Apple

Jony Ive talks designing for Sotheby’s (RED) charity

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 31, 2017

Apple's SVP of all design, Jony Ive, recently contributed to a couple unique items conceived specifically for Sotheby's (RED) charity auction. These include, among other objects of affection, a one-off red-colored Mac Pro, a unique aluminum-clad desk and an awesome retro-looking Leica M camera.

Ive already talked about creating that camera and working with influential industrial designer, Australia-born Marc Newson, and now we get to see the two men discuss the intricacies of working with Sotheby's on making these nice auction items a reality...

Apple support site now allows customers to initiate screen-sharing

Cody Lee ∙ November 12, 2013

Apple has updated its support site this week with a new feature allowing users to initiate screen-sharing with AppleCare representatives when receiving Mac help via phone call. This option was previously reserved for reps only.

But enabling customers to initiate screen-sharing with a support tech will one, give them more control over their overall support experience, and two, help facilitate quicker, more accurate responses from Apple's support staff...

iPad mini with Retina display now available for order

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

If you are looking to pickup an iPad mini with Retina display, you're going to want to head over to your Apple web store as soon as possible. The highly anticipated tablet just went on sale, starting at $399.

The move has caught both tech pundits and consumers off guard, as up until now, Apple has maintained that the new mini's launch date would be 'later in November.' Well, Christmas came early this year...

Online Apple stores go down amidst rumors of November 12 Retina iPad mini launch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 26, 2018

Either Apple is trolling all of us very hard with a late-night maintenance session, or recent reports of the Retina iPad mini launching on November 12 are true. All of Apple's online stores have been offline for over an hour now.

Earlier tonight, a post was spotted on Apple’s internal GSX (global service exchange) site for service providers and third-party vendors stating that the company is preparing to launch its second-generation iPad mini tomorrow...

Apple to launch iPad mini with Retina display on November 12?

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 26, 2018

When Apple took the wraps off its new iPad mini with Retina display last month, it wouldn't provide a concrete launch date beyond 'later in November.' Some have speculated that it would hit store shelves just before Black Friday weekend.

But according to a posting on Apple's GSX (global service exchange) site for service providers, we may see the tablet as early as tomorrow. In the post, Apple says that it plans to launch the tablet in the US and other countries on November 12...

Google has lost significant mobile maps traffic to Apple since last year

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 26, 2018

Despite all of the user complaints and negative PR Apple encountered when it replaced Google Maps with its own in-house software in iOS 6 last year, the app has turned out to be quite a hit with US iPhone and iPad users.

According to research data from comScore, more than 35 million US iPhone owners used Apple's Maps app in September 2013. That's significantly more than the 6 million or so that used Google's standalone iOS Maps app...

Curved-glass full-on Apple television concept

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

A report by DisplaySearch may have dashed hopes for an imminent Apple television introduction as Apple turns its attention to wearables, but there's no stopping prolific 3D artist Martin Hajek from imagining what a full-on television set with the Apple logo could/should look like, all over again.

Taking cues from Bloomberg's report which calls for curved-glass iPhones in 2014, Hajek is now seemingly torn between a flat and curved-glass iTV variant. I know which one I'd take in a heartbeat, but how about you?

Apple may have partnered with GlobalFoundries on iDevice chip production

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 31, 2017

Milpitas, California-headquartered GlobalFoundries, one of the top semiconductor operations in the world, owns and runs cutting-edge multi-billion dollar production facilities all over the globe in places like Germany, Singapore and the United States.

Along with TSMC, GlobalFoundries gets frequently contracted to build various chips for such clients as AMD, Broadcom, Qualcomm and STMicroelectronics. And now, the company has apparently scored a major win, Apple, if a new report is anything to go by.

According to an unnamed source "close to the company" who spoke to the Times Union newspaper, GlobalFoundries may soon start building processors for iPhones, iPads and iPods at its new $6 billion Fab 8 facility in Malta, New York, just north of Albany...

DisplaySearch: Apple prioritizes wearables, puts iTV on the back burner

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 11, 2013

So what's up with the supposed Apple television set, that elusive iTV? According to the latest chatter, the iTV plans have been put on hold as wearables take priority inside the 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino walls. The notion jives with Tim Cook's recent assertion calling for new a Apple product category in 2014 and a bunch of patent filings and high-profile hirings pointing to an iOS-powered wearable device with health and fitness sensors, the rumored iWatch.

Of course, that a non-Apple product is delayed by another unannounced product isn't necessarily newsworthy in and of itself, but given the source - DisplaySearch - we thought you should at least be informed about what's making the rounds across Apple's components and supply chain in Far East...

Feast your eyes on new iSpaceship renderings

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 30, 2017

Apple has overcome the last hurdle as the City of Cupertino in October approved the spectacular ring-shaped glass structure called Campus 2, also known as the iSpacehip project. Now, it's already over budget and behind schedule so don’t look forward to working in outer space before late-2015 or early-2016, when Campus 2 is slated for completion.

Wired has obtained a batch of new renderings which depict some interesting Campus 2 tidbits, including detailed shots of the interior design, including the cafeteria, the gym area, the upper level of the 1,000-person underground auditorium and even the parking garage. Jump past the fold for the full gallery...

Tweetbot 3 gets swipe actions, lists as timeline, text size independently of iOS 7 Dynamic Type

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 14, 2018

Tapbots' Tweetbot, the popular iPhone, iPad and Mac client for Twitter, has been updated today on the App Store with a dozen new tweaks that will enhance your productivity.

My favorite improvement has got to be the ability to set in-app typeface independently of my system-wide text size preference, as defined under iOS 7 Settings > General > Text Size.

The enhancements in Tweetbot 3.1, among other tweaks, include the new square avatars, the ability to email conversations and hide profile badgets, quick reply (or other action) via the right-swipe gesture and the return of the 'Last tweet x minutes ago' label and using a list as your timeline.

Changelog is right after the break...

BitTorrent Sync gets iOS 7 makeover, now supports iPads natively

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

BitTorrent's free Sync iOS app launched on the App Store in August, offering privacy freaks and NSA haters a way to securely share and sync files between devices. The software uses end-to-end encryption of everything transferred between your devices and bypasses the cloud altogether: your stuff is being moved directly between devices, using BitTorrent’s efficient P2P distribution architecture.

If you're concerned about NSA snooping, industrial espionage or good ol' eavesdropping, BitTorrent Sync is as robust a solution as these things get. And now, the teams has posted a long expected update to bring the app in line with the general iOS 7 design...