Apple by the numbers: 700M iOS devices shipped

Onstage at Apple's iPhone 5S and 5C launch, CEO Tim Cook told audience members Tuesday that Apple is shipping the 700 millionth iOS device next month.Those figures are sure to rise even more significantly in the coming months given that Apple replaced the iPhone 5 with the cheaper color-coded 5C, made the 4S free with a two-year contract, and unveiled an all new high-end model 5S with an the 64-bit A7 chip. Related stories:Apple launches iPhone 5S and $99 iPhone 5C with five colorsWhat we didn't get from Apple's iPhone eventiPhone 5S fingerprint reader: The end of passwords?Another factor that will likely contribute to the ever-burgeoning number of iOS sales is Apple's aggressive marketing push for the 5C in China. The company is set to host an event exclusively for the lower-end device for the fast-growing Chinese mobile market later this week.

Apple buys virtual assistant app maker Siri

Another day, another Apple acquisition.On Wednesday, an application developer called Siri confirmed to the Business Insider blog that it had been acquired by Apple. There were no details about the transaction available.Siri's main product is a mobile virtual personal assistant that allows users of the iPhone or iPod Touch, to ask questions about finding consumer goods, services, or destinations. The company developed out of an artificial intelligence project at SRI International, and was financed by DARPA. The free iPhone app lets users speak or type questions, such as "What's a romantic place for dinner?" The app uses an algorithm that interprets the request as it applies the person's location, time, preferences, and other context. It was first demonstrated for the public at last year's D: All Things Digital conference.This is the second Apple acquisition this week. On Tuesday, the company confirmed it had acquired Texas-based chipmaker Intrinsity. The rumored price for that acquisition was $121 million.This post was updated at 11:48 a.m. PDT to correct the name of the non-profit where Siri originated.