Carl Icahn buys additional 2.8 million Apple stock

Apple’s long standing investor Carl Icahn has just bought 2.8 million shares at Apple worth close to $1.7 billion, bringing his total value in the company to $4.5 billion. He now owns a total of 7.5 million shares in Apple, making him one of the largest share holders in the company.

Apple only recently announced its plans to bring a 7:1 stock split in June which will give back shareholders $130 billion as part of its capital returns program. The company also announced the increase of its share repurchase authorization costs to $90 billion from $60 billion.

Apple repurchased $14 billion worth of its stock in January, which is something Icahn has been urging Apple to do following several meetings with the company’s top brass.

Icahn was clearly pleased with this news which has now led to him buying more stock in the company. He claimed that the stock remains “meaningfully undervalued” and that “many analysts fail to understand the company”.

In addition to increasing his stock in Apple, Icahn also disclosed his stock with eBay while decreasing his stake in Netflix. You can find the complete list of Icahn’s stock purchases in the SEC link below.

[SEC via WSJ]

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Apple finally updates iTunes Connect app with iOS 7 redesign

Apple has finally updated the iTunes Connect iOS app with a redesigned interface in line with the iOS 7 design language. The iTunes Connect app lets iOS developers see revenues, downloads and other app information, but hadn’t been updated since more than a year and a half.

The new iTunes Connect design features a new icon as well as a redesigned, flat interface. Here are the release notes of iTunes Connect version 3.0:

iTunes Connect has been completely redesigned to make it even easier to manage your products. In addition, you can now use the iTunes Connect app to access the music, movies, and TV shows you have made available on the iTunes Store.

If the app hasn’t been automatically updated, you can download the update via the Updates tab in the App Store app or use the iTunes link below.

Download link:

? iTunes Connect – free

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Latest Bentley ad captured using iPhone 5s, edited on iPad Air

Bentley Motors recently released a new advertisement, Intelligent Details, that was composed entirely using iOS devices, reports 9to5Mac. According to details provided in the video itself, the film was captured using an iPhone 5s equippedwith lenses, mounts and other accessories to produce high-quality video.

The video was then edited on an iPad Air outfitted with a keyboard case and Apple’s iMovie app for the iPad. Most of the editing was done inside the Bentley, showcasing both the roomy, smooth ride of the automobile and the portable power of the iPad.

Bentley’s video may be the most recent film to be shot with an iPhone, but it is not the first high-profile video endeavor. Last year, Burberry filmed its Spring/Summer runway show using the iPhone 5s shortly after the phone was announced.

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EFF highlights Apple’s improved transparency and user data privacy in latest report

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today published its annual “Who Has Your Back?” report for 2014 that rates companies based on how well they protect user data from both government and law enforcement requests.

Unlike previous years, Apple earned six stars in all of the categories measured by the EFF, including warrant requirements; telling users about government data requests; publishing transparency reports; publishing law enforcement guidelines; and fighting for users’ privacy rights both in the courts and Congress.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation commends Apple for making “remarkable” improvements in its commitment to protecting user data over the past 12 months. Apple, in past years, earned only a single star and lagged behind its competitors in the area or transparency and user privacy. Here is the EFF’s explanation of why Apple earned a star in each category measured by the EFF:

Warrant for content. Apple requires a warrant before providing content to law enforcement. Specifically, in its November transparency report it stated: “As we have explained, any government agency demanding customer content from Apple must get a court order.”

Inform users about government data demands. Apple promises to tell users if the government seeks their data.

Publish law enforcement guides. Apple publishes its law enforcement guidelines.

Fight for users privacy in courts. Apple is adding the following statement to its transparency report update, scheduled for May 2014.

Oppose mass surveillance. Apple is a member of the Reform Government Surveillance Coalition, which affirms that “governments should limit surveillance to specific, known users for lawful purposes, and should not undertake bulk data collection of Internet communications.”

After the public was made aware of the US government’s controversial Prism data collection program, Apple took steps to disclose government requests for user data in order to assure users it was not collaborating with the NSA in this bulk data collection. CEO Tim Cook also took a public stance against the NSA practices saying that he has “been pushing very, very hard to open the books and be totally transparent.”

Other companies earning a full six star rating from the EFF include Dropbox, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter,  and Yahoo.

[Via 9to5Mac]

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Analyst claims Apple is developing a 3D printer

Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry has made a rather bizarre claim that Apple is secretly developing a 3D printer.

Chowdhry spoke about Apple’s 3D printing plans to Benzinga, saying that Google started working on a 3D printer based on knowledge that Apple’s working on a similar project.

From Benzinga:

“It’s either Apple or Microsoft [that inspired Google],” Chowdhry told Benzinga. “But developers feel that Apple is probably the focus for Google because Google considers Apple to be its prime competitor, not Microsoft. And Google really sees Apple to be a strong competitor, not Microsoft, because Microsoft has a lot of issues to worry about.”

“Apple does have intellectual property [in that space],” said Chowdhry. “And they often have more expertise in hardware development than, say, Microsoft has.”

Chowdhry believes that Apple could use PrimeSense’s technology to build this 3D printer. PrimeSense is a 3D sensor maker that powered the original Xbox 360 Kinect, and was acquired by Apple for $345 million.

While he doesn’t have say anything about the likely launch date of Apple’s 3D printer, Chowdhry claims Google’s all-in-one 3D printer will be announced in June or October, followed by an actual release 12 to 18 months later.

It’s worth noting that Trip Chowdhry has made equally questionable claims earlier, with the most bizarre being that former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer would launch Visual Studio for developing iOS and Mac apps at an Apple event.

[via MacRumors]

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Apple now allowing select developers to generate promo codes for in-app purchases

According to reports in both MacRumors and 148apps, Apple is now allowing some developers to generate promo codes for in-app purchases. This feature allows developers to offer giveaways and send out demo copies of freemium apps, which are free to download, but contain content that costs money to unlock.

Promo codes have long been available for paid apps, allowing developers to give away copies of their app for review or promotional purposes. The expansion of promo codes to in-app content is a significant improvement for developers who offer freemium apps. It will make it easier for devlopers to unlock all content in a freemium app for review purposes and provides them with new giveaway options to promote their apps.

According to 148apps, EA is one of the first developers to use this new in-app promotion with its popular Real Racing 3 game. EA apparently is giving customers 10 free in-app gold pieces worth $1.99 when they visit this promotional link on an iOS device. Customers will then receive a promo code that they can enter directly from their iOS device. The code will provide the user with the in-app gold as well as download the Real Racing game for users who have yet to install the title on their device.

Though available now for Real Racing, this feature has not been confirmed by Apple, nor is it mentioned yet on Apple’s developer site. It is possible it is an option limited to high-profile companies like EA and may roll out to smaller developers in the near future. 

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Apple releases iTunes 11.2 with improved Podcast browsing

Along with OS X Mavericks 10.9.3, Apple also released an update to iTunes for Mac and Windows that improves Podcast browsing to iOS devices and other improvements.

iTunes 11.2 makes it much easier to browse Podcasts, by letting you easily see unplayed podcast episodes and filter those episodes that can be streamed. You also have the option of automatically deleting podcasts after listening to them, or saving them on your computer.

Here are the full release notes:

This update includes the following improvements: 

Improved Podcast Browsing 
-Quickly find episodes you haven’t listened to in the new Unplayed tab 
-Browse episodes that are available to download or stream in the Feed tab 
-Save your favorite episodes to keep them on your computer 
-Episodes can now be automatically deleted after you play them 

This update also resolves an issue where iTunes may become unresponsive when updating Genius and improves overall performance and stability. Podcasts for iOS 2.1 or later is recommended when syncing podcast episodes. 

For information on the security content of this update, please visit:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

You can download iTunes 11.2 from these direct download links:

• Mac


• 32-bit Windows


• 64-bit Windows

Alternatively, you can check the “Updates” tab on the Mac App Store to install iTunes 11.2.

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App Deals for today: Download Kayak Pro, Morse-It, Stackables and more for free

We have some great apps for you today that have gone free for a short duration on the App Store, including Kayak Pro, Morse-It, Stackables and more.

Featured Deal

The Complete iOS 7 Developers course: Build your dream app with the iOS 7 Developer Bundle. The $499 Complete iOS 7 Developers course is now available for only $59. That’s a 88% savings off the retail price. So grab the offer today.

Free apps:

• Kayak Pro: Hotel, flight, and car search and booking, flight tracker and itinerary management: $.99 ? Free


• Morse-It: Translate, interpret, type, learn, convert Morse code $.99 ? Free


• Stackables for iPad: An advanced and comprehensive effects layering and blending app: $.99 ? Free


• Print+: Print or share photos, documents, and more: $3.99 ? Free


• MATH 42 helps students from the 5th to the 12th grade with math: $.99 ? Free


• Recordium Mini: A powerful yet elegant recording app designed for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch: $2.99 ? Free


• Logacal: A new kind of calendar app with support for iCloud, Google Calendar and more: $2.99 ? Free

Price drops:

• AnyFont: Install any font on your iOS 7 device with this app, as we told you here: $1.99 ? $.99


• Machinarium: A point and click adventure game, where you solve puzzles and brain teasers: $4.99 ? $2.99

If you like any of these apps, make sure you download them right away, since we don’t know when their prices could go up.

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Swarm: New Location Sharing App from FourSquare Now Available

Foursquare recently announced that it would be splitting its offerings in two, moving all of the original app’s social features to a new app, Swarm, while leaving venue-finding features in the standard FourSquare app. The app, which was just released, is incredibly simple in functionality. But its simplicity and intelligent new features are what might make it the first truly successful friend-finding app–and its friendly bee logo might help a bit as well.

Apple’s “Find My Friends” launched more than two years ago and, while it hasn’t been a complete failure, most people find the service creepy and just plain unnecessary. But services like this could very well become commonplace in the near future, and Foursquare’s hopes to reduce creepiness and increase usability. And part of increasing usability for any app is reducing this concept to what’s absolutely necessary; the simplicity of Swarm is a great example of this.

The app lets you check in manually, as was the case with the Foursquare app, but it also tracks your location in the background with your consent. The app uses push notifications to let you know when friends are nearby, allowing you to have last-minute meetups. At the home screen of the app you’ll find a list of all the people using the app that are within a short walk of you.

Secondly, the app’s third tab (seen as the screenshot on the left above) lets you write statuses about your upcoming and current plans. It’s a mini bulletin board of sorts that lets you quickly ask if there are any friends nearby that want to meetup; this is a great way to make future plans.

And that’s it. Foursquare’s move to two apps is obviously an attempt to grab the location-based social network space with the launch of a new product, and by the looks of it, Swarm is pretty great. The potential for this app to join the ranks among Vine, Instagram, and other cultural hits is obvious, but that will depend on how well the app does at the beginning.

You can get the app right now on the App Store for free.

How do you feel about Foursquare splitting in two? Are you ready to embrace location sharing social networks like Swarm?

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Apple updates Podcasts iOS app with CarPlay support, Siri integration and improved browsing

Apple today issued updates to a number of its products including OS X Mavericks, iTunes and iTunes Connect. The company also updated the Podcasts app with a whole bunch of new features including Siri integration, CarPlay support and improved podcast browsing.

Apple says that with Podcasts 2.1, you can now ask Siri to simple “play podcasts”, or more specifically ask it to play a particular podcast like “play TEDTalks”. The app also adds support for CarPlay, letting you play episodes directly from your car’s dashboard.

Here are the full release notes:

This update includes several improvements that make playing your favorite podcasts even easier:

Improved Episode Browsing
• Quickly find episodes you haven’t listened to in the new Unplayed tab
• Browse episodes that are available to download or stream in the Feed tab
• Save your favorite episodes to keep them offline
• Episodes can now be automatically deleted after you play them
• Tap on links that appear in podcast and episode descriptions to open them in Safari

Ask Siri
• You can now ask Siri to play podcast episodes by simply saying “play podcasts”
• To play specific podcasts or stations, just ask Siri to play them by name, like “play TEDTalks”
• Please note that Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas.

Additional Improvements
• Podcasts now supports CarPlay
• Start playing a station right from the stations list — just tap the Play button next to the station name
• Share links to your favorite podcasts using AirDrop

This update also resolves playback issues after syncing with iTunes and improves stability while downloading podcasts.

If the app hasn’t been automatically updated, you can download the update via the Updates tab in the App Store app or use the iTunes link below.

Download link:

? Podcasts – free

 

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