Apple gain 'iGlass' patent to rival 'Google Glass'

The device would be similar to Google's Glass project in many ways - it would allow the user to view apps, content, videos, photos, and more, all in real time while wearing the device.

The technology in both projects involves LCD projectors, and is widely expected to become a serious reality within the next 5 years. The patent Apple gained involves a 'method in which the image travels through a special glass to land directly into the user's pupils'.

Just like both companies have been competing with their mobile operating systems Android and iOS, the two companies could soon be going head-to-head with these futuristic products.

Apple finally lose a lawsuit - 'swipe to unlock' feature

Taiwanese mobile giant HTC have beaten apple in England's courts in a case where they challenged the European patents held by Apple protecting the pervasive iOS 'swipe to unlock' feature.

This feature is on every iPhone, while companies like HTC, who predominantly create Android and Windows phone based devices, can have a similar unlock feature to unlock their handsets. Having had a HTC before, their 'Arc' unlock is the challenge in question. It is a lot like the iOS swipe to unlock, only it is vertical.

It was decided in the courts this week that HTC would have infringed on the Apple patents, but did not due to one factor, a device released 8 years ago called the 'Neonode N1' which, amazingly, had a 'right sweep to unlock feature'.

It's not often you see Apple lose in the courtroom, but I have to say I am happy for HTC, they have been such an innovative company lately, with their One X being a beautiful phone and miles ahead of the competition. They issued a brilliant statement, highlighting what the smartphone industry is like right now: "HTC is pleased with the ruling, which provides further confirmation that Apple's claims against HTC are without merit. We remain disappointed that Apple continues to favour competition in the courtroom over competition in the marketplace."

Charge your smart-phone with your t-shirt?

Engineers in the University of North Carolina have been conducting, excuse the pun, research on a modified piece of clothing, i.e. a t-shirt, changing it into highly conductive and flexible activated carbon textiles (ACTs) for energy-storage applications.

They bought a random cotton t-shirt, added some chemicals and stuck it in the oven (yes, seriously!). Using their chemical wizadry, they created a stable, high-performing supercapacitor, storing an electric charge and capable of charging and discharging a lot of times, with enough power to easily charge a smart phone device numerous times.

Here is a link to the official abstract of their research. I love hearing about research like this, it's the technology of the future, in the making...

Jelly Bean: An unlikely named Siri-killer!

So android Jelly Bean is out, the latest version of Google's Android mobile OS. From initial reports, this version is faster, slicker and probably better than any other mobile OS out there, including iOS and Siri voice control.

I am not an android user, but some of my friends are and I have to admit, it looks impressive, having seen it in action, specifically the Google Voice vs Siri comparisons, here is one below, check it out for yourself!