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Apple news bites for Tuesday, August 5, 2014
It's been very, very quiet in the world of Apple the past few weeks, but that doesn't mean that there's nothing happening out there. Here are a few little snack-sized bits of news that we've picked up this morning: Did you break the screen on your iPhone 5s? Just walk into your local Apple Store soon and you will be able to have it repaired on-site. AppleInsider reports that as of yesterday, Apple Stores are doing iPhone 5s screen replacements in as little as one hour. Previously, damaged screens meant that your iPhone 5s would need to be sent offsite for servicing, a process that could take up to five full days. Dutch Apple fans who live in Den Haag (The Hague), Netherlands can attend the grand opening of the new Apple Store in that city this upcoming Saturday (August 9) at 10 AM local time. Grab me a t-shirt if you go to the opening, OK? The Apple website lists the address of the new store as Passage 39, 2511 AB Den Haag. Apple has been granted more patents ... totally unsurprising considering the number of patents that are applied for each year by the company. There's a patent for a "magnetic resonance power system" that could eliminate the need for batteries in keyboards and mice, another for a "microwave frequency communication system covering a wireless disposable wristband," and one for "backside iPad gaming controls." As usual, none of these patents may ever see the light of day in a future Apple product. UK Virgin Media users who are also subscribers to Sky Movies or Sky Sports can now watch those channels on their iPhones and iPads via the Sky Movies and Sky Sports apps. The Sky Sports app provides "second screen" capabilities when you're watching football games, cricket matches, or Formula 1 races on the big screen, while the Sky Movies subscription lets you watch all 11 channels or over 800 on-demand films on the go. The Mac Observer's Jeff Gamet reports that Apple has a social media secret weapon in the form of Musa Tariq. Mr. Tariq was hired as Apple's retail Digital Marketing Director, coming from Burberry (where he was a marketing director working with new Apple retail VP Angela Ahrendts) and Nike, where he was the social media director.
Apple drops price of Apple TV in Europe and other news for June 18, 2014
This afternoon we've got one gadget that keeps the kids fit, one that encourages them to sit and play games and finally, a price drop for the Apple TV. Onward! X-Doria introduces wireless activity and sleep tracker for kids. This is the first product of its type that we've seen directed at kids. This wearable sleep tracker is designed for young ones aged 5 - 13, and designs activity targets to keep them moving. The X-Doria looks like a fun, customizable way to keep kids active and motivated. Apple drops Apple TV price in much of Europe. Been holding out on Apple set top box? Now's your chance, Europe. The company has lowered the device's price from £20 to £79 in the UK, and from €10 to €99 in continental countries. Wikipad announces Gamevice controller for iPad mini. Well, look at this thing! Wikipad has announced an iOS game controller made specifically for the iPad mini. The add-on features forward-facing controls in the form of dual analog sticks, a D-pad and four face buttons. There are additional triggers underneath. Wikipad hopes to ship the Gamevice controller "later this year." Sign up to receive updates.
Apple settles ebooks price-fixing claim and other news for June 17, 2014
We've got three top stories for you this morning. Apple settles its eBook price-fixing claim out of court, new kids camps are set for Apple Stores this summer and FiftyThree teases a new goodie for Pencil owners. Let's get to it. Apple has settled the eBook price-fixing claim out of court. The details have not been made public, but Attorney Steve Berman, representing the plaintiffs, believed Apple should pay $840 million. Apple announces filmmaking, iBooks Author camps for kids. I'd love to send my kids to one of these camps. Apple has announced that it will host filmmaking and iBooks Author camps for kids ages 8 to 12 in Apple Stores this summer. The 90-minute classes will run for three days. Sessions begin in mid-July and wrap up in August. FiftyThree will add natural 'Pencil' stylus to 'Paper' with iOS 8. FiftyThree has given us another reason to get excited for iOS 8. A new Surface Pressure feature will let those using the FiftyThree Pencil (US$49.99) to angle the tip and the eraser to produce broader strokes.
Apple video shows off Tokyo Apple Store and more news for June 12, 2014
Apple has posted a nice, quick video promoting Tokyo's newest Apple Store. As ifoAppleStore points out, this video is unique in that it's the first to show a retail store being set up. Employees are show assembling the displays and filling the shelves with product. Rovio launches Angry Birds RPG "Angry Birds Epic." Just when you though the birds and pigs were fading from memory, they're back in an "epic" RPG. It features battles, weapon upgrades, treasure...all the stuff you'd expect from an RPG. Starbucks to roll out 100,000 wireless smartphone chargers. The company has teamed up with Duracell to install Powermats at locations across the country. The program has begun in select San Francisco and Boston locations, and those involved expect to expand significantly over the next year or so. Of course, you'll need a compatible case to use the charging stations. Apple expands European App store curation. Specifically, the productivity, photo & video, sport, music, lifestyle, health and travel categories now feature selections gathered by Apple's App Store editors.
Apple stock split, an acquisition, missing Maps, and more news for June 9, 2014
A mixed bag of news for this Monday. Apple's stock split took place and the company acquires a social search engine company, but internal issues seem to have kept Maps from gaining new features prior to last week's iOS 8 announcement. Lucky you! Every share of Apple stock you own just became seven shares. Apple's stock split seven-for-one, and opened at US$92.70 per share this morning -- equivalent to a pre-split price of $648.90. If the stock price happens to squeak by $100.72, that will represent an all-time high price for AAPL. Apple's stock last hit the pre-split high of $705 per share back in September of 2012. TUAW sister site TechCrunch is reporting that Apple has acquired Spotsetter, which is described as a "social search engine for places." TechCrunch's Sarah Perez says that the acquisition "was mainly about acquiring the technology and the talent of the two founders, ex-Google Maps engineer Stephen Tse and Johnny Lee". The company's app (which is no longer available) used an algorithm to pull in content from a number of social and review sites to put your friends' recommendations as a layer atop a map. It's thought that Spotsetter's technology will be used in future versions of Maps. And speaking of Maps, internal squabbles at Apple and missed deadlines are allegedly behind the absence of any word of an update to the mapping service at last week's WWDC keynote. Unnamed sources told TechCrunch that ""Many developers left the company, no map improvements planned for iOS 8 release were finished in time. Mostly it was failure of project managers and engineering project managers, tasks were very badly planned, developers had to switch multiple times from project to project." Ouch. We hates the rumors, we does, my precious. But Re/code's John Paczkowski says that there's a good chance Apple plans to hold a press event in October to announce a wearable device that would "make good use of the HealthKit health and fitness information-gathering app it recently showed off at WWDC".
Apple promises $2M to help Bay Area host Super Bowl 50 and more news from June 6, 2014
Friday is usually a slow news day in the tech world, but not today. We have a heapin' helpin' of hot Apple news to serve up: Apple CEO Tim Cook is a huge football fan, being both a supporter of Auburn University's Tigers and a member of the board of directors of the National Football Foundation. And now, the company he leads has promised US$2 million towards helping the Bay Area host the 50th National Football League championship game, AKA "Super Bowl L" (yeah, that Roman number 50 looks odd...). Google, Yahoo, Intel and other companies have also chipped in, and if all works out for the organizing committee, the 2016 Super Bowl could be held at the soon-to-be-opened Levi's Stadium (see image at top) in Santa Clara, CA. PayPal's talking about using Apple's Touch ID capabilities in its iOS apps as soon as possible. Apple has opened up the Touch ID APIs to developers in iOS 8, opening the door for the mobile payment giant to take advantage of Apple's fingerprint security technology. Rumor has it that Apple will begin building Touch ID into every iOS device announced beginning this year. Apple executives Tim Cook and Eddy Cue were on hand in Austin, TX yesterday for an opening celebration of the new Apple campus there. The new buildings host Apple support, engineering, and operations facilities, and are just the first of a planned expansion that won't be completed until 2021. Remember the Vaavud wind meter for iOS devices that TUAW reviewed last August? The manufacturer is hosting an outdoor adventure video competition, with applicants sharing adventures using the Vaavud in the most creative and adventurous situations. Here's your chance to win prizes from more Vaavud wind meters all the way up to a DJI Phantom 2 Quadcopter. The folks over at 9to5Mac are reporting that HealthKit apparently supports some Bluetooth health accessories natively, meaning that the manufacturers no longer have to supply their own apps along with the devices.
An iPhone-ready ceiling fan and more news for June 5, 2014
What's in the news this morning? A cool fan with a rude name, good news for Pebble owners and Apple's apparent misuse of a product name. Let's get to it. Big Ass Fans has introduced a ceiling fan that can be controlled with your iPhone. The Haiku with SenseME is smart enough to know when a room is occupied and turn itself on or off accordingly. Additionally, it learns your "comfort preferences" and responds to temperature and humidity conditions in its environment. The companion iPhone app lets you create schedules and fiddle with various controls. Now I need to figure out how to convince my wife -- our family's CFO -- that I need one of these. The Pebble smart watch firmware, iOS app have been updated. Good news, Pebble owners. Pebble firmware 2.2 is available, and the iOS app has been updated as well. The updated app now uses iBeacon to know when the watch and the phone are close by each other. Other changes include a music progress bar and additional button functions. Australian company claims Apple stole the name "HealthKit." An Australian company called...wait for it..."HealthKit" lets users track their health and fitness online. Sound familiar? HealthKit co-founder Alison Hardacre thinks so, and she's not happy about it. "We won't let them trample over our product. Someone needs to be fired for this. We have a business with the same name and a similar product, if they had done a quick Google search they would have seen that. It's not fair."
Junglecat iPhone controller and other news for June 4, 2014
We're halfway through the week and you know what that means. Here's the Apple news you need to know this morning. Razer has announced the Junglecat game controller for iPhone 5 and 5s. The slide-out case, available in white or black (sorry, no gold), adds a D-pad and four buttons. A companion app lets you customize its functions. It seems OS X Yosemite's version of Safari will truncate URLs to the domain level. The current build at least. I dislike this behavior in mobile Safari and will be bummed if it's a part of the release version of Safari. Here's hoping we get a setting to disable it. Apple updates MFi program to allow Lightning headphones. The MFi program gives developers the tools to make Apple-certified hardware for use with its devices. This latest update will let headphone manufacturers use a device's Lightning port, as opposed to the headphone jack. Here's a first: iOS apps are the most popular way to watch TV online. A report conducted by Adobe revealed that iOS apps hold a 43% market share of online TV viewing, versus the 36% that browsers hold. Goodness knows I use my iPad as a TV all the time.
Apple addresses virtual currency and other news for June 3, 2014
In our first post-WWDC news roundup, we have stories about iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite! Who would have guessed? Specifically, getting into (and out of) a beta and virtual currencies. Onward. 1. Apple has clarified its stance on virtual currencies in apps. The newly updated App Store Review Guidelines reveals that Apple is willing to approve apps that deal with virtual currency, within limits: "Purchasing and Currencies 11.17 Apps may facilitate transmission of approved virtual currencies provided that they do so in compliance with all state and federal laws for the territories in which the app functions." This is one of the first times the company has officially recognized virtual currencies. 2. How to sign up for Apple's OS X Yosemite beta program. Eager to try out the beta of Apple's forthcoming Mac OS? You needn't be a developer anymore. This year, the rest of us can apply to the program, and Mac Observer outlines how. 3. Downgrade back to iOS 7 from iOS 8 beta. Here's the problem: many eager iPhone users will install iOS 8 on their devices, not to get a jump start on development, but just to see what it's like. Those who use their main iPhone for this purpose may soon regret it. Fortunately, Ars has posted a tutorial on getting back to iOS 7.
NTT DOCOMO to get iPad Air, mini and more news for May 28, 2014
The iPad is in the news twice this morning, plus an app update from the BBC. Finally! Japanese carrier NTT DOCOMO is scheduled to get the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini on June 10, according to a press release from Apple. As of June 2, customers can pre-register for an iPad Air or a Retina iPad mini via DOCOMO's website. The BBC has released a major update to its iPlayer app for iOS. The company surprised a few folks when it made its latest iPlayer update available for Windows phones first. Now it's finally available in the iOS flavour (Android, too). I do wish it'd be available here in the States, but I suspect that'd require slashing through a jungle of red tape. Apple has released education pricing for the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini (Google translation). The Air and Retina mini, typically US$499 and $399 respectively are selling for $469 and $379 to qualified education customers.
Apple smart home initiative and other news for May 27, 2014
It's almost time for Apple's annual World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC), which means that the rumor mills are working over time to mass produce ideas of what might we might hear about at next Monday's keynote address. Apple getting into the home automation market is one of the first and most intriguing rumors, so let's look at that and other news of the day: The Financial Times said yesterday that Apple may announce a new software platform allowing iOS devices to control "the Internet of Things," meaning devices like thermostats, door locks, lights, and more. The platform would be announced alongside a new initiative similar to the "Made for iPhone" program, with Apple certifying devices that work with the platform. Apple already sells a number of connected devices in Apple Stores. Apple has been granted a patent for a method of embedding displays -- including those covered with sapphire -- into Liquid Metal. The patent was applied for six years ago, but is of particular interest since Apple has exclusive rights to the "bulk amorphous alloy" through the end of 2015 and is also investing in a large synthetic sapphire manufacturing facility in Arizona. Want a Mac Pro? Finally, more than six months after the top-of-the-line Mac was rolled out, you can get one configured to order in about a week. While you're at it, buy another one and send it my way, OK?
Free shipping from Apple's online store and more news for May 23, 2014
Friday is typically a "slow news day," but we've got four stories this week. Apple's online store offers free shipping for a time, iAd Producer has gotten an update, Apple agrees to a large settlement in court and hackers claim to have around a pretty nasty iCloud exploit. Onward! Apple's online store is offering free shipping through May 29. Perhaps they're prepping for the Father's Day shopping season or just looking for a pre-summer boost. If it's the former, here's a note to my family: a Mac Pro will look great on dad's desk. Apple has released iAd Producer 4.2. The updated software allows for the creation of full-screen banner ads for the iPhone and an option to upload Producer projects to iAd workbench. Minor changes include folder reorganization in the Assets sidebar and iAd Workbench support for existing iAd Producer projects. Apple, others agree to US$325M settlement in Silicon Valley wage fixing case. The group reached a preliminary agreement about a month ago, and now everyone has agreed upon a settlement of $325 million. Judge Lucy Koh -- a name probably familiar to many of you -- must still approve the settlement. Hackers claim to have exploit for iCloud, specifically affecting Activation Lock (Google translate). A group going by the name "Team DoulCi" has demonstrated the problem. It seems that iTunes on Windows does not verify security certificates properly, allowing hackers to execute a "man-in-the-middle" attack and intercept a user's Apple ID creds. The vulnerability can also let attackers into iDevices that have been rendered unusable by Activation Lock.
Apple updates WWDC app and more news for May 21, 2014
WWDC 2014 is getting closer. Are you packed and ready? Apple's been preparing and has released an updated app and the keynote date. Meanwhile, it's not been a banner day over at Ebay. Onto the news. Apple has updated its WWDC app (free) with information for 2014. It seems the folks at Cupertino had a bit of fun with the session titles, as names like "Can't Tell You Yet" and "SHHH! This One Is Sealed" had us giggling this morning. Speaking of WWDC 2014, the keynote will take place on June 2 and 10 AM Pacific time. Make sure to get in line early. This isn't Apple news, but it's definitely worth passing along as a PSA. Ebay has suffered a major security breach and all customers are urged to change their passwords. So go and do that, right now.
Another Apple Store for NYC and more news for May 19, 2014
The sun rises on yet another Monday and like a phoenix from the ashes, a new week is born. Here's a bit of news to get you going. NYC gets yet another Apple Store (Apple Store Cape Cod. Make it happen, Apple) and Apple gets sued. Stop me if any of this sounds familiar. NYC will get yet another Apple Store, according to city building permits issued last week. The permits, dated last week, bear the names of Apple's typical architect and structural engineer. IFO Apple Store confirmed the Upper East Side construction project on May 6. Android user sues Apple over "iMessage Purgatory." Some former iPhone owners who switch to Android are finding that their text messages aren't making the transition. Instead, the missives are trapped in an iMessage purgatory and unattainable. Adrienne Moore claims that Apple has "interfered" with cell contracts by hindering her text messages.
Apple, EA test free in-app purchases and more news for May 16, 2014
Don't start your weekend without a dose of Apple news. Today we've got free in-app purchases, CarPlay and a lot of retail revenue for Apple. Apple and EA are trying out free in-app purchases. Apple and game maker EA are trying out something new. EA is issuing promo codes that give players 10 "gold," the virtual currency in Real Racing 3. Typically, 10 gold is a two-dollar purchase in RR3. Until now, promo codes from Apple were restricted to paid app giveaways. Pioneer's NEX In-Dash Systems will receive a CarPlay update soon. Eager to check out CarPlay, Apple's in-dash solution for iOS in your car? One more avenue to the touch-friendly promised land is about to be unveiled. Pioneer has promised that a firmware update for the NEX In-Dash System will enable CarPlay, and that it should be out in "a few weeks." Apple averages more sales per square foot than any other retailer. A recent study has confirmed what you might suspect after visiting a packed-to-the-rafters Apple Store. The company generates more sales per square foot than any other retailer in the US. You want numbers? Apple averaged US$4,551 in sales per square foot of retail space over the past 12 months, beating out heavyweights like Tiffany & Co., Coach, and Murphy USA. But Apple is doomed.
Apple's HIG in the iBookstore and other news for May 14, 2014
We've got some Wednesday afternoon news for you. Apple's HIG becomes a more convenient to read, iCloud angers a Norwegian watchdog group, Logic Pro X gets an update and some users are stuck in iMessage purgatory. Finally, iOS apps run on Android, but very, very slowly. Apple has published its Human Interface Guidelines to the iBookstore. The guide has been available via the company's developer portal for some time, but now it's much more convenient for those with an iPad, an iPhone or the iBooks app on OS X Mavericks. This edition has the added benefit of inline video playback and annotations. Go get it, developers. A watchdog group says iCloud agreements are at odds with Norwegian law. The Norwegian Consumer Council recently conducted a study of seven cloud companies operating in its market. The results found that iCloud's customer agreement is difficult to understand and, at 8,600 words, is "convoluted and unclear." The group has filed a formal complaint. Logic Pro X update brings some nice improvements. Version 10.0.7 offers 24 processing threads for those 12-core Mac Pro models, plus smaller changes like fixes to the snap and alignment guides. "iMessage purgatory" is a problem for some. A Lifehacker editor switched from an iPhone to an Android device, and brought his number along with him. Unfortunately, his text messages aren't making the journey. It seems they're being re-routed to iMessage, where they reside in a state of limbo. An Apple rep told him that it's an issue they're aware of and working on. Some students have gotten iOS running on an Android device. By "running" I mean "operating so slowly you'll think the video has frozen." They're using the Cider compatibility layer, which tricks apps into believing they're in their natural setting by adjusting code on the fly. It's fun to watch, but cross-compatibility is still a dweam within a dweam. The charity auction for lunch with Apple CEO Tim Cook has ended, generating US$300,001. The revenue will benefit the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, not to mention the lucky devil (and friend) who gets to have lunch with Tim. While the auction beat its goal of $100K, it fell short of last year's winning bid of $610K.
Apple improves return policy and other news for May 12, 2014
Today in the news, Apple ramps up its online retail customer service and Square ditches one app for another, which you can try...if you live in NYC or San Francisco. Square Order is a new app that lets you place an order from a restaurant, cafe or shop to be picked up later. Still restricted to New York and San Francisco, the app lets you find and pay for select items with your phone, and then pick them up later. Meanwhile, Square has killed its mobile wallet app. Reuters is reporting on Apple's latest attempt to boost online sales. Specifically, the company has improved its return policy by cutting refund times in half. The move represents a big upfront cost for Apple, as Reuters notes, but will help it compete with online retail giants like Amazon. We'll have more goodies for you as the day goes on, of course, so we'll talk to you then.
EVE Evolved: Eleven years of EVE Online
It seems that every year another few MMOs have closed their doors or convert to free-to-play business models to stay afloat. EVE Online has always enjoyed a level of insulation from these market trends elsewhere in the genre, and just last week on May 6th it celebrated its 11th year of year-on-year subscription growth. Following on from my previous column celebrating the EVE Evolved column's sixth year of operation, this week I'll be summarising all the major EVE news stories throughout the year. It's been a big year for EVE fans, one that many of us can be proud to have been a part of. The EVE community turned its financial wizardry toward the real world and raised over $190,000 US in relief aid following a typhoon hitting the Philippines, and CCP even built a monument dedicated to the community. Several massive player battles once again put EVE on the global media's radars, and the Odyssey and Rubicon expansions revitalised the game for explorers and PvPers alike. But not everyone can hold his heads up high this year, with details of more cyberbullying within EVE coming to light and several players being banned for defacing the EVE monument in Reykjavik. In this anniversary retrospective, I summarise all the major EVE news from the year in one place and take a look at what the future may hold for the EVE universe.
Apple potential acquisition of Beats Electronics and other news for May 9, 2014
In this morning's Apple news, Nokia's photography lead has moved over to Apple and a little bit of music news. Stop me if you've heard this one. The Internet exploded today with news of Apple's potential acquisition of Beats Music. Note that this is not a formally-announced deal as of this writing. The Financial Times broke the story, claiming that Apple is set to pay US$3.2 billion for the young music company. That would be Apple's largest acquisition yet, and give it a huge leg up in competing with the likes of Spotify. Apple has hired Nokia's Ari Partinen. Former photography lead at Nokia's Lumia division has announced his move to Apple via Twitter. Partinen oversaw the cameras in the N8 and the 41-megapixel 808 PureView.
Tumblr introduces in-app themes and more news for May 6, 2014
Good news for Tumblr bloggers this morning, plus an in-store iPhone event from Apple to make your day complete with the top news stories. Tumblr has rolled out in-app theme switching, and it's accessible from the company's iOS app. Tumblr's creative director Peter Vidani called the move "...a continuation of something we believed in from the start," in that people could have a personal home on the web easily. Apple is reportedly readying an in-store iPhone promotion. According to 9to5 Mac, the plan is meant to drive sales by leveraging the company's iPhone buyback program. I agree with MacObserver: a promo like this doesn't indicate a response to lagging sales, as some would suggest. Retail businesses have promos all the time.
