As part of a new July promotion, Target is offering Target gift cards with the purchase of any iOS device, including the iPad Air, the Retina iPad mini, the 32 GB iPod touch, and the iPhone 5s/5c.
Customers who purchase a $499 iPad Air or a $399 Retina iPad mini in any storage capacity (WiFi and WiFi + Cellular) will receive a $100 gift card, while those who buy a $249 32 GB iPod touch will receive a $30 gift card.
Target has discounted its 16 GB iPhone 5c to $30 and its 16 GB iPhone 5s to $100, and is also offering a $20 Target gift card on top of the discount.
Target customers can also get an additional five percent off of their purchases when using the Target REDCard. Target's gift card with purchase deal will last through July 12.
The Wall Street Journal has released a new profile of Apple under Tim Cook, highlighting the changes the CEO has made to the company following the long and famous reign of Steve Jobs. While most of this information was previously known, it is a solid overview of the changes Cook has introduced to Apple and it does give a few new details on Cook's plans.
Described as a "kinder, gentler" workplace, Apple under Tim Cook has a new focus on deep collaboration between employees. Cook is said to be less involved in product development and more willing to delegate tasks to employees, expanding the roles of several executives and giving design chief Jonathan Ive more control over product development. He's also made major moves like acquiring Beats and hiring high-profile executives like Angela Ahrendts, and he's also said to be working on adding new board members.
According to people familiar with the company, Mr. Cook is actively seeking new directors to add to Apple's eight-person board, known for its loyalty to Mr. Jobs. Six of the seven outside directors are aged 63 or older. Four of them have served for more than a decade, including two who have been on the board since the late 1990s: former Intuit Corp. Chief Executive Bill Campbell and J. Crew Group Inc. Chief Executive Millard S. "Mickey" Drexler.
Cook is labeled as more of a manager and less of a visionary, causing current and former Apple employees to worry that without Steve Jobs, Apple is losing its "frenetic pace and focus" on new products. Employees also worry that the company may be working on too many projects at once.
Under Mr. Cook, current and former employees say Apple may be spreading itself too thin, pursuing too many ideas and compromising the "laser focus" that Mr. Jobs used to create the iMac, iPhone and iPad.
"It was Steve's job to say no," one of these people said. "Tim is not as comfortable doing that."
The Wall Street Journal's full report has a much more detailed comparison of Cook and Jobs and it offers insight on other changes Cook has brought to the company, including lessening its impact on the environment and pledging to match employee charity donations.
Apple today released the third beta of iOS 8, which brings a number of improvements, changes, and bug fixes to the beta software that was first introduced on June 2.
iOS 8 beta 3 also includes several minor interface tweaks and modifications that make the beta feel both faster and more polished. We've gathered up a comprehensive list of the enhancements that have been bundled into the release below, and to find out about all of the under-the-radar tweaks in iOS 8, make sure to check out our iOS 8 Hidden Features Roundup.
Find My Friends - iOS 8 beta 3 includes a new beta version of the Find My Friends and Find My iPhone apps. According to the release notes, Find My Friends allows users to move their friends list to an iCloud account if necessary.
iCloud Drive - There's a new popup window in beta 3 giving users the option to upgrade to iCloud Drive. Introduced at WWDC, iCloud Drive lets users store any type of file. Though iCloud Drive can be turned on, it does not appear to be fully functional at this time.
iCloud Drive Settings - There's a new section for iCloud Drive settings within the iCloud portion of the Settings app.
Handoff - There's a new Handoff setting in the General menu of the Settings app that allows users to toggle Handoff on and off. Handoff allows users to seamlessly transfer tasks between iOS and OS X.
QuickType Keyboard - There's a new option in the Keyboards section of the General menu in the Settings app that lets users toggle QuickType on and off.
Wallpapers - iOS 8 beta 3 includes a new white/gray gradient wallpaper option.
Weather - Some minor changes have been made to the way information is displayed within the Weather app.
New interface on the left, previous interface on the right.
App Analytics - After installing the beta, there's a new option to opt into App Analytics. Users can choose to share crash data with app developers along with statistics about how apps are used.
Photos - In the Photos app, Shared Photo Streams have been renamed Shared Albums. Events and albums from Aperture are now available again in the Photos app as well, and there's a new indicator for the amount of time left before Recently Deleted photos are permanently removed.
Messages - In the Settings menu for Messages, there's a new option to automatically keep audio and video messages. Normally, these messages are deleted after a short period of time to save space.
WiFi Calling - T-Mobile users with iOS 8 beta 3 can now access WiFi calling. WiFi calling lets users make phone calls over WiFi instead of using a Cellular connection. WiFi calling can be enabled in the Phone section of the Settings app and requires users to enter an emergency address.
Custom Keyboards - Developers are now able to move the cursor location with a custom keyboard in iOS 8 beta 3.
Additional features in iOS 8 beta 3 will be added here as they are discovered. Apple is likely to continue pushing regular updates to iOS 8 at two or three-week intervals to bring minor performance boosts and changes ahead of the operating system's launch. iOS 8 is expected to be released to the public in the fall. For more information on iOS 8's features, major and minor, make sure to check out our roundups.
The update, build 14A283o, can be downloaded from the Mac App Store or the Mac Dev Center.
OS X Yosemite brings a flatter, more modern look to OS X, with an emphasis on translucency and redesigned dock, windows, and more. It also includes a multitude of new features, such as improved integration with iOS 8 through Continuity, a new "Today" view in Notification Center that offers integration with third-party apps, a retooled Spotlight search with new data sources, and several new features for apps like Mail, Safari, and Messages.
Ahead of today's new beta release, Apple announced plans to wipe all CloudKit data for the iOS and Yosemite betas, including data from iCloud Drive, iCloud Photo Library, and Mail Drop.
OS X Yosemite is currently only available to developers, but Apple plans to offer a beta version of the software to Mac users at some point during the summer. A public release of OS X Yosemite is expected in the fall, after several additional beta iterations.
New Features:
Dark Mode - First previewed during WWDC, Dark Mode is now officially available as of the third developer preview of Yosemite. Previously, Dark Mode could only be enabled via terminal command.
Interface tweaks - System Preferences, Mail, and iCloud Preferences have all seen some interface tweaks in DP3 as noted by 9to5Mac. There are also larger App Icons for Notifications and a new font in the Notification Center/Safari Favorites Bar.
QuickTime - QuickTime has an updated icon.
Settings - Apple appears to have removed the Continuity/AirDrop settings from the System Report in Developer Preview 3. Previously, these settings let users know if Continuity and AirDrop were accessible on their machines. Apple also removed an "Allow Handoff between this Mac and Your iCloud devices" toggle from System Preferences on some machines.
Apple today released the third beta of iOS 8 to developers, three weeks after releasing the second beta update and more than a month since unveiling the new operating system at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
The update, build number 12A4318c, is available through Apple's over-the-air updating system on iOS devices and can also be downloaded via the iOS Dev Center. Apple has also released a new beta version of Find My iPhone, a brand new iOS 8 version of Find My Friends, a new Apple TV beta, Xcode 6 beta 3, and updates to Swift, the programming language the company introduced at WWDC.
iOS 8 introduces a range of new features, including improved integration with OS X through Continuity, a Health app, Family Sharing features, interactive notifications, a new QuickType Keyboard and improvements to several apps like Safari, Mail, and Messages.
The third iOS 8 beta includes several tweaks to the operating system, like new options for iCloud Drive, a new Settings toggle for Handoff, and a new option to enable or disable QuickType. There's also been some changes to the look of the weather app and a few new simple wallpapers. For a full list of the changes to iOS 8 in beta 3, make sure to check out our Beta 3 Tidbits post.
A June report suggested iOS 8 beta 3 would be released on Tuesday, July 8, but it appears the beta has come a day early. Today's update comes just after Apple announced plans to wipe all CloudKit data for the iOS and Yosemite betas, including data from iCloud Drive, iCloud Photo Library, and Mail Drop.
iOS 8 is currently only available to developers, but it is expected to be released to the public this fall after several beta iterations. Based on past history, iOS 8 will likely be launched alongside new iPhones, and possibly the much-rumored iWatch.
A growing number of iOS and OS X owners are reporting a glitch that displays the holidays from the wrong country in the default system calendar app. As noted by one MacRumors reader in Ireland, holidays like the pro-UK Battle of the Boyne are now showing on his iPhone calendar.
This glitch also was documented by Edgardas Balsevičius, who shows in the video below that his iPad is set to Lithuania for its region, but the default holiday calendar is set to other countries, including Mexico, Hong Kong, and Canada. This mismatch between location and calendar is not observed when the region is set to the USA, UK or Russia.
This glitch was reported over the weekend and is present on iOS devices, including an iPhone 5s and an iPad Air, running iOS 7.1.x. Apple support has allegedly confirmed to Balsevičius that this is a known software issue that will be addressed in the next update.
While most reports involve iOS 7.1, a few OS X owners have reported a similar problem with OS 10.9.x that also started in the past week. These users also state that the default holiday calendar now displays events from the incorrect region, with one user on Apple Support forums noting that switching the default currency back to the local designation seems to fix the issue.
Frequent iOS device part leaker Sonny Dickson has shared a new video of what appears to be the previously seen iPhone 6 front panel being subjected to a limited bending stress test. The panel survives the testing, but is not subjected to extreme bending in the brief video.
The title of Dickson's video mentions sapphire, but there does not appear to be any confirmation that the part is indeed made of the material. The iPhone 6 has been rumored to be adopting a sapphire crystal display cover for increased durability and scratch resistance, but none of the front panel part leaked seen so far have been confirmed to be made of sapphire.
Apple currently uses Corning's Gorilla Glass as the iPhone display cover, and Corning has argued that Gorilla Glass offers a number of benefits over sapphire, including better resistance to breakage. Some rumors have suggested that sapphire may only used on the 5.5-inch iPhone 6, so the smaller 4.7-inch model may still include a Gorilla Glass display.
Update 8:18 AM: Dickson has now posted the remainder of the video showing hands-on measurements of the part and comparison to the iPhone 5s.
A recent survey suggests consumers are looking forward to improved battery life as well as a bigger screen in the iPhone 6. But according to Chinese media reports (via GforGames), Apple's next-generation iPhone may disappoint with a lower-than-expected battery capacity that will provide only a slight boost from the battery used in the iPhone 5s.
Chinese media sources claim the 4.7-inch version of the iPhone 6 will ship with a battery between 1,800 and 1,900 mAh, while the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 will include a 2,500 mAh battery. Though larger than the 1,560 mAh battery in the iPhone 5s, these modest capacity increases place Apple behind competitors with similar sized handsets, and leave some wondering if Apple is keeping the battery too small in order to design an ultra-slim device. The larger screens on the iPhone 6 will naturally create more volume for larger batteries while maintaining a slim profile, but the displays themselves are likely to require increased battery to support the higher resolutions.
Of course, these rumored battery capacities for the iPhone provide only part of the equation, with Apple's tight software-hardware integration also contributing to overall battery life. It is also possible that real-world battery life may be better than these speculated hardware specs imply due to underlying performance improvements added to iOS 8.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 6 during a September media event. The company may debut both a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch version that could feature a faster A8 processor, an upgraded Touch ID scanner and an improved camera with some form of image stabilization.
Quirky today released a major update its Wink smart home app, enabling the app to now work with a number of smart appliances and products from companies such as Dropcam, Honeywell, Leviton, Schlage, Philips, and more.
In addition extended product support, the app also contains a streamlined interface that allows users to schedule and monitor devices, create shortcuts, and automate tasks with multiple devices. Quirky notes that while many smart appliances simply require a direct pairing with the app, others require the new Wink Connected Home Hub, which is available today from Amazon and Home Depot for $49.99.
The updated Wink app also works with GE's line of "Link" smart LED light bulbs, which were announced last month and developed in collaboration with Quirky. For $49, customers can purchase a Link starter kit that comes with two smart light bulbs and a link hub, while individual bulbs start at $15.
2014 has seen the launch of a number of smart home products, with many coming from a number of well-known manufacturers including Chamberlain, Haier, iHome, Osram Sylvania, and Withings among others. Last month, Apple announced its new HomeKit initiative, which allows products and their corresponding apps to work with iOS using a single, secure protocol. Apple is also said to be working on smart home products for HomeKit, which could debut later this year.
Wink is a free app for iOS devices and can be downloaded through the App Store. [Direct Link]
At a recent shareholder meeting, Foxconn CEO Terry Gou announced that the company will soon deploy robots to help assemble devices, noting that Apple will be the first company to use the service, reportsIT Home (Google Translate, via GSMDome).
Named "Foxbots", each robot will be able to assemble an average of 30,000 devices and costs anywhere from $20,000 to $25,000 to make. Gou stated that the assembly devices are undergoing their final testing phase, as Foxconn plans to deploy 10,000 robots to its factories.
Foxconn has been Apple's longtime primary partner in assembling its iPhones, iPads, and iPods. In 2011, it was reported that Foxconn would be replacing a portion of its workers with 1 million robots, although it was not clear at the time how many jobs would be replaced by the robots.
As a part of its 2013 10-K annual report last year, Apple also revealed that it was investing a record $10.5 billion on advanced supply chain technology, with some of that investment going towards advanced machinery including assembly robots. A report earlier this year noted that Apple would be moving production of iPhone batteries to automated lines, allowing suppliers to reduce manpower demand and shift resources towards production efforts on other parts.
Foxconn has recently ramped up its production efforts ahead of the launch of Apple's iPhone 6 this fall, with the company bringing on 100,000 new workers to help assemble the iPhone 6. Production of the new device is reportedly set to ramp up next month ahead of a launch around September. The iPhone 6 is expected to come in two sizes of 4.7-inches and 5.5-inches, and feature a thinner profile, an improved camera, a faster A8 processor, and more.
Apple and Google have been ordered by South Korea's Fair Trade Commission to revise their "no-refund" app store policies in addition to a number of other provisions, reportsThe Korea Herald. In response to the ruling, Apple reportedly stated that it would consider applying a revised App Store policy worldwide, with Korean officials requiring that Apple send a notice users when its terms and conditions have changed.
Following the FTC orders, the Google Play webstore will design a customer refund system based on Web developers’ refund polices. Apple’s iTunes app store will have to send a notice to users when it changes the terms in its contract.
"We expect the measure, aimed at protecting consumers, will have a ripple effect on similar cases throughout the world," the Korea Fair Trade Commission said in a press release.
In 2011, the Taiwanese government also pressured Apple and Google to modify their app store policies, with Apple enabling a 7-day refund period. However, it was unclear at the time what changes were made by Apple in order to comply with the law, as the company may have simply addressed it by granting refunds upon request.
Under the current policy, Apple does not offer an automatic way to get refunds for apps. However, refunds have been made available on a case by case basis, as users are able to "Report a Problem" on their purchases to go through iTunes Support. In May, Apple began preventing updates and reinstallation of refunded App Store apps, which was also extended to the Mac App Store.
Apple has notified developers of plans for a server-side data wipe on CloudKit public and private databases for both the beta versions iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite. The wipe, which will take place on Monday, July 7, will erase data for iCloud Drive, iCloud Photo Library, and Mail Drop.
The wipe comes just a day ahead of the rumored launch date of iOS 8 beta 3 and also the likely launch date of the third Yosemite Developer Preview. Apple commonly seeds early versions of its iOS beta operating systems on roughly two-week intervals, moving on to three-week intervals later in the testing period. OS X beta updates have followed a similar update pattern in the past as well.
Apple's second iOS 8 and Yosemite betas came approximately two weeks after the software was first provided to developers at the Worldwide Developers Conference, and it has now been three weeks since those updates were seeded.
Both iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite are expected to be released to the public in the fall, after an extended beta testing period.
Last year, the company behind the popular Twine Kickstarter project launched a new iOS-enabled food thermometer called Range. That thermometer raised more than $175,000 and now the team is back for more.
While not in time for this year's Summer grilling season, Supermechanical has launched a new, an upgraded version of the Range on Kickstarter. The new Range Oven/Grill Intelligence adds Bluetooth LE wireless connectivity as well as a magnetic storage unit that acts as the thermometer's base. The old Range needed to be physically connected to an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, but with the new wireless version, users won't need to leave their iPad sitting next to the oven or outside by the grill.
The magnetic base of the Range OI includes additional temperature and vibration sensors -- it's designed to be attached to the front of an oven, detecting when the oven is in use, when it's preheating and when it's on normally. It runs for a year on a single AA battery and the thermometer can measure from -40F to 450F (-40C to 230C).
There are three Range OI models available:
Oven Intelligence ($98) - including a 3" sharp thermometer Chef Intelligence ($129) - including both a 3" sharp thermometer and a 6" round thermometer designed for candy making, home brewing and other needs, and both thermometers can be used simultaneously. Grill Intelligence ($160) - including a 3" sharp thermometer and an ambient temperature probe for slow cooking and smoking, as well as an upgraded fiberglass cable for durability even in direct flame.
The OI wirelessly connects to iOS and Android smartphone and tablets, as well as the Pebble smart watch. There are bundles available to purchase multiple versions of the Range OI as well as higher Kickstarter levels that include priority shipping or special grilling aprons. Shipping is anticipated to begin next Spring.
The Kickstarter campaign has raised more than $80,000 with a goal of $250,000 with just over two weeks to go.
Apple appears to have made another important iWatch-related hire as the device's rumored debut approaches, with CNBC reporting that the company has poached the sales director of luxury watch brand TAG Heuer.
The hiring was revealed by Jean-Claude Biver, head of Jewelry and Watches at TAG Heuer's parent company LVMH. Biver had claimed earlier this year that Apple had been trying to hire some of his employees but at that point none of them had agreed to join Apple.
Biver said the watchmaker's sales director left as recently as last week, "to take a contract with Apple" in order to launch the iWatch. LVMH owns Swiss watchmakers TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith. [...]
Biver said he was happy for the employee as the new role represents a great opportunity for him.
"If it had been a direct competitor, I would have felt a bit betrayed, but if he goes to Apple I think it is a great experience for him," he said.
Sixth-generation iPod nano in watch mode
With Apple reportedly looking toward an October introduction for the iWatch, the company is building a formidable team with experience in the fashion industry.
At the top of that list is new retail chief Angela Ahrendts, who officially joined the company two months ago from Burberry. In another high-profile move, Apple last year hired Paul Deneve, CEO of French luxury label Yves Saint Laurent. Deneve reports directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook and is working on "special projects" for the company, with most speculation centering around the iWatch.
Update: TAG Heuer confirmed to MacRumors that Patrick Pruniaux is the employee who left for Apple. Pruniaux's former position was Vice President Global Sales & Retail.
Rumors and past release date info have thus far pointed towards a September launch date for the iPhone 6, which has now been confirmed by a reliable source that spoke to MacRumors.
Mass shipments of the iPhone 6 from China to the United States are expected to occur during the last two weeks of August and it is likely that Apple will announce the iPhone 6 during the first or second weeks of September. The first deliveries of the device will come later in the month on a corresponding Friday, roughly a week and a half after the event.
An early September event is in line with previous rumors and with the event dates of the last two iPhone generations. The iPhone 5 was announced on Wednesday, September 12 with availability occurring on September 21 and the iPhone 5s/5c was announced on Tuesday, September 10 with availability starting on September 20.
It remains unknown if the September iPhone 6 event will include just the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 or both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch variations. Early rumors pointed towards production issues that might delay the launch of the larger phone, but those problems appear to be solved and a recent rumor from Bloomberg has suggested both devices could launch at the same time.
A report from earlier today pointed towards a September 25 launch date for the iPhone 6, but Apple typically releases the iPhone on a Friday, making this prediction unlikely. September 12, 19, and 26 are all probable launch dates for the iPhone 6, based on production speed and available inventory.
Apple's iPhone 6 is expected to include a larger display size along with a thinner iPod-touch style design, an A8 processor, and camera improvements. The 5.5-inch iPhone has thus far been positioned as the premium version and may include upgrades like optical image stabilization and a larger storage capacity, with a $100 price premium.
There are some solid deals on Apple-related software and accessories this week due to the Fourth of July holiday in the United States, as well as some decent discounts on the iMac, MacBook Air, and Retina MacBook Pro.
iMac
Best Buy is running a four-day 4th of July sale offering $120 off of Apple's entire lineup of iMacs. This drops the price of the new entry level 1.4Ghz iMac to $979.99. Similarly, B&H Photo is also offering the new iMac for $979.99. Best Buy's educational discounts are still ongoing, offering an additional $150 off the iMac or any other Mac, making it the best choice for students with an .EDU email address.
While Best Buy is also offering discounts on the rest of Apple's iMacs, there are better deals to be had from both Adorama and B&H Photo. The older 2.7 Ghz 21.5-inch iMac is available for $1,149.99from Adorama, a discount of nearly $150. The 2.9 Ghz 21.5-inch iMac is available for $1,349.99 from both B&H Photo and Adorama. The lower-end 27-inch iMac is available for $1,659.99 from B&H Photo and Adorama, while the higher-end model is available from B&H Photo and Adorama for $1,879.99.
MacBook Air
There are also good deals on the current-generation MacBook Air, which was updated in April. The higher-end 11.6-inch model is available for $999 from Adorama and B&H Photo, a discount of $100. Adorama is offering the lower-end 13.3-inch model for $899, also $100 off. Finally, Amazon, Adorama, and B&H Photo are all selling the higher-end 13.3-inch MacBook Air for $100 off at $1099.99.
Retina MacBook Pro
As for the Retina MacBook Pro, several retailers are offering $100 to $150 off most models. The 13-inch RMBP with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is $1,399 at Amazon, Adorama, and B&H Photo. The lower-end 15-inch RMBP with 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage is $1,849.99 at Amazon, Adorama, and B&H Photo, while the higher-end model with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage is $2,449 at Amazon, Adorama, and B&H Photo.
Buying from Adorama and B&H Photo gives the benefit of no sales tax in many states, as these two stores only charge tax in New York/New Jersey and New York, respectively.
Accessories
As for accessories, Speck Candyshell cases for the iPhone 5 and 5s are available half off at $17.99through Groupon, while Otterbox Defender cases are available for $14.99, a discount of $34. Select CaseMate cases are on sale as well for $6.99 to $12.99, as is the LifeProof nüüd case for the iPad mini ($39.99).
Before making a purchase of a Mac or iOS device, make sure to consult our Buyer's Guide to find out if it's a good time to buy. For example, because the MacBook Air was updated in April, the Buyer's Guide indicates that now is a good time to purchase.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
Samsung today released a new ad for its Galaxy S5 smartphone, which mocks the iPhone for having both an unchangeable battery and a short battery life. The ad depicts forlorn iPhone users sitting along walls in an airport as they charge their iOS devices, while Galaxy S5 users eschew battery charging with Samsung's power saving mode and the Galaxy S5's replaceable battery.
"There they are. Clustered around power outlets, near the recycling bins, stained carpeting, and bathrooms. Tethered to the wall. Denied the freedom to enjoy even the most basic things, like grabbing a drink, or sharing a laugh with your co-workers. Or sitting with someone you know. You're stuck here until your battery says so."
An iPhone user charging his battery looks up enviously at a Samsung user, asking "Are you changing your battery? Is that the new Samsung?" While another Samsung user turns on power saving mode to save battery. "Don't be a wall hugger," says the ad.
Unveiled in February, Samsung's 5.1-inch Galaxy S5 is its newest flagship device, with a fingerprint sensor, a water resistant casing, and a heart rate sensor. One of the device's most highly-touted features is an Ultra Power Saving Mode, which activates a black and white display with limited app access when the phone's battery is low.
In power saving mode, users only have access to basic phone functions, such as making and receiving calls, accessing email, and browsing the web. It limits cellular connectivity to 3G, turning off LTE, and it also disables WiFi and Bluetooth. According to Samsung, this provides an additional 24 hours of standby time with less than 10 percent of battery left.
Apple does not have a similar power saving feature on the iPhone, nor does it have a removable battery like the Galaxy S5, but users do have quick access to settings like WiFi and Bluetooth, along with options to disable battery draining features like background app usage and location services. iOS 8 also adds a function that lets users see which apps are draining the most battery.
Samsung often turns to iPhone bashing to promote its Galaxy line of smartphones, with its most well-known commercial series depicting iPhone owners waiting in long lines for new iPhones while enviously eyeing Samsung devices.
Apple continues to be the number one handset manufacturer among consumers in the United States and has also made small gains in operating system share, according to ComScore's newest monthly survey of U.S. mobile phone users covering the February-May 2014 period.
Apple's smartphone market share increased from 41.3 percent in February to 41.9 percent in May, allowing Apple to retain its position as the top handset manufacturer. Samsung also made small gains over the period, rising to 27.8 percent share. LG, Motorola, and HTC's share fell slightly.
While Apple is the top handset maker, iOS has always fallen behind Android when it comes to operating system share, given the large number of Android-based phones on the market. Apple did make small gains during the period, however, rising to a new all time high of 41.9 percent, up from 41.3 percent in February. Android, in comparison, remained flat with a 52.1 percent share.
iOS continues to be the only platform to gain ground as Microsoft also experienced no growth and BlackBerry and Symbian each saw small drops in share.
ComScore's data tracks installed user base rather than new handset sales, which means it is more reflective of real-world usage but slower to respond to shifting market trends than some other studies.
The 
A recent survey suggests consumers 
Apple and Google have been ordered by South Korea's Fair Trade Commission to revise their "no-refund" app store policies in addition to a number of other provisions, 
