Patent Absurdity

John Naughton, writing about Apple case against Googorola getting thrown out:

This is a landmark judgment, one of those moments when someone – in this case an eminent judge rather than a small child – points out that the emperor is indeed stark naked. Patent wrangling between technology companies has become both pathological and pointless. It is also a gross abuse of intellectual property law that uses the courts as tools for gaining competitive advantage. The people who should be deciding whether Apple's phones are better – more functional, reliable, easier to use – than Motorola's are consumers, not judges. By striking a blow for common sense in what had become a madhouse, Posner has set a really encouraging precedent.

I agree with the specific example and, furthermore, believe the entire patent system to be horribly flawed. That said, there needs to be a way to stop people (Samsung, I'm looking at you) from blatantly stealing everything Apple does. Like phones, tablets, Siri, and "ultrabooks"(read: MacBook Air Clones). I don't know for sure what that is, but something needs to change.

Matt Burns Declares Motorola Screwed Up

Matt Burns:

The original Droid started the Android revolution. It was the anti-iPhone: an open OS, sliding QWERTY keyboard, available on Verizon and featured a removable battery and expandable memory. Now many of those advantages are moot points. Android is no longer viewed as open, most people are sold on virtual keyboards, the iPhone is available everywhere, and now, thanks to Motorola, the Droid 4 features a built-in battery. Sorry, power users.

Matt makes the argument that power users what a user-replaceable battery. I can only take this to mean that no power user anywhere uses any Apple product made in the last 4 years or so. I use my iPhone extensively, all day long, and I have no problems. Once my phone was down to 7% when I plugged it in before bed.

Matt goes on to add:

You see, Motorola, like every other phone maker is racing to produce the thinnest phone possible. Apparently they feel thinner phones will result in more sales and/or street cred. I don’t know. But it’s silly.

Yeah, it's Motorola's user-replaceable battery that has made it so popular:

Screen shot 2011 07 29 at 7 29 11 03

(Image via Horace Dediu)

More Android Fragmentation Non-Issues

Josh Ong:

A Motorola Mobility executive has said Google's practice of creating a flagship model for each software update for its Android mobile operating system is the reason that vendors have a hard time keeping their devices up to date.

For the last time: fragmentation is not an issue for Android.

Apple Capture 75% Profit Share

Horace Dediu:

Apple reached 75% of profit share, nearly 40% of revenue share and 9% of units share.

This is very impressive. What's even more interesting is that from the consumer's perspective all these phones are the same price — $199. But while RIM, LG, and Motorola are executing on razor thin margins Apple is making tonnes of money. Check out the charts.

Apple, Foxconn, and Working Conditions

 

BSR, the company that the NYT used as a source for their shocking exposé on Apple said today:

There are several areas where the text you provided us is inaccurate and therefore presents an inaccurate account of events you aim to describe. It is untrue that Apple has consistently disregarded advice that BSR has provided about problems related to working conditions in its supply chain.

Also, Foxconn manufactures products for companies:

  • Acer Inc. (Taiwan)
  • Amazon.com (United States)
  • Apple Inc. (United States)
  • ASRock (Taiwan)
  • Asus (Taiwan)
  • Barnes & Noble (United States)
  • Cisco (United States)
  • Dell (United States)
  • EVGA Corporation (United States)
  • Hewlett-Packard (United States)
  • Intel (United States)
  • IBM (United States)
  • Lenovo (China)
  • Logitech (Switzerland)
  • Microsoft (United States)
  • MSI (Taiwan)
  • Motorola (United States)
  • Netgear (United States)
  • Nintendo (Japan)
  • Nokia (Finland)
  • Panasonic (Japan)
  • Philips (Netherlands)
  • Samsung (South Korea)
  • Sharp (Japan)
  • Sony Ericsson (Japan/Sweden)
  • Toshiba (Japan)
  • Vizio (United States)

(via WikipediaMacworld)