Apple To Start Making Some Mac Computers in America in 2013

Some iMac owners have been finding lately that their computers were "assembled in the USA."Those U.S.-assembled machines have been few and far between -- most still have "assembled in China" tags. But Apple is planning for many more Mac computers to be made in the U.S. next year.

In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that the Cupertino-based company is investing $100 million in U.S. based manufacturing for its Mac computers. The project will be an entirely new undertaking.

"And next year we are going to bring some production to the U.S. on the Mac. We've been working on this for a long time, and we were getting closer to it. It will happen in 2013," Cook said in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek's Josh Tyrangiel. "We could have quickly maybe done just assembly, but it's broader because we wanted to do something more substantial."

Apple has manufactured and assembled most of its products in China, and has been widely criticized for the poor working conditions in the factories of its Foxconn contractor there. Apple's late CEO, Steve Jobs, was quoted by biographer Walter Isaacson as complaining to President Obama that U.S. regulations made it easier to build a factory overseas.

His successor, Cook, now speaks of change.

"We'll literally invest over $100 million. This doesn't mean that Apple will do it ourselves, but we'll be working with people, and we'll be investing our money," Cook added in the interview.

After the furor began over conditions at Foxconn in China, ABC News' Bill Weir got an exclusive look at some of its factories in Shenzhen and Chengdu. Since then, Apple, along with the Fair Labor Association, has vowed to make changes to working hours, overtime and more.

Cook elaborated on the progress being made in China in the interview: "I think no one is looking at this as deeply as we are or going as deep in the supply chain. We're back to the mines. We're going all the way, not just at the first layer. And in addition to that, we've chosen to be incredibly transparent with it. I invite everyone to copy us."

According to the interview, Apple will bring Mac production to the U.S. -- but not iPad or iPhone manufacturing. When asked about making an iPhone in the U.S. at the All Things D conference in May, Cook pointed out that some parts are made in the U.S., including the Gorilla Glass screen on Apple's iPhones. Apple has not specified what Mac computer lines -- iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, etc. -- will be made here.

Along with Apple, Lenovo plans to begin production of its ThinkPad laptops and desktops to the U.S. The company will start assembling and making hardware in early 2013 in Whitsett, North Carolina. As a result, Lenovo plans to hire for 115 manufacturing jobs later this year.

When reached by ABC News, Apple pointed us to the interview and would not elaborate on its 2013 U.S. production plans.

Apple To Start Making Some Mac Computers in America in 2013

iOS 6.1.1 update released by Apple to tackle iPhone 4S signal issues

Apple has issued a new iOS 6.1.1 update, with the software patch landing just hours after network provider Vodafone warned iPhone 4S users off updating to iOS 6.1 due to on-going 3G signal issues.

With the recent iOS 6.1 update reportedly causing a swathe of iPhone 4S users to experience troublesome signal loss issues when attempting to utilise 3G connections, Apple has responded to complaints, rolling out iOS 6.1.1 in a bid to amend the recently introduced issues.

iOS 6.1.1 update released by Apple to tackle iPhone 4S signal issues

HTC hints at iPhone 5-like design for HTC One ???

The HTC One could indeed sport an iPhone 5-like design, with a recent HTC Twitter post appearing to confirm the rumours.

The company has released an update to its Twitter account with the date of its big launch event being held in London on February 19. Behind the date we get a glimpse of the very top of a mysterious new device.

There's also a background shot of the back of a sleek metal (or metal-styled) smartphone with HTC engraved into it.

These images appear to align with a recently leaked photo from evleaks. Seemingly a press shot of the HTC One (formerly known as the HTC M7), the image reveals a sleek white and black device with a rather familiar design.

HTC hints at iPhone 5-like design for HTC One ???

Vertu Ti announced with mid-range specs for high-end price tag

The Vertu Ti has been officially unveiled as the post-Nokia debut Vertu Android handset, sporting a minimum price tag of a breath taking £6,700.

Despite the rather ostentatious cost, the luxury handset may leave users wanting in the tech department, as the Vertu Ti doesn’t even offer top end specs, hosting the now rather dated Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS.

Vertu Ti announced with mid-range specs for high-end price tag

Nokia Asha 310 launched with dual SIM and Wi-Fi

Nokia has launched the Nokia Asha 310, the latest in its line of affordable smartphones, which this time comes with Wi-Fi and dual SIM capabilities.

The Nokia Asha 310 follows on from the Nokia Asha 308 and the Nokia Asha 309, which were launched in September of last year. Like those two phones, the Nokia Asha 310 runs on Nokia's ancient but heavily-tweaked Series 40 OS.

Nokia Asha 310 launched with dual SIM and Wi-Fi

5-inch iPhone 6 spotted at Chinese supplier alongside iPhone 5S

A 5-inch iPhone 6 prototype has been spotted at one of Apple’s Chinese suppliers, with the handset reportedly doing the rounds alongside the as yet unconfirmed iPhone 5S.

Adding to a flurry of recent iPhone 6 rumours, latest reports have suggested Apple’s iPhone 5 follow-on has been spotted playing host to a new 5-inch form factor. Said to have surfaced at a Chinese supplier alongside an iPhone 5S model, both the iPhone

5-inch iPhone 6 spotted at Chinese supplier alongside iPhone 5S

Google Nexus 4 sales top 1m milestone despite stock shortages

Google NEXUS 4 sales have topped the 1 

million unit milestone marker despite continuing stock shortages, latest figures have suggested.

Despite the handset having been unavailable and listed as ‘out of stock’ for much of the time since its November 13 release, figures compiled by the XDA Developers Forum have revealed that the 999,998th Google Nexus 4 was produced earlier this week on February 5.

Google Nexus 4 sales top 1m milestone despite stock shortages

Transparent smartphone unveiled by Polytron

Polytron has unveiled a prototype transparent smartphone with the potential to launch fully-functioning prototypes and limited market production by the end of this year. 

The Taiwanese manufacturer this demoed an almost entirely transparent touchscreen handset made from the company’s “Polyvision Privacy Glass”, suggesting handsets could be released within the year.

Transparent smartphone unveiled by Polytron

Smartphone malware threat to rival desktops in 2013

With smartphones and tablets accounting for an ever increasing amount of online activity, 2013 will see portable devices targeted by malware as often as traditional desktop computers, internet security giant Kaspersky Lab has suggested.

Claiming that cybercriminals are set to increase “drive-by download” attacks within the coming months, Kaspersky Lab has suggested that the coming year will see mobile threats rival those on standard computers, with Google’s Android OS to be the target of many of the attacks.

“2012 has been the year of the explosive growth of mobile malware, with cybercriminals’ primary focus being the Android platform, as it was the most popular and widely used,” an official Kaspersky spokesperson has stated in the company’s 2013 predictions report.

“In 2013 we are likely to see a new alarming trend – the use of vulnerabilities to extend ‘drive-by download’ attacks on mobile devices. This means that personal and corporate data stored on smartphones and tablets will be targeted as frequently as it is targeted on traditional computers.”

As well drive-by download attacks, the Kaspersky report has suggested that 2013 could see the first smartphone based worms introduced. “There is also a high probability that the first mass worm for Android will appear, capable of spreading itself via text messages and sending out links to itself at some online app store,” the company suggested.

Expanding on the recent rise of Android based malware, Kaspersky added: “In June 2012 we identified almost 7,000 malicious Android programs. Overall, in 2012, we identified more than 35,000 malicious Android programs, which is about six times more than in 2011. That’s also about five times more than all the malicious Android samples we’ve received since 2005 altogether.”

They added: “Looking forward, there is no doubt this trend will continue, just like it did with Windows malware many years ago. We are therefore expecting 2013 to be filled with targeted attacks against Android users, zero-days and data leaks.”

Whilst users of Google’s hugely popular Android system are likely to be put at the most risk, Kaspersky has stressed that it is far from the only target for mobile based malicious attacks with iPhone users also at considerable risk. “For the same reasons (rising popularity), new sophisticated attacks will be performed against owners of Apple devices as well,” the company spokesperson added.

Have you protected your handset and tablet from malware threats or have you always considered that more of a desktop based issue? Let us know via the Trusted Reviews Twitter and Facebook feeds or through the comment boxes below.

Smartphone malware threat to rival desktops in 2013

Smart Phones Of The Future

Future mobile devices will change the way you do business--in ways you probably can't even imagine. Here are a few predictions.

Think your smartphone is powerful now? Wait until the year 2050, when Apple will have faded into oblivion (most major tech companies can last barely 30 years).

Smart Phones Of The Future