Apple has today struck a deal with IBM that will see devices like the iPhone and iPad build a stronger presence in the enterprise market, with IBM's obvious clout among business helping to seal what will no doubt be a mutually beneficial deal. Announced today by means of a press release, IBM will take the opportunity to integrate its own pool of services and solutions into these Apple-made devices before selling the tailored experience on to specific, pin-pointed businesses and industries.
As rumors go, the Apple "iWatch" has been stalking blogosphere headlines for a good couple of years now, but with Samsung having come through with several smartwatches already and Google having just taken the wraps off Android Wear, the Cupertino company knows that this emerging industry is in the midst of a boom. As such, there's a genuine consensus that the iWatch will indeed arrive later this year, and although a new report out of Asia provides yet more circumstantial evidence as opposed to anything solid, it does offer insight as to the multiple models that Apple is said to be preparing.
It's a fair assessment to make that Apple's Passbook feature hasn't been adopted by consumers with the kind of enthusiasm that the early hype suggested, but with NFC said to be arriving with the iPhone 6, the voucher / pass / wallet service could soon become a staple part of iOS users' diets. The Cupertino's move to launch iTunes Pass in Japan is certainly indicative of a more concerted push with Passbook, and as of today, Japanese consumers will be able to top up their iTunes credit via Passbook at Apple's brick-and-mortar retail outlets.
Beats Electronics, which was recently acquired by Apple, has enjoyed an immensely successful first few years in business, and while its hardware arguably offers premium audio quality, there's no doubt that the company's ties with music and popular culture have helped it to reach the dizzy heights of being Apple's largest ever acquisition. As well as music, an industry in which founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine are heavily invested, football / soccer players have certainly helped to broaden the appeal of the brand, and now, Beats has returned the favor by presenting Germany's World Cup-winning squad with some 24-carat gold Beats Pro headphones.
Apple's iPad is among the most coveted in the tablet game, and given that the Cupertino outfit is credited with forging this now-lucrative market, this is to be expected. However, while it's a well-made device - as is the case with most hardware out of Cupertino - the nickel element of its metal finish is apparently causing irritation on the skin of young children coming into contact with the slate.
It seems that the 5.5-inch Apple iPhone 6 "will it, won't it" saga is set to continue. Apple is widely expected to continue the development of the iPhone by introducing a new 4.7-inch model as well as a larger 5.5-inch "phablet" variant which will appeal those individuals who love a larger display. The question surrounding the release isn't whether or not the purported larger device exists, but whether Apple and its supply chain partners are able to flawlessly manufacture the parts necessary for the device in the required quantities. According to Ming-Chi Kuo - a well respected industry analyst from KGI Securities - the larger in-cell touchscreen panel and the redesigned metal casing that forms the exterior of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 are proving to be problematic, meaning that a launch could be pushed back to 2015.
There are plenty of things that accompany a new iPhone release. There are the inevitable rumors, then the ever-increasing number of leaks and supposed dummy models that start to appear thanks to third-party case manufacturers and the like. But there's a third feature of a new iPhone release that is arguably even more characteristic of the Apple community, and that's the 3D render of the unreleased device itself.
Although the iPhone 6is all the rage in the tech blogosphere these days, another product that has been generating a lot of is the rumored Apple iWatch (mind you, it may be rumored technically, it’s all but certain that the device is seeing the light of day this fall or the holiday season). Since we’re not entirely certain yet what the device would look like, designers are continuing to take jabs at what the possible product might be, and a new concept courtesy of SET Solution pits the iWatch dangerously close to looking like a miniature iPhone.
There has long been debate about whether the Apple eBay Store is actually 100% official or not, with some believing that Apple lets a third-party run its eBay presence so that it doesn't have to worry about it itself, but the general consensus is that it's as good as official. With that in mind, it's often been a good place to bag a good bargain. The store has had a restock recently too, which means you're going to want to check it out if you’re eager to grab yourself a new gadget to play with.
iOS 7.1.2 download links are now live for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, fixing a bug pertaining to the encryption of email attachments and iMessage delivery. Additionally, a further lock screen-related bug has also been dealt with, and so if you’re running iOS 7.1.1 on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, it is highly recommended that you download the update right away.
