Briefly: ModBook demo; iPhone ad in NYC

In brief: Axiotron today announced that it will showcase its ModBook Mac OS X tablet computer on the Axiotron Booth (no. 310) at the Wizard World Convention & Expo in Los Angeles, Apple has placed a large advertisement for its forthcoming iPhone on the side of its flagship Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York, and Viacom has filed a lawsuit against YouTube for $1 billion in financial damages. A Russian newspaper recently interviewed Apple Russia IMC president Evgeniy Bootman about several topics including the iPhone, and Seagate began shipping its 7200RPM 160GB hard drive with free-fall protection. Axiotron will display its award winning ModBook Mac OS X tablet computer at the Wizard World Convention & Expo, and has promised to let attendees try out the ModBook. The high-end slate-style notebook computer is based on Apple's MacBook portable, and features true pen input with an optional Global Positioning System (GPS) in a tough, satin chrome plated magnesium top shell.

iPhone ad on 5th Ave. Apple Store

One user has posted a photo of Apple's new iPhone ad as it was erected upon one surface of the company's glass cube atop its Fifth Ave. New York Apple Store. The advertisement clearly depicts a hand holding up the Cupertino-based company's forthcoming iPhone -- which is slated for shipment in June -- along with the phrase "Introducing iPhone. Apple reinvents the phone."

Viacom sues YouTube for $1 billion

Viacom today filed a lawsuit against YouTube for $1 billion in damages, and is seeking an injunction against any further Viacom-related content from reaching the video sharing site. The suit erupted after Viacom -- which owns MTV, Nickelodean, and other major TV and film studios -- claimed YouTube was not satisfactorily removing illegally pirated content from its site.

"YouTube's strategy has been to avoid taking proactive steps," read an official Viacom statement. "Their business model, which is based on building traffic and selling advertising off of unlicensed content, is clearly illegal."

Apple Russia speaks on iPhone

Apple's Russia IMC president Evgeniy Bootman recently spoke with Vzglyad -- a local newspaper -- answering questions related to global iPhone issues. The iPhone's launch is reportedly determined by availability of iTunes stores in particular countries, and Russia will likely receive the second-generation iPhone upon its initial launch there.

Bootman also said Apple still hasn't decided on a business model for iPhone's distribution in Europe, and that the Cupertino-based company isn't worried about iPhone clones and imitations.

Seagate ships new drive with "free-fall" protection

Seagate has begun shipping what it claims is the world's first 7200RPM notebook hard drive that combines perpendicular recording technology with free-fall protection for enhanced durability. The 2.5-inch drive offers up to 160GB of storage capacity combined with Serial ATA (SATA) connectivity for 3.0Gbps data transfer rates.

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