Microsoft’s extortion continues as company inks another Android licensing deal
Microsoft continues to force Android makers to pay up, and the company is now bragging that it owns 70 percent of the Android market.
Thanks to a rock solid patent portfolio, Microsoft has spent the last two years negotiating licensing deals with Android and Chrome OS makers, forcing them to pay Microsoft a piece every time a device sells. Like with other deals, the terms were not disclosed.
Says Microsoft: “We are pleased to have built upon our longstanding relationship with LG to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Together with our ten previous agreements with Android and Chrome OS device manufacturers, including HTC, Samsung and Acer, this agreement with LG means that more than seventy percent of all Android smartphones sold in the U.S. are now receiving coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio. We are proud of the continued success of our program in resolving the IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome OS.”
PS Vita 3G is region-free, but carrier-locked
AT&T has noted today that the upcoming PS Vita with 3G will be carrier locked, meaning only AT&T SIM cards will work in the handheld.
All international GSM SIM and T-Mobile in the U.S. will give an error when turned on.
Yesterday, the carrier revealed pricing for the 3G data plans. The carrier says 250MB will run you $15 per month, and $25 will get you 2GB. Those prices come on top of the extra $50 premium the 3G model demands on the base price.
Although the device is carrier-locked, Sony revealed that device will at least be region-free, meaning Japanese games will work on American handhelds, and every other combination.
With a release date in late February for the U.S. and Europe, the Vita will run on an ARM Cortex A9 quad-core processor and be powered by a quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4+ GPU.
Featuring a 5-inch capacitive multitouch OLED screen (with 16 million colors), the device will be 7.16 by 0.73 by 3.28 inches. Furthermore, the Vita has 512MB memory and 128MB VRAM in its graphics processor.
CES: Asus unveils updated Transformer Prime with 1920×1200 display
Today at CES, Asus has unveiled their next iteration of the Transformer Prime line of tablets, one that has a 1920×1200 resolution display.
The new Transformer Prime (model TF700) will have the same sized screen as its recently released brother, but with a high-density display that should “make the individual pixels difficult to see even with the screen inches from one’s face.”
Other than the resolution, the only other update to the consumer hardware is a 2MP front-side camera which will enable 1080p video chats. The current model has a 1.2MP camera.
Additionally, Asus has changed the chassis, “taking the spin out of the aluminum back panel and inserting a plastic strip that’s supposed to improve Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS reception.” The Prime, at least in review units, was panned for poor Wi-Fi reception. Asus was even forced to remove GPS from the Prime’s spec sheet since it worked so poorly.
The updated tablet is coming in May with a $100 premium to current models, meaning $600 for 32GB and $700 for 64GB.
CES: PlayStation Vita news roundup
AT&T has finally revealed the price if you want 3G data on your PlayStation Vita.
The carrier says 250MB will run you $15 per month, and $25 will get you 2GB.
This price comes on top of the extra $50 premium the 3G model demands on the base price.
Additionally, Sony later announced that the Vita would be getting Netflix access. A streaming subscription to Netflix costs $7.99 per month.
With a release date in late February for the U.S. and Europe, the Vita will run on an ARM Cortex A9 quad-core processor and be powered by a quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4+ GPU.
Featuring a 5-inch capacitive multitouch OLED screen (with 16 million colors), the device will be 7.16 by 0.73 by 3.28 inches. Furthermore, the Vita has 512MB memory and 128MB VRAM in its graphics processor.
Rumor: Apple to open stores in Target locations
According to sources, Apple will open stores within Target locations around the U.S.
By doing so, Apple can cheaply expand into smaller metro areas.
If accurate, Apple will open Apple-branded stores in 25 of the larger Targets at points during this year.
Of course, the launch will be a small test, as Target has 1752 stores in the U.S. Apple has 359 of its own stores around the world, including 245 in the U.S. Apple currently has a similar setup in 600 Best Buy stores. Some of the stores even have Apple Solution Consultants and are dubbed “Apple Shops.”
Apple had previous retail relationships with Circuit City, Office Max and Sears until a decade ago, when they began opening their own retail stores. The Best Buy deal is relatively new.
Target has long sold Apple products, starting with the iPod in 2002.
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DOJ asks for more information in review of Google / Motorola Mobility deal
The US Department of Justice has sent Google a request for additional information as part of their scrutiny of the search giant’s proposed purchase of Motorola Mobility.
As with any deal of this magnitude, the DOJ must conduct an investigation before it can be finalized. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission may have a say in the matter.
Google Senior Vice President David Drummond announced the DOJ request on the company’s Public Policy blog, writing, “Today we received what is called a “second request,” which means that the DOJ is asking for more information so that they can continue to review the deal.”
He added that he doesn’t believe there is any reason to believe the Justice Department will not approve the sale.
However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be additional hurdles to clear before everything is said and done. At a US Senate antitrust hearing last week Google’s Erich Schmidt faced hostile legislators who accused Google of anticompetitive behavior.
Even though the hearing was focused on their search business, more than one Senator intimated Google uses the Android OS primarily to further their dominance.
With national elections for the US presidency and more than half of all legislators coming up next year, political pressure and grandstanding could easily lead to significant delays.
IBM now using Watson supercomputer to save lives
IBM’s supercomputer will now help save lives.
After beating up on lowly humans on ‘Jeopardy,’ IBM’s supercomputer Watson will now help Wellpoint Inc., the health insurer with 34 million members, to diagnose medical problems and authorize the correct treatments.
By integrating Watson’s database into its own existing patient information, Wellpoint says they should be able to find the best treatment and remedies in the quickest time.
Says IBM: “This very much fits into the sweet spot of what we envisioned for the applications of Watson.” Wellpoint agrees: “It’s really a game-changer in health care.”
More specifically, the databases being integrated are Wellpoint’s patient charts/electronic record, the insurance company’s history of medicines and treatments, and Watson’s vast database of textbooks and medical journals.
IBM says it will only take seconds for Watson to sift through all the data and provide several diagnoses or treatments.
Confirmed: Next flagship Android phone to be called Nexus Prime
Samsung has confirmed the existence of the Nexus Prime smartphone.
The company has uploaded the User Agent Profile file for a device dubbed “Nexus Prime,” long rumored to be the first Android phone with Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.
For those keeping count, the device now officially known as Nexus Prime is the “GT-I9250.”
The GT-I9250 is currently in the process of getting both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth certifications, and launch date is expected in late November.
Samsung’s UAP shows a 480 x 800 WVGA resolution screen and an ARM11 processor but those are likely not accurate.
Sony S2 named Sony Tablet P
Last week, the tablet formerly known as S1 was given its official name, the “Tablet S.”
Set for launch in September, the device will run on Honeycomb 3.1 and support an upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The tablet has a 9.4-inch screen, runs on a Tegra 2 processor and is the first tablet to have PlayStation certification. The device will have Wi-Fi, 3G and DLNA connectivity.
Today, Sony has let slip more info on the clam shell designed S2, giving it its official name of “Tablet P.”
The dual-screened device will have 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, 4G support, a Tegra 2 processor and weigh just 13 ounces.
Pricing is still unknown.
Microsoft looking to poach webOS devs
Microsoft looking to poach webOS devs
Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 21 Aug 2011 14:29
Following HP’s decision to kill off all webOS-based hardware and firesale their Pre phones and TouchPad tablet for $49 and $99, respectively, Microsoft is looking to bring talented webOS devs over to the floundering Windows Phone 7 platform.
Microsoft has had good success in bringing developers over to WP7 and despite mediocre hardware sales the platform has 30,000 apps in record time.
Director for Windows Phone 7, Brandon Watson, has tweeted this weekend:
To any published webOS devs: We’ll give you what you need to be successful on #WindowsPhone, including free phones, dev tools, and training, etc
Microsoft is said to have strong tools and a strong training program for WP7 devs.
