Apple

Analyst says mass production of iPhone 5S to start this month

Cody Lee ∙ July 15, 2013

According to Peter Misek, Apple will begin mass production of its next flagship smartphone, believed to be the iPhone 5S, later this month. The Jefferies analyst issued a note to investors this morning saying that the handset will launch in late September or early October.

Misek's report comes hot on the heels of a story from Chinese Business News claiming that Foxconn has restarted mass-hiring assembly line workers in the Chinese mainland to prepare for 5S production. It too said Apple was preparing for an early to mid-fall introduction...

Apple revamps support pages on its website

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2013

Following the flattening of both the iOS software which powers iDevices and Jony Ive's title (now shortened to SVP of Design), Apple seems adamant to remove shine and gloss across its marketing communications and visual communication channels.

A slight revamp of the online Apple Store for Father's Day was obviously a sign of things to come as the company has now tweaked the appearance of a number of support pages on its website - again, adopting the simpler two-dimensional appearance reminiscent of iOS 7...

WWDC 2013 session videos surface on YouTube

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Apple's registered developers who have downloaded an updated version of the official WWDC app have been able to stream this year's session videos the day they were made. Developers can alternatively access an archive of WWDC 2013 session videos through both the app and Apple's official portal for developers.

It looks like Apple has now published those clips on YouTube for everyone to watch, or so it seems. It was unclear at post time whether the iPhone maker actually operates a brand new account seemingly created for the purpose of hosting these NDA clips...

Did an iPhone 5 charger electrocute a Chinese woman?

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Was a Chinese stewardess, just weeks from her wedding, electrocuted by her iPhone 5 charger? That's the claim Apple is investigating following a report widely distributed across a Chinese social media site.

Ma Ailun, a 23-year-old China Airlines flight attendant reportedly died after being electrocuted Thursday when she answered a call using her iPhone 5 that was recharging. The message was reposted more than 3,000 times on Weibo, China's microblogging site...

Samsung apparently lands contract to produce A9 chips for iPhone 7 in 2015

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 29, 2016

The Wall Street Journal recently ran a report claiming that Apple has finally inked a deal with TSMC, or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., to produce chips for iDevices, after the foundry met Apple’s requirements for speed and power usage. Pundits are adamant the agreement put the final nail in the coffin of the Apple-Samsung relationship.

They should hold their horses: it now seems Samsung has wrestled back some of the control amid talk its components arm will indeed produce sophisticated A9 chips to power Apple's iPhone 7 in 2015...

DigiTimes: minor iPad mini refresh this year, ‘almost bezel-free’ Retina version in 2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2013

We've already heard from multiple sources that Apple is still 'adjusting' new iPad mini, with alleged panel shortages pushing a Retina iPad mini 2 into 2014 and prompting Apple to ready a minor update this year until the Retina version with a faster chip is ready next year. A new report out this morning from Taiwan adds more color to these rumors.

For starters, the Retina iPad mini is said to be "almost bezel-free," which will allow for a bigger viewing area.

A slightly updated model should be expected in the fourth quarter of this year and is said to be "lighter, thinner and equipped with improved specifications," which probably includes a faster chip than the A5 package found inside the current iPad mini model...

Microsoft suing US Customs for not enforcing ban on Motorola devices

Cody Lee ∙ July 14, 2013

As Apple fights to stay a recently-imposed import ban on some of its iOS devices, Microsoft is trying to push one forward. The Redmond company is suing the US Customs and Border Protection office for refusing to enforce an ITC order to block imports of Motorola phones.

In May 2012, the US International Trade Commission issued a ban on Motorola devices for infringing a Microsoft patent on syncing calendar events with other computers. The suit alleges Google has held secret meetings with US Customs, convincing the office to ignore the ban...

Report: Apple hiring aggressively to tackle iWatch design problems

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 12, 2017

According to people familiar with Apple’s wearable technology roadmap who spoke to Financial Times, the company is in search of "fresh expertise" and has begun hiring engineers “aggressively” to help with the rumored smartwatch project.

Now, Bloomberg said in February Apple had tasked 100+ engineers with iWatch work.

According to one source who spoke to The Financial Times on the condition of anonymity, the project has faced “hard engineering problems that they’ve not been able to solve”, prompting the leadership to look for outside help...

Supply of touch sensitive coating used on iPhones is dwindling

Cody Lee ∙ July 12, 2013

Bad news for smartphone and tablet makers. It seems that the coating used to make devices like the iPhone touch sensitive is beginning to run scarce, and could completely disappear from the planet within the next decade or so.

The transparent material is called indium tin oxide, and it's used to sense when a finger makes contact with a smartphone's display. And apparently the situation is so bad that industry experts are rushing to find an alternative...

Is iPhone 5 ‘most hated’ or have rivals hijacked Apple’s message?

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Judging from last week's online chatter over whether people hate the iPhone 5 or love Samsung's Galaxy S4, you'd have thought the tech press had returned to high school, where the halls are filled with BFFs and everyone dots their 'i' with hearts.

However, there is some actual news coming from that torrent of tweets and Facebook posts.

Apple, long admired for its tight control of information, is great at talking up its brand, but does little to guide the conversation once a product is launched. Hence, the iPhone 5 'most hated' drivel...

AT&T buying prepaid U.S. telco Leap Wireless

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 12, 2013

In another sign of a major consolidation taking place in the U.S. wireless industry, carrier telco on Friday made known its intention to buy regional prepaid carrier Leap Wireless.

AT&T has agreed to pay $15 per share in cash to acquire all of Leap Wireless’s assets. As you know, Leap provides wireless services through its prepaid Cricket Wireless brand.

The transaction, pending customary regulatory approval, is meant to bolster AT&T’s coverage, enhance its spectrum, increase AT&T's retail store presence and make AT&T more competitive to customers interested in low-cost prepaid service...

Russia’s #3 carrier Beeline drops iPhone over ‘harsh conditions’

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 12, 2013

Looks like Apple's just been dealt a major blow over in Russia as another carrier reportedly quit selling iPhones. Vimplecom-owned Beeline, the nation's third-largest wireless carrier, has allegedly cut its ties with Apple. The firm will not renew its iPhone distribution agreement over too "harsh conditions", the story goes.

While the move doesn't mean the iPhone isn't popular in the country (just ask the local elite and celebrities), it does leave Apple without a major carrier presence there. Russia's two biggest carriers MTS and Megafon stopped selling the handset earlier.

Both telcos criticized Apple's demanding requirements: committing to large-volume purchases, generous subsidies and advance payment...