Apple captured 50% of U.S. mobile phone activations in Q4, Demand Stays Strong

Both analysts and metrics are suggesting Apple will report record-breaking iPhone sales for the just-ended December 2014 calendar quarter, and new data released today by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners reveals the Cupertino company may have set a high bar against its competitors, grabbing half of all phone activations in the United States.

One out of every two mobile phones activated in the U.S. from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 were iPhones, according to a Consumer Intelligence Research Partners survey of 500 buyers. Second-place Samsung took 26 percent of the market, with fellow South Korean firm LG in third place at 11 percent.

Apple's share was up significantly from the 28 percent the company booked in the prior quarter. CIRP attributes the jump to consumers who were waiting for the iPhone 6 release before purchasing a new device, a pattern that has repeated itself throughout the iPhone's life. 

Samsung, in comparison, dropped 5 percent sequentially. LG was up 8 percent in the same period.

"By every measure, Apple's 2014 phone launch was a success," CIRP cofounder Josh Lowitz said in a releae. "iPhones drew from loyal Apple customers, with 86% of buyers upgrading from an older iPhone. Samsung and LG saw far lower loyalty rates, with 25% of Samsung owners and 18% of LG owners who activated a phone in the quarter switching to an iPhone."

Read more on AppleInsider:
http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/01/23/apple-captured-half-of-us-mobile-phone-activations-in-q4-demand-still-at-record-high

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Press section at the Windows 10 event also looks like an Apple ad

Yesterday, “it was Microsoft’s Windows 10 event that was resplendent in aluminum MacBooks and glowing Apple logos,” Ritchie reports iMore. “Austen Allred, co-founder of Grasswire captured it on Twitter.”

Ritchie reports, “This isn’t anything new, of course. It’s been happening for years.”

A couple MacBooks at the Windows 10 Unveiling... pic.twitter.com/1oA1ILW6VN
— Austen Allred (@AustenAllred) January 21, 2015

Read more on iMore here.
http://www.imore.com/press-windows-10-event-also-looks-apple-ad

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Apple grabs 33% smartphone marketshare in South Korea

A historic record for foreign manufacturers in Samsung’s home turf.

Historically, Samsung has dominated South Korea, largely due to geographic advantages, but Apple’s gains now threaten the #1 spot. Apple is the first foreign smartphone company ever to surpass 20% marketshare in the region, taking the number 2 spot. Samsung’s marketshare fell from 60% in November to 46% and (now third-place) South Korean LG Electronics fell to 14%.

“No foreign brand has gone beyond the 20% market share mark in the history of Korea’s smartphone industry,” said Tom Kang, research director for mobile devices at Counterpoint. “It has always been dominated by the global smartphone leader, Samsung. But iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have made a difference here, denting the competition’s phablet sales.”

Apple is also seeing success in Japan, rising from ~20% to >50% marketshare on the back of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launches. Apple also attained third place in China, behind Xiaomi and Lenovo.

Source: 9to5Mac

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iOS 8 Now Running on 68% of iPhones and iPads

According to the latest data from Apple, istribution of company's iOS 8 mobile operating continues to plod along and is now installed on 68 percent of iPhones and iPads registered to the iOS App Store.

Apple tracks the rate of iOS 8 adoption based on devices accessing the App Store with the current data being captured on January 5th, 2015.

The new iOS 8 adoption percentage jumps 8 points since late November when Apple reported that 60% of devices were using iOS 8 with incremental jumps between then and now.

Unsurprisingly, older iOS versions saw respective shares decrease over the same time period, with iOS 7 decreasing from 35 percent to 29 percent, and iOS 6 or below moving from 5 percent down to 4 percent of App Store registrants. The consistently rising share of iOS 8 users suggest new device sales are moving the needle helped along by a trickle of late upgraders.

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Apple's iOS 8 storage is far more efficient than Google's Android, Samsung's Galaxy, Microsoft Windows

"There's something about Apple that makes people lose their minds, particularly people who are journalists. The most likely explanation is that putting "Apple" in a headline is currently the most irresistible clickbait known to mankind. That, and there's no time for fact checking or any sort of basic research in today's BuzzFeed world of made up garbage." Daniel Eran Dilger of AppleInsider.

Particularly bizarre is the fact that within the last year, a widely published report on mobile device capacity found that Apple's iOS devices are leaders among comparable devices in using their storage capacity very efficiently.

Which? noted that Apple's 16GB iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s, for example, still left between 12.6GB and 12.2GB available to the user running iOS 7. That's less than Apple's latest 16GB iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models loaded with iOS 8, which the lawsuit condemns as leaving "just" 12.7 to 13GB free.

Further, among Android phones, only Google's anti-bloatware Nexus 5 left more than 12GB free. Sony's Xperia Z1, HTC's One Mini and LG's G2 flagship had between 10.3GB and 11.4GB free, while the most popular Android flagship of the year, Samsung's Galaxy S4, left just 8.56GB free to the user.

 That's right: the Galaxy S4 that Samsung advertised as having "16GB" actually left users with just slightly more available space than Apple's low end 8GB iPhone.


Read more on AppleInsider
http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/01/04/despite-lawsuit-apples-ios-8-storage-is-actually-far-more-efficient-than-googles-android-samsungs-galaxy-microsoft-windows

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How to hide apps (NO JAILBREAK)

No apps no jailbreak just a simple glitch-tweaks in iOS 8 or 8.1

You need a home screen full of apps, and the apps you wish to hide is on a separate page.

Tap and hold the app you want to hide and move it to the home screen and create a folder but don’t let it go. Instead, move it back out of the folder and drop it in the dock and it will disappear entirely.

Watch the video.

The apps you’ve hidden still can be found in Spotlight search.

Just restart the phone if you wish to return the apps in their location.

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Overwhelming iPhone 6/Plus demand continues to result in tighter supply for Apple versus 2013

“Consumer demand for Apple’s latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus continues to outstrip supply heading into the end of the December quarter, according to the latest research from store polls conducted by Piper Jaffray,” Neil Hughes reports for AppleInsider.

“The inventory situation for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is tighter than last year, when the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c were Apple’s latest models. It’s believed that Apple is seeing particularly high demand for its newly redesigned iPhone models with larger displays,” Hughes reports. “Munster believes Apple likely knew its supply limits when the company issued guidance for the December quarter. As a result, he doesn’t think there is a risk to its numbers for the three-month frame, though he did say the supply constraints could limit upside potential.”

Read more at Apple Insider

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Apple supports Microsoft in data privacy fight against U.S. government

“Some of the world’s largest technology companies, including Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., voiced support for Microsoft Corp. in a data-privacy dispute between the software maker and the U.S. government,” Kelly Gilblom and Dina Bass report for Bloomberg News. “Companies such as Hewlett-Packard Co., Verizon Communications Inc. and EBay Inc., as well as business and advocacy groups and computer science professors, plan to file 10 amicus briefs with the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals to bolster Microsoft’s position in a legal fight against the government, the Redmond, Washington-based company said today.”

Source: Microsoft

Microsoft is arguing against a U.S. government request to release emails currently stored on servers outside the country. According to court filings, Microsoft was issued a search warrant relating to a drug investigation last year, compelling the company hand over customer data from an Outlook email account located in Ireland. 

 Instead of complying, Microsoft appealed to keep the data private as it resides only on a server in Dublin. As such, U.S. government agencies do not have jurisdiction and should be required to go through international channels, the company argues.

 At issue is the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), which allows federal and local law enforcement agencies to demand digital records, such as email correspondence, with appropriately served warrants. Microsoft argues Congress did not include stipulations in ECPA that would allow seizures outside the U.S.

Read more on Apple Insider

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OS X Yosemite: How to activate 'Dark Mode'

How to enable Dark Mode on OS X Yosemite:

• Go to System Preferences
• Go to General
• Check Use Dark Menu Bar and Dock

Mac OS X Yosemite should now be running in Dark Mode. The Menu Bar and Dock background change to a darker color, and black Menu Bar text inverts to white. The Dock the pale translucent background becomes much darker.

You can also use the General Settings to change other parts of Mac OS X from Blue to Graphite. This removes much of the colour from the Mac OS X Interface and we think it sits well with Yosemite.

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How to find out if your Mac is compatible with Handoff OS X Yosemite

There are a lots of cool features in iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite. One of the most anticipated is Handoff, which enables you to pick up where you left off in an email, a document and other work between iOS and OS X devices. Handoff is relying on short-range Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity If your Mac is equipped with Bluetooth 4.0, LMP Version will say 0x6.

To determine your Mac's Bluetooth version

• Go to Apple menu
• Click About This Mac
• Click on the System Report
• Select Bluetooth
• Find "LMP Version."

LMP Version should say 0x6. Anything lower than that is an older version of Bluetooth.

You can also access this information with a terminal command. 

Open up a terminal and type:

system_profiler SPBluetoothDataType | grep LMP

The Bluetooth 4.0 requirement would make the following Mac models Handoff-compatible: the mid-2011 MacBook Air, mid-2012 MacBook Pro, late-2012 iMac, mid-2011 Mac mini and late-2013 Mac Pro and above.

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How to Setup Handoff / Continuity on OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Your Mac device had updated to OS X Yosemite. Also your iDevice runs iOS 8. All devices should support Bluetooth 4.0 (LE).

Setting up Handoff on OS X Yosemite:

• Go to System Preferences
• Be sure you login the same iCloud account.
• Go to General
• Enable - Allow Handoff Between this Mac and iCloud devices.
• Turn on Bluetooth and Wifi

Setting up Handoff on iOS 8:

• Go to Settings
• Check iCloud account if the same as on Mac
• Go to General > Handoff & Suggested Apps
• Enable - Handoff
• Turn on Bluetooth and Wifi

Done. You've setup the devices for Handoff.

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OS X 10.10 Yosemite is now available to download

Apple's next-generation OS X Yosemite Mac operating system is now available for download through the Mac App Store. It's a free update, It presents a whole host changes, most notably a revamped visual style that's a lot more colorful OS X. The enhanced look includes transparencies, minimized skeuomorphic assets and reduced shadowing.

Apple also points out Continuity features that let users place and receive phone calls, send and receive SMS texts and create instant hotspots with a connected iPhone.

Download OS X Yosemite for free through the Mac App Store. The update comes in at 5.16GB and is compatible with OS X 10.6.8 or later.

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iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6

How does the Apple iPhone 6 compare to Google's current Nexus 6?

Credits to : Phone Arena

Here's the spec sheet of each device side-by-side:

Component	Nexus 6 Specs	iPhone 6 Plus Specs
Screen size	5.96 inches	5.5 inches
Screen type	OLED	IPS LCD
Resolution	2560 x 1440	1920 x 1080
Pixel density	493 ppi	401 ppi
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 805	Apple A8
Type	Quad-core	64-bit
Speed	2.7 GHz	Not given
GPU	Adreno 420	Not given
RAM	3GB	1GB
Storage	32GB or 64GB	16/64/128GB
Expansion	No	No
Camera	13MP optical stabilized	8-megapixel iSight with 1.5µ pixels and optical stabilization
Flash	Dual LED	True Tone flash
Front-facer	2MP with 1.4 um pixels	1.2-megapixel FaceTime
Battery	3220mAh	14hr talk time/10 day standby
OS	Android 5.0 Lollipop	iOS 8
Bands	Varies by country/carrier	Varies – includes UMTS/HSPA+ DC-HSDPA LTE and CDMA EV-DO
SIM type	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.1	4.0
WiFi	802.11ac 2×2 (MIMO)	802.11a/b/g/n/ac
NFC	Present	Present
Infrared	No	No
Sensors	Accelerometer / gyro / magnetometer / prox / ambient light / haptics / Hall effect / barometer	Fingerprint barometer gyroscope accelerometer proximity ambient light
Build	Anodized aluminum	Anodized aluminum
Size	82.98 x 159.26 x 10.06mm / 184g	158.1mm x 77.8mm x 7.1mm / 172g

read more "iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6"

Apple accidentally leaks iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 on Official iPad User Guide

An official iPad user guide for iOS 8 in the iTunes Store accidentally reveals the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, both featuring a Touch ID fingerprint sensing home button. Aside from the addition of Touch ID, it seems these latest iPads will look nearly identical to their predecessors.

Further information within the guide suggests the iPad Air 2 camera will gain a new burst mode for taking pictures with the rear iSight camera.

Apple will introduce the next-generation iPad Air and Retina iPad mini tomorrow, at an event held on its Cupertino campus. Along with Touch ID, the iPad Air is said to be gaining an A8X processor, a new anti-reflective display, and a gold color option.

read more "Apple accidentally leaks iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 on Official iPad User Guide"

iPad Air 2 Part Leaks Point to A8X Chip, 2GB RAM & Touch ID

Dummy leaks by Vietnamese blog Tinhte.vn

Ahead of next Thursday’s Apple event, a newly leaked logic board claimed to be from a 2014 iPad Air purports to show an A8X processor, as well as an Elpida RAM module with 2 gigabytes of memory and Touch ID.

The new image published by Apple.club.tw seems to point towards 2GB of RAM for the device. Though the image of the RAM on the logic board is low resolution and fuzzy, enhancing the contrast and the brightness reveals a bit of information about the numbers on the chip.

Long rumored for the 2014 iPad update, these new images seem to confirm that Touch ID will be making its way to Apple’s tablet line for the first time. Above, you can see an image of the iPad’s Home button with the stainless steel detection ring.

Apple is planning to introduce a second-generation iPad Air in October, at a media event that will be held on October 16.

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How to Update to iOS 8 Without Deleting Anything

iOS 8, Apple's newest software operating system for iPhone, iPad, iPad mini and iPod touch, launched on the evening of 17 September, bringing a plethora of great new features.

In order to install iOS 8 on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, you’ll need free space up to 5.8 gigabytes depending on the phone model. 

Instead of installing Over-the-Air, iPhone and iPad users with limited storage space will need to install via iTunes. iTunes doesn’t require users to have free space to download. Installing iOS 8 over iTunes is far less convenient but it’s the only way you’re going to be able to install iOS 8 without deleting apps, music, and other files.

To install the iOS 8 with iTunes, plug the iPhone or iPad into the proper computer and sync. Users will be prompted to make a backup, something that is key before installing a large update like iOS 8, and users will also be required to enter the passcode if one is active. Once those are taken care of, the installation process will begin.

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Dropbox Hacked? Over 7 Million Accounts

An unnamed hacker group is claiming that it has accessed 6,937,081 Dropbox accounts. Hackers posted the accounts with plain text passwords onto Pastebin.com, in what appear to be working logins according to a significant number of social media reports and Reddit users confirming working logins.

The Pastebin message at the top of one of the leaks is as follows:

“Here is another batch of Hacked Dropbox accounts from the massive hack of 7,000,000 accounts
 To see plenty more, just search on pastebin for the term Dropbox hack. More to come, keep showing your support”

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iPad Air 2 Concept with iPhone 6 design

Martin Hajek has asked the question “What if the new iPad’s were to borrow the design language from the iPhone6/6+?” on his site.

You can view samples of Hajek’s design concept below. 

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How to Turn On Grayscale Mode

Grayscale mode is a new accessibility feature available in iOS 8. It's a useful option for anyone who is color blind. If you enable grayscale it will replace all colors with a range of gray shades from white to black.

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Facebook Android app caught harvesting users contacts

Facebook, the top-ranking free app in Google Play, has taken advantage of Android's weak platform security to collect users phone numbers as soon as the app is installed, highlighting core differences in apple's approach to protecting users' privacy and those of social-advertising firms like Facebook and Google.

The news of Facebook's latest "leak" was outed by Symantec after it analyzed various Android apps using its Norton Mobile Insight tool designed to "discover malicious applications, privacy risks, and potentially intrusive behavior."

Symantec didn't need to dig deep into Google Play to find pay dirt, but its researchers still noted that it "even surprised us when we reviewed the most popular applications exhibiting privacy leaks."

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