it to.

Jobs and Apple will be remembered for many things. But their biggest achievements have been democratizing media by mainstreaming digital media creation and digital media consumption.