Corporate

Believe it or not, Apple just turned 40!

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 1, 2016

Forty years ago today, Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne to develop and sell personal computers. Yes, Apple Computer Company was started on April Fool’s Day back in 1976. And now, on the company’s 40th anniversary on April 1, 2016, a familiar piece of folklore has returned to Apple's campus at 1 Infinite Loop: a pirate flag with a big skull and crossbones in white at the center, in a cheeky nod to Apple's past.

Back in the early 80s, Steve Jobs assembled a rebellious team to work on a skunkworks project: the original Macintosh. Referring to themselves as the pirates of the company, they hoisted a “jolly roger” pirate flag above 1 Infinite Loop.

“It’s better to be a pirate than join the navy,” Steve Jobs famously told the Mac team.

Apple to hold Q2 2016 earnings call on April 25

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 29, 2016

Apple has scheduled an earnings call to discuss its second fiscal quarter results for Monday, April 25, 2016 at 2:00pm Pacific Time, 5pm Eastern Time, according to a note on the Apple Investor website. The conference call will discuss Apple's financial performance during a three-month period ending this month following its lucrative holiday quarter.

The quarterly earnings statement will be released thirty minutes in advance of the conference call. The company provided revenue guidance of $50 to $53 billion for the quarter and gross margin between 39 and 39.5 percent, prompting concern among investors as these numbers represent Apple's first revenue decrease in thirteen years.

How to watch Apple’s ‘Let us loop you in’ event live

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple will be streaming its 'Let us loop you in' media event live on the company's website. The Cupertino-based company is expected to unveil a number of new products related to iPhone, iPad, and the Apple Watch, but we'll have to wait and see to know for sure.

If you'll be tuning in to watch the Apple event live on your computer, there are some requirements you'll have to meet, and we'll touch on those requirements in this piece so you're prepared for it.

Apple sends out invites for March 21 event: “Let us loop you in”

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Following weeks of speculation, Apple on Thursday sent out invites for a media event later this month that should serve as a launchpad for new iPhone and iPad models, Apple Watch bands and possibly more.

The press event will be held at Apple's Cupertino campus on Monday, March 21, 2016, at 10:00am PT, and will be live-streamed using HTTP Live Streaming.

As you may have guessed, iDownloadBlog will continue covering everything there's to know about about Apple's product refreshes.

GoPro is buying powerful iPhone video-editing apps Replay and Splice

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 1, 2016

GoPro, an American manufacturer of action cameras that are popular in extreme-action videography, has acquired two mobile video editing apps, Replay and Splice.

In a media release yesterday, GoPro said that merging these apps into its mobile strategy will help them deliver powerful mobile editing solutions to GoPro customers “and billions of smartphone users,” indicating the apps will continue to be available in the App Store.

In fact, both apps will be coming to Android later this year, said GoPro.

WSJ: iPhone contract manufacturer Foxconn is delaying the signing of Sharp takeover agreement

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 26, 2016

As previously reported, Apple's favorite contract manufacturer Foxconn has made a $6.2 billion bid to acquire the ailing Japanese consumer electronics maker Sharp, which has been in the business for a cool 103 years now. Although Sharp’s board has made the decision to accept the offer last Thursday, it seems the acquisition is not a done deal after all.

As reported Friday by The Wall Street Journal, Foxconn is reportedly delaying the signing of the takeover agreement after it had been “surprised” by new information Sharp had disclosed just a day before.

Apple recruits cable TV PR veteran for Apple TV and iTunes content marketing role

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 24, 2016

Bernadette Simpao, previously working at AMC and Viacom in public relations capacity, is joining Apple to handle the company's PR efforts for content and apps related to the new Apple TV, as well as TV shows, movies, apps, books and podcasts that Apple carries on the iTunes Store's virtual shelves.

According to Variety, Simpao spent ten years at Viacom in various communication roles, including Senior Director of Communications for Viacom International Media Networks, before joining AMC.

Apple is opening a development office in India’s Hyderabad to support Maps development

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 16, 2016

The 1.25 billion people market of India is estimated to soon become the world's top smartphone market and is already one of Apple's most important markets despite the fact that the Cupertino firm is yet to open its first branded store in the country.

But that's not stopping Apple from investing in India. According to a statement Tuesday by an Apple spokesperson given to The Economic Times, the iPhone maker is opening a new $25 million development office in Hyderabad, where some 150 employees will be supporting Maps development.”

Apple hiring engineers to join its Clock Face Team

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 6, 2017

Apple is seeking software engineer to join its 'Clock Face Team' to work on yet-to-be-released faces and complications for the Apple Watch.

As originally discovered by AppleInsider yesterday, an Apple job ad describes the position as helping build the watch faces and complications.

“You’ll work closely with the UI design, iOS Frameworks and QA teams to develop interactions of superior quality that will ship to millions of users,” reads the job ad.

Apple honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with home page tribute

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 18, 2016

Apple has commemorated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday with a splash graphics on its homepage over at Apple.com.

Gone are the usual product teasers and a rotating carousel with featured products as the image of Martin Luther King Jr. has take over the homepage and accompanied by the quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”.

Apple confirms it’s become official sponsor of Super Bowl Host Committee

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 23, 2017

Friday, Apple confirmed to Daniel Roberts at Yahoo Finance that it's signed up for the first time to become a sponsor of the Super Bowl Host Committee.

In sponsoring the host committee, which finances and organizes the logistics behind putting on the big game, Apple won't be offered the same perks that are available to companies that sponsor the Super Bowl itself, such as billboards and signage around the stadium or use of the NFL's official logo.

That may not matter to Apple at all, however, as the move is probably linked to this week's news that the company is trying to get the rights to stream NFL games in London.

Twitter hires Apple’s Director of Worldwide Inclusion & Diversity, Jeffrey Siminoff

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

Twitter has hired Jeffrey Siminoff away from Apple, TechCrunch discovered on Tuesday. Twitter's human resources chief Brian Schipper has since confirmed the hire on Twitter, saying that Siminoff will serve as the micro-blogging startup's new Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, replacing its departing director Janet Van Buysse who spent six years at the company.