Apple Acquires Indoor Mapping Startup WiFiSlam for $20 Million

It appears that Apple is looking to improve its Maps product with its latest acquisition, WiFiSlam.

Over the weekend The Wall Street Journal confirmed that Apple had acquired the two-year-old startup WiFiSlam for $20 million. The startup developed a method by which phones can detect where a user is inside a building by using Wi-Fi signals. The company has been in the process of offering up the technology to retail and social networking developers for some time now.

Google has been developing its own version of this technology for some time now, although it has been restricted to locations such as malls, stadiums and airports. Apple has not confirmed what it plans to do with WiFiSlam as of yet, but considering that the company replaced Google Maps with its own mapping app last year – much to the chagrin of users – it is probably a safe bet that this is eventually destined for the company’s own product.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

iTunes is more than earning its keep

As writer John Paczkowski notes in an AllThingsD article today, iTunes was originally "conceived as a low-margin 'break-even' operation intended to drive hardware sales" -- in particular sales of iPods. Now that the iTunes Store is used to sell more than just songs and videos, it's turning into a "significant profit center for the company".

Paczkowski was commenting on numbers from Asymco analyst Horace Dediu, who notes that now that Apple has folded its in-house software group into iTunes, Apple software is having "significant implications for iTunes margins." The software, including items like iWork, iLife, Final Cut Pro, Aperture and more, has much higher profit margins than traditional iTunes items like music, books, video, and apps.

Dediu deduced that Apple sold about US$3.6 billion worth of its software products in 2012, and that profit margins for software is usually about 50 percent. If that's the case for Apple -- and Dediu is usually correct in his assumptions -- then iTunes is generating operating margins of about 15 percent on gross revenue. That's about $2 billion in profit for 2012, or as Paczkowski so eloquently put it, one "hell of a way to break even."

[Source: TUAW]

Apple is Aware of Apple ID Exploit, is Working on a Fix

Soon after word hit about the unbelievably easy Apple ID exploit, Apple has responded by saying it’s already working on a fix. As it should be. If it’s not happening on the mobile side, issues are springing up elsewhere.

In a statement to The Verge, the company lamented the glaring issue and said it takescustomer privacy very seriously. Let’s hope Apple can tie this one up quick, too. All someone needs to take control of someone else’s Apple ID is their email and date of birth—you can get that kind of information on Facebook very easily.

As of now, Apple has taken down its iForgot password reset tool as a temporary solution. That might be an acceptable short-term fix, but in the long run, let’s hope Apple develops a stricter protocol when reseting a password. Apple IDs are the key to Apple’s content kingdom; if user IDs start running rampant, who knows what kind of backlash the company will face.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Apple adds two-factor authentication to your Apple ID

Apple is beefing up the security of its Apple ID by adding two-factor authentication to the account login process. Customers concerned about unauthorized access to their Apple ID can login to their account at Apple'sMy Apple ID webpage and turn on the feature as described below

1. Go to My Apple ID (appleid.apple.com)
2. Click the "Manage your Apple ID" button to login to your Apple ID
3. Enter your Apple ID and password and click "Sign In"
4. Select "Password and Security" in the left-hand column
5. Type in the answers to your account security questions if you are prompted to answer them.
6. You will see Two-Step Verification at the top of the page. Click on "Get Started" and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you have two-factor verification enabled, you will be required to enter both your password and a 4-digit code to verify your identity. According to Apple's support page, you will need this information whenever you sign in to My Apple ID to manage your account, make an iTunes / App Store / iBookstore purchase from a new device or get Apple ID-related support from Apple. You can read more about the security feature on Apple's support website, and check out Glenn Fleishman's thorough pros and cons rundown on TidBITS.

[Source: TUAW]

iPhone 5S Home Button, Flex Cables Leaked

We typically begin to see hardware parts leak before the launch of any major product, and now we’re getting a glimpse of what are allegedly the home button, flex cable and internal vibrator for the iPhone 5S, thanks to a leak from a Japanese vendor.

As MacRumors notes, the odd part about this leak is that the home button looks similar to theiPhone 5 save for the positioning and size of the flex cable, which means we’re not looking at the a home button with the rumored fingerprint scanner. Either these aren’t for the iPhone 5S, or the fingerprint reader rumors aren’t true, or it’s built-in to that part and we just can’t see it.

The vibrating mechanism was also leaked. This part is what vibrates the phone when you put it on silent, and it looks similar to the part on the iPhone 5, again reiterating the idea that the iPhone 5S probably won’t offer much in the way of a major industrial design change.

We suspect these are the first of many parts to leak, so stay tuned for more in the coming weeks and months.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Apple In Trouble with EU Commission Over Warranty Coverage

Apparently Australia isn’t the only market where Apple fails to properly inform consumers of extended warranties beyond the company’s standard one year coverage. The European Union also has rights that protect consumers under a two-year warranty.

Tuesday, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding discussed a review of 27 EU states on whether Apple has properly advised buyer’s coverage rights, explicitly, the extension of two-year coverage under EU laws.

Most Apple consumers are likely familiar with the up-sell of Apple Care products when purchasing new Apple goods, however in some nations the standard warranty for specified classes of goods are automatically covered in extended warranty coverage. In the EU, that coverage extends to two years. Apple has been accused of not properly informing consumers that they have this coverage and employees have apparently been pushing Apple Care services without informing customers they already have two years without additional cost. Regarding practices in Europe, Reding said Apple’s approach is “simply not good enough.”

Apple has already faced fines and additional action in Italy, where employees failed to properly inform consumers of their product warranty protection, and instead were pushing Apple Care services. Apple ended up remedying the matter by simply pulling Apple Care off the shelves in Italy.

As of yet, no statement or reaction from Apple has been issued.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Using your Smartphone with a Projector

There are many who would love to host a backyard movie night with their friends or family members. Nowadays it is very common to store dozens of videos and movies in a smartphone or a tablet. However, this may those who would like to share their collection with others, mostly because of the limits of a small screen. There are currently many smartphone projectors that are small sized, but able to deliver great picture quality that will guarantee excellent results.

For those who don’t know where to start, remember that a blank screen is needed before you even think about investing in a projector. There's nothing quite as useful or cheap as a simple white sheet, and it is able to work great even with expensive setups. If you don’t want to invest in a blank screen specially designed for projectors, you can use just about any blank wall for a similar effect.

There are many apps to use along with your projectors. Most notably there is the Epson iProjection app. This app is a great option for those that are looking for an easy way to project their images on the go. The app is very simple thanks to its intuitive menu options that help bring all the content from your smartphones to the big screen. It is compatible with iOS and Android devices. Epson also makes many great projectors that are fully compatible with smartphones and tablet devices. With a simple search you will find more information about Epson projectors.

For those that own an iPhone device, one of the most versatile options out there is Brookstone's Pocket Projector. This innovative projector is very simple to use, since it was designed specifically with the iPhone in mind. It is very easy to slide onto the device and project a high quality image. If you don’t have any external speakers, this device has your bases covered too. This pocket projector has a built in rechargeable battery, so even if your Apple device is low on power, it is possible to use the Pocket Projector’s own energy as a back-up. You’ve got to be realistic though, a projector this small is not going to deliver the same picture quality as the bigger, more expensive models.

If you don’t own an iPhone, there are still many great options, such as the Optoma Pico Pocket Projector. This is another pocket device that is able to project hi-def images. This device is affordable, extremely light and portable, making it ideal for those that want to project their videos and movies anywhere they want. This mini device also comes with a remote that allows simple pausing.

Apple releases Apple TV software update 5.2.1

Apple has released the Apple TV 5.2.1 software update. Hulu users will notice that the Hulu interface has been completely redesigned, including category enhancements and other UI tweaks.

The update also addresses a number of security issues on the Apple TV, including one in which a local user may be able to execute unsigned code. In a security document, Apple describes the issue: "A state management issue existed in the handling of Mach-O executable files with overlapping segments. This issue was addressed by refusing to load an executable with overlapping segments."

Other security fixes include changes to the kernel, including the ability for a local user to determine the address of structure in the kernel: "An information disclosure issue existed in the ARM prefetch abort handler. This issue was addressed by panicking if the prefetch abort handler is not being called from an abort context."

A third issue that allowed a user to execute arbitrary code in the kernel was also fixed: "The IOUSBDeviceFamily driver used pipe object pointers that came from userspace. This issue was addressed by performing additional validation of pipe object pointers."

Users can manually check for software updates on their Apple TV by selecting "Settings -> General -> Update Software".

[Source: TUAW]

Adobe Chief Technology Officer Kevin Lynch Reportedly Joining Apple

CNBC's Jon Fortt has just issued a Tweet reporting that Adobe Chief Technology Officer Kevin Lynch is leaving the company to join Apple. A second Tweet from CNBC claims that Lynch's departure from Adobe is coming this week.

It is not yet clear what role Lynch will be taking on Apple, but Fortt presumably has a full report coming soon.

Lynch spent ten years as Chief Software Architect at Macromedia before joining Adobe when it acquired Macromedia in 2005. Lynch has been Chief Technology Officer at Adobe since 2008.

In his executive role at Adobe, Lynch occasionally addressed tensions between Apple and Adobe over Flash as Apple chose not to support the technology on its iOS devices and to minimize its presence on the Mac platform. Lynch had expressed disappointment at Apple's "negative campaigning" against Flash, but the two companies have obviously continued to have a working relationship.

[Source: MacRumors - Click here to read the full story]

Apple releases iOS 6.1.3

Apple has released iOS 6.1.3, which contains a fix for the passcode bypass bug as well as improvements to Maps in Japan. This is the third minor update since the release of iOS 6.1 in late January.

The update is available over the air and through iTunes. Go to Settings > General > Software Update, or connect your device to your computer through USB.

[Source: iMore]

New Apple Stores set to open in UK and Germany

We heard earlier this year that Apple was planning to expand its retail business "disproportionately outside the US," and it looks like that plan is being put into motion starting now. In addition to a new Apple Store opening up this Thursday in Leeds, UK, the company has posted job listings for stores opening soon in both Munich and Dusseldorf, in Germany. So there are three stores starting up in Europe, and Apple's expanding in other countries as well -- it now has retail locations in 13 countries around the world, after opening up a store in Turkey last year.

And Apple's also expanding inside the US, bringing 20 of its local stores to larger spaces. I live right near the Santa Monica, Calif., Apple Store, and it seems that store was one of those that moved: Apple found a new location right down the street from the original, with a much larger space that's reminiscent of the company's flagship Grand Central Terminal store. The new space features high ceilings and lots of space above tables of course filled with various Apple goodies to buy. Most of the innovation we talk about from Apple comes with its new product releases, but it's clear the company is working hard on innovating in the retail space as well.

[Source: TUAW]

THX sues Apple over speaker design on iMac, iPad, and iPhone

Audio specialist THX -- whose sound engineering is used in cinemas -- is suing Apple. It's accused the Cupertino company of infringing its patented speaker tech, claiming that the iMac, iPad and iPhone are all guilty, Apple Insider reports.

The patent in question was granted to THX back in 2008. THX also claims Apple's alleged violation has caused it "monetary damage and irreparable harm", and is looking to stop the infringement and receive compensation in royalties or damages.

So what about the tech? The patent concerns "narrow profile speaker configurations and systems" -- in other words, ways of getting decent sound out of speakers that fit in slim consumer electronics goods, like desktop all-in-ones and flatscreen TVs. Specifically, the output aperture (aka speaker duct) is more narrow than the speaker face. THX claims theiPhone 4, 4S and 5 infringe the patent, as well as various models of the iMac and iPad.

Apple owns a number of speaker patents, the most recent of which was granted just last month. Though whether they share any claims of those belonging to THX, we'll have to wait and see. The last day the two companies can confer is 14 May, with the initial case set to start on 14 June.

Patent lawsuits are ten a penny in the tech world, with the biggest one by far being Apple versus Samsung. Apple won that, taking Samsung to the bank to the tune of $1bn, though the judge has since decreed that payout be slashed by 40 per cent. Apple and Samsung are heading back to court, so it's another one to watch.

[Source: CNET]