Well, this video takes the cake. It’s epic. It’s awesome. Samsung vs. Apple in the ultimate Star Wars parody battle. Whoever made this video, I hope you become a millionaire.

Via: Kotaku

Cheers Nick S!

Last week, Apple and HTC met for a 10-year licensing deal, which led us to wonder if any other Android OEMs would follow suit. Samsung wants to head that discussion off before it even starts with a short and to the point comment today. Samsung’s Mobile Head JK Shin had this to say on the subject:

Regardless of HTC’s settlement with Apple, we have no intention [to settle].

That was simple. Samsung certainly has the sales numbers to go toe-to-toe with Apple and pay for these court proceedings. If they really think they have a case it’s up to them, but as of now it doesn’t seem that the end of the patent wars are near.

Via: Sammy Hub

As of this weekend, we no longer (well, for 10 years) have to write about Apple and HTC fighting in courts over patents. According to press releases posted by both companies yesterday, the two have reached a global settlement that includes the dismissal of all current lawsuits and a 10-year license agreement. This agreement extends to current and future patents. The terms have been kept confidential.

CEOs from both companies made brief statements, admitting that they are pleased to have resolved their dispute. Both also mentioned “innovation” as something they are looking forward to.

I don’t really have a lot of thoughts to add other than, “It’s about damn time.” HTC is struggling and can’t continue to fight in courts against someone as big and powerful as Apple. With this out of the way, they can get back to building great products and trying to turn down times around. 

The trial between Samsung and Apple that was decided months ago will not go away, but today’s news might have some serious implications on the outcome. We’ve talked about Vel Hogan before, the jury foreman that may or may not have had previous bias against Samsung that could have affected the outcome. Judge Lucy Koh said in a statement today that she would be willing to hear Samsung’s case that Hogan concealed information during jury selection. 

According to research firm Strategy Analytics, the iPhone is no longer the best selling smartphone in the world. During Q3 of this year, the Samsung Galaxy S3 topped the iPhone 4S to take the crown. Having sold 18 million units in Q3, the Galaxy S3 held a 10.7% share of the entire smartphone market, while the iPhone 4S held 9.7%, moving 16.2 million units.

Now, keep in mind that the iPhone 5 didn’t have the entire quarter to tally numbers, so Q4 could be drastically different. Still, this is a pretty big feat for Samsung, since Apple has owned this title for years. There truly are only two major players in the smartphone industry these days.

Thoughts?

Via:  The Next Web | Business Wire

Cheers Nick S!

Remember last week, when we reported that Apple was only willing to pay $1 to Motorola for every iPhone sold over use of the Google-owned company’s patents? The lawsuit involving that report has now been tossed out by a judge in Wisconsin. Apple’s initial complaint that Google and Motorola were unfairly trying to license their patents in question has been shut down “with prejudice” by the judge. That means that the case is done at the trial court level, but can still be appealed, something Apple will likely do.

+1.

Via:  Reuters | FOSS Patents

Cheers Cory and everyone else who sent this in!

Here is an interesting development out of the many Apple vs. Android court cases that are going on around the world today. Up until now, Apple has seemed vehemently against licensing anything from Android, but their lawyers told a court in Wisconsin that they would pay $1 to Motorola for every iPhone sold to use essential patents.

There is still four days before the trial starts, so things have yet to get underway, but this is certainly a change in tone from other patent spats. I’m sure Moto will be looking for more than this amount, but if Apple’s iPhone keeps selling like they have been, they stand to make a good amount of money if some type of deal is settled on.

What do you think? Can the two giants finally work something out?

Via: Electronista

Apple was forced by the courts to post an apology to Samsung on their website already. Dragged kicking and screaming into it, they finally complied, but a few people thought that it wasn’t worded properly, more specifically the paragraphs about how “cool” their products were. This was brought before the judge and the judge agreed that it must be changed, giving them 48 hours to do so. It is Apple however, and they responded by saying it would take at least 14 days to make a change to the website. The judge was in disbelief, reportedly.

At this point there seems to be a stand-off of sorts, but Apple wouldn’t want to risk making the courts more upset than they already are. If it’s not changed within the 48 hour time limit you can expect to hear more interesting stories coming out of this court case.

Via: The Guardian