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Rovio releasing a game based on The Croods movie
Rovio has announced another game, and it's yet another surprising title from the Finish developer of Angry Birds. Rovio's first non-Angry Birds game was Amazing Alex (which was a rebranding of another developer's game), its second was the spinoff Bad Piggies, and now they're making: The Croods, a licensed title from the upcoming Dreamworks film. As you can see from the official gameplay trailer, it looks like a Farmville-style townbuilding title, though of course everything is styled after the movie (with some fun Rovio touches in the nonsensical language and a really elegant hand-drawn style). It looks like players will be able to catch pets, grow crops, and develop their own little Croods homestead, similar to a lot of other freemium management games.
Rovio continues to make really interesting choices in its game development -- the company has definitely exploited the Angry Birds brand as far as it could go and then some, and Amazing Alex, while definitely not a failure, wasn't nearly as big a success as the birds and the pigs. Rovio's teamed up with Dreamworks before in making Angry Birds Rio, so presumably that partnership led to other game ideas, which eventually lead to this one. It's worth noting, too, that while most of Rovio's big titles have been physics puzzlers, The Croods looks to be very different.
We'll keep an eye out for the game on the App Store. It certainly seems like a strange next choice for Rovio to make, but given the vast success of Angry Birds, I think the company can afford to experiment a little more.
Rovio releasing a game based on The Croods movie originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Daily iPhone App: Sneezies Match is a good idea made better
I know developer Gavin Bowman of Retro Dreamer (co-creator of apps like Velocispider and Duckers, along with artist Craig Sharpe) fairly well, having met up with him at a number of different conferences and events in the past. His studio released a game called Socks a little while ago, which was just a fun, simple puzzle game (meant for kids, really) where you matched socks of similar patterns. "It's fun," I told him after I played that one, "but it needs some more depth -- a real progression system."
A little while later, Gavin showed me a new game he was working on that actually used my feedback (which, disclaimer, was freely offered and unsolicited), and this week on the App Store, Retro Dreamer released it as Sneezies Match, which uses the company's "Sneezies" characters in a simple matching puzzle game, similar to Socks, complete with a full power-up and progression system.
You play Sneezies Match by dragging around lines of variously colored Sneezies, lining them up so that Sneezies of the same color are adjacent to each other. Once they're all together, you can tap on them, and they'll clear out and drop off into buckets below, scoring points and powering up extra abilities. The game isn't timed at all, which I really like -- instead, you just get a certain number of turns, and the goal is to score as high as possible within the turn limit.
Sneezies is colorful and interesting -- there could be a little more depth to it, and it's sometimes annoying to have to re-align a whole structure of Sneezies if you want them to fall in certain powerup buckets down below. There are also ads placed liberally throughout the app, which can be annoying, though you can remove them (or buy more in-app currency) with an in-app purchase. But aside from those issues, Sneezies Match is a lot of addictive fun, and well worth a download. Just personally, it's really exciting for me to see Retro Dreamer taking feedback and doing something fun and new with it. Apps on the App Store are always growing and evolving, of course, but it's very cool to follow the line of a gameplay idea through the course of its evolution.
Daily iPhone App: Sneezies Match is a good idea made better originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Facebook previews upcoming app-inspired newsfeed for desktop and mobile
Facebook today announced a major revamp coming to its signature News Feed every user sees when they launch the Facebook app or log in to Facebook on the desktop. The updated News Feed is heavily inspired by Facebook's mobile app, which was first developed for iOS.
While there are several changes to the News Feed coming, the most obvious will appear in the desktop browser. Now Facebook's website will feature the same left-side navigation browser that users reveal on its iOS apps by swiping to the right. In addition, significant changes are coming to the way the News Feed is displayed on the iPhone and iPad. From Facebook's press release today:
Today we're announcing a new version of Facebook designed to reduce clutter and focus more on stories from the people you care about. You see all the stories you saw in your News Feed before, but with a fresh new look. We've completely rebuilt each story to be much more vibrant and colorful and highlight the content that your friends are sharing. Photos, news articles, maps and events all look brighter and more beautiful.
To make sure you're seeing all the stories you want to see, we're introducing several new feeds to explore in addition to the same News Feed you have today:
- All Friends -- a feed that shows you everything your friends are sharing
- Photos -- a feed with nothing but photos from your friends and the Pages you like
- Music -- a feed with posts about the music you listen to
- Following -- a feed with the latest news from the Pages you like and the people you follow.
The new News Feed rollout won't rollout won't go live for everyone for a few weeks. Those wishing to get started early can visit www.facebook.com/about/newsfeed and add themselves to the waiting list.
Facebook previews upcoming app-inspired newsfeed for desktop and mobile originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Analytics firm Applause launches the Applause Index
I'm not sure how useful this idea is, but it is interesting, and we'll see how it all plays out. Applause is an analytics firm that purports to measure app quality and user satisfaction, by scanning the App Store for rankings, sales and reviews (there are a few other companies that do this already, like App Annie and Distimo). But Applause's innovation is that it boils an app's performance down into one 0-100 number, called the Applause Score. From all of the information available for that app, Applause ranks it into one number, which you can then (supposedly) use to compare app quality and popularity.
And Applause has used these numbers to launch the Applause Index, which tracks the scores of 60 high-profile apps, combining them into one number that Applause claims will let you see "peaks and valleys in the overall apps economy." In other words, Applause has tried to boil the day-to-day popularity of both the Android and iOS marketplaces into one number, similar to the way the Dow Jones Industrial Average works in the stock market.
Is it useful? We'll have to see -- it's possible that, over time, this number could show trends in the app stores, or even reflect actual consumer attitudes. But that will probably take some practice and research -- at this point, Applause has only begun to track these defined "scores," so there are undoubtedly some quirks in the system (and it's not clear to me how these 60 apps were chosen to represent the Index, even after browsing through the footnotes). But it is an interesting idea, and who knows? Over time, this number could show us something about the App Store we didn't see before.
Analytics firm Applause launches the Applause Index originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Google releases new iOS app 'Field Trip'
Google has released a new iOS app today called Field Trip. The app had previously been an Android-only one before today's launch. The app is a location-based augmented reality app that displays information on your screen or into your Bluetooth headset when you are near an area of interest.
Field Trip uses technologies from a little bit of everybody to a accomplish its goals. It uses code and search from Google, maps from Apple, and hyperlocal place information from companies like Thrillist, Food Network, Zagat, and Run Riot for food results; Sunset, Cool Hunting, WeHeart, Inhabitat, and Remodelista for shopping results; and Songkick and Flavorpill for local music gigs.
From the apps App Store listing, these are some of its highlights:
- Discover thousands of interesting places/experiences that fall under the following categories: Architecture, Historic Places & Events, Lifestyle, Offers & Deals, Food Drinks & Fun, Movie Locations, Outdoor Art and Obscure Places of Interest around you.
- Choose from three different modes to set frequency of Field Trip notifications. See "Field Trip" worthy places around you on a map, by tapping on cards in map view to pull up enthralling points of interest around you.
- Go on a Field Trip while you drive. Field Trip can detect when you're driving and automatically "talk" about interesting places and experience around you.
- Came across an amazing story or restaurant? Mark it as a favorite to easily come back to it at any point.
- Capture the memory of a special place, by sharing a wondrous discovery through email and social networks such as Google+, Twitter and Facebook.
- Wondering where the gem that you recently discovered is? Find your discovered field trip cards in the "recent" section.
Field Trip is a free download.
Google releases new iOS app 'Field Trip' originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
AVP Evolution hosting a contest to put fan art in the game
Fox recently released an official Aliens vs Predator action game on the App Store called AVP Evolution, which you can pick up if interested right now for $14.99. Unfortunately, we weren't that impressed with the game here at TUAW -- it's a pretty boring action game with some solid graphics (and a good representation of the two sci-fi licenses), but some less-than-stellar gameplay. But AVP fans might get a kick out of it, as there are plenty of Super Predators and alien queens involved. Plus, Fox is now hosting a big art contest for the game on their Facebook page.
To enter, you'll need to go over to the Facebook page, Like it, and then submit your art there. Works can't be any bigger than 3 MB, and Fox asks that they're at least 300 dpi (presumably so they'll work when included in the app). Entries will be chosen based on originality, quality, a fit with the AVP storyline, and a popular vote, and one winner will see his or her art included in the app itself. Four other runner-ups will also get an AVP DVD collection for their trouble, and of course the rest of us get to see some sweet AVP art.
AVP Evolution hosting a contest to put fan art in the game originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Access your Nest Thermostat from your Mac menu bar
The Nest Thermostat has been a hit since it was announced in late 2011. Apple sells them along with other retailers, and they were created by Tony Fadell, one of the fathers of the iPod when he was at Apple.
The Nest can be accessed from a browser, or iOS apps that let you control all aspects of the thermostat from anywhere. On a Mac, there is a web page. Now, developer Joe Workman has improved that by creating a small app for your menu bar called Climate.
The US$2.99 app, now available in the Mac App Store, is places an item in your menu bar to log into your account. The app persistently displays your minimum and maximum temperature settings. Click it to see a screen similar to what you find on your iOS device or the web. You can change settings, modify your schedule, and set the Nest to auto-away mode or do anything you could do from a browser or your iPhone or iPad.
Gallery: Cimate for Mac
Why would you buy an app when you can get the same info for free? First, Nest doesn't have a Mac app. You have to navigate to its web page and log in to your account. I find Climate a lot more convenient to use, and it is always a click away. If there is anything I would change, it's what is displayed in the menu bar. I know my minimum and maximum temp settings, and they rarely change. I'd prefer my current house temperature, or maybe a switch that lets me select outside or inside temperatures, or maybe display both.
Those are small quibbles. Climate is a handy app for your Mac, and I think most Nest owners will find it useful.
Access your Nest Thermostat from your Mac menu bar originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Mothership releases Prepo 2, helps devs create app icons and retina artwork
One of the challenges facing developers isn't always writing clean code. A small development team also has to contend with images and icons, which are often the first things a user sees when he stumbles upon your app and takes it on its maiden run.
One app that promises to make artwork and icon preparation easy is Prepo from Mothership. Now in version 2.0, Prepo allows you to put the finishing touches on your iconography and Retina artwork before you submit your app for review. Once you import your image files, Prepo will size the icons for an iPad, iPhone or a universal app. On the artwork side of things, Prepo takes your @2x artwork and reduces it to @1x. It also resizes it and renames it if necessary.
One new feature in Prepo 2 is a LivePreview feature that lets you test out your icons and artwork in realtime on an iOS device. To use LivePreview, you have to purchase the $4.99 Prepo Plus upgrade and download the iOS version of Prepo on your iPhone or iPad. As long as your Mac and iOS device are on the same WiFi network, you'll be able to view your image assets on your iOS device and make changes on the fly.
Prepo 2 is available now from the Mac App Store for free and you can use it as a stand-alone editor for your artwork and icons. The companion iOS version is also free, but you have to purchase the Prepo+ upgrade to get the OS X and iOS apps to work together.
Mothership releases Prepo 2, helps devs create app icons and retina artwork originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Daily Deals for March 7, 2013
It's time to save some of that hard-earned cash with our Daily Deals, featuring a handy list from Dealnews and our own hand-picked selections that include some sweet deals on iOS and OS X software (all prices are USD).
Deals from Dealnews- StackSocial: [Design & Multimedia Software] The Premium Designer Bundle for Mac downloads for free
- StackSocial: [Mac Software] The Spring 2013 10-App Bundle for Mac downloads for $50
- eBay: [iPad Accessories] Docking Station for iPad 2 and 3rd-Generation iPad for $8 + free shipping
- Adorama: [Camera Accessories] Zacuto Z-Find-Jr Optical Viewfinder for $102 + free shipping
- MidnightBox: [iPod Accessories] Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones for $55 + $4 s&h
- PricePlunge.com: [Surge Protectors] Philips 3-Outlet Surge Protector w/ 2 USB ports for $7 + $4 s&h
- StackSocial: [Mac Software] Jump Desktop Remote Desktop (RDP & VNC) for Mac for $15
- Best Buy: [USB Hard Drives] Western Digital 1.5TB Portable USB 3.0 HDD for $90 + free shipping
- all4cellular.com: [iPhone Accessories] 12x Telephoto Lens with Tripod for Apple iPhone 4 / 4S for $20 + free shipping
- eBay: [Printers & Scanners] Pandigital Photo/Negative Scanner w/ 512MB SD Card for $29 + free shipping
- 13deals.com: [802.11n Wireless] CrystalView 802.11n Wireless Instant Router and Repeater for $18 + $5 s&h
- eBay: [Computer Speakers] Acoustic Audio 200W 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System for $30 + free shipping
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DataMan Pro [iPhone, Category: Finance, On sale for $4.99, down from $6.99] DataMan gives the key usage statistics you need most in an incredibly clean interface.
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DataMan Next [iPhone, Category: Finance, On sale for $0.99, down from $1.99] DataMan gives the key usage statistics you need most in an incredibly clean interface.
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miTypewriter for iPad [iPad, Category: Lifestyle, Now free, down from $1.99] Realistic typewriter on your iPad.
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Blux Camera Pro [iPhone, Category: Photography & Video, Now free, down from $2.99] Customizable photographic tool that gives you complete control to make our camera fit your style.
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Note Weather [iOS Universal, Category: Weather, Now free, down from $1.99] A notepad that can receive and show a weather forecast as if you yourself decided to write it down in your planner.
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VideoHunter [iOS Universal, Category: Utilities, Now free, down from $2.99] VideoHunter provides stopless playback with Hi-tech cache engine.
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Gameloft Game sale [iOS Universal, Category: Games, On sale for $0.99] Gameloft has dropped the price of 9mm, Assassin's Creed - Altaïr's Chronicles, Iron Man 2, Spider-Man: Total Mayhem, The Dark Knight Rises and Wild Blood to 99-cents.
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Angry Birds [iPhone and iPad, Category: Games, Now free] The iPhone and iPad versions of the original Angry Birds game are available for free.
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Gemini: The Duplicate Finder [OS X, Category: Utilities, On sale for $4.99, down from $9.99] Gemini will quickly find and help you remove duplicates from your Mac.
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CodePad [OS X, Category: Development, Now free, down from $0.99] CodePad is the quickest and easiest way to edit source code files on your Mac.
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Templates for iBooks Author [OS X, Category: Graphics & Design, On sale for $1.99, down from $7.99] Templates for iBooks Author provide you with 60 Templates designed to be used as a basis for writing e-books.
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SQLite Professional [OS X, Category: Development, Now free, down from $8.99] Developer tool that lets you modify your database with simple points and clicks.
Daily Deals for March 7, 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Record labels laugh at Apple's proposed royalty rate for streaming service
The New York Post has an exclusive today about Apple's attempts to get rights from record labels for a proposed music streaming service, which are apparently falling on deaf ears because its offer is "seen as way too cheap."
A high-level executive at one label told the Post that "Apple wants a rate that is lower than Pandora's," and the numbers don't lie. Pandora currently pays a royalty of 12 cents per 100 songs streamed; Apple's initial offer was about 6 cents per 100 songs streamed.
Spotify currently pays the highest royalty rates at about 35 cents per 100 songs streamed, and the Post notes that music label insiders think that Apple should pay at least 21 cents per 100 songs. That's the rate set by the Copyright Royalty Board for companies that don't own broadcast operations.
The Apple streaming service, which is rumored to be named iRadio, is expected to be ad-supported and was widely expected to be available at the launch of the iPhone 5 last fall. A source for the Post says that "Everyone's had their initial meetings and everyone is preparing counters." Hopefully Apple will be able to iron out the details before the next iPhone is ready to roll.
[via MacRumors]
Record labels laugh at Apple's proposed royalty rate for streaming service originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Daily Update for March 7, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world.
You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here.
No Flash? Click here to listen.
Subscribe via RSS
Daily Update for March 7, 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Marvel unveils iOS comic book subscription service 'Marvel Unlimited'
A few years ago I wrote an article titled Publishers' choice: Will the iPad be the hero or villain of the comic book industry? It was an open letter to comic book publishers urging them to embrace the digital distribution method to ensure comics didn't fall to the same fate as illegal music downloads. I spelled out four guidelines for a successful business model -- one that would appeal to comic book readers in the mobile computing area. Since then, the comic book industry has taken up some of the suggestions and it takes another step forward. That's because Marvel has unveiled its Marvel Unlimited service for iOS.
Marvel Unlimited is essentially Netflix for Marvel comic books. Users can subscribe for US$10 a month to access a catalog of over 13,000 Marvel comics back issues. For a limited time, users can also pay for a year's subscription for only $60. The service serves up the comics in HTML5 and allows users to download six issues at a time.
While 13,000 back issues seems like a lot, there's not much rhyme or reason to the selection or continuity of what's available. And that doesn't make a lot of sense because when collectors are reading a series, they generally read them in order. Also, the most recent issues of comics on offer will be at least six months old. That's because Marvel doesn't want to hurt its newsstand sales.
Though Marvel Unlimited is a step in the right direction, I don't think it's the ideal solution for hardcore comic book fans. When Marvel makes complete series available on demand, the digital comic book subscription model will really fly.
Marvel Unlimited is a free download.
Marvel unveils iOS comic book subscription service 'Marvel Unlimited' originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Apple issues minor updates to iWork for iOS apps
Apple has just released very minor updates to its iWork for iOS apps.
Pages, Keynote, and Numbers have all been updated with "stability improvements and bug fixes."
Let us know in the comments if you notice anything different!
Apple issues minor updates to iWork for iOS apps originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
SpotLite 2.0 GPS pet collar lets you monitor your pet with an iPhone
Securus, Inc. makes mobile security and safety devices, like the SpotLite GPS pet collar. This clever device attaches to your pet's collar and lets you monitor his or her whereabouts, which is perfect for those pups who like to wander.
Not only does this durable, waterproof device offer 24-hour, real-time tracking, it's backed by American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) service, which means it can help you get Fido back, fast. Here's how it works.
Once it's on your pet, you can establish "safe spots" in your area or neighborhood. If Fido leaves that area, you can receive a text message or an email. Alerts will continue to come in, along with the collar's location, every 30 minutes until s/he is recovered. There's also an emergency button on the collar, so if someone recovers your pet, he can press it to let you know where they are.
There's also a mobile-friendly website that displays your pet's location.
Speaking of recovery, the SpotLite 2.0 comes with a lifetime membership with AKC CAR, so you've got someone available to help out.
TUAW will be testing the SpotLite 2.0 GPS pet collar in the next few weeks and we'll share our experiences in a full review. The unit costs US$119.99.
SpotLite 2.0 GPS pet collar lets you monitor your pet with an iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
NumLock for OS X will enable number lock on Mac keyboards
Folks accustomed to number lock may have a hard time moving from an Apple extended keyboard to the more compact keyboard layout found on Apple's wireless keyboard or its MacBook models. If you can't live without num lock, then you should check out the NumLock app, a Kickstarter-funded app from developer Dennis Vogel.
NumLock runs in the background and provides you with a hotkey combo or menu bar item that'll toggle NumLock on and off. When enabled, NumLock lets you use the 7-8-9, u-i-o, j-k-l and m-,-. keys as a numeric keypad.
Vogel already has a working version of the app and has turned to Kickstarter to help fund some of his early development costs. If he reaches the $574 Kickstarter goal, the app will be released as freeware. You can read more about NumLock on the app's Kickstarter page. The Kickstarter project already has a few backers and will end on Thursday April 4th, 11:47 AM EDT.
NumLock for OS X will enable number lock on Mac keyboards originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
SilverWiz releases version 1.4 of MoneyWiz for OS X and iOS
After several months of development, SilverWiz has finally released the highly anticipated 1.4 update to MoneyWiz for the Mac, iPhone and iPad. The latest version has more than 50 new features including:
- Native refunds functionality
- Chequebook register, and handling of cheque numbers
- Ability to auto-pay scheduled transactions
- Ability to convert normal transaction to a scheduled transaction
- Option to show minus sign for negative transactions (to help users with colour-blindness)
- Ability to split income transactions
- Ability to make Scheduled split transactions (expenses & incomes)
- Ability to duplicate scheduled transactions
- Ability to hide an account from the list of accounts
- Ability to set the language of MoneyWiz within the app itself
- Major improvement to reports - you can now see transactions inline, as part of most reports.
- Improvements in the Accounts & Budgets creation and management
- PIN codes will become 4 digits only (If your previous PIN code was more than 4 digits, it will automatically changed to be just the first 4 digits). Removed enter button from PIN entry screen, for faster launch of MoneyWiz
This is just a small list of changes that are present in MoneyWiz in the latest update. You can check out all the changes for yourself by downloading the latest version from the Mac and iOS App Store. MoneyWiz for the iPhone and MoneyWiz for the iPad are available for US$4.99 each. The desktop version of MoneyWiz is available for $24.99.
SilverWiz releases version 1.4 of MoneyWiz for OS X and iOS originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Phil Schiller tweets followers: "Be safe out there"
Apple senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller isn't known for using Twitter all that much, but he tweeted a link today and warned his followers to "Be safe out there."
What was the link? It was to a Mobile Threat Report (PDF) from F-Secure, which highlighted a number of security and malware issues in the Android operating system. Apple's own iOS mobile operating system was only mentioned in passing in the report.
The report shows that in 2012, Android accounted for 79 percent of all mobile threats, while iOS barely registered with only 0.7 percent of threats. Jordan Golson of MacRumors suggests that Schiller's tweet could be part of a move by Apple's PR group to paint the company in a more favorable light.
Phil Schiller tweets followers: "Be safe out there" originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Apple grabs another win against Samsung in London court
Watching the patent lawsuits between Apple and Samsung is like watching a tennis match -- first the ball is on Apple's side and they lob it over the net right past Samsung, then Samsung sneaks a shot past Apple and they win a game. The latest news, this time out of a court in London, is that Apple has won a case over the use of Standard Essential Patents in its products.
Samsung had asserted that Apple products infringed on a Standard Essential Patent held by the South Korean manufacturer. The Wednesday ruling means that Samsung, which was hoping for 2.4 percent royalties on sales of any of Apple's 3G-capable devices, won't get a thing.
Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents told ZDNet that "On a worldwide basis Apple has now fended off 24 assertions of Standard-Essential Patents by Samsung. Samsung prevailed only on three such patents, two of them in Korea. With every win Apple scores, Samsung's demand for a 2.4 percent royalty on Apple's sales of 3G-capable products looks more ridiculous."
Apple grabs another win against Samsung in London court originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Apple Store boosts revenues for entire shopping district
There's an old saying that "A rising tide lifts all boats," but nowhere has the truth of that saying been demonstrated more than in Berkeley, Calif., where the opening of the Fourth Street Apple Store in 2011 quadrupled sales tax revenues for the district in which the store is located.
That quadrupling is just in the sales tax category in which the Apple Store is placed -- "furniture and appliances" -- but the impact of the opening is apparent even when all of the various categories are shown together.
As pointed out on ifoAppleStore.com, it appears that the Apple Store was placed into that category specifically to disguise its contribution to overall tax revenues. The website did a quick calculation based on the revenue trend and determines that the store will probably have about US$38.4 million in sales for the first quarter of 2013, more than twice the per-store average for all Apple Stores.
A PDF copy of the City of Berkeley economic report is available for viewing here.
Apple Store boosts revenues for entire shopping district originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
