A Chinese court is mediating talks between Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Proview Technology (Shenzhen) Co. in a bid to get the companies to settle their dispute over the iPad trademark in the country. “On the one hand, we are trying to process this case, and on the other, we are working on encouraging both sides to settle,” Zhao Le, an official at the foreign affairs office of the Higher People’s Court of Guangdong, said by telephone yesterday. Zhao said he had no further information on the effort. On Feb. 29, the Guangdong court heard Apple’s appeal against a lower court ruling last year that Proview owned the iPad trademark in China. ...

Apple Trivia > Test Your Knowledge!! 1. Apple has ordered how many of the new iPhone 5s, to begin shipping in September? a. 5 million b. 10 million c. 15 million d. 100 million 2. When did co-founder Steve Jobs withdraw from Reed College in Oregon? a. 1970. b. 1975 c. 1985 d. He graduated with a degree. 3. What year did Steve Jobs acquire Pixar? a. 1982 b. 1986 c. 1996 d. None of the above 4. The Macintosh, introduced in 1984, was the first personal computer to use a … a. Screen b. Keyboard c. Plug d. Mouse 5. Apple’s Cupertino location is located at … a. 1 Infinite Loop b. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue c. 20 Main Street d. It�

...

Ashwin R. Vasavada, Mars Science Laboratory deputy project scientist, talks to MacDirectory about the upcoming exploration of Mars. iPhone’s recent historic voyage to space sparked curiosity among MacDirectory editors concerning space exploration and its future. Coincidentally, one of NASA’s most complex space rovers is named Curiosity, and it represents the next chapter in the exploration of the planet Mars. To answer questions such as “Is there life on Mars?” and “Will humans be able to explore Mars?” NASA created the rover Curiosity, which is scheduled to launch in late 2011 and try to perform the first precision landing on ...

Odyssey Space Research: iPhone’s Final Frontier: Space On July 8, 2011, NASA launched the final mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, and on that shuttle went two of Apple's space-certified iPhone 4s running SpaceLab, a specially designed app for running experiments aboard the International Space Station. iPhone’s historical voyage to space exists thanks to the hard work of the staff at Odyssey Space Research. In order to explore and learn more about this project, MacDirectory spoke with Brian Rishikof, CEO of Odyssey Space Research. MacDirectory > How did Odyssey Space Research first get involved in the program? Brian Rishikof >

Test your Apple knowledge and impress your friends by answering the following questions. 1. Who were the founders of Apple Inc.? a. Steve Jobs b. Steve Wozniak c. Mike Markkula d. All of the above 2. Why was the Apple logo designed with a bite in it? a. In order to make it recognized as an Apple and not another fruit. b. Graphically speaking it made the logo look sophisticated c. Seduce consumers to purchase more products d. Make the logo more user-friendly 3. Who is no longer on Apple’s Board of Directors? a. Steve Jobs, Apple CEO b. Bill Campbell, former CEO of Intuit c. Millard Drexler, CEO of J. Crew d. Al Gore, former Vice ...

Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan 10-Part series scheduled October 25th 2011 on G4 TV Network (g4tv.com/bomb-patrol): The Real Story about Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exclusivie Interview with Big Fish Entertainment Lead Executive Producer Dan Cesareo, U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobil Unit (EODMU) Three Chief John Groat, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) One PAO Lieutenant David Bennett. In Afghanistan, Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs aren’t selective, or discriminatory. IEDs injure and kill thousands of civilians, U.S. and international military personnel. Yet there’s one small brave band of highly ...

When thinking about Switzerland, chocolates, watches, banking systems and the cantonal system of government are more than likely the thoughts that come up. Actually, Apple is also quite strong here. MacDirectory takes a look at Apple and its operations in Switzerland. Switzerland has no natural resources, and as a result, education and knowledge have become the country's most important resources. Thus, technology and its uses have become very important for the nation’s economy. Switzerland, as it happens, also claims to have one of the world's best education systems. The capital of Switzerland is Bern City, also the capital of the canton ...

In spring 2010, Katie Spotz wrote for MacDirectory about her world-record rowing solo across the Atlantic. Now she and fellow adventurer Sam Williams just completed their recent challenge, detailed in Sam’s words below. What do you do when you’ve rowed the Atlantic Ocean by yourself? What do you do next? Where can you go from there? Well, you find someone else in the same position and put your heads together! There’s not a lot unusual about Katie Spotz and me. Well, no more so than everyone else. Except for perhaps one thing: We’ve both completed solo rows across the Atlantic Ocean. Which, I guess, does make us a little different.

WARNING: SNOW STORM AHEAD! Brittany Snow perpetuates a massive movement with Love Is Louder Images by Tyler Shields Brittany Snow is the picture of innocence today --an attribute she pulls off quite well, she confesses. The soft-spoken actress is wearing a fitted floral dress, tan boots, and has her hair pulled into a loose side braid. It’s not until she removes her sunglasses that I recognize her out front of Aroma Café in Studio City, where she lives. Known from movies like Prom Night, Hairspray and John Tucker Must Die, it’s hard to overlook Brittany with her girl-next-door appeal, blonde hair and piercing cobalt eyes. Being in ...

It is always nice to look into the past and enjoy the nostalgia of how things once were and how they've developed into what we have today. In the video below you can see a younger, plumper Steve Jobs demoing the first Apple Retail Store at Tyson's Corner in McLean, VA six days before the store opened. Check out the video and enjoy seeing how the Apple Store has evolved into what it is today thanks to the hard work of all of the employees at Apple. [via: TUAW]

Poland, a country with a bitter history that labors beneath the weight of the realpolitik whims of European powers of the past, faces a bright and optimistic future. On March 1, 2004, Poland, along with four other former members of the Soviet bloc, joined the European Union, adding a final exclamation point to the country's leading role in ending the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe in 1989. Following the so-called golden age during the 15th and 16th centuries, Poland fell prey to the vagaries of internecine power struggles between the emerging powers of Germany, Austria, and Russia. On several occasions, the country has disappeared ...

China doesn't have a 4G data network for mobile phones, but when it does, Apple will be on it. An agreement between China Mobile Ltd and Apple will bring a future iPhone onto China's TD-LTE network possibly in 2012. That date is a guess, really, because China won't start commercial trials on the data network until next year, and Apple's next iPhone (anticipated to arrive this September) isn't expected to have true 4G capabilities. As usual with these kinds of going ons, other details are hard to come by. But this is good news for iPhone lovers living in China. Let's just hope it doesn't prompt any more fights. [MacRumors]

Foxconn has been very prominent in the tech news world over the past year due to poor working conditions for the workers in its factory in Shenzhen, China. Police in China are now charging 3 employees of the giant tech assembly company as being responsible for the leaked iPad 2 case design. Steve has always been a jealous type. He hates it when people steal the glory of his magical unveiling events. The interesting thing is that it isn't even Steve that is having them arrested, but actually Foxconn. The charges were filed on March 23, though the arrests were made almost 3 full months earlier. [via: Electronista]

For decades, Roger Ebert has been among the most respected voices in film criticism. That voice was silenced in recent years after thyroid cancer led to the loss of his lower jaw. Now, Ebert uses a Mac to communicate, specifically the built-in Alex voice that comes with all versions of Mac OS X. In this TED Talk from last month, Ebert talked about reclaiming his voice with the help of his Mac. The video is about 20 minutes long and follows an inspiring journey from an inspiring man. [TUAW]

35 years ago today, Apple was launched by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Since their introduction, Apple has grown considerably, and since Jobs' return has had many milestone products including the "gumdrop" iMac G3, the iPod, Mac OS X, the iPhone, and, of course, the iPad. We are glad you are still 35 years young Apple; keep pumping out those quality products we all know and love. In addition to today being Apple's birthday, today is also the beginning of a new toy serious by Playmobil. The popular toy company has released a model Apple Store that has little iMacs, little MacBook Pros, little customers, little Geniuses, and even a little ...

Of all the people Apple can ill afford to lose, Jon Ive, senior VP of product design, has to be near the top of the list. He's the guy responsible for most of Apple's iconic designs over the last 15 years. And, recently, he was the subject of rumors saying that the 44-year-old wanted to take his talents to the United Kingdom. The supposed reason for the big move was so that Ive could raise his family in the UK while living in a $4 million mansion he owns in Somerset. According to a recent profile in The Daily Mail, those rumors are boogers, and an old colleague says that his most recent conversation with the Apple VP was about how he was ...