Apple Inc.

[CityFarmer]

I recalled a Jim Rogers's statement in his book titled "Street Smart"

"Litigation is one of the healthiest growth industries in America...The explosion of litigation accounts for a significant part of the expense of doing business in this country"

US overturns ban on some iPad, iPhones

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has overturned a United States trade panel’s ban on the sale of some older iPhones and iPads, reversing a ruling that had favoured Samsung Electronics over Apple Inc in their long-running patent battles.

The US International Trade Commission in June banned the import or sale of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G distributed by AT&T, saying the devices infringed a patent owned by the South Korean electronics giant.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/us-overt...ad-iphones

Follow-up news. A business dispute turning to political issue...

South Korea concerned about US decision to lift Apple sales ban

SEOUL - The South Korean government today (Aug 5) expressed concerns about the decision by the United States to overrule a sales ban of some Apple models.

The Obama administration vetoed a US trade panel’s ban on the import and sale of some older iPhones and iPads, reversing a ruling that had favoured South Korea’s Samsung Electronics over Apple in their long-running patent battle. The move was vehemently criticized by the South Korean media as “protectionism”.

“We express concerns about the negative impact that such a decision would have on the protection of patent rights,” the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, said in a statement.

The ministry called on the US trade body and the Obama administration to make “fair and reasonable decisions” as Samsung faces a decision on Friday as to whether some of its phones and tablets infringed on Apple’s patents and should be banned from imports into the United States.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/south-ko...-sales-ban

[CityFarmer]

Apple losing out? One thing for sure, market share doesn't guarantee winning for technology companies...

Android bags 80% of smartphone shipments as Apple falters

NEW YORK - Android now accounts for an impressive 4 in 5 of all smartphones shipped on the planet, according to Strategy Analytics.

Android continues to extend its lead in the smartphone market, with the latest figures from Strategy Analytics showing that the Android operating system was running on 80 per cent of all smartphone shipped worldwide during the second quarter of this year.

Although Apple iOS shipments increased from 26 million to 31.2 million during the quarter, its share of the market dropped from 17 per cent to 14 per cent – its lowest level since 2010. Microsoft slotted into third position with a 4 per cent share, reaching its highest level in the global smartphone market for three years.

Overall, global smartphone shipments grew 47 per cent annually to reach 230 million units in the second quarter of this year, up from 160 million during the same quarter of last year, the Daily Telegraph reported.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/android-...le-falters

[specuvestor]

Frankly this is eeriely similar to what happened to MacOS and Microsoft

Difference is Jobs been through it and know the pitfall of a dwindling base in a closed architecture. Cook is no veteran.

[CityFarmer]

There is no IP67 phone from Apple, IIRC... It might be very useful for some...

The Samsung S4 Active performs swimmingly in tests

SINGAPORE — If the number of ruggedised electronic devices are anything to go by, I would think we live very exciting lives.

Cameras these days are dust-, water-, shock- and even freeze-proof so we can take them wherever we go. Even our closest companions — smartphones — come in tough shells, too.

The latest one I had taken for a test drive was Samsung Galaxy’s S4 Active with LTE.

From the outside, it does not look any different from the Galaxy S4, but this robust device boasts an IP67 rating —meaning it is completely dust-proof and functions normally even after being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, up to a depth of one metre.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/gadgets/...ngly-tests

[CityFarmer]

Let's see the level of "wow" in the new product launch...

Apple to unveil next iPhone on Sept 10

Apple will reportedly unveil its next iPhone on Sept 10, according to technology website AllThingsD.

An Apple representative declined to comment on the event, according to the website.

Apple is rumoured to announce a low-cost iPhone, dubbed the “iPhone 5c”, and the “iPhone 5s”, an incremental upgrade to its current smartphone

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/apple-un...allthingsd

[CityFarmer]

Further speculation on new product launch....

Apple said to prepare thinner iPad for release this year

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple is preparing to introduce a new version of the iPad with a thinner design, people familiar with the plans said, as the company works to stay atop the increasingly crowded tablet-computer market.

Apple also plans to introduce a new iPad mini, the first with a high-resolution screen, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the development is private. The new iPad models are set to be introduced in the last three months of the year, one of the people said.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/gadgets/...lease-year

[CityFarmer]

Hmm... all music to existing shareholders...

(not vested)

Icahn: Apple could be worth S$888 a share with larger buyback

SAN FRANCISCO — Activist investor Carl Icahn yesterday said that he has amassed a “large position” in Apple and believes the stock could be worth as much as US$700 (S$888) a share if CEO Tim Cook pushed for a larger stock buyback.

The billionaire with a reputation for pushing aggressive corporate change said he had a “nice conversation” with Mr Cook yesterday and they plan to speak again soon.

News of Mr Icahn’s interest in Apple pushed the stock up 4.75 per cent to US$489.57 on the Nasdaq.

Mr Icahn said that Apple has the ability to do a US$150 billion buyback now by borrowing funds at 3 per cent.

“If Apple does this now and earnings increase at only 10 per cent, the stock should trade at US$700 a share,” he told Reuters.

http://www.todayonline.com/business/icah...er-buyback

[CityFarmer]

Apple faces possible May 2014 trial on e-book damages

NEW YORK — The United States federal judge who ruled that Apple violated antitrust law by conspiring with five major publishers to raise prices of e-books has scheduled a May 2014 trial to determine damages, according to an order made public yesterday (Aug 14).

Absent an earlier resolution, US District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan would be expected at the trial to consider whether Apple should pay damages that could reach hundreds of millions of dollars.

Last month, Ms Cote sided with the federal government and 33 US states and territories in concluding that Apple conspired with the publishers to undermine pricing by rivals including Amazon.com, which dominates the market for electronic books.

The schedule for a possible trial on damages calls for the government and Apple to wrap up their interviews with experts by Dec 13. Court papers on whether to certify a class of plaintiffs must also be fully submitted by that date.

http://www.todayonline.com/business/appl...ok-damages

---

Is the Icahn's effect sustainable...?

Apple shares break US$500 mark

NEW YORK — Apple’s shares surged passed the US$500 threshold — their highest level since January.

The gains made yesterday (Aug 14) came a day after activist investor Carl Icahn said he thinks the iPhone maker should do more to revive its stock price.

The outspoken billionaire said in Twitter posts Tuesday that he had acquired an unspecified stake in Apple and had spoken to its CEO about boosting share repurchase plans. The stock immediately jumped, and closed at its highest level in nearly seven months.

http://www.todayonline.com/business/appl...us500-mark

[CityFarmer]

Apple is joining the M&A bandwagon...

Apple buys Matcha.tv video app

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple has bought the recently closed video listings app Matcha.tv as it tries to boost its TV recommendation service, said reports.

Matcha.tv ran on iOS, Apple’s operating system, and offered comprehensive listings of all films and programmes available on television, streaming video services and digital video stores — such as iTunes and Amazon.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/apple-bu...-video-app

[CityFarmer]

News on Apple main competitor, Samsung...

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 is small on size, big on value

SINGAPORE — There is no doubt that Samsung has improved its Android tablet offerings dramatically over the past few years. The Korean chaebol has launched a plethora of tablets under its Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab branding to cater to user tastes, and the Galaxy Tab 3 is the latest to join that growing family of gadgets.

Despite sporting a plastic case like most Samsung products, the 8-inch Tab 3 review unit we received is one good-looking machine with its iPad Mini-like form factor. It is also only 7.4mm thick and 318g in weight, making it one of the sleekest and lightest tablets on the market today.

Under the hood, the Tab 3 packs Samsung’s Exynos 1.5 GHz dual core processor with 1.5GB of RAM, along with 16GB of storage (expandable to 64GB) and a 4,450 mAh battery.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/gadgets/...-big-value

Samsung to launch Galaxy Gear smartwatch next month: Reports

BERLIN - Samsung will unveil its Galaxy Gear smartwatch in Berlin on September 4, reports claim.

The South Korean giant hopes its new device, which it has already confirmed is in development, will give it a head start against Apple. The iPhone-maker is claimed has 100 engineers working on their own watch.

Sony has already introduced a watch-style companion for its smartphones, but the Samsung model will go further and be able to make phone calls, surf the web and handle emails on its tiny screen, Bloomberg claims.

The Galaxy Gear will be unveiled on September 4, at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, the agency claims.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/samsung-...th-reports