Apple

Spotify’s Discover tab finally makes its way over to Apple devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The Swedish streaming music startup Spotify has finally updated its iOS client today with a new Discover tab which made its way into the Android build back in December 2012 and four months later into the web interface.

Basically a music recommendation engine, Discover suggests similar songs based on your listening history and your playlists. Oh, and iPhone users will be happy to learn that Spotify now lets them fully customize their playlists.

This feature was previously inexplicably reserved only for the iPad client. Oh, and they just flattened the app icon so it fits better on your iOS 7 Home screen...

Apple patents smart bezel display

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 2, 2013

Apple may have found a way to maximize display space for touch input while minimizing the size of wearable devices such as the long-rumored iWatch. What's more, the innovation could be thanks to Kodak, a photography pioneer which Apple's iPhone and other smartphones, largely put out of business.

In a patent granted Tuesday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple describes a touch-sensitive bezel that surrounds a device's main display. The smart bezel is able to offer users additional space for a display area or even cover portions of a display, providing greater flexibility...

iPhone manufacturer Foxconn bids for Taiwan’s 4G mobile spectrum license

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 2, 2013

The world's leading assembler of consumer electronics products and Apple's favorite contract manufacturer, Foxconn, has submitted an application for a fourth-generation high-speed mobile spectrum license in Taiwan.

It's the latest in a series of moves by Foxconn to untie its fortunes from Apple, currently accounting for more than half of the manufacturer's revenue. For those who don't keep track of these things: Foxconn already operates a chain of retail stores in Asia, makes television sets for Western brands and assembles products for a variety of technology giants (including Dell and Sony)...

Apple launches 2013 Back to School promotion

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

As expected, Apple today launched this year's Back to School promotion which gives university students or their parents a chance to buy qualifying Mac, iPhone and iPad products and accessories and get an iTunes Gift card. If you buy a Mac, Apple will treat you to a $100 App Store Gift Card.

Buy an iPad or iPhone and Apple will throw in a $50 Gift Card. You can redeem your card against any content purchase on iTunes, including Mac and iOS apps, movies, television shows, songs, books and more.

Full details are right below the fold...

Apple continues with iWatch trademark filings in Mexico and Taiwan [updated]

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 12, 2018

It appears that Apple is really interested in securing the 'iWatch' trademark on a global scale. Hot on the heels of this morning's report that it filed for the name in Japan, comes word that it has filed similar paperwork in both Mexico and Taiwan.

And the filings in these three countries follow a bid for the trademark in Russia, which was reported last month. So it would seem that there is at least some truth to the ongoing rumors that Apple is working on a wearable, smartwatch-like device...

Apple to announce third quarter earnings on July 23

Cody Lee ∙ July 1, 2013

Folks wondering how Apple did financially during its quiet third quarter will have their answer in just a few short weeks. The Cupertino company announced this afternoon that it will be releasing its financial results for Q3 2013 on July 23.

Apple’s earnings reports are typically a major affair in the tech world, and this one won't likely be much different. The iPad-maker’s stock continues to take a beating, and it desperately needs to post some big numbers to change the conversation…

Apple to launch ‘Back to School’ promotion this week, include iPhone for first time

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 11, 2018

Multiple sites are reporting this morning that Apple is set to launch its annual 'Back to School' promotion in the United States, and several other countries this week. In fact, the popular sale could kick off as soon as tomorrow.

Apple runs the Back to School promotion at various times in different countries, depending on their respective educational calendars. But the program launching this week is said to include the United States, Canada, and Europe...

BlackBerry death watch begins ticking after touch screen fiasco

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 1, 2013

I'm not sure which is worse, BlackBerry described as the smartphone equivalent of MySpace or the Canadian company being verbally parted-out like a 1991 Yugo. Both followed Friday's 28 percent slide in BlackBerry stock prices after the company missed Wall Street expectations for sales of the Z10 handset.

Introduced in January, the touch-screen device was supposed to get BlackBerry into a game so far dominated by the iPhone and Android. Instead, the BlackBerry deathwatch began ticking as Wall Street investors slash expectations, the company itself stops talking about declining subscribers, and former Apple CEO John Scully suggests the smartphone maker stop making phones...

Microsoft enhances OneNote, revamps for consistent cross-platform look

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Microsoft's otherwise fine OneNote app has seen little updates on mobile devices, with Evernote and other offerings beating the Windows giant handily to the note-taking punch.

Figuring it better do something about it, the Redmond firm on Monday issued a pretty major 2.0 update to iOS and Android builds which brings consistent look and feel across Windows, Windows Phone, Android and iOS.

And in addition to rendering ink on your iDevices, version 2 of OneNote enables full support for Office 365 notebooks in SkyDrive Pro, rich formatting toolbars on iPads to style your notes, search across notes and more. If you can't live without Microsoft's Office suite and prefer to run productivity apps from a single vendor for seamless sync, you should give OneNote a try...

Apple enforcing iOS 7 beta gag-order on retail employees

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 1, 2013

As we told you last week, Apple is now seeking feedback on iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks from its retail employees. The program apparently has gotten off to a great start, but now the firm seems to be tightening access to iOS 7 betas and warning store employees they could get fired if a customer is shown the updated mobile operating system before its official unveiling this Fall.

Employees at Apple's retail locations using the beta are being contacted by Human Resources to ensure the test version was obtained through the iPhone maker's official developer's program, not from a third-party, according to a Monday report...

Yahoo News iOS app gets cleaner UI, frictionless sharing and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 1, 2013

Yahoo has been busy updating its key iOS apps around a delightful new look. In weeks past, for example, the company has re-launched Mail and Search apps while releasing a brand new Weather app that has to be seen to be believed.

Each of these program has been meticulously rethought with a cleaner, flatter and more fluid user interface that's consistent with Yahoo's modernized design language.

Today, the Internet giant has issued a refreshed version of its News iOS app that brings visual tweaks while adding improved sharing and navigation, sponsored stories and other treats...

Best Buy and Walmart now offer prepaid iPhone 5 on T-Mobile

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 3, 2017

In an apparent move to clear stock ahead of a next-generation model introduction, U.S. retailers Best Buy and Walmart have been running interesting promotions for some time now, offering deep discounts on iPhone sales and attractive device trade-ins.

As for the iPhone 5, both companies have long offered Apple's flagship handset with a two-year contract with U.S. carriers AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. And this past weekend, each has added a prepaid iPhone 5 option on T-Mobile to its roster...