Apple Mac OS X 'Mountain Lion' takes more bites out of iOS
Apple's got a new big cat on the prowl.Its name is Mountain Lion, and it's the next major release of Mac OS X.The software is being released as a preview to Apple developers today, with a commercial release to follow sometime this summer through the company's Mac App Store.Like Lion before it, Apple has imbued the new software with many of the top-billed features from the iPhone and iPad, all with the intent of making its computers more useful and approachable to the millions that have snatched up an iOS device in recent years. It's also a direct response to recently-added features on those devices that--for better or worse--make the Mac a less essential piece of the puzzle.Mountain Lion's mountain lion.AppleOf course, the idea of convergence between the two platforms is nothing new. When taking the wraps off Lion (Mountain Lion's predecessor) in 2010, Steve Jobs said the software was what the company imagined would happen if the iPad and the MacBook "hooked up." Mountain Lion is very clearly the result of a longer term commitment.Does that mean we've finally reached a point where OS X (as Apple calls it now, not "Mac OS X") and iOS are on the cusp of becoming one in the same? No. To carry the "hook up" comparison further, it's another step in Apple's strategy to tie users into its ecosystem, creating differences where they're needed, but also blending in similarities that make everything feel more unified.For years the unification came in the form of iTunes, but as restated by Apple CEO Tim Cook in a talk earlier this week, the company believes that computers are not longer at the center of people's digital lives. In Apple's vision, that role's been taken over by iCloud, and the software that taps into it. In Mountain Lion, iCloud is that glue, taking some of those iOS apps gone OS X and made them work with one another.That said, the release represents an unusual departure for Apple, which in years past has used its annual developer conference as a place to unveil its major Mac OS releases. Apple broke with that tradition with Lion, instead showing it off about 9 months before it would hit the market. This time around, Apple's giving itself and developers what is likely to be a shorter timeframe to work out bugs and integrate new features.The end result brings the possibility of both the Mac and iOS devices receiving annual updates, something of an achievement for Apple given that the Mac OS has traditionally held to a release cycle of about every two years. It's also a stark contrast to competitors like Microsoft, which is expected to release its Windows 8 software--the follow-up to 2009's Windows 7--near the end of this year. What's newAs usual, Apple isn't offering a full look at what the new OS will have when it ships but is instead focusing on 10 features that it will launch with. Among them are ones you may have already heard of and been using for the past three months. That includes software like iMessage, Reminders, and Notes. Those three apps were introduced as part of iOS 5 and are now standalone pieces of software that work like and sync up with their iOS counterparts. Messages, as it's called in Mountain Lion, will replace iChat, the chat software Apple includes out of the box. Users will still get access to IM networks like AIM, Yahoo, and Jabber, though Apple's added compatibility with the same iMessage service that was introduced as part of iOS 5, which Apple says has now served up 26 billion messages since its October launch. Messages can be used to send and receive iMessages with these users for free, and the conversation can be picked up and continued from any device with that same Apple ID and iMessage enabled.Mountain Lion's Messages app now works with iMessage to let users carry over conversations from their iOS devices to their computer.AppleAlongside the developer preview of Mountain Lion, Apple is also offering a beta version of Messages as a standalone download to users of Lion.Behind the scenes, these new apps are synced up with their mobile counterparts through Apple's iCloud service, which Apple has more deeply integrated into the Mac. That includes a high-profile spot in Finder (the Mac's file viewer), where users can view and access documents they have stored there--just like they would in their iCloud-enabled apps on their iOS device.Apple's also brought a little bit of iOS fairy dust in the form of two new "Centers" that act as ground zero for certain types of activity. One of those is Notification Center, an iOS 5 feature that takes any notifications from applications--be it a calendar event, an incoming instant message, or a software update--and puts it in an organized list.Notification Center now sits "next to" the desktop and is accessible from any application you're on. Apple has introduced a new, two-finger swiping motion that opens it up on the side of the screen, as well as a new menubar item in the top right-hand corner of the screen that does the same thing. To coincide with this, there's also a new notification banner and alert system that lets application developers choose between banners and pop-ups that notify you in the corner of the screen (much like third-party app Growl), as well as an alert option that won't go away until you click on it.The other "center" is Game Center, an app that shows users their full catalog of games, as well as people they've befriended on the service. Just like in iOS, you can view and launch games from here, view achievements, and see leaderboards. That goes hand in hand with a new set of APIs for developers to add multiplayer features to Mac games, including Mac titles that have iOS counterparts.The new sharing tools built into Mountain Lion.Kent German/CNETSharing contentTwo other iOS features to make it into Mountain Lion center on sharing. The first of those is something Apple calls Share Sheets. If you've ever used the built-in Twitter features in iOS 5, the idea here is the same. Apple's added a button to share whatever content you're looking at in applications like Safari, Preview, and iPhoto to other apps and Web services--including Twitter, which users can now post to without having Twitter's Mac OS app installed.The other sharing addition is screen sharing in the form of AirPlay Mirroring. This is the feature that can take whatever's on your screen and beam it to an Apple TV. It's been a feature on the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S, with Apple now adding it as a drop-down menu option in Mountain Lion. It outputs whatever is on screen in a 720p video stream to an Apple TV unit on the same Wi-Fi network. Apple's also planning an update to its iTunes software that will be able to spit out video content directly to Apple TV units from your computer. So what's not from iOS?Apple has made two specific additions to Mountain Lion that cannot be found on iOS. The top one is Gatekeeper, a new security feature designed to fend off malware by controlling what applications can and cannot be installed.AppleAs a new preference within Mountain Lion's security tools, users can choose between one of the following allowed source options:• Mac App Store• Mac App Store and identified developers• AnywhereBy default, Apple's got Mountain Lion set in the middle option, which employs a signature system that checks with Apple to see if a creator of a non-App Store app is a registered developer. Apple says developers can register for these IDs, then sign their software with them in its Xcode development software. When a user tries to install that software for the first time, the system will then check to make sure it has not been altered since being signed, and that the developer is not a known distributor of malware. One important thing to point out about this system is that it will not uninstall unsigned software, or prohibit you from using software you've already installed. It's also been designed to let you manually override the protection measures and install something that hasn't been signed, even if your settings are turned all the way up to App Store only. Another non-iOS addition is the handful of localizations to OS X aimed at Chinese users, including system-wide tie-ins to local search engines and content sharing sites. That includes Baidu search in Safari, integration with QQ, 126 and 163 in Mail, and sharing to services like Sina weibo, Youku and Tudou. Apple's also made some adjustments to its text input for Chinese users' typing in with simplified and traditional Chinese, along with a dictionary the company says will be more frequently updated to keep up. What's still missing?One notable iOS feature that hasn't made the trip is Siri, the voice assistant feature introduced as part of the iPhone 4S. Apple says Mountain Lion is still a work in progress and that features may change ahead of its release, but Siri does not appear to be one of those.AppleThat's a curious thing given Siri's role on the iPhone 4S. It's tied into a handful of apps that are now a part of Mountain Lion, including Notes, Reminders, and Messages, as well as software that was there in previous OS X iterations, like Mail, FaceTime, and widgets for checking the weather and stock prices. One clear reason for this could be that a voice assistant feature simply does not have a place on the desktop just yet. More probable perhaps, is that Apple would not want to introduce it to a desktop OS without a way for developers to tap into it, something the company hasn't done on iOS.A new OS X every year?With Mountain Lion, Apple has made the rather unusual move of introducing the next version of Mac OS X not at one of its private events but as a preview to developers that will be released to the public later this year.A brief history of Mac OS X releases.CNETAs mentioned earlier, the release this summer puts OS X on a track that more closely resembles iOS, Apple's mobile operating system that's seen annual updates since its introduction. In its first few versions of Mac OS X between 2001 and 2003 that's the schedule Apple stuck to, before spanning major OS X releases to every two years (see above). In an interview last week, the company said this release was a sign of its fast innovation, but will customers who just bought a new Mac or a copy of Lion in the last few months see it like that? According to Apple's data, half of Mac users are still on Snow Leopard, the version of Mac OS X that preceded Lion. But Lion, which was released last July, has been the company's fastest-selling OS update, with 19 million copies shipped. Those users now account for 30 percent of those on the Mac platform, the company said. Related storiesWith Mountain Lion, Apple brings iOS and OS X a big step closerMountain Lion developer preview (screenshots)Apple gets 'Back to the Mac' with iLife '11, Mac OS X Lion Apple's iMessage protocol headed to iChat?For Apple's software business, an annual release cycle (which the company has not committed to), presents a chance to get consumers to pay once a year as opposed to every two years. And like Lion before it, it's part of a broader strategy to get people comfortable with the Mac App Store, where users now gets these Mac OS updates as well as other software. The two big questions that remain are whether the two operating systems will converge, and when such a thing will happen. Mountain Lion is certainly another not-so-subtle step in that direction with a handful of iOS apps making their way over to the desktop. But we're not there quite yet. More than anything this release is another move by Apple to make iPhone and iPad users feel at home on a Mac, something that's become increasingly important with those devices now able to exist on their own, without the help of iTunes. For a more in-depth look at the developer preview of Mountain Lion, see the first look from CNET Reviews.
Jobs to launch iPad newspaper with Murdoch-
Jobs to launch iPad newspaper with Murdoch?
Apple's role in this interesting enterprise seems to rest in offering engineering expertise, and, of course, the existence of many millions of iPads waiting to host the new iPad-o-newsthingy.There will be some, I know, who will already be scoffing at the prospect of an iPad-o-newsthingy, even if, as the Daily will allegedly enjoy, it has not only excellent, but even original content.Might I suggest, as Chrissie Hynde once almost muttered, they should stop their scoffing? Steve Jobs and Rupert Murdoch have one very important thing in common: they think quite deeply about what people really want to buy. They actually consider very, very carefully what delights people, as opposed to what they merely consume. Yes, I hear you scoff, I can see that about Jobs, but Murdoch? Surely he debases everything that goes before him. Look at all those dreadful tabloids he has perpetrated.Well, it depends on where you find your debasement. Those would be the dreadful tabloids to which many members of intelligentsia rush to (and delight in) well before they read the paper they know they're supposed to be seen reading. Though his experiments with charging for some of his British online entities, such as the often marvelous News of the World and the sometimes interesting Sunday Times, have proved to be a painful experience, Murdoch is reportedly captivated by the notion that people are far more captivated when clutching an iPad than when they are in possession of any other medium. There is a love thing going on with the iPad. And you know how lovers like to spend a lot of time with each other.The question remains, though, as to how this iPad-o-newsthingy will be presented to the world. Will there be some concerted advertising campaign, perhaps prepared in conjunction with Apple? Will there be star writers hired whose mere name will force a significant number of the population to toss their 99 cents into the fray? (The former editor of the New York Post Page 6, Richard Johnson is, for example, already said to be on the team.) Or will its alleged use of the amazingly investigative Parrot AR.Drone "quadricopter," offering a unique visual perspective on police car chases, be enough to excite the iPad readers?I am fascinated to see just how much of Apple's engineering intelligence will show in this iPad-o-newsthingy. If Apple's engineers inject enough thinking different into the idea of news consumption on the iPad, 99 cents a week might be quite tempting to a significant portion of users (which doesn't, at first, have to be a large number).Come on, it's only 99 cents. You know, like a track on iTunes. And, just once in a while, you used to download those for free, didn't you?
Apple's role in this interesting enterprise seems to rest in offering engineering expertise, and, of course, the existence of many millions of iPads waiting to host the new iPad-o-newsthingy.There will be some, I know, who will already be scoffing at the prospect of an iPad-o-newsthingy, even if, as the Daily will allegedly enjoy, it has not only excellent, but even original content.Might I suggest, as Chrissie Hynde once almost muttered, they should stop their scoffing? Steve Jobs and Rupert Murdoch have one very important thing in common: they think quite deeply about what people really want to buy. They actually consider very, very carefully what delights people, as opposed to what they merely consume. Yes, I hear you scoff, I can see that about Jobs, but Murdoch? Surely he debases everything that goes before him. Look at all those dreadful tabloids he has perpetrated.Well, it depends on where you find your debasement. Those would be the dreadful tabloids to which many members of intelligentsia rush to (and delight in) well before they read the paper they know they're supposed to be seen reading. Though his experiments with charging for some of his British online entities, such as the often marvelous News of the World and the sometimes interesting Sunday Times, have proved to be a painful experience, Murdoch is reportedly captivated by the notion that people are far more captivated when clutching an iPad than when they are in possession of any other medium. There is a love thing going on with the iPad. And you know how lovers like to spend a lot of time with each other.The question remains, though, as to how this iPad-o-newsthingy will be presented to the world. Will there be some concerted advertising campaign, perhaps prepared in conjunction with Apple? Will there be star writers hired whose mere name will force a significant number of the population to toss their 99 cents into the fray? (The former editor of the New York Post Page 6, Richard Johnson is, for example, already said to be on the team.) Or will its alleged use of the amazingly investigative Parrot AR.Drone "quadricopter," offering a unique visual perspective on police car chases, be enough to excite the iPad readers?I am fascinated to see just how much of Apple's engineering intelligence will show in this iPad-o-newsthingy. If Apple's engineers inject enough thinking different into the idea of news consumption on the iPad, 99 cents a week might be quite tempting to a significant portion of users (which doesn't, at first, have to be a large number).Come on, it's only 99 cents. You know, like a track on iTunes. And, just once in a while, you used to download those for free, didn't you?
Apple TV to come in 3 sizes, top out at 55 inches, report says
Apple TV to come in 3 sizes, top out at 55 inches, report says
The rumor mill is heating up around Apple's television plans, and now a report claims to have information on the device's screen sizes.Citing anonymous sources in Japan at a "major" company working on the set's production, Australian technology site Smarthouse reported Sunday that Apple television buyers will be able to choose from three screen sizes, ranging from 32 inches to 55 inches. In addition, the sources say that the television will ship with the same Apple A6 processor expected to come in the iPad 3.On the software side, Smarthouse's sources say that Apple has built entirely new software that will allow people to "call up programs" with the company's Siri virtual personal assistant.Talk of Apple producing a television has been making the rounds for years. Back in 2009, for instance, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said that he believed the tech giant would sell its first television by the end of 2011. Since that hasn't happened, Munster has revised his schedule a bit, saying now that the television will likely launch by the end of next year. Related storiesApple TV sets will be mighty pricey, analyst saysWas Jobs' next big thing an integrated TV?Apple TV: Did Steve Jobs crack the code?But Munster has speculated on more than just the set's launch. Last week at a Business Insider conference, Munster said that Apple firmly believes consumers want an all-in-one television that isn't tied down to external boxes. He also predicted that Apple would sell its line of televisions for twice the price of a comparable alternative.Like Smarthouse's sources, Munster believes the televisions will come with Siri support and a few different screen sizes.Apple hasn't said that it will, in fact, launch a television. However, those who have been hoping for it became a bit more confident about the possibility this fall when Steve Jobs' official biography revealed that the Apple co-founder was not only thinking about a television, but had found a way to make it match his vision."I'd like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use," Jobs told his biographer. "It would be seamlessly synched with all of your devices and with iCloud. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it."In an interview with CNET last month, however, biographer Walter Isaacson said that an Apple television wouldn't launch anytime soon."He told me it was very theoretical," Isaacson said of Jobs. "These were theoretical things they were thinking about in the future."Bloomberg reported in October, citing sources, that Apple has tapped iTunes creator Jeff Robbin to head up the television's development. Those sources said Apple currently has a TV prototype, but there is still a possibility that it won't go beyond that stage.Apple did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment on the Smarthouse report.
The rumor mill is heating up around Apple's television plans, and now a report claims to have information on the device's screen sizes.Citing anonymous sources in Japan at a "major" company working on the set's production, Australian technology site Smarthouse reported Sunday that Apple television buyers will be able to choose from three screen sizes, ranging from 32 inches to 55 inches. In addition, the sources say that the television will ship with the same Apple A6 processor expected to come in the iPad 3.On the software side, Smarthouse's sources say that Apple has built entirely new software that will allow people to "call up programs" with the company's Siri virtual personal assistant.Talk of Apple producing a television has been making the rounds for years. Back in 2009, for instance, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said that he believed the tech giant would sell its first television by the end of 2011. Since that hasn't happened, Munster has revised his schedule a bit, saying now that the television will likely launch by the end of next year. Related storiesApple TV sets will be mighty pricey, analyst saysWas Jobs' next big thing an integrated TV?Apple TV: Did Steve Jobs crack the code?But Munster has speculated on more than just the set's launch. Last week at a Business Insider conference, Munster said that Apple firmly believes consumers want an all-in-one television that isn't tied down to external boxes. He also predicted that Apple would sell its line of televisions for twice the price of a comparable alternative.Like Smarthouse's sources, Munster believes the televisions will come with Siri support and a few different screen sizes.Apple hasn't said that it will, in fact, launch a television. However, those who have been hoping for it became a bit more confident about the possibility this fall when Steve Jobs' official biography revealed that the Apple co-founder was not only thinking about a television, but had found a way to make it match his vision."I'd like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use," Jobs told his biographer. "It would be seamlessly synched with all of your devices and with iCloud. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it."In an interview with CNET last month, however, biographer Walter Isaacson said that an Apple television wouldn't launch anytime soon."He told me it was very theoretical," Isaacson said of Jobs. "These were theoretical things they were thinking about in the future."Bloomberg reported in October, citing sources, that Apple has tapped iTunes creator Jeff Robbin to head up the television's development. Those sources said Apple currently has a TV prototype, but there is still a possibility that it won't go beyond that stage.Apple did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment on the Smarthouse report.
Spotify to more than double its New York engineer workforce
Spotify to more than double its New York engineer workforce
NEW YORK -- Spotify plans to add about 130 jobs, largely engineers, to its workforce here by the end of 2014 and move to a larger headquarters in September, the streaming-music company and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a press conference Thursday.Ken Parks, Spotify's head of content, said he sat alone in the company's New York office after he took the keys three years ago. With just 20 workers in New York when the office opened, the company now plans to have 200 engineers in the city. Spotify has a total U.S. workforce of about 220. To celebrate the occasion, the mayor's office opened a Spotify account and created a playlist of New York-related songs, which played before and after the conference. Related storiesSpotify has much to do before U.S. launchWas Spotify too optimistic about U.S. launch?Pandora spurs music sales; Spotify not so muchSpotify adds two new levels of serviceStats don't support hype: Digital music is ailing The new jobs will touch on all the company's initiatives, including social, mobile, radio, and music discovery, according to Jeff Levick, Spotify's head of sales marketing and international growth. He added that the new location will have area for its artist partners. Spotify has been growing rapidly. In March, Spotify said it signed another 1 million subscribers since December, bringing the total to 6 million. That makes it the second-largest digital music service behind Pandora, which is the Web's fast growing one. With an Internet radio service in 28 countries, it's quickly adding territories as well as subscribers. But technology giants are throwing more of their weight behind streaming music. Google rolled out a Spotify-like subscription service in May that's part of Google Play. It's also working on a music service connected to YouTube. Apple this month unveiled iTunes Radio, its long-awaited free, streaming radio service. Update, 2:25 p.m. PT: Clarifies that Spotify plans to hire engineers.
NEW YORK -- Spotify plans to add about 130 jobs, largely engineers, to its workforce here by the end of 2014 and move to a larger headquarters in September, the streaming-music company and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a press conference Thursday.Ken Parks, Spotify's head of content, said he sat alone in the company's New York office after he took the keys three years ago. With just 20 workers in New York when the office opened, the company now plans to have 200 engineers in the city. Spotify has a total U.S. workforce of about 220. To celebrate the occasion, the mayor's office opened a Spotify account and created a playlist of New York-related songs, which played before and after the conference. Related storiesSpotify has much to do before U.S. launchWas Spotify too optimistic about U.S. launch?Pandora spurs music sales; Spotify not so muchSpotify adds two new levels of serviceStats don't support hype: Digital music is ailing The new jobs will touch on all the company's initiatives, including social, mobile, radio, and music discovery, according to Jeff Levick, Spotify's head of sales marketing and international growth. He added that the new location will have area for its artist partners. Spotify has been growing rapidly. In March, Spotify said it signed another 1 million subscribers since December, bringing the total to 6 million. That makes it the second-largest digital music service behind Pandora, which is the Web's fast growing one. With an Internet radio service in 28 countries, it's quickly adding territories as well as subscribers. But technology giants are throwing more of their weight behind streaming music. Google rolled out a Spotify-like subscription service in May that's part of Google Play. It's also working on a music service connected to YouTube. Apple this month unveiled iTunes Radio, its long-awaited free, streaming radio service. Update, 2:25 p.m. PT: Clarifies that Spotify plans to hire engineers.
iPhone 5 to come in multiple cellular versions
iPhone 5 to come in multiple cellular versions
Apple will make the iPhone 5 available in several cellular versions, potentially making it a headache for users who want to switch between carriers. Apple's iPhone 5 event Apple out to prove it's still kingHo-hum. iPhone 5 won't wow anyone Taking the wraps off the iPhone 5Pictures: Apple's big iPhone 5 reveal iPhone 5 price same as 4S: $199 for 16GB CNET's iPhone 5 reviewiPhone 5: What we didn't getComparing the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5Poll: Will you buy the iPhone 5?Video: Apple announces ultrafast iPhone 5 Start your iOS 6 downloads September 19 iOS 6 hits major marksNew iPod Touch: Siri and a 4-inch screenNew Nano: Remembering the iPod Mini84M iPads, 400M iOS devicesApple reworks, simplifies iTunes Full coverage: The iPhone 5 arrivesThe phone will come in three different models, featuring two different kinds of wireless-access technologies -- a CDMA version and two GSM versions, according to Apple's specs page. The specs also show that the device will have to use a different SIM card than in the past as predicted by rumors and leaks.Having several cellular versions makes the new iPhone a less compatible phone. Some countries use CDMA for cellular service, while others use GSM. The two different bands of GSM may mean even more compatibility issues.This is a change from the iPhone 4S, which hadboth technologies in one model, meaning the phone could be used in countries regardless of the technology.The iPhone's new memory chip will be a nano-SIM card versus the previous device's micro-SIM card. The new phone won't be compatible with micro-SIM cards, according to the specs.It's unclear why Apple chose these changes, but we have a message into the company and will update when we hear back.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Apple will make the iPhone 5 available in several cellular versions, potentially making it a headache for users who want to switch between carriers. Apple's iPhone 5 event Apple out to prove it's still kingHo-hum. iPhone 5 won't wow anyone Taking the wraps off the iPhone 5Pictures: Apple's big iPhone 5 reveal iPhone 5 price same as 4S: $199 for 16GB CNET's iPhone 5 reviewiPhone 5: What we didn't getComparing the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5Poll: Will you buy the iPhone 5?Video: Apple announces ultrafast iPhone 5 Start your iOS 6 downloads September 19 iOS 6 hits major marksNew iPod Touch: Siri and a 4-inch screenNew Nano: Remembering the iPod Mini84M iPads, 400M iOS devicesApple reworks, simplifies iTunes Full coverage: The iPhone 5 arrivesThe phone will come in three different models, featuring two different kinds of wireless-access technologies -- a CDMA version and two GSM versions, according to Apple's specs page. The specs also show that the device will have to use a different SIM card than in the past as predicted by rumors and leaks.Having several cellular versions makes the new iPhone a less compatible phone. Some countries use CDMA for cellular service, while others use GSM. The two different bands of GSM may mean even more compatibility issues.This is a change from the iPhone 4S, which hadboth technologies in one model, meaning the phone could be used in countries regardless of the technology.The iPhone's new memory chip will be a nano-SIM card versus the previous device's micro-SIM card. The new phone won't be compatible with micro-SIM cards, according to the specs.It's unclear why Apple chose these changes, but we have a message into the company and will update when we hear back.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
What, no iPhone news-
What, no iPhone news?
So the Apple event has come and gone and there was no iPhone news. Needless to say, I'm a little disappointed that we didn't get anything...even if it was a minor OS update. So unless Apple decides to call another press event in the next four months, we'll have to save our wish list for the Worldwide Developer's Conference in June.Still, the iPad raises some interesting questions about the iPhone. Not only does the iPad look like an oversize iPhone (or iPod Touch), but its new OS appears to be similar. And since we already know that the iPad will run all apps currently in the iTunes App store, it makes perfect sense that both devices will be able to sync with each other.So where does that leave the iPhone? I'm guessing that the iPad's effect on the current handset will be minimal, though we may see the iPhone OS tweaked to match the iPad's. To a future iPhone version, however, the iPad may be pointing the way. It would be great to see an iPhone with a 1Ghz processor and 64GB of memory. And though I know this is a stretch, I'd very much welcome anything in the range of 10 hours of battery life. On the other hand, three missing features on the iPad are troubling. The device doesn't support Flash in the Safari Web browser or multitasking and it appears that tethering won't be possible. We've been waiting a long time for those features, so we hope that the iPad is not a sign of things to (or not to) come.
So the Apple event has come and gone and there was no iPhone news. Needless to say, I'm a little disappointed that we didn't get anything...even if it was a minor OS update. So unless Apple decides to call another press event in the next four months, we'll have to save our wish list for the Worldwide Developer's Conference in June.Still, the iPad raises some interesting questions about the iPhone. Not only does the iPad look like an oversize iPhone (or iPod Touch), but its new OS appears to be similar. And since we already know that the iPad will run all apps currently in the iTunes App store, it makes perfect sense that both devices will be able to sync with each other.So where does that leave the iPhone? I'm guessing that the iPad's effect on the current handset will be minimal, though we may see the iPhone OS tweaked to match the iPad's. To a future iPhone version, however, the iPad may be pointing the way. It would be great to see an iPhone with a 1Ghz processor and 64GB of memory. And though I know this is a stretch, I'd very much welcome anything in the range of 10 hours of battery life. On the other hand, three missing features on the iPad are troubling. The device doesn't support Flash in the Safari Web browser or multitasking and it appears that tethering won't be possible. We've been waiting a long time for those features, so we hope that the iPad is not a sign of things to (or not to) come.
What if iTunes never happened-
What if iTunes never happened?
Why would anyone pay more for lower-quality sound? Or why does iTunes regularly charge the same price; downloads should always be a lot cheaper than physical product, shouldn't they? I guess not; buyers happily pay a premium for instant gratification. I don't get it.So I'm left wondering, would CD sales have tanked if iTunes never appeared? Maybe Tower Records and a lot of great local record stores would still be around. I don't know about you, but I discovered tons of great music in small, neighborhood record stores. In NYC it was easy to score great deals on used CDs, at lower prices than on iTunes. Maybe that's what I find so unpalatable about iTunes, the way it crushed the retail side of the record biz. In the pre-iTunes era you probably bought your tunes in your town, didn't you? The music business was also a lot healthier than it is now. EMI may still have the Beatles catalog, but it's teetering on the brink. I don't think any of the other majors are doing all that well, and small labels aren't doing a lot better. Downloads and iTunes haven't really taken up the slack of plummeting CD sales. Granted, few music lovers are shedding tears over record company losses, but before you kick them one more time, remember their marketing expertise put a lot of bands over the top. What do you think? Would the music industry and musicians be better off if iTunes never happened?
Why would anyone pay more for lower-quality sound? Or why does iTunes regularly charge the same price; downloads should always be a lot cheaper than physical product, shouldn't they? I guess not; buyers happily pay a premium for instant gratification. I don't get it.So I'm left wondering, would CD sales have tanked if iTunes never appeared? Maybe Tower Records and a lot of great local record stores would still be around. I don't know about you, but I discovered tons of great music in small, neighborhood record stores. In NYC it was easy to score great deals on used CDs, at lower prices than on iTunes. Maybe that's what I find so unpalatable about iTunes, the way it crushed the retail side of the record biz. In the pre-iTunes era you probably bought your tunes in your town, didn't you? The music business was also a lot healthier than it is now. EMI may still have the Beatles catalog, but it's teetering on the brink. I don't think any of the other majors are doing all that well, and small labels aren't doing a lot better. Downloads and iTunes haven't really taken up the slack of plummeting CD sales. Granted, few music lovers are shedding tears over record company losses, but before you kick them one more time, remember their marketing expertise put a lot of bands over the top. What do you think? Would the music industry and musicians be better off if iTunes never happened?
Create jukebox playlists before hitting the town
Create jukebox playlists before hitting the town
The service is straightforward enough in concept if not quite in site design. The interface isn't terrible, but it could use a little tweaking. For example, you have to search for music to add to a playlist--not the worst, but it would be nice to be able to click an add button from the playlist itself, and then be presented with a search option on just that page. Navigating is easy enough, with the myMusic button in the left nav and the location search in the right column being the most immediately useful options. There's also a Create a Playlist box on the right shoulder, and this could stand to be more prominent (I'd also like to see it integrated directly into the myMusic space).Once you've got a playlist going, adding songs is a simple matter of searching for what you want and then clicking the little plus icon next to the desired track. The TouchTunes catalog seems fairly large, though I did have trouble finding more fringe artists such as Out Hud and Caravan Palace and or even lesser-known songs by well-known artists, such as "Houses in Motion" by Talking Heads. The service does offer a 30-second preview for tracks, which is definitely appreciated. There's also an option (marked by a dollar sign) to purchase songs through iTunes.A few other playlist features worth noting add to the social aspect of the service. For example, you can select whether you want to collaborate on a mix with just friends or everyone in the MyTouchTunes network. There is also an option to make the playlist public or private on the site as well as one that lets you choose whether the mix will be shown on the actual jukebox.All in all, MyTouchTunes seems like a fun, social way to interact with music for a night out on the town. I can't say for sure yet, because I haven't had a chance to stop by a supported location to test out my first playlist--and therein lies the rub. The service is only available at 10 bars in San Francisco, and none of them is really a place I would choose to frequent. Luckily, one just happens to be on my route home today, so I'll be sure to stop in and send out an update via Twitter later. Stay tuned.
The service is straightforward enough in concept if not quite in site design. The interface isn't terrible, but it could use a little tweaking. For example, you have to search for music to add to a playlist--not the worst, but it would be nice to be able to click an add button from the playlist itself, and then be presented with a search option on just that page. Navigating is easy enough, with the myMusic button in the left nav and the location search in the right column being the most immediately useful options. There's also a Create a Playlist box on the right shoulder, and this could stand to be more prominent (I'd also like to see it integrated directly into the myMusic space).Once you've got a playlist going, adding songs is a simple matter of searching for what you want and then clicking the little plus icon next to the desired track. The TouchTunes catalog seems fairly large, though I did have trouble finding more fringe artists such as Out Hud and Caravan Palace and or even lesser-known songs by well-known artists, such as "Houses in Motion" by Talking Heads. The service does offer a 30-second preview for tracks, which is definitely appreciated. There's also an option (marked by a dollar sign) to purchase songs through iTunes.A few other playlist features worth noting add to the social aspect of the service. For example, you can select whether you want to collaborate on a mix with just friends or everyone in the MyTouchTunes network. There is also an option to make the playlist public or private on the site as well as one that lets you choose whether the mix will be shown on the actual jukebox.All in all, MyTouchTunes seems like a fun, social way to interact with music for a night out on the town. I can't say for sure yet, because I haven't had a chance to stop by a supported location to test out my first playlist--and therein lies the rub. The service is only available at 10 bars in San Francisco, and none of them is really a place I would choose to frequent. Luckily, one just happens to be on my route home today, so I'll be sure to stop in and send out an update via Twitter later. Stay tuned.
Create interactive iPod content with Mogopop.com
Create interactive iPod content with Mogopop.com
There's all kind of content out there that's available for cell phones: games, ringtones, wallpapers, some of it cool and some of it just plain annoying. Now that iPods are capable of just about everything short of dialing up the local pizzeria (no, this is not a post about "iPhone" rumors) it's about time that third-party Web sites started offering loads of multimedia to fill up your little Apple device. (Can't you see it's hungry?) Enter Mogopop, which is a way for iPod owners to download a wide range of media to their iPods as well as upload their own to share with others.Mogopop's drag-and-drop interface.MogopopBut it's not just a repository for gimmicky games and podcasts that weren't good enough to make it to the iTunes Store. The central concept of Mogopop is the creation of "mini web sites," small packages of media that you can create with the service's drag-and-drop interface and even preview on a picture of an iPod. You can work all kinds of content into them, like podcasts, audio clips, videos, and images--the concept reminds me a little bit of Imeem. Then you can publish your mini-site to Mogopop and others can download it. As for putting the mini-sites onto your iPod, it requires the downloadable Mogopop Manager software. Then, the content will appear in the "Notes" section of your iPod. Being a Mogopop member is free, and you can download as much as you want, although you are limited to sharing up to 50 MB of your own content.So what exactly can you do with these "mini-sites" for iPods? Some of Mogopop's suggestions include promotional materials for bands, multimedia resumes, or "walking tour" content. Browsing around the still-small site directory, I found a few things of interest, like an unofficial directory of all In-N-Out Burger locations in California, a museum guide, and a set of videos from a comedy troupe. Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of wacky iPod content: I prefer to fill the hard drive with music, thankyouverymuch. But even if Mogopop doesn't catch on, I would expect that we'll soon be seeing plenty more distributors of media packages and mini-apps for iPods. And who knows? Maybe future editions of the iPod will be designed to incorporate more third-party "software" like this.
There's all kind of content out there that's available for cell phones: games, ringtones, wallpapers, some of it cool and some of it just plain annoying. Now that iPods are capable of just about everything short of dialing up the local pizzeria (no, this is not a post about "iPhone" rumors) it's about time that third-party Web sites started offering loads of multimedia to fill up your little Apple device. (Can't you see it's hungry?) Enter Mogopop, which is a way for iPod owners to download a wide range of media to their iPods as well as upload their own to share with others.Mogopop's drag-and-drop interface.MogopopBut it's not just a repository for gimmicky games and podcasts that weren't good enough to make it to the iTunes Store. The central concept of Mogopop is the creation of "mini web sites," small packages of media that you can create with the service's drag-and-drop interface and even preview on a picture of an iPod. You can work all kinds of content into them, like podcasts, audio clips, videos, and images--the concept reminds me a little bit of Imeem. Then you can publish your mini-site to Mogopop and others can download it. As for putting the mini-sites onto your iPod, it requires the downloadable Mogopop Manager software. Then, the content will appear in the "Notes" section of your iPod. Being a Mogopop member is free, and you can download as much as you want, although you are limited to sharing up to 50 MB of your own content.So what exactly can you do with these "mini-sites" for iPods? Some of Mogopop's suggestions include promotional materials for bands, multimedia resumes, or "walking tour" content. Browsing around the still-small site directory, I found a few things of interest, like an unofficial directory of all In-N-Out Burger locations in California, a museum guide, and a set of videos from a comedy troupe. Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of wacky iPod content: I prefer to fill the hard drive with music, thankyouverymuch. But even if Mogopop doesn't catch on, I would expect that we'll soon be seeing plenty more distributors of media packages and mini-apps for iPods. And who knows? Maybe future editions of the iPod will be designed to incorporate more third-party "software" like this.
Apple suppliers eyeing strong quarter from iPhone 5
Apple suppliers eyeing strong quarter from iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 has yet to hit the market, but at least two Apple's suppliers are already seeing strong sales by delivering parts for the new phone, according to Taiwan Economic News.Operating at full steam to make the iPhone 5's touch screens, TPK Holdings brought in record revenue of more than 11.1 billion Taiwan dollars ($371 million) in August, down a bit from July but up 101 percent from a year ago. Chief Financial Officer Freddie Liu attributed the sales surge to booming shipments of touch panels for the iPhone 4, but "implied" that the company has also been shipping panels for the iPhone 5, according to the news site.Liu expects sales for the current quarter to hit a record high and then peak in the fourth quarter at the Taipei, Taiwan-based company.Related stories:• iPhone 5 rumor roundup• iPhone 5 now rumored to launch October 7• Foxconn said to be making 150,000 iPhone 5s a day• iPad 3 in '11? No. Two new iPhones? Seems soLargan Precision, which makes the iPhone camera lens, saw its August revenue reach 1.46 billion Taiwan dollars, a gain of 25 percent from the same month last year. The Taichung City, Taiwan-based company said that sales growth got a shot in the arm from higher shipments of 8-megapixel lens modules. The iPhone 5 will reportedly sport the higher 8-megapixel lens, a boost from the 5-megapixel lens currently found in the iPhone 4.Largan's third-quarter sales are expected to grow 15 percent from the record high of 4.1 billion Taiwan dollars seen a year ago as the new 8-megapixel lenses account for almost 20 percent of its overall shipments, added Taiwan Economic News.With the iPhone 5 rumored to hit the market sometime in early October, Apple is reportedly aiming to have 5 million to 6 million phones on hand by the end of September, prompting the device's major supplier, Foxconn Electronics, to squeeze out around 150,000 units per day.
The iPhone 5 has yet to hit the market, but at least two Apple's suppliers are already seeing strong sales by delivering parts for the new phone, according to Taiwan Economic News.Operating at full steam to make the iPhone 5's touch screens, TPK Holdings brought in record revenue of more than 11.1 billion Taiwan dollars ($371 million) in August, down a bit from July but up 101 percent from a year ago. Chief Financial Officer Freddie Liu attributed the sales surge to booming shipments of touch panels for the iPhone 4, but "implied" that the company has also been shipping panels for the iPhone 5, according to the news site.Liu expects sales for the current quarter to hit a record high and then peak in the fourth quarter at the Taipei, Taiwan-based company.Related stories:• iPhone 5 rumor roundup• iPhone 5 now rumored to launch October 7• Foxconn said to be making 150,000 iPhone 5s a day• iPad 3 in '11? No. Two new iPhones? Seems soLargan Precision, which makes the iPhone camera lens, saw its August revenue reach 1.46 billion Taiwan dollars, a gain of 25 percent from the same month last year. The Taichung City, Taiwan-based company said that sales growth got a shot in the arm from higher shipments of 8-megapixel lens modules. The iPhone 5 will reportedly sport the higher 8-megapixel lens, a boost from the 5-megapixel lens currently found in the iPhone 4.Largan's third-quarter sales are expected to grow 15 percent from the record high of 4.1 billion Taiwan dollars seen a year ago as the new 8-megapixel lenses account for almost 20 percent of its overall shipments, added Taiwan Economic News.With the iPhone 5 rumored to hit the market sometime in early October, Apple is reportedly aiming to have 5 million to 6 million phones on hand by the end of September, prompting the device's major supplier, Foxconn Electronics, to squeeze out around 150,000 units per day.
Apple supplier under scrutiny following worker deaths
Apple supplier under scrutiny following worker deaths
The death of a 15-year-old factory employee has intensified fears about poor working conditions at Apple supplier Pegatron.Shi Zhaokun had worked at a Pegatron factory that makes Apple's iPhone 5C. On October 9, Shi died of pneumonia shortly after being admitted to a hospital. His ID said he was 20, but in actuality he was only 15, according to The New York Times. A spokeswoman for Pegatron told the Times that Shi's death was not related to the workplace environment. The boy's uncle said he was in good health and had just passed a physical on September 4, just prior to his employment, reported the Times.Related storiesApple updates figure on work week labor complianceChina Labor Watch chastises factory making 'cheap' iPhoneSamsung under fire for alleged labor abuses in BrazilFoxconn brushes off claims of pollution in ChinaShi's death is not an isolated case. At least five Pegatron workers have died under similar conditions in recent months, according to watchdog group China Labor Watch, triggering concerns over factory conditions."Considering the sudden deaths of five people and the similar reason of the deaths, we believe there should be some relations between the tragedy and the working conditions in the factory," Li Qiang, executive director of CLW, told the Times.Specifically, work logs kept by Shi's family showed that during his month at Pegatron the boy worked 280 hours, six days a week, and sometimes as many as 12 hours a day, way beyond the allowed 60 hours per week, reported the Times. But Pegatron has insisted that Shi did not go beyond the legal number of hours, saying that logs may not show the total number of breaks.Pegatron said that it is investigating the deaths, though it maintains that an investigation of the factory turned up nothing toxic or otherwise hazardous. But the supplier has already been on CLW's radar. In July, the watchdog group accused Pegatron of safety violations, poor living conditions, and other labor abuses.
The death of a 15-year-old factory employee has intensified fears about poor working conditions at Apple supplier Pegatron.Shi Zhaokun had worked at a Pegatron factory that makes Apple's iPhone 5C. On October 9, Shi died of pneumonia shortly after being admitted to a hospital. His ID said he was 20, but in actuality he was only 15, according to The New York Times. A spokeswoman for Pegatron told the Times that Shi's death was not related to the workplace environment. The boy's uncle said he was in good health and had just passed a physical on September 4, just prior to his employment, reported the Times.Related storiesApple updates figure on work week labor complianceChina Labor Watch chastises factory making 'cheap' iPhoneSamsung under fire for alleged labor abuses in BrazilFoxconn brushes off claims of pollution in ChinaShi's death is not an isolated case. At least five Pegatron workers have died under similar conditions in recent months, according to watchdog group China Labor Watch, triggering concerns over factory conditions."Considering the sudden deaths of five people and the similar reason of the deaths, we believe there should be some relations between the tragedy and the working conditions in the factory," Li Qiang, executive director of CLW, told the Times.Specifically, work logs kept by Shi's family showed that during his month at Pegatron the boy worked 280 hours, six days a week, and sometimes as many as 12 hours a day, way beyond the allowed 60 hours per week, reported the Times. But Pegatron has insisted that Shi did not go beyond the legal number of hours, saying that logs may not show the total number of breaks.Pegatron said that it is investigating the deaths, though it maintains that an investigation of the factory turned up nothing toxic or otherwise hazardous. But the supplier has already been on CLW's radar. In July, the watchdog group accused Pegatron of safety violations, poor living conditions, and other labor abuses.
Apple supplier Hon Hai renegotiating its deal for part of Sharp
Apple supplier Hon Hai renegotiating its deal for part of Sharp
Apple supplier Hon Hai's deal to buy part of Sharp Electronics is up in the air for now as the two companies try to hammer out a new agreement.The two told Reuters that a joint statement about the status of a renegotiated deal would likely be delayed until later in August after Japan's holiday season.Revealed in March, the deal would have seen Hon Hai buy around 11 percent of the struggling Sharp and 46.5 percent of the company's LCD TV factory in Sakai, Japan. That would have left 46.5 percent of the plant still owned by Sharp and 7 percent by Sony. In response, Sharp would have issued around $800 million in stock to Hon Hai.But Sharp's stock has dropped since the initial terms were laid out, prompting Hon Hai to want to renegotiate. The two are trying to work out "a better version" of the March deal, Hon Hai spokesman Simon Hsing told Reuters today, without revealing any further details.Related storiesApple supplier Hon Hai buying stake in SharpSharp replacing president after huge loss expected for 2011Foxconn, Sharp eying Apple big-screen TV, says parts makerThe two companies seem to disagree over the status of the March agreement.Hon Hai said a week ago that Sharp released it from the terms of the March agreement, Reuters noted. In light of Sharp's stock decline, Hon Hai wants to pay less money per share or grab a larger chunk of Sharp. But a Sharp spokeswoman said her company still considers the March terms to be valid though she admitted that talks are ongoing.Sharp needs the influx of cash. The electronics maker saw its sales and operating income plummet last year. Hon Hai wants Sharp for its display panel manufacturing, which it considers superior to that of Samsung.CNET contacted Sharp for comment and will update the story if we receive more information.
Apple supplier Hon Hai's deal to buy part of Sharp Electronics is up in the air for now as the two companies try to hammer out a new agreement.The two told Reuters that a joint statement about the status of a renegotiated deal would likely be delayed until later in August after Japan's holiday season.Revealed in March, the deal would have seen Hon Hai buy around 11 percent of the struggling Sharp and 46.5 percent of the company's LCD TV factory in Sakai, Japan. That would have left 46.5 percent of the plant still owned by Sharp and 7 percent by Sony. In response, Sharp would have issued around $800 million in stock to Hon Hai.But Sharp's stock has dropped since the initial terms were laid out, prompting Hon Hai to want to renegotiate. The two are trying to work out "a better version" of the March deal, Hon Hai spokesman Simon Hsing told Reuters today, without revealing any further details.Related storiesApple supplier Hon Hai buying stake in SharpSharp replacing president after huge loss expected for 2011Foxconn, Sharp eying Apple big-screen TV, says parts makerThe two companies seem to disagree over the status of the March agreement.Hon Hai said a week ago that Sharp released it from the terms of the March agreement, Reuters noted. In light of Sharp's stock decline, Hon Hai wants to pay less money per share or grab a larger chunk of Sharp. But a Sharp spokeswoman said her company still considers the March terms to be valid though she admitted that talks are ongoing.Sharp needs the influx of cash. The electronics maker saw its sales and operating income plummet last year. Hon Hai wants Sharp for its display panel manufacturing, which it considers superior to that of Samsung.CNET contacted Sharp for comment and will update the story if we receive more information.
Apple suggests another way to combat spam
Apple suggests another way to combat spam
Apple wants to help you fight the forces of spam, by improving the use of disposable e-mail addresses.A patent named "Disposable Email Address Generation and Mapping to a Regular Email Account," published Thursday by the US Patent and Trademark Office, suggests a more integrated and backend process for creating temporary e-mail addresses that you can easily throw away.Some people use disposable addresses to cut down on spam. But that process currently presents some pitfalls, as described by Apple. You typically have to turn to a different provider than your current e-mail host to get such an address. Some sites won't accept disposable addresses.These types of addresses are often recognized as disposable, defeating their whole purpose. And replies to e-mails sent to your disposable address and forwarded to your permanent address are usually sent using the disposable one, revealing it to other people.Instead, Apple envisions a disposable address created by an e-mail server, which then manages all messages and their destinations on the backend. Once your disposable address has outlived its usefulness, you can easily dump it for a new one that is then associated with your permanent address.Further, your disposable address would contain certain information designed to keep tabs on its use. Should this address start receiving spam, you could use the information to track down which recipient may have leaked it to a spammer. Finally, Apple's invention would be able to tell whether a reply to a sender's e-mail came from your disposable or permanent address and juggle the process accordingly.As always, a patent filing doesn't mean this technology will ever see the real world. But a more seamless way of using disposable addresses could be a good weapon in the war against spam.(Via AppleInsider)
Apple wants to help you fight the forces of spam, by improving the use of disposable e-mail addresses.A patent named "Disposable Email Address Generation and Mapping to a Regular Email Account," published Thursday by the US Patent and Trademark Office, suggests a more integrated and backend process for creating temporary e-mail addresses that you can easily throw away.Some people use disposable addresses to cut down on spam. But that process currently presents some pitfalls, as described by Apple. You typically have to turn to a different provider than your current e-mail host to get such an address. Some sites won't accept disposable addresses.These types of addresses are often recognized as disposable, defeating their whole purpose. And replies to e-mails sent to your disposable address and forwarded to your permanent address are usually sent using the disposable one, revealing it to other people.Instead, Apple envisions a disposable address created by an e-mail server, which then manages all messages and their destinations on the backend. Once your disposable address has outlived its usefulness, you can easily dump it for a new one that is then associated with your permanent address.Further, your disposable address would contain certain information designed to keep tabs on its use. Should this address start receiving spam, you could use the information to track down which recipient may have leaked it to a spammer. Finally, Apple's invention would be able to tell whether a reply to a sender's e-mail came from your disposable or permanent address and juggle the process accordingly.As always, a patent filing doesn't mean this technology will ever see the real world. But a more seamless way of using disposable addresses could be a good weapon in the war against spam.(Via AppleInsider)
Apple sued over spreadsheet technology
Apple sued over spreadsheet technology
Apple has been sued by a Texas-based company for allegedly infringing on a patent with its Numbers spreadsheet software.The complaint, which was filed on Wednesday with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Tyler Division, accuses Apple of infringing on a patent covering a "system and methods for improved spreadsheet interface with user-familiar objects" with its Numbers software. That patent was granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1995, and now belongs to Data Engine Technologies LLC, a non-practicing entity, or what some would call a "patent troll."In its complaint, which was spotted by Priorsmart yesterday, Data Engine Technologies says Apple knew about its patent in mid-2010,and referenced it its own patent for cutting and copying spreadsheet cells, which was issued more than a decade later in 2007. Related storiesGoogle, Apple sued over Street View technologyApple sued by company in patent deal with MicrosoftApple's iPhone voice mail the target of another patent suitApple introduced numbers as part of its iWork '08 suite in 2007 in order to compete with Microsoft's Excel, and other spreadsheet applications. Apple went on to bring it to iOS as a standalone application in early 2010.As is to be expected, the lawsuit is asking for damages -- plus interest -- for infringement, as well as a permanent injunction on Apple's infringing products. You can read the entire complaint below:Data Engine Technologies LLC
Apple has been sued by a Texas-based company for allegedly infringing on a patent with its Numbers spreadsheet software.The complaint, which was filed on Wednesday with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Tyler Division, accuses Apple of infringing on a patent covering a "system and methods for improved spreadsheet interface with user-familiar objects" with its Numbers software. That patent was granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1995, and now belongs to Data Engine Technologies LLC, a non-practicing entity, or what some would call a "patent troll."In its complaint, which was spotted by Priorsmart yesterday, Data Engine Technologies says Apple knew about its patent in mid-2010,and referenced it its own patent for cutting and copying spreadsheet cells, which was issued more than a decade later in 2007. Related storiesGoogle, Apple sued over Street View technologyApple sued by company in patent deal with MicrosoftApple's iPhone voice mail the target of another patent suitApple introduced numbers as part of its iWork '08 suite in 2007 in order to compete with Microsoft's Excel, and other spreadsheet applications. Apple went on to bring it to iOS as a standalone application in early 2010.As is to be expected, the lawsuit is asking for damages -- plus interest -- for infringement, as well as a permanent injunction on Apple's infringing products. You can read the entire complaint below:Data Engine Technologies LLC
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