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 world wide developers conference
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
Here’s everything Apple announced at its developers conference
Apple Inc. spent almost two-and-a-half hours introducing new software and services at its annual conference for the developers building apps for iPhones, iPads, Macs and other devices. While the highlight of Monday's event was Apple Music, a brand-new unlimited streaming service, the company also gave updates on iOS, OS X, Apple Pay and Apple Watch, and introduced some new features. There weren't any new phones, tablets, computers, or the much-rumored TV product. But make no mistake: Today's event was all about giving consumers hard-to-resist reasons for buying Apple's hardware products, which are projected to fuel almost $232 billion in revenue for the business year through September. "Apple's next-generation product ideas appear poised to further expand its consumer tentacles over the coming years, with the right products at the right time to execute as a leader in the devices and services space," Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR Research, wrote in a note. This year's event was also … [Read more...] about Here’s everything Apple announced at its developers conference
Apple unveils new iPhone without Steve Jobs
Apple aimed to make hot-selling iPhones even more appealing, premiering a speedier new model complete with a video camera and slashing the price of its predecessor to 99 dollars. Apple vice president of marketing Phil Schiller made the announcements at an annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco bereft of any sign of the firm's renowned chief executive, Steve Jobs. Schiller said the new iPhone 3GS, the first model to capture video, will be available on June 19. "The 'S' stands for speed, because this is the most powerful iPhone we've ever made," Schiller said. "What is inside is entirely new." He said a 16-gigabyte iPhone 3GS would cost 199 dollars while the 32-gigabyte model would cost 299 dollars. The price of an original eight-gigabyte iPhone 3G dropped to 99 dollars from 199 dollars as of Monday. Schiller also said a next-generation iPhone 3.0 operating system will be released worldwide on June 17 as a free upgrade to owners of the smartphones. Apple also reported … [Read more...] about Apple unveils new iPhone without Steve Jobs
Apple unveils iPhone 4 to fend off Google
Apple Inc unveiled a new iPhone on Monday that goes on sale in scores of countries this year, preparing its fastest-ever global roll-out to try and stay a step ahead of rivals like Google Inc in a red-hot smartphone market. CEO Steve Jobs showed off a redesigned $199 "iPhone 4" that is a quarter slimmer than the current handset. The device boasts a higher quality screen and better battery life, video chat via Wi-Fi, and a gyroscope sensor for improved gaming. A slim but energetic Jobs told a media and industry audience at Apple's annual developers' conference in San Francisco that the latest phone will be available June 24 in five countries, expanding to 18 by July and 88 by September in the quickest-ever international roll-out for an iPhone. That signaled how serious Apple is about gaining traction abroad, where iPhone penetration is still relatively small. Despite the iPad's success in its first two months on the market - more than 2 million sold in 60 days - the iPhone … [Read more...] about Apple unveils iPhone 4 to fend off Google