MacRumors

Apple CEO Steve Jobs will take the stage on Tuesday night at All Things D. The interview will be conducted by Kara Swisher who has hinted at the topics of discussion:

There is much to talk to Jobs about, obviously, including the new iPad, the mobile market and the iPhone, its tense relationship with Google (GOOG) and the next innovations from the Silicon Valley computer icon.

Steve Jobs' last appearance was at D5 in 2007 shortly after the announcement of the original iPhone.

Other speakers include Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and HTC CEO Peter Chou.

A number of high profile suicides amongst Foxconn workers has generated a lot of headlines over the past few weeks. The incidents have resulted in increasing scrutiny of the company prompting a number of investigations. Foxconn is a manufacturing partner for a number of U.S. companies including Apple. Apple has announced that it will be conducting its own independent review of the working conditions at the Foxconn factories.

Today, a report from Chinese site Zol.com.cn indicates that Apple will be providing financial rewards to Foxconn workers producing Apple products. Micgadget provides a translation:

A tech site in China has reported, Apple will provide financial subsidies to Foxconn's employees, the amount will roughly be 1 to 2% of the profits from Apple products. Apple has conducted investigation on Foxconn, and they believe the main reason for the suicide jumps is related to the employees' low wages. In order to solve the problem, Apple decides to offer a direct financial subsidies for the workers in Foxconn, it will first start from the iPad production line.

Apple has not yet made any announcements about their investigation, and has not confirmed this report of worker subsidies.

Apple today announced that it has sold over two million iPads sold in less than 60 days since the device's initial launch in the U.S. on April 3rd.

Apple today announced that iPad sales have topped two million in less than 60 days since its launch on April 3. Apple began shipping iPad in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK this past weekend. iPad will be available in nine more countries in July and additional countries later this year.

"Customers around the world are experiencing the magic of iPad, and seem to be loving it as much as we do," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We appreciate their patience, and are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone."

Apple has continued to deal with shortages of the iPad as it seeks to keep up with demand in the United States while also increasing distribution to additional countries.

For comparison purposes, it took over two years for Apple to sell its first two million iPods, while the original iPhone took on the order of four months to reach the two million milestone.

A newly leaked Intel processor roadmap reveals that the company will be releasing a speed-bumped Core i7 processor this fall. The upcoming Core i7-640M will run at a base frequency of 2.8GHz with "turbo boost" speeds up to 3.46GHz. This new processor draws the same power as the current MacBook Pro processors so should be a natural upgrade for Apple.

The MacBook Pro presently tops out at 2.66GHz with the Core i7 processor. It is available in both 15" and 17" models. Apple last updated the MacBook Pro this past April. It's unlikely that Apple will refresh the whole lineup this fall, but could offer the new processor as a build-to-order option. They've done these quiet upgrades in the recent past with the the Mac Pro.

The Skype app for iPhone [App Store] has been updated to allow voice calls to be made over 3G data networks. Skype is a popular VOIP (voice over IP) application that allows users to make phone calls from their computer or mobile phone over a network connection. This avoids using up any allotment of "voice minutes" from cell phone providers. Instead, the calls are routed over the data network which are traditionally offered in an unlimited monthly block.

In the past, AT&T has restricted these applications to Wi-Fi networks only to avoid piggybacking on their 3G service. AT&T, however, changed their position on this back in January but it has taken this long for Skype to release an update that supports this feature.

Skype indicates that this feature is free until at least the end of August, but at that time a small monthly fee will be initiated. It's not clear how much they plan on charging.

MacRumors Forums, the discussion boards for the MacRumors website, reached a major milestone today: 10 million forum posts. MacRumors' coverage of Apple's products and business, along with the MacRumors discussion forums, Buyer's Guide, Mac Guides, and other site features, attract millions of users each month and make MacRumors the #1 Apple site other than Apple's own website. Quantcast ranks MacRumors among the top 500 U.S. websites. The very active forums reflect the success of the site, the continuing and rising level of interest in Apple, and the overall growth of the Apple community.

To celebrate its forum milestone MacRumors will be running a Ten Million Post Avatar Contest starting June 1. We'll announce the details that day and invite forum members to show off their creativity.

It took MacRumors 6 years and 2 months to reach its first 5 million posts but just 3 years and 2 months more to reach a total of 10 million posts. Over 1 million forum posts have been made in the first 5 months of 2010, with an average of over 7000 posts per day, up from about 6000/day in 2008 and 2009. For comparison, post rates were approximately 500/day in 2002, 1000/day in 2003, 1500/day in 2004, 2000/day in 2005, 3000/day in 2006, and 4000/day in 2007.

MacRumors forum membership has seen corresponding growth, with 438,000 members this month, more than double the number from just 21 months ago. There were a quarter of a million forum users in November 2008. At present growth rates forum membership will top half a million before the year is out.

Thank you to our forum members, contributors and sponsors, and all those who have made MacRumors their regular destination. We'd also like to recognize and thank our hard-working volunteer moderators for maintaining the quality of the MacRumors forums.

MacRumors administrators: arn, Doctor Q, Knox, longofest, Mudbug, WildCowboy
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Update: Announcement of Ten Million Post Avatar Contest

The next iPhone screen has been confirmed to be at running at a resolution of 960x640, according to SuperPhone.cz (via Engadget). The site claims to have obtained a next generation iPhone screen (parts have been floating around) and magnified it under a microscope.

From this procedure, they were able to count the RGB elements of the screen and found it to be exactly twice the density in both horizontal and vertical directions compared to the current iPhone. This would quadruple the total number of pixels and increase the resolution from the current 480x320 to 960x640. This would increase the pixel density to a whopping 320dpi -- higher than any other device on the market.

Rumors of this high resolution display were first reported back in March. The big advantage of exactly doubling the vertical and horizontal resolution of the iPhone's screen is that backward compatibility with existing apps would be trivial to implement. A similar pixel-doubling system is already in place for running iPhone applications on the iPad.

Boy Genius Report claims to have received information from a source at AT&T indicating that the carrier is set to introduce a hardware insurance program for the iPhone, allowing users to protect themselves (for a relatively substantial monthly fee) against replacement costs for out-of-warranty hardware failures, as well as accidental (including liquid) damage and loss or theft. The "MobileProtect" insurance program will be set up through the App Store and then billed monthly via credit card.

AT&T will be launching a new insurance service starting June 6th, named MobileProtect, designed specifically for the Apple iPhone. The insurance plan, which will be run by Asurion, will carry a price tag of $13.99/month and will be available for purchased through Apple's App Store. The charges will be billed to the credit card on file with Apple. The deductibles range from $99 for an 8GB 3G to $199 for a 32GB 3GS, which is pretty steep - but not quite as steep as $699 for a new 32 GB 3GS off-contract.

Set to launch on June 6th, the program goes into effect just one day before Apple is expected to introduce its next-generation iPhone hardware at its Worldwide Developers Conference. Users must also register for the program within 30 days or purchasing a new iPhone, and it will not be offered retroactively to existing users.

As the report notes, $168 in insurance premiums per year appears to be a relatively steep cost, especially considering the deductibles to be charged on top of that for replacement. Its comprehensive coverage may, however, make the proposition worthwhile for some customers.

Since its 2007 launch, the iPhone has been specifically excluded from AT&T's standard Wireless Phone Insurance, which is also run by Asurion and carries substantially lower premiums and deductibles than the new iPhone-specific plan.

Digital Daily reports on a new research note from Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu, who offers his thoughts on what else Apple may deliver at next month's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) beyond the next-generation iPhone.

In an inspired bit of entrail reading this morning, Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu says Apple may have a libretto of big WWDC announcements. "Other announcements we are picking up that could potentially be made are iTunes.com, a web-based version of its iTunes client, and new Mac refreshes with faster processors and graphics, namely the Mac Pro and MacBook Air, which were last refreshed in March and June 2009, respectively," he wrote in a note to clients this morning.

Wu doesn't appear to have given specific evidence for his claims, suggesting that they should simply be taken as speculation at this time.

Rumors about a cloud-based iTunes service have been floating around for some time now, gaining steam with Apple's construction of a major new data center in North Carolina apparently just starting to come online and its acquisition of streaming music service Lala Media with reports that its efforts would be directed to a cloud-based iTunes.

With news late last month that Lala's existing service will shut down on May 31st, some have wondered whether Apple is preparing to make way for an introduction of its cloud-based service, but recent music industry rumors suggest that such an announcement is likely not in the near future.

Wu's claims regarding Mac Pro and MacBook Air refreshes seem plausible, however, if only because both lines appear well overdue for an update, as detailed in our Buyer's Guide. WWDC would appear to be an ideal venue for a Mac Pro upgrade in particular, and while earlier rumors of an imminent release failed to pan out, one report from March did suggest that a refresh might not come until as late as June. In addition, Intel has reportedly experienced shortages of its new hexacore processors expected to be used in high-end Mac Pro configurations, with suggestions that the constraints may be resolved by late next month.

After issuing a price drop and slight update to the MacBook Air at last year's WWDC, it seems reasonable to think that Apple might put on a repeat performance this year with a refresh to the company's ultra-portable notebook. Rumors of a MacBook Air update have been increasing in recent weeks, making a release in the near future not unlikely.

Engadget reports that it has received detailed information on a forthcoming revamp of the Apple TV, a major shift for the product that will reportedly see it resembling "an iPhone without a screen". Based on the next-generation iPhone hardware and software and relying on cloud-based storage rather than an internal hard drive, the new Apple TV is said to be set to carry a price point of only $99.

The new architecture of the device will be based directly on the iPhone 4, meaning it will get the same internals, down to that A4 CPU and a limited amount of flash storage -- 16GB to be exact -- though it will be capable of full 1080p HD (!). The device is said to be quite small with a scarce amount of ports (only the power socket and video out), and has been described to some as "an iPhone without a screen." Are you ready for the real shocker? According to our sources, the price-point for the device will be $99.

According to the report, while streaming content will be the focus of the device, users will also have the option of pairing the new Apple TV with a Time Capsule for external local storage. In addition, while the forthcoming Apple TV will reportedly utilize an iPhone OS-based operating system, there is no word on whether it will support App Store applications as with Android applications on the forthcoming Google TV platform.

The report concludes by noting that we should not expect to see an introduction of the new Apple TV at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) early next month, as that event is set to primarily focus on the next-generation iPhone. And so while no specific timeframe for a launch of the revamped Apple TV is known, the project "is most definitely full steam ahead."

Apple has long considered the Apple TV a "hobby", noting numerous times that it feels "there is something there" and that it will keep investing in the platform. Rumors and speculation, as well as an Apple job posting, had also suggested that the company is looking to extend the iPhone OS to new devices, possibly including the Apple TV.

Update: Daring Fireball's John Gruber notes that the revamped Apple TV carries an internal codename designation of "K66", which has been mentioned in the iPhone OS 4 betas for several months now.

TheStreet reports on a new research note from Rodman Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar claiming that Apple appears to be ramping toward a possible November launch for a Verizon version of the iPhone.

The Mac maker has also told its manufacturing partner Asustek to plan on starting full-scale production of a CDMA version of the iPhone to be available at Verizon as early as November, Kumar says. The report is yet another confirmation of Apple's long-awaited Verizon iPhone, which still awaits final approval from the two companies that have not always seen eye-to-eye.

Multiple reports have pointed to Pegatron, an operating division of Asustek, as the manufacturer for the Verizon iPhone, a departure from Apple's partnership with Foxconn/Hon Hai for manufacturing of current GSM-based iPhones.

Kumar notes that a Verizon launch could push Apple's iPhone production for the year past 40 million, well ahead of Wall Street expectations. He cautions, however, that such a launch is not a certainty and is ultimately subject to the decisions of Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

A recent survey of Verizon customers showed 17% of the sample registering as "very likely" to purchase an iPhone should it appear on the carrier. Despite the hopes of many that Apple might make a Verizon iPhone announcement at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) early next month, most observers have indicated that such an announcement is unlikely, seeing such a move more likely to occur at Apple's traditional iPod-focused media event in September at the earliest or even not until 2011.

Apple's iPad officially launched internationally overnight in 9 countries. Long lines were reported in many locations with photographs posted from Paris, Sydney, Italy and a video from Japan. According to Reuters, Apple's flagship store in Tokyo's Ginza had a line of over 1200 people waiting to buy an iPad.

"I wanted to touch it as soon as possible. I felt real excitement when it was finally in my hands," said Takechiyo Yamanaka, 19, who camped out in front of the Ginza store from Wednesday evening to be the first in line.

The iPad's international launch was delayed due to high demand in the U.S.

ZDNet reports on comments made by AT&T Business Solutions CEO Ron Spears revealing that 40% of the company's iPhone sales are to business customers, dispelling the notion that businesses are not willing to adopt the popular smartphone over security fears and an unwillingness to make changes to their existing IT infrastructure and policies to accommodate the device. According to Spears:

Four out of 10 sales of the iPhone are made to enterprise users. When the iPhone came out, what most people heard in the first year from '07 to '08 was oh my God, it's not BlackBerry secure. This is not going to work on the enterprise space.

At the end of the day, it's just software. That's all it is.

Spears notes that Apple had solved about 80% of the iPhone's enterprise security issues with the iPhone 3G, and by the time the iPhone 3GS was released last year it was seen as offering adequate security for corporate settings.

According to Spears, many businesses are seeing the iPhone as a computing devices, allowing them to forgo some laptop purchases and move to the more portable iPhone as an all-in-one device. The iPad is likely to see similar traction as it begins to make inroads into the enterprise community.

While Apple may be struggling to sign up major publishers for international eBook distribution through its iBookstore, the company appears to be making things easier for independent authors without a publisher to have their work included in the store.

Mac|Life reports that Apple has rolled out a new portal for iTunes Connect that allows authors to self-publish their work in the iBookstore if it meets certain identification and format standards.

Book Content Requirements:
- ISBNs for all titles you intend to distribute
- You must be able to deliver your book content in EPUB format, passing EpubCheck 1.0.5.

A similar interface has been present in iTunes Connect for several months, but previously required submitters to have invitation codes from an iBookstore representative. Apple also continues to support authors working with approved third-party iBookstore aggregators who can help streamline the process for authors.

Apple notes that all authors signing up to work with Apple must have a U.S. tax ID and valid iTunes Store account with credit card on file. Apple also requires authors to meet certain minimum sales in individual markets before making payments to authors and recommends that authors weigh that factor before deciding whether to work directly with Apple or through a third-party aggregator.

In a tweet from Microsoft's official Twitter account, the company has denied a claim that CEO Steve Ballmer would be speaking at the keynote for Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) on June 7th.

Steve Ballmer not speaking at Apple Dev Conf. Nor appearing on Dancing with the Stars. Nor riding in the Belmont. Just FYI.

Ballmer had been rumored by Wall Street analyst Trip Chowdhry to be making an appearance at WWDC to announce support for iPhone OS and Mac OS X development in Microsoft's Visual Studio 2010.

Chowdhry's claim, however, centers around the Visual Studio 2010 announcement, with the appearance by Ballmer to deliver the news as an apparently less-certain rumor. While Microsoft's denial regarding Ballmer leaves open the possibility that another Microsoft executive could make such an announcement during the seven-minute block reportedly set aside, the development would still certainly come as a significant surprise.

Update: Barron's reports that Chowdhry has retracted both of yesterday's claims, indicating that there will be no Microsoft announcements at WWDC. Chowdhry notes with any remaining credibility he might have, however, that his contacts "insist that both MSFT and AAPL are working on development tools - probably our timing is off".