Powerful New Siri Capabilities and Single Sign-On Are Coming to Apple TV

Apple’s Powerful New Siri Proficiency

Apple recently announced a powerful new Siri proficiency, single sign-on for Apple TV as well as several more great latest features for users, enhancing the experience of entertainment in the living room. With the extended proficiencies of Siri, inclusive of searching across more app, YouTube search, and topic search as well as tuning right into more live channels, consumers tend to get to their favourite content much quicker.

The yet to come of the TV is apps and with single sign-on, customers could authenticate all the video channels for their pay-TV providers by signing only once in order to enjoy the benefit of their network TV apps. Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue stated that `the future of TV is apps and Siri on Apple TV has changed the way we interact with our television and these long-drawn-out features will continue to deliver viewers what they want to watch even faster.

 There are more than 6,000 apps to be enjoyed on your Apple TV including over 1,300 video channels, which are even more fun to watch with the new Siri features united with single sign-on’. Siri has become more powerful since the launch of Apple TV, presently searching over 650,000 TV events and movies. Siri is made available to more countries with expanded abilities

Some Features & Functions

Some of the features and functions are:

• Topic search for movies – Having the skill of asking Siri for a movie by topic or theme, user has many options of locating the films they prefer to watch like `Show movies about baseball, Find documentaries regarding cars, etc. 
• YouTube search – Later in the month user can ask Siri to search YouTube for instance `Search YouTube for attractive wrestler videos’. 
• Live tune-in – You could ask Siri to go directly to a live channel within a supported app like `Watch CBS News or Watch ESPN’ 
• Achieve HomeKit accessories– Apple TV provides users’ control of HomeKit enabled accessories so that you can ask Siri to `turn on the lights’ or `set the temperature to 70 degrees. Apple TV also enables users to control KomeKit accessories when they tend to be away from home or utilise it for home computerization together with the Home app on their iOS device.

 

Simplified Way of Enjoying Pay-TV Video

Customers in the US, for the first time have a simplified way of enjoying pay-TV video channels by utilising single sign-on and beginning this fall, they will only have to sign in, once on Apple TV for the facility of immediate access to their favourite video channels which are included as part of their subscription for pay-TV. When the user tends to sign into a network app, any other app on Apple TV from participating pay-TV provider will inevitably log the user in all the other supported app needing verification.

During the process of the single sign-on, customers can view a page of all the verified apps which a pay-TV provider offers to determine, download easily and enjoy their favourite video channels. Any of the network-TV app could have the benefit of this technology enabling single sign-on, simplifying the process for their audiences. Single sign-on would be made available on Apple TV as well as iOS.

Apple Launches iOS 10 Beta Version to the Public

Biggest iOS Release - iOS Beta Version

A beta version of Apple’s latest mobile and desktop software, iOS 10 and macOS Sierra has been released by the company. Promoted by the company as `the biggest iOS release ever’, the latest software is said to be intended for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch featuring a revamped lock screen inclusive of the removal of `swipe to unlock’, customisable widgets as well as lively add-ons to iMessage.Though Apple is likely to release the update together with the iPhone 7, users could download the early version of the software using their Apple ID.

The company has been motivating users of beta to report on any bugs or errors they may come across in the iOS, which is not the confirmed version and would be updated all through the testing period before its general release. In order to download the software, the user is required to sign up to the Beta Software Program of Apple utilising the Apple ID.

When the user has signed up they can register the device they would like to upgrade to iOS 10 or macOS Sierra to be able to download the same. Apple has recommended consumers to backup any device they may be utilising for the beta and emphases that since the software is in its testing stage, it may feature malfunctions and viruses.

Altered the Way Users Open their Phones

You can back up the device in Settings by using iCloud or by connecting it to a computer. For those having over one Apple device, the iPhone maker states that it is better to download the beta on a secondary one and once the backup of the device is done, if you would like to update, it can be done by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

The iOS 10 is said to be the most essential change that Apple has released for the software in a few years. To be precise, it has altered the way users tend to open their phones. Picking up a device which runs iOS 10 mechanically lights up the screen showing notifications, weather information, calendar appointments and news updates.

From there, the `swipe to unlock’ feature has been removed by Apple which has been a basic since the first iPhone, the pressing of the home button was the only function needed to unlock the phone. Other useful alteration comprise of customisable widgets, the capability of deleting default apps and voicemail transcription.

Modification in Mac OS Sierra – Assimilation with Sri

To the developers, iMessage has also been opened who can now develop apps within it, which means that users can now order food, send money or shop within messages. The biggest modification in macOS Sierra is the assimilation with Siri that also tends to work now with third party apps.

Siri has got a huge makeover and is much smarter which includes writing your messages, performing image searches as well as transcribing voicemails. Apple Music has brought back useful iTunes features, comprising of the `Recently Added and Recently Played’, segments.

 It has also included statistics in Browse and For You, which has daily playlists, top charts as well as radio, somewhat like Spotify Discover Moreover the computer software also comprises of updates to the Photos app, tabs for every app and Apple Music.

Why You Should Care About Four Apps from Apple That You Can’t Download Yet

Apple’s Four Apps Which Possibly Can’t be Downloaded Yet

Apple had recently released four apps which possibly cannot be downloaded yet and which are the first signal of a big shift in the core messaging product of the company. The apps are said to be four sticker packsfor iMessage from Apple which tends to feature various smiley, hands, hearts and some throwback Mac iconography which may bring joy to Mac fans especially children of the 1990s.

While the apps are available at the store presently, they are supported only for iOS 10 and greater and if one is aware, the iOS 10 is not out yet to anyone but Apple developers.This month, a public beta period is anticipated but has not yet begun, which means that Apple has released four apps which cannot be utilised yet by anyone.

This seems an odd decision but one could take it as an indication that the public beta is pending. The crazy sticker packs tend to represent a part of greater ambitions for messaging by Apple as a part of the tech world which is getting progressively competitive. Since Apple in the past has been clung for not jumping properly on the social networking trend, the wheel has turned in making a most important social force.

Apple – Developing Software for Latest Products

But beta operating system could be insecure, crash abruptly, act unpredictably and also probably reduce the phone as useless. However if one tends to have an older phone or laptop there are greater chances of something going wrong since Apple intends starting developing software for its latest products first and will be working back from there.

 Even if there are no bugs in the operating system of Apple, one could find that not all of the apps are compatible with iOS 10 still, since several developers seem to be working on the upgrading of their apps before the full launch this coming fall. Sam Williams of Quartz who had co-developed the iOS app has held back from downloading the latest operating system stating that `most developers are not installing it yet on their personal phones and if they are not willing to risk it, best if everyone else holds back’.

If one is willing to take a chance, they will have to register with Apple first as a public beta tester and the company would be sending instructions on how to install the software. The user would otherwise have to wait a couple of more months till the software seems to be ready.

Apple Keeping Pace with Other Innovators

Messaging is now something that Apple has done impeccably in its modest form. However it seems to need a little more style in competing with the other messaging apps and is unwilling to open Messages up to other apps and developers to be there. The sticker packs coming from Apple though are the first of several add-ons which can be made by any other developers. That changed the benefits of Apple as it tends to keep pace with the other innovators in the field like WeChat.

At its June developers’ conference, Apple had already announced that it would add a multitude of features to Messages inclusive of the ability to hand-write notes, to obscure parts of messages as well as to automatically erase them a la Snapchat. These in-house features tend to enhance Messages though the stickers together with the other app which tap into iMessage to take it from a product to a platform.

Apple to Encourage Organ Donation with Health App

Apple’s Attempt on Easy Procedure of Organ Donation

Apple has been making attempts in making organ donation an easy procedure. The company had mentioned recently that the updated Health app, will be made available as part of iOS 10 and would be providing latest option which would enable users to sign up to donors of organ. Apple wants to motivate millions of iPhone users to register as organ donors through its software update which will add an easy sign up button to the health information app that is installed on every smartphone made by the company.

The app’s Medical ID feature that tends to keep track of the medical and health information includes the capability of registering as a donor of organs, eyes and tissues. The registrations which are sent in via your iPhone or iPad would be forwarded to the National Donate Life Registry, which is an organization handled by Donate Life America. The Health app introduced with iOS 8 in 2014 is Apple’s way of assisting in keeping tabs on one’s health and fitness and is more than just about keeping track of your daily stats. With the combination of a huge selection of data, the app can be time consuming.

One Donor – Saves Life of As Many As Eight

With a feature which is quick and easy it portrays how the app can extend its utility without getting too difficult. The Associated Press explained that if one desires to volunteer as an organ donor, you need to tap the registrations button in the Health app.

This adds yours status as a donor to an `emergency information’ screen which can appear even when the phone tends to be locked. On tapping another button would provide the information on organ donation. According to Apple, presently over 120,000 Americans are waiting for a transplant and every 10 minute, addition of new person is added to the waiting list. Donate Life America President and CEO; David Fleming had stated the demand for organs is greater than the supply which leads to the death of the person in need of a transplant, every hour in the US.He added that one donor could save the life of as many as eight lives.

Easing a Critical & Longstanding Shortage of Donors

The new feature is said to be presently available in the developers’ beta of iOS 10 though it will be more universal when the public beta of the new iOS version tends to roll out. The iOS 10 will be launched for all the mobile device users of Apple, this fall. Tim Cook hopes that the new software would help in easing a critical and longstanding shortage of donors.

 He stated that the issue made an impact when his friend and former boss, the co-founder of Apple, Steve Jobs had endured agonizing wait for a liver transplant in 2009. He informed The Associated Press that `watching and seeing him every day waiting and not knowing, it stuck with me and left an impression that I’ll never forget’.

He was very much concerned that he offered to donate part of his own liver though Jobs had refused. Jobs had died of complications from pancreatic cancer in 2011, two years after receiving a liver transplant in Tennessee which had attributed in extending his life span. He had enrolled in that state’s registry when doctors had advised him the lengthy waiting list in California. This meant that he would not live long to get one in his home state.

Apple Patents Technology for Deactivating iPhone Cameras at Live Concerts

Apple’s Patent – Block Camera Feature of iPhone

Now recording plays on phones would soon be a thing of the past since Apple has patented a technology that tends to block the camera feature of the iPhone. The invention of the company enables venues to utilise infrared beam to disable photography on devices, avoiding users from taking photos and videos. The California-based US firm company had been awarded the patent recently in the midst of mounting hindrance which intimates live events being ruined in various screens as the visitors record videos for the purpose of sharing them on social media.

A recent request had been made by actor Benedict Cumberbatch to fans to stop filming while he performed in Hamlet and Adele a pop singer had informed a female fan filming on her mobile at a concert in Italy to enjoy the same in real life instead of the camera. The patent of Apple explains how the iPhone would be temporarily disabled at the time of the rock event and would need an infrared transmitter to be installed during shows.

It states that `an infrared emitter can be located in areas where picture or video capture is prohibited and the emitter can generate infrared signals with encoded data which includes commands to disable the recording functions of devices. An electronic device can then receive the infrared signals and temporarily disable the recording function of the device, depending on the command’.

When Switched on – Phone Displays `Recording Disabled’

The patent states that when switched on, the phone seems to simply display a `recording disabled’ message when the audience members try to take images or videos. On the other hand, a watermark or blur effect could be applied to disappoint people from sharing them.It is not certain if Apple plans to apply the technology to the iPhone since companies regularly patent innovations without utilising them.

However, securing down on recording would be appreciated by several artists and venues. Besides this, other advantages comprise of shining lasers on visitors who use mobile phones at the time of the performances which has become a well-known approach in cinema in China and also adopted recently by London’s Jermyn Street Theatre.

Should the technology of Apple be introduced, it could lead to uncertainties that it could be utilised by oppressive regimes as well as law enforcement in avoiding citizensin documenting oppression. It is not known whether Apple intends to put the patent in use and the company has not commented in response for comment.

Concern on Technology Stating to be Indiscreet

Actors and musicians have been regularly complaining that the increasing use of mobile phones and selfie tend to stick at live performances and sharing the content through media sites for millions who did not really pay for the tickets. Several civil liberty advocates have conveyed their concern on the technology stating it to be indiscreet. They claimed that the same technology could be utilised in blocking out the covering of live protest by the activists. Though the technology would be focused on preventing copyright infringement, it would also come with additional advantage of improving the experience of concert going.

Apple reveals ‘smarter’ Siri at WWDC conference in San Francisco

Apple’s Smarter Siri/Message App

At WWDC in San Francisco, Apple released a smarter Siri together with a Message app to take on Facebook Message and Snapchat’s filters in the wrap of latest features shown recently. Tom Cook CEO of Apple had started the WWDC keynote with a tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting before beginning a list of the new software features which users would see later in the year. Apple launched the latest iOS 10; MacOS and an upgraded Siri at the event together with latest versions of Watch OS and tvOS.

 As expected, Siri seemed to be among the highlights with Apple introducing it up for third party app developers. Siri would also be available on macOS with the Sierra update. Apple supporters expecting new hardware were dissatisfied though there were main changes to the operating systems for Macintosh computers, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Apple Watch.

Cook had calculated up the significance of the development community to Apple. There were now two million apps in the App Store that have been downloaded around 130 times with US$50 billion which had been paid to the developers. Apple Watch app would eventually be more usable with new control centre, which will make it easy to switch between apps as well as a new way of opening app seven times quicker.

Siri Added to Mac – First Time

Apple’s voice-based virtual assistant, Siri, was added to the Mac for the first time with the ability to pay utilising Apple Pay. Option to use the payment facility would be appearing on the websites together with confirmation requests sent to a user’s phone wherein they could use their fingerprint to permit them.Mac users would be able to utilise their Apple Watch in unlocking a Mac when they tend to be in close proximity of their laptop.

Between Apple devices like iPhone’s Touch ID, there will be better incorporation for the purpose of online purchases with your Mac computer and copy and pasting from one device of Apple to another. Together with the software changes, Apple had also mentioned a free app in order to encourage children in learning programming. He had stated that they believe that technology should lift humanity.

Information regarding improvements on how the app seems to run on Apple Watch was also acknowledged by the audience of developers at WWDC in San Francisco with the potential of Apple Watch OS3 making apps to open faster by seven times.

New SOS Feature in Watch

One of the main figures behind Apple Watch, Kevin Lynch had announced a new SOS feature in the watch that tends to call an emergency number, sending a text message with the location to the emergency contacts, automatically. In order to activate the emergency call, you could hit and hold the button towards the side of the Watch.

Other developments to the operating system of the Watch comprise of a new control centre, a much simpler way of responding to text messages together with new Watch faces. The capability of swiping between open apps in the way identical to using apps on the iPhone seems to be the major modification to the Watch.

The fitness section of the Watch also tends to get a renovation under the latest operating system wherein you can compete with family and friends on number of steps taken, minutes of exercises and calories burnt. A new fitness app known as Breathe has been designed to encourage people to lessen stress by regular sessions of deep breathing. The latest version of Watch OS is said to be released in spring.

Apple has Removed its Most Annoying Feature from iOS 10

Apple Confirms – Default Apps Can be Deleted

When faced with shortage of storage space, it tends to be quite frustrating. You are unable to take a photo or download a new song. You tend to be incapable of streaming anything since your phone seems to get too slow. Useless apps which are never used such as Wallet, Find Friends, Tips, and Stocks are not removable and are just there. Till now, Apple had announced a host of new features at the WWDC Conference, ranging from smarter Siri to bigger emojis. But what was not mentioned was the fact that you would soon be capable of deleting default apps in order to save space. The supporters of Apple had observed these default apps are now made available for download on the App store which means that beginning with iOS 10, Apple would be permitting iPhone and iPad users to delete any built-in apps which users may not need and download them again later if the need arises. Those who have downloaded the developer beta have tweeted the change, observing that a bunch of default apps like Weather, Music, Calendar, Mail and Stocks can now be deleted though there seems to be some exceptions, such as Messages, Photos, Camera, Health, Settings, Safari together with clock,that are still stuck probably since they seem to be too integral to the system.

Guidelines for Saving Space 

A full help page, had been released by Apple confirming the apps that could be removed from your home screen with the iOS 10 update. All these apps tend to use less than 150 MB and it is always good to avoid unwanted clutter on the home screen. The following are the guidelines to make space on your iPhone –

Know your stats

Under Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage, one can see precisely how much space is available and a list in descending order on which apps have taken the maximum space.

Stop Storing Texts

Texting could take up much space than one may realise, particularly if you tend to send a lot of photos and videos. Besides deleing threads, one could go to Settings > Messages > Keep Messages and select 30 days. Your iPhone tends to set it to Forever by default.

Getting Rid of Temporary Files 

It is essential to purge cookies, browsing data and your dingy browser history in Safari which can be done by going to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Date. This would instantly free up the much required space.

Beware of Internal Downloads

Those using Spotify or Podcast would observe that they seem to be the biggest offenders.Plenty of files downloads on the phone offline could utilise plenty of gigabytes of space. You could delete you may not needs or go to the app’s settings, de-selecting any option to download files for use whenever your phone seems to be in offline mode. You could also check through ebooks, notes and voice memos.

Scrap Photo Stream 

Photo Stream tends to automatically sync up your last 1000 photos across your devices which means that 1000 of the photos seems to be taking up double space. In order to turn this feature off, you could go to Settings> Photos & Camera and toggle off My Photo Stream.

Maintain a Regular `App Cleanse’

Maintain a monthly cleansing by going through and deleting any app you may not use or have forgotten that it is there and has been occupying valuable space.

Turn Off `Save Original Photos’ 

If you are utilising photo-based apps such as Instagram, there is no option to save whatever photos that are published to Camera Roll. In the case of Instagram, it is switched on automatically which is meaningless if the image is already uploaded. In order to turn this off, you could open the app and go to its Settings, turning off `Save Original Photos’.

8 Reasons you are finally Going to Wear Your Apple Watch

The Next Software Update of Apple Watch 

Apple had made an announcement at its yearly developer conference on Monday and renamed OS X to MacOS showing off new features on TVOS. The succeeding software update for Apple Watch - Watch OS 3 drew a lot of attention and tends to look exceptional. The following are the eight features which seem to make the Apple Watch a lot better:

1. No staring blankly at the wrist

The Apple Watch from the first day, has been overwhelmed with slow loading time for apps and presently the process goes thus - one can raise their wrist and tap on an app icon, the circular, spinning dots start up and with the wrist raised, on can walk the dog, take out the trash, or take a nap and then the app tends to eventually load. According to Apple, with WatchOS 3, the mostly used apps seem to load seven times faster. The onstage demo of app launching seemed to be inspiring and if it tends to work the same after the WWDC stage, loading the app faster would be making the watch very helpful.

2. Apple Watch gets an app dock

Now with the loading of app being much faster, it could be reasonable to have a quicker access to these apps. Apple presently has included an app dock which is similar to MacOS or iOS and you could set some apps to reside in the dock and open the dock quickly on pressing the side button of the watch. On scrolling through the previews of the apps, you could tap on the respective card in launching the app which is much better than using the side button as a shortcut for digital touch.

3. In fitness, compete with friends 

Tracking of activities on the Apple Watch has been remote since the same cannot be shared or the stats sent to family members or friend and to motivate them for improvement. Apple seems to bring friends on the Activity app wherein one can cheer on or trash talks with those on your list of friends based on their regular activity status.

4. Scribble

Apple has the potential of writing on the watch utilising the finger when at times, one is unable to dictate a message to the watch. Apple has a feature known as Scribble and when it is activated, you can write the message one letter at a time on the screen of the watch. The watch will then identify the handwriting, translating it into text which is ready to be sent as a message.

5. More Apple Pay 

With the launch of WatOS 3 this fall, one will not only have the option of using Apple Pay on tapping your wrist on compatible terminal for payment but also complete purchases directly on your wrist with the help of the app.

6. Improved switching between watch faces

The procedure of switching between watch faces has been enhanced which needs a simple swipe to the right or left across the prevailing watch face. Besides this, the Apple Watch app on the iPhone would now display the complication an app tends to have which would be helpful in making a purchase decision, on being aware precisely what an app seems capable of doing on the wrist.

7. Just Breathe

A health app known as Breathe will alert you to take a moment and breathe and the thinking here is that you take some minutes daily to clear your mind and be more conscious of your breathing to relax and reduce stress levels.

8. Accessibility 

Apple has created a wheelchair mode for the Apple Watch and when activated, user would get credit for activity as they move around in a wheelchair. Instead of getting hourly alert to stand up, wheelchair user would be informed that `it’s time to roll’.

Apple Patent Hints at 'Bone Conduction' Headphones

Apple Researching on Bone Conduction Technology

Patent awarded to Apple recently indicates that the company has been researching on the use of bone conduction technology in enhancing voice call quality in its EarPod headphones. The US Patent portrayed a diagram specifying a pair of wired earbuds having an internal accelerometer that tends to distinguish between the voice of the user and ambient noise by just sensing the vibrations in the bone structure of the user.

The technology is said to be in contrast to prevailing bone conduction headphones like the AfterShokz Bluez which seem to transmit sound through cheekbones so one hears the music rattling around in the head. Apple has also been awarded another patent for a `liquid resistant acoustic device’ with a mesh umbrella which could possibly produce a waterproof speaker port for forthcoming devices.

An identical component tends to exist in the Apple Watch. A patent has developed portraying that Apple is considering experimenting with waterproofing features for a forthcoming iPhone build and a second patent could lead to EarPods that tend to have the prospective of noise-cancelling through an integrated accelerometer and a bone conduction procedure.

Patent – Liquid Resistant Acoustic Device

The patent for liquid resistant acoustic device tends to define how a standard headphone jack could comprise of an `umbrella section’ in the prevention of internal damage to a device. Being filed way back in July 2014, the protective measure seems to sound comparable to the O-ring of Apple Watch, in its speaker unit that provides an IPX7 rating for the Watch. Many reports have recommended that the Cupertino Company has been considering water-proofing its 2017 iPhone duplication and the invention defined in the patent could become a part of the construction of the forthcoming iPhone or iPad.

 Though there seems to be many discrepancies on the invention, the solution grips on improving the standard protective mesh layer found in most headphone ports with an `umbrella’ so that probable damage to the internal acoustic device components or to the mesh can be alleviated. Still interesting is another patent that had been filed in March 2013 which tends to define hands-free headphone system centred on an internal accelerometer that has been designed to enhance recorded sound quality.

Accelerometer Retained in Earbud – Utilised in Detecting Vibration of Vocal Chords

The patent which had been spotted by source that  had stated that an accelerometer which has been retained inside an earbud could be utilised in detecting vibration of the vocal chords of the user based on vibration in bones as well as the tissues of the head of the user. This with the aid of an on-wire microphone tends to filter out non-vocal acoustics for the receiver.

A single variant also records the probable use of an inertial sensor as against an accelerometer though most of the listed versions seem to aim on separating `voiced speech as well as unvoiced speech, with the previous being familiar and improved by bone construction.

Irrespective of seeing a `bone conducting’ set of EarPods hitting the market anyone who seem to have been on the receiving end of a inaudible,, distorted hands-free conversation could find some peace in the fact that improvement seems to be at least reflected upon for hand-free quality call.

Apple Files Patent for Walkie Talkie Headphones

Apple’s Patent for Device to Call over Local Wireless Network

A patent for a device which tends to permit people to call each other over local wireless network has been filed by Apple wherein the patent describes a set of headphones connected to a mobile device. The headphones are said to transmit voice calls to a person wearing an identical set-up and who could be within the range for the devices to get connected. It does not seem that Apple intends to phase out all non-technological human interactions at the moment, though the patent may provide a way to talk securely and subtly in busy environments for individuals.

The device tends to utilise ad hoc wireless network that enables user to speak using encrypted signals, which could be complex to interrupt. The patent states that the other types of local communications like walkie talkies do not support encryption and could be vulnerable to interference. According to the patent, the wireless headsets, elsewhere would permit users to `communicate over secure wireless communication connection while at the same time retain freedom of movement within a range of each other. Moreover, the device could also be capable of automatically detecting and notify similar headsets within a certain range.

Direct Audio Communication Between Users

The patent details features, from the headset, like ambient noise filtering, Bluetooth calls and the ability to control a variety of apps comprising of email and camera.Apple has mentioned in the patent filing that conditions for direct audio communication between users in close vicinity could be less than ideal. For instance where two users seem to be nearby in a noisy atmosphere, direct audio communication between the two could be difficult taking into consideration the interference from ambient noise, that could hinder one or both the users from being able of distinguishing words that are spoken by the other user.

Such ambient noise would need the users to be in proximity of each other, which could impede freedom of movement of one or both the users during the duration of the direct communication. Unrestricted freedom of movement of one or both the user may be essential, in some instances and a headset which tends to double as walkie-talkie device could handle these issues. Digital communication suite tends to offer improvements such as signal encryption as well as multi-user conference calling. Besides, ambient noise could also be filtered through the application of dedicated software.

Patent First Filed in November 2014

The wireless headphone does not seem to be the only development which Apple has been probably keeping a secret for the moment. The German paper Franfurter Allgemeine, had reported in April, that the firm has been setting up a dedicated `car lab’ in Berlin. The rumoured plan of Apple to launch an electric car, the German car lab, by 2019, is intended to bring `15 to 20’ of the top automotive engineers of the country on site to play with the idea, which is likely to be connected to Project Titan.

As in the case of all patents, there is no surety that the product would develop and Apple refrains from commenting on rumours. It is not clear whether the company intends to implement such technology. The advanced walkie-talkie patent application of Apple had first been filed in November 2014, crediting Esge B. Andersen and Cedrik Bacon as the inventors.

Samsung to Supreme Court: Apple got too Much Money for its Design Patents

Grossly Over-Rewarding Design Patents – Hurt Competition/Innovation

When it comes to legal damages, it is said that design patents are given considerably value and Samsung has argued to the U.S. Supreme Court in its patent dispute with Apple. In a brief opening which had been filed recently with the nation’s highest court, Samsung had presented its cause on why an earlier ruling in favour of Apple should be discarded. It is said in the filing that `at a minimum, a new trial is essential’.

Samsung opposes that Apple should get the profits only from the parts of a smartphone which encroach on the patents of Apple, the front face and a grid of icons on the interface of a user and not the profits from the complete phone. It is mentioned that `grossly over-rewarding design patents’ would hurt competition and innovation and would lead to `absurd’ results in the other lawsuits.

Samsung had made a comment in a statement that `if the current ruling is left to stand, it would value a single design patent over the hundreds of thousands of ground-breaking technology patents, leading to vastly overvalued design patents’.

Damages Collected for Complete Value of Device

Apple had not responded to a request for comment. In March, the Supreme Court had decided to evaluate the long-running dispute between Apple and Samsung and for the first time had looked at a design patent since the 1800s. A pronouncement by the court may have a ripple effect over the technology industry and eventually affect the gadget one tends to buy since it could ultimately define the value of the design work.

Samsung desires that the Supreme Court should provide guidance on what is covered by design patents that tend to protect the way an item is utilised and how it works as well as on what damages it could be collected. Presently damages can be collected by the companies for the complete value of the device and not just the trespassing design features.

In the case of Apple versus Samsung, it had led to an initial damage award amounting to over $1 billion. The original trail of Apple against Samsung in 2012 had mesmerized Silicon Valley as well as the tech industry since it had exposed the inner workings of two extremely secretive companies. It had been just of one the several trials across the world since the rivals fought both in the marketplace as well as in the courtroom.

Samsung to Pay Apple in Damages

Last year, Apple and Samsung had agreed to bury the hatchet in their overseas cases though their US court conflicts seems to continue. Samsung had filed a motion with the Supreme Court requesting it to re-examine the patent breach case after it lost its case in court to Apple.

 As a consequence of the trial, Samsung had to pay off to Apple the $548 million in damages that had been ordered by court. That motion had been granted by the Supreme Court and for the first time it had considered a design patent and is likely to consider the case later in the year.

Samsung had requested that the next weeks’ damages retrial should be kept on hold in order to evade a probable fourth trial and `avoid probably duplicative and wasteful proceedings’.

Apple Pencil 2 new Features and Release Date Rumour

Apple Pencil – Stylus for iPad Pro – Best Tablet Stylus

The Apple Pencil, the stylus for the iPad Pro is perhaps said to be the best tablet stylus presently in the world. The first Apple Pencil had been launched together with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in September 2015 and hence the most apparent time to anticipate an update is in autumn 2016. In the iPad Pro 2 report summary, various theories were considered regarding when Apple would update the 9.7-inch types of the device and these could have suggestions for the stylus accessory.

One is that Apple tends to do an iPad update in September 2016 though it is clearly a minor one, only to bring the Pro 12.9 to the standards of the 9.7 and then the iPad Pro 2 comes out in March 2017 thereafter is updated on a yearly basis. An Apple patent has been found which recommend that the future Apple Pencils could be offering same features. The patent filed in 2011 and had been published on May 3, 2016, defines an intelligent stylus wherein each nib seems to have its own sensor that tends to pair with a separate sensor in the body of the stylus. Two tilt sensors in the tip tends to calculate the precise orientation and the angle of your hand and as one tends to write or draw, the relative position of the sensors is detected by the Multi-Touch display.

Touch Input Information

Hence one can create the effects of shading by just tilting Apple Pencil the way one would do with a charcoal or a conventional pencil. The patent’s detailed description states that `the stylus 110 can include multiple sensors to provide information about its condition, where the sensors can be selectively used alone or in various combinations. The ability to provide information beyond simply touch input information, particularly information about the condition of the stylus which the stylus determines itself, gives this stylus intelligence, absent from a traditional stylus’.

Apple has also mentioned in the patent that the possibility of turning the back end of the Apple Pencil into an erase. The detailed description states that `for the additional contact/proximity sensor at the stylus non-tip end, the MCU can determine the stylus’s condition at the non-tip end as touching or hovering over a surface for instance, to emulate an eraser’. Besides this it also states that the MCU can extract fingerprints from the touch measurement and can identify the user of the stylus. The MCU can transmit the user identification to the touch sensitive device.

Touch Sensitive Device – Authenticate User’s Stylus

The touch sensitive device can then perform some action based on the identification. For instance, the touch sensitive device can authenticate the user of the stylus and can accept stylus input if the user is authenticated and deny stylus input if the user is not. Patently Apple had smartly marked what it tends to believe to be a reference in a 2014 Apple patent filing to a stylus which can control the track-pad on a Mac.

 It is speculatedif the Apple Pencil would achieve the skill of controlling iPhones and other iPads besides the Pro models, the Mac range is a bigger jump than expected. Patent for the Stylus With Inertial Sensor comprise of drawing which tend to show what appears to be a Mac and track-pad system.

Your Next iPhone Could be Built by Robot Workers

Credit: Bobby Yip/Reuters

Foxconn – Replace Human Workers with Mechanical Ones

One of the manufacturing companies developing iPhones has replaced around 6,000 factory workers with robots. According to the South China Morning Post, Foxconn that tends to produce components for Apple and Samsung has reduced the workforce in half, in one of its factories to replace the human workers with the mechanical ones. It has not been revealed by the company, what factory the robots seem to be working in and if they would be manufacturing the iPhone 7.

The workers in the US have been demanding $15 per hour wages, which has put pressure on employers. Though the initial investment in robots could be higher, they could be beneficial in the future since they don’t tend to get sick, deterred or have other problems. Reports from China have shown that Foxconn pays its employees very low together with unwarranted stress on them with big orders. One report has suggested that the company had installed safety nets in the factory in order to prevent the workers from committing suicide. A spokesman for Foxconn had mentioned that they are applying robotics engineering as well as other innovative manufacturing technologies to replace the monotonous task which was earlier done by employees.

Harnesses Automation

It has been indicated by Foxconn that it intends to grow its robotic employee roster as it `harnesses automation. On doing so, it expects that its human workforce would be able to focus on higher value added elements in the process of manufacturing, like research, development as well as quality control. The manufacturer had spoken to BBC and had confirmed that a lot of the manufacturing tasks seem to be automated though did not mention whether this would mean huge job cuts all over the board.

The company has plans to train its workers to focus on other elements in the manufacturing process. The robots would be brought in to ensure that monotonous task earlier done by humans would be performed by the machines. According to the experts it is an accepted element that the robots would be replacing human workers and within a span of 30 years it would be likely that mechanical beings would take over most of the jobs.

Changeover to Robots Hurtful to Human Job Markets

Moshe Vardi, professor in computational engineering had mentioned at a conference earlier in the year that they are approaching a time when machines would be capable of outperforming humans at almost any task. With the increase of robots, humans will end with an existential dilemma. Vardi states that computer scientists have been working on building machines which could compete in everything humans tend to do.

 If machines are capable of doing all the work or even 50% of the jobs that humans tend to do, what will the people do? Companies which operate in the region where Foxconn had engaged its robotic workforce had invested 4.2 billion yen in robots since September 2014. The first employee in the UK which could lose out to robots is customer service agents.

With Silicon Valley giants going directly with new chatbots, there would be interaction with more and more robotic customer service personnel instead of human employees. The changeover to robots would be hurting the human job market though the manufacturers are of the belief that it would open up potentials for highly skilled workers to fill in the vital posts.

Apple Patents iPad Cover with its own Display

Apple’s Patent – iPad Smart Cover with Flexible Display

Apple has been awarded a patent for iPad Smart cover having its own `flexible display’ built-in. Based on a patent that has been granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the latest version of Apple of its Smart Cover comprises of a flexible display, solar panels to collect energy, inductive charging together with a smart keyboard and its smart connector. The prevailing cover tends to fold over the screen, awakening the iPad from sleep mode but besides that it does not seem to live up to its smart branding. However a notion sketched out by the company foresees an accessory which would be providing `significant expansion in functionality’. For instance it could roll out in front of the device in order to provide extra screen space or display the name of a song or a movie that has been playing on the tablet when rolled up. It could also be used as a full second display or utilised as an input device wherein a stylus or finger could be used in controlling the screen of the tablet. The patent application has also mentioned that the solar cells could be added to the cover which would soak up the rays of the sun to power the iPad. A variety of patents have been held by technology firms that have never seen the daylight and hence there is no guarantee that this would go into production in the future.

Extending Usability/Functionality of Tablet Device

Apple had noted in the filing that this was a way of extending the usability as well as the functionality of a tablet device without the need of making it larger. Though there is no sign that Apple has been working on making this a reality, patent blog Patently Apple which has reported the news first, records that permitting this patent also comprises of a smart connector for the cover something that is used in its latest device, the iPad Pro that comes with a smart keyboard which tends to connect in a similar manner. The patent had been filed initially in 2011 a year after the launch of the iPad and had been approved recently.The patent officially granted, for a cover attachment with flexible display, envisages a futuristic iPad cover with its own display spread over the folding panels which could be utilised for anything as per the drawings of Apple. Different notification or reminder can be displayed on the panels or transform into media controls when a movie is being played on the tablet.

Serves as Wacom-Style Drawing Pad

Its patent application notes that AMOLED screens would be perfect here as they can light up single pixels, leaving the rest turned off, thus saving battery life. Another image portrays the cover that serves as a Wacom-style drawing pad which seems a bit laid off with the refined precision which has been permitted by the Apple Pencil and the screen technology in iPads recently though it is yet a neat idea. The patent illustrates various ways in which the Smart Cover display can be used from simply extending the iPad’s own display through text only displays of things like reminders to a joint display and the touchpad. Selected options tend to show the display as a full input device, enabling both handwritten notes as well as drawings.

India Claims to Have Tool to Defeat iPhone Encryption

Tool for Mobile Forensics

According to the New Indian Express, communication and IT minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad had mentioned recently that as part of a program, a tool for mobile forensics has been created which could handle smartphones, inclusive of Apple’s iPhone. India apparently has a secret technology to decrypt iPhones.This is not to say that a tool has been developed which would bypass encryption, instead a process to get past the lock screen has been created.

 Prasad had stated that the tool had come about, as a part of a continuous process of research and development instead of being a case of singling out iPhone for specific attention. Prasad has not revealed which other handsets and devices the government is capable of accessing, though smartphone users would be pleased at his admission that a universal encryption key has not been developed.The iPhone was in the midst of a legal battle between Apple and the FBI, earlier this year, when the FBI had sought the help of Apple in accessing a locked iPhone 5C that had been utilised by one of the two terrorist involved in the December attack in San Bernardino, California which had left 14 people dead.

Endanger Security & Privacy of Users

While the company had initially complied, it refused a court order demanding that it build a tool providing backdoor access into the iPhone. Apple together with most of the tech industry, believe that building such a tool would endanger the security and privacy of users. The conflict had ended towards late March when the feds had paid for a technique which had successfully unlocked the iPhone. The FBI had persevered that it needed the help of Apple for another case but relented after it had successfully hacked into the second iPhone.

As per tech firms, weakening encryption that seems to scramble data in order to be read only by the intended person tends to violate the privacy of device owners. Law enforcement officials state that encryption obstructs their ability to access data in criminal investigations. BlackBerry had faced trouble in India as well as other countries that had insisted on gaining access to encrypted customer data stored on the company’s server, in 2010. BlackBerry debated that it did not possess the encryption key and hence could not provide access to the data.

India On-going in its Research & Development

Apple had refrained from commenting immediately in response to writers request. India has a forensic tool for mobile which can apparently break into iPhone of Apple and maybe FBI should make a note of it. It is not known precisely what the tool is, which devices it is capable of cracking into and what operating system version they tend to run on.

However the confirmation of the tool comes from Ravi Shankar Prasad. The LAPD recently, had been successful in hacking into an iPhone, which raised doubts as to whether the FBI legally could break into the iPhone. If what the Indian communication minister says is true regarding the tool, then it would mean that India has a more sophisticated tool than the FBI. The minister allegedly said that India is on-going in its research and development in order to upgrade its tools and technologies in harmony with its ever-changing software and devices.

How Rose Gold became the new Black

Gadget have become Blushing Hue of Rose Gold

Gadget which has been black and white these days have now become hot colour of blushing hue of rose gold. This is an option for gadgets of Apple from iPhone to MacBook to Beat headphone and phones from a number of Android device makers. Rose gold began with a glowing start last September with the launch of iPhone 6S line. It was reported by CNET staffers around the world that people had been queuing up specially to get hold of the shimmery, sugary shade and iPhone shoppers in China have been swept up in a pre-order state for the rose gold tint. Apple has not released the breakup of sales figures by colour and has not responded to the request of it for comment, but around 40% of pre-orders during the opening weekend of iPhone 6S, were for rose old models as per an estimate by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. What the sensation of rose gold has to prove is whether it can withstand. Maria Killam, an interior designer and colour expert has said that it is definitely a trend and not a classic look. Presently it is almost everywhere.

Difference Between Samples Apparent

Since the launch of iPhone in September, rose gold had arrived on Sony’s new Xperia X Performance, Huawei’s Mate S and P9 and the latest flagships of Samsung, the Galaxy S7 and S7Edge, though Samsung tried to distinguish itself by calling the colour pink gold. An inside look at the process was obtained during a visit to the Sony Mobile headquarters in Tokyo wherein design pro Jeanna Kimbre had laid out an array of 15 or so colour samples which has been considered for the Xperia X. It was not as simple as looking at a Dulux colour chart and each colour had been printed on the material the phone will be crafted to precisely represent the final product. Difference between the samples had been apparent though dizzying. The designer’s job is to work out which shade would produce a favourable response with regards to the final product proposed to appeal to consumers all together.

General Material Trend Moving Towards Metal

According to Kimbre, general manager of the Sony Creative Centre, which brings together all the designers of the company under one roof, has commented that the general material trend is moving towards metal and rose gold seems to be high-class with that. Earlier to that, she was the design lead on the Xperia X phone project. The design team at Sony tends to have a strong brand heritage to take into consideration, though Kimbre is of the belief that designers should look beyond their own companies as well as industries for a sense of direction. She states that what are the needs and wants, one is going to have in two years’ time. When it comes to colour, looking to trends beyond the tech world is mainly important and fashionable hues seems to be well known in industry lines. Rose gold is not just the go-to colour for tech designers presently but is also the hot thing in the world of hair styling as per multiple celebrities, Cosmo and the arbiter of cutting edge style – Instagram.

Apple Granted Patent for System With Wireless Messages To Enhance Location Accuracy

Apple Address Weakness Characteristic in GPS Based Navigation System

In a patent granted to Apple, the company imagines complete cities outfitted with low-power wireless transmitters capable of sending pinpoint precise location data as well as dynamic environmental alerts, to iPhones and in-car navigation systems. As issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Patent of Apple, tends to continue the investigation into beacon-based navigation of the company though on a grand scale. Rather than aiding iPhone owners in locating car that may be parked in an underground lot or locate their position utilising advanced geo-fencing algorithms, the latest invention of Apple tends to address weakness characteristic in all GPS –based navigation systems.

The present patent endeavours to resolve reception issue which come up in thickly inhabited cities, at times referred as urban canyon environments for their elevated buildings while simultaneously increasing the granularity of positioning data. Essentially, the solution of Apple tends to consume less power than A-GPS, Wi-Fi positioning as well as cellular tower triangulation procedures, all present augmentation to vanilla GPS.The plan calls for a multitude of stationary transmitters to be installed at strategic locations next in the vicinity of the city roads, like adjacent building, within pre-existing traffic lights, guard rails, roadside signs together with other structures.

Transmitter – A Smart Wireless Hub

Every transmitter is mostly a smart wireless hub rising with radio transceivers, which is a perfect configuration support cellular, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi and GPS data transfer proprieties and the equipment can be fed by AC line power or solar system.A stationary waypoint device, in operation broadcasts its location data, plotted on a Cartesian plane through wireless Bluetooth LE message.

Each message is sent at known signal strength enabling the receiving device such as iPhone or car to induce relative location built on received signal strength indicator – RSS value. The receiving device could utilise various techniques in determining its total position based on the number as well as quality of the messages received, with two choices comprising of triangulation together with time-of-flight computations. In some examples, an iPhone could utilise location data provided by static devices in performance with GPS details though the invention of Apple has the capability of operating as a locked system.

Apple’s Invention – A Role in Autonomous Vehicle Logic

As an addition, the transmitters could also send out z-axis data to be used on multi-level highways for instance, a measurement which is regularly available from commercial GPS system. With regards to navigation, the system can be organised in tracking vehicle movement with great degree of precision. A series of transmitters for instance, could be installed along off-ramps and on-ramps, forks in a road, freeway exits as well as other locations where the traditional GPS system tends to fail in resolving user position with sufficient accuracy.

Though it has not been mentioned in the recent document, the invention of Apple could play a role in autonomous vehicle logic and the described transmitters in particular could be shaped to broadcast rich data comprising of information with regards to traffic, road as well as other driving conditions. User for instance could be informed of an upcoming speed limit change, rough weather, and risky road condition while driving past a connected transmitter.

With the prevailing car equipment, these messages could present an audible alert and an onscreen dialogue. In future, nevertheless, the same roadside beacon could inform an on-board AI of the neighbouring atmosphere warning it to take action when necessary.

New Immersion lawsuit adds Apple's iPhone 6s, MacBook to patent infringement row

Immersion Corporation – Prolonged Legal Battle Against Apple

A leader in haptic feedback technology, Immersion Corporation, has prolonged its legal battle against Apple on Thursday with new patent infringement suit directing technology built into iPhone 6s together with numerous MacBook models. The lawsuit that was filed with the United States District Court for the District of Delaware states that Apple had significantly infringed on four owned patents linking to haptic technology defined as physical feedback to user action or UI dealings. Apple had first debuted an accurate haptic engine in Apple Watch and since then had incorporated same technology all through its device line-up. The latest declaration of Immersion comes on the heels of an U.S.

International Trade Commission complaint and the lawsuit that is filed in the same Delaware court in February and all these three case have named AT&T as a co-defendant. In present day’s complaint, Immersion mentions owned U.S. Patent Nos. 8,749,507, 7,808,488, 8,581,710 and 7.336,260, each of which tend to cover a feature of the in-house developed haptic technologies of the company. Three claims seems to go after 3D Touch tech of Apple that combines a force-sensitive display as well as a linear vibratory motor that has been dubbed as the Taptic Engine offering contextual vibratory feedback of z-axis user gestures.

Peek and Pop

Immersion’s 507 and 488 patents, specially covering timing intervals and variable input pressure in haptic systems are being declared against `Peek and Pop’ generation on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The most recent flagship smartphone introduced in Apple, `Peep and Pop’, is a function of 3D Touch pressure-sensitive gesture input which tends to permit users to preview cross-linked content without the need of opening a standalone app. For instance, user can start a light press in order to `peek’ a hyperlink included within an email, while a deeper press tends to `pop’ the content into Safari.

The Quick Actions feature of Apple that portrays a list of app shortcuts on the iOS home screen on a deep press event is said to be in infringement of Immersion’s 710 patent for Systems and Methods for Haptic Confirmation of Commands. `Quick Actions tend to enable a main function of 3D Touch. Lastly, Immersion is leveraging its `260 patent for a Method and Apparatus for Providing Tactile Sensations’ against the Force Touch track-pad technology of Apple as included in the 12-inch MacBook, 13-inch MacBook Pro and 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Jury Trial to Resolve the Lawsuit

Force Touch has also been included in the Magic Track-pad 2 that is equally open to examination in the case of Immersion who is in search of compensatory as well as supplemental damages which could be tripled if Apple is found to have deliberately infringed the declared intellectual property. Immersion states that as to why AT&T has been included in the lawsuit, is because the carrier sells Apple products and is thereby encouraging and facilitating infringing use by others.

By that logic, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon, together with the other carriers should be included also in the lawsuit. Immersion has stated that it would like a jury trial in an attempt of resolving the lawsuit against Apple and AT&T and would like to receive compensatory damages for the same. In its earnings released recently, the company has also asked that progress be made with regards to United States International Trade Commission Complaint over the same problem which seeks a U.S. sales addition on the aforementioned products.

The Main Reason Apple Just Invested $1 Billion in the Uber of China

Apple’s $1 Billion Investment in Didi Chuxing Technology

Apple Inc. has confirmed that it has invested $1 billion in Chinese ride-sharing company, Didi Chuxing Technology Co, which rivals Uber in China. With this investment Didi will have the rights in the Middle Kingdom where it can claim to be one of the few companies to be receiving funding from Apple.

The competition in building and providing autonomous vehicles tends to pit the two most valuable companies in the world, namely Apple and Google parent Alphabet Inc. besides others, against one another as well as against the worlds’ most valuable private venture-capital backed company, the rival of Didi – Uber Technologies Inc.

Apples’ investment lines up with Chinese Internet giants Alibaba Group Holding Ltd together with Tencent Holdings Ltd who are investors for Didi and Lyft Inc., the biggest U.S. rival of Uber who had taken an investment from Didi last year. The high profile venture capital firms such as Coatue Management, Global, GGV, Softbank and Tiger have supported Didi and their support had set the foundation for a global anti-Uber alliance which comprise of Lyft in the US, Grab in Southeast Asia and Ola in India.

Apple the Outlier in the Mix of Tech Heavyweights

In spite of its influence and brand name, Apple seems to be the outlier in this mix of tech heavyweights, a smartphone company among a mass of global investors and Chinese media giants. The assets in mapping as well as artificial intelligence of Apple would definitely help Didi in the future, the emerging self-driving car industry overlaps with the ride-hailing industry.

As of now, it is difficult to imagine what Apple could bring to Didi which Alibaba as well as Tencent cannot. Apple had enjoyed success in the Middle Kingdom due to its popularity of the iPhone and now makes almost a quarter of its revenue from sales to China, though its glorious day seem to be diminishing. Other indications of stress in China have emerged recently.

A high profile Apple investor, Carl Icahn has confirmed that he sold off all his shares in the company two weeks ago, since he was worried about the possibility of reducing sales by the Chinese’s government. Coordinated reports had been published by Chinese state media outlets that Huawei, the Chinese maker of Telco equipment and smartphones, had started charging Apple patent fees linked to wireless communication technologies.

Apple True Beneficiary of Deal

However, in spite of how the $1 billion would be placed in Didi’s reserves, Apple would be the true beneficiary of the deal. It would be a cause for celebration for any tech company to be receiving an investment from Apple but Didi has such an enviable position in China that the funding would be bringing little more than cash at least in the short term, for the company.

If funding seems the gasoline for ride-hailing company, then Didi seems to be leading Uber in China. The company had raised $4 billion in secured funding after a merger last year valued at $15 billion. Meanwhile, Uber China has been reportedly valued at around $8 billion after a $1.2 billion funding somewhere in January. Strong reliable data contrasting the popularity of the services of the company tends to remain scarce.

However, company numbers suggest broadly that Didi seems to occupy around 90% of the ride-hailing market in China. Apple has not confirmed publicly regarding its interest in automobile, though Mr Cook had stated that the automobile industry is on the threshold of a massive change with software and self-driving technology having a huge role in future cars.

Apple Loses Trademark Fight Over iPhone Name in China

Apple Lost Trademark Fight in China

Apple has lost a trademark fight in China which means that the firm that tends to sell handbags together with the other leather goods can continue using the name `iPhone’ and the `R’ registered trademark symbol. According to the official Legal Daily newspaper, the Beijing Municipal High People’s Court had ruled in favour of Xintong Tiandi Technology.

 Xintong Tiandi, in 2010 had trademarked `iPhone’ for leather products. In 2002, Apple had filed a trademark bid for the name for electronic goods but the same had not been approved till 2013. The Legal Daily, in Chinese, is extensively recognised as the official spokesperson for the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the country and its report had come out in late April though it had only just been widely circulated.

Apple had first bought the case against the company to the Chinese trademark authority in 2012 then when that failed had filed a lawsuit in a lower Beijing court. However, both had ruled against Apple and so it had appealed to the higher court. The higher court ruled that Apple could not prove that it was a popular brand in China before Xintong Tiandi had filed its trademark application in 2007.

Apple Facing Problems in Other Operations

Apple iPhone had first gone on sale in China in 2009. The decision comes close to the latest quarterly earnings report of Apple which indicated a 13% drop in revenue on slower iPhone sales and sales had dropped by 26% in China.

Apple has also been facing problems in other operations in China. Beijing had passed a law in March which required all content shown in China to be stored on servers established on the Chinese mainland. As a consequence iBooks and iTunes services of Apple were shut down in the country. Apple had mentioned that it expected access to the service would be restored quickly.

This move had been seen as a blow to Apple since China seems to be the second biggest market for its products. Carl Icahn, billionaire investor had recently sold all his shares in Apple due to concerns regarding the technology firm’s predictions in China.

Apple Credited for Popularizing iPhone

According to a source familiar with the matter, Apple and Xintong Tiandi had also earlier knocked each other. The U.S. firm had won at least five distinct iPhone-related trademark disputes against Xintong Tiandi in other categories like rubber products as well as advertising services. At least from Xintong Tiandi’s side there does not seem to be any hard feeling regarding the lawsuit. Mr Xiong had stated that his company would be open to any kind of commercial cooperation with Apple in the near future.

The Chinese firm, in a press release had also credited Apple with popularizing the iPhone name and in turn contributed to the success of Xintong Tiandi. Xintong Tiandi had mentioned in the release which had been posted online by PRNewswire and verified by Mr Xiong that the successful commercial operation and marketing of Apple had made `’iPhone the symbol of high tech and fashion.