Apple issues charger advisory in China

Following a widely reported fatality involving a Chinese stewardess who got electrocuted by her iPhone charger (just weeks from her wedding), Apple has posted a statement to its China web site recommending customers use only authorized chargers.

Ten days ago, a Chinese newspaper reported that 23-year-old China Airlines flight attendant Ma Ailun suffered a fatal electric shock when she answered a call using her iPhone that was recharging. Major media outlets picked up the report, creating another PR nightmare in Apple's "most important market" (Cook's words from earlier this year)...

Apple’s latest major acquisition: Apple

Philip Elmer-DeWitt, writing for Fortune:

Last quarter, Apple finally made a major acquisition. And what did it buy?

It bought Apple.

By my calculation, the company spent $16 billion last quarter ($4 billion in cash, $12 billion through the so-called accelerated share repurchase program) to purchase 36 million of its own shares at an average price of just over $444.

For that amount, Apple could have bought three Nokias or three BlackBerrys...

Sky Gamblers: Cold War review: become the dogfighter you want to be

Sky Gamblers is a popular flight simulation series of arcade games that puts you in the cockpit of a fighter plane as you take down enemies in a variety of missions. It is best known for being a Mac based game, but the game’s creators have decided to launch an iOS version in tandem with the desktop app.

Sky Gamblers: Cold War is a universal app that follows up on Atypical Games’ award-winning Storm Raiders title. This time, you’ll be flying during an era that spans 50 years and multiple battles…

Some great design apps for graphics artists

If you are trying to come up with a great logo, but need some inspirado, or are looking for an app that will let you take your design creations mobile, there are quite a few apps out there that will help you in that department.

Thanks to a suggestion from one of our readers, we have a list of apps that are great for graphics artists, designers, and people who just appreciate the art of design…

In emotional interview, Ashton Kutcher reflects on Steve Jobs’ legacy

It seems like the tech world collectively chuckled and rolled its eyes when it found out that Ashton Kutcher—the stoner star from That 70's Show and Hollywood's go-to guy for b-rated romantic comedies—was going to be playing Steve Jobs in a feature film.

But Kutcher has turned more than a few heads with his portrayal of Apple's co-founder in Open Road Films' 'Jobs.' And looking at this clip of his appearance on Jay Leno's Tonight Show from last night, he obviously had tremendous respect for the man...

New Apple invention detects usage patterns to save iPhone battery life

Longer battery life is one of those things that's usually at the top of people's smartphone feature wish list. I know it is mine. But unfortunately, there hasn't been any major new developments in mobile battery tech over the last few years.

Companies like Motorola are figuring it out though. The Google-owned maker just introduced a new handset with a staggering 48-hour battery life. And according to this patent application just published by the USPTO, Apple is too...

Algoriddim launches djay 2 for iPhone and iPad

Algoriddim has launched its highly anticipated djay 2 app for the iPhone and iPad this morning. The title is the sequel to the studio's popular, and what some believe to be the best, DJ app of the same name, and it brings about tons of new features and improvements.

Among those new features is a built-in sampler—complete with 12 pads and recorder—HD waveforms, an all new slip mode that lets you scratch without ruining your session, and enhanced hardware controller support. More details and screenshots after the fold...

Amid continuing outage, Apple launches Dev Center status dashboard

Seven days into the Dev Center outage and there's no end in sight to this major blunder. Developers use Apple's Dev Center to access technical documentation, download iOS 7 and OS X beta builds, file bug reports, give feedback, use web tools to manage their code and much more.

Therefore, this downtime is entirely unacceptable and it's become totally conceivable now that such a significant downtime might spoil Apple's blockbuster Fall. Realizing as much, the firm on Wednesday posted a notice outlining its steps going forward.

And, a brand new dashboard status page charts Apple's recovery from the hack...

Apple’s Q4 guidance suggests we’ll see a new iPhone in September

During Apple's quarterly earnings call yesterday afternoon, Tim Cook said something along the lines of "Apple has some great stuff coming in the fall." While the comment is vague, Apple's Q4 guidance may shine some light on when exactly we can expect to see new products.

Apple said that it expects revenue of $34 billion to $37 billion in the September quarter, with gross margins between 36 and 37%. And, according to BTIG analyst Walt Piecyk, those numbers only make sense if the company introduces some new hardware in September...

Meet the Range, an iOS food thermometer for smarter cooking

If you're something of an epicurean but with non-chef-level cooking skills, this will be godsent. A new project by the Russian startup that brought us a five-sensor iPhone life monitor dongle, the Range is an iOS food thermometer used for candy making, roasting and other types of high-temperature cooking projects.

There's more to this accessory for smarter cooking than meets the eye so jump past the fold for the full reveal...

Classic zombie board game Chainsaw Warrior coming to iOS soon

Chainsaw Warrior, a one-player zombie board game published way back in 1987 by Games Workshop (best known in the US for the Warhammer 40,000 and Blood Bowl franchises), will be making the leap to iOS later this year, the British publisher announced.

Created by Auroch Digital, an indie development studio based in UK's Bristol Games Hub, the game is set in the near future: the year is 2032 and you must defend the mankind from a zombie apocalypse which has ensued after a dimensional rift opened up in a New York slum...

Rumor: Apple to discontinue iPhone 5 alongside budget, 5S launch

A new report out of Korea today claims that Apple is going to be discontinuing production of the iPhone 5 this fall, transferring all of its efforts to its next generation flagship handset, the iPhone 5S, and the long-rumored 'budget iPhone.'

Citing 'industry partners' with knowledge of the situation, ETNews is reporting this afternoon that Apple has asked its supply chain partners to wind down iPhone 5 production. And, according to the report, it plans to halt it altogether this fall...