| Cult of Mac

Apple Music could soon be open to businesses

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apple-music
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Photo: Apple

Apple Music could be opened up to businesses to allow streaming in public places.

The “Apple Music for Business” trademark was filed for late last month in the U.S. — and in other territories back in June. The filing states the trademark would be applied to a number of different areas, including commercial use.

Should Apple license macOS for third-party Mac Pros? [Friday Night Fights]

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fnf
Wouldn't you like a powerful PC running macOS?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has finished unveiling its product lineup for 2016, and yet again it appears to have forgotten about the Mac Pro. The high-end desktop will be three years old next month, and although it might look pretty on the outside, it’s way past its best on the inside.

Friday Night Fights bugApple won’t tell us why the Mac Pro isn’t a priority anymore, but its focus is clearly elsewhere. This is a problem for creative professionals who rely on the extra power the machine provides. For some, the iMac just isn’t beefy enough.

Some believe Apple should license macOS to third-party computer makers that are willing to cater to the pros Apple is ignoring. It’s a move Apple would never make, but is it a good idea?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over whether Apple should let rival PC vendors build macOS machines!

Kodak Sells Digital Imaging Patents To Consortiums Backed By Apple, Google For $525 Million

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Struggling Kodak has finally agreed to sell its digital imaging patents to Intellectual Ventures and RPX Corporation — two consortiums backed by Apple, Google, Microsoft, and others — for $525 million. Kodak will receive a portion of the money from 12 intellectual property licensees, with each licensee receiving rights to the patents, while another portion will be paid by Intellectual Ventures, which will then acquire the digital imaging patent portfolio, plus the new and existing licenses.

Apple’s Deal For Swiss Clock Design Breaks Mondaine’s “Exclusive” Licensing Agreement

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Mondaine
Mondaine should have exclusive access to this design.

Apple struck a deal with Swiss railway operator SBB earlier this month that allows the Cupertino company to continue using its iconic railway clock design for the clock app on the iPad. It seems, however, that SBB may not have had the right to license its design to Apple after all.

You see, a clock and watch manufacturer called Mondaine has an exclusive license with SBB that means it should be the only company with the rights to the design. Mondaine says it was “surprised” to hear that SBB had been granted Apple a license, too.

Apple Sued For Allegedly Infringing Media Playback Patent That It Half-Heartedly Tried To License

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Photo: Apple
Apple finds itself involved in yet another patent lawsuit.

Apple has been named in a California lawsuit filed by EPL Holdings for allegedly infringing a patent that covers audio and video playback at varying speeds. The filing reports that EPL met with Apple back 2002 to discuss  licensing over the patents it had developed. But the Cupertino company is alleged to have used the technology anyway without reaching a licensing deal.

Tennessee Residents Can Now Renew Their Driving License Within Minutes On An iPad

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It's now easy to renew your driver's license in Tennessee.
It's now much easier to renew your driver's license in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has installed 72 iPad kiosks in 26 driver service center across the state to make it quicker and easier for drivers to renew their licenses “in minutes.” It has cost the department almost $80,000 to set up the service, which it hopes will improve wait times by making the process of renewing a license significantly quicker.