The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 36 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover a wide range of granted patents that relate to key iDevice features, functions and UI elements. Some of the iPhone patents directly relate to the original iPhone that the late CEO Steve Jobs introduced back in 2007. Our report concludes by providing you a list of 29 other patents that were granted to Apple today.
| Read more »Chinese site WeiPhone.com reports [Google translation, via Unwired View] that Apple will make a significant change to the display of the iPhone 5S, doubling the number of pixels to roughly 1.5 million. The device will reportedly also see a narrower bezel, although it is unclear exactly how that would be achieved.According to sources, iPhone 5S (or iPhone 6) or to have a more narrow screen frame, is now preparing, will ship in September. In addition, the...
| Read more »The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 36 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover three design patents in addition to a surprising one that introduces us to the next generation of Lightning adapters designed to offer a certain degree of bendability using elastomers as illustrated in our cover graphic which depicts a new iPad dock.
| Read more »According to the latest statistics published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, there were 1.155 billion subscribers of mobile communication services in China as of the end of April 2013. The breakdown records 288.74 million (25%) were 3G users and 807.65 million (69.92%) were mobile Internet-access users. Samsung took top spot in China in April with 18.8% while Apple took the sixth spot according to Hong Kong's Ming Pao Daily Newspaper quoting Sino Market Research results.
| Read more »Earlier this month, we noted that Apple's primary manufacturing partner Foxconn/Hon Hai has been seeking to diversify its business, an effort in large part intended to offset slowing growth for Apple's products. One aspect of that effort has been a focus on televisions, with some suggesting that the work could bring benefits for Apple's rumored television set. The Wall Street Journal now follows up with more on Foxconn's expansion plans, reporting that the company is looking at a software push into mobile applications and cloud services to complement its existing expertise in hardware. Foxconn is reportedly also moving to enter the accessory business, recognizing the relatively high profit margins available for such products. That...
| Read more »Apple is to open their first brick and mortar in Turkey reveals an Israeli publisher. Smartphones, tablets and other mobile web-enabled devices are widespread in Turkey. Wireless carriers like Turkcell, Vodafone and Avea offer extensive connectivity throughout the country. The most recent government data ...
| Read more »Earlier this month we reported that the Pentagon was expected to approve Apple's iDevices for Non-Classified Communications. Two weeks later and the Pentagon approved iPhones and iPads to be used by military agencies for non-classified communications, such as email and Web browsing. The motivation behind Apple's push to get approval from the Pentagon may have surfaced in a new military related publication.
| Read more »The New York Times reports that a working Apple 1 computer has sold at auction in Germany for a record $671,400, breaking the previous mark of $640,000 set last November at the same auction house. That November record has eclipsed an earlier record of $375,000 set less than six months earlier. The high prices paid for the machines seem to be explained by the combination of scarcity, a fascination with the early history of the computer age, and the mystique of Apple and its founders, Steven P. Jobs and Stephen G. Wozniak. And some irrational exuberance in the prices, for a machine that can do very little and originally sold for $666 (about $2,700 in...
| Read more »In Q1 Apple outperformed the projections of IDC and others who thought Apple's iPad would show little to no growth year-over-year. The facts illustrated that Apple's iPad experienced a healthy 65% leap in year-over-year sales going from 11.8 million units to 19.5 million units. After experiencing stellar iPad growth last quarter, a new report by KGI financial services now paints the gloomiest iPad prediction to date.
| Read more »It appears that Apple has begun quietly phasing out its trailer download options from the trailers.apple.com website, effectively eliminating 1080p trailer availability. Previously, the site gave users the ability to stream trailers in 480p or 720p, along with providing download options for 480p, 720p, and 1080p. Trailers uploaded to the site after an approximate date of May 22 no longer have any download options and can only be streamed in-browser at 480p or 720p. Trailer options before 5/22 Trailer options after 5/22 While trailers uploaded before May 22 can still be downloaded, Apple appears to be removing the option from movies with multiple trailers that have a trailer uploaded after that date. For example, Disney Pixar's Monsters University has trailers that were uploaded on the following dates: 6/20/12, 3/08/13, 5/20/13, and 5/22/13. None of these trailers have download options. Disney’s...
| Read more »In April, Apple introduced a quiet yet creatively styled TV ad called "Photos Every Day." For May, Apple has introduced a new ad in this series simply titled: "Music Every Day." The message quietly states that "Every day, more people enjoy their music on the iPhone than any other phone."
| Read more »The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has sent a letter to BioSense Technologies over its iPhone uChek urinalysis system, asking why its medical app hasn't been cleared by the agency. The app is one of the first that turns the iPhone into a medical device, designed to read urinalysis test strips that are normally examined by users and compared to a color-coded chart. With the uChek system, patients can take a picture of the strip with the iPhone's camera and then receive an automated readout of parameters like glucose, urobilinogen, pH, ketone and more. The app also stores results which then can be analyzed over time. Though medical device makers have adopted the iPhone for some measurements like blood glucose monitoring for diabetics, large scale use of smartphones and tablets as a replacement for existing medical devices has yet to take off -- likely due in large part to government regulation of medical...
| Read more »Apple today significantly reduced prices on refurbished models of the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad, with all models now carrying approximately 15% discounts relative to brand-new units. iPad mini - 16 GB Wi-Fi: $279, down from $299 previously and $329 brand-new - 32 GB Wi-Fi: $359, down from $389 previously and $429 brand-new - 64 GB Wi-Fi: $439, down from $489 previously and $529 brand-new - 16 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $389, down from $429 previously and $459 brand-new - 32 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $469, down from $519 previously and $559 brand-new - 64 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $549, down from $619 previously and $659 brand-new Fourth-generation iPad - 16 GB Wi-Fi: $419, down from $449 previously and $499 brand-new - 32 GB Wi-Fi: $499, down from $549 previously and $599 brand-new - 64 GB Wi-Fi: $579, down from...
| Read more »9to5Mac shares more details on Jony Ive's redesign for iOS 7, noting that not only will it bring a flatter look to the operating system but also more emphasis on black and white design elements.Sources have described iOS 7 as “black, white, and flat all over.” This refers to the dropping of heavy textures and the addition of several new black and white user interface elements. [...] For the upcoming operating system, which Apple says will be unveiled at its June Worldwide Developers Conference, Ive has not simply picked areas of the software design to tweak. He has essentially made his mark on every corner of the operating system, according to descriptions from sources, all while mostly keeping the essence of what has made iOS so ubiquitous.The report walks through a number of specific changes appearing in the current development version of iOS 7, including changes to the lock...
| Read more »In March we posted a report titled "In the Real World, Apple's iPhone and iPad are Still King." In that report we clearly stated that "In the real world, Apple's iPhone and iPad are still king in their respective categories. Nothing has changed except for the press's view of the world. The established press has created this grand consumer mirage that's a true disservice to the overall market. The press is mentally stuck in using a "volume" of cell phones metric as a measurement of technology leadership.
| Read more »MacRumors has learned that AT&T's GoPhone prepaid wireless brand will be undertaking a significant expansion of its services starting tomorrow, offering support for the AT&T's fastest LTE and HSPA+ data networks for the first time and also adding official support for the iPhone. Until now, GoPhone has allowed iPhone users to sign up for service, but without cellular data access. With the changes coming tomorrow, the iPhone will have access to the full range of AT&T services through GoPhone, including LTE data and Visual Voicemail. GoPhone will support three service plans for the iPhone, including the high-end $65/month plan that offers unlimited calls and texts and 1 GB of data. Users can also opt for cheaper $25 and $50 plans, but they must purchase separate data...
| Read more »Apple started running a new iPhone ad this evening called 'Music Every Day', the second in a series that launched last month with a spot entitled 'Photos Every Day'. Both ads in the campaign focus on people actually using the phone, rather than just the phone itself. Every day, more people enjoy their music on the iPhone than any other phoneIn a series of colorful clips, the iPhone is used by owners to listen to music at school, in the shower, at the gym, at a club, at a swim meet and more. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Letter to Brazilian Apple Repair Centers Suggests June 2013 Policy Changes? •...
| Read more »To go along with two previously released anti-iPad Windows 8 tablet ads, Microsoft has released a side-by-side comparison of the iPad and various Windows 8 tablets, such as the ASUS VivoTab Smart, the same tablet that was used in the aforementioned ad. In the comparison, Microsoft points out the many reasons why the VivoTab is superior, noting its thinner size and lighter weight. Microsoft also includes a diagram of the 9.7-inch iPad next to a 10.1-inch widescreen tablet that looks visibly larger. That image is not to scale, however, as Elliot Temple of Curi.us (via Daring Fireball) details in a blog post. Microsoft has drawn a 10.1 inch tablet 36% larger than a 9.7 inch tablet (140x78 pixels vs 102x79). This is so far off you can...
| Read more »Macotakara has released a report with new details on a number of upcoming products, including the rumored low cost iPhone, the iPhone 5S, and the iPad 5. Citing information from several different sources, the site suggests that the low cost iPhone may ship in a number of different colors and that it will begin trial production soon. Color choices for the low cost iPhone remain murky, as the site has heard rumors from two different sources. The first source said that the low cost iPhone will come in colors that include navy, gold orange, white, and gray, while a second source named white, pink, green, blue, and yellow orange as the available colors. A common theme, however, is that the low cost iPhone will not include a black option. Rendering of low cost iPhone in multiple colors Apple's rumored low...
| Read more »New research surfacing today highlights the size of the task facing the vendors eager to become the 'third ecosystem' in mobility. Apps have become fundamental to how consumers use, personalize and engage with their mobile devices and connected services. While the iOS and Android duopoly is firmly in place when it comes to App availability at their respective App Stores, Microsoft and BlackBerry are feverishly battling it out to gain that third spot in the App Store market.
| Read more »Last week we learned about Apple inventing an all-new touch sensor panel that would support larger displays like those found on a MacBook Air or Pro. Today, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals yet another major touch related invention relating to an all-new touch pad electrode design which is to reduce the effects of noise and thermal drift and to provide users with more precision in their interaction with a touch display. Another invention covered in our report covers an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating for increasing the thermal conductivity of the structural frames of any Apple mobile device that is battery-powered. We close out our report by covering a new camera patent and providing you with a list of continuation, provisional and divisional patents that were published today that may interest some.
| Read more »In an unsurprising announcement, Apple has confirmed that the keynote address for the Worldwide Developers Conference will be at the Moscone Center on June 10, the first day of the conference. The company did not disclose any speakers or agenda, but Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to take the stage with other Apple executives to present new versions of both OS X and the iOS operating systems. Prior WWDC keynotes have started at 10 AM Pacific time. Tickets for the 2013 WWDC sold out in two minutes this year, an all-time record for the event. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Evernote Adds Reminders to Mac and iOS Apps in Update •...
| Read more »Yesterday we reported that Apple had found proof of patent infringement deep inside Samsung's source code, and today we find out that little trickster Samsung is now opening a new company in Washington called Intellectual Keystone Technology (IKIT). The new company is being set up ....
| Read more »MarketWatch takes a look at the state of the repair industry for the iPhone 5, noting that costs for display replacements remain very high eight months after the device's launch in the United States. The report points to Apple's tight control over components as being the major contributor to high costs, even as the device's new design makes it simpler to replace the display than on previous models.There is a tight control on iPhone 5 components in the market, [repair firm iCracked founder AJ] Forsythe says. “Market forces determine the price,” he says. “Apple sells about 300,000 iPhones a day and, as the repair market grows, prices will get lower.” “Apple controls everything from the manufacturing to the gear for the iPhone 5,” says Jeff Haynes, editor at deal site TechBargains.com. As the iPhone 5 is larger than the 4, the cost for replacement parts rises, he says.The display is the...
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