Apple

China’s love affair with the iPad still strong

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

China is going nuts over the iPad as Apple's tablet commands more than 71 percent of sales in China. That's welcome news for Apple which has watched Samsung and other competitors erode its once secure market share. Apple's lead in tablet sales among Chinese consumers has remained steady over the past six months.

The latest third-quarter market figures show Apple's position slid just one percent from the previous period. It's unclear, however, how long China's love affair with the iPad will last. Two home-grown tablet firms are #2 and #3, with Samsung a distant fourth...

Apple gains partial ban of Samsung Galaxy devices in the Netherlands

Ed Sutherland ∙ November 28, 2012

A European court has banned sales of some Samsung Galaxy devices which violate Apple's patent on flipping through photos on a touchscreen. Wednesday, the Court of The Hague limited the ban to Galaxy products powered by at least Android 2.2.1 and don't use Samsung's own photo gallery software.

Samsung reportedly must pay Apple $129,000 per day if it does not follow the ban, as well as inform the Cupertino, California company how much profit was made from sales of the affected Galaxy products sold since June 27 of last year. This is the second court case Samsung has lost concerning the photo gallery patent...

Apple granted 36 patents covering Siri mic icon design, Lightning, widgets and more

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Apple this morning has received patents covering more than three dozen different technologies, ranging from the obvious to the obscure. The company's patent filings as of late are even inspiring parody treatments like the Apple alphabet patent. Among today's grants are the filings describing ways to interface sports equipment with your iPhone, iPad or iPod, patents for Mac OS X dashboards and the MacBook keyboard and others seeking to protect icons and designs of popular software features.

Most people know of Apple's long-time association with Nike and the Nike+ app that records your running routine. Earlier this year, the Cupertino, California company filed a patent to go one step farther, interfacing your iPhone with a treadmill, or other workout machine at the local gym. Now it appears that patent was granted. But, wait, there's plenty more gadgets and gizmos Apple wants protected...

iPhone 5 helps Apple regain lead over Android in US smartphone market

Ed Sutherland ∙ November 27, 2012

Apple's iPhone 5 has helped the California-based gadget maker propel itself into the first place in the United States, topping Google's Android in arguably the world's most important smartphone market. Specifically, Apple's iPhone doubled its share of US smartphone sales and now enjoys a 48.1 percent share compared to 46.7 percent for Android.

The last time Apple held the lead in the US smartphone market was after the introduction of the iPhone 4S. Market research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech announced Tuesday Google's mobile operating system still dominates in Europe, where it holds up to 81 percent of the market share in some countries...

Citi: Apple bottomed, stock set for rebound

Ed Sutherland ∙ November 26, 2012

After a six-month absence on the Apple watch, Citi has returned - and with a strong recommendation to buy shares of the consumer electronics giant. After hitting a particular rough patch that included a sell-off one observer called "the insanity of insanity", Apple's stock is set to rebound 20-50 percent.

Citi's new Apple watcher, Glen Yeung, told investors Monday that Apple's drop in share price has likely hit bottom. Indeed, in most cases, shares will climb back within twelve months. Yeung said the stock should hit $675...

Loss of Samsung screens apparently hurting iPad mini production

Ed Sutherland ∙ November 26, 2012

Questions of whether Apple can supply enough iPad minis to meet demand continue to linger. After cutting ties with Samsung for its displays, one of the two alternative suppliers reportedly face production problems. All of which makes the executives at Cupertino nervous amid Cyber Monday mania.

Apple reportedly chose LG Display and AU Optronics to replace Samsung. As we reportedly last week, LG Display makes most of the displays for the iPad mini, which is widely viewed as a top pick among Christmas shoppers. However, now comes a report out of Asia that AU Optronics is having problems producing the displays...

Samsung’s audit of Chinese suppliers finds excess overtime hours, but no child labor

Ed Sutherland ∙ November 26, 2012

No children are building Samsung devices in China, the South Korean smartphone maker announced Monday. According to an audit of 105 Chinese suppliers, there are problems with too much overtime and being fined for lateness or absences. The four-week monitoring of its suppliers' production facilities follows earlier accusations that one of Samsung's suppliers hired underage workers.

Although Samsung insisted it has "zero tolerance" about child workers, the company said today it will require that all suppliers follow new hiring procedures, including the use of a device that spots false IDs. By the end of the year, suppliers must stop fining workers when they are late or absent, the firm announced today...

The majority of iPad mini screens are made by LG Display, not Samsung

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 24, 2012

The vast majority of iPad mini units incorporate a 7.9-inch screen manufactured by LG Display, a report out of Asia claims. AU Optronics, another Apple supplier, is said to be responsible for a much smaller portion of orders as it reportedly continues to suffer from poor yields in the production of panels.

The news is another indication of Apple distancing itself from Samsung. Remember, Samsung was originally the primary supplier of Retina screens for the third-generation iPad, until LG Display stole the Apple account in August. The Galaxy maker also lost out on the iPhone 5 front to rival panel makers, although the company still manufactures chips for Apple devices...

Apple on Black Friday added six Galaxy devices to its Samsung suit

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 24, 2012

Following Samsung's motion asking Judge Paul S. Grewal for permission to amend its infringement contentions against Apple with the iPad mini, iPhone 5 and the latest iPod touch, Apple on Black Friday conveniently brought a motion seeking to add latest Galaxy devices to its California suit, including the Galaxy S III running Android Jelly Bean and the four-inch Galaxy S III Mini. The filing adds a total of six recently-released Galaxy gadgets to Apple's ongoing patent lawsuit against Samsung...

Apple picks new battery supplier, drops Samsung

Ed Sutherland ∙ November 23, 2012

Apple has chosen two China-based battery companies to supply the iPad and MacBook, says a Friday report. Amperex Technology Limited and Tianjin Lishen Battery would replace Samsung SDI, a subsidiary of the South Korean firm that is both Apple's chief rival and largest supplier. The report is just the latest indicating Samsung and Apple are reconsidering their close relationship.

As the two smartphone giants attempt to out-compete each other in the courtroom and store shelves, Samsung's role appears to be shifting from major supplier to important manufacturer...

Samsung adds iPad mini, iPad 4 and more to latest patent suit

Cody Lee ∙ November 22, 2012

Though the current US patent trial between Apple and Samsung, the one that resulted in a $1 billion verdict, is still far from over, another Stateside court battle between the two companies is already heating up.

Unlike the previous case, this new set of lawsuits pertains to more recent products from both sides including Samsung's family of Nexus devices, Apple's iPhone 5, and now the new iPod touch, iPad and iPad mini...

Judge orders Apple to reveal full HTC patent deal to Samsung

Cody Lee ∙ November 21, 2012

On Friday last week, Samsung asked the court to force Apple to turn over the full details of its recently announced patent settlement with HTC. It feels the terms of the deal could be useful in its ongoing legal battle with the iPad-maker.

Apple has since agreed to allow Samsung to see the pact in a heavily redacted document — leaving all of about 33 words. But tonight, a judge has granted Samsung's motion to compel. So Apple will have to reveal the entire agreement...