Year: 2012

Prisma Bluetooth speakers add big sound and class to your desktop

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated May 20, 2016

I wouldn't call myself an audiophile, not even if I was stretching my imagination, but I do have a set of speakers in almost every room in the house. Circa 1997, I bought a pair of portable desktop speakers, which have held true for 15 years, but it is time for a change. Technology has adapted and changed, but my old speakers have not.

To increase the savvy of my sound and look, Edifier sent over their Prisma E3350BT 2.1 BT Audio System and, I must say it is quite an impressive package. In fact, the system boasts a 2008 CES Design and Engineering honor and has received updates throughout the past few years...

On heels of TV rumors, Apple wins ad-skipping patent

Cody Lee ∙ August 21, 2012

Recent reports suggest that Apple has started focusing its living room efforts on a cable-friendly set-top box, instead of the long-rumored television set. But the Cupertino company is said to still be negotiating with major cable companies.

Talks are reportedly moving slowly, as cable providers are extremely hesitant to allow Apple into their industry. And this probably won't help their cause. The iPad-makers have just been awarded a patent for skipping commercials...

Former Googler Mayer wants iPhones for Yahoo

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 21, 2012

Ironies are everywhere in Silicon Valley. Take new Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, for instance. Mayer spent 13 years at Google -- Ground Zero for Android -- yet now is considering buying every Yahoo employee an iPhone. Seems workers at the search company are a polyglot bunch when it comes to phones with many using BlackBerries, Android handsets and iPhones, of course.

It's not clear why Mayer settled on the iPhone instead of Android, but one unnamed source "familiar with Mayer's thinking" told BusinessInsider that the goal is to "get consistency across the company." However, early on Mayer professed interest in the iPhone, showing up at a press meet-and-greet with an Apple handset. She later went on to explain: "I use lots of phones."

Skype app updated with new photo sharing feature

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Skype users rejoice! The video calling service just updated its iPhone and iPad apps, bringing the mobile client to version 4.1. The update includes a handful of bug fixes and a new photo sharing feature.

That's right, users with the latest version of the app will now be able to send and receive photos...

Report: Apple to open Moscow ‘Apple Rus’ in 2013

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

First came the U.S. Apple Store, then London and Paris. Now the iPhone maker is preparing to open stores in Moscow, according to a Russian newspaper. The move would allow Apple to sell directly to Moscovites, rather than using local distributors.

As part of the effort, the company has registered "Apple Rus" to directly sell iPads and iPhones in stores near Moscow and St. Petersburg...

UK carrier authorized to offer first LTE service ahead of iPhone launch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

This is pretty interesting: Ofcom, the regulator for UK communications, announced today that it has given permission to the carrier Everything Everywhere to begin using its existing 1800 MHz to offer LTE services beginning on September 11.

If that date sounds familiar, that's because it's the day before the all-but-confirmed media event where Apple is said to be unveiling it's next smartphone. The handset is widely expected to be LTE-capable, but will it work outside of the US?

Samsung to invest $4 billion in iPad, iPhone chip plant

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 21, 2012

Imagine a symbiotic relationship where each party depends on the other, but they are continually fighting and you'll have a good picture of Apple and Samsung. The latest episode in the ultimate case of frenemies happened Tuesday as the South Korean chip giant pledged nearly $4 billion to upgrade a plant producing chips for Apple's iPhone and iPad.

Samsung said it will plunk down around $4 billion to renovate the Austin, Texas plant in order to boost production of ARM-based chips, many used in Apple's iPhone, iPad and other consumer technology, Reuters reports today. This after Samsung just unveiled plans to build in South Korea a new $1.98 billion logic chip plant for Apple and other smartphone makers...

Watch this hilarious iPhone 5 parody spot

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Though we are fairly confident that we know what the next iPhone will look like, there's no way to know all of its features and what it's capable of until Apple announces it next month.

But that didn't stop Adam Sacks from speculating. The artist has produced a familiar-looking parody of what he thinks the big feature of the iPhone 5 will be. And it's quite funny...

German carrier announces new iPhone coming in September

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

While the September unveil and launch date for the new iPhone has been all-but-confirmed by a number of news outlets, Apple has still yet to officially make the call. And it may not for another two weeks.

But that didn't stop German wireless carrier Mobilecom Debitel from sending out an announcement to its subscribers today, claiming that Apple's latest smartphone will indeed go on sale next month...

Concept shows what Apple’s 30-pin adapter could look like

Cody Lee ∙ August 21, 2012

Of all the things we think we know about Apple's next smartphone, a smaller dock connector seems to be one of the most certain. After several years, it appears Apple is finally prepared to ditch its trusty 30-pin design in favor of a smaller solution.

And this has a lot of folks nervous. The aftermarket for 30-pin-style accessories has to be one of the largest in the business. And we've all got loads of iPhone chargers and docks that could become useless as of next month. Or will they?

Report calls for iPad mini production to ramp up in September

Cody Lee ∙ August 21, 2012

We've opined, in the past, that the reason we haven't seen many leaked iPad mini parts may be because the tablet is simply not as far along in production as the next-gen iPhone — a device for which part leaks have been ample.

And according to a new report, that might just be the case. Citing sources from Apple's upstream supply chain, the note says that Apple isn't expected to begin volume production of the smaller iPad until September...

AT&T’s FaceTime limits could violate FCC rules

Cody Lee ∙ August 21, 2012

AT&T sent shockwaves through the tech community last week when it announced its future plans for iOS 6's new FaceTime over Cellular feature. The good news is that it won't be charging separately for the service, but the bad news is only customers on its new Mobile Share data plans will be able to use it.

As you can imagine, this has folks upset — particularly AT&T customers who are still on unlimited, or other legacy, data plans. Why should they have to switch to a [likely] more expensive data plan to use the feature? Well, according to Public Knowledge's senior lawyer John Bergmayer, they shouldn't have to...