Apple spends money on robots to make their iPhones, iPads Macs and other devices

Apple certainly has enough cash stashed away, and now the company is spending some of it, according to Bloomberg, Apple is spending $10.5 billion on equipment to produce its various devices. Apple is apparently going to spend the cash on robots and various other machinery, that will be used to make their iPhones, iPads Macs and other devices.

The company outlined the spending in their fiscal 2014 expenditure forecast, and Apple is obviously looking to get a jump on it competitors on spending so much on equipment to make its future devices. $10.5 billion is really not a lot of cash to Apple, the company had sales of over $171 billion last year, the company is also spending a large amount of cash building is new spaceship HQ in California.

Apple are rumored to be launching their new Apple iWatch next year, the company has promised a number of new products for 2014, although as yet we do not know exactly what they have planned. We had previously heard that Apple will launch their Apple HDTV in 2014, although it would appear that we may have to wait until 2015 for this device to launch.

It will be interesting to see what Apple launches next year, they obviously have some new designs for existing devices planned as well as their new devices, which would explain their large outlay on new equipment.

Via - Bloomberg

Pocket 5.0 is now available to download from the Apple iTunes App Store

Pocket the developers of the awesome Pocket application formerly known as Read It Later, the app created for managing a reading list of articles from the Internet which is available from either a browser, or mobile devices. Have today announced the release of Pocket 5.0 which brings with it a wealth of new features and functions for users to enjoy. 

Initially the new version of Pocket has rolled out onto iOS applications, but will soon be followed with an Android application which is launching later this month on November 20th. New features in the Pocket 5.0 release now make it easier to see the best and most relevant content you’ve saved to the app.

“With Highlights is split into different categories to make it easy to find the perfect item in your list: Best of (the most impactful articles and videos in your list), Trending (the most popular items being saved and shared throughout Pocket), Long Reads (for when you have a lot of time, like your commute), and Quick Reads (when you have only a few minutes to spare).

At Pocket, it’s always been our goal to make saving and consuming content as easy and fast as possible, wherever you are, on any screen. Over 800 million items have been saved to Pocket, with an additional 1.5 million being saved every day from thousands of apps, blogs, and websites.”

Pocket 5.0 is now available to download from the Apple iTunes App Store for free and provides a fantastic way of keeping a record of all those sites and articles you might not have time to read at the time of discovery.

Via - Pocket

Verizon is offering iPad Mini with Retina for $429.99 and it will ship by Nov 25th

Apple announced the highly anticipated iPad Mini with Retina display at a press event last month with a “vague” November release date. Yesterday, the Cupertino giant silently released the miniature tablet with increased shipping times, ranging from one to three days and may take five to ten for the cellular models as well as the high storage WiFi versions (64GB and 128GB). The tablets start art $399 for the 16GB WiFi version while the cellular models starts at $529.99. If you want to save some bucks, Verizon is offering the tablet with a $100 if you sign up a two-year contract with the carrier.

Verizon is offering iPad Mini with Retina for $429.99, provided you sign up for a two-year contract with the carrier. For the month-to-month, the price of the tablet is same as the Apple Store. All storage options are available for sale including 32/64/128GB models, but user might have to wait if they want to get the tablet from the carrier.

Verizon clearly mentioned on the iPad Mini with Retina product page that the tablet will ship by November 25th. Well, it’s not that long as the Apple Store also shows a shipment date of five to ten days from the day you place your order, which comes to somewhere around November 25th. The tablet comes with a beautiful 7.9 inch display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels along with the same 64-bit A7 processor that comes with the iPhone 5S and an improved camera.

Via - Verizon, GottaBeMobile

StockRadars is Great smartphone stock app detects hidden gems

Nearly every smartphone comes with a default stocks app, and if it doesn’t, then there are hundreds easily within reach. But since investing is all about reducing risk, obtaining accurate, timely, and relevant information is key. In addition, sorting and auditing stocks is time-consuming and requires specialized knowledge. With that problem in mind, Thailand-based startup Siamsquared Technologies has developed StockRadars, an app that helps users monitor the Thai stock market

How it works: Launched back in August, StockRadars is a stock analysis app that simplifies information for investors to help them better understand the stock market, thereby decreasing risk. The app uses its radars as tools through which users can set specific criteria for the stocks they wish to monitor. The app then parses through market data, analyzes each stock, then indicates which stocks match each radar’s criteria.

Users can choose radars based on their needs, and different types of radars are available for different type of investors. StockRadars comes with a free set of default radars but users can purchase additional radars with more advanced criteria such as P/E (price per earning), P/BV (price per book value), RSI signal, MACD signal, and Candle Stick. Additionally, advanced users can tailor the criteria for their own radars. The app currently scans 500 stocks on the market, which fall into 70 radar types everyday.

Going beyond the Thai stock exchange: StockRadars only analyzes the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), but the app remains available for download in all countries. As a result, foreign investors can use the app to monitor their investments Thailand.

According to Max Kortrakul, StockRadars’ CEO and co-founder, the startup plans to go beyond the SET in the future and offer analysis for other markets:

Since StockRadars was designed from day one to support multiple markets, we plan to open our service in Singapore’s SGX within first quarter of next year and other Southeast Asia markets after that.

Staying above the radar

Besides the traditional stock apps, the company doesn’t seem to worry much about other competitors, at least in the Thai market. Max commented:

Currently, there is no direct competitor in this area since the finance market in Thailand is quite a virgin land. Traditional stock trading apps may be our indirect competitors. Take Settrade streaming for example. But that’s if they want to provide the analysis for the users. Our plan is to integrate social into stock trading, making it simple for people to understand. To be a leader in this game, we have to compete with ourselves more than we have to compete with others. The key challenge is getting new investors to use the app.

StockRadars achieved 30,000 downloads less than a month after it was launched back in late August. Currently, the app has a total of 45,000 downloads, with approximately 10,000 active users per month. It was also listed as a Featured App in the Thailand App Store.

StockRadars is available on iOS and Android. Siamsquared Technologies is currently developing a version for Windows Phone.

Via - Siamsquared

Comscore data show a total of 35 million iPhone users used Apple Maps per month

Apple replaced Google Maps with their own mapping application last year, which received a lot of criticism and hate at the time of launch. Now, it seems that the application is doing very well for iOS users with a total of 35 million users alone in the US for the month of September 2013, according to comScore. On the other hand, the number of Google Maps users fell drastically by almost 20 million in one year, which may not be a good news for the search engine giant if the numbers are correct.

Before the introduction of Apple Maps, there were almost 81 million Google Maps users out of a total 103.6 million Android and iPhone owners. Just after year, the smartphone user base rose to almost 136.7 million, but the number of users for Google Maps fell to almost 58.7 million users from 81 million.

Comscore data show a total of 35 million iPhone users used Apple Maps at least once a month, out of a total iPhone user base of 60.1 million in the United States. In addition, the number of iOS users using Google Maps fell from 35 million in September 2012 to almost 6.3 million this year, a decrease of more than 80 percent.

ComScore’s data shows that in September 2013, 35m used Apple’s maps at least once during the month, out of a total iPhone population of 60.1m. The 58% usage on the iPhone is reckoned to reflect the growing number of younger users who do not use mapping services; the proportion of iPhone users who use any mapping service, including Google’s, has been dropping since April 2012, according to ComScore’s data.

The data is still not 100 percent correct as neither Apple nor Google released their user’s statistics for the past one year, but the folks at Google told The Guardian that they are not sharing details about the number of downloads and they’re happy with the product.

We’re not currently sharing details on the number of downloads. While we can’t disclose specific performance metrics, we’re pleased with the product and user feedback has been positive.

Via - The Guardian, MacRumors

Awaited iPad Mini with Retina display appeared on Apple Store

The moment is finally upon us for much awaited iPad Mini with Retina display appeared on Apple Store starting from $399 for the 16GB WiFi model while the 16GB cellular version costs $529. In the UK, the tabletstarts from £319 for the base model while the cellular model starts with £419.

Apple is accepting orders in the United States, the UK and several other countries. The Cupertino company didn’t mention any exact release date before, except the posting on the company’s Global Exchange Service site which listed November 12th as the official release date.

However, users who wish to get the high storage models might have to wait a little longer. The Online Apple Store currently shows a shipment date of one to three days for the 16GB and 32GB WiFi-only models, while the remaining versions show a shipment date of five to 10 business days, including all cellular models. The long shipment dates suggest that all the rumors about the limited supply of iPad Mini were correct after all or they’re saving the inventory for the approaching holiday season.

The Retina iPad mini comes with the same A7 processor and M7 coprocessor introduced in the iPhone 5S and a 7.9 inch display boasting a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. The design of the new iPad Mini with Retina is similar to its predecessor, but it’s a little heavier than the previous version.

Via - Apple

Blizzard’s Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft hits to iPhones and Android

Card games like Magic: The Gathering, are cool because you can take your cards anywhere and battle your friends anywhere you like and at anytime. In that vain, Blizzard’s Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, is a digital collectible card game, originally announced for just the Mac, PC, and the iPad.

The news gets even better though. If you don’t own any of those devices or were looking for a more portable and mobile way to play, you now have it. Blizzard’s Rob Pardo announced during BlizzCon 2013a that Hearthstone will be coming to iPhones and Android devices in the second half of 2014. Pardo admitted that while the iPad is great and probably the ideal way to play it, not everyone has tablets. So that is why they are making it available on iPhone and Android devices. Pretty smart move. If it isn’t as portable as cards, what would be the point?

This will definitely get them a bigger audience, which will translate into a bigger success. For those who want to play it on their computers or iPads, Blizzard revealed that an open beta could be launching next month, “but in Blizzard language, that might mean January.” Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is a digital trading card game that will be based on the World of Warcraft universe. The game is free-to-play but booster packs will cost you money.

Via - Ubergizmo

World’s Most Valuable Brand Award wins Apple 3 times in a row

Things are going in the right direction for the Cupertino-based company. A few months back, Apple managed to end the 13-year long reign of Coca Cola to become Interbrand’s most valuable brand, followed by the likes of Google Microsoft, IBM, etc. Now, the folks at Forbes released their list of most valuable brand list. Surprisingly, Apple managed to gain the top spot the third time in a row with an estimated brand value of $104.3 billion.

The Cupertino company is followed by Microsoft, Coca-Cola, IBM and Google as the top five contenders in the list. The companies on the second and third number are way below Apple in terms of the brand value, despite the fact they spent millions in advertising and marketing campaigns, which are way more than what Apple has spent on advertising.

The most interesting company in the list appears to be Samsung who’s sitting on the ninth spot in the World’s Most Valuable brand, which managed to improve its ranking by  53 percent compared to last year, and a whopping 130 percent if you take the past three years in to account. The Korean OEM spent a whipping $4.4 billion on advertising with a brand value of just $29.5 billion and a brand revenue of a whopping $181 billion. The way they’re growing, they may claim a spot in the top 5 in the next few years.

Via - Forbes, AppleInsider

Griffin Technology announced latest remote control toy called the 'Moto TC Rally'

Griffin Technology has announced its latest remote control toy called the Moto TC Rally. The remote control car is controlled using a smartphone application that runs on iOS devices. There are plenty of iOS controlled remote control toys on the market today, but the Moto TC Rally has some interesting features that I’ve never seen in a toy of this type.

The toy can be controlled using the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch using a free app available on the App Store. Griffin fits the car with impact sensors all around allowing cool Bump n’ Run mode allowing players to create a realistic driving and racing experience with other users. Competing players will be able to crash their remote-controlled vehicles into each other and the more virtual damage the vehicle sustains, the more the performance is affected.

The toy also has a Race The Clock mode that works alone or with other cars at the same time. The controller app also has a built-in lap counter. One of the coolest features of the Bump n’ Run mode is that drivers can cause virtual damage and earn points for attacking opponents. Players can attack their opponents with the ability to reduce the opponents speed, mass with their controls, and flip the steering inputs. The toy is available now for $99.99.

Via - Griffin

Apple to add new features in iWork’s suite of applications over the next 6 months

New versions of its Apple iWork’s suite of applications for free last month, Apple received a fair amount of criticism for removing some of the features within the Pages, Numbers and Keynote applications which previous users had come to rely on. Now after receiving feedback from users Apple has announced that it will be making a U-turn of sorts and reinstating some of the missing iWorks features in the next few releases as well as add new features on an ongoing basis.

Some of the new features you can expect to see in Apple’s iWork’s suite of applications over the next 6 months include:

Pages
Customize toolbar
Vertical ruler
Improved alignment guides
Improved object placement
Import of cells with images
Improved word counts
Keyboard shortcuts for styles
Manage pages and sections from the thumbnail view

Numbers
Customize toolbar
Improvements to zoom and window placement
Multi-column and range sort
Auto-complete text in cells
Page headers and footers
Improvements to AppleScript support

Keynote
Customize toolbar
Restoring old transitions and builds
Improvements to presenter display
Improvements to AppleScript support

As well as making their iWork’s suite of applications free to Apple device owners, Apple also announced that they will be releasing their new OS X Mavericks operating system for free as well as all-new operating system updates in the future. Making Microsoft look a little silly charging for its latest Windows 8.1 operating system update for users that didn’t already own Windows 8.

To know more information on the new missing Apple iWork features go to the official Apple website for details.

Via - Apple

Bluetooth LE technology expected to be used in the new Apple iWatch

Apple has patented some Bluetooth LE technology at the U.S Patent and Trademark Office, the technology uses Bluetooth LE and it is expected to be used in the new Apple iWatch.

The patent is for technology that can be used to connect a device and share a network with a second device using low power communication, as in Bluetooth LE. The filing talks about a primary device that can establish a remote connection with a remote network, but this device does not have a built in radio transceiver.

This device then connects to a secondary device which has a radio receiver, and uses that receiver for communication and sharing, the data would then be shared to the first device. This could possibly be how Apple’s iWatch may work, the device may not come with built in WiFi, but it would be able to connect to either and iPhone or iPad, and then use that devices WiFi or data connection.

In this manner, users can leverage their mobile radio communication devices, such as their cell phones, to provide network access to their other devices without having to manually enable such connections. In turn, the other devices can benefit from the network access while remaining in low-power mode during a short-range connection that uses a low-power enabled connection.

Apple are rumored to be launching their Apple iWatch in 2014, the device is expected to be much more than just a simple communicator device for an iPhone or iPad, and we have heard rumors that it may be used to control a number of things around your home for home automation.

Via - Apple Insider, TechCrunch

Apple turns off iPhone 5S Stock Tracking Website

A couple of weeks ago we told you about a website that would check the stock of Apple’s iPhone 5Sin Apple stores, the website was called Apple Tracker, and it looks like Apple has decided to shut the site down. The owner of the site that tracked where the iPhone 5S was available, has posted a message on the site saying that they have received a DMCA request from Apple you can see the message below.

I’ve decided to turn off the site. I’m not doing this because I want to, but rather because I received a DMCA takedown notice (you can see the full text below) from Apple.
I’m not really interested in picking a fight with apple so….. I guess it time to just say good bye.
Before I go though I just wanted to says thanks to all of you for the nice comments and emails that you’ve sent in the last few weeks.
It was fun while it lasted.

The site was quite useful for finding sto9ck of the iPhone 5S, unfortunately you will not be able to use it for the new iPad Mini when it launches later this month.

Via - iMore

Wall of Sound 2.0 is apparently the world’s largest iPhone dock at $6900

The Wall of Sound 2.0 is apparently the world’s largest iPhone dock, the device measures 1000mm tall by 1700mm wide by 400mm thick and it weighs in at 178kg. The Wall of Sound 2.0 is replacing the Wall of Sound that launched back in 2009, and this model comes with more speakers than the previous version.

Apart from the basic features you might except from a iPhone speaker, Bluetooth, tube amplifier, individually built chambers for the speakers we have built in some pretty cool stuff you might not exert from a speaker. Like a monkey head.

The small monkey head is warning you if playing too loud. Normal (high) volume and the monkey has no problem, his eyes are glowing blue but if you play very loud the eyes turns golden, if you keep on increasing the volume they will turn red. Red means there’s an immediate risk for permanent hearing loss. After five minutes playing in the red zone, the monkey´s head pops and the music stops. Once the monkeys head is returned the speaker can be used again, This is a safety feature to prevent damage to ears and property.

The Wall of Sound 2.0 is capable of a massive 8,000 watts, it has a total of 44 speakers and stands 3 feet tall by 4 feet wide, should you want on it will set you back $6,900.

Via - New Launches, Gizmodo

The LUMOback sensor sells for £129.95 and also available in Apple Stores

This device is a sensor that uses Bluetooth to connect to a smartphone app to help users improve their posture. The company says that poor posture has been scientifically linked to back pain. Back pain is the second most common reason people go to the doctor according to the company.

While the sensor was just a Kickstarter project last time we talked about it, the company has now announced that the sensor is available to purchase in the UK. The LUMOback sensor sells for £129.95 and is available in Apple Stores and directly from the LUMOback website. The small sensor is worn around the waist on an elastic band and sends real-time data and visualizations to the smartphone application.

The application is available for iOS gadgets. In addition to helping with posture, the application is able to monitor activity while sitting, standing, walking, running, or sleeping. It can track steps, calories burned, time standing, time sitting, and how frequently the user stands up during the day. The sensor is compatible with the iPhone 4S up and third and fourth generation iPad tablets as well as the iPad mini and fifth-generation iPod Touch.

Via -  LUMOback

IE-CTI300 headphones feature 14.3 mm dynamic drivers and the aluminum in ABS hybrid enclosure

Onkyo makes a number of audio products ranging from home theater receivers to headphones among other things. The company has announced two new sets of headphones designed specifically for Apple iOS devices. The headphones include the ES-CTI300 on-ear and IE-CTI300 in-ear units. Both headsets feature detachable cables with integrated iOS remote controls.

The on ear ES-CTI300 headphones are available in silver or black finishes. The integrated three button remote control allows users to player play or pause music, select tracks, and accept or reject phone calls. The remote also has volume control built-in. The on ear headphones feature 40 mm titanium drivers and high-capacity bass chambers.

The IE-CTI300 in-ear headphones feature 14.3 mm dynamic drivers and the aluminum in ABS hybrid enclosure. It features the same cable that is removable with an in-line remote control. There are three different cable options available for the headphones including a flat tangle free unit, one piece copper cable, and the included copper cable with the in-line remote. Both sets of headphones will be available in December. The ES-CTI300 headphones will sell for $199 with the IE-CTI300 headphones selling for $149.

Via - Onkyo

DisplayMate Technologies tested the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 successfully

The new display technology Apple has used in its new iPad Air tablets which has made it possible for a full to reduce both the weight and volume of a new tablet by around 25 percent. Apple now uses indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) semiconductor materials and has moved away from amorphous silicon (a-Si) compounds used in previous Apple iPads tablets. However changing the technology of their Apple iPad display has also reduced the quality of the display’s image, according to recent testing carried out on the iPad Air tablet and its competitors by DisplayMate Technologies.

Previously Apple’s iPad range of tablets performed the best in its market, but this week it has been revealed that Apple has now been pushed down to second place by Amazons Kindle Fire HDX tablet. DisplayMate Technologies tested the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, the iPad Air, and Google’s Nexus 10, the Fire 8.9 and posted their results earlier this week. Explaining :

“The emphasis for the iPad Air is in reduced size, thickness, and weight. The most important under the hood display improvement is the switch from a-Si amorphous Silicon LCDs up to a much higher performance IGZO LCD backplane, which was discussed in our iPad 3 Display Shoot-Out article last year. The switch to IGZO produces an impressive 57 percent improvement in display power efficiency from previous Retina Display iPads – so the iPad Air doesn’t get uncomfortably warm like the earlier iPads.

Most impressive of all is the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, which has leapfrogged into the best performing Tablet display that we have ever tested, significantly out-performing the iPad Air in Brightness, Screen Reflectance, and high ambient light contrast, plus a first place finish in the very challenging category of Absolute Color Accuracy.”

To know more information on testing carried out on the current tablets available to purchase and details on each test carried out gently over to the DisplayMate Technologies website for full details and a rundown of the results.

Via - CNET

New Knock iOS app uses Bluetooth 4.0 technology to connect your Mac system

If you own an Apple Mac system and secure it using a pass code which enables a number of times during the day to stop unwanted access to your files and system. You might be interested in the new Knock iOS App which has been developed to allow easy access to your Mac system without you having to enter your pass code every time you return to your system.

The new Knock iOS app uses Bluetooth 4.0 technology to connect to your Mac system and is supported by Apple’s iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S smartphones. Once installed on your smartphone and enabled the Knock iOS app allows you to simply tap on your iPhone device whilst in range of your Mac system to securely access your system and bypass the password entry option. Watch the video below to see how easy access in your Mac system can be using the new Knock iOS application.

The Knock iOS App now available to download from the Apple iTunes App Store and is priced at $3.99. The Mac system companion application which links to your iPhone is available to download directly from the official Knock website for free. Its developers explain a little more:

“You keep your iPhone with you all the time. Now you can use it as a password. You never have to open the app— just knock on your phone twice, even when it’s in your pocket, and you’re in. Using the Knock iOS App won’t drain your iPhone’s battery, even if you use it all day every day. Knock securely communicates with your Mac using Bluetooth Low Energy, a new technology that draws very little power.”

Via - Mac Rumours

Pandora’s subscriber increased since iTunes Radio launched

When iTunes Radio first came on the scene, the idea was that it would be Pandora’s direct competitor. We are talking Apple after all, so Pandora should have been scared. Well, now, a few months later, it looks like iTunes Radio may be helping Pandora rather than hurting it. 
Reports claim that only a small percentage of Pandora users have decided to leave Pandora for iTunes Radio. 

And also have a new report, that shows that Pandora’s subscriber base has actually increased since iTunes Radio launched. The info comes from Mike Herring, Pandora’s CFO, who claims that Pandora has seen an increase in subscribers by as much as 9%. So it looks like Pandora is actually benefiting here. Now, keep in mind that this might not have anything to do with iTunes Radio. 

There is also the factor of Pandora deciding to drop its time-limited listening restrictions. We can see how that would gain them listeners. Also, Pandora is available on both iOS and Android, so that helps. Either way, iTunes Radio doesn’t seem to be hurting them much. It will be interesting to see where the numbers are at a few months from now. We will keep on eye on this for you.

Via - Ubergizmo

Blackberry announced voice calling capabilities along with BBM Channels for Android and iOS

Last week Blackberry announced BBM for Android and iOS. The application managed to reach the 10 million downloads milestone in just 24 hours after launch. Recently, Blackberry also announced that the service is being used by over 20 million iPhone and Android users, which increases the total number of active users using the application (including Blackberry) to a whopping 80 million.

If you’re one of those millions using Android, you’d be happy to know that BBM for Android comes with a homescreen widget as well, which provides users with quick access to the application. Now, you don’t have to open the application every time you want to send a message to one of your contacts.

The widget shows all the recent BBM chats, but users can tap at the bottom of the widget to open the application. If you don’t know how to add widgets, just long press on your home screen and select the BBM widget from the widgets option.

There are many cross-platform messaging services so the folks at BBM have to work hard and make sure they release more exciting features that are better than the competition. Recently, Blackberry announced that BBM for Android and iOS will come with video and voice calling capabilities along with BBM Channels.

Via - IntoMobile

Latest Angry Birds Star Wars II update with 8 secret levels for Apple’s iOS platform

Rovio Mobile has updated Angry Birds Star Wars 2 for Apple’s iOS platform, the app is available in the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad running iOS 4.3 and above. The update version of Angry Birds Star Wars 2 is version 1.1.0, and it comes with 8 new secret levels and 4 new characters, there are also a number of bug fixes.

• What’s New in Version 1.1.0: Get the latest Angry Birds Star Wars II update with 8 secret levels, 4 extra characters and all-new reward levels!
• NEW SECRET LEVELS! Find the hidden maps to unlock 8 all-new secret levels!
• NEW CHARACTERS! Introducing Hologram Darth Sidious, Silver C3PO, Red Battle Droid and Shadowtrooper – yours to earn or purchase!
• NEW REWARD LEVELS! Each new character brings some awesome new reward levels! Try and master them all!
• We also used Jedi mind tricks to fix some minor issues and give you an even better game experience! Thanks for playing!

The Angry Birds Star Wars 2 update is available for free and the game is available to buy for $0.99 from iTunes, you can find out more details as the link below.

Via - iTunes