Apple may block Samsung Galaxy SIII sales in US

An Apple lawyer said the iPhone and iPad maker may seek a legal order stopping the launch of Samsung Electronics's Galaxy S III phone in the United States later this month. 

At a hearing on Thursday in a San Jose,California federal court, Apple attorney Josh Krevitt said the company could file for a temporary restraining order against Samsung as early as Friday. 

"Once sales are made, the harm is irreparable," Krevitt said. 

However, US District Judge Lucy Koh said she has many other cases. If Apple decides to seek a restraining order, it would likely delay a July trial date over different Samsung phones, as well as the Galaxy Tab 10.1. 

"I cannot be an Apple v. Samsung judge," Koh said. 

Apple sued Samsung for patent infringement last year, accusing the South Korean electronics maker of "slavishly" copying the iPhone and iPad. Samsung denies the claims and countersued. 

Apple's comments on Thursday came a day after Samsung Electronics, the world's largestsmartphone vendor, expanded its CEO's role to include oversight of corporate strategy across the entire Samsung Group - a conglomerate of more than 80 companies. 

Choi Gee-sung, 61, spearheaded Samsung's ascension to smartphone and TV leadership and his elevation signals that the storied South Korean conglomerate is grooming its next leader. Apple filed papers this week seeking to ban Samsung's new Galaxy S III, along with the Galaxy Nexus. Samsung has already booked over 9 million preorders of the Galaxy S III, which is set to be sold by carriers in the United States on June 21, Apple said in its court filing. 

Samsung, however, argued that Apple should not be allowed to seek such a fast injunction against the Galaxy S III. 

Samsung attorney William Price also said the technology covered by Apple's patents - such as auto-correcting typed text - are not responsible for sales of Galaxy phones. 

"There is no advertising or marketing on these features at all" by Apple, Price said. 

Samsung's Galaxy products run on the Android operating system, developed by Google. In addition to Samsung's legal team, several Google attorneys attended the hearing before Koh on Thursday. 

Apple has also accused Google's Motorola Mobility unit of infringing its iPhone patents. However, a Chicago-based federal judge on Thursday tentatively scrapped a trial between those two that had been scheduled to begin next week. 

"Neither party can establish a right to relief," Judge Richard Posner wrote. 

In California, Koh did not rule from the bench on Thursday on Apple's request for an injunction on the Nexus. 

The Samsung case in US District Court, Northern District of California is Apple vs Samsung Electronics et al, 12-cv-630.

Source:TOI

Samsung launches Galaxy SIII @ Rs 43,180

Samsung on Thursday launched Galaxy SIII, the company's flagship phone in India. The phone that is powered by the latest version of Android called Ice Cream Sandwich has an MRP of Rs 43,180. However market price is expected to be lower by a few thousands rupees.

It comes in two colours. The white model will be available immediately. According to the company the pebble Blue version has been delayed. It will come to the market in a few weeks time.

Samsung announced Galaxy SIII at a press event in London in early May. The phone has a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen with aresolution of 720P, 1GB RAM, 16/32GB storage with a slot for microSD card, 8MP camera with burst mode, zero shutter lag and backlit sensor, 2,100mAh battery, Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth. The phone weighs 133 grams and has a thickness of 8.6mm.

Galaxy S3 runs on Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest version of Android operating software. However, the default user interface of the OS is TouchWiz Nature UX, a custom skin prepared by Samsung.

Samsung, which started selling Galaxy range of phones in 2010, has emerged as the biggest Android phone maker. In fact, helped by the sale of Galaxy Note and Galaxy S2, the firm recently became the largest phone vendor in the world, ending Nokia's 14-years reign at the top. According to IDC, a market research firm, Samsung shipped 93.8 million phones in Q1, 2012 compared to 82.7 million phones shipped by Nokia.

In smartphone category, the firm ousted Apple from the top position. It shipped 42.2 million smartphones compared to Apple's 35.1 million iPhones. Apple, however, continues to be the world's biggest smartphone maker in terms of profit.
Source:TOI

Facebook selects Kerala IT company as preferred marketing developer

Kreata Global, an IT company headquartered at Kerala's Kochi Infopark campus, has been selected as a Facebook preferred marketing developer (PMD), said an infopark official.

The PMD programme aims to better represent the various technologies in the Facebook ecosystem and to recognise companies that develop holistic solutions.

Kreata is just the second Indian company to be picked for the programme. It has qualified for the PMD badge in the apps category for building socially enabled integrations.

Infopark chief executive officer Gigo Joseph said, "It is an honour for an IT company to be chosen as a Facebook PMD."

The Facebook PMD programme also endeavours to help developers build products that make social marketing easier and more effective.

Deepan Parameswar, executive director, Kreata Global, said they were really excited about becoming a Facebook PMD.

"This is definitely going to be an inspiration for developing more engaging and innovative apps," said Parameswar.

The company that was formed in 2010 has developed engaging Facebook applications for popular brands such as Ford, Panasonic, Samsung, Levi's, Clarins and Parachute.

Samsung Galaxy SIII prebooking starts in India

For all those eagerly waiting for Samsung's Galaxy SIII, here's good news: Samsung India has starting taking pre-orders for smartphone on its e-store. 

Surprisingly, though the company has started booking for Samsung Galaxy SIII, it has still not revealed the smartphone's pricing. Samsung is asking consumers to pay a fixed sum of Rs 2,000 to get in the queue for the device. The listing on Samsung India's e-store also promises all consumers an assured gift with every pre-order. 

Incidentally, the terms and conditions don't offer a cancellation option if you change your mind. According to terms and conditions on the side, "At the time of launch, an email will be exclusively sent to customers who have pre-booked their Galaxy S III on the eStore, informing them of the availability of the Galaxy S III." 

Samsung announced Galaxy SIII at a press event in London recently. The phone has a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 720P, 1GB RAM, 16/32GB storage with a slot for microSD card, 8MP camera with burst mode, zero shutter lag and backlit sensor, 2,100mAh battery, Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth. The phone weighs 133 grams and has a thickness of 8.6mm. 

Galaxy S3 runs on Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest version of Android operating software. However, the default user interface of the OS is TouchWiz Nature UX, a custom skin prepared by Samsung. Media reports suggests Samsung Galaxy SIII to launch in June in India at a price tag of Rs 38,000 (MRP). Source:TOI.IT

Samsung displaces Nokia from top spot in cellphone market

Nokia has been bumped off its 14-year top spot as the world's largest cellphone company by Samsung, according to a British research firm. Gartner said that Samsung Electronics Co sold 86.6 million cellphones in the first quarter, inching past Nokia Corp's sales of just over 83 million units.

Apple Inc sold 33 million iPhones, with a global market share of some 8 percent. Last month Boston-based Strategy Analytics said Samsung had overtaken struggling Nokia as the world's largest seller of cellphones by volume in the first quarter, grabbing a 25 percent global market share against Nokia's 22 percent. Both agencies have rated Nokia in third place in terms of smartphone sales behind Samsung and the iPhone.

Source: TOI.IT