Next Stage in Samsung vs. Apple Trial Scheduled for December

 

The judge in the Samsung vs. Apple trial has decided that the next major hearing isn't going to happen for over three months. That's when Judge Koh will listen to various arguments related to last week's decision.

Apple vs. SamungAlthough a jury has decided that some of Samsung's smartphones and tablets infringe on Apple patents, that's not the end of the matter -- far from it. Since that decision was announced, both sides in the case have filed numerous post-trial motions. So many have come in that Koh has decided that she needs plenty of time to read them.

One of the major topics at the hearing -- now scheduled for Dec. 6 -- will be Apple's request that the judge permanently ban eight handsets that it believes violate its patents. Samsung, on the other hand, is filing motions on why it believes the judge should overturn some or all of the jury's decision.

Judge Koh said:

Having considered the scope of Apple's preliminary injunction request, the additional post-trial motions that the parties have already filed and will file, and the substantial overlap between the analysis required for Apple's preliminary injunction motion and the parties' various other post-trial motions, the Court believes consolidation of the briefing and hearing on the post-trial motions is appropriate.

Previously, the judge had been planning to hear arguments for a temporary ban on the eight Samsung smartphones on September 20.

View the original article here

From Rumor to Reality: HTC Desire X Announced

Two days ago information on the HTC Desire X (previously named HTC Proto) leaked out, creating a surge of reports around the Web. Well HTC has responded today by officially announcing the Desire X, its next mid-range Android smartphone.

It appears that most of what was leaked a few days ago was accurate, as the handset is going to sport a 4-inch WVGA super LCD display with a 480 x 800 resolution. The device will also house Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) along with HTC Sense 4.0a.

HTC Desire XThe mid-ranged model will run on a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor with 4GB of total storage capacity, 768 MB of RAM, and a 1650 mAh battery. Luckily for users, the HTC Desire X will support microSD memory cards, allowing users to opt for more storage.  It is also set to include 25GB of free DropBox storage to users for 2-years who sign up for a HTC Desire X before the end of 2013.

Additionally the mid-range handset will offer a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, LED flash, with an f/2.0 lens and BSI Sensor for low-light captures. The camera will support WVGA video recording and offer VideoPic, allowing users to shoot video and capture pictures at the same time.

And finally, the smartphone is going to offer Beats Audio for improved sound quality, and will be compatible with Beats headphones, offering an even better audio experience thanks to specific tuned audio files.

The Desire X is slated to come to European and Asian markets in September, though HTC has made no mention of when we can expect the mid-range handset in the United States.

Unfortunately HTC has yet to set a price for the device, though I expect the estimate from our last article of around $450 USD stills holds accurate.


View the original article here

First Windows Phone 8 Device Officially Announced: The Samsung ATIV S

No more prototypes, no more rumors, hypothesizing, or teases: Samsung officially revealed the very first Windows Phone 8 device, the ATIV S, at IFA in Berlin today.

The phone is going to be undeniably sleek, measuring only 8.7 millimeters thin with a brushed aluminum chassis and a bezel that tapers inwards toward the back. The ATIV S won't skimp on screen size, however, sporting a sizable 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display, complete with Corning Gorilla Glass 2.

Samsung ATIV S FrontThe rest of the handset's specs are equally impressive, with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor under the hood, as well as 1 GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera, NFC support, and a choice of either 16 GB or 32 GB of storage. Thankfully, Windows Phone 8 is going to have support for expandable memory -- a feature that its predecessor was lacking -- so the ATIV S will also have a microSD card slot for extra storage.

Finally, the phone is powered by a 2300mAh battery, which should provide even the heaviest of users with a respectable battery life.

As the pictures show, the ATIV S will have a couple of distinct design features, including a raised, physical Windows home button (as opposed to a capacitive one) and a speaker bar that runs along the back. The quality build of the ATIV S is evident all the way down to the buttons, which, like both of the phone's speakers, are going to be made of aluminum. Combined with the slightly rounded edges of the display glass, the phone will take on a clean and classy look.

Samsung ATIV S BackThe version of the phone that was revealed at IFA was a European model that could run on AT&T's HSPA network, but the spec sheet does not list support for LTE, CDMA, or AWS bands, which some of the American carriers must have in their phones. So it remains to be seen if and how Samsung will adapt the model for US carriers and networks.

Unfortunately, Samsung has not provided any news yet on pricing and availability of the ATIV S.


View the original article here

LG Unveils Quad-Core, 4G LTE-Enabled Optimus G

LG has just taken the wraps off its latest flagship handset, the Optimus G, and from the spec list it looks like it will be among the first to feature both a quad-core processor and 4G LTE, a move that could increase LG's standing in the Apple and Samsung dominated smartphone race.

LG Optimus GWith a 4.7-inch True HD 1280 x 768-pixel IPS display, the Optimus G will ship with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), though it's safe to assume that it will likely get a tasty update to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) soon after it hits shelves.

Most notably however, is that the smartphone will feature a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, which allows for seamless toggling between 3G, 4G and LTE networks. Previous LTE-enabled devices, such as the U.S. versions of the Samsung Galaxy S III and the HTC One X, had to use dual-core chips because no quad-core model provided LTE support.

The Optimus G will also feature Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, a USB 2.0 host port, Mobile-Definition Link (MHL), DNLA protected media sharing, and NFC for mobile payments. LG's latest and greatest will also sport a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, in addition to a 1.3-megapixel front shooter. The device will come with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and a 2,100-mAh battery, all packed inside a case that is just 8 millimeters thick.

LG has fallen behind in recent years, as the smartphone race has become a two-player competition, with Apple and Samsung fending for the top spot. High-end devices like the Optimus G are LG's attempt to become relevant again in the eyes of consumers, and what better way than to offer one of the most powerful devices coupled with high-speed connectivity?

Unfortunately, U.S. customers enticed by the quad-core packed Optimus G will likely have to wait a while to see this device Stateside, as the company plans for a September launch in Japan and Korea, with no word yet of a global release.

View the original article here

Motorola Droid RAZR M Gets an Early Unveiling Thanks to Spec Leak

With last week bringing rumors of a follow-up to the Motorola Droid RAZR, more details have now surfaced about this device, revealing everything from its processor to its price tag.

Dubbed the Droid RAZR M, Verizon's upcoming smartphone will sport a 4.3-inch HD Super AMOLED Advanced display that will boast an 1196 x 720 resolution, as previously reported. Packing a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, the handset will come with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, though the device will be equipped with a microSD slot for additional space.

The smartphone is also going to feature global roaming capabilities, 4G LTE connectivity, and an NFC chip, an ideal characteristic for the Google Wallet users out there. Furnished with on-screen navigation keys, the smartphone will house a 3-megapixel front-facing camera, as well as an 8-megapixel rear shooter that is capable of taking 1080p video.

From this spec leak, it seems the only similarity this device will have with its predecessor is a Kevlar casing, though no word yet if the Droid RAZR M will have the same 1780 mAh battery as the original Droid RAZR.

An Important Product

With Motorola undergoing big changes since being acquired by Google back in May, the company has said it will reduce its number of devices to just a few, eliminating low-end phones to focus only on high-quality devices. Pegged with a $150 price tag with a new two-year agreement, the Droid RAZR M certainly fits Motorola's high-end credentials. The smartphone is expected to be announced alongside the Droid RAZR HD at Verizon and Motorola's press conference on Sept. 5.


View the original article here

Android phone makers back platform but consider other options

(Reuters) - Some phonemakers are quietly exploring alternatives to the Android operating system implicated in the Samsung-Apple ruling, industry watchers say, despite their public pronouncements they are sticking with the technology.

Last week, a U.S. court ruled Samsung's Android devices were violating Apple patents - a major blow to the leading mobile software platform because it could lead to sales bans and high licensing fees.

The impact could also hit smaller vendors that use Android like HTC, ZTE, and Sony. Android is used in more than two thirds of smart phones.

Huawei, Sony, Lenovo and ZTE - which all use Android extensively - told Reuters they were continuing to bet on the Google's platform despite the ruling.

"(The ruling) is not relevant to what we are doing," said Chris Edwards, chief of ZTE's business development in Europe.

But as the mobile market matures and more patent cases look likely, some makers are looking at the alternatives.

Samsung, which has used a number of platforms but now mostly uses Android, announced a new phone running on Microsoft's new Windows Phone 8 software at a consumer technology conference on Wednesday, sneaking ahead of a hotly-anticipated launch of a Nokia-Windows phone due next week.

Shares in Nokia, which has partnered with Windows and is its main user, jumped after the Samsung ruling on expectations it might be a safer legal bet than Android makers.

The California jury said Samsung infringed six of seven Apple patents in the case, including technology that recognizes whether one or two fingers are on the screen, the front surface of the phone and the design of screen icons, which is a clear reference to Google's technology.

After the verdict, Google said that most of the patents involved "don't relate to the core Android operating system."

Android was used in 68 percent of all smartphones sold last quarter, with Samsung making almost half of them, while Microsoft had 3 percent market share.

The balance of power is unlikely to shift quickly as this season's new phones were all made before the ruling.

Sony launched three Android phones this week at IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics fair. Chinese phone maker Huawei launched four.

"We have made our choice," said Lars-Christian Weissewange, vice president at Huawei's phone unit, adding that consumers were making the platform choice for them by picking Android phones. Sony said the ruling was not impacting its business.

"This is probably not impacting consumer thinking," Gianfranco Lanci, chief of Lenovo's European operations, said on sidelines of the conference.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

But behind closed doors, companies are looking at alternative routes should the ruling impact ripple wider out, said several industry insiders.

"Today, all Android vendors are considering their software options," said Pete Cunningham, an analyst at research firm Canalys.

Samsung's brief, surprise launch on Wednesday of the world's first smartphone running on Windows Phone 8, should be interpreted as muscle flexing, analysts said.

However, it should not be seen as a firm move away from Android as the model will likely struggle to stand out even among the other Windows phones, said Malik Saadi, analyst at research firm Informa.

Illustrating the high interest at stake are the behind-the-scene meetings of Google's and Apple's chiefs Larry Page and Tim Cook on the patents.

Despite its small market share, Windows Phone is still the largest alternative to Android as Apple and Blackberry maker RIM have not made their platforms available for other handset makers.

At the same time, vendors are pretty much stuck with Android as Windows is way behind in terms of applications on offer, offering just 100,000 apps against half a million each on Android and Apple.

"Microsoft needs to create a developer environment for the Window Phone, which is growing, but still trails behind the others," said Roberta Cozza, analyst at Gartner.

Attracting developers is difficult with tiny market shares.

Navigation firm TomTom launched an app running on Android this week but said it was not planning a Windows app.

"I have a big bucket of (research and development) and if I had to decide where to put my money, I want to wait first to see whether Windows is a success," said co-founder Corinne Vigreux.

(Reporting By Tarmo Virki; editing by Jane Barrett and Janet McBride)


View the original article here

Apple targets more Samsung products in patent suit

(Reuters) - Seeking to capitalize on a major legal victory over its rival Samsung Electronics Ltd, Apple Inc has asked a federal court in a separate case to find that four additional Samsung products, including the Galaxy S III, infringe Apple's patents.

In February, Apple alleged that at least 17 Samsung products infringe its patents. In a court filing made in San Jose federal court on Friday, Apple added four more products to the list of allegedly infringing products that have been released beginning in August 2011 and continuing through this month.

Apple won a major victory over Samsung last Friday in a separate case when a jury found that the South Korean company had copied critical features of the hugely popular iPhone and iPad and awarded the U.S. company $1.05 billion in damages.

Samsung representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The case is U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, Apple Inc v. Samsung Electronics Ltd, et al 12-00630.

(Reporting by Andrew Longstreth; Editing by Richard Chang)


View the original article here

Exclusive: Walmart tests iPhone app checkout feature

(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc is testing a system that would allow shoppers to scan items using their iPhones and then pay at a self-checkout counter, a move that could trim checkout times and slash costs for retailers.

If the "Scan & Go" test by the world's largest retailer is successful, it has the potential to change the way people shop and pay, making the process more personal and potentially faster.

Earlier this week, Walmart invited employees with Apple Inc iPhones to participate in a test at a Walmart supercenter in Rogers, Arkansas, near the company's headquarters, according to a form on the Survey Monkey website. (here)

"All of the effort is to speed your way through the checkout so that we can reduce costs and improve the shopping experience," said Paul Weitzel, managing partner at retail consulting firm Willard Bishop, who said he had not seen Walmart's test. "With smartphones and improved technology we're only going to see more of this."

The test comes months after Walmart said that it would add more self-checkout lanes at its Walmart and Sam's Club stores as it continues to look for ways to lower costs and prices for its shoppers.

Pushing more shoppers to scan their own items and make payments without the help of a cashier could save Walmart millions of dollars, Chief Financial Officer Charles Holley said on March 7. The company spends about $12 million in cashier wages every second at its Walmart U.S. stores.

Shoppers often complain on Twitter and in other forums that it takes too long to pay at Walmart, where sometimes only a few of the several checkout lanes are open and staffed with cashiers. While some retailers employ baggers to speed up the checkout process, at Walmart one employee scans and bags items.

"We're continually testing new and innovative ways to serve customers and enhance the shopping experience in our stores," said Walmart spokesman David Tovar.

Walmart's iPhone app already includes functions such as letting shoppers create lists and seeing which items are in stock.

The test comes as retailers and restaurants are trying to figure out ways to speed up the checkout process by letting customers pay with a tap of their smartphones.

In the Walmart iPhone scanning test, shoppers can scan products with their phone and put them in bags while they shop, and then pay at a self-checkout counter.

The test does not allow users to pay on their phone. The app transfers the scanned items to the self-checkout kiosk and then shoppers complete the transaction using the normal self-checkout process.

Walmart declined to give details on where the test might lead, but it could conceivably allow for scanning on other smart phones and be paired with mobile payment.

Walmart earlier this month said it was joining with other retailers to develop a mobile payment network, a retailer-led initiative that would match similar services by Google Inc and eBay Inc, among others.

While self-checkout aisles are common at many stores, the ability to scan items with one's mobile phone while shopping is not a typical process. Among other tests, Supervalu Inc's Jewel-Osco chain once let shoppers use handheld scanners and then enter that information at the checkout to pay, but that test ended years ago.

"This is probably the fourth technology that we've tried between shopping carts, RFID chips, the handheld scanners and now we've got smartphones," Weitzel said of the retail industry. "We're looking for ways to improve that experience as an industry."

Walmart's test appears to be limited to one store, but it appears that the company sought out participants beyond its staff for its study. The company asked employees to reach out to friends and family in its search for participants, according to a copy of an email sent by the company's @WalmartLabs team and obtained by Reuters. A company spokesman would not verify this on Friday afternoon.

Walmart offered participants in one-hour sessions $100 for their time and a $25 gift card to use in the store for purchases, according to the form on the Survey Monkey website.

Walmart shares closed up 35 cents at $72.60 on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago; editing by Matthew Lewis and Kenneth Barry)


View the original article here

Judge sets December hearing on Apple injunction vs Samsung

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Tuesday set a December 6 court date to hear Apple Inc's request for a permanent injunction against Samsung Electronics' smartphones, which could delay the potential impact of Apple's crushing legal victory.

Apple on Monday identified eight devices it will seek preliminary injunctions against, and said it would file for a permanent sales ban. A hearing had been scheduled for September 20.

In an order on Tuesday, however, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh said that due to the scope of Apple's preliminary injunction request, she believed it was "appropriate" that various post-trial motions be consolidated.

The September 20 hearing will be devoted instead to Samsung's request to dissolve a sales ban against its Galaxy Tab 10.1. The jury sided with Samsung on that part of the case.

Apple's injunction request will be considered in December -- after attorneys file detailed legal arguments. Representatives for Apple and Samsung could not immediately be reached for comment.

Apple was awarded $1.05 billion in damages last week after a U.S. jury found Samsung had copied critical features of the iPhone and iPad.

The case in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, is Apple Inc v. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd et al, No. 11-1846.

(Reporting by Dan Levine; Editing by Richard Pullin)



View the original article here

Apple seeks quick bans on eight Samsung phones

(Reuters) - Apple Inc is seeking speedy bans on the sale of eight Samsung Electronics phones, moving swiftly to translate its resounding court victory over its rival into a tangible business benefit.

The world's most valuable company wasted no time in identifying its targets on Monday: eight older-model smartphones, including the Galaxy S2 and Droid Charge. While Apple's lawsuit encompassed 28 devices, many of those accused products are no longer widely available in the world's largest mobile market.

Although Samsung's flagship Galaxy S III phone was not included in the trial, the jury validated Apple's patents on features and design elements that the U.S. company could then try to wield against that device. Apple may not have to seek a new trial over the S III, but can include it in a "contempt proceeding" that moves much faster, according to legal experts.

Many on Wall Street believe Apple now has momentum behind it in the wake of its near-complete triumph over the South Korean company on Friday.

"The evidence and weight of the case are heavily in Apple's favor," said Jefferies & Co analyst Peter Misek. "We expect there's a two-thirds chance of an injunction against Samsung products."

An injunction hearing has been set for September 20. If U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh grants sales bans, Samsung will likely seek to put them on hold pending the outcome of its appeal.

Samsung said it will take all necessary measures to ensure the availability of its products in the U.S. market. A source familiar with the situation said Samsung has already started working with U.S. carriers about modifying infringing features to keep products on the market should injunctions be granted.

Apple's win on Friday strengthens its position ahead of the iPhone 5's expected September 12 launch and could cement its market dominance as companies using Google Inc's Android operating system - two-thirds of the global market - may be forced to consider design changes, analysts say.

Apple was awarded $1.05 billion in damages after a U.S. jury found Samsung had copied critical features of the iPhone and iPad. The verdict could lead to an outright ban on sales of key Samsung products.

Apple's stock scored another record high on Monday.

While the victory does not cover new Samsung products including the Galaxy S III, Apple will push its case on these products in the near-term, Evercore Partners analyst Mark McKechnie said.

"While a ban would likely increase Apple's leading smartphone share in the U.S. market, we believe this verdict could lead to Samsung also delaying near-term product launches as it attempts to design around Apple's patents," Canaccord Genuity analysts said in a note.

TOOTH-AND-NAIL

Apple's shares gained 1.9 percent to close at $675.68, tacking on another $12 billion-plus to its already historically leading market value. Samsung lost about the same amount in market capitalization as its shares slid 7.5 percent in Seoul.

Samsung shares rebounded 1.8 percent on Tuesday.

"The ruling marks an important victory for Apple against Android. Competitors may now think twice about how they compete in smart mobility devices with the industry's clear innovator," Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes wrote on Monday. "If Apple forces competitors to innovate more, it could take longer for competitive products to come to market, and make it more expensive to develop them."

The victory for Apple - which upended the smartphone industry in 2007 with the iPhone - is a big blow to Google, whose Android software powers the Samsung products found to have infringed on patents. Google and its hardware partners, including the company's own Motorola unit, could now face legal hurdles in their effort to compete with the Apple juggernaut.

Google shares closed 1.4 percent lower at $669.22. Microsoft Corp, a potential beneficiary if smartphone makers begin to seek out Android alternatives, ended up 0.4 percent. Nokia, which has staked its future on Windows phones, gained 7.7 percent.

Even Research in Motion - which has hemorrhaged market share to Apple and Google - climbed more than 5 percent, before ending 2 percent higher.

"The mobile industry is moving fast and all players, including newcomers, are building upon ideas that have been around for decades," Google responded in a Sunday statement. "We work with our partners to give consumers innovative and affordable products, and we don't want anything to limit that."

The verdict came as competition in the device industry is intensifying, with Google jumping into hardware for the first time with the Nexus 7 and Microsoft's touchscreen-friendly Windows 8 coming in October, led by its "Surface" tablet.

Samsung, which sold around 50 million phones between April and June - almost twice the number of iPhones - will have to pay damages equivalent to just 1.5 percent of the annual revenue from its telecoms business.

"The verdict does not come as a surprise," wrote William Blair & Co analysts. "From Apple's perspective, Samsung's market position and its leadership in the handset world was something the company could no longer overlook, and viewing this as another 'imitation is a form of flattery' was not possible."

"Companies such as Samsung, who we categorize as fast followers, have been viewed by the industry for their ability to quickly adopt the latest handset trends ... rather than their ability to introduce fundamental innovation."

(Reporting by Sayantani Ghosh and Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bangalore, Jennifer Saba in New York; Additional reporting by Miyoung Kim in SEOUL; editing by Joyjeet Das, Matthew Lewis, Richard Chang and Ian Geoghegan)


View the original article here