May 21, 2012
 

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Apple Isn't A Patent Troll

Picture this; you’ve created something great, you could even call it revolutionary, and you release it into the world. The general public love it and your share price goes through the roof. Then, a year later, companies suddenly realise that what you’ve done is awesome – and, by extension, what they’re doing is awful – and copy you. They wholesale rip you off. These companies then release what they’ve made – or copied – into the arena and it gets relatively success. You see what they’ve done and file a lawsuit, as they’ve infringed on the Patents you’ve taken out to protect your idea. The media are then interested, and by extension, people who are interesting in either your company, or the other company, get interested too. Can you guess who I’m talking about? Hint: Look at the title.

That’s right, you guessed it. The company I’m talking about is, of course, Apple. And the product is the iPhone.

When Apple released the iPhone in 2007, it took the competition completely by surprise. Yes, Apple didn’t invent any of the new features found on the iPhone, but it made phones far less scary and set a design trend that is still going 4 years later, and will continue to go on for another 4 years or more. Never before had one device had a finger-friendly UI or multi-touch web browsing or a nice on-screen keyboard. These things existed, but not in one place. Want proof? Cult of Mac produced an article showing phones before and iPhone and phones after the iPhone. The effect – post-2007 – was quite dramatic.

Then came the copy-cats. Phone UIs suddenly became finger-friendly, while phones gained bigger screens and multi-touch web browsing. Android is an example of this.

The straw that broke the camel’s back, however, came several years later from Samsung. When Samsung saw what was happening to the phone industry they released the Samsung Galaxy S, a phone that has been a contentious issue between the two giants since its launch in 2010. But it went further than just the Galaxy S. When Apple unveiled the iPad in 2010 Samsung was quicker; they released their tablet – the Galaxy Tab 10.1 – just a year after. Apple filed a lawsuit – and won – but the backlash was ferocious.

Apple became a “patent troll“.

But they aren’t. Protecting an idea isn’t “trolling“, its protecting an idea. That’s why Patents exist. Smartphones wouldn’t look anything like they do today if Apple hadn’t created the iPhone back in 2007, and for that we can be grateful. But, if you have an idea and implement it and it becomes successful. You had every right to protect it. How would you feel if someone stele your idea? I’m sure you’d become a “patent troll” too.

Image Credit: wikipedia.com, pdfdevices.com

 

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Are Ads The Way Forward For Amazon?

With Ad Age breaking the news that Amazon.com might bring out an ad-supported version of their popular Kindle Fire, should we be worried that other major companies – Microsoft, Apple and Google – will do the same?

When I say ad-supported, I mean that the Kindle Fire would come at a reduced price – possibly as low as the Kindle Touch, Kindle Fires currently sell for $199 (£125) - but would have pop-up and banner ads baked into the OS. In other words, the adverts would make up the difference in price. This is the same principle that is used in the App Store. Lite apps often have adverts at the bottom, which helps them remain free.

Ad Age currently estimates that the price for one advert would sit at around $600,000 (£380,000), however, they were unsure as to how these ads would present themselves. If the adverts are too intrusive – as they could well be – demand for the cheaper device would be small. If the ads didn’t appear frequently enough, then Amazon could have some angry companies on their tail. The report states that the current predicted time slot would be around 2 months.

Apple already has a system like the one Amazon is proposing; iAd. However, Apple doesn’t offer a cheaper ad-supported version of the iPad. Should they? Definitely not. The main difference between Apple and Amazon is that people will buy Apple products at a premium price. It’s often said that Apple fans will buy anything as long as its endorsed by Steve Jobs – now impossible – and has a shiny Apple logo on it. Amazon? They can’t do that. They have no core product line, no hardcore fan base and none of the cool that Apple has. Want proof? Would U2 do an advert for free with Amazon? Nope. Microsoft doesn’t have any need to plant adverts on their OSes. Yes, Windows 7 has a huge market share, but who wants adverts appearing on their desktop? Nobody. Windows Phone 7 only has a 1.5% market share, meaning companies wouldn’t cough up $6,000, let alone $600,000 to get their advert featured. Contrasting, Google doesn’t need to run adverts because they do everywhere else. Google, along with being a Search company, operates a massive advert division. AdSense – the ad provider I use – holds a majority market share on online ads, with all the alternatives being very poor – see Clicksor, for an example. Would Google place ads on Android? No. They have no need, and it would put their nose out when compared to iOS. Who wants a mobile OS where ads pop-up every hour, when there is an ad-free alternative waiting in the wings? No one. In fact, back when Android was in its infancy, Eric Schmidt stated that he wanted Android to be “ad-subsidised” to allow carriers to sell it for cheaper. In fact, he said that it could have been free. [1] Luckily, that idea never saw the light of day.

Whether these rumours are true or not will become clear if, and when, Amazon announce it formally. Amazon doesn’t release Kindle Fire sales figures, but sales are expected to sit at around 3-6 million units, hence the $600,000 starting price. Even 3 million people as a captive audience could be worth it. Amazon could certainly try the “cheaper, but ad-supported” strategy, but I’m doubtful as to whether it will work. As for Apple, Microsoft and Google? Rest assured they won’t move into the ad-subsidised space for a very long time.

Source: [1] Information gathered from Steve Jobs’ Biography, however, I couldn’t find any articles online to evidence the point. If you own a copy of Steve Jobs’ bio, then read through to the Android vs. iOS part.

Image Source: guardian.co.uk

 

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iOS 6 Appears In Developer Application Usage Logs

With Apple’s 2012 WWDC looming, it isn’t surprising that various indications of iOS 6 are popping up. 9to5Mac reported last week that Apple may be looking to replace Google Maps with “iMaps” – or “Apple Maps” or “iMap”. We know almost everything there is to know about OS X Mountain Lion – 3 developer previews have already come out – but Apple may retain some features until it’s launch sometime around the upcoming WWDC.

What we don’t know much about is iOS 6. Many sites are expecting Apple to unveil maybe 5 or 6 key features at their Keynote presentation, before releasing the next iteration of iOS with the next generation iPhone.

A developer, talking to 9to5Mac, has noted that, when using Analytics software, “iOS6″ users are using his app. The developer was unable to pinpoint the date that iOS6 first appeared, but it was definitely within the last week. When 9to5Mac talked to some other developers, they said they’d started seeing iOS6 usage in April. All this points to Apple testing higher profile apps within the App Store to test compatibility with iOS, something they did last year too.

WWDC 2012 starts on June 11th, with updates to Apple’s laptops and desktops expected to appear. OS X Mountain Lion is also expected to make an appearance, and could possibly be available to the pubic, possibly for free.

The Mactivist has compiled all the latest WWDC 2012 news into one place, which is available here.

Source: 9to5Mac

 

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Google Chrome Could Come To iOS

Business Insider reports – via Mac Rumors - that Google may be looking into a port of their Google Chrome Android browser to iOS. Business Insider also reports that Apple “may already be reviewing” the app, with its launch coming at the end of this quarter.

Google’s main problem will come when they want users to use their browser as the main browser in iOS. Apple currently doesn’t allow users to change the default browser within the settings – without a Jailbreak – which would mean users would have to go through a few more steps when they opened a browser window as it would open Safari as default. This would inconvenience users, making the uptake of Chrome for iOS very low. Browsers such as Dolphin and Opera only have a tiny percentage of total iOS browser usage.

 

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Sparrow for Mac Updated To Version 1.6, POP Support and Bug Fixes

Sparrow – my email client of choice – has been updated to include POP support – Hotmail, namely – along with a more unified experience when using multiple email accounts, startup time improvements and various bug fixes. We reviewed the app back on April 4th and found that it was a good little app, but it needed certain improvements: those improvements have arrived today.

Here’s the full change log of new features:

  • POP support
  • Unified inbox, starred, sent, drafts, trash
  • Esc on Quick Reply saves a message as a draft
  • Empty spam button
  • Inbox Zero message when your inbox is clean
  • Composer: “sender” field no accessible with Tab key
  • Pull-to-refresh for starred, unread, priority messages
  • Shift-Command-Option-M toggles extended sidebar
  • App startup time improvement
  • Bug fixes

Source: Sparrow Blog

 

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Apple Will Release A Thinner MacBook Pro at WWDC, Bloomburg Reports

A report by Bloomburg has confirmed that Apple is intending to release a thinner MacBook Pro at the 2012 WWDC. These updated models would also include a Retina Display – possibly running at the proposed 2880 by 1800 resolution – as well as the latest Ivy Bridge CPUs.

This leak is thought to be a “controlled leak”, something Apple PR have done to whip up a frenzy in the past before a major product launch.

The upcoming WWDC is also thought to include a release date for OS X Mountain Lion, along with a preview of iOS6.

Source: Bloomburg
Via: Mac Rumors

 

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Apple To Update iCloud.com at WWDC 2012

A brief report from the Wall Street Journal – via Mac Rumors – states that Apple is going to introduce some new, and exciting, features to iCloud.com in the near future. These features are set to include Photo Stream – the ability to view your photos from an online portal, useful if you are on another person’s computer – along with Notes and Reminders syncing, this comes along with the news that Apple may be testing Notifications – along with a possible system to allow the syncing of notifications via iCloud – on the iCloud web portal.

The rumoured update is expected to be announced, and online, on June 11th at Apple’s 2012 WWDC event in San Francisco.

Source: Wall Street Journal 

Via: Mac Rumors

 

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Unreleased MacBook 9,1 and iMac 13,2 Get Benchmarked, Subsequently Leaked (Updated)

Not one, but two unreleased Mac models have had the benchmarking treatment, as noted by Mac Rumors. 

Let’s start with the MacBook Pro. This MacBook Pro is listed as the 9,1, this listing makes sense as the current version of the MacBook Pros are the 8,x series models. The new MacBook carries an Ivy Bridge Core i7-3820QM quad-core processor clocked at 2.7GHz per core, this CPU will undoubtedly feature hyper-threading – the ability to run another virtual core on a processor – so that’s a maximum of 8 cores in a laptop. While its unlikely that Apple would include that into a 13-inch model, it could find its way into the high-end 15-inch and 17-inch variants. A full set of data is available on the Geekbench website, as well as a picture below. It’s worth noting that the score – 12,252 – is higher than the previous generations score on a similar chip – 10,500.

The next Apple computer to be Benchmarked was the iMac, specifically the iMac 13,2, which corresponds with the 27-inch iMac 12,2. The iMac 13,2 is listed as having an Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7-3770 quad-core processor, clocked at 3.4GHz. The system has a score of 12,183, only slightly higher than the previous generations score of 11,500 when using a comparable chip.

Obviously these results could have been faked, but as Mac Rumors noted “The machine used for benchmarking is listed as running build 10A2040 of OS X Mountain Lion, and while a four-digit suffix on the build number is somewhat unusual for OS X, such patterns have been observed in special builds in the past.”

It isn’t unusual for pre-release Apple hardware to appear on Geekbench’s rankings before they’re released. The MacBook Pro 6,1 was found there back in 2010. So it’s entirely plausible that this is hardware that will be released later this year.

Source: Mac Rumors, Cult of Mac

Update: After this news broke, 9to5 Mac have found some interesting titbits within the inner workings of OS X Mountain Lion. The code suggests that the latest MacBook Pros will include Ivy Bridge processors, USB 3.0 – to complement ThunderBolt – and a new GPU; the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M. 9to5 Mac also reports that the new MacBook Pro will be thinner, while TechCrunch claims that Apple will keep the “Pro” monarchy.

Update 2: Further reports of Apple discarding an Ethernet socket have also been floating around the web. The report also stated – with a certain amount of trepidation – that the latest MacBook Pro will forgo FireWire connectivity. However, to offset that, Apple may include two ThunderBolt ports, 9to5 Mac reports.

 

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Is Apple Preparing For The 'Proper' Apple TV? (Updated)

An unconfirmed report by AppleInsider - via Mac Rumors - has revealed that Apple may be looking to buy Loewe, a German television manufacture who make very high quality TV sets. AppleInsider claims that Apple offered up to €87.3 million (£70 million/$112 million) for the company, a 48% premium on Loewe’s Friday night close on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

“Word of the negotiations was exclusively revealed to AppleInsider, and although the offer has yet to be accepted, a source claims that Loewe “has been advised by its financial advisor to accept the offer and a final decision is scheduled to be announced internally before 18 May 2012.” AppleInsider writes.

The current range of televisions designed by Loewe look as if Jony Ive himself had designed them, a compelling reason for Apple to purchase the company. Loewe currently make a few Apple related products, namely some AirPlay enabled speakers along with a nicely designed iPad app that allows the user to control any Loewe TV.

It wouldn’t be unheard of for Apple to purchase an established TV maker to make their ‘iTV’. Could this be Apple’s game plan? If Apple provided the Software – possibly similar to the current Apple TV – and got Loewe to make the TV, with Sharp’s – Sharp are the majority share holder in Loewe already – help, then the proposed Apple TV seems a lot more realistic.

Loewe has been making minimalist, yet high quality, TVs since 1929, and now employs over 1,000 people worldwide in over 50 countries. Last year the company saw sales fall by 11%, causing a loss of €10.5 million (£8.4 million/$13.5 million). This year, however, Loewe reports that sales are much improved.

AppleInsider reports that the decision, by Loewe, will be announced internally next week.

Update: Loewe has spoken to German website Heise and has denied the rumours of Apple’s £70 million bid. A spokesperson for the company said there was “absolutely nothing to it.” Loewe was to reported, by AppleInsider, to have been “advised by its financial advise to accept the offer.” The deal was reported to have been announced – for whichever decision was made – by the 18th of May. [TNW]

 

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WWDC 2012: What To Expect (Updated)

This run down will be separated into two sections (hardware and software) and will be continuously updated through the course of the few weeks leading up to WWDC 2012, so check back here for the latest developments.

Hardware: 

- MacBooks – Apple has been thought to be updating their MacBook Pro range for a while. Mountains of evidence point towards a Retina Display and Intel’s Ivy Bridge CPUs – the ones that got Benchmarked before they came out – are likely to make an appearance. Whether the new MacBooks will be released at WWDC 2012 is an unknown. It would make sense, as Apple would ship them with OS X Mountain Lion, or use Mountain Lion to demo their capabilities, but we’re unsure. We’re also unsure about whether Apple will streamline the MacBook range down to just ‘the MacBook’. This MacBook would be a culmination of the MacBook Air and Pro. It could include the Pro’s power – via Ivy Bridge – along with the Air’s design. Update: Bloomburg have been reporting that Apple will introduce a thinner and faster MacBook Pro at WWDC 2012. The reports are thought to be true, as Apple is known for leaking small amounts of information before a major product launch. Update 2: Both the MacBook Pro (9,1) and iMac (13,2) have been benchmarked before their release, the results of that benchmark can be found here. Update 3: The Verge is reporting that the next generation of MacBook Pros will include GPUs from NVIDIA. The chip in question is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, something we covered in our Benchmarking article earlier this week.

- iMac – The iMac is still an unknown. Apple might overhaul their entire range for WWDC 2012 with new Retina Displays all round – this would include the ThunderBolt Display – to make for a more streamlined experience across the Mac range. It would also make it easier for Developers to, well, develop. Just like the iPod and iPhone have the same resolution, the iMac and MacBooks should share at least a common factor. Maybe a 5120 by 2880 display on the iMac and ThunderBolt display, and a 2560 by 1440 resolution panel on ‘the MacBook’. Obviously, this would require a lot of power, but Intel’s Ivy Bridge chip should be sufficient. Update: Mac Rumors is reporting that the next iMac will include a Retina Display, something we’ve been saying for a long time. Update 2: Both the MacBook Pro (9,1) and iMac (13,2) have been benchmarked before their release, the results of that benchmark can be found here.

- Other Desktops – I’m unsure as to whether Apple will keep the Mac Mini. It has been the ‘Mac for the people’ since its launch in 2005, but has never been a cutting-edge piece of hardware. It also relies on an external Display – the ThunderBolt display, currently – which adds clutter, something Apple is definitely not keen on. The Mac Pro, however, will remain. It may not be commercially available – not many consumers want to spend over £2000 on a Desktop – but it will definitely be available to the professionals – video editors, music studios, photo editors – who rely on the raw power it delivers. Paired with a Retina ThunderBolt Display daisy chained with five 4TB ThunderBolt external hard drives, nothing will be able to topple it.

- iPhone – We’re almost certain the next iPhone won’t be released at WWDC 2012. It will, however, be released in the August to October time frame, just like the iPhone 4S. iOS6, however, that’s a different matter.
- iPad – Nope. Despite the rumours of a 7-inch iPad, it won’t happen at WWDC 2012.
- iPod – In our 2012 Apple products article, I said that only two iPod models would remain: the Touch and Nano. The Nano may receive an update, but the Touch won’t as its update schedule syncs with the iPhone’s.

Software: 

- iOS6 – Not too much is known about iOS6 as it is expected to be previewed at WWDC 2012. Several stories have surfaced though. Just yesterday – 11th May – 9to5 Mac’s Mark Gurman broke the exclusive - promptly followed by an independent confirmation from AllThingsD - that Apple is working on their own version of Google Maps. This is significant because it marks the separation from Google, along with Apple using some of the Mapping technology they’ve purchased. This led TechCrunch columnist MG Siegler to question how Developers who rely on Google Maps would manage the change, he came to the conclusion that Apple would have to make iMaps – the predicted name for Apple’s mapping service – very similar in terms of code to Google Maps, meaning apps could function without the Developer having to rewrite thousands of lines of code. As for a total redesign of iOS, I’m unconvinced. Very few leaks exist about what it would look like – a tweet from @chronic hinted towards a redesign – but no hard facts or images exist. iMore ran a poll asking voters if they wanted an iOS redesign; 40.49% said yes, they’d like a total redesign, 24.96% said they’d like widgets, 24.33% said they’d want at least a minor redesign, 8.5% said it wasn’t broken, so Apple shouldn’t fix it, while 1.74% said no, too many people rely on it. Just over 7,000 people voted. The fact that Apple has kept the features this secret is a definite credit to their security. Obviously iOS6 is talked about on a need-to-know basis.

- OS X Mountain Lion – This is a big one. We’ve had 3 Previews – Preview 1, Preview 2 and Preview 3 - with a Gold Master version expected soon. Here’s the list of updates/new inclusions so far: AirPlay Mirroring; better iCloud integration – referenced by the iCloud.com Notifications and possible Notes and Reminders syncing via iCloud -; Messages for Mac; Reminders – with iCloud syncing -; Notes – with iCloud syncing -; Notification Center; better Twitter integration; GateKeeper; Game Center; Share Sheets – like the iOS version, these enable you to share a webpage via email or Twitter from inside Safari as well as in other apps such as QuickTime and Preview -; Contacts – instead of Address Book -; Tweaks to Safari – the URL and Search bar are combined, Safari is ditching the “http://” prefix, iCloud Tabs syncing, the ‘Reader’ button is more prominent -; Software Update has moved into the Mac App Store; dropping of the Mac – now called “OS X” not “Mac OS X” – prefix. This change isn’t huge, but it signals a more streamlined approach to naming. We’re likely to see the release of OS X Mountain Lion. Whether we’ll be able to download it – possibly for free? – is still an unknown. The announcement may be like iOS releases, where you can download the software a week later.

What you can definitely expect from WWDC 2012 is a great show, with lots of cool apps and a new mobile and desktop OS to look forward too. Stay tuned for all the latest coverage right here.