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A case filed back in 2005 asserts that Apple’s proprietary software for the iPod allowed the company to shut out rival digital music download services forcing users to buy higher-priced iPods over competing music players and locking users into the iTunes ecosystem. The antitrust case, which will go back to court this month, could end up costing Apple roughly $350 million, according to The New York Times. The iPod’s old operating system is no longer used by Apple, of course and at this point, a $350 million fine will hardly make a dent in Apple’s bottom line.

The voice of the visionary behind much of the success of Apple, the lateSteve Jobs, will be heard once again thanks to a videotaped deposition set to be entered into evidence in a decade-old class action lawsuit.

A case filed back in 2005 asserts that Apple’s proprietary software for the iPod allowed the company to shut out rival digital music download services — forcing users to buy higher-priced iPods over competing music players and locking users into the iTunes ecosystem.

The antitrust case, which will go back to court this month, could end up costing Apple roughly $350 million, according to The New York Times.

The iPod’s old operating system is no longer used by Apple, of course — and at this point, a $350 million fine will hardly make a dent in Apple’s bottom line. So the real intrigue here is finding out what Jobs says in the previously unseen video.

Known for playing hardball in behind-the-scenes business dealings — in stark contrast to his infectiously optimistic onstage speeches — Jobs is revered as one of the greatest business minds of the past century. The video is one of the last of the late founder to be revealed.

But if the legal team behind the lawsuit is to be believed, the video’s content won’t improve Jobs’ reputation.

We will present evidence that Apple took action to block its competitors and in the process harmed competition and harmed consumers,” Bonny Sweeney, one of the attorneys from Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, the firm handling the lawsuit, told the Times.

Bonny Sweeney, one of the attorneys fromRobbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, the firm handling the lawsuit, told the Times.

It’s unclear whether the video will ever make to the public. In the past, Apple has made great efforts to keep such depositions under wraps.

“We have no plans to release the tape to the public,” Sweeney told Mashable, “but it will likely be played in open court.”

In addition to the deposition video, new emails entered into evidence will also be revealed. If the recent history of Apple court cases is any guide, those may also provide a good deal of insight into Jobs’ thinking when he was still at the head of the company.

If the plaintiffs win, the monetary damages would cover the period from September 12, 2006 to March 31, 2009. The court proceedings are set to begin on Tuesday in Oakland.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Source: Mashable.com

 

Do you get caught up in, or rely too heavily on digital networking? Do you get into a rut and forget about how important networking in person is?  Big mistake. Without the right blend of online and in-person connectivity, we miss out on many benefits we offer each other as professionals.

I see people fall into this rut all the time, thinking if they send a text, email or social media post then that’s enough. Remember transactions are not relationships. Better to own your time with people more personally, no matter how long or short it may be.

It’s so important to establish and develop connections and relationships in person because that is where magic happens. Any opportunity you have to go out and meet people in person is a coveted opportunity. Take advantage of it and make things happen that just can’t happen the same way online.

Below are the benefits of in-person networking that can help develop real relationships that matter.

Personalize Your Time With People

Whatever time you have with people, focus on them and make the absolute most of it. Ask questions that show your sincere interest in them. Come away with one significant commitment, agreement, appointment, or goal that you both can work on.

Establish Chemistry and Synergy

Nothing establishes chemistry more than being in someone’s presence. There is something inexplicable that happens when you can interact with people through eye contact, sense of humor and shared energy.

Learn About Peoples’ Back Stories

Everyone has a story that can reveal so much about where they come from, how they have gotten to their current place and what common ground you can find with them.  We all share human experiences in business. These experiences have taught us all the importance of hope, hard work and faith to help us through.

Have Diverse and Interesting Conversations

The ability to focus on a specific conversation point with someone makes us memorable and establishes commonality. Ask people about what they do, interesting trends they see in their industry and the values and fundamentals you believe you have in common.

Set Specific Goals About What’s Next

Have you ever seen someone at a networking event you know or want to meet and thought it might be the perfect time to initiate an intro or conversation? Take the initiative to do this more often. Compliment them on something they are doing that you admire.

Introduce People to Each Other in Person

Not everyone is comfortable chit chatting and small talking with others at networking events. Take the opportunity to introduce people to each other when you believe they might be a good fit. This includes businesses that may be complimentary, personalities that match up or just cool people that you feel should know each other.

Learn About Inside Initiatives and Projects

Have you ever been in a conversation in which information that has not yet become common knowledge in your industry is revealed? People tend to reveal this kind of information in intimate face to face conversations. This can happen in part because of the sense of trust that is established in the moment. When it comes to job and career opportunities, amazing info is shared in person that is NOT shared elsewhere. So stay alert.

Take Relationships to Another Level

When we consistently show up, engage, contribute and participate in professional gatherings and events, we will naturally take relationships to another level and get to know key people in our industry better. That is happening to me now after being in a new area and town.

See full story at Small Business Trend

 

We’re all for flexibility. Going your own way. Paving your own path. Doing what works for you (and not doing what doesn’t).

We’re also big fans of not putting a timeline on things. We’ve even said that there are plenty of things you don’t have to have by 30 (or 40, or 50, or ever … ).

But when it comes to your career, there are some things that we do recommend getting started on sooner rather than later. Not because some all-knowing career god out there says you have to, but because you’ll make your professional future — not to mention day-to-day work life — a whole lot easier.

So, do you need to check every box off this list by the time you’re 35? Definitely not. But, consider it a list of suggestions that, if taken, can have a really big impact on your career.

1. Really refine your elevator pitch

While it will obviously change from time to time, you should never have a hard time answering, “What do you do?” In fact, you should be so good at it that people will never forget. So, really spend some time figuring out what message you want to get across when people ask about your career.Communication expert Alexandra Franzen has an exercise to help.

2. Know your superpower

Or, in other words, know the one thing that you’re truly amazing at. Serial entrepreneur Tina Roth Eisenberg says that all the most successful people she’s met know exactly what they’re best at: John Maeda, who led the MIT Media Lab and Rhode Island School of Design, responded with “curiosity.” Maria Popova, who curates the popular Brain Pickings blog, said “doggedness.” Eisenberg’s own superpower is enthusiasm. See how to find your own super power, here.

3. Know your weakness

On the other end of the spectrum, it’s key to know what you’re not so great at. Not to make you feel bad — not in the least — but to help you know who you should hire and work with to complement your skill set and what tasks you should delegate (so you can spend more time on what you’re great at). On that note…

4. Learn how to delegate

No one can do it all, and especially as you climb the career ladder, you’re going to need to know the difference between the things you should be spending your time on and the things you shouldn’t. And, perhaps more importantly, be able to effectively and comfortably delegate to others — interns, staff members, your partner, your childcare provider, you get the picture. These 10 rules of successful delegation will help you do it right.

5. Know your career non-negotiables

You’re going to have a lot of opportunities come your way in life, and you don’t want to waste energy agreeing to things that really don’t line up with what you want to be doing. So, really be honest about what you want and need out of your career, and then come up with a list of non-negotiables that you can use as a guide next time you’re making a career decision.Writer Andrea Shields Nunez has some tips on creating them— and then actually enforcing them.

6. Do something you’re really, really proud of

Whether or not it’s something you’ll be known for forever, something you get paid for doing, or even something you really want to do with your life, make sure you have something on your resume that, deep down, you’re really proud of.

7. Learn from something you’re not so proud of

We were going to add “fail at something” to this list, but that’s silly. Because, let’s face it, we’ve all failed miserably at one point or another. What’s more important? Learning from that blunder and taking that lesson with you productively into the next stage of your career.

8. Stretch your limits

You know you can manage a 30-person meeting, but a 100-person multi-day travel conference? That might be stretching the limits of your skills. Actually — this is exactly the type of stuff that you should try once in a while. After all, you’ll never really know how good you are until you step a bit outside of what you know.

9. Do something that really scares you

This takes stretching your limits a bit further — we’re talking going way out of your comfort zone here. Whether it’s speaking at a conference, going for a (big) promotion, or finally writing that memoir, why not try something that terrifies you at least once in the early stages of your career? As they say, big risks can lead to big-time rewards.

10. Get comfortable with getting feedback

Hillary Clinton once said that her biggest piece of advice to young professionals is: “It’s important to take criticism seriously — not personally.” Meaning: Knowing where you’re not meeting expectations is the only way you’ll learn and grow as a professional, but taking every harsh word to heart is a fast way to make your confidence crumble. So, take it from Hillz, and start taking feedback like a pro. Here are a few tips that’ll help.

11. Get comfortable with giving feedback

Whether it’s telling your boss that his hourly drop-bys are really killing the team’s mojo or letting your direct report know that arriving to meetings on time is, in fact, required, giving feedback is a necessary part of getting what you need and being a happy professional. Learn how to give it well, ideally sooner rather than later. Career expert Jennifer Winter offers some pointers.

12. Get comfortable with saying no

For just being two measly letters long, “no” seems to be one of the hardest words in the English language for many of us to say. But it’s actually incredibly important for our careers (and our sanity!) that we learn to use it and stand behind it. Here’s how to say it to your boss, a friend and everyone else.

13. Have a broad network of people you can trust

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again (probably at least twice a week for as long as we’re in business), the greatest asset you have in your career is your network. And building relationships takes time, so start now. Our free, seven-day email class is here to help.

14. Have a couple of specific career advisors

We’re not saying mentor here — because finding the right mentor shouldn’t have a timeline on it and because there areplenty of ways to succeed without one — but having a couple of people in your corner who can advise you on everything from a terrible boss to a career 180 is incredibly valuable. And yes, this group of people can include your mom.

15. Scrub your online presence

Increasingly, what shows up in Google and on your social media profiles is the first impression someone has of you. So, take some time to clean ’em up! Change the privacy on any old or questionable photos. Use SimpleWash to delete any Facebook or Twitter posts that could be incriminating. Game your Google results to make sure the things you want showing up at the top do.

16. Perfect your LinkedIn profile

Speaking of those things you want showing up at the top, your LinkedIn profile is perhaps your most prime piece of online real estate. When a client, future employer, vendor or professional contact is looking for you, guess where he or she will turn? Yup, LinkedIn. So make sure your profile tells the story you want it to tell (our complete guide to a perfect LinkedIn profilewalks you through the process).

17. Have a portfolio of your best work

Whether it’s a printed collection of articles, marketing campaigns or annual reports you’ve worked on or a personal website showcasing your skills, having a portfolio ready to go will make it easy for you to show your boss (or future boss) what you’ve got. Here’s more on why you need one, plus some easy ways to get started today.

18. Know how to sell (yourself or something else)

Yes, even if you never envision a career in cold calling. The truth is, whether you’re pitching an idea to your boss or writing a cover letter about why you’re the perfect candidate, you’re going to be selling something to someone at some point. Get started on your own personal sales education with these tips.

19. Know how to negotiate

Because, in most cases, it’s the only way you’re going to get what you want and deserve. If you’ve never done it before, we recommend starting small (asking your boss to, say, pay for a pricey upcoming conference), and checking out this hour-long webinar that’s jam-packed with actionable advice (and motivation).

20. Know how to manage up

It’s a common misconception that you have to grin and bear it through a superior’s assignments, working style or way of doing things, paying no regard to whether his or her demands are reasonable. In fact, being able to manage up — or, communicate with your boss and advocate for what you need to do your job best — is a crucial job skill. Molly Donovanoffers some tips for doing it well.

21. Know how to send a killer email

You should never send an email that you’re not proud of (or wouldn’t be proud of if your boss saw) again. So make sure you’re really putting care into the professional messages you send! Erin Greenawald has some tips from an editor’s perspective on how to write ones that are flawless. It may sound like a lot of effort, but we promise it’s worth it (and will get easier the more you do it).

22. Master your handshake

This sounds small, but a handshake is the quickest way to make (or break) an impression. (Fact: A Fortune 500 CEO once said that when he had to choose between two candidates with similar qualifications, he gave the position to the candidate with the better handshake.) Learn how to do it right from an expert.

23. Find a to-do list system that works for you

Whether you need your list synced across all of your devices or you’re more of a pen-and-paper kind of guy or gal, commit to finding a to-do list that helps you manage your workflow in the best way possible. Yes, you might change methods as you switch jobs or new apps are launched over time, but knowing what works, what doesn’t, and what you like and don’t will make sure that you always have what you need to be your most productive self.

See full story here.

 

Mix precocious 10-year-olds with a famously volatile host and add large knives and open flames.

How MasterChef Junior’s recipe for trainwreck TV instead became a heartwarming twist on the cooking competition show.

The 12-year-old boy standing in front of Gordon Ramsay has just started to cry. He’s wearing a floral bow tie, a plaid collared shirt tucked neatly into slim black jeans, and a bright white apron tied at the waist with his name embroidered on it in all caps, “LOGAN,” along with the logo of the show on which he is one of the final eight contestants,MasterChef Junior. His two front teeth are gapped, and his sandy blond hair is parted way over on one side. When he grows up, Logan wants to be an oceanographer, an astronaut, a chef, and a garbageman. The restaurant he plans to open someday will be called “O’s Underwater Bistro” and it will have special bubbles, some “executive bubbles” and some “romantic bubbles,” where customers will dine floating around underwater separate from the main restaurant, like in submarines.

But today, Logan has overcooked and underseasoned the rice in what he says would be the signature dish at his underwater bistro. The 82-pound, 4-foot-11-inch boy from Memphis, who, unlike some of the other contestants, can actually see over the cooking counters on the MasterChef set, has had one hour to create this dish, presumably without any adult assistance. And though his perfectly seared steak has “nice char and color,” the plate overall is too simple — lackluster, Ramsay says. As the British celebrity chef tells Logan that “the judges have come to expect more from you, young man,” a tear so giant that even I can see it from behind the cameras 30 feet away drops off Logan’s cheek and hits the floor. The boy’s shoulders curve forward, his head drops, and he’s sobbing.

Producers backstage stop whispering into their mics. The cameramen are still and tense. No one likes to see a child cry. But then Ramsay, who has seven Michelin stars, 25 restaurants, and a reputation for calling the cooks on his TV shows things like “miserable wee bitch” and “you fucking donkey” does something unexpected: He steps forward, hugs the child, and tells him it’s going to be OK, that he did his best. When Logan returns to his station, no longer crying, the other children comfort him and tell him he’s a great cook.

In spring 2013, when Fox announced it was going to air a kid-centric spin-off of its amateur cooking competitionMasterChef with 8- to 13-year-olds, it sounded horribly annoying — like a desperate attempt to revive a played-out format. The built-in precociousness of the concept was off-putting: 12-year-olds talking about Sriracha foam. And who wants to watch kids being mean to one another or judges hurting their feelings? “Fox’s Junior MasterChef to find newer, younger chefs to disappoint Gordon Ramsay,” wrote the AV Club.

But when the show debuted last fall, it was absolutely delightful. Now, three episodes into its second season, it’s still so good. MasterChef Junior’s first season was the highest-rated broadcast show in its Friday evening time slot among adults 18 to 49. It performed especially well in DVR and got good reviews. This season it is upgraded to a coveted Tuesday evening spot and averages a solid 5.3 million total viewers.

Read more…