Apple's iPhone 5 To Match Phone Technology From Two Years Ago...

Apple is in an interesting position right now and it is one that we are not sure will work out to their benefit. Although Apple is following other smart phone manufacturers and catching up to where they were 2 years ago they are also working very hard to patent items that should NEVER be allowed. Because of this we have a feeling that Apple will be pushing their legal battle on the smartphone and tablet front even harder than before. The problem is that they will only come out looking bad in the end especially overseas where some of the courts are starting to wake up to Apple’s pattern of broad “attack” patents meant for use against competitors.

Right now Apple’s iPhone is trailing behind the same companies they are waging war against, yet their legal team continues to use the tired claim of “slavish copying”. Apple fans will not even see LTE and NFC until late this year (2012); both are technologies that other phones (Windows Phone, Android and even Blackberry) have enjoyed for some time now. Apple is also moving to a larger screen and dropping in more RAM, again something that Samsung, Motorola, HTC… well you get the picture by now. In the past Apple has been able to get around their lack of current features though clever marketing and the presence of Steve Jobs (anyone remember being told that Apple would bring out Copy and Paste when it was the “right time” for it?). With Tim Cook you do not have the same presence so missing or improperly labeled (4G anyone?) items leap out and the consumer and are quickly complained about.

http://www.decryptedtech.com/editorials/apples-iphone-5-to-match-phone-technology-from-two-years-ago

IPhone 5 Likely Boosts Qualcomm, Skyworks

Credit Suisse

Qualcomm and Skyworks Solutions reported calendar-second-quarter results giving us our first glimpse into the Apple supply chain after the close Wednesday.

Qualcomm (ticker: QCOM) guided the midpoint of calendar-third-quarter revenue to $4.65 billion (flat quarter-over-quarter), weaker than Skyworks Solutions (SWKS) guidance looking for calendar-third-quarter revenue up 7% to $418 million.

http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111904346504577537302950070634.html?mod=BOL_hpp_oe

iPhone leads in mobile monetization performance globally: report

MUMBAI: Apple’s most renowned smartphone series, the iPhone leads the smartphone OS pack with an average eCPM (effective cost per thousand impressions) of USD 2.85, according to the first edition of Opera's State of Mobile Advertising report.

Based on insights from the second quarter of 2012, the report states that iOS leads the pack among smartphone operating systems when it comes to monetization. It is closely followed by Android with USD 2.10, while Symbian and Windows fall much further down the list.

Devices with better features that allow more interaction between the advertisement and the device’s functionality have better monetization potential. The report states that while Windows phones have the most number of features of Android and iOS devices, low user adoption has harmed their potential. iPad on the other hand, ranks high when it comes to user adoption, particularly in groups that are highly desirable to advertisers.

http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/iphone-leads-mobile-monetization-performance-globally-report

iPhone 5 rumor rollup for the week ending July 20

Much of the nation was gripped in searing heat, but the temperature soared even more in the iOSphere fueled by trusted sources and Photobucket.

This week, rumors of the start of iPhone production were cruelly dashed by new rumors that it hadn't: Apple is only testing phones, not building them. Also, could mini-SIMs mean the death of the Liquidmetal SIM extractor? Say it isn't so. Informed speculation explores Apple's battery challenges for iPhone 5. And Verizon hints with vague references that are interpreted as a not-very-surprising Q4 launch for the Next iPhone.

And the Chicoms really, really want iPhone 5. And Apple really, really wants them to have it.

You heard it here second.

http://www.techworld.com.au/article/431281/iphone_5_rumor_rollup_week_ending_july_20/?fp=16&fpid=1 

The iPhone killer Nokia that never was

Nokia, until recently the world's largest cell-phone maker, had conceptualised devices that bear striking similarity to the present-day iPhone, iPad way back in the late 1990s. Needless to say, the devices never saw the light of the day.

In a WSJ article where Nokia executives present and past look at the company's journey from the top dog to just another vendor in the smartphone world, Frank Nuovo, the former chief designer at Nokia, made the rather interesting revelation.

More than seven years before Apple Inc. rolled out the iPhone, the Nokia team showed a phone with a color touch screen set above a single button. The device was shown locating a restaurant, playing a racing game and ordering lipstick. In the late 1990s, Nokia secretly developed another alluring product: a tablet computer with a wireless connection and touch screen--all features today of the hot-selling Apple iPad.

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/the-iphone-killer-nokia-that-never-was-245753

Verizon hints Fall iPhone 5 debut, cites 'rumor'

Why are we waiting?

Analysts asked the company why some customers have been holding back on handset upgrades, to which the company CFO, Francis J. Shammo said: "There is always that Rumour Mill out there with a new phone coming out in the fourth quarter. And so people may be waiting."

That's a pretty vague reference and could simply mean the company chief is looking to the range of handsets expected to appear for the Christmas quarter, but with most manufacturers likely holding back on significant releases in the period for fear of going up against the market giant that is the iPhone it would be a surprise if he was thinking about anything else.

Of course, this isn't definitive evidence of Apple's plans but with carriers in Europe and the US recently reported to be stockpiling the Apple-designed new nano-SIM for use in future handsets the circumstantial evidence continues to pile up.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/smartphones/20723/verizon-hints-fall-iphone-5-debut-cites-rumor

Apple-mania: Now own an iPhone for just Rs 9,999 in India

New Delhi: The dream of owning an Apple iPhone just got cheaper. According to reports, Aircel has announced a price cut wherein the iPhone 3GS will now be available for just Rs 9,999 instead of the original price of Rs 19,999.

With the latest announcement, Apple will now give competition to the Android smartphones and RIM’s BlackBerry Curve 9220 which sells under Rs 10,000.

Aircel has also offered access to unlimited data 2G/3G at an additional cost of Rs 3,000 to the subscribers. The data access has been offered for one year to 3G users and 6 months for 2G users.

http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/BIZ-GAD-apple-mania-now-own-an-iphone-for-just-rs-9999-in-india-3549038-NOR.html

Ouya android gamer's device: hacker's delight

An interesting little device has been making the rounds on tech blogs after it was put up on kickstarter a few weeks ago: the Boxer8 Ouya. A sleek looking box, Ouya is looking to break into the home console gaming market, but here's the catch: Boxer8 wants you to mod it, they want you to hack it, and they will even give you schematics for building your own hardware.

Running Android, a Tegra 3 processor, and housing 1 gig of ram and 8 gigs of flash storage (with an expandable SD card slot), the Ouya's specs don't sound like much on paper, until you consider its price: $99.

Couple this with the philosophy of the device, and that is game development by the people for the people. That's right, Boxer8 wants to build a community of game developers that can easily create and sell their games to whoever wants to buy them.

http://www.examiner.com/article/ouya-android-gamer-s-device-hacker-s-delight

Huawei Ascend P1 with Android 4.0 Ice Sandwich to finally hit the UK

Another impressive smartphone boasting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is coming to the UK, with Chinese mobile telecoms giant Huawei set to launch its ultra slim Ascend P1 at the beginning of August.

Huawei introduced the device, which it claimed at the time was the world's thinnest mobile, at CES 2012 back in January. European and US consumers were the first to gain access to the phone, which measures a mere 7.69mm thick.

Now, as promised, it is set to launch in the UK too. Vodafone is lined up as Huawei's preferred network partner and will be offering the phone for free on tariffs of £26 a month and above, with the handset also available from independent retailers.

"The Ascend P1 demonstrates that Huawei is dedicated to launching beautifully designed smartphones without compromise. The Ascend P1 stands alongside the most compelling Android devices in the market," said Mark Mitchinson, Huawei's Executive Vice President for the UK and Ireland.

Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2012/07/20/huawei-ascend-p1-with-android-40-ice-sandwich-to-finally-hit-the-uk/#ixzz21939Ol45

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Update Roundup

Now that the source code for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is available, the update announcements from phone makers are starting to roll in.

HTC is the first phone maker to confirm Jelly Bean for some of its phones. The HTC One X, One S, and One XL will all get the update to Android 4.1, but the company didn't announce timing, carrier-specific plans or the fate of other phones, such as Sprint's Evo 4G LTE.

Other phone makers have been less forthcoming.

Samsung told Pocket-Lint last month that it will “review the possibility of implementation to existing Samsung products” with the update, but offered no specifics. Sammobile has reported that the Galaxy S III could get Jelly Bean in August or September, and that the Galaxy S II passed Samsung's initial tests for the update. None of those details have been confirmed by the company.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/259568/android_41_jelly_bean_update_roundup.html

How to save RIM: ‘Pull a reverse Apple’

We all love to point and laugh when bloggers and tech writers tell us what massive multi-billion dollar public companies “need to do” to survive, or how they can easily “be saved.” When the writer offering advice is the co-founder and former CEO of a successful public company, however, his advice might at least be worth considering. EarthWeb/Dice co-founder Jack Hidary oversaw a record-breaking IPO in 2007, and he has taken toFortune to offer some free, unsolicited advice for struggling smartphone vendor Research In Motion (RIMM): “Pull a reverse Apple.”

Shares of RIM stock are hitting record lows as investors wonder just how bad things might get over the next six months as the company preps its first BlackBerry 10 smartphone. While RIM continues to weigh all its options, Hidary offers one that doesn’t appear to be anywhere near the top of the company’s list.

In 2006, Steve Jobs’s Apple (APPL) ditched PowerPC in favor of Intel chipsets across its PC line, allowing Apple to focus more on its own software and the associated user experience. RIM, Hidary suggests, should consider doing the opposite.

http://www.bgr.com/2012/07/20/rim-strategy-android-windows-phone-blackberry/

Three cheers for Android browser competition

This morning, I installed the Firefox 15 beta on my two favored Android devices: a Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone and an Asus Nexus 7 tablet.

Big deal, you say. Installing a browser. Ho-hum.

It shouldn't be a big deal, but it is -- because you can't install Firefox on an iPhone, an iPad, or a forthcoming Windows RT tablet.

But on Android, Google has chosen to let any other browser compete directly against its own. For that reason, I regularly use Opera Mini and Opera Mobile alongside Google's Chrome. TheDolphin Browser HD, installed more than 10 million times, is another widely used option.

Kudos to Google for not being afraid of competition.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-57476563-2/three-cheers-for-android-browser-competition/

Huawei may have become the third biggest smartphone maker in Q2, behind only Samsung and Apple

Huawei may have had an amazing second quarter this year. The Chinese company is now rumored to have passed Sony, HTC, RIM, and even Nokia in smartphone market share. Hence, Huawei may have become the world’s No.3 smartphone maker in Q2 – behind only Samsung and Apple.

At least that’s what some unnamed, anonymous sources have told DigiTimes. After Nokia reported its results for Q2 yesterday, they got in touch with the Taiwanese publication and stated that Nokia may now be behind Huawei in terms of smartphone sales.
Read more at http://www.unwiredview.com/2012/07/20/huawei-may-have-become-the-third-biggest-smartphone-maker-in-q2-behind-only-samsung-and-apple/#RZWst6327bVBTSqb.99

Samsung Receives Three Highest Rankings in 2012 J.D. Power and Associates Appliances Study

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., Jul 20, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Samsung Electronics America Inc., the fastest-growing innovator in home appliances, received the highest customer satisfaction ranking in three categories in the annual J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Kitchen and Laundry Appliance Studies(SM): the refrigeration category for the seventh year out of the last eight years, the dryer category for the fifth consecutive year and the washer category for the fourth consecutive year.

To arrive at the rankings, J.D. Power and Associates surveyed consumers who had purchased appliances in the past 24 months. Satisfaction is measured on a scale of 1,000 based on six factors: ease of use; features; performance and reliability; styling and appearance; warranty and price. According to the study:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0iWtduCcNs&feature=related

Renault, Nissan invest in South Korea production

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The French-Japanese auto alliance of Renault and Nissan is investing $160 million in its South Korean unit to produce Nissan-branded vehicles mostly destined for the United States, taking advantage of the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement and a more favorable exchange rate.

The investment, announced Friday, will help utilize unused capacity at Renault Samsung Motors' Busan plant, which has cut production to 180,000 vehicles a year, well below its full capacity of 300,000 vehicles, as sales slumped at home and abroad.

The plant will use the investment to annually produce 80,000 next-generation Nissan Rogue crossover sport-utility vehicles starting in 2014. They will be shipped to North America and a few Asian countries, said Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-07-19/renault-nissan-invest-in-south-korea-production

Samsung launches Galaxy Beam projector phone in India

Samsung's the ultra slim projector smartphone Galaxy Beam is now available in India at its e-Store for Rs 29,990.

With Galaxy Beam, Samsung has managed to merge beam projector capabilities with powerfulsmartphone performance. According to Samsung, Galaxy Beam's built-in projector offers "stunningly good definition with a gradated throw up to 2 meters away, you can adjust sizing as you wish, up to 50 large - as big as your TVs".

Samsung Galaxy Beam is powered by a 2,000 mAh battery, which the company claims offers up to 3 hours of continuous play time. Samsung Galaxy Beam comes with a 5 MP camera with flash capabilities.

http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/samsung-galaxy-beam-projector-phone-india-price-reviews/1/186451.html

Apple, Samsung Patent Fight Draws Blood

Courts were busy around the world this week, marching slowly forward with numerous lawsuits between Apple and Samsung. Looking at the outcomes of several key decisions, it's difficult to assess which company is worse off at the moment and which is pulling ahead.

Samsung was denied an appeal Thursday to lift the ban currently preventing it from selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android tablet in the United States. This is the second time Samsung has been denied in its effort to reinstate Galaxy Tab sales in the U.S.

The judge overseeing the patent trial between Apple and Samsung enacted the ban several weeks ago even though the trial doesn't start until July 30. Apple sought and won the preliminary injunction based on its potential to win the case. Samsung appealed to stay the ban.

In the judge's opinion, "[t]o prevail [on a motion to stay], a movant must establish a strong likelihood of success on the merits or, failing that, must demonstrate that it has a substantial case on the merits and that the harm factors militate in its favor." Samsung's appeal didn't convince the judge it has the merits to win, nor that it is being harmed by the ban.http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/smart_phones/240004060

Google Revenue Robust, CEO Recovering

Google shares surged in after-hours trading on Thursday following a stronger-than-expected Q2 2012 earnings report.

In its first quarter with Motorola Mobility as a subsidiary, Google reported $12.21 billion in revenue and $10.12 EPS for the quarter ending on June 30. That's up from $10.65 billion and $10.08 per share in Q1 this year, thanks in part to Motorola's revenue of $1.25 billion. Google's net income increased by 11%.

Wall Street analysts had been expecting EPS more along the lines of $10.04 per share.

CEO Larry Page in a statement said that Google on its own delivered 21% year-on-year revenue growth and noted that the company had launched its Nexus 7 tablet to rave reviews.

Page, still recovering from an undisclosed ailment that has affected his voice, did not participate in Google's earnings conference call for investors.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/productivity_apps/240004068 

Predicting The Strange Future Relationship of Yahoo!, Google, and Facebook

There are so many intriguing aspects of Marissa Mayer‘s hiring atYahoo! (YHOO).

However, what fascinates me the most is what the future strategic direction of Yahoo! will be under her watch and what this means for the company’s future relationships with Google (GOOG) and Facebook(FB) (not to mention Microsoft(MSFT)).

Presumably, Marissa already has the start of a strategic vision. And she said as much in a leaked memoyesterday:

But, let’s get real… Marissa clearly has a strategy in mind for Yahoo! which she articulated to Yahoo!’s board last Wednesday when they took a private bus to a nearby law office to meet her in private. Here is a Reuters piece where someone from the board clearly stated they disliked Ross’ strategic vision:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2012/07/20/predicting-the-strange-future-relationship-of-yahoo-google-and-facebook/

Earnings day: Google flies high, Microsoft posts first-ever loss

Two of tech's biggest companies held their earnings calls on Thursday, and while Google executives got to report good news, Microsoft had a bitter pill to swallow: its first loss per share in its history as a public company.

Let's start with the positive. Google reported a 21 percent increase in revenue, thanks mostly to its Internet advertising business. The gains come in spite of a 16 percent year-over-year drop in ad rates, the amount that Google charges advertisers when users click on their ads. Many users are surfing on smart phones and tablets, where ads aren't as lucrative as on desktop computers -- but the total number of clicked-on ads increased 42 percent over last year, more than making up for the loss.

In its post-earnings conference call with analysts, Google execs also pointed to the success of past acquisitions like YouTube and the Doubleclick ad service, which are now big cash cows for the company. Its latest acquisition, hardware company Motorola, hasn't quite found its footing yet, reporting a loss of $233 million last quarter on $1.25 billion in revenue. Google probably isn't worried, though: Motorola gives it a leg up to compete against the likes of Apple and Samsung in the smart phone and tablet market.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2012/0720/Earnings-day-Google-flies-high-Microsoft-posts-first-ever-loss 

Washington state first to launch Facebook voter registration

Washington will become the first U.S. state to allow eligible residents to register to vote through Facebook, in an initiative due to launch this month, Brian Zylstra, a spokesman for the secretary of state's office, said on Wednesday.

Online voter registration has existed in Washington since 2008, but the latest effort to increase voter participation is designed for users who already have a Facebook account.

Through a software application interface jointly developed by Facebook and Microsoft Corp. at no cost to the state, users wishing to register online to vote will be able to do so on the official Facebook page of the secretary of state.

To complete the registration process, an applicant must provide a name and birth date, which Facebook already collects from its users' profiles, and a state identification number or driver's license number, said Shane Hamlin, the state's co-director of elections.

http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/19/12830870-washington-state-first-to-launch-facebook-voter-registration?chromedomain=leanforward&lite

Got email about Facebook pic? It may be a virus

LONDON: Facebook users are reportedly at risk from a new virus, which is spreading through emails posing as photo alerts from the social network.

The emails have been reported to look exactly like Facebook's own messages, which are sent to a user's personal email accounts when they are tagged in a photo.

However, instead of the links in the emails leading to the referenced photo, they redirect the victim of the spam campaign to a site which tries to infect the person's computer with malicious software, and a few seconds later the link will redirect the user one more time to Facebook.com.

"Be wary of emails claiming to be from Facebook, and saying that you have been tagged in a photograph," The Telegraph quoted Graham Cluley of the British internet security firm Sophos, as warning.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/social-media/Got-email-about-Facebook-pic-It-may-be-a-virus/articleshow/15056922.cms

Facebook Less Trusted Than Amazon, Google In Data Use, Poll Says

Fewer Web users trust Facebook Inc. (FB) with personal data than other Internet companies, including Amazon.com Inc. and Google Inc. (GOOG), a new poll suggests.

One-third of Internet users said they’re comfortable with Facebook’s handling of personal information to target ads for them, according to a Harris Interactive Inc. (HPOL) survey released today. Twice as many, or 66 percent, are comfortable with online retailer Amazon using data on past purchases to recommend products, and 41 percent of respondents trust Google to show ads based on past Web searches, according to the data.

Facebook, owner of the world’s largest social network, uses data about people’s preferences to help advertisers market their wares. It agreed in November to settle complaints by the Federal Trade Commission that it failed to protect user information or disclose how the data would be used.

The poll, conducted by Harris on behalf of mobile marketing firm Placecast, surveyed 2,262 U.S. adults online this year. It asked about their level of comfort with the use of their data by various companies and types of merchants, including grocery stores and mobile-phone carriers.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-20/facebook-less-trusted-than-amazon-google-in-data-use-poll-says.html

Rotten Facebook IPO Can't Stop Winners Like Palo Alto Networks

Facebook (FB) went public in May but about two months later its miserably performing IPO is not holding back better quality companies. As I wrote inApril, one of those is Palo Alto Networks (PANW) that chose to list on the New York Stock Exchange.

Two big pricings happened above their previous ranges on Thursday. According to CNBC, Kayak Software plans to sell 3.5 million shares at $26 a share – above its previous $22 to $25 a share range. And Palo Alto Networks priced at $42 — above its expected range “which had been upped earlier this week,” according to CNBC.

In April, I concluded that Facebook – with its Price/Sales ratio of 20 on slowing growth — would not set a good tone for the IPO market. I had not anticipated the botched IPO process – that has contributed to Facebook’s current price of $29 — 25% below its first-day peak of $38.50.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2012/07/20/rotten-facebook-ipo-cant-stop-winners-like-palo-alto-networks/

Apple iPhone 3GS available for Rs. 9,999

Aircel has slashed the price of Apple iPhone 3GS 8GB model and it is now available for Rs. 9,999. This deal is for now available only for post-paid customers.

Aircel and Airtel are the two partners that are offering Apple iPhone 3GS in India. Airtel so far has not announced any reduction in price of iPhone 3GS and is selling the same for Rs. 20,908, which is more than double the price of Aircel's version.

To further sweeten the deal, Aircel is also offering unlimited 3G data for a full one year with the purchase of iPhone 3GS by paying an additional Rs. 3,000 upfront at the time of purchase. However, this option is available only in the circles where Aircel is offering 3G and there is a fair usage cap of 2GB per month, post which users can continue to download unlimited data at the speed of 128kbps.

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/apple-iphone-3gs-available-for-rs-9999-245716

Sky Go now hits Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Sky has announced that its Sky Go app is available for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich smartphones.

It's been a long wait for users to be able to stream Sky content on Android smartphones running a version later than 2.3 Gingerbread. However, only three additional phones are compatible with the app, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note.

Sky said: "We’re very pleased to be able to announce that earlier today we released an update delivering support for the Ice Cream Sandwich operating system on compatible Sky Go Android smartphones."

Read more: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/mobile-phone/3371154/sky-go-now-hits-android-40-ice-cream-sandwich/#ixzz2191eSR5V

Google's Nexus 7 tablet reflects well on Android

Google's Nexus 7 tablet is the best Android device shipped to date. Even better? It's probably one of the cheapest too.

The seven-inch form factor is really what makes the Nexus 7 shine. The smaller size of the tablet makes it much more comfortable in situations where the nine-inch iPad can be a bit cumbersome. Waking up and grabbing the Nexus tablet to quickly check Twitter and email feels much more comfortable with the smaller, lighter Nexus compared to the iPad. I'm also finding it more comfortable to use the Nexus at the gym to catch up on my reading.

I recently discussed the possibilities of Apple producing a smaller form factor iPad and having now used the Nexus device, it seems like something inevitable. I now want a smaller iPad more than ever.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/jul/20/googles-nexus-7-tablet-reflects-well-on-android/

iOS remains more lucrative than Android, study finds

DG News Service - Apple's iOS continued to deliver more revenue per advertising impression to content publishers than any other mobile operating system in the quarter that ended in June, according to an Opera Software report.

IOS edged out Android in the important metric of eCPM, or the total revenue a publisher earns per thousand ads served in his or her content. Generally, this metric reflects a combination of what advertisers pay a publisher to display an ad and what they pay when users click on the ad. Higher eCPMs are good news for platform providers because they attract publishers to the platform.

IOS delivered an eCPM of $2.49, compared with $2.10 per thousand impressions on Android devices, according to the Opera report. Other platforms fell far behind the two leaders.

"Google has some catching up to do, but I wouldn't necessarily count them out," said Mahi de Silva, executive vice president of consumer mobile at Opera.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9229401/iOS_remains_more_lucrative_than_Android_study_finds

Steve Jobs' disdain for Android ruled irrelevant to Samsung trial

Whatever hostility Steve Jobs had towards Google's Android mobile operating system isn't relevant to the upcoming patent trial pitting Apple against Samsung, a federal judge ruled this week.

Samsung, which makes Android-based smartphones and tablets, had sought to introduce Jobs's bombastic remarks about Android as evidence in a US case brought against the South Korean company by Apple. The late Apple leader was quoted by his biographer Walter Isaacson as saying he intended to go "thermonuclear" in an effort to "destroy" Android.

Jobs, who co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in 1976, died last year. Apple and Samsung are engaged in legal battles over alleged patent violations in several venues around the world.

http://www.itproportal.com/2012/07/20/jobs-disdain-for-android-ruled-irrelevant-to-samsung-trial/

LG launches L5 Android smartphone for Rs. 13,199

Just a day after the global release, LG has officially launched Optimus L5 in India. Company has priced at Rs. 13,199 and it will soon be available across the country.

LG Optimus L5 features 800MHz processor, 4-inch HVGA display, 5MP camera and Android 4.0. It also comes with 1500 mAh battery, 4GB of internal memory and support for microSD card.

"Design has always been a major priority for LG and our design leadership has been well established and consistently maintained. The launch of L series, with L-Style's design philosophy, is just another milestone and there are many more to come." says Sanjay Maheshwary, Business Head, Mobile Communications, LG India.

Originally announced at Mobile World Congress, L series takes design cue from company's earlier released Prada Phone 3.0

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/lg-launches-l5-android-smartphone-for-rs-13199-245667

Google EC settlement to 'include Android'

Google may have to make changes to its Android phones as part of a settlement deal brokered with Brussels over its alleged anti-competitive behaviour.

The European Commission has been investigating Google since 2010 following complaints from rivals.

Google has proposed making changes to the way it handles search to head off a lengthy court case and large fines.

But Brussels' acceptance of the proposal hinges on the changes being extended to Android, reports the FT.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18922622

Google’s Android Can Succeed in Business, Linux Leader Says

Google’s second quarter earnings report shined a light on its newly acquired Motorola Mobility business. It was the first quarterly report since the $12.5 billion purchase closed in May, and overall the results were well received, as shares rose 3% in after-hours trading. Google reported second-quarter earnings of $2.79 billion, or $8.42 per share on revenue of $8.36 billion excluding Motorola. The results beat investor expectations, Dow Jones says. Even so, the wireless equipment business posted a loss of $233 million and depressed Google’s overall margin to 26.2% from 31.3% excluding the unit. However, shares are still down for the year, and analysts will continue to question the strategy behind the purchase of the Motorola business and its lineup of Android smartphones and tablets. The success of the deal hinges to a great extent on just how well the Android operating system does in the market.

http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2012/07/19/googles-android-can-succeed-in-business-linux-leader-says/

Google Nexus 7 now in India at Rs 17,000

The long-awaited Google Nexus 7 tablet is now available in India. Some online retailers are selling the 8 GB version of Google Nexus 7 tablet in India at around Rs 17,000, with a promised shipping time of around 2 weeks.

Although Nexus 7 carries the Google brand, the machine is made by ASUS. Google Nexus 7 is powered by quad-core processor 1.3 GHz Tegra 3 and it runs on the latest Android operating system,Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Google Nexus 7 is the first tablet to run on this operating system.

Google Nexus 7 has a 1.2 MP camera that can be used of video calling or taking pictures.

http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/google-nexus-7-india-price-features-review/1/186448.html

Wausau West grad, Google executive Marissa Mayer named Yahoo CEO

On July 15, Marissa Mayer was just one on a long list of Wausau natives who have left their hometown to try making it big out in the world.

By July 16, the world was talking about the Wausau West High School graduate.

At 37 years old, Mayer on July 16 was named the chief executive officer of Yahoo, the struggling multinational Internet corporation that serves about 700 million people each month.

Mayer arguably climbed in one day to the top of that list of former Wausau natives.

http://centralwisconsinhub.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20120720/WDH1023/207200309/Wausau-West-grad-Google-executive-Marissa-Mayer-named-Yahoo-CEO?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

Google, Microsoft shares higher after hours

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) — Shares of both Microsoft Corp. and Google Inc. rose in after-hours trading Thursday, with quarterly adjusted earnings from the software marker and the search firm each coming in above expectations. Meanwhile, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. shares tumbled more than 10% following disappointing sales figures

Also during the late session, SanDisk Corp. shares surged more than 10%. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. shares slumped after a downbeat quarterly forecast.

Google (US:GOOG) shares gained 3.2% to $612 as the company’s adjusted earnings were $10.12 a share, above the $10.04 consensus estimate produced by a Thomson Reuters poll of analysts. Net revenue — excluding the contribution of Motorola Mobility — was $8.36 billion. Wall Street expected core revenue of $8.41 billion. Read more about Google's core growth.

http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-07-19/markets/32741499_1_sandisk-shares-amd-shares-microsoft-shares

U.S. Stock-Index Futures Fall; Google Advances

U.S. stock futures declined, indicating the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index may snap a three-day rally, even as companies reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., a U.S. restaurant chain, plunged 15 percent in early New York trading after posting second-quarter sales that trailed analysts’ estimates. Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) (MSFT) and Google Inc. (GOOG) (GOOG) gained at least 1.5 percent each as they reported earnings after the market closed yesterday.

S&P 500 futures expiring in September lost 0.4 percent to 1,366.90 as of 6:32 a.m. in New York. The benchmark gauge has advanced 1.5 percent so far this week as companies from International Business Machines Corp. to Ebay Inc. reported earnings that beat estimates. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 35 points, or 0.3 percent, to 12,845 today.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-20/u-dot-s-dot-stock-index-futures-fall-google-microsoft-advance

Google's tablet plans come unstuck as users report screens that are not glued in properly

It has received rave reviews, and online preorders sold out.

However, some early buyers of Google's Nexus 7 tablet, which went on sale this week, have found problems with the gadget's screen.

Online forums have been inundated with disgruntled owners complaining of problems with their new £159 tablets.

The most common problems reported so far have been screens that are not glued on properly, causing the entire screen to come away from the bezel.

One user, called Sadoway, who has the 'lifting screen' problem tried to fix it himself with disastrous results.

'When I pushed it down a second time, the screen stressed and cracked.

'Still waiting for them to replace it.'

He advised other users with the same problem to simply return the unit to Google.

'My advice is don't mess with the lifting, its a factory defect and needs to be returned,' he wrote.

Another user, lazaro17, said: 'Had a dead pixel on mine that I picked up from GameStop.

'Also it seems the screen is coming up on the left like if the adhesive is giving out already.'

Google has a 15-day return policy for the Nexus 7 and a number of other retailers have 30-day policies.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2176402/Google-Nexus-7-tablet-users-report-screens-glued-properly.html#ixzz219AHyZRC

Google Mum on Motorola

Google Inc. Chief Executive Larry Page has lately stayed publicly quiet because he has lost his voice. On Thursday, Google was just as silent about its plans for its newly acquired Motorola hardware business.

While the Mountain View, Calif., Internet giant posted strong financial results for its second quarter—profits rose 11% and revenue including Motorola jumped 35%—Google didn't discuss its plans for the handset maker, which it acquired on May 22 after announcing the $12.5 billion deal last August.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444464304577537270773157282.html

Google pushed to change mobile services in EU antitrust probe

Just as Google was working to settle the antitrust investigation launched by the European Union, the governing body has tacked on one more demand: change your mobile services too.

According to the Financial Times, EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia saved this final stipulation until settlement talks were already well into process. It's unclear what exactly Google needs to change but if the search giant doesn't concede it could lead to the settlement talks falling apart.

The EU's antitrust probe was opened in 2010 when European regulators asked the company to explain how it ranked search results and advertising after complaints of competitive behavior from European businesses. Throughout the course of the inquiry, Google has denied any wrongdoing.

"While we will be providing feedback and additional information on these complaints, we are confident that our business operates in the interests of users and partners, as well as in line with European competition law," the company said when the investigation was launched.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57476320-93/google-pushed-to-change-mobile-services-in-eu-antitrust-probe/

ALERT! Facebook photo email spreading virus

Facebook users are reportedly at risk from a new virus, which is spreading through emails posing as photo alerts from the social network. The emails have been reported to look exactly like Facebook’s own messages, which are sent to a user’s personal email accounts when they are tagged in a photo.

However, instead of the links in the emails leading to the referenced photo, they redirect the victim of the spam campaign to a site which tries to infect the person’s computer with malicious software, and a few seconds later the link will redirect the user one more time to Facebook.com.

“Be wary of emails claiming to be from Facebook, and saying that you have been tagged in a photograph,” The Telegraph quoted Graham Cluley of the British internet security firm Sophos, as warning.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/SocialMedia-Updates/ALERT-Facebook-photo-email-spreading-virus/SP-Article1-892442.aspx

Wave for the camera! Samsung MV900F adds gesture control

A new digital camera from Korea's Samsung Electronics promises to save you walking back and forth adjusting your photo framing--and perhaps, to have passers-by giving you an unusually wide berth. The reason? An interesting gesture-control system that lets you control zoom and self-timer from a distance without a remote, simply by waving your hand.

The Samsung MV900F retains much the same MultiView tilting LCD panel design from the MV800, along with the touch-sensitive interface, but switches to a larger display (and has a wider, taller body in which to fit this.) The MV900F also sports a new backside-illuminated CMOS image sensor whose 16 megapixel resolution is near-identical to that of the MV800's CCD. It drops that camera's Schneider-Kreuznach branded 5x zoom lens for a Samsung-branded 5x lens that's ever so slightly wider, brighter at wide angle, and dimmer at telephoto than was previously the case.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/07/20/wave-for-the-camera-samsung-mv900f-adds-gesture-control

Samsung unveils motion-controlled Angry Birds

Samsung Electronics South Africa announced the availability of the Angry Birds App for Samsung Smart TV. Developed by Rovio Entertainment, a Finnish entertainment media company, Angry Birds is one of the top smartphone apps worldwide.

The game’s fun and colourful characters and engaging game play have made it beloved by fans around the world. Since its launch in November 2009, Angry Birds has been downloaded more than 1 billion times, across multiple platforms and all versions of the game. Utilising Samsung’s Motion Control technology, consumers can now play Angry Birds on the large TV screen for the first time ever, and enjoy a maximised, immersive and interactive gaming experience. With just the wave of the hand, fans can control game play features including; initiating the slingshot and activating the unique skills of each bird.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/gaming/55307-samsung-unveils-motion-controlled-angry-birds.html

Renault, Nissan alliance invests $160 million in South Korean production for US export

SEOUL, South Korea — The French-Japanese auto alliance of Renault and Nissan is investing $160 million in its South Korean Renault Samsung Motors to produce Nissan-branded vehicles mostly destined for the United States, taking advantage of the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement and a more favorable exchange rate.

The investment, announced Friday, will help utilize unused capacity at Renault Samsung’s Busan plant, which has cut production to 180,000 vehicles a year, well below its full capacity of 300,000 vehicles, as sales slumped at home and abroad.

The plant will use the investment to annually produce 80,000 next-generation Nissan Rogue crossover sport-utility vehicles starting in 2014. They will be shipped to North America and a few Asian countries, said Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/renault-nissan-alliance-invests-160-million-in-south-korean-production-for-us-export/2012/07/19/gJQA5oi0wW_story.html

Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X among 5 best handsets of 2012

It is not very difficult to name five best smartphones in the market. Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X top the list of best smartphones of the year. iPhone 4S, despite being launched last year is included in the list due to continued high demand for it

Competition in mobile market is intensifying with every passing day. Various handset makers bring out ground-breaking products and try to keep the spirit of competition. Summer is a great time for mobile business in the U.S. It is a time many companies come to the customers with fresh products. Indeed, this year also, all major tech companies have prepared for the summer with nice products. Samsung, HTC and Nokia have wonderful handsets for the season. Indeed, Apple lacks a fresh handset, however, its iPhone 4S, which came out in October 2011, has been included in this list as it has a good place in smartphone market. Check out our list of the best handsets for 2012 summer below.

http://nvonews.com/2012/07/20/samsung-galaxy-s3-htc-one-x-among-5-best-handsets-of-2012/

Samsung Chromebook and Chromebox review

Two new computers running Google's Chrome operating system are looking to lure people to a browser-based environment. Both target light-duty computer users who don't need the full range of capabilities that traditional Windows and Mac computers provide.

The first thing to know about these machines is they lack regular hard drives for storage. There's a small amount of flash memory available, the kind you'd find on a camera memory card, but Chrome OS machines are designed for the cloud. That means documents are stored over the Internet, and programs are run over the Internet through a Web browser.

However securely and discretely the Internet services you use claim to keep your data, your content is one step removed from your tight-fisted control. Cloud computing also limits what you can do during those times you may not have an Internet connection.

In addition, because the machines emphasize not just cloud storage but cloud services as well, you won't be able to install full-blown programs such as Microsoft's Office. You're limited to the selection of apps written for Chrome.

What you get instead is speed. The Chrome OS machines boot up quickly because they don't have to load a lot of software - all that is run over the Internet. The machines also don't need the most expensive and fastest parts because they aren't doing a whole lot.

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/laptops/news/samsung-chromebook-and-chromebox-review-245500

64GB Samsung Galaxy S III scheduled for second half of 2012

A few days ago, there had been rumours doing the rounds that Samsung had quashed its plans of releasing a 64GB variant of the Galaxy S III and this news became known when a UK retailer started canceling orders for the device fitted with this storage capacity. However, this appears to not be the case and Samsung has reached out to website Android Central and stated that it will in fact release a 64GB variety of the handset by the second half of this year.

As per the statement issued by Samsung, the Korean smartphone manufacturer has said, “The 64GB model of the GALAXY S III will be available during the second half of this year. The market availability and timing may vary and will be determined at the time of release.”

http://tech2.in.com/news/smartphones/64gb-samsung-galaxy-s-iii-scheduled-for-second-half-of-2012/329592

Ads on iPhone make the most money for advertisers, says report

Apple's iOS devices are bigger and more user-friendly, making mobile advertising on iOS more successful than on other operating systems, according to a report released today by Opera Software.

This seems like a no-brainer when it comes to advertising -- bigger screens equal more real estate for ads, which equals more engaging ads with more info, and more clicks. Trying to hit that sweet spot between portability and screen size may be a challenge for some device makers, but it's working for Apple, judging from the report's numbers, anyway.

Advertising on iOS sees more traffic and a higher percentage of revenue -- a 46.5 percent share of traffic and a 61.4 percent share of revenue, according to the report's findings. When broken down, the iPhone had a 29.9 percent share in traffic and a 43.6 percent in revenue, while theiPad had a 29.9 percent share of traffic and a 14.2 percent share in revenue (the iPad has the highest rate of cost per thousand impressions). The rest of the pie is divided by other operating systems, with Android close behind the iOS numbers. Though the Windows Phone has the same features of Android and iOS, its low level of users put it at the bottom of the list, the report said.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57476108-93/ads-on-iphone-make-the-most-money-for-advertisers-says-report/

iPhone App Lets You Live Inside ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

The creators of The Dark Knight Rises released a new iPhone app on Thursday that immerses fans into the world of Gotham City like never before.

Using a combination of audio technologies and Hans Zimmer’s amazing score, this free app lets users feel like they are living inside the world of The Dark Knight Rises

Here’s how the app — dubbed The Dark Knight Rises Z+[iTunes link] — works. Put on your headphones (it works without them, but to get the full experience you really need headphones) and start up the app.

Immediately, you are engulfed in sounds of Gotham City. Punctuated by Hans Zimmer’s score, what you hear and how you hear it is augmented by what is happening around you, what you are doing and the time of day.

http://mashable.com/2012/07/19/dark-knight-rises-iphone/

Will a new iPhone connector burn the Apple faithful?

Are you ready to throw away your accessories and start again?

Apple rumours are a dime a dozen, but talk of a new connector on the iPhone 5 is getting louder. The current 30-pin connector has remained consistent with every iteration of the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This consistency has certainly worked to Apple's advantage when it came to building a thriving ecosystem of speaker docks, sound system connectors, car mounts, chargers and other iGadget accessories. I'd say this ecosystem has long been part of the iPhone's attraction and one of its key strengths over the ever-improving Android.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/digital-life/computers/blogs/gadgets-on-the-go/will-a-new-iphone-connector-burn-the-apple-faithful-20120720-22e80.html#ixzz21950hdsy

iPhone 5 release date: the most anticipated release of any smartphone this year

The iPhone 5 release date is perhaps the most anticipated release of any electronic gadget of the year. Rumors run every day, many say that apple will resize the screen to larger than 4 inches. Apple has not denied nor claimed any of the rumors, has not reported anything about the new iPhone because they want to surprise the market, and their chief competitors, such as Samsung.

The release date has also been in recent months a source of major uncertainty for Apple customers. Recently a British website said that, thanks to sources close to Apple Inc., they got to know the release date of the new iPhone 5to be August 7th.

The date can be a mere rumor, however the web site says that they were Apple employees who provided information, we will see if it is true.The Cupertino company has submitted all the new IOS 6 due out next fall, probably around October, and the iPhone 5 will not be available for sale before IOS 6 can rotate. It is therefore quite unrealistic to imagine that Apple will release its new smartphone at the same time, and the latest rumors about the iPhone 5 all speak of a release in October or at the earliest, late summer.

http://www.examiner.com/article/iphone-5-release-date-the-most-anticipated-release-of-any-smartphone-this-year

iPhone 5 release date: the most anticipated release of any smartphone this year

The iPhone 5 release date is perhaps the most anticipated release of any electronic gadget of the year. Rumors run every day, many say that apple will resize the screen to larger than 4 inches. Apple has not denied nor claimed any of the rumors, has not reported anything about the new iPhone because they want to surprise the market, and their chief competitors, such as Samsung.

The release date has also been in recent months a source of major uncertainty for Apple customers. Recently a British website said that, thanks to sources close to Apple Inc., they got to know the release date of the new iPhone 5to be August 7th.

The date can be a mere rumor, however the web site says that they were Apple employees who provided information, we will see if it is true.The Cupertino company has submitted all the new IOS 6 due out next fall, probably around October, and the iPhone 5 will not be available for sale before IOS 6 can rotate. It is therefore quite unrealistic to imagine that Apple will release its new smartphone at the same time, and the latest rumors about the iPhone 5 all speak of a release in October or at the earliest, late summer.

http://www.examiner.com/article/iphone-5-release-date-the-most-anticipated-release-of-any-smartphone-this-year

Nissan to Shift SUV Production to Renault Samsung

Renault Samsung, which has been struggling with lackluster sales in Korea, will manufacture 80,000 units of the follow-up model to Nissan's small X-trail SUV starting in 2014 for export to the U.S. It is the first case in the Korean car market that a manufacturer will be making vehicles for another brand solely for overseas sales.

Renault Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn is to announce the decision at a press conference in Seoul on Friday. France's Renault owns 80 percent of Renault Samsung, while Renault acquired Nissan in 1999.

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/07/20/2012072001333.html

Samsung Galaxy S4: what we want to see

It certainly feels like Samsung is taking over the world right now – at least, the Android world. There's no doubt that last year's Galaxy S2 was arguably the phone of the year.

And not in recent times, discounting Apple of course, can we remember the anticipation and expectation of a phone as much as the Galaxy S3.

If you needed a barometer of this, just look at how it was unveiled. Not at MWC like lots of others, but its own event. Yep, the Galaxy line has reached the level where it can guarantee hoards will come just for an unveiling. Very Cupertino.

But despite the whooping masses and the queues on launch day, it wasn't the five star phone we hoped it would be... there's still very much room for improvement. So here's what we'd like to see for next year's SIV.

http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s4-what-we-want-to-see-1089523

Samsung updates MultiView camera lineup

When we were first introduced to Samsung’s MultiView series with last year’s MV800, we were certainly intrigued by the original design -- the LCD flips up to face directly forward, resting just above the main camera module and enabling front-sided operation, for self-portraits and the like. What the camera appeared to offer in ingenuity, however, it lacked in image quality -- shots looked quite mediocre during PC-based reviews, and when viewed on the low-res capacitive touch screen display.

This year’s iteration, the MV900F, promises improvements down the 800’s list of shortcomings, ranging from an f/2.5-6.3, 25mm 5x optical zoom lens to added Wi-Fi, which brings the model’s social feature set in line with other Samsung SMART cameras.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/tech/telecoms/41446-samsung-updates-multiview-camera-lineup

Pfizer, Samsung, Microsoft, WIPO: Intellectual Property

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) (PFE) won a ruling that blocks generic versions of its drug Lyrica until 2018.

U.S. District Judge Gregory M. Sleet ruled yesterday that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) and other generic-drug makers infringed some claims of patents covering Lyrica. He issued an order barring the generics manufacturers from making and selling products that infringe until after the patents’ expiration.

He also ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from approving the generic forms of the drug until the patents’ expiration.

The suit was filed in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, in April 2009, with Pfizer alleging that patents 6,197,819 and 6,001,876 were infringed.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-20/pfizer-samsung-microsoft-wipo-intellectual-property

Remo Recover for Android: Remo's New Android Data Recovery Application Launched By Remo Software

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 19, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Remo Software has announced the launch of Remo Recover for Android, a new application built to recover deleted files for smart phones running on Android. With this launch, the company has achieved another milestone, in its long and distinguished career as a utility management developer.

"With the advent of Android, devices like smart phones have become less of a phone and more of a multi-tasking gadget. So, disasters in the form of data loss are waiting to happen" said Omer Faiyaz, CEO of Remo Software. "As Android is all set to take over the mobile operating system,there is a pressing need for an advanced data recovery application, to keep pace with today's new age technology. Our application is specifically designed to meet the market needs" he added.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/19/4642990/remo-recover-for-android-remos.html 

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/19/4642990/remo-recover-for-android-remos.html#storylink=cpy

OUYA Android console gets its first exclusive

Whether the OUYA Android-based console lives up to its immense hype after raising millions on Kickstarter is yet to be seen, but it seems that some developers are already interested in developing for it. Robotiki, founded by Infinity Ward and Call of Duty alumnus Robert Bowling, is planning to release an OUYA-exclusive prequel to their upcoming multi-platform game "Human Element."

That highly-anticipated survival horror game isn't planned for release until 2015 (!), but assuming the OUYA makes it into a few homes, gamers should be able to get a taste of it ahead of that incredibly distant release date.

http://www.ingame.msnbc.msn.com/technology/ingame/ouya-android-console-gets-its-first-exclusive-897345

Wind Mobile Launches Huawei Ascend P1 Android ICS Smartphone

Huawei may not be quite the same kind of household name as Samsung or Motorola, but the Chinese company has quietly been increasingly its market share by approaching more affordable alternatives to its competitors. The latest Huawei smartphone to land on our Canadian shores is the Huawei Ascend P1, an Android 4.0 device available now through Wind Mobile.

Spec for the spec, the Ascend P1 looks like it can hold its own against most higher-end Android smartphones. There’s a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, a 1.5GHz dual core processor, and a full 1GB of RAM. As an added differentiator, it also boasts a unique 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound System. Rounding out the specs are its 8MP camera with 1080p support and a thin 7.69mm profile, which is a hair thicker than the 6.68mm Ascend P1 S. I guess the S stands for super-slim.

http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/07/19/wind-mobile-launches-huawei-ascend-p1-android-ics-smartphone/

Clever adapter connects USB accessories to your Android device

With the iPad Camera Connection Kit allowing users to connect a variety of unexpected USB devices (like a MIDI keyboard) to their iPads, the next logical question was, "Is there something similar for Android?"

Although it's not advertised or sold by any of the big Android phone manufacturers, the solution is a cheap cable called a USB On-The-Go adapter.

USB On-The-Go (Amazon link), or USB OTG, is essentially a female USB port that plugs into the Micro-USB port of a phone or tablet, allowing you to connect devices that use a standard USB 2.0 or 3.0 connection. In a nutshell, the adapter allows the Android device to be a "USB host," powering and communicating with the connected device.

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57475307-285/clever-adapter-connects-usb-accessories-to-your-android-device/

Judge: Jobs's Hatred of Android Not Relevant to Samsung Trial

Whatever hostility Steve Jobs had towards Google's Android mobile operating system isn't relevant to the upcoming patent trial pitting Apple against Samsung, a federal judge ruled this week.

Samsung, which makes Android-based smartphones and tablets, had sought to introduce Jobs's bombastic remarks about Android as evidence in a U.S. case brought against the South Korean company by Apple. The late Apple leader was quoted by his biographer Walter Isaacson as saying he intended to go "thermonuclear" in an effort to "destroy" Android.

Jobs, who co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in 1976, died last year. Apple and Samsung are engaged in legal battles over alleged patent violations in several venues around the world.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407398,00.asp

Editorial Review of Moborobo

Android smartphones have always been easy to manage "over the air": You can install apps using Google Play with any desktop browser, and manage your contacts using Gmail's contact manager. If you use Gmail, this means there is no need to back up your email, either, and apps like Titanium Backup can back up everything else and even sync it online. With such strong cloud sync abilities, is there a real need for a dedicated desktop client for managing your phone? If you ask Moborobo, the answer is "yes"; I say the answer is "not for most Android users."

Moborobo's client sports a non-Windows look, with a muted gray background and a large monochrome icon for each of its seven tabs. When you run it, it pops up a UAC elevation prompt asking for Administrator privileges. Then, it lets you connect to your Android device using a USB cable or over Wi-Fi, as long as the device and your computer are connected to the same network. Moborobo marks the USB connection as Recommended, and after trying both connection modes, I agree. For Wi-Fi connectivity to work, you must install a separate Android app, Mobo Daemon, which requires root access. And even then, the wireless connection was flaky and dropped out several times while I was working with Moborobo.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,232027-order,4/description.html

Yahoo's New CEO Mayer Lured From Google With Up to $60M Pay Package

Yahoo! (YHOO: 15.72, +0.02, +0.16%) lured its new chief executive officer Marissa Mayer away from Internet rival Google (GOOG: 593.06, +12.30, +2.12%) with a compensation package that will pay her at least $60 million over the next five years, according to regulatory filings released Thursday.

Mayer, who joined Yahoo! on Tuesday after 13 years with Google, gets an annual base salary of $1 million subject to an annual review. She’ll also be eligible for an annual bonus worth 200% of that base salary.

Mayer, 37, will also get $12 million in stock that will vest over three years: $6,000,000 of the equity award will be granted as restricted stock units, and the other $6,000,000 as a stock option, which will vest over 2 1/2 years, subject to satisfaction of performance criteria, according to the filing.

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/business-leaders/2012/07/19/yahoo-new-ceo-mayer-lured-from-google-with-up-to-60m-pay-package/#ixzz21987GQly

Google ordered to censor 'torrent', 'megaupload' and more words

The French Supreme Court has ruled that Google should censor the words ‘torrent’, ‘rapidshare’ and ‘megaupload’ from its Instant and Autocomplete search services.

Music industry group SNEP asked the court to stop the terms from coming up in Google’s searches because, it claimed, the Chocolate Factory was thereby facilitating piracy.


A lower court rejected the request from SNEP because it said that these links did not constitute infringement of copyright in and of themselves. However, the Supreme Court has reversed the decision, saying that the relief sought by the group was likely to prevent or partially stop infringements.

“This decision in principle is a first in France, which shows that search engines should participate in the regulation of the internet,” SNEP chief David El Sayegh said in a canned statement.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/07/19/french_court_google_copyright/

Google-style glasses prof turns up the heat on McDonald's

Many who dream of adorning their faces with technology were stunned to hear that Google-type glasses might not be welcome at McDonald's.

Steve Mann, a professor at the University of Toronto, claimed that he had worn his Digital Eye Glass while ordering himself a Ranch Wrap in Paris.

He insisted that the employees did not take kindly to them. He claimed that they had tried to take them off him.

Now McDonald's has declared: "Non."

The company issued a statement, which reads in part: "Several staff members involved have been interviewed individually, and all independently and consistently expressed that their interaction with Dr. Mann was polite and did not involve a physical altercation."

No one seems to be disputing that Mann was asked to leave and that the reason for this was a potential threat to privacy. Yes, there was fear that he was surreptitiously (or not) photographing both staff and customers.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57476130-71/google-style-glasses-prof-turns-up-the-heat-on-mcdonalds/

As Google Changes, Its Revenue Keeps Rising

SAN FRANCISCO — Google wants the world to know that it has grown into a new identity — it is a mobile company now. The financial report it issued Thursday reflects the growing pains that have accompanied the transformation.

Advertising, Google’s main business, does not always make as much money on phones as it does on computers, and the price that advertisers pay for clicks on Google ads has decreased 16 percent since last year. And Motorola Mobility, the mobile device maker that Google now owns, is losing money.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/technology/google-continues-growth-and-growing-pains.html

Google's Nexus 7 tablet ships this week

(CNN) -- Google says the Nexus 7, its hotly anticipated new tablet computer, is shipping to customers who preordered it this week, amid reports of heavy demand.

In an e-mail to customers, the company said some versions of the 7-inch tablet are in the mail and others would be on the way to customers by Thursday evening.

"We've had incredible demand for the new tablet and are shipping them as quickly as possible," read the message. "If you placed your order by July 11, it will ship this week, and we've upgraded to overnight shipping so it arrives sooner. Orders placed after July 11 will ship next week with overnight shipping."

At its online Help Center, Google says 8 GB versions of the Nexus 7 have already been shipped in the United States. All 16 GB versions that were ordered before July 11 should be shipped by the end of the day Thursday.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/19/tech/mobile/nexus-7-shipping-demand/

Sex Party threatens Google after ad spat

The Australian Sex Party has threatened Google with legal action after the search engine refused to run its ads on the eve of tomorrow's Melbourne by-election.

It comes after Sex Party ads were blocked by Google at the last federal election because the company - which is typically opposed to censorship - perceived the text as too racy (the ads were reinstated by Google the day before the election).

We need to take this further. They are blatantly treating us differently to the Greens.

Sex Party candidate Fiona Patten said this time the search giant said it would not approve her ads "because we have a donate button on our page and we're not a charity".

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/sex-party-threatens-google-after-ad-spat-20120720-22e11.html

On Facebook, Chick-fil-A responds to controversy over same-sex marriage comments by company's president

Three days after Chick-fil-A president and chief operating officer Dan Cathy vowed to “stay the course” on his company’s position of supporting the traditional family – a statement that, for some, clarified the company’s anti- same-sex marriage stance – Chick-fil-A sent a slightly different message Thursday to its fans on Facebook:

“The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender.”

The Facebook post followed three days of widespread criticism – and some praise – of Chick-fil-A and Cathy, following his remarks published Monday in a story by Baptist Press, the news agency of the Southern Baptist Convention.

“Guilty as charged,” Cathy told the Baptist Press about the company’s position on marriage.

"We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2012-07-19/facebook-chick-fil-responds-controversy-over-same-sex