Here at SlashGear, members of the staff (including yours truly) have been using gMusic since late 2011 when we reviewed the XtremeMac Tango TRX – that’s an Apple iPod dock-toting wireless speaker that’s still kicking out the beats today. There the user interface for gMusic wasn’t exactly as user friendly as it is today. Today, the developer team behind the app have kicked things up a notch – just that .

ABOVE: gMusic from 2011. BELOW: gMusic today, spring of 2013.

This week’s update to version 6.0 of gMusic reveals – for those of you who haven’t used the app in a while – a user interface that’s far more friendly and ready to be a real replacement for the built-in music player for iOS. The icons within the app have been smoothed out, the lines are clean, and the overall aesthetic is up to par with the content.

ABOVE: gMusic on the iPad. BELOW: more gMusic on the iPad – YT Cracker up for play.

Now the only thing you’ll be wishing for is an update to Google’s new user interface. At Google I/O, the developer team behind Google Music updated the UI for the Android app, making it gesture friendly and clean at a level equalling that of the Google Play store – also updated this month.

That’s what happens when you’re working as a 3rd party system trying to keep up with the original: they’re always one step ahead!

That said, there’s no official alternative to gMusic on iOS, and from what we’ve seen, there’s not been a whole heck of a lot of good competition for it either. You’ll be tossing down $1.99 USD to grab this app if you’re picking it up from iTunes in the USA, and the team at Interactive Innovative Solutions LLC have made it worth the bucks.

The changes will start with the lockscreen, which has apparently lost its glossy, semi-transparent time and date pane and replaced it with a solid black bar, while the PIN code keypad has been supposedly updated with black, round buttons with simple white text and borders.

Notifications have changed too, it’s said, both in the lockscreen – where there are believed to be new gesture controls – and in the drop-down notification pane, which will be white text on black and include shortcut controls for commonly-accessed settings such as airplane mode, in addition to new widget-style panes.

The iOS 7 homescreen will reportedly gain panoramic wallpapers, as on Android phones and tablets, and the iconography lose the lighting effect in favor of flatter graphics.

However, while previous leaks suggested Apple could push back updating some of its core apps in iOS 7 so as to finish up the UI changes, potentially staggering the refresh into early 2014, the new sources claim WWDC 2013 will see just about every aspect of the platform modified. The new app icons will each have a different key color, carried through into the apps themselves: “a white base with a respective color theme” as 9to5Mac describes it.

The overarching theme will be flatness, it’s said, with Apple’s designers supposedly more comfortable with the idea of leaving backgrounds as plain white, rather than using some sort of texture image. That will extend to Mail, Calendar, Maps, Messages, and Notes, among others, though the exact degree of changes is said to vary. Those most modified will include Safari, the Camera app, Weather, the App Store, Newwstand, and Game Center, it’s said.

According to multiple leaks, it’s all-hands-on-deck within Apple to get iOS 7 ready in time for WWDC 2013 next month. The company has apparently shifted coders from the Mac OS X team to the iOS division, so as to address all the changes Ive has been instrumental in pushing, though it’s said that the goal is now to get the iPhone version finished first before the iPad version.

Ive’s goal for the iOS 7 changes is apparently to reduce the speed at which he fears the platform will date. Insiders at the firm have said that the designer has been increasingly present across all software department meetings, often only listening to the topics of discussion, but generally involving himself far more in iOS design than in previous iterations.

That strategy has potential. iOS’ interface has seen relatively little change since it was first revealed on the original iPhone, and while the decisions Apple took at the time – to ease users into the concept by borrowing physical metaphors like yellow legal pads for Notes, complete with torn paper edges – may have helped make it one of the most approachable platforms, they’re seeing increasing criticism since many users have never encountered the real-world equivalents of the design.

Meanwhile rival software like Microsoft’s Windows Phone and the latter versions of Google’s Android have followed more “authentically digital” paths for their appearance, which has led to suggestions that iOS is comparatively dated. Nonetheless, given the large – and vocal – userbase familiar with iOS and the idea that they can upgrade their iPhone or iPad from one year to the next without having to re-learn how to use them, Apple must tread a careful line not to throw out that familiarity along with the chintz.

We’ll be at WWDC 2013 to see all the changes Apple has made, and will be liveblogging the opening keynote on Monday, June 10.

The comments were made on Thursday this week, at a pre-trial hearing to decide on aspects like expert witnesses along with how long the case was expected to last. However, Justice Cote made waves by announcing that she had already been working on the draft of the final written decision – which would be published after the trial had been completed – and agreeing to give participants an insight into which way she is already leaning.

“I believe that the government will be able to show at trial direct evidence that Apple knowingly participated in and facilitated a conspiracy to raise prices of e-books,” the judge said, “and that the circumstantial evidence in this case, including the terms of the agreements, will confirm that.”

Cote described her stance as a “tentative” view of the case, pointing out that it had been based for the most part on evidence the DoJ had submitted. However, it did not take into account affidavits submitted both by the DoJ and Apple.

Unsurprisingly, Apple isn’t impressed by Cote’s comments. “We strongly disagree with the court’s preliminary statements about the case today,” lawyer Orin Snyder said, going on to suggest that Apple’s own evidence would sufficiently counter that of the Justice Department. “We look forward to presenting our evidence in open court and proving that Apple did not conspire to fix prices,” he concluded.

The Cupertino firm is the final hold-out in the case, after the five publishers agreed at various points over the past year to cough up penalties. Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, and Hachette Book Group all rolled over immediately, followed by Pearson in December 2012, and MacMillan in February.

Justice Cote’s early stance is being interpreted by some as an attempt to pressure Apple into settling, likely without necessarily accepting blame; MacMillan, for instance, said that it had capitulated “because the potential penalties became too high to risk even the possibility of an unfavorable outcome.”

Apple’s deeper war chest may make it a tougher nut to crack that way, however. Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to appear to give evidence, among others, after the DoJ convinced the court that his conversations with Steve Jobs give him unique insight into the case.

The video compares both tablets as far as hardware specs are concerned, such as the weight and size of the tablets, as well as the selection of apps and the ability to multitask. Microsoft shows off the ASUS tablet running full Office, while the iPad only has the OneNote app. And while the iPad can quickly switch between apps, Microsoft gloats that the VivoTab can do split-screen multitasking.

The ad also demonstrates that Windows 8 tablets have a microSD card slot built in, while the iPad requires an adapter in order to get the same functionality. Microsoft even brings up printing, noting that the iPad only works with AirPrint-compatible printers, while Windows 8 tablets work with nearly any printer.

While Microsoft’s previous tablet commercials have been all about focusing only on the tablet itself, these new ads put some focus on the competition — in this case, it’s the iPad that’s giving Microsoft’s tablets a run for their money, so it seems the company wants to set the record straight and let people know the benefits of their tablets.

It’s certainly a blatant call out to the iPad, which could result in some eye rolls by viewers, but we have to say these ads are a bit better than office workers break-dancing on top of tables and flinging around their Surface tablets. It’s certainly a better ad for those who don’t like flashy and fast-paced advertisements (*raises hand*).

The commercial kicks off with Windows’ Live Tiles, with Siri conceding that iOS doesn’t update its icons like that, and then launches into multi-tasking. The ASUS tablet is shown opening up a sidebar with a second app, again something which isn’t supported on the iPad.

Then it’s time for PowerPoint, since Microsoft apparently can’t imagine a world where a tablet user might not want to throw together some slides. On the ASUS, the presentation can be edited and re-formatted, while the iPad is shown merely scrolling and zooming around in frustration. It’s worth noting that Apple does offer Keynote for iOS, its own PowerPoint alternative, which does allow presentations to be created.

“Should we just play Chopsticks?” Siri concludes, playing out the advert as Microsoft reveals its kicker: how much 64GB versions of both tablets cost. The iPad – Apple’s full-sized version, complete with Retina display – is priced at $699, while ASUS’ Windows 8 tablet is $449.

It’s certainly one of the better adverts Microsoft has put together – at least there’s no random dancing like the Surface tablet commercials the company aired last year – and the use of Siri’s voice (the actual audio files for which Apple licenses) is a sly touch that’s likely to get the fans arguing. Still, Microsoft’s decision to illustrate functionality with PowerPoint seems like a missed opportunity; the business-centric app has little relevance to home users.

Thanks Craig!

This partnership will be working with one of Verizon’s largest premium retailers Moorehead Communications as well as Brightstar. Walden introduced Jennifer Lopez who represents Viva Movil as a celebrity and a leader in the Latino community – she says – and speaks about statistics and bits and pieces that make it appear that Verizon with Viva Movil will be in the best position possible to address the Spanish-speaking market segment in the near future.

Lopez spoke about an exclusive line of accessories that she’s created herself. At the moment it would appear that this includes iPhone 5 cases – but it’s likely that other devices will be included as well.

“There’s no specific place for Latinos to really, really be catered to, which is why we did this. But anyone can come in and enjoy this.” – Jennifer Lopez, Chief Creative Officer for Viva Movil

The company “Viva Movil, by Jennifer Lopez”, as she called it, will be opening up today online. The first store will be open on June 15 and it’ll be open in New York City. More physical stores will be opening across the USA – 15 in all, for starters, – in places like L.A. and Miami.

The Samsung GALAXY S 4 is at the center of this suit, with Apple also making clear their intent to seek action against Google-made elements in the Android system such as Google Now. At the moment it appears that Apple will be calling out Samsung for implementing items like Google Now, the company having not yet pushed Google directly on the matter.

The line specifically calling out the Samsung GALAXY S 4, as located by Foss Patents, is as follows:

“Apple determined that the Galaxy S4 product practices many of the same claims already asserted by Apple, and that the Galaxy S4 practices those claims in the same way as the already-accused Samsung devices.”

This bit of text comes from the “13-05-21 Apple Motion to Amend Infringement Contentions” document which has been filed this month. Of note here is the fact that the Samsung GALAXY S 4 Google Edition is not specifically mentioned, and would therefor not be falling under this filing. It’s likely that Apple will specifically include the Google Edition once the device becomes available in stores.

It’s also worth noting that at least one of the two filings against Google’s Android Quick Search Box was overturned when filed against the Samsung Galaxy Nexus – this was done back in October of 2012, and has yet to be successfully challenged by Apple. This case is filed with Judge Koh and, because of the way this Siri-related patent was turned with the Galaxy Nexus, it’s quite possible that the Samsung GALAXY S 4 will be found innocent as well.

During the hearing, Cook noted that the company would be “investing $100 million to build a Mac product line here in the US.” Furthermore, “the product will be assembled in Texas, include components made in Illinois and Florida, and rely on equipment produced in Kentucky and Michigan,” hinting that Apple will rely on various manufacturing partners to make the US-made Mac a reality.

This means that Apple won’t be building their own manufacturing facilities, but will rely on other companies to do so. For example, Foxconn just recently set up shop in Texas as well, so Apple will most likely continue to use Foxconn to assemble the new Macs, rather than build their own plants to assemble them.

Of course, this isn’t too surprising, and while it’s not confirmed that Apple will use Foxconn’s Texas facility, it seems like a viable option at this point. However, we’re curious about Cook’s mention of other partners located in Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, and Florida. We’re guessing these unmentioned companies will provide various components, which means that Apple won’t be using foreign components from the looks of it.

However, it’s still up in the air on what Macs will be made in the US exactly. It’s been rumored that the Mac mini or Mac Pro will be the ones to get the honor, since they’re the least in demand compared to the iMac, which means that Apple won’t need to push out a lot of units. Thus, the company won’t need to pay a lot of money to have them manufactured on domestic soil.

VIA: AllThingsD

Apple’s 2013 brand value was pegged at $185,071, a 1-percent increase over 2012′s $182,951. Google came in a fair bit lower at $113,669 for 2013 and $107,857 in 2012, a 5-percent increase. Though lower, Google saw the bigger increase in global brand value over the year. IBM, which came in at third, has a 2013 brand value of $112,536, a 3-percent decrease over 2012′s $115,985.

Apple held its position as number 1 on the list, having been in the same slot last year. Google, however, jumped a ranking, bumping the value-suffering IBM from second place to third, and taking Google from third to second. Fourth on the list is McDonald’s, which was in the same slot last year. The next big change is seen with Microsoft, which was #5 last year, and is #7 this year.

Said BrandZ’s Director Peter Walshe, “[Apple's] brand value only increased by 1 per cent this year but it still holds the record for the most valuable brand. And it leads by a long way. The next brand in the ranking, Google, is worth $113.7bn [reversing a 3 per cent decline last year to a 5 per cent gain] so Apple is $71.4bn ahead – nearly the value of Coca-Cola, which just shows how strong, powerful and meaningful that brand is.”

Technology companies of various sorts represent a total of 40-percent of all companies on the Top 100 list, with 5 of the Top 10 being businesses in the tech sector. You can check out this year’s complete Top 100 listing for yourself, which shows the numbers and how they relate to last year’s numbers. You can also check out 2012′s Top 100 listing for some extra information with which to contrast the current numbers.

SOURCE: Marketing Week

Apple avoided paying $74 billion in taxes from 2009 to 2012, doing so using a variety of subsidiaries scattered throughout the world, according to investigators. According to the New York Times, some of these subsidiaries do not have employees, instead being run by “top officials” at Apple’s Cupertino headquarters. Such subsidiaries not only skip out on paying taxes, but also aren’t required to file tax returns.

Said Senator Carl Levin (D. Michigan), Chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations: “Apple wasn’t satisfied with shifting its profits to a low-tax offshore tax haven. Apple successfully sought the holy grail of tax avoidance. It has created offshore entities holding tens of billions of dollars while claiming to be tax resident nowhere … I’ve never seen anything like this and we don’t know anybody who’s seen anything like this.”

Despite the means it used to avoid paying taxes, Apple has not been pegged as having violated any laws. The investigation does, however, underscore the reality of tax loopholes, and will be used in a possibly volatile meeting between the Congressional committee and Apple tomorrow. The committee will also show findings that Apple’s effective tax rate was lower than its disclosed tax rate by at least 4-percent.

Not surprisingly, Apple disagrees with the results of the investigation, saying that it does not use gimmicks and other similar methods to avoid paying taxes. Likewise, says the company, its biggest subsidiaries don’t reduce the amount of taxes it pays. Says a statement from the company, “[Apple] welcomes an objective examination of the U.S. corporate tax system, which has not kept pace with the advent of the digital age and the rapidly changing global economy.”

SOURCE: Facebook

Though there’s still no word on how any of this affects Google+ Hangouts at all – since it doesn’t come pre-loaded with devices at this very moment – AT&T is making it clear that changes are in the works. Changes for pre-loaded apps only. Specific to three manufacturers: Apple, Samsung, and BlackBerry, pre-loaded apps working with Mobile Share or Tiered data plans will have instant access to video chat with mobile data.

“For video chat apps that come pre-loaded on devices, we currently give all OS and device makers the ability for those apps to work over cellular for our customers who are on Mobile Share or Tiered plans. Apple, Samsung and Blackberry have chosen to enable this for their pre-loaded video chat apps. And by mid-June, we’ll have enabled those apps over cellular for our unlimited plan customers who have LTE devices from those three manufacturers.” – AT&T Representative

So if you’ve got an Apple, Samsung, or BlackBerry device – and one of those data plans – you’ll be able to video chat with pre-loaded apps no matter your connection.

AT&T goes on to say that they’re opening their doors wider later this year, allowing pre-loaded apps to use video chat on any phone no matter the customer’s data plan. You’ll still have to pay for the data you use while chatting, but you’ll be able to do so without a hassle.

“Throughout the second half of this year, we plan to enable pre-loaded video chat apps over cellular for all our customers, regardless of data plan or device; that work is expected to be complete by year end.” – AT&T Representative

Strangely enough, AT&T insists that “any mobile video chat app” that’s not pre-loaded with a device they purchase should be able to be “used” without trouble. It would seem that Google+ Hangouts is considered a native app by AT&T due to its replacing of Google Talk, therefor rendering Video chat limited to wifi until each of these announcements take hold.

“Today, all of our customers can use any mobile video chat app that they download from the Internet, such as Skype.” – AT&T Representative

Let us know if you’re able to use Google+ Hangouts with mobile data on your AT&T device later this June. At the moment we’re still seeing the error that brought us to this point last week. Video chat freedom, on the way!

According to Asymco mobile analyst Horace Dediu, Apple retail numbers went up across the board for this past quarter, with a 7% rise in the number of visitors compared to last year, as well as the average revenue per Apple store reaching $13 million for the quarter, which is Apple’s highest non-holiday quarter ever for its retail business.

As for the number of visitors on average, Apple ended up attracting 250,000 people per store per quarter over the last year, which is a fairly generous rise from 170,000 visitors three years ago. Dediu thinks that the rise in visitors is mostly due to the addition of larger stores, as well as renovations in older locations.

Overall, when compared to other top retail chains, Apple is doing twice as well as Tiffany & Company, who comes in second place as far as average sales per square feet, with Lululemon coming in third. Apple is currently doing three times as well as Lululemon. It’s not sure how long Apple will keep its first place retail spot, but their lead is good enough that they could keep it for quite some time.

In total, Apple Stores brought in a whopping $6.4 billion in revenue during the company’s fiscal Q1 2013, with average of over $16 million per store. Total number of visitors for the quarter was 121 million, which was up from 110 million during the same quarter a year ago. That’s certainly a lot to write home about, and we’ll see if Apple can keep this up and for how long.

VIA: CNET

SOURCE: Asymco

But since his tenure as Apple’s chief executive, Cook has done little to be like his predecessor. Cook doesn’t like to gloat about the current state of affairs at Apple, and design is not necessarily something that he thinks constantly about. When he holds keynote addresses or events for the press, Cook is content to offer up only some information, and then leave the big product announcements to his executives.

Even in his calls with investors or interviews with the media, Cook plays a downplayed rule, deciding to allow his company’s strong performance to do the talking. It’s a significant departure from his predecessor’s tack, and something that has taken some getting used to for the millions of Apple fans around the globe.

But given Apple’s recent troubles and the fact that Samsung and Google are increasingly causing trouble for Cook, might it be a good time for some change? Apple might still be the most important technology company in the world, but it’s in no way the dominating presence that it once was. And much of that seems to be due to Cook’s leadership.

Now, that’s not to say that Tim Cook is not a good leader. As we’ve seen in recent quarters, Apple’s sales and profit figures are hitting new heights, and his shareholders appear to be happy with his performance. But since Cook took over, Apple has lost something. The things that made the company so compelling in the first place are now a shadow of their former selves. And it might have everything to do with who is sitting in the CEO’s chair.

The problem is, Tim Cook doesn’t have the charisma or the attitude that Steve Jobs had. Part of Apple’s success was due to Jobs willingly telling anyone that would listen that his company was best. And when given the chance to show off the latest and greatest product, it was Jobs who captivated audiences, not his executives.

Tim Cook’s more subdued role might prove to be a mistake in the grand scheme of things. Apple seems to be a company that needs to have a chip on its shoulder. And Cook is lacking that certain chip.

The truth is, Apple is slipping. The company that was once the only dominant force in several markets is looking like one of a few competitors. Apple doesn’t appear to have the same air about it that it once did. And that might be due to Tim Cook’s desire to be, well, less Steve Jobs-like. But if you ask me, he needs to be more like Steve Jobs.

The 13-inch Air is the first to go, it seems; according to AppleInsider‘s inventory checks, the 256GB version of the ultraportable – with Intel’s 1.8GHz processor – is showing extended shipping times in the region of 1-2 months at all the popular resellers bar Best Buy. Though the most expensive off-the-shelf model in the Air range, at $1,399, the 256GB version is a popular one give the absence of user-upgradable storage in the Air.

Beyond Haswell processors, there’s controversy over what exactly Apple will do to the MacBook range in terms of updates. One much-discussed possibility is a Retina display, bringing the Air into line with the top-end MacBook Pro notebooks, by introducing a high-resolution screen for smoother graphics.

Industry predictions about Retina technology have been mixed, primarily because of the cost and availability of the panels themselves. Some have argued that using such displays would make the Air range simply too expensive to also serve as Apple’s entry-level notebooks, or indeed that it would be unable to meet likely demand since yields of high-res screens are still tighter than the more typical panels.

That’s something even analysts who predict Retina will be on the table have conceded, with suggestions that – while WWDC will see the new versions announced – actual supplies won’t be available until after the developer event. There could also be a split in the line, with “normal” resolution models kept around to cater for the budget end of the market.

Of course, WWDC is also expected to see new details on the next version of Mac OS, OS X 10.9, shared. That updated platform is believed to further narrow the gap between desktop and mobile functionality, borrowing features and UI elements from iOS on the iPad.

Apple joined the Fair Labor Association in 2012 after being slammed with criticism over the working conditions at Foxconn. This prompted Apple and the Chinese company to set forth 360 items to take action on, such as things like correcting issues with a working environment that is too hot, the installation of an adequate number of fire escapes, and more. Thus far, according to a report released yesterday, Foxconn has met 98.3-percent of them.

One of the issues that is still causing grief, however, are working hours, with the report showing that employees are still being forced to work longer than allowed by Chinese labor laws. Per Apple, its suppliers are to have employees work no more than 60 hours every week. Chinese law says that 40 hours weekly is the cap, however, and that overtime can’t amount to more than 36 hours monthly. After being met with criticism, Apple and Foxconn agreed that its workers would be capped at 40 hours per week.

This hasn’t been the case, however. All three facilities had their workers clocking in up to 60 hours a week, with the spat late last year during which the iPhone was released hitting 70 hours a week. According to the Foxconn agreement, the new hour changes wouldn’t be completely implemented until July of this year, giving it a little over a month to correct the issue.

Another area of concern is unions, which have been positively impacted, showing a 20-percent increase in worker representatives over the last report. Said the Fair Labor Association’s President and CEO Auret van Heerden, “When FLA first visited Foxconn last year, the union committees – like those at most other factories in China – were dominated by management. By this time next year, we expect worker participation to be even higher.”

SOURCE: Wall Street Journal

The information comes from the folks over at CNET, who report that “people familiar with the negotiations” say Apple and Sony Music are in contention over how much Apple will pay when a user listens to part of a song, then skips to the next one. Such an issue is reportedly causing frustration amongst the other labels slated to have their music offered through the service, which they anticipate bolstering the music industry.

Sources also have said that iRadio will offer features not found on what will be the service’s biggest competitor, Pandora, such as rewinding a song they want to hear a second time around. The service will reportedly allow an easy way for listeners to buy a song while using iRadio, and will also give labels a cut of the advertisement revenues generated. Apple is considering using audio advertisements.

Unlike Pandora, Apple has chosen to form individual deals with each music label rather than going by federal stipulations, which could potentially give the service more abilities than Pandora, but comes at the cost of running into negotiation problems. One such difference that could be in iRadio’s benefit from direct deals, for example, is having no limit on the number of songs skipped, or a higher skipping allowance than Pandora, which limits skips on an hourly basis with a daily cap.

While the sources provided some information on the matter, they didn’t specify any particular numbers, such as what Sony is wanting per skipped song and what Apple wants on its part. Reportedly, Apple is seeking to have the same terms across its deals with each music label, and as such could have problems if Sony ended up getting a deal that crunches out with more favorable numbers than the other labels.

SOURCE: CNET

Jepsen was joined by serial entrepreneurs Julia Hartz, co-founder and president of Eventbrite, Slava Rubin, CEO and co-founder of Indegogo, and Caterina Fake, founder and CEO of Findery and co-founder of Flickr. It was on this panel that Jepsen made the case for not just a broken device hardware startup model, but for new entrants into this startup world to be aiming for the moon. It was from within Google X, after all, that Google Glass originated.

“Assuming that you start big and swing for the fences – don’t do something small, first off. But assuming you do, and you get to that point where you’re taking on one of the largest companies in the world – even though you didn’t mean to – I’ve never started to mean to – be prepared to give away most of your stocks so you can win that gain, because otherwise you’re crushed.

Plan that early on, for what you’re going to do – at One Laptop Per Child, there’s this 60-minute expose on some of the larger forces that we came up against – and there’s a lot of stories I’ve not yet told about Pixel Qi. When you get in that seat, you have to be able to figure out a way where it’s more attractive for companies not to crush you.

And that’s very difficult.” – Mary Lou Jepsen

She added assurance that joining a big company is not for everyone – startups are great, she said, especially if you don’t want to get involved in the politics of working with a big company. You’ll be in a lifeboat, she explained, but though you’ll be dealing with holes in your boat here and there, you’ll be working with people that want to help you and are ready and willing to go that extra mile for you.

Meanwhile she warned that hardware funding, again, isn’t in a place where it should be. Groups that push cash to software startups are far easier to find at this time in history than those looking to build up a group for a hardware device.

“VCs (Venture Capital companies) don’t have the core competence anymore. Silicon Valley, pretty much, too – and I’m sure there’s exceptions, but by-and-large, to fund or even to due diligence on hardware.

But there are places that do fund hardware, and you can find them depending upon your bend – you have to be creative. There are Angels, certainly, and Super Angels to fund it.

But there’s not this sort of – path – but there’s not much competition, so you have an advantage.” – Mary Lou Jepsen

Have a peek at the video below for additional insight from Jepsen and let us know how well you’re taking the news – or the advice, as it were. Are you encouraged by the idea that Jepsen, one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world and a ranking member of the top 50 female computer scientists of all time is suggesting that jumping in on a startup is a situation you should want to be a part of? Let us know!

Bloomberg reports that Apple devices running iOS 6 or higher can be used, including the iPhone and iPad. Previously, the US Department of Defense approved Samsung devices earlier this month, as well as BlackBerry devices running BlackBerry 10. This makes Apple the third company to get security clearance at the Pentagon.

The recent approvals are expected to give BlackBerry a fight for government market share, a sector that BlackBerry has controlled for a long time now. With Apple and Samsung devices making their way into the Pentagon, it could spell even more trouble for the Canadian company, who has already been struggling in a world dominated by iOS and Android.

With the adoption of iPads alone, the US Air Force says they expect to save $50 million over 10 years, mostly due to the dropped weight of flight bags in planes in favor of lightweight iPads that would contain all of the flight manuals needed. American Airlines recently gaine approval for this same thing, so it makes sense that it would expand to the Air Force as well.

The Samsung Galaxy S 4 was approved earlier this month, and thanks to its new Knox security features, the US Department of Defense thinks that the new device is ready for Pentagon prime time, beating the iPhone and iPad to the punch, although that probably won’t stop iOS devices from being handed out as much as Samsung handsets. Either way, prepare for BlackBerry to lose a little grip in the government sector as Apple and Samsung are making their way inside.

SOURCE: Bloomberg

Recently Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that Apple would be assembling a Mac computer in the United States once again. Cook didn’t offer a lot of detail on that comment, despite the fact that a flurry of questions were tossed his way when he made the announcement. People want to know where exactly the machine will be constructed, but Cook declined any further details.

All we know at this point is that a Mac computer will be built in the United States and according to Cook, it will be a new iteration of an existing product. That could mean anything from a refreshed MacBook to a new version of the Mac Pro or Mac mini.

Reports indicate that whatever Mac computer is built in the United States won’t just be a collection of parts shipped from overseas. Many of the components used in the assembly of the new Mac will themselves be made in the United States. Some of the components sourced from the US will come from Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, and Texas.

Some of the processors Apple uses in products such as the iPhone are already built in the US. Apple made a significant investment into a Samsung chip manufacturing plant in Texas where processors for the iPhone are produced. It’s nice to see Apple bringing even more of its construction back to the US, though you have to wonder if this will mean any increase in prices.

SOURCE: Engadget

Intel’s involvement in the mobile market has been limited, although it is both present and growing. ZTE, for example, unveiled an Intel-powered smartphone – the Grand X2 In – yesterday, while its previous Grand X In was dubbed the first Intel-Inside smartphone running Ice Cream Sandwich last August. Likewise, earlier this month Intel revealed an overhauled Atom processor lineup to help it compete with Qualcomm and get a better footing in the smartphone chip market.

There was one area in particular where – in hindsight – the company missed a solid opportunity to become fully entrenched in the mobile industry, however: providing chips for Apple’s iPhone. Such was one of the areas discussed by Otellini in an interview with The Atlantic. Said the former Intel CEO about the matter:

“The thing you have to remember is that this was before the iPhone was introduced and no one knew what the iPhone would do… At the end of the day, there was a chip that they were interested in that they wanted to pay a certain price for and not a nickel more and that price was below our forecasted cost. I couldn’t see it. It wasn’t one of these things you can make up on volume. And in hindsight, the forecasted cost was wrong and the volume was 100x what anyone thought.”

The past is the past, however, and new CEO Krzanich is looking to the future. He conceded at the shareholder’s meeting today that Intel did, indeed, miss the mark, being slow to enter the mobile industry with “tablets and some of the mobile computing.” He says that the company has a solid base, however, and from such a foundation will make a concerted effort towards going up from there.

According to Reuters, the CEO has already met with manufacturers, and is seeking guidance from them on the current state of the market, where its future lies, and what those customers need Intel to do in light of those two things. Such information is aiding Intel in adjustments to its product choices and architecture. Said Intel CFO Stacy Smith: “I think the emphasis is important. A focus on the end-customer, a focus on execution and a really strong focus on the ultra-mobile segment of the business. That’s pretty important.”

SOURCE: Reuters and The Atlantic

It’s said that the latest iPhone will look practically identical to the iPhone 5, similar to how the iPhone 4S had the same design as the iPhone 4, but the iPhone 5S is suggested to be getting a major internal redesign in order to pack in even more features, including a rumored fingerprint scanner that could be built right into the Home button.

Boy Genius Report has obtained a few high-resolution photos of what are said to be parts going into the iPhone 5S. These include the loud-speaker bracket, ear speaker bracket, vibrating motor assembly, WiFi ribbon cable, and the SIM card tray. Overall, there’s nothing too special about these parts other than a slight redesign in them to make them a bit smaller.

However, photos of two different SIM card trays reveals something interesting. BGR points out that not only is the SIM card tray smaller than the iPhone 5S, but the photo includes two trays that are different colors, which could suggest that the next-generation iPhone will come in different color variety. Of course, this could also just be for the two different colors of the aluminum band that’s on the iPhone 5S, where the black model has a black band, and the white model has a silver band.

These parts don’t tell us much other than the fact that they’ve been slightly redesigned. However, if the iPhone 5S body is staying the same, the only reason for redesigned internals is to make room for something else, and that something else could be a variety of things, including the aforementioned fingerprint scanner or even NFC. The iPhone 5S is rumored to launch in August, and it’s expected that iOS 7 will be revealed at WWDC next month. Stay tuned!

SOURCE: Boy Genius Report

350,000 of those are native iPad apps, Apple highlights, perhaps a small dig at Google which has struggled to see the same developer engagement in Android tablets. Yesterday, during the opening keynote to Google I/O, Google confirmed that over 48bn Android apps had been installed.

The 50-billionth iOS download itself was Say the Same Thing by developer Space Inch, Apple confirmed, downloaded by Brandon Ashmore from Mentor, Ohio.

The App Store has been a lucrative endeavor for not only Apple but developers as well. The company has supposedly paid out more than $9bn to coders over the past five years. The 50bn figure doesn’t include re-downloads or updates, only the first app install.

In the intervening period, the number of available apps a smartphone OS has to offer has become an important metric in the potential success of the platform. Microsoft, for instance, paid developers ahead of the launch of Windows Phone, to make sure certain key titles were available. However, more recently, the focus has turned in part to app discovery, with well-stocked download stores struggling to present good titles in an efficient way. That’s something iOS 7 is expected to address later on in 2013.

This chat system will be available for Android and iOS as well as on the web starting today. This cross-platform initiative works with group video as well as video chat, and all of it without charge. Though this may seem obvious for some, there have been systems similar to this in the past where chatting with your camera cost extra cash – can you name that system?

With Google+ Hangouts, a Google+ account will be needed to chat. This account is the same as a user’s Google account for Gmail and the like, but the social networking sign-up will need to be done.

This system will also be launching with photo storage with Google+ at 15GB at full size. This means that if you want to automatically upload photos to Google+ with your Android or iOS device, you can upload 15GB worth of full-sized photos. If you want to upload limited-size photos, you can upload as many as you like.

Google+ has also been updated with a system that can break down your collection of photos to find what’s best based on a variety of pre-selected criteria. This system as well as Google+ Hangouts will be launching today with Google+ photo enhancement abilities far beyond those available in the past. Stay tuned to SlashGear’s Google I/O tag portal all week long for more developer action as it occurs, piece by piece!

The auction listed an estimated value of $50,000 for an hour-long coffee session with the Apple big wig, but it seems many fans thought it would be worth way more than that to hang out with the man. What’s perhaps even more impressive, is that all the funds are going to charity. Specifically, Cook is sending the money to the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights.

The auction first went live last month, and the highest bid almost immediately skyrocketed to over its estimated value of $50,000, prompting many people to rethink just how high the auction would go. At the pace that the auction kept early on, we almost thought that it could exceed seven digits, but once the auction surpassed $500,000, bids started to slow down tremendously, with the final price landing on just over $600,000. That is still mighty impressive, however, and it makes the auction the highest-priced auction ever on CharityBuzz.

According to the auction details, the highest bidder will be able to bring one guest, both of which will go through background checks before meeting up, and each meeting will last between 30 minutes to one hour, although we’re not sure what factors will lead to a shorter or longer meeting with the Apple CEO. The auction listing also says that “polite manners and respect for the generous donor and adherence to any rules or parameters are a must,” so it seems like you won’t be able to give Cook a hard time over when the iWatch or iTV will launch.

VIA: The Next Web

As a part of Apple’s statement recently filed with the US District Court in California, the company said that the Galaxy S 4 “is an infringing device and accordingly intends to move for leave to add the Galaxy S4 as an infringing product.” The Galaxy S 4 now joins a list of 22 Samsung products that Apple believes are infringing on their patents.

Both sides have over 20 products from each company that they claim infringe on each other’s patents. Samsung has included almost all of Apple’s iOS devices, while Apple has focused on Samsung’s Galaxy S lineup, as well as the Note series of phablet-style smartphones.

Judge Lucy Koh will oversee the upcoming patent trial, as she was the judge during the first patent trial that saw Apple win with a whopping $1.05 billion award. However, that was since cut down by $450 million. However, while it seemed Apple was fine with that for the most part, the company claimed the re-calculation is off by $85 million, and thus, another court case will begin in November to re-calculate the damages.

If you’re slightly confused by all that’s going on between the two companies, you’re most likely not alone. Apple and Samsung have been going at it for a couple years now, and both companies are starting to slowly end their partnerships in the industry. For instance, it’s been rumored for quite some time that Apple is completely dropping Samsung from its manufacturing partners, which would cut ties between the two companies. Of course, Apple wants to develop their own chips anyway, but the separation is probably for the best at this point.

VIA: Phone Arena

SOURCE: US District Court Filing

In the letter, Schneiderman criticized the companies for not doing their part in curbing mobile device theft. He wrote that the companies were too involved with the bottom line to take a step back and “create technology to render stolen devices inoperable and thereby eliminate the expanding black market on which they are sold.”

Schneiderman also brought up a huge accusation in the open letters, questioning whether or not mobile phone companies weren’t helping out with thefts since they benefit from selling replacement devices to users who had their initial device stolen.

Schneiderman is urging all four companies to talk to his office and brief him on their anti-theft efforts, if any. He also wants these companies to help New York and the rest of the country to figure out ways to cut down on device thefts — methods that police officers don’t have control over, such as implementing technology that shuts down a device when it’s detected as stolen and can locate the suspect.

Of course, Apple has a feature called Find My iPhone that allows users to do a number of things when their device gets stolen, and they even use the GPS to track the location of the stolen phone, as well as the suspect who stole it. Of course, it isn’t foolproof, and you can easily wipe the device clean to prevent it being tracked. It’s also a feature that isn’t on by default, which could be a reason that a lot of users don’t have the feature enabled.

In any case, we’re interested to see what Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung have to say in response to Schneiderman’s open letter. As to whether these companies will jump in and do their part to prevent device theft is yet to be seen, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they nonchalantly said, “no thanks.”

VIA: Cult of Mac

SOURCE: New York Attorney General

According to AppleInsider, one of the biggest changes would be the move toward less replacement units when customers bring in their faulty device, whether that’d be a MacBook, iPhone, iPad, etc. Apple will be training its Genius Bar employees to repair more than just the basics, which currently include speakers, receivers, home buttons, vibration motor, and battery. The training would include fixes to the display, cameras, sleep/wake buttons, and even logic boards.

These changes are expected to roll out throughout June and July, so if you’re hoping to get a brand new replacement for your Apple device if it breaks down, let’s hope that it faults before next month, or else you’ll most likely be waiting a few days for a repair, rather than walking out the door with a brand new replacement that you can start using right away.

Furthermore, Genius Bar employees will also begin to use advanced diagnostics tools that can remotely diagnose hardware issues, which would allow for decreased turnaround time and possibly save a customers from having to make a trip to their local Apple Store. Cutting down on replacements is expected to save Apple around $1 billion per year. However, it’s said that this new method will still benefit customers, especially those whose devices are no longer under warranty. This means that instead of paying a universal fee for a replacement, hardware that’s out of warranty will be fixed on a per-device basis.

Other changes coming to AppleCare include the switch from a per-device coverage model to a per-user model, meaning that if a customer has multiple Apple devices, he can get an AppleCare subscription that will essentially streamline all of the AppleCare warranties on multiple devices into one subscription. Details on this are still scarce at this point, but we should remind you to take all this with a grain of salt, as nothing has been officially announced yet.

SOURCE: AppleInsider

According to the report, the average iTunes user spends about $40 per year on music, apps, and other content. The report also shows that during the last quarter iTunes revenues topped $4 billion. Apple also believes it can maintain its impressive growth rate stating it has a $16 billion annual run rate.

Asymco says that the content portion of iTunes revenue during the last quarter was $2.4 billion, which is a significant increase from the $2.1 billion in the previous quarter. The growth into Q1 was expected because many iTunes gift cards given during the holiday season are used during January. iTunes revenues have grown at an average of 29% per quarter for the last six years.

Apple is now offering iTunes music in 119 different countries. Apple also has 35 million songs in its music catalog. Music isn’t all iTunes offers, movies are also available in 109 different countries and 60,000 titles are available. Another big market for iTunes is books with iBookstore available in 155 different countries offering a total of 175 million different books.

The App Store is now available in 155 different countries covering 90% of the world’s population. The report also notes that developers have created over 850,000 apps for Apple devices including 350,000 made specifically for the iPad. So far more than 45 million downloads have been made from iTunes and 50 billion downloads are expected by the middle of May.

SOURCE: Asymco

Asked whether Jobs was maudlin during their final meetings, Gates describes the Apple co-founder as instead upbeat and relatively positive. Jobs “showed me the board he was working on” Gates recalls, a Philippe Starck designed minimalist yacht named Venus which was officially completed late in 2012.

According to Gates, Jobs “talked about how he’s looking forward to being on it, even though we both knew there was a good chance that wouldn’t happen.” The two also discussed how technology was yet to address all of society’s ills, such as education and health.

“We were within a year of the same age, and we were kind of naively optimistic and built big companies. And every fantasy we had about creating products and learning new things– we achieved all of it. And most of it as rivals. But we always retained a certain respect and communication, including even when he was sick” Bill Gates on Steve Jobs

Health is, of course, an area Gates went on to focus his attention on, with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarding grants to medical projects across the world. That has been a second life for Gates, after Microsoft, something Jobs himself praised during an AllThingsD appearance.

For Microsoft and Apple fans, however, it’s likely to be Gates’ comments on his relationship with the former Apple CEO that are the most interesting. “We did tablets, lots of tablets, well before Apple did, but they put the pieces together in a way that succeeded” Gates concedes, referring to Apple’s segment-leading iPad, while Jobs’ design and branding insights also come in for praise.

The full Bill Gates interview was shown on 60 Minutes with Charlie Rose, with the full transcript available here. A segment of 60 Minutes Overtime, where Rose reflects on the interview, is shown below.

SOURCE: CBS News

As I write this, I’m working on a Mac Pro that I bought several years ago. At the time, the computer was state-of-the-art and capable of handling all kinds of tasks. For me, it was a perfect solution: it offered me the flexibility to run three monitors, had the power to handle some video editing, and was running OS X – an operating system, I believe, is superior to Windows.

But now years later, I’m lamenting my purchase of the Mac Pro. Although it’s still chugging along, it’s not working as well as it once did. And despite my best attempts to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of this supposedly high-end computer, it’s falling short on several fronts.

While all this has been going on, Apple has been launching new Macs at a torrid pace. Since my Mac Pro purchase, the company has launched two new Mac designs – the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro with Retina Display – and continued to update the iMac with outstanding design ideas. But it’s the Mac Pro that, save for a slight upgrade, has been ignored by Apple.

Now, I know that I’m not alone in wondering what is happening in Cupertino. Over the last few years, we’ve all been watching with baited breath as Apple hits the stage to unveil new Macs, hoping that a Mac Pro will be one of them. But each time, we’ve been disappointed. Apple’s customers have even e-mailed CEO Tim Cook to ask what in the world is going on. His response? Be patient.

Still, it’s hard for us to be patient. We’re watching our friends running Windows doing far more than we can with the Mac Pro. And it’s making us think twice about making the leap to a custom-built Windows desktop that, while not ideal, could actually deliver the enhanced power we need.

I’ve been holding off taking that plunge because I believe Apple has something up its sleeve for the Mac Pro. The trouble is, I just don’t know how much longer I can hang on. Yes, my Mac Pro is still doing its job, but it’s getting harder and harder to complete tasks. And I’m becoming more frustrated by the computer by the day.

So, I need to ask, Apple: where in the world is my new Mac Pro? If you’re not going to launch a new one, just put us out of our misery and tell us. If you are, make it quick; we’re losing faith that you’re actually going to launch a replacement. And the sooner we lose faith, the sooner you lose us to a Windows PC.

I never thought I’d say it, but it’s possible that I might just have to ditch my Mac Pro for a custom-built PC. Don’t make me do it, Apple. Don’t. Make. Me. Do. It.

While in the past working with screen protectors that are anything thicker than a simple super-thin layer of plastic, it’s been a toss-up whether or not they’d do what they said they would, here Tech21 appears to come through. The final product does appear disperse impact and protect the screen while touch sensitivity remains.

NOTE: As a special experiment / treat, we’re recorded the hands-on of this product’s application process with Google Glass. The photo at the head of this article also comes straight #throughglass, is it were. Take heed – this video also appears in an expanded Google Glass in action review of the wearable technology’s abilities, specifically its camera.

The technology inside this screen protector is what Tech21 describes as their most advanced implementation of display shielding yet. The first layer works to spread the impact force of whatever’s aimed at your device’s screen. The third (closest to the screen) layer is a soft base, further absorbing the impact force of a blow.

The middle layer is the most interesting – or at least the most interestingly titled. Here we’ve got the BulletShield impact protection layer using BASF absorption polymer technology. BASF is also known as “The Chemical Company” and is, not coincidentally, the largest chemical company in the world. This layer provides non-yellowing UV protection with absorption polymer also used in bulletproof glazing.

Thus far this shielding has held up every bit as well as the other Tech21 products we’ve tested, including the orange goo you’ll remember from some months ago. Have a peek at a demo we received at the hands of Tech21′s CEO with a hammer, Tech21 Impactology excellence, and a human hand. You’ll certainly not regret having done so.

Also note that this multi-layer screen protector system is out there in the wild for your pocket in several iterations right this minute. For $29.99 MSRP you’ll find the Tech21 Impact Shield for the Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung GALAXY S 4, Apple iPhone 5, and Samsung Galaxy Note II as well. We’ll keep you updated on the spread of this shield to other devices soon as well – stay tuned!

While forensics teams are known for having the technology to hack into computers for vital information, it seems that the iPhone is one device that authorities are having trouble with, according to CNET. Specifically, an agent from the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said that we was added to a wait list by Apple in order to get an iPhone 4S decrypted, and it took approximately four months to finally get the device unlocked.

Apple’s iMessage service has been hailed as a “challenge” to break into, as all messages sent between iOS users are encrypted. Last month, the US Drug Enforcement Administration had trouble breaking into iMessage while trying to tap into suspects’ text messages, anad they most likely phoned Apple for help.

Of course, this is good news for anyone that’s paranoid about an outsider trying to hack into their iPhone’s deepest corners. Users can enable a password lock on their devices for added security, but we all know that doesn’t quite work all the time, as numerous loopholes have been found that give users access to devices even with a password lock enabled. While it’s highly unlikely that your phone will slip into the hands of someone who can quickly bypass a lock screen, it’s certainly something that doesn’t make us feel at ease.

Then again, iOS devices will be receiving the nod from the US Department of Defense as being secure enough to be used inside the Pentagon. As we all know, the Pentagon has some pretty confidential stuff that they deal with, so having secure devices is a must, and if forensics team can’t even break into an iPhone, that must say something about its security robustness.

SOURCE: CNET

Gianna Chien, who is a high school freshmen in Stockton, California discovered that if you lay the iPad face down on your chest while you’re laying down to take a quick snooze, the magnets in the Smart Cover can get close enough to the heart to cause implanted defibrillators to malfunction and shut off without warning.

However, defibrillators are designed to be turned off by magnets in the first place as a safety precaution, with the assumption that there’s no reason to have magnets close to your chest except to purposely turn off the defibrillator, but it’s easy when you’re laying down to simply rest an iPad on your chest while you take a nap.

Based on a past teardown of the iPad Smart Cover, there’s a total of 21 magnets, with four used to hold the Smart Cover to the iPad, eleven holding the Smart Cover in its triangular stand position, and a single magnet which flicks the iPad 2 in and out of standby mode. According to Chien’s experiment, around 30% of the 26 patients she tried it on had their defibrillators messed with. As for Apple addressing this issue, we could very well be hearing from them, but for the time being, let your grandparents know about this issue if they have a newer iPad with a Smart Cover.

[Source: Bloomberg]

In an interview with CNN, Reller says that Microsoft has attempted to convince Apple to build a Windows 8 app for iTunes, but the Cupertino-based company doesn’t seem to want to budge, even though such an app “is in high demand” for Windows 8 users, according to Reller. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having just a desktop version of iTunes, but Windows 8 tablet users are out of luck.

Since Surface tablets running Windows RT don’t have a desktop mode, iTunes users won’t be able to access the music player and media store on their tablet, and will have find a computer in order to manage their music, movies, and iOS apps. Surface Pro users have access to desktop mode, however, but the experience isn’t as good as on a full-size computer.

Apple has made much of their software available for Windows, but as the world is shifting more towards tablets, it seems the competitiveness has increased along with the rise in tablets, and Apple may be thinking twice about bringing their software over to Windows tablets, simply because the company wants to keep the exclusivity with iTunes.

Currently, the Windows app store has over 60,000 apps available for download, and there’s been around 250 million downloads total so far. Reller says that it’s a “realistic achievement” to have all the most popular apps in the iTunes App Store available in the Windows app store by the time the holiday season rolls around.

[Source: CNN]

Colby filed the lawsuit under the DBA name Brick Tower Press, having purchased a variety of assets from multiple entities previously owned by another New York publisher – Byron Press – in both 2006 and 2007. The issue at play involves Byron Press’s use of the term “ibooks” to publish many paperback and hardback books, a process that began in late 1999, long before Apple began using the term for its digital books app.

According to the lawsuit, Apple’s shift to using the term for books-related purposes in 2010 following the launch of the iPad could spell the end for the publisher’s ibooks mark, making them effectively worthless. A quick look at the two logos used by the respective companies shows that – visually speaking – they are quite different, with Brick Tower Press’s displaying a picture of a lightbulb above the term and Apple using a distinctly iOS icon next to its own.

It is important to note that neither Byron Press, nor Brick Tower Press after purchasing the assets, registered the trademark, something both had ample time to do before Apple eventually registered it in 2010. Such would end up being one of the problems for the publisher, with U.S. District Judge Denise Cote stating that on its own the term “ibooks” was generic in nature, a descriptive term for digitally-sold books.

Because the term itself isn’t enough, the logo as a whole comes into play, with Cote saying that the publisher only retains any sort of meaning in the use of the word in conjunction with its lightbulb logo. As we mentioned, Brick Tower Press’s logo is quite different from the one used by Apple, and that ultimately lead to the ruling in the latter company’s favor. Said the court in its ruling, “[Brick Tower Press has] offered no evidence that consumers who use Apple’s iBooks software to download ebooks have come to believe that Apple has also entered the publishing business and is the publisher of all of the downloaded books, despite the fact that each book bears the imprint of its actual publisher.”

Because those buying books aren’t likely to mistake the publisher for Apple based on the differences in their logos, and because the term “ibooks” alone isn’t sufficient with the Press failing to register the trademark, the court has ruled in Apple’s favor.

[via Gigaom]

Here at SlashGear, as well as at several other websites, we have noticed iOS 7 traffic appear in our logs: seven visits all occurring on May 2. Other websites have reported traffic starting around the April 29 mark, which looks to be the day that Apple either started or expanded its internal testing program for the new iOS version.

According to mobile site conversion company OnSwipe, most of the iOS 7 traffic was coming from either San Francisco or Cupertino, where Apple’s headquarters are located. Plus, iPhones accounted for 75% of the iOS 7 traffic, with iPads taking care of the other 25%. Let’s just hope no beta tester leaves an iOS 7 device in a bar this time.

As for what we’ll see in iOS 7, there’s expected to be a major redesign of features and default apps, since design guru Jony Ive has taken over iOS. There’s really no solid details other than rumors, but we could see a more flat, minimalistic design throughout the new look, but we’ll have to wait and see what Ive has up his sleeve come next month.

[via TechCrunch]

The report comes from Bloomberg, which notes that Apple attorney Mark Lyons says that all of this basically deals with “transparency,” and he argues that Google is beating around the bush with delivering evidence that is requested by either Apple or the court. However, Google lawyers argue that the company was to be kept off of the case in the initial court filing, so they don’t have the same legal rights as Apple or Samsung in this case.

Google is concerned that if they eventually do hand over the source code documents, Apple may discover other information that Google believes Apple isn’t entitled to, which could give the Cupertino-based company further “ideas about how to proceed that they wouldn’t have had” in the first place.

This second patent lawsuit comes after Apple was awarded $1.05 billion payable by Samsung after the court ruled that the Korean company infringed on Apple’s patents. However, that award has since been lowered to $639.4 million, and a new trial is set for November to re-evaluate some of the products involved in the downgraded award.

[via Android Community]

While the iPhone 5 has seen significant success since its launch last year, OPPO’s launch of the Find 5 has been limited. The OPPO Find 5 is only out in and around China, and if you’re planning on using it in the USA, you’ll need to make more than a little bit of effort to have it sent to you. Once you have the Find 5 in-hand, you’ll find it impressive as a non-major-brand device can be.

The OPPO Find 5 works with a 5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution, this bringing it up to 441 PPI. Meanwhile the iPhone 5 has a 4-inch display with 640 x 1136 pixel resolution, putting it at 326 PPI. Both devices have generous viewing angles, and the operating systems running on each device is optimized for the screen size they’re working with

Android and iOS can be compared, but because they’re working with completely different app ecosystems, it’d be a mistake to compare the iPhone 5 to the OPPO Find 5 in any more than a piece-by-piece fashion. It really comes down to user preference when you see these devices in action, and with both using Google or Apple’s newest operating system right out of the box, basic system abilities are more similar to one another than they’ve ever been before.

The iPhone 5 is significantly smaller than the OPPO Find 5, coming in at 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in) with a weight of 112 g (3.95 oz). The OPPO Find 5 is sized at 141.8 x 68.8 x 8.9 mm (5.58 x 2.71 x 0.35 in) with a weight of 165 g (5.82 oz). You’ll find the iPhone 5 fits the palm of your hand in a more natural way while the Find 5 brings a display size better suited to those looking to play high-powered games and high-definition videos.

The iPhone 5 and the OPPO Find 5 take fine photos and video, but the Apple product is perfected in a way that allows basically any user to take really nice looking shots. The Find 5 has the ability to capture media that looks nice, but it’s not quick to do so. A user not ready to hold their device steady against a solid surface for every photo and video should beware, for certain.

Have a peek at our iPhone 5 review as well as our OPPO Find 5 review and see for yourself which device is ready to command your hand. This selection will likely be based a bit more on your location on this planet than your preference for smartphone prowess and the release size is quite different between these two bits of technology – and let us know if either strikes your fancy.

Apple has reportedly begun banning some app discovery tools and other applications if the apps feature “filtering, bookmarking, searching, or sharing recommendations.” One app developer says that his app discovery tool was blocked by Apple because of features that interfere with App Store regulation 2.25. That particular regulation has to do with restricting apps that could be confused by consumers as app stores.

Apple has apparently expanded the coverage of regulation 2.25 to ban sharing via e-mail or social networks. The ability to search the Apple App Stored using third-party applications is also reportedly blocked. The developer whose app has been blocked describes his application as being “primarily focused on sharing recommendations to your friends.”

The developer notes that he hasn’t seen this particular rejection notice before and believes it to be new. The dev also says that it was previously stated that developers who “bake in” social or local services into their apps would be fine. The developer believes that his app is either not social enough for Apple’s liking or Apple has changed its position. App Store regulation 2.25 reads, “apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected.”

[via Pocketgamer]

The iPhone 5, LG Optimus G, Samsung GALAXY S 4, Sony Xperia Z, and HTC One all had their displays put under a digital microscope, with comparison images of text taken between different combinations of the aforementioned smartphones being assembled together into slider images, allowing users to slide back and forth over the close-up shots and see them in a way their naked eyes can’t.

According to the folks who did the test, they chose to image text specifically because they felt a close-up look at the letters is one of the best ways to compare the displays. What you’re looking for is the curvature of the letters: smooth, round curves on the letters are preferable over ones with rougher curves. So which display is best among them?

Not to be disappointing, but the answer is, “It depends.” As you can see in the images, which we have in the gallery below, you can see the individual differences in the technologies used in the displays, but aside from that the subtle differences between the text is still obvious, and largely open to interpretation. For example, the Xperia Z and the GALAXY S 4 both offer 441ppi, but when looked at up close, one would be tempted to proclaim Sony the best of the two, with its lettering coming in very clear and smooth.

You can check out the interactive version of the comparisons at the link below. Which display is best? Let us know what you think!

[via Gadget Guy]