Skip to main content

Apple

See All Stories

Apple News and Brief History

Before you can properly understand Apple News, it’s important to know its history. Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. In 1977, Apple’s sales were growing with the success of its early computers. Within a few years, Jobs and Wozniak hired designers and a production line crew. Apple went public in 1980 and was an instant success. Over the next few years, Apple shipped new computers featuring new graphical user interfaces, such as the original Macintosh in 1984. As the market for personal computers expanded through the 1990s, Apple lost market share to the cheaper Microsoft Windows on PC clones. Eventually, Wozniak and Jobs both left Apple. Jobs would go on to found NeXT and would return to Apple when NeXT was acquired in the late 90s. Apple then began a journey to the great second act in the history of the business world.

Since the release of the iPod in 2001, Apple has become a major player once again in the technology industry. After releasing the iPhone in 2007, the iPad in 2010, and the Apple Watch in 2015, Apple is now one of the largest companies in the world. Apple’s worldwide annual revenue totaled $274.5 billion for its 2020 fiscal year.

Today, Apple operates retail stores all across the world, has a growing services division, and an ever-expanding hardware lineup. The technology industry follows Apple news to see where the company is headed in the future.

Keep reading for the latest Apple news

00
Site default logo image

iPhone 5 ship times begin to hit just 2-4 days

Since its Sept. 21 launch, the iPhone 5’s shipping time has steadily improved as the holiday season nears. This morning, Apple updated its Australia/New Zealand and some Asian online stores to show the iPhone is now available to ship within “2-4 days”— an improvement from the “1 week” notice that hit at the exact same time last Monday. Just like last week, we expect the ship time changes to roll globally within the next day or so.

As for in-store availability, analyst Gene Munster noted Nov. 21 that in-store stock for the iPhone 5 has improved. At the time, the iPhone 5 was available in 92 percent of Apple Stores for Sprint, 82 percent for AT&T, and 72 percent for Verizon.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple holding iTunes event in Moscow, Russia tomorrow evening

Site default logo image

Update: Apple has now confirmed that the iPhone 5 will launch in Russia on December 14. iPhones.ru posted images of the Russian iTunes gift cards pictured right.

Hot off the heels of the iTunes 11 launch last week, Russia looks to be gaining the service very soon. According to a forwarded invite obtained by TechCrunch, Apple is holding a small iTunes event at the local GUM shopping center in Moscow’s Red Square tomorrow evening. Rumors of the launch have been ongoing for a few months, as App Store users in the country were beginning to see music searches appear at very low prices.

According to a November report by Russian language publication vedomosti.ru, citing industry sources, Apple will sell songs cheaper in Russia for 11- to 20 rubles each, which translates to roughly 35- to 65 cents USD. Additionally, another report from Vedomosti claimed iTunes senior executive Eddy Cue and iTunes Europe Director Ben King went to Russia for the launch originally scheduled for Nov. 20. However, in November, the newspaper also cited sources close to Apple as saying the launch is now scheduled for the first week of December—possibly to coincide with the launch of iPhone 5 in the country. Today’s event invite seems to confirm at least the iTunes bit. We are working to gain more information. [TechCrunch]


Expand
Expanding
Close

Is there some secret iMac assembly plant in the US?

Site default logo image



iFixit

From iFixit’s ritual iMac dismemberment yesterday, we learn that the particular 21.5-inch iMac they bought says it was “Assembled in USA”. The moniker isn’t new—we’ve seen it since at least a few iMac models back on the packaging. But as far as we can tell, “Assembled in USA” wasn’t etched in the actual machine’s aluminum, leading people to believe that the iMacs that were shipped were “refurbished in the USA”. However, this forum shows that some were actually assembled and sold new with the “Assembled in USA” label (below—27-inch iMac, previous gen).

Regardless of previous endeavors, Apple is shipping new iMacs “Assembled in USA”.  PED at Fortune found one. Jay Yarrow at BI found one, too. This isn’t an isolated incident. We also heard that other new iMacs say “Assembled in China”, as you’d expect.

Still, it makes for an interesting question:  Is Apple building some of its iMacs in the United States? Is that percentage growing since it seems much of the first line of iMacs are coming with USA labels?

The “Assembled in USA” label doesn’t just mean that foreign parts screwed together in the U.S. either. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission assumes that a “substantial transformation” must happen in the U.S. for the label to be used.

Specifically, the FTC states that the label “Assembled in the USA” should be the following:

A product that includes foreign components may be called “Assembled in USA” without qualification when its principal assembly takes place in the U.S. and the assembly is substantial. For the “assembly” claim to be valid, the product’s last “substantial transformation” also should have occurred in the U.S. That’s why a “screwdriver” assembly in the U.S. of foreign components into a final product at the end of the manufacturing process doesn’t usually qualify for the “Assembled in USA” claim.

Example: A lawn mower, composed of all domestic parts except for the cable sheathing, flywheel, wheel rims and air filter (15 to 20 percent foreign content) is assembled in the U.S. An “Assembled in USA” claim is appropriate.

Here’s where it gets more interesting. The FTC gives the specific example of a computer manufacture:

Example: All the major components of a computer, including the motherboard and hard drive, are imported. The computer’s components then are put together in a simple “screwdriver” operation in the U.S., are not substantially transformed under the Customs Standard, and must be marked with a foreign country of origin. An “Assembled in U.S.” claim without further qualification is deceptive.

That means one of two things: Either Apple or its contractors have some sort of significant manufacturing operations in the U.S., or it is being deceptive in its marketing (something that sadly, isn’t out of character)…
Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple’s 21.5-inch iMacs shipping time now up to 7-10 business days from 1-3

Site default logo image

Apple’s entry level configuration of the new 21.5-inch iMac is now shipping in 7-10 business days from Apple’s online store. That shipping time is up from the 1-3 business days that the product was quoted as shipping in yesterday. The 27-inch iMacs were initially said to ship in 2-3 weeks, but they have since been pushed back to 3-4 weeks for new orders.

Notably, 3rd party vendors like Amazon are still guaranteeing delivery by December 4th while MacMall says 5-7 days. Check for lowest prices/ship times on our iMacs product page.

Update: Both 21.5-inch iMacs are now up to 7-10 days for shipping.

Thanks @TLDToday! 


Expand
Expanding
Close

iFixit iMac teardown reveals dual mics, difficult RAM upgrades and glued LCD

Site default logo image

While we had some pictures of a brief teardown earlier this week, iFixit has now completed its ritual teardown of the new 21.5-inch iMac that officially went on sale on Friday.

Unfortunately, iFixit described the process as an “exercise in disappointment,” noting the iMac’s new thinner design introduces new hurdles for repairability. Most notably, the device’s glass and LCD are now glued directly to the iMac’s frame, while accessing the RAM, CPU, and hard drive will now mean having to remove the entire logic board:

The late 2012 iMac 21.5″ — code-named EMC 2544 — is an exercise in disappointment for us. We were quite worried when we saw that super-thin bezel during Apple’s keynote, and unfortunately we were correct: the glass and LCD are now glued to the iMac’s frame with incredibly strong adhesive. Gone are the lovely magnets that held the glass in place in iMacs of yesteryear.

A few things noted in iFixit’s highlights: a new rubber housing that “dampens the vibrations from the spinning hard drive,” a new single fan layout, dual microphones, and a 5mm thinner LG made display. Those are some of the highlights of Apple’s new design, but iFixit is scoring the new iMac as a 3 out of 10 (down from 7 last year) due to the many issues with repairability. Here are just a few:


Expand
Expanding
Close

Video/Gallery: Apple CEO Tim Cook seen giving interview/tour at Apple Store Grand Central with NBC anchor Brian Williams, airing Dec. 6

Site default logo image

Apple CEO Tim Cook was spotted at the company’s massive Grand Central store this afternoon, giving an interview with NBC anchor Brian Williams. The U.S. network is doing a piece on Apple and shopping at its stores during the holidays. Additionally, Cook was seen checking out the store and showing off the iPhone 5 and iPad mini. Apple’s Grand Central store opened to the public in December 2011, and it is considered a flagship for the company.

The program is set to air Dec. 6—per the tweet, press release, and video embedded below.

[tweet https://twitter.com/RockCenterNBC/status/274662314110763009]

Via: TVNewser
Source: Instagram, Twitter


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Starbucks and Apple offering $30 gift card combo to benefit AIDS research foundation

Starbucks introduced a new Starbucks iTunes (RED) eGift basket this holiday season, with help of Apple, to give back to the world. The gift basket is complete with a $15 Starbucks gift card and $15 iTunes gift card. For every combo sold, Starbucks and Apple will donate 5 percent of each purchase (75 cents) to the Global Fund AIDS research foundation. The gift basket can be purchased on Starbuck’s website, where you can also choose to gift it directly to someone. This isn’t the first time Apple partnered with (RED), as it has launched several special edition iPods to compliment the foundation over the years. The same goes for Starbucks, which revealed today it gave $11 million to the Global Fund since December 2008. Pretty nice gift, if you ask me. Who doesn’t like music, coffee, and helping a good cause?

Via: The Loop

Source: Starbucks
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Apple releases update 5.1.1 (10A831) for second and third gen Apple TVs

After releasing update 5.1 for second- and third-gem Apple TVs back in September, Apple rolled out 5.1.1 today to Apple TV owners following the public launch of iTunes 11.The 5.1 update includes Shared Photo Streams, AirPlay, iTunes account switching, and more, so we aren’t expecting to discover much in today’s update.

From Apple:

Apple TV Software Update 5.1.1

iTunes Up Next Adds support for Up Next with iTunes 11 or iTunes Match. See upcoming songs when playing music on your Apple TV. Add new songs and edit what’s queued with your Remote or with the Remote app.
Stability and performance Includes performance and stability improvements with the iTunes Store, AirPlay, Netflix, iTunes Match, and wired Ethernet connections.
Site default logo image

Analyst: T-Mobile USA might announce arrival of iPhone next week

With T-Mobile Chief Operating Officer Jim Alling hinting that the iPhone was too expensive at a recent conference in Barcelona, it seemed like the carrier planned  to continue with its bring-your-own iPhone strategy for its ever-expanding iPhone-compatible 4G network. However, a note from Merrill Lynch analyst Scott Craig today claimed the carrier could announce a deal to carry the iPhone as early as next week. Fortune has the story:

Now Merrill Lynch’s Scott Craig is out with a note reporting that “speculation is heightening” that Deutsche Telecom (DT) will announce a deal to bring the iPhone to its U.S. subsidiary at next week’s analysts day (12/6-7).

Merrill Lynch’s Craig points out that cutting a deal with the fourth largest U.S. carrier would give Apple access to 98% of the U.S. post-paid market and 75% of the country’s total mobile subscribers.

“While this would be incrementally positive,” he writes, “any financial impact would be limited.” He estimates that a T-Mobile deal would add about 4 million iPhones to his current estimate of 179 million sold in calendar 2013, boosting Apple’s top line (revenue) by 1% and its bottom line (earnings per share) by 2%.

Review: Fantastical for iPhone, the calendar upgrade iOS 6 is missing

Site default logo image

Flexbits, makers of the popular Fantastical Mac app, launched an iPhone version of its streamlined calendar app this morning with the goal of bringing the simplicity and user-friendly experience it has become known for on the Mac to iOS users. The new Fantastical app might not be as feature-filled as other third-party calendar iOS apps, but what it lacks in features it certainly makes up for in style. After a week with Fantastical for iPhone, I can confidently say the app feels like the calendar upgrade iOS 6 was missing.

One thing I love about the Fantastical Mac app compared to other calendar apps, and even Apple’s own Calendars app on OS X, is the overly simple UI. Better yet is the app’s natural language parser, allowing users to enter a sentence such as “lunch tomorrow” to automatically schedule a lunch meeting for noon the next day. While Fantastical for Mac users will feel right at home with a familiar interface to the desktop menubar app, the introduction of a touchscreen also brings a big new feature to the Fantastical UI: the DayTicker…
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

iPhone 5 gains necessary network approval in China, readying for mid-December launch

The iPhone 5 has gained the proper network verification from The Ministry of Industry and Technology of the People’s Republic of China today, finally readying it for sale in the country where the device is made. Following rumors earlier this month, Wall Street Journal first noted the news this morning, and such verification sets-up for the mid-December launch as pre-orders are already kicking. Apple has gained WCDMA and CDMA-2000 verification, according to the filings, lining it up to be on China Unicom and China Telecom — China’s second and third-largest carriers, respectively.

China has proved to be a big-potential for Apple, emphasized by CEO Tim Cook several times. Earlier this year he said, “demand is off the charts in China.” Sadly it appears the world’s largest carrier China Mobile isn’t on board this round.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Via: Engadget


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple breaks ground on Santa Clara campus set to hold 1,200 employees

Site default logo image

Mercury News reported that Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple has broken ground on a Santa Clara campus that is set to be home to 1,200 employees. The location is just short of the city limits of Cupertino, and it is a 296,000 square-foot space set to be developed by Peery Arillaga. It is said to be a two six-floor building campus—not to be confused with the massive Spaceship-like campus Apple currently has plans for. Earlier this month, we highlighted a few other Apple land grabs, which many believe are temporary offices until the new campus that is set to hold 14,000 employees is completed in mid-2016. The first six-floor building at the new Santa Clara location that is 188,000 square feet will be completed mid-2014, while there’s no word on the second.

Source: Mercury News


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Time Warner CEO wants Apple to release a television set

After years of rumors, we’d like to think the Apple TV set is a reality…and so would Time Warner Cable’s CEO. Speaking at Business Insider’s IGNITE conference this afternoon, CEO Jeff Bewkes said he believes Apple has what it takes to change the television market. When asked about the company delivering the Apple TV set, Bewkes said, “I hope they do. I think Apple is a great device company. They bring good interface and navigation skills.”

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard Time Warner talk about the Apple TV. In September, COO Rob Marcus said the company would be willing to give up control of the user interface, but he wants to keep the “customer relationship.” We’ve noted before the difficulty Apple will face to get cable companies to relinquish control of the user interface and user experience.

Recently, analysts have pegged the Apple TV set launch for the 2013 holiday season, but that’s not without timeframe misses in the past. Analyst Gene Munster said the HDTV size will be between 42- and 55 inches and priced between $1,500 and $2,000.  At any rate, it looks like we’ll have to wait a while longer to get official word—if ever. In the mean time, check out a solid Apple TV concept.

Source: Business Insider
Image: The Verge


Expand
Expanding
Close

Holiday Shopping Guide: The best docks, stands, cases, & cables for your iPad mini

Site default logo image

With iPad mini introducing a brand new set of dimensions for case manufacturers, most have not been as quick as with previous iPad launches to get products on the market. In the first couple of weeks of the product’s launch, only a handful of well-known accessory makers were taking orders, and we unfortunately saw many cheap 7-inch Android cases repurposed and sold as iPad mini compatible.

Apple’s new Lightning connector standard was of course another hurdle, and means there are not nearly as many available third-party docks, keyboards, adapters, etc., as iOS device owners have come to expect.

Below, we have put together a guide to the best of the best iPad mini accessories we could find that are currently available to order and shipping before the holidays:


Expand
Expanding
Close

Wild Speculation: Why a $2B AMD purchase would be a puzzle piece fit for Apple

Site default logo image

Things aren’t looking good for chipmaker AMD…Following another round of layoffs totaling about 15 percent of its employees last month, Reuters reported today that AMD is looking for an investor to sell its Texas campus in order to raise up to $200 million in cash in a multi-year lease back deal. AMD’s cash dropped from $279 million to $1.48 billion in the third quarter, and today the company sits at a market cap of $1.40 billion.

Despite not being the “main option,” with the restructuring and the company’s financial issues, Reuters’ sources claimed an outright sale of the company isn’t out of the question. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard chatter of an AMD takeover. However, with the company sitting at a market cap of $1.40 billion and rumors of Bob Mansfield’s new Technologies group possibly transitioning away from Intel processors, we can’t help but imagine a few things Apple would stand to gain from the purchase…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Sharp’s new 4K IGZO 32-inch display has Apple written all over it

Site default logo image

Sharp is announcing a 32-inch 4K monitor today that uses its LGZO LCD tech expected to hit the Japanese market in February 2013. The roughly $5,500 PN-K321 monitor sports a 3,840-by-2,160 resolution and HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. According to Sharp, it will also be the thinnest monitor frame on the market at just 35mm. Even if analysts were wrong about a full-fledged TV set from Apple next year, these new Sharp displays would certainly make a pretty Thunderbolt display.

Sharp will put its IGZO displays in the hands of consumers in the near future, as it recently announced its first 7-inch tablet to take advantage of the technology’s low-power consumption features. Apple decided to not go with Sharps’ IGZO displays for its latest round of iPad launches. It instead sourced display components from AU Optronics, LG Display, and Samsung, but several reports in the past indicated Apple is interested in the technology. Apple was even recently rumored to be potentially making an investment in the failing company—much like Apple partner Foxconn previously agreed to.

[tweet https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/273821545661607936]


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Apple gets Galaxy sales ban in Netherlands, Samsung to pay $130K per day if it continues infringing photo gallery patent

The Dutch Court of The Hague today banned Samsung Galaxy products infringing on an Apple patent related to navigating through photo galleries, according to a report from IDG News Service. Courts in the Netherlands already ruled in favor of Apple in preliminary proceedings regarding the same patent last year, leading Samsung to implement a workaround with its own proprietary photo gallery software and replace Apple’s “bounce back” feature “with a ‘blue flash’ that illuminates the edge of the image.”

Now, the courts are apparently not happy with Samsung’s refusal to “sign a declaration of abstinence committing to not infringing the patent,” despite the company claiming all of its products in the Netherlands have now implemented the workaround mentioned above.

The result of today’s ruling is an official sales ban on Galaxy devices running Android 2.2.1 that still infringe on Apple’s patent. The courts are also ordering Samsung to disclose to Apple how much profit was made off the infringing devices since June 2011 in order to determine compensation.

If Samsung devices continue to infringe on the patent, the company will be ordered to pay Apple 100,000 euros (US$129,000) for every day it continues selling the devices:

The court ordered Samsung to tell Apple how much net profit it made from sales of infringing Galaxy products since June 27, 2011. A separate court procedure will determine how much of that profit Samsung must pay Apple.

If Samsung continues to infringe on the patent, it has to pay Apple a penalty of 100,000 euros (US$129,000) for every day it violates the ban, the court ruled.

A Samsung spokeswoman said the company was disappointed with the court’s ruling. Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

(image via PocketNow)

Site default logo image

Apple highlights iPad mini Newsstand in new magazine ad campaign

Using its clever advertising tactics, Apple began advertising its 7.9-inch iPad mini in several print magazines. As seen on the cover of the New Yorker above and TIME below, the ads highlight the device’s small, compact design and show how a user can get access to the same magazine content from Apple’s Newsstand feature. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Apple bust out advertising past the traditional TV spot this month, as it just began running 3D exploding iPod ads on several websites. It can’t hurt to try to juice sales just in time for the holidays, but, to be fair, they should have pixelated the display to signify the non-Retina screen.

.

Source: Reddit, Instagram, @eduardosuarez

Via: Sam Stern


Expand
Expanding
Close

Report: Apple bumps Android from top spot in US smartphone market on strength of iPhone 5 sales

Site default logo image

On the strength of iPhone 5 sales, iOS has once again reached the top spot for smartphone market share in the United States, according to new data from Research firm Kantar Worldpanel Comtech (via Reuters). According to the report that tracked smartphone sales over the last 12 weeks ending Oct. 28, iOS now accounts for 48.1-percent of the U.S. smartphone market. That’s up 25 percent year-over-year, and it officially bumps Android into second place, but is still just shy of the record 49.3-percent it was able to capture earlier this year.

Android was down from 63.3-percent marketshare over the same 12-week period last year to just 46.7-percent today. As for the rest of the world, you can see from Kantar’s data for other countries in the chart below that Android still dominates in most other countries, including: 54.2-percent of the market in Britain, 81.7-percent of the market in Spain, and 73.9-percent in Germany.

Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, comments: “The last time we saw iOS overtake Android in the US was when the iPhone 4S was released and Apple managed to retain its lead for three consecutive periods. This time we predict that Apple will beat its previous high of 49.3% and achieve its highest ever share of the US smartphone market within the next two periods.”

The report also provided some data on iPhone 5 sales, noting 62 percent came from existing Apple device owners upgrading. Apple also captured 13 percent of iPhone 5 sales from Android switchers:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple announces redesigned 21.5-inch iMac will be available Friday, November 30th; 27-inch models still on for December

After being unveiled in late-October, Apple has officially announced that the 21.5-inch iMac will become available this Friday, Nov. 30. The latest iMac is the eighth generation and “is the most beautiful iMac we have ever made,” according to Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller. It features a 5mm edge, edge-to-edge glass, LED-backlit display with IPS technology, a FaceTime HD camera, dual mics, four USB 3 ports, two Thunderbolt ports, OS X Mountain Lion, Bluetooth 4.0, and more.

The 21.5-inch iMac is available in two versions. The 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 model (Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz) is available for $1,299, featuring 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3 memory, 1 TB (5400-rpm) hard drive, and a NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M graphics processor with 512MB of GDDR5 memory. The 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 model (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz) is available for $1,499, featuring similar specs, except a 1TB (5400-rpm) hard drive that can be configured into a Fusion Drive.

Apple also has a 27-inch version iMac on its way. As we reported earlier this month, the 27-inch version is still set to launch sometime in December, according to Apple. CEO Tim Cook has already discussed that the company is expecting shortages of iMacs. Our sources have indicated that the new iMac is in relatively short supply, mainly outside of the United States. Check out Cook’s comments below:


Expand
Expanding
Close

Canadian Bell and Virgin Mobile customers can now unlock any model iPhone…for $75

Site default logo image

Canadian iPhone users can now unlock their iPhone on Bell and Virgin Mobile for $75. Mobile Syrup obtained more information on a previous report and discovered that Bell and Virgin’s unlocking programs are available for all Bell and Virgin iPhones, but a customer must not be on contract, must be a post-paid Bell or Virgin customer, and must pay a one-time $75 fee. The unlocking program began today, according to the leaked documents, and it can be completed by contacting Bell’s Credit & Prevention line or Virgin Care. The unlocking program will be “launched in a phased approached,” while “the next Phase in 2013″ will come where they will “expand the eligibility guidelines.”

Before this month, Canadian iPhone users could only unlock their iPhones via TELUS ($35), Rogers ($50), and Fido ($50), according to Apple’s support page. Unlocking the iPhone allows customers to use a SIM card from any carrier with the same bands, allowing for easy mobile travel around the world. Pretty cool, eh?

SourceMobile Syrup, iPhone in Canada


Expand
Expanding
Close

An à la carte Apple TV concept integrates Siri, FaceTime, and cable/satellite providers (Gallery)

Site default logo image

[slideshow]

A member of The Verge forums, going by the name of “Knowledge”, posted the Apple TV concept below that envisions a future Apple TV OS where users could tap into multiple content sources from cable/satellite providers, local devices, and elsewhere. It would also integrate Siri (and Facetime) for scheduling recordings, changing channels, etc., and a unified search of all content.

Unified search looks for content in library, app store, iTunes, and TV Guide. Also brings the ability to use Siri for scheduling recordings, setting reminders, changing channels, playing music, playing video from library, opening an app, finds content available for purchase in iTunes, etc etc.

The full gallery is below:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Taiwan’s major carriers expect iPhone 5 to land Dec. 14, as China Telecom begins preorders

According to local reports from Taiwan Central News Agency’s English language Focus Taiwan, the major mobile carriers in Taiwan confirmed today that the iPhone 5 would “very likely” hit the market on Dec. 14. While the carriers claimed they are still finalizing the details of contracts and plans with Apple, Chunghwa Telecom, Far Eastone Telecommunications, and Taiwan Mobile all apparently plan to take pre-orders one week before the expected mid-December release date. For the iPhone 4S, Taiwan carriers claimed pre-orders of about 400,000 units.

Yesterday, China Telecom, the smaller of the three major carriers in China, started taking pre-orders for the iPhone 5, Global Times confirmed with the carrier. Other carriers in the country, such as China Unicom, have yet to announce official details or begin accepting pre-orders. The device is expected to ship in the country sometime in December.

Chinese and Indian customers also might in the near future get a new low-cost version of the iPhone, according to a separate report from vocal Apple analyst Gene Munster released just before the weekend. Munster claimed he believes the device will land in 2014, unsubsidized, and cost around $200.

Site default logo image

Black Friday was bleak for Microsoft as Surface Tablet didn’t register a blip compared to iPad

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster is out with a note today comparing foot traffic and sales per hour at Apple and Microsoft retail stores for Black Friday (via Fortune). Munster’s team apparently spent eight hours outside of the Mall of America Apple Store in Minneapolis to provide us with some good stats on how well Apple Stores did compared to the Microsoft Store at the same location. Munster found customers purchased 17.2 items per hour at the Apple Store, compared to just 3.5 products per hour at the Microsoft store. However, he also reported all but two of the Microsoft store purchases were Xbox titles.

During their eight hours at the Apple Store (and two hours at the Microsoft store), Munster’s team reported an average of 11 iPads per hour—compared to zero Microsoft Surface sales. Unfortunately, the chart above doesn’t track iPhones sales.

The positive take away was store traffic was up 31% y/y, likely driven by shoppers wanting to see the new iPad Mini. The negatives were that the most popular iPad Mini (16G) is in limited supply and Mac sales (~12% of revenue) continue to appear to be impacted by the iPad and a slowdown ahead of the new iMac.

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications