Apple

128GB iPhone apparently surfaces in German retailer’s system

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2013

It was yesterday that the reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo called for a new iPhone model sporting a whopping 128 gigabytes of built-in storage - twice as much as today's high-end 64GB iPhone 5 - and already a brand new SKU (Stock-Keeping Unit) reference has been spotted in a German retailer's sales system.

Though we can't vouch for the genuinity of the included screenshot, it looks legit seemingly depicting the retail system of Media Markt, a German chain of stores selling consumer electronics with numerous branches throughout Europe and Asia...

Apple files patent to prevent broken headphone connectors and iDevice damage

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 16, 2013

Yet more encouraging news that Apple is designing its devices for users, rather than engineers. The original designs of headphone connectors were brittle, permitting headphones to be inserted and removed at perfect right angles. However an Apple patent application published Thursday outlines flexible headphone connectors.

In other words, you'll likely be able to wrap plugged-in headphones around your favorite iDevice without harming the hardware. The invention doesn't come too soon - the headphone jack is seen as the one roadblock to creating thinner, more svelte iPhones...

Flurry: moms use iPads, singles use iPhones

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 25, 2018

Some interesting research is out, indicating that some iOS users tend toward the iPhone, while others are more likely tapping away at the iPad. While mobile advertising analytics firm Flurry gathered the data to help companies better target their apps and ads, the findings are intriguing for us all.

Of the various 'personas' tracked, so-called 'Value Shoppers' (those bargain-hunting souls) are most strongly attached to their iPhones, while 'Pet Owners' prefer the iPad. Overall, 72 percent of iOS owners tend to use the iPhone most, while the iPad garners 28 percent of the mobile iDevice users...

Turn in your old iPhone and iPad for Walmart credit

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 16, 2013

Retail giant Walmart is putting its own spin on the growing trend toward trade-ins. Ahead of the expected September 10 unveiling of Apple's next smartphone, the retailer is offering credit toward in-store purchases.

The 'Gadgets to Gift Cards' program lets you trade your iPhone or iPad in for a quick gift card for Walmart products either in-store or online. However, unlike strictly cash for your iPhone, the retailer is essentially turning your gadgets into grocery money by offering you a line of credit, bringing some reservations to the offer...

Apple beefs up hiring in China

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2013

Heightened competition coming from both Western and local makers of inexpensive Android handsets coupled with lack of new product announcements and state-run media increasingly blasting Apple while favoring domestic companies have all added up to market share losses and a fourteen percent drop in revenue in what Tim Cook often refers to as Apple's "most important market" that is China.

Realizing it is losing ground in the massive 1.33 billion people market due to politics and competition, Apple has apparently responded by beefing up hiring in China, the Wall Street Journal has learned. Among the positions Apple seeks to fill: an environmental affairs program manager, a security specialist and a store specialist...

Apple could still be planning TV product announcement for this year

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

It seems that with all of the iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C and iPad 5 chatter over the last few months, that talk of a new Apple TV-related product has faded into the background. The last TV-related rumor we heard said it was going to be late 2014 before we saw anything.

But that may not be true, according to Apple insider MG Siegler. During an appearance on John Gruber's Talk Show podcast this week, the Apple blogger-turned-VC commented that he's heard some chatter of Apple making a significant push into television this fall...

Judge tosses App Store monopoly suit

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2013

Back in 2011, a suit was leveled against Apple of California, alleging its tight control of the App Store and the way it handles third-party software distribution for the iPhone constitutes a monopoly. The plaintiffs charged consumers can only get apps only from the App Store due to Apple's decision to shut out thrid-party app stores on its platform.

Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, dismissed the suit over a procedural blunder. The plaintiffs, the ruling explains, have failed to prove they've been “deprived of lower cost alternatives" or "paid higher prices for Apple-approved applications", or had their iPhones "disabled or destroyed"...

Apple seeds iOS 7 beta 6 with fix for iTunes in the Cloud issue

Cody Lee ∙ August 15, 2013

Apple has unexpectedly seeded iOS 7 beta 6 to developers this afternoon, breaking its typical two-week cycle. The update comes just a little more than week after beta 5 landed, and appears to be an emergency fix-related release.

Beta 6 is available now to all registered Apple developers via both the Dev Center and OTA, which can be installed by visiting the Software Update section in the Settings app of proper devices that currently have iOS 7 installed…

China’s Meizu to unleash its next-gen iPhone clone on September 2

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2013

China’s handset maker Meizu has made a name for itself by mimicking Apple aesthetics with its inexpensive yet nicely spec'd MX handsets.

With local brands such as Huawei, ZTE and Xiaomi halving Apple's market share in the important 1.33 billion people market, Meizu is hoping to steal spotlight from Apple's upcoming September 10 iPhone event by scheduling a major media event of its own on September 2.

The company is apparently gearing up to introduce the third-generation MX handset, the MX3. If a series of leaked press shots and the 'Think Big' tagline are anything to go by, the phablet will be a crossover between HTC's One V and Apple's iPhone. And as per usual, Meizu shouldn't disappoint in the hardware and design departments...

Apple on a hiring spree for Taiwan’s upcoming R&D center

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2013

Earlier in the month, VR-Zone learned Apple was looking to establish a research and development (R&D) center in Taiwan where talented engineers will be working on the next-generation of iPhone product development, reporting directly to Apple’s headquarters in California.

DigiTimes today expands on the story, reporting the company is now actively recruiting engineers to fill a bunch of various roles, including packaging, quality control, hardware and software. Apple's recruiting efforts are said to have already attracted the attention of many IT engineers in Taiwan...

Apple’s Matcha purchase believed to be over its content recommendation algorithms

Cody Lee ∙ August 15, 2013

Earlier this week, news broke that Apple had purchased a small video discovery startup called Matcha. At one time, the service helped users find interesting TV shows and Movies based on their preferences, but it mysteriously went offline back in May.

While we found out on Tuesday why it disappeared, that's about all we knew about the acquisition. But a report from TechCrunch today shines some new light on the deal, citing sources that say Apple was after Matcha's recommendation algorithms...