Apple adds Samsung's Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 10.1 to ongoing patent lawsuit

The Apple v. Samsung patent war that will seemingly never end has taken another turn today, as Apple is asking the court to add newer Samsung Galaxy hardware, including the Galaxy S III, Verizon Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 10.1 to its complaint against the Galaxy Nexus and other related devices. If you thought updated software and designs would keep these newer smartphones and tablets out of the fight -- you were wrong. Just to help you keep things straight, remember this is a separate case from the one that ended exactly a week ago with a decision in Apple's favor to the tune of more than $1 billion in damages.

At issue here are eight of Apple's utility patents that it says Samsung has infringed upon. The headliner patents at issue are '721 which covers slide to unlock, and '604, which could apply to the universal search feature Samsung has been pulling from its phones recently. Another familiar entry is the '647 patent Apple slapped HTC with in 2010, which has a vague description but applies to clicking on a phone number in an email, for example, to call it. You can read the details on each and every one in the PDF linked below, we'll be doing... anything else.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Apple adds Samsung's Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 10.1 to ongoing patent lawsuit originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 21:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon, Apple stop taking key account changes over the phone after identity breach

By now, you may have heard the story of the identity 'hack' perpetrated against Wired journalist Mat Honan. Using easily obtained data, an anonymous duo bluffed its way into changing his Amazon account, then his Apple iCloud account, then his Google account and ultimately the real target, Twitter. Both Amazon and Apple were docked for how easy it was to modify an account over the phone -- and, in close succession, have both put at least a momentary lockdown on the changes that led to Honan losing much of his digital presence and some irreplaceable photos. His own publication has reportedly confirmed a policy change at Amazon that prevents over-the-phone account changes. Apple hasn't been as direct about what's going on, but Wired believes there's been a 24-hour hold on phone-based Apple ID password resets while the company marshals its resources and decides how much extra strictness is required.

Neither company has said much about the issue. Amazon has been silent, while Apple claims that some of its existing procedures weren't followed properly, regardless of any rules it might need to mend. However the companies address the problem, this is one of those moments where the lesson learned is more important than the outcome. Folks: if your accounts and your personal data matter to you, use truly secure passwords and back up your content. While Honan hints that he may have put at least some of the pieces back together, not everyone gets that second chance.

Filed under: Internet

Amazon, Apple stop taking key account changes over the phone after identity breach originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 23:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Judge rules against Apple in Kodak patent dispute, cites disruption to next week's auction

Is this Kodak's moment? It's sure shaping up to be, as Bloomberg reports the once prominent imaging company has just earned a slight, though significant courtroom victory against Apple. At stake is the ownership of ten patents related to digital imaging, two of which have been deemed incontestable by a Manhattan bankruptcy judge due to Cupertino's late stage ownership filing. Citing potential disruptions to next Wednesday's auction, Judge Gropper ruled against Apple's claims, while also striking down Kodak's request for a summary judgment on the eight remaining IPs and leaving the door open for further dispute. So, though it may seem like the Rochester-based company is finally out of the woods, this certainly isn't the end of its woes -- Apple has now filed counterclaims and is seeking a transfer of the case to district court. And if the House that Steve built's legal track record is any indication, it's not going down without an interminable fight.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Judge rules against Apple in Kodak patent dispute, cites disruption to next week's auction originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple sued by Shanghai firm for allegedly treading on patent with Siri, may say 'ni hao' in court

For all the heat it dishes out elsewhere in the world, Apple has had a hard time catching a break in China -- between having to settle with Proview over the iPad trademark and a recent, smaller dispute over Snow Leopard, it's been primarily on the defensive. The latest rear-guard action is in Shanghai, where Zhi Zhen Internet Technology claims that Siri's voice command charms infringe on a patent used for the Xiao i Robot voice system on phones and the web. We're just hearing about the lawsuit now, but Zhi Zhen insists that it's been long in the making with accusations filed in June and a patent application dating all the way back to 2004. Apple is characteristically silent on how it will tackle the case. We suspect it'll be more than a little eager to fight back in court: in addition to the lawsuit presenting a very conspicuous roadblock to bringing Siri to China with iOS 6, it comes from a company that hasn't been shy about plastering the Siri icon all over its home page.

Apple sued by Shanghai firm for allegedly treading on patent with Siri, may say 'ni hao' in court originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 12:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Founder “Woz” Defends Megaupload

Source: Apple Founder “Woz” Defends Megaupload

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HTC drops federal appeal of ITC complaint exonerating Apple, more arrows remain in the quiver

HTC was understandably upset when its first ITC complaint against Apple was tossed out. The company must have since decided that it has bigger fish to fry, as it was just granted a motion to dismiss its federal-level appeal. The choice isn't a defeat so much as an acknowledgment that other disputes are underway which stand a better chance of surviving scrutiny. As it stands, HTC already has more appeals either on deck or in progress that it will more likely want to pursue, such as the dispute over using Google's patents as well as its off-again, on-again acquisition target S3 Graphics' loss at the ITC last year. Apple, naturally, hasn't been waiting around.

HTC drops federal appeal of ITC complaint exonerating Apple, more arrows remain in the quiver originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 23:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple officially gives Google Maps the boot, launches own Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation (updated)

It's been one the big questions hanging over WWDC -- will Apple actually toss Google to the side and launch it's own mapping service specifically for iOS? Well, it's not a question any more, but a cold hard fact. Apple's mapping solution is here, taking over where Google left off. The move is hardly shocking since Apple has already confirmed that it's been working on a traffic database and snatched up a number of mapping companies. Besides, it's not like Cupertino and Mountain View are the best of buds right now. Maps includes all of the features you've come to expect from the previous iOS solution, but with a number of enhancements. This all new mapping solution includes 100 million different business listings, Yelp integration and, biggest of all, turn-by-turn navigation. The app does use anonymously collected data to populate traffic information and any rerouting is brought to your attention with a pop-up notification.

The story isn't done yet, though. The maps are even rendered in full 3D, not unlike what Google announced last week. (And the news was delivered in a way that made it clear Apple think's they've one upped their former map app provider.) The whole demo -- flipping through business listings, flying around in 3D and navigating labyrinth-like city streets -- was performed on one of those shiny new iPads... you know, the ones that are getting Siri support soon. Which, if you haven't figured out yet, plays quite nicely with the new Maps app as we saw in the demo. Ask Siri to find a gas station on your route or how much longer you'll be on the road and the pleasantly robotic voice gets you the relevant info.

Update: Several of our readers scoured the fine print on Apple's freshly launched iOS 6 Maps page, and informed us that the Flyover and turn-by-turn features will only be available to folks with an iPhone 4S or iPad 2 or later. Guess that's just one more reason to upgrade, eh?

Check out our full coverage of WWDC 2012 at our event hub!

Gallery: iOS 6 Maps

Apple officially gives Google Maps the boot, launches own Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple next-generation MacBook Pro (with Retina display) eyes-on at WWDC 2012

Heh -- rumor didn't have this one! We just wrapped our eyes around Apple's new 15.4-inch "next-generation" MacBook Pro here at WWDC 2012, and while it was under lock and key, it doesn't take a touch to see that this thing is devilishly thin. For all intents and purposes, this is the 15-inch MacBook Air that many have been waiting for. Gone is the optical drive, and in are two USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt sockets (side-by-side, instead of one on each edge), a full-size HDMI socket, a 3.5mm headphone port and an SD card slot. Oh, and a MagSafe 2 power connector. On one hand, it's great to see Apple finally embracing USB 3.0; on the other, it's obvious by the duo of Thunderbolt sockets that it'd prefer use those. Whatever the case, the new Pro is quite the looker, and we're guessing Apple won't have any issues moving too many of these beauts -- even at $2,199 (and up).

Unfortunately, there's no new Pro sitting around outside of a case, but you can enjoy a few glass-enclosed glamor shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Apple next-generation MacBook Pro (with Retina display) eyes-on at WWDC 2012

Apple next-generation MacBook Pro (with Retina display) eyes-on at WWDC 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple MagSafe vs. MagSafe 2: photos of the two incompatible power connectors

Apple quietly introduced a newer, slimmer, snazzier MagSafe connector here at WWDC, with the Retina display-equipped 15-inch MacBook Pro (yeah, the "next-generation" one) and the newly-unveiled MacBook Air machines utilizing it. Still, the original MagSafe is finding its way onto the refreshed MacBook Pro (both 13- and 15-inch), but we're guessing the original isn't long for this world. As with anything, change ain't easy -- for the two to talk to one another, you'll need an optional $10 adapter (which evidently ships gratis with the 27-inch Thunderbolt Display). It's also worth noting that the actual AC power plug returned to the "T-style" form factor, rather than the "side-style" seen in the MacBook units that were new... well, yesterday. We stacked a next-gen MBP atop a last-gen MBP just to showcase the differences; hit the gallery below if you're interested in such things.

Gallery: Apple MagSafe vs. MagSafe 2: product comparison shots at WWDC 2012

Continue reading Apple MagSafe vs. MagSafe 2: photos of the two incompatible power connectors

Apple MagSafe vs. MagSafe 2: photos of the two incompatible power connectors originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google to hold Maps event ahead of WWDC, hopes to make Apple sorry for dropping it

According to rumors, Apple will soon ditch Google Maps for a service of its own (reportedly to launch in iOS 6), but far be it from the search giant to take that snub silently. The company will reportedly hold an event to give the press a "behind-the-scenes look at Google Maps and share our vision" on June 6th. According to the invitation, Google will demo new features that "will get people where they want to go -- both physically and virtually." That shindig will go down just five days before Apple's WWDC, where Cupertino will likely announce its own Google Maps replacement.

Google to hold Maps event ahead of WWDC, hopes to make Apple sorry for dropping it originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spotify director Sean Parker: Apple tried to keep Spotify out of the United States

Daniel Ek (co-founder of Spotify) and Sean Parker (Director at Spotify) just took the stage here at D10, with Walt Mossberg asking the two about the company's impact in America, negotiations with record labels and -- perhaps surprisingly -- its links with Apple. Outside of confirming that there's still around 10 million Spotify users in the States (with around three million of those being of the paid variety), the duo also confirmed that it's working daily to improve the catalog. Said Ek: "We're up to 18 million songs, growing at 10,000 or 20,000 songs per day -- it's very much a growing catalog." Walt was curious as to why iTunes had upwards of 30 million tracks, and why all of the services simply don't have the same library, but both players were quick to brush off the topic and pivot directly to the importance of playlists.

Ek stated: "If you look at iTunes, the vast majority of songs haven't been purchased by anyone -- it's driven by hits. We see 80 percent of our whole catalog listened to." Following that, Parker contributed: "The playlist is now the CD. It used to be a few songs were wanted by the consumer, and the rest of it was garbage. It's the new mixtape, but accelerated on a massive scale." As it turns out, Spotify actually sells "bundles" (which are glorified playlists) as pay products in Europe, and when Walt asked why these weren't available in America, Parker obliged: "We just haven't released it yet." In other words, they're coming soon.

Continue reading Spotify director Sean Parker: Apple tried to keep Spotify out of the United States

Spotify director Sean Parker: Apple tried to keep Spotify out of the United States originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Apple II, as described by Steve Wozniak

Ask the average geek to describe the Apple II and you'll probably hear something about its legacy or software. Ask Steve Wozniak circa 1977, on the other hand, and he'll write you a technical tome -- or at least he did for Byte magazine. Way back when the classic computer was fresh, a young Woz penned an extremely detailed "system description" for the rig, pouring over specifics on the II's graphical capabilities, memory, peripherals, programming language and more. Perhaps in (slightly late) honor of the machine's 35th anniversary, Information Week has seen fit to reprint the extensive examination for your reading pleasure -- assuming you're up to wading through the technical nitty gritty. No? Well, Woz does have a few nuggets of wisdom for the layman. "To me," he says, "a personal computer should be small, reliable, convenient to use and inexpensive." No arguments here, Steve. Read the man's words for yourself at the source link below.

The Apple II, as described by Steve Wozniak originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 04:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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