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The line starts forming outside Apple’s landmark Fifth Avenue glass cube store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 14, 2016

Like every year, this year's iPhone launch is expected to be the biggest ever for the Cupertino, California firm. Unlike past years, however, 2013 is the first time Apple gets to release two new iPhones simultaneously, one a so-called S-upgrade to the existing iPhone 5 and the other essentially an iPhone 5 with a less-pricey polycarbonate plastic case.

This change in tactics and the resulting flurry of media coverage appears to have renewed interest in the Apple smartphone. And while we're certainly not expecting lines to stretch around whole blocks like in 2007, campers are already lining up outside Apple's flagship glass cube store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue...

Estimate: 13M iPhone 5S/5C sales in 10 days, 31M iPhones in Q4

Ed Sutherland ∙ September 6, 2013

Although Apple's much-awaited September 10 announcement remains days away, analysts are already weighing the potential benefit for the all-important fourth quarter. Can Apple get a much-needed bump in end of the year sales by launching the upgraded iPhone 5S and the new iPhone 5C, as well as potential distribution deals in China and Japan?

At the heart of new estimates for the September quarter is Apple's ability to quickly announce, then begin sales of the new hardware. Lucky for Apple, before becoming CEO, Tim Cook was the iPhone maker's supply chain maestro...

Twitter puts Twitter into Twitter #music

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

After updating its official iOS client with the somewhat controversial conversation redesign (hint: blue lines), the micro-blogging service Twitter now turns its attention to its music discovery app, Twitter #music. In a new update issued Friday, Twitter #music now shows tweets along with each track right in your #NowPlaying feed.

"We've put the Twitter into Twitter #music," the company boasted. That's not all, as these tweets are fully actionable, which makes me wonder whether the company will eventually fold the #music app into the Twitter mobile client down the road...

Reuters: China Unicom/Telecom to start taking iPhone 5S/5C pre-orders next week

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 6, 2013

Yesterday, China's state-owned #3 carrier China Telecom supposedly inadvertently let slip that it will start selling Apple's upcoming iPhone 5S upgrade and the new mid-range iPhone 5C beginning September 20. The official pre-order page had even gone live briefly before the telco killed it.

I'm always doubtful of such "leaks" and tend to dismiss them as the perfectly legitimate PR stunts designed to drum up the excitement ahead of the launch. Be that as it may, Reuters on Friday confirmed with its sources that both China Telecom and China Unicom will indeed start taking preorders for the new iPhones as early as next week...

Apple could release OS X Mavericks late-October

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 6, 2013

Fans have been kinda keeping their fingers crossed for a September release of OS X Mavericks ever since Apple at June's WWDC formally announced the new version of the desktop operating system for Macs. The guiding logic was that the company would need to release both iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks simultaneously because the two releases complement each another. For example, Mavericks with its native Maps app lets you create a route and send it wirelessly to your iPhone for navigation.

Or, reading a notification on your iOS device now automatically clears it on your Mac and all of the other devices. However, a reliable blogger now quotes sources with knowledge of the launch plans as claiming that OS X 10.9 Mavericks is due at the end of October so Apple could "focus the majority of its software engineering resources on pushing out iOS 7 alongside the new iPhone hardware over the next couple of weeks"...

40 percent of online ads delivered via iDevices

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Another sign appeared Friday further suggesting Android's 'build it and they will use it' mantra just isn't working. Apple's family of iDevices - ranging from the iPod touch to the iPhone and iPad - represent 40 percent of online ads delivered. Despite Android's numerical advantage, Samsung placed second with 26 percent, per ad network Millennial Media...

Ancient Battle: Rome puts you on the battlefield with Caesar himself

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 14, 2018

Battling against mounted armies with nothing but a spear and a shield may seem unfair, but all is fair in love and war, or so they say. When the odds are against you, fight harder.

Ancient Battle: Rome is a strategy turn-based game that puts you in command of Roman legionaries in classic battles of old. Prepare your troops for attack because this war will not end well…

iOS in the Car cannot come soon enough

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

I recently purchased a new top of the line 2013 Nissan Pathfinder and am very pleased with the family decision. Everything is exactly what my wife was looking for in a vehicle, sleek exterior, beautiful interior, mandatory leather seats, and room for future 2.2 kids and a Great Dane. The size, we felt, was a little lacking, but it stood up to its rivals with a bit of finesse.

We get our new, fresh smelling, SUV home and start playing with it in the driveway like two kids and a new toy on Christmas morning. But, we obviously are attracted to different things. My wife wanted to climb all over the back seats, adjust the driver seat, and set the memory locks for her key fob. I go straight for the dashboard entertainment center.

I took a fairly hard look at the infotainment center on our various test drives, but once I had my iPod classic freshly synced and plugged into the Pathfinder, I quickly grew upset. Below the fold is a personal reaction to the system in our new vehicle and a highlight of how things could be done in a more fluid way...

What is Apple going to do with the iPhone 5 after next week?

Cody Lee ∙ September 6, 2013

Next week, Apple is expected to break its year-long product silence by unveiling not one, but two new iPhones. This will be the first time that the company has introduced two handsets simultaneously, leaving many wondering what it'll do with its legacy smartphones.

Pundits seem fairly split on the topic, but the recent consensus seems to be that the iPhone 5C will replace both the iPhone 4 and 4S, as well as the iPhone 5—leaving Apple with just two phones in its lineup. A new report, however, suggests the 5 may be sticking around...

Gameloft teases ‘Thor: The Dark World’ with new trailer

Cody Lee ∙ September 6, 2013

Marvel Comic fans will be happy to hear that Gameloft has released a new trailer for their upcoming title 'Thor: The Dark World - The Official Game.' The game is expected to be released alongside the blockbuster movie of the same name.

Gameloft first announced The Dark World back in July at San Diego Comic Con, where they showed off a short 40-second clip of impressive gameplay. And today they're back with a full 60-second trailer, which we've posted after the fold...

Good deal: name your own price for this Mac software bundle

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Now normally, when you see a 'name your own price' deal you think: what's the catch? At least that's what I think. If I really get to name my own price for something, can I just say $1? That's not usually the case, but it is with this new Stack Social promo.

The deal site is offering up 3 Mac apps—Airy, My Living Desktop and Compartments—that usually cost a combined $60, for literally whatever you want to pay. The only thing is your offer must be $1 or above, and if it's $12 or more, you get more apps...

Meet the Philips M1X-DJ sound system: it’s the ghettoblaster reinvented for today

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Philips, the Dutch multinational engineering and electronics conglomerate, today at Berlin's IFA show introduced a novel DJ controller which doubles as a powerful portable speaker dock. Designed in partnership with Armin van Buuren, a Dutch trance music producer and DJ, the M1X-DJ system has a built-in Lightning port and a place to easily dock your iPhone, iPod or iPad device for hassle-free mixing or music playback.

Oh, it also happens to combine best of both worlds by augmenting a mixer and onboard turntables with 80-Watt speakers and a handy shoulder strap so you can lug this thing around with ease. Jump past the fold for the full reveal...