Every week, makes news with technology developments, business deals and, more often than not, controversies.
That’s where our weekly "Core Bytes" column on Apple comes in. We’ll relay the past week’s news highlights from our favorite backyard tech giant.
Controversies
- Apple has won yet another injunction against Motorola in a German court. The ruling could require Motorola Mobility to recall or destroy all of its phones in the country that infringe the patent for a portable electronics device for photo management. The same court this week dismissed two patent suits Apple and Samsung brought against one another: one over slide-to-unlock technology, and another over 3G wireless patents.
New Products
- Could Apple TV soon be coming to a screen near you? There is a lot of speculation that the company will launch a TV streaming service by December. Apple is apparently pitching the idea of having channels as apps for its devices. But it’s unclear whether there would be a mass fee for the streaming service, or if every app would be priced a la carte.
- Apple may be working on an ‘iCar’ infotainment system for your auto, industry analysts say. Siri could be built into a vehicle, with drivers able to ask her questions such as “When’s my next oil change due?”
Business Deals and Developments
- On Wednesday, Apple became the world’s sixth company to hold a market capitalization of $500 billion, and the only company to be worth that much at current prices. The only company to come close to that figure in recent years is Exxon, which was worth more than $500B for two short stretches at the end of 2007.
- iPad enthusiasts, mark your calendars: Apple is set to unveil its iPad 3 next Wednesday, March 7, at a product event in San Francisco. The device is anticipated to have a high definition display, run a faster processor and be equipped to work with speedier wireless networks. It may also sport dual backlights.
- For the fifth year in a row, Apple has snagged the title of the world’s most admired company. Second place in the Fortune ranking went to Google, while Amazon took home third place. “With the passing of Steve Jobs, questions swirled around the company’s future,” they wrote. “But under new CEO Tim Cook’s guidance, Apple continues to prosper.”
