Apple I- Phone

Apple attacks Motorola's efforts to block iPhone 4S using standards patents, asks for huge damages

By Daniel Eran Dilger

Published: 02:57 PM EST (11:57 AM PST)

Apple has filed a new "antisuit lawsuit" aimed at unraveling Motorola's litigation efforts and attempts to block iPhone 4S using standards essential patents. Apple is also asking for damages that could reach multibillion dollar figures.

In its patent battles with Apple, Motorola chose to rely upon its standards essential patents that are required to build GSM/GPRS/UMTS compatible devices, and committed to FRAND licensing because of that fact. Rather than negotiating the "fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory" royalty rates the company has committed to as a member of the 3GPP standards body, Motorola has invented a new legal strategy.

Motorola first canceled elements of its patent license with baseband chipmaker Qualcomm, then insisted Apple had to license the technology supplied by Qualcomm's chips on its own, under terms intended to extract more than a billion dollars per year, perpetually, just for using chips that were already properly licensed to be used for that purpose.

Because Apple won't agree to give Motorola billions of dollars based on a percentage of the total value of the iPhones and other 3G-capable devices it sells that use Qualcomm baseband chips, Motorola is seeking to block sales of Apple products in a variety of countries, including efforts that temporarily forced Apple to remove products from its shelves and then later restock them.

Apple pulls out the linch pin

Now, according to a report by Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents, action taken by Apple in California seeks "declaratory and injunctive relief" that the company hopes will shut down Motorola's German injunctions.

Apple's filing claims "Motorola?s German lawsuit is in direct breach of a Patent Licensing Agreement between Motorola and Qualcomm. As a Qualcomm customer, Apple is a third-party beneficiary of that contract.

"Moreover, under this same contract, Motorola?s rights under the ?336 and the ?898 patents are exhausted. Accordingly, Apple brings this suit for breach of contract, declaratory, and injunctive relief, and asks this Court to enjoin Motorola from prosecuting and enforcing its claims against Apple in Germany."

Qualcomm backs Apple

Qualcomm, the company building the baseband chips in Apple's iPhone 4S, reports in the complaint that "On January 11, 2011, Mr. Kirk Dailey, Motorola's Corporate Vice President, Intellectual Property, sent a letter to Qualcomm, copying Apple, purporting 'to terminate any and all license and covenant rights with respect to Apple, effective February 10, 2011 (30 days from the date of this letter).'"

The complaint further notes, "On April 25, 2011, Mr. Derek Aberle, Executive Vice President of Qualcomm and President of Qualcomm Technology Licensing responded to Motorola?s letter of January 11, 2011. Mr. Aberle disagreed with Motorola?s contention that it could invoke the Defensive Suspension Provision with respect to Apple. He noted that the Defensive Suspension provision did not entitle Motorola to terminate rights based on suits brought by Apple."

Say hello to my little FRAND

Mueller points out that Samsung has similarly attempted to terminate patent rights that benefitted Apple, efforts that courts in both France and Italy determined "was neither allowed under the agreement nor acceptable from a FRAND point of view."

Mueller added, "the French finding is particularly meaningful because ETSI [standards body] is based in France, and the related obligations must be interpreted under French law. The French court firmly ruled out that a company with a FRAND licensing obligation can grant a license and later terminate it with respect to one third-party beneficiary, given that ETSI's FRAND declaration requires the grant of irrevocable licenses to standard-essential patents."

Tremendous potential penalties for thwarting open standards, filing bogus lawsuits

Apple's series of legal actions in the US, which require relatively little deliberation or findings of facts (unlike complex patent arguments) are likely to results in an immediate stay of any infringement claims or enforcement requests Motorola is seeking against Apple in other countries.

Additionally, Motorola's conduct is likely to result in its involvement in ongoing antitrust investigations that have do far centered around Samsung. Yesterday, European Union Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia announced plans to "use antitrust powers to prevent patents from being used to unfairly control market share, including in ongoing investigations," according to a report by Dow Jones.

"I am determined to use antitrust enforcement to prevent the misuse of patent rights to the detriment of a vigorous and accessible market," Almunia said. "I have initiated investigations on this issue in several sectors and we will see the results in due time." Just weeks ago, the commission opened a formal investigation into Samsung's use of standards-essential patents to sue Apple.

"It is a major task of competition control to ensure that new generations of businesses are given a fair chance," Almunia said. "I am notably thinking of the surge in the strategic use of patents that confer market power to their holders."

Mueller also noted, "If any of the other [Apple] claims succeed, such as the one for damages, Google can already make room in its balance sheet for what could be multi-billion dollar damages. If the iPhone 4S got blocked in Germany on an illegal basis for even just a couple of quarters, Apple's resulting damages claim would likely exceed those of Oracle in its actions against Google and SAP combined."

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The ongoing spat between Apple and Samsung shows no signs of letting up, with Apple having just filed a motion for preliminary injunction against the Korean LCD specialist’s Galaxy Nexus in the US.

Interestingly enough, though, the four counts of infringement cited in the complaint point to software issues – something which has nothing to do with Samsung, rather Google’s Android Mobile OS. It is thought the suit is more of an indirect swoop at the Big G, dragging Samsung along for another date in the Patent Infringement World Tour as a supporting act.

The Galaxy Nexus, which took quite a while to finally retail Stateside, runs a stock version of Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich. Samsung doesn’t add anything else to the table except the device alone, meaning any software element – infringing or otherwise – rests solely on the shoulders of Google.

Filed Thursday, the motion points to four patents – all of which could seriously hinder Google’s business if they were found to breach the fruit company’s intellectual property. The first is a ‘data tapping’ patent, which makes up part of Siri’s search functionality. Next comes the iconic slide-to-unlock, something the guys at Cupertino have had a bee in their bonnets about for a few weeks now; as well as a patent regarding the mannerisms of automatically completed words when text is tapped into the device.

The ‘data tapping’ patent has already forged success against Android devices in the past, with Apple having already won a request to block the import of HTC devices – a ban which will come into effect in two months’ time. Apple goes on to describe Samsung as: "a compulsive and unrepentant infringer on Apple’s patents" – strong, yet unsurprising words which Steve Jobs would most certainly have advocated.

Apple has been on the offensive on the home front recently, with Motorola – a yet to be Google-owned company – also in the firing line. There’s an ongoing rift between the two over in Germany, and just yesterday, Apple filed a complaint in the US against Motorola for its abuse of patent licensing on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.

Stay tuned, folks, this could get very, very messy interesting, and we’ll be keeping more than a close eye on proceedings.

(via TNW)

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We love us some patents here at RedmondPie, and Apple is one company that just likes to apply for patents as if the fate of the world depended on it. Of course, this being Apple, their patent applications tend to get picked up by the technology press and then picked apart in the hope we find a future product or service hidden in there somewhere!

Today is one day when such a patent has reared its head, and this one appears to pertain to a spot of 3D technology, something that Apple has yet to bring to any of its devices, be they iOS or Mac.

The patent calls for a 3D system that would be available to iOS devices, allowing a pseudo-3D effect to be created using the magic of technology. Using Apple’s implementation, no 3D glasses would be required.

The patent suggests that the new 3D mode could be activated using some kind of gesture, allowing users to switch between 2D and 3D modes at will.

The implementation, should it be used, would rely on sensors such as the accelerometer and compass to detect movement and then to allow the device to change the orientation of on-screen objects. This would create a 3D illusion for the user, thanks to added eye-tracking technology.

We have seen a similar technology demonstrated on an iPad already, and it works surprisingly well once you adjust to it. Adding some hardware and addition software support would only serve to make the experience even more enjoyable.

Smartphones with 3D technology are not a new idea. HTC, for example, has had a 3D-equipped Android phone on sale for some time now, with limited success. The gaming industry has also had its first handheld machine with 3D capabilities in the Nintendo 3DS, again with limited success.

With the debate still raging as to whether 3D in televisions is worthwhile or not, the same debate is sure to take place over smartphones. Do we need 3D smartphones, and if so, what will we use them for beyond the usual gimmicks? If Apple can make something from a 3D interface that isn’t possible with one less ‘D’ then we are all for it.

If Apple is going to give us some fancy spinning icons that don’t add to the experience though. then we just don’t really care.

Remember folks, more ‘Ds’ don’t always make better devices!

(via Patently Apple)

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Apple on Friday filed suit against Motorola Mobility in a U.S. district court over the use of Qualcomm chips in Apple's iPhone 4S.

The appeal to the Southern District of California court has a bit of a twist. The iPhone maker isn't claiming that Motorola is infringing on Apple's own patented technology. Rather, Apple is suing Motorola Mobility for breach of contract with regards to Motorola's own IP, which is used by Qualcomm in its MDM6610 baseband processors. Apple is asking the court to bar Motorola from suing Apple in Germany for using those chips in its latest iPhone.

The suit in U.S. district court follows a ruling in Germany on Friday that dismissed one of Motorola's more general claims regarding Apple's use of 3G/UMTS wireless technology.

Apple says in its U.S. filing that it has been assured by Qualcomm that "Qualcomm has already paid Motorola for the licenses and covenants for Qualcomm and its customers, including Apple."

At stake is Motorola's claim in Europe that Apple has infringed on its patent. Apple claims that Motorola's declaration to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute ("ETSI") that the technology is essential to practicing the ETSI's GPRS standard makes this a matter of what's called "fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory" or FRAND licensing.

What that means, according to Apple, is that Motorola is in breach of a commitment to FRAND licensing, which is an agreement by companies owning standards-setting technology to extend licensing under fair terms to rivals when technology essential to a meeting a standard could be withheld to block market access.

"Apple believes that parties who commit to license their standards= essential patents on FRAND terms have obligations they cannot ignore, evade, or apply only prospectively after an abuse has occurred," Apple's lawsuit states.

In earlier litigation brought by Motorola last spring against Apple in Germany for alleged infringement on its GPRS-related technology, Motorola makes no mention of the iPhone 4S, which hadn't been released yet. But in a January 2012 response to an Apple appeal, Motorola did reference the iPhone 4S, claiming it was subject to a German court's December order to Apple to cease and desist selling products infringing on Motorola's patent.

But Apple's counter-claim Friday holds that the contract between Motorola and Qualcomm includes a covenant Motorola made to not sue Qualcomm customers for infringement of the patent in question. As a third-party beneficiary of that contract, Apple contends it cannot and should not be sued by Motorola in any jurisdiction.

For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.

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Thanks to a blockbuster fourth quarter that saw consumers snap up more than 52 million Apple iPhones and iPads, U.S. Web traffic on iOS devices has eclipsed traffic on Mac OS X computers, according to new stats from Chitika.

The mobile ad network found that OS X has seen its Internet market share drop by 25 percent since a high point in September. This month marks the first time that iOS surpassed OS X, with iOS nabbing 8.15 percent of traffic compared to OS X's 7.96 percent, Chitika said.

The trend isn't all that surprising if you look at Apple's fourth quarter numbers. Apple released the long-awaited iPhone 4S in October, which helped Cupertino sell 37.04 million iPhones and 15.43 million iPads during the quarter, compared to 5.2 million Macs.

Why the shift? Chitika suggests that the Apple faithful might be opting for the iPhone and iPad over a MacBook because they offer similar services at a cheaper price point.

"Perhaps Apple's habit of launching cutting edge gadgets year after year is driving consumers to newer products. Combining this aspect with the similar functionality of iOS devices and a lower price point, it may be that consumers are choosing to go mobile, instead of purchasing more expensive Apple computers," Chitika speculated. "Alternatively, the shift towards an on-the-go lifestyle could be driving mobile device purchases by the consumer, and thereby driving the corresponding increasing in mobile web usage."

The number of Apple mobile users could grow in the coming weeks; recent rumors suggest that Cupertino might unveil its next-gen iPad in the first week of March.

While Apple captured 43 percent of the U.S. smartphone market last quarter, it has a ways to go on the PC front. Recent data from Canalys actually named Apple as the world's number-one PC maker, but the firm included tablets in those numbers, which of course significantly boosted its market share.

Excluding tablets like the iPad, Gartner data from January said HP was the number-one PC maker during the fourth quarter with 14.7 million PCs sold. With 5.2 million Macs sold during the same time period, Apple has to top Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and Asus in worldwide sales to attain PC dominance, Gartner said.

In other MacBook news, MacRumors reports that the white MacBook is officially a thing of the past. Last July, Apple confirmed that it would discontinue its iconic white MacBook and make the $999 11-inch Macbook Air its entry-level laptop. The white MacBook stuck around for education customers, however, until now. Resellers have been notified that the laptop is now classified as "End of Life."

For more, see PCMag's full review of the iPhone 4S and the iPad 2, as well as the slideshow below.

For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.

For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.

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With less than a month to go for iPad 3 media event, The Next Web reports that Apple is currently in 'crunch mode' shortlisting apps for the iPad 3 launch event and commercials.

The Next Web reports:

Our sources tell us that this selection process is continuing at an increased rate as Apple looks to finalize the lineup for the iPad 3. There is also emphasis on graphics-oriented applications with high-definition assets, which appears to be in line with the new iPad featuring a ‘Retina’ display.

In addition, some apps that Apple is impressed with are being forwarded on to its long-time advertising partner TWBA/Chiat/Day for possible inclusion in the initial iPad 3 commercial spots. This process is entering its final phase as well, with the company on a tight deadline to deliver assets for playback during the presentation and later, television broadcast.

BusinessWeek had revealed back in March 2010 how developers who had early access to the original iPad had to keep it in a room with blacked out windows.

"Would-be testers of the tablet-style computer, due to be released Apr. 3, must promise to keep it isolated in a room with blacked-out windows, according to four people familiar with the more than 10-page pact that bars partners from disclosing information about the iPad.

To ensure that it can't be removed, the iPad must also remain tethered to a fixed object, said the people, who asked not to be named because their plans for the iPad have not been made public. Apple (AAPL) won't send out an iPad until potential partners send photographic evidence that they've complied."

While the demands may seem to be over-the-top, it needs to be noted that Apple's secrecy not only helps in building curiosity among the target audience thus helping the company in its marketing efforts, but also protects their products from spying competitors.

We won't be surprised if Apple picks iPad games such as Infinity Blade II and Real Racing 2. Which other games and apps would you pick for iPad 3 with Retina Display.

[via The Next Web]

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Apple co-founder Steve Jobs did serve on White House council in '90s

By Josh Ong

Published: 08:40 PM EST (05:40 PM PST)

The U.S. Commerce Department has confirmed that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs did in fact serve on former President George H.W. Bush's Export Council during the 1990s.

Earlier this week, a background file on Jobs surfaced that was compiled by the FBI as he was considered for appointment to the council in 1991. The Associated Press then reported on Friday that his role on the council had been confirmed by the Cabinet department.

The Export Council consists of unpaid members who meet a minimum of twice a year to advise the president on trade policy. Given that the Commerce Department said Jobs served during the first Bush administration, it would appear that he was on the council from 1991 to 1993.

The FBI file in question, a level III background investigation, was interesting to note because it included an unusually high number of derogatory comments for that type of investigation. The names of those interviewed had been redacted, but he was described as being "deceptive" and someone of "questionable" moral character. One interviewee recommended Jobs for the "high level political position" in spite of assertions that he was deceptive because "honesty and integrity are not required qualities to hold such a position."

"Mr. Jobs has integrity as long as he gets his way," another person said.

An FBI agent wrote in an interview summary that Jobs had "alienated a lot to people" at Apple because of his ambition. Jobs had been ousted from Apple in 1985 and was deeply involved with work at NeXT in the early 1990s.

The issue of Jobs' former drug use was also addressed by the FBI during interviews. Several individuals, including Jobs himself, "commented" in interviews on past experimentation during his college years, the file indicates. Jobs would later go on to publicly state that doing LSD was one of the "most important" things he had done in his life.

The documents also revealed that Apple was subject to a bomb threat in February 1985. An unnamed caller claimed to have placed explosives in certain individuals' homes and demanded a million dollars to not detonate them. The case was eventually closed in August 1985.

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Apple co-founder Steve Jobs did serve on White House council in '90s
Swiss company seeks iPhone, Apple TV ban over alleged patent infringement
Apple looks to end Motorola patent attack in Germany with U.S. suit
Apple now offers basic 13-in. $999 MacBook Air to education buyers
Apple lodges new suit against Samsung over autocorrect, screen unlock
Apple to disrupt notebook space with radically redesigned MacBook Pros
AT&T's 4G-compatible micro-SIM cards prompt speculation of LTE 'iPad 3'
2%-3% dividend suggested as best use of Apple's $100B in cash
German court dismisses Motorola's 3G-related suit against Apple
Motorola puts blame on Google for lag on Android updates
Apple again highlights Siri with new 'Road Trip,' 'Rock God' iPhone 4S ads
iTunes customers facing mysterious account hacks, disappearing gift card money
Apple said to be in 'crunch mode' to ready 'iPad 3' apps for on-stage demos, ads
Google reportedly working on wireless home entertainment system
Samsung Galaxy 10.1N cleared for sale in Germany
Inside Sandboxing: how Apple plans to make the Mac App Store as secure as iOS
AT&T throttling unlimited data users starting at 2 GB per month based on location
Apple employee says upcoming iPad 3 to have "truly amazing" screen
Workers' rights petitions delivered to Apple's Grand Central store
US NOAA ditches BlackBerry, chooses Apple's iPhone and iPad
FBI file on Steve Jobs reveals he was considered for White House position
Apple now worth more than Google and Microsoft combined [u]
Apple exploring 3D frame-of-reference iOS interface based on eye, light location
Apple said to hold 'iPad 3' event first week in March
Pictured Sharp LCD panel claimed to be Retina Display for Apple's 'iPad 3'
Leaked photo allegedly shows outside back cover of Apple's next iPad
Alleged Foxconn hack allowed bogus orders to be placed for vendors
White MacBook sales come to close as Apple ceases sales to education institutions
Google says it won't support fair licensing in open standards as Apple, Microsoft, Cisco have
Cisco backs Apple's ETSI request for fair and open licensing of standards patents
Doubts cast on likelihood of quad-core A6 CPU in third-gen iPad
Path apologizes, offers opt-out for address book uploading
iTunes Match generates 'magic money' for music copyright holders
Siri rumored to gain support for Mandarin, Japanese and Russian in March
US Air Force may buy 18,000 Apple iPads for cargo aircraft
Purported 'iPad 3' back panel shows space for larger battery, new LCD
Worker abuse petitions to be delivered Thursday at Apple's Grand Central store
Microsoft joins Apple in pledging support for injunction free, FRAND patent licensing
iPhone best at retaining resale value and offers lowest total cost of ownership
iTunes-sponsored live Paul McCartney concert to stream for free on Apple TV

View the original article here

Apple asks for US preliminary injunction of Samsung's Android 4.0 Galaxy Nexus

By Daniel Eran Dilger

Published: 05:54 PM EST (02:54 PM PST)

Apple is leveraging four recently granted patents to seek a preliminary injunction against sales of Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone, Google's Android 4.0 flagship device, as part of a new federal lawsuit that also involves other patent claims.

General details of the new suit were published yesterday, but according to a report by Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents, Apple's latest suit targets the Galaxy Nexus, parallel to a separate complaint last fall, but differing in several key respects.

Case two: All guns blazing

Mueller notes that in this new case, Apple has filed for a preliminary injunction at the same time as its ongoing suit alleging patent infringement. In the prior case, Apple filed the case first and then added a request for a preliminary injunction. As a result, Samsung argued that Apple's filings indicated a lack of urgency or necessity in getting an injunction in place.

Apple is also outlining the actual costs and damages it suffers through the availability of Samsung's infringing products.

The complaint is also based on patents that were recently issued, so as Mueller notes, "there's no more argument over Apple having tolerated infringement for a long time before bringing a complaint." Apple also portrays Samsung as "as an unrepentant, 'recidivist' infringer whom the courts must finally stop," Mueller points out.

The patents in question also related to specific, technical features rather than "software design related rights."

The four patents

The four patents Apple is asserting against the Galaxy Nexus include the Data Detectors patent Apple successfully used to win an ITC injunction against HTC: U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647 "System and Method for Performing an Action on a Structure in Computer-Generated Data."

Google's decision to keep Data Detectors in Android 4.0 even after the ITC ruled it as infringement in the HTC case, Muller wrote, "is unfair vis-?-vis HTC (whose products are weaker because they have to respect the decision), snubs Apple, and shows disregard for intellectual property in general and the ITC in particular. This is a case of willful, extremely reckless infringement."

Secondly, U.S. Patent No. 8,086,604 "Universal Interface for Retrieval of Information in a Computer System" is a "new patent related to Siri and unified search," which Mueller notes, "must be of huge concern to Google with a view to its core business."

The third, U.S. Patent No. 8,046,721 "Unlocking a Device by Performing Gestures on an Unlock Image" is the slide to unlock patent that Apple has previous asserted in other cases, including a German suit against the Galaxy Nexus. The government in Taiwan expressed concern about the patent after it was granted last fall.

The fourth, U.S. Patent No. 8,074,172 "Method, System, and Graphical User Interface for Providing Word Recommendations," Mueller described as "a word completion patent that provides major speed improvements for touchscreen text entry."

Shooting down Nexus

That Apple is taking direct aim at the Galaxy Nexus is interesting in that the model represents the latest version of Android 4.0 software, as well as being the latest official Google-led design using a stock install of Android, as opposed to devices marketed by Motorola, Samsung or HTC with layers of vendor-specific, differentiating software on them.

This takes Apple's infringement case directly to Google's Android, while focusing the damages upon the most successful Android licensee with the deepest pockets: Samsung.

The rollout of Android 4.0 is occurring very slowly, making the Galaxy Nexus the primary vehicle for Google's latest version of its mobile operating system. The 4.0 release aims at bringing a variety of enhancements and technologies originally created to enable Android to power tablets systems in last year's Android 3.0 Honeycomb release. It's also required to install Google's latest Chrome browser.

While Android 4.0 currently only represents 1 percent of the installed base of Android devices, the Galaxy Nexus also represents the more profitable higher end of the Android product range, making it more effective for Apple to target than the large volume of virtually profitless basic feature phones that also use Android.

Disrupting its feature set and forcing the removal infringing features from Android 4.0 will likely blunt the deployment of other Android licensee's high end products, making it even more difficult to earn profits on the platform.

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Apple co-founder Steve Jobs did serve on White House council in '90s
Swiss company seeks iPhone, Apple TV ban over alleged patent infringement
Apple looks to end Motorola patent attack in Germany with U.S. suit
Apple now offers basic 13-in. $999 MacBook Air to education buyers
Apple lodges new suit against Samsung over autocorrect, screen unlock
Apple to disrupt notebook space with radically redesigned MacBook Pros
AT&T's 4G-compatible micro-SIM cards prompt speculation of LTE 'iPad 3'
2%-3% dividend suggested as best use of Apple's $100B in cash
German court dismisses Motorola's 3G-related suit against Apple
Motorola puts blame on Google for lag on Android updates
Apple again highlights Siri with new 'Road Trip,' 'Rock God' iPhone 4S ads
iTunes customers facing mysterious account hacks, disappearing gift card money
Apple said to be in 'crunch mode' to ready 'iPad 3' apps for on-stage demos, ads
Google reportedly working on wireless home entertainment system
Samsung Galaxy 10.1N cleared for sale in Germany
Inside Sandboxing: how Apple plans to make the Mac App Store as secure as iOS
AT&T throttling unlimited data users starting at 2 GB per month based on location
Apple employee says upcoming iPad 3 to have "truly amazing" screen
Workers' rights petitions delivered to Apple's Grand Central store
US NOAA ditches BlackBerry, chooses Apple's iPhone and iPad
FBI file on Steve Jobs reveals he was considered for White House position
Apple now worth more than Google and Microsoft combined [u]
Apple exploring 3D frame-of-reference iOS interface based on eye, light location
Apple said to hold 'iPad 3' event first week in March
Pictured Sharp LCD panel claimed to be Retina Display for Apple's 'iPad 3'
Leaked photo allegedly shows outside back cover of Apple's next iPad
Alleged Foxconn hack allowed bogus orders to be placed for vendors
White MacBook sales come to close as Apple ceases sales to education institutions
Google says it won't support fair licensing in open standards as Apple, Microsoft, Cisco have
Cisco backs Apple's ETSI request for fair and open licensing of standards patents
Doubts cast on likelihood of quad-core A6 CPU in third-gen iPad
Path apologizes, offers opt-out for address book uploading
iTunes Match generates 'magic money' for music copyright holders
Siri rumored to gain support for Mandarin, Japanese and Russian in March
US Air Force may buy 18,000 Apple iPads for cargo aircraft
Purported 'iPad 3' back panel shows space for larger battery, new LCD
Worker abuse petitions to be delivered Thursday at Apple's Grand Central store
Microsoft joins Apple in pledging support for injunction free, FRAND patent licensing
iPhone best at retaining resale value and offers lowest total cost of ownership
iTunes-sponsored live Paul McCartney concert to stream for free on Apple TV

View the original article here

Apple to disrupt notebook space with radically redesigned MacBook Pros

By Kasper Jade

Published: 01:17 PM EST (10:17 AM PST)

While most of its rivals are struggling to match innovations Apple pioneered with its first MacBook Airs over three years ago, the Mac maker this year is hoping to further distance itself from the competition with a pair of radically redesigned professional offerings that will set the tone for the next wave of notebook computing.

In particular, people familiar with Apple's roadmap say the Cupertino-based company currently plans to exit 2012 having completed a top-to-bottom revamp of its notebooks lineup that will see new MacBook Pros adopt the same design traits that have made its MacBook Airs an increasingly popular choice among mobile consumers.

This will include new, ultra-thin unibody enclosures that jettison yesteryear technologies like optical disk drives and traditional hard drives in favor of models with lightweight chassis that employ flash-memory based solid-state drives, instant-on capabilities, extended battery life, and rely on digital distribution for software and media.

"They're all going to look like MacBook Airs," one person familiar with the new MacBook Pro designs told AppleInsider. Meanwhile, existing MacBook Pro designs are expected to be phased out over the course of the year.

Much in the same way that Apple initiated its last MacBook Pro overhaul by first revamping the higher-volume 15-inch models, and only then following up a few months later with a redesigned 17-inch counterpart, the company is again said to be giving priority to its new 15-inch model. A 17-inch model is expected to follow shortly thereafter.

As such, AppleInsider believes that based on its information, leaks out the Far East regarding an ultra-thin 15-inch Apple notebook slated to hit the market this spring indeed pertain to Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro makeover, regardless of what marketing name the company ultimately chooses to stamp on its bezel. It's to rely heavily on Thunderbolt and be built around Intel's forthcoming Ivy Bridge microarchitecture and mobile components currently slated to start shipping in April.

An illustration of Apple's notebook lineup planned for the 2012 calendar year.

The transition comes at a time when Apple's notebook sales are surging in the face of a broader market contraction, prompting competitors to retool their own offerings in a similar manner in hopes of stemming the slow but increasingly material market shift towards the Mac maker's sleek and sexy designs.

Since introducing its first MacBook Air, Apple has seen its notebook sales increase nearly threefold, from 1.342 million units quarterly in January of 2008 to 3.719 million units during the company's most recently ended quarter. A huge chunk of that growth took place in the 12-months after Apple revamped the Air with lower pricing and the addition of an 11-inch model, with shipments rising nearly 1 million units from 2.643 million in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2010 to the 3,616 units in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2011.

Apple's notebook sales have surged from roughly 1 million units per quarter 3 years ago to nearly 4 million units today.

Although existing MacBook Pros continue to outsell MacBook Airs, the gap between the two has been contracting, with Apple management continually crediting the MacBook Air with helping to drive the company's overall computer business. For instance, this past October Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer reported a then record 4.89 million Mac sales for the prior quarter, a 26% yearly increase that he said was "fueled by the very strong growth in MacBook Air as well as the continued strong performance of MacBook Pro."

The popularity of Apple's MacBook Airs finally drew the earnest attention of rival PC makers over last year, who under the guidance of Intel have been attempting to mimic the super-sleek notebooks with an assortment of models based off the chipmaker's "Ultrabook" reference design.

Specifically, Intel's definition of an initial first-phase Ultrabook calls for notebooks that are less than 21 mm thick, weight no more than 3.1 pounds, use flash-based SSDs, offer 5 to 8 hours of battery life, and cost around $1,000. However, that latter specification -- price point -- initially proved challenging for the PC makers, who petitioned Intel for a 50% price cut on Ultrabook microprocessors in hopes of keeping their margins material. Intel ultimately denied the request, granting a 20% cut instead.

In addition to struggling with pricing, Ultrabook makers have also had to contend with Apple's dominance in the overseas supply chain. Last August it was reported that Ultrabook makers were out-muscled by Apple in acquiring magnesium-aluminum chassis, which ideal for creating a notebook less than 0.8-inch thick. This forced some vendors to turn to alternative materials such as plastic in order to compete with Apple's pricing.

Still, Ultrabook vendors such as Acer and Asus saw their initial offerings struggle to gain traction in the market when pitted against the MacBook Air, prompting the two to reduce initial orders by as much as 40%. The two companies originally planned to build as many as 300,000 Ultrabooks by the end of 2011, but slow sales forced them to reduce those orders to between 150,000 and 180,000 units. They're now looking toward a $100 marketing subsidy from Intel to help drive prices down as much as 10% during the first quarter of 2012.

HP's $900 Folio13 Ultrabook lacks the panache and allure of Apple's MacBook Airs.

At the same time, Apple has not only seen sales of MacBook Airs surge but managed to simultaneously driven its overall gross profit margins higher in the process, which are now well in excess of 40%. It has done so by extending the same fundamentals to MacBook Air production that led to its dominance in the mobile phone and tablet markets, where secret long-term licensing deals for components and manufacturing capacity have garnered it rock-bottom pricing that is squeezing out rivals who aren't seeing in high enough volumes to command such arrangements.

With this year's MacBook Pro revamp, Apple is looking to extend the same fundamentals to its most premium priced notebooks in a move that threatens over time to further disrupt the notion that its products are more costly than those from rival PC makers. It also threatens to place those same PC makers in another round of follow the leader that could ultimately pave the way for a changing of the guard in the personal computer market over the next several years should they fail to catch up in a timely manner.

What's not immediately clear is how Apple plans to bridge the gap currently filled by the 13-inch MacBook Pro, though there has been some informed speculation that rumors of MacBook Airs with faster memory and irreplaceable SSDs originally rumored for last year could materialize this year, possibly opening the door for 13-inch Air-style MacBook Pro with slightly more flexibility and brawn.

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Apple co-founder Steve Jobs did serve on White House council in '90s
Swiss company seeks iPhone, Apple TV ban over alleged patent infringement
Apple looks to end Motorola patent attack in Germany with U.S. suit
Apple now offers basic 13-in. $999 MacBook Air to education buyers
Apple lodges new suit against Samsung over autocorrect, screen unlock
Apple to disrupt notebook space with radically redesigned MacBook Pros
AT&T's 4G-compatible micro-SIM cards prompt speculation of LTE 'iPad 3'
2%-3% dividend suggested as best use of Apple's $100B in cash
German court dismisses Motorola's 3G-related suit against Apple
Motorola puts blame on Google for lag on Android updates
Apple again highlights Siri with new 'Road Trip,' 'Rock God' iPhone 4S ads
iTunes customers facing mysterious account hacks, disappearing gift card money
Apple said to be in 'crunch mode' to ready 'iPad 3' apps for on-stage demos, ads
Google reportedly working on wireless home entertainment system
Samsung Galaxy 10.1N cleared for sale in Germany
Inside Sandboxing: how Apple plans to make the Mac App Store as secure as iOS
AT&T throttling unlimited data users starting at 2 GB per month based on location
Apple employee says upcoming iPad 3 to have "truly amazing" screen
Workers' rights petitions delivered to Apple's Grand Central store
US NOAA ditches BlackBerry, chooses Apple's iPhone and iPad
FBI file on Steve Jobs reveals he was considered for White House position
Apple now worth more than Google and Microsoft combined [u]
Apple exploring 3D frame-of-reference iOS interface based on eye, light location
Apple said to hold 'iPad 3' event first week in March
Pictured Sharp LCD panel claimed to be Retina Display for Apple's 'iPad 3'
Leaked photo allegedly shows outside back cover of Apple's next iPad
Alleged Foxconn hack allowed bogus orders to be placed for vendors
White MacBook sales come to close as Apple ceases sales to education institutions
Google says it won't support fair licensing in open standards as Apple, Microsoft, Cisco have
Cisco backs Apple's ETSI request for fair and open licensing of standards patents
Doubts cast on likelihood of quad-core A6 CPU in third-gen iPad
Path apologizes, offers opt-out for address book uploading
iTunes Match generates 'magic money' for music copyright holders
Siri rumored to gain support for Mandarin, Japanese and Russian in March
US Air Force may buy 18,000 Apple iPads for cargo aircraft
Purported 'iPad 3' back panel shows space for larger battery, new LCD
Worker abuse petitions to be delivered Thursday at Apple's Grand Central store
Microsoft joins Apple in pledging support for injunction free, FRAND patent licensing
iPhone best at retaining resale value and offers lowest total cost of ownership
iTunes-sponsored live Paul McCartney concert to stream for free on Apple TV

View the original article here

After two recent patent-related victories over Apple in Germany, Motorola was dealt a setback today when a Manheim court threw out one of its claims regarding 3G/UMTS wireless technology.

As noted by patent blogger Florian Mueller, the Mannheim Regional Court said Motorola "failed to present conclusive evidence for its infringement contention."

In its suit, Motorola said that any implementation of 3G/UMTS will inevitably infringe on its patent rather than bringing forth any Apple products that actually do so.

"Since the asserted patent claim is centered around the 'means' used to generate a number that optimizes wireless transmissions, the court would have wanted to see proof that Apple's products contain such 'means,'" Mueller wrote. "But [Motorola] didn't show any kind of actual implementation (neither hardware nor software), and arguing merely on the basis of the specifications of the standard was insufficient to win."

Today's ruling comes after two wins for Motorola. In December, a Manheim judge found that certain Apple products infringe on Motorola patents for data packet transfer technology (GPRS). That prompted the temporary removal of several Apple products from its German online story earlier this month.

Also this month, meanwhile, the Manheim court granted a permanent injunction against Apple's iCloud push email notifications.

As a result, Mueller argued, Motorola and its legal team probably think that "two out of three ain't bad."

Motorola is demanding that Apple pay 2.25 percent of the net selling price of its 3G/UMTS products as a royalty, Mueller said. Not surprisingly, Apple is not in agreement.

Motorola Mobility, meanwhile, is in the process of being acquired by Google. The EU is set to rule on the merger by Feb. 13, and recent reports suggest that the Department of Justice in the U.S. could approve the deal as early as next week. For more, see Google Acquires Motorola Mobility: What You Need to Know.

Motorola's new Droid 4 hits stores today; for more, see PCMag's full review and the slideshow below.

For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.

For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.

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Apple looks to end Motorola patent attack in Germany with U.S. suit

By AppleInsider Staff

Published: 05:03 PM EST (02:03 PM PST)

Apple stayed on the legal offensive Friday, filing a new lawsuit in a U.S. court that claims Motorola Mobility's recent patent barrage of patent claims in Germany is in breach of a licensing agreement between the RAZR maker and Qualcomm.

The complaint, lodged in the Southern District Court of California, asserts that Apple buys and uses Qualcomm wireless baseband processor in its iPhone 4S product and should therefore be a third-party beneficiary to Motorola's license agreement with the chip maker, reports Reuters.

Apple's suit also claims that the patent rights Motorola is exerting in Germany are exhausted in both Europe and the U.S., thus any current or future litigation regarding said patent would be in violation of the patent's original contract.

The patent in question relates to certain how devices connect to UMTS an GPRS networks, a piece of Motorola technology that was licensed by Qualcomm to build baseband chips like the MDM6610 chip found in the CDMA version of the iPhone 4S. In December, a German court handed down an injunction against the iPhone and 3G-capable iPads, saying that the devices infringed on Motorola-owned European Patent 1010336.

In today's filing it is contested that when Qualcomm paid Motorola to use the patent, the company also bought the rights for its customers, including Apple.

From the complaint:

This is a lawsuit asserting claims for breach of contract, declaratory, and injunctive relief related to Motorola?s European Patent No 1 010 336 (?the ?336 patent?) and the equivalent
U.S. Patent No. 6,359,898 (?the ?898 patent?). Motorola has sued Apple in Germany, claiming infringement of the ?336 patent based on Apple?s use of Qualcomm components in Apple?s 26
iPhone 4S product. Motorola?s German lawsuit is in direct breach of a Patent Licensing Agreement between Motorola and Qualcomm. As a Qualcomm customer, Apple is a third-party
beneficiary of that contract. Moreover, under this same contract, Motorola?s rights under the ?336 and the ?898 patents are exhausted.

In total, today's filing seeks judgment on the following five outlined counts:

Breach of contract to which Apple is a third party beneficiary.
Declaratory judgment that Apple is authorized to use Qualcomm components under a covenant not to sue.
Declaratory judgment that Motorola's patent rights are exhausted.
Permanent equitable injunction.
Permanent anti-suit injunction
Qualcomm MDM6610 baseband chip in iPhone 4S teardown. | Source: TechRepublic

With the suit, Apple is looking to end the prosecution enforcement of Motorola's German claims, a permanent injunction of further lawsuits regarding the patent, damages for breach of contract and compensation for legal fees incurred during the hearing process.

Motorola has lodged numerous patent claims against Apple in Germany over a variety of patents, most recently losing a suit in Mannheim over certain 3G/UMTS technology. The telecom has dealt blows to the iPhone makers, however, and is expected to enforce an injunction in the the country related to iCloud's push services.

The U.S. District Court case is Apple Inc. and Apple Sales International v. Motorola Mobility Inc., 12-cv-355.

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Apple co-founder Steve Jobs did serve on White House council in '90s
Swiss company seeks iPhone, Apple TV ban over alleged patent infringement
Apple looks to end Motorola patent attack in Germany with U.S. suit
Apple now offers basic 13-in. $999 MacBook Air to education buyers
Apple lodges new suit against Samsung over autocorrect, screen unlock
Apple to disrupt notebook space with radically redesigned MacBook Pros
AT&T's 4G-compatible micro-SIM cards prompt speculation of LTE 'iPad 3'
2%-3% dividend suggested as best use of Apple's $100B in cash
German court dismisses Motorola's 3G-related suit against Apple
Motorola puts blame on Google for lag on Android updates
Apple again highlights Siri with new 'Road Trip,' 'Rock God' iPhone 4S ads
iTunes customers facing mysterious account hacks, disappearing gift card money
Apple said to be in 'crunch mode' to ready 'iPad 3' apps for on-stage demos, ads
Google reportedly working on wireless home entertainment system
Samsung Galaxy 10.1N cleared for sale in Germany
Inside Sandboxing: how Apple plans to make the Mac App Store as secure as iOS
AT&T throttling unlimited data users starting at 2 GB per month based on location
Apple employee says upcoming iPad 3 to have "truly amazing" screen
Workers' rights petitions delivered to Apple's Grand Central store
US NOAA ditches BlackBerry, chooses Apple's iPhone and iPad
FBI file on Steve Jobs reveals he was considered for White House position
Apple now worth more than Google and Microsoft combined [u]
Apple exploring 3D frame-of-reference iOS interface based on eye, light location
Apple said to hold 'iPad 3' event first week in March
Pictured Sharp LCD panel claimed to be Retina Display for Apple's 'iPad 3'
Leaked photo allegedly shows outside back cover of Apple's next iPad
Alleged Foxconn hack allowed bogus orders to be placed for vendors
White MacBook sales come to close as Apple ceases sales to education institutions
Google says it won't support fair licensing in open standards as Apple, Microsoft, Cisco have
Cisco backs Apple's ETSI request for fair and open licensing of standards patents
Doubts cast on likelihood of quad-core A6 CPU in third-gen iPad
Path apologizes, offers opt-out for address book uploading
iTunes Match generates 'magic money' for music copyright holders
Siri rumored to gain support for Mandarin, Japanese and Russian in March
US Air Force may buy 18,000 Apple iPads for cargo aircraft
Purported 'iPad 3' back panel shows space for larger battery, new LCD
Worker abuse petitions to be delivered Thursday at Apple's Grand Central store
Microsoft joins Apple in pledging support for injunction free, FRAND patent licensing
iPhone best at retaining resale value and offers lowest total cost of ownership
iTunes-sponsored live Paul McCartney concert to stream for free on Apple TV

View the original article here

Steve Jobs wins posthumous Grammy, accepted by Apple iTunes chief Eddy Cue

By AppleInsider Staff

Published: 05:42 PM EST (02:42 PM PST)

Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was awarded a Grammy Trustees Award on Saturday, and Apple senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue, accepted the award on his behalf.

The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences awards its Grammy Trustees Award every year to "individuals who, during their careers in music, have made significant contributions, other than performance, to the field of recording." Past recipients include Walt Disney and Dick Clark.

Jobs was recognized on Saturday as part of the Grammy Special Merit Awards, winning a trustee award for his part in creating the iPod and iTunes, and the effect both have had on the music industry.

Cue, accepting the award for Jobs, said people first questioned why Apple would make a music player when the first iPod was unveiled in 2001. He said that Apple chose to make the iPod because they loved music, and JObs believed it's always good to do something you love.

"Steve was a visionary, a mentor, and a very close friend," Cue said. "I had the incredible honor of working with him for the last 15 years. Accepting this award means so much to me, because music meant so much to him."

Jobs won the award along with Dave Bartholomew, a prominent New Orleans band leader and arranger, and Rudy Van Gelder, an American recording engineer specializing in jazz.

That Jobs was awarded the Grammy was first announced in December, but the statue was not officially handed over until Saturday. A forma acknowledgement will be made during the Grammy Awards telecast Sunday evening.

The award is the second Grammy given to Jobs. Apple won a technical Grammy award in 2002.

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Apple co-founder Steve Jobs did serve on White House council in '90s
Swiss company seeks iPhone, Apple TV ban over alleged patent infringement
Apple looks to end Motorola patent attack in Germany with U.S. suit
Apple now offers basic 13-in. $999 MacBook Air to education buyers
Apple lodges new suit against Samsung over autocorrect, screen unlock
Apple to disrupt notebook space with radically redesigned MacBook Pros
AT&T's 4G-compatible micro-SIM cards prompt speculation of LTE 'iPad 3'
2%-3% dividend suggested as best use of Apple's $100B in cash
German court dismisses Motorola's 3G-related suit against Apple
Motorola puts blame on Google for lag on Android updates
Apple again highlights Siri with new 'Road Trip,' 'Rock God' iPhone 4S ads
iTunes customers facing mysterious account hacks, disappearing gift card money
Apple said to be in 'crunch mode' to ready 'iPad 3' apps for on-stage demos, ads
Google reportedly working on wireless home entertainment system
Samsung Galaxy 10.1N cleared for sale in Germany
Inside Sandboxing: how Apple plans to make the Mac App Store as secure as iOS
AT&T throttling unlimited data users starting at 2 GB per month based on location
Apple employee says upcoming iPad 3 to have "truly amazing" screen
Workers' rights petitions delivered to Apple's Grand Central store
US NOAA ditches BlackBerry, chooses Apple's iPhone and iPad
FBI file on Steve Jobs reveals he was considered for White House position
Apple now worth more than Google and Microsoft combined [u]
Apple exploring 3D frame-of-reference iOS interface based on eye, light location
Apple said to hold 'iPad 3' event first week in March
Pictured Sharp LCD panel claimed to be Retina Display for Apple's 'iPad 3'
Leaked photo allegedly shows outside back cover of Apple's next iPad
Alleged Foxconn hack allowed bogus orders to be placed for vendors
White MacBook sales come to close as Apple ceases sales to education institutions
Google says it won't support fair licensing in open standards as Apple, Microsoft, Cisco have
Cisco backs Apple's ETSI request for fair and open licensing of standards patents
Doubts cast on likelihood of quad-core A6 CPU in third-gen iPad
Path apologizes, offers opt-out for address book uploading
iTunes Match generates 'magic money' for music copyright holders
Siri rumored to gain support for Mandarin, Japanese and Russian in March
US Air Force may buy 18,000 Apple iPads for cargo aircraft
Purported 'iPad 3' back panel shows space for larger battery, new LCD
Worker abuse petitions to be delivered Thursday at Apple's Grand Central store
Microsoft joins Apple in pledging support for injunction free, FRAND patent licensing
iPhone best at retaining resale value and offers lowest total cost of ownership
iTunes-sponsored live Paul McCartney concert to stream for free on Apple TV

View the original article here

FOSS Patents reports that Apple has filed a motion for preliminary injunction in the U.S. to ban sales of Samsung Galaxy Nexus for infringing four patents last week.

Apple is suing Samsung for the following four patents:

the "data tapping" patent based on which the ITC ordered an import ban against HTCa patent related to Siri and unified search, which must be of huge concern to Google with a view to its core businessa new slide-to-unlock patent that even had the head of the Taiwanese government profoundly worrieda word completion patent that provides major speed improvements for touchscreen text entryFOSS Patents' Florian Mueller terms these four patents as the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse".Since all the four patents are software patents, it looks like Apple is going after Google's Android indirectly. Samsung Galaxy Nexus is also the first flagship device running the stock version of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0).It will be interesting to see how Samsung and by proxy Google responds to these patent infringement claims. According to Mueller, Google has the following options:Theoretically, Google could remove the functionality protected by any of these patents in order to keep the product on sale, but if it changes the program code of a lead device, this would make it particularly clear to everyone else in the market that there's an infringement issue.

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Apple again highlights Siri with new 'Road Trip,' 'Rock God' iPhone 4S ads

By Josh Ong

Published: 01:10 AM EST (10:10 PM PST)

Apple on Thursday posted two new video ads showcasing how the Siri virtual assistant on the iPhone 4S can help people achieve dreams like cross-country road trips and playing in a rock band.

The promotional spots went up on Apple's website and its YouTube channel on Thursday as part of a series of ads for the iPhone 4S. Though the iPhone maker has also published commercials highlighting iCloud and the upgraded camera on the device, the bulk of its advertising efforts for its latest handset have been spent on showing off what Siri can do.

The "Road Trip" commercial shows a man asking directions from the east coast of the U.S. to the west coast. He and a companion are then depicted as going on a road trip and using Siri to search for restaurants, activities, directions and other information. The commercial ends with a shot of the couple standing at the Pacific Ocean.

"Remind me to do this again," the woman tells Siri. "Okay, I'll remind you," she replies.

"Rock God" begins with a young man telling Siri that he's "gotta get a guitar." The voice recognition software then helps him learn to play the instrument, make a list of band names and send a message to his friends that his band is playing in a garage.

"Call me a Rock God," he whispers to Siri after finishing a song. She responds with: "From now on, I'll call you 'Rock God'. OK?"

Apple focused on Siri with its first television ad last October. A couple months later, Apple's holiday-themed ad featuring Santa using Siri and the iPhone 4S was voted the most effective ad of the 2011 season.

The company has some work to do in convincing some skeptical customers that Siri, which is still in beta, is more than just a gimmick. Though initial reviewers touted Siri as a worthwhile reason to upgrade from the iPhone 4, a number of pundits have voiced disappointment in it.

Apple's cause isn't helped by the fact that the feature is only available in a few languages and has limited functionality in some regions outside of the U.S. The company has promised support for additional languages later this year, with one rumor suggesting that Siri will speak Mandarin, Japanese and Russian in March.

Siri's limitations notwithstanding, Apple has enjoyed phenomenal sales of the iPhone 4S thus far. The handset was the top-selling smartphone in the U.S. last quarter, followed by its predecessors, the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. Apple sold a record 37 million iPhones in the December quarter, up 128 percent year over year.

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Apple co-founder Steve Jobs did serve on White House council in '90s
Swiss company seeks iPhone, Apple TV ban over alleged patent infringement
Apple looks to end Motorola patent attack in Germany with U.S. suit
Apple now offers basic 13-in. $999 MacBook Air to education buyers
Apple lodges new suit against Samsung over autocorrect, screen unlock
Apple to disrupt notebook space with radically redesigned MacBook Pros
AT&T's 4G-compatible micro-SIM cards prompt speculation of LTE 'iPad 3'
2%-3% dividend suggested as best use of Apple's $100B in cash
German court dismisses Motorola's 3G-related suit against Apple
Motorola puts blame on Google for lag on Android updates
Apple again highlights Siri with new 'Road Trip,' 'Rock God' iPhone 4S ads
iTunes customers facing mysterious account hacks, disappearing gift card money
Apple said to be in 'crunch mode' to ready 'iPad 3' apps for on-stage demos, ads
Google reportedly working on wireless home entertainment system
Samsung Galaxy 10.1N cleared for sale in Germany
Inside Sandboxing: how Apple plans to make the Mac App Store as secure as iOS
AT&T throttling unlimited data users starting at 2 GB per month based on location
Apple employee says upcoming iPad 3 to have "truly amazing" screen
Workers' rights petitions delivered to Apple's Grand Central store
US NOAA ditches BlackBerry, chooses Apple's iPhone and iPad
FBI file on Steve Jobs reveals he was considered for White House position
Apple now worth more than Google and Microsoft combined [u]
Apple exploring 3D frame-of-reference iOS interface based on eye, light location
Apple said to hold 'iPad 3' event first week in March
Pictured Sharp LCD panel claimed to be Retina Display for Apple's 'iPad 3'
Leaked photo allegedly shows outside back cover of Apple's next iPad
Alleged Foxconn hack allowed bogus orders to be placed for vendors
White MacBook sales come to close as Apple ceases sales to education institutions
Google says it won't support fair licensing in open standards as Apple, Microsoft, Cisco have
Cisco backs Apple's ETSI request for fair and open licensing of standards patents
Doubts cast on likelihood of quad-core A6 CPU in third-gen iPad
Path apologizes, offers opt-out for address book uploading
iTunes Match generates 'magic money' for music copyright holders
Siri rumored to gain support for Mandarin, Japanese and Russian in March
US Air Force may buy 18,000 Apple iPads for cargo aircraft
Purported 'iPad 3' back panel shows space for larger battery, new LCD
Worker abuse petitions to be delivered Thursday at Apple's Grand Central store
Microsoft joins Apple in pledging support for injunction free, FRAND patent licensing
iPhone best at retaining resale value and offers lowest total cost of ownership
iTunes-sponsored live Paul McCartney concert to stream for free on Apple TV

View the original article here

We’ve had numerous rumors surrounding the launch date of Apple’s next generation iPad. But now it seems we have a different launch date according to sources.

According to a blog post on AllThingsD, the next iPad will be launched in the first week of March and not in February as previously speculated.

The blog which is owned by Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal states that the iPad 3 is most likely to be announced in San Francisco at a big event most probably set to take place in the Yerba Buena Centre for Arts. The source says that Apple would start selling the new tablet a week after the announcement has been made.

The iPad 2 was launched on 11th March 2011 at an event after the MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2011 that took place from 14th – 17th February 2011. This year however MWC is from 27th February – 1st March 2012 and that means Apple’s event will be much closer and will grab a lot of attention away from the MWC products.

This will also be the first iPad launched in the absence of Steve Jobs and this could possibly be the last one he helped design as well. That coupled with the impressive feature list that has been rumored is sure to attract a lot of customers.

source | via

Sandeep a.k.a erazer007 is one of our budding writers at just 16 years of age. Hes such an inspiration for most of us. Apart from mobile phones, he enjoys F1 Racing and BBQ

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Apple said to be in 'crunch mode' to ready 'iPad 3' apps for on-stage demos, ads

By Josh Ong

Published: 08:40 PM EST (05:40 PM PST)

As evidence continues to point toward an early March launch for the next-generation iPad, a new report claims that Apple is now in "crunch mode" as it prepares for on-stage demonstrations and television commercials highlighting apps for the device.

Sources intimated to The Next Web on Thursday that the Cupertino, Calif., company's selection process is proceeding at an "increased rate." Of course, it is to be expected that Apple would be under more pressure as the event approaches, but the report does triangulate other recent reports that have pegged a Retina Display-equipped third-generation iPad for an early March launch.

Apple has traditionally showcased some of its own apps, such as GarageBand and iMovie, as well as exemplary third-party apps at its media events for new iOS devices. According to the report, the company is placing an emphasis on "graphics-oriented applications with high-definition assets" to spotlight the rumored Retina Display on the device.

The iPad maker is also reportedly forwarding some apps to its advertising partner TWBA/Chiat/Day as the agency readies commercials for the third-generation tablet. Author Matthew Panzarino noted that the process is entering its "final phase" and is on a tight deadline for the presentation and subsequent television broadcast.

Speculation surrounding the so-called "iPad 3" has reached a fever pitch in recent days as more specific details appear to have emerged. AllThingsD reported on Thursday that the special event for the next-gen tablet will take place during the first week in March. The publication also affirmed that the tablet will have a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels, a "much faster" processor and improved graphics performance. Also on Thursday, The New York Times cited an Apple employee as saying the new iPad will have a "truly amazing" screen.

In addition, several photos purportedly of next-generation iPad components have surfaced this week. Images of an alleged back panel for the device appeared to show "very different" mounts for the logic board and a larger battery, as well as a "different" camera and LCD display. Meanwhile, a picture that may have been of the outside of a back panel suggested that Apple does not plan to make any major design changes to the form factor of the device. Finally, a photo has emerged of a high-resolution LCD panel manufactured by Sharp that "seems to be" bound for the next iPad.

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Apple co-founder Steve Jobs did serve on White House council in '90s
Swiss company seeks iPhone, Apple TV ban over alleged patent infringement
Apple looks to end Motorola patent attack in Germany with U.S. suit
Apple now offers basic 13-in. $999 MacBook Air to education buyers
Apple lodges new suit against Samsung over autocorrect, screen unlock
Apple to disrupt notebook space with radically redesigned MacBook Pros
AT&T's 4G-compatible micro-SIM cards prompt speculation of LTE 'iPad 3'
2%-3% dividend suggested as best use of Apple's $100B in cash
German court dismisses Motorola's 3G-related suit against Apple
Motorola puts blame on Google for lag on Android updates
Apple again highlights Siri with new 'Road Trip,' 'Rock God' iPhone 4S ads
iTunes customers facing mysterious account hacks, disappearing gift card money
Apple said to be in 'crunch mode' to ready 'iPad 3' apps for on-stage demos, ads
Google reportedly working on wireless home entertainment system
Samsung Galaxy 10.1N cleared for sale in Germany
Inside Sandboxing: how Apple plans to make the Mac App Store as secure as iOS
AT&T throttling unlimited data users starting at 2 GB per month based on location
Apple employee says upcoming iPad 3 to have "truly amazing" screen
Workers' rights petitions delivered to Apple's Grand Central store
US NOAA ditches BlackBerry, chooses Apple's iPhone and iPad
FBI file on Steve Jobs reveals he was considered for White House position
Apple now worth more than Google and Microsoft combined [u]
Apple exploring 3D frame-of-reference iOS interface based on eye, light location
Apple said to hold 'iPad 3' event first week in March
Pictured Sharp LCD panel claimed to be Retina Display for Apple's 'iPad 3'
Leaked photo allegedly shows outside back cover of Apple's next iPad
Alleged Foxconn hack allowed bogus orders to be placed for vendors
White MacBook sales come to close as Apple ceases sales to education institutions
Google says it won't support fair licensing in open standards as Apple, Microsoft, Cisco have
Cisco backs Apple's ETSI request for fair and open licensing of standards patents
Doubts cast on likelihood of quad-core A6 CPU in third-gen iPad
Path apologizes, offers opt-out for address book uploading
iTunes Match generates 'magic money' for music copyright holders
Siri rumored to gain support for Mandarin, Japanese and Russian in March
US Air Force may buy 18,000 Apple iPads for cargo aircraft
Purported 'iPad 3' back panel shows space for larger battery, new LCD
Worker abuse petitions to be delivered Thursday at Apple's Grand Central store
Microsoft joins Apple in pledging support for injunction free, FRAND patent licensing
iPhone best at retaining resale value and offers lowest total cost of ownership
iTunes-sponsored live Paul McCartney concert to stream for free on Apple TV

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Bloomberg reports according to "three people familiar with the product", Apple will launch iPad 3 in March, which will come with a high-definition screen, run a faster processor and also work on 4G LTE networks. Bloomberg reports:

The company’s manufacturing partners in Asia started ramping up production of the iPad 3 this month and plan to reach full volumes by February, said one of the people, who asked not to be named because the details aren’t public. The tablet will use a quad-core chip, an enhancement that lets users jump more quickly between applications, two of the people said. 

Bloomberg goes on to add:

Apple is bringing LTE to the iPad before the iPhone because the tablet has a bigger battery and can better support the power requirements of the newer technology, said one of the people.

The new display is capable of greater resolution than the current iPad, with more pixels on its screen than some high- definition televisions, the person said. The pixels are small enough to make the images look like printed material, according to the person. Videos begin playing almost instantly because of the additional graphics processing, the person said. 

As reported earlier in the week, Bloomberg also claims that the iPad 3 production started at the beginning of the month.

Apple is widely expected to launch iPad 3 with Retina Display. However, there has been contradictory rumors about the thickness of the next iPad. Some reports have claimed that it will be slightly thicker to accomodate the change in LED backlight design for iPad 3's Retina Display, while others insist iPad 3 will be thinner than iPad 2.

We really hope that this rumor of a iPad 3 with Retina Display, quad-core processor and 4G LTE support turns out to be true. What about you?

[via Bloomberg]

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Apple postpones China retail launch of iPhone 4S after unruly crowd rages in Beijing [u]

By Josh Ong

Published: 07:00 PM EST (04:00 PM PST)

After an unruly crowd disrupted the release of Apple's iPhone 4S at its flagship location in Beijing, Apple has decided to postpone the sale of its best-selling handset at its official retail locations in China, though the device will still be available through its carrier partner and authorized resellers [updated].

Update: Apple has confirmed in a statement to AllThingsD that it will delay sales of the iPhone 4S at retail locations in Beijing and Shanghai.

?The demand for iPhone 4S has been incredible, and our stores in China have already sold out,? an Apple spokesperson told the publication. ?Unfortunately we were unable to open our store at Sanlitun due to the large crowd, and to ensure the safety of our customers and employees, iPhone will not available in our retail stores in Beijing and Shanghai for the time being. Customers can still order iPhone through the Apple Online Store, or buy at China Unicom and other authorized resellers.?

Apple retail staff at the Sanlitun Apple Store in Beijing put signs out Friday afternoon with a note saying, "This store will not be selling the iPhone in the recent future."

Apple had previously announced that the iPhone 4S would go on sale at its Sanlitun retail store in Beijing at 7AM local time (6PM Eastern), but altercations between scalpers and line-waiters have allegedly delayed the launch. As of 8AM, the store had yet to open.

The imminent launch of Apple's latest handset in China had attracted thousands of customers outside the company's five stores throughout the country. Security barricades had originally been set up to manage the crowd at the Sanlitun store earlier in the week, but they were taken down sometime on Thursday night or Friday morning.

Remnants of the crowd outside Sanlitun Apple Store in Beijing early on Friday, Jan. 13.

One journalist on location in Beijing claimed that Apple had canceled the launch because fights had broken out during the night, while some crowd members claimed Apple would take orders for the iPhone 4S at the store on Friday without distributing the devices.

Groups of professional line-waiters and scalpers could be seen congregating outside the store early Friday. As the 7AM launch time came and went without Apple opening its doors, a number of them became disgruntled. Shouts of "Open the door!" rang periodically rang throughout the crowd. At one point, a group of unhappy line-waiters left shouting profanities at Apple. Several individuals were forcefully escorted away by security officials, though it was not immediately clear why they were being removed.

Bloomberg reported on Friday that some angry customers pelted the Apple Store with eggs after it was revealed that the device would not go on sale. According to the publication, the Apple Store in the Pudong district of Shanghai opened an hour early and has begun selling the iPhone 4S.

Police officers cordoned off the Sanlitun Apple store in Beijing on Friday.
The 16GB iPhone 4S is selling for 4,988RMB ($790) on Apple China's online store, while the 32GB and 64GB models sell for 5,888RMB and 6,788RMB, respectively. Estimated shipping time is currently two weeks. China Unicom is also offering iPhone 4S for free with a multi-year contract on plans starting at 286RMB ($45).

The well-organized secondary market in Beijing has led to conflicts at the Sanlitun store in the past. Last year, the release of the iPad 2 and white iPhone 4 was marred by an incident that resulted in a broken glass door and several injuries.

In addition to China, Apple is scheduled to launch the iPhone 4S in 21 more countries on Friday.

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Apple exploring motion-based 3D user interface for iPhone

By Neil Hughes

Published: 08:35 AM EST (05:35 AM PST)

Apple has shown interest in developing a new user interface for the iPhone that relies less on the device's touchscreen, and more on manipulating a 3D environment with motion controls.

The concept was revealed this week in a new patent application discovered by AppleInsider and entitled "Sensor Based Display Environment." It describes a three-dimensional display environment that uses orientation data from onboard sensors, like a gyroscope and compass, to navigate the system.

In the application, Apple notes that problems can occur when using a 3D user interface with a touchscreen. The application refers to 3D as polygons on the screen of a traditional iPhone, rather than the "illusion" of 3D by sending two different images to each eye with a new, special display.

"Due to the limited size of the typical display on a mobile device, a 3D GUI can be difficult to navigate using conventional means, such as a finger or stylus," the filing reads. "For example, to view different perspectives of the 3D GUI, two hands are often needed: one hand to hold the mobile device and the other hand to manipulate the GUI into a new 3D perspective."

Apple could remove the need to touch the screen entirely by using orientation data from onboard sensors to determine a "perspective projection of the 3D display environment." Examples of this kind of interaction can be seen with augmented reality applications, or using the gyroscope to view a location with Google Street View in the iOS Maps application.

But Apple's concept would take the idea much further, potentially offering users the ability to navigate the device using motion. In one illustration, the iPhone is shown with a home screen featuring a floor, back wall, ceiling and side walls.

Users would navigate the iPhone by picturing the display as an "imaginary camera viewfinder" offering a glimpse into a digital world. By moving the imaginary viewfinder around, the orientation of the iPhone would determine what is displayed to the user on the screen.

As users look about their virtual room, a number of objects can be placed on the floor, walls, ceiling and even behind them. These objects could be selected and would allow users to navigate the device.

The filing also makes note of a "snap to" feature that could make navigation a quicker process. By doing a preset action, such as shaking the iPhone, the view could automatically "snap to" a predetermined camera view of the 3D user interface.

The proposed invention, made public this week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, was first filed in July of 2010. It is credited to one inventor: Patrick Piedmonte.

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