Google developing gaming console, wristwatch, TV products as it eyes hardware competition from Apple

The Wall Street Journal has issued a large report today that details several new hardware products that Google has in the pipeline. According to the report, Google's latest hardware efforts are being developed in order to match rumored upcoming hardware offerings from Apple (like new entries into the TV and wearable computing spaces). Some future Google hardware, according to the report, includes:

• An Android-based gaming console in light of the $99 Android-based Ouya
• A wrist-wearable device that connects to smartphones over Bluetooth
• A second-generation Nexus Q that is less expensive than the failed first generation product

Also in the cards is a next-generation of the Android OS that is designed to appeal to low-cost devices for emerging markets. As for Apple, the Cupertino-based company is shipping a redesigned iOS 7 this fall and is also rumored to be working on a lower-cost iPhone. The WSJ report also notes that this new version of Android could appear in new devices like notebook computers and home appliances such as refrigerators. Google is said to also be working on various other hardware, though this will be separate from the Google-owned Motorola Mobility.

Unlock iPhone in 30 Minutes: Unlocking is Faster than Ever with AT&T

Unlocking an iPhone through AT&T is now lightning fast, and in some cases you'll have an unlocked iPhone in under 30 minutes. I recently had the chance to experience this directly while writing this article on checking the unlock status of devices, and was impressively surprised by the result. From filling out the initial unlock request form to the confirmation email completing the unlock, only 23 minutes passed. With how simple and fast it is – and yes it's free – there is practically no reason to not unlock your iPhone this way.

We have run through the process here before, but it's worth repeating how simple it is. You'll need an iPhone that is locked to AT&T and has either completed it's initial contract or bought full price out of contract. Current and previous AT&T customers will need to have the wireless number and basic account details, while non-customers and those who paid the full price only need the name, email, and the place of purchase. Then it's just a matter of filling out a form and waiting:

• Get the phones IMEI number beforehand, there are a few ways to find it on the iPhone itself or in iTunes, or just dial *#06# to retrieve it instantly
• Head to the official request page and fill out the brief form

Check your email in a minute or two and you'll find a request number that can be used to follow the status, but it's so quick now that you likely won't need to bother. Note that all emails from AT&T's unlocking service arrive with a subject written entirely in caps, which can look a little spammy and was even automatically filtered out as spam in one case, so if you don't find an email after about 30 minutes check your spam folder for something that says "ATT MOBILE DEVICES UNLOCK REQUEST RECEIVED" (yes, it's all caps). That email provides a timeline guestimate of 2-5 days, but as we already mentioned, it's now incredibly fast. Sit back for a little while and in short order you should get a confirmation email, also all in caps with a subject "HOW TO COMPLETE YOUR AUTHORIZED ATT MOBILE DEVICES UNLOCK" – again if you don't find this in your primary inbox be sure to check the spam folder, it appears some mail clients filtering looks at the EXCESSIVE CAPITALIZATION as a sign of something that isn't worthy of keeping.

Though it only took a whopping 23 minutes to complete this test iPhone, it was tied to an active AT&T account, and it may take a bit longer if you are no longer a customer or never were.

To complete the unlock you'll need a USB connection and a computer running iTunes. First you'll want to backup the iPhone, then insert a valid SIM card into it and restore the iPhone as new with iTunes to complete the unlock. With the iPhone freshly unlocked, now restore it from the backup you made before starting and you're good to go.

Something to keep in mind if you're following the unlock procedure is that you must have an active SIM card of some sorts, the carrier doesn't matter. In this case, I had a variety of sim cards available but used a nano-SIM from an iPhone 5 with the iPhone 4, fitted using one of the always useful SIM adapter kits that are readily available on Amazon for a couple of bucks.

Oddly, completing the process on the newest version of iTunes does not show the familiar "Congratulations, your iPhone is unlocked" message, but if you swap in an alternate SIM card or check if it's unlocked through other means, you will find it has completed.

Even if you have no intention on using the iPhone with another carrier or traveling abroad, you should always unlock a phone if given the chance. Beyond increasing your mobile carrier flexibility, it also adds a nice boost to resale value, particularly if you're selling a used iPhone on Craigslist or Ebay.

OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 2 Released for Developer Download

Apple has released OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 2 to registered developers. The update to the existing OS X 10.9 beta is versioned as 13A497d and is recommended for all users who are currently running the first version of OS X Mavericks Developer Preview.

OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 2 can be downloaded immediately through the Software Update menu and the Mac App Store.

As found in the App Store, the update weighs in around 1.5GB and is likely the fastest way to upgrade to the latest version. Those interested in making a USB install drive would need to re-download the installation client from the App Store. System requirements appear to be the same as the first developer release.

In addition to OS X Mavericks DP2, an update to Xcode 5 Developer Preview and a second dev preview release of OS X Server is also available.

OS X Mavericks is the next major release of Mac system software and includes over 200 new features and improvements, including tabbed Finder support, enhanced power management, and much more. Mavericks is due for a public release this fall, likely alongside iOS 7. Earlier today, Apple released iOS 7 beta 2.

Apple Ends OS X 10.8.4 Beta Testing Program, Suggesting Imminent Release [Mac Blog]

Apple may be planning to release the final version of OS X 10.8.4 in the near future, as it today sent out notices to AppleSeed members announcing the closure of the OS X 10.8.4 software update project.

As noted by AppleInsider, participants received a notification stating that weekend infrastructure maintenance requires the company to close existing products.


The notice thanks AppleSeed members for participating and notes that an email will be sent out when the final version of the software is publicly available. Apple first released the OS X 10.8.4 beta on April 1st and released eight different builds, ending on build 12E55. Throughout the beta, Apple asked users to focus on Wi-Fi, Graphics Drivers, and Safari.

Nuance CEO Confirms Siri Partnership with Apple

Nuance has long been given credit for powering Siri's speech recognition capabilities, but neither the company nor Apple have ever confirmed the partnership, until today. Speaking at the D11: All Things Digital conference in Palos Verdes, California, Nuance CEO Paul Ricci admitted that Nuance technology powers Siri.

"We're a fundamental provider for Apple," he said.

Though Nuance did not previously admit to an Apple partnership, there have been numerous hints that all but confirmed Nuance's Siri role. Siri, which was acquired by Apple in 2010, was built using voice recognition technology from Nuance, and in 2011, pre-release iOS 5 screenshots revealed hidden Nuance preferences.

Besides powering Siri, Nuance has its own dictation and speech recognition software. It has also formed partnerships with several other companies and Siri competitors, such as Amazon's Evi, and released an API for developers.

Though Nuance is responsible for Siri's voice recognition capabilities, Ricci did point out (via The Next Web) that other Siri abilities are the work of other companies. Siri integrates with many different services to provide query results, like Yelp, OpenTable and Wolfram Alpha.

Apple is expected to increase Siri integration across its products with both iOS 7 and OS X 10.9. Reports from earlier this year suggested that Apple was working closely with car makers to provide more comprehensive "Eyes-Free" in-car Siri integration and OS X 10.9 is rumored to include Siri support.

What to Expect with iOS 7

Apple is set to unveil a preview of iOS 7 for the first time on Monday, June 10 at the annual Worldwide Developer Conference. Though Apple has been typically tightlipped about any features or changes with the upcoming iOS update, some rumors have surfaced from traditionally reliable sources that help to paint a picture of what to expect.

You'll find that most of the current rumors surrounding iOS 7 suggest it will primarily be a visual overhaul, aiming to modernize the appearance of the core OS and default apps, and adding a few features or changes that users have long wanted. We're going to do a rundown of some of the more realistic possibilities of iOS 7 based on pieces from 9to5mac (1) (2) and Bloomberg, in addition to little tidbits we've heard, and also drawing some fairly obvious conclusions based on clues from Apple and just plain common sense.

Black, White, & Flat Interface Elements

Expect "black, white, and flat all over", according to 9to5mac's sources. Some are expecting a huge change with this, but it's likely to be more subtle. We have probably already seen a hint of this in various aspects of iOS, like the mysteriously unmatching Account Settings panel accessible from Settings and from the App Store and iTunes, which features UI elements that are black, white, flatter, texture-free, all of which are distinctly different from other parts of iOS:

For some comparison, here's the "Account Settings" before and after the change:

Simpler, Refined App Interfaces

Simplified interface elements are expected to expand to apps, with reduced or removed skeumorphism in apps from Game Center to Calendar. 9to5mac suggests many of the style changes to be similar to how the Podcasts app was toned down recently, which sounds reasonable:

Color-Coded App Icons & Interfaces

9to5mac suggests the refined app interfaces will expand to other applications, with different color themes per application: "While the core elements of those apps are mostly white, each app has been given a unique button color. Essentially, each app has a white base with a respective color theme." That has also been hinted at with the official WWDC logo:

Quick Settings Access Panel

An easily accessible panel to toggle things like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, and other frequently used basic settings is apparently in the works, perhaps as part of Notifications Center, or accessible from elsewhere like the multitasking tray. Here's an example of such a panel, coming from the Android world:

Such Settings panels have long been popular in the jailbreak world as well.

Improvements to Notification Center

Whether it's the addition of the Quick Settings panel, a total refresh, or something else, we can expect Notification Center to get a refresh, at least visually.

Icon shine and gloss is out

Expect flatter default icons on the Home Screen, removing the bubble gloss that has been around since the original version of iPhone OS. Default app icons are perhaps closer to what various Google apps, Skype, and Vine icons look like:

It's also likely the default gloss on any Apple Touch Icon from webpages and apps will be gone too, without having to label the file "apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png".

Panorama wallpapers

Swiping from the Home screen over to another screen of icons will move the wallpaper with it. This is a visually pleasant feature that has been around in the Android world for a long time, which is demonstrated in the video below:

Don't expect this to be an exact replica of the Android feature, and it's probably going to look and behave a bit differently than what is demoed in this video.

New Multitasking UI

Multitasking is apparently set to receive an overhaul to show app thumbnails instead, much like the HTC app switcher. This idea that was first included in builds of iOS 4 but was shelved by Apple for some reason or another before shipping, instead they opted for the little multitasking tray. If it happens this time around, it may look something like this:

Flickr & Vimeo Social Sharing Support

Added alongside the existing social sharing features, Flickr and Vimeo integration is apparently coming. Flickr will be a particularly nice addition with Yahoo's recent announcement of 1TB of free photo storage on the service, which leaves questions about Apple's response with their own Photo Streaming feature.

iCloud Storage & iCloud Backup Improvements

Could it be an increase in the default storage from 5GB to something more reasonable? Automatic delta backups? Nobody knows for certain, but there is plenty of room for improvement here, and with how critical iCloud is to iOS and OS X you can bet there will be changes with iOS 7 to improve the service considerably.

App Update Badges

These arrived on the desktop with iTunes 11.0.3, and the concept is practically guaranteed to arrive in iOS as well

Linen is Gone

The linen texture that sits in Notification Center and elsewhere is out. Similarly, we've heard linen was gone from the desktop in regards to the OS X login screen and Notification Center, and 9to5mac seems to confirm that with iOS too, sounding like it's out of favor across the board.

New Lock Screen

The lock screen has been the same since the origins of iOS, and it's expected to get a face lift with iOS 7. Be sure to read 9to5mac's articles for more information on this.

Developer Beta at WWDC

Developers will almost certainly gain access to the iOS 7 beta at WWDC, which is really a no brainer because that's what Apple has done for ages now, and iOS 7 should be no different. Intended for developers only, what this really means is that anyone who pays the $99 to have an iOS Developer Account can run the beta OS.

Public Release Scheduled for September

Current rumors expect a public release date in September alongside a new iPhone, iPad, and iPad mini, making it an exciting Fall for Apple after an unusually quiet start to the year.

Want to read more iOS 7 rumors?

We all love rumors when they're from reliable sources, so be sure to check out the following reports, which are the basis for nearly all expectations for Apple's upcoming mobile OS refresh:

• 9to5mac: Jony Ive's new look for iOS 7
• 9to5mac: Jony Ive paints a fresh, yet familiar, look for iOS 7
• Bloomberg: Apple's Ive Seen Risking iOS 7 Delay on Software Overhaul

As usual, take everything with a grain of salt until something has been officially announced from Apple. Fortunately, we don't have to wait much longer to find out what's happening and what's not, as WWDC is set to run from June 10 to the 14th in San Francisco.

'Trunk' Posable Lightning Cable Doubles as iPhone Stand [iOS Blog]

As noted by Gizmodo, iLoveHandles has launched a new Trunk Lightning charging cable for the iPhone 5, offering an innovative posable design that allows the short cable to also serve as a stand for the device.

Unlike the short, flaccid charging cables on the market, you can bend Trunk vertical to charge on the wall, bend it the other way and use GPS in the car, or straighten it out and put it in a pocket when you're on the move.

Why do you need all that cord? With Trunk, there is no wrapping, no tangling -- no mess.

Trunk is available through the iLoveHandles online store for $19.95.

Clear Updated with List Emailing Functionality, iPad Version Coming Soon [iOS Blog]

Realmac's gesture-based list making iPhone app Clear has been updated to version 1.2.2, adding a feature that allows users to email their lists to other people. When viewing a list, Clear users can shake their phones to bring up the new emailing option.

Emails sent from Clear contain the app's lists plus a link that provides the option to open the sent lists within the app. The Clear update also provides additional secret themes and comes with an announcement that an iPad version of the app is currently in the works.

One of the biggest feature requests we've had has been the ability email lists. So we added it to our Clear list, and here it is!

Shake-to-Email: just shake your phone to bring up the all-new-super-handy email option. Emails contain your lists (of course) as well as a file that whoever receives the email can open in Clear.

We probably shouldn't tell you this, but there's a couple of secret new themes. Enjoy :)

If you've read this far, we'll reward you with the news that Clear will be coming to the iPad. More news soon!

Clear for the iPhone can be downloaded from the App Store for $1.99. [Direct Link]

The new list emailing feature has also been added to the Mac version of Clear, which is available from the Mac App Store for $9.99. [Direct Link]

9to5Toys Last Call: $90 iPod nano 7th Gen (refurb), $150 Seagate 4TB Internal HDD, $60 Philips In.Si

From 9to5Toys.com:

A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of 'Daily Deal' websites that feature a couple exceptional deals for just 24 hours. We know you can't be at your computer every second of the day, so we're going to roundup the best daily deals to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want.

Be sure to follow Follow 9to5Toys so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook

Today's Featured deals:

• 16GB Apple iPod nano 7th Gen/Current (refurb): $90 in store or $4 shipping
• Seagate Desktop Internal Hard Drive 4TB SATA 6Gb/s NCQ Interface $150 Shipped ($40 Savings)
• Philips In.Sight Wireless Home Monitor & Surveillance Camera Refurb. w/ iOS & Android support $60 Shipped
• ViewSonic 27″ 1080p LED-Lit Monitor (Refurb) $180, ASUS 22″ 1080p w/ HDMI $128 Shipped, Acer 23″G236HL 1080P $120.99
• Free stream of the hit movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Other great deals we love that may not see tomorrow:

• Targus Slim Case for Apple iPad 3 and iPad 4th Gen $5 + $4 Shipping
• Game Center Deal Roundup: BioShock Infinite $40 (Xbox 360 & PS3), Up to 59% off Wii U games, app deals, more
• Zmart Universal Remote Control (via headphone adapter) for iOS and Android Devices: $10 shipped
• Philips Fidelio 30-pin iPhone/iPod 30W speaker dock $50+$5 shipping

Also, we spotlighted the new Philips Stunning 29″ Panoramic HD Monitor w/ Simultaneous Dual Input Support. No, it isn't a deal but we think you're going to want to check it out anyways.

 

 

Apple's Revenue Per Store Visitor Hits Record High

Apple's retail stores have been ranked as the U.S. retail chain with the highest sales per square foot for a number of years and according to a new report from Asymco's Horace Dediu, the company also outranks competitors when it comes to revenue per visitor, hitting a record high of $57.60 per visitor in the first quarter of 2013.

Apple experienced a seven percent growth in visitors during the quarter, leading to an average of $13 million in revenue per Apple Store, which is the highest it has been during a non-holiday quarter.


During its Q2 financial results call, Apple reported a total of $43.6 billion in revenue with $5.2 billion in retail, up 19% from the previous quarter.

Apple gets an average of 250,000 visitors per store per quarter, up from approximately 170,000 visitors per quarter in 2010. In recent years, the company has been focusing on building new Apple Stores across the globe and expanding existing stores to increase available square footage. Apple plans to open 30 new retail stores in fiscal 2013 and remodel 20.

Apple still ‘the most valuable brand in the world’ – Marketing Week

Apple remains the most valuable brand in the world, in an annual ranking by market intelligence company Millward Brown, reported in Marketing Week.

The Millward Brown Brandz rankings take into account both financial strength and brand equity, a measure of the value consumers place in a brand. Despite Apple's share-price woes, the brand is regarded by consumers as the 'gold standard', says the report …

"What we see with the most popular or powerful brands is that brand lasts a lot longer, is more robust and doesn't tend to slip as much, whereas the finances go up and down," explains global BrandZ director Peter Walshe, suggesting that brand is more sustainable than financials.

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," says Walshe.

An interesting way to look at the numbers is if the brand is worth $185b, and you add Apple's cash hoard of $150b, you get pretty much to the company's current market capitalisation – before factoring in anything else, like its product pipeline. Of course, it can be argued that the brand equity already takes into account consumer expectations of future cool gadgets, but it does seem to add weight to the suggestion that the company is significantly undervalued.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer Testify In Front of Senate Committee on Tax Strategies

After jostling in competing memoranda yesterday, Apple and a group of U.S. Senators are prepared to go head-to-head in a committee hearing examining the tax avoidance strategies of Apple and other multinational corporations.

CEO Tim Cook, CFO Peter Oppenheimer, and Apple's head of tax operations Phillip A. Bullock will appear in front of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation in the second part of a committee hearing running now.

The hearing is streaming live on C-Span and we will be liveblogging the hearing below.


Apple yesterday released a statement laying out some of its international operations and financial strategies, noting that it paid $6 billion in federal income tax in 2012 and that it has created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the United States.

A bipartisan group of Senators responded with a statement of its own, accusing Apple of using several offshore subsidiaries to avoid paying income taxes. Said Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), "Apple 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."

Earlier today, the Irish government -- where a number of Apple's subsidiaries are headquartered -- said that it was not responsible for the tax rates Apple pays in other countries and that its system was transparent.

Liveblog will start once Apple's employees appear in front of the committee

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the comment thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All MacRumors forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

How to Check an iTunes / App Store Account Balance Quickly from iOS & Mac OS X

Ever wanted to check the remaining balance of an Apple ID, so you know how much credit is remaining for iTunes, iBooks, or App Store purchases? Us too, and it's actually quite simple to see quickly from either iOS with an iPhone or iPad, or through OS X from any Mac. The only thing you'll need is the App Store or iTunes app and the Apple ID you want to check the balance for, and since the App Store is included with every single Apple device you'll be able to do this from just about anywhere.

Keep in mind that balances and store credits are universal, meaning that an iTunes Store balance is available for purchasing things from the App Store or iBooks store, and vice versa, and App Store balances will be available for buying apps from either the iOS or OS X stores. There is no differentiation in how or where the credit can be used, the only requirement is using the same Apple ID. This applies the same to both iTunes & Apple accounts that have credit cards and those that do not. Additionally, a gift card redeemed in one store or service will be available as credit in another, so long as the Apple ID is consistent. That is why it doesn't matter which application you use to check the account balance.

Check the iTunes / App Store Balance from iOS

This process focuses on the App Store, though you could use the exact method in iTunes apps on any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

• Launch App Store and tap the "Featured" tab
• Scroll to the very bottom to see the remaining account balance

If you don't see the balance listed immediately, it's probably because the Apple ID is not logged in, or because it hasn't be saved to the App Store or iTunes yet. In that case you'll need to tap on the account name or email address and log in to reveal the balance.

Check Available App Store & iTunes Credits on the Mac

This will use the App Store application, but the exact same instructions apply to iTunes as well.

• Open the App Store from OS X and choose the "Featured" tab
• Look in the right-side, next to "Account" will be the available balance
• OR: if the balance is not immediately visible, click on "Account" and log in, then look under "Apple ID Balance:" to find the exact amount of available credits

To reiterate, though we have are choosing to use the App Store apps for both iOS and OS X for this walkthrough, the instructions are identical if you were to use the iTunes app in any operating system as well, be it on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even a Windows PC. You can also check balances from Newsstand and iBooks, because both are ultimately connected through the same Apple ID to iTunes anyway.

Checking Balances for Other Apple ID's or From Other Devices

If you're using this to check the balance of a different Apple ID or associated account, or if you are checking your own iTunes/App Store balance from another persons computer or iPhone, do not forget to log out after you are done.

Because an Apple ID holds account credits, credit card information, iCloud backups, purchase history, both iMessages and FaceTime addresses, the ability to redownload bought apps, and so much more, it's pretty important to keep Apple ID's secured with strong passwords, and to always remember to log out of computers or devices that are not yours.

To log out of an Apple ID from the App Store:

• From the "Featured" tab, scroll to the very bottom and tap on the Apple ID
• Choose the "Sign Out" button

For added security, you can also enable 2-step authentication for Apple ID's, though if you lose the backup keys in two-step mode you will be forever locked out of an Apple ID, meaning for some forgetful people it could be too secure. The other possible downside to two-step authentication is it makes it harder to check balances for other Apple ID's, meaning it's not always the most practical solution for families and even some educational or corporate users.

Curiously, there is no current ability to check account balances on the official Apple ID management site at Apple.com, though that may change down the road. Obviously an ability to check and add to balances directly through Apple's web site would be tremendously beneficial for managing groups of ID's, but in the meantime you can rely on the excellent allowance feature of iTunes to allocate monthly credits to individual Apple ID's.

Apple and Sony 'iRadio' Negotiations Stalling Over Skipped Songs

Earlier today a report suggested that the launch of Apple's upcoming streaming music service deemed "iRadio" may be delayed due to difficult negotiations with Sony Music and Warner Music Group.

CNET is offering some additional information on Apple's trouble with Sony Music, explaining that the fees to be paid for skipped songs have become a point of contention between the companies.

Apple and Sony Music, the world's second largest music label, are still trying to hammer out details over how much Apple would pay for songs that people listen to a fraction of and then skip, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

While Apple's music service is said to be more similar to Pandora than Spotify, Apple does plan to deviate from Pandora's rigid station-based listening rules by giving users extended control, like the ability to rewind or skip a song after listening to a small portion of it. Pandora limits its users to 12 skips per day and pays the full royalty rate for each skipped track.

Apple has faced continual struggles over pricing during negotiations, originally offering to pay just half of Pandora's royalty rate while demanding more flexibility. The company later agreed to up its offered price, but it may not be willing to make further concessions as an Apple-branded music service offers additional perks that other music streaming sites can't compete with, such as an established market for purchasing streamed tracks.

The stalled negotiations between Apple and Sony Music are annoying other labels, who are eager to see iRadio launch. Apple finalized an agreement with Universal Music earlier this month and is close to signing a deal with Warner Music Group, according to CNET's sources.

That skipping has become an issue is frustrating executives at the other labels because they see Apple's free radio service as a potential boon for the music industry overall and are eager to help Apple get it launched.

Apple was pushing for a summer launch of iRadio, with possible plans to unveil the service at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but it is unclear if the company will be able to meet that deadline.

eBay for iOS Updated with Multiple Item Checkout, Driver's License Scanning [iOS Blog]

eBay today released updates to its iPhone and iPad apps, offering a redesigned user interface that includes multiple search views, an improved bidding process for ending auctions, and new shopping cart functionality.

With the new shopping cart, users can add multiple items to the cart and purchase them at the same time with a single payment. The app also features larger photos and better search results, with the iPad version of the app sporting new photo editing tools.


The iPhone app has also gained an interesting new function, allowing users to scan in their drivers licenses with the iPhone's camera to quickly create new accounts.

- New and improved look and feel
- Checkout multiple items at a time with the new eBay Shopping Cart (US and UK only)
- Tap the grid icon at the top of search results to see larger photos (iOS 6 required)*
- Scan your drivers license for fast and easy eBay registration (available in select US states)
- Improved last minute bidding
- Selling support for Spain
- Many bug fixes and enhancements

Both the iPhone and iPad eBay apps can be downloaded from the App Store for free.

- eBay for iPhone [Direct Link]
- eBay for iPad [Direct Link]

Apple releases Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.0 for mid 2012 MacBook Air

Apple has released a new firmware update for the mid 2012 MacBook Air today that helps to address problems with the device recovering from a crash. Apple release notes said the update addresses "a storage firmware issue that, in rare cases, may cause a system to fail to recover from crash."

The MacBook Air Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.0 is available to download on Apple's website here and should be hitting Software Update soon. The 1.69 MB update is available for mid 2012 MacBook Airs running OS X 10.7.5 or OS X 10.8.3.

Outgoing Intel CEO Paul Otellini’s big regret? Not landing an Intel chip in Apple’s iPhone

.

Interesting exit interview with Intel CEO Paul Otellini wherein he says (duh) he regrets not trying harder not to get his chips inside the iPhone (and subsequently iPod touch and iPads).

But, oh, what could have been! Even Otellini betrayed a profound sense of disappointment over a decision he made about a then-unreleased product that became the iPhone. Shortly after winning Apple's Mac business, he decided against doing what it took to be the chip in Apple's paradigm-shifting product.

"We ended up not winning it or passing on it, depending on how you want to view it. And the world would have been a lot different if we'd done it," Otellini told me in a two-hour conversation during his last month at Intel. "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."

While there seems to be some sentiment that if Otellini had tried, Intel would have won Apple's iOS device business. But, it clearly isn't that simple. ARM chips use an order of magnitude less power than Intel chips, even to this day.

Also, if Intel is so great at powering mobile device chips, why wouldn't Android devices (And Windows 8 devices!) have used them as an advantage?

Steve Jobs and Apple prioritized efficiency over raw power which may have proved to be one of the winning advantages of the feature-rich iPhone and iPad over a decade plus of Windows machines.

Apple strikes content deal with CW Network for ad-supported Apple TV app

CW's Xbox app

During a presentation with advertisers, CW Network president Mark Pedowitz announced that the network would be expanding its content offerings to new multimedia devices. This strategy will include a spot as an app on the Apple TV set-top-box's home screen.

The network confirmed this to MacRumors:

It's a dedicated CW app that will work like our Xbox and mobile and tablet apps – no cable authentication required, full episodes of our shows available next day after air, ad-supported.

Notably, as noted in the above quote, the CW content will be ad-supported.

CW currently streams its content to software on Microsoft Windows devices such as the Xbox. Apple recently added Hulu Plus and sports content to the Apple TV, and the current generation Apple set-top-box has sported YouTube and Netflix integration since launch.

Apple is also rumored to be nearing a content deal for Apple TV with HBO.

CW currently hosts various TV episodes in addition to some original content. The network lists its show offerings on its website. 

Apple Blames Book Publishers in E-Books Antitrust Lawsuit

Reuters is reporting that Apple has responded to the Justice Department's accusations that the company colluded with publishers to increase e-book pricing, saying that it negotiated with the publishers separately and reached different agreements with each.

But Apple said the publishers had decided, independent of Apple, to eliminate discounts on wholesale book prices of e-books, to sell lucrative hardcover books first to bookstores in a practice called windowing and to take other measures to push Amazon to raise prices.

In a court filing dated April 26 but released on Tuesday, Apple said it had approached publishers to create an online bookstore that would eventually become the iBookstore and had demanded a 30 percent commission, that publishers would not undercut prices paid to Apple, and that "windowing" be scrapped.

Apple said that points of contention in early negotiations centered around Apple's demand for a 30 percent commission and price caps. Apple went on to note that each publisher immediately offered its own counterproposals in what Apple described as "tough negotiations."

The company also claims that before it entered the market the publishers were engaged in a battle to break Amazon's grip on the low-cost e-book market, with Apple laying the blame for any potential collusion on the publishers.

The lawsuit was originally filed in April 2012 and included HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan and Penguin, but the Justice Deparment settled with the publishers and has since concentrated on Apple. Recently, CEO Tim Cook was ordered to testify in the case.

Coffee with Tim Cook auction delivers $610,000 to charity

That auction for coffee with Tim Cook we showed you last month wrapped up today, and it looks like the Apple CEO severely underestimated his value.

Tim Cook and Charitybuzz hoped to raise $50,000 for the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, but the final price for an hour long cup of coffee with Mr. Cook ultimately reached $610,000 just before bids closed today.

The winning bidder currently remains anonymous, and the auction permits two people to attend the meeting with the CEO, but we imagine we may soon learn the identity of the mysterious "a********s" with all the publicity around the auction.

The offer expires one year from today, and the meeting will take place at a time mutually agreed upon by the two parties, which probably rules out June 10th as Tim Cook might have other engagements, but we look forward to hearing more about the now infamous coffee with Tim Cook.

It's especially nice to see so much money go toward a universally deserving foundation.

QuickRes 3.0 makes switching resolutions on your Retina MacBook Pro quick and easy

Switching resolutions on a Retina MacBook Pro usually requires going through System Preferences, but an app called QuickRes is designed to mitigate that annoying process.

QuickRes puts an icon in your Mac's menu bar that allows you to quickly jump between a variety of preset display resolutions, even beyond supported by Apple, all the way up to 3840×2400. QuickRes can also enable HiDPI mode on non-Retina Macs, effectively doubling the resolution and giving a clearer (albeit bigger) picture.

To switch resolutions, you can right-click the app's menu bar icon to select which display you want to change (if you have more than one), then select a resolution from a list of presets. You can also setup anywhere from two to eight of your favorite resolutions and switch between them quickly by clicking on the menu bar icon.

QuickRes is available in two flavors. The paid version is available for a 9to5Mac-exclusive price of $.99 (regularly $1.99) through this discount link. The free version, which supports fewer resolutions and does not include a quick HiDPI toggle for non-Retina, is available on the Mac App Store.

Apple Expands Two-Step Verification to Additional Countries [iOS Blog]

Apple has expanded its two-step verification system to a number of new countries, including Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Russia, among others, notes 9to5Mac.


Two-step verification is designed to provide Apple users with an extra layer of protection through the use of a trusted device and a security code. When Apple first introduced the feature in March, it was limited to users in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.

Apple has yet to make an official announcement or update its documentation, but it appears that quite a few countries are gaining access to two-step verification today.

Zendock MacBook Pro docking solution, a funded Kickstarter project, coming for MacBook Air

Last month, we covered the Kickstarter posting for the Zendock MacBook Pro docking station. As we profiled in April, the docking solution takes over your MacBook Pro's ports in order to free up clutter on your workspace:

The anodized alumnim box quickly plugs into several ports on the side of your MacBook at once, allowing you to connect and disconnect all of your peripherals much faster than if you were to do them all at once. The Pro version supports gigabit Ethernet, FireWire, a Mini DisplayPort connection, three separate USB 3 ports, and an audio input and output. The Retina model features fewer connections—only a Mini DisplayPort, three USB 3 connections, and audio in/out ports—but also sports a Thunderbolt passthrough connection, allowing you to connect additional high-speed devices despite the port being covered.

Since that time, the project has been successfully funded (with more than double the money than originally set for the goal). Due to the popularity and success of the project, the creators have announced that a MacBook Air version is in the works and is available for backers. Additionally, all models have received improved audio quality technology.