You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Amidst all of the good news Facebook has been throwing out, it looks like some bad news was just waiting to rain on its parade. Facebook was sued back in September 2011 by Timelines Inc. over the “timeline” trademark. Timelines Inc., which launched its website in 2009, claimed that Facebook infringed on its trademark when the social network roll out its timeline feature to its user base.
Timelines Inc.’s service is similar to Facebook’s timeline services, except instead of organizing Facebook status updates, likes, etc, it organizes historical events like wars, advancements in science and technology, sporting events, and more. Facebook tried to counter-sue Timelines Inc. and asked for judgments of non-infringement and a cancellation of the registrations due to Timelines Inc.’s trademarks being too generic.
U.S. District Judge John W. Darrah stated that Facebook “has failed to demonstrate, as a matter of law, that the marks are generic.” He continued by saying that Timelines Inc. had a decent amount of sales and many active users. He further states that “it is not unreasonable to conclude that as to this group of users, ‘timeline(s)’ has acquired a specific meaning associated with the plaintiff.”
Timeline Inc.’s attorney, Douglas Albritton, stated that the company is happy with the ruling. He says that the company will be seeking damages against Facebook that is equivalent to the social network’s “timeline-derived ad revenue”. The trial is set for April 22nd. We shall keep you updated about the trial when it takes place. In other news, Facebook is gearing to announce its own customized Android OS, a new HTC phone running the OS, and potentially a new Facebook for Android app soon at its event on April 4th. Stay tuned to SlashGear for live coverage of the event.
[via Bloomberg]
Facebook to go to trial over “Timeline” trademark is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
This week the Facebook Phone has been revealed. Unofficially, of course, but in a run-down of the software that comes within the device more in-depth than we’d otherwise be skeptical about. What we’ve got here is a midrange smartphone from HTC that runs the big news: Facebook Home. This software is at once a simple app for Android AND a user interface that takes over Android fully. The HTC smartphone hardware is almost like an afterthought.
We had a quick look at what Android Police discovered today, HTC Facebook phone should have you covered for all the gruesome details. If you’re all about the hardware, however, all you need to know is this:
1. 4.3-inch 720p Display
2. AT&T 4G LTE
3. 5-megapixel back-facing camera
4. Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor (same as Galaxy S III)
5. Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
This device’s pricing structure will be very, very interesting. If Facebook has enough clout to create a smartphone without a need for voice and text messaging service, they may very well be creating a whole new segment in the mobile smart device industry. If they release this device for something more like $50 USD with a 2-year contract with AT&T, they’ll be better off not releasing the device at all.
Or perhaps an inexpensive not-the-best-but-decent smartphone is exactly what Facebook needs to start their smartphone party off right? This release will certainly center around the software experience first and foremost – maybe the marketing for this release will be successful with just talk of how this will be the one true Facebook Phone?
Based on what we know – or what we think we know – about the software experience being presented by Facebook this week, this device will need to be all about the hype.
Would you buy the smartphone outlined above if it were packing the Facebook Home user interface over Android? Let us know! Then join us later this week as SlashGear covers the Facebook event live and in-person! That’s Thursday, April 4th at 10AM PST, don’t miss it – stick close to the Facebook tag portal right up and through that time!
Does the HTC Facebook Phone belong in your pocket? is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
It’s time to check out the Facebook Phone early – a full software build from the device has been leaked and it would appear that HTC is, indeed, onboard. What we’re having a look at here is a full APK (application for Android) that will live inside the device code-named HTC Myst. This device has been leaked before, and according to the leak Android Police has secured, (and promises isn’t an April Fools joke,) it’s set to be a real oddity in the market.
The first place we’ll be seeing Facebook’s new software is the HTC smartphone still code-named “Myst”. We’ll likely see this device shown by HTC later this week with the name “Facebook Phone by HTC” or something equally appropriate. The device is being delivered as – more or less – an idea palm-sized smartphone made to compete with the size segment Apple is still king of at the moment.
• HTC Myst (code-name)
• 4.3-inch display, 720p
• AT&T 4G LTE
• 1GB RAM
• Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor (MSM8960) (same as Galaxy S III)
• 5 megapixel camera on back
• 1.6 megapixel camera on front
• Sense UI 4.5 (Facebook Home modifications onboard)
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
Sound like the mid-range winner for you? Will Facebook offer this device for sale straight from their site? That might be a winning situation – something like Google Play does with the Google Nexus smartphone and tablet lineup?
Facebook Home will be essentially a Home Screen Replacement app. If you’re working with Android on your smartphone, you’re able to download a variety of Home Screen Replacement apps that will allow you to work with a user interface that’s totally different from what you’re working with right out of the box. Here with Facebook Home, it would seem that everything will be just a bit different – from your lockscreen down to your settings.
Some interesting bits and pieces discovered in the Facebook Home APK thus far:
• TouchWiz permissions (for future Samsung smart devices)
• Icon changes (simple differences making Android look more “Facebook-like”)
• Google button (indicating Facebook’s willingness to use Google – not just Bing)
• Chat Heads – a new way this user interface handles your contacts
• Facebook Apps out-of-box integration
Given what we’re seeing here in this, effectively a full leak of Facebook’s intentions, it would appear that the HTC Myst will be a device that works with Facebook Home, one of the first (or only) Facebook Phones on the market. Otherwise it may be that Facebook releases Facebook Home as a stand-alone app you can download yourself for your own device – wouldn’t that be fabulous?
We’ll be live in-effect at the Facebook event later this week – stay tuned to SlashGear for the big show, starting Thursday, April 4th at 10AM PST! Make sure you have a peek at our Facebook tag portal until then and keep up to date on all things Facebook coming your way!
Facebook Home leaked – the HTC Facebook phone spills its guts is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Android Police has managed to get its hands on a system dump for the upcoming “Facebook Phone” this Thursday. And while there will be a physical device announced, it seems “Facebook Home” is a really customized launcher, eventually destined for a wide variety of handsets. More »
One of the ways for bands and musicians to interact with fans and to let them know where their next concert is, or when their next album is coming out, would be through social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter. However it also seems that that is where the Boston police are hanging out in order to catch punk rock bands who might be performing illegally at house parties. According to the Slate, it seems that the Boston police are posing undercover on social media websites. This was suspected when St. Louis band, Spelling Bee, posted a screenshot (above) of emails from a user called Joe Sly that they believed was an undercover police prior to a sting operation before their Boston show.
CNET has emailed the Boston Police Department to try and ascertain if that was indeed one of their officers undercover. As it stands, police relying on social media to keep an eye on crime is nothing new and there have tons of examples where criminals have been caught due to their postings on social media websites, although we guess this might be a wake-up call for bands and musicians who think that just because they aren’t posting about stealing or doing drugs that the cops aren’t keeping an eye on them!
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Feedly Updates Mobile Apps, Adds New Features And Better Search, The Pirate Bay Becomes #1 File-Sharing Website, 
We did manage to catch a whiff of what is to come for the Android platform where Facebook, the social network that just about everyone has, will offer in due time. Assuming that Facebook’s future Android homescreen will take off like never before, there is every possibility that this could indirectly expose Apple’s weakness when it comes to the iOS’ closed environment, which is a polar opposite of what used to be touted as its strengths, namely a cohesive design as well as ease of use.
It must be said that Android’s level of flexibility offered to app developers has been a major selling point for some time now, especially to geeks and early adopters, although the average Joe on the street might not think too much of it. We do await with bated breath to see and hear what Facebook has in store for the Android loving masses this coming first week of April, as the invitation has been extended to “see our new home on Android”. Do leave your thoughts as to what will happen at this Facebook event.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Skype For Windows 8 Updated To Version 1.6, IBM Roadrunner Hits The End Of The Road, 
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Last week, we reported that Facebook is planning on revealing its own customized version of the Google Android operating system . They will be debuting their “special” version of the Android OS onto one of HTC’s devices. It’s speculated that it will launch on a new HTC device, however, there’s also reports that the OS will be able to run on HTC’s older handsets, and even on its upcoming flagship handset, the HTC One.
Now reports are saying that Facebook’s version of Android OS will be called “Facebook Home”. Sources revealed to 9to5Google that the tagline on Facebook’s invitations, “Come See Our New Home On Android”, is actually a teaser to the new product name. Facebook’s version of the OS will feature deep integration into Android. Facebook Messenger, Photos, and Contacts will be set as the default programs, with Facebook Messenger being used for both messaging your Facebook friends, as well as sending out SMS text messages.
The HTC smartphone that will feature the new, modified Android OS, and will most likely be announced at the event as well. Many sources say that the phone highly resembles the iPhone 5. It will have a home button at the bottom-center of the phone, with capacitive buttons on its right and left side. The device will have a screen larger than 4-inches, with speculations that it will be 4.3-inches. The phone is also said to be similar in size to the iPhone 5.
On top of both of these reveals, we’re also expecting Facebook to announce an upgrade to its Facebook for Android app. Android users have been waiting for a long time to have a decent Facebook for Android app. The current app, while much better than the versions before it, could still use a lot of work. We’re hoping that the app is just as smooth as the iOS app, if not better. Facebook had its employees work extra-hard on the Android app, so it’d be nice to see the results that have come from that. Tune in with us on April 4th, 10:00 A.M. PST, for the official updates from Facebook’s event.
[via 9to5Google]
Facebook’s Android OS will be called “Facebook Home” is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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