Year: 2016

Apple ordered to pay $2 Million for no meal breaks to employees

Dan Uff December 27, 2016 0

Apple has been ordered to pay $2 Million for denying meal breaks to its own employees.

(CNN): The lawsuit was first filed in 2011 by four Apple employees in San Diego. They alleged that the company failed to give them meal and rest breaks, and didn't pay them in a timely manner, among other complaints.

California law requires employers to give hourly workers a 30 minute meal break if they're working more than five hours a day. They're also require to provide 10 minute breaks for every four hours worked.

In 2013, the case became a class action lawsuit that included California employees who had worked at Apple between 2007 and 2012, approximately 21,000 people. Apple made changes to its scheduling policy in 2012.

Jeffrey Hogue, one of the attorneys who represented the class action, said the $2 million verdict came down last Friday -- but Apple could owe more money.

The second half of the case is expected to conclude next week, Hogue told CNNMoney.

Apple (AAPL) did not immediately reply for request for comment.

It's unclear how much of the $2 million will go to the workers. If divided evenly, it would be just $95 per employee, but it's likely some of the money will go toward attorney fees.

The complaint says Apple's culture of secrecy keeps employees from talking about the company's poor working conditions. "If [employees] so much as discuss the various labor policies, they run the risk of being fired, sued or disciplined," the complaint reads.

Nintendo planning on making 2-3 mobile games a year

Dan Uff December 27, 2016 0

(PCWorld): While Android users might still be waiting for their chance to play it, Super Mario Run has blasted to the top of Apple’s App Store charts and smashed download records. So it’s no surprise that Nintendo plans to bring a bunch more games to smartphones.

In an interview with Japan-based Kyoto NP, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima revealed that Super Mario Run is just the start of a new strategy for mobile gaming. The company plans to release two or three new games next year, and continue that pattern beyond 2017, he said. Previously it was reported that popular titles Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing were on tap for a mobile release.

Kimishima offered no information on whether future games will release simultaneously in the App Store and Play Store, but Nintendo has already said it is working on bringing Super Mario Run to Android phones. The iPhone-exclusive side-runner has amassed some 50 million downloads in its first week, making it the fastest-downloaded app in Apple’s history. However, the game’s $10 price tag and relatively simple formula has riled some users, and despite its popularity, it only has a 2-star rating in the App Store.

Why this matters: Even though Android users are currently left out in the cold, Nintendo’s new mobile push is definitely one to watch. With the success of Pokemon Go and Super Mario Run, the company has proven that its characters can stand alone, and it’ll be interesting to see how the upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch tablet-style console plays into its new strategy.

This dad built his son an Apple II out of Gingerbread

Dan Uff December 26, 2016 0

(ReCode): Little says Christmas better than gingerbread, and nothing says nerd nostalgia better than an Apple II.

So for Christmas, nerds, we give you an Apple II made out of gingerbread, complete with a chocolate keyboard and an edible floppy disk.

No, we at Recode aren’t that clever, nor are we that handy in the kitchen. Luckily, a father out there is both clever and handy, and built this with his son and then shared his creation with the world via Imgur.

In one shot, our nominee for Dad of the Year put the gingerbread Apple next to his real Apple II.

“I need to make a modem card for the Gingerbread II, then I'll be able to connect them together,” he wrote.

How to (quickly) use that new iTunes Gift Card

Dan Uff December 26, 2016 0

So, you got a new iTunes Gift card that you want to use to make purchases from the iTunes store. But when you scrape off the ID code box, you notice a long number in the back. Sure, you can type it in manually, but there is a better way.

Go to the iTunes store and sign in with your username and password.
On the lower-right is an option called Redeem. Click on that option.
You'll be greeted with the below screen.

Click on the Use Camera option.
Now hold the back of the card (with the ID showing) towards the camera. Hold it there for 3-4 seconds.
iTunes will automatically type in the code, and put in the amount of money that the card is worth.
That's it.