Smartphone makers should help stem the tide of iPhones being swiped in the state, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said today.

Schneiderman sent letters to the heads of Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung asking them to help prevent theft and questioning why phones aren’t better protected from being resold on the black market.

He cited a rise in violent street crimes including phone thefts, often called “Apple picking.”

“I would like to know what Apple is doing to combat this growing public safety problem,” Schneiderman wrote in a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

He asked why “companies that can develop sophisticated handheld electronics, such as the products manufactured by Apple, cannot also create technology to render stolen devices inoperable and thereby eliminate the expanding black market.”

The NYPD has reported that smartphone thefts are increasingly on the rise in the city, even as other crime declines.

Thieves often swipe them from their owners’ hands – the subway is a frequent setting, just before doors close or on a platform – then wipe the devices and resell them for hundreds in cash.

According to Schneiderman’s office, between January and September of last year, 11,447 smartphones were reported swiped, an increase of 3,280 from the year before.

And too many of these robberies are violent, Schneiderman said.

This month, a woman was mugged at gunpoint in Crown Heights for her Android phone. In February, three people were stabbed on a Queens subway platform in a fight over the phone, and last April, a 26-year-old Museum of Modern Art chef was killed for his phone in the Bronx.

Schneiderman asked the companies to give information about what they tell consumers regarding safety. He also requested whether they financially benefit when customers have to shell out cash to replace stolen phones.

“Cracking down on violent and dangerous cell phone thefts is important for New Yorkers,” Schneiderman said. “The companies that dominate this industry have a responsibility to their customers to fulfill their promises to ensure safety and security.”

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With its rare apology, Apple went from pariah to praiseworthy in the eyes of China’s state-controlled media, a lesson for other foreign firms not to underestimate the speed and power of the government press.

After coming under near-daily media assault for the past two weeks and facing the threat of penalties from two Chinese government bureaus, Apple apologized to Chinese consumers on Monday for poor communication over its warranty policy and said it will change the terms for some of its iPhones sold in China.

Greater China is Apple’s second-biggest and fastest-growing market, with sales up almost 40 percent to $6.8 billion in the final quarter of 2012.

The Chinese newspapers that threw brickbats at Apple a few days ago have since changed their tune.

“The company’s apology letter has eased the situation, softening the tense relationship between Apple and the Chinese market … Its reaction is worth respect compared with other American companies,” wrote popular tabloid the Global Times, published by Communist Party mouthpiece the People’s Daily.

The Foreign Ministry praised Apple for “conscientiously” responding to consumers’ demands.

“We approve of what Apple said,” spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing this morning.

Only last week, the People’s Daily issued a scathing editorial on Apple’s return policy saying the popular smartphone maker was filled with “unparalleled arrogance”.

Apple was first targeted in mid-March by state broadcaster CCTV during its annual consumer day segment. Volkswagen AG, which was also criticized on the same show, plans to recall vehicles to fix a gearbox problem.

“That Timothy Cook had to step up and respond from the CEO’s chair shows the importance of China and how critical it is as a market not just for Apple but for every multinational company here,” said Kent Kedl, Shanghai-based head of Greater China and North Asia for risk consultancy firm Control Risks.

Foreign companies who are adept at managing media crises at home find it much tougher to navigate China where state media outlets, pandering to different audiences, often have opaque agendas and intentions. Analysts also said that foreign companies need to remember that the bigger the brand, the bigger a target it will be, especially in China.

“What foreign companies need to pay attention to, is that nobody operates in a vacuum, nobody operates only on the good graces of a brand name … Five to ten years ago a report on CCTV would have rippled a little bit, now it goes viral and has a life of its own,” Kedl said.

Apple’s acquiescence in this setting, where the world’s largest technology company by market value was ironically the David going up against China’s Goliath state media machinations, shows its wisdom in not challenging a more powerful enemy.

Although popular opinion on the Internet swayed in Apple’s favor, against state media and the reported threats of penalties from China’s State Administration for Industry and Commerce as well as its quality and inspection bureau, it was not Apple’s fight to win, experts said.

Other foreign companies targeted by CCTV, such as fast food chain operator Yum Brands Inc, have also apologized and faced scrutiny from government agencies. Last December CCTV reported that two of Yum’s suppliers purchased chickens from farmers who used excessive levels of antibiotics in their animals. The report and subsequent investigations hurt sales at Yum’s KFC chain.

But Apple’s situation is somewhat different because CCTV’s claim was not completely new. Last July, a Chinese consumer rights group also slammed Apple for its after-sales policies. That time, however, Apple held its ground.

With the apology and warranty change, Apple’s mea culpa is significant not just because it comes from a tech firm that rarely apologizes, but also because Apple may be realizing that in China, it needs to be proactive.

“They’re out of the woods and into the weeds. Things will rarely be smooth for Apple in China – even if consumers love it there will always be factions in and out of government that are trying to take it down,” said Michael Clendenin, managing director of technology consultancy RedTech Advisors.

“Apple made it easy this time, but they have learned to be more proactive. The next time they stumble, it will be easier to recover,” he said.

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It seems as if rumors start swirling about new Apple products as soon as previous models hit the market.

It might seem like you just got your new iPhone 5, but according to the latest rumors, a new iPhone 5S could be available in August. According to tech site iMore, the next-generation iPad could launch as soon as April.

iMore, is reporting that sources close to Apple say the company is giving “serious consideration” to launching its fifth edition iPad next month. We could possibly see the iPad Mini 2 next month as well.

As for the new version of the iPhone 5, it’s expected to have a faster processor and a better camera.

Keep in mind these are all rumors and speculations. Apple is known for trying to keep information about all new products a secret until the big unveil.

Other rumors circulating the web claim that the new iPhone will be available more colors and will have a bigger screen.

Follow Mary Ann Georgantopoulos on Twitter @marygeorgant

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Mozilla, makers of the popular Firefox Internet browser, is preparing to challenge Google and Apple’s grip on smartphone software.

A new Firefox operating system for mobile devices is set for a July release after winning the backing of 13 wireless service providers around the globe, including Spain’s Telefonica, China Unicom and America Movil.

Mozilla is betting there’s room for a software developer-friendly mobile platform alongside Apple’s and Google’s Android, which together power the majority of mobile devices on the planet.

The new software is based on open Web standards and is capable of operating on devices with much lower hardware requirements than today’s existing crop of smarpthones, according to Mozilla.

Because the Firefox OS is open-source and Web-based, third-party developers will be free to sell mobile applications without needing to share revenue with Apple or Google.

“There’s a strategic imperative for the industry to have another OS that really is open and supports choice and competition,” said Mozilla’s Senior Vice President of Products, Jay Sullivan.

Mozilla will showcase some of the first hardware devices based on that software at the Mobile World Congress, taking place in Barcelona this week. Among the brands that have signed on to make devices based on Firefox OS are South Korea’s LG, China’s ZTE and Huawei.

Unlike Google and Apple’s operating systems, which are built from proprietary technology, Firefox OS uses the HTML5 standard that Web services are built with. That means anyone familiar with Web programming can create Firefox OS apps.

Whether a smartphone built on Web standards can deliver the kind of performance that consumers expect remains to be seen. Facebook famously stopped using HTML5 to develop its iPhone app last year, with Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg saying the technology couldn’t deliver acceptable quality and calling a decision to use HTML5 for its app one of Facebook’s “biggest mistakes.”

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Apple Inc computers were attacked by the same hackers who targeted Facebook Inc, but no data appeared to have been stolen, the company said on Tuesday in an unprecedented admission of a widespread cyber-security breach.

Facebook revealed on Friday that unidentified hackers traced to China had staged a sophisticated attack by infiltrating its employees’ laptops, but no user information was compromised.

Apple, which is working with law enforcement to track down the hackers, told Reuters that only a small number of its employees’ Macintosh computers were breached, but “there was no evidence that any data left Apple.”

The iPhone and iPad maker said it would release a software tool later on Tuesday to protect customers against the malicious software used in the attacks.

Cyber-security attacks have been on the rise. In last week’s State of the Union address, U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order seeking better protection of the country’s critical infrastructure from cyber attacks.

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The company will spend more than $100 million to build the computers in the United States, Cook was cited as saying in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek.

“This doesn’t mean that Apple will do it ourselves, but we’ll be working with people and we’ll be investing our money,” Cook said.

He told NBC in an interview to be aired late Thursday that only one of the existing Mac lines would be manufactured exclusively in the United States.

Higher-tech products are largely made overseas, often in subcontracted factories not owned by the brands whose products they are making.

Cheaper labor costs have been key in encouraging U.S. manufacturers to have move production to China, but with Chinese wage and transport costs increasing, the advantage against the U.S. has narrowed in recent years.

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“We’ve reimagined Windows and we’ve reimagined the whole PC industry,” Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer told Reuters Television early Thursday ahead of the launch.

Windows 8 devices and the company’s new Surface tablet, which aims to challenge Apple’s popular iPad head on, go on sale at midnight on Thursday.

Steven Sinofsky, head of Microsoft’s Windows unit and the driving force behind Windows 8, opened the launch event in New York in front about 1,000 media and PC industry partners.

He showed off Windows 8′s new look, but stressed that the system was built upon the base of Windows 7, Microsoft’s best-selling software that recently passed 670 million license sales.

The new design of Windows, which dispenses with the Start button and features square tiles for apps, may surprise some users. Initial demand appeared solid, but customers were wary.

Early reviews of the Surface tablet were mixed, with praise for its slick hardware, but concerns about battery life and limited software and applications available.

“We’ve seen steady pre-order sales on Windows 8 devices from early adopters,” said Merle McIntosh, senior vice president of product management at online electronics retailer Newegg. “However, we expect that most average consumers are waiting until after launch to make a purchase decision.”

Investors were uncertain about the prospects for success of Windows 8, but many feel a solid launch could help Microsoft’s stock, which has languished between $20 and $30 for much of the last decade.

Apple’s shares have significantly outperformed Microsoft’s over the past 10 years, and its market value is now more than double Microsoft’s. Microsoft was little changed at $27.87; Apple fell 0.7 percent at $612.73.

“This really is about debunking the notion that Microsoft is a dinosaur and they are relevant in a new climate of tablets and mobile,” said Todd Lowenstein, portfolio manager at HighMark Capital Management, which holds Microsoft shares.

“Extreme pessimism and almost utter failure is priced into the shares, so any kind of positive delivery on units, customer perception, would be really beneficial to the stock.”

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The 7.9 inch “iPad mini” marks Apple’s first foray into the smaller-tablet segment. Apple also announced a fourth-generation full-sized iPad with improvements in graphics and processing speeds, just two days before Microsoft is due to show off its own “Surface” tablet.

Apple hopes to beat back their charge onto its home turf of consumer electronics hardware, while safeguarding its lead in the larger 10-inch tablet space that even deep-pocketed rivals like Samsung Electronics have found tough to penetrate.

Chief Executive Tim Cook kicked off Tuesday’s event, held at the opulent California Theater in San Jose, by touting the just-launched iPhone 5 as the fastest-selling smartphone in history. He added that there are now 200 million devices running iOS6, the fastest upgrade rate he has seen since the mobile software was launched about a month ago.

Amazon’s Kindle and Google’s Nexus 7 have grabbed a chunk of the lower end of the tablet market and proved demand for a pocket-sized slate exists. That has forced Apple into a space it has avoided and at times derided, analysts say.

A smaller tablet would mark the first device to be added to Apple’s compact portfolio under Cook, who took over from co-founder Steve Jobs just before his death.

“Apple sensed early that they had a real winner with the iPad and that has proven to be correct,” said Lars Albright, co-founder of mobile advertising startup SessionM and a former Apple ad executive. “They have a large market share, and to protect that market share they have got to be innovative.”

In a rarity for a company that tightly controls events, Apple live-streamed its invitation-only presentation – where it is expected to unveil the mini tablet – to Apple devices such as the iPad and Macintosh computers.

Apple Inc will sell its new 7.9-inch “iPad mini” for $329 and up, higher than some industry observers had expected.

The company said online sales will begin on Friday and shipments start a week later.

Wall Street analysts have said for months that Apple was planning a less expensive version of the iPad to take on cheaper competing devices, a move they say might hurt its margins but prevent its rivals from dominating an increasingly important segment.

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Seeing that pretty much all the details that leaked from the iPhone 5 announcements were true, you can pretty much guarantee that the new mini tablet will have a 7.85-inch display — but it won’t have Retina quality. Thanks to the recent innovations that we have seen in the iPhone 5, we can also expect this device to be lighter.

But there are other things that we may have to wait to find out about. Rumor has it that the iPad Mini will run on an A5 chip like the iPad 2, instead of the new A6 chip that is on the iPhone 5s. There’s also the chance that it may have 3G or 4G capabilities, which would put it one step ahead of its similar competitors like the Kindle Fire or the Google Nexus 7.

The last and final question — and perhaps the most important one — is the price. Sources have told various blogs everything from $250 (which puts it in the same price range as other mini tablets) to $329.

Whatever the price and specs, the product is expected to ship Nov. 2.
But, the new iPad isn’t the only thing to be excited for. Other possible items that could be announced tomorrow include a new iTunes, updated iMacs, updated Mac Minis and the one thing many of us have been waiting for: a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. Fingers crossed that all these new toys will be available by the holidays.

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While sales were solid, analysts were concerned that Apple was unable to produce the new phone fast enough to meet demand.

The early total for the iPhone 5 topped sales of the iPhone 4S, which sold more than 4 million units in its first weekend after Apple introduced it in October 2011.

Expectations for new Apple products are so high that Wall Street appeared not to be wowed by the latest numbers. Investors sent shares of the stock down 1.4 percent at $690.14 in mid-morning trade.

“It appears investors were disappointed with the slowdown in growth in the first weekend,” said BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk.

Apple said while the majority of iPhone 5 pre-orders have been shipped to customers, many were scheduled to go out in October.

The world’s most valuable technology company is being closely watched for any supplier problems that may slow down the smartphone production.

“We believe that sales could have potentially been much higher if not for supply constraints,” William Power, an analyst with Baird Equity Research, wrote in a note.

He forecast Apple selling 8 million to 10 million units in the fiscal fourth quarter ending in September.

One of Apple’s key suppliers for screens, Sharp Corp, is struggling with high costs and scrambling to raise funds to pay debt.

Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology Group, which assembles iPhones, closed a plant in China on Monday after about 2,000 workers were involved in a brawl in a company dormitory. It was not clear how long the shutdown would last.

Additionally, Apple is facing stiff competition from smartphones that run on Google Inc’s Android software, which has become the most-used mobile operating system in the world. Apple’s key supplier as well as rival, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, has taken the lead in smartphone sales.

The iPhone 5 has been one of Apple’s most aggressive international rollouts to date. The phone will be available 31 countries on September 28 and in more than 100 countries by the end of the year.

“Expectations for Apple are always white hot,” said Colin Gillis, a research analyst with BGC. “It’s not just enough for them to break records but to smash them.”

Apple signaled last week that pre-orders outstripped initial supply and that many phones would not be available until October.

The iPhone is Apple’s highest-margin product and accounts for half of its annual revenues.

On Friday, fans lined up at stores in cities around the world to get their hands on the new phone, which is thinner and lighter and has a bigger screen.

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CEO Tim Cook, who took over from the company’s late co-founder Steve Jobs last year, faces pressure to introduce a gadget that can help Apple remain at the forefront of the industry. The iPhone 5 sports a larger 4-inch “retina” display, ability to surf a high-speed 4G LTE network, and is 20 percent lighter than the previous iPhone 4S.

The latest iPhone comes as Apple tries to fend off competition that has reached fever-pitch. Google Inc’s Android has become the most-used mobile operating system in the world, while key supplier and rival Samsung Electronics has taken the lead in smartphone sales.

Now, Microsoft Corp is pushing its Windows Phone 8 operating system as a third alternative to Apple and Google’s.

Rivals have been first to market with phones that have bigger displays or run on faster wireless networks. Apple will try to close that gap with the unveiling of the newest iPhone, widely reported to offer 4G LTE for the first time and a 4-inch display, up from 3.5 inches.

MORE APPS

Cook began Wednesday’s event by saying the company’s notebooks now rank tops in U.S. sales, leading in market share in the past three months.

But it is the iPhone that carries the weight of Apple’s future on its slim frame, especially with the company continuing to play its cards close to the vest about future growth drivers, including an oft-rumored TV device.

Apple has sold more than 243 million iPhones since its 2007 arrival, after which the device proceeded to upend the industry and helped usher in the current applications ecosystem.

Cook told the audience at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco that its apps store now has more than 700,000 on tap — the industry’s largest library.

Apple also is making a lot of headway in a corporate market that has been dominated by struggling Canadian smartphone maker Research in Motion. Cook said almost every Fortune 500 companies was testing or using its iPhones and iPads.

Globally, Samsung leads the smartphone market with a 32.6 percent share followed by Apple with 17 percent, according to market research firm IDC. Both saw shipments rise compared to a year ago, with Samsung riding its flagship Galaxy S III phone.

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The new phone, to be introduced tomorrow by Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, will probably have a new hardware design, including a bigger screen and thinner body, as well as new mapping software and compatibility with speedier next-generation data networks. Analysts predict the iPhone may be among the biggest consumer-electronics releases in history. Still, Apple’s reliance on the device leaves Cook little margin for error.

“The iPhone is the make-or-break product for Apple,” said Sarah Rotman Epps, a mobile-phone industry analyst at Forrester Research. (FORR) “Apple has the undeniable lead, but to stay on top they need to keep innovating.”

Apple could sell as many as 10 million iPhones by the end of September alone, according to Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray Cos. (PJC) By contrast, it took Samsung Electronics Co. (005930) about 50 days to sell 10 million of its flagship Galaxy S III smartphone.

“Until they do something really unimpressive, which I don’t see happening this time around, Apple has a serious hit on its hands,” said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst at IDC.

Competing Army

Almost one year removed from the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, the newest iPhone faces a growing army of competitors looking to grab a piece of a smartphone market that Bloomberg Industries estimates was worth $219.1 billion last year. Samsung, Google Inc.’s Motorola Mobility, Nokia Oyj (NOK1V) and HTC Corp. (2498) are among those taking aim at Apple by introducing dozens of new devices each year, instead of just one.

The new iPhone will be Apple’s first change to the handset’s hardware design since 2010, raising anticipation among customers who have been holding off on buying a new smartphone.

The company garnered 43 percent of its $108.2 billion in sales last year from the iPhone. And because wireless carriers such as AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Wireless subsidize the roughly $620 Apple gets for each iPhone sale, the device accounts for about 70 percent of its profits, according to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. IPhone sales last quarter alone reached $16.2 billion, 33 percent higher than Google Inc. (GOOG)’s total sales and almost as much as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)’s $18.1 billion.

Apple’s new iPhone could contribute as much as a half a percentage point to U.S. economic growth in the fourth quarter, according to analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Closely Watched

IPhone sales also are what investors watch the most closely. Apple’s shares fell in July after the company reported disappointing sales of the handset. The shares have since recovered ahead of the new iPhone release, gaining 64 percent so far this year. They rose less than 1 percent to $663.96 at 1:58 p.m. today in New York.

“A lot is riding on this,” said Chris Jones, an analyst at market-research firm Canalys. “They have to make sure it’s as good as people expect.”

Apple’s once-a-year iPhone introduction also helps build anticipation for each upgrade, with news outlets and websites speculating about what new designs and features will be unveiled. Glyde Corp. and Gazelle Inc., two companies that facilitate the trade-in of older gadgets, said they’ve seen a surge in business in recent weeks as people look ahead to upgrading to the newest iPhone.

Supply Challenge

One of the biggest challenges for Apple may be manufacturing enough devices to keep up with demand. Shortages from screen manufacturers LG Display Co. (034220) and Japan Display K.K. may limit how many iPhones Apple can ship, according to Barclays Plc. That may hinder Apple’s ability to sell about 50 million iPhones by December, as many analysts have predicted.

Apple’s event starts at 10 a.m. local time at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in downtown San Francisco. It will be the company’s first iPhone introduction since Jobs died last October on the day after the iPhone 4S was unveiled.

With the newest iPhone, Apple will attempt to balance giving existing customers a design different enough from previous models to inspire purchases, while also remaining true to the style that has made it a market leader among first-time buyers, said IDC’s Llamas. Adding a bigger screen will be a critical new feature for consumers who want to use their phones for basic tasks that were once completed on laptops and personal computers, he said.
Data Demands

Data demands of new iPhone users could also put a strain on mobile data networks being introduced by wireless carriers including Verizon Wireless and AT&T. Known as long-term evolution, or LTE, the communications technology allows users to watch video, stream music or perform other data-intensive tasks at a faster speed than existing 3G networks.

“Apple is going to sell a lot of LTE phones. If the network doesn’t perform, it could put a cloud over LTE,” said Walter Piecyk, an analyst at BTIG LLC. “The network operators will say the networks are ready, but in wireless, you never really know.”

Apple previewed some new software features for iPhone’s operating system in June, including a partnership with Facebook Inc. (FB) so that members will be able to quickly post photos, comments and other content to the world’s largest social network. Apple also has built its own mapping software that will replace Google’s technology, as well as a new feature for consolidating all of a user’s digital loyalty and gift cards.

App Developers

The software upgrades will give developers new tools for making shopping and navigation applications as well as others for Apple’s App Store, said Matt Murphy, a partner at venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

“There are a ton of developers that are very excited,” said Murphy, whose firm invests in companies that make iPhone applications.

To get ahead of Apple’s iPhone event, Nokia and Motorola introduced a lineup of new smartphones last week with features such as edge-to-edge screens and a spring-mounted camera for steadier pictures.

Samsung, which uses Google’s Android mobile operating system and offers several different models, has emerged as Apple’s biggest competitor in smartphones. The South Korean manufacturer, which is also one of Apple’s biggest suppliers of components, accounted for 19.1 percent of global smartphone shipments last year, compared with Apple’s 18.8 percent, according to Bloomberg Industries data. Samsung said last week that it has sold 20 million Galaxy S IIIs.

Design Dispute

The two companies also are battling in court, with Apple winning a more than $1 billion verdict last month from a California jury, which said that Samsung copied the iPhone’s design. Samsung said it will appeal.

Apple, Samsung and smaller rivals are racing to win over customers who will be upgrading to smartphones from older phones. By 2013, smartphones will for the first time account for the majority of global mobile-phone shipments, two years earlier than expected, according to IHS.

Apple’s growing popularity in China and elsewhere outside the U.S., as well as its built-in fan base, will help make the new iPhone one of technology’s biggest debuts, said Canalys’s Jones.

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The typically cryptic invitation said “It’s almost here”, sported a number 12 – corresponding to the date of the event – and cast a large shadow of the number 5, a clue that the fifth version of the popular smartphone could be in the pipeline.

Apple’s iPhone launches are among the most-watched events on the tech industry calendar. The latest version of the company’s main product — generating more than half its revenue — may sport a larger, higher-end screen, sources have said.

The new screen could measure 4 inches from corner to corner, one source has said, an increase from the 3.5-inch display that has been held constant since the smartphone began selling in 2007 and revolutionized the mobile industry.

Some analysts say the larger screen may be a response to rival Samsung Electronics, whose larger, Google Android phones have helped it become the world’s biggest smartphone maker.

Speculation had also arisen in past months that the company might offer details about a smaller version of its iPad, but the emailed invitation offered no hint of that on Tuesday.

The event will take place at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the preferred venue for the unveiling of past products such as the iPad.

The new iPhone will hit store shelves in time for the crucial holiday season. Shares in the company edged 0.6 percent higher to $669.44.

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Judge Birss, who ruled last week that Samsung did not infringe Apple’s designs because its Galaxy Tab tablets were not “as cool” as the U.S. company’s iPad, said Apple should publish a notice on its website and in British newspapers to correct any impression that the South Korean company copied Apple, Bloomberg said.

The notice, which is in effect an advertisement for Samsung, should remain on Apple’s website for at least six months, the report said.

The judge, however, rejected Samsung’s request that Apple be forbidden from continuing to claim that its design rights had been infringed, saying that Apple was entitled to hold the opinion, the news agency said.

Samsung said in a statement after the hearing: “Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited.”

Apple declined to comment on Judge Birss’s instruction.

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The new iPhone screens will measure 4 inches from corner to corner, one source said. That would represent a roughly 30 percent increase in viewing area, assuming Apple keeps other dimensions proportional. Apple has used a 3.5-inch screen since introducing the iPhone in 2007.

Early production of the new screens has begun at three suppliers: Korea’s LG Display Co Ltd, Sharp Corp and Japan Display Inc, a Japanese government-brokered merger combining the screen production of three companies.

It is likely all three of the screen suppliers will get production orders from Apple, which could begin as soon as June. That would allow the new iPhone to go into production as soon as August, if the company follows its own precedent in moving from orders for prototypes for key components to launch.

Apple’s decision to equip the next iPhone with a larger screen represents part of a competitive response to Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.

Samsung unveiled its top-of-the line Galaxy smartphone with a 4.8-inch touch-screen and a faster processor earlier this month.

With consumers becoming more and more comfortable using smartphones for tasks they once performed on laptops, like watching video, other smartphone manufacturers have also moved toward bigger displays.

AESTHETICS AND DESIGN

A likely shakeup in the design of a larger-screen iPhone could go a long way in boosting its “wow” factor, convincing fans to trade in their old iPhones for new ones, said Shaw Wu, an analyst at Sterne Agee.

“Not only do users pay for features, but they also pay for aesthetics and design. That’s as important, or more important, than features,” Wu said. “People love the current design — but it’s 18 months old.”

The latest iPhone 4S was introduced in October of last year and essentially has the same form factor as the iPhone 4, launched in 2010.

Samsung, which this year became the world’s largest cell phone maker, sold 45 million smartphones in the first quarter, and sales of the Galaxy phones outstripped the iPhone.

Apple was not immediately available to comment.

Apple’s move toward a larger display for the next generation iPhone was earlier reported by the Wall Street Journal.

In addition to being Apple’s rival, Samsung is also a major components supplier to the U.S. computer, tablet and phone manufacturer.

The share of the production of new screens that go to each of the three manufacturers working with Apple has not been determined, one source said.

Sales of the touch-screen iPhone now account for about one-half of Apple’s total sales, and the phone has been a key source of growth for the company in Asia.

A report in March by a South Korea business newspaper said Apple would use a “retina” display on the next iPhone, the same technology in its latest iPad that enhance image quality.

The post Apple readies iPhone with bigger screen: Sources appeared first on Metro.us.

Environmental group Greenpeace released dozens of black helium balloons inside Apple’s Fifth Avenue store this afternoon to protest the tech giant’s use of coal for powering its data centers.

Greenpeace launched the “Clean our Cloud” campaign to call on tech companies like Apple, Amazon and Microsoft to use renewable energy to deliver their clouds, which are server farms that store data online.

Activists donned “cleaning crew” outfits as they stormed the store with squeegees and mops, posting signs on glass windows and releasing bouquets of black balloons, which rose to the store’s glass ceiling and stayed there through the afternoon.

The activists were asked to leave the store, but remained on the sidewalk out front, handing flyers to passersby.

“People around the world want to use their iPhones and iPads with the knowledge that our cloud is being powered by clean energy, not dirty pollution pumped out of coal-fired smokestacks,” said Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace International Executive Director.

Apple spokesperson Kristin Huguet told Metro Greenpeace’s claims about Apple’s coal use are exaggerated and that the company is on track to build the country’s largest non-utility fuel cell installation.

“Our data center in North Carolina will draw about 20 megawatts at full capacity, and we are on track to supply more than 60 percent of that power on-site from renewable sources including a solar farm and fuel cell installation which will each be the largest of their kind in the country,” Huguet said.

“We believe this industry-leading project will make Maiden the greenest data center ever built, and it will be joined next year by our new facility in Oregon running on 100 percent renewable energy,” she added, directing consumers to a PDF with more information about Apple’s environmental policies.

Greenpeace fired back at Apple, saying, “Despite their claims, they haven’t disclosed enough information about how they will provide power for their data centre in Prineville to prove that it will be powered with renewables.”

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“Apple facilitated the publisher defendants’ collective effort to end retail price competition by coordinating their transition to an agency model across all retailers,” according to the complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court by the anti-trust division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The publishers include Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, MacMillan, Penguin Group, Pearson Plc and Simon & Schuster, a unit of CBS Corp.

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The company, legendary for keeping its agenda under wraps, has not said what it plans to reveal but invited speculation with its cryptic event invitation, graced by a partial image of an iPad screen and the tagline: “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

The Cupertino, California-based consumer device company will likely unveil a faster and better-equipped version intended to thwart increasing competition from rivals such as Samsung Electronics Co and Amazon.com.

The newest iPad will be capable of operating on a high-speed 4G “LTE,” or Long-Term Evolution network, according to a source familiar with the product. At speeds roughly 10 times faster than current 3G technology, that may go a long way toward banishing the sometimes shaky video quality of older devices.

It will be 4G-equipped, letting users watch high-quality, fast-speed video — in turn, providing Verizon Wireless and AT&T with a potential revenue boost.

Tomorrow’s unveiling will be Chief Executive Tim Cook’s second major product launch, after the iPhone 4S reveal last year at the company’s headquarters. It could prove a key moment for the company as it fights to stay ahead of its competitors.

“A lot will depend how receptive the market is to the new features offered by iPad 3, two of which are believed to be quad-core processing and 4G-LTE capabilities,” said Frost & Sullivan’s analyst Phil Harpur. “While iPad 2 offered only minor incremental upgrades, this time the market will be expecting a lot more.”

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Heartbroken British fans aiming to purchase music by the late Whitney Houston got a nasty surprise on Sunday, as the price for downloading the singer’s greatest hits jumped 60% in the hours after her death. From the Daily Mail:

Whitney Houston fans have accused Apple of exploiting the late singer’s death by increasing the cost of her in-demand albums on iTunes.

Her Ultimate Collection album, released in 2007, has increased by £3 ($4.70) to £7.99 ($12.60), according to Digital Spy.

[...] Users reportedly complained they were unable to download the Ultimate Collection while it was given the new price.

This would be a shocking and reprehensible cash-in on Apple’s part, except for one thing: Apple doesn’t set the prices in the iTunes store. Record companies do. So instead it’s a shocking and reprehensible cash-in on the part of whoever controls the European rights to Houston’s catalog.

If these record companies don’t watch out, they’re going to start getting a bad reputation.

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The day was designated to honor Apple’s co-founder, approximately two weeks before his Oct. 5 death.

Friday Oct. 14 will offer Apple fans one more opportunity to say goodbye to their hero.

Biz Journal reports that the day was set up by a group of workers at the Atlanta digital advertising studio Studiocom Inc. The initial intention is was so that people could thank Jobs for everything he’s accomplished.  After his passing, the day turned into a day of honor.

The organizers of Steve Jobs Day are encouraging people to dress like Steve Jobs will talking about him with friends, and on Facebook and Twitter. Topics of discussion will include favorite Apple products and why you love Jobs’ work.

When tweeting about everyone’s favorite tech guru and all the cool gadgets he created, make sure to use the tag #stevejobsday.

Did Jobs’ career touch your life so much you want to talk about it? Were his inspirational quotes life-changing for you? Well, you’re in luck as there will be in-person meet ups throughout the world.

In New York, Apple enthusiasts will gather at Central Park, Sheep Meadow at 5 p.m. In Philly, the Art Museum Stairs at the Philadelphia Museum will be overtaken at 1 p.m.

Click here to see a list of all the gatherings. At each meet up, you will also be able to donate money for cancer research.

Do you think this is a little too much? Well, think again as the Steve Jobs Facebook page has more than 2,600 followers so far.

So let’s pay tribute to the man who changed the way we listen to music, use a computer and communicate one last time.

Speaking of tribute, check out this cool street art via the folks at Gothamist.

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According to Deadline, Sony Pictures made a $1 million against $3 million to make ‘Steve Jobs.’

The movie will be based on Jobs’ biography written by former CNN chairman and Time Magazine managing editor Walter Isaacson.

Jobs died less than a week ago after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Isaacson’s book was supposed to be released on November 21, but due to Jobs’ death the release date was moved up to October 24.

According to Deadline the biography is based on 40 interviews with jobs as well as more than 100 interviews with friends, family members and colleagues.

At the time of Jobs’ death last week, the only movie chronicling his life and rise to fame was ‘Pirates of Silicon Valley,’ which was based on the book “Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer” by Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine.

Again, it really comes to no surprise that a movie based on the tech titan is already in the works.

The biggest question remains, though, who should play Jobs in the film?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section.  

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Customers who can’t wait for the iPhone 4S to officially go on sale next week can head to Apple’s website to order it now and choose a rate plan and carrier– either Sprint, AT&T or Verizon.

The phone comes in black or white and ranges from $199 to $399, depending on the gigabytes.

The new iPhone 4S features a dual-core A5 chip, 8MP camera, iOS 5, iCloud and Siri, a personal assistant feature.

The iPhone 4S was unveiled Tuesday, just one day before Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away at age 56.

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Everyone from your neighbor to Taco Bell commemorated the co-founder of Apple on Twitter.

Of course celebrities also reacted to the news as well.

Singer Pete Wentz’ tweeted summed it up the best:

“There are few people who have made an impression in every area of the modern world. Steve Jobs was a such a person — a modern Leonardo da Vinci. He changed the way we thought about art, design, invention, and the future by combining them all. He has been someone that taught me it’s important to believe in what you do no matter how against the grain or revolutionary it is. He was a true visionary in every sense of the word.”

Below is a roundup of celebrity tweets mourning Steve Jobs’ death.

Ryan Seacrest: “‘Have the courage to follow ur heart & intuition. They already know what u truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.’ – Steve Jobs”

Jesse Tyler Ferguson: ”So sad to hear about the brilliant Steve Jobs passing. RIP. Sent with love from my iPhone.”

Vinny Guadagnino: “STEVE JOBS IS DEAD?!?!!? NOOOOOO REST IN PEACE TO A TRUE AMERICAN GENIUS”

Mandy Moore: RIP Steve Jobs. Thank you for your innovation and genius. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones….

Jane Lynch: “We will miss you, Steve Jobs. Sent lovingly from my iPhone.”

Anderson Cooper: “My first Apple product, the Apple 2E computer. I think that’s what it was called.”

Howard Stern: “Steve Jobs was a true original. So Sad. A tremendous loss.”

Mindy Kaling: “Hard not to think how much Steve Jobs could’ve done with more years. So sad. You’re the best, Steve.”

Tory Burch: “Saddened by the loss of #SteveJobs. A true visionary and inspiration.”

Ashton Kutcher: ”I never thought I could be so busted up about the loss of someone I never met. #stevejobs”

Danny DeVito: “Steve Jobs miss you from the planet have you with me every day on earth”

Jimmy Fallon: “Thank you, Steve Jobs, for all of the fun and amazing ways you made our lives better….Sent from my iPhone.”

Zooey Deschanel: “So sad about Steve Jobs, he was a truly inspirational man.”

Dianna Agron: “We never met, yet I stand beside members of this giant playground that you discovered for us. We use it every day, never tiring of the sand.”

Alec Baldwin: “Sad about Steve Jobs. On par with Henry Ford, Carnegie and Edison.”

Neil Patrick Harris: “Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. Your genius will live on for generations to come…”

Ricky Martin: “Where is the excitement gonna come from. We won’t see another you in this lifetime. Thank you for everything Steve! :o(“

Read more:

10 inspirational quotes from Steve Jobs
VIDEO: Steve Jobs’ greatest moments
What exactly is pancreatic cancer?
American mourn Steve Jobs’ passing PHOTOS

The post Celebrities remember Steve Jobs on Twitter appeared first on Metro.us.

What exactly is pancreatic cancer, though?

According to Cancer.org, the pancreas is a small, fish-shaped organ found behind the stomach.

The organ has two different kinds of glands: the exocrine and the endocrine.

While tumors can form on both glands, exocrine tumors are much more common.

.In the United States each year, more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to MedicalNewsToday.com. The disease is more common in Europe as 60,000 people are diagnosed annually.

Since the cancer is usually diagnosed late into its development, the five-year survival rate is less than 5%.

Jobs, who lived for seven years after he was diagnosed, had a neuroendocrine tumor. This is a less common, slower-growing tumor which his usually more treatable.

Read more:

10 inspirational quotes from Steve Jobs
VIDEO: Steve Jobs’ greatest moments
Americans mourn Steve Jobs’ passing PHOTOS

The post What exactly is pancreatic cancer? appeared first on Metro.us.

Jobs, who touched the daily lives of countless millions of people through the Macintosh computer, iPod, iPhone and iPad, died on Wednesday at age 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He stepped down as Apple chief executive in August.

In New York City, an impromptu memorial made from flowers, candles and a dozen green and red apples was erected outside a 24-hour Apple store on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, with fans snapping photos of it on their iPhones.

“It was really sad news for us,” said Daiichiro Tashiro, 25, visiting from Tokyo.

Tributes poured in both from ordinary people and from the pinnacles of the business and political worlds.

At an Apple store in Sydney, lawyer George Raptis, who was 5 years old when he first used a Macintosh computer, spoke for almost everyone who has come into contact with Apple. “He’s changed the face of computing,” he said. “There will only ever be one Steve Jobs.”

A college dropout and the son of adoptive parents, Jobs changed the technology world in the late 1970s, when the Apple II became the first personal computer to gain a wide following. He did it again in 1984 with the Macintosh, which built on breakthrough technologies developed at Xerox Parc and elsewhere to create the personal computing experience as we know it today.

The rebel streak that was central to his persona got him tossed out of Apple in 1985, but he returned in 1997 and after a few years began the rollout of a troika of products  that again upended the established order in major industries.

A diagnosis of a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2004 initially cast only a mild shadow over Jobs and Apple, with the CEO asserting that the disease was treatable. But his health deteriorated rapidly over the past several years.

Jobs’s death came just one day after Cook presented a new iPhone at the kind of gala event that became Jobs’s trademark. Perhaps coincidentally, the new device got lukewarm reviews.

Student design a hit on the Web

A Hong Kong design student’s poignant tribute to Apple founder Steve Jobs became an Internet hit Thursday with its minimalist, touching symbolism — and brought a job offer and a flood of commemorative merchandise using his design.

Jonathan Mak, 19, a student at Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University School of Design, came up with the idea of incorporating Steve Jobs’ silhouette into the bite of the Apple logo, symbolizing both Jobs’ departure and lingering presence at the core of the company.

The logo was even used as the Twitter profile picture for Ashton Kutcher.

“It’s been a crazy day for me,” Mak told Reuters. “I’m both excited and terrified,” added the teenager.
Mak said he had received a job offer because of the design.

Mak, who first created the logo after Jobs stepped down as Apple’s head in August, said it hadn’t made much of a splash until he reposted it Thursday.

“Originally, I was going to put a black modified logo against a white background,” said the bespectacled Mak. “It just didn’t feel somber enough. I just wanted it to be a very quiet commemoration. It’s just this quiet realization that Apple is now missing a piece. It’s just kind of implying his absence.”

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Jobs, 56, died Wednesday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jobs co-founded the computer, media and electronics giant with Steve Wozniak in 1976 but left eight years later, returning in 1996 to reinvigorate Apple and bring about a string of successful innovations, including the iMac personal computer, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. His health a matter of public concern for years, Jobs underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2004. After leaves of absence for medical reasons in 2009 — during which he received a liver transplant — and earlier this year, Jobs officially resigned on August 24, stating in a letter at the time that he could “no longer meet [his] duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO.”

While being Mr. iPod, iPhone and iPad, he was also a man of words.

Here are 10 of Jobs’ most inspirational quotes:

1. “Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new.”

2. That’s been one of my mantras — focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”

3. “I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next.”

4. “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”

5. “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

6.”My model for business is The Beatles. They were four guys who kept each other’s kind of negative tendencies in check. They balanced each other and the total was greater than the sum of the parts. That’s how I see business: great things in business are never done by one person, they’re done by a team of people.”

7. “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. … Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

8. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

9. “Picasso had a saying: ‘Good artists copy, great artists steal.’ We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas…I think part of what made the Macintosh great was that the people working on it were musicians, poets, artists, zoologists and historians who also happened to be the best computer scientists in the world.”

10.  “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.”

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Jobs co-founded the computer, media and electronics giant with Steve Wozniak in 1976 but left eight years later, returning in 1996 to reinvigorate Apple and bring about a string of successful innovations, including the iMac personal computer, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. His health a matter of public concern for years, Jobs underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2004. After leaves of absence for medical reasons in 2009 — during which he received a liver transplant — and earlier this year, Jobs officially resigned on August 24, stating in a letter at the time that he could “no longer meet [his] duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO.”

Following the news of his death, the Apple homepage read:

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost
an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to
know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring
mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and
his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

Statement by Apple’s Board of Directors via  TechCrunch.

CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.

Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

Read more:

10 inspirational quotes from Steve Jobs.

The post Steve Jobs dies at 56 of pancreatic cancer appeared first on Metro.us.

Newly minted CEO Tim Cook helmed his first major product launch with aplomb. The operations and supply-chain expert, not known for pitching products, stood in for ailing co-founder Steve Jobs, who did not show up as some expected he would.

The new iPhone is faster, souped-up and comes with voice recognition and a better camera as expected, but did little to lift the bar for smartphones.

Investors and Apple fans, who were looking to be blown away by some amazing new surprise, sent the shares down as much as 3 percent. “It’s been 16 months and all you’ve got is an A5 processor in the existing iPhone 4,” said BGC Partners’ analyst Colin Gillis.

The latest iPhone come at a critical juncture as Android phones by Samsung Electronics and other competitors close in on Apple’s lead. Android phones dominate the U.S. market three years after Google introduced the software.

Some shareholders and analysts were expecting a cameo appearance by Jobs, now chairman. The pancreatic cancer survivor, who handed the reins to Cook in August after taking his third medical leave, has not yet appeared.

Apple launches are some of the hottest events on the tech calendar. Tuesday’s “Let’s talk iPhone” show marked Cook’s unofficial debut since taking over from Jobs in August.

Apple must sustain the popularity of its iPhone 4, which is more than a year old. Apple sold more than 20 million units in the third quarter, which ended June 25.

The iPhone, which accounts for more than 40 percent of Apple’s sales, has been a big success since it came out in 2007, making Apple into one of the world’s leading consumer electronics companies.

The company also claims inroads into a corporate market dominated by Research in Motion. It said more than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies are testing or using its iPhones and iPads.

RIM shares trading on the Nasdaq stock market were down nearly 3 percent. Apple’s shares fell about 1 percent to $371.32, while Google shares fell 1.4 percent.

INTENSIFYING COMPETITION

The iPhone event took place at Apple Central — the same venue where the iPod first was introduced years ago — versus the larger, splashier venues of more recent choice such as downtown San Francisco’s Moscone center.

The restricted attendance may have triggered a surge in online viewership, which slowed or crashed live blogs run by websites such as Engadget, Wired and Gizmodo.

Interest was high with Google emerging as a formidable competitor after three years of rapid market expansion.

The latest version of the iPhone comes as the economy slows and competition intensifies. More than 550,000 Android-based devices — including tablets — are activated each day.

Nielsen data shows the iPhone was No. 2 in the United States with a 28 percent market share, with Android at 43 percent.

Globally, iPhone shipments rose 9.1 percent in the second quarter while Nokia’s plummeted more than 30 percent, handing the top spot to Apple with a market share of 18.4 percent, according to IHS iSuppli. Samsung, whose shipments grew faster, is coming on strong with a market share of 17.8 percent.

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Jobs, who fought and survived a rare form of pancreatic cancer and revolutionized the technology arena with the iPhone in 2007, is deemed the heart and soul of a company that he himself started in a garage in the late 1970s.

“I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know,” he said in a brief letter announcing his resignation. “Unfortunately, that day has come.”

A college dropout, a Buddhist and a son of adoptive parents, Jobs started Apple Computer with friend Steve Wozniak. The company soon introduced the Apple 1 computer. But it was the Apple II that became a huge success and gave Apple its position as a critical player in the then-nascent PC industry, culminating in a 1980 IPO that made Jobs a multimillionaire.

“I will say to investors: Don’t panic and remain calm,” said analyst Colin Gillis.

Below, the text to Jobs’ resignation letter, via Gizmodo:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet
my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let
you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board
sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it.
And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new
role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank
you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

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