Apple

Dutch court upholds sales ban of older Samsung Galaxy devices

Recode reports that a Dutch appeals court has upheld a lower court's sales ban of some older Samsung Galaxy devices that infringe on Apple's IP. The patent in question involves how iOS users are able to peak at the next photo in a gallery by swiping the current image.

The ruling will apply specifically to the Galaxy S2, and the Galaxy Ace—both of which include Samsung photo apps that run an exact copy of the feature—and it could possibly be extended to other Samsung devices found to similarly infringe on Apple's European patent...

Apple updates iWork for iCloud with interactive charts, improved collaboration

Apple has updated its iWork for iCloud apps with a number of improvements today. The web versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote have each received new features with a focus on enhancing the user's ability to collaborate with others on a document.

All three apps have been updated to support collaboration with up to 100 people, edit larger documents of up to 1 GB, and support for images of up to 10MB. Additionally, they all now support chart formatting, and allow you to create 2D/interactive charts...

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and 3 hit Mac

Texas-based Aspyr Media today announced that it's ported Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 shooters to the Mac.

Both games, including all downloadable packs for each, are available starting today through multiple outlets, including the Steam platform, Aspyr’s online store GameAgent.com and other participating online Mac game retailers.

At the time of this writing, neither game was available through the Mac App Store. Aspyr is the same company which brought you the Mac port of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare back in 2008 as the first title in the series...

Apple talking with ISPs as it prepares to launch its Content Distribution Network

According to a new report from CDN and Internet Services analyst Dan Rayburn, Apple is going ahead with plans to develop its own content delivery network. Rayburn says the company is working on interconnection deals with Internet Service Providers, as it prepares to take its CDN live.

Apple is said to have spent the last 5 years building its CDN, which would be responsible for carrying out iTunes and iCloud content to customers. Currently, the iPad-maker outsources this delivery to third-party companies like Akamai, which means it has no control over quality of service...

Morgan Stanley also believes the iPhone 6 will feature NFC tech

It seems like every time Apple is about to release a new smartphone, NFC rumors pop up. I'm not sure if some folks just really want the technology to succeed, or think the iPhone needs it to be compatible with various products and services, but the talk has seriously become an annual thing.

And this year is no different. Back in March, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that his supply chain checks signaled that Apple was building NFC chips for its iPhone 6, and earlier this month, Brightwire echo'ed the claim. Today, Morgan Stanley adds its weight to the claim in an investors note...

Apple planning new flagship Manhattan Store in retail push

Apple is getting serious about its retail expansion, amongst record sales. The latest Apple Store murmurs are a new flagship store in New York City - an area where it's already represented well in the streets.

Apple Store tracking blog "ifo Apple Store" is reporting a building permit has been issued for a greater Apple presence on New York City’s Upper East Side. The permits are dated May 15th and cover soil testing underneath the structure, and demolition of the building’s interior, costing $20,000 and $60,000 respectively.

Google+ Stories combines your media into beautiful digital travelogues

Google today announced new photography and video features for its Google+ social thing.

Available later this week on Android and the web and coming soon to iOS, Google+ Stories and Google+ Movies offer digital travelogues and movies created automatically from your Google+ photos and videos and location data.

The feature is basically on auto-pilot.

Google is constantly analyzing the photos and videos you upload to Google+, along with the places you’ve visited. It then automatically uses your best and most popular media to create full-screen presentations...

Microsoft announces Surface Pro 3 to take on MacBook Air with thinner, lighter build

Microsoft has announced the Surface Pro 3 at a media event in New York City on Tuesday, setting its sights on not only Apple's iPad, but the MacBook Air as well.

The Surface Pro 3 busts past the 10.1-inch norm to a 12-inch display with a 2160 x 1440 resolution. It's not a 16:9 aspect ratio, but rather a more comfortable 3:2 aspect ratio with a HD screen - a first for Microsoft's Surface line. But the thinness and lightness is where Microsoft is hoping to sell you. 

Sky Force Anniversary remake landing June 5

Vertical scrolling shooter Sky Force will relaunch in the App Store as Sky Force 2014. The game is set to hit the international App Stores on Thursday, June 5, following the removal of Infinite Dreams' original Sky Force and its sequel Sky Force Reloaded from the App Store over iOS 7 incompatibility issues. "We're polishing some things up for the final release and will be submitting the binary next week," said Infinite Dreams...

Amazon offering Logitech’s PowerShell iOS 7 controller for $50 with free shipping

Logitech's PowerShell iOS 7 controller has been heavily criticized for its high launch price ($99) and there have been some complaints about build quality and features. But if you're serious about iOS gaming, you should consider this accessory as a worthy first entrant into the iOS 7 controller market.

Gamers who have been on the lookout for a nice deal on the PowerShell are in for a treat as Amazon is currently offering the accessory for just $49.99, with free shipping included. That's a nice 29 percent discount over the online retailer's normal asking price of $69.99 and a cool $50 savings from its suggested (and rather insane) retail price of ninety-nine bucks...

Settlement talks stall as Samsung calls Apple a ‘jihadist’ and the trial ‘Apple’s Vietnam’

The Korea Times reported yesterday that Apple and Samsung were negotiating an out of court settlement that would potentially put an end to the long standing legal drama. Less than 24 hours later, lawyers for both companies have told a California court that they've been unable to resolve their differences and reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

And as settlement talks dissolve without an agreement in sight, a court-mandated update on these discussions has revealed how mistrustful the two parties have grown of each other. According to Samsung's top lawyer who referred to Apple as a "jihadist," the trial will go down in history as "Apple's Vietnam"...

Steve Jobs biographer: Apple’s supposed Beats buy about video, not headphones and music

By now, everyone has already chimed in with their two cents on what Apple's rumored Beats buy might mean for Apple's reputation in music - even our own Cody Lee has summarized the more popular theories floating around out there.

It's commonly accepted that Beats Electronic, LCC. co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine will be taking on senior roles at Apple after Beats buyout, with their grand introductions as Apple executives apparently set to take place at WWDC.

Bloomberg thinks Apple will keep Beats as a separate brand and improve its headphones design and another source speculated that the deal could lead to high-resolution music on iTunes.

But according to Steve Jobs's biographer Walter Isaacson, none of this is true as the deal is actually about video, not about headphones or streaming music...