Apple

Rumor: 12.9-inch iPad Pro debuting in 2016 with force sensing nanowire touchscreen

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Apple's rumored 12.9-inch iPad, informally dubbed the ‘iPad Pro,’ should use a new screen technology which should deliver a more responsive, more sensitive touch performance while being cheaper to mass-produce, according to a report Monday by ETNews.

Apparently, the company is planning to replace ITO-based clear film used on current iPads with a new silver nanowire (AgNW) panel. The report pegs a nanowire-based iPad Pro for 2016 instead of late 2015.

This exceptionally clear material should improve sense of touch, enable force sensing and decrease cost as it doesn’t require rare materials such as indium and the screens could be assembled by removing one post-cell process.

Apple to expand key Irish operation as demand for products grows

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 11, 2015

Apple is considering a major expansion of its key Irish operation just months after completing a massive €300 million (about $335 million) development in the country, according to Independent.ie Monday.

Already employing more than 4,000 people in Ireland and its Cork plant in Hollyhill, the latest expansion should deliver a multi-million euro boost to the move.

NYT Now for iPhone goes completely free, adds 1Password support and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 31, 2018

The New York Times newspaper this morning issued a sweet update to its dedicated news summarizing application, Now for iPhone. By far the biggest change in this would-be Flipboard killer involves breaking away from a $15+ per month subscription model in favor of making the app along with its content completely free.

Whether or not the move will help attract more readers remains to be seen. NYT arguably leads the charge in terms of quality newspaper content so going free is a much appreciated change in my book.

Fantastical 2 for Mac picks up loads of new features and refinements in a new update

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 11, 2015

Developer Flexibits has updated its popular calendar, reminders and to-do alternative, Fantastical 2 for Mac, with more than a dozen new features, enhancements and bug fixes. The app now includes a new-look birthday event interface and has added a pending invitations section to view all incoming invitations in one place.

You can now drag text from other apps to quickly create an event and drag items from OmniFocus, which also creates a related event.

Apple launches new environmental initiative in China, partners with World Wildlife Fund

Jake Smith ∙ May 10, 2015

Adding to its worldwide environmental program, Apple announced on Sunday that it's launching an expansion of its renewable energy and environmental protection initiatives in China. As part of the project, it's launched a multi-year agreement with the World Wildlife Fund to responsibly manage one million acres of working forests which provide fiber for pulp, paper and wood products.

Uber submits $3 billion offer for Nokia Here

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 8, 2015

While Nokia would prefer to sell out its mapping division to Apple, no offer has arrived yet from the iPhone maker for the competitive service, called Nokia Here.

Be that as it may, a window of opportunity has now opened for Uber, a privately-held transportation service, which has reportedly submitted a $3 billion offer for Nokia Here, The New York Times said Friday citing three people with knowledge of the offer.

But Nokia has other big name suitors lined up as well, including one from a powerful consortium made up of Chinese web services company Baidu and automakers BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. It's unclear whether Apple, whose own mapping service relies heavily on third-party data, is still in the running.

Nike CEO talks Apple Watch and Apple partnership, says new experiences coming

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 8, 2015

Nike CEO and President Mark Parker sat down with CNBC's “Squawk on the Street” for a quick interview discussing his thoughts on wearable technology, the Apple Watch and his company's partnership with the iPhone maker, confirming that new services are coming down the pipeline.

Nike, which in April 2014 announced shuttering its wearable-hardware efforts, has been collaborating with Apple on fitness wearables for years, in one form or another.

For example, the Nike+ Running iOS application is available on the Apple Watch, too, and Parker now assures us that more from Apple and Nike is yet to come.

Try before you buy: Apple’s new music service to offer lengthy trial periods and free song samples

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple's new music service could include multiple ways to listen for free, Recode reported on Friday. Citing sources familiar with the project, the site says that while the service won't include a typical 'free version,' Apple is hoping to offer a lengthy trial period and free song samples.

The trial period could range anywhere from one to three months, depending on the outcome of Apple's current negotiations with record labels, which would give users a lengthy look at the service. It may also allow music owners to upload a sampling of songs that others could listen to.

Spotify could move into video later this month as Apple targets streaming music

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 8, 2015

Spotify, the world's leading music-streaming service with sixty million listeners on a free tier and fifteen million accounts on its $9.99 per month tier, could start integrating video into its service as early as this month, according to a report published Friday by The Wall Street Journal.

A video-streaming service should complement Spotify's music platform. The company reportedly has the likes of Facebook and YouTube in its sight, the latter working on a paid subscription service of its own.

Google's Music Key allows Play Music subscribers to watch ad-free music videos on YouTube and Jay Z's Tidal includes access to music videos in its subscription and will soon live-stream concerts and related events to users. Rdio briefly experimented with video, too, but pulled that service over lack of interest.

Earlier today, the privately owned Swedish startup sent out invites for a May 20 press event in New York City ahead of Apple's Beats Music relaunch at WWDC next month.

Ericsson sues Apple in UK, Germany and Netherlands over alleged patent infringement

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 8, 2015

Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson has extended its patent lawsuit against Apple to Europe, filing separate lawsuits in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands over alleged patent infringement, Reuters reported Friday.

Ericsson is alleging that Apple has been using its patents without a legitimate license. It unloaded legal barrage against the iPhone maker over the same matter in the United States in February 2015.

The world’s largest maker of wireless networks, Stockholm-based Ericsson owns many patents covering 2G, 3G and 4G LTE cellular technology.

Apple Watch’s 28nm application processor is fabbed by Samsung, S1 chip is full of surprises

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

At the heart of the Apple Watch is Apple's in-house designed 'S1’ component that literally puts an entire computer architecture onto a single chip — an industry term you're looking for is system-in-package (SiP) design.

A recent teardown analysis by ABI Research has managed to identify 512MB of RAM, an ARM-based CPU, a Broadcom Wi-Fi module, an accelerometer and gyroscope, along with a few other components, packed inside the S1.

Today, semiconductor experts over at Chipworks have updated their teardown of the S1 package with a few interesting tidbits related to the type of process technology used while revealing some rather unique design solutions making such small yet powerful package possible.

‘Toca Nature’ goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Cody Lee ∙ May 7, 2015

Apple has just named “Toca Nature” its App of the Week for this week. This means that from now through next Thursday, you’ll be able to download the award-winning education software for both iPhone and iPad for free—a great savings of $2.99.

Geared towards kids, Toca Nature allows you to shape nature and watch it develop. Want to grow your own forest? Go for it. Want to create a mountain range and enjoy the view? You got it. Plants, animals, landscapes and more are at your disposal.