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Oracle must pay Google's legal fees after unsuccessful lawsuit

Trace Hagan | Business, Financial & Legal | Sep 5, 2012 12:30 PM CDT

The judge has smacked Oracle with a $1,130,350 bill payable to Google for its legal expenses incurred during the unsuccessful lawsuit. "Google was the prevailing party in this action. Oracle initially sought six billion dollars in damages and injunctive relief but recovered nothing after nearly two years of litigation and six weeks of trial."

It's not as much as Google would have liked--they asked for over $4,000,000--but a large portion of that was fees for an eDiscovery firm, something found to be not payable. Oracle objected the claim, saying they had brought a matter of great national importance, something that would protect them from the fees:

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Continue reading: Oracle must pay Google's legal fees after unsuccessful lawsuit (full post)

iPhone 5 clone could give Apple legal trouble in China

Trace Hagan | Business, Financial & Legal | Sep 5, 2012 10:28 AM CDT

Finally someone is trolling Apple instead of Apple patent trolling everybody else. In China, a phone clone maker has produced an Android phone that was designed around iPhone 5 leaks. But they didn't stop there. No, they took the design to the patent office in China and received patents for the design.

The better part? They've threatened legal action if Apple tries to release the new iPhone in China as they basically own the patents for the new device, if it looks like all the leaks say it does. This is from GooPhone, a company that already has a cloned Samsung Galaxy S III on sale in China.

This easily could prevent Apple from selling the phone in China, which would be bad for Apple's bottom line. China is the fastest growing mobile market and is expected to soon be the biggest consumer of smartphones, lucrative for a company that makes smartphones. The iPhone 5 is widely expected to be unveiled on September 12 in San Francisco.

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Continue reading: iPhone 5 clone could give Apple legal trouble in China (full post)

Unboxing and first impressions of ASUS' Nexus 7 tablet

Anthony Garreffa | Mobile Devices | Sep 5, 2012 10:14 AM CDT

For the past couple of weeks I've been trying to get my hands on ASUS' Jelly Bean-powered Nexus 7 tablet, but to no avail. ASUS could hook me up with one, but it would be a review unit meaning it was tested and used by someone else, but I wanted a fresh one.

So, I ended up buying one personally, and here we are today. It arrived fresh in its box, and we've done an unboxing video, shown above. I go over a few things in the video, but I've used it for an hour or so since the video, and boy, is it a great tablet.

The first thing I noticed is that it really is a pure Google experience. This is what sets any Android-powered tablet apart from Apple's iPad. When you turn an iPad on, it's an iPad, from Apple, that's it. A pure iOS/Apple experience. When you turn on the usual Android tablet, it's an Android tablet from someone like Samsung or ASUS, powered by Google's Android OS, with some of Samsung or ASUS' UI splashed on top.

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Continue reading: Unboxing and first impressions of ASUS' Nexus 7 tablet (full post)

Microsoft releases Windows Server 2012

Anthony Garreffa | Software & Apps | Sep 5, 2012 12:30 AM CDT

Microsoft have just outed Windows Server 2012, which is offering simplified licensing. The new server OS comes in four different versions, Datacenter, Standard, Essentials, and Foundation, all aimed at different markets and customers.

The new server offerings include training on the new features baked into the OS, as well as a 90-day trial period running on Microsoft's Azure cloud-based service. Microsoft's Windows Server general marketing manager, Mike Schutz, says:

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Continue reading: Microsoft releases Windows Server 2012 (full post)

Samsung's Galaxy S III is now the best selling phone in the US, beating out the iPhone 4S

Anthony Garreffa | Mobile Devices | Sep 4, 2012 11:37 PM CDT

Samsung's flagship Galaxy S III has kicked Apple's iPhone 4S off of the throne in the US, where it has reached the #1 position as the top-selling US smartphone in August, according to Canaccord Genuity analyst T. Michael Walkley.

The iPhone 4S, until now, had held the position since it launched in October, and if it had continued to have held onto its #1 position, it would've just cemented the iPhone's power in the smartphone market. Walkley says:

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Continue reading: Samsung's Galaxy S III is now the best selling phone in the US, beating out the iPhone 4S (full post)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will support DX11, ditches Windows XP support

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Sep 4, 2012 9:38 PM CDT

The words Call of Duty and DirectX 11 feel so dirty next to each other, but developer Treyarch has confirmed that the upcoming Black Ops 2 will indeed support DX11.

Treyarch have said that they've updated the engine to include DirectX 11 support, and its associated bells and whistles. They've also said there'll be "more quality vs performance options than ever before". The news is followed by Windows XP support being dragged from under COD fans' feet.

Treyarch have said in a PC-specific FAQ:

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Continue reading: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will support DX11, ditches Windows XP support (full post)

RumorTT: Microsoft's next-gen Xbox could be delayed due to low chip yields

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Sep 4, 2012 9:11 PM CDT

We've been hearing about next-gen consoles more and more in the last few months, but before that they were simply rumors. Microsoft and Sony are not talking about next-gen consoles so that they don't cannibalise their current console sales, which is fair enough.

But, we have some new rumors to share with you courtesy of Semi Accurate. SA are reporting that Microsoft are having problems with the heart of the next-gen Xbox, its chip referred to as 'Oban'. It is reportedly being run through multiple fabs in high quantities, and this quantity is said to be much higher than what would normally be required for developer kits of the console.

SA reports that it takes around 8 weeks to run a chip through the fab, after which they can analyze the results. If production wafers are being worked on, the last time the fab can push a chip out is November 1, after that day, nothing will come baked out of the fab ready to be tested in order to have the reworked gear finished before the end of the year.

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Continue reading: RumorTT: Microsoft's next-gen Xbox could be delayed due to low chip yields (full post)

Samsung to release Galaxy S III 4G LTE quad-core model in Australia

Anthony Garreffa | Mobile Devices | Sep 4, 2012 8:24 PM CDT

Samsung's Galaxy S III is looking to get some 4G LTE action in Australia, with Australian telcos Telstra and Optus networks inking a deal which will see them sell the quad-core version of the S III with 4G LTE capabilities in Australia.

Another big, big bonus is that the new phone will sport the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as its OS. The US has the 4G version of the S III, but its powered by Qualcomm's dual-core S4 processor and ships with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, so Australian's will have a very nice bonus in their hands.

Optus' customers will get their hands on the 4G-capable Galaxy S III first, where it will launch in the middle of this month. Telstra customers will have to wait until mid-to-late October to get their hands on one. Optus' variant supports LTE FDD 800, 1800 and 2600MHz spectrum's providing a theoretical maximum download speed of 100Mbps, it can also default to a 3G network at HSPA+ speeds of up to 42Mbps.

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Continue reading: Samsung to release Galaxy S III 4G LTE quad-core model in Australia (full post)

AntiSec leaks 1 million Apple UDIDs from a list of 12 million supposedly stolen from FBI laptop

Trace Hagan | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Sep 4, 2012 10:52 AM CDT

A new leak has shown up on Pastbin. This latest showing comes from AntiSec and contains a list over 1 million Apple UDIDs, allegedly taken from a list of over 12 million that was on an FBI laptop. The UDIDs were supposedly in the file with other personally identifiable information such as zip codes, names, and other data, but that has been stripped out for the leak.

The file, according to the Pastebin post, came from the Dell laptop of Supervisor Special Agent Christopher K. Stangl which was exploited by a Java exploit back in March 2012. The details of the hack, along with information on how to get the data is available on Pastebin. Several tools have popped up to check if your UDID is on the list.

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Continue reading: AntiSec leaks 1 million Apple UDIDs from a list of 12 million supposedly stolen from FBI laptop (full post)

Top 10 most anticipated games for 2012-2013

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Sep 4, 2012 6:23 AM CDT

Let's face it, we have an incredibly exciting time ahead of us for gaming. First off, we have some absolutely stellar games still coming out on the now ageing consoles, as well as the PC. But, within the next twelve or so months, we should see the release of next-gen consoles, and within the next couple of months, we'll see the release of Nintendo's Wii U console.

Until then, let's go through a list of the most anticipated games coming out over the next year or so. Remember, everyone has different tastes, so you might not agree to our recommendations. Please do comment or e-mail us with submissions and we'll try to keep this updated, or use them in future "top 10" articles.

10.) Far Cry 3

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Continue reading: Top 10 most anticipated games for 2012-2013 (full post)

Cutest Child with Technology Photo Contest - Win cute GIGABYTE H77N-WIFI Motherboard

Cameron Wilmot | Contests & Giveaways | Sep 4, 2012 3:24 AM CDT

Several TweakTown staff are fathers, we love our children to bits. Of course you all do too as mothers and fathers. But, of course, we also love technology. Let's mix the two together! So, what we want you to do is pull out your camera or iPhone or whatever you use to take photos and grab the cutest picture you can of your baby or child with a technology related item.

I've got things started with a photo of my son and a PS3 controller. Close second would be a recent photo of him and his fascination of the new Xbox 360 and turning it on and off as many times per day as he can. It seems this is a popular thing among babies. Yours too?

For your hard work... well come on, it's not really hard work spending time with your loved ones. The cutest photo as decided by the fathers of TweakTown will win a brand new GIGABYTE H77N-WIFI cutey-pie Mini-ITX motherboard. Anyone in the world can enter and we'll cover the shipping fee.

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Continue reading: Cutest Child with Technology Photo Contest - Win cute GIGABYTE H77N-WIFI Motherboard (full post)

Samsung experiences severe PR backfire, tries to turn two Indian bloggers into paid shills

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Sep 4, 2012 3:21 AM CDT

Over the weekend, Samsung were caught in a web of their own crap as it was revealed they were trying to turn two Indian tech bloggers into paid shills. Clinton Jeff and a second blogger were allegedly pressured into promoting Samsung products at the IFA event in Berlin.

It was meant to be part of Samsung's Mob!lers marketing programme, but news came out from the bloggers, who have painted quite the picture of Samsung. The original story from The Next Web shows that the two bloggers were independent bloggers, not there for any particular company, but for all the companies, to report on all products. Samsung had offered to fly them over to Berlin from India, and put them up in a hotel, how can you turn down that offer?

It turns out that Samsung had other plans for the bloggers, where once they touched down in Berlin, were asked to sign an NDA at the IFA event. They declined, and were threatened with their flights home being cancelled, and their hotel room stay finished. This would've left them stranded in a foreign country, with no way home, with the only option left to spend their own money, unexpectedly.

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Continue reading: Samsung experiences severe PR backfire, tries to turn two Indian bloggers into paid shills (full post)

Artists make more money streaming a song to a user on Spotify, than they do on iTunes Match

Anthony Garreffa | Software & Apps | Sep 4, 2012 1:27 AM CDT

Spotify has been my favorite app for a while now, but I've always wondered just how much an artist makes per song streamed to me, or anyone else using the streaming, subscription-based music system. The system is called 'stream rental', and Josh Davison of Centro shared some numbers regarding streaming revenue earned from his baned Parks and Gardens, on both Spotify, and iTunes Match.

Apple's iTunes Match pays one-third of a cent, and Spotify is significantly more sitting at just under one cent per streamed track. But, having the song on iTunes Match means that the customer has already acquired the track somehow, be it legally, or pirated and then synced to iTunes Match. Spotify seems like the go, here.

Now we have some numbers thanks to web developer Scott Buscemi, showing popular services such as Spotify, Spotify Free, iTunes Match and Rhapsody from his client, HoneyBoy Dupree:

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Continue reading: Artists make more money streaming a song to a user on Spotify, than they do on iTunes Match (full post)

Valve are 'frustrated by lack of innovation' in PC hardware, so they're 'jumping in'

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Sep 4, 2012 12:29 AM CDT

If you're a long-term reader of TweakTown, you'll know that I'm quite passionate in the stagnation of the PC hardware scene. I've even touted Valve as the savior to all of this, and it seems I'm being proven right more and more with each day passing.

CVG reports that they've noticed a job listing on Valve's site, where the company is looking for an 'Industrial Designer'. The post says:

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Continue reading: Valve are 'frustrated by lack of innovation' in PC hardware, so they're 'jumping in' (full post)

EA are working on '3 to 5 new IPs' for next-gen consoles

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Sep 3, 2012 8:25 PM CDT

We've been hearing a lot about next-gen consoles recently, which means we should start seeing much more about them in the near future, and that's a good thing. President of EA labels, Frank Gibeau, is confident of the next-generation of consoles.

Gibeau admits that EA stumbled with the current generation of consoles, but is confident that they have what it takes to transition over to the next-generation. EA will push through "a big investment" this year, which will go into technologies that will be baked into the next series of consoles, with EA saying that they have a few new IPs that they're working on.

Gibeau told Bloomberg "we've already started three-to-five new intellectual properties that we're going to launch in that first 24 months on the new-gen". The Presidents label admits that while technology is a big part of that, the process begins with the game and building out from there, adding:

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Continue reading: EA are working on '3 to 5 new IPs' for next-gen consoles (full post)

Thermaltake Level 10M gaming mouse released for $99, designed by BMW

Trace Hagan | Peripherals | Sep 3, 2012 4:21 PM CDT

Thermaltake has again partnered with BMW to design PC components. This time, they have designed a new mouse to complement the also BMW-designed Level 10. Under the same namesake, the Level 10M is a gaming mouse and comes with a price tag quite a bit lower than its case brethren. At only $99, it's probably the cheapest thing you can buy that has been designed by BMW.

The mouse was actually unveiled at the beginning of 2012, but it has just seen its release August 27, 2012. Even though it hasn't shown up on NewEgg or Amazon, the press release says that the device is available online and in brick-and-mortar stores for a recommended price of $99. Not too bad of a price tag.

The cool design is immediately noticeable. As opposed to what a "normal" mouse looks like, the Level 10M has a hollow body and the palm rest appears to hover above the sensor. The palm rest can be raised, lowered, and adjusted side to side by the turning of a screw. It features 7 keys and the DPI can be turned all the way up to

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Continue reading: Thermaltake Level 10M gaming mouse released for $99, designed by BMW (full post)

Assassin's Creed 3 will get new multiplayer content every month

Trace Hagan | Gaming | Sep 3, 2012 2:32 PM CDT

If you're a fan of the Assassin's Creed series but felt the multiplayer wasn't quite good enough, then you are in for a treat. Ubisoft has been hard at work on the multiplayer side of things for the upcoming Assassin's Creed 3 and the result is that players will receive monthly updates to the content in the form of files and videos.

The team behind the multiplayer aspect have been given the right to develop some of the story line and this is sure to affect the lore. You see, Abstergo has turned the Animus into a commercial product that allows people to relive "the past in HD." You play as a customer looking forward to doing just that.

"As you progress in the game and level up your character, you access these files and videos. Every month you'll have new challenges to unlock new content that will continue the storyline throughout the year," Ubisoft Annecy game director Damien Kieken told CVG.

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Continue reading: Assassin's Creed 3 will get new multiplayer content every month (full post)

Intel releases more CPUs, updates prices on a couple old ones

Trace Hagan | Processors | Sep 3, 2012 11:43 AM CDT

Intel has expanded the choices available when shopping for a new mobile or desktop CPU. In addition to new chips, Intel has dropped the prices on some of its existing line up. Unfortunately, some of the new chips Intel released today are still based upon the older Sandy Bridge architecture.

Now, that wouldn't normally be a problem, except the model number is i3-3xxx, where the 3 stands for the Ivy Bridge generation. The chips are bottom barrel chips that most people wouldn't be buying, but the fact exists that there are Sandy Bridge chips, according to my sources, that are being marketed under the i3-3xxx brand.

The desktop update is pretty mundane. They added a CPU here and there, and dropped the prices on some others. It's the mobile market where the really interesting things are happening. Intel has released a new flagship mobile chip, the Core i7-3940XM, that rings in at $1,096. For that you get four cores, HyperThreading, and 3.0GHz of speed.

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Continue reading: Intel releases more CPUs, updates prices on a couple old ones (full post)

Bruce Willis vs. Apple, actor to fight the company over his right to leave his iTunes library in his will

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Sep 3, 2012 6:30 AM CDT

Our music collections are all precious to us, and now that they're going mostly digital, these tracks can't be passed to a friend, or family member in the case of your death. DRM, is hell, after all.

Die Hard actor, Bruce Willis, is worried that his extensive music collection on iTunes will revert its ownership back to Apple in the case of his death. Willis wants to leave his iTunes library to his three daughters, Rumer, Scout and Tallulah. Willis' lawyers are reportedly looking into the possibility of setting up "family trusts" to act as legal holders of the downloaded music, but Willis is also prepared to consider taking Apple to court over his iTunes library.

Solicitor Chris Walton, told the Daily Mail:

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Continue reading: Bruce Willis vs. Apple, actor to fight the company over his right to leave his iTunes library in his will (full post)

RumorTT: Nexus 7 3G could be here in 6 weeks time

Anthony Garreffa | Mobile Devices | Sep 3, 2012 4:32 AM CDT

One of the things that the Nexus 7 didn't have going for it, was that it didn't sport Internet capabilities when not near a wireless network. But, for $199, can you really complain that the Nexus 7 lacked 3G? No.

Rumor now has it that ASUS are set to launch a 3G-capable Nexus 7 tablet, and it could launch just 6 weeks from now. Adding 3G to the tablet might bump the price up, but by how much? $30? $50?

How much would you be willing to pay for a 3G-enabled Nexus 7? If it were 4G-enabled, I might have picked one up and thrown a pre-paid 4G SIM inside, now that would be sweet.

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Continue reading: RumorTT: Nexus 7 3G could be here in 6 weeks time (full post)

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