Apple

iPhone trade-in program launches in Canada

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 10, 2014

After Apple's in-store iPhone trade-in program arrived in France last week, the company has now launched the initiative across its retail stores in Canada (as rumored), Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac was first to report Monday morning.

The initiative strives to entice would-be buyers to purchase their next iPhone from Apple Stores rather than through carriers and/or other retailers, by offering people to trade-in their old devices in good working condition for store credit, based on the value of their existing device...

New report alleges Samsung will build iPhone 6’s A8 processor after all

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 29, 2016

Shortly after Taiwan’s Commercial Times ran a story about Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) seemingly having started production of an upcoming Apple-designed A8 chip on an exclusive basis (as Samsung reportedly dropped out of the race due to yield issues), an unnamed Samsung executive in a defensive PR move took to blogs to argue that the rumor is greatly exaggerated.

Pouring cold water on the Commercial Times report, the Galaxy maker told ZDNet Korea (via GforGames) that the conglomerate has already signed a contract with Apple concerning next-generation A8 chip production. Moreover, the firm is currently in the final testing phases and is gearing up to kick off mass A8 production at its Austin, Texas facility.

The multi-billion dollar chip plant is almost entirely dedicated to Apple silicon production. Samsung's semiconductor arm has thus far churned out every iOS device processor since the original iPhone...

Samsung removes standard-essential patents from upcoming Apple trial

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 9, 2014

Apple and Samsung will duke it out in the courtroom over technology patents later this month. As the second California trial looms (it begins March 31), the two technology giants have filed a stipulation with the United States District Court of California which narrows the second case, patent blogger Florian Müeller reported on his blog, FOSS Patents.

Under the stipulation, Samsung withdrew its asserted claims based on three standard-essential patents while Apple dropped all of its counterclaims relating to these patents...

Medium iPhone app is coming next week

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 9, 2014

Medium, a rising blog publishing platform dedicated to high-quality writing, is launching its native iPhone application next week, The New York Times' Bits Blog reported yesterday. Filing as Medium's first mobile application since the service's inception in 2012, the app will initially be strictly focused on reading Medium posts and won't include editing functionality akin to, say, WordPress's free iOS app.

The service already has a great mobile site that looks business on small form-factor devices and releasing a native iPhone app could go a long way toward boosting its appeal among mainstream users...

Google announces Android SDK for wearables releasing in two weeks

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 9, 2014

After becoming the world's top mobile operating system for smartphones and tablets, Google's Android software wants to become the leading platform for wearable devices.

CNET's Daniel Terdiman, reporting from the SXSW conference, has just tweeted that Google's Sundar Pichai confirmed that the Internet giant will be releasing its own Android software development kit (SDK) for wearable devices in the next two weeks.

The move indicates the search company's interest in the emerging wearable devices market, which has not exploded yet but is being closely watched in part due to Apple's rumored iWatch wearable project. Google itself is thought to be working on a smartwatch of its own...

AT&T discounts single-line data plans, 2GB now $65 per month

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 9, 2014

AT&T, the nation's #2 wireless carrier, said yesterday that its customers can take advantage of cheaper single-line data plans. Starting today, two gigabytes of high-speed 4G data will set you back $65 per month, which represents a $15 savings compared to the cost of the previous plan. The plan includes fifty gigabytes of cloud storage as well as unlimited international messaging and calling.

An additional line can be added for $25 per month. A month ago, the carrier slashed the prices of its Mobile Share family plans...

Twelve South launches BookBook case for iPad Air

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 16, 2016

After months of waiting, premium accessory maker Twelve South has finally introduced its BookBook vintage case series for the iPad Air. Like the BookBook for the iPhone 5/5s, BookBook for the iPad mini [review] and full-size iPad, BookBook for the MacBook Air and other BookBook cases, the iPad Air edition is hand-distressed using high-quality leather to give each one a slightly different appearance.

It's also a nice theft-deterrent thanks to its dusty tome appearance hiding your iPad Air completely from prying eyes while keeping it protected from elements, dust, nicks and scratches. And like other BookBook cases, it allows you to prop up your device at a 30-degree angle for prolonged text entry and showing off your media. ..

Updated iTunes Festival channel added to Apple TV for SXSW

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Following the release of an updated iTunes Festival app for iOS on Thursday, Apple has rolled out a new TV channel for its Apple TV. For us, the icon is showing up in the second row of icons, right in the middle, so it's almost impossible to miss.

Clicking on the icon takes you to the Festival channel, where you can get the low-down on all of the major acts that are going to be playing at Apple's SXSW event this week. You can also view their concert dates and listen to samples of their music...

Rad concept imagines iWatch as a timeless watch without a touchscreen and voice control

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 7, 2014

There's definitely no shortage of both beautiful and terrible iWatch concepts these days. At this point, it's all but certain that Apple's been cooking up some kind of a wearable device. That said, I don't think the iWatch will be a smartwatch at all.

Needles to say, this isn't stopping 3D artists from dreaming up the ultimate wrist-worn smartwatch with the Apple logo on it.

But as gorgeous as some iWatch renderings are, their envisioned interfaces are classic examples of form over function. Although I don't see myself wearing any kind of wristwatch, earlier today I stumbled upon a fresh batch of stylish concept images by the talented Hungarian designer Gábor Balogh that could easily have me change my mind as to what a smartwatch should actually be...

Google+ gains pinned posts, new location reporting and history settings, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 7, 2014

It's been a while since the Internet giant Google updated the Google+ client for the iPhone and iPad, available free of charge in the App Store. Last we heard, Google+ was refreshed more than three months ago with such new features as full-resolution photo and video backup, inline translations and the ability to share your location, to mention but a few.

In today's Google+ update, the app has gained the ability to pin posts to the top of a community stream while allowing you to adjust your history settings and location reporting...

Yahoo Mail now lets you block images, web UI gains improved Folders, compose and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Yahoo keeps on meticulously improving both its Mail service on the web and companion mobile apps. Today, the firm has bumped Yahoo Mail for iPhone to version 2.0.6 which comes with your usual dose of bug fixes and performance improvements, in addition to one new feature: the ability to block images.

Now available in the App Store, a new setting lets you tell the app to skip loading images in HTML-styled email.

Security-minded users will love this feature given that spammers and attackers typically use embedded images to tell whether you have opened the message, sometimes even using images to leverage security exploits.

Yahoo's web interface has also received its fair share of enhancements, including improved handling of folders, new shortcuts, an improved multitasking chat and more...

Target now lets you trade-in your iPad 2 for nearly half off a brand new Retina iPad mini

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 17, 2017

The American retailing company Target is running various deals concerning Apple's popular devices on a regular basis. In its latest move aimed at encouraging users to ditch their legacy iPad 2, the retailer is offering at least a $150 gift card for an iPad 2 or newer in good condition.

According to TechnoBuffalo, the promotion begins today, March 9, and runs through Saturday, March 15, and is valid in-store only, through Target's participating locations...