Futurelawyer

Power To The People

Microsoft aiming IBM-scale patent program at Linux? %u2022 The Register. Here is a 2003 look back at the early days of computing. IBM was once the big dog and the keeper of the Big Corporation flag. It was the symbol of everything that the early Apple despised. Apple was the revolutionary, and the innovator, and the new kid on the block. IBM started enforcing its patents in the mid-Eighties, as part of a revenue producing program. It hadn't enforced its patents in the previous fifty years, merely asking infringers to acknowledge them. In 1984, however, (how ironic) Marshall Phelps devised a plan to get licensing revenue from IBM's patents, and was so successful that Microsoft hired him in 2003. We know how that turned out. So, Apple, you need to cast off the mantle of defender of the little guy. Admit that you are now the IBM and the Microsoft of the new millennium. Wear the mantle proudly, as you attempt to stifle innovation and competition in your brave new world. Retire your SuperBowl commercials to the dustbin of history. We know who you are and what you represent. Know, however, that the free and open source Linux that IBM sought to stifle in 1984, and that Microsoft has battled since, thrives. Power to the people.

Evernote To Its Software - Cease Fire! Peace Settlement Talks With Pen And Paper Are Successful!

Evernote Declares A %u2018Cease-Fire%u2019 In Its War With Paper, Partners With Moleskine For Smart Notebooks | TechCrunch. Evernote, the ubiquitous computer based note taking system, has declared a cease fire in its long running battle with pen and paper. The negotiators at the Note Taking Peace Talks, representing Moleskine,  the Cadillac of paper products, and Evernote, the leading computer note taking system, have come to an historic agreement to join forces, and market a system that uses special paper that can be scanned by a mobile phone, and stored in the Evernote system. Now that the bullets are no longer flying, it is possible that the two big guns in note world will be able to live forever in peace and harmony. So, fearless road warriors, put a new Moleskine notebook in your pocket, and sharpen your pencils. You may now venture fearlessly into the world and take notes with manual abandon. Then, pull out that smart phone, and put them into your Evernote database, without fear of fire, or rain, or sprinkler systems, or car heat. Freedom. Peace. End all wars. It feels like the Sixties.

 

Apple Wins Trial Against Samsung - A Pyrrhic Victory?

In Apple v. Samsung patent case, expect nobody to truly win - Susan Crawford. Apple has won a big victory over Samsung in the phone patent wars; however, there will be years of appeals; and, by winning, if Apple gets the injunctions it will seek in September, expect a drumbeat of consumer anger to reach those who make the decision about whether a company has so much market power that it violates antitrust laws. There are plenty of other lawsuits to come; and, while Samsung has been found to be guilty of copying some Apple ideas, there is enough copying to go around. Motorola has some patents of its own, and this mess will get worse before it gets better. My Samsung products still work, and I am keeping them. In an ironic twist, it may be Microsoft, the original monopolist, that is the big winner. There is now a clear opening for the Microsoft tablets and the Windows 8 OS. May we live in interesting times. We do.

Hey, Microsoft, The Sixties Called, And They Want Their Logo Back!

Microsoft's logo gets a makeover | ZDNet. Microsoft has done it again. First, they named their search engine "Bing". I still don't get that one. Why not name it Buzz? Or Bong? Then, they name their new tablet interface Metro; which, once I got used to it, isn't that bad. But, then they take away Metro, and don't replace it with anything. So, now the Windows 8 interface is "(insert name here)". Now, in a feat of underwhelm me that will go down in history, the company has dredged out the original Windows 3.1 look, with four colored squares to look like a window with panes in it (does anybody even HAVE windows that look like this anymore?).
I will bet the the large corporation has hundreds of employees who are involved in the naming and logo design process, and that they make big money. Or, there is one guy down in the basement, wearing geek glasses and a visor, who spends his days playing Solitaire on his Windows 3.1 computer, longing for the old days. Okay, logos and interface names and function names aren't the most important things in life. I'll get over it. I'll learn the way. I'll learn, so that my later days will be prosperous, chocolate covered. Maybe Peter,Paul and Mary can write a song about it.

Samsung Wins A Patent Victory On Its Home Court

South Korean court rules Samsung didn't copy iPhone %u2013 USATODAY.com. Some Apple products have been banned from the shelves of retailers in South Korea as they have been ruled to violate Samsung telecommunications patents. The Court also ruled that Apple doesn't own generic design features such as rectangular screens and rounded corners. Apple got a partial victory, as some Samsung designs were found to violate some Apple patents on the bounce back feature when scrolling. This ruling contradicts similar cases in Europe, and it remains to be seen what the jury will decide in the United States trial that just completed. What is clear is that this is one big worldwide mess; and, the only losers are the consumers whose choice of product is being limited by some large corporations fighting over billions of dollars. I suppose this cat fight is preferable to living in a country where a dictator decides what products can be sold. Welcome to the democracy of software and mobile phone patent law. It's a jungle out there, and we poor users have a tiger by the tail.

Execupundit Live On Camera?

Execupundit.com: A Coming Feature?. Don't get me wrong. I know Michael Wade. Michael Wade is a friend of mine. But, why do I feel like I am going on a blind date with my cousin's best friend when I contemplate his doing management advice videos? I have grown comfortable reading his wise words and musings. Do I want to see him talking on camera? I suppose my feelings are clouded by the fact that I have a face and body made for radio. One of the benefits of radio and blogs is that you can fill in the blanks of the commentator while concentrating on the wisdom of the words. Michael, if you send videos to me on your blog, will we still be friends in the morning?

Ice Cream Sandwich ROM Leaks For HTC Thunderbolt

[ROM][ICS] LEAK for HTC MECHA 7.00.605.2 [4.0.3] 08/21/2012 - Official BAMF Thunderbolt Development ROMS - TeamBAMF. It figures that, no sooner than I give up on the HTC Thunderbolt running an old Froyo ROM (Version 2.1) than somebody leaks Ice Cream Sandwich for it. Version 4 ICS isn't the latest and greatest; but, the Thunderbolt was my first dual core 4G LTE phone, and I loved it. Now, it isn't a phone anymore, as I gave the line to my maintenance man. This benefits me as much as him, since I now can find him when the plumbing breaks at the office. And, in a repurposing miracle, I now have a 4.3 inch WiFi Tablet that works just about everywhere. I can even connect it to the WiFi Hotspot on my Nexus if I really need it. Welcome back, Thunderbolt. I missed you.

Does Apple Own The Color Green?

I got this colloquy from the Apple-Samsung trial from David Perez at Google+. I am recreating his post without comment.

"(Look at image for reference) Susan Kare, a Mac iconographer is on the stand. 
Samsung Lawyer: That picture of that phone, I haven’t seen a phone receiver like that in about 35 years, have you?
Apple's Witness: I know it was designed in 1938 by Henry Dreyfus through the sixties and seventies.
Samsung Lawyer: it’s the old iconic Ma Bell receiver.
Apple's Witness: It’s an old receiver… I never knew about associating it with Ma Bell.. I don’t know
Samsung Lawyer: Do you believe Apple owns the image of the old retro phone receiver?
Apple's Witness: I don't know.
Samsung Lawyer: Green means go, doesn't it? Apple doesn't own the color green, does it?"

Why I Deactivated My Facebook Account

Family and friends. I love you. But, I really don't want to know what you are doing every minute of the day. And, I don't want to be tempted to fall into that trap myself. I will now post photos of interesting stuff at Google+. I hope that I can resist the temptation to chronicle my life events there. If I can't, please delete me from your circles. Now, please put your phone away.

First Look At The IPhone 5 - Not

Okay, this little video is a satire. But, it is hilarious. Actually, it could easily apply to new Android phones. enjoy.