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Foxconn’s profits rise sharply on new Apple product launches

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2012

Shares of Foxconn, the world's largest contract manufacturer that assembles Apple's iPhone, iPad and a number of products for other big names in tech, posted its third-quarter earnings yesterday. The results are stronger than expected and attributed to high demand for the iPhone 5, warm iPad mini reception and the incoming new iMac, which arrives in November and is already predicted to be in short supply.

On the other hand, investors are also concerned over Apple's long-term growth prospect and Foxconn becoming too dependent on the Cupertino, California designer of shiny gadgets...

Apple shake-up cost investors $12+ billion

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2012

Markets finally opened this morning after a two-day period of suspended trading over Hurricane Sandy. Apple on its part has cunningly slipped in news late Monday that it fired iOS chief Scott Forstall and retail boss John Browett over a series of missteps that cost the Cupertino, California-headquartered company both reputation and market position.

Apple's bet was that investors, fans and the general public would have some time to process the news before jumping to conclusions. Many watchers and analysts deemed the move a strategic re-aligning, one that gave Apple's design guru Jony Ive more power, turning him into the steward of the user experience across Apple products. Still, some investors were spooked and sent shares of Apple down to their lowest level since late July...

iPad mini Smart Cover unboxed

Jeff Benjamin ∙ October 31, 2012

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

There's really not a lot to say here, because if you've ever used a Smart Cover before, you know exactly what to expect. With that said, there are, as we've previously noted, some changes with the way the hinge attaches to the iPad mini.

The magnets are now wrapped in polyurethane and micro-fiber, presumably to prevent the Smart Cover from scratching the mini's surface like full sized Smart Covers have been known to do. The all enclosed hinge also serves up a cleaner look when compared to its big brother.

What do you think? Have you ordered a Smart Cover to go with your iPad mini?

First unboxing images of iPad mini hit the web

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2012

Apple originally promised to ship the 4G LTE cellular version of the iPad mini mid-November. However, following selling out of initial supplies of Wi-Fi models, analysts have warned the company could easily face production issues that could easily affect delivery dates. Multiple web reports now indicate that Apple is in fact removing delivery dates for iPad mini LTE pre-orders.

Some customers are now reporting that the company updated their November 23 shipment date to just "mid-November". Meanwhile, just as first (and largely positive) reviews hit the web, a guy in France has already received his Wi-Fi unit ahead of Friday's official launch and posted a series of unboxing pics...

Asus says Nexus 7 sales are approaching 1 million per month

Cody Lee ∙ October 31, 2012

As Apple launches the iPad mini on Friday, the company will, for the first time in recent memory, be entering a crowded, well-established marketplace. Both Google and Amazon have been successfully selling 7-8-inch tablets for quite some time now.

We'll never know just how well Amazon's Kindle Fire HD is selling, as they don't release sales figures, but we do get a glimpse of Google's Nexus 7 numbers this morning. And they're pretty good. Asus' CFO says they're moving almost 1 million per month...

Apple posts new iPhone 5 launch day video

Cody Lee ∙ October 31, 2012

As noted by some of our readers, Apple has quietly posted a new video to its iPhone 5 page entitled "The Launch Day video." The two-minute compilation clip, as you might have guessed, shows scenes from Apple Stores around the globe during last month's iPhone 5 launch day events...

Media mogul Mark Cuban talks future of Apple TV

Cody Lee ∙ October 31, 2012

Mark Cuban, for those who haven't heard of him, is a self-made billionaire. He owns the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theaters and Magnolia Pictures. Needless to say when he talks, people listen.

And recently, the media mogul had some things to say about what Apple's next play in the TV industry should be. In short, he believes the Cupertino company would do well to make an integrated set-top box...

iPhone 5 gets regulatory approval in China

Cody Lee ∙ October 31, 2012

According to a new report, the China State Radio Management agency, one of China's regulatory agencies, has just given Apple's iPhone 5 the go-ahead for sale in the country.

The news comes about a month after the handset received approval from the China Compulsory Certificate, and about a month ahead of its scheduled December launch...

The first iPad mini and 4th gen iPad reviews hit the web

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

While most of us have to wait until Friday to get our hands on the new iPad mini, a select group of journalists have been using the tablet since Apple unveiled it last Tuesday.

These writers were given early access to the device so they could post full-length reviews before it launches later this week. And a lot of those reviews just went live…

Philips Hue Personal Wireless Lighting Unboxing

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated March 12, 2018

I know, I'm crazy like that, but I just couldn't pass up the chance to try something this cool. I bought a Philips Hue Starter Kit for $199.95. That's more than half the price of an iPad mini for a few lightbulbs. But these aren't any ordinary lightbulbs, as you read in our post yesterday.

The Philips Hue starter kit allows you to dynamically change the colors and lighting of a room using a handy iOS app. You can even turn on your lights while away from home all from your iPhone. Needless to say, my curiosity got the best of me, and I simply couldn't resist the chance to try something like that out. Check out my unboxing inside, and stay tuned for the full review...

Unofficial Lightning docks arrive

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

As Apple prepares to convene with accessory makers next month in order to lay out new rules pertaining to third-party Lightning gear, companies like iPhone5mod continue to exploit the supply-demand imbalance in order to produce unofficial accessories like cables and adapters that all use cracked Lightning chips.

iPhone5mod already has a few of these in its offering and they've just announced another accessory which could easily strike a chord with long-time Apple fans: a Lightning dock. Just like it removed the optical drive from the new iMac, Apple with the iPhone 5 stopped making docks for Lightning devices. Therefore, this opportunity has basically presented itself...

The iCade 8-Bitty Unboxing

Jeff Benjamin ∙ October 30, 2012

I recently got my hands on an iCade 8-Bitty Bluetooth controller from Think Geek. The controller harkens back to the 8-Bit days with its boxy design, hence its name.

The 8-Bitty plays nice with all iOS devices, and even works with Android phones and tablets as well. Take a look inside as I unbox the controller, and check back soon for a more in-depth review...