Apple's iOS 7.1 lands with CarPlay, improved fingerprint scanner
Apple on Monday released an update to its iOS 7 mobile operating system -- iOS 7.1 -- that adds new features such as CarPlay and fixes bugs.With iOS 7.1, Apple also tweaked its Siri voice assistant, iTunes Radio, and its Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The company streamlined the operating system to make it work better with the iPhone 4, made some user interface refinements, and included some stability and accessibility improvements. The update is available immediately, and the Apple devices will alert users about it over the next week. See alsoRobot flower girl looks adorable in pinkMac remote desktop solutions expand with Citrix "Gotomypc"With RealNetworks' influence waning, CEO departs iOS 7.1 marks the first major update following Apple's release of iOS 7 about six months ago. Apple initially unveiled iOS 7 at its developer conference in June of last year and released the operating system in September. The software underwent a complete design overhaul, with everything from the typography and color schemes getting an update. iOS 7 also added useful features like automatic updates to make everyday use easier, AirDrop, and iTunes Radio, as well as a new control center that gives quick access to most-used features. Since the introduction of iOS 7, Apple had released five beta updates of iOS 7.1 to developers.Apple CarPlay ready to hit the road (pic...See full gallery1 - 4 / 7NextPrevAbout 83 percent of Apple device users have downloaded iOS 7, Apple said. The operating system won't run on the original iPad from 2010 and any iPhones older than the iPhone 4.Apple streamlined functions in iOS 7.1 to make the experience faster for iPhone 4 users, which have a much less advanced chip than Apple's newest phones and tablets.Apple's iOS 7.1 update tweaks the month view in the calendar, allowing users to toggle over days to see appointments.Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNETA complete design overhaul brings iOS up-to-date...See full gallery1 - 4 / 28NextPrevWith iOS 7, Siri recognized that a user was done talking because the person paused for a couple of seconds. Now, users can hold down the home button the entire time they're talking to Siri. Once they lift their finger, Siri knows they're done talking. Both ways of interacting are available in iOS 7.1. Apple also included new male and female voices for Mandarin Chinese, British English, Australian English, and Japanese. iTunes Radio also got some tweaks. There's a new search field that allows users to create stations based on their favorite songs or artists. Users can buy albums with a single tap from iTunes Radio, rather than only buying singles. And for the first time, users can now subscribe to iTunes Match from their mobile devices rather than from the desktop.In the calendar month view, users can now toggle to see daily appointments. And the Touch ID fingerprint reader became more accurate with iOS 7.1. There should be fewer false rejections as well as quicker response times in reading fingerprints.iOS 7.1 also includes a camera update that's specific to iPhone 5S users. That's because the newer phone uses Apple's advanced A7 processor while older devices have less-powerful chips. HDR, or "high dynamic range," will automatically turn on when it's needed. That takes many photos at once in different exposures to create a sharp image that looks closer to what the human eye sees, as the varying highlights and shadows are all accounted for.Meanwhile, iOS 7.1 users will be able to take advantage of Car Play, which Apple unveiled last week at the Geneva Motor Show. The feature is a means for an iPhone (5 and newer) to power a touch screen on a new car's dashboard. The interface is iOS-like, but vastly simplified compared with what's seen on a phone or tablet. Functionality is limited too -- really just letting users access maps and audio, though Siri can read messages and take dictation for responses. Apple iOS 7See full gallery1 - 3 / 3NextPrevApple CarPlay ready to hit the road (pic...See full gallery1 - 4 / 7NextPrevUpdated at 10:40 a.m. PT: with additional details.
NBC's Zucker- 'Seinfeld' wouldn't make it today
NBC's Zucker: 'Seinfeld' wouldn't make it today
That also means shows have less time to mature, he said. Zucker noted that "Seinfeld" would probably not make it in today's environment, noting it did just so-so in an initial four-episode summer run."That doesn't happen anymore," he said. "It would be gone."Zucker said that doesn't mean the era of hit shows is over. "There can still be hits in network television," Zucker said. "They don't last as long."Asked about the fact his network is in third place, Zucker said that's obviously not where he wants to be. "We haven't done a good enough job of creating programs that people want to watch," Zucker said.Broadcast is more challenging than cable, he said, because it only has advertising as a revenue stream. Another change, Zucker said, is that broadcast networks used to show episodes multiple times. Now the reruns are on Hulu and other places."We're at our core a cable company," Zucker said. Sixty percent of its cash comes from cable, he said. "The cable model is just a better model."As for the economy, he said, "There is some light at the end of the tunnel."Asked about Hulu, Zucker said it is ahead of plan and should be cash-flow positive soon. "The first 18 months was getting it up and not getting laughed at," Zucker said. "The goal over the next 18 months would be increased monetization." Hulu is a Web video service from NBC Universal and Fox Entertainment Group. Zucker was also asked about his well-publicized spat with iTunes."We've always loved Steve," he said, referring to Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "It wasn't personal." But Zucker said NBC didn't agree that a library copy of the "Rockford Files" should sell at same rate as a new episode of "Battlestar Galactica." "The pricing wasn't fair.""About a year later, Steve decided he was open to tiered pricing," Zucker said.He noted that 15 percent of NBC content sells at $2.99, the price consumers pay for HD content on iTunes.Zucker said that iTunes, Hulu, and other digital businesses are small individually for NBC. "You do have to have 10 businesses like this that make up for the one you've lost."He has said that the industry is replacing analog dollars with digital pennies. "I was just trying to be honest. I don't regret it at all because it was the truth.""What I have said is we are now up to digital dimes. I think that's progress...We still have a 90-cent gap. Hopefully I can come back and in a year or two we will be at digital quarters. The more people understand where we are, the better," he said.Zucker was asked whether he would put his shows on Facebook."We'll put our shows anywhere, frankly. We want to be paid for it. That's what will allow us to keep producing shows like "The Office" and "30 Rock." If we can't get paid for them, we can't afford that cost structure."As for teaming up with rivals on Hulu, Zucker said he wasn't worried about antitrust issues. "Half the day we spend bashing each others' heads in. Half the day we spend in business together."Zucker said it is important for the industry to embrace technology so as not to end up where the music industry did. "I don't think you can put the genie back in the bottle." He said that if the company tried to air its content only on its network, people would find more ways to pirate the shows."You can't stop progress," he said.Asked about Hulu's efforts to keep its service off TV sets, Zucker said: "Right now we are committed to Hulu being an online experience. That's where our vision is today. That will continue."Note: CNET News is published by CBS Interactive, a unit of CBS.
That also means shows have less time to mature, he said. Zucker noted that "Seinfeld" would probably not make it in today's environment, noting it did just so-so in an initial four-episode summer run."That doesn't happen anymore," he said. "It would be gone."Zucker said that doesn't mean the era of hit shows is over. "There can still be hits in network television," Zucker said. "They don't last as long."Asked about the fact his network is in third place, Zucker said that's obviously not where he wants to be. "We haven't done a good enough job of creating programs that people want to watch," Zucker said.Broadcast is more challenging than cable, he said, because it only has advertising as a revenue stream. Another change, Zucker said, is that broadcast networks used to show episodes multiple times. Now the reruns are on Hulu and other places."We're at our core a cable company," Zucker said. Sixty percent of its cash comes from cable, he said. "The cable model is just a better model."As for the economy, he said, "There is some light at the end of the tunnel."Asked about Hulu, Zucker said it is ahead of plan and should be cash-flow positive soon. "The first 18 months was getting it up and not getting laughed at," Zucker said. "The goal over the next 18 months would be increased monetization." Hulu is a Web video service from NBC Universal and Fox Entertainment Group. Zucker was also asked about his well-publicized spat with iTunes."We've always loved Steve," he said, referring to Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "It wasn't personal." But Zucker said NBC didn't agree that a library copy of the "Rockford Files" should sell at same rate as a new episode of "Battlestar Galactica." "The pricing wasn't fair.""About a year later, Steve decided he was open to tiered pricing," Zucker said.He noted that 15 percent of NBC content sells at $2.99, the price consumers pay for HD content on iTunes.Zucker said that iTunes, Hulu, and other digital businesses are small individually for NBC. "You do have to have 10 businesses like this that make up for the one you've lost."He has said that the industry is replacing analog dollars with digital pennies. "I was just trying to be honest. I don't regret it at all because it was the truth.""What I have said is we are now up to digital dimes. I think that's progress...We still have a 90-cent gap. Hopefully I can come back and in a year or two we will be at digital quarters. The more people understand where we are, the better," he said.Zucker was asked whether he would put his shows on Facebook."We'll put our shows anywhere, frankly. We want to be paid for it. That's what will allow us to keep producing shows like "The Office" and "30 Rock." If we can't get paid for them, we can't afford that cost structure."As for teaming up with rivals on Hulu, Zucker said he wasn't worried about antitrust issues. "Half the day we spend bashing each others' heads in. Half the day we spend in business together."Zucker said it is important for the industry to embrace technology so as not to end up where the music industry did. "I don't think you can put the genie back in the bottle." He said that if the company tried to air its content only on its network, people would find more ways to pirate the shows."You can't stop progress," he said.Asked about Hulu's efforts to keep its service off TV sets, Zucker said: "Right now we are committed to Hulu being an online experience. That's where our vision is today. That will continue."Note: CNET News is published by CBS Interactive, a unit of CBS.
Best iOS apps honoured in 2014 Apple Design Awards
Best iOS apps honoured in 2014 Apple Design Awards
Every year at WWDC, Apple rewards the best apps launched for its platforms in the previous year: apps that showcase exceptional visual design, and that use the capabilities of the platform to their fullest.Winners of the light-up cube trophy this year include some brilliant games that we're not surprised to see scoop up the awards, including the drop-dead gorgeous Escher-style game Monument Valley, and the sliding numbers game that launched a global phenomenon (even if it didn't quite get the credit it deserved), Threes!.Education also had time in the spotlight, with the educational (but nevertheless beautiful) astronomy app Sky Guide taking a prize. Designed to teach users about the stars, it uses the iOS device's gyroscope to show where the stars are in relation to the viewer, even using artwork to help tease out the constellations.This year saw two student winners. The first team, Teachley -- Dana Pagar, Rachael Labrecque and Kara Carpenter, graduate students from the Teacher's College at Columbia University -- focused on education, too, with a bright, colourful, cartoony app designed to help children learn addition. The second team, HalfPeeled and TwoBros, created an app for sharing beautiful panoramic photographs.The full list of 12 winners is below, with links to their iTunes store pages.Mac winnersCinemagraph ProFlixel PhotosThis app lets you edit a video to create compelling hybrid still-video images with an extensive suite of editing options.Day OneBloom BuiltDo you like recording your life? This Mac application lets you do so in a clean, elegant, easy-to-use interface.iPad winnersStorehouseStorehouse MediaShare your own stories with your friends with this iPad app, which lets you combine text, photos and videos and share via email, Facebook and Twitter. iPad and iPhone winnersSky GuideFifth Star LabsLearn about the stars at any time of the day or night, with detailed information about stars, planets, constellations and other incredible cosmic bodies. Read our full review here.Monument ValleyustwoIf you've not played Monument Valley yet (it's out now for Android, too), you're missing out on one of the most unique and breathtaking games of 2014. Read our full review here.Threes!sirvo2048 may have been the runaway hit, but it all comes down to Threes!, a game that is so simple, yet so beautifully designed. Read our full review here.Device 6SimogoHalfway between a book and a game, Device 6 sees you using every trick up your smartphone's chassis to try and solve a deep and compelling mystery.Blekkunabi brotherMinimalistic, yet tricky, Blek sees you flinging a small dot around the screen, trying to hit the coloured dots and avoid the black ones.Leo's Fortune1337 & SenriIn a departure from the clean lines and pure forms that dominate this year's awards, Leo's Fortune is an adventure game that is an exercise in painstakingly designed graphics and lush environments.Yahoo News DigestYahooThis news reader collates all the news from multiple sources, designed to give you the most comprehensive news reader on the market -- all packed into a slick interface.Student winnersPanoPerfectHalfpeeled and TwoBrosDesigned to complement the panorama mode introduced in iOS 6, PanoPerfect allows you to share your panoramas, and see panoramas taken by others.Teachley: Addimals AdventureTeachleyIt can be difficult to get kids to do their maths homework, which is why this game aims to turn addition into a bright and colourful game.
Every year at WWDC, Apple rewards the best apps launched for its platforms in the previous year: apps that showcase exceptional visual design, and that use the capabilities of the platform to their fullest.Winners of the light-up cube trophy this year include some brilliant games that we're not surprised to see scoop up the awards, including the drop-dead gorgeous Escher-style game Monument Valley, and the sliding numbers game that launched a global phenomenon (even if it didn't quite get the credit it deserved), Threes!.Education also had time in the spotlight, with the educational (but nevertheless beautiful) astronomy app Sky Guide taking a prize. Designed to teach users about the stars, it uses the iOS device's gyroscope to show where the stars are in relation to the viewer, even using artwork to help tease out the constellations.This year saw two student winners. The first team, Teachley -- Dana Pagar, Rachael Labrecque and Kara Carpenter, graduate students from the Teacher's College at Columbia University -- focused on education, too, with a bright, colourful, cartoony app designed to help children learn addition. The second team, HalfPeeled and TwoBros, created an app for sharing beautiful panoramic photographs.The full list of 12 winners is below, with links to their iTunes store pages.Mac winnersCinemagraph ProFlixel PhotosThis app lets you edit a video to create compelling hybrid still-video images with an extensive suite of editing options.Day OneBloom BuiltDo you like recording your life? This Mac application lets you do so in a clean, elegant, easy-to-use interface.iPad winnersStorehouseStorehouse MediaShare your own stories with your friends with this iPad app, which lets you combine text, photos and videos and share via email, Facebook and Twitter. iPad and iPhone winnersSky GuideFifth Star LabsLearn about the stars at any time of the day or night, with detailed information about stars, planets, constellations and other incredible cosmic bodies. Read our full review here.Monument ValleyustwoIf you've not played Monument Valley yet (it's out now for Android, too), you're missing out on one of the most unique and breathtaking games of 2014. Read our full review here.Threes!sirvo2048 may have been the runaway hit, but it all comes down to Threes!, a game that is so simple, yet so beautifully designed. Read our full review here.Device 6SimogoHalfway between a book and a game, Device 6 sees you using every trick up your smartphone's chassis to try and solve a deep and compelling mystery.Blekkunabi brotherMinimalistic, yet tricky, Blek sees you flinging a small dot around the screen, trying to hit the coloured dots and avoid the black ones.Leo's Fortune1337 & SenriIn a departure from the clean lines and pure forms that dominate this year's awards, Leo's Fortune is an adventure game that is an exercise in painstakingly designed graphics and lush environments.Yahoo News DigestYahooThis news reader collates all the news from multiple sources, designed to give you the most comprehensive news reader on the market -- all packed into a slick interface.Student winnersPanoPerfectHalfpeeled and TwoBrosDesigned to complement the panorama mode introduced in iOS 6, PanoPerfect allows you to share your panoramas, and see panoramas taken by others.Teachley: Addimals AdventureTeachleyIt can be difficult to get kids to do their maths homework, which is why this game aims to turn addition into a bright and colourful game.
The 404 364- Where we smash away the pain
The 404 364: Where we smash away the pain
You're going to have to wait until the second half of the show to see the smashing, but that's OK, because we have a bunch of excellent stories in the news to talk about. First up is Wilson's revelation: the Internet is singlehandedly destroying family as we know it.All right, we admit that this isn't exactly news, but it offers a great jumping-off point to a conversation about when and how Jeff will have a baby. Just kidding, but Jeff brings up a great point, that Facebook is not only destroying the way we interact with our families, but how we interact with high school classmates. He offers that high school reunions are becoming a thing of the past thanks to Facebook; social networks as a whole make it all too easy to find out where your old chums are living, what they do for money, their marital status, etc...do we even have a reason to go to a reunion anymore? Would you have gone to a high school reunion anyway, or are you still friends with the people you actually care about? Let us know what you think in the comments section. All right, enough random news talk--let's get to the smashing. Jeff's HTC Mogul has been on the fritz for a while now, giving him a huge headache with constant freezing, hardware malfunctions, lagging OS, etc...so when he finally bought a Palm Pre, we collectively decided to put the HTC out of its misery in what we think is the first-ever on-the-air phone smashing. If all goes well (you'll have to watch to see how it turns out), we might even start a "Smash Club," wherein we'd take obsolete and frustrating tech (read: printers) and essentially "Office Space" it to death. Today was a lot of fun, but Jeff and I are a little worried about Wilson...it looks like had a little too much of a good time with the hammer. Smash it up, psycho!EPISODE 364Download today's podcast Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video 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.PlayInternet single-handedly ruins nuclear familyApple gets passive aggressive about iTunes and Palm PreTeen signs up for one face tattoo, leaves with 56Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson Tang
You're going to have to wait until the second half of the show to see the smashing, but that's OK, because we have a bunch of excellent stories in the news to talk about. First up is Wilson's revelation: the Internet is singlehandedly destroying family as we know it.All right, we admit that this isn't exactly news, but it offers a great jumping-off point to a conversation about when and how Jeff will have a baby. Just kidding, but Jeff brings up a great point, that Facebook is not only destroying the way we interact with our families, but how we interact with high school classmates. He offers that high school reunions are becoming a thing of the past thanks to Facebook; social networks as a whole make it all too easy to find out where your old chums are living, what they do for money, their marital status, etc...do we even have a reason to go to a reunion anymore? Would you have gone to a high school reunion anyway, or are you still friends with the people you actually care about? Let us know what you think in the comments section. All right, enough random news talk--let's get to the smashing. Jeff's HTC Mogul has been on the fritz for a while now, giving him a huge headache with constant freezing, hardware malfunctions, lagging OS, etc...so when he finally bought a Palm Pre, we collectively decided to put the HTC out of its misery in what we think is the first-ever on-the-air phone smashing. If all goes well (you'll have to watch to see how it turns out), we might even start a "Smash Club," wherein we'd take obsolete and frustrating tech (read: printers) and essentially "Office Space" it to death. Today was a lot of fun, but Jeff and I are a little worried about Wilson...it looks like had a little too much of a good time with the hammer. Smash it up, psycho!EPISODE 364Download today's podcast Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video 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.PlayInternet single-handedly ruins nuclear familyApple gets passive aggressive about iTunes and Palm PreTeen signs up for one face tattoo, leaves with 56Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson Tang
Lytro adds Wi-Fi and animated GIF support
Lytro adds Wi-Fi and animated GIF support
Lytro has continually pushed out updates to its light field camera since unveiling the device in 2011. The latest firmware unlocks wireless functionality, and a new app for iOS brings everyone's favourite images â€" animated GIFs â€" to the table.Every single Lytro camera has shipped with a secret Wi-Fi chip inside, though it has never been enabled until now. Available from the Lytro website, a new firmware update will unlock the wireless capabilities of the camera, allowing it to send photos to a dedicated iOS app.The app, which will be available as a free download from the iTunes Store, connects with the Lytro and downloads pictures from the camera to the phone for online sharing. Users can log in with their existing Lytro credentials or create a new account, then browse photos on the Lytro in real time from the app. Previously, users have had to connect the Lytro to a PC or Mac and transfer images using the desktop software.The Lytro living pictures can be focused on the screen of the phone. Captions and location details from FourSquare can also be added before sharing out through the app. Like other photo-sharing services, the Lytro app will let you browse your photos, popular photos or recent uploads. Unlike in the desktop application, the iOS app sends the compressed light field data to the engine in the cloud for processing in full quality. Each image upload from the app is approximately 5MB, so the app does allow you to restrict uploading when on Wi-Fi only, rather than on a cellular connection.Following in the footsteps of services like Google+, which can automatically generate animated images from uploaded photos, Lytro also lets you create GIFs. Available in either a refocus or perspective shift option, the GIF animates the process you would normally go through when manipulating images through refocusing or viewing the perspective shift effect on a computer.An Android version of the app is in development, though no release date has been set. So far, over 700,000 living pictures have been uploaded to the Lytro website.The firmware update will be available for download from the Lytro website.
Lytro has continually pushed out updates to its light field camera since unveiling the device in 2011. The latest firmware unlocks wireless functionality, and a new app for iOS brings everyone's favourite images â€" animated GIFs â€" to the table.Every single Lytro camera has shipped with a secret Wi-Fi chip inside, though it has never been enabled until now. Available from the Lytro website, a new firmware update will unlock the wireless capabilities of the camera, allowing it to send photos to a dedicated iOS app.The app, which will be available as a free download from the iTunes Store, connects with the Lytro and downloads pictures from the camera to the phone for online sharing. Users can log in with their existing Lytro credentials or create a new account, then browse photos on the Lytro in real time from the app. Previously, users have had to connect the Lytro to a PC or Mac and transfer images using the desktop software.The Lytro living pictures can be focused on the screen of the phone. Captions and location details from FourSquare can also be added before sharing out through the app. Like other photo-sharing services, the Lytro app will let you browse your photos, popular photos or recent uploads. Unlike in the desktop application, the iOS app sends the compressed light field data to the engine in the cloud for processing in full quality. Each image upload from the app is approximately 5MB, so the app does allow you to restrict uploading when on Wi-Fi only, rather than on a cellular connection.Following in the footsteps of services like Google+, which can automatically generate animated images from uploaded photos, Lytro also lets you create GIFs. Available in either a refocus or perspective shift option, the GIF animates the process you would normally go through when manipulating images through refocusing or viewing the perspective shift effect on a computer.An Android version of the app is in development, though no release date has been set. So far, over 700,000 living pictures have been uploaded to the Lytro website.The firmware update will be available for download from the Lytro website.
Bob Mansfield bio vanishes from Apple executive leadership page
Bob Mansfield bio vanishes from Apple executive leadership page
Bob Mansfield, the Apple executive at the center of a mysterious executive shakeup last year, has disappeared from the company's executive leadership page.The Apple technology chief's bio vanished from the page in the past 24 hours, according to MacRumors, which first reported on the development. However, a version of his page retrieved a week ago is still accessible on Google's Web cache.Mansfield, who was formerly Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, announced his intention to retire in June 2012, and the company said that he would be replaced by Dan Riccio, Apple's vice president of iPad hardware engineering.That decision was soon overturned as part of a change-up in Apple's top ranks that left him as an adviser to CEO Tim Cook on "future products." Two months later, Apple changed his role once again, putting him charge of the company's technologies group. Apple never commented publicly on the latter developments, but the selection of Riccio as Mansfield's replacement apparently did not sit well with some of the company's top employees, who went to Cook to protest the choice, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. After several senior members on Mansfield's team voiced concern that Riccio was not prepared for the job, Cook reportedly approached Mansfield and offered him a pay package worth $2 million a month to stay with the company.A leaked companywide e-mail from Cook last October noted that Mansfield would be staying on with Apple for another two years. A month later, Mansfield, who joined Apple when the company acquired Raycer Graphics in 1999, sold 35,000 shares of Apple stock, worth just over $20 million, leaving him with about 30,000 shares.CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.Updated at 8 p.m. PT: An Apple spokesperson told Reuters that Mansfield has been removed from the executive team but remains employed by the company on special projects.
Bob Mansfield, the Apple executive at the center of a mysterious executive shakeup last year, has disappeared from the company's executive leadership page.The Apple technology chief's bio vanished from the page in the past 24 hours, according to MacRumors, which first reported on the development. However, a version of his page retrieved a week ago is still accessible on Google's Web cache.Mansfield, who was formerly Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, announced his intention to retire in June 2012, and the company said that he would be replaced by Dan Riccio, Apple's vice president of iPad hardware engineering.That decision was soon overturned as part of a change-up in Apple's top ranks that left him as an adviser to CEO Tim Cook on "future products." Two months later, Apple changed his role once again, putting him charge of the company's technologies group. Apple never commented publicly on the latter developments, but the selection of Riccio as Mansfield's replacement apparently did not sit well with some of the company's top employees, who went to Cook to protest the choice, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. After several senior members on Mansfield's team voiced concern that Riccio was not prepared for the job, Cook reportedly approached Mansfield and offered him a pay package worth $2 million a month to stay with the company.A leaked companywide e-mail from Cook last October noted that Mansfield would be staying on with Apple for another two years. A month later, Mansfield, who joined Apple when the company acquired Raycer Graphics in 1999, sold 35,000 shares of Apple stock, worth just over $20 million, leaving him with about 30,000 shares.CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.Updated at 8 p.m. PT: An Apple spokesperson told Reuters that Mansfield has been removed from the executive team but remains employed by the company on special projects.
BMW taps Apple's Genius model to educate customers
BMW taps Apple's Genius model to educate customers
BMW is taking a page out of Apple's book with a Genius-like program, according to a report.The car maker told Advertising Age in a story published today that it's planning to launch its BMW Genius Everywhere program nationwide next year that will aim at educating customers without actually trying to sell them vehicles. The "geniuses" will be young -- possibly college students -- who will be armed with iPads. They'll be able to answer questions about vehicles on the showroom floor.According to BMW, which was inspired by Apple's Genius services, the program will aid salespeople. With the helpmates roaming the showroom floor, the first spate of questions can be answered without salespeople involved. BMW's model is a take on Apple's Genius bars, which provide support on the company's products. However, unlike most Apple Genius efforts, which aim at handling issues with products already purchased and at educating the community about its devices, BMW's workers will provide insight prior to the purchase.BMW is by no means the only company that has looked to Apple for inspiration. Best Buy, for example, is planning to modify its store layouts to make them more open and product-focused. Best Buy has also established a "bar" for customers to learn about products being sold in the store.BMW plans to launch its Genius Everywhere program nationwide in 2014. The company will launch a pilot program in the U.S. later this year.
BMW is taking a page out of Apple's book with a Genius-like program, according to a report.The car maker told Advertising Age in a story published today that it's planning to launch its BMW Genius Everywhere program nationwide next year that will aim at educating customers without actually trying to sell them vehicles. The "geniuses" will be young -- possibly college students -- who will be armed with iPads. They'll be able to answer questions about vehicles on the showroom floor.According to BMW, which was inspired by Apple's Genius services, the program will aid salespeople. With the helpmates roaming the showroom floor, the first spate of questions can be answered without salespeople involved. BMW's model is a take on Apple's Genius bars, which provide support on the company's products. However, unlike most Apple Genius efforts, which aim at handling issues with products already purchased and at educating the community about its devices, BMW's workers will provide insight prior to the purchase.BMW is by no means the only company that has looked to Apple for inspiration. Best Buy, for example, is planning to modify its store layouts to make them more open and product-focused. Best Buy has also established a "bar" for customers to learn about products being sold in the store.BMW plans to launch its Genius Everywhere program nationwide in 2014. The company will launch a pilot program in the U.S. later this year.
BMW gets Apple fever
BMW gets Apple fever
Showing a DIY spirit, BMW decked out a 1-series convertible with two iPads and an iPhone 4.BMW's ConnectedDrive effort is always looking at ways to increase the cabin tech in its cars, but at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, that resulted in merely buying tech from Apple. We ran across this 1-series, a European 118d convertible, fitted with two iPads for rear-seat entertainment and an iPhone 4 to serve as infotainment center.The brackets for the iPads, attached to the front-seat headrest posts, looked surprisingly crude for BMW. These brackets would also prevent the front headrests from being lowered all the way.Ensconced in the dashboard was an iPhone 4 fitted into a sturdy-looking bracket anchored to the car. A custom app on the phone showed large buttons for navigation, music, and phone--common car tech functions. The only problem with this configuration was that the phone looked like it would be a long reach from the driver's seat.This iPhone serves as the car's infotainment center, with navigation, music, and phone.Wayne Cunningham/CNETThis iPad mount looks a little crude, and prevents the headrest from lowering all the way.Wayne Cunningham/CNETUnder its ConnectedDrive effort, BMW announced it has implemented a Wi-Fi network in the 7-series, making it possible for passengers to use iPads and laptops while on the go. BMW has also updated its Bluetooth phone systems to work with iPhone OS4. Outside of the Apple universe, BMW adds integration with Blackberry phones, letting the car read out e-mails as they come in.
Showing a DIY spirit, BMW decked out a 1-series convertible with two iPads and an iPhone 4.BMW's ConnectedDrive effort is always looking at ways to increase the cabin tech in its cars, but at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, that resulted in merely buying tech from Apple. We ran across this 1-series, a European 118d convertible, fitted with two iPads for rear-seat entertainment and an iPhone 4 to serve as infotainment center.The brackets for the iPads, attached to the front-seat headrest posts, looked surprisingly crude for BMW. These brackets would also prevent the front headrests from being lowered all the way.Ensconced in the dashboard was an iPhone 4 fitted into a sturdy-looking bracket anchored to the car. A custom app on the phone showed large buttons for navigation, music, and phone--common car tech functions. The only problem with this configuration was that the phone looked like it would be a long reach from the driver's seat.This iPhone serves as the car's infotainment center, with navigation, music, and phone.Wayne Cunningham/CNETThis iPad mount looks a little crude, and prevents the headrest from lowering all the way.Wayne Cunningham/CNETUnder its ConnectedDrive effort, BMW announced it has implemented a Wi-Fi network in the 7-series, making it possible for passengers to use iPads and laptops while on the go. BMW has also updated its Bluetooth phone systems to work with iPhone OS4. Outside of the Apple universe, BMW adds integration with Blackberry phones, letting the car read out e-mails as they come in.
BlackBerry will reportedly cut workforce by up to 40 percent
BlackBerry will reportedly cut workforce by up to 40 percent
BlackBerry may cut up to 40 percent of its workforce, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company will look to cut across different departments and the trimming may occur in different phases, the Journal reported, citing anonymous sources. BlackBerry had 12,700 employees as of March. Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Kodak patent complaints target Apple, RIMSlacker brings Canadians into the foldCNET News Daily Podcast: Tech industry opens wallets for HaitiBuzz Out Loud Podcast 1145: China to Google: Suck it The company declined to comment specifically on the report."We will not comment on rumors and speculation. As previously stated, we are in the second phase of our transformation plan," said a representative. "Organizational moves will continue to occur to ensure we have the right people in the right roles to drive new opportunities in mobile computing."The move comes amid increasing questions about the future of BlackBerry. The company, which has essentially acknowledged that it is shopping itself around, is looking to cut costs even as it tries to compete against the likes of Apple and Samsung Electronics. BlackBerry, however, has had a tough go of it. The company earlier on Wednesday introduced the BlackBerry Z30, a jumbo 5-inch smartphone that sits as its new flagship phone. But the unveiling got lost in the shuffle as most people's attention focused on the release of Apple's iOS 7. BlackBerry is also reportedly releasing BlackBerry Messenger to iOS and Android on Friday and Saturday -- around the same time as the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S launch. BlackBerry will get plenty of attention next week when it reports its fiscal second-quarter results. After a brutal first quarter, sentiment isn't that much higher for a dramatic improvement.
BlackBerry may cut up to 40 percent of its workforce, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company will look to cut across different departments and the trimming may occur in different phases, the Journal reported, citing anonymous sources. BlackBerry had 12,700 employees as of March. Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Kodak patent complaints target Apple, RIMSlacker brings Canadians into the foldCNET News Daily Podcast: Tech industry opens wallets for HaitiBuzz Out Loud Podcast 1145: China to Google: Suck it The company declined to comment specifically on the report."We will not comment on rumors and speculation. As previously stated, we are in the second phase of our transformation plan," said a representative. "Organizational moves will continue to occur to ensure we have the right people in the right roles to drive new opportunities in mobile computing."The move comes amid increasing questions about the future of BlackBerry. The company, which has essentially acknowledged that it is shopping itself around, is looking to cut costs even as it tries to compete against the likes of Apple and Samsung Electronics. BlackBerry, however, has had a tough go of it. The company earlier on Wednesday introduced the BlackBerry Z30, a jumbo 5-inch smartphone that sits as its new flagship phone. But the unveiling got lost in the shuffle as most people's attention focused on the release of Apple's iOS 7. BlackBerry is also reportedly releasing BlackBerry Messenger to iOS and Android on Friday and Saturday -- around the same time as the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S launch. BlackBerry will get plenty of attention next week when it reports its fiscal second-quarter results. After a brutal first quarter, sentiment isn't that much higher for a dramatic improvement.
BlackBerry Torch already being sold at discount
BlackBerry Torch already being sold at discount
The BlackBerry Torch, which launched Thursday, is being offered at a discount on Amazon.com and other online retailers.According to Amazon's Torch page, the smartphone is being sold for $99.99--as of this writing. The device's official price is $199.99. The smartphone from Research In Motion is being offered for $99.99 at Wirefly, as well. At AT&T stores and on AT&T's Web site, the device is still selling for $199.99 with a two-year contract.On Monday, meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that analysts were disappointed with Torch sales. The newspaper said that Stifel Nicolaus and RBC analysts calculated Torch sales in its opening weekend at 150,000 units. The number pales in comparison with the 1.7 million iPhone 4 handsets Apple sold at launch. It's also worth noting that, unlike the iPhone 4 and the Droid X at launch, the BlackBerry Torch is still widely available after its first weekend.RIM is clearly sensitive about the pricing issue. The company said in a statement Tuesday that Amazon's decision to offer the Torch at a discounted price since launch is nothing remarkable. It also said that it has yet to cut the official price of this latest BlackBerry."It is true that Amazon is offering an amazing price and this is great news for customers, but it is inaccurate and misleading to suggest that a price cut has been implemented," a RIM spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement. "Amazon actually launched the BlackBerry Torch from the very beginning at $99 and that is obviously a common online pricing and promotional strategy that has been used with many other product introductions in the past."The RIM spokesperson included a link showing other "attractive discounts" being offered on Amazon's smartphone listings page.Regardless, for anyone who is looking to snag a Torch, now is a great time. It's nice to get a 50 percent discount on a just-launched smartphone.(Via Gizmodo)Updated at 12:11 p.m. PDT: Added statement from RIM.
The BlackBerry Torch, which launched Thursday, is being offered at a discount on Amazon.com and other online retailers.According to Amazon's Torch page, the smartphone is being sold for $99.99--as of this writing. The device's official price is $199.99. The smartphone from Research In Motion is being offered for $99.99 at Wirefly, as well. At AT&T stores and on AT&T's Web site, the device is still selling for $199.99 with a two-year contract.On Monday, meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that analysts were disappointed with Torch sales. The newspaper said that Stifel Nicolaus and RBC analysts calculated Torch sales in its opening weekend at 150,000 units. The number pales in comparison with the 1.7 million iPhone 4 handsets Apple sold at launch. It's also worth noting that, unlike the iPhone 4 and the Droid X at launch, the BlackBerry Torch is still widely available after its first weekend.RIM is clearly sensitive about the pricing issue. The company said in a statement Tuesday that Amazon's decision to offer the Torch at a discounted price since launch is nothing remarkable. It also said that it has yet to cut the official price of this latest BlackBerry."It is true that Amazon is offering an amazing price and this is great news for customers, but it is inaccurate and misleading to suggest that a price cut has been implemented," a RIM spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement. "Amazon actually launched the BlackBerry Torch from the very beginning at $99 and that is obviously a common online pricing and promotional strategy that has been used with many other product introductions in the past."The RIM spokesperson included a link showing other "attractive discounts" being offered on Amazon's smartphone listings page.Regardless, for anyone who is looking to snag a Torch, now is a great time. It's nice to get a 50 percent discount on a just-launched smartphone.(Via Gizmodo)Updated at 12:11 p.m. PDT: Added statement from RIM.
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