Apple

Google testing own built Retina Chromebook?

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 6, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2dhMKSKGBg

Word on the street, based on a Google+ post by developer François Beaufort, is that Google is developing a Retina-fied Chromebook featuring a 2,560-by-1,700 resolution (that's four million pixels for those counting). Surprisingly enough, it would file as the first Google-built notebook as today's Chromebooks are built by Samsung, Acer and Hewlett-Packard.

For reference, Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display has a 2,560-by-1,600 resolution (2,880-by-1,800 on the 15-inch variant). Unlike the MacBook Pro, this so-called Chromebook Pixel will apparently have touch capabilities of some sort...

Chitika: iPad recovers from post-Christmas dip, now back to 81% share

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Apple's iPad appears to have recovered from its post-Christmas slump. The tablet now enjoys an 81 percent share after falling from a high of 89 percent to 79 percent between December 25-27, 2012. Online advertising network Chitika Tuesday released the chart for the U.S. and Canada which proves the iPad recovered some of the ground lost to cheaper tablets.

The latest data obtained from millions of devices participating in Chitika's ad network shows Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet having the second-highest January 2013 market share. Although a distant runner-up to the iPad, the Amazon tablet scored a 7.7 percent tablet share, while Samsung's family of Galaxy tablets reached 3.9 percent...

Apple slashes a bunch of love songs to 69 cents in Valentine’s Day iTunes promo

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 6, 2013

Hot on the heels of announcing 25 billion song purchases since the iTunes Store's inception nearly a decade ago, today Apple of California has conveniently kicked off a fitting Valentine's Day love music promotion.

The company has discounted some of its most popular love songs, which now cost 69 cents a piece. These music tracks span genres and decades, from artists like Aerosmith, Celine Dion, James Taylor, Kenny Chesney and Whitney Houston, to name a few...

Apple announces 25 billion iTunes songs sold

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Just in time for Valentine's Day $0.69 love music sale, Apple this morning issued a press release announcing that music lovers have downloaded more than 25 billion songs from the iTunes Store. The company's song sales now average to 15,000 tracks downloaded per minute. The iTunes Store opened for business on April 28, 2003 and its catalog is now over 26 million songs strong. Remember that it was only back in September 2012 that Apple announced 20 billion iTunes song purchases.

With the recent addition of 56 new markets, music on iTunes is now available for sale in 119 countries. And with the recent Apple TV 5.2 software update, owners of Apple's $99 set-top box can now see upcoming songs when playing music, choose what plays next and access their previously purchased songs from iCloud, right on their television set...

Twitter’s Vine app gets 17+ age rating

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Vine, Twitter's new app for sharing short 6-second clips, has had somewhat of a rocky start. Immediately following its launch two weeks ago, Twitter got inundated with complaints that the Editor’s Pick section was populating users' video feed with adult content. Twitter blamed the problem on "a human error" and promised to fix it in the next update. And just like clockwork, Vine version 1.0.5 landed today on the App Store, bringing with better sharing and the 17+ age rating (was 12+)...

ProCutX: control Final Cut Pro X with your iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 6, 2013

Here's something that I think our own Jeff Benjamin might love a lot. Pixel Film Studios has launched its first iOS app, ProCutX (developed by Lightwork Solutions), which allows video editors to control Final Cut Pro X on their Mac through an iPad. As you can see for yourself, the user interface replicates pro video editing consoles that people who are serious about film making use in conjunction with the Final Cut Pro X software...

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide launches on App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 6, 2013

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, Apple's App Store yesterday launched a new Valentine's Day Gift Guide to highlight "some of the finest apps and games" for your significant other. The promotion ties nicely with the app gifting feature which was relaunched on iPhones, iPads and iPods last December. Should you choose to give the gift of apps this Valentine season, you can purchase your gift right now and have it delivered on Valentine's Day on any other date of your choosing...

Copyright regulator to strip Apple of its iPhone trademark in Brazil

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

On Monday, we passed along a report claiming that Apple is in jeopardy of losing its 'iPhone' trademark in Brazil. It applied for exclusive rights to the name back in 2007, and is expecting to hear a decision from the country's copyright regulator next week.

The problem is that the iPhone trademark has belonged to electronics maker IGB Eletrônica SA since 2008. And rumor has it that the Brazilian Institute of Intellectual Property is going to rule in its favor, meaning Apple couldn't use the term anymore...

WSJ: competition forcing Apple’s PR to work ‘a little harder to get its message out’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

There used to be a long-standing joke about Apple's public relations department that it was the least demanding job in Silicon Valley. It was almost as if Apple's PR bunnies were only required not to return calls from journalists and disregard email inquiries from various media outlets. Couple this inaccessibility and Apple's penchant for dreaming up shiny gadgets people lust after with the infamous culture of secrecy and you have a winning formula for a kind of coverage other companies would die for.

But the times they are a-changin', to paraphrase musician Bob Dylan, Steve Jobs favorite songwriter. The Wall Street Journal fittingly reported Tuesday that Apple's public relations team now has to work a little harder to get the message across, a tell-tale sign that competition is heating up. Hit the jump for more tidbits and my own insight on how Apple owns the media...

Apple updates Knowledge Base article on jailbreaking

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

It's pretty obvious that Apple doesn't want people jailbreaking its devices. While the company isn't going out and suing hackers like ahem, Sony did, it's not exactly making it any easier for them to open up its mobile OS either.

And the company's disdain for the process is especially evident in its Knowledge Base article on jailbreaking, which points out that unauthorized modification of iOS can cause instability and other major device issues...

OtterBox lets you customize Defender Series cases for a limited time

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 24, 2016

Phew, today is an accessories day. Logitech owned the morning with its iPad mini Bluetooth keyboard, then Cody blogged about Mophie's 1500mAh Juice Pack Helium for the iPhone 5.

Shortly after came word of Griffin's artsy Designer Series cases which add a little bit of flair and wit to your iPhone 5.

Not to be outdone by its rivals, OtterBox has launched a case customization program for owners of the iPhone 4/4S/5 and Samsung's Galaxy S III. What's this for, you ask. How about 35 different combinations of polycarbonate and silicone cases for your iPhone 4 or 4S and a remarkable 72 combinations of different designs for the iPhone 5?

Griffin announces its artsy Designer Series cases are now available for iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

If a cell phone is an extension of your personality, shouldn't you at least try adorn your iPhone with some unique designs and memorable artwork? That's what Griffin's Designer Series is all about. And starting today, these cases are finally available for your iPhone 5.

Now, I don't use iPhone cases for they hide Jony Ive's beautiful industrial design. But if I did, I'd definitely consider the Designer Series. They look great, are printed locally in small batches and present new looks that go beyond the boring designs which are too often forced upon us by so many uninspired case makers out there...