Chinese Government praises Apple for Apology

Reuters

With its rare apology, Apple Inc 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.

Last week, the Chinese Government chastised Apple for their warranty policies. Tim Cook sent a public apology for the misunderstanding, announcing changes to said policies. Today the Chinese praise Apple, and say that other companies should follow the example. People talk, stuff gets resolved. Go figure.

This is why I don’t do rumors.

Appleinsider:

Reuters issued an update Friday morning informing readers that it had withdrawn the story, which featured the headline “Apple exec dismisses cheaper iPhone as a market share grab — report.” It was based on a report from the Shanghai Evening News, but that original story was later updated with “substantial changes to its content,” which prompted the significant retraction.

I prefer not to retract. Want Apple rumors? Go somewhere else.

T-Mobile to start selling unsubsidised iPhone in three or four months.

Reuters:

Deutsche Telekom AG unit T-Mobile USA will start selling the Apple Inc iPhone in about three to four months and will enforce its plan to get rid of cellphone subsidies in a similar timeframe, according to Chief Executive John Legere.

We’ll see how it goes. People are used to paying less up front for phones and get hammered with a two year contract (myself included), so T-Mobile has their work cut out for them.

Amazon reports big quarterly net loss

Reuters:

Amazon.com Inc reported a big quarterly net loss on Thursday as the world’s largest Internet retailer spends heavily to expand existing operations and develop new businesses.

Amazon reports big quarterly net loss

Why Apple doesn’t care about its competition

Felix Salmon, Reuters:

There are three questions, then, which real people will ask about the iPad mini. Do I want it, can I afford it, and which model should I get. The answers to those questions will determine how many iPad minis Apple manages to sell. But the question which most of the press concentrates on — how does the iPad mini compare to its non-Apple competitors — is one which gets asked much less often than the Apple-as-company people tend to think.

Via Daring Fireball

Why Apple doesn’t care about its competition

Federal agency to switch to iPhone, drop BlackBerry

Reuters:

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) said will end its contract with BlackBerry maker Research In Motion in favor of Apple’s iPhone, dealing a fresh blow to RIM just months ahead of its launch of a vital new device.

The agency said in a solicitation document posted last week that it intends to buy iPhones for more than 17,600 employees – a purchase worth $2.1 million.

The agency said it has relied on RIM for eight years but that RIM’s technology “can no longer meet the mobile technology needs of the agency”.

It also said that it had analyzed Apple’s iOS-based devices and Google’s Android operating system and concluded that for the near term Apple’s iPhone services offer the best technology for the agency because of Apple’s tight controls of the hardware platform and operating system.

RIM sucks, Android is a Free for all, that’s about it.

Federal agency to switch to iPhone, drop BlackBerry

Foxconn China plant closes after clash involving 2,000

Reuters:

Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology Group, which assembles Apple’s iPhones and makes components for top global electronics companies, closed a plant in China on Monday after about 2,000 workers were involved in a brawl at a company dormitory.

Foxconn China plant closes after clash involving 2,000

Samsung Reviewing 250 Chinese Suppliers For Labor Violations

Reuters, via Huffington Post:

Samsung Electronics Co said on Monday it would inspect 250 Chinese companies which make products for the South Korean firm to ensure no labor laws are broken after a U.S.-based group accused one of its suppliers of using child labor.

Where is Mike Daisey when you need him?

Samsung Reviewing 250 Chinese Suppliers For Labor Violations

Acer CEO to Microsoft: Rethink the Surface.

Reuters:

“If Microsoft is going to do hardware business, what should we do? Should we still rely on Microsoft, or should we find other alternatives?,” he is quoted as saying.

What is there, Linux? Android?

Acer CEO to Microsoft: Rethink the Surface.

Google admits it did not delete Street View data

Reuters:

Google Inc said on Friday it had not kept its promise to delete all the personal data, such as emails, its Street View cars collected in Britain and other countries in 2010.

What else is new.