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Apple now offering free recycling of all its devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Apple's all-out environmental PR push continues on with the announcement of free recycling of all used Apple devices. It's yet another bid to increase Apple's reliance on renewable energy sources and help preserve the environment by keeping the electronics out of landfills because of the toxins in them.

According to an Associated Press report Monday, Apple has confirmed that it will take back all its used devices for recycling, completely free of charge, in all of its retail outlets - globally.

Although the company's existing Recycling program hands out gift cards in exchange for used iPhones and iPods still in good enough condition to be resold (as determined by PowerON), this won't be the case with recycled products that have little or no resale value...

Apple reports earnings Wednesday: Here’s what analysts expect

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Apple reports its quarterly earnings on Wednesday for the January to March quarter - a typically slow time for technology companies following the Christmas quarter crunch.

On its last earnings call in January, Apple told investors to expect revenue between $42 billion and $44 billion, gross margin between 37 percent and 38 percent, operating expenses between $4.3 billion and $4.4 billion, other income/(expense) of $200 million, and a tax rate of 26.2 percent. Really, no better than the company did last year.

Analysts have been checking with industry sources, looking at retail logs, and number crunching to predict what Apple will announce on Wednesday. Whether the company misses or beats the expectations could have a big impact on the stock price, which is up roughly 36 percent year-over-year. Last quarter, the stock tanked in after hours following a bad guidance for the numbers that are set to be report on Wednesday. Here's what analysts are expecting:

New iSpaceship video touts ‘the most energy-efficient building of its kind’

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 21, 2014

In addition to a press tour of its upcoming data center and solar array installation in the Nevada desert, a nicely done 'Better' video narrated by Tim Cook and fresh updates on its Environmental Responsibility microsite, Apple in advance of Earth Day 2014 also posted an overview video of its monstrous Campus 2 project, affectionally dubbed by the press the iSpaceship.

The footage was actually first shown at a city planning commission meeting in October of last year, but Apple has now decided to make it available to the general public in high-definition to tout its "office of the future"...

Netflix raising prices for new subscribers later this quarter

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Video streaming giant Netflix has announced plans to raise prices for new subscribers later this quarter, when it announced its quarterly earnings on Monday.

The price increase will cost between $1 and $2 more per month, depending on the country a user lives in. Netflix subscriptions currently costs $7.99 per month for unlimited streaming, so the increase will raise it close to $10.

Apple reportedly ‘very, very serious’ about mobile payments

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Apple is ramping up internally to launch a mobile payments service, according to Recode. The publication reports Apple has been interviewing payment industry executives to fill two new senior positions at the company focused on mobile payments, as it plans to get into the industry.

The search team is being lead by Apple executive Jennifer Bailey, who previously ran the company's online stores including iTunes. The two new positions are heads of product and business development, two positions that are at the core of any new product at Apple.

Google Glass getting iPhone SMS alerts and agenda view later this week

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 21, 2014

If you're among early adopters who dropped $1,500 for a Google Glass when Google for a single day opened up its Glass Explorer program to everyone, you'll be delighted to learn that your pricey smart googles will soon be able to display notifications for incoming iPhone text messages in your field of vision.

In addition, a new Calendar card will also launch later this week, allowing you to interact with calendar items on your timeline.

Google's recently upgraded its Glass software to Android KitKat, allowing them to "bring you faster updates" so these upcoming goodies are part of the new rapid development and roll-out process...

‘Apple’ trademark now covers jewelry, clocks and watches

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Is Apple about to enter the jewelry business? This obvious question comes to mind after realizing that the company's own trademark for the Apple name now includes protection for jewelry, clocks and watches.

I kid you not, I swear.

As noted by MacRumors, Apple's trademark now includes Class 14 specification which mainly covers "precious metals, goods in precious metals and, in general, jewelry, clocks and watches" (emphasis mine).

The wording leaves room for speculation that Apple's rumored wearable device - which may or may not be a smartwatch per se - could at the very least include parts made of precious metals because what's the alternative? Apple about to start selling necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and other pieces of jewelry in its stores?

Apple to webcast March quarter earnings

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Apple is scheduled to release its second fiscal quarter earnings Wednesday, April 23. Like it always does, the iPhone maker is going to provide a free live audio stream of the conference call with analysts and investors through its website.

The firm has issued a media release confirming that the conference call will be available as a QuickTime webcast on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices running iOS 4.2 or above, Macs running OS X 10.5 or above and Windows PCs running QuickTime 7 or later.

The live webcast will begin at 2pm PDT on Wednesday, April 23, 2014...

Video: Tim Cook talks going green as Apple updates us on environmental initiatives

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Tomorrow is Earth Day and Apple is getting ready to celebrate the occasion in ways more than one. We previously learned the firm will change the logo color of its retail stores to green in a move reminiscent of how it celebrated the World AIDS day.

Next, Apple's Vice President of Environmental Initiatives Lisa Jackson (she oversees the company's environmental policies) recently took select members of the press on a rare tour of Apple's upcoming data center and solar array facility in the Nevada desert.

And today, Apple has shared latest data on its environmental efforts on its newly revamped Environmental Responsibility website and posted a corporate video with Tim Cook discussing Apple's environmental strides...

Apple gives the press a rare peek into upcoming Nevada server/solar farm

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 21, 2014

In another sign that Apple under Tim Cook's leadership is opening up a little bit more in a stark departure from the notoriously secretive operation it'd been under the Steve Jobs regime, Wired's Steven Levy was able to get a rare inside look at Apple’s newest data center in the Nevada desert and a massive solar field in Yerington that "takes up as much space as a sizable suburban backyard"...

History Channel, A&E and Lifetime channels added to Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 21, 2014

I hope you have some room left on your Apple TV's main menu because Apple has just added three new channels to its $99 set-top box featuring content from The History Channel, A&E and Lifetime. Cable-cutters shouldn't jump with joy, however, as a cable subscription is required to stream on-demand video from these sources without restrictions.

The new content sources should have been added automatically to your Apple TV's Home screen. If not, go to Settings > General > Software Updates and choose the Update Software option...

Apple Maps 3D flyover coverage expands to Berkeley and East Bay areas

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Apple continues to add major new areas to the 3D Flyover coverage in its mapping service available on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices running iOS 6 or later and Macs running OS X Mavericks.

In late-March, the firm expanded 3D Flyover coverage to include Australia’s Perth, Spain’s Cordoba and France’s Saint Tropez and now Apple's in-house Maps team has added three-dimensional maps for the areas of California including the city of Berkeley and the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay Area...