Apple

Apple invents flexible batteries, likely for iWatch

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 5, 2013

With iWatch trademarks linked to Apple spotted in places like Japan, Russia and a slew of other countries, it is no surprise speculation is intensifying that the iPhone maker is secretly developing a wearable gizmo of some sort. Another piece of the Apple smartwatch puzzle has now fallen into place as The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) published Friday a patent filing detailing a flexible battery design specifically conceived for a wristwatch and/or other bendable mobile devices...

Tasting Apple’s bitter pill: Samsung’s smartphone growth story running its course

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

In an age of demand for simple, inexpensive smartphones, big is not always better. The latest example is Samsung, viewed until recently as the Asian Apple, it's Galaxy smartphones keeping Android from sinking into mediocrity. After snickering at the iPhone maker's spate of bad luck on Wall Street, Samsung Friday lost 3.6 percent of its stock value amid a disappointing quarterly forecast.

With 70 percent of its profits coming from mobile devices, Samsung is in the same leaky boat as Apple. Addicted to high profits from sales of expensive smartphones built cheaply, Samsung Friday forecast $8.3 billion in profit during the second quarter, lower than the $8.9 billion Wall Street expected.

Since early June, the South Korean firm's stock value has lost $34.2 billion, the market capital of Sony and LG combined, according to one report...

Japan’s NTT DoCoMo not getting iPhone over Apple’s volume and carrier crapware stance

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Japan's top wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo still doesn't carry the iPhone, a decision its executive Katzuto Tsubouhi defended in an interview with the Wall Street Journal by arguing that Apple's device is no longer "the god of all smartphones."

For DoCoMo, Google's Android software provides more opportunities to customize the experience by preloading the handsets with a flurry of the carrier's many services and applications, something Apple strictly prohibits.

But holding out on the iPhone has come at a price as NTT DoCoMo since the iPhone's inception lost 3.2 million users of its 60 million subscribers to rival telcos who sell the iconic smartphone. In pointing the finger of blame at Apple the carrier told Reuters that the California firm wouldn't let it put its logo on the device and preload its lifestyle apps...

Ireland opposes grilling Apple and Google execs over tax shelters

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 5, 2013

Apple executives, and other tech titans under fire for their tax avoidance practices, can sigh with relief. An Irish committee voted earlier against asking Apple CEO Tim Cook and others about how they used the Irish tax laws to limit what they owe the IRS. Instead, a finance committee of the parliament will put European finance officials on the hot seat.

An investigation by a U.S. Senate subcommittee found Apple funneled a large portion of its income through an Irish business unit, which charged a very low tax rate. As part of that investigation, Cook was called to answer Senator's questions...

Is Apple’s magic wand ‘the simplest interface’ for iTV that Steve Jobs envisioned?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

As Tim Cook & Co. continue “pulling the string” on the TV space, readers with a keen interest in Apple's many patent applications are aware of a 2009 filing involving a wand remote of sorts that may include a motion detection component meant for the television interface.

Last June, the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) granted that patent. And just last month, another major wand-related patent surfaced in USPTO's database that could be the magic required to make the TV experience “just work.”

It outlines a remote control containing fingerprint sensors, theoretically enabling identity and trust in order to authenticate viewers securely and deliver personalized content. It's especially noteworthy in the context of the rumored fingerprint scanning thought to be the killer feature of the upcoming iPhone 5S...

Samsung lambasts Siri dictation in weirdest Galaxy S4 ad yet

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 5, 2013

I appreciate memorable, creative advertising as much as the next guy, but I just don't get a new Galaxy S4 commercial Samsung is airing in Iceland.

Instead of focusing on the handset's features or the usual iPhone bashing, this time around Samsung's creative agency has gone over the top in depicting a guy trying to make a phone call on a real apple.

Realizing swiping across fruit makes no sense, the ad then switches to a happy scene where our hero operates a Galaxy S4. The not-so-subtle jab at Apple is plain weird, to put it mildly. I know ads are supposed to take into account the often vast cultural differences across markets, but I'm not sure Samsung did itself a favor with this particular commercial...

Kim Dotcom’s Mega iOS app in the works

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

If anything, the controversial Megaupload file-sharing service got the Internet mogul Kim Dotcom filthy rich. The German-Finnish entrepreneur is currently residing in New Zealand, where he manages a new cloud-based storage service startup called Mega that promises to protect your privacy from the government's prying eyes.

To help with that, the company acquired an Android app that's now being maintained by Mega contractors. Editions for Apple's iOS and Microsoft's Windows Phone being worked on, which is good news if you were looking to bolster up security of your personal cloud files in light of the ongoing scandal involving NSA spying and the PRISM intelligence program...

Ubisoft sets Prince of Persia release date: July 25

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 4, 2013

Montreuil, France-headquartered games publisher Ubisoft in mid-April confirmed plans to bring its award-winning Prince of Persia game to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. A pick up and play adaptation of the 1993 Prince of Persia classic, Prince of Persia: The Shadow and The Flame puts you in the shoes of the Prince character who must save his Princess and kingdom “on a journey that will pave the path to his origins.”

Ubisoft yesterday confirmed in the first development diary video on YouTube that Prince of Persia: The Shadow and The Flame is headed to iOS and Android on July 25. I've included that clip and additional tidbits after the break...

iFixit’s video walkthrough details DIY iPhone 5 battery replacement process

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 4, 2013

Teardown experts over at iFixit know a thing or two about repairing consumer electronics and just yesterday they posted a nice video walkthrough explaining the process of replacing your iPhone 5's battery. So, if your battery died on you and you're eager to bring life back yourself to the device with a new one, block out your next hour, grab your screwdrivers and prying tools and arm yourself with patience and a steady hand...

Apple could face hurdles applying for iWatch trademark in US and UK

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

Apple's iWatch trademark filing world tour could hit major roadblocks in the United Kingdom and over in Apple's home turf of the United States, it has been discovered.

According to two separate reports, a small California firm has taken steps to trademark 'iWatch' in the United States.

And over in the United Kingdom, a network services firm owns a Community trademark on 'iWatch', basically a trademark that applies across the European Community, which includes Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, France,, Netherlands, West Germany, Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom, Greece, Portugal and Spain.

As a result, Apple is likely going to have to either pay these companies to buy the trademark or face a legal battle should it in fact decide to launch a rumored wristwatch product...

Apple announces Nevada solar array in its 2012 Environmental Footprint Report

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 4, 2013

A filing Monday by NV Energy with the Public Utilities Commission revealed that Apple will pay for construction of an 18-megawatt photovoltaic solar plant to power its northern Nevada data centre. The company has now officially announced the facility in its 2012 Environmental Footprint Report, writing it will be "every bit" as environmentally responsible as its data center in Maiden, North Carolina. The Fort Churchill Solar Array, as it is called, could create hundreds of jobs during the construction period...

iPad tops customer satisfaction in South Korea

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 4, 2013

In what could only be described as a one-two punch to Samsung of South Korea, Apple's iPad has now been named the top tablet in the country's National Customer Satisfaction Index. Just yesterday, you'll remember, the iPhone beat Samsung in Quality Insights customer satisfaction rankings in the Galaxy maker's home territory.

The National Customer Satisfaction Index by the South Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy gave the Apple tablet the #1 ranking for the third consecutive year since the program's inception in 2010, praising the ecosystem of apps tailored specifically for the iPad, along with an "excellent touch user experience"...