Category: Apple

Tim Cook Confirms Apple Watch to Debut in April

The smartwatch by Apple is the next big awaited announcement from the Cupertino-based giant. The Apple Watch will make a debut in April this year, confirmed the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook.

Tim stated that the Apple Watch is under development, and that he has high expectations from its upcoming debut-

My expectations are very high on it. I use it every day. I love it and can’t live without it.

This statement condemns the earlier rumours which assured that the Apple Watch would launch in the first quarter of 2015.

The revelation has come at the time when Apple is riding high on success. Recently, Apple witnessed a record-breaking sale of over 74 million iPhones.

Users will see three variants of the Apple Watch: first is the regular Apple Watch that would have a case of stainless steel, second variant is the Apple Watch Sport that will hold a fluoroelastomer band and anodised aluminium case, and the last one is the Apple Watch Edition with an 18-karat gold case. The device will be compatible with the latest iPhone models – iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

Apple Watch has a personalised interface and a Digital Crown that sits at the right side of the watch to help navigate better. The Apple Watch will be available in six designs with interchangeable straps. The built-in speaker phone and microphone can be used to receive calls.

January 28, 2015
Apple Takes The Top Spot in China, Dethrones Xiaomi and Samsung

We are all familiar with Apple’s soaring sales of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Apple recently revealed its record Q1 sales, surpassing even the highest analyst iPhone sales expectations as it set new iPhone sale records and new company record, too.

Now, a Chinese data firm Canalys has released its latest report that the Cupertino based manufacturer has risen to the top spot in the highly competitive Chinese market for the first time. The report also mentioned that it is highly surprising considering the price of its devices is ‘nearly double those of its nearest competitors’.

While the home grown smartphone giants of China are aiming for global expansion, the iPhone maker has turned the table towards the domestic market. The report highlights that the major reason of the success is the that Apple is finally embracing the LTE and large screen trends which are the most vital parameters in Chinese market.

Apple captured a record 33 percent market share in South Korea in November 2014, according to Hong Kong-based market research company Counterpoint. Samsung, arch-rival of Apple has been shunned to the third place, tailing behind Apple is China’s Xiaomi.

Apple will be reporting it last quarter earning next Tuesday in detail.

January 28, 2015
Apple Faces Flak for Apple Watch’s Terrible Battery Life

Apple may have announced the Apple Watch but there are still very limited details about the smartwatch available. We’re still uncertain about when it might be available. And obviously, one of the biggest concerns is its battery life. Smartwatches are judged on the bases of their battery life; no one needs another device that needs constant recharge. It seems Apple Watch is no different.

9to5Mac reported, the iPhone maker is having trouble achieving the target battery life for the Apple Watch. Apple has aimed for its upcoming smartwatch to last a full day on a single battery charge, but the reality may fall short of the goal.

According to the report, Watch’s beefy processor and high quality screen hogs in the battery juice really fast, severely impacting the battery life of the smart watch. It might only last 2.5 to 5 hours of battery life on active use.

The company hoping to achieve its goal of three days on standby mode and four days in sleep mode. But the wearable device may last only two to three days in either standby or low-power mode, according to 9to5Mac. The Apple Watch was expected to change the scenario of poor battery life of smartwatches. However, the Apple Watch’s battery life doesn’t sound much better than already-available smartwatches.

The battery life has remained a source of concern for Apple over the past year, and was a contributing factor for Apple pushing back the retail launch from an originally planned late 2014 to early 2015.

The company has now set a March shipping date for the smartwatch. The Apple Watch will be priced at $349 and will be available by early 2015. It will come in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. The wearable will be compatible with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

January 24, 2015
The Five Most Blatant iPhone Knock-Offs

Whether we like or not, a few things that Apple has a knack of doing other rivals simply do not. Especially when it comes to design where its attention to detail is just impeccable. There is no denying there are some gorgeous looking Android phones in the market, but none of them can match up to the benchmarks set by Apple.

Needless to mention, iPhones are one of the best smartphones ever manufactured. Every iPhone launch leaves us in awe that creates a strong desire to own an iPhone. But most of us are not willing to spend our entire hard earned savings to own this beauty.

Hence, a lot of manufacturers have cashed in on this void by creating iPhone rip-offs. Well, it’s not a bad thing to take inspiration from one of the best phones in the world, of course, we’re not sure if Apple feels that way. Here are some of the recent iPhone knock-offs:

1. Lenovo Sisely S90

Lenovo launched an iPhone 6 look-alike in a relatively sneaky way dubbed as the Lenovo Sisely S90. Barring similar looks, Lenovo took it to another level as its promotional images were also uncannily similar to that of the iPhone 6. The 5 inch phone has the exact same dimensions as the iPhone 6 with a thickness of 6.9mm and weight of 129g.

2. Samsung Galaxy Alpha

There’s something deceptively familiar about Samsung’s Galaxy Alpha. It’s the company’s first attempt at using metal in its smartphones that annoyingly looks like an iPhone, including the 4.7 inch screen size and the rounded edges. So much for innovation and design.

3. Micromax Canvas Win 121

The Canvas 4 Plus will make headlines of its own. However, it may be the iPhone 6 plus’ bendgate that influences this one. It has a similar slim form factor, rounded edges and was also bendable.

In our unboxing of the phone, just because the phone looks so similar to an iPhone, we lightly attempted a bend test and it bent out of shape which led to some awkward moments in our test lab.

3. Huawei Honor 6

The Honor 6 also has striking similarities in terms of its design and form factor. It has similar looking bezels above and on the screen while it also comes in deceptively similar colours to the iPhone. The main difference being the lack of a home button.

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4. Huawei Ascend P7

The Ascend P7 is probably the only phone that manages to give that uber iPhone feel. It is reminiscent of the iPhone 5s, with the same flat rounded rectangular form factor. The sides and top of the phone are also garnered with premium anodized aluminium band just like the iPhone.

Apart from looks, the Ascend P7 has also taken a few obvious cues from iOS. The P7 features no app grid. Instead, it has an iOS style setup where icons for every app are spread across multiple home screens.

It’s probabaly the best manifestation of an iPhone, though we’re not sure what Apple would think of that.

iPhone 5s

Ascend P7

4. Lava Iris X1

Lava Iris X1 has the looks of an iPhone 4S with the same button and camera layouts along with slightly rounded edges. Hats off to Lava, this is a proper iPhone 4S rip-off but obviously you won’t be getting that Apple experience.

iPhone 5

Lava Iris X1

5. Xiaomi Mi4

The Chinese manufacturer has heavily borrowed features from Apple and has come out with a relatively worthy clone. Barring the phone’s back panel, everything about the phone from the stainless steel band covering the edges along with the glass covering the front resembles the iPhone.

Apart from the above-mentioned iPhone look-alikes, there are a couple of other devices which are awfully similar to the iPhone. So, if it’s the design of the iPhone that invigorates you, then maybe some of these options may be worth your money. But obviously it’s not going to get you that authentic Apple experience (no, even installing a launcher won’t help). Alas, what the Cupertino giant says is apparently true — “If you don’t have an iPhone, well you don’t have an iPhone”.

What’s your favourite iPhone Knock-Off, do let us know in the comments section below.

January 24, 2015
Dropbox to Soon Drop Support for Macs Running OS X 10.5 or Older Versions

Upgrade your iMac’s to OS X 10.6 or above, or Dropbox will not work on your system. This statement has come from Dropbox itself who has notified users of older versions through an email that their services will be discontinued on the systems running OS X 10.5 and below. The support for the older version will be taken back starting 18th May.

The service provider says that if users, after the decided date, still run their Macs on Leopard or earlier OS X versions, user will be signed out of the Mac app automatically. Although, the Dropbox service will continue to work. The person would not be able to sign in again till he/she gets a newer version of the OS X.

The company assured the users that even if they don’t update, their photos, videos and other files are safe with them. The same can be accessed through the official Dropbox website.

One of the users using older OS X version stated the issue on the Dropbox Forum page –

We noticed that you’re running the Dropbox desktop application (client) on an older operating system (OS X Tiger 10.4 or OS X Leopard 10.5). We’re writing to let you know that as of May 18th, Dropbox will no longer support these older versions of OS X.

Meanwhile, the app developers have given enough time to get the systems upgraded as the changes will come into effect on 18^thMay.

January 21, 2015
Apple’s 12-inch iPad Pro Might Include a Stylus as an Optional Accessory

Steve Jobs had a firm belief in simplicity of design, which was one of the reasons why he never liked the idea of a stylus. It was pretty evident, in his 2007 Macworld conference speech, when Jobs kept repeating “Who wants a stylus?”. He dismissed it stating that humans are born with one of the best pointing devices available, referring to our fingers, so why not use it?

However, under Tim Cook’s guidance, Apple has made some drastic changes in the design philosophy of its products. Now, according to KGI Securities, Apple might bring out a stylus accessory for its iPad products, expected to be first introduced with the rumoured 12-inch iPad Pro.

According to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the stylus will be an optional accessory, as the expensive stylus would drive the base cost of the iPad higher.

Apple’s proposed haptic stylus from a 2010 patent application

Looking at technical details of the stylus, Kuo predicts it will charge via a Lightning connector, believing a more convenient wireless charging solution would also add to the expense. Kuo also believes the initial stylus model will not include a gyroscope accelerometer, but future models could include the component to support ‘3D handwriting’ to allow the user to write on other surfaces or even in air.

There is a big difference between supporting hardware stylus and requiring them to use the product (like Samsung’s Note series.) As an optional accessory, it is pretty clear that Apple’s offering will be more of a niche purchase.

Anyhow, the inclusion of stylus in Apple’s much talked about 12-inch iPad makes sense. Many third-party companies offer rudimentary stylus accessories today, although none seem to have had widespread uptake. An Apple-branded stylus would definitely help adoption, of course.

Watch the full 2007 Macworld Keynote below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7EfxMOElBE

January 19, 2015
Now, Purchase an Apple Iphone6 by Vodafone with Zero Down-Payment

Apple launched the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in India in the October of 2014. The devices received acclaim for their features such as continuity and Apple Pay, but also drew flak for issues such as “bendability” in the iPhone 6 Plus. The devices are priced for the premium segment so they are out of reach of many. If you really wanted to own Apple’s latest flagship, Vodafone is giving you an option to own the device that is light on your pocket.

In the open market, the 16GB variant of the iPhone 6 comes for Rs 53,500 and the iPhone 6 Plus is priced at Rs 62,500. But Vodafone is offering the handsets for a monthly EMI of Rs 3,599 for both the iPhone variants. The period of EMI is 24 months. The monthly EMI includes handset cost, local/STD calls, local/national SMS and 3G data and applicable taxes.

The best part about this deal is that there is zero down payment for the 16 GB variant of the iPhone 6.The iPhone 6 Plus though is available for a down payment of Rs 8,490.

Vodafone India has launched tariff plans today where the customer can make calls, send SMS and access 3G data bundled with an iPhone starting at Rs. 2,099.

The company has also offered deals with a 12 month EMI option or upfront cash payment. Vodafone has also offered an additional cash-back offer of Rs 3,000 for all models of the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5s.

January 16, 2015
This Website Lets You Can Virtually Use The Apple Watch

Word is that you have to wait till March to get your hands on Apple Watch. The Cupertino-based tech giant’s first bid on the wearable market will be priced at $349 and will come in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. The wearable will be compatible with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

Anyhow, some folk at Pipes news app have created a demo of the forthcoming Apple Watch, which you can try right on its website. The interactive demo lets you navigate through various features of Apple Watch by clicking and holding parts of the home screen and moving around. The demo lets you try out certain applications, like the Clock, Weather, Phone, and Music apps.

The Digital crown of the demo watch is also interactive. While it doesn’t let you scroll or zoom like you’ll be able to once the real Apple Watch comes out, you can use it to return to the home screen. The demo can also show you a preview of some of the watch’s features, like Glances, which are cards that give you tidbits of information, and push notifications.

January 16, 2015
Ericsson Starts a New Patent War, This Time With Apple

Apple and Ericsson are suing each other in the US court after failing to reach an agreement regarding the pricing of wireless-tech patents used by various smartphone manufacturers.

According to Apple, Ericsson is seeking excessive royalties for its LTE patents, even though, they are not essential to the industry cellular standards anymore. The iPhone maker has asked the Federal Court of California to rule that Ericsson’s patents are not essential for long term evolution.

Apple’s spokesperson said that the royalties should be based on the value of the processor chip that includes the technology, and not by hierarchy. However, if the court decides to deem the patents essential and charge Apple for its infringement, Apple wants the court to assign a reasonable royalty rate.

Both the companies currently have a license agreement that covers many of Ericsson’s allegedly standard-essential patents. The agreement was signed in 2008, soon after Apple launched the iPhone.

Ericsson has a long history of patent war, in 2012, it sued Samsung Electronics Co. for infringement, saying the South Korean phone maker failed to extend a licensing deal after years of negotiations. The two sides reached a settlement a year ago with a new licensing deal over wireless technology in smartphones, TVs, tablets and Blu-ray disk players.

You might recall, one of the recent patent wars Ericsson was involved in, was the Xiaomi patent infringement in India which led to the Chinese company’s temporary ban in the country. Ericsson sued Xiaomi saying the Chinese phone maker hadn’t licensed its inventions. Ericsson spokesman says that the company holds several essential patents for 2G, 3G and 4G wireless technology, which means any seller of products compliant with those standards must secure licenses.

January 14, 2015
New Screenshots Reveal How an iPhone App will Control the Apple Watch

Everyone is waiting to get their hands on Apple’s new smart watch. Although it is one of the late entrants in the smartwatch segment, it is one of the most awaited devices around. Months ago, at the mega-event held in Cupertino, the company claimed that the Apple Watch will be highly customizable. However, the details about how that would be achieved were few, until now.

Yesterday, it was reported that the latest iOS 8.2 beta will come with an Apple Watch application for the iPhone through which the smartwatch can be customized. The app, which is referred to as the ‘Companion app’ , manages settings for Apple Watch applications, as well as settings for iPhone-Apple Watch interactivity.

The publication also revealed some screenshots of the ‘Companion app’ which gives us little insight of the new functions expected. According to screenshots, users will be able to manage and organize applications on the Apple Watch Home Screen via a virtual view on the iPhone Companion application.

Most of the functionality of the Apple Watch will be decided via the companion app, including alert and notification preferences, as well as some of the visuals you see on the wearable. The layout for the cluster of application icons on the Apple Watch’s home screen can be managed from the companion app, using a virtual preview.

According to the images, Apple Watch will rely heavily on voice commands for texting, browsing and other functions.

There’s also the option to have the Apple Watch unlock any time a user unlocks his or her iPhone, so long as the watch is attached to their body.

Apple Watch was announced back in September 2014 along with Apple iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Pay. The company has said that it will ship in “early 2015,” however, it is widely expected that the Watch might ship in by March.

Want to know more about the Apple Watch? Click here.

January 14, 2015
Adobe, Intel, Google, and Apple Reach Settlement in Employee Poaching Lawsuit

Silicon Valley’s biggest names got together to a reach a settlement in an employee poaching lawsuit. The case was filed against Apple, Google, Intel and Adobe in 2011 by tech sector workers. It stated that these tech giants limited job mobility for workers and thus limited salary growth too. Now these companies have come together for an agreement to settle the case.

Last year, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, rejected the settlement amount of $324.5 million, calling it too low. The settlement was rejected after one of the complainant objected to the amount. That complainant has agreed to the new undisclosed settlement amount which was offered by the tech giants. Judge Lucy Koh has said that to match the earlier settlement, the amount must be at least $380 million to address the loss of potential wages to the employees.

The case is mostly based on the emails between Apple Co-founder Steve Jobs and ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt along with heads of other rival companies. The emails detailed their plans to resist from poaching each others’ top engineers. This would lead to limited opportunity for the engineers to grow in the market.

The complainants (plaintiffs) will be filing a detailed explanation of the new deal “imminently”. The Judge will then have the option of accepting or rejecting the settlement. Guess the lesson from this case is to be good at your job, but not that good that your employer will try to keep you in forever.

January 14, 2015
CES 2015 : Now Shoot Thermal Images With Any Smartphone

FLIR is the company which specialises in making thermal image sensors. The company works from consumer level all the way up to military defense. Last year they brought an innovative back cover for iPhones that let them take thermal images. But ever since Apple went ahead and stretched out the size of its iPhone line-up, it became evident that FLIR had to take a new course of action to revive its market.

So this year at CES, FLIR has come with a new gadget that works with just about any smartphone device. The FLIR One attachment can be plugged into a lighting port for Apple devices and the micro USB port for the Android devices. The variant seems more convenient than its previous generation as you have the option of using the device only when you need it.

The device comes with its own internal battery so it doesn’t suck in the precious juice from your smartphone. Thermal camera in itself is not capable of capturing detailed images and so FLIR One has two cameras. One called the Lepton camera which shoots thermal images while a standard camera that shoots a normal image. Then both the images are blended together to give a better thermal image output.

Thermal cameras let you see the world with a new perspective. This device is not just for educational and entertainment purpose but can also come handy in day to day life. You can use it to find the rodent or insects hiding inside your walls or even finding pets lost in the woods.

The new FLIR One is expected to come into the market by the mid-2015 and is expected to be priced close to its predecessor at $350.

January 7, 2015
Beats Co-Founders Sued By Monster for Fraud

Dr.Dre, Jimmy Lovine celebrated publicly on the acquisition of their audio company, Beats by Apple for a sum of $3 Billion. Beats has grown strong since its inception and with massive celebrity endorsements, these expensive (some may consider overpriced) headphones have been selling like hot cakes. Beats now commands over half of US headphone market worth $1 Billion. But now the company has run into legal troubles with Monster, which originally created the technology behind the Beats headphones.

Monster has been in the audio business since Noel Lee, an engineer and self professed audiophile founded the company in 1979. Since then it has grown to become a respectable audio brand. In 2008, Noel’s son Kevin Lee met Jimmy Lovine as he was looking for partners for a new line of prototype headphones. Jimmy brought Dr.Dre along on the deal and hence Beats audio came into existence. During the signing of the agreement, Monster gave permanent ownership rights to everything under the Beats brand name to Jimmy and Dr.Dre. This meant that even though the technology and designs were created by Monster, it was the Beats team who would reap the profits.

In 2011, HTC bought 51% stake in Beats which fetched Dr. Dre and Jimmy Lovine about $100 million each. Beats and Monster parted ways in 2012, the reason cited internally was ‘financial disagreement’. Now Monster is alleging that the team at Beats is actively trying to erase the contribution of Monster in the making of the successful brand.

Beats has fast grown to become the preferred audio brand for about half of the US market.

In the complaint filed at Superior Court in San Mateo County, Califorinia, Monster alleges that Beats basically robbed Mr. Lee out of his invention. During the HTC deal a change-of-ownership clause was added which meant that all intellectual property such as technology and designs were to be transferred to Beats brand. After the deal Monster CEO Noel Lee’s stake in Beats was reduced from 5% to 1.25%.

Monster has also called the HTC deal a sham, orchestrated by Dre and Lovine to cease control of the company. It is asserted in the complaint that Beats repurchased 25.5% of its own shares from HTC less than a month after the deal closed. HTC also sold back the shares of Beats in 2013 which made the complaint sound genuine but we’d rather the judge decide on the verdict.

Beats most major gain came when last year Apple acquired it for $3 Billion. It’s major focus is on the Beats music service as it tries to take on new generation competitors such as Pandora and Spotify. Apple hasn’t been named as a defendant in the case. It is alleged though that during the deal, the role of Monster in creation of the Beats brand was concealed. It is said that months before the Apple deal Mr.Lee was misled to sell his shares as he was told that there was no “liquidity event” on the horizon for the next year or two.

This case, if for anything shows the fierce nature of the technology industry. Here knowledge is power, but legal clauses are more powerful as they might make you compete against your own creation, as Monster has to now compete with Beats products. So it is important to not just be a good innovator, but also a good businessman!

January 7, 2015
The Next MacBook Will Be Thinner and Sleeker

With almost all companies showing off their best innovations in the ongoing Consumer Electronic Show, the Cupertino-based giant Apple is geared to showcase its best product. The company is reportedly working on a prototype of the new MacBook Air, which will be launched in 2015. The upcoming 12-inch Air will be even thinner than its predecessors; believe it if you can!

An authentic source 9to5mac has unwrapped some external details of the forthcoming Mac. It said that the new offering from the company will be completely resigned and will feature full-sized USB ports, MagSafe connectors, and SD card slots.

Internally termed as “MacBook Stealth”, the 12-inch MacBook will be entirely revamped. The keypad is modified and the new keypad sits edge-to-edge to the width of the laptop. Each key is relatively closer and some keys are relocated in order to make the laptop narrow. Above the keyboard, there are four speaker grills that are redesigned to act as ventilation holes to help cool the fan-less model. Furthermore, there will be alternations in trackpad and speakers once it reaches the end-consumers.

The upcoming Air will house comparatively lesser number of ports than the previous versions. There is just one USB Type-C port at the left and a standard headphone jack along with dual microphones on the right-hand side. The USB Type-C port is said to be smaller, more capable and faster than the USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports embedded on the present models. If the latest specifications from the USB foundation are to be believed, then the USB Type-C port cannot only transfer data but can also charge the device, making the MagSafe plugs unnecessary on the new machine.

According to the source, the 12-inch MacBook Air will be approximately 0.25-inch narrower than the 11-inch model and of course, would be a bit taller. The thickness reduction is to a bare minimum, but it is a nice move to fascinate potential market.

Internal specifications of the laptop are yet not revealed. There are possibilities that Apple may bring out this new version in gray colour as it has done with its recent offerings. However, there is no notification about when the new Air will roll out; although rumours reveal that it will be shipped in mid-2015.

January 7, 2015
Top 6 Things We Can Expect from Apple in 2015

With the two new iPhone 6 models breaking sales records, the arrival of iMacs with 4k display, and of course, the imminent release of the Apple Watch; 2014 was an exciting year for Apple fanatics. The Cupertino-based tech giant managed to stay stuck in it position on the front row.

Now we’re waiting for what’s in store for us in the next 12 months. Here are some of the first few rumours indicating the things we can expect:

1. iPad Max

While Apple has never confirmed the existence of this product, a 12.9-inch iPad is almost a sure bet for 2015. The only glitch, it might not be intended as a consumer product. If Apple goes ahead with this plan, 12.9-inch iPad means that the company will not not just be after the tablet market, but the PC market as well. It’s not always easy to convince businesses to replace Windows PCs with Macs, but adding a large-screen iPad that can work in the office and on the road (and one that can now run Office Apps), may not be as hard.

2. The iPhone 6s Mini

In previous years Apple has been consistent in its approach to upgrading the iPhone. Year 2014 saw a redesign of the casing, and the introduction of the first Apple Phablet, so we’d expect the 2015 models to keep that exterior and instead increase the performance by upgrading key components.

Also, several new rumours making the rounds say that the company is planning to launch a mini version of its iPhone 6 dubbed ‘iPhone 6s Mini’. According to recent reports by Apple Insider, the design of the rumoured mini smartphone will match that of iPhone 5s and the specifications with iPhone 6. In other words, a return to the prior model’s 4-inch display size.

3. Music streaming

It’s been almost six months since Apple bought over Beats, but despite all the new hardware and initiatives like Apple Pay, no one seems to know what Apple’s doing with the company. We expect Apple to launch new service, backed up by Dr. Dre’s team, to combat the decreasing sales of the iTunes music streaming service.

4. Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is the only device that Apple has officially confirmed is coming next year. Apple’s newest smartwatch enters a marketplace in 2015, that feels competitive. The Watch will need to prove its worth against the already established range of Android and Microsoft powered alternatives. The new Apple Watch will arrive in three models – Watch, Watch Sport, and Watch Edition, which will also be available in large and small screen size options. Watch apps will be heavily reliant on the iPhone and will deliver information through basic “Glances” or actionable notifications.

5. Refreshed Apple TV

One device that was conspicuous by its absence at the 2014 product launch, was the Apple TV. However, earlier this year, there were persistent rumors that Apple was planning on expanding and improving the capabilities of its media streaming device. While the Apple TV might seem like a forgotten device, it’s worth noting that the company has sold more than twenty million units, making Apple over a billion dollars in 2013 alone. This might seem small when compared to iPads and iPhones, but it’s still a highly profitable area. We hope to see some change in the Apple TV in 2015. There have been rumours that Apple will open up the App Store to the Apple TV too.

6. Enterprise Focus

Five months ago, Apple stunned the tech community by announcing a long-term enterprise partnership with IBM. The idea was to bring mobile to business in a way that big businesses, even entire industries, could manage and leverage it to their advantage. It is said that Apple outlined a strategy that takes what’s best about Apple products and, essentially, combines it with skills from IBM. A few that the Cupertino-based company lacks, such as direct sales and integration of custom apps.

December 28, 2014