Apple gives App Store categories their own highlights, lets niche apps have 15 minutes of fame

It's tough to find truly stellar mobile apps, no matter what platform you're running, and that's even truer when delving into categories. Apple has made a gesture towards giving more titles their moment in the sun through a low-key update to the App Store in iTunes and on iOS 6 devices. Jump to at least some categories, such as games or education, and you'll get the same carousels, banners and other promotions that would normally be reserved for the main portal. The shift is a simple one, but it theoretically helps App Store shoppers go beyond the surface -- and developers to reap the rewards.

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Apple earns long-gestating rounded rectangle patent, should other tablet makers be concerned?

So there you have it folks. Apple has officially been awarded the patent for a rounded rectangle, as first demonstrated by the original iPad. This can’t be real life. One of several key elements to Apple’s revolutionary tablet design, it’s a shape that Apple has defended rigorously in courtrooms around the globe. But will their new patent only serve to increase the company’s thirst for the blood of other tablet makers?

We can’t say for sure at this point, but given the track record we’re working with we don’t see how Apple won’t attempt to use a patent for a shape that has existed since before the very technology it now defines (and in fictional depictions of such technology from yesteryear’s sci-fi) in their favor. The real question is, should Samsung, Motorola, and other Google partners feel overly concerned? Probably no more than they have been in light of previous legal action from Apple.

While the patent was approved — we still don’t quite understand how the US Patent and Trademark Office went ahead with this one — it still remains a hard one to justify in courtrooms. Yes, Apple’s patent for the rounded rectangle may create new ground for legal action, but it won’t create any less trouble for attorneys on both sides of the court. Or judges for that matter. Unless your name happens to be Judge Lucy Koh. Then the answer is quite obvious: Apple always wins.

[via Gizmodo]

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Apple exec Eddy Cue joins Ferrari board of directors, raises hopes for truly high-tech exotic cars

By Jon Fingas posted Nov 7th 2012 4:27PM

Ferrari loves to extol the advances found in its drivetrains, but the unspoken rule is that its interior technology leaves something to be desired; unless you're thinking of a 458's manettino, even a less expensive car like the Tesla Model S is virtually in another league. The automaker may be narrowing that gap by putting Apple online lead Eddy Cue on the Ferrari board of directors. Without giving too much away, Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo points to Cue's experience with the "dynamic, innovative world of the internet" as the motivation -- as good a sign as any that the Maranello team wants to take connected cars seriously. Whenever the Apple Senior VP's experience comes into full effect, we may see one of the few supercar lineups whose cabins are as advanced as the engines. Just don't look for any tight integration with Ferrari-badged Acer gear in the near future.

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Apple Reading A Retina Display For The iPad Mini

iPad Mini was announced by Apple in late October and debuted on November 2nd. One of the biggest drawbacks of the iOS 6-powered slate is the display resolution, which is not on par with the ones of its competitors, Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD.

It seems though that apple will fit a Retina Display in iPad Mini 2, as the Cupertino-based company is already developing a new screen with their AU Optronics partners. A China-based website has received details from a source inside Apple’s partner, claiming that the Retina Display for iPad Mini will enter production in the second half of 2013. It seems that we are talking about a 7.9-inch display with a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels and a pixel density of 324 ppi.

Basically the resolution and the pixel density of the current iPad Mini will be doubled. Apple had no alternative than launching an iPad Mini without Retina Display, meant to test the market and keep the production costs as low as possible, then introduce a better display on the next gen. Rumors like this one will definitely harm current iPad Mini’s sales, but it don’t see Apple launching the next-gen 7.9-inch slate sooner than fall of 2013.

I remind you that iPad Mini sports a 7.9-inch display with a resolution of 768 x 1024 pixels, being powered by an Apple A5 processor clocked at 1 GHz. The tablet comes with a PowerVR SGX543MP2, 512 MB of RAM and has 16, 32, or 64 GB of internal storage. The front facing camera can handle HD FaceTime calls, while the 5 megapixel sensor on the back is capable of recording full HD videos.

In terms of connectivity, iPad Mini comes with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n dual-band, Bluetooth, 4G LTE support and the new Lightning connector that debuted on the iPhone 5.

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Google Maps For iOS 6 Is In The Works, Apple May Not Approve It In App Store

The powder keg called Apple Maps makes the headlines once more, this time because Google is working hard to develop Google Maps for iOS 6. But what does it has to do with iOS 6 Maps? Rumor has it that Apple would not approve the Google Maps in App Store, in an attempt to raise the popularity of its own mapping solution.

The Guardian writes, quoting sources close to Google, that the Google Maps application for iOS 6 is in the works. The same publication claims that the Mountain View based would finish the work at Google Maps by the end of the year, and, to be honest, it will be a pity for all the hard work to be in vain.

Some of the optimistic iOS 6 users are saying that now with Scott Forstall being fired by Apple, the next major iOS update will also pack a decent Apple Maps solution. Or maybe the one that will replace Forstall will be more open to the mapping solution proposed by Google, even though this would be considered as a defeat for Apple.

If Google Maps will indeed see the light of day and Apple will not approve it in App Store, then expect some rioting customers on forums and tech blogs. We’ll probably see a lot of petitions and maybe Cydia will integrate the Google Maps solution. Meanwhile you can use the web browser version Google Maps in iOS 6, but, unfortunately, its performance is no way near the one of the app.

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Google's Nexus 10 Hits Apple Where It Lives

Google canceled its New York press event Monday due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast, but that didn't stop it from announcing its new Nexus 10 tablet, along with the Nexus 4 smartphone and Android 4.2, an update to Jelly Bean.

A step up in size from the Asus-made Nexus 7, released in July, the Samsung-made Nexus 10 will be available beginning Nov. 13 for US$399 for the 16-GB version and $499 for the 32-GB version.

This could certainly cause price-conscious consumers to look beyond the iPad.

"These days are the beginning of the hardware wars, and the competition is only going to get more fierce," said Josh Crandall, principal analyst at NetPop Research. "Google and Samsung's Nexus 10, Microsoft's Surface, Amazon's Fire are all chipping away at Apple's lead. Consumers will be the winners of all of this during the Christmas buying season."

The Nexus 10 features a 2,560 x 1,600, 300-ppi display that offers more than 4 million pixels for sharp and vivid video and photos. The AMOLED display is also available in the wide-screen format, which could appeal to movie buffs who opt to enjoy them on the tablet.

"Apple seems to think that resolution is a very big deal -- to the point that the company has hyped it as a core differentiator in both the iPad and MacBook line," said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. "Now that Google owns the resolution crown, it'll be interesting to see if Apple changes its retinal display marketing strategy."

The lower price point of the Nexus 10 -- which comes just as Google dropped the price of its Nexus 7 to $199 for the 16-GB version and $249 for the new 32-GB version -- puts the Nexus line in a very competitive space against the iPad -- but is this going to be enough to nip away at Apple's market share?

"The combination of price and design on the Nexus 10 will be a definite draw," said Rhoda Alexander, senior manager for monitors and tablets at IHS iSuppli.

"Key to moving from tablet competitor to serious competitor will be how Google works with their hardware partners, Asus and now Samsung, to get wider distribution of the Nexus products across international markets," she told TechNewsWorld.

Google certainly managed to undercut the competition and the fact that it followed the high-profile Microsoft Surface and Apple iPad mini announcements could work to its advantage.

"The Nexus 10's pricing comes a few days after both Apple and Microsoft introduced products whose base cost is higher than many expected," said King. "That could add luster to what already looks like a solid full-sized tablet offering from Google."

In fact, Apple and Microsoft likely are just two of the players looking at the price points -- even Google's partners in the Android space could be watching how this unfolds.

"This does create a clear value for this tablet -- now priced well below the competition -- and I doubt the other Android licensees are finding this price all that wonderful either," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

"This is a good value, and values often sell well when folks are buying gifts for others. The Nexus 7 sold rather well, and that suggests this tablet could do well too," Enderle told TechNewsWorld. "However, given the weakness of the Google back end in this price range, the Amazon Kindle 10 [could be] the better choice."

While the price point is just one part of the equation, there are other factors that could have some consumers consider the iPad -- namely security considerations and the availability of apps.

Google's open source OS has been wide open to hacks and other cyberthreats.

"The Android products have been malware magnets," noted Enderle, "making them scary in companies, and for kids or retired adults who are most vulnerable to attack."

While Apple has done a very good job of reminding consumers that there is an app for just about everything, and it offers a large catalog specifically developed for the iPad. Android is still playing catch-up at this point. Most of the apps available for tablets are simply blown-up versions of smartphone apps.

The app situation could very much be a chicken-and-egg scenario, with developers waiting until there is a better market for tablet apps, while some users may hold off buying an Android tablet due to the lack of them. With so many new devices entering the field, however, the marketplace is evolving.

"It's a matter of developers deciding there's enough of a market opportunity to warrant the effort/expense of optimizing apps for larger displays," King told TechNewsWorld. "Until recently, the lack of success among Android-based tablets made that process a mostly losing proposition. The success of the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire may have fundamentally changed the app landscape. If the nexus 10 is similarly successful, expect to see more specialized app development."

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Court Orders Apple to Revise Cheeky Apology

The British court that ordered Apple to post a statement declaring that Samsung didn't infringe on its designs isn't happy with the way the order was carried out.

Apple posted a statement to its UK website, but it was apparently not what the three-judge appeals panel had in mind. The proclamation has one paragraph about Samsung's non-infringement of Apple's registered design, but it follows up with some other content that irked the UK justices.

One paragraph, for example, lifted from a lower court ruling in the case, mentions how Apple's iPad is cooler than Samsung's Galaxy tablets. Another paragraph, also taken from that ruling, praises the striking design of Apple's slate.

The statement also mentions the results of other court cases in other countries where Apple has triumphed over Samsung. "So while the UK court did not find Samsung guilty of infringement, other courts have recognized that in the course of creating its Galaxy tablet, Samsung willfully copied Apple's far more popular iPad," the statement declared.

Because the statement, which has been on the Apple website for about a month, doesn't comply with the order issued by the court, the judges ordered that it be taken down within 24 hours and be replaced with a new statement in compliance with the court's original order.

In addition, three sentences must be posted to the home page of Apple's UK website acknowledging that its first statement was incorrect and a link included to the new revised statement.

A lower court judge wanted the entire statement posted to the Apple UK home page -- a requirement opposed by Apple -- but the appeals court allowed Apple to post its statement elsewhere on its site and link to it from the home page.

One of the appeals court judges reportedly said he was at a loss as to why a company of Apple's stature would post a statement to its website that was a plain breach of the order.

Another judge on the panel reportedly asked for an affidavit from Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, explaining the technical difficulties that prevented the company from meeting the court's deadlines for posting the new statement to the firm's UK website.

Apple did not respond to our request to comment for this story.

As for Samsung, "We welcome the court's decision," Adam Yates, a company spokesperson, told MacNewsWorld.

Whether the appeals court was pleased with Apple's statement or not, even the British judges could not fault its accuracy, according to intellectual property analyst Florian Mueller.

"The court may not have been perfectly happy about Apple's statement, but it was 100 percent truthful and in the free world everyone should be free to say accurate things," he told MacNewsWorld.

Publicity orders in intellectual property cases are new in the United Kingdom, but they're extraordinary in the United States, for good reason, said Burr & Forman patent attorney Michael Lasky.

"It doesn't look particularly fair to me, and the whole coolness [issue] raises doubts about the judge's legal analysis in the case," he explained to MacNewsWorld. "I know of no jurisdiction which has switched to a coolness standard."

"There are very specific legal terms for what happened in this case and sloppiness of terminology makes one wonder whether UK legal precedent was applied," he continued. "How would you like a decision of a trademark court that reads, 'Hey dude, you lose because, when applying the coolness standard, they didn't cut it?'"

Lasky did recall one U.S. case that involved the theft of "trade dress" where an infringer had to post a notice in the windows of its restaurants informing the public that it had copied the look of a competitor.

The restaurant went out of business shortly after posting the notices, he said. "I doubt Apple would suffer the same fate."

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Samsung infringed four Apple patents, ITC rules

The International Trade Commission has ruled that Samsung has infringed on four Apple patents dealing with multitouch, audio and display technologies.

If administrative law judge Thomas Pender’s Wednesday ruling is upheld, the U.S. may ban those products from import. The judge’s decision is subject to review by the full ITC commission.

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Pandora takes a serious hit after Apple music rumors #thecircuit

Pandora: Pandora took a beating in the last minutes of trading Thursday, after Bloomberg resurfaced rumors that Apple would be entering the streaming music space early next year.

Trading in Pandora shares was halted after it fell over 11 percent when the reports began circulating. It recovered slightly to close at $8.20 on Thursday, but continued to fall in Friday trading.

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Apple posts revised 'Samsung did not copy' statement, acknowledges first version was inaccurate

By James Trew posted Nov 3rd 2012 5:17AM

Apple has just reposted its statement acknowledging that Samsung did not copy its tablet design, after the initial wording was deemed unacceptable by the UK courts. The new version is a lot shorter, and simply repeats what it published in national newspapers this week, stating that the court did not find Samsung to be in breach of Apple's registered design No. 0000181607-0001, reminding us that it was also upheld by the Court of Appeal, providing links to the appropriate patent and judgement documents online. The mention of the same case going in Apple's favor in Germany has been removed completely. When first published, Apple included a short link at the bottom of its homepage. Now, to completely comply with the court's bidding, there is a short statement accompanying the link, confirming that its initial acknowledgement was inaccurate. The court also told Apple that it must keep the admission online until at least December 14th. Will this be enough to appease the UK courts? We'll just have to wait and see.

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Apple UK updates Samsung statement, but makes sure people don’t see it

Apple did not take its loss against Samsung lightly, in the UK. The Cupertino Giant was forced to post a statement in their UK website, stating that Samsung did not infringe on Apple’s patents. Needless to say Apple still went for homerun and decided to highlight the competition’s shortcomings and Apple’s victories across the world.

UK courts then asked Apple to correct the previously posted statement and publish a Samsung-friendly one. The link also had to be more noticeable, placed under Apple’s homepage at a font size no lower than 11 points. But of course, Apple found another way to make such statement less visible to the general public.

Apple UK went as far as re-coding the site so that people won’t be able to see the statement link without a bit of effort. Apple’s UK website resizes itself depending on screen size and resolution, making the statement harder to get to, regardless of what device you may be using. This is done mostly by resizing the image of the iPad Mini to accomodate the browser’s size.

Code

var HeroResize=AC.Class({initialize:function(b){this._height=null;this._hero=$(b);
AC.Object.synthesize(this);this.__boundResizeHero=this.resizeHero.bindAsEventListener(this);
if(typeof window.ontouchstart===”undefined”){this.resizeHero();Event.observe(window,”resize”,this.__boundResizeHero)
}},setHeight:function(b){this._height=(b<0)?0:b;return this._height},resizeHero:function(){this.setHeight(parseInt(window.innerHeight||(window.document.documentElement.clientHeight||window.document.body.clientHeight),10)-310);
this.hero().style.height=this.height()+"px"}});Event.onDOMReady(function(){var b=new HeroResize("billboard")
});

The code you see above ensures that the bottom 310 pixels of the site stay out of view unless one makes an effort to scroll down. I have tested viewing both sites from multiple monitors and can attest to the fact that the bottom part stays out of view, with the UK site’s iPad Mini picture changing sizes (while the US version stays the same).

The only way I managed to keep the statement in view was to put my 23-inch monitor on portrait orientation and blasting the site full-screen. And this was only because the iPad Mini image couldn’t get any bigger without crossing the side edges.

Apple, you just really have to have the last word, don’t you? Is it that hard to accept a defeat and leave a statement until mid-November? We could not expect any less from Apple and its unfair tactics. Now let’s see if UK authorities will notice this and force Apple to once again make changes to its official site.

[via Reddit]

Thanks, Jake!

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Apple, Samsung continue worldwide court battle

There have been a couple of new developments in the worldwide battle between Apple and Samsung, in the United States and in Britain.

District court judge Lucy Koh, who presided over Apple’s successful patent case against Samsung in August, ordered Apple to publicly disclose its sales, earnings and profit margins on the iPhone on Wednesday.

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