Apple

Posing as a chick, musician offers an iPhone thief a date

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 6, 2013

Apple's underappreciated Find My iPhone app (BTW, shouldn't it be called 'Find My iOS Device' instead?) has seen some clever uses that went a long way toward retrieving stolen iPhones and iPads. But punk trombonist Nadav Nirenberg took it to the next level when he posed as a women in order to lure an unsuspecting thief who stole his iPhone into a trap. According to media reports, holding a hammer in his hand, Nadav was patiently awaiting for the thief to arrive at his apartment to arrange an exchange...

Consumer Reports places iPhone 5 among the worst of top smartphones

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Consumer reports is an American Magazine (and web resource) that has been bringing its readers reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services for nearly 80 years now. So needless to say, their opinions are highly regarded but many.

But I know a few iPhone 5 owners that aren't going to agree with its latest report regarding flagship smartphones. In its February 2013 issue, the magazine ranks Apple's handset as one of the worst high-end devices available on the larger US carriers...

CES 2013: Bluetooth Smart-enabled Cookoo watch launches with iOS compatibility

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

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

Among the many exhibitors vying for your attention at the CES show room floor are makers of connected smart watches. Pebble, the most highly funded Kickstarter project to date, already teased “big news” at CES as it readies to finally launch its Android and iOS connected E-Paper Watch.

You can now put Cookoo on your list of CES smart watch announcements. Another Kickstarter project, the Cookoo watch just launched worldwide as an iOS and Android connected accessory supporting low-power Bluetooth Smart (Bluetooth 4.0) networking.

In the case of Apple's platform, the scratch and water-resistant Cookoo watch supports the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad mini, iPad 3/4 and fifth-gen iPod touch and uses a button-cell battery so it doesn't need to be recharged like typical smart watches do...

Despite workarounds, Apple still paid $6 billion in U.S. taxes last year

Cody Lee ∙ January 5, 2013

Earlier this year, The New York Times wrote a piece on the different methods Apple uses to sidestep "billions in corporate taxes." Like other articles in the publication's iEconomy series, it painted the Cupertino company in a not-so-favorable light.

But despite the workarounds, Apple says it still pays a significant amount in income taxes. According to a recent statement, it paid over $6 billion in US taxes during its fiscal 2012, accounting for $1 out of every $40 collected from corporations...

Why an Apple smart watch is a smart idea

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

The iWatch meme isn't going away anytime soon. Quite the contrary, in between an obscene amount of concept renders and latest talk of chip giant Intel and Apple collaborating on a Bluetooth smart watch that reportedly might see light of the day later this year, there really is no shortage of iWatch rumors. As unexpected as such a gadget from Apple might sound, we're in 2013 and this is Tim Cook's Apple.

Before dismissing an Apple-branded iWatch as a pipe dream of crazypants analysts, know that technologists are increasingly growing convinced Apple has its sights on the wearable computing space now. Indeed, Cupertino could be closer to remaking the Mickey Mouse watch than you think and here's why...

Best Buy accuses Walmart of hurting holiday iPhone 5 sales

Ed Sutherland ∙ January 4, 2013

Get ready to rumble! Best Buy, a gadget retailer that sells more iPhones than anyone but Apple, is charging the world's biggest retailer Walmart with unfairly pricing the iPhone 5 during holiday.

A number of states' attorney generals are looking into the allegation. Best Buy says it lost $65,000 a day trying to match the $150 price (later cut to $127) Walmart promoted in December.

The electronics retailer charges Walmart didn't have sufficient supplies to fulfill its holiday promotion of the regularly-priced $199 smartphone...

Can mini iPhone boost Apple past Samsung?

Ed Sutherland ∙ January 4, 2013

It's a new year, but talk of Apple's need to produce an inexpensive smartphone is back. This time there is a name for the device: the iPhone mini. Friday, an analyst forecast the company could unveil a cheap iPhone in 2014 to combat Samsung's handset lead in the face of the high-end smartphone market "nearing saturation". To break out of its #2 position, Apple must follow Samsung's success of marketing to many different groups of consumers.

That's at least the main line of reasoning by analyst Neil Mawston of Strategy Analytics. To date, Apple has only subsidized iPhones that sell with a contract, in addition to the expensive contract-free offering and the somewhat discounted previous versions of the smartphone. Sooner than later, the company will need to recognize the untapped segment of inexpensive prepaid handsets, an area that could boost it beyond its chief rival...

Why iOS Do Not Disturb failed

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 31, 2018

Do Not Disturb (DND), a nifty new feature in iOS 6, has garnered quite a lot unwanted attention when folks on New Year's Day realized it failed to turn off outside its scheduled time, causing them to miss alerts for phone calls, text messages and more.

As the problem persisted and news of another seemingly time-related iOS glitch made the headlines, Apple carelessly added to the controversy by airing the unfortunately-timed iPhone 5 ad, starring tennis celebrities Serena and Venus Williams and centered around the flawed feature.

Apple in a support doc acknowledged the bug and said it will fix itself on January 7. But why DND failed in the first place and how will the bug just miraculously fix itself next week?

Apple again said to be in talks with labels over ‘iRadio’ service

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

It's 2013 now, meaning we could be seeing Apple's rumored Pandora-like streaming music service popup anytime now. The last we heard, the Cupertino company was having trouble getting record labels on board. But according to a new report, the negotiations are back on and rolling at full speed...

FTC drops Google antitrust inquiry as it agrees to license essential patents

Cody Lee ∙ January 4, 2013

Good news out of Washington this week. The FTC has announced that it's reached a settlement with Google regarding its antitrust investigation. The Federal Trade Commission was going after the search giant for several reasons, including patent abuse.

But not anymore. Google has agreed, among other things, to license several of its standard-essential patents — many of which it picked up in its recent acquisition of Motorola — to its competitors under FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) terms...

Pod2g calls for Apple to open up iOS for tweaks and themes

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Well known iOS hacker pod2g went on a bit of a rant on Twitter today regarding the current state of iOS. The security expert says that he's seeing a lot of his 'geek friends' migrate from iOS to Android, and he wants to see Apple open up its mobile platform to help stop the bleeding.

He points out that there are no technical issues preventing Apple from allowing developers to submit tweaks or themes — it would just need to enlarge its API/SDK. And it would be able to review them just like they do with App Store submissions before approving them for iOS...

Patent gives a peek into Apple’s retail prowess

Ed Sutherland ∙ January 3, 2013

No matter if you are in Syracuse, NY or Singapore, when you step into an Apple Store, you're likely to be greeted in a singular manner. That's no mistake. In fact, the 'brain' of Apple's retailing success is part of a patent filing for a centralized floor plan management. It's entitled "System and method for planning layout of a retail store" and details, well, everything.

Starting from how the tech giant uses the iPad and centrally-controlled in-store displays to offer customers a unified appearance, no matter which Apple Store around the globe you happen to waltz in. Indeed, if tech retailing were part of the Star Trek universe, Apple locations would be manned by the Borg - seeming to operate with one mind...