Apple

Apple outlines diagnostic capabilities in response to iOS ‘backdoor’ concerns

Forensic expert, and former jailbreak hacker, Jonathan Zdziarski caused quite a stir earlier this week when he published a report accusing Apple of building backdoors into iOS that could be used for government surveillance.

Apple of course came out and denied the claim, saying that these so-called 'backdoor services' are actually used for troubleshooting. But this wasn't a good enough explanation for a lot of users, so tonight it delved a little deeper...

iTunes software and services fastest growing part of Apple’s business this year

During Apple's Q3 earnings call this afternoon, Tim Cook praised the success of its iTunes software and services arm. The CEO said the division was the fastest-growing of the company's business in the first 9 months of its fiscal year 2014.

The segment generated $4.5 billion in revenue during the 3-month period, an increase of 12% YoY (or year over year). And Cook attributed the growth to a number of factors, including growing interest in China and strong App Store numbers...

Apple has acquired 5 companies since April, 29 in past nine months

One of the more interesting tidbits from today's earnings call was a revelation about Apple's recent acquisitions. Tim Cook said the company has purchased 5 companies since the end of the March quarter, and a total of 29 companies during the past 9 months.

Apparently these numbers do not include the Beats Electronics deal—Apple's largest acquisition to date—because it has not completely finalized yet, and isn't expected to until later this quarter. So who are the other companies? These are the ones we know about...

$165 billion cash pile and other interesting bits from today’s earnings call

Apple announced its financial results for Q3 2014 this afternoon, and for the most part it met the Street’s expectations. The company sold 35.2 million iPhones and pulled in $37.4 billion in revenue during the three month period, and iPad sales fell short at just 13.2 million.

We’re just finishing up the conference call, where Tim Cook, CFO Luca Maestri and other members of the executive team have discussed Apple’s performance, and offered some insight into its future. As usual, we’ve rounded up the to 15 most interesting points for you below…

Apple Q3 2014 earnings: 35.2M iPhones, 13.2M iPads, $37.4B revenue

As expected, Apple is out with its financial report for Q3 2014 this afternoon. In a press release issued just a few moments ago, the company announced that it sold 35.2 million iPhones, 13.2 million iPads, and pulled in $37.4 billion in revenue during the three month period.

Apple beat its own guidance, and met projections on just about everything but iPad numbers. It would seem that the problems continue with the popular tablet line, as sales came in more than 1 million units less than expected. We have a full breakdown of the numbers below...

Apple granted ‘iTime’ patent for smart wristband

With no physical evidence supporting the ongoing 'iWatch' rumors, we continue to search for other forms of proof that Apple is indeed working on a smartwatch. And today, we are adding a new piece to the puzzle with the 'iTime' patent.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the Cupertino company a patent today for a new device called the 'iTime.' It's described as a smart wristband that contains various sensors and wireless radios, so it can talk to other devices...

Are you ready for iPad mini Air?

When Apple last October introduced an update to its full-size iPad, nobody expected a name change but that's exactly what transpired as the fifth-generation iPad became known as the iPad Air.

The rebranding conveys the device's thin appearance and sleek design. With Fall fast approaching, Apple is about to refresh its tablet lineup.

A fresh report from China now hints at the possibility of a dramatically thinner appearance for the third-generation iPad mini, suggesting the device might even borrow the “Air” moniker from its bigger brother...

Poll: should iPhone 6 have a lit Apple logo?

A pair of high-quality photographs of an alleged rear shell of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 obtained by uSwitch are making the rounds this morning. The popular theory is that the device may have an illuminated Apple logo on the back, similar to the logo cutout on iPads and just like Apple's MacBook series of notebooks.

Rumors of iPhones outfitted with a lit Apple logo have persisted for years, but this is the first time a concrete part has surfaced that suggests an Apple logo-shaped cutout on the back.

In today's poll, we're asking if you think whether the next iPhone should come with the glowing Apple logo on its back...

Apple airs new ‘Stickers’ MacBook Air ad

Apple tonight aired a new commercial for its MacBook Air line called "Stickers." Interestingly enough, it doesn't talk about features or specs, or even show the laptop in use. Instead, it shows an Air being customized with various decals.

Apple says the ad, which features music from Hudson Mohawke, is a "celebration of all the many ways people love the MacBook Air." And it ends with a side view of the thin computer and a powerful tagline: "The notebook people love."

WSJ: Apple gearing up for record production of 70 to 80 million iPhone 6 units

Apple is gearing up for its largest initial production run of iPhones ever, according to a new report this afternoon from The Wall Street Journal. The Cupertino company is betting big on its larger-screened handsets, which it believes will garner record sales.

Citing sources "familiar with the matter," the outlet says that Apple has asked suppliers to manufacture somewhere between 70 million and 80 million units combined of two larger display iPhones, one 4.7-inch model and one 5.5-inch, by the end of December...

Former jailbreak hacker accuses Apple of building surveillance backdoors into iOS

Former iPhone jailbreak hacker Jonathan Zdziarski recently gave a presentation at the HOPE/X conference regarding iOS device security. He said that the platform is reasonably secure from attacks by malicious hackers, but noted there are several backdoors built-in for surveillance.

In the presentation, called 'Identifying Backdoors, Attack Points, and Surveillance Mechanisms in iOS Devices,' Zdziarski detailed a number of undocumented high-value forensic services running on iOS devices, and suspicious design omissions in the OS, that appear to be for snooping... 

How to get HBO and HBO Go without paying a ridiculous $100+ cable bill

For all the talk about television networks and cable providers jumping into the 21st century with apps for accessing premium entertainment on the go, through just about any device, cable cutters are all to painfully aware of one huge caveat - you have to be subscribed to your cable or satellite television provider in order to enjoy premium television shows on your devices.

HBO, by and large the most prominent provider of original television shows, has an excellent HBO Go service available on multiple platforms, but again - you need to be a cable customer which means paying a ridiculous cable bill of hundred bucks per month or more.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Turns out you can in fact enjoy shows like Game of Thrones, True Detective, The Leftovers, Silicon Valley and more, without committing your soul to a cable provider. You only need to know the magic word to keep HBO without paying for the additional 500 channels you never watch...