Hasta La Gadget!

Most Mac-wielding Engadget editors have had huge crushes on their HyperMac batteries ever since Apple moved to sealed-in MacBook Pro cells across the line, but there’s a chance the party is over: Cupertino filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against HyperMac manufacturer Sanho earlier this month, claiming that it’s using the patented MagSafe power connector and 30-pin iPhone / iPod dock connector without a license. Ouch. What makes this all the more interesting is that Sanho’s always said it’s using original Apple MagSafe connectors, which would theoretically defeat Apple’s patent claims — once a patent holder sells a product that contains a patented technology, it can be difficult to claim that the patent is being infringed by the use of that product, even if there’s modification involved. (Legal nerds might want to look up “patent exhaustion” here.)

The iPod connector claims might be a little easier for Apple, since we don’t know if Sanho’s using original parts in those cables — and whatever savings it might have accrued by using knockoff connectors are probably going to be wiped out by the costs of this lawsuit. If we had to guess, we’d say Apple’s simply unhappy that Sanho hasn’t joined the lucrative Made for iPhone / Made for iPod / Made for iPad licensing programs that govern use of the connector, and that the MagSafe claim is just additional ammunition to force a settlement — we’ll see what happens, but we’d predict things come to a quick end once Sanho’s lawyers send in the first bill.

Apple sues HyperMac battery maker for using patented MagSafe and iPod connectors without approval originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We figured Skyhook’s business interference and patent infringement lawsuits against Google would turn up some dirt, and we didn’t have long to wait: the location-services company’s complaint flatly alleges that Google’s Andy Rubin ordered Motorola’s Sanjay Jha to “stop ship” on the Droid X because it used Skyhook’s XPS positioning system instead of Google Location Services, a tiff that ultimately delayed the phone’s release while Moto reworked the software and dropped Skyhook entirely. Following that, Skyhook claims that Google then went after an unidentified “Company X” (likely Samsung) and forced it to drop XPS as well — which would certainly explain why Samsung’s Galaxy S phones have WiFi positioning turned off by default, unlike every other Android phone. Ouch.

If you’re thinking that makes no sense because Android is “open,” well, you might have another think coming — Skyhook claims that Google’s decisions to allow access to Android Market and its branded apps are an entirely subjective ruse based on something called the Compliance Definition Document, which can be “arbitrarily” interpreted any way Google wants with no recourse. Skyhook says that Google has now told Android OEMs that they’re required to use Google Location Services, preventing Skyhook from fulfilling its contracts and costing the company millions in expected royalties.

Now, this is Skyhook’s side of the story and we’re sure Google will make a persuasive argument of its own, but let’s just back up for a moment here and point out the obvious: Google’s never, ever come out and clearly said what’s required for devices to gain access to Android Market and the branded apps like Gmail — even though we’ve been directly asking about those requirements since Android first launched. Remember when Andy Rubin told us that there would be full-fledged “Google Experience” phones with no carrier or handset manufacturer limitations? Or when we were told that phones with skins like HTC Sense or additional features like Exchange integration wouldn’t have Google branding? And then all of that turned out to be a lie? Yes, Android might be “open” in the sense that the source code is available, but there’s no doubt Google’s wielded incredible power over the platform by restricting access to Market and its own apps — power that hasn’t been used to prevent carrier-mandated bloatware or poorly-done manufacturer skinning, but has instead apparently been used to block legitimate competitors like Skyhook from doing business. We’re dying to hear Google’s side of this story and fill in some of the gaps — and you can bet we’re digging as hard as we can for more info. Stay tuned, kids.

Skyhook: Google forced Motorola to drop our location service, delay the Droid X originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft responds to Russian crackdown by extending software licenses to NGOs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uh, wow. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison just released a statement in response to HP suing former CEO Mark Hurd for taking a position as Oracle’s co-president, and well, just read it:

Oracle has long viewed HP as an important partner,” said Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. “By filing this vindictive lawsuit against Oracle and Mark Hurd, the HP board is acting with utter disregard for that partnership, our joint customers, and their own shareholders and employees. The HP Board is making it virtually impossible for Oracle and HP to continue to cooperate and work together in the IT marketplace.

Yeah. Homeboy isn’t playing around. Of course, HP’s entire lawsuit hinges on the court agreeing that HP and Oracle are actually direct competitors in the enterprise space, and, as the lawsuit points out, Oracle itself has filed SEC reports saying its hardware and software products “compete directly” with HP and other companies, so perhaps this is all more sound than fury, but at this point we wouldn’t count on a quick settlement putting all this to bed anytime soon.

P.S.- We told you Larry Ellison would say something bonkers again.

Continue reading Larry Ellison on HP’s Mark Hurd lawsuit: ‘virtually impossible for Oracle and HP to continue to cooperate and work together’

Larry Ellison on HP’s Mark Hurd lawsuit: ‘virtually impossible for Oracle and HP to continue to cooperate and work together’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember back when Google’s Buzz social networking app shared user’s private information without their consent? Heck, do you remember Buzz at all? Suffice it to say that some unhappy folks sued, and it looks like they’re about to accept a hefty settlement in place of their day in court. Though no money’s exchanged hands quite yet and a judge has yet to approve, Google’s agreed to drop $8.5 million and “disseminate wider public education about the privacy aspects of Google Buzz” as part of a class-action settlement, according to court documents. While there’s certainly a chunk of dough potentially being doled out here, we have to imagine individual Gmail users won’t be seeing much — most will go to “organizations focused on Internet privacy policy or privacy education” — which makes us wonder if $8.5 million isn’t a small price to pay to get Buzz back into the national news feeds.

In related (or possibly completely coincidental) news, Google took the opportunity today to revamp its master Privacy Policy. Read all about it at our more coverage link, if you’re into that kind of stuff.

Google agrees to pay $8.5 million to make Buzz privacy lawsuits go away originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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