APPLE IMAC 21.5-INCH (2014) REVIEW

Back in June, Cupertino lowered the price on its iMac desktops from $1,299 to $1,099. Though still spendier than many PC competitors, getting an iMac suddenly got significantly more affordable.

Our review iMac had the stock 500GB mechanical drive upgraded to a 1TB Fusion Drive, adding $250 to the price for a total of $1,349. Other specs match the base model, including a 1.4GHz Intel Core i5 dual-core processor, 8GB of RAM, and Intel HD Graphics 5000.

Apple envisions its newest iMac as the perfect computer for basic day-to-day use – tasks like Web browsing, email, and light gaming. While it may fit that description, $1,349 – or even $1,099 – is a lot to pay. So, does the iMac’s performance justify the new, lower price?

Nothing new here

Aside from a change in specs and price, this 21.5-inch iMac doesn’t sport any radical changes on the design front.

The iMac’s chassis is made of aluminum, and feels as premium as any computer we’ve ever laid our hands on. The system is thin, measuring 5mm at its edge, and rests on a solid L-shaped pedestal. Tilting the display up and down is so effortless you can do it with one hand – no need to grab the base to steady it.

The iMac feels as premium as any computer we’ve ever laid our hands on.

If there’s one word that comes to mind when we look at the iMac, it’s “neat.” The computer looks slick and will get a double take from anyone who passes by your desk. Power for the entire machine comes from a single cable, which minimizes clutter on and around your desk. We like that.

Apple’s dislike for cables extends over to the bundled peripherals, a standard keyboard and Magic Mouse, both of which are wireless. While they’re pretty, they are both small. If you’re used to a full-size PC keyboard, Apple’s flat wireless QWERTY will seem especially tiny.

Our other design complaint is that the power button is mysteriously located around the back left, where it’s difficult to find. Eventually, you’ll develop the muscle memory that ends the “find the power button” hunt, but we wish it was placed in the front. In fact, we think the Apple logo under the display would make a great power button.

The iMac’s 21.5-inch 1080p display produces crisp, luminous images, even if the gloss can be distracting when viewing at an angle. The built-in speakers will be more than good enough for most people, though audiophiles will probably want to add a nice pair of headphones, or some chic speakers.

Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/desktop-computer-reviews/apple-imac-2014-review/#ixzz36Tgrj4iT 

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APPLE KICKS OFF ‘BACK TO SCHOOL’ PROMOTION WITH $50-$100 GIFT CARDS

Apple isn’t exactly well known for discounting its products, but it does offer good deals for students, teachers, and their parents now and then. Apple just kicked off its “Back to School” promotion with a slew of discounts and gift cards on iPads, iPhones, and MacBooks.

All incoming freshmen, current college students, K-12 kids, and teachers are eligible for the discounts, as are students’ parents, provided they’re buying the device for their kid. Basic education discounts range from $30 to $200, depending on what product you buy. Apple will also throw in a $50 or $100 gift card, to sweeten the deal.

If you buy an iPad Air, iPad with retina display, iPad Mini with retina display, or just a regular iPad Mini, you’ll get $30 off your purchase, plus a $50 gift card to the Apple Store.  Those who purchase an iPhone may not get the education discount, but they will get a $50 gift card. The deal includes the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5C, and iPhone 5S.

Naturally, discounts on Apple’s Macs are much higher, seeing as these laptops and desktops will actually be used in heavy-duty school work (and are priced higher). MacBook Airs are $50 off and come with $100 gift cards, while MacBook Pros cost $100 to $200 less and include $100 gift cards.

Apple also took $50 to $100 off of the price of the iMac and added $100 gift cards. Mac Pros are the most heavily discounted of the Apple products, with price reductions ranging from $200 to $300 in addition to $100 gift cards. Even so, that promotion won’t take too much off the $3,000-plus price tag.

The Back to School promotion lasts until September 9. After that date, education discounts will still be in effect, but Apple won’t offer the gift cards anymore. The promotion is in effect for all students and educators who buy online or at Apple’s retail stores. Similar discounts are also available in Canada, the U.K., and Germany.

Copyright : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/apple-back-to-school-promotion-2014/#!69RHt

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List of Siri Commands

With the introduction of iOS7, Siri is finally out of beta. Apple rarely ever slaps BETA on to anything. Since the launch of the iPod, their legacy has been to deliver finished products. Now that Siri is out of BETA, it’s more powerful and faster than before. There are a huge list of things Siri can now do. Take a look at some of them below.

Phone

• Call (name)
• Call (name) home
• Call (name) on his work phone
• Call (number)
• Call home
• Get my call history

Facetime

• Facetime (name)
• Make Facetime audio call

App Launching

• Launch photos
• Play Infinity Blade II
• Open Facebook

Messaging

• Tell (name) I’ll be right there
• Send a message to (name)
• Send a message t0 (name) saying ‘How about tomorrow?’
• Send message to (number)
• Text (name) and (name), ‘where are you?’

Calendar

• Set up a meeting at (time)
• Set up a meeting with (name) at (time)
• Meet with (name) at (time)
• Set up a meeting about (description & time)
• Move 3pm meeting to 4:30
• Reschedule appointment with (name) to (date)
• What does the rest of my day look like?
• What’s on my calendar?
• Cancel (event)
• When is my next appointment?

Sports

• Did (team name) win?
• How did (team name) do last night?
• What was the score last time (team name) played (team name)?
• Show me the football scores from last night
• When do (team name) play next?
• What does the Premier League table look like?
• Who is the highest goal scorer in the Premier League?

Navigation

• Navigate to (destination)
• Navigate home
• Navigate to work
• Walking directions to (destination)
• What’s my next turn?
• Are we there yet?
• What’s my ETA?
• Find (place)
• Show me (place)
• Where is the closest (store)?

Twitter

• Tweet (whatever you would like to tweet)
• Tweet (whatever you would like to tweet) with my location
• Search Twitter for (your search terms)
• Show me my tweets
• What’s trending on Twitter?

Facebook

• Post to Facebook (whatever you would like to post)

Movies

• Where is my closest cinema?
• What’s playing at my closest cinema?
• Show me reviews for (film)

Music

• Play (name of song)
• Play (artist)
• Play (album)
• Play (playlist
• Play
• Pause
• Skip
• Play iTunes Radio
• Play more songs like this one
• Don’t play this song again

Reminders

• Add (whatever you want) to (name of list)
• Remind me to call (name) at (time)
• Remind me to take my medication at (time)
• Read my to-do list
• Remind me to call (name) when I get (destination)

Email

• Email (name) about (whatever you like)
• New email to (name)
• Check email
• Any new emails from (name)
• Reply to (name)

Weather

• What’s the weather for today?
• What’s the weather for tomorrow?
• How’s the weather in (place)?
• What’s the weather for this evening?
• Is it windy?
• When is sunrise/sunset?

Clock

• Wake me up at (time)
• Set an alarm for (time)
• Turn off alarm
• Delete alarm
• What time is it in (place)
• What is today’s date?
• What’s the date this Saturday?

Timer

• Set time for five minutes
• Show timer
• Pause timer
• Resume timer

Contacts

• What’s (name) address?
• What is (name) number?
• When is my wife’s birthday?
• Show (name)
• My mum is (name)
• My brother is (name)
• Call mum

Notes

• Note (whatever you’d like to note)
• Find meeting notes
• Show my notes from last week
• Read my last note

Settings

• Turn on airplane mode
• Turn on bluetooth
• Make screen brighter
• Go to Twitter settings
• Show me privacy settings
• Enable Wi-Fi
• Open mail settings
• Turn on Do Not Disturb

This list is not comprehensive and there are a lot more commands that Siri will respond to. If you know of any such commands, do let us know in the comment section below.

Copyright: http://www.honeytechblog.com/list-of-siri-commands/

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Was iOS 7 Created In Microsoft Word?

In terms of design, iOS7 is a drastic change compared to the previous versions of Apple’s mobile OS. The design is much flatter and simpler compared to iOS 6 and before. As with every new change, some people love the new design, some people hate it.

But one thing that is crazy is that you can create the iOS 7 homepage completely from scratch in Microsoft Word. Yes, Microsoft Word, that very popular word processing program that millions of people use on a daily basis.
Vaclav took out the time to recreate iOS 7 in Microsoft Word and he did a fine job of it.

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App Review: Angry Birds Epic (iOS, Android, WP): Thrown into RPG Land!

“Sometimes you just have to let go of what has worked well for you so far. And try something altogether new.” No, we are not giving some self-improvement sermon here. We are just talking of the latest Angry Birds game in tech town, Angry Birds Epic. Almost six years ago, the game became a rage all over the world because of its physics based gameplay which involved hurling furious birds through slingshots at adversarial swine hiding behind fortifications. The locales changed – we went to Rio, to outer space and even got some Star Wars into the act – but the gameplay remained fundamentally the same: you put a bird into a slingshot, worked out the angle and force of your attack at the pigs. And let rip.

The past year, however, has seen Rovio trying to shake off the catapult physics game heritage of the Angry Birds brand. First there was the Bad Piggies game which was more about building things than destroying them and then there was the unabashed go karter, Angry Birds Go. And now comes Angry Birds Epic, which sees Rovio yank the birds into combat and RPG territory. Yes, you heard that right, and if you happen to be a fan of the turn-based combat system of the early versions of Final Fantasy and games like Septerra Core, say ‘hooray’ because now your favourite feathered heroes are in similar mode.One thing that has now changed, however, is the storyline. It still is about pigs stealing the birds’ eggs and the birds then going on a pig battering spree on the path to claim back what is rightfully theirs. Only this time there is no flinging or throwing birds at fortifications. What actually happens is that your bird – you start out with one, but pick up followers along the way – faces a page. It strikes a blow at the pig, then the pig strikes a blow, then the bird strikes a blow…and so on until one of the aforementioned warring parties kicks the gaming bucket. Cue celebrations by the winner and if it is the bird, some loot and extra points. Classic turn-based combat if you will. As you go along, you get new weapons, new kinds of birds (which blow up multiple pigs with a single attack), and of course, more adversaries. It soon comes to the stage when there are a group of pigs facing a group of birds and you have to pick and choose how to make your next attack and at whom – some pigs are more powerful than the others – do you leave them for the end or take them out right away? Decisions, decisions…

 Read more: http://techpp.com/2014/06/25/angry-birds-epic-app-review/

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TV Anchor Accidentally 'Outs' Apple CEO Tim Cook as Gay

An anchor on a US television network found himself in an awkward and embarrassing situation when he remarked that Apple CEO Tim Cook was gay and was among the few American chief executives who have been open about their sexuality.
CNBC co-anchor Simon Hobbs was part of a panel on a show discussing that there are CEOs at top American companies who are gay but have not publicly spoken about their sexual preferences.
Among the panellists was New York Times columnist Jim Stewart who was discussing his upcoming column on oil giant BP's former CEO John Browne.
Browne's book, 'The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out Is Good For Business', details his life as a gay executive who hid his sexual orientation and only revealed it after his retirement.
Stewart, who is openly gay, said he had spoken to many CEOs whom he knew were gay, but who were not willing to go on record about their experience.
Hobbs intervened saying, "I think Tim Cook is fairly open about the fact that he is gay at the head of Apple, isn't he?"
The panel was silenced by Hobbs' remark who then sought to correct himself and said, "Oh dear. Was that an error?"
Stewart answered after an awkward silence, shaking his head in disapproval.
"I don't want to comment on anybody who might or might not be," he said.
"I'm not going to out anybody. I called a lot of people and no one at any major company would allow their names to be used."
Read More: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/others/news/tv-anchor-accidentally-outs-apple-ceo-tim-cook-as-gay-549465

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All Things Appy: 5 Best Apps to Make the Most of Apple Sensors

Sensors are a big part of what makes smartphones smart, and Apple mobile devices are packed with them. Most of us use at least some of them every day -- even if we don't realize it -- but there are also apps out there that let you take them even further for a variety of fun and useful purposes. Read on for a look at the five best contenders for iPhone and iPad.

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Your Apple device is full of sensors. The main five consist of a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, an accelerometer, a magnetometer and a gyroscopic sensor. Also included in these devices are radios, which aren't strictly sensors but which include the GPS for location services.

In this week's All Things Appy, we take a look at the five best free apps you can get in order to play with your sensors and sensor-like radios -- some of the key features, in other words, that distinguish smartphones from dumb ones.
About the Platform: Apple's apps can be found in the iTunes store. Browse to the store from your device and search for the app you want to download.
No. 1: Commander Compass Lite

Commander Compass Lite is rated 4 1/2 stars out of a possible 5 for all versions based on 4,429 ratings, and 4 1/2 stars out of 5 for the current version based on 895 ratings in the iTunes App Store.

This compass app takes advantage of the magnetic compass magnetometer that's included in recent iPhones and iPads to display directional navigation data -- just like a handheld compass. Position, bearings and speed are tracked.

Heavily magnetic fields can interfere with magnetometer readings, so this app starts using a gyroscopic rotational sensor to compensate for that, as well.
No. 2: Planets

Q Continuum's Planets is rated 3 1/2 stars out of a possible 5 for all versions based on 53,222 ratings, and 4 1/2 stars out of 5 for the current version based on 223 ratings in the iTunes App Store.

Here's an app that takes advantage of the gyroscope sensor. Gyroscopes track localized movement of a device.
Planets is a 3D planetarium-style guide to the solar system. Once the device locks onto a location using GPS or cellular towers, movement of the device maps the planets and stars on the screen with the gyroscope in real time.
No. 3: AccelMeter - 3D Vector Accelerometer

AccelMeter is rated 3 stars out of a possible 5 for all versions based on 269 ratings, and 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for the current version based on 16 ratings in the iTunes App Store.

Whether you knew it or not, the accelerometer is the sensor that orients the phone screen between landscape and portrait -- you've likely been using your device's accelerometer daily when Web browsing, looking at photos and controlling any games.
Peter Breitling's AccelMeter is the best app for visualizing and measuring actual acceleration. It includes all of the three axes -- often labeled x, y and z -- plus reverse acceleration and g-force calculations.
No. 4: Dimmer
Dimmer is rated 3 stars out of a possible 5 for all versions based on 272 ratings, and 3 stars out of 5 for the current version based on 155 ratings in the iTunes App Store.

The light sensor on your iPad or iPhone automatically adjusts screen-brightness levels based on what the Apple programmers think should be optimum brightness -- based on ambient light. Well, that may not be what you think, and this app lets you adjust sensors manually.
Be aware that a dim screen will save power, while a brighter screen makes small screens more readable.
Sleep therapists reckon a burst of light at night fools the brain into thinking it's waking-up time, so use a super-dim screen if you're an insomniac workaholic.
No. 5: Sensor Monitor
Sensor Monitor is rated 4 1/2 stars out of a possible 5 for all versions based on 24 ratings, and 4 1/2 stars out of 5 for the current version based on 11 ratings in the iTunes App Store.

Here's an app that lets you display and log raw sensor values for the accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, GPS, battery, microphone, touch and proximity sensors.
The proximity sensor is the sensor that deactivates the display when the phone is in a call so you ears don't dial phone numbers.
Want to Suggest an Apps Collection?
Is there a batch of apps you'd like to suggest for review? Remember, they must all be for the same platform, and they must all be geared toward the same general purpose. Please send the names of five or more apps to me, and I'll consider them for a future All Things Appy column.
Don't forget to use the Talkback feature below to add your comments. 

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Patrick Nelson has been a professional writer since 1992. He was editor and publisher of the music industry trade publication Producer Report and has written for a number of technology blogs. Nelson studied design at Hornsey Art School and wrote the cult-classic novel Sprawlism. His introduction to technology was as a nomadic talent scout in the eighties, where regular scrabbling around under hotel room beds was necessary to connect modems with alligator clips to hotel telephone wiring to get a fax out. He tasted down and dirty technology, and never looked back.

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Apple strips CEO Cook of $4M in stock grants for poor share performance

First example of company's new stock vesting policy that Cook asked for in June

Computerworld - Apple CEO Tim Cook received a compensation package of $4.25 million for the 2013 fiscal year, a 2% increase over the year before.

But the board also dinged Cook to the tune of nearly $4 million in stock vesting reductions, citing Apple's subpar performance compared to the S&P 500's for the 12-month period.

In a preliminary proxy statement filed Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Apple spelled out Cook's compensation for the period ending Sept. 28, as well as that for four other executives: Eddie Cue, who heads Apple's online efforts; CFO Peter Oppenheimer; Daniel Riccio, the company's hardware engineering lead; and Jeffrey Williams, chief of operations.

Riccio, new to the named executives in the proxy, was formerly the hardware lead for the iPad. In mid-2012 he was picked to take Bob Mansfield's place as head of all hardware engineering. Cue is also a proxy debutante.

Cook received $1.4 million in salary, $2.8 million in a bonus, and less than $60,000 for sundry expenses, including Apple's contribution to his 401(k) plan, company-paid life insurance, and $35,000 for vacation time converted to cash.

For fiscal 2013, Cook and the others received the maximum bonus, twice each man's annual salary. According to Apple, the company's net sales and operating income exceeded the targets set previously by the board, triggering the big bonuses.

Cue, Oppenheimer, Riccio and Williams were awarded bonuses of $1.75 million atop their $866,000 salaries, for a total of approximately $2.6 million each.

Apple touted what it called "internal equity" in pay for the executives just below Cook on the company's org chart. "Because the Company's executive officers operate as a team, the Compensation Committee considers internal pay equity to be an important factor in the Compensation Committee's decisions," the proxy read.

That practice is in contrast to that of other companies. At Microsoft, for example, top executives did not receive the same salary or bonuses in fiscal 2013. COO Kevin Turner's salary was 16% higher than the next-highest named executive (and 12% higher than CEO Steve Ballmer's), while his bonus was 35% greater than the next-largest.

While none of the Apple executives, including Cook, were granted stock awards in 2013, the CEO is still enjoying the fruits of the massive grant given him in 2011 when he assumed the chief executive role a month before co-founder Steve Jobs died. Then, the board locked in Cook with 1 million shares that would vest in equal parts in August 2016 and August 2021.

At the time those shares were valued at $383 million; their current worth, if all were to vest immediately, would be $560 million.

However, earlier this year Apple's board revised Cook's vesting schedule at his urging. Rather than the two monster stock handouts -- which only relied on his continued employment -- Cook asked that they be spread out over a 10-year period and tied to the company's stock performance.

Eighty-percent of the 1 million shares were covered by the new pay-on-performance deal, in which half of each year's vesting pool can be eliminated or reduced if Apple isn't in the top third of the S&P 500 as measured by the "total shareholder return" (TSR) metric.

TSR is a combination of share price appreciation and dividends paid to shareholders.

Because Apple's TSR was in the bottom third, Cook forfeited 7,123 shares, which were valued at $3.6 million on August 24, the day they were to vest. At Friday's closing price, the shares Cook lost would have been worth almost $4 million.

But no one should weep for Cook: The 72,877 shares that did vest on Aug. 24 were valued at $36.5 million at the time, and assuming he did not sell any, $40.8 million at Friday's closing.

So far, Cook's 2014 stock grant looks relatively safe, as Apple's TSR has kept pace with the S&P 500's. Since Aug. 25, 2013, Apple's TSR was +12%, while the S&P 500's average was +11.9%. Cook could still forfeit a quarter of the 80,000 shares slated to vest next August if Apple ends up in the middle third of the S&P 500, or 40,000 shares if the company lands in the bottom third.

Apple's shareholders will vote on several proposals at the February 28, 2014, meeting on the company's Cupertino, Calif. campus, including one submitted by trading activist Carl Icahn, who wants Apple to add $50 billion to its stock buyback program. Apple has recommended that shareholders reject the non-binding proposal.

Post bye : Chhoy Dany

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Apple shows 74 percent of devices now run iOS 7

Apple's iOS 7.

Despite some complaints about Apple's iOS 7redesign, with its flat graphics and zooming animations, it appears the lion's share of users have now adopted the operating system.

Apple published an updated chart on its developer Web site for the iOS App Store, which shows that iOS 7 is now on 74 percent of all iOS devices. This means adoption of the operating system has grown 10 percent since numbers last reported in October.

The tech giant debuted iOS 7 in September, along with the launch of its new iPhone 5S and 5C. Just one month later, Apple released its new iPad Air. All of these latest products are shipped with iOS 7.

According to Apple's chart, 22 percent of devices are still running iOS 6 and 4 percent are using an even earlier operating system. Like previous releases, iOS 7 is not available on some older devices, which include iPhones prior to the iPhone 4, iPods before the fifth-generation iPod Touch, or the original iPad.

Of all of Apple's software releases, iOS 7 has proved to garner the fastest adoption. According to September data from analytics firm Chitika, iOS 7 nabbed more than 50 percent of Apple users in its first week. Beyond the user-facing features, each major software release has included new APIs for developers, who have to balance compatibility with older devices against including the latest software features.

Looking forward, Apple is expected to release iOS 7.1 in the near future. The company released the software in beta to registered developers last month.

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iPhone 5c Lures Android Users to Apple

Price is clearly a big factor motivating uptake of the iPhone 5c, but privacy and security could be key considerations as well. "Although Apple does collect user data, it is not the huge data miner that Google has grown to be," said Darren Hayes, a professor at Pace University. "Moreover, Apple's iOS 7 is a lot more secure, in terms of access and encryption, than most

The new iPhone 5c appears to be working as Apple had surely hoped -- that is, it is enticing consumers with a lower price point to make the jump to the Apple brand, according to new smartphone sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

In fact, during the three months ending October 2013, almost half of iPhone 5c buyers switched from competitor brands, particularly Samsung and LG. A full 80 percent of new iPhone 5s owners, by contrast, were upgrading from a previous iPhone model, said Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
"The cheaper 5c appeals to a broader audience than Apple usually attracts," Sunnebo explained.
In the U.S., the biggest demand for this model is coming from lower-income households, he noted, with some 42 percent of iPhone 5c owners earning less than US$49,000 per year. Just 21 percent of iPhone 5s buyers are in that category.
iPhone 5c customers also tend to be slightly older -- their average age is 38 -- compared with 34 years old for the 5s, Sunnebo said.
In the bigger picture, though, the 5c has not moved the needle all that much. While the new iPhone 5c and 5s models have boosted Apple's market share, they haven't delivered the same oomph that the iPhone 5 did when it was released.

The Lure of Lower Cost ...

Android remains the No. 1 smartphone OS in Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, with a 70.9 percent share, while Apple holds 15.8 percent. Windows, meanwhile, is rapidly growing and now accounts for 10.2 percent of European smartphone sales. Its share in the U.S. is now close to 5 percent.
Windows Phone's momentum remains reliant on low-end handsets, Sunnebo noted.
In Britain, for example, "almost three quarters of Nokia Lumia sales in the latest period were low-end devices such as the Lumia 520 and 620 -- a pattern that is similar across other EU markets."

... and Privacy

There could be other drivers besides cost for people's shift to these lower-end handsets, especially the 5c -- namely, privacy and security concerns, Darren Hayes, a professor at Pace University's Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, told MacNewsWorld.
"Although Apple does collect user data, it is not the huge data miner that Google has grown to be," he said. "Moreover, Apple's iOS 7 is a lot more secure, in terms of access and encryption, than most Android devices."
A similar migration could happen at the higher end of the smartphone market as well, Hayes suggested.
"According to Gartner, the adoption rate of Android devices is far higher than that of the iPhone, but that may change over time as corporations make more educated decisions about the risk of data exfiltration -- leakage -- versus cost," he said.
At the corporate level, Apple has a tremendous advantage with its Apple Configurator -- "a highly sophisticated and secure framework with enterprise deployment of the iPhone," Hayes pointed out.

Pricing Trumps All

There's no doubt, though, that consumers are being driven primarily by the lower price as they opt for the 5c or the Lumia, Laura DiDio, principal of ITIC, told MacNewsWorld.
There are likely several reasons for this shift, she said. One is that people have realized that product cycles are so fast that it is no longer practical to buy a high-end phone that could be out-of-date within six to 12 months, she said.
Also, lower-end phones are quite good, satisfying the needs of middle consumers, she continued.
All that taken together, she said, "people are naturally asking themselves, 'how much do I want to keep in my pocket to spend on other things?'" -- like a higher-end data plan or, possibly, another phone.

Post By: Chhoy Dany

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Billionaire investor Icahn steps up pressure on Apple

Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook holds up the new iPad Air during an Apple event in San Francisco, California October 22, 2013. Add caption

(Reuters) - Billionaire investor Carl Icahn said on Wednesday that he has filed a shareholder proposal with Apple for a much smaller stock buyback plan than he has advocated previously, as he continued to pressure Apple to share more of its cash pile.
"Gave $AAPL notice we'll be making a precatory proposal to call for vote to increase buyback program, although not at $150 billion level," Icahn said in a tweet.
CNBC said Icahn's plan calls for a $50 billion buyback program.


Icahn had been urging Apple to buy back $150 billion worth of shares. Icahn owns approximately 0.5 percent of Apple's outstanding shares, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Icahn on Tuesday told Time magazine that he filed a shareholder proposal with Apple on November 26, three days before the deadline for measures to be voted on at the company's next annual shareholders meeting.
Known for decades of strong-arm tactics, including proxy fights, Icahn has repeatedly made it clear that his proposal is not a sign that he is against Apple's management.
Icahn, who has already met Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook and Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer to discuss the issue in the past months, couldn't be immediately reached for comment.
"As part of our regular review process, we are once again actively seeking our shareholders' input on our program, and as we said in October, the management team and our board are engaged in an ongoing discussion about it which is thoughtful and deliberate," Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said. "We will announce any changes to our current program in the first part of calendar 2014."
Pushing for an additional $50 billion buyback is a major step back from his earlier demand that Apple return an additional $150 billion to shareholders. Apple is currently in the midst of returning $100 billion to shareholders, including a share repurchase program of $60 billion.
Icahn told Time magazine that Cook is willing to consider his views and the last conversation he had with the Apple CEO was a 20-minute phone call on November 21.
Icahn said Cook found the "conversation sort of interesting."
"He said, 'Look, you've accomplished a lot, and we want to listen to you.'"

Post by: Chhoy Dany

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Interview with Tim Cook: between frustration and "amazing new products»

Among actions that sink, lack of new products and rumors of a possible ouster from the chair higher than Cupertino.

Tim Cook in an interview with the river during the All Thing Digital Conference speaks to the whole range of Apple and announces "amazing new products."

He appeared calm. How to ensure all investors and customers, not to worry. Everything is under control. From the stage of the All Thing Digital Conference yesterday, Tim Cook has tried to calm the air heavy with pulling around Apple.

No new products announced by October 2012.Shares in free fall of 27%. ICs were $ 701.92 in September. Today is traded on the square to $ 441 .Little innovation in the last two years. A company who lives annuity still serving the indelible presence of Steve Jobs that hovers over the entire range of products available. The comparisons between old and new abound. Cook comes out massacred. Yet it is thanks to the management Cook that Apple has achieved some of its most significant historical milestones.

Yesterday Tim Cook has tried to silence the gossips. He chased rumors that he would give close by jumping from the command chair of Cupertino from time to time and would point out that Jonathan Ive as his natural successor. Cook has repeatedly said that Apple is once again ready to revolutionize everything. "We have amazing new products in the pipeline,"and insisted on the importance of television and wearable devices such as areas of interest from Apple.

"What we do is to focus exclusively on products. If we do it the right way, if we make great products that enrich people's lives, everything else will happen as a result. "

The scope of the wearable device is one of the most interesting that Apple is exploring. The items on the ' iWatch back repeatedly the limelight. But forget about something similar to Google Glass. Cook has shown several concerns about the kind of technology: "it will be difficult to become mainstream" . Cook then reiterated that television is another area of interest that Apple has sold more than 13 million units of the Apple TV, far exceeding even the most optimistic internal expectations.

He concluded by talking about the collapse of the shares in recent months , "it was frustrating for investors and for us all" , then to show a bit of pride and final say little worried about the trend of shaky market. After all , "it has already happened" . Finally a reference to Steve Jobs. Cook remarked managerial differences with his predecessor but reiterated a strong sense of continuity with the past, "the internal culture of Apple is still the same. The vision of the most important things remaining the same. " In short, Apple's always the same.

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Apple, Best Buy and Staples Will Price Match Walmart’s iPad Air Discount

How about this? Following word that Walmart would offer Apple’s iPad Air for just $479, Best Buy, Staples and Apple have all confirmed they’ll follow suit. I’m a bit shocked Apple has decided to join in on the day-one blitz. That kind of competitive price-matching is terrific for customers—when it’s available at so many retailers, that just means you have a ton of options on where to shop.

Many of the prices look like they’re only being honored at a retail store, though Staples does list the 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Air for $479 on its website; prices at the other retailers’s online store is still at $499, unfortunately. As 9to5Mac notes, Apple requires that you prove there’s a lower price somewhere out there, so you’ll have to show a Walmart ad to get the discount. Whichever retailer you go through, an immediate $20 off a new product is always welcome.

Remember, too, that all three retailers accept iPad trade-ins—the amount you get depends on condition and which model you have—so the iPad Air will be even cheaper in conjunction with the discount. It’s unclear how long the cheaper price will be offered, so you better take advantage quick.

Post By: Chhoy Dany

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Some Apple Stores Will Set Aside iPad Air Units for Personal Pickup

Earlier this week we reported on a rumor that Apple Stores would be offering personal pickup for the iPad Air starting Nov. 1, giving consumers a chance to skip the lines and still grab a copy of the new tablet on launch day. 9to5Mac is now reporting that only some Apple Stores may offer the service, and even then supplies will be limited.

Apparently, Apple will set aside a certain number of iPad Air units to sell tomorrow morning before noon, while the remaining copies will be held for personal pickup and purchases later in the day. The new system is reportedly designed to ensure Apple fans can find copies of the tablet even if they don’t rush to buy one first thing Friday morning, though this new sales strategy doesn’t exactly mesh with the company’s usual preference towards frenzied product launches.

Last month when Apple released the iPhone 5s the new smartphone wasn’t available for pre-order or personal pickup, meaning the only way to pick one up on launch day was to wait in line, often overnight. The strategy proved a success, and CEO Tim Cook calling it launch its “most successful ever.” Apple probably isn’t expecting quite as much excitement over the iPad Air, and it sounds like tomorrow’s launch may be a little more laid back than last month’s.

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Apple profits slump

Apple's iPhone sales were slightly better than expected, Cupertino revealed in a quarterly earnings release, but profits sharply declined.

Apple managed to sell 20 percent more iPhones than the same time last year at 31 million in total - but these were largely bolstered by sales of older models in emerging markets. Other devices did not perform as well at all: iPad sales plunged 14 percent year on year while demand for Macs dropped seven percent.

Analysts expected iPad sales to be around the 18 million mark but fell well short at 14.6 million. Apple blamed this on inventory problems among channel partners and the recent launch of the third generation iPad last year. Competition clearly stepped on Apple's toes too, but it's not the sort of company to acknowledge that.

Total profit fell 22 percent to $6.9 billion while revenue was mostly flat at $35.3 billion. Assets were still enormous at $146.6 billion in cash and investments.

Consumers in emerging markets helped bolster iPhone sales - tending to buy older models such as the iPhone 4 rather than the latest iPhone 5. Growth in China, however, had slowed down, particularly as inexpensive local models profligate.

Cupertino believes Q4 revenue will be somewhere between $34 and $37 billion. Analysts' prior expectations were $37 billion, the Wall Street Journal reports.

In an analyst conference call, chief executive Tim Cook declared there is still opportunity for Apple, including in premium-priced phones. People clearly are buying premium smartphones, but the iPhone is no longer the de facto choice. Android devices finally out evolved the iPhone on all fronts: pricing, appearance, features, spec, and usability.

Cook will have to really impress with the next iPhone, expected October - adding a virtual assistant just won't do the trick any more. The rumoured cheaper iPhone could help Apple tackle the mid-range market.

Analyst group CCS Insight did not show as much optimism as Apple. In a note, Geoff Blaber, director of devices, said the revenue slowdown was "as expected" but clearly "points to the effects of mounting competition" and a "lack of impetus from new products".

"The slump in iPad sales will have been a disappointing result, especially since the tablet market is seeing healthy volume growth," Blaber said. "This plateau in sales shows Apple is suffering from a lack of new product impetus in contrast to the same quarter last year. The sustained shift in consumer preferences to 7 and 8 inch tablets that we are seeing presents a challenge for Apple given the iPad's margin contribution versus the iPad mini."

Apple, CCS believes, is desperately in need of positive PR - and that can only be achieved with the usual hype-fest surrounding new products, expected later this year.

But one has to wonder - is Apple's time at the top almost over? A problem with Cupertino's arrogance is that people will buy new devices purely because of the brand, but Apple does not seem to have realised there are other players on the branding war, and they're doing rather well indeed.

On the contrary, a recent Apple ad campaign was widely slammed for being "depressing". 

Post By: Chhoy Dany

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Apple discloses what it's sharing with governments

We've been hearing a lot lately about the US government secretly gathering information from Google, Yahoo, and other tech giants.

But what about Apple?

The Cupertino-based corporation, not yet caught up in the NSA scandals, has decided to take disclosure into its own hands. They've issued a report detailing what type of information they are sharing with what national governments.

"We have reported all the information we are legally allowed to share," the seven-page .pdf explains, "and Apple will continue to advocate for greater transparency about the requests we receive."

The heart of the report is a table listing 31 countries that have demanded and received information. For each country, the table lists such statistics as the number of law enforcement account requests and in how many of those data was disclosed.

The numbers are intriguing. For instance, Germany has made 93 requests, yet Apple has only disclosed data on five of them. "In cases where no data was disclosed, Apple may have objected to a government request for legal reasons or searched our records and discovered that we have no relevant information."

But the real shock comes when you scroll down to the bottom of the alphabetical table and check the stats for the United States. Not only are the numbers vastly larger; they're also approximations. Whereas the United Kingdom has made 127 law enforcement account requests, the US has made somewhere between 1000 and 2000.

Is Apple unsure? Of course not. "At the time of this report, the U.S. government does not allow Apple to disclose, except in broad ranges, the number of national security orders, the number of accounts affected by the orders, or whether content, such as emails, was disclosed."

At least in public, Apple is taking the moral high road. "We strongly oppose this gag order, and Apple has made the case for relief from these restrictions in meetings and discussions with the White House, the U.S. Attorney General, congressional leaders, and the courts."

It's not all about international terrorism. "The most common account requests involve robberies and other crimes or requests from law enforcement officers searching for missing persons or children, finding a kidnapping victim, or hoping to prevent a suicide."

Mostly they share "information about an account holder’s iTunes or iCloud account, such as a name and an address. In very rare cases, we are asked to provide stored photos or email. We consider these requests very carefully and only provide account content in extremely limited circumstances."

Apple deserves praise for this sort of disclosure, but they're not above using the report to tweak the nose of their competition--especially Google. "Apple offers customers a single, straightforward privacy policy…our business does not depend on collecting personal data. We have no interest in amassing personal information about our customers."

When you base your business model on selling hardware at a very high profit margin, you may not need to spy on your customers. But if Apple is truly protecting its customers as much as it claims, good for them.

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