Apple's developer website hacked

developers informing them that its developer website was attacked by an outsider last week, AllThingsD reports. The company has stated in the mail that it was due to an intruder’s intervention that it had to shut its developer’s website. On the safety front, Apple has claimed that since the database and information regarding developer’s sensitive personal details had been saved in an encrypted format, these could not be misused by the intruder. Though, it has also mentioned that the attacker might have been able to access developers name, mailing addresses, and/or email addresses.
Apple’s developer site had been shut since Thursday and it had initially said it was down for maintenance, only now revealing the real cause. According to the note sent to developers, the website will remain shut for security reasons, and will be unavailable until the company hardens the security and provides a better safety system. The note also includes that they are “completely overhauling our developer systems, updating our server software, and rebuilding our entire database.”
Apple has not mentioned any detail on when exactly will it reopen for the developers, and has stated that “we expect to have the developer website up again soon.”
The website is updated now, and is reopened for users.
The Apple developer site can be used by developers to get access to iOS 7, OS X Mavericks and other software development kits. It also guides developers in putting their apps to beta testers, and comes with developer-only forums.
Here is the note sent out to the developers:
Apple Developer Website Update

Last Thursday, an intruder attempted to secure personal information of our registered developers from our developer website. Sensitive personal information was encrypted and cannot be accessed, however, we have not been able to rule out the possibility that some developers’ names, mailing addresses, and/or email addresses may have been accessed. In the spirit of transparency, we want to inform you of the issue. We took the site down immediately on Thursday and have been working around the clock since then.
In order to prevent a security threat like this from happening again, we’re completely overhauling our developer systems, updating our server software, and rebuilding our entire database. We apologize for the significant inconvenience that our downtime has caused you and we expect to have the developer website up again soon. Apple’s developer site also houses sensitive financial information, which is encrypted.

Apple logo is seen in this file photo. AP

Computer and software giant Apple said that it took its software developers' website offline after it was hacked, warning that personal information about them may have been stolen. Apple said on Sunday that no customer information had been compromised, but was unable to rule out the possibility that some developers’ names, mailing addresses, and email addresses may have been accessed.

An Apple spokesman said the website that was breached was not associated with any customer information.

It remained unclear how much, if any, data was compromised or who the attackers were. Apple would not comment on their identity.

“Sensitive personal information was encrypted and cannot be accessed. However, we have not been able to rule out the possibility that some developers’ names, mailing addresses, and/or email addresses may have been accessed,” Apple told developers on its website.

“To prevent a security threat like this from happening again, we’re completely overhauling our developer systems, updating our server software, and rebuilding our entire database,” Apple said in a statement, adding that the developer website will be up and running soon.

The company also told developers that their membership, if set to expire, has been extended and all third-party apps will remain on Apple’s app store for the duration.

Apple buys Hopstop , reply to Google's acquisition to Waze

HopStop, is a leading location-based service, providing free door-to-door mass transit, walking, biking, and taxi directions for over 1,000 transit agencies in over 750 cities throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Russia, Israel, Australia and New Zealand. HopStop pioneered the pedestrian navigation market, and is the #1 ranked transit app in the Apple App Store for both iPhone and iPad as well as the #1 ranked transit app for Android in Google Play and the Amazon App Store. . Beyond just going back to the drawing board, it looks like Apple is bringing in plenty of outside (and well-known) help to fix its mobile mapping app. Apple agreed to buy online transit-navigation service HopStop.com Inc., people with knowledge of the deal said, seeking to improve mapping tools after a rocky debut for its directions software last year. The people asked not to be identified because the deal isn’t public. AllThingsD reported yesterday that Cupertino, California-based Apple is purchasing Locationary Inc., a Toronto-based company focused on business-location maps. New mapping software Apple debuted in September with the iPhone 5 has been faulted for getting users lost and for its lack of public-transportation directions. HopStop shows users in more than 500 cities the fastest way to travel by foot, bike, subway and car; Locationary deploys real-time data from a variety of sources to help users find featured businesses. Apple, which touted the map features as a key software change in the iPhone 5, built its navigation application amid a growing battle with Google Inc. (GOOG), which had provided mapping data since the iPhone was introduced in 2007. Apple built the replacement app in part because it wanted to scale back its relationship with Google, not because of any product flaws, two people familiar with Apple’s mapping product said last year. Google unveiled its mapping application for the iPhone and iPad in December. Google Maps is the most popular free program in Apple’s App Store. HopStop ranks No. 7 among free navigation tools. HopStop, based in New York, provides directions for more than 140 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. and six other countries, according to its website. Google, seeking to seeking to keep rivals from eroding its lead in mobile-navigation, acquired Waze Inc. last month. The developer, whose mobile app solicits input from about 50 million users to improve directions and display traffic and road-hazard details. The acquisitions reflect a widening rift between the two companies as they court mobile users. After Apple introduced its mapping software and met with customer complaints, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook apologized for the “frustration” in September, vowing to improve the program and suggesting alternative apps. Google has been building out its online mapping software since 2005, using cars and satellites to accumulate data that helps improve its accuracy and reliability. To catch up, Apple can use location data collected from customers using its maps to improve the service. Apple’s map software includes a feedback feature for users to report inaccurate directions and other bugs.

Apple hasn't commented publicly on the matter yet, and financial details are unknown. Unlike some other big names in the Valley , Apple doesn't make a lot of acquisitions. So when they happen, suffice to say they are much more calculated and offer a glimpse into the business strategy of one of the most notoriously private (from a media perspective) companies in the business world. But if accurate, it gives analysts, the media and end users alike a better idea of what direction (bad pun intended) the Cupertino company is going with its mapping strategy. It's an understatement to say that these services would give a much needed boost to iOS Maps -- let alone put Apple on a better footing to compete with Google Maps. To recall, Apple Maps presented one of the more public mishaps in the current Tim Cook era. Arguably the iOS 6 app was rushed out far before it was ready given the magnitude of reportsabout frequently incorrect directions. The situation became so messy and infuriated users to the point that it prompted an apology from the CEO and even nods to other digital mapping services  given front door space on iTunes. One of the quick fix efforts included hiring a crack team of new developers last fall, and the app issaid to have improved somewhat since then based on industry reports. We could see a full turnaround (yes, another bad pun) for Apple Maps on iOS 7 -- possibly thanks to the resources brought in by these reported acquisitions. Apple is beefing up its mapping prowess with the purchase of Hopstop, a popular city transit application. Apple confirmed the acquisition to ABC News this afternoon. "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said in a statement provided to ABC News. Hopstop, which has iPhone, Android and Web applications, provides detailed subway, bus and taxi directions in 600 cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, Moscow and Paris. Transit directions have been one of the major missing components fromApple's Maps app, which was released last year to replace Google Maps in iOS 6 and on the iPhone 5. Google has also been hard at work improving its maps applications. Earlier this week, the company released new version of its app for the iPhone and iPad, which included a new "explore" feature for finding points of interest, as well as new traffic warnings. In June, Google bought social-traffic app Waze. Google Maps has already incorporated transit data for hundreds of cities around the world

Apple share falls in India , planning to sell 50% of iPhones through Apple retail store

Smartphone maker Apple has seen a sharp fall in its India sales during the first three months of 2013, a trend that analysts say might persist as the California-based company looks to make deeper inroads into world's third-largest smartphone market.  Sales in India had soared soon after the November launch of iPhone 5, the latest iteration of Apple's smartphone. In an uncharacteristic move, Apple followed up with a sustained marketing campaign, advertising discounts schemes and monthly instalment options for customers in India, where its phones are seen as too expensive.  "The October-December quarter was an exceptional one for iPhone, but that hasn't been the case since then," said Manasi Yadav, who tracks India's smartphone market for researcher IDC. According toIDC data, iPhone sales have been on a downward trend after the robust sales in response to the marketing campaign and financing schemes.  Between January and March, Apple sold some 120,000 iPhones in India, down from the 230,000 in the October-December quarter of last year, according to IDC. That translated into its share falling from 4.7% to 2.1%. In India, Apple faces competition from South Korean rival Samsung as well as local brands such as Micromax and Karbonn, all of which are among the top three in terms of market share.  Apple did not reply to emailed queries seeking its views. Marketing blitz, discounts fail to sustainApple iPhone sales in India "The initial buzz around Apple is over," said Faisal Kawoosa, analyst at market researcher CyberMedia Research, who remarked that iPhone sales have been falling in the past two-three months as well.  Samsung, which has a 40% share of the smartphone market in India, had responded to Apple's marketing and sales moves with its own offers of discounts and financing schemes.  Even globally, Apple has been facing increasing criticism about the absence of new device launches that could help the company continue its popularity among users.  Since the launch of iPhone 5, the company's stock has fallen nearly 40%. Analysts have also been awaiting clarity from Apple's management about its strategy to gain in emerging markets such as China and India.  Research firm Strategy Analytics estimates that nearly 10 million smartphones were sold in India during the first three months of 2013, making it third-largest market after the US and China.  Apple's slowdown is also impacting its large national distributors such as Redington, which sold some Rs 1,100 crore worth of iPhone in the last five months of 2012. An analyst with a foreign brokerage that tracks the Chennai-headquartered distributor said that he estimates this to fall to as low as Rs 800 crore in 2013 on account of waning demand for the device. Sales of iPhones make up some 7% of Redington's revenue.  According to Kawoosa, the discounts and EMI schemes may have affected Apple's brand image among high-end smartphone users. "Apple has a certain image and it is not the sort of brand that gives you huge discounts. I think they went after market share at cost of diluting brand value and this was clearly a short-sighted strategy." The company has recently begun a retail initiative in hopes of boosting sales of the iPhone at Apple Stores, rather than having customers obtain their handset through carrier partners or smartphone resellers. One approach being attempted by the company has its retail employees talking to customers about upgrade opportunities if they bring in their iPhone to a Genius Bar for repairs. Currently, about half of all iPhones that need repair are serviced at a Genius Bar, and Cook would like to see sales figures match that share for Apple retail. But Cook's goals may not be realistic, according to new data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, detailed on Wednesday by AllThingsD. That's because Apple's retail locations are already well-trafficked, and an influx of new sales may not be possible without a major increase in locations and employees. "We don't see how their mostly jammed stores can handle more customers, sales associates and inventory," CIRP co-founder Michael Levin said to reporter John Paczkowski. CIRP's latest data shows that the share of iPhones sold through Apple retail stores in the U.S. is currently less than 15 percent, having steadily declined from 20 percent since the launch of the iPhone 5 last September. About 30 percent of U.S. iPhones are sold through Apple's largest carrier partner, AT&T, while Verizon's share is just north of 20 percent as of June 30. Apple's sub-15-percent share comes in third, while carriers T-Mobile and Sprint are clustered with retailer Best Buy at around 10 percent of iPhone sales. CIRP also revealed that 90 percent of first-time iPhone buyers purchase Apple's smartphone at a carrier store or reseller — not an Apple Store. Apple's hope is that driving iPhone sales through its own stores will increase the handset's "halo" effect, which drives customers to buy other products from the company. For example, CIRP's data shows that 52 percent of iPhone buyers at an Apple Store own an iPad, and 30 percent own a Mac laptop. In contrast, just 37 percent of iPhone buyers at a carrier own an iPad, and 20 percent have a Mac laptop. To further its efforts to bring in more iPhone customers and sell them upgrades, Apple also plans to begin taking iPhone trade-ins at its retail stores. But Levin and CIRP aren't convinced that will work. "We don't know, exactly, how Apple can realistically meet Cook's goals," he said.

Apple 5S speculated to have biggest upgrade ever , production delays due to change in 4.3 in retina display

Apple’s latest flagship product, the iPhone 5S is speculated to have the biggest hardware upgrade ever for an ‘S’ device According to the Fox News, a new report from Weibo user and claimed insider C Technology may reveal full specs for the iPhone 5S. The report said that the latest phone would include a 4-inch IGZO display with the same Retina resolution as the iPhone 5, an A6 processor faster than the current model, quad-core SGX 554MP4 graphics, 2GB of RAM and an upgraded LTE radio. Rumours are doing the rounds that the iPhone 5S will feature a display carrying twice the pixels than the current generation, iPhone 5. Speculations are rife that the iPhone 5S will come with a quad-core processor. Earlier reports claimed that the iPhone 5S will come with a thinner bezel, thereby adopting the iPad mini like design, and will ship in September. It has been claimed that iPhone 5S will include an upgraded 12-megapixel camera, a dual-LED flash, NFC and a fingerprint scanner called AuthenTec. Although the new hardware upgrades in iPhone 5S are unconfirmed for the time being, earlier reports revealed that a complete internal overhaul suggested that Apple was indeed making room for new components in its next-generation iPhone, the report added. With so many add-ons from iPhone 5 , the device also decided to come with a 4.3 inch screen , causing delay in the production The latest report on the next iPhone suggests Apple might be delaying the iPhone 5S until the end of the year. It comes from Commercial Times and the reason quoted is an alleged screen size bump to 4.3 inches retina  though there is no word whether the resolution will change as well. This report comes just a day after we informed you that the production of the iPhone 5S will start by the end of July. Previously the iPhone 5S was rumored to bring an improved camera and a new more powerful chipset, while retaining the same design, but it seems Apple might be breaking the established pattern. So far, the S models used the same shells and screens as their predecessor. As usual the next iPhone(s) rumors will flourish through the next couple of months with the closing of the fall when Apple is expected to host at least one device event. You'd be well advised to take them all with a healthy dose of doubt as there's nothing officially confirmed just yet.

IPhones losing its grip in the Q3 ?

It has been seen that the faster the rise, more shocking is the fall. With new devices with amazing intuitive features coming up the question arises that will iPhone have its grip on the market?  CNN's Fortune asked 45 analysts – 28 Wall Street pros and 17 amateurs – how many iPhones Apple will sell in Q3 this year (ending in June as Apple has a shifted fiscal year). The average answer is 27.15 million or 4.3% up from last year's Q3 when Cupertino managed to sell 26.03 million. The growth is pretty modest compared to 28% growth reported in Q3 last year and 113% the year before that. The slow growth points to the fact that the iPhone 5 wasn't exactly the upgrade everyone was dreaming about (last quarter only half of all iPhones sold were of the newest member). The number also represents a pretty sharp drop compared to the 37.4 million iPhones shipped in Q2, but that is normal as everyone is already talking about the iPhone 5S (the rumor mill is on fire). It's also worth considering that the iPhone 5 and 4S will get a price cut once the 5S launches. Not to mention that all the talk of a budget iPhone (which might be unfounded) may have pushed some consumers to wait a while and see. Amateur analysts have more faith in Apple (predicting 27.9 million iPhone sales) than their Wall Street counterparts (who think 26.7 million is the real number). Apple will release the real numbers in a week on July 23 and we'll see who's right. IPhone smart phones are crucial for "apple" of the corporation, if only because they currently generate more than 50% of its profits. Therefore, the overall financial position of Apple in each period depends on how many millions of smartphones it sold during those three months. And here, it seems, the American manufacturer for the first time in a long time will not so confident, as in past years, the result. Analysts predict that the April-June Apple managed to sell 27.15 million devices (average value over all forecasts, professionals predict 26.7%, "fans" - 27.9%). Like it or not, we will know on July 23, when the U.S. company will publish the official results. In the meantime, let us turn to the past years. Two years ago, during the same quarter of Apple's smartphone sales growth of 113% in the past year, he has slowed down, but was still at 28% compared to the year before last. If current projections hold true, then this quarter compared to last year the growth will be only 4.3% (previous year were sold 26.03 million units). It is obvious that this situation is due to several reasons. First, efforts like never compete with Android-based smartphone.Other manufacturers offer smart phones with 4,3-6 inches diagonal, while Apple "stuck" by 4 inches. Secondly, it is experts have noted, there is a saturation of the market of hi-end devices. That's why Samsung, HTC and others produce more affordable mini-versions of their flagships, and among smartphones with Windows Phone leadership now have the budget Nokia Lumia 520, but not at the flagship Nokia Lumia 920. In this regard, it is logical that Apple is also looking to market low-cost devices to maintain their market share. According to recent reports, the budget iPhone (it is called the iPhone Lite) will be available later this year. This smartphone will be much more affordable than the flagship iPhone 5 / iPhone 5S. Also Apple's arch rival Samsung has sold a chunk of Samsung Galaxy S IV deives how is Apple planning to answer that ?

iPad Mini 2 with retina display to meet users only in 2014

Apple is reportedly pushing the release of the iPad mini tablet successor to next year. Meanwhile, Apple is said to have plans of launching a slightly improved version of iPad mini later this year. Taiwan-based supply chain sources noted to DigiTimes that Apple is aiming to use the Retina panel in the iPad mini but that might take a while. Apple's iPad mini with 7.9 inch LCD display did manage to attract the attention of several users and millions actually bought it. Apple has been planning to bring out the second and better version of the iPad mini tablet. The company plans to pack 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution in the Retina display for the 7.9 inch screen panel size. This display panel will be used in the iPad mini tablet but at this moment, reports of display shortage are flying around. Apple doesn't plan to start mass production on its next-generation iPad Mini until the fourth quarter of 2013. However, sources point out that Apple may not be able to achieve it and hence might be introducing a stop-gap, like a slightly improved version of iPad mini, into the market. This version will be released in the second half of this year. Meanwhile, Apple will continue to work on pushing Retina display to the iPad mini ecosystem. The delay is due mainly to the Retina Display, which Apple plans to include in the iPad Mini, the site's sources claim. The display technology isn't difficult to produce, but Apple needs to build up a stockpile in the 7.9-inch size to get the right number of devices onto store shelves. Apple also reportedly is considering designing a nearly bezel-less front to the next-generation iPad Mini.Apple pushed the multi-touch LED display for the first and second generation models. Only from the third generation onward was the Retina display used. It is quite likely that Apple will follow the same strategy for the iPad mini line-up as well.

Man sues Apple for pronography addiction

Apple once again has been in the square of court. California based device maker, Apple has been sued by Chris Sevier, a 36-year-old man from Tennessee, whose porn addiction made his wife leave him along with his children. Chris has filed a case in the court of law claiming that Apple led to addiction to pornographic content as the company failed to install any system that could stop or even avoid access to pornographic content. Chris Sevier in his complaint against Apple claims that his addiction started when he accidentally stumbled upon adult content website F**KBOOK while trying to access FACEBOOK through his Apple device. The addiction over time got so severe that he started paying more attention to internet based content rather than his personal life. The case also includes that Apple should have sold devices with a safe mode that could potentially prevent access to pornographic or adult content as it could also be a potential risk for children as well. Also the plaintiff did mention in the complaint that "Apple is supporting criminal activity”. While the case has been filed the devices are not to be blamed as they are designed to do what the users want and that is what companies try to offer with its various products. Now how the court will answer to this plea is still to be seen. Former attorney Chris Sevier, in a 50 page complaint, filed mid-June, claimed that since the tech giant is concerned with the welfare of US' children, while furthering pro-US values, it should sell its devices in 'safe mode,' with software preset to filter out adult content, The complaint says that his problem started after he tried to visit 'Facebook.com,' but by mistake wrote 'F**kbook.com,' a porn site, which appealed to his biological sensibilities and led to an unwanted addiction. Later, in a section, Sevier accused Apple of enabling unfair competition between porn stars and his wife; he became totally out of sync in his relationship with his wife, as a consequence of his use of Apple product.  He said that he began desiring, younger and more beautiful girls that were featured in porn videos than his wife, who was no longer 21, he asserted that he could no longer tell the difference between internet porn and tangible intercourse due to the content he was able to access through the Apple products.

iPhone 5S mass production begins

Will the next gen iPhone 5S shake the world like the arch rival Samsung Galaxy S IV did? The long-awaited next generation iPhone will enter mass production by the end of this month, according to Jefferies analyst Peter Misek. Peter Misek believes that Apple is going to order about 50-55 million iPhones for the fourth quarter out of which, 5 million will be iPhone 4Sand up to 25 million of its upcoming flagship smartphone. Lastly, Peter Misek expects Apple to announce its iPhone 5S in late September or in early October. The iPhone 5S has a history at the rumor mill. Pictures in December showed an exterior identical to the iPhone 5, just a couple of months off the launch of the iPhone 5. Other pictures surfaced last month. More recently, a Korean news outlet expected a version of the iPhone 5Swith LTE-Advanced technology. A recruitment firm, which is responsible for hiring at Foxconn’s plant in Zhengzhou in northern China, has begun recruiting workers on a large scale, indicating that mass production of the iPhone 5S has begun, CNET reported, citing China Business News. The report by China Business News was based on information from an anonymous source at the Zhengzhou plant, who said that Foxconn currently has 210,000 workers, which is way below the 300,000 people employed during the production peak in 2012. Therefore, the company is now assumed to be filling assembly line positions with new employees. “As the seasonal hires file onto the production floor, it is widely believed that Foxconn is preparing to enter the mass production phase of the so-called ‘iPhone 5S,’ a handset thought to carry over the design of the iPhone 5, but with upgraded internals,” an Apple Insider report said. The unidentified source also provided a new twist in the iPhone 5S tale, saying that the Zhengzhou plant is working on a completely different iPhone, which could feature a “borderless” design, an aluminum and carbon fiber shell, and weighs 40 percent less than the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5S is expected to have a form factor similar to that of the iPhone 5. However, the device is likely to feature a more powerful processor, a fingerprint sensor, a longer-lasting battery, an improved camera with dual LED flash andslow-motion video capturing capabilities.

Rumors are rife that Apple will launch the iPhone 5S, along with iOS 7, in September, followed by a release date in the fall. The Cupertino, Calif.-based tech giant is also rumored to be working on a more thoroughly redesigned iPhone 6 for 2014, which will follow this year’s iPhone 5S. Also Multi coloured iPhones are expected

MORE ON iPHONE 5S

http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/07/slow-motion-mougul-camera-on-later.html

http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/07/iphone-5s-to-be-phablet-apple-to-launch.html

http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/06/head-movements-to-be-included-in-ios7.html

Apple might return to Samsung for chips in2015

How much ever the top 2 fight, to keep a third entering the group, they unite. This policy has been seen all over the world in all fields. In one such another display , Apple and Samsung have renewed their agreement related to sourcing of mobile processors, if a new report is to be believed. According to The Korea Economic Daily, Apple has signed a new deal with Samsung under which the latter will supply processors for Apple's iPhone, starting 2015. The report cites industry sources to inform that the agreement was signed on July 14, and that Samsung will produce the new chips deploying the 14 nano FinFET technology for Apple's iPhone 7 which is expected to release in the second half of 2015. Samsung has produced chips for Apple's iPhone since it was first introduced in 2007. It still manufactures the Apple A6 processor that powers the iPhone 5. However, it was reported that Apple was cutting Samsung from A7 production as the two companies were at loggerheads after their rivalry in the smartphones segment and patent disputes across the world. Apple signing a new deal with Samsung comes as a surprise as it was believed that the former was cutting its reliance on the South Korean company. In fact, the news comes shortly after it was reported that Apple had signed a three year agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company(TSMC) and its partner Global UniChip to make its new A-series chips built through 20nm, 16nm and 10nm process nodes. The report had cited industry sources to inform that TSMC would commence production of the Cupertino giant's A8 processor in small quantities in July 2013, and increase production capacity after December. It also said that a part of the chip maker's capacity would be used for manufacturing new Apple A9 and A9X processors. The Apple A8 processor is expected to power a new iPhone which is expected to release in early 2014, while the A9 and A9X chips are likely to power new iPhone and iPad products. Another report by The Wall Street Journal had reiterated that Apple had indeed signed an agreement with TSMC, citing unidentified TSMC executives as source. It said that the move was the latest in a series of efforts by Apple to lessen its reliance on parts produced by Samsung, however, it added that Samsung would remain Apple's main supplier of high-resolution screens, memory chips and processors used in mobile devices through next year. Apple and Samsung are having very public fights in courts around the globe, but the two companies were working quite well together with Samsung supplying components for Apple's gadgets. Inevitably, the legal spats lead to talk that Apple will be moving on to TSMC for its next chip orders. Cupertino did indeed cut down the reliance on Samsung, the orders for 20nm Apple A8 chipsets was given to TSMC. This is next year's chipset as TSMC is still working on test 20nm chips, it remains to be seen just what Apple will use for this year's iDevices (presumably TSMC, but on a bigger process). However, it seems that it's not over between Samsung and Apple  Samsung's advanced 14nm process, which is ahead of what TSMC will have to offer in 2015, is named as the reason behind Apple's reconciliation with the Koreans. Cant stay away from the top can you Mr.Apple and Mr.Samsung ? 

Girl Electrocuted after using iPhone

A 23 year old flight attendant in China, identified as Ma Ailun, died after she was electrocuted while answering a call on her Apple iPhone which was put on charging, according to a report . Meanwhile, California based Apple has announced that it will be thoroughly investigating the case. An Apple spokesperson was quoted as saying, "We are deeply saddened to learn of this tragic incident and offer our condolences to the ... family. We will fully investigate and co-operate with authorities in this matter." As shocking it might sound the devices charge at a nominal voltage of 5 volts which is not enough to even harm a human being but a fault in the charger or a short circuit might have been the reason behind the electrocution. However it is not yet clear as to which charger was being used to charge the device, earlier as well there was a similar case registered but it was later found out that the user was using a different charger to recharge their device. Apple's aluminum or metal body becomes the perfect conductor for such incidents if there is a fault or short circuit and the user is likely to get a shock. In the meanwhile Ma's sister is urging Apple iPhone users through her blog to not to use the Apple iPhone while charging as what happed to her sister should not happen to anyone else.

False Alarm : Budget iPhones FAKE !

This really is a sad post for those wishing to use an iPhone but had no capital and had an hope of geting hands on a low cost budget iPhone. Our readers might remember when, a few days ago, we proved that the colorful budget iPhone back panels which have surfaced lately are infact fake. Again, we feel the need to mention that the pictures themselves are not fake/Photoshopped. However, the products depicted are not official (from Apple or Foxconn) but produced in various China-based shops.Today we have enough proof that at least three more so called “leaks” are actually pics of “unofficial” products. What you see above, is one of the first “budget iPhone leaks“. This one got a lot of attention because the guys at Engadget have decided to report on it. At the moment, this case goes for 320 Yuan (roughly $52) and can be ordered from taobao.com (search for iPhone 5S and in the price range enter 320-320 — it will be on the first line of results). We used Google Translate on the sales page and we found this line to be interesting: “This is the model, not a real machine! Model due to the factory side screen changed without prior notice.” So this was either a fake product from the get go or Apple changed its mind and modified the design. Obviously, we think it’s the former. Let’s move on to the second “leak“. We reported on the case (because it’s a case not an actual smartphone) Like we guessed, this one is a fake product too and can be acquired from the same site (which it’s kind of like an Amazon for Chinese based manufacturers) for 350 Yuan (roughly $57). How can you find it yourself? Search by iPhone 5S and enter 350-350 in the price range. This one even has more photos, check them out. Like we already mentioned yesterday, this looks a hell of a lot like the device starring in the “budget iPhone” hands-on video that has been promoted like hell all over the World Wide Web. For those of you not up to date, an unknown company called Techdy claimed that it got its hands on an iPhone Lite and used the dummy unit to promote its own cheap Android. I think it’s safe to say their little stunt payed off. While the display (probably only a glass) of the above product looks different, the back panel is identical. If you decide to get your hands dirty and do some investigating yourself, you’ll discover the fact that these cases are not coming from just one manufacturer. Nope, there are a handful of such small Chinese enterprises offering them. So, what do we know about Apple’s upcoming cheap iPhone? Most likely nothing…If you have even the slightest interest in the mobile market, you’ve probably stumbled during your daily online adventures on the so called “leaked budget iPhone” pics. You probably didn’t even had to look that hard or that long, that’s how many they were. Apple has always been one of the few companies that really know how to keep their upcoming devices secret. Usually Apple’s products are kept under wraps until very close to the official announcement, with only the occasional flex cable or other internal component surfacing long before the Cupertino based company unveils them. That’s why the amount of leaked shots featuring the so called official back panels of the upcoming “budget iPhone” left us scratching our heads. Did Apple’s security mess it up so bad? Does the company feel Android’s wrath so badly that it had to leak its own device in order to keep people interested? Well, the short answer is NO.

Hence it is true that these links below are all fake and now are making no sense :'(http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/07/new-colours-for-budget-iphone.html

http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/07/cheap-iphones-update.html

http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/07/budget-iphones-to-come-up-soon.html

Precedent, the last major Russian carrier drops deal with Apple

As I had reported before that WP8 pips iPhone in 6countries (Russia including) here : http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/07/windows-phone-8-outselling-iphone-in-6.html , The reason for this is that-  Many carriers all over the world have jumped through all sorts of hoops in order to secure that precious iPhone deal with Apple but this is the first time carriers that have already offered the Apple smartphone are giving up on it. According to Hi-Tech Russia VimpelCom known by its Beeline brand has broken all ties with Apple over serving the iPhone after its contract expired. This is the third (and final) major carrier in Russia that has gone this road and some hypothesize that Apple's conditions are not ideal. Others think that a newly-inked deal with Samsung is the reason VimpelCom distanced itself from Apple. In any case this doesn't mean that Apple devices will be completely gone from the large and demanding Russian market. Apple already has a functioning online store with a brick and mortar one in the works. However, those looking to purchase the smartphone at a subsidized price with a contract will be out of luck. Apple's market share in Russia for the first quarter of this year shrunk from 9% in Q1 2012 to 8.4%. This, combined with the strong performance of WP in the country has allowed carriers to give up on the iPhone, which is usually costing them quite dearly, without losing a lot of subscribers.
source : @GSMArena

Slow Motion 'Mougul' Camera on the later versions of Apple's iPhone?

The latest Beta edition of iOS 7, Apple's forthcoming smartphone and tablet operating system, reveals the ability to shoot at super-high frame rates and then slow down the final recording. 
The discovery, made by 9to5Mac, suggests that one of the standout features on the next iPhone 

will be the ability to capture video at up to 120 frames per second. The feature, referred to as "Mogul" would give device users the ability to capture incredibly detailed, jerk-free slow motion video -- a standard feature on popular action cams -- beloved of extreme sports enthusiast -- and, surprise, surprise, on Samsung's latest flagship phone the Galaxy SIV. However, just because a setting or feature has been discovered in a beta version, there is no guarantee that the same feature will make the final cut and complete its journey onto the next generation of Apple products. For example, Apple toyed with the idea of a panorama photography function in the beta edition of iOS5 back in 2011 but only decided to include the feature in iOS6, which was released a year later The feature will apparently allow users to shoot video with higher levels of detail and resolution than previously available.Shooting in Mogul would enable the latest model to capture film at 120 frames per second (FPS), whilst the current iPhone 5 only shoots at up to 30 FPS. Recording video at such a high frame rate would allow detailed slow-motion playback as controlled by the user. This will bring the iPhone into direct camera competition with the Samsung Galaxy S4, which already boasts 120 FPS capabilities. Mogul was discovered when Apple enthusiasts unearthed hidden code and text strings within the company's latest iOS 7 beta. While it's not certain the alleged feature will definitely appear on the next model, it seems likely. Last month developers suggested iOS 7 may also be able to detect blinking and smiling in photographs, as well as allowing users to shoot video on existing devices up to 60 FPS. Therefore developers concluded Mogul will only be available for use in newer devices, rather than as an upgraded feature for devices with the new downloaded software. This would fit in with Apple's previous S offerings, all of which sported upgraded camera options. The 3GS was updated with facial detection facilities and advanced video recording, whilst the 4S introduced 1080-pixel recording. Mogul's improved camera system is reportedly one of several updates to the touted iPhone 5S, alongside a more powerful processor and sleeker design. Another rumour circulating on the internet is the possibility of a fingerprint sensor system, which Samsung filed a patent for to include in the next generation of their Galaxy handsets.

New colours for Budget iPhone

The latest leak relating to the alleged line of budget iPhones - which have been called iPhone Lite or iPhone mini in several places - once again comes from none other than Sonny Dickson. Dickson, leaked the alleged pricing of the smartphones last week and has now brought another piece of the puzzle through his Twitter account. He posted a new set of images, showing off what's either a new color palette, or an image that's not as aggressively oversaturated as previous ones may have been. Either way, the budget range of iPhone models is said to start at $349 for the 16GB model, and are expected to be released as early as September, although no official confirmation has yet been made by Apple. @GSMArena thankyou

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New search suggests Apple's App Store is populated by apps that get next to no downloads (Zombies)

Figures seen by the BBC from tracking service Adeven indicate over two-thirds of apps in the store are barely ever installed by consumers. However Apple has said that 90% of all apps in the marketplace - which is marking its five-year anniversary - are downloaded at least once a month. Apple boss Tim Cook said the store had "fundamentally changed the world". Speaking to app developers at the firm's recent developer's conference, the chief executive said: "Customers love the buying experience and they love your incredible apps. And they have now downloaded 50 billion apps. "That's a lot of zeros and a truly staggering number." But according to Adeven the size of the US firm's app store, which has about 900,000 products, has left many developers struggling to get noticed. "579,001 apps out of a total of 888,856 apps in our database are zombies," the analytics firm said. It defines zombies as apps which never appear in Apple's master-list of the most downloaded apps worldwide, a chart which runs to over 300,000 places. "We can't say exactly how many downloads they have - Apple doesn't reveal this - but it is very small." Adeven's research follows on from another survey conducted by Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. It indicated that some 68% of smartphone owners used five or fewer apps on a weekly basis, with many of their other "impulse" buys losing their appeal almost instantly. App developer Malcolm Barclay told the BBC that the amount of "zombie" apps was not a surprise - but argued that there was "safety in numbers". "There's a lot of apps in the store that are not downloaded for good reason, they're awful. "It's about making yourself attractive. If you have an attractive application that does what it sets out to do, Apple will help it get noticed." Zombies aside, the launch of the App Store in 2008 is widely regarded as a game-changing moment for how we consume technology. It has inspired other companies to follow suit, with Google, Microsoft and Blackberry among those to have launched their own stores.Apple says it has paid out $10bn (£7bn) to app developers - three times more, it boasts, than all the other app stores combined. The "app economy", as it has become known, has also been responsible for disrupting the video games industry. Companies such as EA have shifted to offering downloads of many of their titles for free, and make money through in-app sales of power-ups and other add-ons. Those that do charge an upfront fee are still relatively cheap. In particular, the popularity of Rovio's Angry Birds - which has made millions through franchising and merchandise sales - has made some games publishers consider if the established model of charging £30 or more for console and PC titles could become a thing of the past. Even so, the development has not been without controversy. Apple, which takes a 30% cut of all sales through its online marketplace, was recently forced to offer refunds to parents who had found themselves facing unexpected bills as a result of in-app purchases by their children

iPhone 5S to be a phablet ? Apple to launch more than 1 iPhone this year?

Apple is gearing up for a larger screen-sized iPhone 5S? The Samsung – apple wars are slowly shifting from mobile to phablet. Recent leaks suggest that Apple has a prototype iPhone 5S that is a PHABLET. This had to happen. People really love their big screens.That Apple is working on a smaller and cheaper iPhone is now no secret and this might indicate that just like Samsung’s foray into larger sized phablets (Mega series), Apple is too gearing up more than one iPhone for this year. Is the Apple-Samsung war ready for a larger phablet market? While phone-makers have always done their best to stay ahead of the smartphone race, Apple is the only company which has managed to wow audiences with just one offering year on year. Though Samsung is slowly catching up, the Korean phone-maker still has a long way to go. Launching devices ahead of Apple and diversifying its portfolio might be one way of looking at larger market share in the long run.

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Cheap iPhones : Update

A slew of alleged images and video footage of Apple's much talked about budget iPhone made an appearance on the web. The photos look in line with the leaked colored shells from last week.The images reveal a svelte-looking handset with a 4" display, made of polycarbonate. Despite its plastic nature however, the budget iPhone is said to be impressively well put together. You can see the purported video of the device below.Apple is said to be preparing a lower cost iPhone for later this year, with a plastic shell instead of its typical recipe of metal and glass to lower component costs. Now a site called Techdy, which creates Android knock-off handsets of higher-end devices, is claiming to have obtained the new phone’s plastic casing and front-screen assembly. The supposed early manufacturing prototype leak shows a smooth plastic shell in white that Techdy says feels much higher-quality than the plastic casings used in phones by other manufacturers like Samsung. The front resembles the screen of the iPhone we all know and love and has a black design that will reportedly be common to a variety of different color options for the back plastic half. The slightly contoured edges on the rear of this supposed budget iPhone are very much reminiscent of the current-generation iPod touch – essentially, this looks like a slightly thicker version, which makes sense given the additional room required for cellular antennas, ambient light sensors and other components. Apple brought expanded color options to the iPod touch with this generation, so that could have been in preparation for launching a line of lower cost iPhones with similar design themes. Comparison shots taken of the iPhone 5 with the leaked plastic iPhone case shows a design that’s only just slightly thicker than the current existing Apple smartphone. The screen size is the same, and among the only other significant outward differences is the use of just one speaker grill on the bottom edge of the device instead of two. Techdy is marketing an Android-powered clone of the device already, so definitely take this with a grain of salt. But it is in keeping with what we’ve heard about a supposed low-cost iPhone in the past, and that right there is definitely an attractive device. If Apple can manage to release a plastic iPhone for cheaper than its flagship that feels and looks better than the top-end designs of its rivals, we could see a very different smartphone game come later this year. There is lots more to see in the massive gallery Techdy put together depicting the supposed iPhone from every possible angle, so be sure to check it out.

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Budget iPhones to come up soon

The other day i put my sight on some photos of what was reported to be Apple’s new budget iPhone, and now we have another photo of the handset, which shows another new colour for the device.The Budget iPhone is rumoured to launch in September along with the new iPhone 5S, as you can see from the photos below, the handset will feature a polycarbonate casing and will be available in a range of different colors. As yet we do not have any details on what will be inside the budget iPhone, the handset is rumored to come with Apple iOS 7, so it should have semi decent specifications.We know you were just screaming, "But what about blue??" when leaked photos showing alleged green, yellow and red cheap iPhone models appeared earlier this week.Calm down, as now comes word (or sight) that Apple may be planning to have a blue budget iPhone join the low-cost trio, as the latest snap from a Chinese factory seem to indicate.What appears to be a half-assembled iPhone blue shell has been photographed alongside the three previously leaked of colors and a white version, according to French site Nowhere else.With the pigments popping up left and right, we wouldn't be surprised if we soon see a fuchsia, burnt orange and taupe model soon.Pictures of candy-colored entry-level iPhones with rounded corners have started circulating. Many have branded them hideous, crude atrocities. They need to be. Apple is facing a unique dilemma: Because of the stellar success of the iOS app universe, the entry-level iPhone has to have nearly the same specs as the flagship iPhone. The display has to be large. The processing power has to be substantial. Apple cannot afford to fragment the iPhone device base, particularly since it has spent years mocking Android vendors mercilessly for doing just that. Still, the budget iPhones have to be something that affluent and aspirational consumers despise.There can’t be much differentiation on the hardware or software aspects. So there must be a very sharp line drawn between the two models based on the look and feel.Apple cannot have the bulk of its customers trade down to the budget phone from more expensive devices. It must make the entry-level model look so vulgar and cheap that most iPhone users will stick to the main line models, even if they have to pay a $200 to $400 premium. The budget phones have to look tackier than the new iPhone 5S, but that is not enough — they must also be less desirable than the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S… yet still appear more desirable than low-end Android phones.This is a very, very tricky manoeuvre to pull off, which is why Apple has literally agonized over the move for years, even as the Android camp built a huge volume lead in Brazil, Spain, China and other major markets.It will be absolutely fascinating to see how the entry-level iPhone is going to be priced and marketed, but it looks like Apple has clearly achieved its primary goal — the new entry-level model looks absolutely hideous to someone who has been using an iPhone 5.

Head movements to be included in iOS7

Apple has released a second version of its beta for iOS 7 and the operating system has learned a few new tricks. One of the most head-turning (pun very intended) is that users can now control certain parts of the user interface by simply tilting their heads certain directions. Yes, the iPhone or iPad watches you.The feature comes as part of iOS’s built-in accessibility package, seemingly as an option for those with limited body movement to control their devices without actually touching them. It uses the front-facing FaceTime camera to detect the movements, and then the device reacts accordingly.That said, it took an agonizing hour of testing before I was finally able to figure out how it works, as there isn’t really much as far as instruction goes. It is an interesting interface idea but it’s not for everyone, in more ways than one: It takes over the traditional touch controls and basically disables them. In addition, it takes some time to navigate. For some, it’s not a problem, but those expecting the relatively quick action that they’re used to from iOS will not have a good time.Developers that make apps for the disabled or even those that just want to make their apps more friendly to those that have problems with touch devices, it’s an intriguing option. Who knows, maybe the gestures the camera-based gestures will become a standard part of a future version of iOS.Like the rest of the iOS 7 beta, it’s not something for those who are simply curious about the pre-release operating system. It took me half of Wednesday to figure out how to turn the feature off, and in that time I couldn’t answer calls, texts, or invitesThe idea of controlling an iPhone or iPad with a gesture may not be too farfetched. With a simple quick jerk of the head to the left or right, users could be able to get to the home page, select apps, or control the device's volume.The feature is apparently an accessibility option, which means it would have to be turned on by the user. Typically accessibility options are for people with disabilities who are hearing, vision, or physically impaired. It appears the feature can also be customized for each individual user.For iOS 7, Apple said it dramatically redesigned the look and feel of the user interface. Everything has been revamped, the company said, including icons, buttons, and color schemes. The screen is said to take on a 3D appearance and will have a swipe feature at the bottom of the device for quick access to brightness, volume, airplane mode, Bluetooth, do not disturb, and flashlight.An initial beta of iOS 7 was released to developers a couple of weeks ago and asecond beta was released on Monday. The software requires developers to sign a privacy agreement, but that hasn't stopped numerous developers and some blogs from posting extensive hands-on previews of the new OS.Apple has not provided an exact date for the final iOS 7 release, short of this fall, when the company is also expected to introduce its next iPhone.A left tilt of the head can be used to swipe through screen menu options, or users can choose to use head movements to activate a number of other functions, including the home button, to start Siri, open the Notification Center or App Switcher, or change the volume.The feature is called Switches and can be activiated in the Switch control option, which is in the accessibility section of Apple's iOS7.When the option is enabled, Switch Control will scroll through onscreen menus and apps, and users only need to move their head to the left to select their choice.A rightward head movement would take users back to the home screen, or the beginning of the scrollable results.Users can also customise head moveemnts to stand for different actions, such as a finger tap or to open various functions. The iOS7 Actions menu contains the full list of options that can be controlled suing head movements.The tool is part of the scond beta version of Apple's latest software, which was revealed at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. The software will go on sale to the public this autumn.Apple's head movement technology is part of a focus on hands-free controls from technology companies. Apple's Siri app is voice activated, while Samsung's Galaxy S4 pauses when the user's eyes look away from a video and Google has patented an eye-tracking system that would allow users to activate Google Glass with a glance. Its more of head(movement) phone than a touch phone :P

The 1st computer by Apple to fetch $500000

It's the kind of electronic junk that piles up in basements and garages — an old computer motherboard with wires sticking out. But because it was designed and sold by two college dropouts named Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, it could be worth more than half a million dollars. An Apple 1 from 1976, one of the first Apple computers ever built and forerunner of today's MacBooks, I Pads and I Phones, goes on the auction block at Christie's next week. The bidding starts at $300,000, with a pre-sale estimated value of up to $500,000."This is a piece of history that made a difference in the world, it's where the computer revolution started," said Ted Perry, a retired school psychologist who owns the old Apple and has kept it stashed away in a cardboard box at his home outside Sacramento, Calif.The 11-by-14 green piece of plastic covered with a grid of memory chips above a labyrinth of wires was one of the first 25 such computer elements, and sold for $666.66.About 200 were made but most have disappeared or been discarded. Various estimates put the number known to still exist from about 30 to 50. They came with eight kilobytes of memory — a million times less than the average computer today.Vintage Apple products have become an especially hot item since Jobs' death in October 2011, surrounding the mystique attached to this entrepreneur who joined forces with Wozniak to build computer prototypes in a California garage.Another Apple 1 was sold last month for a record $671,400 by a German auction house, breaking a previous record of $640,000 set in November. Sotheby's sold one last year for $374,500."This is the seed from which the entire orchard grew, and without this, there would be no Apple," said Stephen A. Edwards, professor of computer science at Columbia University. The latest auction at Christie's, "First Bytes: Iconic Technology from the Twentieth Century," is being conducted online only from June 24 to July 9. The Apple 1 is to be displayed starting Monday at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, south of San Francisco.Perry, 70, acquired his Apple 1 in either 1979 or 1980, as a second-hand item he saw advertised.He paid nothing for it; it was a swap with the owner.He traded some other computer equipment I had for the Apple 1

Do the words “vintage” and “tech,” strung together, strikes anyone as odd?Well, better get used to the phrase because the vintage-tech market is here to stay. In keeping with this trend, Christie’s is holding an online only (but of course) vintage-tech product auction with an Apple computer, an Apple 1, as its big draw.  The auction includes the Apple original, designed and hand built in 1976 by Steve Wozniak in Steve Jobs' parents’ garage. Of the approximately 200 Apple-1’s built, most were returned for Apple-2’s. There is even a web page dedicated to keeping track of the few left.Christie’s expects the early computing device, which includes a keyboard (a ground-breaking feature at the time) to fetch somewhere in the area of $300,000 to $500,000.  Over the past five years, as auctions started to drive prices up, it’s been interesting to watch the Apple-1 go from about $20,000 to the astronomical prices todayThe Apple 1 sadly does not have a diamond NTI logo etched into the front copper layer.The working computer is has serial number 01-0025 and is signed by Steve Woznaik, Apple's hardware hacking engineer who designed the primitive Apple-1 computers.Auctions for Apple antiquities, including floppy discs containing the company's first word processing and spreadsheet programs, as well as a prototype portable computer several times thicker than today's Mac book are also conducted