“Apple is currently preventing access to bills of lading and other import information related to the iPad, a US data protection company claims,” MacNN reports. “Trade Privacy notes that such information is usually available through the Freedom of Information Act; Apple is, in fact, said to be the only major electronics company imposing such secrecy.”
“The firm argues that denial of public access is a means of countering business intelligence groups like Panjiva and ImportGenius,” MacNN reports. “Such outfits collect data from US Customs, then produce research documents that can be sold to a company’s rivals. This makes it possible to learn which products are being made, how many units are being produced and when they might arrive in North America.”
MacNN reports, “For Apple the secrecy may also be a way of preserving the “surprise” factor it counts on for product launches.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: iPad will be available in late March worldwide for US$499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, and $699 for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date.
firstt
Yeah, first and illiterate.
thhird
The iPad hasn’t been imported yet. US Customs doesn’t know a thing until they enter the country.
Ffourthhhhh
@ firrst
First to get banned!
Good for Apple. Too much of the competition are feeding off Apple information.
I don’t understand why people think they should be entitled to this kind of information. Especially when they wanna use it to make money. They cry freedom of information to turn a profit. Nice.
I think Apple should block any purchases of the iPad from Redmond or to people with the name Gates or Ballmer.
Let’s find out when the first 16 wheeler leaves the Port Authority with a load of iPads so we can hijack the shipment and be the first kids on the block have one free.
What? Apple’s blocking the information?
Those bastards.
I fail to see how blocking shipping information is going to preserve any surprise. Apple already introduced it. It’s not like you can pick one up if you have a bill of lading.
Not sure if the author’s thought that the Freedom of Information Act was applicable here.
According to Exemption 4, it would suggest that Apple is in their perfect right to have their ‘Trade secrets’ protected.*
Re the MacNN report, “For Apple the secrecy may also be a way of preserving the “surprise” factor it counts on for product launches,” how about, ‘it counts on keeping the photocopiers at bay.’
*http://www.rcfp.org/fogg/index.php?i=ex4
Apple is sick of industrial espionage and copycats. If they wanna be secret they have a good reason.
Anyone who has observed over the years knows that Apple products are the most copies bits of techno-gear in the world. They have every reason to protect every bit of information about their pre-released products that they can, to put off the copy cats as long as they can. I think the only reason they have announced the iPad is because they have to get regulatory approvals before they can sell them.
The Apple secrecy and mystic is just a byproduct of the critical need to keep tight security to keep from getting designs and products ripped off before they are even released.
The CES was humorous to watch, with a bunch of clueless over paid executives being wishy washy about their tablet plans, waiting for Apple to present the iPad so they would know what they were supposed to be building…..
Now they are trying to get Apple production numbers so they know how many of their rip off copies to make.
fourrrteeeennnththhhhhttthhh
the first 16 wheeler
I think Big Als MBP is two wheels shy of a full load.
(Tractor-trailer trucks in the US, the most common kind of truck {lorry} on the roads, usually have 18 wheels and 18 tires. See
for more information)
Good for Apple!! I can’t wait to see the next iPhone and iPhone os 4.0.
@qka,
Actually they have 19 wheels and 18 tires, excluding spares. You forgot the “fifth wheel” on the tractor. LOL!
“I can’t wait to see the next iPhone and iPhone os 4.0.”
I read that it’s scratch and sniff. Get the SI Swimsuit App.
@ Digital Mercenary
And you forgot the flywheel which remains tyreless.
“And you forgot the flywheel which remains tyreless.”
The thread usually says it’s a tough nut to crack. The rest bolt or get a grip.
sseventtyninnthh.
Yeah, ron. Get your nurse to change you before you stink up the thread with your half assed impression of Glum from Gulliver’s Travels.
“Apple is, in fact, said to be the only major electronics company imposing such secrecy.”
“Such outfits collect data from US Customs, then produce research documents that can be sold to a company’s rivals.”
The real question is . . . why are the other electronics companies NOT imposing such secrecy?!?!?
Twweeeentyyyttthhhhhiirrrdddddd!!!q∞£¢
yooo mommmaaa beeyaaatcchhh
@ firrst,king,jbird,jim-tiv,ron,barack
Is there a full moon today? Maybe something in the air?