Edible Apple

Here’s a look at some of the Apple stories making the rounds today on the interwebs.
Apple tops magazine tech support survey rankings – AppleInsider

A study of major laptop manufacturers’ technical support service found Apple to be at the top of its class, while competitors like Dell and HP lagged well behind the Mac-maker.

The test from Laptop Mag ranked nine manufacturers: Apple, Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Sony and Toshiba. Apple blew its competitors out of the water, as none fared as well, and most ranked much lower. In fact, Apple came across top-tier in all of the magazine’s criteria, earning straight As.

Netflix to Stream Videos to iPhone and Nintendo Wii – Multichannel

Netflix, ahead of pay-TV providers, continues extending its own “TV Everywhere” strategy to more devices.

Next up: The company will soon offer the Watch Instantly video-streaming feature on Apple iPhones and iPod Touch devices and the Nintendo Wii gaming console, according to an industry executive familiar with Netflix’s plans. (Netflix wouldn’t confirm the info, with a rep saying it declines to comment on “rumors or speculation.”)

Apple plans to check and see if you’ve been abusing your iPhone – New Scientist

Apple says it has had enough of giving people replacement iPhones and iPods when, in their view, it is the consumer who has abused the gadget and rendered it inoperable.

So today the firm has filed a patent on a kind of spy system that sits inside gadgets to record “consumer abuse events” and reveal them to Apple staff when you ask for a replacement.

“Often, particularly at a point of sale, personnel receiving the returned device may be unqualified or untrained to determine whether or not a device has failed due to manufacturing defects or due to consumer abuse,” the company explains in US patent application 20090195394.

Apple’s plan is to use sensors that can detect liquid exposure, high temperatures, high g-force shocks, and the opening of the sealed casing for the “adding, removing, or altering of the internal components”.

Where’s the love for Apple’s neglected products? – The Apple Blog

With 2009 half way over, we’ve seen a lot of updates from Apple, from new portables to new iPhones and some hot new Pro Apps, but several sections of Apple’s product lineup have not been updated in quite a while.

Products such as the Apple TV, some software titles, and others are getting a bit long in the tooth. We know our mainstream products like iPods will see an update in the next few months, but what about some of the others? What’s the deal and what could be in store?

PC makers take aim at Apple with new laptops – Reuters

PC makers which have long coveted a slice of Apple Inc’s market will get their chance with new, powerful ultra-thin laptops less costly than Macs. But much depends on their ability to match Apple’s chic aura and reputation for reliability.

Analysts say next-generation consumer notebooks, which run off new “CULV” microprocessors that let laptops get smaller and lighter, will quickly become credible cost and performance alternatives to Apple laptops such as the slim MacBook Air.