Oliver Haslam

Proview Asks Apple for $1.5 Billion Over iPad Trademark Hiccup

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

It seems that Apple's legal team just cannot catch a break these days, and the company's lawyers certainly seem to have their work cut out if they are to avoid a large payout to Proview, a monitor and display company.

Proview is apparently the owner of a Chinese trademark for the term "iPad" and is currently locked in a legal battle with Apple over the use of the word for its – you guessed it – iPad.

The matter has already found its way into the courts, with large sums of money currently being discussed. The biggest number to come across our computer screens today is a staggering one, with Proview apparently set to ask Apple for a cool $1.5 billion in compensation for the whole ordeal...

Issue with iPhone 4S and China Mobile SIM Cards Confirmed

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated March 9, 2016

Apple has confirmed that some people are experiencing compatibility issues when marrying a China Mobile SIM card and the new iPhone 4S. China Mobile itself has also confirmed that a potential issue has reared its ugly head.

The list of symptoms is varied but all follow a similar theme, with connectivity issues the main problem. Reports of users being unable to activate their handsets are rife, with others claiming to be unable to connect to the network completely.

Apple has reportedly already discovered the cause of the problem, and is hard at work on a fix...

Online Petition Against Apple’s Factory Conditions Receives 160,000 Signatures in a Week

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated February 21, 2018

Apple has received some slack of late over the perceived conditions of the Chinese workers who build its hugely popular products. With the eyes of the world currently firmly fixed on the likes of Foxconn, people are beginning to look more closely at the real cost of building our iPhones and iPads.

An online petition, set up to urge Apple to protect its Chinese workers has received 162,000 signatures in just over a week, with the number continuing to grow.

Allegations of unsafe working conditions and long hours have been rife of late, with Apple's main manufacturing partner, Foxconn, at the center of the issue...

Rumor: iPad 3 to Launch in March [Updated]

Oliver Haslam ∙ February 2, 2012

If you wished for another iPad 3 launch rumor when you woke up this morning, then you're in for a stroke of luck.

According to the oft-accurate Japanese blog Macotakara, Apple will announce the third generation iPad at an event due to be held in March, with a release date to come after that announcement.

The news comes after Macotakara had previously claimed that the event would take place in February, but the blog now says that there will be two events, with the one in February being described as "strange" by the site...

Foxconn Planning to Build Five Factories in Brazil to Keep Up With Apple Demand

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

Apple heavily relies on Foxconn for producing its hugely popular iPhones and iPads, and the more business booms for Apple, the better Foxconn does, too.

Foxconn's huge production facilities are apparently not quite huge enough, and now the company is looking at building a further five facilities in Brazil, with the aim of helping it to keep up with demand for Apple devices.

According to AppleInsider, the five new facilities will employ about 1,000 people each...

EU Launches Antitrust Probe into Samsung

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

Apple may have struck a blow in its current battle with Samsung over wireless technology patents, without actually doing anything.

News broke today that the European Union is launching a formal investigation into Samsung and its potential breach of EU antitrust rules. The investigation itself will focus on FRAND patents which means patent appliciations related to standards must be “fair, reasonable, and on non-discriminatory terms.”

The EU obviously believes Samsung hasn't been acting entirely above board with regards to its current patent dealings with Apple...

Smartphone Makers Reportedly Delaying Handsets to Avoid iPhone 4S Competition

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

The iPhone 4S is selling so well that Digitimes believes the competition is running scared. So much so that the likes of HTC, Samsung, Nokia and LG apparently delaying the release of new handsets until the iPhone 4S sales have slowed.

All the big smartphone players except Apple are expected to show off their upcoming handsets at Mobile World Congress in Spain, but if Digitimes is correct, then we'll have to wait until the second quarter before we can buy them.

Apple's fourth quarter showing was particularly impressive, garnering 23.9% of the market share. Samsung took second place with 23.5%. Behind the big two, Nokia made up the top three with 12.6%...

Apple Appeals Decision About iPad Trademark in China

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

In the latest round of trademark roulette, Apple has appealed a Chinese court decision that asserts a local monitor company owns the "iPad" trademark.

The company in question, Proview, apparently sold a selection of trademarks to a company representing Apple in 2006 but, according to Proview, the iPad trademark for China was not one of them.

Proview had claimed as much back in 2010, saying that it had sold the global trademark for "iPad" to IP Application Development, but that two trademarks in Mainland China were not included...

Why Apple Must Not Rest on its Laurels

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

It seems right now that Apple just can do no wrong. With record sales of its devices and huge amounts of money sat in the bank, it's all very rosy over in Cupertino. But other companies have had successful periods before, only for things to go a little awry in future years.

Despite great results from Apple ever since Steve Jobs returned to the company back in 1997, it wasn't really until the iPhone's introduction in 2007 that the world really took notice of what was going in at 1 Infinite Loop.

Now it's a worldwide phenomenon, with people owning iPhones who would never have contemplated picking up a Mac.

Throw in the beginnings of a tablet market that is still being dominated by the iPad, and Apple have every right to feel smug. But it may not last forever...

Foxconn Stock Reaches Record High on the Back of iPhone 5 Rumors

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

Apple may not like it when we all start talking about unreleased hardware, but such speculation doesn't seem to be doing one of its biggest partners any harm.

In fact, Foxconn's close relationship with Apple has seen its stock price skyrocket to an all-time high thanks to extremely strong iPhone 4S sales combined with new rumors of iPhone 5 production.

Foxconn currently manufactures almost 50% of the planet's electronics, with Apple being its most high profile customer thanks to its hugely successful iOS devices in particular...

Siri Gets its Groove On in New Flaming Lips Song

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Siri gets around a bit these days. If Apple's virtual assistant isn't starring in an episode of the Big Bang Theory then it's making music, with The Flaming Lips deciding to give Siri a shot at laying down the vocals for a new experimental song.

Called "Now I Understand," the track also features the voice of Erykah Badu alongside Siri, with the result being an interesting one to say the least.

Experimental is possibly the best way we can describe this song, though it does have a certain charm to it...

Top Angry Birds Exec Thinks Piracy Can Help Promote Games

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

App piracy is something which is a real problem for many iOS developers, especially the smaller, independent ones. Things don't get much easier for the big guys, either.

Rovio, the people behind Angry Birds, also suffer from a spot of piracy, and not just of the app variety, either. All sorts of merchandise is being made and sold in Asia, with Rovio getting nothing by way of monetary compensation. But that doesn't seem to bother Rovio's CEO Mikael Hed.

In fact, he seems to be surprisingly happy about it...