Apple

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

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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

Apple Marketing SVP Phil Schiller dumps ‘Instagram’ over expansion to Android

Apr 19 2012 - 1:04 pm PT

Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey is not the only photo-loving business executive upset by Instagram in recent weeks. While Dorsey stopped posting photos on Instagram after Facebook reportedly beat his Twitter to an acquisition of the app, Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller quit Instagram for another reason: Android.

A reader noticed Schiller deleted his Instagram account (@schiller), and then reached out to Apple’s most visible public speaker by Twitter for confirmation. Schiller told the reader that he quit the rising photo-based social network, because the app “jumped the shark” when it launched on the Android platform.

In terms of iOS marketing, which is something that Schiller runs at the highest level, Instagram could have been seen as a pull for smartphone buyers to the iOS platform. The fun, convenient, and growing network was featured several times in Apple’s App Store—even winning “App of the Year” recognition. As marketing chief at Apple, seeing one of the platform’s most popular third-party pieces of software running on millions of Android phones is a disappointing sight.

Update: 9to5mac reader Clayton got in touch (we verified headers) with SVP Schiller who clarified his position… a little:

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Yet another reason Apple has to make its products in China: Rare Earths

Jordan Kahn Apr 19 2012 - 12:40 pm PT

With all of the controversy and media attention Apple has experienced since The New York Times’ “How the U.S. Lost Out on iPhone Work” article, a post from Motherboard (via iFixit) provides yet another reason why Apple makes its products in China—rare earths. While noting China’s cheap labor and lack of environmental regulations certainly contribute to Apple’s decision, the post explained how Apple’s use of rare earth elements might make it hard to move manufacturing elsewhere:

But there’s another important reason why Apple and other manufacturers have their heels stuck in Chinese mud. iPad manufacturing, like the manufacturing of other electronics, requires a significant amount of rare earth elements, the 17 difficult-to-mine elements used in all kinds of green technology. It’s hard to say exactly what rare earths are in an iPad, since Apple is really tight-lipped about their materials

iFixit ‘s Elizabeth Chamberlain spoke with Cambridge engineering professor Dr. Tim Coombs who “guesses that there may be lanthanum in the iPad’s lithium-ion polymer battery, as well as ‘a range of rare earths to produce the different colours’ in the display.” He also thinks the magnets in Smart Covers and the iPad itself contain neodymium alloy. So how does rare earths keep Apple tied to China? The report explained:
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Apple LTE chip supplier Qualcomm unable to meet demand, could push back next iPhone launch

Jordan Kahn Apr 19 2012 - 11:48 am PT

According to a report from Reuters, Apple’s LTE chip supplier Qualcomm is having “trouble meeting demand” for smartphone chips and will continue experiencing manufacturing constraints throughout the rest of the year. Qualcomm Chief Executive Paul Jacobs told analysts on a conference call yesterday, “At this stage we cannot secure enough supply to meet the increasing demand we are experiencing.”

With Apple’s next-generation iPhone expected to include LTE capabilities like the recently launched third-gen iPad, many are speculating Qualcomm’s supply issues could lead to delays. It would also make the rumored September or October unveiling and holiday launch all the more likely opposed to June. Is it possible Qualcomm’s supply constraints have anything to do with Apple buying up its capacity?

Apple recently began internally seeding prototype N96— a faster iPhone with 1GB of RAM and an A5X variant to test the performance of the new chip on iPhones.

Qualcomm’s Chief Financial Officer Bill Keitel told Reuters the constraints have lead to increased operating expenses:
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Apple defends iPad ‘4G’ name in Australian federal court

Jordan Kahn Apr 19 2012 - 9:58 am PT

The last we heard in the case of Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission taking Apple to court over the “4G” branding of the new iPad was a meeting earlier this week that ended without resolution. Apple offered users a refund for the third-gen 4G iPad and changed some of its “4G LTE” advertising on its Australian website following complaints the device did not operate on frequencies used by 4G networks in the country. However, the ACCC wanted Apple to change the Wi-Fi + 4G branding of the actual device.

Today, a report from The Australian claimed Apple is defending the name by claiming, despite operating only on 3G networks, the new iPads on Telstra, Optus and Vodafone deliver speeds “in accordance with accepted industry and regulatory use of the descriptor ‘4G’.” In other words, Apple thinks the carrier’s 3G networks should be referred to as 4G networks. This is what Apple told an Australian federal court this week:

Apple says the iPad is compatible with data networks run by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone “which are 4G networks in accordance with accepted industry and regulatory use of the descriptor ‘4G’ “…. The iPad with WiFi + 4G is a device which performs in accordance with the descriptor ‘4G’ in terms of data transfer speed… The descriptor ‘4G’ … conveys to consumers in Australia that the iPad with WiFi + 4G will deliver a superior level of service in terms of data transfer speed (consistent with accepted industry and regulatory use of that term), and not that the iPad with WiFi + 4G is compatible with any particular network technology promoted by a particular mobile service provider in Australia.”

Apple also claimed:

“There was at all material times information widely published in Australia which informed consumers that the iPad with WiFi + 4G was not compatible with Telstra’s 4G LTE network”

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Kaspersky: 30,000 Mac users left infected with Flashback, more Mac malware on the way

Jordan Kahn Apr 19 2012 - 9:17 am PT

As of yesterday, security company Symantec released a statement claiming there were still 140,000 Macs infected from the recent Flashback malware outbreak that originally infected an estimated 600,000 Mac users. That was despite Apple issuing a Java security update to remove the malware. Today, security researchers from Kaspersky said during a press conference (via Ars Technica) that it estimated infections dropped to 30,000, while still warning more “mass-malware” on OS X is on the way:

“Market share brings attacker motivation… Expect more drive-by downloads, more Mac OS X mass-malware. Expect cross-platform exploit kits with Mac-specific exploits.”

Kaspersky also clarified that much of the Flashback infections were spread through trusted WordPress websites that have been hijacked rather than through malicious downloaded files as many assume. Ars explained:

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HTC fights ‘slide-to-unlock’ in London as Samsung continues patent war with Apple ahead of settlement talks

Jordan Kahn Apr 19 2012 - 8:43 am PT

With court moderated settlement talks between Apple and Samsung executives set to take place within the next 90 days, Samsung has now filed a counterclaim in a California federal court alleging Apple’s iOS devices are infringing eight patents. The counterclaim is part of an original patent infringement lawsuit initiated by Apple in February. Foss Patents reported:

It comes as no surprise that Samsung retaliated with infringement claims. Samsung owns roughly 30,000 U.S. patents. It has from the outset of its dispute with Apple demonstrated its belief that a good offense is the best defense. So far, none of Samsung’s infringement claims against Apple has succeeded anywhere on Earth, despite efforts in nine different countries, but Samsung keeps on fighting.

Apple is also in the middle of patent infringement cases with HTC, which just told a court in London that its touchscreen devices, specifically its “slide-to-unlock” functionality, do not infringe on Apple’s patents. Bloomberg reported today that HTC’s lawyers described the functionality in question as “extremely simple implementations of commonly known techniques.” Apple’s lawyer Simon Thorley argued HTC is “attacking the validity of four patents” and claimed, “It is clear the inventions make the requisite contributions.”

If HTC is successful, it could have an impact in ongoing patent infringement related cases with Apple in Dutch and German courts. The report described the functionality Apple claims is covered in the patents:

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Judge orders Apple, Google to face ‘no-poach’ lawsuit

Élyse Betters Apr 19 2012 - 8:35 am PT

Reuters reported that a judge rejected Apple and Google’s bid last night to have an antitrust lawsuit dismissed. The lawsuit claimed the companies illegally entered “no-poach” agreements in an effort to stop competitors from stealing talent:

District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, rejected the companies’ bid to dismiss claims brought under the Sherman Act and California state law, in a decision released Wednesday night. […] The proposed class action lawsuit was brought by five software engineers, who accused the companies of conspiring to depress employee pay by eliminating competition for skilled labor.

Other defendants in the case included Intel, Adobe Systems, Intuit Walt Disney Co’s Pixar, and Lucasfilm.

This Aside is cross-posted at 9to5Google.

(Image via Zoknowsgaming)

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Apple releases version 1.0.1 of Configurator Mac app

Jordan Kahn Apr 18 2012 - 11:00 am PT

Apple released an updated version of its “Apple Configurator” Mac app for deploying multiple iOS devices in a school or business environment. Version 1.0.1 of the tool includes a number of stability and performance enhancements. It also includes fixes for .ipa files, redemption codes, and bookmarks for iTunes U and iBooks, and more.

You can grab the free updated Configurator app from the Mac App Store now. The full list of changes is below:

What’s New in Version 1.0.1

This update improves overall stability and performance and addresses a number of issues, including the following:

Enterprise apps packaged as .ipa files are imported and installed correctly.
Redemption codes for apps that contain a comma in their title can now be imported.
A redemption code may be reused to install an app on another device if the original device is unsupervised and erased by Apple Configurator, or if the app’s installation did not complete on the original device.
The redemption code used to purchase an app in iTunes may also be used to install the app on one device with Apple Configurator.
The number of redemption codes remaining for an app is now displayed correctly.
Notes and bookmarks entered into iBooks and iTunes U are deleted when a backup is restored to a supervised device.
The WPA2 password is saved when editing a Wi-Fi profile payload.
The name of a stored backup is saved when edited.
The storage capacity of an 8 GB iPod touch is now displayed correctly.
The “Erase all contents and settings” checkbox on the Prepare pane has been relabeled “Erase before installing”.

Apple working on iTunes 11 with iOS 6 support, improved iCloud integration (9to5mac.com)

Poll: Are you waiting for the new Ivy Bridge models to get a Mac?

Seth Weintraub Apr 18 2012 - 10:58 am PT

Like some of you, I am limping by on my 2010 MacBook Air, but I have been anxiously waiting for this Ivy Bridge lineup of MacBooks to get released before buying a new Mac. As Walt Mossberg said, it is a good idea to wait until the new Apple products come out to upgrade, but it is starting to feel like forever (I know—it has only been a few months).

Are you waiting for Ivy Bridge before buying a new Mac?

(Image via Reddit)

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Did Apple snub China iPad launch over trademark mess?

Seth Weintraub Apr 18 2012 - 9:42 am PT

Tim Cook, Apple COO, in january 2009, after Ma...

Tim Cook, Apple COO, in january 2009, after Macworld Expo keynote. Picture by Valery Marchive (LeMagIT) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Forbes brings up the point that Apple may have snubbed China in its new iPad launch plans over the iPad trademark lawsuit it is fighting with Proview. While there are many other factors likely in play —like logistics—it certainly would not be out of character for Apple. Plus, Apple gets to sell them cheaper in Hong Kong anyway.

Apple’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook recently toured China and met Chinese officials about issues concerning trademark and copyright infringement, which seems to overwhelmingly favor China.

Apple finally talks, says that Proview refuses to honor their agreement to transfer iPad trademark (9to5mac.com)
The price of the iPad name in China has gone up to $2B (9to5mac.com)
Proview tries to block iPads from coming in or going out of China (9to5mac.com)
Lower Chinese court rules distributors should stop selling iPads in China (9to5mac.com)

Good advice: Mossberg says wait on your next Mac purchase

Élyse Betters Apr 18 2012 - 9:31 am PT

[vodpod id=Video.16391290&w=650&h=420&fv=videoGUID%3D%7BA142A006-058D-4E92-AD3A-18501AF001D3%7D%26amp%3Bplayerid%3D1000%26amp%3BplyMediaEnabled%3D1%26amp%3BconfigURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwsj.vo.llnwd.net%2Fo28%2Fplayers%2F%26amp%3BautoStart%3Dfalse]

Good ‘ole Walt Mossberg from The Wall Street Journal warned readers today about not buying a new laptop this spring:

Apple is overdue for redesigned laptops, especially in its MacBook Pro line, and it is a good bet that new, possibly heavily redesigned, models will begin appearing later this year. Current Macs will likely be upgradable to Mountain Lion, but if you buy now, you’ll miss out on the likely new hardware.

Check out what else he predicted in the video above, or go read his full-length WSJ post.

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Sergey Brin clarifies: “I have always admired Apple’s products”

Jordan Kahn Apr 18 2012 - 9:08 am PT

A recent interview with Google’s cofounder Sergey Brin received a lot of attention due to his view that Apple and Facebook are the biggest threats to the open Internet. Today, Brin took some time to clarify his thoughts about the coverage of his interview, which he feels has been “particularly distorted.” In a Google+ post, Brin noted he has “always admired Apple’s products,” and he currently uses an iMac (Imac?):

Moreover, I have much admiration for two of the companies we discussed — Apple and Facebook. I have always admired Apple’s products. In fact, I am writing this post on an Imac and using an Apple keyboard I have cherished for the past seven years.

9to5Google has the full story.

Besides governments and the entertainment industry, Google cofounder sees Facebook and Apple as the biggest threat to the open Internet (9to5mac.com)

Fotopedia presents 9 Retina-optimized free apps

Élyse Betters Apr 18 2012 - 8:52 am PT

Fotopedia is now offering free self-branded, Retina-optimized apps, and its website header says it all: “A Retina Display Festival – 9 Free Apps, Total Visual Satisfaction.”

Fotopedia is a photo encyclopedia that has generated more than 50,000 pages and linked to over nearly 800,000 photos. Go to Fotopedia now to download the apps, which range from “Heritage” to “National Parks.”

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Report: Apple building thinner and lighter Liquidmetal next-gen iPhone

Jordan Kahn Apr 18 2012 - 7:54 am PT

A new report from Korean publication ETNews.com claimed industry sources confirmed Apple will use “liquid metal” technology to make a thinner and lighter next-generation iPhone. Apple acquired rights to the patented amorphous metal alloys from Liquidmetal Technologies’ in August 2010.

According to industry sources, the next flagship phones of the companies are expected to adopt unprecedented materials for their main bodies, that is, ceramic for the Galaxy S3 and liquid metal for iPhone5, both being thin, light and highly resistant to external impacts. The new phase of the rivalry is because neither one of them can get a decisive edge over the other solely with its OS and AP specifications, features or design.

Apple has been rumored in the past to be using Liquidmetal in batteries and SIM card tools, but no solid evidence has backed these claims. Today’s report continued to assert that the iPhone 5, as ETNews.com referred to the device, is expected to launch at WWDC in San Francisco this June. However, the publication does not cite a source for the location and timeframe, so it is possible it is just basing this expectation on a rumor. As MacRumors pointed out, the website has a less than perfect track record. Many industry analysts expect Apple to move its iPhone release window to September or October due to the launch date of the iPhone 4S in 2011.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook gets report card from Al Gore in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list

Jordan Kahn Apr 18 2012 - 6:52 am PT

Time Magazine just released its list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2012, and Apple’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook—following in the footsteps of Steve Jobs— made the list alongside Hilary Clinton, Tim Tebow, Rihanna, and Salman Khan. Also featured on the list this year, after stemming from the incredible success of his “Steve Jobs“ biography, is author Walter Isaacson.

Each entry on the list includes a description written by someone close to the influential person. In the case of Cook, former U.S. Vice President and Apple board member Al Gore did the honors. Gore said Cook has already “led the world’s most valuable and innovative company to new heights while implementing major policy changes smoothly and brilliantly.” Gore’s full entry on Cook is below:

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Apple and Samsung CEOs to meet in court for patent dispute settlement talks within 90 days

Jordan Kahn Apr 17 2012 - 12:12 pm PT

According to a report from Foss Patents (and confirmed by Reuters), Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook and Samsung Chief Executive Officer Gee-Sung Choi will meet within the next 90 days for settlement talks over ongoing patent disputes. Judge Lucy Koh, who is presiding over the two cases in California, initiated the meeting after ordering the companies to submit their CEOs and legal counsels to an Alternative Dispute Resolution.

“As directed by the Court, Apple and Samsung are both willing to participate in a Magistrate Judge Settlement Conference with Judge Spero as mediator. At Apple, the chief executive officer and general counsel are the appropriate decision-makers, and they will represent Apple during the upcoming settlement discussions. At Samsung, the chief executive officer and general counsel are also the appropriate decision-makers, and they will represent Samsung during these settlement discussions.”

The report called the talks “semi-voluntary,” because the companies did not have to submit to the Alternative Dispute Resolution. However, as pointed out by Foss Patents, “if only one of them had made the CEO available, the other one would have appeared to be less than constructive.” Apple and Samsung executives will meet in San Francisco with U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero sometime over the next three months:

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Greenpeace says iCloud powered with ‘dirty coal energy’

Jordan Kahn Apr 17 2012 - 7:58 am PT

Despite Apple currently constructing one of the nation’s largest solar arrays and expanding its North Carolina data centers, Greenpeace just released its “How Clean is Your Cloud” report claiming Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft “are powering their growing 21st-century clouds with dirty, 19th-century coal energy.” The organization is urging consumers to read the 50-page report and then contact the companies mentioned to convince them to change their approach when it comes to powering the cloud.

“If Apple is really interested in having the “high percentage” of renewable energy it claims to want for the iCloud, it will have to look beyond the initial steps for on-site generation and use its tremendous cash reserves to invest in or purchase renewable energy and also to put pressure on Duke Energy to to provide cleaner energy”

Apple issued a statement to various media outlets today in response (via NPR):

“Our data center in North Carolina will draw about 20 megawatts at full capacity, and we are on track to supply more than 60 percent of that power on-site from renewable sources including a solar farm and fuel cell installation which will each be the largest of their kind in the country,” said Kristin Huguet, an Apple spokesperson. “We believe this industry-leading project will make Maiden the greenest data center ever built, and it will be joined next year by our new facility in Oregon running on 100 percent renewable energy.”

Greenpeace says iCloud powered with ‘dirty coal energy’ (9to5mac.com)

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Carriers and bankers not liking Nokia’s chances against iPhone/Android. Is it over? (Poll)

Seth Weintraub Apr 17 2012 - 5:46 am PT

Although Nokia may or may not be having some success in the United States with its heavy Lumia 900 marketing campaign under AT&T, it does not appear to have made any headway on its home turf in Europe. AT&T will give you $50 to take one of its Lumia 900 phones in the United States, but it has already fallen off the Best Selling list at Amazon.

Yesterday, the credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded Nokia’s debt to near junk level citing a “sharp decline in first-quarter cell phone sales that led to a 35 percent fall in revenue.” Standard & Poor’s announced a similar downgrade in March. Nokia’s share prices plunged another 20 percent in recent days on news that it would not come close to its forecasts.

Things do not seem to be looking up, either. Reuters talked to four European carriers that said Nokia phones simply could not compete with Apple’s iPhone and the Android devices already available.

“No one comes into the store and asks for a Windows phone,” said an executive in charge of mobile devices at a European operator, which has sold the Lumia 800 and 710 since December

When the Nokia 900 launched, we asked: “What question does the Lumia 900 answer? Why would you buy a Lumia over an iPhone or Android device?”
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Apple job opening hints at continued 3D technology in iOS

Jake Smith Apr 16 2012 - 7:36 pm PT

Apple filed many patents for 3D technology over the years—from advanced 3D cameras to the ability to create 3D avatars inside of iOS. Recently, Apple posted a new “Computer Vision specialist to strengthen its multi-view stereo research group” job opening on its careers website that suggests the Cupertino-based company has continued pursuit to integrate 3D technology, which has not been done.

The job opening calls for a person with a “Ph.D. degree in a Computer Vision related field such as Mathematics, Physics or Computer Science. You should be a confident and experienced C programmer.” The listing also clarifies that the job title is an “iOS Software Engineer.” Other requirements include:

Multi-view stereo and 3D reconstruction

Inpainting of occluded geometry and texture data

SLAM

Mesh texturing techniques

Large scale bundle adjustment

Cameras and surfaces in a 3D environment

Apple has yet to include 3D technology into its products. On the other hand, over on Android, both HTC and LG included 3D cameras and passive 3D displays in some of their handsets. There are a few 3D savvy folks in Cupertino, however. One employee on job ranking website Glassdoor called Apple the “best job I’ve had in my 36 year career of 2D/3D imaging.” What is interesting is that Apple is continuing to hire someone with serious credentials to work on 3D technology.

It will be interesting to see what 3D technology Apple includes in the upcoming versions of iOS and perhaps even the rumored iTV, which is perfect for an iOS software engineer with a Ph. D degree.

I really do not think we will see a 3D display or 3D camera on an iPhone anytime soon, because Apple would most likely rather stick with its stunning Retina display. However, I think such an engineer would work on products like a panorama mode for the camera.

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New fragrance is based on smell of new Apple products

Jake Smith Apr 16 2012 - 5:56 pm PT

“Is that MacBook Pro you are wearing?”

There is nothing like the smell of a new Apple product. The smell that encompasses your nose as you rip into your new iPhone, Macbook Air, or iPad is memorable—and hey, maybe something that you would like to smell all the time. Melbourne-based artists Gavin Bell, Jarrah de Kuijer, and Simon McGlinn teamed with Air Aroma to create a unique fragrance that smells just like a new Apple product, specifically a MacBook Pro opened for the first time. How awesome.

To replicate the smell a brand new unopened Apple was sent to our fragrance lab in France. From there, professional perfume makers used the scents they observed unboxing the new Apple computer to source fragrance samples. On completion the laptop was sent back to Australia, travelling nearly 50,000kms and returned to our clients together with scent of an Apple Macbook Pro.

The fragrance will be used at the artists’ art show in Melbourne, where it will disperse throughout the exhibit with a Air Aroma Aroslim diffuser. Sadly, it does not sound like the scent will go into mass production.

If only they would package this stuff up and sell it in a can. Learn more.
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NYC Apple Stores will host free events for Tribeca Film Festival

Élyse Betters Apr 16 2012 - 4:14 pm PT

Apple just announced that its retail stores at West 14th Street and SoHo in Manhattan are participating in the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival by showcasing Hollywood’s top artists as guest speakers.

“To celebrate the spirit of independent filmmaking, we’re hosting free events and workshops from April 20 through April 28. And everyone’s invited to attend,” explained Apple on its website and in a circular email.

There is an official “Tribeca Film Festival” app for free at the App Store that details all the workshops taking place.

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Apple is creating an electronics Oasis within Walmart

Élyse Betters Apr 16 2012 - 9:42 am PT

Apple helped Walmart build a store-within-a-store oasis for Apple products in the home state of the chain’s founder Sam Walton.

We broke the news earlier this year that Sams’s Club is exploring Apple Store-within-a-store concepts. This weekend, Apple retail news website ifoAppleStore posted numerous pictures from a Walmart in Lowell, Ark., which owns and operates Sam’s Club, that depict Apple displays within its walls akin to Best Buy’s lavish store-within-a-store creations.

An image gallery is below.

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Often-rumored Apple partner Sharp announces production of Hi-DPI IGZO LCD displays

Élyse Betters Apr 13 2012 - 8:48 am PT

32-inch iMac or TV? We’ll take both!

Sharp revealed today that it began assembling high-performance LCDs last month with increased production in April to meet market demand.

Jefferies & Co.’s Peter Misek is a very outspoken analyst regarding Apple’s rumored HDTV. He first claimed in November that Sharp is preparing production lines for the “iTV,” but he later said the company plans to build roughly 5 million units beginning this spring with a product launch slated for Q4 2012.

According to Sharp, the LCDs will help the company contribute to “creating markets for attractive new products”:

Sharp will encourage the application of its new high-resolution LCD panels to high-definition notebook PCs and LCD monitors—which are both expected to grow in demand—as well as to mobile devices. Sharp will also contribute to creating markets for attractive new products.

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French Designer Philippe Starck says he’s working on a ‘revolutionary’ project with Apple due in 8 months (Updated: Steve’s Boat)

Seth Weintraub Apr 13 2012 - 6:17 am PT

Le Figaro reports that renowned designer Philippe Starck (pictured, right) is working with Apple on a “revolutionary” product due in eight months.

French designer Philippe Starck announced today on France Info that it is working with the U.S. computer group Apple in a project “revolutionary” that would emerge in eight months. “Indeed, there is a big project together which will be out in eight months,” said the designer in the show “Everything and its opposite.” Invoking the “religious cult of secrecy” of the California firm, he declined further detail, except to talk about a project “quite revolutionary (…) if not very”.

Interestingly, Stark reveals that he had a close collaborative relationship with Apple’s former Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs with whom he met on a monthly basis for seven years.

Philippe Starck, who has revamped hotels, restaurants, toothbrushes or even the last Parisian Navigo travel card, has revealed that he regularly met in California Steve Jobs, Apple’s legendary founder who died last October. “For seven years I came to see him once a month in Palo Alto and elsewhere I go Monday, because even though he is dead, now I will see his wife. We liked to talk all things interesting, “he said.

While this is beyond tantalizing, much can be lost in translation here. Starck already sells products in the Apple Store, and we could be talking about an iPod dock or iPad case or something less exciting than an Apple HDTV or new camera.

Update: More lost in translation/buzzkill: Remember Philippe Starck was working with Steve Jobs on his boat and that would explain the monthly meetings that are ongoing with his wife. The 75 meter yacht is due in the same 2012-2013 timeframe. It isn’t clear if this is the revolutionary product he was speaking of.

Update 2: Apple says WTF: Reached for comment, an Apple spokeswoman said the company is not working on a new product with Starck and declined to speculate about what the designer might have been referring to when he told France Info Radio that he and Apple “have a big project together that will be out in eight months.”

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