Rumors

Apple hiring automotive experts for secret project

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 25, 2016

Apple is recruiting experts in automotive technology and vehicle design to work at a new top-secret research lab, Financial Times reported on Friday. Among the new-hires is former president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research & Development Johann Jungwirth.

Citing several insider sources, the outlet says Apple set up the new research lab late last year at a confidential Silicon Valley location. And it's believed that the facility is being used by a team, led by experienced iPhone managers, to research new automotive products.

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New report sheds light on Apple’s ambitious music plans

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Apple doesn't just want to compete in the music business, it wants to be the music business, according to a new report from Billboard. Citing sources with knowledge of the matter, the outlet has shed some light on the company's ambitious plans for the record industry.

Beats co-founder and Apple executive Jimmy Iovine has apparently been holding secret meetings with senior executives from many record labels in recent weeks. The discussions are of course protected by non-disclosure agreements, but details are beginning to trickle out.

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Apple reportedly in talks with programmers over new web TV service

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Apple is in talks with TV programmers in search of a deal that would allow it to launch a new web-based TV service, reports Recode. Citing sources familiar with the project, the site says the Cupertino firm wants to put together standalone channel packages and offer them directly to customers—wrapped within its own interface and user experience.

Recode is hearing the talks are still in the very early stages, so things like pricing and launch dates aren't anywhere close to being settled, but Apple has shown a demo of the service to programmers. It's said to look similar to Dish Network's just-launched Sling service, which offers select channels instead of a broad lineup, and bypasses cable providers.

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Apple’s name attached to mysterious camera-equipped vehicles in Bay Area

Cody Lee ∙ February 3, 2015

A handful of unmarked minivans have been spotted driving around California over the past several days with what appears to be roof-mounted camera equipment. No one seems to know what the vehicles are up to, but CBS' Bay Area affiliate was able to confirm with the DMV that at least one of the vans is leased to Apple.

More specifically, the minivans feature custom X-shaped frames atop their luggage racks, fitted with what appears to be 12 cameras. It also has a pair of cylindrical antennas, which the news outlet speculates could be LiDAR sensors—a laser-based technology used in self-driving vehicles, as well as high-resolution mapping.

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Apple still ironing out bugs in iOS 8.1.3, seeds second beta to retail workers

Cody Lee ∙ January 16, 2015

Apple is still hard at work on iOS 8.1.3, issuing a second beta (build 12B466) to retail employees in its testing group yesterday. The firmware was expected to be released to the public this week, but according to a report from MacRumors, engineers are still trying to iron out bugs.

The site notes that it continues to see a steady uptick of visits from devices running iOS 8.1.3, and iDB can confirm we're seeing similar patterns in our own analytics (above). This again suggests that a public release is imminent, but whether it'll be this week or next we don't know.

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Apple to reportedly expand iOS beta testing to include retail employees

Timothy Reavis ∙ January 7, 2015

Breaking the long-held tradition of restricting iOS beta releases to developers and select Cupertino campus employees, Apple has plans to expand pre-release mobile software testing to select retail employees, according to a report today by Mark Gurman. The program is set to commence soon with a beta version of iOS and comes nearly half a year after Apple's introduction of public betas for OS X Yosemite, its desktop operating system.

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Apple Watch set to launch in March, says new report

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple is planning to launch its Apple Watch within the next month or two, according to a new report from 9to5Mac. The site's Mark Gurman says that the company is finishing up work on the wearable's software, and sources familiar with the project say it's on track to begin shipping in the US by the end of March.

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Alleged details for Apple’s next-gen 12-inch MacBook Air surface

Timothy Reavis ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Details of the long-rumored 12-inch MacBook Air surfaced today, as 9to5mac broke specifics surrounding the device's dimensions, edge-to-edge keyboard, and lack of traditional ports. Although the device's screen size is larger and of a higher pixel density than that of the 11-inch MacBook Air, its dimensions are narrower than its smaller counterpart by approximately a one-fourth inch. It is, however, slightly taller due to the larger screen size, with an approximate one-fourth inch increase in height.

Bezels have been reduced around the entire screen of the device, as well as surrounding the keyboard, and the keyboard itself has been made narrower by reducing the space between each individual key. The 12-inch MacBook Air's function keys, as well as arrow keys, have also been tweaked in order to reduce the keyboard's overall footprint.

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New report claims Apple is considering return of 4-inch iPhone in 2015

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

A new report claims Apple is considering the return of the 4-inch iPhone in 2015. In a note to investors (via AppleInsider), analyst Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Company said he believes Apple could launch three new versions of its handset next year.

Citing sources in the Asian supply chain, Arcuri calls the 4-inch device the "iPhone 6s mini," and says it will likely feature specs similar to the iPhone 5s. Additionally, the phone will sport improved internals, and a curved design akin to the iPhone 6.

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