Will Apple do it? Or Apple won’t? This is a question that is in the mind of every Apple Fanboy. We all wonder whether Apple would really release a High Definition (HD) TV Set or not. Apple is neither confirming these rumors, nor denying it.

However, according to the reports published in The Globe, the prototype of Apple’s upcoming HDTV is being tested by potential carrier partners that Apple is trying to woo.

The Canadian newspaper said that the Apple iTV would revolutionize TV viewing and this TV would be a “gigantic iPad”. The news-report said that it would be possible to control iTV with voice commands (with Siri) and making gestures in air. The TV would also support web-browsing. Reportedly, Apple is in talks with Rogers and BCE carriers, regarding potential broadcast partnerships in Canada.

The report also mentioned earlier rumors that the TV may offer a customized channel and iOS app support.

What are your expectations from a voice-controlled TV? Post your comments.

You can also discuss this news on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

The Apple Bites is giving away free iTunes Gift-cards for exciting games and interesting apps. All you need to do is to participate in the discussions The Apple Bites starts. No offensive words allowed. No spamming! The winners would be contacted and the gift cards would be given to them.

Source: BGR

Siri Enabled iTV Being Tested is a post from: The Apple Bites

Recently, Motorola got the sales of some iPhone models, banned in Germany. Apple appealed against the ban and got the ban lifted within hours. Motorola also won an injunction that has barred Apple from using its iCloud feature in Germany.

Now Motorola is out defeat Apple once again.

The question was raised by the media whether Motorola or Apple were being unreasonable in the licensing negotiations. At the moment, evidence shows Motorola’s demands as unreasonable.

Information released by FOSS patents suggested that Motorola’s 3G technologies’ Fair, Reasonable And Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) licensing offer to Apple that would end the current legal dispute between two tech giants involves Apple handing over a 2.25% share of Apple’s sales. At the moment, it is not clear whether this percentage is of all Apple revenues or a percentage of Apple’s 3G devices sales (Apple and Motorola have dispute over 3G technology).

Florian Mueller of FOSS patents described Motorola’s 2.25% request as “excessive,” especially concerning Apple’s latest quarterly earnings report. If the court forces Apple to pay the 2.25%, Apple will owe Motorola just over $2.1 billion out of the $93 billion in iPhone revenue since 2007. Apple successfully suspended the ban claiming that Motorola’s “deal” was anti-competitive. Currently, Apple is gathering information from other handset makers concerning their FRAND agreements with Motorola.

Apple also wants to know about Motorola’s relationship status with Google. If Google’s acquisition of Motorola is finalized, and Apple eventually has to pay 2.25% of something to Motorola, all of that money will go right into Google’s coffers. At the moment, all outcomes point to Apple paying Motorola something. The only variables are how much and if Google will eventually benefit.

What do you think would be next for Apple and Motorola? Post your comments. You can also discuss this story on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Source: Modmyi

Motorola Demands 2.25% Of Apple’s Sales is a post from: The Apple Bites

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• motorola sues apple 2 25%

Samsung is at it again. Still focussing of ridiculing Apple rather than promoting their product or achievement.

Their last advertisement was supposed to highlight the fact about their association with Super Bowl but they ended up ridiculing Apple Fanboys who would not mind standing in a queue to buy an iPhone 4S. A teaser of this advertisement was released last week.

This time, once agin they have focussed on ridiculing Apple. Samsung’s latest advertisement aired during a break in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl XLVI on 5 February 2012. The 90-second spot, was set to the British band, The Darkness’ 2003 hit “I Believe in a Thing Called Love,”. It depicted Apple users being tired of waiting for “the next best thing” and decided to convert to the new Samsung product. If an estimate provided by the financial blog 24/7 Wall Street is to be believed, this advertisement estimated out to cost roughly $10.5 million in airtime alone. It included cameos from The Darkness lead singer Justin Hawkins and Chicago Bears’ standout linebacker Brian Urlacher. This commercial reminds of various previous commercials that ridiculed Apple fanboys for standing in a queue.

This is the video of that advertisement.

This ad started with the typical hipsters waiting in line for what is assumed to be the launch of the new iOS device. They are complaining and whining about how long they have been waiting when one of them spots a Galaxy Note and ends up asking “what is that?!” Here comes the surprising twist (compared to older advertisements) and soon everyone is using the Galaxy Note to make movies, take pictures, and even grab an autograph from Urlacher. The “barista” character from previous ads in the campaign also appeared in this ad saying, “well that was over the top,” at the end of the commercial.

The Galaxy Note is Samsung’s new device, larger than a phone but smaller than a table. It sports a 5.3 inch screen, a 1280×800 pixel screen, a 1.5 GHz dual core processor, 16 GB of internal memory, an SD card reader, and 4G-connectivity.

Tell us your opinion about this commercial.

Source: Modmyi

Samsung Super Bowl Commercial Ridicules Apple is a post from: The Apple Bites

Apple faced an injunction that banned the sales of various iPhones in Germany. Apple defeated Motorola by appealing against the injunction and getting it quashed, same day.

However, Motorola still has one victory against Apple to its credit. On Friday, 3 February 2011, Motorola won an injunction against Apple’s iCloud.

The Mannheim Regional Court in Germany ruled that the Push email service in iCloud and MobileMe infringed on Motorola Mobility patents. As a result, the court and awarded Motorola, an injunction blocking Apple from using the iCloud feature. The court also ruled a ban on the devices that took advantage of the feature. Now, Apple would have to stop offering push email service through iCloud and MobileMe in Germany.

Push email allows users to know that they have new messages without requiring them to open the Mail app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Without this feature, users would have to set Mail to check for new messages on a set schedule, or launch the app to let messages download.

Florian Muller of FOSS Patents commented on the ruling:

“Today’s judgment is appealable (which is why it’s only ‘preliminarily enforceable’), and it’s a given that Apple will appeal this to the Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court. The term ‘preliminary enforceable’ means that Motorola can seek its enforcement anytime now if it posts a €100 million bond, but if an appeals court overturns the ruling, Motorola will be liable for premature enforcement of an improperly-granted injunction.”

At the time of this news-report being written, the value of €1(one Euro) in US dollars in $1.31.

Apple’s legal team is planning to appeal against this injunction.

What do you think would happen between Apple and Motorola? Post your comments.

You can also discuss this news on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Source: The Mac Observer

German Court Gives Motorola iCloud Injunction is a post from: The Apple Bites

There is decorum that one should not insult and ridicule those who are dead. This decorum is at least followed in the case of those people who did not make news for wrong reasons. However, some people seeking cheap publicity stoop to any level and ridicule anyone to secure their fifteen-seconds of fame.

There is a video mocking Steve Jobs, and showing him using tablets that can be seen as competitors to iPad in heaven.

Steve Jobs (comedian impersonating Steve Jobs), shown to be sporting a halo and wings, extols the virtues of an Android tablet in a Taiwanese ad that has been noticed in the US for its disrespectful treatment of the late Apple cofounder.

The 20-second ad it YouTube this week. This ad features Taiwanese comedian and impersonator Ah-Ken. Clad in Jobs’s trademark black turtleneck and jeans, Ken says, “Thank God I get to play with other tablets,” and takes out Action Electronics’s Android-based ActionPad tablet PC and multi-language dictionary. The ad does not mention Jobs by name.

Apple representatives could not be reached for comment about the ad.

Steve Jobs passed away on 5 October 2011. He used to think that Google’s Android mobile operating system was a ripoff of Apple’s iOS, which is used in the iPhone and iPad. In the officially authorized biography of Steve Jobs, written by Walter Isaacson, Jobs was quoted as saying he effectively “declared war” on Android and that he felt “personally betrayed” by Google.

Source: Mashable

Steve Jobs Mocked In A Video is a post from: The Apple Bites

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Samsung maybe happy, thinking about having the last laugh in Germany. However, this has not stopped Apple from launching an all-out assault in Australia, where its ongoing patent battle against Samsung is still going strong.

As The Australian reports, Apple has expanded its complaint to 278 claims, covering 72 patents and a full ten products. These products include some smartphones and tablets that Apple is yet to launch in Australia.

Comparing current lawsuit with original lawsuit, only three Apple patents, concerning the Galaxy Tab 10.1 were involved. Apple had won an injunction against Samsung’s tablet last year, but that was overturned in November 2011. Due to that, Galaxy Tab became available in Australia after 9 December 2011, one week after the ban was lifted because Apple had obtained a one-week stay order on the implementation of ban lifting the verdict. After Apple’s appeal for more extension was shot down, now Apple is making better preparations.

Samsung’s lead lawyer Neil Young said that Samsung had received short notice of its rival’s latest suit. This meant that would not be be able to file a defense until mid-May.

Apple and Samsung have sued each other in various countries and they have won and lost in may cases. However, so far, Apple’s share of victories is bigger than Samsung. This is seems to be the first step towards the return of Apple-Samsung saga in Australia that is to culminate in a lawsuit to be heard in March 2012.

What do you say about this intense lawsuit covering 278 patents? Post your comments.

You can also discuss this topic on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Source: Engadget

Apple Broadens Aussie Patent Lawsuit Against Samsung is a post from: The Apple Bites

The more Samsung is losing against Apple in courts, more its frustration is building up.

And Samsung is taking out that frustration against Apple by poking fun at Apple products and Apple fanboys on its online portals and TV advertisements.

In less than a week after poking fun at Apple with Urban Camping commercial, Samsung has ridiculed Apple Fanboys again.

You might have heard Samsung is spending a huge amount of money to have a TV commercial air during the next Super Bowl. They are very excited about this are bragging about it all over the web, just like a high school girl who scored a prom date with the star quarterback or high school boy who is dating the popular girl in school or the head cheerleader of school football team.

In a lame attempt to generate buzz prior to the big day, Samsung has released a teaser that, as usual, pokes fun at Apple fanboys for standing in line to get the new iPhone. Of course, Samsung would not have such a problem since no one actually ever had to get in line to buy a Samsung phone.

Here is the commercial:

Do you find this advertisement repetitive? Tell us how do you compare this advertisement with previous Samsung advertisements that poke fun at Apple.

Source: iDownload Blog

Samsung Big Game Commercial Teases Apple Fanboys is a post from: The Apple Bites

After a series of victories in German courts, now Apple has suffered a setback.

Apple has lost a request for a preliminary injunction in Germany against Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1N and the Galaxy Nexus smartphone on Wednesday, 1 February 2012.

A German court ruled that the patent being asserted by Apple was likely to be found invalid.

We want to remind our readers that this case should not be mistaken for the recent case, where the German court upheld an injunction won by Apple against the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the first version of the device Samsung took to market in Germany. Apple had won an injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 on the basis of a community patent (roughly similar to a design patent in the U.S.) that Apple asserted against the device.

Galaxy Tab 10.1N is different from Galaxy Tab 10.1. Samsung had responded to loss in the court battle of 2011 by releasing a variation on the device called the Galaxy Tab 10.1N. That variation was intended to differentiate the Samsung tablet enough from Apple’s iPad and ensure that it to no longer infringe on Apple’s community patent. This is what has got Samsung victory in this case.

Patent surrounding Galaxy Tab 10.1N is completely unrelated to the community patent or the Galaxy Tab 10.1. According to Bloomberg, “Apple was asserting a patent granted last year protecting technology related to touch screens for tablets and smartphones.”

Commenting on the ruling at FOSS Patents, patent watcher Florian Mueller said that preliminary injunctions were based on complicated and highly technical patents that are rare in Germany. In this case, however, not only the prelim request was rejected, the courts made it clear they did not expect Apple’s patent to stand up to Samsung’s defense.

Apple and Samsung have been fighting against each other in courts ever since, Galaxy Tab was banned in Australia last year. Their feud spread over Europe and North America where both accused each other of copyright infringement.

In late November 2011, an Australian court quashed the ban and allowed the sales of Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia. However, the controversial tablet was released after 9 December 2011 because Apple had obtained a stay order on the implementation of verdict lifting the ban. Later, Apple’s plea for more extension on the ban was rejected.

In March 2012, Australia will be the center-stage of Apple-Samsung saga, once again.

Source: The Mac Observer

German Court Rejects Apple Injunction For Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N is a post from: The Apple Bites

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• community patent court
• galaxy nexus tab 10 1
• samsung galaxy tab 10 1

Attendance at this year’s Macworld | iWorld event was approximately the same as last year’s Macworld Expo. According to IDG World Expo, Macworld | iWorld event 2012 was attended by about 25,000 people.

IDG World Expo describes itself as a group that organizes the “ultimate fan event.”

A wrap-up news release from IDG World Expo has noted that about 40 percent of the attendees at this year’s event were first-time visitors. This may be seen and interpreted as a growth in attendance for next year’s event scheduled for 31 January 2013 – 2 February 2013.

Conference attendance was up a whopping 145 percent over last year, thanks in part to the $75 iFan Pass that made its debut in 2012. In the past, expo tickets were relatively inexpensive. However, the cost of going to the conference sessions was prohibitively high. The iFan pass gave attendees, unlimited access to the educational sessions, show floor, music performances, and film screenings that made up this year’s event.

IDG World Expo has posted a video of Friday’s happenings at Moscone West.

Did you attend Macworld | iWorld event this year? Are you planning to attend it next year? Post your comments.

You can also discuss this event on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: TUAW

Image Courtesy: TUAW

Macworld I iWorld Attendance Study In 2012 is a post from: The Apple Bites

It seems that the court cases and legal battles in Europe involving Samsung would not end in near future. European Union (EU) today formally launched an investigation into the the competitive practices of Samsung.

Here the issue is, a collection of patents that Samsung has used to launch a series of lawsuits against rival companies, especially Apple. Samsung has maintained that these patents are essential to complying with European mobile standards. However, the EU is saying that Samsung may be in violation of a promise it 1998. Back in 1998, Samsung promised that it would license these essential telephonic patents to competing manufacturers, under the terms outlined in Fair, Reasonable And Non-Discriminatory (FRAND).

The Commission explained the obligation and its potential ramifications in the following statement:

The Commission will investigate, in particular, whether in doing so (seeking injunctions on patent infringements in 2011) Samsung has failed to honor its irrevocable commitment given in 1998 to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to license any standard essential patents relating to European mobile telephony standards on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. The Commission will examine whether such behavior amounts to an abuse of a dominant position prohibited by Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

European Union Competition Commission first paid attention to the conflict between Apple and Samsung when Samsung sued Apple and obtained a verdict that made it compulsory for Apple to share the source code of iPhone 4S with Samsung in Australia. It was suspected that Samsung might be using patent laws as a weapon against its competitor.

It remains to be seen what would be Samsung’s response to this investigation.

Source: Engadget

Samsung Faces EU Anti-Trust Investigation is a post from: The Apple Bites

For quiet some time, Samsung had been changing and modifying the design of Galaxy Tab 10.1 to avoid legal confrontations with Apple. However, this time, it seems that it is not going to work.

While Samsung was more than willing to redesign its flagship tablet in the face of the German court’s ruling last year, the higher regional court in Dusseldorf is maintaining that the original still cannot be sold within its borders.

As Samsung and Apple continue their legal feud worldwide, the claim from Apple that the 10.1-inch Android tablet has striking similarities with iPad has seen more attention than most.

Samsung filed a counter-lawsuit against Apple over mobile technology patents. Here Samsung faced defeats most of the times. In Germany, Samsung has lost two out of the three infringement claims against Apple so far. The final case will be ruled on in early March 2012.

The latest verdict decision is also encompassing the Galaxy Tab 8.9 Although given that this ruling is based on Germany’s own unfair competition law, it is unlikely to be replicated elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab 10.1N will continue to sell. The fans who want original Galaxy Tab would have to go to other countries, where it is not banned, to buy it.

The lawsuits and counter-lawsuits filed by Apple and Samsung against each other are being heard in different parts of the world. Apple has been winning most to the cases and Samsung has won few cases. The last victory of Samsung was in Netherlands.

Germany is not the only country to witness a complete ban on the sales of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Last year, there was a nation-wide ban on this tablet in Australia as well. An Australian court allowed the sales of Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia in late November 2011. However, the tablet was released after 9 December 2011 because Apple had obtained a stay order on the implementation of verdict lifting the ban. Later, Apple’s plea for more extension on the ban was rejected.

In March 2012, Apple and Samsung will feud in Australia once again.

Source: Engadget

German Court Upholds Ban On Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a post from: The Apple Bites

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• germany the only country to ban samsung

Apple has spent an estimated $100 million dollars on the lawsuits it has filed against Android products. However, it seems that results from the court victories like the recent International Trade Commission (ITC) court victory over HTC do not yield those results for Apple that Apple expects.

However, now there can be some good luck for Apple, thanks to a recent interpretation of Apple’s ’263 patent by a high-ranking US judge. The patent covers realtime Application Programing Interface (API) which is a key component in Android. Without API, it would be extremely difficult for Android device to work around if a manufacturer was found guilty of infringing on it.

Florian Mueller of FOSSPatents explained:

“In federal litigation with Motorola in the Northern District of Illinois, an extremely influential, high-ranking U.S. judge agreed with Apple’s interpretation of the most important term, “realtime API”, in its ’263 patent. Under this interpretation, Android most likely infringes on the patent, and a workaround appears difficult to say the least. I published the original infringement claim chart from Apple’s complaint against HTC, and Apple’s allegation, based on this patent, that Andy Rubin got the inspiration for Android while working at Apple (which might enable Apple at some point to have Google found liable for willful infringement).”

Andy Rubin (one of Android’s creators) was working at Apple during the time that it developed the ’263 patent. At that time, he was a low-level engineer that reported specifically to the inventors of the realtime API. Therefore, it cannot be a coincidence that Android contains a patent that Apple developed during Rubin’s tenure with the company?

This story seems to be interesting. It would be great to see what happens to Android now?

Source: iDownload Blog

Judge Rules In Apple’s Favor Regarding API Patent is a post from: The Apple Bites

Tags:

• apple vs android patent
• patent android api
• realtime application programming interface apple 263

Samsung has been slinging mud on Apple for quiet some time. If we have a look at past commercials of Samsung, and the way, Samsung ridiculed Apple in all recent commerical, it would seem as if Samsung’s objective with these advertisements is more about ridiculing Apple rather than promoting and marketing their own product.

The latest commerical is another Samsung Galaxy S II’s anti-Apple commercial. Labled as “Urban Camping”, this commerical continues the trend of pointing out features which Apple’s iPhone 4S does not have. In this specific ad, the main feature that has been flaunted is the 4G speed of Galaxy S II. iPhone 4S does not have it. Samsung continues to stereotype Apple users as being the “barista” types who are excited about waiting on line to pick up the iPhone 4S and willing to go as far as camping out on large lines.

This is the video clip of commercial:

Ironically, Samsung continued to portray its users as hipsters and Apple users as old-fashioned, despite the fact that they continue to imitate Apple users while flaunting the features of their device.

What is your opinion about the latest commercial from Samsung? Post your comments.

Source: Modmyi

Samsung’s Mudslinging Against Apple Continues With Urban Camping Ad is a post from: The Apple Bites

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• mud slinging commercial
• samsung advertisements
• samsung camping ad
• samsung mud slinging

Google may be a search giant but when it would enter the technology industry with the launch of many softwares, apps and electronic devices like Google phone, to compete with Apple a conflict of interest is bound to occur.

Recently, a court filing was unveiled that included an email which late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had personally sent to former Google chief Eric Schmidt requesting an end to worker poaching.

The email was sent in March of 2007. According to a report in Reuters, it specifically asked Google to put end to its active recruitment of an unnamed Apple engineer and alluded to stop worker poaching in general.

In his e-mail, Jobs had written that he “would be very pleased if your recruiting department would stop doing this”. Schmidt who was on Apple’s board of directors at that time. He quickly turned around and forwarded the correspondence to certain undisclosed members of Google’s staff, including a staffing director who responded by ordering that the employee responsible for the recruitment in question would be “terminated within the hour.” The unnamed staffing manager also sent apologies to Jobs for his actions.

The lawsuit that has brought this email to the lime light is a civil litigation stemming from a Justice Department probe that investigated the anti-poaching practices of Google, Apple, Adobe Systems, Intel, Intuit Inc., and Pixar. This probe also revealed that in 2009, Apple and Google had reportedly created an unofficial agreement to not poach each other’s workers, resulting in the antitrust investigation. All six of the companies involved agreed to a five year moratorium on “no solicitation agreements” and settled with the Justice Department in 2010.

A court hearing has brought civil suit claims from five software engineers who have accused the companies of colluding to keep employees’ salaries low by eliminating labor competition. Thought the case will continue, however it may split into separate class action lawsuits.

Source: Modmyi

Steve Jobs Had Asked Google To Stop Poaching Apple Employees is a post from: The Apple Bites

Recently, Tim Cook was asked about his first four months as Apple’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Cook stressed that what he felt most is lucky to be surrounded by his talented colleagues.

When asked to asses himself, Cook pointed to the company’s just-reported sky-rocketing earnings.

“You can see our results,” Cook said during a conference call with analysts. “I think the team is doing a fantastic job. We feel really good about where we are.”

Apple’s profits for last quarter, at more than $13 billion, were more than what most tech giants report in revenue. This could probably be because of the record breaking sales of iPhone 4S which was launched in October 2011. Apple posted twice as much revenue and profit as Microsoft did in its holiday quarter. Apple’s quarterly iPhone sales, at more than 37 million smartphones, were numbers that its rivals would envy and desire to have for a year. And recent data for the US shows Apple alone nearly even with the entire Android world in market share.

Cook said that he wised to lead Apple in competition but he did not see Android as the only competitor. “I wouldn’t say it is a two-horse race,” he said. “There’s a horse in Redmond that always suits up and always runs.”

Speaking of tablets (possibly referring to iPad), Cook said that Apple would dominate the market despite the flood of would-be rivals. And that market, Cook noted, was huge and growing, recently surpassing the market for desktop PCs.

Last year, Cook said, was supposed to be “the year of the tablet.”

“I think most people will agree it was the year of the iPad for the second year in a row.” Cook said while talking about iPad’s position in the tablet market.

When asked where Apple is headed, Cook stuck to the company’s standard secretiveness. However, he did offer a few insights, at least geographically. He talked about the potential markets which could be considered as big markets like China, Brazil and India.

Cook also talked about Apple TV. Not mentioning any rumored plans for an Apple-badged television, Cook said the company sold 1.4 million Apple TV units in the December quarter, as compared to 2.8 million devices for the entire prior fiscal year. He said that additions and improvements would be made to Apple TV.

Source: All Things D

Tim Cook On His First Four Months As Apple CEO is a post from: The Apple Bites

The joy of victory in Netherlands maybe short-lived for Samsung as just a week after being embarrassed in Germany, Samsung was once again embarrassed in another lawsuit against Apple.

The first victory for Apple against Samsung in a German court was a partial victory but the second and third (latest) were clear victories.

Mannheim Regional Court has rejected the second of Samsung’s patent infringement claims against Apple.

As with last week’s ruling, the latest decision addresses one of Samsung’s arguments that Apple’s 3G / UMTS technology infringes upon its patents. Judge Andreas Voss officially shot down these claims on 27 January 2012, though he did not offer an immediate reason for his ruling.

However, as FOSS Patents has pointed out, these initial decisions against Samsung may be based on the validity of the specific patents themselves, and would therefore are not likely to impact upon the outcome of the Samsung’s three other claims. All three remaining claims of Samsung are based upon different 3G / UMTS patents. In addition, Samsung is pursuing two lawsuits based on patents not related to 3G standards, including one, apparently, that details a way to type smiley emoticons on a mobile handset.

Though, Samsung defeated Apple in some court battles across the world, usually, Apple has been successful against Samsung in majority court battles, like the one in France.

In 2011, Apple had accused Samsung of copying the design of Galaxy Tab from iPad and won the court case against Samsung. This led to a court imposed ban on the sales of Galaxy Tab in Australia.

An Australian court overturned the ban on Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia in late November 2011. Galaxy Tab was released after 9 December 2011 because Apple had obtained a stay order on the implementation of verdict lifting the ban. Apple’s plea for more extension on the ban was rejected.

In March 2012, Apple and Samsung saga is set to return to Australia.

You can discuss this topic here and on our Facebook Page by posting comments.

Source: Engadget

German Court Rejects Samsung’s Second 3G Patent Suit Against Apple is a post from: The Apple Bites

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• world current court cases samsung

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Now We Can Be Friends On Facebook And Twitter is a post from: The Apple Bites

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Apple has announced on its quarterly earnings call earlier this week.

Apple said that iBooks Author had seen 600,000 downloads since its release last week.

The announcement from Apple also mentioned that iTunes U has witnessed 3 million app downloads. At the moment, 1.5 million iPads have been deployed in schools.

It seems that now iBooks Author and iTunes U are going to be of great use to students as well as teachers.

Source: Engadget

iBooks Author Witnesses 600,000 Initial Downloads And 3 Million For iTunes U App is a post from: The Apple Bites

Apple executives have repeatedly referred to the Apple TV as a “hobby.” The possible reason for this moniker is good sales of Apple TV.

In October 2010, Apple sold 250,000 second-generation Apple TVs in a few weeks. And in late 2010, it was announced by Apple Inc that Apple TV was about to pass a million units sold. However, there was a conference call on Tuesday, 24 January 2012, where Apple CEO Tim Cook discussed the quarterly results of Apple with financial analysts.

When Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, questioned the future of Apple in TV Market, Tim Cook discussed the success of Apple TV. Munster had been suggesting for years that Apple was about to build its own TV set. Cook sidestepped that issue while talking to Munster.

About Apple TV, Tim Cook said:

“The Apple TV product is doing actually very well. In the last fiscal year that ended in September we sold a bit above 2.8 million units, and just in the past quarter we set a new quarterly record for Apple TV at over 1.4 million.”

This may sound impressive, but if we take a closer look at that period, then Apple sold 5 million Macs, 15 million iPods, 15 million iPads, and 37 million iPhones. Obviously, Apple TV was not the highest selling item from Apple. “In the scheme of things, if you [look at] the revenues, we still classify this as a hobby,” Cook said.

Give the fact that one Apple TV black box costs $99, 1.4 million Apple TVs would generate less than $140 million in revenue. One can get a clear picture by comparing this to $2.5 billion for the iPod, $6.6 billion for the Mac, $9 billion for the iPad, and $24 billion for the iPhone.

Source: Mac World

Apple TV “Hobby” Nets 1.4 Million Quarterly Sales is a post from: The Apple Bites

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• apple tv
• apple tv 3

The sales of Apple products were really good in the fourth quarter of 2011 and these sales earned Apple record-setting revenue. Apple was definitely lucky as during the fourth quarter, Apple also received good response from iCloud and the number of membership rose in no time.

Apple’s iCloud service has amassed 85 million members since its release in October 2011. Apple’s iCloud sign-ups have been faster than the sale of all Apple products combined. While there have been a massive number of users to sign up, this can be attributed to iCloud’s cheap price of admission (free).

So far, Apple has sold over 300 million iDevices. However, with rapidly increasing number of iCloud members, Apple may have plans to have iCloud as the “strategy for the next decade”.

It is yet to be known that out of 85 million users signing up with iCloud, how many of them signed up when upgrading to iOS 5 and how many do not use use many of the features iCloud. A good number of users likely have iCloud accounts and they do not know it. At the same time, there are others who probably have free accounts they rarely use.

The numbers for iTunes Match sign-ups are yet to be known as well.

Source: Modmyi

iCloud Has 85 Million Users is a post from: The Apple Bites

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• number of icloud users

Equilibrium in the Apple-Samsung sage is at its best. After scoring a victory over Samsung in Germany, Apple tasted defeat in Netherlands.

The victory in Germany was the second victory for Apple in Germany as Apple had scored a partial victory against Samsung in Germany, last year.

Apart from Germany, so far Apple has been able to defeat Samsung in many countries like France. Before the latest Netherlands victory, the last significant victory of Samsung over Apple was in United States.

In Netherlands, a court has rejected Apple’s appeal to stop the sales of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab tablets there. According to the news report published in Wall Street Journal, the appeals court said that Samsung was not copying Apple’s iPad. The crucial ruling by the Gerechthof’s-Gravenhage, an appeals court in The Hague, has now allowed Samsung to not only sell the Galaxy tablet in the Netherlands, but also to other European markets from the Netherlands.

Apple has claimed that Samsung’s products look like Apple’s in the shape, User Interface (UI) and packaging. The ruling from Netherlands court is specific to the design, and the court ruled that while Apple’s Community design patent was not invalid, the scope was narrow. Thus, it was found that Apple’s design had not been infringed by Samsung.

Prior art was a factor in the courts’ decision and it including the now famous Knight Ridder tablet.

Apple has been trying protect its patents and everything that is special about iPad and in this battle, at the moment, Samsung is the chief rival to Apple. Last year, Apple accused Samsung of copying the design of Galaxy Tab from iPad and Apple’s victory in the court case resulted in a ban on the sales of Galaxy Tab in Australia.

An Australian court quashed the ban on Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia in late November 2011. Galaxy Tab was released after 9 December 2011 because Apple had obtained a stay order on the implementation of verdict lifting the ban. Apple had also requested for more extension but its plea was rejected.

Apple and Samsung will face each other again in an Australian court in March 2012.

Source: The Mac Observer

Apple’s Appeal Rejected In Netherlands Court is a post from: The Apple Bites

The popularity of iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch has witnessed a drastic increase over the years. Various game makers that so far made on PC Versions, Xbox and Playstation versions of their games, are now creating and releasing iOS versions of their games because people using Apple products are also a potential market. So there is nothing wrong if tech giants like Microsoft decides increase its presence in bringing iOS friendly gaming the users of iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Microsoft has plans to bring more Xbox Live gaming to Apple’s iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, as well as Google’s Android platform.

“While the Xbox Live experiences and games always work best on the Windows platform, we understand that some Xbox fans may be using other types of devices. To satisfy that need, we are working to extend a few of our Xbox experiences and titles to other platforms.”

All of Microsoft’s current XBox efforts on iOS have received a positive response and Microsoft is not exactly a company to leave to money on the table or avoid recognition. No mention was made of when these efforts would start but there are speculations that the day is not very far.

Given that Microsoft’s Windows Phone is not as popular as iPhone, it only seems logical that Microsoft would target iOS and Android users as well.

This is not going to be Microsoft’s first involvment with iOS. Microsoft has already made a small foray on iOS with the release of My XBox Live and Kinectimals.

Source: iMore

Microsoft Planning To Bring Xbox Live To iPhone And iPad is a post from: The Apple Bites

Steve Jobs, the late founder and CEO of Apple, was mentioned on the night of 25 January 2012 by US President Barack Obama during the 2012 State of the Union address.

As Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs watched on from the First Lady’s box, Obama said:

“We should support everyone who is willing to work, and every risk-taker and entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve Jobs.”

It is a great tribute from a President and a great honor for the person who received this tribute. Given all the impact Steve Jobs made with his vision, intellect and business acumen, he was worthy of receiving a tribute from the President.

Source: iMore

Steve Jobs Mentioned In President Obama’s State Address is a post from: The Apple Bites

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A Virgin America Airbus A320 now has the quote, “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” emblazoned on its fuselage directly beneath the cockpit. They have emblazoned this quote in a tribute to late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

CNET reported that the Burlingame, California-based airline has recently added the popular quote taken from Jobs’ 2005 Stanford commencement speech to the nose of a plane that has been in service since last fall.

Abby Lunardini, the spokesperson of Virgin America said “The ‘Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish’ aircraft name was actually submitted as a tribute to Mr. Jobs by one of our employees in an internal plane naming competition.”

Virgin likens itself to Jobs in its forward thinking approach to air travel. It was the first company to roll out fleet-wide onboard Wi-Fi in one of its many attempts to bring technology to the sky.

“The idea behind Virgin America was to reinvent the travel experience by thinking differently about design and service – we are known for the tech-forward amenities we offer onboard,” Lunardini said.

Jobs’ “Stay Hungry” speech has gained much notoriety and became one of highest searched speeches on the net since the former CEO passed away on 5 October 2011.

Currently, Virgin America’s fleet comprises exclusively of Airbus jets. It employs 36 of the short to medium range A320 model.

Source: Apple Insider

Image Courtesy: Virgin America

Commercial Airliner Named In The Honor Of Steve Jobs is a post from: The Apple Bites

In the world of iOS, the spotlight is always on iPhone, iPad and sometimes, for a change, on iPod. AirPlay does not get the coverage in iOS world that it deserves. If you own an iOS device and an Apple TV, then AirPlay is of great use to you.

Using a Raspberry Pi computer, you can create your very own HDMI-enabled AirPlay-receiving machine that would so small that you might almost forget that it is there.

This would cost you just $35?

For those who are not aware about AirPlay, it is Apple’s way of taking video or audio from an iOS device and throwing it onto a television via a networked Apple TV. You can shoot a video from your device and watch it on your Apple TV.

We are eager to see what people would do with the Raspberry Pi project moving forward, with that 700 MHz ARM 11 processor, 128 MB of RAM likely to prove plenty enough power for some pretty cool stuff.

Source: iDownload Blog

You Can Add AirPlay To Any TV With A $35 Mini Computer is a post from: The Apple Bites

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Last week, Apple spelt ease for students, teachers and scholars by launching iBooks 2.0.

The books available for download from iBooks 2.0 carry not just text but also photos, videos and much more. Tons of study material is accessible thanks to iBooks 2.0 and people are utilizing iBooks to the maximum.

Apple is yet to release the official numbers. However, the early returns on its new iBooks textbook store signify that there iBooks 2.0 is indeed receiving a positive response. According to Global Equities Research, more than 350,000 textbooks have been downloaded within three days of the debut of iBooks 2.0.

Some 90,000 books have been downloaded of the iBooks Author platform. Global Equities Research used a proprietary system to compile these numbers and has not revealed much about its methodology. However, its figures, if accurate, would certainly mark a successful and auspicious beginning to Apple’s iBooks 2.0.

Source: Engadget

Apple Witnesses The 350,000 Textbooks Downloads In Three Days is a post from: The Apple Bites

Birkley Breathed’s Bloom County has been the favorite comic strips of many since childhood days. Now it is going to be available in iBooks. Now you can read everything on iBooks.

From Bill the Cat’s run for president to Milo’s skewering of Senator Bedfellow to Oliver’s landing the space shuttle to Opus’… everything.

At the moment first three volumes of this series are available on iBooks at the price of $7.99. Rest of the series is expected to come very soon.

Source: iMore

Now Read Bloom County From iBooks is a post from: The Apple Bites

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The level of excitement has been high since Thursday, thanks to the arrival of iTunes U app. Harvard University is now adding its science + cooking lectures from its school of Engineering and Science for something that would seem to be an interesting public offering.

Titles like ‘Olive Oil and Viscosity’ and ‘Meat Glue Mania’ sound intriguing.

The users of iPad or iPhone can use iTunes U and access the free classes online being hosted on iTunes U. This new standalone app should be seen as a great help and boon to users and educators. The Inside Higher Ed website is highlighting material from Harrisburg Community College. Here, there are free courses in differential equations and astronomy. It is the first iTunes U offering from a community college.

Apple had approached some major educational institutions last year to start preparing the courses, and the app contains content from universities like Duke, Cornell and Yale universities. Older versions of iTunes U that were introduced in 2006, offered audio and video podcasts. However, this new app provides self-contained courses and allows users to download handouts and worksheets that they can refer to (when needed) while listening to a recorded lecture.

Source: TUAW

iTunes Classes Go Live is a post from: The Apple Bites

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After stealing the child artist from the commercial of Apple’s iPhone 4S, Samsung once again took potshots on Apple in the latest commercial.

Due to the lawsuits going on between Apple and Samsung where both are accusing each other of patents infringements, Samsung has indulged in mudslinging activities against Apple, time and again.

Stealing the child artist from the commercial was not the first time Samsung carried out a veiled attack on Apple. In past, they ridiculed Apple enthusiasts in a commercial. They Samsung USA ridiculed Apple on this Facebook Page.

This time, Samsung attacked iPhone users with its latest advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy S II Android phone. The reason might be Apple’s lawsuit against Galaxy S II in Germany.

The ad starts with a line of people waiting outside what appears be an Apple Store in Austin, Texas.

The ad attempts to ridicule iPhone 4S the iPhone 4 had been ridiculed in past. The ad shows that iPhone does not come with any inbuilt satellite navigation capabilities. The tagline is “The next big thing is already here”.

What do you say about this new commercial of Samsung? Post your comments.

Source: iMore

Samsung Again Takes A Dig On Apple In The Latest Commercial is a post from: The Apple Bites

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A German judge hearing one of Samsung’s seven patent infringement cases against Apple ruled in favor of Apple on Friday, 20 January 2012. The patent infringement case involves one of several 3G/UMTS patents held by Samsung.

The ruling did not give the reason why the judge rejected Samsung’s argument. According to FOSS Patents, the judge either believed Apple did not infringe on the patent or that Samsung exhausted its patent right and Apple, by default, has a license.

The reason behind this decision could impact Samsung’s remaining claims. If Samsung has exhausted its rights to this patent, it could also see more embarrassment in courts with its other 3G/UMTS-based claims thrown out. However, if this ruling involves direct infringement, then the remaining 3G/UMTS claims could succeed.

Samsung has the right to appeal the Mannheim Regional Court’s ruling to a higher, regional court and, eventually, the Federal Court of Justice. Nobody knows what Samsung would do now. This victory for Apple comes just days after Apple sued Samsung over Galaxy S II and some other phones.

The feud between Apple and Samsung has been going on for months ever since the Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 was banned in Australia due to a lawsuit from Apple.

Since then, both tech giants accused each other for patents infringement and sued each other. Sometimes, Apple had the upper hand most of the time and on few occasions, Samsung was victorious.

From Australia, the conflict between Apple and Samsung spread over the world with companies suing each other in Italy, Germany, United States and France.

In Australia, the ban on Galaxy Tab 10.1 had been quashed in late November 2011. However, Galaxy Tab was released after 9 December 2011 because Apple had obtained a stay order on the implementation of verdict lifting the ban. Apple requested for more extension but its plea was rejected this time. This was the second victory of Samsung in Australia.

Apple-Samsung saga will unfold again when Apple and Samsung face each other again in an Australian court in March 2012.

Source: TUAW

Apple Cleared Of One Samsung Patent In Germany is a post from: The Apple Bites

We apologize to our readers for being offline for past 24 hours.

Yesterday on 20 January 2012, TheAppleBites webserver was compromised and got hacked.

This was a temporary problem and it has been fixed for the moment.

Now we will work hard to make the server and website more secure this weekend.

We are back with some exciting news. So just read and enjoy.

We Were Hacked is a post from: The Apple Bites

Apple has announced the free iBooks Author which would be an OS X application for creating any type of ebook.

As with Pages, a number of templates will be available for authors to use for making a book. With a tap, authors can be filled with stock text.

Elements such as audio and video can be dragged and dropped onto the page. Keynote can slide and other widgets can be added as interactive elements. You can create glossaries with just a simple click. The feature of instant preview is available where a book can be seen on the iPad via the USB sync cable.

With iBooks Author, interactive books can be made for the iPad.

iBooks Author is available here.

Source: TUAW

iBooks Author Is Here is a post from: The Apple Bites

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After announcing at Education Media Event, Apple released iBooks 2.0.

iBooks 2.0 is mainly focused on enabling textbook support. Apple has cut deals with a series of publishers to bring iBookstore-based textbooks to the United States.

iBooks 2.0 brings full support for books created through the new Mac app called iBooks Author.

From the changelog:

1. You can experience gorgeous Multi-Touch textbooks designed for iPad.

2. iBooks textbooks are filled with interactive features, diagrams, photos, and videos.

3. You can tap to dive into images with interactive captions, rotate 3D objects, swipe through image galleries, watch videos in full screen, and more.

4. You can use a finger as a highlighter when swiping over text in a textbook.

5. It is easy to take advantage of Study Cards that would help you memorize important highlights, notes, and glossary terms.

6. You can tap glossary terms to see definitions of key topics and concepts without leaving the page.

This is what Apple said about iBooks 2.0 in Press Release.

Education is deep in Apple’s DNA and iPad may be our most exciting education product yet. With 1.5 million iPads already in use in education institutions, including over 1,000 one-to-one deployments, iPad is rapidly being adopted by schools across the US and around the world,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Now with iBooks 2 for iPad, students have a more dynamic, engaging and truly interactive way to read and learn, using the device they already love.

What is your opinion about iBooks 2.0? Post your comments.

Source: Mac Stories

iBooks 2.0 Available Now is a post from: The Apple Bites

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As we reported earlier, at the moment, there is no end to the battle between Apple and Samsung. Now their conflict is returning to Germany.

There are reports in Bloomberg that Apple has filed a new lawsuit in Germany, targeting ten of Samsung’s Android handsets.

This new suit gives Apple a fresh start to argue for its EU design rights. Germany’s Dusseldorf Court had recently raised questions over the EU Design Rights of Apple. This lawsuit also gives Apple an opportunity to win an injunction that would halt the sales of popular handsets like the Galaxy SII and the Galaxy S Plus.

This is not the first time the feud of Apple and Samsung has come to Germany.

Apple also filed another German lawsuit, citing five Samsung tablet models. This suit is supposedly related to a German lawsuit that Apple had filed earlier this year against Samsung and its Galaxy Tab 10.1. This older suit led to the ban of Galaxy 10.1 tablet sales in the European country. The subsequent development of the Galaxy 10.1N tablet was also banned. The designed of the Tablet was changed. This redesigned tablet meets the court’s criteria and will not be banned from retail shelves.

Apple and Samsung had been suing each other over copyright infringement ever since Apple won a lawsuit against Samsung in Australia that resulted on a ban on the sales of Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia.

The legal tussle between Apple and Samsung spread from Australia to Europe and North America. If Apple won in France, Samsung won in United States.

The ban on Galaxy Tab 10.1 had been ended by the Australian court in late November 2011. However, Galaxy Tab was released after 9 December 2011 because Apple had succeeded in obtaining a stay order on the implementation of verdict lifting the ban. Apple requested for more extension but its plea was rejected this time. This was the second victory of Samsung in Australia.

Like returning to Germany, Apple-Samsung saga will return to Australia again in Australia will take place in March 2012.

Source: TUAW

Apple Sues Samsung Over Galaxy S II And Other Samsung Phones is a post from: The Apple Bites

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As Wikipedia promised, after keeping their English website offline for 24 hours, the English Wikipedia is back online.

Wikipedia is protesting against two “Anti-Piracy laws” that have been proposed in US Senate. Wikipedia and many other websites feel that in the garb of curbing piracy, Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) would actually serve as tools to censor Internet. To protest against that, Wikipedia took their English website offline for 24 hours on 18 January 2012.

When Wikipedia’s English website was online again, on their Homepage, they had a Header with the first line reading, “Thank You For Protecting Wikipedia”. The second line in the Header read, “We’re Not Done Yet”. The “Learn More” button is also there in the Header.

What do you think Wikipedia would do now to protest against the freedom of Internet? Do you support Wikipedia? Post your comments.

Wikipedia English Version Online Now is a post from: The Apple Bites

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The journey of Cell phones evolution  has been an adventurous one. This tiny little object  has slowly crawled in our lives and today  has acquired a place which  make some of us wonder that, how could people do earlier when there were no cell phones. Their utility established  the  cell  phones started  offering newer features to the customer beyond normal communication  starting from, pictures, music to movies and  then the Internet.

The idea of your Facebook moving with you real time was an instant hit  since today we live in a world where Facebook is  almost an obsession for some  and an addiction for many. We update our status regularly and some of us also eager to know the updates of others. We upload pictures and express our opinions on events happening in the world. No matter whether they are important, unimportant or trivial.

We are equally passionate for accessing  Facebook from our phone. In many countries, Blackberry gained popularity because in those countries, it was the first smart-phone in those countries with which people could access Facebook. For Apple‘s iPhone, there are apps dedicated to Facebook. For many people, smart-phones like iPhone, Blackberry and Android became a craze due to addiction to Facebook.

We have come across some online reports that Facebook is all set to compete with Blackberry, iPhone and Android by launching a smart-phone of its own. Facebook phone is bound to attract the attention and money from Facebook addicts and Facebook would naturally expect it to be a hit commercially. The tweaks say that the Facebook phone secret project has been named as “Buffy”, inspired from Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Though Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is denying the news of  Facebook creating a smart-phone, it is being said Joe Hewitt and Matthew Papakipos, two high-level Facebook employees are working on Facebook phone and this project is so secretive that even most of the Facebook staff are also unaware about it.

The idea of a Facebook phone sounds great, however,  the idea comes accompanied  with some speculations and other tweaks as well. It is being said that browsing other social networking websites like Twitter and MySpace  would not be possible in Facebook Phone. Now here, this theory becomes hard to believe because someone investing millions of dollars in a product would not deliberately create such limitation for his  product. Consumers are accustomed to devices that can handle multitasking, access any service, and tap into all social networks, which according to online speculations and theories, may not fall in line with the Facebook’s agenda. There must be some other features in Facebook phone because with so many Facebook apps for iPhone and the use of Facebook on other smart-phones, nobody would justify the purchase of a smart-phone, just to use Facebook. A Facebook centric device does not guarantee high amount of revenue over investment. Nor does  it guaranty a  record-breaking sales like those of iPhone 4S.

It has to be kept in mind that a quasi-Facebook phone called HTC Status is already in the  market and its status  is not very healthy. It has a “Facebook button” with Facebook Logo on it. Even the efforts made by AT&T to push it with a Facebook integrated key did not work. Launched in July, now phone is given on a two-year contract. The  only positive thing about HTC Status was that it was budget friendly and thus, it would cost just $49.99.

According to some reports, the new Facebook is likely to allow Amazon’s path in creating its own highly customized version of Android to power the phone. The problem with such a strategy is, that  you lose access to the kind of core services Google powers, including Android Market and Gmail. Facebook might consider it questionable and debatable, as it would want to run its own messaging and e-mail services on the device, anyway.

People who rely on AIM , Yahoo Messenger or G-Talk for instant messages, or G-Mail for their e-mail are not going to like it if the Facebook really comes out to have only Facebook centric  Chat and  applications.

Last year, Facebook started an e-mail service and this new service did not find as many takers as expected. The idea of integrating your Facebook social network into your address book sounds great,however, it does not work in practice. Using tools provided by the likes of HTC or Samsung Electronics to do this in Android smartphones does not fetch desired results. Doing this can result in creating a labyrinthine list of people with whom you maintain little to no contact.

Smartphone business is a profitable business but entering this business is not as easy as one thinks. One has to work with work with carriers if it wants sales or subsidies. To bring the Facebook phone in market, Facebook would need to strike deals with retail outlets and spend a hefty amount of money for marketing and promotion. Once Google had attempted to circumvent the system and sell its Nexus One directly to consumers, and it was overwhelmed by customer service issues, even if the sales of device were poor.

Apple is already a strong brand and it has been a frontrunner  in the world of technology for a long time. That is why, it could enter the smart-phone market with iPhone and created  a revolution in the market. Facebook  though a popular brand, has not been in the business of selling phones so far. Thus, if this theory is really true, their will be interesting  business lessons to be learnt as we don’t really know  what will be the final consumer’s response.

Also, Facebook does not charge Facebook users for creating a profile and staying in touch with friends.  It remains to be seen that , how much will  one would have to pay for the Facebook phone to use Facebook on it? Will the phone be free on a two year contract? Just like RadioShack who are offering 16 GB iPhone 4 at $99 on a two-year contract. Online reports indicate  that investment to make one Facebook phone is  around $700. Thus, commercially  Facebook and HTC cannot afford to give away  the phone for free even if they want to.

We will wait and watch, as the events unfold in coming months but one thing is certain. The leaps in technology and the competition has also risen the customer’s expectations with a device to have no limits. What was once purely conceptual a few years back  is not only real today, but some has even become obsolete. That is the pace of technological revolution today. With large brands continuously  working on varied strategies of cornering larger and larger  consumer shares of the market, only one thing remains certain. Whatever may be the outcome of this  technological war between business titans, the winner will ALWAYS  be that  bemused but smiling  spectator  called  CONSUMER! Facebook! Are you listening?

Will Facebook Phone Be A Success If It Comes? [EDITORIAL] is a post from: The Apple Bites

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Tim Cook is a great CEO and this is why, Apple wants him to stay with for long time. Apple has promised to offer some new incentives to Tim Cook if he serves as CEO till 2016.

In a time like this, if someone starts predicting about the next CEO, it is bound to become a big news.

Tim Cook is an excellent business manager. He is responsible for much of the company’s success in low-cost manufacturing and skinny inventories.

A new book is now saying that senior vice president Scott Forstall is the most likely person on the Apple executive team to become CEO after the end of Cook’s reign.

The book by Adam Lashinsky, Inside Apple: How America’s Most Admired — and Secretive — Company Really Works”, explores the functioning, policies and operation of the company by a Fortune magazine columnist. The book is scheduled to be released next week. It is based based on scores of interviews with “collaborators, competitors, and former employees.”

Lashinsky has noted that Forstall has many of the traits that would make him an excellent choice for the next CEO.

Lashinsky said, “He’s young (currently 43), comfortable on stage, worked at Jobs’ NeXT before moving to Apple, and shares the Jobs obsession with small details.” One entrepreneur told Lashinsky that Forstall is “…a sharp, down-to-earth, and talented engineer, and a more-than-decent presenter. He’s the total package.”

At the moment, it would take years for this to happen before Cook decides to step down. However, in the meantime Forstall has plenty of time to hone his skills and build even more influence inside the company. He can do that easily as he runs the highly-successful iOS software division.

Source: TUAW

Scott Forstall Described As Apple “CEO-In-Waiting” is a post from: The Apple Bites

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Freedom is precious and should be protected at all costs. Internet is blessing because today it is the only place where one can freely voice his opinion.

When Internet is censored, people protest. In China, hackers and people protesting against Internet censorship are killed by government, military and police on regular basis. Still people all over the world fight to save the freedom of Internet.

Wikipedia has made its English language website offline to protest against two proposed laws in US Senate that are likely to kill the freedom of Internet. Reddit, BoingBoing, a popular blog, Craiglist, Mozilla and Minecraft have joined Wikipedia in this fight against corruption.

Our reporter tried to open Wikipedia many times today and was shown the message that you see on the picture on this page.

The proposed laws Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) claim to curb online pricey and target websites from where people download popular movies and TV shows. Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA) endorses this law, calling it an effective weapon against online piracy.

On the other hand, websites like Google, Facebook, Wikipedia and others feel that these laws are actually Internet Censorship laws, disguised as Anti-piracy laws. This is because these laws would allow US Government to ban websites like YouTube if a video that can be somebody’s copyrighted property is found to be hosted on it. This means that with so many videos from movies, YouTube might be the first to get banned if the laws come into effect.

People from many countries have aired their voices though YouTube videos to expose the governments that commit atrocities on them. With a ban on YouTube, those people would be voiceless. Same thing goes for Facebook and Twitter.

Many people are wondering that why, USA, the savior of the freedom of speech wants to bring such laws. There are speculations that the real purpose of these laws is to ensure the censorship of Internet to the extent that no other WikiLeaks like expose would happen again.

Do you support these Anti-Internet Freedom laws? Post your comments.

Wikipedia Goes Black To Protest Against Internet Censorship is a post from: The Apple Bites

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Apple is in conflict with many companies who have accused of infringing upon Apple’s patents. Some companies have also accused Apple of infringing upon their patents. But what would happen if a popular and successful technology of Apple is accused of infringing an old patent. In this case, it is Siri.

Shawn Carolan, an investor in Siri Inc, of Menlo ventures recently discussed the technology behind Siri with Bloomberg. In his discussion, he spoke about exactly Siri’s ability to recognize voice and take voice recognition data. The mentioned approach discussed how Siri’s approach included “one big block” and mapping “strings of words across” a group of 10 domains of expertise.

Robert Cringely, a technology journalist said that this method was similar to patents owned by the search portal Excite from 1994. He mentioned the following:

Here’s how the ArchiText (later Excite) search engine worked. Every query was stripped to its significant words — subjects, objects, verbs and adjectives — then each query became a vector in a multidimensional space with each unique word being a dimension. “How do space rockets stay in orbit when they are flying through space?” would become a vector string one unit long for each of those words but two units long for the word “space.” This bit of semantic DNA was then mapped against an index of millions of web pages that had all been similarly converted to multidimensional vectors. It was quick, scalable, concentrated the processing load on the indexing where it didn’t bog down retrieval, and could reliably return pages like “Why satellites fall from the sky” that might answer the question even though none of the same words were used.

It is expected that Excite patents will have a new ownership and compete with Siri. Graham Spencer, the original inventor of this patent, currently works as an Engineering partner at Google Ventures following his role as Engineering director at Google. In March 2004, Ask Jeeves had acquired Excite. Let us see if Siri gets some competition in near future or not. If Cringely’s claim is true. there is the possibility that Apple might attempt to acquire the patents to cover important aspects of Siri’s technology.

What do you think about idea of various Siri like services? Do you think Apple will try to patent Siri? Share your thoughts and opinions below.

Source: Modmyi

Siri Infringing On Old Patent? is a post from: The Apple Bites

The enthusiasm and curiosity over iTunes Match has been going strong for sometime. People over the world had been waiting for iTunes Match to be released in their countries.

Apple’s iTunes Match service has now expanded to a total of 37 countries.

The service initially launched in the United States in November 2011. Slowly, it was rolled out to various countries internationally since then.

The latest rollout of iTunes Match covers Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.

Source: iMore

iTunes Match Launched In 19 More Countries is a post from: The Apple Bites