Apple sues HTC and said mostly because of Nexus One & Moto Droid & HTC Droid Eris

[JrzDroid]

I can't wait until Apple awakens the Google beast and pisses them off. Google will ensure that the iPhone is buried in less than 3 years.

i can't wait for Apple to piss off Google enough. I think people who don't really know whats going on with the Smart Phone Wars don't understand how big Google is now.

You Don't know the POWER of the G-SIDE

 

[mobimop]

The power of HTC and Google teaming up together against Apple would be a great fight. I'd love to see Google stand up and join HTC in Bitch-Smacking Mr. Steve Jobs. And u can bet Bill Gates will join in if he thinks there is a chance of beating Apple at anything. I'm tired of seeing Apple set the rules for all cell manufactures world-wide.

Umm if you patent it you can't steal it. Apple isn't setting any rules. So far honestly I haven't seen anything truly innovative come from Google/Android/HTC that has been original except the term "FC" almost getting as famous as the "BSOD"

Well I have to admit the SENSE UI is really nice but that is HTC not Google.

Just ask RIM about patent lawsuits...

 

[mobimop]

That's like Mercedes suing Ford for building four wheeled vehicles. Many (all?) of those patent complaints by Apple are very general.

Not sure if I agree with you.

Named as exhibits in the litigation, a handful of Android and Windows Mobile devices including Google's Nexus One, the T-Mobile G1, the Droid Eris, the Touch Diamond, the Touch Pro2, and the Imagio.

Mobile phones listed as exhibits in Apple's lawsuit against HTC.
(Credit: All Things Digital)
Below, copies of that suit, which was filed with the office of the United States International Trade Commission and the United States District Court in Delaware. But first, a list of the patents at issue here:

 

[byteware]

 

[mpciii]

Check the date on that patent as well. It wasn't granted until 2/2/10. I believe I've had my Eris since 11/09. Is there some sort of patent protection during the application process because if not, this one should be dismissed immediately.

 

[Frisco]

Hmm... a newer article provides more insight.. going both ways.. one quote that jumped out at me:

"Apple may find itself lining up too many enemies -- HTC, Motorola, Google, Microsoft -- for its own good. "Together, these companies bring to bear an impressive arsenal of IP, money, and public relations savvy, and with it the ability to administer considerable pain," Reiner said."

Some quotes in this article are in common with the originally linked article by the OP.

The article link:

Apple Ready to Rumble with Rival Smartphone Makers - www.enterprisemobiletoday.com

 

[AwesomeIT]

Because I hate seeing people with phones who know absolutely nothing about them. I deal with people like that all the time. If people are genuinely interested in the phone they should buy it. That's how the iPhone used to be. It was more for business people and and people interested in the way the phone works and etc. The BlackBerry also used to be that way minus the hackers part. Now it's just like "Hey, I have an iPhone. I'm so cool. But I know crap about it." It's really annoying.

So you only want a small group of people to use Android phones so you can feel part of something elite? So when people see your Android phone you can feel awesome for having one the same way people with iPhones do when people see they have it?

How is this any different than what you hate about iPhones?

 

[Frisco]

So you only want a small group of people to use Android phones so you can feel part of something elite? So when people see your Android phone you can feel awesome for having one the same way people with iPhones do when people see they have it?

How is this any different than what you hate about iPhones?

They are marketed to everybody.

 

[AwesomeIT]

They are marketed to everybody.

I'm not sure what you mean. The difference is that iPhones are marketed towards everybody?

 

[OfTheDamned]

So you only want a small group of people to use Android phones so you can feel part of something elite? So when people see your Android phone you can feel awesome for having one the same way people with iPhones do when people see they have it?

How is this any different than what you hate about iPhones?

They are marketed to everybody.

I think Nick was referring to people having them that are not really knowledgeable about them. I don't think he has a problem with the eliteness thing with the device. I think he wants the eliteness. I think he was talking about how special everyone was that paid $600 or $800 for the first gen iPhones.

 

[doogald]

Ok... think about this for a moment.

How else do you do anything on touchscreen, except making a gesture... it's no different than moving a mouse.

This is such an obvious thing that it should NEVER have been patented.

If you read the actual patent, it describes a fairly specific procedure for unlocking a device using a touch gesture, specifically describing moving a graphical image along a predefined path, with or without visual cues.

It's easy to say that this is obvious, but you can say that about just about any other patented invention, after it is invented. Things seem obvious with 20/20 hindsight.

It would actually be interesting to see if Microsoft or Symbian had any patents for touchscreen displays for moving from a lock to unlock state using a stylus, and if that would be considered prior art? I guess, though, that's why these things go to court, and one reason why we have courts.

Check the date on that patent as well. It wasn't granted until 2/2/10. I believe I've had my Eris since 11/09. Is there some sort of patent protection during the application process because if not, this one should be dismissed immediately.

The patent application was filed in December, 2005. It was only granted in February 2010. I am sure that, at some point in the past, you have heard the phrase "patent pending". Patent applications are public, if I am not mistaken, and other inventors had the opportunity to challenge the validity, I suppose. (I wonder if the timing of the suits came when it did - that Apple needed these patents to move from pending to patented status.)

Personally, I think that patent holders have every right to protect their patents in court. The courts may very well rule that these patents are invalid, but it will take only one for Apple to prevail.

I've heard that Apple likely targeted HTC specifically because they are an easy target. They have been making phones for 13 years, but that is a short period of time, compared with any patent portfolios that a company like Motorola or Nokia may have in their far longer manufacturing history. However, this same analysis said that HTC likely has agreements with Google that state that Google will take responsibility for any alleged patent violations that involve the stock Android OS, and the unlock procedure sure sounds stock to me. I would bet that Google will be involved with this before long.

 

[byteware]

If you read the actual patent, it describes a fairly specific procedure for unlocking a device using a touch gesture, specifically describing moving a graphical image along a predefined path, with or without visual cues.

It's easy to say that this is obvious, but you can say that about just about any other patented invention, after it is invented. Things seem obvious with 20/20 hindsight.

Unlocking a touchscreen for use... is obvious. Otherwise... we would be pocket dialing, gaming, etc...

This is obvious because of the problems with non-touchscreen phones.



Doing anything with a touchscreen requires a gesture... it's how we've done things with touchscreens since they've been around.



Dragging an icon... is neither innovative, or unique.


The only thing that could be considered non-obvious is... moving along a predefined path.

And no offense... this one is fairly obvious.


So, yep... these are all pretty obvious.

This patent should NEVER have been issued.

 

[OfTheDamned]

Apple is using the old method of throwing as much isht as they can against a wall and hoping some of it will stick. I think many of these will be thrown out, but a few of them may stick. When the time comes, HTC/Google will have to come up with a different way to do it or pay Apple to use it. Don't know if Apple will allow that though.

 

[icomeanon]

Apple is using the old method of throwing as much isht as they can against a wall and hoping some of it will stick. I think many of these will be thrown out, but a few of them may stick. When the time comes, HTC/Google will have to come up with a different way to do it or pay Apple to use it. Don't know if Apple will allow that though.

probably not. the money that they would get through Google/HTC using their IP wouldnt compare to knocking Google/HTC down a few pegs and putting a serious kink in their plans to compete with the iPhone. Of course, if the patent that actually sticks is trivial, such as the gesture to unlock thing, Google would probably just say 'screw it' and put in a standard keypad - type in a number code to unlock instead of the pattern currently on there. try to sue them on THAT, you have to sue practically every phone company and security company in existence. that's not really a kink, just a vague annoyance.

 

[OfTheDamned]

probably not. the money that they would get through Google/HTC using their IP wouldnt compare to knocking Google/HTC down a few pegs and putting a serious kink in their plans to compete with the iPhone. Of course, if the patent that actually sticks is trivial, such as the gesture to unlock thing, Google would probably just say 'screw it' and put in a standard keypad - type in a number code to unlock instead of the pattern currently on there. try to sue them on THAT, you have to sue practically every phone company and security company in existence. that's not really a kink, just a vague annoyance.

If it got to that point, we could all just download lock 2.0 or lockbot and go on with our lives.

 

[Frisco]

I'm not sure what you mean. The difference is that iPhones are marketed towards everybody?

This is a case of me quoting the wrong post (I meant to quote Nick). At the time I made my "they are marketed to everybody" remark I was sitting at a table in a restaurant using my Eris to browse around the forums; I was not careful enough.

It made it look like I was trying to point out a difference, which is ironic in that I was merely pointing out to Nick that no demographic of knowledgeable users is being targeted exclusively by iPhone or anybody else for that matter.

 

[icomeanon]

If it got to that point, we could all just download lock 2.0 or lockbot and go on with our lives.

not quite the point i was making.

we can do that now. but google has it embedded, so whether anyone uses it or not, google is, supposedly, infringing. they'd have to remove it, if the court sides with crapple.

 

[OfTheDamned]

not quite the point i was making.

we can do that now. but google has it embedded, so whether anyone uses it or not, google is, supposedly, infringing. they'd have to remove it, if the court sides with crapple.

That is what I am saying though. Just because it isn't out there on the surface doesn't mean that some third part software can't bring it back to those that want it.

 

[Candroid]

Jobs is just mad because every empire he built, somebody (Gates, Google, HTC) have built a bigger better empire...He just wants to get on top! The Iphone SUCKS since droid has arrived! He is scared people will jump ship! and then to top it off he sells the Iphone to AT&T...What a MORON!!! but also glad he didnt get a chance or rather Verizon didn't take a risk and sell a SH*tty phone!!!

: I agree they are making them selves look worst trying to sue HTC!!! HTC was one of the first to market a smart phone, so hopefully they have a few patents of their sleeves!!! GO HTC AND GOOGLE!!! Chop that sour tastes like sh*t apple tree down!!!

 

[GoenMo]

Jobs is just mad because every empire he built, somebody (Gates, Google, HTC) have built a bigger better empire...He just wants to get on top! The Iphone SUCKS since droid has arrived! He is scared people will jump ship! and then to top it off he sells the Iphone to AT&T...What a MORON!!! but also glad he didnt get a chance or rather Verizon didn't take a risk and sell a SH*tty phone!!!

: I agree they are making them selves look worst trying to sue HTC!!! HTC was one of the first to market a smart phone, so hopefully they have a few patents of their sleeves!!! GO HTC AND GOOGLE!!! Chop that sour tastes like sh*t apple tree down!!!

Oh. come on! iPhones don't suck. They are nice and have a good UI. ATT's network sucks, and that is why most people don't get an iPhone. I love my Eris, and it has many nice unique features. But the device is comparable to, not better than the iPhone. They both have things that they do better than the other. The only real advantage, from my point of view is the VZ network, and the open source advantage of the Android OS in the long run.

 

[OfTheDamned]

Oh. come on! iPhones don't suck. They are nice and have a good UI. ATT's network sucks, and that is why most people don't get an iPhone. I love my Eris, and it has many nice unique features. But the device is comparable to, not better than the iPhone. They both have things that they do better than the other. The only real advantage, from my point of view is the VZ network, and the open source advantage of the Android OS in the long run.

No no he is right, the iPhone sucks.

While I understand the fact that every phone has its drawbacks and/or problems (bluetooth dialing on Android comes to mind) the iPhone lacks in so many ways it is just ridiculous.

 

[GoenMo]

What we have here is rather like what happened in the 80's when Microsoft came out with Windows. Apple had this new graphical OS and for a while they were unique and cool, but they maintained control over both the software and the hardware. Micosoft took the best aspects of the graphical OS, and concentrated only on the software component, licensing it to any company who made the hardware that could run it, and the Windows PC was born. It took a few years for Windows to catch on, and the novelty of the Mac to wear off, but in the long run, 80% of the world's computers now run Windows.

This is not to say that Apple sucks. They still make great products, and specialize in user friendly interfaces. They have been very innovative with the iPod line and so forth, but in the long run their desire for control of the hardware always limits their market reach.

 

[GoenMo]

No no he is right, the iPhone sucks.

While I understand the fact that every phone has its drawbacks and/or problems (bluetooth dialing on Android comes to mind) the iPhone lacks in so many ways it is just ridiculous.

How does it suck? It has apps that do everything that the Android can do except for the native Google integration. Its multimedia abilities still rival my Eris. Better music player, better video. It has better battery life. Its UI is still smoother and faster than my Eris. It can now play You Tube, has a camera and video recorder.

I love my Eris, and the cool stuff it does. But other than the network and a few unique Sense UI things I can't say that my Eris is better than the 3GS.

 

[aleis]

How does it suck? It has apps that do everything that the Android can do except for the native Google integration. Its multimedia abilities still rival my Eris. Better music player, better video. It has better battery life. Its UI is still smoother and faster than my Eris. It can now play You Tube, has a camera and video recorder.

I love my Eris, and the cool stuff it does. But other than the network and a few unique Sense UI things I can't say that my Eris is better than the 3GS.

it cannot multitask (so it sucks!)
you cannot load any app from anywhere unless you jail break it (so it sucks!)
the eris has sense and multiple screens and all kind of fancy apps to make the screens way better looking than the original (the iphone cant so...the eris beats it!)
the google integration with the eris makes the iphone...look dated! (so it sucks!)
the ability to add widgets...pricesless! (so the iphone sucks!)
lastly...REMOVABLE BATTERY!
iphone is for followers. android is for people who wanna do their own thing. and the iphone will not let you do that so...IT SUCKS!
also, my i730 which came out way before the iphone looks ALOT like the iphone...but with a keyboard
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[OfTheDamned]

How does it suck? It has apps that do everything that the Android can do except for the native Google integration. Its multimedia abilities still rival my Eris. Better music player, better video. It has better battery life. Its UI is still smoother and faster than my Eris. It can now play You Tube, has a camera and video recorder.

I love my Eris, and the cool stuff it does. But other than the network and a few unique Sense UI things I can't say that my Eris is better than the 3GS.

The music player on the iPhone is not better than the Eris. The iPhone music player is very very limited. The Eris can do a lot more.