Apple severs ties with prototype tablet designer SurfaceInk

“Apple severed ties with a small Silicon Valley design firm that for nearly a decade had helped with the development of some of its products, after the firm showcased its own prototype tablet computer,” Miguel Helft reports for The New York Times.

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“Eric Bauswell, a founder and chief executive of the engineering design company SurfaceInk, confirmed on Thursday that his company and Apple had ‘gone separate directions,'” Helft reports. “Mr. Bauswell declined to give details of its relationship with Apple, citing client confidentiality agreements. But he said that his company was let go because of ‘Apple’s growing awareness of our turnkey capabilities,’ referring to SurfaceInk’s business of designing products for its clients. ‘I think they view our capabilities as an opportunity for competitors,’ he said.”

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Helft reports, “The incident underscores the growing pressure that Apple is facing in the market for tablet computers. While the iPad currently dominates that market, many rival products are expected to be released soon.”

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Circa 2004: “The incident underscores the growing pressure that Apple is facing in the market for portable music players. While the iPod currently dominates that market, many rival products are expected to be released soon.”

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “David E.” for the heads up.]