Here is your daily Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock news and rumors for August 18, 2010. New iPhone rumors swirl about today from Apple, but rather than new Verizon iPhone chatter we have talk that Apple has begun testing iPhone with near-field communications technology. There’s also a double dose of new video content on both the iPhone and iPad.
APPL Testing Near Field Communications iPhone Prototype: We haven’t heard much about Apple’s plan for incorporating near-field communications technology into the iPhone lately. (For those of you who don’t know, “near-field” technology is like a weak WiFi signal that only travels several inches from the source). Back at the beginning of July, a patent for an iPhone app called “Products+” was uncovered. It would allow iPhone users to scan products at stores using NFC technology to get on demand information and reviews before purchasing the item. Now, according to a report from TechCrunch, Apple Inc. has already begun testing iPhones equipped with near field communications technology from NXP Semiconductors. The report speculates that the technology will be used by the iPhone 5 for apps like “Products+,” high-speed wireless data transfers, and information exchange between the smartphone and other Apple devices. This rumor comes hot on the heels of Apple hiring Benjamin Higler, a NFC specialist who was formerly a project manager for mFoundry.
Apple iPad Users Get Streaming Video From HBO: It’s not TV, it’s a streaming Web service letting iPad users enjoy premium content from HBO. In an interview with Bloomberg this morning, Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) property HBO put its co-president in the spotlight to announced HBO Go. The technology is a streaming Web service that will let current HBO subscribers watch content on Apple’s iPad at no additional cost. Kessler described HBO Go as a Web service so it’s unclear as to what form it will take on Apple’s tablet computer, whether as an app or as an HTML5-based Website. HBO announced the service shortly after its latest refusal to work with video rental service Netflix, a company that has been enjoying massive success with its streaming app on Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices. Whether or not HBO can capture new subscribers, rather than just draw current HBO viewers with a cable or satellite subscription, with HBO Go remains to be seen.
Vimeo’s Universal Video Player Launches on iPad and iPhone 4: Video sharing service Vimeo has launched a new video player that caters specifically to users of Apple’s popular mobile devices. The Universal Player lets Vimeo users embed videos without having to worry about Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) Flash support. The Player automatically detects a video viewer’s client and provides them with the ideal video format, whether it’s HTML5 or Flash. Vimeo’s technology behind the Universal Player includes both specific players built just for the iPhone and iPad in addition to Flash players and an HTML5 player. While many critics lambasted Apple for refusing to include Flash support in the iPad when it launched earlier this year, it’s starting to look like the Cupertino, California company’s device has been successful enough to spur tech development specifically to serve its audience’s needs.
As of this writing, Anthony Agnello did not own a position in any of the stocks named here.
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