We mentioned earlier that Apple [AAPL] were suing HTC for 20 patent infringements. A statement has been made by HTC saying that they only caught wind of this through the media this morning and that they haven’t looked through the paperwork just yet but that they are… ‘committed to defending [their] own technology innovations.

‘HTC is a mobile technology innovator and patent holder that has been very focused over the past 13 years on creating many of the most innovative smartphones. HTC values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations. HTC only learned of Apple’s actions this morning via media reports, and therefore we have not yet had the opportunity to investigate the filings. Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made against HTC.

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You are probably aware by now that T-Mobile in the US are launching the HTC HD2 this month. It seems like pricing has been leaked showing the phone as selling for $199.99 after a rebate. The rebate amount is unknown at the moment although expected to be either $50 or $100. The contract free phone is also listed as being sold at $449.99.

Other phones listed in the image above (larger version below) are the CLIQ XT that’s listed at $129.99 after a rebate with the contract free version selling for $329.99. [Read more…]

AT&T are about to launch the Motorola Backflip in the next few days. What we are now hearing is that AT&T are going to be dropping Google Search from the Android install replacing it with Yahoo Search. This is the first time we have heard of a Google [GOOG] Android handset not using Google Search by default.

The reason AT&T can do this is because Android is an open platform that allows them to make changes as needed to suit the phones launching on their network. We just didn’t expect that AT&T would drop a core search feature.

We don’t know the full reasons why they would switch the search to Yahoo! and perhaps they are trying to keep Apple [AAPL] happy by keeping google away from their Android phones, but anything right now is just pure speculation. [Read more…]

Apple [AAPL] has sued HTC for infringing on 20 different iPhone UI patents. Various patents infringed (according to Apple) include unlock gestures and other similar functions.

From what we understand, Apple is wanting a permanent injunction to prevent HTC selling phones that use these patents. More patents include the following…

The ˜331 Patent, entitled “Time-Based, Non-Constant Translation Of User Interface Objects Between States,” was duly and legally issued on April 22, 2008 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The ˜949 Patent, entitled “Touch Screen Device, Method, And Graphical User Interface For Determining Commands By Applying Heuristics,” was duly and legally issued on January 20, 2009 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A copy of the ˜949 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibit B.

The ˜849 Patent, entitled “Unlocking A Device By Performing Gestures On An Unlock Image,” was duly and legally issued on February 2, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A copy of the ˜849 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibit C.

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ThinkFlood have created a new product called the ThinkFlood RedEye mini that converts your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad (when available) in to a universal remote control and TV guide.

The RedEye mini costs $49 and connects up to the 3.5mm headphone jack of your iPod allowing you to control a variety of systems such as a TV, DVR, Stereo, Digi-Box etc… and lets you control them all from the single remote control software created as an application.

To get the system working it requires that you either enter a unique code for the device you own, or put the iPhone RedEye mini in to training mode which can detect signals from other remote controls. Once achieved you attach the IR transmitter, load up the app and use a variety of methods to control your TV and other devices. Gestures can be used such as sliding a couple of fingers down the screen to lower the volume or flicking the iPhone to jump up a channel. [Read more…]

Reports in today show that Orange and T-Mobile in the UK have received clearance by the EU Commission. This will allow the two mobile phone networks to join together making them a leader in the UK mobile phone market.

Right now the merger is being prepared for a Spring close of transaction with Deutsche Telekom saying…

‘This is excellent news, for our customers, for our highly committed teams in the UK and for our shareholders. Now the way is clear for pooling our resources to create an outstanding high-speed mobile broadband network in one of the most competitive markets in Europe. This joint venture company is based on a significant potential of synergies which create substantial value for the two shareholders and translate directly into customer benefits. Our teams in the UK will be rolling up their sleeves to roll out these benefits.”

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Nokia has announced the Nokia Cseries category for new smartphones launching. The first phone in the Cseries category is the Nokia C5 we just reported on.

The Cseries represents a shift in Nokia’s device naming convention and ads to the other 3 categories of phones already mentioned which are the Nseries, Xseries and Eseries devices.

The categories use a 1-9 numbering system with 1 being the cheaper less featured phones while 9 represents the higher-priced top end phones (putting the Nokia C5 right in the middle).

Each of the series represents a different “type” of phone. The new Nseries will be classed as Nokia’s flagship phones that will contain all the advanced features. Xseries will represent social entertainment. Eseries focusses on productivity and business (similar to blackberry style devices) and the Cseries represents the “core range of products” in Nokia’s words. [Read more…]

Nokia have unveiled a new smartphone called the Nokia C5. The C5 is the beginning of a new series of phones called the Nokia Cseries that ads to the already available Xseries as well as unannounced phones in the Eseries and Nseries.

The C5 sits right in the middle of the Cseries class and runs the Series 60 3rd Edition symbian operating system. It has a 2.2 inch screen along with a 3.2 megapixel camera. Software wise, it comes pre-installed with Ovi Maps allowing for free navigation in a number of countries around the globe.

New features are included in the Nokia C5 such as the phone book that allows you to see friends Facebook status’ as well as send them messages from the phone book. [Read more…]

Last week we reported that Google Earth was now available for Android 2.1 based phones such as the Google [GOOG] Nexus One.

To get a run down of how it performs on the Nexus One versus the Motorola DROID, AndroidHD have put together a side-by-side comparison. In some cases the Nexus One seems to win hands-down while in others it appears like the DROID and N-One are very similar in what they can handle as well as the speed of the data transfer to get the textures and imagery to the Google Earth application. [Read more…]

A couple of videos have surfaced showing off Qualcomm’s new smartphone platform 7×30.

The new platform uses the Snapdragon CPU and is designed as a system-on-chip that has capabilities of HD video at 720p as well as capabilities to utilise 3D.

YouTube also functions using Flash 10.1 without any hickups making it super smooth. [Read more…]

Last week we mentioned that LG were readying the first Windows Phone 7 Series handset ready for launch sometime between September and November this year.

Engadget managed to take a look at the handset whilst filming the Engadget Show. A quick look at the picture above shows that it appears to have the right things in place to qualify as a Windows Phone 7 Series handset such as it having 3 hardware buttons below the screen and a large high-res screen that’s capacitive touch. [Read more…]

We’ve seen a number of rumours that the HTC HD2 will be getting an update to Windows Phone 7 Series. However, due to one simple technical requirement it closes off the rumour.

The hardware guidelines are quite specific in that phone manufactures need to have a specific processor (ie, the 1GHz Snapdragon from Qualcomm), a high-res screen, a 5 megapixel camera and a 3.5mm headphone jack… which the HTC HD2 already has. However, one of the “strict” requirements of the chassis 1 phones is that they also need to have three hard buttons below the screen. The HTC HD2 happens to have five which breaks the deal.

That’s the official line from Microsoft, at any rate. Natasha Kwan, General Manager for Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business in the Asia-Pacific region, told APC that the HD2 ‘doesn’t qualify because it doesn’t have the three buttons.

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