Links for Tuesday October 4^th, 2011

• AppleCare+ for iPhone covers accidental damage: This is a pretty interesting addition from Apple, that might actually make AppleCare worth it for some people.

• Apple unveils micro USB adapter for iPhones in Europe: I was wondering what Apple was going to do about the EU common cell phone charger law. And now I know.

• Apple's 1987 Knowledge Navigator, Only One Month Late: If you haven't seen this old Apple video, you should watch it. I'm sure the timing with today's Siri announcement is just a coincidence, though.

• 3.5 Inches: A pretty good point about the iPhone's screen size from Dustin Curtis. Apple tends to choose things like display size very carefully. And while I'm not saying that the size of the iPhone's screen will never change, it is pretty unlikely. (via Shawn Blanc)

• The FBI again thwarts its own Terror plot: While I realize that catching terrorists in an open society can be difficult, this article makes some interesting points about some despicable behavior on the part of the FBI.

• Google opens up shop in London with “Chromezone” retail store: How can a company that doesn't sell any products to consumers have a store?

• Mobile Opportunity: Amazon vs. Apple? No, it's Amazon and Apple vs. Everyone Else: Michael Mace gets it:

  "Over time we might see Apple and Amazon compete more directly; it all depends on how much Apple is willing to subsidize hardware to get long-term revenue from content. There is also potential for product line conflicts -- if Apple makes a lower-priced iPad, it might cannibalize iPhone sales. In the past Apple has tried to keep its product lines separated in price, and it hasn't used the subsidy model. This is a very interesting test for Apple's new CEO Tim Cook, and I'm glad Steve Jobs is still on the scene to advise him."

  Historically, Apple has been super conservative when it comes to changing business models. So if they do start to subsidize the iPad, this will not be a decision that is undertaken lightly. (via Daring Fireball)

• "Free": MG Siegler, on the Android licensing situation:

  "More broadly: what does this mean for companies like Amazon, which now have their own version of Android? Will they too pay the licensing fee?"

  I don't think there's any way that Amazon would ever pay Microsoft a license fee for Android. (via Daring Fireball)

• Amazon, the Company That Ate the World: Long, great article on Amazon, and what motivates them, from Business Week.

• Amazon's Silk Is More Than Just A Browser: It's A Cloud OS for the Client: More on Amazon's Silk browser from Jon Stokes:

  Amazon could use Silk as a killer mobile advertising platform, should the company choose to port the browser to other platforms. And why wouldn’t they? Kindle is already running on almost everything with a screen, and I would certainly love to try out Silk on the desktop. With Silk, Amazon could give Google a run for its money in mobile ads, and one-up Apple by succeeding in a realm where the computer maker has so far failed.

  Google cannot be happy about this.

• The due-process-free assassination of U.S. citizens is now reality: Troubling.

• Best Buy flyer from 1996: The cheapest computer in this Best Buy ad was $1900. We're used to it now, but it's amazing how much the computer industry has been able to lower prices.

• The new iPhone…: 9to5Mac makes their predictions on the new iPhone. Hardware-wise, it all sounds pretty good to me. As for the voice recognition stuff, there have been pretty consistent rumors about this feature, so 9to5Mac's speculation could be the real deal. We'll know for sure next week.

• October iPhone Event to Be Held On Apple Campus: Apple typically holds smaller events at this venue. So maybe this lines up with my guess that there won't be any big hardware announcements next month?

• More Trouble for Groupon IPO: Groupon Restates Revenue, COO Exits: At this point, you'd have to be nutty to buy Groupon stock, assuming that they do eventually IPO.