News

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares closed today at $92.93, up $0.95 from Friday's closing price of $91.98, but up just 24¢ from the post 7-to-1 stock split opening of $92.69. To be fair, it has only been three weeks since the split, and the hovering behavior hasn't deterred JP Morgan, who last week raised its target price from a rather low $89 to $108. Analyst Rod Hall believes the stock will reach this target by the end of 2015.

Bloomberg reported last week that production of Apple's largest iPhones to date will begin next month. The 4.7" and 5.5" iPhone 6 handsets are slated to begin production in China in July. The 4.7" model will be available sometime in the second half of September, while the launch date of the "phablet" size model is unclear,

Apple today has released iOS 7.1.2 as an over-the-air update for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. According to iOS developer iH8sn0w, the update does not patch the Pangu jailbreak, so it is safe to upgrade.

The update fixes a mail attachment security flaw, a bug causing issues with third-party accessories, and it improves iBeacon connectivity and stability. Users can download iOS 7.1.2 by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update, or by going to iTunes.

The team of developers behind the Pangu jailbreak have delivered on their promise to add Mac OS X support. Pangu v.1.1 was released on Sunday. The update brings an English UI for U.S. users, a fix for the boot loop bug that was plaguing some devices, and the removal of the “PP25″ installer for users who select the English option.

Chinese users will still have the option to install the third-party software which includes a pirate app store. U.S. users should avoid this option because it may contain apps and tweaks with malicious intent. Besides the dodgy app store, Pangu is safe to install on your device. Two well known U.S. jailbreakers, MuscleNerd and iH8sn0w, have confirmed that Pangu does not contain any additional threats. However, you should always back up your device before installing any jailbreak.

There were quite a few App Store and app-related stories this week, so let's jump right in! Apple added a Best New Game Updates section to the App Store. As the title suggests, the new category highlights some of the best apps that have recently been updated with new levels and so on. You can find it underneath the Best New Games section on the App Store.

Versus Evil announced this week that Stoic Studio's The Banner Saga is getting a mobile release this summer, and Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution 2 is hitting iOS devices on July 2nd.

A Walmart spokesperson told CNET that starting Friday at 9 a.m. the iPhone 5c will cost only $29. That's $20 off its normal $49 asking price. The iPhone 5c is also being reduced to only $99, down from $149. The deal requires a new two year agreement with AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint, and it in-store only. However, Walmart representatives have misled us about Apple sales before, so make sure you call ahead to clarify your local location is participating in the sale.

Apple fans can also expect other retailers to follow suit as we get closer to the launch of Apple's next-generation handset(s). In previous years, retailers such as Best Buy and Target have slashed iPhone prices weeks before Apple's newest iPhone is announced, but unlike the previous generations, the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s have both been heavily discounted since their release. Walmart has discounted the iPhone 5c at least four times, according to our archives, and the retailer has offered the device for as low as $29 at least once before.