Apple

Apple to appeal U.S. import ban on older iPhones and iPads

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2013

Apple's legal fight against Samsung yesterday took a turn for the worse with the United States International Trade Comission (ITC) rather surprisingly having found the iPhone maker guilty of infringing on a 3G cellular patent asserted by Samsung. This means Apple is now facing a U.S. import ban on older iPhone and iPad models, including the iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS and 3G iPads.

The ban should go into effect within 60 days unless vetoed by the White House during a Presidential Review period. In light of the development, Apple of course plans on appealing the ruling because Samsung's invention is basically a standards-essential patent and as such shouldn't be asserted against rivals to seek import bans...

Apple and others face questioning over stolen smartphone ‘epidemic’

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

First Apple and Samsung were sent an angry letter by New York's Attorney General over efforts to curb growing thefts of smartphones.

Now the state's top prosecutor wants a face-to-face meeting next week with representatives from Apple, Samsung, Google and Microsoft, saying they must find a way to solve what's being described as an "epidemic".

"It's time for manufacturers to be as innovative in solving this problem as they have been in designing devices that have reshaped how we live," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday. But can handset makers really create such an effective kill-switch that would disable phones and cut thefts?

ITC finds Apple guilty of infringing Samsung patent, bans certain devices

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 3, 2013

This is huge. The United States International Trade Commission just ordered a US import ban against older iPhones and iPads, after finding Apple guilty of infringing on a cellular standard-esential patent asserted by Samsung.

The ban, which encompasses a number of various iOS device models including the iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS and 3G iPads, will go into effect within 60 days unless vetoed by the White House during a Presidential Review period...

comScore: Apple increases lead as top US smartphone maker

Cody Lee ∙ June 4, 2013

While Wall Street analysts and investors seem pretty content with the 'Apple is doomed' meme, the numbers continue to fall in Apple's favor. The company's mobile devices are still wildly popular and selling out in droves— particularly here in the US.

Market research firm comScore published a new report today regarding the state of the US smartphone market. And not only does it show that Apple is leading in smartphone marketshare in the country, but it's growing faster than the competition...

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...

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...

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 going back to Samsung as LCD panel supplier

Cody Lee ∙ May 28, 2013

It appears that the bad blood between Apple and Samsung isn't enough to keep the two from working together. Despite previous reports that the iPad-maker is trying to distance itself from its rival, it has reportedly returned a large chunk of its LCD panel business back to Samsung...

Apple claims Google Now violates its Siri patents, adds Galaxy S4 to suit

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 22, 2013

A week ago, news broke that Apple mulled adding Samsung's latest Galaxy S4 flagship smartphone to its patent infringement case against Samsung Electronics. It's not terribly surprising then that Apple has now filed a motion asserting that both the Internet giant's head-turning Google Now feature and Samsung's Galaxy S4 handset violate its two Siri patents and five other inventions...

Sony could spin off entertainment biz to better compete against Apple and Samsung

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 22, 2013

The ailing Japanese giant Sony could spin off its entertainment business amid heightened competition from the consumer electronics giant Apple and the South Korea-based conglomerate Samsung, Reuters reported Wednesday.

The news gathering organization writes the CEO Kazuo Hirai confirmed Sony's board will discuss a proposal by U.S. hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb to spin off up to twenty percent of its movie, TV and music division because Sony has "fallen behind powerful rivals" such as Apple and Samsung in terms of both profitability and innovation...

Apple remains most valuable brand

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated March 14, 2018

You might have thought all the punishment Apple has taken on Wall Street would show up in how consumers view the company's brand - and you'd be wrong. A new survey again ranks Apple as the most valuable brand, easily outdistancing its arch rival Google. Indeed, Apple is still seen as the 'gold standard' when it comes to brands, according to market research firm Millward Brown...