Apple sends a message to Samsung

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The judicial process involving Apple and Samsung has come to an end, at least until the parties resort. Sure thing that they do. The verdict reached by the jury yesterday afternoon provides that Samsung violated 3 of the 5 patents argued by Apple, for which must pay $119.6 million. A tiny figure if you compare with the $2,200 million demanded by Cupertino. 

Many will say that Apple has won the verdict but they really missed out of receiving every penny of what they asked. If you look at the two contenders will see gigantic companies, both generating the greatest number of benefits in the industry. They have money to bore, does not mind a bunch of million? I think they will not lose sleep.

Personally, I do not understand patents. Nor will go to discuss who copied who or about the nature of software patents and design. What does that strikes me is why this trial. Above all, what Apple wins besides money, denouncing Samsung who also its competitor is a provider of important components.

This is how giants sent errands

"It is not about money, it is about sending a message" - The Joker in The Dark Knight.

In keynote of the original iPhone, Steve Jobs declaring us the paradigm shift saying he was light years ahead of what existed in the market. We saw a few months ago that Samsung was the first to recognize this break and jump on the new concept of smartphone launched by Apple's flagship. This strategy was one of the great plays of the time.

The money is secondary, what matters is that the rest of the industry take good note

Apple appealed that Samsung had copied its designs, patents, devices ... and decided to denounce. To be honest, all without exception large technology companies have been reported in sometime. To prevent others follow the same path of Samsung, the Cupertino went on the offensive, suing Samsung for half the world.

They have won some lawsuits and lost others. In California, Apple won one of the most important condemning Samsung over $900 million. Now, Apple receives $119.6 million. But what Apple wanted was not money but send a message to the rest of the industry, "if we consider that we have copied us, take the consequences":

• Hundreds of lawsuits. 

• Trials worldwide. 

• Meeting the payment of millions in lawyers. 

• Years and years of litigation.

Samsung can meet these expenses, but not all manufacturers are able. Not everyone has that kind of money or have access to the necessary resources. The aim is to use the offensive as a deterrent for others. Add sample to Samsung what might happen to consider that Apple copied.

Apple is preparing a sale of 17 million in bonds to refinance the company

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Although we are facing one of the healthiest companies in the world, all they need to refinance. To counter buying companies and R & D last year, it is necessary that the Company has liquidity. So, Apple is preparing a bond sale of the company amounting to 17 million dollars. 

We are, according to Times, before one of the biggest debt sales of the world. Luca Maestri, hinted during the last earnings call. Apple would be forced to make a similar debt sale which made ​​last year to power refinance.

The good news for Apple are that demand exceeds fifty million dollars, so it will not seem excessive problems with getting money for their payments earlier this year. This maneuver seems that Apple will get attract capital reserve that has abroad.

Tim Cook auction time again: come with him for at least ten thousand dollars

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Exactly one year ago, Tim Cook released a Charitybuzz bidding for the highest bidder could have coffee with him and donate that money to a good cause. Finally paid $ 610,000 for it, so Apple CEO repeats the initiative auctioning a dinner with him. 

The starting bid is again $ 10,000, but it is estimated that the value of that meal with Tim Cook is ten times more. Anyway, seeing what was removed last year, sure someone agrees to pay a much higher figure again. The food, like coffee last year, will be at headquarters that Apple has on its campus in Cupertino.

Unfortunately, my economy keep me pushing. But perhaps some of you can. You can send your bids by 13 May, and of course all the money paid will go to the organization full Robert F Kennedy human rights.

This is as serious: Apple looking to hire responsible for future payments platform

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With both the iWatch rumor and future iPhone, news of a payment platform from Apple had gone into the background. But now from Re/Code, we heard of an active search for product managers and business for a division of mobile payments. What would be coordinating Jennifer Bailey, who takes time directing the e-commerce section of Apple.

According to reports, Apple's ambition in this regard is "very, very serious" and further on the agenda that the talks they had with PayPal. The possibility of buying that rondo Square earlier this month is also a sign that Cupertino have decided to go further with this.

The nearly 600 million iTunes accounts linked to credit cards with funds (and used to make simple purchases of applications and songs) that Apple would have an excellent base to start own shopping system, which linked to TouchID and future devices wearables could make our way to buy change forever. We look forward to the signings that may occur during the year.

Some amazing and strange anecdotes about my God, Steve Jobs

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Steve Jobs, above all, was a person like any other, with their eccentricities and foibles. Just today I have some of the most curious and surprising anecdotes about the life of the charismatic former CEO of Apple.

Although many facts about the history of Steve Jobs, many great feats and an almost mythical image, the fact is that first of all, Steve Jobs was a human, eccentric, witty but ordinary being. Here are some anecdotes that speak a little of the background of this genius that both influenced the world of technology.

Steve Jobs and money

Oddly enough, Jobs was not always a rich guy. Quite the contrary. In her meager beginnings Steve Jobs passed hard times of hardship. The strange thing about it is that, in many cases seemed to give the same. For example, one of Steve Jobs anecdotes told by his ex-girlfriend and mother of Lisa:

According Chrisaan for Rolling Stone explained, at a time when they had no money either and after a genuine act of waste according to the situation (go to movies and dining out), returning to the car they found a fine of 25 dollars for parking. This led to a time of discussion in which Steve Jobs, after a long time patient, getting angry and ended with a cool calm, threw coins and notes they had left to the sea. As if to say that the money was not worth much discussion. But despite desperately need it.

LISA 

Talking about Lisa, many will wonder who she is. Lisa is the result of the relationship between Chrisaan Brennan and Steve Jobs. Name also put the first computer that was creating by Jobs, confirming later: "it clear that we named my daughter" we talking about Lisa, the company's computer. Then the marketing team did their job to sell the acronym, though, developers have sometimes used these initials as a joke, before the mystery as the acronym Let's Invent Some Acronym.

Why are you working?

Another Steve Jobs anecdotes counts as one day, Heidi Roizen, CEO of T / Market and distributes software for Apple long ago received a call from Jobs to discuss negotiations. By starting the conversation, Roizen told him that his father had died while she was traveling in Paris. "What are you doing working?" Jobs replied immediately, "Go home, go your way." When he spoke to her, his attention was delicate and extreme, she says Roizen, probably because his own mother had died a few months ago.

The problem with hygiene 

Not everything that surrounds Steve Jobs was socially correct. Like all eccentrics and geniuses of the world, had some rather quirky ways. Among them are some hygiene problem. Among other things, Steve Jobs enjoyed mainly fish, rejecting any other meat. By eliminating other meats, Jobs thought his body was free of unpleasant odors, so you do not need or showering too frequently or wear deodorant.

So says Walter Isaacson, his authorized biographer who has this and other anecdotes about Steve Jobs. Another anecdotal account of Steve Jobs when he was working as Atari, he was moved to the night shift because of their lack of bodily cleanliness or strange habit of walking around the office barefoot. It also has a biography of Jobs' favorite activities to de-stress during the early years of the company was to wash his feet in the toilet of Apple.

Steve Jobs Monk

Although it is a well known fact, Steve Jobs practiced Buddhism in a very applied way. It was so fond of this philosophy that there was a time when his aspiration was to become a Buddhist monk. One of the anecdotes of Steve Jobs has as after a trip to India, with one of his best friends from Reed College, came back with a shaved head. Very different from the young long-haired Steve Jobs we all remember, and having embraced Buddhism.

Apple's attitude toward money

"Money is a good servant but a bad master" (Alexandre Dumas). 

What is Apple's attitude about money? Other times we have said that what moves and motivates them is to make this great product:

"We are pleased with our revenues, but our goal is not to make money. It may sound a bit frivolous, but it's true. Our goal and what excites us is to make great products. If we succeed, people will like and if we are operationally competent, we will do money" (Jony Ive). 

Apple makes products you like and appeal to emotion, that is something that can not always explain. Apple can not compete with the specifications because the next day a competitor shows a slimmer, more powerful or more memory smartphone. 

So new rules under which they always have advantage over others invented. The Cupertino company often sells because it goes to the heart of people, sensitive part, the irrational. Technology has become a very important element in the massive day for millions of people and, therefore, depends on the tastes of the people. It is subjective to 100%.

Can Apple create a really cheap iPhone? (2nd Part)

Why Apple can make a cheap iPhone (2nd Part)

The three restrictions we have seen before have a weak point: they are based in the past. Look at the history of Apple so far is okay, but do not put too much weight on it or use it as a guide to what will come in the future. Because, how many times Apple has said that he would not do something then wound up doing?

To Apple can create a cheap iPhone would have to resolve all the limitations of the previous post -why Apple can not make a cheap iPhone (1st Part)- wich is not impossible but neither have heard rumors about partnerships with Foxconn and other suppliers. I think new assembly lines, new agreements with partners, new form of distribution, new training etc. in the Apple Stores would be required. That is, a new chain parallel to the premium segment value.

" Not enough to take some scissors and cut the price of the iPhone 5c half, is much more complex "

But then there's the business model. Apple makes money selling hardware now surrounded by its own free software (iOS, OS X, iLife, iWork) and also accompanied by free services (iTunes, iCloud, FaceTime, iMessage). Is a new business model based on services and thought to be possible this cheap iPhone? 

It would not take that Apple completely changed, only that the new iPhone would generate sufficient profits (revenues minus costs) from the different stores of digital content (music, apps, books, movies, series) and accessories. Last week, the darkcore commentator put on the table some very interesting ideas, arguing that Apple make much money with iTunes following its commission (the famous 30% to developers). Few years ago, these commissions iTunes served to cover operating costs.

All that said, what do you think is the scenario that will follow Apple?