Apple

OpenTable testing meal payments via iPhone

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 2, 2013

While increasingly common to use your iPhone to reserve a seat at your favorite table, there has been that annoying task of paying the tab at the end of the meal. A leading player in online reservations, OpenTable, is testing a way to eat out and never touch your wallet.

According to reports, OpenTable - which also lets you reserve a table via Apple's Siri as well as a separate free app - has begun testing a feature allowing diners to pay for their meals with the iPhone. Perhaps most appetizing is the CEO's pledge that "no geeky stuff" is required...

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Purported next-gen iPad mini backplate shows no design change

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Yesterday, we passed along a set of images depicting a backplate part the rumor-mill adamantly insists to be the rear case of Apple's upcoming fifth-generation full-size iPad. The same publication which provided those high-quality shots is back at it again, having published on Friday another batch of photographs, this time around showing off a smaller backplate in silver and made from aluminum, ostensibly for the upcoming second-generation iPad mini...

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Apple only considering outside candidates for new SVP of Retail

Cody Lee ∙ August 1, 2013

During its major executive shakeup last fall, Apple announced that its newly-hired SVP of Retail John Browett would be leaving the company. The move wasn't surprising, as Browett had come under heavy fire from the media following drastic retail strategy changes.

What is surprising, though, is that here we are, almost a year later, and Apple hasn't filled the job yet. But a new report from The Wall Street Journal this afternoon helps shine some light on the situation, saying the company just simply hasn't found the right fit yet...

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ITC delays Samsung sales ban ruling until August 9

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 1, 2013

Earlier in March, The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) found Galaxy maker Samsung guilty of violating four Apple patents, among them a text-selection feature in its smartphones and tablets. The trade body was supposed to hand down the decision today on a possible sales ban on the Samsung devices in violation of Apple's patents.

The ruling has now been delayed until Friday, August 9 - the same day Apple and Samsung are due to present oral arguments pertaining to the landmark August 2012 Apple v. Samsung trial that found Samsung guilty of violating Apple's patented iPhone technology...

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Micron buys Apple’s memory supplier Elpida

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Micron Technology on Thursday informed investors it has completed its $2 billion acquisition of Elpida Memory, the third-largest maker of dynamic random access memory chips (DRAM) and an important Apple supplier. The rumored move was expected given Elpida's been struggling for some time amid heightening competition with SK Hynix and Samsung.

The struggling Japanese chip maker last summer filed for bankruptcy and has since been in talks to sell its business to U.S.-based Micron Technology Corp. Apple placed a huge order with Elpida ahead of the iPhone 5 production, indicating desire to maintain its bargaining power by keeping the memory maker running.

Elpida's memory products power Apple's latest iPhones and iPads and are also found inside Google's Nexus 7 and other non-Apple gadgets...

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Another alleged iPad 5 rear case emerges

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

By all accounts, a fifth-generation iPad with iPad mini style design and skinnier side bezels should be coming this Fall.

We've already seen suspicious looking images that allegedly depict the device's rear shell, as well as a few front parts.

Courtesy of the tech blog FanaticFone.com, we are now being offered new shots of the purported iPad 5 aluminum rear case which has all the holes in the right places, with closeups suggesting the premium Unibody fit and finish...

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Apple’s stock had a nice little July, but why?

Cody Lee ∙ August 1, 2013

At the time of this writing, Apple's stock is hovering around $456 per share. While that's still painfully lower than its peak of $702 back in September of last year, it's a major improvement over the $398 per share low it hit last month. So what happened?

The truth is, APPL had a nice little July. After starting the month at $405, the stock spiked around the 23rd—the day it announced its 'disappointing' Q3 earnings—and has been on the rise since. But why? Are investors gaining confidence in Apple again?

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Apple warns ex MobileMe users of September 30 iCloud storage downgrade

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 1, 2013

Apple's troubled MobileMe online services suite was officially shut down on this day a year ago. Following the iCloud announcement back in the summer of 2011, Apple originally told MobileMe users they could keep their current storage, in addition to the five free gigabytes of iCloud storage to help with the transition.

As the August 1, 2012 deadline was approaching, Apple had changed its mind and extended MobileMe users' complimentary iCloud storage upgrade to another year. As that plan is now set to expire on September 30, the iPhone maker has started emailing former MobileMe account holders to inform them of the impending iCloud storage downgrade...

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AT&T tops Verizon in customer satisfaction, Santa and Tooth Fairy rejoice

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Although AT&T was the first U.S. carrier that sold the iPhone when Apple introduced the smartphone in 2007, Verizon Wireless quickly overshadowed the telecom giant. For the first time, AT&T has stolen the spotlight back, outranking rival Verizon in customer service satisfaction.

No, hell did not freeze over. And, yes, this is the AT&T that late last year was voted having the worst voice and data service, had all the tethering issues and is constantly sniping with about everyone...

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Apple patents OLED embedded sensors to improve iPhone display

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 1, 2013

OLED is all the rage in display technology (just ask Samsung). By emitting their own light, they serve the purpose of a LCD screen while permitting thinner, lighter devices. Naturally, Apple would be interested in such technology.

However, a new patent filed by Apple suggests the iPhone maker wants to tackle a couple issues with OLEDs, namely light-sensitivity and the persistence of images, which might fade over time.

In a patent application published Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple's technology is entitled 'Organic light diode having photodiodes'. Using sensors arrayed alongside the OLEDs, Apple's invention hopes to save battery life while offering a number of other benefits...

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In celebration of the series’ fourth anniversary, Minigore 2: Zombies goes free

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 1, 2013

I reviewed the original Minigore for iPhone over at Geek.com three and a half years ago. Developed by the Finnish developer Mountain Sheep and put forth by the red hot UK publisher Chillingo, this dual-stick survival shooter with furries won me over with its rich visuals (especially with objects skewing slightly in 3D as they come in and out of the screen), unapologetic shooting and unsettling fantasy environments that include strange woods, mysterious mushroom and much more.

Four years and countless updates later, the magic is still alive. In fact, Minigore has kept up pace with technology and now looks just as cutting-edge on the latest hardware as it did back in 2009 on the iPhone  3GS. If you passed on the game, you can now download Minigore 2: Zombies free for a limited time, part of its fourth anniversary celebration...

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