Apple

Samsung posts bond with ITC, suggesting it continues to infringe on Apple patents

Cody Lee ∙ August 14, 2013

Last Friday, Samsung was dealt a huge blow as the ITC ruled that some of the company's mobile products infringe on two of Apple's patents. As a result of the ruling, those products will be banned from US import next month unless President Obama steps in.

Following the decision, Samsung released a statement saying that the order wouldn't affect product availability in the United States, indicating that it had developed a workaround. But the fact that it posted bond with the ITC today tells a much different story...

Samsung to unveil Galaxy Gear smartwatch on September 4

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2013

Perhaps looking to spoil Apple's September 10 iPhone 5S/5C party, Samsung of South Korea is reportedly set to make a major wearables-focused announcement six days ahead of Apple's press conference. The South Korean conglomerate last week sent out invites for its August 4 Unpacked 2013 Episode 2 event to launch the Galaxy Note III.

As it turns out, the firm may have another surprise up its sleeve come August 4: a Galaxy-branded smartwatch designed to act as a companion device for its Galaxy smartphones and tablets...

Brazil sues Samsung over alleged factory labor problems

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 14, 2013

Samsung is reportedly facing a $108 million lawsuit from Brazil, which is claiming "serious" labor violations at the smartphone maker's Manaus factory. At least 2,000 workers suffered injuries after being forced to work 15-hour days and not getting enough break time, a Brazilian labor organization claims Wednesday.

The website of the group Reporter Brasil cites Brazil prosecutors and the government's labor ministry. In 2011, the South Korean smartphone maker paid $200,000 to settled similar charges over working conditions made by the government...

Gartner makes it official: smartphones are outselling dumb phones

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Smartphones - once the preserve for geeky first adopters - are now the norm. You notice the change on the street, on television and now with such traditional research firms as Gartner. Sales of smartphones in the second quarter reached 51.8 percent, compared to an astounding 21 percent decline in feature phones, or dumb phones as they're also called, according to the researcher. At the same time, the Asia/Pacific region marked the highest smartphone growth, reaching to 74 percent...

Emboldened Samsung says anti-Apple ads ‘really mess with the order of things’

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 13, 2013

Do you remember Samsung before the Apple crusade? Far from being an also-ran, Samsung back in 2010 started doubling-down on the Galaxy brand message, signaling intention to establish itself as the smartphone maker to watch. But it wasn't until the South Korean conglomerate began airing its first television commercial which ridiculed iPhone owners that it started positioning itself as the anti-Apple.

And the message resonated with the demographics outside the Apple fold. In doing so, Samsung has earned itself lots of free press and attracted a following comprised of bloggers, media outlets and customers who for whatever reason couldn't stand Apple, its culture and products.

We already know the anti-iPhone ads are working and now a Samsung executives acknowledges that the anti-Apple campaign has been a "tipping point" for the Samsung brand. Which probably means those ad attacks will only intensify going forward...

Smartphone theft fight gains UK support

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 13, 2013

The issue over smartphone thefts has taken on a British flavor. London's mayor now says he supports calls by American law enforcement officials asking Apple and others to beef up ways to prevent stolen phones.

In a statement, London Mayor Boris Johnson said smartphone makers should "take this issue seriously." Already, a half-dozen American officials have joined the 'Secure Our Smartphones' campaign, stretching from Hawaii to Delaware...

Judge says Apple could renegotiate iBook contracts with publishers

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

The judge in the government's antitrust lawsuit has weighed in on settlement negotiations between the Department of Justice and Apple.

The iPhone maker could reopen staggered renegotiations with e-book publishers, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote reportedly said Monday.

Government lawyers had recommend that Apple agree to drop its current e-book contracts and abstain from a new agreements for five years. Judge Cote, who ruled Apple conspired with publishers to raise prices of e-books ahead of the iPad's launch, also wants to hold another hearing, possibly to review guidelines she is suggesting...

Samsung to purchase OLED firm Novaled for $347 million

Cody Lee ∙ August 9, 2013

Despite the fact that Apple seems to be doing everything in its power to reduce its supply chain dependence on Samsung, the two appear to be inseparable. The Korean tech giant still makes a number of iOS device components, including processors and displays.

With that in mind, you can understand why we were interested to hear this afternoon that Samsung is in the process of purchasing Novaled, a German-based OLED (organic light-emitting diode) company, for a staggering 260 million euros, or $347 million USD...

Apple wins ITC ban on Samsung products

Cody Lee ∙ August 9, 2013

Apple picked up another major victory in its ongoing patent battle with Samsung this afternoon. The International Trade Commission has just handed down a decision in the company's case against Samsung, finding the Korean tech giant guilty of infringement.

The final ruling on the complaint, which Apple first lodged in July 2011, finds several Samsung products guilty of infringing on two of Apple's patents. An import ban has been ordered on those products, and will take effect at the end of the 60-day Presidential review period...

Apple’s PC share drops as iPads cannibalize Macs

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 8, 2013

The PC market - once comprised of hulking desktop machines and slim laptops - increasingly relies on tablets for a fresh infusion of sales. The latest instance of this new world order comes from market researcher Canalys, out with its PC forecast which includes tablet shipments.

Viewing tablets as PCs results in Apple losing more than eleven percent in PC sales. Why? Because iPad sales are cooling amid lack of a refresh. Although just twenty percent of Apple sales are traditional PCs, the firm continues to lead the PC market. However, in a post-PC era, delays of introducing a new iPad means Apple's lead was trimmed during the second quarter of 2013, the research firm announced Wednesday...

Your iPhone 4 is actually gaining value, study finds

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Unlike the auto which loses much of its value the moment you drive off the dealer's lot, iPhones tend to remain valuable to owners. According to new research, Apple's handset does better at retaining its value, compared to Android phones. In a related study, trade-in programs are increasingly important to smartphone owners deciding on carriers.

Although the value of Android phones fell by as much as a third in three months, iPhone prices actually go up. The price of an iPhone 4 asked on eBay was 10.3 percent higher than at the start of the three-month period, one Wall Street analyst found...

IDC: Apple’s smartphone OS share falls while consumers wait for new iPhones

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 28, 2017

The long wait before Apple introduces new iPhone models is causing its iOS smartphone platform to lose marketshare to Android. The iPhone's iOS slipped to 13.2 percent of the smartphone market, a drop from 16.6 percent during the same period in 2012.

Meanwhile, Android's lock on the smartphone market grew tighter, nearing 80 percent as Samsung and a bevy of Chinese brands boosted the Google-made software. Despite the small drop, No. 2 iOS is expected to regain its lost turf when Apple unveils new products in September, according to market research firm IDC...