Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 08-04-2013

TechRadar: Phone and communications news TechRadar AU latest feeds

Obama uses presidential clout to aid Apple in Samsung patent war Aug 3rd 2013, 19:35, by Chris Smith US President Barack Obama has intervened to ensure some Apple devices will not be banned from arriving on home soil, following an International Trade Commission ruling in favour of Samsung. The ITC had recommended a US import ban on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and the 3G-capable iterations of the first-gen iPad and iPad 2 on the grounds that they violated a Samsung patent. However, Obama's administration has vetoed (or "disapproved") the decision, winning California-based Apple a reprieve in its long running legal battle with Samsung over mobile devices. The presidential order is significant because it is the first time the POTUS has intejected into a trade dispute since the 1987 Reagan administration. That occurrence also concerned tech companies, in a case filed by Texas Instruments, involving Sharp, NEC, Samsung and Toshiba. Undue leverage The veto assures that Apple will be able to continue selling the accused devices, while newer, more relevant devices are unaffected due to newer chipsets that don't violate Samsung's IP. The decision, which was actually made by the Obama administrations US Trade Representative Michael who cited concerns that patent holders could obtain "undue leverage" by pursuing cases in this way. In a letter to ITC he wrote: "The Policy Statement expresses substantial concerns, which I strongly share, about the potential harms that can result from owners of standards ­essential patents ("SEPs") who have made a voluntary commitment to offer to license SEPs on terms that are fair, reasonable, and non­discriminatory ("FRAND"), gaining undue leverage and engaging in "patent hold­up", i.e., asserting the patent to exclude an implementer of the standard from a market to obtain a higher price for use of the patent than would have been possible before the standard was set, when alternative technologies could have been chosen." Next: BlackBerrys are apparently on the outs with the US government Samsung and Apple are about to do battle for the Pentagon. Google to consider handing over future Glass production to Motorola? Aug 3rd 2013, 19:14, by Chris Smith Google is considering giving its Motorola arm the responsibility of manufacturering future iterations of the Google Glass hardware, according to Moto's chief executive. Dennis Woodside told the Wall Street Journal that building the AR specs "could someday be an opportunity" for the company. Moto is already advising its overlords at Google how to handle some of the production issues relating to the first iteration of the future-thinking device, which will reportedly be assembled in the United States. The Journal's report also claimed Google is "forming tighter connections" with Motorola, despite assuring other hardware partners that its multi-billion dollar acquisition won't result in favoured nation status. Shrewd move The first Motorola device in the new era, the Moto X, was unveiled on Thursday and despite some rather subtle new touches, it wasn't a hugely obvious Google device. Moto retained some exclusive software features such as its new camera interface, contactless voice commands and a new Active Notifications feature that don't yet feature in the core Android experience. The device also maintains a familiar design language, and will not come fitted with the newest version of Android Jelly Bean, 4.3, confirming Google's paw-print isn't plastered all over the Moto X. Although Google bought Moto largely because of its giant patent portfolio, it was also seen as a shrewd move to guard against Samsung's growing domination of the Android ecosystem. Next: Read the account of one app developer who thinks Google Glass could aid safe driving, despite the UK looking to ban road users from wearing the device. Samsung Gear smartwatch to arrive with Galaxy Note 3 on September 4? Aug 3rd 2013, 16:26, by Chris Smith Rumours have been rife for a while that the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone will arrive on the eve of IFA at a special event on September 4, but reports this weekend suggest it may have some company. Reports emanating from the company's South Korean homeland claimed the company will also introduce the purported Samsung Gear smartwatch during the event. Samsung has gotten into the habit of launching its products on the eve of shows, so they don't get lost in the fog of countless announcements during the events. Last year before IFA the company outed the Galaxy Note 2, so a follow-up this year would make sense and fits with what we've been hearing over the last few weeks. Pre-emptive strike In terms of the Samsung's forthcoming mobile accessory, the name Gear was outed earlier this month in a in a trademark filing. The filing described "watches that communicate data to personal digital assistants, smart phones, table PCs, PDA, and personal computers through internet websites and other computer and electronic communications networks; watchbands that communicate data to [the same aforementioned devices]." With Apple rumoured to be making progress on its iWatch project, the launch of a Samsung equivalent would give the company the opportunity to make a pre-emptive strike and set the tone for the smartwatch conversation. As well as Apple and Samsung, Google's also thought to be in on the smartwatch act. Here's what we've heard so far. Ban it? Google Glass actually made me a safer driver, says app developer Aug 3rd 2013, 15:54, by Chris Smith The use of Google Glass specs could make driving safer than when using traditional in-car devices, according to one developer creating apps for the future-thinking device. This week, the UK government's Department for Transport suggested the device will suffer the same fate as mobile phones and be banned from use while driving, with offenders incurring up to £90 in fines. While the DfT said Google Glass could be a distraction for drivers, the maker of the TeslaGlass app, said using his Google Glass Explorer Edition behind the wheel has helped his focus. Sahas Katta told Stuff.tv he'd stopped checking his phone while driving thanks to Google Glass notifications in his eye line and claimed the device had negated the need for a distracting satnav on the dashboard. No distractions He said: "Cellphones are extremely distracting in a vehicle. But I've been using Glass for about three months now and my experience so far is that I've completely stopped touching my phone ... Glass has eliminated that necessity for me." Katta added that, while performing complex tasks like browsing the web could certainly be distracting for road users, Glass has proved to a safer solution for navigation compared with traditional sat navs. He said: "With navigation, it's the best technology I've used to date – there's no in-car, mounted or smartphone navigation system that can beat the experience of having Glass so far. "With a dashboard navigation, at night it's glowing and is very distracting, and through the day it's reflective and sometimes you can't see it. With Glass on the other hand, your entire dash is completely clear, there's nothing on the windshield. "With Glass, as you approach a turn it makes a little sound and tells you there's a turn coming up, and then once you're closer, it turns on for a second time to remind you that it's time to turn. It removes any constant distraction so you're not seeing anything on the screen." 'OK Glass: Save my life' The developer, whose app gives drivers limited control over Tesla electric cars, says Glass has already made him a safer driver, but suggested future innovations could even save lives. He said eye sensors rumoured to be present within the device could alert drivers if detects their eyes have been closed for too long. It's interesting stuff, but will the tech ever be given the opportunity the opportunity to flourish? Now check out our video: Is the Glass half full or half empty?

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