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Apple's iBeacons goes 'Made for iPhone', and other news for Feb. 26, 2014

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<p><img data-credit="apple" data-mep="144893" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/adam/71bdc7445dd38daef7d10e883fc5befc/ibeacon-131206.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Apple has rolled iBeacons into its Made for iPhone (MFi) program. iBeacons are miniature Bluetooth transmitters that talk to Bluetooth 4.0 devices and provide micro-location data. iBeacons have a wide array of use, but currently they are most often found in retail stores and baseball parks.</p>

<p>By rolling iBeacons into the MFi program, Apple gains greater control over who can call what an iBeacon device. As Beekn.net explains (http://beekn.net/2014/02/apple-releases-ibeacon-specification/):</p>

<p>The move means that the iBeacon trademark, which has ended up being applied by the media to a whole slew of devices that act as beacons, will now be used with a bit more control from Cupertino.</p>

<p>As we've noted elsewhere, beacons that carry the iBeacon name are conforming to two things:</p>

<ul>
   <li>They broadcast Bluetooth LE 'signals' in a way that conforms to the Apple standard for what those signals should contain</li>
   <li>They have use of the iBeacon trademark</li>
</ul>

<p>But there's no particular restriction in place which makes an iBeacon incompatible with Android or other phones. So while a beacon might carry the iBeacon name, this simple means that it has access to the trademark and that it has been configured to work well with Apple devices.</p>

<p>Interested developers can go to their MFi account (https://idmsa.apple.com/IDMSWebAuth/classicLogin.html?appIdKey=df7a119b8f6334d16a924de26a438089a1d9faa240b9137931194e6357edb998&amp;sslEnabled=true&amp;rv=1&amp;path=/MFiWeb/enrollnew.action) and accept the new iBeacon NDA to begin using the trademark on their products.</p>

<p></p>

<p>In other news:</p>

<ul>
   <li>Apple has added an additional Apple TV channel in Sweden (http://www.tv4.se/tv4/artiklar/tv4-groups-tv4-play-now-available-on-apple-tv-530ca7c4c4594826ed000044). The new channel is TV 4 Play and includes original programs, live broadcasting, and movies.</li>
   <li>Apple has officially filed a formal appeal (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-files-appeal-e-book-015650429.html) of the ebooks antitrust ruling. The company has also asked the appellate court to suspend the work of the external antitrust compliance monitor assigned to Apple.</li>
   <li>The FCC has launched a new ad-free FCC Speed Test (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fcc-speed-test/id794322383?mt=8) app that "accurately measures your mobile broadband performance and displays an in-depth view of its factors." The FCC says using it will "bring greater clarity and competition to the broadband service marketplace."</li>
   <li>Candy Crush's developer has withdrawn its controversial "candy" trademark application (http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/02/25/candy-crush-developer-withdraws-us-trademark-application-for-word-candy).</li>
</ul><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;">Apple's iBeacons goes 'Made for iPhone', and other news for Feb. 26, 2014 (http://www.tuaw.com/2014/02/26/apples-ibeacons-goes-made-for-iphone-and-other-news-for-feb/) originally appeared on Breaking Apple News, Tips and Reviews from The Unofficial Apple Weblog (http://www.tuaw.com) on Wed, 26 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/).<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6>Source (http://www.tuaw.com/tag/news-roundup)&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2014/02/26/apples-ibeacons-goes-made-for-iphone-and-other-news-for-feb/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink[/url]&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/20838514/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this[/url]&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2014/02/26/apples-ibeacons-goes-made-for-iphone-and-other-news-for-feb/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments[/url]

Source: Apple's iBeacons goes 'Made for iPhone', and other news for Feb. 26, 2014 (http://www.tuaw.com/2014/02/26/apples-ibeacons-goes-made-for-iphone-and-other-news-for-feb/)