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Apple defends Siri in Shanghai courtroom

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku0H10_G1X4

China may soon become a top source of legal headaches, as well as market opportunities. Wednesday, the iPhone maker begins a defense of its Siri software against a Chinese company's claim the voice-activated personal assistant violates its 2004 patent. Zhizhen Network Technology Co. filed its lawsuit against Apple last summer and today the two firms meet for a pre-trial hearing in a Shanghai court.

According to Zhizhen, its "Xiao i Robot" software was patented before Apple developed Siri in 2007 and unveiled as part of the iPhone 4S in 2011. The Shanghai-based firm is asking the court to halt Apple making and selling products using Siri, a voice-activated personal assistant feature available on newer iPhones and iPads...

Flipboard 2.0 is out with custom magazines, notifications and more

Cody Lee ∙ March 26, 2013

Flipboard released a rather significant update for its iOS app tonight, bringing the social news aggregator to version 2.0. The update includes a few major new features, including custom magazines and user notifications, and other improvements.

Perhaps the biggest addition to the app is the ability to create your own custom magazines. Users can now collect and save content into their own magazines, sort of like Pinterest, allowing users to essentially bookmark their favorite stuff...

Supply chain chatter claims Apple is building 4K ‘Ultra HD’ TV set

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

It's been a while since we've heard any new information regarding Apple's rumored TV project. It seems 'iTV' speculation has been replaced by talk of Apple's secret plans for the smartwatch space, and its expected entry into the budget handset market.

But that changed this evening with a new report out of China, claiming that Apple has been in discussions with Foxconn over the production schedule of a TV set. And the 4K 'Ultra HD' television will finally land in either late 2013, or early next year...

Let’s Talk Jailbreak – 03: What type of socks are you wearing?

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Welcome to episode 3 of Let's Talk Jailbreak. In this episode, Sebastien and I discuss iOS 6.1.3, Apple's perception of jailbreakers, the previous week's jailbreak tweaks, how we met, a sleeper jailbreak tweak, an update on the progress of the podcast, and much more.

Like last week, this week's episode again takes into account some of your suggestions. For instance, some of you will be happy to find a brief introduction to the podcast. Take a look inside for the iTunes links, direct download links, and more.

Wake up to the date, temperature and more with Wake Info

Cody Lee ∙ March 26, 2013

What's the first thing you do when you hear your alarm clock go off in the morning? If you're like me, then after hitting the snooze button a couple of times, you look at your phone to see what time it is and if you missed any messages overnight.

But wouldn't it be nice if you could get this kind of information without having to look at your phone? That way you could skip that part of your morning routine and go right to stretching, or whatever else you do. Well you can, with Wake Info...

What you need to know about Apple’s tweaked A1428 iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

Earlier today, the nation's fourth-largest wireless carrier T-Mobile USA annuounced it will start officially selling Apple's iPhone on April 12. And in dropping annual contracts in favor of monthly installments, the telco unveiled the new Simple Choice Plan and LTE coverage in seven major U.S. cities.

Additional details trickled in post-announcement and one particular tidbit has immediately captured our attention: Apple has actually troubled to re-tool the AT&T iPhone 5 for the Deutsche Telekom-owned carrier.

The re-jigged hardware now supports T-Mobile's Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) bandwidths, but the change in turn has affected existing AT&T customers who plan on switching to T-Mobile. Full details are right after the break...

Quickly enable the Passcode on your device with TapTapPass

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

By default, it takes you at least 6 steps to enable your device's Passcode from your Home screen. You have to launch the Settings app, navigate through a couple of screens to the Passcode Lock window, and set it up.

While this process is just fine for folks who keep their iOS devices Passcode-protected at all times, it's fairly tedious for those that only enable the security feature every once in a while. Luckily, there's TapTapPass...

IDC: Apple within spitting distance of Samsung in smart connected devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 28, 2017

Research firm IDC today shared an interesting data point which again reminds us that the mobile game has pretty much come down to the epic fight for supremacy between California-based Apple and Seoul-headquartered Samsung group. Combined shipments of desktop and notebook PCs, tablets and smartphones rose to 378 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012, accounting for $168 billion in quarterly sales.

One particular data point has piqued our interest: thanks to the (sarcasm alert) "disappointing" iPhone 5 and "overpriced" iPad mini, Apple closed the gap with the South Korean giant, having accounted for a 20.3 percent unit share versus 21.2 percent for its rival.

And, of course, when you narrow down the analysis to just revenues, Apple's high-margin business has allowed the company to pull in the market-leading 30.7 percent revenue versus 20.4 percent revenue share for Samsung.

In other words, nearly one out of every three dollars spent on desktop/notebook PCs, smartphones and tablets in Q4 2012 went to Apple, with Samsung taking one out of each five bucks...

Quick review: Handy Photo for iPhone and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNx7rUjOdeM

Sebastien and I share a passion for iPhone photography so when he asked me to take a look at Handy Photo the other day, I was overly excited. So what does this new photography app does that your favorite software can't? How about AntiCrop and TouchRetouch, two interesting features that work a lot like content-aware fill in Photoshop?

Or, perhaps you'll be impressed by the ability to perform complex touch ups and work with 36-megapixel images (not a typo)? The promo video is a bit cheesy and heavy on superlatives, but it does a nice job highlighting key features of this handy program. I've included more info and a few screenies after the break...

Bluelounge releases Mika, one stand to rule them all

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated September 30, 2013

It is almost redundant for me to begin another article expressing my love affair with quality iOS device stands, but, for the sake of tradition, allow my introduction sentence to lend credence to my lust. Bluelounge announced today, their newest product, the Mika, which is a simple stand for iPad, but strong enough to hold a full size MacBook. Thanks to a buddy at Bluelounge, I was able to get my hands on one for review prior to the announcement...

Apple to triple retail presence in India by 2015, own stores still improbable

Ed Sutherland ∙ March 26, 2013

After realizing India's potential, Apple is now acting to catch up with rival Samsung. The latest sign of Apple's new-found interest: a Tuesday report claiming the iPhone maker plans to open 200 exclusive stores in the country, tripling the number of locations now available to India's mobile consumers.

The push into retailing for Apple reportedly includes importing suppliers to help local franchisers adopt the iconic sleek glass design of other locations selling iPhones, iPads and other devices from the Cupertino firm. Apple's retail efforts follow a turn-around in iPhone sales marked by direct-to-consumer sales and other marketing adjustments...

T-Mobile finally lands the iPhone: available April 12, $99 upfront

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

As expected, T-Mobile USA announced at its "Uncarrier" event in New York that it's finally become the official distributor of the iPhone, six years after Apple announced its game-changing smartphone. The company will start offering the iconic device April 12 and has confirmed it'll work on its LTE network, which also formally launched on Tuesday. The iPhone 5, of course, also supports T-Mobile's speedy HSPA+ covering 225 million people in 229 metropolitan areas.

Unlike AT&T, Verizon and Sprint - or most of the world's carriers for that matter - the Deutsche Telekom-owned wireless telco will sell Apple's device contract-free, tapping its previously mulled monthly installments in another uncharacteristic industry practice. "We're canceling our membership to the Wireless Carrier Club," CEO John Legere quipped at the presser.

Specifically, per T-Mobile's press release, you'll be paying $99.99 upfront to get an entry-level 16GB iPhone 5, without ever having to put your signature on a two-year service contract. The rest of the device's unsubsidized price will be recovered through installment plans requiring you to drop an additional $20 over the next 24 months.

Quickly, do the math in your head: under these terms, the iPhone 5 will set you back $580 in total, a nice $69 saving over the unlocked $649 iPhone 5 on Apple's web store...