Apple Getting Slide to Unlock Patent Granted
Apple has been the patent bully lately and now they have just gotten another patent granted that will allow them to flex their muscles even more now. Filed back in 2005 the Slide to Unlock patents is now all Apple’s. Now that they have actually have the patent granted, most of the cell phone manufactures have started to change and try to get away from the exact kind of unlocking method.
Here is the patent info
“A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.”
Of course their are different ways to use slide gestures to unlock your devices on Android or Windows Phone, we would not think that Apple would have a good case unless it was a blatant copy, but it appears they could if they wanted to. It is actually kind of humorous now, to think, Apple called Slide to Unlock a revolutionary feature. It is so common to us now but we all know how tech evolves these days. Let’s sit back and see what Apple brings to the table now since they have more backbone to guard this patent.
(via Android Community)
Microsoft Making even more Money off of Android
Microsoft has plenty of money and it sure isn’t making a killing on Windows Phone, so they take all the licensing fees they can get from Android. Microsoft has landed another patent agreement with the Android manufacturer Compal. Lenovo is one of the companies that Compal is involved with and now they have to give a fair share of their 28 billion annual income to Microsoft.
Microsoft now cashes in on licensing fees from 55 percent of Android manufacturers. They make a lot more money off of Android than they do their own Mobile OS. It seems like in all the patents wars with the companies these days, every one has their own way of protecting their patents. Microsoft just chooses to sit back and let the money tree grow.
(via Android and Me)
The Gadget Gurus Podcast Ep 135 – Marathon
This week the Gurus are back are they are talking Galaxy Nexus, Android 4.0, Droid RAZR, adn Steve Jobs’ quotes. Things get heated this week, so buckle up and hold on!
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HTC Shutting Down “Listen” on October 31st
Apprently slanging digital tracks was a little harder than HTC thought. They will shut down their distribution application, HTC Listen, on October 31st. After that date you will not be able to access anything purchased, so make sure you download them as they are DRM free and will work with any other music player.
via [Mobile Burn]
Parts of The Avengers movie were filmed using an iPhone! (NOT)
UPDATE: Apparently Seamus misspoke and parts were NOT filmed on an iPhone.
“I was talking about how up and coming film makers have access to a whole range of new technologies which expand our options as filmmakers. I mentioned that the iPhone and the Canon 5d Mk2 were devices currently used on many Hollywood productions. I used the Canon on some shots on Marvel’s The Avengers movie… Unfortunately, this was edited to read that I shot some of the film with the iPhone. This is not true.”
Being a fan of comics and mobile tech, this story could not be more cool to have read. Seamus McGarvey, director of photography for Marvel Studios, revealed to press that parts of the upcoming blockbuster The Avengers were filmed using an iPhone! He went on to say that even the trailer contains a shot from Apple’s smartphone and that not all film work has to be expensive.
“The beauty of photography or cinema is that you make every choice based on the content at hand. On ‘The Avengers,’ I did a couple of shots on the iPhone and they are in the movie. In fact, they are in the trailer! I understand that sometimes there is no choice and you have to go for the cheapest option, but if you are limited for choice, you can still make poignant decisions that will effect the look of the film.”
via [GeekTyrant] Update Via [Gizmodo]
