News from category ‘Official’
Senator Asks Apple and Google to Require Clear Privacy Policies for Apps

U.S. Senator Al Franken has sent out a letter to Apple and Google requesting that the companies require developers to include "clear and understandable" privacy policies for apps available in their marketplaces.
At the hearing, I asked Dr. Tribble and Mr. Davidson whether Apple and Google would commit to requiring that all applications in the Apple App Store and Android App Market have clear and understandable privacy policies. I am writing today to renew this request, and ask if each of your companies would be willing to adopt this simple first step towards further protecting your users' privacy.
Apple Files Lawsuit Against Kid Who Sold White iPhone 4 Parts

A few months ago we told you about the teenager, Fei Lam, whose site, WhiteiPhone4Now.com had been forced to shut down. He managed to sell $130,000 worth of the white iPhone 4 parts. And only yesterday Apple decided to file a lawsuit against Lam and his parents. The suit claims that the site led to the infringement and dilution of Apple’s trademarks and that it was involved in deceptive practices through selling the iPhone conversion kits. Curiously, Apple has also filed a voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit, which may mean that a settlement has been reached, although the request for dismissal without prejudice may mean that Apple could come after Lim again at a later date.
Apple's first CEO, Michael Scott about Apple and Steve Jobs
Business Insider conducted an interview with Apple's first CEO, Michael Scott. Scott revealed some details about the very first days of Apple. There are little interesting details such as the Apple employee numbering scheme, which came out of necessity. Bank of America, where Apple opened its first bank account, required that all employees have numbers for payroll purposes. Scott took number 7, even though chronologically he was Apple's fifth employee: "I was employee number seven, because I wanted number seven... I was 007, of course, as a joke."
New MacDefender Variant Installs Without Admin Password Requirement

Intego, antivirus firm, has discovered a new variant of the"MacDefender" malware that not requires an administrator password for installation.
Unlike the previous variants of this fake antivirus, no administrator's password is required to install this program. Since any user with an administrator's account - the default if there is just one user on a Mac - can install software in the Applications folder, a password is not needed. This package installs an application - the downloader - named avRunner, which then launches automatically. At the same time, the installation package deletes itself from the user's Mac, so no traces of the original installer are left behind.
iPad 2 To Launch In Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, Chile and Argentina This Friday

9to5mac reports that Apple starts officially selling the iPad 2 in Russia and Ukraine this Friday, May 27. That’s the same day carrier Aircel will start offering the iPhone 4 in India, in what it looks like a day focused around international releases ahead of the WWDC. The Russian iPad 2 sales will begin this Friday through retail chain Re:Store, with MediaMarkt, Beliy Veter Cifrovoi, ION, Technosila and Eldorado also looking to jump on board for the May 27 rollout. Retailers are expecting “unprecedented demand” for the iPad 2, which doesn’t surprise considering the device’s popularity and the lack of Apple’s retail presence in Russia.
New Apple Stores Set To Open In Florence and Madrid
ifoAppleStore is today reporting on two new Apple stores in Spain and Italy that are currently undergoing construction. The new Italy store is expected to be opened in Florence. Based on documents, the stores construction will be completed in August, suggesting an early September opening. The second Apple store is in Spain, set to be a spectacle, occupying all seven levels of the historic building in Madrid, overlooking the large city plaza (pictured above). The historic 1863 building is currently being restored and renovated. The retail store is then expected to operate on at least two levels and the basement. As for the other levels, ifoAppleStore speculates that they may be used as administrative offices for Apple, meeting rooms or training space. Madrid’s mayor revealed the plans last week when he confirmed to reporters that Apple was leasing the entire building. The store will most likely open early next year, with significant construction work still to be completed.
Friskies makes iPad web games for cats
Yes, it’s true! Now it seems that our pets may really play a game developed for them by Friskies. Originally, discovering that cats liked to play with the iPad was just a matter of coincidence – а cat just liked to bat around the Magic Piano, and that was fine. But pet food maker Friskies has blown that idea right out, releasing a line of three full web-based games for the iPad meant to be played entirely by cats. Cat Fishing!, Party Mix-Up! and Tasty Treasures Hunt! are all games accessible for the iPad, and all three of them are designed to attract your cat's attention. Friskies even warns that while cat claws can't scratch the iPad's glass screen, certain plastic covers might get scratched, so be careful.
Samsung Will Hand Over Prototypes of Phones and Tablets to Apple
The legal battle between Apple and Samsung — sued for allegedly copying the “look and feel” of the iPhone and iOS with its Galaxy devices — it’s far from over. Apple is now asking Samsung to hand over prototypes of unreleased phones and tablets for legal scrutiny. With the federal court ruling that Samsung will have to send these units to Apple’s legal team, Samsung is being forced to send the unreleased Droid Charge, Galaxy Tab 8.9 and Galaxy Tab 10.1 to Apple, though the other two devices mentioned, the Infuse 4G and Galaxy S 2, have already been released publicly in the United Kingdom and United States, respectively.
Apple Promises OS X Update to Delete Mac Defender Malware
Apple will release a Mac OS X software update in the next few days that will automatically find, block and remove the popular Mac Defender malware from infected OS X machines.
A recent phishing scam has targeted Mac users by redirecting them from legitimate websites to fake websites which tell them that their computer is infected with a virus. The user is then offered Mac Defender “anti-virus” software to solve the issue. This “anti-virus” software is malware (i.e. malicious software). Its ultimate goal is to get the user’s credit card information which may be used for fraudulent purposes. The most common names for this malware are MacDefender, MacProtector and MacSecurity.
HP Is Going To Outrun Apple And Become "Number One Plus"

Journalist Matt Warman from The Daily Telegraph has recently a claim of HP's European head Eric Cador, who told at a press conference in Cannes that the company's devices will eventually overtake Apple's iPad:
"In the PC world, with fewer ways of differentiating HP’s products from our competitors, we became number one. In the tablet world we’re going to become better than number one. We call it number one plus."
Apple Reaches Deal with Sony Over Cloud Music

Bloomberg reported last night Apple has reached a deal with Sony Music Entertainment, following reports that the company managed to sign the Warner Music Group and EMI. This leaves Universal, the biggest label of all four in the United States, out of the equation, but according to the rumors Apple is actively focused on closing all the remaining paperwork with music labels by next week.
Apple has reached licensing accords with Sony Corp. (6758)’s music division, EMI Group and Warner Music Group, the people said. Universal Music Group, the largest recording company, is close to a deal, another person said. The company also would need to reach agreements with music publishers, which control different rights than the labels.
Survey Reveals 63 Million iOS Gamers Download 5 Million Games Per Day

Research firms Distimo and Newzoo conducted survey that revealed that there are roughly 63 million gamers on the iOS ecosystem who (individually) download, on average, 2.5 games per month. Games represent half of all apps downloaded across the iOS and Mac App Stores with more than 5 million games downloaded per day – based on the survey that included the US, UK and five other European countries. A clear majority of 4.6 million are downloaded for the iPhone or iPod Touch whilst just over 400,000 are for the iPad and just a sliver for the Mac with 41,000 per day.
Apple Inks Deal with EMI, Cloud Music Almost Finalized
Cnet reports that Apple has inked a deal with EMI over the upcoming launch of the rumored cloud music service that is expected to be unveiled at the WWDC in June. Cnet also claims the last two remaining deals with Sony and Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group (Warner Music Group reportedly signed a deal last month) could be signed as early as next week.
Apple has signed a cloud-music licensing agreement with EMI Music and is very near to completing deals with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, multiple music industry sources told CNET.
OmniVision Introduces 5 MP Sensor With 1080p Video Recording

DigiTimes claimed that the new iPhone 4S would contain an 8 MP camera from OmniVision Technologies, and to some degree it makes sense. Sony’s CEO in April made a fleeting comment suggesting that it would be supplying Apple with an 8MP camera for the next iPhone.
OmniVision introduced a new 5MP image sensor, the OV5690, that was developed to produce the “best-in-class image quality” whilst being an effective solution for slimmer mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers by reducing the size of the camera module. With contradicting reports on whether the next iPhone will contain a 5 MP camera or an 8 MP camera, this new product certainly lends weight to the suggestion that it could have a 5 MP camera.
iPhone and iPad Win “Display of the Year” Awards
Apple’s iPhone 4 and iPad have been awarded the Display of the Year prizes by the The Society for Information Display. Apple devices were mainly awarded for the usage of In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology, which provides greater viewing angles and brightness quality than other displays found on phones and tablets. The iPhone 4′s Retina Display, packing four times the pixels in the same old iPhone screen, was also mentioned for setting a new benchmark in mobile display solutions, as well as new standards in power consumption and image quality.
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