Apple

Foxconn workers to get wage increases in July

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 6, 2012

Foxconn is the world's largest (and Apple's favorite) contract manufacturer. Despite criticism that it runs sweatshops, the truth is that Foxconn leads the charge in improving working conditions at its high-tech factories, at least compared to other large-scale production operations in China.

A new report citing company founder and CEO Terry Gou confirms that Foxconn has put forth a plan to increase salaries of its workers come this June. Conveniently, the news coincides with Apple CEO Tim Cook's recent trip to China, as well as the rumored production of a sixth-generation iPhone...

Jobs’ biographer says the CEO’s disdain for Android was real

Cody Lee ∙ April 5, 2012

Yesterday, Google's Larry Page sparked some controversy with some comments he made regarding Steve Jobs. In an interview with Businessweek, the CEO suggested that Jobs' disdain for Android was more for show than anything else.

But Walter Isaacson, author of the Apple founder's popular biography, tells a different story. Isaacson gave a lecture at the Royal Institution in the UK last night, and had no problem clearing the air about Jobs' feelings on Google's mobile OS...

Apple reportedly reaches settlement over search for iPhone 4S prototype

Cody Lee ∙ April 5, 2012

In the months leading up to the iPhone 4S launch, Apple lost a prototype of the handset. It seemed like it was going to be the iPhone 4/Gizmodo debacle all over again, but no pictures or other evidence ever surfaced.

Apple took some heat over the way it handled its search for the device, allegedly raiding the home of Sergio Calderon with a team of police officers. In fact, Sergio threatened to file a lawsuit against the company unless a settlement was reached.

Well here we are, more than 6 months later, and no lawsuit has been filed...

Rumor: Apple to start “iPanel” HDTV production in May

Cody Lee ∙ April 5, 2012

Barron's, a financial arm of The Wall Street Journal's web network, passes on an interesting report today from Jefferies & Co.'s Peter Misek. The analyst has upped his stock price target for Apple to $800 per share on the back of new information regarding a TV set.

In an investor's note, sent out this morning, Misek said that his recent trip to China has given him "increased confidence" that Apple will be launching a TV this year. He claims, among other things, that he saw television components en route to Apple suppliers...

Apple investigating Wi-Fi issues with new iPad

Cody Lee ∙ April 5, 2012

Experiencing Wi-Fi problems with your new iPad? Apparently you're not alone. According to a recent report from 9to5Mac, hundreds of new iPad owners have taken to Apple's online support forums complaining of the issue.

In fact, the site has gotten its hands on an internal Apple memo (above) that instructs retail employees to "capture" affected devices — meaning send them in to Apple for inspection — and replace them under warranty...

Does Apple have an obligation to create more American jobs?

Cody Lee ∙ April 5, 2012

At this point, it's fairly common knowledge that Apple outsources its manufacturing work overseas. Labor is much cheaper in countries like China, where there are no minimum wage laws, so it's a huge draw for companies looking to lower their costs.

But not everyone's ok with this. CNN's Clyde Prestowitz recently wrote an article entitled "Apple has an obligation to help solve America's problems." The piece is essentially about the company's lack of job creation in the US, and what it should do about it...

How secure is your iCloud data?

Cody Lee ∙ April 4, 2012

To say that iCloud is a big deal for Apple is a bit of an understatement. The cloud-based storage and backup service was launched just 6 months ago, alongside the iPhone 4S and iOS 5, and has already garnered more than 100 million users.

But its quick rise in popularity and deep integration into Apple's software has led to one major question: how secure is it? Well the folks over at ArsTechnica recently spoke with some software security experts to find out...

Apple has 7.85-inch iPad with 1024×768 display in its labs

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 18, 2019

As noted by TechnoBuffalo, well-connected Apple proponent John Gruber (of DaringFireball) made some interesting comments today regarding the oft-rumored "iPad mini" on his weekly 5by5 podcast with Dan Benjamin.

Gruber claimed that he has been told by a number of Apple insiders that a 7.85-inch tablet exists inside Apple's labs, but he's unsure when or if it will see the light of day...

Google CEO says Steve Jobs’ hatred for Android was “actually for show”

Cody Lee ∙ April 4, 2012

Steve Jobs' distain for Google's mobile OS was well documented. There's a famous quote from the late CEO's biography that goes something like, "I'm going to destroy Android, because it's a stolen product. I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this."

But according to Google's CEO Larry Page, a large part of Jobs' hatred for Android was merely for show. He believes that it was more of a way to rally his troops at Apple, rather than evidence of bad blood between the two companies...

Apple revamping online store for educators with “dramatically simplified user interface”

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 4, 2012

Forget the new iPad, here comes the new online Apple store! According to a credible report, the company is informing its K-12 shoppers to get ready for the new online shopping experience. It's kinda semi-official now as Apple's notice announcing the redesign has been spotted in the store's section dedicated to kindergarten through 12th grade institutions.

For now, the company appears to be simply teasing the upcoming changes and it's unclear whether the new shopping experience will be limited to K-12 buyers only. Be that as it may, with such a diverse portfolio of products spanning lots of product variants and families, a store revamp can't hurt.

One in three U.S. high school students own an iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ April 4, 2012

So this is pretty interesting: Gene Munster, Piper Jaffray's senior Apple analyst, published a report yesterday claiming that one in three U.S. high school students now own an iPhone.

The data comes from the firm's semi-annual survey of U.S. teens, in which they poll over 5,500 high school students to see what technology they're currently in to...

Apple rumored to make a massive $9.76 billion investment in Foxconn

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 4, 2012

Just as we've digested the news about Apple's favorite manufacturer Foxconn buying an eleven percent stake in Japanese giant Sharp (apparently in order to better compete for display orders from Apple), a new report surfaced claiming the iPhone maker itself is considering investing a whopping $9.76 billion in Foxconn.

The sum would be enough for a 20 percent stake in the Asian manufacturing powerhouse. Is this why Tim Cook toured China a week ago? Surely an investment this big would let Apple have a greater say on working conditions in Foxconn plants.

The two partners would also get to collaborate more tightly on new projects that require in-depth knowledge of the intricacies behind large-scale operations run by Foxconn, Apple's strategic manufacturing ally.