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The Google Phone: Rumors Confirmed
Dec 13th
Unlocked & Unleashed
**UPDATE 3:08 AM EST 12/13/09: Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Google Phone will be called the Nexus One**
Coming to Any Sore Near you
That’s right folks, you heard right. The Google Phone is CONFIRMED! It exists. Period. It is made by HTC and will be unlocked, just like all the rumors said it was going to be. SO I guess that means for all you Google Phone Haters out there, you must be having a pretty hard time fessing up getting smacked down with the fact that you were wrong, aren’t you?
Ok, so here’s the deal…
So, as of December 11 2009, employees of Google started tweeting the news that Google has handed out probably hundreds of these phones to their employees. They call this practice “dogfooding.” The official Google Mobile blog stated that it did in fact hand out some devices to their employees, but because
“…dogfooding is a process exclusively for Google employees, we cannot share specific product details. We hope to share more after our dogfood diet.”
What’s Under the Hood?
Not very much is known about the device, but TechCrunch was able to confirm a few details and Unlocker.com was able to get heir hands on some pics of it and it appears as if it is a version of the HTC Passion, a close cousin of the Hero. It will supposedly be released in January of 2010.
The Google Phone will run Android 2.1 and it will be as the Google Gods intended it to be with no splintering off of it, meaning it will runt eh way ti was intended to run… Apps and all. And of course it is an Unlocked GSM phone meaning that AT&T or T-Mobile will probably run with it, it has an ungodly camera for a smartphone, and a beautiful touchscreen with an on screen QWERTY. But for those who don’t like the on-screen keypad, the phone supposedly will come equipped with voice to text, meaning you can talk and the software will convert it to email or a text message and send it for you. The Google is said to be really fast too, and that is because it is running a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor-1Ghz. It also has two mics to limit any unwanted background noise, which is perfect for the talk to text feature.
And the Verdict Is?
I honestly wonder why anyone doubted that Google would come out with a phone al their own. I understand why some people might think it will hurt sales because being as the Google Phone is unlocked, it might do a bit better than any of the other “Google phones,” or the phones with other companies running the Android OS in one form or another.
But I really don’t think it will be a problem. I mean, these people are locked into contracts so the ones who have phones can’t go anywhere unless they pay those horrifying fees, and the people who don’t have an Android based phone yet might not want to spring for the Google phone based on price, as unlocked phones tend to be twice as expensive than their locked counterparts without a contract. So it could really go either way. I m just glad it is finally here, aren’t you?
I mean at least when Google says they are going to do something, they do. Not like some “bad apples” I know of…
For more great articles and user ratings and reviews, please visit the home page @ Youserbase.org
Check back tomorrow for more of the latest in the mobile phone industry. If any if our readers have any suggestions as what to review, or something you think needs to be talked about, feel free to leave a comment and I will see what I can do. Til then, happy phoning!
The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Youserbase.org’s executive staff, and Youserbase.org as such hold no liability of any damages arising from any opinions expressed by the author.
Apps and Rulings and Rumors-Oh My!
Nov 15th
It’s Been a Hell of A Week For Apple
What’s the Deal?
Apple has had a hell of a week, alright. There was the ruling in the copyright case, the overturning of the decision of the app for the Bobble Heads. So lets re-cap, shall we?
The Copyright Infringement Case
Apple originally sued PsyStar, a supposedly Miami Based Company, for Trademark Infringement, Trademark Dilution, Copyright Infringement, among a host of other things. The history of the case is as follows, as reported by News.Cnet.com: The suit was filed in 2008 after PsyStar started selling clones of MAC’s computr with OX XLeopard pre-installed on what PsyStar called an “Open Computer.” Apparently PsyStar sold the computers under the guise that it could run MAC software, even though it was not an official MAC. This might have been ok, except that the end user license agreement of the software specifically states the it is only allowed for operation on official MAC branded machines.
A ruling was handed down Friday by District Court Judge William Alsup in part stating:
“In sum, Psystar has violated Apple’s exclusive reproduction right, distribution right, and right to create derivative works,”
The rest of the ruling by Alsup, according to the story originally on CNet, also contained some explanation as to the ruling that smacks down PsyStar. The company screamed “fair use” and “first sale” and also filed a counter suit claiming that Apple was misusing their copyright and the license agreement was too restrictive. Judge Alsup screamed that the company:…”does not even attempt to address the four factors used to determine fair use.”
Judge Alsup also rejected the “first sale” claim because fair use only pertains to legal copies of the software, not the bootlegged software PsyStar was using. As for the counter suit? Rejected as well. For the same reasons. And, according to Engadget, PsyStar took the code and modified it to their liking, therefore making Apple’s case for infringement.
The two companies will still go to court on the other issues, trademark infringement and dilution. as there is a hearing scheduled on December 14th 209 and a trial date is set for sometime in January.
The Bobble Head Debate
It started with the Bobble head of nancy pilasco being denied and ended with the bobble heads of the US Congressmen being denied as well. But within a week of the last denial, the app is now up and running. Cartoonist Tom Richmond was commissioned to develop an app that would allow users to be able to use GPS to locate their elected congressmen and women. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Apple in turn denied the app stating:
.because it contains content that ridicules public figures and is in violation of Section 3.3.14 from the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement which states: “Applications may be rejected if they contain content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, sounds, etc.) that in Apple’s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable, for example, materials that may be considered obscene, pornographic, or defamatory.”
The full rejection letter can be read on Tom Richmond’s Blog. tom himself, in that same blog post Tomstates:
The really sad part is that here is an app that might get people interested in who represents them in Washington, especially kids and young adults, and connects people to their senators and representatives via fun and PARTISAN FREE way. Yet Apple has decided it’s not appropriate. There needs to be more of that in this world of right versus left, especially as that applies to young kids who are being raised to consider politics the public equivalent of professional wrestling. Ray’s documentary “I Want Your Money” is distinctly right wing (and my own political views are mostly left of center) but the app is totally partisan neutral
Wow, not only did Tom slam Apple, but much of the world did too. There have been news stories all over the place about this and then finally, Apple relents. The app has been approved. And it is available on iTunes for only $0.99. Have fun and make use of it cause it took a lot of ranting and raving to get it there…
More Tablet Rumors…
And for a finally, there are more rumors on the long awaited and much fabled Tablet by Apple. According to the Us Trademark & Patent Office, Apple’s full patent is available , and was filed on the basis of : “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACQUIRING AND ORGANIZING INK INFORMATION IN PEN-AWARE COMPUTER SYSTEMS.” This is sparking more rumors of an Apple Tablet, which is highly expected to be officially announced within the beginning of the coming year. But, according to Network World, they better hurry up. Microsoft apparently has one in the works and “…is leaking and hinting at details of an innovative small tablet device, Courier, now in development.”
And the Verdict Is?
Well, first of all, Apple has got the upper hand in the case with PsyStar. And, even though I often am against what Apple stands for, they deserve this one. Apple has every right to make their end user license agreement any way they want. that is why it is called “proprietary code” in the first place. PsyStar can’t change that so the judge was right in this case to side with Apple.
As for the Bobble head thing, Apple is having a real tough time with apps lately, denying them left and right, almost like they have a new found morality or something. Yeah, ok. And the most likely reason they overturned the rejection of the Bobble Head app in the first place is because of all the bad press they have been getting lately. I mean, come on… It’s not like the apps were violent or pornographic or anything! Apple deserved to get slammed, and Go Tom Richmond and his fan following to get it back up and running. I’m with you buddy!
And the Tablet? I give up on it and Apple on this one. It’s been rumored for many years now and has never surfaced. IMHO they are just playing a game with consumers kind of like Microsoft does. They are getting everyone’s hopes up because of a possible new release, which in turn gets them more revenue and market share. Then- A BIG NOTHING… EVER… I am actually hoping Microsoft will get them on this score, coming out with their version first. And we all know how much I don’t like Microsoft and their antics. But I have to give credit where credit is due, anyway… It would serve Apple right for playing with their customer’s heads…
For more great articles and user ratings and reviews, please visit the home page @ Youserbase.org
Check back tomorrow for more of the latest in the mobile phone industry, as well as the weekly list. If any if our readers have any suggestions as what to review, or something you think needs to be talked about, feel free to leave a comment and I will see what I can do. Til then, happy phoning!
The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Youserbase.org’s executive staff, and Youserbase.org as such hold no liability of any damages arising from any opinions expressed by the author.
