Apple

Google tops Apple as leading App Store publisher

Ed Sutherland ∙ March 28, 2013

Obviously, home field advantage doesn't hold sway when it comes to app stores. That's the message from a new report showing Google the leading publisher on Apple's App Store while Facebook downloads outnumbered Google on the Mountain View, California company's own marketplace.

Although Apple led apps downloaded from its App Store in December, iOS video and mapping apps from Android's Google topped its smartphone rival during January and February. Meanwhile, a Facebook app grabbed the top spot on Google Play, reinforcing the importance of social networking downloads in generating app store revenue...

Apple exploring iPhones with wrap-around display

Ed Sutherland ∙ March 28, 2013

Cue the 'Jetsons' theme song as we talk about Apple's latest patent: a wraparound display for your iPhone. The smartphone maker has filed a patent for an all-glass design taking the iPhone's already sleek contours to the ultimate degree. Although outlining breath-taking technology, such as heads-up displays and the ability to connect devices like some technologically whacked-out tinker toy, the futuristic patent would likely come with some very current limitations...

10M Galaxy S4 pre-orders in 2 weeks, smaller and cheaper version due soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Samsung announced the Galaxy S4 at the weird March 14 presser and although it won't land on store shelves before May, early pre-orders are encouraging. According to one estimate, the volume of pre-orders for the S4 has reportedly surpassed ten million units in the two weeks since its unveiling.

By comparison, its predecessor, the Galaxy S3, saw nine million pre-orders prior to its launch while Apple confirmed its iPhone 5 had been pre-ordered five million times over the launch weekend alone. These are no doubt strong numbers.

Analysts are forecasting cumulative sales volume of the Galaxy S4 of a hundred million units. And in recognition that not everyone prefers a phablet in their pocket, a high-profile publication has confirmed that a smaller and cheaper version of the S4 will follow soon...

Rumor: iTV has Foxconn-made display, ships in early-2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Earlier in the week, the somewhat reliable DigiTimes reported that Apple's rumored standalone TV set could ship later this year with a 4K Ultra HD screen. Another report out from Asia has it that Apple's contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, will supply high-resolution panels for the product.

Sources estimate Apple won't start shipping its television set until next year at the earliest...

Apple reportedly cutting iPad mini shipments next quarter, new model coming?

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 9, 2016

There's a new report out of China this morning, claiming that Apple is cutting shipments of its iPad mini next month. The cut is said to be a 20% reduction, with steeper cuts likely happening in the latter part of the second quarter.

While the folks on Wall Street will probably try to spin this into an 'Apple is doomed' story, despite the fact that there's evidence that the mini is selling very well, the consensus seems to be that it's preparing to launch a new model...

Apple looking to beef up Maps team with ‘Ground Truth’ managers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

When Apple released iOS 6 last year, it replaced the long-running Google Maps app with its own in-house mapping software. And, as most of you know, it took a lot of criticism over the move due to its inaccurate map data, missing features and other issues.

It was so bad, in fact, that Tim Cook wrote an open letter to iOS users, promising Apple would work non-stop to make it better. And it has been. It's already made several improvements to the app, and is in the middle of a big hiring push for its Maps team...

Comparison of iPhone ownership cost on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

With yesterday's announcement that Apple's iPhone 5 will finally start selling through T-Mobile on April 12, we can now compare the total cost of ownership across the nation's four largest wireless carriers: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.

A bunch of outlets ran their spreadsheets to assess the current landscape, including Zagg, best known for its line of protective coverings for consumer electronics.

In figuring out how much one saves on T-Mobile over two years versus other carriers, Zagg concluded that T-Mobile’s contract-free iPhone 5 comes in at a very cool $580 cheaper over two years. However, the difference evaporates if you switch your significant other or an entire family of four to the nation's fourth-largest carrier...

If Samsung made an iWatch…

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 27, 2013

..it would look something like this. Of course, the South Korean chaebol indeed is working not so secretly on its own smartwatch and if a set of leaked screenshots is anything to go by, it'll have a 500-by-500 pixel resolution display. Meet us in comments...

Plants vs. Zombies 2 launching early this summer

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 18, 2018

Plants vs. Zombies, a tower defense game originally published by PopCap Games for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, hit Apple's iOS platform in February 2010. The title has some ardent following and though I've never been a huge fan, it's true that the iPhone and iPad versions helped the game take off in a big way. PopCap announced today that a sequel, unimaginatively titled Plants vs. Zombies 2, will be launching early this summer...

Samsung owns most mobile patents worldwide

Ed Sutherland ∙ March 27, 2013

For some time, patents have been viewed as the latest competitive weapon. A company can still lose in terms of product sales, but reap a tidy sum through patent litigation and licensing. Samsung, the South Korean firm which makes everything from silicon chips to cell phones, now has the world's largest collection of patents, topping rival iPhone maker Apple.

Thanks to its rise as a mobile powerhouse, Samsung topped the list both in overall mobile patents held and patents granted in 2012. By comparison, Apple ranked No. 7 in mobile patents involving infrastructure and platforms, according to a new analysis of the fast-changing mobile patent landscape...

BMW folds 4 new iOS apps into Apps-enabled cars

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 27, 2013

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, better known as BMW, features a special option dubbed Apps which integrates iOS software from third-parties for some cool in-car entertainment and driving experience.

Part of the luxury automaker's ConnectedDrive initiative, the Apps platform supports model year 2011 and later vehicles and is controlled through a dedicated iOS app aptly named BMW Connected App. These apps are still few and far between so today the German car maker launched new additions.

A total of four iOS programs that integrate with the BMW Apps platform have been confirmed: Amazon's Audible app which lets you listen to audio books, real-time location sharing software Glympse, the subscription-based music streaming service Rhapsody and Pandora-like TuneIn app that features offers over 70,000 stations and two million shows...

Way to go promoting a beer brand, Carlsberg!

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 27, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3rNQ2pTyAY

So along comes Carlsberg with a novel idea: how about we market a new cider brand by piggy-backing on Apple's popularity subtly? The results of the company's brainstorming are, well, hilarious and downright amazing - as you can see for yourself.

The creative concept calls for a tongue-in-cheek reenactment of an Apple-like product launch hype, down to the line sitters, an Apple Store-like environment, lots of cheering and clapping and Carlsberg' version of Geniuses.

You gotta love the ambiguous use of tech jargon and the obligatory Apple superlatives like "amazing". My favorite line: "works perfectly in direct sunlight"...