Apple

iPads and iPods reportedly coming to Staples online store next Tuesday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

In another sweeping showing of Tim Cook's operational expertise and penchant for cutting deals, Apple is now rumored to be expanding the iPad's reach soon by bringing the device to the United States office supply retail chain, Staples. Talk of Staples gearing up to sell iPhones, iPads and Macs dates back to early-March of this year.

That's when MacRumors leaked internal training documents which indicated that at least some Staples locations would start selling a broader range of Apple products, including Macs, iPads and iPhones.

A new report Thursday has now asserted that several iPad and iPod models will be offered through the Staples Online Store in the United States...

Netflix Super HD streaming now available everywhere, including on Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

If you're wondering why Netflix would label standard full HD 1080p video resolution as 'Super HD', that's because Super HD applies less compression to the 1080p image for greater clarity.

Now, Super HD video requires more data so it isn'y surprising that not many Internet providers were on board after Netflix soft-launched Super HD and 3D streaming in January 2012.

As of today, Super HD video streaming is available everywhere, regardless of your Internet service provider (but dependent on network conditions). Jump past the fold for the full breakdown...

Apple has raised $65 million for (Product) RED charity

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple has raised more than $65 million for the (Product) RED organization—a charity spearheaded by U2 frontman Bono that aims to fight preventable and treatable diseases like AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

(Product) RED is unique, in that it raises money by licensing out its brand to partners like Nike and Starbucks, in return for a percentage of their sales. Apple, for its part, has been selling RED products since 2006...

Apple’s iCloud status page now monitors iOS Device Activation servers

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2013

This summer, Apple's device activation servers folded under heavy load (or perhaps server issues unbeknown to us) in at least two instances, first in July and again in the following month. It's not a problem until it's a problem - there's nothing worse than wiping your device clean or restoring it from a backup only to be greeted with the dreaded “Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable” message.

At that point, there's nothing one can do but wait until iTunes activation servers come back online, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours - even days in extreme circumstances. To help avoid loss of productivity due to bricked devices, Apple has now added a new iOS Device Activation entry to its iCloud status web page...

Leaked vid purports to show iPad 5 Smart Covers

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 22, 2017

It's been a while since we heard anything newsworthy concerning Apple's upcoming fifth-generation iPad, apart from a supposed Space Grey backplate from yesterday. YouTube user Unbox Therapy today posted a video which allegedly shows off Smart Covers for the iPad 5 in a bunch of vivid colors.

It looks pretty legit and while I can't vouch for its veracity, I've decided to post it here for the sake of discussion. There are a few noteworthy observations to be gleaned from watching the clip so check it out after the break and meet us in comments...

Google Search app gaining Reminders, ‘OK Google’ activation, push notifications and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2013

Google today invited a bunch of reporters to a garage where the Internet giant started it all, a convenient setting given Google Search turns fifteen tomorrow.

The company's SVP of Search Amit Singhal let us in on some notable updates concerning the mobile Search app for iOS and Android. For starters, the new version sports a refreshed user interface and such enhancements like new comparison filters.

More importantly, the iOS app will gain push notifications for reminders that will pop up on your screen when due. You'll be also able to use the 'OK Google' phrase for hands-free Google Search access on your iOS devices, the company said, and more...

Japan court rules Apple’s click wheel infringes patent

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple must pay a Japanese inventor Y300 million (about $3 million USD) for patent infringement involving the iPod's Click Wheel, a court ordered Thursday. The inventor had asked for Y10 billion, but received far less from the court. The provisional ruling, based on sales dating back to 2004, ends a legal dispute which began in 2007...

Apple releases iOS 7.0.2 fixing Lock screen security vulnerability

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2013

Apple has just released iOS 7.0.2 (build 11A501) as an over-the-air update for the supported iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices.

Release notes for the software indicate the firmware update fixed bugs that could let nefarious users bypass your Lock screen passcode.

As recently detailed by YouTube user Jose Rodriguez, the security vulnerability involves a series of complex taps on the iOS Lock screen to gain access to a bunch of stock apps containing personal data like photos, email, text messages, Facebook and Twitter accounts and much more...

Apple TV updated with Major League Soccer and Disney Junior channels

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

It's incredible how different the Apple TV's main menu looks compared to a year ago. There's so many more channels. Just in the last 6 months Apple has added a ton of content including WatchESPN, SkyNews, and more.

And it's not showing any signs of slowing down. Earlier this morning the Cupertino company added two new content channels to the popular set-top box in an over-the-air update: Major League Soccer and Disney Junior...

iOS 7 motion sickness is real. What’s Apple going to do about it?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

In pitching iOS 7, Apple makes note of the fact that the revamped mobile operating system relies on "cinematic animations" and "new approaches to animation and motion to make even the simplest tasks more engaging". Most would agree with the sentiment, but not a number of people with certain conditions who've flocked to Apple's Support forums to complain how iOS 7 makes their life difficult.

Motion sickness stems from iOS 7's heavy focus on parallax and zooming effects. Regardless of where you stand, it's a very real problem. Now, Apple does provide a very limited control in Settings to somewhat reduce motion in iOS 7, but people demand the firm take a more proactive approach and design granular controls to help alleviate motion sickness...

Chitika: iOS 7 responsible for over half of iOS web traffic in just first week

Ed Sutherland ∙ September 26, 2013

The beat goes on for Apple's iOS 7. The latest: in just a week the new mobile operating system now represents 52 percent of all online iDevice traffic, according to one Internet measurement firm. Indeed, in just 24 hours following its September 18 release, the new software for the iPhone, iPad and some iPods accounted for just over 18 percent of Apple's web traffic, reports ad network Chitika.

By comparison, Apple's previous iOS 6 required three days to top thirty percent of web traffic and not until February of 2013 did it attain 83 percent of online activity. Why has iOS 7 taken the tech world by storm, just yesterday being crowned the most user friendly mobile operating system?...