Mix: Apple Environmental Update, ngmoco, iPod lawsuit

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Mix: Apple Environmental Update, ngmoco, iPod lawsuit

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has posted a new update discussing the company’s environmental progress through 2008 and announcing new Product Environmental Reports for each new Apple product introduced. “For the past several years, Apple has made a concerted effort to be more transparent about the steps we are taking to protect the environment and make our business more sustainable. In this environmental update, I’d like to inform you of our recent progress and introduce you to a groundbreaking system of reporting that we believe is unmatched in our industry,” Jobs writes. “We’re approaching this issue at a product level because we think it’s the best way to help our customers make informed decisions about their own carbon footprint and how to reduce it. I encourage you to check out these new reports.”

iPhone and iPod touch game developer and publisher ngmoco has revealed its first three releases. Described by the company as a “flagship premium game,” Rolando is a platform-style game developed by Hand Circus in which players will need to solve puzzles and navigate obstacles through 36 levels in order to save the world from “forces of darkness.” It will be available later this fall. MazeFinger is an arcade-style game in which players must touch their way through 1000 unique mazes while battling the clock. It will be available on the App Store this weekend for $1. Topple is a fast-paced tower-building game with multiple levels and game modes. It will be available later this month.

Taiwanese manufacturer Luxpro has filed a lawsuit against Apple with the United States District Court in Arkansas, accusing the company of “unending aspiration to monopolize the worldwide MP3 player market by preventing fair competition from smaller MP3 player manufacturers.” The complaint goes on to state that Apple “deliberately makes digital music purchased at the iTunes Store inoperable with its competitor’s MP3 players.” Apple has yet to comment on the matter.

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Comments

1

Apple should counter-countersue Luxpro for “deliberately encouraging a monopoly on MP3 players by only manufacturing cheap knock-offs and not investing in their own R&D;.”

It makes about as much sense.

Posted by Dan Woods on October 16, 2008 at 11:13 PM (PST)

2

#1 - No, it doesn’t.

Posted by BlahBlahBlah on October 17, 2008 at 12:45 AM (PST)

3

***

I think the judge is going to laugh like a Simpsons cartoon trial hearing this, I mean, is this what humanity has to contribute ? You make some great product and in turn get sued for being successful ! What if they win ? Should Apple shut down iPod production forever ?? Always the easy way out.. try building a better player than iPod instead for goodness’ sake !

Posted by ramasaurus on October 17, 2008 at 1:57 AM (PST)

4

“The complaint goes on to state that Apple ‘deliberately makes digital music purchased at the iTunes Store inoperable with its competitor’s MP3 players.’ “

I thought Apple had DRM free music on iTunes. I wouldn’t know I still don’t buy music on iTunes, but I use and love iTunes

Posted by Nick on October 17, 2008 at 4:31 AM (PST)

5

Hard to claim a monopoly when you can just as easily buy your DRM-free music from other sources (Amazon.com, WalMart, etc.)

Posted by bryan on October 17, 2008 at 6:08 AM (PST)

6

@ bryan: not if you’re not in the United States. Apple does have an overwhelming majority of the licenses for sale throughout the world that they, in turn, lock down both through their DRM as well as their regional lockouts based on your payment information. Now, admittedly, much of this lockdown comes at the behest of the music labels themselves, either because they genuinely want DRM “protection” or because, like in the U.S., they’re actively punishing Apple for not playing ball on their terms, but that doesn’t change the facts of the case:

Apple is the number one music retailer throughout a large chunk of this Earth and they continue to lockdown most of that music to their own players. At this point in the game, there’s no reason for Apple to continue their refusal to license FairPlay and if a arguably misdirected lawsuit like this either pushes Apple and the labels to move faster on doing away with DRM or, at least, licensing Fairplay, the consumer will benefit.

We should stop being so stupid: Apple’s nigh monopoly success does not benefit us as their customers. Anything that forces them to be more open is only good for us.

Posted by Code Monkey in Midstate New York on October 17, 2008 at 6:23 AM (PST)

7

#6 - Thanks for typing what I was too lazy to type. I am not a US citizen and advocate more power to the consumer.

Posted by BlahBlahBlah on October 18, 2008 at 11:29 AM (PST)

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