Apple, HTC in Trademark Tangle

Apple Computer has an uncanny knack for getting in the way of trademarks... or so it seems...

Previously, when the company unveiled it's eagerly anticipated iPhone, Cisco slapped a lawsuit against it over use of the 'iPhone' trademark. Incidentally, Linksys' VoIP phone is also called iPhone, and Cisco, which happens to be Linksys' parent company, owns the 'iPhone' trademark.

Now with the launch of iPod Touch, Apple is once again in danger of having stepped on someone else's toes... This time round, it's Taiwan-based HTC's turn to feel the heat...

HTC launched the HTC Touch well before Apple's iPod Touch. The HTC Touch features a TouchFLO sweep launcher sitting atop Windows Mobile. It's a keyboard-free and button-free Windows Mobile phone that sports an unraised bezel and a solid glass face among others.

HTC chief executive officer and president, Peter Chou, reportedly said that HTC has registered 'Touch' as a worldwide trademark, and that the company "is proud to share the same vision as Apple over touch screen functions".

While Chou said nothing about whether HTC would sue Apple over use of it's trademark, a top HTC official reportedly made a pointed reference to the ability of Apple and Cisco to 'reach a mutually satisfactory agreement' before footnoting the need for 'further observation' around the 'Touch' trademark rights question.

Meanwhile, as far as precedents go, Cisco's suit against Apple ended in a mutually convenient agreement -- one wherein both would continue to make use of the 'iPhone' trademark in the market.

Apple Unveils new iPod's..

Putting an end to all the speculation of these past weeks, Apple Computer yesterday launched its all new iPod, the iPod Touch.

The reported whoops and hollers might go to justify Apple CEO, Steve Jobs' claim that 'the seventh wonder of the world' had just been unveiled. Also dubbed as 'the God machine', the newbie iPod looks a lot like the iPhone -- except that it is no phone.

A sleek looking touch-controlled iPod, the iPod Touch sports a 3.5-inches color screen, built-in WiFi Internet access, and Apple's Safari Internet browser.

The iPod Touch will come in 2 versions: an 8GB version priced at GBP 199; and a 16GB version costing GBP 269.

Both versions are expected to be on the British market this month.


Apart from unveiling the iPod Touch, Apple revamped its iPod line that includes a reworked iPod Nano and the iPod Classic.

The new Nano features 22 hours audio playback and 5 hours video playback. The flip side is the Nano suddenly looks as if it has put on some weight

The 4GB iPod Nano comes in Silver for $149, while the 8GB iPod Nano comes in Silver, Black, Blue, Green, and a special Red edition for $199. Both new Nanos come with 3 fun games, and additional games can be purchased from the iTunes store (www.itunes.com).

Both 4GB and 8GB iPod Nano models for Windows or Mac are immediately available worldwide through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple retail stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers.

Meanwhile, the iPod Classic comes in Silver and Black in 2 versions; 80GB model and 160GB model. The 80GB iPod Classic is priced at $249 and the 160GB iPod Classic costs $349. Both models are immediately available worldwide.

Interestingly, while Apple was making announcements, Microsoft announced a slash in the price of its Zune digital media player by $50 to $199. The software major claimed it had been planning a price cut all this while...

Apple also unveiled the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, offering fans the ability to browse, search, preview, purchase, and download songs and albums from iTunes over a Wi-Fi network directly onto their iPod Touch or iPhone, sans any computer as intermediary.

When owners of the iPod Touch or iPhone connect their gizmos back to their PCs or Macs, the downloaded music would automatically sync back to their iTunes library. In case they have only partially downloaded a song or album onto their Touch or iPhone, the computer would complete the download automatically.

Meanwhile, prices and selection on the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store would remain the same as on the regular iTunes Store. Both the new iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store and custom iTunes ringtones for iPhone will be available later this month.

Additionally, Apple announced lowering the price of its iPhone (8GB) from $599 to $399 in the US. The iPhone 4GB model will be sold until supplies last, Apple said.

Microsoft Mulling a Zune Phone?

Rumor has it that Microsoft may soon start developing a device billed to be a potential Apple iPhone killer.

The software major has reportedly stated sans confirmation that a mobile phone based on it's Zune digital media player 'is not an unreasonable move'.

The phone will likely be called the 'Zune Phone' and will be a competitor to Apple's iPhone. The iPhone is currently available only in the US exclusively from AT&T.

Talks about a Zune-based mobile phone from Microsoft are not entirely new. Ever since the launch of the Zune, there's been a buzz doing the rounds of industry.

Even when the Zune was launched, it was talked about as a potential iPod killer, which really never happened. Going by reports, the Zune failed to gain the kind of popularity that the iPod enjoys.

All said, observers think a phone based on the Zune, if it were to happen, would be a good move on the part of Microsoft as the company already has a presence in the smart phone market with it's Windows Mobile platform.

Apple to Unveil Revamped iPods?

Reportedly, there's buzz that Apple Computer is all set to unveil its revamped line of iPods at a special event to be held this week in San Francisco.

Fuelling all the speculation is a peculiar invite found doing the rounds of the Internet bearing an iPod wearing figure dancing on top of the words: 'the beat goes on'.

The word on the market is that Apple is poised for an iPod refresh. More so because after the iPod shuffle in 2006, and the video iPod in 2005, there hasn't been a major update to Apple's iPod.

Analysts feel Apple is out to introduce iPhone-inspired changes to its iPods. Which is dicey as consumers would expect iPhone level quality from iPods with greater chances of ending up disappointed.

However, if there's one thing everyone's agreed upon -- it is that Apple generates the most news just by saying it's going to make an announcement...

Flight Simulator inside Google Earth!

That Google recently added Google Sky to it's Google Earth application, we know. What we don't know is that the updated Google Earth also comes embedded with a hidden feature -- a flight simulator of sorts.

To activate the flight simulator, users can type Ctrl+Alt+A (keyboard shortcut) else Command+Option+A on OS X.

Once the feature is turned-on in Google Earth menus, users can either get a F16 'Viper' or SR22 plane to fly. They can select a start position with the Kathmandu runway as default option. Using the keyboard or mouse, users can control their aircraft. Even joysticks are supported. Getting the hang of controls is a bit tricky however once the plane is stabilized, users can get a nice view of say the Himalayas out on the horizon.

To re-enter flight simulator mode, users can choose Tools > Enter Flight Simulator.

And going by reports, while the simulator has airports covered fairly well, the aircraft selection seems in want of an overhaul. Besides, the simulator does not afford any view whatsoever of the aircraft...