apple

Apple dodged paying billions in taxes, subcommittee says

On the eve of Apple CEO Tim Cook's hearing in front of the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, the subcommittee released a report Monday detailing how it believes the tech giant has avoided paying its fair share of U.S. taxes.

"Apple is an American success story," the report reads. "Today, Apple Inc. maintains more than $102 billion in offshore cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (cash). Apple executives told the Subcommittee that the company has no intention of returning those funds to the United States unless and until there is a more favorable environment, … Read more

Facebook simplifies sharing for iOS apps

Sharing is caring -- if your Facebook and your network depends on it.

Monday, the social network simplified the process for sharing activities from third-party iOS apps to Facebook. The company rolled out something called the "Share Dialog," previously in beta, for its iOS software development kit, which means developers can now update their applications to make sharing to the social network as fast and brainless as possible.

Specifically, the developer tool gets the iOS app user from app activity to Facebook share with a single click. With the addition of the special dialog box, app users can … Read more

Apple lays out tax plan ahead of congressional hearing

Apple on Monday posted a full testimony the company plans to present to Congress on Tuesday, detailing how and where it pays corporate taxes.

The 16-page document comes a day ahead of when Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to testify before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation, which is looking into various tax-avoidance strategies by technology companies.

In its testimony, Apple pitches itself as a job creator, and it notes that it was likely the largest income tax payer in the country last year, paying out "nearly" $6 billion.

"These payments account for $1 in every $… Read more

Apple testing 1.5-inch display for iWatch, claims report

Apple may be checking out displays for its much-rumored smartwatch.

The company has reportedly been examining 1.5-inch OLED screens built by Ritek subsidiary RiTdisplay, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of display panels, according to Taiwanese news source Economic Times. Apple reportedly was initially eyeing a 1.8-inch display but felt that was too large and switched to a 1.5-inch size.

CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story if the company responds.

RitFast, a joint venture between Ritek and Taiwan's YoungFast, would supply the touch technology for the so-called iWatch, the Economic Times added.

Another story from … Read more

Apple hits record revenue per store visitor, says analyst

Apple stores continue to outpace the rest of the retail industry in sales per customer.

The company took in record revenue per visitor of $57.60 during the first quarter, mobile analyst Horace Dediu said Monday in his Asymco blog. That's up from $51.75 per visitor in the first quarter of 2012.

At the same time, the number of visitors rose by 7 percent from the prior year's first quarter. And the average revenue per Apple store reached $13 million for the quarter, its highest number ever for a non-holiday quarter, Dediu noted.

The average number of … Read more

New MacBook Air imminent?

Signs may point to a refresh of Apple's popular MacBook Air. Possibly next month.

AppleInsider said Friday that at large online retailers like MacConnection, stock has vanished for the popular 13.3-inch Air with a 1.8GHz processor and 256GB solid-state drive.

That said, Best Buy has stock, but it's the "only reseller on AppleInsider's Mac Price Guide that is currently advertising available inventory," according to the Apple-centric site.

Dwindling inventory at authorized Apple outlets is usually an indication that a product refresh is imminent.

And what, pray tell, will Apple deliver with the next … Read more

Teen dies trying to hold onto iPad during theft, police say

It's a natural instinct to resist if someone tries to steal something out of your hand.

In Las Vegas on Thursday afternoon, that instinct might have cost a 15-year-old boy his life.

As the Las Vegas Sun reports, Marcos Vincente Arenas was walking down the street, holding an iPad. … Read more

Apple removes Bang With Friends from App Store

No more knocking boots with your Facebook friends, iPhone users. Apple has removed the salaciously titled Bang With Friends iPhone application from its App Store.

Bang With Friends, which was going by "BWF Official" on Apple's App Store, arrived on mobile devices last week. The hookup service, first launched on Web in January, has around 1 million users and helps people discreetly indicate their lust for a Facebook buddy.

Co-founder Colin Hodge, now going by his real name, told Valleywag that Apple removed the application from the App Store. Indeed, the original link to the iPhone app … Read more

One issue holding up Apple iRadio: The economics of skipping songs

Apple, which has been aiming for a summer rollout of a streaming music service, has hit a negotiating snag with Sony Music over some of the features that it is building into its product.

More specifically, Apple and Sony Music, the world's second-largest music label, are still trying to hammer out details over how much Apple would pay for songs that people listen to a fraction of and then skip, according to people familiar with the negotiations. There could be other points of contention as well.

Apple's streaming music service, which most closely resembles Internet radio leader Pandora, … Read more