Mac News: Android

Google Digs Up Old Direct-Sales Nexus Strategy
May 16, 2012

Two years after its initial attempt to sell Nexus smartphones directly to consumers flopped, Google is apparently trying to revive the strategy. This time, though, it's added a few new touches. It's going to work with up to five device manufacturers at a time to create a portfolio of Nexus-line devices that include smartphones and tablets.

Judge Takes Oracle Attorney to Task Over Importance of 9 Lines of Code
May 16, 2012

After months of legal wrangling between technology titans Oracle and Google, phase two of the case has headed to the jury, where 11 good people will decide whether Google actually infringed on Java-related patents, and more importantly whether this was a threat to Oracle's business. The two patents in question were actually acquired by Oracle when it bought Java maker Sun Microsystems more than a year after Google launched its first Android handset.

Code Clues Reheat Google Tablet Rumors
May 15, 2012

Murmurs about Google's supposed plans to launch its own tablet soon are growing to a roar. Source code from Google and Samsung indicate that a Nexus tablet is in the works, Slashgear reported. "It seems logical that it will be a Google Nexus device consistent with the Nexus smartphone, but the problem is there's nothing unique about the Nexus smartphone," suggested Andrew Eisner, director of community and content at Retrevo.

The Thompson Crisis: Sloppy Whopper or Poor Career Personal Hygiene?
May 11, 2012

It's been more than a week since Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson's resume blew up in his face, and by the looks of things, the Yahoo board isn't bothered by it. They're not bothered enough to fire the guy, anyway. Thompson's still in charge at Yahoo, and a week's worth of morale-melting embarrassment and haranguing from Dan Loeb haven't been enough to change that.

Google Drive for Android: Just About as Good as the Rest
May 11, 2012

Keep Everything. Share Anything. When a company like Google uses a tagline that includes the words "share anything" for a Dropbox-like cloud file storage system, my immediate reaction is "with whom?" Google, after-all, is a company that's made its money delivering ads based on what it learns about our habits. There's been debate about this very question since Drive launched.

Oracle, Google Take Swings in Round 2
May 10, 2012

The Oracle v. Google copyright infringement and patent violation trial is continuing with the second phase, despite key unresolved issues from the copyright portion of the case. Following the jury's partial verdict earlier this week, Google is seeking a new trial on the copyright phase. Meanwhile, as arguments over whether Google infringed on Oracle's Java patents get under way, it is clear that the jury will be presented with much of the same testimony and evidence.

Mixed Signals in IT's Great IP War
May 08, 2012

Recent news that Microsoft and Barnes & Noble agreed to partner on the Nook e-reader line rather than keep fighting suggests the prospect of fewer IP suits in the industry. However, the deal further obscures the blurry IP and patent landscape currently impacting both enterprise IT and consumer technology. It is good to see settlement. However, this settlment comes from the one conflict in this ongoing war that was actually shedding some light on the matter.

Oracle v. Google, Round 1, May Be a Toss-Up
May 07, 2012

The jury hearing the Google-Oracle copyright violation and patent infringement case is expected to return a verdict on the first phase of the trial -- possibly a partial verdict -- as early as Monday. The jurors retreated to consider the charges last week, after attorneys for Oracle and Google delivered their final arguments.

The Samsung Galactic Empire
May 05, 2012

This past week has been especially kind to Samsung. Big sales numbers were followed by the unveiling of the Galaxy S III, the company's latest flagship phone and one that could very well own the market this summer. The S III runs Android Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest version of Google's operating system and one that up to this point hasn't taken residence on a very large number of phones.

Galaxy S III Serves Up Big Dollop of Ice Cream Sandwich
May 04, 2012

Samsung launched the Galaxy S III smartphone in London on Thursday. The device will run Android Ice Cream Sandwich, version 4.0 of the mobile OS. The Galaxy S III's features include facial and voice recognition, voice command capability and eye tracking.

Jury to Decide Winner of Java Copyright Joust
May 01, 2012

The Oracle and Google legal teams delivered their closing arguments Monday in the high-profile trial over allegations Google violated Oracle's copyright on Java, and the case was sent to the jury. Oracle's argument, presented by attorney Michael Jacobs, is that Google knew it needed a license for Java and ultimately opted not to get one. Google attorney Robert Van Nest took pains to emphasize that Sun Microsystems approved of Google's use of the Java code.

Microsoft Carves a Notch in Nook
May 01, 2012

Microsoft on Monday said it will pay $300 million to get a piece of Barnes & Noble's Nook tablet action for the Windows 8 platform. The two companies will partner in a new Barnes & Noble subsidiary which will push further into the education market. Barnes & Noble will initially create a Nook app for Windows 8.

Samsung May Have Edged Out Apple
April 30, 2012

Samsung's first quarter earnings suggest that it has reached a significant milestone: It could be the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer, topping Apple in market reach. In this case, "suggest" is the operative word. "As you know, Samsung doesn't give their cellphone shipment numbers," said Azita Arvani of the Arvani Group, "and analysts have differing opinions on how many Samsung smartphones were actually shipped."

Instagram: Fun but No Threat to the Art World
April 27, 2012

Instagram, the popular photography and social networking app for the iPhone, with a whopping 27 million iOS users, recently became available for Android. Around 5 million Android users reportedly signed up for the app in the first few days of the Android release. Then social network Facebook offered $1 billion for the company. What's going on?

Testimony Weakens Google's Copyright Defense in Java Joust
April 26, 2012

As testimony unfolds in the Oracle-Google lawsuit, now in its second week, it appears that Google's defense against copyright infringement is vulnerable. That is not to say Google will not ultimately prevail in the end. Oracle has alleged that Google's Android OS infringes both Java patents and copyrights. So far, testimony has focused on the copyright issue, and Google's defense against Oracle's allegations appears to have some holes.

Oracle v. Google: The Trial and the Errors
April 26, 2012

With all the fabulous and exciting technologies to talk about here in the world of FOSS -- the shiny, brand-spankin'-new Ubuntu Linux 12.04, to name just one -- it always seems a crying shame to have to waste any breath at all discussing lawsuits. Discuss them we must, however, because in today's litigious landscape, a few powerful software giants keep coming back for more. The latest example? None other than Oracle v. Google, of course.