Apple

New pricing tactics is working: iPhone sales in India surge 400 percent

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

India has become Apple's test bed for emerging markets, with the company rolling out a series of discounts and payment plans in order to entice purchases and improve its market standing in the 1.24 billion people market.

These efforts are paying off as iPhone sales have risen 400 percent over the past four months.

That's a dramatic increase over prior iPhone numbers in India, where sales only reached a meager 70,000 to 80,000 handsets a month. The key to such a notable jump: Apple has "figured out" the Indian market, which until now has viewed the iPhone as out of the reach of most of that nation's consumers...

Apple criticizes TransMedia CEO for saying users are platform-agnostic

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 31, 2013

We all know the great lengths Apple will go to nurture and preserve its developer ecosystem and user experience on its platform.

One developer, however, has tested Apple's patience by issuing an iPhone app press release that suggests users don't really care which mobile platform they happen to be using.

That drew an interesting response from a representative from Apple Worldwide Developer Relations, who cautioned the comment is at odds not just with Apple's primary marketing messaging, "but the entire reason Apple exists"...

iPad has grown three times faster than iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2017

It's easy to get caught in the trap of assuming the iPhone is Apple's fastest-growing product. Although the iPhone sold more units than the iPad - after all, it's been available since 2007 whereas the iPad debuted three years later - the Apple tablet is growing three times faster than the iPhone.

This is just one of the many interesting factoids from Internet Trends, an annual report on the state of the Internet, mobile and social by Mary Meeker, one of the world's top Internet analysts. Read on for more tidbits...

Another iPad 5 front panel leaks (update: debunked)

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 31, 2017

A new image has popped up on a reliable Chinese web site, showing what appears to be a front panel for Apple's upcoming fifth-generation iPad. Matching up previous leaks, the part features skinnier side bezels that Apple first tried on the iPad mini. The part has holes for the FaceTime front camera and the Home button in the same position as the iPad mini’s bezel, along with the touchscreen connector.

Update: as pointed out by the French blog NowhereElse.fr, the image depicts an iPad mini digitizer. Move along folks, nothing to see here...

CEO confirms Siri uses Nuance voice recognition tech

Cody Lee ∙ May 30, 2013

In the months leading up to 2011's WWDC event, there were numerous reports that Apple would announce a major partnership with voice recognition giant Nuance. Obviously, the gossip never materialized, and Apple didn't even end up unveiling Siri until that fall.

But despite the fact that no one has ever come out and said it, Nuance has long been given credit for powering Siri's speech recognition capabilities. And today, the company's CEO Paul Ricci confirmed the theory while speaking at AllThingsD's D11 conference...

Apple confirms 100M cumulative iPod touch sales

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 24, 2016

Apple surprisingly confirmed today that it has sold over a hundred million iPod touch units since the device's inception in 2007. The media player colloquially known as iTouch was released on September 14, 2007, following the launch of the first-generation iPhone. Five years later, a fifth-generation model launched with a four-inch Retina display, thin 6.1mm enclosure, Lightning I/O and the A5 chip.

In an interesting move yesterday, Apple has removed the less-pricey fourth-generation iPod touch model from its online store. At the same time, the company has quietly introduced a new fifth-generation SKU that includes sixteen gigabytes of storage, but lacks the iSight camera and the lanyard hook.

The entry-level device retails for $229. The streamlining means that Apple now offers only the latest fifth-generation iPod touch in 16/32/64GB flavors, priced at $229/$299/$399...

How to step up your Evernote account security with two-step verification

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 30, 2013

Following in the footsteps of Twitter, Apple, Dropbox, Google and others who recently ramped up security by rolling out two-step account verification, the note-taking platform Evernote today announced similar security features. Small wonder, given recent security exploits which prompted Evernote to issue a password reset across the board.

In a nutshell, two-step authentication makes your notes more secure by requiring a verification code sent to your phone whenever you’re asked to provide your username and password.

This will usually happen when logging into the web interface or installing Evernote apps on a new device, such as your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Additionally, Evernote is also launching Access History and Authorized Applications features. I've included more information right after the break...

Tweetbot for Mac refreshed with Media timeline, profile cover image support

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

TapBots' Tweetbot to this date is my go-to Twitter client, both on iOS and Mac. The iOS app was updated a month ago with a handy new Media timeline, revamped image viewer and a few under-the-hood tweaks. Today, Tapbots gave the Mac edition some love.

On top of fixing a few nagging issues, the new Tweetbot 1.3 brings the Media timeline to your desktop. As part of Twitter's new guidelines, tweet details now have favorite and retweet counts, which comes in handy when checking how viral a tweet is. Another nice-to-have: the Mac edition now supports Twitter's profile cover images...

Aspyr releases Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic for iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 30, 2013

Nine days ago, Mac games developer Aspyr inadvertently told customers in an email communication that "the critically-acclaimed Star Wars RPG is now available on iPad." Following that "leak," Aspyr today released Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on the App Store.

The iPad-only title is based on BioWare's classic 2003 RPG game and includes unique characters, creatures, vehicles and planets.

On top of that, you get to choose from nine customizable characters, use over 40 different Force powers, roam odd planets and vast galaxies and much, much more. If you're a Star Wars fan, this one's a no-brainer...

After Samsung makes Smart Scroll popular, Apple renews gaze detection work

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 30, 2013

Apple apparently is renewing efforts to add the ability for the iPhone to detect whether or not it has your rapt attention. It's not enough that you're holding the smartphone, the company now wants to be sure you are looking at the phone's screen.

Originally seen as a way to save battery life, iPhone gaze detection may be Apple's latest bid to keep up with rival Samsung.

Apple's patent application, filed in 2013, adds to an earlier 2008 filing and describes 'Electronic Devices with Gaze Detection Capabilities.'

The technology uses the iPhone's front-facing camera along with the device's accelerometer to detect when you look away from the screen or put the phone down. Glancing away would automatically pause any running videos while also dimming the screen...

Google: All Access streaming coming to iOS in coming weeks

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 6, 2020

Earlier this month, the search monster at the Google I/O developers conference unveiled its new $9.99 a month subscription service called Google Play Music All Access. It offers streaming from Google’s catalog of "millions of tracks" and supports curated playlists, radio stations and ability to remove unwanted songs.

While Google initially said the service will run on Android devices and on the web, there was no mention of iOS whatsoever. During today's interview at the D11 conference, Google's new Android lead Sundar Pichai confirmed that Google Play Music All Access is coming to iOS in the next few weeks...

Skype for iPhone gains improved calling and chatting features

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 30, 2013

Today, Microsoft-owned Skype has been updated on the iPhone and iPod touch (the latter sold 100 million units since its 2007 inception). The enhancements include a pair of features related to the application's chatting and VoIP calling capabilities.

For starters, one-to-one chats now appear in the correct order. There's also a new introduction screens for first-time users. More importantly, the VoIP application now lets you switch easily between headset, speaker or Bluetooth device, without interrupting call in progress...