Apple sues Atico International over iPod accessories

Friday, May 16, 2008

In a case that outlines the legal strategy that will be used against companies that create iPod accessories without joining Apple’s Made for iPod program, the company has filed suit against Atico International over a series of patent and trademark infringements relating to the latter’s iPod accessories.

Apple is claiming infringement of a patent on remote controls, infringement on the design patents for its Universal Dock well, as well as three Dock Adapters, and trademark violations relating to the Made for iPod, iPod mark, and iPod image trademarks.

Apple has also alleged that Atico is unfairly competing with Apple in violation of federal law based on its use of Apple’s trademarks, falsely suggesting that its products are associated with Apple.

Some of Atico’s products are being sold at Walgreens under the Living Solutions brand; offerings include an AM/FM Alarm Clock Radio with iPod Dock, a Portable Boom Box with iPod Dock, and the JBL On Stage-styled Portable Speaker with iPod Dock.

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Apple shows off new flagship Boston store

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Apple has big plans for its latest retail store and its first in downtown Boston—literally. The new brick-and-mortar outlet, opening Thursday on Boston’s tony Boylston Street, will be the largest Apple Store in the United States with three floors of retail space.

“Apple has exploded in growth,” said Apple senior vice president of retail Ron Johnson during a Wednesday preview of the Boylston Street store. “Boston is also redeveloping…there’s so much growth in Boston, combined with growth for Apple, that it’s time to build another large store.”

While the Metro Boston area already features eight stores, the Boylston Street store is the first in the city itself. Johnson noted Wednesday that Apple has had its eye on the site for eight years—before the company even opened the first of its retail outlets. And its plans for the Boylston Street outlet have expanded over time.

Apple’s retail efforts have grown considerably since Apple first eyed downtown Boston as a potential site for one of its stores. The company now has 210 stores around the world—183 in the U.S., with 15 in the U.K., seven in Japan, four in Canada, and one in Italy.

The retail stores brought in $1.45 billion in second-quarter revenue, Apple reported last month. The Boston store is one of 45 that Apple plans to open during its 2008 fiscal year; the company also plans brick-and-mortar efforts in Australia, China, and Switzerland.

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Singapore Airlines in-flight iPod/iPhone connectivity

Singapore Airlines has announced that it is now offering iPod and iPhone connectivity on select all-Business Class Airbus A340-500 flights.

The system allows passengers to enjoy content from their iPod or iPhone through the aircraft’s KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system, which features a 15.4-inch widescreen monitor for every seat, as well as active noise-cancellation headphones.

In addition, the system—which connects to the devices via a standard 30-pin connector—will offer in-seat charging, and will allow users to hear announcements and instructions made by the crew and pilots even while content is being played.

The service is currently limited to flights between New York and Singapore, and will be added to flights between Los Angeles and Singapore in August.

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Payless Car Rental Launches iPhone and iPod Touch Optimized Website

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Payless Car Rental, a low-cost rental car company providing exceptional value to travelers, is one of the first car rental agencies to build a customized version of its website for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

"Payless saw the need to create a slimmed-down version of its new website for the iPhone and iPod Touch community," said Jeff Lin, Project Leader of Payless' web marketing strategy team. "Payless' iPhone interface adds convenience and loads up faster than a full website would on an iPhone or iPod Touch," he added. "By pointing their iPhone or iPod Touch to http://www.paylesscarrental.com/, iPhone and iPod Touch users can book a car in just three easy steps."

iPhone users make up nearly one-third of smartphone users in the U.S., and the Safari browser is already the most popular mobile browser in the United States. Since Apple launched the iPhone last June, the iPhone has catapulted to number two in U.S. smartphone market share, trailing only Research In Motion's Blackberry.

The homepage of Payless' iPhone interface also features a "Call to Book" button that, when pressed, will connect the customer to Payless' call center, where the customer can book over the phone, instead of through the interface.

Another section includes links to the store locations' contact information and maps -- features that could come in quite handy while traveling.

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Case-mate Naked iPod Touch Case

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Meet the world's first touch-through case. The Naked Case, by Case-mate, is the only case to provide complete coverage of the iPod Touch screen, while at the same time allowing full play-through access.

This revolutionary patent-pending technology mimics the function of the iPod Touch screen so exactly that your iPod Touch functions flawlessly while in this case, even though you are actually touching the screen through the case.

For the first time you can have the best of both worlds--complete protection and full functionality. The Naked iPod Touch Case is crafted of acrylic, with a patent pending electrostatic membrane across the front. Cutouts provide full access to all iPod Touch controls.

The Naked Case lets the true beauty of the iPod Touch shine through. It's as if your iPod Touch was wearing nothing at all!

This Case-mate Naked iPod Touch Case is available for a price of $34.99

Features:
- Patent pending electrostatic membrane allows complete touch-through access to screen.
- Case provides full protection for screen.
- Cutouts for full access to all iPod Touch controls.
- Crafted of black and clear acrylic.
- Ambient light sensors still functional.

Description:
The Naked Case is a revolutionary case that provides full coverage of your screen and complete touch-through access. The electrostatic membrane on the front of the case mimics the iPod Touch screen, passing the electrostatic pulses created by your touch through the case to the iPod Touch, allowing your iPod Touch to function flawlessly. This is the ONLY case on the market that provides screen coverage--all others send you a screen protector with your case.

Simply slide your iPhone into the front piece of the case, then slide and snap the back piece into place. Cutouts are provided for full access to the following controls:
- Front: Home Button
- Top: Sleep/Wake Button and Headphone Jack
- Right Side: Volume Controls
- Left Side: Silent Ringer Button
- Bottom: iPod Connector, Speaker, Mike

There is no need to sacrifice protection, style or function any longer. Get Naked with Case-mate today!

Labels: Apple-iPod-Touch-Accessories

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Apple Q2 2008: 10.644m iPods, 1.7m iPhones sold

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Reporting its second quarter financial results today, Apple said it sold 10.6 million iPods during the quarter—on par with most analyst predictions, and pushing the total number of iPods sold to just over 152 million.

Despite Apple’s dramatic iPod shuffle price drop during the quarter, which saw the iPod family for the first time become accessible at the $49 price point, iPod sales were almost flat compared to the year-ago quarter, with only 1% growth in unit sales, and 8% growth in revenues. It also sold 1.7 million iPhones in the quarter, bringing the total number of units sold up to 5.4 million as of March 31, a number that is likely over 6 million by now.

The company posted revenue of $7.51 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.05 billion, or $1.16 per diluted share, compared with revenue of $5.26 billion and net quarterly profit of $770 million, or $.87 per diluted share in Q2 2007. Sales of Other Music Related Products + Services were up 35% over the year-ago quarter and 9% over the first quarter of 2008, to $881 million total. That category includes iTunes Store sales, iPod services, and revenues from Apple and third-party iPod accessories. Total iPhone revenue, including carrier agreements and all iPhone accessories from Apple and third parties, was $412m, up 57% over the preceding quarter despite a 26% drop in unit sales.

“We’re delighted to report 43 percent revenue growth and the strongest March quarter revenue and earnings in Apple’s history,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “With over $17 billion in revenue for the first half of our fiscal year, we have strong momentum to launch some terrific new products in the coming quarters.”

“We’re thrilled to have generated $4 billion in cash flow from operations in the first half of fiscal 2008, yielding an ending cash balance of $19.4 billion,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “Looking ahead to the third quarter of fiscal 2008, we expect revenue of about $7.2 billion and earnings per diluted share of about $1.00.”

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DLO VentMount iPod Touch Car Mounting System

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters has introduced its VentMount dashboard mounting systems for the iPhone and iPod touch. The VentMount is a 2-part hard black plastic car mount featuring a secure mounting device, which is attached to a vehicle’s air vents, and a shell which holds the iPhone or iPod touch.

The DLO VentMount allows you to position iPod touch in your car for hands-free access. You can easily rotate VentMount vertically or horizontally for quick-glance viewing of coverflow, maps and driving directions.

VentMount features a secure mounting device that is hooked onto the car's AC vent. Even while mounted, you'll find easy access to the side controls as well as the dock connector – so you can plug in and charge your iPod touch without removing it from VentMount.

VentMount for iPod touch also functions as a belt clip, and features a locking desktop stand so you can easily enjoy hands-free video viewing on any flat surface. Clip on the VentMount, and take your iPod touch from car to hipside to desktop in a snap.

Quick Facts
-Use VentMount for convenient iPod touch positioning in your car
-Rotates horizontally or vertically – great for coverflow and driving directions
-Use also as a stand-alone belt clip
-Locking desktop stand for hands-free video viewing on any flat surface
-Fits 8GB and 16GB iPod touch

The DLO VentMount for ipod touch is priced at $24.99

Labels: Apple-iPod-Touch-Accessories

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