Apple

Google explicitily warned Samsung against deliberately copying the iPhone and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 25, 2012

This is interesting. Google apparently specifically advised Samsung against ripping off the iPhone. Worse, Samsung reportedly was well aware that its Galaxy smartphones and tablets bore a striking resemblance to the iPhone and iPad. On top of that, the South Korean conglomerate apparently discussed this issue and dimissed concerns from both Google and famous designers who felt strongly that Samsung's Galaxy S smartphone “looked like it copied the iPhone too much".

This is per Samsung's own internal documents that Apple intends use against Samsung in the high-profile Apple vs. Samsung lawsuit scheduled to begin July 30 in the United States. More juice details, including quotes, right after the break...

Samsung to Apple: our patents made the iPhone possible

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Continuing a string of accusations between Apple and Samsung ahead of the high-stake July 30 trial in the United States, the Galaxy maker asserted in court documents that the iPhone wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for Samsung's patented technology.

Specifically, Samsung wrote Apple would have sold zero iPhones if it hadn't been for its wireless technology patents that Apple relied heavily upon to enter the telecommunications space. The South Korean conglomerate also pulled an ace up its sleeve: dead-on prior art that allegedly invalidates Apple's patents...

Apple scores EU-wide sales ban on 7.7-inch Galaxy Tab, loses appeal on 10.1N

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 24, 2012

FOSS Patents reports that Apple has been granted an expanded sales ban on Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 over design infringement, with a German court issuing a preliminary injunction ruling that Samsung may not sell the device anywhere in the European Union.

A sales ban in Germany has been in effect for a number of months now under a decision related to its larger sibling, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, but today's decision extends the ban to all EU countries. At the same time, Apple lost an appeal to bar Samsung’s revised Galaxy Tab 10.1N tablet from selling across Europe...

Apple’s generous offer to Samsung: half a cent per device

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

We told you yesterday that court-mediated talks between Apple CEO Tim Cook and his Samsung counterparts fell apart as the two frenemies are scheduled to duke it out in a high-profile U.S. lawsuit next Monday, July 30 that could easily have serious ramifications for both firms.

The two sides just couldn't agree on the value of each other's patents, it's been said. Patent expert Florian Müeller did some digging and discovered Apple's terms, including the money value the company put on Samsung's patents...

Mediation talks fail between Apple and Samsung ahead of trial

Cody Lee ∙ July 23, 2012

Last week, Tim Cook met with top executives from Samsung Electronics to discuss the ongoing patent dispute between the two companies. The meeting was court-ordered, in a last-ditch effort to get the smartphone-makers to settle their differences ahead of next week's trial.

Unsurprisingly, the talks didn't go very well. A new report is out this afternoon claiming that the companies disagreed on "the value of each other's patents," and a settlement between the two sides is extremely unlikely to happen before the end of the month...

Samsung to launch Gorilla-sized 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II phablet on August 15

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Samsung is about to give the phablet a new meaning with the rumored introduction of the Galaxy Note II at a presser scheduled for August 15. A follow up to the last year's Galaxy Note with a 5.3-inch display, the Note II is apparently thinner and a bit taller. As a result, the display is also said to have grown in size a tad, now measuring a whopping 5.5 inches diagonally.

Just how exactly an average human being is supposed to operate this device is anyone's guess, though clearly there are people out there who prefer mobile devices that fall somewhere in between a large smartphone and a small tablet.

Apple, of course, is rumored to be addressing the trend of large smartphone displays with the next iPhone, said to be of the same width as existing iPhones, albeit a bit taller, making room for a four-inch display...

Samsung surpasses 10 million Galaxy S III shipments in 55 days

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 27, 2017

A month ago Samsung publicly set a target for Galaxy S III shipments at ten million units by the end of July. Today, the company announced it hit that milestone. A successor to the Galaxy S II, by and large the most popular Android handset, the Galaxy S III was unveiled at a London event on May 29, 55 days ago. A month later it arrived at U.S. shores.

In the two weeks following the London unveiling, the S III received more than nine million pre-orders from a hundred carriers, making it the fastest-selling gadget in history.

For comparison, the iPhone 4S sold four million units during its launch weekend (including pre-orders) and the Galaxy S II took five months to hit ten million shipments...

Smart TV alliances reportedly being formed over iTV rumors

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 21, 2012

Rumors that Apple is eyeing HD TV set making biz have persisted for a couple years now, but no solid iTV evidence surfaced thus far apart from Jobs' vague "I finally cracked it" quote from Walter Isaacson's bio book.

But even a mere idea of Apple setting its sights on the television market has baffled incumbents undertaking precautionary measures.

As indicated in a report out of Asia yesterday, some makers have started making smart TV alliances out of fear that Apple might take the television market by surprise just as it's done with the music market and, to a certain extent, with high-end smartphones...

Samsung to unveil new Galaxy device on August 15th

Cody Lee ∙ July 20, 2012

All eyes are on Apple this fall, as rumors of a revamped iPhone and an all-new iPad persist. If the speculation materializes, this October could bring one of the company's biggest media events in recent memory.

And between now and then, don't be surprised if the competition manages to steal the spotlight away with new produce releases and announcements. Samsung, in fact, is already making a move in that direction...

Apple fighting Samsung adverts on its website, here’s Joy of Tech’s funny take

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 20, 2012

Apple is going to appeal a U.K. court ruling from earlier this week which mandates that Cupertino post a public apology on both its website and in British newspapers, basically free advertisement telling the public that Samsung did not copy the iPad's design, per the court's ruling. As this legal mess is being sorted out, Joy of Tech has an excellent take on what this notice could be like, included right below...

Tim Cook met with Samsung execs again to talk patent issues

Cody Lee ∙ July 19, 2012

As ordered by US District Judge Lucy Koh, Tim Cook reportedly met with Samsung's CEO and President of Mobile Communications earlier this week to discuss the ongoing patent war between the two companies.

Apple and Samsung's two-year long battle has recently landed them in Koh's northern California courtroom. And with the trial set to kick off on July 30th, the judge wanted them to give peace talks one last shot...

The iPhone 4S emits 3 times the radiation as Galaxy S III

Cody Lee ∙ July 18, 2012

Ever since Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy S III earlier this year, we've seen the handset compared to the iPhone 4S in a number of different ways, including specs, voice control features, and even durability.

But up until now, we've yet to see a comparison like this. A new report is out this week claiming that Apple's latest smartphone has been found to emit 3 times more radiation than Samsung's S III handset...