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Tag: Galaxy Tab

  • Samsung Unveils Galaxy Tab Designed For Students

    Samsung Unveils Galaxy Tab Designed For Students

    As the tablet market matures in the U.S., manufacturers will have to start looking for alternative revenue streams. Apple has already demonstrated that education is a sure fire way to increase sales of tablets with schools all over the nation adopting iPads for use in the classroom. Samsung is now heading down the same path.

    At FETC 2014, Samsung announced that it plans to release a version of its Galaxy Tab built specifically for education. The tablet will be taking advantage of Google’s new Google Play for Education initiative that sees a special Google Play store set up with access to grade-appropriate educational apps.

    “Samsung and Google for Education share a commitment to delivering innovative learning experiences to improve student outcomes,” said Tod Pike, senior vice president at Samsung’s Enterprise Business Division. “The new Galaxy Tab with Google Play for Education integration was created to specifically address the needs of today’s schools and support our vision for powering education by empowering educators.”

    As far as specs are concerned, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab for education is no slouch. It’s the standard 10.1-inch model with WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n support and Android 4.4. Samsung also notes that the tablets feature NFC so teachers can update each tablet simply by touching their tablet to it.

    Samsung’s Galaxy Tab for education will be available in April through Samsung’s own distribution channels. If tablets aren’t your thing, Samsung is also showing off its latest Chromebooks as a cheaper alternative for schools looking to drag themselves into the 21st century.

    Image via Samsung/Business Wire

  • Samsung Announces The Galaxy Tab 3, Gets A May Release

    The original Galaxy Tab helped to popularize the 7-inch tablet when it was released in 2010. Samsung then began to experiment with different sizes in 2011, but returned to the original branding with the Galaxy Tab 2 in 2012. Now the company is sticking with the branding in 2013 with the Galaxy Tab 3.

    Samsung announced today that it intends to launch the Galaxy Tab 3 in May. The company is also working on a 3G capable version of the Galaxy Tab 3 that will launch in June. Samsung says it has made a number of enhancements to the design and internal hardware to increase performance and usability:

  • Easy Handgrip and Portability: Its compact, one-hand grip form factor ensures users can hold comfortably for hours as well as store in a pocket or small bag for reading and entertainment on the go. The sleek and stylish design encompasses thinner bezel than the previous GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0).
  • Better Multimedia Performance: Powered by a 1.2GHz Dual Core processor, the device allows for faster downloads and sharing, while providing easy access to videos, apps, games, and the web. Offered with either 8/16 of internal storage plus up to 64GB of expandable memory, the device has plenty of space to hold your favorite photos, music, apps, videos and more.
  • Enhanced User Experience: The GALAXY Tab 3 7-inch is equipped to better capture life’s moments in stunning clarity and resolution with its 3-megapixel camera rear camera and 1.3 -megapixel front camera. Combined with the latest Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), it allows users to share photos, videos, and life’s special moments through a few quick taps and swipes.

    • The Galaxy Tab 3 is an upgrade from the Tab 2 in most areas except for the display. Samsung is still keeping with the 1024×600 display that was in the Tab 2. This particular series of tablets is meant for the cost-conscious, but it would have been nice to see Samsung upgrade the Tab 3 to at least a 1280×800 display.

    That being said, the target audience for the Tab 3 will probably not care much for the display resolution. It will be marketed at the consumer that wants an inexpensive tablet.

    Of course, Samsung will have to compete with Google’s own Nexus 7. The current hardware is already better than the Tab 3, and rumors point to the next Nexus 7 being much better. With Google’s low pricing, Samsung will have to convince consumers that it provides a better Android experience despite having inferior specs.

  • Apple No Longer Hiding Samsung Statement On Its UK Site

    Apple No Longer Hiding Samsung Statement On Its UK Site

    Apple’s Samsung statement has been the subject of repeated court rulings and Internet mockery. Its the latter that may have changed Apple’s statement once again.

    CNET is reporting that users on Reddit and Hacker News both pointed out that Apple was hiding its Samsung statement below the fold, if you will, on its UK Web site. Users visiting the site would have to scroll down to see the statement and a link to the apology. After pointing this out, Apple seems to nulled the code that was hiding the statement.

    When visiting Apple’s UK site, users will now see the site in its entirety, including the statement:

    Apple No Longer Hiding Apology On Its UK Site

    CNET found that the code originally used to hide the bottom half of the site is still there. Apple merely inserted a stopper to keep the code from being called when the page loads up. The change could have been due to Apple deciding to change the design of its Web site, but others are taking it as preemptive action to prevent any further court orders.

    The current statement in regards to Samsung is set to run on Apple’s UK site until sometime in December. The company has also been printing the statement in newspapers and magazines across the country. Apple originally published a passive-aggressive statement, but a court order forced Apple to replace it with the statement you see now.

  • Apple Publishes Revised Samsung Statement

    Apple Publishes Revised Samsung Statement

    It’s rare for Apple to admit any wrongdoing. It’s even more rare when it comes to its competition as it took a court order for Apple to say that Samsung did not copy the iPad. The first public statement, however, was quickly pulled as the court deemed it inaccurate. Now Apple is back with a revised statement that’s free of any snark found in the original statement.

    When you visit Apple’s UK Web site now, you’re greeted by a much larger statement at the bottom of the page. It’s no longer a small link, but a mini-statement in and of itself with a prominent link pointing the user to the statement.

    Apple Publishes Revised Samsung Statement

    If you recall, the original statement contained a lengthy quote from the judge who ruled in the Apple/Samsung case in the UK. The judge said that Samsung’s tablets were not as cool, and Apple emphasized this point in its original statement. It also pointed out the other patent trials that Apple has won around the world.

    The revised statement gets rid of that in favor of something more straightforward that just contains the facts. It’s not as fun or funny as the original, but the courts should be content with the statement:

    On 9 July 2012 the High Court of Justice of England and Wales ruled that Samsung Electronic (UK) Limited’s Galaxy Tablet Computers, namely the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do not infringe Apple’s Community registered design No. 0000181607-0001. A copy of the full judgment of
    the High Court is available from www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Patents/2012/1882.html.

    That Judgment has effect throughout the European Union and was upheld by the Court of Appeal of England and Wales on 18 October 2012. A copy of the Court of Appeal’s judgment is available from www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/1339.html. There is no injunction in respect of the Community registered design in force anywhere in Europe.

    The revised statement has to remain on Apple’s UK site throughout December. The company was also ordered to take out print ads saying that Samsung did not copy the iPad in popular newspapers and magazines across the UK. Those ads are reportedly showing up now.

  • UK Court Orders Apple To Rewrite Its Samsung Statement

    UK Court Orders Apple To Rewrite Its Samsung Statement

    Last week, Apple published a statement on its Web site saying that Samsung did not copy the iPad. The statement was ordered by a UK court after Apple lost its patent battle against Samsung. Now the courts are saying that Apple’s statement isn’t good enough.

    Bloomberg reports that the UK Court of Appeals has told Apple that its statement is “non-compliant” with the original order. Now the judges are telling the company to put a simpler statement on its page within 48 hours. The order also says that Apple can not hide the statement in a tiny link at the bottom of its store page.

    Apple is arguing that posting an updated statement would take the company up to 14 days. One of the judges, Jacob Robin, expressed disbelief at Apple’s request for 14 days to amend the statement. He said that he would “like to see the head of Apple make an affidavit setting out the technical difficulties” in regards to updating a statement on the company’s Web site. In the end, the court rejected Apple’s request for extension.

    Now Apple has 48 hours to remove the four paragraphs that detail the court cases that Apple has won against Samsung. The UK court says that Apple’s statements makes it appear that the UK justice system “is out of step with other courts” when the reality is that Apple has lost a number of its court battles around the world.

    As of now, the original statement is still present on Apple’s Web site. The company must pull the original statement within 24 hours. We’ll bring you the updated statement when and if it’s made available. One of Apple’s lawyers, Michael Beloff, is not very happy with the ruling as he told the court that the statement “is not designed to punish” or “make us grovel.” It’s obvious the company is going to fight this.

  • Apple Acknowledges That Samsung Didn’t Copy The iPad… Kind Of

    Apple Acknowledges That Samsung Didn’t Copy The iPad… Kind Of

    Earlier this year, a UK court ruled that Samsung didn’t infringe upon Apple’s patents in regards to the company’s Galaxy Tab devices. Normally, it would have ended there, but the judge also ruled that Apple must put a notice on its Web site acknowledging that Samsung didn’t copy the iPad. The notice was supposed to go up today and Apple didn’t disappoint.

    If you head over to Apple’s UK Web site, you’ll see a small link at the bottom of the page that says, “Samsung/Apple UK Judgment.” The link takes you to a white page with the following statement:

    On 9th July 2012 the High Court of Justice of England and Wales ruled that Samsung Electronic (UK) Limited’s Galaxy Tablet Computer, namely the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do not infringe Apple’s registered design No. 0000181607-0001. A copy of the full judgment of the High court is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Patents/2012/1882.html.

    In the ruling, the judge made several important points comparing the designs of the Apple and Samsung products:

    “The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking. Overall it has undecorated flat surfaces with a plate of glass on the front all the way out to a very thin rim and a blank back. There is a crisp edge around the rim and a combination of curves, both at the corners and the sides. The design looks like an object the informed user would want to pick up and hold. It is an understated, smooth and simple product. It is a cool design.”

    “The informed user’s overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool.”

    That Judgment has effect throughout the European Union and was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 18 October 2012. A copy of the Court of Appeal’s judgment is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/1339.html. There is no injunction in respect of the registered design in force anywhere in Europe.

    However, in a case tried in Germany regarding the same patent, the court found that Samsung engaged in unfair competition by copying the iPad design. A U.S. jury also found Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple’s design and utility patents, awarding over one billion U.S. dollars in damages to Apple Inc. So while the U.K. court did not find Samsung guilty of infringement, other courts have recognized that in the course of creating its Galaxy tablet, Samsung willfully copied Apple’s far more popular iPad.

    At this point, Apple is being the bratty kid you knew in first grade. They apologize after being called out for it, but it’s not much of an apology. It’s the kind of passive-agressive stance that’s more funny than anything.

    Apple has hidden away the above statement on its Web site, but the statement is also to be published in newspapers and magazines across the UK. It will be interesting to see if Apple changes its tune in the print version.

    [h/t: iMore]

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition Is About To Be Available

    Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition Is About To Be Available

    Samsung announced today that its Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition, which comes in white, and bundled with a keyboard dock and USB adapter in the box, is about to be available.

    The bundle also comes with an insert of recommended educational apps to download from Google Play. It comes at a retail value of $350 for $249.99.

    Some were able to ge their hands on it early, so you can see it here:

    “Students will realize substantial benefits from the bundle, which will add a physical keyboard to the device as well as a USB adapter that supports plugging in USB thumb drives as well as peripherals such USB mice,” Samsung says. “With these accessories and the preloaded Polaris Office, the GALAXY Tab 2 is perfect for typing research reports or even creating presentations. In addition, the multimedia features on the GALAXY Tab 2 are perfect for enjoying movies and music.”

    “The education market is a significant priority for Samsung, and we are very pleased to deliver a bundle that is sure to be appealing to just about any student at a very competitive price point,” explained Travis Merrill, Director of Marketing, GALAXY Tab, Samsung Electronics America. “A busy student can achieve a PC-like setup in the dorm room, yet still pop the GALAXY Tab 2 out of the dock and slip it into a pocket for usage while on the go. It truly is the smarter way to learn.”

    The Student Edition will go on sale beginning 09/19, and will only be available for two weeks.

  • Galaxy Note Tablet Launch Accompanied by Verizon Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

    Tomorrow will be the day that Android (or Samsung) fans can get their hands on the new Galaxy Note 10.1. The Note will launch in two versions: a $499 16GB model and a $549 32GB version. Both versions of the new Note are 10.1-inches across, but if you are looking for something smaller, Verizon has you covered.

    Tomorrow will also be the day that Verizon begins selling an LTE version of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. The mini-tablet will have a 7-inch display and will be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The tablet has support for Verizon’s 4G LTE data network, a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, and only comes in an 8GB version, though the device does support microSD cards of up to 64GB. It has a 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera and a VGA front-facing camera. Also, the device will come pre-loaded with apps that Samsung and Verizon think customers will want, such as Netflix, Amazon Kindle, Peel Smart Remote, and Samsung’s Media Hub.

    Verizon and Samsung are marketing the Tab 2 to businesses as well. The Galaxy Tab 2 features on-device AES-256 bit encryption, has support for VPN and MDM solutions, and comes with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync.

    The Verizon Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 will cost $349.99, and can be bought in Verizon stores or through the Verizon website. That price is $100 more than the Wi-Fi only version of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, which retails for $249. Customers purchasing the Tab 2 from Verizon will be required to subscribe to a Verizon wireless data plan. Current Verizon customers will be able to add the device to their existing Share Everything plan for $10 a month.

  • Galaxy Tab 7.7 Banned From Being Sold In 27 European Countries

    The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 has been banned from being sold in Europe, following a ruling in a German court. That’s certainly not good news for Samsung, nor is it good news for Google, who is trying to gain ground in the tablet market with its Android operating system.

    Apple announced yesterday that it sold 17 million iPads last quarter.

    The ruling came as the result of an Apple win in a patent battle with Samsung. CNET shares a statement from Samsung, saying it’s “disappointed with the court’s ruling” and it “will continue…to protect our intellectual property rights and defend against Apple’s claims to ensure our products remain available to consumers throughout the European Union”.

    Slate put together this video report about the ordeal:

    The ban applies to all 27 member states of the European Union, and marks a very significant blow for the product, and for Android. Apparently the Galaxy Tab 10.1 can still be sold, as its design is different enough from the iPad to avoid such a ban. The court just didn’t feel the same way about the Galaxy Tab 7.7.

    It’s certainly a bigger blow to Samsung that it is to Google, as Android is available on plenty of other tablets, but having more choices for Android is what has gotten the operating system where it is today. Not having to rely one specific device, and being available for a multitude of feature sets and price ranges has been key for Android’s increased market share.

    Samsung touts the Galaxy Tab 7.7 as the world’s first tablet to feature “the brilliant Super AMOLED Plus display”.

  • U.K. Judge Declares Galaxy Tab “Not As Cool” As iPad

    With the patent war between Apple and Samsung raging in courtrooms around the world, it can sometimes be hard to tell who’s winning and who’s losing. Apple wins a battle here, Samsung wins a battle there, but nobody ever appears to be actually ahead. Recently, though, a British judge handed Samsung a major victory, but with a little bit of a stinger attached.

    According to a report this morning from Bloomberg, U.K. High Court judge Colin Birss ruled that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 doesn’t infringe on the design patents Apple claims it does because consumers aren’t likely to mistake the Galaxy Tab for the much cooler iPad. Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs, he said “do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. … They are not as cool.”

    So, while Judge Birss definitely handed Samsung a victory, he did so in a very backhanded way. And, frankly, in a way that reflects the realities of the tablet market. The Galaxy Tab has done decently well for itself, as Android tablets go, but it has posed no more real threat to the iPad than any other tablet, despite looking suspiciously similar. For the moment, the tablet market is Apple’s to rule. Every other tablet maker is stuck vying for a distant second place (a position the Galaxy Tab does not occupy). Judge Birss appears to know that, and to understand that consumers aren’t likely to mistake anything for Apple’s iPad.

    Meanwhile, Samsung also scored another minor victory – or, at least, a temporary reprieve – in the U.S. when Judge Lucy Koh agreed to stay the injunction against Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus. All in all, things look to be going well for Samsung at the moment.

  • Apple Wins Samsung Galaxy Tab Injunction

    Apple Wins Samsung Galaxy Tab Injunction

    Apple has succeeded in securing a ban on Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 in U.S. stores. Late yesterday afternoon Judge Lucy Koh granted Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction on Samsung’s tablet. She declared that Apple had offered enough evidence to prove that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 infringes on some of Apple’s design patents. On those grounds, she said, “denial of an injunction would cause Apple irreparable harm,” and that “any further delay of the injunction is not justified.”

    This ruling overturns a previous denial of the same request. The court previously ruled that although Apple had met most of the requirements necessary to justify an injunction, the design patent in question was invalid. A Federal Circuit Court overturned that portion of the ruling, clearing the way for this injunction to be issued.

    In her ruling, Judge Koh says that Apple “has presented a strong case on the merits,” and that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is “substantially similar” to the design patent in question. To put it simply: Judge Koh is pretty sure that Samsung copied Apple with the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

    Samsung, of course, wasted no time in responding. In what has to be some sort of record, it took them a mere five hours to file a notice that they planned to appeal the ruling.

    It’s not clear when the injunction will go into effect – that is to say, when Galaxy Tabs will start being pulled from U.S. shelves. You can read Judge Koh’s ruling below:

    Apple Samsung Injunction

  • Apple, Samsung Meet May 21-22 To Discuss Settlement

    Earlier this month we brought you news that Apple and Samsung had been instructed to meet to discuss a settlement for their ongoing patent lawsuit, which will soon be heading to trial in California. The meeting, ordered by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh, was to be held within 90 days.

    Now, Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents is reporting that a date for the settlement meeting has been set. Apple CEO Tim Cook will meet with Samsung CEO Gee-Sung Choi, along with their respective general counsels, in San Francisco on May 21st and 22nd at 9:30 AM (Pacific time, naturally). The is to be mediated by U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero, who has asked the companies to provide “a candid evaluation of the parties’ likelihood of prevailing on the claims and defense” by May 9th.

    Apple and Samsung have been engaged in this patent infringement battle since last April, when Apple filed suit in U.S. District Court. Apple’s suit alleged that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy smartphones “slavishly” copied design elements of Apple’s iPhone and iPad. Samsung countersued in the U.S. and elsewhere. The current dispute now consists of roughly 20 separate suits in ten countries.

    The likelihood of this settlement meeting actually resolving the dispute and avoiding a trial is fairly low. Though Tim Cook may not share his predecessor’s ferocious anger over situations like this one, he has said that Apple will continue litigation unless he can be satisfied that companies like Samsung will stop infringing on Apple’s designs and make appropriate reparations. A similar settlement meeting between Oracle and Google concerning their current patent lawsuit was not able to avert a trial.

  • Samsung Ordered To Give Apple Documents In Infringement Suit

    Apple has won a victory in one of its myriad patent infringement lawsuits against Samsung, as a judge ruled that Samsung violated a court order by failing to hand certain documents over to Apple during the discovery process. The documents apparently deal with specific products made by Apple, and Samsung has failed to hand them over despite two orders to do so.

    According to Bloomberg, U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal issued the third order yesterday. While Grewal acknowledged “the burden placed upon [Samsung] by the compressed case schedule and the numerous claims at issue,” he said that the company is not excused from its “obligation to comply” with the courts instructions.

    As part of yesterday’s order, Grewal also imposed several monetary sanctions on Samsung, pursuant to Apple’s earlier requests. Other sanctions, however, were denied. A Samsung spokesperson promised that the company would “respond in accordance with the court’s order and produce the requested documentation within the timeframe provided.”

    Apple filed suit in the U.S. in April of last year following the release of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1. Apple’s suit alleged that the Galaxy Tab and some of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones copied the design of Apple’s iPhone and iPad. Following Apple’s initial suit, Samsung countersued in the U.S. and then filed its own patent infringement suits against Apple in several other countries. At present the fracas consists of over 20 suits in 10 countries.

    The U.S. suit, which was filed first, has progressed the farthest and is nearing a trial date. Last week, as part of the proceeding, the two companies were ordered to meet and discuss the possibility of reaching a settlement before taking the case to trial.

    With the change in leadership at Apple following the death of Steve Jobs last year, many have wondered whether Apple’s stance on lawsuits such as this one would change. Jobs was famously unforgiving in such matters, while Tim Cook seems far less fierce. During Apple’s quarterly earnings call yesterday, Cook was asked about his stance on continuing litigation. While he said that dislikes litigation, he also said that “we just want people to invent their own stuff,” and stressed that he did not want Apple to “become the developer for the world.” While he might be more inclined to settle certain suits than his predecessor, Cook said that such settlements would not be possible unless he could be assured that the infringement on Apple’s intellectual property would stop, and that Apple would be properly compensated for past infringement.

    Given Cook’s response yesterday and Samsung’s generally entrenched attitude concerning the situation, it doesn’t look like that a settlement will be reached before the case goes to trial.

  • Samsung Announces New Galaxy Tabs, Galaxy Players

    Samsung has announced updates to its popular Galaxy Tab line of tablets. The new Galaxy Tab 2 brings several new features and ships with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. At the same time, they’ve announced two new Galaxy Player devices. These media players allow users to get “the full Android experience” without the need to pay for smartphone service contracts. The company also hinted at forthcoming updates to the Galaxy Note line.

    The Galaxy Tab 2 will be available in two variations: 7-inch (pictured below) and 10.1-inch (pictured above). Both tablets feature dual core processors, Ice Cream Sandwich, and integrated microSD card slots that allow their memory to be expanded by 32GB. The 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 comes with 8GB of onboard storage, while the 10.1-inch model comes with 16GB. Both also include a 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera and a VGA front camera, as well as GPS capabilities.

    Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch

    Perhaps the most interesting new feature of the Galaxy Tab 2 is the integrated infrared transmitter. When paired with Samsung’s Smart Remote app this “IR blaster,” as Samsung calls it, allows you to use your Galaxy Tab as a universal remote. The Smart Remote app even has the ability to help you find your favorite shows.

    The 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 will be available on April 22nd, and has a suggested retail price of $249.99. The 10.1-inch model will be available on May 13th and will sell for $399.99.

    The new Galaxy Player also comes in two models, differentiated mainly by their size. The larger Galaxy Player has a 4.2-inch WVGA display, while the smaller has a 3.6-inch HVGA display. Both run Android 2.3 Gingerbread and have 8GB of internal memory, as well as a microSD card slot. Each comes with an FM radio built in, as well as an embedded microphone. The Galaxy Player 3.6 has a mono speaker, while the Galaxy Player 4.2 sports dual stereo speakers. Each player has a 2 megapixel rear camera, along with a VGA front camera.

    Samsung Galaxy Players

    The Galaxy Player 3.6 is available now at Best Buy stores for $149.99, and will be coming to more retailers in the near future. The Galaxy Player 4.2 will be available alongside the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 2 on May 13th, and will retail for $199.99.

    What do you think of Samsung’s latest additions? Let us know in the comments.

  • Apple iPad Beats Samsung Galaxy Tab In Its Own Country

    Apple iPad Beats Samsung Galaxy Tab In Its Own Country

    Samsung is a Korean company. Apple is an American company. Who does South Korea prefer? When it comes to tablet computers, it appears that Apple is the clear winner.

    The Korea Herald is reporting that the Apple iPad has sold more than 1 million units in South Korea since its launch on November 30, 2010. The iPad 2 was introduced in the country on April 29, 2011.

    The newspaper reports that many early adopters in South Korea imported their iPads so the actual number of iPads in the country is most likely much larger.

    An interesting statistic is that two in three iPads sold in South Korea were the Wi-Fi only models. It just goes to show you that many users in the country don’t want to be attached to a data plan from mobile carriers.

    The iPad’s share of the Korean market is at 70 to 80 percent. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab probably wishes it could be as popular.

    With the impending release of the iPad 3, it’s going to get even sadder for Android tablet market shares everywhere.

    Considering that Apple and Samsung have been at war over patents and devices for the past year, this sales new is probably not going to make things any better between the two tech giants.

  • Samsung Loses Galaxy Tab Ban Appeal In Germany

    Samsung has lost its appeal of an injunction banning the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany. The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court upheld a lower court’s ban on sales of the device. Interestingly, though, the higher court decided to uphold the ban because of what it deemed unfair business practices by Samsung, rather than on the grounds of the copyright infringemment claim by Apple. Though the original injunction covered much of Europe, it was later restricted to only Germany.

    The court’s decision to uphold this ban is the latest in a string of rulings that have not favored the Korean electronics giant. German courts have thrown out two separate suits Samsung has filed against Apple for patent infringement in as many weeks. Samsung and Apple have been waging a worldwide legal battle since last spring over Samsung’s alleged copying of Apple’s design elements. The conflict started with the Samsung Galaxy line of phones, and came to a head with the launch of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Apple filed suit in the US to block sales of the device, Samsung quickly countersued in the US and elsewhere in a legal battle that now spans ten countries and around twenty individual suits. Injunctions on the sale of the are or have been in place in several countries, including the one still in effect in Germany, and another in Australia that was lifted just in time for the 2011 Christmas season.

  • Samsung Wins Decision Against Apple In On-Going Patent Wars

    Samsung and their Galaxy Tab have been given the green light to be sold in the Netherlands and distributed throughout the European Union. That’s the word from Florian Mueller over at FOSS Patents earlier today, who reported that Apple failed to prove to a Dutch court that the Galaxy Tab infringes upon a design patent related to Apple’s iPad.

    Mueller explains that while the Galaxy Tab will continue being sold in the EU, the appeals court’s decision doesn’t lift the preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Tab that was granted to Apple back in August. That injunction, however, could be lifted as soon as next week.

    In better words than I could possibly articulate, Mueller explains why this legal patent saga between Apple and Samsung has continued at an incremental pace throughout different parts of the world:

    The two companies need the courts in various jurisdictions to clarify where Apple’s exclusive scope of protection ends and Samsung’s freedom to compete begins. There’s no mathematical formula based on which they could simply agree that Samsung’s products are allowed to have a degree of similarity of up to (for example) 70%. Instead, they need guidance from judges.

    It’s amazing how after knowing and following this court drama for this long, only now has someone described the dispute with perfectly concise and illustrative words.

  • Verizon Expanding 4G LTE Network To Five New Markets

    Verizon announced today that they are expanding their 4G LTE network. The network will be activated in five new markets tomorrow and expanded in three others. Tomorrow’s launches bring the total number of markets with access to the 4G network to 195.

    Verizon will flip the switch tomorrow on networks in Glens Falls and Utica in New York, Brownsville and McAllen in Texas, and Lawton, Oklahoma. Networks in Atlanta, Houston, and Spokane are being expanded.

    Verizon 4G Coverage Map

    Users connected to Verizon’s 4G network should generally experience downlink rates from 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps), and uplink speeds of 2-5 Mbps.

    Verizon offers a wide variety of 4G devices on its network, including LG’s Spectrum, which was announced at CES 2012, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, and Motorola’s Droid line of phones. The iPhone 4S is not LTE capable, so it cannot run on Verizon’s network (a problem AT&T worked around by dual-layering their LTE network with an HSPA+ network, which the iPhone 4S is compatible with). The next-generation iPhone, presumably coming this summer, will probably have LTE capability.

  • The Daily Comes To Android, Starting With Samsung Galaxy Tab

    The Daily, the News Corp. publication originally launched as an experimental news app for the iPad, is now moving beyond the iPad and into Android territory.

    The publication announced that it will come pre-loaded on the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and other tablets, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, after that.

    Devices will also get the app with an update to the software.

    A message on The Daily’s site says:

    The Daily comes loaded on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, with more tablets to come. If you own one of these devices you’ll find The Daily in your apps—just open it to enjoy a free week for free. Choose between monthly ($3.99/month) or annual ($39.99/year—a 15% savings) subscriptions, conveniently charged directly through your Verizon Wireless bill.

    “Verizon Wireless has been a key partner since we launched on iPad, and we’re thrilled to now be available to Android customers as we continue to expand and grow throughout the mobile space,” says publisher Greg Clayman.

    The Daily was the number 3 top grossing iPad app in 2011.

  • Samsung Drops One Suit Against Apple, Files Two More

    There was a flurry of activity today on the German front of the Apple-Samsung patent war. Samsung dropped one of their suits upon learning that Apple might be shielded by a licensing agreement it holds with Qualcomm. Among the products protected by the Qualcomm license is the iPhone 4S.

    Not inclined to let Apple get off too easily, though, Samsung filed a suit over four more patents. Three of them are fairly technical in nature, but the third deals with an “emoticon input method for mobile terminal.” That’s right, among other things, Samsung is suing Apple over a smiley. The four new patents were originally added as amendments to an existing suit, but Apple filed to have them divided, creating two new separate suits.

    The news was tweeted out this morning by patent expert Florian Mueller, who was present at the hearings:

    @FOSSpatents
    Florian Mueller    News from Mannheim: today Samsung sued Apple over four more patents here. 2 FRAND patents, 2 unencumbered ones. 10 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto

    @FOSSpatents
    Florian Mueller    Other news from Mannheim: Samsung has formally given up attacking the iPhone 4S with 3G patents. Recognizes Apple is licensed thru Qualcomm. 10 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab Injunction Overturned in Australia

    The Australian High Court has ruled that Samsung can finally sell its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets in that country. The tablet has been banned since a temporary injunction was instituted in July. Last Wednesday an appeals court overturned the injunction, clearing the way for the device to go on sale, but as Samsung was preparing to bring shipments of the device into the country, Apple filed an appeal and the court agreed to extend the injunction by one week in order to allow time for Apple’s appeal to be heard.

    The ruling represents a relatively rare setback for Apple in its ongoing dispute with Samsung. The iPad maker filed suit against the rival company in April in the US to block sales of Samsung’s Galaxy line of phones and tablets, which Apple accused of being ripoffs of its own iPhone and iPad. Samsung quickly countersued in the US and elsewhere in a legal battle that would eventually spread to 10 countries with 20 suits and counter-suits. The cases have generally gone in Apple’s favor as sales of the Galaxy Tab have been blocked in several countries.

    Today’s ruling in Australia, however, follows closely on the heels of a similar ruling in US district court, where judge Lucy Koh refused to grant an injunction barring the sale of the devices in the US. Cases in both the US and Australia are expected to go to trial sometime next year. By that time, however, the discussion may well be moot, as rumors surfaced yesterday that Samsung was preparing to unveil its next generation tablet – complete with retina display-like screen resolution and the latest version of the Android operating system – in February.