A new national stolen phone database is having little effect on smartphone thefts in the U.S., according to an article in The New York Times. The country's four major carriers all contribute to the database, which lists stolen phone ID numbers that should not be activated on domestic networks. However, the database appears to be ineffective for several reasons. For one, the database has no effect on phones taken overseas, where many stolen phones end up. Second, the unique identifiers can be changed by organized theft rings. As a result, some law enforcement authorities have begun pressing smartphone manufacturers to build a kill switch into phones. George Gascón, San Francisco’s district attorney, says handset makers like Apple should be exploring new technologies that could help prevent theft. In March, he said, he met with an Apple executive, Michael Foulkes, who handles its government relations, to discuss how the company could improve its antitheft technology. But he left the meeting, he said, with no promise that Apple was working to do so. He added, “Unlike other types of crimes, this is a crime that could be easily fixed with a technological solution.”The Times also compares smartphone theft to car theft, which has plummeted in recent years because of technological changes in automobiles that make them more difficult to steal and part out. Cynical observers note that Apple and other carriers financially benefit from phone theft because most victims buy another phone, though Apple has gone to some expense to develop the 'Find My iPhone' service and to encourage iPhone owners to activate the service during the setup process. Google does not include any such service in Android, though there are some third-party products that are similar to Apple's service. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Acorn 4 Image Editor Adds Improved Speed, Enhanced User Interface and More • Kindle App for iOS Updated with New Accessibility Features • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera    
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As noted by The Verge, Intel late yesterday released details on its next-generation integrated graphics offerings arriving as part of the company's Haswell processor lineup. The new graphics options consist of three primary levels: an Intel HD Graphics 5000 to be packaged as part of 15-watt chips destined for ultrabooks, an Intel "Iris" Graphics 5100 to be paired with 28-watt mid-range chips targeted at larger ultrabooks, and an Intel "Iris Pro" Graphics 5200 for the highest-power chips.The company claims its new Intel "Iris" Graphics, embedded in upcoming Haswell CPUs, can offer double or triple the performance of the Intel HD Graphics 4000 that comes with current Ivy Bridge processors. That's significant: typically each generation offers only a double-digit percentage boost. That doesn't mean every new Haswell processor will come with quite that level of graphics performance, though. AnandTech has more, highlighting how ultrabooks, which would include Apple's MacBook Air, will see a lesser but still significant boost in graphics performance with Intel HD Graphics 5000.Although Ultrabooks (now 15W) won’t get full blown Iris performance, they should still see a healthy increase in GPU performance compared to where they are today (50% improvement in 3DMark) at a lower TDP. The move to a full speed GT3 part (Iris) should more than double performance in 3DMark. Apple is expected to embrace Intel's forthcoming Haswell chips in its next-generation notebook lineup, which may be introduced as soon as next month's Worldwide Developers Conference. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Acorn 4 Image Editor Adds Improved Speed, Enhanced User Interface and More • Kindle App for iOS Updated with New Accessibility Features • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera    
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CNET reports on a sneak peek from Adobe product manager Tom Hogarty showing off the company's concept for Lightroom-style photo editing on the iPad. The app would rely on cloud-based connections to serve as a companion app to the full Lightroom software, but offer a number of higher-end features for on-the-go photo editing. He wouldn't promise when the app would ship or what exactly it would do, but he did demonstrate some features of the prototype software running on an iPad 2. He also offered several details about its features: - The ability to edit photos taken in raw photo formats, including Lightroom develop-module parameters like exposure, clarity, shadows, highlights, and white balance. - Cloud-synchronized editing so that changes made on a tablet arrive on the same photo on the PC. - The ability to zoom all the way to 100 percent for checking photo focus and details.Hogarty also noted that he would like to bring features such photo sorting and flagging to the app, although other features such as brushes for tweaking photos have not been included. The app is clearly a work in progress, with the feature set still yet to be finalized and performance issues remaining, but Adobe has made clear that it wants to make some of the same powerful photo editing tools from Lightroom available to photographers on the go. For photographers who travel and spend significant amounts of time in the field, an iPad capable of performing some Lightroom-style editing on raw images could significantly improve their efficiency and workflows. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Acorn 4 Image Editor Adds Improved Speed, Enhanced User Interface and More • Kindle App for iOS Updated with New Accessibility Features • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera    
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Apple has added new storage options to its iMac lineup, allowing users to choose either a 256 GB or 512 GB flash storage drive as part of the order customization process. The new options are available as $300 and $600 surcharges respectively to replace the 1 TB traditional hard drive that is standard across all iMac models. Previously, the 21.5-inch iMac had not been available with dedicated flash storage options, only offering the standard 1 TB traditional hard drive and a $250 Fusion Drive option. Apple's Fusion Drive marries a 128 GB flash drive with a 1 TB traditional hard drive to seamlessly provide fast access to most-used files while also offering relatively cheap mass storage for the remainder of the user's storage needs. Those options remain available, but for those looking for an all-flash storage solution, Apple is now offering that in 256 and 512 GB capacities. For the 27-inch iMac, Apple did previously offer an all-flash storage solution, but only as a 768 GB drive carrying a $900 upgrade fee. The 27-inch iMac is also available with 1 TB and 3 TB traditional hard drive options, with each of those also available in a Fusion Drive configuration. But with the addition of 256 GB and 512 GB flash options, Apple is now offering users who do not need massive amounts of storage the ability to maximize speed on their machines. (Thanks, Steve!) Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Kindle App for iOS Updated with New Accessibility Features • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock    
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Renowned Apple journalist Jim Dalrymple has confirmed earlier reports that Apple has pulled engineers off OS X 10.9 to in order finish iOS 7 on time with a one word post: Yep.Jim Dalrymple (right) with rock guitarist Slash A report from AllThingsD earlier today said that Apple was in a repeat of the scenario from 2007 wherein the company pulled engineers off the development of OS X Leopard to work on the first iPhone. Apple sources told ATD that it's "not as much of a fire drill" and that iOS 7 "will ship on time". Apple hasn't actually announced a ship date for iOS 7, so "on time" is subjective at this point. However, Bloomberg said earlier today that the public launch of the software was on schedule for "as soon as September". Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Kindle App for iOS Updated with New Accessibility Features • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock    
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T-Mobile's acquisition of MetroPCS was finalized today, but the merger will not bring the iPhone to MetroPCS customers in the near future. T-Mobile CEO John Legere, who spoke to AllThingsD, said it is possible that MetroPCS might be able to offer the iPhone at some point, but no plans are currently in the works.As for the iPhone coming to MetroPCS, Legere said it's a possibility, but not a foregone conclusion. "The answer to that is not 'No'," Legere said, but added, "It's not imminent; I think that's safe to say."Though T-Mobile does not have immediate plans to offer the iPhone via MetroPCS, the company will be moving quickly to offer new MetroPCS-branded devices and transition MetroPCS customers to T-Mobile's network. Legere says that MetroPCS and T-Mobile will be "one integrated company that uses two brands to go to market." T-Mobile first began offering the iPhone earlier this month, alongside its new contract free "Uncarrier" policy. According to Legere, T-Mobile's iPhone sales have exceeded expectations, though he did not offer up specific sales numbers. The merger with MetroPCS brings approximately nine million new customers to the network, which could result in even greater iPhone sales if and when T-Mobile decides to offer the iPhone on MetroPCS. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Kindle App for iOS Updated with New Accessibility Features • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock    
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The U.S. Department of Defense is readying a new government approval for iOS devices to be used by military agencies for nonclassified communications. This is apparently a separate approval from the "commercial mobile device implementation plan" that the DoD announced a few months ago. The Wall Street Journal reports that the certification would not only allow more widespread use of iPhones and iPads across the military, but would signal to other security conscious companies like banks and law firms that these devices are safe to use. Separately, DISA is expected to rule that Apple's latest operating system, iOS 6, conforms to a different security-requirement guide, these people said. That would allow iPhones and iPads to be used by military agencies for nonclassified communications, like email and Web browsing.The DoD is also preparing to sign off on Samsung's Galaxy line of phones for similar uses. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Kindle App for iOS Updated with New Accessibility Features • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock    
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Under the direction of Jony Ive, who took charge of Apple's user interface teams last October, iOS 7's redesign is said to be "flatter" with fewer skeuomorphic design cues and an interface that focuses on simplicity. Skeuomorphism, a real-world design concept that was favored by former Apple senior vice president of iOS software Scott Forstall, is found in many of Apple's default iOS apps. For example, apps like Notes and Find My Friends both feature leather design accents and Game Center offers up a felt pool table texture. These are all elements that are expected to be removed in iOS 7, as AllThingsD points out in a new report covering the design changes. With Scott Forstall — an advocate for flashy, skeuomorphic design and its stitched-leather and faux wood grain flourishes — now gone from Apple, and Ive in an expanded role, the current and former Apple employees I've spoken to say iOS 7 was destined for a new coat of paint. As one said, "Sounds like a much-needed 'deForstallization.'"As noted byAllThingsD, Apple's iOS has not had a serious design overhaul since the original iPhone was released in 2007, making it long overdue for an update.If the company has good ideas for design tweaks, it's about time it implemented them. With new mobile operating systems like BlackBerry 10 and Windows Phone proving that there's plenty of room left for innovation in the market, Apple can ill afford even the risk of the perception that iOS might be getting dusty. Apple's challenge, then, is to overhaul the look and feel of the OS while retaining the intuitiveness that's made it so popular.According to a report from Bloomberg earlier today, Apple has been forced to delay its internal timelines for iOS 7, but the company’s engineers are said to be working overtime to get a preview ready for the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Multiple sources have indicated that Apple is pulling engineers from OS X 10.9 to help the company stay on schedule with iOS 7. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Kindle App for iOS Updated with New Accessibility Features • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock    
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Research firm IDC today announced its preliminary estimates of worldwide tablet shipments for the first quarter of 2013, finding that Apple's share of the market continues to slide as competitors begin to gain footholds in the market, although the firm notes that Apple did exceed expectations. Apple held a 39.6% share of the market for quarter, compared to 43.6% in the previous quarter and a 58.2% share in the year-ago quarter. Worldwide Tablet Shipments in 1Q13 in Millions of Units (Source: IDC)Apple outperformed IDC's most recent projections for the quarter, shipping 19.5 million units compared to a forecast of 18.7 million units. The company, which historically has experienced a steep drop off in first quarter shipments (following strong holiday sales in the fourth quarter), saw some smoothing of that seasonality this year. [...] "Sustained demand for the iPad mini and increasingly strong commercial shipments led to a better-than expected first quarter for Apple," said Tom Mainelli, Research Director, Tablets at IDC. "In addition, by moving the iPad launch to the fourth quarter of 2012, Apple seems to have avoided the typical first-quarter slowdown that traditionally occurred when consumers held off buying in January and February in anticipation of a new product launch in March."Samsung and Asus in particular saw strong performances during the quarter, with each seeing year-over-year shipment increases in excess of 250% compared to Apple's 65% growth. Still, Apple's share of the market is more than double that of second-place Samsung. In looking at operating systems, Android now outships iOS, with Android taking 56.5% of the market and iOS taking just under 40%. It is important to note that IDC's numbers track shipments instead of sales, and thus how many shipped devices are making their way into consumers' hands remains unclear. IDC's figures are also estimates, as a number of companies do not release their exact shipment data and thus research firms must rely on supply chain data and calculations from information that is made public by manufacturers to build their estimates. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Kindle App for iOS Updated with New Accessibility Features • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock    
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MacRumors is pleased to announce the Fourth Annual MacRumors Blood Drive, running for the month of May 2013. Our goal is to increase the number of life-saving donations in real-world communities by encouraging everyone in our online community to step forward. While most blood drives are specific to a geographic location and a specific collection center, our blood drive is online and worldwide. We ask that you: 1. Donate blood or platelets at any hospital or other donation center near you. Join the bone marrow registry in your country. Sign up for the organ donor registry in your state, province, or country. 2. Post in the MacRumors 2013 Blood Drive! thread. Show us your bandage/plaster after donating blood or tell us your story of registering as a bone marrow or organ donor. Let us thank you and help us thank other users who donate and/or register. 3. Share the message with other people you know. For details see the MacRumors 2013 Blood Drive! thread. Why donate blood or platelets? Donated blood and platelets save the lives of people recovering from accidents, undergoing surgery, or struck by illness. These are people in your own neighborhoods who need your help to recover. Donated blood and platelets are needed every 2 seconds, not just when calamities such as hurricanes and earthquakes occur. An hour of your time could save up to 3 lives. Why join the bone marrow registry? With a simple cheek swab you are volunteering to donate stem cells or bone marrow if you turn out to match someone dying from a disease like leukemia. You might be the only person who matches them and can save their life. Why join the organ donor registry? Thousands of people die every year while waiting for organ transplants. Your donation of organs when your own life ends could save the lives of as many as 8 people. The lives you save may belong to your friends, neighbors, relatives, or complete strangers. Someday you may receive the same generosity from others. A number of MacRumors members have already told us that the life of a loved one, or their own life, was saved by the donations of strangers. There's no gift more precious than the gift of life. This year's first blood donor: forum member "ComeAgain?" Donor eligibility requirements vary by country. We provide links and general information in our guides to Blood and Platelet Donation and Organ, Tissue, and Bone Marrow Donation. If you are eligible, please schedule a blood or platelet donation, register for the bone marrow registry, and register as an organ donor in the month of May. If you aren't eligible to donate blood, we still ask for your support in encouraging others to donate and thanking those who do, and we suggest that you check if you are eligible for the bone marrow and organ donor registries. If you think the blood donor eligibility rules in your country are unfair and discriminatory, speak up in the Blood donor eligibility discussion thread. Apple has supported a number of health, relief, and charity efforts over the years, even though Steve Jobs was not known for personal philanthropy. See our new guide to Apple Support for Charity. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock • Apple Tops Consumer Reports' Tech Support Ratings, Bests Its Own Score    
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As highlighted by The Next Web, security firm Trend Micro yesterday outlined a new phishing scam that has seen the perpetrators compromise over 100 sites in their attempts to gain access to users' Apple ID accounts. While Apple IDs are relatively popular targets for phishing scams, Trend Micro's analysis offers some interesting detail on the approaches used by the criminals.We’ve identified a total of 110 compromised sites, all of hosted at the IP address 70.86.13.17, which is registered to an ISP in the Houston area. Almost all of these sites have not been cleaned. [...] We’ve seen attacks targeting not only American users, but also British and French users. Some versions of this attack ask not only for the user’s Apple ID login credentials, but also their billing address and other personal and credit card information. It will eventually result in a page that states that access has been restored, but of course the information has been stolen.Trend Micro's sample of a spam message designed to trick recipients into sharing their account information at the compromised sites shows a very poor attempt at copying Apple's email style, but inexperienced Internet users are undoubtedly still falling for the scheme. Trend Micro offers a number of suggestions to help users protect themselves from phishing scams, including checking for consistent domains throughout email addresses and links included in an email and checking for indicators that the user is at a secure site associated with the correct company. While phishing scams rely on the gullibility of users to direct them to fake account management sites, Apple has sought to increase account security on its own site with its recent introduction of two-step verification to help minimize the possibility of an unauthorized party gaining access to a user's account. That feature is, however, only available in a handful of countries for the time being. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock • Apple Tops Consumer Reports' Tech Support Ratings, Bests Its Own Score    
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Over the past several months, rumors of Jony Ive's influence on iOS 7 as part of his new role overseeing user interface design in addition to hardware have surfaced, indicating that Ive is pushing to adopt a "flatter" design that will modernize the look of iOS. In a lengthy report, Bloomberg now notes that this major effort to remake iOS puts Apple at risk of delaying the launch of iOS 7. While a public launch is said to currently remain on schedule for "as soon as September", Apple's internal deadlines have been pushed back as Apple's software teams race to complete their work and ready a preview for next month's Worldwide Developers Conference.Ive, 46, has begun revamping iPhone and iPad applications, shunning realistic images, such as wood bookshelves for the Newsstand feature, and he’s exploring more dramatic changes to the e-mail and calendar tools, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private. Ive is also methodically reviewing new designs, seeking to avoid a repeat of last year’s release of map tools that were widely panned, and he’s encouraging collaboration between the software and hardware divisions, which operated in silos under co-founder Steve Jobs, people said.The report also corroborates previous claims from Daring Fireball's John Gruber regarding engineers being pulled from OS X projects to bolster the iOS 7 effort, as well as his claim that the software changes in iOS 7 are significant enough that testers are using devices with special films over the screens to make it more difficult for those around them to see their displays. Sources indicate to Bloomberg that Apple may ultimately have to push back to a later iOS version some of Ive's desired changes such as a complete remake of the iOS email app in order to have iOS 7 ready on time, and that Ive is also exploring some future concepts such as gesture controls that do not require touching the device's display. Finally, the report briefly describes a March town hall meeting at Apple in which Jony Ive uncharacteristically took the lead to preside over a two-hour presentation about the changes that are underway. As previously noted, Ive is also sitting in on Apple's software design meetings, reportedly offering is input without forcing his ideas, and also giving software teams greater access to his hardware plans in order to increase collaboration. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock • Apple Tops Consumer Reports' Tech Support Ratings, Bests Its Own Score    
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Apple CEO Tim Cook will be the opening night speaker at the 11th D: All Things Digital conference next month. Last year, Cook joined hosts Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg for a 100-minute session that covered a wide variety of topics. There’s lots to talk about, from the explosive growth of the mobile market to intense competition from a range of rivals, most especially Google’s Android, as well as innovative offerings from Korea’s Samsung. It will also be interesting to talk about the changes at Apple under Cook’s leadership, who took over from the late co-founder and industry legend Steve Jobs, as well inquiring about what new products are in the pipeline and how the company is faring in an increasingly high-pressure market.Tim Cook makes very few public appearances, but appears to be making the D Conference his preferred interview spot much like his predecessor Steve Jobs did. Jobs appeared on the D stage six times in nine years. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Leap Wireless Reports Improved iPhone Sales Amid Customer Losses • Apple Seeds Build 12E40 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 Developers • AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program • Russian Billionaire Buys $100 Million in Apple Stock • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock • Apple Tops Consumer Reports' Tech Support Ratings, Bests Its Own Score    
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Samsung and Apple will be heading back to court in November for a partial retrial, reports FOSS Patents. The trial follows judge Lucy Koh's March ruling that struck $450 million from the $1 billion in damages that were awarded to Apple last August, on the premise that the original damages may have been miscalculated by the jury. According to Koh, the original jury may not have had a clear understanding of the patent issues, which resulted in a lump sum award that did not distinguish between patent violations, making it impossible for the court to determine which part of the damages were applicable to each patent. Scheduled for November 12, the new trial could result in an award that favors either Apple or Samsung, depending on whether the amount is more or less than the original $450 million. The trial will be limited to the same evidence used in the original trial, which means neither Samsung nor Apple can introduce new information.The new damages trial will take place on November 12, 13, 14, 15, and 18, 2013. Eight jurors will be selected, and for the purposes of their new damages verdict, the first jury's infringement findings will be law of the case, as the court rejected Samsung's argument that a new trial also has to re-evaluate liability issues.Though a trial will determine how much (or more) of the $450 million Samsung is required to pay, Samsung is still responsible for the remaining $600 million from the original jury decision. Apple will also request both interest and supplemental damage, which could cost Samsung even more.Apple wants prejudgment interest and supplemental damages (damages covering the period between the jury trial and the final ruling), and it's undoubtedly entitled to both, but the court won't determine the amount (which won't be substantial compared to the overall set of issues in this case) until after the appeal from a final ruling following the second trial.Samsung requested a stay on the case in order to reexamine two Apple patents on rubber-banding and pinch-to-zoom that have since been preliminarily invalidated, but the request was denied. Koh did say, however, that a final ruling from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office could change her mind. The two companies also have a separate 12-day trial scheduled in March of 2014 to investigate additional patent infringement claims. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Jawbone Releases API for Developers, Buys BodyMedia • Vine Adds Support for Mentions and Front-Facing Camera • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock • Apple Tops Consumer Reports' Tech Support Ratings, Bests Its Own Score • Adobe Offering Spring Discount on Lightroom and Elements • Boost Mobile May Offer iPhone Later This Year • Independent Game Developer Pranks Pirates With 'Game Dev Tycoon' • Microsoft Commercial Pits Apple Against Samsung to Tout Windows Phone    
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Following up on yesterday's initial filing from Apple addressing the company's efforts to issue a bond offering to raise cash in support of its stock buyback program, the company today filed a prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission outlining its general plans, which include six different chunks of debt with staggered maturities. The Wall Street Journal has more on Apple's prospectus and other details being revealed in one-on-one meetings with potential investors:The Apple deal comprises six chunks of debt, according to a regulatory filing from the company. Four tranches of fixed-rate debt are being offered in the form of three-, five-, 10- and 30-year paper. Rounding out the deal are two tranches of floating-rate debt, comprised of three- and five-year notes.The Wall Street Journal indicates that Apple has not yet announced exactly how much money it intends to raise with today's offering, but that Apple is expected to offer "more than $10 billion" worth of bonds. Reuters cites a higher figure of $15-16 billion, which would rank the deal as one of the largest investment-grade bond offerings in history. While Apple holds approximately $145 billion in cash and investments, roughly two-thirds of that money is currently held in foreign countries and would be subject to significant taxes if it were to be returned to the United States. As a result, Apple has elected to keep that money offshore and instead rely on relatively cheap debt to fund its capital return program, which consists primarily of a major stock buyback program and a quarterly dividend. Apple's current plan involves spending $100 billion to return capital to investors by the end of 2015. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock • Apple Tops Consumer Reports' Tech Support Ratings, Bests Its Own Score • Adobe Offering Spring Discount on Lightroom and Elements • Boost Mobile May Offer iPhone Later This Year • Independent Game Developer Pranks Pirates With 'Game Dev Tycoon' • Microsoft Commercial Pits Apple Against Samsung to Tout Windows Phone • Square Register App Updated With Barcode Scanning, Order Modifiers and Other Improvements • New Report Details Inside Look at San Francisco Police Department Undercover Stolen iPhone Sting    
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Building on yesterday's report describing a "very, very flat" design for iOS 7, 9to5Mac reports that Apple is also looking to make significant improvements to vehicle integration with the next-generation mobile operating system. In particular, Apple is looking at ways to integrate Maps and Siri with the built-in displays increasingly found in cars.According to people familiar with the plans, Apple is working with car makers on updated versions of car center consoles that could attach to iOS devices like the iPhone. Specifically, an iPhone could be plugged into a car and an optimized, redesigned version of Apple Maps will appear on the car’s built-in display instead of a proprietary GPS system found in many cars. Sources have described this as a feature akin to a video-out or mirrored display representation of the iPhone’s Maps app onto the bigger screens included with most modern vehicles.The report's sources warn that the actual integration may take some time to appear given the complexities of negotiating deals with car companies, testing, and required improvements to Apple's services infrastructure, but that the technology supporting the integration is coming as part of iOS 7. Siri Eyes Free mode Apple last year announced an "Eyes Free" mode for Siri as part of iOS 6, but it took until February of this year for Chevrolet to become the first car manufacturer to offer the integration with its Spark and Sonic models. A number of manufacturers have, however, committed to support Eyes Free in their vehicles in the future. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Belkin Officially Begins Shipping Thunderbolt Express Dock • Apple Tops Consumer Reports' Tech Support Ratings, Bests Its Own Score • Adobe Offering Spring Discount on Lightroom and Elements • Boost Mobile May Offer iPhone Later This Year • Independent Game Developer Pranks Pirates With 'Game Dev Tycoon' • Microsoft Commercial Pits Apple Against Samsung to Tout Windows Phone • Square Register App Updated With Barcode Scanning, Order Modifiers and Other Improvements • New Report Details Inside Look at San Francisco Police Department Undercover Stolen iPhone Sting    
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The original iPhone will soon be considered obsolete in Apple Retail Stores according to an internal Apple document shared by 9to5Mac. Products considered 'obsolete' are ineligible for service parts and documentation at retail stores and cannot be repaired at mail-in AppleCare Repair Centers. Apple typically makes products 'obsolete' or 'vintage' five years after they are discontinued, though there are some exceptions where required by law. The original iPhone went on sale in June 2007 and was discontinued in July 2008 when the iPhone 3G was released. Other Apple products that will be considered 'vintage' as of June 11, 2013 include the mid-2007 models of the iMac, the late 2006 model Xserve, and the original Mac Pro. 9to5Mac has the list of newly minted vintage and obsolete products, while Apple maintains a list of all products named vintage or obsolete going back to the Apple II. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Independent Game Developer Pranks Pirates With 'Game Dev Tycoon' • Microsoft Commercial Pits Apple Against Samsung to Tout Windows Phone • Square Register App Updated With Barcode Scanning, Order Modifiers and Other Improvements • New Report Details Inside Look at San Francisco Police Department Undercover Stolen iPhone Sting • AltWWDC Offers Free Alternative for Developers Without WWDC Tickets • 'LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes' Hits iOS App Store • Apple Sends Press 'Decade of iTunes' Anniversary Keepsake with 100 Free Songs • Popular Read-Later App Instapaper Sold to Betaworks    
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Echoing recent reports about a redesigned 'flatter' user interface in iOS 7, 9to5Mac says the next version of the operating system will lose "all signs of gloss, shine and skeuomorphism". Jony Ive took charge of all Apple's user interface teams last October following a management shakeup. While the look of the updated system may be surprising to some, iOS 7 is reportedly not more difficult to use than earlier versions of software platform. There is apparently no new learning curve in the same way there was no learning curve when the iPods went color. While iOS 7 does look different, its core apps and system fundamentals (like the Lock and Home screens) mostly operate in a similar fashion to how they do today. iOS 7 is codenamed “Innsbruck,” according to three people familiar with the OS. The interface changes include an all-new icon set for Apple’s native apps in addition to newly designed tool bars, tab bars, and other fundamental interface features across the system.9to5Mac says Apple's engineers are looking to add more at-a-glance information to iOS, while keeping the system easy to use for less tech-savvy customers. The article notes that Apple has looked at ideas to implement new panels with swipes from the left and the right of the screen, much like how the Notification Center currently drops from above. Apple's industrial design is the face of the company for many customers and with Ive heading up both the software and hardware teams, there could be a closer connection between the devices themselves and what users actually see on the screen going forward. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Microsoft Commercial Pits Apple Against Samsung to Tout Windows Phone • Square Register App Updated With Barcode Scanning, Order Modifiers and Other Improvements • New Report Details Inside Look at San Francisco Police Department Undercover Stolen iPhone Sting • AltWWDC Offers Free Alternative for Developers Without WWDC Tickets • 'LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes' Hits iOS App Store • Apple Sends Press 'Decade of iTunes' Anniversary Keepsake with 100 Free Songs • Popular Read-Later App Instapaper Sold to Betaworks • Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July for Longer Beta Test    
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Ahead of last week's earnings release, Apple announced that it would more than double its capital return program from $45 billion to $100 billion, with a 15 percent increase in dividend payments and a massive stock buyback initiative. To facilitate the expanded capital return program, which will amount to a share repurchase of $60 billion, Apple must take on debt, a process that the company initiated today. According to Reuters, Apple has begun investor calls, led by both Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs, and it has filed the necessary SEC paperwork for a debt offering.The only major tech company without a penny of debt on its books, Apple stunned the markets last week by announcing it could sell debt for the first time to help fund a $100 billion capital return program for shareholders. Any bond offer from the makers of the iconic iPhone and iPad would be highly sought after by investors, and it is believed the company could raise funds at a cheaper rate than even Triple A rated Microsoft.Apple has a long history with both Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs. According to Bloomberg, the former advised Apple on its takeover of Next Computer, while the latter has been advising Apple on a cash plan. It is unknown if one of the two banks will lead the upcoming bond offering. Though Apple has a cash pile that exceeds $145 billion, only a portion of that is available in the United States, leaving the company unable to fully fund its stock buyback. Borrowing money will allow Apple to avoid the taxes that it would incur moving money from overseas. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Microsoft Commercial Pits Apple Against Samsung to Tout Windows Phone • Square Register App Updated With Barcode Scanning, Order Modifiers and Other Improvements • New Report Details Inside Look at San Francisco Police Department Undercover Stolen iPhone Sting • AltWWDC Offers Free Alternative for Developers Without WWDC Tickets • 'LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes' Hits iOS App Store • Apple Sends Press 'Decade of iTunes' Anniversary Keepsake with 100 Free Songs • Popular Read-Later App Instapaper Sold to Betaworks • Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July for Longer Beta Test    
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Last month, Google briefly leaked a video showing that its information aggregation tool Google Now would be coming to iOS. Several weeks later, Google chairman Eric Schmidt was asked about Google Now for iOS, and he noted that "you'll need to discuss that with Apple", although it was later confirmed that Google had not submitted a version of Google Now to the iOS App Store. Roughly a month later, Google Now has now appeared in the App Store as part of a revamped version 3.0 of the company's Google Search app.Get just the right information at just the right time with Google Now. - weather and traffic conditions before you start your day - updates on your favorite sports teams and breaking news stories as they happen The Verge has a brief preview of what users can expect from Google Now on iOS:The look and feel of the app is virtually identical on both platforms, a testament to Google's newfound ability to make well-designed apps on iOS. The main differences between Android and iOS are few, mainly in that iOS can display fewer different kinds of cards. "The types of Google Now cards available are largely the same on both platforms," says Baris Gultekin, Director of Product Management for Google Now. On iOS, the Google Search app can't be launched with a system-wide shortcut (unless you are a jailbreaker) and it can't do the same kind of background sync that Now can do on Android. However, Google tells us that it will support the iOS background location feature, so that at least it won't need to spend as long hunting for your position when you open up the Search app.Google reports that 22 of the 29 card types found on the Android version of Google Now are making their way to the iOS version, with airline boarding passes, Fandango, and local events being among those not making the transition. Google Search with Google Now functionality is available now in the App Store. [Direct Link] Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • New Report Details Inside Look at San Francisco Police Department Undercover Stolen iPhone Sting • AltWWDC Offers Free Alternative for Developers Without WWDC Tickets • 'LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes' Hits iOS App Store • Apple Sends Press 'Decade of iTunes' Anniversary Keepsake with 100 Free Songs • Popular Read-Later App Instapaper Sold to Betaworks • Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July for Longer Beta Test • 'XCOM: Enemy Unknown' Elite Edition Now Available for Mac • Twitter for Mac Updated With Retina Support and More    
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9to5Mac shares some details on Apple's upcoming OS X 10.9 operating system, noting that the update will focus in large part on "power-user" features while also incorporating a few more concepts from the company's iOS operating system. Among the enhancements said to be included in OS X 10.9, codenamed "Cabaret": - New tabbed browsing and tags in Finder - Redesigned backend for Safari to bring "improved page loading, speed, and efficiency" - Ability to keep a dedicated Space or full-screen app open on a single monitor within a multiple monitor setup On the user interface side, the report suggests that there will be some changes, but that they "will not be drastic ones". As part of a management shakeup late last year, Apple's hardware design chief Jonathan Ive also took on responsibility for the Human Interface group on the software side, and it seems to be unclear how widely any changes resulting from his vision will show up in OS X 10.9. Today's report also indicates that Apple has been working on new ideas for multitasking that could be included in OS X 10.9, drawing some inspiration from iOS.According to one source, Apple has been testing a new multi-tasking system for OS X that is similar to the quick-app-switcher function on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. The multitasking feature will be functional for applications in the background, according to this person. Additionally, Apple could use app-pausing technologies from iOS to pause background application processes in OS X. This is significant as full performance could be given to foreground apps, which could help optimize battery life on Apple’s notebook computers.Finally, the report draws into question previous claims of Siri integration in OS X 10.9, suggesting that changes to Apple's management structure have led to a complete reexamination of feature plans, and thus it is now unclear to what extent Siri will be integrated into OS X 10.9. Apple will be showing off its next versions of both OS X and iOS and its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) scheduled for June 10-14 in San Francisco. Last week, tickets for the conference sold out in two minutes. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • New Report Details Inside Look at San Francisco Police Department Undercover Stolen iPhone Sting • AltWWDC Offers Free Alternative for Developers Without WWDC Tickets • 'LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes' Hits iOS App Store • Apple Sends Press 'Decade of iTunes' Anniversary Keepsake with 100 Free Songs • Popular Read-Later App Instapaper Sold to Betaworks • Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July for Longer Beta Test • 'XCOM: Enemy Unknown' Elite Edition Now Available for Mac • Twitter for Mac Updated With Retina Support and More    
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Along with his recent research note addressing Apple's notebook launch plans, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also published a note examining Apple's iPad prospects. In particular, Kuo looks to the iPad mini as the future of the company's iPad portfolio, but with Apple's efforts to bring a Retina display to the device said to be pushing a launch back to the fourth quarter of this year, he suggests that Apple may be looking at a lower-priced iPad mini.Prior to iPad mini 2 launch, Apple might roll out a more affordable iPad mini to compete with Android products. To cut costs, Apple might push for lower component prices, use a more advanced process to produce the A5 processor, simplify metal casing production, remove the rear camera, cut storage to 8GB and find more component suppliers to lower costs. We think this cheaper iPad mini retail for US$199~249.Kuo does not believe that such a device would offer a significant boost to Apple's overall iPad sales, but it could help stave off erosion at the low end of the market at the hands of cheaper Android-based tablets. The $199-$249 price range is one that many potential customers had hoped Apple would be able to hit with the original iPad mini, but the company surprised many by introducing the iPad mini starting at $329. Even at that pricing, Apple has noted a number of times that the iPad mini's profit margins are below the company average. Apple is said to be pursuing a similar strategy for the iPhone, working on a lower-cost iPhone with a polycarbonate shell rumored for launch later this year. Overall, Kuo sees relatively small sales growth for the iPad in 2013, with the full-size iPad being cannibalized by the popular iPad mini and the upgraded iPad mini with Retina display not debuting until late in the year. With Android tablets also beginning to gain footholds in some markets and driving Apple's estimated share of the tablet market below 50% in recent quarters, Kuo expects that Apple will remain competitive but see relatively slow growth until the launch of the Retina iPad mini. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • AltWWDC Offers Free Alternative for Developers Without WWDC Tickets • 'LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes' Hits iOS App Store • Apple Sends Press 'Decade of iTunes' Anniversary Keepsake with 100 Free Songs • Popular Read-Later App Instapaper Sold to Betaworks • Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July for Longer Beta Test • 'XCOM: Enemy Unknown' Elite Edition Now Available for Mac • Twitter for Mac Updated With Retina Support and More • LinkedIn Launches Standalone Contact Aggregation App    
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KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a new report forecasting that the product highlight of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which kicks off on June 10, will be the introduction of new models of the company's MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lines based on Intel's latest Haswell processors. The projection is in line with previous reports from Kuo and other sources, as well as recent claims that Apple will begin ramping up production of the new models in mid-May. On the MacBook Pro side, Kuo is reversing his earlier predictions suggesting that 2013 would see Apple discontinue the non-Retina MacBook Pro lineup and shift consumers to the slimmer and more expensive Retina line introduced at last year's WWDC. Kuo believes that continued strength of non-Retina MacBook Pro models, particularly the 13-inch line, have led Apple to continue producing the non-Retina lineup for the time being.Contrary to our previous projection, we now think Apple will continue to make the MacBook Pro alongside the MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro because the 13” MacBook Pro remains the most popular product in the MacBook line. Also, there is still demand in emerging markets, where Internet penetration isn’t advanced, for optical disk drives.Kuo believes that the updated versions of the non-Retina MacBook Pro could begin shipping very soon after WWDC, but that the new Retina MacBook Pro models will begin shipping somewhat later due to production bottlenecks on the displays. For the MacBook Air, Kuo also believes that the new models will be introduced at WWDC and ship very soon after, but he indicates that Apple is unlikely to include Retina displays in the updated lineup. He believes the cost, thickness, and production concerns will continue to keep Retina displays out of Apple's lowest-cost and thinnest notebook line for the time being. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • AltWWDC Offers Free Alternative for Developers Without WWDC Tickets • 'LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes' Hits iOS App Store • Apple Sends Press 'Decade of iTunes' Anniversary Keepsake with 100 Free Songs • Popular Read-Later App Instapaper Sold to Betaworks • Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July for Longer Beta Test • 'XCOM: Enemy Unknown' Elite Edition Now Available for Mac • Twitter for Mac Updated With Retina Support and More • LinkedIn Launches Standalone Contact Aggregation App    
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Apple today announced on its developer news website that it will be "hitting the road" with individual Tech Talk sessions for developers this fall (via The Next Web). The news comes a day after tickets for the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) sold out in two minutes.Enthusiasm for WWDC 2013 has been incredible, with tickets selling out in record time. For those who can’t join us in San Francisco, you can still take advantage of great WWDC content, as we’ll be posting videos of all our sessions during the conference. We’ll also be hitting the road this fall with Tech Talks in a city near you. Hope to see you there.With the quick sellout, even some developers who thought they were purchasing their tickets in time experienced difficulties with the checkout process, and Apple contacted some of those affected developers yesterday to offer them a second chance at purchasing tickets. For those who missed out on WWDC tickets but would still like to take advantage of some the excitement and opportunities surrounding the event, a free alternative to WWDC called AltWWDC has also been announced. Still, demand for access to Apple engineers remains high, and the company has apparently seen fit to revive its Tech Talks tour in order to make contact with additional developers who are unable to attend WWDC. Apple has not yet announced which cities the Tech Talks will take place in, but the company may share more details around WWDC, which takes place June 10-14 at the Moscone West convention center in San Francisco. Apple last held its Tech Talks tour to support the launch of iOS 5 in late 2011 and early 2012, taking its show to 9 cities around the world. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • AltWWDC Offers Free Alternative for Developers Without WWDC Tickets • 'LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes' Hits iOS App Store • Apple Sends Press 'Decade of iTunes' Anniversary Keepsake with 100 Free Songs • Popular Read-Later App Instapaper Sold to Betaworks • Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July for Longer Beta Test • 'XCOM: Enemy Unknown' Elite Edition Now Available for Mac • Twitter for Mac Updated With Retina Support and More • LinkedIn Launches Standalone Contact Aggregation App    
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Earlier this week, Apple filed another revised plan for its "Campus 2" project in Cupertino, a new headquarters for the company focused on a massive ring-shaped building and designed to house 13,000 employees. In line with that revised plan, Apple has once again solicited residents of Cupertino for feedback on the project now that additional details on environmental sustainability and neighborhood enhancements have been fleshed out. Apple made a similar mailing last May when the project was in an earlier stage of conceptualization. Click for larger This week's mailing includes a new letter from Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer outlining some of the highlights of the project for neighbors:At Apple, the environment is a top priority, and we've designed Apple Campus 2 with cutting-edge features to make it energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable. Several of these green technologies are highlighted in this update. As at our existing campus on Infinite Loop, we are committed to 100% renewable energy to power Apple Campus 2. This will include onsite generation from photovoltaics and fuel cells. As part of this effort, approximately 8 megawatts of photovoltaics will be installed, creating one the largest installations of its kind on a corporate campus anywhere in the world. Apple started in Cupertino, and we are excited to continue to grow here. As we build the new campus, we also plan to invest in new roadways and intersection improvements, add new sidewalks and better bike lanes, and plant new trees in newly created medians in the surrounding neighborhood.Click for larger As with the previous mailing, Apple includes a postage-paid response card allowing neighbors to provide feedback on the project and invites neighbors to view additional project details on the City of Cupertino's website. (Thanks, Ian!) Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • AltWWDC Offers Free Alternative for Developers Without WWDC Tickets • 'LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes' Hits iOS App Store • Apple Sends Press 'Decade of iTunes' Anniversary Keepsake with 100 Free Songs • Popular Read-Later App Instapaper Sold to Betaworks • Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July for Longer Beta Test • 'XCOM: Enemy Unknown' Elite Edition Now Available for Mac • Twitter for Mac Updated With Retina Support and More • LinkedIn Launches Standalone Contact Aggregation App    
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