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Apple VS. Samsung: Apple’s Files For Preliminary Ban On Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Again)

Glen Travis — Sun, 20 May 2012 03:00:01 +0000

If you weren’t sick of hearing about the feud between Apple and Samsung, get ready because it’s round two time. Apple earlier this today filed for a Preliminary ban on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and this isn’t the first time it’s happened either as Apple did something similar back in February against Samsung. Apple asked Judge Koh, the judge ruling over the many patent lawsuits from Apple against Samsung and vice-versa if they could be granted the ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Those who would like to avoid the dispute can opt for a injunction-exempt Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. And if you were hoping for the changes the Germans got on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, this could be you lucky day as if Apple is granted this ban you can bet that there will be those changes in the United States. As always we will update you with anymore details regarding this lawsuit.

[Via: Engadget, Foss Patents]

Deal: Buy A Windows PC, Get An Xbox 360 Free

Glen Travis — Sun, 20 May 2012 02:00:29 +0000

If you’re a student in the market for a new computer you may want to consider taking advantage of this deal from Microsoft. For a limited time students who buy a PC from participating retailers, these include Best Buy, Dell.com, Fry’s Electronics, HPDirect.com, Microsoft Stores, and NewEgg.com in the United States and Best Buy, Dell.ca, Future Shop, Staples and The Source in Canada, you will be eligible for a free 4GB Xbox 360. The computer needs to be valued at $699 or more. The Xbox, while free is one that is 4GB which if you’re a hardcore gamer might be something you want to upgrade, as you can get hard drives for Xbox’s for not much dough these days. If you’re interested check out the link below.

[Via: WindowsTeamBlog]

Microsoft To Axe Aero Styling In Windows 8

Glen Travis — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:30:47 +0000

Are you a fan of the Aero styling from Microsoft on Windows Vista and Windows 7? Don’t get too accustomed to it as Microsoft will be axing that styling in the next release of Windows. Microsoft will do a complete overhaul on the design of Windows in Windows 8, calling the old styling “dated and cheesy”. The new design is made to draw the attention of the user to the content they are looking at, making the design simpler. Some might call the new design “dated and cheesy” as it throws back to the old school styling of Windows in the ’90′s, or at least we think it does. The new design was described as a “larger, retrospective look at its development of Windows and the evolution of the operating system.”. So this design is a part of the evolution of the operating system. Microsoft wants to at every step focus on the “learnability” of the operating system. The new styling will be shown off in a few weeks with the official consumer preview of Windows 8. So we will see the new modernistic design then. Whilst scanning through peoples reactions to the new styling the overwhelming result that was clear to us was that people were overall pleased with the new design. Some calling it “fresh”, others saying things like “Another reason to hate windows 8! I’ll be sticking with windows 7.” and “CHANGE. THE. ICONS.” So we want to know, will you be upgrading to Windows 8?

[Via: Engadget, MSDN Blogs]

Import Ban On HTC One X And Evo 4G Effecting All HTC Imports To The United States

Glen Travis — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:42 +0000

We though after the banning of the One X and Evo 4G by the ITC that that would be the only phones affected when entering the US, but we were wrong. According to TmoNews other HTC smartphones are particularly hard to come by, mainly the Amaze 4G as of late. When contacted by a customer, HTC replied stating, “an unforeseen issue with receiving the product from the manufacturer… we do not have an estimate as to when the product will be available.” T-Mobile also producing a slightly less uplifting response telling customers to get a Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G “as a replacement”. Not a positive response at all.

This all follows a ruling made by the ITC (International Trades Commission) in April, the ruling stated that HTC had infringed on Apple’s patents therefore banning the One X and Evo 4G from entering the United States. The phones have been locked down by the United States Customs and Border Protection, but it appears that they weren’t the only phones affected by the ban. This has left AT&T with a “Sold Out” message to customers for the handsets for weeks now. The infringement related to the feature in iOS which allowed you to select what you wished to do with a phone number, in other words when you tapped on the phone number a menu popped up asking you what you wished to do with the number. This has left the phones banned until such time as HTC has made the changes they need to make to lift the ban.

So if you’re having trouble getting your hands on an HTC smartphone, that is why. If we hear anymore news we will update you.

[Via: TechnoBuffalo, 2]

Apple, Facebook And Google Considering Opening A R&D Center In Russia

Glen Travis — Sat, 19 May 2012 23:30:59 +0000

In a report by Russian newspaper Izvestia today were details that Apple, along with other tech giants including Google and Facebook were in talks with the organizers behind the Skolkovo technology park near Moscow about placing R&D centers in Moscow to create a Russian Silicon Valley with all of the major technology companies. It’s also reported that tech companies, Microsoft, IBM, General Electric, Cisco, and more have already made agreements with Skolkovo to construct R&D centers in Moscow. Apple declined to comment at this stage, however Skolkovo executive Roman Romanovsky commented stating that “the two sides have expressed interest in negotiating about possibilities. No deal appears to be imminent, although Romanovsky hopes that the talks will eventually lead to an agreement.”

Apple is currently in construction of a major Research and Development center in Israel after acquiring Anobit, an Israeli flash memory company earlier this year. Because of this move by Apple we doubt they will construct an R&D center in Russia, however Google and Facebook might be interested. If we hear anything more we will as always update you.

[Via: MacRumors, Izvestia (Translated)]

New Microsoft Patent Aims To Sync All Of You Devices

Glen Travis — Sat, 19 May 2012 23:00:13 +0000

The folks over at Redmond have yet another patent for us to dig our hands into. This new patent released by the USPTO, filed by Microsoft details into the minds of Microsoft, sort of… The patent shows a system that will check all of your devices to see if you have a particular piece of software, and if you don’t it will migrate the software onto the device. This is kind of similar to iCloud (Apple’s service), in the sense that it ensures the same software has been pushed to all of your devices. The software will also recommend software you may be interested in putting on your devices, this is potentially something to work with Microsofts Windows Phone Marketplace, but we don’t know. Whether this will ever make it’s way to any of Microsofts products is completely unknown, but if you want to try to wrap your head around this patent, check out the link below.

[Via: Engadget, USPTO]

Deal: Virgin Mobile Deal Gives Buyers Of LG Optimus Elite Smartphones $25 Google Wallet Credit

Glen Travis — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:30:54 +0000

Virgin Mobile USA, an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) run by Sprint Mobile is offering a very “Sprint like” deal for customers who purchase an LG Optimus Elite. If you purchase and activate an LG Optimus Elite smartphone on Virgin Mobile between the dates of May 18th to June 18th you will get $25 Google Wallet credit. Here’s how the pricing works, you will get $10 within the first seven days of activating the LG Optimus Elite, and an additional $15 within three weeks of activation. They’re also offering a $35 account bonus to new customers who purchase the Optimus Elite on, or before May 30th. There is one catch which you may or may not find annoying, Virgin Mobile is a pre-paid service so you won’t get this on a plan. If that doesn’t annoy you then we by all means suggest you use this deal. For more check out the press release below.

The Press Release:

Make Your Virgin Mobile LG Optimus Elite Your Wallet And Get $25

From 5/18/12 through 7/18/12, you can get $25 credited to your Google Wallet™ account by first purchasing and activating an LG Optimus Elite™.

Then activate your Google Wallet and Google Wallet prepaid card within 7 days of activating the device on a Virgin Mobile USA Beyond Talk monthly plan.

With Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities and built-in services like Google Wallet, you can now use your LG Optimus Elite like never before – as a wallet – making it one of the fastest, easiest and flat-out coolest ways to make a purchase at participating retailers.

For more information on the LG Optimus Elite:
http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phones/lg-optimus-elite-phone.jsp

For more information on Google Wallet:
http://www.google.com/wallet/what-is-google-wallet.html

Limited time offer, promotion runs from 5/18/2012 through 7/18/2012 (“Promotion Period”). Not available in all markets/retail locations. $25 Google Wallet offer Terms and Conditions:Offer requires: (1) purchase of a new LG Optimus Elite from Virgin Mobile and activation on a Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk account; and (2) activation and set up of Google Wallet prepaid card within seven (7) days of Virgin Mobile account activation, during the Promotion Period. Upon successful activation, Google™ will: (i) add a $10 credit to the Google Wallet prepaid card within 48 hours of activation; and (ii) add an additional $15.00 credit to the Google Wallet prepaid card within three weeks of successful activation and set up. No personal credit card information is required for offer to apply. To see where Google Wallet is accepted, please go tohttp://www.google.com/wallet/where-it-works.html. NOTE: Credits applied toward Google Wallet accounts are performed by Google or its designees. For more questions or inquiries about this offer, or about the status of your credit, please call Google Wallet: 855-492-5538. Other restrictions apply.

[Via: TechnoBuffalo]

Dish Reports To FCC 4G LTE Network May Come As Late As 2016

Glen Travis — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:00:28 +0000

TV giant Dish has just reported to the FCC that their 4G LTE network may be pushed back until 2016 for release. Dish reports that they plan on serving a mild 60 million people with their 4G LTE network and that it will roll out over the next 4 years; It’s worth noting this is 6 years after Verizon and MetroPCS even began rolling out their LTE service. It’s also assuming that the CSG (cellular standards group) approves the AWS-4 frequency band for LTE. Engadget also reports that there is speculation as to whether or not the reason for the push back is so they can consider selling their cellular spectrum later on. Though they also note that it’s best to take the safe route and assume that they mean what they’re saying and that, “AT&T wouldn’t be trying to set tough conditions for Dish’s LTE if it didn’t think there was possibly significant competition on the way.”

“In general, development, testing, certification, and deployment must follow each other. This entire process is expected to last 48 months from when the AWS-4 service rules and 3GPP S-Band specifications are completed.

In short, based on an ambitious buildout schedule and barring unforeseen circumstances, DISH believes it can deploy its network to 60 million POPs within four years.” stated in the PDF released by the FCC.

So in essence this means Dish would like a pretty hefty extension from the FCC for the roll out of their network, and it looks like it’ll be granted. It’s also worth noting that by the time Dish can roll out their LTE network, other networks will be rolling out 5G cellular coverage. So is this a good move to make? Well, that depends on whether or not you want to wait ’till 2016 to receive LTE support, if you’re like us and you don’t, well then maybe it’s not such a smart plan on Dish’s part.

[Via: Engadget, Gigaom]

Google’s Acquisition Of Motorola Cleared By Chinese Regulators

Glen Travis — Sat, 19 May 2012 21:28:06 +0000

Nine months after announcing that Google had plans to acquire Motorola, after the US and European unions cleared the deal way back in February, the deal has finally been approved by Chinese regulators. This cost Google a solid $12.5 billion, though that’s about a dollar in Google’s wallet. Everything is set to close next week according to the Associated Press and this is good timing as the deal will be closed in time for the Google I/O conference next month. Google is expected to show off 5 new Nexus phones at Google I/O (click here), so this could not have been closed at a better time. Google will receive a whopping 17,000 patents as a result of this acquisition making them more of a threat to companies like Apple and HTC. Engadget mentioned a pet name for the couple, “Googorola” and that’s a fitting name we must say. We will update you with anymore details from Googorola.

[Via: TechnoBuffalo, Engadget]

[Image Credit: Engadget]

Motorola: Some Phones Don’t Get ICS Update Because It Won’t Improve Them

Glen Travis — Sun, 20 May 2012 03:00:52 +0000

With Motorola’s Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) upgrade list released, many are wondering where their Motorola phone is on the list. Here’s what we know, the RAZR, RAZR MAXX and Droid 4 will get the update in Q2 2012, more specifically take a look at the list below:

There’s one problem however, what about the Droid 3 and the Droid X2 along with other great Motorola phones which haven’t been out for a year yet but have no date to their name as to when they will see ICS roll out on their phone? Well Motorola have addressed those who own those handsets by simply stating, and we quote, “we want the new release to improve our devices. If we determine that can’t be done—well then, we’re not able to upgrade that particular device.” What others, including ourselves speculate that means is, we’re not willing to spend the money and time to upgrade other customers phones because we’re lazy and greedy. So how do you feel about that Droid 3 and Droid X2 owners? We suspect not great. It’s either that, or they simply don’t believe the ICS update will improve their phones, which we find a ridiculous claim.

The full statement read, “You may be wondering why all devices aren’t being upgraded to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Here’s the deal. We work very closely with Google and cell phone carriers for every software update. And, obviously we want the new release to improve our devices. If we determine that can’t be done—well then, we’re not able to upgrade that particular device.”

You can bet that people aren’t impressed as suggested by the following statements from customers, “I am done with motorola. 8 month old phone that can run ICS and Motorola/Verizion refused to update it.” and “This is amazingly shortsighted” and “My Droid 3 isn’t even a year old, and Motorola has decided not to upgrade it.” If you would like to voice your opinion on this statement click the link below.

[Via: Original Motorola Statement (click here to voice opinions), TechnoBuffalo, Android Central]