Category Archives: Apple

Apple, Google, and the Hubris of Silicon Valley’s Hiring Conspiracy

Android, Apple, Tech News, ,

Steve Jobs wouldn’t appear to have been an emoticon guy, but history will show that on at least one occasion, when words failed to convey his delight, he resorted to one. It was March 2007, and Jobs had received an e-mail from Eric Schmidt, then Google’s (GOOG) chief executive officer and a board member at Apple (AAPL). Schmidt wanted to let Jobs know that Google would terminate “within the hour” a recruiter who’d dared to contact an Apple employee in violation of a “do not call” policy between the companies. Schmidt abjectly apologized, adding: “Should this ever happen again please let me know immediately and we will handle. Thanks!! Eric.”

Jobs forwarded Schmidt’s groveling e-mail to an Apple subordinate. His cover note said, in its entirety, “:)”.

This telling material—and there’s oh, so much more of it—comes from the voluminous court record in the recently settled Silicon Valley hiring antitrust case. On April 24, Apple, Google, Intel (INTC), and Adobe Systems (ADBE) ran up the white flag in a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 64,000 programmers and engineers who accused the companies of conspiring not to raid one another’s workforces in the interest of stifling competition and suppressing wages.

A great article from Businessweek. Read the rest here – http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-01/tech-hubris-the-silicon-valley-antitrust-hiring-conspiracy

Are Freemium games going to be ruled illegal in Italy

Android, Apple, Tech News

Italy’s Antitrust and Competition Authority on Friday said it is investigating whether Apple, Google, Amazon and Gameloft mislead the public into spending money on so-called “freemium” apps that offer in-app purchases.

The Italian regulator is attempting to determine whether the companies’ respective app stores and freemium apps offer sufficient information about in-app purchases, reports The Wall Street Journal. Also under investigation are sales practices that seemingly trick users into paying for in-game content.

“Consumers could be led to think, contrary to reality, that a game is completely free and therefore they don’t know ahead of time the game’s true cost,” the regulatory body said. “It appears also that there is a lack of information regarding how to exclude or limit the possibility of making a purchase inside the app.”

It’s about time freemium apps got investigated and hopefully end up being regulated so as to not rip off customers. For example spending £50 on coins is not correct and often these freemium games ruin the fluidity too.

Episode 15 – Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast is now alive – Please RT

Android, Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Wearables, Windows

As you know, I co-host a weekly podcast with David from UKMobileTech called Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast. It is a light hearted tech podcast broadcast bi-weekly. To subscribe click here for iTunes or copy and paste this link into your favourite podcast app.

Episode 15 is now live for your listening pleasure.

And just like that a truce occurs – Apple and Motorola drop all patent lawsuits

Android, Apple, Tech News

According to a court filing discovered by Reuters, Apple and Google’s Motorola Mobility unit have agreed to settle their ongoing smartphone patent litigation battle against each other.

In a statement, the two companies said that this agreement does not include the ability cross license each other’s patents, but rather the promise to “work together in some areas of patent reform.”

This does not include any other patent lawsuits against other manufacturers but it sure is a positive move and likely one that will benefit the end user. Nor does it stop future lawsuits.

However, in addition to agreeing to end the 20 or so patent lawsuits, both companies will help to change the legislation to try and curb the out of control patent system.

Smartphone Pricing – The Ups and Downs and then there’s Apple

Android, Apple, Tech News, Windows

There is a lot to be said for consistency when it comes to pricing a phone. Take Apple, they announce a new phone (or any device) and that is the price for the next 12 months until the new model appears. Quite simply, you know where you stand. The Apple pricing model also helps maintain second hand prices.

Now lets look at the rest of the market. Samsung, Sony, Nokia and many many other companies release a new phone at a premium, often with anything from £50 to £100 extra in the first month at least. During the 12 month period the phone’s pricing can vary, often downwards. So for example the Samsung Note 3 at launch was sim free £650. Now it can be bought for under £500. In fact, my personal favourite online tech company Clove Technology is selling the Note 3 for £374.16 plus VAT. Link – http://www.clove.co.uk/samsung-galaxy-note-3

So lets take another example. The new Sony Xperia Z2. On the market for a launch price of around £550-560. Then Three UK offered it on their network for £470. And now after a few weeks Three UK are selling it at £549. WTF. How does a phone increase in value or vary by such a margin and within such a small time frame. Surely that is not right. Using Clove Technology again as an example, they have consistently offered the Z2 at £450 plus VAT. Link – http://www.clove.co.uk/sony-xperia-z2 . They also happen to offer it with one of the best deals at the moment. The deal includes a free £120 wireless speaker & noise-cancelling headphones bundle plus £80 digital content bundle. Very tempting I must say.

I just think it would be better if all manufacturers followed Apple’s example of leading with a fair price in the beginning and keeping it price accordingly.

Just one last point. Have you ever noticed that when a newer model is due to be released, the older model pricing is temporarily increased. I am sure this is partially due to trying to justify the higher priced newer model when released, so that there appears not to be such a large price differential between the old and new model.

What’s your thoughts?

Google Maps in the UK receives huge update

Android, Apple, Tech News

Google Maps apps have received a huge update in the UK by adding in directions for travel using public transportation. The app update is available now for iOS and Android, as well as on the web on the desktop, will cover almost 17,000 routes of bus, train, tram, and ferry navigation. No love for Windows Phone though.

The update will work on travel across England, Wales, and Scotland, with Northern Ireland still in the works. The update includes travel information from Traveline and National Express.

Users can now plan their routes to determine what the fastest or shortest routes will be, how many stops or interchanges they want to make, and what time the next departures leave.

With so much functionality I just cannot see the need now for third party navigation options. Can you ?

Goodbye iPod Touch – Hello new product category and a Waterproof iPhone 6

Apple, Tech News,

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It’s all happening at Apple.

New wearables, new iPhone and a new product category to replace the iPod Touch. Well, that is if you believe all the rumours.

First up, via Moscoat is an image of the new iPhone in a waterproof enclosure. Feasible. I would say it surely is and something Apple would be wise to do as nearly all flagships offer some form of water resistance. Even the HTC One M8 does too!

Even more change is the iPod Touch demise. Apple haven’t updated this line for years now. They even sell the iPod Classic which again hasn’t been updated. Apple are now moving the Point of Sale machine terminals from iPod Touches to iPhone 5S’s, showing that the Touch is on it’s last legs. What we will see of the last of the stock been sold off slowly as needed, but replaced by new wearable hardware and a new iPhone.

The only fact that isn’t a rumour, is that you will need to start to save your coffers to be able to afford any of Apple’s new products!

Reminder – Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast is alive – Please RT

Android, Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Wearables, Weather, Windows

As you know, I co-host a weekly podcast with David from UKMobileTech called Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast. It is a light hearted tech podcast broadcast bi-weekly. To subscribe click here for iTunes or copy and paste this link into your favourite podcast app.

Episode 14 is now live for your listening pleasure. So if you haven’t had a listen please do.

Episode 14 – Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast is alive – Please RT

Android, Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Wearables, Weather, Windows,

As you know, I co-host a weekly podcast with David from UKMobileTech called Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast. It is a light hearted tech podcast broadcast bi-weekly. To subscribe click here for iTunes or copy and paste this link into your favourite podcast app.

Episode 14 is now live for your listening pleasure.