Author Archive: Matt

Google to stand with HTC against Apple patent claims

As it has been widely reported, HTC’s share price has fallen considerably following the ITC’s preliminary decision to uphold Apple’s claims that HTC have violated a number of it patents with technology used in several HTC smartphones currently on sale.

However, for HTC it would seem help is at hand from Google. During Google’s Mobile Evolution conference held in Tokyo chairman, Eric Schmidt, delivered a speech wherein he said that Google would support HTC against Apple and that he was confident that ‘HTC would ultimately prevail over Apple.’

Following the statement HTC shares have recovered somewhat this afternoon.

If the ITC’s final decision goes against HTC it could lead to the sales of HTC handsets being blocked in the USA and, by association, spells big trouble for all manufacturers that use Android OS on their phones.

iUsers gives iPad multiple user profile support

If you share you iPad with one or more other people then you’ll know that there is nothing more annoying than when they alter all of your user settings and move your icons.

There is a solution right around the corner though as iUsers creates multiple user profiles and adds a log in button to your iPad. It sets aside an area for each users preferences and app data so you each can have their own unique setup.

There is just one drawback though. In order to use iUsers you must have a jailbroken iPad and download the app through Cydia. Probably not ideal for the masses perhaps.

I’d love to see this released though the Apple App Store but I fear there is little hope of that, there is more chance that Apple will add the functionality natively than that.

If you want to see iUsers in action check out the video below.

Windows Phone powered ZTE phone images leaked

A few days ago James and I went to an event in London where ZTE announced that they would commence selling their phones here in the UK SIM-free under their own brand name rather than through carriers.

The new phones that ZTE are going to launch here, ZTE Skate, ZTE Libra and ZTE Tureis, are all running Android. In fact I don’t think I have ever seen any ZTE handset running anything other than Android.

However! There have been a number of leaked images of a certain ZTE phone running Windows Phone thought to be one of a few new devices to be running the new ‘Mango’ version of Windows Phone.

According to a post on NEOWIN:

Dr. Luo Zhong Sheng, General Manager of Mobile Communications at ZTE gave us a better look at the upcoming ZTE device that will also be running Mango out of the box. The image he posted on Weibo (Chinese version of Twitter) seems to be quite a lot different than the image taken at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference 2011 last week. He also mentioned that whilst ZTE produce Android devices already, he believes Windows Phone will eventually outperform Android in terms of market share.

We look forward to seeing what ZTE have in store for us!

Posted by: Matt

HTC are in Violation of Apple patents say ITC

Earlier this week news broke that Apple were suing HTC again over alleged patent infringements. Apple approached the US International Trade Commission complaining that a number of HTC’s phones, including the EVO 4G and HTC Flyer used technology for which Apple owned the patent.

The gears turn quickly at the ITC it would seem as they have already ruled in favour of Apple. A judges initial determinations was that HTC are indeed infringing upon two of the ten patents that Apple filed a claim over. The ITC must now make a final ruling on the complaint but if they rule again in favour of Apple this could lead to a number of HTC’s handsets being banned from sale in the US.

HTC have already said they would appeal against the decision:

HTC will vigorously fight these two remaining patents through an appeal before the ITC commissioners who make the final decision," said Grace Lei, general counsel for HTC. "This is only one step of many in these legal proceedings.

If Apple are successful in this case it could have much further reaching consequences for manufacturers that use Android on their devices and indeed for the platform as a whole.

One of the complaints deals with the “ability to scroll, zoom, and rotate content on a screen, while the last references "portable computers."

We’ll watch this one closely!