Think of Mac

SEOUL, South Korea — South Koreans got their first taste of the iPhone on Saturday as the multifunctional communication and entertainment device made its long awaited debut in one of the world’s most technologically sophisticated societies.

Though already available in other Asian countries such as Japan – where it went on sale last year – the slim smartphone got a late start in South Korea amid regulatory hurdles and tough negotiations between manufacturer Apple Inc. and a local telecommunications company.

But the waiting finally came to an end for about 850 South Koreans who took possession of their coveted iPhones at a boisterous official launching event in Seoul characterized by blaring music and flashing lights.  Read more... (230 words, estimated 55 secs reading time)

In a new interview, Apple’s co-founder explained his company’s environment-centric public relations push, and shared advice provided by former Vice President Al Gore.

Steve Jobs, along with Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, spoke with BusinessWeek to highlight Apple’s environmentally conscious ways. Jobs acknowledged that Greenpeace’s targeting of his company years ago played a part in the Mac maker promoting its green focus in public.

After Greenpeace criticized Apple for the use of toxic chemicals in its products, Jobs said he turned to Gore, a member of his company’s board of directors and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on climate change. Gore reportedly told Jobs to do what he does, and not get into a “mud-slinging war” with the environmental organization.  Read more... (185 words, estimated 44 secs reading time)

In recent years, Apple (AAPL) has been hammered by several environmental groups. Greenpeace singled it out for its use of toxic chemicals in 2007, and it has done poorly in rankings of the greenest corporations. The criticism is jarring for a company with a cool, progressive image and Mr. Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore, on its board.

Now, Apple is set to launch its most aggressive effort yet to counter green critics. On Sept. 24, the company will release more of the details environmental groups have been clamoring for, on its Web site and elsewhere. Apple, for example, will reveal its annual corporate carbon emissions for the first time. Lack of disclosure of that figure has hurt the company in several rankings, especially because rivals such as Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Dell (DELL) have given it out.  Read more... (193 words, estimated 46 secs reading time)

* Widely expected to unveil refreshed iPod line

* Shares down 1.4 percent (Adds information on Beatles launch)

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 31 (Reuters) – Apple Inc (AAPL.O) said on Monday that it would host a media event next week, when the company is widely expected to unveil an updated line of iPod media players.

Apple declined to say what products would be featured at the Sept. 9 event, which was announced in an invitation emailed to members of the media.

The invitation featured an iPod and the tagline: “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it,” a reference to a Rolling Stones song.  Read more... (204 words, estimated 49 secs reading time)

You’ve been waiting, and now you have to wait just a little longer…maybe. The guys over at AllThingsD say Apple is…well, here, read…

Multiple music industry sources say Apple executives have told them the company is planning one of its famed keynote events for the week of Sept. 7.

Honestly, this isn’t that big of a surprise.  Heck, it’s almost tradition for Apple to tease us with rumors all summer and then hold a special event after Labor Day.  Last year it was the updated iPod nano, and the year before that they announced the iPod touch (shortly after most of us bought the original iPhone).  Read more... (170 words, estimated 41 secs reading time)

iPhone 3GS users are significantly more satisfied with their device than Palm Pre users are with theirs, according to two reports published Friday by industry analysts RBC IQ / ChangeWave.

82% of iPhone 3GS users reported being “very satisfied” with the performance of their device, while just 45% of Pre owners reported as high a degree of satisfaction. 38% of users said the iPhone 3GS exceeded their expectations, whereas only 18% of Pre users were similarly surprised by the awesomness of their purchase.  Read more... (216 words, estimated 52 secs reading time)

Apple is poised to once again revolutionize the entertainment industry — this time with an “iTablet” portable device that lets users download and read digital books, watch movies and play games while also sparking new consumer interest in music albums packed with material such as video clips and liner notes, according to a new report.

The touch-screen Internet-connected gadget, which the Cupertino could launch before the holidays, aims to do what Microsoft failed to accomplish and would instantly compete with Amazon’s Kindle, Sony’s Reader and a soon-to-launch device from Barnes & Noble, the Financial Times reported Monday. The iPod touch-like device is expected to have a 10-inch screen.  Read more... (195 words, estimated 47 secs reading time)

With Microsoft copying Apple lock and step, it’s like 1995 all over again.  In the latest piece of un-innovation from Redmond, a leaked presentation from the consulting company Microsoft hired to help it design and layout its upcoming retail stores indicates that Ballmer and co. are looking to copy the layout and feel of Apple Stores to a tee.  Check out these photos courtesy of Gizmodo.

Hey look! It’s a Microsoft “answer bar”!

A theater area with group events and training sessions?  Hmmm…

Full Story: Edible Apple

As Apple ponders a makeover of some of its stores — the first international remodel is underway in Bluewater (UK) — it’s a good time to consider which of the over 250 retail outlets are worth making a pilgrimage to, or a slight detour if something goes awry while you’re on the road.

The top five must-see Apple stores, as per travel site Jaunted, are London, Tokyo, Sydney, New York — and Scottsdale.

What’s on your list? Let us know in the comments.

Pics and nominations after the jump.

Full Story: Cult of Mac

Apple is pretty adept at getting its products onto some of TV’s most popular shows, but no show can top Futurama when it comes to a sprinkling of both well-known and obscure Apple references. This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given the fact that series co-founder David X. Cohen is a huge Apple fan whose favorite piece of technology is the Apple II – Cohen even named the character “Dr. Zoidberg” after a computer game he originally created for the Apple II in assembly language.  Read more... (121 words, estimated 29 secs reading time)