When it comes to rumors pertaining any one of Apple's vast Mac range, we often find ourselves churning up the same reported specifications as the previous year, minus the one or two exceptions that actually made the cut last time around. That is certainly the case with the latest report, which suggests the Cupertino will pack a new chipset into its updated Mac models this year, offering ridiculously-speedy 802.11ac network speeds. For those of you that remember, a similar notion was present prior to last year's refreshes, and although it never did materialize, it's none too surprising to see the same rumors crop up once more.
The biggest names in the financial industry tend to have no qualms with delivering projection where Apple is concerned, which is, I suppose, only natural given the Cupertino's status as the most valuable company. Corroborating predictions made by Jeffries analyst Peter Misek last month, in which he indicated 6-8 different color options with the next-generation iPhone, Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White also thinks Apple may offer different screen sizes of its iconic handset.
Apple's iOS mobile operating system is revered in the mobile industry, and there's little doubting its reputation as one of the smoothest out there. With that said, long-time iOS users have noticed progress stagnate over the past few iterations, and with the sixth edition releasing last September, it just felt like more of the same. With Jony Ive now at the helm, the iPhone and iPad community have high hopes, and some have already thrown some ideas of their own into the mix. YouTuber BlogB13 is one such individual, and has quite wonderfully recreated key elements of iOS, including revamped Notifications, Social Hub and an all-new multitasking concept.
The iPhone 5 and iOS 6 may only be three months old, but as we know, companies tend to get straight to work on the successor to any new release. So it should come as no surprise, then, to learn that developers have spotted signs of a handset named ‘iPhone6,1′ running on iOS 7, and according to the developers whom spotted the activity, this is the first time the new iPhone has shown any trace of existence.
Ever since the launch of the original iPhone and subsequently the iPad, it's been patently obvious that the fruit company feels the touch interface is manageable without the involvement of any kind of stylus. A prominent feature of the PDA, the stylus has been rejuvenated by Samsung (S Pen) along with others, and now it looks as though Apple is also considering an adaptation of the digital wand. Naturally, Apple has tweaked a few things around in order to secure a deal of uniqueness, but published patent filing number 166726 shows Apple is more than willing to break the mold in line with the changing face of the market.
If big stories in tech are your forté, 2012 will have been a real treat. This year has had it all - buyouts, lawsuits, great releases, and of course, great fails. Here, we round up these past twelve months with a quick look back at the revelations that had us all fixated.
Apple's vast product line may have helped it to reach the dizzy heights of world's most expensive company, but as long-time followers of the Cupertino company will know, it hasn't always been iPhones, iPads and MacBook Airs. This is no more apparent than if we take a look back a few decades to some of the earlier designs, and one particular German designer has unveiled some never-before-seen treasures from the Apple archives. Hartmut Esslinger, assigned by Steve Jobs on a $2 million a year contract to come up with a signature look for a new Macintosh line back in the 1980s, has showcased a number of his eventually-scrapped computer and tablet designs in a new book, called "Design Forward".
For the last few years, Apple and Samsung have been on a legal battle over smartphone patents, demanding massive cash settlements and attempting to ban the sale of each other’s devices. According to the European commission, Samsung might now be issued fines for attempting to use standard-essential patents in its lawsuits, unlike Apple’s, which refer to less restrictive patents.
Patent filings are usually a solid indicator of which avenue a company intends to take with future products, and since Apple is the world's most valuable company, it USPTO entries are scrutinized more so than any other. A filing published today by the Patent and Trademark Office offers details of a gesture-based computer peripheral which takes into consideration actions such as tapping and tilting in order to interact with an interface.
Apple has always been based in the USA, employing a vast array of engineers and support staff in or around Cupertino and Texas. Since 2004, however, the fruit company has not manufactured a single device in its own country, yet according to recent reports, this is about to change, with the Mac mini being the first to be produced in the United States.
