Breaking: Steve Jobs is Dead!

A breaking news has just pushed into my iPhone notification that the great Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple and the man behind the iconic iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers has died today at 56.

Steve Jobs’s death came just a day after Apple unveiled its next smartphone, the iPhone 4S.



We can recall Steve Jobs underwent a surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2004 and received a liver transplant in 2009. Early this year, he took another leave of absence and officially stepped down as Apple CEO in August.



Apple’s statement follows below:

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.



Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.



His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

Following the news, Tim Cook, the new CEO of Apple has also sent an email to Apple employees which reads:

Team,



I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.



Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.



No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.



Tim

RIP, Steve Jobs. You'll be remembered.



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Is Siri on iPhone 4S Available in iPhone 4 and iPad 2?

Following iPhone 4S announcement last night, aside from the hardware upgrade made to the original iPhone 4, Apple also revealed a new feature called Siri.

Siri is originally a personal assistant application brought to the iPhone firmware, particularly the iOS 5, and it works in a way in which iPhone users can ask for a reminder, send SMS or email, ask about the weather, ask for a place and direction, set a meeting, ask for a number, set an alarm and timer, and among other things. Before Siri was made as an integral part of iOS yet exclusive to iPhone 4S, it's actually a third-party app that has been in the App Store for months. Apple pulled it off before the iPhone 4S announcement.



Technically, Siri utilize the user’s voice, analyze it using what is called in Artificial Intelligence as a “natural language processing”, and returns an answer or recommendations it finds from the iOS itself as well from web sources like Yelp and WolframAlpha and other web services. This technology is not new; just that it’s exciting to note it has been integrated to iOS and made available on devices like the iPhone 4S.



Watch this video to see Siri in action.





So back to the question: Is Siri on iPhone 4S Available in iPhone 4 and iPad 2?



The answer is NO; or perhaps, not yet. I’ve actually watched the entire event last night (through the streaming link from here) and Phil Schiller said Siri is still on beta and is exclusive to the iPhone 4S. In fact, if you just didn’t skimmed the dedicated page for Siri at Apple’s website – there’s a footnote which reads “Siri is available in Beta only on iPhone 4S and requires Internet access. Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Cellular data charges may apply.” While still on beta, Siri is localized in the US, UK and Australia, French and German, and will even work in Canada.



But why is that so? You’d ask. That’s probably because Siri is CPU-intensive that it would require chipsets like the Apple A5. iPad 2 is powered by the same A5 chipset, but why is Siri just for iPhone 4S? You’d ask again. Though the exact reason is still unclear, I come up to think that Siri is a deal breaker for an iPhone 4S. If you stick to iPhone 4, you won’t get Siri.



Just a related note though, Siri may be available in future software update following iOS 5; however, there’s no guarantee iPhone 4 or the iPad 2 will have it until we realized there’s another iDevice coming.



Got an iPhone 4? How do you feel Siri won’t be available in your device?



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iPhone 4S Philippines, Globe Telecom Price and Expected Release Date

Now that iPhone 4S is official, the next question is – when would it be available here in the Philippines and how much?

Well, we’ll try to figure out based on Apple’s iPhone release roadmap in the past and from there, we can have our assumption for Globe Telecom.



To recap, the first generation iPhone was released on June 9, 2007; however, Apple didn’t have a partner-carrier here in the Philippines at the time yet. Globe Telecom started to offer Apple’s second generation smartphone, the iPhone 3G, on August 22, 2008 – almost 11 weeks since the device was announced on June 9, 2008. Exactly 1 year later (June 8, 2009), Apple announced its third generation smartphone, the iPhone 3GS, with the device’s availability on Globe Telecom 8 weeks later, and that was on July 31, 2009. Then the fourth generation iPhone 4 was announced last year (June 7, 2010 to be exact), with Globe Telecom launched the device 16 weeks later (September 26th, 2010). As you can see, all the previous generation iPhones has June as its launched date, yet took several weeks before it landed in Globe’s headquarter -- 11 weeks for iPhone 3G, 8 weeks for 3GS, and 16 weeks for iPhone 4. It’s obviously an irregular pattern which makes it hard to figure out when the fifth generation iPhone will make a landfall in the Philippine soil.



This time is different. Apple announced iPhone 4S on October 4th, with the device availability in the US, Canada, Australia, UK, France, Germany, and Japan on the 14th. And 22 more countries will have it on October 28th, but that doesn’t include the Philippines. Apple only said the iPhone 4S will be available to “70 countries by end of the year”, so we have a hint. Globe Telecom will have the iPhone 4S sometime in December, and if I have to throw my guess – that would be before Christmas. Now you’d think of it as a great Christmas present, won’t you?



Globe iPhone 4S Prices



When you talk about iPhone, the prices get a more serious attention. And one can figure it out how much the iPhone 4S will cost at Globe. Again, we’ll do a recap.



Globe iPhone 3G Prices

iPhone 3G 8GB – Php 37,599; FREE starting at Plan 5,000

iPhone 3G 16GB – Php 43,799; FREE starting at Plan 10,000



Globe iPhone 3GS Prices

iPhone 3GS 16GB – Php 38,850; FREE starting at Plan 5,000

iPhone 3GS 32GB – Php 42,250; FREE starting at Plan 7,000



Globe iPhone 4 Prices (Black or White)

iPhone 4 16GB – Php 37,499; FREE starting at Plan 3,799

iPhone 4 32GB – Php 43,699; FREE starting at Plan 5,000



Unlike the previous generation iPhones particularly the 3G and 3GS, the iPhone 4S at first launch will be available in 3 models – the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. If I’m not mistaken the iPhone 4S is the first Apple smartphone, if not all, to carry such huge internal storage at 64GB. Of course that will come with a good price!



In the US, the iPhone 4S is priced at $199, $299, and $399 for the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models, respectively, on top of the 2-year contract with respective carriers.



It’s unsafe yet to throw-in iPhone 4S prices at Globe Telecom; however, if we have to benchmark iPhone 4 prices last year, my guesstimate is still the same (with calculation for the 64GB variant) and it follows:



iPhone 4S Prices (Black or White)

16GB Php 37,499 -- Free starting at Plan 3799

32GB Php 43,699 -- Free starting at Plan 5000

64GB Php 49,899 -- Free starting at Plan 10K



This may not be accurate, but it would give you an insight regarding the range. Rest assured though, this post will be updated once we got a word from Globe Telecom. Stay tuned! And oh, just a related note – in case you missed the links above, go check out the details of iPhone 4S via the link!



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Watch Apple “Let’s Talk iPhone” Event Videos Online [Replay]

Apple has already posted the replay videos of its “Let’s Talk iPhone” event in Cupertino, California where the tech giant unveiled a refresh of iPhone 4 (the iPhone 4S), a new iPod Nano and iPod Touch, as well as the announcement of iCloud and iOS 5 availability.

I followed the entire event last night through a number of live blogging from huge tech blogs and press in the US, but it’s different to see the real acts, right? If you’re a bit curious how the new Apple CEO handled his first helm of the show, coupled with some live demos from popular Apple faces like Phil Schiller and Scott Forstall, and of course the reactions from the crowd – you may check this link for your viewing pleasure.



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iPhone 4 8GB Version Coming to Stores, Of Course for a Cheaper Price!

That’s right! The iPhone 4 will now have an 8GB variant as announced from Apple’s press conference in Cupertino, California earlier today.

Of course this 8GB iPhone 4 will carry the same hardware specs as its bigger siblings – the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 4 versions – yet will just costs half of last year’s base model, that is $99 in the US with 2-year contract.



I’m quite sure Globe Telecom will also add this handset on its iPhone portfolio (plus the iPhone 4S) so expect to see this on its postpaid offers very, very soon.



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Apple iPhone 4S Unveiled: Specs, Features, Price and Availability

Apple just took the wraps off its new smartphone – the iPhone 4S.

The iPhone 4S’ physical design is just the same as the original iPhone 4, but it got an all-new internals which include Apple’s new ARM-based A5 chip which packs a dual-core GPU as well as a dual-core Cortex A9 CPU at 1GHz. Apple says the dual-core GPU on A5 chipset simply means the graphics on iPhone 4S can be up to 7 times faster than the previous iPhone. Of course with the upgraded chipset, the iPhone 4S is expected to utilize more power than the previous iPhone – however, Apple says it has also worked out on the handset’s battery so it can now offer up to 8 hours talk time on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM), 6 hours of 3G browsing, 9 hours of Wi-Fi browsing, 10 hours of video playback, 40 hours worth of music, or up to 200 hours standby time. Not bad, huh? The Cupertino tech giant has also made a significant overhaul on the iPhone 4 original antenna, so the iPhone 4S will have one which can intelligently switch between different sets of antennas for even better call quality as well as to avoid dropping of calls. There’s also a higher resolution camera at 3264 x 2448 with an 8MP sensor. Another improvement on the new iPhone 4S is the 3G radio which Apple says can offer up to 14.4Mbps downlink and up to 5.8Mbps uplink. Unlike the iPhone 4 at first launch, the iPhone 4S will be available both in GSM and CDMA flavors.



iPhone 4S Specs



iOS 5

Networks (UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/GSM/EDGE and CDMA EV-DO Rev. A)

3.5-inch 960x640 pixels (326ppi) Retina Display

1 GHz Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU, Dual-Core PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU (A5 chipset)

16GB, 32GB, and 64GB

512MB RAM

8MP camera with Autofocus and LED Flash

1080p Full HD video recording/playback, up to 30 frames per second

VGA front camera

802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz only)

Bluetooth 4.0

GPS, aGPS

3.5 mm audio jack

30-pin dock connector

Built-in Speaker

Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Digital Compass, Proximity, 3-axis Gyroscope

1430mAh Li-Ion battery

115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm

140g



Black and White versions are available with 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB variants, priced in the US for $199, $299, and $399 respectively, of course with two year contract. iPhone 4S preorders start on October 7th, Friday and will be released in the United States, Canada, Australia, UK, France, Germany, and Japan on the 14th of this month. The iPhone 4S will be available on the 28th to 22 more countries, and 70 other countries by the end of the year.



Watch iPhone 4S promotional video after the break!





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iOS 5 and iCloud Release Update: October 12

Apple Inc. is currently holding its press conference in which the tech giant is expected to unveil new hardware particularly the highly anticipated iPhone 5 or/and iPhone 4S, as well as the new iPod models.

And part of the announcement is the availability of iOS 5 and Apple’s cloud service, the iCloud. iOS 5 brings new features such as Notification Center, Newsstand, Reminders App, deep Twitter Integration, Optimized Safari Web Browsing, Enhanced Camera App, iMessage, an updated Game Center, iCloud Sync, Multi-tasking Gestures, as well as Airplay Mirroring for iPad. We actually have learned about these new features on Apple’s WWDC event last June. In fact, we covered some of it which you can read from here.



Also from today’s Apple press conference, we’ve learned the iOS 5 and iCloud will be available next week, October 12th. That’s all for now, just stay tuned for updates!



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It’s Official: Apple iPhone 5 Event this October 4!

Yes, that’s right! Apple is already sending invites to the press in the US for the much-anticipated media event in which the tech giant is expected to launch a refresh of its iPhone.

Apple’s press conference will be held on October 4th at Apple’s campus in Cupertino, California beginning at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (1:00 p.m. ET).



The image you see above is part of the invitation, and if I have to guess it right – Apple will announce just one (1) iPhone and the iOS 5 with 280 new features added to the iPhone’s firmware. But of course we’ll try to uncover what really Apple has in store on the gameday. Excited? Well, reserve the date.J



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iPhone 5 Release Update: October 15th, Says France Telecom CEO!

This is never a leaked document, and by no means a slip of the tongue… If we are to believe the CEO of France Telecom, the iPhone 5 will launch in October 15th!

Speaking to the French press, France Telecom chief executive Stéphane Richard discussed Apple’s plans for the release of the next iPhone model and even confirmed the date when the Cupertino-based phone maker will unveil the device.

"If we believe what we have been told, the iPhone 5 will be released on 15 October.”

Now, this report coincides with earlier rumors involving the leaked documents from Best Buy in the US as well as the early announcement of iPhone 5 pre-orders at Deutsche Telecom AG in Germany. And if all of these information holds true, then we can expect iPhone 5 from Globe Telecom in mid-December this year -- of course, unless only if Globe and Apple change its roadmap, right? It may even come as a surprise if Globe Telecom will have it in less than a month. Anyway, October is almost there, folks – so let’s just see. [via]



Update: Apple iPhone 5 event is official, October 4th.

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Play Flash Contents in iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, Very Soon…

Finally, Adobe brings all the possibilities of playing Flash contents like videos and games to Apple devices with the release of the new versions of Adobe Flash Media Server and Adobe Flash Access.

The inability to play Flash contents through iOS’ native Safari browser is perhaps the biggest complaint among users as far as streaming media is concerned. Technically, it’s not an issue of the Safari browser but rather on how Adobe renders Flash contents to the device. Flash is described as too “resource-intensive” by utilizing much of the handset’s processor and battery, which has a significant impact in overall performance. With all of the anticipated issues which the great Steve Jobs outlined here, Flash contents are blocked in iOS devices. There are some apps though that made its way to the App Store like the Skyfire for iPhone and Skyfire for iPad, which does all rendering tricks on Flash videos, but still it’s not the complete solution just yet.



Not anymore. Adobe says with the new Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 and Adobe Flash Access 3.0, however, seamless delivery of Flash contents to devices like iPhone and iPad have already taken care of by these Adobe products; obviously, processing contents in the server side out of Apple’s control.

With Flash Media Server 4.5, media publishers can extend their already broad mobile reach via Flash-enabled devices, with the new ability to deliver video content to Apple’s iPad and iPhone devices, enabling them to reach the widest audience possible. Adobe Flash Access 3.0, a robust content protection and monetization solution, will enable content owners to deliver on-demand content with massive scale and strict studio-level security across a broad range of devices, following the upcoming release of Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR 3.

This is certainly good news for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users; and of course to media publishers as well, as reaching more audience is not just possible. Read on more about Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 and Adobe Flash Access 3.0 products through the press release after the break.



Click to Read Press Release

Adobe Announces Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 and Adobe Flash Access 3.0



New Ways to Deliver and Protect High-Quality Video Online and On-device Simplify Streaming Media and Content Protection for Superior Video Experiences Across Desktops and Devices Including iOS, Android and Playbook



IBC 2011 September 08, 2011 10:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time



SAN JOSE, Calif. & AMSTERDAM–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced at the IBC 2011 Conference and Exhibition significant new releases of industry-leading streaming video solutions, including Adobe® Flash® Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access® 3.0 software. With Flash Media Server 4.5, media publishers can extend their already broad mobile reach via Flash-enabled devices, with the new ability to deliver video content to Apple’s iPad and iPhone devices, enabling them to reach the widest audience possible. Adobe Flash Access 3.0, a robust content protection and monetization solution, will enable content owners to deliver on-demand content with massive scale and strict studio-level security across a broad range of devices, following the upcoming release of Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR® 3.



“Adobe has a deep heritage in providing video solutions for delivering content online and on-device. With Flash Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access 3.0, we’re enabling businesses to reach more customers and more devices, helping them increase the impact of video experiences, enhance their brands and ultimately, drive business success”



At the IBC 2011 Exhibition, Adobe will demonstrate its streaming video solutions including the Flash Media Server family, Flash Access, the Open Source Media Framework (OSMF) and Adobe Pass, Adobe’s content authentication solution for TV Everywhere, at its stand (Hall 7 Stand 7.G27) in the RAI Convention Center, Sept. 9-13 in Amsterdam.



“Adobe has a deep heritage in providing video solutions for delivering content online and on-device. With Flash Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access 3.0, we’re enabling businesses to reach more customers and more devices, helping them increase the impact of video experiences, enhance their brands and ultimately, drive business success,” said Pritham Shetty, vice president, Video Solutions, Adobe.



“When your business is based on delivering live, broadcast-quality video streams for high-profile events to massive audiences across the world, having strong technology backing you is vital,” said Ben Rolling, vice president of development for AEG Digital Media, the leading provider of complete webcast management and media services for live streaming events and online video. “Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 improves the stability of our video streams, decreases load times, and helps us better manage encoding and bitrates for an improved end-user experience on mobile devices and online. We can trust that it will deliver rock solid video streams and please our clients, advertisers and viewers, whether we’re streaming the royal wedding or the Grammy Awards.”



Premium Video Streaming with Flash Media Server 4.5



Flash Media Server 4.5 expands on its mobile delivery options with the addition of iOS support and enables content owners to create HTTP content on the fly to reduce costs brought on by device proliferation. New features of Flash Media Server 4.5:



Delivery to iPad and iPhone enables businesses to use the same media and live streams to deliver full adaptive bit-rate experiences to platforms supporting Flash, as well as Apple devices, including iPad and iPhone.



Integrated Content Protection simplifies deployment and reduces infrastructure cost, enabling seamless streaming for advertising-funded online video.



On-demand Stream Packaging eliminates the need to prepare and protect assets ahead of time, reducing complexity and storage costs and simplifying publishing for businesses so they can use one set of source video to reach multiple downstream devices.



Premium Video Monetization and Content Protection with Flash Access 3.0



Flash Access 3.0 builds on Adobe’s strong traction in video delivery by extending support to reach mobile devices. This allows content providers to securely deliver and monetize content with a single back-end workflow, delivering rich, engaging experiences on desktop, connected TVs, Blu-ray players, tablets and smartphones. New features of Flash Access 3.0:



Support on Mobile Devices will include Android tablets and smartphones, as well as other mobile devices, allowing video programmers to leverage the same content delivery, protection and monetization infrastructure to target mobile devices, following the upcoming release of Adobe Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR 3 (set to be available later this quarter).



Scalable License Delivery and in-band Key Rotation enables Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs) and programmers to offer television experiences over IP, whether over the open Internet or on a managed network, at massive scale. With Flash Access 3.0, it is now possible to securely deliver multiple TV “channels” to millions of subscribers with a cost-effective premium content protection solution.



Compatibility with Industry Standards including UltraViolet, an industry-standard, cloud-based digital rights locker system that will allow consumers to create personal virtual video libraries and access them across multiple devices. Flash Access has been approved for use with UltraViolet, set to be released this fall. Flash Access 3.0 and the upcoming versions of Flash Player 11 and AIR 3 will be able to be leveraged by content retailers, service providers and device manufacturers to create full UltraViolet experiences, including playback for the UVVU Common File Format.



Pricing and Availability



Adobe Flash Access 3.0 is offered at per unit CPM pricing. Adobe Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5 is offered at US$995. Adobe Flash Media Interactive Server 4.5 is offered at US$4,500. Adobe Flash Media Enterprise Server 4.5 pricing can be quoted by contacting Adobe. Products can be ordered today at www.adobe.com/go/fms and are available immediately.

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Highest Average Downloads Per App Goes to Nokia Ovi Store, 160 Percent More than Apple App Store

The stats say it all; Nokia has lesser number of applications on its Ovi Store compared to Apple App Store.



With more than 1 billion downloads to date, the total number of approved iOS apps has already reached the 500K mark; while that of Symbian platform is still trailing less than tenth of Apple’s figure. But is it really a bad thing for Nokia? Well, not always, according to German-based research firm research2guidance. Nokia having fewer apps at its Ovi Store means lower competition between app publishers, and could be an advantage for its apps to be downloaded several times in a day giving the fact that Nokia has large user base. And the same goes to other players like Microsoft and RIM.



Based on previous quarter's results of its smartphone application monitoring report, the firm says “that those applications published on the less popular platforms, such as WP7 marketplace or Blackberry’s AppWorld, generate significantly more downloads compared to the Apple App Store.”

Click to enlarge

From the figure above, the Nokia Ovi Store has received 160% more on average app downloads than Apple App Store. The Windows Phone 7 Marketplace and the BlackBerry AppWorld also received higher average app downloads than Apple App Store with 80% and 43% more, respectively. Apps from Android Market, however, were downloaded daily 5% less than iOS apps in the previous quarter.



Well, seems quite promising for Symbian developers, indeed. But it would have been better if we can see which and what type of apps are being downloaded. Press release follows below.



Click to Read Press Release

Apps On Nokia’s OVI Store Had 2.5 Times Higher Download Numbers In Q2 2011 Compared To Apps on Apple App Store



The “average app” has a better chance to generate downloads on “non-hyped” platforms.



Despite all the hype around the major platforms Android and iOS, publishers are still overlooking the hidden potentials of the niche players. The Q2 2011 results of our smartphone application monitoring report indicate that those applications published on the less popular platforms, such as WP7 marketplace or Blackberry’s AppWorld, generate significantly more downloads compared to the Apple App Store.



Significantly lower competition, yet a sufficiently large user base that desires apps, are the major reasons for this. Symbian still retains, by far, the highest potential user base. Even though its users are incomparably less active than iOS’s heavy downloaders, it still generates significant download volumes to Symbian publishers. This is largely because whilst Apple boasts of its 400,000 apps, the OVI store contains less than a tenth of that number.



Looking into average numbers, the Android Market stands not far behind the Apple App Store. This quarter, the average Android App attracted just 5% less users than iOS. Competition is harsh.



However, going in for very small niche platforms may not be the best idea either. LG World! and Samsung’s App Store are struggling to generate user attention. Although LG has less than 3,000 apps and as a result it is much easier to be discovered there, its user base is just too low.



Although the Symbian platform is seen by some developers to be clumsy and outdated, as well as Nokia’s transition to WP7 which has fuelled discussions as to when Nokia will give up its platform completely, the current status seems to be promising. Recently, Nokia reported the launch of three new Symbian Smartphones and confirmed that these will not be the last of the products, nor updates, to be delivered on Symbian.



Find other important Q2 2011 market developments in the new volume of the research2guidance Smartphone App Market Monitor. The third volume of the report includes a special interest chapter on mobile retail market.

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Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple, COO Tim Cook Named as Successor

The Board of Directors of Apple, Inc. announced on Wednesday that Steve Jobs has resigned as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.

Time Cook (L) and Steve Jobs (R)

In a resignation letter, Steve Jobs personally recommended Tim Cook, a man known more for his operational expertise than vision, as his successor.



Here’s the full resignation letter sent to the Apple Board of Directors and to you, members of the Apple Community.

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.



I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.



As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.



I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.



I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.



Steve

Steve Jobs left no explanation for his exit in the CEO role, but it undoubtedly raised concern regarding his health. We can recall that Jobs was diagnosed of a pancreatic cancer and underwent a liver transplant back in 2009. Just early this year, he took again a medical leave of absence.



As of this writing, Apple stock dipped as much as 5% following Jobs’ resignation.



In a press release sent to the media, Jobs has been elected Chairman of Apple’s Board of Directors, and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.



The question now is will Apple continue its winning streak under new leadership? Well, according to Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple’s Board:

“The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO. Tim’s 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does.”

Read on the full press release after the break.



Click to Read Press Release

Apple’s Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.



“Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company,” said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple’s Board. “Steve has made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”



“The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO,” added Levinson. “Tim’s 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does.”

Jobs submitted his resignation to the Board today and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO.



As COO, Cook was previously responsible for all of the company’s worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple’s supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple’s Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace.



Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

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Apple iCloud Service Goes Beta

Apple’s cloud service, iCloud, is now on its beta phase and has already been launched for developers.

iCloud.com is now live and those who have Apple account, even not a registered dev, can also logon to the service. I just logged on to iCloud prior to writing this post and there you’ll see web applications for Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Find My iPhone, and iWork. The interface is quite simple and there is even a functionality which resembles that of iOS’ like the screen shot below.

Click to enlarge

For those who missed the announcement of iCloud back in June, iCloud is actually a cloud service which syncs data automatically between iOS devices and computers. To put it into perspective, if you’re editing spreadsheet in iPad, you can continue the task and finish it in your iPhone. Or if you got a new iPod Touch, iCloud can set it up according to your older iPod Touch’s settings, apps, contacts, and etc. Or in other words, iCloud takes the “synchronization” as well as the “backup” functionalities of iTunes through the internet.



Apple offers a 5GB of free iCloud storage for documents, backups, contacts, calendars; but if you need more than that, an additional 10GB will cost you $20 per year, $40 for 20GB, and $100 for $50. Purchase of additional storage is available through the settings panel of the iOS5 iCloud. iOS 5 is expected to arrive in fall.



It's cool really, but I think this iCloud-thingy will work best for those who have at least two iOS devices.



If you have an Apple ID, you can explore the service by logging in to iCloud.com.

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See What You Can Do with iPad 2, Now…

That’s actually what you’re about to see with Apple’s new Ad for its second-generation tablet dubbed as yet another magical device – the iPad 2.

iPad 2

Entitled “Now”, the new Ad focuses more on what you can do with the iPad and the seamless user experience the tablet brings. Want to see it? Here you go…





Well, honestly speaking – there are more…

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Unlocked GSM iPhone 4, Now Available in US Apple Online Store

Finally, Apple is now selling unlocked version of GSM-based iPhone 4.

That means those who will grab the handset won’t have to worry about switching between different carriers around the world, as long as the carrier to use supports the same operating frequency in the GSM network. The catch though is it would only be available in the US and can be ordered only through Apple Online Store, at least for the time being. Both the white and black versions are available. 16GB model of the carrier-unlocked iPhone 4 is selling at $649, while the 32GB model can be purchased at $749.



For those CTB readers who are not regular iPhone users, Apple usually release the iPhone locked to exclusive carriers around the world. In the US, iPhone exclusive carrier was AT&T; but it ended when Apple released a CDMA-based iPhone 4 for Verizon subscribers. Here in the Philippines, the exclusive iPhone carrier is Globe Telecom.



With the iPhone being locked to exclusive carriers, users need to unlock the phone baseband so they can use different carriers anywhere in the world. Unlocking the iPhone baseband can be achieved by jailbreaking its operating system (iOS) and installing an app called Ultrasn0w. When Apple released the iPhone 4 last year, most of the baseband versions that come with it are almost impossible to unlock. This resulted to the release of alternative baseband unlocking product, the SIM interposers, like Gevey. But with Apple’s move to sell unlocked version of GSM iPhone 4, using Ultrasn0w and Gevey SIM won’t make any sense.



Those who will buy the unlocked iPhone 4 need to know that the phone is only compatible with micro-SIM cards. Here in the Philippines, Smart Communications is also selling prepaid micro-SIM cards for Php 40 or less. It’s also important to note that Micro-SIM card that comes with the iPad tablet can’t be interchanged and will not work with the iPhone.



And since Apple won’t ship unlocked iPhone 4 ordered outside US, from here in the Philippines for instance, the last resort is to use a US mailing address or have someone in the US buy the item on your behalf.

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Look, this is What They Call Magical iOS 5!

Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 5, is set to be unveiled later today at the WWDC 2011.



But as early as now, one entertainer in the name of Simon Pierro, got something for us to preview the latest firmware and witness its magical features as seen on the iPad. I’ve already seen the video and before you see it - I warn you that you had never ever seen such features on other operating systems or even on previous versions of iOS. This is going to be pretty exciting, and if you’re ready – go hit the video after the break.



It’s magical indeed. Just that it would never come to reality. Anyway, the real iOS 5 is coming in the next few hours after I publish this post. So just stay tuned for more updates. J

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Windows Logo in Apple Store? Oh, That Would Be Hilarious!

Vandalism is a ruthless destruction of what seems to be a great art.

It turns out the two guys in Germany hate to see the Apple logo on its own store; instead, they put something we’re all familiar with – Microsoft Windows.

Steve Jobs won't be happy seeing this...

Yeah, that’s true. Microsoft’s Windows logo, painted in wood perhaps, has been screwed in one of the sides of a soon-to-open two-storey Apple Store in Hamburg, Germany. Though it’s really a peculiar thing to see a Redmond additive to the Cupertino’s sweet Apple, it’s even extremely funny to see the guys mistakenly arranged the colors of the original Windows logo. Aren’t the blue and green colors needs to be switched? Oh, that makes me think those two pranksters aren’t really fan of Windows. Hit the video below and see if they even qualify to work in constructions.  J [via]

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Apple to Unveil iOS 5, Mac OS X Lion, and iCloud at WWDC 2011; Seems No iPhone 4S or iPhone 5

Enough for the rumors of the next generation smartphone from the Cupertino company because what we are expecting as the iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 is unlikely to exist in reality, at least during the upcoming Wordwide Developers Conference (WWDC) set on Monday, June 6th in San Francisco, California.

In a press release, Apple is said to unveil only its next generation software - the Mac OS X Lion, the iOS 5, and the company’s upcoming cloud services offering - the iCloud.

Apple® CEO Steve Jobs and a team of Apple executives will kick off the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a keynote address on Monday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. At the keynote, Apple will unveil its next generation software - Lion, the eighth major release of Mac OS® X; iOS 5, the next version of Apple’s advanced mobile operating system which powers the iPad®, iPhone® and iPod touch®; and iCloud®, Apple’s upcoming cloud services offering.

The WWDC is actually the historic annual event of Apple in which new iPhone hardware is being introduced. But with the recent announcement, Apple seems to change its roadmap - that is not unveiling the new model of its smartphone at the event.



That means, certainty of the next iPhone is still has to be deciphered through our creative theories. But who knows Steve Jobs will bring us some surprises. Of course we’ll be following the happenings in WWDC, so just stay tuned for updates. [via]

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iOS Apps Reaches 500K; Angry Birds, the Most Popular Paid App of All Times

Apple, together with its developers and fans, has another reason to celebrate for yet another milestone achieved in iTunes App Store.

From its launch back in July 10, 2008 – the latest infographic shows that the number of approved apps in iTunes App Store reaches 500,000, based on collaborative effort from app search engine Chomp, app review site 148apps, and game publisher Chillingo.



The latest number of approved apps came from 85,569 unique developers. 37% of all apps are free and the average price for paid apps is $3.64. Angry Birds is still the most popular paid application of all times based on number of days at number 1 in iTunes App Store.



While Apple reaches the new milestone, its competitors are still trailing in stats. Just recently, Apple's stronger competitor, Google, announced that the Android Market had reached more than 200,000 apps. Other App Stores in the competition haven’t reached the 50,000 mark except for Nokia’s Ovi Store.



Take a look at the infographic below. (click to enlarge)

[via]

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White iPhone 4 now Available in Globe Telecom

“The iPhone 4 is now available in white, exclusive to Globe subscribers!” reads the snow-colored iPhone page of Globe Telecom, the country’s official carrier for the device.

Well, it’s not really that surprising; but just in case you’re interested, it’s worth to tell. Apple had the worldwide launch of its Albino flavored smartphone late last month, and in just 2 weeks it finally arrived here in the Philippines. As I’ve said before, the white version of the iPhone 4 comes with the same price as with its black sibling. If you’re among those who have been waiting for this, you may visit your nearest Globe business center or you may drop a call to Globe’s hotline at 211. Of course, don’t forget to let us know if it’s indeed available already. [via]

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