According to a previously reliable source, Apple misrepresented the reasons behind Macworld and Jobs’ keynote cancellation. Allegedly, the real cause is his rapidly declining health. In fact, it may be even worse than we imagined:
Cygnus, a small Indiana company, has sued the Big Three of Tech — Microsoft, Apple, and Google — claiming that it holds the patent on a common file preview feature used by browsers and operating systems to show users small snapshots of the files before they are opened. Cygnus’s owner and president, Gregory Swartz, developed the technology laid out in the patent while working on IT consulting projects. The company is looking for "a reasonable royalty" as well as a court injunction preventing further infringement. Cygnus applied for its patent (# 7346850) in 2001. It covers a ‘System and Method for Iconic Software Environment Management’ and was granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office in March of this year.
ASUS, a provider of digital home solutions, has launched the new ASUS AIR3, which integrates an iPod speaker with Internet radio. According to the company, the HDSS (High Definition Sound Standard) certified speakers and the ETL (Embedded Transmission Line) module within the chambers provide natural, real and clear sound quality. read more »
Scott Wylie, a NZ Director of Developer & Platform Strategy, is one of the many testing the pre-beta releases of Windows 7. In his blog, Scott Wylie gives his opinion of the pre-beta release, which post was subsequently removed for obvious reasons. But a Google Cache of the post can be accessed and here’s what he had to say. read more »
Microsoft has decided to extend XP’s availability until the end of May 2009, according to CRN, in a move designed to support system builders. At this point in time, system builders can still get Windows XP licenses for new machines and will continue to be able to do so until January 31, 2009. read more »
Although the atmosphere surrounding this year’s MacWorld has been rather downbeat from Apple’s standpoint and one of why Apple decided to exit a major marketing event like MacWorld. Macworlds are not going to be the same as they once were without Steve.
However, stealing the rumors for this year’s MacWorld are reports of the launch of iPhone Nano. Leading Apple fan sites like MacRumors have released conceptual photographs (the one above) of an iPhone Nano. Labeling these rumors as doubtful, serious doubts are being cast about the likelihood of such a device.
Nokia has removed one of the key obstacles for takeup of its new Internet offering, combining sign-ins for its overall services site, Ovi.com, and for its media sharing device.
Ovi.com is something like Apple’s MobileMe. You can sync your contacts, maps, music and documents from your PC to your online account in Ovi.com and access them on the go. Sounds pretty cool.
Nokia has completed an $8.1 billion acquisition of a mapping company called Navteq to jump-start its Internet business as growth in the cell phone market stalls. The handset maker has gathered access to all of the services to its Ovi.com site, but so far they have all demanded additional usernames and passwords, something analysts see as one of the major obstacles for takeup.
“We are pleased to announce that as part of improving your experience with Share on Ovi, we have merged our sign-in system with Ovi.com,” Nokia said in a letter to clients. “This is a key step in integrating Ovi,” Nokia said. Nokia said earlier this month it aims to make annual revenue of at least 2 billion euros ($2.79 billion) from Internet services in 2011, focusing on navigation, music, games, messaging and media — but is battling with more established rivals such as Google, Apple and Yahoo. Nokia has not released user numbers for its Internet services, which created revenue of 115 million euros in July-to-September quarter.
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