Ed Sutherland

Apple allegedly files for iWatch trademark in Russia

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple reportedly has filed in Russia to trademark 'iWatch', the supposed name of the rumored wearable computing device. However, some in the tech media are skeptical, suggesting the report in a Russian newspaper follows none of Apple's usual steps preceding a product launch, such as in the case of the iPad.

The newspaper Izvestia this week reported Apple filed for the trademark under the 9th and 14th classes of the International Classification of Goods and Services. The report asserts Apple could face competition from similar local products. However, one Apple blogs has failed to find the trademark registered with the official Russian Federal Services for Intellectual Property...

Obama administration takes aim at patent trolls with legislative changes

Ed Sutherland ∙ June 5, 2013

After spending last week under the hot lights of Congressional investigators about its taxes, Apple hopes to switch gears and ask for government help fighting so-called patent trolls. Among the iPhone maker's potential allies: U.S. President Obama, who reportedly plans to limit such costly legal nuisance lawsuits.

As part of the proposed plan the White House is expected to unveil, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) would gain some teeth, requiring patent holders to disclose companies which actually own the technology, reports the Wall Street Journal...

Apple explains iSpaceship benefits to Cupertino’s economy

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated June 3, 2017

Apple Tuesday released an 80-page report detailing the economic benefits of Apple's current headquarters. Along the way, the iPhone maker hopes a peek at the potential flood of cash headed toward local government coffers will help gain city approval of its upcoming iSpaceship campus.

Among the highlights: Apple maintains a local payroll of $159 million for 16,000 employees, making it the largest sole employer in Cupertino. Creation of Apple's Campus 2 (aka iSpaceship) would create 7,400 "new high-quality jobs." And, new campus construction will add 9,200 full-time construction jobs to the local economy over a three-year period, the report adds...

Apple patents S Beam-like device transfers

Ed Sutherland ∙ June 4, 2013

A 2009 Apple patent application is gaining renewed attention, not only because the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today issued a patent to the iPhone maker, but how the technology could keep pace with smartphone rival Samsung.

At issue is finding a way to easily transfer data between handsets and desktop computers. The patent, titled "System and method for simplified data transfer" describes how two Apple devices could wirelessly sync data using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, a system as yet unavailable in Apple products but part of Samsung's S Beam feature on select NFC-enabled Galaxy devices...

Chrome rises as Android loses ground in mobile web usage

Ed Sutherland ∙ June 3, 2013

Next to email, a mobile browser is often the most-used app on a smartphone or tablet. Although Safari still rules the iPhone and iPad crowd, there is a bit of internecine warfare within the Android camp. Google's Chrome is increasingly the default browser on Android mobile devices as usage declines for the stock Android browser.

The gains in May by Chrome against the stock Android mobile browser coincide with Google's decision last year to replace the stock Android browser with Chrome on all Android devices...

Why budget iPhone doesn’t mean lower profits

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated November 29, 2016

Android smartphone makers have been doing it for years: controlling a market using inexpensive handsets to outnumber the more expensive iPhone. But when the idea that Apple should also produce a more affordable and contract-free device first appeared, a hue-and-cry erupted as if the next MacBook was to be powered by Windows 8.

Now comes calmer heads - ironically from Wall Street - showing Apple's gross profit margin would increase by six percent because more people will buy the Apple smartphone if the company lowers the cost of owning an iPhone.

That's right, all the hand-wringing going on about a less-pricey iPhone being suicide for Apple's bottom-line could be all wrong...

Galaxy S4 not hurting ‘resilient’ US iPhone sales

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

Listening to much of the tech press, you might get the impression Samsung's new Galaxy S4 would further erode Apple's share of the smartphone market. One Wall Street firm ended the week on a contrary note, telling investors iPhone sales in North America "remain resilient" and Samsung's Galaxy S4 is only selling slightly better than its predecessor.

The analyst firm Detwiler Fenton expects Apple will sell a cool thirty million iPhones during the June quarter amid expectation the nine-month-old handset would lose market share to its South Korean rival...

Apple retains mobile ad lead, but Samsung getting more clicks

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

A mixed-message on the state of mobile advertising is out today. In an announcement expected to hearten both the iOS and Android camps, a UK ad firm reports Apple retains its lead in mobile ad share, while mobile ads rendered on devices by rival Samsung are increasingly being clicked.

Combined, Apple's iPhone and iPod touch account for more than a third of all ad requests handled by the UK-based Adfonic. However, Samsung - with just twelve percent of the mobile ad share - finds the first quarter 2013 click-through-rate on ads served by its Android devices increasingly stronger than Apple...

New pricing tactics is working: iPhone sales in India surge 400 percent

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

India has become Apple's test bed for emerging markets, with the company rolling out a series of discounts and payment plans in order to entice purchases and improve its market standing in the 1.24 billion people market.

These efforts are paying off as iPhone sales have risen 400 percent over the past four months.

That's a dramatic increase over prior iPhone numbers in India, where sales only reached a meager 70,000 to 80,000 handsets a month. The key to such a notable jump: Apple has "figured out" the Indian market, which until now has viewed the iPhone as out of the reach of most of that nation's consumers...

After Samsung makes Smart Scroll popular, Apple renews gaze detection work

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 30, 2013

Apple apparently is renewing efforts to add the ability for the iPhone to detect whether or not it has your rapt attention. It's not enough that you're holding the smartphone, the company now wants to be sure you are looking at the phone's screen.

Originally seen as a way to save battery life, iPhone gaze detection may be Apple's latest bid to keep up with rival Samsung.

Apple's patent application, filed in 2013, adds to an earlier 2008 filing and describes 'Electronic Devices with Gaze Detection Capabilities.'

The technology uses the iPhone's front-facing camera along with the device's accelerometer to detect when you look away from the screen or put the phone down. Glancing away would automatically pause any running videos while also dimming the screen...

Apple pushing interactive flexible displays

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 30, 2013

So far, Apple devices with touch screens react to taps and swipes. Future applications could also respond to pressure. The iPhone maker has applied for a patent on technology which would detect when you press your finger.

The invention may further expand how consumers interact with technology, particularly with wearable devices. The patent application, filed in 2011 and published Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, provides the popular GarageBand music app.

The ability to sense increasing finger pressure could allow virtual pianists to play notes louder, Apple writes. Although GarageBand on iPhone and iPad already imitates pressure by measuring device vibration via the accelerometer sensor, Apple's invention calls for a new force detection layer on mobile screens...

Google Play revenue increases, but App Store remains leader

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 29, 2013

New details are emerging showing Google's Play store increasing its revenue, yet still lagging Apple (particularly in the United States) - and that's in spite of Android's big lead in terms of device activations and unit sales.

The report by app analytic firm Distimo indicates Google Play in April reached 27 percent of the combined revenue of the two app stores, up from 19 percent in November 2012. Although Google's store witnessed an eight percent jump in app revenue, Apple's App Store in April still brought in $5.1 million for the top 200 apps.

That compares to $1.1 million for Google Play. Still, the research highlighted some developers earning equal or more revenue from Android app sales...