Rumors

AT&T announces buying Time Warner as it looks to compete nationwide with cable companies

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 23, 2016

Following reports that AT&T, the nation's second-largest wireless carrier, held talks regarding a possible acquisition of Time Warner, AT&T has now formally confirmed that it will be purchasing the entertainment conglomerate in a stock-and-cash transaction valued at $107.50 per share. The purchase price implies a total equity value of $85.4 billion and a total transaction value of $108.7 billion.

The agreement has been approved unanimously by the boards of directors of both companies. It gives AT&T access to Time Warner's precious media properties like CNN, HBO, TNT and Warner Bros, as well as films like Harry Potter, Batman, Superman and next-generation super hero movies being developed by DC Comics.

The blockbuster merger, pending regulatory approval and closing before year-end 2017, will create a unique company that'll “define the future of media and communications”.

KGI: new MacBook Pros and 13″ MacBook next week, iMacs & 5K Cinema Display in 2017

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 22, 2016

According to revered Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, Apple's media event next Thursday will serve as a launchpad for a long-awaited update to the aging MacBook Pro notebook lineup, which will see “many” noteworthy upgrades.

Apple will also announce a brand new model of the new MacBook with a screen measuring thirteen inches diagonally, Kuo wrote in a note to clients.

Some observers think this machine is actually a thirteen-inch MacBook Air with new USB-C ports. As you know, the current Retina MacBook has a 12-inch Retina display.

Next-generation iMacs, as well as a rumored 5K resolution display won't be unveiled at the event because they're apparently not ready yet.

AT&T to buy Time Warner for a reported $80 billion

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 22, 2016

U.S. wireless carrier is buying media entertainment conglomerate Time Warner for a reported $80 billion as consolidation continues in media and technology industries. AT&T has reportedly agreed to pay $107.50 a share in a half-cash, half-stock deal, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday. Time Warner, which does not have a controlling shareholder, reported $28 billion in 2015 revenue.

The media giant had a market capitalization of $68 billion before rumors of a possible takeover bid. AT&T currently has a market capitalization of more than $230 billion.

Qualcomm could buy NXP, which supplies iPhones with NFC and motion-tracking chips

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 5, 2017

Bloomberg's Alex Sherman and Ian King reported yesterday that fabless chip designer and Apple supplier Qualcomm could be buying NXP Semiconductors, a global semiconductor and analog circuitry manufacturer headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

NXP employs approximately 45,000 people in more than 35 countries and provides chips that give Apple devices features like power-efficient motion tracking and NFC for Apple Pay.

Apple recently approached Time Warner about takeover bid, now “monitoring” AT&T talks

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2016

AT&T, the second-largest carrier in the United States, is in advanced talks with media giant Time Warner about a possible merger and Apple “is now monitoring the situation”, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal. The Cupertino-based gadget maker was first mentioned as a possible suitor for a Time Warner takeover back in January of this year.

According to WSJ, Apple a few months ago approached Time Warner “about pursuing a combination”, but the discussions didn’t progress “beyond a preliminary stage.”

Apple Pay could launch in Germany soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2016

Apple Pay could launch in its fifth European country soon. As first discovered by German blog iPhone-ticker.de, Apple's support document highlighting participating banks and card issuers for Apple Pay in Europe appears to have accidentally highlighted Germany on a world map, suggesting the next possible expansion for the iPhone-driven service.

Will iOS 10.1 release for public consumption next Tuesday, October 25?

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 20, 2016

Apple is holding a media event on October 27 to refresh Macs and we're pretty sure that the upcoming machines will run macOS Sierra 10.12.1 out of the box. Currently being beta-tested, macOS Sierra 10.12.1 includes, among other things, support for Portrait albums in Photos.

Apple is also beta-testing iOS 10.1 which, too, packs in support for a new Portrait mode on dual-camera iPhone 7 Plus models. If the Sierra update drops ahead of new Macs, so should iOS 10.1.

We believe iOS 10.1 will release for public consumption next Tuesday, October 25, two days before the Mac event, and here's why.

One-handed iPhone keyboard discovered in iOS code, invoked by edge swipes on the keys

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 20, 2016

Last night, developer Steven Troughton-Smith discovered within iOS code a previously unknown one-handed iPhone keyboard. The unused keyboard is not exposed to users. It has left and right mode, invoked by an edge swipe on the keys, and has been present since at least iOS 8, Troughton-Smith said. Will Apple ever enable it for users?

Apple Maps transit directions live for iOS 10.1 beta users in Japan ahead of launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 20, 2016

Apple is currently beta-testing the first major update to iOS 10 since its public release last month. Aside from a Portrait shooting mode for iPhone 7 Plus owners and a new toggle in Settings to allow Messages animations when Reduce Motion is enabled, the software update should bring official support for transit directions in Japan within the stock Maps application, Japanese blog Ata Distance said today.

Apple teams up with homebuilders on integrating HomeKit devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 19, 2016

Apple is reportedly teaming up with homebuilders to inch its way into the market for Internet-connected home furnishings in an effort to “bring home automation to the mainstream,” according to Greg Joswiak, who is Apple's Vice President of Product Marketing. Bloomberg quoted Joswiak as saying that “the best place to start is at the beginning, when a house is just being created.”

Report: Apple planning to hold new Mac event October 27

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Apple will introduce new Macs at an event on October 27, reports Recode. Citing sources familiar with the company's plans, the outlet says that the event will likely take place at or near Apple's Cupertino campus, rather than its typical venue in San Francisco.

Recode doesn't specify exactly which Mac products we'll see, but most of Apple's laptop and desktop lines are due for an update. A report from Japanese blog Mac Otakara yesterday called for new 13" and 15" MacBook Pro models, and a refreshed 13-inch Air.

Facebook getting ready to ape Snapchat with Messenger Day, a visual storytelling feature

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 18, 2016

If you live in Poland or Australia, you might have stumbled upon a brand new feature at the top of Facebook's Messenger app, called Messenger Day. As reported by Mashable on Tuesday, Facebook has begun expanding this new feature across the globe following launch of Instagram Stories last month. Available in the mobile Messenger app for iOS and Android, Messenger Day is about sharing what you're up to in the form of auto-dissapearing updates, stickers and sketches.