MacBookAir.com Now Apple's. MacBook Air in Stores Friday?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

The MacBookAir.com (http://www.macbookair.com) domain is now in the hands of Apple. MacRumors.com had registered it (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/14/macbookair-com-clarification/) ahead of Macworld in anticipation of the MacBook Air release. As promised, we handed it over to Apple when asked. However, this does demonstrate that Apple does not necessarily register domains of upcoming products even when they are freely available. Curiously, our MacBookAir.com domain registration actually triggered (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/14/macbook-air-domain-names/) a number of actual MacBookAir domain registrations by Apple.

Meanwhile, Looprumors claims (http://looprumors.com/article.php?apple-readies-macbook-air-displays,1939617461) that Apple Stores will be revising their store's window and floor displays on Thursday night in preparation for the MacBook Air. While this conflicts with earlier BoyGeniusReport claims (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/27/macbook-airs-in-stores-tuesday-or-wednesday/) of a Tuesday/Wednesday launch, we've also heard confirmation that this Friday is the target day for MacBook Air displays/demos at Apple Retail Stores.

A Friday launch would also correspond with the arrival of MacBook Airs to those who ordered it immediately after the keynote address.



Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/29/macbookair-com-now-apples-macbook-air-in-stores-friday/)

[mike12806]

cmon you guys didn't even bargain A LITTLE for some inside info? wink wink

[nigletsyz]

hope you charged em for it

[darthraige]

Nice. lol

I was planning on going to the mall this weekend. Now I got something to look forward to seeing. Saaaaaaweeeet.

[Daveway]

So did MR get paid "well" for the domain?

[isoMorpheus]

For how much?

[sminman]

How much did Apple pay you for that domain name?

Could someone make a living out of doing that?

did they pay hundreds, thousands, millions???

I am sincerely curious.

[bjett92]

How much did Apple pay you for that domain name?

Could someone make a living out of doing that?

did they pay hundreds, thousands, millions???

I am sincerely curious.

I think MR handed over for free.

[lostfan916]

Nice. Very very nice.

[happydude]

looking forward to getting my hands on one of these!! and seriously, you should have charged a sh*tton for that domain. hope you got something for it!!

[MacTheSpoon]

Aha, exciting stuff! Think I know where I'm going on Friday... :)

[arn]

no charge for the domain.

arn

[aLoC]

Probably it would give too much away if they registered in advance. Apple like their surprises...

[mac-er]

hope you charged em for it

Cybersquatting is illegal and there would be no MR anymore if they did charge.

It is a little in the grey side in my mind in this situation that is was registered by MR.

[MadGoat]

10.5.2 on Thursday i suppose?
:( I want it now

[viggen9]

I hope this means 10.5.2 also.

[firstapple]

Im just waiting for 10.5.2 as well, and hoping for a damn driver for my x3100

[senorfrog97]

I'd be surprised if they didn't send a macbook air to ya Arn.

[iMikeT]

I hope you guys feel special about this.

[jblakeh1]

Great... so where's my AppleTV update?!? It's been two weeks...

[3D-Troll]

no charge for the domain. ;)

arn

If you don't want money ask for media passes to the next Steve Jobs keynote. :)

Steffen

[rikers_mailbox]

no charge for the domain. ;)

arn

no charge ... but perhaps a trade for better seats at MWSF '09?

[Manatee]

Hmm... Why are the prognosticators skipping Thursday? ;)

I'm betting on Monday. Why? Because I'm leaving on vacation Saturday and I could really use an MBA on my trip (if I like it after I try it at the store.) But since I would need to have it by Friday, it won't be available until Monday. This is part of my "theory of the malevolent god". (No slight intended to the religious... just my favorite mechanism of self-loathing. :()

Anyway, I'm looking forward to trying out the MBA and seeing if it has enough lung to suck the cash out of my pocket. :)

[Pippen Man]

Probably it would give too much away if they registered in advance. Apple like their surprises...

What about iPhone.com? (http://iphone.com) This was registered by Apple way before MacWorld of 2007.:apple:

[evilgEEk]

I think it's great that MR registered the domain before anyone else thought of it. It was in good hands. :)

Handing it over to Apple upon request is a great gesture to the company that is the sole reason MR exists. And strengthening the relationship between Apple and MR doesn't hurt either! :D

[mikeskywalker84]

I don't quite know where to put this, so here goes.
I found a new apple ad posted on www.cnn.com page, here is this link:

http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/

Viva Apple!:D

[arn]

What about iPhone.com? (http://iphone.com) This was registered by Apple way before MacWorld of 2007.:apple:

Apple had registered iPhone.org well before... iPhone.com, however, was owned by a 3rd party and later acquired by Apple after the iPhone launch.

arn

[jnc]

Wow, I wonder how this would have went down if "Mr Mac Bookair" owned the site :D

[superfula]

Cybersquatting is illegal and there would be no MR anymore if they did charge.

It is a little in the grey side in my mind in this situation that is was registered by MR.

It was registered based on a rumor. As far as I heard, Apple hadn't registered Macbook Air as a trademark when the domain was registered. If it isn't a trademark, it isn't Cybersquatting.

[a1016neo]

Yah for MR and Apple! Can't wait for my MBA!:rolleyes:

[akadmon]

no charge for the domain. ;)

arn

I believe that! However, arn has just bought himself some future graces (as in "leaks"). Good job! Now hurry up and use one of them to find out when the new MBPs are coming :D

[jnc]

I believe that! However, arn has just bought himself some future graces (as in "leaks"). Good job! Now hurry up and use one of them to find out when the new MBPs are coming :D

He's using it already ;)

[twoodcc]

no charge for the domain. ;)

arn

i'm kinda surprised by that. probably smart on your part for not asking for anything though.

hope the Air hits the stores on friday or before for sure

[Pippen Man]

Apple had registered iPhone.org well before... iPhone.com, however, was owned by a 3rd party and later acquired by Apple after the iPhone launch.

arn

Okay, so iPhone.org was possessed before MacWorld, and I still remember, to this day, the rumors about that domain. How people KNEW that an iPhone was coming because of this. Did Apple stop doing that after the iPhone was introduced? Seems to me like a huge rumor buster.:apple:

[zap2]

Arn...making sure the big wigs at Apple don't hate MR....smooth!:)

[jnc]

Okay, so iPhone.org was possessed before MacWorld, and I still remember, to this day, the rumors about that domain. How people KNEW that an iPhone was coming because of this. Did Apple stop doing that after the iPhone was introduced? Seems to me like a huge rumor buster.:apple:

I'm guessing there were more contributing factors to the belief that a phone device was en route than just the creation of a website... anyway, no one was sure they'd use the iPhone name because it was being used by another product

[arn]

I'm guessing there were more contributing factors to the belief that a phone device was en route than just the creation of a website... anyway, no one was sure they'd use the iPhone name because it was being used by another product

I think the rumors ended up naming the product than vice-versa. There was so much hype about "iPhone" for years... that I don't think it left them much of a choice. It was a good idea to continue on the iPhone hype. People have been calling the Apple phone the "iPhone" for years... and the talk of it in the months ahead of Macworld was persistent.

arn

[pianodude123]

wow this was really nice of you guys to just give them the domain... I really hope they at least gave you one of each of the new products released that day.

[SheriffParker]

Friday should be an enjoyable day... a trip to the local Apple store sounds nice. I'm looking forward to putting my eyes and hands on one of those new Air thingies. :)

[guerro]

Did you at least get your registration fee back? Or did you give that to them for free, too? :rolleyes:

[Pippen Man]

I think the rumors ended up naming the product than vice-versa. There was so much hype about "iPhone" for years... that I don't think it left them much of a choice. It was a good idea to continue on the iPhone hype. People have been calling the Apple phone the "iPhone" for years... and the talk of it in the months ahead of Macworld was persistent.

arn

Has there been a product like that that Apple named based on the consistent rumors? I wasn't that much of a Apple person back in 2001, but what did everyone say about this "iPod?" Did people predict this name, and seal the domain? Could domain naming be a rumor source now? Type in a few web address's "iphone2.com" or "MacTablet.com?":apple:

[zlinger]

14 days. where is it?

[EricNau]

It should be noted that, although a very nice gesture, MacRumors had little choice in handing Apple the domain. Registering a domain under another company's trademark, or anticipated trademark, in hopes of monetary gain is against the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anticybersquatting_Consumer_Protection_Act).

I'm curious, was the domain requested, or offered? In other words, who made the first move?

[compuguy1088]

Cybersquatting is illegal and there would be no MR anymore if they did charge.

It is a little in the grey side in my mind in this situation that is was registered by MR.

Last time I checked plenty of companies do that. Giving the domain for free is a good sign of faith, and from this peace offering can improve the relationship between MR and Apple :D.

[tuneman07]

Just wondering, but why all the secretive stuff with Apple? Wouldn't they want to create "buzz" before products come out? I just think about the video game systems and how much buzz those create before they are released then you have people knocking each other over to get them.

[arn]

Has there been a product like that that Apple named based on the consistent rumors? I wasn't that much of a Apple person back in 2001, but what did everyone say about this "iPod?" Did people predict this name, and seal the domain? Could domain naming be a rumor source now? Type in a few web address's "iphone2.com" or "MacTablet.com?":apple:

iPhone would be the only one I could recall happening like that. No one knew about the iPod name until one site called it 4 days prior to the iPod's launch.

http://www.macrumors.com/2001/10/19/hitsdailydouble-who-rumor/

First reply: "yeah right. lame name."

Humorously, we were still having the same domain name registration debate in 2001:

[iPod.com] was just registered a few days ago. First of all, I don't think that Apple would name anything with such a lame name. Secondly, if they did, they would altleast register the url....



arn

[NYCMacFan]

It was registered based on a rumor. As far as I heard, Apple hadn't registered Macbook Air as a trademark when the domain was registered. If it isn't a trademark, it isn't Cybersquatting.

If your theme was, "for rumors that spread like the wind" or any slightly plausible rationale for why you want to use that term you'd probably be fine.

Personally, I would have had Macrumos trade the domain for a promise to get future models for testing at the same time they are sent to other reviewers (Mossberg, engadget, gizmodo, etc.). Not in advance, just at the same time.

[JayLenochiniMac]

I don't understand it. They wanted macbookair.com but not macbook.com, macbookpro.com, imac.com, macpro.com, etc.?

[SthrnCmfrtr]

I don't understand it. They wanted macbookair.com but not macbook.com, macbookpro.com, imac.com, macpro.com, etc.?

Well, who in the hell actually opens up their internet browser and types a computer name into the address bar?

DellXPS423Plus.com ?

Apple Legal was probably like "Oh, I see that Arn has been @#$%ing around with our intellectual property again based on knowledge gleaned from jabbering iEmployees. Time to send out the 'gimme' letter again."

Not that any person of distinguished aesthetic sensibilities would conceive of naming his venture "macbookair" in any capitalization or separation, but for some of the others it's believable. Mac's Professional Design, for instance. If the iStuff had preceded the iMac instead of the other way around, Mac might have made a personal website called iMac, much like an illustrious member of our forums goes by the name iGary (and there's an iRobot, too, unless I've been getting into the mushrooms again). Of course, it'd hurt your cybersquatting case if you were running a rumors site that predicted that Mac Pro and iMac were likely to be the names of upcoming products...

So yeah, I agree. I think. The truth is, probably no one really cared all that much aside from the need to protect the trademark once somone announced that they'd bought the domain. I know that Apple has rather low standards for their customers aside from their wallets, but I don't think they really expect that much business from people who visit macbookair.com for all of their MacBook Air purchasing needs.

Of course, I've been wrong before.

[Pippen Man]

iPhone would be the only one I could recall happening like that. No one knew about the iPod name until one site called it 4 days prior to the iPod's launch.

http://www.macrumors.com/2001/10/19/hitsdailydouble-who-rumor/

First reply: "yeah right. lame name."

Humorously, we were still having the same domain name registration debate in 2001:




arn

Ha. "Lame name." Little did that guy know that it was this so called iPod that gave Apple a resurgence and basically saved the company.:rolleyes: Do you wonder why Apple bought the iPhone.org domain so early and not for other products? Like revolutionary and everything, but what made the iPhone so special. Look at the MacBook Air. This iPhone must have seriously been Steve's bread and butter.:cool::apple:

[arn]

Well, who in the hell actually opens up their internet browser and types a computer name into the address bar?

The vast majority of people (non-techies) don't distinguish between the address bar and the search bar.

There's a reason why type-in domains are so valuable. Some http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/30/technology/domains_biz20_1205/index.htm estimates claim this represents "10 percent of the global paid search market".

arn

[boss1]

no charge for the domain. ;)

arn

there's no such thing as a free lunch ;)

[bdkennedy1]

Where's my Apple TV update, Steve. Grrrrrrrrr

[mauricev]

The Apple store in Garden City, NY, http://www.apple.com/retail/rooseveltfield/week/20080127.html, has had the MacBook Air on display since last Saturday. Are they sure they mean this Friday and not last Friday?

[guerro]

Are we to believe that MacRumors was compensated for the domain? Your answers and non answers would lead us to think yes. What is it arn ?

[Diode]

Tysons in VA is getting a shipment in on Friday night with anticipation of setting them up for Saturday morning according to a manager there.

[Plutor]

Not sure on the domain name this topic is based on, but I can confirm I saw "macbookpro.com" on ebay a week or so ago with a Buy Now for $15000.

That doesnt mean its worth that much, of course, as it was unsold. :)

How much did Apple pay you for that domain name?

Could someone make a living out of doing that?

did they pay hundreds, thousands, millions???

I am sincerely curious.

[Diode]

What about iPhone.com? (http://iphone.com) This was registered by Apple way before MacWorld of 2007.:apple:

I thought it was owned by a third party person who had it from back in the 90's ... he intended to start a internet business around phone service and never got around to it ... I think apple paid him in the 7 figure range for the rights or something. He however wasn't squatting on the name hence apple's decision to pay him so much for it (They were compensating him for the lost revenue of not pursuing the venture).

Could be wrong but I'm too lazy to google.

[Scottgfx]

no charge for the domain. ;)

arn

Very kind of you. I hope you at least recouped your costs for the registration.

Perhaps I can register the pirate version of the domain...

macbookarrrr.com

How about a version of the MacBookAir that also does hair removal...

macbooknair.com

OK, I'm getting loopy now. :)

A MacBook that you keep in a dungeon...

MacBookLair.com

Somebody please stop me!

[SteveSparks]

Are we to believe that MacRumors was compensated for the domain? Your answers and non answers would lead us to think yes. What is it arn ?

What business is it of anyones to ask this question?

It would be a totally legit if macrumors has lots of domains pointed to this main domain. The idea is directed traffic and advertising.

[zlinger]

The deep vacuum of space version of the MacBook..

MacBookVacu.com

Apple is currently taking pre-flight orders.:eek:

[redkamel]

"you should have charged him the usual, Mortimer..."
"Of course Randolph....one dollar."

[guerro]

What business is it of anyones to ask this question?

It would be a totally legit if macrumors has lots of domains pointed to this main domain. The idea is directed traffic and advertising.

You miss the point I am raising. He obviously is being less-than-truthful with us in regards to whether or not he was compensated for the domain. I think the whole reason for this thread was to flaunt the fact that he indeed DID get some sort of compensation. Hence the "wink" smiley when answering:

no charge for the domain.;)

arn

Further supported by the fact that he went back and edited it out.

[arn]

You miss the point I am raising. He obviously is being less-than-truthful with us in regards to whether or not he was compensated for the domain. I think the whole reason for this thread was to flaunt the fact that he indeed DID get some sort of compensation.

I edited out the wink since people misinterpreted it. To sum up:

I transfered the domain to Apple for free.

arn

[Mr Lizard]

Cybersquatting is illegal and there would be no MR anymore if they did charge.


It was an unannounced product at the time. The domain was fair game. MR should have charged for it. If Apple had wanted it before, it was freely available.

[Freyqq]

Cybersquatting is illegal and there would be no MR anymore if they did charge.

It is a little in the grey side in my mind in this situation that is was registered by MR.

what?

i remember in recent history of microsoft buying a domain off someone

[joefinan]

no charge for the domain.

arn

So why did MR bother registering it then? Just to piss off Apple?

[abrooks]

The Apple store in Garden City, NY, http://www.apple.com/retail/rooseveltfield/week/20080127.html, has had the MacBook Air on display since last Saturday. Are they sure they mean this Friday and not last Friday?

Picture or it didn't happen.

[abrooks]

what?

i remember in recent history of microsoft buying a domain off someone

Depends if the person legitimately purchased it for a use or had it for a long period before Microsoft wanted it.

Cyber-squatting only really refers to this exact example, registering a domain on nothing but "intelligence" and that you know has no use for yourself.

[running]

just a quick notice - apple still owns the mammals.org (http://mammals.org) domain. Do you think it means something? :)

[noservice2001]

just a quick notice - apple still owns the mammals.org (http://mammals.org) domain. Do you think it means something? :)

apple owns all the mammals? haha

[asrmatt]

no charge for the domain.

arn

Now apple is in debt... and, with the words of Carlito Brigante "A favor will kill you faster than a bullet!!"
:eek:

[wordmunger]

Very kind of you. I hope you at least recouped your costs for the registration.

Yeah, $8.99. I'm sure Arn's really sweating over that expense...

[krye]

$$$? Yeh right. "Hand it over and we won't shut you down." is more like it.

[mdl0039]

Im going to venture to say that they will not be available this weekend. People who ordered the first day available and even the day after still have not received shipping notices. So far, only one person on this board has confirmed getting a shipping notice... Forums love rumors!!!!!!

[jameskohn]

Im going to venture to say that they will not be available this weekend. People who ordered the first day available and even the day after still have not received shipping notices. So far, only one person on this board has confirmed getting a shipping notice... Forums love rumors!!!!!!

http://looprumors.com/article.php?apple-readies-macbook-air-displays,1939617461

[gnasher729]

How much did Apple pay you for that domain name?

Could someone make a living out of doing that?

did they pay hundreds, thousands, millions???

I am sincerely curious.

If you tried to do that, you would be acting in "bad faith", which means Apple can take you to court, will get the domain name handed over to them, and you will be stuffed with the court costs.

As a horrific example of things going seriously wrong, visit www.nissan.com .

[gnasher729]

It was registered based on a rumor. As far as I heard, Apple hadn't registered Macbook Air as a trademark when the domain was registered. If it isn't a trademark, it isn't Cybersquatting.

If it has "MacBook" in its name, then it is cybersquatting. In this case, it was just a bit of harmless fun. If someone tries to sell it for money, then the registration is made in bad faith and there is trouble.

[superfula]

If you tried to do that, you would be acting in "bad faith", which means Apple can take you to court, will get the domain name handed over to them, and you will be stuffed with the court costs.

As a horrific example of things going seriously wrong, visit www.nissan.com .

Completely different situations. The macbookair domain was registered based off rumors. Apple gave no indication they were making the product, nor did they have a trademark for it. MR had every right to purchase and resell the domain.

Nissan was a registered trademark of the car company prior to the nissan.com domain being registered. I believe the trademark was registered to the car company back in the 1950s.

[superfula]

If it has "MacBook" in its name, then it is cybersquatting. In this case, it was just a bit of harmless fun. If someone tries to sell it for money, then the registration is made in bad faith and there is trouble.

No it isn't. In order for it to be considered 'cybersquatting', macbookair must have been a registered trademark of Apple prior to the domain's existence. Legally, macbook != macbook air. Apple could try to bully you out of it, like they have with so many ipod products and domains, but there is no legal basis for it. If someone actually stood up to apple, the case would be thrown out.

[jnc]

So why did MR bother registering it then? Just to piss off Apple?

In the name of science http://a.deviantart.com/avatars/f/o/forscience.gif

[guerro]

No it isn't. In order for it to be considered 'cybersquatting', macbookair must have been a registered trademark of Apple prior to the domain's existence. Legally, macbook != macbook air. Apple could try to bully you out of it, like they have with so many ipod products and domains, but there is no legal basis for it. If someone actually stood up to apple, the case would be thrown out.

Which further supports an argument that MacRumors received compensation for the domain.

[JayLenochiniMac]

They didn't care and never bothered registering for the other mac lines as domain names, so why are you having a difficult time believing they heard through the usual channels that Arn would give it to them free of charge and they took advantage of it?

[superfula]

Which further supports an argument that MacRumors received compensation for the domain.

Not even in the slightest. Perhaps MR wanted to grab it before someone else, intending to do the nice thing and give it to Apple. Believe it or not, there are still some kind people out there.

[ImAlwaysRight]

Which further supports an argument that MacRumors received compensation for the domain.

That'd be a nice theory IF ARN HADN'T ALREADY TOLD US HE GAVE IT TO APPLE FOR FREE. :rolleyes:

To sum up:

I transfered the domain to Apple for free.

arn

[treoguy]

For the most part, I'd venture to say that Apple doesn't buy domains. Anything that remotely includes trademarked products would be taken. Since macbookair.com contains macbook, Apple could simply threaten legal action.

You should have held out for a media pass for next year's Macworld. :D There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have received one this year. Your coverage was stellar and much appreciated.