Anybody even halfway paying attention to the news these days will be familiar with patent-trolls and the never-ending quest for patent-owners seeking to protect their ideas from others wishing to capitalize on them. Google understands better than most, and wants to do their part to put an end to that ridiculous (and confusing, and expense, and frustrating) game. By creating a … [Read more...] about Google Wants to Buy (and Protect) Your Patents
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Google Sets Sights on App Store in China
Android users in China (now numbering in the ten of millions) will be happy to know that many of them will have access to Google's app store (hopefully, at least). Though a specific launch date has yet to be discussed, Google is working with a legal team to get plans together (many of the core Google Play services, like Gmail and Maps, are currently being blocked in China). … [Read more...] about Google Sets Sights on App Store in China
Facebook $19B Acquisition of WhatsApp Approved by the EU
Facebook announced their intention to purchase WhatsApp in February of this year for a cool $19 billion (or $21.8 billion at Facebook's current share price); a deal that received approval in the United States a few months later in April. Unfortunately for the social media giant, the acquisition wasn't all smooth sailing --the European Union (EU) opposed the deal, stating that … [Read more...] about Facebook $19B Acquisition of WhatsApp Approved by the EU
Patent Reveals Possible New BlackBerry Keyboard Design
Since the beginning of the smartphone, BlackBerry has held fairly strong (with very few exceptions) to the idea that users want a physical keyboard. With the upcoming BlackBerry Passport, this philosophy stays true --and if a patent application that was recently discovered is any indication, nothing will be changing anytime soon. Text from the patent application indicates a … [Read more...] about Patent Reveals Possible New BlackBerry Keyboard Design
Google to Pay Back $19M for App Purchases by Kids
Following in the footsteps of a 32.5M settlement reached with Apple in January, Google has agreed to pay back over $19M in charges racked up by kids playing games on smartphones and tablets. According to the details of the suit, the Federal Trade Commission noted that children were able to make these considerable payments using their parents' credit cards for in-app currency … [Read more...] about Google to Pay Back $19M for App Purchases by Kids
Microsoft Claims Samsung Stopped Making Patent License Payments
Samsung should take note that Microsoft doesn't fool around when patent license payments arrive late. Microsoft asserts that they have hundreds of patents that are required for any manufacturer making Android phones: Samsung included. Corporate Vice President & Deputy General Counsel for Microsoft, David Howard, spoke toward the lawsuit, stating that: "Today's legal … [Read more...] about Microsoft Claims Samsung Stopped Making Patent License Payments
Meaning of Free Apps Changing in Europe
Every person with a smartphone or tablet has experienced the frustration of a free (but not so free) app; you download it, you install it, you go to run it... and find that it's so bogged down with ads and purchase options that it's nearly impossible to use. In North America, many classify these apps as being Freemium. Beginning in September, Google has reached an agreement … [Read more...] about Meaning of Free Apps Changing in Europe
Hieroglyphs on Rear of iPhone May Become Extinct
We've all looked at the back of an iPhone and wondered what those little symbols mean and then questioned why they need to be there. Most people probably can't decipher them, but they provide details regarding trade regulations and indicate how the device should be properly disposed of. Thanks to the new E-Label act, a bipartisan bill recently introduced by the US Senate, … [Read more...] about Hieroglyphs on Rear of iPhone May Become Extinct
Does Microsoft Have Any Claim On Android?
Microsoft has asserted for quite some time that they own patents that are being infringed upon by the Android operating system --and has often given the suggestion that it could all be made better if licensing was in place (read: Microsoft gains a revenue stream from something other than actually innovating their own mobile products). Until now, the question we have all had, … [Read more...] about Does Microsoft Have Any Claim On Android?
Samsung Files Suite of Patents for Next Generation of Android Wear
In this brave new world filled with patent disputes and court cases, it's hard to care about news that Samsung has a few new ideas that they want to retain credit for and control over --but with wearable technology being the latest exciting thing, new applications give us hints as to what we might expect to see in the next generation of products. If this is true, Samsung may … [Read more...] about Samsung Files Suite of Patents for Next Generation of Android Wear