Legal

It’s Easier to Steal an iPad From Walmart Than You Think

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated February 6, 2016

When you have a highly desirable product that's worth hundreds of dollars, it's an unfortunate inevitability that it will become the target for thieves. According to Crime Stoppers, this is just what's happening to Apple's iPad across the United States, with one Walmart store being the latest to feel the force of the unscrupulous public.

An article on DailyWorld tells of a theft at the Eunice Walmart, where two iPads were taken using the simplest of methods, and the Police are appealing for help in catching the perpetrators...

Chinese Customs Block Smuggling of iPads and iPhones Using Pulleys and Crossbow

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated February 6, 2016

As reported by the WSJ, Chinese Customs officials have cracked down on a group of smugglers who, apparently, have been moving iPads and iPhones across the Hong Kong/China border using an elaborate pulley system which included, wait for it... a crossbow.

The six smugglers used their crossbow to propel a cable across the Sha Tau Kok river, according to reports...

Fake Apple Stores in China Getting Shut Down

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 27, 2017

You may have heard about the fake Apple stores uncovered in Kunming, China. Essentially, unauthorized resellers were created identical replicas of Apple retail stores without Apple's permission. As you can see from the picture above, some of them couldn't get the company's name spelled correctly, though.

Now it seems that Chinese officials (and oddly enough not Apple) have gotten word of these fake Apple store operations, and two stores in Kunming, China have already been shut down. We're still waiting for Steve Jobs to pull out the big red button and nuke the rest of these stores off the map...

Apple is Thinking About Buying Hulu, And Here’s Why

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 27, 2017

According to Bloomberg, Apple is considering making a bid on the popular streaming service, Hulu. This acquisition would give Apple Hulu's large subscription base and video streaming service to rival other competitors, like Netflix.

With iCloud and Apple's new emphasis on wireless and available-everywhere content, video streaming seems like the next logical step. Instead of having to invest in its own streaming backend from the ground-up, this Hulu purchase would give Apple a launchpad to start streaming movies and TV shows through iCloud...

ITC Apple Vs HTC Ruling Could Prove Damning For Android In General

Oliver Haslam ∙ July 18, 2011

It's heating up in the court the battle between Apple and, well, everyone.

The Cupertino outfit drew first blood in a battle with Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer HTC on Friday, with an ITC judge deeming that HTC had infringed upon two of Apple's patents. The two patents, however, may not be specific to HTC's handsets, and this opens the door to the possibility that other Android-powered smartphones may also fall foul, thanks to the ITC decision...

Korean Court Orders Apple to Pay Up Over Location Tracking Fiasco

Oliver Haslam ∙ July 15, 2011

We all remember the infamous "Apple's tracking my movements and is going to follow me around town with a camera" fiasco, don't we?

Assuming you've not been living under a rock for the last few months - and Apple's GPS data tells me you haven't - then you'll remember that Apple's iOS devices were accused of keeping tabs on users' locations and storing the information in an unencrypted file on said users' computers.

Well, as it turns out, one South Korean iPhone user has forced Apple to cough up a spot of compensation, though we aren't exactly talking mega-bucks...

Apple Looking to Kick HTC Out of Smartphone Business

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 27, 2017

Apple is looking to block sales of HTC smartphones in the US. Like the ongoing copycat lawsuit with Samsung, Apple claims that HTC infringes on several of its iPhone patents.

HTC has seen impressive growth in the last year, and the company is responsible for many of the most popular Android devices on the market right now. Apple feels that HTC owes a little respect (and by "respect" we mean money) for the allegedly infringed patents...

iPhone Tracks Down and Helps Arrest Burglars

Alex Heath ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

We love these types of stories on iDB. When the iPhone is used to thwart criminals, it's always fun to read about.

The story of Lilli Gordon and her missing iPhone details how the smartphone's GPS was used by authorities to track down the thieves and Lilli's stolen valuables. Hopefully stories like this will teach would-be-prowlers that smartphones aren't the best items to steal...

Samsung Asking for an Import Ban Against the iPhone, iPad and iPod

Sébastien Page ∙ June 29, 2011

And the piss contest between Apple and Samsung shall continue. Later last month, a San Jose, CA judge ruled that Samsung should give 5 of its latest devices to Apple’s legal team for them to make sure those devices do not copy the iPhone in any way. Samsung requested the same from Apple but the court quickly denied the claim.

Today, FOSS Patents reports that Samsung filed a complaint against Apple before the International Trade Commission (ITC), asking for an import ban against the iPhone, iPad and iPod...

Apple Wins Sweeping Patent on iPhone’s Multi-Touch User Interface

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Apple has been awarded a patent filed in 2007 regarding the iPhone's multi-touch user interface. As reported by PCMag, this patent is so broad that it could give Apple unprecedented ability to pressure other smartphone makers in the U.S.

This patent outlines the multi-touch technology Apple employs in iOS. Theoretically, this patent gives Apple the rights to almost all of the multi-touch gestures and interface designs that currently exist in other devices on the market.

Court Denies Samsung a Peek at iPhone 5 and iPad 3

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Apple and Samsung are currently in the middle of a heated copycat lawsuit. Apple accused Samsung of stealing the iPhone's design, and Samsung retaliated by asking to see Apple's unreleased products for comparison.

Both companies believe that their products designs are being copied, but one thing's for sure: Samsung won't be seeing any unreleased products from Apple.

3 People Sent to Jail Over Chinese iPad 2 Leak

Oliver Haslam ∙ June 15, 2011

If you think back to just before the iPad 2 was officially announced, you'll probably also remember the unusual way in which the new hardware was being leaked left and right; specifically, leaks that came out of Chinese supply sites.

Recently, the Chinese police became involved and as a result, three people have been arrested in relation to the leaking of iPad 2 information after a three month investigation, according to The Wall Street Journal....