Apple : Apple patent automatically skips unwanted streaming content, including ads

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• Apple patent automatically skips unwanted streaming content, including ads
• iPhone 5, iTV and iPad Mini to make Apple a 'trillion dollar baby'
• iPhone 5 coming in September, confirms German carrier
• Updated: Apple iTV release date, news and rumours
• Facebook sued over Timeline feature
• Galaxy Note 10.1 way easier to disassemble and fix than iPad, report finds
• Details of Motorola, Apple ITC suit emerge

Apple patent automatically skips unwanted streaming content, including ads Posted: Two new Apple patents have surfaced to provide some hints at the future of the tech giant's mobile offerings, including features that could appear in the iPhone 5. One grants users a way to automatically skip undesirable streaming content, like ads or bad songs, and replace them with content from the device itself. The other simply provides some much-needed protection for the iPhone's notoriously fragile screen. It's not like Apple needs any more patents - the Cupertino company has enough fodder for court cases as it is - but these might actually turn out pretty useful. Automatic ad-blocker The more interesting of the two patents is for what Apple refers to as "seamless switching between radio and local media," though it'll likely boil down to more of an automatic ad-blocker for most users. If it ever comes to fruition, the feature will allow users to switch to a device's local media, like songs, podcasts or videos, while the streaming content continues to go by in the background. Once it's learned about a user's listening habits, it could even start to skip unwanted content automatically. The function employs various metadata and data services (think of tech like the song-recognition app Shazam) to help determine what to skip and what to replace it with. For example, skipping a certain song during a radio broadcast could alert the device that you don't like that artist, and it could fold that info into its overall algorithm. Despite similarities to the life-skipping fast-forward button in the Adam Sandler movie Click, this new patent could be revealed as a welcome addition during Apple's expected iPhone 5 announcement event on Sept. 12. iPhone 5 shock absorber iPhone screens are notoriously delicate - or maybe they just tend to be dropped more. Either way, Apple's other new patent of the day could ensure that the iPhone 5 can survive more of a beating without a spiderweb of cracks appearing on its surface. The patent, which describes "material operative to absorb a shock to the electronic device component," was first filed by one Christopher Prest in September 2008. The material would surround individual components within the device, and a thin layer would be inserted next to the Gorilla Glass display. If Apple does reveal the iPhone 5 (and possibly even the iPad Mini) on Sept. 12, hopefully these features aren't forgotten, as they could provide the new devices a boost in the increasingly competitive smartphone market.

iPhone 5, iTV and iPad Mini to make Apple a 'trillion dollar baby' Posted: A swarm of eagerly-awaited new products could see Apple become the first ever company to boast a market value of one trillion dollars, according to one analyst. The anticipated launch of the iPhone 5, a rumoured iPad Mini and a flatscreen 'iTV' will send Apple's stock price crashing through the trillion dollar (£630 billion) barrier, says Brian White of Topeka Capital. The Cupertino-based giant already has the distinction of becoming the richest publicly-traded company in history on Monday, surpassing Microsoft's 1999 mark, but that gravy train's set to keep on chuggin'. Blockbuster launches In a note to investors, White wrote: "With the help of blockbuster product launches on the horizon with the iPhone 5, iPad Mini, Apple TV and potential China Mobile relationship, we believe Apple is on a path to generate the highest annual net income of any publicly traded company ever by at least CY13." He added: "In a note on June 18, we ... pointed out that investors should think of Apple's market cap in terms of 'trillions' and not 'billions'. Based on our calculations, Apple is now the most valuable company ever" In 12-months time, each Apple share will be worth an estimated $1,111 (£704) according to White.

iPhone 5 coming in September, confirms German carrier Posted: German carrier Mobilcom Debitel seems awfully certain of the iPhone 5 release date. So certain, in fact, that the carrier has begun advertising for a new iPhone coming in September, ahead of any announcement from Apple. The iPhone 5 announcement is expected to come during an Apple event on Sept. 12, where the iPad Mini could also be announced, and both could be released on Sept. 21. But Mobilcom Debitel apparently couldn't wait - "In September, it's finally time for a new generation of smartphone to go on sale," its site read on Tuesday. "Mobilcom-debitel allows you to find free e-mail about everything worth knowing about iPhone." Except for, you know, any real details While Mobilcom Debitel may claim to have all the juicy details, it seems the carrier is as much in the dark as anyone whose name isn't Tim Cook. In fact, its entire schtick appears to be based on pure speculation. "The new smartphone special surprises?" the carrier asks on its site. "Perhaps a bigger screen of 4 inches or a thinner cell touchscreen? The world expects a faster processor or higher graphics performance? Maybe even a memory of 1 GB? It will be exciting…" There's no doubt about that All of Mobilcom Debitel's claims simply corroborate what's already known about the iPhone 5. A photo of the iPhone 5's backplate leaked in May, indicating a 4-inch screen, and a report in June claimed the new iPhone will have 1GB of memory. Numerous reports have claimed that the iPhone 5 will feature a thinner, lighter screen as well. And a faster processor and better GPU are a given. So while Mobilcom has nothing to add to the iPhone 5 rumors, at least their information confirms what's already known. Let's just hope for their sake that the iPhone 5 information is removed before Apple notices.

Updated: Apple iTV release date, news and rumours Posted: Apple iTV rumours: what you need to know We love our new Full HD Apple TV, but we're not sure Apple does: the firm's more interested in getting iPads into your living room than Apple TVs under your flat screen. Apple says the Apple TV is a hobby, but it turns out the company is thinking bigger. Much, much bigger: it wants to sell you the entire TV set, not a little box beneath it. In a 15 February earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted again at the release of something bigger and better than the current Apple TV (credit CNN Money). "With Apple TV, however, despite the barriers in [the TV set top box] market, for those of us who use it, we've always thought there was something there. And that if we kept following our intuition and kept pulling the string, then we might find something that was larger. "For those people that have it right now, the customer satisfaction is off the charts. But we need something that could go more main market for it to be a serious category." However, it is possible that he meant a set top box, and rumours have continued to rumble on that Apple is in talks with US cable providers over a new version of its existing Apple TV box. brightcove : 1468725309001 Apple isn't the only one dropping big hints either - manufacturer Foxconn had to refute reports in late May that it had begun to produce the Apple iTV after a story emerged quoting chief executive, Terry Gua, as saying Foxconn was "making preparations for iTV." Here are all the rumours and speculation surrounding the Apple iTV, which some have also claimed may end up with the surely unlikely name of the Apple iPanel. Apple iTV release date Most rumours predict a 2013 Apple iTV release date, but the more optimistic observers think Apple won't want to miss 2012's Christmas shopping season. The New York Times says that price, not technology, is the problem: Apple is waiting for the cost of large LCD panels to fall further before building iTVs. However, the latest rumours in May 2012 suggest that we won't see the Apple iTV until 2014. Apple iTV design In mid-May a new report from Cult of Mac claimed one of their contacts saw a working prototype of the Apple TV. The report claimed that Siri and iSight will feature (so face and voice recognition then), while the design is similar to that of an Apple Cinema Display. The Telegraph says that "sources within the company" say that Jeff Robbin, the man who helped create the iPod, is leading the team. Apple has seemingly denied rumours that it is working with French designer Philippe Starck. Remember when he worked with Microsoft on a mouse? However, it appears that Starck was actually working on another project, a yacht, with Steve Jobs before his death. On 13 May 2011, we reported that Apple is rumoured to be in talks to buy TV manufacturer Loewe. AppleInsider wrote that talks have entered the advanced stages and Loewe is expected to make a decision on Apple's offer within the next week. Apple iTV specifications and display Engadget predicts an A5 processor and 1080p video - neither of which are a huge surprise, granted. Australian tech site Smarthouse says that the Apple iTV will come in three sizes, including 32-inch and 55-inch models. Sources at "a major Japanese company who are involved in manufacturing the TV" reckon the sets will have the same processor as the forthcoming iPad 3, which presumably means an Apple A6. Smarthouse isn't usually the go-to site for Apple rumours, but its report echoes similar claims by respected Apple analyst Gene Munster, who told the recent Future of Media conference that Apple will make its TV in a range of sizes. March and June 2012 rumours pointed at Sharp being the manufacturing partner. SlashGear says work on components is already under way. In mid April, Sharp announced it had begun production of 32-inch HI-DPI LCD panels at its Kameyama Plant No. 2 - could these be the panels destined for the Apple iTV? Apple contractor Foxconn's parent company has made a rather large investment in Sharp - does this indicate something we wonder? Apple iTV operating system As with the Apple TV, any iTV is likely to run iOS, albeit in slightly disguised form. Compatibility with other iOS devices is a given: current Apple TVs already accept video streamed via AirPlay and access shared iTunes libraries. We'll be amazed if the iTV doesn't get apps. Expect Apple iTV and Apple TV to work more like iOS does on the iPad; the newest iOS 6 Beta for the Apple TV enables app icons to be moved around the homescreen just like on the iPhone and iPad. That has led some observers to conclude that the rumoured App Store for Apple's favourite 'hobby project' might be on the way sooner rather than later. Apple iTV and iCloud Steve Jobs told his biographer: "I'd like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it." According to one source which claims to have seen the device, the new TV has Siri and FaceTime. Apple iTV remote control Munster says the iTV will come with an ordinary remote control, and will be controllable with iPhones, iPod touches and iPads, but the real remote control will be Siri. Apple's voice recognition system will be the heart of the new Apple TV, enabling you to choose channels and control the TV's functions with voice alone. That means " the simplest user interface you could imagine" is voice. However, according to a new patent filed in March 2012, Apple has come up with the design for an advanced universal remote that would also be compatible with your iPhone and iPad. Apple iTV AirPlay mirroring After AirPlay mirroring from Mac to Apple TV was present in the developer preview of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, it's not a great leap to suggest that the Apple iTV could mirror the display of your Mac or iPad wirelessly too. AirPlay mirroring is now 1080p with the new iPad and new Apple TV. When a prototype was reportedly 'seen' it did feature AirPlay. Apple iTV programmes While the iTV will get content from iTunes and iCloud, it's not going to be completely separate from current TV broadcasters: Munster says that you'll still need a cable TV subscription and decoder because Apple doesn't have enough content. We're not sure whether it would play nicely with Freeview and Freeview HD here in the UK, but perhaps a DVB-T compatible unit will arrive as part of a second generation. As of 6 March 2012, rumours were continually doing the rounds that, as the New York Post reports, Apple is planning to launch a music streaming service this side of Christmas. On 13 March, Les Moonves, who is CEO at CBS, says he was the recipient of a pitch from Steve Jobs regarding his network's participation in a subscription-based service, but turned him down. Apple is also rumoured to be talking about getting partners involved for movie streaming. His reasoning? Moonves says he was worried about damaging the network's existing revenue streams through broadcast and cable television. The main question is whether Apple will open the door for third-party content, like the BBC iPlayer, Sky Go and 4oD and other apps we've seen on connected TV platforms. These may well arrive with apps - the Apple TV SDK will pull on the iTV ecosystem and we're expecting apps to be available for Apple TV too. Mind you, it's also been claimed that Apple will seek to cut traditional TV providers out of the content loop. Apple iTV price Gene Munster reckons that the iTV will be twice the price of a similarly sized TV. Ouch. However, new March 2012 rumours point at a subsidised launch - courtesy of various partners. Apple iTV picture quality If the iTV does appear, it won't leave manufacturers quaking in their boots. That's according to Samsung's Chris Moseley who told Pocket-Lint in early February 2012 that the firm isn't overly concerned with what Apple launches if it decides to enter the TV market "We've not seen what they've done but what we can say is that they don't have 10,000 people in R&D in the vision category," he says. "They don't have the best scaling engine in the world and they don't have world renowned picture quality that has been awarded more than anyone else." Apple iTV gaming and apps Although most of the rumours so far have been about the hardware involved in the iTV, gaming may be a major focus of the new device. Apple CEO Tim Cook was spotted in mid-April at the HQ of Valve Software, the company behind gaming platform Steam. Some rumours are drawing more from this meeting, saying Apple could be producing a Kinect-style gesture-based console. But this is likely to be part and parcel of the iTV.

Facebook sued over Timeline feature Posted: A Chinese web company is suing Facebook, claiming it copied its Timeline feature. Cubic Network is a Pinterest-style start-up, founded four years ago. It launched its Timeline feature - which shows videos and pictures in chronological order, much like Facebook's - back on February 9, 2008. Harvard graduate Xiong Wanli started Cubic Network, and held a talk at Stanford university about the Timeline feature. Mark Zuckerberg attended the talk, according to the China Youth Daily. Facebook's own Timeline Facebook launched its own Timeline feature in 2011, three years after Cubic Network's. It was made available to everyone in December of last year. Cubic Network knew of the potential patent infringement when Facebook announced the feature, but only decided to bring about the action after consulting US lawyers. Wanli also claims the logo of Facebook's F8 developer conference is too similar to Cubic's own logo. He notes Cubic Network's R&D centre was called F8 before Facebook named its annual conference. Previous lawsuits Facebook's very founding was the subject of a legal dispute between Mark Zuckerberg and the Winklevoss brothers. The dispute was the basis of the film The Social Network. A Chinese company tried to sue Apple recently over the iPad name. Proview launched its iPad desktop PC back in 2000. Ironically, it actually looked quite a lot like an old iMac. Apple bought the iPad trademark prior to launching its tablet, but Proview claimed it committed fraud by concealing its identity. Apple settled the case for $60m last month. Via The Register

Galaxy Note 10.1 way easier to disassemble and fix than iPad, report finds Posted: A report from iFixit found that Samsung's new Galaxy Note 10.1 is significantly easier to disassemble and repair than the current king of tablets, Apple's third-generation iPad. The Galaxy Note 10.1 scored eight out of 10 on iFixit's "repairability scale," with 10s being easier to take apart for service, recycling or curiosity. That high score puts it leagues ahead of the latest iPad, which the site deemed a two out of 10. The repairs site reports that the Galaxy Note 10.1's components can be easily replaced without having to take the entire tablet apart, and cites elements like separate LCD and front glass components as reasons the device scores so high. Compare and contrast To contrast, iFixit reports that the iPad is covered in "gobs, gobs and gobs of adhesive," and a battery that's "prone-to-start-a-fire-if-punctured" doesn't help either. In addition, dismantling the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 requires only a Phillips #00 screwdriver, plastic opening tools, a "spudger," and iFixit's special guitar picks. Stripping the iPad, on the other hand, requires all that plus a heat gun or hairdryer and heavy-duty suction cups to remove the display without cracking it. A higher repairability score makes the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 even more attractive to techies and others who prefer to service their own devices rather than relying on expensive warranties and lengthy repair times from device makers and retailers. Unsurprising results This shouldn't be especially surprising, since Apple's devices are notoriously difficult to deconstruct. The Cupertino tech giant caused a stir in July when it bowed out of EPEAT's environmentally-friendly tech registry program, despite later re-entering due to the ensuing backlash. The latest MacBook Pro - the one with the retina display - may even get bumped from EPEAT's list or downgraded regardless, since its batteries are glued in, making them difficult to remove. Samsung's ongoing crusade Samsung, on the other hand, was named one of the tech companies most willing to cooperate with China's Green Choice Initiative as part of the coalition's 2011 study into tech manufacturing's environmental impact on their country. Samsung even released three phones made from corn-based plastics in 2008 and a Blue Earth phone made from recycled bottles in 2009, and signed up for O2's Eco Rating scheme in 2010. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, which debuted recently in the U.S., may not feature solar panels for power like the Blue Earth did, but at least it's easy to take the big tablet apart.

Details of Motorola, Apple ITC suit emerge Posted: Google's Motorola Mobility division filed a patent lawsuit against Apple with the US International Trade Commission last Friday, with the intention to block iPhone, iPad, and Mac sales in the U.S. Though very few details were known about the case last week, the ITC published the full complaint on their website for public consumption. All seven of the patents Motorola claims Apple is infringing upon are detailed, and based on the statements Motorola included with their filing, the Google-owned company believes it's actually in the public's best interests to ban the import of Apple's products. This latest litigation is only the latest salvo in the lengthy battle between Apple and Motorola, which has previously garnered both sides some small victories. The rundown According to the paperwork, Motorola's claims target Apple devices "which utilize wireless communication technologies to manage various messages and content." That long list includes the iPod Touch, all iPhones, including the iPhone 4S, the iPad 2 and new iPad, as well as MacBook Pros and MacBook Air, and the Mac Pro, iMac, and Mac mini. All of those products supposedly utilize all or portions of the following Motorola patents: 5,883,580; 5,922,047; 6,425,002; 6,983,370; 6,493,673; 7,007,064 and 7,383,983. Those patents include such features as "messaging devices that process messages logically for a user in the context of space and time" (580), "control over a plurality of media applications including telephony, video conferencing, analog video, digital video, and AC power line signaling" (047), "the ability to sync the messaging capabilities of multiple devices" (370), and "a system and method for pausing content in one device and resuming playback of the content in another device" (983). What happens next? Both Apple and Motorola continue to bicker back and forth over who is infringing on which patents. In this latest ordeal, Motorola requested a target date 15 months from now, meaning we'll have a lot of proceedings to cover over the course of the next year and beyond. With an ITC ruling due by the end of this week regarding Apple's previous infringement on a Motorola patent, there's already a chance an unfortunate precedent could be set for iOS devices. Apple's rumored iPhone 5 is supposed to be unveiled September 12, and a ban on such a device would certainly impact not just Apple, but mobile providers anticipating a sales spike, as well. Whether this case has more merit for a ban on Apple's products in unclear as of yet, but we'll monitor further developments closely to see how the future of mobile devices in the U.S. is affected by the ITC's rulings.

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