Apple

Apple has lashed out at HTC with a lawsuit alleging 20 different patent infringements related to the iPhone's user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. The violated patents center on touch and gesture features, including finger-swipe unlocking mechanisms, power conservation, touch-screen scrolling, and accelerometer capabilities. Apple seeks to ban the sale of HTC phones running Google's Android operating system as it allegedly copies iPhone functionality. Windows Mobile is also accused of stealing iPhone hardware decoders.

Apple has hired former Microsoft and Mozilla security specialist Window Snyder to help secure its Mac ecosystem. Snyder, who last worked as Mozilla's security chief, confirmed she is joining Apple as senior product manager for security.

At Mozilla, Snyder introduced the concept of threat modeling into the Firefox development process and spearheaded a metrics project to measure the effectiveness of the open source group's secure development efforts.

At least eleven 15-year-old children were discovered to be working last year in three factories which supply Apple. The company did not name the offending factories, or say where they were based, but the majority of its goods are assembled in China.

Apple also has factories working for it in Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, the Czech Republic and the United States.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs told investors at Thursday's shareholder meeting that his company's massive war chest of $40 billion gives it security and flexibility, but while a stock buy-back won't drive up AAPL shares, making big and bold moves will.

The CEO did not, however, indicate how Apple intends to use its stockpile of cash and securities. According to Reuters, Jobs told investors that he believed putting the money into a dividend or share buyback would not influence the price of AAPL stock. The meeting was held Thursday at Apple's corporate campus in Cupertino, Calif.

Apple Inc. may soon update its MacBook Pro laptops since checks show supplies of the computer are more limited than usual, an analyst said Wednesday. In a client note, Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu said that tight supply could be a result of strong demand for the laptop, an upcoming update or both.

When reading comments on articles about Mac security, you find many people who are in denial about malware that targets the Mac. Granted, there are far fewer viruses, worms and Trojan horses affecting Macs than Windows PCs, but the risk is real, and it’s getting worse. In fact, the complacency of Mac users, who have almost been led to believe that their platform is germ-free, may lead to more serious outbreaks should virulent malware target the Mac. Most Mac users don’t know how to react to a malware attack.

This is it folks! If you'be been waiting to secure your slot on getting the Apple iPad when it goes out later in March, prepare yourself and your credit cards and watch out for that pre-order button to appear on the Apple online store. Yes, rumor has it that Apple might actually start accepting pre-orders on the 25th. But I think it should read - Apple "should" actually start accepting pre-orders on the 25th.

In the wake of the iPad launch, Apple CEO Steven P. Jobs launched into a cross-country media tour. Even as his much ballyhooed tablet was being picked apart by critics who questioned its ability to serve as a competent eBook reader, Mr. Jobs visited The Wall Street Journal and other major news industry players in an effort to boost the device's public perception.

However, Mr. Jobs found the folks at the WSJ were asking him the same question, a question that had infuriated him time after time -- "Why doesn't the i have Flash?"

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has reportedly continued his campaign against Adobe's Flash video technology, this time at a meeting with The Wall Street Journal, according to a report in Valleywag.

People who were at a recent meeting Jobs had with some of the paper's executives told the Gawker-owned site that Jobs dismissed Flash as "a CPU hog," full of "security holes," and "old technology" and would therefore not be including the technology on the iPad, or presumably, the iPhone. (Adobe did recently promise to make the Mac version of its browser plug-in faster.)

Users who bought MacBooks between May 2006 and December 2007 that are experiencing hard drive problems may be covered under a new repair extension program. Apple announced the repair extension for users of the 13" notebook models on Monday.

"If your MacBook was purchased in the date range listed above and shows a flashing question mark on the screen, please take it to Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider and they will examine the hard drive to confirm if it is eligible for a replacement, free of charge, under this program," the company said.