Author: Serkadis

Buried in the FCC’s rules is a deeply problematic loophole. Open Internet principles, the FCC writes, “do not… apply to activities such as the unlawful distribution of copyrighted works.”

For years, the entertainment industry has used that innocent-sounding phrase — “unlawful distribution of copyrighted works” — to pressure Internet service providers around the world to act as copyright cops — to surveil the Internet for supposed copyright violations, and then censor or punish the accused users.

From the beginning, a central goal of the Net Neutrality movement has been to prevent corporations from interfering with the Internet in this way — so why does the FCC’s version of Net Neutrality specifically allow them to do so?

Tell the FCC that if it wants to police the Internet, it first needs to demonstrate that it can protect Internet users and innovators by standing up to powerful industry lobbyists. Sign your name here to demand that the copyright-enforcement loophole be removed.

Kodak’s been on the decline for some time, but they’re showing some fight today with ITC complaints against Apple and RIM, and two full-on lawsuits against Apple in US District court. The issue, as always, is patents.

Kodak’s complaint to the ITC claims that RIM and Apple both infringe on a patented Kodak technology that relates to previewing images. Separately, they’re outright suing Apple for the infringement of digital camera and “certain computer processes”-related patents that Kodak holds.

While the knee-jerk reaction may be to dismiss Kodak’s move as just another Apple complaint, it’s worth noting that they recently won the judgement in a similar ITC case against Samsung, and a similar lawsuit against Sun Microsystems back in 2004.

As always, this will end with undisclosed sums of money exchanging hands and life proceeding as usual for you the consumer. But it’s still always fun to watch the kid gloves come off.

Kodak Alleges Patent Infringement by Apple and RIM

Files ITC Complaint Alleging Apple and RIM Camera Phones Infringe Kodak’s Digital Imaging Technology; Also Files Suit Against Apple in U.S. District Court

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) announced today that it has filed lawsuits against Apple Inc. and Research In Motion Limited (RIM) alleging the infringement of Kodak digital imaging technology.

The Kodak complaint, filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), specifically claims that Apple’s iPhones and RIM’s camera-enabled BlackBerry devices infringe a Kodak patent that covers technology related to a method for previewing images. Separately, Kodak filed two suits today against Apple in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York that claim the infringement of patents related to digital cameras and certain computer processes.

“Kodak has a long history of digital imaging innovation and we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars creating our industry-leading patent portfolio,” said Laura G. Quatela, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “In the case of Apple and RIM, we’ve had discussions for years with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue amicably, and we have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement. In light of that, we are taking this action to ensure that we protect the interests of our shareholders and the existing licensees of our technology.

“Our primary interest is not to disrupt the availability of any product but to obtain fair compensation for the use of our technology,” Quatela said. “There’s a basic issue of fairness that needs to be addressed. Those devices use Kodak technology, and we are merely seeking compensation for the use of our technology in their products.”

Kodak has licensed digital imaging technology to approximately 30 companies, including such leading mobile-device companies as LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson, all of which are royalty bearing to Kodak.

On Dec. 17, in an action involving Samsung and Kodak, an ITC Administrative Law Judge issued a ruling declaring that the Kodak patent covering color image preview (No. 6,292,218) was valid and enforceable, and that Samsung’s camera-enabled mobile devices infringed upon that Kodak patent.

In the complaint against Apple and RIM, Kodak is seeking from the ITC a limited exclusion order preventing the importation of infringing devices, including certain mobile telephones and wireless communication devices featuring digital cameras.

In the first suit against Apple in U.S. District Court, Kodak alleges infringement of two patents generally covering image preview and the processing of images of different resolutions. In the second suit, Kodak alleges infringement of patents that describe a method by which a computer program can “ask for help” from another application to carry out certain computer-oriented functions. The allegations in the second suit apply to any Apple product that uses the processing method described above. The patents at issue in the second suit were previously the subject of litigation between Kodak and Sun Microsystems Inc., and in that case, a federal jury determined in a 2004 trial that Sun’s Java programming technology had infringed the patents. Kodak later settled the suit by agreeing to a payment from Sun in return for a license for the patents at issue.

In both District Court actions against Apple, Kodak is seeking to permanently enjoin Apple from further infringement as well as unspecified damages.

“We remain open to negotiating a fair and amicable agreement with both Apple and RIM, which has always been our preference and our practice with other licensees,” Quatela said. “We seek to avoid litigation in our licensing programs whenever possible. But when the infringement is persistent, we will act to defend the interests of our shareholders and licensees, and to promote the fair compensation that is the bedrock of innovation.”

Team Kaos from St Hilda’s CE High School in Liverpool have been awarded a special prize by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) for their participation in the Headlight national automotive competition, which centered around the marketing of a new vehicle focusing on brand, product and promotion.

As part of their prize, Shauna Philips and Peri Meadows from Team Kaos, along with their teachers, traveled to Germany to take a tour of the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt, courtesy of Audi UK, where t… (read more)

We’re not the only ones who think most of the conservatives in this country are high. MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann is sending out a special “Up Yours” to evangelical dingbat Pat Robertson, The 700 Club’s resident senile ole goat, and not so closeted racist commentator Rush Limbaugh.

Olbermann gave an inspired response to the hateful comments made by Limbaugh and Robertson on Wednesday regarding the tragedy in Haiti. Robertson, with a straight face, stated that the people of Haiti were cursed with the devastating 7.0 earthquake because they made a pact with the Devil to secure their freedom from France in the early 19th century. Robertson even suggested that the catastrophe may be “a blessing in disguise” because there might be massive rebuilding to follow in what has long been the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Rush, on the other, blames “communism” for the natural disaster and poverty on the island.

Kazunori Yamauchi is the creator and producer of the Gran Turismo racing games on Sony’s PlayStation game consoles. The new game is launching soon, although Sony isn’t saying exactly when. It has 16-player multiplayer, as well as mechanical and external car damage. The Polyphony Digital studio at Sony released Gran Turismo 5 Prologue a year ago to whet appetites for racing fans, but the real deal has been in the works for five years. Sony had the latest creation on display at its booth at the Consumer Electronics Show. We caught up with Yamauchi for a translated interview there.

VentureBeat: Can you tell us a quick history of Gran Turismo?
Kazunori Yamauchi: Gran Turismo started production in 1992 when the PlayStation game console was in development. Gran Turismo was one of a hundred proposals I made for games back then. It was finally completed in 1997. There were so many other proposals, it was really by chance that I wound up creating Gran Turismo. It could have gone in a completely different direction. When the first game came out in 1997, I expected it to be a niche game. But it wound up selling so much, that led to the second game and the third edition and now we’re here.

VB: How many units has it sold?
KY: 53 million copies worldwide.

VB: That’s a lot.
KY: Just lucky, really.

VB: There were lots of racing games. What set it apart?
KY: We wanted to put real cars into the game. It was an anomaly back then. There were no simulation-based racing games. Most of them were arcade games. Gran Turismo was new in their eyes.

VB: How many people made the first game?
KY: On the first one, there were seven to 15 people, at different times.

VB: And now?
KY: We have 140 staffers.

VB: What has changed?
KY: The difficulty of creating games hasn’t changed that much. It takes a lot of time to communicate with a team this large now. Before, you could wake up one morning and have a good idea. You could see it implemented in some form by the evening. Now, if you have a good idea, it may be two or three years later before you see the result. It’s because it takes so many more people to do it.

VB: How has the level of detail changed, and the level of realism risen?
KY: We had maybe 300 polygons in a car in the first game. Now we have about 500,000 polygons in each car. Back then, pieces of the car were more like symbols. Now they are real and reflect light.

VB: How do you try to make the game different? Burnout tries to depict spectacular crashes. What do you aim for?
KY: I try for realism in game systems and game design. That’s where I look for new innovations. We want to keep changing what the player experiences and feels when they play the game.

VB: The Naughty Dog designers felt like they used 30 percent of the PS 3 for Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. For Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, they said they used 80 percent of the processing power of the PS 3. What about you?
KY: It is about the same for the PS 3, about 8o percent of the processing power. The PS 3 hardware has a very high peak performance. The better you manipulate it, the better it performs.

VB: How do you get new gamers and make your games more accessible to wider audiences?
KY: We have tried to create a new standard and format for a racing game. We can’t tell too much detail yet.

VB: Sony is making a new kind of motion controller now. You already have steering wheel and gas pedal accessories. Do you think the interface for racing games can be improved?
KY: It’s fun to play with steering wheels and gas pedals. But when you see the new motion controllers, I want to create a different kind of game.

VB: What did you try to accomplish with the landscapes of the newest game?
KY: We have always tried to create landscapes in Gran Turismo that look better than real life. In Gran Turismo 5, we have objects on the race tracks that interact with the cars. We have fences, tires, and barriers. You will interact with objects on the course.

VB: How long does it take to make a game?
KY: This one has taken five years. Nothing is getting easier or less expensive. It does get easier if you are making a second version on the same platform, like the PS 3.

VB: Will you keep doing this until you get to Gran Turismo 10?
KY: (laughs) Not sure.

VB: Why do you keep doing it?
KY: Every time, it’s the same for me. I am usually pretty frustrated when a version comes out. Right after the release, I think we should have done this or should have done that. A game release is not a very happy time for me. When a new title comes out, I look to the next one to fix it.

VB: Sounds like you are a perfectionist.
KY: Yeah, I’m usually pretty angry after the release of the title.

VB: What will you do for Gran Turismo 6?
KY: Nothing is decided for that.

Please check out our GamesBeat@GDC conference coming on March 10 where we’ll talk about the latest innovations in the video game business.

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Remember when men were men and guitar riffs were boring and mindless? Moto does. The company has thrown together a little animated spot demonstrating its new Backflip handset. If you’re the sort of person who has trouble conceptualizing objects in 3D space — particularly objects that run Moto Blur and have an oddly oriented keyboard that flips backwards to face out from the back of the device — this video should work wonders for you. If you’re the sort of person who burned your Big Muff fuzzbox in effigy on New Year’s Eve, you might want to rip your computer speakers out right about now. Video is after the break, and don’t forget to check out our hands-on with the phone for a deeper, more staid look.

Continue reading Motorola Backflip promo spot reminds us what rock and roll is all about

Motorola Backflip promo spot reminds us what rock and roll is all about originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are a variety of reasons to not take Amtrak: expensive tickets, frequent delays, worn-down interiors, and even more delays. But, for gadget hounds, trains can make a compelling option thanks to the lack of cellphone bans, power outlets at nearly every seat, and fewer cavity checks than airline travel. Now, a very few of those lines are getting even more appealing with Amtrak announcing that Acela lines between Boston, New York, and Washington will be receiving WiFi upgrades in March. That the service will be free is great news — that the word “initially” is inserted before the word “free” isn’t so very great. What about those commuters who take the company’s slower, regional routes around the East Coast? WiFi is said to be coming there too, eventually, and might even make its way to the west some day — but, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This is Amtrak we’re talking about here.

Amtrak adding free WiFi to some trains, still no charge for delayed arrivals originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The consultancy arm of the Porsche holding, Porsche Consulting GmbH, has won the Yellow Angel 2010 pioneering award today, for its contribution to reducing highway improvements’ development time. The distinction was awarded by the ADAC (Allgemeine Deutsche Automobil Club) and it is the number one German prize for mobility, environmental protection and road safety.

The German company implemented its know-how, significantly improving German highway construction efficiency, in terms of time, res… (read more)

Todos aquellos clientes que deseen comprar el último modelo de Citroen en España ya pueden hacerlo pues la marca ha dado a conocer los precios y últimos detalles sobre el nuevo Citroen C3. El modelo más barato cuesta 11.100€ y cuenta con el parabrisas Zenith (aumenta el ángulo de visión superior hasta 108º) y un motor HDi 90.

Todos los modelos cuenta de serie con ABS, ayuda a la frenada de urgencia y repartidor electrónico de frenada, así como airbags de conductor y pasajero y laterales delanteros. En cuanto a las motorizaciones disponibles, aparte de la ya citada HDi 90, podemos elegir una opción diesel HDi 70 y cuatro gasolina, un 1.1i, 1.4i, VTi 95 y VTi 120.

A continuación os dejo con el listado de precios (todos los impuestos incluidos):

• Citroen C3 1.1i Airdream LX 11.100€.
• Citroen C3 1.4i Airdream LX 11.550€.
• Citroen C3 1.4i Airdream SX 13.350€.
• Citroen C3 VTi 95 Airdream SX 13.950€.
• Citroen C3 VTi 95 Airdream Exclusive 15.550€.
• Citroen C3 VTi 120 Airdream Exclusive 16.300€.
• Citroen C3 VTI 120 CAS Exclusive 17.900€.
• Citroen C3 HDi 70 Airdream LX 12.200€.
• Citroen C3 HDi 70 Airdream SX 14.000€.
• Citroen C3 HDi 70 Airdream Exclusive 15.600€.
• Citroen C3 HDi 90 Airdream SX 15.000€.
• Citroen C3 HDi 90 Airdream SX 99gr 15.450€.
• Citroen C3 HDi 90 Airdream Exclusive 16.600€.
• Citroen C3 HDi 110 FAP Airdream Exclusive 17.800€.
• Citroen C3 HDi 70 Airdream Business 13.600€.

Related posts:

1. Nuevo Citroën C4 VTN@v
2. Citroen C5 y C6 3.0 V6 HDi ya la venta
3. Citroen C5 recibe nuevos motores

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One Team have officially announced the date for the unveiling of their 2010 challenger. It will happen on January 29th, only two days before the official testing season kicks off in Valencia.

Unlike rivals Ferrari, the Woking-based organization have not changed the official designation of their 2010 car. Therefore, the McLaren MP4-25 will be unveiled before the media in the UK, with the location to be announced by the British team in the upcoming few days.
… (read more)

For several months now, part of the Mozilla Labs team has been working on developing a new add-on platform for Firefox which would make it easier for developers to create add-ons and for the regular users to install and manage them. Borrowing from Google Chrome’s implementation of an extensions system, Jetpack extensions make use… (read more)

Sony is readying a new PS3 accessory that will let owners turn the console into a digital video recorder. The kit, called “Torne”, is set to become available in Japan this March.

Eastman Kodak Company (in short, Kodak) has filed lawsuits against Apple and Research In Motion, alleging that both have infringed digital imaging technology patented by the company.

The complaint, filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission, claims that Apple’s iPhone devices and all RIM’s camera-enabled BlackBerry phones infringe a patent that covers technology related to a method for previewing images.

Separately, Kodak filed two suits today against Apple that claim the infringement of patents related to digital cameras and certain computer processes.

In a statement, Kodak says it remains open to negotiating an agreement with both Apple and RIM, which it claims to have tried reaching for years.

Kodak says it has licensed digital imaging technology to some 30 companies, including major players like Nokia, Samsung, LG and Motorola, and that all those companies currently pay royalties to Kodak over use of its patented technology.

Said Laura G. Quatela, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company:

“Kodak has a long history of digital imaging innovation and we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars creating our industry-leading patent portfolio. In the case of Apple and RIM, we’ve had discussions for years with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue amicably, and we have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement. In light of that, we are taking this action to ensure that we protect the interests of our shareholders and the existing licensees of our technology.

Our primary interest is not to disrupt the availability of any product but to obtain fair compensation for the use of our technology. There’s a basic issue of fairness that needs to be addressed. Those devices use Kodak technology, and we are merely seeking compensation for the use of our technology in their products.”

On Dec. 17, in an action involving Samsung and Kodak, an ITC Administrative Law Judge issued a ruling declaring that the Kodak patent covering color image preview (No. 6,292,218) was valid and enforceable, and that Samsung’s camera-enabled mobile devices infringed upon that Kodak patent. Samsung and Kodak have since settled.

Kodak is now seeking from the ITC a limited exclusion order preventing the importation of infringing devices marketed by Apple and RIM.

In both U.S. District Court actions against Apple, Kodak is seeking to permanently enjoin Apple from further infringement as well as unspecified damages.

In the first suit against the Cupertino tech giant in District Court, Kodak alleges infringement of two patents generally covering image preview and the processing of images of different resolutions. In the second suit, Kodak alleges infringement of patents that describe a method by which a computer program can “ask for help” from another application to carry out certain computer-oriented functions.

The patent at issue in that suit, Kodak notes, was also the subject of litigation with Sun Microsystems, in which a federal jury in 2004 found Sun’s Java software infringed; that case was settled by Sun paying Kodak for a license for the patents.

Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.

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When you put $10 into your Skype account for those SkypeOut calls to regular phones, you expect that money to be there, . . . well, forever because Skype is so cheap you can call Japan for a few dimes. But Skype was being sneaky and basically taking all unused credits (and presumably recording them as revenues) if no SkypeOut calls were made after six months of inactivity. That’s right, they were taking your money without delivering any service.

Well, that got Skype sued for that in a class action which they just settled for all of $1.85 million. It only applies to U.S. Skype users who had to forfeit their credit and comes to $4 per user, which may not sound like a lot, but in Skype terms that could last you another six months easy.

Since the parties settled, the case never went to court, but the plaintiffs argued that what Skype was doing was no different than what numerous retailers and other businesses used to do with gift cards. Somebody would buy you a gift card and if you didn’t use it within six months or a year, it would “expire,” even though the money had already been paid and no goods were ever exchanged in return. States passed laws to crack down on the practice. The plaintiffs decided to bring their case under those laws and apply them to Skype Credits. From the notice sent out to Skype users who are potential class members:

Plaintiffs allege that Skype User Accounts and Skype Credit constitute “gift certificates” that cannot expire or be subject to inactivity fees under various states’ laws and that Defendants unlawfully applied the Skype Credit expiration policy against their Skype Credit balances after 180 days of inactivity in supposed violation of these various states’ laws, including applicable “gift certificate,” consumer protection and/or unfair and deceptive practices laws.

The settlement affects anyone who bought Skype Credit before December 31, 2009 and subsequently had it canceled after 180 days of inactivity. While the settlement is a piddling amount, the bigger winners are future Skype customers. Skype is discontinuing the practice.

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

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A study published in January’s edition of the Southern Medical Journal places the blame of increased riders deaths solely on the leather shoulders of a repealed motorcycle helmet law. According to the study, in 1997, the State of Texas repealed its mandatory helmet law, making helmet use optional for all motorcycle riders aged 21 or older.

Drs. Bavon and Standerfer analyzed data on motorcycle fatalities from 1994 to 2004 to look for trends in the rate of fatal injuries before and after the c… (read more)

This article first appeared in the Bennington Banner and is reprinted with permission.

BENNINGTON, VT: About 30 elementary school students from Pownal visited Southern Vermont College Wednesday to get feel for a college campus, alongside 15 of their mentors and friends.

The visit was a reversal of what has happened once a week for the semester in Professor Eric Despard’s Quest for Success freshmen class: The college students have visited Pownal elementary School, where they act as role models to children from grades kindergarten through sixth grade.

“It’s a great project for both the college kids and the children because it allows two different age groups to form a connection,” said Amy Balawender, who is a senior course apprentice for the class. “I think it’s good for us college students because we get to be in a different environment and it’s a good way to be responsible and be a good mentor.”

The class of SVC students split up at the beginning of the school year, with two college students interacting with kids from each elementary grade during lunch and recess.

“The focus on the project is service learning and to expose them to small children and to help them understand their role in the community,” Despard said.

Despard said the first-year program began because the elementary students were in need of positive influences, and he believed there was much the college students could take from the interactions as well.

“They really look forward to going there every week, they really connected with these students,” Despard said.

SVC freshman Gina Kemper said she’s really enjoyed getting to know the second-graders she’s formed a bond with and that it’s true she and other students look forward to visiting to play games with the kids at recess or help them with their schoolwork.

“It’s an experience that I’ll take throughout my life,” Kemper said.

And the elementary students get just as much from the experience, said Mary Natalizia, the coordinator at Pownal and an art teacher at the school.

“I’m always amazed how much our students idolize the college students,” Natalizia said.

“Any time you can do any kind of generation pairing like that it’s wonderful.”

Natalizia said through watching the interactions since the program began in September she has seen the college students become more comfortable at the elementary school where they now seem to fit right in.

“It’s always magical when you see the interaction,” Natalizia said.

On Wednesday, elementary students from each grade ate in the college cafeteria where many said they were impressed with the larger selection of food and then toured the campus with their mentors.

“I want to go to college here because it’s awesome,” fourth-grader Carrigan Moresi said after finishing lunch.

SVC students Ashlee Thomas and Shifa Sheikh read the story of the wishing well to

Pownal Elementary students, at the base of the cascading fountains behind Everett

Mansion.

Se acaba de dar a conocer nueva información sobre el próximo modelo de Audi, el Audi R4. Todo apunta a que este vehículo estará basado en el Audi e-tron concept y su lanzamiento esta previsto para el año 2012.

En lo que respecta al exterior, se rumorea que la carrocería de metal podría dejar paso a la fibra de carbono mientras que en el interior se podrían emplear los mismos materiales que en el Audi R8.

Por último, en lo que respecta a la motorización, se expecula que optará por poca cilindrada aunque una gran cantidad de caballos. De esta forma, la opción más lógica sería un motor 2.0 TFSI o el 2.5 de cinco cilindros y 340 CV.

Related posts:

1. Audi A8, nuevos datos
2. Audi Q5 y A4 allroad con nuevos motores
3. Audi R8 e-Tron Concept, imágenes filtradas

The only info we can find about this camcorder comes from the YouTube video and description, which states it’s a first-of-its-kind camcorder attachment using a WVGA DLP pico chipset. We can’t make out the manufacturer and really anything else about the concept. But one thing is clear. We love it.

Pico projectors on cell phones are novel, but how often have you ever wanted to broadcast your phone’s screen on a wall. Once a month? Once a year? Never? It just doesn’t seem like the right platform for a mini projector.

Camcorders, however, would be the perfect platform for these devices though. Instead of trying to hook up your new camcorder to Grandma’s old console TV, just dim the lights and show your home movies on a wall. It still might be a function that only gets used a few times a year, but it’s not like you probably use the camcorder all that often anyway.

We’ll keep our eyes peeled for more info about the camcorder. Chances are though that this was something shown in a CES backroom and isn’t planned for the consumer market for sometime.

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This model of Dell’s Inspiron 11z series packs a 1.3GHz Intel SU4100 low-voltage CPU for a little more get-up-and-go than your standard Atom chip. It’s also got 4GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, Windows 7 Home Premium, and an 11.6-inch screen at 1366×768 resolution.

Other features include a weight of three pounds, three-cell battery good for up to four hours of use, and HDMI output. This same configuration on Dell’s site goes for $649 but Amazon’s selling it for $475 – not quite sure if this is a “today only” deal or if it’ll last longer.

Dell Inspiron 11z [Amazon.com via dealnews]

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