Year: 2012

Millennial: iPad growing, Samsung rises to 46% of Android app use

Ed Sutherland ∙ December 19, 2012

For the second day, Samsung has been named the new leader. After Tuesday unseating Nokia as the top cellphone maker in 2012, the Galaxy vendor today topped HTC as the Android maker which gets most used to access mobile ads. According to ad firm Millennial, Samsung had 46 percent of Android app use, double the 26 percent of 2011.

HTC - which is bleeding money and is rumored to have cut in half shipments and delayed new devices - fell to #2, dropping 30 points behind Samsung. But for Apple, perhaps the best news is what the Millennial end-of-year report did not find...

Liquidmetal allows headphone wires to be stretched 8x their original length

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlVuIK5wAj0

A lot has been said about Apple's exclusive multi-year license for Liquidmetal, an amorphous Terminator-like alloy made from zirconium, titanium, nickel, copper and other materials. Liquidmetal is stronger, smoother and more corrosion-resistant than aluminum, but Apple is not expected to deploy it across its products until 2017.

In the meantime, here's a nice example of how the alloy might pave the way for new industrial designs. What you see in the above clip are conductive wires that can be stretched up to eight times their original length while still functioning, thanks to Liquidmetal that's twice as strong as Titanium and possesses the processability of plastics...

Analyst: iPhone 5 order cut no cause for alarm

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Quit your worrying. In short, that's what one analyst Wednesday is telling nervous observers concerned over a report that Apple reduced orders for the iPhone 5 during the March quarter.

Instead, the reduction in orders could signal a more efficient supply stream and greater profit for investors.

As we reported earlier this week, Citi's Glen Yeung kicked off the hand-wringing by downgrading Apple stock to 'Neutral' from 'Buy', citing increased competition and the lower iPhone 5 orders. Other Wall Street analysts piled on, cutting their price targets for shares of the iPhone maker. Now J P Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz is the latest to say the reduced orders may not mean lower demand for the new Apple handset...

Redbox Instant, Verizon’s Netflix-killer, launches as private beta on iOS and Android

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4X2FUQLuG8

Redbox Instant is a joint venture between Verizon Communications and Redbox, a subsidiary of Coinstar that specializes in the rental of DVDs, Blu-ray discs and video games via automated retail kiosks. Today, they started gradually rolling out their service, accompanied by the iOS and Android client which lets you stream unlimited movies from their catalogue for eight bucks per month.

There's a free trial available, too, and you also get four DVD credits to boot from. The partners do not specify how many Hollywood movies are available for streaming. What we do know is that titles from Warner Bros and EPIX are included and that Redbox Instant won't stream television shows, at least not initially. Something tells me that Netflix should be worried. Isn't competition good for all?

Walmart selling $50 iTunes Gift Cards for $40 with instant email delivery

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Here's a nice last minute holiday gift idea: if your loved ones use Apple products, give them iTunes Gift Cards that can be used to add credits to their iTunes account. Usually these things are delivered physically, but Walmart is having a sale where it's offering a $50 iTunes Gift Card for $40, an instant $10 saving.

Additionally, you card gets delivered through email right after purchase, depending on your credit card issuer's rules. Walmart is no stranger to such promotions. Back in August, the retailer was selling $100 iTunes cards for $80...

Flickr for iPhone gains better sharing features

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 19, 2012

Yahoo really seized an opportunity by giving its Flickr iOS app a much-needed love in last week's major version 2.0 update, didn't it? I mean, the app couldn't have arrived at a better time just as Facebook has suffered a major PR blow due to the public outcry concerning Instagram's new terms of service. Seven days later, Yahoo brings us a new Flickr update. Based on customer feedback, Flickr version 2.01.772 is now available for download, sporting several interesting new features missing in the previous release...

Foxconn reportedly testing 46 to 55-inch Apple television sets

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 19, 2012

A new rumor out from Apple's supply chain in Asia has it that Foxconn, the world's largest (and Apple's favorite) contract manufacturer is testing some badass television panels with the shining Apple logo on them. But don't get your hopes up high, because shipments of iTVs are unlikely to begin before 2014.

The rumor corroborates last week's report by The Wall Street Journal claiming Apple is working with component suppliers in Asia to test several TV-set designs. Unnamed manufacturing sources also warn that the possibility of Apple using IGZO display panels from Sharp "is not high" as the firm is allegedly testing display panels ranging from 46 to 55 inches diagonally...

Kodak sells its imaging patents to Apple, Google, Microsoft and others

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 19, 2012

Wednesday morning, Kodak announced that it has agreed to sell its digital imaging patents to two consortiums, Intellectual Ventures and RPX Corporation, that are backed by Silicon Valley giants Apple, Google, Microsoft and other companies. The transaction is valued at $525 million.

That's way less than their previously estimated worth of about $2.6 billion. The $525 million will be paid by Intellectual Ventures and the two consortiums twelve licensees, each receiving rights to the digital imaging patent portfolio and certain other Kodak patents. Another portion will be paid by Intellectual Ventures, which is acquiring the digital imaging patent portfolio subject to these new licenses, as well as previously existing licenses...

FCC approves AT&T acquisition of WCS spectrum

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

The Federal Communications Commission made good on its promise this week, and has approved AT&T’s acquisition of licenses to the underutilized 2.3GHz WCS spectrum from Comcast, Horizon, NextWave and others. In all, the licenses cover 82% of the population, across 608 markets, and the carrier plans to use it to beef up its LTE network...

Apple said to be moving up next-gen iPad mini production

Cody Lee ∙ December 19, 2012

Folks who skipped out on the first version of the iPad mini will be happy to hear that they may not have to wait a whole 12 months for the second generation of the tablet to appear. According to a new report today, component-makers for the next-gen mini are preparing for an earlier-than-expected launch...