Wednesday, May 16th	Last updated: 7:04 AM EST

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Samsung and HTC stock nosedive, both thanks to Apple ...
Samsung and HTC stock have both taken a hit thanks to separate actions instigated by Apple. Samsung’s stock saw $10 billion wiped off its value following a report by DigiTimes indicating that Apple had placed a large order for DRAM from its struggling Japanese competitor Elpida. Separately, HTC’s shares also slumped by over 6 percent following an Apple initiated ITC injunction being enforced by US Customs, stopping the importation of its hotly anticipated One X and EVO 4G LTE handsets. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

In addition to the lawsuit from the Department of Justice and 17 states against Apple and two major publishers alleging the companies conspired to keep e-book prices artificially high, a US District Court judge yesterday approved a class-action civil lawsuit targeting Apple and five major publishers on the same charges, filed "on behalf of e-book customers." The judge rejected a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in a strongly-worded opinion.

Toshiba has added two higher-capacity models to its Canvio line. The line is now buttressed by the Canvio 3.0 and Canvio Basics 3.0, which now offer up to 1.5TB of storage space. The Canvio 3.0 includes software allowing OS X to both read and write the NTFS file system.

Tuesday, May 15th	Last updated: 11:10 PM EST

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Apple files to dismiss Siri lawsuits ...
Apple has filed to dismiss a range of lawsuits filed against it over the performance of Siri, the digital assistant featured on the iPhone 4S. Apple contends in its motion that the plaintiffs in the case lack standing to pursue their case, have improperly interpreted Apple's advertising of Siri, and have failed to pursue other means of redress beyond litigation. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

In a surprise move, Apple CEO Tim Cook was in Washington DC today and met with US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). The speaker's office released a picture of the two men in mid-conversation, but did not release any details about what they talked about or the length of the meeting. Apple has recently been criticized by Washington insiders for its historically low (but rising) spending on lobbying.

Fresh off the announcement of its new mobile phone, Chinese search company Baidu has told TechCrunch that it has big plans the Baidu Cloud Smart Terminal system that runs its new phone. Baidu wants to see Baidu Cloud make an appearance on all major mobile operating systems, including Windows Phone and iOS.

An unnamed app developer informed 9to5Mac earlier today that users accessing its software had been identified as running iOS 6 by analytics. Other unidentified developers polled have also been seeing the hallmarks of the new iOS version since late April. Versions of iOS 5 appeared prior to the 2011 Apple World Wide Developer's Conference in the same manner.

The Walt Disney Company's network executive Sean Bratches said in an interview today that Disney would consider allowing the WatchESPN service application on the Apple TV set top device. Prior authentication of cable access would be required to view. No deal is imminent.

Apple has issued an updated version of QuickTime 7, now at version 7.7.2, for Windows systems in order to address a number of security flaws. The vulnerabilities listed either do not exist on the Mac version of QuickTime 7, or are already addressed in Lion. Most but not all of the flaws were discovered by researchers working in conjunction with HP's "Zero Day Initiative" and are duly credited. A total of 17 flaws are addressed in the update.

A new line of iPhone-controlled RC Cars has been launched by iHelicopters.net. Models include a range of popular Audi and BMW cars such as the Audi Q7, Audi R8, BMW X6, and BMW 5 Series. Each car includes a RF transmitter that connects to an iOS device via the headphone jack and allows users to control the car from up to 20 meters away. The new BMW and Audi models are set at $60 each including free worldwide shipping.

Netgear has released its first 802.11ac router using the new Wi-Fi specification. The R6300 router, which is said to be capable of combined Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1750Mbps, ships at the same time as announcements for a more budget-conscious R6200 router and the A6200 Wi-Fi dongle, aiming to be the first 802.11ac dual-band USB adapter to market.

Apple will also announce Retina display-equipped MacBook Airs at this year's WWDC, supply chain sources for 9to5Mac say. The company is already believed to be preparing news of Retina MacBook Pros and iMacs, and an Air would complete the lineup of Macs with built-in displays. 9to5 claims that unlike the Pro, though, the Air's update will be almost entirely about the display, rather than incorporating any major design changes.

Google has announced that Chrome 19 is now available as a stable build, enabling users to try out the new features that were announced early last month. The latest overhaul to the company's browser broadens sync capabilities between devices and platforms. Users can open multiple tabs on the desktop browser, then pick up their Android 4.0 phone and access the same content from the mobile Chrome beta.

App developers got a brief glimpse into the workings of the review process yesterday when photos emerged of what appeared to be the work desk of an App Store reviewer. As ReadWriteWeb discovered, the photos -- posted on a test Facebook account -- showed an iMac, several Apple products, and what appeared to be app review guidelines.

Environmental activist group Greenpeace has staged a protest at Apple's Cupertino headquarters, notes AppleInsider. Images were projected onto the main building overnight, including supportive messages from users on Twitter and Facebook. Activists also secured themselves inside a so-called "survival device," measuring 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Four activists dressed themselves as iPhones, complete with screens again displaying messages from Twitter and Facebook.

Two new reports may reinforce claims that Apple is switching back to NVIDIA GPUs for the new MacBook Pro. The Verge cites a "trusted source" as saying Apple is migrating away from AMD video. ABC News is echoing the same view from its own sources, but further suggesting that Apple will use the GeForce GT 650M.

Yesterday in the MacNN forums Mac Enthusiast bojangles points out a quiet bug fix in Mac OS X 10.7.4 that affects Screen Sharing on multiple displays, click here to read more. Also Yesterday one forum member was replacing a G5 Xserve with a late 2008 Xserve and had some questions, read more here.

Google is likely to launch a version of its Chrome browser for Apple's iOS line of devices in the coming months, according to analysts at Macquarie Capital. Macquarie sees the iOS Chrome launch as the opening salvo in a new round of Browser Wars, the likes of which the Internet hasn't seen since the late 1990s.

Today's deals from DealNN include discounted keyboards, headphones, and more. Newegg.com has recently lowered the cost of the SteelSeries Shift Gaming Keyboard with eight programmable hotkeys, two USB 2.0 ports, multiple media controls, and on-the-fly macro recording. Currently featured at DealNN, the gaming keyboard is now available for the discounted price of $34.99 and offers savings of up to $55.

Apple's often-reported 7/7.85-inch iPad will use "G/F2" thin-film touch technology, a rumor from DigiTimes claims. The site says that Nitto will supply thin-film materials, while Nissha Printing and TPK will produce touchscreens. For Apple the advantage should not only be a thinner display, but also reduced costs, which may be essential if the tablet has a $200-250 pricetag rumored elsewhere.

At Apple's online store today save on refurbished MacBook Airs, MacBook Pros and more. The refurb. 11.6-inch MacBook Air with a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and a 128GB of flash storage is now only $799 after a $300 price cut. A $180 price cut is offered on the refub. 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.4GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive, now $1019.

Apple is not only working on Retina MacBook Pros, but also Retina-equipped iMacs, says ABC News. The site quotes "its own sources," which also back up the upgraded MacBook Pros, but offer no other details. It's generally believed that Apple will introduce one or more upgraded systems at this year's WWDC, which starts June 11th.

In a case that many thought long-settled, the US Supreme Court today closed the final chapter in the winding saga of would-be legal "hackintosh" seller Psystar. The court refused a request to review the lower court decision, which granted a permanent injunction preventing the company from selling any previous or future versions of Mac OS X along with its "Rebel EFI" hack to allow installation on non-Apple PCs.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has reversed a previous judge's ruling that there was no merit to Apple's copyright complaint against Samsung. Prior judgements on iPhone versus the Galaxy Nexus phone were left untouched. The original ruling against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was that Apple's patent was "obvious", meaning that the original patent should never have been granted.

The group of developers that had begun and maintained the Perian video-codec project over the last six years is calling it quits, and will release one more version of the popular video translator before shutting down support and posting the code on a public repository for others to (perhaps) take over. The final version "may or may not" work under Mountain Lion, and the code will eventually be posted on Google Code or Github.

Monday, May 14th	Last updated: 11:40 PM EST

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Apple vs. Motorola, HTC suit combined, moved to 2014 ...
Apple has won a scheduling victory over Motorola and HTC in the latest round of the giants' patent battles in Florida today. An exasperated judge consolidated the disparate trials, which consist of of patent infringement claims by Apple against both companies and counter-claims from them, in part because of a lack of cooperation between the parties. The new combined trial will take place in April 2014.
[C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

As the e-book lawsuit from the Justice Department against Apple and two other publishers expands, some recently-unsealed evidence shows that former Apple CEO Steve Jobs personally intervened to convince a holdout major publisher that the "agency model" -- a standard pricing model in the book industry that lets publishers set prices for books -- was the way to go, and succeeded in convincing the publisher.

A new version of the subscription streaming music service Rdio has launched, bringing with it a native Mac OS X application for the first time. Previous versions were web-based. The new version is available on browsers, and applications Windows, the iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 7. All versions allow listening to over 15 million tracks on the Rdio service.

Recent rumors of a refresh in Apple's MacBook Pro line received a bit of support today, with Bloomberg now reporting that the new line is indeed on its way. Bloomberg has the new line of MacBooks arriving in June, sporting many of the features earlier rumors have suggested.

Oracle and Google continued the debate over how to proceed with the ongoing Java patent infringement suit. During the discussion and filing with the Judge William Alsup, Oracle presented a document summarizing why it is entitled to Google's profits from the case -- "super shady" contractors from Noser in Google's Android team. Google disputes the relevance of the filing.

Tomb Raider: Underworld, the eighth in the series of games features adverturess Lara Croft, will debut on the Mac on May 31st. The game, originally released for the PC in late 2008, is a direct sequel to Tomb Raider: Legend game (never released officially for Mac) but also contains plot elements drawn from the Tomb Raider: Anniversary reboot, which reinvented the original game with a modern game engine.

Apple has posted two separate security updates for OS X Leopard. The first, Leopard Security Update 2012-003, disables versions of Flash without the most recent security updates, and instead provides a method of getting the latest release from Adobe. Apple's update is 1.11MB and requires at least OS X 10.5.8.

Security firm Kaskpersky Lab is denying claims that Apple has asked it to research vulnerabilities in OS X, a statement reveals. "On Monday, April 14, computing.co.uk published an article titled 'Apple OS 'really vulnerable' claims Kaspersky Lab CTO' that includes an inaccurate quote regarding Apple and Kaspersky Lab," the company writes. "The article reports that Kaspersky Lab had 'begun the process of analyzing the Mac OS platform at Apple's request' to identify vulnerabilities. This statement was taken out of context by the magazine -- Apple did not invite or solicit Kaspersky Lab's assistance in analyzing the Mac OS X platform. Kaspersky Lab has contacted computing.co.uk to correct its article."

A Monday morning iCloud outage affected 12 percent of subscribers, or about 15 million people, according to the service's status page. Between 8 and 9:30 AM Pacific time, iCloud email was inaccessible for the affected group. As of 9:42 AM, all services were listed as online.

The coming years could see bending, twisting, and even wearable iPhones and other devices, if The Korea Times is right in its interpretation of one Samsung executive's remarks. Samsung reports sizable offerings for its bendable OLED displays, and analysts believe the quantities on order could signal that Apple is interested in bringing the technology to future devices.

Foxconn is disavowing suggestions that chairman Terry Gou leaked news of an Apple TV set, writes The Next Web. Last week, Foxconn chairman Terry Gou was believed to have confirmed the existence of an Apple-branded TV. The executive was misquoted, Foxconn now says, and the company can neither confirm nor speculate about any such hardware.

Apple will announce several new iCloud feature upgrades at June's WWDC, claim sources for the Wall Street Journal. One of the highlights is expected to be photo sharing. While users can currently sync photos via Photo Stream, these are only accessible under the same Apple ID. The sharing feature would not only allow people to make photosets public, but to make comments on others' collections.

Sparrow has released a new version of its iPhone email client, bringing it up to 1.2. The release makes several important changes, for instance allowing landscape composition for the first time, and navigating between messages by swiping up or down. Users can now edit or create labels and folders, and the app has been localized for nine languages in total: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Russian, and Chinese.

The unofficial iPhone Dev Team has released a new version of redsn0w, its jailbreaking utility for iOS devices. The v0.9.11b4 update lets users restore old IPSW files to A5-based Apple devices, including the iPhone 4S, third-generation iPad, and iPad 2; previously, only devices prior to the iPad 2 could be downgraded, thanks to the limera1n exploit. The update means that A5 devices can now be downgraded from iOS 5.1.1 or 5.1 to 5.0.1.

Apple will finally announce updated MacBooks in June, DigiTimes claims. The site quotes supply chain sources, who say that parts shipments are expected to pick up significantly that month as Apple escalates MacBook production. Shipments are predicted to peak in July, once capacity is reached; industry sources suggest that Apple will grow MacBook shipments by as much as 50 percent in 2012, vastly outdoing the pace of Windows PCs, even if the latter will likely still be the most dominant computer platform by far.

Buffalo has announced that its 802.11ac next-generation Wi-Fi solution is now on the market. It has jointly made available its AirStation WZR-D1800H wireless router and its WLI-H4-D1300 wireless media bridge available so users can hook straight up to Wi-Fi speeds 3 times faster than 802.11n and 30 percent faster than Gigabit Ethernet. The new router is also dual-band capable and will support older Wi-Fi devices.

More details have emerged about the next-generation 15-inch MacBook Pro, if 9to5Mac’s sources are correct. As with the first unibody MacBook Pro range, where the 15-inch model led the redesign, Apple is expected to reveal its latest MacBook Pro reboot with a 15-inch model. The inclusion of Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors will allow a thinner design, that will drop its optical drive, center on a new ‘jaw-dropping’ super high resolution Retina Display and also incorporate USB 3.0 ports.

Purported MacBook Pro and iMac benchmarks have surfaced on Geekbench showing the Macs running Intel’s next-gen Ivy Bridge processors. Giving a further hint that the specs are indeed for two of Apple’s latest Macs, the MacBook Pro carries the model designation 9,1, while the 27-inch iMac carries the designation 13,2. Interestingly, Best Buy has also marked down its whole Mac range in a further sign that Apple’s Mac line refresh is impending.

The board of Yahoo has accepted the resignation of former CEO Scott Thompson and named Ross Levinsohn, its head of global media, to be the interim CEO. Fred Amoroso, who just recently joined the board of the troubled Internet search engine, was named chairman, and Third Point hedge fund manager Dan Loeb, who had been pushing for Thompson's removal, and two of his proposed directors will join the board.

Owners of the iPhone 4S and Lumia 800 can get solid advice on just about anything, thanks to the voice-recognition technology built into the phones' digital assistant software; but it turns out that if they ask for advice on smartphones, they may wind up with a bit of buyer's remorse. As The Next Web found out through experimentation, the two phones give conflicting and complementary answers when you ask each what is the best smartphone.

Sunday, May 13th	Last updated: 7:03 PM EST

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German court refuses to rule in push notification suit ...
On April 20, Microsoft fired the most recent shot in its legal skirmish with Motorola in German court in regards to a series of patent enforcement suits preventing Microsoft (amongst others) from using push notifications. In response to the new MS filing, on Friday morning Mannheim Regional Court Judge Andreas Voss said that his court is not prepared to rule on Motorola's complaint versus Microsoft in regards to push notifications from the Hotmail service. A new trial is expected. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

A German TV maker, Loewe AG, is denying rumors that it has been in talks with Apple about a possible buyout, according to Heise Online. A tip to AppleInsider recently suggested a deal worth $113 million, and that Loewe's board of directors were going to make a decision before May 18th. A Loewe spokesman now insists, however, that there is "absolutely nothing" to the claims.

After facing backlash and scrutiny following an announcement that it wasn't going to fix critical security bugs in the two-year-old version Creative Suite 5 or the year-old v5.5, Adobe security response team detailed plans to fix the problems on Saturday. On May 8, Adobe's security note explaining the vulnerabilities said that the only fixes for the bugs was upgrading to the newly released Adobe Creative Suite 6 or being careful with image sources, a move that would essentially force users to upgrade immediately.

Book publisher John Wiley and Sons has run into an unusual opponent in court -- an ISP. Verizonis refusing to comply with a subpoena ordering the company to disclose personal details of subscribers whose IP addresses have been logged pirating their popular "For Dummies" series of self-help guides. All of the subscribers allegedly acquired the copies of the books through BitTorrent-based websites.

Saturday, May 12th	Last updated: 11:53 PM EST

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Apple rebrands LTE iPad as 'iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular' worldwide ...
Apple appears to have found a solution to complaints (mostly from international dealers) that its touting of LTE or "4G" compatibility in the latest iPad model is misleading outside North America. The company has begun changing the name of the LTE iPad model to "iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular" in its online stores, even in the US and Canada. The change has appeared in other stores, including the UK and Australia. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

Actor Ashton Kutcher has been spotted wearing a costume similar to Steve Jobs' signature "Apple uniform" walking around LA, reports paparazzi site TMZ. Kutcher is currently playing the iconic Apple co-founder in an independent feature film on Jobs' early life.

Following Apple's introduction of Thunderbolt on commercial systems with the Macbook Pro 2011 line in February of 2011, it was expected that Thunderbolt would soon be supported on Windows. The first motherboards with integrated Thunderbolt are starting to see the light of day just now, more than a year after the initial introduction of the technology. Anandtech recently had the opportunity to test the first draft motherboard from manufacturer MSI featuring Thunderbolt -- the MSI Z77A-GD80.

Friday, May 11th	Last updated: 11:00 PM EST

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Intel determined to make mobile chips Apple 'can't ignore' ...
Intel CEO Paul Otellini has made it clear to investors and reporters that the company will continue to angle for more business from Apple in mobile devices, saying his mission was to "ensure our silicon is so compelling [that] they can't ignore us." Intel is already responsible for the chips in all of Apple's desktop and notebook products, but has longed to replace ARM-based processors as the heart of its mobile lineup, Forbes reports. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

A third Apple patent suit versus Samsung was stayed today pending the resolution of a separate required proceeding before Germany's Federal Patent Court. The stayed patent in question is a general patent that covers, amongst other things, the basic pinch to zoom interface action as found in OS X and iOS. The court that stayed the trial today is the first of two courts that operate in parallel, but on different timetables. One court is responsible for the scope of the infringement, and the other court is responsible for the validity of the patent.

According a leaked shot of an inventory screen that appears to be authentic, videogame retailer GameStop may soon be expanded the presence of Apple products in its stores. The company may be adding some types of refurbished MacBooks to its lineup if the listings shown in the picture are any indication. GameStop already sells refurbished iPhones, iPods, iPod Touch and iPads, game site Kotaku reports.

It appears the Google versus Oracle legal skirmish regarding Java patentability is beginning to wind down. At the beginning of today's hearings, Judge William Alsup granted Oracle's request for a judgement as a matter of law (JMOL) in regards to eight files copied directly into Android from Oracle's code base, and awarded an additional copyright infringement to Oracle. The matters of "fair use" and willful violation have yet to be decided.

Who wants a FREE MacBook Pro? Expercom is celebrating their fifteen-year anniversary by giving away one 13.3-inch MacBook Pro. This MacBook Pro includes features like a 2.4GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and comes pre-installed with OS X Lion, read on to find out how you can win.

Japanese cell network Softbank is testing blimps to determine if the dirigibles could be used for network coverage during natural disasters. If proved successful, the technique could be used to keep communication lines open during events such as last year's earthquake and tsunami.

On May 7, Forbes published its annual list of the top 25 fastest-growing technology companies. Drawn from a pool of more than 5,000 publicly-traded technology companies, listees must have a sales growth of 10 percent or more for each of the last three fiscal years, a minimum revenue of $150 million, and a minimum market value of $500 million. Six companies have gained place on the list, or held steady. There are 15 new entries in the top 25.

On Finnish television, Rovio CEO Mikael Hed told presenters that Rovio's next game is titled Amazing Alex. The game will feature educational elements and revolve around the titular Alex, a "curious young boy who loves to build things." No release date has been announced.

Adobe's Creative Cloud has launched according to schedule, bringing cloud-based access to Adobe Creative Suite CS6 to mobile devices, desktops, and notebooks. Adobe is also rolling out Muse 1.0, which allows users to create websites without having to write code, and updating the Adobe Touch Apps for iOS.

The beta version of iCloud.com is now displaying Reminders and Notes apps, users observe. At the moment, the regular iCloud.com site is limited to Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Find My iPhone, and iWork. 9to5Mac notes that the beta code contains hidden strings asking a person to "first sign in to iCloud with the iOS 6 Beta," which may hint that iOS 6 and an updated iCloud.com will premiere simultaneously, possibly at WWDC in June.

Spotify on Friday detailed the latest update to its Windows and OS X desktop apps that brings with it a number of improvements. Version 0.83 brings with it the ability to create radio stations based on a playlist or an album thanks to dedicated buttons. Start Playlist Radio and Start Album Radio will launch a stream of similar music based on each respective category.

On May 1st Apple filed a motion through a court for the Northern District of California, claiming "spoilation of evidence" by Samsung, according to NetworkWorld. Apple says that Samsung failed to preserve documents it needed to submit for the discovery process in the companies' ongoing legal battle. In fact, Apple accuses Samsung of spoiling "vast quantities of relevant evidence in blatant disregard of its duty to preserve all such evidence."

Today at Apple's online store save on Mac minis, MacBook Airs and more. The refurb. Mac mini with a 2.3GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 2GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive is now $519 after a $80 price break. Or for $849 is the refurb. Mac mini with Lion Server, a 2.0GHz Intel quad-core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM and dual 500GB hard drives.

Today in the MacNN forums, Forum Regular Nassifer has a question about the album artwork that shows in iTunes, read more here. "Is anyone else tired of waiting?" is the question posed by one Fresh-Faced Recruit who want's to see a MacBook Pro update.

Asian supplier Foxconn is making preparations for an Apple TV set, but development and manufacturing hasn't begun, according to company chairman Terry Gou. China Daily reports that the executive made the comments in a recent speech. Gou also indicated that a recent deal with Sharp was made with an Apple TV set in mind; in March Foxconn bought a 10 percent stake in Sharp for $808 million, helping out the latter company's finances. Apple has reportedly been interested in using Sharp IGZO panels for iPads, and could conceivably use them in a TV as well.

Today's deals from DealNN include discounted MacBook Pros, iPhone cases, and more. Apple.com has a wide variety of refurbished MacBook Pros available this week, one of which is the refurb. 2.53GHz Intel Core i5 MacBook Pro, complete with a 17-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, 4GB of RAM, 8x double-layer SuperDrive, and 500GB hard drive. Currently featured at DealNN, this MacBook Pro has now dropped to only $1,719 in price and offers savings of up to $580.

iOS 6 will make a long-rumored move and drop Google Maps entirely in a new Maps app, claim sources for 9to5Mac. While the app itself has long been Apple's own creation, it has always relied on data and technology from Google. The updated Maps is said to be fairly similar to the one based on Google, but "cleaner, faster, and [a] more reliable experience." In place of the old backend, Apple will rely on technology acquired in buyouts of Placebase, C3 Technologies, and Poly9.

FreedomPop is now taking pre-orders for its embedded WiMax and LTE iPhone 4/4S case, which first appeared in March. The company is the latest brainchild of Skype founder Niklas Zennstrom and aims to offer users ‘free wireless broadband’ using a freemium service model. Users who put down $99 for a case will get up to 500MB of free data per month in an iPhone accessory that offers users the ability to access 4G speeds, FaceTime video calls, as well as the ability to act as an external battery charger.

Late Wednesday evening, Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern California Circuit Court filed a decision giving Apple the right to re-file litigation in the future on any of the patent claims it will drop in its current two US cases with Samsung. The decision could have strong strategic importance to Apple, as the company will be free to continue threatening litigation on specific patent claims against Samsung. The trials are schedule to start this summer.

Effective May 16, the United States Postal Service (USPS) regulation prohibits shipping any electronic device with a lithium battery from being mailed to a destination outside the United States. The ban does not apply to private carriers such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS. The ban is in response to improperly packed lithium batteries being involved in two plane crashes since 2006, including a UPS jet in Dubai that caught fire and crashed moments after takeoff.

The iOS version of Read It Later's Pocket app (free in the App Store) has been updated to version 4.1. The update brings a ground-up redesign, including new reading themes, expanded video support, and an improved user interface.

Apple, which has been working and gaining patents for 3D and face-recognition technologies for several years, was awarded another one yesterday for a novel way of creating 3D models out of two-dimensional data. The work in this area started in earnest when Apple purchased Swedish firm Polar Rose in 2010, and has wide implications for commercial applications. One application could be for future iOS or Mac security logins.

In the latest maneuver during a legal battle with EMI that began in 2007, MP3Tunes has filed for bankruptcy. The move puts the ongoing case on hold, and could prevent a judgement in the matter. EMI isn't abandoning the suit, and as the CEO of MP3Tunes is a co-defendant in the case, he is personally facing liability for the alleged infringements.

[Update: Proview said to have rejected the offer] The settlement offer Apple is extending to Proview is valued at $16 million, according to local reports. Earlier this week a Proview lawyer claimed that the two parties were discussing a compensation package, and that Apple had even named an amount, but at the time he declined to provide any more details. If accurate, the $16 million figure will still fall well short of the $63 million Proview owes to creditors as a part of its bankruptcy.

Thursday, May 10th	Last updated: 11:33 PM EST

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Wolfenstein 3D celebrates 20 years with browser version ...
One of the classic computer games, the first-person shooter Wolfenstein 3D, is celebrating its 20th anniversary year with a new browser-based version of the game as well as a promotional giveaway of the iOS version of the original game for a limited time. While the original Castle Wolfenstein first appeared on an Apple II computer in 1981, Wolfenstein 3D (the more familiar version of the game) debuted on DOS in 1992. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

Embattled Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson has provided another explanation for the inaccuracies on his resume. Thompson reportedly told other top Yahoo executives that he never personally provided Yahoo with a resume prior to taking the CEO job. Yahoo representatives have declined to comment on this matter.

Multiple decisions have been made by Judge William Alsup today in the ongoing Oracle versus Google copyright infringement case. To start the day, the judge told Oracle that by statute, the most it could expect is $150,000 for the nine duplicated lines of rangeCheck. More recently, Oracle filed a brief with the court requesting that any retrial be limited to the one issue the jury couldn't agree on -- "fair use."

Yesterday, RadioShack's Twitter feed carried word of a new discount on the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S. The retailer will, for a limited time, let customers save $50 instantly on the two most recent models of iPhone. The discount follows a similar move by Target. Earlier this week, Target announced it would discount the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S by $50 with a two-year contract.

Less than a week after a previously-unreleased Apple sales force parody video surfaced on various sites (and finally on YouTube), a similar sales video from the era has also appeared on the video site. The previous film, "1944," based its satire on the company's "1984" commercial and portrayed Apple as engaged in a war with its main competitor at the time, IBM. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs appeared as President Roosevelt.

Google may be planning to roll out an app similar to Apple's Game Center app, a source has told Business Insider. The source contends that Google views such an app as essential to increasing Google's importance in the mobile gaming sphere. Apple's Game Center allows iPhone gamers to maintain a constant username applicable across all Game Center-connected games. The app also includes leaderboards and automatic matching for competitive games.

Following the release of iOS 5.1.1 for most iOS devices, Apple has updated its custom firmware for the second- and third-generation Apple TV to v5.0.1 (build 9B206F). Because the version of iOS running on Apple TV is customized and offers a different UI, the company numbers it slightly differently, but the new release roughly corresponds to firmware on other devices.

Gameloft today released the third installment of the N.O.V.A. series of first-person shooters. Previous installations of the sci-fi shooter series have earned acclaim for the detailed graphics Gameloft manages to coax out of mobile hardware. N.O.V.A. 3 [$7 in the App Store] follows a band of space marines from the Near Orbital Vanguard Alliance in their quest to save their planet from aliens.

[Updated: video added] Chronic Dev Team hacker Pod2G, who reported last week of being able to get an untethered jailbreak running on an iPhone 4, has updated his progress with further news. He has gotten the jailbreak exploit to work on most other iOS devices capable of running iOS 5.1, regardless of processor type. The breakthrough, which may not apply to the latest iOS 5.1.1 update, could mean a public tool for untethered jailbreaks will arrive soon.

The iPhone was the bestselling smartphone in Japan during 2011, according to data from MM Research. Apple sold 7.25 million units, giving it 30 percent of smartphone sales, and 17 percent of all cellphone sales. Android, though, was the most popular smartphone platform, beating out iOS with a 69 percent share. Together the two operating systems accounted for 99 percent of Japanese smartphone sales.

The US Federal Trade Commission is launching a competition investigation regarding Facebook's recent $1 billion buyout of Instagram, say two sources for the Financial Times. The effort has allegedly already begun, with the FTC starting to collect information from "at least two" of Facebook's biggest competitors. The probe is described as routine for deals worth more than $68.2 million, but could delay the Instagram acquisition well past when Facebook told investors things would be completed.

Bang and Olufsen has unveiled the BeoPlay V1, the first television from the high-end audio manufacturer's brand B&O Play. The television uses self-contained speakers set in a Scandinavian-industrial style powder-coated steel cabinet, contrasting with the previous TV releases. The manufacturer also noted an iOS docking station, called the BeoPlay A8, which adds Apple AirPlay support as an update to the original BeoSound 8.

Apple is opening a seventh store in Spain this Saturday at 10AM, the company has announced. The shop will be located in the Nuva Condomina mall, in the southern city of Murcia near Cartagena and the Mediterranean coastline. Although it's scheduled to be closed on Sundays, the outlet will otherwise be open from 10AM to 10PM every day.

Rayner Software has launched NetShade 5 for Mac, the latest version of its web anonymizer software. The app works by routing the Internet connection through an intermediary proxy server, which prevents the user's IP address from being sent to visited sites. Version 5 is built on a new server architecture and no longer requires logins or passwords to access the NetShade proxy. Additionally, the proxy manager and user interface have been re-designed. Windows are now collapsable, multiple proxies can be tested in a batch, and proxies can be automatically cycled on a timer. A one-year NetShade subscription is set at $29 for new customers, while existing users can renew their one-year subscription for $19.

Apple is aiming for an October release date for its frequently-rumored 7-inch iPad, an iMore source says. More specifically, though, the person says that the tablet will be virtually identical to the current 9.7-inch iPad, including even a 2048x1536 display. That would give it the same 326ppi pixel density as the iPhone 4S, and more than the current iPad's 264ppi. Pricing is expected to be just $200-250, despite regular iPads starting at $499.

The orangutan handlers at the Miami Zoo are testing out a new method of communicating with the captive orange apes. Trainers at Jungle Island are getting the apes to interact with simplistic apps on Apple iPads, opening new possibilities for human-orangutan interaction. So far, as the Sun Sentinel reports, the younger apes are taking to the technology quickly, while the older orangutans appear less interested.

Yesterday's OS X 10.7.4 update also brought with it more preparation for Macs equipped with Retina displays, observes AppleInsider. One example is the icon for TextEdit, which was previously a 209KB image measuring 512x512, but now takes up 1.7MB, and has doubled in resolution to 1024x1024. Other icons have grown in size without doubling in resolution; these include ones for Address Book (from 279KB to 484KB) and Dashboard (from 130KB to 226KB).

Apple Korea has agreed to change the way it handles replacing defective iPads and iPods in the country, reports say. Until recently, people bringing in faulty hardware would typically get a refurbished device if a replacement was needed. Apple has been persuaded by South Korea's Fair Trade Commission, however, to follow local laws, and will now replace defective iPads and iPods with entirely new units for a period of up to one month after purchase.

Sprint may soon be adding another Android-powered phone to its lineup with the SPH-L300, a photo of which was shared by BriefMobile. The phone should share the same 1.5GHz, dual-core MSM8960 processor as the Evo 4G LTE. The battery also has mention of Near Field Communications, so the phone should ship with it included.

Fuji has taken the wraps off its new waterproof FinePix XP170 with wireless image transfer capabilities. The new point and shoot camera is waterproof to 10 meters, is built to support drops of up to 2 meters and can also operate in temperatures down to -10 degrees Celcius. It can also share photos wirelessly to iOS and Android devices using the free Fujifilm Photo Receiver companion app.

Apple and controversial Chinese manufacturing partner Foxconn are said to be sharing the costs on improving work conditions at its Chinese factories. According to Reuters, Foxconn boss Terry Gou has spoken out on the matter, although he did not place a dollar figure on the investment or exactly where the money will be spent. The company has already raised worker wages by between 16 and 25 percent and has also added thousands more workers to its million-employee workforce to reduce the amount of overtime.

In an unusual move, Apple has partnered with regional "daily dining deals" app Pirq (free) on its first appearance in the Silicon Valley area to offer exclusive restaurant deals to Apple employees, AppleInsider reports. The site coordinated with Passport Unlimited, a long-time partner that has offered exclusive discounts to Apple employees in the past, to target the Cupertino-based workers. Discounts can range between 20 and 50 percent.

Politico reports that Apple has spent only $500,000 on federal lobbying and associated governmental programs thus far in 2012. By contrast, political action committees (PAC) formed by Google have dropped $5 million, and a separate Microsoft PAC has doled out $1.8 million in the same time period. Sources within Washington suggest that Apple will have a rocky road with DC lawmakers unless they start building a "Washington brand."

Two months after its official debut, Adobe's Photoshop Lightroom 4 pro-level photo managing and editing software has come to the Mac App Store. The program is priced identically to the boxed version, but is aimed at new users (since owners of previous versions of Lightroom can upgrade to 4.0 for $79 through Adobe). The program competes with Apple's own Aperture, which costs $80.

Wednesday, May 9th	Last updated: 10:55 PM EST

Top Stories

User manuals for Cadillac XTS provided on bundled iPad ...
At the CTIA conference, Cadillac announced an initiative that will teach purchasers about CUE, the new dashboard system in the 2013 Cadillac XTS. A simulated CUE system as well as all the users' manuals for the car will be provided on a pre-loaded iPad. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

[Update: judge denies Oracle motion, reduces Google liability] As expected, Google has petitioned Judge William Alsop for a mistrial following the jury's refusal to rule on a crucial matter in phase one of its trial versus Oracle. Near-simultaneously, Oracle filed its response to suggest that the judge rule on the "fair use" question that the jury couldn't agree on. Neither Google nor Oracle has responded to its counterpart's filing with the court.

The government of the Netherlands has become the first European country to pass a net neutrality law. The legal precedent prevents internet service providers from traffic management except in the cases of congestion and network security, and also includes restrictions on ISPs performing deep packet inspection and other similar wiretapping techniques.

Today, Google released an update for its Google+ iOS app (free, App Store). The update amounts to a considerable makeover for the social networking app, bringing crisper fonts, larger profile pics, and a revamped home screen.

Accompanying the just-released OS X 10.7.4 update, Apple has also posted several new versions of other products -- including Safari, Remote Desktop, the server version of Lion's Server Admin Tools and a security update for Snow Leopard users. The Safari and Remote Desktop updates apply to both Lion and Snow Leopard, and should be available through Software Update. The Safari update is available for both Mac and Windows users.

T-Mobile have taken aim against AT&T in its most recent television commercial. The new advert, continuing the makeover of brand representative Carly into an edgier motorcycle rider, pokes fun at the slow speed of the iPhone on AT&T compared to a much faster Carly on T-Mobile's 4G network.

Following several weeks of developer testing, Apple has released the completed version of OS X 10.7.4. Now available though Lion's Software Update mechanism, the upgrade deals with several security, reliability and compatibility problems. Most notably it fixes a security issue in FileVault which could potentially expose a person's passwords in plain text.

MoboTap has launched updates for both the iPad and iPhone versions of its mobile Dolphin Browser. The iPad version has gained Retina graphics, as well as a new Browsing History feature that allows users to see past sites and searches displayed as suggestions while searching in the URL bar. Meanwhile, the iPhone version has gained a Tab Restore feature that will restore previously opened tabs if Dolphin is shut down while running in the background. The update will also now remember the last used keyboard layout, and includes various stability and performance enhancements.

Quark has announced that all customers using QuarkXPress version 3 or later can now upgrade to QuarkXPress 9 for $349. QuarkXPress 9, which is regularly priced at $849, is a page layout and design tool that can help developers create content to be published on digital devices. In order to upgrade customers must have a valid, registered, and activated serial number, however those who are unable to locate their serial number may be able to upgrade by providing proof of purchase or completing an online missing serial number form.

Microsoft has joined the Hybrid Memory Cube Consortium. Fronted by Micron, Samsung, and IBM, the HMCC aims to create more efficient memory for high-performance computing and other similar applications, using increased bandwidth compared to what current memory architectures can provide.

Autodesk has released 123D Catch, a new app for the iPad. The software is used to turn 2D photos into 3D models; in reality, a person uploads photos taken or stored on an iPad to the Autodesk Cloud, where the actual conversion happens. Up to 40 photos can be uploaded, and push notifications tell users when a render is finished.

People who bought an iPod classic, shuffle, touch, or nano between September 12th, 2006 and March 31st, 2009 are being notified that they could participate in a pending class action lawsuit, reports say. Emails are being sent out this week referring people to ipodlawsuit.com, for extra details, even though there has been no settlement or ruling. The suit was originally filed by Thomas Slattery in 2005, based on an incident in 2004, when RealNetworks released software called Harmony.

HP also introduced two new printers in Shanghai, with the portable all-in-one OfficeJet 150. It's meant to be taken along on trips with notebooks. It can print, scan, and copy letter-sized pages and has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

At its press event in China, HP showed off an upcoming HD monitor, the 23-inch 2311xi. It uses In-Plane Switching technology for the LED backlight to make the colors sharper and the viewing angles wider. Connections are generous and include a VGA, DVI-D and HDCP-compliant HDMI inputs.

Apple has modified a proposed nano-SIM design to accommodate objections by Nokia, says The Verge. SIM card maker Giesecke & Devrient has been showing off the design at the CTIA trade show in New Orleans. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute is soon set to vote for one of several card designs proposed by cellphone makers; a vote was, in fact, originally scheduled to take place in March, but the dispute between Apple and Nokia led to a postponement.

Leveraging the popular home and SOHO Pogoplug network and internet storage system, Pogo is unveiling Pogoplug Team. Pogoplug Team is a cloud enabled server system designed to be installed on existing IT assets, creating a private cloud for group access to files on any computer, web browser, mobile device, or tablet.

Apple will launch the next iPhone in September, and a 7-inch iPad in August, says DigiTimes. The claims are based on Taiwanese supply chain sources, who add that Pegatron has landed orders for the new iPhone, while Foxconn will handle the 7-inch iPad. The report further suggests that Pegatron will build a new 10-inch iPad for launch in the fourth quarter of this year.

Retailer Brookstone is working with MIT spin-off Liliputian Systems to deliver a palm-sized portable fuel cell USB charger. The device will offer mobile users the ability to charge their smartphone up to 14 times for around two-weeks of use free from a wall charger. Like the similar Powertrekk portable fuel-cell charger, the Brookstone device uses replaceable fluid-filled cartridges to continue delivering charges after the initial cartridge is depleted.

Logitech has revealed two new items in their Alert video security system range. The 750n indoor master system is a complete surveillance system in a box with powerful HD night vision capabilities, while the 700n indoor add-on offers an extra camera to the HomePlug-powered security system. The new system follows on from their earlier 750 and 750i security system releases.

Officials from Twitter are looking into what appears to be 50,000 email and password combinations posted to Pastebin earlier this week. After a brief analysis, the list consists of 20,000 duplicates, many suspended spam accounts, and unlinked user name and password combinations. No person or group has claimed responsibility for the leak.

In a flurry of product announcements from Shanghai, HP introduced one new All-in-One (AIO) printer, a replacement for the current 5510 called the 5520 that addresses all the significant omissions of the previous model, mainly the duplexing and layout support. The 5520 e-All-in-One features a new automatic duplexer for easy two-sided support, along with options for booklet and multi-page printing. Wireless mobile printing is also supported.

Microsoft has starting pushing security updates for the 2008 and 2011 versions of Microsoft Office for Mac, including an "important" security fix for six vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution, even on affected Macs. On the Windows side, the problems stretch back all the way to Microsoft Excel 2003, but for Macs only the two most recent versions of Office are affected. The fix is available through the Microsoft Updater.

Evening Edition

Briefly: Camping apps, Rovio 1Bn downloads, Imajao app ...
Outdoor enthusiasts will now be able to make reservations for campsites at national parks, forests and other recreational facilities through the release of two new apps for iOS. The ReserveAmerica camping app (free) lists nearby state campground sites, and provides information on sites, RV restrictions, tent and cabin use and other options. [print | email | comment] 

Early Morning Edition

Amazon edges Apple in ForeSee e-retail satisfaction index ...
The Spring top 100 edition of the ForeSee e-retailer satisfaction index has been released. Notable findings are Amazon leading at 89 percent, besting Apple by four percentage points. Newegg trails Apple by three points while Netflix is recovering some lost ground after several summer public relations and marketing disasters. The survey is the result of 21,000 responses from visitors to the top 100 retail websites by revenue. [print | email | comment] 

Tuesday, May 8th	Last updated: 11:44 PM EST

Top Stories

Telefonica launches TuMe global chat, VOIP, text app ...
Telefonica, the Spanish parent company of Britain's O2 cell network, has launched its first iPhone app as a direct competitor to programs like Skype. The new app, TuMe (free), combines free text chat, voice calls and picture and location sharing between users of the TuMe app, all in one program rather than having to switch between the Phone and iMessage applications. An Android version is planned for later in the year. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

Thanks to the successful conclusion of a pilot program studying the effect of tablet computers in government, all 650 members of British parliament (MP) will soon be receiving iPads. The move was previously revealed by an advisory committee to the House of Commons. The move is expected to cost between £260,000 ($420,300) and £429,000 ($693,500). Up to 70 MPs have already purchased iPads and listed them as expenses, passing the expense on to the taxpayers, but say the move saves money over printing and other antiquated workflows.

Proview's attempt to assert the legal argument that it was duped into selling the iPad trademark to Apple in the US has failed, with Judge Mark Pierce of the California Superior Court dismissing the lawsuit per Apple's request. The court said Proview had failed to show any reason why the dispute couldn't be resolved in Hong Kong, where the two companies are currently before the second-highest level Chinese courts.

Bracketron have unveiled the MetalDock charging dock for iPhone 4 and 4S. The curved L-shape dock was revealed at the same time as the Mushroom GreenZero battery charger at CTIA Wireless. The MetalDock is a curved metal combination dock for charging and synching, while the Mushroom GreenZero is an energy-conscious wall charger suitable for world travel.

PayAnywhere has declared that it will start shipping its own credit card reader later this month. Backed by North American Bancard, the mobile payment system will attempt to compete against other recent launches with a "free" card reader, and no monthly fee.

Apple is bringing the third-generation iPad to 30 more countries this weekend, the company has announced. The bulk of launches will happen on May 11th; for that day the list includes Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Curacao, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Morocco, Peru, Taiwan, Tunisia, and Vietnam. Several Middle Eastern countries will get the tablet on May 12th, those being Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

A Luxembourg official has spoken out against a recent investigation into Apple's tax avoidance strategies. In a letter to the editor of the New York Times, an executive director at the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office defended Apple and the country, saying they are applying EU tax law correctly.

Apple has inadvertently revealed plans to bring banner notifications to iCloud.com, AppleInsider notes. Earlier on Tuesday, some visitors to the site saw an iOS-style banner at the top with a placeholder image and text. "Default Title for English," it read, with "English - This is test message description" underneath. Although clicking on the banner led nowhere, a small X allowed people to dismiss the message.

Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski has publicly fired back at AT&T over the carrier's latest comments regarding its failed T-Mobile buyout. Speaking at a CTIA keynote, Genachowski suggested the Commission's move should not result in higher prices for consumers. He argues that, to the contrary, blocking the acquisition will help maintain competition and may eventually bring even lower prices.

Three more regional US carriers will begin carrying the iPhone on May 18th, according to separate announcements. These include Kentucky's Bluegrass Cellular, California's Golden State Cellular, and finally Kansas' Nex-Tech Wireless. Following in the footsteps of other regionals, the companies will be offering iPhones at discounted prices; this includes $149, $249, and $349 tiers for the 16, 32, and 64GB iPhone 4S, and a $49 pricetag for the 8GB iPhone 4.

AT&T is approaching the announcement of its long-anticipated shared data plans, hints a comment from AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega. "I'm very comfortable with the plan that will be offered to our customers," he told CNET yesterday in an interview at the ongoing CTIA trade show. The executive in fact said that the carrier knows how the plan will be structured, but declined to say when it might launch, including whether or not it will be out in the next few months and/or arrive before an expected Verizon alternative.

At Apple's online store today save on iMacs, iPads, and iPods. The refurb. 21.5-inch iMac with a 3.06GHz Intel core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive is now $929 after a $170 price drop. A $280 price break is offered on the refurb. 27-inch iMac with a 2.7GHz Intel core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, now $1419.

Today in the MacNN forums, user osiris noticed a strange issue with Google image searches in iOS 5.1.1 and has turned to the forums asking if anyone else has experienced similar problems. A debate about repairing permissions can be found in this thread started by one Fresh-Faced Recruit looking for an answer to a question about a warning message.

Today's deals from DealNN include price breaks on iPod docks, clock radios, and more. Amazon.com has recently lowered the cost of the Dual 240-Watt Mechless AM/FM iPod Dock with Bluetooth, featuring 18 FM station presets, a dot-matrix text display, and a fold-down front-panel with integrated 30-pin cradle with adjustable sides to fit all dockable iPods. Currently featured at DealNN, the Dual audio player is now available for $51.99 and offers savings of up to $128.

Apple's new head of retail, John Browett, has issued an initial letter to Apple Store workers through the company's Retail Me app. "Team," it begins. "At last I've officially started at Apple, and it's great to be here. "I've had the chance to meet many of you at stores in the US and across Europe, and one of my top priorities for the coming months is to meet many more people on our team around the world.

Late on Monday, Apple and Samsung both agreed to drop several patent infringement claims in the companies' California legal battle, according to FOSS Patents. Apple is said to have started the process, filing to drop roughly half of its claims. Five hours later Samsung followed suit, offering drop five out of 12 patents, but still arguing that Apple's case is too large to go to trial in the summer. In its filing Apple accused Samsung of being uncooperative.

A new analysis undertaken by comScore, using its new Mobile Metrix 2.0 tool, has shown that mobile apps are driving most of the time spent on social networks like Facebook, overtaking traditional computer-based browser access. The typical Facebook user was found to spend 441 minutes of their time accessing the site through their smartphone, which compared with an average of 391 spent by users surfing the site from their computer. A similar trend was seen for mobile-centric brands including Twitter, Pinterest and Foursquare, highlighting the increasingly post-PC nature of Internet use.

Marshall amplification has introduced a new version of its Major-series of headphones with an all-black model it calls the Major Pitch Black. In addition to a namesake all-black color scheme, the new headset picks up a denim headband designed to appeal to the muso crowd. To celebrate the launch, the company is also giving users who post a picture or video of themselves in corpse paint on their Facebook page the oppounity to win a custom-built Pitch Black Marshall amp.

A US-based International Trade Commission (ITC) judge has accused Apple of trying to get around a page-count limit in court filings in its dispute with Samsung and has struck some 3,000 pages of patent analysis the company produced. Instead, according to Administrative Law Judge E. James Gildea, Apple must submit a one-page table of its invalidity contentions as contained in the ITC rules by the end of business today (Tuesday).

On May 7, Mastercardconfirmed the first details of their near field communication (NFC) payment service. Known as PayPass Wallet Services, the new global offering for banks, merchants, and other partners intends to make it easier to make purchases in stores or online both with a mobile phone as well as secure internet purchases.

Twitpic, a widely-used service for posting photos and videos on Twitter, took a step towards direct competition with Instagram, which was recently acquired by Facebook. It has released a free app for iPhone and iPod Touch includes basic editing tools, filters and a comments section. Users can also see daily popular content and photos or videos from people the user follows.

Developer and photo gallery hosting company 500px released a controversial upgrade to its iPad gallery software earlier today. A toggle for blocking all "not safe for work" (NSFW) content has been excised in favor of a blanket ban on such content on the app. The removal of the filter and content restriction was done solely by 500px staff and not by Apple interference.

AT&T at Mobile World Congress announced its home automation system, known as Digital Life, however the company has finally revealed additional details at CTIA's New Orleans expo. Electronista checked out the new system, which was demonstrated at a 19th-century mansion in the city's affluent Garden District.

Networking accessory maker Netgear is now offering a free app called Genie that allows USB printers on the users' home network to used as an AirPrint printer, making it possible for them to print wirelessly from iOS and Android devices. The mobile app works with a variety of Netgear routers, and a companion home program provides users with other home-networking utilities such as diagnosing and fixing network issues and more.

Monday, May 7th	Last updated: 11:56 PM EST

Top Stories

Hands on: Escort SmartRadar ...
Escort late last year introduced Escort Live, providing basic integration between the company's radar detectors and Android or iOS smartphones. The company has continued to embrace smartphone capabilities with SmartRadar, a new detector that discretely monitors radar and laser signals while diverging from form factor of existing dash-mounted radar detectors. Electronista had a chance to check out the new device this week at a special event ahead of CTIA's New Orleans gathering. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

A video Apple created in 1984 as a motivational spoof for its annual Hawaii sales force conference that features a cameo of Steve Jobs playing President Franklin Delano Roosevelt has arrived on YouTube. The film, first made public by Network World a few days ago, was intended as a spoof "propaganda film" to inspire the Macintosh sales force to do battle against "Big Blue" (IBM), then seen as Apple's main rival.

Dane-Elec unveiled the first products in the Pro Sport USB3 line today. The red 8GB, 16GB blue, and 32GB black USB3 flash drives will be available on Amazon in late May. The Pro Sport flash drive boasts speeds up to 80MB/sec read and 30MB/sec write when plugged into a USB3 host connection.

Target, which just recently announced it would expand its Apple Store-Within-A-Store (SWAS) program, is now discounting new iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S unite by $50 with a two-year contract, reports 9to5Mac. The new prices in-store offer the iPhone 4 8GB at $50 and the 4S 16GB at $150 with either AT&T or Verizon.

Fortune Magazine released its annual Fortune 500 list of America's largest corporations, and Apple has zoomed up the list to the number 17 slot. The new ranking is a sizable improvement over its 35th -place ranking last year, but the iPad maker still ranks second in technology, behind Hewlett-Packard.

The jury assigned to the Oracle versus Google lawsuit has returned a partial verdict. On the matter of API copyright infringement, Google has been found to have violated the sequence, structure, and organization of 37 Java API copyrights. However, whether or not the infringement was fair use remains to be decided, as the jury was unable to break through a previously reported impasse on the matter. Judge Alsop is not waiting for motions from either side, and is immediately moving forward with the next phase, the patent phase, of the trial.

In response to a "bug report" filed by a developer, Apple has for the first time acknowledged that the lack of multi-user support in iOS for the iPad is a "known issue" which is "currently being investigated by engineering," AppleInsider reports. While developers have often used bug reports to ask for or promote system features, the developer who submitted it says normally Apple doesn't reply to such requests.

Third-party jailbreaking utility redsn0w has been updated for iOS 5.1.1, which was released by Apple just earlier today. Currently the hack works only in tethered mode, meaning that a device has to be connected to computer anytime it's restarted. It's also restricted to devices based on A4 processors, excluding the third-generation iPad, the iPad 2, and the iPhone 4S.

VeriFone will release a new card reader that plugs into the iPhone or iPad's 3.5mm headphone input to process payments. A step up from its PayWare solution for hardware, the new device, called SAIL, will be very close to Square's hardware. VeriFone already makes card payment hardware for larger businesses and stores, and is trying to protect this client base from smaller up and comers like Square, BusinessInsider reported.

Apple has further knocked back the cost of refurbished iPads at its online store. The iPad 2 is now available for as little as $319 in the case of a 16GB Wi-Fi model, a $30 price drop. Other models have had their prices reduced by up to $50, such as the 64GB 3G tablet, which is just $629. The only other exception in fact is the 16GB 3G, which has been slashed by $30 to $449.

A majority of US mobile subscribers are now choosing smartphones over other kinds of handsets, according to new numbers out from Nielsen. Smartphones currently make up 50.4 percent of handsets, up from 47.8 percent in December 2011. Nielsen's report also looked at the most popular operating systems among smartphones, finding that Android was by far the favorite at 48.5 percent of smartphones sold in March. iOS came in second with 32 percent, while RIM's BlackBerry OS was in third with 11.6 percent.

(Updated with security fixes) Apple has released a minor maintenance update for iOS devices. Versions 5.1.1 is said to improve reliability when using the HDR photography option from the lock-screen shortcut, while an iPad-specific tweak is designed to enable the device to properly switch between 2G and 3G networks.

Clarion has introduced a new device for iPhone owners, the Next Gate. It's a 7-inch, GPS unit-like device that will attach to a vehicle's windshield using a suction cup and provides a larger, more convenient control over a wired iPhone. Unlike the recently introduced Mirage head unit that's powered by Android, the Next Gate doesn't support handsets with the Google-made OS.

A "well-placed" source has seen a prototype of Apple's upcoming TV set, claims Cult of Mac. Visually the hardware is said to resemble Apple's current Thunderbolt Display, but with a size "much larger" than 27 inches. The centerpiece is actually an iSight camera, which will allegedly support Siri voice commands and FaceTime video calls.

OS X 10.7.3 contains a debug flag which makes system passwords readable, checks show. Depending on the system configuration, people who update to v10.7.3 may have a widely-viewable debug log file containing passwords for all users accessing a system. The passwords are stored in plain text, making for a potentially serious security risk.

US government railroad Amtrak is migrating to the iPhone for ticket scanning, the New York Times reports. Conductors on some routes have been training on the technology since November; during testing, passengers could submit either a regular ticket or a special barcode loaded on their smartphone. During the official rollout, some 1,700 conductors around the country will start using iPhones by late summer.

Cloud-syncing note service Evernote has purchased handwriting-recognition app Penultimate, SlashGear reported. Penultimate will continue on as a standalone app, at least for the time being, and its creator, Ben Zotto, will join Evernote to work on integration of the two services. A future Evernote update will bring handwriting recognition to it, and Penultimate will expand to support other mobile operating systems, as it's only available for iOS thus far.

Progress is being made in settlement talks between Apple and Proview regarding the Chinese iPad trademark lawsuit, lawyers for Proview claim. One of them, Xie Xianghui, recently spoke with China's official Xinhua news agency, and said that the two parties have discussed a compensation package. Apple has even allegedly mentioned a specific sum, but Proview has yet to agree to anything.

The Genius Bars at Apple Stores are now in some cases replacing black iPhone 4 models with equivalent iPhone 4S models, 9to5Mac claims. Recently it was said that Geniuses were replacing broken white, GSM 16GB iPhone 4 units with 4S models instead, owing to shortages of the former. As of earlier this week though, Apple is said to have "almost" caught up with demand for white 16GB iPhone 4 units, but developed new constraints involving black 16 and 32GB iPhone 4 models.

Apple has filed to gain control of the iphone5.com domain with the World Intellectual Property Organization, reports Fusible. With the next iPhone often referred to as the iPhone 5, the move has garnered a lot of attention, although it does not necessarily amount to a smoking gun. It was thought that the iPhone 4S would carry that name; if it is called the 5, the next iPhone will nevertheless be a sixth-generation device.

Taiwanese supply chain news source Digitimes is reporting that Apple may be prepping a MacBook Air priced at $799 for Q3. According to its sources in the upstream supply chain, Apple may be positioning itself to address a renewed push by Intel to kickstart sluggish ultrabook sales to date. Intel is said to have put in place ambitious sales targets of 20-30 million ultrabooks for 2012, driven by pricing taking the second wave of ultrabooks below the $700 threshold.

In line with an earlier rumor, LG has announced its plan to start shipping TVs to the US pre-installed with the latest iteration of Google TV running on its in-house L9 ARM-based processors. It’s next-generation of smart TVs are expected to arrive the week beginning May 21 and carry with them the South Korean company’s hopes of grabbing increased market share from Samsung, Sony and Vizio. First previewed at CES 2012, the company has not yet specified details about which models it will ship or pricing details at this juncture.

Adobe has started shipping its eagerly anticipated Creative Suite CS6 for both Mac and PC. Its alternative version of CS6 in the cloud known as Creative Cloud will launch on May 11, offering users the ability to access the entire suite of apps for a monthly access fee. Revamped applications now available for purchase include Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Premiere Pro, After Effects and Flash Professional in four suite versions. Apps also remain available for purchase individually.

Sunday, May 6th	Last updated: 6:35 PM EST

Top Stories

iOS hack shown to speed up text editing, selection ...
An interesting hack for jailbroken iPads and iPhones has surfaced that may show off a future improvement in iPad text editing. YouTube user Daniel Hooper published his text editing concept video on Thursday. Rather than selection on the text itself, gestures move the cursor and allow for text selection without removing hands from the virtual keyboard. Developer Kyle Howells took Hooper's concept and released SwipeSelection on the unofficial app store Cydia Saturday. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

Warner Bros. has begun offering parts of its movie catalog in 1080p HD on iTunes. Shoppers can now buy titles such as 300, Batman Begins, Clash of the Titans, Happy Feet, Speed Racer, and The Dark Knight for $15.

Saturday, May 5th	Last updated: 9:52 PM EST

Top Stories

Apple extends MobileMe 20GB storage through September 30 ...
Apple's effort to complete its sunsetting of MobileMe continued today, with the company quietly announcing an extension of its offer to MobileMe users of 20GB of free storage on iCloud. MobileMe subscribers switching to iCloud will receive 20GB of free storage until September 30, 2012. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

Apple's ongoing issues with environmental groups were thrust to the forefront today in Catawba County, NC, WCNC News reports. Protesters in Catawba blocked the train tracks leading to the Marshall Steam Station, which powers a data center Apple uses for its iCloud service.

Verizonand Maryland-based TeleCommunication Systems are banding together to launch the United States' first text messaging to the 911 emergency service system. It's hoped that the system will enable handicapped users -- or people who are unable to speak over the phone for fear of further risk to themselves -- to more effectively communicate with first responders.

The ongoing Apple vs. Samsung case being tried in the United States took an unusual turn yesterday as Judge Paul S. Grewal granted an unusual "preclusive sanctions" order against Samsung for failing to produce source code for Apple in a timely fashion. The judge had already found Samsung in violation of the order two weeks earlier, and found that the company was guilty of blatantly stalling the case.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson shared some thoughts on his relationship with Steve Jobs, the iPhone and the way the device continues to shape his company during an on-stage interview at the Milken Institute's Global Conference earlier this week, reports The New York Times. Among the revelations was his view that the early "unlimited" data model was ultimately a bad idea, and that messaging systems like iMessage that bypass SMS plans are "disruptive."

Friday, May 4th	Last updated: 11:09 PM EST

Top Stories

Facebook Messenger update to v1.7, adds free texting ...
Facebook has updated its iPhone and iPod Touch app Facebook Messenger to version 1.7, primarily adding the ability to text friends for free using one's existing data plan. This extends the program's ability and enables messages to reach friends even if they don't have the Messenger app on their own device, either on the web or directly on their phone. The update also adds the iChat- and iMessage-like "typing indicator" that lets a user know when someone is replying. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

A "critical" security issue that can cause the Flash plug-in to crash and allow a malicious program potential access to the system is addressed in the latest Adobe security update for both the Flash player standalone program for CS users and web browser plug-in for Macs, Windows and Android systems. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to version 11.2.202.235 on Macs and Windows, and v11.1.111.8 on Android (version 11.1.115.9 for Android 4.0).

Apple is now preparing a pair of Java 6 runtime updates for OS X 10.6 and 10.7 that will mark the last Apple-custom versions of Java, handing over all future development and responsibility for Java on the Mac platform directly to Oracle. Apple had already stopped shipping a default version of Java with new Macs beginning with the release of Lion last summer, but had made in-house versions available to Lion users as well as continued supporting the Snow Leopard version.

Following a loss of profit due to iPhone subsidies to consumers, Sprint Nextel CEO Daniel Hesse said he would take a pay cut this year. Hesse reported his 2012 salary would be cut to repay $346,000 he has already received in performance bonuses, and he will voluntarily surrender additional cash from 2011 and 2012 incentive plans.

Two different companies have announced new plug-ins for Final Cut Pro X and related products that offer, respectively, rich historical photographic film stock looks and an easy way to call attention to specific items on-screen. Digital Film Tools is offering its Film Stocks plug-in for both Final Cut Pro X and Motion 5, and also offers a version that works on photos as well as other video editors. Ripple Training's Callouts are available through FxFactory.

A thirty-year-old concept in computer memory may be making a resurgence. Material engineers at Johns Hopkins University have turned to diamonds to change the properties of elements used in phase change memory such as used in CD-RW and DVD-RW discs. This development could lead to higher data density storage systems that both last longer and react quicker than current optical, flash, or magnetic media.

A lawsuit alleging Apple improperly collected data on iPhone owners will go forward, a judge ruled today. Bloomberg is reporting that the judge rejected Apple's claims that plaintiffs in the case had no standing. The suit centers around last year's revelation that iOS devices were collecting location data while in use, in order to optimize the devices' connective capabilities. The data was never actually transmitted anywhere, but plaintiffs in the trial allege that the data collection continued even after users indicated that they wanted to opt out.

Google may be facing a fine potentially greater than $10 million for bypassing Safari privacy controls, according to an insider. The unnamed source, speaking to Bloomberg, alleged that Google is negotiating with the Federal Trade Commission over the actual value of the fine, which would be levied due to Google's violation of a consent degree signed last year.

An iPhone that started smoking on a flight to Sydney last November has been explained. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau conducted the investigation and found that a misplaced screw within the handset had punctured the battery casing. The resulting short circuit caused the battery to overheat and start smoking. According to the ATSB, the screw was misplaced by an unauthorized service center during a screen replacement. Although no one was hurt during the flight from the faulty handset, the chief comissioner of the ATSB, Martin Dolan, warned passengers to carry electronic devices in the cabin and to not store them with checked-in baggage.

According to new figures out from analyst firm Canalys, Q1 2012 saw Apple slip from the top spot in the client PC market. Thanks to a boost in shipments, former number one company HP retook its perch atop the market for at least one quarter. The report, though, may signal troubles ahead for PC manufacturers, as it suggests seismic trends at work in the marketplace.

Advertising network purveyor Chitkia has mined advertising impression data and discovered Apple's iPad to have the highest portion of web-use share over any other tablet by a long shot. Over 94 percent of the metered Internet traffic from all tablets comes from the iPad. The next closest competitor is the Samsung Galaxy, achieving a mere 1.22 percent.

Swivl, maker of the self-titled mount for smartphones with digital cameras that pans to follow a speaker during a voice conference, has introduced a basic version of the gadget, Swivl-it. Unlike the $179 full-blown version, the $129 model doesn't have a digital wireless microphone included and is missing one motor that allows for vertical adjustment. Users can still tilt it by hand, however, but it won't adjust itself as they get up or sit down.

Germany's Mannheim Regional Court has stayed an Apple lawsuit against Samsung over a photo gallery page-flipping patent, says FOSS Patents. The case is now waiting on the resolution of a invalidation proceeding at the country's Federal Patent Court. Regional courts are noted to stay patent infringement cases only if the defendant shows a high chance of a patent being invalidated.

(Updated with Walmart statement) The reported Walmart discounts on iPhones aren't in effect across the entire Walmart chain, reports observe. The Verge notes that it managed to find a Walmart in Austin with the same bargain, but four other US outlets had regular prices. 9to5Mac says it called 17 Walmarts around the US, none of which were offering discounts. Separate of these, though, one out of two Austin Walmarts was offering the deal, as well as one out of two stores in Edmond, though the Frontage Road location said the iPhone 4S was "$114 this morning, for a little while."

MacNN forum goers this week ask, "why would an 11 year old boy urinate on $36K worth of MacBooks", in this thread which was started by Professional Poster amazing after they read a blog post about this happening at an elementary school in Allen Township Pennsylvania. In the thread "Mac mini sound not working" forum goers try to assist one Mac Enthusiast with their Mac mini audio problem.

Today at Apple's online store save on refurbished Mac minis, MacBook Airs and more. For $519, after a $80 price drop, is the ref rub. Mac mini with a 2.3GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 2GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive. Or save $100 on the refurb. Mac mini with a 2.5GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive, now $699.

Apple rectified missing credit to the OpenStreetMap Foundation with its most recent update of iPhoto for iOS, reports say. When the app was originally released in March, Apple left out attribution, despite it being a necessary condition of using OSM mapping data. The Foundation highlighted the problem in same blog post it used to point out Apple's adoption of OSM data.

Today's deals from DealNN include discounted Mac minis, GPS navigators, and more. Apple's online store recently lowered the cost on multiple refurbished Mac minis, one of which is the refurb. 2.5GHz Mac mini with a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and Thunderbolt port with a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600. Currently featured at DealNN, the Mac mini has now dropped $100 in price and can be purchased for only $699.

Two of Apple's touch panel suppliers, TPK and Wintek, wiil see shipments to drop by 15 to 20 percent in the current quarter because of the transition from the iPhone 4S to the next-generation iPhone, industry sources tell DigiTimes. The 4S is described as "moving into the final stage of its product life cycle," and TPK has previously stated that it expects revenues to fall 10 percent sequentially in Q2 as a result of iPhone 4S stockpiling and people holding off on buying an iPhone.

Apple’s cut-price iPad 2, which it continues to sell alongside its new iPad, has been given a boost with a shift to a new 32nm A5 processor from the original 45nm iteration. Although using fundamentally the same architecture, the die-shrunk version has been shown by Anandtech to draw less power offering significant improvements in battery life. The latest iPad 2’s carrying the updated dual-core processor are designated by the model number ‘iPad 2,4’ and utilize Samsung’s 32nm high-k + metal gate LP transistors, which helps to explain the performance differential.

After setting the tablet scene alight in Q4 last year with 4.8 million tablet sales and taking the number two position in the market with a 16.8 percent market share, Amazon’s Kindle Fire sales fizzled in Q1. For the months of January, February and March this year, Amazon saw its Kindle Fire slide to just a 4 percent market share on with less than 750,000 sales. By contrast, Apple drove home its advantage as the market leader by growing its Q4 market share of 54.7 percent to a dominant 68 percent on the back of 11.8 million iPad sales.

At least one Walmart store has slashed prices on its AT&T iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S prices without prior associate notice. The 8GB iPhone 4 now sells for $34 with a two-year contract, down from Walmart's already-discounted $88 price. The 16GB iPhone 4S, in either white or black, is now offered with the same contract for $114, down from the $188 original store price. The Verizon iPhone models are not affected by the price cut, reports Cult of Mac, and its not yet clear if the sale is fully nationwide.

Following up on a report from earlier this week, iOS hacker pod2g announced on Twitter late yesterday that he had succeeded in getting his iPhone 4 running under iOS 5.1 with an untethered jailbreak. While no tool for other users has yet been announced, the breakthrough means that those wanting to run the latest version of iOS and unofficial apps should be able to do so in the near future. There is no word yet on whether the exploit is limited to A5 devices like the iPhone 4 or not.

The first movie about Steve Jobs won't be the independent Ashton Kutcher project nor Sony's rumored big-budget biopic, but a film consisting mostly of Jobs himself talking about his life and career in 1995, on the eve of his eventual return to Apple. Magnolia Pictures will be opening Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview as a documentary feature at select Landmark theaters in 19 cities around the US beginning May 11.

NPD's quarterly market share report was refreshed on May 2, and it listed Android holding 61 percent of the market, with Apple's iOS devices second at 29 percent. Analysts at Business Insider believethat NPD's interpretation of carrier provided data is incorrect and not painting an accurate picture. According to revised estimates calculated by Business Insider, Apple's marketshare is closer to 50 percent and may even be topping Android.

Thursday, May 3rd	Last updated: 10:35 PM EST

Top Stories

Google vs Oracle Java suit jury currently deadlocked ...
After 20 hours of deliberations spread over four days, the jury responsible for the Google versus Oracle Java court battle has so far failed to reach a decision. A question posed to Judge William Alsup posed more questions as to the timely resolution of the trial -- a note passed to the judge by the jury asked what would happen if they couldn't reach a unanimous decision. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

GoDocs, an iOS utility for working with Google Docs online, has expanded significantly in new version 3.0, available now on the App Store ($5). The new version adds a pro-level PDF viewer that supports even large PDF documents, PDF links and searching, as well as new folder-level document management and an ability to switch between accounts with a passcode lock. Push notifications for document changes has also now been incorporated.

OS X received two new additions to its gaming library today, as first-person shooter The Darkness II and simulation game Linux Tycoon have been released for the platform. The big-budget mob shooter and the indie-flavored Linux distro simulator mark opposite extremes of the gaming continuum, but are notable appearances on the Mac. The Darkness II is a Cider port done by TransGaming and is inspired by the 2007 comic book series that produced the original game.

Boutique gaming PC manufacturer Alienware users with outstanding laptop orders were informed by email today that the placed order is being upgraded to Ivy Bridge processors at no extra cost. No further delay in the placed order is expected. The Ivy Bridge upgrade is exclusive to Alienware orders, and will not apply to parent company Dell's orders placed before the Ivy Bridge announcement.

Samsung held its "Unwrapped" event in London yesterday to show off its next handset, the Galaxy S III. Electronista attended the unveiling, and spent some time with the handset after an hour-long presentation from the company management. The new model is considerably larger, but not significantly thicker. It offers a high-quality screen, faster processor, a Siri-like voice management feature and a smooth finish in Samsung's latest attempt to best the industry-leading iPhone.

Search engine giant Google is seeking to have the Authors Guild and the American Society of Media Photographers removed from a half-decade-long lawsuit. In a process that began in February, Google attorney Daralyn Durie informed Judge Denny Chin in Manhattan federal court that authors and photographers would have better individual results on their own. Joanne Zack, the Authors Guild lawyer for the case, contested Google's claim. Judge Chin did not rule today on Google's petition.

Dr. Ataka Peker, one of the inventors of the new class of metallic alloys known commercially as Liquidmetal and the founder of the company, says he believes Apple would have to spend "three to five years", and "$300 million to $500 million" to develop the alloys to the point where it could be used on a large scale, such as for an entire computing casing. He believes the company will continue to use Liquidmetal on a smaller scale until a "breakthrough product" comes along.

Electronics manufacturer Bang & Olufson has announced the impending release of the Beoplay A3, a stylish iPad accessory that serves as a speaker system, an iPad case, and an iPad stand. The accessory, which effectively turns an iPad into a television or stereo system, is available for pre-order, though no release date is available.

A New York resident, Robert Herskowitz, has filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of double-billing for purchases on the iTunes Store. Herskowitz recently bought the Adam Lambert song "Whataya Want From Me." Submitted court documents claim that after discovering double-billing for the track, Herskowitz immediately contacted Apple, only to receive an automated message telling him saying "[Apple is] reviewing your request and will send you a personal response soon."

Apple has updated the App Store localization support in iTunes Connect with 10 more languages, a developer bulletin indicates. These include Norwegian, Turkish, Finnish, Danish, Indonesian, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, Greek, and traditional Chinese. Through the expanded support, the metadata, keywords, and screenshots on App Store pages can now be rendered more appropriate to a region.

Apple is likely to increase its footprint outside of its existing Apple Stores, according to analysts at Piper Jaffray. The iPhone and iPad maker is looking to expand on pilot projects that have seen Apple "store-within-a-store" (SWAS) popping up in select Walmart and Target stores. Taken nationally, such a move would tremendously expand Apple's retail reach, as the two big box retailers have significantly more rural distribution than does Apple.

Although Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet achieved a quick rise in the tablet market, Android tablet shipments have continued to slide, according to a report published by research firm IDC. As expected, Apple has solidified its dominant position with 68 percent of the tablet market.

After months of rumors, the Samsung Galaxy S III was officially unveiled at the currently ongoing Mobile Unpacked event in London. As expected, the Super AMOLED touchscreen is 4.8 inches in size and has 1280x720 resolution, while the processor is Samsung's own Exynos quad-core unit clocked at 1.4GHz and paired with 1GB of RAM. The phone weighs in at 4.7oz (133g) and its thinnest point measures in at 8.6mm.

A newly-discovered USPTO patent from Apple reveals some interesting technology that could grace future iPhones and iPads. Unlike some of the company's older haptic feedback patents, this one takes things a little further by introducing variable textures and other feedback translating to a user's finger. The patent, called Methods and Systems for Providing Haptic Control, talks of a stacked haptic element set-up.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games have announced the launch of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 for iOS devices. The game takes players through the finale of the Harry Potter story and features a special interface that has players use touch gestures to cast spells, change characters, and duel. Additionally, the game includes Dueling Club expansion that allows players to to master advanced dueling skills against a host of famous witches and wizards including Professor Snape, and Lord Voldemort. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 App is available in the App Store for $5.

eBay has released an overhauled iPad app, bringing it to v2.0.0. The app now supports the Retina display on the third-generation iPad, but also has a new interface, for instance featuring a customizable homescreen. Several user-requested features have been added, such as better search, a Back button, and the ability to revise listings.

News Corp. publication The Daily is now available as an iPhone app. The magazine originally launched last year as iPad-only content, also inaugurating in-app subscriptions at the App Store. With the iPhone version readers have the option of cheaper subscriptions, priced at $2 a month, or $20 a year.

The new iPhone will be taller and thinner, and have a flat, primarily metal back, iLounge claims to have learned. Rough dimensions are said to be 125x58.5x7.4mm, adding an extra 10mm in height, while cutting thickness by almost 2mm. The metal will allegedly not cover the entire back but just a middle section, somewhat resembling the look of current iMacs. The claim may reinforce suggestions that Apple is skipping a curved metal back. Most of the rest of the exterior should continue to use glass, possibly Gorilla Glass 2, which can be thinner and continue to have the same strength as the Gorilla Glass on the iPhone 4S.

Despite rumors of an Apple television set launching this year, JP Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz has cast doubt on the imminent timing. The investment bank has reportedly failed to find any evidence of a "TV-related product launch" in the near future, though Moskowitz does admit that Apple may "radically alter the TV landscape" if the reports surrounding an HDTV prove accurate.

A proposed home for Apple's senior VP of hardware engineering, Bob Mansfield, is generating a heavy amount of controversy and legal contention in the town of Bonny Doon, California, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Mansfield and his wife Andrea first filed in 2010 for county approval to build on 45 acres of a former quarry on a knoll. The planned home should measure 9,000 square feet -- though only 6,000 is above grade -- and include features like a basement theater and an agricultural roof, as well as outdoor amenities like a potting shed, four barns, and outdoor kitchen, and a herd of goats.

A traveling exhibit featuring former Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs' patents will be on display at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC starting on May 11 and running through July 8. During his lifetime, Jobs was awarded 317 patents as inventor or co-creator, and the exhibit showcases 312 of them. Objects from the Smithsonian's collection will be on display to enhance the museum-goer's experience with the exhibit.

Clear Laptop Sleeve maker Altego has expanded its product line with new notebook bags and cases designed for the MacBook line and iPad but suitable for other, similar-sized notebooks and tablets. The two lines, featuring a coated canvas Cyan and channel-stitched Ruby series, offer quilted inner linings to protect the devices, custom-molded waffle-design back waffle back padding, a flannel-lined inner iPad pocket, seat-belt webbing shoulder straps and more.

Early Morning Edition

Pop Video offers iPhone pico projector capability for $99 ...
Pop Video has started taking pre-orders for its iPhone pico projector. The $99 is shipped by Crucial.com on behalf of well-known semi-conductor maker Micron Technology. The pint-sized device offers a qHD (960x540) resolution and, as the video embedded below shows, the device easily slots into the 30-pin iPhone dock but will work best only in darkened conditions. The device will work for up two hours on a single charge and is supplemented by an iPhone app (Free, iTunes) that offers additional functionality. [print | email | comment] 

Logitech applied its expertise in developing solar power to computer peripherals to the iPad. Its new Solar Keyboard Folio both gives a new iPad or iPad 2 full protection as well as powering its built-in keyboard by light. The new peripheral is capable of using either indoor or outdoor light to charge.

The Epson PowerLite-series projectors has been dramatically expanded with six new models added to the line. The new models are optimized for medium-sized boardrooms, classrooms, and churches. Two of the models can also be controlled remotely via iOS or Android apps.

Judge Lucy Koh has for the second time ordered Apple and Samsung to further reduce the total number of patent complaints filed against each other before their case goes to trial. If the judge's direction isn't taken, the trial could be delayed until 2013. Both sides point to the opposing counterpart as the reason for the lack of streamlining.

Wednesday, May 2nd	Last updated: 11:13 PM EST

Top Stories

SmartBackup reaches version 3.3, adds iOS-style looks ...
Freeridecoding has updated its backup and syncing utility SmartBackup to version 3.3, which offers general improvements as well as a sleek, iOS-inspired new look for the user interface. The program is aimed as a more-configurable and intelligent alternative to Apple's own Time Machine software, which eschews customization in favor of simplification. The new version is also already compatible with OS X 10.8, Mountain Lion, which is coming later this summer. [C o n t i n u ed... | print | email | comment] 

An administrative assistant with UPS, the world's largest import-export brokerage firm as well as the familiar package-delivery service, says customs activity connected with Apple may indicate "something big" coming soon. Independent of that report, Apple stores are said to be doing some "all-hands" training sessions as well, lending some credence to the otherwise-thin report, which appeared on a speculative next-gen iPhone enthusiast blog.

SalesVu has updated its mobile payment application for iPhone and iPad to version 2.0, enabling additional retail-related functionality. Employee shift management, barcode scanning, and receipt printing have been added, along with a simplified end-of-day process. Food service users can split checks and relay orders to the kitchen through the app. SalesVu made the updates while facing competition from competing payment system Square, which is reportedly aiming for a $4 billion valuation.

Oranged Software has updated its flagship program Studiometry, a back-office suite aimed at small and creative-professional businesses that handles organizing, planning, project tracking and invoicing. The new version, 9.2, offers a host of small new features with an emphasis on tweaks, refinements and bug fixes. Highlights of the release include improved markup capabilities, a general revamp of the Project Summary tab, refined Project Templates and more.

Yamaha has added a number of new RX-series home theater receivers to its lineup, with the two at the top getting some noteworthy features. The RX-V773WA and RV-V673 both get 7.2-channel support and Apple's AirPlay standard for wireless music streaming from iOS devices. Full control over the receivers is also possible through dedicated apps for the devices.

Avid has released an important update to the iPad version of Studio. The app handles basic- to mid-level video editing tasks. Version 1.1 lets users record voiceovers directly to the timeline, and adds 14 new transitions, plus a variety of interface enhancements. New swiping gestures, for example, can be used to advance frame-by-frame or 10-by-10, and enter mark-in and mark-out points.

As promised, Nikon's latest D3200 DSLR camera is now shipping over at Best Buy in black, with the red version still listed as coming soon. The $700 bundle includes an 18-55 kit lens and the $60 WU-1a wireless adapter isn't yet available, but Best Buy does allow customers to pre-order it. The accessory will let users send photos wirelessly to their smartphones or tablets on the go.

Speaking at a BlackBerry World press conference, RIM CEO Thorsten Heins has admitted that the company has no plans to offer BlackBerry 10 updates for existing devices that run the BlackBerry 7 OS. The company has yet to announce a consumer device that will be powered by the new OS, though developers will be able to test apps on the Dev Alpha handset.

Adobe has posted the final version of Camera Raw 6.7 for the Mac. The software primarily expands the number of RAW formats supported by Photoshop. Among the additions are filetypes for several major DSLRs, including Canon's EOS 1D X and EOS 5D Mk. III, and Nikon's D4, D800, and D800E.

Amazon's Studios division has announced plans to develop original comedy and children's series. The company is currently calling on series creators and writers to submit their proposals for the streaming video programming, which will be distributed through Amazon Instant Video.

Parallels has released a new version of Parallels Mobile, the iOS companion app to Parallels Desktop. The v3.1.530 update makes several important changes, first of all making the app "fully compatible" with iOS 5, and also optimized for the Retina display on the third-generation iPad. The full effect requires a Mac and/or virtual machine to be running at a resolution over 1024x768.

The RunKeeper app has become the first official partner for the Kickstarter record-setting Pebble watch. The companion device will communicate with iOS and Android phones over Bluetooth to deliver information on its tiny screen. RunKeeper is a fitness app, and the new deal will let users track their run data without pulling out their handsets.

Amazon has finally released desktop apps for its Cloud Drive service. The utilities, which are available for Windows and Mac machines, enable users to manage Cloud Drive content and upload documents, images or other files without using the web-based interface.

Retail chain Target has confirmed that it will stop carrying Amazon Kindle e-book readers online and at its stores, along with getting rid of all Amazon-branded accessories and gear. The news comes from a leaked internal memo obtained by The Verge and a further confirmation from the retailer. There are no specific official reasons given as to why the move is happening, citing only a "conflict of interest."

A purported iPhone 5 part may hint at the shape of the new device. Vendor sw-box.com is now selling what it labels a "Replacement Sim Card Tray Holder Slot For Apple iPhone 5," despite few details of the upcoming phone having been leaked to the public. The part is said to be similar to the SIM tray used in the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S.

Fingerlab has launched an update for Rockmate, its music creation app designed specifically for the iPad, that includes new instruments, Retina graphics, and microphone support. In total, version 1.1 includes six new drum kits, eight new keyboards, and three octave keyboards, as well as new options for exporting recordings to Facebook, SoundCloud, and AudioCopy. Additionally, the developers have announced that they will be dropping the price of the software to $1 until May 8 in celebration of the update.

Display maker AOC is finally shipping its USB-powered e2251Fwu monitor that was introduced last June. The 21.5-inch, 1080p LED monitor gets both signal and power through a USB 2.0 connection, making it ideal for use as a secondary display. The monitor is just 10.6mm thick and sports a detachable stand.

US shipping times for the third-generation iPad have dropped to between three to five days at Apple's online store, checks show. A little over a week ago tablets were still shipping in 5 to 7 days. All models are benefiting from the faster delivery times, regardless of capacity, carrier, or connectivity.

The senior VP of iOS software at Apple, Scott Forstall, sold 95 percent of his available company stocks last Friday, an SEC filing reveals. In total 65,151 shares were sold off, valued at $38.7 million. The remaining 2,988 shares were worth $1.8 million at the close of Friday trading.

Music service Spotify has released an updated iOS client, v0.5.0, introducing a native iPad interface for the first time. This mainly allows iPad users to stay in the same view while searching through tracks, users, and playlists. Users also get access to higher-resolution album art though, and a full-screen mode, intended for people connecting their iPad to a home stereo system. An AirPlay menu allows for Wi-Fi streaming to compatible speakers.

An unofficial Disney blogger has reported that iPads are beginning to show up at the company's Walt Disney World attractions in Orlando in order to facilitate testing of a new radio-frequency ID (RFID) based "FastPass" system that may replace the current ticket-based system. The testing is said to be going on for the next couple of weeks at Disney's central Florida parks and could allow guests to schedule "FastPass" times well in advance of their visit.

John Browett, the former head of UK retail chain Dixons who was recruited to replace Ron Johnson, has been added to Apple's Leadership web page that profiles the top level of its executive team and Board of Directors. Browett, who had previously also been head of grocery chain Tesco, is Apple's senior vice president of retail and "oversees Apple's retail strategy and the continued expansion of Apple retail stores around the world," according to the bio on the page.

Evening Edition

Kanex ATV Pro adapts AppleTV HDMI to VGA ...


Apple and iOS device accessory maker Kanex launched a VGA output solution for the AppleTV and any other HDMI device today -- the Kanex ATV Pro. The device is tailored towards adapting the HDMI output of the AppleTV (or other HDMI device) to a more standard VGA plus audio prevalent in educational institutions' projectors. [print | email | comment] 

Update: Electronic Arts has now issued a statement saying that "Rock Band for iOS will remain live -- the in-app message users received yesterday were sent in error. We apologize for the confusion this caused," and added that it will share additional information "as soon as possible." EA had in fact put up a notice on its website that it was suspending support of Rock Band as of May 31st, and users received a message that the game would no longer be playable (see picture, below). The company has offered no explanation for how both errors occurred, but now says the game will remain playable, at least in single-player mode.

Accessory maker Hammacher Schlemmer is currently shipping an oxford woven cloth business case. An included 6000 mAh lithium-ion battery can charge an iPhone up to three times before requiring a 3.5-hour charge itself.

Early Morning Edition

TP Link debuts redesigned AV 200 Powerline network adapter ...
TP-Link detailed the new AV200 Mini Powerlink Adapter starter kit. With one button 128-bit AES encryption synchronization to a paired device, the AV200 turns a single spur of household electrical cabling of up to 300 meters into an encrypted network connection capable of 200Mbps. [print | email | comment] 

News from the past week.