Apple Sues Samsung, Claims They Copied the iPad

 

Apple filed a lawsuit that basically says Samsung ripped off the iPhone and iPad designs and used them in their galaxy phones and tablets.

According to Apple spokesman Steve Dowling; “It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging. This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.”

Apparently Apple owns the right to seven patents that are related to the way tablets react to certain gestures, like pinch to zoom, selecting and scrolling. As well as three patents on design including the flat black face the company uses on their devices.

Apple is also going after Samsung for copying their packaging and some of their icons.

I personally think that Apple is going a little nuts here, it seems like they’re scared of the recent rise of Android and they’re trying to take a if you cant beat ‘em sue ‘em approach through the hardware companies, since each puts it’s own spin on Google’s open source OS.

I understand and agree with protecting your intellectual property to some degree, if someone steals code you were expecting to make money on and then goes on and profits off it on their own, costing you money and putting you out of business that deserves a lawsuit in my opinion. Apple should be confident enough in their products to not have to go this route, there’s always going to be similarities in the way people interact with hardware and people will always copy the best. To me it seems like at worst Samsung is copying the ‘style’ and not outright stealing anything from Apple. I don’t think the similarities between and iPad 2 and a Galaxy tab are going to deter anyone from buying either, no one is going to look at the Galaxy tab and think ‘Gee I want this, it’s just like an iPad’ unless they’ve never used an iPad. Likewise I don’t think anyone looking for a small 7’ tab is going to want the 10.5’ iPad 2.

Lawsuits like this hurt competition, if Apple is such an amazing company (which in some ways they are) then they shouldn’t fear copycats. Apple should know that what they have waiting in the wings will blow all the competition out of the water, common sense would tell you that if you are the company everyone is copying than you have a huge advantage. You will always be the first to market which is the biggest advantage you could possibly ask for.

Even if Samsung is copying the iPad and iPhone in it’s Galaxy devices they’re still way underpowered comparatively, Samsung even had to tell a few little ‘white lies’ in order to drum up interest in their Galaxy Tablet.

Besides going after Samsung, Apple is also trying to go after HTC as well, for pretty much the same thing.

• By: syeed@techsual.com
• Source: Bloomberg

iPad 2 Officially Hits Toys R Us

Apple’s insanely popular iPad 2 started selling at Toys R Us over this past weekend. Quite a while before the rumored release next month.
Toys R Us is putting the iPad 2 in 30 states and only in select stores. Along with the iPad 2 Toys R Us will also be selling cases and accessories for the tab.
Some people are concerned that Apple putting the iPad 2 in a toy store might ‘cheapen’ it’s reputation. I think it’s a good move on Apple’s part. I don’t see any devaluation in the iPad’s reputation by it being in a toy store, it’s not like they made a cheaper kid friendly version to sell to Toys R Us, and if this gets better technology into the hand of children I’m all for it.
I think children should be exposed to technology at a younger age. I very much believe that the future of education lies in social networking and gaming.
Toys R Us will be selling the iPad 2 through it’s online store as well as the few stores it’s available in. But there will still be a wait as demand is crakhead high right now for Apple’s ‘magical’ tablet.

• By: syeed@techsual.com
• Source: Mac Observer

RIM’s CO-CEO Defends Playbook Against Bad Reviews

Research in Motion (RIM) co-Chief Executive Officer, Jim Balsillie defended the company’s soon to be released Playbook tablet against an onslaught of bad early reviews, which were so negative they caused RIM’s shares to fall 91 cents in the market today, just a day after their release.

Most of the negative comments seemed to be about the Playbooks lack of built-in email functionality, inability to connect to mobile phone networks, and its very limited number of apps, which we all know can make or break a newer phone or tablet before it even has a chance.

Balsillie said that he didn’t think the comments were fair, and stated that there are more than 60 million BlackBerry users out there who can pair their phone to their Playbook and access secure mail and connect to the internet. Apparently RIM is really banking on that BlackBerry tethering to push those Playbooks. Most reviewers seem to think that the company is really rushing things and should have probably waited to add their promised Android app compatibility as well as having a decent number of apps ready before they launched something meant to compete with the dominating iPad 2 in the tablet market.

My only question is do people really want a glorified dock for their BlackBerry’s?

• Source: Business Week
• By: syeed@techsual.com

Death of The Flip

Cisco Systems, makers of the insanely popular Flip Camcorder have announced that they will be discontinuing the product after a “deep portfolio analysis.”

The analysis apparently shows that although the Flip's selling great and people seem to love the product, it is just no longer worth the investment for the gigantic Cisco Systems. According to the company they plan to substantially reduce their investment in the consumer market as a stand-alone business and that they will only invest in it with enterprise, partnership and customers.

The news of the Flip's demise is surprising to most people who saw the little camcorder that could beat out Sony, Canon and JVC, becoming the top selling line of camcorders in the USA.
So RIP Flip 2006-2011 you started life in a small office and continued on to win the hearts and minds of many an amateur videographer. You will be missed.

Source: SF Gate

New Kindle Drops $25 Adds Ad’s

Amazon.com is set to start offering a new version of their Kindle called “Kindle With Special Offers” on May 3. The ads will replace the screensaver that currently shows illustrations of your books.

The Kindle With Special Offers is not just going to shove random ads in your face, you’ll be able to use the Kindle website to pick more or less ads featuring humor, scenery, photography etc.… So you will have some semblance of control over what you get pitched.

If a user clicks on an ad they will be emailed detailed instructions on how to redeem the offer they chose.

I have to applaud Amazon for this, I think it’s a great idea. I really wouldn’t mind saving $25 or more on my E-Reader just to sacrifice the screen for ad space when I’m not using it.  Especially if those ads give me money off of things I might want to buy, seriously it’s pretty much win-win.

Pre-Orders start tomorrow on the Wi-Fi only Kindle With Special Offers and it will join Amazons Wi-Fi and 3G versions, so users can rest assured this is not a replacement for anything, according to Amazon it’s just a new addition to give users more choices when purchasing an E-Reader.

There was no mention in the report of a 3G Kindle With Offers.

Source: USA Today

New Tech Allows You to Control Computer With Eyes

Tobii is making a laptop in conjunction with Lenovo that offers users a new form of control, their eyeballs.

The laptop uses technology developed by Tobii that reads the glint off the users eye to control the mouse pointer.  It also does neat things scroll pages for you automatically.

Check the link for a review by PCmag.com

Review: Tobii's Eye-Tracking Laptop Technology: Eyes-On!

Google Removes 55 Apps For Infecting Phones

 

Google has removed a number of (55) apps from the Android marketplace for installing a Trojan virus names DroidDream.

Google apparently has the capability to disable the malicious apps remotely using their cloud services, however the DroidDream virus could possibly allow users to gain sufficient access to the phone to disable the feature.

Check out the links if you want to read more.

Naked Security:Aftermath of the Droid Dream Android Market malware attack

Info Security:DroidDream Trojan is a nightmare for thousands of Android users

Teens Getting Tracking Devices to Cut Back on Absences

 

The OC Register is reporting today that a school in Anaheim is planning to make students who have 4 or more unexcused absences this year carry a GPS tracking device, about the size of a cell phone around so Law Enforcement and other officials can keep track of them.

Students will receive an automated message each morning reminding them to get to school, they will then have to check in during lunch, after school and at 8 PM.

Some people like the idea, others think it’s too imposing and makes their children feel like prisoners. I think it’s a ridiculous idea, there is no reason to track our students like cattle in order to force them to go to school. This only benefits the school, they lose $35 each day for every absent student. This is a sad attempt by them to try and recoup their losses.

My Thoughts

Schools are supposed to be about learning, any place your forced to go to and punished if you do not is a prison, any place that hinders your freedom and doesn't allow you to freely leave or attend is a prison.  Why would we treat schoolchildren like prisoners?  Especially after only 4 absences?

This doesn't come close to addressing the real problem with school, it’s boring and uninteresting. Teachers who’ve been in the classroom for years and for the most part given up on any advancement in their on lives, are trying to inspire and keep the interest of students who are connected to a world that’s always being updated, changing and at their age is waiting for them to explore. Instead of nurturing their individuality or inspiring them to chase their goals, school teaches them that their only hope for a decent future is to study, work hard and get good grades. School teaches them that a very small percentage of people actually succeed in things like the arts or science, and that you should learn what you can so maybe somebody more inspired than you will hire you and decide what your worth.

Children need inspiration. Children need to understand that, by chasing their dreams and creating their worlds they can inspire others and be great successes. School is a necessary evil, it’s good to a point. After you learn how to learn though school can really slow you down. My only advice to kids suffering through this is to tough it out, school makes you look good, a lot less lazy and it can lead to a good job which will help you live. However chase your dreams with everything you have, never stop, seriously. Don’t let a job stop you from going after a career.

Finally; Only take the school system as seriously as it takes itself.

IPad 3 Rumors Already Hitting the Web

 

According to Apple Insider, the analyst by the name of Ming-Chi Kuo of Concord Securities who has previously given them detailed component plans of the IPad 2, that denounce rumors of its increase to double the resolution of the IPad, has also made a point about the IPad 3’s possible specs.

Kuo is saying that the IPad 3 will most likely have double the resolution of the current IPad, making it a retina display. He stated that the IPad 2’s lack of a retina display was due to Apple not being able to meet the production quality and cost that comes from manufacturing such a complicated display.

The article also talks about Apple’s plans to possibly release a larger version of the IPod touch this year. Which kind of goes against what Steve Jobs had said in the past, but might be a good mover for Apple due to the popularity of oversized Android phones.

Check the link for a full article over at Apple Insider.

Article: iPad 3 with Retina display, new device sized between iPad and iPod in Apple's pipeline

Details on Sony’s PlayStation Phone the Xperia PLAY

 

Sony has announced all the details on their new Xperia PLAY aka the “PlayStation Phone” and it’s looking pretty nice.

The Xperia PLAY is set to be released this spring in the U.S and will be available on Verizon. It’s going to have a multi-touch screen with a 480 by 854 resolution. It runs a snapdragon 1Ghz CPU and has an Andreno 205 GPU. Sony is saying it will be capable of running full 3D games at 60fps for an estimated 5 1/2 hours.

The Xperia is going to run Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), will support up to 32GB microSD™ cards and comes with an 8GB microSD™ card.

You’ll get your games from the Android Marketplace and its going to launch with “Asphalt Adrenaline 6, Bruce Lee, Star Battalion, The Sims 3, and Tetris preloaded, along with a "legendary" PlayStation title. "More than 50 additional titles from top franchises at leading game publishers will be available for purchase at launch," According to the announcement.

The phone also has buttons, which I thinks is pretty nifty.

Check the links for related articles.

Article: Sony reveals more details of PlayStation Xperia phone

Article: Exclusive: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play (PlayStation Phone) preview

Nokia Makes Deal With Microsoft

Nokia announced today that they will be dropping their own Symbian OS in favor of microsofts new Windows Phone 7 operating system.

The move comes after a leaked memo (first published by Engadget) from Nokia's CEO in which he made comments how Nokia is not innovating enough and is on a "Burning platform" .



Nokia's move doesn't pigeonholed them into any particular operating system on their tablets. So I hope they find a way to get WP7 on a tablet, that would be a very interesting device.

Check out this very corporate style video announcing the alliance.



The move upset some of the 1500 Symbian engineers enough to walk out on their jobs today.

Check the link for a full article by the NY times.
 Article: Nokia to Use Microsoft’s Cellphone Operating System

Here's some more detailed information from Engadget.
Article: Nokia and Microsoft enter strategic alliance on Windows Phone, Bing, Xbox Live and more

Kyocera Sprint Dual Screen Phone Announced

Sprint announced it’s industry first, Kyocera dual screen smartphone today. The screen runs android 2.2 and features 2 3.5 inch touch screens.

Check the link for Engadget’s hands on review and video.

Article: Sprint's Kyocera Echo dual-screen Android phone announced, we go hands-on

Motorola’s XOOM Priced Too High

 

The price hasn’t been officially announced but a leaked best buy ad says the Motorola XOOM is set to be available Feb 24 at $799.99. The price puts it at about $150 more than the highest costing iPad with no contract, and the XOOM has a little more power  with it’s dual core processor, Android Honeycomb OS.and dual cameras so it’s not unreasonable. But lets hope the price gets announced at Mobile World Congress next week and is a lot lower than what’s being rumored. Otherwise there really won’t be much hope for this tab to succeed, at least the way I see it.

Check the link for a full article.

Article: Gadget geeks say 'No way' to $800 Motorola XOOM tablet pricing

AT&T Responds to Verizon ad

AT&T released a new ad yesterday titled “Answer” in response to Verizon’s recent iPhone 4 ad. It shows a man working late in his office, stressing over paperwork, when he gets a call from his wife who informs him it’s their anniversary, He then scrambles to make a restaurant reservation while still holding the conversation with his wife. Something you can’t do on Verizon's network (yet).

Check the video below.

Google Offers 20K to Hack Chrome Browser

 

 

HP Tipping Point announced this years Pwn2Own contest prizes yesterday.  Google’s put up $20,000 to anyone who can hack their chrome browser. hackers can also win cash prizes for compromising IE, Firefox or Safari. A successful hack on any of those will net the winner $15,000, and membership in the Zero Day Initiative, which comes with a $5,000 one time cash payment, and paid travel and registration to attend DEFCON.

Mobile phones are being included in contest.

Check the link for all the info.

Source: Announcing Pwn2Own 2011

3D Graphics Coming to Android

 

Another announcement out of Google. The company announced a new development tool called Renderscript. The new tools allows app developers to access 3D features in the new Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS.

A few games were demoed including Monster madness and a game by the History Channel that can run a pretty impressive amount of 3D models on the screen without any slowdown or drop in frame rate.

One of the more interesting demos was for an app called Google body. The app provides a 3D model of the entire human body, and lets you zoom, tilt , rotate, pan etc. The app even allows you to view the different layers of the human body. You can peel back the skin to reveal the muscle systems and the skeleton.

This along with the announcement of the new Android web store shows how serious Google is about taking on Apple in the mobile phone market.

Check the link for a related article.

Article: 3D Comes to Android Games and Apps With Honeycomb

New Android Market Webstore Open

 

Google launched a new, easier to access app store for Android phones and tablets today.

The announcement came during a demo for the Honeycomb version of Android, the OS Google  is making specifically for tablets. Google is putting heavy emphasis on how their new Android Webstore makes us of cloud services to make buying much simpler than it was before.

The new webstore is browser based, meaning Android users no longer have to rely on software in their devices to connect them to the marketplace. The webstore also allows users to send apps directly to their phone with a few clicks.

Check the link for a related article on EWeek

Article: Google Launches Android Market Webstore During Honeycomb Demo

Dell Streak Set to Hit T-Mobile This Wednesday, $199.99 With Contract $450 Without

 

 

Dell finally released the date and price of it’s new streak 7 tab. February 2 2011 at $199.99 if you agree to a two year contract and $450 if you want to be free from any service provider.

The dell streak 7 runs android 2.2 and has an 1Ghz NVIDIA Tegra-2 processor, and the price makes it a pretty viable cheaper option ( I’m guessing because none of the android 3.0 tablets have prices yet ) then the soon to be released android 3.0 tablets this year. Which means that we’ll be able to tell if the iPad was a successful tablet just because it’s Apple or if people are really interested in the tablet form factor. At these prices and this quality I’m sure a lot more people are going to be looking into buying themselves a tab.

Related Posts |Tablet Face Off |iPad 2 Proximity Sensor Rumor|Tablets Tablets Tablets

Android Pwns Smartphone Market

 

The numbers are in from Q4 of last year and they are saying Android is king.

Reaching 32.9 million worldwide shipments makes Android the best selling smartphone OS out now. Nokia’s Symbian is now pushed back to second with 31 million and rounding out the group is Apple’s iOS, RIM’s OS, Microsoft's WP7 and Windows Mobile.

Hit the link for a PCWorld article with more information.

Article: Android Becomes Best-selling Smartphone OS, Says Canalys

Apple Faces Class Action Lawsuit for Faulty iPhone 4 Glass

 

 

Softpedia is reporting today that a California man filed a class action lawsuit against Apple claiming that their knowingly selling a faulty product.

The mans iPhone was apparently dropped from about3 feet by his daughter and subsequently the glass covering the back of the phone cracked. The man had only owned the phone for about 3 weeks before he says the incident occurred. He also states that he previously owned an iPhone 3GS which had suffered similar wear and tear and never cracked or broke.

Check the link for the full article.

hArticle: Apple Slammed with Class Action Suit over iPhone 4 Glass Breaking