Rumor Has It, Ep. 14: Let's give Kodak an Internet hug (podcast)
We're baaaa-aaack!And slap-happy after the break, so you may want to sit down to watch this show.On the first Rumor Has It of 2012, we ask: who will make the next Kindle? Will Apple have some sort of snorefest in NYC? Are Acer and Lenovo Wintel-crazed? And are RIM's co-chairmen getting the boot?But mostly, we pour one out for Kodak, which is suffering lately. Rumors out of Taiwan suggest it's going to make even fewer cameras next year, as it can no longer keep pace with Canon, Sony, and Nikon. Poor little Kodak: it invented digital cameras and thereby made film obsolete. We wanted to thank the company for sacrificing its own profits for the greater good of innovation (intentionally or not), so we made it this Some eCard.Oh, and don't forget: next week, Rumor Has It is coming to you live from the CES 2012 CNET main stage on a very special day and time, Friday, January 13, at noon PT. So there won'tbe a show on Tuesday next week, but tune in next Friday for Humiliation Day live from CES! We can't wait!EPISODE 14This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlaySubscribe:Â RSS (MP3) |Â RSS (320x180) |Â RSS (640x360) |Â iTunes (MP3) |Â iTunes (320x180) |Â iTunes (640x360)PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Links from the show!Will someone besides Amazon release the next Kindle tablet?Taiwanese camera manufacturers expect Kodak to order fewer cameras from them this yearApple plans NY event this month, report saysApple event to focus on publishing Acer, Lenovo to intro Wintel tablets this yearCNET learns that Intel plans to shows off Clover-Trail-based tablets at CESRIM may be about to oust its co-chairmenHeard a tech rumor you think we should cover?E-mail us at Rumorhasit [at] cnet.com, or directly at karyne.levy [at] cnet.com or emily.dreyfuss [at] cbsinteractive.com. And call and leave us a voice mail at 1-800-750-CNET!And don't forget to follow us on Twitter! @EmilyDreyfuss, @karynelevy, @RumorShow, @stephenbeacham.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
How to figure out the new iTunes U
How to figure out the new iTunes U
iTunes U is a source for hundreds of thousands of lectures, videos, books, and other resources originating from many of the world's leading educational institutions. There are thousands of subjects to choose from for those wishing to supplement their education using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC.To get better acquainted with iTunes U, Apple has put up a help guide for new users on its Web site. It gives a general introduction to iTunes U and covers, among other things, how to download the iTunes U iOS app and set up an iTunes account, what support options are available, and how to adjust iTunes U settings on a Mac or PC.You can also learn about iTunes U Course Manager, a Web-based tool that instructors can use to create and distribute iTunes U content for their students. If your school has an iTunes U site, you can gain access to the Course Manager tools through your site administrator. Apple's iTunes U support site offers articles on general subjects such as how to access Course Manager and create your instructor profile, and more specific topics like how to create a podcast with GarageBand.The iTunes U support site also includes several articles on how to use the Public Site Manager, which iTunes site administrators can use to manage the public content available on their iTunes U sites.If you are an educator looking to use technology in your classroom, iTunes U is a great place to start, either by accessing content from universities and other educational institutions around the world, or by creating your own content to help your students. Of course, iTunes U is also great for those looking to continue their learning after school.Have you used iTunes U to teach or learn? Let me know about your experience in the comments!
iTunes U is a source for hundreds of thousands of lectures, videos, books, and other resources originating from many of the world's leading educational institutions. There are thousands of subjects to choose from for those wishing to supplement their education using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC.To get better acquainted with iTunes U, Apple has put up a help guide for new users on its Web site. It gives a general introduction to iTunes U and covers, among other things, how to download the iTunes U iOS app and set up an iTunes account, what support options are available, and how to adjust iTunes U settings on a Mac or PC.You can also learn about iTunes U Course Manager, a Web-based tool that instructors can use to create and distribute iTunes U content for their students. If your school has an iTunes U site, you can gain access to the Course Manager tools through your site administrator. Apple's iTunes U support site offers articles on general subjects such as how to access Course Manager and create your instructor profile, and more specific topics like how to create a podcast with GarageBand.The iTunes U support site also includes several articles on how to use the Public Site Manager, which iTunes site administrators can use to manage the public content available on their iTunes U sites.If you are an educator looking to use technology in your classroom, iTunes U is a great place to start, either by accessing content from universities and other educational institutions around the world, or by creating your own content to help your students. Of course, iTunes U is also great for those looking to continue their learning after school.Have you used iTunes U to teach or learn? Let me know about your experience in the comments!
Sprint to get its own iPad 2, report says
Sprint to get its own iPad 2, report says
Web site 9to5mac reported today that Apple and Sprint have completed work on an iPad that is compatible with Sprint's wireless network. This comes on the heels of reports that Sprint will also carry the iPhone. If true, the products represent a strengthening of ties between Apple and Sprint, and would put Sprint on par with its larger rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Sprint has the added benefit of offering more attractive rate plans with the devices. The site reports that the Sprint version of the iPad is completely separate from the Verizon model, which runs on the compatible 3G CDMA technology. It's unclear whether the Sprint iPad would run on the 3G or 4G WiMax network, which is run by Sprint partner Clearwire, according to 9to5mac. But it's unlikely that Apple would invest in building a WiMax device when most companies are looking to alternative 4G technology LTE.A Sprint representative declined to comment to CNET. An Apple representative wasn't immediately available for comment. Without an iPad of its own, Sprint had resorted to pitching its mobile hot spot as a way to provide a Wi-Fi connection to the blockbuster tablet.
Web site 9to5mac reported today that Apple and Sprint have completed work on an iPad that is compatible with Sprint's wireless network. This comes on the heels of reports that Sprint will also carry the iPhone. If true, the products represent a strengthening of ties between Apple and Sprint, and would put Sprint on par with its larger rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Sprint has the added benefit of offering more attractive rate plans with the devices. The site reports that the Sprint version of the iPad is completely separate from the Verizon model, which runs on the compatible 3G CDMA technology. It's unclear whether the Sprint iPad would run on the 3G or 4G WiMax network, which is run by Sprint partner Clearwire, according to 9to5mac. But it's unlikely that Apple would invest in building a WiMax device when most companies are looking to alternative 4G technology LTE.A Sprint representative declined to comment to CNET. An Apple representative wasn't immediately available for comment. Without an iPad of its own, Sprint had resorted to pitching its mobile hot spot as a way to provide a Wi-Fi connection to the blockbuster tablet.
Sprint not the only one with an unlimited iPhone plan
Sprint not the only one with an unlimited iPhone plan
If you want to pair your iPhone 4S with an unlimited-data plan, Sprint Nextel will no longer be the only game in town. Regional carrier C Spire Wireless (formerly Cellular South) said today that it plans to offer the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S beginning November 11. C Spire is offering four options for service plans, ranging between $50 and $100. All four require a two-year contract. While all of the plans technically offer unlimited data, there is a catch. The two cheapest plans, which cost $50 and $70 a month, respectively, exclude data-streaming services. Streaming movies and songs are among the chief culprits for heavy traffic loads on wireless networks.The company said it has a network that is built for data devices, noting that it supports the highest percentage of customers with smartphones in the nation. C Spire surprisingly announced last month that it would also be selling the iPhone, just days after the phone launched with the three largest national carriers. The fourth-largest U.S. carrier, T-Mobile USA, remains left in the cold and has stepped up its reliance on Android smartphones.
If you want to pair your iPhone 4S with an unlimited-data plan, Sprint Nextel will no longer be the only game in town. Regional carrier C Spire Wireless (formerly Cellular South) said today that it plans to offer the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S beginning November 11. C Spire is offering four options for service plans, ranging between $50 and $100. All four require a two-year contract. While all of the plans technically offer unlimited data, there is a catch. The two cheapest plans, which cost $50 and $70 a month, respectively, exclude data-streaming services. Streaming movies and songs are among the chief culprits for heavy traffic loads on wireless networks.The company said it has a network that is built for data devices, noting that it supports the highest percentage of customers with smartphones in the nation. C Spire surprisingly announced last month that it would also be selling the iPhone, just days after the phone launched with the three largest national carriers. The fourth-largest U.S. carrier, T-Mobile USA, remains left in the cold and has stepped up its reliance on Android smartphones.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Apple patent shows Google Maps working on older iPods (maybe)
Apple patent shows Google Maps working on older iPods (maybe)
AppleInsider has uncovered a patent filing from Apple (located here) that's a cross between what we've known as an"enhanced podcast" and the step-by-step driving directions found on the maps application that is on the iPhone and iPod touch. In short, the design specified in the patent would let users grab driving directions (presumably from Google) and have them combined with voice activated commands that would advance the directions forward. The data would be packaged in the form of a Podcast that could be downloaded and put on the player like any other audio file. The current system on the iPod touch and iPhone requires a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection, as well as touch input to advance the directions at each step. Presumably this system would allow the iPod or iPhone to be mounted and used in a similar fashion to a voice command-enabled GPS device via software alone. It could also signal backward compatibility with other enhanced-podcast capable devices, such as any iPod with a click wheel.Also noted on the patent is a system for crunching the data through various servers before it ends up on the portable device. Included are servers for maps, and a text-to-speech server, the latter of which is Google has put a considerable amount of resources into, seen recently in its voice-controlled GOOG-411 mobile directory service and acquisition of online voice mail service Grand Central back in July. Despite the emphasis put on the mobile usability, nowhere in the specs is a direct line from the portable device to wireless data, as the data must pass first through a client (PC) and program (iTunes). In the past, Apple patents have proven to be a hit-or-miss affair on upcoming technologies found in the company's consumer offerings, although a patent for a superwide laptop trackpad from 2004 ended up being a major feature in Apple's latest ultralight laptop the MacBook Air.
AppleInsider has uncovered a patent filing from Apple (located here) that's a cross between what we've known as an"enhanced podcast" and the step-by-step driving directions found on the maps application that is on the iPhone and iPod touch. In short, the design specified in the patent would let users grab driving directions (presumably from Google) and have them combined with voice activated commands that would advance the directions forward. The data would be packaged in the form of a Podcast that could be downloaded and put on the player like any other audio file. The current system on the iPod touch and iPhone requires a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection, as well as touch input to advance the directions at each step. Presumably this system would allow the iPod or iPhone to be mounted and used in a similar fashion to a voice command-enabled GPS device via software alone. It could also signal backward compatibility with other enhanced-podcast capable devices, such as any iPod with a click wheel.Also noted on the patent is a system for crunching the data through various servers before it ends up on the portable device. Included are servers for maps, and a text-to-speech server, the latter of which is Google has put a considerable amount of resources into, seen recently in its voice-controlled GOOG-411 mobile directory service and acquisition of online voice mail service Grand Central back in July. Despite the emphasis put on the mobile usability, nowhere in the specs is a direct line from the portable device to wireless data, as the data must pass first through a client (PC) and program (iTunes). In the past, Apple patents have proven to be a hit-or-miss affair on upcoming technologies found in the company's consumer offerings, although a patent for a superwide laptop trackpad from 2004 ended up being a major feature in Apple's latest ultralight laptop the MacBook Air.
Apple patent application reinvents remote control for the smartphone age
Apple patent application reinvents remote control for the smartphone age
Apple says today's remote control is outdated.The numbered buttons on the remote were great when channels had numbers, but now many streaming services instead use graphic interfaces to show off channels, movies and TV shows. Also, searching for something to watch by repeatedly typing in 1s and 2s can be cumbersome.With that in mind, Apple laid out in a patent application published Thursday a new kind of digital remote control for its Apple TV set-top box that uses icons and pictures, similar to those graphic interfaces on TV, but shrunken down and customized for a smartphone or tablet computer. Apple filed the application with the US Patent and Trademark Office last March.Apple already recreated the physical remote control, offering up a slim remote for the Apple TV with only a few buttons to navigate videos and music. The new patent application shows the company could one day remake the physical controller again by doing away with it completely. Such an idea would be similar to Google's Chromecast, a dongle with no physical remote that's controlled using a mobile devices.The concepts in the patent application go a step further than the current Remote app from Apple, which lets people navigate Apple TV with a program that's similar to the mobile iTunes library interface. Instead, the new interface appears to be much more complex, with more graphics and features, and can be used on a smartphone, tablet or laptop.The Apple TV and remote.CNETAn Apple representative didn't respond to a request for comment.The $99 Apple TV, which connects to televisions to stream video over the Internet, has been less of a focus for the tech giant than its primary moneymakers, the iPhone smartphone and iPad tablet. More than two years have passed without a hardware update to Apple TV. Apple has also been slow to add channels to the device, especially when compared with competitors such as Roku, which has hundreds more channels. A software update, such as the new interface mentioned in the patent application, could increase interest in Apple TV, though the device still remains well behind in content partners.Correction, 10:51 a.m. PT: This story incorrectly stated the type of document published Thursday. It is a patent application.
Apple says today's remote control is outdated.The numbered buttons on the remote were great when channels had numbers, but now many streaming services instead use graphic interfaces to show off channels, movies and TV shows. Also, searching for something to watch by repeatedly typing in 1s and 2s can be cumbersome.With that in mind, Apple laid out in a patent application published Thursday a new kind of digital remote control for its Apple TV set-top box that uses icons and pictures, similar to those graphic interfaces on TV, but shrunken down and customized for a smartphone or tablet computer. Apple filed the application with the US Patent and Trademark Office last March.Apple already recreated the physical remote control, offering up a slim remote for the Apple TV with only a few buttons to navigate videos and music. The new patent application shows the company could one day remake the physical controller again by doing away with it completely. Such an idea would be similar to Google's Chromecast, a dongle with no physical remote that's controlled using a mobile devices.The concepts in the patent application go a step further than the current Remote app from Apple, which lets people navigate Apple TV with a program that's similar to the mobile iTunes library interface. Instead, the new interface appears to be much more complex, with more graphics and features, and can be used on a smartphone, tablet or laptop.The Apple TV and remote.CNETAn Apple representative didn't respond to a request for comment.The $99 Apple TV, which connects to televisions to stream video over the Internet, has been less of a focus for the tech giant than its primary moneymakers, the iPhone smartphone and iPad tablet. More than two years have passed without a hardware update to Apple TV. Apple has also been slow to add channels to the device, especially when compared with competitors such as Roku, which has hundreds more channels. A software update, such as the new interface mentioned in the patent application, could increase interest in Apple TV, though the device still remains well behind in content partners.Correction, 10:51 a.m. PT: This story incorrectly stated the type of document published Thursday. It is a patent application.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Apple files for patent on Smart Cover with embedded display
Apple files for patent on Smart Cover with embedded display
Apple has some ideas up its sleeve to make its Smart Cover, well, smarter.The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published an application Apple filed last year related to a Smart Cover boasting a "thin flexible display" that "greatly enhances the overall functionality of the tablet device."According to the patent application, the cover would come with a connector that would attach to the tablet to draw power. Once connected, the Smart Cover could be used to "present visual information" and work with the same touch technology found in a slate's display. In one image in Apple's patent application, the company shows the Smart Cover displaying icons that users could interact with simply by clicking on them.Engadget, which was first to discover the patent application, posted a host of photos from the document, showing how the Smart Cover might work. In one case, Apple describes a method for folding it under the iPad and allowing users to control on-screen video with touch controls on the cover. In another, the Smart Cover is laid out below the iPad to create a dual-screen experience, similar to Nintendo's 3DS. Apple also presented an image showing how the cover could double as a virtual keyboard.Interestingly, Apple's Smart Cover won't lose its current functionality. The cover would still be used to protect the iPad's screen and would be flexible, allowing users to fold it and use it as a stand.Microsoft in June announced its own cover for its upcoming Surface tablet. That cover, which will protect the tablet's screen, can be unfolded and used as a keyboard.Whether Apple will launch its improved Smart Cover to compete against Microsoft's offering remains to be seen. Apple, like other tech companies, files a slew of patent applications for products that, even if the relevant patents are awarded, never launch.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the patent application. We will update this story when we have more information.
Apple has some ideas up its sleeve to make its Smart Cover, well, smarter.The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published an application Apple filed last year related to a Smart Cover boasting a "thin flexible display" that "greatly enhances the overall functionality of the tablet device."According to the patent application, the cover would come with a connector that would attach to the tablet to draw power. Once connected, the Smart Cover could be used to "present visual information" and work with the same touch technology found in a slate's display. In one image in Apple's patent application, the company shows the Smart Cover displaying icons that users could interact with simply by clicking on them.Engadget, which was first to discover the patent application, posted a host of photos from the document, showing how the Smart Cover might work. In one case, Apple describes a method for folding it under the iPad and allowing users to control on-screen video with touch controls on the cover. In another, the Smart Cover is laid out below the iPad to create a dual-screen experience, similar to Nintendo's 3DS. Apple also presented an image showing how the cover could double as a virtual keyboard.Interestingly, Apple's Smart Cover won't lose its current functionality. The cover would still be used to protect the iPad's screen and would be flexible, allowing users to fold it and use it as a stand.Microsoft in June announced its own cover for its upcoming Surface tablet. That cover, which will protect the tablet's screen, can be unfolded and used as a keyboard.Whether Apple will launch its improved Smart Cover to compete against Microsoft's offering remains to be seen. Apple, like other tech companies, files a slew of patent applications for products that, even if the relevant patents are awarded, never launch.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the patent application. We will update this story when we have more information.
Apple files for patent on 3D, multilayer display
Apple files for patent on 3D, multilayer display
Future Apple computers could one day have two displays layered one right on top of another to create a sense of depth for what users see on screen. A freshly posted Apple patent application (PDF), unearthed by AppleInsider this morning, details a "multilayer display device." The described system makes use of different displays that are layered together and can project different images, sometimes at once.In the patent, the company notes that the quest for making displays that can add depth to two-dimensional device displays is making a comeback."Creating the illusion of a three-dimensional image on a two-dimensional display has been the subject of ongoing technological research and development, and is experiencing a worldwide resurgence due to recent developments in computer generated imagery and high-definition video." The patent notes that the proposed, multilayer system could make use of multiple transparent OLED displays for the layer that appears in front of the first display, as well as using differing graphical processors for each layer. Under that system, the patent says the additional layers could be turned off if a device's battery was low to preserve power. This is the latest in a series of 3D patents filed for by Apple. One the company filed for back in 2007covered a "multi-dimensional desktop" and depicted a version of Mac OS X with various 3D elements. Another, filed for a year later, dealt with using camera-based head tracking to adjust 3D images to where the user was located in front of their computer. Perhaps the most related of the bunch, was a patent the company was actually granted late last year that covered projecting a 3D image that could be seen without the need for glasses. The patent lists the multilayer display inventor as Peter Mahowald, who has been listed as the inventor or co-inventor on numerous Apple patents, including one for real-time feedback on karaoke.
Future Apple computers could one day have two displays layered one right on top of another to create a sense of depth for what users see on screen. A freshly posted Apple patent application (PDF), unearthed by AppleInsider this morning, details a "multilayer display device." The described system makes use of different displays that are layered together and can project different images, sometimes at once.In the patent, the company notes that the quest for making displays that can add depth to two-dimensional device displays is making a comeback."Creating the illusion of a three-dimensional image on a two-dimensional display has been the subject of ongoing technological research and development, and is experiencing a worldwide resurgence due to recent developments in computer generated imagery and high-definition video." The patent notes that the proposed, multilayer system could make use of multiple transparent OLED displays for the layer that appears in front of the first display, as well as using differing graphical processors for each layer. Under that system, the patent says the additional layers could be turned off if a device's battery was low to preserve power. This is the latest in a series of 3D patents filed for by Apple. One the company filed for back in 2007covered a "multi-dimensional desktop" and depicted a version of Mac OS X with various 3D elements. Another, filed for a year later, dealt with using camera-based head tracking to adjust 3D images to where the user was located in front of their computer. Perhaps the most related of the bunch, was a patent the company was actually granted late last year that covered projecting a 3D image that could be seen without the need for glasses. The patent lists the multilayer display inventor as Peter Mahowald, who has been listed as the inventor or co-inventor on numerous Apple patents, including one for real-time feedback on karaoke.
Apple files for iCloud trademark in Europe
Apple files for iCloud trademark in Europe
The day Apple chose toout the nameof its new cloud services platform, "iCloud," a trademark filing with the same name appeared in the European trademark office.Spotted by Patently Apple this morning, Apple yesterday filed for the trademark rights to iCloud with the Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union.While there's no logo to go along with the filing, there are inklings as to Apple's plans in the trademark filing's list of the various classifications including one for "electronic storage of data, text, images, audio, and video; storage services for archiving electronic data; information and consultation in connection therewith."Then again, that could describe e-mail, YouTube, and Apple's existing MobileMe services.In the U.S., there are currently two records for the iCloud trademark, one of which is registered to Sweden-based Xcerion, the company that reportedly sold iCloud.com to Apple for $4.5 million back in April. The other, which was filed for early last month by Douglas D. Baker, deals with computer software for mobile phones, as well as the storage and archiving of electronic media. Apple is a well-known trademark hound,fiercely defending its names. The company is currently engaged in a legal battle with multiple fronts over gaining the rights to trademark "App Store" from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The company has already grabbed "App Store" and "Appstore" in Europe. Companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Sony Ericsson, HTC, and Nokiahave joined forces to fight Apple, saying the term is too generic. Apple said yesterday that it will take the wraps off iCloud at its Worldwide Developers Conference, which kicks off on Monday. There the company also plans to talk about iOS 5 and the next version of Mac OS X dubbed "Lion."
The day Apple chose toout the nameof its new cloud services platform, "iCloud," a trademark filing with the same name appeared in the European trademark office.Spotted by Patently Apple this morning, Apple yesterday filed for the trademark rights to iCloud with the Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union.While there's no logo to go along with the filing, there are inklings as to Apple's plans in the trademark filing's list of the various classifications including one for "electronic storage of data, text, images, audio, and video; storage services for archiving electronic data; information and consultation in connection therewith."Then again, that could describe e-mail, YouTube, and Apple's existing MobileMe services.In the U.S., there are currently two records for the iCloud trademark, one of which is registered to Sweden-based Xcerion, the company that reportedly sold iCloud.com to Apple for $4.5 million back in April. The other, which was filed for early last month by Douglas D. Baker, deals with computer software for mobile phones, as well as the storage and archiving of electronic media. Apple is a well-known trademark hound,fiercely defending its names. The company is currently engaged in a legal battle with multiple fronts over gaining the rights to trademark "App Store" from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The company has already grabbed "App Store" and "Appstore" in Europe. Companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Sony Ericsson, HTC, and Nokiahave joined forces to fight Apple, saying the term is too generic. Apple said yesterday that it will take the wraps off iCloud at its Worldwide Developers Conference, which kicks off on Monday. There the company also plans to talk about iOS 5 and the next version of Mac OS X dubbed "Lion."
Apple fights back at in-app freebie exploit
Apple fights back at in-app freebie exploit
Apple is not too pleased with Russian hacker Alexey V. Borodin, and a hack he developed that allows iDevice owners to install in-app goods without paying for them.According to The Next Web, Apple over the weekend blocked the IP addresses of the server Borodin used to facilitate the hack. In addition, the company issued a takedown request to his server's hosting provider. Apple even requested that the video Borodin posted showing his technique in action be removed from YouTube due to a copyright violation.Borodin last week surfaced with an exploit that re-routes in-app purchase requests away from Apple or a developer's secured server to one that pretends to come from the iPhone maker. That fake server gives the request the go-ahead to deliver the in-app purchase without having customers pay for a virtual good.For iDevice owners, the barriers to taking advantage of the flaw aren't so high. According to Borodin, users must only install two special security certificates and make purchases over Wi-Fi with modified DNS settings. Borodin told The Next Web last week that at that time, more than 30,000 in-app "purchases" had been made through his service.Apple quickly responded, telling CNET that it was "investigating" the matter and reassured its developers that it takes "reports of fraudulent activity very seriously."Despite those best efforts, the exploit is still in the wild, according to The Next Web. Borodin told The Next Web that he has moved to a new server that's hosted in an "offshore country," and not in Russia, where his previous server was. In addition, he has improved the exploit so it no longer relies upon the App Store for authorization processes, making it more difficult for Apple to stop him.The potential impact on Apple and its developers is quite real. In-app purchasing is becoming an increasingly important revenue-generator for developers, and a source of extra cash for Apple: the iPhone maker takes 30 percent of all revenue generated from in-app purchases.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on Borodin's claims. We will update this story when we have more information.
Apple is not too pleased with Russian hacker Alexey V. Borodin, and a hack he developed that allows iDevice owners to install in-app goods without paying for them.According to The Next Web, Apple over the weekend blocked the IP addresses of the server Borodin used to facilitate the hack. In addition, the company issued a takedown request to his server's hosting provider. Apple even requested that the video Borodin posted showing his technique in action be removed from YouTube due to a copyright violation.Borodin last week surfaced with an exploit that re-routes in-app purchase requests away from Apple or a developer's secured server to one that pretends to come from the iPhone maker. That fake server gives the request the go-ahead to deliver the in-app purchase without having customers pay for a virtual good.For iDevice owners, the barriers to taking advantage of the flaw aren't so high. According to Borodin, users must only install two special security certificates and make purchases over Wi-Fi with modified DNS settings. Borodin told The Next Web last week that at that time, more than 30,000 in-app "purchases" had been made through his service.Apple quickly responded, telling CNET that it was "investigating" the matter and reassured its developers that it takes "reports of fraudulent activity very seriously."Despite those best efforts, the exploit is still in the wild, according to The Next Web. Borodin told The Next Web that he has moved to a new server that's hosted in an "offshore country," and not in Russia, where his previous server was. In addition, he has improved the exploit so it no longer relies upon the App Store for authorization processes, making it more difficult for Apple to stop him.The potential impact on Apple and its developers is quite real. In-app purchasing is becoming an increasingly important revenue-generator for developers, and a source of extra cash for Apple: the iPhone maker takes 30 percent of all revenue generated from in-app purchases.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on Borodin's claims. We will update this story when we have more information.
Apple fan buys iPhone 6, promptly drops it
Apple fan buys iPhone 6, promptly drops it
For Apple fans who wait in line for hours, if not days, to buy a new iPhone, there's no greater fear than dropping the prized possession they waited so long for. But that's exactly what happened to one man in Australia.Early on Friday, Jack Cooksey was first in line at an Apple store in Perth, Western Australia. After the doors opened and he purchased an iPhone 6, he ecstatically showed it off to a local news channel. During the interview, Cooksey appeared to have some trouble opening the iPhone 6 box.As he popped off the top -- perhaps getting a little too excited to see Apple's latest iPhone -- the brand new iPhone 6 fell to the pavement below.For a moment, there was a gasp (and laughter) in the crowd surrounding Cooksey. Quick on his feet, he bent down, picked up the handset and discovered, much to his relief, that it survived the scary fall. Related storiesApple iPhone 6 goes on sale around the worldSee inside the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with new teardownPhone 6 review: The iPhone grows upiPhone 6 Plus review: Most serious Apple smartphone yetThe entire event, which was caught on live television, was likely one of the first iPhone 6 drops in the world. Thanks to Australia's time zone, Apple fans in the country are some of the first in the world able to get their hands on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.The comedic drop was set against the backdrop of what could be one of the biggest iPhone launches in Apple's history. Apple announced the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus at an event on September 9. Last Friday, the company kicked off preorders of the two iPhones and sold 4 million units in the first 24 hours, setting a new preorder record.Apple stores opened at 8 a.m. local time around the world on Friday.Other retailers and carrier stores are also carrying the devices. It's expected that stock will be tight.
For Apple fans who wait in line for hours, if not days, to buy a new iPhone, there's no greater fear than dropping the prized possession they waited so long for. But that's exactly what happened to one man in Australia.Early on Friday, Jack Cooksey was first in line at an Apple store in Perth, Western Australia. After the doors opened and he purchased an iPhone 6, he ecstatically showed it off to a local news channel. During the interview, Cooksey appeared to have some trouble opening the iPhone 6 box.As he popped off the top -- perhaps getting a little too excited to see Apple's latest iPhone -- the brand new iPhone 6 fell to the pavement below.For a moment, there was a gasp (and laughter) in the crowd surrounding Cooksey. Quick on his feet, he bent down, picked up the handset and discovered, much to his relief, that it survived the scary fall. Related storiesApple iPhone 6 goes on sale around the worldSee inside the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with new teardownPhone 6 review: The iPhone grows upiPhone 6 Plus review: Most serious Apple smartphone yetThe entire event, which was caught on live television, was likely one of the first iPhone 6 drops in the world. Thanks to Australia's time zone, Apple fans in the country are some of the first in the world able to get their hands on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.The comedic drop was set against the backdrop of what could be one of the biggest iPhone launches in Apple's history. Apple announced the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus at an event on September 9. Last Friday, the company kicked off preorders of the two iPhones and sold 4 million units in the first 24 hours, setting a new preorder record.Apple stores opened at 8 a.m. local time around the world on Friday.Other retailers and carrier stores are also carrying the devices. It's expected that stock will be tight.
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