Month: September 2012

Google submits iOS Maps app, hopes to have it approved before Christmas

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 20, 2012

Unless you've been sleeping under a rock for the past 24 hours, you are aware that crappy Apple Maps in iOS 6 provoked a very public backlash. We told you earlier today that a Google executive hinted in a brief interview with Bloomberg TV that iPhone 5 users can go download Google Maps, an unusual wording given that a rumored native Google Maps app couldn't be found on the App Store yet.

Adding fuel to fire, The Guardian newspaper reports that Google submitted the program and that it is now in Apple's sole discretion to approve it. Whether or not club Cupertino greenlights the nsoftware or throws it down the toilet over duplicate functionality remains to be seen.

At any rate, a native Google Maps experience akin to the recently released YouTube app would be more than welcome given the controversial downgrade that is Apple's in-house mapping solution in iOS 6...

Apple asks devs to send taller App Store screenies

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 8, 2016

With less than 24 hours until tomorrow's official iPhone 5 launch at 8am, Apple issued a note to its registered iOS developers, asking them to upload taller screenshots to comply with iPhone 5 requirements.

This concerns only developers updating apps for the iPhone 5 and the fifth-generation iPod touch, which both feature a taller 1136-by-640 pixel Retina display. The new screenshots dimensions are...

Facebook app updated for iOS 6 and iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

After literally years of waiting, Facebook's iOS app was recently re-written from scratch with performance in mind. That said, it goes without saying that we're positively shocked to see Zuck & Co. just push out a timely update to Facebook's official iOS client.

It adds full support for iOS 6, just 24 hours following its public release. The new version also mentions iPhone 5 support, but Facebook stopped short of detailing what that means. We have a huch it's got to do something with taking advantage of that taller display. Here's your changelog...

How to enable Lost Mode if your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen

Ankur Thakur ∙ Updated September 5, 2025

We’ll show you how to use Apple’s Find My service to enable Lost Mode for your iPhone or iPad that was lost, stolen, misplaced, or left behind. Lost Mode will password-protect your device, lock it remotely, and also display a custom message on the device Lock Screen with your phone number.

LG Display shuns Samsung, becomes prime supplier of Retina iPad panels

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 20, 2012

More cracks are beginning to show in the Apple-Samsung partnership as the South Korean conglomerate's component arm lost a significant amount of orders to rival LG Display. Coincidentally or not, the news arrives in the aftermath of the $1 billion ruling in the Apple v. Samsung trial. Samsung used to be the prime supplier of high-resolution Retina panels for Apple's third-generation iPad, but no longer.

Seeking ways to reduce its dependency on Samsung, Apple reportedly shifted panel orders to LG Display. It's not just a minor re-shuffling: Samsung last month saw iPad panel orders reduced to just 28 percent of its July output. We've seen what order stoppage rumors can do to market cap. I'd watch Samsung's share price closely these days...

Swiss Federal Railways says Apple copied its iconic clock in iOS 6

Cody Lee ∙ September 20, 2012

The latest iteration of Apple's mobile OS, iOS 6, has barely been out for 24 hours, but it's already causing quite a commotion. First, people seem to be really upset over the new Maps application. And now this.

According to a new report, Switzerland's Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, or the Swiss Federal Railway service, is accusing Apple of using their iconic clock in the new iPad Clock app in iOS 6 without permission...

Walmart stops Kindle sales, following Target’s lead

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Amazon's $199 Kindle and low-price retailer Walmart would appear to be a match made in discount heaven, right? Then how do you explain today's news that Walmart is kicking Amazon to the curb? In a statement, Walmart only says the decision is part of its "overall merchandising strategy."

"Recently, Walmart Stores, Inc. made a business decision to not carry current Amazon products beyond our purchase commitments and existing inventory," the Bentonville, Ark. firm told store managers Wednesday. In the memo reported by Reuters, Walmart officials said the stores will continue to offer "a broad assortment of tablets, eReaders and accessories at a variety of great price points."

Apple Maps and Passbook could push 2012 App Store revenue to $4.9 billion

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 20, 2012

An interesting unintended consequence of a downgrade that is Apple Maps in iOS 6: people will grow to rely on transit apps and other third-party software to help get back some of the Google Maps functionality (until Google releases a widely rumored standalone iOS Google Maps app).

And with Passbook debuting in iOS 6, we should increasingly download and use shopping programs (like the Target app) that produce Passbook-compatible coupons, invoices, loyalty points, tickets and other digital items.

As a result of the new Passbook functionality and lacking Maps experience in iOS 6, cumulative App Store revenue for the calendar year 2012 could top nearly five billion dollars, a research firm has forecast...

Target updates its iPhone app to support Passbook

Cody Lee ∙ September 20, 2012

Did you update to iOS 6 yesterday? Well if you did, and you're looking for ways to try out the new Passbook application, Target just added support for the payment platform.

The national retailer updated its iOS app yesterday with support for the iPhone 5's larger display, iOS 6, and the new ability to push store coupons to the Passbook app...

First iPhone 5 teardown hits the web…

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 20, 2012

...but it ain't a kind of thorough analysis we'd come to expect from repair experts iFixIt. Instead, a German blog has obtained an iPhone 5 and pried it open, exposing the innards of Apple's new device to the world. As you know, the iPhone 5 goes on sale in the United States and eight international markets tomorrow at 8am.

This teardown does prove, however, that a bunch of parts that leaked in the run-up to the iPhone 5 keynote were legit. The layout of components appears to closely resemble both the slides and the promo video Apple execs used during the keynote. For true teardown analysis, we'll have to wait until iFixIt gets their hands on the iPhone 5...

Apple, publishers subpoena Amazon in ebook price case

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Apple is asking the Department of Justice to turn over interviews it held with Amazon employees as part of the recently-approved ebook pricing settlement. According to the Cupertino, Calif. iBooks firm, Amazon "was the driving force behind the Government's investigation, and it told a story to the Government that has yet been scrutinized." The Justice Department is scheduled to haul Apple, along with Macmillan and Penguin into court next June.

Microsoft to Safari users: Google screwed you, use Bing instead

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 29, 2017

Exploiting a record $25 million settlement Google negotiated with The United States Government over the iOS Safari privacy breach that erupted back in February 2012, software giant Microsoft put together a little web page meant to convince Apple users to use Bing as their default search engine.

The Windows maker is reminding us of Google's failed promise of not tracking Safari users without their permission, suggesting Google's credibility has been tarnished beyond repair. Want to do something about it?

Use Bing instead, the company proposes...