The Loop's Jim Dalrymple, famed for his "Yep" responses in corroboration of Apple rumors, has pulled off his trademark one-liner once more on the topic of the Cupertino company's iOS 7 shipping on schedule. Earlier today, it was revealed that Apple was having some difficulty readying the next major revision of its mobile operating system, and with sources of AllThingsD suggesting that Tim Cook's men are in an iPhone/Leopard situation (pulling developers away from OS X development to muck in with iPhone), Dalrymple's sources also seem to be singing a similar tune.
It's well documented that Jony Ive has transcended within Apple in terms of responsibility since Scott Forstall, the company's former Vice President of iOS Software, was rather unceremoniously ousted following the botched release of iOS 6. As well as being the lead designer of most of company's hardware, he has also assumed major responsibility for the iOS software, and although his visionary nature has led to many high-profile alterations with iOS 7, according to reports, and it's a move which could cause big delays and leave Apple behind, reports Bloomberg.
With Siri having been the flagship feature of iOS 5 and Apple Maps, to a notably less welcoming reception, theoretically comprising the marquee feature of iOS 6, Apple has certainly laid the foundations for what's being described as aggressive in-car integration with the forthcoming iOS 7. Whilst in-car chargers, device holders and Bluetooth connectivity facilities are not uncommon accessories available to the roadworthy mobile device owner, it would appear Apple would like to tap into this market with its own solutions.
According to an internal Apple memo obtained by 9to5Mac, the original iPhone will soon become 'obsolete' in the eyes of the Cupertino company, with those looking for service or repairs at Apple Retail Stores or mail-in AppleCare Repair Centers unable to do so in most places. It is natural for an Apple product to become 'vintage' or 'obsolete' after five years, but there's a certain significance, dare I say poignancy attached to this particular progression, for the device is about as iconic as anything Apple has ever released.
When Samsung set about designing the Galaxy S4 as the replacement for its flagship Galaxy S III, there were no doubt all manner of targets that it wanted to meet. Bigger screen, same footprint, improved durability and more will quite possibly have been written on a whiteboard somewhere in Samsung HQ. But not all were met, especially that durability one.
With the iPad and iPhone being so popular amongst a worldwide audience, many have questioned Apple's long term interest in the Mac, as well as OS X. With the Mac Pro long overdue an update and Apple seemingly more interested in its iOS devices than its OS X ones. According to 9to5Mac though, Apple will update its computer operating system this year, and it will be an update that will please Apple's power users.
Microsoft may be languishing behind Apple and Google in the mobile operating system stakes, but that hasn't stopped the Redmond outfit from coning out on the offensive with its latest Windows Phone ad. You can check it out after the jump.
It's an interesting insight into Apple's current situation that everyone tends to forget all about its popular MacBook lines. While the iPhone and iPad are seen as Apple's biggest prospects, and as such can often be neglected by those of us writing about the company, it's worth noting that it is still very much invested in the notebook market, making arguably some of the best machines in the business.
Drop tests provide us with a decent general idea of how a device will fare when faced with the unthinkable. Of course, the idea is to keep a handset protected and try and avoid dropping it from various heights, but should this accident ever occur, drop tests offer a reasonable indication of how robust and durable a device is. Vloggers GizmoSlip posted a clip to YouTube on Friday showing the all-new Samsung Galaxy S4 in a drop test against its predecessor, the Galaxy S III, as well as the Apple iPhone 5. Find out just how much damage each smartphone sustained in the video clip coming up after the break!
A strange glitch in Apple's iMessage system, sees the words 'Obama' and 'surprise' deleted when entered in a certain way. Sending the message "I could be the next Obama " - taking careful note of that space at the end of the sentence, sees the name of the U.S. president removed completely, and the same goes for "The best prize is a surprise ".

