As expected, Apple [AAPL] has now launched subscriptions on the App Store. The new subscriptions service allows publishers of content on the app store to set up a regular automated billing cycle of weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-yearly or yearly. The system will use the regular Apple billing system that is already used in the app store. By doing this, it makes it easy for the user to see all subscriptions on a single location and then cancel, edit billing frequency and make other changes when needed.
For content providers, Steve Jobs has explained exactly how the revenue model works between publisher and Apple: [Read more…]
Filed under unlikely, we hear rumors today that Apple is looking at three prototype versions of the iPhone 5. We have already heard about two of them which include the iPhone mini that has a 2.5 inch screen. The next model I believe is the regular iPhone 5 with a 3.5 inch screen, although other rumors hint at this model having a slightly larger 4 inch screen.
Apple is now selling the Verizon iPhone 4. When loading up the Apple website, the AT&T and Verizon iPhones are now listed with exactly the same price for each model. The only difference (other than the technical difference of CDMA) is that it takes about 9 days to ship the Verizon model as opposed to the AT&T model which ships within 24 hours. This of course, is due to the phone being launched tomorrow.
Apple has posted a new job listing requesting for an iOS Photography Software Engineer to join the team. The job description explains that the person will be responsible for creating software for the iPad and Mac platforms in the area of Photography. It hints at iPhoto and Aperture on the Mac platform which in turn, could be ported over to the iPad in some shape or form.
This will certainly have the news sites talking today. It appears that the Sony Reader app for iOS was not approved by Apple. Sony spoke to the Times and basically said that its app was blocked by Apple because it allows in app purchases to be made from a different company. If true, it seems that Apple wants all content to be sold through the iTunes store rather from the Sony eBook store.
We’ve heard a couple of times about RFID arriving on the iPhone 5 and the iPad 2. This information has been further strengthened by a new Apple job listing that requests a payment platform expert in RFID.
The diagram here shows a concept idea from a patent which indicates Apple has looked in to, or considered, getting rid of the mouse and replacing it with motion sensors on the keyboard.
About a week ago we heard that the Apple App Store was approaching the 10 billion app download mark. Over this weekend, the 10 billionth app was downloaded.
Last week, Apple announced that the App Store was about to hit 10 billion downloads since its launch. Along with that announcement the company also will be offering $10,000 USD to the person who downloads the 10 billionth application.
Tomorrow is being reported as the day that Apple will be dropping restocking fees in its Apple stores. The current procedure requires that you pay 10% if you return an item within 14 days that has been taken out of its box. Now that the restocking fee will be gone, you’ll be able to return a product or exchange it without incurring any extra fees. 
Apple [AAPL] has announced sales figures for the second gen Apple TV. This week it is expected that sales will hit 1 million. The Apple TV went on sale in September of this year which means it hit the 1M mark in about 4 months.
Apple [AAPL] has launched a new app for those running a Mac. The app is called iAd Producer and is designed to assist developers in creating feature rich ads for the iOS platform.
