Month: February 2013

Samsung doubles down on the stylus, goes into bed with Wacom

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

And just like that, Samsung of South Korea buys a five percent stake of the stylus maker Wacom in a transaction valued at $58.2 million. Samsung of course is riding high on the popularity of its pen-based Note devices and Wacom suggests that Samsung with this acquisition is aiming to incorporate its stylus tech into Galaxy smartphones and tablets.

Note that Wacom also makes digital pen accessories for iPads and Mac-compatible digital tablets that are popular with professional designers and illustrators. I'm holding my breath for an Apple-made stylus because pen-based mobile devices are gaining traction, in spit of Steve Jobs disdain for the stylus...

New theory makes a case for a larger iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ February 1, 2013

It's easy to write off the recent rumors of the iPhone Plus (English translation of 'iPhone Math') as 'crazy.' After all, Apple just increased the iPhone's screen size to 4-inches last year, why would they go to 4.9-inches now and force developers to redesign their apps again?

Well according to the latest theory to make its way around the blogosphere, they wouldn't necessarily have to. Apple could theoretically make an iPhone with a 4.94-inch display, while keeping the iPhone 5's resolution, and developers wouldn't have to change a thing...

Android market share falls 13 percent amid Apple increase

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

We have long believed that many Android devices wind up in desk drawers, gathering dust, while Apple gadgets go bopping around on the web. That suspicion was confirmed Friday morning by new browser data showing Android usage is down 13 percent while iOS use is up. The figures by Net Applications once more illustrate the many ways to pick winners and losers.

According to Net Applications, an Internet measurement firm that tracks browser usage, the percent of mobile browser using Android has fallen 13 percent after peaking at 28 percent in November 2012. By contrast, browsers on iOS rose since October 2012 following Apple introducing the iPhone 5 and iPad mini...

FTC issues app privacy guidelines, proposes ‘Do Not Track’ for mobile

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated November 9, 2023

A patchwork of online privacy measures should be standardized to form a 'Do Not Track' list for mobile app users. In guidelines issued Friday, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission says mobile devices such as Apple's iPhone "facilitate unprecedented amounts of data collection."

Both devices and app developers should obtain users' consent before obtaining personal information such as location, photos or contacts. The set of guidelines accompanied Path's $800,000 settlement with the FTC over grabbing iOS users' personal address books without their consent...

Verizon unveils 3G-only prepaid plans for ‘budget-minded consumers’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2017

The nation's top carrier, Verizon Wireless, on Friday launched new wireless plans that are only aimed at owners of 3G-enabled smartphones and tablets. New prepaid plans expand options for "budget-minded consumers", Verizon said.

There are two plans to choose from: one costing $60 a month and the other a $70 value, tailored to your monthly data needs...

evasi0n jailbreak is 75% complete, private testing has begun

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

As most of you know, the iOS 6.x jailbreak got official this week. The evad3rs launched their website on Wednesday, unveiling evasi0n, the software that's going to break our devices free from Apple's chains.

Also on the website is a progress bar, which gives an updated look at how close the jailbreak is to completion. And if you looked at it this morning, you would have noticed that it just jumped to 75% complete...

Path pays dearly for stealing your iOS address book data

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 1, 2013

The private social network Path was off to a great start following its iPhone app launch in November 2010. The success was, unfortunately, short-lived as the company soon found itself at the epicenter of intense public scrutiny after it was discovered it had been uploading iOS users' address book to its servers without their explicit permission. Even though Path did apologize and update the app with the necessary changes and user prompts, the startup never really recovered from the eerie privacy scandal.

And as a result, Apple on its end introduced deeper privacy options in iOS 6 so users can select on a per-app basis which apps can access their contacts, calendars, reminders, photos and more. And now comes word that on Friday The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that Path has agreed to pay a whopping $800,000 fine...

It’s true: app price drops positively affect revenue

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 1, 2013

Price drops are the norm in app business. Developers are keen to slash prices of their digital warez, mostly for a limited time, in order to boost revenue. Some apps even go from paid to free permanently in the hope of raking in more revenue through in-app purchases. Just a few recent examples: Evernote has temporarily made the Penultimate handwriting app free and National Geographic's World Atlas for the first time has gone free.

Netbot, the Tweetbot for App.net, is also a free download now. A new survey was published Friday, highlighting the positive effect of price changes on download volumes and revenue of iPad and iPhone apps in the App Store...

Infographic shows where Apple spends its money

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 31, 2018

Despite the fact that investors have begun to worry about Apple's future, the company is still one of the wealthiest in the world. The iPad-maker added another $13 billion to its cash pile last quarter, bringing the total to $137 billion.

And that number will only continue to grow, because Apple doesn't really spend much money. Maybe a few billion on research and development, and another couple on data centers and other facilities. But not enough to make a dent...