Yes, it's a good bet that Apple will release at least one major new product category this year. Wall Street Playbook's leading tech analyst writes over at Seeking Alpha that Apple in its last quarterly earnings report revealed a "$2.8 billion jump in commitment for things like new manufacturing equipment, research and development, marketing and product tooling" as well as "a 30% jump in research and development costs, which, in the quarter, reached $1.4 billion, representing a 66% jump in R&D spending in two years."
The iPad and MacBook Air have always competed with each other in terms of on-the-go computing, but the two have always been separated by price. No matter the specs of your dreamy iPad, you could never get an ultra-slim MacBook for the same price -... ----
The camera aspect of the handset sounds pretty good: it features a 20.7 megapixel 1/2.3 CMOS sensor, the 10x optical zoom that sticks out of the back of the camera, and optical image stabilization. The zoom lens has a focal length of 24-240mm and a range of aperture of f/3.1-6.3. Although the sensor size is somewhat disappointing – it's only slightly larger than sensors on other smartphones — the optical zoom should give the handset photographic abilities beyond that of other phones.
However, the phone aspect is lacking. If the Galaxy K Zoom follows its predecessor, it will be priced like a high-end phone: $200 with a contract, roughly $700 without one. In that event, its specifications would not be worthy: a middling 4.8-inch 1280 x 720 display, 8GB of internal storage (underwhelming in light of those 21 megapixel shots), and a midrange "Hexa core" processor. It's running Android 4.4 with a heavy dose of Samsung's Touchwiz on top.
Unlike the Galaxy S4 Zoom, the Galaxy K Zoom doesn't come with a tripod mount, which was one of my favorite features on its predecessor. It seems to be a clear indication that this handset is not a serious photography tool, which it's not. What the Galaxy K Zoom does include is a skinnier body that should be more pocketable than its predecessor.
There are a few nifty modes in the camera app that you don't get with other Samsung phones. AF/AE mode lets you choose separate parts of the photo preview to act as metering and focus points. There's a manual mode that lets you choose shutter speed, ISO, and other settings. And finally, there's something called "Selfie Alarm," that seems to be a sort of self-timer, and is an excellent name for a feature.
In fact, the best part of this handset is the new naming convention — having two vastly different phones sharing the "S4″ moniker was confusing, and the new "Galaxy K" name definitely makes it easier to identify where this handset falls in Samsung's rather large stable.
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Apple's suppliers have already begun producing the iWatch in small quantities, according to supply chain sources cited by China Times via G for Games, ahead of a prospective launch during the second half of 2014.
Echoing an earlier report from notable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the site's sources also suggest the iWatch will take advantage of a system-in-package (SiP) design that allows a multitude of chips to be placed on a single module. This could allow Apple to the fit multiple sensors rumored for the smart watch into a tiny area while keeping the device small enough to be worn comfortably on the wrist.
Rumors have indicated Apple's iWatch will contain several different biometric sensors allowing it to track health-related statistics like heart rate, sleep quality, movement, and more. The sensors will aggregate data that will be stored in a rumored "Healthbook" application, slated for inclusion in iOS 8.
Along with including health sensors, the iWatch will likely function similarly to other smart watches on the market, integrating with the iPhone and iPad to provide notifications and quick access to frequently used apps and services.
Apple's iWatch is expected to ship in two different sizes to accommodate different sized wrists and it may also come in multiple price points and materials. According to recent reports, Apple's iWatch could make an appearance as soon as September, but a solid launch date remains unclear.
The China Times is reporting that Apple has begun production of the iWatch. This is in preparation for a launch later in the year, widely rumoured to be sometime in the third quarter.
GforGames translated the report, noting that the iWatch will use a different kind of chip layout for miniaturization purposes.
According to supply chain sources cited by the Chinese media, Apple has already started producing the iWatch in small quantities. The smartwatch will allegedly be ready for launch in the second half of 2014, but more importantly, these fresh reports also claim that the iWatch will be built using SiPs (or system-in-package modules) as opposed to traditional PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards)
Sources also hint that Apple has developed technologies to be able to pack several different sensors into a single chipset for miniaturization purposes.
This should enable Apple to make the footprint of the device as small as possible, a key advantage over other wearables. The wearable market has heated up significantly recently, with the unveiling of the Moto 360, a smartwatch that has caught many people in the tech industry off guard for its use of a novel circular display.
9to5Mac has posted exclusive coverage of the iWatch many times in the past. It seems likely that the iWatch will integrate with the upcoming Healthbook app, to some degree, to provide fitness and health tracking information. The extent to which Healthbook will rely on the iWatch, as opposed to an integrator of many different iPhone health accessories is still unclear, however.
Although Apple's iPhone definitely has a terrific camera, it does fall short in one area: It uses digital image stabilization technology instead of optical image stabilization technology, which means that its camera may produce lower quality videos and may not work well in dimly lit areas. MacRumors points us to a new report from ESM China analyst Sun Chang Xu, who claims that things won't be getting better on this front with the iPhone 6, as Apple plans to stick with digital image stabilization to make sure the device's camera can fit into its thin frame without producing a bump in the device's casing.
It looks like Apple's iWatch is good to go. G4Games has translated an article in China Times claiming that Apple's suppliers have already started producing Apple's first wearable computer in limited quantities ahead of its release in the fall of 2014. China Times' sources say that manufacturers will ship out between 2 million to 3 million iWatches in the second quarter this year ahead of the fall launch, a number that will swell to between 14 million to 15 million units by the end of the third quarter. That's a lot of iWatches, so if China Times' report is accurate it sounds like Apple is very confident that it's going to sell a lot of wearable computers this fall.
The update of Apple's iMac range has come less than a year after November 2012's radical redesign, so it's no surprise that it's an internal refresh — Apple's upgraded the processors to Intel's newest chips, the Wi-Fi to the new, fast 802.11ac standard, and the graphics cards to Nvidia's new GeForce 7-series GPUs. Solid-state storage — available as an option when ordering from the Apple Store online — is now PCIe-based, for faster SSD and Fusion Drives.
Last year, a beautiful new slimline build replaced the iMac's old chassis. The optical drive was dropped due to lack of space, but we got USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt ports, a great new screen with a huge reduction in reflections, and new speakers that really lifted the iMac's internal audio. We got the same sizes of screen, too — both 21.5-inch screens and 27-inch displays. This refresh retains all of that, but has quite a few changes inside.
The most important upgrade is the switch to Haswell processors, the fourth generation of Intel's Core "i" series. Quad-core Core i5 chips are standard across the board, with Core i7 CPUs available as a custom option in the more expensive model in each screen size (but not the cheaper versions rated here). The off-the-shelf processors support Intel's Turbo Boost feature, where underused resources can be reallocated to give a temporary increase in speed, but not HyperThreading, which enables each core to appear as two virtual cores. The optional Core i7 has both of these features, so it's a big step up for intensive tasks.
The two 21.5-inch iMacs include 2.7GHz and 2.9GHz processors respectively, which are the same clock speeds as the previous generation, but with a performance boost overall. The 27-inch models offer 3.2GHz and 3.4GHz processors. Storage is 1TB across the board, but once again, the 21.5-inch models use 5,400rpm drives and the 27-inch iMacs use faster, 7,200rpm drives. Custom upgrades are available, including replacing the hard drive with an SSD or a Fusion Drive, which combines a hard drive with 128GB of flash storage for fast access to the operating system and regularly used data. The iMac is very difficult to upgrade after purchase, so if these options interest you, be sure to buy a custom build online.
Off-the-shelf memory is again 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3 RAM. Also in common with the 2012 iMacs, the 27-inch models' RAM can be user-upgraded after purchase by opening a hatch behind the stand. The 21.5-inch version has no such hatch, so if you need more memory, again make sure you upgrade it when purchasing from Apple.
The new iMac range takes a step up in graphics too, with double the video memory in most models. The more expensive 21.5-inch model gets an Nvidia GeForce GT 750M with 1GB video memory, up from a GeForce GT 650M with 512GB. The cheaper 27-inch model's GeForce GT 755M with 1GB is up from a GeForce GTX 660M with 512GB, and the top-of-the-range large-screen iMac has a GeForce GTX 775M with 2GB instead of a GeForce GTX 675MX with 1TB. The only exception is the cheaper 21.5-inch iMac, which drops the GeForce GT 640M used in the 2012 release and doesn't replace it at all, instead opting for Intel's new Iris Pro graphics — a significant step up from the technology in the integrated graphics Intel normally uses. While it still shares memory with the CPU, it also has a 128MB cache of very fast on-chip eDRAM. Intel boldly claims it can match a discrete GPU for performance. And all of this is available at the same price point as last year's models.
In our tests, the 2.7GHz 21.5-inch iMac's Iris Pro graphics put in a mixed performance. It ran Doom 3 at an impressive 172.8 frames per second compared to the 2.9GHz model's 222fps, and its 3D rendering capabilities tested using Cinebench's OpenGL benchmarks were also pretty close. When we tested the graphics using the Unigine Heaven 4.0 benchmarking tool, however, it only managed 9.7 frames per second, compared to the 19.1fps in the more powerful machine. It was a similar story using NovaBench; the Iris Pro iMac scored a mere 79, whereas the model featuring the GeForce GT 750M discrete GPU achieved 246. In the real world this will make very little difference to your web surfing, emailing, and word processing, but if you want to play games at higher resolutions, including the native 1080p of the 21.5-inch iMac's screen, or do any other 3D work, we'd say you're definitely better off paying extra for the costlier version.
The 3.2GHz 27-inch iMac proved incrementally faster than the 2.9GHz 21.5-inch model. Our Doom 3 frame rate benchmark took a modest step up to 232.6fps using all four cores, and its Cinebench score was around 6 percent faster. Comparing it to the similar model from as recent as the mid-2010 upgrade, it was over 123 percent faster in the Cinebench multi-core CPU test, which goes to show how much the iMacs have increased in power over the last few years.
The late-2013 refresh sees the iMac range go from strength to strength, with great new processors, better graphics, faster wireless networking when paired with an 802.11ac-capable router such as Apple's own AirPort Extreme. The 3.2GHz 27-inch model reviewed here is definitely worth the extra dough, especially since it's a bigger step up in value for the money compared to the previous generation, and because its processor is no longer identical to that of the more-expensive 21.5-inch model.
But we question whether the cheaper 21.5-inch model is an ideal value for money. Intel's new Iris Pro graphics are broadly an improvement over last year's models, but still struggle slightly against the newer dedicated GPUs. It's absolutely a very good computer in its own right, but if you're interested in games or other graphics-intensive tasks, the upgraded 2.9GHz model with Nvidia 750M graphics is the way to go.
The bottom line. The 2013 iMacs offer a solid update to Apple's most popular desktop computer. They're gorgeous to look at, and powerful, too.
While the old Mac Pro limped along, receiving half-hearted updates (and wasn't even available for sale in some countries), Tim Cook promised that Apple was "working on something really great" for pros. We expected to see something new and unusual, but the extent to which Apple has reinvented its high-end desktop is astonishing.
We've never seen anything quite like it really—the closest thing is possibly the G4 Cube. It's a workstation-class computer that's just 9.9" high and 6.6" wide, and it operates almost silently. As a physical object, its shining black aluminum exterior is well into objet d'art territory, and as a computer it is absolutely a thing of gripping, unchecked desire. But is it the pro machine—the tool—that the most demanding users wanted?
The design and functionality go hand-in-hand, as is Apple's trademark. It's still the usual PC components, of course, but the balance has changed. It used to be that the Mac Pro offered all the processing power you could ever want, with a dual-CPU beast as one of the standard configurations, but only ever one graphics card as standard. Now, you get one multi-core processor (without even the option for a second), but dual graphics cards as standard, all arranged around a central core that keeps them cool. There's absolutely a huge amount of power on offer from this setup, but the hardware has to be properly used to unlock it fully.
When software is designed to take advantage of the combination of twin graphics cards and processor, it flies. Final Cut Pro X, Apple's video-editing software, is the flagship for showing off how everything can work together. On the new Mac Pro, you're able to edit and apply effects to multiple 4K videos (which is four times the resolution of full-HD 1080p video) in real-time with no stuttering issues (depending on settings). The processor is used lightly by Final Cut, with the huge throughput and computing power of the graphics cards made proper use of. This is the Mac Pro in full bloom, with every part used for the tasks it's best at.
The only problem is that this is an ideal, and isn't what performance is like universally yet. Take Adobe Premiere, one of Final Cut's rivals. It hasn't been rewritten to take full advantage of the Mac Pro's new hardware setup yet, relying almost entirely on the processor, and the result is that the new model offers little speed advantage over its years-old predecessor. The new Mac Pro is still extremely powerful when it comes to CPU options, matching its predecessor by offering up to 12 cores. But having something that matches the old Mac Pro isn't the point. We want to exceed it.
Part of this must come from Apple itself, as it helps developers to use the power with better support in OS X. At the moment, there's no way for both GPUs to be used automatically for 3D work in OS X as there is on Windows (including on the Mac Pro in Boot Camp, in fact). It's possible for software to access both GPUs by sending different tasks to each one, but by supporting this at the OS level, Apple can speed up the process of the Mac Pro reaching its potential in more tasks. That said, we expect software that needs, say, the full 12GB of VRAM available on the highest-end graphics cards to be optimized without any input from Apple, where possible. As it stands, there's power in the Mac Pro that can end up going to waste.
We expect these performance considerations will iron out over time, as software (both on Apple's side and that of third-party developers) starts to take full advantage of the Mac Pro. For optimized tasks, its performance is astonishing, besting everything else Apple has made by huge margins—have no doubts about that. For Apple's vision of using huge GPU power to complete many tasks faster than a CPU could, this is a nearly perfect machine. But it's important to note that Apple is not in total control of its vision here, and indeed needs to do more to fulfill it—an optimized version of Aperture would be a good start!
There has been concern over the expandability and upgradeability of the Mac Pro, thanks to its use of things like non-standard graphics cards and a lack of extra drive space inside, but It turns out that much of it should be upgradeable internally, and we're comfortable with the raft of external ports for expansion otherwise—six Thunderbolt ports allow for 36 accessories to be attached, and four USB 3 ports bring even more high-speed access. External storage drives can operate easily fast enough through Thunderbolt to not be a problem, so the only issues are of tidiness and convenience; these aren't worth ignoring, of course, but they're relatively minor.
We do have one significant upgrade concern, though, which is the maximum of 64GB of RAM offered by Apple. Right now, this limit is partly set by the fact that the Mac Pro has only four RAM slots and 32GB RAM sticks aren't available yet. However, while Mavericks can support 128GB of RAM, Apple officially says the Mac Pro can support only 64GB. The last Mac Pro supported 128GB, though, by virtue of having more slots than this one. If you work on, say, extremely complex Photoshop files, this could be a cause for concern, especially for future-proofing—though only for very high-end use.
In daily use, our main gripes with the Mac Pro have been odd teething issues more than fundamental problems. Despite the ludicrously fast internal SSD (suitable for extremely high-end video editing), it was often frustratingly slow to load folders when using the open/save file sheet built into OS X. Similarly, support for 4K screens needs work, especially since it's a major draw of the Mac Pro. For a start, we'd like to see a Retina-like HiDPI mode available by default, since interface details at 4K are tiny. But also, it officially supports only two particular 4K display models, with other displays working, but not at their full capabilities—in particular, one Dell monitor could only be used at 30Hz (meaning it refreshes 30 times per second) rather than 60Hz. It even interfered with one game we tried, causing it to run in slow motion because it was supposed to be locked to 60Hz. We expect these to be fixed in software as time goes on, but the 4K issue in particular is important to be aware of.
We're not surprised to see some early issues; after all, this isn't designed for consumer use yet. The old Mac Pro was "the tower Mac"—it was expensive, but there were reasons to consider it even if you didn't need its power for high-end use. But the new one is different; most consumer-level apps simply won't be capable of using a large chunk of its power. Pro users should consider the fact that the Pro is the most powerful Mac available, but in some cases the highest-end iMac is as good a buy. If your software will be optimized to exploit the dual GPUs (ask its developer; even Maxon has told us its 3D apps don't yet), this is a brilliant machine, but it's worth waiting to find out before buying at the very least.
The Mac Pro is for those who make a buying decision based on a cost/benefit analysis rather than a bank account check. The truth is that most people shouldn't consider getting one, no matter how desirable it is. What the Mac Pro shows is that Apple is still capable of rethinking hardware designs: of creating something utterly beautiful, astonishingly powerful and totally unexpected; of reviving and reinvigorating not just these products, but the parts of us that yearn for them.
The bottom line. The Mac Pro is beautiful, powerful, and a feat of engineering. It's very much only for pros, though, and will need better support from Apple and developers to unlock its full potential.
It seems like everyone is making concept art of the unannounced iPhone 6 these days, and they all end up looking pretty much the same. Designer Mike Donovan doesn't seem too interested in that, and he's focused his talents on bringing non-existent... ----
Over the past year, if you asked iPad mini owners what one thing they'd change about the device, odds were good that they'd respond with "add a Retina display." Well, they obviously weren't unheard, as the second generation of Apple's scaled-down (in size, but not usefulness) tablet does exactly that—but not only that. This year's new iPad mini with Retina display (see, it's right there in the name) melds the superb design and build quality of the original with that long-awaited high-res screen and the heart of an iPhone 5s for one fantastic portable computing powerhouse.
The first thing you'll notice upon picking up the iPad mini is the design, which is, in a word, excellent. But if you've spent any time with last year's model, you'll already know that. This device is easily among the finest that Apple has ever designed, with a sturdy, quality feel and refined edges. Plus it just looks fantastic no matter if you go with the space grey or silver finish.
Switch on the device and the real magic begins. That's when you see the real draw here: the Retina display. If you've previously used a Retina display-equipped iPad, you have an idea of what to expect here, but there's still something about seeing all those pixels (3.1 million, the same as the larger iPad Air) squeezed onto the smaller 7.9-inch screen. Everything, especially text, simply pops off the screen with nary a jagged edge in sight.
We tested the iPad mini with Retina display with a diverse slate of apps, from iOS 7's stock offerings to the likes of Flipboard and, of course, plenty of games, and the display performed exceptionally. It was easy on the eyes, bright, colorful, and sharp. It was only when we performed some A/B comparisons between the mini and the new iPad Air that we noticed the former comes up a little short in terms of color saturation when compared to its larger sibling (and even the iPhone 5s). Even noting this, however, when we returned to using the mini exclusively the decreased saturation (and slight drop in maximum brightness) wasn't enough to harm the experience.
Speaking of experience, the mini's new 64-bit A7 processor, borrowed from the iPhone 5s, handled everything—from iLife apps to the latest, greatest games—we threw at it with infinite finesse. This is one small yet immensely powerful device that's more than up to the needs of casual and power users.
After putting the iPad mini with Retina display though its paces, we came away duly impressed. This is exactly what we'd been wanting, plus some. If you've been eagerly awaiting a high-res iPad mini, we can say without reservation that your ship has come in—and it's a hot-looking speedboat, at that.
The bottom line. While its display isn't quite as vibrant as the iPad Air's, the second-generation iPad mini is still a fantastic device packing blistering processing speed and a gorgeous screen in one petite, flawlessly designed package.
What if you could add a variety of exciting functionality to your lock screen including better notifications, quick-access toggles, and a few awesome widgets? We told you about Convergance back in January, and the jailbreak-only tweak is now available on the Cydia store for iPhone users. Continue reading → ----
HTC may mock Samsung's use of plastic for its flagship smartphone but the Taiwanese company isn't above using plastic itself for mid-range devices. Unnamed sources tell Engadget that HTC's upcoming HTC M8 Ace smartphone will be a plastic device that will have almost the exact same major specifications as Samsung's Galaxy S5 (a 5-inch 1080p display, a a 2.5GHz quad-core processor, etc.) but will be priced at around $480 off contract, or more than $150 less than the Galaxy S5's off-contract price of $650.
Steve Jobs, the man responsible for the iPod and the global domination of low-res MP3 files, had a serious Hi-Fi fetish. All the proof you need is in Diana Walker's iconic 1982 photo of Jobs in his Woodside, California home.
Apple has a new patent granted today by the USPTO (via AppleInsider) which describes a means for reducing the size of a key component of the iPhone (and iPad), making it possible to create ever-smaller gadgets with thinner frames. The piece in question is a camera autofocus module, and the patent describes use of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) which improves greatly in terms of both size… Read More
Earlier this year, Fleksy updated the Android version of its keyboard alternative to version 2.0 with a new badge system and cloud syncing features. Today, the company followed up that release with a major overhaul to its iOS App.
The newest version of Fleksy for iOS offers a significant redesign that brings a new user interface, six new themes and a few new features to the universal iOS app. The biggest addition is an in-app tutorial and FAQ guide to help new users start using the alternative keyboard.
Fleksy is known for its predictive text engine that compensates for your sloppy typing with accurate word replacement. It also supports gestures that make it easy to enter punctuation, add returns and more.
Though Apple's restriction on keyboards prevents Fleksy from replacing the default iOS keyboard systemwide, the company offers a workaround that allows developers to integrate Fleksy on an app-by-app basis. This iOS software development kit was made available to all iOS developers earlier this year.
Fleksy is popular among consumers with the keyboard software reaching the one million total cross-platform downloads. Despite its limitations on iOS, demand for the keyboard is strong.
"We get about half our downloads from iOS, a platform our competitors have publicly criticized as doomed for failure for third party keyboards. Our success shows that iOS is a genuine opportunity for really innovative keyboard technologies, and today's major update is the first step of us doubling down our efforts on this platform," said Ioannis Verdelis, Founder and COO of Fleksy.
Fleksy is free for users to install and for developers to integrate into their apps. iPhone and iPad owners can download Fleksy [iTunes] from the iOS App Store, while developers can visit Fleksy's website for SDK information.
Steve Jobs has been ranked #1 in CNBC's First 25: Rebels, Icons & Leaders, described as "a definitive list of people who have had the greatest influence, sparked the biggest changes and created the most disruption in business over the past quarter century."
Steve Jobs earned the top spot for both transforming the way we think about technology and redefining the style in which we live [...]
More than any other member of our group of extraordinary entrepreneurs and executives—all outstanding leaders—his vision spurred changes far beyond his industry and put an indelible stamp on the wider culture …
The list was created as part of CNBC's year-long 25th anniversary celebrations. The above clip is airing during CNBC's Business Day programming today, and the full one-hour special will be broadcast at 7PM ET tonight, anchored by CNBC's Tyler Mathisen.
CNBC says that the final list of 25 was chosen from an initial group of 200 contenders, using a combination of editorial leaders, outside experts and CNBC viewers.
Bill Gates took second billing, with Google heads Sergey Brin, Larry Page and Eric Schmidt sharing 4th place. The full top 25 was:
The new, bigger iPhone 6 is again tipped to be a lot slimmer than its predecessor, with a video from Unbox Therapy suggesting that the iPhone 6's profile will measure just 6.1mm. Essentially, the iPhone 6 could be almost as thin as the current iPod touch model, which apparently matches a purported iPhone 6 case when it comes to thickness.
Apple has been granted a new patent by the USPTO, which reveals that the company is working on a way to reduce the size of a camera autofocus component for the iPhone and iPad. The patent titled "MEMS autofocus actuator" talks about the use of micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) technology to drive autofocus systems in future iOS devices. Continue reading → ----
This tidy and captivating workspace was assembled by Flickr user Sam, aka purplelime. I like the clean lines of the layout, but I would get lost forever in the wall art, wouldn't you? You can contribute an Apple-inspired photo to our Flickr pool... ----
Ukranian company Concepter today debuted a new Kickstarter project for the Lunecase, a new iPhone case that uses electromagnetic energy emitted from the iPhone to detect and alert users when a text message or phone call is placed.
The Lunecase does does not require a battery or a connection with the phone, but it is able to determine when the iPhone receives an SMS message or a phone call, at which point it lights up an LED on the back of the phone to create a visual notification.
The case is smart enough to tell the difference between the two types of notifications and the LED in the case is powered by energy emitted by the iPhone itself. Eliminating the need for a battery allows the Lunecase to retain a thin form factor while being able to provide notifications. Lunecase was initially shown off at CES 2014, where it received positive reactions.
"Accessories made for the iPhone can sometimes take the beauty and easy functionality away from the phone," said Concepter founder Vlad Tislenko. "Lunecase brings the back of your phone to life and enhances the natural iPhone functionality with no batteries, no cords and no bulk."
Currently, Concepter is creating Lunecases for the iPhone 5/5s and the iPhone 5c.
A limited number of black Lunecases can be preordered on Kickstarter for $30, with a white Lunecase also available for the iPhone 5/5s for a pledge of $39. Personalized engraving is available for $99, and all Lunecases are expected to ship in August of 2014.
To commemorate its launch in 1989, CNBC today ranked the most influential business and financial leaders from the past 25 years. Topping the list in the number one spot is Apple's own "iVisionary" Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs was recognized by CNBC not only for his work at Apple, but also for his influence on the wider culture both in business and in people's personal lives.
His creative genius revolutionized not just his industry and its products, but also everything from music and movies to smartphones. He provided a platform for others to create and distribute apps, bringing innovation and change to an even wider sphere. Apple's co-founder tops our anniversary list of the 25 most transformative leaders, icons and rebels of the past-quarter century. More than any other member of our group of extraordinary entrepreneurs and executives—all outstanding leaders—his vision spurred changes far beyond his industry and put an indelible stamp on the wider culture.
When assembling the list, the editorial board at CNBCfocused on business, eliminating politicians and government leaders from its top 25. They considered only those business men and women who were transformative both in their own field and beyond. Though most are well-known billionaires, the list was not based on personal financial success or popularity.
We made the decision early on to eliminate heads of government and state from our deliberations. This is a list, after all, about business people, not politicians. It's about the men and women who, for better or worse, have had the most transformative effect on commerce, finance, markets, human behavior and global culture over the past 25 years. So out went Bill Clinton, Angela Merkel, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, Lee Kuan Yew and Vladimir Putin. In came Oprah.
Also included on the list are other notable technology leaders including Microsoft's Bill Gates at number two, Amazon's Jeff Bezos at number five, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg at number eight and Google's trio of Sergey Brin, Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, who collectively share the number four spot.
[This is an advertorial. Maclife gets a portion of each unit sold.]
We store a lot on our MacBook Pro. Tons of music, photos from every event we've ever attended, videos we've recorded over the years--and that's not counting any of the applications and downloads we've acquired, either. It can fill up a hard drive in no time. But you can add up to 128GB of space with ease with the Nifty MiniDrive. It's on sale in our latest Deal. Find out more after the jump.
Adding space to your MacBook Pro has never been easier than with Nifty MiniDrive. It's a plug-and-play solution that can add up to 128GB of space to your computer. Just load in a miniSD card--you'll get a 2GB one pre-loaded with it. Just slide the Nifty MiniDrive into your MacBook Pro's SD slot and you'll instantly have additional storage. It's built to look like part of your MacBook with an aluminium cap and features high-quality gold contacts to ensure a reliable connection with your computer.
The Nifty MiniDrive usually retails for $40. Head to our Deals tab and you'll save 10% off the retail price. That makes your total $35.99. It's a great price for the easiest way to add space to your MacBook Pro, so grab this offer today!
One of the "issues" Retina MacBook Pro and MacBook Air have is the lack of a user-friendly way to upgrade their SSD drives. While buyers may easily purchase an external hard drive or rely on the cloud to have access to more space, Transcend has devised a very easy way to upgrade the internal SSD drive of these Apple laptop models, while turning the built-in drive into a spare, external storage option.
One of the "issues" Retina MacBook Pro and MacBook Air have is the lack of a user-friendly way to upgrade their SSD drives. While buyers may easily purchase an external hard drive or rely on the cloud to have access to more space, Transcend has devised a very easy way to upgrade the internal SSD drive of these Apple laptop models, while turning the built-in drive into a spare, external storage option.
The iPad and MacBook Air have always competed with each other in terms of on-the-go computing, but the two have always been separated by price. No matter the specs of your dreamy iPad, you could never get an ultra-slim MacBook for the same price -... 
It seems like everyone is making concept art of the unannounced iPhone 6 these days, and they all end up looking pretty much the same. Designer Mike Donovan doesn't seem too interested in that, and he's focused his talents on bringing non-existent... 
Apple has a new patent granted today by the USPTO (via AppleInsider) which describes a means for reducing the size of a key component of the iPhone (and iPad), making it possible to create ever-smaller gadgets with thinner frames. The piece in question is a camera autofocus module, and the patent describes use of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) which improves greatly in terms of both size… 
This tidy and captivating workspace was assembled by Flickr user Sam, aka purplelime. I like the clean lines of the layout, but I would get lost forever in the wall art, wouldn't you? You can contribute an Apple-inspired photo to our Flickr pool... 
