Year: 2014

Mark Zuckerberg says WhatsApp worth more than $19 billion

Cody Lee ∙ February 25, 2014

Since Facebook announced last week that it would be acquiring WhatsApp for $16+ billion, pundits have been trying to make sense of the deal. How can a messaging app startup be worth so much more than say, Motorola Mobility, which has thousands of employees?

According to Mark Zuckerberg, it's not. It's worth more. Speaking at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona yesterday, the CEO said that WhatsApp was a 'great fit' for his company and that it was worth more than the $19B ($16B + $3B in vested shares) they paid for it...

Apple, Samsung and others demand patent trolling protection from EU judges

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2014

After asking the United States Supreme Court to approve of stiffer penalties for patent trolls who bring frivolous lawsuits against them, Apple and Samsung - along with seventeen other technology companies - have joined forces and issued a letter to the European Union asking for limits on injunctions in patent infringement cases.

As reported by Bloomberg, the companies are asking EU judges to curb patent trolls and introduce anti-trolling changes into Unified Patent Court and the upcoming European Unitary Patent system...

Streaming channel for network ‘TV4’ added to Apple TV in Sweden

Cody Lee ∙ February 25, 2014

Apple has added another new channel to the Apple TV this morning for customers in Sweden. It's called TV 4 Play, and it's a streaming channel for the major Swedish television network TV 4 and it features both live and on-demand content.

That content includes live broadcasting, original programming, and full episodes of TV4 shows. Most of the content is available for free, but the network says that premium (paid) subscribers will have access to additional shows and movies...

Apple releases iBeacon specification

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Apple's iBeacons, an indoor positioning system that can detect nearby devices to optionally push promotional marketing messages, has been picking up considerable steam lately. For instance, such brands as Major League Baseball and Apple itself have implemented the system, as did various retailers, theme parks, grocery stores and even car accessory makers.

According to BEEKn.net, Apple has now released detailed specification for the iBeacon platform. Released through Apple's 'Made for iPhone' (MFi) initiative, the documents are apparently separate from Apple's main Bluetooth MFi specification..

Apple releases OS X 10.9.2 with FaceTime Audio, SSL bug fix and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

After seeding a number of betas over the past few months, Apple has finally seeded OS X 10.9.2 to the public. As expected, the update includes FaceTime Audio, new contact blocking controls for both iMessage and FaceTime and Mail fixes.

Additionally, Apple has included a fix for the nasty SSL connection verification bug that popped up last week. So we recommend that everyone grab this new version of Mavericks by visiting the 'Software Update' tab in the Mac App Store...

Apple also fixes SSL bug on Apple TV with 6.0.2 firmware update

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2014

In addition to issuing a quick fix for a dangerous SSL vulnerability with last week's release of iOS 7.0.6 (you can apply the update without upgrading your firmware), Apple has also released a companion update for its $99 streaming box, the Apple TV.

The Apple TV 6.0.2 software update (hat tip to iDB reader Gil) carries a build number of 6646.81.1 and fixes the SSL bug which allows attackers to steal your usernames and passwords used on iTunes Store and other services, by posing as a legitimate site.

The exploit affects Apple's Safari browser so Apple TV users are not necessarily in immediate danger like their Mac counterparts...

Full production of GT-made sapphire starting in H2 2014, in time for Fall launch of iPhone 6

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

GT Advanced Technologies, a U.S.-based company Apple's partnered with on mass-scale sapphire manufacture in its new Mesa, Arizona facility, today released earnings for the 2013 holiday quarter and said that 2014 will be a "transformational" year for the company. Plans to supply sapphire glass to Apple are "progressing well" as GT expects a very profitable second half of 2014.

Its projected revenues also indicate a Fall launch for the next iPhone model (or models, if you believe the rumors). According to GT, the company has "started to build out the facility in Arizona and staff the operation" during the previous quarter...

In time for the 2014 season, MLB.com At Bat app receives iOS 7 makeover

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2014

In time for the start of the 2014 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, the official MLB.com At Bat app has finally received its long-expected iOS 7-focused redesign. This is a major refresh as the app was last updated in October 2013.

MLB.com At Bat version 7.0, now available free in the App Store, has hit a home run for iOS 7 with a brand new interface (flatter, of course), a new league-wide scoreboard functionality and inline video playback. I've included a few screenshots of the new design and some additional tidbits right below the fold...

OS X Mavericks bug allows security researcher to capture nearly all SSL encrypted traffic

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The nasty SSL bug was found in iOS last week that opens the door to a dangerous man-in-the-middle attack which makes it easy for attackers to intercept communications and steal sensitive info like usernames, passwords and even credit card numbers, by posing as a trusted website.

Apple quickly squashed the dangerous bug with the release of iOS 7.0.6. If you're jailbroken, you can patch the SSL exploit without updating to iOS 7.0.6 (here's how).

Unfortunately, Apple hasn't yet issued an urgent OS X fix for the exploit, meaning Mac users are left out in the cold and at risk of having their personal information and passwords hijacked.

One security researcher from New Zealand has now confirmed that the vulnerability is more dangerous than previously thought: virtually all encrypted traffic to be intercepted, including iCloud data, Keychain enrollment, certificate from apps like Twitter and more...

Disney launches Movies Anywhere app with free digital download of Pixar’s ‘The Incredibles’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Disney has launched an interesting new iOS app, Movies Anywhere, which offers access to a library of hundreds of movies and exclusive content from the studio, including original programming and never-before-seen videos. It's especially interesting that the iPhone and iPad app, available free in the App Store, allows users to connect their iTunes account to instantly access all their Disney content purchased from the iTunes Store within the app, without the need to go through Apple's stock iOS Videos app or visit the iTunes Store...

Autumn Dynasty review: literally draw your plans to send troops into battle

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Real-time strategy games on iOS are some of my favorites. They remind me of Risk, which I played regularly as a kid with my older brother, who was not the least bit merciful of my three less years on the earth than him. Maybe his take-no-prisoners attitude when playing strategy board games has led me to the life of a game reviewer. Maybe he was just a big old meany.

Autumn Dynasty – RTS is a strategy game that lets you draw where you want to send your troops by making circles and lines on the screen. Dragging your finger has never created so much destruction…

Apple updates its retail store webpage with new iOS 7 design

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Apple posted a quiet update to the Retail Store section of its website last night with a revamped design. The new UI brings the portal more in line with iOS 7, and is just the latest among many design updates the company has made to frequently-visited Apple.com.

Gone are the skeuomorphic graphics, textured backgrounds and borders, which have all been replaced by healthy doses of white space and of course, thinner fonts. There's also now an edge-to-edge image of the Amsterdam Apple Store on the new landing page...