Apple : Facebook may be baked-in to next iOS 5 release

Facebook may be baked-in to next iOS 5 release
Biography claims Scott Forstall wants Apple top jop
Apple inches up valuable brands index
Apple will pay money for your old PC
Steve Jobs action figure cancelled

Facebook may be baked-in to next iOS 5 release

Posted:

The next version of iOS 5 may include deep Facebook integration after references to the social network were uncovered in the latest developer build.

The iMore website have done a little digging around iOS 5.1 Beta 3 and discovered the presence of Facebook within the contacts app alongside Twitter.

The screenshot could represent "legacy code" according to iMore, or could spell full-integration in iOS 5 or perhaps iOS 6.

Baked-in Facebook could give iOS users the opportunity to direct upload photos to the social network, while status updates would surely be included

Baked-in

Twitter was, of course, baked-in to iOS 5, while Facebook was left out when the two sides were unable to come to an agreement.

Rumour and speculation would have us believe that this decision led to more friction between the two companies, which began when Apple launched the iTunes Ping social network.

Biography claims Scott Forstall wants Apple top jop

Posted:

A new biography hints at a potential power struggle in the post-Steve Jobs era at Apple by claiming iOS boss Scott Forstall has his eyes on the top job.

The Inside Apple book, by Adam Lashinsky says that the ambitious VP of iPhone software has "blatantly accumulated influence" at the company.

Lashinsky's unofficial biography, which is released next week, claims that Forstall could be a CEO-in-waiting despite Tim Cook's recent appointment.

Ambition in plainer view

"He's a sharp, down-to-earth, and talented engineer, and a more-than-decent presenter," writes Lashinsky. "He's the total package.

"If there's a knock on Forstall, it's that he wears his ambition in plainer view than the typical Apple executive.

"He blatantly accumulated influence in recent years, including, it is whispered, when Jobs was on medical leave."

"Whether Forstall will happily remain a supporting player will be one of the great internal dramas of Cook's tenure."

Companion

Lashinsky's book, How America's Most Admired - And Secretive - Company Really Works is seen as perfect companion to the recent Steve Jobs biograhpy, written by Walter Isaacson.

The Fortune Magazine writer interviewed Apple employees, collaborators and rivals as they left the company's heavily-guarded Cupertino complex.

Apple inches up valuable brands index

Posted:

Apple is now the eighth most valuable brand in the world after leapfrogging nine places in the Best Global Brands report for 2011.

The report is published by Bloomberg, which noted that Apple's brand value jumped 58 per cent last year, taking it to a total value of $33.49 billion (around £21.7 billion).

Other high rollers for 2011 include Amazon, which came from 36th to 26th in the rankings, Google, which came in fourth after a 27 per cent increase in value, and Microsoft which lost 3 per cent but still managed to come in third.

But non could usurp the mighty Coca Cola, which topped the chart again.

Soz, HP

The good news doesn't end there for Cook and co; the latest news from the analyst pool suggests that Apple could overtake HP as the world's top PC vendor this year.

There's a spot of number fudging going on here though; the fruity company can only overtake HP if you include iPad sales – tablet sales aren't usually included in PC sales figures.

But if we allow the merging of categories, it would see Apple's computing market share hit 17.6 per cent, 4.6 per cent more than HP's 13 per cent.

Apple will pay money for your old PC

Posted:

Apple's Reuse and Recyling Programme will dispose of old electronics, even handing over cash if they're still useful.

There are a number of services already in operation such as Envirofone and Mazuma Mobile that will hand over cash in return for your old phone, even if it's not working, but Apple's service extends to some of the bulky, harder to get rid of items like desktop computers and displays.

The Reuse and Recyling Programme is operated by Dataserv GmbH.

A statement on the Apple Reuse and Recyling site says :"Apple's commitment to the environment includes finding the most efficient ways to reuse or recycle electronic equipment at the end of its useful life, including iPhone, iPad, Mac or PC computers, and displays from any manufacturer. You may even get some money for your old equipment."

Cash for questions

To see if you could make a quick buck from your old laptop, all you have to do is head over to the Apple Reuse and Recycling Programme website and answer a few questions.

You'll then get an estimate of the value of your item and be sent a prepaid postage label.

If all is well (and you haven't told any fibs) your bank account will get a cash injection once Apple receives your item.

Apple will also take your old iPods and any mobile phones through its iPod and Mobile Phone Recycling Programme, though it won't give you any money for them.

Steve Jobs action figure cancelled

Posted:

The maker of an ultra life-like Steve Jobs doll has cancelled plans to sell the figure out of respect to the late Apple founder's family.

The stunningly-accurate 12-inch scale figures, which bore Jobs' trademark jeans, black turtleneck sweater and rimless glasses, were already in production but now all orders will be refunded.

Head of the Hong Kong-based In Icons firm Tandy Cheung said in a statement that both Apple and Steve Jobs' family lawyers had put the 25-year Apple fan in a difficult position.

Still Steve's fan

He said: "Unfortunately we have received immense pressure from the lawyers of Apple and Steve Jobs family.

"Regardless of the pressure, I am still Steve's fan, I fully respect Steve, and his family, and it is definitely not my wish or intention that they be upset.

"Though we still believe that we have not overstepped any legal boundaries, we have decided to completely stop the offer, production and sale of the Steve Jobs figurine out of our heartfelt sensitivity to the feelings of the Jobs family."

Cease-and-desist

Reports last week suggested that Apple had issued a cease-and-desist order to Cheung, which he had vowed to ignore, saying that the dolls were already in production.

Despite In Icons' insistence that it would not ship replica iPhones, iPod and iPads with the figure, Apple believes it still infringes its intellectual property, which in this case would be Steve Jobs' likeness.

"Four years ago I created a single figurine of Steve which I placed on my desk next to my Mac," continued Cheung.

"I decided to share this memento with the rest of his fans as a commemoration to Steve.

"The figurine, especially his facial features, was adjusted countless times to achieve his likeness in my memory. I strove to perfect the figurine with the spirit of Steve Jobs because only this will properly reflect my respect and admiration of him."

Yahuui Blog

Tuesday, January 17, 2012