A deal bringing Amazon Prime Video to Apple TV, announced on Monday at Apple Inc's developer conference after years of talk, shows how competitive tensions among Silicon Valley titans can stand in the way of serving customers. Tim Cook, CEO, speaks about Amazon during Apple's annual world wide developer conference (WWDC) in San Jose, California, U.S. June 5, 2017. The logic of linking Apple TV, a device for watching television over the internet, with Amazon.com Inc's booming video-streaming service looks obvious. Apple needs great video to sell its TV player. Amazon needs places to stream its TV shows so that people sign up for its Prime club to watch them - and buy more toilet paper, too. Viewers want to watch their favorite programs on whatever device they choose. Yet Monday's announcement, rather than being routine, was the result of a … [Read more...] about Amazon-Apple TV deal shows tough road to cooperation for tech rivals
Apple world wide developers conference
Apple set to expand Siri, taking different route from Amazon’s Alexa
Apple Inc (AAPL.O) is expected to announce plans next week to make its Siri voice assistant work with a larger variety of apps, as the technology company looks to counter the runaway success of Amazon.com Inc's (AMZN.O) competing Alexa service. An Apple logo is seen in a store in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 24, 2017. But the Cupertino, California company is likely to stick to its tested method of focusing on a small amount of features and trying to perfect them, rather than casting as wide a net as possible, according to engineers and artificial intelligence industry insiders. Currently, Apple's Siri works with only six types of app: ride-hailing and sharing; messaging and calling; photo search; payments; fitness; and auto infotainment systems. At the company's annual developer conference next week, it is expected to add to those categories. … [Read more...] about Apple set to expand Siri, taking different route from Amazon’s Alexa
Apple CEO says EU tax ruling ‘total political crap’: Irish Independent
The European Union's imposition of a 13 billion euro ($14.5 billion) back tax bill on Apple (AAPL.O) is "total political crap", Chief Executive Tim Cook said in a newspaper interview on Thursday, and anti-U.S. bias may have played a role. Cook said he would fight closely with Ireland to overturn the ruling, which he said had "no basis in law or in fact". "No one did anything wrong here and we need to stand together. Ireland is being picked on and this is unacceptable," Cook was quoted as saying by the Irish Independent. Cook told the newspaper that bias against multinationals from the United States may have been a factor in the decision to impose the bill. "I think that Apple was targeted here," he said. "And I think that (anti-U.S. sentiment) is one reason why we could have been targeted." "I think it's a desire to reallocate taxes that should be paid in the US to the EU," he added. Cook rejected accusation by EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager that Apple paid just 0.005 … [Read more...] about Apple CEO says EU tax ruling ‘total political crap’: Irish Independent
Apple and Samsung take Australian legal battle to the “hot tub”
Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd are embroiled in a high-stakes patent battle in several countries around the world, but only in Australia are they also engaged in "hot tubbing." Rather than a gaggle of lawyers hammering out their differences in the jacuzzi, the term refers to expert witnesses giving evidence in court together - rather than one by one - in the witness box. … [Read more...] about Apple and Samsung take Australian legal battle to the “hot tub”
Apple previews iOS 6 with new Maps, Siri features
Apple on Monday previewed the upcoming version of its mobile operating system iOS 6, with notable features including new Siri support for more languages and new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography. According to the company, the new Maps app has turn-by-turn navigation guiding with spoken directions and photo-realistic interactive 3D views called Flyover. Real-traffic information will keep users updated on how long it will take to get to their destination and offers alternate time-saving route if traffic conditions change significantly. The intelligent personal assistant Siri will also be available for the new iPad and support more languages such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Italian and Korean, Apple announced. The company also unveiled the whole new Passbook app, allowing users to scan iPhone or iPod touch to use a coupon, a ticket or check into a hotel. Passbook can automatically display the user's passes on the screen based on a specific time or location. For … [Read more...] about Apple previews iOS 6 with new Maps, Siri features