Google Turned Down Chance To Join Apple And Microsoft In Bidding For Nortel's Patents

Well, well, well...what have we here?  Let's recap.  Today, on Google's official blog, Google trashed Apple, Microsoft, and others for using patents to prevent competition and for gaining up on Android.  For the record, I agree that the motives behind Apple and Microsoft joining forces to make slow down Android and make it more expensive than, well, free.

Well, we all knew that Apple would not respond this these charges.  And in no uncertain terms, Google's blog post was very angry and left no room for that doubt that it was not happy with the results.  So instead of Apple speaking up, Microsoft spoke up for the team.

Microsoft's General Counsel Brad Smith said Google was asked to join with with them.  The eventual winner was a coalition of companies dubbed "Rockstar":  Apple, Microsoft, RIM, and Sony.  When offered the chance to join with them, Google turned it down.  

Furthermore, Electronista made a very valid point:  if what Microsoft's counsel is true, it would weaken any DOJ decision that might go against the winners in the Nortel bids.  On top of that, had Google won the bids, it could have insisted that that previous agreed upon patent terms be broken up.  That being the case, Google's plan, had it won, would have been to sue anyone else that stands in the way of Android.

Basically, Google would be doing what what it now accuses its competitors of doing.

Like I've said before, the companies that have sued Android device makers are not patent trolls but companies that are protecting their products.  The best thing for Google and the Open Handset Alliance is to out-innovate its competitors.  

I am sure there is more to this story than what Microsoft and Google has said.  Apple won't be saying a word at all on this matter.  Hence, the ball is back in Google's side of the court.  What I also would like to know is why Intel joined Google and whether it was also afforded an opportunity to join Rockstar but also turned it down.

Google Blasts Apple, Microsoft, And Oracle, Rages Against the Machine

Google's official blog was just updated with the most direct shot at the patent wars and against Apple, Microsoft, Oracle, and they mentioned other companies (who are they?).  

Google crying about Nortel patents...on some level, I agree with them.  Those above companies are coming after Google for various reasons and fight proxy patents wars or directly used Google as in Oracle's case over Java infringements and licensing.  And yes, the companies that rallied around Apple for the Nortel patents were gaining up on Android.  

Let me repeat that again:  the companies mentioned in the Google blog, with the exception of Oracle, are gaining up on Android.  They don't like the way it looks, they don't like the way it smells, and they don't like that it's free.  And while Microsoft seems content with royalty payments, Apple isn't interested in any resolution short of making sure Android makers do not infringe in its patents.  For Steve Jobs, it's not money he wants. 

At the same time, there are no free lunch...Google should innovate and if Apple or Microsoft infringes on their patents, sue them right back. It's how the world works, no?

Google is trying to strengthen its patent portfolio...that's the way to do it beat this thing.  Also, if Google can succeed in changing the rules of the game, that would be well within their rights to do it.

However, I doubt this blog post will generate much sympathy.  As I have brought up regarding the Nortel bids, where were Google's Open Handset Alliance friends with their billions?

Galaxy Tab Banned From Sale in Australia - A Foreshadowing Of Future Bans In the US?

I haven't really paid attention to the patent wars outside of the US but perhaps I should.  Samsung is currently prevented from launch the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia because Apple had won an injunction against Samsung.

Initially, Samsung wanted to launch the tablet in the next week or so but has not put that off indefinitely until the legal proceedings are completed or a temporary stay on appeal.

Apparently, the Australian legal system works much faster than it does here in the US.  So, it does give us a glimpse of the future should Apple win some kind of a legal injunction against other Android device makers.  This is what it will look like.

This is a victory for Apple.  At the same time, you have to wonder just how many 10" Galaxy Tabs Samsung will sell going up against the iPad 2.  It have might made more sense to stop the sales of the smartphones.

Source:  Bloomberg via Appleinsider.

Time Inc To Embrace Tablets

Time Inc issued a press release indicating their commitment to tablets, the publishing anc consuming platform of the future, with plans to publish all of its magazines in digital formats.

Time, People, Sports Illustrated, and Fortune are among some of its more notable titles that I read.  Well, not People but you can't help avoid back-copies of them when you visit a doc's office.

Time has already made available some magazines in the iTunes Apple store via dedicated apps.  The same is for the Android Marketplace.  What's notable is that HP's Touchpad will also be a part of the mix.  

What is also notable is the absence of some devices like Kindle and RIM's Playbook.  I reckon they should be able to access Time Inc's library of magazines once RIM release's the Android player app for the Playbook and Amazon's Kindle tablet goes on sale later this fall.  Still, no native support for the Playbook would be a huge blow to RIM.

Also, Time Inc boasted 28 million subscribers to its 21 magazines and "hundreds of thousands" of them happen to also be digital subscribers.  And more than 600K copies have been bought online based on four titles.

Not bad but not great either.  

So you have to ask why now?  My guess is that they saw two things.  First, its subscribers have been asking for it.  Second, if not Time Inc, then who will lead the charge onto the tablets?  

Perhaps, they also see the rotting carcass that is Borders Group and realized that unless they embrace the future now, they will become like that.  

Source: Business Wire via TIPB.

Conflicting Reports About the Next iPhone

There are conflicting report regarding the next iPhone.  The case leaks from China last week seems to suggest the similarly sized iPhone to the current iPhone with a tapered back while today's widely circulated post suggests something differently.

According to Business Insider via iSource, the next iPhone will sport a larger screen with a thinner bezel.  And it'll like be powered by A5 chip, currently used in the iPad 2.  How did the analyst, Shawn Wu of Sterne know this?

Well, he did what other analysts have done.  They check the supply line.  However, he seemed more interested in communicate to investors that the next iPhone could a bigger deal than just a mild upgrade.

My question is just how much bigger.  If his information is true, a 4" display to replace the 3.5" Retina display used by the iPhone 4 and the iPod touch makes more sense than the 3.7" display that some blogs have reported.

After all, if you're going to go big, you might has well go 0.5" larger.  A 0.2" increase from 3.5" to 3.7" is hardly noticeable, so why bother?

What is not mentioned in his report or mentioned by anyone is the battery life.  Bigger screen and more powerful chip may need a bigger battery.  It'll be interesting to see just how Apple will work this out.  The iPhone 4 has a decent battery life but I'm a moderate to heavy user.  While I am sure Apple will at least maintain at least the same level of battery life, I would hope that Apple would use this opportunity to put some more distance between the iPhone 5 and its competitors.

We are probably 6-8 weeks from actually getting the iPhone in our little hands.  And it'll likely be this month when we learn more about it.  Soon, Apple will be sending out orders to those lucky few in the media to report to Cupertino for the unveiling.

Could Foxconn's Robots Make it Like Future Gears Will Be Made In The US?

Foxconn, according to a Chinese report, will begin to replace Chinese workers with one million robots to improve margin and efficiency.  Foxconn is a manufacturing company that make up a lot of smartphones, tablets, and laptops.  

Right now, Foxconn has 10k such robots deployed in its factories but that number will increase to 300K by next year and one million in three years.  These robots will be tasked to welding and assembling where possible.

As I understand it, how much many workers will these robots replace?  

Furthermore, I wonder if this means that an army of these robots eventually mean more future manufacturing of mobile gadgets, PC, and other techs done in the US, resulting in higher employment here in the States.  Or that Foxconn or another manufacturer could set up regional factories to more quickly distribute the final products.

Japanese firms like Honda and Toyota routinely put on display advances in robotics that seem to be far more advanced than what we are used to seeing here.  For a nation with a swindling population, Japan could fall back on robotic technology to maintain its social order and economic edge in the world.  

Perhaps this is something that our own companies and government laboratories could also look into as well.  

One thing I know about technology and science is that with time, we can almost make anything work.  We already have robotics in car factories.  They are involved in chip-making.  Imagine in a few years that someone like Apple could potentially design its products where a majority of its manufacturing and assembling be done by robots with minimal human intervention.  

Source: XinHuaNet, Macdailynews.

Apple's International Push Means Searching Retail Chief With International Experience

Apple is said to have hired an international header hunter to help them look for a new retail chief.  This information came from WSJ and of late, WSJ has printed a couple of questionable posts regarding Steve Jobs and Apple.

Having said that, this post regarding Apple's plan makes sense.  The international market is increasingly more important to Apple as growth.  In the last few years, Apple became increasingly reliant on the international markets for its sky-rocketing growth.  Apple's revenue in China alone was $3.8 billion in the last quarter, an increase of 6X from a year ago.

And with a strong brand, there is much Apple can benefit with a continuing strong retail presence.   

Source:  WSJ, Appleinsider.