MacRumors

Corning, producer of Gorilla Glass, has been a long time partner of Apple. Its ultra tough Gorilla Glass has been used in several generations of iPhones and iPads, including the recent iPad Air 2 and the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

While Corning has published several videos that show how its Gorilla Glass is produced and tested, uBreakiFix recently visited the company's Gorilla Glass facility in Corning, New York, and has created a set of videos explaining how Gorilla Glass works and showing off some of the equipment that Corning uses to test Gorilla Glass.

The first video explains the details behind Corning's ion exchange glass strengthening procedure and its focus on "damage resistance," which sets Gorilla Glass apart from its competitors. It also shows tests between Gorilla Glass and regular glass, where Gorilla Glass significantly outperforms standard glass.

In the second video, uBreakiFixCo goes behind the scenes at Corning's Gorilla Glass research and testing facility to show off Corning's testing procedures and the toughness of Gorilla Glass. Gorilla Glass is able to withstand far more pressure and scratching than standard glass, which is one of the reasons why it's so popular with manufacturers, including Apple.

In November, Corning introduced the latest iteration of Gorilla Glass, Gorilla Glass 4. This next-generation Gorilla Glass is even more resistant than previous versions to glass shattering drops and it is able to survive 80 percent of face-down falls onto rough surfaces.

Corning's Gorilla Glass 4 is already shipping to manufacturers and should Apple choose to go with Gorilla Glass for its next-generation iPhones rather than sapphire as once again rumored, Gorilla Glass 4 could very well make an appearance in iPhones in 2015.

Earlier this week, leaked emails and data from the recent Sony hack revealed some interesting details on the Aaron Sorkin-scripted Steve Jobs biopic that's currently in the works, including Sorkin's desire to cast Tom Cruise as Steve Jobs.

Additional emails shared today by The Verge from Aaron Sorkin, prospective director David Fincher and Walter Isaacson shed more light on the project, including where filming will take place and what Fincher and Isaacson thought of the script.

Though Danny Boyle, director of Slumdog Millionare will direct the Steve Jobs movie, executives involved in the film originally hoped to have David Fincher, responsible for directing films like The Social Network, Fight Club, and Gone Girl, direct the biopic. In a February email, Fincher expressed quite a bit of excitement about the picture, calling it "a one man show."

Is great. It's a play, but a really quicksilver, cinematic one.
I would think you would want to cast and rehearse very carefully (couple months)
Shoot very quickly (4 or 5 weeks -- 8 days per ACT??)
The venues would be easy (we could probably find them all in town)
Editing is where we would spend time.
Can SONY market a ONE MAN SHOW(?)
Can you guys make the LENNY of it all, the MUST SEE?

Walter Isaacson, who penned the biography the movie is based on, was similarly excited about the film and told screenwriter Aaron Sorkin in an email that the script was "totally awesome" and that he was "deeply moved by the narrative arc and by the beautiful end."

Sorkin has clearly stated in the past that the film will consist of three continuous scenes covering the time ahead of three different product launches, but his emails reveal a bit more detail. According to Sorkin, the entire film will be able to be shot in just four locations that include "two auditoriums, a restaurant and a garage." Product launches covered are expected to be the debut of the original Macintosh, the unveiling of the NeXT computer, and the introduction of the iPod.

Still in the casting stages, the Steve Jobs biopic will star Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs and Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak. Jeff Daniels is in talks to play the role of John Sculley, and Universal Studios, which took over the film in November, is currently looking to cast several female roles, including Steve Jobs' daughter, Lisa Brennan.

Eight days after releasing and then quickly pulling Safari 8.0.1 for OS X Yosemite, Apple today released Safari 8.0.2 to the public.

The release notes for Safari 8.0.2 are identical to those for Safari 8.0.1 except for the addition of a line noting the problems with the 8.0.1 release.

- Fixes a rare issue in which some users were unable to access Safari after installing the 8.0.1 update.

Other bundled changes from Safari 8.0.1 include fixes for syncing history across devices, autofilling saved passwords, WebGL performance on Retina displays, and Firefox username and password import.

Update: Apple has also released Safari 7.1.2 for OS X Mavericks and Safari 6.2.2 for OS X Mountain Lion.

Apple recently updated its Made for iPhone (MFi) licensing guidelines for case manufacturers, requiring all future cases designed for the iPhone to protect the device from falls up to one meter on hard surfaces.

As described by sources that spoke to 9to5Mac, to comply with Apple's new guidelines, case manufacturers will need to ensure that a 1 meter (or 3.2 foot) drop from any orientation will not cause any damage to the phone, on its front, back, or sides.

Cases are also required to protect the iPhone's glass screen when laying face down on a surface, with a lip that offers a buffer of at least 1mm between the glass display and the surface or a case that covers the display entirely. Apple's own iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cases are compliant with these requirements, providing both drop protection and a ridge around the edges of the device to protect the display.

Apple has also updated its guidelines with several environmentally hazardous materials that are no longer able to be used in the construction of iPhone cases, including formaldehyde (used in paints and adhesives), phthalates (plasticizer used for increased flexibility), perfluorooctane sulfonate (fluorosurfactant), perfluorooctanoic acid (fluorosurfactant), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (a flame retardant), and polybrominated biphenyls (a flame retardant). Many of these substances are already restricted in both the United States and in Europe.

Apple's MFi licensing program requires manufacturers that create iPhone and iPad accessories to comply with a strict set of guidelines to achieve certification that ensures the accessory meets Apple's performance standards.

The MFi program enables third-party manufacturers to use of Apple technology like the headphone jack, the Lightning connector, and more, and compliance allows manufacturers to use the "Made for iPhone" logo on their packaging, which ensures consumers that accessories work properly with the iPhone and iPad.

Earlier this week, file management app Transmit from developer Panic gained some attention after Apple required the company to remove a key sharing feature that let files be sent to multiple services like Dropbox and iCloud Drive.

Apple's concern was Transmit's ability to send files to iCloud Drive, which it said violated one of the iOS Data Storage Guidelines. Apple asked Panic to remove the feature, but unfortunately, due to an unalterable Share Sheet, sending files to iCloud Drive was tied to sending files to other services, requiring the company to completely remove the feature from the app.

Shortly after several news sites wrote about the confusing position Panic had been put in with its Transmit app, Apple called the developers and confirmed that the sharing functionality could be reinstated. According to Panic, a new version of Transmit has been submitted to the App Store, which includes a restored "Send To" feature that will once again allow the app to send files to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, and other third-party apps.This is the second time that Apple has reversed course on an App Store decision that received significant negative attention in recent months. In late October, Apple told PCalc that it would need to remove its calculator widget from the Notification Center, but a day later, the company changed its mind and opted to allow calculator widgets to remain in the Notification Center.

Apple has a large team of app reviewers and somewhat ambiguous guidelines on several new iOS 8 developer features. This has led to many app use cases that the company did not anticipate causing several contradictory and confusing removal requests in recent months for features that were previously approved. Though PCalc and Transmit have been allowed to retain their functionality, other apps like Neato, Drafts, and Launcher have not been so lucky.

Transmit can be downloaded from the App Store for $9.99. [Direct Link]

Update 1:30 PM PT: Transmit for iOS version 1.1.2 with a reinstated "Send To" feature is now available for download from the App Store.

After being nominated for TIME's Person of the Year award, and subsequently losing out to the "Ebola Fighters", Apple CEO Tim Cook today was named Financial Times' Person of the Year.

In its announcement, Financial Times cited the huge burden of following in Steve Jobs' footsteps as one of Cook's biggest accomplishments this year, saying the CEO "held his nerve through attacks from activist investors and a loss of faith among some that Apple could succeed without its late founder."

The newspaper also pointed to Cook's infusion of new blood and ideas into the company as one of the driving forces behind Apple's big year. In particular, FT highlights the establishment of Cook's own values and priorities at the company, altering how Apple manages its financial side, and a newfound focus on relevant social issues, including his own sexuality, as some of the biggest moments.

It was a rare glimpse into his closely guarded personal life that also put at risk Apple’s brand in less tolerant parts of the world. Mr Cook was driven to take a stand by his experiences growing up in Alabama, where he has talked of seeing discrimination that “literally would make me sick”.

Financial Times also pointed to Cook's non-gender biased hiring methods, which included a handful of women for roles traditionally dominated by males. Also of note was Apple's acquisition of Beats, Cook's guidance of the record-breaking success of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and the already ubiquitous discussion over next year's Apple Watch.

The publication does note critics who point out that Cook isn't as involved in product development as his predecessor, a fact many have cited as a reason why his on-stage persona isn't as lively and engaged as Jobs' when introducing new products and software for the company.

Financial Times looks to Cook's reactions to and solutions for these issues as a positive, however, pointing out that "Mr. Cook is aware of his shortcomings," and that his hiring of former Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts and industrial designer Marc Newson will cleverly allow others to provide strengths to offset his weaknesses.

The full Person of the Year article, with a timeline of Apple's 2014 highs and lows, can be read at the Financial Times' official website.

With Apple's Watch looming on the horizon, fitness makers are moving to push their services to a variety of individual and corporate customers. The latest band maker to improve its offerings is Jawbone, which this week announced a new program designed to get its UP fitness bands into the office and on the wrists of business people in the US.

The new UP for Groups provides discounts on bulk orders of the fitness trackers, as well as software features to manage and encourage group participation. It is compatible with the existing UP24 tracker, the new UP Move and the upcoming UP3.

Unlike the individualized consumer version of UP, UP for Groups allows administrators to work with large groups of participants. Admins can view aggregated statistics to see when their employees need to move and send out timely activity reminders to the group. Participants can take part in group challenges and view their group's statistics with an emphasis on the number of active participants in a group and not the number of steps walked by each member.

The new UP for Groups is part of a growing movement to address obesity in adults using feedback from fitness trackers. Jawbone competitor Fitbit already has a corporate fitness program, while Misfit is partnering with the Oscar insurance company on a rewards program for subscribers with healthy habits.

Apple's upcoming Watch is expected to kick off a further explosion of interest in fitness trackers when it is released in 2015. Increased consumer interest will open new doors in the health field with Apple reportedly in talks with insurance companies, hospitals and other health institutions about its HealthKit initiative and iOS Health app. Apple already is partnering with the Mayo Clinic and electronic health record company Epic Systems, and more partnerships are undoubtedly in the works.

Microsoft today released a suite of five consumer apps under the MSN brand, bringing news, health, and other previously Windows Phone-exclusive apps from the Bing team to the iOS platform (via ZDNet). This launch follows the recent expansion of Microsoft's Office for iOS suite to the iPhone that produced standalone versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to Apple's smartphone devices.

The suite of MSN apps include MSN News [Direct Link], MSN Sports [Direct Link], MSN Food & Drink [Direct Link], MSN Money [Direct Link] and MSN Health & Fitness [Direct Link], which integrates with Apple's Health app and connects to MSN Health & Fitness on the web. The new MSN apps are available for free and downloadable now from the iOS App Store. Android versions are also being made available on Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.

The push to bring these apps to iOS and other platforms like Android is part of larger initiative at Microsoft to drive the adoption of the company's desktop and cloud services by making its mobile apps available across a variety of platforms. This new direction is being spearheaded by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who replaced long-time Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer earlier this year.

Apple and supply partner Quanta Computer have apparently solved its yield issues with various Apple Watch components as the wearable device is now gearing up to enter mass production in January, reports Taiwan's United Daily News (Google Translate, via GforGames). Previously, other sources projected that the Apple Watch would enter mass production at the end of February.

The report notes that this is due to Quanta increasing its number of employees from 2,000 to 10,000, as the company expects to hire 20,000 employees to help with production. Apple is projecting to ship a total of 24 million Apple Watches in 2015. The United Daily News also mentions how a new "iPhone 6s" will likely miss a Spring debut, but that is to be expected as production of a new A9 chip has yet to gear up. The launch would also be unlikely as Apple's iPhones have never launched in the Spring.

Employee comments made after the Apple Watch's debut in September noted that Apple may not be planning to launch the device until February 2015 or later, as the company originally planned to have the watch ready to ship in time for the 2014 holiday season. However, it is now possible that Apple has solved many of the issues surrounding production of the Apple Watch and will make its "early 2015" release projection. When it goes on sale, the Apple Watch will be available in a variety of materials with several different band choices and start at $349.

Apple has announced that it will begin selling LTE versions of both the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 in China beginning this week. Previously, only the Wi-Fi versions of Apple's newest tablets were available in the country.

Apple® today announced that models of iPad Air™ 2 and iPad mini™ 3 with cellular networking will be available in China starting this week. TD-LTE and FDD-LTE standards, as well as TD-SCDMA, DC-HSDPA, HSPA+ and other fast networks, are all available in a single model, giving iPad Air 2 customers in China the ability to stay connected on advanced cellular data networks in China and around the world so they can go more places and do more things.

The cellular iPad Air 2 models are available at 4,488 (RMB) for the 16GB model, 5,188 (RMB) for the 64GB model and 5,888 (RMB) for the 128GB model. The iPad mini 3 is available at 3,788 (RMB) for the 16GB model, 4,488 (RMB) for the 64GB model and 5,188 (RMB) for the 128GB model.

Earlier this year, Apple made the first LTE iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina Display available for purchase in China.

United Airlines today announced that it plans to distribute Apple's new iPhone 6 Plus to more than 23,000 of its flight attendants during the second quarter of 2015.

The phones will be able to handle "most onboard retail transactions" such as food and drink purchases, and will allow flight attendants to access their email, the United.com website, the United Airlines Intranet, plus policies and procedures manuals.

"We are thrilled to make this investment in our flight attendants," said Sam Risoli, United's senior vice president of inflight services. "iPhone 6 Plus will enable them to deliver an even higher level of flyer-friendly service and will offer our flight attendants simple, one-touch access to valuable work information, enabling them to better serve our customers."

In the future, the iPhone 6 Plus devices used by flight attendants will replace printed safety manuals with electronic versions, allowing for real-time reporting and access to aircraft cabin issues and repairs. United will also develop customer-focused tools to be used on the iPhones.

United Airlines has been an eager adopter of Apple technology in the past, becoming one of the first airlines to distribute iPads to pilots to replace heavy flight bags of navigational charts and other flight materials in 2011. United is planning to renew that program, replacing the original iPads with Apple's newest iPad Air 2 devices.

In addition to rolling out iPhone 6 Plus devices to flight attendants, United is also in the midst of terminal renovations at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport, which will see upgrades that include iPads for customer use.

Currently, supply of Apple's iPhone 6 Plus remains somewhat constrained, with new devices shipping in three to five business days. By mid-2015, however, Apple should have reached supply/demand balance, making it possible for companies like United to deploy the devices on a large-scale basis.