You know how Apple is always calling its products “magical?” Well, it turns out that it may be right. Harry Potter author J.K Rowling not only uses a MacBook Air to write, but says that it has changed her life.
While you might expect the world of wizards, muggles and Hogwarts to have been scratched out onto parchment with ink and a quill, the reality is that most writers (not all these days use computers. And seeing as Harry Potter started life in an Edinburgh coffee shop, it makes sense for the author to be using Apple’s lightest non-tablet writing machine.
Publishers Marketplace:
In a rare product endorsement, Rowling proclaimed, “The MacBook Air changed my life.” She added, “I’ve written everywhere, including some very strange places.”
Sadly, there ends the interview. I would ask what software she uses, and which model she prefers (11 or 13-inch?) Then again, I’m a tech nerd and procrastinator, whereas she’s a successful writer who has published a bunch of great books. She probably writes in (ugh) Microsoft Word and doesn’t even care. Still, even Word is better than Cormac McCarthy’s typewriter.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Apple gets a slap down in U.K. court ruling.
Apple Inc. (AAPL) lost a U.K. court appeal ruling over whether Samsung Electronics Co.’s Galaxy tablet infringed the design of the iPad as a judge criticized divergent rulings in the global intellectual property fight between the two companies.
A three-judge panel in London upheld an earlier decision by a U.K. judge that said several of Samsung’s Galaxy tablets weren’t “cool” enough to be confused with the iPad. The ruling called a German judgment from July granting Apple a Europe-wide injunction preventing Samsung from selling one model “extreme.”
The ruling is the latest in a long line of disputes in courts across the globe as rivals including HTC Corp. (2498), Apple and Samsung fight for dominance in the smartphone and tablet computer markets. The cases in the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands and Spain often lead to conflicting rulings as judges apply diverging national laws.
“If courts around Europe simply say they do not agree with each other and give inconsistent decisions, Europe will be the poorer,” Judge Robin Jacob said in the written ruling.
Samsung said in an e-mailed statement that it continues “to believe that Apple was not the first to design a tablet with a rectangular shape and rounded corners.”
“Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited,” the company said.
Alan Hely, a spokesman for Apple, didn’t immediately respond to a call requesting comment.
Apple must also publish notices in U.K. newspapers with details of the U.K. ruling, Judge David Kitchin said today.
Jacob said a publicity order was necessary to avoid consumer confusion because of the news coverage of the “not as cool” judgment in the U.K. and the contrasting German court’s decision.
A link to the notice must appear on Apple’s website for one month and the company must publish it in the Financial Times and Daily Mail newspapers.
Apple has agreed to ask the German court to “discharge” the injunction, Jacob said.
If Apple’s registered design ‘‘has a scope as wide’’ as the Cupertino, California company says, ‘‘it would foreclose much of the market for tablet computers,’’ Jacob said.
Courts around the world have issued divergent rulings in patent cases between the two companies.
In August, Apple won a $1.05 billion U.S. jury verdict in a patent case between the companies, while a week later a Tokyo court ruled Samsung products don’t infringe an Apple invention for synchronizing music and video data with servers.
Australian and Dutch courts have also issued rulings that contrasted with decisions in the U.S. case.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jeremy Hodges in London at jhodges17@bloomberg.net
A three-judge panel in London upheld an earlier decision by a U.K. judge that said several of Samsung’s Galaxy tablets weren’t “cool” enough to be confused with the iPad. The ruling called a German judgment from July granting Apple a Europe-wide injunction preventing Samsung from selling one model “extreme.”
The ruling is the latest in a long line of disputes in courts across the globe as rivals including HTC Corp. (2498), Apple and Samsung fight for dominance in the smartphone and tablet computer markets. The cases in the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands and Spain often lead to conflicting rulings as judges apply diverging national laws.
“If courts around Europe simply say they do not agree with each other and give inconsistent decisions, Europe will be the poorer,” Judge Robin Jacob said in the written ruling.
Samsung said in an e-mailed statement that it continues “to believe that Apple was not the first to design a tablet with a rectangular shape and rounded corners.”
“Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited,” the company said.
Alan Hely, a spokesman for Apple, didn’t immediately respond to a call requesting comment.
Apple must also publish notices in U.K. newspapers with details of the U.K. ruling, Judge David Kitchin said today.
Jacob said a publicity order was necessary to avoid consumer confusion because of the news coverage of the “not as cool” judgment in the U.K. and the contrasting German court’s decision.
A link to the notice must appear on Apple’s website for one month and the company must publish it in the Financial Times and Daily Mail newspapers.
Apple has agreed to ask the German court to “discharge” the injunction, Jacob said.
If Apple’s registered design ‘‘has a scope as wide’’ as the Cupertino, California company says, ‘‘it would foreclose much of the market for tablet computers,’’ Jacob said.
Courts around the world have issued divergent rulings in patent cases between the two companies.
In August, Apple won a $1.05 billion U.S. jury verdict in a patent case between the companies, while a week later a Tokyo court ruled Samsung products don’t infringe an Apple invention for synchronizing music and video data with servers.
Australian and Dutch courts have also issued rulings that contrasted with decisions in the U.S. case.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jeremy Hodges in London at jhodges17@bloomberg.net
AnandTech weighs in on iPhone 5
“The iPhone 5 embraces a taller, 4-inch, 16:9 1136 x 640 display opting to lengthen the device instead of increase its area in both dimensions. The result is a device that is distinctly an iPhone, albeit a modern one. The taller display doesn’t do much to make desktop web pages any easier to read as a result of the width staying the same,” Anand Lal Shimpi, Brian Klug and Vivek Gowri report for AnandTech.
MacDailyNews Take: You’re holding it wrong. Turn the iPhone into landscape for reading Web pages, the way it’s meant to be used.
“Reading emails and typing are both improved though as there’s now more room for lists and the keyboard no longer occupies as much of the display. The taller device can be more awkward to use if you have smaller hands, but the added screen real estate is honestly worth it. Once you get used to the iPhone 5’s display, going back to the older models is tough,” Lal Shimpi, Klug and Gowri report. “The taller chassis went on a diet as well. The iPhone 5 is now considerably thinner and lighter than its predecessor, which is yet another factor that contributes to it feeling more modern.”
Lal Shimpi, Klug and Gowri report, “The move to LTE alone is a big enough reason to upgrade for any heavy user of mobile data. The larger/improved display, much faster SoC and 5GHz WiFi support are all icing on the cake – and this is one well iced cake.”
MacDailyNews Take: You’re holding it wrong. Turn the iPhone into landscape for reading Web pages, the way it’s meant to be used.
“Reading emails and typing are both improved though as there’s now more room for lists and the keyboard no longer occupies as much of the display. The taller device can be more awkward to use if you have smaller hands, but the added screen real estate is honestly worth it. Once you get used to the iPhone 5’s display, going back to the older models is tough,” Lal Shimpi, Klug and Gowri report. “The taller chassis went on a diet as well. The iPhone 5 is now considerably thinner and lighter than its predecessor, which is yet another factor that contributes to it feeling more modern.”
Lal Shimpi, Klug and Gowri report, “The move to LTE alone is a big enough reason to upgrade for any heavy user of mobile data. The larger/improved display, much faster SoC and 5GHz WiFi support are all icing on the cake – and this is one well iced cake.”
Speculation on Google's Oct 29 event in New York.
Google has just set an Oct. 29 event in New York centered on its Android mobile software. “The playground is open” is all it says, so we are left to figure out what might land on that playground.
The most likely products to come out at the event are the new Nexus phone rumored to be manufacturing by LG. Also possible is a Nexus 7 tablet with more storage, 32 MB vs. the top-end 16 model currently available. Some folks are speculating that Google might drop the price of its low-end 8 MB Nexus 7 to just $99, which would really shake up the 7-inch tablet business–especially since Apple is expected to weigh in with the similarly sized iPad Mini on Oct. 23.
Then again, the invitation for the event, which will be streamed at YouTube.com/Android, singles out Android itself. So while Google already has a relatively new version of the operating system, maybe there will be some new features updates announced.
“Playground” seems likely to refer to Google Play, the Android apps and content marketplace, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see updates or new content deals announced. One interesting note, which may mean absolutely nothing: The artwork on the invitation closely resembles the drawings associated with its Google Now automated personal assistant on Android.
Or the announcements could be some combination of any of those. More to come as it develops.
The most likely products to come out at the event are the new Nexus phone rumored to be manufacturing by LG. Also possible is a Nexus 7 tablet with more storage, 32 MB vs. the top-end 16 model currently available. Some folks are speculating that Google might drop the price of its low-end 8 MB Nexus 7 to just $99, which would really shake up the 7-inch tablet business–especially since Apple is expected to weigh in with the similarly sized iPad Mini on Oct. 23.
Then again, the invitation for the event, which will be streamed at YouTube.com/Android, singles out Android itself. So while Google already has a relatively new version of the operating system, maybe there will be some new features updates announced.
“Playground” seems likely to refer to Google Play, the Android apps and content marketplace, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see updates or new content deals announced. One interesting note, which may mean absolutely nothing: The artwork on the invitation closely resembles the drawings associated with its Google Now automated personal assistant on Android.
Or the announcements could be some combination of any of those. More to come as it develops.
Schumacher to give up racing completely. Complete retirement eminent.
The seven-times World Champion announced in Japan two weeks ago that he would be quitting F1 for good following November's season finale in Brazil as his energy levels were "in the red zone again" after three years back in the sport.
Although Schumacher has always insisted that competing in other forms of four-wheeled motorsport holds little interest for him, the 43-year-old did take part in some motorcycle races after retiring from F1 for the first time at the end of 2006.
However, asked by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport if he might re-appear in another racing category this time, Schumacher replied: "No, it's not in my plans.
"Formula 1 offers the maximum as far as emotions, speed and work completeness are concerned. Another type of car wouldn't give me the same feelings. I'm stopping here completely."
In his initial period of retirement Schumacher, in addition to competing on two wheels, also acted as an advisor to former team Ferrari and appeared on the pit wall at a number of grands prix.
A similar offer to serve as an ambassador or advisor to Mercedes is believed to be on the table this time round but the German remains light-lipped on what he might do next.
"From now on life will offer me plenty of new possibilities. I'm looking forward to them," he added.
Having come out of retirement after three years to spearhead Mercedes' new works team in 2010, Schumacher had hoped to challenge for an eighth world title but looks set to exit the sport again without adding to his record 91 wins, with his best finish to date a third place in Valencia in June.
Some pundits have suggested that the underwhelming nature of his on-track return may affect his legacy but Schumacher, despite the disappointing results, says his 'second' career has actually taught him how to accept defeat, and all in all, he's happy with his two decades in the sport as a whole.
"If I look into my life's rear-view mirror, I find myself happy and smiling," he explained.
"I've had two distinct careers: one where I won everything, and a second one where I discovered what losing means.
"Yes, I've learned how to lose, but this has made me more mature and more patient too, partly thanks to my age.
"Today I have to consider what I have done overall and I'm satisfied with myself."
Although Schumacher has always insisted that competing in other forms of four-wheeled motorsport holds little interest for him, the 43-year-old did take part in some motorcycle races after retiring from F1 for the first time at the end of 2006.
However, asked by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport if he might re-appear in another racing category this time, Schumacher replied: "No, it's not in my plans.
"Formula 1 offers the maximum as far as emotions, speed and work completeness are concerned. Another type of car wouldn't give me the same feelings. I'm stopping here completely."
In his initial period of retirement Schumacher, in addition to competing on two wheels, also acted as an advisor to former team Ferrari and appeared on the pit wall at a number of grands prix.
A similar offer to serve as an ambassador or advisor to Mercedes is believed to be on the table this time round but the German remains light-lipped on what he might do next.
"From now on life will offer me plenty of new possibilities. I'm looking forward to them," he added.
Having come out of retirement after three years to spearhead Mercedes' new works team in 2010, Schumacher had hoped to challenge for an eighth world title but looks set to exit the sport again without adding to his record 91 wins, with his best finish to date a third place in Valencia in June.
Some pundits have suggested that the underwhelming nature of his on-track return may affect his legacy but Schumacher, despite the disappointing results, says his 'second' career has actually taught him how to accept defeat, and all in all, he's happy with his two decades in the sport as a whole.
"If I look into my life's rear-view mirror, I find myself happy and smiling," he explained.
"I've had two distinct careers: one where I won everything, and a second one where I discovered what losing means.
"Yes, I've learned how to lose, but this has made me more mature and more patient too, partly thanks to my age.
"Today I have to consider what I have done overall and I'm satisfied with myself."
Newsweek sheds print, goes completely digital.
Newsweek, the American weekly news magazine published in NYC, is going all-digital from the start of 2013, marking the end of an era for the almost 80-year-old publication.
The last print edition in the United States will be its December 31 issue, and the company will look to grow its tablet and online presence, as well as its global partnerships and events business.
Newsweek Global, as it will be called, will be a single, worldwide edition supported by paid subscriptions. It will be available through e-readers for both tablet and the Web, with select content available through The Daily Beast.
Newsweek was launched in 1933 by Thomas J.C. Martyn, formerly of Time Magazine, with the first issue dated 17 February, 1933. Today, it is among the biggest-selling weekly magazines in the US, behind Time, and is published in four English language editions, as well as twelve local-language global editions.
Newsweek merged with online publication The Daily Beast back in 2010 in a 50/50 joint venture called The Newsweek Daily Beast Company. The magazine underwent a big redesign last year, which followed an announcement a couple of years previous where it laid out its plans to reinvent the magazine after losing readers to online publications. Indeed, on its 75th anniversary, the magazine finally slipped into the red, and the publication reduced its workforce by 160 people to around 400, mostly through a voluntary retirement program.
So perhaps this isn’t entirely surprising, and it is the way many publications are going. The focus, it seems, will be on building a strong digital revenue model moving forward, and it will be interesting to see what becomes of Newsweek when the final prints roll out later this year.
“Our business has been increasingly affected by the challenging print advertising environment, while Newsweek’s online and e-reader content has built a rapidly growing audience through the Apple, Kindle, Zinio and Nook stores as well as on The Daily Beast,” explains Tina Brown, editor-in-chief and founder of The Newsweek Daily Beast Company, and Baba Shetty, CEO, in a joint statement.
“Tablet-use has grown rapidly among our readers and with it the opportunity to sustain editorial excellence through swift, easy digital distribution—a superb global platform for our award-winning journalism. By year’s end, tablet users in the United States alone are expected to exceed 70 million, up from 13 million just two years ago.”
The last print edition in the United States will be its December 31 issue, and the company will look to grow its tablet and online presence, as well as its global partnerships and events business.
Newsweek Global, as it will be called, will be a single, worldwide edition supported by paid subscriptions. It will be available through e-readers for both tablet and the Web, with select content available through The Daily Beast.
Newsweek was launched in 1933 by Thomas J.C. Martyn, formerly of Time Magazine, with the first issue dated 17 February, 1933. Today, it is among the biggest-selling weekly magazines in the US, behind Time, and is published in four English language editions, as well as twelve local-language global editions.
Newsweek merged with online publication The Daily Beast back in 2010 in a 50/50 joint venture called The Newsweek Daily Beast Company. The magazine underwent a big redesign last year, which followed an announcement a couple of years previous where it laid out its plans to reinvent the magazine after losing readers to online publications. Indeed, on its 75th anniversary, the magazine finally slipped into the red, and the publication reduced its workforce by 160 people to around 400, mostly through a voluntary retirement program.
So perhaps this isn’t entirely surprising, and it is the way many publications are going. The focus, it seems, will be on building a strong digital revenue model moving forward, and it will be interesting to see what becomes of Newsweek when the final prints roll out later this year.
“Our business has been increasingly affected by the challenging print advertising environment, while Newsweek’s online and e-reader content has built a rapidly growing audience through the Apple, Kindle, Zinio and Nook stores as well as on The Daily Beast,” explains Tina Brown, editor-in-chief and founder of The Newsweek Daily Beast Company, and Baba Shetty, CEO, in a joint statement.
“Tablet-use has grown rapidly among our readers and with it the opportunity to sustain editorial excellence through swift, easy digital distribution—a superb global platform for our award-winning journalism. By year’s end, tablet users in the United States alone are expected to exceed 70 million, up from 13 million just two years ago.”
FB intro's more value to its advertising relevance.
Facebook Introduces Global Pages, Adding Toes to Brands' Global Footprint
Socialbakers > Blog >
Facebook just announced “Global Pages”, which resolves three, seemingly mutually exclusive problems international brands have faced using the social network.
The first is local relevance. Brands with a global footprint needed to appeal to a lowest common denominator for their marketing campaigns, generalizing their content for a world audience, losing local relevance and missing local or regional opportunities as a result. The second is brand consistency. To get around the first issue, many brands created localized or region and language-specific pages. This is harder to manage and metric and runs the risk of diluting a brand’s image across markets. The third is split communities. Brands with multiple pages had split communities, defeating the purpose of being a global brand with a global reach.
With “Global Pages”, these issues are resolved by merging local pages with localized material into a single global page, with a single URL that behaves differently in different markets. The single URL can be used globally, streamlining campaigns; users will be automatically directed to the best (most relevant) version of the Page for them. The pages will still have local metrics in addition to global stats, allowing you to monitor the performance of individual markets while maintaining a consistent brand identity.
According to Facebook: “Facebook users will be directed to the best version of a Page based on the country those users are in, enabling them to see localized cover photos, profile photos, Page apps, milestones, “about” information, and news feed stories from Pages – all the while remaining a part of the global brand community.” This results in the best of both worlds, resolving and reconciling all three issues at once.
They continue, “This structure works for brands that historically have managed one single Page with geo-targeted page posts, as well as for brands that have managed multiple, country-specific Pages.”
Socialbakers > Blog >
Facebook just announced “Global Pages”, which resolves three, seemingly mutually exclusive problems international brands have faced using the social network.
The first is local relevance. Brands with a global footprint needed to appeal to a lowest common denominator for their marketing campaigns, generalizing their content for a world audience, losing local relevance and missing local or regional opportunities as a result. The second is brand consistency. To get around the first issue, many brands created localized or region and language-specific pages. This is harder to manage and metric and runs the risk of diluting a brand’s image across markets. The third is split communities. Brands with multiple pages had split communities, defeating the purpose of being a global brand with a global reach.
With “Global Pages”, these issues are resolved by merging local pages with localized material into a single global page, with a single URL that behaves differently in different markets. The single URL can be used globally, streamlining campaigns; users will be automatically directed to the best (most relevant) version of the Page for them. The pages will still have local metrics in addition to global stats, allowing you to monitor the performance of individual markets while maintaining a consistent brand identity.
According to Facebook: “Facebook users will be directed to the best version of a Page based on the country those users are in, enabling them to see localized cover photos, profile photos, Page apps, milestones, “about” information, and news feed stories from Pages – all the while remaining a part of the global brand community.” This results in the best of both worlds, resolving and reconciling all three issues at once.
They continue, “This structure works for brands that historically have managed one single Page with geo-targeted page posts, as well as for brands that have managed multiple, country-specific Pages.”
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