The verdict was in Apple’s favor. Of course.

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Since I like Apple I am aware of that there are a lot of lawsuits about patent infringements, but at the same time I haven’t got enough technical knowledge to understand the details. The largest lawsuit of them all, with Apple versus Samsung and also Samsung versus Apple is however of another dimension. Thanks God the jury made the verdict that Samsung has copied Apple’s iPhone on purpose. By some reason the verdict was not the same for the iPad?

I have written about Apple and the copycat Samsung before in my blog.

To me it’s obvious that Samsung has copied Apple in a way that seriously damages their rights as innovators and originators. How hard can it be? You can chose to develop your own products with a sovereign ”personality” made out of technical features, design and choice of materials and then you make sure that you stay outside the greyzone where doubtfulness about copying may occur. Or you do like Samsung, analyze which smartphone is the best on the market and then make sure to copy it, piece by piece – which obviously is what they have done. The goofs even emailed about this so that anyone can read about how their ”development process” was performed.

There will always be an amount of ”inspiration copying” in the overall development. But then it’s in a sound way. One sees how someone has solved a problem, sees how someone else has solved a similar problem and you melt it together to something new. That’s a common way to define creativity. If you follow the development och tech stuff from the beginning then you will naturally see that at certain type of solutions follow each other during the years. But when it’s done in a sound way, everyone makes their own interpretation, so to speak.

My first question is how Samsung could be as bold as they have been? My next question is how Samsung could be as stupid as they have been? I think they have burnt their candle in both ends. A lot of their products will get banned in US which is a considerable part of their market, they will have to pay more than $1 billion to Apple and they have nurtured a lot of developers who have been forced to specialize in copying in stead of innovation and at the same time they have became enemies with one of their biggest (if not THE biggest?) customer for electronical parts… Do you fancy buying a Samsung share? Well, I would not think so…

I wonder how many of Samsung’s devices that will get banned from the US market? How did they dare to take that risk? And yet you hear the choir of complainers go on about the verdict being a lose for the american people, it will reduce their options and the verdict will make it difficult for the developers. Oh, wow… Of course it should be difficult for the developers! Isn’t that part of the job as well as coming up with good solutions? What kind of lazy persons have done this ”copy-developing”? If they really want to make a difference then they should all be happy now when the border for what is allowed has found a perfectly clear contour which means they are forced to think in new ways. Think outside the box. In fact we can all cheer upon the fact that the world now can look forward to another type of development that might give bigger opportunities for developers to test real innovations so that we all can gain from the new ideas instead of the lame copying that used Apple as the motor.

Furthermore, Samsung is not the only one that is occupied with copying among the Android developers. Google has just been too tame by giving access to Android development. The believers have talked warmly about how fantastic and open and optional the Android world is compared to Apple. Of course it is when they can ran around like maniacs without showing any consideration to others… Add the fact that not even developers like to develop for Android because the android users don’t real like to pay for apps – they expect everything to be free. Iphone users however, like to pay. Apparently they appreciate the work that is behind the apps.

I expect Microsoft and Windows 8 to gain from this verdict. They have tried to develop a operating system with a sovereign ”personality”. Cred to Microsoft! Unfortunately it seems that Windows 8 is not so warmly welcomed, but I keep my fingers crossed to make sure they go on and make it better.

Because, I don’t think that the world gets any better if Apple are the only ones being innovative. Apple could also become lazy. To see other’s good solutions gives you energy to perform better. I am glad that the verdict made the rules clear. Let’s all be happy!

Waiting for the bad news about Apple

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I bought my Apple stocks in January and since then I have tried to learn what the stock market is like. Or, rather, what the market for Apple shares is like, because it seems it has a life of it’s own. Apple is an outstanding successful company that comes up with one great, mind-blowing product after another. Apple leads technical innovations when it comes to computers, smartphones and tablets.

I have bought Apple products since April 1988 and the main reason for that is that the products are great and I like all the possibilities these capable tools give me.

A lot of people can’t understand how many people we are that find Apple’s products to be fantastic, so they have created another explanation to why we Apple-fans buy these products and the answer they have found is that we all were mesmerized by Steve Jobs. And, according to that theory, people will stop buying Apple products because Steve Jobs died last autumn.

So, like hungry wolves they watch out for every sign that will fit to their theory. I think they are quite successful too, so that a lot of people who don’t know so much about Apple, actually have noticed this and thinks about it as a truth. Now when Apple reported it’s June quarter results, these wolves find their signs when the result is a little bit lower than what was estimated. But the fact is that Apple still sales an amazing lot of devices…

If I look at what Apple actually performs and how they sell to a larger market all the time I feel very optimistic about Apple’s future. Steve Jobs did a great job, but Tim Cook and the rest of the Apple people are still doing a great job. I can’t agree that Steve Jobs is the only key to future success for Apple. I think he has implanted methods, inspiration and high standards in Apple’s organization and that Apple is about people working together. The first year after his death have probably affected a lot of them emotionally, but I’m convinced that they still do a good job.

I think it’s more important to look outside Apple if you want to find threats to their success.  I think that Windows 8 has the potential to become a threat because it has its’ own personality and Microsoft is a company that is well known. But Microsoft has also done a lot of mistakes, so it might not be possible for them to create a new success. Then there might be someone else. It takes a lot to fight for market shares with Apple, but you never know what the coming innovations will be like. There are still (and will be for ever I guess) ways to make life easier, more productive and more fun for people and someone is bound to get a new idea that will become a worldwide success.

I can’t imagine that the Apple people walks around worrying about how to manage without Steve Jobs. I think they are on their toes to stay hungry and innovative. That’s why I will keep my Apple shares for a very long time.

The unboxing magic

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We love Apple in my house. That’s why it’s a holy moment every time we unbox a new Apple device. We open the box carefully, admires the clever way the package is done and we enjoys it.

The video below is quite the opposite but of course, it’s not Apple… Oh my… they really need to work more on the box.

I have the pleasure to coach an old lady in how to use her iPad. I had quite an unboxing experience with her. She doesn’t live in the ”Apple context” like I do. She doesn’t know all that about design, elegance, beauty, form and function. To her this iPad is just yet another item to own. It was a healthy experience to watch her unbox her iPad. She took off the lid and in the second when I expected her to carefully lift the little plastic tab on the side, she just flipped the whole box and the iPad popped out in a blink of an eye. Wow!

I was shocked. But it was funny! Old folks doesn’t have enough time to spend on non-essentials.

To copy or create?

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I have no respect for Samsung and their way to copy Apple in so many ways. It’s embarrassing. Some people claim that it’s almost impossible to produce smartphones and tablets without using solutions similar to Apple’s. That is of course bullshit and a poor excuse for any copy cat. If you WANT to, it’s possible to come up with solutions that have a ”personality” that’s differs from Apple’s. How hard can it be?

Therefor I am so happy about Windows 8 which is created for both computers and handheld devices. I am not a Microsoft fan and the simple reason is that I think that Apple comes up with better products. Though, when it comes to Windows 8 I think Microsoft has made a huge effort to come up with something that has it’s own personality. I haven’t got a clue about how it works, I can only tell from the looks, but it makes me happy.

I think it’s been rather boring for a while with Apple at the top and no real competitors, just a bunch of ”wanna-be-Apple-companies”. Even Apple needs some competitors to count with. To compete with companies like Samsung that never seems to come up with great ideas could probably turn Apple into a fat cat – content, safe and not trying hard enough.

Also, Apple needs inspiration to keep up the ”Think Different”-attitude. A mental kick, some irritation and a competitor that comes up with good solutions means a lot.

I repeat: I know nothing about how good Windows 8 is when you actually use it, but it looks different from the other solutions I’ve seen and that’s a very good start.

So, even though I still think most people would be happier if they used Apple’s computers and devices, I also think that Microsoft has done a honorable effort to create something of their own. They are worth a lot of credit for that. It will also make it easy for people to recognize Windows 8 because it has a very specific design.

That’s another reason to why I don’t understand all the copy-cats – people will think of them as an option for those who can’t afford Apple or have other reasons for not being able to use the devices they would prefer to use, like on working places were they make overall decisions to buy Android smartphones and everyone seems to get a bit ashamed when they use their HTC or whatever it is. So ashamed that they come up with excuses ”I wish I could have an iPhone of course… but…”

Oh, one more wish to Apple!

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I just realized that I actually have one more wish to Apple. It’s not a small wish. It’s a wish that’s really hot and if my wish comes true I will jump and scream and there is a chance you will see a tear in my eye.

What I want most of all dear Apple, is a big iPad Pro. I love to sketch and draw on my iPad, but the tools are not yet precise enough. If I want to make an illustration for professional use, I have to use my Wacom tablet. I know that it’s possible to buy touch sensitive screens that I can connect to my MacBook Pro, but as I have become used to working on my iPad, everything else starts to feel a bit clumsy.

A big iPad Pro includes a Digital Pro Pen. I would also like to have a stand for it and a separate keyboard so that I also can use it like I use my iMac today. It also includes cooperation by Corel so that they will optimize Corel Painter for this iPad Pro.

Somewhere deep inside I have carried this wish for a long time. I know it’s about time I buy a new Wacom tablet, but I can’t make myself to do that, because I believe so strongly that Apple will deliver this big iPad Pro very soon. If not in 2012 they got to do it in 2013. It would be a natural development of their devices.

I beg you Mr Tim Cook, please make my wish come true! *smiling very nice*