Hasta La Gadget!

Quite a few AT&T customers are worried about the status of their iPhone 5—they haven’t yet received a shipping confirmation email, and some have been told by sales reps that they could be waiting until as late as October 15. So far, there’s no official word from AT&T. But what about you? Will you get your precious new smartphone tomorrow, or has your shipment been delayed? [AT&T Forums] More »

Garmin has updated its iOS navigation software to help fill the gaps in the contentious Apple Maps app, with Navigon and StreetPilot Onboard now packing mass transit information along with iOS 6 compatibility. The updates include an Urban Guidance mode which offers train, bus, tram, and water taxi route planning, features which Apple’s homegrown Maps app does not support.

Meanwhile, there’s also a Last Mile function which will remember the location of a parked car and help a driver return to it later on, useful if you’re easily confused by extensive parking lots. StreetPilot Onboard also adds Google Maps Street View data, which was previously accessible on the iPhone and iPad via Google Maps but, as of iOS 6, is no longer available.

However, some of the selling points Garmin’s software had previously – namely turn-by-turn navigation – now runs the risk of being eclipsed by Maps’ native guidance abilities, also freshly added in iOS 6. It’s also worth noting that the Urban Guidance system is a paid add-on through in-app purchase – priced at $2.99 – though it does include transit line information and integrate with Apple’s transit system within Maps.

Garmin is unlikely to be the only company keen to occupy the space vacated by Google Maps, though whether the company’s $44.99 price tag for Garmin StreetPilot Onboard USA or $39.99 for Navigon will be forced down in the process remains to be seen. Meanwhile, web-based alternatives are already available, such as Nokia Maps, which also include turn-by-turn guidance, public transportation, traffic monitoring, and more.

[via The Verge]

Garmin fills iOS 6 Maps gaps with mass transit guidance is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Just when you thought the whole “let’s take each other to court” thing was fading out in the tech world, Samsung confirmed that it plans to sue Apple over eight patents relating to its implementation of LTE tech in the iPhone. Ugh. More »

Samsung has been widely expected to add the iPhone 5 to its ongoing patent disputes with Apple, and today the Korean electronics company made that official, noting in a U.S. court filing uncovered by Reuters that it “will file, in the near future, a motion to amend its infringement contentions to add the iPhone 5 as an accused product.” Samsung expects the iPhone 5 to fall under the same areas of infringement as existing iPhone models.

It’s not surprising that Samsung would target the iPhone 5, given that the device has already been a high-profile hit for its smartphone market leadership rival. The iPhone 5 sold 2 million units in its first 24 hours of pre-order availability, and is on pace to set records again for opening weekend sales, according to most early estimates. Samsung’s primary goal in its legal wrangling with Apple appears to be to counter that company’s aggressive stance with regards to patent litigation, as indicated by another statement received by Reuters from the Korean company.

“Apple continues to take aggressive legal measures that will limit market competition,” the statement reads. “Under these circumstances, we have little choice but to take the steps necessary to protect our innovations and intellectual property rights.”

As a brief recap of the latest blows exchanged by these two in their ongoing legal battle, remember that Apple was awarded over $1 billion in damages by a U.S. court in August, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 remains barred for sale in the U.S., Samsung and Apple saw a split decision in a South Korean court, and Samsung nabbed a win in Japan over the bounce-back visual interface effect used on smartphones and tablets. Samsung throwing the iPhone 5 onto the pile is just another sign that we’re very far from seeing the end of this back-and-forth. It’ll be interesting to see if in addition to existing actions, any new ones arise from the iPhone 5 (perhaps over LTE use in smartphone devices) after its official arrival on Friday.

We reached out to Apple for comment, and will update if we hear back.

We knew that Samsung was looking to sue Apple over the iPhone 5, so it’s not surprising to learn that Samsung has submitted a document to the federal courts where they have stated that they anticipate adding the iPhone 5 to the list of grievances they have against Apple over alleged patent infringements. However this isn’t necessarily a done deal and it won’t be a 100% guarantee that they will be able to sue Apple over the iPhone 5 as they are still analyzing the device, making sure that there are elements of the phone which could have infringed upon their patents. One of which we’re guessing might pertain to 4G LTE as that was a feature Samsung claimed they will sue Apple over if the iPhone 5 were to come with it, and it did. Either way we’ll have to wait and see how this one plays out, but until then while the analyzing is being done and given the bureaucratic nature of the legal system, we expect Apple will continue selling millions of iPhone 5 units way before Samsung gets a chance to file a possible preliminary injunction.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: HTC and Samsung already taking legal action against Apple’s iPhone 5, New Samsung commercial mocks iPhone 5 hopefuls who are waiting in line,