Friday Apple Rumors: CEO Refutes Reports of Labor Abuse by Manufacturing Partners – Investorplace.com

January 28th, 2012 admin

Friday Apple Rumors: CEO Refutes Reports of Labor Abuse by Manufacturing Partners – Investorplace.com

   

daily apple rumors AAPLHere are your Apple rumors and AAPL stock items for today.

CEO Tim Cook Strikes Back at Poor Labor Practice Accusations: While Apple has spent much of this week basking in the warm glow of its stellar fourth-quarter earnings, the company also has been battling accusations that it has ignored inhumane labor conditions at Chinese manufacturing facilities operated by its production partners like Foxconn (NYSE:FXCNY). A series of New York Times reports published throughout the week have painted the Cupertino, Calif., company in grim light, especially after unnamed former executives joined the chorus claiming, “We’ve known about labor abuses in some factories for four years, and they’re still going on. Why? Because the system works for us.” Apple CEO Tim Cook responded now, telling Apple employees that, as a company “defined by our values,” these accusations are false and Apple is “attacking problems aggressively.” The email goes on to cite Apple’s newly formed partnership with the Fair Labor Association as a positive step toward blocking some of the worst human rights violations at factories. The email was reprinted on Apple Insider.

Apple Overtakes Samsung Again as World’s Largest Smartphone Vendor: The tug of war between Apple and its rival Samsung (PINK:SSNLF) continues. The Korean company surpassed Apple as the leading smartphone manufacturer in 2011, shipping 97.4 million smartphones across the year compared to Apple’s 93 million. A study conducted by research firm Strategy Analytics released on Thursday said that Apple’s slight lead over Samsung in the fourth quarter—Apple shipped 37 million iPhones over the holiday quarter while Samsung shipped 36.5 million—signals the beginning of a shift back in Apple’s favor. The iPhone 5, expected out later this year, will be strong artillery in Apple’s fight to stay king of the smartphone hill.

Analyst Says in One in Five Employees Use Apple at Work: A Thursday report from Forrester Research (via 9 to 5 Mac) said that Apple’s stature amongst businesses continues to grow. A poll of 10,000 IT workers in North America and Western Europe, including 3,350 managerial employees in charge of equipment purchasing, revealed that 21% use at least one Apple device at work. The study shows a dramatic increase in Apple’s presence inside businesses where Microsoft‘s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows has dominated for years. What’s more, Forrester found that 46% of businesses polled issue Mac computers for employees, compared to just 36% in 2010. Meanwhile, 27% of those polled have been issued iPads by their employers and 37% have been issued iPhones. This is in addition to the Apple devices privately owned by employees that are used for work.

As of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned stocks. Follow him on Twitter at @ajohnagnello and become a fan of InvestorPlace on Facebook. For more from the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.

 

Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, http://www.investorplace.com/2012/01/friday-apple-rumors-ceo-addresses-labor-abuse-among-manufacturing-partners-aapl-fxcny-ssnlf-msft/.

©2012 InvestorPlace Media, LLC

Samsung Galaxy S III appears on official support site, details scant – SlashGear

January 28th, 2012 admin

Samsung Galaxy S III appears on official support site, details scant – SlashGear

The Galaxy S III is a device that will be popping up some time inside 2012, and today’s information leads us to believe that it will be sooner than later: a clue at Samsung’s own Global Download Center support site, no less. Here we can see inside the Mobile Device and Smart Phone categories a brand new Product Model Name: GT-I9300, a model that’s a grade above the rest. Here will find the next Samsung handset that will break down the walls previously set up by the Galaxy S II last year and the Galaxy S before that.

This device is currently having its release time considered by the powers that be, this information made public last night in Samsung’s earnings call for the last quarter. Inside their talks it was said that they’d still possibly be releasing a new handset at Mobile World Congress 2012, but that they’re considering what the best course of action will be. What with all the cash they just dropped on the “Samsunged” suite of advertisements on television and soon during the Superbowl, we’re guessing a push back might be in order.

Last time Samsung had a giant product release, it was in Beijing, Samsung’s own home turf, and the product was the official hero device for Google: the Galaxy Nexus. This device featured the newest operating system from Google, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and was released to the world in the following weeks, only a few weeks ago here in the United States. Considering the amount of firepower Samsung has in all sectors of the world right this moment, we’re expecting a Galaxy S III to hit much closer to the second quarter of 2012 instead of here in the first.

[via Redmond Pie]

Samsung’s Galaxy S II leads it to record profit of $4.7B – VentureBeat

January 28th, 2012 admin

Samsung’s Galaxy S II leads it to record profit of .7B – VentureBeat

It’s good to be the Android king: Samsung today announced its record fourth quarter earnings, in which it saw operating profits of 5.3 trillion won (around $ 4.7 billion) on revenues of 47.3 trillion won (around $ 42 billion).

That’s a decent jump over last year, when it reported earnings of 3 trillion won (about $ 2.6 billion) on 41.8 trillion won (about $ 36.5 billion) in revenue.

Samsung performance was in line with its guidance from earlier in the month, and the company attributed much of its success to the popularity of its Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note Android devices. Revenue from its telecommunications business was 17.82 trillion won (about $ 15.8 billion), up a whopping 52 percent from this time last year.

Given that it’s the top Android device maker, it’s not surprising to see Samsung’s huge numbers. Meanwhile, both Motorola and HTC announced losses in their latest earnings.

Shipments of Samsung’s smartphones jumped 30 percent compared to the previous quarter (not surprising since this was a holiday quarter). Looking forward, Samsung expects the demand for entry-level smartphones and LTE will grow the smartphone market by more than 30 percent over the year, and the company expects tablet demand to grow as well.

The company reported strong sales in its TV business and a 19 percent growth in display panels sales. Computers fared less well, thanks to slow sales and an oversupply of DRAM.

Next Story: Kabam acquires game studio Fearless Studios led by ex-Star Wars game developersPrevious Story: Activision Blizzard to fix access to Modern Warfare 3 content drops from multiple Xbox Live profiles

Tags: Android, Galaxy Note, Galaxy S II, smartphones, tablets

Companies: Samsung

Devindra Hardawar is VentureBeat’s National Editor and lead mobile writer. He has been writing about technology since 2004, worked in IT support for several years, and studied philosophy at Amherst College. He now lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can reach him at devindra@venturebeat.com (all story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com), and on Twitter at @Devindra.

iPhone 5 rumours: longer, thinner model and Summer release – HEXUS

January 27th, 2012 admin

iPhone 5 rumours: longer, thinner model and Summer release – HEXUS

Since the launch of the iPhone 4S in mid-October, the iPhone 5 rumour-mill hasn’t stopped churning with burning questions demanding answers such as what are its specs, when it arrive and what will it look like?

The latest information, that may or may not get Apple fans excited, has apparently been leaked by an employer inside FoxConn’s manufacturing plant in China. Taking with 9to5Mac, the source says that a number of iPhone 5 prototypes have been passed around the factory, though none of them represent the final version of the iPhone 5.

What all of the sample models do all have in common though, is a 4in touchscreen and a different form factor than the iPhone 4 or 4S. The source claims the new phone doesn’t have the same teardrop shape as its predecessor but is longer and thinner. Some reports suggest it could be 8mm thinner than the iPhone 4S.

Longer and thinner than the iPhone 4S?

This size of the display contradicts previous rumours from Japanese blog, Makotakara, who claims that Hitachi Displays and Sony Mobile Display Corporation are working on a display that will be 0.5in bigger than iPhone 4S models and more in line with the Samsung Galaxy II’s massive 4.21in panel and Motorola Razr’s 4.3 in qHD screen. However, most of the main rumour sources now agree that the shape that the iPhone 5 will definitely be longer and thinner.

The Foxconn insider also says that it has started to ramp up production of the iPhone 5 and may be targeting a Summer release date.

Both the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 are likely to make an early appearance at the Mobile World Congress in February, where a host of other tablet makers, including HTC’s quad-core Android device, will be hoping to impress.

Though we still know little about the next generation of iPad, early speculation believes it to be 0.7mm thicker than its predecessor so it can incorporate a new 2,048 x 1,536 screen, which is twice as potent as the iPad 2

Apple has just enjoyed a fanatic start to the first fiscal quarter 2012, which runs from October to December 2011. The California-based company reported a record net profit of $ 13.06 billion, claiming that it sold 37.04 million iPhones, 15.43 million iPads and 5.2 million Macs over that three month period.

Apple iPhone 5 release may have Google Android competition – newjerseynewsroom.com

January 27th, 2012 admin

Apple iPhone 5 release may have Google Android competition – newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Reports from a facility in China that produces Apple products are indicating that the iPhone 5 is being set for production.

The 9to5Mac site reports that production of the iPhone 4S production began in earnest about late spring 2011, and the device launched in October. Allowing the same lead time would bring an iPhone 5 release in the summer, or perhaps by the Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

Beginning with the initial iPhone release in 2007, Apple began a pattern of launching its iPhones in the summer, which was broken with the release of the iPhone 4S in October 2011. That change has brought on considerable speculation about the date the iPhone 5 would become available.

Reports are saying the iPhone 5 will have a 4-inch display, and will be symmetrical in thickness, as opposed to previous rumors of it being in a teardrop shape. The phones are also expected to be longer and wider. None of the prototypes are said to be in final form.

RELATED

iPhone 5 release date keeps shifting

New iPhone release date set for mid October

Secret iPhone 5 release date tipped by Apple retailer

But PC World believes that Apple won’t be in any hurry to launch the iPhone 5, especially after recording their enormous earnings report. They say the company risks alienating their fans if they release the new device less than ten months after putting out the iPhone4S. PC World believes the company would only release the phone early to provide support for 4G LTE networks.

Apple will be facing competition from the Google Androids and the upcoming Windows 8 system this year, and may be ready to make changes to its product. According to the Christian Science Monitor, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus has a 4.65-inch screen.

Samsung Galaxy Note News: Noted for World Record, NFC Reveal & Ready for … – Wireless and Mobile News

January 27th, 2012 admin

Samsung Galaxy Note News: Noted for World Record, NFC Reveal & Ready for … – Wireless and Mobile News

note in helicopter2012 is becoming the year of wild promotions and smartphone claims.  Let’s see, the LG Spectrum can love you, the Nokia Lumina 710 knows the meaning of life or Tweeting photos might win you a Windows Phone or Samsung Galaxy Nexus.  The most noted, however, is creating the world’s largest cartoon, sending a note to the galaxy with the Samsung Galaxy Note.

The World’s largest comic square was drawn by Turkish cartoonist Erdil Yasaroglu with Samsung Galaxy Note collaboration. The drawing covered 10.952,050 square meters which was confirmed by Guinness World Records.  The idea behind the event was to send a note to the galaxy.

The area used for the comic drawing will be turned into a park and those who like/share the video will have a tree planted for them.  This kind of promotion, illustrates the drawing function of the Galaxy Note.

The Samsung promotion arm for the Galaxy Note also shows off its hardware in a revealing teardown. Samsung is beating the teardown artists to the inside punch, by showing off a dissection of the Samsung Galaxy Note on its blog which states, “We thought we should take one apart (to see what’s inside), so you don’t have to.”

Please note, it is not a good idea to take apart any smartphone under warranty, it may void your warranty. Bloggers who have seen the  hardware contend that the fact that it has NFC suggests that it may be ready for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Google Wallet.  Samsung promised an Android ICS update for the Galaxy Note in the first quarter of 2011.

Here are some revealing specs from dissection.

 The S-Pen uses electromagnetic induction technology and has pressure sensitivity equal to a regular pen.
NFC can used for close-distance communication, allowing users to use the phone like a credit card or transportation card.
1.5GHz Dual Core AP Chip with twice the processing power with a dual core chip.
The rear case stores a variety of antennae and wires.  The battery cover also stores the NFC antenna.
The light Sensor detects the brightness, used to adjust the screen brightness accordingly.
Bluetooth 3.0 + HS support, allows for fast transmission between mobile devices.

The Samsung Galaxy Note is expected to released on February 18 for $ 299.99 according to leaked product road maps.  The Samsung Galaxy Note with writing recognition for the S-Pen was shown at the AT&T Developer Summit at CES.

Previously announced features on the AT&T model include, Android 2.3, Gingerbread, 16GB onboard memory, microSD card slot, 2500 mAh battery, 8MP camera, 2MP front facing camera,  Mobile HotSpot capable, built-in pen holder and  Samsung Approved for Enterprise security.

The Samsung Galaxy Note  has the S Memo app to capture all forms of user-created content captured by the S Pen. Pictures, voice recordings, typed text, handwritten notes or drawings can all be converted to a ‘memo’ and shared.  This is probably the app that the artist used for hers cartoon.

Another type of promotion is a comparison challenge. Microsoft  at CES  showed off how its software beats out competitors.  Microsoft  Windows Phones smoked-out in speed tests many popular top smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy Skyrocket and others.  The amusing part is seeing the geeks faces when a Windows Phone beats them to the challenge.  Because the Samsung Galaxy Note was not released in the United States, yet it’s hard to tell it could be smoked by Windows Phone.

Related News:

iPhone 5 Rumors; WebOS Open Source Plan; Netflix Bounces Back – PC Magazine

January 27th, 2012 admin

iPhone 5 Rumors; WebOS Open Source Plan; Netflix Bounces Back – PC Magazine

iPhone 5 mystery 275

Wednesday’s big stories were again Apple-related; from the most recent iPhone 5 rumor to snippets that emerged from Cupertino’s Tuesday evening earnings call.

9to5Mac said it got its hands on some details about the iPhone 5, which Foxconn is reportedly about to start producing. What does this fabled smartphone look like? There’s apparently a 4-inch screen, a new form factor, and more.

It appears that Apple’s record iPad sales last quarter, meanwhile, were better than HP’s computer sales.

Speaking of HP, the company on Wednesday announced a timetable for when it would open-source webOS, with open webOS 1.0 expected by September.

In other earnings news, Netflix appeared to have rebounded from the price hike/Qwikster snafu, adding 600,000 customers during the fourth quarter. Competitive pressure from Amazon, HBO, and others, however, still looms.

Also making headlines on Wednesday:

Megaupload Founder Denied Bail Over Flight Risk: A New Zealand judge on Wednesday ordered the founder of the lucrative offshore file transfer site Megaupload.com be held in custody for another month while awaiting extradition to the U.S. on charges of racketeering, copyright infringement, and money laundering.

How AT&T’s Spectrum Transfer Will Help T-Mobile Customers: T-Mobile customers, want to see how your service will improve after AT&T transfers spectrum to your carrier?
Motorola’s Latest Patent Suit Targets Apple’s iPhone 4S, iCloud: Motorola Mobility filed another patent lawsuit against Apple, asking the court for an injunction against the iPhone 4S and Apple’s iCloud service.
Google’s Privacy Policy: A Wakeup Call, But That’s It: Two Congressional privacy hawks have now taken Google to task for its new, unified privacy policy. And while their protests may be off the mark, their warnings should not go unheeded.
Hackers Target Israeli Newspaper, Hospital Web Sites: Hackers continued to hit targets in the Middle East this week, with the Web site for Israeli newspaper Haaretz, as well as two Israeli hospital Web sites, coming under attack.
GOP Slams Obama Administration Over Chevy Volt Fire Response: House Republicans on Wednesday took issue with how the Obama administration handled the recent Chevy Volt fire inquiry, arguing that an “unnatural relationship” exists between GM, Chrysler, and the Obama administration.
O2 Users Unknowingly Share Phone Number on Visited Sites: O2 phones are unknowingly sharing a user’s phone number with Web sites they visit.
EU Data-Privacy Overhaul Gives Consumers More Control: The European Commission on Wednesday proposed an overhaul to its data protection laws, which will provide users with more control over their data and make the process of monitoring data security less complex for agencies across the EU.
12 Things You Should Know About Facebook Timeline: We answer the top questions about the imminently non-optional Facebook feature.

For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus And The Ice Cream Sandwich – Caribbean Media Vision

January 26th, 2012 admin

Samsung Galaxy Nexus And The Ice Cream Sandwich – Caribbean Media Vision

Samsung Galaxy NexusThe latest Google Nexus smartphone is now here, this is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. This is currently, one of the best-selling smartphones of today. It ships with the latest version of Android OS, the Ice Cream Sandwich (also known as the Android 4.0).

Just so you know, this is the third Nexus smartphone from Google. This is also the most anticipated Android handset to date. This is also the very first handset to launch with the latest Android platform (the best Android OS to date). The handset boasts a 4.65″ Super AMOLED Plus HD display.

If you are familiar with Android, then you will agree with me when I say that the Ice Cream Sandwich is a massive upgrade from Gingerbread (also known as the Android 2.3), the latest platform is also known to be more user-friendly. You will also notice that this is way faster than previous Android versions. With this, you will find new features just like Face Unlock. This will allow you to unlock the unit without touching the phone or pushing a button. All you have to do is to place the phone in front of your face, and VOILA! You can unlock it in seconds.

You will also notice the removal of front buttons on this handset. This is one of the cool features of the Ice Cream Sandwich. So where are the buttons? They are now built-in (through the software), and you can now change the phone’s orientation by simply moving the handset. Again, this is another cool feature of the Galaxy Nexus.

With the latest Android OS, you will be able to multi-task using this phone and experience no problem while doing so. You can also easily access recent apps in a vertical stack with this.

Sharing is also made easier with this handset. With the help of its new cool feature the Android Beam, you will be able to share almost anything (i.e. contacts, photos, and a whole lot more). All you have to do is to find a compatible Android device and you are good to go.

With the Ice Cream Sandwich and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, you will be able to do things easier and faster. You will also get to enjoy a lot of new cool features that are only available to Ice Cream Sandwich and to this phone.

You will truly be amazed with the latest Android platform and this amazing device. Now, all you have to do is to give it a try!

For the best Samsung Galaxy Nexus deals and Blackberry Torch 9810 deals, visit us at Phoneslimited.co.uk.

Alleged Samsung Galaxy III details bubbling to the surface – CNET

January 26th, 2012 admin

Alleged Samsung Galaxy III details bubbling to the surface – CNET

An artist’s rendition of a Samsung Galaxy S II.

(Credit: Ubergizmo)

With Mobile World Congress bearing down on us next month, Android-related leaks continue to surface.

Such is the case with an oft-rumored Samsung Galaxy S II successor. If history is any indicator, then we should expect to see Samsung announce a followup device to last year’s wildly popular Android smartphone.

And why not? It was at Mobile World Congress, after all, where Samsung unveiled the last two iterations of the handset.

So what would go into a new Galaxy device? If Eldar Murtazin is to be believed, then we are in for even more cutting-edge hardware.

Now, before I go any further, I have to point out that Murtazin’s past record of Android leaks and inside tips hasn’t been perfect. Whereas he was first to tell us that the Galaxy S II would feature a dual-core processor, he also was the guy who scared everyone with word that Gingerbread was going to have hardware requirements.

So in other words, the next bit of details will depend on how much stock you put into Eldar. Now might also be a good time to reach for the salt shaker.

Does Eldar have the inside track on Samsung’s next flagship phone?

(Credit: Twitter)

That said, this latest tidbit is too juicy to pas up. According to a handful of recent tweets, the Samsung Galaxy S III will come in both dual-core and quad-core iterations and feature 12-megapixel cameras. What’s more, the phones are said to run Android 4.0 with a “tweaked” UI, likely Samsung’s TouchWiz, and feature an HD display. Assuming the latter is true, we might expect to see a similar screen size (4.5 inches and above) and resolution (1,280×720 pixels) as the Galaxy Nexus.

There is mention as to how much memory or storage is included in the next-generation smartphone, but rumors have been floating around for some time. With numbers that range from as low as 1GB RAM and 16GB storage to as outlandish as 2GB RAM and 64GB storage, it’s tough to say for sure.

As to when we might expect to see the handset, it would make sense to employ the same strategies as in the past. International models should begin rolling out in Q2 with U.S. editions arriving in the second half of the year.

iPhone 5: Apple Probably Won’t Rush for a Summer Launch – PCWorld

January 26th, 2012 admin

iPhone 5: Apple Probably Won’t Rush for a Summer Launch – PCWorld

By Jared Newman, PCWorld    Jan 25, 2012 1:58 PM

Apple may be preparing to launch a redesigned iPhone 5 with a 4-inch display over the summer, according to the latest unconfirmed report from 9to5Mac.

The story cites an unnamed employee at Foxconn, which manufactures products for Apple. If it sounds familiar, it’s because the same rumors were circulating around this time last year. Of course, Apple ended up launching the iPhone 4S, which has the same external design as the iPhone 4, instead.

Though 9to5Mac claims its source has been accurate in the past, it’s easy to be skeptical–especially about timing. If Apple launches an iPhone 5 this summer, less than 10 months after the iPhone 4S, it risks angering fans who might’ve otherwise waited for the new model.

More importantly, Apple doesn’t need to rush ahead with the iPhone 5. The company just reported a record quarter in which they sold over 37 million iPhones. Apple’s use of an existing design and the same screen size was obviously not an issue for the average consumer. Even in the months before Apple launched the iPhone 4S, its predecessor was still the best-selling smartphone on AT&T and Verizon. All signs point to Apple continuing to sell tons of iPhone 4S models for most of this year.

The only thing that might force an early iPhone 5 launch would be support for 4G LTE networks. AT&T and Verizon have pretty much stopped releasing high-end smartphones without 4G support, so Apple may feel some pressure to have its own 4G models ready by the summer. But again, even though some iPhone buyers have said they wanted 4G LTE, sales figures tell a different story. The iPhone outsold all Android phones combined on Verizon Wireless last quarter, even as the carrier aggressively pushed 4G LTE. I just don’t see Apple’s 3G iPhones suffering anytime soon.

So as always, take these Apple rumors lightly. While a redesigned iPhone 5 seems possible–especially because it didn’t happen last year–the release date will likely be debated in conflicting stories for months to come.

Follow Jared on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for even more tech news and commentary.

Page 1 of 4312345102030...Last »
Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More