After reading Apple granted patent for using apps during calls over the weekend, I realise that I have been infringing this patent for years :)
Actually the article seems misguided:
At present, smartphone users can either make calls or use apps – they can’t do both.
And
… for example, being able to take part in a conference call over your smartphone and interacting with information or data contained within a specific business app.
I have actually been doing both of these examples for years on my HTC P3600 (with the help of a hands-free kit)!
Tags: Apple, HTC
I was very surprised to read today that Openwave is going to sell all of its products and focus exclusively on its patents! See Openwave Puts Products Up for Sale.
I notice that Openwave’s web page now reads “Inventors of the Mobile Internet”, but maybe it has been like this for a while!
I have not decided yet if this is a good or bad strategy! I guess that it would be bad if Openwave pursues a patent troll approach. On the other hand, I wonder how much manufacturing Apple does (if any).
Tags: Apple, Openwave
I received this from a friend recently:
Android Eats Apple
Enjoy :)
Tags: Apple, Google
Somebody brought this article to my attention today: Apple gets killer location services patent.
I bet Apple is really excited about this, and Google is probably the most worried!
In fairness, I am not sure if this patent would remain valid if challenged :o
Tags: Apple, Google
I came across this cool interactive feature describing all of Steve Jobs’s patents today – Steve Jobs’s Patents.
Apparently, Steve has a very direct involvement with Apple‘s patent activities, according to Steve Jobs’ patents: A vital lesson for CEOs.
Tags: Apple, Steve Jobs
I found some very interesting graphs from Flickr this week showing the most popular digital cameras with which its users take photos. See Flickr Camera Finder.
Perhaps the most amazing statistic has been the stellar rise of the Apple iPhone 4 to become the most popular digital camera!
Tags: Apple, Flickr
This week I came across two more high-profile companies moving from apps to web app (HTML5) to avoid the Apple tax.
The other advantages that these developers will experience is that they no longer need to get approval from Apple (which can make planning and time lines difficult), and their apps are now cross-platform!
I previous wrote about this subject in Financial Times on an iDevice.
Tags: Amazon, Apple, HTML, Walmart
It has been a really interesting week in terms of patents! Probably the biggest news has been Apple‘s attempts to block the selling of superior Android based tablet devices made by Motorola and Samsung. For example, see Samsung delays Australian Tab launch, Apple prevents Galaxy sales in EU, Will Apple block the Motorola Xoom in Europe next?, and Apple patent disputes Xoom towards Motorola. HTC should be in the mix there also as another infringer. However, the fight back in the EU has started according to The Battle Continues: Samsung To Appeal Apple’s European Injunction.
Apple have reasons to be concerned with the rise of the Android based tablets according to Android tablets peel away 20% of iPad’s mega market share.
Yes – I am annoyed by Apple for its behaviour. Although I imagine Google must be more annoyed! See Google Patent Woes for more details.
There has also been considerable interest in some of Apple’s patent applications that become public this week. For example see Apple Patents Hint At Multi-Part Gestures, Touchable OS X and Patent application: Apple wants to put projectors in its iPhones. The first of these is very interesting, and it makes me wonder if there is more to gestures on touch devices than we are currently considering. I do not think that I would be interested in the second idea, due to the extra hardware requirements it would impose on the device. Anyway, we will know if these applications are successful in about 5 years time.
Finally, Google had some success this week with one of its patents – US7996328. It is probably best described in Google lands patent for, um, estimating shipment time. That should help dissuade Amazon from taking patent infringement cases against Google anyway! Amazon is also in the patent news this week for its mobile device airbag idea – Amazon’s Bezos Dreams Up Protective Airbag for Smartphones.
Tags: Amazon, Apple, Google, HTC, Motorola, Samsung
Interesting article: Google Rips Into Microsoft, Apple, Oracle For “Bogus Patents” And Trying To “Strangle” Android.
I am not sure that Google would feel so strongly about the anti-competitive practices of Apple, Microsoft, and Oracle if the roles were reversed!
Oh – the patent world is so fascinating!
Tags: Apple, Google, Microsoft, Oracle
I came across this concise summary of the differences between Google‘s Cloud Computing approach and Apple‘s Cloud Computing approach: Apple cloud vs. Google cloud: The philosophical differences.
Tags: Apple, Google
