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.
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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