Macgasm

HTC has notified investors of a revenue forecast cut that could reach 23 percent in the upcoming quarter. This means the original estimation of $4 billion will actually be closer to $3.4 billion:

(more…)

iMessage has solved a problem we’ve had around the Macgasm virtual office these days, and it’s in a way that not too many people would expect. Communicating with all the writers in an effective and immediate way has always been a struggle. Some writers use Skype, some use AIM, some use Google Talk, and others use nothing at all, but every one of our writers uses iMessage.  Problem solved with a team group message.

Solving one problem, however, has opened up a whole new number of challenges with iMessage that we never really thought about up until this point: there’s no mute options and there’s certainly no way to unsubscribe yourself from a group chat.

(more…)

According to Jeffries analyst Peter Misek, the relationship between Apple and Samsung has soured to a point where Apple is now considering using more Sharp LCD panels in its upcoming rumoured mythical iTV (are we calling it that now?). Not only will it shift more production to Sharp for the television, it may also tap the panel manufacturer for screens for its next iPhone 5 and iPad 3 as well.

Misek bases his assertions on checks with suppliers on a recent trip to Japan, and notes that Sharp, Samsung and LG are all manufacturing panels for Apple, but a share of production has shifted to Sharp in light of recent animosity between Apple and Samsung.

(more…)

Cloud is the buzzword of the day. The Wall Street Journal has sources that indicate that not only has Apple been stocking up on low-level engineering talent for its cloud-based initiatives, but they’re also looking for higher level executives with a background in cloud-computing.

From iTools to .Mac to MobileMe, Apple never got web services quite right. iCloud and iTunes Match are certainly steps in the right direction, but frankly, it’s good to hear that they are taking this aspect of the market much more seriously. I wouldn’t be surprised to see significant improvements and additions to iCloud within the next year. Let’s just hope Apple sticks to it this time.

(more…)

Cha-ching! The folks over at Big Fish Games have convinced Apple to allow them to use the magazine and newspaper in-app subscription model to sell games.

So, how does this work? Well, for $6.99 USD per month ($4.99 USD for a limited time), users can stream games over Wi-Fi inside of their “Play Instantly!” app. Bloomberg has compared it to Netflix’s model, but I’m unsure exactly how apt of a comparison that is at this point. Something in my gut is telling me this is more similar to Facebook than Netflix despite the subscription model. This just reeks to me of Zynga-style micro payments done in bigger chunks. That rings even more true when you consider that they will have a free ad-supported version that is time limited.

I’m interested to see the implications that this might have in other aspects. If more genres of applications start using this model of monetization, we might soon be racking up the subscription fees just to use our favorite apps. Instead of buying a VNC client for $9.99 USD up front, we might end up with VNC clients that cost $0.99 USD recurring every month.

Streaming games might be a legitimate use for subscriptions, but I do wonder just how much nickel-and-diming consumers will put up with. What do you think? Sound off on Twitter by including @macgasm in your tweet. We want to know what you think about subscription-based apps.

Source: Bloomberg

The iPhone 4S has leapt many hurdles in a short period of time, and now the plucky new phone from Apple has established itself as the second-runner-up on Flickr for the most popular cameraphone used for Flickr pics. First place? Its older brother, the iPhone 4.

(more…)

TerrorBull games knows how to rub someone’s fur backwards when it comes to game development, and their upcoming release for iOS, entitled War on Terror, is pretty likely to do exactly that.

(more…)

It seems that Apple’s Find My iPhone app can actually do more than find your iOS device. In a recent report from LA Times, the app assisted the LAPD in the arrest of an armed robbery suspect last Thursday. Apparently, the robber entered a female’s home at gun point, took her purse, and left. However, there was a shiny iPhone in the bag waiting to have its apps updated. It wasn’t leaving that easy.

The distraught victim quickly called police and informed them about the robbery and Find My iPhone (which was luckily setup). A random bystander, who you can call a good Samaritan, let police use his laptop to track the suspect’s whereabouts via Apple’s website. The officers eventually found the crook and arrested him on robbery charges.

Of course, stories like these don’t happen frequently, but they should. In fact, the LAPD stressed to the LA Times how important such programs, apps, and the rest are:

What about the crook? Well he’s being held in lieu of $1 million bail. What can you say? You do the crime, you have an enormous price tag put on your release.