cooking

Why is Tim Cook at the Allen & Co. media confab?

Every year, Apple's chief executive is invited to the Allen & Co. summer retreat for media executives. And each year, Apple declines. But this time around, Tim Cook has done quite the opposite.

Cook was spotted in Sun Valley, Idaho, home to the Allen & Co. retreat, where he briefly spoke with reporters. He told the New York Times' Dealbook that he's "looking forward to all the private discussions" he set up for this week, and reported to the New York Post that he's "talking to a lot of people here." When pressed … Read more

Apple places higher restrictions on supply chain under Cook?

Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has dramatically ramped up the amount of attention his company pays to its supply chain, according to a new report.

Digitimes is reporting today, citing sources, that since Cook took over as chief executive, Apple has applied "stricter management" in its supply chain, ensuring that it's effectively managing costs and delivering the highest-quality products.

In order to achieve that goal, Apple has conducted more (and longer) inspections, according to Digitimes' sources. Those folks said that in one case, Apple found a fingerpint on an internal component, and demanded the entire production … Read more

Apple CEO says Mac Pro update to come 'next year'

Despite some reports to the contrary, there isn't much new in the latest Mac Pro update. After Apple added a "new" tag to the Mac Pro on its Web site yesterday and some people complained, the company quickly took down the tag, according to MacRumors.

Now, CEO Tim Cook is saying that more extensive updates won't happen until "later next year."

Hints of this first came when the machine wasn't even mentioned during Apple's presentation at WWDC yesterday. Then when the "new" tag appeared on its Web site, a member … Read more

App developers ignoring NDAs, leaking iOS 6 screenshots

When Apple CEO Tim Cook said last month that the company is going to "double down on secrecy," he must have had a good idea how developers who leak information will be punished.

If so, those plans should be kicking in today, after what appear to be clear leaks by developers of screenshots from the forthcoming iOS 6 to news outlets like The Verge and BGR. Apple unveiled iOS 6 during its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote today in San Francisco.

All Apple app developers -- including CNET -- must agree to an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) before being given … Read more

Windows 8 tweeners take on Apple

Tablet or tweener? Does the Microsoft camp's convergence argument win the day?

Apple CEO Tim Cook has been clear about tablet-laptop convergence: not interested.

But Microsoft, Intel, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, and a long list of PC makers are. Very.

That would be due to Windows 8 and its touch-centric Metro interface, of course. This is driving PC makers to come up with novel hybrid (i.e., tweener) designs that function as both a tablet and laptop, as was amply demonstrated at Computex this week.

There will basically be two choices offered.

--Products like the Acer Aspire S7 that are … Read more

How the iPhone 5 launch can help Tim Cook be even less like Steve Jobs

Change is supposed to be the standard ingredient in the tech world.

Yesterday, we were Chatrouletting, today we're Airtiming.

Yet there's something about Apple that's been quite the same for a long time. Under Tim Cook, the company wants to be even more secretive. This despite Cook's insistence that he's never felt the weight of stepping into Steve Jobs' New Balances.

But, though he has already shown slightly more civic-minded tendencies -- for example, in addressing the difficulties at Foxconn -- perhaps Cook might consider something a little more basic when it comes down to … Read more

Venus transit app lets users track the planet's rare voyage

One of the rarest celestial events viewable from Earth will occur Tuesday -- the planet Venus will make a trek across the face of the sun. Such an event has only been observed six times in recorded history, and the next occurrence won't come until 2117, so space buffs are gearing up for the big show.

One way to stay tuned -- and also help scientists record Venus' voyage -- is by using an app called VenusTransit. With this app, which is available on Android and iOS, amateur astronomers can join the ranks of historic explorers like Capt. James … Read more

Apple TV will start slow revolution in 2013, says analyst

Apple will release a television in 2013 for between $1,500 and $2,000, but it won't instantly revolutionize the industry, says Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. You have to wonder how much time it takes to trim a hedge that big.

Munster says the content offerings on an Apple-branded set might not initially be that much different than that of the currently available Apple TV set-top box, but that within five years he would expect the company to push back against the current cable and satellite TV models and move toward more DVR in the cloud and unbundled channels that consumers can pick and choose. … Read more

Google's fear: An Apple-Facebook love fest

These are troubled times for technologically inclined.

Facebook's share price is swooning like a '40s actress. A departing Google employee suggests Google isn't Google any more because of Google+.

And, of all heresies, some are even contemplating that the iPhone isn't cool any more.

In times like these, when everyone seems plagued by insecurities, normal behavior is to huddle together for a little warmth, a heartfelt human hug.

So just a few words from Apple CEO Tim Cook -- speaking last week at the D10 Conference -- surely sent shivers into the skins of those who might … Read more

Mike Daisey blasts Mossberg, Swisher over Tim Cook interview

Mike Daisey, a longtime Apple critic and monologist, has turned his sights on All Things Digital's Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher over their interview this week with Apple CEO Tim Cook.

"Kara and Walt -- do you really think you asked hard questions tonight? Goodness, you got Cook to admit that Ping was a failure! That's amazing," Daisey wrote on his personal blog yesterday. "If only you had another hour, so you could get him to tell us who he liked best on Dawson's Creek and what kind of ice cream is best: vanilla … Read more