Social Links
Twitter Feed
Top
External Links
Site Search
This Site Is Hosted And Powered By Squarespace.com
Powered by Squarespace
Subscribe To This Site
Admin Only
« Picture Taking | Main | Yet More Test Shots! »
Thursday
Mar042010

Apple Sues HTC

DateThursday, March 4, 2010 at 3:58AM

This week Apple filed a patent infringement lawsuit against HTC over some twenty patents that are aimed at the line of Android phones the company makes.  Apple has yet to sue Google, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Asus, Dell, or any of the other Android device developers but one gets the idea that at the moment Apple is more concerned with slowing down Android than anything else.  Here's a link to a Google News feed of all the news stories on this so far.

Over the past few years Apple, and probably Steve Jobs, have taken a more "strident" tone in the competitive tech space that seems counter to the image that the company was founded upon.  I know that it has started to turn me off to the company and their products.  Based on a reading of various tech news and blog sites I'm not the only feeling this way.  Something that Apple needs to be worried about is the world of public perception.

For over a decade Apple enjoyed an almost mythical fan base that practically worshiped their products.  For a long time I counted myself as an Apple "Fanboy" for the simple reason they were innovative and offered a better computing experience compared to that from Microsoft.  Their hardware was top notch and Mac OS X was the best personal computing platform since it came out in 2000 making the premium one paid for Apple hardware worth it.  Further many people rooted for Apple as they took on the Microsoft giant!  Always hovering in the single digit PC user base they were the classic underdog, and we Americans always love the underdog.

Over the last ten years though some things started to change.

When Steve Jobs introduced the first iPod in October 2001 it singled a change in Apple that would turn out to be bigger than the introduction of the iMac in 1998.  Traditionally a computer and OS company Apple was entering into the consumer electronic space in a game changing way.  Once the iTunes music store launched with its 99 cent music downloads they began to cement their position as THE go to place for digital music downloads.  Everyone can probably agree that it took everyone else the better part of ten years to offer compelling and competitive products.  The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 was yet another iconic launch into the consumer electronic space quickly coming to dominate the nascent smartphone space with everyone else looking to bring to market the "iPhone Killer".

Along the way Apple seems to have lost itself in the process.  Once the company that railed against such large monolithic entities, with Microsoft being the main culprit, they now find themselves in a reverse role being the first to drag out the lawyers.  This HTC lawsuit is just the latest, and most visible, example of this new mentality.

Here's the problem for Apple.

Unlike in the past there are now compelling products from other companies that can fill the space that Apple currently enjoys.  The recently launched Windows 7 PC operating system is the best thing to come out of Redmond, Washington.  Ever.  This OS is probably the most stable, feature filled OS out there next to Mac OS X.  It's not perfect but it does get the job done.  Another innovation from Microsoft is their line of Zune portable media players and the Zune Marketplace.  Sure, it took three generations for Microsoft to "get it right" but there is no doubt that at this point the Zune has become a compelling product/ecosystem, especially the $14.95 "all you can listen to" subscription service that also gives you three free DRM free tracks per month.  The recently announced Windows Phone 7 that completely revamps the Windows Mobile nightmare of past also includes Zune capabilities.  Indeed, Microsoft has stated that every single Windows Phone 7 device will also be a Zune device.  That right there is a pretty darn compelling lure!

Throw in the Android phone operating system from Google and how they are continuing to find ways to innovate this platform and we have what many consider to be the main threat to iPhone dominance over the next five years.  Apple is putting the iPhone OS into the iPad for tablet computing.  Well, Android has been showing up in tablet computers for two years now and their are some pretty compelling products coming down the pipeline. 

Will it work for Apple?  Probably not.  Google also sits on a nice, tidy little cash war chest and has already stated that they are standing behind their hardware partners in this coming fight.  And Google has much deeper pockets than Apple for something like this.  Instead of Apple versus Microsoft it looks to be Apple versus Google through their proxies.  And lets not forget Microsoft in all this.  This is a company that is undergoing a very significant change in the post Bill Gates era in that they are developing some nice products in a timely fashion and no longer seem to be the slow behemoth of past.  Apple and Microsoft seem to be both out to bring Google down a few pegs and if the two of them working together doesn't make your hair stand on end I don't know what would in the tech sector.  No doubt about it, this is a big mess waiting to unfold over the next couple of years.

My guess is that the HTC lawsuit is more designed about publicity AND scaring other device manufacturers in to second guessing their support of Android and that makes it a sad day for Apple and fans of the company.

AuthorMike P. | Comment7 Comments |
tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

PrintView Printer Friendly Version

EmailEmail Article to Friend

Reader Comments (7)

<p>You will need to do a little bit of Prom Dressesand visit some Cheap Prom Dress to find out the important information you are not familiar with buying Prom Dresses 2010. It's always good to take the Prom Dress and check prices and see Prom Dresses 2010 you can afford. Everybody has a Cheap Prom Dresses taking some time out to check your local <a href="http://www.wholesale-weddinggowns.com/modest-

May 17, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterwedding111

Our goal is to make your wedding gowns the best possible wedding gown it can be. We strive to carry what wedding gowns dresses you want at the lowest prices you deserve beach wedding gown. Our goal couture simple wedding dresses is to provide you with an honest plus size wedding gown, ethical, and trusting relationship couture wedding gown. We has always had the lowest prices classic wedding gown in our area and now cheap wedding gown we are capable spaghetti strap simple wedding dresses of having the lowest prices white simple wedding dresses in the world formal wedding gown. How do we sell lace wedding gown at such low prices? The reason is because we are simply modern wedding gown not greedy! We are not looking to pressure beach simple wedding dresses our customers into buying a short wedding gown that is not right for them simple wedding gown.We guarantee that we will make you satisfied with our simple wedding dresses and services. We are in business to make you happy simple wedding dress. We will go the extra mile cheap wedding dresses for you. If that means working overtime Cheap simple wedding dresses, then it plain simple wedding dresses will be done! Our Quality Guarantee for New modern simple wedding dresses Merchandise is second to none short simple wedding dresses ! We guarantee to produce the exact classic simple wedding dresses or item you order from us. It will be a first quality, brand new sexy simple wedding dresses or item. You know, we are always here for you!<BR>

July 26, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterwedding dress

<p>If I speak in the Cheap authentic NFL Jerseys tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all Official NFL Jerseys knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my USa Jerseys Shop body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing.Love is patient, NFL Jerseys love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it NHL Jerseys keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always MLB Jerseys hopes, always perseveres.Love never NHL Hockey Jerseys fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in MLB Baseball Jerseys part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappea. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a NBa Basketball Jerseys man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.and now these three remain: faith, hope and NFL Football Jerseys love. But the greatest of these is love.</p> HYD

September 3, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterNHL Jerseys

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
All HTML will be escaped. Hyperlinks will be created for URLs automatically.

Notify me of follow-up comments via email.