Hasta La Gadget!

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Based on last quarter’s global PC shipment numbers, Microsoft continues to feel pain in making the case for Windows is a viable tablet operating system. Theoretically, the dual-identity (Windows 8/RT) operating system has everything it needs to be a contender, but the promise is ahead of the reality on three interdependent fronts: chip-level hardware, legacy support, and app software.

For example, if x86 chips were more competitive with ARM processors from a performance-per-watt perspective, then Microsoft wouldn’t be as reliant on Metro-style apps for functionality. And if more developers were creating Metro-style apps, then consumers wouldn’t have to go to the legacy desktop mode as much to get things done. (Until the company releases a Metro-style Office, Microsoft really can’t wag its finger too much at third parties.)

Filed under: Tablets, Apple, Microsoft, HP

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Apple investors aren’t exactly getting good news today. The company’s share price dipped under $400 today, last time this happened was back on December 22nd, 2011. Now according to upstream sources in iPad mini supply chain, lacking demand for Apple’s mini tablet might result in Q2 shipments dropping by as much as 30%. Apple is expected to ship around 10 to 12 million units this quarter as opposed to the 15 million units it shipped in the previous quarter. One reason cited for this lack in demand is that prospective customers are holding off purchases because they’re waiting for the second generation iPad mini, which will reportedly tout a Retina Display.

That seems like a logical explanation, however it might not be the whole story. Smartphones such as the Galaxy Note 2 could prove to be stiff competition for the mini tablet. There’s one in particular that can almost be considered as a full blown rival, the Samsung Galaxy Mega, a 6.3″ smartphone which is likely to give iPad mini a run for its money. Smartphones that come close to the screen real estate of the 7-inch tablet would seem like a much better choice for prospective customers as they wouldn’t have to carry around a separate smartphone and tablet. Do you think such big smartphones are eroding iPad mini’s market share?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Analyst: iPad 5 To Be 15% Thinner And 25% Lighter Than Predecessor, Apple Not Releasing Anything ‘New’ In 2013 [Economist],

Elecom is releasing 5 cute iPad Mini shell cover designs, Each come with a touch pencil, 5 home button stickers and LCD protection film. Release date will be early May.

This light shell cover is made from stout polycarbonate to protect against scuffs, grime, and shocks. The included touch pencil has the same design as the cover.

Price: open price
Compatible device: iPad mini (2012 released model)
Including：shell cover, LCD protection film, touch pen, 5 home button stickers

These covers can be ordered here.

An analyst at KGI Securities, Ming-chi Kuo, predicts in a research note that Apple’s mobile products for 2013 may be delayed due to various development issues. These products include iPhone 5S, the second generation iPad mini and the low cost iPhone. With the exception of second generation iPad mini, a lot has already been rumored about iPhone 5S and the substantially cheaper iPhone. Rumor has it that iPhone 5S will come in multiple sizes and will feature fingerprint technology. An alleged iPhone 5S prototype was recently spotted and according to latest rumors, Apple’s next flagship smartphone is expected to be released this summer, while its production begins this quarter.

(more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: BlackBerry 10.1 Update Will Bring A Couple Of New Features, Quartet Of Launch Titles Leaked For Next Gen Xbox (Rumor),

Last Sunday, we discovered that the United States Patent and Trademark Office denied Apple its request for an iPad mini trademark. The main reason for doing so was because the examiner believed the term “mini” to be “merely descriptive” of Apple’s iPad, and did not warrant a trademark. In order for Apple to receive its trademark, we believed that it would have had to appeal the decision with some necessary amendments, but now it seems like it didn’t need to do much at all.

Now a newly, updated Office action has been discovered by MacRumors that shows that the USPTO has decided to rescind its earlier objections. The two original objections that the examiner had an issue with have seemed to be resolved. They were the “merely descriptive” aspect of the “mini” trademark as well as Apple using the iPad mini’s product webpage as the image in its proposal. The new office action states:

This Office action supersedes any previous Office action issued in connection with this application.

Upon further review of the application, the examining attorney has determined that the following refusals issued in the initial Office action should be withdrawn. The examining attorney apologizes for any inconvenience caused.

REFUSALS WITHDRAWN:

The Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1) descriptiveness refusal and the Sections 1 and 45 specimen refusal are both withdrawn.

However, this doesn’t mean that Apple is guaranteed its iPad mini trademark. The USPTO states that it still needs to double-check to see if any other companies have filed for the “mini” trademark with their own products. It also wants Apple to amend its application to include a disclaimer that states that the “mini” trademark can only be applied when used in conjunction with the “iPad mini”.

The disclaimer is to protect any companies who want to use the “mini” for their future products. An example being Samsung and its Samsung Galaxy S III Mini, or its rumored Samsung GALAXY S 4 Mini. We’ll keep you posted if there are any new updates to this trademark issue. Until then, be sure to check out our review of Apple’s iPad mini, as well as our timeline below for more Apple related news.

[via MacRumors]

USPTO rescinds original objections to iPad mini trademark is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
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