Apple: Apple severs ties with firm over potential iPad threat

Apple pulls the plug on partnership with design firm SurfaceInk after the Silicon Valley firm shows off a prototype tablet of their own

Apple has really gone protective about its tablet, and seems to be opposing any move that threats the iPad in any kind. A recent move of such nature is severing ties with SurfaceInk, a small Silicon Valley design firm that has Apple as its client for 10 years. The reason for this is cited as the showcase of an in-house tablet prototype by the firm that positions itself as a possible competition to the iPad. New York Times reports of SurfaceInk CEO Eric Bauswell mentioning that his company was let go because apparently Apple saw a turnkey capabilities in them. Apple was unavailable to comment.

In the past, SurfaceInk has had clients like HP and Palm that are major Apple competitors. The device was meant to showcase SurfaceInk’s design capabilities to one of its clients, which must have prompted Apple to think of possible competition to the iPad.