Didn't See This Coming: Apple and HTC Settles Patent War

Source: Yahoo.

Yeah, I definitely didn't see this coming. Apple and HTC has settled their patent war and has a 10-year licensing agreement.

Meanwhile, Apple and Samsung continues to fight it out. Maybe the $1 billion+ judgement Apple won against Samsung had something to do with this.

We don't know the details yet but I am sure elements of it will leak out over the next dew days. Analysts will want to know how much this helps the bottom line for both companies.

The losers in all this could well be patent attorneys.

Friday Movie: World War Z Trailer

Source:  MTV.

You all know what World War Z is.  If not...OMG, are you kidding?!

Seriously though, you have got to go pick up a copy of World War Z, fictitious chronicle of a zombie outbreak

Now, you know that when there is a good thing, Hollywood can't help but get its hands on it.  Well, now there is a movie based on the book (very loosely I might add) starring Brad Pitt.

Now, here is the trailer.  Enjoy!  I've already watched it at least 5 times!!!

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

I've already watched it at least 10 times!!!  Yeah, between post the video until now, I've watched it another 5 times with my coworkers.

Again, you have got to get yourself a copy of it this weekend at your local book store.  I know Barnes and Noble has copies of them. In fact, go tonight after work and you'll be able to start reading it tonight and through the weekend.

Here's the wiki page about the book, not the movie.

Election 2016: Bush Versus Clinton Rematch And Why No Biden?

Politico has a post out today about political order being restored once President Obama finished his newly earned (won) second term.  How so?

The GOP could look towards the Bush dynasty for guidance in the form of Jeb Bush while the Democrats could well lean on the former First Lady, former NY senator, and currently our secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.

Of course, if either does run, would you be surprised 2020, 2024, 2028, or some time in the future when Chelsea Clinton decides to pick up that mantle to reestablish the Clinton dynasty or the next generation of Bush could try to have a go at it.

Hey, don't get the Kennedys either.  They just go a newly elected Joe Kennedy III.  So far, dude looks clean if somewhat inexperience.

But they all do, don't they?  It's the name.

Anyway, I am looking forward to a Hillary-Jeb facebook.  But you have to wonder why Biden has not been mentioned at all for 2016, except by himself.

Microsoft To Make Sub-10" Tablet - Xbox or Surface Tablet

Source:  The Verge.

This is in the rumors category but I think this time, I can make an exception because we all knew this was coming.  And yes, I still hate trafficking rumors.  Now, with that out of the way, here we go.  

Anyway, Microsoft has an Xbox tablet in the world.  Microsoft is making a sub-10" tablet.  The Verge is saying it is a 7" tablet but I think the powers-that-be in Redmond are probably still finalizing the details.

And we truly don't know what the details are.  What I do know is this:  Microsoft ain't out of the game.  Microsoft's attempt to become more Apple like is moving ahead full steam.  They've done bad with the Zune but they seem to be doing quite well with the Xbox.  So, why not follow that model?  

I am not quite ready to say that Microsoft is back.  It'll be years before we see Windows tablets and phones make inroads if at all.  However, Microsoft has a history of succeeding, if not the first, second, or even the third attempt, they'll eventually get it right.  

This Blows: Surface Tablet Has Only Half Of Usable Storage

Source:  9to5Mac.

This isn’t a bad joke and I know today ain’t April Fool’s Day.  Still, this is one of the worse wake-up calls as far as Windows 8 and Microsoft’s Windows RT tablet goes.  And Surface users are not going to be happy about this when they find out.

Remember how everyone has been crowing about how for the same amount of money, you get double the storage on the Surface over the iPad?  So, for $499, you get 32 GB on a Surface tablet while you get only 16 GB on the iPad from Apple.  Advantage Microsoft, right?  Not quite.

See, with a Surface’s 32 GB, you actually only get about half of that for your wares and stuff.  That’s right.  HALF!  And where’s the other half?  Microsoft took them up.  5 GB for Windows recovery and tools and the rest for built-in apps.  Talk about bloatware.  But that’s is only 13 GB, that’s still more than the iPad, right?

Well, for whatever reason, only 29 GB is reported by Windows.  So you get 16 GB.

Well, technically, that is still more than the 16 GB iPad because Apple does siphone away a couple of GB for itself.  Still, that isn’t quite the shocker that Surface users are faced with.

So, there you have it.  Still about 1.5-2 GB more than the iPad but definitely not double as Microsoft would like to have us believe.  It’s likely that this same is on the Nexus 7.  Android does not take up half the internal storage for itself and bloatware like Microsoft does.

November 6th: GOP Evidence of Obama Victory?

I don't know who is going to win.  If someone forced me to pick now, I'd have to say President Obama should win by a narrow margin.  Maybe not the narrow margin that many are suggesting but definitely smaller than in 2008.  However, with the polls all over the place and the vastly different interpretations and perceived biases, who really knows.

But a couple of development this weekend has me thinking that maybe the Romney campaign thinking that they are going to have a tough time winning on Tuesday.

The first one is Romney campaigning in Pennsylvania.  I don't think he'd be there if he thinks he's got a shot at Ohio.  And this is forcing Governor Mitt Romney to take this route to the White House.  Maybe it'll work.  Maybe it won't.  I think Sandy will help the President somewhat.  And it's a long shot move but an absolutely necessary one.  

The second is what Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan said on Sunday.  He said an Obama victory would mean the days of Christian values are over.  Depending on your religious views, this may or may not be true.  Regardless, what Ryan said isn't important but when he's saying it:  less than 48 hours before election.

You might think that Ryan is trying to rally the conservative voters to go out on Tuesday.  Maybe.  On face value, that is what it appears.  However, it would also smell of desperation and goes well with my theory that Romney is going to try to get to the White House via a non-Ohio victory route.  

If Ryan's message about Christian values isn't about rallying the base, then it means only one thing: Ryan is eyeing 2016.  See, you don't talk about stuff like in the general election.  You would say things like that if you're trying to win primaries by pandering to the base and avoid things like that during the general election and move to the center.

In Ryan's case being a Republican, he's going after all important values voters that he'll need should be running in 2016.

So, did Ryan bring up the idea of a second term for President Obama being bad for Christian values in an attempt to rally the religious conservative base or is he trying to gear up to be win the GOP presidential candidate for 2016?  Well, if you have to excite your base two days before the election, you're screwed and a Romney victory doesn't look promising.  And if that's not what Ryan is doing and, in fact, he is looking towards 2016, that also doesn't look promising for Romney either.

Well, hopefully, we'll know by Tuesday if Obama gets four more years or if we'll be getting a new president.  

Voting Online: It's Not Going to Happen Anytime Soon

I would love to be able to vote early and by mobile means, be it my smartphone or tablet. However, this very well written post from The Verge explains why.

It's simple folks. It's about fear and trust. And then, some more fear. It might be oversimplifying things a bit that but we are in an increasing polarizing political environment and a persisting two-party system, the losing side will always find a way to fan the conspiracy fire.

Therefore, it'll be a long time before we can see any kind of Internet-based voting. And that's a shame. With voter intimidations, attempts to disenfranchise voters through the guise of eliminating voter frauds, and general misinformation, we do need secured and simply means to vote.

Regardless, don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 6th.

 

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