If you thought your part of the world was the only area that seemed to get gripped by fruit-based fever whenever a new physical Apple Store opened up, then think again. The new Wangfujing store in Beijing has officially been opened for business and immediately became the largest Apple Store in Asia, much to the delight of the sizeable crowd that turned out for the occasion.
Among the three technology media events set for the last week of October – Microsoft’s Surface and Windows 8 launch event on 25th, Google’s event on the 29th, Apple’s event on the 23rd is the most heavily anticipated. It is widely expected to be centered around an all-new smaller iPad which is popularly referred to as the iPad Mini.
Another year as brought another iPhone, and as has been the case all too frequently, yet another controversy. Sure, the problems haven't been on the same level as the Antennagate scandal of 2010, and perhaps not even as significant as the battery issues with the early iPhone 4S devices, but the metal backplate of the iPhone 5 has certainly agitated more than a few consumers.
It was undoubtedly a disappointing day for the jailbreak loving world when Nicholas Allegra (Comex) publicly announced his departure from the community as a result of accepting an internship at the company he had worked so hard to circumvent in the few years prior. We will never really know if producers of jailbreak tools and tweaks do so in the hope of becoming known by Apple and ultimately offered dream employment with the Cupertino company, but after a year working the fruit Company, Allegra is officially flying solo once again.
There are some business acquisitions that make perfect sense, some that seem a little strange but are understandable and others that we can see coming from a mile off, but the latest rumor is suggesting that Apple is in the process of acquiring Color Labs Inc. doesn't really fit into any of those categories. Color Labs is the company behind the drastic iOS and Android app called Color that managed to raise a fairly large pot of funding in 2011, but if the reports turn out to be true then it looks like the company executive have found their way out.
Apple might have had the most notable and high-profile win in the on-going patent battle with Samsung when a judge in San Jose ruled that more than $1 billion in damages were due to the company from Samsung, but it hasn't all been about victory for Apple who have had their fair share of patent related setbacks. One of the latest has come right from the United Kingdom where an Apple appeal to have an earlier ruling overturned has proven unsuccessful.
With the next Apple event being officially penned in for October 23rd, the floodgates are now open for iPad Mini related rumors to start doing the rounds. Although, it has been heavily speculated on over the last few weeks, there has been little in terms of possible technical specifications or component leaks. It has been less than twenty-four hours since Apple sent out their official invites but we are already seeing some photographs of what are reported to be the official displays being used in the miniature iPad.
Although the form factor of the iPhone 4 / 4S was relatively compact and by no means bulky to hold, the recent release of the iPhone 5 has left many consumers amazed at just how much thinner and lighter Apple has managed to go with regards to design. Svelte it may be, but packing in the (improved) technology took a lot of effort, and while Jony Ive and team would have thrown quite a few pieces of paper into the waste-basket in trying to get the radical interior reshuffle to work out, the main manufacturer of the device - Foxconn - also had a few headaches.
Now that Apple has officially sent out event invites for the predicted media event on October 23rd, we can be rest assured that Tim Cook and his executive team are planning on introducing us to the miniature iPad that has been so heavily speculated on over the last few months. As the company gears up to present their new mid-range tablet to the world; it looks like they also have one eye on the next major iPad release coming in 2013. According to new reports that have surfaced today; Apple has already been in contact with parts and components suppliers regarding the next version of the 9.7-inch iPad.
Just as we expected, Apple has sent out media invites for an event which they are going to host in the California Theatre, San Jose, dated 23rd October.
