Mobile phones & tablets thread

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Originally Posted by CaptainRaiden

What you said earlier was:

Unless I am in a parallel universe and this is Blorgon Delta-6, I believe Apple's competitors include Google and Android as well, and one of Apple's major lawsuits are aimed towards Android, which BTW Google are now countersuing Apple for taking elements off too. Apple has a problem with Galaxy S3 too, which IMO doesn't look like any Apple device in existence.

If Apple could, they would sue every rectangular shaped phone with the candybar form factor. I'm sure the judges in California will find enough evidence and the radii to be the same to award another $1 billion. They targeted Samsung solely because they were its biggest competitor.

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Fair enough, I wasn't actually referring to Android but the hardware makers like Samsung or HTC. I was unclear.

What is Apple suing over the S3? Presumably not its looks because its properly differentiated from the iPhone. More likely their case is over software or hardware rather than the appearance.

Why focus on Apple alone btw?

Nokia and HTC both brought out Windows 8 phones the other week. Both decided to reflect the use of strong coloured tablets in the OS by making the phones brightly coloured too. Nokia happened to release theirs a week or so before HTC and are now suing them for copying their design. Is it a coincidence that the HTC is likely to be Nokia's biggest single competitor? Lets hear the outrage ;)

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Originally Posted by Malbec

What is Apple suing over the S3? Presumably not its looks because its properly differentiated from the iPhone. More likely their case is over software or hardware rather than the appearance.

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Apple goes after Galaxy S3, Note in new court filing | Apple - CNET News

Didn't read it all, gotta hurry to work, but from what I remember reading a few weeks ago, it was about petty things like pinch to zoom and some other software features I'm guessing related to Samsung's touchwhiz UI.

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Originally Posted by Malbec

Why focus on Apple alone btw?

Nokia and HTC both brought out Windows 8 phones the other week. Both decided to reflect the use of strong coloured tablets in the OS by making the phones brightly coloured too. Nokia happened to release theirs a week or so before HTC and are now suing them for copying their design. Is it a coincidence that the HTC is likely to be Nokia's biggest single competitor? Lets hear the outrage ;)

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I didn't. A few pages ago I posted pics of HTC's Windows phone lineup, and mentioned Nokia is gearing up with its own stupid version of lawsuit against HTC. This I still don't get really. Similar looking gadgets have existed for as long as I can remember, ever since the walkman, this sudden huff-a-puff over slight resemblance is annoying.

Getting back to mobile phones, got the Jelly Bean update on my S3 two days ago. Smooth as butter, much faster, more responsive, Google Now voice recog is great and super fast. As for features, I especially like the swipe to call feature from the call log thingy. Everything else has been ramped up quite a bit too, detailed review to follow when I have more time to play with it.

Would have rooted my phone and installed this long back, but didn't wanna lose warranty. As it stands, I'm gonna lose warranty anyway, I'll most probably root my S3 and install a vanilla Android 4.2 Key lime pie when it arrives. Apparently it has a second notification bar for quick settings at the pre-alpha stage, as this video would suggest:

[youtube]ybzSAyFvAXA[/youtube]

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Originally Posted by CaptainRaiden

Apple goes after Galaxy S3, Note in new court filing | Apple - CNET News

Didn't read it all, gotta hurry to work, but from what I remember reading a few weeks ago, it was about petty things like pinch to zoom and some other software features I'm guessing related to Samsung's touchwhiz UI.



I didn't. A few pages ago I posted pics of HTC's Windows phone lineup, and mentioned Nokia is gearing up with its own stupid version of lawsuit against HTC. This I still don't get really. Similar looking gadgets have existed for as long as I can remember, ever since the walkman, this sudden huff-a-puff over slight resemblance is annoying.

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Not to mention guitars, they all look pretty much the same. The same goes for light bulbs, wrenches, screw drivers, hammers....

Talking about tablets, ASUS unveiled a laptop/tablet hybrid thingy called the Taichi: Asus' dual-screen Taichi tablet-laptop hybrid on sale for $1299 | PCWorld

http://blogs-images.forbes.com/sap/f...sus-taichi.jpg

When the lid is closed, it becomes a tablet:

http://www.techsparx.com/wp-content/...-preview-5.jpg

[youtube]r4jmE0YKpf8[/youtube]

The guy needs some presentation coaching. :p But boy, ASUS are really picking it up on the innovation side.

They've been around for years. Although not with the tablet based OS to go with them.

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Originally Posted by CaptainRaiden

Getting back to mobile phones, got the Jelly Bean update on my S3 two days ago. Smooth as butter, much faster, more responsive, Google Now voice recog is great and super fast. As for features, I especially like the swipe to call feature from the call log thingy. Everything else has been ramped up quite a bit too, detailed review to follow when I have more time to play with it.

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Good.

Keep us informed. Ultimately JB is the factor that kept me with Android as well as that butter thing.

Whats the general performance of your phone like, is there any change in speed opening up apps etc?

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Originally Posted by Malbec

Good.

Keep us informed. Ultimately JB is the factor that kept me with Android as well as that butter thing.

Whats the general performance of your phone like, is there any change in speed opening up apps etc?

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General performance has sped up. The phone's lock screen comes on quicker, apps open much faster, visibly faster than in ICS. There is a slight frame rate increase when gaming. I play Dead Trigger every chance I get, which is a graphic intensive game, and it's visibly faster. Chrome opens up instantly and the browser speed is excellent. The keyboard is better. It's almost like the phone has come alive. I believe JB is what ICS should have been.

In your call log or contact list, you can now swipe right to make a call or swipe left to send a message, which is neat and I think saves a lot of time.

People having problems with ICS on their older devices, IMO, should root their phones and get vanilla JB installed. DIY is simple enough, if not, any small third party phone shop will do it in a matter of minutes for a small fee. ICS is a heavy OS, was even for the Galaxy S3, and JB is much lighter on hardware resources.

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Originally Posted by Malbec

Hence why I'm probably opting for the Xperia T as my next phone.

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This just in: No Jelly Bean for Sony Xperia phones until 2013 | News | TechRadar

However, if you don't mind waiting until February, then there are no issues.

Apple seems to think the local town on Consett is called Gonsett.

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Originally Posted by Mark

Apple seems to think the local town on Consett is called Gonsett.

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I think they're also providing special effects for the next Inception movie:

http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net...66_700b_v2.jpg

the squared brown/orange building with the tower is Stockholm city library.

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Originally Posted by henners88

Its a great phone or is it a tablet? I had a go with one the other day and although I was impressed with with it can do, I couldn't have one simply because it doesn't fit in my pocket without looking like I'm smuggling a library book. Trying to fit that in the pocket of skinny jeans would be difficult too so nights out would have to be like the old days before mobile phones for me. Its still a nice gadget though if you can justify and accommodate it.

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I've got an older Samsung and an older Nokia for nights out. ;)
I need this one for when I travel, get bored and want to do something productive or artistic. Until now I am happy with the 7" Galaxy, so the Note would be a slight improvement in the portable and yet multifunctional tool direction.

Okay, I confess I'm posting this to rile Daniel a bit. ;)

I personally have never experienced Windows. Because of my profession I have always been a Mac man and am totally ignorant in this subject but have always followed Microsoft's adventures.

And here comes a new one:
* by the way, it does go with this threads topic.

Early look at Windows 8 baffles consumers - CBS News

But.... You can just press the start button on your keyboard ffs!!!!

How do you mean do you have to view windows 8 with the tile shortcuts on the screen? Yes you can have the start.menu back but it's completely unnecessary

Apple's logo is considered 'blasphemo?us' in Russia as a sign of sinful behavior
Orthodox Russians Change the Logo of Apple on Their Smartphones

They seem to be even more conservative then the neo-christians in the south-USA bible belt. ;)

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Originally Posted by henners88

Just had a read up on this and pleased the classic look is still an option. I can see the appeal of the new start screen and maybe it will appeal in time, but personally I prefer the classic start menu for my organisation. When I'm using CAD packages I'm just used to launching other applications from the start menu without the new to minimize to access a start screen. Can see that being a bit of a pain in the backside. Just personal preference really and one day I'll be using Windows 8 so its reassuring to know.

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Well, I know this sounds like a copout, but the physical start menu icon on the screen has been obsolete since Vista. Since vista you could press the start key on the keyboard and begin typing the name of your program and then if it's the only option in the search box, then just press enter.

So for instance if you want to open the windows calculator you simply press the start key on the keyboard and type calc then enter and the calculator is open :) Much quicker than moving your mouse to the start icon, pressing it and then locating your app. It's the same process in terms of keystrokes in Windows 8, only that in effect, the start menu is full screen.

Another real world example. Let's say Henners has Audacity, Autocad and a madeup program we'll call autopilot. Start key and then aud, autoc or autop and then a press of the enter key and he can launch any of those three apps. All without having to use the mouse at all :) Using the mouse is for dummies!

The concept is actually exactly the same as Vista and Windows 7, it's just that it looks different on the screen. But the keystrokes are identical and it's far more efficient than using the mouse :)

alternatively, as I found out by chance the other day in Windows 7 at least:
if you have any applications pinned to the taskbar, you just press windows and 1 for the first, windows +2 for the second, etcetera :dozey:

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Originally Posted by donKey jote

alternatively, as I found out by chance the other day in Windows 7 at least:
if you have any applications pinned to the taskbar, you just press windows and 1 for the first, windows +2 for the second, etcetera :dozey:

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Cool :) Didn't know that one. Which is part of Microsoft's problem.......

Here's a great 'concise' article about the patenting system globally and how the mobile phone companies are using/misusing it:

Apple, Samsung, Google and the smartphone patent wars - everything you need to know | Technology | guardian.co.uk

Be warned, its not short or simple even though its a simplification of whats going on.

Exposes some of the simplistic ideas some people here seem to hold for what they are.

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Originally Posted by Malbec

Here's a great 'concise' article about the patenting system globally and how the mobile phone companies are using/misusing it:

Apple, Samsung, Google and the smartphone patent wars - everything you need to know | Technology | guardian.co.uk

Be warned, its not short or simple even though its a simplification of whats going on.

Exposes some of the simplistic ideas some people here seem to hold for what they are.

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I'm sorry but that misses the point. We need to ask firstly whether these patents should be granted in the first place (the article seems to happily tell you that you shouldn't bother with whether they should have been granted in the first place). Just because the system is in place doesn't mean it is just or correct. That would be like excusing the Holocaust because Hitler exploited a law which meant it was legal to gas Jews at exactly midnight when there's a full moon. I know that's a ridiculous example, but we really do need to ask whether you should be able to get patents for the general look of a device or something as basic as slide to unlock. I mean come on. It's a button that slides!!!!!!! If Apple invents 5g and it's 10x faster than 4g then they should be allowed to protect it of course. But most of the Apple stuff that I've seen patents for is either vapourware, ie they never actually bring it to fruition, or is stuff that really isn't patent worthy.

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Originally Posted by Daniel

I'm sorry but that misses the point. We need to ask firstly whether these patents should be granted in the first place (the article seems to happily tell you that you shouldn't bother with whether they should have been granted in the first place). Just because the system is in place doesn't mean it is just or correct. That would be like excusing the Holocaust because Hitler exploited a law which meant it was legal to gas Jews at exactly midnight when there's a full moon. I know that's a ridiculous example, but we really do need to ask whether you should be able to get patents for the general look of a device or something as basic as slide to unlock. I mean come on. It's a button that slides!!!!!!! If Apple invents 5g and it's 10x faster than 4g then they should be allowed to protect it of course. But most of the Apple stuff that I've seen patents for is either vapourware, ie they never actually bring it to fruition, or is stuff that really isn't patent worthy.

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like basic/generic shapes such as a rectangle with rounded corners and a display in the middle.

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Originally Posted by BleAivano

like basic/generic shapes such as a rectangle with rounded corners and a display in the middle.

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This isn't a patent issue so I'm struggling to see what point you're trying to make.

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Originally Posted by Daniel

I'm sorry but that misses the point. We need to ask firstly whether these patents should be granted in the first place (the article seems to happily tell you that you shouldn't bother with whether they should have been granted in the first place)..

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Why shouldn't patents be granted?

Why should a company or an individual not have a development they've invested considerable money and effort in not be rewarded by having it protected from copying?

What incentive would there be for any company to develop anything whatsoever if they knew any competitor could simply copy and sell it without having to pay the development costs?

I really don't understand your position here. Patenting pretty much underpins capitalism. It really is that important.

Take a look at the Indian pharmaceutical industry. India specifically refuses to recognise international drug patents. They have one of the biggest pharmaceutical industries in the world. In 60 years they have not developed a single drug. Not one. Why should they bother if they know their competitors are legally allowed to copy them the day their product is brought to market.

Now look at the Western pharmaceutical industry which is tightly regulated by patents. Every single new drug in the modern era has been developed by it because companies are secure in the knowledge that their investment will be recouped for a period of exclusivity while their drug patent applies.

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Originally Posted by Daniel

It's a button that slides!!!!!!! If Apple invents 5g and it's 10x faster than 4g then they should be allowed to protect it of course. But most of the Apple stuff that I've seen patents for is either vapourware, ie they never actually bring it to fruition, or is stuff that really isn't patent worthy.

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Isn't it curious that you focus on Apple when the article mentions several different cases involving all the major makers? Did you actually read the article in full (I accept its long and dry)? I suspect not.

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Originally Posted by Malbec

Why shouldn't patents be granted?

Why should a company or an individual not have a development they've invested considerable money and effort in not be rewarded by having it protected from copying?

What incentive would there be for any company to develop anything whatsoever if they knew any competitor could simply copy and sell it without having to pay the development costs?

I really don't understand your position here. Patenting pretty much underpins capitalism. It really is that important.

Take a look at the Indian pharmaceutical industry. India specifically refuses to recognise international drug patents. They have one of the biggest pharmaceutical industries in the world. In 60 years they have not developed a single drug. Not one. Why should they bother if they know their competitors are legally allowed to copy them the day their product is brought to market.

Now look at the Western pharmaceutical industry which is tightly regulated by patents. Every single new drug in the modern era has been developed by it because companies are secure in the knowledge that their investment will be recouped for a period of exclusivity while their drug patent applies.



Isn't it curious that you focus on Apple when the article mentions several different cases involving all the major makers? Did you actually read the article in full (I accept its long and dry)? I suspect not.

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Even I didn't have time to read all of that. Are you seriously comparing the development of life saving drugs to slide to unlock? :dozey: You simply shouldn't be able to patent the most basic of things like a button sliding for a certain purpose or the general shape of an object, especially when that shape is rectangular with rounded corners. This article -> Apple v. Samsung: The Rights To Rectangles - Forbes describes it well in that some things such as the rectangular shape of a phone are so intrinsic to innovation as to make them un-patentable. It's not like Apple even invented something that didn't exist. As I've pointed out MANY times and you seem to ignore each time, the LG Prada pre-dates the iPhone by months and has the same rectangular design with rounded corners on a touchscreen smartphone......... Would a drug company ever be able to get a patent on a drug that another company developed and had on the market for months or years? Should they be able to get that patent?

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Originally Posted by Malbec

This isn't a patent issue so I'm struggling to see what point you're trying to make.

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Errrrr, you do realise that Apple have actually patented the shape of the iPad and iPhone right? So this is a patent issue.....

Again.... I post this Has Apple Really Ever Invented Anything? - YouTube

Then there's this, which is contained in the above video, buy you seem intent on ignoring it. Magsafe, which to be fair is a FANTASTIC idea, but which is stolen from Japanese rice cookers which had a magnetic latch on the power adaptor because if someone pulls on the cable you don't want a cooker full of rice going everywhere. Yet somehow Apple get a patent on this -> Steve Jobs and the power of association | The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs I mean really....

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Originally Posted by Daniel

Errrrr, you do realise that Apple have actually patented the shape of the iPad and iPhone right? So this is a patent issue.....

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Read the article. It might help.

The shape and look of Apple products is not a technology. It isn't a patenting issue.

Its a trademarking issue.

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Originally Posted by henners88

This thread just repeats! Has Samsung actually invented anything in this field, have any of them? They all feed off each other! lol Samsung only added voice software because Apple did and Apple have copied many things off the likes of HTC too. Circular motions, circular motions.

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Agree. The thing is, I can't remember who put the first colour screen on a phone, but everyone did it afterwards. Were they cheap copycats and should they have come up with something different? Not really. Like I said if someone makes some technology which makes for faster wireless communication then they should be allowed to protect it. Invent a different way of swiping your finger to unlock your phone? Personally I don't feel that should be protected.....

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Originally Posted by Malbec

Read the article. It might help.

The shape and look of Apple products is not a technology. It isn't a patenting issue.

Its a trademarking issue.

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Patent USD504889 - Electronic device - Google Patents apology accepted btw :)

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Originally Posted by Daniel

Even I didn't have time to read all of that. Are you seriously comparing the development of life saving drugs to slide to unlock? :dozey:

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Says the guy who managed to slide in a Holocaust reference when discussing Apple ;)

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Originally Posted by Daniel

You simply shouldn't be able to patent the most basic of things like a button sliding for a certain purpose or the general shape of an object, especially when that shape is rectangular with rounded corners. This article -> Apple v. Samsung: The Rights To Rectangles - Forbes describes it well in that some things such as the rectangular shape of a phone are so intrinsic to innovation as to make them un-patentable. It's not like Apple even invented something that didn't exist. As I've pointed out MANY times and you seem to ignore each time, the LG Prada pre-dates the iPhone by months and has the same rectangular design with rounded corners on a touchscreen smartphone......... Would a drug company ever be able to get a patent on a drug that another company developed and had on the market for months or years? Should they be able to get that patent?

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You're confusing trademarking with patenting again.

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Originally Posted by Malbec

Says the guy who managed to slide in a Holocaust reference when discussing Apple ;)



You're confusing trademarking with patenting again.

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Hilarious, Malbec, come back when you understand the facts of the story -> Patent USD504889 - Electronic device - Google Patents Apology accepted when it comes btw......

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Originally Posted by Malbec

Says the guy who managed to slide in a Holocaust reference when discussing Apple ;)

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Says the man who refuses to acknowledge facts :) BTW This is a 2nd time I've used a holocaust reference on a forum today and the other wasn't in reference to Apple, it's just a good basis for an analogy because you can in no way justify the killing of Jews.

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Originally Posted by Daniel

Patent USD504889 - Electronic device - Google Patents apology accepted btw :)

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Sigh...

I admit that some countries refer to trademarking licencing as being patents which does nothing to clarify issues. However the legal issues are entirely different.

As I said, read the article. Its pretty fair and very illuminating.

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Originally Posted by Malbec

Sigh...

I admit that some countries refer to trademarking licencing as being patents which does nothing to clarify issues. However the legal issues are entirely different.

As I said, read the article. Its pretty fair and very illuminating.

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So you think that Apple should be able to patent things which aren't actually patents etc etc etc etc etc :dozey: They have a patent for a rectangular device with rounded corners. That be fact and you be trying to ignore that fact for some inexplicable reason.

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Originally Posted by Daniel

Agree. The thing is, I can't remember who put the first colour screen on a phone, but everyone did it afterwards. Were they cheap copycats and should they have come up with something different? Not really. Like I said if someone makes some technology which makes for faster wireless communication then they should be allowed to protect it. Invent a different way of swiping your finger to unlock your phone? Personally I don't feel that should be protected.....

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How do you feel about developing a technology that becomes part of a globally recognised standard (like wi-fi, bluetooth) then refusing to allow your competitors to use your technology, effectively blocking their usage of that standard? Is that acceptable?

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Originally Posted by henners88

Taking a technology from one industry and applying it to a new product is a form of innovation because its a totally different application. If it was protected fully then they wouldn't have been able to use it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I think it is innovative, but it's not inventive and it's inventions that should be covered by patents and not innovation.

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Originally Posted by Daniel

So you think that Apple should be able to patent things which aren't actually patents etc etc etc etc etc :dozey: They have a patent for a rectangular device with rounded corners. That be fact and you be trying to ignore that fact for some inexplicable reason.

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Here. Design patents, trademarking and how it differs from technology patents.

Groklaw - A Very Short Primer on Design Patents and Trade Dress (Apple v. Samsung) by Michael Risch

Note that I'm not defending Apple. I think the recent UK court's decision to force Apple to publicly acknowledge Samsung WASN'T copying is great. It raises the cost of entry for such legal cases and punishes Apple for taking the mickey by taking action in two EU states at once when it is not allowed to do so.

However I do think that actually trying to UNDERSTAND what is going on is pretty important. It isn't as simple as you and some of your friends try to portray.