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Did Apple bail out Sharp to the tune of $2 billion?

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

A detective story of sorts is unfolding in Silicon Valley. Did Apple spend $2 billion to prevent Japan's Sharp going under and putting the iPhone 5 in jeopardy? That's the belief of one analyst who did what all good investigators do: follow the money. Sharp was in financial trouble. It lost $1.3 billion in early 2012, was facing another $2.3 billion due in 2013 and lost a potential lifeline from Foxconn.

In late August came word that Sharp's production of touchscreens for the then unreleased iPhone 5 had slowed. A delay could crimp the Cupertino, California company's ability to meet the expected high demand for its new product. But just weeks after that dire warning, news broke in September that Sharp was producing "mass quantities" of the displays. What caused the sudden turn-around? Apple, some say...

Microsoft Office hitting iOS in early-2013 with limited editing functionality

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 7, 2012

The Verge in an exclusive report this morning offers a detailed look into Office Mobile, a long-rumored version of Microsoft's productivity suite, said to hit iOS and Android devices in early 2013, with the iPhone and iPad version hitting the App Store first. The suite, the publication has it, will apparently include free viewer apps that will require a Microsoft account. Limited editing functionality will reportedly be available with an Office 365 subscription. More tidbits right after the break...

Xbox SmartGlass app now available on iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Last year, Microsoft released an Xbox companion app on iOS that allowed you to access your Xbox LIVE account, chat with friends and customize your avatar. It later added movie playback controls.

But if you thought that was cool, wait until you see this. Microsoft has renamed the iOS app to Xbox SmartGlass, and has given it a laundry list of new features. And it's now available in the App Store...

Pixar dedicates main campus building to Steve Jobs

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

The photo above was tweeted last night by a Pixar employee, showing off the film studio's newly-named building. The CGI production company, which is responsible for animated classics like Toy Story and Finding Nemo, dedicated the main office on its California campus to its former leader, Mr. Steve Jobs...

Apple ordered to pay $368 million in FaceTime patent case

Cody Lee ∙ November 7, 2012

VirnetX Holding Corporation is a patent holding firm that has a pretty impressive portfolio of IP (Intellectual Property) related to wireless networking and LTE technology. And as you'd expect, it's not afraid to use it.

The company is currently entangled in legal battles with the likes of Cisco and Siemens, and it actually took more than $100 million from Microsoft in court. And according to a new report, it just took Apple for 3x that...

Apple’s software problems go deeper than skeuomorphism

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Though it took a lot of people by surprise, the overall feeling on Scott Forstall leaving Apple is mostly positive. The long-time SVP has been painted as extremely difficult to work with, and the leading advocate for the controversial skeuomorphic elements in iOS.

Forstall's duties will be split up among several executives, with all Human Interface stuff, for both hardware and software, now rolling up to Jony Ives. A lot of folks think Ive's talent for aesthetics will transfer over to software and give iOS a much needed makeover.

But are rich Corinthian leathers and dark linen backgrounds Apple's biggest problems in software?

Apple customer loyalty rate falls for first time, but why?

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

A report by Strategy Analytics yesterday claims that Apple's customer loyalty fell for the first time since records began, which may come as a surprise with huge lines and waiting lists abound for the latest releases of the iPhone and iPad.

The report tells that when asked, 88% of US customers said that they were likely to buy another iPhone at upgrade time, which is down from the 93% that claimed the same thing last time around. It's a similar story in Europe, with a result of 75% being well down from the previous year's 88%.

While any company should be happy with a loyalty rate of 88%, why is Apple seeing a reduction in customer loyalty? That's the real question I think we should be asking...

Apple adds Galaxy Note 10.1 and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to Samsung suit

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 2, 2016

Apple's just expanded its second lawsuit against Samsung, seeking to include the South Korean company's 10.1-inch Galaxy Note tablet on a list of allegedly infringing products. In addition, the iPhone maker has alleged that Google's Android version 4.1 software, also known as Jelly Bean, infringes upon its patents. This could be the first time Apple directly sued Android over alleged patent infringement, though it wasn't immediately clear whether Apple's complaint involved the entire Android OS or just Samsung's TouchWiz overlay. The case is scheduled for trial in 2014. And so it continues...

Why Google retires some products

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8ss6NVp8wo

You've probably witnessed one of Google's spring cleanings when it retires a dozen or so popular services. Ever since co-founder Sergey Brin took the CEO role from Eric Schmidt, who is now Google's chairman, the company has been dropping less popular services at a rapid clip. iGoogle? Gone. The ill-fated Wave? Killed off. Wonder Wheel? That too.

Newsflash: even Google has a finite amount of resources so some features inevitably get thrown under the bus along the way. Google's Matt Cutts in the above clip lays out his company's approach to managing products and explains the decision making process which leads Google to retire some service whilst continuing to invest in others...

Spotify app finally receives update for iPhone 5

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 24, 2016

Spotify users rejoice, the cloud-based music service has finally pushed out an update to its iOS app that makes it compatible with the iPhone 5's new 4-inch display. The company has taken a lot of heat from its subscribers over the past several weeks, as it was the last out of the big three music-streamers (Pandora and Rdio) to optimize its app for Apple's new handset...

Apple’s mobile graphics provider Imagination is buying MIPS

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2012

Imagination Technologies, a British-based mobile graphics provider, will buy MIPS, a Sunnyvale, California-headquartered semiconductor design company. The transaction, apparently worth a cool $60 million in cash, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013. It reportedly includes 82 patents related to the MIPS processor architecture.

This development is interesting knowing that both Apple and Intel have ownership stakes in Imagination, whose PowerVR graphics technology powers Apple's mobile chips used inside iPhones, iPads and iPods...

Verizon and HTC announce November 13 media event

Cody Lee ∙ November 6, 2012

Apple continues to struggle to keep up with iPhone 5 demand, and Samsung just announced that it's sold more than 30 million units of its flagship handset, the Galaxy S III. Is there room for another big player?

HTC is hoping so, as the Taiwanese company has just sent out press invitations for a jointed Verizon media event to take place on November 13th. And word has it that it's going to unveil a new 5-inch superphone...