Apple : Ive on Apple's quest for simplicity

Ive on Apple's quest for simplicity
Sony Music Unlimited to launch on iOS this Friday
Apple asks court to block sales of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

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Apple's head of design Jonathan Ive has spoken at length about Apple's product design process, explaining that the search for simplicity lies at the heart of every Apple device.

Arguably Britain's most successful export, Ive is in town to meet the Queen and pick up a knighthood, as you do.

He told The Telegraph, "We try to develop products that seem somehow inevitable. That leave you with the sense that that's the only possible solution that makes sense.

"Our products are tools and we don't want design to get in the way. We're trying to bring simplicity and clarity, we're trying to order the products."

Clarity

That simplicity lies at the heart of what Ive does and products like the iPhone and iPad - but he's keen for you to realise that simplicity isn't always simple:

"Simplicity is not the absence of clutter, that's a consequence of simplicity. Simplicity is somehow essentially describing the purpose and place of an object and product. The absence of clutter is just a clutter-free product. That's not simple.

"The quest for simplicity has to pervade every part of the process. It really is fundamental."

Ive went on to claim that what Apple is currently working on "feels like the most important and best work we've done" – your guess is as good as ours on what that is though.

Could it be the next iPhone? The oft-rumoured Apple iTV? Something completely new? There's only one thing for sure: Ive is not telling.

Sony Music Unlimited to launch on iOS this Friday

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Sony will remove the shackles from its Music Unlimited cloud streaming service later this week when it launches for iPhone and iPod touch.

The platform had previously only been available through Sony's connected devices like the PS3, PS Vita and Bravia TVs, as well as on selected Android smartphones and tablets.

The iOS roll-out, first reported in March, is part of the Japanese giant's plan to spread its Sony Entertainment Network, which also includes movies, to as many devices as possible.

Like Spotify, the service gives subscribers access to 15 million tracks, for £9.99 ($9.99) a month.

However, for a basic subscription fee of £3.99 ($3.99), there's a Music Sync option which scans your hard-drive for pre-owned music and playlists, making it an alternative to Apple's iTunes Match.

Crank-up the service

The launch of the app for iPhone and iPod touch - there's no iPad offering yet - will be a welcome boost for subscribers who access their music through the PlayStation 3 or other Sony connected devices.

"We want to let users pick up their favorite device and crank up the Music Unlimited service at any time," said Michael Aragon, VP and GM of Digital Video and Music Services at Sony.

"With the addition of the new iPhone and iPod touch app, users with a Basic or Premium subscription can listen to their favorite songs across a number of the most popular connected devices – in and out of the home."

Feel like giving Music Unlimited a try? You can sign-up for a free 30 day subscription on the website.

Apple asks court to block sales of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

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Apple has once again petitioned a court to prematurely block sales of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet before the conclusion of the companies' many patent dispute cases.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington determined last week that Apple has to show that it's likely to win this particular patent dispute with Samsung, and that Apple is free to pursue preliminary bans on sales of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Apple's previous request to have Samsung products barred from sale before the conclusion of court proceedings was denied in December by California judge Lucy Koh, but the appeals court overturned that ruling.

"Gee-sung previously said that he'd offer Apple "no compromise..."

A premature appeal

Following the appeals court's decision, Apple filed a request with the court on May 14 that Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 be banned from sale in the U.S. before the end of the case.

"The court can and should enter a preliminary injunction against sales of the infringing Galaxy Tab 10.1 without further hearing," Apple said in the filing.

"Each day that Samsung continues to sell its infringing Tab 10.1 causes additional harm to Apple through design dilution, lost sales, lost market share, and lost future sales of tag-along products."

Samsung's lawyers filed a response today, calling the request "premature" and saying, "Given the severity and importance of a preliminary injunction motion, Samsung should have the right to prepare and submit briefing and oral argument to the court."

Samsung issued the following statement to TechRadar: "The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California decided on May 21, 2012 to proceed with a hearing on Apple's request for a preliminary injunction of Samsung's GALAXY Tab products. The hearing is scheduled for June 7, 2012.

"Samsung will continue to actively defend and protect our intellectual property to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communication business. We will continue to serve our customers, and sales of Samsung products will proceed as usual."

Pass the peace pipe

Samsung and Apple have brought more than 30 lawsuits against one another in 10 different countries, and the two companies have previously been ordered to reduce their massive claims against one another.

But CEOs from each company are currently engaged in court-ordered peace talks.

Apple chief Tim Cook and Samsung head Choi Gee-sung sat down yesterday to discuss a way to settle the two companies' difference without further litigation, and their discussions continue today.

Gee-sung previously said that he'd offer Apple "no compromise," though "cross-licensing" remained an option.

The results of these negotiations are as yet unknown, but one thing that's clear is that a lot of lawyers have become very rich from Apple and Samsung's many disputes.

Yahuui Blog

Wednesday, May 23, 2012