Android App Combines Social Networking, Phone Calls, Analytics

Current Caller ID, a new, free app that launched Wednesday for Android phones, applies social media and analytics to traditional phone calls.

For example, if a person or business calls you and they aren't in your address book, Current will check the Web for a matching phone number and display the name on your phone's screen. Sometimes the data didn't display before I picked up the call, but the app updated it afterward -- the search for a match must have taken longer than it did for me to pick up the phone.

When you link your Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn accounts to the app, it will display callers' latest status updatse or Twitter messages when they ring you. I found that feature worked pretty consistently.

If you're interested in analyzing your calling and texting habits with friends, click on the "stats" tab in the app and it will tell you how you communicate, displaying a pie chart of incoming and outgoing calls and texts. You can access the statistics for any of your recent calls.

The stats will also tell you when it's best to text or call your contact based on your interaction. I found it interesting to see which friends I text and call more and vice versa, but this information won't be essential for most users.

I did run into one problem that I found distracting. When I returned back to my smartphone after being away, Current Caller ID would alert me that I missed 26 -- or some other large number -- of calls. It wasn't an error, because I had missed a number of calls over a period of time, but not that many since I had last checked my phone. The app should only have told me how many calls I missed since I last used my phone, rather than all of the calls I had missed in a few weeks time.

Current Caller ID won't replace your smartphone's default telephone application or address book. You still need to use your phone's default app to dial out, but Current will override it for incoming calls. Tighter integration into the smartphone's default telephone application would make Current Caller ID more valuable, but overall it was a welcome addition to my phone and one that I won't delete.

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Apple Expert Says Buyers Mistook Samsung Tablets for iPad

A paid Apple Inc. (AAPL) witness testified in the company’s patent case against Samsung Electronics Co. (005930) that he studied a report finding that Best Buy Co. (BBY) customers mistakenly bought Samsung products thinking they were Apple’s.

Peter Bressler, an industrial designer who said Apple has paid him a total of $75,000 so far in the trial, yesterday told jurors in federal court in San Jose, California, about data in a report showing that the most common reason Best Buy customers return Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer is because they thought they had bought the iPad 2.

During cross-examination, Samsung’s attorney, Charles K. Verhoeven, confronted Bressler with video-taped deposition testimony from April 2012, in which the designer was asked if he believed that consumers purchasing products get confused between Apple and Samsung products.

“I do not know if they get confused,” Bressler said, testifying as an expert witness in the second week of the trial.

Apple and Samsung are the world’s largest makers of the high-end handheld devices that blend the functionality of a phone and a computer. The trial is the first before a U.S. jury in a battle being waged on four continents for dominance in a smartphone market valued by Bloomberg Industries at $219.1 billion. Each company is trying to convince jurors at the trial that its rival infringed patents covering designs and technology.
‘User Research’

Bressler is an expert in “user research, human factors application, manufacturing processes and innovative criteria conflict resolution,” according to the website for his company, Philadelphia-based BresslerGroup. His testimony may continue to lay the groundwork for Apple’s infringement claims, which Apple started last week with Scott Forstall, the company’s senior vice president in charge of iPhone and iPad software. He gave jurors the first detailed testimony about one of the patents at issue.

Apple seeks $2.5 billion for its claims that Samsung infringed patents. Samsung, based in Suwon, South Korea, countersued and will present claims that Apple is infringing two patents covering mobile-technology standards and three utility patents. Apple, based in Cupertino, California, also wants to make permanent a preliminary ban it won on U.S. sales of a Samsung tablet, and extend the ban to Samsung smartphones.
70 Patents

Bressler, who is an inventor on 70 design and utility patents and teaches product design at the University of Pennsylvania, said he had studied different versions of the iPhone in preparation for his testimony. Shown diagrams from Apple’s patents and actual phones based on them, he described the “rectangular proportion” of the diagrams as providing “a specific impression or design.”

The phones “embody the design of the patent,” he said in response to questions from Apple’s lawyer, Rachel Krevans.

Bressler said he performed an infringement analysis of the Galaxy S 4G phone and found that its “flat, uninterrupted surface” and “rectangular proportions” infringe Apple’s patents. He said he arrived at the same conclusion after doing a similar analysis for more than 10 other Samsung phones and a Samsung tablet.
Court Order

Before trial, Apple won a court order from U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh temporarily blocking U.S. sales of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet, a ruling that was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington.

Bressler said the “prior art,” or earlier inventions, that Samsung argues are in patents preceding Apple’s describe a different product. Those patents Samsung is relying on to defend against the infringement claims describe front screens that are convex, not flat, he said.

During cross-examination, Samsung’s attorney showed Bressler images of smartphones, including LG Electronics Inc. (066570)’s Prada, comparing the images to an image from the patent Apple accuses Samsung of infringing.

“Each of the images we’ve looked at are rectangular in shape with rounded corners,” Verhoeven said.

Verhoeven asked Bressler if all the images have a large, centered screen, narrower lateral borders and larger borders above and below the screen, and a lozenge-shaped slot for the speaker.

Bressler acknowledged the similarities, while noting that not all the images depict a bezel, a band of metal wrapping around the phones.

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Samsung set to release Galaxy Note 10.1 in US

Tech giant Samsung Electronics may release its Android tablet PC, Galaxy Note 10.1, in US markets in the middle of this month.

The speculation came after American tech and electronics website CNET unveiled a recent press invitation issued by Samsung Electronics at New York's Lincoln Center on Aug. 15.

In the invitation, the main graphic outlines a product that closely matches the specifications of the company's 10.1-inch Android tablet PC, CNET reported.

Free-style doodles on the invitation also hint that the product will be the Galaxy Note 10.1, as the product comes with a pressure-sensitive stylus called "S-pen," CNET said.

The newest addition to Samsung's tablet PC lineup, the Galaxy Note 10.1 features the largest screen size and updated capabilities such as better Web browsing and multi-tasking, according to its official website.

It was unveiled earlier this year at the World Mobile Congress, held in Barcelona this February.

In the meantime, Samsung is expected to unveil a new mobile device this month, just weeks before the likely debut of the iPhone 5.

According to foreign news reports, the new product will be shown in Berlin on Aug. 29, two days before the opening of Europe's largest consumer electronics show IFA.

Analysts said it was likely to be an upgraded version of the Galaxy Note.

The current Galaxy Note has a 5.3-inch (13.5 centimeter) screen, larger than a smartphone but smaller than a tablet. The device is positioned between the firm's flagship Android-equipped Galaxy smartphone and Galaxy Tab.

"It's highly likely to be Galaxy Note 2," said Greg Roh, senior analyst from HMC Securities Investment, commenting on the device to be unveiled in Berlin.

But he told AFP he did not see a particular correlation between the launch and the release date of the iPhone 5, widely expected in September or October.

"I think Samsung is trying to maintain its reputation as the No. 1 smartphone company with a public image that they always have something to show to consumers, and that they carry out what they've promised to show," he said.

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iPad Mini Features And Release Date Rumors Roundup

Although Apple doesn’t wants to admit it, a smaller version of the iPad will soon be launched and a centralized location containing various details related to the iPad Mini features and release date can now be found.

iPad Mini Features

Form: The iPad Mini is said to be produced in Brazil, alongside the new generation iPod Touch, and should arrive in a form as tall as the Asus Nexus 7 but possibly a bit wider. The slate is expected to be slimmer than the Kindle Fire (which is by the way, the thinnest tablet out there), with the supposed thickness rumored at just 7.2mm. This is 3.25mm thinner than the Nexus tablet and 2.2mm thinner than the new iPad.

Display: Some say that a non-Retina display is expected on the iPad Mini, Apple taking this decision to cut down prices and stay competitive. When it comes to its size, one camp is stating that it will have a diagonal 7-inch wide, while others speculate it would be around 7.85-inch. The latter assumption tends to have more sense, because Apple always looks for a way to stand out in the crowd and a slightly bigger display should be seen as preferential, but it will also add some marks to the final price.

Moreover, some say that the bigger display will offer 40 percent more display space than the Kindle Fire, because of its small side margins.

Connectivity: Apple may be the winner amongst all small tablets here, by possibly releasing the iPad Mini with a 3G antenna feature, something that neither Nexus 7, nor Kindle Fire has. It should also come with Bluetooth 4 technology and a smaller pin dock, integrating 8 or 19 pins.

The Bluetooth 4 addition is said to be used in a specialized Apple-feature, which will allow all devices that integrate the technology to create a link between them. Using this link, owners could bestow devices extended functionality, like making phone calls from an iPod panel by making use of the linked iPhone.

Moreover, an adapter between the 30-pin connector found on current Apple devices and those of the new generation will be made available after their launch.

Price: When it comes to the price, the nice additional iPad Mini features will surely leave scars. The wider display, the 3G antenna and also Apple’s reputation contribute to the final selling sum, which should be below $250.

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Apple Patent Envisions a Smart Cover With Built-In Display, Keyboard

If you think the Surface tablet’s Touch Cover and Type Cover are cool, then take a look at what Apple has in the works. The company that’s dominating the tablet industry with the iPad is looking to patent what appears to be next-generation Smart Covers, complete with built-in, flexible AMOLED displays, keyboards, and even solar panels and radio frequency (RF) energy collection antennas.

Apple’s patent application for a “Cover Attachment With Flexible Display,” was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office Thursday, and shows a number of possible Smart Cover embodiments, one of which should look particularly familiar to Microsoft watchers.

When Microsoft first showed off its Surface tablet in June, it spent a significant amount of time touting the benefits of the peripheral Touch Cover, a tablet cover with a flat, built-in keyboard. It was a key feature setting the Surface apart from the iPad. But it looks like Apple has been thinking along the same lines for at least a year — the company first filed its patent on Aug. 11, 2011 — and has come up with a flexible Smart Cover that includes a fabric keyboard and potential video or document controls on a back flap.

“First, this configuration gives the user an experience much closer to the one enjoyed by laptop users. Second, by allowing the user to easily view the screen and by providing a convenient surface to type on, tasks such as word processing and email become much more efficient,” the patent document states.

This sounds a lot like what Microsoft said about its Touch Cover advantages, but Apple is envisioning much more (though whether any of Apple’s ideas ever reach fruition is a different matter entirely).

One of the most interesting embodiments in the patent is a Smart Cover with a built-in AMOLED display made of a thin, polyimide substrate that could extend the iPad’s display. The cover would connect to the tablet through a wireless or wired data connection, or could even via other ports such as DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, DVI, or Thunderbolt.

“The addition of cover display ameliorates the limited screen area problem and makes a number of tasks significantly easier, in some cases functioning as an extended desktop,” the patent states. It goes on to list a few examples of how the cover display could help with reviewing multiple documents at once. I imagine the scheme might also be helpful for general multitasking — you could keep your e-mail on the cover display and your web browser on the iPad display. The patent adds that the cover’s display could be enhanced with multi-touch gestures.

Since the cover’s display is flexible and can be used as an iPad stand (just like the current Smart Cover), the patent says that the cover could also recognize when it’s being bent back (with the help of an accelerometer) and activate itself for a specific purpose. For example, the cover display’s panel might display your Facebook status or latest tweet, the current time, or even your name — useful for when in meetings with strangers.

The display doesn’t have to stay within the confines of the tablet. Apple’s filings also describe another option in which the cover features small displays across the outside panels, allowing you to view information without having to open the cover and turn on the tablet. Instead of AMOLED display technology, the patent describes this embodiment as using electronic paper, which requires no extra power to maintain static images or text. The cover, in this case, could be used to display calendar reminders, tasks, or decorative patterns.

How does the cover display get power? Apple has thought of a few options. The patent document describes a custom MagSafe connector that would allow the cover to draw power from the iPad itself. Alternatively, the cover could include a small battery, so that it doesn’t drain the tablet’s power. Another interesting option is to include “ambient energy collectors” such as solar panels and RF antennas.

In one embodiment, the iPad cover has integrated solar panels on the outside of the cover. In this case, the cover doesn’t only power itself, but it could also transfer energy to the tablet. The cover could also include RF antennas, which the filings admit do not yield as much energy. Still, the antennas could power a micro battery or a super capacitor inside the actual cover, to power the low-energy AMOLED or electronic paper display. One advantage of the RF antennas is that they can collect energy whether the cover is open or closed, whereas the solar panels have to face a light source.

It’s clear that Apple has covered a lot of Smart Cover ground with this patent. It would be amazing to see all of these become actual shipping product features, available for various kinds of user needs. But knowing how Apple functions, it’s more likely that they will come out with one or two options. And if the company is smart, we’ll see a new cover with a built-in keyboard — to ensure nobody opts for a Microsoft Surface just because of the available Touch Cover.

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iPad Mini display production slated for August, says analyst

The gears could start to turn as early as this month for the production of a smaller iPad.

Production of the 7.85-inch display slated for use on a smaller version of the iPad should begin in August, an analyst told CNET.

"We expect panel production to start in August, with production ramping up to high volumes (more than a million units per month) in the fourth quarter," said Paul Semenza, an analyst at NPD DisplaySearch, in response to an e-mail query.

Semenza said this is DisplaySearch's "understanding of the activity for the 7.85 [inch] panel expected to be used in the iPad Mini."

If this production schedule plays out, it could indicate a late 2012 launch, he said.

Recent reports say the so-called iPad Mini will launch in September.

While the downsized iPad is being characterized as a 7-inch tablet like the Google Nexus 7, a screen size falling between 7 and 8 inches -- such as 7.85 inches -- would likely make the Apple tablet closer to the larger 8.2-inch Motorola Xyboard.

No solid word yet on pricing, though a report claimed it "is likely to sell for significantly less than the latest $499 iPad."

Whatever the exact price is, it's safe to say that the $199 Google Nexus 7 would be seen as a direct competitor to a smaller iPad.

Samsung's 11.8-Inch Tablet Code-Named the P10 Leaked During Apple Suit

Samsung’s plan for an 11.8-inch Android tablet code-named the P10 was discovered among the reams of court documents filed in the company’s $2.5 billion patent case against Apple, according to online reports. The P10 would have a Retina-like display with 2560-by-1600 resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio, according to court documents first uncovered by The Verge.

Apple’s third-generation iPad features a 9.7-inch screen with 2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch. If Samsung is planning an 11.8-inch tablet with 2560-by-1600 resolution it would have about 256 ppi.

Other than display size, the documents indicate the purported new tablet would have Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity, but details about ports, media card readers, or other hardware features are unknown. The court documents say the P10 is slated for a 2012 release, but it’s not clear whether the company is still on track with that timeframe or if the tablet would be pushed into 2013.

Samsung is planning a press event on Aug. 15 in New York City, but the appearance of an 11.8-inch tablet seems unlikely. Current speculation suggests the New York event will kick off availability for the long-expected Galaxy Note 10.1-inch tablet that was first introduced in February at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The latest Samsung report follows a claim by BGR in December that Samsung would launch an 11.6-inch Android tablet with 2560-by-1600 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio. Samsung in May 2011 unveiled a PenTile WQXGA 10.1-inch tablet display with 2560-by-1600 resolution.

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