Speed up your Mac with free app MemoryKeeper
Related storiesSee which apps are hogging your Mac's resourcesRepair disk permissions to speed up your MacCompletely uninstall Mac apps with AppCleanerMemoryKeeper installs a rather large icon in your Mac's menu bar, which, unfortunately, you cannot hide or shrink. It shows you the amount of free memory you have available, which you can also find using the Activity Monitor. Click on the icon to open the app and then click the blue Clean Memory button to initiate a scan. MemoryKeeper ran for less than a minute on my MacBook Pro, which has 4GB of memory, and freed up 265MB of RAM. I ran a second scan an hour later and it freed up an additional 503MB of memory. I can't say my Mac felt considerably faster after letting MemoryKeeper do its thing -- iPhoto and iTunes continued to operate in their typically lethargic ways, for example -- but my usual multitasking of switching between various browsers and a handful of productivity apps felt perhaps a bit peppier.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETAfter MemoryKeeper finishes scanning and cleaning your Mac's memory, it'll offer to set up its automatic cleanup feature. You can also access this feature in the app's preferences. You can check a box to enable automatic cleanups, and you can set the threshold of free memory available when such a scan is run. You can also choose to run either a Quick or a Full cleanup. According to the app, a Quick cleanup will not affect performance while it runs, whereas a Full cleanup may cause a dip in performance in an effort to provide a deep and complete cleaning.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETThe logic of running an app in the background in an effort to save memory resources does not agree with me, so I'll likely utilize only MemoryKeeper's manual cleanup feature during times when my MacBook is acting sluggish.Do you use a memory-cleaning app on your Mac to keep it running smoothly? If so, please share in the comments below.
iPad- Did it live up to the hype-
iPad: Did it live up to the hype?
Apple's iPad was probably the most talked about unannounced devices in the technology space over the past year, but did it live up to all of the rumors and speculation? At least a couple industry analysts who spoke with CNET after the event in San Francisco think so."Apple threw it down today," said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of strategy and analysis at market research firm Interpret. "They (Apple) came and did what they needed to do."Van Baker, research vice president at technology research firm Gartner, agreed. "It's a home run. You can use it in classrooms, the living room, or anywhere else," he said.The one part of the presentation that surprised everyone was the price reveal. Market expectations were that Apple would price the iPad somewhere between $600 and $1,000. At $499 for the base model, Apple appears more aggressive than many expected."Price points are aggressive, but that will bring in a lot of customers," said Gartenberg.The iPad has a lot going for it. During his keynote today, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said it contained the company's "most advanced technology." Perhaps more importantly, the iPad uses the same ecosystem built for the iPod and iPhone. CNET News PollThe iPad is able to run all of the same apps that the iPhone does. So, if you purchased apps, you can use them on the new device. That in itself will eliminate one of the biggest gripes users have about purchasing a new device.Jobs made a point of saying that Apple already has 75 million people who know how to use the iPad because they own an iPhone or iPod Touch. That point wasn't lost on Interpret's Gartenberg."Apple is leveraging everything they taught consumers over the last few years," said Gartenberg. "The iPod, iTunes, multitouch, iPhone, videos, music, and the App Store are all part of this."Apple positioned the iPad between the iPhone and a Netbook. Jobs said that "Netbooks aren't better at anything," and that Apple wanted something that was better.While Apple may have dismissed the Netbook outright as competition, it may be a comparison consumers make when deciding which device to purchase in the future. If they do, Gartenberg doesn't hold out much hope for the Netbook."Netbooks will have a hard time justifying themselves in this market," he said.Up close with the Apple iPad (photos)See full gallery1 - 4 / 8NextPrev
Apple's iPad was probably the most talked about unannounced devices in the technology space over the past year, but did it live up to all of the rumors and speculation? At least a couple industry analysts who spoke with CNET after the event in San Francisco think so."Apple threw it down today," said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of strategy and analysis at market research firm Interpret. "They (Apple) came and did what they needed to do."Van Baker, research vice president at technology research firm Gartner, agreed. "It's a home run. You can use it in classrooms, the living room, or anywhere else," he said.The one part of the presentation that surprised everyone was the price reveal. Market expectations were that Apple would price the iPad somewhere between $600 and $1,000. At $499 for the base model, Apple appears more aggressive than many expected."Price points are aggressive, but that will bring in a lot of customers," said Gartenberg.The iPad has a lot going for it. During his keynote today, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said it contained the company's "most advanced technology." Perhaps more importantly, the iPad uses the same ecosystem built for the iPod and iPhone. CNET News PollThe iPad is able to run all of the same apps that the iPhone does. So, if you purchased apps, you can use them on the new device. That in itself will eliminate one of the biggest gripes users have about purchasing a new device.Jobs made a point of saying that Apple already has 75 million people who know how to use the iPad because they own an iPhone or iPod Touch. That point wasn't lost on Interpret's Gartenberg."Apple is leveraging everything they taught consumers over the last few years," said Gartenberg. "The iPod, iTunes, multitouch, iPhone, videos, music, and the App Store are all part of this."Apple positioned the iPad between the iPhone and a Netbook. Jobs said that "Netbooks aren't better at anything," and that Apple wanted something that was better.While Apple may have dismissed the Netbook outright as competition, it may be a comparison consumers make when deciding which device to purchase in the future. If they do, Gartenberg doesn't hold out much hope for the Netbook."Netbooks will have a hard time justifying themselves in this market," he said.Up close with the Apple iPad (photos)See full gallery1 - 4 / 8NextPrev
Warner exec Twitters that blogger is 'stupid brat'
Warner exec Twitters that blogger is 'stupid brat'
You might have imagined that his followers would tweet back their touching concern, putting a socially networked arm around his troubled shoulders.But you might not have imagined that Warner Music Norway's Terje Pedersen was on to Even's Tweet like a mountain lion that suddenly gets a taste for canary.He apparently replied, again according to Moen's translation: "Then I suggest you steal it and write about the process in your stupid brat blog. We don't want you to get upset."Ah, customer service. It's not dead. It's merely expanding its humane boundaries in the people-cuddling Kingdom of Norway. Interestingly, both men's Twitter profile pictures show them looking as if they mean business, their arms folded, ready for an aggressive act.One can, however, only surmise Pedersen's logic.Perhaps he thought: "What the hell is an 18-year-old doing getting emotional about Dave Matthews? We're targeting Dave at alfalfa-chewing, pot-smoking, Lecithin-on-their-cornflakes-sprinkling 35-year-olds. This bugger's going to ruin our marketing."Or perhaps: "My special corporate management training has taught me that, at the very mention of the word 'pirate', I must unleash my Twittering sword and thrust it in the direction of any Twitterer wearing a hoodie, a baseball cap or a brand new Dave Matthews T-shirt."However, one can only become excited at the fun that will now ensue throughout Norway, Sweden, and the rest of the Twitterate world.I see Sen. George Mitchell being sent out to deal with this one.
You might have imagined that his followers would tweet back their touching concern, putting a socially networked arm around his troubled shoulders.But you might not have imagined that Warner Music Norway's Terje Pedersen was on to Even's Tweet like a mountain lion that suddenly gets a taste for canary.He apparently replied, again according to Moen's translation: "Then I suggest you steal it and write about the process in your stupid brat blog. We don't want you to get upset."Ah, customer service. It's not dead. It's merely expanding its humane boundaries in the people-cuddling Kingdom of Norway. Interestingly, both men's Twitter profile pictures show them looking as if they mean business, their arms folded, ready for an aggressive act.One can, however, only surmise Pedersen's logic.Perhaps he thought: "What the hell is an 18-year-old doing getting emotional about Dave Matthews? We're targeting Dave at alfalfa-chewing, pot-smoking, Lecithin-on-their-cornflakes-sprinkling 35-year-olds. This bugger's going to ruin our marketing."Or perhaps: "My special corporate management training has taught me that, at the very mention of the word 'pirate', I must unleash my Twittering sword and thrust it in the direction of any Twitterer wearing a hoodie, a baseball cap or a brand new Dave Matthews T-shirt."However, one can only become excited at the fun that will now ensue throughout Norway, Sweden, and the rest of the Twitterate world.I see Sen. George Mitchell being sent out to deal with this one.
Wanna see iOS 7 on an iPad- Videos pop up after latest beta
Wanna see iOS 7 on an iPad? Videos pop up after latest beta
No surprise here, but numerous videos of iOS 7 beta 2 -- which adds support for Apple's iPad and iPad Mini -- have popped up, showing the software running on Apple's tablets. The videos show just how the software has been adjusted to work on the larger screen, as well as how it performs on various tasks in Apple's first effort.The company did not show off iOS 7 running on an iPad during the big unveiling at its annual developers conference two weeks ago, building curiosity into just what's different. The new software was released Monday morning and is still considered confidential by Apple, which requires developers to sign a privacy agreement in order to enroll and get early access to beta versions of iOS and OS X. Apparently that didn't stop all these folks:See also:iOS 7 hands-on videos leak out onto the Web 9to5Mac posts a brief hands-on with the software, from initial setup to switching apps and using iPad-only features like Photo Booth:iDownloadBlog shows it off running on an iPad Mini and calls the new app switching feature "disappointing" in its use of screen real estate, and "awkward" in its lack of rotating app previews while in that mode:Redmond Pie also posts a 5-minute preview on an iPad Mini, running through various features:YouTuber Andrew Sheridan posts a quick hands-on, even showing off iTunes Radio:And as a bonus, iDownloadBlog posts a hands on with the Voice Memos app, which was not included in the initial build of iOS 7.
No surprise here, but numerous videos of iOS 7 beta 2 -- which adds support for Apple's iPad and iPad Mini -- have popped up, showing the software running on Apple's tablets. The videos show just how the software has been adjusted to work on the larger screen, as well as how it performs on various tasks in Apple's first effort.The company did not show off iOS 7 running on an iPad during the big unveiling at its annual developers conference two weeks ago, building curiosity into just what's different. The new software was released Monday morning and is still considered confidential by Apple, which requires developers to sign a privacy agreement in order to enroll and get early access to beta versions of iOS and OS X. Apparently that didn't stop all these folks:See also:iOS 7 hands-on videos leak out onto the Web 9to5Mac posts a brief hands-on with the software, from initial setup to switching apps and using iPad-only features like Photo Booth:iDownloadBlog shows it off running on an iPad Mini and calls the new app switching feature "disappointing" in its use of screen real estate, and "awkward" in its lack of rotating app previews while in that mode:Redmond Pie also posts a 5-minute preview on an iPad Mini, running through various features:YouTuber Andrew Sheridan posts a quick hands-on, even showing off iTunes Radio:And as a bonus, iDownloadBlog posts a hands on with the Voice Memos app, which was not included in the initial build of iOS 7.
Comixology suspends Marvel giveaway
Comixology suspends Marvel giveaway
AUSTIN, Texas -- Following a catastrophic server crash that occurred hours after Marvel Comics and Comixology announced a massive giveaway, Comixology has suspended the promotion.Comixology CEO David Steinberger acknowledged that his company had "let down" customers. Previous orders under the "Marvel Comics #1" promotional, time-limited giveaway would be honored, he said, and he asked fans to fill out a form so they could be alerted when the promotion returns.Related stories:Project Gamma brings intelligent audio to digital comicsMarvel giveaway crashes Comixology's serversElon Musk: 'I'd like to die on Mars, just not on impact'For Improv Anywhere, pranking society is high artAl Gore credit's Snapchat's success to 'stalker economy'Because of Comixology's unique place in the digital comic-book distribution business as an iTunes-style marketplace with few, if any, direct competitors, other publishers' sales were likely impacted by the server crash. When asked to comment on that aspect of the story, Comixology representative Chip Mosher said in an e-mail that he could not comment further at this time. One comics publisher, which spoke to CNET on the condition of anonymity to protect its relationship with Comixology, confirmed that the server crash has prevented digital sales through its Comixology-powered app. At the time of writing, the servers still were not functional -- nearly 24 hours after the servers went down.Image Comics, best known for The Walking Dead comics, confirmed to Comic Book Resources that it was also unable to sell its digital books through Comixology. A "significant part" of daily digital sales comes via the Comixology-run app, said an Image Comic representative.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Following a catastrophic server crash that occurred hours after Marvel Comics and Comixology announced a massive giveaway, Comixology has suspended the promotion.Comixology CEO David Steinberger acknowledged that his company had "let down" customers. Previous orders under the "Marvel Comics #1" promotional, time-limited giveaway would be honored, he said, and he asked fans to fill out a form so they could be alerted when the promotion returns.Related stories:Project Gamma brings intelligent audio to digital comicsMarvel giveaway crashes Comixology's serversElon Musk: 'I'd like to die on Mars, just not on impact'For Improv Anywhere, pranking society is high artAl Gore credit's Snapchat's success to 'stalker economy'Because of Comixology's unique place in the digital comic-book distribution business as an iTunes-style marketplace with few, if any, direct competitors, other publishers' sales were likely impacted by the server crash. When asked to comment on that aspect of the story, Comixology representative Chip Mosher said in an e-mail that he could not comment further at this time. One comics publisher, which spoke to CNET on the condition of anonymity to protect its relationship with Comixology, confirmed that the server crash has prevented digital sales through its Comixology-powered app. At the time of writing, the servers still were not functional -- nearly 24 hours after the servers went down.Image Comics, best known for The Walking Dead comics, confirmed to Comic Book Resources that it was also unable to sell its digital books through Comixology. A "significant part" of daily digital sales comes via the Comixology-run app, said an Image Comic representative.
Comes With Music coming to the US this month
Comes With Music coming to the US this month
According to The Nokia Blog, the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music (a.k.a. The Tube) will go on sale at U.S. retailers on Feb. 26 for a suggested price of $399. No carrier partners have been announced, so there's probably little chance of a carrier subsidy reducing the price at launch. CNET reviewed a preview version of the phone back in December and liked it fairly well, but I'm most interested in how the Comes With Music plan will stack up against Apple's iTunes.According to the information CNET got back in October, when the 5800 was unveiled in the U.K., Comes With Music tracks will be playable on the phone and one PC, and will not expire after the year is up. From the reviews I've seen, it's truly an unlimited downloading service--there's no hidden limit, although Nokia's terms of use would let them cancel your service for "abusive or excessive downloading." The experience is a little clunkier than iTunes from what I've read in the reviews. The phone comes with a card containing a code; enter that code into the Web-based Nokia Music Store and all prices in the store disappear. Everything has to be sideloaded--there's no direct over-the-air downloading to the phone as you can do with the iPhone--and it's PC only. You can't transfer the songs to any other phone, even another Comes With Music phone, nor can you burn them to a CD without paying extra. Songs are encoded in the Windows Media Audio format (which I've always thought is an excellent audio codec, for all of the other flaws with Microsoft's digital media strategy and products), and of course come with DRM to limit what you can do with them. Still--everything you download lives on your PC forever. So while $399 is a significant premium over the iPhone, add in the price of a few thousand PC-tethered downloads, and it looks pretty competitive. At the very least, it could be an extremely convenient way to discover music--you can always buy full CD-burnable tracks of the songs you really like, then transfer them to other devices in other formats later on.Will it make a dent in iPhone sales? Not without a carrier agreement, no.
According to The Nokia Blog, the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music (a.k.a. The Tube) will go on sale at U.S. retailers on Feb. 26 for a suggested price of $399. No carrier partners have been announced, so there's probably little chance of a carrier subsidy reducing the price at launch. CNET reviewed a preview version of the phone back in December and liked it fairly well, but I'm most interested in how the Comes With Music plan will stack up against Apple's iTunes.According to the information CNET got back in October, when the 5800 was unveiled in the U.K., Comes With Music tracks will be playable on the phone and one PC, and will not expire after the year is up. From the reviews I've seen, it's truly an unlimited downloading service--there's no hidden limit, although Nokia's terms of use would let them cancel your service for "abusive or excessive downloading." The experience is a little clunkier than iTunes from what I've read in the reviews. The phone comes with a card containing a code; enter that code into the Web-based Nokia Music Store and all prices in the store disappear. Everything has to be sideloaded--there's no direct over-the-air downloading to the phone as you can do with the iPhone--and it's PC only. You can't transfer the songs to any other phone, even another Comes With Music phone, nor can you burn them to a CD without paying extra. Songs are encoded in the Windows Media Audio format (which I've always thought is an excellent audio codec, for all of the other flaws with Microsoft's digital media strategy and products), and of course come with DRM to limit what you can do with them. Still--everything you download lives on your PC forever. So while $399 is a significant premium over the iPhone, add in the price of a few thousand PC-tethered downloads, and it looks pretty competitive. At the very least, it could be an extremely convenient way to discover music--you can always buy full CD-burnable tracks of the songs you really like, then transfer them to other devices in other formats later on.Will it make a dent in iPhone sales? Not without a carrier agreement, no.
Apple sizes up Genius Bar at expanding N.J. locale
Apple sizes up Genius Bar at expanding N.J. locale
Apple could be overhauling at least one of its retail stores to add more space for the Genius Bar and the customers themselves.The company's Garden State Plaza store in Paramus, N.J., is reportedly the target of the renovations, according to Apple blog site ifoAppleStore. The store itself is moving to a larger space in the shopping mall that will triple its square footage.Sources told ifoAppleStore that the Paramus store originally occupied a space 30 feet wide but has since outgrown that and has run into problems of overcrowding. The new location will open up room for a double-row Genius Bar with one row behind the other and parallel to the store's rear wall. Related storiesApple's iPhone event: Join us Wednesday (live blog)Apple may be looking to smarten up its Genius BarsApple to add iOS sync hubs to Genius Bars for iDevice replacementsiPhone 5 rumor roundupThis wouldn't be the first time Apple has tweaked its Genius Bar to make better use of space, according to the blog. A "floating" Genius Bar was added to the Los Gatos, Calif., store last July that sits 90 degrees off the rear wall. Other stores have expanded the length of their Genius Bars. So far, the record for the longest Genius Bar is held by the Amsterdam store in the Netherlands at 82 feet.Greater store space and bigger Genius Bars may be in order after Apple unveils its next-generation iPhone.Expected to debut today, the iPhone 5 should attract a healthy number of upgraders and new customers. That means Apple stores will have to prepare for huge crowds of buyers and lots of people asking for advice and assistance on the iPhone.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story if we get more information.Tune in Wednesday starting at 9 a.m. PT for our Apple iPhone event live blog.
Apple could be overhauling at least one of its retail stores to add more space for the Genius Bar and the customers themselves.The company's Garden State Plaza store in Paramus, N.J., is reportedly the target of the renovations, according to Apple blog site ifoAppleStore. The store itself is moving to a larger space in the shopping mall that will triple its square footage.Sources told ifoAppleStore that the Paramus store originally occupied a space 30 feet wide but has since outgrown that and has run into problems of overcrowding. The new location will open up room for a double-row Genius Bar with one row behind the other and parallel to the store's rear wall. Related storiesApple's iPhone event: Join us Wednesday (live blog)Apple may be looking to smarten up its Genius BarsApple to add iOS sync hubs to Genius Bars for iDevice replacementsiPhone 5 rumor roundupThis wouldn't be the first time Apple has tweaked its Genius Bar to make better use of space, according to the blog. A "floating" Genius Bar was added to the Los Gatos, Calif., store last July that sits 90 degrees off the rear wall. Other stores have expanded the length of their Genius Bars. So far, the record for the longest Genius Bar is held by the Amsterdam store in the Netherlands at 82 feet.Greater store space and bigger Genius Bars may be in order after Apple unveils its next-generation iPhone.Expected to debut today, the iPhone 5 should attract a healthy number of upgraders and new customers. That means Apple stores will have to prepare for huge crowds of buyers and lots of people asking for advice and assistance on the iPhone.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story if we get more information.Tune in Wednesday starting at 9 a.m. PT for our Apple iPhone event live blog.
Apple- Simplicity taken too far-
Apple: Simplicity taken too far?
Microsoft became the biggest software company in the world by creating an ecosystem of software that works well together.Google has upped the ante by reducing complex algorithms to a simple box that yields everything from search results to FedEx shipment tracking to...you name it.Just Google it.Apple, however, takes ease-of-use to an entirely new level, and has been taking some extreme measures to achieve its goal of making personal computing brain-dead easy.As ZDNet's Jason Perlow points out, not only has Apple combined software and hardware into a seamless experience, but it forces developers to use Macs to develop for its platform, and even requires developers to learn its Objective-C programming language to write applications for its platforms.This makes for an exceptionally clean experience for customers, but the more Apple burdens its developer community, the faster its community will be to latch onto alternatives, including open-source offerings and even Microsoft.Despite Apple's uber-proprietary approach, there has been no shortage of open-source affection for the company's products, as former Red Hat marketing executive Chris Grams points out.But that might be changing.I've heard a growing chorus of open-source voices shifting from Microsoft as (open-source) public enemy No. 1 to Apple.One could discard such fulminating, except for the fact that Google (with Android) and other open-source communities are increasingly focusing on delivering open-source software that prioritizes ease of use, as Canonical's latest Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (aka Lucid Lynx) release shows.(Disclosure: I work for Canonical.Double disclosure: I didn't like the Linux "desktop" until Lucid's release.)Apple controls a large developer ecosystem today because it makes easy-to-use products that consumers love.Developers follow consumer wallets.But if more open alternatives arise from Google and others, Apple's tight rein on developers will have to be relaxed or it risks seeing its market evaporate, just as happened with PCs years ago.Back then it was Microsoft that took its innovations and ran with them.Today it might be Google.
Microsoft became the biggest software company in the world by creating an ecosystem of software that works well together.Google has upped the ante by reducing complex algorithms to a simple box that yields everything from search results to FedEx shipment tracking to...you name it.Just Google it.Apple, however, takes ease-of-use to an entirely new level, and has been taking some extreme measures to achieve its goal of making personal computing brain-dead easy.As ZDNet's Jason Perlow points out, not only has Apple combined software and hardware into a seamless experience, but it forces developers to use Macs to develop for its platform, and even requires developers to learn its Objective-C programming language to write applications for its platforms.This makes for an exceptionally clean experience for customers, but the more Apple burdens its developer community, the faster its community will be to latch onto alternatives, including open-source offerings and even Microsoft.Despite Apple's uber-proprietary approach, there has been no shortage of open-source affection for the company's products, as former Red Hat marketing executive Chris Grams points out.But that might be changing.I've heard a growing chorus of open-source voices shifting from Microsoft as (open-source) public enemy No. 1 to Apple.One could discard such fulminating, except for the fact that Google (with Android) and other open-source communities are increasingly focusing on delivering open-source software that prioritizes ease of use, as Canonical's latest Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (aka Lucid Lynx) release shows.(Disclosure: I work for Canonical.Double disclosure: I didn't like the Linux "desktop" until Lucid's release.)Apple controls a large developer ecosystem today because it makes easy-to-use products that consumers love.Developers follow consumer wallets.But if more open alternatives arise from Google and others, Apple's tight rein on developers will have to be relaxed or it risks seeing its market evaporate, just as happened with PCs years ago.Back then it was Microsoft that took its innovations and ran with them.Today it might be Google.
Apple shows 74 percent of devices now run iOS 7
Apple shows 74 percent of devices now run iOS 7
These numbers were measured by Apple's App Store during a 7-day period ending December 1, 2013.AppleDespite some complaints about Apple's iOS 7 redesign, 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.
These numbers were measured by Apple's App Store during a 7-day period ending December 1, 2013.AppleDespite some complaints about Apple's iOS 7 redesign, 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.
Apple shelves AppleCare warranty product in Italy
Apple shelves AppleCare warranty product in Italy
Apple has pulled its AppleCare warranty product from store shelves in Italy following scrutiny over the company's compliance with local consumer protection laws. Reuters reports that Apple last week removed the product from its retail stores, and stopped providing it to its own resellers in the country. Nonetheless, the product can still be purchased from Apple's online store in the country, with mention that the paid plan adds "benefits" to the two years local buyers get under the Consumer Code. Last December, Apple was hit with a 900,000 euro (then $1.2 million) fine for allegedly encouraging customers to purchase AppleCare, its technical support and extended warranty service. Under the aforementioned Italian law, the country requires companies to offer two years of technical support to product buyers, which is the same amount of time Apple's paid-for product offered.Following that fine, Apple was required to change the way it explained the product on its sales Web site.The AppleCare service, which runs anywhere from $29 to $349 depending on what Apple product you're buying, has long been one of Apple's main differentiators from its competitors. The company's add-on warranty service gives users a way to have their gadgets repaired by phone and in the company's retail stores. Alongside the iPhone 4S last year, Apple extended that service to include coverage for accidental damage with its AppleCare+ service.
Apple has pulled its AppleCare warranty product from store shelves in Italy following scrutiny over the company's compliance with local consumer protection laws. Reuters reports that Apple last week removed the product from its retail stores, and stopped providing it to its own resellers in the country. Nonetheless, the product can still be purchased from Apple's online store in the country, with mention that the paid plan adds "benefits" to the two years local buyers get under the Consumer Code. Last December, Apple was hit with a 900,000 euro (then $1.2 million) fine for allegedly encouraging customers to purchase AppleCare, its technical support and extended warranty service. Under the aforementioned Italian law, the country requires companies to offer two years of technical support to product buyers, which is the same amount of time Apple's paid-for product offered.Following that fine, Apple was required to change the way it explained the product on its sales Web site.The AppleCare service, which runs anywhere from $29 to $349 depending on what Apple product you're buying, has long been one of Apple's main differentiators from its competitors. The company's add-on warranty service gives users a way to have their gadgets repaired by phone and in the company's retail stores. Alongside the iPhone 4S last year, Apple extended that service to include coverage for accidental damage with its AppleCare+ service.
Apple shares tumble during silence on iPhone 5C preorders
Apple shares tumble during silence on iPhone 5C preorders
Apple's silence on iPhone 5C preorders might be turning some shareholders away.The company's shares on Monday are trading down more than 2 percent to $454.83. As of this writing, shares are off more than $10. Meanwhile, the Dow and Nasdaq are up, and the technology industry is seeing a slight gain of .13 percent.Exactly why Apple's shares are down Monday cannot be determined for sure, but it might be the company's unorthodox decision to not announce preorder figures for its iPhone 5C.Since 2009, Apple has revealed iPhone preorder numbers for a respective device's first 24 hours of availability. Although Apple offered the iPhone 5C for preorder on Friday, the company decided against announcing preorder figures for the handset, surprising industry watchers.Of course, just because Apple hasn't announced iPhone preorders for the first time in four years, it doesn't mean something is wrong. As CNET's resident Apple expert Josh Lowensohn pointed out earlier Monday, Apple's decision to stay quiet might simply be the result of the company selling two new handsets and only offering preorders on one -- the iPhone 5C. Apple's iPhone 5S model will go on sale later this week.Then again, Apple's iPhone 5C might have softer demand than the company anticipated. Unlike the iPhone 5, which sold out online in an hour, the iPhone 5C is still readily available for preorder. Again, Apple could have more stock this time around, making it harder for the handset to sell out, but it's nonetheless an indicator to at least some shareholders that something could have gone awry.Apple hasn't said a word about its iPhone sales, which means everything surrounding the company's declining stock price is speculation at this point. Still, shareholders are seeing something they don't like. You can bet Apple is paying close attention to that.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Apple's silence on iPhone 5C preorders might be turning some shareholders away.The company's shares on Monday are trading down more than 2 percent to $454.83. As of this writing, shares are off more than $10. Meanwhile, the Dow and Nasdaq are up, and the technology industry is seeing a slight gain of .13 percent.Exactly why Apple's shares are down Monday cannot be determined for sure, but it might be the company's unorthodox decision to not announce preorder figures for its iPhone 5C.Since 2009, Apple has revealed iPhone preorder numbers for a respective device's first 24 hours of availability. Although Apple offered the iPhone 5C for preorder on Friday, the company decided against announcing preorder figures for the handset, surprising industry watchers.Of course, just because Apple hasn't announced iPhone preorders for the first time in four years, it doesn't mean something is wrong. As CNET's resident Apple expert Josh Lowensohn pointed out earlier Monday, Apple's decision to stay quiet might simply be the result of the company selling two new handsets and only offering preorders on one -- the iPhone 5C. Apple's iPhone 5S model will go on sale later this week.Then again, Apple's iPhone 5C might have softer demand than the company anticipated. Unlike the iPhone 5, which sold out online in an hour, the iPhone 5C is still readily available for preorder. Again, Apple could have more stock this time around, making it harder for the handset to sell out, but it's nonetheless an indicator to at least some shareholders that something could have gone awry.Apple hasn't said a word about its iPhone sales, which means everything surrounding the company's declining stock price is speculation at this point. Still, shareholders are seeing something they don't like. You can bet Apple is paying close attention to that.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
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