motorola

Court: Motorola can't enforce injunction against Microsoft

Google-owned Motorola Mobility won't be able to enforce a German court injunction against Microsoft in a patent dispute, after a federal appeals panel in San Francisco upheld a judge's order blocking the company from doing so.

Bloomberg reports that the three-judge panel said the order was properly tailored.

The two sides have been fighting for a couple of years over Microsoft's ability to sell software for Xbox and Windows products in Germany.

As our Mary Jo Foley reported earlier this year:

"Microsoft was granted an injunction and temporary restraining order against Motorola, which was … Read more

Oops! Anti-Apple Maps ad reveals Google Maps' own failing

Everyone knows that Apple is dealing with a firestorm of criticism over problems with its new iOS 6 Maps feature, but a new ad for Google-owned Motorola Mobility's Droid Razr may have crossed the line.

The ad, which appeared on September 21 on Motorola's Google+ site, shows a Razr alongside an iPhone 5, and reads, "Looking for 315 E 15th in Manhattan? Google Maps on Droid Razr M will get you there & not #iLost in Brooklyn."

The post shows the Razr displaying the proper address in the middle of a grid of Manhattan streets, while … Read more

The truth about iPhone 5's first weekend sales

commentary Apple supporters triumphantly cheered on the company after it sold 5 million iPhones over the weekend. Wall Street, however, was disappointed by the figure after seeing the long lines on Friday.

The correct reaction probably lies somewhere in the middle. Perhaps a polite golf clap?

For analysts, it was a classic case of hype feeding into the estimates, which ramped up to as high as 10 million for the first weekend, numbers that even a powerhouse like Apple couldn't hope to achieve.

"We find it unfortunate that some analysts continue to publish irresponsible estimates without taking into … Read more

Google's Motorola goes after Apple maps in new ad

How many fronts can a good war have?

An infinite number, if the bazooka fire around the iPhone 5 can be believed.

For Google's Motorola doesn't want to be left behind Samsung and Nokia, both of whom have already tried to mock Apple's new elongated marvel.

I am indebted to TechCrunch for coming upon a Motorola Google+ post (also on Motorola's Facebook page) that enjoys an ad with a mocking tone.

What reason could Motorola have to mock the iPhone 5? Why, it's the iOS 6 Maps app, of course. You know, the one that doesn't seem to quite get the locations right.… Read more

Verizon's fall plans include several new Android phones

In what's becoming a regular occurrence, Verizon's year-end roadmap has apparently found its way online, according to Phone Arena, tipping the Big Red's smartphone plans.

It should come as no surprise that there's a handful of Android on the horizon, including devices from no fewer than six hardware makers. Should the leaked details prove true, Verizon will soon have a little something for everyone.

First out of the gate will be the Samsung Stratosphere 2, which has been rumored to have a Super AMOLED Plus display, a sliding QWERTY keyboard, an 8-megapixel camera, and a dual-core … Read more

Samsung wins one in Apple patent-infringement case

Samsung today won an important ruling against Apple in Germany.

The Mannheim Regional Court ruled today that Samsung does not violate a patent Apple holds related to touchscreen functionality in mobile devices. According to the Korea Times, which was first to report on the judgement, the patent in question relates to the way a touchscreen interprets finger inputs.

Apple and Samsung have been waging a bitter patent battle all over the world. Neither company had gained an upper hand until last month when a jury in San Jose, Calif., charged Samsung with copying Apple's products. Over the next few … Read more

Microsoft wins patent ruling over Motorola in German court

A Munich court has ruled that Motorola Mobility, a division of Google, infringes a patent owned by Microsoft relating to software keyboards.

The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant can now enforce an injunction on Motorola devices that infringe on the patent, EU Patent No. EP1040406, described as a "soft input panel system and method."

The Google-owned smartphone hardware maker will now have to modify the Android operating system to remove the infringing technology from the device, or pay Microsoft a license fee to use the technology in Germany. If Microsoft enforces the injunction, it could … Read more

Apple, Intel skating to mobile face-off in 2013

With signs that Apple has designed one of the fastest smartphone chips yet, Intel is getting set to rev up its smartphone silicon in 2013.

Performance benchmark site Geekbench is already showing the iPhone 5's dual-core A6 central processing unit (CPU) with roughly twice the performance of the A5 chips in the iPhone 4S and third-generation iPad. And Geekbench also has the A6 edging out the quad-core chip in Samsung's Galaxy S III.

And there may be a quad-core Apple A series chip in the works for 2013, according to Linley Gwennap, the principal analyst at The Linley … Read more

Fitbit adds Zip to its workout routine

Tuesday's CNET Update has some Zip:

If you geek out over workout and personal fitness technology, then check out the review of the new Fitbit Zip. For $60, this fitness tracker is an advanced pedometer that records calories are burned over time. Progress is displayed on the app, and data is synced to an iPhone via Bluetooth. (Bluetooth syncing not yet available for Android.) Users also earn fitness badges and share progress with friends. The higher-end model is called the Fitbit One, which in addition tracks sleep and has a silent vibrating alarm. That comes out in early October … Read more

U.S. ITC to investigate Apple at Motorola's request

The U.S. International Trade Commission is taking a deeper look into Apple's most popular products.

The organization today announced that it will investigate certain Apple iPhones, iPods, iPads, and Macs, after Motorola requested the inquiry last month.

In the motion filed last month, Motorola asked the ITC to determine if Apple's products violate section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by infringing patents the company claims to hold. If the devices are found to have violated Motorola's patents, the company has asked the ITC to issue exclusion and cease-and-desist orders against Apple's products.

Motorola'… Read more