AppleMagazine #182

Yahoo and Microsoft will keep working together on Internet search, but Yahoo is getting more control over the how the search results are presented. An agreement announced Thursday extends a search partnership that Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp. forged in 2009 while they were being led by different CEOs. Current Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer had the option of terminating the relationship under a clause triggered earlier this year. The two are trying to chip away at Google’s dominance of Internet searches. They haven’t had much success so far. Google still controls two-thirds of the U.S. search market and holds an even larger share in Europe. Mayer spent 12 years helping Google build its lucrative lead in before becoming Yahoo’s CEO in 2011. As has been the case since the companies…

THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE That aren't many people who don't love a good superhero film, and if there's one such film that can't be ignored by anyone seeking a heady dose of world-saving capers this spring, it's Avengers: Age of Ultron. The iconic team of superheroes that first appeared in 1963 is still going strong, and Earth's Mightiest Heroes have quite the assignment on their hands for this latest big screen epic, which will be released on North American shores on May 1. The fact that, at the time of typing, the film has already premiered in Los Angeles on April 13, means that we already know a lot about it - and of course, we'll try not to include any big spoilers here. Nonetheless, fans…

In a quest to be more green, Apple says it is investing in Chinese solar power and preserving forests that make environmentally friendly paper. The initiatives come as the tech giant this year met a self-imposed goal of powering all its U.S. operations with renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions - initiatives that have won high marks from environmental groups. On Thursday, Apple announced a new focus on using paper from trees harvested under environmentally sound conditions. It’s also promising to use more renewable power overseas, where Apple relies heavily on contract manufacturers - and where a top executive acknowledged the company can do more. “It’s important to us to tackle climate change everywhere we are,” Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president for environmental initiatives, told The Associated Press. “When you…

The Force isn’t merely awakening on the big screen. It’s also returning to the video game realm. “Star Wars: Battlefront” publisher Electronic Arts and Swedish developer DICE showcased their next-generation rendition of the “Star Wars” multiplayer shooter Friday at Star Wars Celebration, the annual fan extravaganza celebrating the sci-fi franchise. The new iteration of “Battlefront” takes place amid the conflicts of the original film trilogy and is scheduled for release Nov. 17 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PCs. “Battlefront” will focus on frenzied shootouts between up to 40 players portraying Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire forces. In a demonstration of the game’s multiplayer mode, a team of jetpack-equipped rebels were shown carving their way through the woodsy Endor while Stormtroopers charged at them on foot, on speeders and within…

HELPING TO TACKLE PUBLIC AND PERSONAL HEALTH CHALLENGES Few of us would argue that medical studies aren't important - indeed, for many of you reading this, they may be the reason why you are still alive now. This has not prevented difficulties with conducting such research, however, with both inconsistent data collection and small sample sizes having long proved a hindrance. Well, now, one of Apple's latest developments - ResearchKit - may be helping to change that. At the latest major Apple keynote in March, there may have been a lot to get excited about as far as new products from the Cupertino stable were concerned, with a new MacBook being unveiled at the same time as more information was shared about the Apple Watch. However, as so often with events like these, it…

Breaking up the cable-TV bundle won’t be easy. ESPN is objecting to how Verizon is giving its FiOS TV customers more choice. In new plans that went into effect Sunday, Verizon made the ESPN and ESPN2 sports channels optional, but ESPN says its contracts with Verizon prohibit the channels from being in a separate sports package. Although Verizon will still offer big bundles of channels, it has been facing pressure to reduce prices amid cheaper online options. So to target the cost-conscious, Verizon launched a FiOS plan that starts at $55 a month for a basic tier of 35 channels plus two themed channel packs. The basic channels that everyone gets include local broadcast stations, AMC, CNN and Food Network - but not ESPN or ESPN2. There are currently seven…