Throughout the constant back and forth legal bickering between Apple and Samsung lately, some interesting, formerly confidential tidbits have leaked out giving us a glimpse at some early internal iPhone prototypes. TheVerge spotted a few of them after scouring through various documents, and they're actually rather interesting. One interesting concept in particular draws a hefty deal of inspiration from one of Sony's designs, and Samsung plans to bring it up to basically tell the court that Apple, with all of their accusations, aren't holy angels in the situation either.
When it comes to impending court cases that center around multiple alleged technology patent infringements, I am not sure that momentum actually accounts for anything, but if there is a slight chance that fortune favors those currently on top then Apple should be heading into next month’s trial feeling pretty confident about their chances. After leaving some local court houses in the United States with an interim sales ban on certain Samsung devices, Apple dealt with a relatively small blow in the U.K. when they were told to publicly retract any claim that Samsung had copied the design of the iPad.
For those of us who are on the outside looking in, it appears that the war of the patents between Apple and Samsung isn't likely to come to any kind of mutually beneficial end any time soon. Both companies are exercising their right to accuse the other of infringing on patents which they individually own, claims that have resulted in certain Samsung devices being banned from sale in the United States. Samsung had earlier appealed the decision but found themselves on the wrong end of the result as the hearing judge decided not to overturn the decision in favor of a trial.
Samsung's newest device, the Galaxy S III, has received a new OTA update internationally, removing the local search feature that has proved so controversial of late. Samsung has taken another step in its preemptive work to try and avoid Apple's legal juggernaut from being able to get another of the Koreans' handsets banned from sale.
Jelly Bean (4.1) is Google's latest and greatest Android release, and while many of the newer devices will be seeing (or already have seen) an OTA update of the buttery new operating system, it now appears the Samsung Galaxy S II - an oldie but goodie - will also be treated to the tasty new firmware.
As part of the ongoing court battles with Samsung, Apple is seeking to recover a whopping $2.5 billion in damages for patent infringement, as well as $30 per device sold by Samsung, according to new court filings.
With a quad core processor, 1GB of RAM (2GB in certain variants), a 4.8” Super AMOLED HD display, 8 MP / 2 MP optics and being based on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Samsung Galaxy S III is one hell of a powerhouse. The general public, it seems, has agreed to this fact as, according to sales figures, the Galaxy S III is selling like ice-cool lemonade on a hot day.
With many products from various manufacturers already said to be arriving in what's shaping up to be an explosive next few months, Samsung has voluntarily added itself to the fray by notifying the guys over at TheVerge of a significant Galaxy announcement on August 15th.
The next phase of the continual trials between Samsung and Apple are expected to kick off in the US on July 30th, but as has been the case previously, no-nonsense Judge Lucy Koh ordered both parties to try and resolve their differences by means of a mediation meeting. According to an article previously accessible over at The Korea Times, Apple head honcho Tim Cook met with Samsung execs Choi Gee-sung and Shin Jong-Kyun on July 16th, but no agreement could be reached.
Earlier today, we informed you of a UK Judge's decision to force Apple into issuing written clarification on both its website and a British newspaper, stating rival Samsung did not copy design features of its iPad in making the Samsung Galaxy Tab. In a rather predictable next move, the Cupertino company has almost immediately appealed against the ruling, and Apple's case will be heard by the court of appeal.
