Apple

Apple working with cell providers on eSIM

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 16, 2017

The wireless industry's biggest fear—that mobile customers could one day switch service on a whim without changing their SIM card—is coming true. Following years of opposition to technologies that would allow people to easily change carrier on the fly, the likes of Apple, Samsung and others are now working with the mobile standards organization GSMA on electronic SIM cards for consumer devices.

The Financial Times newspaper reported Thursday that Apple and Samsung are “in advanced talks” with mobile telecom groups on a standardized embedded SIM card for consumer devices, the so-called e-SIM.

New commercials depict how Apple Watch could fit in your daily life

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 16, 2015

Apple has amped up Apple Watch advertising with the release of four new television commercials that highlight its potential usefulness in your daily routine.

Titled “Berlin,” “Beijing,” “Closer” and “Goals,” the ads depict the watch's various fitness and health functions, Siri, wrist alerts, timekeeping, currency conversion and more.

OS X 10.10.5 beta now available to public beta testers

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 16, 2015

Apple is now testing the next major OS X Yosemite update with public beta testers, shortly after making OS X 10.10.5 beta 1 available to members of the Apple Beta Software Program. The software has the same build number of '14F6a' like the developer seed of OS X 10.10.5 which was released two days ago, implying identical code.

Volume production of Apple’s next-generation ‘A9’ processor for new iPhones has kicked off

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 16, 2015

Volume production of an Apple-designed next-generation “A9” chip, the engine that will power the next iPhone and iPad, has begun at facilities operated by Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest independent semiconductor foundry.

According to a report published Friday by DigiTimes, a semi-accurate Taiwanese trade publication, the two rivals get to share orders and both have now started volume production of the chips.

Supply chain sources interviewed by The Wall Street Journal estimate Apple's ordered a record 80 million units of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus units by the end of 2015.

Misfit launches $20 Flash Link activity tracker, new Link iOS app and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 16, 2015

Misfit, a wearable products company, on Thursday announced its most affordable activity tracker yet, the $20 Flash Link, and a brand new Link app that can turn the new activity tracker into a multi-function smart button.

“We’re focused on making products everyone can use. Flash Link is not just a more affordable wearable, it’s a more powerful one,” said Tim Golnik, Misfit’s Vice President of Product and Design.

The good news doesn't stop here as the firm's discounted its Shine and Flash accessories which now cost $70 and $30, respectively, down from their respective prices of $100 and $50.

Angry Birds 2 coming July 30, Rovio confirms

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 16, 2015

There's still life left in the Angry Birds franchise as developer Rovio today announced that the official sequel to the original bird-flinging game that started it all will be releasing across mobile platforms in a fortnight, on Thursday, July 30.

A promotional artwork teases a “bigger, badder, birdier” Angry Birds than the original.

Here are some interesting tidbits about Apple’s ‘best iPod touch yet’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Apple yesterday refreshed its aging lineup of iPod-branded music players. By and large, the iPod touch has received its most substantial upgrade yet as Apple really went all out with upgrades on the hardware front.

Not only does the new iPod touch run the latest Apple-designed “A8” processor as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but includes the M8 motion coprocessor, a much-improved eight-megapixel camera on the back, three times faster Wi-Fi and the latest in Bluetooth networking.

Here are some interesting tidbits related to the iPod touch's hardware surprises.

Apple Watch hitting New Zealand on July 31

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2015

The Apple Watch world tour continues with the impending release in New Zealand on Friday, July 31, starting at 7:01am local time. The release date has been confirmed via an updated product page within the official Apple Store shopping app for the iPhone and iPad, as first discovered by 9to5Mac.

Apple has yet to issue a press release announcing an expanded Apple Watch availability in New Zealand.

The New Zealand launch would be presumably in addition to a few other new markets, too. The wrist-worn device originally launched in April in select markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Japan.

Here are Google’s plans for frictionless shopping straight from mobile search

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2015

The next time you use Google Search on your iPhone, you may notice a brand new “Purchase on Google” button, a feature that has been rumored for several months and confirmed today at the company's presser in New York City.

According to Venture Beat, it will let consumers purchase items directly from ads in Google search results using the payment information linked to their Google account.

The new button will begin rolling out in the next few weeks.

Google Play Newsstand now supports magazines, adds improvements to Highlights and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2015

Google has updated it Newsstand iOS client (formerly Google Currents) in the App Store with much-needed support for digital magazines available on the Play Store.

The new version has arrived shortly after Apple released the iOS 8.4 software update for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad which, among other perks, brings out support for Made for iBooks content on the iPhone and iPod touch.

Google Play Newsstand 3.2 also includes improvements to the Highlights feature and the usual performance and bug fixes.

Apple gives iPod touch A8/M8 CPU, 8MP camera, 3x faster Wi-Fi & more, new nano/shuffle colors

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2015

Following a recent discovery of hidden graphics assets inside iTunes 12.2 which have hinted at an imminent iPod refresh, Apple on Wednesday quietly refreshed its dedicated music player family with a press release and a website update.

The headline new model is a much improved sixth-generation iPod touch, “the best iPod touch yet.”

It now features the Apple-designed 64-bit A8 processor, essentially the same chip that powers the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and runs Apple's M8 motion coprocessor. Apple really went all out with the iPod touch: there's three times faster Wi-Fi 802.11ac and also an improved FaceTime HD camera with an updated sensor and burst mode for even better selfies.

But the good news doesn't stop here: the back-facing iSight camera has received a substantial upgrade, going from five to eight megapixels with slo-mo and burst mode, 1080p video capture at 30FPS, cinematic video stabilization and more.

The screen size has remained the same, measuring four inches diagonally, and there's no Touch ID. The device runs iOS 8.4 with the all-new Music app and Apple Music integration. As for the iPod nano and iPod shuffle, they have received a minor refresh with new color options available.

Rovio puts a bunch of Angry Birds games on sale

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2015

Do you still care about Angry Birds? I myself think the series has run its course but am nonetheless eager to fling a few birds every now and then as I continue to find these physics-based games pretty darn addictive and charming. Developer Rovio has now put a number of Angry Birds titles on sale in the App Store and some of them have gone free for the first time in a long time.

Grab them all now and your kids will thank you later!