Hasta La Gadget!

We had a busy and exciting week last week with the release of the iPhone 5, and that continued right into the weekend and now today. While we hope everyone enjoyed their weekend (watching the NFL) it’s time to get back to those gadgets we all love and depend on. First up is the Samsung Galaxy S III getting updated to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the international model that is.

Samsung just started the update rollout of Jelly Bean for their new flagship Galaxy S III, and we can expect carriers here in the US to start issuing the update here shortly too — but that could still be a few weeks away or more. That isn’t all from Samsung either. They then issued a Jelly Bean update timeline for multiple (15) of their devices, but oddly enough the original Galaxy Tab 10 wasn’t included. A device only a year old.

Then next up this week is already looking up with talk about Apple Maps, and iPhone 5 sales. Yup, talk is brewing that Apple is aggressively seeking out and looking to hire past Google Maps staff. Then Apple announced they sold 5 million iPhone 5 smartphones over the weekend. While that is a big number, analysts predicted much higher sales, and are blaming Apple’s lack of stock for the missed prediction. Then we have two more pieces of Apple news. One being that more than 100 million devices have been upgraded to iOS 6. Speaking of iOS 6, Google Maps has been hacked to work again on the latest OS.

Then to round off the wrap-up with some other important bits and pieces of news Intel detailed 4G LTE and quad-core plans for later this year, Nintendo’s Wii U will be region-locked, and then we have something weird for you all. You can get a brain controlled kitty tail by a company called Shippo. Yea, that’s weird!

Then to end on a good note the amazing Space-shuttle Endeavour made its final flight this weekend, flying high over California as people across the state enjoyed the site from their rooftops. You’ll be able to see it at the California Science Center starting October 13th on display.

Have a great week folks!

SlashGear Morning Wrap-up: September 24, 2012 is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

While Apple’s new Maps app might have sounded like a pretty good idea when revealed, apparently it did not function as well in the real world and there have been many reports of its inaccuracy and rather weird renderings. Well it seems that Apple is hoping to fix that and according to reports, they have been rather aggressive in the hiring of ex-Google employees who have had work experience on Google Maps. This was revealed by a TechCrunch source who was a contractor who worked on Google Maps and this is what he had to say: (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Google to hold Google Maps event this coming June 6, Apple to introduce their own maps app in iOS 6?,

Last time Google found itself in court proceedings opposite Skyhook, it was facing anticompetitive and IP legal claims for forcing Android OEMs to use Google’s location services. Yesterday, Skyhook filed a new complaint alleging that Google is infringing nine of its patents. FOSS Patents reports that the IP in question is, like last time, all about geolocation technology. The patents cover various aspects of a WLAN-based positioning system, and all but one of them were granted after the prior lawsuit, hence the new legal action. We’ve yet to hear Google’s side of the story, but you can take a peek at Skyhook’s airing of grievances at the source below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile

Skyhook sues Google for patent infringement… again originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 22:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink FOSS Patents  |  Complaint (PDF)  | Email this | Comments

Today, Apple‘s new Maps app in iOS 6 has been the subject of a lot of criticism. Some iOS 6 users aren’t exactly satisfied with Apple’s attempt at entering the navigation space, and Nokia has jumped on the opportunity to talk about its own suite of navigation tools offered to its users. In a post on the Nokia Conversations blog, Nokia’s Pino Bonetti compared the company’s Location Platform to the competition with a series of benchmarks, taking a few shots at Apple in the process.

To be fair, the benchmarks include Google Maps along with Apple’s new Maps app, but this post is clearly capitalizing on the unrest surrounding Apple Maps. “Unlike our competitors, which are financing their location assets with advertising or licensing mapping content from third parties, we completely own, build and distribute mapping content, platform and apps,” Bonetti writes. “In other words, we truly understand that maps and location-based apps must be accurate, provide the best quality and be accessible basically anywhere. That’s been standard practice at Nokia for the past six years, and we also understand that ‘pretty’ isn’t enough. You expect excellence in your smartphone mapping experience.”

That’s some big talk, but Nokia’s benchmarks seem to back it up. In most cases, Nokia’s Maps suite comes out on top when compared to Google Maps and Apple’s new effort. There are a few instances where Google Maps matches Nokia’s Location Platform, but in almost all of the comparisons, Apple comes in last. Click the thumbnail below to see the full results of Nokia’s benchmark tests.

In this case, we have to say that Nokia has a right to brag. Nokia’s Location Platform is loved by users, and it’s easy to tell that a lot of work went into making it a solid set of apps. Google Maps may be the more popular navigation service (and admittedly it’s pretty good to boot), but the big G certainly has a worthy challenger in Nokia. What do you think of Nokia’s Location Platform? Do you prefer it over Google Maps?

Nokia takes a shot at poorly-received Apple Maps app is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It seems like all of the 15% of iPhone owners who upgraded to iOS 6.0 yesterday took to the internet to complain about Apple’s new map program and the fact that it actually replaces and removes the old–and totally usable–Maps app, which used Google Maps. The biggest complaint about Apple Maps is that it doesn’t include transit directions, and the button to receive transit directions in the app actually takes you to the App Store. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just download a Google Maps app by Google?

(more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: All your Google Maps are belong to us, Google Maps updated, introduces new turn-by-turn navigation, biking directions, campus imagery,