Wednesday, May 28

Apple asks US court to order Samsung to remove infringing features

Posted by Unknown on 10:18:00 AM with

Following up on a jury verdict, Apple has asked a court in California to order Samsung Electronics to stop using features that were found to infringe three of its patents.

The company has also asked the court to review damages awarded by the jury or to order a retrial.

The injunction sought by Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose division would cover features such as 'slide-to-unlock' on phone home screens for unlocking a device, auto-correct for prompts on the spelling of words, and the so-called 'quick links' feature for scanning text to identify certain types of structures such as phone numbers, dates and email addresses.

A jury in the California court ruled earlier this month that Samsung should pay Apple about US$119 million for infringing the three patents. The patent on auto-complete while typing had already been found to infringe, and the jury was only to calculate a damages award for that one. Some Apple products were also found to infringe a Samsung patent.

In a filing Saturday, Apple said it was not asking the court to bar entire product lines from the marketplace, but for an injunction that proposes to stop Samsung from further use of the specific features that the jury found to infringe Apple's three patents, and those features not more than "colorably different."

Apple has proposed a one-month "sunset period" for delay in enforcement. During this period, Samsung can "swap-in the non-infringing alternatives that it claims are already available and easy to implement," according to the redacted public version of the filing. Having represented that it can design around Apple's patents completely and quickly, Samsung cannot complain that Apple's narrowly-tailored injunction will deprive the public of a single Samsung product, it added.

"After the jury rejected Apple's grossly exaggerated damages claim, Apple is once again leaning on the court to push other smartphones out of the market. If granted, this would stifle fair competition and limit choice for American consumers," Samsung said in an emailed comment on Apple's request for an injunction.

Apple had requested the court for $2.2 billion in damages for what it alleged was massive infringement of five of its patents. In the wake of the far smaller damages awarded to it by the jury, the company is now also asking in a separate motion for higher damages for the patents Samsung was found to have infringed and a judgment that Samsung infringed the two other patents in the case.

The company has as an alternative asked for a new trial on infringement of the two patents that the jury found Samsung's products had not infringed and a new trial on damages for all five of Apple's asserted patents. Samsung did not comment on Apple's second motion.

Credit:itnews.

Google promises to patch Chrome OS for 5 years

Posted by Unknown on 4:23:00 PM with

Extends patch-bug fix-update support to five years after sales launch of each Chromebook notebook

Google has extended its guaranteed support for Chrome OS on vendors' Chromebooks to five years, adding a year of support to nearly every device.

It's like Microsoft's better-known 10-year support life cycle for Windows, only half as long. Under the new plan, Google promises to provide security patches, bug fixes and feature changes to owners of Chromebooks, the usually-inexpensive laptops powered by the browser-based Chrome OS.

Google calls it the Chrome OS End of Life Policy.

The company's earlier policy generally promised to support a specific Chromebook for four years from its sales debut. Last week, Google added the extra year.

"EOL dates may be pushed later than the initial date published, but will never be sooner than listed, which will be at least a minimum of 5 years from launch of the hardware," Google said on its policy page.

Before the change, Dell's Chromebook 11 was to be supported until January 2018; the revised policy guarantees support until January 2019. Dell's Chromebook 11 began shipping in January 2014.

After a device reaches its end of life, Google will not guarantee to automatically deliver software updates to Chrome OS on that system. That's a subtle difference from Microsoft's policy, which states that after a product, say Windows XP, reaches its end of life, no more patches will be provided. Period.

Google's policy is somewhat more flexible, in that the company might still continue pushing updates to obsolete Chromebooks.

The new policy was necessary because Chromebook sales have been strongest to enterprises and educational organizations. Those entities needed some kind of guarantee that their investments would be protected, and that Google would not suddenly pull the support rug out from under them.

The policy applies to all Chromebooks, including those purchased by individual consumers.

First on the retirement list: Google's own Cr-48, a bulky reference design that Google built to show OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) that a Chrome OS, cloud-based personal computer was possible. The Cr-48 will exit support in December 2015, five years after its 2010 launch.

Google's high-end Chromebook Pixel, which sells for $1,299 to $1,449, will reach its declared end of life in April 2018.

One of the few Chromebooks that did not get an extension was the Samsung Series 5 XE500C21; Google stuck with its January 2016 EOL for that device. In a note on its policy page, Google said that that date had been announced previously as the official end of support.

The Chromebook end of support list can be found on Google's website. It will be updated if Google decides to again extend support for select models, and when new devices hit the market.

Credit:computerworld

Microsoft says goodbye to Windows XP operating system.

Posted by Unknown on 10:26:00 AM with

Microsoft Corp. is finally pulling the plug on a piece of technology that has refused to go away.

the software giant will stop supporting Windows XP, the still ubiquitous computer operating system that's been around for almost 13 years, an eternity in tech terms.

PCs running on Windows XP will still function as they did before. But Microsoft says it's unlikely that your PC will be secure, even if you're running anti-virus software.

The 5 Versions of Windows 8.1

Posted by Unknown on 10:13:00 AM with

Windows 8.1 appears in five —count ’em, five — different versions. Three of those versions are available in 32-bit and 64-bit incarnations. That makes eight different versions of Windows to choose from. And if you want Windows Media Center, you only have two choices, and it’ll cost you more.

Fortunately, most people need to concern themselves with only three versions, and you can probably quickly winnow the list to one. Contemplating the 32-bit conundrum may exercise a few extra gray cells, but with a little help, you can probably figure it out easily.

In a nutshell, the five Windows versions (and targeted customer bases) look like this:

Windows 8.1 for Emerging Markets is tailored for specific countries and available only in specific languages.

Windows RT, quite possibly the worst name Microsoft has ever given any product, isn’t really Windows because it won’t run old-fashioned Windows programs and it doesn’t have a real Windows 7–style desktop. Windows RT is Microsoft’s iPad-wannabe, built on a completely new kind of computer, commonly called ARM.

It contains the tiled interface, five customized Office-like apps (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote), File Explorer, and Internet Explorer on an ersatz desktop.

Windows 8.1 — the version you probably want — works great unless you specifically need one of the features in Windows 8.1 Pro. A big bonus for many of you: This version makes all the myriad Windows languages — 96 of them, from Afrikaans to Yoruba — available to anyone with a normal, everyday copy of Windows, at no extra cost.

Windows 8.1 Pro includes everything in Windows 8.1 plus the ability to attach the computer to a corporate domain network; the Encrypting File System and BitLocker for scrambling your hard drive’s data; Hyper-V for running virtual machines; and the software necessary for your computer to act as a Remote Desktop host — the “puppet” in an RD session.

You also need Windows 8.1 Pro if you want to run Windows Media Center, which is an extra-cost add-on.

An added bonus: If you want to buy Windows on Microsoft hardware, the Microsoft Surface computers come with Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows RT (but not Windows 8.1 itself). Surface computers are capable, junk-free, innovative — and pricey.

Windows 8.1 Enterprise is available only to companies that buy into Microsoft’s Software Assurance program — the (expensive) volume licensing plan that buys licenses to every modern Windows version. Enterprise offers a handful of additional features, but they don’t matter unless you’re going to buy a handful of licenses or more.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 both had “Ultimate” versions, which included absolutely everything. Win8.1 doesn’t work that way. If you want the whole enchilada, you have to pay for volume licensing and the Software Assurance program. And then you have to buy Windows Media Center.

Before you tear your hair out trying to determine whether you bought the right version, or which edition you should buy your great-aunt Ethel, rest assured that choosing the right version is much simpler than it first appears.

Buying the right Windows 8.1 version the first time

What if you aim too low? What if you buy Windows 8.1 and decide later that you really want Windows 8.1 Professional? Be of good cheer. Switching versions ain’t as tough as you think.

Microsoft chose the feature sets assigned to each Windows version with one specific goal in mind: Maximize Microsoft profits. That’s why you find plenty of upgrade routes and plenty of opportunity to spend more money in the Add Features to Windows program.

All it takes is a credit card and a Microsoft Account to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.1 Pro, or to add Windows Media Center to Win8.1 Pro.

Upgrading is easy and cheap, but not as cheap as buying the version you want the first time. That’s also why it’s important for your financial health to get the right version from the get-go.

Facebook Will Remove Chat to Promote Messenger App

Posted by Unknown on 10:13:00 AM with

Facebook is going to remove chat from the primary iPhone and Android app, in order to force users to install a standalone Facebook Messenger app.

Facebook has already notified its users in the United Kingdom, France and other European countries that they will need to install a separate Messenger app if they want to continue using Facebook chat on their smartphones. The company issued a statement, saying that they have created a fast and reliable messaging experience via Messenger, and are now determined to focus on that experience.

The representatives of the company admitted that they plan to eventually require that users all over the world install the Messenger app, but they couldn’t provide a specific timeframe for the change.

The app developers point out that the free, standalone Messenger is faster than the messaging service built into the main Facebook app for smartphones. The users will also be provided more features in the Messenger app, including the ability to make voice phone calls via Wi-Fi in some countries and send texts on Android.

At the moment, Facebook keeps facing increasing competition from new and fast-growing mobile messaging application like Line and WeChat, along with such established brands as Google Hangouts and BlackBerry’s BBM. Fortunately, Facebook managed to acquire one of its biggest messaging competitors, WhatsApp, for $19bn a couple months ago. WhatsApp then announced adding voice calling later in February at Mobile World Congress.

Industry observers believe that Facebook’s decision to encourage users to switch to a separate messaging app on mobiles could either help boost the popularity of its Messenger or cause a backlash if users view the action as heavy-handed. In addition, this standalone app will also directly compete with WhatsApp.

Nevertheless, Facebook is increasingly moving into the mobile space, believing that it is a way to continue expanding its 1.2 billion-strong user base. The company has developed or acquired a catalogue of standalone apps aside from its main application over the past few years. Three months ago, Facebook launched Paper, a photo-heavy news-reading application that has already earned positive reviews. The company also purchased photo-sharing app Instagram a couple years ago, which recently reached 200 million users.

Google acquires Titan Aerospace to deliver Internet via drones

Posted by Unknown on 3:14:00 PM with

Titan’s drones would bolster Google’s Project Loon in delivering free internet to the far corners of the world.
Last month it was reported that Facebook was in talks to acquire Titan Aerospace, a drone startup manufacturer that produces solar-powered drones which can stay afloat for years at a time. Titan’s first drone, called Solara, can stay afloat for five years and can deliver voice and data services to remote locations across the globe.

Google’s Project Loon high-altitude balloons were launched with the same idea, but Titan’s offerings can stay afloat longer, can carry more payload (22 lbs for Loon and 250 lbs for Solara) and can cover more ground. The exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Google announced yesterday that it has acquired Titan Aerospace for an undisclosed amount. Facebook, meanwhile, has acquired UK-based drone manufacturer Ascenta late last month. While no terms were disclosed, Google must have shelled out more than the $60 million Facebook offered to Titan.

It is likely that Titan’s drones will join Google’s Project Loon in delivering internet to the far corners of the world. However, it looks like Google will utilize the drones for more than that. A Titan spokesman said that the drones could be used for disaster relief and tracking environmental damage like deforestation. The 250 lbs payload means that the drones can carry a host of monitoring hardware like cameras and other sensors that can track changes in climatic conditions. The imagery sent back from these drones could also be used to enhance Google Maps.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

10 Most Happening Technologies For A Promising 2014

Posted by Unknown on 3:02:00 PM with

2013 saw no short of innovatory products. Technology, refusing to be confined inside pockets and bags, got onto heads and wrists in the form of Google Glass and Galaxy Gear; the latest 4K televisions ridiculed HD and 3D TVs; Smartphones and tablets became thinner, smarter, and snappier than before–some even got curvy! But that was last year, time has now come to look into the crystal ball and see what 2014 has in store for us, as compiled by Yahoo!.

#1 Internet phone calls to take over

If we are to believe futuretimeline.net, using VoIP (Voice over IP) for calls through services like Skype is set to become the norm in 2014.

Verdict: Unlikely. As useful as Skype, Viber and other such services might be, especially for making international calls, the reliability isn’t quite there yet. Then there are issues like data charges and QoS (Quality of Service).

#2 Solar charging

Solar charging has been gathering steam at a steady pace over the last few years. With consumers preferring to go green, tech companies are coming out with eco-friendly ways to charge devices. Solar energy has already been harnessed to power houses, cars and also to cook food. So, can we expect to charge our phones and tablets by simply laying them under the sun this year?

Verdict: Not likely. Solar panels that are small enough to be carried around or integrated onto the devices themselves, all the while packing enough power to charge them are still a few years away. But something we can expect to see this year is a wider adoption of wireless charging. The standard Qi, developed by Wireless Power Consortium, combined with the newer brand Rezence is certain to make wireless charging an industry standard.

#3 Cloudy ahead

Every major company is shifting their focus to cloud technology; they have been for some time now, to be honest. This major technological shift, while having a few downsides, is largely beneficial to everyone. Users can save on hard drive space by storing all their files on cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox or iCloud among others. Cloud storage provides additional benefits to users such as being able to access all their files on any device that has an Internet connection and real time syncing.

Verdict: Our lives will all be online and further connected this year. Thanks to the Cloud.

#4 Self-parking cars

This technology has been in the works for some time now. Automakers Ford, Mercedes and Toyota among others have demonstrated this auto-parking technology to great success. People have been awed by how their cars can park themselves perfectly in a tight spot, something that would take an amateur driver days or even weeks to get right.

Verdict: Possible. While the technology might be ready for public use, there are legal hurdles to overcome. Certain country’s laws prevent such self-parking cars from being marketed, but negotiations are ongoing and maybe with more robust safety tests to pass we might see a few more of these cars hitting the road.

#5 3D print my life

In spite of 3D technology being used in a variety fields from medicine and media to cooking, it is yet to strike a home run with the public. Till date, accessibility has been its main drawback. But this year’s ongoing Consumer Electronics Show with a dedicated 3D printing zone seems to imply the technology is ready for another milestone.

Verdict: If the prices are considerate and if the industry is promoting its potential uses, it can go on to be a hit.

#6 Sign language for computers

The next-gen consoles that were released towards the end of last year were a huge step-up. Besides sporting AMD’s APUs (Accelerated Processing Units) at their hearts, their motion sensing technology was also improved. As both, Xbox One’s Kinect and PS4’s camera systems continue to evolve. We will increasingly be communicating with our TVs and consoles with nothing but gestures. So, having a standard set of gestures, similar to swiping and pinching on Smartphones, will definitely be useful.

Verdict: Yes. Though it might take a little while for such a standard to appear, it is something that will happen as other companies continue jump in on this bandwagon.

#7 Hire a virtual personal assistant

Companies like Accenture and Forbes are betting on us becoming even more dependent on technology, and using a digital assistant to handle chores. While we still will be lifting ourselves from chairs and making our food–remember, WALL-E is set in 2805–they predict we will be using a virtual assistant to handle our relationships, prepare agendas and monitor our health. Well, will we?

Verdict: Of course. Improved next generation services like Google Now and Apple’s Siri will be the digital assistant with a sensual voice aiding us with our chores.

#8 Wearable Tech

A survey revealed that about 91 percent of Americans are excited about wearable gadgets than anything else. Wearable tech is all the rage right now, and gadgets from this category has been making headlines at this year’s CES like there is no tomorrow.

Verdict: Definitely. Thanks to Google Glass–which will be available to everyone later this year–a slew of geeky Google Glass alternatives, wearable fitness trackers and even smarter smartwatches are set to hit the stores this year.

#9 Death of the password

According to Ericsson ConsumerLab, 2014 will mark the demise of the passwords. They anticipate passwords will be replaced by biometric data. With Apple already implementing a finger-print sensor technology into its iPhone 5S, maybe they are right.

Verdict: Yes. With passwords becoming increasingly fragile, expect many more companies to follow Apple’s footsteps. Besides device manufacturers, tech giants like Facebook and Google are also working on enhancing their security by using a combination of a cryptographic card and password to grant access to their services.

#10 IT support to come home

The industry analysts at Gartner say the European Union laws will bring about a 20 percent decline in offshoring. This could possibly force companies to depend less on cheap labor for customer support, meaning the tech support is likely to head back to its native country.

Verdict: The support team coming closer to home does not necessarily mean you can fix your plumbing and install an antivirus on your system at the same time in a single call.