In the wake of Samsung’s massive, confusing recall of Galaxy Note 7 devices that could smoke, catch fire, and explode, consumers around the world are drawing attention to similar issues with other smartphones, including some battery fires with iPhones in China. However, Apple contends that these thermal incidents have nothing to do with the design of its signature phone. [More]
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Supreme Court Overturns $399M Verdict In Long-Running Apple/Samsung Patent Spat
By 12.6.16
The seemingly never-ending smartphone patent slapfight between Apple and Samsung continues on, with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling today that a $399 million jury award granted to Apple needs to be reassessed because the iPhone maker isn’t entitled to all of the profits from the infringing Samsung devices. [More]
Apple Blames “Ambient Air” For iPhone 6S Battery Problem
By 12.6.16
A few weeks ago, Apple admitted that some iPhone 6S batteries were not working properly, causing the phones to shut down suddenly during otherwise normal use, and launched a repair program for affected consumers. But Apple hadn’t said why the batteries weren’t working properly… until this week, when it blamed the problem on air. Yes, literally air. [More]
Foxconn Employee Accused Of Stealing & Reselling 5,700 iPhones
By 12.2.16
This sounds like something from a TV episode, or maybe even a novel or film: an employee who works with sensitive, high-value technology manages to sneak test units out of the job for years and sell them for a fat wad of cash. In a movie, he’d take the money and retire quietly to a nice tropical island where the drinks come with umbrellas in them. In reality, however, he is now being indicted by Taiwanese authorities for the theft. [More]
iPhone Owners Complain That iOS Update Drains Batteries Unexpectedly
By 11.28.16
A week after Apple admitted that some iPhone 6S batteries weren’t woking properly and agreed to fix the power source for free, the company’s latest iOS update has been found to unexpectedly drain device batteries in a matter of seconds. [More]
Amazon Plans To Escalate War On Fakes In 2017
By 11.28.16
Rampant counterfeiting among Amazon Marketplace sellers is holding the retailer back. There are companies that simply won’t agree to sell their merchandise on the site, given the the company’s known issues with counterfeits, and the concern that genuine and knock-off merchandise could be co-mingled in Amazon warehouses. The online retail giant is now preparing a very public war on counterfeit merchandise. [More]
Apple Intentionally Keeps Verizon iPhone 7 From Reaching Max Speed, To Match AT&T
By 11.21.16 — Updated: 11.23.16
You would think an iPhone 7 is an iPhone 7, right? Apple’s famous for making one consistent device that’s the same inside, and works the same way, from carrier to carrier. So it’s a little surprising that one carrier’s version of the phone actually could work faster than another’s… and even more surprising that Apple’s set it up not to perform as well as it can. [More]
Apple Kills Off Its Router Division, Reassigns Employees To Stuff That Sells
By 11.21.16
Once upon a time, at the dawn of the WiFi age, Apple’s AirPort Base Station was a not-ugly plug-and-play option for computer users looking to untether from ethernet cables. In spite of having got off to such a great start, Apple’s router business has sagged since — and now it’s being put out to pasture. [More]
Apple Admits Some iPhone 6S Batteries Are Busted, Will Fix For Free
By 11.21.16
The entire purpose of a smartphone is to be able to go online, message, or call anyone from just about anywhere, so if the battery ceases working you’ve got little more than an expensive fashion accessory. That’s why Apple has agreed to repair some iPhone 6S devices that have a bad habit of suddenly turning themselves off. [More]
Apple Unveils $149 Fix For So-Called “Touch Disease,” Blames Users For Issue
By 11.18.16
Months after owners of iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices began complaining that their devices were affected by the so-called “touch disease” flaw that effectively renders the devices useless when the touchscreen becomes unresponsive, Apple has unveiled a fix for the issue on the larger Plus phones — but it’ll cost you $149. [More]
How To Disable iCloud On Your iPhone, iPad, Or Other iDevice
By 11.17.16
iCloud can be a very convenient way to back up, sync, and archive a whole lot of digital data, and it’s easy to set up. But once you’ve got an account, you may someday want to disable it — say if, for example, you don’t particularly want Apple collecting all your call logs. Luckily, that’s easy to do in a few simple steps. [More]
Your Phone Sends All Your Call Records To Apple When iCloud Is Turned On
By 11.17.16
You’ve got a computer in your pocket that works as a camera, a video recorder, an internet connection, a game console, and everything else. And odds are good there’s some data on there that you want backed up safely, and that you use a cloud storage service to do just that. But your smartphone is, indeed, a phone — and your good old-fashioned calling records may be going places and getting stored in ways you do not intend. [More]
Apple Is Reportedly Thinking About Developing Digital Glasses
By 11.15.16
With all the millennials lining up to snag a pair of Snapchat’s new smart sunglasses from a vending machine, it seems other tech companies are paying attention: according to a new report, Apple is apparently thinking of developing digital glasses. [More]
Apple Now Selling Refurbished iPhones Online
By 11.8.16
Before today, you could purchase a refurbished iPad or Mac — but not an iPhone — online from Apple. That’s changing as the tech company is now offering customers the chance to purchase refurbished iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus online. [More]
Watch Out For Fake Retailer Apps On Your iPhone This Holiday Season
By 11.7.16
It feels like pretty much every major chain retailer out there now has an accompanying app they want you to download to your phone. These are supposed to enhance your shopping experience, provide you with targeted discounts, and provide the retailer with a wealth of useful data. What they aren’t supposed to do, though, is steal your private information — but there are a whole lot of clones out there that do just that, and in the run-up to the holiday shopping season, they’re popping up like mad. [More]
Apple Cuts Dongle Prices After Users Complain About New MacBook’s Port Shortage
By 11.4.16
Apple wants to bring its MacBook Pro users into the future, and has done so by eliminating every port on the latest version of the computer except for two USB-C ports. The problem? Most of the peripherals on the market aren’t USB-C, so that means users will have to travel with a fistful of hubs and dongles. Responding to their complaints, Apple has lowered the price of the dongles that customers will need to plug in all of their other stuff. [More]
Apple Discontinuing MacBook Startup Chime
By 10.31.16
One of the most instantly recognizable sounds in electronics may be about to go the way of “You’ve Got Mail,” as Apple is reportedly doing away with it signature startup sound on its Mac computers. [More]
Apple’s ‘TV’ (Not Just Apple TV) Wants To Be Your One-Stop Streaming Shop
By 10.27.16
Today at a major press event, Apple announced TV. Not Apple TV, which already exists; nor iTV, which would be in line with their decade-old scheme but is a trademark held by someone else for something else entirely. No, neither of those, which would be less confusing. Just… TV. [More]
