Apple

FCC loosens labeling restrictions for iPhones and other devices

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

This is kind of interesting. The FCC's Office of Engineering & Technology issued new labeling guidance on Friday, saying that manufacturers can do away with the awful FCC ID etchings found on the backs of iPhones and other devices with integral screens.

Until now, the FCC has asked that any equipment requiring FCC certification sport a nameplate or etched label listing its FCC ID and other info. But with devices getting smaller and more complex, it wanted to update the requirement for the digital age...

Apple’s Maps team calling businesses to verify user address corrections

Cody Lee ∙ July 12, 2014

Continuing on with its efforts to refine its mapping software, Apple has apparently begun calling businesses looking to verify user-reported address corrections. In a recent Reddit post, a business owner said he had been contacted by someone with Apple Maps.

Reddit user swb1192 said he received an interesting phone call from a 408 number (a Cupertino, California area code) this week. The person said that they were with Apple's Maps team, and that a user had reported his business address as incorrect, which it was...

Apple wins lawsuit against Emblaze over live video streaming patent

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

In a verdict handed down late yesterday by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Apple defeated a lawsuit brought on by Emblaze Ltd. The company claimed that the iPhone-maker infringed on one of its patents.

More specifically, Emblaze accused Apple of infringing on its live video streaming patent, with its HTTP live-streaming service (HLS) that it asks 3rd-party apps like MLB at Bat and WatchESPN to use. But the trial's jury found otherwise...

Apple joins ‘SupplierPay’ initiative to speed up payments to small businesses

Cody Lee ∙ July 12, 2014

Apple has joined Coca-Cola, IBM and other major companies as an early adopter in the new White House 'SupplierPay' program. The initiative is aimed at accelerating payments from these larger firms to smaller businesses in their supply chain.

The program is a private-sector extension of QuickPay, another federal initiative designed to ensure small contractors are paid within 15 days of submitting an invoice. This helps them avoid borrowing money, increasing their chances to succeed...

New Samsung Galaxy Tab S ad pans iPad for lack of multitasking

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

The iPad is no stranger to getting bashed in TV commercials—both Amazon and Microsoft have attacked the tablet over price, display quality, and productivity capabilities. And today, Samsung joins the party with its new Galaxy Tab S ad.

The spot, which went up on the Samsung Mobile YouTube channel this afternoon, is titled: 'Do more with Samsung GALAXY Tab S - Multitasking.' And unsurprisingly, it pans the iPad for its inability to run multiple applications at once...

Sharp in talks with Apple to regain control of iPhone panel plant

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Sharp is looking to regain control of its Kameyama plant back from Apple. Nikkei is reporting this afternoon that the company has proposed a deal to the Cupertino firm worth nearly $300 million, in an effort to diversify its customer base.

The Kameyama Plant No. 1 began operations in 2004 as a facility for manufacturing large panels for flat-screen TVs. But after consecutive years of profit losses, it called on Apple to help foot the bill to transition the plant to smaller panels...

Apple offering Xcode 6 beta for free on new Swift blog

Cody Lee ∙ July 11, 2014

Apple today launched a new blog on its developer portal for its Swift programming language. The company introduced the new language at WWDC last month, and it says this will be a way to keep devs up to date on its progress.

The news is interesting for a couple of reasons. For one, it's not like Apple to talk publicly about projects it's working on—particularly via a blog. It's also worth noting that it has posted a free version of its Xcode 6 beta on the site...

Video: ultimate torture test reveals what it takes to shatter iPhone 6’s sapphire cover glass

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 11, 2014

Earlier in the week, a scratch test captured on video had us marveling at the virtually indestructible sapphire-strengthened cover glass purportedly making its way to Apple's forthcoming new iPhones.

The test, posted by YouTuber Marques Brownlee, showed scratching the protective cover with a set of keys and even a large folding knife yielded absolutely no damage. As Brownlee noted, the part's scratch resistance and proneness to bending and twisting is beyond any smartphone cover glass you've ever seen.

Despite trying, Brownlee just couldn't break the part under his own power. But anything in this world can be broken to pieces. We're a curious bunch here at iDownloadBlog and have been wondering a lot what it'd take to push this alleged sapphire cover glass beyond the point of breaking.

I've just stumbled upon a torture test video which answers that question quite effectively. It's included after the break so give it a quick watch and meet us in comments...

For China, the iPhone location tracking feature is a “national security concern”

Sébastien Page ∙ July 11, 2014

The WSJ is out this morning with a piece based on a report recently broadcasted on the state-run China Central Television, quoting the iPhone location tracking feature as a "national security concern." Nevermind the fact that you can turn off the feature.

As the largest market, one that is greatly untapped, China is a big bet for Apple, and just about any other company. With 6% of the Chinese smartphone market share, Apple is trailing behind the competition, most notably, Samsung, and Xiaomi, but it didn't stop the Chinese broadcaster to make Apple the main target...

Google Maps gains Gmail appointments and search results on map and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

As Apple continues to decrease its dependency on Google for maps in products such as the Find My iPhone service, the Internet giant keeps on adding new features to the native Google Maps iOS app in an effort to widen the gap between its own service and Apple Maps.

Today's version 3.2 update adds a couple new features to Google Maps, starting with a new Explore section acting as your local guide that highlights different places and activities, depending on your location and time of day...

Photoshop Express can now remove blemishes, reduce fog and haze in photos and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 11, 2014

Having received a major update in May adding features like new brushes, a Quick Selection tool and more, the past month or so has marked a relatively quiet period for Adobe's Photoshop Express software for the iPhone and iPad.

But as Apple confirms ceasing development of its Mac photography software, Aperture, Adobe has renewed its commitment to the platform.

First, they're helping Aperture customers migrate to its Lightroom software and now Adobe's made the newly updated Photoshop Express 3.4 even more useful with such additions as blemish removal, a new DeFog tool and more...

Why iWatch may not release before Spring 2015

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 11, 2014

For the past year or so, Apple executives have been teasing new product categories coming in 2014.

“There will be new categories,” Tim Cook told The Wall Street Journal back in February, for example. “We’re not ready to talk about it, but we’re working on some really great stuff.” Sadly, six months have already passed without a single major Apple product launch, let alone a new product category.

I'm referring to a mythical iWatch, of course, although Apple is rumored to enter new markets other than smartwatches, such as home automation accessories.

A report earlier today by KGI Securities' pretty reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has hinted that Apple has been forced to push mass production of the iWatch back more than a month. He now expects the device to enter production as late as November.

Assuming Kuo is right, when can we expect iWatches to hit store shelves? Read on...