Posts in news

Rumor: European Carriers Force Apple To Give Up On Integrated SIM Plans

According to a rumor that surfaced in October, Apple was looking for a way to develop an integrated iPhone SIM-card that would allow customers to easily subscribe to a carrier’s plan and easily switch between networks when travelling abroad. An integrated SIM-card would cut carriers out of an important process of the iPhone purchase system: retail.

With such as SIM-card, Apple, and only Apple, would sell iPhones while carriers would just play the role of “service providers”. Similar rumors surfaced last week, together with reports of concerns about this approach. Read more

iOS 4.2.1 Jailbreak: Redsn0w 0.9.6b3 Available For Developers

A few hours ago the Dev Team pushed an update to jailbreak tool redsn0w, which nows allows developers (and tinkerers) to install custom bundles on iOS 4.2.1, even without having to install Cydia – which, as you may know, needs an update to work smoothly under iOS 4.2. The update to Cydia should go live soon after the release of iOS 4.2 and proper jailbreak tools for the new firmware.

The new version of redsn0w is a recommended download for developers who want to test their apps and tweaks under iOS 4.2, to ensure compatibility when the new OS will publicly come out. Redsn0w 0.9.6b3 will let you install bundles independent of Cydia; bundles can be up to 15MB in size. The Cydia app that’s included in this new version of Redsn0w is the same that was bundled with older versions, and won’t work on iOS 4.2.1 GM. Developers, however, can compile their own version of Cydia if they want.

Redsn0w 0.9.6b3 for OS X is available here.

Some MobileMe Features Going Free with iOS 4.2?

When Apple released the first GM seed of iOS 4.2 to developers, we noticed that they implemented the possibility to create a free Apple ID inside the MobileMe settings page and even sign in to MobileMe using an Apple ID. The functionality wasn’t working back then and it still returns an error today, and we speculated Apple might be taking the necessary measures to open up MobileMe’s services to a wider audience already using an Apple ID. As noted by MacRumors last night, though, it looks like that was the first move to make MobileMe free to some iOS users, or at least some specific sections of MobileMe. Read more

Apple Posts “iAd Highlight Video” Ahead Of European Launch

Earlier today Apple posted a video on advertising.apple.com to showcase the various iAd campaigns the company has launched up until today in the U.S. The video features brands such as AT&T, Nissan and JCPenney.

Apple announced yesterday iAds are coming to European countries in December. The first companies that will launch iAd campaigns in Europe are L’Orèal, Renault, Luis Vuitton, Nespresso and Perrier & Unilever. Despite some initial concerns of excessive control and a cancelled Adidas campaign, Apple has already signed on over half of the top 25 US advertisers. Read more

White iPhone 4s Being Sold … In China?

Giz-China has posted a report and photos claiming that genuine white iPhone 4s are being sold in China’s grey market. What is a grey market you ask? It’s a system involving the secret but not illegal (black markets) sale of goods at excessive prices. Many unofficial resellers in China have a large amount of these and are selling them online.

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iPad 2 Part Suppliers Possibly Revealed?

According to the DIGITIMES report, Apple has already chosen some parts suppliers for the iPad 2, which could launch as early as first quarter 2011 (as expected anyway). The report says that Japan-based Ibiden, Taiwan-based Tripod Technology and U.S. / China-based TTM Technologies could be three initial suppliers for Apple’s second-gen iPad. Four more suppliers are mentioned to be added some time in February, when shipments are set to ramp up.

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Eike Batista, Eighth Richest Person In The World, Wants To Bring Apple Manufacturing to Brazil

Eike Batista isn’t just another entrepreneur who likes Apple products and doesn’t mind having dinner with Steve Jobs every two months or so. No, he’s more like the eighth richest person in the world according to Forbes, and Brazil’s first billionaire. He runs several mining and oil-services companies, and among those one called “OSX”. He’s not exactly someone you can diss with a Steve-mail.

According to MacMagazine, the guy would like to bring Apple’s manufacturing process to Brazil, to create job positions, generate revenue and lower costs of Apple products for Brazilian customers. Apple currently gets its products made in China, through Foxconn. Read more

Apple Releases Safari 5.0.3

A few minutes ago Apple released an update to Safari, which reaches version 5.0.3. It’s available now in Software Update, or via direct download on Apple’s website.

Apple also released Safari 4.1.3 for Tiger users. Safari 5.0.3 comes with a variety of fixes and overall performance improvements. Specifically, the update addresses issues with search and text input fields on Netflix and Facebook, improves stability of Javascript-intensive extensions and introduces more reliable pop-up blocking.

Check out the full changelog below. Read more