Apple

Apple may get sued over iPad design

Written by Chris Tangora

File this one under crazy Chinese companies.

Shenzhen Dragon Brother Industrial  (SDBI) is talking about suing Apple for copying their P88 design for the iPad.  The P88 is a great example of how Apple can take something and make it better.  The P88 runs on an Intel chip and gets about 1.5 hours of life running Windows XP.  The design looks awfully similar to another device I've seen around, the iPod.  Yes the P88 is like a big iPod, which is what the iPad essentially is.

The P88 does have some advantages.  It runs a full OS (granted it is Windows) and has a VGA out and USB ports, and a slightly lager screen.  However, if you only get a 1.5 hours out of it, I don't know how useful it can be.  Really now.  1.5 hours of life on a computer means that it is 1.5 hours of word processing or other low-CPU processes.  If you actually started doing something on the P88, don't you think the battery life would just plummet?

I digress.  SDBI is considering a lawsuit against Apple for patent infringement.  This is the comical part to me.  You have a company that blatently rips off the iPod/iPhone style, and then claims Apple took their desgin.  If you ask me, I see a resemblance ... but I think that it might be Apple wanting to talk to THEIR lawyers.

More info on the P88 available at hkjulong.com



Pictures from hkjulong.com & Apple.com.  NOT to scale.

Another way to void your AppleCare: Smoking.

Written by Chris Tangora

As modders we are used to voiding warranties.  But perhaps you might have already voided your AppleCare warranty even before you opened the case.  Smoking apparently can do as much damage to your Apple as it can to your lungs.  According to CNET News' Technically Incorrect Chris Matyszczyk there have been at least two incidents with Apple where AppleCare has been refused due to second hand cigarette smoke.

The first was reported at the Jordan Creek Apple Store (West Des Moines, IA) by Derek.  His MacBook was having problems and after he brought it into Apple for a look he got a call saying Apple would not work on his laptop due to the health concerns of second hand smoke.

The second report was from Ruth who took it to an Authorized Apple reseller.  She was told that the tar that built up inside the computer made it uneconomical to repair.  Even with only one smoker in the house.

via news.cnet.com

Psystar files voluntary bankruptcy

Written by Chris Tangora

Bankruptcy.  That's right.  The First Clone War might have just ended with Psystar filing for for Chapter 11 protection on May 21st, 2009.  I'm sure that this is going to make Apple quite happy, for a few reasons.  First the knock-offs will be off the market.  Always easier to sell your product when there is less competition, though the Hackintoshes are still out there for the DIY'ers.  But second, and possibly more important to Apple & Steve Jobs, is the conspiracy theories will finally be solved.  What you haven't heard of the conspiracy theories around the Psystar case?  Read on for more info.

Contract Free iPhones, now that's something new.

Written by Chris Tangora

So Apple and AT&T are now selling non-contracted 3G iPhones.  This is a pretty interesting turn of events.  Apple had been in a contract with AT&T to be the exclusive provider to the US for the iPhone since it was released.  That was a huge plus for AT&T as the iPhone package had all of the goodies.  So what would make Apple and AT&T change their minds?  It could be the soon to be released 2009 iPhone, but I'm not sure.  If Apple allows non-contracted 3G iPhones, what else might they allow to be unlocked in the future?  Will the new iPhone be contract free as well, maybe by default with more carriers?  And what about the Mac line?  Will we see more vendors carrying Apple computers in the near future?

Who knows for sure, but this does go well for Apple.  Of course the iPhones that are on different carriers aren't supported, but so what.  Now you can get an iPhone and skip all of the hassle of dealing with AT&T.  But that comes with a price, you have to pay full retail price for the iPhone now, a whopping $599 & $699 depending on model.  This should help boost Apple up some, and I'm sure that some of the other wireless carriers are already developing safer ways to crack the iPhone into working seamlessly with their networks.

via AppleInsider

Apple iTunes Code Cracked

Written by Chris Tangora

Apple's iTunes Gift Card algorithm has been cracked in China.  Apparently you can order a $200 gift card for about $3 USD on some Chinese online stores.  The store owner says that he has bought the codes from a generator supplied from people who have cracked Apple's code.  77,593 codes were available on the taobao shop.

Right now you can buy up to 10 cards a day.  No response from Apple yet, but I'm sure that an improved algorithm has already been developed and new cards are hitting the press as I type this.

via appleinsider.

Possibilities of a Newton II

Written by Chris Tangora

Okay, so Apple's rumored touch-screen netbook probably won't be called the Newton 2, or iNewton.  But it would be cool if it was.  Seriously though, the rumors of the next generation Apple PDA have been around for years.  The iPod touch does a great job of filling this need, but the rumor mill is picking up some speed lately that there is something bigger on the way.

Follow the jump for more of the scoop.

iCast for sale on eBay

Written by Chris Tangora

The marriage of a Sega Dreamcast, a LCD screen and old school iMac is for sale on eBay.  EBay'r snommistocs created the iCast when he saw a LCD screen and an old iMac sitting next to each other.  As many stokes of genius start they thought what they could do if they combined those two things together.  The end results is now on eBay, with bids starting at $10.50 (but watch out for the shipping).  Bidding ends March 9th.

The mod houses a Sega Dreamcast with the power switch for Dreamcast on the front panel and the the iMac speakers are functional as well.  Without the CRT in the iMac the weight has dropped dramatically down and the LCD makes the image very crisp, and you can even have the video go out to a HDTV, since the Dreamcast can push 480p.  It looks like it would be a little bit difficult to swich games, but it's hard to tell due to limited pictures.

from cgcc.ca

Available for purchase on ebay, item# 250382820439

Build Pix after the jump.

Mini, iMac and MacBook Pro & Mac Pro updated

Written by Chris Tangora

So I was wrong.  The Mac Mini was updated with a 5 USB port version.   The same one that went around in videos and pictures and packaging.  I'm not as disappointed as I thought I would be.  I wish that it was smaller in size and had two firewire ports, but overall it doesn't look like to bad of a bump for the Mini.  Added in to this round of updates is also an iMac update and an update to the Mac Pro line.  Apple is also now selling a wired keyboard without the numberpad and has increased the max CPU speed of the 15" MacBook Pro.