Miscellany, in keeping with the portal concept of our site, provides non-nematode-related links of interest to the center's faculty and staff. Suggestions for additional links are welcomed.

• Apple Remembers Nelson Mandela on its Homepage
  Apple has removed all product placements on its homepage tonight and has instead replaced them with an image of Nelson Mandela, honoring the late South African president's life a day after he passed at the age of 95. Apple executives had previously commented on Mandela's death on Twitter, with SVP Phil Schiller tweeting a quote from Mandela. CEO Tim Cook also tweeted a quote, but offered thoughts on the passing of Mandela as well: Amazing human being. Champion of freedom and human dignity. He set an example for all of the world. RIP Nelson Mandela. We miss you already.This is one of the few times Apple has honored someone's life on its homepage, with the others being people such as Rosa Parks, board member Jerry York and Steve Jobs. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Apple Offering 32-Inch 4K Sharp Displays in European Online Apple Stores
  In its European Apple Online Stores, Apple has begun offering a 32-inch Sharp “4K” Ultra HD LED monitor. Retailing for £3,499.00 or approximately $5,700, the monitor has been available in the U.K. and other European countries since on or before November 30. The 32-inch IGZO display, which has a resolution of 3840 x 2160, is not available in the United States and it is not clear why Apple has decided to offer it solely in Europe for the time being. With its 32-inch class (31.5-inch diagonal) screen size, 3840 x 2160 high definition resolution and energy efficient edge-lit LED backlight, the Sharp PN-K321 monitor is ideal for professional applications where it's essential to view detailed information displayed with precision. This super-high resolution display allows you to view the content of four full HD screens on a single seamless display. It also features IGZO* technology, which supports increased pixel transparency and reduced current leakage, thereby making the monitor more energy efficient.Sharp's LED display offers a 1.07 billion color palette, an 800:1 contrast ratio, and 350cd/m2 brightness. While it does come with DisplayPort support, it does not come with a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter and will require users to purchase a third party adapter. The appearance of the Sharp display in Apple's Online Store comes amid rumors that Apple is preparing its own 4K displays. Earlier this month, new display panels with DisplayPort appeared from AUO, sparking speculation that they could be used by Apple for a future 4K Thunderbolt display. Dell debuted its own 4K Ultra HD displays earlier this week, offering a 32-inch model for $3,499, and a 24-inch model for $1,399. Dell also has a sub-$1000 28-inch model in the works for 2014, and as Apple and Dell have historically used the same panel supplier, Dell's offerings may provide an early look at what to expect when Apple does release its 4K displays. Apple's recently refreshed Retina MacBook Pros are able to support a single 4K monitor and the upcoming Mac Pro is able to support up to three 4K displays. The Mac Pro may be on or near December 16, according to a German retailer that began taking pre-orders ahead of the product's launch, but it remains unclear when Apple might debut an updated Thunderbolt Display. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• MacRumors Roundup: What We Expect for iPhone 6
  The iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c have only been out for a few months, but attention is already turning to Apple's plans for the next generation of iPhone, likely to appear in late 2014. Rumors have indicated that a larger, perhaps curved, display may be one of the key features of the next iPhone, which is generally being referred to as the "iPhone 6" by the rumor community. Rumors about the iPhone 6 and a potential successor to the iPhone 5c will undoubtedly escalate in the coming months, so MacRumors has put together a new iPhone 6 roundup to help readers stay on top of the latest reports. As with our other roundups, the goal of our iPhone 6 roundup is to simply answer the question of "What are you expecting" for Apple's next iPhone at any given time. That opinion is certain to change over time as new rumors are revealed, and our roundup will be updated regularly to reflect the latest rumors. All of our roundups continue to be accessible through a dedicated index page showing a full list of our available roundups ordered by most recently updated, as well as directly through the "Roundups" tab in the navigation bar on all MacRumors pages. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Apple Asking for $16M in Legal Fees After Samsung Patent Victory, Has Paid Lawyers More Than $60M
  Following the second victory in its long-running patent lawsuit with Samsung, Apple has filed a motion asking the judge to order Samsung to pay nearly $16 million in legal fees (via Dan Levine). Apple says that its lawsuit with Samsung is "an exceptional case" and that there was overwhelming evidence that "Samsung deliberately copied every aspect of Apple's revolutionary iPhone product". After juries awarded Apple $930 million in damages, the company argues that it "should not be forced to bear the full expense of prosecuting its claims". In its filing, Apple says it expects to pay more than $60 million to Morrison & Foerster, its outside counsel, over the course of the case through the end of the retrial. However, that $60 million calculation, and Apple's motion request, are calculated only for "timekeepers who billed more than $100,000 for work on Apple's claims against Samsung". Further, Apple is only requesting reimbursement for one-third of its calculated billings, or $16 million. By seeking only one-third of its fees from timekeepers who billed more than $100,000, Apple ensures that it is not recovering fees for its unsuccessful claims concerning the unregistered combination iPhone trade dress or for tablet design. First, the only differences between the unregistered iPhone 3G trade dress on which Apple did prevail and the combination iPhone trade dress is that the latter lacks two of the iPhone 3G trade dress elements (a metallic bezel around the flat clear surface and a row of small dots on the display screen) and also covers “neutral (black or white) borders” rather than the black borders covered by the 3G trade dress. Thus, the same work would have been required to address the iPhone 3G trade dress even if the combination trade dress had not been at issue. The only possible additional work required by having the combination trade dress in the case was whatever might have been required to address "neutral (black or white) borders" in addition to "black borders." Apple’s request for only one-third of fees from timekeepers who billed more than $100,000 ensures that any such minimal fees are not included in its request.A rumor from the beginning of 2012 suggested that Apple had spent in excess of $100 million in legal fees in its first set of claims against HTC. With Apple holding nearly $150 billion in cash, and with so much at stake, even these incredibly large billings are unlikely to slow the flurry of international patent lawsuits. Separately, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of a lawsuit to determine what kinds of software are eligible for patent protection. Oral arguments in the case, Alice Corporation v. CLS Bank should be heard in March with a ruling expected by the end of June. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Early Experiences with Apple Retail Store iBeacon Technology Prove Mixed
  Earlier today, Apple launched its "iBeacon" initiative in its U.S. retail stores, allowing users of the company's iPhone app to opt in to receiving location-specific notifications and access to other information while browsing in the stores. Following the announcement of the new system, ISI analyst Brian Marshall headed over to Apple's Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan for a first-hand look, and he came away with a "mixed-to-slightly negative" impression, failing to meet his expectations. While the system conveniently notified Marshall while he was browsing accessories that he could use the EasyPay self-checkout feature of the iPhone app to automatically charge products up to $200 to his iTunes Store account, Marshall criticized several other aspects of Apple's iBeacon implementation.We believe iBeacon will become an attractive marketing/sales tool over time, but were somewhat disappointed by the lack of functionality and customer experience on Day 1. Just as the company did with point-of-sale (PoS) purchase systems using iPhone/iPad in the past, AAPL will likely use its own stores to showcase the benefits/possibilities of the new technology going forward.Among Marshall's specific complaints: - Multiple identical notifications: When browsing iPhones in the store, a notification popped up offering to check upgrade eligibility. After checking his upgrade and trade-in situation, Marshall returned to browsing iPhones and a few minutes later the same upgrade notification popped up on his iPhone. - Incomplete coverage: Marshall received no notifications for iPad or Mac products when standing at those stations, although he did receive additional iPhone upgrade eligibility notifications while browsing iPad and Mac. Marshall also apparently hoped that the system would be used to offer special deals or promotions, but no such notifications were offered. As many customers already know, however, Apple's in-store deals are fairly rare and outside of special events like Black Friday are typically limited to third-party products such as printers. With Apple's implementation of iBeacon only just now rolling out, there are certainly opportunities for improvements in the future, but some users may find themselves underwhelmed with the initial experience. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Supply Chain Performance Points to Blockbuster Holiday Quarter for Apple
  In a new research note published today, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White shares data from his "Apple Barometer" for the month of November, with strong increases hinting that Apple will see blockbuster performance for the holiday quarter. White's metric, which tracks performance of Taiwanese suppliers known to be heavily reliant on Apple, has seen record performances for both October and November.With approximately 97% of the sales now accounted for in our Apple Barometer, we estimate sales in November rose by approximately 19-20% M/M and well above the November average of up 6% over the past eight years. As such, we believe this November will prove to be the strongest in the history of our Apple Barometer. [...] Given the combination of a record October performance and our expectation of record growth in November, our Apple Barometer is on track to report stronger-than- average seasonality in 4Q:13. If we assume an average MoM sales decline of 10% in December, we estimate our Apple Barometer will grow sales by 28% QoQ in 4Q:13, or more than double the average increase of 13% over the past eight years.White attributes the strong performance by Apple's supply chain to robust demand for Apple products such as the new iPhone and iPad models, with an iPhone production boost to support a launch on China Mobile in the coming weeks perhaps also contributing. Investor confidence in Apple is also increasing as the company appears poised for a strong holiday quarter. After falling significantly from late 2012 through the early part of this year, Apple's stock has been rebounding during the second half of 2013, setting a new 52-week high yesterday following a roughly 10% surge over the past two weeks. Like White's reasoning for strong Apple Barometer performance, the recent Apple stock spike has coincided with evidence of strong consumer interest in the company's products for the holiday shopping season, as well as the potential culmination of an iPhone deal with China Mobile, the world's largest carrier. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Images of Razer 'Kazuyo' Game Controller Leaked
  An image of what might be a MFi (Made for iPhone) controller from computer peripheral manufacturer Razer has been leaked on Twitter by @evleaks, who has been known to provide reliable images in the past. The enclosure controller, reportedly named the Razer Kazuyo, appears to wrap around the iPhone, adding face buttons, shoulder buttons, and a directional pad on either side of the phone. This layout is similar to other iOS game controllers such as the Logitech Powershell and the MOGA Ace Power, which were both released in last month. Unlike both controllers however, the Razer Kazuyo includes the ability to tilt the iPhone up, allowing for better viewing angles and easier access. It is not known when exactly the Razer Kazuyo will be released, but it is likely that it will be compatible with a growing list of iOS games upon availability. Currently, games such as Dead Trigger 2, Asphalt 8: Airborne, and Bastion offer controller support, with additional developers pledging to build controller support into their apps now that controller hardware is available to consumers. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Apple Updates Apple Store App with Support for iBeacon Systems
  The Associated Press is reporting that Apple will be launching iBeacon technology in its 254 U.S. retail stores today, with Apple quietly launching an over-the-air update to its Apple Store app to support iBeacon receivers in its retail locations. The official move follows a report last month stating that iBeacon integration in Apple Stores would be enabled through an Apple Store app update, with the app now prompting users about receiving in-store notifications once opened. The Apple Store app also gives examples of what notifications can be pushed to the devices of in-store customers through the use of iBeacons, such as messages about picking up online orders and store events. Apple reportedly demonstrated the use of iBeacon systems to the Associated Press in its Fifth Avenue store this week prior to its official rollout today: The company demonstrated the technology to The Associated Press this week at its busy, 24-hour Fifth Avenue store in New York City. At this particular store, Apple has installed about 20 iBeacon transmitters, some of which are simply iPhones and iPads, which come with the capability as part of the iOS 7 mobile software released in September. The transmitters use Bluetooth wireless technology to sense your exact location. That's not possible with GPS, which don't work well indoors and aren't good at distinguishing between locations that are just a few feet apart. First introduced at WWDC, iBeacon microlocation APIs are designed to access location data through the Bluetooth Low Energy profile on iOS devices, interacting with physical transmitters. The technology first appeared earlier this year, when Major League Baseball announced plans to begin incorporating Apple's iBeacon APIs into its MLB.com At the Ballpark app to create interactive experiences within stadiums in the near future. The various implementations of iBeacon systems by different companies has also picked up throughout the past few weeks, with some companies such as London based digital publishing startup Exact Editions using Apple's microlocation receivers to deliver location-based access to iOS Newsstand publications. Shopping app Shopkick and Macy's also teamed up for the first retail-based iBeacons last month, allowing customers to find location-specific deals, discounts, and recommendations in the Shopkick app while in a participating Macy's store. According to an official support page, Apple's iBeacon technology works with Bluetooth capable iOS devices running iOS 7 including the iPhone 4S or later, iPad (3rd generation) or later, iPad mini or later, and the iPod Touch (5th generation) or later. The Apple Store app is a free download for iOS devices, but the new functionality does not require users to download an updated version from the App Store. [Direct Link: iPhone/iPad] Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• iPhone 5s Now Shipping Within 1 to 3 Days in U.S. and Several Other Countries
  Apple is continuing to see improved iPhone 5s supplies ahead of the holidays, with shipping estimates from the online Apple Store now ranging from one to three days for all carriers, colors, and capacities in North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. The GSM-compatible SIM-free iPhone still has a shipping estimate of 1–2 weeks. Following the launch of the iPhone 5s, supplies were significantly constrained, especially for silver and gold models. Shipping estimates slipped to 7 to 10 days just hours after the phone was released and then slipped further to two to three weeks for an extended period of time. Just over two weeks ago, shipping estimates were at three to five days in North America and Asia Pacific, while European and Middle Eastern Apple Stores still listed shipping estimates of one to two weeks. According to reports, Apple has significantly ramped up its iPhone 5s production over the course of the last month while cutting back on iPhone 5c production, which has resulted in improved supplies in time for the Christmas holiday. In-store supplies of the iPhone 5s have also become far more plentiful, with all colors and capacities of the phone available for immediate pickup in many brick and mortar Apple Stores across the United States. Earlier this week, Apple released shipping deadlines to ensure customers receive gifts by December 24. According to the guidelines, the iPhone 5s must be ordered by midnight December 12 to arrive ahead of Christmas. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Apple's App Store Usage Numbers Suggest iOS 7 Adoption at 74%
  After less than three months on the market, iOS 7 is installed on some 74 percent of devices connecting to the App Store, according to a chart posted on Apple's App Store support page for developers. The company puts iOS 6 adoption at 22 percent, and older OS versions at just 4 percent. The data from Apple is likely the most accurate adoption data we will see and is the most relevant for developers as its taken directly from the App Store. Chitika reported numbers nearly identical to Apple's earlier this week, showing 74.1 percent of devices using iOS 7. For its part, Mixpanel's OS adoption data, which records information from apps that use its analytics SDK, measured iOS 7 adoption at 78 percent as of December 1, with iOS 6 usage at just under 19 percent. For comparison, as noted by TechCrunch, the latest version of Android -- KitKat -- only reports a 1.1 percent adoption rate. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Demolition at New Apple Campus 2 Well Underway
  Construction on Apple's Campus 2 project is underway, with the company continuing its demolition of existing buildings on the site. Demolition began soon after Apple obtained its ancillary permits following an initial unanimous October approval of the project from the Cupertino City Council. Road work and construction signs surround the area where demolition has begun, with a clear view of the demolished buildings available from the nearby highway. Apple has also constructed a large wall around the construction area to avoid impacting nearby businesses and residents. Large bulldozers and other equipment are within the campus area, clearing debris, and several sidewalk areas have been closed. Visible demolition is taking place on the parcel of land that Apple purchased back in 2006, while the HP campus itself remains hidden behind walls and the tree line. The 50-acre prior purchase will make up the southern half of the campus that will house a massive parking structure while the main "Spaceship" building will be located in the northern portion of the property. Apple received final approval for its Apple Campus 2 project back in November, and following a unanimous vote, Cupertino Mayor Orrin Mahoney told the company to "go for it." Following the demolition of the existing buildings, phase 1 of the Apple Campus 2 construction will include the famous 2.8 million square foot ring-shaped main building with an underground parking facility capable of accommodating approximately 2,400 cars. A 100,000 square foot fitness center and a 120,000 square foot auditorium will also be built, and during a second phase of construction, Apple will build an additional 600,000 square feet worth of office, research, and development buildings. Apple hopes to finish the first phase of the Apple Campus 2 construction by 2016. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Apple's U.S. Smartphone Usage Share Remains Above 40%
  comScore today released the results of its monthly rolling survey of U.S. mobile phone users for the August-September 2013 period, showing that Apple's smartphone market share rose to 40.6 percent, compared to Android's 51.8 percent over the same period. For handset manufacturers, Apple was in first place by a wide margin, with second place Samsung holding 25.4 percent of the market. 149.2 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones (62.5 percent mobile market penetration) during the three months ending in October, up 4.1 percent since July. Apple ranked as the top OEM with 40.6 percent of U.S. smartphone subscribers (up 0.2 percentage points from July). Samsung ranked second with 25.4 percent market share (up 1.3 percentage points), while Motorola made the leap to third with 7 percent (up 0.1 percentage points). HTC and LG followed with 6.7 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively. Collectively, Apple and Google control 92.2 percent of the market, with BlackBerry and Symbian losing share, while Microsoft's Windows Phone platform gained slightly. comScore's data tracks installed user base rather than new handset sales, which means it is more reflective of real-world usage but slower to respond to shifting market trends than some other studies. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Some Users Unable to Log In to App Store Due to 'FATAL' Error [Updated]
  Some iTunes and App Store users are currently unable to log into their accounts using their Apple IDs, receiving a the following error when attempting to sign in: "FATAL::Unable to process your request. Please try again." The problem, which seems to have originated last night, is ongoing according to a thread on Apple's online Support Communities and multiple users on MacRumors' forums. The error occurs on both mobile devices and Macs and according to user reports, it is affecting the App Store, the Mac App Store, the iTunes Store, and the iBookstore. Apple’s System Status page has thus far not reported any issues, but according to one MacRumors reader who contacted AppleCare, there have been ongoing problems with Apple ID logins. Yesterday, some users were also getting a different error: "This Apple ID cannot be used for the iTunes Store. Please enter another Apple ID." The multipage thread on Apple’s support forums suggests that the issue is fairly widespread and there appears to be no fix available at this time. Multiple users have reported the issue to Apple and the company appears to be aware of the problem. Update: A number of users are reporting that the issue has been fixed and their accounts are now working normally again. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Apple's Stock Hits New 52-Week High as Roller Coaster 2013 Nears Its End
  With just a few weeks left in 2013, Apple's stock has finally rebounded to set a new 52-week high of $575.14 earlier today, although it has since pulled back by a few dollars. Apple's stock price peaked at just over $700 back in September 2012 before beginning a slide that took the price to under $400 by mid-April of this year. Apple's march back to yearly highs began in late June and has been a fairly steady climb since that time, although the last two weeks have been particularly good for the company's stock with a roughly 10% increase over that time as investors have been buoyed by new product releases and optimism surrounding Apple's Black Friday weekend sales. The company's stock price has undoubtedly also been boosted by a stock buyback program that has seen Apple take roughly 5% of its shares off of the market since late 2012. Some argue that Apple should be doing even more to repurchase its stock, believing it to remain undervalued and thus a cheap investment for the company. Just yesterday, activist investor Carl Icahn, who holds roughly $2.5 billion in Apple stock, announced that he has filed paperwork requesting that shareholders be included in an advisory vote encouraging the company to increase its buyback plan by an additional $50 billion. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Apple Files Patent for 'Smart Dock' with Voice Recognition for Devices
  Apple has filed for a United States patent detailing a smart dock that would allow users to access voice recognition functions such as Siri once a compatible device is connected, reports AppleInsider. The patent describes the dock as composing of multiple parts including a housing with a touch screen, integrated microphone, speakers and tactile buttons, along with a connector, wireless radio, and internal processor. In detail, a user would assign an audio prompt to the device upon setup such as a spoken word, phrase, or hand clap that would trigger the dock for use, and can also "unpair" voice recognition functions with another specific audio prompt. This allows for the dock to filter out ambient noise and allow a voice recognition feature like Siri to perform effectively when listening and responding to the user upon being given a task. For example, a user could create an event on a calendar by giving a verbal cue to the dock holding a connected device and speaking the appropriate prompt. In yet another embodiment, when the voice recognition mode of the portable electronic device is activated, the processor of the portable electronic device is further configured to receive voice input from the dock via the receptacle connector, the voice input including a use request. The processor retrieves the requested information and generates audio output including a response to the user request. The audio output is transmitted by the processor to the dock via the receptacle connector. The patent also details other embodiments of the invention where the signals between the dock and device can be transmitted wirelessly, potentially allowing for things such as AirPlay functionality. Also described are potential add-ons to the dock, including removable storage media such as an external hard drive, a GPS receiver, and environmental sensors such as an accelerometer or temperature sensor. It is not known if Apple will actually create a smart dock for its products, but the existence of a device as detailed in the patent would be of a new effort for the company. Currently, Apple sells docks for the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s, but both of them act merely as charging cradles for the devices. Other accessories such as the iHome family of clock-radios and speaker systems offer a bit more functionality, but very little in the context of deep interaction with a device. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• AT&T Launching New 'Mobile Share Value Plans' with Monthly Discount, 18-Month 'AT&T Next' Option
  AT&T has announced that it will be introducing new “Mobile Share Value Plans“ on December 8, which includes an option for no annual contracts that brings a $15 monthly discount to shared data customers that meet one of four requirements. The requirements include getting a smartphone for no down payment with the "AT&T Next" early upgrade program, bringing a separate off-contract device, purchasing a smartphone at full retail price, or switching to a new plan after a phone is no longer under contract. With the ‘No Annual Service Contract’ options, smartphone customers can save $15 a month on Mobile Share Value plans. 2 Customers can receive these monthly savings when they: Get a new smartphone for no down payment with AT&T Next; bring their own smartphone; purchase a smartphone at full retail price; or when their smartphone is no longer under contract and they switch to the new plans. All Mobile Share Value plan customers will benefit from shared data plus unlimited talk and text on their phones. Consumers will have the ability to connect up to 10 devices, including tablets and other wireless devices, while business customers will be able to connect up to 10, 15, 20 or 25 devices, depending on the plan. The carrier also announced that it is adding a new option for its "AT&T Next" early upgrade program on December 8, which allows a customer to get a new phone after 18 monthly payments and spreads total payments over the course of 26 months. This option joins the existing option of getting a new phone after 12 monthly payments and spreading payments over 20 months, and comes after the company cut pricing on the program in August after launching it in July. In October, AT&T ended traditional voice and data plans for new customers in favor of offering Mobile Share plans, which were first introduced during the summer of 2012. AT&T's Mobile Share plans offer unlimited talk and text while providing a pool of data that can be used across multiple devices, and include a monthly data cost and a per-device charge that ranges from $10 to $50 based on the type of device and the selected data plan. Data is priced between $20 and $500, for between 300MB and 50GB of usage. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Apple Tops Dell as Most Sought After Desktop Computers
  According to new a survey done by market research firm Parks Associates (via CNET), Apple desktops have become the most sought after desktop computers this holiday season, beating out longtime holiday desktop leader Dell and other competitors such as HP and Acer. This marks the first time that Apple products have taken the top spot in the history of the survey, as the company was ranked 3rd in the category in 2011 and 2nd in 2012. The Apple TV also remained at the top spot for the most sought after streaming media device, topping the Roku TV. “Apple topped the list of intended brands for desktop purchases for the first time this year,” said John Barrett, director, Consumer Analytics, Parks Associates. “In 2011 and 2012, Dell was the top desktop brand, but Apple has displaced it, making Apple now the most popular brand across even more key CE categories.” Apple quietly updated the iMac this past September with Intel's Haswell processors and faster PCI-Express based flash storage, which followed a major design revision to the desktop in 2012 that brought a thinner and lighter design. The company also currently sells its lower-priced Mac Mini and is getting ready to launch the high-end Mac Pro sometime in December, with a German retailer stating a possible availability date of Monday, December 16. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Apple Finally Signs Deal With China Mobile for December iPhone Launch
  Apple and China Mobile have finally reached a deal that will see the world's biggest mobile carrier offering the iPhone on its network, reports The Wall Street Journal. China Mobile, which has more than 700 million subscribers, is expected to begin selling the iPhone around December 18 following a China Mobile conference in Guangzhou where the company is also expected to debut its 4G network. Earlier today, the Chinese government finally granted TD-LTE licenses to China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, the country's three major carriers. China Mobile is one of the last major carriers in the world that does not currently offer the iPhone, and the deal could bring a huge boost in sales to Apple. Currently, only China's smaller carriers, China Telecom and China Unicom, offer the iPhone on their 3G networks.A deal with China Mobile would give Apple access to a subscriber base that is seven times the size of Verizon Wireless, the U.S.'s largest carrier. Greater China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, is Apple's third biggest market after the U.S. and Europe in terms of revenue.Apple and China Mobile have been in talks for several years, and CEO Tim Cook traveled to China to meet with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua back in July where the two made headway on a potential deal. News of a finalized deal has been expected since September, as the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c were the first iPhones supporting China Mobile's TD-LTE standard. Apple also received the final license it needed to operate on China Mobile’s wireless standard back in September following the launch of the newest iPhones. Update: A China Mobile spokesperson tells Reuters that the two companies are "still negotiating"."We are still negotiating with Apple, but for now we have nothing new to announce," China Mobile spokeswoman Rainie Lei said, declining to elaborate. Apple also declined comment. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization    
• Carl Icahn Presses for Apple Shareholder Vote on Increased Stock Buyback
  Activist investor Carl Icahn has filed paperwork to ask Apple shareholders to recommend a $50 billion share repurchase to Apple's board of directors. The request is what's called a precatory proposal, meaning even if a majority of shares vote in favor, it would not be binding on Apple's management. In an interview with Time, Icahn said he believes CEO Tim Cook and Apple's management team are doing a good job, but he believes the company should be spending more of its capital on its own shares. For his part, Icahn says he doesn’t consider his proposal an indictment of Apple CEO Tim Cook, or the company’s management, per se. "Tim Cook is doing a good job with the business,” Icahn tells TIME. "I think he’s good whether he does what I want or not." But, says Icahn, referring to the company’s huge cash stockpile, "Apple is not a bank." [...] I’m not against the management of this company. But they’ve got too much money on their balance sheet."Icahn is able to withdraw his proposal before the shareholder's meeting if he no longer wishes to press the issue, either because Apple agrees with him or he believes a potential proxy fight is no longer in his favor. If not, Apple would likely recommend investors vote against the proposal, even though it isn't binding. Since he first disclosed his position in Apple back in August, Icahn has been vocal about asking the company to increase its buyback at the same time he has dramatically increased his stake in the company. Apple, for its part, announced a significant increase in its capital return program back in April of 2013, and management pledged to reexamine its share repurchase and dividend programs in the first half of 2014. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization • Amazon Adds Cloud Player for iOS Integration with BMW and MINI Vehicles    
• Search and Social: How Apple Might Utilize Its $200 Million Topsy Purchase
  Following Apple's $200 million purchase of social analytics firm Topsy earlier this week, a wide variety of analysts and pundits have been considering what Apple might do with the company. More than anything, Topsy is a search and analytics company, holding a number of search-related patents that could be implemented directly into the App or iTunes Stores to improve searches and discovery. One patent helps rank search results based on reputation and influence, which could be used to help higher quality apps rise to the top of App Store search results, for example. Another patent details the return of search results to include popular items related to a specific query on a social media site. While not directly related, a similar technology could be incorporated into App Store search. For example, a user searching for Major League Baseball apps could be linked to other trending sports apps for the NFL or NBA. Twitter considered buying Topsy as well because, according to AllThingsD, "Topsy’s search technology and tools were even more effective than Twitter’s own in-house search tools" but Twitter ultimately decided to pass on the purchase. Apple has purchased companies in the past to boost its search results on the App Store, most notably Chomp, acquired by the company last year. Apple has also been focusing on increasing its advertising revenue in recent years, first with iAd's in-app advertising, and more recently with iTunes Radio. Another Topsy patent relates to the display of certain advertisements to users based on an "influence score" that helps determine which advertisements are shown to a particular user. As for what Apple will do with Topsy, TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino is thinking along these same lines. If I had to hazard a guess, this might be related to Apple building out the relevancy engine of its App and iTunes Stores. Adding social signals to the search algorithms of its stores could help to improve the relevance of search results and help Apple surface apps that are hotter and more interesting to users. Tracking app trends across social networks would allow them to fine tune categories and collections of apps, and surface apps that are gaining steam more quickly. Pulling the thread out a bit further, it's possible that Apple could even use the data from your Twitter feeds to recommend apps on a more personal basis, rather than ‘generically' to everyone. Apple has done little of this kind of personalized recommendation work to this point, but there's always a first time for everything.The Wall Street Journal concurs, saying that "Topsy's insights could be useful in several Apple services, including the iTunes media store, Siri voice assistant or iAd advertising platform." Another pundit, Azeem Azhar, argued on LinkedIn that Topsy's search platform could be part of the foundation for an Apple move against Google in search. The company already built a mapping app, displacing Google Maps in one of the iPhone's most fundamental features -- and an investment in search could be a logical place to spend some of Apple's enormous cash pile. Wouldn't it be smart for Apple to deploy Topsy's search infrastructure as the search layer for iOS? Working to index both the social Web, but also the best bits of the Web that power Siri and Apple Maps, reduce the reliance on Google and reduce the flow of advertising dollars to the big G. [...] These are additional signals that could make the experience of search on iOS really different to the experience on Google. A search which encapsulates data on the web, databases of businesses, real, fresh social signals and purchase preference data from 900m consumers. All accessible from my iOS device, connected back to my Apple ID (and the credit card attached to it).Topsy has full access to the Twitter 'firehose', meaning its technology can be used to deal with enormous amounts of data and its search engine technology is designed specifically for that. It's possible that Topsy's search engine could be used by Apple for more than just search, however. The company could combine iCloud, App Store purchase data, reviews, social network activity and more to get a better idea of their customer's activity for both advertising and search purposes. While the purchase of Topsy is notable, the $200 million acquisition accounts for some 1/750th of Apple's current $150 billion in cash and will likely be the one of many acquisitions that Apple makes during fiscal 2014. Last year, in fiscal 2013, Apple made a total of 15 acquisitions of varying sizes over the course of the year. In its public financial calls with analysts, Apple executives have repeatedly said that a number of new hardware, software and services products are in its pipeline for release in calendar 2014 and beyond. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Google Wallet for iOS Updated With Single Sign-On, Card Adding via Camera • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization • Amazon Adds Cloud Player for iOS Integration with BMW and MINI Vehicles    
• German Retailer Begins Taking Mac Pro Pre-Orders, Claims December 16 Availability [Updated]
  At its October media event, Apple narrowed down the launch window for its redesigned Mac Pro to "December", but with the month having already begun the company has yet to announce a more specific launch date. "Jetzt vorbestellen" = "Pre-order now" German retailer Conrad Electronic has, however, now begun taking pre-orders [Google Translate] for the two stock configurations of the new Mac Pro, citing availability of Monday, December 16. It is unclear what Conrad is basing its availability citation on, but it appears to be the first specific claim of a launch date from a retailer, something many potential customers have been waiting for. Availability of the new Mac Pro is likely being constrained by new Intel Ivy Bridge-EP processors that were officially launched in September but which have apparently been somewhat slow to ramp up production. "Available from December 16, 2013" Holiday shopping considerations would be less of a factor for the new Mac Pro than for most of Apple's other products, given the professional focus of the machine, but the end-of-the-month holiday season could present some logistical issues for Apple given employee vacations and other factors. Also unclear is what kind of volumes the new Mac Pro will ship in at launch. If supplies are tightly constrained as it appears they may be, shipping dates may quickly slip into early 2014 with only a small number of units making their way to retailers and customers before the end of the year. Update: French site MacGeneration posted a Tweet earlier this week claiming that delivery to customers may come on December 18, which could be in line with December 16 shipping availability. Update 2: Conrad has removed its Mac Pro pre-order pages. (Thanks, Martin!) Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization • Amazon Adds Cloud Player for iOS Integration with BMW and MINI Vehicles • Apple's Second Dutch Store Opens in Haarlem on December 7    
• OS X Mavericks 10.9.1 Beta Seeded to AppleCare Employees
  Following the seeding of the latest OS X Mavericks 10.9.1 beta to developers yesterday, Apple has now distributed the latest build of the OS to AppleCare employees, reports 9to5Mac. This sort of internal release typically signals an imminent public release of the software, assuming the OS X development team does not find any mission critical bugs in final testing. The update includes the following fixes: - Improved support for Gmail in OS X Mail, and fixes for users with custom Gmail settings - Improves the reliability of Smart Mailboxes and search in Mail - Fixes an issue that prevented contact groups from working properly in Mail - Resolves an issue that prevented VoiceOver from speaking sentences that contain emoji - Updates Shared Links periodically when open in the Safari SidebarThe first beta of 10.9.1 was seeded to developers back in mid-November following a public update specifically to address issues with Mavericks' Mail.app and Gmail. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Apple Store iOS App Updated With Free Holiday Playlist • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization • Amazon Adds Cloud Player for iOS Integration with BMW and MINI Vehicles • Apple's Second Dutch Store Opens in Haarlem on December 7    
• iPad Air Receives 50% Boost in Activations Over Black Friday Weekend
  A number of retailers have noted that the iPad Air was a top seller over the Black Friday shopping weekend, and new data from Localytics indeed shows that to have been the case. Localytics, which tracks the number of new devices showing up through its analytics network of over 20,000 apps and over one billion devices, saw a 51% increase in new iPad Air devices compared to the previous weekend. The first-generation iPad mini also performed well, seeing 28% growth compared to the previous weekend, while the iPhone 5c came in third with 26% growth. All three products were available in significant quantities for the Black Friday weekend and in many cases saw steep discounts. Products with tighter supplies and lower discounts, such as the Retina iPad mini and the iPhone 5s, unsurprisingly saw smaller spikes in activations.According to Localytics’ data, a whopping 51% more new iPad Air devices were seen than the previous week. This is due to a combination of factors, including Apple’s promotion of giving gift cards with purchases of the iPad Air and iPad Mini (but not iPad Mini 2nd gen) devices. This, combined with a smaller base of iPad Air devices and the novelty of the iPad Air (released on November 1st) resulted in the iPad Air dominating on Black Friday weekend. Apple’s older iPad Mini model finished second, and the iPhone 5c took third.Data from Localytics of course does not include devices purchased over the Black Friday weekend but set aside as future gifts, suggesting that the spike in sales was likely even higher than shown in the data. While Apple's iPad Air has seen strong sales in part due to its recent introduction and dramatically thinner and lighter design, the device has also benefited from a general surge in popularity for tablets, with 39% of consumer electronics shoppers over the Black Friday weekend indicating that they planned to purchase a tablet. Given the iPad's market-leading position and plentiful supplies of the iPad Air, it is unsurprising that the device saw strong sales over the weekend. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization • Amazon Adds Cloud Player for iOS Integration with BMW and MINI Vehicles • Apple's Second Dutch Store Opens in Haarlem on December 7 • China Mobile Subsidary Launches Reservation System for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c    
• iBeacon Technology Tapped to Unlock Location-Specific Newsstand Content on iOS Devices
  Exact Editions, a London based digital publishing startup, has begun implementing Apple's iBeacon microlocation receivers to deliver location-based access to iOS Newsstand publications, reports TechCrunch. The iBeacon receivers are used as a part of the company's “ByPlace“ service, which can trigger location specific publications and other content once an iPhone or iPad is nearby. In the first implementation of the program, patrons of Bar Kick in Shoreditch, UK can access soccer magazine "When Saturday Comes" and style magazine "Dazed & Confused" free of charge while at the bar, with the apps reverting to regular subscription status once out of range of Bar Kick's iBeacons. A deployable iBeacon receiverExact Editions expects that selling subscriptions attached to iBeacon delivery will be particularly attractive to a magazine with a niche audience, and one that will be particularly associated with corresponding venues. The principal advantages for the venues are as follows: 1. Suitable content can be selected (eg film magazines for a cinema wifi zone, fashion magazines for an arty venue, finance or business magazines for a location in the City or in an airline lounge etc.) 2. The venue can choose its content to suit its audience, and the iBeacon will generate statistics which indicate which magazines are most used and when. 3. There will be discreet but noticeable in-app branding for the venue, through the use of ‘courtesy panes’ within the app, stating the sponsorship eg “When Saturday Comes brought to you by courtesy of Bar Kick”. 4. As the venues get statistics on the usage of the apps that they host, and as they get in-app credit for the use of those apps, they will be able to measure to an extent the degree to which freely magazine apps generate repeat business. The customer who really enjoys his app and walks out with the app synced to his iPhone has a reason to buy a subscription in iTunes, but he also has a reason to return to the bar where he got some free access. First introduced at WWDC, iBeacon microlocation APIs are designed to access location data through the Bluetooth Low Energy profile on iOS devices, interacting with physical transmitters. The technology first appeared earlier this year, when Major League Baseball announced plans to begin incorporating Apple's iBeacon APIs into its MLB.com At the Ballpark app to create interactive experiences within stadiums in the near future. Apple is also said to be incorporating iBeacon technology into its own Apple Store app and retail stores, providing customers with enhanced location-based product information and in-store services. Recently, shopping app Shopkick and Macy's teamed up for the first retail-based iBeacons, allowing customers to find location-specific deals, discounts, and recommendations in the Shopkick app while in a participating Macy's store. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Olloclip Releases New 3-in-1 Macro Photo Lens for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 • iOS Media Player 'Infuse' Upgraded With New Design, Network Streaming and More • Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization • Amazon Adds Cloud Player for iOS Integration with BMW and MINI Vehicles • Apple's Second Dutch Store Opens in Haarlem on December 7 • China Mobile Subsidary Launches Reservation System for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c    
• Some Apple Retail Stores Start Price Matching iPad Air and iPhone 5c [Updated]
  Multiple Apple Stores in the United States have started price matching the iPhone 5c and the iPad Air, reports 9to5Mac. On those particular devices, some Apple Stores will match the prices of brick and mortar retailers that have been selling the products below retail price. Walmart, for example, sells the entry-level 16 GB iPad Air for $479, a $20 discount off of the standard retail price Apple offers. MacRumors heard conflicting reports of Apple Stores price matching discounts over Black Friday, but following the major shopping holiday, it appears retail employees may have been given more flexibility when it comes to price matching options. Released in September and October respectively, both the iPhone 5c and the iPad Air have been widely available since the launch, while supplies of the iPhone 5s and the Retina iPad mini have been far more constrained, which explains why Apple is not offering price matching on those particular products at this time. Apple's price matching policies vary from store to store, and some stores may opt out of price matching all together. Price matching only applies to physical stores and is limited to a 10 percent total discount, which means customers can still find a better deal elsewhere in some cases, especially when it comes to the deep discounts offered on the iPhone 5c. Update: According to a retail employee, Apple now has an official policy on price matching, which allows specialists to price match iPhones, iPads, and Macs, giving up to 10 percent off on products without authorization. Specialists are also allowed to give business customers up to 20% off a non-Apple accessory when purchased with an Apple product via special order. Currently, the iPhone 5s and the Retina iPad mini are excluded from price matching. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store • Realmac's New 'Ember' for iOS Syncs Images via iCloud for Easy Sharing and Organization • Amazon Adds Cloud Player for iOS Integration with BMW and MINI Vehicles • Apple's Second Dutch Store Opens in Haarlem on December 7 • China Mobile Subsidary Launches Reservation System for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c • Refurbished Late 2013 27-Inch iMac Models Now Available in Apple's Online Store • Popular Messaging App 'WhatsApp' Updated With iOS 7 Redesign • 'Paper' App Updated With Support for Pencil Stylus, Pre-Orders to Begin Shipping Soon    

• MacUpdate Winter Bundle: 10 Apps for $39.99, Including 6-Month BackBlaze and Anonymizer Subscriptions
  A few times a year, MacRumors partners with MacUpdate to promote their Mac application bundle deal. Their latest bundle delivers 10 Mac applications for $39.99 (a $360 value if all purchased separately). Notably, it includes 6-month memberships to Anonymizer, a VPN service, and BackBlaze, an online backup provider. The full bundle includes (retail value in parenthesis): - Anonymizer (6-months) ($49.99) - A VPN service for ensuring anonymity online. Unlimited bandwidth for Mac and iOS. - BackBlaze (6-months) ($30.00) - Cloud backup solution for Mac users. Unlimited bandwidth, unlimited storage. - ExpanDrive 3 ($39.95) - Connect to and work with FTP, SFTP, Google Drive, and Dropbox as if they were local volumes. - Paragon 2-in-1 Bundle ($29.95) - Connect NTFS-formatted Windows drives to your Mac & HFS-formatted Mac drives to Windows PCs. - iStopMotion 3 ($49.99) - Stop-motion animation tool for Mac, suitable for amateurs or professionals. - Labels & Addresses ($49.99) - Powerful label printing tool. - Mail Designer ($34.99) - Create beautiful email stationery templates. - MailHub ($19.00) - Powerful Mail.app enhancer. - Cocktail 7 ($19.00) - General purpose maintenance and optimization utility for OS X. - Washing Machine ($29.99) - The perfect compliment to Cocktail; includes additional optimization and cleaning features for your Mac. The first 5,000 buyers also receive these two apps: - Flame Painter 2 ($29.99) - Innovative and unique painting app. - IconBox 2 ($14.99) - Search, download, and organize icons, then use them to customize your Mac's appearance. Buyers are also able to upgrade to family licenses of both Cocktail and Washing Machine at checkout. All apps together are being sold for $39.99 until December 17. MacRumors is a promotional partner with MacUpdate. Bundle sales through these links benefit MacRumors financially, and provide a way for readers to directly support this site.    
• Apple Seeds OS X 10.9.1 Build 13B40 to Developers
  Apple today released an updated version of OS X 10.9.1 for developers, which has a build number of 13B40 . Today's release comes nearly two weeks after the second 10.9.1 beta, which had a build number of 13B35. Last week’s build included several fixes for Gmail in OS X Mail, along with improvements to the Smart Mailbox functionality. It also included bug fixes for emojis when used with VoiceOver, and included an update to the Shared Links tab when the Safari Sidebar is open. Build 13B40 includes the same fixes. Registered developers can download the update through the software update tool in the Mac App Store.    
• Refurbished Late 2013 21.5-Inch iMac Debuts in Apple's Online Store
  Yesterday, Apple began offering refurbished models of the current 27-inch iMac in its online store for the first time, and while two of the three available models quickly sold out, the company is clearly working to expand availability by adding not only another 27-inch configuration but also a pair of 21.5-inch models today. The newly listed models, all of which ship in 1-5 business days, include: - 21.5-inch iMac 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with 8 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive, and Intel Iris Pro graphics: $1099 ($200 savings) - 21.5-inch iMac 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with 8 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M: $1269 ($230 savings) - 27-inch iMac 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with 8 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 775M graphics: $1699 ($300 savings)    
• Apple's Second Dutch Store Opens in Haarlem on December 7
  Since March 2012, Apple's stunning Amsterdam store has been the company's only retail location in Netherlands, but that will change this Saturday, December 7 when the company's Haarlem store opens for business in the city's main shopping district. Haarlem retail store on December 1 (Source: @pbastowski) The new store is only roughly 20 km from the existing Amsterdam store, leaving the rest of the country still poorly served by Apple retail stores. Apple is however working on a location in The Hague, with Apple having posted job listings for both the Haarlem and Hague locations back in April of this year.    
• Refurbished Late 2013 27-Inch iMac Models Now Available in Apple's Online Store
  Apple today added three separate models of the current 27-inch iMac to its online store for refurbished products, marking their first appearance in the store since their September launch. The three models, all of which are listed as shipping in 1-5 business days, include: - 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with 8 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M graphics: $1529 ($270 savings) - 3.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 with 8 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 775M graphics: $1869 ($330 savings) - 3.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 with 8 GB RAM, 3 TB Fusion drive, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M graphics: $2289 ($410 savings) Other configurations of the latest 27-inch iMac and all configurations of the current 21.5-inch iMac have yet to appear in Apple's refurbished store.    
• 'The Bureau: XCOM Declassified' Now Available for Mac
  The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a third-person shooter slightly similar to the popular Mac and iOS compatible title XCOM: Enemy Unknown, has launched for the Mac. Originally released for gaming consoles in August, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is set in late 1962 at the height of the Cold War as players take controller of special agent William Carter and his two squad members to defend humanity. The title's gameplay focuses on a mix of shooting and squad-based tactics, as Carter and his personnel can use special abilities in battle against various types of alien enemies. The year is 1962. JFK is President and the Cold War has the nation gripped by fear – but a far more powerful and insidious enemy than communism is threatening America. Known only to a select few, a top-secret government unit called The Bureau begins investigating and concealing a series of mysterious attacks by an otherworldly enemy. As special agent William Carter, call the shots, pull the trigger and lead your squad in a gripping third-person tactical shooter set within a high-stakes, covert war to defend humanity. The Bureau’s mission is clear – survive, adapt and overcome the enemy threat to protect the citizens from the truth. The Bureau: XCOM Declassified can be downloaded for $34.99 from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]    
• iWork for iOS and Mac Updated, Keynote Gains New Transitions
  Apple has pushed new updates for its iWork suite of productivity apps on both the Mac and iOS. For iOS, Keynote saw the biggest improvements, gaining a number of new transitions, in addition to Apple's standard "stability improvements and bug fixes". Numbers and Pages each received unnamed stability improvements. On the Mac, Keynote gained the same new transitions as on iOS, while Numbers and Pages received new toolbar customization options and other bug fixes. What’s New in Keynote for Mac Version 6.0.1 • Customize the toolbar with your most important tools • New transitions including Blinds, Color Planes, Confetti, Fall, Perspective, Pivot, and Swoosh • New builds including Blinds, Fly in, Fly out, Orbital, Pivot, Scale Big, and Swoosh • Stability improvements and bug fixes What’s New in Pages for Mac Version 5.0.1 • Customize the toolbar with your most important tools • Center and edge guides are on by default • Stability improvements and bug fixes What’s New in Numbers for Mac Version 3.0.1 • Customize the toolbar with your most important tools • Window size and placement preserved on Save • Set default zoom in Preferences • Stability improvements and bug fixes -- What's New in Keynote for iOS Version 2.0.1 • New transitions including Blinds, Color Planes, Confetti, Fall, Perspective, Pivot, and Swoosh • New builds including Blinds, Fly in, Fly out, Orbital, Pivot, Scale Big, and Swoosh • Stability improvements and bug fixes What's New in Pages for iOS Version 2.0.1 • Stability improvements and bug fixes What's New in Numbers for iOS Version 2.0.1 • Stability improvements and bug fixesThe apps were last updated in October when updated versions of all the apps were released for iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks. Users who own previous versions of iWork on Mac or iOS get these updates for free, as do users buying new Mac and iOS devices. For users with older devices that don't own the apps, they are available for $19.99/each on the Mac App Store and $9.99/each on the iOS App Store. Pages for Mac - [Mac App Store] Numbers for Mac - [Mac App Store] Keynote for Mac [Mac App Store] Pages for iOS - [App Store] Numbers for iOS - [App Store] Keynote for iOS - [App Store]    
• Apple Releases AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule Firmware Update 7.7.2
  Apple today released AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule Firmware Update 7.7.2 for AirPorts with 802.11ac. The update includes several different bug fixes, repairing an issue preventing a USB hard drive connected to an AirPort Extreme from appearing as an available disk and fixing an issue that could cause an intermittent loss in WAN connectivity. The update is recommended for all models of the AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule that support 802.11ac Wi-Fi.    
• LaCie Adds 2TB Option to Its 'Rugged' Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drives
  LaCie has added a new entry to its Rugged series of portable storage drives, bringing a two terabyte 5400RPM option to its Thunderbolt/USB3 series. Last year, LaCie rolled out its first portable Thunderbolt drives with a maximum of 1TB hard drive capacity. LaCie announced that its award–winning Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt™ Series hard drive is now available in a 2TB version. With double the storage of its predecessor, the new LaCie Rugged is the highest capacity bus–powered storage solution with Thunderbolt technology on the market. Plus, the 2TB model achieves speeds up to 127MB/s, a 15 percent increase from the previous version. With these speeds users can transfer 750 RAW photos or one HD movie in less than one minute.While the 1 TB launched at $250 last year, the unit is now available from the Apple Online Store for $200 and the new 2TB is available for $300 from LaCie's website.    
• Apple Updates iMovie With Support for More Macs
  Apple has updated its iMovie consumer video editing software with support for additional, older Macs. Previously, iMovie didn't work on Macs that did not have an OpenCL-capable graphics card, including some configurations of the Mid/Late 2007 MacBook Pro, Mid 2007 and Early 2008 iMacs, and the Early 2008 Mac Pro. Now any Mac that works with OS X Mavericks can use iMovie. iMovie (2013): About video card compatibility Installing iMovie (2013) previously required a computer with an OpenCL-capable video card. This requirement was removed, and you can install iMovie version 10.0.1 on any Mac with OS X Mavericks.iMovie is a $14.99 download from the Mac App Store, though purchasers of new Macs receive the app for free. [Direct Link]    
• Tweetbot for Mac Updated With Scrolling Improvements, Replies From Notifications
  Tapbots has updated Tweetbot for Mac to version 1.4, adding both smoother scrolling and the ability to reply to tweets or DMs directly from notifications for users who are running OS X 10.9 Mavericks. The updated app also includes faster refreshing on lists and saved searches, as well as several different bug fixes and performance enhancements.What's New in Version 1.4 - Smoother Scrolling (10.9 only) - You can now reply to tweets/DMs from the notification itself (10.9 only) - Lists and saved searches now refresh every 2 minutes instead of 4 - Fixed the issue where you'd see 'Please enable wifi' when fetching your location while composing a tweet - Fixed the issue where searching your timeline, then scrolling to top then dismissing search field could move your timeline to the top - Fixed a potential issue where app could hang when using secondary windows - Fixed a few issues on 10.7 - Various bug fixes and improvements for 10.9Tweetbot can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $19.99. [Direct Link]    
• Adobe Offering Photoshop CC and Lightroom for $9.99/Month to All Users Through December 2 [Updated]
  In early September, Adobe rolled out the Photoshop Photography Program, a $9.99 per month subscription that included access to Photoshop Creative Cloud, Adobe Lightroom, 20GB of online storage and a membership to Adobe's Behance portfolio website. At the time, it was only available to current owners of Photoshop CS3 or higher, but the company is temporarily expanding the program to all purchasers, regardless of their previous purchase history with Photoshop. Anyone can get the membership for $9.99 per month -- albeit with a one-year plan -- if they sign up by December 2. For a limited time, you can join a special Creative Cloud plan. It includes access to Photoshop CC and Lightroom 5, plus feature updates and upgrades as they are available, 20GB of cloud storage for file sharing and collaboration, and a Behance ProSite. And it's just US $9.99/month when you sign up for a one-year plan, but you need to join by December 2, 2013. Questions? See our FAQ and terms.The Photoshop Photography Program is available through Adobe's website. The standard Photoshop Creative Cloud membership for new users is $19.99 per month, and does not include Lightroom. Update: Adobe has extended the promotion through December 8.    
• iBank 5 for Mac Adds Bill Pay, Streamlined Updating, and More
  IGG Software today announced the launch of iBank 5, the latest version of the popular personal finance app for Mac. iBank 5 adds a number of new features, including support for bill pay through most major U.S. banks, streamlined one-button updating for connected accounts and device syncing, and support for the subscription Direct Access transaction tracking service first introduced in iBank for iPad last year. Click for largerWith many significant new features and enhancements in iBank 5, those of interest to both current and future users include: — Bill pay iBank 5 will connect to most major U.S. banks from within the app, allowing users to schedule and send payments, track those transactions and categorize the expenses, all with easy in-app set-up and a few simple clicks. — One-button updating An Update Everything button on the iBank 5 toolbar imports all transactions from directly connected accounts, syncs devices, updates securities prices, and downloads current Direct Access data. Even users with many accounts, diverse investments and finances in multiple currencies may never have to enter another transaction manually. — Direct Access IGG’s exclusive subscription service for automatically updating transactions in all accounts was introduced last year with iBank for iPad. Now available in iBank 5, it connects to over 10,000 banks worldwide. In addition, a single Direct Access account allows subscribers to sync that data between iBank 5 for Mac and iBank for iPad 2. — Smarter budgeting With a streamlined design that offers daily progress updates at a glance, iBank’s new budgets automatically incorporate scheduled transactions such as recurring income and bills. Users can view historic budgets accurately even as adjustments are made to future budgets, and budgets will sync to iBank for iPad 2 as well.Click for larger The launch of iBank 5 for Mac comes just a month after the release of version 2 of iBank for iPad, which delivered a major interface refresh to adopt the iOS 7 design aesthetic while also adding several new tweaks and features. The pairing of iBank 5 for Mac and iBank for iPad 2 now allows for direct syncing of budgets and reminders between the platforms, while a single Direct Access subscription can be shared between the apps. iBank 5 for Mac launches today from the IGG online store and is priced at $59.99, with a 30-day free trial available for all users. Current users of iBank 4 may upgrade for $29.99 from within iBank 5. A Mac App Store release for iBank 5 is coming but timing has yet to be announced. IGG's optional Direct Access subscription service, which offers seamless automatic transaction updating from thousands of financial institutions worldwide, is available for $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year. iBank for iPad is available from the App Store for $19.99. [Direct Link]    
• Annual iTunes Connect Shutdown to Take Place December 21 to 27
  Apple today sent an email to developers notifying them iTunes Connect will be shut down during the Christmas holiday, from December 21 to December 27. The portal, which is used by Mac and iOS developers to manage apps, is closed by the company each year in order to give employees time off. In the email (via iMore), Apple reminds developers that they will be unable to submit new apps or in-app purchases, and recommends that no pricing changes or app updates be scheduled during the December 21 to 27 time period.iTunes Connect will be temporarily unavailable from Saturday, December 21, to Friday, December 27, 2013. During that time, iTunes Connect will not be accessible and you will not be able to submit any apps or In-App Purchases. Processing of any Newsstand Atom feeds will be delayed until after December 27. Sales and Trends reports via the Autoingestion tool will be available but may also be delayed. Also, you should not schedule any pricing changes or apps to go live between those dates. Pricing changes scheduled to take effect in that date range will cause the app to become unavailable for purchase until after December 27. Similarly, apps scheduled to go live during that range will not be released until after December 27. If you have any additional questions, use the Contact Us module on iTunes Connect.The iTunes Connect shutdown does not affect end users, but it will prevent new apps from being submitted and pricing changes from being implemented.    
• Apple Seeds Safari 7.0.1 and 6.1.1 with Autofill and PDF Improvements to Developers
  Apple today seeded a pair of Safari updates to developers, arriving as version 7.0.1 for OS X Mavericks users and version 6.1.1 for OS X Mountain Lion and Lion users. Developers are asked to focus their testing on the following areas: - General website compatibility - Accessibility - Viewing and annotating PDFs - Login autofill - Password autofill - Setting and using break points in Web Inspector Word of Apple testing the Safari updates internally first surfaced earlier this month.    
• Apple Expands List of Stores Open for Thanksgiving Day [Updated]
  As the beginning of the holiday shopping season grows closer in the United States, ifoAppleStore is reporting that several high-profile Apple Stores around the country will be be open on Thanksgiving Day in order to help drive sales for the company. The move marks an expansion from last year, when only a pair of tourist-heavy Apple Stores in Honolulu and Las Vegas were open on Thanksgiving, with Apple working on arrangements for employees to take on holiday shifts. Apple Retail Store located at the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii According to insiders, over the past few years several Apple retail market directors have been advocating for more stores to be open on Thanksgiving, believing the company was missing out on substantial holiday sales. Apparently their viewpoint prevailed this year, and at least 10 stores will be open some portion of Thanksgiving. Employee schedules to cover the holiday shifts were being prepared over the last two days. Other retailers have drawn criticism from employees for their open-on-Thanksgiving policy, saying it takes them away from their families on the holiday. However, the retailers have said they will try to accommodate employees with alternate time off. While the list of stores scheduled to be open on Thanksgiving may still expand, it currently includes the following locations: - Fifth Avenue (NYC) - West 14th Street (NYC) - North Michigan Avenue (Chicago) - Lincoln Road (Miami Beach) - San Francisco (Calif.) - Pioneer Place (Portland, Ore.) - The Grove (LA) - Third Street Promenade (Santa Monica) - Fashion Valley (San Diego) - Ala Moana (Honolulu) Apple's retail stores posted strong results last quarter, posting $4.5 billion in revenue during the timeframe. The company also traditionally begins the holiday shopping season at its locations with a one-day shopping event during the traditional Black Friday kickoff to the holiday shopping season, which falls this year on November 29. Big box retailers such as Target, Walmart and Best Buy have already advertised upcoming discounts on popular Apple products, with more deals expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Update: ifoAppleStore has updated its report to state that upon learning of the effort to open stores on Thanksgiving, Apple CEO Tim Cook has canceled it, citing the need for employees to be with their families.    
• Apple Under Investigation for $1.3 Billion Italian Tax Fraud
  Apple is under investigation by Italian authorities for alleged tax fraud, according to local reports and Reuters. The Government believes Apple may have hidden more than $1.3 billion from the Italian tax authority and investigators in that country have been aggressive with their tax probes in recent years. According to Reuters: The maker of the iPhone is the latest prominent corporation to become the target of a tax probe in Italy amid a global crackdown on tax cheating by multinationals. In Italy, where tax authorities have become more aggressive in their dealings with global companies, fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were handed in June a 20-month suspended prison sentence and a heavy fine for hiding hundreds of millions of euros in unpaid taxes. Both deny any wrongdoing.Apple has been fined more than $1 million by Italian regulators in a separate case, after the company was found not providing consumers with proper disclosures related to the warranties that Italian consumers automatically get under local law. Apple currently operates fourteen Apple Retail Store locations in Italy, including the Via Rizzoli location in Bologna, pictured above.    
• Computer History Museum Releases Apple II DOS Source Code
  The Computer History Museum and the DigiBarn Computer Museum today released the 1978 Apple II DOS source code for non-commercial use after obtaining permission from Apple.With thanks to Paul Laughton, in collaboration with Dr. Bruce Damer, founder and curator of the DigiBarn Computer Museum, and with the permission of Apple Inc., we are pleased to make available the 1978 source code of Apple II DOS for non-commercial use. This material is Copyright © 1978 Apple Inc., and may not be reproduced without permission from Apple.The Apple II, which first began shipping in 1977, came as a ready-to-use computer equipped with a keyboard, compatible with any display monitor. Priced at $1,298, it also featured color, graphics, expansion slots, game paddles, and had the BASIC programming language built-in. The Apple II DOS source code was developed by Paul Laughton, a contract programmer from Shepardson Microsystems, who wrote DOS on punch cards over the span of seven weeks after Apple paid $13,000 for his services."DOS was written on punch cards. I would actually hand-write the code on 80-column punch card sheets. A guy at Shepardson named Mike Peters would take those sheets and punch the cards. The punch cards would then be read into a National Semiconductor IMP–16 and assembled, and a paper tape produced. The paper tape was read into the Apple II by a plug-in card made by Wozniak, and I would proceed to debug it. As the project got further along and the code was all written, and it was debugging and updating, I would mark up a listing and give it to Mike Peters who would then change whatever was necessary and deliver me a paper tape and I'd start again."The source code is downloadable directly from the Computer History Museum website, and comes with meeting minutes between Apple and Shepardson Microsystem, plus contracts and scanned lineprinter listings from 1978. The Computer History Museum also has a detailed history of the creation of Apple II DOS, which is well worth a read.    
• Rockingham Park Apple Store in Salem, New Hampshire More Than Doubling in Size
  The Rockingham Park Apple Store in Salem, New Hampshire is dramatically expanding its footprint, moving into the former H&M space next door, as noticed by IFOAppleStore. The store is one of the busiest mall-based locations in the chain, largely because of its proximity to Boston and the fact that New Hampshire has zero sales tax, drawing many buyers away from Boston's other Apple Store locations. The new location, which will see the store going from 5,888 to 13,500 square feet, opens Saturday at 10AM.    
• Steve Jobs Inducted into Bay Area Business Hall of Fame, Eddy Cue Gives Emotional Speech
  Apple SVP of internet software and services Eddy Cue accepted Steve Jobs' posthumous induction into the Bay Area Business Hall of Fame last Thursday, which recognizes esteemed business individuals with ties to the San Francisco Bay Area. In a video of the award ceremony uploaded by the Bay Area Council (via TechCrunch), a montage of Jobs' noteworthy innovations is followed by an emotional speech from Cue detailing how Jobs had become a friend and helped him as his wife battled cancer, going on to share several remarks about Jobs' relentless pursuit of perfection throughout his time at Apple. In the speech, Cue recounts how he learned through Jobs to “do what you love“ for the first time when Apple was preparing to launch the original iMac in 1998. Cue recounts how Apple's representatives got into the venue at midnight on the date of the event for rehearsals, with Jobs furious at the angle in which the Bondi Blue iMac popped up from the bottom center of the stage during a practice run: He taught me many things but none more important than ‘do what you love’. That’s what he did every day. It wasn’t about fame, it wasn’t about fortune, it was about creating great products. And not accepting anything less than perfection. As I was coming in today, I was trying to remember a story of the first time I learned that from Steve. We were launching the iMac, in Bondi blue…we were doing this at the Flint center in Cupertino. Unfortunately we couldn’t get the venue, Stomp was there the night before, we were launching it the next day and we could only get in at midnight. So we come in at midnight, we were going to do rehearsals…one of the things we wanted to do was have the iMac come out from the stage as he was introducing it. And we’d shine some lights. I was sitting out in the crowd…and the iMac comes out and the light comes on it and I said “wow, that is so cool!” Steve stops the whole thing and says “stop, this sucks!” He says, “it should come out at the side where you can see the color, the light should be shining at this side and when it turns to the front that’s when it should turn on…30 minutes later we do the whole thing again and when I see it come out I said ‘wow, he was absolutely right, it’s incredible’. He had that level of detail for everything he did, and that’s what he taught us. Cue also noted that Jobs' would have been favorable to the induction because of his strong ties to the Bay Area, including the fact that he grew up, started Apple and met his wife Laurene all in the area. Notably, the home where Jobs first began building computers with Steve Wozniak was designated a "historic resource" by the Los Altos Historical Commission in October. Also honored during the event was Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who was a close friend of Jobs. Ellison stated that Jobs was not seeking fortune or fame, but rather added that the former Apple CEO was “obsessed with the creative process and building something that was beautiful.“    
• Apple Releases Xcode 5.0.2 With Bug Fixes
  Last week, Apple seeded Xcode version 5.0.2 to developers, and now the company has released the final version to consumers. In addition to stability improvements, the app includes a fix for a bug that caused occasional hangs in iOS Simulator during an app install as well as a fix for a bug that caused crashes to occur while debugging devices running iOS 6.What's New in Version 5.0.2 Includes SDKs for OS X 10.9 Mavericks, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, and iOS 7. - Fixes occasional hangs in iOS Simulator during app install, or when debugging. - Fixes a crash that could occur while debugging on devices running iOS 6. - Additional bug fixes and stability improvements.Xcode can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for free. [Direct Link]    
• Apple Releases iBooks 1.0.1 for Mac With Bug Fixes, Stability Improvements
  Apple today launched a new update for iBooks for Mac, bringing it to version 1.0.1. The 14.7 MB update includes bug fixes and stability improvements for the app, which was originally released on October 22 alongside OS X Mavericks. Apple has also released two EFI firmware updates for the 13-inch and 15-inch Retina MacBook Pros and a fix for the Mail app. The iBooks update, along with the other updates, can be downloaded via the Software Update tool in the Mac App Store.    
• Apple Releases Fix for NVIDIA Graphics Issue on New 15-Inch Retina MacBook Pro
  Alongside today's release of a firmware update addressing keyboard and trackpad issues on Apple's new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, the company has released a separate firmware update for owners of the new 15-inch models. The 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro update addresses a separate issue related to performance of the discrete NVIDIA graphics included on higher-end models. This update is recommended for MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, late 2013) models with NVIDIA graphics. This update addresses an issue which, in rare cases, may limit the performance of the discrete graphics processor after a system wake or boot.The firmware update, which is 5.22 MB in size, can be downloaded either directly from Apple's support site or through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store for users on affected machines.    
• Apple Seeds Xcode 5.0.2 GM to Developers
  Apple today seeded Xcode Version 5.0.2 to developers, implementing bug fixes for several different issues introduced in version 5.0.1. Version 5.0.2 is listed as a Golden Master build, though there have been no prior betas. Xcode 5.0.1 was originally released on October 22 and included new SDKs for Mavericks, Mountain Lion, and iOS 7, along with support for continuous integration bots and a Debug Gauge. Xcode 5.0.1 can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for free [Direct Link] while 5.0.2 is available for registered developers via Apple's Developer Portal or the software update tool in the Mac App Store. (Thanks, Ryan!)    
• Apple Implements 'Managed Distribution', Volume Purchase Program for Mac Apps
  Following the late October launch of Mavericks, Apple has implemented new changes to its Volume Purchase Program for Business and Education, expanding the program to the Mac App Store for the first time and launching new "Managed Distribution" capabilities for iOS 7 and Mavericks that allow institutions to assign and revoke app licenses to individual users. The company has begun sending emails to its education and business customers, notifying them of the changes.Hello Education Technologists, I wanted to be sure to send this information regarding another part of the iOS 7 and Mavericks updates to become available. There is a guide available as well for more detail. As I've discussed with many of you, it's now time to consider a Mobile Device Management Solution (MDM) moving forward. Volume Purchase Program for Business and Education: New features available. The Volume Purchase Program (VPP) for Business and Education has been updated to support iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks. It now features: - Managed distribution—Install and assign apps using Profile Manager on OS X Server or third-party mobile device management (MDM) solutions - Mac apps—Now available on the VPP store The VPP pages on Apple.com have updated program information, including direct links to enrollment and program login for registered participants. Volume Purchase Program: Migrating from redemption codes to managed distribution - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6015Apple began preparing developers for the launch of the Mac Volume Purchase Program in early October, allowing developers to introduce discounts for bulk purchases as is possible in the iOS App Store. As noted by Enterprise iOS, Apple's new mobile device management (MDM) options are compatible with the majority of apps and books from the App Store and require MDM systems to be updated to work with the new options. Assigned apps are downloaded automatically to supervised devices, and app assignment does not reveal Apple IDs. Apple has also updated both the Business and Education Volume Purchase Program pages on its website to reflect the changes, providing enrollment options and help documents on the Volume Purchase Program and mobile device management solutions.