Slashdot Mirror


Apple Bringing Second Lawsuit To Samsung, Won't Wait For Appeal

sl4shd0rk writes "Hot on the heels of last year's Apple win over Samsung, Apple is geared up for its second attempt at knocking Samsung's alleged copy-cat products off the store shelves. District Judge Lucy Koh asked both parties if they could stay the new case while the first one goes up on Appeal. Apple denied citing a delay would "seriously and irreparably prejudice Apple." The company "will likely suffer a long-term loss of market share and of downstream sales". Samsung replied with a statement saying "Apple will be unable to meet its burden of proving infringement without resorting to the same improper 'representative product' strategy," [that shouldn't have been allowed in the first case.] Although some may think this is a good move for business on Apple's part, some claim the litigation is responsible for Apple's dipping sales and stock prices as well as Increased visibility of Samsung. In the end however, all this litigation is most likely going to be shouldered on the pocketbook of the consumer'"

161 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Apple is over by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They just don't know it yet.

    1. Re:Apple is over by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      As long as they're ripping off iOS features it would be nice if Android manufactures would copy Apple's policy of providing reliable system updates for several years. And no, Cynanogen doesn't count.

    2. Re:Apple is over by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 3, Informative

      You probably live in America and cant tell a carrier from a manufacturer. Here in Europe, we get frequent (more than one a month) updates to our Samsung Android phones from good carriers.

      --
      Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
    3. Re:Apple is over by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You probably live in America and cant tell a carrier from a manufacturer. Here in Europe, we get frequent (more than one a month) updates to our Samsung Android phones from good carriers.

      Yes, here in the US we're saddled with crappy carriers and huge early termination fees if we try to switch when we get fed up with their craptastic service. And tethering is a separate charge. And, and, and ... but moving to another country just to get better cell service isn't a reasonable solution. We need pitch forks and torches.

    4. Re:Apple is over by homey+of+my+owney · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Right. In the same way that Exxon is over, though they too just don't know it yet.

      Unless either of them come up with another way to make money after their huge cash cows are done.

    5. Re:Apple is over by Applekid · · Score: 2

      As long as they're ripping off iOS features it would be nice if Android manufactures would copy Apple's policy of providing reliable system updates for several years. And no, Cynanogen doesn't count.

      Hear hear. I had an unpleasant shock when Google decided to drop support for the Nexus S the day the Nexus 4 was announced, even though it has several outstanding reboot bugs.

      --
      More Twoson than Cupertino
    6. Re:Apple is over by macbeth66 · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Yes, here in the US we're saddled with crappy carriers and huge early termination fees if we try to switch when we get fed up with their craptastic service. And tethering is a separate charge. And, and, and ... but moving to another country just to get better cell service isn't a reasonable solution. We need pitch forks and torches.

      Termination fees? What's that? Oh, yeah, the fees you agreed to, to get that great rate on the phone. Now that the bloom is off the phone, you want out. Sorry, NO sympathy.

      The rest, I agree with.

    7. Re:Apple is over by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It isn't even a great rate.

      AT&T provides you with a $300 discount at most on a phone. If you compare their plans to a similar Straight Talk plan, you are paying a MINIMUM of $300/year penalty for the subsidy. A typical replacement period is 2 years, early upgrades start for many at 18 months.

      So you are paying a minimum of $150 extra for an inferior device.

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    8. Re:Apple is over by shellbeach · · Score: 4, Informative

      Cyanogenmod 10.1 is your friend - Android 4.2.2 on the Nexus S works better than ever ... in fact I'm posting from a Nexus S running it right now.

      (why Google decided they could no longer support it, god only knows ... but the beauty of Android being open source means that it doesn't matter)

    9. Re:Apple is over by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Right. In the same way that Exxon is over, though they too just don't know it yet.

      Exxon owns resources. Exxon produces a *commodity*. Exxon sells the said commodity to wholesalers, and other places on long term future contracts.

      To end consumers, Exxon is *not* a brand any more than Microchip.

      On the other hand, Apple is a brand. Apple does not sell commodities - they sell end products. Apple does not own resources (or round corners, despite what they claim). Apple makes *gadgets* and it is all about brand.

      Comparing Exxon to Apple is like comparing a farm to a corner store.

      Apple can go under much quicker than Exxon.

      Unless either of them come up with another way to make money after their huge cash cows are done.

      Exxon does not have a huge cash pile. Exxon invests the cash pile and returns dividends to shareholders - the real owners of the said cash pile.

      Apple, continues to make a larger cash pile for no reason. If they think they can just sit on that cash pile, then they are a real bad investment. No business, except for financials, should have large, unneeded cash piles, ever. Cash piles should be returned to their shareholders*

      * - I personally favour end-of-year lump sum based on profitability (or lack there of) instead of a steady dividend. Business should keep around funds (and assets) to fund any downturns and investments, but they should not be hoarding cash without a purpose.

    10. Re:Apple is over by ZankerH · · Score: 2

      No, you need to stop giving your money to shit carriers for shit service bundled with vendor lock-in.

    11. Re:Apple is over by KiwiSurfer · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Good for you. Here in New Zealand our carriers only push updates a few times a year, if at all. I had an HTC Android with a extremely annoying bug which my carrier (Telecom NZ) took 6 months to push an update for. I ended up just cracking my phone and putting on Cyanmodgen only to have my carrier release the update a few weeks later. I basically traded issues I had with the stock software with issues I had with the Cyanmodgen software so I was still pretty unsatisfied with the phone. My experience with Android's overreliance on carrier updates has been so bad I'm actually considering WM8 or Apple for my next smartphone. At least with Apple (and WM8 I'm hoping?) you get your updates directly from the horses mouth instead of having to wait for your carrier to push it at their leisure.

    12. Re:Apple is over by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You are obviously not aware of the huge amounts of reserve capital that is needed in the tech world for long term R&D projects. That's why big giant tech companies sit on lots of cash. It can suddenly be very expensive to move into new emergent technologies.

      The cash lets them rapidly hire new talent, really good talent is not cheap.

      Contrary to what MBA's think ultimately these giant tech companies are built on the backs of really brilliant MINDS. The owners of those minds are expensive and it takes a lot of them to build really complicated things like Operating Systems and The Internet. -- The most complicated things human beings have EVER invented. So the cash is to -- you know -- pad against the unknowns that come with inventing the future.

    13. Re:Apple is over by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Why doesn't Cyanogenmod or the other community ROMs count? "Oh Apple is better, but only if you go by these very specific criteria" is the usual Apple fanboy excuse that is trotted out for everything.

      Android is open. It can be developed, improved and maintained by anyone. That is one of its many strengths and something that you will never, ever have so long as you're indentured to Apple.

    14. Re:Apple is over by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      Why did you even buy your phone from the carrier? If the answer is "I had no choice" then your market is broken. In the UK you can get an unbranded phone on contract from a carrier,usually a bit cheaper, frfrom a third party.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    15. Re:Apple is over by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

      Do you really think it's safe to consider a windows phone yet? Some poor bastard paid $50 for my WM6.5.3 phone, probably because he had an investment in software that won't run on WP7 or 8. Do you want to go through that again when WP9 or 10 comes out ten or fifteen minutes from now and it's different again? There's Android software being written today that runs on Android 2.1 or even 1.6 and most of it runs on 2.3.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    16. Re:Apple is over by coinreturn · · Score: 1

      Yawn. The death toll for Apple has been ringing by the likes of you for 30 years. Still hasn't happened. Oh, yeah but "for real, this time." Gimme a break.

    17. Re:Apple is over by rdnetto · · Score: 1

      (why Google decided they could no longer support it, god only knows ... but the beauty of Android being open source means that it doesn't matter)

      While Android being open source is relevant, I'd say the more significant factor is that the Nexus S has an unlocked bootloader.

      --
      Most human behaviour can be explained in terms of identity.
    18. Re:Apple is over by shellbeach · · Score: 1

      An unlocked bootloader definitely makes it easier. Thankfully, there are quite a few phones with bootloaders than can be unlocked now (I notice both HTC and Samsung have released "developer editions" of their phones with unlocked bootloaders, so kudos to them both), and quite a lot more have known exploits that can be used to effect the same.

      However, without Android being open source there's no way a community ROM like CyanogenMod could exist and maintain an up-to-date Android distribution. You certainly couldn't do that with either iOS or Windows Phone.

  2. what happened to not wanting to sue? by ganjadude · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I thought the sitting CEO said he never wanted to sue to begin with, that the case was already in play when jobs died. If that were true, why a new lawsuit??

    --
    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    1. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Because they're all psychopaths who lie constantly even without themselves noticing?

    2. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by i+kan+reed · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Point of fact: you believed a press release. Don't ever do that. Doesn't matter who said it, when, where, or how. If they said it in a press release, their intent is to trick you somehow.

    3. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by ganjadude · · Score: 1

      I never believed it, I was simply pointing out that publicly, cook said this, and now he is going in the opposite direction. But I do agree with your point.

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    4. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by knarf · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because truth is something malleable. The higher up you look, the more malleable it becomes. Go all the way to the top and the concept of truth becomes so malleable as to lose all meaning.

      --
      --frank[at]unternet.org
    5. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      They said they were going to 'go thermonuclear' on Google. So far Chief Dickhead died of Magical Thinking (TM), and with a much less charismatic (Steve who?) guy in charge, Apple is slowly but surely losing market share to rivals. So yeah, it'll be lawsuits all the way down, because they've burned the advantage they had and have nothing else to offer except for slightly more expensive, slightly less impressive smartphones than the Android-based manufacturers can offer.

    6. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by Cockatrice_hunter · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Not wanting to sue to begin with was probably due to the PR involved and bad inter-company relations (Samsung used to supply... screens?). Having won the last lawsuit to the tune of $1B, means that while he didn't really support the orignal lawsuit he's perfectly ok with other money making courthouse shinanegans.

    7. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by Runaway1956 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Apple and SCO should join forces. Or, Apple should hire all of SCO's legal representatives. They need experience!

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    8. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 2

      I thought the sitting CEO said he never wanted to sue to begin with, that the case was already in play when jobs died. If that were true, why a new lawsuit??

      Could be related to the fact that this "new" lawsuit was filed long before he said it.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    9. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by vux984 · · Score: 2

      Having won the last lawsuit to the tune of $1B

      The award has already been chopped almost in half, and the case hasn't even gotten to appeals yet.

      http://www.macgasm.net/2013/03/01/judge-koh-cuts-400-million-from-apple-samsung-suit/

      I personally doubt there will be much of anything left of that award in the end.

    10. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Having won the last lawsuit to the tune of $1B

      The award has already been chopped almost in half, and the case hasn't even gotten to appeals yet.

      Errm, nope. The judgement is that parts of the award have been calculated wrong - and the end result may go down or even go up.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    11. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by Nyder · · Score: 1

      Because they're all psychopaths who lie constantly even without themselves noticing?

      Just like politicians.

      --
      Be seeing you...
    12. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by Nyder · · Score: 1

      Point of fact: you believed a press release. Don't ever do that. Doesn't matter who said it, when, where, or how. If they said it in a press release, their intent is to trick you somehow.

      Just like politicians.

      --
      Be seeing you...
    13. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by csumpi · · Score: 2

      AAPL share prices are going down the toilet. The iDevice gravy train is running out of steam. What else is there to do? Sue.

    14. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by vux984 · · Score: 4, Informative

      The award was reduced based on the fact that the jury used an impermissible legal theory to calculate them. That is a straight up reduction.

      An additional trial was also ordered to calculate damages in cases where the judge couldn't simply strike them. The portion that falls under that may yet go up or down, but smart money would be on down; since the judge believes the same impermissible legal theory was used to calculate those damages too, but she doesn't have the information needed to break the total down into what parts were permissible and what wasn't.

      All that doesn't even consider the various underlying patents that are under pressure and a number of which have already been preliminarily ruled invalid. If / when they fall the damages will fall even further.

    15. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by Tough+Love · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I never believed it, I was simply pointing out that publicly, cook said this, and now he is going in the opposite direction.

      The inescapable conclusion is that Tim Cook is an ass as well as a clown.

      Secondary inescapable conclusion is that Apple spinmod thugs are out in force, and they do not like to admit reality.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    16. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1, Interesting

      The award was reduced based on the fact that the jury used an impermissible legal theory to calculate them. That is a straight up reduction.

      And yet, all of the jury's decisions still stand in principle. And some will still get larger, simply by the fact that Samsung keeps selling infringing products.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    17. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Samsung could really screw Apple on the supply front. For example they tried to second source MacBook retina screens from LG, but there were terrible image retention issues. If Samsung had stopped selling them LCDs then they would have been up a very brown creek without a paddle.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    18. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by i+kan+reed · · Score: 1

      A little late for a reply, but how frequently do politicians have press releases? There's a relationship there.

    19. Re:what happened to not wanting to sue? by vux984 · · Score: 2

      And yet, all of the jury's decisions still stand in principle.

      True; the trial judge has so far decided not to overturn the jury verdict of her own case. No one is really THAT surprised by that.

      However

      a) The actual appeals haven't even really started yet. You know, in the appeals courts, where the trial judge isn't the one making decisions.

      b) The patents themselves may fall (that at least some will fall is almost inevitable), and if they do the jury's decisions and awards related to them will be mooted.

      And some will still get larger, simply by the fact that Samsung keeps selling infringing products.

      Until the appeals and patent cases are over that is a flight of pure fantasy.

  3. Unappealing by Laxori666 · · Score: 3, Funny

    These lawsuits are really affecting my decision to but a new iPhone. I just don't want to support such business practices. On the other hand the iPhone 5 is super shiny... decisions, decisions.

    1. Re:Unappealing by SternisheFan · · Score: 4, Interesting

      These lawsuits are really affecting my decision to but a new iPhone. I just don't want to support such business practices. On the other hand the iPhone 5 is super shiny... decisions, decisions.

      Confused about which smartphone OS to buy? Why not get both??

      http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/03/goophone-iphone5s-knockoff/

    2. Re:Unappealing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Wait till Thursday and then you can preorder the Galaxy S4.

    3. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The iPhone 5 is not that good. The Galaxy S3 is far superior, and chances are we will have GS4 before we have any other iPhone.

    4. Re:Unappealing by inode_buddha · · Score: 1

      Most Apple fans are super shiny.

      --
      C|N>K
    5. Re:Unappealing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The funny thing is that the Nexus 4 is even better than the S3, and even without LTE it's way better than my old iPhone 5 that I upgraded from. Unless the iPhone 5s/6 break some seriously new ground to catch up in all the areas where Android is better (and the list increases every day) Apple is fucked.

    6. Re:Unappealing by dimeglio · · Score: 2

      The iPhone 5 is in fact quite good. Zero lag and extremely stable. However, if you like to tinker and install ROMs and rice-up your phone, don't get one.

      --
      Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the author.
    7. Re:Unappealing by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Funny

      On the other hand the iPhone 5 is super shiny...

      So are many fishing lures.

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    8. Re:Unappealing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Or if you like being able to get your music and pictures and notes off your phone. Also a good reason to get an Android phone.

    9. Re:Unappealing by iamhassi · · Score: 1

      Ya but how much longer is Samsung going to run android? What will all the android users buy when Samsung no longer make android phones?

      --
      my karma will be here long after I'm gone
    10. Re:Unappealing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If it's good enough for my parents and my grandparents, it's good enough for me, dammit! iPhone it is!

    11. Re:Unappealing by LodCrappo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      there are plenty of reasons besides tinkering that Android is vastly more popular than iOS. In fact such activity is relatively rare on the Android platform, after all it is the most widely used smartphone platform in the world so it has certainly found favor far beyond some group of techies.

      Some examples of reasons that people are choosing Android:

      some people like to have a variety of choices in what their phone looks like
      some people prefer a more powerful environment
      some people like to stand out in a crowd rather than blending in
      some people prefer not to allow a massive corporation to censor the content and applications they are allowed to use
      etc...

      --
      -Lod
    12. Re:Unappealing by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1
      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    13. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      You are right, having to jailbreak your phone to make it functional is too troublesome. One more reason not to buy an iPhone.

    14. Re:Unappealing by jbmartin6 · · Score: 1

      some people like to stand out in a crowd rather than blending in

      By getting the most widely used smartphone platform?

      --
      This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
    15. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      Don't be fooled by stupid FUDs. They would have to be insane to abandon a market where they are the top brand and extremely popular. A market they are taking from Apple and where they gain more and more ground as time passes. Samsung is stuck with Android for good. They may make phones with other OS, but their top flags with most likely run Android for a long long time.

    16. Re:Unappealing by Githaron · · Score: 1

      Have you used a modern Android? While its easier to "tinker" in Android than iOS, it is not necessary for the average individual. Android is nice on its own.

    17. Re:Unappealing by LodCrappo · · Score: 2

      some people like to stand out in a crowd rather than blending in

      By getting the most widely used smartphone platform?

      With hundreds of different devices in all shapes and sizes, yes. Much easier than "thinking different" on a platform that allows one manufacturer who releases one model.

      --
      -Lod
    18. Re:Unappealing by Runaway1956 · · Score: 1

      "Last thing I want to do is hack my phone,"

      Hacking together your system can be a pain - whether it's your desktop, your workstation, laptop, or phone. But, all the same, your sentence comes across as "I just want what I want, and I don't expect to put any work into it." Sadly, the carriers aren't going to give that to any of us. You take what they offer, or you hack away at it. Waiting for them to offer what you really want means you'll never get what you want.

      And, I hope you're actively "hacking" Congress and the White House on phone issues. And, that silly Librarian of Congress. Tell them what we want - Everything that Europeans enjoy, and more, at half the price. Someone is snuggled up to your congress critter right now, whispering sweet nothings in his ear about Telco profits. You need to be screaming into his other ear, telling him that you won't stand for it!

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    19. Re:Unappealing by Runaway1956 · · Score: 1

      That's little better than goatse, dude. Jeeezus!

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    20. Re:Unappealing by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      If Apple's business practices are affecting your decision, you may want to educate yourself on some of Samsung's business practices. Make sure you read through it all, rather than assuming that the first part is indicative of the rest, since the shady stuff doesn't really start until about halfway through the article.

    21. Re:Unappealing by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 1

      Yup. Older non-Nexus Android devices were crap, and unfortunately, many still are.

      Nexus devices Just Work, and also, Sony's newer devices have the most polished manufacturer skins I've ever seen. The Xperia T's stock firmware was one of the most solid packages I'd ever used (blew Touchwizz out of the water with a nuclear-tipped torpedo...) The Xperia Z's firmware is simply amazing. They've come a long way since the X10.

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    22. Re:Unappealing by Luckyo · · Score: 1

      I do wish I had the money to buy "millions of apps and new songs and movies".

      Anyway, that probably accounted for about 1000 of top most wealthy people in the world. What about the rest of us?

    23. Re:Unappealing by collet · · Score: 1

      [citation needed]

    24. Re:Unappealing by LordLucless · · Score: 1

      I wanted to by a Nexus 4 when I was upgrading from my Nexus S - I always liked the Nexus line. But the "glass sandwich" design idea was dumb for the iPhone, and it's dumb for the Nexus. I went for a Galaxy Note iI instead.

      --
      Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
    25. Re:Unappealing by jbmartin6 · · Score: 1

      Ah yes I see what you mean.

      --
      This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
    26. Re:Unappealing by tepples · · Score: 1

      I want a phone that works, where I can easily buy billions of apps and new songs and movies instantly.

      Until you want an app that isn't available on the App Store due to Apple's policy. How many Russian roulette apps are there? 0. How many chat roulette apps? 0. How many apps to map out Wi-Fi hotspots? 0. How many games that satirize an identifiable organization? 0. How many apps that provide a virtual machine on which to run video games published by companies that are now out of business? 0. How many web browsers that implement HTML features that Apple has left out of Safari? 0. How many launcher replacements, even if only for the sake of accessibility? 0.

    27. Re:Unappealing by BasilBrush · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Most of those people buying Androids do so because there are cheap models available. Apple doesn't serve that market.

    28. Re:Unappealing by Coolhand2120 · · Score: 1

      My god man, I spit my drink out all over my screen!

      Outstanding work. Carry on!

    29. Re:Unappealing by TrancePhreak · · Score: 1

      but right now even a 2009 iPhone runs the latest ios 6.1.2

      With none of the new features, and they may have even removed a few! So awesome!

      --

      -]Phreak Out[-
    30. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      Still in the market Apple serves, the high end smartphone market, Samsung alone has surpassed its market share.

    31. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      I agree, "insightful" would be better.

    32. Re:Unappealing by csumpi · · Score: 1

      "a phone that works, where I can easily buy billions of apps and new songs and movies instantly"
      "want one thing to just work"
      "maybe in a few years android will get better"
      "fix the fragmentation problems"

      Oh my gosh, you really need to pull your head out of whatever it's stuck in.

    33. Re:Unappealing by Gumbercules!! · · Score: 1

      Aside from the fact that you can't afford (or store) billions of apps on your iPhone, the Play Store and the App Store have virtual parity in the number of apps now, anyway. Furthermore - and much more to the point, only a handful of apps in the App Store ever get downloaded because the rest are basically either niche or rubbish.

      Most iPad apps have never been downloaded.

    34. Re:Unappealing by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      No, Samsung get it's market share with a variety of Android phones, including cheap ones. The Samsung Galaxy Ace for example costs about 170UKP contract free, whereas the iPhone is 500UKP.

      A lot of what Samsung sells are these rather than the Galaxy SIII end.

      If you look at America, where more people can afford to buy whatever they want, Apple has greater market share than Samsung, and it's rising.

    35. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      Samsung has surpassed iPhone sales Worldwide with its S line alone. In US it is different. Apple is a lot more popular there than it is in average in the world, mainly because its early deals with AT&T and other carriers.

    36. Re:Unappealing by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Ya but how much longer is Samsung going to run android?

      As long as it is profitable, both in the traditional sense and in terms of stock price. Any victory against Apple is seen as "unexpected" because Apple is Apple, whereas the converse is not true. They will keep riding this horse as long as it shits money.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    37. Re:Unappealing by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      Samsung has surpassed iPhone sales Worldwide with its S line alone.

      Citation please, because that doesn't appear to be true.

      In US it is different. Apple is a lot more popular there than it is in average in the world, mainly because its early deals with AT&T and other carriers.

      And that's the opposite of the truth. In reality the iPhone market share was held back in the US because AT&T (then under the name Cingular) had a contract to be the exclusive network that iPhones were on for years. From June 2007 till January 2011, ONLY AT&T had iPhone. It's only since than that Verizon and the other networks

      It may well be one of the reasons that the iPhone's market share is still growing in the US, in it's 6th year. Because it wasn't even available to all Americans till relatively recently.

    38. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      because I don't want it to be true

      I corrected it for you.

    39. Re:Unappealing by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      I note that you can't provide a citation, because you checked and found you remembered it wrongly. The recent news of the Galaxy X series passing 100 million units might be impressive from Samsung's point of view, but it's a fraction of what iPhone has shipped in the same time frame.

      Still, at least you've stopped trying to argue that iPhone had an advantage in US carrier agreements.

    40. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      I note that I still want to deny reality.

      Corrected for you again.

    41. Re:Unappealing by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      You're a bad loser. We both know you failed to find a link for your claim. So who are you playing to? No one else is reading at this stage.

    42. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      I will put my head bellow my pillow and hide from the ugly ugly reality.

      Corrected for you yet once again.

    43. Re:Unappealing by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      Have you started crying yet, or are you still throwing dummies out of the pram?

    44. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      Buahhhh! Buahhh! He is mean! Mummy!

      Another slight correction to your insightful post.

    45. Re:Unappealing by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      So you are crying.

    46. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1
      You keep mixing your pronouns, my good son, but never fear, I am here to correct them for you:

      So I am crying.

    47. Re:Unappealing by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 1

      No, I did my research - The Sony Mobile team has been given the latitude by the parent company to do what is right, including some of the best developer relations guys I've ever encountered and more contributions to Android Open Source Project upstream than any other handset manufacturer.

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    48. Re:Unappealing by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      You gave up so soon.

    49. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      Still here. ;)

    50. Re:Unappealing by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      OK, I accept your apology.

    51. Re:Unappealing by fredprado · · Score: 1

      Do you? Fantastic!!! Now you just have to admit you were horribly wrong and you will be the better person!

    52. Re:Unappealing by collet · · Score: 1

      No matter, just tells me you're lying.

    53. Re:Unappealing by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      You admit you were horribly wrong, and that's why you couldn't cite your claims. OK.

    54. Re:Unappealing by Laxori666 · · Score: 1

      This has been quite entertaining to read - thank you both!

    55. Re:Unappealing by RocketRabbit · · Score: 1

      [citation needed]

  4. Cant compete... litigate by Chrono11901 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The standard procedure of a large company in decline.

    Samsung should make a commercial out of this.

    1. Re:Cant compete... litigate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      I'm pretty sure (s)he does know what it means:

      http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=AAPL

    2. Re:Cant compete... litigate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Microsoft used their market power to create a monopoly, instead of creating better products. MS has been in decline for 10 or 12 years, and continues to create inferior products, yet still acts like a monopoly.

      Apple has followed the MS model.

      Apple is in a state of stagnation and decline, which was and is predictable.

      The market for open technology products is swamping the closed technology markets, with the inevitable results.

      Consumers will benefit in the end.

    3. Re:Cant compete... litigate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      hrm... maybe I am... so let's check.

      Can I intrest you in calls with a strike price of 650?

    4. Re:Cant compete... litigate by DrJimbo · · Score: 1

      I wish I had mod points for you.

      --
      We don't see the world as it is, we see it as we are.
      -- Anais Nin
    5. Re:Cant compete... litigate by Volguus+Zildrohar · · Score: 1

      It's the RDF. People gave that name to the positive (for Apple) effect on some people that made them buy Apple products, but it has an equal-and-opposite effect that makes people switch off their goddamn minds before speaking or writing. Just look at any article written about them in the last 25 or so years.

      --
      When confronted with one problem, some think "I'll use recursion". Now they are confronted with one problem.
  5. I really wish I had a time machine. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I really wish I had a time machine. So I could show this to the Apple fanboys in the 90s - back when if you pointed out ANY criticism of Apple you'd get mod'ed down to oblivion and a shitload of comments like - "bu..bu..but Microsoft!"

    Listen folks, attaching yourself (identity) to anything, let alone some corporation's products, will lead to heartbreak.

    *expecting some smug comments from FOSS people now.*

    1. Re:I really wish I had a time machine. by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      These days, I'd be more inclined to expect a 3D-printed Arduino phone.

    2. Re:I really wish I had a time machine. by Runaway1956 · · Score: 4, Informative

      I'm smug, thank you.

      Back in the day, suggesting that ANY *nix variant might dominate ANY market other than servers would have had the whole world laughing at you.*

      *cue the clueless who don't understand that Android is really a hacked Linux - yes, hacked, like it was meant to be. Need Linux to do something new and different? Just take it and make it do what you need!

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    3. Re:I really wish I had a time machine. by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      cue the clueless who don't understand that Android is really a hacked Linux - yes, hacked, like it was meant to be.

      Indeed, and very lightly hacked at that. Mostly in tasteless ways, for what it's worth.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    4. Re:I really wish I had a time machine. by adolf · · Score: 1

      There's no accounting for taste.

    5. Re:I really wish I had a time machine. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      It seems lame to me that Android almost tries to prevent you from having a full-fledged Unix system. On the other hand, on most platforms that's been hacked around neatly, so what do I care? On the gripping hand, if you don't have a physical keyboard, or USB-OTG, much more than busybox isn't actually that useful. For a lot of people, even if they know what that is they can't make efficient use of it.

      In almost every other way, Android is the Linux I've been waiting for. That other way, of course, is hardware support. Running it on x86 is a nightmare unless you have very particular hardware. All respect to the android-x86 team for their significant accomplishments, but it would be lovely if they would finish a release — any release — before simply moving on to a newer version. And whatever happened to tarballs? I tried to download the allegedly 3.5 GB source tree once. Git pulled 21GB and I finally gave up. That was agonizing on my connection. Can't even help 'em.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    6. Re:I really wish I had a time machine. by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      It seems lame to me that Android almost tries to prevent you from having a full-fledged Unix system.

      It's beyond lame, it's Google being evil.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    7. Re:I really wish I had a time machine. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      It's beyond lame, it's Google being evil.

      It would be evil if Google went to any great lengths to actually prevent you. It's only dumb that they changed things more than necessary.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    8. Re:I really wish I had a time machine. by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      It's beyond lame, it's Google being evil.

      It would be evil if Google went to any great lengths to actually prevent you.

      Evil is evil, you're just niggling over degrees of evil.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    9. Re:I really wish I had a time machine. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Evil is evil, you're just niggling over degrees of evil.

      I've already used Debian kit successfully on one machine, and I understand you can install Ubuntu on some machines now, so the fact is that you can Linuxify Android.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  6. Excellent timing, Apple! by blind+biker · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just in time for the release of the Samsung Galaxy S IV! I think the product launch can use any extra visibility that Apple is willing to give.

    In other news, Apple has decided to upgrade their own-foot-shooting shotgun to fully automatic.

    --
    "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    1. Re:Excellent timing, Apple! by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      Ironically, the USAS-12 was developed and is produced by a South Korean company.

      I'm sure Apple has a patent for that.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    2. Re:Excellent timing, Apple! by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      and belt fed...

      Very impressive! But I think Apple will skip it and in the new upgrade to their foot self-shooting, go directly to shotgun artillery.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    3. Re:Excellent timing, Apple! by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      I thought rail guns are still very much in the development/early testing stage. Nowhere near deployment...?

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    4. Re:Excellent timing, Apple! by Runaway1956 · · Score: 1

      They are getting closer to deployment. As I said, the guns are rather primitive, but working. They've tested about four different models, I think, and they actually plan to have them aboard the Zumwalt class ships. From what I read, it's probably going to be 32 megajoule, with a 64 meg to follow.

      The young man I was talking to expects to see that weapon fire - maybe he knows something we civilians don't know, or maybe he was just blowing smoke.

      Either way - it's coming, if Congress doesn't cut the money for it. I can see them scrapping a lot of things in the near future.

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    5. Re:Excellent timing, Apple! by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      I'll keep an eye on them. Thanks for the heads-up.

      Those Zumwalt destroyers are super-interesting, too, but as you said, who knows whether they'll come to completion.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
  7. Don't ask the lawyers by Intropy · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Judge asked Apple's lawyers, "Can stay the new case while the first one goes up on Appeal?" The only question they heard was "Do you want more or fewer billable hours?"

    1. Re:Don't ask the lawyers by DragonWriter · · Score: 4, Informative

      Apple's legal team doesn't have any billable hours, they are on salary.

      No, Apple's legal team for the case (from the firm of Gibson, Dunne & Crutcher, LLP) are not in-house, salaries staff.

  8. Samsung's visibility by Anubis+IV · · Score: 4, Informative

    ...as well as Increased visibility of Samsung.

    Samsung's visibility has a lot more to do with the fact that they spend gajillions of dollars on advertising than with any of the lawsuits they're involved in. Hell, they're spending more than Apple, HP, Dell, and Microsoft combined when it comes to advertising. And then, on top of that they're spending about the same amount again on sales promotions. Billions upon billions of dollars.

    If you're a company that wants visibility, that's one way you can do it. That's how they did it. It's working for them. You'd have to willfully choose to ignore the obvious if you're seriously suggesting that these lawsuits that only niche communities are even aware of and concerned with are in any way responsible for a significant increase in the visibility of Samsung.

    1. Re:Samsung's visibility by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      That can definitely be true. Even so, there are still a number of folks here who are good about listening to reason on both sides, which is one of the reasons I like Slashdot and its community still. Facts are still facts, after all, and even though I'm an Apple fanboy, I do my best to avoid being a rabid one that responds without thinking critically (cue the tired joke about all Apple fans being brainless sheep), and likewise, there are a number of folks on the other side who are perfectly reasonable.

      Just as I can readily acknowledge and agree that Apple has a number of faults and has done a lot of bad things (e.g. engage in frivolous lawsuits, pursue patents far too aggressively, blatantly rip-off competitors (including one-man shops with great ideas, such as what they did with Sherlock, Dashboard, and their Notification Center), etc.), I'd hope that most Samsung fans would be willing to do the same for their company of choice (e.g. understand that the company is involved in some extremely shady business dealings, such as passing millions of dollars worth of cash under the table to South Korean politicians, political candidates, and court officials; using their government and corporate ties to enforce censorship against journalists trying to bring light to their activities; engaging in large-scale nepotism; having their chairman's house raided for tax evasion and financial wrongdoing related to the slush funds; and then later having their chairmen's sentence and prison time pardoned by the government so that he could help with their bid for the Olympics, not to mention some of the funnier things they've done). And I'd hope that folks on both sides could acknowledge the areas that the companies share as problems, such as working conditions at their factories, which have been steadily improving, but which still have a way to go.

    2. Re:Samsung's visibility by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      This is the link I accidentally left out that covers the stuff I was talking about related to the shady stuff Samsung and its chairman are doing. Can't believe I forgot to link it.

    3. Re:Samsung's visibility by thedarknite · · Score: 3, Informative

      I looked at the numbers that were used for those graphs and it's incredibly misleading. It cherry picks data to make it look like Samsung has a vastly higher marketing expenditure than other companies. The comparisons are also against companies that are really only in a few markets vs the nine that Samsung Electronics are involved in.
      Based on the 2011 annual reports.
      - Samsung lists $2.9 billion for advertising expenses and $4.5 billion on Sales promotion expenses. (total $7.4 billion)
      - Coca Cola lists $3.2 billion for advertising expenses and $5.8 billion for Promotions and Marketing programs (total $9 billion)
      - While Apple list $0.93 billion for advertising expenses, that is the only expense they give a value for in their SG&A of $7.6 billion which includes retail costs, marketing, professional services, advertising and "other".

      All that data shows is that everyone else hides their actual marketing expenditure better.

      --
      A game has objectives and is competitive, anything else is just play
  9. How can by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How can a product be a copy cat when it is *better* and *more innovative* than the original?

    --
    SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    1. Re:How can by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How can a product be a copy cat when it is *better* and *more innovative* than the original?

      Sssh, hush, dearie, that logic only works when Apple was improving on the smartphones of the Days of Old. Not now when Apple's infallible Design(tm) is what's on the line.

    2. Re:How can by gordo3000 · · Score: 1

      what is more innovative about a sIII than an iphone 5? Sitting down comparing a 4s to the sIII I didn't get blown away by anything on the sIII (or 4s). Both offer such incredibly similar abilities I can't find a single thing samsung has added (mind you, samsung, not google with android) that I would call innovative.

      *Better* is a choice, and most likely based on android vs iOS though could come down to the screen size and NFC (granted, outside of Japan, I can't think of anywhere NFC is very useful).

    3. Re:How can by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      How can a product be a copy cat when it is *better* and *more innovative* than the original?

      Is it just me, or does this sound like the beginning of one of those "how many lawyers" jokes?

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    4. Re:How can by StormReaver · · Score: 1

      Clearly Samsung is traveling 50 years into the future, and stealing ideas from the then-state-of-the-art Apple phones and tablets.

  10. Duh... by rabenja · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In the end however, all this litigation is most likely going to be shouldered on the pocketbook of the consumer'"

    How in the world would this ever *not* be the case?

    1. Re:Duh... by arbiter1 · · Score: 1

      Looking at apple's profits over the years, they been shouldering it about 5 years ago.

    2. Re:Duh... by Xest · · Score: 1

      Thankfully only the Apple consumer though.

      There's a reason Apple shifted more devices last quarter but failed to grow profit - Samsung upped the price of components to them, shifting the cost of lawsuits onto them.

      It's really quite clever on Samsung's behalf, whatever Apple does when it comes to lawsuits they lose. If Samsung wins the case, Apple loses, if Samsung loses the case, they just shift the burden of cost onto the key components Apple has to buy from Samsung.

      What's really funny though is that Cook hasn't realised this and has authorised yet more lawsuits, what does he think is going to happen? Samsung aren't just going to reduce their competitiveness and whilst Apple can go to lower quality manufacturers for some components like LG's screens that weren't as good as the Samsung ones, they can't escape Samsung for everything they need, and they can't retain the level of quality and output they've had in the past on the components they do abandon Samsung over.

      The only way Apple could make this plan work is if they spent that cash pile creating their own component production facilities, but that would take years and kill profits in the meantime by which time it might already be too late anyway.

      The only practical way Apple can turn this situation around then is to stop the lawsuits, and start innovating again.

  11. Re:Editors: "it's" vs. "it is" by blind+monkey+3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Remember the golden rule: "it's" always expands to "it is". No exceptions.

    It's been a wet summer.(contraction of it has).
    Grammar Nazi smackdown.

    --
    BM3
  12. dipping sales? by Swampash · · Score: 1

    I don't think so.

    1. Re:dipping sales? by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 3, Informative

      Here's what the picture is:

      1. Sales are below forecasts.
      2. Margins are decreasing.
      3. Profits from operations are slightly down.
      4. Apple has missed revenue and profit forecasts its last 3 quarters.
      5. Apple (as usual) issues a lot of stock as part of its compensation program.
      6. Earnings per share declines.
      7. Apple is churning its product line with minor tweaks rather than real innovation.
      8. Apple is suing like crazy.
      9. People are wondering where the profit growth is going to come from.
      10. The stock has lost 40% of its market value.

    2. Re:dipping sales? by coinreturn · · Score: 1

      It's funny that you don't both support the concept of "dipping sales" as the OP questioned (it even remains as part of your subject!). Sales are not dipping; they just are growing at the astronomical rate they once were.

    3. Re:dipping sales? by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 1

      If you are an investor what counts is discounted future cash flow.

      That is what is dipping.

  13. Samesung should rush out a sWatch product by TheSkepticalOptimist · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Screw both Swatch and Apple in the same go.

    Anyways, its obvious Apples is just pissing money away on something they seem to be losing out on. Even if Samsung blatantly stole their original design cue's directly from Apple, the fact is Samsung is now the largest alternative to Apple, and nothing Apple is going to do to stop that. Even if Apple win's billions in compensation the fact is Samsung has created an empire suitable to dethrone Apple, which was Steve Jobs greatest fear, for Apple to become a runner up again.

    Of course its ridiculous to think that Apple could be dethroned on something like rounded corners on a rectangle, but the reality is Apple knows they did nothing innovative with iOS other then present a grid of rounded rectangles. Hell Steve Jobs even pissed on using a stylus with a Smartphone and Samsung has captured a huge market of people buying phones and tablets with a stylus now.

    These lawsuits are just working against Apple now their stock has tanked; while everyone was on board to support Apple when their stock was $700 a share those same people are just as easily out looking for blood.

    Apple isn't a darling anymore in anybody's eyes and their continued behavior will just cause more investors to lose faith that they can no longer remain an innovative company, just a has been trying to protect their old patents.

    --
    I haven't thought of anything clever to put here, but then again most of you haven't either.
    1. Re:Samesung should rush out a sWatch product by dcmcilrath · · Score: 1

      Even if Apple win's billions in compensation the fact is Samsung has created an empire suitable to dethrone Apple, which was Steve Jobs greatest fear, for Apple to become a runner up again.

      Thank god for that, the last time Apple did something truly interesting was when they were a runner-up to Microsoft. I feel like being top dog is bad for just about any company. Look at the aforementioned Microsoft, they've been the OS leader for 20 years and haven't made anything nearly as good as the people desperately trying to compete (ex: Linux & Apple)

      If Apple has to start trying again, it will make the market far more interesting, and probably better. Capitalism works best on fierce competition

      --
      -1 Comment Contains Portal Reference
    2. Re:Samesung should rush out a sWatch product by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      Samsung doesn't control Android. It could be their undoing.

    3. Re:Samesung should rush out a sWatch product by fredprado · · Score: 1

      Not really. The stock prices do not necessarily and especially on their own tell how a company is doing, but more often than not they are a strong indicator of failure or success.

    4. Re:Samesung should rush out a sWatch product by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      After looking at the interface of their television sets, I wouldn't trust them to fork anything.

  14. Re:Editors: "it's" vs. "it is" by WillgasM · · Score: 1

    Everyone knows ' is the universal symbol for "here come's an S"

  15. Re:Editors: "it's" vs. "it is" by WillgasM · · Score: 2

    While we're at it, why are contractions only viable for 2 words? What about it'lln't, I'd've, wouldn't've, I'ven't, and the like. Language needs to catch up with my boundless laziness.

  16. If we had no abusive patent system by Skapare · · Score: 1

    ... then Apple would have never designed the iPhone the way it did, or probably would never have designed it at all. In fact, Apple might no longer even exist because no one would be investing in business because there would be no money to make.

    Not!

    Obviously Samsung is doing well without these certain patents. Other companies are doing well, too. What's special about Apple that would make it fail in this kind of competitive market? Oh wait ... it's all overpriced.

    The patent system SHOULD be there to encourage inventors to invent things we would not otherwise have. The big question is, if Apple had not come up with these specifics first, would anyone else have done so, eventually? IMHO, at least for most of them, the answer is yes.

    I don't blame Apple, though. I blame the broken patent system that takes away the rights of developers for TRIVIAL THINGS, instead of sticking to GENUINE INNOVATIONS (which make up less than 5% of patents ... way less in some fields like software).

    --
    now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
    1. Re:If we had no abusive patent system by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      I don't blame Apple, though.

      I do blame Apple, for losing the plot on innovation and descending to the level of sleazy thugs.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    2. Re:If we had no abusive patent system by Skapare · · Score: 1, Interesting

      The patent system defines the playing field. Apple is just playing in it like everyone else. They would not need these patents, and not even have a desire for them, other than this is how business is done with the bad patent system we do have. It's been long time to get rid of it.

      --
      now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
    3. Re:If we had no abusive patent system by Tough+Love · · Score: 2

      The patent system defines the playing field. Apple is just playing in it like everyone else.

      No, Apple is playing it like a thuggish bully. And paying the price in terms of alienating its former fanatic supporters.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    4. Re:If we had no abusive patent system by Skapare · · Score: 1

      Which is what other corporations do, too.

      --
      now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
  17. Copying is dubious, Phones havn't made huge change by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Look, there have been icons on phones since the 1990's. They have evolved, but most everyone has used a gear looking icon for settings for over 10 years. They have evolved and they mostly look the same. Same with the phone thing, green for pickup, red for hang up, nothing new there.

    Now as far as Samsung copying Apple specifically, maybe a little, mostly though, no. Samsung is copying everyone, same as Apple, and HTC, and Motorola and Nokia. Welcome to the modern world.

    Apple ought to worry about everyone else. Apple is the hot product today, but with them being the target, Nokia, HTC and Samsung are all gunning for Apple. M$ has various vendors (Nokia, HTC) building windows phones. Android has dozens of vendors building phones. Some where someone will eventually come up with something that makes the Apple products seem silly.

    Apple cannot, no matter how many lawsuits they file, will be able to stay ahead of dozens of companies trying to come out with something different than the current leader.

  18. Re:What about Blackberry? by Kupfernigk · · Score: 1

    Didn't you get the memo? They've been written off almost as often as Apple has. Anyway, their new gesture based UI built on QNX isn't intuitive like the iOS that users have been learning for several years.

    --
    From scarped cliff or quarried stone she cries "A thousand types are gone, I care for nothing, no not one."
  19. Re:Editors: "it's" vs. "it is" by idontgno · · Score: 2

    You'sre right, you can'st possibly use an apostrophe without a following "S".

    --
    Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
  20. Discount for bringing your own phone by tepples · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Oh, yeah, the fees you agreed to, to get that great rate on the phone.

    So why don't the major U.S. carriers give any discount on the monthly bill to customers who choose to bring their own phone or to buy the phone up front at retail price? As far as I can tell, T-Mobile is the only carrier to offer this sort of price structure among the four non-MVNO nationwide carriers in the US, and T-Mobile's coverage is fourth place out of the four.

    1. Re:Discount for bringing your own phone by rahvin112 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because carrier collusion is good for business. Why would you ask such a stupid question? You just asked why 3 business would collude to have higher prices. Well duh, it's cause it's more profitable.

      Fact is the largest reason pre-paid plans are beginning to displace contract plans is because they are cheaper. There's going to be a turning point at some point in the future if people keep picking prepaid plans, and that turning point will be when the big three carriers all switch to similar pricing plans for hardware that T-Mobile does.

  21. Polysynthetic by tepples · · Score: 2

    While we're at it, why are contractions only viable for 2 words?

    Because when you get into unbounded contractions, your language begins to sound like a polysynthetic language.

  22. No, there isn't an app for that by tepples · · Score: 1

    all I read about Android is how much of a clusterfuck and virus-magnet it is. [...] I buy something if it meets my requirements.

    Then I'll assume your requirements don't include anything listed here.

  23. Very true: by pecosdave · · Score: 1

    some claim the litigation is responsible for Apple's dipping sales and stock prices

    Apple gave me plenty of reasons not to buy their products with proprietary connectors and the "because we say so" attitude, but suing everyone who crosses their path was most certainly a nail in the coffin. I've owned a couple of iPhones and was even using Macs for a while, it wasn't the existence of better/cheaper products that chased me away, it was the companies overall attitude.

    --
    The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
  24. Stalling really frightens Apple by Pecisk · · Score: 1

    Because they have been there and they have this near-death expierence. So they are stalling now - they have stretched their market segment to maximum. People are used to accept Android phones, especially Samsung line (you can get very well working Samsung Android phones for simple tasks very cheap - this is where former Nokia users are going).

    So it's practically Mac versus PC all over again.

    Apple could stay rich and profitable and niche. However, they got lost in fear of not gaining more of market. They lost their cool of designing things and trusting their own judgement.

    --
    user@ubuntubox:~$ stfu This server is going down for shutdown NOW!
  25. Litigation Over Innovation by gelfling · · Score: 1

    All Hail Tim Cook Maximum Leader of the People's Phone.

  26. bosch-ed in the summary by 10am-bedtime · · Score: 1

    As in Hieronymus, with the "shouldered on the pocketbooks" clause (rolls eyes).

    There must be some seriously fine wine flowing somewhere, today.

  27. Re:What about Blackberry? by wiedzmin · · Score: 1

    Shh. Let the big guys keep fighting each other. BlackBerry needs some time to ramp up.

    --
    Bow before me, for I am root.
  28. You helped by Trogre · · Score: 1

    To everyone who has ever purchased an iPod, iPhone, iPad, iMac, Big Mac - no wait, not that last one.

    Your money helped make this happen. Thank you for supporting Apple and their litigation campaigns against these heretic companies who dare to also make modern PDAs.

    Next, we can go congratulate people who still pay for RIAA/MPAA products.

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife