If Apple Wins We All Lose

Original Gizmodo Blog - http://gizmodo.com/5869598/if-apple-wins-we-all-lose

I couldn't agree more! The patents that are used to claim infringement is outright silly as the author points out. Apple is very afraid of Google and they aren't able to innovate fast enough and so it is resorting to patent war!

Apple Never Designed the iPad - They Undesigned it.

Original Article: http://www.baekdal.com/opinion/apple-never-designed-the-ipad-they-undesigned-it/

The author makes a strong case for why Apple's claim that Samsung Galaxy is an iPad clone is plain just dubious. What Apple is doing isn't anything new!

Apple using patents to undermine open standards again

Full Story: http://my.opera.com/haavard/blog/2011/12/09/apple-w3c

Apple is clearly becoming the Microsoft of the 90's! On the other hand, why does the open source/ standards community think Apple would work with them when Apple prefers Walled Garden time and again with its various products?

Apple's Trademark BanHammer

Full article: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111022/01124516464/apple-continues-to-insist-only-it-can-use-apple-logo-threatens-small-german-cafe.shtml

Not a day goes by without us hearing about yet another lawsuit from Apple suing some poor company for trademark violation. It does not matter how remotely similar they are and it does not matter. So one has to wonder whether Apple is being very unreasonable in pursuing trademark claims.

Serving at the Pleasure of the King

Full Story: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2011/10/serving-at-the-pleasure-of-the-king.html

Excerpt from the article:

As a consumer, I like that Apple is perfectly willing to throw its software developers under a bus to protect me (or, more cynically, Apple itself). But as a software developer, I'm not sure I can cope with that and I am unlikely to ever develop anything for an iOS device as a result. If you choose to deliver software in the Apple ecosystem, this is simply the tradeoff you've chosen to make. Apple developers serve at the pleasure of the king.

This is why I don't have any iDevices in my home and I request that you too as well. It is a matter of principles and I really do not want to make things worse than it is now. "Short Live The King"

Apple's New Subscription Model: Beginning of the end of iPad?

Apple recently launched their new subscription service to enable Newspapers & Magizines to sell subscriptions through the Apple's AppStore. Details can be found here

The most contraversial and publisher/consumer unfriendly piece is the new rule that requires publishers to sell their subscription for the same price or better in the Apple's AppStore. Here is why

• As a publisher, this requirement is utter stupidity (and monopolistic) as anyone with a little brain would tell you that publishers would be forced to move to AppStore. Why? Because they cannot sell the same product for less outside of the AppStore though they don't have to cut 30% of it to Apple. To give you an example, lets say that the cost of creating content is $.80. Assuming publishers want to have 25% profit, the price would be $1 which is what the consumer would pay excluding tax. With the new rules, Selling it for $1 means publisher will lose money as Apple takes 30% cut. So publishers are forced to price it as $1.43 ($.80+ 20% profit for publishers + 30% cut for Apple) if they have to retain their margins.
• As a consumer, because of the above restriction, either of the 2 will happen
• Publishers have to markup their price by 30% and consumer loses. Even if we consider 0% margin for publishers, consumers and publishers lose by not getting a fair price
• There is no competition in the marketplace and there is only one place to buy thus creating a monopoly. Publishers are forced to use AppStore since they don't gain anything by going out. Consumers would use AppStore as they don't get better price outside. Consumer loses again

It is not very publisher friendly and forces everyone to use the AppStore and costs the consumers & publishers dearly. I sincerely hope the FTC & DOJ that are reviewing this restriction and rule it monopolicstic.

Some more analysis below
Apple’s New Subscription Model Is Evil

Apple App Store subscription plan gouges publishers, eats their young
Apple's subscription model is boon to consumers, bad for publishers
Some publishers relieved, others irate over Apple subscription plan
Will Apple find publishing execs 'technologically innocent'?
Why Apple’s Subscription Rules Are Unfair to Publishers
Apple demands subscription revenue from publishers
Apple’s new subscription service: the good, the bad, and the ugly

UPDATE: Readability Inc in an open letter to Apple says "we believe that your new policy smacks of greed". I couldn't agree more

One Authority, One Design & One Way To Work

I really like the Motorola's latest Xoom teaser Ad and packs a good punch! This is the tablet I am looking to buy next month. It's time to live a free life :-)