iLounge

Apple was the world’s top purchaser of semiconductors in 2011, according to new research from Gartner. Apple last year purchased over $17.2 billion in semiconductors, up 34.6 percent from its 2010 total of $12.8 billion, and good for a 5.7 percent share of all semiconductor purchases on a per-company basis. Following Apple on the list was Samsung, with a 5.5 percent share, HP, also with a 5.5 percent share, Dell, with a 3.2 percent share, and Nokia, with a 3.0 percent share. “The major growth drivers in 2011 were smartphones, media tablets and solid-state drives (SSDs),” said Masatsune Yamaji, principal research analyst at Gartner; all three are major growth areas for Apple, including the iPhone, iPad, and the drives found in the company’s MacBook Air laptops.

Apple has hired away Anderson Teixeira, former President of Sony Ericsson U.S. and Head of Region North America, to become its new head of Latin American operations. According to 9to5Mac, Teixeira, whose official title at Apple will be Latin America General Manager, had been with Sony Ericsson for ten years, and started at Apple earlier this month. A mid-2009 profile on Teixeira revealed that he is a native of Brazil, and during his time with Sony Ericsson was based out of Miami, FL, Raleigh, NC, and Munich, Germany. For Apple, Teixeira will operate out of Apple’s Coral Gables, FL office.

Epson has released iProjection, a universal iOS app designed to stream presentations, documents and photos wirelessly from an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad to a compatible networked Epson projector. The iProjection app allows users to load in supported file formats such as word processing documents, presentation files, PDFs and images and output them for display on the projector. Users can also select images directly from the iOS device’s photo library or open files from e-mail or other cloud storage apps directly in the iProjection app. A built-in project remote control feature also allows the app to control projector features such as input sources, mute, freeze, audio settings and more. Supported file formats include Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint 2003 or later, Apple Keynote, and PDF, JPG and PNG files, although video playback and animations are not currently supported in presentation files. Epson iProjection requires an iPad, iPhone or third- or fourth-generation iPod touch running iOS 4.2 or later and a supported Epson projector; the app is available from the App Store as a free download.

App Savvy has released an update to Agenda Calendar adding a new “Goal View” to help users plan their overall priorities for 2012. Agenda Calendar is a universal calendar app for iOS devices that provides a number of additional themes and views along with enhanced features over the built-in iOS Calendar app, including advanced gesture support, easy sharing of events and status updates, custom alerts and reminders and more. The new Goal View in version 2.5 allows iOS 5 users to lay out a big picture overview for major milestones throughout the year, allowing significant events and goals to be added to the calendar so users can effectively plan the smaller day-to-day events around them. Agenda Calendar is a universal app requires iOS 4.2 or later and is available from the App Store for $1. The new Goal View feature requires iOS 5 or later.

A group of researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have created a new system for ebook page-turning that could someday find its way to Apple’s iOS devices. As demonstrated on an iPad, the technology would allow users to quickly rifle through multiple pages by starting their gesture on the bezel molding instead of the screen itself, turn multiple pages using multiple fingers, and bookmark a page with one finger while flipping through the pages with another finger. The video also demonstrates the ability to move through multiple pages at once based on the speed or length of the gesture. According to KAIST—which has filed 11 patents for it in Korea and abroad—the prototype was built using a private Apple API, making it unfit for the App Store in its current form. A video of the technology in action can be viewed in embedded form below. [via The Verge]

IMDb has released an update to its universal iOS movie and TV reference app adding support for Metacritic scores and reviews, expanding international support and improving sharing options. In the latest version users can now view the Metascore and associated reviews and scores for any title directly from the information screen and can easily share trivia items, quotes and goofs from any movie or TV show with their friends. iOS 5 users can also now sign up to receive notifications when new events and celebrity photos are posted and the app adds support for Amazon.cn (China) and Amazon.es (Spain). IMDb Movies and TV 2.5 is available from the App Store as a free download.

Alesis has introduced three new audio accessories—the AmpDock, DM Dock, and AmpCase—for the iPad and iPhone. The AmpDock is a multi-effects guitar processor for the iPad, encasing the iPad while adding a rugged pedalboard controller, several on-board physical controls, a 1/4” high-impedance guitar input and a XLR-1/4” combo input, 1/4” outputs with Guitar/Mic and Ground Lift switches, a headphone output with volume control, and compatibility with most CoreMIDI apps, including GarageBand, AmpliTube, and JamUp. It should sell for a street price of $299.

The DM Dock is a similar-looking Drum Module Dock for the iPad, offering 13 1/4”, dual zone TRS trigger inputs, a 1/4” headphone jack, a 1/8” mix input for connecting other audio sources, traditional MIDI and USB MIDI connections, an assignable footswitch input, and the ability to charge the iPad while it’s docked. It should sell for around $249. Finally, the AmpCase is a headphone-maximizing amplifier and case combo for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Sporting a black and silver body, it offers open access to all of the iPhone’s ports and controls—save for the Dock Connector—on-board Alesis DSP technology, a dedicated volume control, and a mini-USB jack for charging the phone while it’s in the case. It will sell for $99; all three products are expected to launch in the second quarter of 2012.

Ten One Design has unveiled its new Magnus stand for the iPad 2. First shown at the 2012 International CES, the Magnus is a minimal stand made from aluminum that uses the iPad 2’s built-in magnets — the same used by Apple’s iPad Smart Cover — to secure the device to the stand, leaving open access to all ports, controls, and cameras. As such, the stand only works in one orientation—landscape, with the Home button on the right — and obviously does not accomodate encased devices. Ten One Design’s Magnus stand for the iPad 2 is available for order now and will begin shipping later this week for $50.

Behringer has rolled out three new mixers with iPad docking stations built-in. The new Xenyx iX series includes the iX3242USB, iX2442USB and iX1642USB which offer 32, 24, and 16 inputs, respectively, each of which uses the iPad for recording, system tuning, monitoring, and more. Other features include a host of physical controls, a built-in stereo USB audio interface, a dual-engine Klark-Teknik FX processor with 32 editable effect presets that uses the iPad and a companion app to allow for effects control from the device, and Xenyx mic pre amps. Pricing and release information for the new mixers has yet to be announced.

Apple won the most recent round in its ongoing patent dispute with Samsung as a German judge ruled in favor of Apple in a patent infringement complaint. Forbes reports that Mannheim Regional Court judge Andreas Voss ruled that Apple did not infringe on what is believed to be a Samsung patent relating to a “turbo channel encoding/decoding device for a CDM communication system”. Samsung has the option to appeal to the Higher Regional Court in Karlsruhe; according to the report, the ruling is only the first of Samsung’s seven patent claims against Apple in Germany.

SwitchEasy has launched its new Lux case for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The Lux is an open-faced hard case constructed from leather with a microfiber lining to protect and clean the iPhone when being inserted and removed from the case. The case also features a top insert design for easy day-to-day use with a small elastic flap to hold the device securely in place. The SwitchEasy Lux is available now in black, white or tan and sells for $30 and includes the case, two anti-static screen guards, a microfiber wipe and a squeegee screen guard applicator.

AFP reports that Singaporean iPhone carrier M1 has begun selling special no-camera versions of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S designed to meet the requirements of Singapore’s defence ministry, where military personnel are banned from taking camera or other image-capturing devices into army facilities. M1 began offering the no-camera versions of the standard iPhone 4/4S models today via its web site and retail stores, in all available capacities and both black and white with the non camera versions selling for approximately $38 USD more than the standard models. Singapore’s military institutions instituted a ban on camera phones in 2007 following the online posting of several photos of sensitive training activities. The no-camera iPhone models are specifically designed with military personnel in mind but are available for purchase by any M1 customer. [via The Verge]

The End User License Agreement for Apple’s new iBooks Author app has drawn the attention of some members of the online community. The criticism revolves around a section at the top, which states, “If you charge a fee for any book or other work you generate using this software (a “Work”), you may only sell or distribute such Work through Apple (e.g., through the iBookstore) and such distribution will be subject to a separate agreement with Apple.” As summarized by Dan Wineman, that statement, and section 2 B, suggest that “Apple is trying to establish a rule that whatever I create with this application, if I sell it, I have to give them a cut. ” Such an arrangement isn’t unreasonable on the surface, as Apple is providing the software for free, and it does not appear to bar users from distributing works freely online. Wineman argues, however, that Apple did not give him a chance to agree to the terms prior to installing the software, at which point the user is implicitly accepting of it; he compares it to a car dealership hiding secret terms in the glove box, which go into affect as soon as a customer drives a purchased automobile. Apple has yet to comment on the situation.

Apple has posted a streaming video of this morning’s education event on its website. The video, which clocks in at roughly one hour long, features Apple executives Phil Schiller, Eddy Cue, and Roger Rosner introducing the company’s new textbook and education initiatives, which include iBooks 2.0, the new digital textbooks section of the iBookstore, iBooks Author for Mac, and the new iTunes U app. For more information on the event, check out our transcript, or simply take a peek at our News section.

Apple has released iTunes 10.5.3, the latest version of its digital media management software. According to the release notes of Apple’s new iTunes U app, iTunes 10.5.3 is required to sync content with the new application; it is unknown what other features or improvements may have been added in the update. iTunes 10.5.3 is available now as a free download from apple.com/itunes and should be available via the company’s Software Update utility later today.

Update: Apple’s release notes for iTunes 10.5.3 read as follows: “iTunes 10.5.3 allows you to sync interactive iBooks textbooks to your iPad. These Multi-Touch textbooks are available for purchase from the iTunes Store on your Mac or from the iBookstore included with iBooks 2 on your iPad. iBooks textbooks are created with iBooks Author — now available as a free download on the Mac App Store.”

At today’s education event, Apple also announced an overhaul of its iTunes U service with the debut of a new iTunes U application for the iPad. Designed to provide a new and more interactive way of accessing the previously podcast-based iTunes U curriculum, the new application allows users to not only download course material but also interact with teachers and professors by providing access to assignments, updates, course notes, lectures and presentations. The app also provides integration with iBooks based textbooks allowing users to consolidate notes and highlights from their texts into the iTunes U app for easy review. Teachers and instructors can use iTunes U to layout out course syllabi, customizing topics, delivering content and lectures integrated with iBooks textbooks and providing additional information such as course notes, reading lists, office hours and more. iTunes U is available from the App Store as a free download and is a universal app requiring iOS 5.0 or later.

During Apple’s education event today, the company announced a new Textbook section coming to the U.S. iBookstore to showcase a new collection of interactive textbooks that will be supported by iBooks 2. In addition, Apple has partnered with three leading textbook companies that are collectively responsible for publishing 90% of textbooks including McGraw Hill, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Pearson. Apple has also published a new, free iBooks Author tool for Mac OS X that will enable any publisher or end user to easily create enhanced interactive textbooks to be used on the iPad, iPhone or iPod touch with the iBooks app. The new iBooks based textbooks are expected to transform the traditional learning experience by providing enhanced electronic textbooks that include rich multimedia and interactive features such as video, study cards, built-in quiz and review questions and more. Current textbooks on the iBookstore are priced at around $15 and range in size from around 800MB to about 3GB.

During Apple’s education event today in New York City, the company announced the imminent release of iBooks 2, supporting a new variety of interactive book features focused primarily on education. Promising to deliver a “new textbook experience” for the iPad and other iOS devices, the new version will support books providing enhanced graphical and interactive features such as study cards, embedded quizzes and enhanced note-taking and highlighting capabilities. iBooks 2 is now available from the App Store as a free download.

Apple’s Big Apple-themed education announcement media event will begin in less than one hour, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. While no Apple announcement is a “sure thing” prior to the company’s events, reports from the past few days have indicated that the bulk of Apple’s announcement will focus on digital textbooks, with an emphasis on the K-12 market. In addition to potential partnerships with publishers, it has also been suggested that Apple will unveil its own software that will make it easier for anyone with the desire to create interactive, multimedia textbooks which can then be made available for download via iBooks. We’ll be providing live updates of the event as it happens, so check back here at 10!

9:50 - 10 minutes before the start of the event, attendees are allowed in to take seats.

9:55 - The event is taking place in the Guggenheim Museum’s basement auditorium.

9:56 - Despite the subterranean venue, the stage has the typical lighting and look of a Cupertino-style Apple event.

9:58 - Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller takes the stage, starting the event early - atypical of Apple.

AT&T has announced new data plans for smartphone and tablet customers that will affect both iPhone and iPad users. The new smartphone data plans include AT&T Data Plus 300MB, which includes 300MB of monthly data for $20, AT&T Data Pro 3GB, which offers 3GB for $30, and AT&T Data Pro 5GB, which offers 5GB for $50 and also includes mobile hotspot tethering. Customers on the latter two plans can pay $10 per additional gigabyte, while Data Plus customers get an extra 300MB for $20. For the iPad, AT&T DataConnect 3GB includes 3GB for $30, while AT&T DataConnect 5GB runs $50 and includes 5GB of data. All five new plans will launch this Sunday, January 22; existing customers will have the choice of keeping their current plans or choosing from one of the new options.