PC shipments appear to flatten out after two years of steep decline
Both Gartner and IDC appear to have some good news for the PC industry — the seemingly never-ending death spiral may have come to an end. While the two research groups don’t agree completely on the numbers, it does appear that after two years of stead and sizable declines, the PC industry is seeing shipments flatten out. In total, according to Gartner, 75.8 million computers were shipped in the second quarter of 2014, a negligible 0.1 percent drop from the same quarter a year ago. While IDC saw a much more sizable 1.7 percent fall in PC shipments, that’s still a far cry from the 7.1 percent decline it anticipated and the smallest it’s measured in two years.
Two years ago the netbook market imploded and tablets started eating into laptop sales. Since then shipments of traditional computers have been falling at an alarming rate. IDC doesn’t necessarily expect this to indicate a longer term trend towards flat PC sales. Basically, the worst may not be over yet. Despite impressive growth from major players like Dell, HP and Lenovo smaller companies are still seeing tremendous drop off. And the declines are particularly steep in markets like India where the most potential for growth is. Instead the improvements during the quarter were carried primarily by the US and Western Europe, which might not be able to keep the industry from declining further in the long run.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Apple, ASUS, HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo
Misfit Unveils ‘Beddit’ Smart Bed System for Sleep Monitoring [iOS Blog]
Misfit, the company behind the sleek Shine activity monitor, today unveiled its newest product, the Misfit Beddit Sleep System. Using a built-in sleep sensor that is described as “the world’s thinnest,” the Beddit monitors sleep cycles and sleep quality through heart rate, respiration, movement, snoring, and sound.
The “paper thin” Beddit sensor is designed to be placed under on a user’s mattress, just under the sheets. It displays collects data on sleep habits, measuring physiological signals and wirelessly transmitting them to a smartphone. The accompanying Misfit app then uses the data to draw insights on sleep habits, which are shared with the user.
“Shine delivered on the important function of activity tracking, but we saw that sleep tracking was one of the most engaging features because Shine does it automatically, unlike other activity monitors,” said Sonny Vu, CEO and founder of Misfit. “With Beddit, we’re making our sleep tracking functionality even more robust. Not only are we able to measure more, but even less is required of the user–a frictionless experience.”
The Beddit’s sleep tracking capabilities are designed to work alongside the Shine’s movement tracking abilities (and its own less advanced sleep tracking), with the combination of both apps offering a “comprehensive solution for 24/5 wellness monitoring.”
Beddit first appeared in an Indiegogo campaign back in 2013, which raised more than $500,000, but now the company has partnered up with Misfit.
The Beddit Sleep Monitor can be purchased from the Misfit website for $149.99.
Capo, an App to Help Guitar Players Learn Songs, Lands on iPhone and iPad [iOS Blog]
The Apple Design Award-winning Capo, a Mac app praised by professional musicians that automatically generates guitar tablature from music in iTunes, has made the jump to iOS.
Developer SuperMegaUltraGroovy today released iPhone and iPad versions of Capo, allowing users to learn how to play songs on the go with chord and beat detection as well as a number of other features to help guitar players learn songs quickly and easily. The Mac version of Capo has been updated as well, with iCloud sync between all devices and improved chord detection accuracy.
Capo touch offers musicians the same power and versatility they have on the Mac with Capo 3 in an even more portable design. The app features the essential tools of instantly importing a song from your iTunes library, automatically detecting its chords, and showing how to play them using helpful guitar chord boxes. It can slow down the tempo without changing pitch while you learn, and transpose the song to any key with a simple pitch slider. Optional metronome, looping, EQ and “karaoke-style” voice reduction make Capo 3 and now Capo touch valuable tools for musicians whether in the studio, rehearsal or on tour.
Capo touch is available for $4.99 for the iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Capo 3 for Mac is available from the Mac App Store for $29.99. [Direct Link]
MLB Rolling Out Second iBeacon Phase At All-Star Game, At Bat Updated With Live Streams
Earlier this year, Major League Baseball began installing thousands of iBeacons in ballparks around the country, putting dozens of the beacons in stadiums in Boston, Milwaukee, San Diego, and San Francisco, and more.
Considered to be one of the largest iBeacon rollouts in the world, the initial plan saw the beacons used in conjunction with the At the Ballpark app. Thus far, the iBeacons have been used in some cases to check fans in to stadiums and to send notifications and offers, but beacon usage is still in the early stages.
Major League Baseball is now entering its second phase of development with iBeacons, according to TechCrunch, and is planning to debut a special project at the 2014 All-Star Game at Target Field. Target Field will use iBeacons to provide content and interactive features to in-park exhibits.
With the introduction of interactive ballpark attractions at Target Field for the All-Star Game, MLBAM will debut its second phase of iBeacon technology at MLB ballparks. Fans attending All-Star events at Target Field with At the Ballpark on their iPhone (iOS 7 required) will be able to use iBeacon when visiting these attractions, offering a unique mobile perspective through original content automatically delivered to their iPhone. The locations in Target Field are: The Golden Glove; Twins Digital Clubhouse; 2 Gingers Pub; Target Field Ballpark Model; 573 and Herb Carneal Pressbox; Kirby Puckett Atrium; Rod Carew Atrium; The Townball Tavern; and Target Plaza.
MLB has expressed a desire to expand iBeacons to be able to provide point of interest information, concessions, in-stadium directions, loyalty and rewards programs, shopping, and more, with individual teams having significant input and control over what fans will see. It appears that Target Field will be the first major experiment with interactive iBeacon features.
MLB has also introduced new updates to its At Bat and At the Ballpark apps, with At Bat gaining live streams of the All-Star Game, the All-Star Futures Game, and the Home Run Derby for MLB.TV Premium subscribers.
MLB At Bat is a free download from the App Store for iPhone and iPad, but requires a subscription of $2.99/month or $9.99/year. [Direct Link]
MLB At the Ballpark is also a free download from the App Store for the iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]
iTunes 11.3 Expands iTunes Extras as Apple TV Finally Adds Support and Apple Plans for iOS 8
Apple today released iTunes 11.3, including several improvements to iTunes Extras, including new features for HD movies. This new content will be added automatically to previously purchased iTunes movies for free.
Alongside the launch of iTunes 11.3, Apple has also announced that the Apple TV is finally supporting iTunes Extras with the 6.2 software update released late last month. The first-generation Apple TV supported iTunes Extras, but the feature was lost when Apple revamped the Apple TV back in 2010.
Finally, Apple has also announced that iTunes Extras will be coming to iOS with the public release of iOS 8, which is slated for this fall.
iTunes 11.3 includes all-new iTunes Extras for HD movies. iTunes Extras can include behind-the-scenes videos, short films, high-resolution image galleries, director’s commentary, scenes, and more. These immersive iTunes Extras can also be enjoyed on Apple TV with Software Update 6.2 now, and will be available on iOS 8 this fall.
New iTunes Extras will be automatically added to your previously purchased HD movies as they become available – at no additional charge.
iTunes 11.3 can be downloaded from the software update tool in the Mac App Store or Apple’s iTunes web page.
TSMC Now Shipping A-Series Processors to Apple for Future iOS Devices
Chip manufacturing company TSMC started shipping processors to Apple in Q2 2014, reports the Wall Street Journal. After exclusively sourcing its processors from Samsung, Apple last year struck a deal with TSMC that would see the manufacturer begin supplying A-series chips for Apple’s iOS devices.
Apple’s deal with TSMC is a win-win situation for both companies with Apple reducing its reliance on Samsung for iOS device components and TSMC receiving a boost financially from Apple’s hardware orders.
The development means Apple doesn’t have to rely solely on Samsung for microprocessors, a critical component that controls applications running in smartphones and tablets. By securing an additional supplier, Apple will have more leverage when it comes to price negotiations with its chip suppliers in the future. Through the deal, TSMC adds a high-profile customer that could help support expensive research investments the manufacturer needs to move to advanced technology and will likely boost its overall revenue this year, analysts said.
In line with previous reports, TSMC allegedly began mass producing chips for Apple using its 20-nanometer process earlier this year and is working with the company on future 16-nanometer designs. Apple also is rumored to be working with Samsung on next year’s A9 processor which could use a 14-nanometer design.
Apple Placing Unprecedented Amount of iPhone 6 Orders, First Batch Estimated at 68 Million Units
Taiwan’s Business Weekly (Google Translate, via GforGames) reports that Apple has placed an extraordinary amount of orders for the iPhone 6 ahead of its launch this fall, which is said to be twice as large when compared to orders for the iPhone 5 in 2012.
The paper also states that Apple’s first iPhone 6 order will consist of 68 million units, with the device finally entering mass production later this month. This is consistent with earlier rumors about the mass production of the 4.7-inch device, although it is unknown if this newest report is referring to joint production of the 4.7-inch and larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6.
Apple is likely pushing for a large initial order of the iPhone 6 in order to avoid the supply issues that surrounded the launches of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5. While some reports have suggested that Apple may launch the 5.5-inch version of the iPhone 6 after the 4.7-inch version due to issues with display technology and battery life, a recent report from Bloomberg suggested that both devices could launch simultaneously.
In addition to a larger display, both versions of the iPhone 6 will most likely feature a thinner, curved-edge casing along with a faster A8 processor and improved camera. Following the trends of the past two iPhone launches, it is also likely that Apple will reveal and launch the iPhone 6 in September.
EU ruling allows Apple to trademark its store layouts
Love or hate them, it’s hard to argue that Apple’s retail stores aren’t highly distinctive. That’s what the EU’s highest court thought when it overruled a German verdict and said that Apple’s store design could be registered as a trademark in Europe. Though Apple holds a store trademark granted last year by the USPTO, Germany’s patent office rejected it, despite admitting that the retail layout was “an essential aspect of (its) business.” The Court of Justice of the EU disagreed, saying that “an integral collection of lines, curves and shapes” (in Apple’s stores) fulfill all the criteria for a trademark. It noted that Apple’s stores “depart significantly” from others in the same sector, a requirement for such protection. Meanwhile, Apple may be planning changes to its stores anyway, having just hired ex-Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts as head of retail. For now, though, you’re less likely to walk into a store like this in Europe.
Via: Tech.eu
Source: EU Court of Justice (PDF)
Report Claims iPhone 6 Will Feature New Dynamic Haptic Feedback Technology
Apple’s iPhone 6 will feature a new haptic feedback technology when it ships later this year, claims Chinese mobile phone information site Laoyaoba (Google Translate, via GforGames).
iPhone 6 render by Tomas Moyano and Nicolas Aichino
Citing inside sources, the report claims that Apple will ship the iPhone 6 with a tactile feedback linear motor, which can allow the user to feel subtle vibrations depending on different app scenarios and even on specific areas of the touch screen. The report also notes that this new haptic feedback motor will cost twice or three times as much as the $0.60 vibration motor found in the iPhone 5s.
Apple has expressed interest in haptic technology in the past, filing a patent on the subject in 2009. That patent discussed the idea of allowing users to “feel out” the different elements on a web page with haptic feedback, noting that the lack of such a technology was a disadvantage for the iPhone’s multi-touch screen.
The iPhone 6 is expected to launch in September in two sizes of 4.7-inches and 5.5-inches. Aside from a larger display, the device is also expected to include a faster quad-core 64-bit A8 processor, and a thinner design with curved edges like that of the fifth-generation iPod touch. Both iPhone 6 models are also expected to receive an improved camera, which will come in the form of optical image stabilization for the 5.5-inch model and a new lens module for the smaller 4.7-inch phone.
Apple Opening Retail Store in Edinburgh, Scotland Soon [Mac Blog]
Apple this morning unveiled an artistic multi-colored barrier around its forthcoming location in Edinburgh, Scotland, signaling that it will soon open its first store in the country’s capital city, reports the Edinburgh Evening News (via ifoAppleStore).
The store will be located on the historic Princes Street, with inside sources saying that the location’s opening is “imminent.” Based on the similar patterns of the Madrid Apple Store before its opening, ifoAppleStore‘s Gary Allen believes that the location could open on August 2nd.
The Princes Street store will also join Apple’s other locations in the Scotland, which include the existing Braehead store and the company’s Buchanan Street location in Glasgow. The new location will also be Apple’s 38th in the United Kingdom since the company first opened a shop on London’s Regent Street in 2004.
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