Apple

iTunes Inc. would rank #130 on Fortune 500

If Apple's iTunes were a separate company, it would rank 130th on Fortune’s annual list of the Top 500 companies in the United States. It's also half the size of Google's search business! The high-volume, low-margin store raked in an astounding $4.4 billion in revenue during Apple's fiscal 2014 first quarter ended December 28, 2013.

And according to independent analyst Horace Dediu of Asymco, total iTunes revenue in 2013 topped - wait for it - an incredible $23.5 billion. That's an awful lot of money for an online-only content store...

Google to automate production lines at iPhone manufacturer Foxconn with advanced robots

Future iPhones could be built by Google robots as The Wall Street Journal reports that the search monster is working with Apple's favorite contract manufacturer, Foxconn of Taiwan, on automating production lines.

Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou reportedly met with Google's Andy Rubin in Taipei to talk new robotic technologies meant to "speed up robot deployment" at Foxconn plants. The machines would run Google's upcoming robotic operating system for manufacturers. The two men have reportedly been collaborating since last year to carry out Google's vision for robotics.

Eagled-eyed readers will remember that Google's boss Larry Page in March 2013 put former Android head Andy Rubin in charge of a moonshot project to create a new generation of robots...

Apple’s VP of iPad and Mac operations retires

Apple has lost one of its key iPad and Mac executives, Rita Lane, who has retired from the company, according to her public LinkedIn profile highlighted by Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac. Her role at Apple as Vice President of Operations was a significant one.

As such, she was instrumental in helping manage Apple's supply chain and manufacturing for iPads, Macs and Mac accessories. Lane worked under the supervision of Apple's Senior Vice President of Operations, Jeff Williams, who took over from the previous op-chief Tim Cook, now the Apple CEO...

iWatch may have simpler capabilities than initially thought. Disappointed?

According to a new report by Brian Dolan of MobiHealthNews, the rumored Apple wearable device, the iWatch, may have simpler technological capabilities than those high-profile hirings, job ads, patents and rumors would have you believe.

Citing unnamed sources with "limited but direct knowledge," the report claims the iWatch is more of a companion than a standalone device.

In other words, it may require the iPhone for much of its functionality. MobiHealthNews doesn't have an established track record in terms of Apple rumors so the story should be taken with a grain of salt.

On the other hand, the publication did accurately reveal that Apple hired Michael O'Reilly, former chief medical officer and executive vice president of medical affairs at pulse oximeter firm Masimo Corporation...

Documentarian Ken Burns launches iPad app

Documentarian and movie director Kenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is well-known for his style of using archival footage and photographs and giving them life by slowly zooming in on subjects of interest and panning from one subject to another.

This technique became known as 'The Ken Burns effect' and you'll find it in Apple's iPhoto, iMovie and Final Cut Pro X apps and many other software applications.

Today, Ken's out with a new namesake iPad app, now available free in the App Store, which gives you access to streaming videos containing extras, behind-the-scenes and other footage from all 25 of his films, such as The Civil War, Baseball and Prohibition...

Apple top target for patent trolls, sued 92 times in 3 years

Apple has taken much criticism over the years for its patent litigation efforts, for going after Samsung, Motorola and other companies for violating its intellectual property. But what many don't know is that the iPad-maker defends itself against just as many lawsuits.

In fact, according to some recently filed FTC documents, Apple has been litigated against by PAEs (or Patent Assertion Entity, commonly known as a patent troll) 92 times during the past 3 years. And that's just the number of cases that actually made it to a courtroom...

Popular theming app pulled from Google Play due to Apple copyright complaint

Themer, a popular Android customization app by MyColorScreen, was pulled from the Google Play marketplace last week. The app allows users to browse a selection of home screen themes, and it appears that one of them may be guilty of copyright infringement.

The theme is called 'Seven,' and as you've probably guessed by now, it looks like its creator got a lot of his inspiration from iOS 7. So Apple has filed a copyright complaint with Google, forcing the search giant to remove the app to avoid further legal ramifications...

Five months later, Path gets its iOS 7 refresh. The question is, do you still care?

The once popular private social network, Path, has finally received today its way, way overdue iOS 7 refresh. I mean, the 2014 Valentine's Day is looming and Apple released iOS 7 back on September 18, 2013.

If you're still using Path - I don't as I'm pressed for time - you'll immediately notice a revamped appearance making the software adhere to the overall iOS 7 aesthetics.

Controls in Settings have been simplified, you can now use the iOS 7 swipe gesture to navigate the menus and browsing the Shop is now cleaner and more streamlined than it used to be.

The team says they've made the new version (3.4) simpler and easier to "do the things you do every day with Path". Jump past the fold to see some nice screenies and learn more about the app. Or, if you're impatient you can just go ahead and immediately grab Path 3.4 free in the App Store...

Google launches new Admin iOS app to manage Google Apps domains

Google's official Enterprise Blog today announced a new iPhone and iPad app to manage your Google Apps domain. Google Admin, available free in the App Store, lets you manage Google Apps users on your domain, change passwords, access support, review and filter logs, access group management features such as adding and viewing group members, deleting individual group members and more.

If you're an administrator hosting your domain on Google Apps, the app should be a no-brainer, but keep in mind you're still going to have to access the web interface to use some of the more advanced features...

Apple launches iTunes Radio in Australia

Apple has officially launched its streaming music service iTunes Radio in Australia this morning, making it the first non-U.S. country to gain access to the service since it was introduced last fall.

It was reported in October that Apple had plans to rollout iTunes Radio to the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand in early 2014, and this appears to be the first step of that International push...

iOS 7 references unreleased Apple TV hardware

Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac did a nice job discovering some hidden references to an unreleased Apple TV hardware in the iOS 7 code. Specifically, the strings mention 'Apple TV 4,1', which indicates a major refresh to the Apple TV hardware. By comparison, the current third-generation Apple TV has a designation of 'Apple TV 3,1'.

This is yet another indication that Apple could refresh the Apple TV box later this year, as some rumors have predicted. The current $99 set-top box was last updated 705 days ago...

Nintendo had no hand in killing Flappy Bird, here are a few alternatives

Unless you've been sleeping under a rock lately, you must have heard about a phenomenon that is Flappy Bird, a silly and addictive game that set tongues wagging even before its controversial removal from the App Store last night.

A lot of people thought that Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen announcing the app's removal from the App Store was a marketing move, even after he followed through with his promise. And who can blame them?

I mean, who in their right mind would kill a golden goose that in Nguyen's own words was bringing a cool $50,000 per day from in-game advertising, right? Nguyen on his part would only say the sheer publicity from the game had “ruined his simple life” by attracting too much attention from the press and disgruntled players. 

Although some sympathized with Nguyen, others suspected Nintendo was responsible for killing Flappy Bird over certain graphics similarities with its Mario franchise. Surprisingly enough, Nintendo in a rather unusual move went on the record to specifically dispute the notion and assure Flappy Bird fans it had nothing to do with the app's removal...