Samsung Drops Its Counter-Suit Against Apple; Patent Battle Not Over

Apart from filing a complaint to the International Trade Commission against Apple, Samsung has dropped its counter-suit against the Cupertino-based company last June 30 in an attempt “to streamline the legal proceedings.” The patent infringement suit was in response toApple’s allegations that Samsung’s Galaxy devices have copied the iPhone and iPad.
That does not mean Samsung has given up on its own infringement claims against Apple, as its spokesperson has said her company “will continue to defent its patent rights” by merging those claims with the counter-claim in an earlier suit that Apple filed at a court in San Jose, California. The withdrawal of the counter-suit also does not affect other cases or patent violation complaints that Samsung raised against Apple in the United States and in other countries.
Litigation between Apple and Samsung is also underway in United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and even in the latter’s home turf of South Korea.
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Facebook to Introduce Skype-Powered Video Chat?

Looks like social networking giant Facebook is onto something while Google launches (or re-launches, depending on how you view it) its attempt into the market with Google+. In an interview with the Seattle local press, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has admitted that his company would launching an “awesome” product next week. Press invites were even distributed, which contained nothing but a pair of speech balloons and an invitation to attend their Facebook event on July 6.
What is the product, you ask? TechCrunch reports that Facebook will be teaming up with Skype to come up with a new video chat product that works in browser. According to its source, which TechCrunch claims has “knowledge of the partnership,” the product has been built on Skype and will include a desktop component. It is unclear whether the feature would work for Skype users only, or if Facebook users would have to have Skype alread installed on the computer, or if additional software would have to be downloaded even if users already have Skype.
Come to think of it, video chat would be a logical extension of Facebook chat and its partnership with Skype couldn’t have been more timely. The two companies have already been collaborating, including integration of several Facebook features into Skype. This collaboration has also raised suspicion that Facebook would be bought by Microsoft, which has a pending acquisition of Skype worth $8.5 billion.
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South Korea Plans on Replacing Textbooks with Tablets

The Kindle may not be the textbook killer that Amazon expected it to be, but one country is gearing for paper-less learning materials for its schools. South Korea has announced this week that it plans to develop digital textbooks, aiming to replace textbooks on all schools by 2015.
The project, which is estimated to cost over $2.4 billion, would have students access their learning materials from a cloud-based system, combining traditional content with multimedia on tablets that the schools will provide. The system would also enable homebound students to participate in lessons remotely, so that they could catch up with the rest of the students while, for instance, recuperating from illness.
Some schools in the country already have digitized education materials, displaying textbooks through notebook computers. But deciding on what tablet to use for its students would be a tough choice for the South Korean government on whether to go for a variant ofSamsung Galaxy Tab or iPad (or any non-Korean made tablet for that matter). The government may even have the option of creating its own tablet for school children.
This project has also re-ignited the debate on whether or not students learn better from printer material or from the computer. Another point of discussion is whether devices that are smaller in size than traditional textbooks would make significant learning materials.
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Samsung Infuse 4G Smartphone

With the competition among smartphones becoming even more cutthroat, companies are trying to come up with new models that might just drum up more consumers to become more interested. For now, 4G support seems to be the next upcoming feature for smartphones. One of those that might belong in this category is the new Samsung Infuse 4G Smartphone.
The new Samsung Infuse 4G Smartphone is being touted to be the company’s thinnest 4G smartphone to date. It measures just 8.99mm at its thinnest, easy enough to slip into a user’s pocket. It features a large 4.5″ Super AMOLED Touchscreen display, making it more convenient to use and view movies and TV shows, to which 4G smartphones have such advantageous features. It runs on the Android Froyo OS and has an 8MP rear camera, a 1.3MP front camera, 16GB ROM, 512MB RAM and a 32GB microSD external memory option. The Samsung Infuse 4G Smartphone is now available at AT&T for US$550 for the unit, US$200 when it comes with a contract from AT&T.

The Elliptical Machine Office Desk Lets You Exercise While Staying Dapper

In the world where multitasking is king, it would be a god-send if anyone could make a workout out of sitting in front of the office desk for eight hours or so. Hammacher Schlemmer, the store of ridiculously expensive novelty items, may have something that would give us just that.
The Elliptical Machine Office Desk is a complete office that just happens to have a semi-recumbant elliptical trainer. It features a desk that can adjust its height from 27 to 47 inches with just a press of a button, enabling you to even swtich to standing mode if you prefer working that way. The elliptical trainer, meanwhile, allows you to pedal at a slower cadence, allowing you to complete that PowerPoint presentation without having to break a sweat, literally. Do this for a full work week and you can burn about 4,000 calories. There is also a performance monitor on the desk that can be electronically controlled as it monitors distance, RPM, and calories burned.
Sounds good, but with its $8,000 price tag, you are better off buying a cheaper pedaller and place it under you office desk.
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Olympus PEN mini E-PM1 Digital Camera

Olympus has recently come up with a series of ultra compact Micro Four Thirds system of digital cameras. For those who may not be aware of such digital cameras, these are ultra compact cameras that feature mirrorless interchangeable lens similar to larger DSLR cameras. One of the smallest that they have come up to date is the new Olympus PEN mini E-PM1 Digital Camera.
The Olympus PEN mini E-PM1 Digital Camera features a 12.3 MP High Speed Live MOS sensor that also comes with 1080i HD movie capability. This new Micro Four Thirds also has an ISO of 200 to 12800 range, ultra fast auto focus and with 3D shooting capabilities. All these are encased in an ultra compact camera body that weighs only 217 grams. The Olympus PEN mini E-PM1 Digital Camera is expected to be available initially in the Japanese market by Autumn. No pricing details have yet been provided.
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ECWOX Elegant Spy Watch Series

It seems that discreet video recording seems to have become more and more popular. Even gadgets like watches have being affixed with built-in cameras in order to have this video recording function. And even more surprisingly, there are watches like the new ECWOX Elegant Spy Watch Series that give the watches that touch of elegance that even James Bond would approve.
ECWOX, a Korean company, has come up with the Elegant Series of attractive looking spy watches that feature discreet video recording function in 720p. These watches are designed to be waterproof as well. Not only that, these spy watches are available for both in men and women styles. The ECWOX Elegant Spy Watch Series is expected to be available in the Korean market any time now. It might also be made available in other countries later on. As to how these spy watches may be priced, that seems to be confidential for now.
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