Apple adding donations to its Earth Day recycling initiatives

Apple is adding a donation element to its recycling initiatives. The company announced that for every device received at Apple stores and Apple.com/ca through the Apple GiveBack program from now through April 30, the company will make a donation to the non-profit Conservation International.

As part of its ongoing recycling effort, the company also debuted Daisy, a robot that can more efficiently disassemble iPhone to recover valuable materials. Daisy can disassemble 200 iPhones an hour. Both Apple GiveBack and Daisy support Apple’s commitment to create a healthier planet through innovation — and help the company move a step closer to its goal of making its products using only recycled or renewable materials.

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Apple hires former Google AI head to bolster machine learning strategy

The technology sector is changing dramatically before our eyes. Fresh from last week's massive Microsoft reorg which saw the Windows group subsumed into various other departments as Microsoft focuses on artifical intelligence, we now have Apple making an addition to its team.

John Giannandrea was previously Google's head of AI. He oversaw the Search team and developed applied AI at Google.  He is considered a heavy hitter in Silicon Valley for his expertise, his background stems back to such noted companies as Netscape and General Magic. Giannandrea will report directly to Tim Cook, and is largely expected to revamp Apple's existing AI products like Siri.

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Apple reported to drop Intel as chipmaker as early as 2020 to use its own silicon

Two giants: Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Intel CEO Paul Otellini join forces in 2005 to bring Intel chips to the Mac ecosystemBy Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple and its Mac computers have long been held back by the features and availability of Intel chipsets which are being used in MacBooks as well as iMacs. Apple has found great success with custom silicon, even acquiring various processor chipmakers like Intrinsity and Passif to help development of their A series processors used in iPhones and iPads, news from Bloomberg Technology hints that Apple will shift from Intel to its own chips in laptops and desktops by 2020.

The news, which affected Intel shares and caused a sudden drop by 9.2 per cent, even if Apple only makes up 5 per cent of Intel's processor business. Apple and Intel got into an exclusive partnership in 2005 when IBM's PowerPC processors were hitting a threshold in performance. It took Apple a year to make the transition and it never looked back, until now.

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Apple to buy digital magazine service Texture

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Long considered the 'netflix of Magazines,' Texture is a service co-owned by Rogers Media that gives subscribers access to 200 print magazines through one app. Ideal for the iPad and similar tablet-sized devices, Texture saves paper, allows users to browse by magazine, topic or even by article and also exposes subscribers to various publications they may not try out.

Apple has announced it signed an agreement to acquire Texture, the digital magazine subscription service by Next Issue Media LLC.

“We’re excited Texture will join Apple, along with an impressive catalog of magazines from many of the world’s leading publishers,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We are committed to quality journalism from trusted sources and allowing magazines to keep producing beautifully designed and engaging stories for users.” 

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