In this week’s edition of News and Rumors, we have information about a new line of iPods as well as more legal news. Let’s get right to it!
New iPods Announcement on September 1st?
There’s a big media event scheduled for Wednesday, September 1st in San Francisco that will begin at 10:00am PT. The rumor here is that Apple will be unveiling its new line of iPods, including what might be a FaceTime-enabled iPod Touch. There is also a rumor that AppleTV might be coming out with a $99 edition, be renamed “iTV,” and feature $1 TV show rentals.
There are reports claiming that Apple may be preparing for a totally new design for the iPod Nano that would see the device get smaller in size and also lose the physical click wheel. There are some leaked case designs hitting Chinese websites that show off a smaller square form factor design, which might mimic the iPhone 4. A website known as iLounge is reporting some details about the iPod Touch, which they say will contain a backside camera, microphone, and new shape to the back.
iPads Expected to be Market Leader for Tablet Computers
Research from iSuppli released predictions for how the tablet market will shape up over the next few years and named Apple as the dominating force during that timeframe. According to the research, Apple will have 74.1% of the market share for table computers for 2010. Even though PC manufacturers are expected to release devices similar to the iPad, Apple is predicted to maintain its leadership position with around 70% next year and 62% in 2012.
Of course, it helps that the rumor mill is going crazy with reports that a new version of the iPad, which will be smaller and faster, is going to be announced just after the new year.
Netflix on your iPhone
Netflix updated its app to support the iPhone and iPod Touch in addition to the iPad. Now users can get Netflix on their devices and instantly watch TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix servers. The service requires a Netflix subscription, which starts at $8.99 per month.
Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Launches Lawsuits
Paul Allen, one of the co-founders of Microsoft, has launched attacks against Apple and others in a patent dispute. According to Allen’s legal representatives, Allen filed suit in Federal Court in Seattle asserting that companies are using technology from his laboratory. Named in the suit along with Apple and Google are AOL, eBay, Facebook, Netflix, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples, Yahoo, and Google’s YouTube subsidiary.
The suit doesn’t name Microsoft, Amazon, or other technology firms in Seattle, where Allen is based. The suit also doesn’t estimate a damage amount. According to the press release, the patents in question are:
– United States Patent No. 6,263,507 issued for an invention entitled “Browser for Use in Navigating a Body of Information, With Particular Application to Browsing Information Represented By Audiovisual Data.”
– United States Patent No. 6,034,652 issued for an invention entitled “Attention Manager for Occupying the Peripheral Attention of a Person in the Vicinity of a Display Device.”
– United States Patent No. 6,757,682 issued for an invention entitled “Alerting Users to Items of Current Interest.”
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