Hypercritical Apple

"Yes, this is the same Apple that has initiated a patent war [1][2][3][4][5] with these smartphone rivals. And it's the same rival that has tried to remove competing products from the market, rather than agree to negotiate a licensing fee. And it's the same company that patented multi-touch gestures 26 years after they were invented at a research university. And it's the same company that allegedly doctored evidence in European courts [1][2] to support its lawsuits against Android." - James Mick [Daily Tech]

Apple says that they are sick of the counter lawsuits that Android manufacturers are making against them. "By making false commitments that led to the establishment of worldwide standards incorporating its own patents and eliminating competing alternative technologies. Motorola [Mobility] has become a gatekeeper, accruing the power to harm or eliminate competition in the relevant markets if it so desires." This quote was said from Apple's lawyers from the recent lawsuit against Motorola/Google, where Google had put their new 8 patients on the table.

Source(s)

Apple Cries About Samsung and Motorola's Patent "Monopoly" - Daily Tech

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Samsung and Apple in Australia Part 2

Image courtesy of Engadget

As the news of Apple's CEO, Steve Jobs retiring is now slowely vanishing from Technology websites's front pages, it is being replacing by Apple's second attempt to stop the imports of Samsung's galaxy Tabs in Australia.

Samsung had created an "Australian version" of the tablet but once the new version of the tablet was seen by Apple, the company insisted that it still infringed their patients; although did not present any new evidence to support their claim. It looks like Apple is not letting ANY Samsung tablet from getting to Australia.

Source(s)

Apple again Cruels Samsung Tablet plans - Sydney Morning Herald

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Apple iPhone 4 is a direct copy of the LG Prada phone

In 2006, LG teamed up with Prada, to create the LG KE850; now 5 years later the design is still considered modern.

The Prada phone was arguably the first full touch phone and one of the first 'smartphones' on the market. A year later Apple came out with the iPhone, a full touch-screen phone with a similar design and interface. Then in 2010, 4 years after the Prada phone came out, Apple released the iPhone 4; a direct look alike of the phone LG released back in 2006. Chrome around the sides of the phone, a horizontal speaker on the top of the phone and an almost featureless front and back, are just some of the similarities between the two.

Criticism arose when the iPhone was first released, with many online forums arguing the similarities between the two handsets. Weeks later LG accused Apple of copying the Prada phone's design and threatened to take legal action. When the iPhone 4 came out, their was no comparison between the two phones, but in fact Apple had taken another step to far, copying the LG Prada phone even more. Now after 1 year on the market Apple is suing Samsung, over the designs of their phones, being to similar to the iPhone's. 

Does the iPhone 4 and the LG Prada phone look alike?

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Steve Jobs says Farewell to Apple

Yesterday, Steve jobs announced his resignation of Chef Executive Officer of Apple Inc. The news caused Apple's shares to drop by 7%, while Samsung and HTC's shares to jump by 3%. Some articles are suggesting that Jobs's departure was the direct result of the drop of shares and the reason for the rising of Samsung's shares, saying that investors believe that Jobs departure has "...Opened the door for rival Samsung Electronics at a crucial time in the battle for smartphone supremacy in salesrooms and courtrooms around the world". 

I believe that Steve Jobs' resignation will have little effect in Samsung's sales, however due to the huge sales in their galaxy phone line, Samsung is already catching up to Apple and will likely overtake Apple in the smartphone race regardless.

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The First Tablet

Stanley Kubrick, and writer Arthur C. Clarke, can be credited with having 'invented' the iPad2 in their depiction of tablet-style devices in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Samsung has recently offered an still image of a clip from Kubrick's film in its defence of a US ‘patent’ lawsuit brought against it by Apple. The clip depicts a tablet-like device being used by astronauts. While the astronauts are eating, they are receiving orders from their Captain through the screen. According to Samsung, if Apple cannot actually claim credit as the original designer of the slimline form of its iPad2, it cannot maintain a valid design patent registration. 

If the court finds that the Space Odyssey tablets are sufficiently similar in appearance to Apple’s design, it will be of no advantage for Apple to object that the movie tablets are fictional. The props were most likely real – though, presumably, non-functional. If Apple cannot claim to be the original designer, the Court-case will be 'closed'.

Did Stanley Kubrick Invent the iPad2? - Patentology

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Samsung Ripping Off iPhone Icons

Comparison between Samsung's Touch Wiz icons (top) and Apple's i0S icons (bottom).

As you can see from the from the comparison above, Samsung's Touch Wiz overlay on Galaxy S devices have icons that are very similar to the iPhones with the icons even being a similar shape.

This dosen't make it confusing to differentiate the two manufacturers phones apart, but the icons are just too similar. Once you look closely at the icons on both devices you can tell that this was no 'accident', the white phone in the middle of the "Phone" icon is at the exact same angle, and Samsung's music icon is almost exactly the same as the old iTunes icon. The rest of Samsung's Touch Wiz icons have a striking resemblance to the i0S icons.

Although I still don't believe that Samsung has "slavishly copied" Apple's design. If you want to see who "slavishly copied" Apple's Designs, I dare you to have a look at the comparison between the I'm watch and the iPod Nano.

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Apple-Android Lawsuit Intensifies

After news that claimed Apple had invested $1 billion in the LCD maker, Sharp. It seemed to me as an indication that Apple was ready to sue LG (the supplier of the iPhone's screens). After-all Apple has been suing all the major Android manufactures. Plus as Sharp produces a number of android phones for AT&T, it seems even more likely that this is the case. Could LG be next on Apple's list?

As the Samsung- Apple lawsuit drags on, it makes it even harder to guess the outcome and will be the win. But after Apple's attempt of winning the lawsuit, manipulating photos of Samsung's devices, making them look the same shape of the iPhone and the iPad; it seems that this will give the South-Korean company a fighting chance.

A week after Google had acquired Motorola, It has been found that 18 of Motorola's 17,000 patients prove to be the most useful in Google's effort to fend off litigation (Apple) targeting the Android mobile platform. Seems like the Google's investemnt has payed off.

Sources:

Motorola's value found in 18 Patients - Bloomberg

Sharp - Sharp [Official Website]

Apple intent on diversifying suppliers with Sharp investment - Gigaom

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Apple falsifies Evidence in Samsung lawsuit

It has been made clear of the 44 page lawsuit that Apple filed against Samsung, That Apple has manipulated comparisons against the iPad and the Tab 10.1 making them seem more alike. The lawsuit against Apple and Samsung resulted to a hult in the shipment of Samsung products in Europe and Australia. This verdict was made after the Court had seen the manipulated comparisons Apple showed.

The comparisons included the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S, both Samsung devices were digitally shrunk or elongated to match the shape of the Apple products.

The images above show Apple's attempt to make the two products look similar, the company widened

and shrunk Samsung's tablet, used the screenshot of the "My Apps" screen instead of the homescreen

(what is showed on the iPad) and swapped the volume buttons to the left side of the device.

The image above shows the same story, Samsung device has been shrunk down to match the length

of the iPhone and the homescreen is not shown as it has no resemblance to Apple's.

Along with that Apple also gotten rid of the logo on the Tab to match the iPad's featureless front side.

Photo manipulation in an illegal act, looking at the pictures, Apple has clearly broken the law. Samsung would need to follow up on this, if they have any change of returning the Tab back to the European Market. Note that Samsung's CEO did mention the photo manipulation in court but did not have any evidence to support their claim. Now though, the Korean Manufacture can take action!

Sources:

More Evidence Apple Falsified Images - PocketNow

Apple Falsifies Evidence about Samsung products, again - Tech Hog

10-08-04 Apple-Motion for EU Wide Lawsuit Galaxy Tab 10.1 [PDF]

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A Potential iPhone Competitor Emerges

One more story for today, this one regarding a new potential iPhone competitor entering the smartphone market very soon. The world’s largest online business-to-business trading platform, the Alibaba Group announced that it had developed a mobile operating system, Aliyum and is already headed to the Chinese Markets. The Linux-based OS is able to run Android, applications, as well as being able to run HTML and Javascript. It has a "cloud-based" email, Web search, GPS and also can also store call data, text messages and photos in the cloud. The English version of the OS is expected to come out before the end of the year.

It seems very promising, having nearly the same capabilities of Android; but it seems to be quite late to enter the smartphone market now; especially that brings nothing new to the table. Plus now that Android is now being claimed by Apple for violating their patients theirs no doubt that Android's brother here will face the same stupidity.

Source(s):

Look Out Android and iOS, Here Comes Alibaba’s Aliyun - All Things D

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Survey shows iPhone Owners as Superior

Once you sign up for Hunch.com you are instantly greeted with 10 questions you much fill out, two of them asking your household income and what mobile platform you have running on your phone. This information has recently been compiled together and has showed some unexpected results.

Hunch created the survey from 15,000 members on their site, a site that gives you recommendations based on a few preferences, (eg. Type of car you drive). Note that the data was based on 32% iPhone users while only having 21% Android users, even though their are 10% more Android users that i0S users on the site.

The data claimed that Android users [on the site] are more likely to be men, with an annual household income around $75,000, while iPhone/i0S users were more likely to be women over the age of 35 and have an annual household income of around $200,000+. This is likely due to the fact that most Android phones being cheaper than iPhones despite the success of Samsung's popular galaxy line-up. It also says that 100% of Android users and likely to have a PC and 100% of iPhone users are likely to have a Mac. It also notes that android users are more likely to only have a High School diploma while iPhone users are 37% more likely to have a graduate degree.

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Android Competitors and Motorola

Now that Google has acquired Motorola, some articles are speculating a wide range of different scenarios that will come of the agreement. Some Speculating that it won't work and bring Motorola to its knees while some are saying that other Android smartphone competitors better buckle up.

Now that Google has acquired Motorola what does this mean for other Android competitors? Some articles are suggesting that Google will give quicker updates to Motorola phones than other third party handsets or future releases of the platform could be more "tightly integrated" on the Motorola phones. These are likely possibilities but I doubt it, I think Google chose to buy Motorola to save Android, as some Big Android manufacturers are forced to drop out of the tablet and maybe smartphone market soon enough.

Source(s)

Motorola buy signals Google, Apple, Microsoft may shut-out handset makers - ItWire

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Android slowly beating i0S Worldwide

Kantar's ComTech WorldPanel has recently revealed that Android has overtaken i0S in Australia for the first time. If you calculate the last four weeks of smartphone sales in Oz you will see that a massive 54% of phones sold were android while 29% were Apple. So while Apple is suing everyone in the business, its being thrashed by them, one country by one. Lets see what milestones they will report in this Septembers Keynote.

Source(s):

Smartphone wars: Android topples iPhone in Australia - Sydney Morning Herald

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Lawsuit Articles costing Apple money?

Its is hard to escape Apple's craze for suing everyone in the mobile industry when its splashed across the front of every technology website their is. Is it working though?

As we know Apple has won the court-case with Samsung (the biggest Android manufacturer), not allowing Samsung to ship their Samsung Tab 10.1 in Europe and Australia, but is the effecting Smart-phone sales? I believe this could be effecting, not Samsung's sales but Apples. Their is an overwhelming amount of hate in the comments of quite a few of articles regarding the lawsuits, I'm not sure these people are just Android fans or bias in some way but the number of dislikes to likes speak for themselves. The example I gave included the comment: "Yes, apple should win and stop all selling of galaxy S devices in the world." This comment has gotten 68 'dislikes' and 11 'likes'. What does that tell you?

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Google Buys Motorola

Google has recently bought the phone/tablet manufacturer, Motorola for $12.5 Billion; ($40 per share). So what is the reason for the multi-billion search engine buying a company like Motorola?

"We believe that their mobile business is on an upward trajectory and poised for explosive growth." - Larry Page, Google CEO and co-founder.

That may be true, but with an upcoming lawsuit with Apple coming very soon I find it hardly coincidental. Back in July, Eric Schmidt (Google's Executive Chairman) said this when asked about the HTC lawsuit against Apple: “We will make sure they don’t lose and win the court case". Clearly Google are willing to save their Android operating system, which seems to be the common aspect why Apple is accusing patient infringements for the major smart-phone companies.

Sources:

Droid deal: Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion - Mercury News

Supercharging Android: Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility - The Official Google Blog

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The 22 Apple stores in China

Their has been a lot of media surrounding the so called "fake" Apple stores in China. These stores are not fake but do not have the right authority to sell the genuin Apple products.

"Displaying the Apple logo, the products are on tilted stands on wooden display tables, the employees are decked out in the familiar blue t-shirts with their name tags hanging from their necks, in fact the illusion is so convincing that even the staff are under the impression that they are working for Apple."

Their are some reports that the Employees working their actually thought they were working at a 'real' Apple store but somehow I doubt it. Apple has not responded to the stores in China but its obvious that they will soon, and probably a lawsuit as well [after the Motorolla and HTC lawsuits have passed].

Sources:

22 More Fake Apple Stores Caught in China! Fakery Speaks Aloud - Hi-Tech Analogy

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Apple's iTunes Pirating Music Lawsuit

Another lawsuit. This week has been full of them, while Apple is claiming patent infringements to every company that could be a potential iPad/iPhone contender; the companies are striking back  claiming the exact same thing.

This lawsuit involves the former band member of 'Pretty Boy Gangsters', Korvel Sutton. Who claims that iTunes has been selling ten compilation albums that include copyrighted tracks from Pretty Boy Gangsters. The tracks being sold without Sutton's permission and to this day he has not received any compensation nor royalties from the sales.

Representing himself in court, he introduces several pieces of evidence to the table including a copy of the U.S. copyright registration, a photocopy of "Rollin' like a Star" cassette tape, and a full list of compilation albums on iTunes that includes the copyrighted tracks. “2 Live Crew & Posse“, “West Coast Posse Vol. 1” and “Elektro Hip Hop Party Vol. 3”. Apple responds to this saying the disputed compilations were provided by the Dutch label, Rams Horn Records and do not respond to the 'missing' royalties.

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Facebook Phone Numbers Saved

You probably have never visited the "contacts" tab of the edit friends section, their you will find the phone numbers of your friends that have either been added by your friends themselves or they have synced their phone contacts with the social network. This has been made to our attention due to a Fox News story about Facebook posting confidential phone numbers. Facebook has recently posted a response to the issue saying:



"Rumors claiming that your phone contacts are visible to everyone on Facebook are false. Our Contacts list, formerly called Phonebook, has existed for a long time." -[roughly a year ago.]



Sources:

[...]Users Raise Alarm Over Social Network's Posting of Confidential Phone Numbers - Fox News

Facebook's Response - Facebook

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Motorola is on Apple's Radar

After wining the court-case against Samsung, stopping all shipping of the Samsung Galaxy tab in Europe with the exception of the Netherlands. Now the 'Most Valuable company in the world' is turning to Motorola and suing them for the exact same reason: patient infringements, more than 40 apparently. This court-case will undoubtedly be followed by similar lawsuits against other Honeycomb tablet makers; until Apple eliminates all of their Android competition.

Sources:
After Samsung, Apple sues Motorola for copying iPad - Media Mughals
Apple wins order preventing sale of Samsung Rival in Europe - Irish Times

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Apple iBooks in the making

Apple and a group of book publishers were accused in a lawsuit today of illegally fixing e-book prices to "boost profits and force e-book rival Amazon to abandon its pro-consumer discount pricing." - CNET [AUGUST 9, 2011]



The Amazon kindle, [a hand-held device that displays digital books or e-books] was released in 2007, turning out to be a world-wide success, selling out in less than six hours. To gain market share, take advantage of its first-mover advantage, and capitalize on the tremendous efficiencies associated with eBooks, Amazon set eBook pricing levels significantly below prices for physical books."



Apple knew that if Amazon could establish the Kindle as the dominant eBook reader by reducing the value of e-books, Amazon could then use the Kindle platform (and its large installed user base) to distribute other digital media. Which would make Amazon a real contender against Apple's iTunes on their iPod, iPhone and iPad line.



To stop this, Apple conspired with HarperCollins Publishers, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group, and Simon & Schuster to increase ebook prices. Introducing the "Agency model" which allows publishers set their own e-book prices, rather than the traditional wholesale model in which publishers set a retail price and retailers set their own sales price. In their attempt to stop Amazons $9.99 e-book price and Apple could smoothly enter the eBook market without having matching Amazons e-book cost.



"The Publisher Defendants and Apple implemented the unlawful agreement in January 2010, when five of the six major book publishers of fiction and nonfiction works almost simultaneously announced that they were switching from a wholesale pricing model to an Agency model for eBook sales."



iBooks (Apple's eBook store) was then released in late January along with the iPad, ("Apple's e-book reader").



Sources:

Apple named in price-fixed Lawsuit - CNET

Ebooks Complaint [PDF]

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Google & Perfect 10 Lawsuit Lost (Pornography site)

Perfect 10: An adult website providing nude pictures of female models in different positions for a monthly suscription.



Recently the U.S. appeals court has rejected Perfect 10's (an adult website) claim of Google costing them $50 million million worth of suscriptions by displaying their images in google search results; violating copyrights and in the long run ruining Perfect 10. Some articles are suggesting that due free alternative pornography sites, people do not see the point of paying a monthly suscription for nude pictures when they can get it for nothing. This is probably the main reason for their fall but their pictures displaying on Google Images didn't really them help either. The court dismissed the case saying their was not enough evidence that proved that Perfect 10 had lost the sum of money due Google images. Plus the fact that the developer of the site did not know how to operate robot.txts files (a convention to prevent cooperating web crawlers (eg. Google) from accessing all or part of a website which is otherwise publicly viewable.

Sources:

Porn Studio loses Google Lawsuit - Dr Jays

Perfect 10 fails where Google succeeds - WebProNews

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Android beats i0S

Apple may be the Biggest Smartphone maker but when you look how many phones run Android and how many phones run i0S its a whole different story. Android takes up a massive 40.1% of Smartphone market share while Apple makes up only 27%. The reason for this is simple, Android is an operating system used by multiple phone companies including: Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola and Sony. So while Apple is the larget smartphone manufacturer, android phones are nearly doubly more popular.

Sources:

Android Hits 40% U.S. Smart Phone Market Share - Broadcasting & Cable

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Apple on a Suing Spree

Apple has recently gone on a 'suing spree' charging, Samsung, HTC, Motorola for infringing patients. After seeing apple's new ios 5 that included, a notification 'blind' that looks like Apple stole from android's mobile OS, a chat service which is sililar to Blackberry messenger and many other unoriginal features. Dosen't it seems very ironic that Apple is the one on the suing end of all this. So far apple has won a few lawsuits and slowly the android makers are shutting down; Amazon has stopped all submissions for its android Appstore in Germany and Samsung has halted their tablet sales in Australia.

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Apple is now the Biggest Smartphone manufacturer beating Nokia

Nokia phones have had an 'unsurprising' dip in the market, this dip accounts for the 47 percent loss in the Symbian handsets. Nokia's market share has dropped the most since, 1999. Despite the drop in market share, Nokia remains to be the Biggest handset manufacturer in the world. So whats the cause for this sharp drop in the market? I believe it is due to the symbian operating system running on them, a ticking time bomb that will discontinue at the end of this year, replacing with Windows Phone 7. Along with Nokia phones being quite thick and with the competition of iphones, windows phones and a wide selection of android phones, nokia dosen't really have a chance. Nokia stands 3rd just behind samsung, whose Galaxy line-up has proven very successful.

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