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Boston University could reap $75M in Apple patent infringement suit

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 3, 2013

Boston University (BU) could reap $75 million in a patent-infringement lawsuit filed against Apple Tuesday. The lawsuit centers on a patent filed in 1995 by a university professor which the school charges is used by the iPhone 5, iPad and MacBook Air.

The university has filed eight "identical" lawsuits against other device makers, including Samsung and Amazon. To bolster its argument that Apple should pay, the school is set to claim it is already receiving licensing fees for using the patent, according to a local report...

Indie puzzle-platformer Limbo makes a leap to the iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 3, 2013

Copenhagen, Denmark-based game developer Playdead has been enjoying huge successes selling three million copies of its puzzle action adventure game Limbo on the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Steam, Playstation Vita, as well as Windows and Mac PCs.

As we told you last week, Playdead was readying an App Store version of Limbo and today the game has finally arrived to your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices. You won't want to miss out on this one, trust me...

iOS 7 hints at growing interest in Apple pre-release software

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 9, 2016

Whenever Apple releases new software, consumers rush to give it a try. Now the average Apple user wants in on pre-release software once the domain only of developers and others paid to ensure everything is in order.

There has been such interest in the changes made to iOS 7 that this so-called 'beta' software is being adopted at a faster pace than test versions of iOS 6, one company noted Tuesday.

More than twice as many iPhones are online with the beta version of iOS 7 than was the case when the pre-release version of iOS 6 was made available to developers, according to a company which optimizes websites for mobile users.

Why the heightened interest in software declared not ready for mass use? How is Apple responding to this trend?

Alleged plastic iPhone shot pictures a blue variant

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 3, 2013

Last week, a usually reliable French blog found a pair of images said to depict the polycarbonate shell of Apple’s purported lower-cost iPhone. The Cupertino company has long been said to be working on a lower-cost handset to make inroads into emerging markets like China and India. If these shots are anything to go by, the budget iPhone will come in some vivid colors, like yellow, red and green.

The same blog on Wednesday re-posted another photograph that pictures a blue variant of the device, bringing the number of supposed color choices to four. More tidbits right after the break...

iOS apparently grabbed nearly 75 percent of mobile ad market in May

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated May 3, 2017

As we've noted in the past, Apple has the unique ability to have products outnumbered by Android, yet excel in areas which count - like advertising. The latest case in point is a study finding nearly 75 percent of mobile ads are served to Apple's iDevices.

By contrast, Android's share of the mobile ad market is decreasing with Samsung's Galaxy S smartphones delivering barely any ad impressions, according to figures released by a mobile ad company...

Review: iTranslate Voice, the best and funniest voice-to-voice iPhone translator

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 19, 2018

German developer Sonico Mobile's iTranslate Voice (not to be confused with dozens of App Store apps that have 'itranslate' in their name) has been on the App Store since May 2012, scoring rave reviews and winning the attention of App Store editors who featured the software on multiple occasions.

A little over a year since its debut they totally revamped the app, adding new languages and language facts and an incredible device-to-device AirTranslate feature.

Unlike many other apps that claim to feature quick voice-to-voice translations, iVoice Translate works as advertised and gets the job done, letting you instantly "speak" another language, voice-to-voice...

Rovio’s ‘Red’s Mighty Feathers’ update combines Angry Birds and Bad Piggies

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

A while ago we stopped posting stories about episodic updates to Rovio's Angry Birds bird-flinging series because we felt these games have run their course. Today's update is different and noteworthy because for the first time Rovio has brought Angry Birds and Bad Piggies together in a Red's Mighty Feathers update to the original Angry Birds game.

The approach has resulted in an all-new gameplay that sees you shooting down wave after wave of pesky pugs advancing in their 73 crazy contraptions, including wacky flying machines...

USA Network iOS app released, lets you watch TV shows the day after they air

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 3, 2013

Following a long period of initial hesitance, major US television networks and content providers have finally relented and are now falling over each other to release software that lets Apple device owners stream television shows, with or without cable subscription. The latest entrant: NBC Universal-owned USA Network, commonly referred to as USA.

Their new USA Anywhere Plus app gives you access to TV shows the day after they air on television, including back episodes for some shows...

Apple hires former fashion label CEO Paul Deneve for ‘special projects’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

If you thought Apple's done hiring, think again. Just as we've digested news that the California firm hired Hulu executive Pete Distad to help its executives negotiate content deals with media and cable companies like Time Warner Cable, earlier today AppleInsider claimed the company hired Paul Deneve, a former CEO of the luxury French fashion label Yves Saint Laurent, to work on special projects as a Vice President reporting directly to Apple's boss Tim Cook...

Real Racing 3 Prestige update adds Mercedes-Benz and Bentley vehicles, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 2, 2013

Developer Firemonkeys and publisher Electronic Arts thus far issued two major content updates to Real Racing 3, enriching the experience by adding hundreds of new events along with an assortment of new vehicles.

Today, the dynamic duo released a third tentatively named 'Prestige' update along the same lines. If you're a fan of high-speed racing games, the Prestige update should make you happy.

The content pack features some high speed cars from Mercedes-Benz and Bentley, more than 180 new events, twilight racing and the highly requested Time Trial mode. I've included more information and a video after the break...

iPhone leads customer satisfaction in Samsung’s home turf of South Korea

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 2, 2013

There's nothing like winning over your competitor's hometown audience. Apple, accustomed to topping nearly every customer satisfaction survey, must take particular pleasure in being named best by smartphone owners in South Korea, home of rival Samsung.

The survey found even a year after purchase, iPhone owners were more satisfied overall, as well as happy with the repair experience. Customer satisfaction is an often-cited metric by Apple CEO Tim Cook, a quality in which some see him well-suited...

Bloomberg: Time Warner Cable channels coming to Apple TV ‘in a few months’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Hot on the heels of releasing the Apple TV 5.3 software which enabled access to Disney's WatchESPN and HBO Go through the $99 set-top box, Bloomberg now reports that the iPhone maker is on the cusp of announcing a major agreement with Time Warner Cable.

The gist of the story: the deal would give subscribers of the cable television service access to channels via the Apple TV. HBO, of course, is owned by Time Warner, under the operating subsidiary Home Box Office Inc.

But it gets even better: Apple is apparently hiring away Hulu executive Pete Distad to help Eddy Cue, Apple's SVP of Internet Software and Services, in negotiations with media and cable companies. An agreement will be reportedly announced "in a few months". Tuesday news doesn't get any bigger than this...