Google Maps Back on iPhone as Apple Makes an iMess of iMaps

Google has released a new Maps app for iPhone,the release neatly coincides with Apples inability to get it’s glitch-ridden program right. iPhone users have panned consistently panned iMaps for omitting key landmarks, cities, as well as failing to correctly to give directions.

Google has a serious push for iPhone users underway, promising an entirely new experience with its Google Maps App, including it’s standard – and working – local search functions, voice-guided directions and Street View images of places, as well as the interiors of some 100,000 retail outlets and businesses.

Earlier this year, to much fan-fair, Apple unceremoniously gave Google Maps the boot – which had been the default program for iPhones since the devices inception – when it developed its own mapping application. However, the new Apple developed program immediately drew scorn from iPhone users.

iPhanatics groaned and moaned that Apple’s service – based on Dutch navigation equipment and digital map maker TomTom’s data – contained errors and lacked features that made Google Maps popular.

In October, Scott Forstall, a long-time lieutenant of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, was asked to leave the company partly because of his refusal to take responsibility for the mishandling of the mapping software :: Read the full article »»»»

UPDATED! Apple vs Samsung vs Apple vs Samsung

UPDATED! August 28, 2012: Apple is seeking speedy bans on the sale of eight Samsung phones, moving swiftly to capitalise on its resounding court victory over its arch-foe. The world’s most valuable company wasted no time in identifying its targets: eight older-model smartphones, including the Galaxy S II and Droid Charge.

Original Post! Just hours apart, in two separate courts – one in the USA and another in South Korea – two absolutely opposing views on the war that is Apple vs Samsung, – or should that be Samsung vs Apple? – have been handed down.

A South Korean court has handed down a split ruling over Samsungs claim that Apple infringed it’s intellectual property, ruling that some element of the iPhone do indeed use patented Samsung telecommunication technology. The court also ruled however that Samsung had – as Apple has been ranting – copy Apples interface for it’s early Galaxy phones and tabs.

The South Korean court found that both companies shared blame, ordering Samsung to stop selling 10 products including its Galaxy S II phone and banning Apple from selling four different products, including its iPhone 4.

Meanwhile across the pacific in San Jose, California, a US jury has found in favour of Apple in a case that was expected to take years to settle, Apples copycat rant has just landed it a $US1 billion dollar win! However, the US ruling runs much deeper than just a huge compensation payout, BILLIONS of dollars in future sales hang in the balance for both tech-behemoths :: Read the full article »»»»

Google Fined $US22.5 Million For Apple Privacy Breach

That behemoth that is Google has been fined $US22.5 million for violating the privacy of millions of Apple Safari browser users. Last October Google signed an agreement that included a pledge not to mislead consumers about privacy practices, oops.

In fining the behemoth the FTC - US Federal Trade Commission - said that Google had broken an agreement made with the commission in October 2011, Google had agreed not to place tracking cookies on or deliver targeted ads to Apple Safari users, but then went ahead and did so. The fine is the biggest imposed by the FTC against a company for violating a previous agreement with the Commission.

In a statemnet the FTC said that Google has agreed to pay the record $22.5 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission charges.

“The record setting penalty in this matter sends a clear message to all companies under an FTC privacy order,” said Jon Leibowitz, Chairman of the FTC. “No matter how big or small, all companies must abide by FTC orders against them and keep their privacy promises to consumers, or they will end up paying many times what it would have cost to comply in the first place.” :: Read the full article »»»»

China Sues Apple Over Siri Patent Infringements

Just when you though Apple and China might be heading down the buddy path – Apple Settles iPad Trademark Dispute For $US60 Million – and just moments after the pair reached settlement over iPad’s trademark dispute, another Chinese tech developer has lodged suite against Apple.

Shanghai based Shanghai Zhizhen Network Science & Technology Co Ltd, developed personal assistant, voice communication/recognition software called Xiao i Robot in 2004, it applied for and recieved a patent for the software in 2006.

The software is similar to Apples Siri, it holds basic conversation and answers questions. Zhi Zhen says it has in excess of 100 million users in China – how did we miss that one – The software is available for Googles Android OS, and …. iOS!

In May this year, Zhi Zhen apparently contacted Apple informing them of the alleged patent breach. In June the company filed suit against Apple. According to the company the only demand is that “Apple stop infringing it’s patent”.

Watch this space…

Samsung Phablet: The Galaxy Note Set to Sell 10 Million Units in 2012

Reuters Jeremy Wagstaff describes it as “a piece of toast” it’s wearing labels like “a device for elephants and a throwback to the good old brick of the 1980s” Snickering aside, Samsung has sold 5 million Galaxy Note phone/tablets and plans on selling 10 million units this year.

Galaxy Note is much more than a freak hit! Tech-consumer, design experts and gadget analysts reckon the surprise success of the “phablet” marks a much deeper shift in the fast-paced world of mobile devices. Launched in late November 2011, the Samsung Galaxy Note is a standout product. The most obvious thing about the Note is its size. Its 5.3 inch screen is almost as wide as the iPhone’s screen is long.

…then there’s the stylus. Apple’s co-founder, the late great Steve Jobs famously ridiculed the idea of using a pen to interact with a screen, Samsung however has embraced pointy ended accoutrements, they’ve partnered with Japan’s übercool Wacom, the market leader in digital pen technology, to come up with something less clunky than, well chunky!? Granted the stylus or s-pen is still kind of chunkyish, try writing or sketching with your finger!! Read the full article »»»»