Every week, makes news with technology developments, business deals and, more often than not, controversies.
That’s where our weekly "Core Bytes" column on Apple comes in. We’ll relay the past week’s news highlights from our favorite backyard tech giant.
Controversies
Almost 200 Foxconn employees in China threatened drastic action Friday: jumping off the factory roof if disputes over wage and workplace conditions were not resolved. Yet according to Reuters, the dispute has already been settled at the factories, which employees 1.2 million workers.
China’s Foxconn isn’t the only Apple product factory rife with conflict. Factory workers at a plant in Jundiaí, Brazil threatened to go on strike by May 3 if issues over overcrowded buses, poor food and water shortages are not resolved. The problems were magnified recently when the factory hired 1,000 new workers.
New Products
Now Apple headquarters employees can eat their tofu burgers in peace. Apple just received approval to build a new, 21,468-square-foot eatery off-campus, located near Apple’s Infinite Loop center. The decked-out cafe will boost meeting rooms, a lounge area, and loads of outdoor space.
The latest new film releases may soon be coming to an Apple computer near you. The company is now in talks to stream films owned by EPIX, which is backed by three major movie studios. Apple currently sells a $99 top-set box that streams content from Netflix and the TBL channel. In early 2013, Apple is expected to unveil a full-fledged TV product.
Business Deals and Developments
Not all iPad purchasers are Apple junkies, a new study finds. About 25 percent of customers have made the pad their first-ever Apple product, according to the NPD Group.
Samsung and Apple have once again topped Nokia in smartphone shipments this quarter. According to Strategic Analytics, Samsung is the reigning brand, with 44.5 million phones shipped opposed to Apple’s 35 million iPhones.
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