A tale of two execs- Microsoft's Sinofsky and Apple's Forstall

A tale of two execs: Microsoft's Sinofsky and Apple's Forstall
The company's legendary co-founder was his mentor, and in many ways he embodied what's good and bad about his employer. He had a habit of picking political fights with fellow executives, many of whom say he zealously promoted his group's work at the expense of the rest of the company.Am I talking about Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky, the Windows chief who was onstage last week for the launch of Windows 8, or Apple's Scott Forstall, the iOS software chief who is being shown the door after the disappointment of Apple maps (and perhaps making too many enemies inside the company)?Related stories:Steven Sinofsky: Microsoft's controversial Mr. Windows 8Aggressively innovative Windows 8 forces a steep learning curveFinally, the iPhone we've always wantedOf course, I'm talking about both. Bloomberg's Peter Burrows and Adam Satariano craft a great behind-the-scenes look at what may have led to Forstall's planned departure and the increased roles of Apple design guru Jony Ive and iTunes chief Eddy Cue. I worked with Burrows for five years, and I saw firsthand how he's one of the most deeply sourced Apple beat writers out there. When Peter describes what happened, you can believe him. In a nutshell, when Forstall refused to sign Apple's apology note for the problems with the new Apple maps, his days were numbered.Making matters worse, despite his admirable track record running software development for the iPhone and iPad, he could be -- much like his mentor, Steve Jobs -- difficult to work with. So much so that Ive and he rarely sat in the same meetings. When Jobs was still running Apple, he was able to keep the tension under control. But without Jobs playing mediator, it became difficult to manage. The Bloomberg story continued:Supporters admire Forstall's ability to manage massive technical complexity while pushing his team to innovate. Critics said he was overly concerned with empire building and pushing through favored features while blocking other teams' ideas.As I read that paragraph, it occurred to me: They could just as well be talking about Sinofsky, the controversial executive who was the driving force in the development of Windows 8. Last week, CNET's Jay Greene had an in-depth look at Sinofsky, a longtime Microsoft exec who was once Bill Gates' technical assistant and, like Gates, brings significant technical prowess to the job. And like Forstall, Sinofsky has a way of ticking off his fellow executives with turf fights and an unwillingness to accommodate other groups inside Microsoft. The nut of our story comes down to this passage:But Sinofsky's critics say he's elevated those battles to a new level, thriving by marginalizing rivals while running the company's most profitable businesses, Windows and Office. Along the way, he's created a rigid product development process that puts more control in his hands and, those critics say, diminish the ability to innovate at Microsoft.There's one big difference, of course: Forstall had years of success, but some aspects of the last two iPhone releases were disappointments. The Siri voice-recognition service failed to live up to its billing (personally, I still find it to be more of a neat proof-of-concept than a useful tool) and the Apple maps gaffe was, well, a head-scratcher. Sinofsky has had no such mishaps...at least not yet. He gained a reputation for metronome-like consistency while running the development of the Office suite, and he resuscitated Microsoft's reputation when he took over Windows development after the Vista disaster. Windows 7 wasn't a blockbuster, but it eased fears that Microsoft's quality control had gone off the rails.Scott Forstall at an Apple iPhone event.Josh Lowensohn/CNETWhile the jury is still out on the success of Windows 8, early returns have been positive. Microsoft, for the first time in years, appears to have thathard-to-define "buzz" among consumers again. Whether that translates into sales is another matter. But it's a lot better than customers fleeing, as they did after the release of Windows Vista.If there's a lesson to be learned, I suppose it's that personality doesn't matter all that much in the executive ranks. The youthful Bill Gates had a reputation for being every bit as incorrigible as Sinofsky. And Jobs, well, he was called many things, but "swell guy" was rarely one of them. Success doesn't justify unpleasant behavior, but it often excuses it.That is, until something goes wrong. That's when the knives come out, as Forstall finally learned.Could he have benefited from some well-timed humility and signed that apology note? Perhaps. But humility and playing nice isn't exactly what made him a success in the first place. Same with Sinofsky.But he'd better not screw up.

How to unleash your networking skills with Highlight

How to unleash your networking skills with Highlight
Every year, there's always one app that takes the crown at South by Southwest. By no official decree, one smartphone application grows rampant during the event, as it gains traction with nerdfestSXSW attendees and later spreads to early adopters. Like you. And me.This year, about a dozen apps attracted some buzz (you can view them all here), but the one that garnered the most attention and activity was Highlight (iTunes link).Pin ItThe free, location-based app alerts you of people in your vicinity with similar interests and mutual friends. Not aimed at romantic pursuits, Highlight moderates the connection of potential friends, networking contacts, and colleagues, allowing you to bookmark those you find interesting.Naturally, SXSW is a perfect event to launch such an app, but Highlight is also useful to us observing the conference from afar. Meetings, parties, and networking events are ideal places to put the app to use, as it's less official than connecting with someone on LinkedIn or Facebook, but more useful than simply following them on Twitter.Once you download Highlight, get started with these tips:Adjust your privacy settingsOnce you log in with Facebook (that's the only way to use Highlight right now), tap the menu button (upper left) and select Settings. Tap Manage privacy and decide if you want to make yourself discoverable and visible by everyone or just friends of friends. If you choose the second option, you'll limit your visibility and only friends of your Facebook friends will be able to find and highlight you.Edit your blurb and profileYour blurb is the short status message others on Highlight will see when they're in your vicinity. Some users will choose to be clever and witty ("Ask me why the chicken really crossed the road.), while others might offer a slightly more practical message. For example, you might offer a little snapshot of why you're at that networking dinner or party.If you ask a question or make an engaging statement in your blurb, expect answers. Next to every user's blurb is a + sign that allows users to leave comments. On Highlighting peopleUnlike LinkedIn or Facebook, you don't "connect" with others, or "friend" them--you Highlight them. This passive, one-way interaction (a la Twitter) makes Highlight quite compelling for those who might feel uncomfortable connecting with people they haven't met. Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNETAs you scroll through the Activity stream and tap on people you are interested in (should be read in the most unromantic way possible), tap highlight to bookmark them for later. Two things will happen. First, they'll be notified that you highlighted them (and if they're interested maybe they'll highlight you back.) Then, the highlight will be made public. Anyone will be able to see that you've highlighted that person by visiting your profile.Save battery by pausingHighlight's developers will be the first to admit it: the app will suck the life out of your battery, as it constantly polls your location. Each iteration will be more efficient and less battery-consuming, they promise, but until then use the pause feature to keep Highlight from using Location Services when you're not actively using the app.Head to the navigation pane and tap Pause Highlight. You'll be hidden (not discoverable), but the next time you launch Highlight, it will automatically un-pause.For a complete walkthrough of Highlight, check out Daniel Terdiman's hands-on account.

Android Atlas Weekly Ep. 88- Google plays, Apple pays, Android listens (Podcast)

Android Atlas Weekly Ep. 88: Google plays, Apple pays, Android listens (Podcast)
Google plays, Apple pays, and Android listens, all that and more on this week's episode of Android Atlas Weekly for March 8th, 2012.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)EPISODE 88NEWS:-Goodbye Android Market, hello Google Play-Google Play offers apps, albums, more for a quarter-Google planning Siri rival for later this year?-New Android voice assistant, Robin, rides shotgun-Key Lime Pie, after Jelly Bean?-Sprint promises 10 Google Wallet devices this year-More than just mobile payments. Quick mention-Verizon officially dishing out ICS to more than 12 devices-Apple offers Samsung and Motorola licensing deals of $5 to $15 per unit to settle litigationAPP OF THE WEEK:-Draw Something is the new hotness-Draw Something Video on CNET TVEMAIL:Hey Android Atlas I found your input engine you know in love from back in the day with your palmOS trios and what not…There’s also a free version with ad support.Check out “”Graffiti Pro for Android”"-Graffiti Proâ€"â€"I’m sitting here playing the android game Burning Sands 3 on my ASUS Prime well watching your show, and find myself utterly puzzled with your statement that there are a lack of tablet apps for android tablets. ALL android apps work on tablets. There’s 300,000 tablet apps to choose from. Maybe you need to put down your beloved iPad and spend a little more time researching android.â€" Maxâ€"â€"Hi guys you said you thought there was a difference between tablet & phone graphics but that is not entirely true. When you make an Android app you create a high, a middle, and a low definition image. so a 10″” tablet will use the same image as a phone with a high res screen like the Galaxy Nexus. However in many cases you will want to make a separate UI for a tablet but this is still fairly easy in that UI is done by click & drag and XML.Keep up the good work, love the show. â€" Daneâ€"â€"I’m a fan of the google play branding, except for the market.I’m going to be calling it the market as long as I use android regardless, but that’s beside the point.My question is “”why?”"I was reading an interview from cnet with Jamie Rosenberg where she said“”Google Play will become a single experience for users.This creates a more powerful experience around Android and also increases opportunities for content partners to interact with more of Google’s offerings.Did google change the privacy policy again, only this time slipping it in under a rebranding?With the news for Assistant coming out now, google’s moves to change privacy to share content between more sources only makes sense in the effor to build something a step above siri.Anyway, it makes sense to me, but I’m also the only place I’ve heard this from, so I wanted to hear your opinion.Missed having a show this week, otherwise keep up the good work!- Stephen Colbertâ€"â€"SHOW DETAILS:BLOGcnet.com/android-atlasSTREAMcnet.com/live/TIMEWednesdays @ 10am PTEMAIL androidatlas@cnet.comTWITTER@androidatlasJAYMAR@jaymarcabebeJUSTIN @notmyrealnamePHONE866-344-CNET (2638)

Rumor- Apple to license FairPlay DRM

Rumor: Apple to license FairPlay DRM
Apple may begin licensing its FairPlay digital rights management technology to third-party manufacturers in the near future--at least, that's the rumor. According to an unsubstantiated and unsourced item appearing at tech.co.uk, Apple plans to allow iPod-accessory makers to stream copy-protected iTunes content. To date, that feature has been restricted to Apple products, such as the AirPort Express wireless router and the forthcoming Apple TV. Other digital media products can stream only non-protected iTunes content--essentially, music and movies you've ripped to your PC. If it pans out, the change could be a big deal and a positive development for consumers. Thus far, paid iTunes content has remained locked within Apple's proprietary ecosystem, shackling buyers with "iHandcuffs" that essentially forces them to use Apple hardware and software if they wish to enjoy iTunes-purchased media (music, movies, TV shows). By licensing FairPlay to other companies, iTunes media get the potential to be more transportable.But for now, this remains nothing more than a rumor--and one that's a bit hard to swallow, at that. The tech.co.uk report highlights "USB streaming" as one of the big advantages of the alleged Apple licensing liberalization, despite the fact that a handful of USB devices (such as the Logitech Wireless DJ) are the only non-Apple products to date that can play FairPlay-protected iTunes audio tracks. It's also unclear why Apple wouldn't have used last week's Macworld show to make such a big announcement. Or why the company would cannibalize sales of its Apple TV product, due next month, by letting in a host of potential competitors. In a perfect world, Apple would dump FairPlay DRM altogether. That's not going to happen, of course, so licensing FairPlay would be the next best thing. It will be interesting to see whether or not it happens, and what restrictions Apple places on the licensing if it does.Source: tech.co.uk via iLoungevia CrunchGear

How to change slideshow duration times in OS X

How to change slideshow duration times in OS X
The first thing you will need for this is a program that can edit property lists. While a plist editor is convenient, a quick solution is to use a text editor that supports authentication such as the free TextWrangler. This will allow you to edit system files without needing to change permissions.With the text editor downloaded, launch it and then choose "Open" from the File menu. Then navigate to the following directory and open the file called "EffectDescriptions.plist":System > Library > PrivateFrameworks > Slideshows.framework > Versions > A > Resources > ContentIn this file, locate the key entry called "JustASlide" and then locate the child entry below this called "mainDuration." This file contains thousands of lines, so you can best locate these lines by performing a search for "JustASlide" and then scroll down about 20 lines to see the "mainDuration" entry.You will see the default value of the "mainDuration" entry as 3, but can change it followed by saving the file. Since this file is owned by the system you will be asked to authenticate but it should save. After this, when the screensaver activates it will read the new value and dwell on a photo for the time you specified before changing.You can always access this file again to adjust the value of this transition, and editing it in this manner will not harm your system; however, as with any settings or configuration change, be sure your system is backed up before you implement it.This tip is a modification of the steps outlined here (thanks to MacFixIt reader Roger for writing in about this).Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.

Sling improves video quality in iPhone app

Sling improves video quality in iPhone app
Sling Media has updated its SlingPlayer iPhone app to feature "high-quality streaming," the company said, though it didn't provide exact resolution for the new offering.There are some limitations with the addition of high-quality streaming in SlingPlayer Mobile version 2.0 for the iPhone. Sling said that to take advantage of high-quality streaming, users will need an 800 kilobits per second download speed over Wi-Fi and a 500Kbps speed on 3G. The company also said that "users with the Slingbox Classic, Tuner, AV, and Pro can stream with this update, but they can't use the high-quality video mode." High-quality video is available only on the Slingbox Solo or a Slingbox Pro-HD.In addition, the update has added a new program guide. It allows users to see DVR listings, schedule recordings, and see shows that are airing at that time.Sling's update to the iPhone app comes on the heels of its launch of the iPad app at the end of November. That app, like the iPhone version, retails for $29.99.

Slimmer iPad on tap for second-quarter 2011-

Slimmer iPad on tap for second-quarter 2011?
Apple could release a more svelte iPad by the end of the second quarter of 2011, Goldman Sachs said in an investment report yesterday.According to the analysts, Apple will keep the 9.7-inch display in the new iPad, but will attempt to make it easier on the grip by reducing its weight and thickness. The analysts also expect Apple to throw in a built-in camera and a mini USB drive for additional connectivity.Goldman Sachs also touched on the possibility of Apple finally releasing the long-rumored 7-inch iPad, saying that plans for the smaller tablet have yet to be "finalized."As expected, Apple isn't talking. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it's planning a new iPad next year.But if it does release an iPad in the coming months, it will find a new competitor on store shelves. Yesterday, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion announced the PlayBook, a 7-inch tablet. The device includes Wi-Fi connectivity, a 1GHz dual-core chip, and two cameras. It's scheduled to launch early next year.(Via Bloomberg)

Apple kills TV rentals, subscription offer not coming

Apple kills TV rentals, subscription offer not coming
Apple has done away with the 99-cent video rentals of TV shows it began offering last year via the Apple TV and iTunes. Despite Apple's best efforts, most of the top networks weren't willing to offer shows for that price. News Corp.-owned Fox Television and Disney's ABC were the only two majors that were involved and even they offered a limited amount of content at 99 cents.Now does this sound like the studios are willing to back a new subscription service from Apple or for anyone else for that matter? No. Don't put any stock in the rumors that began circulating today. My sources at the studios said three weeks ago that an Apple subscription service is not coming anytime soon, if ever. The Hollywood studios and TV networks don't want another Netflix. Look around. They're trying to stuff that genie back into the bottle. The talk coming out of Hollywood is about raising prices for content and offering Netflix less, not more. They don't want to discount content just because it's on the Web. There is no consensus in Hollywood about anything, but a large number of decision makers want to see their shows and films offered online on a pay-per-view basis as they try to protect their margins. In addition, the execs I spoke with said Apple hasn't really talked about subscription --although one of the sources said Apple has at one time or another discussed numerous business models. One thing others and I have reported now for more than a year is that Apple indeed is focusing on a cloud offer, where users access video content from Apple's servers. "iTunes customers have shown they overwhelmingly prefer buying TV shows," said Tom Neumayr, an Apple spokesman in a statement this afternoon. "iTunes in the Cloud lets customers download and watch their past TV purchases from their iOS devices, Apple TV, Mac, or PC allowing them to enjoy their programming whenever and however they choose."

Apple kills iPhone app, claiming API violation

Apple kills iPhone app, claiming API violation
Apple has rejected an iPhone application that supposedly uses off-limits technology just like Google's mobile application--only the developer swears it's not true.Landon Fuller, who developed a photo contact management system called Peeps, said on his blog that Apple had rejected Peeps from the App Store because, "Peeps cannot be posted to the App Store due to the usage of a non-public API.Usage of non-public APIs, as outlined in the iPhone SDK Agreement section 3.3.1, is prohibited." The thing is, Fuller insists that Peeps does not use any programming tools but the public ones Apple exposes to developers as part of the iPhone SDK, saying "the last thing I would do is deliver time-bomb code to a paying customer." (Thanks to Daring Fireball for the link.)APIs are tools that applications use to exploit parts of a computer's operating system. Operating system developers usually label some proportion of the various APIs in the OS as "public," meaning they'll support the use of those APIs well into the future to ensure applications will not break with future OS updates.There are usually lots of other APIs lying around that the OS vendor doesn't make public, but that developers can see if they poke around a little bit. Google used such an API to trigger a voice prompt from the iPhone's proximity sensor in its Google Mobile application, which the company admitted was against the rules of the App Store.Fuller seems to believe this is all just a misunderstanding, since his application looks an awful lot like Apple's Cover Flow feature but doesn't actually use the same implementation Apple does to display album covers in iTunes. Maybe he just needs a bigger market cap: Google Mobile is still available on the App Store, and a Google representative said he had no updates on whether Apple had ordered any changes to Google Mobile or if Google planned to make any changes on its own. An Apple representative did not return a call seeking comment, but Apple representatives have never returned any calls seeking comment about the App Store approval process.Sometimes it really does seem that getting your iPhone application approved or rejected for the App Store comes down to whether or not you draw Inspector No. 1 or Inspector No. 2 that day.

Apple envisions an iTunes Radio with more advanced features

Apple envisions an iTunes Radio with more advanced features
A future version of Apple's iTunes Radio could let you reveal why you liked or disliked a certain song in your playlist.Published Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, an Apple patent application called "Playlist Configuration and Preview," describes some handy ways to customize and manage your playlist of streaming songs.Most streaming music services let you vote thumb's up or thumb's down on a certain song to gauge your musical tastes. But they don't give you the ability to explain why you voted the way you did.The service described by Apple would offer you a menu of reasons as to why you liked or disliked a certain tune. Maybe you didn't care for the particular genre. Or maybe you thought the arrangement was too fast or too slow. Providing a reason would help the service more accurately determine what music to offer you in the future.You could also peek ahead a few tracks in your playlist to see what songs are coming up. You could then switch their order or even remove certain tunes. You could even change certain tags, or metadata, of the songs in your playlist to further define what types and styles of music you prefer.Finally, you'd be able to compare your playlist with those of other users. But beyond just checking out the tunes of fellow users, you could view the metadata of their selections to help you decide which ones to add to your own playlist.The patent was filed in December of 2011, so Apple may have envisioned a few of these concepts for the initial release of iTunes Radio. Instead, some of them may just pop up in a future version.(Via AppleInsider)

Apple envisioned Siri on tablets back in 1987

Apple envisioned Siri on tablets back in 1987
Siri, the new voice technology unveiled yesterday that's coming to the iPhone 4S, may not be such a new idea for Apple after all, at least according to a 1987 concept video showing a vaguely similar system designed for tablets.Andy Baio over at Waxy posted a video of Apple's "Knowledge Navigator," a concept video put together for the Educom computer trade show in 1987, to be delivered alongside the keynote of then Apple CEO John Sculley. The video, which cost Apple some $60,000 and six weeks to create from start to finish, features a professor going about comparing research notes and studies, as well as collaborating with others over video chat on a foldout tablet device running an older version of the Mac OS. Included is a plethora of concepty goodness, from touch screens and video conferencing to translucent removable memory that looks like it's straight out of "Star Trek."But the glue that holds it together is the artificial intelligence assistant: A smooth-talking man who is a dead ringer for Bill Nye, the science guy, has complete conversations with the professor and is able to pull up charts and data based on plain language requests. It was more advanced than the Siri technology we saw demoed yesterday, but there are clearly some shared ideas.The fact that this idea's been around so long does beg the question why Siri's being launched as a "beta" with the iPhone 4S next week. It also brings up the idea of the technology making it to other Apple devices, particularly the iPad. Here's the Knowledge Navigator video, and beneath that is Apple's demo of Siri:2011's Siri:

Apple drops patent claim against Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini

Apple drops patent claim against Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini
Apple has agreed to withdraw patent infringement allegations against Samsung's new Galaxy S3 Mini in exchange for assurances that the South Korean electronics giant will not market the smartphone in the U.S. Apple disclosed the agreement today in a filing with the U.S. District Court for Northern California. The iPhone maker requested last month that the new smartphone and other Samsung products be added to the ongoing patent dispute between the two companies. Samsung countered that the S3 Mini was unavailable for purchase in the United States, however Apple noted that the new smartphone was listed on Amazon's U.S. storefront and had been purchased and delivered to multiple U.S. addresses."Apple will agree to withdraw without prejudice its request to include the Galaxy S III Mini in this case given Samsung's representation that it is not making, using, selling, offering to sell, or importing that product into the United States," Apple said in its filing.The unlocked phone quietly appeared on Amazon last month, running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and featuring a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, a dual-core 1-gigahertz processor, 1 gigabyte of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. While the new phone supports either T-Mobile USA or AT&T, it lacks support for any 4G LTE connectivity.Apple had previously argued that the device infringed on the same patents included in its $1.5 billion verdict against Samsung. However, Apple has been unsuccessful in securing sales bans.Representatives for Apple and Samsung declined to comment.

Apple- Don't get excited about that new Apple TV box

Apple: Don't get excited about that new Apple TV box
Less than a day after a schematic of what appeared to be the fourth-generation Apple TV set-top box appeared in a U.S. regulatory filing, the company says it's not a new version at all, but a minor behind-the-scenes hardware change. In a statement today provided to The Verge, the company said it had to file new paperwork with the Federal Communications Commission following a change to one of the internal components."We sometimes make component changes which require an updated model number for regulatory approval," an Apple spokesperson said. "The component changes we made don't affect product features and Apple TV customers will continue to have the same great user experience."The component in question appears to be an updated A5X processor, as well as antenna technology, according to AnandTech, which yesterday went through both the FCC filings and the iOS 6.1 firmware file, which contained references to the hardware.Related storiesSmaller Apple TV box hinted at in FCC filingApple TV rumor roundupNot mentioned was the apparent size difference, something originally spotted by Engadget, that suggested the updated hardware was slightly smaller than the second- and third-generation models. A person familiar with Apple's plans says these updated models are the same size, and are headed to stores soon.Apple's last big Apple TV hardware update came last March with a third-generation model that added 1080p playback. Since then, Apple has put out a handful of interim software updates that added new features, including compatibility with iTunes Match and more recently, Bluetooth keyboards. The company is still expected to roll out a full-fledged TV set, possibly as soon as this fall.

Apple doesn't want to reveal CEO succession plans

Apple doesn't want to reveal CEO succession plans
Apple is once again being asked to discuss what the company would do without CEO Steve Jobs. Apple said today in regulatory filings that it was informed that Central Laborers' Pension Fund, which owns over 11,000 shares of Apple stock, plans to submit a proposal at Apple's annual shareholder's meeting on February 23, that if passed would require Apple to "adopt and disclose a written and detailed succession planning policy." Apple's board of directors said in the filings that it has recommended shareholders vote against the proposal. They say they have already established a succession plan and disclosing it publicly would only hurt the company's ability to retain and recruit top executive talent. Apple wrote that competitors could poach top Apple execs who learn they aren't in line for the top jobs or those execs might leave voluntarily. Few leaders are as closely identified with their companies as Jobs. Some shareholders appear to get nervous anytime there's a debate about what the company's prospects are without him. In the event that Jobs won't or can't continue with his duties, some shareholders want to know how Apple would respond. Those plans haven't been publicly disclosed. The debate took on a greater urgency after Apple revealed that Jobs underwent a liver transplant in 2009. As part of Central Laborers' plan, Apple's board would be required to "develop criteria for the CEO position which will reflect the company's business strategy and will use a formal assessment process to evaluate candidates" as well as identify and develop top candidates from within the company. The proposal also calls for Apple to maintain nonemergency and emergency succession plans.

Apple gets 'Lion' trademark at last

If you're naming an operating system, best to avoid the word "Lion." You might find yourself in court, facing Apple.The U.S. Office of Patents and Trademarks has approved the Cupertino company's trademark, giving Apple rights to the name for its "computer operating system and application development tool software." The trademark is spelled with a capital "L" followed by lowercase letters.Apple filed the request on April 6, 2011, a few months before it filed for "OS X MOUNTAIN LION" and "MOUNTAIN LION." Neither of the later trademarks have been approved.Not only is Apple known as a proprietary company, it doesn't hold back from litigation over its trademarks. For instance, it filed suit against Amazon last year over the term "App Store," which Apple trademarked after releasing the iPhone 3G.This was afterApple's lengthy battle with Apple Corps, the Beatles' holding company and owner of the band's record label, over trademark issues -- a matter of dispute that was finally settled just last week.

Apple gets a patent for an Apple TV cable box

Apple TV will upgrade to live TV, complete with regular and cable channels, and recording abilities, if Apple acts on a patent it was granted today.The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple a patent that allows for a video device display that would have an onscreen menu that pops up over the display while video is playing, and lets the user to essentially change the channel.The patent application, originally filed Oct. 12, 2006, has mock ups of screenshots with various TV programing, including CBS, ABC, FOX, and HBO. There are several screenshots depicting a Letterman segment and other popular shows. Another screenshot shows a list of recorded shows. The patent applications also has images of search and browse functions, so it seems like the new features will be fully integrated with the old system.If Apple comes through on these designs, this could really boost the functionality -- and popularity -- of Apple TV, which has been limited by a dearth of native channels. It's greatest asset has been with connecting Apple devices for those who own many of them, but for everyone else, there has always been other choices to go to for TV programing.See the full application below.