Apple and Cisco rise, but chips weigh on techs

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Shares of Apple Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. rose on Monday, but semiconductor stocks weighed down the tech sector.

Apple (US:AAPL) shares rose 1.7% to close at $595.03 after the technology powerhouse said downloads of its new Mountain Lion operating system topped 3 million in four days, the most successful operating system launch in its history. Read more on Mountain Lion's popularity.

The patent infringement legal battle between Apple and Samsung also goes before a U.S. federal court in San Jose on Monday. Apple has accused Samsung of violating patents related to technologies used in the iPhone and the iPad.

Shares of Cisco (US:CSCO) gained 1.2% to close at $15.87, one of the top gainers on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (US:DJIA), which was down 3 points at 13,076.



“I think both are seeing relief rallies today,” Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said in emailed comments. “Both stocks were under pressure last week, Apple with earnings and Cisco with the VMware acquisition of Nicira ... At the end of the day, they are still two of the better companies in technology.”

Cisco lost 4.1% last week after analysts speculated that VMware’s acquisition of Nicira could pose a threat to the networking giant. Apple fell 3.2% last week after the company missed Wall Street’s earnings estimates for its fiscal third quarter.

The VMware acquisition, followed by Monday’s announcement from Oracle Corp. (US:ORCL) that it has agreed to buy Xsigo Systems, a network virtualization technology company, heightened the focus on the so-called “software-defined networking” and the impact on other software players like Citrix Systems.(US:CTXS)

Shares of Citrix (US:CTXS) slumped 5.9% to close at $73.25, while VMware (US:VMW) slipped 3.5% to close at $92.37.

Mizuho Securities analyst Gabriel Lowy said in a note, “We believe investors are overreacting to the hype and acquisition flurry around software defined networking, most recently with Oracle’s acquisition of Xsigo. The weakness in shares of both VMware and Citrix is an overreaction in our view, presenting a buying opportunity in both, particularly Citrix.”

Meanwhile, the chip sector was in the red, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index(US:SOX) down 1%.

Wedbush analyst Betsy Van Hees cited investor worries related to the third-quarter forecasts from the sector.

“We think Q2 earnings for the most part have been in-line with some notable beats, but Q3 guidance has been well below seasonal,” she said in emailed comments.

“I think investors may be taking some profits today given the big move in the last two weeks of the Philadelphia Index vs. the S&P as concerns over Europe and the strength of the broader market may be moving off the back burner and back to forefront of investors minds,” she added.

Highlighting the decline was SanDisk Corp. (US:SNDK), shares of which lost 3%, closing at $41.17

This article comes from:http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-07-30/markets/32932699_1_agee-analyst-shaw-wu-cisco-systems-apple

Apple earns a place on Chinese blacklist

The consumer watchdog based in the southern province of China, Guangdong, has included technology giant Apple on a "company integrity" blacklist.

The company's after-sales service policies has come under fire from the China Consumer Association (CCA), who researches and monitors company and consumer policies affecting Chinese customers. Described as "unfair", National Business Daily reports that strong customer dissatisfaction within aftercare has resulted in numerous complaints.

The China Consumer Association released a report documenting an investigation into the support structure and policies of the popular technology developer last week.

The report focused on a number of complaints made during the first half of 2012, including the case of a customer named Wang -- who needed his iPhone 4 repaired. Although it was within the official warranty period, Apple replaced the parts but refused to renew the warranty.

The Chinese report singled out a number of electronics companies that maintain "poor" after-sales care -- including some that refuse to offer such a service altogether.

The CCA has previously branded Apple's policies as "unfair", and some critics suggest that recent policy changes made by the company to alleviate some of their customer's dissatisfaction is not enough. Pointing to a clause in Apple's repair policy, according to National Business Daily, it apparently states that the technology giant is able to use old, spare parts to repair dysfunctional devices -- and as users must hand defective parts back to Apple, suspicion exists that these parts may be repaired as part of the system, to be used once more.

The China Consumer Association raises the point that potentially, Apple's current policies may impede on Chinese consumer rights and protection laws. Apparently, there has also been cases of complaints made against the company due to product damage occurred in transit -- which Apple takes no responsibility for.

There are currently no official Apple stores within the southern province of Guangdong, although recent rumors have suggested that new stores may soon be appearing within Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The nearest outlet is currently located in Hong Kong.

This article comes from:http://www.zdnet.com/apple-earns-a-place-on-chinese-blacklist-7000001781/

Apple to release new Mac operating system 'Mountain Lion' Wednesday

Apple Inc. will release its new operating system for Mac computers on Wednesday, with features borrowed from mobile devices and a tighter integration with online file storage.

Dubbed Mountain Lion, the new software narrows the gap between the PC and phone software packages, making Mac personal computers work more like iPhones and iPads.

It's similar to what Microsoft Corp. is doing with its forthcoming Windows 8 system. That system, to be released Oct. 26, will bring the look and user interface of Windows Phone to PCs.

Mountain Lion will cost $20 and will be sold only as a download. Only computers running the two most recent versions of Mac OS, Lion and Snow Leopard, can be upgraded.

Macs bought on or after June 11 can be upgraded for free.

Apple previously announced Mountain Lion's features, but it hadn't disclosed the exact availability date until Tuesday's release of its earnings for the April-June quarter. Apple provided no new details in that release.

Among the features of Mountain Lion:
-- The new software will have better integration with social networks such as Facebook Inc.'s. It will have built-in features to facilitate sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and other services. For instance, you'll get notifications when you get a message or a mention in a Facebook or Twitter post. You need to sign in only once, and you can share directly from other apps you are using.
-- Power Nap keeps your Mac updated even while it's in power-saving "sleep" mode. It will get your email messages, back up your files and download software updates automatically. It will work with recent MacBook Air computers and the higher-end MacBook Pro model, the one with the sharper, "Retina" display.

-- A new Messages app, copied from Apple's mobile operating system, will replace iChat. It will allow you to send messages to other Apple users, whether that person is on a Mac or an Apple mobile device.

-- Mountain Lion will be integrated with iCloud, the new Internet storage service designed for the mobile devices.

-- The software will bring dictation to Macs, essentially allowing the computer to type as you talk.

-- Game Center will store high game scores and help users find opponents on both Macs and Apple mobile devices.
This article comes from:http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/07/24/apple-to-release-new-mac-operating-system-mountain-lion-wednesday/

Why An iPad Mini Will Crush Google's Nexus 7

We don’t know when it will arrive. We don’t know what it will cost. We don’t even know — for certain — if it will ever materialize.But we do know this: Google’s $199 Nexus 7 is quick, slick, and pocketable. The fact Google’s 7-inch tablet has done so well since its earlier this month only ups the odds Apple will respond. And if, as rumored, Apple does launch a compact version of its iPad tablet computer, it will almost certainly crush Google’s Nexus 7.

Here’s why:
More content — The Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple has done more deals. Result: Apple’s iTunes music store has more songs. Apple can offer more movies: unlike Google, Apple offers movies from Fox. And Apple’s TV offerings include more than a half-dozen major channels that are absent from Google Play. And that’s a big deal, considering that once you own a piece of content purchased from Apple, it’s easy to move it to your other Apple devices.

More applications — Yes, there are plenty of apps available for Google’s Android smartphone software. Very few, however, are optimized for tablets. By contrast there are hundreds of thousands of apps available for Apple’s iPad.
Better distribution — Visiting the Forbidden City in Beijing? An Apple Store is just a few steps away. Apple operates hundreds of retail outlets in more than a dozen countries. Its products are sold at Best Buy and on Amazon.

Apple won’t screw up — The Google Nexus is the most polished Android tablet yet. It’s got a zippy four-core processor with a knack for slick graphics from Nvidia. The ASUS-built device’s round edges and soft-touch back panel feel more expensive than the device’s $200 price would suggest. And yet polish and price are what Apple does best. None of the devices it sells are clunky, and — outside of its line of Macintosh computers — it doesn’t leave its competitors a ‘price umbrella’ where it can undercut Apple’s product line. In other words, nothing will get in the way of Apple pressing its three other advantages — more content, more applications, and a better distribution — hard.


This article comes from:http://www.forbes.com/sites/briancaulfield/2012/07/23/why-an-ipad-mini-will-crush-googles-nexus-7/

Australia Judge Calls Apple-Samsung Dispute Over 3G ‘Ridiculous’

Samsung Electronics Co. and Apple Inc. (AAPL) (AAPL)’s patent dispute over wireless transmission technology is “ridiculous” and might be best settled in mediation, the judge overseeing the case in Australia said.

Samsung sued Apple claiming the maker of iPhones is infringing three patents covering data transmission over the 3G wireless spectrum. The suit was in response to Apple’s claim that Samsung stole its design ideas for computer tablets and phones. A trial scheduled to run for three months began today before Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett.

Apple refused to pay a license fee for the technology that allows phones to conduct multiple tasks including taking calls while uploading photos to the Internet, Samsung’s lawyer Neil Young said at the start of the trial. Apple was willing to pay and Samsung refused, the Cupertino, California-based company’s lawyer Stephen Burley said.

“Why on earth are these proceedings going ahead?” Bennett asked the lawyers in court today. “It’s just ridiculous.” A similar dispute between any other two companies would be immediately ordered to mediation, she said.

“Why shouldn’t I order the parties to mediation?” she asked. She said she would expect an answer before the end of the week.

The Australian trial is part of a global dispute between the two companies and a prelude to proceedings in the U.S. and U.K.

$312 Billion
Samsung, the biggest maker of smartphones, and Apple, the largest seller of tablet computers, are fighting for an increased share of a handset market that Bloomberg Industries said was worth $312 billion last year. Apple has won a ban on the sale of Samsung’s Galaxy 10.1 tablet in the U.S. and failed to win a ban in the U.K., pending patent infringement trials in those countries.

“Both companies are fighting every single battle, no matter how small, with great intensity,” John Swinson, a partner specializing in intellectual property at King & Wood Mallesons in Brisbane, said in a phone interview.

Whatever the outcome of the trial, the losing side will probably appeal, Swinson said.“You could say, they’re working out the issues for the appeal court.” Fiona Martin, a spokeswoman for Apple in Sydney, declined to comment on the trial.

This article comes from:http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-22/samsung-and-apple-global-patent-fight-moves-to-australia-trial

Fotopedia Launches China iPad App on iPad-in-China Day

Just in time for the new iPad’s arrival in China, Fotopedia, which publishes iOS-based photo and travel apps, has introduced a new iPad app geared toward China.

The free app, called Fotopedia China, features high-res photos of various provinces, regions and cities throughout the nation, as well as descriptive captions, maps, Wikipedia entries and recommendations for other destinations.

Like another one of my favorite apps, Here on Earth, Fotopedia’s app is part travel porn and part travel planning. In addition to the 5,000 crowdsourced photos currently available within the app, users have the ability to add, with one click, images and stories to a “My Trips” folder. Through a new partnership with Expedia, users can actually book travel — and not just put photos in a daydream folder.

Based on some light browsing through Fotopedia China, the Expedia integration doesn’t feel totally seamless right now, popping up as full pages in between photos and taking you out of Fotopedia entirely when you click on an Expedia ad. If you’ve already got the Expedia app on your device, you’ll be directed to that app, and if not, you’re prompted to download the app.

But for users so inspired by Victoria Peak in Hong Kong, Temple of Heaven in Beijing or the Huangpu River in Shanghai that an immediate booking is in order, the detour to a travel site could be a coup.

The China app marks the 11th iOS app for Fotopedia, which was created in 2008 by five former Apple employees under a company named Fotonauts Inc. Jean-Marie Hullot, the company’s founder and CEO, says its 10 previous apps have been downloaded more than 12 million times, with more than 20 percent of app downloads coming from China, followed by the U.S. The iPad audience, in particular, is growing, with 30 percent of users now checking out Fotopedia from the tablet device.“China is our No. 1 market; over the past 18 months, it’s the market that’s growing the fastest,” Hullot said. “So we’re excited to finally bring an app about China to that market.”

This article comes from:http://allthingsd.com/20120719/fotopedia-launches-china-ipad-app-on-ipad-in-china-day/

Does Obama think Steve Jobs didn't build Apple?

 
“To say what he said is to say that Steve Jobs didn't build Apple Computer or that Bill Gates didn't build Microsoft or that Henry Ford didn't build Ford Motor Company or that Ray Croc didn't build McDonald's or that Papa John's didn't build Papa John's Pizza,” Romney said today at a town hall in Ohio. “This is the height of foolishness. It shows how out of touch he is with the character of America. It's one more reason his policies have failed. It's one more reason why we have to replace him in November.”

It’s not a new line. Here’s what Romney said yesterday: “The idea to say that Steve Jobs didn't build Apple, that Henry Ford didn't build Ford Motor; to say something like that is not just foolishness. It's insulting to every entrepreneur, every innovator in America. And it's wrong.”

It’s part of the Romney campaign’s latest condemnation of the president, who it says is anti-business. The Jobs charge is based on the Romney campaign’s reading of President Obama’s speech on Friday in Virginia, in which he said, in part: “If you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.”

But does that mean the president doesn’t believe Steve Jobs built Apple? Here’s what Obama said in his statement after Steve Jobs died:

“By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity.”

This article comes from:http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/18/12815514-does-obama-think-steve-jobs-didnt-build-apple