Apple mixed-reality headset to take aim at the metaverse

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Apple on Monday is expected to show off pricy mixed-reality headgear at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, challenging Facebook-owner Meta in a market that has yet to sizzle.

The iPhone maker has remained mum on reports that it is poised to unveil a headset for augmented or virtual reality experiences at its annual jamboree for developers and app designers.

The release would be the most significant product launch by the iconic iPhone maker since it unveiled the Apple Watch in 2015.

It could also invite more tensions between Apple CEO Tim Cook and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg who have feuded over the handling of their sprawling tech empires, especially over data issues and China ties.

Expectations are high that Apple will use the WWDC stage to spotlight a "Reality Pro" headset priced around $3,000, along with custom-made software for the gear, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors.

"We believe Apple's Reality Pro will come with many apps and use cases," Ives said.

Cook is also expected to talk about the company's strategy when it comes to artificial intelligence, which has been in the spotlight since startup OpenAI released ChatGPT late last year.

The headset has been in development at Cupertino-based Apple for years, and will focus on gaming, streaming video and conferencing, as well as health and fitness, according to Ives.

It is also expected to synch closely with other Apple devices, following the company's strategy of using premium hardware to lock customers into other products and services.

"From all reports, Apple hoped to release a product that felt more like designer glasses than a gaming headset, but it's releasing something much bulkier," said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Yory Wurmser.

"It wants to get its device into the hands of early adopters and developers, who will start to build a (mixed reality) ecosystem around Apple software."

A report by Bloomberg described the headset as a high-tech pair of ski googles that would project a wearer's eyes and facial expressions on an external screen.

Just days before Apple's event, Meta ramped up its line of Quest virtual reality headgear.

A new-generation Quest 3 with improved performance and slimmed design will be available later this year at a starting price of $500, Zuckerberg said.

The Facebook founder described the coming model as Meta's "most powerful headset yet" and promised it would provide the best wireless way to experience virtual reality.

Metaverse bound 

Zuckerberg has been adamant that Meta remains devoted to building for a future in which internet life plays out in virtual worlds referred to as the metaverse.

"Meta has been the dominant VR manufacturer over the past several years, thanks to its cheap Quest devices," Wurmser said.

But Meta's experience with the metaverse has been humbling despite it being a leader in the emergent sector and many questioned whether Apple would in the end jump in.

And less than two years after changing its name to Meta to reflect a metaverse priority, the Facebook giant has fired tens of thousands of staff and promised to get back to its social media basics.

Meta's false start follows the failure of Google Glass, the search engine giant's decade long effort that was mothballed for good in March.

Agence France-Presse

Google says to overhaul ad-tracking system on Android devices

Google announced plans Wednesday to limit ad tracking on its Android operating system, a sensitive privacy issue that rival Apple has already moved to curtail on its iPhones.

Tech giants are under growing pressure to better balance privacy and ad-targeting, as users complain, regulators threaten tougher rules, but the companies try to maintain access to the data key to their many billions in ad revenue. 

Apple and Google's operating software run on the majority of the world's smartphones, thus any changes they make to their policies have the potential to impact billions of users.

"Our goal... is to develop effective and privacy enhancing advertising solutions, where users know their information is protected, and developers and businesses have the tools to succeed on mobile," Google said in a statement.

For its part, Apple announced last year that users of its one billion iPhones in circulation can decide whether to allow their online activity to be tracked for the purpose of targeting ads -- a change which it said shows its focus is on privacy, but which critics note does not prevent the company itself from tracking.

Agence France-Presse

Apple's iPhone retakes top spot in China smartphone market: research

BEIJING - Apple reclaimed its position as the top smartphone seller in China after 6 years, clocking a record market share in the final quarter of 2021 as US sanctions hit rival Huawei, according to researchers. 

A surge in sales saw the iPhone maker account for 23 percent of the highly competitive market in October-December, industry analysis firm Counterpoint said in a report released Wednesday.

That put the US giant in pole position for the first time since the final three months of 2015, toppling China's Vivo.

Vivo and another local brand Oppo were not far behind, driven in part by their "strong offline penetration", Counterpoint said.

But smartphone sales in the country also dropped 9 percent on-year in the period.

"Apple's stellar performance was driven by a mix of its pricing strategy and gain from Huawei's premium base," said Counterpoint research analyst Mengmeng Zhang.

"Apple rose to first place in China right after the iPhone 13 was released in September," she added, noting it had a lower starting price than its rivals.

The shift comes as Chinese telecom giant Huawei was caught in the crosshairs of Beijing and Washington's trade and technology standoff. 

The United States has barred Huawei from buying crucial components such as microchips, and forced it to create its own operating system by cutting it off from using Google's Android operating system.

In December, Huawei said its annual revenue fell nearly a third from the previous year to 634 billion yuan ($99.5 billion).

China is a key market for Apple, with sales in the Greater China region -- including the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan -- surging 70 percent in the year to September.

Agence France-Presse

Epic Games asks Apple to allow "Fortnite" to return in South Korea

"Fortnite" creator Epic Games has asked iPhone maker Apple Inc to restore its Fortnite developer account and intends to re-release Fortnite on iOS in South Korea offering both Epic payment and Apple payment side-by-side, it said in a tweet.

"Epic intends to re-release Fortnite on iOS in Korea offering both Epic payment and Apple payment side-by-side in compliance with the new Korean law," the tweet added.

Last week, South Korea's parliament approved a bill that bans major app store operators such as Google and Apple from forcing software developers to use their payment systems, effectively stopping them from charging commissions on in-app purchases. 

-reuters

Apple Admits and Apologizes for Listen to Your Conversations

Apple on Wednesday apologized for its digital assistant Siri sharing some of what it heard with quality control workers as it unveiled new rules for handling data from conversations.

Under the changes, Apple will allow its employees to review conversations only from customers who opt in to the “Siri grading” program to improve the voice recognition technology.

Apple on Wednesday apologized for its digital assistant Siri sharing some of what it heard with quality control workers as it unveiled new rules for handling data from conversations.

Under the changes, Apple will allow its employees to review conversations only from customers who opt in to the “Siri grading” program to improve the voice recognition technology.


Apple will also delete by default any recordings used for the program.

“We realize we haven’t been fully living up to our high ideals, and for that, we apologize,” Apple said in a post.

“We’ve decided to make some changes to Siri” as a result of concerns expressed about the grading program, the company added.

“Our goal with Siri, the pioneering intelligent assistant, is to provide the best experience for our customers while vigilantly protecting their privacy.”

Computer-generated transcripts will still be used to hone the ability of the software to understand what people say and mean, the company said.

Apple suspended the program after news broke that contractors were hearing confidential medical information, criminal dealings, and even sexual encounters.

The California tech giant was among several firms scrutinized using contractors to “listen” to conversations with digital assistants to improve artificial intelligence software.

If customers opt-in, only Apple employees will be allowed to listen to audio samples of Siri interactions and they will “work to delete any recording which is determined to be an inadvertent trigger” of the voice-commanded digital assistant, according to the company.

“We hope that many people will choose to help Siri get better, knowing that Apple respects their data and has strong privacy controls in place,” Apple Apology.

Google and Amazon have also announced changes to their programs in response to privacy concerns.

source: usa.inquirer.net

Google Hired Human Contractors to Listen to Your Conversations

Google is restarting a practice in which human contractors listen to and transcribe some voice commands people give to the company’s artificial intelligence system, Assistant.

But this time Google is taking steps to make sure people know what they are agreeing to.

The company suspended its transcription practices after more than 1,000 Dutch-language recordings were leaked to the media in Belgium this summer.

Google required users to opt-in to the service before audio transcriptions were recorded.

But critics have said people didn’t fully understand they were agreeing to allow human transcribers to listen in because the company’s language was unclear.

Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and Facebook have all used similar practices.

The companies say it helps make their AI systems more accurate.

Now Google will require users to agree again to voice transcription and make it clear human transcribers might listen to recordings.

People don’t have to opt-in to the service, but certain Assistant features won’t be available if they don’t.

The company also said it will delete most recordings after a few months, and people can review their recordings and delete them manually at any time.

source: usa.inquirer.net

Apple cuts prices, ramps up services as iPhone 11 launches

CUPERTINO, United States — Apple unveiled its iPhone 11 models Tuesday with a price cut for the most basic models while also laying out plans for streaming and gaming services as it bids to weather the slump in the global smartphone market.

Price appeared to be a key consideration as the tech giant reduced the entry level price for the iPhone 11 to $699 (P36,438) and undercut rivals for its gaming and streaming television subscriptions.


Apple unveiled three versions of the iPhone 11 including “Pro” models with triple camera and other advanced features starting at $999 (P52,077) and $1,099 (P57,290), unchanged from last year’s prices, touting upgraded features including ultra-wide camera lenses.

The surprise from Apple was the reduction in the starting price at $699, down from $749 (P39,045) for the iPhone XR a year ago even as many premium devices are being priced around $1,000 (P52,130).

The new iPhones are “jam-packed with new capabilities and an incredible new design,” Apple chief executive Tim Cook told a launch event in Cupertino, California as the company set plans to sell the new handsets on September 20.

Content as ‘sweetener’

Apple’s announcements appeared to be aimed at emphasizing value as the company looks to shift its business model to reduce its dependence on smartphones and tie in digital content and other services to its devices.

“We got a stream of nonstop product launches, with content being used as a sweetener,” said Avi Greengart, analyst and consultant with Techsponential.

“I think the iPhone 11 is compelling and may convince people to upgrade earlier than they might have otherwise given the lower price and longer battery life, not just an improved camera.”

With the new devices and services, “I think there are more reasons to stay with Apple than to defect from Apple,” said Patrick Moorhead, analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

Streaming and gaming

Apple TV+ service will launch November 1 in more than 100 countries at $4.99 (P260) per month and will include a “powerful and inspiring lineup of original shows, movies and documentaries.”

While Apple’s streaming service will have limited content at first, its price is below the $6.99 (P364) for the forthcoming Disney+ service and the more expensive plans from Netflix.

“Clearly Cupertino is looking for market share coming out of the gates with these surprising price points that we loudly applaud,” said Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities.

Apple is featuring scripted dramas, comedies and movies as well as children’s programs in the service, which will compete against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon.

“With Apple TV+, we are presenting all-original stories from the best, brightest and most creative minds, and we know viewers will find their new favorite show or movie on our service,” said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of video.

Apple said customers who purchase an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch or Mac will get the first year of the service for free.

The company’s online gaming subscription service, Apple Arcade, will launch next week, offering exclusive titles for mobile and desktop users.

The new service, which will also cost $4.99 per month, will include more than 100 game titles made for Apple devices and will be available in some 150 countries.

“You can’t find these games on any other mobile platform or subscription service. No game service ever launched as many games, and we can’t wait for you to play all of that,” product manager Ann Thai told the Apple media event.

Apple also unveiled updates to its iPad tablet and Apple Watch smartwatch, also emphasizing stable or lower prices with cuts to older versions.

“We think the lower iPhone 11 price point and trade-in program will help promote upgrades, specifically in China, while the Apple Arcade and TV+ offerings will help accelerate services growth,” CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino said in a note about Apple.

Apple shares ended the formal trading day up slightly to $216.70, while streaming television rivals Netflix and Disney both finished down about two percent.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple wants people to know how to clean its new credit card

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple believes some of its zealous customers will treasure its new titanium credit card so much that they will spend time polishing its white finish.

That’s why Apple has posted instructions on how to clean the card properly and warned that some materials might leave blemishes that are difficult to remove.

The list of potential hazards includes leather and denim, prompting some people to conclude Apple’s credit card is so special that it can’t be stored in the wallets and pockets where most other credit cards reside.

But the company says it merely wants people to know that the dyes used in some types of leather and denim can leave stains. Those discoloring marks are unlikely in most kinds of wallets and jeans, something Apple alluded to in its post by advising that the card can be kept in a wallet or pocket made of “soft materials.”

The reverence Apple seemed to be according its card triggered widespread derision on Twitter and elsewhere on the internet.

“Do not look directly at Apple Card,” Alex Stamos, a former top security executive at Yahoo and Facebook, mocked in a tweet late Wednesday . “Do not speak to Apple Card. Do not denigrate Apple Card in Its Holy Presence.”


In reality, Apple’s cleaning instructions for the card mirrors the same practice it applies for its iPhone, iPad, Mac computers, ear buds and all other physical products. But while it’s common for people to clean those devices, few consumers spend time sprucing up their credits cards.


Apple describes a two-step cleaning process involving microfiber cloths and isopropyl alcohol and includes a list of inappropriate cleaners. The instructions also warn against touching another credit card or “potentially abrasive objects” like coins or keys.

The Apple Card, announced in March in partnership with Goldman Sachs, started rolling out in the U.S. this month. Though industry experts say the card’s financial benefits mirror many of those already out there for consumers, Apple is positioning it as a refreshing change from the thousands of other credit cards that have been available for decades.

In one of the biggest differences, the card is designed to be primarily used with the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch. But at retail stores, that requires merchants to accept Apple Pay. Apple and Goldman Sachs are giving people the option of a physical card to use when Apple Pay isn’t an option.

The card is made of titanium and a sleek white finish to give it added flair and prestige. It’s a strategy that has worked well for other high-end cards made of metallic alloys, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card .

As part of its effort to keep its new credit card customers happy, Apple is offering to replace any card that loses its sheen, at no extra charge. /jpv

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple Releases iOS 12.2 Beta

Apple’s imminent iOS 12.2 beta 3 update was released to everyone in its public beta software program on the 20th of February 2019.

iOS 12.2 comes with subtle but distinct changes. Some of these changes include:





Hardware device model name is now listed on the “about” screen, in settings app

Date is properly displayed on the lock screen

The apple behind “Apple News” is omitted. It’s now “News” instead

Remote tile made suitable for Apple TVs and HomeKit TVs

More buttons included in Wallet application details

Auto-play of music videos in full screen is no longer available

Group Facetime is re-activated

Display of charge indicator on the lock screen, due to a particular bug, has been repaired.


Diving Deeper

At last Apple includes an update to Siri up to the third iOS 12.2 Beta. The digital assistant will adapt to your phone usage habits by suggesting “Today at Apple” sessions, based on the data garnered from the apps you use and the sites you visit.

For example, Siri suggests an art session to an Iphone user who uses design apps, or a wellness session to those interested in health and fitness. However, you can adjust Siri’s behaviour through Settings > Siri & Search > Apple Store.

Updates from past iOS 12.2 betas were also included, and will most likely make it to the last release.

In addition to the afore-mentioned updates and changes, the new release has: four animoji characters (a boar, giraffe, owl, and shark), more security options in Safari, news support for Canada in two different languages– French and English, Airplay 2, and HomeKit support for smart TVs (third-party).

Downloading Procedures for iOS 12.2 Beta 3

Members of Apple’s beta software program can download the new iOS 12.2 Beta 3 on iOS devices as an over-the-air update with the required certificate. However, you have to be a registered member before you can test the latest release.

To join the program and access the new release, click here.

source: usa.inquirer.net

Facebook says Apple its restoring a key developer tool

NEW YORK  — Facebook says Apple is restoring a key development tool that the iPhone maker disabled Wednesday.

Late Tuesday, TechCrunch reported that Facebook paid teens and other users who agreed to download an app called Facebook Research. That app could extensively track their phone and web use. Apple said Facebook was abusing the tool , known as a developer enterprise certificate, to distribute the app in a way that allowed the social network to sidestep Apple restrictions on data collection.

By revoking the certificate, Apple closed off Facebook’s efforts to sidestep Apple’s app store and its tighter rules on privacy.

Apple did not immediately respond to a message for comment Thursday afternoon. Facebook did not say whether it agreed to any conditions for the certificate restoration.

In an internal memo sent on Wednesday, Facebook told employees it is “working closely” with Apple to reinstate access. It also told workers to install the public versions of apps from the app store. Apps that it said “may not work” included internal versions of Facebook, Workplace, Instagram and the Ride app, which helps workers with transportation. WhatsApp was not affected.

While Facebook engineers could still write code and work on the apps for iPhones and iPads during the shutoff, their ability to test them in the field was limited.

In a statement, Facebook said it is “in the process of getting our internal apps up and running.”

The company noted that the issue had no impact on its consumer services.

During the shutoff, Facebook also lost the ability to create and push out apps such as internal tools and apps to its own employees. That’s a big deal since Facebook likely publishes tools and future products to its own team to test them before it provides them to the public, said Marty Puranik, CEO and founder of cloud hosting company Atlantic.Net.

Puranik, who regularly works with developers, said the certificate revocation also meant developers lost the ability to publish their apps without vetting by Apple. Those in the program can skip Apple’s compliance and user safety checks, which leads to faster updates.

Still, the shutoff didn’t seem to debilitate Facebook’s ability to work. Its developers work on code on Facebook’s internal systems. And version 206.0 of the Facebook app for iPhones was sent out on Thursday morning, while the shutoff was still in effect.  /muf

source: technology.inquirer.net

LOOK: Siri loads penis image in answer to inquiry on Trump age

Virtual assistant Siri surprised Apple users after it pulled up the picture of a penis when it was asked about US President Donald Trump.

The Apple virtual assistant made this mistake after vandals altered the image of Trump on the Wikipedia page, according to a website editor’s statement to The Verge.


The editor stated that the vandals have been blocked indefinitely.

A screengrab of the vandalized Wiki post also popped up on a subreddit called r/SiriFail dedicated to documenting Siri’s various mistakes over the years since it was released on the iOS.

Reddit user “u/Throwaway28536” shared the screengrab with a [NSFW] tag attached to it.

The incident had impeccable timing as well, since it occurred on the US Thanksgiving holiday, during which Trump pardoned the turkeys Peas and Carrots from being served for dinner as part of a White House tradition.  Alfred Bayle /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

Mac mini gets update after 3 years, and techies are impressed

On Oct. 30 at a special event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Apple announced an all-new space gray Mac mini, complete with 6-core processors, five times the performance, and a memory capacity greater than ever.

This is the first time the desktop has been updated since 2014, and it’s a massive overhaul.

Quad- and 6-core eighth-generation Intel Core processors replaced the dual-core models from the previous generation, which give the device “five times faster performance” than the original.


The Turbo Boost Speeds of these processors reach up to 4.6Gz, which is double that of its predecessor, to keep your desktop running at maximum capacity even when you’re editing photo and video, developing software or compiling code. Storage has also been upped.

The updated Mac mini can support up to 64 gigabytes of 2666 megahertz memory and 2 terabytes of storage, which puts its ancestor to shame, allowing users to work efficiently and store large files with improved speed.

Like the recently-announced Macbook Air, the Mac mini houses a T2 security chip bringing “industry-leading security” to your desktop, ensuring that everything from your fingerprint information to the device’s encryption keys and your microphone are safe from intruders.


The new Mac mini is equipped with four Thunderbolt ports to output video in three different formats as well as connect the device to additional high-speed storage and more displays. To the right of these ports, you’ll find an HDMI 2.0 port, two USB-A ports, and a headphone jack. To the left, the Mac mini showcases its first ever Gigabit ethernet port which allows it to “connect to almost anything”, certainly an improvement on its predecessor.

This complete hardware overhaul is housed in an enclosure virtually identical to the previous generation. Apart from the difference in rear ports, the only visible change is the color: the new model is a few shades darker. Though both are made with aluminum, the second generation is made from 100 percent recycled materials which helps to “reduce the carbon footprint of the new Mac mini by nearly 50 [percent].”

As expected, the desktop comes with macOS Mojave, which brings a generous collection of new features to the platform. iOS apps like News and Voice Memos, as well as new apps from developers such as Microsoft and Adobe, are now available on Mac.

The new Mac mini starts at $799 (over P42,000). Pre-orders are open and it will be available in retail locations from Nov. 7. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple customers may pay price of trade tension

BEIJING — Apple Inc is likely to suffer greatly from the ongoing China-US trade tension, as experts said moving production of its iPhones from China to the United States could lead to a price rise of as much as 20 percent.

The comments came after US President Donald Trump asked the iPhone maker to relocate its plants to its home turf, in order to avoid his proposed tariff on Chinese imports.

Wamsi Mohan, an analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said in a research note that Apple may give in to Trump’s request by asking its partners to bring some iPhone assembly operations to the US, which will lead to the higher prices.

“If Apple shifts 50 per cent or 100 percent of iPhone assembly to the US, it would increase iPhone prices by 14 percent and 20 percent, respectively,” Mohan said.

Currently, most of Apple’s manufacturing operations are located in China. And in the quarter ended in June, the US tech giant posted a revenue of $9.55 billion from the country, marking a 19 percent year-on-year growth and representing 18 per cent of its total sales.

With such strong ties to China, it was inevitable that Apple would feel the pinch of the mounting trade disputes, especially after Trump said on Friday that he had tariffs planned for an additional $267 billion worth of Chinese goods. That would be on top of $50 billion of goods already hit by 25 percent duties and another $200 billion on which Washington is poised to raise tariffs.

On Monday, Apple fell 1.34 percent to $218.33 on the Nasdaq. CEO Tim Cook is expected to unveil new iPhones and product updates on Wednesday.

Last week, Apple filed a letter with US officials, saying Trump’s proposed tariffs on $200 billion worth of imported Chinese goods would affect a wide range of Apple products, including the Apple Watch, AirPods, Mac Minis and Apple Pencils.

Xiang Ligang, CEO of telecoms industry website Cctime, said Apple’s dilemma highlights how US aggressive tariff policies will disrupt the global electronics industry chain.

“Apple chose to produce most of its iPhones in China, because this is the most cost-effective choice in terms of labour cost and industrial aggregation effects. That is the result of decades of market playing a decisive role in allocating resources,” Xiang said.

But the additional tariffs the US plans to levy on Chinese imports are damaging the industrial layout and in fact, would hurt US companies more than Chinese enterprises, he added.

China, as the world’s largest smartphone market, has been contributing to a big share of profits of US tech heavyweights including Apple and Qualcomm Inc in recent years.

“iPhone is the cash cow of Apple. Any increases in cost would either be passed on to customers, resulting in lower sales, or be absorbed by Apple, eroding its bottom line,” Xiang said.

On Tuesday, Chuck Robbins, chairman and CEO of Cisco, told CNBC that the US tech company might have to deal with the fallout from US-China trade tensions by passing on higher prices to its customers.

source: technology.inquirer.net

MacBook Pro keyboards may have gotten a secret upgrade

The latest MacBook Pro may be hiding a secret fix that users have been complaining about for some time now.

The 2018 version of the MacBook Pro, which will be released before the week ends, found its way onto the hand of gadget repair specialists iFixit. Before publishing their customary teardown video for new devices, their gadget experts found an interesting rubberized layer underneath the keycaps of the keyboard, according to a statement.

It was a curious find considering the Apple description of its new MacBook did not mention making any technical changes to the keyboard. They merely said it’s “an improved third-generation keyboard for quieter typing.”

On the other hand, the presence of this protective layer led iFixit to speculate that it was put there to help keep dust and other particulates from accumulating under the keys–a concern that has plagued MacBook users for a long time. This is not to mention replacing or fixing a broken keyboard is expensive.

Apple even has a patent for the very same technology behind its third-generation keyboard. Except the patent mentioned, the design was to help “prevent and/or alleviate contaminant ingress” and not to make typing quieter.

Meanwhile, the company continued to deal with several class-action lawsuits pertaining to the reliability issues of its keyboards, as mentioned in a report by 9to5Mac. If Apple described the new MacBook Pro’s keyboard as one that improves reliability, it would be the same as admitting there were problems with its past keyboards.

With the 2018 MacBook Pro just about to enter the market, only time will tell whether the third-generation keyboards will stand the test of time, and do so quietly as Apple said they would.  Alfred Bayle /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

New smartphone app can detect body odor in seconds

A smartphone provides updates on people’s social media accounts, stores meaningful photos and videos, and agitates a sleeping person with an alarm tone. Now, the ‘handy-dandy’ smartphone can also detect body odor.

Nivea, a popular Germany-based skin care product company, has collaborated with Vietnamese advertising agency Happiness FCB to create NOSE, an app that operates as an ‘electronic nose’ that would sniff at armpits.

In order to use it, the user must activate the app and place the smartphone near the armpit area. The smartphone nose ‘sniffs’ the odor and evaluates it based on a pre-programmed algorithm storing scents of 4,000 men.

There is a special phone casing that acts as a sensor – it would evaluate the armpit odor by breaking down the chemical compounds in the air.

Then, it will calculate the level of stench and notifies the user their level of ‘stinkiness’. 

Additionally, the smartphone app is also a marketing stint for the company to congregate consumers for their products.

NOSE was launched in Belgium and will expand in other countries within the next few months.  It will be handily available in Apple and Google Pay soon. Gianna Francesca Catolico, INQUIRER.net

source: technology.inquirer.net

Google will back Apple in court against the FBI

SAN FRANCISCO— Google will back Apple in its court battle with the FBI over the security of its iPhone.

Last week, a court ordered Apple to help the FBI hack into a locked iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino killers in December’s shooting spree. Apple opposes the order.

Google now plans to file a “friend of the court” brief on Apple’s behalf within the next week, a person familiar with the situation said. The person asked not to be identified because Google is still drafting the document.

Google makes the Android software that powers most smartphones in the world. Like Apple, it fears creating a precedent that authorities could use to read messages, photos and other sensitive information stored on phones.

Apple filed its formal objection in the case Thursday.

source: technology.inquirer.net

‘Mac’ turns 30 in changing computer world

SAN FRANCISCO – Decades before changing the world with iPhones and iPads, Apple transformed home computing with the Macintosh.

The friendly desktop machine referred to as the “Mac” and, importantly, the ability to control it by clicking on icons with a “mouse,” opened computing to non-geeks in much the way that touchscreens later allowed almost anyone get instantly comfortable with smartphones or tablets.

The Macintosh computer, introduced 30 years ago Friday, was at the core of a legendary rivalry between late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Microsoft mastermind Bill Gates.

Thousands of Apple faithful are expected for a birthday party this weekend in a performing arts center in Silicon Valley, not far from the company’s headquarters in the city of Cupertino.

‘Quantum leap forward’

“The Mac was a quantum leap forward,” early Apple employee Randy Wigginton told AFP.

“We didn’t invent everything, but we did make everything very accessible and smooth,” he continued. “It was the first computer people would play with and say: ‘That’s cool.’”

Prior to the January 24, 1984 unveiling of the Mac with its “graphical user interface,” computers were workplace machines commanded with text typed in what seemed like a foreign language to those were not software programmers.

Credit for inventing the computer mouse in the 1960s went to Stanford Research Institute’s Doug Engelbart, who died last year at 88.

“The Mac’s impact was to bring the graphical user interface to ‘the rest of us,’ as Apple used to say,” Dag Spicer, chief content officer of the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley, told AFP.

“The Mac GUI was picked up by Microsoft, who named it Windows.”

The man remembered today as a marketing magician was a terrified 27-year-old when he stepped on stage to unveil the Mac, then-chief executive John Sculley said of Jobs in a post at the tech news website CNET.

“He rehearsed over and over every gesture, word, and facial expression,” Sculley said.

“Yet, when he was out there on stage, he made it all look so spontaneous.”

Orwellian Super Bowl ad

Apple spotlighted the arrival of the Mac with a television commercial portraying a bold blow struck against an Orwellian computer culture.

The “1984″ commercial directed by Ridley Scott aired in an expensive time slot during a US Super Bowl football championship in a “huge shot” at IBM, Daniel Kottke of the original Mac team told AFP.

“In the Apple board room, there were strong feelings that it was not appropriate; there was a big battle,” Kottke said.

“Fortunately, Steve Jobs and his reality distortion field won the day and it left a strong memory for everyone who saw it.”

There was a drive to keep the Mac price within reach of consumers in a market where computers costing $10,000 or more were typical.

While clicking an on-screen icon to open a file appeared simple, memory and processing demands were huge for the computing power of that time.

“Every time you move that mouse, you are re-drawing the screen,” Kottke said. “It is almost like video.”

The original vision of launching a Macintosh with 64 kilobytes of RAM and a $1,000 price gave way to introducing one with 128 kilobytes of RAM at $2,500.

“Steve really was crazy about details,” Wigginton said. “He wanted everything to be just right. Compared to the IBM PC of those days, it is just gorgeous.”

Macintosh also arrived with a new feature called “drop-down menus.”

“The Macintosh brought a new level of accessibility for personal computing to a much wider market in the same way the iPad did 25 years later,” Kottke said.

Mac prowess at page layouts and photo editing won the devotion of artistic types. The release of “hypercard” is credited with inspiring fanatical loyalty to Macs.

“It was the idea that you could create a page on your screen and create links to other pages,” Kottke said.

“You could have all your computers networked to share data; it was like a private Internet.”

The Windows-Apple rivalry

Macs sold decently out of the gate, but Windows machines hit with a low-price advantage for budget-minded buyers. Microsoft released the first version of Windows in late 1985.

The ensuing rivalry is the stuff of Silicon Valley legend and coffee shop smack talk.

“I think Steve Jobs cultivated a sense of Windows versus Mac,” Kottke said.

“Steve Jobs was always taking swipes at Microsoft, but it really heated up when Microsoft released Windows. He would say they copied us.”

Microsoft took the lead in the home computer market by concentrating on software while partners cranked out Windows-powered machines at prices that undercut the Mac.

“Really, Apple could well have gone out of business in the late 1990s,” Kottke said.

“That would not have surprised people.”

The rivalry between Microsoft and Apple has yielded to the mobile age, with Google and its Android operating system targeted as the new nemesis as lifestyles center on smartphones and tablet computers.

The original boxy Macintosh with a mouth-like slit below the screen for “floppy” data disks has evolved into a line that boasts slim, powerful laptops and a cylindrical Mac Pro desktop model.

“I am thankful to have been a part of it,” Wigginton said.

“Once you go through an experience like that, and it was extremely painful, you look back and every sacrifice is absolutely worth it. It is when Apple leapfrogs in technology that they succeed.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

China may mean gold for Apple

SAN FRANCISCO—It could be a huge breakthrough for Apple to win a place in the line-up of China’s largest telecom provider and a big shakeup for the smartphone market.

A report in the Wall Street Journal said Apple had reached agreement with China Mobile to bring the iPhone to customers in a market dominated by low-cost Android smartphones.

The Journal quoted unnamed sources as saying that the two companies have inked an agreement to add iPhones to the colossal telecom firm’s roster of compatible devices later this month. China Mobile denied the report.

“Talks between China Mobile and Apple on cooperation are still going on and we currently do not have anything to announce,” the carrier’s spokeswoman Rainie Lei told AFP.

Yet such a deal would be a major coup for the US tech giant, which could gain a beachhead in the world’s most populous nation,

China Mobile had more than 750 million subscribers as of October, according to Cantor Fitzgerald Research, which estimated that 35 million to 45 million iPhones were on the network despite the lack of a deal between the companies.

The market tracking firm estimated that Apple could sell as many as 24 million iPhones on the China Mobile network next year if it were added to the network’s formal line-up.

Ben Thompson of tech new website Stratechery referred to Apple getting in synch with China Mobile “a very big deal.”

“Feel free to ignore anyone making snarky comments about China’s average monthly wage being the same as the price of an iPhone 5C,” Thompson wrote in a blog post.

He listed two pertinent facts about China for Apple as there being “tremendous income disparity” and “a ton of people” in a country with a population estimated at topping 1.3 billion.

“China consumers appear to us to have a deep admiration for Apple’s products,” Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White said in a note to investors giving shares a “buy” rating.

“Apple now has the opportunity to tap into the largest carrier in the world,” he added, noting that China Mobile was just granted a license to upgrade to a new-generation network better suited for iPhones.

Apple chief Tim Cook has made China a priority for the company, and may travel there to take part in an announcement at a China Mobile conference later this month.

Industry tracker IDC forecast that smartphone sales in China will reach 360 million this year and, with the issuance of 4G network licenses and iPhones launched on China Mobile, top 450 million in 2014.

China Mobile has a unique 3G standard of its own that is not compatible with any existing iPhone models, although the Californian giant’s handsets can be used on other networks in China.

The Chinese government on Wednesday granted three operators, all state-owned, licenses to offer services on the faster and better quality 4G network, expected to usher in a new era of competition between mobile phone makers.

Apple will still have to compete with low-priced smartphones powered by Google’s free Android software, but the massive China market includes an abundance of people who have money to spend on iPhones, according to some analysts.

“It is difficult to displace Android’s dominant position in the Chinese market within a short period of time, but IDC predicts that its share in China’s mobile phone operating system market will reach the peak in 2013, and that the mobile phone vendors and telecom operators will adopt new operating systems with a more open attitude,” IDC China mobile phone market analyst James Yan said in a recent quarterly analysis.

IDC anticipated rapid growth of iPhone sales in China next year, but noted that budding mobile operating systems such Samsung’s Tizen and Firefox should “enable healthy competition.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

Judge finds Apple guilty in ebooks conspiracy

NEW YORK CITY — A judge Wednesday found Apple guilty of a price-fixing conspiracy for electronic books, saying the company “conspired to restrain trade” with publishers to boost the price of ebooks.

Judge Denise Cote, who presided over a bench trial in New York, said in her opinion that “Apple is liable here for facilitating and encouraging the Publisher Defendants’ collective, illegal restraint of trade.” She ordered a new hearing to determine damages.

Each of the five publishers originally named in the US government’s civil lawsuit settled the case, leaving Apple to stand trial alone.

Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook had said ahead of the trial that the California firm would not settle, claiming it had done nothing wrong but was merely pursuing normal business practices.

The trial focused on a six-week period in late 2009 and early 2010 during which Apple negotiated contracts with publishers ahead of its iPad launch and proposed a new and more profitable business model.

At the time, publishers were furious at the state of the market dominated by Amazon, which sold most bestsellers for just $9.99.

Amazon held “wholesale” contracts with publishers in which it set prices. Apple’s contracts shifted to an “agency” model where publishers set the price in exchange for a 30 percent commission to Apple.

Prior to Apple’s entry, the publishers — all of whom have settled in the case — would complain about Amazon’s $9.99 price at private dinners in fancy New York restaurants, but each feared taking on the Internet giant alone.

Among the publishers settling the case, the largest was with Penguin for $75 million, while a settlement with Hachette, Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster created a $69 million fund for refunds to consumers. Macmillan settled for $26 million.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple Tells Us Why iPhone Is the Best After Galaxy S4 Launch

You've seen the specs: a 5-inch screen with 441 pixels per inch, 1080p display, a quad-core 1.9GHz processor and a 13-megapixel camera. Feature for feature, Samsung's next-generation Galaxy S4 has the iPhone beat.

But just two days after the S4's launch, Apple released a webpage explaining why its flagship smartphone is better than the competition.




"There's iPhone. And then there's everything else," the page's headline blares. Apple goes on to cite all the reasons why its phone is "unlike anything else," some of which are listed below:

• The iPhone has received eight consecutive J.D. Power and Associates awards for customer satisfaction with consumer smartphones.
  
• Only the iPhone and other Apple products have Retina display.
  
• The iPhone has a long battery life — including up to eight hours of talk time — while maintaining a "thin and light design."
  
• The iPhone has "ultrafast" wireless and LTE.
  
• Only the iPhone and other Apple products have access to the iTunes Store and the App Store, which offers over 800,000 apps. What's more, they are all reviewed by Apple to protect against malware.
  
• Only the iPhone has Siri, the intelligent personal assistant.
  

Check out the entire list, here.

source: mashable.com