Amazon scales up its Cloud Player music app for the iPad and iPad mini
Six months after debuting on the iPhone and iPod touch, Amazon’s streaming music and storage service has been modified for Apple’s tablets. Read more »
Waze adds real-time re-routing around road closures to latest iOS, Android update
If a certain number of Waze users report the same closing, the app will automatically start re-routing all users around reported road closures. Read more »
Passbook mobile ticketing expanding to 13 MLB ballparks this season
MLB continues to further integrate mobile tech into its fan offerings. While iOS is by far its most popular mobile platform, the head of baseball’s digital arm says it’s “shrinking every day” as Android grows. Read more »
Apple probably isn’t cracking down on native app cookie tracking — yet
A batch of rejections from Apple’s App Store had some reports wondering if Apple has begun forcing developers to use a new for tracking mobile app users. It hasn’t, according to our sources. Read more »
Apple isn’t building retail stores as fast as its sales are growing
Twelve years after their first opening, Apple’s expanding net sales and soaring store traffic show it could use more locations, especially in international cities, of Apple Stores. Read more »
A futuristic gesture: PointGrab aims to bring remote motion control to iOS devices
Using an iPhone or iPad’s camera, PointGrab is opening up its new SDK at MWC this week that will let developers bring motion-control to their iOS apps. Read more »
Apple investor wins bid to block shareholder vote
A federal judge granted David Einhorn’s request to remove a proposal for shareholders to vote on Apple’s ability to offer preferred stock. Read more »
Vocal Apple investors may be getting what they want: higher dividend, lower-priced iPhone
photo: InComm
One of Wall Street’s top analysts covering Apple met with its CFO on Thursday, and got the impression Apple will make an iPhone for the lower end of the mobile market, and double the existing dividend. Read more »
Activist investor proposes unconventional plan to boost Apple’s stock
David Einhorn of Greenlight Capital says his plan would mean Apple would spend about $1.9 billion per year issuing iPrefs. Not everyone is convinced the plan makes sense. Read more »
MLB pitches its updated iOS, Android apps for Opening Day
This year’s mobile app for iOS and Android app can be used on both platforms and has a new deal bundling GameDay Audio subscriptions for free. Read more »
Site used in malware attack on Apple, Facebook explains how it happened
photo: Shutterstock / deepspacedave
The owner of the website that was used to launch hacking attacks on Apple and Facebook explains how his site was compromised. Read more »
Apple stock drops after reports of Foxconn hiring freeze
photo: Credit: Bowen Liu/Apple Inc. via Bloomberg
The FT says Apple’s manufacturing partner isn’t hiring any more workers for a month because of lowered iPhone 5 demand. But Bloomberg got a spokesman to offer a different explanation. Read more »
The year-old iPhone 4S was world’s 2nd most popular smartphone in Q4
Both the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S outsold Samsung’s Galaxy S III juggernaut, which after five months of availability, sold 15.4 million units during the fourth quarter. Read more »
What’s for dinner? Ask Gojee, a recipe recommendation app for iOS (video)
Here’s a quick video tour of this very delicious iOS app that gives you recipe ideas based on what you have and what you like. Read more »
Apple says some employee computers were breached by hackers
photo: Shutterstock / mkabakov
They found their way in through a vulnerability in Java. But the company says there is no evidence that “any data left Apple.” Read more »
And then there was One: HTC revamps its flagship 4.7-inch Android phone
The new One has a large 4.7-inch 1080p display with 468 ppi resolution. It’s LTE-capable and runs Android Jelly Bean. In addition to a custom HTC home screen, there’s a new newsfeed feature called BlinkFeed. Read more »
The race is over: China to pass U.S. in iOS, Android devices for good
At the end of this month, China should have 246 million smartphones and tablets running iOS or Android; that will put it ahead of the U.S., likely for good. Read more »
Sunrise dawns a new iOS smart calendar app from its daily email digest
The former Foursquare duo behind the Sunrise email digest is debuting their first app with a smart, social twist. Read more »
Apple Stores are prospering, but the SVP of Retail slot seems to be a tough sell
Four months after the firing of the previous SVP of Retail John Browett, Apple Stores remain leaderless. Meanwhile, Browett lands on his feet. Read more »
Kickstarter kicks off mobile move with iPhone, iPod touch app
The app includes some handy mobile features, like push notifications for backers when friends pledge the same project, and for creators to know when new backers sign up. Read more »
Something else to fix in iOS 6.1: a trick lets users bypass iPhone lock screen
A YouTube video shows a user taking advantage of a bug in the software and bypassing an iPhone’s lock screen to make a call without having to in put the phone’s password. Read more »
Apple appeals iPhone exclusive trademark loss in Brazil
Are we in for a rerun of last year’s iPad trademark episode in China? It’s certainly shaping up that way. Read more »
Why big change may be coming to iOS this year
An analyst predicts Apple will re-build iOS to work on faster processors this year. Based on the age of iOS and personnel changes made last year, this isn’t a bad bet. Read more »
Report: Apple loses exclusive iPhone trademark in Brazil
photo: Flickr / gaby_bra
A Brazilian company that registered the trademark in 2000 is also allowed to legally use the iPhone name in Brazil, according to a ruling reported Wednesday. Read more »
Apple lowers price on 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, MacBook Air
photo: Om Malik/GigaOM
The 13-inch 128 GB MacBook with Retina display is now $1,499, $200 lower than when it was announced four months ago. Read more »
More details emerge about scope of Apple smart watch project
Apple may be further along in developing an “iWatch” than previously thought. A new report says there is a team of 100 people working on the project. Read more »
Tim Cook: Apple doesn’t have a cash hoarding problem
photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images
Apple’s CEO defended the company against attacks that it’s irrationally conservative about cash and reiterated that the board of directors is in “very active discussions” about returning more money to shareholders. Read more »
Video: Should you take the Triposo app on your next trip?
This week I take you on a quick trip with Triposo, a free app for the iPhone. Read more »
Apple issues iOS 6 software fix for iPhone 4S owners
Some European carriers had started warned their subscribers not to upgrade to iOS version 6.1 until Apple had a chance to address the issues. Read more »
The fate of Apple’s $137B cash pile could be made more clear this week
photo: Flickr / Tracy O
Tim Cook could use his speaking slot at the Goldman Sachs tech conference Tuesday to signal how he’s thinking about Apple’s excess cash. Read more »
Reports: Apple testing curved glass, iOS-powered smart watch
The watch would run the same iOS platform as the iPhone, according to the NYT. The WSJ adds that Apple has talked with its chief manufacturing partner about such a device. Read more »
Apple snags a television expert from LG Display
The OLED Association noted this week that Apple had hired away James (Jueng-jil) Lee, an LG researcher and expert in television displays. Read more »
Ex-Apple designer explains why it’s just a matter of time for the iWatch
Bruce Tognazzini lays out why he thinks Apple already has all the pieces in place to build an iOS-based smart watch. Read more »
Apple: We’re talking about how to distribute more of $137B in cash to shareholders
photo: Flickr/401(K) 2012
Apple responded to investor David Einhorn’s public comments Thursday about his dissatisfaction with how the company is handling its cash with its own statement. Read more »
In Q4 Android phones drove more mobile ad impressions than iPhone for 1st time ever
Android phones made big gains in overall ad impressions, but where it really counts — producing revenue for mobile advertisers — the iOS platform is still comfortably in the lead. Read more »
Twitter’s Vine app now has a 17+ age rating, user reporting tool
After pornography was found on Vine, Twitter has quietly updated the app with an age-rating warning and a user/content reporting tool. Read more »
How we’ll know when Google Play really has caught up to the iOS App Store
Android is catching up to iOS in terms of apps for sale and developer attention. But the most influential mobile companies have yet to bypass iOS for Android. Read more »
A potential clue about Apple’s streaming music service surfaces
9to5Mac say they found unused “buy” icons in the iPad’s Music app that appear to be linked to streaming radio, a service Apple has been said to be working on. Read more »
Flurry courts mobile developers with free crash reporting tool
Crash reporting was the No. 1 most requested feature when Flurry polled its users at the end of 2012. Read more »
FTC to mobile app makers: More disclosure to consumers, please
The FTC recommends app makers disclose to users how their personal info is being used, and it wants ad networks and mobile platforms to work together on a mobile version of Do Not Track. Read more »
