Apple

Google takes aim at Safari, allegedly readying Chrome for iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 5, 2018

Color me skeptical, but I'm still scratching my head over over a surprising report by Macquarie analyst Ben Schacter which has it that Google's Chrome browser is coming to iOS some time during the June quarter of this year or, if not, then "definitely this year".

If true, this would be a big news as Chrome ended 2011 within spitting distance of market-leading Internet Explorer. Heck, it even overtook Microsoft’s product to become the world’s most popular browser for a day and is certainly expected to become the top browser this year.

The big question is, will Apple allow Chrome into the App Store and let Google own all the searches? Bear in mind that the search giant currently pays Apple an estimated 60 percent revenue share for the searches done through Safari's search box...

Apple winding down production ahead of a sixth-generation iPhone refresh, says analyst

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 15, 2012

According to one analyst, Apple has begun reducing iPhone orders, another indication that a sixth-generation model is looming on the horizon.

Based on checks with suppliers, Sterne Agee’s Shaw Wu wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday that Apple has drawn build plans for the current-gen iPhone models by up to 25 percent compared to the 35.1 million iPhones sold during the first quarter of this year.

As a result, Apple may ship no more than 28 million iPhones during the June quarter...

Samsung posts first Galaxy S III advert, 100 percent devoid of Apple bashing

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

South Korea-headquartered Samsung, now the top smartphone and cell phone vendor in the world, just posted on its YouTube channel the first official advertising for its latest would-be iPhone-killer, the flagship Galaxy S III handset unveiled less than two weeks ago.

Unlike last year's Samsunged campaign, this high-profile advert is free of any direct or implied Apple spoofing. Even though it does ignore some pretty important marketing basics, the commercial is kinda cool (if I wanted to be cynical about it, I'd call it a typical agency bulls**t).

If anything, one's gotta appreciate Samsung's focus on establishing an emotional connection with the viewer in a manner that resembles Apple's Siri advertising. Have a look and tell us whether this Galaxy commercial is a match for the world's greatest marketing machine...

Check out this interactive 3D mockup of a taller iPhone with a four-inch display

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 26, 2016

Our friends over at MacRumors did it again. Remember a recent iLoungue report describing a taller iPhone rocking a four-inch display that Apple may or may not have been prototyping for some time?

Tapping proven design talent of Federico Ciccarese, the publication published a pair of gorgeous-looking renditions depicting such a device sitting next to an everyday 3.5-inch iPhone 4S.

I wasn’t sure about a larger iPhone, but have definitely changed my mind having seen this image. Also, if you use a WebGL-based browser such as Safari on OS X or Google’s Chrome, you can play with an interactive 3D model of the mockup...

Foxconn denies making any comment regarding Apple TV set

Cody Lee ∙ May 14, 2012

It seems like rumors involving Apple's secret TV project are getting debunked almost as fast as they are surfacing these days.

Just yesterday we found out that the Cupertino company is not involved in talks to purchase Loewe, a German TV manufacturer. And now Foxconn has deflated a rumor that its CEO confirmed the existence of an Apple TV set...

Time Warner Cable CEO: “I’m not sure I know what AirPlay is”

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

This one made rounds on the web today. Apparently, head of Time Warner Cable is totally oblivious to the existence of AirPlay, a technology from Apple that beams photos, music and videos from iOS devices to your television through an Apple TV set-top box.

He also called the Apple TV a little hockey puck (we heard that one before) and expressed his dislike for set-top boxes per se due to the complexities they bring to the living room experience (hard to argue against that)...

How about an iPhone with a bendable display?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

A report out this morning from Far East suggested Apple could be interested in adopting Samsung’s new flexible OLED screens, presumably for use in iPads, iPhones and iPods. The South Korean conglomerate last year supplied Apple with nearly $8 billion worth of processors, NAND flash chips and screens for iOS devices.

Now, Samsung has reportedly received a “huge” number of orders for flexible OLED displays and supposedly Apple is among the phone makers interested in this technology. An iPhone with a flexible display, anyone? Just a pipe dream, you say? Bear with me for a second, there's more to this than meets the eye...

iCloud down this morning for nearly 15 million users

Cody Lee ∙ May 14, 2012

Having problems accessing your iCloud email today? You aren't alone. A simple search for 'iCloud' on Twitter returns 1000s of results, showing folks started experiencing problems with the service early this morning.

Apple has updated its iCloud System Status page, confirming the outage. And according to the Cupertino company, around 12% of users were unable to access parts of the cloud-based platform for almost two hours...

WSJ: photo-sharing, video syncing coming to iCloud as upgrade looms

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 14, 2012

According to the usually well-informed Wall Street Journal, Apple is readying an upgrade to its iCloud service that will expand on the basic features which sync content between iPhones, iPads, iPods and Mac or PC computers. iCloud also provides device backups in the cloud and supports other capabilities specific to Apple's iOS devices.

Two new features will reportedly enable basic photo sharing features with other iCloud users and will include the ability to sync videos...

Analysts warn: swirling iPhone 5 rumors will hurt Apple’s second-quarter sales

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

Remember when Apple announced sales of 17.07 million iPhones during the September quarter of last year? The company was dealing with a rare loss at the time for it had failed to meet analysts' audacious expectations.

In fact, Tim Cook had gone on the record in a conference call with investor to blame the slowdown on those crazy summertime rumors that had been repeatedly calling for a completely redesigned iPhone for the summer of 2011.

"iPhone sales slowed toward the end of the quarter amid speculation over the debut of a new model", the CEO said. Well, looks like history could repeat itself.

Some analysts are now concerned that Apple is due for a big come down because swirling iPhone 5 rumors could negatively impact sales of the current-generation iPhone 4S/4 as would-be buyers withhold their planned purchases in anticipation of a new model.

Woz would invest in Facebook regardless of the opening price

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 14, 2012

Such is the confidence Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has in the leadership abilities of Facebook’s boss Mark Zuckerberg that he would buy shares of the social networking giant when it goes public on May 17 no matter the opening price.

The famous engineer who created the Apple I computer and co-created the Apple II system in the mid-1970s also sees the 28-year-old Facebook CEO closer to the combination of himself and Steve Jobs.

Specifically, Wozniak called Zuck a "real acute" businessman who mixes technical ability with the vision and corporate acumen of Steve Jobs...

Loewe confirms it is not in talks over a potential takeover by Apple

Oliver Haslam ∙ May 13, 2012

We told you not long ago that German TV maker Loewe was potentially the subject of an audacious takeover bid by iPhone and iPad maker, Apple. The rumor made a modicum of sense considering talk of an Apple Television being in the works just won't go away.

Now though, such a takeover appears to be out of the question, with the Germans themselves saying that no such takeover talks are in process after contacting German site, Heise.

Rumors of a $113 million buyout have been quashed after Loewe's official stance was recorded as there being 'absolutely nothing to it.'