Two UK mobile operators are reportedly fuming at Nokia for including a mobile version of Skype on its N97 handset. Both Orange and O2 are so terrified that the popular VoIP service will siphon away profitable cell minutes by allowing users to make free calls that they are supposedly threatening not to carry the device unless Skype is removed.

Source:Cell Providers Threaten Nokia. Want Skype Gone From Phones

Microsoft has long maintained that Linux infringes at least 235 of its patents, and it looks like it’s reaching deep into the bin for some extra ammo in a new case filed against TomTom over nav systems — of the eight alleged patent infringements in the complaint, five are specifically about portable navigation devices , while the remaining three cover what look to be filesystem-management techniques inherent to the Linux kernel itself. It seems like the Linux issue is less important to Redmond than the GPS patents — deputy general counsel Horacio Gutierrez says there aren’t any broader plans to go after Linux vendors and that it “respects and appreciates” open source — but if Microsoft scores a victory here, it’ll have an incredible advantage should it decide to take on any other Linux-based products. We’ll be following this one very closely, we’ll keep you in the loop.

[Via Business Insider]

Read – Techflash
Read – Microsoft complaint [PDF]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Microsoft files patent lawsuit against TomTom over Linux-based GPS systems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source:Microsoft files patent lawsuit against TomTom over Linux-based GPS systems

Not that this is the very first microphone designed to function with Apple’s iPhone or anything, but it’s certainly amongst the cheapest and most universal that we’ve seen. The Mini Microphone reportedly plays nice with the iPhone 3G, iPod touch and iPod nano, giving ‘em all that extra special voice recording oomph that’s so badly needed. The best part(s)? It’s only $14.99, and it’s barely bigger than a valve stem cover to boot.

[Thanks, Junior]

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio

Mini microphone spruces up voice recording possibilities on iPhone / iPods originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source:Mini microphone spruces up voice recording possibilities on iPhone / iPods

The GPS circuitry in the iPhone 3G could be used to do more — a lot more, in fact — than it currently does, and it looks like Apple might have an eye on an angle most people wouldn’t have considered (in other words, something other than turn-by-turn). Digging through iPhoto ’09′s innermost sanctums has apparently revealed references to some sort of asynchronous geotagging capability, whereby selecting locations from an app on the phone (or iPod touch, as the case may be) could be transferred directly to iPhoto and associated with events — perfect for shooting with, say, a real camera while toting your phone in your pocket. Of course, the capability is purely vestigial for now — no announcement has been made, and there’s no way for users to access this directly — so Apple could’ve spiked it or has it queued up for a future firmware update. Time will tell.

[Via iLounge and Ars Technica]

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras, GPS, Handhelds

Apple to use iPhone’s GPS to geotag locationless photos? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source:Apple to use iPhone's GPS to geotag locationless photos?

In Barcelona at Mobile World Congress, the world’s biggest show on phones and other things wireless and portable, the town is bristling with parties and product launches. At Sony Ericsson’s bash, the company unveiled the code-named Idou, an iPhone-like critter with a 3.5-inch touch screen, an emphasis on entertainment, and 12.1mp camera with flash.

Source:Think This is Sony Ericsson’s Answer to the iPhone? Idou!