Tag Archives: Samsung

Nov 15 2012

Samsung’s Mobile Income Surpasses Google’s Entire Income

Samsung’s mobile operating income has surpassed Google’s entire operating income and is on pace to double it soon, reports Asymco’s Horace Dediu.

Not only did it overtake Nokia, the market share leader for 14 years, but is making more profits than Nokia ever did. So much profit in fact that it has overtaken Google’s decisively.

The reason I point this out is that Samsung’s success is dependent on having ridden on the back of Android. Samsung’s ascent can be precisely timed to their adoption of Android.

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Nov 11 2012

Apple Ordered to Pay Samsung’s Legal Fees on an Indemnity Basis

Apple has been ordered to pay Samsung’s legal fees on an indemnity basis which is higher than the normal basis, according to an order published by the U.K. court.

Groklaw notes that this order was made since Apple did not correctly comply with the order to publicly acknowledge that Samsung did not copy the iPad.

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31. As to the costs (lawyers’ fees) to be awarded against Apple, we concluded that they should be on an indemnity basis. Such a basis (which is higher than the normal, “standard” basis) can be awarded as a mark of the court’s disapproval of a party’s conduct, particularly in relation to its respect for an order of the court. Apple’s conduct warranted such an order.

31. Finally I should mention the time for compliance. Mr Beloff, on instructions (presumably given with the authority of Apple) told us that “for technical reasons” Apple needed fourteen days to comply. I found that very disturbing: that it was beyond the technical abilities of Apple to make the minor changes required to own website in less time beggared belief. In end we gave it 48 hours which in itself I consider generous. We said the time could be extended by an application supported by an affidavit from a senior executive explaining the reasons why more was needed. In the event no such application was made. I hope that the lack of integrity involved in this incident is entirely atypical of Apple.
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Oct 27 2012

Apple Posts Notice Saying Samsung Did Not Infringe on iPad

As ordered by the court, Apple has posted a notice on its U.K. website stating that Samsung did not infringe on the iPad because it’s tablet is ‘not as cool’.

Here is the notice in full:

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Samsung / Apple UK judgment

On 9th July 2012 the High Court of Justice of England and Wales ruled that Samsung Electronic (UK) Limited’s Galaxy Tablet Computer, namely the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do not infringe Apple’s registered design No. 0000181607-0001. A copy of the full judgment of the High court is available on the following link http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Patents/2012/1882.html.

In the ruling, the judge made several important points comparing the designs of the Apple and Samsung products:

“The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking. Overall it has undecorated flat surfaces with a plate of glass on the front all the way out to a very thin rim and a blank back. There is a crisp edge around the rim and a combination of curves, both at the corners and the sides. The design looks like an object the informed user would want to pick up and hold. It is an understated, smooth and simple product. It is a cool design.”

“The informed user’s overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool.”

That Judgment has effect throughout the European Union and was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 18 October 2012. A copy of the Court of Appeal’s judgment is available on the following link http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/1339.html. There is no injunction in respect of the registered design in force anywhere in Europe.

However, in a case tried in Germany regarding the same patent, the court found that Samsung engaged in unfair competition by copying the iPad design. A U.S. jury also found Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple’s design and utility patents, awarding over one billion U.S. dollars in damages to Apple Inc. So while the U.K. court did not find Samsung guilty of infringement, other courts have recognized that in the course of creating its Galaxy tablet, Samsung willfully copied Apple’s far more popular iPad.
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You can see the link at the bottom of apple.com/uk.

Oct 12 2012

Apple Poaches Prominent Chip Designer From Samsung

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Apple has hired Jim Mergard, a prominent chip designer, away from Samsung, reports the WSJ.

The gadget maker has hired Jim Mergard, a 16-year veteran of Advanced Micro Devices AMD +1.59% who was a vice president and chief engineer there before he left for Samsung. He is known for playing a leading role in the development of a high-profile AMD chip that carried the code name Brazos and was designed for low-end portable computers.

Patrick Moorhead, a former AMD executive who now leads the research firm Moor Insights & Strategy, told the Journal that Mergard has deep expertise in SoCs systems on a chip that combine various kinds of special-function circuitry on a single piece of silicon.

Oct 11 2012

Samsung announces Galaxy S3 Mini with 4-inch Super AMOLED display

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It’s official. Samsung has today announced the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, a downsized variant of the flagship model launched by the Korean mobile maker earlier this year. The Galaxy S3 Mini shrinks things down to a 4-inch, WVGA display and is powered by a dual-core 1GHz processor and 1GB RAM. The GS3 Mini will be available in 8GB and 16GB options (with up to 32GB via microSD).

The Android 4.1, TouchWiz handset isn’t being positioned as a mid-range device, bur rather as an option for those customers (especially in Europe) that prefer a less bulky phone. It still manages to pack a full list of features, including a 5MP camera and NFC capabilities among others. Check out the press release below for all the details.

Samsung Introduces GALAXY S III mini, a compact yet powerful smartphone

GALAXY S III’s nature-inspired design and intuitive ease-of-use in one stylish, compact smartphone

SEOUL, Korea – October 12, 2012 –

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today unveiled the GALAXY S III mini,
a compact version of the flagship smartphone GALAXY S III.
The GALAXY S III mini brings the high performance, intuitive ease-of-use and nature-inspired design of the GALAXY S III to an elegant,
compact smartphone with a 4.0-inch screen. It can be an optimal choice for consumers who are looking for more practical smartphones.

“The GALAXY S III introduced a new concept of smartphone that has proven hugely popular around the world.
We’re now delighted to bring its revolutionary design, intuitive usability and intelligence to the GALAXY S III mini in a more compact form,” said JK Shin, President and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “We continue to make every effort to provide extraordinary mobile experiences to meet a wide variety of user needs.”

The GALAXY S III mini is powered by Android™ 4.1 (Jelly Bean), the latest version of the world’s most popular smartphone operating system.
Jelly Bean has fast, fluid and smooth graphics along with a new Google Search™ experience featuring Google Now™, which brings you just the right information, before you even ask.

Stylish and compact, the GALAXY S III mini shares the GALAXY S III’s breakthrough design and simple elegance.
Its ultra-minimal curved frame delivers a rich natural feel, which is also reflected on its nature-inspired home screen, wallpapers and ringtones.
Its beautiful 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display offers a generous viewing experience that lets you view multimedia and Web content in brilliant color and clarity.
Its compact size gives users a comfortable grip and allows a convenient one-hand operation.

The GALAXY S III mini is packed with intelligent technology designed to make interacting with the phone incredibly natural and intuitive.
S Voice, Samsung’s advanced natural language recognition software, lets you use your voice to unlock the phone with
simple customized commands, or to play your favorite songs, turn the volume up or down, organize your schedule, or automatically launch the camera and start taking photos.

The GALAXY S III mini also understands your gestures to make using your phone easier and more natural: With Smart Stay,
the phone’s camera tracks your eyes and keeps the screen lit as long as you are looking at it. When reading a text message from a friend,
Direct Call enables you to automatically dial a call simply by lifting the phone to your ear; and Smart Alert conveniently alerts you to missed calls or messages as soon as you pick up your phone.

Content sharing is easy and fast on the GALAXY S III mini: Its S Beam feature lets you share a 10MB music file in just two seconds
by simply tapping on another S Beam-enabled device including GALAXY S III or GALAXY Note II, even without a Wi-Fi or cellular signal.
The ‘Buddy photo share’ function also allows photos to be easily and simultaneously shared with all your friends pictured in an image directly from the camera or the photo gallery.