Spotify came out swinging against Apple today, detailing all the ways it says Apple forces Spotify to deliver a bad user experience unless the company pays Apple a 30% App Store commission on all sales.
“We want to deliver a super awesome and easy user experience,” Spotify says on a new Time to Play Fair website. “But once again, Apple is standing in the way— this time, in addition to consumers being hurt, authors and publishers are also being punished.”
At issue is Apple’s stance on purchases made in an app, which Apple wants to be made via its built-in iOS purchasing system — not an app’s or brand’s own e-commerce capability. For that service, Apple wants a 30% share. This is, of course, the same problem Apple faced with Epic, makers of the incredibly popular Fortnite game that is no longer available on the App Store after being banned for allowing purchases that side-stepped Apple purchasing policies.
Spotify doesn’t want to pay the 30% fee, which would make the audiobook business much less profitable, and so it’s currently forced to adopt a convoluted, difficult process for audiobook purchases. In fact, it’s tried three times to redesign the process, the company says, but Apple has rejected the app for breaking App Store guidelines.
Spotify says Apple won’t allow it to do eight things. According to Apple guidelines, Spotify says it:
Can’t sell audiobooks in the Spotify app without using Apple’s in-app purchase methodology
Can’t explain why they can’t sell audiobooks in their app
Can’t explain where or how people can buy the audiobook from Spotify elsewhere
Can’t share a link to send customers to a website to buy the audiobook
Can’t send people an email with purchase information outside of the App Store
Can’t answer questions about an audiobook via an email
Can’t tell customers the cost of the audiobook either in their app or in an email
Can’t give people tips on how to navigate a non-Apple purchase process
That’s a lot of blockages. The most egregious, perhaps, is not allowing Spotify to send an email via its own mail servers to its own customers, a process that doesn’t touch Apple at all. (Apple’s claim here, of course, will be that Spotify acquired their customers’ email address via their iOS app.)
So far, Apple’s been forced to open up to non-in-app-purchase flows in at least two countries, Korea and the Netherlands. However, the process Apple enabled is much more onerous and still costs developers 27% of the purchase price in the Netherlands, and 26% in South Korea, leaving regulators unsatisfied with Apple’s compliance with local regulations.
“Basically, Apple rules mandate a cumbersome Audiobooks purchasing process that makes it harder for you to find your next favorite author or book,” Spotify says.
The reality is that sooner or later, competition authorities will likely force Apple to open up in-app purchases. In Europe, that’s likely via the new Digital Markets Act, which will likely require significant changes in both the App Store and Google Play:
As I’ve written elsewhere, that probably, but not certainly means changes like this:
People would be able to delete pre-installed apps
People would be able to side-load apps, or install them just like you might install an app from the internet on a desktop computer
Businesses would be able create independent app stores
Apps would be able to use third-party payment processing
Apps would be able to interoperate with core services around messaging
Apps would be able to use hardware features that platforms might have reserved for themselves
People would be able to switch AI assistants
The question is: will Apple and Google do this willingly, and thereby maintain some level of public appreciation and developer support, or will they do it slowly, reluctantly, and only as forced by law?
“Apple doesn’t just make the rules,” Spotify says. “They also arbitrarily change them to favor their own services and punish app developers who choose not to implement in-app purchases (IAP). And in this case that means audiobook listeners as well as authors and publishers bear the brunt, too.”
I’ve asked Apple for a comment, and will update this story if the company responds.
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 19: Lea Seydoux attends the “It’s Only The End Of The World (Juste La Fin Du … [+] Monde)” Photocall during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 19, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Getty Images
If you’re like me, then you have multiple subscriptions to several different streaming platforms—which are all constantly adding new movies. Which begs the question each successive week: What do I watch?
For me, it helps to have all of those new films in one place. So in this article, I’ll run through the biggest new movies on major stream platforms, such as Netflix NFLX , Amazon AMZN Prime, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, Mubi, Apple AAPL TV+, Peacock, and Paramount PARA +.
At the end of the article, you can find a full list of all the new films available to stream this week.
The Good Nurse (Netflix)
Nurse Amy Loughren is shocked when Charlie Cullen, one of her colleagues, is foound responsible for the murder of dozens of patients over a period of sixteen years, across two states and nine hospitals, without being charged.
Downtown Abbey: A New Era (Amazon Prime)
The Crawley family goes on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of the dowager countess’s newly inherited villa.
The French Dispatch (Hulu)
A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in “The French Dispatch.”
La Pitchoune: Cooking in France (HBO)
Four friends teach recipe-free cooking to students in Julia Child’s former vacation home in France, the place where she cooked and wrote some of her most famous recipes.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Disney+)
Now in the care of Dave Seville’s nephew (Zachary Levi), chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore take a break from pop-music stardom and return to school. Almost immediately, the tiny tunesmiths get the giant task of saving their school’s music program by winning a battle-of-the-bands contest. Though the boys think winning it will be easy, romantic and musical sparks fly when they meet Brittany, Eleanor and Jeannette — also known as The Chipettes.
Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (Apple TV+)
This documentary honours the musician’s legacy as a founding father of jazz. The film shows how Armstrong’s life spans the shift from the Civil War to the civil rights movement, and how he became a lightning rod figure in that turbulent era.
Star Trek: Prodigy
A motley crew of young aliens in the Delta Quadrant find an abandoned Starfleet ship, the U.S.S. Protostar; taking control of the ship, they must learn to work together as they make their way towards the Alpha Quadrant.
Evil of Dracula
In Evil of Dracula, a professor takes up a new post at an all-girls school only to discover the school’s principle conceals a dark secret and the pupils are in grave danger.
Every new movie and show you can stream this week
Netflix
Franco Escamilla: Eavesdropping (October 23)
The Chalk Line (October 24)
Barbie Epic Road Trip (October 25)
Blade of the 47 Ronin (October 25)
Fortune Feimster: Good Fortune (October 25)
Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (October 25)
Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 3 | Part 2 (October 25)
Fugitive: The Curious Case of Carlos Ghosn (October 26)
The Good Nurse (October 26)
Hellhole (October 26)
Love Is Blind: Season 3 | Part 2 (October 26)
Robbing Mussolini (October 26)
Cici (October 27)
Daniel Spellbound (October 27)
Dubai Bling (October 27)
Earthstorm (October 27)
Family Reunion: Part 5 (October 27)
Hotel Transylvania 2 (October 27)
Romantic Killer (October 27)
All Quiet on the Western Front (October 28)
The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself (October 28)
Big Mouth: Season 6 (October 28)
Drink Masters (October 28)
I AM A STALKER (October 28)
If Only (October 28)
My Encounter with Evil (October 28)
Wendell & Wild (October 28)
Wild is the Wind (October 28)
Deadwind: Season 3 (October 29)
Amazon
Blacklight (October 24)
The Devil’s Hour (October 28)
Downton Abbey: A New Era (October 28)
Run Sweetheart Run (October 28)
Hulu
Beba (October 24)
The French Dispatch (October 25)
Clean (October 29)
HBO
La Pitchoune: Cooking in France: Season 1 (October 23)
Green Lantern: Beware My Power (October 24)
A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting (October 26)
Garcia!: Season 1 Premiere (October 28)
Disney+
Dancing with the Stars: Episode 7 (October 24)
Eureka!: Season 1, 4 episodes (October 26)
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi: All Shorts Streaming (October 26)
and Saudi Aramco, combined. First, it needs to get through the next few months.
Before Tesla (ticker: TSLA) reported third-quarter earnings this past week, investors had been hoping they would allay concerns that had been growing since the company released second-quarter numbers three months earlier. They did no such thing. While earnings topped expectations, third-quarter deliveries, sales, and profit margins all fell short of Street projections. Tesla shares slumped 6.7% following the release, putting them down 22% since the end of September, their second-worst start to a quarter since the first few weeks of 2016.
It’s safe to say that most millennials and boomers can remember the absolute cultural reset that was the release of the original AppleiPhone, a mystical device that allowed you to watch YouTube on your cell phone and dial using a touchscreen.
Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images
It was a historical and pivotal release for the future of what mobile devices would become capable of and owning a piece of that history has turned out to be more expensive than even the newest models of the iPhone.
An original, first generation, unopened iPhone from 2007 just sold in an auction for a jaw-dropping $39,339.60 — nearly $38,740.60 more than the most expensive version of the original release, which was what this specific model was.
Gizmodo pointed out that taking into account inflation, the same model would’ve sold today for around $860.
The brand new phone, which had never been activated and was noted to be in “pristine” condition, came in with 8 GB of storage and a 2-megapixel camera which at the time of its release — at the time unheard of on a cell phone.
“Collectors and investors would be hard-pressed to find a superior example,” LCG Auctions said of the high-grossing device. “Relevance and rarity comprise a winning formula for this red hot collectible.”
The iPhone was first released in June of 2007, just months after Apple founder Steve Jobs revealed the revolutionary device at a MacWorld conference in January of that year.
“Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything and Apple has been – well, first of all, one’s very fortunate if you get to work on just one of these in your career. Apple has been very fortunate. It’s been able to introduce a few of these into the world,” Jobs said during his 2007 keynote speech where he revealed the iPhone. “What we want to do is make a leapfrog product that is way smarter than any mobile device has ever been and super-easy to use. This is what iPhone is. We’re going to reinvent the phone.”
Apps like Maps, World Clock, and Notes still exist on models today, but it’s hard to imagine a version of the device without Siri, an in-phone App Store, or even the ability to record video on the camera.
Today, Apple has created 34 total iterations of the iPhone spread across 14 series, the most recent of which is the iPhone 14 series that includes the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The most expensive of these is the iPhone 14 Pro Max, 1TB version which currently starts at $1,599.
Apple was down just shy of 3% in a one-year period as of Tuesday afternoon.
Workers at an Apple store in Oklahoma City voted to unionize, marking the second unionized Apple store in the U.S. in a matter of months, according to the federal labor board.
The vote on Friday signaled another win for the labor movement, which has been gaining momentum since the pandemic.
Fifty-six workers at the store, located at Oklahoma City’s Penn Square Mall, voted to be represented by The Communications Workers of America, while 32 voted against it, according to a preliminary tally by National Labor Relations Board. The approximate number of eligible voters was 95, the board said.
The labor board said Friday that both parties have five business days to file objections to the election. If no objections are filed, the results will be certified, and the employer must begin bargaining in good faith with the union.
The union victory follows a vote to unionize an Apple store in Towson, Maryland, in June. That effort was spearheaded by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Maryland, which is preparing to begin formal negotiations.
In a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Saturday, Apple said, “We believe the open, direct and collaborative relationship we have with our valued team members is the best way to provide an excellent experience for our customers, and for our teams.”
Apple also cited “strong compensation and exceptional benefits,” and noted that since 2018, it has increased starting rates in the U.S. by 45% and made significant improvements in other benefits, including new educational and family support programs.
The Communications Workers of America could not be immediately reached for comment.
Worker discontent has invigorated the labor movements at several major companies in the U.S. in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered tensions over sick leave policies, scheduling, and other issues.
In a surprise victory, Amazon workers at a Staten Island warehouse voted in favor of unionizing in April, though similar efforts at other warehouses so far have been unsuccessful. Voting for an Amazon facility near Albany, New York, began on Wednesday and is expected go through Monday.
Well over 200 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize over the past year, according to the NLRB.
Apples are the center of many autumn traditions, like trips to the orchard or the farmers’ market and making pies. But for the people who grow them, and those of us who love the fall fruit, this year’s harvest comes with a unique set of challenges, including inflation and labor shortages.
Barron Shaw runs a family farm and apple orchard in York County, Pennsylvania, which got its start in 1841. He told CBS News that he’s facing challenges unlike anything he’s seen before.
“Inflation makes it very stressful,” he said. “I mean the fuel prices, the energy costs, the electricity prices … all of it is going up.”
Inflation is squeezing industries of all sorts, but the apple industry is seeing a perfect storm down the supply chain that is hitting growers hard.
Gala apples on a tree at an orchard in Britton, Michigan, U.S., on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.
Emily Elconin/Blooomberg
“You don’t go into this business unless you’ve got a lot of faith; a lot of faith in God, a lot of faith in the family members around you,” Shaw said. “You know, that’s what keeps me going.”
Unlike other items in the produce aisle that benefit from automated farming practices, apples are picked by hand and require intensive and specialized labor to harvest.
Shaw said his orchard just cannot find domestic workers for the intensely physical job. The industry relies heavily on international migrant workers using H-2A visas, whose wages are set by the federal government and vary state by state.
Shaw saw the wage for H-2A workers increase 10% from last year, up to $15.78 an hour. Across the U.S., H-2A wages have been going up 5-10% a year.
“We just have to pay what the government tells us,” he said. “Completely out of our control.”
The U.S. Apple Industry Association estimates total labor costs have spiked 30% this year. Apples, on average, also cost 6% more this year.
An worker picks Gala apples from a tree at an orchard in Britton, Michigan, U.S., on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.
Emily Elconin/Blooomberg
Most apple farmers said they aren’t seeing more money in their pockets, though, despite the cost increase.
In Montgomery County, Maryland, public schools won’t be able to serve a fresh seasonal apple for lunch for the first year ever. County officials said local apples cost three times as much this fall, and they’ll have to stick with cheaper, prepackaged slices instead.
To weather the economic storm, farmers like Shaw are trying to entice people to buy from the orchard itself — cutting out the middlemen.
The orchards can offer you a lower price and get a bigger profit if you pick apples directly off the trees than off a grocery store shelf.
Shaw said for some orchards, that could be the tipping point.
“These businesses really are not sustainable unless they’re profitable, and because there’s no reason for the next generation to do this if they can’t make a living, can’t make a retirement doing it,” he said. (double-check quote)
Europeans might soon have an easier time finding the right charging cords for each of their devices. The European Parliament approved a measure Tuesday that would require all cellphones and other small handheld electronic devices sold in the European Union to have the same USB Type-C charging port.
This means Europeans would no longer need a different charger for each new device –– regardless of the manufacturer.
The measure, which still needs final approval from the European Council, would mandate the change for new cellphones, tablets, digital cameras headphones/headsets, handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice and earbuds go into effect by the end of 2024. Laptop manufacturers will have until 2026 to update their charging requirements.
“The common charger will finally become a reality in Europe,” said Parliament’s rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba in a statement.
“We have waited more than 10 years for these rules, but we can finally leave the current plethora of chargers in the past.”
The European Commission has been in favor of a universal charging solution since 2009 when it first proposed a voluntary agreement with tech manufacturers that reduced the number of cellphone chargers on the market from 30 to three, but that expired in 2014. Meanwhile, complaints from iPhone and Android users about having to switch to different chargers for their devices continued following Apple’s introduction of the Lightning connector in 2012.
Unused chargers account for 11,000 metric tons of e-waste annually in Europe and costs Europeans 250 million euro a year, according to a report by the European Commission. This rule is part of a larger effort to reduce that e-waste and costs for consumers by allowing buyers to choose whether to include a new charger when purchasing a new device and eliminating buyers from being locked into buying one specific charger for a device.
Charging speed would also be regulated for all devices, so users could expect to charge all their devices at the same fast speed regardless of the charger they use.
Most notably, the rule would affect Apple, whose iPhones require a Lightning charger, as opposed to Android devices that currently use the USB-C charger. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The rule could mean manufacturers like Apple might update iPhones to include a USB-C globally in order to reduce the potentially high cost of changing ports for just one market. Apple has in recent years changed some devices like their laptops and newer iPads to USB-C charging ports in recent years.
Legislators in the U.S. have also taken note of Europe’s move, with lawmakers including Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, of Massachusetts, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, sending a letter in June to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo calling for universal chargers for electronic devices in the U.S.
The law, which passed Parliament 603-13 with eight abstentions, will now be sent to the European Environmental Council meeting on Oct. 24 and is expected to pass for final approval before the law officially kicks in.
Apple will make its iPhone 14 in India, the company said on Monday, as manufacturers shift production from China amid geopolitical tensions and pandemic restrictions that have disrupted supply chains for many industries.
“The new iPhone 14 lineup introduces groundbreaking new technologies and important safety capabilities. We’re excited to be manufacturing iPhone 14 in India,” Apple said in a statement.
Apple unveiled its latest line-up of iPhones earlier this month. They will have improved cameras, faster processors and longer lasting batteries at the same prices as last year’s models. India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market after China but Apple iPhone sales have struggled to capture a large share of the market against cheaper smartphones from competitors.
The announcement from the Cupertino, California-based company dovetails with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for local manufacturing, which has been a key goal for his government ever since he took office in 2014.
Foxconn in Chennai
The tech company has bet big on India, where it first began manufacturing its iPhone SE in 2017 and has since continued to assemble a number of iPhone models there. Apple opened its online store for India two years ago, but the pandemic has delayed plans for a flagship store in India, according to local media reports.
The latest model will be shipped out by Foxconn, a major iPhone assembler, whose facilities are on the outskirts of Chennai, a city in southern India.
Apple is likely to shift about 5% of its iPhone 14 production to India from later this year, raising it to 25% by 2025, according to a JP Morgan report quoted by the Press Trust of India news agency.
The analysts expect that nearly a quarter of all Apple products to be manufactured outside China by 2025, compared to about 5% now. Supply chain risks like the stringent COVID-19 lockdowns seen in China are likely the trigger for such relocation efforts that will continue over the next two or three years, the report said.
“Apple has been trying to diversify its supply chain for a while, but these efforts have grown in the last two years over trade sanctions between the U.S. and China,” said Sanyam Chaurasia, an analyst at Canalys.
Chinese manufacturing
Last year, the tech giant manufactured around 7 million iPhones in India. This news is likely to significantly increase India-made Apple smartphones, he added.
He said the plan to make more iPhones in India may also lead Apple to drop its prices for the Indian market, making it more competitive. “You can adopt a more aggressive pricing strategy if you manufacture locally,” Chaurasia said.
Most of Apple’s smartphones and tablets are assembled by contractors with factories in China, but the company started asking them in 2020 to look at the possibility of moving some production to Southeast Asia or other places after repeated shutdowns to fight COVID-19 disrupted its global flow of products.
Apple hasn’t released details, but news reports say the company planned to set up assembly of tablet computers and wireless earphones in Vietnam.
Other companies are keeping or expanding manufacturing in China to serve the domestic market while shifting export-oriented work to other countries due to rising wages and other costs, as well as the difficulty for foreign executives to visit China due to anti-COVID-19 travel restrictions.
New apps bring secure, remote access to Industrial Control Systems to the entire Apple ecosystem
Press Release –
updated: Jul 2, 2020
AUSTIN, Texas, July 2, 2020 (Newswire.com)
– Dispel today released their iOS and macOS apps on the Apple App Store. Available for download now, these new apps allow anyone with a Dispel account rapid, secure access to their Industrial Control Systems from their iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
The two new applications come from growing global demand for Dispel’s reliable and easy-to-use remote access tools for monitoring and managing industrial systems.
“Apple devices are quickly becoming a mainstay of the industrial control world, and our new iOS and macOS apps reflect that,” said Ethan Schmertzler, CEO of Dispel.
Making teams’ time matter, Dispel supports organizations experiencing travel limitations while maintaining global factories, utilities implementing contingency planning, and manufacturers increasing production. The new Dispel app provides a simple user interface sitting atop a dependable, global communications infrastructure encrypted from operator and third-party devices to the end system.
About Dispel Dispel is the leading provider of Moving Target Defense Networks, designed and built in the USA. Founded in 2015, the cybersecurity company has offices in Austin, New York, Washington, Boston, and Denver. Dispel’s technology deploys custom networks to OT/ICS, protecting infrastructure globally. Learn more at https://dispel.io
PHOENIX, February 18, 2019 (Newswire.com)
– Walker Charities and their Pads for Pēds program, a philanthropic organization that provides Apple iPad® “Lending Libraries” and digital entertainment tools to children’s hospitals across the nation, celebrates their latest partnership with Phoenix Children’s Hospital. A “Lending Library” consists of computer tablets with protective cases and charging stations that pediatric patients may borrow and use during their hospital stay. Benefitting hospitals include Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, Children’s Minneapolis, Portland Shriner’s, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Mayo Clinic Children’s Center in Rochester, Minnesota.
Recently, Pads for Pēds partnered with Phoenix Children’s to provide their patients with five new GoKart portable video game kiosks, as well as a new Apple iPad® program for use by physicians in their biorepository sector. The partnership was created to develop a pipeline of donations to Phoenix Children’s to aid in offering comfort, diversion and education for young patients. The organizations intend to work together in the coming years to bring additional tools to PCH to aid in their joint goals.
“Pads for Peds literally brings the outside world into the hospital,” said Steve Schnall, senior vice president and chief development officer at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation. “For children who want to learn about and communicate with the world outside hospital doors, this program is invaluable.”
Pads For Pēds was born from a Walker experience that provided a single Apple iPad® to an ailing boy in Masonic Children’s Hospital at the University of Minnesota. Founders Brian and Diane Walker felt strongly that many more children and families could be touched with these amazing devices, so they sought to find ways to partner with great children’s hospitals across the country. To date, Pads For Pēds has delivered more than 125 tablets and related support equipment to their partner hospitals. Phoenix Children’s is now one of those partners, delivering innovative solutions to improve patient care experiences.
Tablets and digital gaming devices give hospital patients distraction from their pain. Studies have shown Apple iPad® and other electronic devices keep patient-focus occupied so that anxiety is often reduced. These studies found comparable anxiety reduction with the use of a common sedative. (1) In addition to distraction and entertainment, Apple iPad® can be used for health education of patients and family and provide children the opportunity to connect via video chat and messaging. Partner hospitals are also innovating, finding even more ways to improve patient experiences with these emerging technologies.
Pads for Pēds is preparing to add additional Children’s Hospital partnerships during 2019. Since inception, all foundation funding has been privately provided and the group now seeks new corporate sponsorships and additional private donations. Charity updates and paths to donations can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walkercharities/ or on their website at www.padsforpeds.org.
About Pads for Pēds:
The Pediatric Pad Foundation (Pads for Pēds), founded in 2014 through Walker Charities, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides computer tablets and other related computer equipment to be used by patients at children’s hospitals and clinics all over the United States. Their mission is to bring joy and diversion to young hospital patients facing acute medical care. For more information about the Pads For Pēds, visit www.padsforpeds.org.
About Phoenix Children’s Hospital:
Phoenix Children’s Hospital is Arizona’s only children’s hospital recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals. For 35 years, Phoenix Children’s has provided world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country, Phoenix Children’s delivers care across more than 75 pediatric specialties. Recognized specifically for its patient-focused innovation, medical education, growth and research, Phoenix Children’s was named Business of the Year and Exceptional Innovator by the Greater Phoenix Chamber in 2018. For more information about the hospital, visit phoenixchildrens.org.
LOS ANGELES, February 7, 2018 (Newswire.com)
– Designed to shake up the ways and whys we send flowers, allows users to send flowers anytime, anywhere in a moment’s notice via their iOS device. Flowerlings bud, bloom and wilt in real time with a lifespan of eight days … digitally! And, with every Flowerling sent, we plant a live tree in Madagascar through our partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects — plus, the app comes complete with a real-time planted tree counter. And, with over 25,000 trees planted to date, Flowerling is well on its way to rewarding the planet by offsetting our global carbon footprint.
Each Flowerling rose, bouquet and plant is professionally curated and photographed by our own floral stylists and design team. Photographs are rendered using our proprietary IP, creating the real-time, digital aging that unfolds for the user over eight days. This unique interface allows users to experience real-time aging of their Flowerlings via their iOS device. For wilted Flowerlings, options to add food or water to extend their lifespan are available. There is no other app experience like it in the world.
With more and more people focused on the state of our planet, Flowerling allows users to do what they already love to do – send flowers – but in a new and unique way that brings joy and happiness to those who receive them, and makes a positive impact on the world we all share.
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak launched the very first Apple computer in April of 1976.
1977 – Apple II
Flickr/Marcin Wichary
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1978 – Disk II
All About Apple Museum
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1979 – Apple II Plus
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1980 – Apple III
Alexander Shaelss
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1983 – Lisa
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1983 – Apple Mouse
Flickr/moparx
The first computer to use a mouse was the Apple Lisa in 1983.
1984 – Apple IIC
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1984 – Macintosh
All About Apple Museum
The first Macintosh was introduced in 1984.
1985 – Macintosh XL
Hannes Kuballa
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1986 – Macintosh Plus
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1987 – Macintosh SE
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1987 – Apple Newton next to an iPhone
Blake Patterson
The Newton was the precursor to mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad.
1988 – Apple IIc Plus
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1988 – Macintosh IIx
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1989 – Macintosh SE/30
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1989 – Macintosh portable
Wikimedia Commons
The first portable Apple computer was used to send an email from space in 1991 on the Space Shuttle mission STS-43.
1990 – Macintosh IIfx
All About Apple Museum
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1991 – Macintosh PowerBook 140
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1993 – Macintosh LC 575
Matthew Paul Argall
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1995 – PowerBook 5300
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1996 – Power Macintosh 7220
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1997 – 20th Anniversary Macintosh
All About Apple Museum
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1998 – iMac G3
Apple
The first iMac came in bright colors and a round body.
1999 – Power Macintosh G3
Dietmar Naujok
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
1999 – iBook
Jared Benedict
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2000 – Power Mac 4G Cube
Wikimedia Commons
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2001 – the first iPod
Apple
The first music player to go all digital.
2001 – PowerBook G4
Jared Benedict
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2002 – iMac G4
Benjamin Thompson
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2003 – iBook G4
Akira Kamikura
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2003 – PowerMac G5
CNET
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2004 – iMac G5
Matthew Welty
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2004 – iPod mini
Apple
The iPod mini only lasted one year and was discontinued in 2005.
2005 – iPod nano
Apple
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2005 – iPod shuffle
Apple
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2005 – Mac Mini
CNET
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2006 – MacBook Pro
UE-home.net
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2007 – the first iPhone
Apple
The first of its kind, iPhone is widely considered to be a game changer for hand-held devices.
2007 – iMac
CNET
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2007 – Apple TV
David Kid
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2007 – iPod Touch
Apple
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2008 – MacBook Air
CNET
The MacBook Air was the thinnest computer of its time.
2010 – iPad
Apple
Not since the Newton had Apple released a tablet. The iPad was a great success and continues to dominate the tablet market.
2010 – iPhone 4
Apple
From a wooden computer box to a glass smartphone, Apple has pushed the boundaries of technology.
2012 – Macbook Pro with Retina Display
CNET
Apple unveiled its next generation MacBook Pro with Retina Display at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 11, 2012. One of the most highlighted features is new the MacBook Pro’s 2,880 x 1,800 Retina Display. The previous 15-inch MacBook Pro had a 1,440 x 900 display resolution. Retina Display is defined by Apple as having a “pixel density so high your eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels.” It weighs 4.46 pounds and is 0.71 inches thick.
2012 – iPhone 5
Apple
Apple unveiled the iPhone 5 on Sept. 12, 2012 in San Francisco. The new smartphone features a 4-inch display, 4G LTE, 1080p HD video quality, 720p HD front-facing video, panoramic photos, a new Lightening connector and EarPods. It was the first time the the smartphone changed its size since it was originally introduced in 2007.
2013 – iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c
Apple
Introduced in 2013, the colorful, lower priced iPhone 5c did not prove as popular as Apple’s iPhone 5s.
2014 – Apple Pay
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks about Apple Pay during an Apple special event at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts on September 9, 2014 in Cupertino, California. Apple unveiled the Apple Watch wearable tech and two new iPhones, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
2014 – iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller talks about the iPhone on stage at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, Calif., September 9, 2014. Apple unveiled the two new iPhones, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
2014 – iPhone 6
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
A member of the media inspects the new iPhone 6 during an Apple special event at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts on September 9, 2014 in Cupertino, California.
2014 – Apple Watch
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The Apple Watch was first introduced during an Apple special event at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts on September 9, 2014 in Cupertino, California. But the devices didn’t actually hit the market until the following spring.
2015 – Apple Watch
Apple
The Apple Watch went on sale to the public in April 2015, available in two sizes and a range of styles and finishes including 18K gold.
2015 – iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus
Eric Risberg/AP
Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, talks about the features of the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus during the Apple event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, September 9, 2015.
2015 – iPad Pro
Beck Diefenbach/Reuters
Apple’s largest tablet yet, the iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch screen and smart keyboard, is seen during an Apple media event in San Francisco, September 9, 2015.
2015 – iPhone 6s Plus
REUTERS/Robert Galbraith
A customer shows off a newly purchased iPhone 6s Plus at the Apple Store in Palo Alto, California September 25, 2015.
2015 – Apple Store robot
REUTERS/David Gray
A man talks to Lucy Kelly on a screen attached to a “telepresence robot,” which she used to purchase her iPhone 6s during the official launch at the Apple Store in central Sydney, Australia, September 25, 2015.
2016 – iPhone SE
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Apple VP Greg Joswiak announces the new iPhone SE at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California on March 21, 2016. The phone features a smaller, 4-inch screen but most of the same features and power of the larger iPhone 6s.
2016 – iPad Pro
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Apple CEO Tim Cook shows off a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California on March 21, 2016.
2016 – iPhone 7 Plus
REUTERS
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus debuted in September 2016.
2016 – iPhone 7 Plus
Beck Diefenbach/REUTERS
Apple VP Phil Schiller introduces new photography features, including a depth of field and bokeh effects, in the iPhone 7 Plus at Apple’s media event on September 7, 2016.
2016 – MacBook Pro
REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach
A new MacBook Pro, with the Touch Bar across the top, pictured at an Apple media event in Cupertino, California, October 27, 2016.
The Touch Bar lights up and reveals a shifting menu of buttons, tools, and, of course, emoji options that change depending on which app you’re using at any given time.
2017 – PRODUCT(RED) iPhone
Apple
In March 2017 Apple unveiled a special edition iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in collaboration with PRODUCT(RED), a nonprofit that works to combat HIV and AIDS in Africa.
2017 – Apple iPhone X
Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP
The new $999 iPhone X with Face ID racial recognition technology was introduced on Sept. 12, 2017, in Cupertino, Calif.
2017 – iPhone 8
Stephen Lam / REUTERS
Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller introduces the iPhone 8 in Cupertino, California, Sept. 12, 2017.
2017 – Apple Watch Series 3
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Apple CEO Tim Cook talks about the new Apple Watch Series 3, which features cellular connectivity, at the Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, on Sept. 12, 2017.
Kari is a young girl of amazing talent and brilliant mind; yet, due to no fault of her own is unable to find a school place.
Press Release –
updated: Jul 12, 2017
BIRMINGHAM, England, July 12, 2017 (Newswire.com)
– Through a new interest in computer science and wanting to learn more about artificial intelligence 13-year-old Kari Lawler from Solihull, UK set herself the challenge of creating her own virtual assistant like Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa. After purchasing a few books, she very quickly taught herself the necessary programming skills and within a few days it was apparent she was making considerable progress and amazingly within just one week she had a working prototype.
Her family has stated it’s amazing what she has achieved at her age with very little resources. The fact her personal assistant responds in a similar manner to Siri and even has the same witty attitude when asked something out of the ordinary is marvelous. It’s also especially incredible when you consider what the large technology companies have probably spent on producing something not much different to what Kari has managed to achieve in such a short amount of time.
Looking to the future Kari does plan to expand on her prototype and does see great value in this type of technology. She is currently working on making her assistant more realistic with more human like back and forth conversation. If achievable she thinks this type of virtual human interaction would be of great benefit in areas such as social care; like providing company to the elderly or assistance for people with dementia. Similarly, she sees it been used as a learning assistant for whole class teaching or for helping individual students in a school. Realistically though, she appreciates she has a long way to go before realizing this vision. However, in the meantime she would very much like to connect and learn through maybe a mentoring role with any individuals or companies in this field.
About Kari Kari, now 14 is a very bright and gifted young lady excelling in English, mathematics and science. At the age of 11 she was diagnosed with ASD. Since her diagnosis and through no fault of her own she has had great difficulty in accessing an education in a mainstream setting which has resulted in her being out of school now for just over a year. The resistance Kari is facing is solely down to a complete lack of understanding of Autism. Even though Kari has never had any learning needs, behavioral issues, communication or high anxiety issues at school, schools approached just assume the worse based on stereotypes and dismissively say no without looking at her as an individual. Overall Kari wants nothing more than to be back in school doing what she loves the most, which is learning.
Sunrise Hitek’s sleek and compact Flip Turn Case is available in two colors; matte silver, and glossy black. It is currently available for Ipad Air, Air 2 and Mini 1/2/3 https://www.sunrisehitek.com/product/ipad-air2-flip-turn-g2.
Press Release –
updated: Dec 29, 2016
Chicago, IL, December 29, 2016 (Newswire.com)
– iPad has quickly become a staple device in businesses everywhere. It’s compact size and mobility make it a great fit for small businesses as well as sales personnel working from home or on the road. Popular entertainment and media website Mashable, in an article entitled 5 Ways to Take Advantage of the iPad for Business outlines the many benefits of iPad in the workplace noting among the highlights payment processing, as a presentation tool, as well as inventory and data collection http://mashable.com/2011/07/20/ipad-business/#W1xE4owNKEqJ. When you add the versatile iPad Flip Turn Case from Sunrise Hitek, it becomes an even better tool.
iPad Air Flip Turn Case is made of durable polycarbonate for enhanced durability. It protects the iPad all around – front, black, all sides and corners https://www.sunrisehitek.com/product/ipad-air2-flip-turn-g2. Rubberized soft touch coating on the black case gives it just the right amount of grip, and the silver painted case offers striking resemblance to Apple’s Macbook Pro. Precision cutouts allow easy access to all iPad buttons, controls, and functions.
“I really like [the Flip Turn Case]. There is no other flip case with backlit keys on the market (Zagg, Targus, etc.) so I was excited to find one. The swivel hinge is secure but not too tight, spins easily without too much tension. … the product is exactly what I was looking for. Very happy with it!”
~ Katherine S., Simi Valley, CA
The flip turn mechanism is arguably one of the most versatile on the market. It performs acrobatic tricks on the iPad, allowing it to be used as a tablet, a laptop, or a movie player. By simply opening the case, the iPad wakes up and goes into laptop mode, tilting the screen at a comfortable angle for typing. When turned 180 degrees, the keyboard base becomes a stand, turning the iPad into a beautiful presentation device. Folding the case completely flat hides the keyboard, and the iPad becomes a normal tablet. The tension closure system also keeps the iPad closed when not in use, with an auto wake/sleep smart cover design to conserve battery.
Customers love the backlit keys and swivel action features, as shown in the following testimonial: “I really like [the Flip Turn Case]. There is no other flip case with backlit keys on the market (Zagg, Targus, etc.) so I was excited to find one. The swivel hinge is secure but not too tight, spins easily without too much tension. … the product is exactly what I was looking for. Very happy with it!” ~ Katherine S., Simi Valley, CA
About Sunrise Hitek
Sunrise Hitek’s “Hitek” store, is a leading maker of protective gear for Apple’s iPad. The brand changed to üuber when the company starting developing cases for other devices, such as the MacBook, Chromebook, and Samsung devices. Sunrise Hitek Group, LLC, owner of the üuber brand, also operates Sunrise Digital, a leading digital printing company based in Chicago. As a G7 Qualified Master Printer, Sunrise is uniquely qualified among protective gear makers to offer a wide array of customization options, ensuring the most consistent and accurate color reproduction. Sunrise is an Inc. 5000 company established in 1988 and employs the most advanced equipment and technology, such as G7-certified HP Indigo and UV flatbed presses, and digital die-cutting, to create best-in-class products. A privately-owned enterprise, the company is based in Chicago and sells products worldwide.
The majority of American schools are employing the use of iPads and other tablets in their classrooms. Breakage is a big concern, and Sunrise Hitek’s Slim Tough Case drastically reduces breakage in these devices (https://www.sunrisehitek.com/product/ipad-slim-tough-case-g5).
Press Release –
Sep 14, 2016
Chicago, IL, September 14, 2016 (Newswire.com)
– Schools across the country are investing funds into tech devices like iPads and laptops as learning tools for their students. Breakages are a big concern, especially considering the hefty price tag of these devices. According to an article on USAToday.com, an average of 1 out of 5 iPads in schools will suffer breakages. Click here for full article.
A broken screen often leads to a broken iPad. The Slim Tough Case G5 features an armor plate folio cover that completely eliminates broken screens. The dual-layer rugged design with extra padding around the corners brings added drop-resistance. The simple act of adding a case to the device can add years to the life of the device and save school districts (and parents) hundreds of dollars.
The iPad covers are fantastic! They do, indeed, fit perfectly in the Bretford charging machines, and we love the fun colors! We needed to take some precautions before handing just handing them to students (*crash*) and it’s clear that they will be well protected in your lovely sleek, yet sturdy, covers.
~ Janna R, Newark, DE
Sunrise Hitek’s rugged iPad case adds ultimate durability and shock resistance to iPad. Its highlights include a dual-layer rugged design including a protective silicone skin over an inner hard case and a naked frame for the very best touch experience, which is 100% stylus compatible. The Built-in stylus glides smoothly on the glass screen and keeps it clean. Handy magnetic closure keeps the folio cover shut when closed and the strong kickstand with stainless steel pins provides superb stability.
This case is available in (8) bright colors and mixed-color orders still receive bulk quantity discount. Optional full-color customization with logo artwork and tracking barcode is a great option for schools and sales representatives.
About Sunrise Hitek
Sunrise Hitek’s “Hitek” is a leading maker of protective gear for Apple’s iPad. The brand changed to üuber when the company starting developing cases for other devices, such as the MacBook, Chromebook, and Samsung devices. Sunrise Hitek Group, LLC, owner of the üuber brand, also operates Sunrise Digital, a leading digital printing company based in Chicago. As a G7 Qualified Master Printer, Sunrise is uniquely qualified among protective gear makers to offer a wide array of customization options, ensuring the most consistent and accurate color reproduction. Sunrise is an Inc. 5000 company established in 1988 and employs the most advanced equipment and technology, such as G7-certified HP Indigo and UV flatbed presses, and digital die-cutting, to create best-in-class products. A privately-owned enterprise, the company is based in Chicago and sells products worldwide.
