Apple’s new exchange policy in South Korea gives customers the option of getting a new iPhone instead of a refurbished unit for defects found within the first month after purchase. Customers can also choose to have their iPhone repaired for free, or receive a full refund.Replacement iPhones in South Korea: New, not RefurbishedThe new policy…
Jeff Gamet
Jeff Gamet is the Mac Observer’s Managing Editor, and co-host of the Apple Context Machine podcast. He is the author of “The Designer’s Guide to Mac OS X” from Peachpit Press, and writes for several design-related publications. Jeff has presented at events such as Macworld Expo, the RSA Conference, and the Mac Computer Expo. In all his spare time, he also hosts TMO’s Daily Observations podcast, co-hosts The iOS Show podcast, and makes guest appearances on several other shows, too. Jeff dreams in HD.
Articles by Jeff Gamet
Apple Moves to Stay Motorola Lawsuits During Google Acquisition
Apple moves to stay patent lawsuits with MotorolaThe agreement Google and Motorola have as part of the merger, according to Foss Patents, limits Motorola Mobility’s ability to defend its patents. Because of those restrictions Motorola Mobility doesn’t have the right to sue, argue Apple’s lawyers.“Apple should not have to face the threat of an injunction…
Droplets Patent Lawsuit Targets iTunes, Apple Web Sites
Along with Apple, the lawsuit also names Google, Yahoo!, and Facebook.The patent (6,687,745) describes a “system and method for delivering a graphical user interface of remote applications over a thin bandwidth connection,” and was filed in 2000.Droplets sells its own product called Droplets User Interactive Server for delivering Web and network-based applications, and lists companies…
Yahoo: For Sale, Maybe
News that the Internet search company is open to buyout offers came courtesy of anonymous insider sources, according to the Wall Street Journal.Ms. Bartz lost her job as the company’s performance continued to decline and revenue from a deal she brokered with Microsoft for search ads never met expectations. In that deal, Ms. Bartz gave…
QuickBooks 2012 to Focus on Users, not Windows Parity
QuickBooks 2012 targets user needs, not Windows feature parity“Most of our [Mac] users are service businesses and small businesses,” QuickBooks for Mac group product manager Pranay Kapadia told The Mac Observer. “So we’re giving them the features they’ve been telling us they want.”The new version of QuickBooks includes a new setup assistant and a setup…
Apple Gets Approval to Sell 3G iPad 2 in China
3G iPad 2 coming to China soonThe approval means Apple will be able to begin selling the 3G-ready iPad 2 in cooperation with China Unicom, although neither company is commenting on when the official launch will come. Right now China residents that want a 3G-compatible iPad 2 wither buy through grey market channels, or get…
iPhone 5 Pre-orders Kick Off in Germany
The iPhone 5, which may look like the iPhone 4, is available for pre-order in GermanyPre-order slips will be handed out to current Deutsche Telekom customers specifically asking for the next generation iPhone, according to Bloomberg. The carrier isn’t, however, saying when the next iPhone will ship, what features it will have, or how much it will…
Bono on Jobs: He’s Generous, but Private
In his letter to the NYT, Bono stated:As a founder of (Product)RED, I’d like to point out that Apple’s contribution to our fight against AIDS in Africa has been invaluable. Through the sale of (RED) products, Apple has been (RED)’s largest contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — giving tens…
Angry Birds Seasons Adds Moon Festival Levels
The version 1.6 for Angry Birds Seasons added 30 new levels, a special mooncake level, and support for Mighty Eagle level helper.Angry Birds Seasons is priced at US$0.99 for the iPhone and iPod touch, or $1.99 for the iPad. The update is free.
Apple to Some Guy: We Want Our MacBook Pro Prototype
Macbook Pro prototype from Ebay listingThe prototype laptop, according to CNET, is currently in the hands of Carl Frega in North Carolina. Mr. Frega said he bought the laptop off of Craigslist for parts, but kept the computer together because he was able to get it working again.Exactly where the laptop came from before it…
Sprint Employees on iPhone: No Comment
Sprint told employees “do not speculate about Sprint getting the iPhone,” according to Sprintfeed, and even told employees to respond to questions by saying “no comment.”The Wall Street Journal added to the growing number of iPhone 5 rumors this month with a report stating that Sprint would carry the new iPhone model on release day,…
Apple Gives JailbreakMe Developer Internship
Jailbreak star gets an Apple internship“So, the week after next I will be starting an internship with Apple,” the 19 year old Mr. Allegra said on Twitter. He isn’t saying exactly what his internship will entail, but it’s a fairly safe bet that he’ll be involved on some level with iOS security.His work on JailbreakMe…
Analyst: Apple’s Transition to Cook will be Smooth
“We expect there to be no transition issues as Cook had been running daily operations as interim-CEO,” Mr. Um said. “From a longer-term perspective, we believe Apple’s strategy is well laid out and believe Cook and the managemet team will continue to execute.”While Mr. Jobs is giving up his role as CEO, he isn’t leaving…
Samsung Hit with EU-wide Galaxy Smartphone Injunction
According to Foss Patents, the injunction applies to countries in Europe where patent EP 2059868 is considered valid. The injunction doesn’t, however, include Samsung’s Galaxy-branded tablet products, only the company’s smartphones.EU: No Galaxy S, Galaxy S II or Ace smartphone for youApple and Samsung have been locked in a legal battle over mobile device patent…
China Telecom Still Negotiating with Apple for iPhone Deal
Details of China Telecom’s negotiations aren’t available, and that’s by design. “We have a confidential agreement with Apple and can’t tell you anything as of now,” the company chairman said, according to World News Australia.The iPhone may soon be available on more networks in ChinaAdding China’s third largest cell service provider would give the already…
NPD: iPhone & Android on the Rise, RIM Falling
Apple’s iPhone 4 held 29% of the June smartphone marketRIM’s BlackBerry dropped down to only 11 percent of the market, and Microsoft’s mobile Windows platforms, along with the HP’s crumbling webOS, each made up less than five percent of the market.Android’s market growth has the potential to grow even more, especially now that Google is…
iOS 5 to Include Early Earthquake Warnings in Japan
iOS 5 to include early earthquake warning support in JapanUsers will be able to choose whether or not they want to enable the feature, according to 9 to 5 Mac, just like other iOS features such as Location Services.Apple said iOS 5 will ship this fall, but hasn’t announced an actual release date yet. The…
Retina Display iPad 3 Due Next Spring
Retina Display iPad 3 next year says WSJThe Wall Street Journal cited anonymous sources “familiar with the situation” as saying Apple already has parts on order for the next generation iPad. Those sources also say Apple will stick with the current iPad’s 9.7-inch screen size.Production of the iPad 3 is expected to ramp up before…
Confirmed: Steve Jobs Bio Shipping in November
Steve Jobs official bio ships in November“I turned most of the book in this past June. It’s now all done and edited,” Mr. Isaacson told Fortune. “The March 2012 date (or whatever date it was) was never a deeply-considered pubdate. Like the original cover design, it came about because the publisher wanted to put something…
Apple Releases OS X Lion USB Installer
Lion was released on July 20 and was touted as the first Mac OS ever to ship without physical media. On launch day, however, Apple announced that it would, in fact, sell a physical installer.Instead of offering a DVD version of Lion, Apple chose to sell the OS on a USB flash drive. The decision…
Barnes & Noble: Steve Jobs Bio Ships November 21
The Steve Jobs bio has a new coverWhile Barnes & Noble may be ready to start selling the book just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, Amazon and Apple’s own iBookstore are still showing a March 6, 2012 release date.The biography was written by renowned author Walter Isaacson and comes with the cooperation of Mr.…
Samsung to Appeal EU Galaxy Tab Injunction
Samsung plans to fight EU Galaxy Tab injunctionA German court ruled in favor of Apple to bar sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in all EU countries except The Netherlands, which means shoppers won’t be able to find the iPad competitor on store shelves until Samsung can get the court to reverse its ruling.…
Russia May Get iPhone 5 in November
Apple didn’t follow its usual iPhone release cycle this year by skipping the late June early July window. Rumors have been claiming the next iPhone model will hit store shelves in September, and a more recent rumor claims October.Reports surfaced earlier this week that China would start selling the iPhone 5 in late October, with…
Needham Raises Apple Target to $540 on Strong iPad Sales
The iPad now makes up 12 percent of Apple’s share value, up from 9.6 percent. iTunes and the App Store account for 5 percent, up from 3.4 percent, and the Mac now accounts for almost 12 percent of the company’s stock value. The ever popular iPhone holds about half of Apple’s stock value.iPad brings in…