Year: 2012

Samsung dissing Apple’s Maps in Sidney

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

You can't blame Samsung's marketing team for pouncing on Apple's every misstep. Remember the Apple Maps snafu in Australia that led to the police issuing a public warning advising against using the mapping product because it incorrectly placed the town of Mildura in the middle of Australia’s Murray Sunset National Park? Seen at the top is a new display banner found on Sydney’s George Street.

A mud-soaked SUV and a sign that reads “Oops, should have got a Samsung Galaxy S III. Get navigation you can trust” really needs no description. The wrong data Samsung's ad is referring to was supplied by the Australian government, iDB reported yesterday, and was incorrectly rendered in other mapping products...

Project Azalea: a $10 billion Apple mobile chip plant

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 12, 2012

We've suspected for a while now that Apple's been making moves ultimately aimed at taking its chip contract elsewhere. Clearly Apple ain't interested (any longer than it needs to) in letting Samsung enjoy an early peek at the technological solutions developed for the engine that drives its iPhones and iPads.

Currently, all of Apple's in-house designed A-series processors are being built exclusively by Samsung in its $14 billion chip plant in Austin, Texas.

The iPhone maker was also rumored to be contemplating a switch to Intel's x86 mobile chips for iPads, as outrageous as the very thought of it may seem.

But what if Tim Cook and his newly-minted chief of Technologies and long-time hardware expert Bob Mansfield have a radical solution in mind? A report Wednesday has it that the California firm could be seeking to invest up to ten billion dollars into a dedicated chip fab in New York, presumably in order to take control of its silicon destiny...

iTunes movies, rentals launch in 42 new countries

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 12, 2012

As part of the massive iPhone 5 holiday roll-out in fifty new countries, Apple last week launched the iTunes Music Store in 56 new countries, including Russia, Turkey and South Africa. Now, early reports revealed places like India, Indonesia, Russia and Turkey got access to iTunes movies as well. Apple on its part promised in a media release that the movie store "will be available in select additional countries". According to a new report, the company on Wednesday activated iTunes movie store in as much as 42 new countries where the music store just launched...

Analyst projects higher iPhone sales, cannibalized iPad purchases

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

As we enter the last weeks of December, Wall Street analysts are adjusting their forecasts for Apple and its keystone products, the iPhone and iPad.

Sterne Agee's Shaw Wu Wednesday told investors increased supplies of the iPhone 5 likely means more sales, while tablet buyers are shifting toward the iPad mini, resulting in slightly fewer sales overall.

After talks with supply chain sources, Wu expects Apple to sell this quarter 47.5 million of the new handsets, up from his earlier projected 47.3 million units. As for iPads, the analyst trimmed his sales forecast to 23.5 million, down from 25 million. In both cases, supply was the critical factor...

Analyst: Apple could buy out TomTom to fix Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 12, 2012

Apple's boss Tim Cook in a recent shakeup at the company's top added Maps and Siri to the already vast range of responsibilities of SVP Eddy Cue. Apple's 'Mr. Fixer', as he's been called because of his expertise in Internet software and services, also a member of the Ferrari board, could be looking to make a takeover bid for TomTom, a Dutch vendor of automotive navigation hardware and software and Europe's leading maker of navigation systems.

TomTom is a major data provider for Apple Maps and bringing the company's expertise and data sets under Apple's roof could help accelerate the pluming work needed to fix Apple's service. Rabobank analyst Hans Slob wrote in a research report today that there's a 30 percent chance that Apple will seek to acquire TomTom "because the Dutch software maker has the capacity to make speedy changes to correct any mapping errors or create new functions"...

Google chairman: Android is clearly winning the smartphone war

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Google chairman Eric Schmidt thinks his company is clearly winning the smartphone war with Apple and he goes on the record to say it in no ambiguous terms. The numbers certainly support Android's position as the world's most popular smartphone platform in terms of volume.

According to Gartner, both Samsung and Apple controlled nearly half the world's smartphone market in the third quarter, or 46.5 percent. When it comes to mobile operating system share for smartphones, Android is in the clear lead with nearly three-quarters the market, or 72.4 percent, up from 52 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple's iOS held 13.9 percent. However, when it comes to the profits, Apple leads smart device profits and by a large margin, too...

Yahoo updates Flickr app with the obligatory Instagram-like filters

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 29, 2012

Following Instagram's update that added a new Willow filter and yesterday's big refresh of Twitter's iOS client that now lets you crop a photo and apply up to eight brand new filters before tweeting it out, Yahoo too has joined the fray by revamping its aging Flickr iOS client this morning. And guess what? The redesigned app also touts filters as Yahoo attempts to stay relevant in the social photography space. There are sixteen unique camera filters to choose from, twice as much as in Twitter's app (and also powered by Aviary). More features and screenies right after the break...

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

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

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...

WSJ: Apple testing TV set designs with Asian suppliers

Cody Lee ∙ December 12, 2012

Finally, after months of listening to pundits and analysts wildly speculate on an Apple TV set, there's actually some real evidence that it exists. Well, sort of. Citing the usual 'people familiar with the matter,' The Wall Street Journal is reporting that it has learned that the Cupertino company is working with component suppliers in Asia to test several TV-set designs...

The WynCASE: an interesting take on the iOS gamepad

Cody Lee ∙ December 12, 2012

Now, I know what you're thinking, "ugh, not another iOS gamepad! We've seen dozens of these already and they're either too expensive, too bulky, or too complicated." And you're right, we've seen a number of these things, and most of them fit that description.

But what if I were to tell you that this new gamepad called the WynCASE was different? What if I told you that it was inexpensive, extremely thin, and didn't require a Bluetooth connection or batteries? Does any of this pique your interest? Good. Keep reading...

How to reply to a selected passage of text in Mail app on iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 16, 2017

The Mail app in iOS isn't going to win any 'best email client' awards, but it's usable for what it is, and Apple continues to make improvements. Most recently, it improved the file attachment process in iOS and also allows to annotate PDF documents.

There's also some non-feature things — shortcuts, if you will — that make the app more useful. We've shared some of these with you before, like how to quickly open your last Draft. And today, we've got another one to show you.

The Daily Recap – Dec 11, 2012 edition

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 11, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq2-taRl-Nk

Welcome to The Daily Recap for December 11th, 2012. Watch our video for a quick look at some of the top stories from the day in less than two minutes. If you missed out on any of today's big news, this is a great way for you to get caught up fast.

For your convenience, you'll also find links to all of the stories listed in today's recap inside...