Apple has begun limiting access to the iWork for iCloud beta for some users due to an "overhwhelming response", notes 9to5Mac. The company launched the beta to developers at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June before starting to invite non-developers in batches last month. Apple opened up access for all users last Friday, with that influx apparently pushing the service's current limits.
Sorry...
We've had an overwhelming response to Numbers for iCloud beta. Please check back soon.
In the meantime, you can continue to store your spreadsheets in iCloud.
iWork for iCloud is a browser-based implementation of Apple's iWork suite of productivity apps: Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. The service will work with Safari, Chrome and Internet Explorer, offering a native-like experience on machines and platforms that do not or can not have the full iWork apps installed.
Kazuto Tsubouchi, CEO of Japan’s biggest wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo, said Monday in an interview with Japanese business magazine Sankeibiz [Google Translate] (via Bloomberg) that there are “compelling reasons” for Apple and the wireless carrier to reach an agreement to sell the iPhone. The carrier, which has never sold Apple’s mobile device before, saw its stock price surge after the interview while shares of chief rivals Softbank and KDDI dropped.
Chief Financial Officer Kazuto Tsubouchi said there are compelling reasons for Apple and his company to reach an agreement, according to an interview published in SankeiBiz. For Apple, it doesn’t make business sense not to allow Japan’s largest wireless carrier to sell the iPhone, while DoCoMo wants to be able to sell most popular handsets, Sankei said.
No deal has been reached and the two companies may not be able to come to terms, Sankei reported.
Last week, prominent Japanese business newspaper Nikkeiclaimed that both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C would launch in Japan on September 20, which is also speculated to be the date for the first wave of launches for Apple’s new iPhone models. That report claimed, however, that only KDDI and Softbank would be in that wave, with DoCoMo remaining on the sidelines.
DoCoMo has been shedding customers to its rivals over the last few years as it has yet to launch the iPhone, with the carrier reportedly remaining firm in its demands to be able to preload its own apps and services on the device. Even with the losses, however, the carrier still holds over 40% of the Japanese mobile phone market.
Earlier this month, a report stated that talks between China Mobile and Apple have been “progressing smoothly”, and that both sides were optimistic about reaching a deal. China Mobile is by far the world’s biggest carrier and, like DoCoMo, does not presently carry the iPhone. Apple appears set to unveil its next-generation iPhones on September 10.
Sonny Dickson has posted new photos showing alleged parts from a "graphite" colored iPhone 5S, which could be a fourth color choice for the phone in addition to the expected black and white choices, as well as the all but confirmed "champagne" color option. The photos show the device from numerous angles with the back, front, and screen housing assembled, and also show it next to the champagne iPhone 5S and iPhone 5S screen assembly.
Up to this point, it has widely been thought that the iPhone 5S will only come in 3 colors: Gold, Slate, and white with silver trim. According to a new images we’ve obtained, however, it appears the iPhone 5S may also come in a 4th color – a grey or graphite color with a black trim.
Last week, Dickson also posted an expansive photo gallery highlighting numerous alleged iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C parts in addition to high-quality photos of the champagne color iPhone 5S.
Meanwhile, repair shop mendmyi has posted a comparison photo showing volume/power buttons and mute switches in the new graphite color, as well as champagne, next to slate and silver buttons from the iPhone 5. The shop claims that Apple may be planning to make graphite and gold the only two color options for the iPhone 5S, but several previous leaks have shown both slate and silver rear shells as seen for the iPhone 5.
Left to right: slate from iPhone 5, graphite from iPhone 5S, champagne from iPhone 5S, silver from iPhone 5
Determining the authenticity of various colors of parts is also difficult due to the prevalence of knockoff parts and anodization of legitimate parts. For example, early photos of a gold iPhone 5S rear shell appear to have been inaccurate, as several other part leaks since that time have shown the much more subtle champagne coloration expected to be available for the device.
Apple will reportedly unveil the next-generation iPhone on September 10, and will likely unveil not only the iPhone 5S but also the lower-cost plastic iPhone 5C. Both devices are also rumored to launch in the first wave of markets on September 20.
A new set of images that appear to show the rear shell for the rumored second-generation iPad mini have been posted by Sonny Dickson. Although no additional information was posted alongside the pictures, it unsurprisingly appears that the new iPad mini will have a form factor almost identical to the present model, confirming previous rumors that the upgrade will be mainly incremental in nature with the potential exception of a new Retina display.
The shell displays no information apart from the embedded Apple logo, which differs from the current model where the logo is printed directly onto the exterior of the case. The images are very similar to ones that leaked in early August, but it appears that the logo shown here may actually be silver instead what was thought to be black on the original photo set. Given the mirrored finish of the Apple logo on the iPad mini, it may appear silver or black from various viewing angles.
The new photos also unsurprisingly indicate that the second-generation iPad mini will be available in both Wi-Fi and cellular models, as this particular part includes the plastic strip at the top where the cellular antenna is housed.
The second-generation iPad mini is expected to feature a Retina display and launch during the fourth quarter of this year. Apple is also expected to release an updated full-size iPad around the same time, with the new iPad taking design cues from the iPad mini by including narrower side bezels and a thinner, more rounded shell.
The first two games in 2K Games’ popular series BioShock are currently on sale until September 3rd in the Mac App Store for $9.99, down from their usual standard price of $19.99. The discounts come before its sequel, BioShock Infinite, is set to be released on the Mac on August 29.
BioShock was originally released for the Mac in October 2009 and was added to the Mac App Store in January 2011 shortly after the store's launch, while BioShock 2 was released in March 2012 for the platform. Both games are set in the 1960s and take place in the fictional underwater dystopia of Rapture, with players using a combination of the environment, weapons, and powers such as plasmids and tonics. Both games were critically acclaimed upon release, and have won a number of awards.
BioShock Infinite was released earlier this year for gaming consoles and PCs, but was announced to come to the Mac at a later date through a collaboration between Aspyr Media, developer Irrational Games, and publisher 2K Games. Select pre-orders of the game through client GameAgent.com will also receive the "Columbia’s Finest" DLC as a free bonus, along with 20% off the purchase price. Mac Support for BioShock Infinite's second DLC “Clash in the Clouds” is also reportedly in the works.
Both BioShock and BioShock 2 can be downloaded from the Mac App Store through the following links:
The next-generation A7 processor in the iPhone 5S will be roughly 31 percent faster than the current A6, according to a tweet by Fox News' Clayton Morris. His sources have also mentioned a "separate chip devoted to motion tracking".
It's unclear how Apple would use motion tracking abilities, but it could be developing a new control scheme that uses motion gestures like Samsung has built into its Galaxy S series of smartphones. A profile of Jony Ive by Bloomberg earlier this year may support this hypothesis:
Longer term, Ive also has shown interest in altering how people control their computers. He has met with makers of gesture technology that lets people navigate their gadgets by moving their hands -- without touching the screen, said a personal familiar with those interactions.
Main A-series chip from prototype iPhone 5S
Separately, 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman writes that Apple has been testing 64-bit prototypes of the A7 chip, potentially for use in the iPhone 5S.
We’ve independently heard claims that some of the iPhone 5S internal prototypes include 64-bit processors.
It’s unclear if 64-bit will make the cut, but it’s been in testing. We’re told that the 64-bit processing will make animations, transparencies, and other iOS 7 graphical effects appear much more smoothly than on existing iOS Devices…
Last September, semiconductor analyst Linley Gwennap claimed that Apple was working on a 64-bit ARMv8 solution for launch in 2014, and Apple may simply be testing future processor architectures in iPhone 5S prototype units. That report claimed the logical upgrade for the A7 would be a quad-core architecture and continued increases in graphics capabilities.
Previous leaks have shown an A7 chip -- pictured above -- with an Apple model number of APL0698, while the original A6 had a model number of APL0598. The A6X found in the fourth-generation iPad carries an APL5598 model number, demonstrating how Apple varies the first digit for members of a given A-series family and increments the second digit when transitioning to a new family.
Engadget discovered, according to the original poster's Sina Weibo profile, that the shot was taken at a Pegatron plant in Shanghai, China and that she apparently joined Pegatron's quality control department in mid-July.
According to her posts, the cheeky employee -- or more likely an ex-employee at this point -- in question joined the company's quality control department around mid-July. In an earlier comment, she also hinted that her plant is responsible for the latest Mac mini as well. The above photo was published yesterday, and it only came with the following caption:
"The low-end iPhone 5C to be launched for Chinese consumers in September doesn't look much different than the Xiaomi Phone 2, right?"
Developer Neven Mrgn, one half of The Incident developer Big Bucket Games, has released his new text-based dystopian sci-fi game, Blackbar.
The game, which was co-developed by James Moore of Panic, has similar traits to old text-based adventure games and interactive fiction. Players will become Vi, deciphering a series of letters from Kenty, an employee of the fictional Department of Communication. Letters are filled with blacked out words that must be filled in to progress through the game, eventually leading to a larger conspiracy.
Blackbar is a text game: a sci-fi story of a dystopian future told through the medium of word puzzles. Reminiscent of text adventures and interactive fiction, it has a unique mechanic centered around the concept of censorship. Censorship is frustrating, but the human spirit can beat that frustration by turning it into a game.
You'll pick up and understand Blackbar instantly; however, its challenges will keep you searching, thinking, and trying for days.
Our sister site TouchArcade played Blackbar and thought it was a fun and "incredibly interesting" game:
I'm expecting many more twists and turns throughout the story, all based around deciphering the censorship you're being subjected to. It's incredibly interesting so far. As strange as it sounds, just trying to discover what the censored words are is actually really fun too.
AgileBits has released new details on 1Password 4 (via Macworld), the next major update to its popular password managing software 1Password. The forthcoming update, which follows the 1Password 4 update for iOS earlier this year, includes features such as iCloud syncing, the ability to tag items as favorites, and support for multiple accounts on a single website. New options and fields such as loyalty programs and drivers licenses are being added, and custom fields for login and data items will be supported.
1Password 4 also includes security features such as the ability to send information from the program between iOS and Mac through encrypted iMessage and emails, the ability to see duplicate passwords and passwords strengths, and a stability overhaul with the program’s browser extension being written in Cocoa to allow for unified compatibility on all major browsers.
1Password 4 is expected to be released this fall, and will be free to users who have already purchased 1Password 3 from the Mac App Store. Users who bought 1Password 3 through AgileBits website on or after January 1, 2013 will also receive the upgrade for free, while pricing for new customers is yet to be determined.
Apple is reportedly planning to open its first Brazilian retail store in Rio de Janeiro in early December, according to a report [Google Translate] from Brazilian technology magazine Info Exame (via @ifostore). Apple was reportedly hoping to open the store in July, but difficulties recruiting employees for the store have led the company to delay the opening by several months.
The store should have been inaugurated in July, but due to difficulties in recruitment, the company decided to postpone the launch. According to the calculation of INFO, the official opening is scheduled for December 7, a Saturday, with a small commemorative event.
Apple still struggles to fill vacancies Store. An employee Genius will earn about 5000 reais, while management positions receive salaries close to 10,000 reais.
The report claims that Apple still has 13 major open positions listed for the store in the Village Mall, with the company seeking to recruit candidates from other countries to fill management positions.
Apple began hiring for its first Brazilian retail stores last November, and the company has been working with assembly partner Foxconn to move some iPhone and iPad production to the country to avoid hefty import taxes and allow Apple to expand its market share.
Apple may be implementing some changes to the way that it ranks apps for its Top Charts in the App Store, reports TechCrunch, citing studies from a number of app analysis services. It appears that new factors, such as app ratings and user engagement, could be influencing app position and preventing developers from artificially inflating the rankings.
According to app marketing service Fiksu, app rankings began fluctuating in late July, favoring apps with ratings of four or more stars in the App Store. While those apps jumped to higher positions without a corresponding increase in downloads, apps with poor ratings saw their rankings fall.
Historically, apps have been ranked based on both download volume and velocity, allowing apps that garnered a high number of downloads in a short amount of time to shoot up the App Store charts. Fiksu also notes that App Store rank positions, which were previously updated in 15-minute intervals, now update once every three hours to prevent underhanded rank-gaming practices.
We suspect they are adding a 'buffer' period to prevent rank manipulation through short download bursts often associated with robotic downloads and other actions not in the best interests of the app ecosystem. Three hours allows enough time to identify anomalies and remove apps before they suddenly appear at the top of the rankings.
Niren Hiro of SearchMan told TechCrunch that user engagement may be a factor as well. Time spent within apps, the number of app opens, and ongoing usage are affecting category rankings, as noted in the chart below.
App Store search algorithms may also be changing, favoring improved app discovery. MobileDevHQ CEO Ian Sefferman cites an example involving a search for iPhone apps from the iPad. While such a search used to return an identical list of apps on both the iPad and the iPhone, the results are now different.
It remains unclear whether Apple is merely experimenting with its App Store rankings with these new inclusions or if it is in the process of making sweeping changes to the ranking process. App discovery has long been a work in progress for the company and efforts to improve its ranking algorithms could help users locate higher quality content.
The Department of Justice today filed a revised punishment proposal for Apple in its ongoing e-book dispute with the company, reports GigaOM.
While the new proposal is largely the same as the original, it includes an expanded section on Apple's in-app purchasing policies along with the accusation that Apple initiated the rules specifically to "retaliate against Amazon for competitive conduct that Apple disapproved of" and to "make it more difficult for consumers using Apple devices to compare ebook prices among different retailers."
When Apple debuted App Store subscriptions back in 2011, it instituted a rule that prevented developers offering subscription and purchased content from including direct links to stores that would bypass the in-app purchase system. As a result, e-book retailers like Amazon and other digital media providers were forced to remove links to outside content.
Though Apple has argued that its App Store policies are unrelated to the e-books case, the Department of Justice disagrees and maintains that Apple should be forced to re-allow links to outside bookstores within apps. As part of its own argument, the DoJ points out that Apple does not receive a 30 percent cut for all goods sold through its App Store and likens digital e-books to physical goods.
During the August 9 conference, Apple's counsel argued that the provision should not be adopted because it was “absurd” to suggest that Apple had changed its apps policy to discriminate against e-book retailers.
These statements are incorrect. Apple misrepresented the factual circumstances surrounding this matter, including how the App Store operated and operates. It simply is not true that Apple receives a 30 percent commission from all retailers for all goods sold through apps. To use Apple's counsel's own examples, one can buy shoes today on an iPad using a Zappos app.
As evidence that Apple was conspiring to raise prices to punish Amazon, the Department of Justice submitted an email from Steve Jobs to Phil Schiller and Eddy Cue, which specifically mentions an Amazon Kindle commercial and suggests Apple force books, newspapers, and magazines to use Apple's "far superior payment system."
Along with the new evidence, the DoJ continues to insist that e-book retailers should be allowed “costless hyperlinks” in their App Store apps for a two-year period.
Effectuating the provision requires Apple to make no change whatsoever to its iBookstore or App Store. However, returning to the pre-conspiracy policy will result in greater price transparency, and keep Apple from continuing to reap profits from its collusive behavior.
The revised proposal also cuts the proposed injunction time against Apple in half, but continues to require the nullification of existing agency model deals and the implementation of a third party monitor to ensure Apple's continued adherence to internal antitrust compliance policies.
According to Bloomberg, Apple has objected to the revised government proposal, saying that an outside compliance monitor isn’t necessary.
The ongoing legal battle between Apple and Samsung shows no sign of abating and last night, U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh issued a ruling that denied Samsung a new trial over the 'bounce-back' patent, reports CNET.
Apple originally accused more than 20 Samsung smartphones and tablets of infringing on its 'bounce-back' patent, which was filed back in December 2007. The patent, No. 7,469,381 entitled "List scrolling and document translation, scaling, and rotation on a touch-screen display", meant that users who had scrolled to the top or bottom of a screen or document would be shown "an area beyond the edge of the document", colloquially known as a 'bounce-back' or 'rubber band', which is integrated into the device's operating system.
The patent had faced potential invalidation upon reexamination by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, but the key claim of the patent used against Samsung was ultimately upheld.
Similar implementations of the feature were implemented on a number of non-Apple devices, with Apple targeting Samsung for infringement of the patent. The patent in question also covers other device actions, such as dragging documents around the screen.
Although Apple was preliminarily awarded around $1.05 billion in damages due to copyright infringement, this amount was reduced by almost half back in March when Samsung called for a new trial to set revised damage amounts, which will commence in November of this year. Samsung had also sought to delay that new trial, but as noted by FOSS Patents, Judge Koh also denied that motion yesterday.
Neither Apple nor Samsung have provided any comment on this decision.
Sonny Dickson has posted a new gallery of nearly 70 photos showing parts allegedly from Apple's upcoming iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. While many of the parts and even some of the individual photos have been seen previously, the gallery provides a good look at the various parts apparently making their way out of Apple's supply chain.
The photos include rear shells of both new iPhone models at various angles, as well as parts such as screens, flex cables and connectors, and SIM trays. The shots of both phones appear to be consistent with various leaks and reports throughout the past few months, and are claimed to be “direct from sources within Apple’s supply chain”.
You’re looking at our most extensive iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C part leak yet, with a variety of ribbon cables and components, including the entire intact casings, vibration motor, audio jack, SIM trays, the front and rear cameras, the mounts to attach all of the components to the casing, and more. Nearly everything except the logic board – even the screens!
The shots notably show the back housing of the alleged “gold” iPhone 5S, which appears to be similar to parts that surfaced yesterday showing a “champagne” color for the back plate along with a white top and bottom. The iPhone 5S pictured appears to have a dual LED flash, something that has been rumored and seen in a leaked prototype. The shots also show the rear shell of a blue iPhone 5C complete with separated parts, all of which is consistent with prior reports and leaks about the phone.
Apple will reportedly unveil the next-generation iPhone on September 10, and will likely unveil not only the iPhone 5S but also the lower-cost plastic iPhone 5C. Both devices are also rumored to launch in the first wave of markets on September 20.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple’s falling market share in China is prompting local electronics accessory makers to give more attention to phones and tablets made by rival Samsung among other electronics manufacturers. Specifically, the report cites competitive, feature-rich products from the likes of Samsung as well as various cheap phones by other mobile handset makers.
A shift to devices from Samsung, Lenovo Group Ltd. and a widening array of Chinese makers offering cheaper handsets is pushing up costs for those that previously relied on the iPad and iPhone, said Vincent Kwok, chief executive officer of Guangzhou-based Magic Kingdom, a maker of protective cases. [...]
“The market is now moving toward Samsung and brands from China, so we’ve enlarged our product line,” said Kwok, who has also added products from Xiaomi and Oppo. “Expanding our product line has reduced the risk for us. To focus on Apple is too dangerous.”
Bloomberg's report comes alongside a separate claim stating that the iPhone 5S and Apple’s low-cost iPhone 5C are set to launch in China on November 28th, which would likely bring an influx of new iPhone owners in the region. China Mobile, the world’s biggest carrier, as well as one that notably does not carry the iPhone, is said to be in talks with Apple about carrying its mobile device with both sides feeling positive that a deal will happen.
Apple will reportedly unveil the next-generation iPhone on September 10, and will likely unveil not only the iPhone 5S but also the lower-cost plastic iPhone 5C. Both devices are also rumored to launch in the first wave of markets on September 20.
The Pebble smart watch has received an official update to its iOS app, bringing proper push notifications for emails and fixing compatibility for AOL and iCloud email accounts. Official support for email notifications had been introduced earlier this month, but with access limited to fetching on 15-minute intervals.
The app officially launched alongside the smart watch in January, with the device originally gaining notice for raising over $10 million in funding on Kickstarter. Access to the SDK for the device was given to developers in April.
Apple has been highly rumored to be working on a smart watch of its own to potentially launch next year, with a number of other major technology companies also working on their own projects.
Pebble's iOS app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Microsoft has issued a press release stating that its CEO, Steve Ballmer, will retire "within the next 12 months", remaining in his position until a suitable successor is found. The precise reasons for Ballmer's departure were not given, though he was quoted as saying:
There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time...we have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company’s transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction.
The stock market reacted positively to the news, with Microsoft's share price opening 8% higher than the previous day's closing.
Ballmer joined Microsoft in June 1980 and became the company's 35th employee, having been a business manager recruited by Bill Gates, the former chief executive and chairman of the company. Ballmer was named CEO in January 2000, and throughout his tenure was responsible for some key changes in Microsoft as a company, including the shift towards cloud computing, key business acquisitions such as that of Skype in May 2011 and the release of Microsoft's first consumer tablet device, the Surface, back in June 2012.
However, Ballmer's tenure has not been without criticism. Microsoft's share price has remained fairly stagnant under his leadership and the disappointing sales of the Surface have further sprinkled salt into the wound. He was also criticized concerning his remarks about Apple at a press conference back in 2009, where he described the company's products as, "$500 more to get a logo".
Microsoft's Board of Directors has appointed a special committee to direct the process of replacing Ballmer as CEO. The committee, which includes Bill Gates as one of its members, will be working with an executive recruiting firm, Heidrick & Struggles, to find a replacement. The press release also stated that Microsoft, "will consider both external and internal candidates", although no official job announcement has been made as of yet.
Apple is rumored to launch the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C in China on November 28th for 5,599 yuan ($914.69) and 3,399 yuan ($555.23) respectively, according to a report from Chinese news outlet First Financial Daily [Google Translate] (via CNET). The report cites telecommunications analyst Yang Tao, and states that the phone would be released later in China than the rumored global launch because of the verification process by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that all new devices must go through.
The report also states that the phone will support China’s TD-SCDMA standard, which will theoretically make the phone compatible with the network of China Mobile, which is currently the world’s largest carrier and has so far not offered the iPhone. Last week, a report stated that recent talks between China Mobile and Apple have been "progressing smoothly" and that the two sides are optimistic about reaching an agreement for the carrier to offer the phone.
Earlier this week, prominent Japanese business newspaper Nikkei claimed that both the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C would launch in Japan on September 20, which is also widely speculated to be the date for the first wave of launches for Apple’s new iPhone models based on past history. Apple appears set to unveil its next-generation iPhones on September 10.
Kazuto Tsubouchi, CEO of Japan’s biggest wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo, said Monday in an interview with Japanese business magazine 
The Department of Justice today filed a revised punishment proposal for Apple in its ongoing 
Along with the new evidence, the DoJ continues to insist that e-book retailers should be allowed “costless hyperlinks” in their App Store apps for a two-year period.
