Apple being targeted for a new patent lawsuit

California-based NetAirus Technologies LLC is pursuing a patent infringement case against Apple and its iPhone.

The Loop reports that the company filed with the US District Court of California’s Western Division last Friday, contending that Apple’s popular iPhone device infringes on one of their patents concerning a "small light weight modular microcomputer based computer and communications systems, designed for both portability and desktop uses”.

The patent in question was granted to NetAirus on September 5, 2006 and seems to cover the broad concept of a “Wireless Handset Communication System” that almost any modern smartphone would infringe upon. NetAirus is claiming patent infringement for all iPhone models and is seeking payment for damages and a manufacturing suspension.

The patent states:

A small light weight modular microcomputer based computer and communications systems, designed for both portability and desktop uses. The systems make use of a relative large flat panel display device assembly (2), an expandable hinge device (10), battery power source (9), keyboard assembly (16), and wireless communications devices (32, 51). The systems are capable of bi-directional realtime communications of voice, audio, text, graphics and video data. Both wire-based or wireless communications methods and devices are implemented. Wireless communications devices may include one or more telephone-like handsets (14) and/or earset (34). The wireless communication devices may include one or more antennae (32). Systems can be configured in a portable arrangement similar to conventional notebook computers, but can be quickly and easily disassembled and re-assembled for office desktop uses. Systems may consist of a base computer unit (100) comprising wireless communication devices may act as a relay station relaying voice and other data between the handset or earset and external wide area communications networks. The system may be capable of performing, personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, conventional notebook computer, desktop computer functions.

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Gran Turismo 5 still "about 90%" done

Gran Turismo 5, perhaps one of the most hotly anticipated PlayStation 3 titles since its announcement at Sony's E3 conference back in 2006, is still "about 90%" done, according to Polyphony Digital boss Kazunori Yamauchi.

Speaking to Inside Line in an exclusive interview, Yamauchi said, "About 90 per cent of the game is done. We are just working on the last 10 per cent and polishing up everything. There are currently around 140 people working on the project."

The developer added that Gran Turismo will not be released until it has "satisfied everyone's wishes and then exceeded them."

As reported by Eurogamer, Yamauchi previously stated that the game was "about 90%" done at January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, indicating that the game is no closer to completion than it was five months ago, or that at the very least some late features may be being added.

Sony previously announced a March release for the game in Japan, but delayed it again in January. According to information on the PlayStation blog from Episode 4 of online magazine FirstPlay, the game is currently slated for a "Winter 2010" release.

 

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Bill Gates, "Microsoft has a lot of different tablet projects that we're pursuing"

A lot of Microsoft fans were disappointed when Microsoft announced that Courier project had been canceled.  While no one on the outside knows for sure why it was canceled, many suspect that the device will live on in another project in the near future.

Bill Gates, according to gurufocus.com, is reported to have said “Microsoft has a lot of different tablet projects that we're pursuing. We think that work with the pen that Microsoft pioneered will become a mainstream for students. It can give you a device that you can not only read, but also create documents at the same time.”

What Bill Gates is describing sounds very similar to the Courier concept that was shown off.  It was a pen based input system that allowed you to not only read on the device, but to also create documents.  For those who were waiting for the Courier from Microsoft, it’s probably safe to say that the device is still coming but it won’t be as soon as you might have hoped.

 

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StarCraft II gets July 27 worldwide release date

Speaking in a press release, Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed a July 27 worldwide release date for its highly-anticipated real-time strategy game, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. While the date is only for retail sales, the title will be available on the developer’s download service “shortly after” launch.

"We’ve been looking forward to revisiting the StarCraft universe for many years, and we’re excited that the time for that is almost here,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “Thanks to our beta testers, we’re making great progress on the final stages of development, and we’ll be ready to welcome players all over the world to StarCraft II and the new Battle.net in just a few months."

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is the sequel to Blizzard Entertainment’s 1998 hit StarCraft, which has been hailed by players and critics worldwide as one of the top real-time strategy games of all time. Sporting a vibrant new 3D-graphics engine, StarCraft II will once again center on the clash between the protoss, terrans, and zerg, with each side deploying legions of veteran, upgraded, and brand-new unit types.

The title is currently in a closed beta test with users on both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.

 

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28 days later...1 Million iPads sold

Apple announced on Monday that it had sold 1 Million iPads in just 28 days.

Apple is expected to shift 4 Million iPads by the end of the year according to early estimates from analysts prior to the tablet computers launch on April 3. Apple CEO Steve Jobs was upbeat about the news, "One million iPads in 28 days—that’s less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve this milestone with iPhone," he said in a statement. Jobs' also confirmed that demand continues to exceed supply chains for the device. According to Job's the company is working hard to "get this magical product into the hands of even more customers."

Apple also confirmed that iPad users have already downloaded over 12 million apps from the App Store and over 1.5 million ebooks from the new iBookstore. Apple launched the 3G iPad version on April 30 in the U.S. and according to early estimates it shipped 300,000 units in the first weekend of sales. The international version of the device is expected to go on sale later this month after a delay due to supply issues.

 

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Pachter: Xbox 360 Slim is coming

Speaking on the latest episode of GameTrailer’s Pach Attack, Wedbush Morgan Analyst Michael Pachter has said that he believes that the long-rumored Xbox 360 Slim is in fact real and will be bundled with Project Natal and a 250 GB hard drive, all for around $299.

Pachter said the following in response to a question regarding the existence of the unit:

"I think there is a 360 Slim, although I don’t think they will call it Slim since the PS3 is called that. I think there is a cheaper version of the Xbox 360 console coming out. I think it will probably have a different graphics card and processor, and if it does exist they will save around $20/30 on each unit.

"They won’t cut the price on this unit. Instead they will bundle it with Natal and perhaps a 250GB HDD for $299, see if they can get 8-10 million units out there and make Natal their future platform.

"So yeah, I think a Slim SKU is coming out, but no, you won’t be able to buy it cheaper than $299 until at least next year."

A Slimline Xbox 360 has been heavily rumored since Microsoft announced Project Natal at 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

Fan Made Image: VGChartz

 

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Firefox add-ons gets an overhaul

As pointed out by mozillalinks, Mozilla is planning to do a major overhaul of their add-on manager UI for Firefox.  The new add-on manager will change from the existing popup window, to its own tab.

The add-on manager will move from the existing top navigation to side-tabs, keeping the same list view of available and installed add-ons.  Users will be able to manage their languages, search engines, extensions, themes and plug-ins all in the same window, being able to search for addition add-ons through the built in Mozilla search.

The add-on manager now includes search engines, where previously only available on its own, apart from the add-on window.  Mozilla has not announced their default list of search engines yet, but will allow a undo and restore search engine option.

Some of the functionality and UI isn't final yet, and is currently very buggy.

image courtesy of mozillalinks.org

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