Apple

Apple Store app updated: now universal, with revamped icon and new shopping features

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 4, 2014

Apple has just updated its official Apple Store shopping application for iOS, now at last provided as a universal binary with a brand new Home screen icon and a few new fancy features to go with it, starting with an all-new design on the iPhone and iPod touch that takes cues from the iPad edition with a much simplified navigation and excellent use of high-resolution product imagery.

Another new feature allows you to start shopping on one device and finish on another, or even on your Mac or Windows PC, because the application now remembers the state of your shopping cart across platforms.

NYT: iPhone 6 has one-handed mode, iWatch has NFC, wireless charging and flexible sapphire screen

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 10, 2017

Joining today's conversation about a flurry of announcements due September 9, journalist Brian Chen filed a report today with The New York Times claiming that Apple's iPhone 6 will feature a so-called “one-handed mode” in an effort to address usability issues anticipated for a phablet-class device.

The lengthy story also takes a closer look at the rumored Apple wearable device which, according to Chen's sources, will have NFC technology and feature a flexible display protected by a sapphire-made cover.

The article corroborates the consensus out there that the iPhone 6 will come in 4.7 and 5.5-inch flavors, both featuring an on-board Near-Field Communications (NFC) chip to facilitate mobile payments.

Apple supplier accused of forcing overtime and endangering workers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

An Apple supplier has once gain come under scrutiny for labor violations. Both Green America and China Labor Watch are reporting that Catcher, who is responsible for making iPad and MacBook casings for the company, is endangering and exploiting its workers.

At its factory in Suqian, China, Catcher is accused of failing to provide adequate protective equipment for employees handling toxic materials, and various other safety violations. The manufacturer is also charged with forcing overtime: 10+ hours per day, 6 days a week.

Microsoft adds group audio calling with up to four participants to Skype for iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 4, 2014

Skype, a Microsoft-owned Voice over IP (VoIP) provider, on Thursday added another missing feature to its iPhone client after a major visual overhaul of the app in June removed a few popular capabilities.

Specifically, the new Skype 5.4 enables group audio calling with up to four participants. You can also add or remove people to an existing call and disabled users should appreciate a few improvements to the app's accessibility.

The refreshed application is now available in the App Store for free.

Apple to live stream September 9 iPhone event

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 10, 2017

Apple updated its website this afternoon to announce that it will be providing a live video stream of next week's iPhone event. On a new Live page at Apple.com, the company has posted a countdown timer that expires just before 10 am on September 9th.

We are expecting Apple to unveil two new iPhones during the event, at least one of which features NFC for a new mobile payment system. It's also believed that we'll finally see the firm's so-called iWatch, although rumor has it that it will just be a preview.

Irish newspaper claims U2 won’t be involved in iPhone 6 launch, retracts itself minutes later

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

There's been a flurry of speculation by fans and watchers alike that the popular Irish rock band U2 will be performing live at Apple's media event next Tuesday and even preload its new album on the forthcoming iPhone 6. Thursday morning, an Irish newspaper added to the confusion.

The band's spokesperson purportedly quashed the rumor in a statement released to Independent [Google Cache]. The story got pulled minutes later without an explanation, casting doubt on its veracity.

As Cody told you last night, The Sunday Times newspaper first started this rumor based on vague hearsay among fans and shady photographic evidence in the form of images depicting U2's secret video shoot in Dublin last week, which music promotor Stephen Browne shared on Twitter.

WSJ: NFC-enabled iWatch has ‘a role in mobile payments’, features curved OLED screen

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Adding up to the ongoing conversation about Apple's purported wearable project dubbed by the media the 'iWatch', The Wall Street Journal affirmed Thursday that the fashionable gizmo will connect to the upcoming iPhone 6 via NFC and come in two sizes to appeal to both gender’s preferences.

NFC stands for Near-Field Communication, which is a short-range wireless technology required for the handset's rumored mobile payment functionality.

In their write-up behind the paywall, reporters Lorrraine Luk, Daisuke Wakabayashi and Greg Bensinger quote people familiar with the matter as saying that both iWatch sizes feature a curved organic light-emitting diode screen, or OLED.

There will be sensors to track and monitor health and fitness data, as expected. According to the Journal, Apple's use of NFC technology on the iWatch signals that it “sees a role for the device in digital payments”.

KGI on iPad Air 2: launching next Tuesday with ‘significant spec upgrades’

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 4, 2014

Rounding up a trio of predictions that Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities released to clients this morning, AppleInsider quotes the influential analyst as making a surprising claim that the upcoming second-generation iPad Air will be unveiled at Apple's media event next Tuesday.

A gold color option and Touch ID-powered fingerprint scanning should be expected for the so-called iPad Air 2, too, the well-connected analyst told investors in his report. This is in contrast to the rumor-mill which has long called for a separate media event in October to refresh the iPad lineup, based on Apple's annual refresh cycle over the past three years.

KGI on iPhone 6: no sapphire, barometric pressure sensor, programmable power button and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 4, 2014

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities is on a roll today. After detailing his expectations for an iWatch, the analyst in a note issued to clients today also summarized his thoughts concerning the upcoming iPhone 6 devices which are expected to be unveiled next Tuesday at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, California.

As per AppleInsider, which has obtained a copy of Kuo's report to clients, rumored sapphire protection won't be an option for this year's iPhone refresh. Moreover, both 4.7 and 5.5-inch models should be available in a 128-gigabyte storage flavor and will include a new barometric pressure sensor to support indoor navigation applications, as well as new health-related functions related to spirometry.

Wrapping up his report, Kuo wrote that the iPhone 6 device should also feature a programmable power button for integration “with specific applications”.

KGI on iWatch: 2015 debut, 8GB of storage, 512MB RAM, multiple materials and screen sizes

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

According to a new report that KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released to clients Thursday morning, the rumored Apple wearable device that Re/code said would get announced next Tuesday alongside the iPhone 6 will come outfitted with a whopping eight gigabytes of storage, with its yet-unknown processor thought to pack in 512 MB of RAM (of the LPDDR3 variety), like the iPhone 4/4s.

According to AppleInsider which has obtained a copy of the analyst report, the device should be available in a gold finish (”to add a luxury image to the product”) and aluminum variants (“as it has been widely used in Apple products”), as well as two sizes — one with a 1.3-inch screen and the other featuring a larger display measuring 1.5 inches diagonally — which matches up with previous reports calling for different iWatch sizes for men and woman.

Drone captures a giant building Apple built in front of the Flint Center ahead of the keynote

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 4, 2014

As Apple is gearing up for a major media event scheduled for the next Tuesday at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in its hometown of Cupertino, well-plugged in blogger Jim Dalrymple noticed the iPhone maker has also constructed its own building on the Flint Center grounds.

And thanks to enthusiasts like Sachin Patel who flew a drone over the building, we've now fully realized just how massive the secondary structure is — as in, it's taller than the Flint Center itself!

I've included the footage after the break so give it a watch and join the conversation.

Much-improved Rdio launches with new look and features, free version coming to 20 countries

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Rdio, the popular Internet radio service, on Thursday launched a major redesign of its mobile app which now aims to compete with the likes of Spotify and rival Pandora by bringing its ad-supported free Stations to 20 countries.

The new look includes your personalized Home featuring an evolving mix of music stories based on your listening history and tastes, a new Browse section which now features both genre and curated Stations, a Trending feature showing what's popular right now, the ability to favorite just about anything, from albums to artists to songs to stations, and much more.

Rdio is free in the App Store.