The drama between Apple and IBM continues. Under a federal court order Mark Papermaster, Apple’s new iPod chief has been ordered to immediately cease his employment with Apple Inc. until further notice.
Papermaster is a 25-year veteran of IBM, who recently left the company to accept the position of SVP of Hardware Engineering, replacing Tony Fadell who will be now be Special Advisor to the CEO.
IBM’s lawsuit alleges that by joining Apple, Papermaster has violated a noncompete agreement he signed in which he agreed not to work for a competitor for one year if he left the company.
Papermaster claims in a counter-filing that Apple and IBM are in two totally different businesses: The former a consumer products company, the latter a high-end server manufacturer.
Lawyers for both sides have to submit papers by Nov. 11, and the court will hear the case on Nov. 18. Apple said they will comply with the court’s order but are confident that Mark Papermaster will be able to ultimately join Apple when the dust settles.”
Posts Tagged ‘ipod’
Court Blocks Apple’s New iPod Chief From Working
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008Apple Continues to Benefit From Low Flash RAM Prices
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008Analysts report that one reason Apple has been able to keep profits high is because of the constantly dropping price of NAND flash memory, the kind used in iPhones and iPod touches. The trend also looks as though it will continue, despite growing demand for the product in all sectors of the IT industry. Apple also uses this type of memory in it’s solid state drive equipped laptops, such as the MacBook Air.
Where Would Apple Be Today Without The iPod
Saturday, November 1st, 2008Back in 2001, Apple had fallen on hard times and was a shell of the vibrant company it had once been in the 1980s. Countless years of losses to Microsoft had left the company with few options. It had virtually no market share in the personal computer industry, and little brand image. Then the company invented a seemingly insignificant little device that would go on to change everything, the iPod.
The iPod not only turned around Apple’s finances, it redefined the entire company. Apple went from being on the brink of financial collapse to a stylish trend-setter delivering music to the masses and with plenty of cash to burn. In Q1 2006, just 5 years after the launch of the iPod, the iconic device accounted for 55.6 percent of Apple’s sales.
Something interesting has been happening over the last few years though and that is the iPod has grown increasingly insignificant to Apple. First there was the “halo effect” in which increased sales of iPods led to increased sales of Mac computers and OSX with the halo effect Apple’s computers became hot items.
Then came the iPhone, which has become an instant hit. In less than two years Apple has become the third biggest cell phone maker in the U.S. The iPhone has been a massive new source of income for Apple. All of these changes were in thanks to the iPod, without out that little device who knows where Apple would be today.
Google Earth For iPhone and iPod touch Released
Monday, October 27th, 2008Google has announced a free download of their Google Earth software for iPhone 2.0. The long-awaited software allows users to view high resolution satellite imagery on their iPhone or iPod touch.
Where To Next For Apple’s iPhone?
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008It’s official, Apple is now officially the third most popular brand of mobile smartphone, with Nokia at number one and Samsung in number two. Considering Apple’s lack of experience in the communications field, and the revolutionary nature of the iPhone’s interface this is nothing short of stunning. While the rest of the industry watched with skepticism, Apple immediately dominated an industry well known not only for being lucrative but for constantly leaving users disappointed. As it turns out, what people want isn’t $2 downloadable ringtones, complicated voice and data plans or phones with hundreds of features; No, what people want from a cell phone is coincidentally, exactly what they wanted from an mp3 player that Apple was able to provide and no other company has come close to matching, even after six years of Apple’s domination of that industry.
The whole time, the halo effect has been quietly working away in the background as Mac sales have grown year after year. The idea that Apple can do a good job of a phone or mp3 player so maybe they can do the same thing with the Mac computers isn’t new, but since the inception of the iPod Apple’s Mac market share has risen from around 4% to nearly 10%, and that’s with a range of products targeted only at the high end of computing.
Expect Apple to continue to dominate all three core areas of their current expertise, at least until they become irrelevant, and when that happens you can expect that they’ll have played a part in shaping the future of those areas.
Toys ‘R’ Us To Begin Selling iPods
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008Toys ‘R’ Us, the retailchain has announced that it will begin offering select iPod shuffle, iPod nano, and iPod touch models in its stores nationwide for “the first time ever” on October 19. According to the company, it will also offer a variety of accessories “that kids need to complement their iPods, including iHome items, iTunes gift cards, as well as products like carrying cases and car adapters for use on-the-go.”
Wal-mart and Target already sells iPods, and there are rumors that Wal-Mart will begin selling the iPhone, possibly as soon as November 15th. This Toys R Us development along with the recent Best Buy iPhone distribution deal means that Apple continues to move into ever more accessible retail channels for its consumer electronics, even as it continues to boost its own Apple Store.
New Apple Macbooks Speak to iPhone Design
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008Apple’s new Macbooks and Macbook Pros owe their striking appearance to the success of the iPhone’s good looks. With aluminum and glass bodies and black beveled display, the Macbooks bear more than a passing resemblance to the iPhone, a product that has influenced almost every other product released in it’s sector since it’s announcement. The multitouch glass trackpads are also a nod to the iPhone and iPod touch interface which has proven to be quite effective. While the new trackpads indicate Apple’s enthusiasm for it’s patented touch screen technology, they have already stated that they do not foresee multitouch displays becoming widespread.
iPhone Replacement Chargers Shipped Ahead Of Schedule
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008Last month Apple issued a voluntary recall of its Ultracompact USB Power Adapter for the iPhone 3G.. The UUPAFTi3′s metal prongs were prone to break off and increased the risk of electric shock, fire and iPhone 3G withdrawal from the inability to keep it charged. Users are beginning to receive replacement iPhone chargers offered under Apple’s product recall, which states:
“Apple has determined that under certain conditions the new ultracompact Apple USB power adapter’s metal prongs can break off and remain in a power outlet, creating a risk of electric shock. We have received reports of detached blades involving a very small percentage of the adapters sold, but no injuries have been reported.”
The revised adapter, which has already been shipping with most new iPhones, is nearly identical to the old one, except for slightly different prongs. To more easily identify the redesigned adapter, Apple added a small lime-green dot near the prongs as well.
Included with the replacement adapters is a return envelope, in which the old, defective adapters are to be placed and returned to Apple. Users have said that paperwork included with the replacement adapters states that a $29 fee will be charged if the old adapters are not returned.
You can order a replacement on Apple’s website, or visit an Apple store starting on Oct. 10. If you exchange your adapter at an Apple retail store, you will need to have your iPhone 3G and your affected adapter.
Apple’s Co-Founder Points Out Limited iPod Future
Sunday, October 12th, 2008Apple’s co founder Steve Wozniak speaks his mind on two of Apple’s most exciting and cash-generating products, the iPod and the iPhone.
In an interview this week with U.K. newspaper The Telegraph, Wozniak indicated he believes the iPod’s days are numbered. “The iPod has sort of lived a long life at number one,” he said. “Things like, that if you look back to transistor radios and Walkmans, they kind of die out after a while.”
“It’s kind of like everyone has got one or two or three,” he continued. “You get to a point when they are on display everywhere, they get real cheap and they are not selling as much.”
In the interview he compared the open approach of Google’s Android phone and wished out loud that he could write open applications software for the iPhone.
“Consumers aren’t getting all they want when companies are very proprietary and lock their products down,” he said. “I would like to write some more powerful apps than what you’re allowed.”
Asked about Apple’s future, Wozniak was discrete. However, he did take note of a possible “iWatch.”
EU Directive Could force Apple To redesign iPhone, iPod
Friday, October 10th, 2008A new set of EU Directives could force Apple to re-design its iPod and iPhone in Europe. The EU has proposed to mandate that batteries in electronic appliances be readily removed for replacement or disposal.
The requirement was written to help consumers dispose properly of batteries, which could end up leaking toxins into landfills. Since Apple tends not to develop unique products for specific regions, it would most likely re-design its iPhone and the entire iPod line if the directive goes through.
That having been said, the directive hasn’t been ratified yet, and there’s still a chance for Apple to ask for an exemption or modification. The company already offers free recycling for its ipods and iphones, and supports third-party waste management as well. Of course, other manufacturers would similarly have to redesign their products; it’s not like the EU is picking on Apple specifically