'We have something you really have to see. And touch.' Technological Updates

There have been some exciting news in the world of technology, new products have just been launched (or are about to).
The first product worth mentioning is the PlayStation Vita, a portable gaming console launched by Sony.  Main features of the Vita’s features include: touchscreen, similar to those in smartphones, touch-sensitive panels on the back to increase gaming control, front and rear camera, access to the internet, as well as social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The most basic model of the device sells at £219 and Sony hopes it will appeal to the gamers that would like to enjoy their favourite games from bigger consoles on smaller portable devices.

The new model comes at the time of financial struggle for the Japanese company which has recently reported losses of $2bn due to flooding of some of its warehouses. Despite that Sony has already spent $50m on the promotional activity for its new device. It seems somewhat extensive for a gaming console which cannot be used to make calls, send messages, record videos and play songs. However, as the company CEO Jack Tretton explained that the Vita brings social gaming to a whole new level and was created mainly for true enthusiasts looking for a better gaming experience.

Another creation that deserves the attention is iPad3 which will soon be launched by Apple, or that is what is expected. The company has sent out invitations to an event that will take place on 7th March in San Francisco however the purpose of the event has not been specified. The invitation read: ‘We have something you really have to see. And touch...’ Some shops, have already started discounting the iPad 2 model to make space for the new upgraded version and reports suggest that the new version of the iPad is already being shipped to the US. It was reported that Apple shares soared to $530 for the first time in the company's history after the invitations were issued.

This launch is considered the most significant event since the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs last year. It is claimed that the new model will have a quad-core processor, 4G and Long Term Evolution technology. A Retina Display is also widely hoped for, however the same expectations were set for iPad2. Judging by the success of Apple’s previous launches: the first iPad, that sold three million in 80 days after its release in 2010 and almost 15 million that year, as well as iPad2, which was bought by one million people in 28 days after launching, iPad3 can count on widespread interest.

In other news Samsung received two out of four most significant GSMA awards at Mobile World Congress. Samsung was announced the Device Manufacturer of the Year and its Galaxy S II was crowned the Best Smartphone, defeating Apple’s iPhone4 which was granted the award last year. Samsung was praised for ‘outperforming rivals in a tough market’ and its overall progress. The company seems to have dominated the smartphone market as its Galaxy S III, to be launched later this year, is supposed to raise the bar for Android devices.

Apple received the Best Mobile Tablet award for its iPad2, a product that ‘has defined the market and dominated sales.’ With iPad3, expected to come out in March, Apple became a major competitor in the tablet market. However, its dominant position may be threatened by some recent innovations: a string of tablets created by Google's Android operating system as well as new category of tablet devices powered by Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system. Microsoft will run through the details of Windows 8 on Wednesday at an event in Barcelona. It takes Microsoft one step closer to its goal: the ultimate integration of the PC, tablet, and smartphone experience, which Apple is also aiming to achieve with its iOS and OS X platforms.

It is comforting to see that new launches still take place despite patent and trademark battles that major technological players have been involved in recently. It confirms that innovation remains a central focus for manufacturers and not all efforts are concentrated on lawsuits and disputes.

Samsung | Sony | Apple | Microsoft 

Apple remains in the centre of patent and trademark disputes

It has not been the best start to the year for Apple so far. Lengthy patent abuse and trademark battles prove both frustrating and costly. One of the most important and problematic lawsuits that the firm is currently dealing with is the trademark dispute raised by company called Proview.

Also see: Apple could face a ban on iPad sales in China

According to the Chinese company Apple used ‘deception’ when acquiring its rights to the iPad name in 2009. The firm claims it sold the trademark to a UK-registered ‘special purpose’ firm called IP Application Development Ltd (IPADL) as it was an abbreviation of the company name. In court filings Proview accused Apple and IPADL of fraudulent activity. 

The company believes that in 2009 Apple’s lawyers created IPADL firm solely to obtain the iPad trademark rights without disclosing its link to Apple. Furthermore, one of IPADL’s representatives communicating with Proview via e-mail, Graham Robinson, is believed to have used a fake name, introducing himself as Jonathan Hargreaves. Mr Robinson currently works for a UK company specialising in intellectual property issues but it declined to issue any comments.

According to the case filings IPADL misrepresented why they needed the trademark assuring Proview that it will not use the trademark to compete with the Chinese firm. It is now seeking up to ¥10bn (£1bn) in compensation as well as requests to void the 2009 deal in which it sold the rights to the trademark for $55,000. A month after the trademark deal Apple launched the iPad. Apple in turn accused Proview of failing to honour the agreement in China. Hong Kong court has ruled in favour of Apple in this matter. The Shanghai district court also rejected Proview's demands for Apple to stop selling the iPad.

Proview, which has filed for bankruptcy, is still counting on making a comeback after solving all problems with their competitors. It mainly relies on the outcome of the ongoing dispute with Apple. Despite the unfavourable rulings in Hong Kong and Shanghai the case is still to be heard in the higher court in Guangdong, southern Chinese province.

Proview has not always been that unlucky. It was once a major international player and significant manufacturer. The Chinese company benefited from the first wave of technological innovation providing computers and screens to many companies across China and the world. However, Apple was more successful in embracing the second wave when mobile consumer devices became a necessity.

The dispute between Apple, the technological giant, and Proview, a company on the verge of collapsing, shows how unstable and uncertain technological industry is. Trademark battles can make or break a business. 

Also see: Patent disputes: protecting manufacturers or threatening innovation? | Apple forced to disable push email service in Germany |  | Samsung and the patent abuse 

Apple TV | Apple iPad | Apple Accessories | Apple Covers

Apple forced to disable push email service in Germany

Apple has been forced to disable iCloud and MobileMe push capabilities on mobile devices for its users in Germany.
Push email automatically send messages to users’ devices as soon as they are delivered, without having to load the mail program first. Receiving e-mail using other settings, opening the Mail app, to obtain them is still possible.
A court in Germany ruled that Apple's push technology infringed Motorola Mobility’s patent. Motorola claims that its patent, which dates back to the times of the pager, covers Apple's implementation of ‘push’ systems. Apple is appealing against the decision as it believes its own patent is valid.

This infringement only affects push service on mobile devices, other services remain unaffected.

While the company appeals against the court ruling iCloud users can find suggestions for temporary solutions they can follow on Apple’s German website, in the support section.
Apple and Motorola Mobility have been involved in a number of patent battles in for weeks. In December Apple was forced to remove some of its iPad and iPhone models from its online store in Germany after Motorola raised a patent dispute against it. The court case was related to the use of 3G and UMTS systems. However Apple complained about the decision claiming the injunction was abusing the Frand patents, essential patents that should be available to any company willing to license them. Microsoft also filed a similar complaint against Motorola.

Earlier this month Apple won a dispute with Motorola over ‘slide to unlock’ feature on smart phones. Motorola ensures it will not affect current users and confirms that has a new design in place.

Also see: Patent dsputes: protecting manufacturers or threatening innovation? | Apple could face a ban on iPad sales in China | Samsung and the patent abuse

Samsung | Motorola | Apple | Microsoft 

The long history of a pen

The word pen comes from the Latin word penna which means feather. It is a device used to apply ink to a surface, for writing or drawing. Historically, reed pens, quill pens, and dip pens were used with various nibs to be dipped in the ink.

The ballpoint pen is the most common, convenient and inexpensive type of pen. Recently, it has replaced the fountain pen as the most popular tool for everyday use. Fountain pen contains a reservoir that can be refillable or disposable, this disposable type being an ink cartridge. Another popular type of pen is a marker, felt-tip pen, which has a porous tip of fibrous material. The smallest, finest-tipped markers are mainly used for writing on paper and larger ones for marking or writing on other surfaces such as whiteboards and chalkboards. Markers with wide tips and bright but transparent ink, called highlighters, are used to mark existing text. A rollerball pen is similar to ballpoint pen as it dispenses a water-based liquid or gel ink through a ball tip. Gel inks’ purpose is to combine the smooth effect of the fountain pen and convenience of the ballpoint one.

The first people that we know about to use pen-like devise cut from reed or rushes were the Sumerians that inhabited Mesopotamia some 3500 years ago. This system of writing with several thousand characters was primarily used for recording commercial transactions. The Egyptians also developed their system of Hieroglyphics by initially using reeds and clay tablets but they later improved their technique by developing papyrus scrolls.  Similarly, the Chinese used brushes made from animal hair dipped in inks. The Chinese also invented process of making paper but kept it secret until the 8th Century when the knowledge was acquired by the Arabs.

Around the 7^th century the reed pen was replaced by quills. Some of the Dead Sea Scrolls were written with the quill pens or bird feathers. Quill pens continued to be applied after the fall of the Roman Empire up until the 18th century, and were used to write and sign the Constitution of the United States in 1787.

The earliest historical record of a reservoir fountain pen dates back to the 10th century Egypt. Ma'ād al-Mu'izz, the caliph of Egypt at the time demanded a pen which would not stain his clothes and hands however it is still unclear how the pen worked. A more modern version of the reservoir pen was developed in 1636 by Daniel Schwenter. He invented a pen made from two quills: one served as a reservoir for ink inside the other. A metal pen point was patented in 1803 but it was not commercially exploited until 1822 when John Mitchell started to mass produce pens with metal nibs. Improvements in design meant that by 1831, the steel nib had become a serious competitor to the quill. There were many innovations of the classic fountain pen but it was not until the 1850s that steel pens gained widespread popularity.

Over the years the fountain pen has continued to develop through improved filling systems, materials and nibs however it also faced competition from more recent innovations like ball-point pen which was patented in 1888 by The patent was granted to John J Loud. In 1938, a Hungarian newspaper editor, László Bíró, and his brother George began to work on designing a new type of pen with a tiny ball in its tip that could turn in a socket. As the pen moved along the paper, the ball rotated, picking up ink from the cartridge and leaving it on the paper. Bíró was issued a British patent in 1938 and later formed Bíró Pens in Argentina. By 1943 the first commercial models were available. Shortly after the invention of ballpoint pens felt tip pens and rollerballs were introduced. The first felt tip pen was invented in 1960s in Japan by Yukio Horie. Over the years marker pens and highlighters became very popular. Rollerball pens were first patented in the early 1970s and technological advances achieved during the late 1980s and early 1990s have improved the roller ball's overall performance.

Although the digital world has overtaken the handwriting craft in business and general communications, writing has remained a means of expressing ones individuality. Pens still offer intellectuals an opportunity to express themselves in a more meaningful and personal way.

Did you know... ?

A Bic Biro Chandelier was crafted by Spanish design company enPieza 'as a tribute to a classic plastic design.'  This limited-edition chandelier is made from 347 polystyrene Bic Cristal pens and 347 paperclipson and is a testament to clever recycling.

More than two billion pens are manufactured in the United States annually.

The most expensive pen in the world is made from white gold, adorned with rubies, sapphires, or emeralds and accented by diamonds. It costs $ 730,000. Each pen has 840 diamonds and more than 20 carats of stones placed at the Van Cleef & Arpels patented ‘Mystery Setting’.

Most ball-point pens will draw a line 4,000 to 7,500 feet long. 

The biggest collection of ball-point pens is held by Angelika Unverhau from Dinslaken. She has collected more than 220,000 pens from 146 countries. She founded a club for ball-point pen collectors who meet twice a year to trade pens.

During the heat of the space race in the 1960's, NASA decided it needed a ball point pen to write in the zero gravity confines of its space capsules.  After considerable research and development, the Astronaut Pen was developed at a cost of $1 million U.S.  The pen worked and also enjoyed some modest success as a novelty item back here on earth.  The Soviet Union, faced with the same problem, used a pencil.

Pens | Fountain Pens | Ball Point Pens | Fountain Pens | Pencils | Parker | Waterman 

Apple and worker abuse allegations

Apple contractor Foxconn raised wages by 25 per cent in response to recent allegations of worker abuse in their factory in China. Apple is now facing a ‘Nike moment’ when it was revealed that Nike used cheap labour in its factories in the Far East in 1990s. Nike received a lot of negative publicity for it although it was not the worst case at that time. The same is now happening to Apple.

Foxconn makes iPads and iPhones under contract to Apple in giant factories that employ and house over a million Chinese workers. They are run with very strict, almost military, discipline demanding employees to work six or seven days a week for up to 14 hours a day for very low wages. Workers also assemble Xbox 360 video game consoles for Microsoft, and computers for Dell and Hewlett-Packard. However Apple, as the main user of Foxconn’s facilities remains primary focus of negative media coverage. Other companies, like Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Dell, have not yet commented on their assembly activities.

The claims of bad working conditions date back to 2010, when thirteen workers at a factory run by Foxconn committed suicide. Last year another scandal was revealed when four people were killed in a fire in one of the factories in southwest China. Another Apple supplier has reported several workers being injured after using a toxic chemical to clean iPhone screens at a factory in Jiangsu.

Following these incidents and spate of suicides caused by distress and long working hours the salaries were increased by 25 per cent. This has been the second rise, which more than doubled basic salaries, since working conditions in the factory came under intense control from the Fair Labour Association. Apple's chief executive, Tim Cook, said last week that the company took working conditions very seriously and it was committed to creating fair and safe work environment. After the pay rises Foxconn’s staff now receive 1,800-2,500 yuan a month which is between £180 and £250. Foxconn claims it is now co-operating with the FLA inspectors to improve working environment in the factories. Workers welcomed the pay rises. Many agreed that if it was not for the deaths that forced the company to rethink how it treated its workers, the changes would not have been made.

Despite the scandal Apple’s popularity and sales seem to be unaffected. Problem of cheap labour and poor working conditions however will not change immediately. Consumers need to be prepared to bear some of the cost, instead of looking for the lowest possible prices.

Apple TV | Apple iPad | Apple Accessories | Apple Covers

Pancake Day Traditions

Shrove Tuesday, popularly known as Pancake Day, over the years became one of Britain’s most celebrated traditions. Originally it was the day when everyone was expected to confess their sins and be ‘shriven’ ready for the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. During the period of Lent the devout were expected to practice abstinence, including not eating meat, dairy or eggs. Therefore housewives would cook all dairy products on Tuesday, using up rich foods such as eggs, milk and sugar, before the fasting season of Lent. The idea of eating pancakes on the day before Ash Wednesday is over 1,000 years old. Pancakes in Britain are traditionally served with lemon and sugar, but equally delicious with golden syrup, jam, fruit or ice-cream.

Pancake-racing is one of the more unlikely events on the British sporting calendar and takes place in many towns and villages each Shrove Tuesday. The main objective of the race is obviously to get to the finishing line first. There are, however some obstacles as you race carrying a frying pan with a (cooked) pancake in it whilst flipping the pancake a number of times. The skill therefore lies not so much in the running of the race itself but in flipping and catching the pancake, which must be intact when crossing the finishing line.

Below you can find more interesting facts about the Pancake Day traditions:

1. The first recorded pancake race took place in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England in 1445 and it’s now a tradition that continues all over England. It is said that a housewife of Olney was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time. When she heard the church bells ringing for mass she ran out of her house, still carrying her pan and pancake. 

2. The first pancake recipe appeared in an English cookbook in the 15th century.

3. The largest number of pancakes tossed in the shortest amount of time is 349 tosses in two minutes, which was achieved by Dean Gould at Felixstowe, Suffolk in 1995.

4. The longest race in the quickest time was held in Melbourne, Australia. Jan Stickland covered 384m in 59.5 seconds on 19 February 

5. The largest pancake ever made and flipped measured 15.01m wide, 2.5cm deep and weighed 3 tonnes. It was made in Rochdale, Greater Manchester during August 1994.1985.

6. It is customary in France to touch the handle of the frying pan and make a wish while the pancake is turned, holding a coin in one hand.

7. In Newfoundland, Canada on Pancake Day people place items in the pancake batter before it is cooked to tell the future of their family members. If a boy receives item for a trade, it means he will enter the trade but if a girls receives item from a trade, it means she will marry a person from the trade.

8. Maple Syrup was originally a sweet drink, discovered by the Algonquin Indians who collected sap from Canadian sugar maple trees and then boiled to produce the delicious beverage.

9. The first ready-mix food which was sold commercially was Aunt Jemima pancake flour. It was invented in 1889 in St. Joseph, Missouri. It was not very popular at the beginning.

10. Pancake Tuesday is known as Carnivale in Italy which comes from the Latin for ‘goodbye to the flesh’.

Don't be afraid to be greedy and treat yourself! That's what Pancake Day is for!
Pancake Mix | Maple Syrup |Coffee | Tea | Sugar

British Economy

Despite the Bank of England’s assurances that the UK is unlikely to enter recession this year, country’s economic situation remains unstable and the risk of economic decline is still real. In order to boost the economy the government now decided to focus primarily on export, especially to fast growing markets like China and the rest of Asia. This strategy seems likely to bring results as Britain’s trade deficit is already decreasing from 4% of GDP in 2007 to around 1% of GDP by early 2011.

The country became too dependent on rich-world markets and although the share of exports going to Europe has fallen in the last decade, the continent still accounts for half of British exports. The Economist Intelligence Unit, however forecasts that the euro-zone economy will shrink by 1.2 per cent in 2012. America still absorbs more British exports than any other single country and although its economy still looks relatively stable, a better long-term direction for Britain would be focusing on emerging economies like Asia and Latin America.

British firms however have been quite slow to build trade links in unfamiliar markets, like China, India and Brazil. Furthermore, the products that are especially attractive to these fast growing economies, like natural-resource or capital goods: machine tools, are not UK’s main strengths. The recent success of Britain’s car industry suggests there is still hope. Although domestic car sales fell by 4.2 per cent in the year to November, exports to China increased 23 per cent, and sales to India were up by 67 per cent. 

Sales in other retail areas also rose significantly, however some economists warn that the latest figures hide deeper problems. Despite the unexpected increase in UK retail sales some high street stores were forced to close down. Retail sales went up by 0.9 per cent in January compared to the previous month, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. That came as a surprise as the sales volume was expected to decline in January.

Shoppers benefited from generous discounts and promotions as retailers tried to attract customers. This boost in sales helped counter retail inflation by dragging it down to its lowest level for more than two years. However, the Office for National Statistics report does not represent growth in spending as such, but people getting more for their money. With growing unemployment, tightening credit conditions and minimal real incomes, the conditions for consumers are still tough.

According to PwC Local Data Company Britain's chain retailers closed on average 14 stores a day across the UK in 2011. Big retailers like bookshops, electrical stores or home furnishings fell in numbers but charity shops and pound stores expanded and proved to be much more successful. Internet outlets and supermarkets were also amongst the biggest drivers of the increase in sales volumes. The figures from the ONS showed that internet sales now account for about 12 per cent of total sales, up from 9 per cent in January last year. 

The problem for electrical stores and bookshops are not only online competitors but their large property portfolios. Too many locations do not necessarily generate higher sales. Many retail space landlords struggle to keep their tenants despite having lowered the rent. Matthew Hopkinson, director of the Local Data Company, expressed his concern with the fall in retail outlets: ‘In the past the closures were offset by openings but 2011 has shown a true decline in multiple retail and leisure outlets across Great Britain.’

Patent disputes: protecting manufacturers or threatening innovation?

Patent disputes are becoming increasingly common, particularly now that smartphone and tablet market grows. Large technology companies like Apple, Motorola and Samsung fight for market share trying to find elements of their products and pieces of intellectual property that make them unique. These ‘patent wars’ are defining future innovations and design of smartphones as well as tablets.

Frand-patent disputes

Steve Jobs last year claimed Apple wanted to destroy Android for infringing its patents and called for more clarity over how patents should be handled. The company complained that the rules protecting intellectual property are neither transparent nor consistent. Both Samsung and Motorola sued Apple over Frand principles, which were put in place to ensure that technologies crucial to the industry are distributed under fair and non-discriminatory terms. Apple committed itself to these rules in 2007. Last year it also sued its rivals for alleged infringements on its non-Frand patents.

In the letter sent to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute Apple requested  ‘appropriate royalty rate’ and ‘common royalty base’ as well as no injunction policy under which patent holders cannot block sale of rivals’ products on the basis of Frand-patent dispute. The letter followed Frand-type patent dispute with Samsung as well as Motorola. Samsung attempted to sue Apple last year, but a Dutch court refused the claim as being too expensive. The European Commission is still investigating whether Samsung failed to license key technologies to its rivals and used its rights to ‘distort competition in European mobile device markets’.

Also see: Samsung and the patent abuse

Disputes with Motorola

Last week’s dispute with Motorola forced Apple to temporarily remove several of its devices, mainly iPads and IPhones, from its German online store. Its main focus was on GPRS data transmission standard used by GSM cellular networks- an innovation considered crucial to the industry. The ban was therefore suspended after Apple made a new licence payment offer. Another court dispute with Motorola centred around Apple’s iCloud and MobileMe. Motorola claimed that Apple infringed its patent on two-way communications between pagers and other devices. Apple however appealed against the decision considering the patent to be invalid.

Its latest lawsuit against Motorola focused on ‘slide-to-unlock’ feature on smartphones. The patent was granted to Apple in March 2010 and the company won the dispute. This marks company’s first patent victory over Motorola and is considered a very important win in the battle between Apple and Android. The defeated firm however believes the decision will have no impact on supply or future sales and plans to appeal against the judgement.

Motorola Mobility is currently in the process of being acquired by Google. Most of its handsets run on Android - Google's mobile operating system, which is Apple's closest rival in the mobile market. Although the judgement relates only to activity in the German market, the decision could potentially help Apple with other patent disputes. Microsoft and Cisco back Apple in the matter. Microsoft has also forced some Android handset makers to pay it for the use of some of its patents following the letter Apple wrote.

Most manufacturers are in favour of Frand-type agreements, particularly when they are on the receiving end of a lawsuit, however the principle cannot compromise rights of patent holders. On the other hand there is a worry that patent wars may hinder innovation. They are especially discouraging for small businesses that can not afford to get involved in lengthy legal battles. If large technology companies keep focusing all their resources on legal proceedings and smaller players are discouraged from launching new products, further development may be much slower in the future.

Samsung | Motorola | Apple | Microsoft 

Can texting money replace wire transfers?

It will soon be possible to transfer money by simply... sending a text, thanks to the new phone app that was released today.

The Pingit app, developed by Barclays, is free of charge and enables users to send and receive money to/from any Barclays current account holder that owns a mobile phone. It integrates customer’s bank account with their mobile number and allows users to transfer between £1 and £300, and a maximum of £5,000 per day. It is currently only used by Barclays, however next month it will become available to other UK banks and building societies.

No bank details would have to be shared as the app links the user's current account with their phone number. You can download an app on iOS, Blackberry and Android and then activate the process by registering online. The security of this feature is also ensured by providing users with 5-digit safety code set by themselves. However it is the customer’s responsibility to make sure they input the correct mobile number during registration.

In some developing countries, however the mobile money concept is nothing new. In Kenya, the mobile money transfer system M-Pesa was developed in 2007 and is now part of nation's everyday life. In Africa, therefore where only a minority have a bank account but almost everyone has a mobile phone, mobile banking evolved faster than in any western country.

This technology will revolutionise the way we send/receive money and make the process much easier and convenient. There are expected to be plenty of security concerns and therefore consumers will need to opt in before joining the database. However, with the high competition from Barclays rivals there will be plenty of innovations and improvements to come.

Smartphones

Sony Ericsson to become Sony Mobile Communications

Sony has completed its purchase of Sony Ericsson and will now rename as Sony Mobile Communications. The Sony Mobile Communications will be headquartered in London and is expected to have around 8,000 employees.

The joint venture of Sony and Ericsson began in 2001 and it helped Sony to develop its international presence as a mobile business. The company was able to get its brand-name involved in various product categories, such as Walkman and Cybershot. It now wants to focus mainly on the Xperia handsets and smartphone technology to develop its social media platform and integrate all of its products: PCs, tablets, TVs and phones. It is Sony’s response to sudden rise in the use of smartphones.

The firm intends to pay Ericsson €1.05 billion for its 50 per cent share in the business, although this move comes at a difficult time for Sony as it is experiencing major financial problems. Its sales were hit by lower production due to the floods in Thailand. The company reported a net loss of 159bn yen (£1.3bn) for the last three months of 2011, compared with a profit of 72bn yen a year earlier.
The company has struggled in recent years and has made significant losses in its TV division for the past seven years. It has been mainly caused by price falls, an oversupply of panels, and intense competition from other Asian manufacturers. 

Sony Ericsson Phones | Sony Ericsson Acccessories | Sony Accessories | Sony Cases | Sony Projector Lamps | Sony TV and Home Cinema | Sony Camcorders | Sony Voice Recorders | Sony Ebooks

Apple could face a ban on iPad sales in China

Apple's iPad 3 became a target in an ongoing trademark dispute in China, after a small Chinese company filed for a customs ban with local authorities to stop the import and export of the tablet.

If request succeeds, it could affect Apple’s global sales as China is a major manufacturing base for the company as well as its fastest-growing market. Local media reported that in Shijiazhuang, one of the cities in mainland China, iPads have already been seized. However, the ban is unlikely to affect the export as Apple has the right to manufacture its products in China and it owns the iPad trademark in other countries. 

The request with the country's custom offices follows a long-running dispute between Apple and display vendor Proview over ownership of the iPad name. Last year Proview won an initial judgement in Shenzhen court, which Apple has appealed against. The firm claims it bought Proview’s worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in ten countries but the Chinese firm refused to honour the agreement. Apple bought rights to the name from Proview Taipei, a Taiwan company affiliated with Proview, but the mainland company claims it still owns the name in China. Hong Kong court made a decision in favour of Apple but the case is still pending in mainland China.

Ma Dongxiao, a lawyer for Proview, announced that company’s goal is to ban Apple’s next version of the iPad, expected to be released in March. The firm, which has filed for bankruptcy, is pressuring Apple to buy the iPad trademark but it is believed that the sum it is asking for is too high.

The lack of settlement could create a major problem for Apple as it would have major damages to pay for the past as well as future iPad sales. 

Apple TV | Apple iPad | Apple Accessories | Apple Covers

Olympus and the impact of the accounting scandal

Olympus predicts a significant net loss, but core business is expected to remain intact.

Olympus made a 33.09bn yen loss for the nine months to the end of December 2011 and it forecast that it would make a 32bn-yen loss for the full year to the end of March 2012. That is in comparison to a 3.87 billion yen net profit last year.

 

The Japanese maker of cameras and medical equipment has admitted to hiding losses of $1.7bn for 20 years and it remains under investigation by law enforcement agencies in Japan, Britain and the United States. The company is now preparing to question its former board members in April, the meeting is expected to be a lively one.

Despite the scandal the firm was allowed to keep its listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, however it has been fined 10m yen by the exchange. Furthermore, the scandal has caused Olympus' share price to fall by almost 50% since it became public in October last year.

Olympus has been considering alliance offers to shore up its finances after the accounting scandal severely harmed its assets. However, as Takayama told reporters, Olympus may be able to deal with the crisis independently by accumulating profit, without outside capital.

Yasuo Sakuma, a portfolio manager at Bayview Asset, claims that given the nature of the business, there are limited competitors and the scandal has not had a huge impact on the business. Operating profit in its medical systems business rose 7 per cent to 18.87 billion yen during the October-December quarter.

The scandal has shaken confidence in Japanese corporate governance and it will be very difficult for the company to fully recover.

Also see: Olympus loss-hiding scandal

Olympus Cameras | Olympus Digital Voice Recorders | Transcription Kits | Olympus accessories |Olympus Microphones | Olympus Headphones

Rock, Paper, SCISSORS!

Scissors are hand-operated cutting instruments. They are can be used for cutting various materials: paper, cardboard, metal foil, thin plastic, cloth, rope, wire, hair and food. Similar instruments bur larger in size for heavier cutting are called shears.

There are many types of scissors and shears for different purposes. For example, children's scissors, used only on paper, have dull blades and rounded corners to ensure safety. Scissors used to cut hair or fabric must be much sharper. The largest shears used to cut metal need to have very strong, sharp blades.

The most likely date scissors were first invented is around 1500 BC. The first known scissors on record appeared around in ancient Egypt and parts of the Middle East. They were 'spring scissors’- two blades held together at the handle by a curved, flexible piece of bronze that allowed blades to be brought together when squeezed and pulled apart when released. The modern design however, cross-blade scissors, was invented by the Romans around AD 100. They entered common use in ancient Rome, China, Japan, and Korea. Spring scissors continued to be used in Europe until the sixteenth century.

Although there is a lot of speculation surrounding further innovations and modifications, the final step in creating modern scissors was documented in London. In 1761 Robert Hinchcliffe produced the first pair of modern-day scissors made of hardened and cast steel. He was the first person to proclaiming himself ‘fine scissor manufacturer.’

During the nineteenth century, scissors were hand-forged with elaborately decorated handles. The rings in the handles, known as bows, were made by punching a hole in the steel and enlarging it with the pointed end of an anvil.

Did you know…?

• For people who do not have the use of their hands, there are specially designed foot operated scissors. Some quadriplegics can use a motorized mouth-operated style of scissor.
• Playing Rock Paper Scissors, a game invented in China between 206 BCE and 220 CE, is a very popular way to resolve personal disputes.
• Neerja Roy Chowdhury holds Guiness World Record for the largest pair of scissors ever made. It is 7 feet 7 inches long, weighs around 25 kg and functions just like normal scissors.
• Scissors have many superstitions surrounding them. The most popular ones include:

Scissors should always be sold, never given as a gift. Doing so may cause problems in a friendship by cutting the relationship in half.

Placing a pair of scissors under the pillow of a woman in labour will ‘cut her pain in half’. The same goes for any other type of pain.

A pair of scissors hung above a door, their open position forming a cross, was said to protect a household from witchcraft and evil influences attempting to enter the house.

You will 'cut off' fortune if you use scissors on New Year's Day.

Scissors should be put away during thunderstorms to decrease the likelihood that the house will be struck by lightning.

Dropping a pair of scissors is said to warn that a lover is unfaithful.

Breaking one blade of a pair of scissors is an omen of quarrelling and discord; if both blades are broken at once it is