Updated: WWDC 2011 Keynote Still Not Announced
WWDC 2011 will cover five key technology tracks: Application Frameworks, Internet & Web, Graphics & Media, Developer Tools, and Core OS, but Jobs so far, is not expected to speak. Read more »
Charles Jade
Charles Jade enjoys talking about himself in the third person and writing about personal technology in general, but specifically all things Apple. He has lived on both U.S. coasts, preferring the living on the west, but not the cost of living, so now resides in North Carolina in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Charles is not only old enough to have witnessed the telecommunications revolution of the 90s as an adult, but has childhood memories of loading games into his Atari 800 via a cassette tape drive and using a 300 baud modem. Upon moving to the Apple IIc, and then the fabulous Apple IIGS, he felt betrayed by the company's abandonment of the platform in favor of the Macintosh and spent ten years in the PC wilderness. In 2001, the wil-o'-wisp lighting of the white iBook and "lickable" Aqua interface of OS X proved too powerful to resist. Since then, the Jade household has owned more than a dozen Macs, and as many iPods and iPhones.
Perpetually desperate for attention, Charles looks forward to conversing with you about Apple in article comments. If interested, you can follow his discrete monologue, as well as read his occasional ephemeral thought.
Why It’s Now or Never for an iPhone Lite
According to Gartner, mobile phone sales for the first quarter totaled some 428 million devices, with just 23 percent being smartphones. With so much room to grow, there would appear to be room for many competitors, but an expansive market is still a finite one. Read more »
The Apple Store at 10: Past, Present, and Future
On May 19th, the Apple Retail Store celebrates its tenth anniversary. Here’s a look back at the unlikely success Apple has enjoyed with its brick-and-mortar stores, and at where we might expect that success to lead future retail endeavors made by the company. Read more »
Apple Stores Reportedly Getting 10th Anniversary Makeover
On the eve of Apple retail’s ten-year anniversary, rumors are suggesting big changes inside Apple Stores this weekend. Those changes might include iPad-based payment terminals and interactive displays, dedicated product setup areas, and more changes designed to improve the brick-and-mortar shopping experience. Read more »
No LTE iPhone in 2011 Because There’s No LTE
The on-again, off-again rumor of an LTE iPhone is likely to remain off for the rest of 2011, according to the latest from DigiTimes, which reports yield rates of Qualcomm LTE chips as the problem. Of course, the real problem remains a lack of coverage. Read more »
Google’s Victory is Not Apple’s Defeat
In the past, WWDC topics have included data on the ever-increasing number of iOS devices sold and growth of the platform, and the same can be expected this year; just don’t expect any more comparisons between iOS and Android on activations. Read more »
Quick Fix: MobileMe Gallery Video on Apple TV
For Apple TV owners that also subscribe to MobileMe, Gallery is an underrated feature. MobileMe Gallery and the Apple TV just work for photo and video sharing, at least most of the time. If you’re having trouble with the video part of that equation, try this. Read more »
iPhone Holding on Against Android as RIM Collapses
The March report from comScore sees the iPhone holding against the Android in the U.S., while RIM market share collapses. And iOS as an OS is still doing much better than Android when all types of devices are taken into consideration. Read more »
ARM-Based Macs: A Real Possibility?
Tech blog SemiAccurate sped up a slow news Friday with a so-crazy-it-might-be-true rumor that Apple will be switching CPU architecture. Again. Right now, it seems impossible, but given time, could Apple really use in-house designed ARM-based chips to provide the processing power behind Mac computers? Read more »
Report: Imminent iOS 4.3.3 Update to Fix “Locationgate” Bug
According to Boy Genius Report, Apple is preparing to release iOS 4.3.3 “within the next two weeks, possibly sooner.” The purported update will specifically address the iPhone “tracking” issue that has mesmerized the mainstream media, and deliver fixes promised by Apple last week. Read more »
Snow Leopard Goes Out With a Market Share Roar
Come WWDC in June, we’ll likely see OS X Lion changing status from preview to official public release. That makes May a good time to look at the April report on OS market share from web-analytics firm Net Applications for some perspective on Snow Leopard. Read more »
Apple Looking to Help iOS Users Get Fit?
Thursday, Apple filed a patent application for “personalized fitness services” on a handheld device, focusing on exercise in a gym setting. Features would include how-to videos for equipment, as well as the ability to check on classes and possibly schedule training sessions. Read more »
Does Apple Even Have a Cloud Strategy?
Despite building a massive data center and the expected launch of cloud-based music storage, the troubled history of Apple’s online services suggests the company has yet to come up with a plan for the cloud. How can Apple provide the kind of experience its customers expect? Read more »
Apple Conference Call: Don’t Expect Another iPad in 2011
After today’s earning report for the second fiscal quarter, Apple’s conference call was something of a dénouement. In a relatively dry call without the presence of Steve Jobs, the main topic of interest was the iPad; the questions focused on supply problems, the answers avoided them. Read more »
Apple Q2 2011: Macs and iPhone Up, Apple ‘Also Sold’ 4.69 Million iPads
Coming in below expectations on iPads, down on iPod sales, but up big on iPhones and Macs, Apple announced record second quarter earnings today. Apple reported earnings revenue of $24.67 billion and a net quarterly profit of $5.99 billion, or $6.40 earnings per share. Read more »
Apple Second Quarter Earnings Preview
With Apple announcing earnings next Wednesday, it’s bound to be good news for stockholders. But it’s good time to look at what that means for consumers, too. Could the earnings call provide hints about the future of Apple’s hardware and software plans? Read more »
2011: Year of Two iPad 2s?
Despite speculation from reputable sources, 2011 appears to indeed be the year of the iPad 2, not the iPad 2.5, and almost certainly not an iPad 3. But, as Apple has demonstrated in the past, just because something doesn’t add up doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Read more »
Verizon iPad 2 Displaying Strange Roaming Behavior
A number of Verizon iPad 2s are exhibiting issues with 3G networks, prompting Apple to replace some. But that’s not a satisfactory fix, as replacement units show the same problem. Neither Apple nor Verizon seems to be able to offer a satisfying solution at this point. Read more »
iOS the Only Holdout Against Android Onslaught
At first glance, the latest comScore smartphone market share figures paint a bleak picture for anyone that isn’t Android, but there’s plenty of reason to believe that iOS is holding its own. The Verizon iPhone is one, and we’ve only just begun to see its effect. Read more »
The April Fools of iPad Predictions
While Apple announcing Flash for iOS or a 7-inch iPad might make for humorous copy on April Fools’ Day, truth can be just as entertaining. Here’s a look at some of the more off-the-mark statements made recently about Apple’s ongoing tablet success. Read more »
100 Million iPhones Later: What’s Next?
After selling 90 million iPhones from 2007 through 2010, an important milestone has almost certainly passed, the sale of the 100 millionth iPhone. Expect a self-congratulatory press release next month, but now is the time for the company to think about the next 100 million iPhones. Read more »
Apple Charting New Future for iOS Maps — Without Google?
Like breadcrumbs, a series of acquisitions, job postings, and service changes lead to the conclusion that a major change in maps on iOS is coming. The latest clue is a strongly-worded job posting that indicates “radical” improvements are in the cards for maps on iOS devices. Read more »
Original iPads Beginning to Sell Out?
The first generation 16 GB Wi-Fi has disappeared from the clearance section of the Apple Store online, and it probably won’t be coming back. Other models could soon follow, meaning discounted prices for new iPads could soon be a thing of the past. Read more »
Apple Getting Serious About the Cloud With Free MobileMe in April?
The latest rumor surrounding MobileMe says it could be free beginning in April, and will at least temporarily coexist beside the current paid service. It’s not the first time we’ve heard about imminent MobileMe changes, but it does suggest an announcement could be coming soon. Read more »
iPhone 5: To NFC or Not to NFC?
Apple’s smartphone competitors almost certainly will include NFC in devices in 2011. The iPhone 5 will reportedly pass on the tech according to a report from earlier this week, but a new source says it could get it after all. Which is it? Read more »
What Are Apple’s Options in the Video War With Netflix?
According to NPD, Netflix now dominates digital video downloads in the U.S. Apple has only a measly 4 percent of the overall market, placing it about on par with cable and satellite providers. What does this mean for the future of Apple’s video business? Read more »
iPad Market Share Stabilizes as Post-PC Apple Products Surge
IDC reports that the iPad’s share of the tablet market fell from 93 percent to 73 percent last quarter. That doesn’t mean that much, since Apple had no competition when it started out. More interesting is how Apple’s post-PC products are doing in general. Read more »
iPad 2 Launch Details: How, When and Where to Buy
Apple has just issued a press release confirming details of the Pad 2 launch for tomorrow. The tablet will be available at all 236 Apple Retail stores in the U.S. at 5:00 PM local time, and Apple’s online store will begin sales at 1:00 AM PT. Read more »
Which iPad 2 Should You Buy?
With the iPad 2 launch just days away, it’s a good time to consider which model you want to buy. You should consider your own usage habits, but also when you plan on upgrading next, and what the resale market will look like when you do. Read more »
iPhone Flat in U.S. as Android Takes Market Share Lead
According to the latest comScore report, Android has overtaken iOS in the U.S. when it comes to smartphones and taken the lead in overal market share. iOS shows flat growth compared to last quarter, but a few new moves could turn things around. Read more »
Want an iPad 2 on March 11? Be in Line Early
Around 6 a.m. on April 3, 2010, prospective iPad buyers began lining up at the Apple Store in Durham, N.C., with simliar lines forming across the U.S. Nearly a year and 20 million iPads later, history is about to repeat itself with the iPad 2 launch. Read more »
Apple Squeezes Competition With $100 Price Drop on Original iPad
At the launch of the iPad 2 today, Steve Jobs noted the redesigned tablet would keep its current price structure while adding new features. However, for consumers who believe price is the most important feature, Apple is cutting $100 off the original iPad while supplies last. Read more »
More Evidence That MobileMe Could Soon Be Free
Apple has not only notified resellers that the company is discontinuing sales of the MobileMe retail box, but it has also stopped selling it through the company’s online store. Current users can still renew their services, but indications are that MobileMe will soon be free. Read more »
iPhone Camera App Roundup: I’m Ready for My Closeup
A good camera app these days should not only take pictures, but allow the photographer to immediately edit and share them. Here are seven apps that aspire to be the be-all and end-all on your iPhone, and my opinion of which best succeed in that task. Read more »
MacBook Air Update Rumored, But Apple Could Skip Sandy Bridge
Less than six months ago, Apple launched a redesigned MacBook Air. It was almost a completely new machine, but only “almost” because the new MacBook Air still uses the “old” Core 2 Duo, same as the first. That could change soon. Read more »
Is Adobe Flash 10.2 Right for You?
Flash Player 10.2 is beta no more, and the general release promises better performance and less CPU usage through Stage Video. Stage Video provides for “a full hardware accelerated video pipeline,” reducing CPU utilization by as much as 85 percent. Read more »
iOS Accounts for 2% of Web Browsing, Android on the Rise
As the world moves to browsing the web from mobile devices, iOS jumps in market share again, but Android is coming on fast, and unlikely to slow down any time soon. How long can Apple hold the lead, with Android phones selling so robustly? Read more »
Samsung Tab Ships Big, But Apple’s iPad Sells
A week after launch, Samsung, maker of the Galaxy Tab, announced more than 600,000 units had been sold. In early December, that number climbed to more than a million, and in January reached two million. But is it really a threat to the iPad’s dominance? Read more »
How to Sell Your iPad for Instant Upgrade Gratification
Conventional wisdom and a knowledge of Apple’s hardware upgrade cycles suggests the iPad 2 will be an evolutionary update, not a revolutionary one. Even so, it’s hard to avoid upgrade fever. Here’s how best to sell your existing iPad to fuel the purchase of your next. Read more »
OneNote for iPhone Review: Overly Simple Note Taking
Yesterday, Microsoft launched its first Office app for iOS, a mobile version of the digital notebook application OneNote. If you’ve never heard of it, it may be because you’re using the Mac version of Office, which lacks OneNote, greatly reducing the usability of the iOS app. Read more »
