Apple Files for Passbook Icon Trademark, Samsung Loses Apple's Rechargeable Battery Business & the Yacht that Steve Jobs Built Launches
Three interesting stories caught our eye this morning and our cover graphic spells them out for you. The last entry in this morning's report is a simple observation on Microsoft's Windows 8 with its new Metro user interface that debuted last week. It's not as scary as it was made out to be, even though it debuted so close to Halloween.
Apple Files for Passbook Icon Trademark
The US Patent and Trademark Office revealed today that Apple filed for their new iOS "Passbook" application icon under application number 85762373 last Wednesday, October 24, 2012. Apple's trademark application states that the following is associated with the new icon: The color(s) black, green, yellow, and blue is/are claimed as a feature of the mark. The mark consists of an outside square that is black; a green card on the left with an image of a teacup on it; a yellow card with an image of an airplane on it; and a blue card with an image of a video camera on it.
Apple Filed the Passbook Icon under International Class 009 which covers the following: software related to handheld digital devices; electronic and encoded gift cards; computer software; computer software for personal information management, and data synchronization software.
Apple asserts a claim of priority based on Canadian application number 1581116, filed 06/07/2012. In addition, Apple has filed for the Passbook Icon trademark in Hong Kong China this morning under application 302416284.
One More Thing: The Yacht that Steve Built
Visionary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' final masterpiece was no iPhone or iPad. It was rather a 260-foot yacht that he had been designing before his death in October 2011. Christened "Venus" after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, the sleek ship is made of light-weight aluminum and reportedly features seven 27-inch iMac computers. You could actually see some of those iMacs lined up through the upper deck window.
The video and original report came from an Apple website in The Netherland's called One More Thing. Check it out for more photos.
Samsung SDI Excluded from the List of iPad Mini Battery Suppliers
News out of Korea states that LG Chem and ATL in China are supplying the battery for the iPad Mini, which was launched on October 23, instead of Samsung SDI.
Until recently, Samsung SDI has provided Apple with the batteries for its key products such as iPhones and iPads, sweeping the global small-size secondary battery market since late 2010. Industry experts are saying that the change is because of the patent litigation between Samsung Electronics and Apple.
Reuters reported back in 2011 that Samsung SDI was a leading rechargeable battery maker with its two major clients being Samsung Electronics and Apple. The news of Apple dumping Samsung SDI for rechargeable batteries for the iPad mini and all of its iDevices going forward is bound to hurt Samsung's division.
Windows 8 with Metro Interface isn't Confusing or Scary
For months now, the tech blogosphere has been pumping up Windows 8 as having a very scary and confusing interface. I wanted to check that out for myself this weekend at Best Buy's "Demo Days." The rep ran me through the basics of Windows 8 and it was surprisingly simple to maneuver once you understood some of the basics of switching between their new Metro interface and the traditional desktop. While it may take an hour or two to set your individual live tiles up at home to your liking, the generalized FUD floating around concerning Windows 8 has been largely nonsensical.
Anyone wanting to understand Windows 8 should really check out Best Buy's Demo Days if they're offered in your area. For Macites who still live in a PC world like I do, you'll find the personalized demos worth every moment of your time. While I love my iPad with its fantastic Retina Display, I'll be getting an HP Hybrid tablet notebook in the New Year because it'll meet more of my work needs.
HP's new hybrid notebook display easily pops off with the press of a single button and reattaches using super strong magnets. You'll also be able to doodle on your touch display with an ePen which I'm very much looking forward to.
While Apple has a single granted patent regarding a hybrid notebook tablet, it's been made fairly clear by CEO Tim Cook that Apple has no interest in this segment. He repeated his views again during Apple's last conference call calling it a "confusing product."
Apple was wrong about the 7" tablet market by a country mile and I believe they'll be proven wrong again in the hybrid sector. In the end, time will tell if Apple's decision to not play in the notebook-tablet hybrid market was wise or not.
For now, HP's Envy X2 will be available for the Holiday shopping season. Pricing has yet to be made public.
Office 2013 is free and pre-installed only Windows RT-based devices. The HP Envy X2 is a Windows 8 Pro device meaning it runs Windows 7 Win32 apps and the new Metro apps. Office 2013 will not be free for Pro devices. You have to pay but then you get the full Office as opposed to a stripped down version.
As to Apple not playing in this space, never say never. I personally think they'll do it but when all the pieces are in place. You only have to look at OSX & the way more iOS features are being added to it. I don't think that's by accident. Plus the fact there's too much overlap in their 13" notebook lineup. Eventually the Retina MBP will remain, the 13" MB Classic will stop selling, and the MBA line will become this new hybrid line.
That's my guess. After all, with the release of iPad 4th generation, there's a gaping whole for product announcements first half of next year. Question is, what are they going to announce, or all product announcements going to come in the 2nd half?
Posted by: Shameer Mulji | October 29, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Samsung's going to kicked right between the legs this quarter. No only has Apple looked elsewhere for component parts pretty aggressivley, and the iPhone 5 will reach full production output this quarter as well- leaving Samsung's copycat products on the shelves; but Apple may also win some significant court battles in the coming quarter. I really hope the judge triples Apple's $1.1 Billion win over Samsung to $3 Billion for willful infringement. That would make my Holiday season complete.
Oh, and I forgot to mention all the new Apple stores opening up. They too will put a hurting on Apple's competitors in the coming months.
Posted by: lrd555 | October 29, 2012 at 12:13 PM
That ship that Steve Jobs built is 3 years old, it was the flagship for Apple Maps but got lost...
Posted by: ziggy | October 29, 2012 at 11:37 AM