Google Will Acquire Motorola to Enhance Competition, Gain Patents

August 15th, 2011 · 9 notes · #apple #iphone #ios #google #android #htc #motorla #droid

Google announced via their investor relations page that the company has agreed to terms with Motorola for a $12.5 billion dollar acquisition at 60% premium. The boards of directors of both companies unanimously approved the transaction. 

The deal puts Google head-to-toe with Apple, who has been a full-fledged smartphone manufacturer since they launched iPhone and iPhone OS in 2007. The acquisition of a handset maker is not an automatic win for Google, as they closed down their Nexus One store due to sub-par sales. A Motorola deal will put more of Google’s phones on shelves, but it also puts the search-engine company in competition with HTC and Samsung. 

“Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers,” Google’s Co-founder and CEO, Larry Page, said in a press release.

Google will benefit greatly from Motorola’s 17,000 patents on phone technology, as Google recently lost in a consortium against Microsoft, Apple and RIM for thousands of patents from Novell and Nortel Networks, a Canadian computer-networking company and a telecom manufacturer. 

Googles stock (GOOG) closed down 1.82% at $553.50. You can view a video of CNBC analysts discussing the deal here.

Apple Reveals More iCloud Details

August 8th, 2011 · 14 notes · #MobileMe #Apple #iCloud #iTunes #Match #iOS #Mac #OS #X #Lion #iPhone #iPad #Mac

Apple has been releasing more information to developers about iCloud, it’s upcoming service that will store email, calendars, documents, and media in Apple’s cloud and sync it across users’ Apple devices. The Cupertino-based computing company plans to open iCloud to the public in the Fall. 

Developers have exclusively learned through their paid accounts that Apple will be providing former subscribers of MobileMe, Apple’s older and current version of iCloud, an extra 20GB of free space in their cloud. The free space will last until June 30, 2012 unless iCloud users choose to subscribe to the service and pay for the additional storage. 

The news comes as a friendly gesture from Apple, whose stock fell more than 20 points Monday morning amid the S&P downgrading crisis. Analysts have suggested buying AAPL, along with other technology stocks, as recent economic activity does not reflect the performance of the technology sector. “Apple could buy Bank of America,” CNBC reporters said.

iCloud is currently in beta and only available to registered developers of Apple’s program. However, Apple has announced the service will launch in the Fall along with iOS 5, Apple’s new operating system for iPhones and iPads. News outlets are also reporting an iPhone 5 release during the same time period, suggesting that Apple wants to get the three products out in time for the holiday season. 

Apple iPhone 5 Cases Being Mass Produced, Reveal Details

July 30th, 2011 · 17 notes · #apple #iphone #4 #5 #case #china #produced #home #button #camera #parts #rumors

A United Kingdom phone site revealed Chinese manufacturers’ case plans for Apple’s iPhone 5.  William Judd, editor of the site, claims the blueprints were sent to him by different manufacturers, although it is unclear why.

“If these images are authentic – and we have every reason to believe that they are – then the iPhone 5 is a radical evolution of the iPhone concept, and a bigger departure from the iPhone 4 than previous case images have shown,” Judd wrote.

The images, which can be viewed by clicking here, show an increase in screen size from 3.5 inches to 4.0 inches. However, the size of the phone itself seems to have stayed the same. This means the bezel on the device has been removed, accomplishing an edge-to-edge display. 

It appears that iPhone 5 will also return to curved edges like Apple’s previous iPhone models, excluding iPhone 4. Apple may also use a curved glass on the back of iPhone 5, as reported by DigiTimes in late May. 

Also of note: The first case design shows an oval, perhaps a multi-touch gesture area, where the home button should be. 

Given Apple’s recent obsession with multi-touch gestures, it is likely that the home button will be replaced by a glass gesture area similar to that of Apple’s MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

The cases also fit the alleged iPhone 5 camera parts posted in mid-May by Apple.pro. M.I.C. Gadget, a Chinese technology blog, is now reporting that the cases are “all over” mainland China.