In a DisplaySearch (www.displaysearch.com) report, the research group says that after the iPhone 5 launch, as Apple faces the challenge of meeting market demand, mobile brands are considering what the next generation of smartphone will be. "Specifications of any individual components are not the key to a successful smartphone, but how they work together to achieve new levels of performance," says DisplaySearch. "The iPhone 5 shows that thinness, power efficiency, and advanced performance can coexist if the brand has very strong design capability and is partnered with top-tier component vendors." You can read the complete report at http://macte.ch/QZf5l .

Siri, Apple's voice-activated personal assistant, is breaking Chinese law by listing Chinese escorts, according to "The Register" (http://macte.ch/dpAfi). The article adds that it's "apparently" returning numerous dubious local listings for escort services, nightclubs and other entertainment venues when prompted by the commend: "I want to visit prostitutes." Siri has also been caught helping out local users in the People’s Republic with requests for pornographic content, according to "TechInAsia." Given that Apple strictly forbids pornographic and sexually explicit apps, it’s very odd that Siri includes this functionality at all, the article points out. So far Chinese authorities haven't taken any action. But prostitution, though widespread, is illegal in China, so we'll see.

Seagate Technology (www.seagate.com) has introduced SuperSpeed USB 3.0 to the Backup Plus storage for Mac. Currently available through Amazon.com, the Seagate web site, and from Apple Stores in November, both Backup Plus Portable for Mac and Backup Plus Desktop for Mac drives will feature the new USB 3.0 interface, which is also compatible with earlier USB 2.0 ports. This new interface means faster transfer of data, so you can backup more quickly, up to 10x that of USB 2.0, via TimeMachine or simply transferring a file from a computer to external storage, according to the folks at Seagate.   SeagateBackup Plus hard drives were first introduced in June of this year. They're designed to work interchangeably with both Mac and Windows computers. Seagate says the Backup Plus products include a software feature that makes them the world’s first external hard drives to provide a way to back-up content from social networks, such as Facebook and Flickr. Seagate Backup Plus Portable drives...

Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps: CTM Development (www.ctmdev.com) has announced FoxTrot Professional Search 4.1, an update to their popular networked document indexing solution. The upgrade beefs up Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility. Also, text excerpts of the highest ranking context for a search can be displayed in the document list, enabling quicker sifting throught found documents before preview or secondary search. Boinx Software (www.boinx.com) has given us version 4.0.1 of FotoMagico. The upgrade boasts some under-the-hood improvements. Syncro Soft, the producer of Oxygen XML Editor and Author (www.oxygenxml.com), has released version 14.1 of its XML tool. The upgrade makes XML authoring available to everybody by allowing attributes to be edited directly in the Author view though form like controls and placing actions directly in the document flow. Gerald Aquila has rolled out Firetask for Mac -- an update of the task management application that combines...

Apple has begun work on the first, US$68 million phase of its new Prineville, Oregon data center, clearing and flattening land for one of two, 338,000 square-foot buildings atop the bluff that overlooks town, reports "The Oregonian" (http://macte.ch/l37yR). The total cost of the facility will likely run in the hundreds of millions or billions of dollars once it's outfitted with servers to run iCloud service, the article adds. Apple paid US$5.6 million in February to buy 160 acres from Crook County, and promptly set up a small, 10,000 square foot modular data center on the site. The Prineville data center is located a quarter mile south of a Facebook server farm. Oregon's mild climate and relatively low power costs are part of the draw for such facilities. Rural "enterprise zones" spare computers and other equipment from the property taxes that other businesses pay. The exemption could be worth several million dollars or more to Apple, depending on the size of its investment, notes...

Apple will add two more stores in China as it expands sales outlets for its produces in the world’s largest market for computers and smartphones, reports "Bloomberg" (http://macte.ch/jkIsd). A new store will open Oct. 20 in Beijing’s Wangfujing area, Apple said in a posting on its Chinese-language website. The company will also unveil a store in the southern city of Shenzhen, the hub where iPhones and iPads are made by Foxconn Technology Group, Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said.

In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com) -- Sterne Agree analyst Shaw Wu thinks the rumored "iPad mini" (expected to be officially announced next week) -- will be the "competition's worst nightmare." He says those competitors are already struggling to compete against the US$399 iPad 2 and $499 iPad. Apple hitting an even lower price point will only expand its share of the tablet market, Wu says. The analyst adds that the main question is whether Apple will "go for the kill" against competitors and accept lower margins to reach the $199 price point of its competitors, such as the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire HD. He doesn't feel Apple needs to hit the $199 price point and match Google and Amazon. Wu thinks Apple could sell its smaller iPad for around $350 and it would still be a success.

Viewers are watching more TV now than ever -- just not how they used to, according to the 2,306 participants of a new research study from TVGuide.com . Here are three viewing trends that are changing TV forever: ° On demand and streaming are increasingly driving discovery. Forty-two percent are watching more streaming content than last year, and 89% of respondents said that they discovered new shows on demand or online after episodes or seasons aired. ° People are watching more paid videos. It's not all freebies! Thirty percent of respondents who pay for video said that they are watching more paid video than they did in 2011. ° Many people are using mobile devices to watch TV. TV Guide found that 68% of respondents are watching one to five hours of video per week via apps on their mobile devices (including on their own TV Guide app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, which is available for free from the App Store).

Griffin Technology has announced its newest remote-controlled accessories – the MOTO TC Monster, available now, and the MOTO TC Racer, slated to launch in mid-November. Both vehicles feature touch controls on iOS devices powered by apps: the MOTO TC Monster App or the MOTO TC Racer App, respectively. Both put you in the driver’s seat to create, record and replay custom routes. MOTO TC Monster, available now (store.griffintechnology.com/moto-tc-monster ) for US$59.99, is a remote-controlled monster truck that uses a Bluetooth connection to iOS devices for the controls. \Both MOTO TC Monster and MOTO TC Racer require iOS 5.0 or later; and are compatible with the iPhone 5, iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch (3rd, 4th and 5th generations) and iPad (all generations).

Soundfreaq, maker of wireless speakers, has teamed up with husband-and-wife design team, Robert and Cortney Novogratz, to launch The Novogratz Collection for Soundfreaq. The special edition collection, available in limited quantities for the holidays, combines the Novogratz’ fashion forward design concepts with Soundfreaq’s line of Bluetooth speakers to serve the style conscious, sound savvy music lover. The Novogratz Collection for Soundfreaq will be available for purchase at Soundfreaq.com on Nov. 15 and shipping in time for the holidays. With two unique designs for three of Soundfreaq’s most popular speakers, The Novogratz Collection for Soundfreaq offers bold, eclectic designs, matching The Novogratz’ funky style with Soundfreaq’s track record for offering products with rich sound and the convenience of Bluetooth wireless, says Matthew Paprocki, co-founder and creative director of Soundfreaq. Soundfreaq’s Sound Stack, the company’s hi-fi wireless speaker, slips on a trendy snake...

Earlier this week it was reported (http://macte.ch/XbRVj) that the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) has verified Apple's Retina display MacBook Pro and latest MacBook Air models were among notebooks included on their registry of environmentally approved products. Following some criticism of that decision, EPEAT has now posted a defense of its actions . You can read the entire thing at http://macte.ch/ctYX8 . "With these new standards in place, and stakeholders preparing to update the PC/Display standards EPEAT is poised to keep the intended progress of standards development, application and verification, and revision going strong," the environmental group says. "We encourage critics of the system to push for their points of view in the standards development process -- where it counts."

Verizon says it activated 3.1 million iPhones during its latest fiscal quarter, representing approximately 46% of its total smartphone activations of 6.8 million. The iPhone activation number was up from 2.7 million in the previous quarter that saw Apple garnering a similar 45% share of Verizon's smartphone activations. The company reported 56 cents in EPS [earnings per share] in third-quarter 2012, an increase of 14.3% compared with third-quarter 2011 earnings of 49 cents per share.
 "In the third quarter, Verizon continued to deliver double-digit earnings growth and strong cash generation, and we remain solidly on track to meet our financial objectives for the year," saysLowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO. "With our 4G LTE network advantage, well-received Share Everything Plans and unmatched product portfolio, Verizon Wireless continues to do an outstanding job of balancing growth and profitability.  Wireless achieved record profitability in a quarter in which we reported the...

Information about sales, profits and margins for specific Apple products should be made public, the judge hearing the company’s lawsuit against Samsung ruled on Wednesday, though a higher court’s decision could keep the data from ever being revealed, reports the "IDG News Service" (http://macte.ch/MJXg4). Apple used the financial information in a motion to ask for damages above and beyond the US$1.05 billion award that a jury awarded it in August. The jury had found Samsung copied iPhones and other Apple devices in several of its products. However, Apple wants to keep the financial information under seal, saying it constitutes trade secrets, notes the "IDG News Service." However, Judge Lucy Koh of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California says those figures should be publicly available. But she ruled that the information should not be unsealed before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rules on an appeal by Apple. Both courts have stays in place until...

Eltima Software (http://mac.eltima.com) has introduced PhotoBulk 1.0, a bulk image editor for Mac OS X (10.7 and higher). PhotoBulk lets you add text/image watermark, resize, and optimize hundreds and thousands of images or photos in just one click. You can check how your files will look like before they're processed. PhotoBulk remembers the settings you used last time, so you won't have to set all the same options again to redo customizations for another pack of images. What's more, you can optimize file size of your JPEG or PNG images while keeping their original resolution, quality, and format. (Note that PNG optimization is time-consuming and works slower than JPEG compression.). Supported formats include JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and TIFF PhotoBulk 1.0 is available on the Mac App Store at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photobulk-watermark-resize/id537211143?l... . The cost is US$4.99 for a limited time.

I-MEGO has released a special Cambodia edition of their Throne headphones, available for a limited time. It's adorned with the colors of the Cambodian flag to bring attention to a special cause that benefits Cambodian charity efforts.  The Throne's audio is provided by two 40mm drivers. For this specialty release, the Throne Cambo feature an adjustable headband complete with commemorative Cambodia flag stripe, comfort foam, and premium earpads. Throne Cambodia headphones are available in black (X1) and white (X2). These headphones are offered as part of Project Cambodia, an I-MEGO charity program that supports the improvement of Cambodian orphanages and schools. I-MEGO will donate US$2 for every unit of Throne Cambodia special edition sold.  As part of a partnership with Taiwan-based charity ELIV (Empowering Lives through Innovative Volunteerism), these donations will give financial assistance to Cambodian Light Children/Association Siem Reap Branch and other organizations in...

Apple plans to hold a conference in Shenzen, China for its "Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad" (MFI) program partners on Nov. 7-8, reports "TechCrunch" (www.techcrunch.com), quoting an unnamed "source close to Apple’s accessory manufacturing partner." The event will reportedly focus on guidelines for the new Lightning connector that debuted with the iPhone 5. The article says the conferenced will be similar to the one held Dec. 7-9, 2011, when Apple expanded the MFI program to promote adoption of new AirPlay and Bluetooth standards. What's more, Apple will strictly regulate sales of Lightning connectors for MFI partners, and that the cost per part for those components, "while not unreasonable, is fairly high compared to other widely-available standards like USB," says "TechCrunch."

Bubble Chart Pro Plus is a new Mac OS X app designed to solve the problem managers face when trying to prioritize their projects using multiple competing criteria such ROI, cost, resources, and risk. The software uses a project prioritization system that lets managers integrate multiple competing criteria into a single value score for each project. Version 4 brings a project portfolio management tools to business managers and consultants. Users can now add their own custom graphics to chart backgrounds, automatically overlay project names on bubbles, and animate selected bubbles to "blink" on-and-off. Bubble Chart Pro Plus is available for Mac 10.6.8 or above. Single user licenses start at $199.97 (US). You can download a free demo version online (www.bubblechartpro.com).

Total earned social media impressions for the world’s largest consumer brands reached 38.0 billion in the third quarter of 2012, according to data released today by PQ Media (www.pqmedia.com), which specializes in emerging media research and analytics, and uberVU (www.ubervu.com, a social marketing platform for real-time end-to-end social media audience measurement. Apple placed third on the list. According to the "Q3 2012 uberVU Leading Social Brand Report" earned social media impressions grew by double digits in both August and September. Global social media mentions split identically 55% male and 45% female in each month of the quarter, while averaging 42% from the U.S. and 58% from Rest-of-World for the period. Thirty consumer brands achieved amplified social media reach, with each earning more than 350 million impressions and a SOV [share of voice] of 1% or greater. The Restaurants category ranked #1, with 10 brands earning a total of 9.4 billion IMPs. Tied for second were...

In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com) -- Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster thinks the rumored "iPad mini" will have a cannibalization rate of 20%. In other words, every mini's sold would take the place of one full-size 9.7-inch iPad. Assuming an iPad mini goes on sale Friday, Nov. 2 (Apple is expected to unveil it at an Oct. 23 media event), Munster forecasts Apple to sell at least five million units in the December quarter. That would be enough to cannibalize a million regular iPad units during the holiday shopping season, he says. Previously, the analyst had forecast sales of 21 million iPads in the December quarter. However, with the expected launch of the iPad mini, he's increased his total iPad sales prediction to 25 million. For calendar year 2013, Munster's unit forecast has risen from 86.5 million to 95 million.

Hog Bay Software has introduced FoldingText 1.0 (www.foldingtext.com) for Mac OS X. The company says it's a text productivity tool "for geeks." With Folding Text, you can organize with plain text outlines and use modes to embed specialized behavior such as todos and timers. As users type, FoldingText auto-formats the document into sections, lists, and paragraphs using Markdown-based formatting. Users can fold away sections to get a clear overview of their work, expand them to see the details, and focus in on a section to hide everything else. For example, you can add ".todo" into your outline and list items transform into todo's items with clickable checkboxes. Click a checkbox and the item is marked "@done" with strikethrough formatting. You can add ".timer" in your outline to create a live multi-step timer. Enter times in plain text and use FoldingText to stay on-task and on-time throughout the day. FoldingText requires Mac OS X 10.7 or later. It costs US$14.99 and is available...

Belkin has launched the US$89.99 WeMo Baby, a device that turns any iOS phone or tablet into a digital baby monitor. Powered by Evoz’s baby monitoring service, WeMo Baby works over 3G/4G or Wi-Fi to wirelessly stream audio from your baby’s room to your mobile device no matter your location and without having to carry an additional receiver. Because it works using your own device, you don’t have to worry about carrying around an additional bulky receiver, which frees up hands and space to make you more productive while baby is sleeping, says Jamie Elgie, senior director of product management for Belkin. To use you plug in WeMo Baby, download the free WeMo Baby app from the Apple App Store, and connect to your existing wireless network. WeMo Baby also works with multiple mobile devices, allowing mom, dad and the babysitter to listen in at the same time. The free WeMo Baby app powered by Evoz gives you unlimited access to your baby’s status with digital sound.The app also features an...

Native Instruments has introduced Drop Squad, a Maschine Expansion that highlights the deep sound of dubstep and bass music culture. Bringing synthesis to Maschine and Maschine Mikro for the first time, Drop Squad includes presets from NI's Massive synthesizer which now comes as a free download when users register or upgrade their Maschine software. The 35 kits and 120 patterns in Drop Squad contain a host of drums, low-end wobbles, FX, stabs, sweeps and deep basses. An additional 10 special kits add tribal and mechanical one-shots, along with many wobbles, drills and synthesized "vowel" sounds that will be instantly recognizable to fans of dubstep. Over 50 Massive presets are included. Drop Squad is available at the NI Online Shop (www.native-instruments.com/dropsquad) for US$59.

iTwin, the company that created the iTwin "remote file access" device, has released iTwin SecureBox, bringing hardware-key based security to Dropbox. Now, even the most privacy-conscious users can rest assured about putting their sensitive data in the Cloud. It automatically encrypts files dragged into the SecureBox folder and integrates with Dropbox, requiring no extra steps. Plugging the device into a computer automatically decrypts and presents the files that had been encrypted using iTwin SecureBox. iTwin SecureBox will be automatically pushed as a free download to all current iTwin users. iTwin can be purchased for US$99 at Amazon.com and iTwin.com .

Seagate Technology (www.seagate.com) has announced three new enterprise-class hard disk drives (HDD) optimized for traditional data centers and emerging cloud infrastructures. Designed for cloud bulk data storage, the Seagate Enterprise Value HDD provides up to 3TB of storage in a low-power configuration. The company also announced its next generation of highly-reliable hard disk drives, the Seagate Enterprise Capacity 3.5 HDD featuring what the company says is the industry's widest range of capacities (1, 2, 3 and 4TB) of secure data storage for robust data center usage and the Seagate Enterprise Performance 10K HDD, which delivers performance and built-in security for optimized storage efficiency and data protection. Contact Seagate for more info and pricing options.