Month: February 2013

New iWatch concept takes a more traditional approach

As reports claiming that Apple is working on a wristwatch-like device continue to swirl, and subsequent speculation grows, concept artists have taken to their digital palettes to create their own versions of the so-called 'iWatch.'

We've already seen a handful of these Apple-watch mockups—most of which feature curved glass displays and futuristic designs. But today, we've come across a concept that takes a far more traditional wristwatch approach...

How Eastern European attackers hacked Apple

Investigators now believe a group of sophisticated Eastern European criminal hackers are responsible for a cyberattack on Apple and other U.S. technology and media firms. Until today, those probing the computer break-ins thought China was behind the electronic assaults. In Apple's case, malware placed on an iPhone developer website may have been used to 'bait' visitors, according to one report Wednesday.

According to Bloomberg, which anonymously cited people close to law enforcement, malware which other victims described as "sophisticated," was placed on the popular developer forum to potentially gain access to data stored on corporate computers...

Nvidia’s new translucent HQ wants to one-up Apple’s spectacular iSpaceship

Nevermind that iSpaceship, Apple's breathtaking curved-glass, circular-shaped research campus, won’t open until mid-2016 - in Silicon Valley, the race is on on who gets to build the most spectacular corporate structure first. Graphics powerhouse Nvidia has thrown down the gauntlet by announcing Wednesday a state of the art new HQ.

Covering one million square feet, the massive site will be comprised of two triangle-shaped buildings with a distinct feature: a nearly translucent glass roof. Part of its campus expansion in Santa Clara, Nvidia describes the upcoming headquarters in Apple's parlance, as “iconic”...

Square launches all-in-one iPad POS

If you run a small business such as a grocery store or otherwise deal with cash and credit card payments, you absolutely must have at least a cash register and one or more credit card terminals to process payments. Lucky for you Square has an interesting all-in-one solution that contains everything you need to make a jump into the 21st century.

A missing link in Square's mobile payment offering, the Business in a Box comes with an iPad stand, cash drawer and an optional receipt printer. It all works wirelessly with Square Register, is fully customizable and prices start at $299. Almost makes me wanna start a business just so I could pose behind such a sophisticated point of sale. An inspirational promo video is after the break..

Apple chairman Art Levinson talks life after Steve, product creation and more

Arthur D. Levinson, former CEO of Genentech and current chairman of Apple's board, spoke at Stanford's Graduate School of Business on Tuesday. Art talked openly about a number if interesting topics, and luckily, Fortune was around to write it all down.

Levinson joined Apple's board in 2000, and was a colleague and close friend to Apple's legendary founder Steve Jobs. And he says that despite the fact that the company continues to introduce new products, Jobs's absence still remains tough to ignore...

Microsoft CEO goes on defensive, says the Surface is ‘a real business’

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently addressed the companies Surface and the tablet's sales (or lack thereof).

We're going to try our best not to characterize his comments as whiny or envision the firm's leader stomping his foot in the face of gloomy analysis. But it's hard - real hard.

Speaking with MIT Technology Review, while admitting the Microsoft product was not an iPad-killer, Ballmer stressed the Surface isn't a post-PC fantasy, either...

Spotify and record labels in talks over free streaming on mobile devices

I get literally 90+ percent of my digital music through Spotify. Just ten bucks a month buys me unlimited, high-quality, ad-free streaming. Apple's à la carte iTunes downloads just don't stand a chance. But Spotify isn't the juggernaut of Apple's calibre so no wonder record labels have limited free streaming to computers and notebooks. That could change now as the Swedish startup is reportedly in talks with content owners over extending free streaming to smartphones and tablets like iPads and iPhones...

Audible launches iPad app

In the speeded up world I'm increasingly finding myself listening to audiobooks because I just don't have the time for long reads. Besides, reading is rarely a background activity.

That's what I love about spoken word: it saves time. I can enjoy my audiobooks while jogging, cooking, commuting and what not. Heck, I sometimes even listen to audiobooks while I simultaneously blog about technology.

Amazon-owned Audible sells some awesome digital audiobooks, radio and TV programs and today they've finally launched an iPad app. And let me tell you, it's been a worthwhile wait.

Of course, the Newark-based company has had an iPhone app in the App Store since July 2010. That piece of software, too, has received a major refresh today, bringing out a revamped interface, quick sign ups / sign ins and other tidbits...

Jony Ive on Apple product naming, David Beckham connection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDovrpaocH8

Apple's London-born VP of Industrial Design Jonathan Ive was last week honored with the greatest accolade in United Kingdom’s children TV, BBC’s Blue Peter programme. BBC’s Barney Harwood briefly interviewed Ive on his design work and journalist and recording engineer Tom Davenport has posted a video where Ive discusses how product naming philosophy can affect the design process. And as 9to5Mac noted, Ive also reveals a little known connection to David Beckham. Another video right after the break...

AAPL falls on talk of Foxconn hiring freeze

Shares of Apple are (again) under pressure as Financial Times issued a report Wednesday that Foxconn, the world's largest contract manufacturer that assembles iPhones and other products for Apple and other tech giants, is putting a freeze on recruitment in China as it slows production of the iPhone 5.

It wasn't clear whether Foxconn winding down iPhone manufacturing means that Apple is getting ready to produce a next-gen iPhone or that iPhone 5 demand is falling amid fierce competition in the smartphone market, but investors are already punishing the stock which fell in pre-market trading to under $460, even with a Foxconn spokesperson clarifying that the decision wasn’t related to iPhone 5 production as more employees returned from the Chinese New Year break than a year earlier...

Tweetbot for iOS and Mac updated to comply with Twitter’s API changes

As many of you may know, Twitter announced a lengthy list of changes to its API used by third party clients last fall. The deadline for developers to meet the new requirements is March 5th, and apps that don't comply will cease functioning.

As such, the Tapbots team has updated both its iOS and Mac Tweetbot apps today to adhere to the new API changes. Most of the them are under the hood, but you will notice some UI differences. We've got the full change logs after the fold...

‘Enable Copy text in Facebook’ makes using the official Facebook app less frustrating

Have you ever had to jump through hoops to log into a desktop website because an app won't let you copy the text on your phone? This should never happen, but for some unfathomable reason, major services like Facebook do not allow for copying text in-app (the Facebook app currently allows users to copy text from messages and comments, but not from status updates or posts).

Luckily you can get rid of the annoyance, even if Facebook won't fix the issue themselves. 'Enable Copy text in Facebook' is a tweak that allows jailbroken iOS devices to capture the text directly from Facebook posts themselves...