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- iPhones, iPods and Laptop Flash in Patent Trade Complaint
Never rains, but it pours, eh? As if Apple doesn't have enough on its plate with the FCC, the latest patent infringement accusations are in, this time courtesy of BTG International.
BTG claims some of Samsung's flash chips violate patents it owns on multilevel NAND Flash memory, according to Macworld. While BTG isn't directly accusing Apple of the infringements, this is a potential headache for the company since so many of its devices employ Samsung's chips for internal storage.
The MacBook Air, first-generation iPhone 8GB, third-generation iPod shuffle 4GB, and second-generation iPod touch 16GB all use Samsung's NAND memory. It is not yet known whether Apple would be implicated in a settlement/compensation agreement should the complaint be upheld.
BTG is a "licensing company" that holds the title to many patents. Its parent company, also called BTG International, is "a pharmaceutical company based in London," reports Macworld. I won't say this could sound like an example of a “non-practicing entity” if you won't.
Other brands named in the complaint that use Samsung’s chips include: Dell, Sony Vaio, Lenovo, PNY and Transcend. BTG seems to know the first rule of crafting a lawsuit: Don’t stop naming names until your list of offending companies reads like a Who’s Who of the computing industry.
On Sept 10th, 500 people will gather to figure out how to make the most of the $45 billion mobile web market at Mobilize 09. Join them!
Переслать - Slay Sync Services Dragons with Spanning Tools
Who doesn’t battle the Apple Sync Services dragon on a semi-regular basis? Here are a couple of examples from Apple Support about how to resolve problems with this very useful yet unfortunately flawed feature:
- Mac OS X 10.5: Resetting the SyncServices folder
- Sync Services: Advanced troubleshooting for contact and calendar syncing
There are even more support articles around the web, although I think you get the picture. Let’s be clear, syncing any type of data is not trivial. Syncing multiple forms of data (contacts, calendar, bookmarks, etc.) is even less so.
If you use Sync Services and you don’t have issues, count yourself amongst one of the lucky few. If you use Sync Services and you have problems, then read on…
To cure your Sync Services woes, The folks at Spanning Sync recently released a great set of three applications called Spanning Tools. Here is what the package includes:
- Calendar Cleaner: resolves calender conflicts, duplicates, etc.
- Contacts Cleaner: resolves duplicate contacts, bad data with contacts and more.
- Sync Tune-Up: the big-kahuna tool. This one enables you to completely remove any bad Sync Services data and then start syncing with fresh (clean) data.
Where Sync Services gets crazy is when you begin using additional applications that leverage the functionality. Some of these applications include: MobileMe (AB, iCal, Safari, etc.), Microsoft Entourage, Daylite, Missing Sync, Google Contact Sync (from Address Book), Spanning Sync, BusySync, iSync phones and many, many more
What I like about this software suite is that it is focused. You have a specific toolset to resolve some potentially big data synchronization issues. What’s also great is that this suite of tools is very inexpensive – $20. Thus, for a nice crisp Mr. Jackson, you can own a complete toolset to ensure that your Sync Services data is kept clean, fresh, and consistent.
If you’re looking for a something sync-oriented to add to your utilities arsenal, then definitely head on over to the Spanning Tools site – you won’t regret it.
Переслать - Rumor Has It: Apple to Refresh MacBook
AppleInsider's Kasper Jade today reports that Apple has new plans for its workhorse laptop, the MacBook. This will be the first time since the product's launch in 2006 that the company's entry-level Mac has received a complete design update.
The MacBook is the best-selling computer in the history of the company. It introduced many of the features we take for granted in today's high-end MacBook Pro machines. The MagSafe connector and latchless lids might be expected of Apple's laptops these days, but they originally debuted in the diminutive MacBooks more than three years ago.
The report claims that the MacBooks were slated to be discontinued, but that at a redesign the company will “solidify them at the base of the Mac maker’s notebook offerings for the foreseeable future."
There is no news as to what the redesigned MacBook might look like, but if Apple is to position the machine as a low-cost, entry-level device while keeping it distinct enough from its 13-inch MacBook Pro cousin, it seems unlikely it will be made using the same unibody extrusion process.
A carbon fiber composite would make sense, given this 2006 patent application filed by Apple. It describes a method for producing a carbon fiber composite used as an exterior shell for electronic devices. Of particular note is mention of a "scrim" layer designed to improve the cosmetic finish of the material.
Furthermore, there was talk last year of Apple planning to replace at least part of the MacBook Air's aircraft-grade aluminum body — specifically, the bottom cover — with the tough-but-light carbon fiber material. While the latest updates to the Air continue to use an all-aluminum body, it is conceivable the carbon fiber plans will see the light of day in the new MacBook.
As for the refreshed internals, there's only speculation, guided by the assumption Apple will want to position the new MacBook as an affordable (read "cheap") machine:
Apple is expected to achieve these markdowns through largely existing tactics, such as using lower-end components and previous-generation Core 2 Duo chips and architectures from Intel Corp. Battery life should receive a boost from cutting-edge technology that recently found its way into the company’s other notebook offerings, while high-end legacy features like FireWire connectivity are likely to be sacrificed in the tradeoff.
[Apple] toyed with the prospect of throwing an Intel Atom processor into the existing white MacBook enclosure as [an] interim solution aimed at delivering a low-cost Mac portable for those consumers eying a Mac but hit hard by the recession.
Interestingly, Jade explains that this idea was dropped earlier in the year right around the time when Apple “solidified the forthcoming Newton web tablet for a first-quarter 2010 rollout".
If Apple prices the new MacBook around the same $999 mark as the current machine — which it most probably will — what will that mean for the price of the tablet? Whatever the outcome, it sounds as though Apple has a clearly defined product/feature differentiation in mind for these devices, despite their similar price points.
It's all just speculation, of course. But it's nice to see that Apple is potentially breathing new life into an old and trusted friend.
How will real-time change the enterprise? Find out at NewNet, GigaOM Pro's newest research topic area.
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