Year: 2012

Apple to spend $100M on US-made iMac, Foxconn expanding US manufacturing

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated July 12, 2017

Next year's Apple iMac may be assembled , as well as designed in the United States. The computer maker plans to spend $100 million in 2013 returning some U.S. manufacturing jobs home from China, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an interview. Apple's largest manufacturing partner in China also said it is considering moving some jobs to U.S. plants. In magazine and television interviews, Cook emphasized he plans to bring "some production" of "one of our existing Mac lines" to the United States. Although the statements lacked specifics, the Apple chief suggested the 2013 move would be more than simply assembling Macs...

T-Mobile confirms: we will start selling Apple products in 2013

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 28, 2016

This is interesting. Even though it claimed it couldn't afford the iPhone due to Apple's stringent terms of business and the billions required in upfront subsidy, Deutsche Telekom-owned T-Mobile USA, the nation's fourth-largest, has confirmed an agreement to start carrying some mobile products from Apple beginning with next year.

Though the carrier did not specifically confirm the long-expected iPhone distribution agreement, this development is the best indication yet that T-Mobile USA stands poised to finally land the iconic Apple smartphone and tablet on its network in 2013...

Apple updates 12 Days of Christmas app for the 2012 holiday season

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

European fans have grown accustomed to Apple's holiday promotion called 12 Days of Christmas because they can count on a free download every day in a period following Christmas and until early-January. It's not just apps, Apple usually gives away songs, books and music videos as well.

A dedicated app is crucial to the promotion and today the company has updated the 12 Days of Christmas app for the iPhone, iPod and iPad with gifts for the 2012 holiday season. Download it now to get your free gift starting with December 26, the day after Christmas. The only downside: the promotion is valid outside of the United States only...

Cook on firing Forstall: we needed to take collaboration to another level

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 12, 2017

As we're counting down the remaining hours until Tim Cook's first television appearance due at 10pm Eastern, 7pm Pacific, Bloomberg Businesweek's Josh Tyrangiel had way too interesting fireside chat of his own with Apple's boss, resulting in a massive 11-page article. Cook spoke about the shake-up and ouster of long-time Jobs confidant and iOS architect Scott Forstall, describing the decision as a matter of taking collaboration at Apple "to another level".

He also praised the skill sets brought to the table by SVP of Internet Software & Services Eddy Cue, SVP of Technologies Bob Mansfield, SVP of Industrial Design Jony Ive and the recently-minted SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi, all tasked now with addressing the different aspects of iOS and OS X that happened to be under Forstall's more or less direct control...

Snapseed goes free, gains new filters and Google+ sharing, hits Android

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 20, 2017

Lots of good news today for fans of the popular iPhone photography app Snapseed that Google acquired back in September. Snapseed 1.5 has just been released, featuring built-in sharing to the Google+ network, a huge boon for Google's Facebook killer. By the way, the search firm in today's blog post called Google+ "the fastest-growing network thingy ever". Snapseed, Apple's iPad App of the Year, also has gained an updated Frames filter with new photographic frames that can be colorized, in addition to a brand new Retrolux filter.

Basically a Hollywood style filter, Retrolux includes a bunch of different film styles souped up with a range of "different scratches and textures as well as light leaks to create a truly retro look for your photos". And if you happen to be on Android and have been yearning for Snapseed, you can go and download it straight from Google's Play Store right now...

Cook: Apple television is an ‘area of intense interest’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2018

NBC's much hyped interview with Tim Cook is scheduled to air today at 10pm Eastern, 7pm Pacific time. The network has posted a preview of the show containing Cook's interesting comment on the state of the elusive and long-rumored Apple television set. In it, Apple's chief executive likened the Apple TV project and the living room to an "area of intense interest", but refused to provide any more details.

Remembering how Steve Jobs had insisted on describing the $99 hockey puck as a hobby business, it's certainly interesting that Cook now positions the living room as a business opportunity Apple is keen on taking to the next level. Perhaps the rumored Xbox TV project from Microsoft has forced Apple to re-consider its "hobby" stance?

China Mobile president says iPhone deal is still in the works

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The iPhone 5 is slated to land in China on December 14. China Unicom and China Telecom have already started taking pre-orders, but unfortunately, China Mobile — the largest carrier in the world — will once again be sitting on the sidelines.

The two companies are still discussing a deal though. China Mobile president Yue Li confirmed yesterday that the carrier has been in talks with Apple for the past three years to bring the popular iPhone handset to its 700 million subscribers...

iPad mini shipping times improve to one week

Cody Lee ∙ December 6, 2012

Despite what some considered to be an outrageous price tag, demand for the iPad mini continues to outstrip supply. But the good news is, availability of the tablet is finally starting to improve.

Hot on the heels of Apple's announcement that the mini will be landing in China on December 14, shoppers have noticed that estimated shipping times on the slate have dropped to one week...

Samsung publishes redacted version of Apple-HTC settlement

Cody Lee ∙ December 6, 2012

Both Apple and HTC have been very quiet about the details surrounding their surprise patent settlement they announced last month. We don't know who paid who what, or what patents were included in the 10-year cross-licensing agreement.

But thanks to Apple's dispute with Samsung, we've been given a glimpse inside the accord. Following a court ruling that said patents in the deal must remain unsealed, Samsung has submitted a redacted copy of the pact into public record...

Modern Combat 4 goes live in the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

It's been a pretty big night for iOS gamers. Hot on the heels of the release of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour has gone live in the App Store. This is the 4th [obviously] title in Gameloft's successful first-person shooter series, and it features the same great gameplay with some upgraded graphics...

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City now available in the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ December 5, 2012

Here it is folks, the moment you've all been waiting for. Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City iOS port is now available in the App Store. That means that the 1980's, and all of its big hair, oversized sunglasses and pastel suits, are now just a tap away.

Rockstar has been leading up to this moment for over a month now, announcing back in October that it would be releasing an iOS version of its popular PS2 GTA title. And from what we've seen, it looks and sounds every bit as good as the original...

FTC slams Motorola’s attempts to ban iPhone, iPad

Cody Lee ∙ December 5, 2012

The FTC filed what's called an amicus brief with the US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals this afternoon, arguing that Google-owned Motorola's attempts to ban the sale of the iPhone, iPad and other Apple products in the US for allegedly infringing on its patents was 'inappropriate.'

The Commission feels that since Motorola has already licensed the patents in question under fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory (FRAND) terms, it had no right to seek an injunction against Apple's products that supposedly violated them, without offering similar licensing terms...