Apple

Samsung wants to settle EU antitrust case over Apple to sidestep $17.5B fine

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2013

The European Union six months ago launched a formal investigation into a potential breach of EU antitrust rules by Samsung. The antitrust investigation focused on the South Korean conglomerate's handling of industry-essential patents that EU regulators insist should be licensed to others on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms (FRAND).

The investigation determined that Samsung was abusing its patent portfolio by seeking high royalties it knew didn't make business sense, just so it could later assert those patents against rivals such as Apple. ”Samsung has been involved in settlement discussions for several months now," an unnamed source told Reuters on Tuesday. "Samsung wants to settle”...

iOS 7 Beta 2 enables HDR photography on iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2013

As Cody mentioned yesterday, iPad support is among the headline changes the newly-released iOS 7 Beta 2 has brought to the table. Jeff did a nice video tour of iOS 7 running on an iPad, highlighting key features such as Control Center, Notification Center, App Switcher, Photo Booth and more. In addition to these, the iPad versions of iOS 7 also enables High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, an advanced imaging technique previously available only on iPhones and iPod touches...

All American Airlines flights now with iPads aboard

Ed Sutherland ∙ June 25, 2013

American Airlines is now using Apple's iPad in all its flights, the tablet replacing millions of pages and pounds of documents pilots previously had to carry into the cockpit. In a Monday announcement, the airline said switching to the tablet will save the company more than $1 million in fuel costs every year.

American pilots flying the Boeing 777, 767, 757, 737 as well as the MD-80 will use the iPads equipped with the Jeppesen Mobile Terminal Chart app for controlling gate-to-gate flight controls. The announcement follows American becoming in 2012 the first airline to receive FAA approval for tablets in the cockpit...

Apple contacting iTunes users with details on in-app purchase settlement

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 23, 2017

Apple began sending out emails to some iTunes users this weekend, informing them of how the approximately 23 million people that are a part of the in-app purchases class-action lawsuit can apply for compensation.

The settlement, which will cost Apple in excess of $100 million, stems from a class action lawsuit filed against Apple by parents who complained that it was far too easy for their children to make in-app purchases...

If history is any indication, iOS 7 Beta 2 could drop today

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 24, 2013

It's been two weeks since Apple released the first beta of iOS 7 to its registered developers. A lot has been written about it and way more ink will be spent as subsequent betas get released and thoroughly tested before iOS 7 is eventually ready for prime time this Fall. If history is anything to go by and if you trust reliable sources in the know, today is the day iOS 7 Beta 2 arrives.

If iDB is part of your daily routine, you should be among the first to know when a new beta hits Apple's servers. Also, count on our resident team to take a closer look at the new beta and report back about everything there is to know about feature changes.

Stay tuned...

Additional iPhone 5S spyshots suggest all-new A7 chip

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

MacRumors last week shared a genuinely-looking photograph believed to picture the back of the iPhone 5S. Virtually identical to the current iPhone 5, the image did tell us that Apple's upcoming S-upgrade will sport dual-LED flash for better low-light photos, especially coupled with a rumored twelve-megapixel camera. Today, the publication posted a new high-resolution photo suggesting that the upcoming iPhone revision could run a brand new A7 chip rather than a variant of the existing A6 silicon powering Apple's latest-generation iPhone and iPad...

Infinity Blade II is just a buck until end of June

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Infinity Blade, an elegiac masterpiece, is still one of the best-looking iPhone and iPad games. So-called system seller, everyone should have this iOS exclusive on their Home screen. If you were mesmerized by how gorgeously smooth Infinity Blade looks (and still shines to this date, courtesy of Unreal engine) but didn't take the plunge due to its high price, don't miss out on this rare discount and pick up Infinity Blade II for just 99 cents, way down from its normal asking price of seven bucks...

Amazon Instant Video iOS app gets personalized recommendations

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

Good news for those how prefer to get their entertainment from Amazon instead iTunes. In a newest update to its Instant Video streaming iOS app, the online retail giant has enabled personalized recommendations for movies and television shows based on your past viewing habits, while enhancing the experience with a handy new navigation bar.

Of course, in order to take advantage of the app you'll need to be subscribed to Amazon's Prime, a $79 a year membership which gives you unlimited access to thousands of titles and over 140,000 videos available from the Amazon Instant Video store, with support for Watchlists, offline viewing and more...

Gartner: tablet shipments to jump 68% in 2013 amid PC slump

Ed Sutherland ∙ June 24, 2013

Research giant Gartner Monday released new figures confirming the growth of tablets and the decline of PCs are set to continue through 2013 and into 2014. However, the numbers point to a changing market for tablets and a potential rescue for ailing PC and laptop demand.

While the overall shipment of PCs, mobile phones and tablets is expected to rise by just 5.9 percent this year, PC shipments of both desktops and notebooks will slide lower by more than ten percent. Worldwide mobile phone shipments should increase a modest 4.3 percent while tablets lead consumer demand for mobility, shipments jumping by 67.9 percent this year, according to the research firm...

Apple reportedly contracts out next-gen mobile chip manufacture to TSMC

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 24, 2013

After a long period of rumor mongering, it would seem that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest independent semiconductor foundry, is finally stealing Apple chip biz from rival Samsung. If a new report out of Taiwan is to be trusted, Apple has cut a long-term deal with TSMC to produce A-series chips for future iPhones, iPods and iPads built on TSMC's 20-nanometer, 16-nanometer and 10-nanometer process technology.

If true, it's the final nail in the coffin in the strained Apple-Samsung technology relationship. And good riddance, too, because Samsung will no longer be able to have a headstart of Apple's future semiconductor solutions...

Baldur’s Gate yanked from the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 24, 2013

Developer Beamdog did a nice job updating Baldur's Gate, BioWare's classic role-playing game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, for the Apple platform. Last December, they released Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition on the App Store.

The RPG title contains the original Baldur’s Gate, the Tales From the Sword Coast expansion pack, an additional monk character, a new 'Black Pits' adventure and lost more content.

If you're a fan of the series which has a loyal following, there'll be lots of teeth-gnashing involved in finding that Baldur's Gate games have been pulled from the App Store due to unspecified contractual issues...

Accessory vendor bypasses iOS 7 Lightning check

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

One of the little-known features of iOS 7 that not many people will like is its background check of whether or not a third-party accessory is hooked up to the your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad using a non-certified Lightning cable.

We've know Apple has tightened its MFi program rules (MFi stands for 'Made for iDevice') and iOS 7 seems to be stepping up a cat and mouse game between Apple and non-MFi vendors....