Several weeks ago, photos of a pair of parts alleged to be from the iPhone 5S surfaced through a Japanese parts vendor. The parts included a flex cable for the device's home button and a second flex cable housing the vibrator and volume/mute controls. Another Japanese parts vendor, iLab Factory, has now posted a new set of photos showing not only those two parts but also a third flex cable that appears to house the device's front camera. iLab Factory points out that these parts may be from the iPhone 5S but could alternatively be from Apple's rumored lower-cost iPhone. Vibrator/audio control flex cable for iPhone 5S or lower-cost iPhone One interesting item of note that we neglected to point out in our previous report relates to the vibrator/volume control flex cable. The part contains a strip of three buttons to run along the edge of the device, corresponding to the locations of the two volume buttons and the mute switch on previous iPhone models. But on this part, all three features appear to be buttons, suggesting that this upcoming iPhone may see the mute switch become a push button. iPhone 5 audio control cable with mute switch boxed in red (Source: iFixit) iLab Factory also notes that the vibrator in this part uses a dual-head design, which is distinct from the iPhone 5 vibrator design, although it is unclear what may have have prompted the change. The other two parts shared by iLab Factory reveal little information, with the home button flex cable appearing essentially identical to the previously seen part except for a part number change from 821-1684-01 to 821-1684-02. These parts do, however, contain a significantly longer cable than seen on the corresponding iPhone 5 part. The layout of the front camera flex cable is nearly identical to the corresponding iPhone 5 part, although this leaked part is missing the microphone and other sensors seen on the iPhone 5 part offered by iFixit. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Verizon CEO Claims He Convinced Steve Jobs to Add LTE to iPhone • Apple's Jeff Williams Reportedly in China Addressing PR Fallout From iPhone Warranty Controversy • Foursquare Update Brings Explore to the Forefront of the App • Apple Pays at Least $10 Million to License Palm-Related Patents From ACCESS • Panic Releases Data Visualizer App 'Status Board' for iPad • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet    
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Research firm IDC today released its preliminary calculations of PC shipments for the first quarter of 2013, finding the worst year-over-year performance in the nearly 20-year history of its tracking studies. According to IDC's numbers, the worldwide PC market declined nearly 14% compared to the first quarter of 2012, with the U.S. market declining by nearly 13%.Despite some mild improvement in the economic environment and some new PC models offering Windows 8, PC shipments were down significantly across all regions compared to a year ago. Fading Mini Notebook shipments have taken a big chunk out of the low-end market while tablets and smartphones continue to divert consumer spending. PC industry efforts to offer touch capabilities and ultraslim systems have been hampered by traditional barriers of price and component supply, as well as a weak reception for Windows 8. The PC industry is struggling to identify innovations that differentiate PCs from other products and inspire consumers to buy, and instead is meeting significant resistance to changes perceived as cumbersome or costly.While Apple's performance was far from stellar, the company did outperform the market by showing only a 7.5% decline in shipments in the United States. Apple's performance allowed it increase its third-place share of the U.S. market from 9.4% to 10.0% as leaders HP and Dell saw significant declines, but a smaller decline from Toshiba and strong growth from Lenovo placed those vendors close behind Apple. IDC's Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 1Q13 (Thousands of Units) Apple does not rank on IDC's list of top five vendors on a worldwide basis, with Asus holding down the bottom spot at 5.7% of the market. Lenovo was, however, the only one of the top five worldwide vendors to avoid major declines in PC shipments, managing to hold steady amid the declining market. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Apple's Jeff Williams Reportedly in China Addressing PR Fallout From iPhone Warranty Controversy • Foursquare Update Brings Explore to the Forefront of the App • Apple Pays at Least $10 Million to License Palm-Related Patents From ACCESS • Panic Releases Data Visualizer App 'Status Board' for iPad • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options    
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A job listing posted by Apple earlier this month indicates the company is indeed looking at using flexible displays in future products, along with high optical efficiency LCD and AMOLED units. The listing was first noticed by 9to5Mac. The listing, for a Senior Optical Engineer, asks for someone with experience in the design, development and technical investigation of display technologies, along with a Ph.D or M.S. in physics, optics, material science or electrical engineering. Recent rumors have suggested Apple is looking at curved glass displays for products like the iWatch, where a flexible display could make sense -- though Apple has applied for patents relating to curved glass screens on the iPhone as well. The presence of a job listing is no indication of future products, however, and Apple's research and development labs are always investigating future products. Corning, which makes the Gorilla Glass that is used as the front glass for the iPhone suggests flexible 'Willow Glass' displays are unlikely to appear for at least three years. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Foursquare Update Brings Explore to the Forefront of the App • Apple Pays at Least $10 Million to License Palm-Related Patents From ACCESS • Panic Releases Data Visualizer App 'Status Board' for iPad • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished'    
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ZDNet has shared a roadmap it received from a source who claims it is the timetable for Microsoft's plans for both the Mac and iOS versions of Office. The map says a new version of Office for Mac will arrive in April 2014, while the long rumored Microsoft Office for iOS and Android will arrive next Autumn, in October 2014. I do not know how old this purported roadmap is, but my contact indicated it was likely current as of the start of 2013. I asked Microsoft Office officials for comment on the alleged roadmap, but they declined to do so.The most recent report, from this past December, suggested that Apple and Microsoft were in negotiations over revenue share as part of Microsoft's Office 365 subscription service that launched in January. Apple wants the standard 70/30 split in revenue that is part of its developer license agreement for every developer. Microsoft itself has leaked references to Office Mobile for iPhone, Excel for iPad, and PowerPoint for iPad, making clear that Microsoft does have iOS versions in the works. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Foursquare Update Brings Explore to the Forefront of the App • Apple Pays at Least $10 Million to License Palm-Related Patents From ACCESS • Panic Releases Data Visualizer App 'Status Board' for iPad • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished'    
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The new SimCity will ship for the Mac on June 11, EA reported today. Gamers will be able to purchase SimCity for Mac as a $60 digital download via Origin, EA's Steam-like digital store that launched earlier this year, as well as other digital retailers. Owners of the PC version of SimCity will receive the Mac version for free, and vice versa. EA is emphasizing that this is not simply a Mac "port" of the Windows version, but instead is a native version of the game designed specifically for the Mac. The software renderer has been rewritten for OpenGL, but the Mac version will use the same servers as the PC edition so gamers can play together regardless of what platform they are using. "SimCity is coming to Mac on June 11 and one purchase will give you both the Mac and PC versions. You only need to buy SimCity once to play together across the same servers, regardless of which version you’re playing," said Lucy Bradshaw, Senior Vice President and General Manager of EA’s Maxis Label. "We didn’t want to make any compromises when it came to the Mac so we created a native version that is optimized for the hardware and OSX."SimCity's launch was more than a little rocky, largely because the game can only be played online. EA requires that the game be connected to its servers at all times to facilitate region play where multiple cities are connected to share utilities and citizenry. At launch, SimCity's servers were overwhelmed with traffic and the gameplay experience was extremely poor. Today, EA seems to have ironed out the bugs and users are playing the game as intended. The company recently turned the 'Cheetah' speed mode back on after disabling it to reduce load on the servers after SimCity's initial release. EA originally said SimCity would come to the Mac in February of this year, but pushed that ship date back. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Apple Pays at Least $10 Million to License Palm-Related Patents From ACCESS • Panic Releases Data Visualizer App 'Status Board' for iPad • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem    
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Less than a week after a report from Bloomberg Businessweek outlined how Steve Jobs' strict requirements for "fit and finish" at the company's upcoming Norman Foster-designed Apple Campus 2 in Cupertino have seen the cost of the massive project balloon to $5 billion, Marketing reports [via Pocket-lint] that Foster's firm has been tapped to work on retail store projects for Apple.Sources close to the project said Foster + Partners, which has designed buildings including the McLaren Technology Centre and Hearst Tower in New York, is helping Apple on the retail store design brief. [...] A Foster + Partners spokeswoman said: "Any project for Apple is confidential and therefore we are unable to comment." Apple has long worked with design firm 8 Inc on its retail stores, dating back to store-within-a-store concepts that preceded Apple's own retail locations. The retail partnership between 8 Inc and Apple built upon a previous arrangement that saw 8 Inc assisting with the design of Apple's displays at Macworld trade shows. While 8 Inc has long served as Apple's design partner for the company's retail stores, architectural expertise for many of Apple's high-profile locations has been provided by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. It currently remains unclear how extensive the relationship between Apple and Foster + Partners will be for retail stores, including whether 8 Inc and/or Bohlin Cywinski Jackson are being entirely replaced. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Panic Releases Data Visualizer App 'Status Board' for iPad • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes?    
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The Korea Times reports that Samsung has been excluded from Apple's plans for its next-generation A7 system-on-a-chip expected to be released next year to power upcoming iOS devices. According to the report, Apple is moving forward with plans to shift production to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)."Apple is sharing confidential data for its next A7 system-on-chip (SoC) with the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). TSMC has begun ordering its contractors to supply equipment to produce Apple's next processors using a finer 20-nanometer level processing technology," said an executive at one of Samsung's local partners in Korea by telephone, Wednesday.Other sources report that Samsung is hoping its own handsets can fill the gap to be left by Apple, as the firm has made significant investments in its processor production facilities, but that some lines may have to be shut down. Samsung is also seeking to increase its work producing graphics chips for NVIDIA. The report follows similar claims from Taiwanese media last week, which indicated that Apple and TSMC were pushing forward on a 20-nm A7 design for launch early next year. Last month it was reported that Apple and TSMC had taped out a design for the A7, although considerable work remains before the chip will enter production. With Apple's 20-nm A7 not expected until next year, it appears that the company's 2013 iOS device lineup will have to make use of other alternatives such as a die shrink of the current A6 chip from 32-nm to 28-nm or a more substantially reworked A6 chip. Apple could conceivably also have a new "A7" chip ready to go at 28-nm ahead of the move to the smaller and more efficient 20-nm process node next year. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Panic Releases Data Visualizer App 'Status Board' for iPad • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes?    
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For the past several days, we've been following the story of Apple's removal of AppGratis from the App Store. AppGratis offers a popular app discovery service with the main feature being a hand-picked app offered free each day. Apple acknowledged that it had pulled the app for violating two App Store rules related to offering apps in a manner which might be "similar to or confusing with the App Store" and using push notifications to send out promotions. AppGratis CEO Simon Dawlat responded yesterday to note that Apple had approved the app a number of times, including an iPad version just a week ago, before a new reviewer stepped in and quickly pulled the app after being unable to contact Dawlat, who was on an airplane at the time. AllThingsD now reports that Apple's removal of AppGratis is just the first step in a broader crackdown on such apps, with more app discovery services soon to be pulled as well.I’m told Apple feels these apps threaten the legitimacy of the App Store charts by providing a way for developers to spend their way to a high ranking. Apple did something similar in 2011, when it rejected a number of applications running incentivized app installs within their apps. The company also worries that such apps undermine the integrity of the App Store by cluttering it with alternative storefronts. As one source described it to me, some of these discovery apps create a scenario that’s similar to walking into Nordstrom and seeing a Walmart inside.AppGratis notes that it is "far from finished" and that its 12 million existing users will be able to continue to use the app while the company explores its alternatives, but AllThingsD makes clear that the removal of AppGratis was not simply an error on the part of a reviewer and that AppGratis is "almost certainly finished as an iOS app — in its current incarnation, anyway". Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Panic Releases Data Visualizer App 'Status Board' for iPad • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes?    
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French site Noweherelse.fr has discovered [Google translation] a pair of photos of what is said to be the front bezel of the fifth-generation iPad. In line with rumors and earlier leaks of cases and a rear shell, the new photos reveal a design inspired by the iPad mini, with narrower side bezels rather than the uniform size seen on the current iPad. Sources appear to be split on when the fifth-generation iPad will make its debut, with some having suggested that Apple could hold an event as early as this month if the device is ready, while others have claimed that Apple is shooting for an October release. Just yesterday, Digitimes claimed that Apple is planning to ramp up production for the new iPad in the July/August timeframe. Back in February, we commissioned CiccareseDesign to create renderings of the fifth-generation iPad based on circulating rumors and leaks, and today's front bezel photos are indeed consistent with those renderings. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Panic Releases Data Visualizer App 'Status Board' for iPad • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes?    
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Ahead of Friday's launch of the iPhone on T-Mobile USA, the carrier has announced details on its trade-in program designed to entice current iPhone 4 and 4S users to switch carriers. The trade-in program reduces the down payment on a 16 GB iPhone 5 from $99.99 to $0, with additional credit of up $120 depending on the value of the device being traded.“Our message to iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 customers is simple: bring in your device and trade up to iPhone 5 on T-Mobile,” said Mike Sievert, chief marketing officer for T-Mobile. “We’re making it incredibly attractive to buy an iPhone 5 by pairing an un-beatable upfront price and trade-in offer with Simple Choice, the most hassle-free and affordable rate plan in wireless.” The offer is valid through June 16, with the additional credit applicable to monthly service fees, an outstanding balance, accessories, or another device. T-Mobile's new "Uncarrier" service plans unbundle device costs from service plans, allowing users to finance the full cost of their devices over 24 months while signing up for contract-free service starting at $50/month. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes? • Starbucks' Pick of the Week Goes Mobile Through iOS App With 'Angry Birds Star Wars'    
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Code within the latest 10.8.4 beta release of OS X confirms that 802.11ac 5G "Gigabit Wi-Fi" support, which is not offered in OS X 10.8.3, will be offered on Apple's next generation Macs, reports 9to5Mac. In January, Apple reportedly signed a deal with wireless chip firm Broadcom to bring the high-speed wireless access to its future Mac lineup. 802.11ac offers triple the speeds that are available with the current 802.11n standard, supporting up to 450 Mbps on one antenna and up to 1.3 Gbps when used with three antennas. The speed boost allows for quicker file transfers between home computers. A report from Digitimes earlier today suggests that Apple might be refreshing its notebook lineup near the end of the second quarter, which may translate to an introduction at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes? • Starbucks' Pick of the Week Goes Mobile Through iOS App With 'Angry Birds Star Wars'    
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The first reviews for Facebook Home, the social network's new Android home screen experience, are out. Home isn't quite a "Facebook Phone", but it also isn't a full-fledged operating system. It slots right in between the two segments. Dieter Bohn of The Verge details the two main components of Home: Facebook Home essentially consists of two parts. The first is Facebook Home proper (henceforth "Home"), which replaces your homescreen and your lockscreen with Facebook's News Feed and app launcher. The second is a major update to Facebook Messenger which lets you receive and reply to texts no matter which app you're using.Bohn mentions that the Chat Head feature, which overlays Facebook Messenger chats over any app a user may use, was a highlight. The difference in immediacy and convenience is huge. What Facebook has figured out is that people usually have messaging conversations with somebody for a little while, but are doing other things on their phone while they do it. Being able to reply without losing your sense of place is incredibly convenient.Walt Mossberg of AllThingsDigital thought that the two-pronged set-up was simple to use. I found Facebook Home to be easy to use, elegantly designed and addictive. Although I’m a regular Facebook user, I found that, with Home, I paid more attention than ever to my news feed, Liked items more often and used Facebook’s Messenger service more often. So, if you are a big Facebook fan, Facebook Home can be a big win.Although The Verge says that Home's simplicity also hurts it as it lacks key Android features like Widgets and Folders. They also mention that although Home has its own version of notifications, most apps do not support it and default to Android's notification pane. Both Bohn and Mossberg conclude that although Home is simple-to-use and addictive, only Facebook fans should take notice as it lacks key features for most smartphone users. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously said that bringing Home to iOS would not be as easy as it was on Android because Android is "open" and Facebook would have to go through Apple and its existing relationship with the company while they don't have to go through Google for Home. Facebook Home will be available to download for select Android devices (Samsung Galaxy SIII, HTC One X, HTC One X+ and Samsung Galaxy Note II) on April 12th for free. HTC and AT&T will also be offering the HTC First, a $100 smartphone that will have Home preloaded. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes? • Starbucks' Pick of the Week Goes Mobile Through iOS App With 'Angry Birds Star Wars'    
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The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple and Yahoo have been discussing how to integrate Yahoo's services more prominently in iOS, beyond powering the Weather and Stocks apps. Yahoo also provides sports scores to Siri, but Yahoo has significant content deals related to news, sports and finance that could be tapped. Data from Yahoo Finance and its weather site already come preloaded onto iPhones and Yahoo data like sports stats help power Apple's voice-activated "assistant" Siri. But the companies continue to discuss new arrangements, including possible deals to get more content from Yahoo Sports and Yahoo News, among other Yahoo Web properties, preloaded onto Apple devices or available through an expanded partnership with Siri, one of these people said.The WSJ also says Yahoo would like to provide search results to Apple in Safari, but Microsoft's Bing search engine currently powers Yahoo Search and Apple has a long-term deal with Google as the default engine on iOS. The paper did note that no deal is imminent, and negotiations appear to be in the very early stages. Former Google executive Marissa Mayer took over as the CEO of Yahoo recently and has been focusing a lot of energy on Yahoo's products and content, rather than its traditional strengths in advertising. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes? • Starbucks' Pick of the Week Goes Mobile Through iOS App With 'Angry Birds Star Wars' • Hospital Uses iPads to Connect Mothers With Newborn Babies    
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Following a research note from Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White stating that the iPhone 5S would launch in two or three different sizes, Japanese website Macotakara has released a report suggesting that the iPhone 5S will come in five colors, including the original black and white. The site also mentions that Apple’s rumored cheaper iPhone will also be offered in a range of different colors. There is no indication on what colors the iPhone 5S might sport, but the current 5th generation iPod touch is available in black, white, pink, yellow, and blue, along with a special edition available in red. Macotakara's report adds that the iPhone 5S will be announced in July, with a release to follow in August. That is in line with previous reports released earlier this month, which suggested an August release. In the past, Macotakara reliably predicted the redesigned form factor of the seventh generation iPod nano and the updated 4-inch screen of the fifth generation iPod touch. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes? • Starbucks' Pick of the Week Goes Mobile Through iOS App With 'Angry Birds Star Wars' • Hospital Uses iPads to Connect Mothers With Newborn Babies    
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Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster today released the results of his semi-annual survey of U.S. teenagers, finding that iPhone and iPad usage remains strong among the 5,200 teens included in the study. According to the report, 48% of teens now report that they are using iPhones, up from 40% just six months ago.We believe this demonstrates that Apple remains the top choice for teens despite more competition from Samsung. Additionally, the survey demonstrated that 62% of teens expect their next phone to be an iPhone, which we believe shows that the iPhone has loyalty amongst teens. In terms of Android, 23% of teens expect their next phone to be an Android device, up from 22% in Fall 2013. We believe that the Samsung Galaxy S3 and eventually the S4 are taking share from other Android devices, but little from Apple in terms of the teen demographic. In looking at tablets, 51% of teenagers now report using a tablet, up from 44% six months ago. Of those 51%, 63% are using full-size iPads and 5% are using iPad minis, meaning that nearly 35% of teenagers in the survey are currently using Apple tablets.For those teens that expect to purchase a tablet in the next 6 months, 68% said they plan on buying an iPad, thus it appears that Apple should be able to maintain its tablet share. The iPad Mini is beginning to show its impact as the 68% of those who plan to purchase break down into 54% for full sized iPads and 14% for iPad Minis. We would expect the iPad Mini to continue to cannibalize the full sized iPad in our continuation of the survey as we expect the breakdown in sales to reach 50/50 in the March quarter.Samsung has attempted to play up its appeal with younger consumers through ads portraying the iPhone as uncool, with one ad poking fun at Apple fans waiting in line for the latest gadget by showing one Samsung user in the line actually saving a spot for his parents. But Piper Jaffray's results suggest that the iPhone and iPad brands remain strong with U.S. teenagers, with Apple undoubtedly planning for those users to become lifelong Apple customers as they become locked into the company's app and content ecosystem. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Apple Seeds Build 12E30 of OS X Beta 10.8.4 to Developers • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes? • Starbucks' Pick of the Week Goes Mobile Through iOS App With 'Angry Birds Star Wars' • Hospital Uses iPads to Connect Mothers With Newborn Babies    
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There are few great emulator options for OS X, but that is set to change in the near future as multi-source system emulator OpenEmu prepares for an official launch.Open Emu is an open source project to bring game emulation to OS X as a first class citizen, leveraging modern OS X technologies such as Cocoa, Core Animation and Quartz, and 3rd party libraries like Sparkle for auto-updating. Open Emu is based on a modular architecture, allowing for game-engine plugins, this means Open Emu can support a host of different emulation engines and back-ends while retaining a familiar OS X native front-end.OpenEmu, which has been in beta for quite some time, is able to emulate the hardware of several different consoles. Version 1.0 of the software will include support for several 16-bit systems, including the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Game Gear, NeoGeo Pocket, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, and Super Nintendo, among others.  Support for additional systems like the Nintendo 64, the Nintendo DS, and the Sony PlayStation will be added in the future. The emulator features a slick iTunes-style design, displaying downloaded ROMs in a menu organized by system. Designed from the ground up for OS X, it offers up a native OS X interface. With full save state support, the software allows for multiple ROMs to be played at once and it also provides OpenGL scaling, multithreaded playback, and gamepad support. At this point in time the team behind OpenEmu is working on polishing the app and adding final artwork, but the release is "close." OpenEmu was previously available as a beta download and the beta version of the application can still be acquired by downloading and compiling the source code via Xcode. A full set of instructions is available here. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • iMessage and FaceTime Down for Some, No Estimate on Service Restoration Yet • Chrome for iOS Updated with Fullscreen Browsing on iPhone and New Printing Options • AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished' • ZenDock Tries to Solve Age-Old MacBook Docking Problem • iPhone 5S to Launch in 2-3 Different Screen Sizes? • Starbucks' Pick of the Week Goes Mobile Through iOS App With 'Angry Birds Star Wars' • Hospital Uses iPads to Connect Mothers With Newborn Babies • HBO Updates iOS App with AirPlay Multitasking and Game of Thrones Interactive Features    
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Research firm IDC today announced the release of a new report covering the mobile advertising market, noting that ad networks such as those from Google and Apple are losing traction to publishers able to use their size to drive their own advertising sales.Where in past years, ad networks such as Google, Millennial Media, and Apple received most of the spending on mobile display ads, now publishers control the segment, thanks to very strong sales growth in the past year. Facebook, Pandora, Twitter, and The Weather Channel all registered strong sales in 2012 and all (with the exception of Pandora) popped onto the scene from zero sales in 2011. As a result, publishers controlled 52% of U.S. mobile display ad spending in 2012, compared to the 39% they received in 2011.IDC notes that, despite slowing growth, the mobile advertising market continues to boom in the United States, growing 88% in 2012 to reach $4.5 billion to provide a massive opportunity for ad networks and publishers alike. The report notes that mobile advertising now accounts for 11% of all digital advertising, illustrating the strong momentum of mobile. Apple has long faced an uphill battle to gain momentum with its iAd service, repeatedly slashing buy-in fees in order to lure and keep customers unwilling to commit to expensive advertising campaigns limited to Apple devices. The popularity of Apple's devices did allow Apple to rise to the number two spot behind Google in mobile display advertising, but IDC notes that Apple ($125 million gross revenue) lost that spot to Millennial Media ($151 million gross revenue) last year. Apple's iAd program grew out of its
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Among Apple's granted patents released today, AppleInsider has noted a pair of inventions that appear to be of some interest. The first patent addresses the idea of offline iTunes Store purchases from mobile devices, allowing users to store "credit" that can unlock content already on their devices but not yet owned by the user.In some cases, a user may wish to add new media items to the library, for example from an online media store. When the device is not connected to the store, however, the user may not be able to perform a transaction to purchase new media items, nor download or access the media items from the store. To enable offline purchases of media, the electronic device can store locally for future use one or more recommended media items received from the store when a connection with the store is available. Access to the recommended media items can be restricted, so that the user cannot consume the media items without first purchasing them. To complete a media item purchase without sending transaction information to the media store, the electronic device can store pre-paid credits locally on the device. The pre-paid credits can be purchased in advance, for example when the device is connected to the store. In response to a user request to purchase a particular recommended media item, the electronic device can deduct the cost of the recommended media item from the locally stored credit, and remove the access restrictions of the device. The amount of credit remaining can be communicated to the store or to a host device (e.g., used to manage the user's media library) when communications become available.The difficult part of this scenario involves getting the content onto the user's device, and Apple's patent addresses several methods, including manual loading of files either from the Internet before going offline or from other storage devices. Alternatively, the user's device could automatically pre-download content based on Genius-like recommendations or other criteria and offer the content for on-device purchase. While Wi-Fi hotspots have become increasingly common to allow iPod touch or Wi-Fi iPad owners to connect to the Internet with some level of regularity, it appears that Apple is still interested in exploring ways to allow users to unlock new media content even when not connected to the Internet. The second patent describes a proximity-based method for transferring files between devices, such as a computer and a mobile device. While a number of existing solutions such as Bump and Samsung's S Beam allow for such actions, Apple's patent includes a contextual aspect that allows for very specific transfer scenarios to simplify the user experience. In one simple example outlined by Apple, a user composing an email on his or her Mac wishes to add an image from their phone. Under the proposed method, the user could select the insertion location in the email, use a contextual menu to invoke an insertion option, bring up the desired image on their phone, and then bring the phone in close proximity to the Mac. Using a combination of proximity and communication technologies such as Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC) technology, Wi-Fi, and or a webcam, the image could then be automatically and wirelessly transferred to the computer and inserted into the email at the proper location. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Hospital Uses iPads to Connect Mothers With Newborn Babies • HBO Updates iOS App with AirPlay Multitasking and Game of Thrones Interactive Features • California Court Rules Anti-Texting Laws Apply to Checking Maps While Driving • Marvel Once Again Offers Up 700 Free First Issue Comics • Apple Pulls App Discovery App 'AppGratis' From App Store [Updated] • Microsoft to End Support for Office 2008 for Mac on April 9 • Best Buy Cuts Prices on iPad 3 Models by 30 Percent, U.S. In-Store Pickup Only • Apple Highlights Age Ratings in iOS App Store With New Icons    
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DigiTimes claims that Apple will begin volume production of the 5th generation iPad in July-August 2013. The timeline reportedly comes from sources in Taiwan-based supply chain makers. Mockup of 5th Generation iPad next to an iPad mini A July-August ramp up of production runs counter to many of the earlier rumors that had suggested the iPad launch as early as April. While Apple's traditional timeframe for iPad launches has been in the first few months of the year, last year saw two iPad launches -- one in March, and one in November. The late 2012 release of the 4th Generation iPad may have altered that usual timetable. The new iPad is believed to be "thinner and lighter" than the currently shipping full-sized iPad. The 5th Generation iPad is also believed to take on the same thin-bezel design as the iPad mini. The above mockup is based on leaked iPad 5 enclosures from early this year. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Hospital Uses iPads to Connect Mothers With Newborn Babies • HBO Updates iOS App with AirPlay Multitasking and Game of Thrones Interactive Features • California Court Rules Anti-Texting Laws Apply to Checking Maps While Driving • Marvel Once Again Offers Up 700 Free First Issue Comics • Apple Pulls App Discovery App 'AppGratis' From App Store [Updated] • Microsoft to End Support for Office 2008 for Mac on April 9 • Best Buy Cuts Prices on iPad 3 Models by 30 Percent, U.S. In-Store Pickup Only • Apple Highlights Age Ratings in iOS App Store With New Icons    
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WhatsApp business development head Neeraj Arora has told AllThingsD that an earlier report claiming Google was on the verge of acquiring the company for $1 billion is not true. WhatsApp is the company behind the popular iOS app WhatsApp Messenger.Neeraj Arora, WhatsApp’s business development head, told AllThingsDigital today that the company is not holding sales talks with Google.Arora declined to comment further, but AllThingsD does note that WhatsApp has been the subject of sales rumors before, having been linked to Facebook in December. At the time, WhatsApp said that those reports were "not factually accurate." WhatsApp Messenger has consistently been one of the top paid apps in the App Store in many countries around the world and is currently the #1 paid app in the U.S. store. It is one of the many messaging services, including Apple's own iMessage, available on iOS and other platforms that smartphone users have turned to in order to avoid carriers' SMS charges. Recently, WhatsApp announced that it will be moving to a subscription model for the iOS version of its app by the end of this year. The model would likely be similar to existing WhatsApp pricing for other platforms, which would make the app free for the first year and then $0.99 per year beyond the initial free period. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Hospital Uses iPads to Connect Mothers With Newborn Babies • HBO Updates iOS App with AirPlay Multitasking and Game of Thrones Interactive Features • California Court Rules Anti-Texting Laws Apply to Checking Maps While Driving • Marvel Once Again Offers Up 700 Free First Issue Comics • Apple Pulls App Discovery App 'AppGratis' From App Store [Updated] • Microsoft to End Support for Office 2008 for Mac on April 9 • Best Buy Cuts Prices on iPad 3 Models by 30 Percent, U.S. In-Store Pickup Only • Apple Highlights Age Ratings in iOS App Store With New Icons    
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Citing supply chain sources, DigiTimes reports that Apple is expected to see only modest "single-digit" shipment growth for its notebook lineup in 2013, with the 13-inch MacBook Pro in particular seeing weaker-than-expected sales.Apple was confident about its 13-inch MacBook Pro performance for 2013, but the device's actual sales turn out to be weaker than expected, leaving the company still digesting its inventories in the first quarter. The sources pointed out that Apple's MacBook Pros have strong attraction to consumers, but the devices' high prices are instead pushing consumers away.The report also claims that Apple will be refreshing its notebook lineup "at the end of the second quarter", which could mean an introduction at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference expected in June. Digitimes had reported in late December that Apple was planning a June refresh for its notebook lineup, and similar timeframes have been claimed by reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Taiwanese newspaper Economic Times. Back in mid-February, Apple released a surprise minor update for the Retina MacBook Pro, including a significant price drop for the 13-inch models. Apple also dropped pricing on the high-end MacBook Air at the time, a move that had been at least in part predicted by Digitimes in its late December report. Apple is likely to use Intel's forthcoming Haswell processors in its next-generation notebooks, and Intel will reportedly be releasing the first mobile Haswell chips in late May or early June. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Hospital Uses iPads to Connect Mothers With Newborn Babies • HBO Updates iOS App with AirPlay Multitasking and Game of Thrones Interactive Features • California Court Rules Anti-Texting Laws Apply to Checking Maps While Driving • Marvel Once Again Offers Up 700 Free First Issue Comics • Apple Pulls App Discovery App 'AppGratis' From App Store [Updated] • Microsoft to End Support for Office 2008 for Mac on April 9 • Best Buy Cuts Prices on iPad 3 Models by 30 Percent, U.S. In-Store Pickup Only • Apple Highlights Age Ratings in iOS App Store With New Icons    
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Apple today began offering refurbished models of the current-generation 27-inch iMac for the first time, roughly four months after the models initially launched. The two stock configurations of the 27-inch iMac are currently available at 15% discounts compared to brand-new units, with the low-end refurbished model priced at $1529 vs. $1799 new and the high-end refurbished model priced at $1699 vs. $1999 new. Several higher-priced custom configurations are also currently available as refurbished units. The addition of refurbished 27-inch models comes nearly two months after Apple began offering refurbished 21.5-inch models, with supplies having remained tight for a number of months due to issues related to the thinner design of the new iMac. Apple is using a new lamination process for the display to achieve a thinner and more vivid screen, and that process reportedly was resulting in low yields, particularly for the larger 27-inch models. Availability of the new iMacs improved markedly in early March, with shipping estimates for new orders of all stock configurations improving to "within 24 hours" at that time. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Hospital Uses iPads to Connect Mothers With Newborn Babies • HBO Updates iOS App with AirPlay Multitasking and Game of Thrones Interactive Features • California Court Rules Anti-Texting Laws Apply to Checking Maps While Driving • Marvel Once Again Offers Up 700 Free First Issue Comics • Apple Pulls App Discovery App 'AppGratis' From App Store [Updated] • Microsoft to End Support for Office 2008 for Mac on April 9 • Best Buy Cuts Prices on iPad 3 Models by 30 Percent, U.S. In-Store Pickup Only • Apple Highlights Age Ratings in iOS App Store With New Icons    
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CNBC is reporting that former Apple Retail head Ron Johnson is out as CEO of JC Penney, the job he took after resigning from Apple. @CNBC: BREAKING: Ron Johnson out as J.C. Penney CEO - sourceJohnson departed Apple in late 2011 and was replaced by John Browett, the CEO of British computing retailer Dixons. Browett's tenure was a bumpy one and he was fired after less than a year on the job. Nearly six months after Browett left Apple, the position remains open, leading many to speculate that Johnson would be a natural fit to move back into the position he occupied for more than ten years. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Marvel Once Again Offers Up 700 Free First Issue Comics • Apple Pulls App Discovery App 'AppGratis' From App Store [Updated] • Microsoft to End Support for Office 2008 for Mac on April 9 • Best Buy Cuts Prices on iPad 3 Models by 30 Percent, U.S. In-Store Pickup Only • Apple Highlights Age Ratings in iOS App Store With New Icons • Sonnet Announces Thunderbolt Dock With Internal Drive Bay and Blu-Ray Drive • Walmart Offering 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Mini for $299 • Rdio Launches Video Streaming Service and App Vdio    
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MacDailyNews, which does not have much of a track record on rumors, says one of its sources said Apple will announce a replacement to the Mac Pro at some point in the next several months. Apple will announce its replacement for the company’s Mac Pro lineup this month, a source who has been correct about Apple product matters in the past has just informed us. Our source offered no information as to whether the "Mac Pro replacement" would be a tower, mini-tower, or some other solution, but did caution that the announcement "could slip into May or even June, but currently April looks most likely."It has been nearly one thousand days -- almost three years -- since the last significant update to the Mac Pro. Last year, Apple said a new Mac Pro model was likely to arrive sometime in 2013. Earlier this year, a European reseller claimed they heard from Apple that a new Mac Pro would arrive this Spring. WWDC 2013 would seem to make the most sense for the announcement of a new pro-level Mac workstation. The current Mac Pro is not available for purchase in Europe because of EU regulatory requirements around unprotected fan blades, providing some additional incentive for Apple to release a new model. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Marvel Once Again Offers Up 700 Free First Issue Comics • Apple Pulls App Discovery App 'AppGratis' From App Store [Updated] • Microsoft to End Support for Office 2008 for Mac on April 9 • Best Buy Cuts Prices on iPad 3 Models by 30 Percent, U.S. In-Store Pickup Only • Apple Highlights Age Ratings in iOS App Store With New Icons • Sonnet Announces Thunderbolt Dock With Internal Drive Bay and Blu-Ray Drive • Walmart Offering 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Mini for $299 • Rdio Launches Video Streaming Service and App Vdio    
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Engadget reports that Intel has announced the next generation of Thunderbolt, promising throughput of 20 Gbps in each direction -- twice as fast as the current protocol, allowing simultaneous 4K video file transfer and display The new generation of Thunderbolt, code-named 'Falcon Ridge', will be backwards compatible with current-generation cables and connectors. Intel expects production to ramp up in 2014. An on-stage demo with fresh-off-the-press silicon showed the new Thunderbolt running 1,200 Mbps, which is certainly a step up from what's currently on the market. A minor update to Thunderbolt, called 'Redwood Ridge', will be included in some of Intel's upcoming 'Haswell' Core processors. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Marvel Once Again Offers Up 700 Free First Issue Comics • Apple Pulls App Discovery App 'AppGratis' From App Store [Updated] • Microsoft to End Support for Office 2008 for Mac on April 9 • Best Buy Cuts Prices on iPad 3 Models by 30 Percent, U.S. In-Store Pickup Only • Apple Highlights Age Ratings in iOS App Store With New Icons • Sonnet Announces Thunderbolt Dock With Internal Drive Bay and Blu-Ray Drive • Walmart Offering 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Mini for $299 • Rdio Launches Video Streaming Service and App Vdio    
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