Apple’s new executive may have violated an agreement with his former employer, I.B.M., a New York judge ruled.

The company’s chief executive is to propose a technology-fueled economic recovery plan that calls for investment in more efficient systems for various public services.

Apple said that it planned to hire Mark Papermaster, a high-ranking I.B.M. technology executive, to run its iPod and iPhone hardware engineering groups.

I.B.M. sued Mark Papermaster, one of its top executives , on Thursday in an attempt to prevent him from taking a position at Apple.

Third-quarter profit surpassed analysts’ estimates but slumping hardware sales hurt the company’s revenue.

The company said its third-quarter net income rose 20 percent to $2.8 billion, while earnings from continuing operations rose 22 percent to $2.05 a share, surpassing analysts’ expectations

The company said its third-quarter net income rose 20 percent to $2.8 billion, while earnings from continuing operations rose 22 percent to $2.05 a share.

In industries from technology to finance to sales, nonassigned work spaces — also known as nonterritorial work spaces, mobile platforms and hot desks — are gaining popularity.

The computer maker cautioned that slumping demand for technology equipment across the globe was affecting its business.

An experimental Web site allows users to upload the data they want to visualize, then try sophisticated tools to generate interactive displays.