Vancouver Apple Store on the way

For those of you in Canada, get ready for another free t-shirt! Another Apple Store is on the way! "The Mayor" over at Mactropolis.com fills us in:

Ah, all my good friends in Vancouver must be happy happy that they’re getting their first Apple Store. The new store is scheduled to open this Saturday, May 24th. W00t! For you Vancouver-ites, Vancouverians? (nevermind) the store address is 701 West Georgia Street in the Pacific Centre Mall. On the 24th, the store will open at 10AM and close at 7PM. Sundays will be 11AM to 6PM, Mondays and Tuesdays will be 10AM to 7PM, and Wednesday through Friday will be 10AM to 9PM. Congratulations to everyone out in Vancouver. I’m sure it’s going to be a great new store. That is a great location at any rate, have been there many times.

Nike Amp for iPod Review

Awhile back, I had nothing but good things to say about the Nike + Sport Kit. Well, the same can't be said for the Nike Amp wristband. Video review below:

Run! It's another box to attach to the TV!

Today Netflix announced along with Roku a new streaming video box. The new product is $100 and allows Netflix subscribers with a $9/mo plan or higher, to watch streaming films instantaneously on their TV.

Advantages:
Instant start.
Cheaper than Apple TV
More titles

Dis-advantages:
Not HD (not yet, at least)
Requires Netflix subscription
Collection might be more quantity than quality

I say enough already. We may soon long for the days of one standard format: the DVD. While competition is generally a good thing, the streaming video / digital video marketplace is far too young for the types of battles that are taking place. Apple TV offers a smaller catalog than the new device, but focuses on newer releases. Roku doesn't do HD streaming. None of the movies are cross compatible from these two services, or other video boxes. Look at how the digital music scene exploded after the adoption of mp3 (and the associated piracy.) There are far too many restrictions, and far too few differences between the different set-top boxes to choose a clear winner. No solution is perfect, and unless the studios and tech companies can come up with a agreed-upon rental/purchase format, or at the very least, give all set-top box manufacturers the same rights, with blanket coverage of studio libraries for rental/viewing. Until then, this will continue to be one lucrative market with profit potential than return.

TDL Live This week: (5/19) Apple News Roundup

Here's your weekly look at Apple news and rumors for the week:

Apple Defends "Made for iPod" Label in Apple v. Atico International

            Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!  This being my first official blog as the new “lawsuit of the week” correspondent, I’d like to first introduce myself.  My name is Becca and I am currently a law student with the ambition to become a lawyer. Each week I will be mixing my passion for Apple and the law by bringing you the most up-to-date lawsuits involving Apple. 

            This week’s lawsuit is regarding the iPod and an outside company who makes products, which are compatible with the iPod.  Unlike the recent “lawsuits of the week,” Apple appears as the Plaintiff, suing Atico International, in what seems to be an effort to test their “Made for iPod” label.  Attorneys for Apple filed a ten-page complaint against Atico, a company who manufactures several products compatible with the iPod including a dock connector, remote controls, portable speakers and three dock adapters which are made to fit different sized iPods for one standard dock model.  Apple claims in their suit that these products infringe upon key patents that Apple obtained between 2007 and 2008.  Furthermore, Apple claims that Atico has failed to license their use of Apple’s docking design for their speaker units therefore denying Apple of royalties they claim they are owed due to their “Made for iPod” campaign.  Atico’s products also display similar logos to Apple’s indicating their products compatibility with iPods.  Apple’s lawyers claim this is in exploitation of their name and “violating the federal Lanham Act (found in Title 15 of the U.S. Code and includes the federal statutes which govern trademark law in the United States) by falsely suggesting an endorsement by Apple.”

            Apple has asked in their complaint for a permanent injunction (a final order from the Court which would tell Atico to permanently stop selling these products if they are without a license from Apple) in addition to Atico paying damages to Apple for the use of their design without being a part of the “Made for iPod” program.

            This suit makes a mark in Apple’s history book by being the first known case of Apple defending their “Made for iPod” licensing program, which began in January of 2005.

            It seems to me that Apple is looking to make an example of Atico in order to promote other companies to join their “Made for iPod” campaign.  Overall, this program really seems to be an easy way to make money for Apple, instead of a simple way for consumers to tell which outside company’s products may be compatible with their iPods.

The article related to this blog entry was found on :

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/05/16/apple_files_first_lawsuit_in_defense_of_made_for_ipod_licensing.html