October 29, 2012
iBooks 3, now available in the App Store as a free download, adds several new features including two cool ways to interact with your device while you read. If you would prefer to read by continuously scrolling the text vertically instead of flipping pages, tap the Font/Themes button, then tap Themes and select Scroll. And if you've wished you could share particular passages you've just read with friends, colleagues, or the world, it's now as easy as swiping the passage with your finger to select it, then tapping the selection and the Sharing button, and choosing whether to use Mail, Messages, Twitter, or Facebook to share it.
October 15, 2012
In iOS 6, browsing through all the selections in the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore is now significantly easier and more powerful. On the iPhone and iPod touch, you can use the Genres button at the top in the iTunes Store, and the Categories button at the top in the App Store and iBookstore, to produce lists of their sections within, and then go directly to any of them with a simple tap. On the iPad, the buttons are labeled All Genres and All Categories and the most popular choices (for instance, Games and Education in the App Store) appear next to them, with a More button on the right that will produce the tappable list of all the choices within. The Games and Newsstand categories in the App Store also produce subcategory lists themselves when you tap them (for example, Arcade, Puzzle, Crafts & Hobbies, Fashion & Style, and so on). And if you select the Charts tab along the bottom in the stores you can then use the Genres and Categories buttons to see what's charting throughout. It's like being able to beam yourself instantly around in a very large store.
October 8, 2012
As you explore new Fall TV shows remember that you can purchase individual episodes and still take advantage of the season price if you decide later that you want the whole thing, thanks to Complete My Season. To see all the seasons you're eligible to complete at any time, go to the iTunes Store on your computer, then the TV Shows section, and click Complete my Season in the Quick Links. For each one shown, you'll see the regular season (or Season Pass) price and your price--which is the regular price minus what you've already paid for individual episodes.
October 1, 2012
In addition to the vast amount of music, apps, movies, books, TV shows, and more that are available for download in the iTunes Store, you can also enjoy free streaming content, including listening to the entirety of many top albums before they're even released, watching movie trailers and featurettes, and more. For the past month, live shows from top artists, including Jack White, One Direction, and Alicia Keys, have been streamed as part of iTunes Festival--30 nights of free music from more than 60 outstanding artists performing at London's legendary Roundhouse. Even if you missed the festival, a number of the performances are still available to view for a limited time. Watch the shows on your computer with iTunes, on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch via the official app, or on your big screen with Apple TV (just select iTunes Festival from the main menu). And don't forget to check back regularly to listen to albums, watch live performances, stream trailers and featurettes, and other free content on the iTunes Store.
