Apple ordered to pay $532.9 Million in patent lawsuit

Uh oh-Spaghettios.

The day after celebrating what would have been the late Steve Jobs’ 60th Birthday,  a federal jury in Texas has found that Apple infringed on Texas based patent licensing firm Smartflash LLC’s patents relating to digital rights management, data storage and managing access through payment systems.

The infringement exists in relation to iTunes and the jury has hence ordered Apple to pay up – not the original $852 Smartflash was originally after, but $532.9 million big ones. Apple will be appealing the findings of course, saying that Smartflash is exploiting the patent system to seek royalties for tech Apple invented.

From the Sauce, Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet:
“Smartflash makes no products, has no employees, creates no jobs, has no U.S. presence, and is exploiting our patent system to seek royalties for technology Apple invented,” said Kristin Huguet, an Apple spokeswoman. “We refused to pay off this company for the ideas our employees spent years innovating and unfortunately we have been left with no choice but to take this fight up through the court system.”

In what seems like an expensive (or lucrative) year for Smartflash, they are also suing Samsung in a lawsuit that will begin after the Apple trial is complete, as well as against HTC Corp and Google.

This case is Smartflash LLC v. Apple Inc., 13-447, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Texas.

Apple earnings call & Apple Watch release update

Tim Cook has had a busy day. But – a pretty good one by all accounts. He had to make the earnings call which covered the first fiscal quarter of 2015. In it, he told financial analysts and investors that not only did Apple sell about 9 million more iPhones than what was expected and forecast, but that they also had reported earnings of $3.06 per share on revenue of $74.6 billion which is way more than anyone was expecting.

According to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters, analysts had actually expected Apple to report earnings of about $2.60 a share on $67.69 billion in revenue.

Yeesh.

The iPad was the only soft note in the earnings call, with sales hitting a quieter 21.4 million units instead of the 22.2 million unit estimate. However, Apple’s cash rose to almost $178 billion, up 15 percent from the prior quarter.

Again – Yeesh.

So – to the best news! Straight from the Sauce, Mr Cook himself –

“Development for Apple Watch is right on schedule, and we expect to begin shipping in April… My expectations are very high on it. I’m using it every day and love it and can’t live without it.”

Bam. Bam. Bam. April. Early April, Apple Watch, tech we apparently can’t live without. Excellent! And with a battery that can be charged just by thinking good thoughts. Right Tim?

With AT&T? Use Amex? Read this!

Paying the phone bill has always been a pain in the ass! But! Here’s something that might help you – If you have an AMEX card, you should check your available promotions.

Here’s how you do it;

Login. Check “Amex Offers For You”.

The promotion you’re looking for is: Spend $150 at AT&T and get $150 back . Hell of a good deal.

Get on it!!

Apple no longer offering iTunes Single of The Week

As of right now, it seems that you may no longer be able get a free ‘Single of the Week’ from iTunes.

Bowm Boooooowwwwwm.

Since 2004 Apple would pick a tune to promote by giving it out on iTunes for a week. Which was awesome, because most people like music, and most people like free things.

This comes after Apple also unexpectedly ended it’s annual 12 days Of Christmas iTunes promotion, where one App or item from iTunes would be given away each day for 12 days after Christmas.

As of yet, there has been no statement from Apple in regard to the disappearance of either.

C’mon Apple, if you give us free things, then we return to buy other things. D’uh.

Eerie iPod disappearance!

Anyone round here notice anything a little…fishy going on lately? Specifically, fishiness emanating from the Apple store?

Well if you haven’t, here’s what’s going on:

The cheapest iPod, the iPod Shuffle, has mysteriously begun to disappear from Apple retail shelves and Apple online…shelves. If you try to buy one now, you might be fresh out of luck.

Apple has actually warned it’s retail employees that stock for the iPod shuffle will be short for an ‘unspecified’ amount of time, and to direct customers towards the online store. Where you might be lucky, but the item won’t ship for an unusually long amount of time – 7-10 business days.

So. Is this supply shortage because of a supply shortage in parts up the production line? Or is it a more ominous clue pointing towards the untimely demise of the iPod Shuffle?

Dun Dun DUUUUN.

So what will be the fate of the beloved $49 iPod Shuffle? Nobody knows! Well, some people at Apple probably know.

Deals of The Week Wednesday!

Welcome to our first Deals Of The Week Wednesday for 2015!

* First up, make sure to check out Best Buy’s outlet clearance for up to 60% off a selection of clearance, open-box, refurbished and pre-owned items. Get in-store pick up unless your items are worth more than $35, in which case you get free shipping, however some items are only available in-store. Sale ends January 17th!

* Get yourself a nice new TV for 2015!  Get a LG 70″ LED  1080p 3D Smart TV for $1999.99 from Groupon.

*Like deals all the time? Like lots and lots of bulk items? Get a  1-Year Sam’s Club Membership PLUS a $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card (with a Facebook share) for just $45 (In-Store Only). Deal only live until January 31st.

*If you’re gonna get sh*t done in 2015, you gotta have sh*t charged!  Get 3D Luxe 10 Ft. MFi-Certified Apple Lightning Charge and Sync Fabric Cables for just  $13.99 from Groupon. 

* That 70 inch tv too expensive? How about a 50″ Vizio  1080pSmart LED HDTV  for just $499.99 PLUS Free Shipping or Free Store Pickup at Best Buy

*Get your language on with Rosetta Stone Level 1–4 in English or French for $179.99 from Groupon. 

* Get your good self to Staples for  $30 Off $150+ Orders using Visa Checkout, Limit 1 per customer. Expires 1/31/15

*Get your game on with a Wii U 32GB Black Deluxe Set PLUS Super Mario 3D World & Nintendo Land for just $270 with free shipping from eBay

There you have it! 2015 deals are looking pretty good so far, and we hope to bring you some STELLAR deals in the months to come! And if you’re in need of any cash to get your hands on these deals, how about selling that stinky old iPhone that’s lying in that bedroom drawer? We’ll take it off your hands and exchange it for cash in no time!

Steve Wozniak to have his own TV Show?

According to the wonderful guys over at Gizmodo, Steve Wozniak, original co-founder of Apple and man of many talents, is going to be the star of his very own reality TV show.

But before you put him in the realm of the Kardashians, rest assured this is not a reality TV show about Wozniak’s crazy life or extended family, or even his business pursuits.

The show is said to be centered on the future in tech as well as looking at the latest and greatest gadgets, and will be co-hosted by awesome former Mythbusters star Kari Byron.

It looks like the show, likely titled ‘The Woz’ will possibly air on the discovery channel but nothing else has come to light yet. Even with this limited information we are looking forward to watching The Woz! 

New 4 inch iPhone model next year?

After upsizing their iPhone models this year to 4.7 inch and 5.5 Inch with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, there are rumors skittering about that next year Apple may be introducing a new smaller iPhone model.

This new model would be 4 inches, which is the size of the 5S and would bring back the one hand ease that some feel they have lost with the larger models. The expected release would be alongside the larger models in the third quarter.

It’s expected that Apple will continue with updates to both of the larger models next year as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have both had great sales. The rumors of the 3rd smaller model may not be amount to anything, but it might make sense for them to still make updates to the smaller model iPhone to cater to that portion of the smartphone market.

Deals Of The Week Wednesday!

Welcome back kids!

Ready for some deals? Yup? Here they are comin’ ‘atcha:

*T-Mobile are offering 4 lines for $100 a month with up to 2.5 GB of 4G LTE data per line until 2016 if you switch your family to T‑Mobile’s Simple Choice Plan. It’s a pretty stellar deal –  take a look to see if it’s right for your family here.

* Also at T-Mobile, but if you’re not currently on a plan, get a T-Mobile Prepaid Phone SIM Card Activation Kits for just $1 + Free Shipping. Go here and enter code SIMDEAL99 at checkout.

* Save 20% AT BEST BUY on one regular-priced small appliance and enter coupon code  SAVE20SMALLS at checkout to receive your savings. Expires: 10-12-14

*Get a Bunta Frosted Macbook Hard-Case Shell with a Silicone Keyboard Cover for $19.99 from Groupon. Because they funky AND protecty. Gotta love that.

* Best Buy have Beats Mixr On-Ear Headphones on sale for $199.99 down from $249.99 plus free shipping. Get an extra $100 off with an .Edu email student discount. 

*Get a Foscam FI8910W Wireless Camera with Optional 9dBi Antenna for $54.99 from Groupon. Unsure what you would use it for? We use ours to spy on our Guinea pig. So you could do that. (Not on our Guinea Pig, you weirdo)

*Get $10 Off $80, $12 Off $99 or $15 Off $120 Coupon for Brookstone online with coupon code AFF625. Expires: 11-30-14

*12-Month Xbox Live Gold Card for $49.99 From Groupon.

* Get $15 Off $75 at HP online with coupon code 15HPSAVE. Expires: 11-05-14

* Got an old car? We’re so cool with that, because old cars are gangsta, duh. But sometimes they need gadgets to bring them up to date. Get an A.M.P. Bluetooth Receiver for $18.99 from Groupon.

Aaaaaaaand we’re dealed right out. Happy shopping, campers.

Don’t microwave your iPhone, please.

So some guys from 4Chan have been doing their dastardly best to throw the iPhone owning world into chaos. You might have seen this floating around the interwebs:

A very nicely produced ad designed to look like it came direct from Apple, introducing an amazing feature that means  you can charge your iPhone in the microwave.

Last year they used their super viral internet ninja skills to spread the world that the then new iPhone 5C and 5C were waterproof, leading to Trusty McTrusterson people all over the world trying to see the proof for themselves. Of course, they weren’t waterproof.

And putting your brand new shiny iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus in the microwave will NOT charge your phone. It will kill your phone, in a horrible, sparky McDeath way.

So please, admire these guys for their ninja viral internet skills, but don’t trust them. They be dastardly.