Type of Article: MacTech Blog

Granted Apple patents include one for the iTunes interface

Granted Apple patents include one for the iTunes interface

Posted by | Nov 15, 2011 | , |

Apple has been granted three patents by the US Patent & Trademark Office, one of them involving the iTunes interface.

Patent number 8060375 involves an enhanced visual feedback of interactions with an user interface (the iTunes interface). Per the patent, n item in a user interface is visually enhanced in response to an interaction with the item or in response to a request. In some implementations, the item (e.g., an icon, button, text, etc.) is visually enhanced and displayed in the user interface at a conspicuous location (e.g., the center of the user interface).

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Internet-connected TV market set to explode

Posted by | Nov 15, 2011 | , |

If Apple is indeed planning to make its own HDTV as many pundits are predicting, next year might be a great time to enter the market. The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 551 million by 2016, up from 124 million at end-2010, according to new data from Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com).

This translates to 20% of global TV sets by 2016, up from only 6% at end-2010, notes the research group. Despite all of this rapid growth, only 8.9% of global TV sets will be connected to the Internet by 2016.

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Growing consumer electronics market good news for Apple

Posted by | Nov 14, 2011 | , |

The US consumer electronics devices market, defined as the addressable market for computing devices, mobile handsets and AV products, is projected to be worth around US$239.4 billion in 2011, according to new data from Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com). And that’s good news for Apple.

What’s more, the market is expected to increase to US$276.6 billion by 2015 at a CAGR of 3.0%, driven by premium TV sets, smartphones and notebooks. And that’s even better news for Apple.

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A 3D iMac for 2012, perhaps?

A 3D iMac for 2012, perhaps?

Posted by | Nov 11, 2011 | , |

Apple plans to completely overhaul its product lineups, including the iMac, iPad, iPhone and MacBook Air in 2012, according to “DigiTimes” (http://www.digitimes.com). I’d say that’s a safe bet, although I’m not sure what a radically overhauled iMac would be like.

It could be even slimmer. Perhaps Apple will eliminate the built-in optical drive as it has with the MacBook Air and Mac mini, offering the $79 SuperDrive for those who want such a drive. Or perhaps — though much less likely — Apple will give us a 3D iMac — something akin to the US$1,899 Touchsmart 620 3D Edition from HP.

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Greg’s Bite: Steve Jobs wins, Flash discontinued

Greg’s Bite: Steve Jobs wins, Flash discontinued

Posted by | Nov 10, 2011 | , |

By Greg Mills

Adobe finally blinked after Steve Jobs didn’t. As a young man Jobs actually practiced staring people down without blinking for long periods. He knew it freaked people out and so mastered long blinkless pearcing stares. Figuratively, he did that with Adobe by refusing to pre-load Flash on Macs, and Apple didn’t allow Flash to even run on the iOS platform. Wretched whining from various quarters didn’t get Apple to change its stand, as there really were technical issues that Adobe wouldn’t or couldn’t fix.

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