Here are your Apple rumors and news items for Tuesday:
Microsoft Kills Zune Ahead of New iPhone Announcement: The world was ready for this. After months on life support, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) officially has ended its line of Zune media players. The company made an official statement on the Zune home page that, going forward, the Windows Phone line of devices would supplant Zune in Microsoft’s products. That the announcement came on the day Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced its new iPhone is appropriate. The Zune originally was released in 2006 as an iPod competitor and has, across multiple models released in the five years since, failed to make any significant impact against Apple’s devices. It is unclear whether Microsoft will continue to use the Zune brand for its digital music and video storefront.
Apple Refuses to Settle With Samsung: Apple’s patent infringement war with Samsung (PINK:SSNLF) continues apace. The Korean technology company attempted to end the dispute with Apple in Australia on Tuesday, according to a report at 9 to 5 Mac. Samsung proposed to remove certain features from its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet to lessen its similarities to Apple’s iPad, making the Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android tablet ready for sale Down Under. Apple rejected the proposal, asking the court to give a final ruling on its injunction against Samsung. Now the Australian court must decide if Samsung’s tablet doesn’t directly infringe on Apple-held patents so it can go on sale this holiday, or the trial goes on. Germany already upheld a similar injunction, blocking Samsung’s devices from sale in that country.
Adobe Announced Fleet of New Tablet Apps: Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) already chose to join Apple rather than try to beat them. In September, the media editing app maker finally found a way to bring its Flash app to Apple’s iPhone and iPad (devices that infamously lacked Flash support) without actually using Flash. Now the company is bulking up its support for those iOS devices. The company announced six new tablet-specific apps on Monday, including Photoshop Touch and Adobe Debut. According to a Mac Rumors report, Adobe will release its apps on Apple’s iPad in early 2012. Android tablets, meanwhile, will be able to use the apps by November.
As of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in any of the aforementioned stocks. Follow him on Twitter at @ajohnagnello and become a fan of InvestorPlace on Facebook.
