iOS 6 To Get Facebook Integration

Earlier this week Apple CEO Tim Cook gave an interview during the opening session of AllThingsD’s D10 Conference. During that interview he said many interesting things. Among them was a brief discussion of Facebook and its relationship with Apple. While There had been rumors that iOS 4 would be getting OS-level Facebook integration, that deal fell through. Similarly, a deal to integrate Facebook with Ping, Apple’s home-built music-based social network, also fell through, prompting Steve Jobs to call Facebook “onerous.” During the interview at D10, however, Tim Cook hinted at Facebook integration for iOS 6. When asked why iOS 5 had included Twitter integration but not Facebook, Cook suggested that we “stay tuned on this one.”

iOS 6 To Include All New Versions Of Apple’s Apps

As WWDC 2012 approaches with its (presumed) unveiling of iOS 6, more information is starting to emerge about what sort of features the latest version of iOS will include. We’ve already told you about the coming update to the Maps app. New information has surfaced now suggesting that the rest of Apple’s stock apps will be getting significant updates as well.

According to iDownloadBlog, a “credible source” has revealed that all of Apple’s built-in iOS apps have been completely rewritten to add numerous new features. The source cautions, though, that the overall look and feel of iOS will remain unchanged. The home screen, for example, will remain unchanged. The source also said that as far as the Maps update is concerned, the cat is completely out of the bag: there aren’t any new features that weren’t included in the leaked information.

PC Growth To Stagnate As Tablets Take Over

When Tim Cook took the stage to introduce the new iPad back in March, he spent a lot of time talking about the “post-PC world,” a world in which people used tablets instead of PCs for the bulk of their day-to-day internet and media-consumption needs. The iPad, Cook said, was the poster child for this post-PC era.

New data released this week by Morgan Stanley appears to prove that he was right. The data shows that the PC market’s growth in the past year has all but stopped. The data projects that by the end of the year, the PC market will have grown by just 0.7%. While that growth is projected to improve somewhat in 2013, it is only expected to reach 1.4%.

Google Maps Announcement Will Beat Apple To The Punch

You may have heard by now that Apple plans to ditch Google Maps in iOS 6. It seems that after three years of buying digital map companies, Apple is ready to build its own in-house mapping solution to serve as the source for iOS 6′s built-in Maps app. Apple’s new Maps app is said to include photorealistic 3D rendering, and will likely be unveiled alongside iOS 6 at Apple’s WWDC 2012 keynote on June 11.

Google, though, doesn’t want to let Apple get the jump on them, it seems. They’ve recently begun handing out invites to a Google Maps event of their own. According to these invites, Google plans to unveil “The Next Dimension of Google Maps.” The event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 6th at 9 AM. According to the invitation, a copy of which was obtained by 9to5Google, the event will provide invitees with “a behind-the-scenes look at Google Maps” along with “a sneak peek at upcoming features that will help people get where they want to go – both physically and virtually.” 

iPhone 5 Rumor: Video Puts New iPhone’s Size In Perspective

As you have no doubt heard by now, it looks like the new iPhone is going to be a bit bigger than its predecessors. The rumors have been circulating for ages, but the first confirmation appeared a couple weeks ago. Earlier this week, an image surface that appeared to show the new iPhone’s rear case, followed very quickly by even more images.

This second set of images – along with a schematic that surfaced around the same time – showed the new iPhone’s front panel as well, complete with a larger display and relocated FaceTime camera.

All of these images, though, have raised a very important question: just how big is the new iPhone going to be compared to the iPhone 4S? The front panel image and schematic showed a screen that was just shy of 4-inches on the diagonal, roughly half an inch bigger than the 3.5-inch screen on every iPhone since the original in 2007. But still, it’s can be hard to get a good idea of just what that looks like in comparison to the iPhone 4S. Fortunately, the Japanese site Macokatara (Google Translation) seem to have gotten their hands on one of the front panels, or at least a mockup of one. They took some video of the new iPhone’s front panel alongside the iPhone 4S.

Apple Looking For Pizza Cook, Rolling Pin Users Need Not Apply

                      Only authentic Neapolitan style pizza for the folks at Apple

What’s on the menu at Apple’s Elk Grove campus?

Pizza. And not just any pizza – but authentic Neapolitan style pizza made by a pizza expert.

But in order to serve that cheesy, saucy, delicious delicacy (getting hungry…), Apple needs to hire a new pizza cook. That means that Neapolitan pizza is a new addition to the culinary rotation in Elk Grove, or the previous pizza cook left on his accord or Apple’s.

Either way, Apple’s Jobs page has a listing for a pizza cook needed in Sacramento. Here’s the full description – note Apple’s unsurprising specificity when it comes to the prerequisites:

The ideal candidate has extensive experience making pizza dough from scratch and is able to portion and toss the dough; possesses the ability to hand stretch the pizza (without using a rolling pin) and cook the pizza to order in a high temperature oven. The cook will also prep and maintain all food items necessary to make a variety of pizzas (toppings, sauces and related prep).

Boost Mobile May Be Next Carrier To Get The iPhone

UPDATE:

A Boost spokesperson declined to comment on the rumors, saying “We don’t comment on rumors or speculation on our product portfolio.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

Yesterday we brought you news that prepaid wireless carrier Cricket Wireless had announced that they would begin carrying the iPhone on June 22. Now it looks like Cricket might not be the only prepaid carrier that’s about to get in on the iPhone action. Recent reports say that Boost Mobile, which is owned by Sprint, will be getting the iPhone later this year as well.

Apple Facing Patent Suit Over iOS Developer Program

On Tuesday evening Tim Cook gave an interview during the opening session of AllThingsD’s D10 Conference. During that interview he spoke at some length about patent litigation, which he called “a pain in the ass.” That very same day, it seems, a company called Cathas Advanced Technologies filed suit against Apple in U.S. District Court in Delaware. The suit accuses Apple of infringing on a patent owned by Cathas with its iOS Developer Program.

The patent in question, which can be read in detail here, was granted in August 2005 and deals with the creation and delivery of customized software to a customer via a web interface. Cathas’s complaint (PDF) claims that Apple’s iOS Developer Program infringes on the patent, though it does not specify how. Cathas is asking for “a reasonable royalty” along with interest and legal fees.

Over Half of Computer Users Commit Software Piracy

It was recently reported that an RIAA lawsuit against LimeWire, seeking $72 trillion in damages, was shot down. A new study has revealed that more than half of all computer users had committed some form of content piracy, which leads to speculation on whether or not some overzealous collective might call for an arrest of them all.

The study was conducted by industry watchdog group Business Software Alliance, and posted in its ninth annual Global Software Piracy Study. Roughly 15,000 computer users from 33 countries were queried, and plainly asked, “How often do you acquire pirated software or software that is not fully licensed?” About 57% of respondents said that they were pirates, up from 42% in 2011, and the frequency of piracy was likewise up, which costs the software industry about $63.4 billion per year.

iPhone 5 Rumor: iOS 6 Beta Hints At Hardware Upgrades

Rumors about the new iPhone have been coming fast and furious over the last two weeks, and the torrent doesn’t appear to be slowing. Yesterday we brought you a report of a schematic drawing that appeared to confirm earlier reports of the new iPhone’s redesign.

Previously most of the new information focused on the external details – screen size, case composition, etc. Now, though, new information has surfaced that offers some insights into what Apple will be putting inside that redesigned shell. According to information obtained by 9to5Mac, the new iPhone will be getting several internal upgrades, including more RAM, an improved GPU, and an improved processor.

The information was obtained by digging into a beta version of iOS 6, which is currently undergoing internal testing at Apple, and will probably be unveiled next month at WWDC 2012. According to data contained in the OS, the new iPhone will have an ARM S5L8950X processor. Exact details of the processor itself are unclear, though it’s a fair bet that it will have something like the upgraded 32nm processor in recent the more recent iPad 2 model. The GPU will also be getting an upgrade, possibly similar to that found in the new iPad. The data also suggests that the iPhone will be getting 1GB of RAM to match the new iPad.

iPhone 4S Coming To Cricket Wireless June 22

Apple’s flagship product, the iPhone 4S, is about to make its way to another new carrier: Cricket Wireless. The company announced today that it will offer the 16GB iPhone 4S and the 8GB iPhone 4 beginning on June 22. Each will include Cricket’s $55 per month unlimited talk, text, and data plan.

While that’s an excellent deal any way you slice it, there is a bit of a catch. While most carriers subsidize the cost of the iPhone (and other smartphones), reducing the price of the handset when you sign a two-year contract, Cricket is a prepaid-only carrier. That means there are no contracts. That’s great for the customer in terms of flexibility – if you get an iPhone 4S through Cricket and then decide that you want the new iPhone when it launches in October, you can switch without any trouble. Unfortunately, though, no contract means no carrier subsidy, which means you’ll pay a lot more for your iPhone than you would by going through one of the other carriers. The iPhone 4S will set you back $499.99, while the iPhone 4 is only $100 cheaper.

WWDC 2012: Apple To Show Off Apple TV OS Update

Apple may be preparing to show off a new update to the Apple TV that will round out the device’s feature set, according to a recent report. The new update will replace the current Apple TV’s version of iOS with the software that will be running on the iTV.

Citing “a trusted source,” BGR is reporting that Apple has been in talks with manufacturers to get them to support a “control out” feature that would allow users to control a variety of third-party accessories (including cable set top boxes) with their Apple Remote, or from the iOS Remote app.

BGR’s source claims that only the Apple TV’s OS update will be shown off at WWDC. Apple appears to be saving the HDTV announcement for a later date.

Tim Cook: Apple May Kill Off Ping

Cook says Apple customers voted not to put their energy into Apple's failed social network.

Speaking to Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher at last night to kick off AllThingsD’s D10 Conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that Apple is exploring the possibility of killing Ping.

Wait, you may be saying, what’s Ping? Considering how little attention Ping has gotten over the last couple of years, you could be forgiven for not knowing what it is. The next time that someone tells you that everything Apple touches turns to gold (or cash, or increased market value, or whatever), you can point to Ping. Launched in 2010 as part of iTunes 10, Ping is Apple’s attempt at its own social network centered on music. Ping promised to let users “[f]ollow your favorite artists and friends to discover the music they’re talking about, listening to, and downloading.”

Apple Stores Begin Receiving Nest Thermostats

                                                       On sale for $249

The Nest Learning Thermostat has landed at Apple stores and is no ready to be purchased and installed. The revolutionary thermostat was introduced at last years Consumer Electronics Show and features the ability to learn your habits to help you save on electricity and therefore money. Nest has the ability to dynamically learn patterns such as energy use and time frames that you tend to turn up or down the thermostat.

The Nest also features several other great things. Not only does it learn, but it lets you know when you are at peak energy savings with a little leaf. It also can show you, in chart form, your energy use over a period of time. As you change the temperature in your house over several days, it learns your tendencies and will change on the fly based on what you normally do. Nest also has easy access functionality with the ability to access the system over wifi through your computer or a free iPhone or Android app.

Tim Cook Thinks U.S. Patent System Is Broken

Often in the tech world it seems that you can hardly go a day without hearing about some new lawsuit where one company is suing another for violating its intellectual property. Whether it’s non-practicing entities (i.e., patent trolls) going after companies like Apple or Microsoft to make a quick buck, or it’s companies like Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Motorola, or Google going after one another, the patent wars have gotten pretty crazy.

In an interview with Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg during the opening session of AllThingsD’s D10 Conference, Apple CEO talked at some length about these lawsuits, and expressed some pretty strong opinions. When Swisher asked whether Cook thought patent litigation was a problem for innovation, Cook responded “well, it’s a pain in the ass.”

He went on to echo comments he made during Apple’s quarterly earnings call last month. He stressed his belief that “it’s important that Apple not be the developer for the world.” He went on to draw an analogy between Apple’s innovation and art:

Aaron Sorkin: Whoever Plays Steve Jobs Needs To Be Intelligent

                             Screenwriter talks upcoming Steve Jobs biopic

Earlier this month, we received confirmation on the rumor that Aaron Sorkin would be the man to adapt the screenplay for the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic. The film, slated for release in 2014, will be based on Walter Isaacson’s bestselling biography Steve Jobs. I’m sure most people feel Sorkin is up to the task, if not the perfect man for the job. I mean, the last time he wrote a screenplay based on a book about a tech giant it turned out alright.

Today, at the D10 conference, Sorkin talked about his writing process, specifically the details of tackling an iconic figure like Jobs. He gave us a few hints about the structure of the film and also talked about how he expects the lead role to be cast.

Sorkin acknowledged that biopics are oftentimes difficult to write, simply because the structure of the film is almost already written. We can expect his script to sway from the traditional “cradle-to-grave structure” of many biopics. Instead, he said that he was “going to identify the point of friction that appeals to me and dramatize that.” Of course, we could rattle off a few notable “points of friction” rather quickly, so it’s unclear what Sorkin will choose to focus on. We know that the “competing” Steve Jobs biopic (the indie one starring Ashton Kutcher) will focus heavily on Jobs’ early years.

Apple Buys Music Editing Company Redmatica

Earlier this morning we told you about Apple CEO Tim Cook’s comments on Apple’s focus on secrecy. He insisted on the importance of maintaining secrecy when it comes to Apple’s products, and noted that such secrecy includes not publicizing the acquisition of new companies. He said that while Apple purchases other companies regularly, “if I don’t have to [tell you about it] I don’t.”

Well, fresh on the heels of that statement comes news that Apple appears to have made just such a purchase. According to Italian website Fanpage (Google Translation), Apple has acquired Redmatica, a small company based in Correggio, Italy that specializes in advanced audio editing software, including one program designed to work with Apple’s GarageBand for Mac and iOS.

iPhone 5 Rumor: Schematic Confirms Front Panel Redesign

It looks like all the rumors circulating about the new iPhone’s redesign may have a bit more confirmation today. Yesterday we reported on images that had surfaced purporting to show the back casing of the new iPhone. These images appeared to confirm rumors that the new iPhone would be getting a metallic rear panel and a larger display.

Included in those images was one that showed the new iPhone’s front glass alongside the rear panel. Today, Japanese site iLab (Google Translation) has published another image that may offer some confirmation. This image is not, unfortunately, an actual component. Instead it is a schematic that appears to show details about the new iPhone’s front panel. Unfortunately the words have been blurred out, so all we have is the actual design image.

Tim Cook: Apple To “Double-Down” On Secrecy

         Apple's new CEO has no plans to relax Apple's grip on new product information.

Every company has its own little quirks: aspects of its operational philosophy – small or major – that give it its own personality. One of Apple’s quirks, if you will, is its devotion to secrecy. Apple keeps every detail of its operations – particularly upcoming products – locked down tight with a vehemence that some would call paranoia.

Some have thought that Apple’s secrecy was primarily a characteristic of the company’s late founder and CEO, Steve Jobs, and that with Tim Cook now at the helm, Apple’s philosophy on this might change. Any such hopes were dashed last night, however. Speaking at AllThingsD’s D10 Conference, Cook told Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, with whom he was sharing the stage, that “we’re going to double down on secrecy on products.” While the company would continue to increase its transparency with regard to things like the environment and supplier responsibility, secrecy on new products would remain paramount.

Tim Cook Hints iOS Facebook Integration May Be Coming Soon

                                              "Stay tuned," Cook says

When Apple unveiled iOS 5 last fall with Twitter integration, the big question on everyone’s mind was “Where’s Facebook?” Apple had reportedly been in talks to bring Facebook integration to iOS since before iOS 4, but nothing had ever come of it. When iOS 5 came out with Twitter integration but no Facebook (a feature that appears to carry over to OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, coming later this year), it raised a lot of eyebrows.

Last night at AllThingsD’s D10 Conference Apple CEO Tim Cook spent some time on stage with Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, talking about Apple. During that talk, Cook strongly hinted that iOS would be getting Facebook integration in the not-too-distant future. When asked about the situation by Mossberg, Cook said that he thought the relationship between Facebook and Apple was “very solid,” pointing out that “I saw Sheryl earlier, you can ask her” (referring to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg). He went on to say that he had “great respect for them,” and that iOS users should “stay tuned on this one.”

Tim Cook Promises Improvements To Siri Coming Soon

                           And yes, the S in iPhone 4S does stand for Siri.

Even if you don’t have an iPhone 4S (or a jailbroken iOS device running Spire), you know what Siri is. It’s the voice-activated “killer app” for the iPhone 4S, introduced in October. It’s the focus of pretty much every ad for the iPhone 4S you’ve ever seen (including some recent ones with celebrities).

Siri is also, however, a subject of some controversy. While most iPhone users like it, others hate it. Some of those even claim that Apple’s ads are deceptive and are suing Apple for false advertising.

Whatever else Siri may be, though, there’s one thing that Apple has emphasized from the beginning: as cool as Siri can be when it’s working properly (like in Apple’s ads), the feature is still in beta. Unfortunately, that means that Siri won’t always work like it’s supposed to.

Speaking to Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher last night at AllThingsD’s D10 Conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged Siri’s problems, and promised that the personal assistant software would be getting some big improvements in the future.

iPhone 5 Rumor: Back Panel Image Leaked

          Image confirms smaller dock connector, metal back for new iPhone

A leaked image may confirm some of the rumors we’ve been hearing about the upcoming iPhone. The image shows the rear panel of the new iPhone (probably not the “iPhone 5″).

The image comes from Chinese part supplier iFixyouri, who passed it along to 9to5Mac. Check it out below:

There are a few things this image (assuming it’s genuine, of course) tell us about the new iPhone. First, this is plainly a metal shell. According to iFixyouri, the panel is made of aluminum. No glass, and no liquidmetal. Second, it confirms the smaller dock connector, and it appears that the speakers will be upgrade. Third, it looks like the new iPhone will indeed be thinner and taller, though it’s tough to tell from the photo. That means that the iPhone really will be getting a larger screen. Finally, it looks like the new iPhone will be keeping the same basic form factor as the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Again, it’s hard to tell from the photo, but it appears that the new iPhone will have the same squared-off design as its predecessors, rather than adopting a teardrop design or the curved back panel of the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

iPhone Downloads Fall 5% As Competition Increases

Aggregate daily app downloads are on the decline in absence of major U.S. events to spur on discovery

According to the Fiksu App Store Competitive Index, app downloads from America’s top 200 free iPhone app providers, have declined almost 5% from March through April.

They also report that the average cost for securing a loyal customer is on the rise, mostly due to increased competition in the app marketplace. The cost went from just $1.30 in March, to $1.46 in April. That’s a more than 12% increase.

While iPhone downloads went from 4.45 million in March down to 4.23 million in April, they claim that the changes could also be due to a lack of significant events in the United States that would otherwise spur on a need for discovery and the subsequent download of apps.

iOS 6: New Maps App Shown In Leaked Images

                          Photos hint at 3D mode, updated app interface.

A couple weeks ago we brought you news that Apple was finally preparing to drop Google Maps from iOS in favor of their own in-house 3D maps app. While the app itself would stay largely the same, the backend map data would now be built using technology acquired from the three mapping companies Apple has acquired in the last few years. Rumor has it that the new maps app will involve hyper-realistic 3D maps and be pretty amazing.

Now it looks like those rumors might be true. Photos published by BGR this morning purport to show the new maps app in action. The photos aren’t the best quality, so it’s hard to tell if the new Maps app really is as spectacular as it’s rumored to be. One thing the photos do show, however, is a 3D button. One of the companies acquired by Apple, C3 Technologies, specializes in photorealistic 3D renderings of map data. It looks like Apple might be incorporating those renderings into the new maps app.

Prototype iPad With Two Dock Connectors Sells For $10,200

Device proves Apple scrapped plans for a dual-dock connector iPad at the last minute.

In the weeks and months leading up to the unveiling of the original iPad in 2010, there were all sorts of rumors about what Apple’s tablet device: what it might look like, what sort of features it might have, how much it might cost, and so on. There were even rumors about what it might be called – iSlate was the most common, though iTablet was kicked around as well. The choice of “iPad” surprised pretty much everything, and subjected the tech world to enough feminine hygiene-related jokes to last a lifetime.

At any rate, one of the rumors that was widely believed was that the iPad would have dual dock connectors – one beneath the home button (where it is now), and one on the side for when the iPad was being used in landscape mode. Numerous reports, component leaks, and a patent application seemed to confirm this, yet when the device was actually unveiled, there was only one dock connector – a design choice that Apple has held to in two subsequent generations.

So, what happened to that second dock connector? Apparently Apple decided at the last minute to remove it. It seems, however, that there are still a few prototypes floating about. In fact, one of them made its way onto eBay over the weekend. The prototype was built for testing purposes and includes Apple’s Switchboard platform for testing hardware (based on the icons, it looks like Apple is populated by Star Wars and Transformers fans; try to contain your shock).

WWDC 2012: Apple Announces Keynote, Schedule, App

                                Official app hints at changes coming in iOS 6.

Apple has released the schedule for the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, including this year’s Apple keynote. As we reported last month, WWDC 2012 is scheduled for June 11-15 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. Apple’s keynote will take place on Monday June 11th at 10 AM Pacific Time (1 PM Eastern). It will be Tim Cook’s first WWDC keynote since becoming CEO last year.

The schedule is available at Apple’s WWDC 2012 page. Apple has also released this year’s official WWDC app, a universal iOS app which is available in the App Store. Unfortunately, only attendees are able to view the full schedule, which means that if you’re not one of the lucky few who scored a ticket before they sold out, the app won’t do you much good. Both the app and the website require you to sign in with your Apple Developer ID before showing you anything.

Otterbox Unveils Latest iPhone Case

                                                 Completely waterproof

Consumer electronics accessory company Otterbox has just released a new, completely waterproof protective case for iPhone. The new product is part of its Armor series, and will be available on June 24th. Check out the clip below for more details:

OtterBox points out that the new case is drop proof, dust proof, crush proof and waterproof, and “hands down, the toughest case [we’ve] ever built.” The shell fits over an iPhone with just a 3000th of an inch of float between the case and the phone, and includes a medical-grade stainless steel latch. There’s no word on the price, but earlier versions of Otterbox cases typically ran about $40.

Foxconn Begins Apple iTV Production Trials [RUMOR]

                                  Possible trial production stage commences

It was recently reported by China Daily that Foxconn is investing $210 million into building a new production line in Huai’an City, China. Foxconn plants, known for various questionable practices including employing underage workers, while underpaying and likewise overcharging employees to live in on-site dorms, prompting strikes and mass-suicidal behavior. Now Chinese news site Sina reports that Foxconn is now taking orders for Apple’s TV platform, tentatively called iTV. No word on whether the TV might be manufactured in the new facility.

Sneak A Peek Inside An iPhone Factory

                           Better brush up on your Chinese language skills

The iPhone is considered by many to be a magical device. It would almost seem like they’re made inside some kind of Willy Wonka-esque factory full of happiness and sunshine. We all know that is not the case as the Foxconn factories have been well-documented in the news. There have been reports of worker abuse and inhumane working conditions. This has led to worker suicides on multiple occasions, but the company has made great strides in the last year to clean its act up.

M.I.C. Gadget obtained a video of Foxconn CEO Terry Gou and a Chinese reporter taking a tour through the Zhengzhou branch of Foxconn. It’s a fascinating look at the inside of a factory that many people always thought was some kind of internment camp full of human rights abuses. The video clearly shows what looks like a modern factory with everybody working in relative contentment even if it is extremely mundane.

Absinthe 2.0: How to Jailbreak Your iPhone

                         The steps to breaking free from Apple's iOS 5.1.1

iPhone, iPad, and iPod users who want to use their devices more freely have always been in a race with Apple to keep ahead of updates. Because of that, the release this week of Absinthe 2.0 was exciting news for the Apple hacker community.

Absinthe 2.0 is the jailbreak for Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 5.1.1. It was released during a presentation by a “dream team” of Apple crackers in Amsterdam. The team is already working to crack Apple’s upcoming iOS 6, scheduled to release along with the new iPhone this fall.

IBM Bans Siri Over Security Concerns

                          Company says app is too easily hacked

It seems we hear (or read) every day about a new security concern regarding a mobile device, its apps, or a new feature of either one. It’s the price we pay for being jacked in to technology 24 hours a day, and every developer has worked out their own safeguards against hackers, both for their own safety and that of their customers.

Now, a seemingly innocuous app has a major company concerned for its security and has banned its use within their walls. Siri, the personal assistant app developed for the iPhone, is causing a lot of talk lately because of bugs in her system and because of some rather silly ads starring Zooey Deschanel and Samuel L. Jackson, but now the talk is shifting to more serious matters: is the use of Siri safe?

If you’re one of those people who reads the user agreement before you download something, you might have noticed that Siri’s reads like this: “When you use Siri or Dictation, the things you say will be recorded and sent to Apple in order to convert what you say into text. By using Siri or Dictation, you agree and consent to Apple’s and its subsidiaries’ and agents’ transmission, collection, maintenance, processing, and use of this information, including your voice input and User Data, to provide and improve Siri, Dictation, and other Apple products and services.”

iOS 5.1.1 Jailbreak: Absinthe 2.0 Gets An Update With Bug Fixes

                        Absinthe 2.0.1 now available for download.

This morning we brought you news that the long-awaited jailbreak for iOS 5.1.1 was ready for download. The public jailbreak tool, Absinthe 2.0, was released to the public this morning.

Now, though, just a few hours later, Absinthe has gotten an update. It seems there were some bugs in the initial release that were preventing some users from jailbreaking their devices. Absinthe 2.0.1, which is available now, should fix those bugs.

App Store Gets Free App Of The Week, Editor’s Choice

Facebook Camera, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and Sketchbook Ink are among the featured apps.

Apple has taken some extra steps to promote new apps in the iOS and Mac App Stores. If you go to the Featured section of the App Store on your iOS device or your Mac, you’ll see a few apps marked Editors’ Choice, and one marked Free App of the Week.

As you might expect, the apps aren’t the same across the board. The iOS App Store has four Editors’ Choice apps – two each for iPhone and iPad. The iPhone apps are the newly-released Facebook Camera and Extreme Skater. The Editors’ Choice apps for iPad are Sketchbook Ink and Air Mail.In the Mac App Store, the Editors’ Choice apps are CoBook and Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The Free App of the Week appears to be unique to the iOS App Store. This week’s is the ever-addictive Cut the Rope: Experiments.

Apple Employees Get Stock Dividends, CEO Tim Cook Declines

                              Cook passes on dividends worth $75 million

Back in March, Apple announced that their stockholders would begin receiving a dividend payment of $2.65 per share of non-restricted stock. In a document filed with the SEC yesterday, the company announced that it would also begin paying dividend equivalents to Apple employees who had been compensated with restricted stock units (RSUs). Because RSUs are not considered outstanding common stock, they would not be eligible for the dividend payment announced in March. Those employees who have been given RSUs will receive the same $2.65 per unit that shareholders will receive. when Apple starts sending out dividend payments later this year.

Apple iTV Announcement To Come In December?

                 Analyst predicts Apple's TV could "freeze the market."

It seems that rumors surrounding the HDTV Apple may or may not be working on (sometimes called the iTV, sometimes just the Apple TV) have been coming more frequently of late. Today we’ve learned that analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray believes that Apple may announce such a device in December.

In a note to investors, Munster predicted that an Apple HDTV would “freeze the market” for HDTVs during the 2012 holiday season. He also predicted that an iTV would be in the 42-55-inch range, and cost $1,500-2,000. He also suggested that the iTV would include Siri, App Store integration, and an iOS app for interface control (a la the Remote app already in the App Store). Munster also believes that such a TV would capture 10% of the overall TV market within the first 1-3 years following its release.

iOS 6 Jailbreak Already In The Works

Dev Team keeps a few exploits secret so they can get to work on new iOS versions quickly.

With this morning’s news that the untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.1.1 was finally available, you would think that those responsible for it might be inclined to rest on their laurels for a while. Apparently you’d be wrong.

Several members of the Dev Team sat down with Softpedia at the Hack In The Box conference going on now in Amsterdam to talk about what’s coming next in the world of iOS jailbreaking. The interview consisted of pod2g (who’s given name is apparently Cyril), Joshua Hill (p0sixninja), and Nikias Bassen (pimskeks). They revealed several interesting facts about the jailbreaking process, including the fact that they’re already working to make headway on the jailbreak for iOS 6, which should be releasing later this year alongside the new iPhone.