Apple Inc. won the dismissal of Proview Electronics Co.’s California lawsuit seeking to block it from using the iPad name, according to a copy of the court order obtained by Bloomberg News.

First filed in California in February, Proview’s complaint asserts that Apple acted ‘with oppression, fraud and/or malice” when it purchased the iPad moniker from the company through a UK proxy named IP Application Development, Ltd. (IPAD, Ltd). At the time, Proview attorney Xie Xianghui once again made statements that later turned out to be incongruous with actual court proceedings.

In an statement, Proview lawyer Christopher Evans said that California decision to dismiss “was not based on the merits of the case”. An Apple spokesperson rebutted the claim and reiterated that the company legally purchased the rights and that “Proview refuses to honor their agreement with Apple in china”.

Apple successfully argued that that case should be dismissed because the agreement required that the dispute to be resolved in Hong Kong.

Apple “provides evidence that plaintiff specifically requested Hong Kong forum and is litigating there currently”, Judge Mark H. Pierce wrote in his May 4th decision. Proview “does not, in opposition, present evidence that demonstrates that enforcement of the forum selection clause is unreasonable or unfair”, Pierce wrote.

The trademark battle begun in 2010 when struggling Proview threatened to sue Apple for $1.5 billion, claiming that a previous agreement to sell the global trademark does not include the Chinese market. Since then, Proview changed its track and claimed that iPad trademark was illegitimate as it went through a Taiwanese affiliate and not the parent company in Hong Kong. Proview Electronics Co. is a subsidiary of Proview International Holdings Ltd., a nearly dead corporation.

Source: iPad News – California Judge Throws Out Proview Lawsuit Against Apple

Apple has just released its iOS 5.1.1 update for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. The update fixes so many bugs, including the one affecting iPad 3 that resulted users losing access to their cellular data connection until the tablet is rebooted.

This is the first iOS update for an iPad 3 and includes following improvements and bug fixes:

• Improved reliability of using HDR option for pictures taken using Lock Screen shortcut

• Addresses the bugs that prevents new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks

• Fixes bugs that affects AirPlay video playback in certain circumstances

• Better reliability to sync Safari bookmarks and Reading List

• Fixes issue where ‘Unable to purchase’ alert could be displayed after successful purchase

• Prior to the update the only solution to the problem was to reboot an iPad.

However, Apple does not mention anything of fixing the ‘Batterygate’ issue reported to affect iPad 3. ‘Batterygate was a term to describe an affect first reported by Dr. Raymond Soneira, President of DisplayMate. During the testing, he noticed that an iPad 3 continues to charge the battery for an extra hour after the battery meter reaches 100 percent, and that charging the iPad 3 for an extra hour resulted in extra 1.2 hours of runtime.

There are some other minor bug fixes or feature changes buried within the iOS 5.1.1, but that will be left for the users to discover.

Source: iPad News – Apple Launches Improved AirPlay Playback, iPad Network Switching & iOS 5.1.1 HDR

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Logitech announced on Thursday May 3rd, the launch of its Solar Powered Keyword Folio, a folding case for the new iPad and iPad 2 that includes a solar-powered keyboard with Bluetooth.

As the name suggests, the solar-powered keyboard folio is a folio-style case that features a built-in Bluetooth keyboard powered via an integrated solar panels that charges the battery when exposed to light, the built-in magnets that activates the automatic sleep/wake functionality, and two different stand angels.

The Logitech solar-powered keyboard will be available in the market later this month and sells for $130.

Very similar to the Apple’s Smart Cover, the folio also folds to serve as a stand for the iPad, with two positions available as, an upright orientation offering the full access to the keyboard and a more reclined position that access to just the bottom row of the keyboard for the media playback controls.

The solar cells appears to be on the outer side of folio holding the keyboard, thus it seems to be charging while typing is not possible.

Source: iPad News – New Solar-Powered Keyboard For iPad From Logitech

The shipments of iPad dropped little during the first quarter, but Apple still managed to maximize its global tablet market share to 68 percent. However, Amazon did not fare as well, shipping to the third place in the tablet race.

“Apple reasserted its dominance in the market this quarter, driving huge shipment totals at a time when all but a few Android vendors saw their numbers drop precipitously after posting big gains during the holiday buying season” said Tom Mainelli, IDC research director.

“Apple’s move to position the iPad as an all-purpose tablet, instead of just a content consumption device, is resonating with consumers as well as educational and commercial buyers”, Mainelli said. “And its decision to keep a lower priced iPad 2 in the market after it launched the new iPad in March seems to be paying off as well.

It is to be noted that Amazon’s share of market tumbled to just over 4% in first quarter from 16.8% in fourth quarter, as demand for the Kindle fire cooled off. Samsung is now the (distant) #2 player in the market, with Amazon third, Lenovo fourth and Barnes & Noble fifth.

IDC says that it expects an Android shares in the market to ‘rebound quickly’ with the other vendors introducing new products. Among the other things it says that “Amazon should offer a new, large-screen device at a ‘typically aggressive’ price point. The IDC also expect Google to enter the market with a tablet co-branded with ASUS.

Still looming ahead is the arrival of Windows 8-based tablet later this year. ‘Pricing on the new Windows tablets hasn’t been announced, and that will be a critical factor when it comes to winning over consumers”, IDC notes. “Consumers reception to the new OS and the success of integration with traditional windows systems will also be critical”.

Source: iPad News – iPad Reclaimed A Larger Share Of Global Tablet Market

The folks at Spotify have brought forth the next big iteration of their mobile app, this time specifically for an iPad (of all shapes and sizes).

The paid streaming music services 17 million tracks are now available to Apple’s tablet users. The iPad app version 0.5.0 of Spotify’s iOS app, is iPad-3-ready with Retina display and high definition album art. The users can search for the playlists, other subscribers and music from the same view.

The ‘What’s New’ section includes some recommended albums, trending playlists among the friends and nearby, and also the new releases. In the Search window the app provides predictive offerings even as user types the first letter.

The Spotify for iPad app also features a gapless playback and crossfade, the two features that streaming music service launched in February. The gapless playback allows songs to flow seamlessly from one to the other, whereas crossfade allows users to select the exact number of seconds (from 1 to 12 seconds) that the song will fade into each other. Moreover, the app also supports Apple’s AirPlay services to let users stream music on compatible iOS device and speaker systems.

Though available just to the listeners who pay monthly fee of $9.99, Spotify is right now offering a free 48 hours trial, that can be extended to 30 days after the initial run expires if users wishes to sacrifice some information about themselves.

Source: iPad News – Spotify for iPad Application Rolls Out!

Facebook Messenger is the quickest way to send and receive phone messages to and from friends around the world. Two months ago it was heard that Facebook Messenger for Mac is coming, and now there are some leaked screenshots and information on the Facebook Messenger For iPad.

The app is mainly an advanced version of Facebook Messenger For iPhone, a simple app for messaging Facebook friends without using the full Facebook for iPad app.

According to a close source to 9to5Mac, the social site is preparing a Messenger app native to iPad, as well as video chat capabilities for the iPad.

With the mobile users accounting for a large chunk of several hundred million active Facebook users around the world, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has highlighted number of times the emphasis on updating and improving the mobile experience.

The screenshots from 9to5Mac of an early beta version of Facebook Messenger iPad. The app features ability to watch friend locations on a map, one-to-one messaging, push notifications, group chatting and many more. Eventually, Facebook is planning to create a Facebook Messenger for iOS app that works on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. This will not happen for a while though the phone version is already getting other features such as video chatting.

The earlier version 4.0 added Facebook Timeline support for an iPhone but not for the iPad. Facebook yet has not given any date for that feature. Apple tablet were rumored to be getting Timeline in January 2012 but that didn’t happen.

Source: iPad News – Screenshots Of Facebook Messenger App For iPad Leaked

TrueMove H has made an announcement that it will offer new iPad in Thailand on April 27, 2012. The TrueMove new iPad with a range of some very attractive data plans that will let customers to connect to its fast HSPA+ network at speed of about 42 Mbps*.

Apple new iPad is a category defining the mobile device that incorporates a stunning Retina display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel isight camera with an advanced optics for clicking some amazing pictures and 1080p HD video. It also includes same all-day 10 hour battery life. The third gen iPad Wi-Fi + 4G models are world-ready, that allow users to connect to fast networks all around the world.

Three Thai operators have launched the new iPad for their customers. Advanced Info Service(AIS), DTAC, and TrueMove H (the 3G service brand of True) were each allocated around 1,000 units of the new iPad by apple in the first round. DTAC targets new iPad sales of around 40,000 to 50,000 units this year, the Nation reports citing DTAC senior vice president for device management Prapaprot Puprasert.

“Customers will be able to enjoy an optimum experience on the new iPad with TrueMove H”, said Mr. Papon Ratanachaikanont, group chief commercial officer, Sales & Retail, True Corporation Plc. “Our 3G+ service has the highest speeds and the widest coverage across all 77 provinces in Thailand so TrueMove H offers its subscribers a superior experience with the new iPad”.

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With the launch of new iPad, Apple is also selling its previous iPad 2 with the discount price of $399. This new discounted iPad 2 is attracting many new buyers, especially in education.

Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive predicted that the new discounted iPad 2 will be attractive to the education market at its launch. On Tuesday’s quarterly earning call, Cook reiterated that the new model appeared to be broadening the potential market for iPad users.

When asked about potential move to lower price on iPad over time and see a significant incremental demand, Apple’s chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer answered, “We’re just learning about be the elasticity of demand and the $399 price point. It’s doing well. But I have to tell you, the new iPad is on fire, and we’re selling them as fast as we can make them. So, we’ll learn more over this quarter especially as we get through the education buying season, which looks terrific for us especially on the iPad”.

Previously, Oppenheimer said that, “iPad continues to open doors for new customers with whom Apple previously had no relationship. As we enter the K-12 institution buying season, we’re hopeful that iPad will be a popular choice”.

Source: iPad News- Discount On iPad 2 Drawing New Customers, Unlocking Education Demand

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Apple announced on Wednesday that this year’s Worldwide Developer Conference 2012 will kick off on June 11 at San Fransisco, Moscone West. The first day event will run till June 15th and will include all the latest news on Apple’s iOS and OS X Mountain Lion operating systems.

“We have a great WWDC planned this year and can’t wait to share the latest news about iOS and OS X Mountain Lion with developers”, said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide Marketing. “The iOS platform has created an entirely new industry with fantastic opportunities for developers across the country and around the world”.

There will also take place Apple Design Awards in the conference, that showcases the most outstanding applications created for Apple’s iOS and OS X platforms last year.

Apple promised that the developers will learn on how to “greatly enhance the functionality, performance, quality and design of their apps”.

The developers can also bring their code into lab for the WWDC 2012 to work directly with Apple engineers, who can apply their development techniques and best practices to help better the software.

Source: iPad News – Apple To Kick Off WWDC 2012 On June 11

LinkedIn has just brought its new iPad app onto the iTunes App Store, and the fans will be shocked to know how slick, pared-down and beautiful it is.

Company’s first foray into the tablets, and the wait has paid off. With its clean-as-a-whistle screen to the trendy slider interface, it shows deliberation and attention to details for the quick browsing of industry news.

The mobile app from LinkedIn, last summer received similar reaction from people. Being used to the LinkedIn web interface, people were certainly not expecting the professional network to roll out this type of modern, pared down yet full featured offering.

In a phone conversation, Joff Redfern, LinkedIn’s new-ish mobile product chief told VentureBeat that, given the large demographic overlap between LinkedIn power users and iPad owners, the iPad app was a necessary addition to the fold. Typically, LinkedIn’s most avid users are a relatively affluent crowd, and they are in their early 30’s to 50’s , which lines up nicely with tablet ownership demographics.

Also, the BYOD trend meant that the time is right for bringing some more professional applications to an iPad. Catering to this trend the iPad will be integrating its user calender with the LinkedIn contacts. Thus an iPad user can see at a glance and up-to-date information on people before dashing into the next meeting.

Source: iPad News- LinkedIn’s New iPad App Proves This Company Gets Mobile