APPLE iPhone and iPod » Made

Over 90% of Mobile Purchases Made by iPhone and iPad Users

Administrator — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:03:52 +0000

has found that over 90% of mobile purchases made in the past 8 months were done so using one of Apple ‘s mobile devices.
RichRelevance, a retail analysis firm, has put together a study on online shopping habits with a significant focus on mobile purchases. Here are some of the key points.
The amount of online retail money spent in the US via mobile means has doubled since April, from 1.87% to 3.74%. In addition, just 9% of all shoppers were browsing online stores in April (based on mobile traffic), and number has also doubled to 18% in December.
,
, and
– accounted for more than 92% of non-desktop sales in December, which is up from 88% in April.
The average order value of shoppers using Apple ‘s mobile devices is highest, at $123. Compare with $101 on Android and $87 on desktops.
These statistics show that while mobile shopping is still a very small component of online shopping in general, it’s growing. iOS users are the predominant group of mobile shoppers, and their average order value is also higher than other groups. It seems as if Apple ‘s competition has their work cut out for them.
RichRelevance also broke down some holiday shopping statistics. For the period between November 1st and December 18th, 14% of shoppers were on mobile devices on average, and looking at weekends specifically, this number jumps to 17%. Thanksgiving was the day that saw the highest percentage of online shoppers throughout this 6 week period (perhaps as a result of Black Friday sales?).
For more tasty tidbits on mobile shopping, check out the full report below.
Did you make a purchase on your iOS device? Let us know in the comments.

Samsung: Apple’s Lawsuit Made Galaxy Tab a ‘Household Name’

Administrator — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:29:10 +0000

It looks like things worked out quite well for Samsung after all the problems it faced introducing their tablet in Australia due to the Apple ‘s lawsuits.
, it seems they may have some trouble keeping up with demand. They’ve found that the litigation gave quite a bit of brand awareness for their tablet.
After all of the twists and turns of the Apple vs. Samsung lawsuit, Samsung was
the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia. As it turns out, the mess ended up doing Samsung a favor.
is definitely the dominant tablet in many parts of the world, and the litigation gave Australians something that has traditionally been difficult for Android Tablet manufacturers: brand awareness. The Galaxy Tab has become a “household name,” according to Samsung Australia’s VP of telecommunications. Android makes up 55% of the smartphone market in Australia, and Samsung has been the leader of that.
As to an official response, Samsung Australia’s VP of telecommunications, Tyler McGee, puts it simply:
“At the end of the day the media awareness certainly made the Galaxy Tab 10.1 a household name compared to probably what it would’ve been based on the investment that we would’ve put into it from a marketing perspective.”
McGee noted to the Sydney Morning Herald that Samsung is trying to sell as many units as they can, but will probably be in short supply to some degree because of the surge in demand. So looks like Samsung is not going to have any problem selling their tablet. As they say
“there’s no such thing as bad publicity.”

iPhone, iPad processor made by Samsung in Texas, report says

Administrator — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:22:20 +0000

Steve Jobs talks up the A5 processor at an Apple event in March.

(Credit:
Apple )

The processor running in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 is being produced in Texas, a new report claims.

According to Reuters, citing sources, Samsung is producing the Apple A5 processor at a new 1.6-million-square-foot factory in Austin. The facility, which went into full production earlier this month, cost Samsung $3.6 billion. Although the facility doesn’t only produce Apple ‘s processors, Reuters’ sources say, “nearly all of the output” comes from the A5.

Samsung’s Apple -branded A5 is a system-on-a-chip (SoC), featuring a processor, graphics, and system memory.

Reuters’ finding is rather interesting when one considers that the majority of components in Apple ‘s iPhone and iPad are fabricated and assembled overseas. Currently, South Korea and China are key areas in Apple ‘s supply chain, and it has long been believed that the U.S. was not.

But there’s more to this story than simply location. Apple and Samsung are bitter rivals in the mobile market, and are currently waging legal battles around the world. Samsung argues that Apple ‘s iPhone 4S violates patents it holds, while Apple has said that the Samsung … [Read more]

Elevation Dock is The iPhone Dock Apple Should Have Made

Administrator — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:12:08 +0000

devices. These docks got the “docking” part right, however un-docking was a task that took more than five seconds and couldn’t be done with just one hand.
The Elevation Dock, a new Kickstarter project, aims to solve this by not only make the un-docking process a lot smoother, but also making the dock compatible with all cases.
Simple to use, quick undocking, and it works with or without a case. We didn’t stop there – It’s beautifully precision machined from solid aluminum and it comes in a gorgeous set of surface finishes, setting a new bar for quality and something that looks really good on your desk. It complements the high-level craftsmanship of the
like no other.
According to the description, the dock also makes the FaceTime experience better by offering better acoustics and an improved viewing angle.
and the Elevation Dock, both insanely reduced (or will reduce) device removal time.
Get your own Elevation Dock in glass bead blasted finish (like on Apple unibody Macs). These will later retail for $90 if the project gets funded. CNC’d from solid aircraft aluminum, low friction connection, USB out. [US shipping included, add $20 for international]
For a pledge of $79 or more, in addition to USB out you also get an audio out:
Get the Elevation Dock+ in glass bead blasted finish. The Dock+ adds shielded Line Level audio out plus USB power adapter. These will later retail for $120. [US shipping included, add $20 for international]
The project has received an overwhelming response in just a day, with more than a thousand people pledging $117,000.
What do you think of the Elevation Dock?

A slobber-proof iPhone case made for babies

Administrator — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:54:11 +0000

The Laugh & Learn Apptivity case is drool-proof.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Boonsri Dickinson/CNET)

While it’s increasingly common for parents to give their baby an iPhone to look at photos, temporarily pacifying the infant doesn’t come without risks, like the iPhone breaking. Fisher-Price, in the toy business since the 1930s, appears to be stepping into the 21st century with its new accessory for the iPhone and the iPod Touch. The case turns the iPhone into a crib toy for children ages 6 months and up.

The Laugh & Learn Apptivity case will be sold for $15 in October, reports the New York Times. The case is durable, with rings that will likely keep teething babies occupied. There’s a protector film that will keep off unwanted drool. The back comes off with a key or coin, a precaution designed to keep the phone safely tucked away.

Beyond the fact that the case turns the phone into something that’s nearly indestructible, it can control what the kids get their fingers on. For instance, when the phone is in the case, a toddler can’t touch the home button. So when a baby is playing with one of Fisher-Price’s apps, like Let’s Count Animals, he or she can’t get out of the app without the help of… [Read more]

iPlayboy Web App Brings Every Playboy Magazine Ever Made To iPad

Administrator — Sun, 15 May 2011 09:46:07 +0000

Last year, Apple removed more than 5000
so it was highly unlikely that Apple would approve Playboy’s native iPad app with uncensored content.
So to bypass Apple ’s approval process, Playboy has just launched a new
optimized website where subscribers can access not only the latest issue, but the full archive of Playboy issues since 1953.
From the inaugural issue with Marilyn Monroe to the current issue with rock heiress Lizzy Jagger on the cover, iPlayboy features every pictorial, interview, Centerfold, investigative reporting piece, story, advertisement and image that ever appeared in the magazine, more than 130,000 pages in total. Readers can search for a groundbreaking interview they read years ago, find classic fiction, or read about the most-recent celebrity cover model, all in one place. The site will be updated with each monthly issue so that it includes current content as well as archival features and pictorials.
Users have an option to opt for a month membership that costs $8 or a yearly membership for $60 or $100 for a two-year membership to access content on Playboy’s iPad optimized website. Playboy gets to keep 100% of the membership fee by bypassing the App Store. Apple charges a 30% commission on the sale of every iOS app from its App Store.
.
Do you plan to subscribe to iPlayboy? What do you think about Playboy’s strategy to release an iPad optimized web app? Let us know in the comments.

iPhone 3G SIM Tool Made Of Liquidmetal; Future iPhones Could Be Also Made From Liquidmetal

Administrator — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:43:32 +0000

Apple is reported to have signed an exclusive agreement with LiquidMetal Technologies to bring their proprietary IP to Apple 's consumer electronics products.
LiquidMetal is a series of exotic alloy components developed by researchers at CalTech and is often referred to as “bulk metallic glass”. This is due to its atomic structure that makes it glass-like while offering a super-strong yet extremely flexible material that is resistant to corrosion and is scratch-proof as well.
Dr. Atakan Peker, one of the co-inventors of the alloying component
had recognized the metal when he opened his iPhone 3G.
“That’s my metal,” he said. “I recognized it immediately. Take it from an expert, that’s Liquidmetal.”
“It is practically unbendable by hand unless you want to hurt or cut your fingers,
According to CultOfMac, Apple sourced the SIM eject tool made of liquidmetal from Liquidmetal Technologies as a test of the company's manufacturing capabilities.
It’s not clear how long Apple sourced Liquidmetal for SIM ejector pins. European models of the iPhone 3G have ordinary steel pins, and maybe also those shipped to Asia, Peker said. ”They’re not Liquidmetal,” he said. “They bend like paperclips.”
Meanwhile, another former top researcher at Liquidmetal Technologies claims that Apple might build the next
out of liquidmetal.
“I think they’re going to make the iPhone out of it,” said Dr. Jan Schroers, the former director of research at Liquidmetal Technologies, the first company to commercially develop the space-age technology. “It's quite obvious from what Liquidmetal has done in the past and what the technology is capable of.”
According to Schroers, Apple could create very intricate cases by blow-molding melted alloy like glass.
It will be interesting to see if future iPhones are made of liquidmetal as it appears to be quite promising.
Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Next Generation iPhone Could Come With An Antenna Made Of Liquidmetal

Administrator — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:18:15 +0000

According to reports, the
could come with an antenna made of LiquidMetal. Apple is reported to have signed an exclusive agreement with LiquidMetal Technologies to bring their proprietary IP to Apple 's consumer electronics products.
“. This is due to its atomic structure that makes it glass-like while offering a super-strong yet extremely flexible material that is resistant to corrosion and is scratch-proof as well. LiquidMetal is already used in the manufacture of antennas on the Verizon USB727 wireless modem that received extremely positive reviews for its reception. According to Dr. Atakan Peker, one of the co-inventors of the alloying component, the use of LiquidMetal could drastically improve the signal reception on the iPhone .
However, the antenna is just one of the possible use-cases for Apple 's licensing agreement with LiquidMetal Technologies. According to Peker, the alloy can be moulded or blown-out to serve the functions of plastic and glass materials as well. This will hence make it an ideal alternative for the manufacture of cases that have complex and unusual shapes. Peker also noted the ability to microstructure the surface of liquidmetal making it possible for Apple to create non-slip patterns and logo holograms on the surface.
Not surprisingly, Apple has not revealed details about its exclusive agreement with LiquidMetal Technologies.
It will be interesting to see if the next generation iPhone antenna system is made of liquidmetal.
Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Custom iPhone Stands Made Completely With Cutlery [iPhone Accessory]

Administrator — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:06:21 +0000

ForkedUpArt, a North Salt Lake, Utah based silverware artist has developed two models of iPhone stands – SpoonHead and ForkHead that will surely make heads turn as much as your iPhone does.
As you can see from the images below, the only signficant difference between the two models is the head piece.
Both SpoonHead and ForkHead are priced at $30 each (plus shipping). Interestingly, the manufacturer has also offered to make custom stands for users wishing to fit in more than just an iPhone or
. The silverware iPhone stand is currently up on sale at Etsy. If you do not find a particular model in stock, be sure to check back later since the manufacturer writes:
“Due to increased demand I'm making these guys as fast as I can. Do let me know if there are any bulk orders, and I will accommodate.”
It is interesting how the iPhone gets the creative juices flowing in people. How do you like this new cutlery based iPhone stand? Will you be buying one? Do let us know in the comments.

Is Apple’s In-House A4 Chip Truly Revolutionary As It Is Made Out To Be?

Administrator — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:34:35 +0000

However, is A4 really the
that it is made out to be? In a recent article, Jon Stokes from
questions the acclaimed superiority of the A4 chip and makes an argument against it.
According to his sources, the A4 chip is a 1GHz SoC made of a single Cortex A8 core and PowerVR SGX GPU and not a dual-core Cortex A9 chip as originally thought. This would make it comparable to the chips present on many of the modern day smartphones and hence is nothing revolutionary. Jon Stakes also claims that the iPad's leaner hardware that does not include resource-guzzling parts like a camera makes the A4 chip run faster than it would on smartphones with these features present. Stokes writes:
“With one 30-pin connector on the bottom and no integrated camera of any kind, the A4 needs a lot less in the way of I/O support than comparable chips that are intended for smartphones or smartbooks. This means that the A4 is just a GPU, a CPU, memory interface block (NAND and DDR), possibly security hardware, system hardware, and a few I/O controllers. It's lean and mean to a degree that isn't possible with an off-the-shelf SoC.”
“. He says that in the absence of a ”
” with A4, a revelation of its specs could divert the focus from features present on the iPad to what is not on the A4.
These arguments make sense, but at the end of the day, people who got a chance to play around with the iPad found it to be very responsive and a different league compared to the iPhone .
So does it really matter if it is really revolutionary or not, if it delivers great performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.