Google seeks judgment protecting Android from 'Rockstar' group's patent lawsuits

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/25/google-seeks-judgment-protecting-android-from-rockstar/

Google isn't about to remain idle while the Apple- and Microsoft-led "Rockstar" patent group sues numerous Android partners. The search giant has quietly filed a declaratory judgment complaint asking a San Jose court to rule that the company (and therefore, the Android ecosystem) doesn't infringe seven of Rockstar's patents. As GigaOM notes, Google isn't mincing words -- the firm accuses Rockstar of "placing a cloud" over Android and harassing a large part of the technology industry. The legal action doesn't necessarily amount to fighting fire with fire, though. Declaratory judgment complaints frequently represent attempts to score an early victory, rather than the first line of defense; Google likely has more up its sleeve if this tactic doesn't work.

Google Dec Action vs Rockstar

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Blackberry

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Source: GigaOM

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Gionee Elife E7 mini launched with Oppo-like swivel camera, octa-core CPU

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/25/gionee-elife-e7-mini-launch/

Chinese phone maker Gionee has just released the Elife E7 mini version of its mega-spec'd 5.5-inch, 1080p Elife E7 phone, but it resembles its larger sibling in name only. First off, the 13-megapizel camera and flash are on a swivel at the top, Oppo N1-style. The specifications are otherwise a step down, starting with the 4.7-inch, 720p screen and continuing with the 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6592 CPU (instead of a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 800) and 1GB of RAM in lieu of 3GB. It also sports 16GB of storage, dual-SIM 3G capability and Android 4.2. Still, the folks at FoneArena, who got their hands on one during its launch in India, said it feels just as premium as the Elife E7 and it looks to have skipped the fingerprint-prone glossy finish of that model. Though it likely won't arrive in the US, selfie self-portrait lovers in India will be able to grab it for 18,999 (about $310). For more pics, hit the source.

[Image credit: FoneArena]

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Via: GSM Arena

Source: FoneArena

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This Glass Room Lets You Float Over of One of the Alps' Highest Peaks

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-glass-room-lets-you-float-over-of-one-of-the-alps-1488144594

The Aiguille du Midi, or Needle of the South, has been home to the terrifying highest vertical ascent cable car in the world for three decades. But this month, it's stepping up its scaring-the-wits-out-of-tourists game—with a glass box that hangs over the yawning void next to the peak.

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Samsung's 2014 smart TVs will let you control videos by pointing your finger

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/22/samsung-2014-smart-tv-interface-details/

Samsung's 2014 smart TV lineup may revolve around impressive-looking hardware, but the Korean tech giant has revealed that interface improvements will also play an important role. Its new TVs will support finger gestures that should be more intuitive than the whole-hand commands of this year's models; you can stop a movie with a spinning motion, for instance. Voice control will also be more powerful. It's at last possible to change channels or launch apps with a single step, and search results appear in one place. While the gesture and voice upgrades may not be revolutions, they'll likely be welcome to viewers frustrated with unwieldy TV software.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

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Source: Samsung Tomorrow

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Google tightens Chrome Web Store rules to prevent toolbar overload

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/20/google-tightens-chrome-web-store-extension-rules/

Many web veterans can share horror stories of friends and family who installed a few too many browser toolbars, some of them by accident. Google is clearly eager to avoid those disasters in Chrome -- it's instituting a new Chrome Web Store policy that will limit extensions to a single purpose. From now on, new extensions can't sneak in toolbars, secondary extensions or other features that aren't part of the core functionality. The move will create problems for honest developers who simply want to make rich add-ons, but Google is giving these code writers until June to either slim down or split up their current extensions. Although we doubt that everyone will like the stricter measures, they may be worthwhile if Chrome stays largely clutter-free.

Filed under: Internet, Software, Google

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Via: The Verge

Source: Chromium Blog

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