Type of Article: MacNews Web Site

Apple’s retail stores, boosted by strong demand for iPads and Macs, are helping the tech giant intensify its assault on Microsoft, according to “TheStreet” (http://macosg.me/2/nh).

In a note to clients, Charlie Wolf, an analyst at Needham & Company, says that, that during the June quarter, Windows users purchased half of the 677,000 Macs sold in the stores. This represented over 20% of the estimated number of Windows users who switched to a Mac during the quarter, he says.

Traditionally, first-year medical students are awarded white coats to signify their entry into the medical community. But at an Aug. 6 ceremony, each member of the UC Irvine School of Medicine’s incoming class of 2014 will find an iPad pre-loaded with everything necessary for the first year of course work in their coat pocket.

The iPhone 4 launched in late June and was initially heralded as one of the most successful product releases in Apple’s history. But within days the firestorm over reception and antenna issues unleashed an exceptional degree of critical commentary.

Despite this controversy, one of the biggest unknowns has been what actual iPhone 4 owners really think about their new smart phones. To find out, a July ChangeWave survey (http://www.changewave.com) has taken an in-depth look at the reactions and opinions of 213 Apple iPhone 4 owners.

Samsung (http://www.samsung.com) has announced the 12.2 megapixel PL90 featuring a built-in USB connector, enabling consumers to capture images and connect to a computer on the move without the need for additional wires or cords. It’s due next month for US$149.99