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Apple wins invalidation of Samsung 3G patent in Germany
This round of the continuing fisticuffs between Apple and Samsung goes to Apple. FOSS Patents reported yesterday that Germany's Federal Patent Court has invalidated the German part of a Samsung patent for a "turbo encoding / decoding device and method for processing frame data according to QoS." Samsung had declared this patent essential to the UMTS 3G standard and was hoping to obtain injunctions against Apple for this and several other patents. However, the European Commission deemed Apple to be a willing licensee of the standards-essential patent and promptly decreed an antitrust ruling calling Samsung's efforts "abusive conduct." Samsung then withdrew all injunction requests based on standards-essential patents, but is still suing for damages as well as continuing punitive efforts against Apple for non-standards-essential patents. Just last week, the same court invalidated an Apple slide-to-unlock patent and Apple has begun working on an appeal to that judgement although courts in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK have also ruled against the company. [via Electronista]
Google Flight Search reaches France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK
While Google Flight Search covers the far corners of the Earth, many of the people who live in those corners haven't had a similar option to explore the world of air travel. Google is taking at least a small step toward ending that discrepancy with a fresh expansion to Europe. Jetsetters in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK can now find flights to and from many parts of the world, with prices and languages tailored to their home countries. As before, travelers can both see real-time prices, gauge the best (read: cheapest) time to book a vacation and filter flights through criteria like prices, timing and WiFi. There's no surprises for locals if they've had the luxury of using Flight Search before -- we just wish we'd had access in time for our recent trip to Barcelona.
Evidence points to new Netherlands Apple Store
It looks like Haarlem, The Netherlands will soon have the luxury of a new Apple Store along Grote Houtstraat, a prime retail location in a popular pedestrian walkway in the city. ifoAppleStore reports that construction has begun on the ground floor of what appears to be the beginnings of an Apple Store. The space is said to comprise of approximately 8,000 square feet. Of that, 6,800 square feet will be public retail space, while the rest will be back-of-house. The Netherlands currently has an Apple Store in Amsterdam (as pictured). Another is under construction in The Hague, although it's believed Haarlem's store could be completed first. Check out ifoAppleStore's webpage for further details, photos of the construction site and a store plan.
Mystery Nokia smartphone flaunted in European Lumia 920 ad
A recent Nokia Lumia 920 TV commercial from Netherlands carrier KPN Mobiel -- spotted by My Nokia Blog -- shows a curious yellow handset at the five second mark, and after squinting for a bit we're still not sure what we're seeing. It's obviously not a 920, and it doesn't match any other existing models that we can remember. Our mobile experts noticed that it vaguely resembles the Nokia Lumia 822 from US carrier Verizon, but the headphone nub, camera pod position and tapered design don't match that model -- which also appears to be smaller than the one pictured above. Could the Finnish carrier be holding out on us until Mobile World Congress 2013? Or is it some kind of Dutch variant of the 822? We've no idea, but if any of you do, we're sure you'll let us know below. You can scope the video after the fold.
TomTom intros iPhone app for its taxi trial service, helps Dutch get home quickly
There's been a perpetual catch with TomTom's taxi hailing service in Amsterdam (and now Rotterdam): passengers have to hail from a specific terminal, which isn't much help when they just need a ride home from the club at 2AM. The Dutch don't have to necessarily forgo one convenience for another now that there's an iPhone app. Edging closer to services like Uber, the TomTomTaxi app lets travelers order a cab from their own devices, learn about drivers and choose favorite drivers if they have good experiences. The software may keep rude surprises to a minimum, as well, when both the driver and travelers can see the fastest route for themselves. Expansion outside of the Netherlands is still a mystery, although there's an Android app on the way that should cover a larger swath of taxi seekers.
Cotton-polymer material absorbs or repels moisture depending how hot it is
Aside from the sweltering daytime heat and the freezing night-time temperatures, the biggest problem for folks living in desert regions is finding sources of water. Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic have leveraged those temperature swings to help solve the arid region hydration conundrum with a cotton material that absorbs water straight from the surrounding air. Of course, it's not your run-of-the-mill fabric woven from fluffy white stuff. This cloth is coated in a special polymer, called PNIPAAm, that's hydrophilic (read: super absorbent) at temperatures 34°C and below, but becomes hydrophobic (read: repels water) when it gets any hotter. In absorption mode, the cloth can hold 340 percent of its own weight -- compared to just 18 percent without the polymer's aid -- and when it warms up, it releases the collected moisture as clean and pure potable water. So, it can help hydrate both plants and people in desert regions around the world. The boffins who created the stuff claim it's reusable and can be used on locally-sourced cotton fabrics for a minimal, 12 percent cost increase given current manufacturing conditions. Not impressed? Well, the magical moisture-absorbing material may get even better, as the plan is to increase the amount of water the material can hold and lower the temperature threshold for its release.
Tesla to open a European distribution center for EVs in the Netherlands this month
Tesla has wanted to spread its EV wings beyond North America for awhile, and we now know exactly where its European nest will be. Later this month, the automaker plans to open a distribution center in Tilburg, The Netherlands. The hub will serve as a point of assembly for the continent's cars while also handling imports, parts, repairs and training, including for the Model S and Roadster. Tilburg will be put to full use when it starts manufacturing left-hand drive Model S models in March. As long a wait as that might seem, it could lead to fewer headaches and quicker deliveries for Old World drivers who want a truly new ride.
Apple signs lease for new store in The Hague
Apple is reportedly moving into a new space in The Hague (Netherlands), but its arrival may disappoint holiday shoppers next year. According to a report in ifoAppleStore and iPhoneClub.nl, Apple has allegedly signed a lease to occupy a three-level space that once housed the Selexyz bookstore. As part of the terms of its lease, Apple prohibits the decade-long tradition of displaying a large Christmas tree in the rotunda of the mall because it will block the company's retail storefront. The new Apple store will occupy an 18,800-square-foot space in the historic The Passage mall, which was built in a Neo-Renaissance style and dates back to 1882. Apple will officially open in mid-2013 after the bookstore finishes moving out of the premises. [Via ifoAppleStore]
Dutch court bans sale of some Samsung products
According to an IDG news service report published by Computer World, a Dutch court has banned the sales of Samsung Galaxy products that infringe on an Apple patent. The patent in this case describes a method for scrolling through a photo gallery on a touchscreen device. The ban applies to Galaxy phones or tablets that run Android 2.2.1 and don't use Samsung's own photo gallery software. Samsung claims all its products in the Netherlands use the company's proprietary photo gallery software, but failed to provide the judges with evidence to support this claim. The Court of The Hague granted the ban and will fine Samsung 100,000 Euros (US$129,000) daily if it continues to infringe on Apple's patent. According to IDG, Samsung PR said the company was disappointed with the ruling, while Apple did not respond when asked about this decision.
Apple scores another patent victory over Samsung in the Netherlands
It's always the same. The two companies continue to play tit-for-tat with their patents around the world. Apple's so-called rubber-banding patent has been particularly contentious. It played a central role in a German injunction against Motorola and was invalidated by the USPTO. Now the bounce-back scrolling effect has given Cupertino an other feather in its cap in the Netherlands. However, the Dutch court has chosen to be much more measured in its doling out of punishment. There will be no injunction, instead the manufacturer will be given eight weeks to update the offending handsets -- anything running Gingerbread or Froyo. Newer versions of Android, namely Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, use a subtle blue glow to indicate the end of the line. For every day longer than eight weeks it takes to either issue updates or remove the aging devices from the market Samsung will be fined $100,000, but Lee Kun-hee has probably lost more cash than that in his couch cushions. Next week we're sure this same patent will be thrown out the window by French officials or Apple will be found to violate some Motorola patent... and around we go.
Dutch court finds Samsung does not infringe on Apple multitouch patent
Apple faced a legal setback in the Netherlands when a Dutch court ruled that Samsung's tablets and smartphones do not infringe on Apple's multitouch patents. This decision reaffirms an earlier, preliminary non-infringement ruling in a case that was heard in August 2011. The Dutch legal decision also mirrors those made in Germany and the UK. In the UK case against HTC, the judge found that there was no infringement and ruled that the multitouch patent was invalid.
GreenWave Reality ships WiFi-aware light bulbs that flick on through motion and smartphones
We've seen connected light bulbs before, some more sophisticated than others, but they're rarely as straightforward as GreenWave Reality's just-shipping Connected Lighting Solution. Eco-friendly LED bulbs in the lineup include support for WiFi and are immediately controllable from a smartphone or tablet as soon as they're receiving power. Basics controls like group presets and timed lighting are just the start; if you're not worried about leaving anyone in the dark, the bulbs can respond to motion sensors and only illuminate the rooms that need attention. And while the intelligence isn't new in itself, GreenWave would argue that sheer accessibility gives it an edge, with electric utilities in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden skipping the retail middleman by selling directly. Don't despair if you live in the US: the linked-up lighting is cleared for eventual use by Americans who'd like to save both energy and a trip to the light switch.
PSA: iPhone 5 available in 22 more countries, on Cricket and US regional carriers galore
Disappointed that your country or favorite carrier missed the initial cut for the iPhone 5 launch? Odds are that you're all good now. Worldwide, 22 more countries have joined the mix as of today, including wide swaths of Europe as well as New Zealand; you'll find the full list in the release here. Americans also don't have to turn to the big carriers, as they can now opt for prepaid carrier Cricket in addition to a slew of extra providers that include C Spire as well as regionals like GCI and nTelos. In some cases, you'll even snag a discount by going with one of the smaller networks. If you bagged an iPhone in Barcelona, or caught one on Cellcom, let others know how it's going in the comments. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Google Maps for Android adds turn-by-turn biking navigation, helps pedal-pushers in 10 more countries
Google's cycling directions have been slowly expanding their reach to the mobile world and other countries, but the only option for navigation so far has been to memorize the route. As of today, you won't have to stop every five minutes to get your bearings. Google Maps for Android has received a low-key update that adds spoken, turn-by-turn Google Maps Navigation for riders in every country where biking directions exist -- if you can clamp your phone to your handlebars, you can find your way. Many more riders are just seeing mobile support of any kind in the process. Both navigation and regular directions should now be live in the Android app for 10 more countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Cyclists just need to swing by Google Play to keep their two-wheeled adventures on track.
Google TV goes international, Sony NSZ-GS7 set-top box up for preorder in the US and UK
Sony mentioned during CES 2012 that its Google TV-powered hardware would come to Europe this summer, and now it's official. Along with Google, it's announced preorders are available for the $200/£200/$199 NSZ-GS7 internet streaming set-top box in the US and UK (showing a ship date of July 9th, Sony says it should hit stores July 22nd), with plans to launch in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico and Netherlands later this year. The NSZ-GP9 with integrated Blu-ray player will arrive in October, priced at £280/€300/$299. UK users can expect localized content from The Guardian among other sources, and more reveals are promised at Google I/O this week. There's an internationally-aimed trailer (embedded after the break) and more information from Sony and Google at their respective sites, we'll see if the mix of reworked hardware and updated software makes this venture more successful than the last round. Update: It looks like buyers in other countries may not have to wait long, Sony Australia has already announced a "limited time" pack-in offer of the boxes with the purchase of a new TV starting this week. The box will be available solo at some unspecified time in the future.
Google Maps live traffic updates served up to seven new regions, 19 more get 'expanded coverge'
Ready for yet another dose of news related to Google Maps? The service's live traffic update functionality has been expanded yet again, and now seven more cities including the likes of Mexico City and Greater Johannesburg, South Africa can join in on the action. Better yet, 19 other major areas that already get traffic information are receiving "expanded coverage" for their roads. Naturally, all of the new goods are accessible through Google's various Maps apps by simply enabling the traffic layer. If you're eager to start scouting the traffic flow, you can hit up source link below to find out whether your locale is on the list.
Microsoft and Nokia bring enhanced traffic data to Windows Phone, announce international plans
Cross-pollination is a beautiful thing. In the natural world, it brings bountiful harvests and pretty flowers. In the mobile world, we benefit from the sharing of ideas and technologies. Case in point is Windows Phone, as Microsoft has just announced that it's adopted traffic information from Nokia into the Maps app of its mobile OS. In addition to providing Windows Phone users in the US with more detailed overviews of traffic flows and congestion, the functionality will soon become available for many cities across the globe. Perhaps the move shouldn't come as a total surprise, as just last month, Microsoft revealed the inclusion of Nokia's "Where" platform within Bing Maps. As for future availability, citizens of Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom will benefit from the sharing of technologies within the next few weeks. For the moment, however, just hop the break, where you can see the before / after traffic data that's now available to Los Angeles residents.
CloudOn launching its iOS, Android tablet apps in 16 more countries, Office hounds rejoice
Surprise, surprise, CloudOn has just opened a fresh can of tablet-friendly Office and is getting ready to deliver it outside of the US, UK and Canada for the first time in its relatively short history. The cloud-based service announced it's now launching its iOS and Android applications in 16 more countries, making it a total of 19 with the addition of the aforementioned trio. Some of the lucky nations include: Spain, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Israel as well as the Netherlands -- and, in case you had any concerns, the app is keeping its free-of-charge status, so no need to worry. In addition to the beefy global expansion, CloudOn also released a few productivity-focused tidbits, giving users the ability to open links straight from the browser, copy and paste between the different built-in apps, plus a drag-and-drop feature to move around files and folders within the application -- unfortunately, this last one's only available to those with a Cupertino device (at least for the time being). All that's left to do now is grab yourself a copy from one of the links below, and be sure to check the presser after the break to see if your country made the cut.
Pebble Blue Samsung Galaxy S III reportedly pushed back for some launches
We hope you weren't too excited about getting a Pebble Blue-tinged Galaxy S III in May, because we're seeing unconfirmed reports that the darker Hyperglazed hue might not be available for everyone in the first round of launches. Some would-be customers, primarily in Nordic countries but also in Asia-Pacific, Europe and Persian Gulf states, have been told that only the Marble White color will be on shelves at first. Most of the consensus, based on retailer notices, is that demand for blue is straining supply. Samsung Benelux's press lead Vivian Peters told Tweakers.net that at least the Netherlands wouldn't be getting the stealthier color until early June, but didn't confirm a rumor that there had been flaws in the blue plastic backplates that might have triggered shortages. There hasn't been mention of problems for the heavily-hyped UK launch. We reached out to a Samsung spokesman ourselves and were told only that the company "does not comment on rumors or speculation" -- a slightly unusual statement given what Peters said on the record, but it does lead us to take at least the more dire claims with a grain of salt.
German court grants Motorola injunction against Windows 7 and Xbox 360 (updated: Microsoft comments)
Microsoft and Motorola continue to duke it out in courts across the world, and it looks like the Google-owned manufacturer has just chalked up a victory in Europe. Based on a pair of patents involved the H.264 video codec, the Mannheim regional court ruled on four lawsuits between the two companies, granting an injunction against the continued distribution of Windows 7, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player and the Xbox 360 in Germany. Microsoft has already upped sticks from the country to reduce the effect of its current legal predicament. FOSS Patents reports that Motorola won't be able to immediately enforce the ruling. The company is still being investigated by the EU over possible antitrust violations related to licensing its patents -- something that could further complicate today's ruling. Update: Microsoft's just got in touch to comment on the recent ruling -- it doesn't look like it's over just yet: "This is one step in a long process, and we are confident that Motorola will eventually be held to its promise to make its standard essential patents available on fair and reasonable terms for the benefit of consumers who enjoy video on the web. Motorola is prohibited from acting on today's decision, and our business in Germany will continue as usual while we appeal this decision and pursue the fundamental issue of Motorola's broken promise. "
