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Inside Apple’s 2013 Annual Report: rising R&D costs, retail, ad expenses and more

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Apple's annual 10-K report to the SEC always includes interesting tidbits. This year, the tech giant said it spent $4.5 billion on research and development, a move the iPhone maker describes as "critical" to remaining competitive.

The spending marks a 32 percent increase in research over fiscal 2012, when the company spent $3.4 billion.

The consumer electronics powerhouse said it employs 80,300 full-time workers, more than half in retailing. About 30 new retail locations are planned for 2014 with 20 more stores being remodeled, the company also told the government agency Wednesday. A couple more tidbits follow...

New report reaffirms iPad mini with Retina display will be in short supply at launch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

When Apple announced the new iPad mini with Retina display at its media event last week, the only launch date given was 'November.' The move seemingly confirmed previous chatter that the company has been having a hard time making the tablet.

And today, a new report out of Taiwan adds to the narrative, claiming that the mini's initial supply constraint is directly related to its hi-res display. Apparently Sharp, who is responsible for 40% of the Retina mini panels, is seeing poor yield rates...

CloudMagic Mail with ‘fast magical search’ hits iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 30, 2013

I'm a big fan of the ingenious CloudMagic Search, a free iPhone app that acts as a unified search box for my online services and social media accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, Dropbox, Box, Evernote, SkyDrive, Twitter and many more. Having seeing a couple hundred-thousand downloads, the Palo Alto-based CloudMagic Inc. felt encouraged to apply its cloud search expertise to a lightweight email client.

Meet CloudMagiC Mail, a new iOS email app featuring "fast magical search" that supports a bunch of popular email accounts like Gmail, Exchange, Yahoo, Outlook, Google Apps, Office 365, IMAP and even Apple's iCloud...

Apple’s profit eclipses Samsung, Motorola, Nokia and LG combined

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated June 14, 2016

What's more important, smartphones shipped or smartphone profits? That question is at the heart of a debate over competing figures used to bolster Samsung or Apple. A day after a Samsung-friendly market research firm claimed the South Korean firm shipped three times as many phones, new figures show Apple profit higher than most of its rivals combined.

Sales of 33.8 million iPhones during the last quarter earned more than the mobile units of Samsung, LG, Nokia, Huawei, Lenovo and Motorola all together, according to a Wednesday report. The report also ignited a new debate over how corporate figures can be twisted to fit any preconceived notion - such as Apple's losing battle against Android...

Poll: are you getting an iPad Air?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

As we count the remaining days - or should I say hours? - until Friday's iPad Air launch, I reckon those of you who frequent iDB have made up your mind by now. I'm guessing you've read everything there's to know about the tablet, checked out big media reviews and just really thoroughly talked this through with your friends and family members - all in the service of making an informed purchasing decision.

Yes, some iDB team members have also made up their mind. You can imagine we're absolutely eager to learn about our readership's position on the iPad Air. From your vantage point, is it a buy or pass? Cast a quick vote right below...

Sprint’s Q3 losses shrink to $398M, courtesy of iPhone

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 30, 2013

Sprint, America's third-largest wireless carrier, announced Wednesday that 1.4 million of the five million smartphones it sold during the third quarter were iPhones, of which 40 percent were to new customers.

The iPhone sales are just under the 1.5 million Apple smartphones Sprint activated during the same period in 2012.

The iPhone numbers have helped the carrier reduce the gap from a $398 million operating loss, rebounding from a $767 million loss during the same quarter in 2012. By comparison, Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest carrier, announced selling about 3.9 million iPhones during the third quarter...

Infinity Blade III ‘Soul Hunter’ update coming soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

The iOS-exclusive Infinity Blade III (a $6.99 download for the iPhone and iPad) arrived mid-September as the third installment to Chair Entertainment's elegiac masterpiece, the Infinity Blade series.

The game is about to get its first free 'hunter' content pack and it's going to be something really special. The Soul Hunter update features four new explore quest and a new main quest that you can play as Isa or Siris.

More importantly, it pits your character face to face against Oslim, the Deathless Bloodmage sent by the Worker of Secrets to track you down and kill you. Just to make things a little more interesting, Oslim is armed with not one, but two Infinity Blades. More on that below...

Intel relents, will make third-party ARM mobile chips in 2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 30, 2013

In a surprise announcement that sent shockwaves throughout the technology industry, Intel said it will open kimono to arch-rival TSMC and begin making chips for third-parties, based on CPU blueprints from the British fabless semiconductor maker ARM Holdings, plc. Apple is among the licensees of ARM's technology for its own in-house chips which serve as the engine powering the iPhone, iPad and iPod devices.

This is a huge development. Not only will Intel, the world’s largest semiconductor company, now fabricate its own ARM-based 64-bit mobile chips starting next year, it will now undoubtedly compete for the lucrative Apple business, especially given the iPhone maker has long been looking to take its chip-making contract elsewhere...

Keep tabs on your device’s vitals with Free Space Cam

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Free Space Cam is a $0.99 jailbreak tweak that allows users to keep tabs on the iPhone's vital statistics while using the stock Camera app. It lets you know how much battery life and free storage space you have for snapping photos. For videos, it will alert you to the amount of available time remaining for your video shoot as well.

Free Space Cam isn't for everyone, but for those of you who are jailbroken and are tight on space, it may be worth looking into. Have a look inside, as we take Free Space Cam through a brief video walkthrough.

Create passcode free intervals with PasswordTime

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

PasswordTime is a jailbreak tweak that let's you disable the passcode on your device during specific user defined time intervals. In theory, this could allow you to disable the passcode at 6 PM, the time when you arrive home from work. It could then be set to reenable the passcode before you leave the next day.

It's not a fail safe method of security, but if you're looking for something to add a little bit of convenience to your device, while still maintaining a passcode, then PasswordTime is worth your attention.

Researchers discover flaw in iOS that allows some apps to be hijacked

Cody Lee ∙ October 30, 2013

Researchers on Tuesday revealed a simple attack that exploits a newly-discovered vulnerability in iOS apps. The defect allows an app to be manipulated to display fraudulent information and discreetly intercept data sent by the end user.

Israel-based Skycure stumbled onto the problem when the team noticed their own app redirecting to a wrong address. It wasn't long before they realized they could do this with other apps, too, and decided it was worth further investigation...

Apple highlights 64-bit A7 processor in new iPhone 5s print ad

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Earlier this month, Apple began running a magazine advertisement for its iPhone 5s with a byline reading "your finger is the password." It briefly explained some of the benefits of Apple's new Touch ID security system.

Well new iPhone 5s print ad has surfaced this week, this time highlighting Apple's new 64-bit A7 processor. Similar to the previous spot, the ad features a large photo of the 5s and a byline: "Desktop Power. Pocket Size."