Apple Thoughts - News & Reviews on all things Apple

"With all of the furor around the gigantic patent lawsuit that Apple dropped on HTC this week, you might be forgiven for forgetting about the first big patent smackdown of the year, the lawsuit that Nokia laid at Apple's door."

Image Credit: www.erictric.com

But it is far from forgotten. The judge suspended the case and the countersuit since the International Trade Commission is working on sorting out the complaints between the two companies. Once this probe is done, 45 days or so from the 22nd of February (the date the investigation was started), then it is expected the lawsuits will press on.

"Aerial footage of Apple's massive data center in rural North Carolina clearly show how large the $1 billion complex is. Shot recently by a local realtor, the footage shows a massive facility the size of a shopping mall."

One of these days I'll have to drive to The Dalles, about 30 minutes from where I live, and take some photos to post here of Googles Data Center. That is if I can get close enough with the tight security they have there. Impressive structure here, and it certainly seems to be bigger than the one in The Dalles, but Google has 3 or 4 large buildings instead of one massive structure like this one.

"Apple is planning to leverage its work in transforming Mac OS X to work on other devices-most specifically the iPhone-to power "new platforms," according to a recent job posting. Those platforms will also be powered by "custom silicon," like Apple's A4 processor that powers the iPad."

You can see the job posting at Apple here, and it outlines they are looking for a full-time engineering manager to "oversee platform bringup with the Core Platform Team." Part of the duties will also be to "coordinate the software team with hardware and custom silicon teams in developing and prototyping new platforms." Anyway, lots of conjecture with this job posting as to what it all means for the future. Leveraging the architecture would certainly be one way to keep the revenue coming in, but do you think Apple will do that? What are your thoughts?

"Apple today uploaded the full iPad presentation (in 4 parts) to what appears to be its official Youtube channel. The videos can be viewed in 720P HD and in H.264 using Youtube's new HTML5 website."

So now no worries about that cool Apple video disappearing from YouTube since the user wasn't authorized to post. You can subscribe to their channel here.

"The latest report from market research firm Gartner suggests that mobile apps are big business, and that business should only grow in the next few years."

Apple had almost every dollar of the 4.2 billion that were spent on mobile apps in 2009. In 2009 users downloaded 2.5 billion apps, but that is small change according to Gartner, who estimates that with other platforms (Android for one) out there the app business could grow to a $30 billion USD market by 2013. Of course Apple won't hang onto as many dollars as they did during 2008 and 2009 when they were basically the only game in town, but they should still keep a large percentage of the market with the jump they have had on it. Or will the Android and other platforms make a serious run at them? What are your thoughts? Don't forget about the tablet...

"As expected, Apple is holding a "special event" on Jan. 27 to "come see our latest creation," with invitations being sent out JUST SECONDS AGO. 10am PST, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco."

Well, it wasn't seconds ago by now, but regardless, we now have a date. The special event, titled "Come See Our Latest Creation," will do nothing if not further fuel the rumors of an Apple Tablet.

"Apple's retail "experts" -- a new position that will serve as a roaming counterpart to existing "geniuses" at brick-and-mortar locations -- are expected to debut in stores in a matter of weeks, people familiar with the matter have told AppleInsider."

This position was initially only available to current employees but it appears they are opening it up to the general public. They expect to have experts in place in about two weeks, and will be out mingling with customers instead of being behind the counter at the Genius Bar. I'm not sure about you, but I welcome this change so that I don't have to wait in line to get general questions answered. Although the employees I've dealt with on the floor in my experience have been pretty knowledgeable, they still only go so far before having me make a Genius Bar appointment. I'm hoping the Expert will be able to bridge the gap.

"Steve Jobs and Apple appeared in an extraordinary number of 2009's "Best of" lists. Our favorite: 'There's an app for that,' the Yale Book of Quotations' No. 3 quote of the 2009, right before Rep. Joe Wilson's 'You lie' and after Captain Sully Sullenberger's 'We're going to be in the Hudson.'"

I just found this interesting from the aspect of not realizing there were so many lists you could be ranked in! It seems that this will just lead to "Best Of" lists becoming more and more irrelevant unless it is for something that is a bit more objective than "Top Ten Quotes of 2009." Unless it is something you can quantify, hard for me to put much stock in some of these lists. And maybe that is more to the point, that they aren't to be taken serious just generate some thought and discussion. What are your thoughts?

"If you believe the marketing hype, you aren't really a true Mac user unless you have MobileMe. MobileMe is pushed heavily in the Mac and iPhone UI as well as the Apple retail environment. Fancy terms like "beyond the box sales" are a clever way of saying "high profit" for Apple."

Single license roughly $8.25 USD per month, before discounts if you buy direct from Amazon.com, so is it really worth that much a month? For me it is, and I'm on the family plan, but it is mainly worth it because everything I need to do in order to keep my family organized and in sync is in one nice package. If I was just doing this for myself, I'm not sure I would keep it. What are your thoughts?

"Apple has released a new iPhone commercial that parodies "The Twelve Days of Christmas" carol by replacing all of the usual gifts with holiday-related apps. Ready to sing along?"

The commercial does a quick shot of several apps, one of with is the free Schlage LiNK app to control your Z-Wave connected devices to turn off and on your Christmas Tree lights for example. The other apps include Snow Report, The Betty Crocker Mobile Cookbook, myStarbucks, Weather Pro and Anna Sheffield Jewelry. How many of these apps do you have?

"After 17 months of litigation, the hammer has finally fallen on Psystar. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Tuesday granted Apple's request for permanent injunction against the Mac clone maker. This bars Psystar from peddling PCs with the Mac OS X operating system preinstalled, from circumventing the technological measures Apple uses to prevent unauthorized copying of Mac OS X, and from assisting others in doing so."

The judge gave Psystar until midnight on December 31st, 2009 to comply with the ruling. However it wasn't a complete win or Apple, since the Rebel EFI program was not part of the judgement. It isn't a complete knock out, and the way this is going I don't expect Psystar to just roll over and play dead. I'm sure we will hear more about this, especially as the deadline approaches. You can read the entire judgement here.

"Apple announced on Friday that it is countersuing Nokia in yet another ongoing patent dispute. As you may recall, Nokia first sued Apple in Delaware District Court back in October, laying claims that the iPhone violated ten different patents owned by the Finnish cell phone company. These patents cover technologies that are at the basis of a cell phone's functions, such as the various interfaces required to connect to a GSM network, transmit data, and encode voice information."

Image Credit: appletell

And now Apple has fired back, counter-suing with 13 patents they allege were infringed upon by Nokia. No list available on exactly which patents, but Apple's General Counsel Bruce Sewell did say this: "Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours." What say you Nokia?

"OPTi, a former semiconductor vendor that now exists to license its chipset intellectual property, last week received a US$21.7 million judgment against Apple in a ruling by Judge Chad Everingham in the Eastern District of Texas. In determining that Apple did not willfully violate OPTi's patent, the judge granted a $19 million infringement reward and an additional $2.7 million in pre-judgment interest."

Image Credit: iphonenano.net

Apple isn't the only one that is in OTPi's sights as they plan on going after AMD next. You can view the press release from OPTi here, and I'm sure this is no surprise, but Apple plans to appeal the ruling.

"Probably still reeling from all publicity around these shots, Microsoft reportedly told journalists gathered for a company press event in Germany not to use or mention Apple products."

The translation from German goes something like this: "While at a Windows Mobile 6.5 demonstration in Munich, Germany a journalist was warned by a Microsoft spokesman not to mention or use Apple products...since it was a Microsoft event the journalist had previously told everyone that he had never owned an easier to use cell phone than the iPhone."

"Florida-based Psystar and Apple will submit Tuesday a partial court settlement to the long-running Mac copyright-infringement legal battle, according to a report. Psystar, which had sold Mac clones based on Intel hardware with Apple's Mac OS X operating system pre-installed, will pay unspecified damages."

The latest in the legal battle that was set for a January 2010 showdown in court has Apple dropping most of it's legal challenge to Psystar. According to the paperwork, "This partial settlement eliminates the need for a trial and reduces the issues before this Court to the scope of any permanent injunction on Apple's copyright claims." So Psystar agrees to pay as yet to be named damages, but they haven't given up on the fight. In their paperwork they want to exclude their Rebel EFI application that allows Intel-based PCs to use Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, asking that it be excluded from any injunction that Apple is awarded. I like that they are willing to fight, what are your thoughts on their chances? Keep in mind this has been going on since July of 2008 and Psystar is still kicking, longer than I thought they would be around.

Update: Psystar has stopped selling everything except for the Rebel EFI application on their website, having marked the Mac clone models as "out of stock" per this article from Macworld. This after agreeing to pay Apple $2.7 million USD in a partial settlement.

"Apple appears to be making plans to add a dash of Cupertino magic to mapping and is searching for an iPhone Software Engineer to join the iPhone and iPod touch Maps team, MacRumors informs."

From the job listing, "The iPhone and iPod touch Maps team is looking for a proactive and hardworking software engineer to join our team." And further, "As an engineer on the Maps team, your responsibilities will range from implementing low-level client/server code to implementing high-level user interfaces. You'll be responsible for implementing new and innovative features, fixing problems and enhancing the performance of Maps. You will work closely with the other engineers on the Maps team, other iPhone and iPod touch teams as well our partners in other companies." The ad also states they want to take maps to the "next level" so conjecture is that they may be going outside Google in the future, especially since Apple bought a stake in Place Base and the founder is now part of the Geo Team at Apple.

"Apple on Monday launched a sale on select Mac, iPhone, and iPod accessories on its online store. According to Apple, the sale is good only on Monday and includes free shipping on everything in the store. The special sale includes many accessories for its most popular products."

Not much to say here other than shop away!

"In September, Steve Jobs' $5.1 billion earned him the No. 43 spot on Forbes' list of the 400 richest Americans. Since then, Apple's shares have rocketed to new intraday highs."

The way they figure it, by the time the markets closed on Wednesday, Jobs was about $300 Million USD richer but Apple only gets partial credit. 3/5 of his enrichment was for Apple, but the rest was based on Disney performance. I don't think I'd care who it was from.

"Twitter is big, really big, and while those short info-nuggets lack substance as a reflection of the subconscious murmurings (and marketing messages) of the internet population, it's hard to beat."

If you are on Twitter and want to follow Apple, they have several options:

• iTunes Trailers
• iTunes Music
• iTunes Movies
• iTunes TV
• iTunes Podcasts

Some get no activity and appear to just be holding the name such as iTunesTV with zero tweets, and then you have the iTunes Trailers that has sent over 450 tweets. So follow as you see fit, or not.

"WOOLWORTHS insists its new logo is a stylised ''W'' or a piece of fresh produce. Apple thinks it is an apple, and the California-based technology company wants to stop Australia's largest retailer from using it."

A "W" or a piece of fresh "produce?" Um, yea, well the fresh produce certainly looks like what we refer to in orchard country as an apple. I thought the quote from the designer of the logo, Hans Hulsbosch, was rather humorous: "Based on this logic, they would have to take action against every fruit seller" when referring to the Apple complaint. Well Hans, only if other fruit sellers also sold electronics.