Halo 4 iOS Scam Apps Look To Lure Unsuspecting iPhone And iPad Owners Over Holiday Freeze [Update: The Apps Have Been Removed]

Update: Apple has removed the offending apps, the company told me via email. Holiday downloaders are now safe from this attempted scam.

A couple of new apps that just hit the iOS App Store ahead of the annual App Store holiday freeze are not what they appear to be. Masquerading as official Halo 4 ports for Apple’s mobile devices, these are actually a pretty lame racing game and an adequate chess simulator, which have somehow managed to be reborn with new names, descriptions and screenshots, but appear to have kept their reviews intact.

The resulting illusion is of highly rated Halo 4 iOS titles (though one-star reviews are starting to percolate as people get wise), one universal and one iPhone-specific, with price tags that, while a steal were they actually Halo 4, are actually stealing from you instead. Nothing in the description of either of these games would lead anyone to believe that these aren’t official ports (besides a few instances of dodgy sentence structure), and each in fact advertises iOS-specific features like Game Center integration.

The illusion even permeates down to the developer and support links for each app, which takes you to a page for Halo 4 that event claims a 343 Industries copyright at the bottom. That’s not like the scams we’ve seen in the past where developers have provided so-called “guides” for Minecraft that lift assets and look like the game itself in screenshots and description, but have a small disclaimer noting they aren’t actually a game. This is a full-blown scam, without any possible defense, and it’s a shame to see it hit the App Store right when downloads usually pop over the holidays, and when Apple is in a position where it might not be able to do anything to reverse it until the freeze lifts December 28.

I’ve opted not to link them here because I’d rather not contribute to their heinous plot, but check out AppShopper if you’re curious and want to see the elaborate ruse in full. One thing’s for sure: whoever Dung Bui and Toan Tran (the developers listed for these apps) are, they won’t be getting back on the App Store anytime soon once Apple takes steps to resolve this mess. Speaking of resolutions, we’ve reached out to Apple to let them know about the offending apps and will update if we hear back. For now though, spread the word, since friends don’t let friends buy fake iOS Halo games.

Reference: MobileGames.vn

Halo 4 iOS Scam Apps Look To Lure Unsuspecting iPhone And iPad Owners Over Holiday Freeze [Update: The Apps Have Been Removed]

Update: Apple has removed the offending apps, the company told me via email. Holiday downloaders are now safe from this attempted scam.

A couple of new apps that just hit the iOS App Store ahead of the annual App Store holiday freeze are not what they appear to be. Masquerading as official Halo 4 ports for Apple’s mobile devices, these are actually a pretty lame racing game and an adequate chess simulator, which have somehow managed to be reborn with new names, descriptions and screenshots, but appear to have kept their reviews intact.

The resulting illusion is of highly rated Halo 4 iOS titles (though one-star reviews are starting to percolate as people get wise), one universal and one iPhone-specific, with price tags that, while a steal were they actually Halo 4, are actually stealing from you instead. Nothing in the description of either of these games would lead anyone to believe that these aren’t official ports (besides a few instances of dodgy sentence structure), and each in fact advertises iOS-specific features like Game Center integration.

The illusion even permeates down to the developer and support links for each app, which takes you to a page for Halo 4 that event claims a 343 Industries copyright at the bottom. That’s not like the scams we’ve seen in the past where developers have provided so-called “guides” for Minecraft that lift assets and look like the game itself in screenshots and description, but have a small disclaimer noting they aren’t actually a game. This is a full-blown scam, without any possible defense, and it’s a shame to see it hit the App Store right when downloads usually pop over the holidays, and when Apple is in a position where it might not be able to do anything to reverse it until the freeze lifts December 28.

I’ve opted not to link them here because I’d rather not contribute to their heinous plot, but check out AppShopper if you’re curious and want to see the elaborate ruse in full. One thing’s for sure: whoever Dung Bui and Toan Tran (the developers listed for these apps) are, they won’t be getting back on the App Store anytime soon once Apple takes steps to resolve this mess. Speaking of resolutions, we’ve reached out to Apple to let them know about the offending apps and will update if we hear back. For now though, spread the word, since friends don’t let friends buy fake iOS Halo games.

Reference: MobileGames.vn

‘AmazonCare’ Might Be The Next Page Amazon Takes Out Of Apple’s Playbook

Amazon might enjoy only very thin to nonexistent margins on its Kindle hardware, according to most industry watchers, but it looks to be cooking up a plan to extend device sales revenue thanks to extended warranties. That’s according to trademark filings uncovered by GigaOM in a new report today. The wording of the application suggests Amazon is following Apple’s lead, hoping to replicate the Mac maker’s success with its AppleCare extended hardware protection plans.

GigaOM notes that Amazon’s patent is almost identical to Apple’s but it would apply to “Kindle” products, and goods and services associated with that name. The trademark would cover “maintenance, repair, updating and installation services,” as well as troubleshooting services, and a second trademark filing associated with the first extends to “insurance and warranty services.”

In the consumer electronics space, extended warranties are big business. As a former employee of Best Buy myself, I can tell you that margins on big-ticket items like PCs were razor-thin, and that the Product Service Plans (PSP) we were encouraged to shill were the real moneymakers, along with accessories. Best Buy has never been very open about how much of its bottom line comes from the PSPs it pushes, but they’re clearly of key value to the retailer’s bottom line, given how hard they push them, And of questionable value to consumers  given that nowadays, merely telling a Best Buy employee that I used to be one when they launch into their PSP pitch is almost always enough to get them to stop.

Apple has done a better job of making its own AppleCare service appeal to consumers, and many disinterested third-parties will actually recommend picking them up. The company has faced legal challenges in Europe around AppleCare and how it works with EU regulations guaranteeing consumers two years of basic protection on consumer electronics purchases, but Apple is resolving those issues and continuing to offer its extended warranties in affected countries, albeit differently than they’re sold in the U.S. and other locations.

Amazon partners with a third-party provider, Service Net, to provide Kindle extended warranties, but in doing so, it’s leaving money on the table long-term. An AmazonCare (they won’t be so brazen as to actually call it that) offering would help it add revenue to device sales with relatively little cost. That’s something which would provide a lot of upside for a gadget-maker that now needs to compete with Google on pricing, a company which is arguably more willing and able to ignore profit margins on hardware in pursuit of getting its devices into more hands.

Reference: MobileGames.vn

‘AmazonCare’ Might Be The Next Page Amazon Takes Out Of Apple’s Playbook

Amazon might enjoy only very thin to nonexistent margins on its Kindle hardware, according to most industry watchers, but it looks to be cooking up a plan to extend device sales revenue thanks to extended warranties. That’s according to trademark filings uncovered by GigaOM in a new report today. The wording of the application suggests Amazon is following Apple’s lead, hoping to replicate the Mac maker’s success with its AppleCare extended hardware protection plans.

GigaOM notes that Amazon’s patent is almost identical to Apple’s but it would apply to “Kindle” products, and goods and services associated with that name. The trademark would cover “maintenance, repair, updating and installation services,” as well as troubleshooting services, and a second trademark filing associated with the first extends to “insurance and warranty services.”

In the consumer electronics space, extended warranties are big business. As a former employee of Best Buy myself, I can tell you that margins on big-ticket items like PCs were razor-thin, and that the Product Service Plans (PSP) we were encouraged to shill were the real moneymakers, along with accessories. Best Buy has never been very open about how much of its bottom line comes from the PSPs it pushes, but they’re clearly of key value to the retailer’s bottom line, given how hard they push them, And of questionable value to consumers  given that nowadays, merely telling a Best Buy employee that I used to be one when they launch into their PSP pitch is almost always enough to get them to stop.

Apple has done a better job of making its own AppleCare service appeal to consumers, and many disinterested third-parties will actually recommend picking them up. The company has faced legal challenges in Europe around AppleCare and how it works with EU regulations guaranteeing consumers two years of basic protection on consumer electronics purchases, but Apple is resolving those issues and continuing to offer its extended warranties in affected countries, albeit differently than they’re sold in the U.S. and other locations.

Amazon partners with a third-party provider, Service Net, to provide Kindle extended warranties, but in doing so, it’s leaving money on the table long-term. An AmazonCare (they won’t be so brazen as to actually call it that) offering would help it add revenue to device sales with relatively little cost. That’s something which would provide a lot of upside for a gadget-maker that now needs to compete with Google on pricing, a company which is arguably more willing and able to ignore profit margins on hardware in pursuit of getting its devices into more hands.

Reference: MobileGames.vn

‘AmazonCare’ Might Be The Next Page Amazon Takes Out Of Apple’s Playbook

Amazon might enjoy only very thin to nonexistent margins on its Kindle hardware, according to most industry watchers, but it looks to be cooking up a plan to extend device sales revenue thanks to extended warranties. That’s according to trademark filings uncovered by GigaOM in a new report today. The wording of the application suggests Amazon is following Apple’s lead, hoping to replicate the Mac maker’s success with its AppleCare extended hardware protection plans.

GigaOM notes that Amazon’s patent is almost identical to Apple’s but it would apply to “Kindle” products, and goods and services associated with that name. The trademark would cover “maintenance, repair, updating and installation services,” as well as troubleshooting services, and a second trademark filing associated with the first extends to “insurance and warranty services.”

In the consumer electronics space, extended warranties are big business. As a former employee of Best Buy myself, I can tell you that margins on big-ticket items like PCs were razor-thin, and that the Product Service Plans (PSP) we were encouraged to shill were the real moneymakers, along with accessories. Best Buy has never been very open about how much of its bottom line comes from the PSPs it pushes, but they’re clearly of key value to the retailer’s bottom line, given how hard they push them, And of questionable value to consumers  given that nowadays, merely telling a Best Buy employee that I used to be one when they launch into their PSP pitch is almost always enough to get them to stop.

Apple has done a better job of making its own AppleCare service appeal to consumers, and many disinterested third-parties will actually recommend picking them up. The company has faced legal challenges in Europe around AppleCare and how it works with EU regulations guaranteeing consumers two years of basic protection on consumer electronics purchases, but Apple is resolving those issues and continuing to offer its extended warranties in affected countries, albeit differently than they’re sold in the U.S. and other locations.

Amazon partners with a third-party provider, Service Net, to provide Kindle extended warranties, but in doing so, it’s leaving money on the table long-term. An AmazonCare (they won’t be so brazen as to actually call it that) offering would help it add revenue to device sales with relatively little cost. That’s something which would provide a lot of upside for a gadget-maker that now needs to compete with Google on pricing, a company which is arguably more willing and able to ignore profit margins on hardware in pursuit of getting its devices into more hands.

Reference: MobileGames.vn

EU Issues Formal Objections Against Samsung For Patent Abuse

The European Commission has delivered a “statement of objections” to Samsung’s leadership, in which it claims that Samsung was abusing its standard-essential patents in preventing Apple from making use of the same. Providing written notice is the next step in the EC’s investigation of Samsung, which began due to the Korean company’s many injunction requests and lawsuits filed in EU member states against Apple, and which isn’t going away despite Samsung having dropped all of its injunction requests in EU countries.

From here, the next step is for Samsung to formally reply to the charge from the EC, and ask for a hearing in front of regulators to defend its position. Once the Commission makes its judgement on the violations, following any defence mounted by Samsung, the gadget maker could face a fine up as much as 10 percent of its annual sales. The patents in question are related to 3G UMTS wireless communication, which Samsung had agreed to license with fair terms to its competitors in Europe.

“Intellectual property rights are an important cornerstone of the single market. However, such rights should not be misused when they are essential to implement industry standards, which bring huge benefits to businesses and consumers alike,” Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in statement released to Reuters on the subject.

This all began with the EU opening its investigation back in January. At the time, it explained that the reason for the investigation was due to Samsung’s pursuit of “injunctive relief in various Member States’ courts against competing mobile device makers based on alleged infringements of certain of its patent rights which it has declared essential to implement European mobile telephony standards.” Samsung tried to defray any potential fallout of this by dropping its requests for said “injunctive relief” earlier this week. That hasn’t stopped the formal charges, but it may help Samsung plead its case when it responds to this written request, helping it to eliminate or lessen any potential fine that might result.

Reference: MobileGames.vn

EU Issues Formal Objections Against Samsung For Patent Abuse

The European Commission has delivered a “statement of objections” to Samsung’s leadership, in which it claims that Samsung was abusing its standard-essential patents in preventing Apple from making use of the same. Providing written notice is the next step in the EC’s investigation of Samsung, which began due to the Korean company’s many injunction requests and lawsuits filed in EU member states against Apple, and which isn’t going away despite Samsung having dropped all of its injunction requests in EU countries.

From here, the next step is for Samsung to formally reply to the charge from the EC, and ask for a hearing in front of regulators to defend its position. Once the Commission makes its judgement on the violations, following any defence mounted by Samsung, the gadget maker could face a fine up as much as 10 percent of its annual sales. The patents in question are related to 3G UMTS wireless communication, which Samsung had agreed to license with fair terms to its competitors in Europe.

“Intellectual property rights are an important cornerstone of the single market. However, such rights should not be misused when they are essential to implement industry standards, which bring huge benefits to businesses and consumers alike,” Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in statement released to Reuters on the subject.

This all began with the EU opening its investigation back in January. At the time, it explained that the reason for the investigation was due to Samsung’s pursuit of “injunctive relief in various Member States’ courts against competing mobile device makers based on alleged infringements of certain of its patent rights which it has declared essential to implement European mobile telephony standards.” Samsung tried to defray any potential fallout of this by dropping its requests for said “injunctive relief” earlier this week. That hasn’t stopped the formal charges, but it may help Samsung plead its case when it responds to this written request, helping it to eliminate or lessen any potential fine that might result.

Reference: MobileGames.vn