Apple, Samsung resume their patent war in Silicon Valley

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The fiercest rivalry in the world of smartphones is heading back to court this week in the heart of the Silicon Valley, with Apple and Samsung accusing each other, once again, of ripping off designs and features.

The trial will mark the latest round in a long-running series of lawsuits between the two tech giants that underscore a much larger concern about what is allowed to be patented.

“There’s a widespread suspicion that lots of the kinds of software patents at issue are written in ways that cover more ground than what Apple or any other tech firm actually invented,” Notre Dame law professor Mark McKenna said. “Overly broad patents allow companies to block competition.”

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Apple, Samsung patent war to resume in U.S. courts

Smartphone rivals Apple and Samsung head back to court this week in the heart of the Silicon Valley, with both accusing each other, once again, of ripping off designs and features.

The trial will mark the latest round in a long-running series of lawsuits between the two tech giants that underscore a much larger concern about what is allowed to be patented.

"There's a widespread suspicion that lots of the kinds of software patents at issue are written in ways that cover more ground than what Apple or any other tech firm actually invented," Notre Dame law professor Mark McKenna said. "Overly broad patents allow companies to block competition."

The latest Apple-Samsung case will be tried less than two years after a federal jury found Samsung was infringing on Apple patents.Samsung was ordered to pay about $900 million but is appealing and has been allowed to continue selling products using the technology.

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11 iPhone Apps You'll Have To Pry From My Cold, Dead Hands

My iPhone has become a valuable resource when I need to find my train times, check the weather, read the news, and more.

Since the new year started, the App Store has grown more crowded with additional options to choose from, so how do you make a decision on what you need? I've selected 11 apps that I've bee using on a daily basis.

When you want to refresh your iPhone and add new applications, here are the 11 I recommend.

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iPhone 6 Rumor Roundup: What to Believe This Week

This week iPhone 6 rumors point to a fall release date and start to show us more about the possible size of an iPhone 6. Catch up on the latest iPhone 6 rumors and learn what is worth believing in this quick look at the latest iPhone 6 rumors.

The iPhone 6 is a new iPhone for 2014, with rumors of a larger iPhone dating back to 2012. Last week we shared 10 important iPhone 6 details that emerged in March, and this week we are taking a look back at the biggest rumors of the week and a feature that shows how iOS 8 and an iPhone 6 could combine to deliver an amazing large screen experience.

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Samsung Wearable Smart Watch Gear 2, Neo, and Fit Specs, Review and Release Date 2014: AT&T Announces Samsung Galaxy S5 Promotion Price and Pre-Order

Companies are trying to push wearable devices but it's unclear why consumers aren't clamoring to get them. Who can say no to the appeal of wearing something that James Bond and Mission Impossible operatives could have worn? Samsung, the leader in wearable mobile technology, is trying to take advantage of what it perceives will be the latest trend by launching two more products soon.

The Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit, which feature the latest and most innovative features for mobile technology have been set for release this coming April. The gadgets will be carried by telecom giant AT&T. AT&T will be accepting pre-orders for the Samsung wearable items starting this week. It was not disclosed whether or not there is a limit to the number of units that can be reserved or if it's strictly one gadget per subscriber. So far, only AT&T has announced a tie up with the new Samsung items.

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Samsung Galaxy S5 In-Store Advance Surprise Release: Where to Get S5 Ahead of Release Date?

Samsung Galaxy S5 went on sale in South Korea - but Samsung did not know. Apparently, the Samsung Galaxy S5 became available in South Korea around two weeks earlier than its official release on the market. Samsung announced previously that the new smartphone will be available starting April 11. Did Samsung change the release date? What really happened? 

Samsung previously said in an announcement that the Samsung Galaxy S5 will hit shelves in around 150 countries on April 11. It appears that is a long waiting time as people in South Korea started getting access to the device. South Korean SK Telecom released the device last March 27 beginning at 866,800 won. 

Korean networks have been eager to sell the S5 to customers because they cannot sign up new users between April to May. This is part of the penalty from the Korean government regarding illegal subsidy of new users. The sanction excludes the likes of SK Telecom, LG Uplus Corp and KT Corp from selling the device starting the release date. 

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Nokia Lumia 525 vs. Sony Xperia M Specs and Price Comparison in Australia

For readers who are considering buying the Nokia Lumia 525 or the Sony Xperia M, here is a specs and price comparison between the two devices in Australia. The comparison could help readers make an informed decision.

Display and Design

The Nokia Lumia 525 comes with a 4 inch IPS LCD capacitive touch screen, rendering 480 x 800 pixels resolution. The Sony Xperia M comes with a 4 inch TFT capacitive touch screen, rendering 480 x 854 pixels resolution.

The Nokia Lumia 525 comes with 119.9 x 64 x 9.9 mm dimensions and weighs 124 grams. The Sony Xperia M comes with 124 x 62 x 9.3 mm dimensions and weighs 115 grams.

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Nokia Lumia 630 spotted in the wild running Windows Phone 8.1

If you've wanted to know what Nokia's entry-level Lumia 630 looks like in real life, today is your lucky day. Both a Coolxap video (below) and a handful of photosfrom @Umit have shown off the smartphone in all its Windows Phone 8.1-based glory, including the on-screen navigation, Action Center and the updated camera interface. Previous rumors have suggested that the 630 will be relatively powerful for a low-end device with a 4.5-inch (albeit 800 x 480) display, a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM. Don't get too attached to the way the phone looks in these images, though. The 630 in the still pictures is likely using a protective case or prototype shell, and we wouldn't count on the video reflecting the final design, either. With that said, the new media may represent our best clue yet as to what Nokia might reveal at its event next week.

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Samsung Galaxy S5: pre-orders open with £42 contract at Carphone Warehouse

Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S5 will begin at 12.01am at retailer Carphone Warehouse

Comment

The new Samsung Galaxy S5 will cost either £579.95 sim-free or £42 per month on a Vodafone 4G contract with no upfront cost from Carphone Warehouse.

The retailer said that pre-registration figures for the new flagship had quickly eclipsed those recorded for last year’s Samsung Galaxy S4.

A spokesman said, “The S5 looks set to become a record breaking handset for Samsung at a key time in the mobile calendar as several major manufacturers launch handsets within weeks of one another. Our early pre-registration figures for this handset were off the charts and we’re expecting web traffic this evening to be high as Samsung’s loyal fans log on to place their orders at midnight.”

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Apple iPhone 6 release 'as early as September,' in two sizes -- report

The iPhone 6 will arrive as early as September in two screen sizes, according to Japan's largest business daily.

The next-generation iPhone 6 "will likely be offered in 4.7- and 5.5-inch versions," Nikkei reported in its Friday edition. The current iPhone 5S has a 4-inch screen.

The displays will be made in Japan by Sharp at its Kameyama factory and at Japan Display's Mobara plant, as well as other facilities, according to the report.

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HTC One M8 smartphone launches

HTC is updating its flagship HTC One smartphone by giving it a larger screen, better software and a camera that's easier to use.

The new phone will have a screen measuring 5 inches diagonally, up from 4.7 inches in last year's model. It will help software improvements designed to anticipate your needs, such as offering lunch recommendations when it's time for lunch. That will come through HTC's hub for personalized content, known as BlinkFeed. BlinkFeed itself will be more colorful and will continue to present news, social media updates and other items of interest.

• Compare the HTC One M8 to other smartphones

HTC continues its philosophy of steering people away from the megapixel count in cameras, saying that more isn't necessarily better. Like the original model, the new HTC One has a 4 megapixel rear camera, which is low for high-end smartphones. Instead, HTC focuses on making the individual pixel sensors larger, so that they can capture more light and offer better shots in low-light settings. The front camera, for selfies, is improved, though — at 5 megapixels, compared with 2.1 megapixels before.

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Samsung Galaxy S5 vs new HTC One (M8) vs Sony Xperia Z2 comparison review: what is the best new Android smartphone of 2014?

HTC, Samsung and Sony have each unveiled their flagship smartphones for 2014 in the One M8, Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2 respectively. With three brand-new and very stylish Android handsets on the market, which should you buy? We compare the Samsung Galaxy S5, New HTC One (M8) 2014 and Sony Xperia Z2 spec for spec to find out. See HTC One M7 vs new HTC One M8 smartphone comparison review.

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs new HTC One (M8) vs Sony Xperia Z2: Pricing and UK availability

All three phones are set to become available in April, with the Samsung Galaxy S5 launching on 11 April and the Sony Xperia Z2 on 14 April. When HTC announced its One M8 on 25 March it simply said it would be available "shortly after". Right now you can pre-order the Sony Xperia Z2 for £599, and Amazon UK is listing the Samsung Galaxy S5 at £548 (but with an RRP of £599 matching that of the Z2). Our money is on the HTC One M8 costing around the same price at launch, but no doubt all three smartphones will come down some £50- to £100 within a couple of months, and you'll be able to pick them up much more cheaply (relatively speaking) on a contract. See also: 18 best smartphones: The best phone you can buy in 2014.

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HTC One (M8) vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Early view

Samsung is the reigning heavyweight champion on the Android scene, and the Galaxy S5 looks like a return to form after the slightly disappointing S4.

The Taiwanese contender has a proud Android pedigree and last year's HTC One was our pick of the smartphone bunch. The HTC One (M8) isn't the catchiest name we've ever heard, but even if the ungainly tag sticks, this is a beautiful-looking device.

If any Android smartphone can mount a credible challenge to Samsung's dominance this year, it's got to be the HTC One (M8).

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Not the Best Way to Sell a Smartphone

As HTC readied a new version of its flagship smartphone, it planned for many challenges. It didn’t know that one of them would be Roshan Jamkatel, a teenager from Schaumburg, Ill.

On March 2, Roshan — a self-described prankster — turned up on YouTube offering a hands-on, guided tour of the sequel to HTC’s highest-profile product, the One. The world’s first glimpse of the device was scheduled for this Tuesday, March 25, at the sort of orchestrated reveal that has become the industry standard, with product demonstrations, plenty of video-screen close-ups and a crowd to give the proceedings a sense of moment. Locations in New York City and London were booked for the occasion.

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HTC One 2014 headed to Verizon and AT&T, contest and marketing materials hint at same-day release

The race is on to see which smartphone manufacturer will be the first to release this year’s flagship. We already told you guys about the Samsung Galaxy S5 pre-orders opening up for AT&T, with T-Mobile’s opening on Monday. Although the all new HTC One 2014 isn’t officially scheduled to be unveiled until Tuesday, March 25th, it looks like we might see the device launch much sooner than we originally thought.

We were left scratching our heads as to why HTC would wait so long into the month of March to announce their HTC One followup. With all the leaks from signage to brochures, we were wondering what exactly could be the hold up. Well, it appears that, similar to its launch in London, HTC could be planning on making the device available the same day as its March 25th unveiling. Why do we think that?

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Samsung Galaxy S5 launching April 11

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S5 smartphone will launch on April 11 in more than 150 countries, and a grand total of eleven Canadian carriers will offer the device.

The handset, which retains a similar aesthetic to its forebear, the Samsung Galaxy S4, will feature a2.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, water and dust proofing, 2GB of RAM, a 5.1" Super AMOLED HD display running at 432 ppi and will ship with Android KitKat 4.4.2. Like the Apple iPhone 5S and 5C, the Galaxy S5 will also offer finger print scanning for the more security conscious among you.

The confirmed carrier list for Canada is Bell, Eastlink, Rogers, Koodo, Fido, MTS, Videotron, Virgin Mobile, Wind Mobiile, SaskTel and TELUS, with the device already available for pre-order through Virgin Mobile, Videotron, Bell and TELUS.

To date, the Samsung Galaxy S range has proven to be hugely successful for Samsung, and with this latest iteration the company will be hoping it can further cement its grip on the top end of the Android smartphone market.

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Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Mass Producing Advanced 4Gb DDR3 Memory

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) today announced that it has started mass producing its most advanced DDR3 memory which is based on a new 20 nanometer process technology. This process, according to Samsung Electronics, saves up to 25 percent of the energy consumed by other modules made by the older 25 nanometer process technology.

Samsung said that it has advanced the DRAM scaling while at the same time using the readily available immersion ArF lithography. Its most advanced 20-nanometer (nm) 4-gigabit (Gb) DDR3 DRAM will be used in a wide range of applications.

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Apple releases iOS 7.1 for iPhone, iPad with bug fixes, new features

Apple has released iOS 7.1, the latest iterative version of its mobile software for its smartphones and tablets.

The software was made available for download on Monday, a week shy of six months after a radically redesigned iOS 7 was released.

The latest software version is compatible with iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, and iPod touch (5th generation) devices. 

Users of iOS 7 and older versions can upgrade compatible devices over-the-air by navigating to "Software Update" in the "General" section of the device's settings.

iOS 7.1 includes 41 bug fixes that have plagued some early adopters, along with user interface design tweaks, such as visual changes to the phone dialer and power-off features.

The software also lands with a number of new features, including:

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4.7-Inch 'iPhone Air' Shown Off In New Concept Video

The upcoming iPhone 6 has been incorporated into a new concept video by designer Sam Beckett, which was initially posted to The Verge forums. According to the dimensions Beckett provides, his "iPhone Air" concept includes a 4.7-inch display, a 1920 by 1080 resolution and 468 pixels per inch. 

Beckett's concept is 8 percent larger than the iPhone 5s and 9 percent thinner. The slimmer profile is in line with previous iPhone 6 rumors, which have suggested Apple has improved itsbacklighting technology to allow for thinner devices. 

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Apple's iPhone recycling program expands to Canada

Canadians can now trade in their old iPhones at an Apple store for a credit of up to $275 toward a new model.

Apple announced Tuesday that its iPhone reuse and recycling program is now available in Canada. It had launched a similar program in the U.S. last August.

Apple bills the program as "an affordable way to upgrade to a new iPhone."

Previously, Apple allowed Canadians to mail their old Apple devices to the company for recycling, but did not provide a credit or other incentive.

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History repeats: Samsung helps kill iPad’s tablet dominance

For a long time, the iPad ruled as the tablet market’s unquestioned champion as many Android-based tablets — anyone remember the Motorola Xoom? — failed to compete in terms of either quality or pricing. However, new data from Gartner shows thatSamsung has helped make Android the world’s top tablet OS much in the same way it helped cement Android’s dominance of the global smartphone market.

According to Gartner, Samsung more than quadrupled its total tablet sales over the last year, going from just 8.6 million sold to end users in 2012 to 37.4 million sold in 2013. This has helped Android’s share of the tablet market rise from 45.8% in 2012 to 61.9% in 2013 while Apple’s share has fallen from 52.8% all the way down to 36%.

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Samsung Chromebook 2 coming in April in two screen sizes, faux leather trim, 1080p option (hands-on)

Most of the first and second generation of Chromebook laptops look similar, offer similar features, and cost around the same. Growing sales numbers indicate Chromebooks are hitting netbook-like heights of popularity among budget laptop shoppers, but to avoid the netbook's eventual fate, systems will have to evolve and offer more features, while keeping prices down.

Samsung says the answer is its next-gen version, called Chromebook 2. These new models, in11.6-inch and 13-inch versions, make some notable tweaks both outside and in.

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Samsung reveals another incentive to buy a Galaxy S5: $500-worth of freebies

One of the many new aspects of the Galaxy S5 revealed in quick-fire fashion during the MWC 2014 launch event was Galaxy Gifts, described as a way for S5 owners to get their hands on premium content for free. Now the dust has settled on the S5’s announcement, Samsung has provided more details on Galaxy Gifts, with a complete list of the free software owners will receive.

The total value is over $500, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be getting around 500 $1 apps. Instead, Samsung has gathered up a selection of high value software treats, most of which are long-term subscriptions to sites and services. Let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer.

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