Apple

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sadH0I_0Ve0

As regular readers may have noted, I’m a great fan of wood as a material. The ifrogz case I reviewed earlier in the year was wonderful in terms of aesthetics and build quality, but was essentially designed as a semi-permanent enclosure, which isn’t always convenient.

Others, like the iWood cases reviewed in the same piece, are more convenient but don’t feel as special. The Kerf Case is designed to bridge the gap: a genuine, all-wood case with the convenience of slipping it on and off in a second or two. Cases are available for the iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5/5s …
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iPhone 5s and 5c take lions share of Japan smartphone sales in October

Benjamin Mayo Nov 27 2013 - 7:26 am PT

Kantar World Panel is reporting that Apple took 76% of total smartphone sales in Japan during October. This means Apple outsold other manufacturers by about 3:1 in the country.

[tweet https://twitter.com/KWP_ComTech/status/405288467141115904]

The strong sales performance is likely due to the addition of DoCoMo to the iPhone carrier lineup in Japan. Until this year, DoCoMo has resisted accepting the iPhone. However, with the iPhone 5s and 5c, customers could buy Apple’s flagship devices from the carrier at launch. DoCoMo is Japan’s largest carrier, with over 60 million subscribers. According to Kantar, the iPhone accounted for 61% of DoCoMo’s total smartphone sales during October.

iPhone 5s production in numbers: 500K phones a day, 600 workers per iPhone

Ben Lovejoy Nov 27 2013 - 5:09 am PT

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A WSJ piece on Foxconn ramping up production of the iPhone 5s to meet demand provided an interesting glimpse at some of the numbers involved.

Foxconn operates 100 production lines, which are now operating at maximum capacity 24/7 to turn out 500,000 iPhones 5s handsets per day according to the report. Each iPhone represents the combined work of around 600 people. The unnamed Foxconn source said that this amounted to 100 people more than for the iPhone 5c due to the increased complexity of the high-end phone …
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Microsoft hits iPad Air in new holiday-themed ads geared towards family usage

Sarah Guarino Nov 27 2013 - 3:38 am PT

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsknmA96Jv0]

Microsoft has previously aired commercials that targeted the iPad comparing multitasking and mocked Siri. Microsoft airs new commercials in time for the holidays that pits the Surface 2 against Apple’s iPad Air. These three new ads demonstrate that Windows 8 can handle hands free mode, multiple accounts and has a USB port.

Microsoft’s first ad (above) shows the Surface 2 being propped up with the kickstand, using Bing’s Food and Drink app to demonstrate hands free mode. While cooking you can turn the pages by swiping them in the air, as opposed to touching the display and getting it messy. We admit it, that’s a nice (if niche) feature – though most recipes fit on one page, of course.

The second shows the Surface 2 being used in family scenarios, with multiple user accounts on the same device. These user accounts can have different apps, games, background – with parents able to monitor what their children are using. I’m not sure too many families bother to set up different accounts on PCs, let alone tablets.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knSd7-i9u1c]

The third shows how the Surface 2 has a standard USB 3.0 port, allowing users to easily connect to an external display. Because having to use a lead is so much better than Air Play …

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENxd851LuCw&w=640&h=360]

Sketchy claim of Retina iPad Mini production being boosted to 4M units this month

Ben Lovejoy Nov 27 2013 - 12:01 am PT

Photo: ibtimes.co

Digitimes is citing its usual unnamed supply-chain sources to support a claim that Apple is boosting production of the Retina iPad Mini to almost four million units, with shipment dates this month.

This would seem unlikely. The rather more reliable KGI had forecast shipments of just 2.2M for the entire holiday quarter, rising to 4.5M in the first quarter of 2014. The bottleneck is believed to be the retina screen.

Currently, supplies of the wifi model appear good, availability of the cellular models is poorer, and we’d expect things to get tighter as we get closer to the holidays.

The Retina iPad Mini was very well received in reviews, though there have been criticisms of the reduced color gamut compared to the iPad Air.

HockeyApp SDK update gives Mac developers more detailed bug reports during testing

Benjamin Mayo Nov 26 2013 - 10:08 am PT

HockeyApp has released the next major version of its SDK for Mac developers, HockeyApp 2.0. This update brings the Mac SDK up to parity with the iOS version, which received similar updates last month.

The new SDK can send precise backtrace reports to developers when the app crashes during testing. This enables developers to accurately pinpoint where their code is messing up and crucially reduces time spent in debugging. The company claims that is the only crash reporting solution that offers the most flexibility in supporting all three types of logging.

Report: App Store search updated to compensate for typos, improve discoverability

Jordan Kahn Nov 26 2013 - 9:33 am PT

6 Comments

According to a report from TechCrunch, Apple has recently implemented updates to the App Store’s search engine allowing it to compensate for “misspelled queries with small typos” and provide more useful results. The update also reportedly extends to app titles that have spaces in the title:

For example, those looking for the highly ranked “QuizUp” game wouldn’t have found it before if they had typed in “Quiz Up” with a space. Now it appears.

The result will ultimately be better discoverability for apps in the App Store, especially for developers targeting keywords that are commonly misspelled. As noted by TechCrunch, it’s also something that has helped Google provide better results on its Play store (as highlighted in the graphic from SEO firm SearchMan above):
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iPhone 5s supplies almost caught up with demand, says U.S. store survey

Ben Lovejoy Nov 26 2013 - 6:30 am PT

A biweekly survey of 60 U.S. Apple Stores says that availability of the iPhone 5s has reached 90 percent of all iPhones in stock, almost triple the 31 percent figure measured just a fortnight ago, reports CNET.

Apple’s online store lists a ship time of three to five business days for the iPhone 5S, down from two to three weeks earlier this month. Munster said he believes that supply of the 5S will meet demand in early December, mimicking the same route taking by the iPhone 5.

However, the figures come from Gene Munster, an analyst not always a reliable source when it comes to predictions, and not everyone agrees.

[tweet https://twitter.com/llsethj/status/378343208377663488]

Time will tell, but if you’re planning to buy one as a holiday gift, sooner rather than later remains advisable. Even more so for the Retina iPad Mini.

As always, the best deals for iPhones and other Apple and Apple-related products for the shopping season will be on 9to5mac’s product pages and 9to5Toys.

Camera patent granted to Apple reflects Steve Jobs’ promise to “reinvent iPhone photography”

Ben Lovejoy Nov 26 2013 - 5:51 am PT

16 Comments

The same photograph with the focus point changed retrospectively (image: lytro.com)

A patent granted to Apple today for a Light Field camera – a camera with zero shutter delay and where the focus point can be changed after taking the photo – covers the precise technology Steve Jobs told biographer Walter Isaacson he wanted to use to “reinvent photography.”

He had three things that he wanted to reinvent: the television, textbooks and photography.

Jobs met with Lytro CEO Ren Ng in the summer of 2011, was shown a demo of the company’s Light Field camera and said that that he wanted the company to work with Apple …
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‘Toaster’ dual-iPhone charging dock appears on Kickstarter

Benjamin Mayo Nov 26 2013 - 4:35 am PT

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The Foaster is a new novel charging dock for your iPhone and the creators are currently running a Kickstarter to put this neat dock into production. As you can tell from the video, the novelty here is the fact it resembles a toaster. The creators say that the kitchen is one of the most common places where people charge their phones, so they thought they would design a dock to suit.

Apple confirms Black Friday event, online and in retail stores

Ben Lovejoy Nov 25 2013 - 5:50 am PT

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Apple has confirmed that it will be offering Black Friday deals in the online store as well as in retail stores. For the online store, the special pricing will be available from midnight to midnight.

Apple hasn’t revealed what the savings will be, but last year offered $100 off MacBooks as well as smaller discounts on iPads, iPods and a range of other products. The promo also says that shipping is free without the usual minimum spend caveat (usually $50 in the US).

As ever, we expect bigger discounts from third-party retailers, and we’ll keep you updated on the best deals over on 9to5toys …
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Genius Bar reservation page now suggests online support solutions for quick troubleshooting

Sarah Guarino Nov 23 2013 - 7:30 pm PT

Apple offers free services at the Apple Store, including free technical support at the Genius Bar and free workshops to help customers learn more about using their Apple devices. Several months ago, the process of signing up for a Genius Bar reservation changed and now requires using an Apple ID to register.

Today, Apple has again updated the Genius Bar reservation workflow. Before signing in with an Apple ID, consumers are presented with a new page that highlights the various online support tools that Apple offers. If desired, users can continue with their initial plan of making the reservation for the Genius Bar, or can try to “save a trip to the store” by working with an AppleCare representative online. If the issue in question involves iTunes, iCloud, or Apple ID services, AppleCare can help customers for free regardless of whether any of that customer’s Apple products are still covered under AppleCare. For hardware- or software-related issues, AppleCare does offer pay-per-incident fees, or offers the option to purchase AppleCare if the product is still covered under the original warranty.

Recently the AppleCare support website was updated with 24/7 chat support, and customers were offered the option to initiate screensharing on their Mac with AppleCare representatives.

With this new page, it seems Apple is hoping customers will conduct basic troubleshooting at home before making a trip to the Genius Bar, which will hopefully cut down on the number of appointments booked for simple issues and provide customers who really do need Genius support with even more timeslots to choose from.

Apple starts selling unlocked, SIM-free iPhone 5s in the U.S.

Mark Gurman Nov 22 2013 - 7:02 am PT

22 Comments

Apple today released an unlocked GSM version of the iPhone 5s on its online store for the United States. This version of the iPhone 5s includes the same exact capabilities of the non-unlocked models, but does not include a SIM card. Users who buy this version of the iPhone will need to supply their own SIM card. The central benefit of an unlocked iPhone is that it can work on many GSM networks across the globe with no contract. For frequent world travelers, this option is worth looking into…

Apple publishes “Life on iPad” web page highlighting stories of iPad usage across industries

Mike Beasley Nov 21 2013 - 6:52 pm PT

Apple has published a new page on its website titled “Life on iPad.” The page highlights stories of iPad usage in a variety of capacities from Broadway to the operating room. The page also features the video from the iPad Air keynote showing the iPad in many of these same uses.

There are six total stories on the page, each with an entirely different take on how businesses and individuals are using the iPad to to improve their jobs. For example, a page on Siemens Energy’s wind power division details how iPads have replaced countless pages of manuals and repair plans for workers working 250 feet in the air.

Apple issues AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule firmware update with fixes for WAN connectivity and USB hard drives

Michael Steeber Nov 21 2013 - 12:37 pm PT

10 Comments

Apple issued a minor firmware update today to address issues specifically related to customers using USB hard drives with their routers, and fixes for intermittent loss in WAN connectivity as well as issues that may cause a network loop. You can view the full release notes below:

Addresses an issue that prevents a USB hard drive connected to an AirPort Extreme from appearing as an available disk in Time Machine
Resolves an issue that may intermittently cause a loss in WAN connectivity
Resolves an issue that may result in a network loop

If you own an AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule, you can view more information about grabbing new firmware updates here.

Verdict: Apple awarded another $290 million from Samsung in retrial (Updated)

Zac Hall Nov 21 2013 - 11:55 am PT

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Reports are coming in from several journalists attending the Apple vs. Samsung re-trial in California that a verdict has been reached. The verdict comes after a few days of the jury deliberating much of the same topic as discussed during the summer 2012 trial. According to a court document, the verdict will be read at approximate 12:15 Pacific time. We’ll have coverage when the verdict is announced.

Update: According to Bloomberg, the jury has ordered that Samsung pay Apple $290 million in damages over the retrial. Including damages awarded Apple in the original trial, that brings Samsung’s total in damages owed to Apple to $890 million.

Clumsy Ninja finally hits the App Store, originally announced at iPhone 5 event last year

Benjamin Mayo Nov 21 2013 - 7:15 am PT

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Originally demoed at Apple’s September 2012 event, to show off the power of the new fifth-generation iPod touch, Clumsy Ninja was said to be launching that holiday season; i.e. fall 2012. However, much like with the announcement of Infinity Blade Dungeons, the app never arrived. Whereas Dungeons ended up being axed entirely, it turns out that Clumsy Ninja was just severely delayed.

After over a year since the game was demoed, Clumsy Ninja has finally hit the App Store today. At Apple’s event, NaturalMotion described the game as an ‘interactive toy’ based on “years of research”. The game centres around a cute 3D ninja, which acts similarly to a virtual pet.

China Mobile launch for iPhone as good as confirmed for 18th December [Update: It’s official]

Ben Lovejoy Nov 21 2013 - 6:13 am PT

Image: appadvice.com

Update: The Chinese government has now confirmed this date.

The iPhone looks set to be launched by China Mobile – the biggest carrier in the world’s biggest country – on Wednesday 18th December, reports the WSJ. While neither the carrier nor Apple have made a definitive announcement, China Mobile has said this is the date it will “introduce a new brand.”

The launch is expected during the company’s 4G global partners conference in Guangzhou, according to China Mobile’s website. An executive at the world’s largest mobile operator has said it is ready to start fourth-generation mobile services, though China has yet to issue 4G licenses. In September, China’s Telecom Equipment Certification Center gave Apple Inc.the final license necessary for the iPhone to run on China Mobile’s network …
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Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor Facetimes dying fan during show [Video]

Ben Lovejoy Nov 21 2013 - 4:51 am PT

Facetiming fans during live gigs seems to be the new thing, though Trent Reznor did have a particularly good excuse during a weekend concert: the fan in question was a terminally ill photojournalist who had planned to attend the concert but was unable to make it, reports kdge.com (via Reddit).

Loudwire added:

Andrew Youssef has been a concert photographer for seven years. The man’s passion for music brought him to photograph countless bands, with Nine Inch Nails being one of Youssef’s personal favorites. Sadly, Youssef was diagnosed with stage-4 colon cancer in 2011. According to Cancer.org, the 5-year observed survival rate for individuals with stage four colorectal cancer can be as low as 6 percent, but in Youssef’s regular ‘Last Shot‘ column for OC Weekly, he documents a refusal to give up his dream despite the odds against him.

Anticipated Retina iPad Mini shortages take effect as carrier dates slip

Ben Lovejoy Nov 21 2013 - 4:35 am PT

Photo: slashgear.com

Analyst predictions that the Retina iPad Mini would be in short supply in the run-up to the holidays appear to be confirmed by slipping dates for the cellular models at carriers, reports CNET.

Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are all back-ordered on the cellular version of the Mini Retina, with Verizon’s date now slipping to December 2.

Last week, Verizon had been saying November 25. And the carrier isn’t saying when the device may arrive in stores, according to a company spokesperson. T-Mobile is now showing the Mini Retina back-ordered 6-8 weeks. AT&T is saying 21-28 days for orders to ship.

Apple made store purchase of the new iPad Mini exclusive to personal pickup, though availability of cellular models currently looks very poor. Apple is currently quoting availability of 5-10 days for all four major US carriers for iPad Minis ordered from its own website.

The Retina iPad Mini was well-received in reviews and is expected to be a popular holiday gift.

iBeacon goes mainstream with Macy’s roll-out, likely before it hits Apple Stores

Ben Lovejoy Nov 21 2013 - 4:03 am PT

Apple’s iBeacon system is to get its first retail launch in Macy’s branches in Union Square, San Francisco and Herald Square, NYC, within the next few weeks, reports TechCrunch.

Apple will of course be using the system in its own retail stores, though likely after the Macy’s launch. Macy’s is already operating a closed trial of the system.

Offers now will be pinged to users right when they are walking past them, or past a department that contains products that users have shown interest in before. And for those who have opted in, the iBeacon technology will also automatically open the app and can trigger other actions when you enter a participating store, such as telling users how many loyalty points they currently have to redeem towards a purchase …
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The $5k and Apple II donation from Steve Jobs that kickstarted sight restoration for 3.5M people

Ben Lovejoy Nov 20 2013 - 6:46 am PT

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The Apple II donated by Steve Jobs in use by the Seva Foundation sometime around 1980

A $5000 donation by Steve Jobs in the late 1970s was key to the successful creation of a charity which, 35 years later, has helped restore eye-sight to 3.5 million people in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, Tibet, India and other countries, reports the NY Times.

Jobs also donated to the Seva Foundation an Apple II computer in 1980, with a copy of the spreadsheet Visicalc and a 5MB drive which he said the charity would never be able to fill.

“You’ll never be able to use all the [capacity],” Dr. Brilliant recalled Mr. Jobs telling him. “It’s five megabytes!’”

The Apple II was returned to Steve’s widow Laurene Powell Jobs after spending 33 years in Katmandu, Nepal, by SEVA co-founder Dr Larry Brilliant, a long-time friend of the couple. Dr Brilliant said that the charity would never have existed without that initial $5k donation. Ms Powell Jobs said her husband has been proud to support the charity.

“Steve was always very clear about his role in the genesis of Seva and it was his privilege to help support the heroic on-the-ground work of the doctors and health professionals involved in this courageous effort,” Ms. Powell Jobs said in a statement. “It’s amazing Seva found the Apple II donated by Steve and our family is thrilled to have it returned.”

While Jobs was often criticised for a lack of visible philanthropy (though no-one knows how much he gave away privately), Dr Brilliant says he believed this was because Apple took 100 percent of his time and energy.

“I only know how to do one thing well,” Mr. Brilliant said Mr. Jobs told him. “I think I can help the world by doing this one thing.”

The full piece is worth a read.

Apple releases Apple Store app for iPad, with image-centric design and new trends section

Benjamin Mayo Nov 20 2013 - 6:15 am PT

6 Comments

For the first time, Apple has released an Apple Store app optimised for the iPad, via TechCrunch. The app uses the now-standard iOS 7 colour scheme and design elements, focusing on white space and text. The app is a separate download to the iPhone app, but offers all the same functionality you would expect, although some of the location-based features for retail are absent due to the different use cases of the devices.

Imagery is the focus — Apple is trading heavily on its beautiful Retina-display equipped iPads to show of its store products.

Apple receives full set of building permits for its ‘spaceship’ campus today [Update: video added]

Ben Lovejoy Nov 20 2013 - 3:54 am PT