iPhone 3GS refurb drops to $9 at AT&T as update looms

AT&T gave a clue that the iPhone 3GS was on its way out Friday after it dropped the price of a refurbished iPhone 3GS down to $9. The terms still demand a two-year contract but put it at its lowest official, non-promotional price yet. New devices are still on sale.

Apple has been giving small clues of an upcoming iPhone update that would phase out the iPhone 3GS. Canadian provider Koodo started off its support of Apple by selling only the iPhone 4 in what's likely a reflection of any remaining iPhone 3GS units being cleared out.

Most anticipate the iPhone 5 launch following its pattern of the past two years, where the once-current phone stays on sale but in a discounted and possibly storage-reduced form. If so, it's possible the iPhone 4 will cost $99 or less.

By Electronista Staff

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Sterne Agee: Components, production looking up for Apple

Supply chain checks show increased production capacity, better component availability and cheaper component pricing for Apple, according to Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu. Cheaper parts in particular are forecast to help Apple in its third-quarter results, which will be announced on Tuesday. Wu is calling for $24.6 billion in revenue with $5.98 in EPS, based off a 39.8 percent gross margin, as compared with a consensus of $24.7 billion and $5.73 in EPS stemming from a 39 percent margin. Apple itself has only been guiding to $23 billion, $5.03 in EPS and a 38 percent margin.

Sterne Agee and the consensus are roughly in line when it comes to unit predictions, Wu comments. The analyst is anticipating 17 million iPhones, 6.8 million iPads, 3.9 million Macs and 8.3 million iPods. iPods have been on a continual decline since the introduction of the iPhone.

Consider Apple's fourth quarter, which wraps toward the end of September, Wu is estimating $27.7 billion in revenue and $6.57 in EPS versus a consensus of $27.6 billion and $6.37. "We see several potential product catalysts ahead including the launch of iCloud and its [Apple's] next-generation operating systems including Mac OS X Lion and iOS 5; further refreshes of its Mac line (MacBook Air, MacBook, Mac mini, Mac Pro) to the Sandy Bridge architecture; and an interim but important iPhone update in the Fall timeframe featuring dual-core processors and better cameras," he elaborates. Lion and new MacBook Airs are thought to be arriving next week.

by MacNN Staff

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Korean game rule change may favor iPhones, mobile gaming

A new change to South Korea's rules on gaming could lead to an explosion in mobile gaming that might also tip the balance in favor of iPhones. A rule that had required government review of games for sex and violence had been dropped as of July 6 and should let Apple's App Store and Google's Android Market freely carry games with their own review systems. The two platform makers have had to withhold games but are likely to add the game category in Korea as soon as possible.

Usage habits elsewhere in the world could lead to spikes in adoption for smartphones as a whole but may play most into Apple's hands. With games the dominant form of mobile app in the countries where regulation isn't an issue, iPhones are used twice as often for gaming. iOS has also usually had a much wider range of gaming and has seen top tier game developers turning down Android due to piracy and fragmented device requirements.

Google's main advantage in the country has been support from LG and Samsung, which dominate the mobile landscape in the area. Smartphones have been growing quickly in the region but, by necessity, have downplayed any entertainment outside of music and movies.

Gaming is considered a major hobby in Korea and plays a large part in technology in the country. The country follows games like the StarCraft series to the extent of making them competitive sports and broadcasting live games on TV. [via Bloomberg]

By Electronista Staff

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New study claims no link between cellphones, tumors

A new, large-scale study found that people who used a cellphone for over 10 years do not have an increased risk of a non-cancerous brain tumor. According to a Thursday report, the study looked at 2.8 million Danish adults who have used a cellphone for between 11 and 15 years. The study concluded that the group was no more likely to develop acoustic neuroma than newer or non-users.

The slow-growing tumors are also called vestibular schwannomas and form on the main nerve running from the inner ear to the brain. They have the potential to cause ringing in the ears, balance problems and dizziness. In some rare cases, they can be large enough to press against the brain and become life-threatening.

Acoustic neuromas grow in the area of the brain where greater energy emitted from the cellphones is absorbed said Dr. Joachim Schuz, a member of the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), who headed up the new study.

The argument is that those with acoustic neuromas may have them as a result of cellphone use, especially if it's on the same side as where they frequently hold their cellphones. Schuz's team found that this wasn't the case, however, and wrote so in their American Journal of Epidemiology report.

Long-term users also didn't exhibit larger-than-expected tumors, nor did they have tumors on the right side of their head, despite usually holding the phone on that side.

But Shuz admits that even the long-term cellphone users in this study didn't use their devices for that long. Acoustic neuromas grow so slowly that often many years can pass between the first symptoms and a diagnosis.

By Electronista Staff

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Gresso exhibits $30,000 diamond-encased iPhone

Gresso, a design house which specializes in creating customized expensive and exotic renditions of devices, has just released a $30,000 diamond bedazzled iPhone 4. The Lady Blanche features a coating of diamond-coated mineral glass on the case and six panels imbedded into the back of the iPhone. Three contain Swiss watch movements, each showing the time in a different time zone. The other three chambers contain diamond crystals freely floating around.

For those who cannot afford the price tag, Gresso is offering a version of the phone with Swarovski crystals instead of diamonds. It sells for $7,000.

This is not the first iPhone treatment for the Russian designers. They offer three models embellished with African Blackwood. In December, they gave the iPad the same Blackwood treatment. [via Pocket-lint]

By Electronista Staff

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Amazon said skimping on tablet features to undercut iPad

Amazon may be trimming as much as it can on its upcoming Android tablet to get the price down, an internal source divulged on Thursday. The previously leaked decision to pass on any cameras is being joined by intentional limits on storage, accessories, and other extras, the NYT heard. CEO Jeff Bezos had decided just after the iPad launch to make a more Kindle-friendly tablet and that lower prices were the key to challenging Apple.

In the earliest stages, Amazon's Lab 126 hardware team had also purportedly considered using a more in-house OS like the Linux variant on the Kindle but had decided to use Android after once again considering the iPad. A custom OS would have left the tablet starting from scratch with apps, leaving it at an automatic disadvantage to the iPad. Higher-ups in Amazon's ranks were worried that their tablet would be overshadowed by the sheer number of other similar Android devices but eventually gave way.

Normally Apple-focused John Gruber has added that he understands that Amazon has heavily customized the OS beyond just including its own apps.

Amazon has wanted to use its buyout of Touchco for the multi-touch in the tablet, but it was supposedly having trouble rolling that into e-paper Kindle readers due to the inherent dulling effect of the touch layer on top of the display.

Only 3G may be a distinct hardware advantage for Amazon, according to the insider. Hints are that it may try to get lower pricing than the $15 or $25 per month that iPads and other tablets need for their prepaid data. It's not clear if Amazon would be successful since it would be using the same Android foundations as many of its competitors.

The combined effect may lead to a device significantly cheaper than the iPad but will also be a gamble that an in between tablet will be popular relative to either the Kindle or a full-featured tablet like the iPad. Amazon has addressed the low end by offering a $139 Kindle 3G but won't have the same luxury for the high end. Proximity to the iPad's price or price cuts from rivals could eliminate Amazon's advantage.

The nine-inch slate is expected to ship by October and will mostly be a vehicle for Amazon's own services, including the Appstore, Cloud Player, Instant Video, and Kindle. Lab 126' involvement won't necessarily lead to a distinctive Amazon design as the core is believed to have been outsourced to an Asian company such as Samsung.

By Electronista Staff

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Square offers KIF framework for iOS user-interaction testing

Square, the credit-card processing company that offers payment apps for both iOS and Android, has released a new testing framework it calls KIF -- standing for "Keep It Functional" -- that allows developers to rapidly test new features in an automated way to assist in continued rapid development and growth of apps. The framework allows developers to run tests of their software either on the iOS simulator or on-device.

KIF is written in Objective-C and requires minimal setup, using the same language as the rest of the developer's project. It can be easily extended for more complex testing and works in continuous integration (CI) setups. It comes pre-integrated with a number of basic test steps, such as "tap this view," "type this text" and "turn on this switch." It leverages the accessiblity capabilities of iOS to traverse the view stack, making it easier for developers to bear in mind the needs of visually-impaired users when designing.

New steps can be easily added, such as "simulate a memory warning" or "receive a push notification." Developers get feedback about the stability and health of the codebase via CI using WaxSim.

The KIF framework will be made available on GitHub as an open-source project. The company is also supporting a Google-based discussion group and a community on Stack Overflow.

by MacNN Staff

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OWC launches 1TB Data Doubler MBP optical drive replacemnt

OWC -- Other World Computing -- is adding a 1TB option to its Data Doubler series of MacBook and MacBook Pro expansion sets. Previously, 1TB 2.5-inch disks were 12.5mm in height, preventing them from being used in the Data Doubler bracket, which fits a second hard disk into the internal optical drive bay, replacing the optical drive. With the new 9.5mm height Samsung 1TB disks, spinning at 5400 RPM, the Data Doubler bracket can now expand the original storage by 1TB, allowing 2TB of hard disk capacity across two hard disks, assuming a 1TB disk in the main drive bay, or a 1TB storage disk added to a main-bay SSD operating system disk, balancing storage with speed.

The Data Doubler chassis holds other 2.5-inch, 9.5mm hard disks of smaller capacities and can hold SSD drives as well. It allows a number of combinations of hard disks within a given MacBook or MacBook Pro, in 7200 and 5400 RPM varieties, and SSD disks, with support for software RAID 1 and RAID 0 implementations as well as Time Machine functions. The second disk installs on the internal SATA channel and can be formatted by Apple's Disk Utility app.

The set works with unibody MacBook Pros, from Late 2008 models up to the present Thunderbolt models, or MacBooks from Late 2008 or newer. The Data Doubler bracket, install tools and 1TB Samsung hard disk are selling for $175, while the bracket alone is $75. OWC also offers an external drive case for the orphaned optical drive for an additional $50, or $40 when purchased with the Data Doubler.

by MacNN Staff

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Tech Talk World Tour to return for iOS 5?

Apple is planning on resurrecting the Tech Talk World Tour for the sake of iOS 5, claims Japanese site Macotakara. The last one was held in 2009, leaving a considerable gap in terms of industry trends. Apple is bringing it back, the new report suggests, to ensure developers are familiar with both iOS 5 and iCloud, which is closely associated.

Tech Talks are similar in concept to Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference, but feature free sessions and consist of one-day events held in cities around the world. Often these are places where travel to a WWDC in San Francisco would be expensive or impractical. In 2008, for instance, Apple held Tech Talks in cities such as Tokyo, Bangalore and Melbourne.

Apple may consider iOS 5 so fundamentally improved or altered over 4 that developers will need help producing rapid app upgrades. The notification system has been completely overhauled, and the OS adds new components such as Reminders, Twitter integration and iMessage. Tech Talks could even draw news and magazine publishers curious about Newsstand and background subscription downloads.

by MacNN Staff

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SURC case and infrared remote for iPhone 4 now shipping

A company called Mashed Pixel is now shipping a case for the iPhone 4 called the SURC that features a built-in infrared unit that can be paired with a free app from the company that turns the iPhone 4 in an easy-to-use universal learning remote control that not only controls most infrared-enabled appliances and devices, but learns how to control the devices from the user's existing remotes, saving valuable "training" time.

The case, despite being quite form-fitting, features a tiny battery built in it and a micro-USB connection for recharging that also lets users charge and sync the iPhone without removing the case. The SURC app is customizable, allowing users to program gestures or use the iPhone's motion-sensing capabilities to be assigned to specific buttons (such as waving the iPhone upwards to indicate raising the volume).

The app features an extensive database of pre-programmed devices, meaning very little time is needed to adapt the SURC case and app to a user's equipment. Because the control is handled by an app, the screen can be changed to reflect each different type or make of device being used, or even "gang" actions together (such as switching from cable TV to turning on the DVD, audio receiver and changing the input of the HDTV for movie watching).

The case it also also provides the usual protection to the iPhone 4 itself (the company says it is working on cases for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, along with the iPod Touch and iPad). Unlike some other infrared remote cases, the SURC places the infrared lights at the top of the iPhone case, meaning users do not have to hold it "upside down" to work. The latest version of the app, v1.2, adds a TV guide to the program (U.S. only).

The case comes in a choice of four colors, and retails for $75.

By Electronista Staff

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RIM's Apple TV clone nicknamed Cyclone, may carry Netflix

RIM's BlackBerry Media Box has been given a name and preliminary features in a follow-up rumor. Internally codenamed the Cyclone, it's said to resemble a larger version of the BlackBerry Presenter (pictured). NerdBerry's source for the tips was told it would have Netflix and YouTube at a minimum for services.

The media hub would appropriately look for and share content from other devices on the network. Hardware details are scarce outside of HDMI output and Wi-Fi for networking.

RIM has been working on creating a more Apple-like ecosystem for some time and added the BlackBerry PlayBook as part of what may be a larger strategy to move beyond just its core phones. The Cyclone would help RIM improve media playback on its usually business-centric hardware as well as give it a footprint even in homes where no one owns a BlackBerry.

By Electronista Staff

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DealNN roundup: refurb. 21.5-inch, 2.7GHz iMac, only $1269

Today's deals from DealNN include discounted iMacs, HDTVs, and more. Apple's online store currently has refurbished iMacs for as low as $929, however the refurb. 2.7GHz iMac with 21.5-inch widescreen display, Intel Quad-Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, 1TB hard drive, and AMD Radeon HD 6770M graphics card with 512MB of memory? is being featured at DealNN. The 2.7GH iMac is now on sale for only $1,269 and offers a price break of up to $230.

Macmall.com has the refurbished 26-inch Vizio LED HDTV with Wi-Fi on sale for only $257.99, which results in a $142 price drop and includes free ground delivery. Get up to 62% off the Centon 32GB DataStick Pro USB 2.0 Flash Drive that's currently available at Buy.com, and is now on sale for the discounted price of $37.95 with free shipping included. Last but not least return to Apple.com and save $300 on the refurbished 3.1GHz Intel Quad-Core i5 iMac, complete with 1TB hard drive, 4GB of RAM, built-in HD camera, and sale price of $1699.

by MacNN Staff

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Kootol targets Apple, more on patent it doesn't own yet

Unknown software house Kootol on Friday sent notice to many companies claiming that they allegedly violate a messaging patent. It targets a wide swath of the industry that includes Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Foursquare, Microsoft, Nokia, RIM, Twitter, and others all allegedly violate a patent for "Method and System for Communication, Advertising, Searching, Sharing and Dynamically Providing a Journal Feed." Unusually, Kootol doesn't actually have the patent and is instead acting on a Notice of Allowance that lets it act on the patent but still requires that it pay for the patent later.

The allegations focus on "using one way or two way messaging and by subscribing to posts of other users of a network" and accordingly focus heavily on Twitter and its ecosystem. Twitterrific creator Iconfactory, UberSocial's designer UberMedia, Seesmic, and photo hosting site TwitPic are all included in the infringement notices.

The India-based company was established by Vijay and Yogesh Rathod just last year and is operating under questionable circumstances. Despite its claims of having a "Dynamic Communication & Real Time Search Engine," the company only has a vague description of the service and a short, generic presentation. Its front page prominently focuses on the lone patent and licensing, making it clear the main intent is to profit from royalties and lawsuits.

Kootol may face an uphill battle trying to act on its claimed ownership. It had filed for the patent only in December 2010, more than four years after Twitter was founded and further still after similar services from some of the older companies, such as BlackBerry Messenger. Many of the newer services like Foursquare and Yammer also existed before the patent was filed. A chance exists that the patent will be invalidated based on prior art.

By Electronista Staff

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Lion-ready apps already appearing in Mac App Store

While users anxiously await the arrival of Mac OS X 10.7 ("Lion"), just three days after formally opening the App Store to Lion-ready apps, some have already started to appear. Speculation on when Lion will actually debut has varied wildly, ranging from reports that it would launch "today or tomorrow" to it having allegedly been pushed back a week due to last-minute issues, OSXDaily report.

Apple is known to want to have a number of Lion-ready apps available on the first day of launch though many Snow Leopard apps are expected to be compatible already. Reports from developers indicate that much of the work of making apps Lion-ready has already been done in previous revisions, but the company is keen that developers include support for some of the new OS features such as full-screen and Versions support wherever possible.

The site uses the example of WordCrasher in its report, pointing out that the description for the newly-updated version (which is half-off its regular price of $4 for a limited time) includes support for Resume as well as full-screen mode.

Lion is compatible with all 64-bit-capable Intel Macs, which means Intel Core 2 Duo machines and later. Most users who are eligible to run Snow Leopard are also Lion-ready, with the exception of the few Core Duo and Core Solo Macs that were sold in 2006. Applications which are Universal or Intel-only are architecturally compatible; those relying on the PowerPC codebase exclusively (such as the beloved AppleWorks 6) will not work at all under Lion.

Users can use Apple System Profiler to view and sort their applications by "Kind" to easily determine if they have any "PowerPC"-only applications that need updating or discarding before moving to Lion. [via OSXDaily]

by MacNN Staff

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Apple confirms seven-day app refund period in Taiwan

Apple has quietly confirmed reports that Taiwanese App Store shoppers now have access to a seven-day refund period, according to IDG News. Local App Store terms have been amended to reflect the change, which was demanded by the Taipei city government to comply with consumer protection laws. To qualify for a refund, a person must delete all of the copies of an app in question.

Taiwan is so far the only country in which an Apple App Store allows refunds. Had Apple not made the change, it faced the possibility of a fine up to $1.5 million NT, or about $51,988 US. Guo Tingguang, a spokesman for Taipei's Law and Regulation Commission, says the government's next task is to work with Apple to provide more Chinese translations for apps, since many descriptions are limited to English.

Google was also warned about the need for a refund system, but has taken a very different stance. It has so far refused to modify the Android Market, and has already been fined $1 million NT ($34,658 US) as a result. The company says it disagrees with the city's take on the consumer protection act and is appealing the fine.

Google and Taipei are nevertheless in talks about Market rules. The latter party has imposed a two-week deadline to comply with protection laws, although what might happen is unclear. "After two weeks, we will then determine what action to take, but right now we don't have a specific stance," says Guo.

by MacNN Staff

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New Android Market's files hint at Google music store

A redesigned Android Market has hinted that Google's plans for its own music store may still be on the cards. Images for section headers include the expected app and movies sections but also a set of currently unused orange music icons. Android and Me's explorer didn't locate other giveaways, but much of the content from within a given section downloads when the app runs.

Google hasn't confirmed any of the plans.

When Google launched Music Beta, it publicly abandoned store plans under claims that labels were holding it back from doing what it wanted. It's now known that labels wanted cash advances for the full-fledged cloud music service and other payment terms that Google wasn't willing to pay. Placeholders for a music store could just be carryovers from earlier attempts but could also signal that Google has dropped its earlier views or will have a more limited store.

Google might have felt compelled to have a store after seeing the launches of iTunes Match and iTunes in the Cloud. After awhile of lagging behind in cloud services, Apple not only introduced simplified device downloads but a cloud music service better than what Google offered. To keep Music Beta free, Google limited its strategy to manual uploading and to steer listeners to other stores. iTunes Match costs $25 but only needs manual uploads for songs it doesn't recognize and makes storage cap exemptions for tracks someone already owns.

By Electronista Staff

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Mac hardware refresh to include new Cinema Display

Apple's impending Mac hardware refresh should include a new Cinema Display, a report reveals. A part number originally thought to be for a new MacBook, MC914, is instead said to be for the new monitor. Backing this up is a named image off Apple's own website, showing not a notebook but a Cinema Display with one of the stock OS X Lion wallpapers active.

A series of images in fact show the monitor paired with various Macs, including the Mini, Pro, iMac and MacBook Pro. All of the depicted computers resemble current models. This may suggest that any upcoming refreshes will keep the same external design, or that the new Cinema Display will be available before the likes of updated Pros are on the market.

The new monitor is expected to connect to Macs through a Thunderbolt cable. Supporting this is an image of a MacBook Pro with two daisy-chained Cinema Displays. Apple has, moreover, been quick to expand Thunderbolt support wherever possible, not only adding it to Macs but putting out cables and highlighting Thunderbolt-compatible storage.

by MacNN Staff

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ASUS to step up fight with 4.5m Android tablets in late 2011

ASUS' tablet shipments are due to surge enough that it may become one of the largest competitors in the field, touchscreen panel tipsters slipped out late Thursday. Once hit by chronic shortages, the company's shipments of Android tablets like the Eee Pad Transformer should reach 1.2 million to 1.5 million in the summer and only scale up further in the fall, according to Digitimes. Orders have supposedly jumped to include as many as four to 4.5 million tablets in the last six months of 2011.

The company had only set targets of shipping two million tablets the entire year and might itself have been caught by surprise. A 51.7 percent percent surge in ASUS' manufacturing partner Pegatron's revenue during June might have been directly attributable to better than expected ASUS tablet sales.

Some of the increase will likely come from extra tablet models shipping at the same time, such as the MeMo and Eee Pad Slider. ASUS is often touted as one of the few early Android 3 tablet designers to have stood out from the pack with devices that undercut the iPad on price but still compete well on features. The Eee Pad Transformer costs $399 but still has a 10-inch IPS-based display and unique tricks like its hybrid battery and notebook dock.

Analysts from Nomura just on Thursday portrayed ASUS as one of the largest competitors in the next year and suggested that it could even outperform heavyweights such as Motorola and RIM in the tablet arena. Apple is still expected to dominate and ship several times more iPads than ASUS will tablets but may not have the extremely wide lead it has had in the past.

By Electronista Staff

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Fox hopeful Apple, Disney will use UltraViolet media locker

Fox's executive VP of Global Research and Technology Strategy Danny Kaye was hopeful Apple and Disney would both use the new UltraViolet media locker copy protection system. He noted in an interview that all but Disney among the studios had signed on, and that just that it was holding out "doesn't mean that [Disney] won't." He was also convinced in speaking to Pocket-lint that Apple was going to sign onboard and that it was just being conservative before leaping in.

"From my perspective, when you're well established you sometimes take a 'wait and see," Kaye said.

The comments appeared to be based more on optimism than actual knowledge. He noted that Android was larger now than the iPhone because of the plurality of hardware and software makers. He presumed an automatic repeat of this in tablets and that Apple would have no choice but to use UltraViolet if it was the only one not using the cloud system, which lets users 'own' a movie even if they switch services.

Historically, Apple has preferred an all-or-nothing view of DRM, where either it controls the copy protection format or there's no protection at all. CEO Steve Jobs has noted that generic copy protection is often slower to react to hacking attempts and doesn't address the real problems of interoperability.

Apple's decision to hold out also worked to its benefit in music. It had been pressured by an industry that assumed locked-down Windows Media music would eventually win, but the iPod's popularity and Apple's push to remove DRM led to the ultimate failure of Windows Media as a format and genuine interoperability through unprotected music.

Disney has fewer arguments of its own for its Keychest system, which only works for its own movies.

By Electronista Staff

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New German, Californian Apple Stores en route

Two new Apple Stores have been confirmed. Coming this Saturday is the Valencia Town Center location in California. Regular hours will run 10AM to 9PM Monday through Saturday, and 11AM to 6PM on Sunday; a steady stream of workshops has already been scheduled. The outlet will be Apple's 49th in the state, representing the largest concentration of Apple Stores in the US. The next closest state, Texas, has only 17.

Still relatively distant in the future is another store for Frankfurt, Germany, as confirmed by a new job listing. The shop will be based in the Main Taunus Zentrum mall, technically in the small town of Sulzbach about 15 minutes west of Frankfurt's core. That puts it about the same distance from Frankfurt's original Apple Store.

Germany as a whole has only five Apple outlets to date. Outside of Frankfurt, these include ones in Dresden, Hamburg, Munich and Oberhausen. Normal Apple construction patterns suggest that the second Frankfurt store could be open in February.

by MacNN Staff

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HP TouchPad hits Canada and UK, gets steep price cuts

HP kickstarted the international launch of the TouchPad on Friday. The webOS tablet is now available both in Canada and the UK, both directly and from third-party chains. Official prices in both countries sit at $519 and ?399 for a 16GB model, and $619 or ?479 for a 32GB edition. Both are the same inside as their American counterparts.

The Canadian launch, however, appears to have already seen a determination to undercut the iPad on price. Retailers such as Future Shop are already offering steep discounts based on a $70 HP "instant rebate" that brings the actual prices down to $450 and $550. Neither side has clarified when the promo ends.

After a mixed initial reception, HP has been showing more signs of making a concerted push and may see price cuts and bundles as vital to getting attention. Executives have already promised a major US retail initiative and have claimed that July 1 was a "soft" launch. Much of its marketing will include celebrity pitches from Manny Pacquiao, Russell Brand, and Paloma Faith (below) but also pushes that will show even in HP's usual PC business.

Trust in webOS is strong enough that the company plans to use it in virtually every product with a display by sometime next year. While professing not to be worried about competing with the iPad, simliarities in design and the strategy suggest HP considers the TouchPad a "halo" device that, like the iPad, could lure users over to other products.

By Electronista Staff

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Sources back new MacBook Air late next week

Extra tips late Thursday helped narrow down the launch of an updated MacBook Air. While some had already put it down to next week, AllThingsD understood the release would be "late" that week, on Thursday or Friday. The timing lends support to beliefs Apple would wait to ship both Mac OS X Lion and the Air at the same time.

The tip also corroborates some of the most recent rumors. Apple is expected to start with 4GB of RAM and 128GB drives even on the base 11-inch model, use low-voltage Core i5 and i7 processors from 1.6GHz upwards, upgrade to a Thunderbolt port, and regain the backlit keyboard.

It's unknown whether there will be any price changes, although a rumored $899 11-inch system will have been cast in doubt with processor, RAM, and SSD upgrades coming all at the same time. Apple's typical strategy for Mac upgrades has been to improve features with a steady price rather than to institute price cuts.

By Electronista Staff

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Sony outs wall-mountable CMT-CX5BiP audio system

Sony UK this week introduced a new ultra-slim mini audio system, the CMT-CX5BiP. The unit can be split into three separate components and mounted apart from the other units, with the main control portion and two speakers. The source choices include a generic USB connection, a CD player, auxiliary input, and direct docking for iPhones and iPods.

The design integrates an FM/DAB+ tuner to pick up both usual radio as well as the UK's digtal-only tuning. Sound is enhanced by Sony's Dynamic Sound Generator X-tra (DSGX), and there is 40W of sustained power split between the two speakers.

When the CMT-CX5 ships in the UK this August for an as-yet undisclosed price, it will be available in either black or white.

by MacNN Staff

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Apps: Troi File Plug-in, EyeTV, Bento

Troi File Plug-in 5.5 ($89) - Troi File Plug-in is a tool for accessing information outside the FileMaker Pro database. Any files or folders stored on the computer can be accessed through the functions of the plug-in. The v5.5 update features support for OS X Lion, an improved TrFile_ListFolder function, and updated documentation. The update also allows users to list the contents of a package folder, as well as create square thumbnails with the TrFile_CreateThumbnail function. [Download - 4.5MB]

EyeTV 3.5.3 ($40) - EyeTV is a desktop application designed to accompany Elgato's hardware products that allows users to watch, record, edit, timeshift and archive TV on a Mac. In v3.5.3 Tivizen features a Home Network Mode that allows the tool to be used on an existing Wi-Fi network, removing the need to create a custom hotspot. The update also allows the software to properly scan for the BBC HD transponder on DVB-S2, and offers both improved performance and stability. [Download - 130.3MB]

Bento 4.0.4 ($49) - Bento is a personal database application that allows users to organize all of their important information in one place. The application includes customizable forms, which allow the user to organize the information in way that makes sense to them. The latest release includes a number of bug fixes and adds compatibility for OS X Lion. [Download - 97.5MB]

Minco 1.3 ($15) - Minco allows users to track time and features iCal integration. Minco runs in the system menu and allows users to add and modify tasks in any application that supports iCal. New to v1.3 is the ability to add, edit, and delete work-times in iCal. The new release also features an improved CSV export featuring, with work-time grouping and delayed or manual exports. [Download - 2.4MB]

Witness 1.2 ($39) - Witness allows Mac computers to be used as a home alarm system. The software monitors the computers iSight camera for motion and sends images to a user whenever movement is detected. Version 1.2 adds OS X Lion support, along with support for the Creative Live Cam Socialize HD webcam. The update has also reduced CPU-usage on some MacBook models. [Download - 1.1MB]

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DevonThink, DevonNote updated for Lion compatibility

As mentioned earlier today, DevonNote has been updated to version 2.2 and is now Lion-compatible, and has now been joined by DevonThink, which has also been updated for Lion compatibility and added some other improvements, such as interface tweaks, improved automation support, full-screen app handling and adding user-defined dates to "smart group" criteria, along with other improvements

DevonThink Pro Office 2.2 offers a new version of the embedded TWAIN module ExactScan Capture, while DevonThink Pro (and higher) now offer scripts for Google's Chrome browser and an updated extension for Firefox 5. The v2.2 updates are compatible with the upcoming DevonAgent Pro v3, and all editions of DevonThink have improved the handling of saveable workspaces as well as added support for the alternative IMAP e-mail application Sparrow.

DevonThink Pro and higher now also offer improved AppleScript and Automator support, along a dock icon progress indicator, improves Services, and website export (as well as the built-in web server in DevonThink Pro Office) now retain line spacing. In other news from the company, DevonThink To Go v1.1.2, a bugfix release, has been submitted to the App Store and should be available shortly. All the recent updates are free for current users.

All Devon Technologies Mac releases now require Mac OS X 10.5 or later. DevonThink Pro Office sells for $150, DevonThink Pro for $80 and DevonThink Personal for $50, with DevonNote selling for $25 -- all available from the company's website, along with free trial versions which can be run for 150 non-continuous hours to evaluate the programs. DevonNote and DevonThink Personal are also available via the Mac App Store. DevonThink To Go for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch sells for $15.

by MacNN Staff

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Google profit up 36%, at 550,000 Android activations per day

Google triggered a share buying spree on Thursday afternoon as it reported results well past expectations for its spring quarter. The company's net profit surged 36 percent to hit $2.51 billion based on a record high $9.03 billion of pure revenue. Much of the rise came from not just paid clicks on ads, which shot up 18 percent, but a 12 percent boost to the average cost per click that made each hit more valuable.

The search giant didn't say how much of the revenue was pure search versus elements related to Android or other platforms. Its self-developed operating systems are usually licensed away for free, but it can often gauge how many ad hits came from Android users versus rivals like iOS or on the desktop.

About 2,500 new people came onboard the company in just the three months, nearly fifth (450) from the ITA takeover.

The spring was the first quarter in which co-founder Larry Page could steer the company after Eric Schmidt moved to an executive chairman role. Many had been watching to see if he would improve the business, which near the end of Schmidt's CEO tenure had been lagging. Page is known to have shaken up large parts of Google's structure and worked to streamline it without cutting jobs.

Mobile played one of the most important parts in the spring. Google said it was already at 550,000 activations per day, up from 500,000 per day. It also now has about 135 million devices in existence and over 250,000 active Android apps. The company was one of the first to have a real, commercial NFC mobile payment system in place with Google Wallet.

Some of its performance has been muted, though, as Android tablets struggled to take off despite many presumptions Google would automatically repeat its success in phones. Research firms have also noted that iPhones are regaining ground after many months of very rapid Android growth.

Investors saw Google getting slightly less than they had hoped for in profits but were nonetheless excited enough to send Google stock soaring over 10 percent in after-hours trading.

By Electronista Staff

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Shaw Movie Club raises antitrust issues with iTunes, Netflix

Canadian cable provider Shaw raised the ire of its Internet subscribers with plans for an in-house online video service. The $12 standard or $17 HD monthly Movie Club will let users watch both on TV and on computers but, notably, exempts the service's data from its bandwidth caps. The policy effectively serves as a handicap against iTunes, Netflix, and others by subjecting their use to overage fees that Shaw's own service won't face.

The decision likely violates the country's Telecommunications Act, which bans companies from choosing to "unjustly discriminate" against a particular company or person by charging different rates. Where a relatively modest viewer will have the option of watching other services at lower prices, heavy users will have to either absorb the overage costs or switch to Movie Club.

It's unclear if Shaw was unaware of the legal issues, although this isn't likely given other providers in the country. Rogers' On Demand Online service, while not competing in the same physical markets, explicitly tells viewers that any use counts equally towards bandwidth caps.

Shaw may be banking on its greatly increased caps to allay concerns. At 400GB, most wouldn't run into the caps. The strategy could still create problems for frequent HD viewers or whole households where the total use could lead movies into tipping the balance. A typical 720p, two-hour movie uses 4-6GB depending on the service and often doubles in size with 1080p.

Netflix has complained about low bandwidth caps and has offered lower bitrates to make sure its service is still viable for those who can't afford the most expensive Internet service or to pay overage fees.

The country's telecom regulator, the CRTC, hasn't commented on Shaw's news but is facing calls upon it to act. Critics have been skeptical it would enforce laws. Many CRTC officials are often former employees of the major carriers they're supposed to police and have been accused of often trying to protect or reward their former employers. Until the government stepped in, the CRTC had been determined to let big carriers force usage-based billing on independents, often using the same talking points as the incumbent providers. [via Michael Geist]

By Electronista Staff

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Samsung claims proof its chip plants don't cause cancer

Samsung has disclosed that a study it commissioned by a US environmental and health care consultancy found no relationship between exposure to carcinogenic chemicals used in its semiconductor factories and the incidence of cancer in its workers. The findings reflect the results of two previous studies conducted by the Korean government. Despite claiming no link between the two, the company is considering offering financial help to some of its former employees who have been stricken with disease.

Samsung talked to a third party, ENVIRON, to investigate the situation. Because the facilities in question have been converted from actually making chips to testing chips and producing LEDs, the consulting company could not measure actual exposures. Instead, it looked at analog exposures in other exposed groups. ENVIRON studied six employees who had been exposed to formaldehyde, ionizing radiation and trichloroethylene, chemicals used in chip production and known to be cause cancer. It found that, although carcinogenic, there were not enough of theses chemicals present to have caused an increased risk of leukemia or lymphoma.

Samsung has more than 30,000 employees in its Gihung, Korea semiconductor factories. The company disclosed that 26 of its workers there had been diagnosed with either of these diseases, and that ten of them had died.

Samsung itself is not the defendant in the legal dispute. The case, on behalf of nine Samsung workers is actually being brought against the Korea Workers Compensation and Welfare Service, a government agency.

The company's chips are used in many products beyond its own. Apple and other major third parties often contract Samsung for assembly or use its chips directly, whether for processors or flash memory. [via Reuters]

By Electronista Staff

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TSMC in test runs of Apple's A6 processor for 2012

One source leaked overnight that Apple was at least experimenting with plans to make the A6 through TSMC. The Taiwanese contractor is said in practice runs that would gauge whether or not its manufacturing yields of working chips were enough that it could be trusted production. All the "authorisation and details" were ready and were just hinging on Apple's reaction, Reuters was told.

TSMC wouldn't confirm or deny the plans.
Details of the A6 aren't known, but it's presumed Apple will go quad-core much like the industry will in the near future with chips such as NVIDIA's Kal-El. Any chips aren't likely to show until early 2012.
Despite rumors of an early switch from Apple for the A5, Apple has so far kept largely to Samsung for manufacturing. TSMC is often considered the strongest independent chip manufacturer but isn't necessarily at the scale of a company like Samsung, whose semiconductor business is considered by many to be the largest in the world.
Apple has said it would remain a partner with Samsung in spite of troubles, but an intensifying legal battle may make Apple keen to reduce its dependence on a company with an incentive to create problems. A switch to TSMC may also be a way of imposing a further financial penalty. Samsung counts Apple as an important processor customer and its largest flash memory customer, and a loss of business in any one area could damage it right at the moment it was restructuring the group to offset troubles dragging down company profits.

Verizon iPhone, iPad 2 pulling developers away from Android?

The Verizon iPhone and iPad 2 launches may have pushed many developers to refocus their resources on iOS rather than Android, according to numbers collected by Flurry. Developers creating new apps using Flurry Analytics showed a tendency to step away from the Android platform, which represented 36 percent of new project starts in the first quarter of the year before dropping to 28 percent in the second quarter.

As developers showed waning interest in Android, new project starts for iPhone apps rose from 54 percent to 57 percent of Flurry Analytics total numbers for the first and second quarters, respectively. The iPad also showed gains, jumping from 10 percent to 15 percent in the same period.

"Of note, this drop in Android developer support represents the second quarter-over-over slide, which follows a year of significant, steady growth for the Google-built OS," Flurry wrote in a blog post. "Over the course of 2010, Android developer support had climbed steadily each quarter, peaking at 39% in Q4 2010."

Flurry suggests the iPhone launch on Verizon was one of the contributing factors, as Apple's smartphone finally went head-to-head with Android devices on another major carrier in the US. "With the iPhone finally launched on Verizon, the pendulum appears to have swung back more in favor of iPhone over Android development," Flurry opines.

The iPad 2 launch is said to have further tightened Apple's control of the tablet market, providing yet another reason for developers to focus resources on iOS rather than Android.

"With developers pinched on both sides of the revenue and cost equation, Google must tack aggressively at this stage of the race to ensure that Apple doesn?t continue to take its developer-support wind," Flurry says.

 

Apple bulking up legal team for future patent battles

Apple has been bolstering its legal team with at least two new major recruiting drives. The iPhone maker's primary hunt is for a Senior Patent Litigation Counsel that would manage major patent issues and outside legal teams. Any new hire would more crucially be "formulating and driving strategy" for Apple's broader patent efforts, although what that meant was left open.

A more conventional Legal Counsel position would be "driving case strategies" on more general subjects that come up frequently. Antitrust, class action, copyright, product liability, and trademark would be some of the more common focuses.

The two new positions would come just as Apple is instituting a new head counsel and at a moment of peak activity for Apple's legal team. Apple has not only been engaged in lawsuits both against and from Android phone makers such as HTC and Samsung but has more recently been doubling up, adding one or more extra cases as new patents or products come under scrutiny. New senior counsel might help it decide how to pursue these cases or whether to pursue them at all.

New hires could also play a defensive role. Those Apple has targeted, Samsung included, have often launched countersuits. It may likewise be keen to avoid the long-term legal trouble it has faced from its approach to earlier cases, such as the large settlement with Nokia. As with other major technology firms, Apple is also a frequent tempting target for patent trolls and may want to help preempt these cases or better tackle them when they appear.