Year: 2012

Fragmentation? Here’s your iOS platform matrix

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2012

A developer took it upon himself to create a handy chart with all of Apple's iOS devices, their key hardware characteristics and iOS software builds running. Even a brief glance reveals very little fragmentation as approximately 70 percent of all iOS devices in the wild are shown running iOS 5, the latest public version of Apple's mobile operating system.

The upcoming iOS 6 is already on five percent of devices in the wild and iOS 4 is still found on approximately ten percent of devices. On the hardware front, both the third-generation iPod touch/iPhone and newer plus all iPad models run on the ARMv7 application processor.

This makes software optimization much easier than on the Android platform, where a variety of form factors, hardware configurations and device models contribute to high fragmentation....

Chart shows all of Apple’s patent claims against Samsung

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

On the surface, Apple's beef with Samsung is fairly easy to understand. Apple feels that Samsung has intentionally copied the design of its smartphones and tablets, and it wants justice (along with compensation).

But in reality, Apple's claims are much more complicated. They involve four design patents, three feature patents, and around 20 different Samsung devices that Apple believes are infringing on its inventions...

Apple granted patent for rumored in-cell display tech

Cody Lee ∙ August 14, 2012

Among the many changes we're expecting to see in Apple's new smartphone, one of them is a reduction in thickness. The new handset is said to be noticeably thinner than its predecessor.

So how is Apple going to pull this off while still adding things like LTE and a larger display? By doing things like reducing the size of the charging port, and using in-cell touchscreen tech...

Cable TV and DVR could come to Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2012

Apple has been granted an important patent today, covering two missing features of its $99 Apple TV set-top box: the ability to pull premium programming via cable television networks and display it alongside show information overlaid in menus, plus the ability to record television shows, DVR style...

Video shows off the Pebble wristwatch user interface

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2012

Pebble, an iPhone-connected wristwatch, made rounds earlier this year. It took the iOS community by storm with its advanced features like the ability to pull various data off your iOS or Android device, the stuff like caller ID, email, calendar alerts, Facebook messages and Twitter notifications.

It also has a software development kit and features an e-paper display viewable in direct sunlight, a built-in accelerometer and a battery that will last you a staggering 7 days.

And now, the folks behind this interesting Kickstarter project have decided to show off an early beta of the Pebble's gorgeous user interface...

Apple shipped nearly 7 out of every 10 tablets in Q2

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

Joining Strategy Analytics and IDC, research firm IHS iSuppli today published findings of its second-quarter tablet research. No surprises here, Apple's iPad remain the tablet to beat as Apple grew its tablet market share from 58.0 percent in the year-ago quarter to 69.9 percent in the second quarter of this year.

It's the highest number since the first quarter of last year, when Apple had a 70 percent share. Making Apple's surge even more noteworthy is the fact that a year ago Apple had fewer competitors in the marketplace...

Burglar steals $60,000 worth of computers and personal items from Steve Jobs’ home

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2012

Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' Palo Alto home was burglarized last month, according to a newspaper report today. The police included the crime in its weekend report log released to the media. A suspect was apprehended with $60,000 worth of stolen items, including computers and personal items.

Steve's widow Laurene Powell Jobs and her children were probably not in the house when the crime took place as the Palo Alto house was surrounded with scaffolding last month amid major renovations.

A thief apparently was unaware of the famous home owners. The police wouldn't release more details because charges had already been filed...

Gartner blames Q2 smartphone decline on the iPhone 5 wait

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2012

Gartner is out today with their second-quarter phone sales data and the results confirm what avid readers of this site have known all along, that a lot of people are holding off their planned purchases as the next iPhone looms. With less than four weeks left until the rumored September 12 unveiling, Gartner has registered a 2.3 percent decline in worldwide sales of mobile phones to end users.

Out of the 419 million cell phones that shipped during the quarter, more than one-third were smartphones, or 36.7 percent. While the whole cell market contracted a bit, smartphone sales grew 42.7 percent year-over-year.

The fight for smartphone supremacy continues to be a two-horse race between Google's Android platform and Apple's iOS, which together accounted for nearly 83 percent of the world's market for smartphones. Other branded vendors all experienced a decline, with the notable exception of China's ZTE and Huawei whose global growth continues unabated..

An interesting case for why Apple may call it the iPhone 5

Cody Lee ∙ August 14, 2012

While it seems we know just about everything there is to know about Apple's next smartphone — looks, features, launch date — there is one thing that still remains a mystery: what's Apple going to call it?

According to our poll we conducted last month on the topic, the two most likely candidates are "the new iPhone" and the "iPhone 5." And if you think that Apple would never call it the iPhone 5, read this...

The new coco controller isn’t your average iOS gamepad

Cody Lee ∙ August 14, 2012

The physical game controller space for iOS is still up for grabs. There are some nice options already on the market, sure. But none of them have really managed to stand out, or pull ahead of the pack.

That's why we continue to see new iOS controllers pop up all the time — it's still anyone's game. And as you've probably already gleaned from the title, we've got another one to show you.

The coco controller, by Milkshake Labs, is a new gamepad for iOS devices (and a few Android handsets). On the surface, it looks like your average controller. But it's definitely not...

Why haven’t we seen many leaked iPad mini parts?

Cody Lee ∙ August 13, 2012

If we were doing a scavenger hunt for iPhone 5 parts, we'd be nearly done by now. We'd have the back cover, front panel, motherboard, and a slew of other components for the handset.

But the recent ramp up in iPhone 5 leaks has some folks wondering, why are there so few iPad mini parts floating around? Apple is still expected to unveil both products next month, right?

Significant layoffs reported in Apple stores in US, UK and Canada

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 13, 2012

Apple is laying off new retail staff in its various brick-and-mortar retail outlets in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada, a new report has it. New hires and employees on their probation period have been let go in the United Kingdom, where Apple operates 33 retail stores.

Back in the United States and Canada, we're hearing whispers of part-time staffers seeing their hours reduced, some even to zero. All of this is happening just as the next iPhone is coming to full view. What exactly is going on here?