Verizon, Google Agree to Patent Deal

 

On Tuesday, Verizon and Google announced that they have come together to sign a long-term patent cross-license agreement.

This agreement covers "a broad range of products and technologies" and reduces "the risk of future patent litigation" for both companies. In a joint press release, Google and Facebook explained that this new agreement will help the companies avoid frivolous patent litigation. "The Constitution says that the patent system is supposed to "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts." But in high-tech industries like ours, the patent system can be exploited to get in the way of innovation," explained Verizon's general counsel, Randal Milch, in a blog post. 

"High-tech products can implicate thousands of patents, and when patent litigation takes years, costs millions of dollars, and comes long after innovators have launched new products, the Johnny-come-lately owner of a single patent can threaten an entire innovative ecosystem. That's bad for innovation and bad for American consumers." He added, "We look forward to striking similar deals with other high-tech companies also concerned with the innovation tax that patent trolls often collect."

Google's head of patent transactions Kirk Dailey echoed these sentiments saying, "This cross license allows both companies to focus on delivering great products and services to consumers around the world. We're pleased to enter into this agreement with an industry leader like Verizon, and we welcome discussions with any company interested in a similar arrangement." Neither company went into detail on what exactly this new agreement covers. It is likely that the general public will not see any visible effects from this partnership.

Have your say Apple Wins Decade-Old iTunes Suit

 

Apple Wins Decade-Old iTunes Suit

 

On Tuesday, after a mere three hours of deliberation, a jury ruled in favor of Apple in a decade-old class-action lawsuit.

The eight-person jury in the United States District Court in Oakland, California found that Apple's changes to iTunes, back in iTunes 7.0, were to improve the product, not a scheme to suppress competition. The plaintiffs sought at least $350 million in damages, which could have grown to $1 billion if Apple was found to have violated antitrust law. The lawsuit involved iPods sold between September 2006 and March 2009 that were limited to music purchased from iTunes or downloaded from CDs. Apple was accused of using a copyright management system to keep users within its brand from iTunes to iPods. The lawsuit has been in various courts in various forms throughout the years before it finally went to trial this month.

In a statement, Apple said, "We created iPod and iTunes to give our customers the world's best way to listen to music. Every time we've updated those products -- and every Apple product over the years -- we've done it to make the user experience even better." Apple's lawyer, William Isaacson, said that the substance of the plaintiffs' case was negligible. "There's not one piece of evidence of a single individual who lost a single song, not even a complaint about it," said Isaacson. "This is all made up at this point." Patrick Coughlin, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said that they were happy to see this case get to jury and said that it was a "very tough case." Coughlin added that the plaintiffs plan to appeal the decision.

 

Nintendo Criticized for Injuries

 

While most gamers have had a sore thumb from button-mashing, researchers have issued a more serious warning for Nintendo products.

The British Medical Journal warns users that extended use of Nintendo consoles can lead to a variety of issues from the mild thumb or hand pain from button-mashing, to hand, thumb, and wrist pain associated with "nintendinitis" from extended play, and even "Nintendo seizures." A team of Dutch researchers looked into Nintendo's past and discovered 38 medical issues in two large medical databases; their findings will be published in the Christmas issue of the BMJ. 

Early reports included seizures, dubbed "Nintendo epilepsy" at the time which has been adjusted to "Nintendo seizures" over the years. In 1991, a child sought medical attention for a case of "Nintendo neck" or neck pain that resulted from extended time hunched over his Game Boy. Some children became so engrossed in gameplay that they ignored the need to use the toilet, resulting in reports of incontinence.

When the Wii launched in 2006, a new slew of injury reports surged in. The first Wii-related injury, dubbed "wii-itis," was seen in a 29 year old male who experienced tendinitis after playing Wii Sports for multiple hours. Other reports claimed that extended Wii bowling led to a woman's carpal tunnel syndrome and even two reports of torn Achilles tendons from Wii Sports, dubbed Achilles wii-itis. 

Tennis has been the most dangerous to date; one woman fell and sustained a massive haemothorax, or chest bleed, during a tennis match on her Wii Fit. Others were admitted for strokes after playing the Wii. The researchers concluded that, despite these reports, Nintendo's consoles are safe to use when proper precautions are taken. A Nintendo spokesman echoed this conclusion saying, "he Wii video game system is often credited with getting people up off the couch. 

But, as with any activity, people playing the Wii system, or any other Nintendo product should pace themselves and not overdo it. Nintendo is committed to the safety of its customers and always includes comprehensive health and safety guidelines with its products. Provided these are followed correctly, a user should be able to enjoy their Nintendo product safely."

ET deals: ScanTool OBDLink MX Bluetooth diagnostic scanner for Android $103, plus Xbox 360 deal

ET deals: ScanTool OBDLink MX Bluetooth diagnostic scanner for Android $103, plus Xbox 360 deal

 

Take control of your car’s diagnostics with today’s deal on a ScanTool OBDLink MX Bluetooth scanner. On sale now for 49% off, it can save you money at the garage as well as compile a wealth of data about your vehicle’s performance.

The ScanTool OBDLink MX Bluetooth connects to a wide range of cars via the diagnostic port near the steering wheel, and generates data about your car that is wirelessly transmitted to a receptive Android or Windows device. The scanner boasts faster updates compared to the competition, resulting in smoother graphs and faster real time screen refreshes. It’s compatible with tablets, PCs or even phones that run Android or Windows, and this deal is bundled with the exclusive OBDwiz license for Windows.

Once installed, there’s a lot you can do, starting with general diagnostics to review basic problems before you take your car to the garage. However, the fun doesn’t end there, as on certain car models you can activate the power windows/locks and even remotely start your engine right from your app. You can create logs of your trips with live performance data to gather information about your car in the moment, and easily keep tabs on overall health. Certain models can give you data on ABS, airbags, and more.

This device can be left plugged into your car permanently thanks to auto-sleep functionality that won’t drain your battery. It’s compact enough that it won’t get in the way and cost you legroom, so you won’t mind keeping it in there either. As long as you don’t have a hybrid or electric car, it’s compatible with every car or light truck made in the US since 1996. It carries a three year warranty.

 

EU clears Lufthansa outsourcing deal with IBM

The European Commission said on Wednesday it had approved the sale of Lufthansa's IT infrastructure unit to IBM.

Lufthansa was seeking a buyer for the unit, which provides data centres, networks and telephony, because it requires a high level of investment and economies of scale, which the airline could not provide.

"The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would not raise competition concerns given the very limited overlaps between the parties' activities and the presence of several strong alternative players that would remain active after the merger," the EU executive said in a statement.


The deal, which was announced on October, will result in a one-off pre-tax charge of 240 million euros (190 million pounds) for Lufthansa. It will allow Lufthansa to reduce its annual IT costs by around 70 million euros a year.

Under the planned deal, Lufthansa will outsource all its IT infrastructure services to IBM under a seven-year deal and the U.S. firm will take over the airline's IT infrastructure division, currently part of Lufthansa Systems.

The transaction was examined by the European Commission under the normal merger review procedure.

Uber turns to Brussels in battle to gain ground in Europe

 

Uber has taken its battle for acceptance in Europe to Brussels with a complaint against a French law, the first of what could become a series of challenges to EU member states reluctant to open their markets to the online taxi-booking service.

Launched in California four years ago, the service has rapidly become popular in a number of countries because it often undercuts established taxi and minicab services. 

However, taxi drivers across Europe say Uber breaks local taxi rules and violates licensing, insurance and safety regulations. It has faced legal action in Germany and a number of European countries. 

Uber last month filed a first complaint with the European Commission against a new French law it says favours regular taxis at its expense.

It says the law discriminates against private-hire vehicles, which it uses, by not allowing consumers to see the location of such cars online - a service it says is available for regular taxis.

"We are looking at existing EU law to defend internal markets," Mark MacGann, Uber's head of public policy in Europe, Middle East and Africa, told Reuters in an interview. "What we find is that market is in fact very fragmented."

The Commission said it had received Uber's complaint and was assessing whether, as Uber believes, France should have notified it of the new law. A spokeswoman said there was no EU regulation on such services.
"So it becomes a national matter, but one does not operate in a complete vacuum and one needs to obey internal market rules," she said. 

Uber is seeking to appeal to a new European Commission that is desperate to find ways to boost Europe's stagnant economy and looking to expanding digital services as a pillar of growth.

The firm is also insistent that it is not a taxi service but a technology company enabling customers to find 
rides.

"We're like Expedia. No one flies with Expedia, but they do book their flights there," said MacGann, who previously worked as a lobbyist for the NYSE Euronext securities exchanges. 
 
Uber is already present in 18 EU member states and plans to be active in all 28 eventually.
With a valuation of up to $40 billion, it has realised it is no longer seen as a little guy battling entrenched monopolies and needs a softer approach. 
MacGann said studies in U.S. cities showed established taxis need not see Uber as a threat. "In the U.S., people taking Uber are mostly people not normally taking taxis," he said. 

BlackBerry woos keyboard loyalists with Classic device launch

 

 BlackBerry Ltd launched its long-awaited Classic device on Wednesday, a smartphone it hopes will help it win back market share and woo those still using older versions of its physical keyboard devices.

The Waterloo, Ontario-based mobile technology said the new device, which bears a striking similarity to its once-bestselling Bold and Curve handsets, boasts a larger screen, longer battery life, expanded app library with access to he offerings from Amazon.com Inc's Android App store, and a browser three times faster than the one on its legacy devices.

"BlackBerry Classic is the powerful communications tool that many BlackBerry Bold and Curve users have been waiting for," Chief Executive Officer John Chen said in a statement, noting the device brings back the command bar functionalities that helped make its legacy devices easy to navigate.

When the company initially introduced its new BlackBerry 10 operating system and devices early in 2012 it put more emphasis on touchscreens, alienating many fans of its physical keyboard.

Moreover, those who moved to its new physical keyboard devices it later launched were unhappy that command keys like the 'Menu,' 'Back,' 'Send' and 'End' buttons, along with the trackpad had been dropped.
Chen is in some ways taking the company back to its roots, re-emphasizing the physical keyboard with the recent launch of the Passport and the Classic models, rather than trying to compete directly against the touchscreen handsets of dominant rivals like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Apple Inc.

Chen, who became CEO a year ago, is also pivoting BlackBerry to earn more revenue from software, as system access fees from those using its legacy devices wind down.

Analysts have noted a successful launch of the Classic would accelerate service revenue erosion because the new devices do not generate system access fees. But a jump in hardware revenue from Classic and Passport sales would give BlackBerry time to scale up its software business in 2015.

"We believe that the company's current strategy of staying true to its core user base of business users – in industries such as healthcare, banking and insurance – rather than chasing the mainstream could help to transform the handset division into a stable business," said research firm Trefis in a recent note to clients.

Canada court to order Apple to turn over records in iPhone probe

 

 

(Reuters) - The Federal Court of Canada agreed on Wednesday to order Apple Inc's Canadian subsidiary to turn over documents to the Competition Bureau to help investigate whether Apple unfairly used its market power to promote the sale of iPhones.
In seeking the order, the Competition Bureau said agreements Apple negotiated with wireless carriers may have cut into competition by encouraging the companies to maintain or boost the price of rival phones.

Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton told the court he would sign the order later on Wednesday.

At issue is whether Apple misused the extraordinary bargaining power that the popularity of iPhone has given it in negotiating contracts with mobile carriers.

Under the order, Apple will have 90 days to turn over the documents, which include agreements it has reached with Canadian mobile carriers.

Competition Bureau lawyer Derek Leschinsky said Apple lawyers have suggested the company might launch a constitutional challenge of the right of Canadian courts to force Apple's wholly owned Canadian subsidiary to turn over records held by the California-based parent company.

He noted, however, that the provision of the Competition Act that gives Canadian courts the power to compel the production of documents held outside Canada has never been found to be unconstitutional.
Chief Justice Crampton said there is increasing legal consensus around the world that such provisions are legitimate.

The Competition Bureau said that among the items it is investigating is whether Apple Canada contracts may have discouraged wireless carriers from reducing the price of other companies' handsets, or whether Apple encouraged them to maintain or boost the price of wireless services for competing handsets.

Tech rivals join Microsoft in fight over US data demand

 

Tech firms use data centres such as this all over the world to store customers' data

Apple and eBay are among those supporting Microsoft's stand against handing over data stored in Ireland to the US government.

One year ago, prosecutors issued a warrant for emails stored by Microsoft in an Irish data centre, in connection with a drug-related investigation.

The tech giant refused to comply but was ordered by a judge to hand over the information in July.

Microsoft has now filed letters of support from a large number of allies.

These include tech firms Verizon, Amazon, Cisco and HP, as well as trade associations such as the US Chamber of Commerce, and Digital Rights Ireland.

Various news organisations such as CNN, the Guardian and the Washington Post are on board along with computer scientists from universities across the US including Harvard, Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Earlier this year, New York judge James Francis said that a warrant for online information was the equivalent of a subpoena and had to be obeyed.

Privacy rights

 

The firm and its supporters argue that the centre in Dublin is outside US jurisdiction, while the prosecutors claim that as the data itself is accessible by the firm from within the US, this does not apply.

"We believe that when one government wants to obtain email that is stored in another country, it needs to do so in a manner that respects existing domestic and international laws," wrote Microsoft's Brad Smith, general counsel and executive vice president of legal and corporate affairs, in a blog post.

"In contrast, the US government's unilateral use of a search warrant to reach email in another country puts both fundamental privacy rights and cordial international relations at risk."

Apple iPod suit: Innovation is best defense

 

 

The just-rejected lawsuit filed against Apple over its hardball iPod strategy last decade probably won't get into legal textbooks as the right way to bring a class action against a Silicon Valley giant.

After the plaintiffs' lawyers showed the court a picture of an Apple product purchased outside the lawsuit's certification dates – then struggled to provide any certified plaintiffs — the verdict was nearly a foregone conclusion.

Yes, there's always an appeal, but the jury's unanimous decision makes that attempt by lawyers for former iPod consumers an equally-long long shot.

 

Apple cleared in lawsuit over iPods

 

 

A jury in California cleared Apple in a lawsuit over the company's iPod music player that could have cost them billions of dollars.

According to multiple published reports, including CNBC, the jury unanimously ruled Apple did not violate antitrust rules by locking consumers into iTunes when purchasing an iPod.

The jury decided updates made to iTunes were significant improvements and not attempts to shut out competitors.

6 Things Nexus 9 Does That Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 Can't 

The new Google Nexus 9 and Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (2014) are both quality high-end tablet options, but they outshine each other in a number of notable ways. Here are six things the Nexus 9 does that the Fire HDX 8.9 can't.

Ranging from budget devices with basic functionality to cutting-edge tablets for gadget lovers, the world of Android tablets is packed with options. With so many choices, it’s challenging to decide on the best tablet for you or someone on your gift list.

The Google Nexus 9 and Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (2014) are two of the newest and best high-end Android tablets. (The original version of the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 has been discontinued and replaced by the new 2014 version, which is the tablet referenced in this story.) However, each is suited to specific types of users. When researching a new technology purchase, it’s helpful to not only consider a tablet's full feature set, but also the features it lacks. 

After spending a few weeks with both of these Android tablets, a handful of things jump out as important to know for anyone who's trying to decide between the newest Kindle Fire HDX tablet and Google's latest Nexus tablet. Here are half a dozen things the Nexus tablet does that the Fire HDX 8.9 can't.

 

1) Unique Nexus Experience for Android Purists

The thing that sets Nexus devices apart from other Android tablets, and the thing that makes them so attractive to "Android purists," is the fact that they are the first devices to get Android software updates directly from Google. In fact, they often get the latest software months, sometimes years, before other devices. The heavy-tailored versions of Android that tardily arrive on other Android devices are frequently bogged down with gimmicky features and bloatware that serves some carrier purpose just as much as it provides true value for the user.

The software that runs on Nexus devices — all Nexus devices, not just the Nexus 9 tablet, which is manufactured by HTC — is "purely Google," meaning it hasn't been modified by a third-party. My Nexus 9 is currently running Android v5.0.1 "Lollipop," and both the user interface and software experience are head and shoulders above what you get with an Amazon tablet. The version of Android on the Nexus also enables a number of features and functionality that are not available to Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 users.

For example, Android Lollipop's "material design" elements provide a much more modern, visually appealing and sleek navigation experience than the Fire OS. The Nexus OS is also designed to communicate with a range of other Android devices running Lollipop, so you can do things like quickly access files and information on your tablet after searching for them on your phone.

Android Lollipop offers much more granular control over application alerts and notification settings, as well as advanced controls to "pin" certain apps to your lock screen and limit the amount of information that's displayed on your locked display. You can also deem other compatible Android devices "trusted" using the Android Smart Lock feature, so your Lollipop phone or tablet remains unlocked while in range of the trusted gadget. 

These are just a few of the unique features available in the Nexus 9 version of Android and not in the Fire OS. (You can find a more detailed list of new Lollipop features on Google's website.) 

The Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 could at some point be updated to a tweaked version of Android 5.0, but even if it is, the software will be so heavily customized that it's impossible to predict which features will be available and which will be blocked. That's the real value of buying a Nexus device: You know that a carrier or third party, such as Amazon, won't block or modify any of the features or functionality that Google purposefully builds into its versions of Android. 

The Fire OS is great for certain things — namely consuming Amazon content. Compared to the user experience of the Nexus 9, however, it feels simple, which is OK, and both limited and a bit long in the tooth, which is less OK.

2) Nexus 9 Has 50 Percent Bigger Battery Than Kindle Fire HDX 8.9

The Nexus 9 has a significantly larger battery pack than the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9. Specifically the 6,700mAh battery in the Nexus 9 has a capacity of nearly 50 percent more than the 4,500mAh battery in the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9. In my experience that doesn't exactly translate into 50 percent more battery life for the Nexus 9, probably because both devices have a number of battery-saving technologies that kick in a different times. I read Kindle books on both devices, with the screen brightness set to auto based on the system brightness, for multiple hours at a time, and the Fire HDX does seem to last notably longer during constant, heavy use. 

3) Nexus 9 Has 64-Bit Processor Compared to Fire HDX's 32-Bit CPU

The Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 packs a slightly faster processor (2.5 Ghz Snapdragon) than the Nexus 9 (2.3 Ghz NVIDIA Tegra). However, speed isn't everything.

The Google Nexus 9 is the first Android tablet with a 64-bit CPU. The Kindle Fire has a 32-bit CPU. In other words, Google's Nexus 9 can run 64-bit Android apps, Amazon's Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 cannot. 

What does that mean? According to NVIDIA, the beefy CPU should ultimately translate into "PC-class performance, extended battery life and great Web browsing."

The problem is that many current Android apps won't initially take advantage of the 64-bit processor until they're updated. Some of Google's native apps, including Chrome, Gmail, Calendar and Google Play Music do utilize the 64-bit CPU, and any "pure Java language" Android apps will run as 64-bit apps automatically, according to Google. It could be some time before the bulk of quality Android apps are updated for the new processor, though. (You can find more details on what the 64-bit CPU in the Nexus 9 means for Android here.)

4) Nexus 9 Has NFC, Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 Doesn't

The Nexus 9 has NFC, while the Kindle Fire HDX does not. That means you can use the Nexus 9 along with Google Wallet, or another compatible mobile payments apps, to pay for goods and services in many establishments where contact-less payments are accepted. (Of course, I'm not exactly sure why you'd want to use your tablet instead of your phone to make a mobile payment…unless your phone doesn't have NFC.)

NFC isn't exactly widely used today, but thanks to Apple's adoption of the technology in the latest iPhones, and the success of its Apple Pay service, NFC is finally in the limelight.

NFC is not all about payments. For example, you can use NFC tags to trigger certain features or functions on your mobile device. You can use NFC to print from your phone or tablet. Some organizations use NFC for user authentication and building access, as well. Nexus 9 users could potentially employ their tablets for some or all of these purposes. Kindle Fire HDX owners are out of luck when it comes to NFC.

5) Nexus 9, Google Play Store and Apps, Apps and More Apps

Today more than ever, software defines the true value of a computing device. That's why I listed the dramatic difference in user experience between the Nexus 9 Android OS and Kindle Fire OS as the first point in this post. There's another component to the "pure" Android versus Amazon Fire OS argument, though: apps.

Both Google and Amazon operate their own app stores, the Play Store and the Amazon App Store for Android, respectively. Google had 1.3 million apps available in the Play Store in July 2014, according to Statista. Amazon had about 240,000.

Then there's the fact that you can easily install the Amazon App Store for Android on you Nexus tablet. You simply need to check a security option that lets you install apps from "unknown sources." You can't install Google Play or any native Google apps, without rooting your Kindle Fire HDX. (That's fine if you like to tinker with your devices, but something tells me that the average Amazon tablet user probably isn't a tinkerer. Even if you do root your Fire tablet, the process for "sideloading" apps, and keeping them updated, is tedious to say the least.)

6) Nexus 9 Looks and Feels Better Than Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 

OK, this last point doesn't exactly fit the concept of this comparison, because it's not something the Nexus 9 can do that the Fire HDX can't. It is something I've thought about a lot during my time with these two tablets, and it's certainly something I'd want to know if I were trying to pick between the two.

When placed side-by-side, display-up, the Nexus 9 and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 look a lot alike. As soon as you pick them up, though, two noteworthy differences become obvious. First, the Kindle Fire HDX feels "plasticy" and flimsy, while the Nexus 9 is notably heavier but also much more sturdy-feeling. (The Wi-Fi version of the Kindle Fire weighs 375 grams, while the Wi-Fi Nexus 9 weights 425 grams, a full 50 grams more.)

The Kindle Fire HDX is built entirely of plastic, except of course for the glass display, which probably accounts for its somewhat "cheap" feeling in hand. The Nexus 9 is also mostly made of plastic, but it's surrounded by a thin metal bezel, composed of a single piece of brushed steel, which makes it feel much more sturdily built and could have something to do with the difference in weight. 

The metal bezel also adds some panache, a bit of je ne sais quoi, that the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 sorely lacks. To me, the Kindle Fire looks and feels like a tablet designed for use by children; the Nexus 9 looks and feels like it's built for the big boys. 

Google's Nexus 9 is also available in three color options: "indigo black," "lunar white," and "sand," which just looks like plain old gold to me. The Fire HDX 8.9 comes only in black. 

Of course, as soon as you throw a case on your tablet, the look and feel changes based on your cover of choice. The Nexus 9 is still by far the better-looking option, though, and perhaps more importantly, it appears to be built more sturdily. 

For more information on the Nexus 9 visit Google's website or the Play Store product page. And check out Amazon's Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 page for additional details on its new tablet.

World’s ‘thinnest’ smartphone launched at Rs 32,980 (N93,116.06)

World’s ‘thinnest’ smartphone launched at 

Rs 32,980 (N93,116.06)

NEW DELHI: Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has launched the X5Max, a smartphone that measures just 4.75mm in thickness in India at Rs 32,980.

The phone claims to be the world's slimmest smartphone, taking over Oppo's recently launched R5 and Gionee's Elife S5.1.

Vivo X5Max sports an aluminium frame and features a 5-inch full-HD (1080x1920p) Super AMOLED display. Powered by a 64 bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octal core chip (1.7GHz Cortex-A53 quad core + 1GHz Cortex-A53 quad core) and 2GB RAM, the phone has 16GB internal storage expandable up to 128GB via microSD card. 

It runs Android 4.4 KitKat with Vivo's custom skin, FuntouchOS running on top. In terms of connectivity, the dual-sim phone supports 3G, 4G (including TDD-LTE, Indian 4G bands), Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS.

Vivo X5Max features a 5MP f/2.4 front-facing camera and a 13MP rear camera. It comes with a 2,000mAh battery. Unlike the Oppo R5, the X5Max does feature a 3.5mm audio jack.

The phone will be available in China starting December 22 at CNY 2,998 (roughly Rs 30,000).
Earlier, Gionee, another Chinese mobile brand, had launched he Elife S5.1, its slimmest phone ever, in India at Rs 18,999. The phone measures just 5.1mm in thickness.

Gionee's Elife S5.5 was considered the world's slimmest smartphone before the launch of Oppo R5, which measures just 4.85mm in thickness. Powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa core 64bit processor and 2GB RAM, the phone sports a 5.2-inch full-HD AMOLED display. It comes with 16GB internal storage. The Oppo R5 does not sport a 3.5mm headset port and uses a micro-USB adapter for audio output. The phone is expected to make its India debut later this month.
       

Windows 10 full unveil set for January 21, will showcase new unified mobile version

Windows 10 full unveil set for January 21, will showcase new unified mobile version

 

 On January 21, 2015, Microsoft is going to do its level best to convince us that Windows 8 never really happened. The company’s official Windows 10 unveil is set for that date, and the rumor mill suggests Microsoft will do far more than simply take the veil off a modest update to its primary operating system. While the first Windows 10 event focused solely on the name and a few new features, the January 21 event will focus on the overall “Windows 10 consumer experience.” We should also hear about pricing (and whether a subscription model will be used), and a release date.

According to ZDNet, the upcoming event will also feature the new Windows 10 mobile SKU. This is the unified OS that will shrink Microsoft’s overall product footprint by unifying the Intel, ARM, and Windows Phone ecosystems. In theory, developers will simply be able to target one product rather than producing multiple variants of a program. Unlike current versions of Windows 8, this upcoming Windows 10 product won’t have a desktop at all — hopefully eliminating one of the major sources of confusion that pushed consumers away from Windows RT.



Also on the menu is the next Technical Preview of Windows 10. It’s not clear precisely what the company will feature; the current preview build is a fairly modest update to the Windows 10 ecosystem. Then again, I’ve previously argued that what really wrecks Windows 8.1 isn’t any single glaring flaw, but a multitude of smaller issues. The early Technical Previews have taken significant steps towards reincorporating Windows 7 features that users wanted while adjusting the overall icon and color schemes.


The January preview is expected to introduce Continuum, a feature that will seamlessly switch between Tablet and Desktop modes when an attached keyboard is disconnected or reconnected. The gulf between Windows 8 use on a tablet vs. a non-touch laptop was one of the most persistent complaints users had about the OS; Continuum is designed to bridge that gap more smoothly.

Other features, like DirectX 12, don’t appear to have roll-out dates yet, and we’ve yet to see any performance information or other general data. The final release date of Windows 10 was recently pushed back, from spring/summer 2015 to “later in 2015″ — which means we’re probably looking at an October’ish release date.

Will fixing Windows 8 be sufficient?

Among other changes, Windows 10 features  bunch of new, flatter icons

I’m of two minds on Windows 10. Within the classic Windows market, including gaming and enthusiasts, I think it’s shaping up quite well. If DirectX 12 lives up to expectations, this will be the first Windows release in a long time to meaningfully move the 2D and 3D performance bar upwards. The improvements we’ve seen to-date suggest that Microsoft has kept the best parts of Windows 8 — and there were good parts — while bringing back the Windows 7 features that people wanted most. Again, that’s a smart move. I’m a bit more optimistic than Sebastian on the whole “death of the PC” issue.

Whether it’s sufficient to ignite the larger market for Windows devices is an entirely different story. With a new, Metro-only interface and unified app structure, Microsoft is betting that consumers want a Windows-centric experience, on everything from PCs to smartphones to TVs — but without some of the Windows features that users customarily depend on. Windows RT confused customers by looking like Windows without offering the features they expected; Windows 10 could still slam into this problem if Microsoft doesn’t do a better job with product differentiation.

A few years ago, the joint Intel-Microsoft plan was to split the market, with cheap tablets using ARM and Android, and more expensive x86 tablets owning the Windows market. That plan is dead now, thanks to vast tablet subsidies and marketing necessity — but with Microsoft, Android, and iOS all collectively attacking the same budget space, it’s not at clear that there’s room for three players. There’s also talk that Windows 10 could mark the unveiling of a Microsoft subscription model — though whether anyone would be interested is another story altogether. 

Apple v. Samsung and the road to Patent Sanity

Apple’s attempt to grab all of Samsung’s profits highlights the need for major reform

When Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in September, amid the “oohs” and “ahs,” some of us were thinking, “Wow, these stretched iPhones look a lot like Samsung’s Galaxy devices.”

So it’s ironic that the two companies just resumed a years-long war over Samsung’s supposed copying of Apple’s products in a D.C. federal court. Apple claims that in the smartphone’s early days, Samsung’s device shapes and graphical icons too closely resembled the iPhone’s. After Apple tried, but failed, to ban importation of all Samsung devices, a jury awarded Apple an astounding $929 million. Another case awarded Apple $120 million — though Apple had been seeking more than $2 billion. This summer the firms settled some 40 disputes around the world, which leaves the two big U.S. verdicts, both of which are under appeal.

The numbers are so large because a quirk of the 1887 law governing “design patents” seemingly allows for the disgorgement of the “total profit” derived from the infringing products. Yet there is controversy over the meaning of the law in a modern technological economy. And like the debate over suspect software patents, many question the very validity of some types of design patents, which cover not technical functionality but appearance, or “look and feel.” 

Apple v. Samsung is important because of its place in what I call the “patent reformation.” Over the last several decades, we issued far too many patents of dubious quality — often for software code, or business practices, or appearance, as in the Apple-Samsung cases. The flood of patents fueled a litigation explosion, and the link between intellectual property and real innovation frayed. In a new report, for example, the Congressional Budget Office shows that the large increase in patent applications and awards over the last three decades has not boosted productivity growth.

Most technology and policy experts over the last few years came to agree on the need for major reform. Last session, Congress narrowly failed to enact a major intellectual-property overhaul. But in June, the Supreme Court revised software patent law, in the landmark CLS Bank v. Alice Corp. case. Since then, courts have been invalidating software patents at a faster rate than ever. “Among the invalidated patents,” notes The Wall Street Journal, “was one involving an online dieting tool, another for a computer bingo game, and yet another for using a computer to convert reward points from one company's loyalty program to another’s.” In addition to a tightening of judicial reins, a number of big technology companies, including Google, have voluntarily settled major disputes, leaving Apple-Samsung as the unresolved stand-off in what Steve Jobs called the “thermonuclear” smartphone wars. 

The question is whether the remedy in these cases — the award to the plaintiff of the total profits earned by the defendant’s product — makes any sense in the modern world. 

A smartphone is a complex integration of thousands of hardware and software technologies, manufacturing processes, aesthetic designs and concepts. These components may each be patented, or licensed, or not at all, by any number of firms. A smartphone, by one estimate, may contain up to 250,000 patents. Does a minor design patent comprising a tiny fraction of a product’s overall makeup drive the purchase decision? If company A’s product contains one infringing component among many thousands, even if it has no knowledge or intent to infringe, and even if the patent should never have been issued, does it make sense that company B gets all company A’s profits? 

Advocates of the total-profit penalty say all this is irrelevant. Read the plain text of the 1887 law, they say. The phrase — “shall be liable to the owner to the extent of his total profit” — may appear to support their view. But why couldn’t “total profit” mean the total profits of the firm? Fortunately, a more natural reading is at hand. Given the realities of highly integrated modern technologies, the phrase “to the extent” can easily be read to limit the award in proportion to the severity of the infringement. This is more in keeping with the law of trademarks and copyrights, which (although imperfect themselves) more closely resemble design “patents” and often provide for more common sense remedies. 

Absolutists reply that the total profit penalty is the only effective deterrent against counterfeiting. They say proportional penalties would be like royalties, a simple cost of doing business, and thus would not discourage counterfeiting. This, however, presumes the quality control of the issued design patents. When “designs” are everywhere, no one can hope to completely avoid infringement, and thus no one is safe from the total loss of one’s profits. 

Intellectual property is a crucial foundation of innovation and economic growth. But too many frivolous patents and lawsuits render it a tool not of invention but of destructive gamesmanship. If the appeals court reins in total-profit penalties, the patent reformation will achieve another important advance. 

Bret Swanson is president of Entropy Economics LLC, a strategic insight firm specializing in technology, innovation and the global economy, and president of Entropy Capital, a firm that invests in both public companies and private technology ventures. He is also a scholar at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute’s technology research program.

 

Tecno Phantom Z

General Information
2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network	HSDPA 900 / 2100
4G Network	No
SIM	Dual mini SIM
Status	Available June 2014
	Body
Dimensions	144.5 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm
Keyboard	Touchscreen
Colors	White, Black
Cover	Plastic
	Display
Type	IPS capacitive touchscreen with 16,000,000 colors
Size	5.2 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels, 424 pixels per inch (PPI)
	Memory And OS
Card slot	No
Internal	32GB
OS	Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Processors	2.0GHz octa-core Cortex-A7 CPU, MediaTek MT6592 chipset, Mali 450-MP4 GPU
RAM	2GB
	Audio
Alert types	Vibration, MP3 ringtones
Loudspeaker	Yes
Audio port	3.5mm jack
	Connectivity
2G	GPRS – up to 85.6 kbps; EDGE – up to 236.8 kbps
3G	Up to 22.2 mbs downlink; Up to 5.76 mbs uplink
4G	No
WIFI	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, WIFI hotspot, Wi-Fi direct
Bluetooth	Yes
GPS	A-GPS
NFC	No
USB	MicroUSB v2.0
	Camera
Primary	16MP, up to 4608×3456-pixel pictures, HDR, autofocus, Geo-tagging, panorama, simultaneous video and picture rec. camera with LED flash
Video	1080p@30fps
Secondary	8MP, up to 3264×2448-pixel pictures
	Battery
Capacity	3030mAh Li-Ion battery
Stand-by	Up to 960 hours
Talk time	Up to 24 hours
Music play	N/a
	Other Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass
Messaging	SMS, MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM
Browser	HTML5
Java	No
	- SNS integration – MP4/MPEG4/H.263/H.264 player – MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3/FLAC player – Document viewer – FM radio – Image viewer and editor – Voice memo/dial/command – Predictive text input – Preloaded apps –  Gmail, Gtalk, Google Now, Youtube, Flash Share, Swiftkey

How to get 1GB for only 500 naira on Etisalat

 

This is probably the best weekend data plan you can get on any service provider in Nigeria, since etisalat is known to have very fast internet service, this makes it so awesome.

So if you need more data by weekend or you have pilled up some files to download during the weekend, this plan is for you as you CAN ONLY subscribe to this plan on Fridays and it will last till 11:59 on Sunday.

How To Activate Etisalat 1GB data for 500 Naira

1. recharge 500 naira on yor etisalat SIM
2. Then dial *5995*2#

Thats all, you will be given 1GB of data for the weekend

Unlimited Browsing With MTN BIS and PDProxy VPN

With PD proxy VPN you can also browse unlimited with MTN BIS Plan which are now unlimited, PD Proxy VPN software gives a free demo usage to test but for more browsing data you will have to buy a voucher.

How to Browse Unlimited with PD Proxy VPN and MTN BIS

1. Subscribe to any of the MTN BIS plans (for 100 Naira daily plan send BBCDAY to 21600 and for 1000 Naira monthly plan send BBC to 21600).
2. Make sure you have the latest java runtime on your computer
3. Goto http://www.pdproxy.com/signup.htm and register (note your username and password)
4. Download the latest PD Proxy VPN software from here http://downloads.pdproxy.com/PD-Proxy_VPN.zip install it
5. Open PD-launcher.exe, when you are prompted to install a driver, press YES
6. When opened goto settings and first change route delay to 2 then use the below settings:

TCP Server port: 443
UDP Server port: 0
Bind local port: 0
Now goto parent proxy settings and use:
IP: 10.199.212.2
Port: 8080
Header: host: ping.blackberry.com

7. Now save and Go back
8. Connected your modem with default MTN APN (web.gprs.mtnnigeria.net)
9. Now select any TCP server of your choice if you are on paid voucher or select the DEMO server if you are testing it.
10.  

Unlimited Browsing With MTN BIS and TunnelGuru VPN

MTN BIS plans are now unlimited and works with most proxy and VPN software, as I have posted MTN BIS working with Simple Server and also MTN BIS working with PD Proxy, note simple server is totally free no need to buy voucher but you will have to use it via proxy 127.0.0.1 port 8080.

If you don’t want that then you can consider TunnelGuru or PD Proxy which are VPN clients and doesn’t need proxy but for efficiency you might need to buy vouchers, note they also have free servers but gives only 150MB daily and also slower than paid servers.

How to use MTN BIS on Computer With TunnelGuru

1. subscribe to any MTN BIS Plan (for 100 Naira daily plan send BBCDAY to 21600 and for 1000 Naira monthly plan send BBC to 21600)
2. Make sure Java runtime is installed on your computer with version not less than 7
3. Goto http://tunnelguru.com/registration.php  register and verify your email
4. Download Latest TunnelGuru from http://tunnelguru.com/download.php make sure to download the appropriate one for your computer (32bit or 64bit)
5. Configure your modem to default MTN APN (web..gprs.mtnnigeria.net)
6. Type in your registered username and password on TunnelGuru software, then configure your TunnelGuru with this settings:

For TunnelGuru TCP
RPORT: 80
LPORT:443
Tick use proxy on advance settings and type in 10.199.212.2:8080
Protocol: TCP
Header: Host: wap.blackberry.com%2f%3a%0a@web.blackberry.com

For TunnelGuru UDP
RPORT: 80
LPORT: 0
Protocol: UDP

For TunnelGuru ICMP
Protocol: ICMP
Mode: Mode-4 (faster)

6.  Select any server if you are on paid voucher or select DEMO server if you want to try it out with the 150MB daily free plan.
7. Connect your modem and click start, wait for it to connect and you are good to go.

Unlimited Browsing With MTN BIS and Simple Server

 The first good news is all MTN BIS plans are now UNLIMITED , you can now tweak the plan to work on PC and other devices and enjoy unlimited internet.

Steps to browse Unlimitedly on MTN BIS on Computer

1. Download and unzipp Simple Server from here MTN BIS SIMPLE SERVER
2. Subscribe to any MTN BIS plan (for 100 Naira daily plan send BBCDAY to 21600 and for 1000 Naira monthly plan send BBC to 21600), both are unlimited
3. Use default MTN apn to connect your modem i.e web.gprs.mtnnigeria.net and connect
4. open the simple server folder and launch the simple server application (the second item in folder), and minimize it.
5. Next on your browser’s settings set the proxy to 127.0.0.1 and port to 8080

NOTE: to use any application (download manager, chatting applications etc you just have to set them to use proxy 127.0.0.1 and port 8080), if you don’t like the use of proxy then look at my tutorials on how to set this up using TunnelGuru VPN and PDProxy VPN.

 

How to Enter Unlock Codes on Blackberry Devices

If you have gotten unlock code to your blackberry and you wondering how to enter  the unlock code then you are on the right page, else if you are still seeking where to buy blackberry unlock codes, the good news is you can get your blackberry unlock codes totally free on our page Unlock Your Blackberry Free within free minutes.

There are 2 methods to enter your unlock codes for blackberry devices, first is by inserting a SIM CARD from another carrier the other is unlock the hidden menu for unlocking, the later will be divided into two types as unlocking a touch screen blackberry differs.

 

Method 1

—-Using a SIM CARD of another carrier—-

1. Insert a SIM CARD from any other carrier apart from the carrier it is locked to, when you switch your device on you will be prompted for a MEP code.

2. Now type in the unlock code you have received free from the page Unlock Your Blackberry Free
and press the enter key, now if all goes well you should see a message that code accepted or sometime you will just be taken to the home screen.

3. Now that you are on the home screen means your device has been successfully unlocked but you still have to do something, now remove the battery and replace it and when it comes up you should get reception from the SIM CARD now.

Method 2 (a)

—-Unlocking via the Hidden Unlock Menu—-

For non touch screen devices like BlackBerry 83xx, 88xx, 8900, 9000, 96xx and 9700 etc

Using this method you dont have to insert a SIM CARD from another carrier, you can unlock with same SIM CARD inside.

1. First you MUST make sure you have a SIM CARD inside and also turned off all network connections (goto Manage connections and click ALL OFF)

2. From the home screen, go to Options > Advanced Options > SIM Card for older devices and goto Options >Device >Advanced System Settings >SIM CARD.

3. Now under the SIM CARD menu type mepd (note: you will not see anything while typing it) this will display the lock status of your device, if you see enable or active then your device is locked really if all the listed items shows disabled then your device is already unlocked.

4. If your device is locked, meaning you saw enable or active against the network above then type mep2 (just like you type mepd, you will not see anything while typing, type mep and press alt key to type number then type 2)

5. A box will prompt up asking you for Network MEP Code, just type the unlock code you have received on our page Unlock Your Blackberry Free and press confirm, you should see code accepted.

6. Restart your device by removing and placing back the battery and remember to go turn on back your connections.

Method 2 (b)

—-Unlocking via the Hidden Unlock Menu for Touch screen devices—-

For touch screen devices like BlackBerry Torch 9860, Torch 9850, Curve 9380 etc

1. First you MUST make sure you have a SIM CARD inside and also turned off all network connections (goto Manage connections and click ALL OFF)

2. From the home screen, go to Options > Advanced Options > SIM Card for older devices and goto Options >Device >Advanced System Settings >SIM CARD.

3. Press the Blackberry  menu key and click “Show Keyboard”

4. Now type in mepd, note you will not see anything while typing it

5. Now type mep2 you can achieve this by typing mep and pressing the ALT key then type 2

6. Now you should get a box asking for network unlock code, type in your unlock code which you have gotten and select confirm.

7. You should get code accepted, now remove and insert your battery to restart it and remember to go back and turn on your connections.

NOTE: if you have a BlackBerry Pearl the same method 2(a) will work but on instead of typing mepd you will type meppd

How to Enter Unlock Code For Blackberry Z10, Q10, Q5 etc

1. Goto to settings>security and privacy>SIM CARD

2. Press the unlock button on SIM CARD page

3. You will be prompted to enter network unlock code, just type it in and confirm it

4. Your device should now show unlocked under network on the phone network lock sub-menu in the SIM CARD menu

How to Use GLO Blackberry BIS Plan on Android Devices

Globacom Nigeria’s internet is one of the most stable and fast internet but many cant use it on android devices because of the cost of its internet plans for android devices.

Blackberry plans are known to be extremely cheap compare to that of its counterparts so every body seems to be searching for a way to use blackberry plans on android devices, people have been successful with this on MTN, AIRTEL and some times ago ETISALAT but for GLO what worked best was changing IMEI of android devices to that of blackberry, this was a problem as many people don’t want to mess around with such technical stuffs.

Good news is you can use GLO BIS plan on android without changing IMEI.

Steps to Using GLO Blackberry BIS Plan on Android Without Changing IMEI

1. First insert your GLO SIM into your android device, goto Settings>Mobile Neworks>Access Point Names and edit the it, only change the APN to blackberry.net then subscribe to a GLO blackberry plan, see here for full list of GLO blackberry plans
2. Put off the network (under SIM management) or put the android device into flight mode.
3. Insert the SIM card into a blackberry phone that supports BIS
4. Now in the blackberry device you should be able to browse the internet with the SIM, now turn it to use 2G and now 3G/4G, now you should see EDGE in capital letter.
5. Open up the default blackberry browser and try to surf the net a little with the BIS plan on EDGE network, if you are unable to browse with the SIM for any reason goto Options>Device>Advance Settings>Host Routing Table> Press the Blackberry option key (BB sign on your phone) and click register, then remove the blackberry and insert it back (hard reset) then try to browse again with the default browser, you should be able to browse now.
6. After browsing a bit on the blackberry phone, remove the SIM and insert in your android device which has its network OFF, now put ON the network or remove from flight mode and you should see H/E now and surely you can start browsing on your android device with the GLO BIS plan.

NOTE: if you put off your android device or your battery runs out you will have to repeat the process, so the best is, before your battery runs out just put OFF network then put back ON when you have charged it