Apple

Bloomberg: iPad Air 2 to be offered in Gold, 12.9″ ‘iPad Pro’ due next year

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 1, 2014

Apple's second-generation iPad Air will be offered in Gold, in addition to Space Gray and Silver colorways, according to a Bloomberg report Wednesday corroborating earlier rumors. Adding a gold color option is one way to “goose sales,” according to people familiar with the plans.

The iPad Air 2 should be unveiled at a media event expected sometime in October. Bloomberg's sources with knowledge of the situation have also added that a rumored 'iPad Pro' with a 12.9-inch display “won’t be introduced until next year”.

Apple’s design czar Jony Ive talks Apple Watch development and more in Vogue interview

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 1, 2014

Jony Ive, Apple's Senior Vice President of all Design across the company, sat down for an interview with Robert Sullivan of the fashion magazine Vogue.

Published today, the interview offers a rare look at “the man behind the Apple Watch” and covers a number of topics, including Ive's long-running friendship with fellow industrial designer Marc Newson, who himself recently joined Apple's design team.

Ive touches on a number of other topics as well, such as his passion for handcrafted objects and the design process behind Apple Watch development.

Official Pokémon trading card game now available on (Retina) iPads

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 1, 2014

The official Pokemon trading card game which was demoed in August is now available for the iPad in the App Store. Titled Pokémon TCG Online, the 504-megabyte download supports any iPad with the Retina screen and online multiplayer.

The game challenges players to collect a deck of Pokémon cards, customizes and use them against other computer opponents or human players in battles.

Your decks and card collection are stored in your Pokémon Trainer Club account so you can easily switch devices with ease without losing anything.

PayPal’s deal with Samsung ruined its chances of being an Apple Pay partner

Cody Lee ∙ September 30, 2014

Talks between Apple and PayPal regarding Apple Pay partnership soured following PayPal's deal with Samsung, reports Bank Innovation. The outlet says that the two sides began negotiations early on in Apple Pay's development, but when PayPal partnered with Samsung for Galaxy S5 payments, Apple backed out.

According to the report, PayPal’s now-former president David Marcus was categorically against the Samsung deal, knowing that it would jeopardize PayPal’s relationship with Apple. But apparently eBay CEO John Donahoe didn't agree with the executive, and essentially forced the company into the partnership.

Apple to announce fourth quarter earnings on October 20

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 11, 2018

Apple on Tuesday updated its Investor Relations webpage to confirm that it will be announcing its financial earnings for its fourth fiscal quarter (or third calendar quarter) of 2014 this month. The earnings statement will be released at 1:30 PM PST on October 20, with a conference call scheduled for 2 PM.

This earnings report will cover the three month period from July through September, giving us our first real glimpse at how Apple's new handsets are selling. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were unveiled at a media event this month, and launched in several countries on September 19 with record-breaking figures.

You will use a dedicated iPhone app to put apps on and manage your Apple Watch

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 30, 2014

Rather than browse an App Store for third-party Apple Watch software on the device's tiny Retina touchscreen, fans will be instead using a dedicated iPhone app to manage their Apple smartwatch and apps, Ariel Adams noted two days ago in his hands-on article on A Blog To Watch.

The iPhone app, he learned, will be used to download apps onto the Apple Watch, “as well as likely manage Apple Watch settings”.

Quanta Computer to kick off mass production of Apple Watch in January 2015

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

As Apple shoots to bring its smartwatch to market in early-2015, news reports Tuesday asserted that the Cupertino firm has commissioned contract manufacturer Quanta Computer to start mass producing Apple Watches in January 2015, citing supply chain rumors first mentioned by Apple Daily [Google Translate] and reposted by GforGames.

Apparently Taiwan-based Quanta is the only manufacturer tasked with building the device, the story goes, contradicting earlier rumors that mentioned both Quanta and Inventec, an iPad supplier, as Apple Watch manufacturers.

The Apple Daily report gives hope that the fashionable smartwatch could hit store shelves in time for Valentine's Day 2015. For what it's worth, a recent article by The Information alleged that “Apple would be lucky” to ship the device by Valentine’s Day.

Apple’s Irish tax woes deepen as European watchdog finds ‘illegal state aid’ unacceptable

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 24, 2017

The European Commission publicized its ruling that Apple benefited from a favorable Irish tax rate, arguing that Apple's funneling of revenues and earnings to Ireland, where the Cupertino firm cut a favorable tax deal with the Irish government in the late 1980s and early 1990s, constitutes illegal state aid, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

Responding to these accusations, Apple issued a written statement denying it's received preferential treatment from the government of Ireland. Apple is urging the need for corporate tax reform, insisting its tax arrangements in Ireland are perfectly legal.

Apple pushing Foxconn to hire aggressively to cope with strong iPhone 6 demand

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 30, 2016

As Apple's recently released iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus continue to face strong demand from fans around the world, the Cupertino firm has reacted by pushing its favorite contract manufacturer, Foxconn, to hire more workers to help assemble the handsets, Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes reported Tuesday.

A large-scale aggressive hiring for Foxconn facilities in Shenzhen and Zhengzhou is currently underway, with sources noting that working on assembly lines is no longer as attractive as before for workers in China.

Samsung rumored to supply screens for iPad Air 2 and 12.9″ iPad Pro

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 30, 2014

Samsung Display, Samsung's display unit and part of the company's component-making arm, will supply Apple with high-resolution panels for an upcoming second-generation iPad Air and a rumored “iPad Pro”which is understood to feature a 12.9-inch screen, Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes reported Tuesday morning citing Korean-news outlet inews24.

Although the Cupertino firm’s been distancing itself from the South Korean conglomerate amid ad wars and legal spats, the Galaxy maker is still an important supplier for Apple. And with its leading position in mobile screen production, Samsung is best poised to ensure that Apple has ample supply of high-resolution panels for the iPad Air 2 and the rumored iPad Pro.

Apple Watch goes on display at Colette boutique in Paris

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Several photos have appeared on Instagram and Twitter this morning showing the Apple Watch on display at Colette's boutique on Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris. On Monday it was reported that Apple was planning a joint promotional event with the French retailer.

More specifically, Colette is now prominently showcasing various models of the Apple Watch in its high profile windows. It has also updated its website announcing that the boutique is inviting people to come preview the wearable device in a special one-day event.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launching in China on Friday, October 17

Cody Lee ∙ September 29, 2014

Apple has announced this morning that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will be available in China beginning Friday, October 17. The devices will be launching in the company's online store, as well as its retail stores and various other chains and Authorized Resellers in the country.

Both handsets will support TD-LTE and FDD-LTE, and be offered by China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom across mainland China. Apple says that customers can pre-order the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus from its online store in two weeks, beginning on Tuesday, October 14.