In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the first Apple Store, all of the stores received an upgrade this week. The upgrade consisted of new table displays with iPads next to each product displaying prices and details. Customers can also use the iPads to call over a store employee.
When Lodsys threatened to sue iOS app developers, claiming that they owned the patent on in-app purchases, it sent a chill through the app development community. Apple came to their defense this week firing back at Lodsys saying that they had licensed the patent from them, and that Apple’s license covers developers. Developers reacted enthusiastically to Apple’s support.
Dealing with malware on Macs has been a non-issue until recent weeks. The “Mac Defender” trojan seems to have affected many Mac users, particularly the ones active on the web. Thankfully this is a weak trojan horse that is difficult to get, easy to remove and doesn’t cause any real damage. Most importantly, it does not try to spread itself like a virus.
MacMost has launched a new section, the Mac Virus and Malware Information Center. Here we have posted information and a video about the Mac Defender trojan. You can find out how to avoid it and how to remove it. In the future, we can update that section and post information there about other malware that may spring up.
Apple issued updates for iPhoto and Apple TV 2 this week. Both updates fixed some bugs. In iPhoto, merged events will no longer split up again when synced to an iPhone. On the Apple TV, 2 a variety of video and audio issues were addressed.
Apple and two app makers have been hit with a lawsuit over privacy. The suit claims that the unique phone ID is being used to track individuals and serve advertisements. It appears that those two app makers were specifically targeted only because they were mentioned in a Wall Street Journal article about user tracking.
Apple has reportedly decided this week to not use its advertising network, iAd, on apps meant for kids. A message to one developer said this was at the request of advertisers. This may leave some app creators without a source of revenue for apps they have spent time and money developing.
Microsoft has made a deal to buy Internet telephone company Skype from eBay. This alarmed many Mac and iOS users, fearing that they may lose support. But Microsoft issued a statement saying they plan to continue to support non-Microsoft platforms.
Apple updated the entire iMac line with new processors, ports, camera and graphics. The new iMacs went on sale on Tuesday with essentially the same exterior design, but new internal parts. There are 21.5-inch and 27-inch screen models.
All of the iMacs now feature quad-core Intel Core i5 processors as standard, with options to get an i7 as well. In addition, they all have the new high-speed Thunderbolt ports that support an external screen as well as hard drives and video equipment. The graphics chips range from the AMD 6750M to the AMD 6970M. The built-in camera is now 720p HD.
Since the reporting last week that iPhones keep a record of location data, information and misinformation has been inundating the tech news world. This week Apple responded to the reports.
Turns out that iPhones have been keeping cache of cell phone tower positions, not tracking your exact location. And this information is stored on your iPhone and backed up to your computer along with everything else on your iPhone. But it is not sent to Apple or anyone else. The data apparently helps speed up location determination used by apps.
Another fantastic quarterly report from Apple was issued yesterday. Here are some of the more interesting points:
A long-anticipated update to Apple’s video editing application is close to release. The new Final Cut Pro X will come out in June. It is a complete rewrite of the software to take advantage of multiple processor cores for better performance.
In addition, some new features including editing while importing, resolution independent playback and scalable rendering. It will support resolutions up to the very high quality 4K format. It will also recognize faces in shots allowing for a variety of localized effects.
What’s next for Apple? With the iPad 2 selling furiously worldwide, the rumor mill tries to forecast what is in store for the rest of the year.
Many observers note that it is time for an iMac update. Some rumors point to early May with new processors and the Thunderbolt port to match the MacBook Pro.
Rumors of a new iPhone vary between a normal late June release or a delayed release in the fall that may include 4G capability. Apple will most likely update iOS to version 5 at the same time. Some say this will include deeper voice command integration.
We’ve been expecting a major update to the Final Cut Pro video editing suite, and some are now saying it will be announced later this month. In addition, the next iPod Nano may get a camera like the previous version.
There are also continued rumors that Apple will be adding a cloud service to their product line. It may simply be a way to store your iTunes music online rather than on your hard drive.
Apple announced that it will hold its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 6 to June 10 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. This annual event usually sells out in hours and this was no different.
Apple typically makes some new announcements at the conference or just before, allowing developers to learn about new tools or operating systems at the conference. With the 2011 release of the Mac OS X Lion operating system, it seems likely that Lion will be one focus. A new version of the iOS operating system for the iPhone and iPad is also thought to be likely.
Apple began defending its trademark over the term “App Store” this week by suing Amazon and others over use of the term. Apple filed for the trademark in 2008. Apple also sent a cease-and-desist letter to a company that was promoting a porn “app store.”
The U.S. wireless landscape is about to undergo a dramatic change as AT&T intends to buy T-Mobile for $39 billion. AT&T would then become the largest wireless network in the U.S., over Verizon. It would also leave Sprint as the only major carrier not offering the iPhone.
While lines at U.S. Apple Stores last Friday started out small in the morning, they grew by leaps and bounds as the 5 p.m. launch drew nearer. At the end of the day many stores did not have enough inventory to meet demand. Online sales were similar, with longer and longer shipping times as the day wore on.
Some analysts say that Apple may have sold as many as 1 million iPad 2s over the weekend. It was hard if not impossible to find one for sale anywhere by Saturday afternoon.
With the iPad 2 launch set for tomorrow at 5 p.m., Apple put several supporting pieces into place this week. iTunes was updated to 10.2.1 and the iOS 4.3 update for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch was released on Wednesday.
The iOS 4.3 update added AirPlay streaming support for third-party apps and speeds up the Safari browser. The iPhone 4 also gets the personal hotspot feature for AT&T users.
In addition, Apple released updates to Safari for Mac and Apple TV 2 this week. Apple TV 2 shows that it is certainly capable of gaining additional “apps” when the update added MLB.TV and NBA League Pass. Though these offerings are of limited use due to blackouts of local games.
Apple did not disappoint with its special announcement yesterday. First, we got to hear the news from Steve Jobs, which is a bit of a surprise since he has stepped back from day-to-day operations at Apple for medical reasons. Second, the news itself, the iPad 2, showed a number of exciting improvements over the original.
The most functional of these improvements are the two cameras: an HD camera on one side and a VGA camera on the other, similar to the iPod Touch. Along with these will come two new standard apps: Photo Booth and FaceTime. In addition, a version of iMovie for the iPad was demonstrated that will improve upon the current iPhone 4 app with more features. There will also be a version of the music creation software GarageBand for the iPad.
In addition to the cameras, the iPad 2 sports a faster dual-core A5 processor, a thinner and lighter design and an internal gyroscope for gaming and other apps. A new HDMI accessory will allow for screen mirroring on a second display or television. A special magnetic cover accessory will act as a screen protector, screen cleaner and stand. The new iPad will use iOS 4.3 which will bring improvements to Safari, Home Sharing and AirPlay.
Apple unveiled a major update to its MacBook Pro line today, updating all models with new processors and a brand new data port. The 13-, 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros now all feature Intel i5 and i7 processors. The lower-end 13-inch model with a 2.3GHz i5, and the upper end 17-inch model can come with a 2.2 or 2.3GHz i7.
All MacBook Pros come with the new Thunderbolt connector, which combines the existing Mini DisplayPort connector with the ability to attach data devices such as hard drives and video hardware. Several devices can be connected to a single port. This is the first use of Intel’s “Light Peak” technology, renamed Thunderbolt for Apple. For now it can be used as a Mini DisplayPort connector with existing displays and converter cables to VGA, DVI and HDMI displays. But in the future it will connect many other types of devices at speeds much greater than USB2, Firewire or even USB3.
The new models also inlcude a new built-in camera. It is called the “FaceTime HD Camera” rather than an “iSight” and has 720p resolution. The FaceTime for Mac app is now available in the Mac App Store for $0.99, but comes with the new MacBook Pros.
The new MacBook Pros all come with the Intel HD Graphics 3000 built-in chipset. The 15- and 17-inch models will also have a AMD Radeon HD 6490M or 6750M for use when not using the battery. Built-to-order options include solid-state drives. The 17-inch model has the option for an antiglare display.
Next week will be another big week for Apple as they have announced a special event for March 2. All signs point to the announcement of a new iPad.
Apple unveiled its recurring billing option for iOS apps this week. Previously developers could charge you for an app at the time of purchase, or you could initiate a one-time in-app purchase of additional content or access. With subscriptions, you can now opt to be charged on a regular basis for ongoing content updates such as newspaper or magazine content. Payment would happen through the iTunes system and your iTunes account.
Apple also created new rules for charging for in-app content. App makers can have their own system for collecting subscription fees, as long as the Apple system is also offered as an option. But publishers are unhappy with the rules as Apple takes a larger 30 percent cut of the price. Publishers will also have a harder time reselling customer information from app store purchases, a practice that is a big revenue stream for print magazines.
Apple released its annual Supplier Responsibility Progress Report which details the results of an internal audit of working conditions and environmental issues involving Apple subcontractors.
Problems in the past year include high worker recruitment fees, underage workers, and several suicides in the Chinese factories used to manufacture most of Apple’s hardware. The report details violations and steps Apple has taken to better the situation.
This morning Apple and Verizon stores began selling the iPhone specifically built for the Verizon network in the U.S. Lines were tiny or non-existant because many ordered online up to a week ago. Some estimates put the pre-orders at as much as one million phones. Another reason for small lines is that the Verizon iPhone is available today at Best Buy and Walmart as well as Apple and Verizon, which may spread out demand.
Of course the Verizon iPhone isn’t really a new product either. It is essentially the same iPhone 4 that AT&T customers had had since last summer. Some buyers may be waiting for the next generation of the iPhone, expected by most for this summer.
More rumors this week of the next generation iPad. Some report that Apple has already started production, which would be in line with an April release. There is even a far-fetched rumor that a third generation iPad may be out this fall.
Verizon customers started pre-ordering their iPhones this morning. The device should be in actual users’ hands by this time next week. Meanwhile, reviewers have noted good call quality while confirming that voice and data cannot be used at the same time.
Apple Stores will open early on February 10 to start selling the Verizon version of the iPhone. In addition to Apple Stores and Verizon Stores, Best Buy will also be selling the Verizon iPhone.
The long-anticipated iPad-only newspaper, The Daily, launched yesterday. The design is similar to many iPad magazine apps, with text, animation, audio and video. The Daily is the first app to feature Apple’s new subscription payment model. You can sign up for a recurring $0.99 per week payment to continue to receive The Daily. It is being offered for the first two weeks for free.
Even when Apple doesn’t release a new product it seems to know how to make headlines. The iOS App Store had its 10 billionth app download this week and Apple celebrated with a contest giving one lucky app buyer a $10,000 iTunes gift card.
The 10 billion number is significant when you realize it was done in about 2.5 years. Adoption of the iTunes Music store was much slower, taking about three times as long to reach 10 billion. But then again, the app store is filled with free content which probably accounted for a majority of the downloads.
There was an update to iMovie 11 this week. Version 9.0.2 fixes a nasty bug that plagued many people who found that audio was out of sync when they exported their video.
As the Verizon launch of the iPhone draws nearer we’re seeing some interesting things. Verizon has begun to run commercials for the iPhone thanking customers that stuck with them and “who never stopped believing this day would come.” Apple has an ad that shows both AT&T and Verizon next to each other: “two are better than one.”
AT&T would like to hold on to existing customers too, and has reportedly been offering their old unlimited data plan to those that call and ask. Verizon will be offering unlimited data for $30/month, but indicated that that plan will be phased out in the future.
This week started off with quite a shock as Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced another medical leave. He will remain CEO of the company, but COO Tim Cook will once again take over the day-to-day operations.
We don’t know what prompted this third medical leave in the last 7 years, and no indication was given how long it will be until his return. Jobs received treatment for pancreatic cancer in 2004 and a liver transplant in 2009. Reportedly it is common to have periods of immune system trouble after a liver transplant.
On Tuesday Apple announced yet another record-setting quarter. The company had $6 billion in profits on $26.7 billion in revenue, more than 70 percent higher than last year’s numbers.
Rumors of a Verizon iPhone have been circulating for four years. This week the rumors became fact as Verizon and Apple jointly announced the coming of the iPhone to Verizon.
The launch of a slightly different iPhone 4, customized for Verizon’s CDMA network, will occur on February 10 in Apple and Verizon stores. Verizon customers can pre-order an iPhone on February 3.
The design of the iPhone 4 for Verizon is slightly different to accommodate the CDMA antenna and lack of a SIM card slot. The CDMA network differs from AT&T’s GSM network in that voice and data cannot be used at the same time. GSM also has faster data speeds and can be used in more countries for those that travel with their iPhone. But CDMA may offer better call reliability.
