Apple wants Samsung’s appeal thrown out in Apple vs Samsung patent case
Cast your mind back to the prehistoric tech days of 2012, when Apple was awarded a significant victory over Samsung in a high-profile patent dispute. With a ruling of $1 billion in Apple’s favor, Samsung repeatedly appealed the decision and eventually whittled that figure down to the $548 million settlement it finally paid Apple in December 2015. But the story is not yet over, not by a long shot.
Even before the settlement payment, Samsung had filed papers to take the case to the Supreme Court under appeal, claiming the jury was ill-informed about the complexities of patent law. At the time, Samsung’s appeal was rejected, but no sooner had Samsung paid Apple than it filed a new appeal to the Supreme Court to have the verdict overturned and the money returned as part of a larger demand to have the patent law system reviewed and updated for modern times.
See also: Samsung demands patent law review, thinks the system is “antiquated”
Perhaps not surprisingly, Apple has now urged the Supreme Court to ignore Samsung’s latest appeal and let sleeping dogs lie, claiming Samsung has “had its day in court – many days, in fact”. Naturally, Apple wants this whole thing to be over; after all, it got its money and won a substantial victory over its arch-rival. But Samsung has some pretty high profile supporters.
While Apple might be against the appeal – which could potentially see its favorable 2012 verdict overturned – Google, Facebook, Dell, eBay and HP, among others, have all thrown their support behind Samsung’s request. The case is not so much about Samsung and Apple now than about how patent law is understood more than 120 years after its last revision and how damages are awarded in patent infringement cases.
The prime target of the dispute is the contentious “total profit” rule whereby all profits made by a product found to infringe on a patent can be awarded to the patent holder. That means if a smartphone with a quarter million patents involved in its production is found to infringe on even one of them, all of the money made from that device can go to the holder of that patent. As Samsung rightfully notes, when the patent law system was instituted, a product might only require one patent.
According to Samsung, the complexity of modern electronic products demands a review of patent law and the way that damages are awarded in patent cases. Samsung’s response to Apple’s rejection of its appeal states that “if the legal precedent in this case stands, innovation could be diminished, competition could be stifled, and opportunistic lawsuits could have negative effects throughout the U.S. economy.”
Who do you think will win? How do you think patents should be handled for modern devices?
Verizon prepaid plans get massive data limit increase for no extra money
Perhaps to compete with T-Mobile’s Binge On and AT&T’s revival of the unlimited data plan, Verizon has just granted its prepaid customers a massive data cap boost. New prepaid customers can now enjoy almost double the data limits previously offered for no extra money, with a nice additional data bonus thrown on top for good measure.
See also: Best Verizon prepaid Android phones (January 2016)
Anyone signing up for a prepaid Verizon plan with a new phone activation will be able to get 2 GB of data for $45/month or 5 GB of data for $60/month – that’s up from 1 GB and 3 GB respectively for the same prices. What’s more, if those customers sign up for Auto Pay, they’ll enjoy an additional GB per month for free, taking the data limits up to 3 GB and 6 GB respectively.
If you’re looking round for a new carrier, be reminded that Verizon has the best coverage in the U.S. (if not the fastest LTE service – that honor goes to T-Mobile, just). Verizon’s prepaid plans include unlimited talk and text in the U.S. with free texting to your friends in the great white north and south of the border.
What’s your data limit? Which carrier do you think has the best data plan?
UN group says Assange should be released and compensated
A United Nations panel has sided with Julian Assange and classified his time in London’s Ecuadorian Embassy as arbitrary detainment. In light of this, the group believes his “detention should be brought to an end” and rectified with some form of compensation. Yesterday, the WikiLeaks founder vowed to “accept arrest by British police” if the group ruled against him. Conversely, the Australian said he expected “the termination of further attempts to arrest me” if the verdict was in his favour.
In a statement, the UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detainment said there had been “a continuous deprivation of liberty” while Assange was at Wandsworth Prison and under house arrest, as well as during his almost four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy. They’re now asking for the Swedish and UK governments to “assess the situation” and ensure Assange can exercise “his right to freedom of movement in an expedient manner.”
“The Working Group also considered that the detention should be brought to an end and that Mr Assange should be afforded the right to compensation.”
At the moment, it’s unclear if the ruling carries any substantial power or influence. As The Guardian notes, the UN’s findings aren’t legally binding — although in a Facebook video the panel seems to think otherwise. However, it could be used to apply pivotal pressure on British and Swedish officials. The UK’s Metropolitan Police has already stated that it will arrest Assange if he attempts to leave the building, regardless of the panel’s decision. According to Sky News, the UK government has also stood firm with its position this morning, rejecting the UN’s ruling and stating its commitment to complying with an outstanding arrest warrant.
Assange entered the embassy in the summer of 2012. At the time, Swedish authorities wanted to question him over multiple sexual assault allegations. He was not formally charged and, because they couldn’t interview him, were forced to drop part of their investigation last August. Assange is still wanted for questioning over an outstanding rape allegation, however. The 44-year-old believes his arrest would lead to US extradition, where he could be put on trial for extensive documents — such as those supplied by Chelsea Manning — published through WikiLeaks.
Will Assange walk out the door today? It seems unlikely. After all, this morning’s verdict isn’t enough to ensure his freedom outside the embassy. Instead, we expect he’ll remain inside and continue to bide his time.
Via: BBC News, The Guardian
Taylor Swift game from Glu Mobile is on its way
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Mobile game publisher Glu Mobile has made a number of big announcements over the last few months and has been generally successful over that period as well. Coming off an incredibly successful game featuring Kim Kardashian, Glu signed up singer Katy Perry and chef Gordon Ramsay for new games and its latest announcement today revealed the news of a Taylor Swift game. While you might roll your eyes at the prospect of another celebrity mobile game, Glu’s investors loved the news, sending its share price up over 30% immediately after the news broke.
The announcement of the celebrity-focused Taylor Swift game starkly contrasted the other comments Glu CEO Niccolo de Masi mentioned today regarding its more recent releases; its Katy Perry and James Bond games were both disappointments, but that doesn’t appear to have deterred Glu’s investors this time around. Glu says the Taylor Swift game should be out sometime this year and guessing from prior knowledge, it should be free to play and feature a mountain of in-app purchases for people to splurge on. Haters gonna hate, I guess.
What do you think about Glu Mobile making a Taylor Swift game this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Bloomberg
The post Taylor Swift game from Glu Mobile is on its way appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
LG G5 to be announced February 21st, LG posts confusing marketing material everywhere
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We’ve known for some time already that LG is planning to hold a press conference at MWC 2016 on February 21st, and while everybody and their dog expected them to announce the LG G5, that fact has been essentially confirmed by the Korean manufacturer themselves. On Twitter yesterday, LG posted a number of photos featuring the number 5 accompanied by the hashtag #LGG5, though the tweet has since been pulled down – clearly somebody was a little trigger-happy.
Since then, LG’s Korean social blog has posted another image, depicting what it calls “LG G5 Day” for February 21st. While this definitely confirms that LG will be announcing the LG G5 at MWC 2016, it’s so very unusual that these two pieces of marketing material depict such a startling difference in tone. The photos are clearly an artistic statement – no doubt an advertisement for the probably fantastic camera – whereas the other image presumably depicts a device that can be considered fun and childish. Who knows what LG is trying to say, but we’ll definitely be finding out in just over two weeks in Barcelona.
What do you think about LG’s marketing for the LG G5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: LG via Droid-life
The post LG G5 to be announced February 21st, LG posts confusing marketing material everywhere appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
EasyAcc DP100 Bluetooth Speaker review
When it comes to portable sound, smartphone speakers often leave a lot to be desired thanks to the tinny sound that their tiny speakers give out. Luckily, there’s a whole bunch of Bluetooth speakers to choose from. Portability, durability, quality of sound, and battery life are all important features to consider when buying a Bluetooth speaker, all of which are pertinent to the EasyAcc DP100 Bluetooth Speaker being reviewed today.
Design
Design-wise, the EasyAcc DP100 keeps it simple with rounded corners, a classy stainless steel effect edge at the top of the device, and speaker mesh wrapped around 90% of the sides. There’s a matt black plastic rim around at the lower end of the speaker, with a grippy rubber base. The DP100 feels solid, has a satisfying weight to it (297 grams), and is a little shorter than a can of soda. The easy-to-use play and volume buttons are situated on the top of the speaker, along with an LED light. Finally, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack, MicroUSB socket and On/Off switch on the rear of the speaker.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 96 x 66 x 66mm
- Weight: 297 grams
- 4W Audio driver
- MicroUSB socket
- 3.5mm Audio jack
- 2,200mAh Battery
- In the box: Charging cable, 3.5mm AUX cable, carry pouch and user manual
Functionality
Once powered on, a welcome tone is played and then you can pair it with your favourite smart device thanks to the Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, giving it an obstacle-free range of around 30 feet. Once paired, the DP100 will re-connect to the smart device automatically. Don’t forget, you can also connect the speaker to a 3.5mm audio cable thanks to the 3.5mm audio jack on the rear, bringing new life to old tech.
Perhaps the most important thing to consider is the sound. The EasyAcc DP100 delivers an adequate amount of bass, more than you would expect from the 4W driver that is present. The design of the speaker means that sound is not focused in any particular direction. Whether you sit directly in front, or to the left or right of the speaker, there is good quality sound coming your way. After playing some AC/DC, Roxette, and some more current pop music, I was impressed with the richness and clarity of the sound, as well as the amount of bass outputted. As for volume, the speaker is plenty loud enough for the average-sized room.
The DP100 isn’t a one-trick pony, besides streaming music you can also use it as a hands-free device, taking calls from your phone thanks to the microphone on the top of the speaker, which is a handy feature to have.
On to longevity, and here the DP100 excels with its 20 plus hours of playback or 8-10 hours of talk-time, getting you through a workday with ease. Recharging the battery takes around 3 hours, which is pretty good considering its 2,200mAh capacity.
Conclusion
The EasyAcc DP100 Bluetooth Speaker is an excellent compromise between portability, impressive longevity, great sound and stylish design. It isn’t loud enough to power a concert, but then, it is only a 4W speaker that admittedly punches well above its weight. Much like the EasyAcc 10,000mAh Power Bank (reviewed here), the DP100 performs its functions with a minimum of drama. As for price, the DP100 can be picked up from Amazon for the reasonable price of $21.99 in the States, or £20 in the UK.
[EasyAcc]
Come comment on this article: EasyAcc DP100 Bluetooth Speaker review
Scientists extend the lifespan of mice by up to 35 percent
Would you like to live 35 percent longer? Apparently the trick is removing worn-out “senescent’ cells that have a degenerative affect on your body. “Cellular senescence is a biological mechanism that functions as an ’emergency brake’ used by damaged cells to stop dividing,” says Jan van Deursen, Ph.D., Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular biology at Mayo Clinic, and senior author of the paper. Scientists added a suicide gene to genetically modified mice, giving them a drug that targeted senescent cells. Treated rodents lived between 25 and 35 percent longer, and were also healthier: they were more active, and had better functioning hearts and kidneys compared to the control group.
The test subjects also grew fewer tumors. “While halting cell division of these cells is important for cancer prevention, it has been theorized that once the ’emergency brake’ has been pulled, these cells are no longer necessary,” added van Duersen. These cells no longer divide, and build up in humans and animals as they age.
Darren Baker, a molecular biologist at Mayo Clinic, and first author on the study says the effect of a drug treatment on humans could have a very powerful effect: “If translatable, because senescent cells do not proliferate rapidly, a drug could efficiently and quickly eliminate enough of them to have profound impacts on health span and lifespan.” Hypothetically, if the drug treatment did add 35 percent to the lifespan of humans, it would bring average life-expectancy to between 95 and 100 years.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Elon Musk talks up electric plane at hyperloop event
Electric airplanes are practically a non-existent technology, but that could change if Elon Musk decides to put money and energy behind the particular concept he’s been mulling over for a number of years now. And it could begin to change soon.
During a surprise question-and-answer session at the Hyperloop Pod competition awards ceremony at Texas A&M on Sunday, the Tesla Motors and SpaceX CEO was asked, among a number of things, what his next great idea was.
“I have been thinking about the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) electric jet a bit more. I think I have something that might close. I’m quite tempted to do something about it.”
While the comment was brief, it did get an enthusiastic response from the crowd, and it is the first indication we’ve had that he might actually follow through on the idea. If we were to speculate as to how he might proceed with the concept, we imagine he might follow the advice he gave earlier during the session, which also, unsurprisingly, reflects what he has done at his existing companies: start with the simplest, most useful solution.
He expounded, “If you’re trying to create a company, it’s important to limit the number of miracles in series. You want to start off with something that’s the most doable, and then expand from there.” Though we’ve never started any high-tech companies ourselves, along with other points concerning compelling design, utility, and “letting fundamental physics and economics should drive the true solution,” we think that’s about right.
Besides, electric airplanes, another possible transportation innovation Musk is mulling is tunnels. Lots and lots of tunnels – as in turning the underground of cities into a massive 3-D maze. Here, we must part ways with the entrepreneur. Sure, going underground can help in certain situations like mountains, the English channel, and maybe even hyperloops, but as survivors of Boston’s Big Dig will tell you, it’s an expensive and lengthy approach to easing traffic flows. You can watch the entire 33-minute video above, or get right to the electric VTOL jet comment here.
Pocket’s premium users can customize their fonts and layout
Pocket’s latest update for iOS comes with an awesome treat for its premium users. Besides giving them access to a permanent library, they can also start customizing their reading experience. They can adjust a page’s margin width and line-height spacing to their heart’s content. Plus, they can choose from seven new reading fonts or switch to Dyslexie, a font that makes it easier for dyslexics to read. Pocket also threw in a feature called Auto Dark Mode that automatically changes the app’s theme, depending on the ambient lighting it senses. Its premium subscription isn’t cheap at all at $4.99 a month — but if these features make it worthwhile, you can upgrade in-app anytime.
Via: iClarified
Source: iTunes
Keybase promises frictionless secure file sharing
Keybase, which provided people with a way to encrypt the messages they send, has branched out into file sharing, and it works quite differently from services like Dropbox. You can create two types of folders with the Keybase filesystem: a public folder anyone can access and a private folder that can only be accessed by authorized people. The developers’ announcement says everything you throw into the public folder (/keybase/public/yourname) is signed. Viewers will see the contents of that folder as text files, unless they’re images — you can see samples of public folders on this page the team put together as proof of concept.
The private folders (/keybase/private/yourname), on the other hand, are end-to-end encrypted. That means Keybase’s server will not be able to read any data you save in it. If you want someone else to be able to access it, you need to add their username. For example, if you want to share a folder with me, you’ll have to create a folder like so: /keybase/private/yourname,mariella.
In the future, the team says you’ll be able to share data even with people who haven’t joined Keybase yet, so long as they have a Twitter account. Simply make a folder with your name and your friend’s Twitter handle like this: /keybase/private/yourname,mariella_moon@twitter. The other person will be able to access those files as soon as he/she joins the service.
Keybase co-creator Chris Coyne says they’re adding that feature, because they believe you should be able to privately share (encrypted) files with anyone without asking for more identifying info. We imagine it could be used to share scoop with journalists or to privately share data with people you’ve only just met on the internet. Coyne’s blog post has more technical details about how the system works. If you’d like to give it a shot, scroll down to the “Getting access” section to sign up as an alpha tester, though you’d have to wait till you get an invite via email before you can try it out.
Introducing the Keybase filesystem: https://t.co/amh2Ng0CZG
— Chris Coyne (@malgorithms) February 4, 2016
Source: Keybase
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