Archive for February 24th, 2012

Apple AGM Addresses Board Governance

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) wrapped up its annual shareholder meeting on Thursday, at the company’s Cupertino, Calif., headquarters. With the company’s stock not far off last week’s all time high of $526.29, profitability and performance in the past year are hardly a worry. Analysts were looking for CEO Tim Cook to potentially discuss two key issues with shareholders:

1. Foxconn and labor conditions at Chinese factories that assemble Apple products such as iPhones and iPads. Apple’s reputation has been bruised as a result of increased scrutiny of its manufacturing partners by media and human rights groups.

2. What to do with the cash? Apple is sitting on close to $98 billion in cash and investments. In the past, the company has drawn on this cash hoard for competitive advantage, such as prepaying suppliers in order to secure large quantities of key components, and it recently paid between $400 million and $500 million to buy Anobit, a flash chip specialist. However, $98 billion is a lot of cash and shareholders are looking for a possible dividend.

Of course, everyone is always hoping for news on new products. Anticipation is high for the iPad 3, iPhone 5, possible new additions to the MacBook Air lineup, a rumored mini iPad and, of course, the iTV (Apple’s expected foray into the so-called Smart TV market). While it’s unlikely that Cook would spill the beans on any of these products (especially after board member Al Gore let slip some insider info about the iPhone 4s release last fall), there’s always hope that he might drop some hints.

And what were the results?

Shareholders voted to require directors to win a majority vote before being elected to the board; those who don’t will be required to voluntarily resign their position. Current Apple board members (each of whom received over 80% in voting today) remain unchanged: Chairman Arthur D. Levinson, CEO Tim Cook, William Campbell, Bob Iger, Millard Drexler, Al Gore, Ronald Sugar, and Andrea Jung.

On the two questions:

1. The labor conditions and Foxconn issues weren’t raised.

2. Regarding Apple’s cash hoard, AppleInsider quotes Cook as saying, “My message there is that the board and the management are thinking about this very deeply… and we will do what we think is in the best interest of shareholders.” In other words, nothing new on that front.

There was no comment about new products, even after a shareholder baited Cook with a question about whether he should return a recently purchased TV set. Confirmation of new Apple hardware will have to wait, with March 7 pegged as the date the iPad 3 will be formally announced.

Cook did speak to Apple’s relationship with Twitter (which is closely integrated into its iOS 5 mobile platform) and Facebook (which has been conspicuously absent), mentioning that he would like to work more closely with Facebook. He referred to Mark Zuckerberg’s social media site as a “friend” to Apple. He also highlighted the emphasis Apple has been putting on education, through iBooks Author, discounts to institutions and internships on its campus.

As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned stocks.

Article source: http://www.investorplace.com/2012/02/apple-agm-addresses-board-governance-aapl/

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - February 24, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Categories: Uncategorized   Tags:

T-Mobile Reveals "Reinvigorated Challenger Strategy" for LTE

T-Mobile to modernize its spectrum to LTE.

T-Mobile USA announced plans to go at LTE alone in the coming years with a $4 billion investment. Because it has no 700MHz spectrum, T-Mobile USA will be refarming its existing spectrum for LTE sometime in 2013.

T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray detailed the company’s network strategy, which includes installing new equipment at 37,000 cell sites. The key catalyst of refarming is the additional spectrum T-Mobile will receive as a result of the termination of the ATT transaction. T-Mobile expects to reach broad deployment of LTE, with service in the vast majority of the top 50 markets and 20 MHz service in 75 percent of the top 25 markets.

The refarming of spectrum will mean a gradual phase out of 2G technologies. More than 90 percent of T-Mobile device sales in the fourth quarter were 3G and 4G smartphones, which is leading the company to conclude that, as data usage and smartphone adoption accelerate, fewer customers are utilizing 2G services. This enables T-Mobile to refarm existing spectrum holdings, reducing the amount of 1900 MHz PCS spectrum being used for GSM; to deploy HSPA+ 4G services in the PCS band; and to make room in the AWS band for LTE. In addition to creating capacity for LTE in AWS spectrum, deploying HSPA+ in the PCS band will harmonize T-Mobile’s spectrum bands with the U.S. market and international carriers. As the company refarms spectrum, T-Mobile will continue to support its 2G customers, though it is unclear how at this point.

This news is a bright spot in what was a tough year for the carrier in 2011. The failed takeover by ATT may have been a win for consumers, but T-Mobile stood still throughout the year as other carriers got the iPhone 4S while expanding their networks.

T-Mobile had fourth quarter 2011 net customer losses of 526,000. T-Mobile said in a press release, “The sequential and year-on-year increase in customer losses is a result of intense competitive pressure from the launch of the iPhone 4S by three nationwide competitors in the fourth quarter of 2011.”

Upgrading to LTE is a big step in the right direction for T-Mobile, but clearly it is holding its breath for the iPhone 5 to support its AWS bands.

Read more from @MarcusYam on Twitter.

Article source: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/t-mobile-lte-iphone-5-spectrum-aws,news-14271.html

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - February 24, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Categories: Uncategorized   Tags:

IPhone 5 Concept: We Wish Apple Would Make It Like This (PICTURE)

Remember when the iPhone 4S launched and many were disappointed that it didn’t feature the radical redesign that had long been rumored? Wouldn’t it be awesome if Apple pulled out all the design stops on the next iPhone and introduced a device that satisfied even the pickiest aesthete?

We have not way of knowing what’s in store, but we can definitely dream. And in our current dreams, the next iPhone looks something like Federico Ciccarese‘s imaginative new concept images. With smooth, rounded edges; a cool, backlit Apple logo; and a sleek teardrop design, Ciccarese’s creation would certainly make for a gorgeous iPhone 5 (or whatever Apple decides to call it).

The Italian designer’s mock-up showcases a shape drastically different from past iPhones. Aside from being much thinner, the design’s back is curved and tapers off at the top and bottom, reminiscent of Apple’s Magic Mouse. The headphone jack is located on the side (rather than on the top), and the camera has been nudged to the middle, right above the glowing Apple logo.

The design is quite interesting, but it’s unlikely the iPhone 5 will look anything like this when it’s finally released — perhaps even as early as this summer, according to 9to5Mac.

Take a look at Federico Ciccarese‘s deign:

It seems more likely that the next iPhone will look like an earlier iPhone design by CiccareseDesign. The firm was hired by MacRumors last summer to create a virtual model of the long-awaited iPhone based on leaked specs. Even if it never came to fruition, it was and still is a beautiful image.

See Ciccarese’s concept from last year:

Unfortunately, until the new iPhone is finally launched, the most we can do is keep dreaming about what it will look like. Check out a few more pictures of Ciccarese’s cool new iPhone concept in the slideshow (below). In the comments section, tell us what new features you’d like the next iPhone to have.

READ WHOLE POST

Nightline Tours Apple Supplier Foxconn: Get An Unprecedented Look At The Factory (VIDEO)

Apple Cash: CEO Tim Cook Says Company Has More Than It Needs

Google ‘Seaview’ To Include 360 Degree Views Of Great Barrier Reef (VIDEO)

Nightline’s ‘iFactory’ Expose: Cameras Go Inside Foxconn And You Won’t Believe What Was There

Heinrich Rudolf Hertz’s 155th Birthday Gets Moving Google Logo (VIDEO)

‘The Free Internet Act’ Emerges As Redditors Craft SOPA Alternative




Related on HuffPost:

“;
var coords = [-5, -72];
// display fb-bubble
FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, ‘top’, {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: ‘clear-overlay’});
});

Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/iphone-5-concept-picture-image-design_n_1298986.html

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - February 24, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Categories: Uncategorized   Tags:

iPhone 5: The latest from the rumor mill

If so, that’s fairly big news. Changing the dock connector would mean that, essentially, an entire industry built around iDevice accessories would become obsolete.

There may be a practical reason for changing the dock connector. VentureBeat.com reports:

A smaller “micro” docking port would give the company more room for other important components within the iPhone 5, which could be the first device to receive the new dock treatment. And since the iPhone 4S has a much shorter power lifespan than all the models preceding it, the most likely use for that additional space would be to include a bigger battery.

The new docking port is said to be a new design rather than the outdated microUSB standard used by the rest of the mobile phone industry.

It’s also worth noting that Apple is moving away from its reliance of transferring information to its mobile devices through a power cord. As part of Apple’s iCloud push, the company is now enabling more OS software, app, and digital media updates over the air. That said, the dock connector will be little more than a way to charge the device as well as connect to third-party accessories.

So, how will the new connector affect users of the iOS ecosystem? The Verge reports
:

Apple could be considering abandoning its now ubiquitous 30-pin dock connector in its next generation of devices, according to a report by
iMore. The Apple-centric blog is reporting that the company is looking to trim down more parts which take up excessive amounts of space in its devices, having already shrunk components like the SIM card and externalized the iPhone’s antenna. However, for those of you who immediately thought that Apple might embrace Thunderbolt or the Micro USB standard, we’ve got bad news — iMore says that the company will probably introduce a micro dock connector in its place.

As Apple’s network solutions — iCloud, Wi-Fi Sync and the like — have improved over the years, the dock has become less important to the Post-PC iOS ecosystem and its users. However, abandoning the current dock connector would render “Made for iPod / iPhone” accessories (including speaker docks, fitness aids, and even car head units) useless unless Apple were to provide an adapter. iMore tells us that its source for the information is solid, though timing for the introduction of the new connector is unclear.

Article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/iphone-5-the-latest-from-the-rumor-mill/2012/02/24/gIQAjUbLYR_story.html

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - February 24, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Categories: Uncategorized   Tags:

iPhone 5 Rumour Round-up

 

The world was eagerly awaiting the iPhone 5 last year at Apples launch event and as the surprise announcement of the iPhone 4S was revealed we were forced to accept a long wait for the iPhone 5. The 4S delivered many new and impressive features and has proved popular but there are many still excited to see what Apple will do next.

 

As with any new product from Apple, rumours have been rife as to what we will see on the latest iPhone and we have gathered together some of the most likely features and specs that could be included on the much anticipated iPhone 5.

 

What will it look like?

 

Well much debate has been going on as to what form the latest release from Apple will take including rumours of a monstrous 5-inch display. Such a large display would make the iPhone much bigger than many smartphones available so it is more likely to be around 4-inches which will make it bigger than previous versions but not as beasty as a 5-inch model.

 

Concept image of iPhone 5

 

The overall design has apparently had an overhaul so a new casing is likely and as no-one can really do design like Apple I can’t wait to see what they do with this aspect of the phone. Rumours of a tear-drop design are unlikely as, whilst Apple do like to stand out this could be going too far.

 

What will be under the hood?

 

As per previous model launches, what the phone can do has been the subject of much speculation and as the 4S delivered Siri, a dual core processor and an improved camera the iPhone 5 is bound to have a few new exciting features.

 

As quad-core is the “new thing” for 2012 it is likely the iPhone 5 will have a quad-core processor, as Apple use their own processors it’s expected to have an A6 quad-core chip on board.

 

With many 4G handsets already available in the USA, Apple are highly likely to incorporate 4G/LTE technology into the latest iPhones although the UK won’t experience 4G for a while yet.

 

As the iOS 6 and iCloud are set to be released this year it’s safe to assume the latest iPhone will be packing iOS 6 and whatever juicy new features that may include. The 4S camera was bumped up to 8-megapixels and even though there are some handsets out there with 12-megapixel snappers it is more likely to stay around the 8-megapixel mark but as the latest iPad supports full HD this is likely to be included on the new phone.

 

Even the release date is up for speculation but we can be sure it won’t be revealed at the MWC 2012, which is the launchpad for most manufacturers’ flagship devices.  The World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) held by Apple in June is a candidate for the product launch, but it could be debuted at a special event as late as October.

 

As with previous models it will all come down to personal taste, with those devoted to Apple products likely to embrace the new phone with fervour whilst fans of other manufacturers and platforms such as Android won’t bat an eyelid at the latest edition of the revolutionary iPhone.

 

 

However you feel about the iPhone, it can’t be denied that Apple always bring something different and a little bit special to the industry and the launch of the iPhone 5 is bound to be no exception.

 

Article source: http://blog.mobilesplease.co.uk/iphone-5-rumour-round-up/

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - February 24, 2012 at 10:06 am

Categories: Uncategorized   Tags:

iPhone 5 Rumour Round-up

 

The world was eagerly awaiting the iPhone 5 last year at Apples launch event and as the surprise announcement of the iPhone 4S was revealed we were forced to accept a long wait for the iPhone 5. The 4S delivered many new and impressive features and has proved popular but there are many still excited to see what Apple will do next.

 

As with any new product from Apple, rumours have been rife as to what we will see on the latest iPhone and we have gathered together some of the most likely features and specs that could be included on the much anticipated iPhone 5.

 

What will it look like?

 

Well much debate has been going on as to what form the latest release from Apple will take including rumours of a monstrous 5-inch display. Such a large display would make the iPhone much bigger than many smartphones available so it is more likely to be around 4-inches which will make it bigger than previous versions but not as beasty as a 5-inch model.

 

Concept image of iPhone 5

 

The overall design has apparently had an overhaul so a new casing is likely and as no-one can really do design like Apple I can’t wait to see what they do with this aspect of the phone. Rumours of a tear-drop design are unlikely as, whilst Apple do like to stand out this could be going too far.

 

What will be under the hood?

 

As per previous model launches, what the phone can do has been the subject of much speculation and as the 4S delivered Siri, a dual core processor and an improved camera the iPhone 5 is bound to have a few new exciting features.

 

As quad-core is the “new thing” for 2012 it is likely the iPhone 5 will have a quad-core processor, as Apple use their own processors it’s expected to have an A6 quad-core chip on board.

 

With many 4G handsets already available in the USA, Apple are highly likely to incorporate 4G/LTE technology into the latest iPhones although the UK won’t experience 4G for a while yet.

 

As the iOS 6 and iCloud are set to be released this year it’s safe to assume the latest iPhone will be packing iOS 6 and whatever juicy new features that may include. The 4S camera was bumped up to 8-megapixels and even though there are some handsets out there with 12-megapixel snappers it is more likely to stay around the 8-megapixel mark but as the latest iPad supports full HD this is likely to be included on the new phone.

 

Even the release date is up for speculation but we can be sure it won’t be revealed at the MWC 2012, which is the launchpad for most manufacturers’ flagship devices.  The World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) held by Apple in June is a candidate for the product launch, but it could be debuted at a special event as late as October.

 

As with previous models it will all come down to personal taste, with those devoted to Apple products likely to embrace the new phone with fervour whilst fans of other manufacturers and platforms such as Android won’t bat an eyelid at the latest edition of the revolutionary iPhone.

 

 

However you feel about the iPhone, it can’t be denied that Apple always bring something different and a little bit special to the industry and the launch of the iPhone 5 is bound to be no exception.

 

Article source: http://blog.mobilesplease.co.uk/iphone-5-rumour-round-up/

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - February 24, 2012 at 10:06 am

Categories: Uncategorized   Tags:

iPhone 5 Rumour Round-up

 

The world was eagerly awaiting the iPhone 5 last year at Apples launch event and as the surprise announcement of the iPhone 4S was revealed we were forced to accept a long wait for the iPhone 5. The 4S delivered many new and impressive features and has proved popular but there are many still excited to see what Apple will do next.

 

As with any new product from Apple, rumours have been rife as to what we will see on the latest iPhone and we have gathered together some of the most likely features and specs that could be included on the much anticipated iPhone 5.

 

What will it look like?

 

Well much debate has been going on as to what form the latest release from Apple will take including rumours of a monstrous 5-inch display. Such a large display would make the iPhone much bigger than many smartphones available so it is more likely to be around 4-inches which will make it bigger than previous versions but not as beasty as a 5-inch model.

 

Concept image of iPhone 5

 

The overall design has apparently had an overhaul so a new casing is likely and as no-one can really do design like Apple I can’t wait to see what they do with this aspect of the phone. Rumours of a tear-drop design are unlikely as, whilst Apple do like to stand out this could be going too far.

 

What will be under the hood?

 

As per previous model launches, what the phone can do has been the subject of much speculation and as the 4S delivered Siri, a dual core processor and an improved camera the iPhone 5 is bound to have a few new exciting features.

 

As quad-core is the “new thing” for 2012 it is likely the iPhone 5 will have a quad-core processor, as Apple use their own processors it’s expected to have an A6 quad-core chip on board.

 

With many 4G handsets already available in the USA, Apple are highly likely to incorporate 4G/LTE technology into the latest iPhones although the UK won’t experience 4G for a while yet.

 

As the iOS 6 and iCloud are set to be released this year it’s safe to assume the latest iPhone will be packing iOS 6 and whatever juicy new features that may include. The 4S camera was bumped up to 8-megapixels and even though there are some handsets out there with 12-megapixel snappers it is more likely to stay around the 8-megapixel mark but as the latest iPad supports full HD this is likely to be included on the new phone.

 

Even the release date is up for speculation but we can be sure it won’t be revealed at the MWC 2012, which is the launchpad for most manufacturers’ flagship devices.  The World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) held by Apple in June is a candidate for the product launch, but it could be debuted at a special event as late as October.

 

As with previous models it will all come down to personal taste, with those devoted to Apple products likely to embrace the new phone with fervour whilst fans of other manufacturers and platforms such as Android won’t bat an eyelid at the latest edition of the revolutionary iPhone.

 

 

However you feel about the iPhone, it can’t be denied that Apple always bring something different and a little bit special to the industry and the launch of the iPhone 5 is bound to be no exception.

 

Article source: http://blog.mobilesplease.co.uk/iphone-5-rumour-round-up/

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - February 24, 2012 at 10:06 am

Categories: Uncategorized   Tags:

iPhone 5 Rumour Round-up

 

The world was eagerly awaiting the iPhone 5 last year at Apples launch event and as the surprise announcement of the iPhone 4S was revealed we were forced to accept a long wait for the iPhone 5. The 4S delivered many new and impressive features and has proved popular but there are many still excited to see what Apple will do next.

 

As with any new product from Apple, rumours have been rife as to what we will see on the latest iPhone and we have gathered together some of the most likely features and specs that could be included on the much anticipated iPhone 5.

 

What will it look like?

 

Well much debate has been going on as to what form the latest release from Apple will take including rumours of a monstrous 5-inch display. Such a large display would make the iPhone much bigger than many smartphones available so it is more likely to be around 4-inches which will make it bigger than previous versions but not as beasty as a 5-inch model.

 

Concept image of iPhone 5

 

The overall design has apparently had an overhaul so a new casing is likely and as no-one can really do design like Apple I can’t wait to see what they do with this aspect of the phone. Rumours of a tear-drop design are unlikely as, whilst Apple do like to stand out this could be going too far.

 

What will be under the hood?

 

As per previous model launches, what the phone can do has been the subject of much speculation and as the 4S delivered Siri, a dual core processor and an improved camera the iPhone 5 is bound to have a few new exciting features.

 

As quad-core is the “new thing” for 2012 it is likely the iPhone 5 will have a quad-core processor, as Apple use their own processors it’s expected to have an A6 quad-core chip on board.

 

With many 4G handsets already available in the USA, Apple are highly likely to incorporate 4G/LTE technology into the latest iPhones although the UK won’t experience 4G for a while yet.

 

As the iOS 6 and iCloud are set to be released this year it’s safe to assume the latest iPhone will be packing iOS 6 and whatever juicy new features that may include. The 4S camera was bumped up to 8-megapixels and even though there are some handsets out there with 12-megapixel snappers it is more likely to stay around the 8-megapixel mark but as the latest iPad supports full HD this is likely to be included on the new phone.

 

Even the release date is up for speculation but we can be sure it won’t be revealed at the MWC 2012, which is the launchpad for most manufacturers’ flagship devices.  The World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) held by Apple in June is a candidate for the product launch, but it could be debuted at a special event as late as October.

 

As with previous models it will all come down to personal taste, with those devoted to Apple products likely to embrace the new phone with fervour whilst fans of other manufacturers and platforms such as Android won’t bat an eyelid at the latest edition of the revolutionary iPhone.

 

 

However you feel about the iPhone, it can’t be denied that Apple always bring something different and a little bit special to the industry and the launch of the iPhone 5 is bound to be no exception.

 

Article source: http://blog.mobilesplease.co.uk/iphone-5-rumour-round-up/

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - February 24, 2012 at 10:06 am

Categories: Uncategorized   Tags:

iPhone 5 Rumour Round-up

 

The world was eagerly awaiting the iPhone 5 last year at Apples launch event and as the surprise announcement of the iPhone 4S was revealed we were forced to accept a long wait for the iPhone 5. The 4S delivered many new and impressive features and has proved popular but there are many still excited to see what Apple will do next.

 

As with any new product from Apple, rumours have been rife as to what we will see on the latest iPhone and we have gathered together some of the most likely features and specs that could be included on the much anticipated iPhone 5.

 

What will it look like?

 

Well much debate has been going on as to what form the latest release from Apple will take including rumours of a monstrous 5-inch display. Such a large display would make the iPhone much bigger than many smartphones available so it is more likely to be around 4-inches which will make it bigger than previous versions but not as beasty as a 5-inch model.

 

Concept image of iPhone 5

 

The overall design has apparently had an overhaul so a new casing is likely and as no-one can really do design like Apple I can’t wait to see what they do with this aspect of the phone. Rumours of a tear-drop design are unlikely as, whilst Apple do like to stand out this could be going too far.

 

What will be under the hood?

 

As per previous model launches, what the phone can do has been the subject of much speculation and as the 4S delivered Siri, a dual core processor and an improved camera the iPhone 5 is bound to have a few new exciting features.

 

As quad-core is the “new thing” for 2012 it is likely the iPhone 5 will have a quad-core processor, as Apple use their own processors it’s expected to have an A6 quad-core chip on board.

 

With many 4G handsets already available in the USA, Apple are highly likely to incorporate 4G/LTE technology into the latest iPhones although the UK won’t experience 4G for a while yet.

 

As the iOS 6 and iCloud are set to be released this year it’s safe to assume the latest iPhone will be packing iOS 6 and whatever juicy new features that may include. The 4S camera was bumped up to 8-megapixels and even though there are some handsets out there with 12-megapixel snappers it is more likely to stay around the 8-megapixel mark but as the latest iPad supports full HD this is likely to be included on the new phone.

 

Even the release date is up for speculation but we can be sure it won’t be revealed at the MWC 2012, which is the launchpad for most manufacturers’ flagship devices.  The World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) held by Apple in June is a candidate for the product launch, but it could be debuted at a special event as late as October.

 

As with previous models it will all come down to personal taste, with those devoted to Apple products likely to embrace the new phone with fervour whilst fans of other manufacturers and platforms such as Android won’t bat an eyelid at the latest edition of the revolutionary iPhone.

 

 

However you feel about the iPhone, it can’t be denied that Apple always bring something different and a little bit special to the industry and the launch of the iPhone 5 is bound to be no exception.

 

Article source: http://blog.mobilesplease.co.uk/iphone-5-rumour-round-up/

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - February 24, 2012 at 10:06 am

Categories: Uncategorized   Tags:

Gorgeous iPhone 5 Concept Looks Insanely Great

Eastern Europe’s tradition of political revolt has met the digital age. This time it’s not communists or food shortages fueling fury, but an international copyright treaty that opponents say threatens freedom on the Internet.

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/gorgeous-iphone-5-concept-looks-insanely-great-182812763.html

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - February 24, 2012 at 10:06 am

Categories: Uncategorized   Tags:

Next Page »