News Archive for 12/06/15

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Apple posts WWDC keynote to YouTube, iTunes

06/15, 10:03pm

Available up to 1080p, intros new MacBooks

Apple has made its WWDC keynote, delivered on Monday, available to YouTube (at up to 1080p resolution) and available on iTunes as a podcast in both standard and HD editions. The nearly two-hour presentation introduced a number of new Apple products and announcements, including the Retina MacBook Pros, new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, the formal announcement of iOS 6 and more.

Ex-Goldman exec convicted on Apple, Intel insider trading

06/15, 9:54pm

Gupta convicted on four counts, acquitted on two

Today, a federal Jury convicted Rajat Kumar Gupta of trading inside information in a case that involved Intel, Apple, and other technology firms. Out of a six total charges, prosecutors secured convictions on four, and Gupta was acquitted of two. The Wall Street Journal reports that Gupta -- a former director at Goldman Sachs and Proctor & Gamble -- is the most prominent figure yet caught in the government's efforts to stem the flow of insider information to Wall Street.

FCC requests comments on US cellphone RF exposure limits

06/15, 9:00pm

Normal review process, no word if a change in limits is planned

The Federal Communications Commision is taking a closer look at cell phone safety standards and radiation exposure. The FCC wants to see if the 15-year-old rules on exposure or how safety communications information is relayed to the public need to be updated. A request for comments on the issue is expected before the end of June, but no deadline for remarks has been set.

Samsung QWERTY slider seen bearing T-Mobile branding

06/15, 8:17pm

Samsung SGH-T699 slider appears bound for T-Mobile

A Samsung smartphone known only as SGH-T699 has shown up in leaked photos, and it appears bound for T-Mobile's network. The photos, obtained by TmoNews, show a handset with a 720p touchscreen that slides up in portrait mode to reveal a hardware QWERTY keyboard. Little else is known about the device's capabilities or spec sheet.

Facebook CTO exits for unnamed startup

06/15, 8:05pm

Two subordinates named to assume duties

Facebook's chief technology officer Bret Taylor is leaving his post at the social network later this summer. The executive was previously in charge of both platform and mobile development at Facebook. Two of Taylor's subordinates will be taking over his job -- Mike Vernal wil be taking over platform development and Cory Ondreijka will be at the head of mobile.

Podcasts out of iTunes, dedicated app on the way?

06/15, 7:47pm

Podcasts said to get closer focus in iOS 6

The forthcoming release of Apple's iOS 6 mobile operating system may contain a change for podcasts that the tech giant didn't reveal at WWDC. Sources tell AllThingsD that Apple is planning to is planning to roll out a new native app with a specific focus on podcasts.

HTC One S for T-Mobile now $99 at Best Buy

06/15, 7:23pm

Two-year contract required, runs Android 4.0

Best Buy is now offering the HTC One S on T-Mobile for $99, half off the original price when it debuted on the network in April. Off-contract, the handset still sells for its regular price of $650.

NPD: 13.3-inch MacBook Pro to get Retina display in Q4

06/15, 6:59pm

Four million 13-inch, two million 15.4-inch for 2012

Analyst firm NPD claims that Apple is set to expand its high-resolution MacBook Pro line with a 13.3-inch offering. In a blog post, NPD revealed findings from its examination of the ODM supply chain, which indicate that a 13.3-inch high-resolution display is already being produced in large quantities. The report also estimates that Apple will be producing fewer than two million 15.4-inch Retina MacBook Pros this year.

Vizio releases new all-in-one, notebook and ultrabooks

06/15, 6:26pm

Vizio expanding from HDTVs to home computers

Vizio, known for their HDTVs, has put its previously announced PC line up for sale today. Two portables called the Notebook and the Thin+Light, along with the desk-bound All-In-One PC, are the producer's first foray into computers, which it revealed at CES earlier this year.

Verizon Droid Razr, Razr Maxx update imminent

06/15, 6:06pm

Verizon said sending notifications to customers

Verizon customers that own the Droid Razr or Droid Razr Maxx will soon get an update to the latest version of Google's mobile OS. Android news site Phandroid has received reports from readers who claim to have received Verizon notifications of a forthcoming Android 4.0 update.

Facebook challenges IPO lawsuit merit, moves to consolidate

06/15, 5:50pm

Claims NASDAQ technical issues to blame, not malfeasance

Social network leader Facebook has filed paperwork in New York courts to consolidate the more than 40 lawsuits focused on the company's initial stock public offering. Facebook and the banks supervising the IPO outlined their upcoming defense against the lawsuits—Nasdaq will be blamed for part of the botched first day of trading. Both the social network and the involved banks deny any wrongdoing, and claim that their actions were not out of the ordinary.

WSJ: Microsoft buys Yammer for $1.2 billion

06/15, 5:45pm

No confirmation yet on social media acquisition

Sources familiar with the matter have told The Wall Street Journal that Microsoft has agreed to acquire enterprise social networking company Yammer. The software giant is said to be purchasing Yammer for $1.2 billion, though the acquisition has yet to be completed and there is no information on when it will be announced. The Journal's confirmation comes a day after news of negotiations between the two companies first emerged.

Sony Tablet P Android 4.0 update now available

06/15, 5:31pm

Update, scheduled for May, arrives late

Owners of Sony's Tablet P can now receive an update to the latest version of Android. The update to Android 4.0.3, announced on Sony's developer blog, brings drag-and-drop folder creation and improved multi-tasking, among other features. The update arrives later than had been expected, and nearly two months after Sony's Tablet S received its Android update.

Rumor: Microsoft has own tablet, will unveil next week

06/15, 3:34pm

Microsoft-made device said to run Windows RT

The "major announcement" Microsoft has planned for next week may well be focused on its own branded tablet. Sources knowledgeable of the company's operations have told entertainment news site The Wrap that the event, scheduled for Monday afternoon somewhere in Los Angeles, will be the coming out party for a Windows RT tablet.

Early Retina MacBook Pro orders arrive [First Look Images]

06/15, 3:11pm

Includes built-to-order systems

Some online orders of the Retina MacBook Pro are already beginning to arrive, MacNN readers say. This includes built-to-order machines, which normally require extra preparation time. Shipments are in fact arriving early in some circumstances; a number of orders are only officially scheduled for delivery early next week.

Microsoft ports Kinectimals and My Xbox Live to Android

06/15, 3:10pm

Ported apps could be seen as stepping stone for SmartGlass

Kinectimals, Microsoft's first game on iOS, has made its way to Google's mobile platform. The release schedule appears to follow Microsoft's habit of bringing titles to iOS before Android, as demonstrated by the My Xbox Live launch earlier this week. The company has also released an update to its My Xbox Live app for iOS.

T-Mobile details LTE rollout plans, summer field-testing

06/15, 2:45pm

Modernizing 2500 cell sites by end of July

T-Mobile has detailed its network improvement plans, including LTE rollout for 2013. The carrier is preparing to modernize 37,000 cell sites, including several thousand to be revamped this summer. Additional HSPA+ expansion will occur ahead of LTE trials this summer, before the company formally deploys LTE service next year.

Working Apple I sells for almost $375,000 at Sotheby's

06/15, 2:01pm

Functioning status dramatically boosts value

A working Apple I computer has sold for $374,500 at a Friday Sotheby's auction, the BBC reports. The figure is over twice Sotheby's high estimate, and is the largest ever for an Apple I. Sotheby's commented that two parties ended up battling for the item: one through the auctioneer, acting on behalf of the absent collector, while the victor was a telephone bidder. Neither party has been identified publicly.

Sonos to ship Sub wireless subwoofer on June 19

06/15, 1:28pm

Wireless sub connects to existing Sonos systems

Sonos has announced that its wireless subwoofer, the Sonos Sub, is set to ship on June 19. The speaker, which is designed to work with the company's other amplified systems with wireless support, features single-button setup and a resin cabinet built with inward-facing speaker cones to eliminate buzz and rattle.

Apple patent would allow swappable camera parts on devices

06/15, 12:53pm

Potential device plans still a mystery

A newly-published Apple patent application would allow people to swap out parts on mobile devices, specifically lenses, notes Patently Apple. "The digital imaging subsystem is typically enclosed within the case of the device to protect the digital imaging subsystem," Apple writes. "The enclosure generally prevents direct access to the lens of the digital imaging subsystem for the purpose of providing any sort of supplementary optics, especially if the supplementary optics must be precisely aligned with the image sensor...It would be desirable to provide a structure for a compact device that allows the end user to reconfigure the optical arrangement of the device while retaining the benefits of assembling the device using a pre-assembled digital imaging subsystem."

Forum roundup: troubleshooting and more

06/15, 12:21pm

Current forum topics.

"I can't get my MacBook Pro to boot off [the] optical drive" says one Mac Elite earlier today in the MacNN forums, read more here. Also today, Fresh-Faced Recruit "herdsofbirds" reports having problems with the keyboard not working on login, and has turned to the forums for some advice.

Apple refurbs: Mac mini, MacBook Pro and more

06/15, 12:19pm

Low prices on refurbished Macs.

At Apple's online store today, buyers can save money on refurbished Mac minis, MacBook Pros and more. The refurbished Mac mini with a 2.5GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive is now $699 after a $100 price cut. A $170 price break is available on the refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.4GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive, now $929.

Chip suppliers stocking up for next-gen iPhone, report says

06/15, 10:52am

Chip suppliers stocking up for next-gen iPhone, report says

A number of chip makers have already started stocking parts intended to be used in production of Apple's next-generation iPhone, according to industry sources for DigiTimes. Qualcomm and Broadcom are said to be producing 4G and Wi-Fi chips using a 28nm process at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. OmniVision is also said to be hunting for production at TSMC's 12-inch fab, contributing to limited production capacity. OmniVision specializes in camera components, and has supplied cameras for Apple handhelds in the past.

Carat app offers smartphone users longer battery life

06/15, 9:37am

Carat checks for power hogs, bugs to improve battery life

Carat, a new app for iOS (Free, iTunes) and Android (Free, Google Play), has been designed to give users a personalized set of recommendations on their app usage to help extend their battery life. Developed by a team of UC Berkeley researchers, the free app collects data in the background and requires a few days of collection before it can offer recommendations. The anonymous crowd sourced data is sent back to UC Berkeley servers where complex algorithms are applied and a user’s results compared with others before the recommendations are offered.

Braven intros daisy-chaining Bluetooth speaker range

06/15, 8:03am

Braven unveils multi-talented Bluetooth speaker line up

Braven has taken the wraps offits new SIX Series Bluetooth speaker range. Designed for smartphone users, the range comprises the Braven 650, 625S and the 600. In addition to being to be daisy-chained to create a larger sound stage, the speakers can also double as a mobile charger over a built-in USB port as the video embedded below demonstrates.

DealNN roundup: 1.6GHz MacBook Air, only $999

06/15, 7:12am

Deals on MacBook Airs, MacBook Pros, and more

Today's deals from DealNN include price breaks on MacBook Airs, MacBook Pros, and more. Macmall.com has recently dropped the price of the 11.6-inch, 1.6GHz MacBook Air, complete with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of Flash storage, dual-Core Intel Core i5 processor, and Max OS X Lion operating system. Currently featured at DealNN, the MacBook Air can now be purchased for $999.99 and offers savings of up to $199.

Briefly: Dropbox, Temple Run: Brave, iTunes Connect updated

06/15, 2:53am

Dropbox iOS app updated to 1.5, adds photo, video

Cloud storage site Dropbox expanded its capabilities on Thursday, updating its iOS app (free) to add video and photo uploading, along with a new Gallery view that for some users may offer an alternative to the soon-to-close Mobile Me photo gallery. Users willing to test the service can earn additional free storage space, up to a limit of 3GB, and can upload from either Wi-Fi or cellular. Users can tag pictures and share them through the use of a public link as they can with other files stored on Dropbox. The new feature was previously available on the Android version of the app.

Apple Canada sued for demise of three-year-old Time Capsule

06/15, 2:30am

Lawyer loses Time Capsule backup, iPhone data

Lawyer Perminder S. Tung, a resident of Surrey, British Columbia, has filed a lawsuit against Apple Canada for the demise of his nearly three-year-old Time Capsule. According to the court documents filed earlier this week, Tung accuses Apple of being in breach of contract for failure to provide promised services and goods, and is seeking over $25,000 in damages for the failure of the networking device and the loss of the "sole backup" of his iPhone, containing irreplaceable "information and memories" not stored anyplace other than the phone and the router.

Kodak and Apple clash in NY bankruptcy court

06/15, 1:00am

Patents from QuickTake ownership in dispute

Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court Judge Allen L. Gropper denied Eastman Kodak's assertion that Apple has no interest in patents it is trying to sell in a bankruptcy proceeding on Thursday. The judge ruled that Kodak can either schedule a trial to clear the patent dispute, sell the patents and give Apple a share of the proceeds, or pass the dispute onto any patent purchaser that may materialize.