Apple

Apple forced to pay $7,500 over firebug iPod nano

Remember those 1st generation iPod nanos that Apple recalled recently? You know, the ones that were prone to overheating and, in extreme cases, catching fire? It turns out Apple didn't quite get them exchanged quickly enough.

A Japanese judge has ruled in favor of a couple from Tokyo who were unfortunate enough to own an original iPod nano, purchased in 2005. Five years later, the device was found to be getting unusually warm during charging and, once in the hands of a poor Japanese lady, burst into flames.

The result was badly burned hands which took a month to heal, and a court case which resulted in Apple being asked to cough up some cash by way of compensation...

Rumor: Apple TV to feature a Kinect-like video game console

By now, most of you have heard the Apple TV rumors. The iPad-makers are expected to enter the HDTV space at some point in the not-too-distant future with an interactive, high-definition TV set. But it sounds like it could be much more than that.

Cult of Mac is reporting this morning that it has learned that Apple's television will also come equipped with a Kinect-like video game console, with an interface that relies heavily on motion and touch controls...

Tim Cook spotted at Valve’s headquarters

This is kind of interesting, AppleInsider is reporting that Apple's CEO Tim Cook was spotted at Valve's Bellevue, Washington headquarters this morning.

For those of you that aren't familiar with the company, Valve is a PC game developer responsible for massive hits like Half Life and Team Fortress. It also maintains the popular Steam gaming platform...

What an iPad with a 7.85-inch display would look like

Rumors of Apple building a smaller iPad with a 7.85-inch display have been around for several months. Pundits believe that the Cupertino company would do well to release a smaller version of its popular slate to appeal to the budget tablet crowd.

Well known Apple-insider John Gruber fanned the flames last week when he said that he was aware of such a product being tested in Apple's labs. And today, the folks over at Ciccaresedesign poured even more gas on the fire with this iPad mini mockup...

Court upholds ban on iCloud push email in Germany

Earlier this year, a German court slapped Apple with an injunction, forcing the company to disable iCloud's push email service in the country. The move was the direct result of a Motorola lawsuit, who claimed Apple was using its patented technology in the feature.

Well things got worse today for the iPad-makers. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a German regional court has upheld the previous decision of the ban on Apple's iCloud service, essentially granting Motorola a victory in the ongoing patent war...

Confirmed: French designer Philippe Starck working on Apple Store design

The Applesphere is going crazy this morning after French designer Philippe Starck revealed in an interview with Le Figaro that he's been working on a revolutionary project with Apple, a project that should see light of the day in 8 months.

The first thing that comes to mind of course is the Apple TV set that has been feeding the rumor mill for a few months now. I believe everyone has been reading too much into Starck's interview, and we actually got a confirmation earlier today that he is not working on designing a product for Apple.

So if he's not designing the next iPhone or the Apple TV set, what relationship does Philippe Starck have with Apple?

Apple working on high quality “unibody” earbuds

Imagine that, another patent application has popped up in the United States Patent and Trademark Office database this week with Apple's name on it. The filing is entitled Ultrasonically Welded Structures and Methods for Making the Same.

But don't let the ridiculously long name scare you. The patent is part of a group of cross-referenced filings that all make up different parts of a pair of high quality unibody headphones that it seems Apple is working on in its labs...

Apple looking to make iOS app creation easier with new authoring tool

AppleInsider spotted an interesting patent application this morning entitled 'Content Configuration for Device Platforms.' The document was filed by Apple on December 15th of last year.

The patent describes a piece of software that would help non-programmers develop iOS applications. Remember the iBooks authoring tool Apple released back in January? Yeah, this is a lot like that...

Apple prompting users to make their Apple ID accounts more secure

Have you recently received a notification on one of your iOS devices prompting you to confirm your Apple ID password? If so, you're not alone. Users have been flocking to Apple's support forums to report the suspicious popup.

No, it's not a phishing scam. Apple is trying to beef up its security. TheNextWeb is reporting that over the past 24 hours, the company has started prompting iOS device owners to make their accounts more secure...

Antitrust experts say DOJ likely to lose eBook case against Apple

Apple has been grabbing a lot of headlines over the past couple of days, and not because of poor factory working conditions or the announcement of a new gadget. The Cupertino company is being sued by the Department of Justice over alleged eBook price-fixing.

The DOJ believes that Apple is acting in concert with several major publishers to raise eBook prices across the industry with its 'agency' pricing model. But there's just one problem: experts don't think the government has much of a case...

Want to see how an iPad is made? Watch this video

Earlier this month, Marketplace's Shanghai Bureau Chief Rob Schmitz found his way into Foxconn's Longhua facility, where many of Apple's iPads are made. He's only the second reporter ever to be allowed on to the company's factory floor.

Schmitz uploaded a video of his visit to the plant today, which included a tour of an iPad assembly line and an inside look into the lives of Foxconn's employees. Want to see how an iPad is made? Make sure to watch the clip after the break...