Monthly Archive:: July 2011

MPEG-LA: 12 Companies Hold VP8 Patents

Submitted by kristoph 2011-07-31 Multimedia, AV 27 Comments

Ah yes, the MPEG-LA, the company that patent-trolled before it was cool (now every schmuck like Apple and Microsoft do it too). Remember how they once called for companies to step if they had any patents Google's VP8 might be infringing upon? After almost a decade of empty threats against Theora, the MPEG-LA finally started actually doing something. Now they claim (in an interview with streamingmedia.com) twelve companies have stepped up - but, in true MPEG-LA fashion, which patents VP8 supposedly infringes upon remains shrouded in mystery.

OSNews Asks: What’s Today’s Best Android Hardware?

David Adams 2011-07-31 Wireless 46 Comments

Nielsen's latest smartphone numbers show Apple's iPhone by far the most popular device among mobile computing hardware, but Android in a strong lead as the most popular OS. But while it's great to have choices in hardware, it can certainly be maddening to have to choose, especially if you don't have the fortitude to keep up with what's new on the market. So, dear readers, for the benefit of those who might be in the market for an Android handset, which one is best?

Google Buys IBM Patents

Submitted by fran 2011-07-29 Google 54 Comments

"Google Inc. said Friday that it has purchased technology patents from International Business Machines Corp. as the Web-search giant stocks up on intellectual property to defend itself against lawsuits." This article lists some of them. Google on the defensive. You kind of have to when you find yourself on the receiving end of the Apple-Microsoft-Oracle cartel's lawsuit stick.

Mandriva To Start Distributing Flash Player

Guest post by V. Deseinture 2011-07-29 Mandriva, Mandrake, Lycoris 46 Comments

Unlike Apple and Microsoft, and despite numerous demands from their users, Linux distributions have been traditionally unable to directly ship the popular Adobe Flash Player with their packages, due to the closed source nature of the software and the restrictive license chosen by Adobe. While it does seems shorter than a regular EULA made by Microsoft with all the legalese that goes with it, it does still restrict redistribution in most cases, and the FAQ seemed to be clear about that point.

Welcome to the US, Spotify. Have a Patent Lawsuit!

Guest post by _txf_ 2011-07-29 Legal 27 Comments

For all the complaints that Spotify was taking too long to reach the US, they did in the end persevere. However, Spotify has just been rewarded with a patent infringement lawsuit for its troubles. Frankly, why should anyone else even bother?

Apple Now Has More Cash Than the U.S. Government

David Adams 2011-07-29 In the News 40 Comments

Apple is now more liquid than the United States government, the Financial Post reports. As the government struggles to resolve the debt ceiling debate, the operating balance in Washington is at US$73.768 billion and falling. Meanwhile, Apple has US$75.876 billion.

Asus’ $200 MeeGo Laptop Close to Reality

Guest post by fran 2011-07-28 Hardware 9 Comments

"Keen observers may recall that Asus's debut of the Padfone back at Computex in May was accompanied by another, albeit less-trumpeted announcement. Specifically, the company promised a $199 netbook computer - the MeeGo-based Eee PC X101 - and this week that device took several steps closer to reality."

Java SE 7 Released

Thom Holwerda 2011-07-28 Java 17 Comments

"Java SE 7 is officially released today! After nearly five years of collaboration within the worldwide Java community, Java Platform, Standard Edition is ready for download! It's an important step in Java’s evolution. Thanks to everyone who suggested features, reviewed specs, argued on mailing lists, talked about Java 7 at your JUG meeting, submitted bugs, wrote blogs and tweeted about #java7."

Standing on the Shoulders of Mobile Giants, Part 0a: Prada

Thom Holwerda 2011-07-28 Wireless 38 Comments

I've kind of painted myself in a corner with that headline, because I never anticipated I would need another preview article for this project. However, thanks to all your comments on both the site and through email, the scope of this project has grown considerably. As part of this growing scope, I'm acquiring more and more devices, and yesterday, I managed to score a phone which, while almost forgotten by most of the rest of the technology press, contained two very important firsts. Not only was this the first phone with a capacitive touch screen, it was also the first phone with an interface design from the ground-up for finger/touch input. Say hello to the LG KE850, better known as the LG Prada.

Illustrated: Apple’s Fear of Android

Thom Holwerda 2011-07-27 Legal 150 Comments

Two different graphs. Both happen to be published at Ars Technica, with one of them coming from a different source. Seemingly completely unrelated, but when you ponder the waterfall of recent lawsuit-related news, these two graphs suddenly tell all there is to tell. These two innocent little graphs illustrate why Apple is attacking Android so ferociously.

NVIDIA Releases MeeGo-compatible Video Drivers for Tegra

Guest post by shmerl 2011-07-27 Wireless 9 Comments

MeegoExperts reports that NVIDIA just released a set of video drivers enabling MeeGo to run on the numerous Tegra 2 tablets, such as the Advent Vega, Adam, Asus Transformer, Motorola Xoom and also the new range of Tegra 2 handsets. This will enable MeeGo and potentially other Linux distros using hardfp video drivers to compete in environment previously dominated exclusively by Android OS.

KDE 4.7 Released

Submitted by rahim123 2011-07-27 KDE 39 Comments

"KDE is delighted to announce its latest set of releases, providing major updates to the KDE Plasma Workspaces, KDE Applications, and the KDE Platform that provides the foundation for KDE software. Version 4.7 of these releases provide many new features and improved stability and performance."

Windows Phone 7 ‘Mango’ Goes RTM

Thom Holwerda 2011-07-26 Windows 16 Comments

"Earlier this morning, the Windows Phone development team officially signed off on the release to manufacturing build of 'Mango' - the latest version of the Windows Phone operating system. This marks the point in the development process where we hand code to our handset and mobile operator partners to optimize Mango for their specific phone and network configurations. Here on the Windows Phone team, we now turn to preparing for the update process. The Mango update for current Windows Phone handsets will be ready this fall, and of course will come pre-installed on new Windows Phones." Myself and those three others who use a WP7 device rejoice.

Mozilla Plans a ChromeOS Rival for Mobile Devices

Guest post by fran 2011-07-26 Mozilla, Gecko 23 Comments

"Mozilla today announced Boot to Gecko , a very ambitious project that aims to create a 'complete, standalone operating system for the open web'. This project's goal is to develop what seems like a ChromeOS-like operating system where all the apps are based on HTML5."

Debian 7 ‘Wheezy’ To Introduce Multiarch Support

Guest post by jarkkot 2011-07-26 Debian 19 Comments

Debian announced that they are going to introduce multiarch support for Wheezy (7.0) in 2013. Well, nice, but aren't they a little bit late now that problems are mostly sorted out and systems moved to 64-bit? This would have been great news at the time when Lenny (5.0) was released, but does it even matter in 2013? Are they just going to make things more complicated for no reason?

Apple Forces Amazon, Kobo, Others to Cripple iOS Applications

Thom Holwerda 2011-07-26 Apple 96 Comments

Petty Apple is petty. Amazon, Kobo, and others have changed their applications to conform to Apple's App Store rules, and if there's one word that describes the situation these booksellers are in, it's petty. Still, it's leading to good things: Kobo has announced it's going to bypass the App Store by writing an HTML5 e-reader for iOS (and thus, for other HTML5-capable mobile devices).

Sun CEO Explicitly Endorsed Android’s Use of Java

Thom Holwerda 2011-07-26 Google 130 Comments

And the patent and lawsuit related news just keeps on coming. Sorry. Anywho, this one's a doozy. As we all know, Oracle - led by Larry Elison, who just so happens to be one of Steve Jobs' best friends, but this is of course entirely coincidental - is suing the crap out of Google over the use of Java in Android, claiming not only patent but also copyright infringement. Well, when Sun was still on its own, its CEO, Jonathan Schwarz, publicly and explicitly endorsed Android's use of Java in a blog post - a post that has since been removed by Oracle. But, as we all know, the internet never forgets.

RIM Plans To Cut 2000 Jobs

Thom Holwerda 2011-07-25 Wireless 17 Comments

"Research in Motion said today it is planning to cut 2000 jobs as part of a cost optimization program. The company gave other additional details on the program as well, which it first announced in June. The changes are aimed at creating greater alignment of the organization, and streamlining its operations to better position the company for future growth and profitability."

Microsoft’s Android Shakedown: IBM Did It First

Submitted by _txf_ 2011-07-25 Legal 37 Comments

Forbes' Timothy B. Lee has dug up a remarkable piece of history regarding IBM and Sun Microsystems that's an almost one-to-one copy of the situation between Microsoft and Android. Thirty years ago, IBM knocked on Sun's door. We've got some patents, IBM said. Please pay up.

Norway, July 22, 2011

Thom Holwerda 2011-07-23 OS News No Comments

We at OSNews would like to extend our thoughts and sympathies to the victims of the horrible events that took place in Norway, yesterday. There really are no words to describe what has transpired, and as such, I won't even attempt to do so. Suffice to say, OSNews will be silent until after the weekend. I have lost my interest in writing and quibbling about stupid ones and zeros, at least for now. "No one will bomb us to silence, no one will shoot us to silence, no one will ever scare us from being Norway."

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