Gadget and Techno Updates
Posts tagged Apple
Apple to absorb cost changes for iPad 2 components
Mar 31st
Apple has allegedly agreed to absorb any inflation in component costs due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, suppliers have told DigiTimes. The company is pushing a strategy that may give it supply priority over other companies that cannot accommodate the potential cost increases, as suppliers will not have to shrink margins for components used in Apple products.
Despite efforts to ensure a steady supply in the near term, the sources suggest certain components, such as anisotropic conductive films (ACF) and indium tin oxide (ITO) materials, may nonetheless run short by June.
Apple is said to be pushing its iPad More >
Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac 1.1 adds Apple Lossless
Mar 27th
Microsoft gave Mac users more parity with their Windows peers late Friday with the 1.1 update to Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac (free, App Store). The new version now lets Apple Lossless (ALAC) tracks sync to Windows Phone 7 or, likely, Zune HD devices. Those using the desktop Zune app on Windows already had Windows Media Audio support and thus an edge if they wanted higher quality sound.
The upgrade also now has the option of starting the app whenever a WP7 device plugs into the Mac; it previously had to either be open or running in the menu More >
Apple growth expected to outpace IBM, HP
Mar 26th
Forrester Research CEO George Colony has placed a prediction that Apple’s growth will continue to outpace that of rivals IBM and HP. The latter companies are expected to fall behind, in terms of yearly revenue, as early as 2013. Colony anticipates Apple’s revenues to exceed $ 200 billion during the same period of time.
“They’ll be bigger than IBM next year, and they’ll be bigger than HP the year after that,” Colony was quoted as saying, according to a Newsfactor report.
Other analysts question the potential impacts if Steve Jobs is no longer able to lead the company. Enderle Group analyst Rob More >
ITC says Apple didn’t violate five Nokia patents
Mar 26th
Apple won a significant victory against Nokia on Friday after an International Trade Commission judge said in an initial ruling that Apple didn’t infringe on any of the five patents leveled against it in Nokia’s December 2009 patent dispute. The claims insisted that the iPhone, iPod and Macs at the time all copied Nokia’s wireless technology. Judge James Gildea’s decision wasn’t final and will have to be approved by the rest of the ITC on August 1 to be upheld.
Nokia has said it disagrees with the verdict but wants to see whether it will need to appeal.
The verdict doesn’t More >
Kodak lands ITC review of Apple, RIM wins in patent case
Mar 26th
Kodak on Friday night successfully obtained a review of the ITC decision for Apple and RIM. The trade agency said it would check again whether Kodak’s patent for low resolution previews was being copied in the BlackBerry and iPhone. A decision would take place no later than May 23.
The decision is a reprieve for Kodak but won’t necessarily result in a victory, since the court can return to the same conclusion. If it does, there likely wouldn’t be a second chance for Kodak to get the ITC’s backing and could lead to it losing any civil actions taken against More >