iCloud And iMessage Users Experiencing Outages

Some users of Apple’s iCloud and iMessage services are reporting outages this afternoon. It appears that Apple is having server problems that are preventing users from connecting. The problems also appear to be affecting developer portals for iOS and OS X. Users were unable to log into the developer portals or iCloud’s web portal, while iMessage users’ messages were not being sent.

OS X Mountain Lion To Release July 19th?

One of the big stories from Apple’s WWDC 2012 keynote last week was OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. The latest version of Apple’s desktop operating system packs in a bunch of exciting new features, including Notification Center, Reminders, Twitter Integration (and probably Facebook, too), and more. They also announced the price – a positively shocking $19.99.

One thing they did not announce, much to the disappointment of many, was Mountain Lion’s release date. All they said was that it would be shipping “next month.” Of course, “next month” (i.e., July) is still a fairly broad window, and Apple has declined to narrow it down.

One recent report, though, puts a firm date on Mountain Lion’s release. According to Three Guys and a Podcast, who apparently have a source in San Francisco’s Bay Area, Apple is planning to launch Mountain Lion on July 19th. This keeps Apple’s releases on a yearly schedule, a format of which Apple has grown increasingly fond, particularly with iOS products.

Like Lion before it, Mountain Lion will only be available as a download from the Mac App Store. Once it’s released, you can upgrade to Mountain Lion from any Mac that has the correct hardware specs and is running either Snow Leopard or Lion.

iPhone 5 Rumor: 19-Pin Mini Dock Connector Confirmed

One of the changes that’s been grinding around in the iPhone rumor mill for a few months now is a smaller dock connector. Back in May we brought you a story that the new iPhone would have a smaller dock connector and a larger display. Later, leaked images appeared to confirm both changes (as well as a repositioned headphone jack).

Now TechCrunch is reporting that they have confirmed the smaller dock connector. In a move they expect to “send shocks through the iPhone accessory ecosystem,” they say they’ve confirmed with “[t]hree independent manufacturers” that the new iPhone will have a 19-pin dock connector rather than the traditional 30-pin connector that was first introduced with the third-generation iPod all the way back in 2003. The reason behind this move is pretty clear: the new iPhone is likely to be getting some significant internal upgrades (e.g., 4G LTE and a better battery). Shrinking the dock connector and increasing the screen size are two ways to make extra room inside the iPhone’s case for all those extra goodies.

iPhone 5 Rumor: Patent Drawings Confirm Redesign?

There’s been a lot of speculation recently on just what the iPhone 5 (or, more likely, “new iPhone”) will look like. The best information we’ve seen has come from a series of images that have leaked of the new iPhone’s front and rear panels. The first of these images leaked late last month, and showed some major changes to the iPhone’s form factor. Most notably, the new iPhone appears to be getting a smaller dock connector and a taller (but not wider) screen. Additionally, it looks like the FaceTime camera is being moved from its customary place next to the earpiece, and will instead be centered above it.

So far, though, these images have remained unconfirmed. While they look genuine, they could easily be prototypes, or even outright fakes (though they’re very good fakes, if that’s so). But now confirmation of the iPhone’s redesign appears to have come from the unlikeliest source of all: Apple itself.

Verizon Data Breach Report Available as a Free iBook

Verizon’s 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report was released as a PDF back in March, but now those interested in the world of digital espionage can kick back and read the report on their iPad, as Verizon is releasing the entire report as an iBook. The report revealed that Anonymous “hacktivism,” is on the rise worldwide. “Hacktivism” is generally understood to be system security breaches by individuals or groups motivated by political disagreement or protest.

The iBook is only available in English, but Verizon states that the iBook format is more easily digestible than the PDF. Charts and graphs in the report have been placed closer to their reference text and they can now be interacted with for a zoom-view. Users can also now search through the text more easily to find specific topics.

Apple Store Employees Get A Big Raise

It looks like today is going to be a very good day for employees of Apple’s retail stores. It seems that they – all of them – are about to get a $4-per-hour raise. The decision appears to be the result of Apple receiving a number of complaints from employees that they felt underpaid.

According to a report this morning from Business Insider, the raise will be reflected in employees’ July 20th paychecks.

This is the second time in as many months that Apple has done something nice for its employees. Late last month the company filed paperwork with the SEC saying that employees who had been compensated with restricted stock units (RSUs) would begin receiving dividend equivalent payments. While Apple’s stockholders should begin receiving quarterly dividends next month, the RSUs awarded to Apple employees are not eligible for the same dividends that are paid on unrestricted stock.

I contacted Apple to ask for confirmation of this news, but they have not yet responded.

iOS 6: Video Shows Siri For iPad In Action

One of the big stories from last week’s WWDC 2012 Apple keynote was iOS 6. The newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system comes with a slew of new features, many of them requested by users over the last couple of years. New features in iOS 6 include an overhauled (and Google-less) Maps app, Facebook integration, improvements to Siri, better privacy settings, and more.

One remarkable bit of news is that Siri would finally be making the jump to a device other than the iPhone 4S. When iOS 6 launches alongside the new iPhone this fall, owners of the new iPad will be getting Siri as well. While older iPads will be left out, the fact that Siri is getting spread around even a little is very promising.

Facebook Releasing iOS 6 SDK Soon

One of the big announcement to come out of last week’s WWDC keynote was the integration of Facebook into iOS 6. It gives Apple a leg up on the competition for social media while simultaneously giving Facebook even more access to all the iDevice owners out there. Facebook will also let developers get a head start on making apps for iOS 6.

Apple May Be Most Profitable Company Ever In 2012

By pretty much any standard you care to look at, Apple has had an amazing year. With the exception of a few hiccups, their stock has remained consistently in the neighborhood of $575-600, with a market cap that has occasionally broken $600 billion (though it currently sits at $547 billion). With new products coming out at regular intervals, and Apple regularly reporting massive quarterly revenues, that doesn’t look likely to change any time soon.

In fact, according to one recent estimate, Apple may be in the midst of the most profitable year ever. Not Apple’s most profitable year ever, mind you. According to Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White, Apple may be on its way to the most profitable year ever had by any publicly traded company ever.