When Apple finally unveiled the iPad Mini, it was quite obvious they missed the mark. Instead of offering up the 7-inch tablet killer many tech pundits expected, Apple essentially revealed a smaller iPad 2 with specs that failed to compete with the likes of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. The best part of the announcement came in the price. Not only did Apple release an inferior product, but they went ahead and priced it well above its competitors!
Apple was recently ordered by a UK judge to publicly announce, on their website and in adverts, that Samsung had not infringed on its design rights. Naturally, Apple appealed this decision, however, they lost the appeal and were forced to comply. Well, Apple certainly complied, only I’m betting it’s not in the way the UK courts intended. In fact, they basically give the UK courts a big middle finger.
The iPad Mini was announced today, and frankly, it missed the mark. The iPad Mini will simply have no effect on non-Apple users. Apple needed to go $299 or less to make the iPad Mini seep into consumers heads and play devil’s advocate. At $329, that simply isn’t going to happen.
Apple has just lost one of its magic patent bullets thanks to a non-final Office action by the USPTO. Patent No, 7,469,381 (used against Samsung in California) has been declared invalid after evidence supporting prior art (as well as being obvious) was brought about during a reexamination request.
This news is not only great for Samsung, but many other manufacturers who are currently caught up in Apple’s legal charades.
Another day, another public humiliation. At least that’s what UK judges have in mind for Apple. After losing a legal claim against Samsung, a London judge ruled that Apple must “correct the damaging impression” caused by their “copycat” claims. The ruling forces Apple to publicly announce — both on their website and with adverts in publications such as the Daily Mail, Financial Times and T3 Magazine — that Samsung had not infringed on its design rights. Apple appealed this decision, of course. However, the judgement stands and the public humiliation must commence as an appeals judge has decided not to overturn the decision.
