the tablet war is heating up

[Fast Learner]

Intel's doing a lot of work with Android on x86, too; the latest system-on-a-chip version of Atom looks like a pretty competitive cell phone/low-power tablet CPU.

Aye, and it's my understanding that the current Google TV boxes run x86. For development purposes, though, I'd want to test on what the common hardware.

 

[Banshee16]

That's how I read it. "Windows becomes the premium OS of choice" on tablets is what I am predicting won't come true.


I don't think we're talking about the same thing, unless you mean "buy a mobile device with Android pre-installed". Manufacturers who produce Android mobile devices -- Samsung, LG, HTC, etc. -- pay Microsoft a license for every device sold due to Microsoft's patent ownership.

Now, shortly before Christmas, one of the companies Microsoft was going after challenged them to reveal what patents they were violating, and it turned out that a bunch of the patents in their "bag" really weren't that applicable, and that this whole time, companies have basically been giving in because it's cheaper to do so than to go to court.

Or did all that end up being incorrect? The feeling I got was that Microsoft's going around with this big bag of patents, and basically saying "pay or we go to court", and companies are agreeing to pay, rather than going to court.

Banshee

 

[JoeGKushner]

I am loving it so far, but it's my first foray into android and tablets, so much of this could be the "new shiny" factor for me.

I have had no issues with wi-fi, and I have used it on 4 different wi-fi networks (home, public library, and two friends' homes). My usage has not been very bandwidth intensive though; some YouTube vids might be the highest.

Keep an eye on amazon for the app of the day.

keep an eye on crn for their daily pick. not necessarily free, but often worth knowing about.

the android market isn't the apple one, but damn if its not getting there.

 

[Fast Learner]

Now, shortly before Christmas, one of the companies Microsoft was going after challenged them to reveal what patents they were violating, and it turned out that a bunch of the patents in their "bag" really weren't that applicable, and that this whole time, companies have basically been giving in because it's cheaper to do so than to go to court.

Or did all that end up being incorrect? The feeling I got was that Microsoft's going around with this big bag of patents, and basically saying "pay or we go to court", and companies are agreeing to pay, rather than going to court.

Doesn't seem likely since LG signed an agreement three days ago. That's the one that brought the total to 70% of manufacturers, with Motorola being the only major standout.

 

[Banshee16]

Doesn't seem likely since LG signed an agreement three days ago. That's the one that brought the total to 70% of manufacturers, with Motorola being the only major standout.

I'll see if I can find the link. There was a lot of talk about this right before Christmas in the Android community.

The gist of it was that Microsoft's been stomping around, and basically depending on the fact that as more companies bend, the ones who are remaining figure there's legitimacy to their complaints, and figure on avoiding problems. However, one of the OEMs challenged them, and the patent they were actually violating was minor.

Which paints Microsoft as not so much defending their IP as finding a way to profit from the guys who are beating them.

I believe most of these cases are getting settled before going to trial.....if so, that could be a good indicator supporting the theory.

Banshee

 

[falcarrion]

Windows over the cloud could be what us tablet owners will get. Check out the "Onlive Desktop" app. Looks like a window screen. Lets you run Word, Excel, Powerpoint and more.

 

[Alan Shutko]

The gist of it was that Microsoft's been stomping around, and basically depending on the fact that as more companies bend, the ones who are remaining figure there's legitimacy to their complaints, and figure on avoiding problems. However, one of the OEMs challenged them, and the patent they were actually violating was minor.

You're probably talking about Barnes & Noble. But while they're fighting it, the case isn't over yet. Microsoft is also suing Motorola and got a preliminary ruling from the ITC that Motorola was in violation.

I haven't read the 43-page filing Barnes & Noble made, nor the patents in question, so I can't weigh in on the value of the patents. (The summary quoted is never a useful tool to dismiss patents, you have to read all the details.)

It is a good point that LG has licensed the patents SINCE the response from B&N, so they must think there's value to it.

 

[Banshee16]

You're probably talking about Barnes & Noble. But while they're fighting it, the case isn't over yet. Microsoft is also suing Motorola and got a preliminary ruling from the ITC that Motorola was in violation.

I haven't read the 43-page filing Barnes & Noble made, nor the patents in question, so I can't weigh in on the value of the patents. (The summary quoted is never a useful tool to dismiss patents, you have to read all the details.)

It is a good point that LG has licensed the patents SINCE the response from B&N, so they must think there's value to it.

Well....wait a second. The court stated that the majority of Microsoft's claims were not valid....only one was found to be violated. Whether it will be a problem depends on how easily Motorola can work around it.

Banshee

 

[Fast Learner]

Which paints Microsoft as not so much defending their IP as finding a way to profit from the guys who are beating them.

FWIW, that's how I'd define 95%* of software patent litigation.


* being generous

 

[Relique du Madde]

On a side note, Asus has just confirmed via twitter that they have the EEE Transformer Pad's ICS update waiting in a hold pattern for Google's permission before it can be sent out.