IDC: Apple within spitting distance of Samsung in smart connected devices

By Christian Zibreg on Mar 26, 2013

Research firm IDC today shared an interesting data point which again reminds us that the mobile game has pretty much come down to the epic fight for supremacy between California-based Apple and Seoul-headquartered Samsung group. Combined shipments of desktop and notebook PCs, tablets and smartphones rose to 378 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012, accounting for $168 billion in quarterly sales.

One particular data point has piqued our interest: thanks to the (sarcasm alert) “disappointing” iPhone 5 and “overpriced” iPad mini, Apple closed the gap with the South Korean giant, having accounted for a 20.3 percent unit share versus 21.2 percent for its rival.

And, of course, when you narrow down the analysis to just revenues, Apple’s high-margin business has allowed the company to pull in the market-leading 30.7 percent revenue versus 20.4 percent revenue share for Samsung.

In other words, nearly one out of every three dollars spent on desktop/notebook PCs, smartphones and tablets in Q4 2012 went to Apple, with Samsung taking one out of each five bucks… Read More

 

Bluelounge releases Mika, one stand to rule them all

By Jim Gresham on Mar 26, 2013

It is almost redundant for me to begin another article expressing my love affair with quality iOS device stands, but, for the sake of tradition, allow my introduction sentence to lend credence to my lust. Bluelounge announced today, their newest product, the Mika, which is a simple stand for iPad, but strong enough to hold a full size MacBook. Thanks to a buddy at Bluelounge, I was able to get my hands on one for review prior to the announcement… Read More

 

Apple refreshes MacBooks, slashes prices

By Christian Zibreg on Feb 13, 2013

Apple Wednesday morning announced it has refreshed Retina MacBook Pro and MacBook Air configurations with faster processors and lower price points. The 256GB 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is now a $300 cheaper and has an upgraded processor and its entry-level 128GB counterpart now costs $200 less. Two 15-inch Retina MacBook Pros have also received a slight specs bump up. The MacBook Air is now a $100 cheaper. Full details right after the break… Read More

 

TwelveSouth’s PlugBug goes on a world tour

By Christian Zibreg on Jan 23, 2013

TwelveSouth makes wonderful accessories for Apple devices and their charging add-on called PlugBug is the perfect epitome of their design approach: not only is the accessory useful, it’s damn cute, too. For the uninitiated, the PlugBug will charge your MacBook and iPhone (or iPad or iPod touch) at the same time. The charming little red thingie piggy-backs onto your MacBook’s power adapter and has a 10W USB port to connect and charge your iDevice as the MacBook adapter simultaneously juices up your notebook.

How cool is that? Today, a year and half following its debut, TwelveSouth has announced the PlugBug World, an international version with five swappable prong adapters supporting power sockets in the United Kingdom and rest of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Hong Kong, China and a bunch of other markets… Read More

 

Apple settles Retina image lawsuit with Swiss photographer

By Cody Lee on Jan 10, 2013

With all of the reports we hear every week regarding Apple’s new and ongoing lawsuits, it’s nice to hear about one coming to an end. After a year of battling, the Cupertino company has settled a lawsuit regarding the alleged misuse of an eyeball image during one of its keynotes.

Apple used the photo, which was taken by Swiss photographer Sabine Liewald, to promote its new MacBook Pro with Retina display during its WWDC keynote last summer, as well as on its website, without the proper licensing. And thus, Liewald filed an infringement suit… Read More

 

The Hercules: a slim backpack with a pocket for everything [review and giveaway]

By Jim Gresham on Dec 12, 2012

I am a big fan of backpacks, all shapes, sizes, and purposes. Like everyone’s father told them growing up, there is a right tool for everything. Backpacks are no different. About two months ago, we took a close look at the B7103 Lance Daypack by ECBC. It was a larger, bulky bag that I would hardly call a “daypack,” as you read in the review. However, ECBC has taken a step back and produced a new bag that is truly top-shelf.

The new K7102 Hercules is a slimmer, more agile pack that, most importantly, boasts dedicated iPad and iPhone pockets and TSA FastPass computer pocket for jet setters. We are pretty excited about the changes ECBC made with such a quick turn around and more excited to offer one as a giveaway to a lucky reader! Check below the fold for all the details… Read More

 

Combiform wants to change the way you view console gaming

By Jim Gresham on Nov 30, 2012

Traditional console gaming never truly engages those participating in the game. Those playing the game on any given console, even a Wii, never actively work together or play a game in a given space away from the couch. Combiform looks to shatter conventional gaming with its new handheld-console system that even interacts with iPhone. The system, which is a unique patented technology, encourages multimodal interaction because it is not only a toy, but also a video game accessory with exciting possibilities… Read More

 

Apple granted 36 patents covering Siri mic icon design, Lightning, widgets and more

By Ed Sutherland on Nov 27, 2012

Apple this morning has received patents covering more than three dozen different technologies, ranging from the obvious to the obscure. The company’s patent filings as of late are even inspiring parody treatments like the Apple alphabet patent. Among today’s grants are the filings describing ways to interface sports equipment with your iPhone, iPad or iPod, patents for Mac OS X dashboards and the MacBook keyboard and others seeking to protect icons and designs of popular software features.

Most people know of Apple’s long-time association with Nike and the Nike+ app that records your running routine. Earlier this year, the Cupertino, California company filed a patent to go one step farther, interfacing your iPhone with a treadmill, or other workout machine at the local gym. Now it appears that patent was granted. But, wait, there’s plenty more gadgets and gizmos Apple wants protected… Read More

 

Apple picks new battery supplier, drops Samsung

By Ed Sutherland on Nov 23, 2012

Apple has chosen two China-based battery companies to supply the iPad and MacBook, says a Friday report. Amperex Technology Limited and Tianjin Lishen Battery would replace Samsung SDI, a subsidiary of the South Korean firm that is both Apple’s chief rival and largest supplier. The report is just the latest indicating Samsung and Apple are reconsidering their close relationship.

As the two smartphone giants attempt to out-compete each other in the courtroom and store shelves, Samsung’s role appears to be shifting from major supplier to important manufacturer… Read More

 

Apple launches 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display

By Christian Zibreg on Oct 23, 2012

As expected, Apple here at San Jose’s California Theatre shared some news regarding Mac notebooks. AS MacBooks continue to outgrow the PC industry sixth year in a row, they remain both the leading desktop and notebook in the United States. Not one to be standing still, the company just took the wraps off a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a whopping 2,600-by-1,600 pixel resolution, or four times the number of pixels…
Read More

 

The Lance Daypack helps you organize your mobile life while on the go

By Jim Gresham on Oct 9, 2012

To begin, I will start with a disclaimer. I love backpacks, own five of them. Each of the packs has a specific purpose and I’m always on the lookout for another specific bag to fit an individual need. When approached to review the ECBC Lance B7103 daypack, I jumped at the opportunity because I was looking for a workhorse backpack for my electronic gadgets.

Catching a glimpse of the internal pocket system in the B7103, it was love at first sight, but it faded quickly. After spending a weekend on the road, some very excellent features of the bag made mobile life more organized, but some specific features seemed to be missing… Read More

 

Apple to exclusively sell 9-pin dock connector adapter

By Ed Sutherland on Sep 5, 2012

Apple could cash in to the tune of $100 million soon after it unveils upcoming devices with the new 9-pin dock connector. The Cupertino, Calif. company intends to be initially the only game in town for Apple fans, exclusively selling the adapters at $10 a pop, reports say.

The company will also sell Apple-branded USB cables for $19 each. This is in line with the MagSafe to Magasafe 2 converter cable Apple sells for $9.99 and the iPhone Micro USB adapter for $11 and $13. Read More

 

Next-gen MacBook could wirelessly charge 2013 iPhones, iPads

By Christian Zibreg on Aug 10, 2012

Chip giant Intel is working on a new technology for its 2013 Ultrabook portable platform that is said to incorporate wireless charging between notebooks and mobile devices, per a new report out of Asia based on sources from the upstream supply chain.

As MacBooks use Intel’s chips, Apple could adopt this upcoming technology from Intel to enable wireless charging between future MacBooks and your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch… Read More

 

Poll: which WWDC announcement are you most excited about?

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 11, 2012

Apple’s boss Tim Cook is about to take the stage at San Francisco’s Moscone West an hour from now to deliver Apple’s mobile and desktop strategy for the next twelve months. You’re probably on the edge of your seat as we are, wondering what will get announced and whether there will be an “one more thing” moment that will blow your pants off.

More importantly, all eyes are on Apple as the industry awaits to see how Cupertino responds to strong competition in the mobile space. So we just put together this little poll and are asking you, our readers, to pick one WWDC announcement that you’re most excited for… Read More

 

Apple Store goes down ahead of WWDC keynote

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 11, 2012

That’s it folks, the Apple Store has just gone offline ahead of today’s WWDC keynote, which begins in a little bit more than two hours. Are you feeling the excitement yet?

As the big event approaches, possible specs of Apple’s new MacBooks have leaked, indicating that MacBook Airs will come with 4GB/8GB RAM flavors and a 512GB SSD option. SSD in these new Airs should use SATA3 and some of them are said to be based on Samsung’s crazy fast 830 series.

New MacBook Pro and Mac Pros are also in the cards and the AirPort Express base station is said to be due for an upgrade as well… Read More

 

Turn your iPhone into a laptop with Clambook

By Cody Lee on Jun 7, 2012

With a dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM and Wi-Fi capabilities, the iPhone 4S is more of a portable computer than a cell phone. And the folks at Clamcase are looking to capitalize on that.

Introducing the Clambook, a MacBook Air look-a-like laptop shell that aims to turn your iPhone into a portable computer, complete with a 16:9 laptop display and a full-size keyboard… Read More

 

Cook on toaster-refrigerator dilemma and why iPad and MacBook won’t converge

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 25, 2012

Apple reported its monster first-quarter earnings yesterday and CEO Tim Cook updated investors on a conference call with various tidbits.

He also addressed the upcoming Windows 8 operating system which was designed to scale easily from tablets to notebooks to desktop systems.

Even as the likes of Huawei allegedly jump on the Windows 8 bandwagon, Cook thinks the operating system won’t succeed at uniting the two worlds.

Specifically, Cook likened Microsoft’s strategy to a toaster-refrigerator convergence that would never work.

Fielding a question from Citigroup’s Richard Gardner, Apple’s boss said that yes, even though iPad and MacBook could converge, such a combination would never work because of the many tradeoffs customers would not be willing to put up with.

Plus, he said it would make little sense as the two products cater to different needs and consumers use them differently… Read More