The end of one trademark fight can only mean that another is on the rise! Also, Microsoft is sucked into the location tracking ballyhoo, and really, isn’t it time to start thinking about the iPhone 6? Get ready, because the remainders for Tuesday, April 25, 2011 are going to be legen—wait for it!
Apple Abandons their Efforts to Secure the “POD” Trademark (Patently Apple)
After many long years, Apple has apparently surrendered its fight to trademark “POD” (not “iPod,” mind you, which the company still owns until the week after Doomsday). According to the records of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Apple has abandoned its bid nearly seven years after first filing for it. Cue “the iPod is dead” rumors in 3…2…1…
Amazon.com tries to toss Apple ‘app store’ trademark suit, cites Steve Jobs in its own defense (GeekWire)
Of course, the end of one trademark suit really just means Apple can refocus on another—in this case, “app store.” Amazon has now filed a response to Apple’s suit over the term; the retailer argues that the term is too generic and, in making that case, quotes none other than Apple CEO Steve Jobs saying that “there will be at least four app stores on Android” and that “Apple’s integrated App Store…offers users the easiest-to-use largest app store in the world.” So that’s what a petard is!
Windows Phones collect location data too, says Microsoft (The Guardian)
Did you think Microsoft was going to skate on this whole smartphone tracking debate? I mean, come on, it’s Microsoft. Still, the company tells CNet that location history isn’t stored on its device, though it is apparently sent to Redmond, along with a unique identifier. This is why I carry a Windows Phone 7, Droid X, and iPhone and use each of them a third of the time. Eat it, Big Brother.
Apple’s ‘iPhone 6’ to employ Sharp’s next-gen p-Si LCDs in spring 2012 (AppleInsider)
I was just kidding, guys. Oh well, I guess it’s never too early to start talking about the next-next-gen iPhone. According to Japanese newspaper Nikkan, Apple may turn to a Sharp-manufactured “p-Si LCD” for 2012’s iPhone revision. That p-Si stands for “polycristalline silicon,” a technology where the electronic components can be embedded in glass substrate, making for an even thinner display. I think I’m going to just start carrying around a rectangular piece of glass and pretending it’s the next-next-next iPhone.
Product News:
Qik Video Connect Plus 6.3 – Version 6.3 of the video-chat client for iPhone adds the ability to chat with users on Android, improves live streaming quality, and improves the video chat experience on the iPad 2. Free.
Frenzapp 2.1 for iPhone – The latest update to Bitsmedia’s free app recommendation program for iPhone adds the ability to search for nearby users and see what apps they like, invite friends to the service, an improved search engine, feeds with better grouping and info, and a few bugfixes.
Boris Red 5 – Boris FX has updated its Boris Red transition, text, and compositing video plug-in to version 5. New are support for 64-bit applications, 40 new filters from Final Effects Complete, new 3D particle effects, in-camera effects, stylized effects, painterly effects, 50 new transitions effects, and more. $995 ($295 for upgrades).
VirusBarrier Express 1.1 – Intego’s free antivirus software for the Mac has been updated to version 1.1. It now sports free malware definition updates, but loses the ability to scan malware that’s not for Mac OS X and the command-line scanner.
ChordBankPro 1.1 – The iPhone guitar chord helper app from Chris Ladd hits version 1.1, adding support for left-handed guitarists and Smart Chords, which feature chord progressions to help budding musicians compose songs. $5.
TweetDeck 2.0 for iPhone – Version 2.0 of the popular Twitter client for iPhone has been reimagined from the ground up, with a new user interface, Retina display optimized graphics, and multitasking. Free.
Popular Science+ 2.0 for iPad – The iPad version of the magazine has been rebuilt for version 2.0, with new gestures, a thumbnail scrubber that shows you previews of all stories, and a Live tab that lets you read current news from the publication’s Website right from within the app. Free download, content requires purchase.
OnCue 3.0 – The iOS music playback and song queueing app from Dan Pourhadi has hit version 3.0, bringing a new playlist mode, a Quick Queue view, an iPad-optimized interface, and queue sharing via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. $3.
—dary!