AT&T Locks Down The Moto Backflip

Well, here we go again. AT&T just can't resist making themselves look totally inept at running one of the biggest networks in the US. AT&T's first foray into Android, the Moto Backflip, isn't a great device to begin with, but it does the job, especially for a new smartphone user, and since Android 2.1 should be coming any minute now, it's sure to make some folks happy. Well, if AT&T can keep their grubby hands off it, that is.

News broke this week that the Blackflip, while running MotoBLUR, Motorola's social spin on Android, will not be able to install any apps outside of the official Android market. On any other Android device, the option exists to install apps from unknown sources at your own risk. Seriously AT&T!? When will you learn? Have you not been paying any attention to the iPhone? Users want choice. We want to be able to decide what gets installed on our devices. If AT&T thinks for a second that this is a smart move, they're sadly mistaken. Even Verizon hasn't locked down their Android devices. If you were considering a Backflip, the decision has just been made for you. Don't get one.

Apple's Aperture 3 Takes Your Photos Further

On Tuesday, Apple's online store went down and the speculation began. When it came back, it had some holiday changes, and a brand new Aperture. Aperture is the grown-up iPhoto. Intended for professional photographers, Aperture offers photo organization and editing in a streamlined workflow.

The changes in Aperture 3.0 are all welcome and include:

• Faces and Places support (though it just looks like it was ported from iPhoto and doesn't look like it belongs in a professional app)
• Brushes that allow for non-destructive editing and awesome edge-detection
• Dozens of new adjustment presets
• Fancy slideshows (woohoo?)
• Gorgeous fullscreen browsing experience for distraction-free editing.

Aperture 1.0 was alright, but it really came into its own with the 2.0 upgrade, and now 3.0 adds even more power to an already competent pro photo program. For a pro photographer, the less you have to go into Photoshop, the better. With RAW support, and all these new features, that will have to happen less and less.

The full version will cost you $199, or $99 for an upgrade. Head to the Aperture site to check out all the new features in depth and download a 30-day free trial. 

Amazon Implementing 70/30 Revenue Split

Announced this week, and becoming available as of June 30, 2010, Amazon with be offering a 70/30 publisher/Amazon revenue split with its Authors. Amazon will have a few requirements, though. Here they are from the press release:

 The author or publisher-supplied list price must be between $2.99 and $9.99

This list price must be at least 20 percent below the lowest physical list price for the physical book

The title is made available for sale in all geographies for which the author or publisher has rights

The title will be included in a broad set of features in the Kindle Store, such as text-to-speech. This list of features will grow over time as Amazon continues to add more functionality to Kindle and the Kindle Store.

Under this royalty option, books must be offered at or below price parity with competition, including physical book prices. Amazon will provide tools to automate that process, and the 70 percent royalty will be calculated off the sales price.       

 With all the ereaders that came out of CES this year, it's not surprising Amazon should be getting more competitive with their platform. Plus, the new requirements will ensure publishers include tech-to-speech (which Amazon is offering an automation tool for) and other rich features Kindle offers if they want the 70/30 split option.