Apple

New Galaxy Gear ads attempt to make the case for smartwatches

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 7, 2013

Samsung may have beaten Apple to the smartwatch punch, but poor reviews across the board have quickly dampened consumer enthusiasm for the $299 product. ArsTechnica, for example, noted the device "has sacrificed substance for the sake of timing". That's not stopping Samsung from advertising the Galaxy Gear as its next big thing, however.

Three Gear television commercials attempt to educate consumers on the benefits of using the product, with one particular ad seemingly drawing inspiration from Apple's iPhone teaser spot aired during the Oscars in 2007, have a look below...

Apple could pocket $1 billion in iWatch profits during first year of availability

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Despite there being no product nor confirmation from Apple that it will offer one, a high-profile Apple analyst is estimating the iPhone maker could sell between five and ten million iWatch units in the first year. According to Piper Jaffray Gene Munster's survey of 799 U.S. consumers, some twelve percent of U.S. iPhone owners said they might pay $350 on Apple's watch, if it materializes.

The survey follows Samsung's attempt to beat Apple to the smartphone punch, introducing its $299 Galaxy Gear in advertisements. For Apple, the iWatch lives only in patents filed and registered trademarks. Munster, of the 'Apple TV is just around the corner' fame, follows another analyst who believes the iWatch could be an even bigger hit...

Skype receives its iOS 7 makeover

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 7, 2013

You can blame Microsoft-owned Skype for missing the train on stickers, games and other popular messaging features (sans video messages), but the application still stands out as the most popular VoIP software in use to this date. Skype wasn't among the list of third-party apps that were immediately updated with the new design following the September 18 iOS 7 release, so today both the iPhone and iPad clients have finally received a nice little refresh bringing the iOS 7 look and feel along with a few minor enhancements...

iPhone gaining over Android in US, two-thirds of iOS users on Apple Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 7, 2013

Breaking all of the preconceived notions about the cyclicality of the iPhone, a new survey shows Apple's iOS gaining on Google's Android and the embattled BlackBerry during a three-month period ended August 2013. The iPhone gained 1.3 percentage points ranking as the top smartphone vendor in the United States with a cool 40.7 percent share of the nation's smartphone subscribers.

Although Google's Android led with a dominating 51.6 percent share, its slice of the smartphone platform market actually shrank by 0.8 percentage points. What's really interesting about Apple's growth is that iOS outsold Android without the new iPhones. The full breakdown is after the break...

Job listing suggests iTunes Radio is headed to Canada soon

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Folks in Canada will be happy to hear that iTunes Radio may soon be landing in the country. A new job listing on Apple's website calls for a 'iTunes Canada Music Programmer,' who will be responsible for rolling out the music service.

Apple launched iTunes Radio last month alongside the redesigned iOS 7, and thus far it's only been available in the US. But if this job listing is any indication, the company could soon be rolling out the music service to more countries...

Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall could testify in Samsung damages trial

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Since Apple announced his exodus last fall, we've seen and heard very little from Scott Forstall. Actually, we haven't seen him at all, and the only time we've heard his name mentioned has been in skeuomorphic jokes.

But that could change next month. According to a new report, Mr. Forstall could finally be forced out of hiding to appear as a witness alongside Phil Schiller in a partial damages retrial between Apple and Samsung...

Apple plans 100 stand-alone stores in India, including store-in-store locations in small cities

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 4, 2013

Apple has told India's top retailers it plans to open 100 locations in India during this fiscal year. The meeting Monday was held by Apple's top India executives who have tripled the iPhone maker's team targeting the burgeoning smartphone market.

The plans outlined include entering the top 50 markets in India, selling phones, tablets and other branded gear. The report, from the Economic Times, follows a news earlier this year that Apple wants to increase three-fold its number of India franchise stores to 200, up from 65...

Apple adds new ‘Tips and Tricks’ section to iPhone pages

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

Apple has updated its website today, adding new 'Tips and Tricks' sections to its iPhone pages. The new sections offer iPhone users a handy guide to various features in iOS 7, and on late-model iPhones.

It looks like Apple has added a guide to its iPhone 4s, 5c and 5s marketing pages, showing users how to use apps like FaceTime, Maps, Siri, Find My iPhone, Music, Mail, Safari, AirPlay and Settings...

iPhone 5s is top-seller in the US with iPhone 5c close behind

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 4, 2013

Apple's new iPhone 5s became the top-selling smartphone in the US during September. New numbers show the 5s and 5c were among the top three smartphones sold by all four major domestic carriers.

Helped along by record sales, the iPhone 5s also replaced Samsung's Galaxy S4 as the best-selling smartphone among AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, according to Canaccord Genuity Friday...

Apple engineer recounts events leading up to the original iPhone unveiling

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Fred Vogelstein has published an interesting article in The New York Times today entitled "And Then Steve Said, ‘Let There Be an iPhone.’" The lengthy piece offers up a detailed look at the events that lead up to the original iPhone unveiling.

More specifically, Vogelstein's profile paints a picture of what the atmosphere at Apple was like leading up to Steve Jobs' big keynote, with anecdotes from Andy Grignon, who was in charge of the original iPhone's radios, and other employees...

Apple officially appeals ruling in ebook pricing case

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple has officially filed its appeal in the ebook price-fixing case, according to a new report from GigaOM. The Cupertino company hopes to overturn Judge Denise Cote's 'guilty' verdict handed down this summer.

On July 10, Judge Cote ruled that Apple conspired with 5 major book publishers to eliminate retail price competition in an effort to raise e-book prices. But the company, of course, flatly denies the allegations...

Meet voice actress Susan Bennett, the original voice of Siri

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

The mystique of Siri, Apple's "personal assistant" for iOS, has been the mysterious female voice. Able to speak directions to your favorite pizza parlor as well as carry on witty banter with celebrities, finding the voice behind your iPhone has become the holy grail for love-struck geeks everywhere. Now comes a middle-aged Atlanta mom who claims she's the original voice behind Siri, providing a peak behind the world of talking machines.

Susan Bennett, a mom from Sandy Springs, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta, never wanted the spotlight. Her voice has been used to give life to machines ranging from the an ATM to a voice announcing directions inside the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport. Now she is speaking out about her role as the most famous unknown voice heard by millions of people...