A brief primer on Microsoft Office for iOS rumors
We can now safely say that rumors that Microsoft was working on a version of Office for Apple's iOS platform weren't false. They were just early.But boy has it been a long road to Friday, when Microsoft made it official by releasing its Office Mobile for iPhone app -- which is officially dubbed"Office Mobile for Office 365 subscribers" in the iTunes Store.Reports that Microsoft was aiming to bring a version of its productivity software to Apple's mobile platform date all the way back to February 2010, just a few weeks after the the iPad was unveiled in San Francisco, and more than a year and a half after the debut of the App Store. Since then it's been a trickle of vague feature lists, misfires on release dates, and increasingly honed denials and no-comments from Redmond. Here's a quick timeline on when this all started, and the turns along the way.February 2, 2010In a since-removed interview, a senior Microsoft product manager tells U.K.-based technology site T3 that the company is "looking at" bringing Office to the recently-announced iPad. No specifics on a timeline or feature set are mentioned. Read: CNET's review of Office for iPhone April 1, 2010The same month the iPad goes on sale, then president of Microsoft's business division and future Nokia CEO Stephen Elop tells Bloomberg that the company has no plans to bring Office to the iPad. However he leaves it somewhat open saying "we never say never." September 16, 2010Never say never indeed, says Microsoft tracker Paul Thurrott. In a simple tweet, Thurrott says "Shhh.... It's true: Microsoft is working on iPad apps."Shhh.... It's true: Microsoft is working on iPad apps.â€" Paul Thurrott (@thurrott) September 15, 2010It's unclear whether that means Office or otherwise. Microsoft ends up bringing over OneNote to the iPad (iTunes) more than a year later, along with other apps like Bing, MSN, and Lync.November 29, 2011Now-defuncttablet newspaper The Daily reports that Microsoft is "actively" working on a version of Office for the iPad. Microsoft avoids commenting on the report, saying it's "committed to expanding" how many platforms and devices Office is on.Office Mobile for iPhone: Quick edits outside...See full gallery1 - 4 / 6NextPrevFebruary 21, 2012The Daily follows up from its original report, saying that Office is headed for the iPad and that the outlet had even played with an early version of the software -- complete with an alleged screenshot of it. It added that Microsoft's efforts looked a bit like its already-released OneNote software for the iPhone and iPad. On top of all this, The Daily says Microsoft does not plan to release a version for Android. Microsoft fires back, saying the report is "based on inaccurate rumors and speculation." May 23, 2012After a brief lull, Boy Genius Report says Microsoft's planning a November release for a version of Office for the iPad as well as Android. Microsoft calls the report -- which BGR says comes from a reliable source -- "rumor and speculation."June 4, 2012Newcomer to the Office for iOS rumor mill Business Insider says Microsoft plans to bring Office to the iPad in November. Citing sources within Microsoft Office Sales team, the site says Microsoft is likely to introduce the product at its SharePoint conference in Las Vegas, in time for a holiday release.October 10, 2012Microsoft product manager Petr Bobek mentions to Czech site IHNED that Office is headed to iOS and Android in March 2013, information that's doubled in a press release, says The Verge. Microsoft says the information is "not accurate." October 11, 2012A day after the Czech rumor, Thurrott casually throws in some information about Office for iOS in a report about Office 2013 hitting its released to manufacturing milestone.Furthermore, if you've seen rumors about Office 2013 for iOS and Android, they're happening, but the products will only be made available via the subscription Office offerings, and hit in April. October 12, 2012A smoking gun, or just some overzealous support copywriters? French site Mac4Ever spots mentions of "Excel for iPad" on a Microsoft support page. Other mentions to Word and PowerPoint for iPad are found shortly thereafter.November 7, 2012 A post on The Verge says Office for iOS and Android is "real and it's coming to iOS first." The report posts alleged screenshots of the suite, which comprise of separate apps for Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. The software will let people view Office documents stored on SkyDrive for free as long as users have an account with Microsoft, but only paid Office 365 users will be able to edit those files on their device, the report claims. The rumored release date is "late February or early March, with an Android version due in May."December 4, 2012During a speech at the Nasdaq OMX Investor Program, Skype CFO Bill Koefoed notes that Microsoft will have "more to say" on Office for the iPad and Surface, marking a beginning of the company simply not denying the rumors. December 11, 2012A report from The Next Web reports that Apple has rejected Microsoft's attempt to publish an application for SkyDrive on iOS, something AllThingsD later says is part of a larger scuffle between the two companies as Microsoft wanted to get a better revenue split to sell Office 365 subscriptions inside of Office for iOS -- something that is said to be holding up a release of Office on Apple's platform.April 2013After several months of quiet, CNET sister site ZDnet posts an alleged roadmap of Microsoft Office products with a launch for Android and iOS slated for October 2014. Interestingly enough, they come without mention of any tie-in to Office 365 subscriptions, just software.June 14, 2013Microsoft rolls out Office for iPhone, but not iPad or Android. Yet.
How to jailbreak your iOS 7 device
How to jailbreak your iOS 7 device
The evasi0n team is back with a jailbreak tool for iOS 7 devices. As you may recall, last year the same team released a tool for iOS 6 devices and it was extremely easy to use. That same tool has been repurposed and adapted to jailbreak iOS 7 devices. Specifically, you'll need to be running iOS 7.0 up to 7.0.4 in order for the tool to work. The process is nearly identical to the previous tool, requiring you to download and run the evasi0n app on your computer with your iOS device connected. This time, only a Windows and Mac version exists, leaving Linux users out. Before you begin, you'll need to make a backup of your device using iCloud or iTunes. Should you decide to use iTunes, make sure you click the little box to encrypt the backup (don't forget the password!), which speeds up the setup process if you need to restore your iOS device. Encrypting your backup stores your account passwords and eliminates the need to sign into every app and e-mail service currently on your device; similar to how iCloud handles backups. And of course, now is about the time I should warn you about jailbreaking your device. Whenever you alter official software on any device you run the risk of something going wrong, or features not working properly during or after the jailbreak. By jailbreaking your device, you're taking responsibility for anything bad happening. At the very worst you'll need to restore your device using DFU mode, which is a simple process. After backing up your device, disabling your passcode (which helps speed up the process and prevents bad things from happening during jailbreak), and downloading the evasi0n tool, install or run the program. Mac OS X users who receive a warning about the app being from an untrusted developer will have to right-click on the app's icon and select Open.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNETFrom there the process is as simple as following the prompts. Connect your iOS device, click on the jailbreak icon and wait. The longest part of the process is waiting for the evasi0n tool to place all of the required files and bundles onto your iOS device; including an evasi0n app icon. You may notice the app icon during the process but don't tap on it until you're prompted to. Your iOS device will reboot a few times during the process, you'll be prompted to unlock it once the reboot is finished, and finally you're asked to tap on the evasi0n app icon. Your device will reboot one last time and the jailbreak will be complete. You'll find Cydia installed and will be ready to start tweaking your device. Should anything go wrong, or if you decide jailbreaking isn't for you, you can always restore your device using the backup you created before you started. Make sure to read through the evasi0n troubleshooting guide if you encounter any roadblocks along the way.
The evasi0n team is back with a jailbreak tool for iOS 7 devices. As you may recall, last year the same team released a tool for iOS 6 devices and it was extremely easy to use. That same tool has been repurposed and adapted to jailbreak iOS 7 devices. Specifically, you'll need to be running iOS 7.0 up to 7.0.4 in order for the tool to work. The process is nearly identical to the previous tool, requiring you to download and run the evasi0n app on your computer with your iOS device connected. This time, only a Windows and Mac version exists, leaving Linux users out. Before you begin, you'll need to make a backup of your device using iCloud or iTunes. Should you decide to use iTunes, make sure you click the little box to encrypt the backup (don't forget the password!), which speeds up the setup process if you need to restore your iOS device. Encrypting your backup stores your account passwords and eliminates the need to sign into every app and e-mail service currently on your device; similar to how iCloud handles backups. And of course, now is about the time I should warn you about jailbreaking your device. Whenever you alter official software on any device you run the risk of something going wrong, or features not working properly during or after the jailbreak. By jailbreaking your device, you're taking responsibility for anything bad happening. At the very worst you'll need to restore your device using DFU mode, which is a simple process. After backing up your device, disabling your passcode (which helps speed up the process and prevents bad things from happening during jailbreak), and downloading the evasi0n tool, install or run the program. Mac OS X users who receive a warning about the app being from an untrusted developer will have to right-click on the app's icon and select Open.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNETFrom there the process is as simple as following the prompts. Connect your iOS device, click on the jailbreak icon and wait. The longest part of the process is waiting for the evasi0n tool to place all of the required files and bundles onto your iOS device; including an evasi0n app icon. You may notice the app icon during the process but don't tap on it until you're prompted to. Your iOS device will reboot a few times during the process, you'll be prompted to unlock it once the reboot is finished, and finally you're asked to tap on the evasi0n app icon. Your device will reboot one last time and the jailbreak will be complete. You'll find Cydia installed and will be ready to start tweaking your device. Should anything go wrong, or if you decide jailbreaking isn't for you, you can always restore your device using the backup you created before you started. Make sure to read through the evasi0n troubleshooting guide if you encounter any roadblocks along the way.
Amazon's Jeff Bezos- A passion for Kindle and digital content delivery
Amazon's Jeff Bezos: A passion for Kindle and digital content delivery
The Kindle is clearly a passion for Bezos. It follows on his love for selling books online, which was the origin of Amazon, and developing a new market for digital content delivered over wireless networks."We base our strategy on customer needs instead of what our skills are...Customers will eventually need things that you don't have skills for, so (you) need to renew yourself with new skills," Bezos said. If Amazon doesn't extend into new product categories, the company will get outmoded, he said. Bezos wouldn't disclose Kindle sales. "On a title-by-title basis, with 125,000 titles for Kindle, and you look at Amazon's physical sale of the same books, Kindle sales are more than 6 percent of the universe of 125,000 titles," he said. Amazon reduced the price of the $399 Kindle by 10 percent this week.While Bezos said he was happy with the sales of the Kindle, the price cut and the heavy promotion of the device on Amazon's site could mean sales aren't spectacular. The Kindle could be a meaningful financial component in Amazon's business, Bezos said, but he didn't put a figure on the Kindle's contribution to annual revenue.Regarding the fate of physical books, Bezos said the vast majority of books will be read electronically. Just as horses haven't gone away, books will be around, he quipped. "We see Kindle as an effort to improve the book, even though it hasn't changed in 500 years," he added. "You can't ever outbook the book, so you have to do things that you can't do with a book, such as in-stream dictionary lookup, changing fonts, and wireless delivery of content in 60 seconds," Bezos said. "We have to build something better than a physical book." Bezos said he did research into the smell of the book--glue, ink, and mildew. "We can never capture that," he said, adding that the container is not important; the narrative is. He wants to make long-form reading more frictionless so that people read more.Mossberg asked Bezos about adding new features to the Kindle and its utility as a Web browser. "There are things that fit into the Kindle form factor and don't interfere with the purpose of the device. But the device is not a cell phone or bunch of things. It should be able to browse the Web," he said. "If you were trying to build the perfect Web-browsing device, you wouldn't use electronic ink. It's not the right display technology for high-quality Web browsing." "You might say the Web is the most important book in the world," he added, but that's not something the Kindle is designed to read as well as other devices.Click here for full coverage of the D: All Things Digital conference.
The Kindle is clearly a passion for Bezos. It follows on his love for selling books online, which was the origin of Amazon, and developing a new market for digital content delivered over wireless networks."We base our strategy on customer needs instead of what our skills are...Customers will eventually need things that you don't have skills for, so (you) need to renew yourself with new skills," Bezos said. If Amazon doesn't extend into new product categories, the company will get outmoded, he said. Bezos wouldn't disclose Kindle sales. "On a title-by-title basis, with 125,000 titles for Kindle, and you look at Amazon's physical sale of the same books, Kindle sales are more than 6 percent of the universe of 125,000 titles," he said. Amazon reduced the price of the $399 Kindle by 10 percent this week.While Bezos said he was happy with the sales of the Kindle, the price cut and the heavy promotion of the device on Amazon's site could mean sales aren't spectacular. The Kindle could be a meaningful financial component in Amazon's business, Bezos said, but he didn't put a figure on the Kindle's contribution to annual revenue.Regarding the fate of physical books, Bezos said the vast majority of books will be read electronically. Just as horses haven't gone away, books will be around, he quipped. "We see Kindle as an effort to improve the book, even though it hasn't changed in 500 years," he added. "You can't ever outbook the book, so you have to do things that you can't do with a book, such as in-stream dictionary lookup, changing fonts, and wireless delivery of content in 60 seconds," Bezos said. "We have to build something better than a physical book." Bezos said he did research into the smell of the book--glue, ink, and mildew. "We can never capture that," he said, adding that the container is not important; the narrative is. He wants to make long-form reading more frictionless so that people read more.Mossberg asked Bezos about adding new features to the Kindle and its utility as a Web browser. "There are things that fit into the Kindle form factor and don't interfere with the purpose of the device. But the device is not a cell phone or bunch of things. It should be able to browse the Web," he said. "If you were trying to build the perfect Web-browsing device, you wouldn't use electronic ink. It's not the right display technology for high-quality Web browsing." "You might say the Web is the most important book in the world," he added, but that's not something the Kindle is designed to read as well as other devices.Click here for full coverage of the D: All Things Digital conference.
Retailer already selling iPhone 5 -- and at a discount
Retailer already selling iPhone 5 -- and at a discount
If you absolutely can't wait for the new iPhone 5 -- how dare they make you wait another two days just to preorder after months of hype, right? -- you may want to visit the digital Down Under.The 5 arrivesCNET's iPhone 5 reviewApple out to prove it's still kingPictures: Apple's big iPhone 5 revealHo-hum. iPhone 5 won't wow anyoneiPhone 5: No Steve Jobs, no sizzleiPhone 5: What we didn't getComparing the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Lumia 920Poll: Will you buy the iPhone 5?Apple springs leak - rumors were rightAn awful dock-connector changeApple shares up, down, then upStart your iOS 6 downloads September 19iOS 6 hits major marksApple reworks, simplifies iTunesNew iPod Touch: Siri and a 4-inch screenNew Nano: Remembering the iPod Mini Full coverage: The iPhone 5 arrivesAustralian retailer Kogan is already selling the unlocked version of the iPhone 5, and undercutting the retail price of the phone by A$100 while they're at it. That means A$699 (about $733) for the 16GB model. Of course, you'll have to tack on A$19 in shipping charges, and if you live outside Australia, you'll have to find someone there to forward it on, as it doesn't appear that Kogan is shipping outside the country.Oh yea, and the retailer also says it doesn't plan to dispatch the iPhones until September 21, the same time Apple Stores worldwide will begin selling the new skinny phone.So, you're really only getting the psychological benefit of having your order locked in a few days before Apple even starts taking down names for an iPhone 5, plus a little bit of savings. But if you're the kind of Apple fan willing to go to great lengths to get in line first, an early Kogan order receipt certainly comes with some bragging rights. Why not print out some extra copies and hand them out to all the folks standing in line at Apple Stores later this month so they can see what they have to look forward to? Surely they'll appreciate the encouragement -- but you may want to wear your running shoes just in case they take it the wrong way.
If you absolutely can't wait for the new iPhone 5 -- how dare they make you wait another two days just to preorder after months of hype, right? -- you may want to visit the digital Down Under.The 5 arrivesCNET's iPhone 5 reviewApple out to prove it's still kingPictures: Apple's big iPhone 5 revealHo-hum. iPhone 5 won't wow anyoneiPhone 5: No Steve Jobs, no sizzleiPhone 5: What we didn't getComparing the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Lumia 920Poll: Will you buy the iPhone 5?Apple springs leak - rumors were rightAn awful dock-connector changeApple shares up, down, then upStart your iOS 6 downloads September 19iOS 6 hits major marksApple reworks, simplifies iTunesNew iPod Touch: Siri and a 4-inch screenNew Nano: Remembering the iPod Mini Full coverage: The iPhone 5 arrivesAustralian retailer Kogan is already selling the unlocked version of the iPhone 5, and undercutting the retail price of the phone by A$100 while they're at it. That means A$699 (about $733) for the 16GB model. Of course, you'll have to tack on A$19 in shipping charges, and if you live outside Australia, you'll have to find someone there to forward it on, as it doesn't appear that Kogan is shipping outside the country.Oh yea, and the retailer also says it doesn't plan to dispatch the iPhones until September 21, the same time Apple Stores worldwide will begin selling the new skinny phone.So, you're really only getting the psychological benefit of having your order locked in a few days before Apple even starts taking down names for an iPhone 5, plus a little bit of savings. But if you're the kind of Apple fan willing to go to great lengths to get in line first, an early Kogan order receipt certainly comes with some bragging rights. Why not print out some extra copies and hand them out to all the folks standing in line at Apple Stores later this month so they can see what they have to look forward to? Surely they'll appreciate the encouragement -- but you may want to wear your running shoes just in case they take it the wrong way.
Hour of Code campaign urges students to learn to code (podcast)
Hour of Code campaign urges students to learn to code (podcast)
It's pretty unusual to see an issue supported by President Obama and House Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor -- as well as Apple and Microsoft -- but they're all backing Hour of Code,which aims to get 5 million students in 33,000 classrooms around the world to learn at least one hour of computer science this week.Sponsored by Code.org, the effort features entertainers Shakira, Ashton Kutcher, and Angela Bassett and athletes Chris Bosh, Warren Sapp, and Dwight Howard in videos supporting this cause. Tech luminaries including Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Google's Susan Wojcicki, and the late Steve Jobs also weigh in with messages on the importance of learning to code. Click here to view them.During the course of the week there will be Hour of Code Learning events at every major Apple store in the U.S. along with all 51 Microsoft retail stores. This is also Computer Science Education Week.In a recorded interview (scroll down to listen), Code.org co-founder Ali Partovi said that "only 5 percent of U.S. schools teach computer science today, and that number is down from where it was 10 years ago." He said that computer science education peaked around 2003/2004 for a variety of reasons including budget along with state education standards. "In the vast majority of U.S. states computer science does not count toward graduation. It counts as an elective." As money gets tight, schools are cutting computer science along with art and music.Pointing to the number of coding jobs not just in tech firms but hospitals, government, and all types of businesses, Partovi said that computer science "is the most empowering thing a kid could be learning, especially a kid from a disadvantage background." I didn't fact-check this, but he said that "a college graduate's first job in computer science makes more money than a doctor who's 10 years older." One thing I can't argue with is his statement that for disadvantaged youth, "the dream of becoming a computer programmer" is much more realistic than the odds of becoming an NBA player or a hip-hop star.Click below to listen to the interview with Ali Partovi and click here for a post and video about Hour of Code. PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
It's pretty unusual to see an issue supported by President Obama and House Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor -- as well as Apple and Microsoft -- but they're all backing Hour of Code,which aims to get 5 million students in 33,000 classrooms around the world to learn at least one hour of computer science this week.Sponsored by Code.org, the effort features entertainers Shakira, Ashton Kutcher, and Angela Bassett and athletes Chris Bosh, Warren Sapp, and Dwight Howard in videos supporting this cause. Tech luminaries including Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Google's Susan Wojcicki, and the late Steve Jobs also weigh in with messages on the importance of learning to code. Click here to view them.During the course of the week there will be Hour of Code Learning events at every major Apple store in the U.S. along with all 51 Microsoft retail stores. This is also Computer Science Education Week.In a recorded interview (scroll down to listen), Code.org co-founder Ali Partovi said that "only 5 percent of U.S. schools teach computer science today, and that number is down from where it was 10 years ago." He said that computer science education peaked around 2003/2004 for a variety of reasons including budget along with state education standards. "In the vast majority of U.S. states computer science does not count toward graduation. It counts as an elective." As money gets tight, schools are cutting computer science along with art and music.Pointing to the number of coding jobs not just in tech firms but hospitals, government, and all types of businesses, Partovi said that computer science "is the most empowering thing a kid could be learning, especially a kid from a disadvantage background." I didn't fact-check this, but he said that "a college graduate's first job in computer science makes more money than a doctor who's 10 years older." One thing I can't argue with is his statement that for disadvantaged youth, "the dream of becoming a computer programmer" is much more realistic than the odds of becoming an NBA player or a hip-hop star.Click below to listen to the interview with Ali Partovi and click here for a post and video about Hour of Code. PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
Samsung knocks Apple Maps in Sydney marketing stunt
Samsung knocks Apple Maps in Sydney marketing stunt
Nic Healey/CNET AustraliaThe lost vehicle and signage, of course, are referring to recent incidences of people getting stranded in a wilderness area around Australia's Murray-Sunset National Park instead of the town of Mildura after searching for the latter in Apple's Maps software.Over the weekend, local Australian police put out a notice encouraging iPhone owners to rely instead on paper maps or an alternate GPS system. The issue has since been fixed and attributed, in part, to a double listing in the national GPS database. Samsung's poke at Apple is just its most recent marketing attack. The company has put considerable resources into a TV advertising campaign knocking Apple's devices as under-featured, and those who shop for it as out of touch.The two companies continue to duke it out in the courtroom, with some of the fallout from the August verdict -- which found Samsung had infringed Apple's patents involving the iPhone and iPad -- to be determined over the next few weeks.
Nic Healey/CNET AustraliaThe lost vehicle and signage, of course, are referring to recent incidences of people getting stranded in a wilderness area around Australia's Murray-Sunset National Park instead of the town of Mildura after searching for the latter in Apple's Maps software.Over the weekend, local Australian police put out a notice encouraging iPhone owners to rely instead on paper maps or an alternate GPS system. The issue has since been fixed and attributed, in part, to a double listing in the national GPS database. Samsung's poke at Apple is just its most recent marketing attack. The company has put considerable resources into a TV advertising campaign knocking Apple's devices as under-featured, and those who shop for it as out of touch.The two companies continue to duke it out in the courtroom, with some of the fallout from the August verdict -- which found Samsung had infringed Apple's patents involving the iPhone and iPad -- to be determined over the next few weeks.
Samsung- Our price hike to Apple was scheduled
Samsung: Our price hike to Apple was scheduled
The 20 percent increase that Apple's now paying Samsung for the mobile processors it uses in iOS devices was scheduled at the beginning of this year and not simply payback for any legal losses, according to a new report. Seoul-based newspaper The Hankyorek (via The Street) reports that the two companies agreed on the new processor prices earlier this year, contradicting an earlier reportthat suggested Samsung strong-armed Apple into paying more when the iPhone and iPad maker could not find a replacement. The reported 20 percent increase brings a 1 percent to 2 percent hit on Apple's margins, according to an estimate from analyst firm Piper Jaffray. The processors, which are designed by Apple though currently made by Samsung, make up about 6 percent to 9 percent of the total cost of the devices, the firm said in a research note last night. Apple has invested in both chip companies and hires from other chipmakers to build up its own operations in recent years. That includes the creation of a new technologies group within the company, announced last month, which puts Apple's wireless and semiconductor teams together. A report last week suggested that Apple's goal is to roll its own chips not just in its portable devices, but also in its computers.Samsung declined to comment for this story.
The 20 percent increase that Apple's now paying Samsung for the mobile processors it uses in iOS devices was scheduled at the beginning of this year and not simply payback for any legal losses, according to a new report. Seoul-based newspaper The Hankyorek (via The Street) reports that the two companies agreed on the new processor prices earlier this year, contradicting an earlier reportthat suggested Samsung strong-armed Apple into paying more when the iPhone and iPad maker could not find a replacement. The reported 20 percent increase brings a 1 percent to 2 percent hit on Apple's margins, according to an estimate from analyst firm Piper Jaffray. The processors, which are designed by Apple though currently made by Samsung, make up about 6 percent to 9 percent of the total cost of the devices, the firm said in a research note last night. Apple has invested in both chip companies and hires from other chipmakers to build up its own operations in recent years. That includes the creation of a new technologies group within the company, announced last month, which puts Apple's wireless and semiconductor teams together. A report last week suggested that Apple's goal is to roll its own chips not just in its portable devices, but also in its computers.Samsung declined to comment for this story.
Apple debuts App Store volume purchase program
Apple debuts App Store volume purchase program
Apple is trying to make it easier for businesses to buy iOS applications for employees. The company yesterday quietly introduced a new App Store volume purchase program for businesses. In short, it lets companies buy paid applications in bulk, while providing tools to distribute, and keep track of who has gone through with installation."Whether you're purchasing apps for iPhone, iPad, or both, the Volume Purchase Program offers a simple and efficient method to purchase iOS apps from the App Store in volume for distribution within your organization," Apple wrote in its introductory guide (PDF) about the new program.The service has companies doing a search for paid applications or plugging in the direct link to an app from iTunes. Buyers can then pick out how many copies of an app they want (with no limit), which can be paid for all at once--even with a company credit card. When done, the buyer gets a spreadsheet with redemption codes, and a status notifier of whether the code has been taken. The program does not apply to applications that are free, which Apple says can be downloaded by users on their own. Apple is also requiring that businesses that want to enroll are registered with the Dun & Bradstreet database, and have their nine-digit DUNS number.Along with that program, Apple is also offering a way for businesses to sell customized business-to-business iOS apps in bulk using the same system. These apps, which have been customized for the buyer, are delivered the same way as public-facing apps(with redemption codes), and go through Apple's same app review process. Apple is currently limiting the volume purchasing program to U.S.-based businesses, and says its rollout is "coming soon." The company makes no mention of whether a similar program is coming to the Mac App Store, which sells desktop applications for Apple's Mac OS.The App Store volume purchase program joins Apple's iOS developer enterprise program, which gives large companies tools to build in-house iOS applications, then distribute them to employees without going through Apple's App Store. Apple also offers an App Store volume purchase program for educational institutions to buy iOS apps in volume, which it rolled out in August.(via Macrumors)
Apple is trying to make it easier for businesses to buy iOS applications for employees. The company yesterday quietly introduced a new App Store volume purchase program for businesses. In short, it lets companies buy paid applications in bulk, while providing tools to distribute, and keep track of who has gone through with installation."Whether you're purchasing apps for iPhone, iPad, or both, the Volume Purchase Program offers a simple and efficient method to purchase iOS apps from the App Store in volume for distribution within your organization," Apple wrote in its introductory guide (PDF) about the new program.The service has companies doing a search for paid applications or plugging in the direct link to an app from iTunes. Buyers can then pick out how many copies of an app they want (with no limit), which can be paid for all at once--even with a company credit card. When done, the buyer gets a spreadsheet with redemption codes, and a status notifier of whether the code has been taken. The program does not apply to applications that are free, which Apple says can be downloaded by users on their own. Apple is also requiring that businesses that want to enroll are registered with the Dun & Bradstreet database, and have their nine-digit DUNS number.Along with that program, Apple is also offering a way for businesses to sell customized business-to-business iOS apps in bulk using the same system. These apps, which have been customized for the buyer, are delivered the same way as public-facing apps(with redemption codes), and go through Apple's same app review process. Apple is currently limiting the volume purchasing program to U.S.-based businesses, and says its rollout is "coming soon." The company makes no mention of whether a similar program is coming to the Mac App Store, which sells desktop applications for Apple's Mac OS.The App Store volume purchase program joins Apple's iOS developer enterprise program, which gives large companies tools to build in-house iOS applications, then distribute them to employees without going through Apple's App Store. Apple also offers an App Store volume purchase program for educational institutions to buy iOS apps in volume, which it rolled out in August.(via Macrumors)
Apple counting down to 25 billion app downloads
Apple counting down to 25 billion app downloads
Apple's begun a countdown--or count up in this case--to its 25th billion app download.Earlier today the company launched a timer that sits on its front page, counting to the metric. The person who downloads the 25th billion app gets a $10,000 iTunes Store gift card. Last January Apple ran a similar promotion for the 10 billionth app sold, awarding an identical $10,000 gift card. That was a follow-up to the company's 2009 award to the person who downloaded the one billionth app. That first time was a bit more generous, with 13-year-old Connor Mulcahey nabbing a $10,000 iTunes gift card along with an iPod Touch, MacBook Pro and one of Apple's Time Capsule devices.As with previous editions of the contest, Apple's set it up so that people can enter without actually making any purchases or downloads from the App Store by filling out a form on this page. In years past, Apple offered similar promotions for purchased songs.Related storiesMac App Store downloads reach 100 millionApple: 18 billions apps have been downloadedApple App Store hits 15 billion downloadsThe acceleration in App Store downloads has been swift. The store hit 1 billion downloads in its first nine months, reaching 5 billion downloads in June 2010. By January 2011, the company tallied 10 billion downloads, a number that topped 18 billion in October.During the Apple's first quarter earnings call last month, the company said it's paid out more than $4 billion to developers, who get a 70 percent share of each purchase, with Apple taking the other 30.Apple's other App Store, the one for the Mac, crossed the 100 million download threshold in December after just shy of a year in business. When releasing that number the company mentioned the other App Store was currently bringing in around 1 billion downloads a month.
Apple's begun a countdown--or count up in this case--to its 25th billion app download.Earlier today the company launched a timer that sits on its front page, counting to the metric. The person who downloads the 25th billion app gets a $10,000 iTunes Store gift card. Last January Apple ran a similar promotion for the 10 billionth app sold, awarding an identical $10,000 gift card. That was a follow-up to the company's 2009 award to the person who downloaded the one billionth app. That first time was a bit more generous, with 13-year-old Connor Mulcahey nabbing a $10,000 iTunes gift card along with an iPod Touch, MacBook Pro and one of Apple's Time Capsule devices.As with previous editions of the contest, Apple's set it up so that people can enter without actually making any purchases or downloads from the App Store by filling out a form on this page. In years past, Apple offered similar promotions for purchased songs.Related storiesMac App Store downloads reach 100 millionApple: 18 billions apps have been downloadedApple App Store hits 15 billion downloadsThe acceleration in App Store downloads has been swift. The store hit 1 billion downloads in its first nine months, reaching 5 billion downloads in June 2010. By January 2011, the company tallied 10 billion downloads, a number that topped 18 billion in October.During the Apple's first quarter earnings call last month, the company said it's paid out more than $4 billion to developers, who get a 70 percent share of each purchase, with Apple taking the other 30.Apple's other App Store, the one for the Mac, crossed the 100 million download threshold in December after just shy of a year in business. When releasing that number the company mentioned the other App Store was currently bringing in around 1 billion downloads a month.
Apple closes gap on Samsung in smart connected devices
Apple closes gap on Samsung in smart connected devices
Apple is starting to catch up to Samsung Electronics when it comes to smart connected devices, or total sales of desktop PCs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets.That's according to IDC, which pegged leader Samsung at 21.2 percent of the market for smart connected devices as of the end of 2012, with No. 2 Apple just behind it at 20.3 percent.Given the premium price on its products, Apple already dominates Samsung from a revenue perspective. Apple captured 30.7 percent of the industry's total revenue, to Samsung's 20.4 percent share.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Samsung's diva actKodak patent complaints target Apple, RIM3D TV FAQVerizon Wireless revamps unlimited calling, data plans The smart connected devices industry grew nearly 30 percent in 2012, driven by a 78.4 percent jump in tablet sales. Total shipments of tablets surpassed 128 million units last year. IDC has high hopes for the tablet business; it's supposed to surpass sales of desktop PCs this year and laptops in 2014. Where desktops are expected to drop 4.3 percent and laptops fall slightly less, tablets are expected to grow by 48.7 percent. The smartphone business, which is starting to see slowing growth, will grow by 27.2 percent this year.It's in emerging markets where a majority of the growth is taking place. The total market grew 41.3 percent last year, driven by 111.3 percent growth in tablets. The more mature markets saw slower growth thanks to a drop in sales of desktop PCs, a trend expected to continue this year. "The pressure on the PC market is significantly increasing and we can see longer replacement cycles coming into effect very soon and that, too, will put downward pressure on PC sales," said Megha Saini, an analyst at IDC.IDC lays out its estimates for changes in the market for smart connected devices in terms of shipments and market share (units in millions).IDC
Apple is starting to catch up to Samsung Electronics when it comes to smart connected devices, or total sales of desktop PCs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets.That's according to IDC, which pegged leader Samsung at 21.2 percent of the market for smart connected devices as of the end of 2012, with No. 2 Apple just behind it at 20.3 percent.Given the premium price on its products, Apple already dominates Samsung from a revenue perspective. Apple captured 30.7 percent of the industry's total revenue, to Samsung's 20.4 percent share.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Samsung's diva actKodak patent complaints target Apple, RIM3D TV FAQVerizon Wireless revamps unlimited calling, data plans The smart connected devices industry grew nearly 30 percent in 2012, driven by a 78.4 percent jump in tablet sales. Total shipments of tablets surpassed 128 million units last year. IDC has high hopes for the tablet business; it's supposed to surpass sales of desktop PCs this year and laptops in 2014. Where desktops are expected to drop 4.3 percent and laptops fall slightly less, tablets are expected to grow by 48.7 percent. The smartphone business, which is starting to see slowing growth, will grow by 27.2 percent this year.It's in emerging markets where a majority of the growth is taking place. The total market grew 41.3 percent last year, driven by 111.3 percent growth in tablets. The more mature markets saw slower growth thanks to a drop in sales of desktop PCs, a trend expected to continue this year. "The pressure on the PC market is significantly increasing and we can see longer replacement cycles coming into effect very soon and that, too, will put downward pressure on PC sales," said Megha Saini, an analyst at IDC.IDC lays out its estimates for changes in the market for smart connected devices in terms of shipments and market share (units in millions).IDC
Apple closer to opening 'iconic' 'flagship' San Francisco store
Apple closer to opening 'iconic' 'flagship' San Francisco store
Apple is known for opening haute-design retail stores. There's the massive glass cube in New York City, the high-columned facade in Berlin, and the futuristic transparent cylinder in Shanghai. The company announced last May that it was planning to open the mother of all retail stores in San Francisco -- near its Silicon Valley home base. Of course, projects like these must go through copious planning meetings, blueprint revisions, and city approvals. But now, Apple is now one step closer to its vision. The San Francisco Planning Commission voted to accept Apple's plans (PDF) for its new store in the city's Union Square shopping district, according to 9to5Mac.Apple already has a retail store in the area, but the new store would be bigger and fancier. Designed by Foster + Partners, it would be a two-story, silver, box-shaped building with a floor-to-ceiling glass facade and light-filled walls. The new store would also reportedly employ 50 more people than its current store, which has 350 workers.An Apple spokesperson said the new store would be "a flagship" store and become "more iconic than the glass cube in New York City," according to 9to5Mac.While Apple is well on its way to getting the project off the ground, it still must be approved by San Francisco's Board of Supervisors.CNET contacted Apple for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.Here are some more renderings of the proposed store:Foster + PartnersFoster + PartnersFoster + Partners
Apple is known for opening haute-design retail stores. There's the massive glass cube in New York City, the high-columned facade in Berlin, and the futuristic transparent cylinder in Shanghai. The company announced last May that it was planning to open the mother of all retail stores in San Francisco -- near its Silicon Valley home base. Of course, projects like these must go through copious planning meetings, blueprint revisions, and city approvals. But now, Apple is now one step closer to its vision. The San Francisco Planning Commission voted to accept Apple's plans (PDF) for its new store in the city's Union Square shopping district, according to 9to5Mac.Apple already has a retail store in the area, but the new store would be bigger and fancier. Designed by Foster + Partners, it would be a two-story, silver, box-shaped building with a floor-to-ceiling glass facade and light-filled walls. The new store would also reportedly employ 50 more people than its current store, which has 350 workers.An Apple spokesperson said the new store would be "a flagship" store and become "more iconic than the glass cube in New York City," according to 9to5Mac.While Apple is well on its way to getting the project off the ground, it still must be approved by San Francisco's Board of Supervisors.CNET contacted Apple for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.Here are some more renderings of the proposed store:Foster + PartnersFoster + PartnersFoster + Partners
Apple closer to mass producing sapphire displays, report says
Apple closer to mass producing sapphire displays, report says
Speculation has been running rampant about Apple's plans for mobile devices with a sapphire screen. Those plans finally appear to be firming up, with 9to5Mac reporting Thursday that the electronics giant is getting ready for massive production of sapphire displays.9to5Mac, with the help of analyst Matt Margolis, unveiled that the iPhone maker recently placed a large order with GT Advanced Technologies for furnaces and chambers used in making sapphire displays. According to 9to5Mac, GT Advanced has already received 518 furnace and chamber systems, which would let it build 103 million to 116 million 5-inch displays per year. (Another 420 machines are still on order, which would nearly double that production output.) GT Advanced also has ordered Intego Sirius Sapphire Display Inspection Tool components, which would work to make sure that the displays meet high-quality standards, 9to5Mac reported.Apple late last year signed a contract with GT Advanced to produce sapphire-based materials at Apple's new facility in Arizona. Apple has already used sapphire for the surface of the rear camera lens for the iPhone 5 and the ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S. To be clear, when we're talking about displays made out of sapphire, we're referring to a manmade, synthetic version, not the actual gemstone. So what's all the fuss about? A future iPhone with a display made out of the material could render it scratch-resistant and nearly unbreakable. To put this in perspective, check out the video below that 9to5Mac posted earlier of a sapphire-coated iPhone display resisting scratches from a huge concrete block.
Speculation has been running rampant about Apple's plans for mobile devices with a sapphire screen. Those plans finally appear to be firming up, with 9to5Mac reporting Thursday that the electronics giant is getting ready for massive production of sapphire displays.9to5Mac, with the help of analyst Matt Margolis, unveiled that the iPhone maker recently placed a large order with GT Advanced Technologies for furnaces and chambers used in making sapphire displays. According to 9to5Mac, GT Advanced has already received 518 furnace and chamber systems, which would let it build 103 million to 116 million 5-inch displays per year. (Another 420 machines are still on order, which would nearly double that production output.) GT Advanced also has ordered Intego Sirius Sapphire Display Inspection Tool components, which would work to make sure that the displays meet high-quality standards, 9to5Mac reported.Apple late last year signed a contract with GT Advanced to produce sapphire-based materials at Apple's new facility in Arizona. Apple has already used sapphire for the surface of the rear camera lens for the iPhone 5 and the ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S. To be clear, when we're talking about displays made out of sapphire, we're referring to a manmade, synthetic version, not the actual gemstone. So what's all the fuss about? A future iPhone with a display made out of the material could render it scratch-resistant and nearly unbreakable. To put this in perspective, check out the video below that 9to5Mac posted earlier of a sapphire-coated iPhone display resisting scratches from a huge concrete block.
Apple cites Samsung doc as proof it wanted to copy iPhone
Apple cites Samsung doc as proof it wanted to copy iPhone
Apple is pointing to an internal Samsung document highlighting the weaknesses of the Galaxy S1 compared with the iPhone as further evidence that Samsung has copied its work. The document, a "relative evaluation report" on the Galaxy S1 and iPhone published in March 2010 and unearthed by Apple, highlights where Samsung's flagship phone fell short of the iPhone. The report looked at several different features, from the call screen to the browsing experience and even the difference in the calculator. Apple will draw on this document as proof that Samsung actively compared its products against the iPhone, and made strides to better mimic the blockbuster device. Samsung, however, would argue that it does opposition research against all of its major rivals. "Samsung benchmarks many peer companies," the company said in a statement. "In fact, these are typical competitive analyses routinely undertaken by many companies in many industries - including Apple."At the time, of course, there was no bigger rival than Apple and its iPhone. While Android was still getting under way, Apple was the undisputed champ in the smartphone arena. According to the report, Samsung found 27 items under basic function that fell short against the iPhone, including the efficient and effective use of the screen real estate. It also found 22 items under visual interaction effects, such as the effect for saving mail and screen transitions, and noted that the Galaxy S1 had fewer effects aside from the major menus. Other categories included browsing, messaging and multimedia, with various deficiencies listed. While the Galaxy S1 was a modest success in the U.S., it was popular globally, and helped lay the foundation for the more successful Galaxy S2 and the current flagship Galaxy S3, which has become a blockbuster phone at nearly every U.S. carrier. Updated at 1:38 p.m. PT: to include a response from Samsung.Here's the Samsung document that Apple is citing:App-Sam Court Doc
Apple is pointing to an internal Samsung document highlighting the weaknesses of the Galaxy S1 compared with the iPhone as further evidence that Samsung has copied its work. The document, a "relative evaluation report" on the Galaxy S1 and iPhone published in March 2010 and unearthed by Apple, highlights where Samsung's flagship phone fell short of the iPhone. The report looked at several different features, from the call screen to the browsing experience and even the difference in the calculator. Apple will draw on this document as proof that Samsung actively compared its products against the iPhone, and made strides to better mimic the blockbuster device. Samsung, however, would argue that it does opposition research against all of its major rivals. "Samsung benchmarks many peer companies," the company said in a statement. "In fact, these are typical competitive analyses routinely undertaken by many companies in many industries - including Apple."At the time, of course, there was no bigger rival than Apple and its iPhone. While Android was still getting under way, Apple was the undisputed champ in the smartphone arena. According to the report, Samsung found 27 items under basic function that fell short against the iPhone, including the efficient and effective use of the screen real estate. It also found 22 items under visual interaction effects, such as the effect for saving mail and screen transitions, and noted that the Galaxy S1 had fewer effects aside from the major menus. Other categories included browsing, messaging and multimedia, with various deficiencies listed. While the Galaxy S1 was a modest success in the U.S., it was popular globally, and helped lay the foundation for the more successful Galaxy S2 and the current flagship Galaxy S3, which has become a blockbuster phone at nearly every U.S. carrier. Updated at 1:38 p.m. PT: to include a response from Samsung.Here's the Samsung document that Apple is citing:App-Sam Court Doc
Apple changes bylaws, facing criticism over diversity
Apple changes bylaws, facing criticism over diversity
Apple has pledged to consider putting more women and minorities on its board of directors, adding language to its corporate charter that states the company's intentions."The nominating committee is committed to actively seeking out highly qualified women and individuals from minority groups to include in the pool from which board nominees are chosen," the charter (PDF) now says, though it doesn't make any concrete promises. The statement has been on the company's proxy for several years, but not on its charter.The addition comes after criticism from shareholders Trillium Asset Management and the Sustainability Group, according to Bloomberg. The groups said they were disappointed the company has only one woman on its board and one female executive reporting to CEO Tim Cook. Former Avon CEO Andrea Jung sits on Apple's board, while former Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts will be the only female executive reporting to Cook when she begins her job as retail chief this year. "There is a general problem with diversity at the highest echelon of Apple," Jonas Kron, director of shareholder advocacy at Trillium, told Bloomberg. "It's all white men."Shareholders met with the company several times in the past few months about their diversity concerns, according to Bloomberg. The groups intended to bring the issue to a vote at the company's annual shareholder meeting in February, but relented after the corporate charter was altered.Diversity at the world's largest technology companies has been a hot-button topic of late. Twitter faced criticism for its lack of a female board member right before it went public late last year. The company added Marjorie Scardino, the former CEO of Pearson, to its board in December. Representatives at Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. We'll update this post if we hear back.
Apple has pledged to consider putting more women and minorities on its board of directors, adding language to its corporate charter that states the company's intentions."The nominating committee is committed to actively seeking out highly qualified women and individuals from minority groups to include in the pool from which board nominees are chosen," the charter (PDF) now says, though it doesn't make any concrete promises. The statement has been on the company's proxy for several years, but not on its charter.The addition comes after criticism from shareholders Trillium Asset Management and the Sustainability Group, according to Bloomberg. The groups said they were disappointed the company has only one woman on its board and one female executive reporting to CEO Tim Cook. Former Avon CEO Andrea Jung sits on Apple's board, while former Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts will be the only female executive reporting to Cook when she begins her job as retail chief this year. "There is a general problem with diversity at the highest echelon of Apple," Jonas Kron, director of shareholder advocacy at Trillium, told Bloomberg. "It's all white men."Shareholders met with the company several times in the past few months about their diversity concerns, according to Bloomberg. The groups intended to bring the issue to a vote at the company's annual shareholder meeting in February, but relented after the corporate charter was altered.Diversity at the world's largest technology companies has been a hot-button topic of late. Twitter faced criticism for its lack of a female board member right before it went public late last year. The company added Marjorie Scardino, the former CEO of Pearson, to its board in December. Representatives at Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. We'll update this post if we hear back.
Apple design chief wants to work on.cups
Before coming on board at Apple, Sir Jonathan Ive was designing and pitching toilets as part of consultancy outfit Tangerine.It appears the man, who has since designed the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad (to name a few) sees an opportunity to put a dent in the drinking cup industry as well.In an interview alongside fellow Apple Senior Vice President Craig Federighi (who leads Apple's software teams) with USA Today, Ive noted that he'd "like to design cups" if he were not designing gadgets for Apple.The casual remark came at the end of a rare interview with the two execs, who also spoke with Bloomberg and are pushing the benefits of the internal collaboration within Apple since its top-level reorganization last October.Such collaboration led to the new fingerprint-scanning technology found in the company's iPhone 5S, Federighi told USA Today. "You can't get this without working cross-functionally," Federighi said, adding that it could have been botched if done with too much bravado. "You know, you're going to have some big message saying 'Scanning!' and buzz-buzz-zzz-zzz later it says 'Authenticated,' blink-blink-blink, with 10 seconds of animation...Ultimately we realized all that had to disappear." The interview comes hours before Apple's new iPhones go on sale. In the US, that begins Friday morning.You can read the whole interview here.
Apple demos Passbook, a ticket, coupon organizer for iOS 6
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's iOS 6 includes a new Passbook feature that lets users store and quickly access electronic versions of all their tickets, boarding passes, and merchant cards in one place, executives said during WWDC 2012 today. In a demo, Scott Forstall, senior vice president of iPhone Software, showed how to use the feature with a San Francisco Giants ticket. The feature will work with things like Starbucks cards, Apple Store cards, and plane tickets, as well. Passbook is dynamic, so users will be notified of flight delays and gate changes, he said.Passbook is integrated with the lock screen so that when the device is near a movie theater, for instance, a message pops up alerting the user that he or she has a ticket or rewards card that can be redeemed. When a user wants to delete a card, a shredder "shreds" it virtually. 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.Play
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