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BREAKING NEWS: Google To Buy Motorola For $12.5Bn As Apple Patents War Deepens

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Android creator is turning its attention to handsets – with the shock purchase of Motorola.


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Hello Moto: Google to takeover mobile giant.

Google has entered “a definitive agreement” to acquire Motorola Mobility Holdings, announced today.

The main attraction for the Android maker was the 17,000 patents Moto happen to own – handy in the ongoing patents struggle with Apple over mobile technology ownership. 

 “The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing,” the search giant said today.
Writing on his blog, CEO Larry Page also referred to this battle:  “Microsoft and Apple are banding together in anti-competitive patent attacks on Android. The U.S. Department of Justice had to intervene in the results of one recent patent auction to ‘protect competition and innovation in the open source software community’ and it is currently looking into the results of the Nortel auction.”
Android partner HTC are also currently embroiled in a patents dispute with Apple, which Google previously pledged to help the Sensation maker fight. 
 “Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies,” he added.  
Motorola launched the world’s first portable cell phone 30 years ago, and the smallest and lightest phone ever at the time, called StarTAC.
But Android OS will stay an open platform, and won’t interfere with its current relationship with other makers like HTC, Samsung and Sony Ericisson, Google confirmed. 
“Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business.” 
 But Larry Page is promising “amazing user experiences” for the eco system as a whole. 
“Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers.” 
Under the agreement Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of about $12.5 billion, a premium of 63% to the closing price of Motorola Mobility shares on Friday last, it said in a statement today . 
The transaction has been “unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.” 
 
And the Atrix makers are happy also, saying “this transaction offers significant value for stockholders and provides “compelling new opportunities.” 
“We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses,” Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said. 

However, it is not a done deal just yet and is subject to regulatory approvals in the US, Europe and elsewhere, not to mention Motorola stockholders, but is expected to be finalised 2011 or early 2012. 

“I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers” Page added.
Shares in Motorola Mobility Holdings were up more than 50 percent at the start of US trading Monday on the news, AndroidCentral reports. 

Ex-Apple Designer: ‘I Can’t Tell Difference Between iPhone & Samsung Galaxy’

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Day 4: Samsung V Apple: What’s the difference between an iPhone and Samsung Galaxy?


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What’s the difference between these two phones?

Graphics guru Susan Kare can barely tell.

 In fact, they’re “confusingly similar,” she told a US court yesterday.

 Kare made the admission as the massive Apple V Samsung trial continues in California’s District court, where Apple is accusing Samsung of stealing its unique design technology and claiming $2.5 billion in damages.

Apple called in graphics guru Susan Kare, who worked on Apple’s original graphics for the Mac in the eighties, as an expert witness to prove its argument that its rival indeed did copy Apple unique design technology, reports WSJ who were present at the trial.

“I think of myself as someone who’s pretty granular about looking at graphics, and mistook one for the other,” Kare told the court, admitting mistaking Samsung’s Galaxy smartphone for an iPhone when she picked it up off a table.

“In addition to the analysis, I personally had the experience of being confused.”

The former Apple designer examined 11 Samsung smartphones in all to compare possible similarities to an Apple device and found:

“the overall visual impression on all of these screens — compared each one by one — compared to the screenshot from the iPhone 3G, were confusingly similar.”

Kare reckons Samsung home icons on the user interface screen of Captivate, Epic 4G and Galaxy S 4G screens all infringe Apple patents and the look and feel of its app icon design used on iPhone.

Samsung attorney Charles Verhoeven wasn’t taking the witness claims lying down, however, and presented the two competing devices side by side before the court, claiming there was two extra steps a consumer would have to go through to hit the UI and icons Kare claims are “confusingly similar” to the iPhone.

Verhoeven booted up the Galaxy and up appeared the Samsung logo, followed by an Android ad and Google’s search bar.

Only after these steps could a consumer go the UI apparently similar to iPhone, thus he argued consumers would find it hard to confuse the two devices.

Samsung attorney also pointed to Samsung “Fascinate” smartphone, doesn’t use the familiar rounded-square images as per iPhone.

 

“It’s not 100% different,” Kare said when quizzed about the similarities between the two devices.

She also admitted she had not examined the functionality of the competing devices but rather the look and feel.

Apple also called in another witness, Peter Bressler, yesterday who told the court he had examined iPhone design patent and found that Samsung’s products most defintely infringed Apple’s unique technology.

It also looks like Judge Lucy Koh is getting increasingly frustrated with both sides in the case first filed by Apple in 2010 as their respective lawyers argued over which version of their branded smartphones would be used in evidence.

“How many versions and revisions of these phones are produced?” she said. “Give me a break!”

In-Flight A GoGo: Smartphones Can Surf The Net Flying

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Fly off into the air with Gogo in flight WiFi app. Designed for Android tabs and smartphones alike, Gogo’s new app for the platform allows user surf the Net on their device, while up in the air.


Image credit: Android Central


The free app has already been unleashed for iPhone, iPod Touch and BlackBerry, although there is a summary fee every time you use it in-flight. 

The Android version is to be released in the coming weeks, according to Android Central. 

Many smartphone users aren’t aware that you can turn your phone service off on a Gogo equipped plane, and access the web through a Wi-Fi enabled mobile device,  Ash ElDifrawi, Gogo’s chief marketing officer says.

You can do everything except call on your device: “surf the Web, send email and access most of the features of your smartphone aside from making a phone call.”

And Apple’s iOS system accounts for 80 percent of the mobile travelers connecting to Gogo’s Wi-Fi service, to date.

“As the number of smartphone users continues to skyrocket, we’d expect that the number of passengers using their mobile devices to access the Internet in air will also continue to grow,”  he adds. 

However, Australian airlines have yet to join the Gogo posse, it seems. 

 

Gogo already provides in flight WiFi services to carriers including American Airlines, Delta and Alaska Airlines. 

Samsung: No Source Code, Apple

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Galaxy maker has refused to reveal its source code, as its battle with Apple continues


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Apple ordered Samsung to produce its source code in December last in a US court as part of its ongoing patent litigation, but the latter refused the order, arguing it is not critical to its defence.

The Galaxy maker was given a deadline of December 31 by the court to produce the source code for the three patents Apple allege it violated, but failed to meet the deadline.

The refusal was criticised by US Judge Paul S. Grewal, who noted Samsung “plainly violated” the court order in the case, which has seen Apple accuse Samsung of violating its technology patents and argue Galaxy Tab 10.1 and smartphones models are clones of its iPad 2 and iPhone 4.

Judge Grewal had focused on Samsung’s design-around source code argument with the “specific intent” of avoiding Apple’s patent claims, and said they “matter. A lot”

But as a result of its defiance of the order, the annoyed Judge at US District Court Northern District of California ordered “preclusive sanctions” against Samsung, and granted Apple “motion for sanctions.”

This now means Samsung will now be prevented from arguing it has attempted to ‘design around’ the patents in question – 381 (overscroll bounce), 891 (timed window), 163 (tap to zoom and navigate), and “shall not argue the design around are in any way distinct from those version of the code produced in accordance with the courts order” according to the ruling handed down Friday.

This has negative consequences for the Koreans as it may now have to “assume liability for continued use of old, possibly infringing code because the new, possibly non-infringing code wasn’t shown in time,” says Foss Patents Florian Mueller.

The production of source codes also emerged during the tech giants Australian court battle last year, although it was Samsung calling for Apple to produce its source code for iPhone 4S.

And Judge Grewal also appeared to chide both sides as its expansive and time consuming patent battle continues in courts throughout the world, showing source codes in patent litigation is: over “disruptive, expensive, and fraught with monumental opportunities to screw up.”
 
But Mueller believe Samsung are playing “tactical games” and looking to “stall” the case, notes Mueller, although it is not the first time Samsung has been found guilty of non-compliance of court orders in this ugly battle with arch rival, Apple.

This is because Samsung is less interested in ending the litigation with Apple, although Mueller believes the move makes the Koreans look “increasingly desperate.”

Samsung has also countersued Apple, accusing it of patent violations in court all over the world.

Apple Thunderbolt Revives Faster, Lighter MacBook Air $1,099

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Its faster, more responsive and lighter. Meet MacBook Air next generation.


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The Mac makers from Cupertino, California have unveiled its revamped MacBook Air with next gen processors, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and backlit keyboard, all running on its new Mac OS X Lion. 

 MacBook Air, which comes in “brilliant” 11″ or 13″ high resolution LED backlit displays, boasts double the speed of  previous generations, thanks to Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual processors, flash storage and Thunderbolt I/O.  

The screen, although slim looking, has the resolution of a much larger, bulkier screen. 

And Flash storage promises “instant-on responsiveness and quicker access to data” allowing for better reliability and energy efficiency. 

 The new Air also features Intel HD Graphics 3000 and offers up to 4GB of faster 1333 MHz memory, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and two USB ports for easy connectivity. 

 It also boasts an ultra compact design with an “incredibly thin” durable aluminium unibody enclosure which measures 0.3 cm at its thinnest point and 1.7 cm at its thickest. 

 The 11-inch model weighs in at 1.08 kg and provides “up to” 5 hours of battery life, while the 13-inch is 1.35 kg and gives 7 hours of use, according to Apple estimates. 

The revamped notebook brings Thunderbolt I/O technology which allows the connection of peripherals through a single cable and can support FireWire and Gigabit Ethernet. Users can also avail of Thunderbolt’s Display, described as “the ultimate docking station for your Mac notebook.” 

 The new MacBook Air comes with a full size backlit keyboard, which adapts its brightness for any environment via a sensor and glass ‘Multi-Touch’ trackpad, which supports Lion X OS new Multi-Touch gestures like momentum scrolling, tapping or pinching your fingers to zoom in on a web page or image, and swiping left or right to turn a page. 

 
The notebook is the industry’s greenest, Apple claims, and meets standards like Energy Star 5.2 and achieves EPEAT Gold status. 

Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminium and the energy efficient LED-backlit displays are mercury-free, use arsenic-free glass and constructed from recyclable materials only. 
 
 The MacBook Air starts at RRP AUD$1,099 and is available for order and will hit retail stores later today. 

 “Portable, affordable and powerful, MacBook Air is the ultimate everyday notebook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. 

 “MacBook Air features our most advanced technology and is an ideal match for Lion, especially with its new Multi-Touch gestures, full-screen apps, Mission Control and Mac App Store.” 

 The 1.6 GHz 11-inch MacBook Air is available in two models, one with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of flash storage for $1,099, and one with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of flash storage for $1,349. 

 The 1.7 GHz 13-inch MacBook Air comes in two configurations, one with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of flash storage for $1,449 and one with 4GB of RAM and 256GB of flash storage for $1,799. 
 
 
Configure-to-order options and accessories include a 1.8 GHz Core i7 processor, additional flash storage, MacBook Air SuperDrive and a USB Ethernet Adapter. 

All prices quoted include GST.

Optus: Oz Disconnected (DESPITE 241 Facebook “Friends”)

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iPhones, 165 Facebook friends, online chatrooms: We’re more connected than ever ….but not connected at all.


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We have a bundle of ‘friends’ who aren’t,warns new research.

That’s according to Optus, who say 85% of Australians feel they are not communicating with friends and family as much as they would like, despite e-mails, Facebook and a multitude of messaging services available.

And shock, horror, almost half (43%) admit they spend more time communicating with people outside friends and family.

It seems we are focusing on quantity not quality, when it comes to communicating with others, (cue adding Facebook ‘friends’ like there’s no tommorrow).

The average Aussie has 165 Facebook friends, however a mere 33 of these are considered ‘close’, according to Optus research among over 2000 Aussies aged 16-64.

But it seems despite social networking looking to bring people together, it is in fact doing nothing to improve comms in the modern age.

45 per cent say virtual socialising on Facebook, Twitter and the likes makes them feel “less close” to friends and family, with a large number admitting they find it difficult to say the words they need to loved ones, in particular to parents (what like, give me more money?).

Apparently not.

There is a desire amongst us to connect with our derest and nearest on a “deeper” level. 66% would like to spend more time communicating with their closest friends and family, with ‘I love you’ topping the list of what we’d most like to say with ‘You mean the world to me’ also a must-say-but cant-say phrase cited.

Gen Y in particular is the ‘Disconnected Generation’ with a whopping 241 Facebook friends, on average, but only 44 are considered close.

More than 50% confess they find it difficult to say what they need to loved ones because it leaves them feeling uncomfortable.

 Aussies send 40 emails a week on average, with “only” one third of these to friends and family.

 

However, this is no surprise considering work e-mails will always take up a large proportion of the total sent.

Gen Y send the most emails per week at 49, but a mere 12 of those are to loved ones.

BBC iPlayer To Show Toffs Boat Race (Where Aussie Made A Splash)

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Watch the Aussie who halted the race between Oxford and Cambridge Uni’s ..by swimming down the Thames.


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BBC iPlayer has secured the rights to its first ever sporting event – the famous Xchanging Boat Race, which took place during Easter break on the River Thames.

The race was the subject of much controversy when it was halted by the umpire due to an Australian anti elitist protestor Trenton Oldfield, who hails from Sydney’s North Shore, who swam across the Thames during the race – to the shock of participants and onlookers alike.

Oldfield was pulled from the water and charged with Public Order Act offences and is to appear in UK court on April 23.

iPlayer subscribers including can nowshare in the drama of the one of world’s oldest sporting rivalries, between  the crews of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, from tomorrow Friday 13 April, BBC confirmed today.

First competed over 180 years ago, the event provides great drama, whether it be nail biting finishes or mid-race clashes; there is always an intensity and excitement quite unique to The Boat Race.

It’s always been our ambition to expand the selection of programme genres on the pilot of the Global BBC iPlayer, and I’m thrilled to confirm Sport as the latest one,” said  Jana Bennett, President Global BBC iPlayer.

And it looks like the Beeb is planning to show more sporting exclusives:

 

“We’re keen to make Global iPlayer the home to some of the very best British sporting moments,” Bennett added.

The first race took place in 1829 in Henley on Thames following a challenge between old school friends, but since 1836, the contest has taken place in London. International distribution rights for The Xchanging Boat Race are held by BBC Worldwide.

Sony Burning: Shops Hit By London Looters, Fires

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A major Sony warehouse has been left ablaze tonight after more riots in London.


The 20,000 square metre building located in Solar Way, Enfield is said to house content like DVDs, CDs and gaming titles and is the only such storage facility in the country. 

The damage is said to be severe although noone was injured in the blaze. “There will likely be some impact on deliveries,” said Sony spokeswoman,Yoko Yasukochi, from Tokyo


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“We cannot determine the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage yet because it’s not possible to enter the building”.

Sony shops were also “targetted” in Ealing, according to the BBC.

A second Sony warehouse Waltham Abbey, Essex is also said to have been looted by rioters, who fled the scene with gaming consoles according to eyewitnesses, although this was not before they set the building alight. 

Firefighters are said to have the worst of the fire under control.

Electronics stores were among the worst hit, with Currys and mobile phones shops including 3 Mobile among the stores ransacked and destroyed in areas like Ealing, Peckham, Croydon and Brixton, with eyewitnesses reporting youth rioters running off with TVs smartphones and consoles. 

This marks the third night of rioting in Britain’s capital city, which kicked off in the north London suburb of Tottenham on Saturday, after the mistaken shooting of a local youth and has now spread to locations further north and south of the city. 

BlackBerry Messenger, as well as social media including Twitter and Facebook were said to have helped the rioters communicate and gather momentum. 
And in an interesting twist, Metropolitan Police are said to be outwardly defending Apple’s flagship store on London Regent St, with three police vans seen parked outside the premises.  

 

The fires, which have destroyed buildings and businesses, are now described as “almost pan London”. 


“In the next 24 hours there will be 13,000 police officers on duty in London,” Scotland Yard wrote on Twitter. This has now been upped to 16,000. 



Exclusive: Samsung Plan March ‘Store Announcement’

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Samsung about to open a slew of new Aussie stores?

Samsung to make an announcement about its store strategy “early next month” a spokesperson told CN exclusively this week.

The Galaxy maker is planning on making a March announcement on its Australian stores, although the spokesperson declined to be more specific.

In January we reported that Samsung could be about to open as many as 13 demonstration stores here in Oz this year, after it opened its first Sydney Expereince store in mid-2012.

The experience store sell everything from Galaxy S3 smartphones,Tabs, Galaxy note phablet, Ultrabooks and LCD TV’s.

OZ Judge Slams Dodgy Apple iPad + 4G Ad, $2.2M Fine

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Aussie Judge slams Apple iPad+4G claims and slaps the giant with a $2.25m fine.


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“The conduct concerned was deliberate and very serious,” Judge Mordy Bromberg said, referring to Apple’s claim that its new iPad 3 was capable of working on ultra fast 4G network in Oz, when this was not the case.

The new iPad released earlier this year works on 3G networks only and will work on 4G networks just in the US.

The Australian consumer watchdog, ACCC, took Apple to task over the “misleading” claims and the giant initially refused to retract the 4G ready claims.

The ruling and fine against Apple was made earlier this month but the Judge wanted to get more information on exactly how many iPads were returned to Apple retailers before he gave a final verdict.

Previous reports indicated no iPad 3 had been returned, and it was not disclosed in the ruling how many were returned by apparently duped consumers seeking a refund.

“It exposed a significant proportion of Australian consumers of tablet devices to a misleading representation,” the Federal Court Judge added.

 

“In that context, and in the absence of any other explanation, the facts to which I have just referred suggest that Apple’s desire for global uniformity was given a greater priority than the need to ensure compliance with the Australian consumer law,” he added.

He also condemned Apple for conduct that was “serious and unacceptable,” reports AFP.

Apple has agreed to pay the fine of $2.25m and pay $300,000 costs to ACCC.