Archive for October, 2010

Posted by androidjunkie at 30 October 2010

Category: Android

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So around the sixth of October, Motorola sued Apple. We must have missed that one, our bad. But the long and short is that Motorola sued Apple for a whopping 18 patent infringements earlier this month. Apple didn’t take too kindly to that and decided they wanted to remove any and all doubt that the technology world of lawsuits has more plots, twists and title contenders than the WWE; it’s real to me, dammit. The handsets in question are the Droid, Droid 2, Droid X, Cliq, Cliq XT, BackFlip, Devour A555, Devour i1, and Charm 1.

I’m too lazy to type it all out, so I’m going to butcher what’s going down from 9to5mac.com:

One: Apple, Inc patent titled: Ellipse Fitting for Multi-Touch Surfaces: Patent Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.

Two: Apple, Inc patent titled: Multipoint Touchscreen: Patent Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.

Three: Taligent, Inc patent titled: Object-Oriented System Locator System: Patent Abstract: A method and system for adding system components (documents, tools, fonts, libraries, etc.) to a computer system without running an installation program. A location framework is employed to locate system components whose properties match those specified in search criteria. The framework receives notification from the system when system components whose properties match the search criteria are added to or removed from the system.

Four: Apple, Inc, patent titled: Touch Screen Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Determining Commands by Applying Heuristics: Apple’s invention generally relates to electronic devices with touch screen displays, and more particularly, to electronic devices that apply heuristics to detected user gestures on a touch screen display to determine commands.

Five: Apple Computer, Inc. patent titled: Method and Apparatus for Displaying and Accessing Control and Status Information in a Computer System: Apple’s invention generally relates to the field of computer systems; particularly, the present invention relates to displaying a status and control function bar or window to enable access of user selected indicia to a computer system user.

Six: Apple Computer, Inc. patent titled: Support for Custom User-Interaction Elements in a Graphical, Event-Driven Computer System: Apple’s invention relates to graphical, event-driven computer systems, more particularly to custom interactive user-interaction elements in a computer system having a window-based graphical user interface.

I also stole this image from 9to5mac.com, it really helps illustrate what’s going on right now.

Print

Seriously, we should just get this all over with, with a pee-on-a-wall contest. Who would win?

[via 9to5mac.com | Pinwheel of Lawsuits via]

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Posted by androidjunkie at 30 October 2010

Category: Android

Tags: , ,

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Originally the MyTouch 3G 1.0 was supposed to have its FroYo roll out completed by 25 October. That window has now been extended to 15 December.

Capture2534

A disappointment for sure as no reason was given for why the delay was issued, the only reason I can infer is to alleviate network stress; but that’s all I can come up with. Anyone below know of any reasons or perhaps a conspiracy theory? Are you still waiting for your FroYo(on the MyTouch 3G 1.0)?

[via TmoNews]

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Posted by androidjunkie at 30 October 2010

Category: Android

Tags: ,

Motorola-Apple lawsuit

Another day, another patent lawsuit. And this time around it’s Apple suing Motorola over multitouch on nearly all its Android phones — basically everything up to and including the Droid X. In addition to the multitouch infringement claims, there’s also:

  • Object-Oriented System Locator System
  • Touch Screen Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Determining Commands by Applying Neuristics
  • Method and Apparatus for Displaying and Accessing Control and Status Information in a Computer System.
  • Support for Custom User-Interaction Elements in a Graphical, Event-Driven Computer System.

Needless to say, this will take a while. And, no, if Moto loses it doesn’t mean your phone will be taken away — it just means Moto will have to either change how it’s doing things — and/or pay a bucketload of money to Apple. Get the full breakdown on the suit at the source link. [Patently Apple via 9 to 5 Mac]

Posted originally at Android Central

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Posted by androidjunkie at 30 October 2010

Category: Android

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Have a shiny new G2 and an interest to help developers optimize their applications for your handset?

Qik, the popular video streaming application for Android, is seeking G2 owners to participate in a Beta to test their application for the device.  If you’re interested in helping them bring their cross platform application to your device, shoot off an email to support@qik.com with "T-Mobile G2 Beta Test" as the subject line.  

Happy testing! Via [Facebook]

Posted originally at Android Central

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Posted by androidjunkie at 30 October 2010

Category: Android

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Droid 2 Global at Costco

Remember how the Droid 2 Global had a couple of SKU numbers on that leaked Verizon rebate sheet? Looks like that’s because it’s going to be available in a couple of colors, according to Costco’s inventory system. There’s the white version that we’ve already seen, plus traditional black. As for exactly when it’s going to drop? We’re still expecting sometime in the fourth quarter. [BGR]

Posted originally at Android Central

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Posted by androidjunkie at 30 October 2010

Category: Android

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More rumors surrounding Android-based PlayStation Phone are starting to come together. New evidence of something called “Z-System. ” Code named “Zeus” Furthermore, these details were backed up by this VG247 report, who have also been told about the Zeus name via one of their sources. However, they also revealed that the PlayStation Phone will be based on existing tech, seen in the Playstation Portable, and not something completely built-up from scratch. An astute tipster notes that the term appears in the upper left of one of shots

leaked pic of Z-system from product-reviews.net

seen at engadget (see pics below) which maps to a domain — z-system.com, naturally — that’s owned by Sony Ericsson. Turns out the company also holds trademarks for Z-System in the US and Benelux trademark offices (among others, presumably) that were filed (and approved) this year, and the filing category includes “software for interacting or playing with electronic or video games,” not hardware, so that strongly suggests we’re looking at a platform here. This could be the Playstation phone’s UI. It’s possible that this specific device will be called Z-System, but we are unsure at this time. Most likley the “Z system” is the underlying gaming platform that’ll bear that name or possibly a premium game store and set of software libraries that together will earn a device the Z-System badge. Only time will tell.

engadget pic

engadget pic 2

engadget pic 3

More news is expected but for right now that’s all you get! Stay informed at www.androidguys.com

Playstation Phone “Z-System” originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Posted by androidjunkie at 30 October 2010

Category: Android

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droid-2-global-black-whiteBGR got their grubby hands on a picture of CostCo’s inventory system showing the Droid 2 and the T-Mobile Comet. Interesting note is that the Droid 2 Global will launch in two colors: black and white. Unless the D2G decides to pull an iPhone 4, of course.

Both phones are priced right at the level they should be, if the Comet’s price is the unsubsidized price, given their hardware specifications.

[via BGR]

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Posted by androidjunkie at 29 October 2010

Category: Android

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When you talk about Facebook, usually it’s about Facebook being the dominant player as a website and social entity. And it is. But what is stopping Facebook from going from a website  that also makes mobile apps apps to a company making (or branding) social hardware just as Google went from providing a dominant search engine to building the most popular mobile OS, offering industry leading turn-by-turn navigation software, and selling the Nexus One?

Nothing. We’ve got an invitation to a November 3rd Facebook Mobile event and we’re not sure WHAT will be announced at their heaquarters in Paolo Alto, California… but the launch of a Facebook phone is a possibility, and an incredibly intersting one at that.

facebook-phone

It’s quite possible that Facebook is just holding an event to celebrate the launch of a fully functioning app on multiple platforms that greatly enhances the Facebook experience on your mobile phone. But I doubt that. I sense something bigger is at hand.

Prior to the launch of the Nexus One, I was rudely confident in saying that Google wouldn’t launch their own phone. They didn’t launch the gPhone as many had predicted, but I was suprised they launched a phone at all. In my opinion, it wasn’t their core competency and it would compete with the partners whose trust they had gained.

Now I see the world a little bit differently after eating humble pie. These huge companies are on top of a world that is driven by innovation. Great ideas win. Either you can let other companies put their great ideas into action and eventually overthrow you, or you can leverage your ingenuity, creativity, financial resources, and sheer size to take market share in new and growing markets. This is something Google also did with their Chrome browser and Chrome OS.

Given that Facebook is a powerhouse in the world of everything social, wouldn’t a huge move in the mobile industry make sense? Mobile and social go hand in hand. Mark Zuckerberg has taken Facebook from a small dinky website to one of the most successful, rich, and powerful companies in the world. The movie “The Social  Network” says a lot about where this guy came from and where he is going, but the fact is that this kid loves building things. If he started Facebook from scratch, tech competitors should be scared about what this guy can accomplish with the resources he has in post success days.

The holiday season is upon us and it looks like a Facebook phone might be an option. Or will they announce something else, like an outrageously awesome mobile dev tools to build Facebook extensions for their apps? It could be anything… so leave your best guess in the comments below!

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Posted by androidjunkie at 29 October 2010

Category: Android

Tags: ,

The much-rumored and quickly denied Facebook phone could finally be unveiled next week–or at least something new relating to social networking on mobile devices.

Earlier today the company began sending out invites to members of the press for a mobile-focused event next Wednesday at its headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif.

What could it be?

A refreshed reworked mobile site for Facebook’s millions of users would be a good guess. With all the happenings with Facebook this year this is the most likely senario.

There is a also a  rumored platform, simply called Deals, would allow companies on Places to create incentives for users who tag a certain number of friends checked into its brick-and-mortar store. Like GroupOn, the promotion is activated once the Facebook user meets his or her specified quota of tagged friends

Also, back in September, rumors began that Facebook was working with device manufacturers on a Facebook handset. A spokesperson for the company quickly responded by saying that it was flat-out false, and that “building phones is just not what we do.”

Recent stats made public by the Facebook showed more than 150 million of its 500 million active members use the site from their phones. Facebook maintains both a mobile site and a native PC site, both of which could end up being the focus of Wednesday’s event, among possible hardware developments

A copy of invitation sent out

Another note Facebook has been buying up drop.io, a service that lets users upload files online and then share them. Drop.io says Facebook has bought “most” of its “technology and assets” and that founder Sam Lessin will now join Facebook. The Drop.io service itself will shut down.

Similar acquisitions that Facebook has made over 2010: series of startups including Hot Potato, Nextstop, and ShareGroove, and has integrated those companies’ teams, while simultaneously discontinuing their products.

Something is going to drop on November 3, 2010. We will keep you posted.

Facebook Mobile Event Slated for November 3rd – Android Related? originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Posted by androidjunkie at 29 October 2010

Category: Android

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galaxy-sBut it still doesn’t mean they’ll get FroYo on all variants this century. *snark snark snort*

Samsung’s reported soaring profits are due to booming semiconductor business with the Galaxy S contributing heavily. You’ve gotta hand it to Samsung for being able to push the ever-loving-snot out of this phone. To date it’s estimated that Samsung has managed to move between five and seven million of their flagship Android device. Coming off debacles like the Behold II, I’d say those are some fine numbers, Lou.

[via Engadget]

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