Apple has another patent-related lawsuit on its hands, reports Bloomberg. VIA Technologies Inc., a Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer, filed suit against Apple on Wednesday with the U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Del. over the alleged misuse of three of its microprocessor-related patents. Read more »
Apple may be on the verge of opening its Japanese iPhone sales to another cellular service provider, ending SoftBank’s exclusive hold on the popular smartphone. It’s the latest in a series of exclusivity-ending deals from Apple, and it’s the culmination of an elaborate marketing plan. Read more »
Apple wants to make it easy for its retail employees to get some one-on-one time with its iPad, according to a new report. A new pilot program would allow employees at one store to check out iPads for up to a week at a time. Read more »
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore told attendees of the Discovery Invest Leadership Summit that new iPhone models would be arriving in October, according to one source who was present at the event. Gore also sits on Apple’s board of directors. Read more »
Documentary master and father of his own iPhoto slideshow effect Ken Burns’ latest effort will debut first on the iPad and iPhone, starting Sept. 23. PBS will make the first episode of Prohibition available first through its iOS apps, over a week prior to TV broadcast. Read more »
Apple is doing well in the PC market, even if you don’t count iPad sales in the mix. The latest numbers from IHS iSuppli reveal that during the second quarter of 2011, Apple saw double digit growth year over year in its worldwide PC sales. Read more »
Apple was granted new ammunition with which to fight the rampant counterfeiting of its products that is an ongoing problem in China. It was granted 40 patents in China, according to a new report Wednesday. The patents mostly cover aspects of its mobile phones. Read more »
Apple will hold its next media event on Tuesday, Oct. 4 according to a new report. The event will supposedly unveil the Phone 5, and Apple CEO Tim Cook will be running the show, along with a supporting cast of Apple’s senior executive team. Read more »
Slowly but surely, Thunderbolt accessories for Apple’s Mac computers are making their way to retail. On Tuesday Apple began selling the LaCie Little Big Disk in both 1 TB and 2 TB capacities with Thunderbolt connectivity. The drives retail for $399.95 and $499.95, respectively. Read more »
Instagram got a pretty major update Tuesday with version 2.0. Aside from a slightly modified, prettier icon, the update also adds new features, filters and general speed improvements that make the whole experience better. With so many apps chasing Instagram’s coattails, it’s a timely update. Read more »
On Tuesday Apple introduced a major update to Final Cut Pro X that restores many features missing in the original release, and also comes alongside a free 30-day trial version for people still a little gun-shy after Apple’s latest overhaul to its professional video editing suite. Read more »
Logitech unveiled its new Harmony Link hardware/software combo for iPad, iPhone and Android devices Tuesday. The Link lets you use your device as a universal remote for your entertainment system. Logitech isn’t the first to try this, but it looks like it could be the best. Read more »
If you’re looking for the key to making money on the App Store for Apple’s iOS devices, a new report from Distimo suggests that in-app purchases are what you should be watching. In-app purchases now account for 72 percent of App Store revenue. Read more »
Samsung has officially fired back at Apple in Australia, filing a cross claim today with the Federal Court of the country. The claim says that Apple’s iPhone and iPad infringe upon seven wireless patents held by Samsung, and seeks to invalidate some of Apple’s patents. Read more »
On my iPhone and iPad, I have to sign in to two different Apple IDs in order to get everything set up the way it should be. When iCloud arrives, things could get worse. But they might get better, if Apple finally allows Apple ID merging. Read more »
This is a treat. Valve is offering hit first-person puzzle game Portal for free starting Friday, until Sept. 20. You can grab your copy of Portal for Mac (or PC) on Steam. If you haven’t played Portal, great. If you have, it’s worth playing again. Read more »
It’s crunch time. By most accounts, we’re just weeks away from Apple lifting the curtain on the next generation of iPhone, and that means rumors are coming fast and furious. Let’s check out the latest crop and see what stands the test of closer scrutiny. Read more »
A new report finds that the iPad gaming community is big and getting bigger. IPad gaming shows lots of potential for growth, according to consumer data, but at least one game maker seems firmly committed to ignoring the opportunity inherent in that growth. Read more »
Skype released a new beta for Mac users on Thursday, which features Facebook integration. You can now chat directly with your Facebook friends, check your news feed and update your status. But it comes at a cost: This beta also introduces ads for nonpaying Skype users. Read more »
Apple’s presence in the aircraft that crisscross our skies is doing well, thanks to the iPad. It is not only being used by airline staff at United to replace paper manuals and charts but is also being tested by Qantas to replace existing in-flight entertainment options. Read more »
At least one of the people behind those “industry sources” attributions in Apple rumor articles is very real. Former Samsung manager Suk-Joo Hwang testified before a federal court on Wednesday that he had disclosed information about iPad components before the product was announced. Read more »
It seemed like a no-brainer when Apple first unveiled iMessage for iOS devices: Why not build it into OS X, too? Well, turns out we may soon see iMessage work across nearly all Apple hardware, if new code discovered in Lion’s iChat is any indication. Read more »
Apple’s own wireless Bluetooth keyboard, while not specifically designed for the iPad, still tops my list for best-looking design of any that work with the tablet. But the Kickstarter-backed Levitatr may be a worthy challenger with a twist, should it meet its funding goal. Read more »
Just a day after France Telecom CEO Stephane Richard suggested an Oct. 15 iPhone 5 release date, another major Apple carrier partner is pointing to a similar launch time frame. China Telecom is reportedly gearing up for the iPhone 5 with staff training and early advertising. Read more »
Not one to be left behind for long, VMware has introduced the new version of its Fusion virtualization software. Fusion 4 lets you install and run a second OS, including Windows, Lion or Snow Leopard in a virtual machine that integrates completely with your desktop. Read more »
Apple has fired back against Samsung in the UK, where the Korean company originally filed suit against the iPhone maker in June. In a new countersuit, Apple argues that Samsung’s Android tablets and smartphones infringe on its iPhone and iPad designs, not the other way around. Read more »
Apple loves giving Starbucks customers free stuff. This week it introduced an ebook Pick of the Week to go along with the free song and app of the week programs it already has in place. Book codes from Starbucks can be redeemed through Apple iBookstore. Read more »
In a move that was widely expected, GameStop started officially accepting iOS devices for trade-in as of Monday. The game seller will now pay either cash or in-store credit to customers who bring in used iPods, iPhones and iPads in good condition. Read more »
Sprint will begin selling the iPhone 4 in October, according to a new report. The report comes from a Sprint Nextel sales associate who has been briefed on the iPhone 4′s arrival, which will be available with Sprint’s standard data plans. Read more »
Apple’s operating profit growth could take a 30 percent hit by 2015, owing to the rise of HTML5, according to Bernstein Research Analyst Toni Sacconaghi Jr. But industry watchers should be wary of underestimating the continued appeal of the native iOS app for two big reasons. Read more »
If you’ve never used a drawing tablet, then Wacom’s Cintiq line might seem like an overly expensive curiosity. But for pros whose daily workflow includes digital drawing or photo manipulation, the new Cintiq 24HD is likely to turn more than a few heads. Read more »
New sales data from the NPD Group, as shared by Piper Jaffray, shows that Apple’s Mac sales are surging thanks to new models introduced in July. The other side of the coin is that iPod sales are in decline, but that’s nothing Apple isn’t expecting. Read more »
Dolphin HD for the iPad, like its iPhone counterpart released earlier this month, is free and brings a number of features not available in mobile Safari. But will users embrace an alternative that can never be the default, no matter how well conceived? Read more »
Developers looking to beta test their iOS apps have a number of options for finding and communicating with beta testers, but few are as slick and easy to use as TestFlight. Now it’s even better, thanks to a new SDK that made its official debut Monday. Read more »
The leaves are changing color, there’s a chill in the air, and some stores already have Christmas merchandise on shelves. Fall is basically here. So what’s the status of iCloud and iOS 5, which should be arriving during the season, according to Apple at WWDC 2011? Read more »
Apple is facing another new patent infringement suit this week, as Texas-based Droplets Inc. has filed a new complaint. Apple products that Droplets claim infringe on the patent include the Apple website, iTunes, the movie trailer site and also its other web applications. Read more »
DC Comics recently started selling digital versions of its new comics on the same day that print editions show up in local comic book shops. It’s a move that helps promote their “New 52″ all-title relaunch, but it has much wider-reaching implications. Read more »
Adobe announced its new Flash Media Server 4.5 late Thursday afternoon, and it’s an iteration that Apple device owners should be very happy about. For the first time, Flash Media Server 4.5 enables same source video delivery to both Apple devices and Adobe Flash-compatible destinations. Read more »
Apple will indeed offer the iPhone 5 on Sprint next month, according to a report from Bloomberg on Friday. This backs up an earlier claim by the Wall Street Journal, but Bloomberg adds that Sprint will also be offering unlimited data service plans with the device. Read more »
Apple has made a couple of minor changes to its online store Friday morning, which, though small, should make shopping for products through the web-based portal even more painless. The first is a new iPad-ordering process, and the other is a change in stock level indicators. Read more »
