Apple today has been revealed as the target of yet another lawsuit. This time, Pennsylvania resident Samuel Lit is suing Apple over a 2008 patent covering web carousel technology. Lit claims that the design of the Apple.com homepage, which cycles through a variety of different products, infringes upon his patent.
Apple today debuted a new Arabic version of Apple.com, bringing the language to its website and online store for the first time alongside a new font right-to-left text.
Apple quietly updated the retail section of its website today with a new look that more closely resembles iOS 7. Where the previous version of these pages used content boxes, borders, textured backgrounds, and gradients, the new page instead utilizes ample whitespace and thinner typefaces.
The change is probably best illustrated on the section’s home page, where images previously constrained by content boxes now fill the entire page. On the “Learn” page, buttons with heavy gradients have been replaced by thinly-outlined, lighter versions of the previous design. Gradient-filled headers have disappeared from every page, now replaced by unadorned text.
Oddly, the “Make a Reservation” button that allowed users to quickly create a Genius Bar appointment has been removed from the site’s navigation. Appointments can only be made by navigating to the Genius Bar page and clicking a link in the first paragraph of that page’s content. The Concierge page has not been updated to the new design yet.
You’ll find a bunch of before-and-after comparisons and take our poll on the new design below:
The handy Apple Tracker site that allowed people to check Apple Store availability for new products has closed its doors after receiving a DMCA takedown notice from Apple.
I’ve decided to turn off the site. I’m not doing this because I want to, but rather because I received a DMCA takedown notice (you can see the full text below) from Apple. I’m not really interested in picking a fight with apple so … I guess it time to just say good bye …
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This week Apple has added revamped iPhone support pages detailing a long list of new features and UI tweaks in iOS 7 with a slick new UI that allows users to easily swipe through a carousel of related tips using a layout that’s much better suited for touch screens on iOS devices.
The new design is only available for iOS 7 related tips currently, but it could be a sign of things to come for the rest of Apple’s aging iPhone support pages that force users to navigate through lists of knowledge base articles.
Apple today announced that it has finally filled the role of Senior Vice President of Retail: the Cupertino tech giant has hired Angela Ahrendts. Ahrendts is leaving her role as CEO of fashion retailer Burberry to take the top Apple retail job. Ahrendts will also lead Apple’s online stores. She will officially begin her role in Spring 2014.
You may recall Apple replaced its original Head of Retail Ron Johnson, who left for JCPenney but has since been removed from that role, with John Browett, but Browett proved not to be a good fit and was removed almost a year ago to date.
Apple has updated its official China website homepage to offer its respect and sympathy following the disastrous earthquake that has affected the country over the past few days.
The acknowledgement present on Apple’s site reads as follows:
Our deepest condolences to those who were taken away by the Sichuan Yaan earthquake, and respect to all the rescuers. May those who have passed away rest in peace, and may the survivors stay strong.
The company has also offered a statement that pledges cash donations and new Apple devices to help schools that have been affected:
In this difficult time our hearts are with the Sichuan earthquake victims. In addition to cash donations to help the victims ride out the storm, we will also commit to donating brand new Apple equipment to some of the schools in the affected region, and the local Apple staff will be on standby to provide support.
Update: Apple appears to have removed the job listing, but we grabbed a screenshot above and below.
We know that Apple has been investigating various methods of incorporating flexible displays in its mobile devices thanks to a handful of patents and patent applications published over the last year. Flexible display rumors have picked up steam even more since rumors of an iWatch from Apple, and just today we came across two new Apple patent applications detailing flexible devices that could change states as a user bends or twists the device. We all know Apple patent applications have never been a good indication of future product releases, but now Apple has came right out and stated in a job listing that it is indeed considering flexible displays.
Apple Inc. is looking for a Display Specialist to lead the investigation on emerging display technologies such as high optical efficiency LCD, AMOLED and flexible display to improve overall display optical performance.
The job listing seeking a Sr. Optical Engineer was posted earlier this month and looks for a display expert to investigate “high optical efficiency LCD, AMOLED and flexible display.” Specifically, Apple is requesting someone to “Analyze the trade-offs between design, process, optical performance, and implementation feasibility,” hinting that the company is considering introducing new, advanced display technology in the future:
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When Apple first introduced its new iMacs that began shipping to customers in November and December of last year, it confirmed the new models would not include support for VESA mounts like earlier models. Users of previous generation iMacs were able to buy and install a mount using the Video Electronics Standards Association standard to attach the product to a wall or other surface. It looks like Apple has now finally come up with a solution for the new super-slim iMacs by offering a $40 built-to-order option that will replace the iMac’s stand with a built-in VESA mount adapter.
The iMac with Built-in VESA Mount Adapter is ready to pair with your favorite VESA-compatible wall mount, desk mount, or articulating arm(sold separately). This iMac doesn’t include a stand, so a mount is required. If you don’t already have a mount, you can purchase one when you configure your iMac.
iFun pointed us to the listing on Apple.com where Apple now lets you select all four models of the new iMac with the built-in mount. The option will run users an extra $40 on top of the regular iMac pricing, making the entry-level 21.5-inch model start at $1,339.
Apple noted that it isn’t including its traditional iMac stand with these models, and users will have to purchase a desk or wall mount separately.
The VESA iMacs are now shipping in 7 to 10 days in the U.S. (compared to ‘within 24 hours’ for the other models) and seem to be available on Apple Stores worldwide wherever iMacs are currently sold.
After improving to “3-5 days” shipping time in most major markets late last month, the iPad mini is today listed as in stock for all models in at least the United States, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Canada. Some other stores, such as the United Kingdom’s online store, is still quoting an estimated shipping time of “1-3 business days”, but Apple’s listing of the device as in stock in the U.S. likely means the company is starting to catch up with demand. At Apple’s earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that the iPad mini remains constrained and high in demand. He also noted that Apple would significantly increase the supply but wasn’t sure if it would reach a supply/demand balance on iPad mini during the current quarter.
“we sold 23 million iPads, we obviously could have sold more than this because we could not build enough iPad minis to come into a demand balance… Im sure there was some cannibalization of Macs there.”
A recent job posting by Apple looking for an Apple TV software engineer backs up rumors that the company is finally preparing to expand its presence in the living room. According to the job listing on Apple’s website, the company is looking for someone to “lead a team of engineers working on exciting new features and functionality” for the next-generation Apple TV. Once described by Apple as a hobby, the job listing refers to the Apple TV as a “high priority project.”
The Apple TV team is looking for an experienced engineering manager to help deliver the next generation features for Apple TV. Bring your creative energy and engineering discipline, and help us bring the Apple experience to the Living Room…Work closely with cross functional teams, representing Apple TV across Apple
With all the recent rumors of an upcoming Apple TV-related event, the reports that Apple is getting ready to introduce a revamped TV platform are starting to hold a little more weight. Reports from analysts about the company planning an event for next month to introduce a new Apple TV SDK were quickly shot down, but other reliable sources have chimed in today and claimed the event is likely scheduled for fall.
We don’t often report on Apple’s job listings, but Apple TV has languished for a while and we rarely see job listings from Apple referring to the device’s next-generation features. We also have never seen Apple refer to Apple TV as a “high priority project.”
(Image via Yelena & Nickolay Lamm)
Shipping times for the new 21.5-inch iMacs, at least in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, had sat at “7-10 business days” since the beginning of December. Following changes to shipping times for the device around the globe last night, Apple has today updated its U.S. site to reflect the new “2-3 week” shipping estimates being quoted. CEO Tim Cook warned in October that the company would experience significant iMac shortages for the full quarter. This pushes delivery for new orders of iMacs (27-inch included) well into February.
We expect Cook to provide updates on shortages later this week during the company’s earnings call.
We told you about Mophie’s new lightweight, waterproof video housing and companion app for iPhone 4/4S when it was first announced in August. The polycarbonate case builds in a 170-degree wide-angle lens and aims to compete with dedicated devices for shooting action sports such as a GoPro or Contour camera.
Mophie is now taking orders nationwide with a black edition of the case it originally showed off available through both Amazon and the company’s website.
The company is also making an all-white edition with a silver aluminum bezel (pictured above) available as an exclusive from the Apple Store. No word on whether these will be available from Apple retail stores, but it is already available to order from Apple.com.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6pLM2bzT38]
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Apple just updated its website following the iPad mini media event with some new videos for the device as well as specs and updated product pages for the new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro and other products. You can also now view a video of the keynote speech via a link from the Apple.com homepage.
Apple also put its store back online with many of the new products it just unveiled, and it appears to have tweaked its online store with a slightly new design.
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If you missed purchasing an iPhone 5 this weekend, we might have some good news for you. We are hearing Apple expects to launch its in-store product reservation system, Personal Pickup, for iPhone 5 tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern. Customers can use the Apple Store app or website between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. nightly to pre-purchase available iPhone 5 inventory for the next day. Because customers are actually purchasing the iPhone, they will have upwards of two weeks to pick up the phone (when it becomes available).
This certainly seems to be the best way to get your hands on Apple’s newest phone as ship times at Apple.com are still delayed “3-4 weeks”. Demand has been extremely high for this phone, so we recommend logging on to the reservation system as it becomes available.
Update: It appears Apple’s iPhone 5 Personal Pickup page has been updated ahead of the 10 p.m. launch. It reaffirms the reservation process which we outlined early this afternoon. All pre-purchased iPhone 5 units will be available for in-store pickup the next business day and any units not pre-purchased will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
