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- Apple loses ‘app store’ exclusivity to Amazon: Does it matter?
- Design your own YouTube with Cosmic Panda update
- Samsung should focus on Galaxy smartphones and tablets; second quarter profits plummet 26 percent
- Android 3.2 Honeycomb update incoming: Get ready for even more Android tablets
- The future of multitouch, a Facebook music service, and an iPhone jailbreak convention: Lunchtime Lowdown
- Minecraft made real with 3D printers
- Rockstar Films registered: bring on the GTA movie!
- Tech Business: bribery, digital pens, and getting yourself in the news
- Mac OS X Lion launch: Apple stores preparing for July 14
- Exclusive: Mi Suny iPower 4 solar-powered iPod charger
| Apple loses ‘app store’ exclusivity to Amazon: Does it matter? Posted: 08 Jul 2011 08:27 AM PDT
Apple has rightfully pioneered the modern application library through its App Store. With more than 300,000 apps available and an endless slue of developers chomping at the bit for a chance to strike gold, apps and Apple have almost become synonymous. As I've followed the mobile industry for the past five years, today's ruling by Judge Phyllis Hamilton is quite surprising. The judge said, "Apple has not established that its ‘App Store‘ mark is famous, in the sense of being prominent and renowned." These are strong claims considering Apple App Store downloads surpassed the 15 billion mark this week. Prior to the Apple App Store, downloading applications on smartphones required dealing direct with individual developers. Centralizing and curating applications was Apple's claim to fame as far as I'm concerned. Shortly after realizing Apple's success, the entire mobile industry followed suit — BlackBerry launched the BlackBerry App World, Android launched the Android Market and Windows launched Windows Marketplace. None of these stores would exist had Apple not shown the millions (possibly billions) in profits that could be made by centralizing applications for a platform. I'm not suggesting that Apple should be allowed to coin the phrase 'App Store', but such blatant disregard for the App Store's impact by Judge Phyllis Hamilton is unsettling. Laws aside, Apple spends a tremendous amount of money marketing its products through catchy television adverts each month — a large percentage are focused on its apps. Judge Phyllis Hamilton and I agree on this point, "the evidence does show that Apple has spent a great deal of money on advertising and publicity." At the end of the day the denial of Apple's injunction request against Amazon will not make or break the company. Amazon will benefit from the name, the same way all Android phones benefit from Verizon's 'Droid' marketing campaign. The difference is that Apple will continue to attract developers to its platform first. The 90,000 apps for iPad and more than 200,000 apps for iPhone and iPod Touch will differentiate the App Store names. Related posts:
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| Design your own YouTube with Cosmic Panda update Posted: 08 Jul 2011 08:02 AM PDT YouTube has rolled out a new design, named Cosmic Panda. It's a whole lot slicker, and drops the white background for dark grey, but just what can you do with it? well you'll be pleased to know there's a whole bag of tricks at your disposal. Videos are available in four sizes now (including full screen), there's a more intuitive way to search, and you can keep watching when moving between videos, playlists and channels (when using the Google Chrome browser). A new channel customisation section lets you to arrange you channels how you see fit, picking from four templates, making finding what you’re looking for easier than ever. Give it a look here. Related posts:
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| Samsung should focus on Galaxy smartphones and tablets; second quarter profits plummet 26 percent Posted: 08 Jul 2011 06:44 AM PDT
Operating profit in the three month period ending June was 3.7 trillion won, down from 5.01 trillion won a year earlier. Bloomberg followed 25 leading analysts' estimates and found an average operating profit forecast of 3.8 trillion won. Now that the blood is in the water Jeong Jae, a Seoul-based fund manager at Shinhan BNP Paribas Asset Management Co., believes "if demand for tablets and 3-D TVs recovers, the panel business can turn around fast." So just how bad is Samsung's display division? Flat panel sales dropped an estimated 11 percent, resulting in an operating loss of 73.5 billion won. That's a steep dive from the 880 billion won profit a year earlier. Like fund manager Jeong Jae, we are of the belief that Samsung's tablet line will be an integral part in turning around profits. But tablets alone will not win this war — the key will be smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S II has continued to shatter Android handset sales records. The last time we checked, worldwide sales had eclipsed the three million unit mark and show no signs of slowing. The new-found hurdle in smartphone profits, as we reported earlier this week, is Microsoft and it's £9 royalty fee. If Samsung is forced into submission and pays out such an outrageous fee for every Android handset it sells, a turnaround in company profits will be even more difficult. So what's the solution? The short-term fix is to ramp production of the Galaxy S II and roll out the phone to more markets. There's more than 200 million US wireless customers that have yet to see a carrier subsidized Galaxy S II. We'd imagine a release across the big four (Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint) would turn the three million units sold in five, if not more. Additionally, it's time to launch the Galaxy Tab 8.9. Samsung could command the tablet market if it offered two versions of its razor-thin slate. Let us know how else Samsung can turn around company profits in the comments section below. Related posts:
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| Android 3.2 Honeycomb update incoming: Get ready for even more Android tablets Posted: 08 Jul 2011 06:04 AM PDT
HTC Flyer owners, prepare to celebrate. The two blockbuster features included in Android 3.2 Honeycomb are support for Qualcomm processors and 7-inch displays. Gone are the days of manufacturers being limited to Tegra 2 processors and 10.1-inch displays. But does this mean we'll see Snapdragon versions of existing tablets like the Xoom and Galaxy Tab 10.1? We don't imagine it would, though 7-inch versions of either tablet would probably sell quite well to a female audience hoping for a purse-friendly Honeycomb slate. The real winners in Android 3.2 will be the budget (white box) tablet manufacturers. By using Qualcomm chips and smaller displays, the cost of production will plummet, opening the door for even more competition. If you thought there were too many Android tablets at CES 2011, just wait for 2012. We'd be remiss if we didn't highlight the remaining improvements contained in Android 3.2 Honeycomb. In addition to the processor support and smaller displays, Google has addressed several bugs and improved hardware acceleration. The Movie Studio, Movies and Music apps will all be updated and the factory widgets will receive a make over. So when can we get our hands on Android 3.2 Honeycomb? Android 3.0 launched on March 27th, followed by 3.1 in mid-may. Of course, these are the first dates of availability for one version of the Motorola Xoom. Nevertheless, 45 days seems to be the magic number which means we're now eight days overdue for the roll out. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled to the Twitter feeds of Android's Honeycomb team. Related posts:
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| Posted: 08 Jul 2011 04:30 AM PDT
An Apple patent filed just before the original iPad launched reveals how we'll be using iPads of the future. There are new ways to move files, and the accelerometer plays a bigger part than ever. Roll on, iPad 3. An iPhone jailbreak convention is headed to London. Come September 17th, you can watch presentations and attend Q&As with those behind the hacks. Tickets are on sale now. Just don't expect to see Steve Jobs there. Is Facebook prepping a music service? Someone's been peeking into the code and spotted some pretty clear hints that it is indeed. Also today: Apple OSX Lion rumoured for July 14th, a new way of harnessing the sun to power your iPhone, and the complete story behind the massive hit that is Cut the Rope. Related posts:
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| Minecraft made real with 3D printers Posted: 08 Jul 2011 04:02 AM PDT
Our love of Minecraft is pretty well established (just check out our original Minecraft review) so a project to make creations from within the game real is right up our street. Created by Cody Sumter and Jason Boggess at the MIT Media Lab, Minecraft.Print uses the game as a 3D modelling tool. Once they’ve created something impressive in Minecraft, they place obsidian, diamond, gold and iron blocks at each corner. Those markers allow the Minecraft.Print script to scan the map and produce file ready to be fed to a 3D printer like the Makerbot Thing-o-matic Click through to see Minecraft models being turned into real world objects including a Portal companion cube!
Out now | £free | Minecraft.print (via Hack A Day) Related posts:
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| Rockstar Films registered: bring on the GTA movie! Posted: 08 Jul 2011 03:35 AM PDT
How does Rockstar Films sound to you? It seems the creators of Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption and LA Noire have been toying with the idea of making movies again. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, filed for the “Rockstar Films” trademark in December 2010 and it was confirmed on June 14. It gives firm the go-ahead to release animated and live action movies but will it?
The idea of a Grand Theft Auto film has been doing the rounds for years. Last February, we heard that a Grand Theft Auto movie had also make it off the blocks but was scuppered because the name clashed with Ron Howard’s identically-named 1977 directorial debut. There are a few issues with the idea that Take Two is about to jump into the movie business. It registered a Rockstar Films trademark back in 2004 and has held on to Rockstarfilms.com and Rockstarfilms.net since 2009 without doing anything with them. Rockstar’s Dan Houser told the Hollywood Reporter back in April: “If we were attempt to make a movie, we would like to make it ourselves or at least work wit the best talent, so at if it is bad, we can know we failed on our own terms.” That quote could go either way but the sudden revival of Take-Two’s interest in the Rockstar Films trademark is definitely intriguing. While plenty of gamers have balked at the idea of a Grand Theft Auto film, we’d quite like to see what Rockstar would come up with. What Rockstar games would you like to see make the leap to the movies? Out TBC | £TBC | Rockstar (via SystemLink) Related posts:
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| Tech Business: bribery, digital pens, and getting yourself in the news Posted: 08 Jul 2011 03:03 AM PDT
To see what else is new, just click through. The same sort of dual approach continues, with a look at digital pens for technologists as well as items on Google+ and Microsoft Office 365. Meanwhile you could consider whether you wanted to be a limited company, partnership or some other form of trading – an item on being a sole trader might help. And if you do decide to launch into business don’t miss the guide on writing press releases to get yourself some free publicity! The next wave of phone networking Digital pens to make your work life easier Insider business tips for Microsoft Office 365 Complete guide to becoming a sole trader Write press releases for yourself, and make the news Related posts:
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| Mac OS X Lion launch: Apple stores preparing for July 14 Posted: 08 Jul 2011 02:46 AM PDT
Whispers emerging from Apple Store branches across the world suggest staff are being called in for an “overnight” on July 13. The practice which usually happens before a major product launch involves updating and changing store displays and staff receiving last minute training on new products. With Mac OS X Lion due to arrive this month that suggests July 14 will be the day when it drops with a new MacBook Air likely to follow soon after. Check out our guide to Mac OS X Lion features to get up to speed before it arrives. Out TBC | £20.99 | Apple (via TUAW) Related posts:
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| Exclusive: Mi Suny iPower 4 solar-powered iPod charger Posted: 08 Jul 2011 02:39 AM PDT
Check them out after the break.
The Mi Suny iPower 4 will fully charge your iPhone twice before needing a recharge itself. It gives you up to 45 hours extra music, and over five hours talk time, and it's good for the environment too. Add to that an extra 15 hours video, and over six hours web browsing, and you're all set for the weekend away. Out now | £69.99 | Mi Suny Related posts:
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