Type of Article: MacNews Web Site

MakeMusic (http://www.makemusic.com) has released SmartMusic 2011, the latest update of the interactive music software that provides educators and students with access to thousands of band, orchestra, concert solos and vocal pieces, allowing students to practice with background accompaniment and get immediate feedback on their performances.

SmartMusic also allows teachers to individualize instruction, document progress for every student, and create an ideal practice environment. MakeMusic CEO Ron Raup says SmartMusic 2011’s new features include:

Wow, how’s this for a change? Shares of Microsoft edged lower Wednesday after Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry downgraded the software giant in part due to increased competition from Macs to Windows systems, notes the “Seattle PI” (http://www.seattlepi.com/business/1310ap_us_microsoft_mover.html).

SinoCast Daily Business Beat (http://macosg.me/2/nl) is reporting that Apple is close to purchasing Handseeing Information Technology, a mobile Internet service provider and a mobile game developer in China, for as much as US$150 billion.

Apple’s plan to take over the Chinese company underscores its mounting interests in China’s potentially huge mobile Internet sector, which has been basically ignored by it for a long time, the article adds. If Apple is interested in the company, it’s probably for its online gaming technologies.

ABI Research (http://www.abiresearch.com) expects mobile application downloads from Apple’s iOS and the Android to account for 78% of all application downloads in 2010, with iOS (the iPhone’s operating system) taking the lion’s share of 52% of all applications.

The numbers are driven by availability, variety and novelty in both the Android market and the Apple App Store, which is currently unmatched by any other smartphone platform, says the research group. In addition, the sale of Android phones has taken off in 2010, with over 160,000 activations being reported daily.