Apple Says App Store Hit 50 Billion Downloads (TIME)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) says its customers have downloaded more than 50 billon applications from its App Store since its launch in 2008. Apple Inc. said Thursday that the 50 billionth download was a game called “Say the Same Thing” by Space Inch. The App Store had 500 apps when it first opened. It now has more than 850,000 individual apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The store hit the 10 billion downloads mark in early 2011 and 25 billion in March 2012. The 50 billion milestone does not include updates or re-downloads.
Apple iOS 6 devices get nod for U.S. military use (CNET)
U.S. military members will now be able to use the iPhone 5, along with the Samsung Galaxy S4 and BlackBerry 10 devices. The U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has approved the use of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS 6 devices on the Defense Department’s networks, the agency said in a statement Friday. That means the DOD can provide iPhones and iPads running iOS 6 to its employees, though employees cannot use their own devices on the military network, a DISA spokeswoman told CNET. “It doesn’t mean [Apple is] getting a contract with us or anything like that,” DISA spokeswoman Alana Johnson said. “It just means that specific operating system, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS 6, is approved as long as they have that particular operating system.”
Apple orders hint at iPad Mini shipment decline (CNET)
Apple’s iPad Mini could be entering a rough few months, according to the latest information the sometimes-spotty DigiTimes. The blog on Friday reported that AU Optronics, the company that supplies panels for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iPad Mini, will only ship 2.5 million to 2.8 million units to manufacturers in the second calendar quarter, down from the 4 million it shipped in the first quarter. According to DigiTimes, which is citing “supply chain sources” who claim to have knowledge of the drawdown, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) cut orders in anticipation of a slowdown in iPad Mini shipments for the rest of the second quarter. That slowdown is due to a general disinterest among consumers to buy new devices during the summer season.
Apple chief Cook: You – senators. Get in here and redo this tax law (Register)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) supremo Tim Cook will dare US senators to rewrite tax laws seeing as the politicians are so upset about tech giants’ tiny contributions to America’s public coffers. At a Senate hearing on Tuesday, the chief exec will suggest ways to persuade firms to bank their profits at home rather than in offshore accounts, a move that would put billions of dollars within the taxman’s grasp. Cook insists his Foxconn-rebranding operation does not divert US profits abroad. “I can tell you unequivocally Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) does not funnel its domestic profits overseas. We don’t do that. We pay taxes on all the products we sell in the US, and we pay every dollar that we owe. And so I’d like to be really clear on that,” he told Politico.
CW Strikes Deal with Apple to Bring Content to Apple TV (Mac Rumors)
The CW has struck a deal that will bring the network’s content to the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV, reports Deadline. At the company’s annual Upfront Presentation in New York today, CW president Mark Pedowitz announced that the CW’s TV Now applications, which are currently available on Xbox 360 and Windows 8, will be coming to the Apple TV as well. “This year we’re reaching more viewers on more platforms,” said Pedowitz, speaking of the deal. “We are reaching our audience everywhere they are, and we want you to be with us everywhere we go,” he went on to say to advertisers at the event.
Friday Apple Rumors: Hybrid Model Complicating iRadio Deal (Investorplace.com)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) entry into the Internet radio business has been delayed by its failure to negotiate licensing agreements with all the major record labels, TheVerge notes. While Apple has struggled to get the labels on board with its service, rival Google (GOOG) managed to secure deals to launch its own service, which was announced this week. Google was able to leapfrog ahead of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) by simply offering a fully subscription-based service. That model made negotiating payment terms with record labels relatively easy. Apple, however, wants to create a service modeled on Pandora (P), with additional on-demand features. Negotiating a licensing fees for such a hybrid service is significantly more complicated.
