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Apple snubs Samsung, begins test production of A6 processor with TSMC?
Tech Business: harness Google, meetings apps, and 50 Twitter feeds you have to follow
Spazzi: make your own dancing robot
Arcade classics to hellish shoot ‘em-ups: the best board games based on video games
Apple beats Android to the punch, offers seven-day refund policy in Taiwan: Is the UK next?
Free VIP invite to BlackBerry PlayBook event for Electricpig readers!
Google can’t stop winning thanks to 550k daily Android activations and a 32 percent bump in earnings
iPhone 5 delayed, Amazon tablet rumours, and the first Mac OS X Lion apps hit the Mac App Store: Lunchtime Lowdown
Where is Harry Potter showing? Anywhere you see this foursquare badge
BlackBerry Cyclone: RIM plans Apple TV rival

Apple snubs Samsung, begins test production of A6 processor with TSMC?

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 08:33 AM PDT

A storied history filled with lawsuits is hardly the foundation for a strong business partnership. In the case of Apple and Samsung, it appears the bickering has finally resulting in a change of hands for Apple's processor production. The successor to the A5, currently residing in the iPad 2 and upcoming iPhone 4S/5, will not be produced by Samsung. According to 9to5Mac, Taiwan-based manufacturer TSMC has stepped in to replace Samsung and produce the A6 chip.

TSMC has reportedly "begun a test production run of A6 processors for future Apple devices." Those future Apple devices may include the third generation iPad (iPad 3) and the sixth generation iPhone (iPhone 6?). In all likelihood the A6 processor will be released in early 2012 during the yearly iPad refresh event — although a late 2011 refresh is still rumored. In either scenario, the chip powering the upcoming iPad will not be produced by Samsung.

The move to shift production from Samsung to TSMC is bold, even by Apple's standards. The A4 chip inside the iPhone 4 and original iPad was a hit, as is the A5 chip. As a strong believer in the motto, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", it's sad to see this partnership reportedly come to a close. The good news is that the deal between Apple and TSMC has not been "authorized". Apparently, the only thing preventing the ink from hitting the paper is the potential yield rate of manufacturing. We'd imagine taking over processor production for Samsung is quite a heavy burden.

Now that we've laid out the rumors surrounding the A6 processor, we can't help but wonder if this is a sign of more to come. The feud between Apple and Samsung has captured news headlines for months. At face value it seems silly to throw a manufacturing partner under the bus, even if a lawsuit is well deserved. With any hope, Apple and Samsung will settle their disputes and move on sooner rather than later.

If the rumors prove true and Apple cuts the cord with Samsung for A6 production, will this impact your purchase of the iPad 3 or iPhone 4S/5? Personally I'll be concerned about supply more so than who actually makes the chip. If Apple launches have taught us one lesson it's that no amount of inventory is ever enough — heck, 1.7 million units will only cover the launch weekend. Can TSMC handle the demand?

Tech Business: harness Google, meetings apps, and 50 Twitter feeds you have to follow

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 08:10 AM PDT

This week on our sister site BizGene we've been taking a look at how to work better with Google and the apps and plug-ins that change your working week, saving you time, stress and simply pointing out the stuff that you won't want to live without after trying it once. At the other end of the scale we've listed iPad Apps for boring meetings. Want to doodle or discover that your iPad can cope with flash? Beat the Monday morning meeting brain death and take a look.

The two big business phones have each got an article to themselves too. We've uncovered an iPhone business card scanner which works like a dream and listed the business benefits of the BlackBerry Bold Range. To wrap the week up, we've also compiled the 50 best UK company Twitter feeds – who does it well? Click and find out.

Google business apps to change your working week

iPad Apps for boring meetings

BlackBerry Bold for business: 10 things you need to know

Use your iPhone as a business card scanner

50 best UK company Twitter feeds

Spazzi: make your own dancing robot

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 08:04 AM PDT

This little antenna'd chap might look like Short Circuit's Johnny Five without arms, but wait till you see him dance. That's right, he's got moves, but even better, you can make him yourself, just given the right tools, a bit of patience, and enough willing to watch a robot dance.

Click through for the video of him dancing like an over-excited toddler after six cans of Red Bull, as well as instructions on how to make your own.

Out now | £Varies | Make Projects (via Engadget)

Arcade classics to hellish shoot ‘em-ups: the best board games based on video games

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 07:17 AM PDT

Cut the Rope and Angry Birds are being made into board games – but it's far from a new idea. What about other games made into board games? We'll we've got a packed list right here, complete with pics of each.

Suffice to say you may be surprised at some to be given the desktop treatment…

1 Doom (1994)

Three people play as marines, one takes control of the forces of hell. Like a lot of multiplayer shooters, it's all about the scenario, so choose a good one.

2 Lara Croft – Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)

Coming a few years after Lara mania peaked, you have to prove Lara's innocence when she's accused of murder. Less shooting than the video game.

3 Pac-Man (1982)

Roll the dice to escape the ghosts, just like in the video game. There was even the pill you eat that means you can eat the ghosts, too.

4 Donkey Kong (1982)

Four stand-up Mario figures try to avoid the barrels and save the princess. It's just like the video games, just without the obsessively competitive players.

5 Bezerk (1983)

You and a friend control either a Humanoid Warrior or the indestructible Evil Otto – make the wrong move and you get zapped.

6 Tetris Link (2011)

This year's Toy Fair threw up this little gem of a game – a Jenga-style effort featuring blocks from the classic puzzler. The only thing it lacks is the music.

7 Double Dragon (1989)

Just like the game, you have to find Jimmy's hideout and rescue Marian. It even features the same sections as the video game. Play while wearing a leather vest with a bare chest for extra points.

8 Halo (2008)

Features a modular board that can be changed to make effectively different games. And it has features from Halo 1, 2 and 3, so is guaranteed to please the fans.

Apple beats Android to the punch, offers seven-day refund policy in Taiwan: Is the UK next?

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 06:35 AM PDT

Android's 15-minute refund window is hardly enough time to decide whether an app hits the mark. Though short, that's still 15 more minutes than iOS users have with purchases from the App Store — until today. Apple has amended its terms and conditions for the Taiwan App Store, including a statement saying users can be reimbursed within seven days of receiving the purchased product once all copies are deleted.

The move comes on the heels of pressure by Taipei's city government to meet the city's consumer protection act. Google was also urged to change its Android Market return window, but failed to budge and settled with a fine. Why did Apple decide to play ball and will the UK be next to land a seven-day refund policy?

For a company that is now worth as much as Microsoft, HP and Dell combined, the idea that a potential NT$1.5 million fine (£32,278) would result in any sort of change in business practice is startling. Apple has boatloads of cash, billions actually, which could cover tens of thousands of fines without leaving a dent. So why did Apple make the change?

Following Taipei's consumer protection act is part of a bigger picture for Apple. In late April during Apple's earning's call, Tim Cook announced that total revenue from greater China (China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) was $1.3 billion (£806 million) — a growth of over 200 percent year-over-year in the region. A large chunk of this revenue was a result of iPhone demand, but also Mac sales.

Apple product sales from greater China are too valuable a prize to allow something as trivial as an App Store refund policy to stand in the way. The smart move was to amend the terms and conditions and continue enjoying record revenues. With Apple's business model shifting focus to the Mac App Store, we wouldn't be surprised if those terms and conditions were also modified.

That's great for Taiwan, but what about the UK? Unfortunately the seven-day App Store refund policy does not look universal. Without the threat of fine which might rock the boat, sinking Apple revenues in region, there's little motivation to change policy. What might, however, change the game is the data Apple retrieves from sales of apps in Taiwan.

If the seven-day refund policy leads to increased demand in apps, will that be enough for Apple to take the policy worldwide? We've got our fingers crossed, but we won't be holding our breath.

Free VIP invite to BlackBerry PlayBook event for Electricpig readers!

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 06:20 AM PDT

On the 21st July at a swanky central london location, eight Electricpig readers will get to spend an evening with the BlackBerry PlayBook - and mix with the great and good at BlackBerry.

There’ll be plenty of free food and drink on offer and – here’s the best bit – one of those eight readers will take a brand new PlayBook home with them!

To Apply, please email editor@electricpig.co.uk with your name, address and a contact phone number. You must be available in London on 21st July, between 6pm and 9pm

Google can’t stop winning thanks to 550k daily Android activations and a 32 percent bump in earnings

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 05:57 AM PDT

You'd be hard pressed to find someone covering the mobile industry who was not starstruck by Google's second quarter earnings call yesterday. The search giant broke news by announcing it was activating an unprecedented 550,000 devices per day and Android sales now total 135 million. On the app front, the Market now hosts over 250,000 apps, shortening the lead held by the Apple App Store. The success of Android has helped Google's second quarter revenues jump 32 percent year-over-year. At this point can anything stop Google from winning?

Android shipments in volume, an encyclopedia of manufacturers lining up and a stronghold on the search engine business has catapulted Google's earnings above and beyond Wall Street's expectations. Leading into yesterday's call, the street was keen on quarter revenues of at most $8.6 billion. Google beat the mark by recording earnings of around $9 billion. Helping reach such incredible earnings was the addition of 2,452 full-time employees, bringing the total full-time workforce up to 28,768.

So just how fast is Android growing? On May 10th Google announced that 100 million Android devices had been sold (worldwide) which means approximately 35 million units were sold over the past two months. At this pace, Android is on track to top 200 million devices sold in 2011 — nearly half the total number of Nokia handsets sold per year. The days Nokia can sleep easy knowing it commands the leading in mobile market share and worldwide handset shipments is numbered.

By the end of 2011 daily Android device activations may top one million units per day. It would, however, require the current the five percent weekly growth to continue,which is unlikely, but still possible. In fact, if Google maintains a five percent weekly growth in activations it would hit the one million per day mark by October 13th, according to Unwired View. At this point in the game, Android has proven that it is here for the long haul. Demand continues to grow and there's no sign of a slowdown. Like Charlie Sheen at the Playboy mansion, Google just can't stop winning.

iPhone 5 delayed, Amazon tablet rumours, and the first Mac OS X Lion apps hit the Mac App Store: Lunchtime Lowdown

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 04:30 AM PDT

Friday! We're at the end of the week, just a few hours till the weekend. We've got all the big news from this morning, and you'll be glad to hear there's not a word about News International. Just tech tech tech, so come with us as we see what's been happening.

We may have longer to wait for the iPhone 5, as the A5 processor is prone to overheating, according to a Chinese website. The prospect of an iPhone 4S dropping September looks increasingly likely, while a full iPhone 5 might not come until 2012.

The first Mac OS X Lion apps have hit the Mac App Store. Yes, the OS itself didn't drop quite as soon as we were hoping, but it's getting closer by the day, and these apps are another sign it's just round the corner. Bring on the roar. To know what to expect, check out our guide.

New rumours abound about the rumoured Amazon Android tablet – the latest says the same people will make it who make the iPhone 4 and iPad 2. For more, have a look at our full rumour rundown.

In other news, RIM is prepping an Apple TV rival, Assassin's Creed 3DS has been quietly dropped, and Harry Potter has shown up on foursquare. And that's all for today.

Where is Harry Potter showing? Anywhere you see this foursquare badge

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 03:44 AM PDT

A Harry Potter badge has shown up on foursquare, letting fans of the wizard find his latest film. That's right, just check in at a cinema when you go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, and you'll see this special Harry Potter badge.

It's the work of EA Games, promoting its game based on the movie. But it's not just a pointless promo – check in at the cinema when you see the movie, and you'll get 25% off the price of the game. Magic.

Click through to see some in-game footage.

Out now | £36.99 | EA Games

BlackBerry Cyclone: RIM plans Apple TV rival

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 03:35 AM PDT

You’d have thought RIM would be entirely focused on building the next generation of BlackBerry phones and persuading the world to embrace the BlackBerry PlayBook but it is also said to be working on a media hub to go head-to-head with the Apple TV.

The latest report comes from a well-connected BlackBerry fansite and follows word of the device, apparently codenamed BlackBerry Cyclone, from a site which previously outed details on the BlackBerry PlayBook long before it became official.

Read on for the details the BlackBerry Cyclone rumour has whipped up in its wake…

N4BB first raised the prospect of an Apple-TV-like device from RIM at the end of last month. it says the same source that tipped it off about the BlackBerry PlayBook describes the BlackBerry Cyclone as similar to the firm’s BlackBerry Presenter device which plugs into a projector or monitor to run PowerPoint presentations from your mobile.

BlackBerry site, Nerdberry, picked up the baton and claims that the BlackBerry Cyclone will hook up to your TV via HDMI and grab movies and TV over your home Wi-Fi connection. It suggests it’ll come wth YouTube and Netflix as standard though, of course, we’re likely to end up with different offerings in the UK.

Like the BlackBerry PlayBook and the rumoured BlackBerry superphone, the BlackBerry Cyclone is said to run the QNX operating system. That’s perfectly plausible given that the OS has previously acted as the brain inside tanks and sports cars, it’s easily up to powering a media streamer.

Launching a media hub that works in tandem with the BlackBerry PlayBook could make sense but RIM is struggling with its core business right now. Let us know in the comments: do you think it should attempt to take on Apple TV and the Boxee Box or would the BlackBerry Cyclone end up as a crazy distraction?

Out TBC | £TBC | RIM (via N4BB/Nerdberry)