Another day, yet another lawsuit. Apple is countersuing Kodak, claiming the company's devices copy the technology that it uses in Macs, iPhone, iTunes and Photo Booth involving image processing, energy management and memory design.

Apple wants all Kodak devices that violates two of its patents (6,031,964 and RE38,911) to be banned from being sold. The countersuit was filed in the California Northern District Court.

In January Kodak filed lawsuits against Apple and Research In Motion Limited (RIM) alleging the infringement of Kodak digital imaging technology. The Kodak complaint, filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), specifically claims that Apple’s iPhones and RIM’s camera-enabled BlackBerry devices infringe a Kodak patent that covers technology related to a method for previewing images. Separately, Kodak filed two suits -- also in January -- against Apple in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York that claim the infringement of...

MacPractice -- the developer of MacPractice MD, MacPractice DDS, MacPractice DC, and MacPractice 20/20 -- has launched new iPad integration solutions that allow dentists to use MacPractice DDS, DR (Digital Radiography/Photo) and EDR (Electronic Dental Record) on an iPad.

“We’ve been overwhelmed with requests from dentists who want to use MacPractice DDS and MacPractice Endo on an iPad,” says Mark Hollis, president of MacPractice. “The interface solutions we have tested make it possible for dentists to use this incredible device to chart existing conditions and treatment, enter visit notes and review x-rays and photos with a patient in the treatment room.”
 
Besides qualifying its MacPractice iPhone Interface for use on the iPad, the new iPad interface solutions leverage collaborative technologies to make the total functionality of MacPractice DDS available on an iPad, including EDR, prescriptions and e-Prescribe, scheduling and more. The new MacPractice for iPad...

SMEStorage, the multi-cloud data access provider, has released the first beta of a Mac Cloud Drive (http://www.smestorage.com/?p=static&page=clients_and_tools#Mac), which enables up to 10 commercial storage providers to be accessed directly from a virtual drive in Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6.

"This drive enables users to access their cloud storage files directly from their shell or Mac file manager," says SMEStorage CEO Ian Osborne. "The drive brings cloud computing directly into the Mac OS with over 10 popular Cloud Storage vendors supported, including Amazon S3, Google Docs, Microsoft SkyDrive and RackSpace Cloud Files."

Just remember: beta software is unfinished software so use with care.

On the new "MacVoices" (http://www.macvoices.com), Eric Boehnisch-Volkmann of DEVONtechnologies looks at the power and capabilities of DEVONthink, an information manager for the Mac.


He explains why managing documents in DEVONthink is easier and more effective than a Finder-and-Spotlight-based system, the file types they support, importing methods, and the sharing and search capabilities. There are several versions of DEVONthink; Boehnisch-Volkmann explains the differences, and also comments on why they asked Mac expert Joe Kissell to author the new book, "Take Control of Getting Started with DEVONthink."

"MacVoices" is an Internet show and podcast that delivers in-depth discussions with the most influential people in the Mac industry, as well as "the individuals who are out there making it happen on the front lines of the global Apple community," according to host Chuck Joiner.

Apple has reportedly has started development of the second generation iPad using the same design concept as for the iPhone 4G, and will use an OLED panel, according to sources in the component industry.

Apple is said to be aiming to launch the device in 2011, but a Digitimes Research (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100416PD211.html) senior analyst said the cost of OLED panels are much too high for the iPad. He pointed out that OLED panels' high price will still be the major obstacle for them to be adopted in the iPad in 2011.

Kuo noted that the current price of the 9.7-inch LCD panel for iPad is about US$60-70, but the price of a 9.7-inch OLED panel is about US$500. He said the price gap is unlikely to narrow significantly in 2010 or 2011.

Apple has bumped Google out of first place as Silicon Valley's most valuable company. With the total value of its publicly traded stock at US$224 billion, up 107% from a year ago, Apple now has a market capitalization greater than all but two companies in the U.S, Exxon Mobil and Microsoft, reports the "Silicon Valley Mercury News" (http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_14900422?source=rss&nclick_check=1).

Last year, amid the worst recession in decades, the company recorded a 39% ncrease in profit to $9.4 billion. That was the highest profit earned by any company in the SV150, according to the "Mercury News." Apple's revenue grew 20% percent to $46.7 billion, returning the company to its standing as Silicon Valley's second-largest by revenue, a ranking it hasn't held for 23 years.

The "...

Frame Destination has announced the 8x10 GalleryPouch Gold w/ Velcro iPad Case and the 9x11 GalleryPouch Gold w/ Velcro iPad Case, two new bubble bag cases that can help protect the Apple iPad and its accessories.

Like all GalleryPouch Gold premium bubble bags, GalleryPouch Gold w/ Velcro iPad Cases are made from transparent, heavyweight laminated bubble material that's purportedly difficult to pop. Both sides of the product are smooth and is designed to slip in the iPad or iPad accessories and carry it around in a bag, backpack, pocketbook, laptop case or other type of bag.

They have an adjustable self-adhesive Velcro sealing option that allows the customer to custom-tailor the size of the case, reducing slippage of the product when in transit. Simply remove the adhesive backing from the Velcro strip after placing artwork or item in the case, and then adhere the Velcro to the front of the case.

GalleryPouch Gold w/ Velcro iPad Cases were developed by...

Mac users can now benefit from the safety and comfort of VPN Tracker 6 in partnership with WatchGuard security appliances.

equinux VPN Tracker 6.2.1 is an update to the market leading IPsec based VPN client for Mac OS X. The new version supports Watchguard Fireware XTM-based devices, such as the Firebox X Edge, Core and Peak e-Series and all XTM Series devices.

VPN Tracker 6.2.1 contains pre-configured device profiles for the WatchGuard XTM-2, 5, 8 and 10 Series and the firewalls of the Firebox X Edge, Core, and Peak e-Series. The related configuration instructions for the devices are already available at vpntracker.com/interop .

VPN Tracker 6 offers the new Secure Desktop, gathering your standard applications in a central location: check e-mails, open files and disks from remote servers, use Remote Desktop or restart Windows applications using Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion. The Secure Desktop automatically builds the necessary VPN connections,...

Apple has reshuffled several positions on its Board of Directors, putting the company back into compliance with its own rules after the sudden death last month of director Jerome York left it out of compliance, according to the "Wall Street Journal" (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405270230349130457518845195307584...).

Apple's changes to its six-member board add extra duties to its co-lead directors, Avon Products Inc. Chief Executive Andrea Jung and Genentech Inc. Chairman Arthur Levinson. Intuit Chairman Bill Campbell and Mr. Levinson now co-chair the audit committee that Mr. York had led for more than 12 years, according to Apple's site.

Here are the latest iPhone/iPod touch/iPod/iPad apps announced. You can find 'em at the Apple App Store (http://www.itunes.com/appstore/).

Soccer fans heading to South Africa this summer will be able to find their way around, thanks to the newly available US$54.99 CoPilot Live South Africa GPS navigation app. Available for iPhones, Android smartphones or Windows Mobile Phones, CoPilot Live provides full turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation in-car or on foot. The app stores detailed street maps of South Africa on the phones.

The WirelessDMS iPad Client is a new, free DM client from Matrix Logic, specially for the iPad. This application is loaded onto the iPad and connects to a lightweight WirelessDMS iPhone Server application on your server via the 3G network or a WiFi connection. Communications can be via http or https.

A app for the iPhone was released today with hopes of...

Millennial Media (http://www.millennialmedia.com), an independent mobile advertising platform, said today that mobile connected devices like the iPad and Sony PSP displayed more than 20% of the giant ad networks’ ad impressions in March, a trend that could have far reaching impact on mobile advertising as these devices grow more popular.

Millennial Media decoupled the device and OS trending information from the company’s monthly Scorecard for Mobile Advertising Reach and Targeting (SMART); the new Millennial Media Mobile Mix will now complement the company’s monthly SMART report. The company’s mobile advertising network reaches 83% of mobile users in the U.S.

Millennial Media also reported that, for the first time, Android’s OS was in the top three in the ranking of smartphone impressions in March. Android OS impressions share increased 3% in March alone to bring the Google platform to...

The Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop (GFW) High School school district in Winthrop, Minneapolis, has allocated US$267,748 to its technology fund to become what is believed to be the first school in the country to buy iPads at a cost of US$479 each, reports the "The NU Journal" (http://www.nujournal.com/page/content.detail/id/512977.html?nav=5009).

The money will be used to buy 320 iPads with extended, two-year warranties for students and staff, create Wi-Fi (wireless) infrastructure including routers and access points plus professional development (staff training). Last fall, the GFW School Board was told by Maplewood-based, educational technology and K-12 online learning consultant David Glick that if they didn't keep up with the latest computer technology, they would get behind in a future world without traditional schools,...