Google bids $900 million for Nortel's patents to protect against litigation trolls

Nortel, once one of the biggest telecoms company in the world but now in the death throes of bankruptcy, has selected Google's $900 million bid for its patent portfolio as the stalking horse bid. This doesn't mean that Google will automatically win Nortel's massive array of telecoms patents, but it does mean that Google is the preferred buyer.

Google, which has a history of lobbying for patent law reform, has been the target of many patent litigation suits. Google's relative infancy means that it has a lot less patents in the vault than big-hitters like Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, and buying Nortel's portfolio of 6,000 patents could provide better protection against patent litigation in the future. It's worth noting that both Apple and RIM have showed interested in the portfolio, too.

Mashable speculates that the patents -- which are nearly all telecoms-related -- will be used to defend against Oracle's attacks on Android's use of Java. We reckon that Google is simply looking to cover its future endeavors in the world of networking. In the absence of patent law reform, and continued threats to net neutrality, owning a bunch of telecoms patents sounds like a very sensible move.

Google bids $900 million for Nortel's patents to protect against litigation trolls originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/google-bids-900-million-for-nortels-patents-to-protect-from-li/

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LG Enlighten to achieve retail zen September 22nd on Verizon

There are a number of ways to achieve inner-peace, like years of meditation, for example -- or you could just pick up an $80 Android handset. LG finally made official the release of its Enlighten handset today. The Gingerbread phone features a 3.2-inch display, a QWERTY slide out keyboard, a 3.2 megapixel camera and an 800MHz processor. The largely unexceptional bit of hardware will be hitting Verizon's site on September 22nd, followed by a September 29th debut in Verizon retail stores. It'll run you $79.99 with a two-year contract after a $50 mail in rebate. Enlighten yourself with the press release after the break.

Continue reading LG Enlighten to achieve retail zen September 22nd on Verizon

LG Enlighten to achieve retail zen September 22nd on Verizon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/lg-enlighten-to-achieve-retail-zen-september-22nd-on-verizon/

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Microsoft files antitrust complaint against Google in Europe, showdown imminent

Bill Gates and Paul AllenMicrosoft, citing Google's tyrannical 95% share of the European search market, has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission. It's not like Microsoft is breaking any ground here -- the European Commission has been investigating Google's alleged violation of European competition law since November 2010 -- but there's no doubt that the addition of Microsoft's gravitas will affect the proceedings.

Microsoft's complaint reads like a sincere and plaintive cry for help against the Google Overlord. Microsoft lists no less than six damning reasons why Google's behavior is anti-competitive -- from Windows Phone 7's incompatibility with YouTube, to its nefarious handling of Google Books -- and finishes with a wide-eyed plea to the European Commission to please find Google guilty.

For those of you that have been following Microsoft's own antitrust troubles over the last decade, don't worry: MS is quick to point out the irony in the situation. "There of course will be some who will point out the irony in today's filing. Having spent more than a decade wearing the shoe on the other foot with the European Commission, the filing of a formal antitrust complaint is not something we take lightly. This is the first time Microsoft Corporation has ever taken this step. More so than most, we recognize the importance of ensuring that competition laws remain balanced and that technology innovation moves forward."

It sounds like Microsoft, having well and truly gone through the wringer, wants Google to be held similarly accountable. That's fair enough, right?

Microsoft files antitrust complaint against Google in Europe, showdown imminent originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/microsoft-files-antitrust-complaint-against-google-in-europe-sh/

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Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication

Mozilla Messaging, citing Mozilla's increased focus on Web-borne communications, will be reintegrating with Mozilla Labs.

The Messaging subsidiary was formed in 2008 to focus on Thunderbird, but given Mozilla Labs' current focus on identity and contact management, it now makes sense for the groups to be merged. Thunderbird will be unaffected by the change -- some URLs might change, but that's it -- and presumably Messaging's F1 and Raindrop will thrive in the Labs playground.

What this means for the end user -- for the hundreds of millions of Firefox users -- is that the next big additions will be communication- and messaging-oriented. Contacts and F1 will be almost certainly be baked into Firefox 5 or 6, both of which will be released this year -- and, who knows, there might be something else even more exciting up Mozilla Labs' sleeve!

Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/mozilla-messaging-reintegrates-with-labs-unifies-focus-on-web-b/

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Hulu Plus for Android gets more plusses, adds compatibility to nine devices

Do we want to live in a world where the Vizio Tablet actually has Hulu Plus before our beloved Motorola Droid Bionic or Droid 3? No matter your answer, the fortunate news is that we no longer have to, because the streaming video service is now readily available on eight more devices. The list includes the two mentioned above, as well as the HTC Droid Incredible 2, LG Revolution and G2x, Motorola Droid X2, HTC Sensation and EVO 3D. This is great news, though don't forget that you'll need to pony up $8 per month for the subscription. Still interested? Follow the source to download and install it on your device.

Hulu Plus for Android gets more plusses, adds compatibility to nine devices originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/Mfh6t2cKOuk/

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ASUS' U46SV-DH51 goes up for pre-order, ships to bezel haters on October 1st (video)

Do you despise thick bezels, yet harbor an unnatural aversion to portables from LG and Samsung? We're not here to psychoanalyze, but ASUS' U46SV-DH51 might be more to your liking. The "Brushed Champagne" notebook is notable for its diminutive bezel, which, like Sammy's smaller Series 7, allows for a 14-inch display to exist in a 13-inch chassis. It's got some punch too, packing a Core i5-2410M, 4GB of RAM, NVIDIA's GeForce GT 540M and a DVD burner (remember those?). Not bad for a 4.85-pound laptop that'll supposedly go 10 hours between charges and set you back $879. You'll find a pre-order page at the source below, but before you go, why not hop past the break and indulge in a video?

[Thanks, Danijel]

Continue reading ASUS' U46SV-DH51 goes up for pre-order, ships to bezel haters on October 1st (video)

ASUS' U46SV-DH51 goes up for pre-order, ships to bezel haters on October 1st (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/asus-u46sv-dh51-goes-up-for-pre-order-ships-to-bezel-haters-on/

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Star Wars Vehicle Pancake Mold/Cookie Cutter Is Your Edible Deal of the Day [Dealzmodo]

Pancakes or waffles? I'm not even sure anymore actually. As a kid, I preferred the fluffy, cloud-like chewiness of pancakes but as I grew older and more daring, I wanted the crunch and rigid lines of a waffle. Waffles do have the perfect cutouts to hold syrup but there's nothing more picturesque than a stack of pancakes with syrup and butter dripping all over itself. WHICH ONE IS BETTER?! When I started making my own waffles in a waffle maker, I almost decided I was going to be a waffle man for life but then I realized, I never did make my own pancakes. Like never in my life. I know, weird. So! I need to start making pancakes. These Star Wars Vehicle Pancake Molds (or Cookie Cutters) for 10 bucks will let me right the ship. Or maybe I'll just be the confused soul who loves both. -CC More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ElxEr_Ey6RU/star-wars-vehicle-pancake-moldcookie-cutter-is-your-edible-deal-of-the-day

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Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3

Firefox 4 racks up 25 million downloads in 3 days
If you've had your head under a rock for the last few days, here's this week's Firefox news in brief: Firefox 4 was finally released.

Yes, 13 months after the initial release of Firefox 3.7 alpha 1 and four more alpha builds, a renumbering to 4.0 and 12 beta releases, and finally a release candidate (or two), Firefox 4 has been released into the wild.

Just like every other Firefox release, initial reception for the new browser has been nothing short of insane. 7.1 million downloads were registered in the first 24 hours and the download rate continued to accelerate, clocking in more than 15 million downloads after two days. At the time of writing, three days in, Firefox 4 has been downloaded over 25 million times. In case you're wondering, the United States accounts for 7 million of those downloads, just beating out Germany's Firefox-downloads-per-capita.

But now that you've installed Firefox 4 (you have, right?), what do you do now? Well, obviously, in true Download Squad fashion, it's time to tweak Firefox 4 using add-ons and about:config hacks!

First up is an add-on called Stratiform that lets you change every aspect of the Firefox 4 browser chrome -- including the color of that orange button!

Continue reading Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3

Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3 originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/25/firefox-4-friday-25-million-downloads-anti-aliasing-and-how-t/

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