Apple is now stealing from Samsung in a way that’s perfectly legal

Apple has accused Samsung of stealing its ideas but now it looks like Apple is stealing away Samsung employees. The Korea Times reports that "Apple is luring away Samsung Electronics' experts in next-generation technology" with a particular focus on "technicians and engineers engaged in signal- and visual-processing management." Apple has also apparently recently been poaching Samsung battery experts, which is particularly interesting since it comes at a time when Apple is reportedly working on building its own electric car and is putting a great emphasis on developing more efficient sources of energy.

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Posted in 2015 at 11:45PM, February 23

Google and Samsung are on a collision course when it comes to fighting Apple Pay

The security and ease of use behind Apple Pay unquestionably makes Apple's own mobile payment service the best in the business. Left to play catch-up, Samsung recently acquired LoopPay, a mobile payments company with technology that enables consumers to make payments via traditional credit card readers.

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Posted in 2015 at 11:20PM, February 23

Apple Now Selling Updated World Travel Adapter Kit With Lower Price, No 30-Pin Cable [iOS Blog]

Earlier this month, Apple began selling an updated World Travel Adapter Kit, which offers a set of seven AC plugs and prongs to fit in different electrical outlets around the world.



The new kit that Apple's selling no longer includes a 30-pin to USB cable, and rather than adding a Lightning to USB cable, Apple has instead opted to ship the kit with no cable and drop the price by $10.





Apple's updated World Travel Adapter Kit includes seven pieces (up from six plus a 30-pin cable) and specifies that it supports outlets in Brazil in addition to North America, Japan, China, United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Korea, Australia, and Hong Kong. Apple has also updated the language specifying which devices the kit is compatible with to reflect its newest products.

The kit is designed to work with iPod, iPhone, and iPad, and is compatible with Apple MagSafe and MagSafe 2 Power Adapters (for MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air), 10W and 12W USB Power Adapters, and Portable Power Adapters.

The updated World Travel Adapter Kit can be purchased from the online Apple Store for the new lower price of $29. It's also available in many Apple retail locations.

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Posted in 2015 at 10:35PM, February 23

Google’s newest mobile app is a must-have for parents everywhere

Regardless of what mobile operating system you favor, chances are that you are using quite a few popular Google services, including Search, Gmail, Maps and YouTube, to name just a few. And if you're a parent then you should definitely be interested in the latest service the company launched, a new app that’s available for both iPhone and Android in the U.S. right now.

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Posted in 2015 at 10:30PM, February 23

Here are the most important new features uncovered in the latest iOS 8.3 beta

Apple early on Monday rolled out iOS 8.3 beta to developers, an update which, along with a handful of bug fixes, prominently features the ability for users to select from a more diverse set of emojis.

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Posted in 2015 at 10:05PM, February 23

Google Acquires Softcard Technology, Inks Deal With Carriers to Pre-Install Google Wallet on Android Devices

Following rumors of an acquisition, Google today announced that it has purchased some technology and intellectual property from NFC-based mobile payment service Softcard, formerly known as Isis Mobile Wallet. The purchase will allow Google to improve upon its existing mobile wallet technology to better compete with Apple Pay.



Owned jointly by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, Softcard was established in 2010 in an effort to allow the three carriers to enter the mobile payment market. As an NFC-based payment option that works primarily with Android-based phones, Softcard has been a major Google Wallet competitor, arguably stunting NFC mobile payment growth for both companies.





Google Wallet nearly floundered following its 2011 debut after Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile refused to support the app in favor of Softcard (then known as Isis). Google later found a way to circumvent the Google Wallet lockout, but its growth has suffered amid competition from Softcard and other payment technologies.



Today's purchase consolidates the number of payment options for Android devices and it lets Google establish a deal with the three carriers to build Google Wallet into future Android phones for the first time.

So today, we're excited to announce that we're working with AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, as well as their mobile payments company Softcard, to help more Android users get the benefits of tap and pay. Under this relationship, the Google Wallet app, including the tap and pay functionality, will come pre-installed on Android phones (running KitKat or higher) sold by these carriers in the US later this year. We're also acquiring some exciting technology and intellectual property from Softcard to make Google Wallet better.

The early success of Apple Pay has sparked a lot of interest in mobile payments in recent months. Along with Google's acquisition of Softcard, Samsung has recently purchased LoopPay in an effort to develop its own payments solution.



It is not clear if Google's purchase of Softcard technology means Softcard will be shutting its own payments service down entirely. According to Softcard, its existing customers can continue to use the Softcard service for the time being, and more information is forthcoming from the company.

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Posted in 2015 at 09:04PM, February 23

OS X 10.10.3 Beta 2 Update Introduces New Emoji, Skin Tone Modifiers

Today's second OS X 10.10.3 beta builds on the emoji groundwork laid with the first OS X 10.10.3 beta, introducing all new emoji and emoji skin tone modifiers. When selecting an emoji with a skin tone, such as one of the many people emoji, it's now possible to select a specific skin tone from one of five options.



There are also several new people emoji that introduce greater diversity. Family emoji now include multiple same sex couples, both with children and without, all with variable skin tone options.





Along with a range of diversified people emoji, today's update brings 32 new country flags, including flags for Canada, Australia, and India.





Along with new emoji, OS X 10.10.3 brings a renamed Character palette that focuses more heavily on emoji. Accessible through the "Edit" menu in most Mac apps, the palette was previously named "Special Characters," but is labeled "Emoji & Symbols" in OS X 10.10.3. The emoji picker has also been redesigned, featuring a layout with a single larger vertical-scrolling page.



The same diversified emoji options will also likely be coming to iOS. The first iOS 8.3 beta included a redesigned emoji picker, but it did not introduce placeholders for new emoji or skin tone modifiers.

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Posted in 2015 at 07:09PM, February 23

New 'iPhone 6c' Concept Teases Future of Apple's Budget Smartphone [iOS Blog]

While it remains unknown if Apple will ever release a new budget smartphone to succeed the iPhone 5c, which was a plastic-backed carbon copy of the iPhone 5, a new gallery of renders from 3D Future provides an early look at what the so-called "iPhone 6c" could look like. The concept smartphone essentially combines an iPhone 5c and iPhone 6 into one, which would seem like a logical move if Apple ever releases an iPhone 6c.





The concept iPhone 6c features several design attributes adopted from the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, including a slimmer design, rounded edges, pill-shaped volume buttons, circular speaker grilles and a slightly protruding rear-facing camera. The smartphone also appears to have a 4.7-inch display and is pictured alongside the iPhone 6 for a side-by-side comparison.





It is important to note that these mockups are not based on any leaked specifications, design attributes or other information. Apple did not release an iPhone 6c alongside the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus last September, prompting debate as to whether the company will hold off until the iPhone 6s next September or eventually phase out the mid-tier model from its lineup entirely.





Apple is expected to release its flagship iPhone 6s next September. It was reported in November that the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus could have the "biggest camera jump ever" with a dual-lens, DSLR-quality system. The smartphone is still expected to retain an 8-megapixel rear camera and is rumored to feature an improved Touch ID fingerprint scanner with reduced errors. At this point, it remains unclear if an iPhone 6c is also in the works, but these artistic renditions provide a teaser of what could be.

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Posted in 2015 at 06:45PM, February 23