Latest news with #Robitaille
San Francisco Chronicle
05-08-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Why Apple has sued San Francisco's newest movie theater
A dispute over a shared name has landed a small East Coast theater chain in legal trouble with one of the world's biggest tech companies. Cupertino-based Apple Inc. has filed suit against Apple Cinemas a month after the small and relatively new East Coast movie theater chain expanded to San Francisco. The Cupertino-based tech giant has filed suit against the movie exhibitor in federal court for copyright infringement, alleging that the brand is trying to trick ticket buyers into thinking that the two companies are affiliated. The lawsuit was filed Friday, Aug. 1, in federal court in Massachusetts, where Apple Cinemas is headquartered. According to the Hollywood Reporter, which reviewed the suit, Apple Inc. is seeking a court order to force the chain to cease using the word 'Apple' in its name and is also asking for unspecified damages. 'Consumers should not go to an 'Apple Cinemas' theater thinking it is connected to the famous Apple brand, with all its goodwill and brand equity,' reads the complaint, written by Miranda Means, a lawyer for Apple. The Chronicle has reached out to Apple Cinemas co-founder Siva Shan and Director of Operations Jessica Robitaille for comment. Apple Cinemas, formed in 2013, had grown into a 13-theater chain in the northeastern United States when in June it struck a deal to occupy the 1921 Don Lee Building at 1000 Van Ness Ave., expanding its footprint into the West Coast. Apple Cinemas opened the 14-screen, 92,724-square-foot space previously occupied by AMC Theatres and CGV Cinemas on July 10. 'I think San Francisco opens up a lot of opportunities,' Robitaille told the Chronicle at the time. 'I think it's really a fantastic space that we have to work with and we have big plans for it.' Apple Cinemas also signed a lease to take over the former Century Blackhawk Plaza in Danville to transform the space into a new theater for the East Bay suburb. It's expected to open by the end of the year. Robitaille and Shan said that the Bay Area foray is part of the company's ambitious expansion plans to become a major national cinema chain. A notable part of the lawsuit is that Apple Inc. contends its brand could be damaged by being associated with Apple Cinemas' alleged lack of quality control. The suit highlights comments on social media that its theaters are 'greasy,' 'dirty' and 'grungy,' with some complaining of tech issues, including the projection system and online purchase portal. Last year, parent company Sand Media applied to register Apple Cinemas and a related mark for ACX — Apple Cinematic Experience but was denied, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The trademark examiner concluded that its movie theaters are 'closely related' to Apple Inc.'s entertainment services — such as Apple Studios and Apple TV+ — and may cause confusion among consumers.
San Francisco Chronicle
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco's newest movie theater is opening this week. Here's how to get tickets
San Francisco's newest movie theater — and latest to fill the space at 1000 Van Ness — is open for business this week. Tickets are now on sale for showtimes beginning Thursday, July 10, at Apple Cinemas Van Ness. The soft opening for the 14-screen venue, which Apple Cinemas Director of Operations Jessica Robitaille confirmed in an email to the Chronicle, includes ' Superman.' The latest DC film from James Gunn is projected to be the top movie in North America on its opening weekend. Also screening are holdover films ' F1: The Movie,' ' 28 Years Later,' ' How to Train Your Dragon,' ' Lilo & Stitch,' ' Materialists,' ' M3gan 2.0,' Pixar's ' Elio ' and 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' currently No. 1 at the box office. This will mark the first time the smell of popcorn will fill the 92,724-square-foot space in the 1921 Don Lee Building since it was vacated by CGV Cinemas more than two years ago. Originally built as an auto dealership, the building was converted into a cinema and retail space by AMC Theatres in 1998. The theater closed in 2019 before the South Korean-owned CGV Cinemas renovated and operated it from September 2021 to February 2023. Apple Cinemas, a small East Coast-based chain that opened its first theater in 2013, signed a lease with the building's owners, a partnership called 1000 Van Ness LP, in June. Robitaille told the Chronicle at the time that the movie theater will be state of the art, including one IMAX screen and, eventually, San Francisco's first LED screen. 'I think San Francisco opens up a lot of opportunities,' said Robitaille, who noted the building's historic architecture. 'I think it's really a fantastic space that we have to work with and we have big plans for it.' Apple Cinemas co-founder Siva Shan told the Chronicle last month that 'Every Apple Cinema is a luxury movie theater,' and that the company's plans include adding a restaurant and bar, as well as recliner seats. 'The location and the (Van Ness) neighborhood is both a residential area as well as a commercial area, and we are very confident people will (embrace) us,' Shan said. The Van Ness theater is Apple's 14th venture and first outside of the Northeastern United States. The company has also signed a lease to take over the former Century Blackhawk Plaza in Danville, which should reopen by the end of the year.
Hamilton Spectator
01-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
From bulky car phones to pocket computers, cellphones mark 40 years in Canada
MONTREAL - Pierre Robitaille remembers feeling embarrassed in 1985 when he made his cellphone calls from a bulky device that came with its own carrying case. Now 86 years old, Robitaille was one of the first people in Canada to sign up for a wireless plan when they became available 40 years ago, on July 1, 1985. As an electrician, Robitaille wanted a way to keep in touch with colleagues and clients while on the road at various construction sites. First came a car phone, then came the early hand-held versions, which included a mobile device and a suitcase in which to carry it. 'It wasn't very heavy but it was embarrassing, it was big,' Robitaille said of the mid-80s cellphone, in an interview from his home in the western Quebec town of St-André-Avellin. The first wireless call in Canadian history took place 40 years ago on July 1, 1985, when then-Toronto mayor Art Eggleton used a 10-pound mobile phone to call his Montreal counterpart, Jean Drapeau. Telecommunications company Rogers says that in the first month, mobile networks in Canada handled 100 calls per day. Today, that number has risen to 100 million calls, as well as 6.5 billion megabytes of data on the Rogers network alone. Oakville, Ont., resident Peter Kent was another early mobile phone adopter — though the initiative came from his boss rather than himself. His car phone had to be installed professionally and cost around $3,500, he recalled in a recent interview. At first, he was unsure if he should be thankful for the new connectivity. 'I said, 'why are we doing this?' And then (my boss) said, 'well, when I want you, I want you.'' Kent, however, soon started to enjoy his new phone. He recalls driving with his wife to his mother-in-law's home and making a call from her driveway. 'She said, 'where are you?' And I said, I'm in your driveway,' Kent recalled. 'She couldn't believe it. She ran to the door with her cordless phone and she could see me talking in the car.' Eric Smith, the senior vice-president for the Canadian Telecommunications Association, said the early commercial cellular services were limited to voice calling in select urban areas and involved 'very large, bulky devices' with limited battery time. Users were charged by the minute. 'If you flash forward 40 years, people really have more than just the capability of calling, and they have a kind of a computer in their pocket,' he said. Today, some 99 per cent of areas where people live and work in Canada have some form of mobile coverage, he said. Smith said that initially, there was skepticism about whether cellular service would be widely embraced. 'It required a large investment by companies in a country that's very large geographically with a widely dispersed population,' he said. 'And some people thought that the companies who were investing in this were taking a very big risk.' Over time, the cellphones evolved from offering calls only, followed by text messaging, early internet connectivity and later a range of features from cameras to GPS. 'It's hard to think of things you can't do on your mobile device,' Smith said. Smith says there are still hurdles that remain for Canadian telecommunications, including poor connectivity in rural areas and 'regulatory challenges' that he says can discourage investment. In recent years, there have been questions around cellphone use, especially among children. Several jurisdictions have banned phones in classrooms, while Quebec has gone a step further in prohibiting them on elementary and high school grounds. Robitaille sees both the good and bad. He believes their widespread use among children is problematic because of the type of sensitive and vulgar content they have access to. On the other hand, as a senior who lives alone, his phone is an important tool to stay in touch with his friends and his children. Kent, meanwhile, is convinced that cellphones have made life in Canada easier — despite the pressure to remain always connected — although he says he's happy he only got one as an adult. Smith says the mobile industry is still evolving. Increasingly, connectivity is expanding beyond phones to other devices: everything from cars to appliances are connected to the internet, while internet-enabled sensors monitor conditions in the agriculture and mining industries. He says it's hard to know what the future will be, as people continue to adopt different forms of technology, enabled by increased computing power and innovation. 'I'm excited to see what happens, but I don't think anyone really knows what it's going to look like 40 years from now,' Smith said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2025.
Global News
01-07-2025
- General
- Global News
Cellphones mark 40 years in Canada. A look back since the 1st call
Pierre Robitaille remembers feeling embarrassed in 1985 when he made his cellphone calls from a bulky device that came with its own carrying case. Now 86 years old, Robitaille was one of the first people in Canada to sign up for a wireless plan when they became available 40 years ago, on July 1, 1985. As an electrician, Robitaille wanted a way to keep in touch with colleagues and clients while on the road at various construction sites. First came a car phone, then came the early hand-held versions, which included a mobile device and a suitcase in which to carry it. 'It wasn't very heavy but it was embarrassing, it was big,' Robitaille said of the mid-80s cellphone, in an interview from his home in the western Quebec town of St-André-Avellin. The first wireless call in Canadian history took place 40 years ago on July 1, 1985, when then-Toronto mayor Art Eggleton used a 10-pound mobile phone to call his Montreal counterpart, Jean Drapeau. Story continues below advertisement Telecommunications company Rogers says that in the first month, mobile networks in Canada handled 100 calls per day. Today, that number has risen to 100 million calls, as well as 6.5 billion megabytes of data on the Rogers network alone. Oakville, Ont., resident Peter Kent was another early mobile phone adopter — though the initiative came from his boss rather than himself. His car phone had to be installed professionally and cost around $3,500, he recalled in a recent interview. At first, he was unsure if he should be grateful for the new connectivity. 'I said, 'why are we doing this?' And then (my boss) said, 'well, when I want you, I want you.'' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Kent, however, soon started to enjoy his new phone. He recalls driving with his wife to his mother-in-law's home and making a call from her driveway. 1:39 Youth and technology: Cellphones in schools 'She said, 'where are you?' And I said, I'm in your driveway,' Kent recalled. 'She couldn't believe it. She ran to the door with her cordless phone and she could see me talking in the car.' Story continues below advertisement Eric Smith, the senior vice-president for the Canadian Telecommunications Association, said the early commercial cellular services were limited to voice calling in select urban areas and involved 'very large, bulky devices' with limited battery time. Users were charged by the minute. 'If you flash forward 40 years, people really have more than just the capability of calling, and they have a kind of a computer in their pocket,' he said. Today, some 99 per cent of areas where people live and work in Canada have some form of mobile coverage, he said. Smith said that initially, there was skepticism about whether cellular service would be widely adopted. 'It requires a large investment by companies in a country that's very large geographically with a widely dispersed population,' he said. 'And some people thought that the companies who were investing in this were taking a very big risk.' Over time, the cellphones evolved from offering calls only, followed by text messaging, early internet connectivity and later a range of features from cameras to GPS. 'It's hard to think of things you can't do on your mobile device,' Smith said. Smith says there are still hurdles that remain for Canadian telecommunications, including poor connectivity in rural areas and 'regulatory challenges' that he says can discourage investment. In recent years, there have been questions around cellphone use, especially among children. Several jurisdictions have banned phones in classrooms, while Quebec has gone a step further in prohibiting them on elementary and high school grounds. Story continues below advertisement Robitaille sees both the good and the bad. He believes their widespread use among children is problematic because of the type of sensitive and vulgar content they have access to. On the other hand, as a senior who lives alone, his phone is an important tool to stay in touch with his friends and his children. Kent, meanwhile, is convinced that cellphones have made life in Canada easier — despite the pressure to remain always connected — although he says he's happy he only got one as an adult. Smith says the mobile industry is still evolving. ly, connectivity is expanding beyond phones to other devices: everything from cars to appliances are Increasingly connected to the internet, while internet-enabled sensors monitor conditions in the agriculture and mining industries. He says it's hard to know what the future will be, as people continue to adopt different forms of technology, enabled by increased computing power and innovation. 'I'm excited to see what happens, but I don't think anyone really knows what it's going to look like 40 years from now,' Smith said.
Winnipeg Free Press
01-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
From bulky car phones to pocket computers, cellphones mark 40 years in Canada
MONTREAL – Pierre Robitaille remembers feeling embarrassed in 1985 when he made his cellphone calls from a bulky device that came with its own carrying case. Now 86 years old, Robitaille was one of the first people in Canada to sign up for a wireless plan when they became available 40 years ago, on July 1, 1985. As an electrician, Robitaille wanted a way to keep in touch with colleagues and clients while on the road at various construction sites. First came a car phone, then came the early hand-held versions, which included a mobile device and a suitcase in which to carry it. 'It wasn't very heavy but it was embarrassing, it was big,' Robitaille said of the mid-80s cellphone, in an interview from his home in the western Quebec town of St-André-Avellin. The first wireless call in Canadian history took place 40 years ago on July 1, 1985, when then-Toronto mayor Art Eggleton used a 10-pound mobile phone to call his Montreal counterpart, Jean Drapeau. Telecommunications company Rogers says that in the first month, mobile networks in Canada handled 100 calls per day. Today, that number has risen to 100 million calls, as well as 6.5 billion megabytes of data on the Rogers network alone. Oakville, Ont., resident Peter Kent was another early mobile phone adopter — though the initiative came from his boss rather than himself. His car phone had to be installed professionally and cost around $3,500, he recalled in a recent interview. At first, he was unsure if he should be thankful for the new connectivity. 'I said, 'why are we doing this?' And then (my boss) said, 'well, when I want you, I want you.'' Kent, however, soon started to enjoy his new phone. He recalls driving with his wife to his mother-in-law's home and making a call from her driveway. 'She said, 'where are you?' And I said, I'm in your driveway,' Kent recalled. 'She couldn't believe it. She ran to the door with her cordless phone and she could see me talking in the car.' Eric Smith, the senior vice-president for the Canadian Telecommunications Association, said the early commercial cellular services were limited to voice calling in select urban areas and involved 'very large, bulky devices' with limited battery time. Users were charged by the minute. 'If you flash forward 40 years, people really have more than just the capability of calling, and they have a kind of a computer in their pocket,' he said. Today, some 99 per cent of areas where people live and work in Canada have some form of mobile coverage, he said. Smith said that initially, there was skepticism about whether cellular service would be widely embraced. 'It required a large investment by companies in a country that's very large geographically with a widely dispersed population,' he said. 'And some people thought that the companies who were investing in this were taking a very big risk.' Over time, the cellphones evolved from offering calls only, followed by text messaging, early internet connectivity and later a range of features from cameras to GPS. 'It's hard to think of things you can't do on your mobile device,' Smith said. Smith says there are still hurdles that remain for Canadian telecommunications, including poor connectivity in rural areas and 'regulatory challenges' that he says can discourage investment. In recent years, there have been questions around cellphone use, especially among children. Several jurisdictions have banned phones in classrooms, while Quebec has gone a step further in prohibiting them on elementary and high school grounds. Robitaille sees both the good and bad. He believes their widespread use among children is problematic because of the type of sensitive and vulgar content they have access to. On the other hand, as a senior who lives alone, his phone is an important tool to stay in touch with his friends and his children. Kent, meanwhile, is convinced that cellphones have made life in Canada easier — despite the pressure to remain always connected — although he says he's happy he only got one as an adult. Smith says the mobile industry is still evolving. Increasingly, connectivity is expanding beyond phones to other devices: everything from cars to appliances are connected to the internet, while internet-enabled sensors monitor conditions in the agriculture and mining industries. He says it's hard to know what the future will be, as people continue to adopt different forms of technology, enabled by increased computing power and innovation. 'I'm excited to see what happens, but I don't think anyone really knows what it's going to look like 40 years from now,' Smith said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2025.
