We think it’s a little odd for a company that only makes Apple—related products to label one of said products with the words “Apple Edition.” But that’s what they’re calling the new, slightly different version of their marquis Juice Pack Air iPhone 4 backpack battery.
iPad 2 Design Thieves Sentenced To Chinese Prison
Remember the three Foxconn employees arrested back in December for leaking the design of the iPad 2 to third-party case makers? They’ve been found guilty, and they’re going to prison.
Donate Just $1 To Pay For The Lifetime CO2 Emissions Of Your iPhone
Got a spare buck? Literally… just one dollar. Want to use your iPhone 4 guilt free? Why don’t you give it to The Nature Conservancy, and they’ll use it to offset the lifetime CO2 emissions of your iPhone 4? That’s a penny for each pound of carbon!
Check Out Four Exclusive Pages From The Upcoming Steve Jobs Bio Comic! [Gallery]
Set to be published in August 2011 by Bluewater Comics, Steve Jobs: the Co-Founder of Apple is a comic book bio by writer C.W. Cooke and artist Chris Schmidt that aims to tell the story of Apple’s inimitable founder in a less wordy and more visual format than Steve Jobs’ official biography.
Although the comic has not been colored or lettered yet, Bluewater Productions was kind enough to give Cult of Mac an exclusive preview of a few of the pages of the still unfinished comic, covering everything from Steve Jobs’ birth and adoption to his time as a tripped-out, LSD-popping Buddhist working for Atari. Check them out!
Check Out This Cool Star Wars / OS X Lion Mash-Up Wallpaper [Geek Humor]
Reader Adam Moffat sent us this awesome mash-up of Lion’s cool new galaxy wallpaper and the famous opening shot of Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer chasing Princess Leia in the first few minutes of Star Wars.
We love it. Here’s the inspiration. If you think it’d make a fine desktop for your geeky Mac, you can download a high resolution copy from us here. Thanks for sharing your work with us, Adam!
Google Can Track Your iPhone, iPad Or MacBook To Your Physical Address [LocationGate]
Remember back in April, when Steve Jobs replied to the overblown iPhone LocationGate mini-scandal by saying that it was Google who was tracking users, not Apple? As he often is, looks like Steve is right.
Why The iPad Made Me Ditch My iPhone For A Nokia Dumbphone [Opinion]
Two weeks ago Sunday, my iPhone 3GS slid from my pocket and nuzzled itself amongst the fossilized bubble gum, mottled receipts and other sticky detritus that lays thick between the seats of the 7:20pm MBTA train to Forest Hill on the Orange Line. Doubtless someone is playing with it even now. I didn’t even notice it go, but unlike the last time I lost my iPhone, my initial reaction was not panic or thundering rage, but a serene sense of acceptance: I just don’t need an iPhone anymore. I barely even tried to recover it. This is my new phone, and god help me, I love it.
Wall Street: iPad Won’t Save Newspapers
The iPad has been widely embraced by publishers who think it will stave off the death of print, but the latest forecast is grim: not even the “magical” iPad can save newspapers from the grave.
Win $333 of Mac Software Today From StackSocial & Cult of Mac [Twitter Giveaway]
We went bonkers last week and gave out more free hardware in seven days than we ever have before. To mix things up this week we’re going to be giving out some beautiful software to enhance your Apple experience. Today we’re teaming up with the great people behind StackSocial who have given us three promo codes for their latest Mac Essentials Bundle. With eleven Mac apps worth $333 that we’re giving away for free, this is one of the best software giveaways we’ve ever had. You’ve got to play to win though, so here are the details on what you’ll win and how to qualify for the giveaway:
Apple to iPhone Passcode Finder App: Get Lost
Just one day after we posted the top ten most common iPhone passcodes, Apple has yanked the app that generated them. According to the developer, though, he was only following Apple’s own rules.
Apple Will Pay Nokia Billions In iPhone Patent Licensing
Although Apple scoffed at the financial impact of the settlement, licensing fees of Nokia technologies in the iPhone will end up costing Apple billions.
Behind The Scenes At The Apple Store: 100% Loyalty and Positivity, 0% Room For Corporate Advancement [Details]
Want to know what it’s like to work at the Apple Store? How to get hired, what training you’ll receive, how much you’ll be paid, even the choice of words you’ll be forced to use when you let a customer down? A new subscriber only report from the Wall Street Journal has all the juicy details. Here’s the most interesting bits.
iAd Is Losing Marketshare To Dumbphones
After repeatedly being bashed by Apple, here some good news for RIM: mobile advertisers aren’t abandoning the platform, but actually taking a second look with dumb phone advertising rising, says one advertising network Wednesday.
Leaked Docs Reveal That Facebook Is Working On Amazing, Instagram-Like Photo Sharing App
Facebook might be looking to challenge Instagram’s crown as the reigning king of iOS photo sharing apps.
Apple Releases Software Update To Prepare For New Time Capsules
Last night, Apple released Airport Utility 5.5.3, a minor bug release update for both Apple’s AirPort Extreme base stations as well as Time Capsule. More interesting, though, is reference within the update to incoming updates to Apple’s two wireless routers. Are these the iOS-running, A5-equipped Time Capsules we’ve been waiting for?
iOS 5 Beta Shows Off iPad 3’s Retina Display Assets
Evidence within the iOS 5 Beta suggests that Apple’s planning a future iPad with a Retina Display, but before we all get excited and take this as confirmation that the iPad 3 will pack a 2048 x 1536 display, let’s remember that we’ve heard all of this before.
Geek Trend: Tempting Fate Creating Steve Jobs Collectibles [Gallery]
In the last few years a kind of cat and mouse game has evolved between Apple Legal and some of the more daring (and creative) members of the Cult of Apple: tempting fate by selling Steve Jobs collectibles, and risking the wrath of Apple. How long before your Cease & Desist letter arrives?
Here are some of the more popular items created in the past few years.
Readers Ask I Answer: What Is That Mysterious Symbol On Your iPhone?
I take a lot of the things for granted on my iPhone, since I’ve been using one since the original was released back in 2007. Apple released the iPhone, which many call the iPhone 2G, along with an Apple branded Bluetooth headset. That headset didn’t last very long and it was ultimately abandoned by Apple and replaced by third-party alternatives.
Therefore, although Apple abandoned the headset market iOS retained the support that Apple baked into each Bluetooth headset they made. That support allows my iPhone 4 to display the mysterious symbol that a fair number of readers comment about on my posts. So what is it?
Welcome to JC Penney, Ron Johnson! Here’s What You’ve Got To Fix [Gallery]
Earlier today, Apple’s former VP of Retail Ron Johnson shocked everyone by ending his eleven year career in Cupertino to become CEO of JC Penney, a middle-of-the-road department store chain which sells clothing like this.
At Apple, Johnson famously invented the Apple Store concept, defined by each location’s uniiform low-key community vibe, easily accessible solution stations, troubleshooting Genius Bars and uncluttered and austerely aesthetic layouts. At JC Penney, however, Johnson will largely have to reinvent the 1,100 retail stores he’s already got… and what he’s got sure isn’t pretty. Check out this small sample of JC Penney department stores currently blighting the American landscape.
Steve Jobs and Ron Johnson On Apple’s Retail Success [Quotes]
Photo: Richard Agullar
When Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s first retail stores in 2001, pundits said they were a costly mistake and he’d be closing them within a year. A decade later, Apple has reinvented retailing with a chain of 300 shops that make more money per square foot than Tiffany & Co.
Here are some of the best quotes from Jobs and the chief architect of the stores, Ron Johnson, about their retail philosophy, strategy, and execution.
BBC IS Going To Start Live Broadcasting Field Reports From iPhones
The best camera, as they say, is the one you have with you. The BBC seems to be embracing this fact, and so it’ll be rolling out a special app to its reporters hat will allow them to report on breaking news in the field, right from their iPhone.
What To Do With Your iWeb Site
Last week I posted here about the lack of mention of iWeb and MobileMe website hosting in any of Apple’s communications about its forthcoming switch to iCloud.
I’d understand it not being mentioned by Steve on stage, but I expected to see at least some sort of help document somewhere. But no, nothing.
iCloud Changes iOS Calendar App, Allows Users to Add Invitees to Events & RSVP [iOS 5]
A full week has passed since WWDC, and yet we’re still finding little gems inside iOS 5. The latest finding is that the improved Calendar App allows creators of events to invite people to attend, and then see who all is coming once they’ve responded. The new magic is all made possible with iCloud. Here’s how it works:
Is This Tablet The Prototype For The iPad 3D? [Video]
Is this 3D-capable tablet spotted at the annual Display Taiwan expo a prototype for the iPad 3?
It certainly looks like one: the 9.7-inch form factor and chassis design are a dead giveaway, even though the actual manufacturer of the tablet is hidden by tape.
Is Apple Winding Down The AirPort Brand Ahead Of New A5 & iOS Equipped Routers?
Apple may be preparing to put the AirPort brand to rest with Lion: they’ve changed references on OS X 10.7 from “AirPort” to “Wi-Fi” universally across the system. But why?