Apple gets iPhone patent.

Is that still a coincidence? Hardly threatening Apple COO Tim Cook imitators with complaints, Apple gets a patent on the user interface of the iPhone. Two years had taken the application, the release of Apple's exactly the right time.

 

The number
7479949 smartphone manufacturers should remember. Under this point is that Apple's patent for the user interface of the iPhone in the U.S. Patent Office registered. Almost two years, the officials used to Apple's patent application for review, but now it's official: The rights to the typical way to the cult-mobile phone with finger gestures controls are at Apple.

AP
The magic touch: With the iPhone, Apple has a design trend. The problem is that if competitors also touch the multi-function mobile imitate

This message should be at the Apple headquarters in Cupertino already eagerly waiting for. Finally, Steve Jobs had representatives at the chief post, Tim Cook, only a few days ago made it clear that Apple is not to put up
when other manufacturers, the principles of the iPhone interface their own. Without directly to a specific company address, he said it would be such attempts with all means available to combat them.

Observers suspect Cook had with his threat to Palm frameworks, which just announced Smartphone Palm Pre in some detail the iPhone is very similar. With the assignment of the patent, Apple has now basically the funds in hand to combat Palm approach. However, the company would have to clear evidence of how well Apple's patents actually violated.

538 page long document

The on January 20, 2009 dated patent itself is entitled "touchscreen device, method and graphical user interface, user input in order to determine heuristically. As the inventor will be Steve Jobs and Apple's 25 other employees mentioned.

A total of 538 pages, the document include the more than 60 illustrations is garnished. Important should be above all what is already in the brief summary of the patent stands. It says, Apple has the patent on "contacts from one or more fingers with the touch screen to detect and precisely from these contacts with the help of heuristic methods to determine whether the user, for example, move the screen, it scrolls or other command wants to run.

Now remains to be seen to what extent the newly acquired Apple patent applies and whether the companies interested in the use of multi-touch finger referred Steuerungstechnik against payment of royalties will allow. It affects not only mobile phone company, but also a number of manufacturers of other devices such as MP3 players, which is still held back so that multi-touch technology into their devices installed.

Apple could sue Palm.

The resurrection should perhaps be moved. Pre Palms Smartphone is in details of the iPhone so similar that a dispute with observers fear Apple. While the iPod company with the saber rasselt, there is Palm confidently.

 

The enthusiasm was great: When the mobile phone manufacturer Palm strauchelnde its new touch-screen phone, the Palm Pre, at the CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas presented the press and audience were thrilled. Not quite so enthusiastic, however, appears in Apple's headquarters in Cupertino to have been. The elegant user interface of the mobile neophyte remembers very partial to the iPhone, Apple could potentially infringe patents.

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Palm Pre: similar to the iPhone?

The potential problem: Palms mobile browser. The fact has some features that are currently only available when the iPhone and installed the Apple Safari browser has seen. Among other things you can safari with two fingers to operate. By around the thumb and index finger on a picture sets and move apart, are parts of websites infinitely enlarge or - conversely applied - shrink.

Multi-touch is this technique, in which a touch-screen finger movements of several show commands and can implement. As these functions in January 2007 for the first time in front of an audience and showed plenty of applause for harvested, said Apple CEO Steve Jobs the new development as almost magical. Possible imitators he startled by saying 'Oh man, and as we have patented, "from.

No multi-touch with Google Mobile ... or is it?

The award was its impact. And of course the knowledge of many companies handlebars that even with Apple's legendary legal fun is not. So far no manufacturer has dared to Apple's multi-touch gesture control to copy. Even Google and the Open Handset Consortium, the Android operating system for phones like the T-Mobile G1 develop, have been cautious so far held back.

The touch-sensitive screen of the G1 is basically in a position, multi-finger gestures as the iPhone to understand. This at least demonstrated the Android developer Luke Hutchison. He has written a software with which images and Web pages on the G1 well with two-finger gestures to zoom in and out like the iPhone. To use the software yourself is still some work needed, which only experienced users Hutchison recommends.

Jobs representatives threatens imitators

Much easier is expected to touch on the other hand, multi Palms with new hope, the Palm Pre be. Its Web browser dominates the two-finger technique as well as Apple's Safari sovereign. But what observers at first glance like, for Palm could now become a problem. Because in the context of a financial press conference, the currently reigning Apple chief Tim Cook, the Steve Jobs during his time out represents clear that they were too brazen Abkupferungsversuche will not put up.

"We like competition, because competition makes us better, so long as he does not exploit our intellectual property," said Cook, adding that Apple would "pursue all of the tries." Fairly clear that he has an eye on Palm, even though he repeatedly pointed out that his statement does not refer to a specific company to want to seek. Even though Cook must also hold back. Because the patents, of which Jobs at the launch of the iPhone said, are registered by the U.S. Patent Office, but apparently not yet been stamped. Until then, will the iPhone manufacturers still need to slow down.

Trump card Rubinstein

Palm sees possible actions against Apple apparently abandoned. So there is at least Palm CEO Ed Colligan talks to blogs ONLINE confident that it can hardly be a dispute between Palm and Apple come. Finally, he gave an argument that Palm itself had hundreds of patents for smartphone technology. In the case of an action by Apple, because Colligan seems to be sure, one can loose with a whole momentum of counter-counter claims.

Still, it is not the extent and the taps still exploring the site. This is for Apple's image would not be encouraged, Palm right now, because it again with the company seems to go up to sue, should Apple chief schnurz be entirely bunk. One possibility, without expensive lawyers to some admittedly, there are.

Jon Rubinstein, the Palm for the development of the Pre is responsible, has for years, even in Apple's chief floor sat. His participation in the iPod earned him the nickname "The Podfather" one. As such, he could still a wire to Apple's current leaders - and the emerging dispute can be simple, without causing collateral damage in the Palace of Justice comes.

Japan plans mobile phone ban in schools.

In an emergency, just ban: Because more and more students via SMS positions after suffering young girls into prostitution online offering to mobile phones in Japan's schools will be banned. Critics questioned the success of this measure.

 

Tokyo - First they extorted their victims. Again and again sent the four high-school her 18-year-old classmates SMS debts, converted hundreds of euros back. Then presented a nude photo of her peers to the Internet, including names and mobile mail address of the victim. Then the Japanese got more SMS from other students who made fun of him. At the end saw the 18-year-old no way out and jumped from the school roof in the death. The case of over one year ago in the city of Kobe cared for horror, is not the only one in Japan, where mobile phones for bullying among pupils were abused.

REUTERS
Japanese students with his cell phone: Cyber bullying via SMS drove another student to death

Immer wieder sorgen in der Mobilfunkhochburg Japan Fälle für Schlagzeilen, bei denen Handys jugendlichen Tätern wie auch ihren Opfern als Kommunikationsplattform dienen - und der Gesellschaft als einer der Gründe für die Missstände. The ranges of harassment of students and teachers, prostitution of schoolgirls on relevant contact pages on the Internet to instructions for suicide. Now the government wants to act in short and mobile phones from public schools in the country ban.

The Education Ministry in Tokyo intends According to media reports, by the end of January, the school authorities across the country to the fact that mobile phones generally from primary and secondary schools have to disappear. However, critics doubt that the problems simply by a government can eradicate available. "Even though I am sure that a child with a cell phone, I can it not simply take away by force. Then I would be accused of, I would use physical punishment," says a teacher from Osaka in the newspaper "Asahi Shimbun" the dilemma.

Japan, Europe is two years ahead

According to a survey by the Education Committee of the prefecture of Tokyo under 11,000 children in public schools have 33.2 percent of ten year olds own mobile phone. The 15-year-olds are already 73.3 per cent and the 16-year-olds 95.4 percent. Another study by the Osaka Prefecture showed that among the 13-year-olds every six more than three hours a day, the phone is used. Among the 16-year-olds does any third party. Every sixth among the 16 - year-olds were also involved, more than 50 a day to send SMS. Another result of the study that the children at home, the shorter learn, the longer they are with the mobile phone company, there can hardly be surprising.

In Japan, which according to experts in the mobile technology Europe two to three years in advance, and where 'keitai' (mobile phones) with Internet access from society are not ignored, are no longer phones only for voice calls or SMS. With cell phones can buses, trains and even taxis to pay for free television look to book their holidays, manga comics and read all the novels. Among the mobile offerings include but porn, Internet sites on which Selbstmörder to arrange group suicides and "deai-SAITO" - sites on which adults often Sexkontakte with students arrive.

Encouragement and doubt

One in ten primary school students is, according to a survey with such content ever come into contact. Although the law was recently tightened and Internet operators are obliged to records of children under 18 years to remove the offer to prostitution, as well as adults who are looking for such children. How effective it is, is not yet clear. According to the national police authority were made within one month after the amendment of a law more than 1,600 Internet pages to contact security authorities.

When the young governor of Osaka, Toru Hashimoto, for this debate recently, mobile phones from the schools to ban, which caused a stir. So far, the schools themselves, as they deal with the problem. Many had previously prohibitions, but without much success. Japan's Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama finds Hashimoto's proposal as "people who are strongly influenced by e-mail on mobile phones are dependent, would lose their conversation skills. There is no doubt that mobile phones have an aspect of the loss of humanity which could lead," he said .

But not everyone has a cell phone ban in schools. Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, the Kyodo news agency that that the parents should leave. Others believe mobile phones to be useful, because schools and parents to locate their children and so could verify whether they were safe. Others, like Professor Shigeki Ito from the University of Komazawa any doubt that a ban in schools brings something big. Finally, the children used their phones after lessons continue anyway.

The Internet revolution comes as SMS.

Strategy Change: The mobile phone manufacturer Nokia turns increasingly become a provider of online services. The driver of the online revolution is neither GPS navigation or music download or mobile game, but an SMS information service for Indian farmers.

 

Nokia is still the undisputed market leader among mobile phone manufacturers. But the Finnish company has already paved the way for the next era asked. Because the market for mobile phones is considered to be largely exhausted. As the profit margins in the telephone-production rapidly shrinking, in future
especially strong sales services for sure. The realignment of the group follows the motto "content instead of hardware." The lush profits from the mobile phone boom are now in navigation services, mobile gaming and music download offerings invested.

Nokia 1200: Not with high-end phones, but with online offerings for emerging Nokia wants to revolutionize the mobile network

The new service called Nokia N-Gage (games), Nokia Maps (navigation) or "Comes with Music" (music downloads). This comes as a connecting element of the platform "Ovi", under which the Finns various mobile Internet services. Precisely this "Ovi" (Finnish for "door") is all the online services will one day become a "complete experience" link. So far, the development, however, is not just dramatically, owing primarily to the strong inertia of users likely to be attributed. The fact accept new mobile applications much too slowly - at least from the perspective of providers.

Life Tools

Now, the principle outlined in development worldwide, but not everywhere on the globe in the same form. Because mobile entertainment services, or finding a safe target restaurants are of course only in rich countries demand. In developing and emerging economies booming mobile telephony on the other hand, primarily because it opens up new job opportunities or the everyday life a little less entbehrungsreich makes: For millions of poor people in Africa and Asia is also the first mobile phone bank account, the first respectable address and the first uncensored Information Channel.

Therefore, the calculated data service imaginable unspectacular "
Life Tools "to Nokia's main service. And it just because he is on simple SMS text messages based. Thus it is not at an advanced mobile infrastructure of the third generation. SMS come much more even with poor reception and congested networks still relatively smoothly ans Objective. To be the "life tools" soon India's farmers and students quick access to time-critical information to offer.

The SMS Web

The "Life Tools" should be in the first half of 2009 to gradually be introduced throughout India, said Nokia in November 2008. Thereafter, the mobile Web also Simpel in selected countries in Asia, Africa and South America come. Users will be given to paid subscribers of information are. The fees are deducted from the credit. Even if it is only micro amounts, should be selected by the user masses solid business models are possible.

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Just simple and unspectacular as the transmission of information via SMS, the display on the phone display: The "Life Tools" come in the form of graphically simple tables therefore. Their presentation is also on the monochrome screen of an
Nokia 1200 is possible. This model, designed specifically for the Indian market has been developed, but also is available here, provides only basic phone functions. The only extravagance equipment consists of a flashlight.

This will be the 1200 and his successor, 1202 without a contract for $ 25 offered. So the mobile online revolution 2009 probably in the form of weather and Adult Education courses, therefore, as the tables on a black-green-screen display - and not as colorful 3-D graphics on the screen sündteurer high-end mobile phones.

The iPhone as a joke.

Apple's download platform App Store is on track to become the model market for mobile software. That must be Apple but also with 14 new phenomenon as Furzkissen simulations one day employ.

 

The Mystic Game Development Company sells its products not directly to consumers. And this could be related to the software, the Dutch program, will not start. With its programs, the company that games developers tools available that allow, for example, animated characters in video games can. The small iPhone software "iBoobs" is primarily as a vivid demonstration of the latest features of the Mystic program "emotion" to understand the bad effects now dominating soft objects.

ifartmobile.com
Web page of iFart: High-tech Furzkissen for download

Apple joined the breast loose software, however, little approval, "iBoobs" may not in any event on the App Store system. With YouTube, there are always videos of the application, but usually they are within a short period of time for users under 18 years locked - in prepubertal light of the stupidity of the program covered, but politically correct.

Why various programs access to the platform for iPhone application is denied, said Apple traditionally not. The formulaic rejection individual titles provoked accusations of censorship, of course, but the iBoobs example vividly illustrates why Apple in this purchase is: No checks at the entrance of the App Store would probably quickly flooded tracks the image of the hype phones permanent damage would be more likely.

Furzkissen

When asked what programs in the App Store be tolerated, however, Apple is in a hard dilemma. The protection of the iPhone image stands contrary to the goal, the App Store as a central marketplace for mobile applications market. Censorship allegations are obviously counter-productive, because only a largely open platform is on a permanent basis for all suppliers attractive. These conflicting interests to get a hat, Apple must continually between control and laissez-faire and forth herlavieren.

Symbol of this development is not the chest iBoobs bad software, but a virtual Furzkissen calculated.

The first known application of this type joke is called "Pull My Finger" and offers 16-Pups noises with the match-inappropriate illustrations and vibration.

In the fall of Apple refused Blödel software initially to enter the App Store. The formulaic justification was "lack of utility" and drew a small wave of outrage after it. Finally, some of the most successful App Store offers the same stubborn or pointless as the iPhone Furzkissen: In the virtual aquarium "Koi Pond" simply fish swim around the "iBeer" is just as Partygag using, and the only function of the program " I Am Rich "was the purchase process - with which one could prove that they were $ 1000 for a red blob on the screen can afford.

iWeia

Basically, Apple is expected with the success of its App Store highly satisfied. The platform was in any case at the beginning of December - just five months after the start - proudly reported, 10,000 programs have to offer. The group also said, already 300 million downloads have to be settled. How many of them were charged, however, betrayed Apple just as the turnover reached. That the group with 30 percent, which he sold software at each mitschneidet, well deserved, but on the hand.

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Apparently, given that Apple's successes eased a little access policy, which among other things, "Pull My Finger" finally in the App Store was allowed. The Furzkissen software but not for long remained alone. Because, as to Apple's initial reservations to illustrate spilled in December, a veritable flood of fart programs on the App Store. They were alone on 17 December - a peak of Furzwelle - no fewer than 14 new joke programs are counted, most of which are for 79 cents offered.

The greatest trick the counterfeiters is now is a catchy name for the umpteenth infusion of Furzkissenidee to find. Fart Button, Mr. Poot! IToot, iFart, iFartz, FartBox, Who Farted? Fart keyboard in any case are already occupied, as well as all possible variations in spelling. Whether this wave Furzkissen iPhone image is a lasting influence, remains to be seen.

Meizu China wants to be Apple.

High-quality products and sophisticated design: These are the goals of Meizu. In order to achieve them, the Chinese company a prominent role model chosen. Meizus MP3 players and smartphones striking out to Apple products - but are direct copies avoided.

 

The news that a Chinese company called
Meizu one in Shenzhen
Flagship store has opened, it was involuntarily to the famous rice sack umgefallenen think. Why shop for MP3 players and mobile phones in the southern Chinese city Twelve million even beyond China's remarkable, the gadget blog "
Engadget "in an awkward photo montage to the point: It shows
Apple's flagship store in New York, whose striking glass cube, a popular photo provenance. Instead of the apple mounted engadget graphic however Meizus "m" logo in the oversized glass construction.

Meizu's website: Why just copy the products, when the whole company can emulate?

Meizus flagship store in reality looks quite spectacular, the interior is in comparison to the interior of the unterkühlten Apple stores quite shabby. But the products that are offered for sale here, have a lot to offer. This applies to all Meizu products that they at first sight abundantly at the Apple gadgets remember.

Meizus parade horse named "
M8 "roughly similar to the iPhone in a very special way. The Chinese smartphone with multi-touch display model that mimics the gesture rather than in specific details of how a direct comparison of the device shows. Meizu But is not any Piratenbude from the Pearl River Delta, the rapid Hong Kong dollar with the umpteenth iPhone clone himself. Meizu is probably much longer the trial, not the product, but the manufacturers to copy.

Design and error

The relevant technology blogs was for the first time in 2006 Meizu attention to the company as their "
Mini Player "on the market. The also" M6 "called multimedia player accomplished the feat without the distinctive scroll wheel on an iPod now the fourth generation to remember. 2007 was followed by" Music Card "or" M3 "China's answer to the iPod Nano. The devices were of course much cheaper than their Apple counterparts, but also a critical test in the United States praised the sound processing, the value appearance and intuitive operation.

If the clever Chinese competition so far Apple has not yet noticed should be done with probably no later than January 2007. Because the smartphone M8, the Meizu just three weeks after Apple's official presentation of the iPhone announced that resembled the model not only externally. Also, the technical specifications and the interface design seemed very much of Apple's throw "inspired." Although declared Meizu CEO Jack Wong short time later that the basic design is already four days before the iPhone unveiling showed. But outside China, he could probably convince anyone.

Unverklagt

Astonishing but true is the fact that Apple Meizu never been sued or comply - at least not officially. Although it was a
Raid on the CeBit technology trade show about a year ago initially Meizus state was due to Apple's initiative has been emptied. Later it turned out, however, that it is little unspectacular royalty payments for MP3 codecs went. The only action for copyright infringement against Meizu actually came from U.S. designer Philip Warner. One of its graphics as a screensaver is emblazoned on a M8 display, without the rights that previously had been clarified.

After numerous delays, the M8 since December last year, actually in China and have been consistently earned respectable reviews. And this despite the fact behind the iPhone from the "inspired" user interface Microsoft's operating system is Windows CE 6.0. The M8 is not only in functionality and performance with the model to measure the meticulous disassembly of the phone by a hobbyist blog had a consistently solid finish to light.

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In direct comparison, the device can of course still not against the iPhone, so the tenor of the previous tests. Nevertheless, Meizu is now a serious competitor Apple respected. Finally, the company was first established in 2003. The M8 is more than finger exercise of a newcomer declared with regard to quality. And in China, the device should already be considered a success,
because the iPhone there has not yet officially sold since Apple and China Mobile did not have the conditions to be agreed. Therefore, the M8 during the first year in India and later also in the U.S. on the market.

The battle for the cloud begins.

Mobilization for Microsoft: In a few weeks, the group of new online services for mobile phone users to publish, report U.S. specialist. This is reminiscent of Apple's MobileMe to services from Google, Nokia and others. The battle for the data cloud has begun.

 

Hamburg - Not more of the personal computer, the PC, but the Internet will in future focus. This new strategy was Microsoft manager Ray Ozzie at the end of October 2008 announced
as he introduced Windows Azure, Microsoft's Windows operating system for
Cloud Computing. According to rumors, the company will soon take the first applications to imagine that the Azure technology use. And thus a blow to millions of mobile phone users to potential users of Microsoft's cloud data to make.

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Microsoft Windows Mobile: the future with a direct connection to Microsoft's Cloud Computing OS Azure?

The charm of the cloud: The terminal is just a window on an up-to-date data. If the computer enters a date, sees him later when we look in the phone calendar, a contact who enters mobile, it can later retrieve at the computer - only online, of course. The same is true for address books, e-mails stored online photos, documents and so on.

Microsoft ranks now, if the rumor is true, in a range of suppliers from different industries, all want the same thing: access to the official data provide cloud. These include, for example, the search engine Google, the hardware manufacturer Apple with MobileMe and the mobile phone producer Nokia with its Ovi service. Also, the Vodafone mobile plan information from blogs online, according to increased use of such mobile data services in the cloak of their own mark set. The calculations for all competitors: Who is performing its data, will the online archivist can trust - there would have strong brands offer an advantage.

Microsoft's official announcement, this crowd of competitors join it for the Mobile World Congress, the main mobile phone trade show of the year, reports
Neowin. The Congress is held in mid February in Barcelona. According to the report, is Microsoft's technology allows mobile phone users, their data via the Web with online data stored deductible stocks offset data on the network and to exchange with each other.

A total of three bids were in development at Microsoft, which is currently under the code name skybox, Skyline and Skymarket would be tested, they say. The most interest is likely to be user-oriented private skybox to rise.

Skybox: Microsoft MobileMe clone?

The skybox will be its users, among other things allow online backups of your mobile phone or data stored on the same play back. Moreover, it is planned by skybox mobile data online to manage and skybox with other users to exchange. Contact data, e-mails and appointments will be via skybox virtually in real time with the online data stored stocks can match.

Skyline is opposed to small and midsize companies. With this online software to mobile phone companies to their employees for the cooperation with Microsoft's e-mail, contact and schedule management software can configure Exchange.

The third puzzle piece of the new Cloud Computing strategy will ultimately Microsoft online software store Skymarket in February in operation. In this online shop owners to Microsoft's mobile phones with Windows Mobile software in the future with additional software can provide.

Good abgekupfert?

To create new ideas is that none of the three planned online offerings. So Apple was about a good half a year with the online service MobileMe at the start, the concept as a blueprint for skybox looks. MobileMe combines the data stationary computer with a Web portal and the iPhone.
Apple had some difficulties, however, the initially promised real-time synchronization of data is actually implemented. Apple's offer single user costs 79 euros per year.

Similar is the linking of Google's Internet services with mobile phones based on Google's Android operating system. First experiences with the
on Monday in Hamburg presented T-Mobile G1 example showed that the cell phone only use it when you compare it with a Google account is linked. Instead of the PC, the device is on Google's online calendar and address book with data - here, however, free of charge.

Many Google applications such as calendars, e-mail, news alerts and others can now also integrate other smartphones - a Android phone you need is not necessarily just an Internet connection.

A key difference between Google and MobileMe is rumored to the skybox but then show: While MobileMe iPhone works only with Google and its full potential is currently before the G1 reserves will be Microsoft's skybox also be used with mobile phones, on which there is no Windows Mobile is installed .

Much software for Windows Mobile Phones

However, both Apple and Google already online shop for mobile software in operation. With Google cavort there in the third month after the introduction of Google's mobile phones in the United States is already around 700 applications. Apple App Store recently announced the availability of iPhone programs now include 15,000 shares. Microsoft to offer Windows Mobile software is expected to lie somewhere in between. Finally, there are now thousands of additional programs for Windows-based mobile phones. Only one has yet painstakingly from various sources are looking for.

About possible prices for Microsoft's new online services for mobile, there is as yet not even vague speculation. From free to very expensive everything is still possible. It is, however, that at least Skyline, the service for business users, will be charged. As is also sure that Microsoft's mobile data cloud in the range of Windows Live services will be classified.

Gerüchtelt addition, the company will be in Barcelona, the new version 6.5 of its mobile operating system, Windows Mobile show. Quite possible that the developers of this software to ensure that the operating system and online services like closely linked, as Apple and Google have already Provided the. How would Windows phones to unlock the current trends and could again become more attractive - what they urgently need.