Apple posts 'apology' to Samsung on U.K. website!!

As required by a U.K. court, Apple has posted a notice on its website that says Samsung did not copy Cupertino with its Galaxy lineup of tablets and smartphones. Well, sort of.
In the notice, accessible via the "Samsung/Apple UK judgement" link on apple.co.uk, Apple acknowledges that the High Court of Justice of England and Wales found that that Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do not infringe on Apple's design patent for the iPad.

But those hoping for a mea culpa from Cupertino shouldn't hold their breath. Apple goes on to toot its own horn and highlight the parts of the judge's ruling that criticize Samsung's tablets - particularly that bit about how the Galaxy Tab lineup is "not as cool" as the iPad.

"The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking," the judge wrote. The Galaxy Tabs, though, "do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design."

Apple concludes by pointing out that judges in Germany and the U.S. have ruled in Apple's favor on patent infringement cases involving Samsung.

Apple did not pen this note out the goodness of its heart, of course. In July, Judge Colin Birss of the High Court ordered Apple to post a note on its website and publish an ad in magazines and newspapers to say that Samsung did not rip off Apple when it designed its tablets. Not surprisingly, Apple was not pleased and appealed the decision, so its public apology was delayed. But the U.K.'s Court of Appeals last week upheld the lower court's decision. Apple has apparently decided not to take the issue to the U.K. Supreme Court, and posted the notice.

The full notice is below. Also check out PCMag's roundup of Apple's Most Notable Apologies.

Samsung / Apple UK judgment

On 9th July 2012 the High Court of Justice of England and Wales ruled that Samsung Electronic (UK) Limited's Galaxy Tablet Computer, namely the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do not infringe Apple's registered design No. 0000181607-0001. A copy of the full judgment of the High court is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Patents/2012/1882.html.

In the ruling, the judge made several important points comparing the designs of the Apple and Samsung products:

"The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking. Overall it has undecorated flat surfaces with a plate of glass on the front all the way out to a very thin rim and a blank back. There is a crisp edge around the rim and a combination of curves, both at the corners and the sides. The design looks like an object the informed user would want to pick up and hold. It is an understated, smooth and simple product. It is a cool design."

"The informed user's overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool."

That Judgment has effect throughout the European Union and was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 18 October 2012. A copy of the Court of Appeal's judgment is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/1339.html. There is no injunction in respect of the registered design in force anywhere in Europe.

However, in a case tried in Germany regarding the same patent, the court found that Samsung engaged in unfair competition by copying the iPad design. A U.S. jury also found Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple's design and utility patents, awarding over one billion U.S. dollars in damages to Apple Inc. So while the U.K. court did not find Samsung guilty of infringement, other courts have recognized that in the course of creating its Galaxy tablet, Samsung willfully copied Apple's far more popular iPad.

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Micromax beats Apple, Samsung in the Indian tablet market: Report!! :D

Tech genie

3 hours ago

According to a CyberMedia Research (CMR) report, Micromax has emerged as the leading brand in the India's tablet market, ahead of the international brands such as Apple and Samsung. The report, India Quarterly Media Tablet Market Review - between April and June this year, says Micromax had 18.3 percent share in tablet volume s

ales, while Samsung stood second with 13.3 per cent. Apple was on the third spot with a market share of 12.3 per cent during the review period.

Micromax's CEO Deepak Mehrotra says the next quarter would be better, as the company had only one tablet in that review period. “We, at present, have a portfolio of five tablet PCs and the numbers next quarter should be better,” Mehrotra said.

Micromax has so far launched its Funbook-series tablets, which are priced between Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 10,000. The company forayed into the tablet segment with the Funbook tablet. Later, it launched Funbook Pro, Funbook Alpha, Funbook Infinity and the latest Funbook Talk. Apart from Micromax, there are quite a few Indian manufacturers such as Zync, Zen Mobile, Kobian and Karbonn, selling low-cost tablets in the market.

Apple and Samsung, on the other hand, sell their tablets at relatively higher price. Apple's latest iPad costs around Rs. 38,000 whereas the Samsung tablets' price range from Rs. 19,300 to Rs. 37,500.

“During the second quarter of 2012, about 47.4 per cent of tablet sales were from new entrants focussed on addressing application areas in education and entertainment segments. This trend demonstrates clearly that vendors are positioning their devices at India's youth,” said Faisal Kawoosa, Lead Analyst, CMR Telecoms Practice, in a release.

The report further points out growing demand for the tablets in the country. According to the report, tablet PC sales across brands surged by over 60 percent, as compared to the first three months of 2012 (Jan-Mar). The sales stood at about 5.5 lakh units during the April to June period.

A statement on behalf of CyberMedia says India's tablet market has become quite competitive even though it was still at a nascent stage. The data shows the second quarter of 2012, about 90 vendors released new devices into the market, and the average price of a tablet fell to a little above Rs. 13,000 from Rs. 26,000 in 1Q 2012. Majority of vendors in early 2012 launched their products in the Rs. 5,000-10,000 price range.