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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Smart watch : project Pebble


Popular Kickstarter smart watch project Pebble, which broke records by raising over $10 million in its funding push, has announced at CES today that the device will begin shipping to Kickstarter backers on January 23. With over 85,000 orders placed, it will take approximately 6-8 weeks to fulfill the Kickstarter orders, after which the watch will be available for general sale. 

Image from Engadget


Pebble is just one of a growing number of smart watches, and Apple has even been rumored to be working on its own project. But Pebble's relatively large e-paper display and an API for app developers have generated considerable buzz for the project. 



Pebble supports both iOS and Android devices via low-power Bluetooth 4.0, with iOS devices requiring a minimum of iOS 5 for basic compatibility and iOS 6 for the full set of features. When paired with an iOS 6 device, Pebble can display many of the alerts that typically pop up in Notification Center. Pebble is also working on building out a cloud infrastructure that would allow users to sign in to a web site or web app with their Pebble accounts and receive notifications from the site pushed to their watches.

Apple Again The Second Most Valuable Publicly Traded Company in the World


Back in August 2011, Apple first passed Exxon Mobil as the most valuable publicly traded company in the world. Both companies have risen in value since, but Apple's recent slide has allowed Exxon Mobil to again regain its position at the top of the corporate world.

Aaplxom
In the 17 months since Apple passed Exxon Mobil, XOM's stock is up some 27%, while AAPL has risen roughly 18%. Today, however, Apple has set a new 52-week low, while Exxon is matching its 52-week high set last September.

Currently, Apple's stock price is at $441.11 with a market capitalization of $414.28 billion. Exxon Mobil is at $91.43 with a market cap of $416.86 billion.

In Apple's most recent quarter, the company generated $13.08 billion in profit on $54.51 billion in sales, with 72,800 employees. Exxon Mobil generated $9.93 billion in profit on $115.71 billion in revenue with 82,100 employees.

iPhone 5S Said to Feature Upgraded Rear Camera, iPad Mini Update Targeted for October

Following up on his report from earlier today about Apple's plans for the full-size iPad and iPhone, iLounge's Jeremy Horwitz has a new article sharing additional information on Apple's mobile device plans. The information comes from a "trusted source" and discloses product code names for the various devices as well as plans for an upgrade to the rear camera system for the iPhone 5S.
The iPhone 5S is still months away from mass production, but our source suspects that the star feature will be an upgraded rear camera—perhaps featuring Sony’s 13-Megapixel sensor, plus the aforementioned flash upgrade—along with a processor bump. Current prototypes are code named N51 and N53, with July mentioned as the target date.
The source indicates that the code name for the fifth-generation iPad is J72, while the second-generation iPad mini has a code name of J85. 

The report indicates that the second-generation iPad mini is unlikely to appear until October of this year, roughly the same timeframe as for the next full-size iPad. Sources have scant information on the actual device, but suggest that it is likely to retain essentially the same form factor as the current model and add a Retina display. A move to a Retina display without increasing the physical size of the device would almost certainly necessitate a change in the display technology such as the adoption of new IGZO panels. 

Some previous reports had indicated that the iPad and iPad mini could see updates as soon as March as part of an effort to accelerate the product development cycle, butiLounge's claims of an October launch are more in line with a recent report from frequently accurate KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.


:Macrumors

'JOBS' Movie Clip 'Totally Wrong', Says Steve Wozniak


The interaction between Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak shown in the first scene to be released from the biopic JOBS, due to appear in theaters April 19, is 'totally wrong' according to an email Wozniak sent to Gizmodo.
Totally wrong. Personalities and where the ideas of computers affecting society did not come from Jobs. They inspired me and were widely spoken at the Homebrew Computer Club. Steve came back from Oregon and came to a club meeting and didn’t start talking about this great social impact. His idea was to make a $20 PC board and sell it for $40 to help people at the club build the computer I’d given away … Our relationship was so different than what was portrayed. I’m embarrassed but if the movie is fun and entertaining, all the better. Anyone who reads my book iWoz can get a clearer picture.
Wozniak says that 'the lofty talk came much further down the line' after Jobs started to see more about the likely social impact of personal computers.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Apple's retail VP Jerry McDougal calls it quits


Apple's retail VP Jerry McDougal calls it quits
Jerry McDougal in happier times
Jerry McDougal in happier times
There seems to be a subtle change in the atmosphere at Apple. With the stock down 31% from its all time highmade on the day that the Apple iPhone 5 launched, and as Wall Street analysts lower their target on the company's stock, there is a new feeling in the air around Cupertino. And now, some of the tech titan's executives are leaving the company. On Tuesday, Apple VP of Retail, Jerry McDougal, resigned. McDougal was considered to be a possible choice to fill the vacant office with title Senior VP of Retail on the door.

McDougal will be replaced by Jim Bean, formerly VP of Finance. Meanwhile, Apple is still looking for someone to replace John Browett, the man that was at the top of the totem pole at Apple's retail division. You might recall that Browett joined Apple last year after a stint at retailer Dixons and was quickly awarded a pay package worth as much as $61 million before getting canned by Apple.

"Retail has an incredibly strong network of leaders at the store and regional level, and they will continue the excellent work they’ve done over the past decade to revolutionize retailing with unique, innovative services and a focus on the customer that is second to none. Jim Bean is moving to Retail to help support our store teams. Jim has been at Apple for 15 years and is a great leader who understands our culture and focus on customer service."-Steve Dowling, Apple spokesman

Apple's pricing magic revealed


Apple's pricing magic explained
Have you ever wondered why phones and tablets often get hugely discounted merely weeks or months after release, and the iPhone and iPad retain their prices perfectly flat for nearly their whole yearly existence? How does Apple manage to prevent large chains like Best Buy and Wal-Mart to discount its products when even giants like Samsung cannot?


If you have ever wondered about the pricing magic that Apple does to keep its huge profit margin intact, an interesting article at MacWorld gives an explanation to at least a part of your questions.

First of all, Apple treats stores that sell its products differently from other companies. How? Every manufacturer gives its “manufacturer suggested retail price" or MSRP to retailers, and retailers can then come up with a price. However while all manufacturers allow for a wide gap between the wholesale price paid by the retailer and the MSRP, Apple does not.

The actual gap between wholesale price and MSRP for Apple products is a mystery surrounded with the veil of secrecy typical for Cupertino. And retailers cannot tell the numbers as they are bound by non-disclosure agreements.
“Apple, however, extends only a tiny wholesale discount on its Macs and iPads to your retailer of choice. The actual numbers are a closely guarded secret, protected by confidentiality agreements between Cupertino and its resellers, but the difference probably amounts to only a few percentage points off the official price that you find at Apple's own stores. With such a narrow gap to tinker with, most retailers can't offer big discounts and still hope to turn a profit,” MacWorld explains.

This alone however does not do the trick. Apple actually provides considerable monetary awards to retailers selling their products at or above a set price. This works like a post-sale subsidy, and keeps the pricing flat.

Overall, this strategy works brilliantly for Apple. The company has an equal policy towards all retailers, and it avoids the risk of having one single retailer offer huge cuts, grab the majority of sales and then blackmail Apple for discounts. Instead, Cupertino has its huge margin and the retailers are happy with their monetary incentive. Not a bad business model, is it?

-Phonearena

Monday, January 7, 2013

Movie 'jOBS' by Ashton Kutcher to Be Released in April

Open Road Films has announced that it is the distributor for the Ashton Kutcher-led film jOBS, and that the movie will receive a full release in April of this year, reports Deadline.
Ashtonkutcher
Directed by Joshua Michael Stern, written by Matthew Whitely, shot by Oscar- winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter and produced by Mark Hulme, jOBS details the major moments and defining characters that influenced Steve Jobs on a daily basis from 1971 through 2000. jOBS plunges into the depths of his character, creating an intense dialogue-driven story that is as much a sweeping epic as it is an immensely personal portrait of Steve Jobs’ life. The filmmakers were granted unprecedented access during shooting to the historic garage in Palo Alto, that served as the birthplace to Apple Inc. jOBS stars Ashton Kutcher, Dermot Mulroney, Josh Gad, Lukas Haas, J.K. Simmons and Matthew Modine. Inferno Entertainment is handling international sales on jOBS.

Rumor : Next iPhone coming with a lot color options


Apple is said to be planning to offer customers more choices with the launch of its next-generation iPhone, including multiple colors and sizes, with an earlier-than-expected debut in the May-June time frame.

Analyst Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets said in a note to investors Wednesday that his checks within the industry have indicated the so-called "iPhone 5S" will come in a variety of colors beyond the current black and white. He expects that the next iPhone will be available in a total of eight colors: the pink, yellow, blue, green, purple, silver and slate shades currently found on the iPod nano, and a (Product)Red model with proceeds benefiting AIDS research.
iPod touch

Beyond the new colors, White also said his industry checks found that a new model could become available in multiple screen sizes. Apple currently sells the 4-inch iPhone 5 alongside the 3.5-inch iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, but the company has never offered multiple screen sizes for a single model.

"We believe this is about to change with the next iPhone offering different screen sizes that we believe will allow Apple to better bifurcate the market and expand its reach," White said. "This eventually opens up the possibility for a lower-priced iPhone (i.e., iPhone mini) with a smaller screen size that could allow Apple to further penetrate markets such as China and open up opportunities in India."

The possibility of different iPhone screen sizes also opens up the opportunity for Apple to build a handset with a larger display. Apple's chief rival, Samsung, has found some success in the market with its Galaxy Note series, which features a 5.5-inch screen with its latest model.

The launch of the iPhone 5 in September marked the first time that Apple has changed the screen size of the iPhone. The new 4-inch screen is slightly taller than the previous 3.5-inch screen, but remains the same width, allowing the handset to be operated with one hand.

As for new colors, White expects that expanded options will also eventually come to the iPad lineup, though no timeframe was given. The iPad mini launched in late October with design cues borrowed from the redesigned iPhone 5 and iPod touch, including an anodized aluminum back, but the device lacks the array of color options found in the iPod touch lineup.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Big screen devices expected at CES 2013


Big-screen "phablet" devices, positioned between a smartphone and a tablet, are predicted to be a big trend at this year's Consumer Electronics Show.

With Huawei expected to unveil the Ascend Mate with a 6.1-inch screen, and 5-inch phones anticipated from LG and ZTE, Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets expects CES 2013 to showcase a number of "embarrassingly large" smartphones.

Though he finds smartphones with screen sizes of 5 inches and larger "awkward to hold," he found in his recent trips to China and Hong Kong that there has been a trend in the market toward "ultra-large smartphones at the high end of the market," such as with Samsung's recently released Galaxy Note II.

If the market is truly headed in that direction, White believes that even Apple may not be immune to this trend. Earlier this week, he predicted that Apple will expand the iPhone lineup this year with new colors, beyond the current black and white options, as well as multiple screen sizes.



"We believe Apple will offer customers more screen sizes with the next iPhone and a display as large as 5 inches is not out of the question, in our view," White reiterated in his latest note to investors on Friday.

He also expects major TV makers will continue to evolve the platform, such as Samsung, which is hyping a new HDTV model with an "unprecedented new shape." But he believes that Apple is the only company on the market right now that could truly reinvent the television experience.

"We still believe the 'elephant in the room' at CES will be Apple TV that we believe will totally reinvent the TV experience," he said. "Apple's ability to develop hardware and software together, combined with a relentless, detailed focus on aesthetics and a robust ecosystem will make the company difficult to beat in the coming years." 

Thursday, January 3, 2013

iPhone users report the bendy frame of iPhone 5


Apple iPhone 5 users complain of soft, bendy frame
The Apple iPhone 5 is expected to beat all sales a smartphone has ever held this Holiday quarter, but with so many iPhones out there it seems that more and more users are starting to notice that the new device is less rigid than previous iPhones.

Give it more pressure, and the iPhone 5’s aluminum unibody will bend in an ugly way. Well, by more we do mean that those users would forget they had the thin 4-inch Apple smartphone in their back pocket and sit on it. And that’s pretty extreme.

But the bending that occurs is too, and that is a problem. The new iPhone is taller than all previous ones, and it is thinner too, at just 0.34 inches (8.6mm).

If you are wondering why is this being reported now, more than 2 months after the U.S. launch of the device, it is because recently the handset became available in more countries, including China. And China is where most of those reports about the bendy iPhone seem to be coming from.

It’d be interesting to hear whether the same has occurred to you or any of your friends. Take a look at those deformed iPhones below, and just remember - it won’t be a good idea slipping the expensive gadget in your back pocket.






source: Nowhereelse


The Apple iPhone 5S will give consumers a choice of screen size and color


Analyst: The Apple iPhone 5S will give consumers a choice of screen size and color
Topeka Capital Market analyst Brian White has been conducting some supply chain checks, and what he sees is that the so-called Apple iPhone 5S will offer consumers some real choices when launched.  This will give iOS users a similar experience to buyers of Android flavored models who can choose from devices with different screen sizes, colors, features and price points.

White sees production on the next Apple iPhone beginning in March/April with theproduct launch due in May/June. On Monday, we told you how some app developers are beginning to see their apps tested on the next Apple iPhone and iOS 7. The analyst sees Apple offering the Apple iPhone 5S in a variety of colors such as pink, yellow, blue, white & silver and black & slate.

"Our checks indicate that the next iPhone will have more choices for customers. This entails an expansion in both the color patterns and screen sizes with the next iPhone (i.e., likely called the iPhone 5S) that we currently believe will be launched in May/June with certain supply production starting in March/April…

Our checks are also indicating that the next iPhone will offer customers more choice in terms of screen size,” White reported. “Although Apple offers a 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5 and a 3.5-inch screen on the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, the Company has never offered multiple screen sizes for a single model. We believe this is about to change with the next iPhone offering different screen sizes that we believe will allow Apple to better bifurcate the market and expand its reach."-Brian White, analyst, Topeka Capital Market

Just remember that most analysts are
source: Forbes

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Apple patents the Active Stylus for iOS


Apple patents the Active Stylus for iOS
Apple's
Apple's "Active Stylus" courtesy of Patently Apple
If you remember the very first introduction of the Apple iPhone, you might recall Steve Jobs putting down the stylus, saying that the Apple iPhone uses the best pointing device in the world, your finger. From that moment on, Apple has never come close to embracing the stylus. That is, until now when the Cupertino based tech giant received a patent for the "Active Stylus". 

The "Active Stylus" is a stylus that does more than just help you input a touch on a screen. Your regular everyday stylus works by blocking electric lines. Instead of being passive, like the current stylus, Apple's tool would have the capability to create its own electronic field and couple signals with the main device. This could increase the speed and accuracy of the stylus and eliminate the lag that some S Pen users have complained about. Despite the lag, the S Pen has become extremely popular, so much so that speculation has Samsung including it with the Samsung Galaxy S IV. And we would say that the popularity of the S Pen comes from its ability to be more like a marker or a crayon rather than a touch input like Steve Jobs was thinking about when he dissed the stylus in 2007.

While Apple listed the Apple iPhone and Apple iPad as a couple of devices that could benefit from the "Active Stylus," there is no guarantee that the device will soon be produced. But the guys in Cupertino could feel a lot of pressure to make the "Active Stylus" a reality if the Samsung Galaxy S IV supports the S Pen.

source: PatentlyApple via RedmondPie