Hasta La Gadget!

Kodak might be cleared to sell its patents, but it’s likely no fan of the companies lined up to make a deal. The Wall Street Journal‘s best friends, “people familiar with the matter,” assert that Apple and Google are part of separate coalitions hoping to buy the 1,100 patents up for grabs. Apple’s camp supposedly includes Microsoft and controversial patent holder Intellectual Ventures; Google’s team reads more like an Android Justice League, with HTC, LG, Samsung and “patent risk solutions” provider RPX all playing a part. Real or not, there’s still much that’s up in the air. Kodak’s not talking, and even the touted insiders warn both of new challengers and allegiances that could be in flux over the next few days. If there’s meat on this rumor bone, however, it could make the August 8th auction another patent war spectacle rather than a mere ticket back to solvency for Kodak. Break out the popcorn.

[Image credit: Pittaya Sroilong, Flickr]

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras

WSJ: Apple, Google reportedly in rival groups to buy Kodak patents originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The long wait for LTE in the UK has already brought new levels of cynicism to a once earnest and optimistic nation, but now, finally, Ofcom has set itself a deadline for auctioning off the prized 4G spectrum to telecoms companies. In a major report published today, it declared that the sale is “set to get underway by the end of 2012” and will be “80 percent bigger” than the last spectrum-grab of this type — the £22 billion flogging of 3G back in 2000. Bidding should be completed by early 2013, so long as at least four wholesalers show interest, and then the rollout itself should begin in the middle of that blessed year. The regulator also promised that 4G mobile broadband will reach 98 percent of people in “villages, towns and cities” across the UK. Unless, of course, it gets sued by operators before the process even starts.

Continue reading Yet another Ofcom report promises UK LTE spectrum sale within five months, rollout in mid-2013

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet

Yet another Ofcom report promises UK LTE spectrum sale within five months, rollout in mid-2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 02:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An interesting and very old Cadillac is set to cross the auction block in an auction held by RM Auctions. The thing that makes this particular 1928 Cadillac so interesting isn’t that it’s very near its original condition. What makes this Cadillac so interesting is that it was once owned by infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone.

Capone purchased the 1928 Cadillac V8 Town Sedan and had it painted green to mimic the look of police cars used at time. As soon as Capone purchased the Cadillac, he took it to a body shop and had 3000 pounds of steel armor, and 1-inch thick bulletproof glass added to the vehicle. The car has been restored since Capone owned it and most of the armor has been removed, and the glass has been replaced.

The vehicle has a 5.5L V8 engine producing all of 90 hp and a three speed manual transmission. I can only imagine as large as the 1928 Cadillac was, hauling around 3000 extra pounds of armor must’ve made it insanely slow. I wonder how Capone was able to make a speedy getaway with such an underpowered car. The car is estimated to bring between $300,000 and $500,000 at auction.

[via Leftlane News]

1928 Cadillac formally owned by Al Capone headed to auction is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It’s been a long road for Kodak to get to this point, but it seems the floundering company has finally won approval to sell off its digital imaging patents. Over the objections of Apple and Flashpoint (nothing like kicking a company when its down), the Bankruptcy Court awarded Kodak the right to auction off its Digital Capture and Kodak Imaging Systems and Services (KISS) patent portfolios. While the challenges haven’t been completely dismissed, the ruling provides an opportunity for the struggling Rochester firm to move ahead with its auction plans in the face of what it calls “baseless claims.” Soon enough the bids for the rather sizable and valuable portfolios will start rolling in, and should provide Kodak with enough cash to keep its head above water for a little bit longer. For more detail, check out the PR after the break.

[Image Credit: MercerFilm]

Continue reading Kodak gets the green light to sell digital imaging patents

Kodak gets the green light to sell digital imaging patents originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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