Unfortunately and apologetically, I missed last week’s round-up, so this should be an extra treat. I should be back on schedule now, despite a massive “detour.” Here’s what’s happening:
- Despite having dismissed the claims of Apple and Motorola, Judge Posner held a hearing on Wednesday where he allowed both sides to argue further. From the news stories, Judge Posner doesn’t appear willing to change or amend his decision regarding either company.
- Interestingly enough, in the Oracle v. Google trial, Judge Allsup also ruled that Oracle’s owed nothing for any of Google’s infringement. This basically sets Oracle up to appeal the decision a lot sooner. Expect that the 9th Circuit and SCOTUS will hear the issue of whether an API is copyrightable.
- SwiftKey 3 released this week with several “big” improvements. This is my new favorite keyboard for Android, so it’s a great install. If you grab it quickly (here for tablets), you can take advantage of the half-price sale at $1.99.
- The popular Nike+ app is now available on Android. This is an iOS favorite, and it’s nice to see it here on Android. This will match well against my two favorite apps, Noom Cardio Trainer (free or pro ($9.99)) or My Tracks (free).
- At $2.99, you might also download and install the Instapaper app, which allows you to bookmark and save your favorite online articles, sites, blog posts, and journals in one convenient place, for reading later. Check out the review from Android Authority.
- I don’t know a lot of people who use TiVo still, but apparently there are enough to encourage the company to develop an official TiVo app.
- You should keep your eyes wide open for an “imminent” announcement from Google on the release of it’s Android tablet. Expect the Google tablet to have a sub-$199 price, a 1024 x 768 pixel display, and a 7 inch screen. Say what!? With 7 inches of viewable space, it’s not a device for an attorney’s everyday use, despite it’s cheap price.
- For tablet users, you might check out the review from Android Central on the Griffin Stylus.
- Although this isn’t relative to many lawyers, Google is introducing Google Maps Coordinate, which is a program that allows users to track employees or “assets,” and assign jobs to a mobile workforce based on location, in real-time. At $15 per use per month, it’s actually pretty affordable too. How would you use this program as an attorney?
- Mashable reports that if you’re an Android user, you might also be gay, lesbian, or transgender (that’s going to create some interesting hits to this site), at least according to a poll from YouGov who found that 5.25% (~15,000) of 300,000 respondents identified themselves as gay, lesbian, or transgender.
- It seems that Microsoft is balking at Motorola’s offer to license patents for Xbox and Windows OS for $2.25 and $0.50, per device/copy, respectively. An International Trade Commission ruling last month also negatively affected Motorola’s Android devices which use Microsoft Activesync patents to translate information. Motorola offered to pay $0.33 per device for that license from Microsoft.
- Motorola’s been busy lately, I guess because they might get paid. The company released Android 4.0 update documents for several Droid phones, and update 905 for the Motorola Droid Bionic. If you’re a brave soul, you might also try installing the leaked version of Android 4.0 for Droid Bionic. I might give this a try.
- Be on the lookout for Zeus. This is a harmful piece of malware that disguises itself as a valid security app, called Android Security Suite Premium, then promptly steals your information. If you need a great security app, go for Lookout. It’s my preferred, free, security app.
- Want to have some musical fun, and get held for contempt at the courthouse? Then you’ll want to try the “Guitar Hero” piano look-alike, Magic Piano (free with paid addons). With a few magic fingers (not these magic fingers), you’ll be a Baroque virtuoso in your own mind.
- Be sure to check out this great primer from the Google and Your Business Blog on search engine optimization.
- If you’re looking for a new tablet, and you’re considering the Asus Transformer Prime (as I am), you might want to put the breaks on that purchase until you’ve checked out the Acer Iconia A700. The device is available for order from Acer at $449.99. A competitively-matched device with a competitively-matched price. Hmmm, what to do? Do I need both?
- I speak French. Poorly, mind you, since it has been years, but I can understand the “language of love” and could probably get baguette and a bathroom, if needed. Well, if you too would like to improve your French, check out this post from The Droid Guy.
- Google “mistakenly” outed then name of Android 4.1, which is . . . drum roll . . . Jelly Bean. Not much of a news story, since most Android insiders already guessed it.
- Google made another mistake by opening up the comments to app developers in Google Play. I don’t know really whether this is a bad thing, but I can see that the already worthless comments just became worse.
- Want the best Android device on the market? Grab a Samsung Galaxy S III.
- I’m intrigued by Google’s partnership with the Endangered Languages Project. Since I love communication (although my wife says I’m the worst communicator), I think it’s important to preserve all forms, especially remote languages only spoken by 10 people in the world. Still, it’s a pretty cool project.
And that folks is the 2 week version of the news round-up. Oh, wait, one more video, just because you haven’t done enough “awesome” stuff in your life:
