Category: iPhone

Coffee Talk #512: Your Thoughts on Apple vs. Samsung

Now that we’ve all had a weekend to think about it, I wanted to get your take on the Apple vs. Samsung verdict. If you haven’t been keeping score at home, Samsung got its ass kicked and will have to pay Apple more than $1-billion in damages. The jury found that Samsung infringed on several of Apple’s software and design patents. While the software patents are pretty specific, the design patents are vague enough that it’s somewhat surprising that Samsung lost so decisively. Some people believe this is all the result of a broken patent system. Others believe that Apple was just protecting its IP rights. Some pundits feel that the decision will stifle innovation in mobile tech (unless the innovators want to shell out money to Apple). What say you?!?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the stupendous trade between the Dodgers and the Red Sox, McKayla Maroney being totally hot (in certain states only), or the great Neil Armstrong, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Now that we’ve all had a weekend to think about it, I wanted to get your take on the Apple vs. Samsung verdict. If you haven’t been keeping score at home, Samsung got its ass kicked and will have to pay Apple more than $1-billion in damages. The jury found that Samsung infringed on several of Apple’s software and design patents. While the software patents are pretty specific, the design patents are vague enough that it’s somewhat surprising that Samsung lost so decisively. Some people believe this is all the result of a broken patent system. Others believe that Apple was just protecting its IP rights. Some pundits feel that the decision will stifle innovation in mobile tech (unless the innovators want to shell out money to Apple). What say you?!?

As for me, after a weekend of deliberation I’ve come to the conclusion that this is all stupid. The trial was an enormous waste of money. Design patents are shockingly dumb. The jury failed. Samsung’s lawyers failed harder.

The decision was fantastic for Apple and there are several instances where I believe that the company was in the right. That said, I believe that it also got several gift decisions (like Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.) and that the verdict is bad for mobile tech. The ruling makes it harder and/or more expensive for companies to compete with Apple, which will result in consumers having less choices.

Anyway, that’s my take. Now it’s your turn! What are your thoughts on the Apple vs. Samsung verdict?

Coffee Talk 511: Smartphones, the Ultimate Disruptor?!?

The evolution of smartphones has screwed a number of businesses. Less people are buying watches. Point-and-shoot camera sales are down. Many pundits have predicted that handheld consoles are doomed. A big reason why the three aforementioned industries have taken a hit is because of smartphones. They’re just fantastic and versatile devices. Have you ever seen a consumer electronics device impact so many other businesses?

Remember when tech nerds would tote around a…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Nicky Minaj possibly judging American Idol 2013, preparing for fantasy football, or getting over AJ Lee, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

The evolution of smartphones has screwed a number of businesses. Less people are buying watches. Point-and-shoot camera sales are down. Many pundits have predicted that handheld consoles are doomed. A big reason why the three aforementioned industries have taken a hit is because of smartphones. They’re just fantastic and versatile devices. Have you ever seen a consumer electronics device impact so many other businesses?

Remember when tech nerds would tote around a phone, a camera, and a portable gaming system? These days, many people are completely satisfied with an iPhone or an Android phone being the one device to rule them all. Certainly you can snap better pictures with a Sony Nex-5N and can have deeper gaming experiences on a Nintendo 3DS, but for most people, smartphone photos and games are perfectly fine.

The crazy part is that smartphone capabilities are moving at a ridiculous pace. Think about the improvements in mobile-phone cameras over the last two years. Look at the awesome advancements in mobile graphics. Yeah, there are some slick point-and-shoot cameras coming up and today’s portable consoles are better than ever, but the improvements in those devices are being outpaced by their smartphone counterparts. Like The Carpenters said, “We’ve only just begun.”

Have you ever seen a consumer electronics device disrupt so many competitors? Are smartphones the ultimate disruptor? Leave your thoughts in the comments section (please!).

Baron Davis Starts Mobile Game Studio

NBA player Baron Davis has started a company called 5 Balloons Interactive. The company’s first game, Getting Buckets, is available for iOS. It’s a Temple Run-style game that has you literally collecting buckets. The twist is that it stars basketball players Baron Davis, Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo, Brandon Jennings, and Candace Parker.

As for 5 Balloons Interactive, the company site says that it, “was created in 2012 to offer celebrity talent meaningful opportunities to extend their brands into the digital space through engaging and entertaining gaming applications.” The initial focus will be on mobile games.

Athletes forming videogame companies isn’t a new thing. Baseball player Curt Schilling started 38 Studios, which was off to a promising start before it hit numerous financial problems. Perhaps jumping into the big-money and ultra-competitive world of console games wasn’t the best idea for 38 Studios. Perhaps Davis is taking the smarter approach by going with mobile games; it’s the hottest segment of gaming at the moment and the costs aren’t as high.

Do you think Baron Davis will be successful with 5 Balloons Interactive? Any of you interested in Getting Buckets?

Signs Point to iPhone 5 Launch on September 21

You’ve seen the leaked photos and videos of the “iPhone 5” housing. More recently, iMore has reported that Apple will be holding a press conference for the next iPhone on September 12, with a launch set for September 21. The report was met with equal parts excitement and cynicism…until The Loop’s Jim Dalrymple — the unofficial arbiter of Apple rumors — legitimized it with his trademark “yep”. After that, it seemed like loads of web sites received confirmation on the dates from various unnamed sources.

It’s also interesting that iMore claimed that Apple will be unveiling the heavily-rumored iPad Mini and Dalrymple didn’t grace that part of the report with a “yep”. To be fair, he didn’t give it a “nope” either.

To recap, the next iPhone is rumored to have a four-inch screen, a 4G LTE radio, a thinner body, and a new dock connector.

Are you guys and dolls psyched for the iPhone press conference? Do you think the iPad Mini will be part of the show? Also, black or white?!?

Source

iPhone 5 Assembled From Leaked Parts?

[Updated 7/30] Loads of purported iPhone 5 (or whatever it will be called) parts have been leaked over the last few months. The fastidious people at iLab Factory have assembled them to form Voltron illustrate what the final model will look like. Obvious changes include a longer form factor, a new dock connector, and a two-tone back. Head on over to the site to see several more pictures of iLab’s alleged iPhone 5.

Do you think these photos are legit? What do you think of the two-tone looks? Any longtime iPhone users out there worried about the new dock connector? Also, I want the white one!!!

Source via 9 to 5 Mac

[Update July 30 8:03AM PT: Macotakara has posted a video of the casing. Check it out below.]

New Characters Revealed For Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition

Overhaul Games has listed new features and a new adventure for the highly anticipate Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition. The big surprise was a trio of new characters (more on them in a sec). The company claims that it will implement more than 400 improvements, including new cinematics, gameplay features from Baldur’s Gate 2 (class kits!), improved multiplayer, and more. The new adventure is called “The Black Pits” and revolves around the machinations of a mad drow named Baeloth. (Aside from Drizzt Do’Urden, are there any drow that aren’t mad? Perhaps they all need more fiber.)

As for the new characters, here are excerpts from their descriptions:

Rasaad yn Bashir
Rasaad is a Calishite Monk demonstrating his monastic arts to the people of Nashkel. His quest ultimately leads into the highest reaches of the Cloud Peaks, where he must face an unexpected nemesis. Add him to your Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition experience to unleash the Monk’s extraordinary power.

Neera the Wild Mage
Neera is a half-elf wild mage slowly coming to terms with her enormous magical potential. Add her to your Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition experience and ignite your wild side.

Dorn Il-Khan
Dorn is a half-orc Blackguard whose otherworldly patron grants him terrible powers in the form of his black sword and unholy spells. Add him to your Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition and inflict evil to the last corpse.

I highly recommend heading over to the Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition web site for the full descriptions of these three characters and more details on the improvements mentioned above. The game will be available in September for Windows PC, Mac OS, and iOS, with an Android version coming at a later date.

As a huge Baldur’s Gate mark (played the game through 18 times!), I am so amped for enhanced version. I’m probably going to pick up both the OS X and iOS versions. This is one of my favorites games of all time and the only one I know of that prominently features a miniature giant space hamster. Hopefully these new characters understand the proper way to treat miniature giant space hamsters.

Any of you psyched for Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition? Any of the new characters catch your eye?

Source

Justice League: Earth’s Final Defense Coming to iOS

Netmarble has revealed that Justice League: Earth’s Final Defense will be submitted to the App Store and should be available for your enjoyment on the iOS device of your choice around August. The game looks like a classic beat-’em-up featuring DC’s finest heroes and heroines. The trailer shows Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Flash in action. Secondary heroes will be used as “support cards” that augment powers. While the gameplay doesn’t appear to be anything earth shattering, I’m completely down for a Justice League brawler on iOS. As a comic-book nerd, I love the alternate costumes shown in the trailer.

Check out the clip when you have a chance and let me know what you think. Are you excited for Justice League: Earth’s Final Defense?

Ultima Forever Coming for PC and iPad

At Comic Con 2012, Electronic Arts announced that the Ultima franchise will be returning to PC and debuting on iPad thanks to BioWare. Ultima Forever is a free-to-play game set to arrive in late 2012. The warrior and mage have been revealed as playable classes, while the bard was teased on the Ultima Forever Twitter page. Here’s more from the official site:

The first great Western RPG has been lovingly restored in Ultima Forever — return to the Ultima series in BioWare’s new cross-platform action RPG. Accept the challenge from Lady British and save the land of Britannia. Play as the Fighter or the Mage and travel alone or with friends, restore virtue and become the Avatar!

As an RPG nerd and a BioWare fanboy, I must play this game. Ultima was one of the best and earliest RPG franchises in PC gaming; any RPG fan with a sense of history should revere the series. BioWare is simply awesome (scientific classification), as you know. The difficult part will be deciding whether to play this on PC or iPad. What a wonderful problem to have!

Any of you psyched for Ultima Forever?

Amazing Alex: Can Rovio Catch Lightning Twice?

Rovio’s Angry Birds is one of the most successful franchises in the history of mobile gaming. Will its recently released Amazing Alex reach similar heights? Like Angry Birds, Amazing Alex is a physics-based puzzle game, but instead of the epic birds vs. pigs war, you deal with everyday objects found in a kid’s room. I’ve played a bit of the game and found both the graphics and puzzles charming. However, I don’t think it has the “cute” factor that Angry Birds enjoyed. I’ve seen all kinds of Angry Birds merchandise used by people around the world. I sincerely doubt that Amazing Alex gear will be as popular. I’m sure Amazing Alex will do well, but I doubt it will resonate with people the way that Angry Birds did.

Of course I could be totally wrong. That’s where you come in! I’m sure that most of you have played Angry Birds. Do you think Rovio can catch lightning in a bottle twice with Amazing Alex?