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Apple exploring custom iPhone hold messages with contextual ads

Ed Sutherland ∙ April 2, 2013

Everyone has been on hold. The irritatingly insincere messages about 'your call is important to us' followed by 1970s Muzak and advertising come-ons.

A new patent granted to Apple may make your wait a bit more entertaining - if not productive - for iPhone owners. The patent outlines a way to display information that is contextually relevant to your phone call.

But buried in the ties to your calendar, local weather and other data is a hook that could display personalized ads on your phone, akin to Google's contextual ads...

Flurry finds phablets are ‘insignificant’ and a ‘fad’

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 24, 2018

There has been debate whether Apple should offer an iPhone with a larger screen, competing with Android selling what some have dubbed 'phablets' for spanning both phones and tablets. Now comes a well-known mobile research firm calling phablets just 'a fad.'

In a note to mobile developers entitled "Size Matters for Connected Devices, Phablets Don't," analytics firm Flurry Monday said phablets comprise only a single-digit portion of devices compared to mid-size phones and large tablets, such as the iPhone and iPad...

Apple off the hook as Chinese media approves of Tim Cook’s apology

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 2, 2013

Pressured by the relentless crusade of state-owned media in China which have been dissing Apple in headlines for days over its warranty practices, Tim Cook yesterday issued an open letter.

Published on Apple's Chinese web site, the letter is basically a public apology addressed to the company's customers and fans in the 1.33 billion people country, now Apple's second-largest market. It's done its job (for now) as the iPhone maker appears to have earned back the media's respect in China.

The same major print and broadcast media that have been bad mouthing Apple throughout last week over its supposedly "unparalleled arrogance" is now singing praise to the company, with the country's Foreign Ministry officially approving Apple's apology...

Apple’s EarPods trademark challenged by HearPod maker Randolph Divisions

Ed Sutherland ∙ April 2, 2013

When you have a few hundred million in walking around money and are worth more than any company on the planet, you become a magnet for lawsuits. That's the lesson Apple is learning as the iPhone maker fields increasing numbers of trademark infringement legal cases.

The latest: a hearing aid maker claims Apple's EarPods sounds just too much like its HearPod. Randolph Divisions filed the lawsuit against Apple in Hawaii District Court. According to the company, it registered the 'HearPod' trademark in 2007, years before the smartphone maker unveiled in 2012 its EarPods for the iPhone 5. Win or lose, at least Apple's legal team gets a trip to Honolulu to argue the case...

Funny or Die’s iSteve trailer hits the web

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Funny or Die production, the popular comedy web site founded by Will Ferrel’s production company, last month announced work on a full-length Steve Jobs movie dubbed iSteve and starring Justin Long as Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs. With the first official trailer having been posted to the Funny or Die web site, it looks as if this flick is actually a more serious depiction of Steve Jobs rather than a typical Funny or Die comedy production...

Google’s Quickoffice app updated with iPhone support

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Google acquired Quickoffice, a mobile software suite that includes word processor, spreadsheet and presentation apps—all compatible with MS Office, last summer. And in December it released a free Quickoffice iPad app for its Google Apps for Business customers.

Today, it's updated that app with better Google Drive storage integration and, more importantly, support for the iPhone. So if you're a Google Apps for Business subscriber, you can now create, edit and view Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on your Apple handset...

Is this Facebook’s upcoming smartphone?

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 2, 2013

A new image of what is purportedly the upcoming Facebook phone has been leaked on Twitter. The image, first posted by @evleaks, shows off a generic looking Android device made by HTC.

It's widely expected that Facebook will announce its first real foray into the hardware business on Thursday, this, by means of a partnership with handset manufacturer HTC. Last week, Facebook sent out invites that stated: "Come see our new home on Android." It looks like that was more than just an invitation, as it also reveals the purported name of the device: Facebook Home.

I just tested out a very early version of Badger

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 1, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dewkE66s0qg

My first look at a very early version of Badger. What do you think?

AT&T will begin rolling out HD Voice support later this year

Cody Lee ∙ April 1, 2013

Last week, T-Mobile announced that it was finally going to start offering the iPhone. It will be selling all current models, with the iPhone 5 starting at just $99 down, and will support the handset's HD Voice (or Wideband Audio) feature.

In fact, once it launches the iPhone 5 later this month, T-Mobile will be the only US carrier to support its HD Voice option. But it won't be that way for long. AT&T announced today that it will be rolling out support for the tech later this year...

Apple to announce Q2 2013 earnings on April 23

Cody Lee ∙ April 1, 2013

It looks like folks wondering how Apple did financially last quarter will find out in just a few short weeks. The Cupertino company announced this afternoon that it will be releasing its financial results for Q2 2013 on April 23.

Apple's earnings reports are typically a major affair in the tech world, and this one is particularly important. The iPad-maker's stock is at its 52 week low, and it needs to post some big numbers to change the conversation...

Court rules you can’t resell your iTunes songs

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

While it's legal in the US to purchase a physical CD or DVD and then resell it to someone else, that's not the case with digital media. The unauthorized transfer of digital music is considered to be illegal under the Copyright Act of 1976.

And that sentiment was reaffirmed this weekend by US District Court Judge Richard Sullivan, as he ruled in favor of Universal Music Group’s Capitol Records in its lawsuit against digital music reseller ReDigi for copyright violation...

Apple rep says Steve Jobs helped design next two iPhones

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Folks worried about the future of Apple's smartphone line can rest easy. At least for the immediate future anyway. A new report is out that suggests Steve Jobs was involved in the design stages of at least the next two generations of the iPhone.

The report comes from The San Francisco Examiner, after speaking with its city's District Attorney George Gascón. Apparently, Gascón recently met with Apple to discuss the rise in iPhone thefts, and he found out some pretty interesting stuff...