It’s a new month, and that means time to make changes. Apple has shut down the Lala music service it acquired last year, Android will slow its breakneck pace to a yearly product cycle, and Google is reputedly excising Windows from its operations. It’s all in the remainders for June 1, 2010.
Android will slow to yearly updates (Mercury News)
In an interview, Google vice president for mobile platforms Andy Rubin says that Android will probably eventually stabilize on a yearly product cycle, after an initial glut of high-profile updates. Sadly, he didn’t dish on what delicious dessert code-names we can expect after Froyo and Gingerbread. Panettone? Tapioca? My stomach rumbles at the thought.
Apple pulls plug on Lala, replaces it with…nada (All Things D)
A moment of silence, please, for Lala, the Web-based music service acquired by Apple last year. The site turned out the lights on May 31, and Apple has yet to announce what, if anything, will take its place. Knowing Steve Jobs, we strongly suspect an all-Bob Dylan all-the-time streaming service.
Skype quietly delays charges for iPhone app calling (TUAW)
Skype finally released its 3G-enabled iPhone app last week, though it said Skype-to-Skype calls over 3G would require a subscription account as of August. The company has now updated its App Store description to reflect an extending deadline that runs through the end of the year. I’m just relieved I can finally make phone calls with my iPhone.
Google ditches Windows on security concerns (Financial Times)
Reports suggest that Google is moving away from Windows machines in its operations, shifting to Linux boxes and Macs instead. At the root of the issue are security issues. Employees who want to use a Windows machine have to get approval from the company’s Chief Information Officer, as well as undergo a Voight-Kampff test.