Activity for November 13

Comment - Dell's first smartphone aids the Android onslaught
(Nov 13, 2009 - 5:09 PM)

I don't know if Dell is known for "powerful computers" in the US and Europe. I think most people think of them as the company their employers gets all the boring dark gray boxes from. They're just work tools now, and that isn't terribly sexy.

The only way I can see them making a big splash here is if they had something aimed directly at the corporate market to take on Blackberry.
Comment - Supreme Court considers patentability of abstract methods today
(Nov 9, 2009 - 2:01 PM)

If our patent system wasn't so widely abused, I'd be all for the patent-ability of algorithms and process ideas. However, we have way too many cases of patents on processes and ideas that are obvious, given changes in outside technology. These shut out smaller competitors from important markets and hold back innovation.

I'm sure the court will avoid doing anything that clearly invalidates most software and abstract process patents, even if they uphold the lower court's decision on this one. The current system isn't great, but it allows for some flexibility. If it were just administered much more selectively, it would probably work pretty well.

So, I'm hoping that they side with the court, and give the Patents people some direction that pushes them to be a little more selective. Other than that, Congress really would need to take the lead, and they are completely in the service of the big companies/donors who like an innovation crushing system.
Comment - Non-exclusive iPhones: Has Verizon waited too long?
(Oct 29, 2009 - 8:16 PM)

At some point, Apple will bring out something new and really different, creating an iPhone line. So, the timing isn't just about the current models.

It could be that Android catches up on usability and some great hardware makes the iPhone less important. On the other hand, there may be nothing that really stacks up, none of the WinMo devices seems to have. So carriers should be looking at as many options as possible, including getting the iPhone.

Finally, iPhone users are money and expectations invested in the apps they've bought for their iPhones. If Verizon ever wants to get those users back from AT&T, they may need the iPhone.
Comment - Motorola and Verizon unveil the Droid, Google Maps navigation
(Oct 28, 2009 - 3:25 PM)

It is good to see another party pushing some innovation in this space. Fitting a keyboard into a device this thin is certainly a nice feature. I'm looking forward to hearing how well it works/feels.

I've got some time left on my iPhone contract (and am still in love with how easy it is to work with - on most things), so I've got time to see how durable these prove to be, and what responses Apple comes up with.
Comment - Flashback 1990: The debut of Windows 3.0
(Oct 23, 2009 - 11:50 AM)

We have lots to show for it; it is just Xerox that doesn't.

By not commercializing their research, they prompted hungry entrepreneurs like Jobs/Woz and Allen/Gates to take some of the ideas and frustrated researchers like Metcalf and Warnock to leave with others. Their companies got things to much broader markets than Xerox ever would have.