Everybody’s cracking down on e-waste these days: if it’s not the European Commission, then it’s Apple itself. Meanwhile, Cupertino’s also making some patently curious patent submissions and maybe even bidding on a Chinese gaming company. Talk about busy. But don’t worry, it’ll only take a minute to read the remainders for Thursday, August 5, 2010.
European Commission says standard mobile chargers coming in 2011 (Deutsche Welle)
The European Commission, fresh off its iPhone adoption kick, is now saying that plans to unveil a standard for mobile phone charging will finally come to fruition next year. Won’t someone shed a tear for all the soon-to-be-obsolete phone chargers of years past? It’s like Toy Story 3 all over again except, you know, with cell phone chargers instead of lovable toys.
Apple steps up to claim computers in Hooksett (New Hampshire Union Leader)
Speaking of waste: After a school district dumped a bunch of old iMacs, Apple contacted them and offered to haul them all away for recycling (which would have cost the district some cash). But it’s all part of Apple’s campaign to make you forget the CRT iMac ever existed. Why? Two words: Flower Power.
Apple software patent looks like iPhone app (Venomous Porridge)
A recent submission of Apple mobile app patents has developers edgy, but Rogue Amoeba developer Dan Wineman points out that one of them looks an awful lot like an existing third-party application. Hey, Apple, a word in your ear: it’s not just the black-and-white drawings that make those patents a bit sketchy.
Apple close to purchasing Handseeing (TMCnet.com)
Apple is reportedly attempting to purchase a Chinese mobile Internet service provider/mobile game developer, says a site I’ve never heard of before. But with a name like TMCnet.com, they must know technology, right?