Cook: Apple will "double down" on Siri and secrecy | Macworld

by Jason Snell, Macworld.com   May 30, 2012 4:00 am

Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the Wall Street Journal’s tenth annual D: All Things Digital conference, appearing at the same event that his predecessor, Steve Jobs, had headlined several times before. Answering questions from conference hosts Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, Cook said his company is doubling down on Siri, played coy about Apple’s approach to the gaming and television markets, and spoke emotionally about Jobs’s death.

Double doubling down

As with any public appearance of an Apple executive, there was a good-natured give and take about future product releases. Mossberg and Kara tried to cajole Cook into revealing future product details, knowing full well that he would do no such thing. (In fact, the Apple CEO declared that the company was “doubling down on secrecy” when it comes to product releases.) However, he did offer a few tantalizing tidbits, most notably about the Siri feature of the iPhone 4S.

“Customers love [Siri], but there’s more that it can do,” he said. “And we have a lot of people working on this. And I think you’ll be really pleased with some of the things that you’ll see in the coming months… we’ve got some cool ideas about what Siri can do. And so we have a lot going on on this. I think you’ll be pleased where we’re taking Siri. We’re doubling down on it.”

TV or not TV?

Similarly, with rumors swirling about Apple possibly working on a physical TV set, Cook explained the company’s attitude toward the current Apple TV product and the TV world in general

“We’ve stayed in the Apple TV product business, and we’re not a hobby kind of company…. Our tendency is to do very few things, put all of our wood behind a few arrows, and if something creeps in and isn’t a big success we get it out of the way and move on,” he said. But he said Apple has stuck with the TV market, and Apple TV sales are growing. Cook said Apple sold 2.8 million Apple TVs in all of 2011 and sold 2.7 million in the first six months of its 2012 fiscal year, and says that customer satisfaction with the device is “of the charts.”

“So we’re going to keep pulling this string and see where it takes us,” he said. “I think many people would say this is an area in their life that they’re not really pleased with. The whole TV experience. So it’s an interesting area. We’ll have to see what we do. Right now, our contribution is Apple TV.”

When pressed by the hosts about the rumors that Apple is building a TV set, Cook tried to give an explanation about how Apple decides whether or not to enter any product category.

“We’d look and ask, can we control the key technology? Can we make a significant contribution far beyond what others have done in this area? Can we make a product that we all want? This is sort of how we think.”

Later, when asked by Joshua Topolsky of The Verge about Apple’s interest in competing with gaming consoles, Cook indicated that Apple was focused on mobile gaming on iOS devices, while leaving a hint that the company might invade the TV screen as well.

“You have more people playing games on portable devices than on the big screen TV now,” Cook said. “Where we might go in the future, you know, we’ll see… I’m not interested in being in the console business. But if you view gaming more broadly than that, then I feel we are a pretty big player today and the things we do in the future will only make that bigger.” When Topolsky asked if Apple was interested specifically in games that could be played on a TV set, Cook replied: “I think it could be interesting.”

Social networking

Apple’s relationship with Facebook has been curious lately. When Apple launched its (largely stillborn) Ping social-networking layer in 2010, Facebook was integrated—but rapidly de-integrated. iOS 5 added deep integration for Twitter, but not Facebook, and Mac OS X Mountain Lion seems to do likewise. But Cook denied that Apple’s relationship with Facebook was rocky.

“I think the [Apple-Facebook] relationship is very solid,” he said. “We have great respect for them. I think we can do more with them. And so, just stay tuned on this one… We want to provide customers simple, elegant ways to do the things they want to do. And Facebook has hundreds of millions of customers. Anyone with an iPhone or iPad wants to have the best experience with Facebook on any device. So stay tuned.”

In general, though, Cook said that while Apple needs to embrace social networking (he cited that Twitter integration as well as social features in Game Center and even iMessage), it doesn’t need its own social network.

“Apple doesn’t have to own a social network,” he said. “We tried Ping and the customer voted and said, this isn’t something I want to put a lot of energy into. Some customers love it, but there’s not a huge number that do, so will we kill it? I don’t know. I’ll look at it.”

Made in the U.S.A.

Mossberg asked Cook about the limitations of the high-tech supply chain in the United States, and if there was any way Apple could once again have factories in the United States. Cook, in response, made the point that several key components of Apple products are made in the U.S.

“This isn’t well known, but the engine for the iPhone and the iPad is built in the U.S.—not just for the U.S. but the world.” He was referring to the Apple A5 processor, which is made by Samsung in Austin, Texas. And “the glass for your iPhone is made in a plant in Kentucky,” he said, referring to Corning’s Gorilla Glas plant in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

But, Cook said, the fact is that many key parts of the manufacturing sector simply aren’t supported in the United States. “The tool-and-die maker skill in the U.S. began to go down in the ’60s and ’70s,” he said. “So there has to be a fundamental change in the education system, to bring back some of this.” He also cited “hundreds of thousands” of mobile-app development jobs in the United States that have been created by the App Store and success of the iPhone.

Remembering Steve Jobs

With Steve Jobs having made several memorable D appearances, it was only fitting that Cook spent some time on stage to remember Jobs and recount how Jobs’s death had affected him.

“It was absolutely the saddest days of my life when he passed away,” Cook said. “Maybe as much as you should see or predict that, I really didn’t. But at some point, late last year, somebody kind of shook me and said, it’s time to get on. So that sadness was replaced with intense determination to continue the journey. So that’s where it is today.”

Cook said that he’s not troubled about making decisions that Jobs might not have made, recounting a visit to Jobs’s home after Cook was made CEO. Jobs told Cook the story about how, after Walt Disney died, people at Disney would constantly ask themselves “what Walt would have done.”

“And he looked at me with those intense eyes that only he had, and he told me to never do that, to never ask what he would do,” Cook said “Just do what’s right. And so I’m doing that.”

Cook insisted that nobody could replace Jobs, so he wasn’t going to try.

“Steve was a genius and a visionary,” he said. “I’ve never viewed my role as to replace him. I think he’s an irreplaceable person. Steve was an original. I don’t think there’s another one of those being made. I’ve never really felt the weight of trying to be Steve. It’s just not who I am. It’s not my goal in life. I am who I am, and I’m focused on that and being a great CEO of Apple…. I love every minute of it. It’s an incredible place to be. It’s my oxygen.”

Coca-Cola dodges federal false advertising claim on its so-called "pomegranate" juice

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(NaturalNews) They say close only counts in a game of horseshoes or when throwing a hand grenade. Obviously, close is good enough when it comes to food ingredients as well.

Beverage giant Coca-Cola was recently able to dodge a federal claim of false advertising on one of its "pomegranate" drinks - but just barely. Minute Maid, which is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola, can continue to label one of its drinks "Pomegranate Blueberry," even though it is almost entirely made of apple and grape juices, and contains a paltry 0.3 percent pomegranate juice and 0.2 percent blueberry juice.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco dismissed a suit filed by Pom Wonderful, maker of a variety of pomegranate juice drinks that accused Coca-Cola of phony labeling and advertising.

The court said federal law leaves those kinds of decisions up to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the agency has yet to rule on Minute Maid's label, the court panel, in a unanimous decision, said federal regulations say a company can name a drink after a "flavoring" that it contains, even if it's not the primary ingredient.

"As best we can tell, FDA regulations authorize the name (Minute Maid) has chosen," said Judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain, in the ruling. "For a court to act when the FDA has not - despite regulating extensively in this area - would risk undercutting the FDA's expert judgments and authority."

Where's the pomegranate?

Pom Wonderful alleged in its initial lawsuit in 2008 that Coca-Cola was misleading consumers with its labeling, which contained a picture of pomegranates and blueberries. In its suit, Pom Wonderful claimed the Minute Maid labeling violated the false advertising provision of the Lanham Act, as well as California's Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and False Advertising Law (FAL). The court didn't agree.

"The naming component of Pom's claim is barred because, as best we can tell, FDA regulations authorize the name Coca-Cola has chosen," O'Scannlain wrote. "The FDA has concluded that a manufacturer may name a beverage using the name of a flavoring juice that is not predominant by volume."

The product in question was introduced by Minute Maid in 2007. It bears a label that says, "Help Nourish Your Brain" above a drawing of fruits. Besides "Pomegranate Blueberry" the label also says "Flavored Blend of 5 Juices" in smaller letters.

But for all intents and purposes, there is hardly anything of substance in the drink if you're buying it for the labeling. Each bottle contains 99.4 percent apple and grape juices, which the court noted were cheaper than pomegranate and blueberry juices. Not that cost is any motivator here, of course.

Not upset at all by the company's sleight of hand labeling, Coca-Cola executives pooh-poohed the suit.

"We are confident that the (judge) will dismiss what little is left of Pom's baseless claims," the company said in a statement.

Pomegranate's good for you - when you can find it

In tossing Pom's claims, the appeals panel dismissed a lower court's ruling saying the juice maker was entitled to compensation under California law.

"The district court interpreted the 'lost money or property' language to require a plaintiff to show that it is entitled to restitution from the defendant -- even if the plaintiff seeks only injunctive relief," O'Scannlain wrote. "That was error. The California Supreme Court has now made clear that standing under section 17204 (the UCL standing provision) does not depend on eligibility for restitution."

Okay, so maybe you're asking by now why this story matters to you.

Well, pomegranate is quickly gaining favor in health circles for its nutritional value as an antioxidant-rich fruit. Besides tasting great, research shows pomegranate juice can lower harmful LDL cholesterol levels, improve blood flow to the heart for cardiac patients, reduce thickening of arteries that supply blood to the brain, and lower blood pressure.

Only, don't buy Minute Maid's Pomegranate Blueberry juice if your goal is to reduce your health risk. For the record, there isn't much pomegranate in it.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.sfgate.com

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/05/17/46582.htm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Killer pain relief

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(NaturalNews) We strive to lower the smallest fever, mask, block, and interfere with pain, artificially combat swelling, medicate hypertension, diabetes, and body cholesterol. What we are failing to see is that these are all normal body responses to identify and correct what is wrong and bring balance and healing.

Bottom line, pain is not so friendly but it is our friend. It warns us when we are injured to help us pay attention to the wound. Pain signals us to bring outside assistance, like avoiding further burn damage from a hot object, pulling out a splinter, easing the weight on a damaged joint or setting a broken bone. Pain is a feedback mechanism that helps the brain take inventory of the extent of damage to help our body know how much tissue repair is needed, what kind of immune response is required, and how long to send them both. Pain even triggers opioids that counter the severest pain to make it more tolerable while also promoting "forgetter chemicals" that reduce our bad memories of the incidence. When we block feedback from pain by taking pain medication, healing takes more time, scarring is more evident, painful memories are more vivid and lasting.

Fevers or pain are not caused by too little aspirin!

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a synthesized version of a natural compound in willow bark. But you can't patent and make billions of dollars on an herb! So Big Pharma conjured up a counterfeit form and patented it. Some of the more common dangerous side effects of aspirin are: intestinal bleeding, ulcers, kidney dysfunction, cancer, stroke, indigestion, abdominal cramping, slow healing, bruising, macular degeneration, heavy bleeding, allergic reactions, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

Aspirin is an anti-nutrient, depleting the body of folic acid, iron, potassium, sodium, and vitamin C. Millions of people already take daily aspirin due to doctors' bad advice and mainstream propaganda that says daily aspirin will prevent heart attacks and strokes - even cancer. Researchers found that heart attack survivors given OTC aspirin and other NSAIDs were 45 percent more likely to have a second attack or die inside of one week and by 90 days, the aspirin taker's risk increased to 55 percent. What do you think of your aspirin now?

NAISDs kill early... very early

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen boost miscarriage rates by 240%! Pregnant women who scarf down these bad meds during pregnancy lose their babies 36% of the time. Acetaminophen kills around 20,000 people per year in the US. That's one death every 26 minutes. Big Pharma uses acetaminophen as the "magical ingredient" in some 300 pain, cold, and allergy products.

With more than 20 studies to back his theory, Dr. Arthur Varner argues that the switch to acetaminophen from aspirin has fueled the soaring rates of asthma. The asthma epidemic of today took off in the 1980s when doctors stopped giving aspirin to children with fevers, turning to the new Big Pharma sweetheart - acetaminophen - when they discovered that the first sweetheart - aspirin - was linked to Reye's syndrome in children.

A recent NIH study revealed a very significant link between administration of Tylenol and autism when acetaminophen is given at the same time as the MMR vaccine. Pediatricians often tell parents to "load the child with Tylenol before bringing them in for a MMR shot". Many researchers have speculated if this could be the actual cause of the autism "epidemic".

Man does not die; he kills himself...

We are our own worst enemies when it comes to disease treatment. Instead of supporting the body's natural processes, we continually block and interfere with them. We do everything conventional medicine dictates and then we wonder why we just get sicker. When we mask pain with chemical pain relievers, we hurt ourselves more by defeating the warning signs and the tissue signals for repair materials. Understanding pain and getting to the root cause of it is makes much more sense than hiding pain.

Sources for this article:

http://www.naturalpedia.com/Anandamide.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk
http://www.emaxhealth.com
http://www.prevent-autism.org/avoid-acetaminophen-reduce-autism.html
http://www.nytimes.com

About the author:
Craig Stellpflug is a Cancer Nutrition Specialist, Lifestyle Coach and Neuro Development Consultant at Healing Pathways Medical Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. With 17 years of clinical experience working with both brain disorders and cancer, Craig has seen first-hand the devastating effects of vaccines and pharmaceuticals on the human body and has come to the conclusion that a natural lifestyle and natural remedies are the true answers to health and vibrant living. You can find his daily health blog at www.blog.realhealthtalk.com and his articles and radio show archives at www.realhealthtalk.com

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