MacRumors

Apple is in talks with chipmaker Renesas Electronics over the potential acquisition of a unit that creates chips for smartphone displays, reports Japanese business site Nikkei. The chips, which are already used in the iPhone's liquid crystal displays, improve both image sharpness and battery life.

Renesas SP Drivers, the division Apple is aiming to purchase, is a leading producer of drivers and controllers for small LCDs. The company is a joint venture between Renesas, Sharp, and Powerchip, with Apple offering 50 billion yen or $479 million for Renesas' 55 percent stake in the company. Following the transaction, Sharp is also expected to sell its 25 percent of shares in Renesas SP to Apple, while Powerchip will retain 20 percent.

Renesas SP is the world's leading producer of drivers and controllers for small and midsize LCDs, with a market share of around one-third. These chips determine a display's quality and performance as well as a phone's overall energy efficiency – they are said to account for around 10% of battery usage.

Renesas' 240 employees are expected to stay with Apple and the company is aiming to complete the transaction by the summer.

In recent years Apple has taken a greater interest in controlling its own production supplies and core technologies, signing a deal with GT Advanced that will provide it with massive quantities of sapphire and purchasing several chip firms in the past, including P.A. Semi and Passif Semiconductor.

Update 12:28 PM PT: Renesas has issued a statement on the potential acquisition, neither confirming nor denying Apple's interest.

There were media reports regarding Renesas SP Drivers, which were published in certain media.The reports were not based on announcement of Renesas and Renesas SP Drivers’ announcement and they cannot be confirmed or regarded as fact at this time.

Today is April Fools' Day, which means readers should be wary of what they read online as much of it will be a gross hyperbole created in the name of fun. Today also marks Apple's 38th anniversary, with the company having been founded on this day in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

Among the popular April Fools' Day jokes making the rounds today are the following:

Apple Acquires iFixit

Based on the number of tips we've received, iFixit wins the award for the most believable Apple-related April Fools' prank for 2014. The popular device repair company changed its entire website to announce that it is being acquired by Apple.

It’s finally here. We're thrilled to announce that we are joining forces with Apple starting this summer. It has been an exciting adventure for all of us at iFixit, and we can’t thank our dedicated community enough. Let’s start our next chapter together.

BookBook for iMac

Twelve South, which offers a popular line of book-themed iPhone, iPad, and Mac notebook cases, has introduced its largest version yet: BookBook for iMac.

SwiftKey "Flow Hard" for Physical Keyboards

Popular alternative keyboard SwiftKey, which recently began experimenting on iOS, announced "Flow Hard", a version of its gesture-input technology for physical desktop/laptop keyboards. The new Flow Hard is guaranteed to increase your typing speed and your overall productivity.

Nest and Virgin America Team Up on Personalized Airline Seat Climate Control

The now Google-owned Nest partnered with Virgin America to bring Total Temperature Control to airlines, allowing users to customize their own seat environment.

SelfieBot by Orbotix

Orbotix today unveiled the SelfieBot, a camera-equipped drone that hovers around you, capturing the best selfie moments you would normally miss. Always ready to snap a picture, the SelfieBot can be controlled by your smartphone or operate independently.

Google Chrome for iOS Adds Emoji Translation

Google has added support for emoji translation to its popular Chrome browser for iOS and Android. Instead of boring and bland text, users can capture the sentiment of each page through efficient and emotive illustrations.

Today we’re announcing Google Translate support for Emoji, built directly into Chrome for Android and iOS. You can now read all your favorite web content using efficient and emotive illustrations, instead of cumbersome text. Our translation algorithm interprets not just the definition of the words on a webpage, but also their context, tone and if appropriate, facial expression. It then distills text into articulate, meaningful symbols so you can get more out of every screen.

MacRumors has not participated in April Fools' Day prank news stories on its regular news pages in past years, and has no plans to break from that tradition this year. All news stories posted on our front page, iOS Blog, and Mac Blog today are real.

Apple is set to begin mass production of the 4.7-inch display to be used in the iPhone 6 this May in preparation for the device's general release this fall, according to a new report from Reuters.

Citing supply chain sources, the report also states that the much rumored 5.5-inch version of the iPhone could be delayed due to difficulties with in-cell production technology, and is likely to commence several months after the initial production of the 4.7-inch displays.

Japan Display Inc, Sharp Corp and South Korea's LG Display Co Ltd have all been tapped to make the screens, said the sources, who asked not to be identified.

But due to difficulties with in-cell production technology for the larger 5.5-inch size, one of the sources said, a decision was made to begin mass production with the 4.7-inch version alone.

Production of 5.5-inch screens is expected to start several months later, with the possibility of a shift to a film sensor instead of in-cell technology for that size, the source said.

A report last week from Japanese business newspaper Nikkei stated that the iPhone 6 could launch "as early as September", and will be offered in 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch display sizes. This contrasted a claim from UBS analyst Steve Milunovich, who also said that the 4.7-inch version of the iPhone 6 might be the only model to launch later this year, with a timeframe for the larger 5.5-inch version unclear.

In addition to a larger display, Apple's next-generation iPhone will likely feature a durable, sapphire screen, and a thinner, bezel-free design in addition to expected camera and processor upgrades.

Apple updated its investor relations page today to note that it will announce its earnings for the second fiscal quarter (first calendar quarter) of 2014 on Wednesday, April 23. The earnings release typically occurs just after 4:30 PM Eastern Time following the close of regular stock trading, and the conference call is scheduled to follow at 5:00 PM Eastern / 2:00 PM Pacific.

MacRumors will provide running coverage of the earnings release and conference call.

The release will provide a look at sales of the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini sales during their second quarter of availability as well as iPhone 5s and 5c sales through the first three months of 2014. Apple reported a record number of iPhone/iPad sales during the first quarter of 2014, at 51 million iPhones and 26 million iPads.

In its fiscal first-quarter earnings call, Apple guided expected revenue of $42-44 billion and gross margin between 37 and 38 percent. This reflects an expectation of near-zero growth from Q2 of fiscal 2013.

AnandTech provides a detailed analysis of Apple's A7 (ARM-based) mobile processor which was introduced in the iPhone 5s. The latest information and analysis comes from Apple's own code changes to the LLVM Compiler project.

While AnandTech goes into great detail on the architecture of the A7 chip and how it compares to the A6, they conclude that the A7 chip is indeed -- as Apple claimed -- "desktop class" and "the rest of the players in the ultra mobile CPU space didn't aim high enough". In fact, they found that there are almost no iOS apps that take full advantage of the A7 processor. The processor even seems overpowered for the current devices in both RAM bottlenecks and battery consumption.

Qualcomm chief marketing officer originally described the 64-bit A7 as a "marketing gimmick" but Qualcomm later backtracked on that statement. Another Qualcomm employee then said that the 64-bit Apple chip "hit us in the gut."

"Not just us, but everyone, really. We were slack-jawed, and stunned, and unprepared. It’s not that big a performance difference right now, since most current software won’t benefit. But in Spinal Tap terms it’s like, 32 more, and now everyone wants it."

Any reference to "desktop class" Apple processors may remind readers that there have been recurring rumors that Apple has been testing ARM processor based MacBook Airs. Apple even threatened that it would stop using Intel chips due to concerns over power consumption. AMD or even ARM were speculated to be possible alternatives.

The majority of iOS users prefer iOS games that are available for free and supported with advertisements, according to a new study conducted by Wild Tangent in collaboration with analytics firm IHS Technology.

The survey, which queried 500 iOS users, saw 86 percent of respondents state that they prefer free games with ads over paid games without ads. Broken down, 70 percent of respondents preferred free games supported by advertising, while 16 percent were in favor of freemium games with the option to pay for levels. Just 14 percent of those surveyed preferred iOS games that required money upfront to download.

When asked about their preference for the types of games online gamers preferred, advertising supported games were chosen by the vast majority of those surveyed. 70% of respondents said they preferred free games supported by advertising and 16% preferred freemium games with the option to pay for levels in the game. Only 14% preferred online games they had to pay for to play.

Gamers also prefer advertising models that give them control over their viewing. When asked if they prefer games that let them choose when and how to view ads over those that do not, 71% preferred that level of control.

Gamers also overwhelmingly preferred value exchange ads within freemium games, which allow users to play videos or view other advertisements in exchange for in-game currency or items. The recently released Disco Zoo provides a good example of such a system, rewarding players with in-game Bux for viewing short videos. The addition of free in-game items acquired through advertisements boosted time spent within games by approximately 28 percent.

Over the course of the last several years, freemium games have largely replaced paid titles as the standard in the App Store. As of today, 43 of the top 50 apps listed on the App Store's Top Grossing chart are freemium gaming titles. Several others are non-gaming apps that offer in-app purchases, and only one paid game, Minecraft - Pocket Edition is ranked as a top grossing app in the number 18 spot.

Some of the most popular freemium apps in the App Store, like Clash of Clans and Candy Crush Saga, have generated millions of dollars in revenue. Clash of Clans, for example, is said to earn approximately $1 million per day through add-on content, booster packs, and more, while Candy Crush Saga earns upwards of $834,148. In comparison, Minecraft - Pocket Edition is estimated to be earning $60,000 per day -- not exactly small change, but nowhere near the revenue popular freemium games can bring in.

Given the sheer amount of money that freemium and free games supported with advertising make for developers, it is not surprising that the freemium business model has largely taken over the App Store.

According to IHS, by 2017, only 10 percent of mobile and tablet gaming revenue will be generated by paid downloads, with the rest of revenue coming from ad-supported free apps. Today, approximately 15 percent of gaming app revenue comes from paid apps, with 85 percent being generated through in-app purchases.

A set of images posted on Chinese microblogging site Weibo (via GforGames) may depict the iPhone 6 under development at Foxconn. Said to be sourced directly from Apple's manufacturing partner, the images show an iPhone with a slim chassis, rounded corners, and a protruding camera lens, similar to the camera in the iPod touch. The device appears to be taller and potentially wider than the existing iPhone 5s.

The design is potentially in line with some leaked facts about the iPhone 6, including the thin size of the device, but the quality of the images makes it difficult to determine the veracity of the iPhone in the picture.

The text is unreadable, and though it is hard to see the phone's flash to glean more information, it appears to have rounded design. Apple introduced a much-improved pill-shaped True Tone dual LED flash with the iPhone 5s and it is unlikely to deviate from that design in the next iPhone.

Schematics are also included in one of the pictures, but do not appear to indicate the size of the device. Apple's next iPhone is said to come in two display sizes, one near 4.7 inches and the other at approximately 5.5 inches.

The front of the device is not depicted, but rumors have indicated the iPhone 6 display could have an edge-to-edge design that does away with bezels. The upcoming phone, which may or may not be depicted in these photos, is also said to include an upgraded processor and an improved camera.

Apple is seeking more than $2 billion in damages from Samsung in a second patent infringement suit that begins Monday in the US District Court of Northern California with Judge Lucy Koh presiding over the case (Via The Financial Times).

This second lawsuit involves new patents and more recent devices than the previous case, which ended with an $890 million judgement in Apple's favor. This latest suit focuses on five utility patents involving software features such as auto-correct, slide-to-unlock and Siri's universal search. Apple lists Samsung's Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Nexus smartphones as infringing devices.

Google is expected to take a bigger role in the litigation with testimony from executives such as current vice-president of Android engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer and former Android Chief Andy Rubin. These executives will discuss how Android was developed outside the influence of Apple and iOS. Apple is expected to again call Phil Schiller to testify on the design, development, and marketing of iOS and associated hardware.

Before the trial even begins, Samsung already has been handed a minor setback as reported by Re/code. Judge Koh rejected a motion by Korean company that objected to an instructional video describing the patent process because it includes references to Apple products. Samsung argued the newer video, shown above, was "highly prejudicial to Samsung" and asked that the jurors be shown an older, more neutral version. Koh disagreed.

Last week, Japanese magazine MacFan published alleged schematics for a 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch iPhone 6. French Apple website Nowhereelse.fr, along with graphic designer Martin Hajek, took these schematics one step further and created 3D "iPhone Air" renderings using these blueprints as a guide (Via TechCrunch).

These renderings show an ultrathin iPhone 6 that shaves at least 0.5 mm off the width of the current iPhone 5S, which measures 7.6 mm thick. The concept phone features curved edges and rounded buttons that are similar to early iPhone models. Other notable design elements include an edge-to-edge display, matte metal sides and a sapphire glass backing.

The validity of the source drawings are unknown, so these renderings may or may not be representative of the next generation phone Apple is creating. Other iPhone 6 renderings based on earlier rumors imagine the smartphone with an iPod nano-inspired design or a bezel-less, tapered form factor.

Apple is expected to unveil the next-generation iPhone sometime this Fall and may incorporate a larger display possibly made of sapphire, an improved processor and camera upgrades.

Google engineers, including former Android Chief Andy Rubin, may testify during the second patent lawsuit trial between Apple and Samsung, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Samsung will reportedly use the testimonials to prove that it licensed four out of the five software features it is accused of infringing upon, as it contends that Google had already been working on the technologies before Apple filed for patents.

To help defend Samsung, Google engineers are expected to take the stand to refute Apple's arguments that it forged new ground with the iPhone. Andy Rubin, the former head of Google's mobile business who oversaw the development of Android, is listed as a potential witness. Mr. Rubin worked for Apple from 1989 to 1992.

"Google will be a lot more front and center than in previous cases," said Michael Carrier, a patent expert and law professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey. "Google vs. Apple makes it more of a clash of the titans on the same turf."

Apple's list of asserted patents include those for hyperlinking, background syncing of data, Siri's universal search capabilities, auto-complete, and slide-to-unlock. Samsung states that all of these features found on its Galaxy devices are Android features, except for slide-to-unlock functionality. The second trial covers more recent devices such as the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Tab 10.1, the iPhone 4/4s/5, the iPad 2/3/4, the iPad mini, and fourth and fifth generation iPod touch.

Following the conclusion of the original patent lawsuit that covered older devices, and the subsequent damages retrial to redetermine a segment of the reward, Samsung was ordered to pay Apple $890 million.

A report last week also noted that Samsung plans to call Google's VP of engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer, and Todd Pendleton, Samsung's marketing chief for its U.S. telecoms division to the stand. Meanwhile, Apple expects to call marketing chief Phil Schiller and possibly former SVP of iOS Software Scott Forstall among many others.