Apple CEO Tim Cook faces the US Senate

Apple CEO, Tim Cook recently testified at a senate hearing about the company’s tax avoidance practices during which he and other experts were questioned about tax “gimmickry”.

A report about this matter has been published that details Apple’s clever strategies in avoiding paying tax. According to Business Insider, the report published by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations shows how Apple “uses a variety of offshore structures and arrangements to shift billions of dollars from the United States to Ireland” using its primary offshore holding company Apple Operations International (AOI).

A key quote from the report explains why AOI exists:

(more…)

In a new advertisement released for Windows 8,  titled Windows 8: Less talking, more doing, Microsoft is taking a fresh dig at the Apple iPad’s OS and pricing using its very own Siri.

In the advert, Siri acknowledges it’s inability to complete various tasks while the the Microsoft ASUS VivoTab Smart tablet with Windows 8, does so with ease using Powerpoint and side-by-side apps with Live Tiles.

Surrendering to Windows 8, Siri suggests playing chopsticks, in a parody of the iPad Mini Piano advertisement released in November 2012,

(more…)

Apple certainly has a reason to celebrate as it hit the 50 billion download mark today and that doesn’t include updates or re-downloads.

Apple.com’s home page opens with “50 billion app downloads. We couldn’t have done it without.” In an official press release Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue thanked the “incredible” customers and developers alike for getting the company to this historic mark.

“The App Store completely transformed how people use their mobile devices and created a thriving app ecosystem that has paid out over nine billion dollars to developers. We’re absolutely floored to cross this milestone in less than five years,” he continues.

(more…)

These days, the iPhone is one of the most popular cameras in the world – but it’s hard to think that it launched with a relatively terrible camera back in 2007. The original iPhone launched with a fixed focus 2MP camera, which did not even have a flash.

The camera has been steadily upgraded, and has been a big focus for Apple since the iPhone 3GS, which was the first iPhone with a decent auto focus lens system.

The camera interface has not changed much though. Despite the massive upgrades in lens and photo quality, the actual UI of the camera is as simple as ever.

(more…)

According to Bloomberg, BlackBerry has fallen the most in a week as stock dropped 4%. This comes after the recent announcements of the BlackBerry Q5 for select markets and now the company’s plan to make BlackBerry’s messaging service (BBM) available to iOS and Android devices.

While shares of the Ontario based company have increased to 28% in 2013, BlackBerry’s decision to ‘share’ its free messaging service, similar to that of WhatsApp, will mean losing control of one of its most exclusive and valuable services, that arguably made BlackBerry such a popular and appealing device when it first emerged.

(more…)

Having recently launched an improved mobile site, Cars.co.za has now announced the launch of a new iPhone and iPad App.

The App, which has been in development since 2012, aims to take car buying in South Africa to the next level by offering a number of groundbreaking features.

As the backbone of the Cars.co.za offering, the latest search technology has been incorporated into the Cars.co.za App’s used car search facility. The revamped search facility offers the following functionality:
(more…)

TAKEALOT.com has taken another step towards customer convenience by launching their iPhone and Android shopping apps in addition to the Blackberry 10 app launched earlier this year. With Africa’s internet users primarily using mobile devices, the apps aim to deliver an enhanced experience for customers, allowing them instant access to the world of retail via their mobile device, regardless of time or location.

“We’re not joking when we say it’s a mall in your pocket. The apps are designed to allow the user to access the world of online shopping without ever having to use a laptop or desktop computer.” Says Kim Reid, CEO. (more…)

In these modern times it seems the easiest way to offend people is to mock their choice of phone. The biggest war is of course between Android and iPhone users – for every possible argument, there is a counterargument from the other camp. Microsoft decided to mock this ridiculous “war” with their new Lumia ad, which is set at a wedding.

Microsoft is showing off Nokia’s flagship phone, the Lumia 920. The Lumia 920 is arguably the current best Windows Phone device. With the current smartphone market belonging to Apple and Samsung, Nokia has been having a tough time in the last few years. A few years back they were by far biggest cellphone maker in the world, and had wonderful profits. These days those profits have dried up, but their latest Lumia phones do seem be having a positive effect. The Lumia range has also steadily moved into more entry level phone, with pretty great offerings in the form of the Lumia 620 and 520.

Tell us what you think of Microsoft’s latest ad: (more…)