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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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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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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Apple granted patent that prevents you from sending embarrassing messages to the wrong person

Apple has been granted a new patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office called “Generation of a user interface based on contacts”, which reveals the company is working on a user interface that dynamically changes its background based on who you’re talking to in Messaging applications. Continue reading →

View the original article here

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Here’s How Apple can transition to a ‘3x’ iPhone 6 with 1704×960 Resolution Display

A report from earlier today claims that the iPhone 6 will feature a 1704×960 resolution display with a much higher pixel density. The 1704×960 display resolution is thrice the base resolution (568 x 320 pixels), and the transition to a 3x screen resolution from the current 2x Retina displays would be quite smooth.

Just like the non-Retina to Retina transition, the 2x to 3x transition would involve a proportional scaling up of image assets in unoptimised apps, and would require developers to issue updates to their apps to supply @3x image assets as well.

A MacRumors forum poster visually explained that scaling up 2x image assets for the 3x iPhone 6 display would look much better than what 1x assets scaled up to 2x looked like.

From the forums:

Keep in mind however that unlike with the @1x -> @2x transition we had in 2010, this time we’d only have a 50% enlargement rather than 100%. 

The thing is, a 50% enlargement with interpolation doesn’t look worse than a 100% enlargement with pixel-doubling, despite the loss of details due to the interpolation. [...] 

As you can see, older non-@3x-optimized apps would actually look better on an @3x iPhone than non-@2x-opitmized apps did on an @2x iPhone. Add to this the fact that the screen’s pixel density would be higher this time around, and the perceived image quality difference would be even smaller.

iOS 8 will presumably automatically handle optimising system-drawn elements like text, vector icons, etc., for the higher-resolution screen, so that it looks sharp and crisp. This optimising will be done without developers having to update their apps.

9to5Mac notes:

Sources say that core user interface elements, from iOS functions like the Home screen, Notification Center, and Settings panels, will simply appear like larger versions of those functions on the current iPhone display. However, sources also say it is likely that developers and Apple itself will be able to optimize some applications to better utilize the larger screen area. It is possible Apple could revamp the Home screen and other functions between now and this fall’s launch.

To see how the existing iPhone interface would scale up, 9to5Mac tweaked the iOS Simulator to run at 3x mode.

Here’s how the home screen would look on the higher resolution iPhone 6 display. As you can see, the number of apps in the home screen grid remains the same, but their size increases.

Similarly, here’s how the Notification Center would look on the larger screen. Since the interface is mostly text, Apple would need to make very few tweaks to get Notification Center ready for the iPhone 6:

The Calendar app on the other hand makes use of image assets for search, add and list buttons, and they will appear pixellated until Apple uses @3x images for the buttons:

Apple’s known to make transitions between new screen sizes, new resolutions as easy as possible for developers, and this @3x approach is the easiest for developers, because apart from providing high-resolution image assets, they won’t have to make any other layout changes for their apps. The transition also ensures that users would get the best experience possible with apps not optimised for 3x mode.

Let us know what you think of Apple’s transition strategy to 3x screen resolution in the comments below.

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Apple acknowledges iMessage issue that hijacks your number when switching to Android

The Messages iOS app ties your phone number to your Apple ID, and ensures that people sending texts to your number arrive over iMessage, a free service, rather than SMSes through carriers, which is paid. This is great for all iPhone users, unless you happen to switch to an Android or Windows Phone.

Even after switching to a different platform, the Messages app on your friends’ iPhone continues to think that you still have an iPhone, and texts they send are delivered over iMessage, which means that you won’t see these texts on your Android phone. Moreover, the messages show up with a “Delivered” status on the sender’s iPhone, so they won’t even come to know that these messages aren’t going through.

Adam Pash, formerly of Lifehacker, had the same problem. He spoke to Apple tech support about this issue, and found that a lot of users are facing the same problem, but Apple doesn’t have a clear solution:

[Apple tech support] called me back, then explained

1. This is a problem a lot of people are facing.


2. The engineering team is working on it but is apparently clueless as to how to fix it.


3. There are no reliable solutions right now — for some people the standard fixes work immediately; many others are in my boat.

One of the solutions to this problem is removing your iPhone from My Support Profile (instructions), but this hasn’t helped Pash solve the issue. Other solutions include resetting the Apple ID password, logging out of FaceTime and iMessage from all iOS devices, but these haven’t helped Pash either.

Apple is probably not doing this intentionally, but for a user, this acts like a lock-in, and makes it very difficult to switch from an iPhone, given that there’s no easy way to fix this issue or let people know that you’re no longer on iMessage.

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Apple restricting vacation time for its Retail Employees in September for iPhone 6 launch

German website iFun.de reports that Apple is looking to restrict vacation days for its German retail employees this September possibly for the launch of iPhone 6.

Apple is likely to restrict vacation days in other countries as well.

Last year, Apple had cut down vacation time for its AppleCare employees between September 15 and September 28 for the launch of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. Apple carrier partners also tend to cut down vacation time for their staff for the launch of the new iPhone.

Apple is widely expected to release two variants of the iPhone 6 this year, which may feature an all-new ultra thin design, narrower bezels and rounded edges. The first variant will have a 4.7 inch display, which could be launched as early as August, followed by the larger 5.5-inch model in September. There are speculations that Apple will also launch its long-rumored iWatch smartwatch alongside the new iPhone.

iPhone 6 is also expected to include Apple’s new A8 processor, Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and an improved 8-megapixel camera. The iPhone 6 will also come pre-installed with iOS 8, which may include new apps such as Healthbook, TextEdit and Preview, improved Maps, inter-app communication capabilities and more.

[iFun.de via MacRumors]

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Apple may introduce High Definition audio playback in iOS 8, launch new Lightning cable and In-ear Headphones

We’ve already seen plenty of physical mockups of iPhone 6. We’ve seen it in silver, in gold and space gray, it has been compared to an iPhone 5s to give us an idea of how the larger iPhone will stack up against the 4-inch iPhone, the 5th generation iPod touch to highlight the design similarities and even compared to Samsung’s latest flagship Android phone, the Galaxy S5.  

Folks at 9to5Mac have published a new video, which compares the iPhone 6 physical mockup with latest Android flagships, HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S5.

The iPhone 6 physical mockup looks quite similar to the HTC One M8. When HTC launched the HTC One smartphone in 2013, it was considered a close cousin of the iPhone 5 in the looks department. If Apple goes with the all-aluminum back casing then the iPhone 6 will look even more similar to the HTC One (M8). I like the way HTC has handled the cut outs for the antenna bands, and hope Apple takes a similar approach.

The HTC One (M8) and the Galaxy S5 come with 5-inch and 5.1-inch screen respectively will be slightly bigger than the rumored 4.7-inch iPhone 6. Apple is widely expected to unveil iPhone 6 with larger screens this year to compete with Android based smartphones that usually come with larger screens, so it is interesting to get an idea on how it stacks up against the latest Android flagships.

Apple is widely expected to release two variants of the iPhone 6 this year, with an ultra-thin design, narrower bezels, rounded edges and more. The first variant will have a 4.7 inch display, which could be launched as early as August, followed by the larger 5.5-inch model in September.

iPhone 6 is also expected to include Apple’s new A8 processor, Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and an improved 8-megapixel camera. The iPhone 6 will also come pre-installed with iOS 8, which may include new apps such as Healthbook, TextEdit and Preview, improved Maps, inter-app communication capabilities and more.

[via 9to5Mac]

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Beats Co-Founders May Be Unveiled as Apple Execs at WWDC

According to people familiar with the matter, Apple may unveil Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre as executives at the company’s June Worldwide Developers Conference. With more evidence popping up every day that Apple will indeed be acquiring the headphone maker and streaming music provider, it would make sense for the company to use WWDC as a stage to welcome Iovine and Dre to the company.

Apple is reportedly closing in on finishing the deal which entails Dre and Iovine selling the Beats brand to Apple for a decent $3.2 billion sum, and its announcement is expected soon. Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre are both expected to assume roles on Apple’s executive board, but there is not yet evidence to confirm that these roles even exist. “One person said Iovine would likely oversee all of Apple’s music strategy and handle relationships with labels and publishers,” writes Billboard.

Apple has felt pressure in relationships with music labels recently as paid iTunes downloads have taken a dip, and some analysts say that Apple’s quick push to acquire Beats represents nervousness about partially missing the music streaming train. Apple’s iTunes still serves as the world’s leading digital music store, but the company has had to propose drastic measures such as exclusive albums for download ahead of streaming services to help remedy continually falling sales numbers.

Notably, if Apple were to give Dr. Dre some stage time at WWDC, it wouldn’t be the first time. Dre, also known as Andre Young, took the stage about 10 years ago via video to personally congratulate Steve Jobs on the launch of the iTunes Store and the iPod. Beyond this, the acquisition is equally as tied to Iovine, who met with Steve Jobs to talk about a music service in 2003, and met with Tim Cook to talk about the Beats streaming service last year.

Reuters reports that the acquisition will be announced at some point within the week, and Apple’s WWDC is set to happen June 2-6. It looks like we’re in for a busy couple of months in many different respects. What do you think about Dr. Dre being in an Apple executive role?

[Billboard]

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Apple looking to further boost Safari JavaScript performance with upgrades to Nitro engine

Apple is working on boosting JavaScript performance in Safari across Mac and iOS, as revealed in recent builds of WebKit, the open source rendering engine Safari is built upon.

The WebKit wiki shows an update to the Nitro JavaScript engine codenamed “FTL JIT” that make Safari’s JavaScript performance much faster than Chrome, and comparable to Firefox. Info World reports:

FTLJIT is still considered experimental, so although it’s being made available in the OS X port of WebKit by default, it’s not actually turned on yet — it has to be enabled through command-line flags.

So far, the speed boosts afforded by FTLJIT vary but are intriguing. AreWeFastYet, the JavaScript testing site founded by Mozilla’s JavaScript team, ran its own benchmarks on 64-bit OS X and found the LLVM-powered build of WebKit to be markedly faster than Chrome on some benchmarks. That said, Firefox running asm.js versions of the same benchmarks still consistently beat WebKit.

While speeding up JavaScript is a technical detail, it has a direct impact on the user experience, as most modern websites today make heavy use of JavaScript for features like dynamic loading of content without page refresh, animating elements on the webpage, etc.

The Nitro JavaScript engine, introduced in 2011 in iOS, improved JavaScript performance by a factor of two, and a combination of the improvements in the engine as well as processor advancement will further contribute to faster performance.

Apple however hasn’t made the Nitro engine available to third-party browsers and in-app web views in apps like Twitter, Facebook etc., so it’s uncertain whether the FTL JIT updates would benefit these browsers or not.

We hope that Apple is working to bring these JavaScript improvements to iPhone and iPad as part of iOS 8.

[via MacRumors]

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Weekend news roundup: All the best Apple news from last week

As we close out one week and kick off another, let’s take a moment to look back at the attention-grabbing headlines from the past seven days. Some of the news you may recall, some may be new to you, but all the topics below are worthy of a second mention.

Nokia’s job listing suggests company plans to bring back Here Maps to iOS

Nokia is looking to bring back Here Maps to iOS, as per new job listings. The job listings seek iOS and Android developers to expand the Here mapping service to the two platforms via SDKs and possibly an app as well.

Police concerned about people using ‘Find my iPhone’ for do-it-yourself justice

New York Times raises a valid concern about services like Find My iPhone. The report points out that law enforcement officials in the U.S. are concerned with the emergence of such services as people are putting themselves in danger in the desperation to recover their devices, and are taking disproportionate risks for something that can be replaced.

Increasing cost of Sapphire Displays might limit production of 5.5 inch iPhone 6

Apple’s widely rumored to unveil the iPhone 6 in two sizes this year. The first will be a 4.7 inch model to be unveiled in September, the larger, 5.5 inch model is rumored to be delayed due to yield issues.

According to a new post on Chinese social network Weibo, the reason for the delay of the 5.5-inch iPhone is due to the increasing cost of sapphire, a material Apple will reportedly use in the device’s display to improve durability and scratch resistance. The information reportedly comes from Apple’s supply chain sources.

iOS 7.1/7.1.1 Jailbreak Update: pod2g says he’s working on iOS 7.1/7.1.1 Jailbreak

We finally have an update on the eagerly awaited iOS 7.1.1 or iOS 7.1 jailbreak.

As you know it is currently not possible to jailbreak iOS 7.1/7.1.1. But I have some good news. pod2g of the evad3rs has said that he is working on a jailbreak for iOS 7.1.

TSMC ships first batch of Touch ID sensors for iPhone 6, iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3

One of Apple’s core component suppliers, TSMC is now believed to be shipping out the Touch ID sensors for the upcoming iPhone 6, iPad Air 2 as well as the iPad Mini 3. The company has also reportedly contracted its subsidiaries like Xintec and Suzhou Crystal Semiconductor to produce these sensors in required quantities for upcoming Apple devices.

Apple’s Vice President of Public Relations Katie Cotton to retire

Katie Cotton, Apple’s Vice President of worldwide corporate communications, will be retiring from her position at Apple after spending 18 years at the company

Nintendo ventures into smartphones with a new web-based service

Nintendo has just launched a new web based service for users to keep a track of their achievements, watch gameplay videos and a whole lot more. Although the service doesn’t require a Nintendo Network ID, users with these credentials can upload videos and upload their scores online.

Apple working on ‘Super-resolution’ camera technology using Optical Image Stabilization for future iPhones

A new Apple patent published by the US Patent & Trademark Office has revealed the company is working on camera technologies for future iOS devices like the iPhone, which could be used to create super-resolution images.

Snapchat settles FTC charges over false promise of disappearing photos

Snapchat, the popular app that lets you send self-destructing photos to your friend, was charged by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of misleading users with a false promise of photos disappearing after a few seconds of being viewed.

Apple hires Nokia’s Lumia Photography Lead Ari Partinen

Engadget reports Apple has hired Nokia’s Lumia photography Lead Ari Partinen. Partinen initially tweeted he was starting a new chapter at Cupertino, and later confirmed he was indeed joining Apple

Does Apple Acquiring Beats Make Sense?

News of Apple’s potential Beats acquisition spread like wildfire yesterday, but even more evidence that this might be a legitimate rumor is now on the table. The brand would be one of Apple’s biggest acquisitions ever and response to the rumor has been mixed; some pundits question Apple’s thoughts behind the purchase, while some experts have offered very compelling arguments for why the deal makes sense. But a recent interview held with Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine along with other evidence may hold the truth.

You can now Print 4.7-inch or 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Physical Mockups yourself with a 3D printer

We’ve already seen plenty of physical mockups of iPhone 6. If you’ve access to a 3D printer, and want to figure out how the larger iPhones will feel in the hand then you can now try it out yourself.

4.7-inch iPhone 6 renderings allegedly straight from Apple’s supplier Foxconn

Chinese site Feng (via GforGames) has just published new renderings which it claims are of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 that have been sourced from Foxconn, Apple’s largest manufacturing partner in China.

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Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre to assume senior roles at Apple following Beats acquisition

Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre may take on senior roles at Apple following the acquisition of Beats Electronics, reports The Wall Street Journal on Friday.

According to people familiar with the matter, Iovine’s and Dre’s exact contributions to Apple remain unclear, but sources suggest their presence could be used to both improve negotiations with music labels and attract a younger, more affluent clientele that tends to purchase Beats’ high-end headphones.

Iovine allegedly will leave his position as Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M records, a division of Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group, which also will benefit from an Apple acquisition.

Assuming Apple seals the deal to buy Beats, Mr. Iovine will leave his longtime post as chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M records, a division of Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group, according to a person familiar with the matter, though it isn’t clear how soon he would depart. Universal, which owns a 14% stake in Beats and would reap roughly $500 million from a $3.2 billion acquisition, is likely to let Mr. Iovine split before his contract expires early next year.

Beats Electronics is a high-profile luxury brand with its popular line of Beats by Dr. Dre headphones as well as the recently launched Beats Music streaming service. The acquisition may provide Apple with an established high-margin headphone business and could bolster the company’s presence in the music streaming arena.

Beats Electronics is one of several high-profile hires from industries outside of technology. Most recently, Apple hired Angela Ahrendts away from her role as CEO of luxury designer Burberry and placed her in charge of Apple’s retail operations. Last year, Apple also hired former Yves St Laurent CEO Paul Deneve to work on special projects for Apple CEO Tim Cook.

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EasyPay POS system at Apple Stores switching from iPod touch to iPhone 5s

Apple may be replacing the iPod touch units in its EasyPay POS system with iPhone 5s handsets as the company revamps its in-store checkout process. Sources familiar with the rollout confirmed this change to 9to5Mac.

Apple started using the EasyPay checkout system in its retail stores starting in 2009. The system uses an iPod touch with a sled attachment that provides each device with a barcode scanner and a magnetic strip reader for processing credit cards

Apple may be migrating to an advanced sled that provides RFID capabilities, a keypad for PIN input with debit card sales and support for Passbook scanning. The new system also has been updated to work with iOS 7.

In a memo to employees, Apple notes that the new hardware doubles battery life, adds a 2D bar code scanning, improved network connectivity, and “makes just about everything easier.” Apple adds that the updated software adds improved personal pickup that adds a bar code to the confirmation screen in the Apple Store app allowing employees to quickly scan and bring up orders using their EasyPay unit.

The reason why the company is switching to the more expensive iPhone 5s is not clear, but it’s possible that the new system could benefit from the faster hardware of the iPhone 5s. Touch ID could provide employees with faster logins to the payment system or as a way for customers to authorize their purchase. The iPhone 5s also supports calling, allowing employees to make a support call without requiring them to carry a second device.

Apple allegedly is rolling out the iPhone 5s units in select Apple stores nationwide with the goal of equipping all US stores with the updated POS platform in the next few weeks.

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Apple's iPad expected to help hold 2013 PC growth to 2%

A new forecast calls for worldwide PC sales to grow just 2 percent this year, held back by demand for Apple's iPad and a tepid response to Windows 8.

Shaw Wu with Sterne Agee issued a note to investors on Monday provided to AppleInsider in which he said he foresees slower-than-expected growth. While most market research firms believe the PC market could grow as much as 9 percent in 2013, he thinks it will be much lower, thanks to a number of factors.

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TSMC contracted to build A6X chips for Apple this quarter, pushing out Samsung

After years of rumors, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is said to finally begin trial production of A6X chips for Apple's fourth-generation iPad this quarter, further marginalizing Samsung's role in Apple's supply chain.

TSMC has been contracted to manufacture the A6X chip found in the latest iPad, according to Taiwan's Commercial Times, via French news agency AFP. A report published on Wednesday said trial production of the mobile chips will begin in the first quarter of the year.

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