Apple Aiming to Begin Electric Car Production in 2020
Apple is hoping to begin production on the car project that it is secretly developing as early as 2020, reports Bloomberg. According to the sites sources, Apple is pushing employees working on the car to have it ready to go in five years, a timeline that will eventually allow it to compete with similar electric vehicles coming out from Tesla and GM in 2017.
The timeframe — automakers typically spend five to seven years developing a car — underscores the project’s aggressive goals and could set the stage for a battle for customers with Tesla Motors Inc. and General Motors Co., both of which are targeting a 2017 release of an electric vehicle that can go more than 200 miles on a single charge and cost less than $40,000.
Apple’s electric car plans first came to light last week, after The Wall Street Journal shared news of “Project Titan,” an electric vehicle that hundreds of Apple employees are working on. Apple has been heavily recruiting automotive experts to join the project and plans to have a team of about 1,000 employees developing the car.
Tesla Model X
Over the course of the last few months, the company has picked up employees from companies like Tesla, Ford, GM, A123 Systems, MIT Motorsports, Ogin, Autoliv, Concept Systems, and General Dynamics.
As with The Wall Street Journal‘s initial report, Bloomberg‘s report is quick to point out that that Apple could decide to delay or abandon its car project all together if the company is unhappy with its progress. Apple works on many prototype projects that never make it to production.
Little is known about Apple’s electric car at this point, but rumors have suggested that it might resemble a minivan and that it may or may not be self-driving.
Apple Initiates Repair Program for 2011-2013 MacBook Pros With Video Issues
Apple has begun a repair program to fix MacBook Pro machines sold between February 2011 and February 2013 that have problems with distorted video, no video, or unexpected system restarts.
As of February 20 in the United States and Canada, users with affected machines will be able to visit an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider to receive repairs for their MacBook Pros at no charge.
An affected MacBook Pro may display one or more of the following symptoms:
-Distorted or scrambled video on the computer screen
-No video on the computer screen (or external display) even though the computer is on
-Computer restarts unexpectedly
Affected products include 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pro models manufactured in 2011 and the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro manufactured between Mid 2012 and Early 2013. Users can see whether their computers are affected by using the “Check Your Coverage” tool on Apple’s site.
A Look at Fuel Cell Technology With Intelligent Energy’s ‘Upp’ Hydrogen Power Pack for iPhone
Fuel cells, which generate power via chemical reactions, aren’t exactly new technology, having been invented in the 1830s, but they’re seen by some as one of the next steps in the evolution of electrical power. In the not-so-distant future, we may adopt fuel cells for powering cars, homes, and a whole range of consumer electronics with clean energy.
Intelligent Energy is one of the companies working to further fuel cell technology in the consumer space, having recently introduced its first hydrogen fuel cell iPhone charger, the “Upp.” MacRumors went hands-on with the Upp to give fuel cell technology a try, and we spoke to Intelligent Energy’s Corporate Development Director Julian Hughes, who shared some details about Intelligent Energy’s fuel cell ambitions.
The Upp, introduced in the U.K. in November, is a hydrogen micro generator that uses replaceable, refillable fuel cartridges to charge an iPhone. With a cartridge attached, the Upp becomes a PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cell, which transforms the chemical energy freed during a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to electrical energy to power an electronic device. Since it’s using a chemical reaction to create power, there’s an audible clicking noise as the Upp releases water vapor while charging.
There are two main parts to the Upp: the base charger, and the fuel cell cartridge that it ships with. Using the Upp is as simple as popping the cartridge into the bottom of the charger, plugging a Lightning cable into the USB port, (not included) and then plugging in an iPhone.
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Apple’s Automotive Team Includes Former Tesla, Ford and GM Employees
Apple’s alleged automotive team consisting of hundreds of employees working on an electric vehicle includes several former Tesla, Ford and GM employees, according to 9to5Mac. The report reveals that Apple has also recruited talent from smaller firms in the automotive industry and other fields, including A123 Systems, MIT Motorsports, Ogin, Autoliv, Concept Systems and General Dynamics.
The list of recent hires from Tesla includes David Nelson, a mechanical engineering manager at the car maker until this month, and John Ireland, previously a senior powertrain test engineer at the company. Tesla’s former head recruiter Lauren Ciminera also joined Apple in September and is likely responsible for recruiting additional engineers for the automotive team. The trio of hires surface just weeks after it was reported that Apple and Tesla continue to fight over top employees.
Another notable hire is Mujeeb Ijaz, who most recently served as chief technology officer at A123 Systems. Ijaz led a team responsible for research and development for the company’s leading lithium-ion energy storage technology. Prior to that, he worked at Ford as an electric and fuel cell vehicle engineering manager for nearly sixteen years. The hiring adds fuel to yesterday’s report that Apple faces a lawsuit for poaching key employees from A123 Systems.
The report adds that Apple has also recruited former Ford engineers David Perner and Jim Cuseo, although the latter has been with the company since 2010 as a product design lead and manager for the iMac. General Motors’ Fernando Cunha recently joined Apple as well after working various engineering and product design roles at the auto maker since 2001. Dillon Thomasson of General Dynamics, Robert Gough of Autoliv, Hugh Jay of EMCO Gears and Rui Guan of Ogin are other new hires.
Last week, multiple reports from credible sources claimed that Apple is developing an electric vehicle that is possibly autonomous in a top-secret research lab near its headquarters in Cupertino, California. Some reports say otherwise, claiming that Apple is working on expanding its dashboard presence through CarPlay. These hirings suggest that Apple may be working on a larger project after all, but it remains to be seen if a full-fledged electric vehicle is in the works.
Apple Watch Display Rumored to Be Going Up in High-End Parisian Department Store
Apple may be building a stand for the Apple Watch at Galeries Lafayette, a high-end department store located on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, according to a few news outlets based in France. Mac4Ever [Google Translate] reports that the stand would reside on the first floor of the department store, with possible expansion to other stores along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
Image of the Galeries Lafayette via Mac4Ever
Mac4Ever claims the current construction on the stand, which began at the beginning of February, is hidden as workers finish it up ahead of the Apple Watch launch in April. They also report that Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s new retail chief, oversaw the setting up of the display and general organizational duties concerning the project.
The fashion-focused FashionMag.com [Google Translate] added more details onto the rumor, and a slightly clearer picture of the ongoing construction of the possible Apple-leased space. The site reports that the project has taken the place of a small food court and a few lesser-known jewelry shops, and spans four balconies within the Galeries Lafayette. From what they could tell, it’s located near the stores of Celine Saint Laurent and Miu Miu.
Image of white tarps covering rumored Apple Watch stand via FashionMag.com
As the Apple Watch nears its launch date, news and rumors on Apple’s first wearable device have picked up steam. Most recently it was announced to be featured on the March cover of Self magazine on the wrist of model and Victoria’s Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel.
Apple has also reportedly placed between 5 and 6 million orders for the initial run of the Watch, with the most expensive gold Apple Watch Edition expected to dominate the revenue of the wearable, despite having the least amount of orders placed compared to the lower tiers of the Watch.
The Android paradox: lots of smartphones, little money
Smartphones are big business, but it doesn’t necessarily mean OEMs are making money off this massive platform. In fact, most companies are actually coming up short, with the exception of one major player. It was recently asserted that Apple is consuming around 93 percent of the smartphone industry’s profits, which doesn’t leave much space at the table for its competitors, mainly Android OEMs. Despite having the biggest market share of global smartphone shipments, manufacturers building phones based on Android are fighting for scraps. But why is this happening and how is Apple making so much money?
Despite having the biggest market share of global smartphone shipments, manufacturers building phones based on Android are fighting for scraps.
It all starts with the beginning of a device’s development. Unlike its competitors, Apple is pretty much a one-stop shop. Just about everything is being done in-house. The California-based tech giant produces its own software and only releases one to two new smartphones each year. This practice definitely keeps expenses down compared to rivals like Samsung and LG. Toss in some high margins and things start to become somewhat clearer.
So how can Android phone producers make the move from appetizer to entree? Here’s a few ideas that might help struggling OEMs earn a place on a more profitable menu.
Understanding the Problem
Unlike Apple, Android phone makers such as Samsung, LG and HTC use third-party software offered by Google. While Android is often referred to as a “free to use” platform, this age-old statement is only partially true. The platform’s core software can be installed and even changed by just about anyone, however this excludes the applications that make up Google’s Mobile Services (GMS). Apps such as Gmail, Google Maps and most importantly Google Play are attached to expensive licensing agreements. And while it’s not entirely clear how much these licenses cost, it’s estimated that they range from $40,000 to $75,000 depending on the number of devices being shipped.
Expenses such as GMS licensing, along with hardware production and the development of in-house software quickly drives up costs. Again, Apple only releases a couple of handsets each year, but a company like Samsung cranks out well over 15. Factor in annual marketing expenses for such a heavy roster of equipment and the opportunity to make some serious cash becomes even more elusive.
So What’s an OEM to do?
OEMs produce countless Android-powered smartphones each year, with hardware ranging from top-shelf to the bottom of the barrel. This approach covers just about every market, but it’s certainly not the most cost effective. In order to shake some of the unnecessary expenses that come with producing smartphones, companies need to drop the dead weight in their catalogs taking away from potential profits.
If the most profitable smartphone maker is only releasing a couple of phones each year, should its competitors really be countering with 10 to 15 different handsets? This definitely needs to change. Major companies like LG, Samsung, HTC and Sony need to pare things down to around four different phones or less each year. Just imagine if Samsung only released a Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5 in 2015. This would drastically reduce the amount of cash being spent to market and produce unnecessary and (arguably) unwanted devices. Remember, even smartphones of the lowest quality require costly materials, production facilities and teams of people in order to be released.
Just imagine if Samsung only released a Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5 in 2015.
Two phones a year may sound a bit extreme, but in addition to a lighter balance sheet, such a change in direction could result in better products being made. Instead of wasting resources and talent on a phone that will likely only receive one software updates during its lifespan, manufacturers could focus their efforts on providing the best equipment support possible.
Other Possible Workarounds
Another possible way that Android could become more profitable for OEMs would be the release of a platform like Google’s rumored Android Silver initiative. Under this program, Google would’ve paid OEMs and wireless carriers to sell handsets that adhered to Mountain View’s strict specifications. This meant near-vanilla builds of Android, with very little bloatware. In addition to handling the majority of OEMs’ software needs, Google was reportedly ready to invest as much as $1 billion to cover marketing expenses for Android Silver devices. The program was never formally announced and Google reportedly shelved it due to internal doubt about its ability to be successful.
Even if Google has placed such a promising idea on hold, it doesn’t mean OEMs can’t do something similar by themselves. For example, HTC is often praised for its first-class hardware, but the Taiwanese firm regularly struggles to make its smartphone business profitable. If the outfit retired its homegrown Sense software in favor of stock Android, it might prove beneficial for the company. Not just limited to HTC, this idea has the potential to work for any OEM funneling large sums of money into the development of its own third-party UI.
The Flipside
Since Android is a “free” open source platform, anyone can use it and modify it. This opens up opportunities for companies to produce their own mobile operating systems based on Android. Not exactly a new idea, startups such as Cyanogen Inc have already went this route, however it does come with a few tradeoffs. Remember those Google Mobile Services we talked about earlier? Due to licensing restrictions, Google-branded apps are absent from most official CyanogenMod releases. Without Google Play or a proper medium for users to purchase and acquire applications, alternative Android-based operating systems continue to struggle for relevancy.
Without Google Play or a proper medium for users to purchase and acquire applications, alternative Android-based operating systems continue to struggle for relevancy.
Not just limited to startups, corporate juggernauts like Amazon have used Android to power its Kindle tablet line. The biggest difference here is that the mega-retailer has managed to launch its own Appstore. Although it may not be as popular as Google Play, Amazon’s offering is one of the few alternative places to buy legitimate Android applications safely. Samsung also has its own Galaxy Apps store, which is currently restricted to its own devices, however the platform has yet to really catch on. Perhaps it will take more time, or even OEMs working together to produce a reliable Google Play substitute. But if such a thing came to fruition, smartphone makers would be able to explore more low-cost software ventures.
The Bottom Line
Android isn’t going anywhere, but its lack of profitability could cause major smartphone makers to notice alternative mobile operating systems. Samsung is already working on Tizen and Microsoft’s Windows Phone is another possible option for OEMs looking to diversify their portfolio.
In the meantime, manufacturers that decide to stick it out with Android will need to make adjustments to their current business models if they desire to operate for profit. I really think scaling back the number of devices released in a year is the best starting point and it’s really not that hard to do. But until this starts happening or Google pulls the trigger on Android Silver, OEMs are invited to a free all you can eat buffet, where cutlery sets cost $40,000 to $75,000.
‘Alto’s Adventure’ Now Available on App Store for iPhone and iPad [iOS Blog]
Snowman on Thursday released its highly-anticipated title Alto’s Adventure [Direct Link] on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. Alto’s Adventure is a beautiful endless runner featuring physics-based gameplay, procedurally generated terrain based on real-world snowboarding, fully dynamic lighting, dynamic weather effects, six unique snowboarders and more. The game departs from the freemium model with a $1.99 price tag and no in-app purchases.
“Join Alto and his friends as they embark on an endless snowboarding odyssey. Journey across the beautiful alpine hills of their native wilderness, through neighbouring villages, ancient woodlands, and long-abandoned ruins. Along the way you’ll rescue runaway llamas, grind rooftops, leap over terrifying chasms and outwit the mountain elders – all while braving the ever changing elements and passage of time upon the mountain.”
Alto’s Adventure is easy to learn with a one-button trick system, enabling you to control your snowboarder through ever-changing mountains and valleys amid thunderstorms, blizzards, fog, rainbows, shooting stars and more. You can test your skills with over 180 handcrafted goals or challenge friends on Game Center, competing for the best high score, best distance and best trick combo. You can also plug in your headphones and listen to handcrafted audio as you drift through the peaks and valleys.
Alto’s Adventure is $1.99 on the App Store with universal support for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The app includes iCloud support that, for example, enables you to play the game on your iPhone and pick up where you left off on your iPad. The game is optimized for the latest devices, including the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPad Air 2.
Photoshop Celebrates 25th Anniversary With ‘Top 25 Under 25’ Artist Showcase [Mac Blog]
Popular image editing tool Adobe Photoshop turns 25 years old today and plans to celebrate by showcasing a collection of artists, all under 25, who use its comprehensive suite of tools in new and unique ways.
Released on February 19, 1990 with a handful of basic editing features, the software has seen massive updates and overhauls throughout the years, with over a dozen major installments to its software since its first launch.
As pointed out by Adobe, the company’s continued success in the ever-changing modern world is its “constantly evolving capabilities” that allows its software to be used for everything from coffee mug design to the artwork of a Hollywood blockbuster.
“For 25 years, Photoshop has inspired artists and designers to craft images of stunning beauty and reality-bending creativity,” said Shantanu Narayen, Adobe president and chief executive officer. “From desktop publishing, to fashion photography, movie production, website design, mobile app creation and now 3D Printing, Photoshop continues to redefine industries and creative possibilities. And today that Photoshop magic is available to millions of new users, thanks to Adobe Creative Cloud.”
Adobe launched a new TV spot for the 25th anniversary, as well, called “Dream On,” which it plans to air during The Academy Awards this Sunday. With the Hollywood production theme, the ad includes references to movies like Gone Girl, Avatar, and How To Train Your Dragon 2, and the occasions where each film used Photoshop in the process of the movie’s production.
In honor of the occasion, the company is holding a “Top 25 Under 25″ artist showcase, with hopefuls uploading their artwork to Behance and using the tag “Ps25Under25″ to submit themselves for the top spots. The winning 25 artists in the end will take over Photoshop’s Instagram, each given a two week hold over the account, to showcase their work for the world to see. The celebration starts today with artist Fredy Santiago – a 24-year-old Mexican-American artist from California – already uploading some of his work to the social network.
Google Updates ‘Inbox’ App With iPad Support [iOS Blog]
Google on Thursday quietly released an update for Inbox by Gmail [Direct Link] with universal support for iPad, as spotted by TechCrunch. The latest version of the app should be rolling out on the App Store in the United States and elsewhere today, transforming the previously iPhone-only software into a universal iOS app. Version 1.2 also includes an assortment of bug fixes and performance improvements.
The update arrives a few days after Google quietly removed Sparrow from the App Store on iOS and Mac to focus its efforts on Inbox by Gmail. Released on an invite-only basis last fall ahead of a wider rollout in the ensuing months, Inbox by Gmail is essentially the marriage of Gmail, Google Now and Material Design, providing Gmail users with a modern interface for effectively managing their email.
Inbox by Gmail [Direct Link] is free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
Apple Watch Makes U.S. Magazine Cover Debut In Latest Issue of ‘Self’
Back in October, the Apple Watch made its magazine cover debut with Vogue China, on the wrist of Chinese model Liu Wen. Now, as Apple prepares to launch the Apple Watch in April, the device is seeing its U.S. magazine cover debut, featured in the March issue of Self magazine (via AppleInsider).
Model and Victoria’s Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel will be wearing the Apple Watch Sport with a white fluoroelastomer band on the cover of the magazine. Self also has more in-depth coverage on the device, highlighting its accelerometer, heart rate sensor, GPS and WiFi in print and in photos.
Aside from the I-want-to-be-Candice quality of our new March cover, notice anything else about the photo? The Apple Watch is getting a star moment, too, as Candice is the first woman to wear one on a magazine cover in the US. With the device starting at around $349 available next month, it’s on our wishlist. (Even our editor-in-chief, Joyce Chang, can’t wait to use her Apple Watch–check it out in our March Editor’s Letter, available to download below.)
Up until now, Apple’s Apple Watch marketing has been heavily focused on fashion, but with the piece in Self, the company appears to be targeting fitness enthusiasts who might purchase the Apple Watch for its health-related functions — step tracking and heart rate monitoring.
It’s likely that Self will be just one of many publications to feature the Apple Watch in the coming weeks as the device’s launch approaches, and Apple is expected to market the Apple Watch to a wide range of potential customers. Apple’s marketing efforts have been fairly reserved thus far, limited to an appearance at Parisian fashion boutique Colette in September, the Vogue China cover in October, and this month’s Self issue, but there are hints that Apple is preparing for a major marketing push.
As we reported last month, Apple asked some developers creating content for the Apple Watch to have their apps completed by mid-February, possibly to have apps ready to go for marketing or event purposes. As of this week, Apple is also reportedly inviting select developers to its Cupertino headquarters to put the finishing touches on many Apple Watch apps.
According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Apple is planning to begin Apple Watch sales in April, though a more specific date has not yet been shared.
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