Apple

6,154 'Apple News' stories November 2008 - August 2012

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

iOS 6 points to new 9-pin connector: is this the new, smaller dock port?

Mark Gurman Aug 7 2012 - 12:55 pm PT

At this point, it seems highly likely that the next-generation of Apple’s iOS devices will carry smaller dock connectors. That new hardware feature has been reported by multiple sources. However, the exact size and amount of pins has been up in the air. TechCrunch said that they confirmed the new connector to be 19 pins, while iLounge recently reported that the connector will be only 8 pins.

However, today, we discovered a possible reference to a 9-pin dock connector in the iOS 6 beta. The reference comes as a new iOS hardware feature called “9Pin,” so we’re assuming this has to do with the dock connector. Obviously, there is no way to be 100% about this.

In fact, it appears that the reference has been present since beta 1. This reference comes in a part of the operating system that details general hardware features in iOS devices. That mean this new 9-pin connector may not only be implemented into the iPhone. This lines up with iMore‘s report that Apple will update all of its iOS devices in September to support the new connector.

The new connector will make an impact on the cases and accessory industry, but it will allow Apple to squeeze in new technologies into its future devices. Of course, this is only a single iOS-based reference, and Apple’s plans for pin-formations could change at any time. Thanks, Hamza!

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple granted patent for app to assist shoppers in finding best prices

Jordan Kahn Aug 7 2012 - 10:37 am PT

Patently Apple covered an Apple Inc. patent today published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that appears to be related to an app designed to assist shoppers by providing product and retailer information for scanned items. The invention would provide similar functionality to various third-party apps currently in the App Store that use barcode scanning and image recognition to search the web for product information and price comparisons. Patently Apple explained:

Apple has received their first Granted Patent relating to methods for conducting shopping-related transactions with a handheld electronic device. In some embodiments a mobile electronic device may be used to identify a product and obtain pricing information relevant to retailers of the product within a specified geographical location. In another embodiment, a mobile electronic device may be used to acquire pricing information for a shopping list of products. Embodiments may also include a variety of features that make the shopping experience quick and efficient while allowing the consumer to hunt for a better bargain. Furthermore, several embodiments also allow the product manufacturers and/or retailers to distribute relevant product information to targeted consumers who are known to be, or who may be, interested in buying a particular product.

Forstall on inertial scrolling: Steve told Samsung ‘here’s something we invented. Don’t copy it. Don’t steal it’

Jordan Kahn Aug 7 2012 - 6:03 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdbvAdINPPA]
We have brought you updates on the Apple vs. Samsung trial all week with yesterday’s highlight being a testimony from Apple’s expert design witness, former President of the Industrial Designers Society of America Peter Bressler. Last week, we told you Apple Senior Vice President of iOS Software Scott Forstall testified in the case, but Network World discovered some interesting bits today from Forstall’s deposition from a few months ago. While noting the three key multi-touch patents involved in the case (381′ related to “rubber banding,” ‘915 related to determining one-finger scroll vs. multi-touch gestures, and ‘163 related to double tap to zoom), Network World posted excerpts from Forstall’s highly redacted deposition. The SVP appears to have claimed the now-late CEO Steve Jobs once told Samsung not to copy or steal the inertial scrolling, rubber band invention:

Returning to the Forstall’s deposition, Apple’s iOS guru is asked about discussions Steve Jobs seemingly had with Samsung over the rubber banding patent…Forstall responded:

I don’t remember specifics. I think it was just one of the things that Steve said, here’s something we invented. Don’t – don’t copy it. Don’t steal it….Rubber banding is one of the sort of key things for the fluidity of the iPhone and – and all of iOS, and so I know it was one of the ones that Steve really cared about… I actually think that Android had not done rubber banding at some point and it was actually added later. So they actually went form sort of, you know, not yet copying and infringing to – to choosing to copy, which is sad and distasteful…

Regarding whether the feature was discussed in subsequent meetings with Samsung:

But I can’t give you a specific recollection of – of Steve, you know, going over rubber banding with – with them in those meetings or not… I expect it came up, because it’s one of the key things we talked – you know, he and I talked about, but I don’t know if it came up there.

It is unclear which meetings Forstall is referring to due to the large amount of redactions in the documents, but Network World noted that court documents revealed previously that Apple offered to license Samsung patent ‘381 in November 2010. Forstall also described meetings Jobs had with Samsung when questioned about iOS icon designs:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple comments on Gizmodo/Wired writer’s account hacking, here’s how it went down…

9to5 Staff Aug 6 2012 - 5:22 pm PT

We reported over the weekend on the hacking of the digital life of Wired’s Mat Honan.

Mat Honan wrote up his whole story over at Wired. The scariest part is that they were able to reproduce the hack using two pieces of publicly available information and a phone call.

We talked to Apple directly about its security policy, and company spokesperson Natalie Kerris told Wired, “Apple takes customer privacy seriously and requires multiple forms of verification before resetting an Apple ID password. In this particular case, the customer’s data was compromised by a person who had acquired personal information about the customer. In addition, we found that our own internal policies were not followed completely. We are reviewing all of our processes for resetting account passwords to ensure our customers’ data is protected.”

On Monday, Wired tried to verify the hackers’ access technique by performing it on a different account. We were successful. This means, ultimately, all you need in addition to someone’s email address are those two easily acquired pieces of information: a billing address and the last four digits of a credit card on file. Here’s the story of how the hackers got them.

Scary. Scary. Scary.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple vs Samsung: Apple’s expert design witness hits the stand

Jordan Kahn Aug 6 2012 - 3:45 pm PT

We brought you an update on the third day of the Apple vs. Samsung trial earlier today, with Happy Mac logo creator Susan Kare and former President of the Industrial Designers Society of America Peter Bressler set to take the stand as Apple presented evidence that Samsung copied its trademarked iOS icons. During his testimony today, Bressler claimed there are “a number of Samsung phones and two Samsung tablets that are substantially the same” as Apple devices, just as Samsung’s chief strategy officer, Justin Denison, testified its devices are “distinctly different.”

CNET provided an update on Bressler’s testimony:

Bressler suggested that consumers could confuse one of Samsung’s devices with Apple’s…To back that point up, Bressler, the inventor or co-inventor on about 70 patents, went through how nearly a dozen Samsung devices were similar to Apple’s. That includes Samsung’s first– and second-generation Galaxy S devices, as well as the company’s Galaxy tablets.

Bressler also attempted to gut Samsung’s prior art defense, which cites a Japanese design patent issued to rival electronics firm Sharp in 2005. That device, which Samsung suggests looks like the iPhone, is unlike the ones depicted in Apple’s patents since it has a curved, non-flat front, Bressler argued.

[tweet http://twitter.com/Josh/status/232590715681640449]

While testifying earlier today that Samsung’s Galaxy devices look “distinctly different” at the request of carriers, Denison was questioned by Apple’s lawyers over an internal Samsung document referencing the iPhone’s user-experience as the new standard. According to CNET:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Wiley Announces Seven New Books on OS X Mountain Lion

9to5 Staff Aug 6 2012 - 7:03 am PT

Press Release 8/6/2012 9:03 AM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — To support Apple’s announcement of the release of their latest operating system, OS X Mountain Lion, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. is bringing to market a series of new instructional books covering the topic for every level of user. Seven titles are publishing from Wiley on the topic of OS X Mountain Lion including:

OS X Mountain Lion For Dummies (ISBN: 978-1-1183-9418-2, August 2012) by Bob LeVitus
Teach Yourself VISUALLY OS X Mountain Lion ISBN: 978-1-1184-0140-8, August 2012) by Paul McFedries
OS X Mountain Lion Bible (ISBN: 978-1-1184-0143-9, September 2012) by Galen Gruman
OS X Mountain Lion Portable Genius (ISBN: 978-1-1184-0142-2,September 2012) by Dwight Spivey
OS X Mountain Lion All-in-One For Dummies (ISBN: 978-1-1183-9416-8,September 2012) by Mark L. Chambers
OS X Mountain Lion Server For Dummies (ISBN: 978-1-1184-0829-2,September 2012) by John Rizzo
OS X Mountain Lion Simplified (ISBN: 978-1-1184-0141-5, October 2012) by Paul McFedries

“With over 200 new features in OS X Mountain Lion, users will be able to quickly gain knowledge on everything the new operating software has to offer through Wiley’s latest books,” said Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus, author of OS X Mountain Lion For Dummies, “From For Dummies guides to the OS X Mountain Lion Bible, Wiley is one of the first publishers to market with their extensive list of books on Mountain Lion, offering something for every level of end user.”

Wiley’s new OS X Mountain Lion books will be available for purchase online and at retailers nationwide in both print and all e-book formats. For additional information, visit http://lp.wileypub.com/osxmountainlion/.
Expand
Expanding
Close

This is what the new iPhone’s Nano SIM tray looks like

Jordan Kahn Aug 6 2012 - 6:40 am PT

According to a translated report from Nowhereelse.fr, images of the tray for Apple’s new nano-SIM design started surfacing from China. In June, the ESTI was thought to have selected Apple’s new SIM card design for its 4FF standard, and reports from just last month claimed European carriers are stockpiling the new SIMs in anticipation of a next-gen iPhone launch. A smaller home button appears to also be present in some of the images, which of course lines up with previous leaks.

Presented as being designed to slip into the SIM card slot of the iPhone 5, this element seems in turn confirm that the next iPhone indeed adopt this new standard imposed by Apple. I take this article to drag other photos with us in passing a Home button which should equip the iPhone 5 and which is also slightly smaller than previous generations, details of which we heard last Friday.

Expand
Expanding
Close

MacTech Conference 2012: Sessions, Speakers and Details

9to5 Staff Aug 6 2012 - 6:11 am PT

PRESS RELEASE

Aug. 6, 2012, 8:41 a.m. EDT

MacTech Conference 2012: Sessions, Speakers and Details

World-class speakers, amazing sessions; pre-registration ends August 31st

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — MacTech Conference for Apple Developers and IT Pros, October 17-19, 2012 in Los Angeles, has released its main speaker and session list, as well as many details of the conference. The event: a three-day, information-packed event that will have sessions and activities throughout the day and evening. This immersive conference is hotel-based, giving attendees the opportunity to not only learn from the best, but also to meet new people and spend time with their peers as well. Information about the conference is at http://www.mactech.com/conference

“Our speaker page contains a list of some of the amazing people that will present and be in attendance at MacTech Conference 2012 (but expect a surprise guest or two). Some of the incredible topics that will be covered are now listed at http://www.mactech.com/conference/sessions ,” said Ed Marczak, Sessions Chair and Executive Editor, MacTech Magazine.

MacTech Conference is a multi-track event with a focus on both programming/development, as well as IT/Enterprise. Sessions will focus on both desktop and mobile with appropriate levels of attention paid to the Mac and iOS. Check out the speaker and topic list ( http://www.mactech.com/conference/sessions ) for specific sessions and speaker list.

The event will be held Wednesday through Friday, October 17-19. The conference kicks off at 10am on Wednesday and is packed with sessions using MacTech’s well-established running order format. The evenings are filled with special activities and events designed specifically to have fun and give attendees an opportunity to form bonds with their peers and meet new people.

“At past MacTech Conferences, between 98-100% of attendees said that they would recommend the Conference. We’ve been working hard to once again live up to expectations with a great environment, world-class speakers, incredible sessions, and fun activities. Edward R. Marczak (Conference Sessions Chair and IT Track Sessions Chair) and Steven Troughton-Smith (Developer Track Sessions Chair) have created a world-class line-up of world-class talent,” Neil Ticktin, Editor-in-Chief/Publisher of MacTech Magazine, said.

MacTech Conference is priced economically at $999 (pre-registration pricing) including all meals, a MacTech Magazine subscription, a schedule packed full of sessions, exclusive entertainment, and more. Registration is far ahead of last year — and guest rooms at the hotel are almost sold out. Pre-registration ends on August 31st, and attendees can still save $300 off the on-site registration price. Register at http://www.mactech.com/conference/register

A limited number of partial and full student scholarships are available. See http://www.mactech.com/conference/student for more information.

Available on a first-come, first-served basis, MacTech Conference attendees get a special rate of just $184 per night, which includes Internet access. The Sheraton is a quality venue with rooms that typically run $229.00 or more per night, plus tax, and with Internet access available for an additional fee. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, MacTech Conference attendees get a special rate.

Those interested in one of the many sponsorship offerings, see the details at http://www.mactech.com/conference/sponsorship

Remember, Pre-Registration pricing ends in just a couple of weeks: August 31st. http://www.mactech.com/conference/register

About MacTech Magazine

Established in 1984, MacTech Magazine is the only monthly magazine focused on Apple at the technical level. Each month, MacTech and MacTech.com is read by 150,000 technical Macintosh users in over 175 countries, from network administrators to programmers, from solution providers to Enterprise, and in general anyone that’s interested in the Macintosh beyond the user level.

If you’re interested in getting under the hood of your Mac, if you want to know how to make things happen inside the box, you should be reading MacTech Magazine. Contact the magazine. Toll-free: 877-MACTECH, International: 805-494-9797, custservice@mactech.com, http://www.mactech.com

Contact:

Neil TicktinMacTech Magazinemarketing@mactech.com805-494-9797

This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com .

SOURCE MacTech Magazine

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Enhanced by Zemanta

iPhone TV ad for Canada spotlights iCloud…and pulled book

Élyse Betters Aug 6 2012 - 12:01 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGqqrrvctHo&feature=youtu.be]

A Canadian TV advertisement for iCloud on the iPhone, titled “Melody,” surfaced recently. The 30-second video starts with a shot of Jonah Lehrer’s “Imagine: How Creativity Works” front cover (Whoops!). Lehrer acknowledged last month that he fabricated quotes attributed to Bob Dylan, and publisher Houghton Mifflin immediately recalled and stopped sales of the popular book’s electronic and physical versions. The remainder of Apple’s ad highlights iCloud in conjunction with iTunes, iTunes U, Camera, SMS, and more.

Check it out: Melody

It is worth noting that readers have spotted the ad airing internationally over the past few weeks:

@9to5mac Not really new. This TV ad is shown since a few weeks in Germany.

— call me haibao :D (@iRodknocker) August 6, 2012

Expand
Expanding
Close

Senator Al Franken doesn’t believe AT&T should be able to charge extra for FaceTime

Seth Weintraub Aug 4 2012 - 6:20 pm PT

.

Last month, we broke the news that there were clear signs AT&T was at least laying the groundwork for charging an additional fee for FaceTime over its network. You really do not need any more evidence than the screenshot above, but AT&T’s CEO went on record refusing to deny the plans.

That might not be such a smart move, however. Already, U.S. Senators, like Al Franken, do not seem to cool with the idea, with the former comedian from Minnesota saying in an interview with Nilay Patel of The Verge:

“That’s wrong,” he quickly replied when told of rumors that claim Ma Bell may place a premium on Apple’s video chat technology when iOS 6 launches this fall. “Because that’s not the architecture we’ve had.”

Video with wider network neutrality context follows:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8kuhj4SKCE&start=445]

Rewind the entire thing for the whole conversation.

Toys Weekend: AppleTV: $90, MacFlux 4, New MacBook Pros $999

9to5 Staff Aug 4 2012 - 1:49 pm PT

Lot of stuff happening at 9to5Toys.com this weekend…

.

Amazon has the Apple TV for $89.99 with free shipping. That’s the lowest price going (remember it just got Hulu – 1 week free here). Speaking of Amazon+free, you can get a free month of the new Prime streaming to iPad using the new app.

StackSocial offers downloads of the popular “Dreamweaver killer” MacFlux 4 website building editor application for $40. There is a huge list of great Mac software currently on sale at Stack Social here.

Fry’s Electronics offers the current-generation MacBook Pro Intel Core i5 2.5GHz 13.3″ LED-Backlit Widescreen Notebook, model no. MD101LL/A, for $999. Shipping adds around $11, or choose free in-store pickup. That’s the lowest total price we could find by $129 and even lower than Apple’s refurbished price.

All4Cellular has Applecare for iPhone for $39.99 (usually $99).

Vaas FM Transmitter with Car Charger and Remote for iPhone and iPod – $9.99+free ship

Western Digital USB 3.0 1TB portable drives for $89+free shipping at Go4Computer/Ebay, Tax in Florida.

Viewsonic VX2450wm-LED 24″ Widescreen LED Backlit Monitor: 49.99+Free shipping from Buy.com

More follow:
Expand
Expanding
Close

January 2011 email from Eddy Cue to other Apple execs notes Steve Jobs’ interest in 7-inch iPad

Jake Smith Aug 3 2012 - 2:08 pm PT

image Samsung cia CNET

Going against his claim that a 7-inch tablet would not work (seen in a video below), and that Apple would not go into the 7-inch market, Steve Jobs seemed receptive to the thought of a 7-inch iPad according to an email with Eddy Cue. The Verge, which is currently in the courtroom where Scott Forstall testified, reported:

Wow. Forstall is shown a 2011 email from Eddy Cue, in which Cue forwarded an article that a journalist wrote about dumping the iPad after using a Galaxy Tab. Cue writes “Having used a Samsung Galaxy [Tab], i tend to agree with many of the comments below… I believe there will be a 7-inch market and we should do one. I expressed this to Steve several times since Thanksgiving and he seemed very receptive the last time.”

[tweet https://twitter.com/jonfortt/status/231494904621170688]

[tweet https://twitter.com/iansherr/statuses/231497155028856832]

After months of rumors, the 7-inch iPad is believed to be announced at a media event on Sept. 12 along with the new iPhone. Several other publications confirmed the initial report shortly after.

Expand
Expanding
Close

LaCie announces re-engineered USB 3.0 products for new MacBooks including ruggedized USB stick

Jordan Kahn Aug 3 2012 - 6:55 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC2YUZPxFOE]

LaCie introduced the RuggedKey this week. It is an IP-54 water and dust resistant USB 3.0 key that provides speeds up to 150 MB/s and a bumper that offers protection from “heat, cold, and 100-meter drops.” The RuggedKey is now available in Apple stores or from the company directly starting at $40 for 16 GB, but LaCie also announced today that it updated its entire USB 3.0 portfolio with optimizations specifically for Apple’s latest lineup of MacBooks. LaCie said it re-engineered its USB 3.0 products for Lion and Mountain Lion by taking advantage of USB-attached SCSI Protocol support in Ivy Bridge Macs:

Thanks to UAS (USB Attached SCSI Protocol), people with the latest Macbook Air, Macbook Pro and Macbook Pro with Retina Display will experience maximum USB 3.0 performance… Everything from cables and USB keys, to professional RAID storage solutions have been re-engineered for advanced performances. LaCie’s recently announced RuggedKey achieves top speeds up to 150MB/s in 32GB of flash memory – making it one of the fastest USB keys on the market. LaCie’s popular Rugged Triple, and Porsche Design P’9223 and P’9233 have also been optimized for Mac and are available in Apple retail.

On top of Apple stores, the redesigned lineup of LaCie USB 3.0 products is available through LaCie stores. The company’s full press release is below:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple requests ruling in its favor over Samsung press leak, judge prohibits 2001: A Space Odyssey references

Jordan Kahn Aug 2 2012 - 2:15 pm PT

At the beginning of the week, we reported Samsung leaked slides to the press that Judge Koh excluded as evidence in the Samsung-Apple trial currently underway. Judge Koh was not impressed with the move, despite much of the information in the slides being public knowledge, and today we get an update from FossPatents on Apple’s response to the situation. According to the report, Apple filed a letter with the courts today claiming fines would not be a severe enough punishment for Samsung and it requested a judgment in its favor:

“The proper remedy for Samsung’s misconduct is judgment that Apple’s asserted phone design patents are valid and infringed. Through its extraordinary actions yesterday, Samsung sought to sway the jury on the design patent issues, and the proper remedy is to enter judgment against Samsung on those same patents. It would be, to be sure, a significant sanction. But serious misconduct can only be cured through a serious sanction—and here, Samsung’s continuing and escalating misconduct merits a severe penalty that will establish that Samsung is not above the law.”

Apple also outlined an alternative set of sanctions, requesting “the Court should (i) instruct the jury that Samsung engaged in serious misconduct and that, as a result, the Court has made a finding that Samsung copied the asserted designs and features from Apple products; and (ii) preclude Samsung from further mentioning or proffering any evidence regarding the ‘Sony design exercise’ for any purpose.” FossPatents said Apple’s requests could mean big problems for Samsung moving forward:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Non-functioning next-gen iPhone prototypes/fakes surface in Bangkok?

Jordan Kahn Aug 2 2012 - 1:16 pm PT

We brought you high-res shots of the black and white next-generation iPhone backs in May, and then we brought you a video hands-on with similar looking casings in June that surfaced online. Today, Neowin posted images it claims to be a “prototype finalized design casing” of the next-gen iPhone (not a functioning device) in the hands of an ex-staff member at MBK Center in Bangkok, Thailand. Present is the repositioned headphone jack, redesigned speaker grills, smaller dock connector, etc., from past leaks, but we have no way of confirming its authenticity. It is possible this is a really good knock-off based on our earlier leaks.

Samsung begins producing blazing-fast ‘eMMC Pro Class 1500’ mobile flash memory

Élyse Betters Aug 2 2012 - 11:38 am PT

Samsung just announced the production of its latest advancement in flash memory for mobile devices: the eMMC Pro Class 1500.

“Samsung Electronics announced that it has now begun volume production of an ultra-fast embedded memory for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices in 16-, 32- and 64-gigabyte densities,” explained Samsung, as it noted the new chips feature read speeds of 140 MB/S and write speeds of 50 MB/S.

Those stats equal turbo web and video browsing, ameliorated multitasking, and a boost for processor-exhaustive gaming on smartphones and mobile devices. Users will love the performance enhancements, but manufacturers will enjoy the chip sizes. They go up to 1.2mm in thickness and just 0.6 grams in weight.

“The ultra high-speed storage device uses Samsung’s 64-Gb NAND with a toggle DDR 2.0 interface based on the company’s latest 20 nanometer class process technology. The new eMMC’s fully managed NAND memory comes with its own high performance controller and intelligent flash management firmware,” Samsung added.

The South Korea-based Company’s newest embedded multimedia cards are surely destined for more devices than the next-generation Galaxy.

This article is cross-posted at 9to5Google.

Get the full presser below.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Aerial shots of Apple’s NC Data Center show off 100-acre solar array, Bloom energy cells and new tactical data center[Gallery]

Élyse Betters Aug 2 2012 - 10:56 am PT

.

Wired just published aerial shots of Apple’s data center in Maiden, N.C. from Monday, when construction crews were in the midst of laying foundation for a large structure in a northwest sylvan area, and it appears the company has just begun assembling its Bloom Energy fuel cells for biogas conversion.

According to Wired:

Our flyover captured some pretty clear images of the tactical data center, the massive solar array, and, of course, this new mystery building.

@9to5mac @disneyjournal what’s interesting is the solar farm is the same size as the magic kingdom.

— i_bad_apple (@i_bad_apple) August 2, 2012

Check out some closeups of the parts below, and Wired for full gallery and details.

Expand
Expanding
Close

IDC: iPad still owns over 2/3rds of the tablet market, but Samsung and ASUS are gaining

Élyse Betters Aug 2 2012 - 8:48 am PT

Apple’s iPad set a shipment record in Q2 2012, which led to a “better-than-anticipated” quarter for the entire tablet market, according to the latest data from IDC.

Global tablet shipments hit 25 million units, with a 66.2-percent year-over-year increase, while Apple jumped from 11.8 million units shipped in Q1 2012 to 17 million for Q2.

“Apple built upon its strong March iPad launch and ended the quarter with its best-ever shipment total for the iPad, outrunning even the impressive shipment record it set in the fourth quarter of last year,” said Research Director Tom Mainelli.

Four of the top five worldwide vendors also eyed shipment increases year-over-year and solid growth in Q2. Samsung sits at second place with 2.4 million units shipped, which is an increase from 1.1 million units in Q2 2011, and ASUS notably almost tripled its amount of units shipped from a year ago. Interestingly, shipments of the Google/ASUS-branded Nexus 7 are not a part of these totals.

Get the full breakdown at IDC.

This article is cross-posted at 9to5Google.

Expand
Expanding
Close

NY Times reporter David Pogue’s iPhone was stolen, enlists Twitter to help ‘Find my iPhone’

Seth Weintraub Aug 2 2012 - 8:23 am PT

Are there any readers in Maryland that want to help? It could be fun/interesting (and probably dangerous, so do not blame us if you get shot)! Map center is here.

[tweet https://twitter.com/pogue/status/231047069647904768]
[tweet https://twitter.com/pogue/status/231053778411991040]

Update: With help of Gizmodo, Pogue got his phone back

[tweet https://twitter.com/PGPDJulie/statuses/231128575150002176]

[tweet https://twitter.com/pogue/status/231133334200270848]

[tweet https://twitter.com/PGPDJulie/status/231132656505593857/]

Former Apple designer reveals Apple passed on a curved-glass iPhone due to cost

Jordan Kahn Aug 2 2012 - 6:23 am PT

We have been getting some interesting bits and pieces from the Apple vs. Samsung trial this week, and most, of which, are related to early iPhone prototypes referenced in pre trial briefs by Samsung’s lawyers who alleged Apple was inspired by Sony products when creating its initial iPhone concepts. We get some more insight on Apple’s original iPhone plans today thanks to a deposition of former Apple designer Douglas Satzger, as discovered by Network World in recent court filings. Satzger, current VP of Industrial Design at Intel, held various roles at Apple from 1996 to 2008 including Industrial Design Creative Lead and Industrial Design Manager. In the deposition, Satzger claimed Apple had “strong interest in doing two pieces of shaped glass,” while referencing the 0355 model prototype pictured above.

He continued to explain how Apple ultimately chose not to utilize curved glass mainly due to cost:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple gets approval from Nevada Board of Economic Development for Reno data center

Seth Weintraub Aug 1 2012 - 6:22 pm PT

According to the AP, the Economic Development Board of Nevada approved a deal negotiated by the state to lure Apple Inc. to Reno with $89 million in tax breaks. Apple plans to build a 350-acre data center east of nearby Sparks. It will employ up to 200 contract workers and 35+ full-time workers with an hourly wage of $25. Apple will also build a purchasing and business center in a blighted area near downtown Reno.

Analysts estimate the projects will bring about $340 million in economic activity to the area over the next decade.

Washoe County and the city of Reno agreed to their share of the tax abatements in June. In Washoe County, Apple will get an 85 percent break on its personal property taxes, while Reno pledged 75 percent of its share of sales taxes to the company for a downtown business center.

In exchange for the tax breaks, Apple pledged to invest $1 billion in the region over 10 years. The agreement contains options to extend the abatements for two, 10-year periods provided the company meets certain benchmarks for continued investment in the region.

Apple is aggressively growing out its U.S. data center capacity, doubling up its relatively new data center and 20MW solar farm in North Carolina, as well as building another new center in Prineville, Ore.

Apple also uses its Reno office as a national tax haven.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Check out this redonkulous 300W iPhone portable DJ controller/Hi-Fi Party Machine [Video]

Jordan Kahn Aug 1 2012 - 1:32 pm PT

The Philips FWP3200D 300W Mini Hi-Fi System, often simply referred to as the “Party Machine”, is essentially a set of rotatable iPhone docks (made to look like turntables) atop a 300W speaker system that includes two speakers boxes and packs a 2-inch tweeter and a 5.25-inch woofer. The turntables do little more than allow you to rotate the docked iPhones to either side of the system, providing a traditional DJ setup from behind the speakers or a more casual setup when docked in front. As for the controller itself, the majority of your DJing will be done from the iPhone’s touchscreen via the supported Djay iOS app. While it is not as feature-filled as your typical DJ controller, it does provide physical controls with a 13-key remote for fast reverse/fast forward, play/pause, repeat, etc., and a number of other features you will not find in your average docking station…

Expand
Expanding
Close

AT&T refutes report that employees were instructed to sell Android and Windows devices over iPhone

Jordan Kahn Aug 1 2012 - 8:40 am PT

Update: AT&T seemed none-too-pleased with the allegations and gave us the following statement:

The idea that we would steer any customer away from a particular device couldn’t be more farfetched. Our reps do what it takes to align customer needs with the best device for them. iPhone remains one of our most popular devices, which doesn’t happen by steering people away from it. Our reps are encouraged to try all devices so they are more knowledgeable on our industry-leading smartphone lineup.

[tweet https://twitter.com/leewalker10/status/230703524634300416]

We heard reports in the past that retail employees at other carriers were instructed by higher-ups to push Android and other alternative smartphone options to customers interested in the iPhone. However, BGR claimed today that AT&T’s slow 3 percent growth of iPhone activations in the second quarter was likely the result of a similar strategy. Although iPhone activations made up roughly 73 percent of smartphones in AT&T’s Q2 report, the initiative has apparently been confirmed by three independent sources:

Regional retail sales managers at AT&T have been instructing store managers to pump the brakes on Apple’s iPhone. Instructions handed down from corporate state that customers seeking smartphones at AT&T retail stores should be steered away from Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone and towards Android phones or Windows Phone handsets like the Nokia Lumia 900 instead. BGR has confirmed the directive with three independent sources

[tweet https://twitter.com/rjonesy/status/230700916075020289]

The report also claimed that one source indicated iPhone sales dropped from 80 percent to 50- to 60- percent of smartphone sales, at least in one region, since the initiative began. BGR also claimed retail staffs at AT&T in some regions are forced to choose an Android or Windows device over the iPhone for their company phone. We reached to AT&T for a comment and will update this post shortly when we hear back.

Expand
Expanding
Close

ComScore: Ahead of iPhone refresh, Apple outgrew Android and the iPhone took market share from Samsung, Motorola and LG

Seth Weintraub Aug 1 2012 - 8:37 am PT

Today’s comScore report measured the U.S. phone landscape from March to June with some surprising surges from Apple noted. Apple was the only manufacturer to gain market share in the overall handset business by growing 1.4-points in the three months. This is particularly notable because Apple’s iPhone is expected to get refreshed in September.

Additionally, iOS outgrew Android in the three-month span from 1.7-points to 0.6-points (see chart below). The gains by both OSes to a whopping 84 percent of all smartphones measured were at the expense of Microsoft, RIM, and Symbian. On the changes, comScore said:

Expand
Expanding
Close