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iTunes Match hits US 'end of October' for $24.99
We already had the details on iTunes Match, but now we've got a ballpark release date. According to Apple, the iTunes service will make its debut by the end of the month in the great U S of A, and it can be yours for $24.99 a year. Here's hoping Apple's got a nice, clean (DRM-free 256kbps AAC file) version of Monster Mash floating in the cloud for your Halloween listening pleasure.
Cards app for iPhone sends snail mail best wishes, for a price
We've got at least one completely unexpected announcement from Apple's Let's Talk iPhone Event: a new app that sends out greeting cards. For $2.99 within the US and $4.99 internationally, sending a greeting card the old fashioned way is just one click away on your mobile, complete with notifications when your card is mailed. Taking shots at PC makers and Android's apps are a given, but a bomb dropped on Hallmark? Welcome to the Tim Cook era. Check the liveblog and gallery below for more details. %Gallery-135715% Follow along in our ongoing liveblog right here!
Apple shares huge iPhone sales and approval numbers
Tim Cook, subdued as he is today, was probably most excited this morning when talking about just how well the iPhone has done lately. The iPhone 4 specifically, says Cook, has continued to sell like crazy, and in fact now makes up half of the sales of the iPhone in total, overcoming both the original and the 3G and 3GS in units. "That momentum is far outpacing the industry," said Cook in today's event. Customer satisfaction is huge for the phone as well -- the iPhone is consistently rated number 1 in every survey Cook says he can find, and 93% of the Fortune 500 companies are currently testing or deploying the iPhone in their operations. All of that, says Cook, has given the iPhone just a 5% share in the handsets market around the world. Note that that's handsets as a whole, not just smartphones. Cook says the company is aiming to go even higher with the iPhone. "I could have shown a much larger number if I just showed smartphones, but that's not how we look at it," he said. Cook also promised more iPhone news later on today.
Tim Cook: Macbook Pro and iMac are the best selling notebook and desktop in the US
Tim Cook kicked off today's 'Let's talk iPhone' event by the numbers, mentioning that "the MacBook Pro and iMac are the number one best selling notebook and desktop in the United States." Apparently the Mac platform grew by 23 percent over the last year, versus a four percent growth from the PC sector. Brandishing a chart tracing the trend back five years, Cook says that Apple is now pushing 60 million Mac users worldwide, leaving Cupertino just shy of owning a fourth of the personal computer market. "There are still 77 percent of people who are buying something else," Cook said, "We have an incredibly high ceiling here. We have a long way to go."
Tim Cook announces impressive Apple Retail Store numbers
Photo courtesy Engadget Tim Cook has taken the stage in San Francisco to kick off today's Apple event, and he's shared some big numbers for Apple's retail stores. The company's largest store in Asia boasted more than 100,000 visitors in just its opening weekend. Cook says Apple was impressed when its LA store had over 100,000 visitors in a month, so that weekend must have been really busy. The Hong Kong store also had a solid turnout, selling more Macs on its first day open than the company has at any other store in the world. Apple currently has 357 stores in 11 different countries, says Cook, and "many more are coming."
Apple: Six million copies of OS X Lion downloaded since launch
Before we get to the real meat of things, Tim Cook's just trotted out some Lion numbers -- six million copies downloaded since launch, to be exact. According to the big Apple's new CEO, that's a growth of 80 percent over Snow Leopard. Of course, those numbers would mean nothing without a little comparison. Cook says it took Windows 7 20 weeks to meet 10 percent of Windows' install base, compared to the two weeks it took Lion to reach the same portion of OS X users.
Apple's 'Let's Talk iPhone' keynote liveblog!
Hey! You made it! But it's a little early. Not to worry, though -- bookmark this page (yes, this one!) and return at the time listed below for our blow-by-blow coverage live from Cupertino!Psst... and toss your own time zone / day in comments below! 07:00AM - Hawaii10:00AM - Pacific11:00AM - Mountain12:00PM - Central01:00PM - Eastern06:00PM - London07:00PM - Paris09:00PM - Moscow02:00AM - Tokyo (October 5th)
iPhone 4S landing on October 14th according to Apple Store page in Japan
Well, Tim Cook has yet to even take the stage and already the leaks are starting to pour in. It started with a pair of images buried in the Apple store's HTML code. But, perhaps more telling, was the page for the Ginza, Japan store listing the launch of the iPhone 4S as a featured event starting at 8am on October 14th. While that doesn't necessarily mean the tweaked iPhone 4 variant will launch everywhere on the same day, it seems a safe bet that the US and UK will be getting in on the action that Friday morning.Update: Well, that was short lived. The text is gone... for now.
Engadget, broadcasting live from Apple's 'Let's Talk iPhone' event in Cupertino!
We did it at WWDC, and we're doing it from 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, California. Apple's holding its hotly-anticipated iPhone 5 (and iPhone 4s?) launch event here this morning, and we're on-hand to bring you a bit of pre- and post-show banter. Join Tim Stevens, Darren Murph and a plethora of Sesame Street characters* as we break down what's likely to go down during today's "Let's Talk iPhone" event. And once we're ushered inside (you know, where live video streams aren't allowed), follow our liveblog right here. Check out the video after the break. *Pending a response from Cookie Monster's publicist. %Gallery-135701% Update: And we're done! Stay tuned for the liveblog and more throughout the day!
Engadget will be broadcasting live outside of Apple's 'Let's Talk iPhone' event!
It's all going down tomorrow, and you can bet your bottom dollar (or last prepaid SIM, whichever you prefer) that we'll be liveblogging it all on these pages right here. But prior to Apple's "Let's Talk iPhone" event, we'll be set up outside of the company's Cupertino headquarters in order to bring live pre-show analysis, including the very latest rumblings from the Apple mecca and any top-secret tips on ditching work in order to follow along. Just so we're clear, Apple doesn't allow live video streaming during the keynote, but our usual liveblog can be followed October 4th starting at 1:00PM ET (10:00am local time) right here. It might get a wee bit insane.
Tim Cook's "time to shine" with new iPhone announcement
Tomorrow is a big day for Apple fans around the world, it's also a big day for Apple CEO Tim Cook. Cook is expected to introduce the next generation iPhone. Apple's first high-profile announcement since WWDC and Cook's first as CEO. Cook is highly regarded as an expert in operations and supply chain management. He is given credit as the man who secured an ample and inexpensive supply of internal components for the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Tomorrow will be a test of whether he can move beyond that role and deliver a dynamic and exciting keynote. Cook will likely be joined by Phil Schiller and Scott Forstall, but Steve Jobs is not expected to make an appearance. Nervousness aside, Cook should do a fine job introducing one of the most highly anticipated products of 2011. All of us at TUAW will be following the keynote and meta live-blogging it. Won't you join us?
Apple's 'Let's Talk iPhone' event is tomorrow -- get your liveblog right here!
Apple pulled a fast one by leaving the iPhone 5 in its back pocket during WWDC, and little did we know that it'd be Tim Cook -- not Steve Jobs -- revealing the company's next-gen handset. 'Course, Tim already had a bit of experience by doing the honors alongside Lowell McAdam for the Verizon iPhone 4, but this is another beast entirely. Will the "Let's Talk iPhone" keynote bring about a cheaper, perhaps prepaid iPhone 4s? Will Sprint finally get an iPhone to call its own? Will the iPhone 5 read our minds? Will this change everything, despite everything already being changed? Bookmark this page here and return at the times below for our blow-by-blow coverage live from Cupertino!Psst... and toss your own time zone / day in comments below! 07:00AM - Hawaii10:00AM - Pacific11:00AM - Mountain12:00PM - Central01:00PM - Eastern06:00PM - London07:00PM - Paris09:00PM - Moscow02:00AM - Tokyo (October 5th)
Apple Q4 financial call set for October 18
Apple has announced the date for its Q4 financial call. The call will take place on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. PT. As usual, Apple will detail it's financial results for the quarter that ends this Friday, September 30th. Besides addressing this past quarter, the call should also feature plenty of questions from analysts about the number of iPhone 5 units sold on launch weekend (the iPhone 5 will presumably launch by that time) and other standard questions about Apple's product pipeline, which will no doubt earn the standard "Apple doesn't comment on future products" answer. This financial call will also be notable because it will be the first call with Tim Cook as Apple's CEO. No doubt there will be lots of questions about how the transition is progressing and about any perceived or material impact the transition is having on the company.
Apple special event forecast for October 4
The sense of something coming soon grows stronger, as AllThingsD cites "sources close to the situation" saying that Apple's next media event will be held October 4. The hypothetical event, for which no invitations have yet been issued, would presumably be the venue where the next generation of the iPhone is announced to the world. Those same or similar sources also told ATD's John Paczkowski that the new phone would ship several weeks after the event. As important as the iPhone announcement is to Apple's performance over the next year, the host of the event is equally important. ATD says, unsurprisingly, that Tim Cook will be presiding over the announcement presentation. The newly promoted CEO will have some big shoes to fill on the presentation side, but no word yet whether he's planning to don the ceremonial black sweater. We judge this report largely credible; it correlates with the dates that have been bandied about, and ATD usually has good sources (some via the elder statesman of the tech beat, Uncle Walt Mossberg). Mark your calendars.
Report: Apple to hold media event on October 4th, Tim Cook to unveil iPhone 5
We have yet to receive official word on this, but All Things Digital is reporting today that Apple's next big media event will be held on October 4th, where freshly minted CEO Tim Cook is expected to unveil the iPhone 5. Sources close to the situation say Cook will be the main presenter at the event, with execs Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall and Eddy Cue playing supporting roles. This would mark the first time that Cook has actually led an Apple event, adding an extra wrinkle of significance to an already highly anticipated occasion. The site's sources went on to say that the next-gen iPhone will be available for purchase "within a few weeks" of the announcement, though All Things Digital acknowledges that the exact date of its unveiling is still subject to change. As always, we'll be sure to keep you posted as soon as we hear more.
Apple up 7.2% since Jobs resigned
As last week ended, Apple stock closed above US$400 (as we publish this AAPL is at an all-time high of $410). What's more interesting is that AAPL has climbed 7.2 percent between last Friday, September 16 and August 25, when Steve Jobs announced his resignation. A 7.2% gain in about three weeks is impressive, but even more so on the heels of Jobs's departure. When Steve took a medical leave of absence in 2009, anxiety was high among Apple's investors and customers (not to mention Steve's friends and family). Then COO Tim Cook acted as interim CEO, guiding Apple through several successful product launches. Surely Cook's performance in 2009 has tempered the market's hesitation now that he's working as CEO. It's a nice show of faith in Tim's abilities, and a promising start to the Cook-era Apple.
A look at Jeff Williams, Tim Cook's right-hand man
Fortune has posted a brief profile of Jeff Williams, Apple's senior vice president of operations. Describing him as "Tim Cook's Tim Cook," Fortune's piece notes that Williams joined Apple in 1998 as head of worldwide procurement and was responsible for a US$1.25 billion deal with flash memory manufacturers that helped make the iPod nano a (very successful and very lucrative) reality. Williams is primarily responsible for Apple's supply and production process, so he has close ties to Apple's overseas partners, including Foxconn. Now that Tim Cook has been promoted to CEO, Williams has taken over some of the duties Cook managed as Apple's Chief Operations Officer. Apple's supply and procurement logistics are the unsung heroes of the company's success, and some analysts have noted that while other companies may scramble to copy the look and feel of Apple's devices (with varying degrees of success), Apple's supply chain is going to be much more difficult for competitors to emulate -- assuming they even can. Fortune's profile of Williams makes him sound like a smart and capable guy that Apple's fortunate to have on its payroll. And it underscores the fact that Apple's success over the past decade hasn't been all down to one man, but rather a huge team of intelligent, dedicated, hard-working men and women.
Apple allegedly 'open' to restoring discontinued MobileMe features
As part of the MobileMe transition to iCloud, several of MobileMe's features are being discontinued, including iWeb hosting, Gallery, iDisk, and a handful of syncing services. An AppleInsider reader emailed Apple CEO Tim Cook to complain about the deprecation of iDisk and syncing services for application preferences and keychains. Instead of receiving an email response, the reader allegedly received a phone call from Cook's office saying that while those services aren't currently planned to be making the transition to iCloud, "Apple is open to it if there's enough feedback on the subject." There's no way to verify the legitimacy of this phone call, but it does align nicely with a trend we've been noticing since Tim Cook took over as CEO -- Apple seems a bit more open to serious consideration of user suggestions and criticisms than it's been in the past.
Apple launches charitable matching program for employees
MacRumors has confirmed that Apple has instituted a program to match its employees' charitable donations, up to US$10,000 per year. It's restricted to full-time employees in the U.S. for now, but the company hopes to expand that. Tim Cook announced the initiative to Apple's employees earlier today: "Team: I am very happy to announce that we are kicking off a matching gift program for charitable donations. We are all really inspired by the generosity of our co-workers who give back to the community and this program is going to help that individual giving go even farther. Starting September 15, when you give money to a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Apple will match your gift dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000 annually. This program will be for full-time employees in the US at first, and we'll expand it to other parts of the world over time. Thank you all for working so hard to make a difference, both here at Apple and in the lives of others. I am incredibly proud to be part of this team. If you'd like more information on the program, you can get it on HRWeb, which can be easily accessed through AppleWeb. Tim" Good on Apple and CEO Tim Cook. It sounds like a great program.
Tim Cook reportedly responding to customer emails
We'll miss a lot of things about Steve Jobs being at Apple in the CEO position, but one loss will be his tendency to answer all kinds of customer emails in person, no matter what the topic (or time of day). There's hope, though: MacRumors has our first reported "TimMail," in which new CEO Tim Cook has taken the time out to personally answer a customer emailing him congrats about his new promotion. You can see it in the image above -- like Steve, Tim seems to be a man of few words who uses them well. The "War Eagle" cry is a reference to Cook's alma mater, Auburn University, where apparently he remains a fan. Good to see that Cook is apparently continuing the tradition of answering emails as CEO -- we'll have to see how he reacts when the messages go from simple congratulations to issues that might be a little tougher to deal with.
