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Munster pops Apple hype balloon: no new gizmos until June’s iPhone 5S launch

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated May 20, 2016

We've chided Piper Jaffray's well-known resident Apple analyst Gene Munster for his repeated predictions of a standalone Apple television set being just around the corner. However, this time we're giving Munster credit for trying to deflate the hype balloon which has taken Apple stock and consumers for a ride fueled by unreal expectations. The analyst is just the latest Wall Street figure hoping to inject reality into a belief that the Cupertino, Calif. iPhone maker was immune to the vagaries of mortal businesses - such as down periods.

In a note to his clients, Munster walked a fine line, laying out some uncomfortable numbers for a company that hasn't reported negative figures in a decade. Along the way, he also tested the waters of delayed gratification during a time investors appear more like strung-out addicts accustom to quarter after quarter of mind-blowing revenue from Apple...

Apple.com is the world’s eighth most popular web property

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 26, 2013

Research firm comScore today issued a new survey of the world's top web properties. Apple.com, which comScore ranked the world's eleventh most-popular web site last year, climbed to the #8 slot, reflecting the growing popularity of Apple gadgets in the post-Jobs era. Matter of fact the Apple.com web site recorded a 54 percent increase in the number of hits compared to last year.

That's a significant difference versus a 38 percent average gain for the top 100 measured web properties and the largest increase in the top ten rankings. It should be noted that the web analytics company now finally includes both hits from desktop as well as mobile devices. Go past the fold for the full breakdown...

Logitech unveils colorful new Keyboard Folios for iPad and iPad mini

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 26, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9wi_OX0Rvo

Logitech today launched two new interesting accessories for your iPad: the Keyboard Folio and Keyboard Folio Mini. As the names suggest, the former is for your full-size 9.7-inch iPad and the latter is for its little brother, the 7.9-inch iPad mini. These act as both a protective cover which attaches to your device magnetically and a physical Bluetooth-enabled keyboard with custom iPad shortcuts. Additionally, a hands-free flip stand props up your device in two comfortable viewing angles...

Apple envisions multitouch gestures on blank screens

Ed Sutherland ∙ March 26, 2013

Apple Tuesday was granted an intriguing multitouch patent with a wrinkle: no screen display necessary. Instead of glancing down at your iPod during a workout to adjust the volume or skip past an annoying track, you simply touch the screen. The patent, first filed in 2009, opens up a number of potential benefits, including extending battery life.

Rather than your iPod nano's screen displaying controls such as sliders, Apple envisions devices accepting multitouch user input even when a screen itself is blank. Not only would this open the potential for eliminating hardware controls, but the technology may also become part of everyday devices ranging from your iPhone, iWatch or even iGlasses, should Apple decide to compete with Google...

MechWarrior explodes onto iPhone

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Growing up in the 90's provided the extreme advantage of spending late nights in front of Mech Warrior 2. Aside from King's Quest V, Mech Warrior 2 is one of the few PC games I ever completed from start to finish. When we were contacted by Personae Studios to review their newest build of MechWarrior: Tactical Command, I had no hesitations to agree. Moving from a FPS console and desktop option to RTS, the iOS Mech Warrior experience will be appreciated by MechWarrior fans, old and new...

T-Mobile will talk iPhone tomorrow

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

T-Mobile, the nation's fourth-largest carrier and the only major U.S. telco without the iPhone and LTE network, will discuss the iconic smartphone at tomorrow's event, one publication has it on good authority. CNET has confirmed that the iPhone will play a part at T-Mobile's "Uncarrier" event tomorrow, meaning we can now confidently speculate that the Deutsche Telekom-owned telco will formally announce it will be carrying Apple's handset and share details regarding its unsubsidized pricing structure...

Chevrolet highlights Siri Eyes Free feature in new TV ad

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

Last month, we told you that Chevy started offering Siri Eyes Free in its 2013 Sonic and Spark models, officially making it the first automaker, out of the 9+ that will support it, to incorporate the feature into a production vehicle.

Today, the car company posted a new TV ad for its 2013 Sonic sedan showcasing the new Siri integration, which gives compatible users hands-free access to the digital assistant from a built-in button on the car's steering wheel...

Apple’s new US iPhone promotion offers free next day shipping on all models

Cody Lee ∙ March 25, 2013

Since Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S4 handset earlier this month, Apple has been on an iPhone marketing blitz. In addition to its two new iPhone ads, it's also posted a 'Why iPhone' page on its website and launched an email campaign.

And today, it continues the push with a new iPhone promotion for US customers. Effective immediately, the company is offering free next day shipping on all of its iPhone models ordered through its online webstore, regardless of price...

webOS-inspired iOS 7 multitasking concept

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 25, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRt5qagkGBU

Remember webOS? Say what you will about Palm, but the HP-acquired firm has pioneered what's arguably the most efficient implementation of multitasking on a mobile device to this date (no jailbreak required, of course). For those not in the know, the webOS multitasking metaphor is a stack of cards which represents your running tasks.

Each card can be moved around, dismissed and manipulated with a flick of your finger. It's a remarkably fun and engaging solution to efficiently interact with your apps, one which gets the job done while moving out of the way. Designer Jesse Head took that idea and applied it to the problematic iOS multitasking tray, replacing the boring grid of icons with app tiles sporting nearly full-screen live previews. It appears as useful as it's gorgeous to look at, no?

Yahoo to buy mobile news start-up Summly for $30 million

Cody Lee ∙ March 25, 2013

Yahoo! announced today that it will be acquiring mobile news start-up Summly. The deal, said to be worth around $30 million, is for both the app and the team, and is expected to close sometime in the next few months.

For those unfamiliar with the company, Summly created and maintains the popular news-summarizing iPhone app of the same name. It uses special algorithms to deliver 'snapshots' of stories that match a users' interests...

Foxconn posts record profits on Apple’s aggressive product refreshes

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known in the Western world as Foxconn, is Apple's favorite manufacturer that assembles a lot of its products, with Pegatron taking care of the rest. Foxconn also helps a number of other tech giants build and assemble their gadgets.

As Apple is its most visible high-volume client, Foxconn's earnings are often scrutinized for hints of Apple's sales performance. Today, Foxconn reported a record quarterly profit on increased manufacturing efficiency and output of Apple's iPhones and iPads, after having solved production bottlenecks in the prior quarter.

The increased revenue and improved profit margins also could mean that Foxconn may have had some room to push Apple for better pricing, Bloomberg reports...

Apple now offering refurbished 16GB iPad minis for $299

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Folks thinking about buying an iPad mini, but just can't get over the tablet's exorbitant $330+ price tag, will be happy to hear that you can now get one for less than $300 from Apple's web store.

The company began offering a handful of refurbished iPad mini models, alongside fourth-gen iPads, earlier this month. And they've just added black and white 16GB Wi-Fi-only models to the mix...