A federal judge in California has ruled that Apple must defend itself against a lawsuit filed after its devices were found to track users' activities.
The plaintiffs allege that Apple's apps were enabled to secretly record the movements and other actions of millions of iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users.
The case wraps together multiple lawsuits that have been filed against Apple.
The firm had argued that user agreements shielded it from liability.
But federal judge Lucy Koh said there was "some ambiguity" as to whether all the information that was collected had been permitted.
Claims under federal laws addressing computer fraud, wiretaps, and records disclosure were thrown out.
The judge also dismissed claims that Apple violated customers' privacy rights.
In striking down the privacy claims, Judge Koh said the supposed invasion in this case was not an "egregious breach of social norms" and might even be deemed "routine commercial behaviour".
Other cases dismissedGoogle as well as online advertising agencies, such as AdMarval, Admob, Flurry and Medialets were dismissed from the case completely.
These defendants were included as potential beneficiaries of the data that Apple was accused of collecting and leaking.
The lawsuit followed an April 2011 presentation from two computer programmers whose research showed that iPhone users' movements were being monitored through their devices.
That provoked a firestorm in which regulators demanded changes, which Apple promised to make.
At the time Apple denied tracking iPhone locations and said that the company had never shared location data with third-parties unless explicity allowed by the user.
The firm, however, admitted that due to a bug location data was sometimes collected even if iPhone location services had been turned off.
The bug was fixed in a subsequent software update.
The iPet: Smartphones are the new toy, as teddy bears and dogs with iPhone faces become biggest hits at the Tokyo Toy Show - Daily Mail
By Eddie Wrenn
|
Pet for the 21st century: The SmartPet robot dog, demonstrated at the Tokyo Toy Show, uses an iPhone to express his emotions
Just 20 years, the height of technology was the Gameboy
In the 90s, the most hi-tech toy you could buy was perhaps the Gameboy.
Jump forward 30 years, and - judging by the evidence of the Tokyo Toy Show - the best toy you can give a child is a smartphone.
Finding ways of incorporating an iPhone into toys was by far the biggest feature of the show, with digital pets dominating the floorspace.
A company called Bandai ended up winning the innovative toy category, for the Smart Pet - a dog which is faceless until you clip your iPhone in.
At that point the dog comes to life, displaying a range of faces based on the dog's mood, which in turn depends on how well boys and girls look after it.
Smart Pet can even sneeze and move around and, using Facetime or even Siri voice control, you can command Smart Pet to perform tricks, and he has over 100 expressions.
But Smart Pet was not the only pooch in town.
Manufacturer Takara Tomy has created the all-singing, all-dancing version.
The i-sodog can keep his balance, and dance via remote control or an app, and should be in a (digital) pet show near you in 2013.
Elsewhere, augmented reality made an appearance, with figurines which - when you point a smartphone at them - would then come alive on the screen, singing, talking, and telling stories.
If you think children are growing up too quickly with all these toys, you might be right - for Toyota also unveiled the Camette Concept, which will help children learn to drive.
While technically a toy, with a simple structure and easy-to-remove panels, the car does move and has an engine, brakes and steering, all in the appropriate places - even back-seats for the parents if they dare.
The Tokyo show runs for another three days - after which the children of Japan are more than likely to be updating their birthday lists.
Scroll down for video
Also around... Toymaker Tomy displays 'i-Sodog', a robot dog which can walk and dance when controlled by an iPhone. The 15cm tall robot dog, weighing 400g, has 15 'muscles' and recognizes the human voice
Fancy a dance? 'i-Sodog' responds to commands from the iPhone app - and does a jiggle for the audience
Toymaker Cube displays "Cocolo Bear" - a teddy bear 'robot' which can speak 600 words through the iPhone
Song and dance; Point Bandai Co.'s 'Hybrid Grade' app at the figurine, and virtual music and dancing happens in front of you
The kids can now drive you crazy: Toyota Motor's concept model of a three-seater electric vehicle with toy-like design body
The three-seater electric vehicle 'Camatte' can help children learn how to drive a little early
iPhone 5 may be the turning point for Apple - Phones Review
As expected the Apple keynote speech on Monday at the WWDC event didn’t bring any information about the next version of the iPhone, and now the waiting and speculation will continue until the expected fall release for the handset, but the iPhone 5 may be the turning point for Apple as the competition gets fiercer.
Even though the iPhone 5 wasn’t expected there were some that were a little disappointed not to see a new handset showcased at the event, and this came after the iPhone 4S was also felt a bit of a let down by some iPhone fans as the device was basically an upgraded handset from the previous year’s offering.
In the meantime the Android platform continues to go from strength to strength with a number of high end smartphones becoming available to consumers. These devices now have stunning displays that vary in size but are a lot larger than what the iPhone currently offers, and are ideal for the way we use our smartphones now.
When the original iPhone was released back in 2007 it was at the time innovative and gave the smartphone market the kick it needed, and brought us to where we are today with some stunning handsets available. Trouble is the competition has now caught up with the iPhone and arguably overtaken it by quite a distance.
There are a number of our readers that are long time iPhone users but are waiting to see what the iPhone 5 is like when it is released before deciding to switch allegiance to Android, which before would have been unheard of. Many want a larger display and a number of rumours have hinted that the next handset will be taller and create a screen around 4-inches across.
If Apple again leaves many of its fans disappointed with the next iPhone many of them may try Android or the emerging Windows Phone platform, which looks set to increase the competition with Windows Phone 8 later this year. The handset will obviously sell well but may not reach the record sales figures it has seen with the last two releases.
In the meantime some renders have appeared online that have been created by 3D illustrator Martin Urecht, and as SlashGear are reporting the images are based on all the leaks that have been seen in recent months.
It shows a device with a larger display with a couple of different docking solutions on the bottom. While the images are only renders the device looks the real deal and hopefully Apple will provide us something that looks at least as stunning later this year, which is believed to be in September.
Do you think Apple really needs to pull out something special with the iPhone 5 and are you thinking of switching platforms?
iPhone 5 Concept Video Is The Coolest Video You'll See Today - Huffington Post
We've seen a lot of iPhone 5 concept designs, but this one takes the cake.
Created by 17-year-old Dakota Adney, the mock-Apple commercial shows a realization of how the iPhone 5 could look with a transparent screen and virtually projected keyboard.
In the video above, Adney shows the viewer various applications from Twitter to Instagram To write a text message, the iPhone 5 concept user sets down the device flat on the table and begins typing on a virtual keyboard created by a laser projector on the lower left side of the device.
But what may be most impressive about this fake Apple commercial is its creator. Adney is a 17-year-old Oklahoma high school student with some pretty advanced production skills.
This iPhone 5 concept is not his first faux Apple creation. Under his production name, Adney Films, Adney also created a similar iPad 3 concept video last year, and more recently debuted a clever MacBook Air promo. His iPhone 5 design is similar to the iPad 3 with its translucent screen and slim look.
Adney described the features of the iPhone 5 concept in the video's description.
Clearly amazing. The quad-core A5 chip delivers even more power. The laser projection keyboard liberates your thumbs. The new iClear Retina display presents sharp graphics and stunning images. iOS 6 will take your iPhone experience in an entirely new direction. And if there's anything else you need, just ask Siri.
Watch the video for yourself above, and check out the gallery below to view a more down-to-earth iPhone 5 mock-up, courtesy of TechnoBuffalo.
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