Apple is paying out about $53 million to settle a class action suit that prevented some iPhone and iPod touch owners from getting warranty service on their devices if a sensor tape showed water damage.
iPod
iOS 6.1.3 fixes passcode bypass bug, improves Maps in Japan
iOS 6.1.3 is available, with an important security update and improvements to the Maps app in Japan.
Bizarre iPhone accessories
Wired has a slideshow gallery of some of the weirdest accessories for iOS devices you’ll ever see.
Apple’s consumer technology revenue
Apple’s revenue [19.9%] easily beat out rival Samsung, which came in second with 9.3 percent, up from 7 percent in 2011. The rest of the top five saw their share of revenue fall in 2012: HP dipped from 8.9 percent in 2011 to 8.2 percent last year, while Sony and Dell both slid to 4.4 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
That is an incredible number.
Apple: iOS 6 already on 300 million devices
Apple says iOS 6 has been installed on more than 300 million iOS devices worldwide, or about 60 percent of all iOS devices ever made.
iOS 6.1 released
iOS 6.1 is available for download and installation.
PlugBug World simplifies MacBook/iOS dual charging international use
Twelve South’s latest gadget for Apple users in the PlugBug World, an international version of their popular power accessory.
Limiting your kids’ iOS use
Chris Breen offers some ideas for how to limit kids’ iOS device use when they should be doing other things.
The secret to Apple’s designs
Tony Fadell:
“When you’re in a culture that has a point of view, and drives to launch everything it does, you know you’re on the hook and you better bring your best game every time.”
Delivering innovation vs delivering products
A company’s ability to manufacture products and sell them worldwide is not the same as having the power to deliver innovation to a market. Apple has proven over the last few decades that it innovates, while many of its competitors are satisfied with building products based on that innovation. […]
Next Lego Mindstorms kit will include iOS support
LEGO’s next Mindstorm kit, the EV3, will include support for iOS devices.
The ultimate iPhone anti-theft device: Hide it in a Zune
This is, without a doubt, the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. For an extra laugh, be sure to check out the FAQs.
App Store tops 40 billion downloads
Apple on Monday said that customers have downloaded more than 40 billion apps from the App Store. The company also said that nearly 20 billion of those downloads came in 2012. […]
iHoliday
When it comes to devices, kids’ holiday wish lists are simple this year. The most-wanted gifts are predominantly from one company—Apple. According to a recent Nielsen study, Apple’s popularity leading up to the holiday season continues a trend seen over the last couple of years, with American kids aged 6-12 generally more interested in the latest iOS offerings than other consumer electronics and gaming devices.
It’s going to be a good quarter for Apple.
JBL intros speakers with Lightning connectors
JBL has introduced its first two speaker systems with built-in Lightning connectors to attach newer iOS devices like the iPhone 5 and the iPad mini.
Perfection
Tell me if you’ve heard this one: “Steve Jobs never would’ve let [PRODUCT/SERVICE/INCIDENT] happen.”
That declaration has distorted the way the press writes about Apple and how it operates. The claims of his alleged perfectionism and ability to “sweat the details” didn’t just elevate the CEO to “best thing since sliced bread” status, it mutated the perception of the company for industry insiders and the public. […]
Review: iPod nano and iPod touch
I’ve been using an iPod since October 2001 when Apple first introduced the product that “puts 1,000 songs in your pocket.” We’ve come a long way since then, but one thing that hasn’t changed is my love for the iPod.
iPod ad
It’s called Bounce.
Apple begins shipping new iPods
Great news, I can’t wait to get mine.
New iPod touch gets iPhone 5 screen, color cases, iPod nano refreshed
Apple has introduced a new iPod touch, refreshed the iPod nano and still keeps on with the shuffle and classic models, though no significant changes were made to those two.
YouTube offers new iPhone/iPod touch app
YouTube has released a new video app for iPhone and iPod touch. It’s available for free download from the App Store.
BlueToad was the source of Apple device IDs leaked last week
A little more than a week ago, BlueToad was the victim of a criminal cyber attack, which resulted in the theft of Apple UDIDs from our systems. Shortly thereafter, an unknown group posted these UDIDs on the Internet.We sincerely apologize to our partners, clients, publishers, employees and users of our apps. We take information security very seriously and have great respect and appreciation for the public’s concern surrounding app and information privacy.BlueToad believes the risk that the stolen data can be used to harm app users is very low.
Well….that’s embarrassing.
TiVo Stream ships Sept. 6
TiVo is releasing its Stream transcoding box for iOS devices in the first week of September.
Samsung’s at it again
Florian Mueller on Apple’s victory in excluding the President of Samsung Telecommunications America, Dale Sohn. Samsung said Sohn “may testify regarding Samsung’s innovative technology and products,” but that wasn’t their original position:
An even bigger issue is that Samsung allegedly “fought tooth-and-nail to prevent Apple from taking Mr. Sohn’s deposition”, and in doing so, Samsung argued that Apple failed to show that Mr. Sohn had any unique “first-hand material knowledge”. Samsung had even denied that he had any “personal knowledge that is relevant to this case” and any “relationship to the accused products or the patents-in-suit other than [his] place atop Samsung’s organizational hierarchy”. The court finally granted an Apple motion to compel Mr. Sohn’s testimony, but was granted only three hours, which Apple considered insufficient, and only so late in the game that Apple was deprived of the opportunity to “to conduct any follow-up discovery in connection with [Mr. Sohn’s testimony]”.
Killing a wildly successful product
Michael Lopp:
One of my favorite Apple product announcements happened on September 7, 2005. In an Apple music event announcement, Steve Jobs got on stage, gave the usual state of the business update, and then he did something I’d never seen before. He killed a wildly successful product.
I often use this as an example of how Apple beat its competition and drove them crazy. Who would kill a product as successful as the iPod mini? Steve Jobs would.
iOS 6 introduces 200 new features
iOS 6 will bow this fall for iPhone 3GS and higher, iPad 2 and newer and fourth-gen iPod touch, and it sports more than 200 new features.
R.I.P. Zune
There was nary a mention of Zune, an existing Microsoft music and movie service, at the E3 event where Xbox Music was announced. But afterward, a Microsoft spokeswoman, Melissa Stewart, confirmed that the Zune brand is going away so Microsoft can use the better-known Xbox brand for its entertainment services, including its online video service.
Xbox is one Microsoft product that I do like.
Dell sucks balls; stock drops 12%
Dell posted first quarter sales, earnings, second quarter revenue guidance — you name it — well short of expectations Tuesday, sending shares of the Round Rock, Texas technology company were down more than 12% in after-hours trading.
Maybe they could bring back the Streak.
Jawbone introduces Big Jambox Bluetooth hi-fi speaker
Jawbone’s Big Jambox is a tabletop version of its diminutive Bluetooth speaker system that goes on sale in mid-May for $300.
Squeeze the most juice out of your iOS device battery
Wired How-To:
How will you make sure your battery lasts long enough?Here’s the rundown on what will — and won’t — make your iPhone or iPad battery last the longest, and some tips to make sure it lasts as long as your device.