iLounge

Apple has asked a European telecommunication standards body to set basic rules governing how companies license their industry-standard patents. Citing a recently disclosed letter from Apple to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, the Wall Street Journal reports that Apple said the telecommunications industry lacks consistent licensing schemes for the many patents necessary to make mobile devices, and offered suggestions for setting royalty rates.

In addition, the company claimed that the lack of clear guidelines for the licensing of patents on a fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory basis — otherwise known as Frand— has led many companies to demand abnormally high royalty rates from one another, and has thus led to patent infringement lawsuits. “It is apparent that our industry suffers from a lack of consistent adherence to Frand principles in the cellular standards arena,” wrote Bruce Watrous, VP and Chief IP Counsel with Apple. Apple has asked the body to set “appropriate” royalty rates for technology, relative to the number of industrywide patents required to make a device, and has also said that royalties shouldn’t be beyond a common base. Earlier this week, it was revealed that Motorola asked Apple to pay a royalty of 2.25 percent for sales of some iPhones and iPads, a deal that would have been worth over $1 billion in 2011 alone.

Evernote has released an update to its universal iOS app adding a new predictive note titling feature and making several performance and UI improvements. Evernote 4.1.8 can now automatically assign titles to new notes created in the app using information such as location, time, current calendar appointments and other contextual information.  The update also makes improvements to note editing performance, provides easier access to notebook sharing and note formatting options and fixes a number of synchronization issues and other problems. Evernote 4.1.8 is a universal app and is available from the App Store as a free download.

G-Form has unveiled its first protective cases for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Dubbed the X Protect and Extreme Grid, both cases feature a rigid exterior shell and an inner core of the company’s signature RPT material — a composite made from Poron XRD and other proprietary materials — to provide impressive impact protection in a relatively thin package, as well as push-through coverage for the volume and sleep/wake buttons, as well as open access to all other ports and controls. Both cases come in black and yellow and are available for pre-order now for $40 with shipments expected to begin in February.

Photojojo is now offering its iPhone Rangefinder for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Modeled after a classic rangefinder film camera, the four-piece case offers a built-in tripod mount, loops for attaching a camera strap, a working shutter button, a usable viewfinder, a faux front lens that serves as a mirror for self-portraits, an included soft carrying case, and compatibility with Magnetic Cell Lenses, including fisheye, wide angle/macro combo, and 2x telephoto offerings. Photojojo’s iPhone Rangefinder case for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S is available by itself for $65 or in a package with all three lenses for $99.

Announcing its fourth quarter 2011 financial results, newly-added iPhone carrier Sprint revealed that the launch of the handset boosted revenue and subscriber numbers, but also led to a large net loss for the quarter. According to the company, it sold 1.8 million iPhones in the quarter, 40 percent of which were purchased by new customers. That number that helped the company add 1.6 million net subscribers during the quarter, it’s best quarterly result in six years. Operating revenues for the quarter were $8.7 billion, or up five percent over the prior and year-ago quarters, which helped to offset “the impact of increased equipment net subsidies and sales expense associated with the successful launch of the iPhone”. Overall, the company reported a net loss of $1.3 billion for the quarter.

This week’s featured photo is from our iPhones Around the World gallery, and shows a white iPhone 4S humorously placed in front of one of Google’s many Android statues outside the company’s headquarters in Mountain View, CA. To share your photos and to be considered for our Photo of the Week, you simply need to submit your own photo to one of our galleries. So get out there, take some pictures featuring your favorite iPod, iPad, or iPhone and maybe your submission will be our next Photo of the Week!

Angry Bugs has released The Hacker, a new iOS game that takes players back to the green-screen era of computing, placing them in the role of a War Games style hacker. The game “installs” a special Glider Operating System on the iPhone and iPod touch which provides access to connect to remote servers around the world with modules for decryption, synchronization and bypassing of security systems along with a mail system and game emulator. The player must use these tools to hack into and explore remote networks, solving puzzles and mini-games as they hack their way into major global servers to get to the bottom of a sinister plot that unfolds as they wander the ‘net. Game Center integration is also included with leaderboards and over 30 achievements to unlock. The Hacker is available from the App Store for $1, with additional expansion packs available as in-app purchases for $1 each. [via CNET]

YoYo Games has released Froad, the latest game to be built using its GameMaker platform. The new survival game puts players in control of an amphibian tree-dwelling character who must catch his favourite bugs in order to keep his hunger at bay while avoiding nasty bugs such as bees and wasps. Players control the game by tapping on the screen to flick out Froad’s tongue and try to catch as many bugs as possible. The game provides simple, single-tap gameplay with two bug-filled worlds that include both day and night cycles with unique bugs to both capture and avoid. Game Center integration provides six different leaderboards and over 60 achievements to unlock. Froad is a universal app and is available from the App Store for $1.

DigiTech has introduced its new iStomp stompbox for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Working in conjunction with a dedicated app, the iStomp connects to the device via the 30-pin port, and offers four knobs to control effects parameters, a large dedicated pedal, dual 1/4” inputs and outputs, and two included virtual effects pedals, with the ability to buy additional pedals through the app at a price of $5 each. DigiTech’s iStomp stompbox for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch is available now and sells for $230.

Atari has released an update to Breakout: Boost adding a new Valentine’s Day themed level pack available via in-app purchase. Breakout: Boost is a universal iOS adaptation of Atari’s classic arcade brick breaking game, expanding the original concept with enhanced graphics and deeper gameplay features such as unique power-ups and special brick types. The new pack celebrates Valentine’s Day with 50 new romance-themed levels incorporating brick layouts with candy heart sayings and cute pictures. The new pack also includes a special Cupid’s Arrow power up and a new set of achievements. Breakout: Boost is a universal app requiring iOS 4.1 or later and is available in two versions: Breakout: Boost (free) provides five original levels with over 250 more available via in-app purchase in levels packs for $1 each; Breakout Boost+ ($1) provides the same features as the free version with 100 levels included. The Valentine’s Booster Pack is available as a separate in-app purchase for either version for $1.

Hex has debuted its new Vision Classic Leather Watch Bands for the sixth-generation iPod nano. Made from high-quality genuine leather, the Vision Classic offers topstitched embroidered edges, a patented clip-in, clip-out stainless steel plate for attaching the nano, and a traditional buckle closure. Hex’ Vision Classic Leather Watch Bands for the iPod nano 6G are available now in black, white, British tan, and grey, and sell for $50 each.

Apple quietly lost one of its most important iPhone and iPod executives late last year, according to a new report. Citing anonymous sources, 9to5Mac reports that David Tupman, Apple’s Vice President of iPhone and iPod engineering for over a decade, left the company late last year. Tupman was hired by the company shortly before the introduction of the original iPod, and was soon promoted to vice president of iPod engineering, a position that saw him help in the development of every iPod released to date. Tupman was also tapped to help build the iPhone, and, as a result, his title was expanded. In addition, Tupman is listed on around 70 Apple technology patents, including filings related to power and battery life management, noise-canceling ear buds, iPhone power adapters, and interaction with accessories. According to the report, a successor has yet to be named, but Apple is said to be actively pursuing a replacement from inside the company.

Twelve South has rolled out its new HoverBar arm for the iPad 2. Designed to attach to the rear of an iMac or Apple Display with an L-shaped desk stand, the HoverBar features a two-way clamp for a secure connection, the ability to be used on its own when attached to a table, desk, or cabinet, an arm that flexes in all directions, and an iPad clip that sits on a ball tip to allowing for even greater versatility in placement. Twelve South’s HoverBar adjustable arm for the iPad 2 is available now and sells for $80.

Motorola asked Apple to pay a potential royalty of 2.25 percent of sales for some iPhones and iPads last year, according to a new report. Citing a letter filed in a California court last month, the Wall Street Journal reports that Motorola had “demanded” the royalty for a license of its patents. According to the report, some consider the royalty—which would have accounted for more than $1 billion based on iPhone sales in 2011 alone—to be rather pricey, with IP consultant Florian Mueller saying that the high rate was likely offered only because Motorola is required to offer licenses on its industry-standard patents. “[Motorola] wants Apple to refuse it so they can pursue injunctions against Apple,” said Mueller. Notably, the letter does not specify which devices would be affected nor whether such an agreement would be retroactive.

Apple and Walmart subsidiary Sam’s Club are in early discussions over the possibility of the latter’s warehouse club stores playing host to Apple Store-within-a-store locations. Citing anonymous sources, 9to5Mac reports that Apple is looking to expand the store-in-a-store program beyond its existing partnerships with Best Buy and Target. According to the report, a secondary plan is also being discussed, which would involve Sam’s Club selling Mac computers alongside its existing iPhone, iPad, and iPod offerings. The report notes that whatever the outcome of the discussions, it is unlikely such store-within-a-store locations would appear any time soon.

Apple has quietly added new menu options for accessing Genius recommendations for movies and TV shows to the second-generation Apple TV. Mac Rumors reports that early reports noting the change claimed that the menu option was displayed with the name “ATV.Menu.MOVIE.GeniusItem”, suggesting that the option’s appearance may have been premature; however, the issues seems to have been fixed. Genius recommendations for movies and TV shows have been available for sometime in iTunes on the Mac and PC—via the iTunes Sidebar—as well as on all other iOS devices, but are new to the Apple TV.

Shenzhen, China-based Proview Technology has filed for a temporary restraining order to stop Apple from using the iPad name in mainland China. The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple previously filed a challenge against Proview, which claims it owns the iPad name in mainland China; Apple’s challenge was rejected in December, but the company has appealed to a higher court. “We’ve been negotiating with Apple,” said Yang Rongshan, chairman of the Proview arm in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. “I can’t tell you what the status right now since this is a commercial secret, but so far their attitude is still quite ambiguous.” According to the report, the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce is also looking in to a complaint from Proview. Proview registered the name in 2001.

M5859 Studios has released Inside the World of Dinosaurs, an interactive dinosaur encyclopedia for the iPad. Narrated by Stephen Fry, the app provides a comprehensive multimedia encyclopedia that features the entire catalogue of dinosaurs from Archeopteryx to Zuniceratops, including a library of 60 fully animated and interactive dinosaurs displayed in three-dimensional models that users can spin around and view at any angle. Users can zoom in to closely study details such as skin texture and colour, view animated fight sequences and scrub backward and forward to analyze dinosaurs’ walk cycles.

Created as a collaboration with subject matter experts in science, literature and digital art, Inside the World of Dinosaurs provides over 310 fully interactive 3D models, 60 expertly modelled photo-realistic dinosaurs, 40 fully interactive 3D recreations of dinosaurs in mid-flight, 200 pages of detailed original text, 5 hours of narration by Stephen Fry, 84 videos and historical pictures and much more. Inside the World of Dinosaurs requires an iPad with iOS 4.3 or later and is available from the App Store for $14.

Sprite Labs has released an update to Paint FX, its photo effects editor for iOS, adding native iPad support and several new filters and effects. Paint FX is a photo effects editor for iOS that provides the ability to apply filters and effects to an entire photo or only specific areas of a photo as well as the ability to layer multiple effects on top of each other. The app provides a large number of pre-defined filters and effects that can be further customized by the user including adjustments for brightness, contrast and saturation, and masking tools allow users to apply a given set of effects to only specific portions of an image. Resulting images can be shared on Facebook or sent via e-mail. With the most recent updates, Paint FX is now a universal app, adding native iPad support and higher-resolution photo support for the iPad 2 and significantly extends the number of filters and effects available. Paint FX is available from the App Store for $2.

AT&T has started to throttle—or downgrade the data speeds of—customers on unlimited data plans that go over 2GB in data usage for the month. As AT&T customer John Cozen wrote on his blog, “I received a message during my last billing cycle, warning I was in the top 5% of my region and would experience reduced data speeds next time I reach that level of data use. I immediately checked my data usage on the AT&T iOS app. 2.1 GB. Less than I expected considering AT&T offers a 3GB plan for $30 a month. The same amount I’ve paid for the unlimited data plan since signing up with them many years ago. AT&T no longer offers an unlimited data plan, anyone still on it has been grandfathered in.”

“Data consumption by all smartphone customers, including the top 5 percent of smartphone data customers, varies by month and by market,” said Emily Edmonds, Director, AT&T Corporate Communications. “As of August 2011, the average data use across the country by the top 5 percent of AT&T smartphone customers was 2 GB per month.”