TheMacFeed

So… let’s try to catch you up on all of the news in the past five days. A couple days ago Steve Ballmer was in the news quite a bit. First, he had to answer questions regarding Apple’s surpassing marketcap. Then there were some thoughts that he was going to go to WWDC and then he squashed those. After all that marketcap shenanigans, a new report put Apple.com as the number two online retailer.

In the storefront world it was also a big weekend with numerous stores celebrating their Grand Openings. Seems Apple stores and Microsoft showrooms(?) are going to be in a lot of the same places, wonder who will sell more? Just to be clear, this is a Trojan horse. Intego also found some spyware in free screensavers. Despite the ongoing Google/Apple war, those using Windows at Google are going to have to find a new OS. Doesn’t Google make an OS?

In WWDC news, Engadget received information regarding what it believes to be the next Apple TV, Google you’re screwed. Boy Genius Reports believes that a new iTunes.com and Macs are coming at WWDC.

Foxconn has not had a whole lot of people defending it, but a new article pointed out that in reality Foxconn’s suicide rate is below average. Steve cited this here. Then there was the theory that the migrant workers were really the ones to blame. In the mean time, Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn’s parent) has raised wages 20%. A new report says that Apple might be giving a share of its profits to the employees at Foxconn. Turns out it will be around .7%.

In patent news, Apple filed for something regarding an iPhone headset. Apple announced a new rendition of QuickTime to the patent office with some fun stuff. There were some pictures thrown around regarding cloud syncing and solar iPhone charging. Two patents for the Magic Mouse made their way around the internets. Cupertino won a whole bunch of Designs: Part 1 & Part 2. In trademark news, Apple is facing a lawsuit regarding iAd.

Then there was all the iPad news. The iPad was launched internationally in nine countries, that shockingly brought down Vodafone’s servers and the device shockingly sold well.The big news was the new sales numbers, 2 million in 58 days. Self-publishing books are allowed in the iBooks Store.

Just in case you were wondering, the iPhone grew more then the Android did in May. AT&T said that four out of ten iPhones sold are to enterprise customers. If anyone is doubting the new iPhone is coming, Telefonica (Spain) removed the iPhone 3G and 3GS. AT&T is going to begin offering insurance for the iPhone, yes it’s a hell of a lot more expensive then Squaretrade. Apple is allegedly looking into Bing implementation in iPhone 4… where have we heard this before? In addition, Apple randomly turned on Places geotagging and perhaps flashlight mode? A Czech iPhone site confirmed the new high-res screen on the iPhone. A Portugese site then got some video of the inside of the next iPhone. There were some random parts floating around China. In addition, Kevin Rose may or may not be rather familiar with the next iPhone. AT&T is apparently installing large displays in its stores for the upcoming iPhone, no reference to high-res or anything. Skype 2.0 was announced brining quite a few key features, for free.

Finally congrats to the popular Mac forum, MacRumors, who reached 10 million forum posts.

The Australian rendition of Macworld is reporting that the MacBook Air will be receiving an update tomorrow. The NPD claims that the Android OS has overtaken the iPhone OS. Someone thinks that Lady Gaga is the next Apple spokesperson. Hold on, when did Apple have a spokesperson? Seems the SoHo Apple store isn’t fond of Chinese.

International iPad pre-orders have started. O2 & Vodafone announced their data plans. Seems the Japanese rendition has been locked to Softbank. Seems all of you that complained about the international pricing have achieved something, in Germany. Steve has promised printing for everyone’s tablet.

By far the most important news of the day: Apple & AT&T definitely signed a five-year exclusivity deal for the iPhone.

And in the daily edition of “The Next Employee Fired at Apple” – whoever designed the Toy Story 3 website.

We have been so busy dealing with a lot of other things that the news is late. Take five points off or give our reservation to someone else or just pretend nothing happened (that’s what we are doing…)

According to MacNN, Macworld is going fine sans that one company from Cupertino. Speaking of that company, Apple has launched the Apple Consultant Network (ACN) in Australia today to help with corporate business. Hardmac thinks Apple has fixed the Mac Pro’s problems regarding audio and overheating. In addition, Apple also took up trying to fix the Aluminum Keyboard. AppleInsider reports that Apple has hired Christopher Wright of Kineme Interactive Media, in English: Apple has hired someone that works with Quartz. Adobe has continued its never-ending fixing of Apple products. Apple will grow for another nine years according to one analyst. Favorite story of the day, Apple gets the most unexpected patent in the world – screw you Cisco! (Thanks to Patently Apple)

The app store has reached 150,000 apps. Many media outlets have commented on a couple South Koreans and their use of iPhones, we prefer 9 to 5 Mac’s take. iLounge has found the first app requiring OS 3.2 in the App Store. BusinessWeek continues the speculation about who might get the searching rights via the iPhone. BusinessInsider reports that Microsoft’s iPhone killer is not coming next week? A second carrier for the iPhone is coming to Thailand. Vodafone has launched sim-only plans for the iPhone (and other phones..)

Add Bill Atkinson to the list of people that love the iPad. TechCrunch continues the constant parade of wishful thinking around Apple selling the iPad at a lower price. LG claims that it has something to compete with the iPad, (1, 2, 3) next… CNN’s Apple 2.0 reports that the iPad has created 1,000 new apps. IBM is developing Lotus (who uses that anymore?) for the iPad.

We won’t be posting tomorrow about the news, however much is going on at TheMacFeed in the next hours/days. Two other on-going events: Apple is getting closer to ten billion iTunes song downloads (and giving a way a $10,000 gift card to the ten billionth download) and Macworld will continue tomorrow, so plenty of news should exist. Remember – check back later: giveaways, new mediums, icons, ponies… (you get the idea…)

And don’t complain, it’s only thirty minutes late…

While it’s Friday and apparently that means little news regarding the iPad. Add Axiotron to the list of people that don’t think the iPad is going to hurt their business. While the ModBook claims to be fine, Amazon is struggling, Hachette (publishing company) dumped Amazon making it the 3rd major publishing company to screw over Amazon since the iPad announcement. More evidence of the iPad going to Vodafone compliments of its CEO and other X2 announced the Windows/Linux iTablet – haven’t we seen that before and what’s with the italics?

Apple has told developers that location-based ads are off-limits, meanwhile the game of Apple-Google Risk continues with Apple hiring two major mobile ad forces. In other Apple hiring news, the L.A. Times reported that Apple was recruiting engineers at a job fair. Steve Jobs had another meeting in New York this morning with the print media industry, apparently wearing a funny hat? Lionel at Hardmac provided some thoughts on the Apple and Adobe feud. Meanwhile AT&T & Sling are engaging in a new war.

And in our ironic moment in history story of the day: Cisco Systems, you know the company that used to own the trademark for the iPhone – yeah, they have a new iPhone app coming. Anyone want to guess what it does? VoIP, yeah the same thing their iPhone used to do.