Tablet Update and Oracle Sues Google over Android

It’s been a very busy tech morning so I spent some time assembling news you should be aware of before you grab your morning bagel and brew that pot of coffee.

Tablets, Tablets Everywhere

First off is an article from Harry McCracken at Technologizer discussing 32 tablets, slates and pads. Yes Virginia, there are alternatives to the iPad but surprisingly the iPod Touch isn’t on the list. Other surprising items – its filled big tech companies such as Dell, HP and Lenovo as well as companies you don’t know like Notion Ink and of course the $35 Indian Tablet which as far as I know is so inexpensive, there was no money to name it.

HP’s Board Goes Overboard

It is unclear as to whether the punch in the HP boardroom is perpetually spiked or perhaps they make their decisions using a dartboard. Either way, the group consisting of Lawrence Babbio Jr., Lucille Salhany, Robert Ryan, John Hammergren, Sari Baldauf, Kennedy Thompson, Joel Hyatt, John Joyce, Marc Andreessen and Rajiv Gupta are still in the news – this time because they were presented with a lawsuit alleging directors violated their fiduciary duties in connection with the events surrounding the resignation of Mark Hurd.

Among other things, the 45-page suit alleges that H-P’s board violated its corporate-governance guidelines by failing to inform shareholders of the investigation. It also attacks details of Mr. Hurd’s exit package, which is estimated at above $35 million.

Micropayments Make Small News Thanks to PayPal

PayPal is looking to boost micropayments, acknowledging the current method of paying online is just too expensive for merchants. The company will soon release a new option in this space which should be better than their current offering which costs a merchant about 20 cents on a $3.00 purchase.

Have That Kid Soon, Dual Core Chips to Invade Smartphones

Things are about to heat up – literally in your smartphone and pocket as that ultra-portable computer which takes pictures, handles email and functions as a GPS gets a second core in its CPU. PC World reports Qualcomm has already shipped its first dual-core processor, the MSM8660, and is due to start sampling a faster dual-core chip, the QSD8672, later this year. Texas Instruments is scheduled to ship a dual-core chip, the OMAP4430, later this year, and it could reach devices early next year.

Oracle Sues Google over Java in Android

Things just got real messy in Silicon Valley As Oracle is Suing Google over its Android OS and in a complaint (Scribd) specifies that Android competes with Java as a mobile OS. Moreover the Database and software company says that Google infringes on seven of the company’s patents.

It gets worse as the compliant points out:

Google has been aware of Sun’s patent portfolio, including the patents at issue, since the middle of this decade, when Google hired certain former Sun Java engineers.

The company wants all copies of Android, “impounded and destroyed, or otherwise reasonably disposed of,” so as Stacey Higginbotham points out, keep your phone close by.

One way to look at the situation is that Oracle is going to start suing all companies using Java in a manner which they believe is competitive or infringing. Obviously this should strike fear in the hearts of many software and hardware companies as they could be the next target.

But if this was the case, Oracle would likely start with smaller fish which would put up less resistance in order to set precedent which could be used against deeper pocketed companies like Google.

No, the purpose of this lawsuit is to turn the screws on Google and flex Oracle’s mighty patent muscles. After all, Google has an interesting business model of using advertising revenue to reinvest in destroying value on virtually all software businesses from email to social networking to office applications. Oracle’s hefty suite of corporate applications are not immune and are no doubt on Google’s long-term radar to take out.

Oracle is taking a stand now and Google has to be very careful with new software and services it produces in the future. This action could really tie them up and slow their rapidly growing software and service empire.

India May Restrict Google and Skype to Spy on Terrorists

The Indian government is targeting Skype, Google and RIM as it looks to keep tabs on communications networks in order to thwart terrorism. The government appears to be planning to clamp down on all services that bypass its monitoring system, starting with BlackBerry.

And there is your news, have a great day!

  • looks good
    August 13, 2010 at 9:04 am

    is anyone really surprised by oracle’s move? people should have known that when oracle bought sun the good times were over. and here’s the first volley with java. soon to follow: mysql and openoffice, and solaris.

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