Archive for April 29th, 2011
Newspaper thinktank predicted the iPad in 1994
In 2007 the Paleofuture blog posted the video below, where Roger Fidler and his team at Knight-Ridder describe an electronic newspaper running on what might as well be an iPad. But the video was shot in 1994.
"We may still use computers to create information, but we will use the tablet to interact with print, video and other information," the video explains. It also goes on to describe personal "profile pages," "interactive maps" and sharing links with friends. It even seems like Fidler is channeling Steve Jobs at some points, saying "Nobody needs a manual for their daily newspaper". Amazingly, he even seems to describe iAds.
Check the video below:
Samsung Doesn’t Give Up, Counter-Sues Apple In The United States
Bloomberg reports that Samsung now countersues Apple in the Unites Stated. Samsung already sued Apple in Europe and Asia for patent infringement in technologies like power conservation and 3G data transmission, in response to Apple’s lawsuit accusing Samsung of coping iPad and iPhone design with its Galaxy series devices.
In the U.S. complaint, Samsung accuses Apple of violating patents that “relate to fundamental innovations that increase mobile device reliability, efficiency, and quality, and improve user interface in mobile handsets and other products.”
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Apple Beats Microsoft in First Quarter Profit
Six months ago Apple’s quarterly revenue for the first time in approximately 15 years was higher than the Microsoft’s one. But Microsoft was unbeatable with its high profit margins that the company achieved thanks to its software sales. The situation changed in the past fiscal quarter. Today Microsoft has announced net profit of $5.23 billion for the first calendar quarter (third fiscal quarter) of 2011. Apple last week reported profits of $5.99 billion over the same period, which corresponded to the company's second fiscal quarter of 2011. It seems that Apple finally surpassed its longtime rival in almost all position. Moreover Apple’s market cap is now nearly $100 billion higher than Microsoft's.
The White iPhone Is Actually Thicker Than The Black iPhone
The long-awaited white iPhone 4 started selling yesterday. At first glance it looks like the regular black model. While Apple doesn’t list any size difference in their Tech Specs page, Ryan Cash of Marketcircle notes on his personal blog that the white iPhone is actually slightly thicker (0.2 mm) than the black iPhone. It’s not the steel enclosure that’s thicker on the white version; it’s the plastic (see the photo above). Ryan came to that result then he’d experienced some problems when trying to fit the white iPhone in older iPhone cases. Though the difference is very minimal and visible only when comparing the devices, and not so many cases will probably have this problem.
Three Foxconn Employees Arrested for Leaking iPad 2 Design
Before the release of the iPad 2 various Chinese and Taiwanese sources provided us with several “leaked” case designs that gave us indication of what the device would look like. These cases were all based on the same design principles such as tapered edges, thinner body and flat back, clearly suggesting manufacturers had access to the same design documents that were quickly spreading across the tech industry.
Several online shopping retailers in China were able to sell iPad 2′s protective case products before the iPad 2 was even launched, leading Foxconn to suspect that there might have been some employees leaking the design of iPad 2 which it reported to the local police.