Apple

Microsoft boosts Office Web Apps, could accelerate Office for iOS if Elop named CEO

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Seemingly responding to Apple's recent iWork suite upgrade (or should I say downgrade?), Windows giant Microsoft has rolled out a series of improvements to Office Web Apps. Akin to iWork which now allows for collaborative editing and has full file compatibility across the web, OS X and iOS, the significant Office Web Apps refresh has enabled real-time co-authoring and brought out new formatting controls, the find and replace feature in web-based Word app and lots more.

Additionally, Bloomberg reported today that former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, who is viewed as one of the candidates for the outgoing Steve Ballmer's CEO seat, is open to the idea of accelerating development of the full-on Office suite for competing platforms, including Apple's iOS...

Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies now available in the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Pacific Skies, a great follow up to the original Ace Patrol game released in May 2013 (read Lory's review here), is now available in the Apple App Store as a universal $4.99 download. I enjoyed Ace Patrol a lot as it's an electronic implementation of one of my favorite board games. Besides, an avid iOS gamer really can't go wrong with a title signed by Firaxis and famous videogame designer Sid Meier.

Pacific Skies offers more of the amazing turn-based tactical maneuvering and strategy which has made Ace Patrol such a huge hit. Unlike the World War I-themed original, the successor is set it the World War II Pacific arenas and includes iconic missions such as Pearl Harbor, Midway and Guadalcanal...

Vodafone store evacuated after demo iPad bursts into flames

Cody Lee ∙ November 8, 2013

A Vodafone retail store in Canberra, Australia was forced to evacuate earlier this week after an iPad demo unit burst into flames, according to News.com.au. While no one was injured, the news outlet says that the "explosion" was large enough that the city's firebrigade was called to the scene....

Boost Mobile lands iPhone 5s/5c, $200 off for new customers through November 24

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

I reported on October 21 that Sprint's prepaid brand, Boost Mobile, was gearing up to launch the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c real soon. The significant development would mark the first time in Boost's history it offered the iconic smartphone. Cody followed up with another write-up stating that Boost could sell the handsets at $100 in retail.

Today, the carrier has begun carrying the new iPhones contract-free. The unsubsidized devices start out online at just $449 for the 16GB iPhone 5c model and $549 for the entry-level iPhone 5s, each a cool $100 saving over Apple's regular price points. But if you're switching from another carrier, you can claim an additional $100 discount...

Gogo’s inflight Wi-Fi now lets you send and receive texts and phone calls in the air

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

In-flight Wi-Fi provider Gogo is rolling out a new feature that will appeal to busy travelers who've always hated not being able to send or receive text messages and phone calls while spending a couple hours in the air. This is now possible, and using your own phone number, too.

Gogo's new Talk & Text solution does not require that airlines retrofit their aircraft with additional equipment, but you clearly can't just use stock Messages or Phone app as the cellular signal is non-existent 30,000 feet in the air.

Gogo instead requires you to use their new Gogo Text & Talk iPhone app (coming soon to Android) to send and receive text messages and phone calls via Gogo's in-flight Wi-Fi networks. The software also lets you use your the iOS address book and check your voicemail...

Samsung barred from proactive use of Apple-HTC deal in litigation

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

In spite of the massive coverage concerning the high-profile Apple vs. Samsung trial, it's easily overlooked that Apple first went thermonuclear on Android by suing HTC. Following the rise of Samsung and subsequent decline of the Taiwanese handset maker, Apple and HTC in November 2012 announced a global settlement on patent litigation.

Terms of the deal have never been made public, but we do know the two sides agreed to a ten-year cross-licensing for all current and future patents and I guesstimated the deal's value to at least $3 billion.

Yesterday, Judge Lucy Koh issued an order granting Apple's motion to exclude last year's Apple-HTC settlement and license agreement at the pending Apple vs. Samsung retrial. The ruling conditionally bars Samsung from pointing the jury to the Apple-HTC settlement deal...

Screen burn-ins apparently causing delayed Retina iPad mini launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 8, 2013

Apple's web page advertises the new iPad mini with Retina display as coming in late November. In Apple's parlance, that's probably November 29, a Friday. Apple's penchant for making new products available shortly following the announcement was not on display at the October 22 media event as the company said the new iPad mini would not launch alongside the iPad Air.

We already heard that Apple was looking to both LG Display and Samsung as the primary iPad mini screen supplier Sharp has been experiencing issues producing high-resolution 7.9-inch IGZO panels, causing limited supplies at launch. A new report alleges Sharp's LCD panels are actually suffering from burn-in problems, prompting Apple once again to seek help from arch-rival Samsung...

The harsh realities of getting a job in Apple’s supply chain

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 7, 2013

Current CEO Tim Cook under Steve Jobs used to run Apple's vast network of suppliers and contract manufacturers and has largely been credited with turning the company into a well-oiled money-printing machine. But making sure trains run on time involves the incredible complexities associated with hiring tens of thousands of workers - and fast, too - who tediously assemble iPhones and iPads in factories located in China and Taiwan.

Apple and its manufacturing partners have been taking a lot of heat over worker treatment in these sweatshops so the iPhone maker eventually started tracking the work hours of 1+ million supply chain workers and took other proactive measures to ensure fair hiring.

But now, another issue is making headlines: the inhumane treatment of would-be employees by employment brokers who take high advance fees from workers and their families, contrary to Apple's rules. Read on...

Google Drive refreshed with multi-accounts, single sign-on and wireless printing

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

In terms of feature additions, it's been a quiet period for the Google Drive iOS app after a major visual makeover two months ago brought the software in line with its Android counterpart. But the team hasn't been standing still. In a small but sweet update Thursday, the app has finally gained a much requested new feature - support for multiple Google Accounts - as well as the ability to print your documents wirelessly via either Apple's AirPrint or Google's Cloud Print protocol.

Jump past the fold for additional tidbits...

Apple’s Bluetooth hotspot patent points to iWatch

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 7, 2013

The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) on Thursday published an interesting Apple patent that has iWatch written all over it. The filing titled 'Network access using short-range connectability' describes a low-power wireless hotspot functionality via Bluetooth 4.0 that basically provides network connectivity akin to the iOS Wi-Fi hotspot feature, but without draining the battery as much.

By relying on the Bluetooth 4.0 low-energy protocol, also known as Bluetooth LE or Bluetooth Smart, such a wireless hotspot is a fit for a device like the rumored Apple smartwatch, which must be super power-efficient. Another benefit of using the Bluetooth LE-enabled hotspot is that your iPhone can instantly wake up the host device...

GT Advanced’s 2014 revenue to grow 15x thanks to sapphire deal with Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

As officially confirmed earlier this week, Apple has teamed up with smartphone cover glass maker GT Advanced in a $578 million multi-year deal which gives the iPhone maker steady supply of sapphire glass, a crystalline form of aluminum oxide hailed for its unmatched scratch resistance and hardness second only to diamond.

GT will be investing big money in large capacity furnaces to forge the precious gemstone on an industrial scale at Apple's upcoming eco-friendly, 700-employee facility in Mesa, Arizona. Although the deal is subject to “certain exclusivity terms” and GT expects "substantially lower" gross margins, it's of strategic nature and will be cash positive to GT.

By some estimates, GT's revenue next year could experience an unheard-of 15x increase based on the Apple contract alone...