Although company executives and CEOs spend most of their public speaking time discussing affairs concerning their own business and products, it's always interesting to hear what the big names have to say about rivals. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked whether the ongoing Mac vs. Windows PC battle was in any way similar to the the rivalry between iOS and Android. This analogy is frequently used by commentators and tech fans alike, after all, but Cook completely disagrees that the two famous rivalries are comparable, and here's why.
The iPhone is considered a very expensive device to own, but the fact that newer technologies become cheaper with every year enables vendors like Apple to ensure that each new model packs more new and exciting features for roundabout the same price. If prices of the raw materials remained constant, building a handset like the iPhone would be impossible on a large scale, and to emphasize this point, Tech Policy Daily has carried out some research on how much an iPhone would have cost to make in 1991.
iOS 7.1, the first major update since the seventh edition of Apple's mobile firmware first landed in September, has already clocked up five betas, and although we haven't really heard anything indicative of the eventual release date, it is widely assumed the that the GM and subsequent end-user roll-out isn't too far off. Now, though, 9to5Mac has come through with something a bit more concrete, citing "reliable sources" in claiming that iOS 7.1 will drop next month.
Apple executives don't often sound off or even hint at future products until they've been announced, but on Thursday, CEO Tim Cook went on record to state that his company is currently working on some "really great stuff" in the category of new products. Speaking with The Wall Street Journal, he didn't go into any specifics, but with 2014 having already been outlined as a significant year in the company's growth by the head honcho, the interest of the tech world has been well and truly piqued.
Apple's iOS is renowned for being among the most secure platforms out there, but even with the Cupertino company’s reputation for keeping things water-tight, security issues still frequently flare up. In the latest, it has been learned that a user can, without even needing to type in a password, disable the Find My iPhone feature, which essentially renders it useless since the device is then obscured from being tracked by iCloud.com. More details to follow.
Rumor has it that the iPhone 6 will benefit from - among other things - a robust, Sapphire glass display. With the shield in place, the days of shattered displays and slivers of glass catching our fingers as we swipe and tap around the cracks should be long gone, and if there was ever any doubt as to the credentials of this material, the video seen below dispels them with aplomb. The clip, which you can see after the break, shows how an iPhone 5 is able to withstand a fair amount of punishment from a concrete block thanks to a Sapphire Crystal Screen Protector by Aero-Gear.
Samsung, as you'll likely be aware, has a colossal advertising budget, regularly throwing tens of millions into new ad campaigns. While some, like the Samsung Style dance, have left us cringing, the company has regularly taken the more traditional approach of involving itself in major sporting events, and having been a major partner in the London 2012 Summer Olympics, the company is also looking to capitalize on Moscow's 2014 Winter Games. But while its tactic of giving away a free Galaxy Note 3 to every athlete may equate to some decent coverage when the TV feeds are beamed worldwide, there's a catch, in that recipients of the free Note must obscure the Apple logo if they plan on using an iPhone during the opening ceremony.
Apple's Mac range, which only recently turned thirty years old, is an integral component in the world of modern computing. Like iOS devices, Apple computers tend to run smoothly, and this can largely be attributed to the fact that Apple itself designs both hardware and software in-house. But while OS X, the company's desktop platform, can only run on Macs (save Hackintosh-like methods), there was once a point when Steve Jobs - former CEO and co-founder of the Cupertino outfit - wanted OS X to run on Sony's VAIO notebooks.
The fortunes of Apple TV have completely transformed during the past year or so, with the Cupertino's set-top box having been dragged from relative obscurity to now being a serious contender in the battle for supremacy in the ever-evolving TV market. Speaking of battles, it looks like Apple TV users will have plenty to look forward to, with today's news that the World Wrestling Entertainment Network Channel will be joining its roster from the 24th of this month. Details after the break.
Last week, it was revealed that the Apple Mac had turned thirty. Apple executive Phil Schiller was clearly buoyed by the news after tweeting about the milestone, and the celebratory mood spilled over across the company as a video was released to mark the third decade of one of the digital industry's most iconic products. Not content with that, Apple has now rolled out a video showing the magic of the Mac when combined with its partner-in-crime - the iPhone 5s. The clip is filmed on the handset, edited on the Mac, and the result - a truly organic, Apple-made movie. Check it out after the jump!
