Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:
Options: At a business conference in Taiwan, an executive at DisplaySearch revealed that Apple’s (AAPL) upcoming smartwatch will be available with screens sized for men’s and women’s wrists, the Korean Herald reports. David Hsieh told conference attendees that the iWatch will come with a 1.7-inch OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display on models aimed at men, and a 1.3-inch OLED display in the ladies version. Apple has long been rumored to be developing a smartwatch and is said to have dedicated a team of 100 engineers and designers to the project. The company has also recently hired executives from luxury apparel retailers, which many analyst see as a signal that the company will move into the wearable computer market. Rumors of Apple’s smartwatch have sparked similar development project among rivals including Microsoft (MSFT) and Google (GOOG). Last month, Samsung unveiled its now smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear. While some analysts had expected Apple to launch the iWatch this year, a 2014 debut appears more likely. Another DisplaySearch analyst suggested at the conference that an equally-long rumored Apple branded TV has been delayed until 2015 or beyond so that Apple could focus on the introduction of wearable devices.
Probe: Sources tell Reuters that Italian tax authorities are investigating Apple. Regulators believe that the company has concealed $1.34 billion from tax officials. A number of large multinational corporations have been hit with tax investigations in Italy in recent months. The heads of prominent fashion house Dolce & Gabbana were sentenced to a 20-month jail term earlier this year on charges of tax evasion. Apple has faced questions about its tax reporting practices from European authorities. The company has taken advantage of tax laws in Ireland to minimize its overseas tax bill for decades.
Digital Antique: Electronic history buffs can now examine the Apple II DOS source code directly, Tuaw notes. The Computer History Museum and the Digibarn Computer Museum have released the Apple II DOS code for download. The source code was compiled by Paul Laughton in 1978. Laughton spent seven weeks writing the code and was paid $13,000 for his work. The code was written using 80-column punch cards, which were then fed into a National Semiconductor machine that produced a paper tape. Apple approved the release of the Apple II DOS source code.
For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.
