Prasad
21 June 2012
Windows Phone user sends a disappointed letter to Stephen Elop, gets a response
Yesterday, Microsoft announced the newest version of their mobile operating system, Windows Phone 8. But while its a solid upgrade over the current Windows Phone 7.5, those who own the current devices have been left in the lurch, with just the new homescreen and a couple of minor features being offered as part of the Windows Phone 7.8 update.
Naturally, the people are upset about it, since companies like Nokia were launching their flagship products like the Lumia 900 based on Windows Phone 7.5 not too long ago and people bought these thinking that they will be upgraded to Windows Phone 8 in future and get all the new features. One such customer was Luke who had bought a Samsung Focus in the past and then switched on to a Nokia Lumia 900.
His journey hasnt exactly been smooth but despite that he stuck with the platform. Now imaging his chagrin when he learned yesterday that he was being rewarded for his loyalty by an update to the homescreen, for a phone he bought three weeks ago. So he penned a letter to Stephen Elop, Steve Ballmer and Ralph de la Vega, CEOs of Nokia, Microsoft and AT&T respectively expressing his disappointment. Heres a small portion of his letter:
I just watched the Windows Phone 8 announcement and learned that the Lumia will not be upgradeable to WP8, it will more or less get a skin with the new live tiles and a few other features
at the end of the day unless one of you responds and convinces me to stay with Microsoft Windows Phone, Nokia Lumia or Att wireless I will just wash my hands of all three companies and move over to Verizon. I hear Google makes some nice LTE phones over there.
Surprisingly, Mr. Elop chose to reply to his letter, with the following:
Thanks for your note, Luke.
As we showed today, we have a lot of exciting capabilities coming as part of a pattern of updates for the existing Lumia products. This includes some of the most significant visual elements of WP8 for example, the new start screen. As we have always been, Nokia is committed to delivering a long term experience to any purchasers of our products.
Its not much of an answer but there is not much that Elop can say at the moment and I presume he is as disappointed as Luke is at Microsofts ridiculous decision.
You can read the entirety of Lukes letter in the source link below. Also, if you bought a new Windows Phone recently, let us know what you feel about the whole situation in the comments below.
Source
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AFP
21 June 2012
SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft on Wednesday ramped up its push to regain ground in the precious mobile computing market by giving developers a sneak peek at new Windows software for smartphones.
A key feature of Windows 8 Phone is that it will be keenly in tune with the similarly named next-generation operating system for personal computers as the technology titan creates a stage on which popular devices can play together.
Its the most advanced mobile OS Microsoft has ever made and will arrive on new phones later this year, said Windows Phone program manager Joe Belfiore.
Windows Phone 8 is based on the same core technologies that power Windows; the most successful and powerful operating system on the planet, and one used by more than a billion people.
The early glimpse at Windows 8 Phone came at a gathering of software developers and press in San Francisco a day after Microsoft set the technology world abuzz by unveiling its own tablet computer to challenge Apples iPad.
If youve seen Windows 8, Microsofts groundbreaking new release for PCs and tablets, youve probably noticed it bears more than a passing resemblance to the look of Windows Phone, Belfiore said.
Windows Phone and its bigger sibling will share common networking, security, media and web browser technology, and a common file system.
Microsoft introduced its first tablet computer, the Surface, on Monday, in a major hardware launch clearly designed to take on long-term rival Apples market-ruling iPad.
Chief executive Steve Ballmer described the iPad challenger complete with a built-in stand and ultra thin covers-cum-keyboards in a range of colors as a tablet that works and plays.
The Surface is a PC, the Surface is a tablet, and the Surface is something new that we think people will absolutely love, he said at an hour-long presentation in a Hollywood design studio.
No prices or release dates were given, but the Surface is expected to go on sale in the fall, with retail prices competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class computers, Microsoft said.
The Redmond, Washington-based technology firm has seen Apple and Google-backed Android gadgets commandeer the smartphone and tablet markets at a time when lifestyles are shifting away from desktop computers to mobile devices.
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AFP
21 June 2012
SYDNEY: Apple was Thursday fined Aus$2.25 million (US$2.29 million) for deliberately misleading Australian consumers about the local 4G capability of its latest iPad.
The tech giant was also ordered to pay Aus$300,000 in costs by the Federal Court in a case brought by regulators, who said the penalty sent a message to global companies that there were consequences for breaching the law.
Justice Mordy Bromberg found that Apple misled people with claims in its advertising implying that the iPad with WiFi + 4G could connect with fourth generation cellular networks in Australia, when it could not.
The judgment ruled that the company engaged in conduct liable to mislead the public and contravened Australian consumer law.
The conduct concerned was deliberate and very serious, Bromberg said.
It exposed a significant proportion of Australian consumers of tablet devices to a misleading representation.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which initiated the proceedings, said it was delighted with the outcome.
The $2.25 million penalty reflects the seriousness of a company the size of Apple refusing to change its advertising when it has been put on notice that it is likely to be misleading consumers, chairman Rod Sims said.
This decision should act as a renewed warning that the ACCC will continue to take action against traders who take risks in their advertising, regardless of their size.
Apple offered in March to refund customers who felt they had been duped, and to publish a clarification about the popular tablets capabilities.
The product is now advertised outside North America as Wi-Fi + Cellular a change that came into effect on May 12 - with a clear caveat on its Australian site that it is not compatible with current Australian 4G LTE and WiMax networks.
The iPads 4G capabilities are supported by some networks in the US and Canada.
Matthew Rimmer, an expert in intellectual property at the Australian National University, said Apple had been careless.
It shows some of the dangers involved in overhyping products and sets a very important precedent, he said, adding that other countries would take note of the outcome.
Asked if it could open the floodgates to similar law suits elsewhere, he said: It all depends on the nature of consumer regulations in each country.Earlier this month, Apple agreed to settle the case with the ACCC.
But Bromberg delayed an official ruling until he had details on how many iPads had been sold and were returned under the refund offer and further information on Apples financial position.
He said Thursday the risk of contravening Australian consumer law would have been reasonably obvious to Apple.
In that context, and in the absence of any other explanation, the facts to which I have just referred suggest that Apples desire for global uniformity was given a greater priority than the need to ensure compliance with the Australian consumer law, he said.
Conduct of that kind is serious and unacceptable.The iPad was the worlds best-selling tablet in the first three months of 2012, outgunning its Android-powered rivals, with sales more than doubling from a year earlier to send Apples profits soaring.
Apple was not immediately available for comment.
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GSMArena
21 June 2012
Samsung wins patent battle against Apple in Holland
The Dutch supreme court in the Hague has ruled that Apple provide compensation to Samsung for infringement of various 3G patents. The infringing devices include previous generation Apple phones and tablets, namely the iPad 2 and iPhone 4, but not the new iPad or iPhone 4S.
These later models were excluded because Apple switched to a new chipset provided by Qualcomm, who in turn have licenses for the patents from Samsung. As a Qualcomm customer, it was ruled that that the licensing covered Apple as well.
Samsung wasn't able to block the devices' sales altogether, but the Koreans claim they will now use the ruling to seek compensation.
"Samsung welcomes the decision of the court in The Hague, which again confirms that Apple makes free use of our technological innovations
In accordance with this statement, we will recover adequate damages that Apple and its products have caused."
This is the most recent blow struck between the two tech giants, who have been trading copyright infringement lawsuits across numerous courts around the globe.
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Via
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