Apple

Apple celebrates Mac’s 30th anniversary with new video shot entirely on iPhone 5s, edited on Mac

OK, Apple didn't exactly return to Super Bowl with a 30th Mac anniversary ad like advertising legend Lee Clow a week ago hinted it would, but that doesn't mean the company is letting the Super Bowl ad blitz mute its message.

Not only did Apple celebrate the occasion by letting ABC News and MacWorld interview CEO Tim Cook, it also posted an interactive Mac timeline on Apple.com and a new ‘Happy Birthday, Mac’ section on the Mac App Store, dressed up retail stores' window displays in Mac-themed graphics and hung commemorative posters up on the walls of its Cupertino HQ.

The company even hid a custom font on its servers featuring gorgeous Mac model icons. And now, Apple has posted a new video on its homepage dedicated to the 30 years of Mac innovation. The 125-second clip was shot entirely on iPhones and edited on Macs, have a look at it right below the fold and meet us in comments...

Bank of America and U2 team up for Product (RED) iTunes free song promo

U2, the famous Irish rock band from Dublin, has teamed up with Bank of America in a new promotion where the latter donates $1 for every free iTunes download of U2's new single titled Invisible to (Product) RED's charity which fights against AIDS.

The promotion was announced via a Super Bowl ad and was designed to help end mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Product (RED) was founded in 2006 by U2 frontman Bono, together with Bobby Shriver of the ONE/DATA, as a way of raising awareness and funds to help eliminate AIDS in Africa...

Tim Cook visits with Prime Minister, retailers in United Arab Emirates

Following his trip to Ireland last week, Tim Cook was spotted at several electronics outlets in the United Arab Emirates this weekend. The CEO posed for pictures while visiting malls in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The reason for his visit is unknown, but a UAE-based newspaper is reporting that Cook also met with UAE Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and other officials while in the region...

Apple slapped with new $840 million claim for ebooks price fixing

Apple was found guilty of conspiring with 5 major publishers to increase the prices of e-books last summer, but so far it hasn't had to write a single check. But that could change soon thanks to a newly-filed damages claim.

Steve Berman, an attorney representing consumers and 33 states who linked up with the DOJ’s case against Apple, says the company's actions caused e-book buyers to spend an extra $280,254,374. And wants that tripled...

NFL deploys iBeacons in Times Square, MetLife Stadium for Super Bowl

Apple's iBeacon technology seems to be catching on rather quickly. Just introduced at WWDC a little over 6 months ago, it's already being deployed in grocery and retail stores, several Major League Baseball ballparks, and now apparently NFL stadiums as well.

The New York Times is reporting that the National Football League has installed iBeacons at MetLife Stadium, which is hosting the Super Bowl on Sunday, as well as Times Square. They'll be used to help folks find their way around town, and then to the big game...

Health & fitness tracking features said to headline iOS 8

Over the past year or so, Apple has been hiring a number of doctors and other experts in the medical field to work on an unknown project. And up until now, we've known little about its plans outside of recurring iWatch speculation.

But a new report out this afternoon may help shed some light on what it's been working on. Apparently health and fitness tracking are going to be headlining features of iOS 8, and they're expected to play well with Apple's smartwatch...

Lenovo CEO: Motorola purchase part of mission to surpass Samsung, Apple

When news hit earlier this week that Google had agreed to sell its Motorola Mobility unit to Lenovo for $2.9 billion, it surprised a lot of people. Not only was the sale price some $10 billion below what Google paid for Motorola 3 years ago, but Lenovo? Where'd that come from?

According to a recent Fortune interview with Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yan, that was the plan all along. Yan says that his company has been eyeing Motorola since before Google came along , and it has major plans for it. Lenovo wants to become the #1 smartphone-maker in the world...

Tweetbot for Mac refreshed with conversation icon, ‘Save Image As’ option

Tapbots has just issued a maintenance update to Tweetbot for Mac which added a pair of feature tweaks and some bug fixes. Tweetbot version 1.4.2, now available as a free update in the Mac App Store, finally allows you to save images from tweets to folders other than the default Downloads folder.

There's also a new conversation icon next to tweets that are a reply to another tweet, which allows for a more visual navigation and helps make sense of your feed.

The full breakdown is after the break...

Tim Cook visits Irish government to talk tax evasion

Apple CEO Tim Cook flew to Ireland today to meet with the country's government officials and tour the company's corporate office. Although the meeting agenda was shrouded in secrecy, media reported Cook and the head of government discussed tax loopholes and a change in the Irish laws that should prevent firms like Apple and Google to avoid declaring tax residency in either the U.S. or Ireland.

A loophole in Ireland's corporate tax laws has enabled many of the world's top corporations to operate as virtually stateless firms, ungoverned by any nation’s taxing authority...

You can now get $50 off any mobile phone at Best Buy any time during 2014

The United States electronics retailer Best Buy on Thursday announced an interesting new promotion giving anyone who signs up for a $50 gift card the ability to redeem the credit when purchasing and activating any mobile phone at Best Buy, any time during 2014.

The promo theoretically means you could get $50 off your future iPhone 6 purchase.

Not sure if this was Best Buy's intent, but the terms suggest a price discount should be available for any unannounced handset. Anyone can apply for the $50 discount provided they register their interest and purchase/activate a new mobile phone with the registered phone number and a two-year agreement on AT&T, Sprint or Verizon Wireless at any Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile store before December 31, 2014...

Peek Calendar for iPhone brings Clear-like gestures and marvelous UI

Fans of Realmac Software's Clear to-do app who've always wanted its gestural user interface in a calendar app need look no further than Peek Calendar for iPhone, $1.99 in the App Store. It's the calendar humanized, as developer Square Mountains puts it.

The premise behind Peek Calendar, as its name suggests, is the decluttering of your calendar entries by providing an effective at-a-glance overview of your day and some novel gestures allowing you to literally peek inside the events.

One of may favorite interactions: the shading gesture which allows you to see some Peek's life events. Check out Peek Calendar in a sweet promotional video included right after the break...

App Store highlights Sochi 2014 apps and music

With just one week left until the February 7 opening ceremony for the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, Apple's editorial team has published a conveniently curated App Store section which highlights some of the best iPhone and iPad applications to follow the Games, along with some Olympics related music.

"Immerse yourself in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics with this collection of official apps and music," writes Apple. "Follow the progress of your favorite athletes, track each country’s medal, listen to the Torch Relay anthem, and much more"...