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EU and US Approve Google-Motorola Deal
angry tapir writes "European regulators have given Google the green light to take over Motorola Mobility. The U.S. $12.5 billion deal faced strong opposition from open source and consumer rights advocates, including Consumer Watchdog, but the European Commission announced on Monday that the acquisition could go ahead, without conditions."
Later in the day the DOJ announced an end to its investigation, greenlighting the acquisition in the U.S. as well.
And with Motorola Mobility it seems Google gets a nice little patent war chest. I can't wait until they sue Apple out of existence to be honest.
Correct me I'm wrong, as I'm not in the know, but wouldn't this be a plus for rom development on motorola droid phones?
Indoctrinate : to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiments Educate : to develop mentally, morally, or aestheti
Hopefully this will give Apple and Microsoft reason to pause for thought on its lawsuits against the Android ecosystem.
I'm getting tired of reading about a new assault every week; 17,000 patents should even things out enough to force the big players to negotiate and co-operate (assuming of course that Apple won't try to continue the Jobs dream of killing competition entirely...).
Also, I'll love seeing any hardware to come out of this.
With Google standing behind Motorola and Microsoft standing behind Nokia, Apple will be facing tough challenges, both in marketplace and in courtrooms around the world
Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
They're by no means perfect, but when compared to other companies their size Google does proportionately less evil.
I'm hoping their search engine finds the "nuclear" patent holed up somewhere in Motorola's recently acquired portfolio that allows them to put an end to the other companies sue everyone else wars between Apple, Samsung and every other manufacturer out there. The "one patent to trump them all" wielded by Google that could put everyone else in a hurt locker unless they calm down and agree to play nice would be a dream and allow honest development and competition to resume.
I'm dreaming I know. I would like wielding of patents as a weapon to go away, but hopefully a big one in the rights hands could fix some issues.
The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/02/regulators-to-google-you-can-buy-motorola-but-we-still-dont-trust-you.ars
FTA:
But regulators on both sides of the pond went out of their way to warn Google not to abuse the patents, with the Justice Department comparing Google's patent statements unfavorably with what Justice views as more responsible statements made by Apple and Microsoft.
The fuck are they smoking? Am I missing something gigantic staring at me in the face? How is Google's record of 'patent statements' remotely close to being worse than those of Apple and Microsoft? Does the US DOJ actually look favorably down on Apple continuous patent 'I'll sue you out of business' hissy-fits? When has Google ever abused a patent? Has Google ever even attacked another company with patents?
In any case, what I'd love to see is for Google to create a pool with these patents (haven't they done this already?) where anyone who enters the pool consents to agree not to sue others in the same pool. It wouldn't do much to stop patent trolls though, unless they find a way to kick out members who support them. Am I dreaming? Or should a legitimately don't-be-evil company do this?
I have left slashdot and am now on Soylent News. FUCK YOU DICE.
According to the linked articles in the post, consumer advocates (or, more accurately, at least one consumer advocate that is associated with Microsoft) are opposed to this move because it gives Google "unprecedented dominance" in the mobile market.
None of the linked articles give any evidence of "strong opposition from open source... advocates". Can anyone explain or give examples of this supposed "strong opposition"? As is, this appears to be a mostly invented controversy.
Just like any other fads, this "Apple frenzy fad" will become stale, people will lose interest in Apple, once a new-kid-in-town with new fangle tricks appears
Where have you been since 1984? Apple users are not customers, they are a fan club.
Now maybe there is a chance I can get ICS on my Moto droid 3. Admittedly the Droid 3 only had a lifespan of 6 months. But it would be nice if Moto actually supported it.
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Apple has the most brand loyal customers on the planet
It's just a fad
Just like any other fads, this "Apple frenzy fad" will become stale, people will lose interest in Apple, once a new-kid-in-town with new fangle tricks appears
I used to say the same thing. Now I'm starting to think they've secured a niche as a status symbol. Much like Gucci or Prada handbags, many people buy apple because they want other people to see them walking around with that apple product. Have you seen vehicles with a white apple bumper sticker? I think the mere existence of such a thing is proof of this.
Perhaps Google will persuade Motorola to unlock the bootloaders of their phones, to give a bit of assurance that the kevlar-encrusted, gorilla-glassed, nano-coated hardware will have up-to-date software on it for the duration of a 2-year contract? That would be great. And I might buy one...
Just like any other fads, this "Apple frenzy fad" will become stale, people will lose interest in Apple
Assuming they don't really have specific uses for Apple products, but then again it's not expensive to have one lying around for compatibility just as many people have Windows machines (or VMs) for that. Apple do make great products and they are high quality but there's no denying they've lost their exclusivity, the iPhone 4 (pretty sure this is still true) is the single most common smartphone in the world and the 3GS is dirt cheap (i've got 2 in my drawer, one relegated to being my workout ipod) which does push them into commodity device territory, like owning a Nokia in the late 90s/early 00s. But hey, if they can maintain their 'cool' image, continue to build high quality products and keep pace with industry innovation then there's no reason to think they will fall from their lofty position.
I like both Apple and Google, use lots of both.
But when I got my latest phone, I decided against Android simply because the handset makers and the carriers pissed all over Vanilla Android to "improve" it.
So now I get Google building a standard. Unlocked. Updateable. Frequency agile. GSM. Mobile world wide.
Heck, I even want Google to build their own cellular network or at the least a MVNO.
This is not a fight between Apple and Google. Its a fight against both of them against the horrid carriers and clueless handset mfgrs.
Let the battle begin!
Yet driving around with an "AA" bumper sticker means something. Wait, what were we talking about again?
So now I get Google building a standard. Unlocked. Updateable. Frequency agile. GSM. Mobile world wide.
Uh, that's more or less what the Google Nexus (Nexus One, Nexus S, and now currently the Galaxy Nexus) phones are. (Although Google is sometimes a little slow at pushing out updates, but they get there eventually.) The Nexus phones all come with stock Android - no extra vendor software or configuration.
Although I'm not sure about 'Mobile world wide'. Your ability to use your phone somewhere (like, say, another country) will always be dependent on your service provider. But everything else you want is there.
This spells doom for the IP terrorist policies of Apple and Microsoft, and is a probable "limiting factor" for Microsoft's phone ambitions. And obviously, this is all fine for Linux.
Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
Apple has the most brand loyal customers on the planet
It's just a fad
Just like any other fads, this "Apple frenzy fad" will become stale, people will lose interest in Apple, once a new-kid-in-town with new fangle tricks appears
I've heard that mantra so many times before when the iMac came out, when the iPod came out, when the iPhone came out, when the iPod touch came out and when the iPad 1 came out. Are you seeing a pattern here? I keep on seeing people on slashdot predicting the demise of Apple year after year.
Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
Incidentally, over the next few years for much of the world outside the USA, the primary means of computing and access to networks will be a very small computer (phone or tablet) running a POSIX-compliant OS. Linux on the desktop is happening; it is just happening on the next evolution of the desktop.
From scarped cliff or quarried stone she cries "A thousand types are gone, I care for nothing, no not one."
Namely Apple suing Motorola over patent infringements regarding Android. Apple has been careful not to sue Google, so Google took the hint and bought one of the defendants, namely Motorola.
This is a good thing. It means that Apple can no longer go around intimidating Android vendors regarding patents without confronting the software vendor. The short-term verdict will probably be a mixed loss on both sides, but the long-term victory will be to Google and Android.
LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
Here's another idea. Perhaps Apple now represents a recognisable, trusted brand. People may think (rightly or wrongly) that anything Apple sells is probably well made, works well, and is reasonably priced for a name brand.
Much like HP used to be. Once upon a time you could trust that anything HP made was high quality, and well designed and therefore probably worth the money. Even if there were cheaper alternatives, you could "trust" HP.
Now, perhaps interest and "fanboyism" over Apple will fade. But unless they start making crap, or damage their reputation in other ways, I suspect they will retain much of their brand loyalty.