Apple

Google launches its Retina Chromebook, the Pixel

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 20, 2017

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-XTpdDDXiU

Following a credible leak recently - and just hours after The Wall Street Journal reported that "Google is developing touchscreen devices using Chrome Operating System" - the Internet giant on Wednesday introduced its premium Chromebook with a Retina-class display. Tentatively named Chromebook Pixel, it features a 12.85-inch 2,560-by-1,700 screen that Google proclaims “the highest pixel density (239 pixels per inch) of any laptop screen on the market today.”

By comparison, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has a 2560-by-1600 220 pixels per inch screen and the 15-incher has an even crisper 2880-by-1800 display at 220 pixels per inch. The Pixel's 400 nit display also has a 178-degree viewing angle and is driven by the same crappy Intel HD Graphics 4000 platform as the MacBook Air. Other specs of the 3.35lbs computer include a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 chip with 4G of RAM, mini DisplayPort, two USB ports, a 2-in-1 card reader and 32 gigabytes of built-in flash storage.

But unlike Apple's notebooks, Google's responds to touch, potentially opening door to the Gorilla arm syndrome which, according to Apple, rules out multitouch on notebook screens...

Plants vs. Zombies goes free, get downloading

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 18, 2018

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr7sdmS_jWo

If you didn't download Plants vs. Zombies because it costs money, now there is no reason you shouldn’t pick it up because developer PopCap has for the first time slashed the popular casual strategy game to $0 on the App Store. From the people who also brought you Bejeweled, Peggle, Zuma and Bookworm, Plants vs. Zombies since its June 2010 iPhone debut has won more than 30 Game of the Year awards.

The game challenges you to soil your plants while battling zombies who are about to invade your home. Retina devices and iPhone 5 are supported and both iPad and iPhone builds are free now. A few screenies and additional description right after the break...

Flickr updated with comment alerts, @username tags, volume shutter and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 21, 2013

After a long time, I recently fell in love with Yahoo's Flickr service, all over again. I mean, not everyone is on Facebook. More importantly, Instagram leaves a lot to be desired in terms of screen resolution so Flickr, which stores original-res photos, is becoming increasingly relevant to my iPhoneography workflow. The freshly updated software now supports @username tagging (with tags linked to users' photo stream) and can notify you via push alerts when someone tags you in their comment.

And if you happen to find the volume shutter feature of the stock iOS Camera app useful, you're going to love this update as it lets you snap a photo using your iPhone's volume up button. The program also includes a few other improvements, mentioned right below...

Strategy Analytics: iPhone 5/4S are world’s two most popular smartphones

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 24, 2016

Just as investors are (again) punishing the Apple stock on talk of Foxconn freezing recruitment in China amid weakening iPhone 5 demand (or perhaps because the iPhone 5S is entering production in March?) comes a new survey of the smartphone market by research firm Strategy Analytics. And the numbers look good: the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S each outsold Samsung's Galaxy S III during the all-important 2012 holiday quarter.

This makes the iPhone 5 the world's bestselling smartphone, but what's really eyebrow-raising is that the 16-month old (and now discounted) iPhone 4S also overtook Samsung's flagship device...

Apple and Google app stores are nearing saturation point

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Making it big in mobile apps is getting tougher. That's the finding from a company which researched how many new developers reach the top level at either Apple's iOS App Store or Android's Google Play. In fact, just two percent of first-time App Store developers enter the top 250 list of publishers while only slightly more - three percent - reach that level at Google Play.

As a result, three times as many "newcomers" to the app game publish for Google Play than the iOS App Store. According to analytics firm Distimo on average six Android apps are published for every two Apple titles. And the news doesn't get much better for newbie app developers hoping to cash-in at either app store...

Real-life footage shows what it’s like wearing Google Glass

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 20, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1uyQZNg2vE

With speculation of Apple's growing interest in wearable computing and a smartwatch-like gadget the company's reportedly working on, it's worth remembering Google entered the space in a big way with last year's astonishing on-stage demonstration of its Android-driven augmented-reality eyewear, Google Glass. One of CEO Larry Page's moonshot projects, the Glass is still in its infancy, but watchers predict it will become the next big thing in wearable computing.

While only Google developers are allowed to buy the $1,500 sci-fi eyewear, Google is working on mainstreaming the technology in order to get even more people use its services all the time. And in doing so, the search Goliath has released new footage showing what it actually feels wearing the Glass.

In case you were wondering, everything you see has been captured through the Glass...

Netflix gives its iOS app better playback controls

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 20, 2016

Netflix has a pretty decent app on the iOS platform that really becomes indispensable if you're among the growing number of people subscribed to its service that streams Hollywood movies and television shows to your home.

Today, the company has issued a new version 3.0 build of the iOS app, tweaking the user interface while adding a few improvements. For starters, the zoom icon is back so you can control your experience when in full screen.

And if you're on an iPad, you can also touch the player UI screen to see the title of the currently watched show...

Apple hires Rolls Royce director to bolster European corporate communications

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 20, 2017

Less than two weeks after recruiting OLED display expert Dr. Jeung Jil Lee from LG, Apple has hired another high-profile executive away from a major company. According to a new report, the Mac-maker has picked up Rolls Royce's Josh Rosenstock.

Rosenstock has been with the London-based aerospace firm for 4 years, as the director of external communications. It's believed that he will join Apple in a similar role, as it attempts to bolster its corporate communications for its EMEIA region...

How Eastern European attackers hacked Apple

Ed Sutherland ∙ February 20, 2013

Investigators now believe a group of sophisticated Eastern European criminal hackers are responsible for a cyberattack on Apple and other U.S. technology and media firms. Until today, those probing the computer break-ins thought China was behind the electronic assaults. In Apple's case, malware placed on an iPhone developer website may have been used to 'bait' visitors, according to one report Wednesday.

According to Bloomberg, which anonymously cited people close to law enforcement, malware which other victims described as "sophisticated," was placed on the popular developer forum to potentially gain access to data stored on corporate computers...

Nvidia’s new translucent HQ wants to one-up Apple’s spectacular iSpaceship

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

Nevermind that iSpaceship, Apple's breathtaking curved-glass, circular-shaped research campus, won’t open until mid-2016 - in Silicon Valley, the race is on on who gets to build the most spectacular corporate structure first. Graphics powerhouse Nvidia has thrown down the gauntlet by announcing Wednesday a state of the art new HQ.

Covering one million square feet, the massive site will be comprised of two triangle-shaped buildings with a distinct feature: a nearly translucent glass roof. Part of its campus expansion in Santa Clara, Nvidia describes the upcoming headquarters in Apple's parlance, as “iconic”...

Square launches all-in-one iPad POS

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2017

If you run a small business such as a grocery store or otherwise deal with cash and credit card payments, you absolutely must have at least a cash register and one or more credit card terminals to process payments. Lucky for you Square has an interesting all-in-one solution that contains everything you need to make a jump into the 21st century.

A missing link in Square's mobile payment offering, the Business in a Box comes with an iPad stand, cash drawer and an optional receipt printer. It all works wirelessly with Square Register, is fully customizable and prices start at $299. Almost makes me wanna start a business just so I could pose behind such a sophisticated point of sale. An inspirational promo video is after the break..

Apple chairman Art Levinson talks life after Steve, product creation and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Arthur D. Levinson, former CEO of Genentech and current chairman of Apple's board, spoke at Stanford's Graduate School of Business on Tuesday. Art talked openly about a number if interesting topics, and luckily, Fortune was around to write it all down.

Levinson joined Apple's board in 2000, and was a colleague and close friend to Apple's legendary founder Steve Jobs. And he says that despite the fact that the company continues to introduce new products, Jobs's absence still remains tough to ignore...