The switcher phenomenon continues with Android ... even outside the United States

It's been two days after record results from Apple, but still interesting data out as analysts do their work. The Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP or for short) has combined figures and found that the rate of people who decide to move from Android to iOS has accelerated, as reflected in Fortune.

But beware, there's something else to consider: occurs outside the United States. There, just as in many other western world, having a platform already secured to it and is much harder to change. However, there are many users in countries like China where the iPhone people spend after testing Android phones. The phenomenon is repeated switcher, but from another rival.

AppleCare plan new features

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Tara Bunch, Vice president of the AppleCare and technical support division in Cupertino, recently held a meeting with employees to discuss the service. And at that meeting, as reported by 9to5Mac sources, there have been some performance figures from AppleCare and their future plans.

Apparently, the AppleCare + service that protects the iOS devices from accidental damage goes well. Over 30 million people have contracted in the 14 countries where it is active, which has generated $2,000 billion in revenues and motivation to expand the service to more markets. One of the measures that can be taken in the future, for example, extend the deadline to purchase AppleCare + 30 to 60 days after purchase of the iOS device. 

Depending on how the economy goes, we might get to see a AppleCare + for Macs

We may also get to see a AppleCare + for Macs, now that bestsellers are Macbooks and are also subject to random breakdowns. Everything depends on the economy as something for the Mac would be significantly more expensive than iOS Terminal.

Another interesting thing is the improvements to our Apple accounts in relation to technical assistance. Taking advantage of the unification of Apple Retail and Apple Store web of Angela Ahrendts, Tara commented on a more unified experience between the Genius Bar, phone support and online.

The meeting ended with Tara Bunch promising a "superbowl" launch this fall, where we see almost all Apple products being updated, and encouraging all employees to help users start with the right foot on the platform when buy all these novelties. We will have a busy September and October ...

iOS 7 slash an amazing 90 percent

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When it is obvious that iOS 8 is presented this Monday, but is not available until fall with the launch of the next iPhone, iOS 7 adopting reaches very high levels. A study in the United States and Canada throws these data.

89.7% of the iPhone that are assets in these countries have latest operating system installed on them. The previous study data showed overall 85 percent and was conducted in March this year.

The adoption of iOS 6 has also gained nearly a point, from 7.9 to 8.8 percent, down users with iOS 5 and iOS 4 or lower installed on your terminal. To continue the current growth, when it is officially released iOS 8, iOS 7 users will have reached 95 percent.

What people think about the "supposed" new iPhone6

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For weeks it is circulating the network a mockup of an supposed iPhone 6. This mockup would be designed according to the specs leaked earlier this month, which would show an iPhone with a 4.7 inch screen, a much thinner thickness and a metallic finish that brought us the iPhone 5S. 

Each release of the iPhone, has always introduced design changes, with consequent acceptance or rejection by the users. How users react to this course redesigned iPhone in June? YouTube user urAvgConsumer has taken the mockup to different users to see him and give their opinions. And the truth is that they are quite interesting.



It is striking that all interviewees release a "Wow! just at the time when they teach the mockup. When they have it in their hands realize that it is not real, but still give their opinions about it. Some users say that which no longer looks like an iPhone and it reminds them too much like a Galaxy; also added that do not need a big screen and that for them the size of the phone it is important. 

There is also another type of user who wants a bigger screen better, require renewed design by Apple and need to renew their phone just because it has come out a better choice.

Apple is negotiating traffic to your own CDN

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Apple may be riding his own CDN (Content Delivery Network), so stop relying on third parties such as Akamai and quality control with the contents of the company reaching users. Well according Streaming Media these plans going forward, with the addition that Apple is negotiating priority traffic with internet providers.

Apple will alert the user when the government wants access to your data

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With a major change, the new privacy policy Apple aims to improve the relationship of respect for user data. From now on we will have more information of what is happening with our information.

The relationship between the security agencies and Apple has just taken a turn after the latest initiative of the Cupertino company. This is to alert users of the attempts by the government or any agency access to their personal data. The Washington Post describes about the privacy of Apple recently.

After the famous scandal happened with the NSA, and serious security problems, larger companies offering Internet services are changing and revising their policies and routines regarding privacy. Among other things, the privacy of Apple will change by promoting the initiative to warn users at the time in which the government or an entity decides to inquire about their data, provided that this is not linked to a court order and corresponding secrecy.

"Consumers deserve to know when their information is an objective of the government," say from Apple and other companies affected. Following this concept, the new privacy policy in Apple could be unveiled later this month, according to an informant of the company.

This could mean a change in other governments outside the United States. We really hope that both Apple and other companies are not doing this as a simple measure to clear his conscience. I really want this to be a sincere effort to control and protect our data to some extent and in a justified manner. Already we shall see an end.

iPhone sales continue to grow, shortening positions with Samsung

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Is the iPhone in crisis? Not likely at all. This analysis shows that IDC notes that iPhone sales have grown in the last quarter compared to last year and very highly.

As we have seen in recent months, the market for mobile phones seems to be gradually becoming saturated. However, in light of the analysis of IDC with respect to sales of the iPhone and other companies during the first quarter worldwide, it seems that Apple is not stopping its growth in sales. 

In fact, according to data provided, Apple is narrowing the difference in iPhone sales over herself while fast approaching the number of Samsung, who is still dominant. IDC analyzes show that although Samsung has sold more phones in the first quarter, Apple has beaten back its iPhone sales record, reaching 43.7 million units (compared to 60 million Samsung). Apple, with its relatively limited supply, compared to the broad market, has managed to successfully defend themselves from rival companies.

While Samsung has reduced growth by 1.7%, Apple has increased by 16.8%

This is shown by the growth in iPhone sales, which in turn is increasing as even though the number of Samsung phones have increased, their growth has declined a slight 1.7%. Growth in iPhone sales, as we said, has increased 16.8% over the first quarter of 2013, a modest but very positive number and exceeds the expectations of analysts and the company itself. This means that Apple continues to grow in terms of sales of the iPhone worldwide.

However, also shown in the analysis of IDC, we must say that companies like Huawei or Lenovo, with its recent acquisition of Motorola, have grown to 63.3% in sales of devices, which is highly commendable despite not going from 13 million phones sold. iPhone sales have not been affected in the same way as we talk about premium devices, so that the target user is not the same. Either way, it is clear that Apple is growing.

Apple will replace free of charge the flawed sleep button of the iPhone 5

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Has your phone problems with the sleep button? Apple has determined the existence of certain problems in some iPhone 5 and expanded coverage of the replacement program to put a solution. 

Good news for iPhone users. As of May 2 Apple offer coverage in the replacement program for iPhone 5 all phones have problems with the Sleep / Wake button. Best of all is that Latin America is also included in the process, which a lot of users will appreciate.

To expand the program replacement iPhone 5 Apple has determined that the mechanism of the button of a small percentage of this model may not work or work intermittently, so, knowing their after sales policy, it is not surprising that have decided to fix it as comfortable as possible for the affected users. The phones affected are those made in March 2013.

To be chosen as "replaceable" within replacement program the iPhone 5, the phone must have a valid serial number attesting to the problem. In this case, Apple will change the button at no cost on a Apple repair center, making delivery or by mail or in person at no cost. If you like this issue affects you can go to the page on the replacement program of the iPhone 5 and enter your serial number to see if your phone meets the necessary requirements.

All ads of the iPod in one video

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A YouTube user has compiled in one video all this iPod's famous silhouettes dancing to the sound of music, one of the most iconic series of Apple ads.

If there's one thing that characterized the Apple iPod ads have been established in the collective memory and go on to become iconic. Who does not remember the famous iPod ads with the famous silhouette with Apple promoting her music player back in 2004? Right.

The truth is that Apple's ads spur interest in all kinds of users, especially as the company moves out of the same characteristics of products to teach users what they can really do with it.


For listings of iPod, the first with Apple flooded the world in the form of trade and posters could be seen on buses and billboards all over the world, ended up becoming one of the icons of a generation, generation iPod, which despite being a product that has gradually lost its glory by the logical evolution of technology, always have a place in the group. Therefore, the best way to remember this amazing music player is the best iPod ads with silhouettes that Apple wanted to show the world the possibilities of it.

Apple wins or Apple loses, really can be only one?

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One of the great debates that are built around the technology business is about who is winning and who is losing. It seems no middle ground support and often results in one winner and several losers. Depends on who you ask, you can say that Apple and Google won, Samsung and Microsoft lose, especially the latter.

Google wins because Apple lost and Microsoft has been crushed. Microsoft is ready for an imminent return because the other two were asleep. Samsung is overtaking Apple and Microsoft at the same time. Is this true? Is there a common base or economic sense to support these claims today?

I win, you lose

There is a misperception that the economy is a zero sum ​​game when you lose. That everything I wear is because you have removed yourself. This concept is closely linked to the term commercialism, we define: 

Economic system based primarily on trade development, mainly to export, and considers the possession of precious metals as a characteristic sign of wealth.

From this perspective, the economy of the countries was during the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries as if it were a game of poker: the players' chip pass from hand to hand according the skill of each. Similarly, the wealth of each country is measured in terms of the amount of precious metals (gold and silver) which was in their possession, having two ways to enlarge:

1. Trading, exporting more than it imports. If lots sold abroad, goods are exchanged for precious metals and the country's wealth increases. 

2. Attacking the neighboring country to plunder their gold and silver and protecting the territory from external invasions.

This perception that it was only possible to increase the wealth neighbor taking it away (peacefully or militarily), seems to come to this day and is installed directly in the technology industry. Involves large as Microsoft, Samsung, Google and, of course, Apple. 

Rethinking the winners and losers

What if all this is not so? Is it possible that Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung win at the same time and coexist in relative "peace"? That is not necessary for Apple to win, others have to lose. I think it is possible, in fact, has long been so.

If you look at the different businesses, we see that they are not 100% incompatible with each other:

• Apple is a vertical business that is almost impossible to replicate at that scale. Its main strength lies in the attractiveness of its closed system. 

• Google has a universal character who aspires to be everywhere and on all platforms, both iOS and Android and Windows Phone. Not forgetting the PC, mobile and tablet. Where will be the user, will be Google. 

• Google is like Microsoft in its horizontal nature concerning the platform. The new CEO seems to have regained the essence of Microsoft to have presence beyond its own platform. For example Office for iPad.

• Samsung, Korean hybrid that also follows a vertical scheme but aims to have a product for every age and budget.

Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Some do better than others and will win money, sometimes more and sometimes less. The rivalry is more intense among businesses of the same type as the Apple and Samsung vertical or horizontal as Google and Microsoft, but that does not mean that one should die for the other to succeed.

Can Apple beat all records when discloses its quarterly results, but that does not mean that Google and company will have to go wrong, do you think?

Can Apple create a really cheap iPhone? (1st Part)

Since the launch of iPhone 5c and deception of the public, analysts, bloggers and shareholders about its high price, there is a widespread perception that Apple iPhone could make a really cheap if wanted. But as you want, we have had to settle for an iPhone 5 plastic-coated colors.
-Plastic with a finish and exquisite touch. We must say everything-.

This view on Apple could go into the middle and low market segment as if by magic, in my opinion, at least partly wrong. But I have them all with me. I can think of arguments for both an affirmative answer as a negative to the question in the title of this article.

Why Apple can not make a cheap iPhone (1st Part)

When a company is founded, business model and value chain is created from the first minute. As the years pass and if the company is successful, these two elements are based within nature itself and its rationale. Every day is more optimized, but also makes it difficult to switch these two factors. 

Change the business model and the value chain is difficult, very difficult in addition to painful. But it is not impossible. Here we have Microsoft to try to change a business model based on selling licenses to other services and with Office 365 subscriptions. We can also see Adobe make the same change.

Returning to the case of Apple, there are three limitations that I think will prevent creating a cheaper iPhone:

• iCloud. Why, if there is something Apple criticized what we are unfortunate to have been attempts in the cloud. Falls on the iCloud service, a minimum storage per user account, increases charged to doubloon space, etc.. Not to mention the widespread synchronization falls in the rest of its services and that causes nightmares for developers. It is clear that Apple is not a company born as Google internet. Google lives for internet. Can you imagine millions of users putting more pressure on iCloud? Just cope building data centers throughout North Carolina.

• The Apple business model focuses on the absolute control of the user experience and in the premium segment, with margins, prices, products, customer service, Apple Stores, materials, and design clients, all premium. Everything Apple does is geared towards that goal. The value chain Apple is ready to turn their premium products, from start to finish, and is not intended for anything else.

• Production volume. Tim Cook loves to say after each weekend launch of the new iPhone and a smile from ear to ear that of "The demand of the iPhone 5 has been incredible and we are working hard to bring an iPhone 5 in the hands of the so customers want as quickly as possible. "Sorry Tim, but a broken stock is also bad news for Apple. A potential customer can not find what you want at that moment is a client pissed least or a lost customer and will not return in the worst case.