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Tag: Samsung

  • 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.

  • Apple vs. Samsung Judge Urges Settlement

    Apple vs. Samsung Judge Urges Settlement

    The judge presiding over the Apple vs. Samsung patent war trial today urged both companies to make one last effort to settle the matter before a verdict is handed down in the case.

    According to an All Things D report, Judge Lucy Koh stated that she sees risk for both Apple and Samsung if the jury reaches a verdict. She cheekily commented that if the companies were simply showing off their tablet and smartphone patents, then the message had been delivered. All Things D quotes Koh as saying, “It’s time for peace.”

    The two companies have agreed to a telephone meeting, but nothing more. Samsung and Apple already met once this year to try and settle the matter out-of-court, but were unable to come to an agreement.

    The Apple vs. Samsung legal battle began over one year ago, when Apple sued Samsung for violating its patents. Apple claims Samsung’s Galaxy S II smartphone and Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet violate Apple design patents for the iPhone and iPad. Samsung promptly countersued, claiming Apple violates its patents on some wireless technologies.

    The lawsuits have created some truly bizarre moments, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 being banned from sale in the U.S. and Apple being ordered to place ads stating that the Galaxy Tab isn’t a direct rip-off of the iPad. Meanwhile, both companies have been rapidly consolidating the smartphone market.

    During the trial this week, Samsung argued that the patents Apple is claiming it violated are invalid, due to tablet designs that existed before Apple applied for its patents. All Things D reports that closing arguments for the trial are scheduled for next Tuesday. The trial could lead to large fines for both companies or could lead to a number of each company’s patents being declared invalid.

  • Galaxy Note 10.1 Release Date, Price Announced

    While the competition in the mini-tablet market won’t truly heat up until the iPad Mini is released this fall, the competition in the full-size tablet market is already hot (and has already come to blows), and Samsung has just taken the wraps off its new tablet, the Galaxy Note 10.1.

    At a press conference today in New York, Samsung pushed its marketing slogan “meet the new way” as it demonstrated the capabilities of the device. More importantly, the company finally announced a release date and price for the new Galaxy Note. It will be available starting August 16th in the U.S. There will be two models of the device sold: a 16 GB version for $499 and a 32 GB version for $549.

    The design of the Galaxy Note 10.1 appears to be Samsung’s answer to allegations from Apple that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 was a copy of Apple’s iPad design. The new Galaxy Note is white, has a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, and a 10.1-inch screen. It also utilizes a stylus, or what Samsung calls the “S-Pen.” While Samsung’s new device still features “rounded edges” the tablet’s design looks far different than, and will not be mistaken for, an iPad.

    A version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich will run on the Galaxy Note 10.1 when it is shipped. Samsung did not mention during its presentation whether the device might get an update to the new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Google’s own mini-tablet, the Nexus 7, launched last month alongside it’s latest Android OS.

  • Apple Conducted A Study To Find Out Why You Went With Android

    A lot of interesting evidence is being brought to the public’s eye in the ongoing Apple vs. Samsung court case. Nothing is more interesting, however, than a study conducted in 2010 by Apple. It wanted to find out why people were buying Android phones over iPhones. The results are actually pretty surprising.

    CNET got their hands on an Apple study that was passed around internally in 2011. It was used by Samsung as evidence in their ongoing case against Apple. Apple claims that Samsung copies their devices while needlessly confusing the consumer. Apple’s own study says otherwise.

    The study found that 48 percent of those surveyed bought an Android phone to stick with their current carrier. Remember in 2010, the iPhone was still only available at AT&T. Switching to AT&T from any other carrier for just an iPhone seems like a silly proposition except for the most hardcore of Apple fan.

    The other reasons are just as damning for Apple’s claim that customers don’t know the difference between the iPhone and Samsung’s phones. The study found that 36 percent of Android buyers went with the brand because they trusted Google. Another 30 percent just preferred the larger screen. Other reasons vary from preference for the Android Market to a desire for turn-by-turn navigation.

    Apple has addressed many of these causes for defection over the last few years. The iPhone is now available on pretty much every carrier. They are also introducing turn-by-turn navigation with iOS 6. It would be interesting to see if the reasons for people choosing Android over iPhone are the same today as they were in 2010.

    It should also be noted that this study lumps Android phones into a single unit. Those questioned may not necessarily represent those who bought Samsung phones. It would be safe to assume that at least a few were Samsung phone owners since the company made it a point to release devices with bigger screens than the competition.

    Expect more fascinating documents like this one as the trial continues. Samsung and Apple undoubtedly have a lot left up their sleeves in this legal battle. Neither of them are going to get out of this unscathed.

  • Smartphone Sales Rise as Apple and Samsung Consolidate Power

    Market research company The NPD Group has released its findings on the smartphone industry for the second quarter of 2012. It states that consumer smartphone sales by unit-volume have risen 9% since the previous quarter. The company contributes the continued growth of the market almost entirely to the growing sales pre-paid smartphones. It finds that, compared to the same quarter in 2011, pre-paid smartphone sales have risen by 91%, while post-paid smartphone sales have remained steady.

    “Prepaid smartphones are no longer just cheap, also-ran options, focused on older and less capable phones,” said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at The NPD Group. “As the smartphone market matures, and as growth slows, carriers have been smart to aggressively market some of their best current smartphones on a pre-paid basis to a new set of customers, in order to keep sales humming along.”

    The NPD Group’s research shows that smartphones are becoming more affordable for less affluent Americans. They state that in the second quarter of 2012, one-third of smartphone buyers had household incomes of less than $35,000 per year.

    The NPD Group's Q2 2012 findings

    It is well-known that Samsung is quickly becoming Apple’s major competitor in the smartphone market, and The NPD Group’s research shows just how heavily those two brands dominate the industry. Apple’s and Samsung’s combined smartphone sales have risen 43% over the past year, while all other brands’ combined sales fell 16%. The NPD Group lists Apple’s smartphone brand market share as 31% and Samsung’s as 24%. HTC and Motorola follow these heavyweights with 15% and 12% of the market, respectively. LG rounds out the top 5 with only 6% of the market.

    “By concentrating on their best, flagship devices, while at the same time supplementing their volumes with lower priced alternatives, both Apple and Samsung are extending their lead over the other smartphone makers,” said Baker. “To be a share leader means participating in all segments of the market, in order to take advantage of pre-paid and other growth opportunities, while also providing the hero devices that drive customers to your brand.”

  • Android Dominates In Q2 Thanks To Samsung

    Android or iOS – it’s the modern day equivalent of asking if you favor Star Wars or Star Trek. They’re both fantastic products, but one has to win out in the end. While the debate over classic sci-fi franchises can be debated on message boards, the debate over smartphone supremacy is decided via quarterly IDC reports.

    IDC released its second quarter report today. There are some interesting things to note with the dominance of Android being the big news. It should be noted, however, that smartphones are the real winner this quarter. IDC noted that Android and iOS made up 85 percent of all smartphone shipments this quarter.

    After congratulating all the players, we really do have to give it up to Android. The total number of Android shipments outpaced iOS shipments almost 5-to-1 this quarter with iOS only shipping 26 million units and Android shipping a combined 104.8 million units.

    “Android continues to fire on all cylinders,” said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Phone Technology and Trends program. “The market was entreated to several flagship models from Android’s handset partners, prices were well within reach to meet multiple budgetary needs, and the user experience from both Google and its handset partners boosted Android smartphones’ utility far beyond simple telephony.”

    Once again, it must be pointed out that Apple is still technically the more impressive contender. iOS is restricted to only one smartphone platform, yet it still managed to ship on 26 million iPhones last quarter. That’s impressive and Apple is no doubt congratulating themselves on the achievement.

    Android manufacturers didn’t do as well. Android was able to ship on so many devices only because multiple OEMs shipped Android phones last quarter. There was one OEM, however, who rose above the rest to sell a massive amount of phones. Samsung, no doubt riding on the succes of the Galaxy S III, sold 44 percent of all Android smartphones last quarter. That’s still more than Apple’s 26 million.

    The other smartphone operating systems didn’t do so well. BlackBerry was once again down last quarter compared to Q2 2011. In fact, BlackBerry shipments totaled only 7.4 million last quarter. They were at 12.5 million shipments last year. That’s a market share decline of 40 percent.

    While it’s still by no means impressive, Windows Phone actually grew by over 100 percent last quarter. Windows Phone only shipped on 5.4 million units last quarter, but that’s up from 2.5 million shipments in Q2 2011. As IDC points out, that’s a market share increase of 115 percent.

    Check out the graph below to see how Android and iOS stacked up against the rest of the smartphone market over the last five quarters:

    Chart: Worldwide Smartphone OS Market Share, 2Q 2012Description: Tags: Author: IDCcharts powered by iCharts

  • Samsung Child Labor Accusations Come to Light

    As Samsung has grown into a major competitive force in the smartphone market, the company has faced greater scrutiny of their products. Now, Samsung is also facing greater scrutiny on their manufacturing operations, something Apple has had to deal with for years now.

    China Labor Watch, a New York-based organization that defends the human rights of Chinese workers, this week published an investigative report on an HEG Electronics factory located in Huizhou, China. HEG is a Samsung supplier for components found in Samsung products. The report claims that several children were found working at the HEG factory.

    Members of China Labor Watch worked jobs at the HEG factory during June and July of this year. Their report claims that seven different children under the age of 16 were found working in the department where the members were stationed. China Labor Watch estimates that 50 to 100 children could be working at the factory, out of 2,000 total workers. It also claims that these children are making only 70% of the wages normal employees at the factory receive.

    According to the China Labor Watch report, younger student workers make up a majority of the employees at the factory during summer and winter periods. It is claimed that underage workers are smuggled in using false identification on the pretext of being student workers. China Labor Watch claims that underage workers, when discovered, were moved to rented dormitories away from the factory, but not fired.

    To Samsung’s credit, the company has immediately responded to the accusations. It released a statement today promising to send a team of inspectors to the factory by August 9. The full statement from The Verge:

    “Samsung Electronics has conducted two separate on-site inspections on HEG’s working conditions this year but found no irregularities on those occasions.

    A team of inspectors consisting of Samsung personnel from Korea headquarters will be dispatched to Huizhou, China on August 9, and it will immediately launch an investigation and take appropriate measures to correct any problems that may surface.

    Samsung Electronics is a company held to the highest standards of working conditions and we try to maintain that at our facilities and the facilities of partner companies around the world.”

    If these accusations are true, Samsung will need to review much of its manufacturing operations in China for human rights abuses. The China Labor Watch report states that companies such as Samsung require “social responsibility audits” for their suppliers, but that such processes are susceptible to bribery and other types of corruption. The report singles out Samsung’s auditing company, Intertek, as “not trustworthy.”

  • Galaxy Note 10.1 Launching Globally this Month

    Samsung announced today that its latest tablet, the 10.1-inch Galaxy Note 10.1, will launch globally sometime in August. The Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi/3G versions of the tablet will be available soon, with the Wi-Fi/4G LTE version coming “later this year.”

    The hardware inside the Galaxy Note 10.1 has been much improved since its reveal earlier this year. The tablet now has a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. It also features a 5 megapixel camera and a 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera.

    Samsung is touting the tablet as more than the consumption device that tablets normally are. The company states that the tablet will have productivity features that no other tablets on the market have. “As well as being able to consume content such as videos, photos, document, and the Internet, the Galaxy Note 10.1 also gives [customers] the power to produce, create, and customise that same content – something they won’t get from any other product on the market.” said Simon Stanford, Vice President in the telecommunications and network division of Samsung UK and Ireland.

    Much of what Samsung is highlighting about the tablet is software the company has developed to differentiate itself from other hardware manufacturers who use Android. This focus has led to speculation in the past that Samsung might split off from Android and develop its own operating system for its smartphones and tablets.

    Samsung today also provided a video demonstration of how interacting with the Galaxy Note 10.1 will work, highlighting its multitasking and business-related functionality. The screen images and almost the entirety of the video, however, are “simulated,” meaning animated. The actual experience of using a Galaxy Note 10.1 will no doubt differ from what can be seen below. Still, the video is interesting in that it demonstrates the features that Samsung believes users will want, including the stylus, dubbed the “S-Pen.” You might want to mute the cheesy music accompanying the video, though.

  • RIM Might License BlackBerry 10 To Multiple Handset Manufacturers

    RIM is pretty much up sh*t creek without a paddle. In fact, they don’t even have a boat. They’re knee deep in the stuff and they need to find a way out. The company is banking all their hopes and dreams on the newest version of their operating system – BlackBerry 10. Unfortunately, their own hardware might not be enough which is why they’re turning to third-party manufacturers.

    Speaking to The Telegraph, RIM CEO Thursten Heins acknowledges that his company can’t compete with the OEMs that put out 60 handsets a year across all the different carriers. To combat this, the company is actively looking into licensing the BlackBerry OS to these OEMs.

    It gets really interesting when Heins says that they may not license BlackBerry directly. They may go the Android route and just provide a framework in which OEMs could build upon. That means that these supposed third party phones would run a form of BlackBerry 10 with a custom firmware built on top of it.

    It should be pointed out that none of this is set in stone yet. Heins said that on top of investigating the technical aspect of it, they also have to “model this from a finance perspective.” He says that the company is working financial advisors to see where such a partnership would take the company. No matter their decision, Heins said that RIM “will not abandon the subscriber base.”

    Personally, I think it’s a brilliant move. BlackBerry is actually a pretty solid operating system. The changes being made in BlackBerry 10 make it a good fit for enterprise and consumer solutions. The major problem with newer BlackBerry models has been that the hardware was lacking compared to the competition. A Samsung-made handset with the BlackBerry OS would actually be pretty awesome.

  • Patents Are The Key To Victory In Apple, Samsung Case

    The most important patent trial of the year started this week. Apple and Samsung are going to duke it out in front of a jury trying to convince that one stole from the other. It’s going to get nasty, but it’s going to be one of the most interesting cases in recent years.

    Lawyers for both companies began making arguments in front of the carefully selected jury on Tuesday. That jury will decide the fate of Apple or Samsung in the coming weeks. According to AFP, the jury is made up of a wide variety of folks including an unemployed man, a homemaker and a mechanical engineer.

    What’s interesting is the choice in jury. Many prospective jurors were disqualified because they have extensive technical backgrounds. While that may seem like a bad thing, it’s plays in the favor of both companies. The lawyers will actually have to explain how their competitors’ products violate their client’s patents. It’s going to be fascinating to see the case explained in layman’s terms.

    As we reported Monday, the case doesn’t only involve Apple and Samsung. Google has a lot at stake in this trial. If Apple wins, Samsung and Google will both be put further on the defensive. Apple has always claimed that the Android operating system copies iOS, and a win against Samsung would further validate those claims.

    It’s too early to say who will win, but both sides have formidable proponents on their side. The judge in the case, US District Judge Lucy Koh, granted Apple an injunction against Samsung already. Samsung has the better legal defense, however, as they hired Quinn Emmanuel, a noted patent lawyer who has won several cases for Google in the past.

    Regardless, this is going to be a doozy of a patent case. It could very well last for a long time. We’ll keep following it and let you know of any developments. However this plays out, it’s going to affect the mobile market in significant ways.

  • Apple Vs. Samsung: The War Continues In U.S. Federal Court

    The ongoing patent dispute between tech giants Apple and Samsung continues today in federal court in San Jose. Apple alleges that Samsung has copied the design of its iPhone and iPad products.

    Last week, Samsung was banned from selling its Galaxy Tab 7.7 in 27 countries in Europe, after a German court ruled that the design of the device did too closely resemble Apple’s product. The court did, however, find that other devices like the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was different enough for sales to continue.

    There was some talk that Apple may have actually borrowed some ideas from Sony for the iPhone, but the company has pointed to an iPhone-like prototype called “Purple,” which the company had back in 2005, before the alleged Sony-inspiration.

    It will be interesting to see how the dispute goes here in the U.S. The case is widely being considered one of the most high profile patent trials of all time.

    The whole thing could, of course, have big ramifications for Google and its Android operating system, with Samsung being a major provider of Android-based smartphones and tablets. The Wall Street Journal thinks the whole case is really more aimed at Google altogether.

  • 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”.

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab: Apple Ordered to Place Ads Saying Tablet Is Not an iPad Rip-Off

    Samsung Galaxy Tab isn’t a direct rip-off of Apple’s iPad, according to U.K. Judge Colin Birss, which is certainly good news for Samsung. Although Apple insisted the designs were similar to an uncanny degree, the High Court felt otherwise, though Birss did state that the iPad was “cooler” than its competitor. Depending on your outlook, both manufacturers walked away a winner.

    Unfortunately for Apple, the problems don’t necessarily end with the ruling. In order to make good for publicly declaring the Galaxy Tab to be a blatant rip-off of the iPad, the company will be forced to place a series of ads which state Samsung did nothing wrote when they designed their tablet. In addition to posting the information on a website for six months, Apple must also place ads in two U.K. magazines and three U.K. newspapers.

    According to Bloomberg, Apple fully intends to appeal the decision. However, until that happens, they’ll have to comply with the court’s orders, which includes telling the world at-large that Samsung didn’t steal their ideas. That’s got to sting a little, but I suppose that’s what happens when you make such a bold declaration before the ruling takes place.

    “Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited,” Samsung said in a statement. Well, of course they feel this way. I’m sure they wouldn’t be issuing such a release if the shoe was on the other foot, so to speak.

    Unfortunately for Samsung, they aren’t out of the proverbial woods just yet. Along with losing a bid to stop a sales ban of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the United States, the device has been banned in Germany until the company can produce a modified version.

    The tablet wars, it would seem, are far from over.

  • Android Assimilates Into Over Half Of All Smartphones

    One of the major talking points during Google’s I/O keynote was centered on Android growth. The company announced that Android activations grew from 100 million in 2011 to 400 million in 2012. That’s 12 activations every minute with one million activated daily. Android’s remarkable growth shows in a new study from Nielsen.

    Nielsen’s study of smartphone purchases in Q2 shows that two thirds of new mobile buyers are opting for smartphones. That’s pretty big news in and of itself, but the real deal is how many people are opting for Android over the other platforms. It was found that 51.8 percent of all smartphone owners own a smartphone running Android. Compare that to the 34.3 percent running iOS and 8.1 percent running Blackberry. Android is doing pretty well for itself and Google must be pleased.

    Android Now On Over Half Of All Smartphones

    To be fair, Android leads only because its available on more devices. iOS would undoubtedly be the king of the pack if Apple allowed it on more devices. Considering that Apple commands 34 percent of the market on iPhones alone is extremely impressive.

    As for the Android market, Samsung unsurprisingly leads the pack with 17 percent of the Android market share. HTC is a close second at 14 percent with Motorola bringing up the rear at 11 percent. All the other Android phone manufacturers make up the other nine percent of the Android market.

    Android Now On Over Half Of All Smartphones

    Interestingly enough, Windows mobile is running on more smartphones than Windows Phone 7. Windows Mobile is still running on three percent of the world’s smartphones while Windows Phone 7 only commands 1.3 percent. That’s not a huge gap and the launch of Windows Phone 8 should help Microsoft put the admittedly subpar Windows Mobile behind them.

    To the 0.9 percent using Symbian and the 0.6 percent using WebOS, you should probably get a new phone. Let’s build a world where we put outdated operating systems out of their misery. It’s better for everybody if we just embrace our Android or iOS masters.

  • Wolfram Alpha Will Help Make Samsung S Voice More Like Siri

    Samsung has a smartphone voice feature called S Voice, which has been described as a Siri competitor. In fact, the Samsung Galaxy S III was just called a contender for the best Android smartphone, and it comes with the feature.

    Wolfram Alpha, which contributes to Siri itself, announced that it is also providing data to S Voice. The Galaxy S III, as well as the Galaxy Note will now include the Wolfram Alpha knowledge base with S Voice and the productivity app S Note.

    In a post on the Wolfram Alpha blog, the team writes:

    Integration in Samsung’s S Voice is yet another application of Wolfram|Alpha technology in a voice command app. The S Voice is available exclusively to users of the new GALAXY S III, which was recently released in the US. By simply tapping the home button and speaking, users will be able to get answers to factual questions by drawing on the expert knowledge of Wolfram|Alpha. Users can ask questions such as “How high is Mount Everest?“, “Who is Barack Obama?“, or “What is the weather like today?“, and Wolfram|Alpha will instantly give the correct answer.

    Samsung GALAXY Note users can also gain access to Wolfram|Alpha using the S Pen optimized S Note application available through the Premium Suite software upgrade. With the GALAXY Note’s S Pen, users can get answers to an equation or perform a knowledge search simply by writing it out. Users can even write formulas, such as y = 2x + 3, and the S Note app will use Wolfram|Alpha to plot and solve the equation. Users can also write words, and S Note will query Wolfram|Alpha to find the answer. For example, if a user writes “Who is the prime minister of India?“, Wolfram|Alpha will answer “Manmohan Singh”.

    Here’s a look at S Voice:

    Android is getting much more in the way of Siri competition with the launch of Jellybean, unveiled at Google I/O a couple weeks ago. More on Google’s new Siri competitor here.

  • Galaxy Tab Doesn’t Infringe on iPad Design, UK Judge Says

    Galaxy Tab designs are different than the Apple iPad, says the courts in the United Kingdom. According to Judge Colin Birss, there are at least 50 design differences between the two tablets, which is music to Samsung’s ears, I’m sure. Apple, of course, is probably none too pleased with the ruling, as it gives their competitor an opportunity to snatch some of the market away. If you’re a Galaxy fan, your time to rejoice begins now.

    Have a look at some text pulled straight from the ruling:

    In a ruling on July 9, 2012, the High Court of England & Wales sided with Samsung that the designs of the Galaxy Tab series of products are ‘different’ from an Apple tablet design, and do not infringe Apple’s Registered Community Design No. 181607-0001. Samsung products subject to this trial were the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Galaxy Tab 8.9, and the Galaxy Tab 7.7.”

    Before you starting jutting your finger into the agitated face of the nearest Apple fanatic you can find, perhaps you should take Judge Birss’ entire ruling into consideration. Although he may have ruled in favor of the Samsung Galaxy on principle, he did offer some stronger words regarding which company does it better, regardless of how cool or uncool the device may be.

    “[The Tab designs] do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool,” the judge remarked. Like it or not, Samsung is now allowed to sell its tablet without any interference from Apple throughout the United Kingdom.

    Apple, as you can imagine, isn’t too happy with the ruling. “This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we’ve said many times before, we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas,” a representative from the company said.

  • Samsung Galaxy S III Availability From Verizon Moved Back To July 12

    For those of you who are ready to chuck your allegiance to Apple to the wind and join the Samsung/Android revolution after seeing those Galaxy S III sheep commercials, your wait is just about over–provided Verizon is your carrier of choice. Samsung’s flagship smartphone hit Verizon shelfs on July 12, and they’ve updated their site to indicate as much.

    If you’re an AT&T customer, the S III is already available. Of course, Verizon has a broader 4G (LTE) network, giving them the advantage in that arena:

    Verizon 4G LTE Map

    AT&T 4G LTE Map


    For those of you who don’t want to wait until July 12 to spend your money, Verizon’s Galaxy S III is now available via pre-order at the official site. The Galaxy S III has a starting price of $199.99 from both Verizon and AT&T, provided you sign up for the two-year commitment. If you have ideas of buying the S III without the contract, at $549.99, you’d be better off buying a laptop because you’ll get more for your money.

    While the “iPhone killer” talk is in very overblown, the Galaxy S III does represent an alternate choice for those who don’t want to be apart of Apple’s family; a perfectly reasonable point of view. With that in mind, there’s a great comparison video from PhoneArena, and it takes an honest look at both the S III and the iPhone 4S. It points out the positives and negatives of both devices before rendering a well thought out, honest verdict. Bonus, the verdict almost goes out of its way to not be biased towards either device. The result is a solid review that inform the viewer quite well:

  • 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.

  • Galaxy Nexus Back In Google Play As Court Stays Injunction

    Last week we brought you news that Apple had requested and been granted an injunction against Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus smartphone. Apple claimed that the phone violated a number of its patents. U.S. District Court judge Lucy Koh agreed that Apple was likely to be able to prove its case at trial, and granted the injunction pending Apple’s payment of a $96 million bond. Apple, as you might expect, quickly dug through their couch cushions and paid the bond. Samsung, also as you might expect, quickly appealed the injunction but was just as quickly denied, prompting Samsung and Google to get to work on a software update to the Galaxy Nexus that would alleviate the infringement problem. As a result, the Galaxy Nexus was pulled from Google Play last week.

    Late Friday afternoon, though, Samsung was back in court asking that the injunction be stayed pending their appeal to the Federal Circuit Court. Judge Koh ultimately relented. Bloomberg reports that on Friday afternoon she issued an order staying the injunction until Thursday, July 12. On Thursday Apple will present their response to Samsung, and will, presumably, argue that the injunction should go forward as planned. By that time, though, it may be too late, as Google may already have finished the aforementioned update. If that’s the case, then Judge Koh may well overturn the injunction, since the infringement that prompted it will no longer be occurring.

    This incident has been one of the most significant in the long-running patent war between Apple and the various makers of Android-based smartphones – Samsung, HTC, Motorola, etc. For a long time now it’s been plain that the legal battles between Apple and other smartphone makers have been a proxy for Apple’s rivalry with Google, born in part of Steve Jobs’s hatred of Google due to his conviction that Android is an iOS ripoff. While Google hasn’t paid a whole lot of attention to these battles, the Galaxy Nexus is different. The Galaxy Nexus is Google’s flagship Android phone. It’s the only “pure Google” (i.e., lacking carrier tampering with the OS) Android phone. It’s also first in line for the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean rollout coming later this month. If Google can’t sell the one device that’s theirs alone (or as close as it can be), then that’s a big hairy deal for them.

    Whether the kerfluffle over the Galaxy Nexus will prompt Google to take up a more direct role in Android manufacturers’ patent battles with Google remains to be seen, though it’s beginning to look likely. If this continues, we may wind up getting the Apple-Google throwdown we’ve all been wanting.

  • Samsung Predicts Record Second Quarter Earnings

    Samsung is planning to announce their earnings for the second quarter on July 27th, but like an eight-year-old a week before Christmas, they couldn’t quite wait for the big day. In a statement released late Thursday night, they gave a preview of some of the figures we’ll be seeing from the earnings report later this month. Looking at the numbers, it’s hard to blame them for being excited.

    According to the information they’ve released, Samsung will be reporting record profits for the second quarter. They estimate sales of 46-48 trillion Korean won ($40-42 billion), and profits of 6.5-6.9 trillion won ($5.7-6 billion). Much like their arch-rival Apple, half of that profit comes from smartphone sales.

    What’s more, Samsung’s success isn’t likely to slow in the third quarter. Despite a somewhat rocky U.S. launch their latest flagship smartphone – the Galaxy S III – is displaying all the characteristics of a major hit. The phone is turning out to be extremely popular. Assuming it, along with Samsung’s other products, continues to do well, then you can bet that we’ll be seeing similarly strong numbers this time next quarter.

  • Galaxy Nexus May Get Jelly Bean Early as Sales Resume Next Week

    When Apple won its victory in court and got an injunction against Samsung selling the Galaxy Nexus smartphone in the U.S., Google was forced to pull the smartphone from the Google Play store, where it had been selling the device unlocked for $400 since April. The company began immediately working on a fix for the device’s software that would allow it to be sold without, as Apple claims, violating Apple patents.

    The Verge reported that a Google spokesperson told the site the company would be rolling out an over-the-air software patch to all Galaxy Nexus phones that would fix the issue Apple had a problem with, which involved the search bar on the phone searching both locally and on the web.

    Now, it appears that Google has decided to scrap its software update plans. Instead, the company will go ahead and push Jelly Bean to the Galaxy Nexus early. Google told ABC News that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which it announced just last week at Google I/O, would fix the patent dispute. The company will simply put Jelly Bean on all unsold Galaxy Nexus devices and put them back up for sale on the Google Play store.

    As Google’s lastest version of its Android operating system, Jelly Bean was supposed to launch with the just-announced Nexus 7 tablet later this month. Though the Galaxy Nexus was supposed to be getting an update to Jelly Bean along with the Nexus 7 launch, it now appears that Google’s newest Nexus-branded smartphone will instead be the first device to officially run Android 4.1. That is, of course, assuming that the Nexus 7 launch isn’t taking place sometime next week.

    Currys, a U.K. retailer is listing a July 19 release date for the tablet. If the device launches earlier in the U.S., it may still be the launch device for Jelly Bean. This means Google may simply be waiting for the Nexus 7 launch to re-introduce the Galaxy Nexus.