Hasta La Gadget!

In an email to press, HTC took the opportunity to make a few clarifications about the injunction filed by Nokia this week regarding the dual-membrane microphone in the One. The preliminary injunction claims that the high-amplitude mic, which HTC uses in its flagship device, was supposed to be manufactured exclusively for the Finnish company (and currently used in the Lumia 720). If you’ve been wondering how this particular action would affect sales of the high-end HTC handset, spokespeople assure us that it’s business as usual for the company. According to its official statement, the One is not the actual target of any injunction in The Netherlands — in actuality, the legalities of the matter are apparently only between Nokia and STMicroelectronics, the supplier of the component in question.

HTC tells us that Nokia’s attempts to institute a recall of the One failed; since the products were purchased in good faith, the ruling states that HTC can continue to use microphones that are in its inventory. Despite having a history rich in manufacturing delays, we’re told that this legal ruling will have no effect on the One’s availability. The Taiwanese phone maker plans a transition to “improved microphone designs” as soon as its current stock of STM supplies has been exhausted, a move which HTC claims will be transparent to consumers. Head below to see the full statement.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, HTC, Nokia

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A recent Nokia Lumia 920 TV commercial from Netherlands carrier KPN Mobiel — spotted by My Nokia Blog — shows a curious yellow handset at the five second mark, and after squinting for a bit we’re still not sure what we’re seeing. It’s obviously not a 920, and it doesn’t match any other existing models that we can remember. Our mobile experts noticed that it vaguely resembles the Nokia Lumia 822 from US carrier Verizon, but the headphone nub, camera pod position and tapered design don’t match that model — which also appears to be smaller than the one pictured above. Could the Finnish carrier be holding out on us until Mobile World Congress 2013? Or is it some kind of Dutch variant of the 822? We’ve no idea, but if any of you do, we’re sure you’ll let us know below. You can scope the video after the fold.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia

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Via: WM Power User

Source: KPM (YouTube)

Aside from the sweltering daytime heat and the freezing night-time temperatures, the biggest problem for folks living in desert regions is finding sources of water. Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic have leveraged those temperature swings to help solve the arid region hydration conundrum with a cotton material that absorbs water straight from the surrounding air. Of course, it’s not your run-of-the-mill fabric woven from fluffy white stuff. This cloth is coated in a special polymer, called PNIPAAm, that’s hydrophilic (read: super absorbent) at temperatures 34°C and below, but becomes hydrophobic (read: repels water) when it gets any hotter.

In absorption mode, the cloth can hold 340 percent of its own weight — compared to just 18 percent without the polymer’s aid — and when it warms up, it releases the collected moisture as clean and pure potable water. So, it can help hydrate both plants and people in desert regions around the world. The boffins who created the stuff claim it’s reusable and can be used on locally-sourced cotton fabrics for a minimal, 12 percent cost increase given current manufacturing conditions. Not impressed? Well, the magical moisture-absorbing material may get even better, as the plan is to increase the amount of water the material can hold and lower the temperature threshold for its release.

Filed under: Wearables, Science, Alt

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Via: Extreme Tech

Source: Eindhoven University of Technology

It’s always the same. The two companies continue to play tit-for-tat with their patents around the world. Apple’s so-called rubber-banding patent has been particularly contentious. It played a central role in a German injunction against Motorola and was invalidated by the USPTO. Now the bounce-back scrolling effect has given Cupertino an other feather in its cap in the Netherlands. However, the Dutch court has chosen to be much more measured in its doling out of punishment. There will be no injunction, instead the manufacturer will be given eight weeks to update the offending handsets — anything running Gingerbread or Froyo. Newer versions of Android, namely Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, use a subtle blue glow to indicate the end of the line. For every day longer than eight weeks it takes to either issue updates or remove the aging devices from the market Samsung will be fined $100,000, but Lee Kun-hee has probably lost more cash than that in his couch cushions. Next week we’re sure this same patent will be thrown out the window by French officials or Apple will be found to violate some Motorola patent… and around we go.

Continue reading Apple scores another patent victory over Samsung in the Netherlands

Filed under: Cellphones, Apple, Samsung

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Via: GSMArena, SamMobile

Source: WebWereld

We’ve seen connected light bulbs before, some more sophisticated than others, but they’re rarely as straightforward as GreenWave Reality’s just-shipping Connected Lighting Solution. Eco-friendly LED bulbs in the lineup include their own WiFi and are immediately controllable from a smartphone or tablet as soon as they’re receiving power. Basics controls like group presets and timed lighting are just the start; if you’re not worried about leaving anyone in the dark, the bulbs can respond to motion sensors and only illuminate the rooms that need attention. And while the intelligence isn’t new in itself, GreenWave would argue that sheer accessibility gives it an edge, with electric utilities in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden skipping the retail middleman by selling directly. Don’t despair if you live in the US: the linked-up lighting is cleared for eventual use by Americans who’d like to save both energy and a trip to the light switch.

Continue reading GreenWave Reality ships WiFi light bulbs that flick on through motion and smartphones

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GreenWave Reality ships WiFi light bulbs that flick on through motion and smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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