Apple

Screenies of WhatsApp iOS 7 update leak

As WhatsApp continues to shrug off competition from not only Viber, but also Apple's iMessage, Microsoft's Skype and even Google's Hangouts, the instant messaging space continues to burst with activity.

However, WhatsApp - arguably the most popular cross-platform instant messaging solution - has yet to update its iPhone client with iOS 7 look and feel.

Even though we don't know when that update might drop, we have a pretty good idea of how the iOS 7-inspired application might look like thanks to iOS developer @HackiPhone who tweeted out a couple of work-in-progress screenies...

Apple starts work on iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 Syrah

Apple is fast-tracking OS X Mavericks, a tenth major update to its desktop operating system for Macs. Four days ago, the software reached a Golden Master status indicating it's now reached the stage where it's good enough to be distributed and installed on everyday computers. The company has also reshuffled its software teams to focus on its next major releases, iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 code-named Syrah after a dark-skinned grape grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce red wine...

Bloomberg: iTunes Radio heading to UK, Canada and more in early 2014

Bloomberg is reporting this evening that it has learned Apple is working to rollout iTunes Radio to the UK, Canada and other countries by early 2014. The music service, which launched last month, is currently only available in the US.

Citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the outlet says that Apple has acquired the necessary licenses from labels to take its service international next year—likely beating Pandora and other competitors to several countries...

Apple to announce Q4 earnings on October 28

Apple is set to announce earnings for its fiscal 2013 fourth quarter (translating to the third calendar quarter) on Monday, October 28, according to today's note on the Apple Investor web page.

The conference call with investors is scheduled at 2pm Pacific / 5pm Eastern, after the markets close.

Eagle-eyed watchers will be keeping an eye on newswire services as Apple usually posts a media release announcing key quarterly metrics just after 1:30pm Pacific / 4:30pm Eastern...

After meeting with Apple suppliers, analyst predicts 4.8-inch iPhone 6

Though we're just a few weeks removed from the iPhone 5s launch, rumors of Apple's next-generation handset are already starting to pile up. At least thus far they've been fairly consistent: the display is going to get a size bump.

And that's what Jeffries analyst Peter Misek is predicting too, after returning from a meeting last week with Apple's Asian suppliers. Misek issued a note to investors this afternoon calling for an 'iPhone 6' with a 4.8-inch display...

This beautiful coffee table book showcases Apple’s industrial design prowess

Much ink has been spilt about Apple's industrial design skills and the polarizing look and feel of its unapologetically sexy gadgets. Jonathan Zufi's photographic shrine of Apple's design work is taking it all to the next level. The 42-year-old Australian native has managed to put together a massive 326-page coffee table sized book containing detailed photographs he's meticulously taken over the years.

It showcases Apple products and their packaging from the designer's point of view, unlike any Apple book you've ever held in your hands. This has got to be the most original and detailed tribute to Apple's design prowess I have seen to date, check it out right past the fold...

Netflix promises fix for HDMI AV adapter issue

Netflix last week refreshed its iOS app with much-needed AirPlay support allowing subscribers to beam TV shows and movies to their living room television set through the Apple TV set-top box.

Unfortunately, the updated application has also introduced a nasty bug preventing the app to connect to the big screen via Apple's HDMI AV adapter.

Disgruntled users took to Twitter and some even accused Apple and Netflix of joining forces to intentionally cripple the feature, presumably in order to push folks into buying an Apple TV to take advantage of AirPlay. This is unfounded talk as Netflix on Monday promised a fix for the issue it claims is affecting a "small percentage" of customers...

Classic Amiga games officially headed to iOS 7 with full controller support

This is the announcement I've been waiting for like forever, or at least ever since the original iPhone came out more than six years ago. See, Commodore's Amiga with its then amazing graphics has brought home computing to the masses.

The golden age of video games predates digital interactive entertainment we take for granted nowadays and goes way back thirty years to the mid-1980s. Me and my friends, just a bunch of kids back then, had the privilege to witness the revolution unfolding itself before our very eyes. You could easily imagine us spending countless hours playing "console-grade" Amiga games distributed on 3.5-inch floppy disks.

The App Store has certainly seen a few re-releases of classic Amiga games such as Another World, Transport Tycoon and Worms. Today, Writers' Group Film Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Amiga Games announced that classic Amiga titles will be hitting the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices soon, with full iOS 7 physical controller support...

Beats Music launching on iOS in a few months

You can put Beats Music on your ever-expanding list of streaming music service as its CEO Luke Wood confirms to The Next Web that the company will enter the highly-competitive space in the United States "within the next few months".

Based on its July 2012 $14 million acquisition of another music streaming service, MOG, Beats Music will focus on human-curated playlists compiled around a particular artist, activity or the general mood of the listener.

You may have heard this tune before so we have more tidbits right after the break...

NTT DoCoMo hurt by iPhone wait, iPhone 5c too pricey for India’s prepaid market

Did Japan's largest carrier wait too long to offer the iPhone? That's the impression after NTT DoCoMo lost a record 66,800 net users in September, dropping its market share to 46 percent. By comparison, KDDI and SoftBank, which sold iPhones soon after its 2007 introduction, gained ground adding 270,700 and 237,700 users respectively.

DoCoMo blamed customer loss on inventory shortages and consumers who waited until Apple's iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c September 20 sale date. Hoping to regain some momentum, the nation's largest carrier announced opening online sales of the iPhone 5s to all customers. Meanwhile, in India things have gotten a little tricky for Apple's $100 cheaper colorful iPhone 5c...

The never-ending worry about Apple’s future is a good thing for the company

Jean-Louis Gassée reflects on Apple and the negative press the company has been receiving, despite having products that constantly top customer ratings and sell like hot cakes:

I recently experienced a small epiphany: I think the never-ending worry about Apple’s future is a good thing for the company. Look at what happened to those who were on top and became comfortable with their place under the sun: Palm, Blackberry, Nokia…

In ancient Rome, victorious generals marched in triumph to the Capitol. Lest the occasion go to the army commander’s head, a slave would march behind the victor, murmuring in his ear, memento mori, “remember you’re mortal”.

Apple off the hook as SEC ends tax probe

After spending the summer in the hot seat over its tax strategy, Apple has received the all-clear sign from federal regulators. In a September letter, Securities and Exchange Commission investigators who'd been looking into Apple's finances gave the iPhone maker some good news, saying the agency plans to take no action at this time.

In May, Apple CEO Tim Cook testified before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, telling members his company pays all taxes it owes. Like the subcommittee, the SEC apparently found no wrongdoing on Apple's part...