Amazon Fire Phone's biggest features: New or not?
Amazon's long-rumored Fire Phone finally debuted yesterday, brimming with features of all kinds. Not surprisingly, easy access to Amazon's existing services is a centerpiece of the handset, but CEO Jeff Bezos eagerly highlighted other features like 3D effects and a camera with image stabilization. Yet while Amazon is new to the smartphone game, are the Fire Phone's features new as well, or have we seen them before? We'll break down what's original and what's not below.Going hands-on with the Amazon Fire Phone...See full gallery1 - 4 / 21NextPrevPrime Music appWith the Prime Music app, Amazon hopes to lure more customers to its $99-a-year Prime service by providing free streaming music to its Prime subscribers. Users can stream and download songs offline across several mobile devices and even car dashboards. The service is ad-free and provides tailored playlists as well. But Prime Music has a lot of others to contend with, as there is no shortage of streaming music services available. Most notable rivals include Google Play Music, Rdio, Pandora, iTunes Radio, Beats Music, and Spotify, which is arguably the most popular of the platforms. Most of these services come free with ads and playback limitations, or cost about $10 a month without ads. Just like Prime, users can access these services on their mobile handsets, listen to curated playlists, and play songs offline. In addition, while Prime boasts that it has "over a million songs," both Spotify and Beats Music have more than 20 million tracks.More Amazon Fire Phone coverageFire Phone pulls together Amazon app universe onto one deviceAmazon Fire Phone's Dynamic Perspective offers a new angle on smartphone displaysAmazon Fire phone features four 'stereovision' cameras for face trackingWhen and where to buy the Amazon Fire PhoneWhat you need to know about the Fire Phone's app storeAmazon's Fire Phone could fuel $2 billion in salesFirefly steals the showAmazon phone vs. GS5 vs. iPhone 5SOptical image stabilization To eliminate motion blur that cancome from a user's unsteady hand while taking a photo, the Amazon Firesmartphone has an optical image stabilizer in its 13-megapixel camera.Compared to a software-based digital image stabilizer, having an OISmeans there is a physical component (in the Fire's case, "tiny motors")that adjusts and counteracts against the movement of a user's hand.This feature is nothing new. We saw this first with the Nokia Lumia 920 (which launched in 2012 with a controversial simulated video) and the Lumia 1020 following that. LG handsets have it too, including the G Flex, G2, and Google Nexus 5, as well as the HTC One. This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayDolby Digital PlusThe Amazon Fire has Dolby DigitalPlus virtual surround sound for your tunes. Though that adds awell-known brand to the phone and we expect the quality to be admirable,both the Nokia 808 PureView and N8 already have the feature.Four camera lenses on each corner as well as the main front-facing lens track where your eyes are at all times.James Martin/CNETTilt scroll and eye tracking Amazon's Fire phone handset includes four specialized cameraslocated on the frontside of the device which track a user's eyes andhead movement. This enables the phone to bring about a unique 3Dinterface for graphics and gameplay, as well as auto-scrolling with tiltgestures.Though no other device has ever brought eye-tracking tothis level of technology (these cameras are even equipped with infraredLEDs so they can function in the dark), previous handsets haveincorporated some form of "eye-tracking." When it first debuted, the Samsung Galaxy S4 made waves because of its already heavily-rumored (at the time) Smart Scrolland Smart Pause features. The former lets users tilt their GS4s toenable autoscrolling, while the latter pauses videos when the singlefront-facing camera senses that your eyes are looking away from thescreen. LG soon followed suit with its own Smart Video feature, which works the same way as Samsung's Smart Pause. Firefly -- which has its own dedicated button --recognizes QR codes and music, and (naturally) can list Amazon prices and direct buying links.James Martin/CNETFireflyBezos spent a lot of time highlighting Firefly, a visual recognition app that's part personal shopper, part information portal, and part solution to the always-important question of "what else has she been in?" And there's little wonder that he did, considering how the app is primarily designed to get Fire Phone owners to shop on Amazon and keep them coming back for more by knowing what they like.That's because the linchpin of Firefly is its ability scan and recognize the barcodes of more than 70 million products. That sounds like a lot -- and it certainly is -- but checking online prices by scanning a barcode is already possible not only on Amazon's existing iOS and Android apps, but also through many other third-party titles as well as Google Now and Windows Phone's Bing Vision.Other features in Firefly, like identifying songs or TV shows from audio clips and giving you more information about movies, aren't new either. Shazam has the audio-recognition angle covered nicely, and IMDB's app, which Amazon owns, has endless information about films. The same goes for for being able to identify works of art and text and phone numbers printed on paper. Much of that is already possible elsewhere. Of course, what Firefly does is bundle all of these services into one location that you can very easily access through a button push. (It conveniently keeps you in Amazon's ecosystem as well.)The dynamic perspective feature delivers 3D effects.James Martin/CNET3DIn the world of the Fire Phone, 3D means a couple of things, like a holographic lock screen, 3D imaging on maps, and a contextual submenu that you see when you tilt the phone. Interface icons on the home screen and app tray get the perspective-shifting treatment as well.Amazon refers to these, a little clumsily, as Low Motion controls, which you can customize in the phone's settings if they're not your thing. So far, the most impressive display of 3D prowess comes in the form of a collection of wallpapers and gaming (on select titles so far), where the layers of richness and dimension could help forge a deeper visual and emotional connection with the phone.Previous attempts at 3D mostly focused on gaming, photography, and video, none of which worked especially well or caught on. Amazon will need to work hard to court developers of 3D games if they want people to play them. Thanks to the four infrared-backed cameras on the phone's face, 3D is one area where Amazon does forge ahead on its own, an impressive feat since Amazon's strength is e-tailing first and basic hardware design second.
Inrix Traffic 3.0 for Android, iOS gets better crowdsourcing
Inrix Traffic 3.0 for Android, iOS gets better crowdsourcing
You may not know the name Inrix, but the provider of flow data and prediction supplies the traffic data for dozens of automakers, aftermarket GPS providers, and municipalities. It's very likely that you already use Inrix's data in some way without even knowing it. Inrix's app for iOS devices and Android brings that same traffic data to your smartphone along with a few features new to its latest version 3.0 update. Comparative Traffic is an at-a-glance look at the major differences between the current traffic conditions and normal traffic trends. Roads that are moving more slowly than average are marked with a thick black overlay while those moving faster get a light blue overlay. This view make it easy for users who are familiar with traffic trends to quickly spot and potentially avoid problems.Inrix also makes it easier for upstanding citizens who want to help other motorist by providing real-time reports of accidents, incidents, and congestion to do so with a new One Touch Reporting feature. This new, simplified reporting interface allows users to quickly report incidents with two (!) quick taps. The incident options have been reduced to two categories (police and accident) making it easier for users to keep their eyes on the road. Incident options are reduced to Accidents and Police for easier reporting. Reporting an inaccuracy in traffic flow is also automated with a new correction option.Screenshot by Antuan Goodwin/CNETWhile everyone running the Inrix Traffic app while driving is automatically contributing anonymous flow data to Inrix's network, the app is optimized for intermittent reporting so that it doesn't become a battery hog. However, if a user notices that Inrix's traffic data is inaccurate in a location, there's a quick mode that temporarily increases the frequency of their app's anonymous reporting, allowing that user to help Inrix's network and traffic algorithms to correct its reporting.While the previous version of Inrix Traffic kept its traffic map centered on the user's current location, the new version has a novel feature called Unlock from Me, which allows users to browse the map freely for checking traffic in other areas. This combines with Inrix's current predictive traffic algorithms means that, for example, a motorist could check the night's traffic in Los Angeles before they start their trip from San Francisco in the morning.Inrix Traffic is free to download and use in the iTunes App Store and the Android Market. The version 3.0 update is available for Android now and will hit iTunes tomorrow (Thursday) morning. Check it out and take it for a spin on your commute tomorrow.
You may not know the name Inrix, but the provider of flow data and prediction supplies the traffic data for dozens of automakers, aftermarket GPS providers, and municipalities. It's very likely that you already use Inrix's data in some way without even knowing it. Inrix's app for iOS devices and Android brings that same traffic data to your smartphone along with a few features new to its latest version 3.0 update. Comparative Traffic is an at-a-glance look at the major differences between the current traffic conditions and normal traffic trends. Roads that are moving more slowly than average are marked with a thick black overlay while those moving faster get a light blue overlay. This view make it easy for users who are familiar with traffic trends to quickly spot and potentially avoid problems.Inrix also makes it easier for upstanding citizens who want to help other motorist by providing real-time reports of accidents, incidents, and congestion to do so with a new One Touch Reporting feature. This new, simplified reporting interface allows users to quickly report incidents with two (!) quick taps. The incident options have been reduced to two categories (police and accident) making it easier for users to keep their eyes on the road. Incident options are reduced to Accidents and Police for easier reporting. Reporting an inaccuracy in traffic flow is also automated with a new correction option.Screenshot by Antuan Goodwin/CNETWhile everyone running the Inrix Traffic app while driving is automatically contributing anonymous flow data to Inrix's network, the app is optimized for intermittent reporting so that it doesn't become a battery hog. However, if a user notices that Inrix's traffic data is inaccurate in a location, there's a quick mode that temporarily increases the frequency of their app's anonymous reporting, allowing that user to help Inrix's network and traffic algorithms to correct its reporting.While the previous version of Inrix Traffic kept its traffic map centered on the user's current location, the new version has a novel feature called Unlock from Me, which allows users to browse the map freely for checking traffic in other areas. This combines with Inrix's current predictive traffic algorithms means that, for example, a motorist could check the night's traffic in Los Angeles before they start their trip from San Francisco in the morning.Inrix Traffic is free to download and use in the iTunes App Store and the Android Market. The version 3.0 update is available for Android now and will hit iTunes tomorrow (Thursday) morning. Check it out and take it for a spin on your commute tomorrow.
Apple gives most of its top execs $60M bonuses
Apple gives most of its top execs $60M bonuses
It's bonus season at Apple.A flurry of new filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show Apple's top executives getting bonuses with big payouts that hinge on them staying with the company through the end of 2016.The company on Wednesday doled out 150,000 shares each to most of its senior vice presidents, short of recently-minted SVP Eddy Cue, who received a slightly smaller 100,000-share bonus, and design guru Jonathan Ive, who is an SVP, but does not fall under the SEC's section for directors, officers, and principal stockholders. That works out to just over a $60 million payday to those who got the 150,000 shares, with Cue's cut coming out to a little more than $40 million, all based off today's closing price. Those who got the 150,000 shares will reach 50 percent vesting come June 21, 2013, with the other 50 percent fully vesting on March 21, 2016. The filings show that 25,000 of Cue's shares vest on September 21, 2014, with the rest vesting two years later. With all of these, the bonus is contingent on the executives continuing to work at the company."Our executive team is incredibly talented and they are all dedicated to Apple's continued success," said Apple spokesman Steve Dowling in a statement. "These stock grants are meant to reward them down the road for their hard work in helping to keep Apple the most innovative company in the world."Though Cue's bonus is less than the others, it's his second major bonus in the past few months. Cue was awarded 100,000 restricted stock units when he was promoted to SVP status at the beginning of September to oversee Apple's iTunes Store, iCloud, iAd, and iBookstore. Cue, who is a 22-year Apple veteran, helped create the company's first online store in 1998, and Apple's iTunes Music Store in 2003--the latter being the business that would become the foundation for the App Store and iBookstore, places where Apple sells other digital goods.Here's a full breakdown of the bonuses by executive:Bruce Sewell -- 150,000 shares, 50 percent vest on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Jeffrey Williams -- 150,000 shares, 50 percent on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Philip Schiller -- 150,000 shares, 50 percent on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Peter Oppenheimer --150,000 shares, 50 percent on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Robert Mansfield -- 150,000 shares, 50 percent on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Scott Forstall -- 150,000 shares, 50 percent on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Eddy Cue -- 100,000 shares, 25 percent vest September 21, 2014, 100 percent September 21, 2016.Updated at 3:26 p.m. PT to include comment from Apple.
It's bonus season at Apple.A flurry of new filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show Apple's top executives getting bonuses with big payouts that hinge on them staying with the company through the end of 2016.The company on Wednesday doled out 150,000 shares each to most of its senior vice presidents, short of recently-minted SVP Eddy Cue, who received a slightly smaller 100,000-share bonus, and design guru Jonathan Ive, who is an SVP, but does not fall under the SEC's section for directors, officers, and principal stockholders. That works out to just over a $60 million payday to those who got the 150,000 shares, with Cue's cut coming out to a little more than $40 million, all based off today's closing price. Those who got the 150,000 shares will reach 50 percent vesting come June 21, 2013, with the other 50 percent fully vesting on March 21, 2016. The filings show that 25,000 of Cue's shares vest on September 21, 2014, with the rest vesting two years later. With all of these, the bonus is contingent on the executives continuing to work at the company."Our executive team is incredibly talented and they are all dedicated to Apple's continued success," said Apple spokesman Steve Dowling in a statement. "These stock grants are meant to reward them down the road for their hard work in helping to keep Apple the most innovative company in the world."Though Cue's bonus is less than the others, it's his second major bonus in the past few months. Cue was awarded 100,000 restricted stock units when he was promoted to SVP status at the beginning of September to oversee Apple's iTunes Store, iCloud, iAd, and iBookstore. Cue, who is a 22-year Apple veteran, helped create the company's first online store in 1998, and Apple's iTunes Music Store in 2003--the latter being the business that would become the foundation for the App Store and iBookstore, places where Apple sells other digital goods.Here's a full breakdown of the bonuses by executive:Bruce Sewell -- 150,000 shares, 50 percent vest on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Jeffrey Williams -- 150,000 shares, 50 percent on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Philip Schiller -- 150,000 shares, 50 percent on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Peter Oppenheimer --150,000 shares, 50 percent on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Robert Mansfield -- 150,000 shares, 50 percent on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Scott Forstall -- 150,000 shares, 50 percent on June 21, 2013, 100 percent on March 21, 2016Eddy Cue -- 100,000 shares, 25 percent vest September 21, 2014, 100 percent September 21, 2016.Updated at 3:26 p.m. PT to include comment from Apple.
Safari for iOS to go full-screen
Safari for iOS to go full-screen
While Apple's updates to Safari for OS X Mavericks are more about keeping up with the Joneses, Safari for iOS 7 looks to forge new ground by making the browser look and feel more like the operating system. More from WWDCMeet iTunes Radio, Apple's long-awaited streaming music service CNET Editors' Take: Apple's Pandora-like streaming radio service is finally here Apple gives the iPhone a user interface face-lift with iOS 7 Editors' Take: iOS 7 gets a new look and several new features Apple unveils new MacBook Air, gives Mac Pro sneak peekEditors' Take: Apple Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks WWDC 2013: Full coverageSafari for iOS 7 features a nearly chrome-less interface ("chrome" refers to the visible interface portions of software), a new tab view, fewer restrictions on tabs, and iCloud Keychain integration, Apple announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday.By default, the iOS 7 Safari is set to what looks like full-screen mode. With the browser's chrome mostly eliminated, and the controls such as the combined search-and-location bar at the top and navigation buttons at the bottom stripped down to extremely minimalist appearances, the browser takes on the look of a sophisticated app. This will go a long way toward helping iOS push Web sites to adopt layouts that look like apps, as modern HTML5 provides the sites with app-like functionality.The Tab View page has been revamped, so that tabs appear in a vertical column as large thumbnails; and the browser itself will now let you open more than eight tabs at a time. You'll be able to swipe to close tabs from Tab View.The new Safari for iOS comes with integration into several of the new features in Safari for Mac that were revealed at the conference, too. The iCloud Keychain integration will not only give people who use OS X Mavericks and iOS 7 Safari credit card and password syncing, but a powerful password creation tool. You'll be able to scroll through stories in the Reading List, as well. Safari for iOS 7 is expected when the operating system debuts later this year.
While Apple's updates to Safari for OS X Mavericks are more about keeping up with the Joneses, Safari for iOS 7 looks to forge new ground by making the browser look and feel more like the operating system. More from WWDCMeet iTunes Radio, Apple's long-awaited streaming music service CNET Editors' Take: Apple's Pandora-like streaming radio service is finally here Apple gives the iPhone a user interface face-lift with iOS 7 Editors' Take: iOS 7 gets a new look and several new features Apple unveils new MacBook Air, gives Mac Pro sneak peekEditors' Take: Apple Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks WWDC 2013: Full coverageSafari for iOS 7 features a nearly chrome-less interface ("chrome" refers to the visible interface portions of software), a new tab view, fewer restrictions on tabs, and iCloud Keychain integration, Apple announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday.By default, the iOS 7 Safari is set to what looks like full-screen mode. With the browser's chrome mostly eliminated, and the controls such as the combined search-and-location bar at the top and navigation buttons at the bottom stripped down to extremely minimalist appearances, the browser takes on the look of a sophisticated app. This will go a long way toward helping iOS push Web sites to adopt layouts that look like apps, as modern HTML5 provides the sites with app-like functionality.The Tab View page has been revamped, so that tabs appear in a vertical column as large thumbnails; and the browser itself will now let you open more than eight tabs at a time. You'll be able to swipe to close tabs from Tab View.The new Safari for iOS comes with integration into several of the new features in Safari for Mac that were revealed at the conference, too. The iCloud Keychain integration will not only give people who use OS X Mavericks and iOS 7 Safari credit card and password syncing, but a powerful password creation tool. You'll be able to scroll through stories in the Reading List, as well. Safari for iOS 7 is expected when the operating system debuts later this year.
How to restore an iPhone after the botched iOS 8.0.1 update
How to restore an iPhone after the botched iOS 8.0.1 update
Apple issued an update on Wednesday to fix various bugs in its iOS operating system. The iOS 8.0.1 update, however, appeared to do more harm than good for some users. Numerous iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus owners complained that they were no longer able to make calls, send texts, or use Touch ID after updating their devices. Apple has since pulled the iOS 8.0.1 update from its servers. If you have already updated your device, here's how you can roll it back to iOS 8. By downloading the final build of iOS 8 as it was released as an IPSW file, you can restore your iPhone to the latest stable version. To begin downloading the IPSW file, head over to this site and select your device from the drop-down menu. This is an official copy from Apple that we are being pointed to from a third-party site. We used this method to restore our own iPhone and can confirm it works. The download may take a few minutes depending on your Internet connection. To download the iOS 8 IPSW file directly, click on the name of your device below. Note that this will automatically begin downloading the file to your computer.iPhone 6iPhone 6 Plus Once the file has been downloaded, connect your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus to your computer and open iTunes. Select under the backup options "this computer," then hit "Back Up Now." This takes a full snapshot of your contacts, email, apps and settings, and stores it on your computer.On iTunes in Windows, hold down the Shift key and click the Restore option. Next, select your iPhone's IPSW file and follow the prompts. Those of you on OS X, hold down Alt key and click the Restore option in iTunes. Next, select your iPhone's IPSW file and follow the prompts. Wait for the IPSW to unload on your iPhone. You may need to disable "Find my iPhone" first, found in your iCloud settings. Once your iPhone has been restored to iOS 8, your iPhone will be wiped clean. All you have to do now is restore the backup from iTunes. Click "Restore backup," select the latest backup you just performed, and wait for the process to complete.
Apple issued an update on Wednesday to fix various bugs in its iOS operating system. The iOS 8.0.1 update, however, appeared to do more harm than good for some users. Numerous iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus owners complained that they were no longer able to make calls, send texts, or use Touch ID after updating their devices. Apple has since pulled the iOS 8.0.1 update from its servers. If you have already updated your device, here's how you can roll it back to iOS 8. By downloading the final build of iOS 8 as it was released as an IPSW file, you can restore your iPhone to the latest stable version. To begin downloading the IPSW file, head over to this site and select your device from the drop-down menu. This is an official copy from Apple that we are being pointed to from a third-party site. We used this method to restore our own iPhone and can confirm it works. The download may take a few minutes depending on your Internet connection. To download the iOS 8 IPSW file directly, click on the name of your device below. Note that this will automatically begin downloading the file to your computer.iPhone 6iPhone 6 Plus Once the file has been downloaded, connect your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus to your computer and open iTunes. Select under the backup options "this computer," then hit "Back Up Now." This takes a full snapshot of your contacts, email, apps and settings, and stores it on your computer.On iTunes in Windows, hold down the Shift key and click the Restore option. Next, select your iPhone's IPSW file and follow the prompts. Those of you on OS X, hold down Alt key and click the Restore option in iTunes. Next, select your iPhone's IPSW file and follow the prompts. Wait for the IPSW to unload on your iPhone. You may need to disable "Find my iPhone" first, found in your iCloud settings. Once your iPhone has been restored to iOS 8, your iPhone will be wiped clean. All you have to do now is restore the backup from iTunes. Click "Restore backup," select the latest backup you just performed, and wait for the process to complete.
Supply of iPad Mini with Retina ramps up to 4M -- report
Supply of iPad Mini with Retina ramps up to 4M -- report
Apple's iPad Mini with Retina Display shipments are up in November, according to a new report.Apple has upped its iPad Mini orders to 4 million units in November after clearing some bottlenecks in production, DigiTimes reported on Wednesday, citing people in the company's supply chain.The iPad Mini with Retina Display has been hit with low supply after Apple had issues getting enough Retina Displays, DigiTimes says. The iPad Air, meanwhile, benefited from a longer preparation time and, therefore, didn't suffer the same problems.There's no way to know for sure whether Apple's iPad Mini orders have indeed hit the 4 million mark. DigiTimes has a spotty record when it comes to rumors, meaning this report should be taken with a hefty helping of salt.Still, the iPad Mini with Retina's supply issues have been well-documented, and several reports have claimed Apple is working hard to break the logjam in production. If the DigiTimes story is to be believed, that effort is going well.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the DigiTimes report. We will update this story when we have more information.
Apple's iPad Mini with Retina Display shipments are up in November, according to a new report.Apple has upped its iPad Mini orders to 4 million units in November after clearing some bottlenecks in production, DigiTimes reported on Wednesday, citing people in the company's supply chain.The iPad Mini with Retina Display has been hit with low supply after Apple had issues getting enough Retina Displays, DigiTimes says. The iPad Air, meanwhile, benefited from a longer preparation time and, therefore, didn't suffer the same problems.There's no way to know for sure whether Apple's iPad Mini orders have indeed hit the 4 million mark. DigiTimes has a spotty record when it comes to rumors, meaning this report should be taken with a hefty helping of salt.Still, the iPad Mini with Retina's supply issues have been well-documented, and several reports have claimed Apple is working hard to break the logjam in production. If the DigiTimes story is to be believed, that effort is going well.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the DigiTimes report. We will update this story when we have more information.
Study- Tablets powering mobile broadband growth
Study: Tablets powering mobile broadband growth
The firm estimates that 157.9 million mobile broadband devices, which consist of products including tablets, notebooks, Netbook computers, and electronic readers, will be sold this year. That's up nearly 60 percent from the 100.1 million units sold in 2010. The consistently high rate of growth can be traced back to the burgeoning tablet market. In particular, consumers have snapped up the iPad with increasing frequency--Apple sold 9.25 million such devices in the most recent quarter. It's unclear whether that success translates to the wave of companies with their own tablet offerings. Motorola Mobility is expected to shed some light on the progress of its Xoom tablet later today when it reports its second-quarter results. IMS iSuppli expects the growth rate for mobile broadband devices to to slow, but remain high. Next year, it estimates that the market will grow 38.1 percent next year and 11 percent by 2015, when the market reaches more than 350 million units. By 2015, the firm expects a majority of the mobile broadband devices will use 4G LTE as a connection.
The firm estimates that 157.9 million mobile broadband devices, which consist of products including tablets, notebooks, Netbook computers, and electronic readers, will be sold this year. That's up nearly 60 percent from the 100.1 million units sold in 2010. The consistently high rate of growth can be traced back to the burgeoning tablet market. In particular, consumers have snapped up the iPad with increasing frequency--Apple sold 9.25 million such devices in the most recent quarter. It's unclear whether that success translates to the wave of companies with their own tablet offerings. Motorola Mobility is expected to shed some light on the progress of its Xoom tablet later today when it reports its second-quarter results. IMS iSuppli expects the growth rate for mobile broadband devices to to slow, but remain high. Next year, it estimates that the market will grow 38.1 percent next year and 11 percent by 2015, when the market reaches more than 350 million units. By 2015, the firm expects a majority of the mobile broadband devices will use 4G LTE as a connection.
Apple shares bounce back after tough few weeks
Apple shares bounce back after tough few weeks
Apple's stock is up nearly 6 percent in midday trading today, marking a minor recovery for the stock, which has declined more than 20 percent since reaching an all-time high in September.Shares of Apple were at $557.99, up $30.31, or 5.74 percent, in trading on Monday, coming close to where the stock sat 12 days ago, but far from the high of $705.10 two months ago. The stock hit a nine-month low on Friday, before closing up later in the day. The recovery comes amid reports that Apple's seeing strong sales of its mobile devices in China, one of its key growth markets. There are also fresh rumors that Apple is working on a successor to the iPhone 5 due out the middle of next year, a change from the fall release the company has gone with for its past two models. This morning Apple also announced that it's offering the full catalog of rock band AC/DC on iTunes, which so far had held off on selling its music digitally. A number of analysts remain bullish on the stock, including Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets, who in a note to investors this morning referred to the recent sell-off of Apple stock as "insanely insane." White's got Apple pegged for $1,111 a share in the next 12 months, which remains far above the $760 or so average Wall Street analysts expect the stock to reach in that same period of time. Apple's currently in what has historically been its most profitable quarter, fueled by holiday device sales. The company refreshed most of its product line, including the iPad and its Mac desktops and notebooks, at an event last month where it introduced the iPad Mini. Update at 1:01 p.m. PT: Apple closed at 566.44, up 38.76 or 7.35 percent for the day.
Apple's stock is up nearly 6 percent in midday trading today, marking a minor recovery for the stock, which has declined more than 20 percent since reaching an all-time high in September.Shares of Apple were at $557.99, up $30.31, or 5.74 percent, in trading on Monday, coming close to where the stock sat 12 days ago, but far from the high of $705.10 two months ago. The stock hit a nine-month low on Friday, before closing up later in the day. The recovery comes amid reports that Apple's seeing strong sales of its mobile devices in China, one of its key growth markets. There are also fresh rumors that Apple is working on a successor to the iPhone 5 due out the middle of next year, a change from the fall release the company has gone with for its past two models. This morning Apple also announced that it's offering the full catalog of rock band AC/DC on iTunes, which so far had held off on selling its music digitally. A number of analysts remain bullish on the stock, including Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets, who in a note to investors this morning referred to the recent sell-off of Apple stock as "insanely insane." White's got Apple pegged for $1,111 a share in the next 12 months, which remains far above the $760 or so average Wall Street analysts expect the stock to reach in that same period of time. Apple's currently in what has historically been its most profitable quarter, fueled by holiday device sales. The company refreshed most of its product line, including the iPad and its Mac desktops and notebooks, at an event last month where it introduced the iPad Mini. Update at 1:01 p.m. PT: Apple closed at 566.44, up 38.76 or 7.35 percent for the day.
Apple settles lawsuit over in-app purchases by kids
Apple settles lawsuit over in-app purchases by kids
Apple has settled a lawsuit over the unauthorized use of in-app purchase in games and apps sold through the App Store.As part of a preliminary deal that has yet to be finalized by a U.S. district court judge, Apple will pay those eligible class members a $5 iTunes gift card. Users that spent more than $30 can choose to get a cash refund, as long as they meet a handful of requirements, including filling out a form that details what apps the charges originated from.The 2011 suitstemmed from parents who complained that it was far too easy to buy digital goods in games without the need to re-enter an Apple ID password. In practice, this meant that a parent could download a free or paid title using their password, then the child (or someone else) could proceed to make purchases without those credentials, as long as it was within a certain time period. Apple changed that behavior as part of a system software update in March 2011, but not before some parents were hit with massive bills. As part of the proposed settlement, Apple will be required to send notices to more than 23 million iTunes account holders who bought something in-game from one of of the "qualified apps." However the settlement filings, which were spotted by Law360 (via GigaOm), note that the affected class action size remains unclear.The lawsuit is not to be confused with a separate legal complaint involving in-app purchases. A patent holder named Lodsys made waves in early 2011, suing companies large and small, alleging that they were infringing on its intellectual property by including the option to buy things within the software. Apple joined that suit in April of last year in an effort to defend those developing on its platform. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the settlement deal.
Apple has settled a lawsuit over the unauthorized use of in-app purchase in games and apps sold through the App Store.As part of a preliminary deal that has yet to be finalized by a U.S. district court judge, Apple will pay those eligible class members a $5 iTunes gift card. Users that spent more than $30 can choose to get a cash refund, as long as they meet a handful of requirements, including filling out a form that details what apps the charges originated from.The 2011 suitstemmed from parents who complained that it was far too easy to buy digital goods in games without the need to re-enter an Apple ID password. In practice, this meant that a parent could download a free or paid title using their password, then the child (or someone else) could proceed to make purchases without those credentials, as long as it was within a certain time period. Apple changed that behavior as part of a system software update in March 2011, but not before some parents were hit with massive bills. As part of the proposed settlement, Apple will be required to send notices to more than 23 million iTunes account holders who bought something in-game from one of of the "qualified apps." However the settlement filings, which were spotted by Law360 (via GigaOm), note that the affected class action size remains unclear.The lawsuit is not to be confused with a separate legal complaint involving in-app purchases. A patent holder named Lodsys made waves in early 2011, suing companies large and small, alleging that they were infringing on its intellectual property by including the option to buy things within the software. Apple joined that suit in April of last year in an effort to defend those developing on its platform. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the settlement deal.
Apple kills TV rentals, subscription offer not coming
Apple kills TV rentals, subscription offer not coming
Apple has done away with the 99-cent video rentals of TV shows it began offering last year via the Apple TV and iTunes. Despite Apple's best efforts, most of the top networks weren't willing to offer shows for that price. News Corp.-owned Fox Television and Disney's ABC were the only two majors that were involved and even they offered a limited amount of content at 99 cents.Now does this sound like the studios are willing to back a new subscription service from Apple or for anyone else for that matter? No. Don't put any stock in the rumors that began circulating today. My sources at the studios said three weeks ago that an Apple subscription service is not coming anytime soon, if ever. The Hollywood studios and TV networks don't want another Netflix. Look around. They're trying to stuff that genie back into the bottle. The talk coming out of Hollywood is about raising prices for content and offering Netflix less, not more. They don't want to discount content just because it's on the Web. There is no consensus in Hollywood about anything, but a large number of decision makers want to see their shows and films offered online on a pay-per-view basis as they try to protect their margins. In addition, the execs I spoke with said Apple hasn't really talked about subscription --although one of the sources said Apple has at one time or another discussed numerous business models. One thing others and I have reported now for more than a year is that Apple indeed is focusing on a cloud offer, where users access video content from Apple's servers. "iTunes customers have shown they overwhelmingly prefer buying TV shows," said Tom Neumayr, an Apple spokesman in a statement this afternoon. "iTunes in the Cloud lets customers download and watch their past TV purchases from their iOS devices, Apple TV, Mac, or PC allowing them to enjoy their programming whenever and however they choose."
Apple has done away with the 99-cent video rentals of TV shows it began offering last year via the Apple TV and iTunes. Despite Apple's best efforts, most of the top networks weren't willing to offer shows for that price. News Corp.-owned Fox Television and Disney's ABC were the only two majors that were involved and even they offered a limited amount of content at 99 cents.Now does this sound like the studios are willing to back a new subscription service from Apple or for anyone else for that matter? No. Don't put any stock in the rumors that began circulating today. My sources at the studios said three weeks ago that an Apple subscription service is not coming anytime soon, if ever. The Hollywood studios and TV networks don't want another Netflix. Look around. They're trying to stuff that genie back into the bottle. The talk coming out of Hollywood is about raising prices for content and offering Netflix less, not more. They don't want to discount content just because it's on the Web. There is no consensus in Hollywood about anything, but a large number of decision makers want to see their shows and films offered online on a pay-per-view basis as they try to protect their margins. In addition, the execs I spoke with said Apple hasn't really talked about subscription --although one of the sources said Apple has at one time or another discussed numerous business models. One thing others and I have reported now for more than a year is that Apple indeed is focusing on a cloud offer, where users access video content from Apple's servers. "iTunes customers have shown they overwhelmingly prefer buying TV shows," said Tom Neumayr, an Apple spokesman in a statement this afternoon. "iTunes in the Cloud lets customers download and watch their past TV purchases from their iOS devices, Apple TV, Mac, or PC allowing them to enjoy their programming whenever and however they choose."
Apple kills 17-inch MacBook Pro
Apple kills 17-inch MacBook Pro
More than nine years after Apple created the first one, Apple's unceremoniously removed its 17-inch laptop from its lineup, announcing just 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros and the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display at WWDC 2012. And it's likely that no one will ever miss it. Related storiesComplete WWDC 2012 coverageApple: Retina Display MacBook Pro starts at $2,199First take: MacBook Pro with Retina DisplayApple talks up Facebook integration for iOS 6Apple unveils iOS 6 with 200 new features, Siri gets updateSiri coming to iPad, can launch appsApple was the first manufacturer to add a 17-inch laptop to its lineup in 2003 -- the largest screen available from any vendor at the time -- and has had one ever since. But with the new wide-screen, ultrahigh-resolution Retina Display, those extra couple inches might be irrelevant.After all, mobility is key now, not screen size. It used to be you needed a larger laptop to get performance good enough to replace a desktop, but that's no longer the case. (I mean, look at Apple's tag line above the new models.) A 15-inch screen is plenty for most purposes when you're traveling, and when you're not, you can connect into an external display. And really, look at how much people can get done on the 9.7-inch iPad screen and 3.5-inch iPhone screen. What do you think? Is there still a need for a 17-inch MacBook? Do you think it'll make a return when Apple can offer a more affordable 17-inch Retina version?
More than nine years after Apple created the first one, Apple's unceremoniously removed its 17-inch laptop from its lineup, announcing just 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros and the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display at WWDC 2012. And it's likely that no one will ever miss it. Related storiesComplete WWDC 2012 coverageApple: Retina Display MacBook Pro starts at $2,199First take: MacBook Pro with Retina DisplayApple talks up Facebook integration for iOS 6Apple unveils iOS 6 with 200 new features, Siri gets updateSiri coming to iPad, can launch appsApple was the first manufacturer to add a 17-inch laptop to its lineup in 2003 -- the largest screen available from any vendor at the time -- and has had one ever since. But with the new wide-screen, ultrahigh-resolution Retina Display, those extra couple inches might be irrelevant.After all, mobility is key now, not screen size. It used to be you needed a larger laptop to get performance good enough to replace a desktop, but that's no longer the case. (I mean, look at Apple's tag line above the new models.) A 15-inch screen is plenty for most purposes when you're traveling, and when you're not, you can connect into an external display. And really, look at how much people can get done on the 9.7-inch iPad screen and 3.5-inch iPhone screen. What do you think? Is there still a need for a 17-inch MacBook? Do you think it'll make a return when Apple can offer a more affordable 17-inch Retina version?
Apple joins hybrid-storage market with Fusion Drive
Apple joins hybrid-storage market with Fusion Drive
Apple announced at its October 23 event its first hybrid drive, called Fusion Drive, initially available as an option in its new iMac and Mac Mini.Apple's Fusion Drive combines 120GB of solid-state storage and a regular platter-based hard drive of either 1TB or 3TB. Apple says the operating system and software will be installed on the flash memory part while all other data, such as media and documents, stays on the hard-drive part. However, users can move apps and files between the two sides of the drive to improve performance.The Fusion Drive comes with 128GB of solid-state memory and either 1TB or 3TB of hard-drive-based memory.James Martin/CNETApple claims that the Fusion Drive will offer performance very close to that of a solid-state drive and much faster than a regular hard drive.Hybrid drives have been available for a long time. Generally a hybrid drive, such as the Seagate Momentus XT, combines solid-state (or flash) storage and regular platter-based storage in one drive. As described above, the flash memory part is used to store frequently accessed data, such as the operating system and system files, while the hard-drive part is used to store documents and other more static data. This allows the drive to give better performance while still offering a large amount of storage space at a lower cost. The Fusion Drive is one of the first hybrid drives, if not the first, on the market to offer 128GB of solid-state memory; others generally come with 64GB or less. Most existing hybrid drives are sized for laptops, with a 2.5-inch design. While the details of the new Fusion Drive are still sketchy, judging from the way the drive was introduced and its capacity, if it's an actual physical drive and not a solution made by combining a standard solid-state drive and a hard drive, it'll likely come in the 3.5-inch size of a desktop hard drive. This is because only 3.5-inch hard drives currently offer capacity larger than 1.5TB. It wouldn't be surprising, either, if the drive came in a proprietary design, or even with a connector, that will work only with Apple computers.
Apple announced at its October 23 event its first hybrid drive, called Fusion Drive, initially available as an option in its new iMac and Mac Mini.Apple's Fusion Drive combines 120GB of solid-state storage and a regular platter-based hard drive of either 1TB or 3TB. Apple says the operating system and software will be installed on the flash memory part while all other data, such as media and documents, stays on the hard-drive part. However, users can move apps and files between the two sides of the drive to improve performance.The Fusion Drive comes with 128GB of solid-state memory and either 1TB or 3TB of hard-drive-based memory.James Martin/CNETApple claims that the Fusion Drive will offer performance very close to that of a solid-state drive and much faster than a regular hard drive.Hybrid drives have been available for a long time. Generally a hybrid drive, such as the Seagate Momentus XT, combines solid-state (or flash) storage and regular platter-based storage in one drive. As described above, the flash memory part is used to store frequently accessed data, such as the operating system and system files, while the hard-drive part is used to store documents and other more static data. This allows the drive to give better performance while still offering a large amount of storage space at a lower cost. The Fusion Drive is one of the first hybrid drives, if not the first, on the market to offer 128GB of solid-state memory; others generally come with 64GB or less. Most existing hybrid drives are sized for laptops, with a 2.5-inch design. While the details of the new Fusion Drive are still sketchy, judging from the way the drive was introduced and its capacity, if it's an actual physical drive and not a solution made by combining a standard solid-state drive and a hard drive, it'll likely come in the 3.5-inch size of a desktop hard drive. This is because only 3.5-inch hard drives currently offer capacity larger than 1.5TB. It wouldn't be surprising, either, if the drive came in a proprietary design, or even with a connector, that will work only with Apple computers.
Apple job posting wants to 'refresh and refine' Siri
Apple job posting wants to 'refresh and refine' Siri
It's no secret Apple's still in the process of fine-tuning its virtual voice assistant Siri, and a recent job posting confirms there's still much work to be done.The company is looking for someone to "refresh and refine existing Siri dialog," according to the posting for a Siri writer/editor, as well as expand what the software can do. "Siri's known for 'her' wit, cultural knowledge, and zeal to explain things in engaging, funny, and practical ways," the posting, which was spotted by 9to5Mac, reads. "The ideal candidate is someone who combines a love for language, wordplay, and conversation with demonstrated experience in bringing creative content to life within an intense technical environment."Apple purchased Siri and its iOS application in early 2010, and built it in as an exclusive feature for the iPhone 4S in 2011. The technology has since spread to the latest versions of the iPad and iPod Touch, along with hints that Apple plans to add it to OS X.While notable during its release, the software has faced increasing competition from rivals, including Google, which has its own conversational voice features as part of Android and its own search app for iOS. Siri also attracted lawsuits from customers who felt Apple oversold its capabilities in TV advertisements. Apple is notorious for keeping its strategic plans close to the chest, and not telling candidates the actual product or project they're working on until after they've been hired. With that said, Siri, Maps, and other software services are already out there in the wild.Apple's last big update to Siri came in iOS 6, released in September. Apple added more information about movies, restaurants, and sports scores, as well as deep integration with Facebook.
It's no secret Apple's still in the process of fine-tuning its virtual voice assistant Siri, and a recent job posting confirms there's still much work to be done.The company is looking for someone to "refresh and refine existing Siri dialog," according to the posting for a Siri writer/editor, as well as expand what the software can do. "Siri's known for 'her' wit, cultural knowledge, and zeal to explain things in engaging, funny, and practical ways," the posting, which was spotted by 9to5Mac, reads. "The ideal candidate is someone who combines a love for language, wordplay, and conversation with demonstrated experience in bringing creative content to life within an intense technical environment."Apple purchased Siri and its iOS application in early 2010, and built it in as an exclusive feature for the iPhone 4S in 2011. The technology has since spread to the latest versions of the iPad and iPod Touch, along with hints that Apple plans to add it to OS X.While notable during its release, the software has faced increasing competition from rivals, including Google, which has its own conversational voice features as part of Android and its own search app for iOS. Siri also attracted lawsuits from customers who felt Apple oversold its capabilities in TV advertisements. Apple is notorious for keeping its strategic plans close to the chest, and not telling candidates the actual product or project they're working on until after they've been hired. With that said, Siri, Maps, and other software services are already out there in the wild.Apple's last big update to Siri came in iOS 6, released in September. Apple added more information about movies, restaurants, and sports scores, as well as deep integration with Facebook.
Apple January event to focus on publishing, iBooks, report says
Apple January event to focus on publishing, iBooks, report says
Apple is reportedly planning to hold a special event in New York City later this month. That's got the rumor mill operating at full capacity to figure out what the company has planned.Yesterday, startup-focused blog TechCrunch was the latest to chime in, saying that a source claims the event will center on book publishing and iBooks. The source didn't say exactly what Apple will announce, but suggested the iPhone maker won't be unveiling any new hardware at the event. Apple's mobile-advertising platform, iAd, also won't be discussed, TechCrunch's source says.All Things Digital reported yesterday, citing sources, that Apple is planning to hold a special event in New York City later this month. Although some might hope the event will usher in new iPad models or the long-rumored Apple television, the publication's sources said that it would likely focus on media-related topics. Apple's senior vice president for Internet software and services, Eddy Cue, is expected to be involved in the event in some fashion. Related storiesApple plans NY event this month, report saysiTunes creator working on Apple TV, report saysApple: iPad 2 is 'dramatically faster'The idea that Apple's event would focus on publishing and iBooks, and not the iPad or Apple TV, seems to make some sense, considering the company is reportedly holding it in New York--a major publishing hub. Plus, Apple has historically waited until later in the year to announce a new iPad. Last year, for example, the company didn't show off the iPad 2 until March.And although the idea of Apple announcing its television later this month is exciting for some consumers, the latest reports on that front suggest the company's set is only in the prototype phase and may be discontinued if its development doesn't go well.So far, Apple has not confirmed that it will be holding an event in New York later this month. The company has also not immediately responded to CNET's request for comment on TechCrunch's report. But given its history, don't bet that Apple will divulge any details on its plans until it's ready.
Apple is reportedly planning to hold a special event in New York City later this month. That's got the rumor mill operating at full capacity to figure out what the company has planned.Yesterday, startup-focused blog TechCrunch was the latest to chime in, saying that a source claims the event will center on book publishing and iBooks. The source didn't say exactly what Apple will announce, but suggested the iPhone maker won't be unveiling any new hardware at the event. Apple's mobile-advertising platform, iAd, also won't be discussed, TechCrunch's source says.All Things Digital reported yesterday, citing sources, that Apple is planning to hold a special event in New York City later this month. Although some might hope the event will usher in new iPad models or the long-rumored Apple television, the publication's sources said that it would likely focus on media-related topics. Apple's senior vice president for Internet software and services, Eddy Cue, is expected to be involved in the event in some fashion. Related storiesApple plans NY event this month, report saysiTunes creator working on Apple TV, report saysApple: iPad 2 is 'dramatically faster'The idea that Apple's event would focus on publishing and iBooks, and not the iPad or Apple TV, seems to make some sense, considering the company is reportedly holding it in New York--a major publishing hub. Plus, Apple has historically waited until later in the year to announce a new iPad. Last year, for example, the company didn't show off the iPad 2 until March.And although the idea of Apple announcing its television later this month is exciting for some consumers, the latest reports on that front suggest the company's set is only in the prototype phase and may be discontinued if its development doesn't go well.So far, Apple has not confirmed that it will be holding an event in New York later this month. The company has also not immediately responded to CNET's request for comment on TechCrunch's report. But given its history, don't bet that Apple will divulge any details on its plans until it's ready.
500px photo app back in iOS app store after porn allegations
500px photo app back in iOS app store after porn allegations
Apple allowed 500px's photography app back into the iOS app store today after booting it last week over porn allegations. The app now includes a "report" button to flag questionable content and is labeled for ages 17 and up. The age restriction means the app has "Frequent/Intense Sexual Content or Nudity," according to the store."We take the content that appears on our site very seriously," 500px COO Evgeny Tchebotarev wrote in a blog post today. "If we find content that is in violation of our terms of use, we remove it immediately from our system and block the user's account. Our policies are clearly defined in our terms of service."500px was pulled initially, according to Apple, because the app store's guidelines include rules against featuring pornographic images and material. Additionally, Apple said it received complaints about child pornography.Tchebotarev told The Verge that the company is investigating Apple's child porn allegations but has yet to receive the alleged pornographic images or complaints from Apple. 500px didn't find any porn during its internal investigation, Tchebotarev said. He said Apple asked for the "report" button, as well as a tweak to the app's search function that makes it harder to search suggestive keywords. The search restriction is only for default searches, users who check off the "adult content" box should not be affected.Though Apple enforced its guidelines in this instance, it seems to have let Twitter's new video-sharing app Vine slide. Porn briefly showed up as an "Editor's Pick" by accident on Vine yesterday, followed by Apple quietly pulling the app off its "Editor's Choice" list.
Apple allowed 500px's photography app back into the iOS app store today after booting it last week over porn allegations. The app now includes a "report" button to flag questionable content and is labeled for ages 17 and up. The age restriction means the app has "Frequent/Intense Sexual Content or Nudity," according to the store."We take the content that appears on our site very seriously," 500px COO Evgeny Tchebotarev wrote in a blog post today. "If we find content that is in violation of our terms of use, we remove it immediately from our system and block the user's account. Our policies are clearly defined in our terms of service."500px was pulled initially, according to Apple, because the app store's guidelines include rules against featuring pornographic images and material. Additionally, Apple said it received complaints about child pornography.Tchebotarev told The Verge that the company is investigating Apple's child porn allegations but has yet to receive the alleged pornographic images or complaints from Apple. 500px didn't find any porn during its internal investigation, Tchebotarev said. He said Apple asked for the "report" button, as well as a tweak to the app's search function that makes it harder to search suggestive keywords. The search restriction is only for default searches, users who check off the "adult content" box should not be affected.Though Apple enforced its guidelines in this instance, it seems to have let Twitter's new video-sharing app Vine slide. Porn briefly showed up as an "Editor's Pick" by accident on Vine yesterday, followed by Apple quietly pulling the app off its "Editor's Choice" list.
Apple lines up suppliers for iPad Mini display, report says
Apple has tapped two companies to produce the display for its iPad Mini, a new report claims.AU Optronics and LG Display will produce the iPad Mini's 7.85-inch screen, Bloomberg is reporting today, citing several sources. TPK Holding and Foxconn-owned Yeh Cheng Technology will handle lamination coating for the screen, according to the sources.Apple's current iPad comes with a 9.7-inch screen.The iPad Mini has reportedly been in the works for a while, though true to form, Apple has yet to confirm the existence of such a device. Still, the rumor mill has kicked it into overdrive, offering up all kinds of expected device details. The latest reports suggest that an iPad Mini will launch in October and cost $249.In an interview with CNET yesterday, IHS iSuppli analyst Rhoda Alexander said that if Apple prices its upcoming slate at $249, it'll "crush the opposition."But before Apple gets to launching its iPad Mini, the company is expected to unveil the iPhone 5. That device, which will reportedly come with a 4-inch screen and improved components, will be shown off on September 12 and launch on September 21, according to reports.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the Bloomberg report. We will update this story when we have more information.
Apple licenses Swiss rail clock design
Apple can breathe a little easier about one part of iOS 6. No, not the Maps app, but rather its use of a certain clock image owned by a Swiss rail provider. Related stories:Apple to meet Swiss railway over clock-design flapApple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock designDevelopers: We warned Apple about iOS maps qualityThe Swiss Federal Railway service, or SBB, said today that it has reached a licensing agreement with Apple that allows the electronics giant to use its clock on devices like the iPad and iPhone.An SBB spokesperson tells CNET that the amount of the licensing fee and other agreement details will remain confidential. We've reached out to Apple and will update if we get a comment or any more information.Apple last month was accused of ripping off SBB's iconic clock for the latest iteration of its mobile operating system. The clock was created in 1944 by then-SBB employee Hans Hilfiker. It's used throughout the railway system and is also licensed to Mondaine, a Swiss watch maker.
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