Star gets role in new 'Star Trek' movie via iPhone audition
Actors are little different from ad agencies these days.They have to pitch for business. They have to sell themselves by whatever means possible to ruthless, tasteless producers and directors who see them as little more than pretty mouths into which to insert words.At least that's how it always seemed on "Entourage."Who can therefore not admire the ingenuity of Benedict Cumberbatch? This fine British actor -- perhaps most famous for his role in the BBC's contemporary version of "Sherlock" --managed to secure a large role in the new "Star Trek" movie by revolutionary means.Despite being saddled with the name of a upscale landscape gardener, Cumberbatch had the ingenious idea of impressing director J.J. Abrams with a spontaneous audition filmed late at night on his iPhone.The home page of the Cumberbatch otter Tumblr feed.Red Scharlach Points at Interesting ThingsThe way The New York Times presents it, he was in a friend's kitchen and "pretty strung out."The Times doesn't record precisely whether it was tiredness or pinot noir that caused Cumberbatch's strings to be visible, but apparently his agitation was precisely what Abrams wanted to see.The creator of "Lost" and other things described it as "one of the most compelling audition readings I'd ever seen." Oh, he was just reading, was he? Perhaps Cumberbatch used a shaky iPhone camera technique to increase the sense of agitation. Still, he is no stranger to science fiction or science fact, as he once played Stephen Hawking in another BBC movie. One can but hope that this iPhone audition can be released upon iTunes, so that others can learn what it takes to make it to "Star Trek."Actually, it would be nice if otters could learn too. You might think I am already a little strung out. However, after he moved to Hollywood, Cumberbatch suffered from quite some online criticism for, um, selling out. The criticism became so passionate that a Tumblr feed was created -- one comparing his facial expressions with those of an otter.Now if an otter could get hold of an iPhone, create an audition tape, and get a role in, say, a new Disney movie called "Some Like It Otter," then surely society will have taken an enormous step in the right direction.
iPhone MMS send failure fix
iPhone MMS send failure fix
After discovering the following simple fix for my problem the next flower picture was actually sent to the recipient. I tried sending more images, resending images that had failed to send previously, and even a video with sound; all of those worked without a hitch and I was able to receive the same type of content from others.Warning notes:All your preferences and settings are reset. Information, such as your contacts and calendars, and media, such as your songs and videos, aren't deleted.You will have to re-enter your passcode, Wi-Fi passwords, and your apps will all be rearranged alphabetically. Note: the latter issue is actually a neat find--now I know how to alphabetize my apps when I want them sorted that way. Drastic yet effective.Additionally other settings like VPN, remembered Wi-Fi networks, etc., maybe lost.Fixing the MMS send failure error messageConnect your iPhone 3G or 3GS to your computer.Launch iTunes and go to the Summary tab for your iPhone.Click the Restore button to restore your iPhone and allow it to use your most recent backup when prompted; iTunes should do this automatically. This process will take a while so it is recommended that you try it only when it is convenient and you are not in a hurry. Once it is completed your iPhone will reboot.Launch Settings on your iPhone.Go to General > Reset All Settings > enter your PIN if prompted Try sending and receiving an MMS now. Hopefully this fix will resolve your MMS send failure woes, and if it does then welcome to 2003!Tell us about your iPhone MMS experience in the comments.Updated on 9/26/2009 at 11:56 a.m. PDT: Regarding JOBIROAL's comment about trying Reset Network Settings: both Apple and AT&T recommended this, but it did not resolve the problem for me. However, it is worth a try before attempting my fix.Updated on 9/28/2009 at 3:27 a.m. PDT: Check your AT&T account online to verify that you have one of the following three message plans:iPhone MMS supported message plansDavid Martin
After discovering the following simple fix for my problem the next flower picture was actually sent to the recipient. I tried sending more images, resending images that had failed to send previously, and even a video with sound; all of those worked without a hitch and I was able to receive the same type of content from others.Warning notes:All your preferences and settings are reset. Information, such as your contacts and calendars, and media, such as your songs and videos, aren't deleted.You will have to re-enter your passcode, Wi-Fi passwords, and your apps will all be rearranged alphabetically. Note: the latter issue is actually a neat find--now I know how to alphabetize my apps when I want them sorted that way. Drastic yet effective.Additionally other settings like VPN, remembered Wi-Fi networks, etc., maybe lost.Fixing the MMS send failure error messageConnect your iPhone 3G or 3GS to your computer.Launch iTunes and go to the Summary tab for your iPhone.Click the Restore button to restore your iPhone and allow it to use your most recent backup when prompted; iTunes should do this automatically. This process will take a while so it is recommended that you try it only when it is convenient and you are not in a hurry. Once it is completed your iPhone will reboot.Launch Settings on your iPhone.Go to General > Reset All Settings > enter your PIN if prompted Try sending and receiving an MMS now. Hopefully this fix will resolve your MMS send failure woes, and if it does then welcome to 2003!Tell us about your iPhone MMS experience in the comments.Updated on 9/26/2009 at 11:56 a.m. PDT: Regarding JOBIROAL's comment about trying Reset Network Settings: both Apple and AT&T recommended this, but it did not resolve the problem for me. However, it is worth a try before attempting my fix.Updated on 9/28/2009 at 3:27 a.m. PDT: Check your AT&T account online to verify that you have one of the following three message plans:iPhone MMS supported message plansDavid Martin
Wozniak warns Apple must stay 'cool' -- or else
Wozniak warns Apple must stay 'cool' -- or else
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has a warning for Tim Cook and his executives: stay cool, or you'll have trouble.Speaking to Bloomberg in an interview published today, Wozniak said that while Apple is still "really good at setting a standard with a new device," it's starting to lose its standing as the coolest company in the technology industry."We used to have these ads, 'I'm a Mac and I'm a PC,' and the Mac was always the cool guy," Wozniak told Bloomberg. "And ouch, it's painful, because we kind of are losing that."According to Bloomberg, Wozniak said that Apple's products are no longer able to easily trump competing devices from Amazon and Google because those companies "all have great ideas." He added that Apple should at least consider opening iTunes to Android and Windows Phone users.Wozniak has been surprisingly outspoken about Apple over the last several months. In October, he called the company "arrogant" and lamented that it believed it was "the only one with the right clue." In November, he said that he was worried that Apple is "just used to cranking out the newest iPhone and falling a little behind." He also took a jab at the late Steve Jobs, saying that he didn't have "to be as much of a real rugged bastard, put people down, and make them feel demeaned."Despite the negative talk, Wozniak told Bloomberg that he was hoping Apple would launch the rumored iWatch -- a device, he said, he would definitely buy.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has a warning for Tim Cook and his executives: stay cool, or you'll have trouble.Speaking to Bloomberg in an interview published today, Wozniak said that while Apple is still "really good at setting a standard with a new device," it's starting to lose its standing as the coolest company in the technology industry."We used to have these ads, 'I'm a Mac and I'm a PC,' and the Mac was always the cool guy," Wozniak told Bloomberg. "And ouch, it's painful, because we kind of are losing that."According to Bloomberg, Wozniak said that Apple's products are no longer able to easily trump competing devices from Amazon and Google because those companies "all have great ideas." He added that Apple should at least consider opening iTunes to Android and Windows Phone users.Wozniak has been surprisingly outspoken about Apple over the last several months. In October, he called the company "arrogant" and lamented that it believed it was "the only one with the right clue." In November, he said that he was worried that Apple is "just used to cranking out the newest iPhone and falling a little behind." He also took a jab at the late Steve Jobs, saying that he didn't have "to be as much of a real rugged bastard, put people down, and make them feel demeaned."Despite the negative talk, Wozniak told Bloomberg that he was hoping Apple would launch the rumored iWatch -- a device, he said, he would definitely buy.
Woman hangs up on $10,000 call from Apple
Woman hangs up on $10,000 call from Apple
Davis was distraught when she called Apple back and somehow the person on the company's helpdesk reportedly proved to be less than helpful. Perhaps Davis was already a marked woman. Perhaps it had been Apple COO Tim Cook himself calling to tell her she had won a $10,000 gift card.Davis was mired in shame. As she told the Cult of Mac: "The more I thought about it, the more I realized it was a genuine call. The girls were getting quite tense. They never would have forgiven me. They would have held it against me for all eternity."Children hold all sorts of things against their mothers for all eternity, from looks to luck. But this would have been too much to bear.Her eternity was made sweeter when she received another call from Apple. This time it was a colleague of Eddy Cue, Apple's VP of iTunes. You might wonder why Cue himself didn't make the call. It could have been because it had, indeed, been Cue, rather than a telemarketer, who had made the original call and received a polite British brush-off.So now Gail Davis and her family can download more apps and enjoy their fame. And Apple can content itself that it is now only Toshiba being rude to the company, rather than the woman whose family downloaded the 10 billionth app.
Davis was distraught when she called Apple back and somehow the person on the company's helpdesk reportedly proved to be less than helpful. Perhaps Davis was already a marked woman. Perhaps it had been Apple COO Tim Cook himself calling to tell her she had won a $10,000 gift card.Davis was mired in shame. As she told the Cult of Mac: "The more I thought about it, the more I realized it was a genuine call. The girls were getting quite tense. They never would have forgiven me. They would have held it against me for all eternity."Children hold all sorts of things against their mothers for all eternity, from looks to luck. But this would have been too much to bear.Her eternity was made sweeter when she received another call from Apple. This time it was a colleague of Eddy Cue, Apple's VP of iTunes. You might wonder why Cue himself didn't make the call. It could have been because it had, indeed, been Cue, rather than a telemarketer, who had made the original call and received a polite British brush-off.So now Gail Davis and her family can download more apps and enjoy their fame. And Apple can content itself that it is now only Toshiba being rude to the company, rather than the woman whose family downloaded the 10 billionth app.
Dictionary.com's iPhone game tests ur spelling
Dictionary.com's iPhone game tests ur spelling
The app is straightforward. You quickly decide which of the 20 words in the round are spelled correctly or incorrectly. Points are knocked off for inaccuracy, and added to your total time. If it takes you 40 seconds to go through the list, but you get two wrong, your score spikes up to 60 seconds, a B. So save the pokiness for reviewing your score and for kicking yourself for casual errors.The game is cute all right, and a test to the ego in the way that SATs and other standardized tests are--taunting in their simplicity, and debasing when you miss a word you ought to know. At least you're not alone--the misspellings that are your object to spot are siphoned straight from the top 5,000 botched words entered into Dictionary.com at a rate of 2 million typos and flubs per month. Still, there are a few light raps of the ruler we'd make. In a test game, 'consiencious' was paired with 'consensus', rather than with 'conscientious'. Apart from that, we're not quite convinced the game will make us more intelligent, until Dictionary.com slips in definitions, and perhaps the pronunciation guide from the free Dictionary.com iPhone app. Miss Spell's Class is also a bit one-dimensional. Although this game title is just the beginning, we'd like to see it instilled with different skill levels and playing modes, where you might actively spell a word, not just passively review it, or quickly choose the right configuration from a handful of choices. There should be different skins to pull in the grade-school youngsters, old fogeys, and tweens who are too cool for school, and competitions over Wi-Fi.Some of these additional features are admittedly coming. A future version is planned that will shade in the tricky words with vocabulary content, and on Thursday, Dictionary.com is releasing its anagram game, Anagram Cracker, for the Web, which leverages the site's Thesaurus content. The bottom line is, while Miss Spell's Class is original and challenging, we know Dictionary.com can do better.P.S. In case you're curious, here are the top-10 words most often misspelled when searched on in Dictionary.com: definitely, separate, sense, savvy, liaison, accommodate, embarrassed, occasionally, inconvenience, and dilemma.
The app is straightforward. You quickly decide which of the 20 words in the round are spelled correctly or incorrectly. Points are knocked off for inaccuracy, and added to your total time. If it takes you 40 seconds to go through the list, but you get two wrong, your score spikes up to 60 seconds, a B. So save the pokiness for reviewing your score and for kicking yourself for casual errors.The game is cute all right, and a test to the ego in the way that SATs and other standardized tests are--taunting in their simplicity, and debasing when you miss a word you ought to know. At least you're not alone--the misspellings that are your object to spot are siphoned straight from the top 5,000 botched words entered into Dictionary.com at a rate of 2 million typos and flubs per month. Still, there are a few light raps of the ruler we'd make. In a test game, 'consiencious' was paired with 'consensus', rather than with 'conscientious'. Apart from that, we're not quite convinced the game will make us more intelligent, until Dictionary.com slips in definitions, and perhaps the pronunciation guide from the free Dictionary.com iPhone app. Miss Spell's Class is also a bit one-dimensional. Although this game title is just the beginning, we'd like to see it instilled with different skill levels and playing modes, where you might actively spell a word, not just passively review it, or quickly choose the right configuration from a handful of choices. There should be different skins to pull in the grade-school youngsters, old fogeys, and tweens who are too cool for school, and competitions over Wi-Fi.Some of these additional features are admittedly coming. A future version is planned that will shade in the tricky words with vocabulary content, and on Thursday, Dictionary.com is releasing its anagram game, Anagram Cracker, for the Web, which leverages the site's Thesaurus content. The bottom line is, while Miss Spell's Class is original and challenging, we know Dictionary.com can do better.P.S. In case you're curious, here are the top-10 words most often misspelled when searched on in Dictionary.com: definitely, separate, sense, savvy, liaison, accommodate, embarrassed, occasionally, inconvenience, and dilemma.
Dictionary.com launches new app for word nerds
Dictionary.com launches new app for word nerds
One dictionary, one would think, is much like any other dictionary: a useful resource, to be sure, but with little variance in general functionality. But Dictionary.com is working hard to prove that not all dictionary apps are created equal.The service, which originally launched in 1995, is celebrating Dictionary Day this year by giving its iPhone app a massive overhaul. Possibly the new feature that users will notice first is that the app is consolidating all its premium dictionaries. Related articlesUse mobile dictionary apps even when offlineWikimedia Foundation launches all-new Wikipedia appAdd a pop-up dictionary to AndroidPreviously, the Dictionary.com app offered a range of specialist dictionaries -- a slang dictionary, a medical dictionary, a science dictionary and a rhyming dictionary. It also offered example sentences, a translator with over 20 languages, grammar and tips, idioms and phrases, and an encyclopedia. Each of these features was its own in-app purchase, ranging from $0.99 to $2.99.Each and every one of these features has now been consolidated under a single in-app purchase of $3.99 -- or $2.99 for a Dictionary Day special."We're adding some of our most popular content to the premium Dictionary.com iOS app, which already includes 2 million entries in its standard dictionary," said Dictionary.com CEO Michele Turner. "We broadened its scope, providing users with more than 3.4 million definitions and examples in the premium version of the app. With these additional dictionaries and contextually relevant examples, students, business professionals and anyone who loves words now has the most comprehensive dictionary at the tap of a finger."The free version of the app will retain the dictionary and thesaurus, as well as the daily slideshows, word of the day, blog and trends -- but free users get something new to play with too: the developers have built a quiz widget into the app to test your vocabulary. Every day, this will send a push notification with a multiple-choice word quiz that can be played from the pull-down menu in iOS.You can grab these new features by updating the Dictionary.com app from your device, or downloading it for free from the iTunes app store.
One dictionary, one would think, is much like any other dictionary: a useful resource, to be sure, but with little variance in general functionality. But Dictionary.com is working hard to prove that not all dictionary apps are created equal.The service, which originally launched in 1995, is celebrating Dictionary Day this year by giving its iPhone app a massive overhaul. Possibly the new feature that users will notice first is that the app is consolidating all its premium dictionaries. Related articlesUse mobile dictionary apps even when offlineWikimedia Foundation launches all-new Wikipedia appAdd a pop-up dictionary to AndroidPreviously, the Dictionary.com app offered a range of specialist dictionaries -- a slang dictionary, a medical dictionary, a science dictionary and a rhyming dictionary. It also offered example sentences, a translator with over 20 languages, grammar and tips, idioms and phrases, and an encyclopedia. Each of these features was its own in-app purchase, ranging from $0.99 to $2.99.Each and every one of these features has now been consolidated under a single in-app purchase of $3.99 -- or $2.99 for a Dictionary Day special."We're adding some of our most popular content to the premium Dictionary.com iOS app, which already includes 2 million entries in its standard dictionary," said Dictionary.com CEO Michele Turner. "We broadened its scope, providing users with more than 3.4 million definitions and examples in the premium version of the app. With these additional dictionaries and contextually relevant examples, students, business professionals and anyone who loves words now has the most comprehensive dictionary at the tap of a finger."The free version of the app will retain the dictionary and thesaurus, as well as the daily slideshows, word of the day, blog and trends -- but free users get something new to play with too: the developers have built a quiz widget into the app to test your vocabulary. Every day, this will send a push notification with a multiple-choice word quiz that can be played from the pull-down menu in iOS.You can grab these new features by updating the Dictionary.com app from your device, or downloading it for free from the iTunes app store.
Apple to open first retail store in Brazil next week
Apple to open first retail store in Brazil next week
Apple is finally launching its first store in Brazil.The Web site for the new store points to Rio de Janeiro's VillageMall shopping center as its locale and February 15 as its launch date. The store will be Apple's first in Latin America, joining its hundreds of other outlets, most of which are in the US and Europe.The store will host a couple of workshops on opening day devoted to the iPhone and iPhoto. A workshop on the following day will focus on the iPad, while subsequent workshops will cover iCloud and the Numbers app.Iconic Apple stores around the world (ph...See full gallery1 - 4 / 18NextPrevApple first announced that it would launch a store in Rio de Janeiro in November 2012. At the time, the company was unable to confirm when the store would open or exactly where in Rio de Janeiro it would be located.Last October, an "inside source" told 9to5Mac that Apple was aiming for a February or March opening and that the company planned to temporarily send US retail employees to Brazil to teach local workers about its retail practices."We look forward to the opening of the first Apple Store in Brazil, where we have longstanding customers and hope to win many more every day," Apple said at the time. "We cannot wait to offer the unique Apple retail experience to the people of Rio de Janeiro and customers from across the entire region."Apple also is reportedly aiming to reintroduce the iPhone 4 in just three countries -- India, Indonesia, and Brazil. If true, the move would be a way to win over more budget-conscious consumers in regions where Apple is losing market share to less expensive phones.(Via MacRumors)
Apple is finally launching its first store in Brazil.The Web site for the new store points to Rio de Janeiro's VillageMall shopping center as its locale and February 15 as its launch date. The store will be Apple's first in Latin America, joining its hundreds of other outlets, most of which are in the US and Europe.The store will host a couple of workshops on opening day devoted to the iPhone and iPhoto. A workshop on the following day will focus on the iPad, while subsequent workshops will cover iCloud and the Numbers app.Iconic Apple stores around the world (ph...See full gallery1 - 4 / 18NextPrevApple first announced that it would launch a store in Rio de Janeiro in November 2012. At the time, the company was unable to confirm when the store would open or exactly where in Rio de Janeiro it would be located.Last October, an "inside source" told 9to5Mac that Apple was aiming for a February or March opening and that the company planned to temporarily send US retail employees to Brazil to teach local workers about its retail practices."We look forward to the opening of the first Apple Store in Brazil, where we have longstanding customers and hope to win many more every day," Apple said at the time. "We cannot wait to offer the unique Apple retail experience to the people of Rio de Janeiro and customers from across the entire region."Apple also is reportedly aiming to reintroduce the iPhone 4 in just three countries -- India, Indonesia, and Brazil. If true, the move would be a way to win over more budget-conscious consumers in regions where Apple is losing market share to less expensive phones.(Via MacRumors)
Apple to open another 30 to 35 retail stores next year
Apple to open another 30 to 35 retail stores next year
Apple's retail empire is still expanding.The company today said it plans to open another 30 to 35 retail stores during its 2013 fiscal year, which wraps up next September. About three-quarters of those stores would be located outside the United States, the company said.The mention came inside the company's annual report, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this afternoon. Apple added that it plans to spend about $850 million on the expansion, as well as investment into its current retail infrastructure. The plans fall in line with Apple's retail store rollout during 2012, which included the opening of 33 new stores, bringing Apple's full tally to 390 stores worldwide. Similar to the planned expansion, 28 of those 33 stores were opened up outside the U.S. The year prior, Apple opened up 40 stores. Related storiesApple's shopping for a new shopkeeper, againApple Stores reportedly still face budget cuts, unhappy workersApple reshuffles top brass: iOS chief to leave in 2013The company's operations are under a closer watch given the departure of retail chief John Browett, who Apple this week said no longer works for the company. During Browett's tenure, reports surfaced that Apple was making cutbacks on staffing, as well as in-store features, prompting speculation that the company's retail efforts were not as healthy as they once were. In its annual report, Apple said retail sales grew by $4.7 billion or 33 percent versus the year prior, mainly due to the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, as well as its two latest iPad models. Altogether, sales made at Apple stores made up 12 percent of Apple's total sales for 2012, down from 13 percent the year before.
Apple's retail empire is still expanding.The company today said it plans to open another 30 to 35 retail stores during its 2013 fiscal year, which wraps up next September. About three-quarters of those stores would be located outside the United States, the company said.The mention came inside the company's annual report, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this afternoon. Apple added that it plans to spend about $850 million on the expansion, as well as investment into its current retail infrastructure. The plans fall in line with Apple's retail store rollout during 2012, which included the opening of 33 new stores, bringing Apple's full tally to 390 stores worldwide. Similar to the planned expansion, 28 of those 33 stores were opened up outside the U.S. The year prior, Apple opened up 40 stores. Related storiesApple's shopping for a new shopkeeper, againApple Stores reportedly still face budget cuts, unhappy workersApple reshuffles top brass: iOS chief to leave in 2013The company's operations are under a closer watch given the departure of retail chief John Browett, who Apple this week said no longer works for the company. During Browett's tenure, reports surfaced that Apple was making cutbacks on staffing, as well as in-store features, prompting speculation that the company's retail efforts were not as healthy as they once were. In its annual report, Apple said retail sales grew by $4.7 billion or 33 percent versus the year prior, mainly due to the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, as well as its two latest iPad models. Altogether, sales made at Apple stores made up 12 percent of Apple's total sales for 2012, down from 13 percent the year before.
Apple to offer iPhone 3GS for free, says analyst
Apple to offer iPhone 3GS for free, says analyst
Apple will offer the iPhone 3GS for free and the iPhone 4 for $99 timed with the release of the iPhone 5, says an analyst from RBC Capital Market.In an investor's note issued yesterday, analyst Mike Abramsky said that in line with the launch of the iPhone 5, he expects Apple to slash the price of the 3Gs to $0 on contract ($399 unsubsidized) and the iPhone 4 to $99 ($499 unsubsidized).The analyst believes these price cuts will be part of an entry-level iPhone strategy on Apple's part, designed to "target mid-market smartphone buyers and counter Android's mid-market expansion." Although a $49 iPhone 3GS is already available through AT&T, he sees a free iPhone as "psychologically" compelling to customers.A survey of 1,500 consumers conducted by ChangeWave and cited by RBC found that 14 percent would be very or somewhat likely to buy an iPhone 3GS for free with a two-year contract. That compares with 13 percent who expressed similar interest for the iPad and only 9 percent for the original iPhone.A free iPhone could also double the number of iPhone customers around the world to 150 milllion from an estimated 64 million currently, says the analyst, and expand Apple's presence outside the U.S.Abramsky expects the iPhone 5 itself to debut at a price of $199/$299 on contract ($599/$699 unsubsidized). Gazing into 2012, he also believes Apple will unveil a "baby" iPhone, a smaller, prepaid version of the standard iPhone and one designed to take greater advantage of the company's upcoming new iCloud service.The analyst didn't offer his take on when Apple may release the iPhone 5, a topic that's been subject to a bevy of rumors the past several months. Recent reports from Bloomberg and Morgan Stanley are predicting a September launch date for the new iPhone.
Apple will offer the iPhone 3GS for free and the iPhone 4 for $99 timed with the release of the iPhone 5, says an analyst from RBC Capital Market.In an investor's note issued yesterday, analyst Mike Abramsky said that in line with the launch of the iPhone 5, he expects Apple to slash the price of the 3Gs to $0 on contract ($399 unsubsidized) and the iPhone 4 to $99 ($499 unsubsidized).The analyst believes these price cuts will be part of an entry-level iPhone strategy on Apple's part, designed to "target mid-market smartphone buyers and counter Android's mid-market expansion." Although a $49 iPhone 3GS is already available through AT&T, he sees a free iPhone as "psychologically" compelling to customers.A survey of 1,500 consumers conducted by ChangeWave and cited by RBC found that 14 percent would be very or somewhat likely to buy an iPhone 3GS for free with a two-year contract. That compares with 13 percent who expressed similar interest for the iPad and only 9 percent for the original iPhone.A free iPhone could also double the number of iPhone customers around the world to 150 milllion from an estimated 64 million currently, says the analyst, and expand Apple's presence outside the U.S.Abramsky expects the iPhone 5 itself to debut at a price of $199/$299 on contract ($599/$699 unsubsidized). Gazing into 2012, he also believes Apple will unveil a "baby" iPhone, a smaller, prepaid version of the standard iPhone and one designed to take greater advantage of the company's upcoming new iCloud service.The analyst didn't offer his take on when Apple may release the iPhone 5, a topic that's been subject to a bevy of rumors the past several months. Recent reports from Bloomberg and Morgan Stanley are predicting a September launch date for the new iPhone.
Apple to offer in-store iPhone repairs, says report
Apple to offer in-store iPhone repairs, says report
Break the touch screen on your iPhone and your local Apple Store may soon be able to replace just the screen rather than charge you for a whole new phone.Apple is prepping its stores to repair and replace parts for the iPhone 5S and 5C, "sources with knowledge of the upcoming initiative" told 9to5Mac. This means that damaged iPhones won't necessarily need to be turned in for an entirely new unit.The initiative will cover several components, according to the sources, including the screen, the rear camera, the volume buttons, the motor, the speaker system, and the 5C's conventional (non-Touch ID) home button. Special calibration equipment will be provided to the stores to allow employees to replace the touch screen.Users covered by an AppleCare warranty can get the parts replaced or repaired for free. Other owners will have to shell out some cash. Replacing the touch screen will cost $149. A new battery will run $79. And a new home button for the iPhone 5C will cost $29.But those expenses are minimal compared with the cost of buying a brand new phone to replace a damaged unit. Replacing a single component also means that users can keep the same phone, eliminating the need to back up and restore their data. And since the repairs are done on site, people can simply wait for their phone to be revived back to working condition.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story with any further information.
Break the touch screen on your iPhone and your local Apple Store may soon be able to replace just the screen rather than charge you for a whole new phone.Apple is prepping its stores to repair and replace parts for the iPhone 5S and 5C, "sources with knowledge of the upcoming initiative" told 9to5Mac. This means that damaged iPhones won't necessarily need to be turned in for an entirely new unit.The initiative will cover several components, according to the sources, including the screen, the rear camera, the volume buttons, the motor, the speaker system, and the 5C's conventional (non-Touch ID) home button. Special calibration equipment will be provided to the stores to allow employees to replace the touch screen.Users covered by an AppleCare warranty can get the parts replaced or repaired for free. Other owners will have to shell out some cash. Replacing the touch screen will cost $149. A new battery will run $79. And a new home button for the iPhone 5C will cost $29.But those expenses are minimal compared with the cost of buying a brand new phone to replace a damaged unit. Replacing a single component also means that users can keep the same phone, eliminating the need to back up and restore their data. And since the repairs are done on site, people can simply wait for their phone to be revived back to working condition.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story with any further information.
Apple to move A6X production from Samsung to TSMC -- report
Apple to move A6X production from Samsung to TSMC -- report
Apple's A6X processor, which is found in the company's fourth-generation iPad, might soon see its producer switched from Samsung to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.Apple has agreed with TSMC to initiate trial production of its A6X processor during the first quarter, Taiwan-based Commercial Times is reporting, according to the AFP. The trial period could decide whether TSMC will be given the entire A6X order.Samsung, Apple's arch-rival in the mobile market, is currently producing the company's A6X processor. However, with their legal and competitive struggles increasingly weighing on their business relationship, reports have suggested that Apple has been looking for a change.In October, CNET reported that Apple was considering a drawdown in its reliance on Samsung's processor production. Gus Richard, a chip analyst at Piper Jaffray, told CNET that Apple was "working with TSMC." Another chip industry source told CNET at the time that the "Apple-Samsung relationship has deteriorated to such a poor point that they're just looking to fill contractual obligations, then make a change."That said, those sources indicated that Apple's switch to TSMC would coincide with its transition to 20-nanometer technology. Still, a source told CNET last year that Apple was planning to kick off the design process early on this year, and then go into production in full force by the end of 2013 -- a scenario that might be playing out with this latest move.It's important to acknowledge, however, that this would be just a trial production. Apple and TSMC would be testing the waters to see if the latter can deliver enough solid processors to handle demand and accommodate Apple's notoriously high standards for chip quality. If TSMC can pull it off, Samsung might be pushed out. If not, Apple might have to go back to the drawing board.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the report. We will update this story when we have more information.(Via 9to5 Mac)
Apple's A6X processor, which is found in the company's fourth-generation iPad, might soon see its producer switched from Samsung to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.Apple has agreed with TSMC to initiate trial production of its A6X processor during the first quarter, Taiwan-based Commercial Times is reporting, according to the AFP. The trial period could decide whether TSMC will be given the entire A6X order.Samsung, Apple's arch-rival in the mobile market, is currently producing the company's A6X processor. However, with their legal and competitive struggles increasingly weighing on their business relationship, reports have suggested that Apple has been looking for a change.In October, CNET reported that Apple was considering a drawdown in its reliance on Samsung's processor production. Gus Richard, a chip analyst at Piper Jaffray, told CNET that Apple was "working with TSMC." Another chip industry source told CNET at the time that the "Apple-Samsung relationship has deteriorated to such a poor point that they're just looking to fill contractual obligations, then make a change."That said, those sources indicated that Apple's switch to TSMC would coincide with its transition to 20-nanometer technology. Still, a source told CNET last year that Apple was planning to kick off the design process early on this year, and then go into production in full force by the end of 2013 -- a scenario that might be playing out with this latest move.It's important to acknowledge, however, that this would be just a trial production. Apple and TSMC would be testing the waters to see if the latter can deliver enough solid processors to handle demand and accommodate Apple's notoriously high standards for chip quality. If TSMC can pull it off, Samsung might be pushed out. If not, Apple might have to go back to the drawing board.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the report. We will update this story when we have more information.(Via 9to5 Mac)
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