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Patent reveals upcoming iPhones may have invisible buttons and sliders
Yet another innovative initiative by Apple is on the cards. The makers of the iPhone has filed a patent titled the “disappearing button or slider”. If the technology does make it to the market, it is possible that iPhones and iPads in the future may have buttons and slider controls that are not visible to the naked eye.
The patented document reveal that buttons in iPhone and other devices using this technology will remain hidden by default and will appear when required.
Google Pays Apple $1 Billion Per Year to be the Default Search Engine on Safari
Google reportedly pays Apple $1 billion per year to be the default search engine on Safari, according to Macquarie analyst Ben Schachter
We know that Apple TAC is accounted for in the Google.com TAC line item reported each quarter by Google. For 2011, Google reported ~$1.5bn in total Google.com TAC. For modelling purposes, we assume that Apple represented ~66% of this TAC (though we acknowledge that this could be high), or $1bn. At a 75% TAC rate, this means that Google generated ~$1.3bn in gross search revenue through default search placement on Apple devices. In other words, this $1.3bn of search revenue ($335m net search revenue) in 2011 is at risk if Apple moves away from Google. $335m represented ~1% of net Google.com search revenue. Notably, mobile/Apple revenue is among its fastest growing revenue drivers.
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Apple Begins Shipping the New iPad to Customers
Apple has already begun shipping the new iPad to customers who pre-ordered the device, according to numerous reports.
Seth Weintraub of 9to5Mac has posted his shipping notification from Apple which shows the device leaving Chengdu, China with an estimated arrival date of March 16th.
Tim Cook Thinks Apple and Facebook ‘Could Do More Together’
Apple CEO Tim Cook made some interesting comments at a shareholder meeting in Cupertino today, reports CNBC. When asked about the company’s relationship with Facebook, Cook revealed that he thinks the two companies could collaborate more.
Apple Starts Countdown to 25 Billion App Downloads and a $10,000 Prize
Apple has started a countdown to 25 billion app downloads and is offering a $10,000 app store gift card to the person who downloads the 25 billionth app.
As of today, nearly 25 billion apps have been downloaded worldwide. Which is almost as amazing as the apps themselves. So we want to say thanks. Download the 25 billionth app, and you could win a US$10,000 App Store Gift Card.* Just visit the App Store and download your best app yet.
AT&T customers surprised by ‘unlimited data’ limit
Mike Trang likes to use his iPhone 4 as a GPS device, helping him get around in his job. Now and then, his younger cousins get ahold of it, and play some YouTube videos and games.
But in the past few weeks, there has been none of that, becauseAT&T Inc. put a virtual wheel clamp on his phone. Web pages wouldn’t load and maps wouldn’t render. Forget about YouTube videos — Trang’s data speeds were reduced to dial-up levels.
