Computerworld iPhone News

Office Mobile for the iPhone enters an already-crowded field

(Ryan Faas) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:49:00 GMT

Microsoft released its first iOS version of Office on Friday, but a wide range of alternative iOS apps and suites already exist. Ryan Faas details some of the competition.

Microsoft shows revenue hand with Office for iPhone

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:12:00 GMT

Last week's release of Office Mobile for the iPhone nailed down one of the mysteries pundits had pondered -- how Microsoft planned to generate Office revenue from Apple's iPhone and iPad.

A detailed look at Apple's iOS 7

mike@yourmactek.com (Michael deAgonia) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:18:00 GMT

The star of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last week was clearly iOS 7, which gets a new look and a raft of new features. Columnist Michael deAgonia takes a look at what's coming this fall.

Apple plays defense, Microsoft goes on offense in battle for iPhone customers

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:40:00 GMT

Rivals Apple and Microsoft bookended the week by revealing productivity tools aimed at the same pool of customers: the millions who own Apple's iPhone.

Microsoft sticks it to the iPad with Windows-first Office strategy

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Microsoft's surprise launch of Office Mobile for the iPhone today shows that the software giant continues to favor Windows' future over Office's fortune, analysts said today.

IT will have a love-hate relationship with iOS 7, OS X Mavericks and iCloud

(Ryan Faas) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:09:00 GMT

Consumers and business users alike will find things to love about OS X Mavericks and iOS 7, says columnist Ryan Faas. But for enterprise IT pros, this week's announcements are a mixed bag.

5-year-old Macs not too old for OS X Mavericks

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:29:00 GMT

The new OS X Mavericks will run on the same set of Mac desktops and notebooks as OS X Mountain Lion, but iOS 7 will drop support for iPhone 3GS, the 2009 smartphone supported by the current iOS 6.

Apple sees chance to compete with Office on the Web

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:05:00 GMT

Almost as an afterthought, Apple on Monday announced it was working on browser-based versions of its iWork productivity applications, a move one analyst said challenged Microsoft's Office behemoth.

What Apple's new AirDrop data sharing says about NFC

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:07:00 GMT

Apple's mobile development chief Craig Federighi poked fun at Android when he announced AirDrop data sharing technology for iOS on Monday.

Apple dumps big cat OS X nicknames, zips lips on price and release timetable

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:20:00 GMT

Apple on Monday trumpeted OS X 10.9, or Mavericks, but made a U-turn from past practice and declined to name a price for the upgrade or tap a ship date as anything more specific than the fall.

10 stars of 'cross-platformity'

(Victoria Ivey) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:36:00 GMT

At work or play, these 10 applications can be used across a variety of platforms.

Apple's law-enforcement critics 'appreciative' of new activation lock

(Martyn Williams) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:22:00 GMT

Two prominent law enforcers in the U.S. who have been pushing Apple to do more to combat iPhone theft say they appreciate a new feature previewed earlier Monday that could help make stolen iPhones more difficult for thieves to resell.

The world is not flat: Apple unveils 'fresh, light' iOS 7

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:24:00 GMT

Apple CEO Tim Cook and several of his top executives took the stage today at the company's annual developers conference to unveil a spruced-up, new-look iOS 7, introduce iTunes Radio and talk up this fall's "Mavericks" upgrade for OS X.

Apple hosts live webcast of WWDC keynote today at 10 a.m. PT/ 1 p.m. ET

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:43:00 GMT

Apple will webcast the keynote of its developers conference live starting at 10 a.m. PT, but the webcast will be available only on the company's own hardware, or via an OS X-powered virtual machine.

Usability, not 'flat' design, key to Monday's iOS refresh

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:50:00 GMT

Apple is expected to debut a revamped iOS on Monday, featuring a "flatter" design that, if not done properly, could be a step backward in usability, a pair of user interface (UI) experts said.

Forget the keynote. WWDC is still about the developers

(Ryan Faas) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 11:30:00 GMT

As usual, the Apple rumor mill has been on overdrive as WWDC nears. But all the hype about anything CEO Tim Cook might reveal misses the point, says columnist Ryan Faas. WWDC is still about developers.

Apple blinks, inks deals with labels in time to intro 'iRadio' on Monday

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:42:00 GMT

With just days to spare, and as one analyst had expected, Apple blinked in negotiations with Sony Music, giving the Cupertino, Calif. firm the green light to announce an Internet radio service on Monday.

Apple to spell out timetable, price of OS X 10.9 on Monday

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:20:00 GMT

Apple will probably spill the timetable and pricing of the next version of OS X on Monday at WWDC.

Apple to kick off in-store iPhone trade-in deals to spur sales

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:10:00 GMT

Apple will launch its own iPhone trade-in program this month, exchanging older iPhones for in-store credit, according to Bloomberg and other sources.

Why iOS is the future of Apple (and how we got here)

mike@yourmactek.com (Michael deAgonia) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:03:00 GMT

At Apple's World Wide Developer Conference, which kicks off Monday, everyone's expecting updates for both iOS and OS X. But one of those operating systems is more important than the other.

More than half of Americans own a smartphone. Now what?

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:04:00 GMT

A majority of Americans -- about 56% -- now own a smartphone, according to Pew Research Center's latest survey.

ITC orders import ban on some iPhones, iPads in Samsung patent dispute

(Nancy Weil) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:55:00 GMT

Apple infringed a Samsung Electronics patent, the U.S. International Trade Commission said in a final judgment released Tuesday that bans import into the U.S. of certain AT&T iPhone and iPad models.

Tablet owners spend a lot more on apps

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:51:00 GMT

Smartphone owners who also have a tablet spend three times as much on apps as those who only own smartphones, according to a survey by research and consulting firm Analysys Mason.

Apple will blink to strike deals in time to unveil 'iRadio' at WWDC

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:31:00 GMT

Apple has made progress in cutting deals with music labels for an Internet radio service but time is running out, several reports said today.

Android finally gets Twitter's video app, Vine

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:57:00 GMT

A little more than four months after Twitter unveiled its video service, Vine, the company has launched a version for Android.

More of Sprint's customers are using iPhones, but that's not true for AT&T and Verizon

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:42:00 GMT

Sprint recently saw growth in the percentage of its customers owning iPhones, while both Verizon Wireless and AT&T saw declines, an analyst firm said today.

Unity adds free mobile game development for Android and iOS

(Mikael RicknA$?s) — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

Unity Technologies has added the ability to develop for Android and iOS games for free using its platform.

The iPhone's big lead in customer satisfaction is gone

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:22:00 GMT

Apple's dominance in smartphone customer satisfaction faded last year, with rivals like Samsung and Motorola dramatically closing the gap, a national survey said today.

Why a Blackberry Is Better Than an iPhone

(Rob Enderle) — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:18:00 GMT

The BlackBerry has always been a business phone. The iPhone wowed us all--and it nearly put BlackBerry out of business--but it emphasizes entertainment and not productivity. If you're an IT executive, it's finally time to put function before form, CIO.com columnist Rob Enderle writes.

Google steals march on Apple in music subscription

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:34:00 GMT

Google beat Apple to the music subscription service punch this week, perhaps the doing of record labels who wanted to put Apple in its place, an analyst said

Google issues YouTube ultimatum to Microsoft as Hatfield-McCoy feud heats up

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:49:00 GMT

Google yesterday sent a cease-and-desist letter to Microsoft, demanding that its rival remove the YouTube app built for the Windows Phone platform.

Mobile management morphs

rmitchell@computerworld.com (Robert L. Mitchell) — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT

Customers are pushing the limits of the software -- asking it to manage and do many more things than it was originally created to do -- and vendors are happy to oblige.

Windows 8 app store fails Top 10 test

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:50:00 GMT

Microsoft's Windows 8 app store failed a test touted by a former Microsoft manager and distinguished engineer as a way to determine an ecosystem's relevance.

Microsoft sends gamblin' Pete Rose to the plate in swing at Google Docs

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:54:00 GMT

Microsoft today took another shot at rival Google, calling its rival's online application suite, Google Docs, "too big a gamble."

AT&T offers iPhone 5 through pre-paid Aio Wireless

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:48:00 GMT

AT&T launched a new wireless subsidiary called Aio Wireless on Thursday that offers phones like the iPhone 5 with no annual contract.

Security pros cheer hint of hands-off updates in Windows Blue

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:02:00 GMT

Microsoft's apparent plan to automatically update its own Windows Store apps in the next version of Windows 8 is drawing praise from security experts.

Mobile Players Offer a Mix of Messages in TV Ads

(Tom Kaneshige) — Thu, 02 May 2013 23:27:00 GMT

Apple, Samsung and Microsoft take divergent paths to selling their smartphones via TV commercials. The winning approach: Focus on your own unique features, and resist potshots at the competition.

Yes Siri, no Siri, for the Mac

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:40:00 GMT

Apple's next version of OS X will probably not include Siri, the digital, voice-activated assistant embedded in the iPhone and iPad, an analyst predicted.

Apple to challenge $368M patent infringement verdict

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:35:00 GMT

Apple will challenge a November 2012 jury verdict that awarded $368 million in damages to Nevada patent-holding company VirnetX, a filing with U.S. regulators showed.

LG stages comeback as smartphones outsell feature phones

(Mikael Ricknäs) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:19:00 GMT

LG Electronics more that doubled its sales of smartphones in the first quarter, which was the first time smartphones outsold feature phones, according to IDC.

Apple CEO defends Mac line; analysts foresee iPad hybrids

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:44:00 GMT

Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday defended the company's iconic Mac line, which saw a second consecutive decline in sales last quarter, and promised that Apple would continue to crank out personal computers.

Apple's WWDC set for June 10-14, hints at fall launch of next iPhone

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Apple today said that its annual developers conference will take place June 10-14, when it will provide developers with preview builds of the next versions of both iOS and OS X.

Mac sales growth stalls -- here's why Apple doesn't care

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:49:00 GMT

Apple's Mac has been punished by shifting consumer tastes just as has the overall PC industry, data from the company's earnings statements show.

Apple's lead over Samsung in future-purchase plan survey cut in half

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:40:00 GMT

From December to March, Apple's iPhone lost ground to smartphones from rival Samsung in a survey to assess consumers' future purchase plans, a market research firm said last week.

Apple sold 35-38M iPhones last quarter, analysts say

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:07:00 GMT

Apple sold approximately 38 million iPhones in the first quarter, an 8% increase over what it sold in the same quarter a year ago, an ISI Group analyst said today. Other analysts pegged the sales number at 35 million.

BlackBerry fans should like the Z10; not sure about other smartphone fans

(Keith Shaw) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:06:00 GMT

Shaw reviews BlackBerry's Z10 smartphone.

Facebook Home on iPhone? Not a chance, say experts

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:39:00 GMT

There is absolutely no way that Apple will surrender its iPhone interface to Facebook Home, analysts said today.

Xamarin seeks to simplify mobile app testing with new service

(Mikael Ricknas) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:07:00 GMT

Xamarin has announced Test Cloud, an automated service that lets mobile developers test their apps on hundreds of mobile devices.

Netflix to dump Silverlight, Microsoft's stalled technology

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:58:00 GMT

Netflix plans to abandon Microsoft's Silverlight media player plug-in for Windows and OS X in-browser video streaming, and replace it with a trio of HTML5 extensions.

Apple's silence cedes market narrative to rivals, says expert

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:36:00 GMT

Apple's noted silence has hurt its mystique and caused it to cede the "cool" factor to competitors, a communications expert said.