Galaxy Tab Banned in Europe

[Graham]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

I don't think the larger picture is about Samsung. Is there any evidence that its tablets sales are growing and are cannibalizing iPad sales? This feels more like a warning shot across the bow of all the tablet makers.

Not according to the article that you linked above. Even in Germany the judge limited this 'medium protection', i.e. to tablets that were very similar to the iPad:

“There are a lot of alternative ways to design a tablet device, as the market amply shows,” the judge said at a hearing. “We think Apple’s E.U. design rights grant a medium range of protection, if not a broad one.”

and this was backed up with the quote from the Apple attorney:

“We’re not sitting here because Apple wants to prohibit all kind of tablets,” he said. “We’re here because Samsung’s Galaxy tab is the closest copy of the iPad. There is no other tablet that comes that close.”

What's still not clear is what the protection is for. Is it just something that looks similar, or does the ruling mean that nobody else sell a tablet in Germany that slim and minimalist?

Graham

[anamardoll]

I don't like that quote at all.

"Copy" clearly implies that Samsung didn't do their own work. It is entirely possible to develop from scratch something that still ends up infringing on a patent. I do not like how Apply continues to insist that Samsung is guilty of intellectual theft.

"Closest copy" clearly implies that there are other tablets on the market that are also 'stolen' from Apple.

Can't they argue patent infringement without the arms-flailing outrage?

[RockdaMan]

Well, Samsung did race back to the drawing board and came up with a Tab that was slim and light right after the iPad 2 dropped.

Did they already have that on the drawing board? Or did they say "That's their move, here is our counter-move"? Thats what the suit is about...and I think it's also Apple warning the other tablet makers to think very carefully before dropping new tablets that mimic whatever the iPad 3 and 4 will be. What will they be? Whatever it is, Samsung just needs to get there first then sue Apple for copying.

Again, we're talking about a company thats responding, not getting out in front with a different design.

There was even a copy of the new smartcover for the Galaxy Tab for a while before they were forced to disavow it.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

Well, Samsung did race back to the drawing board and came up with a Tab that was slim and light right after the iPad 2 dropped.

True, but Apple didn't try to get it banned for being slim. The parts that they commented about were there even in the 7" samsung tab that predates the ipad 2.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

True, but Apple didn't try to get it banned for being slim. The parts that they commented about were there even in the 7" samsung tab that predates the ipad 2.

Better not tell Samsung's lawyers that...

One of the key points of this injunction is that there is 'urgency'. Samsung can overturn the injunction if they can show that Apple didn't react within a specified time (i.e. failed to show urgency). The judge has put it upon Samsung to prove that Apple knew that the Tab would be sold in Germany before a date in June. Apple say that they didn't have the final specifications for the Tab by then.

If the 7" model from last year shared all the features that Apple were specifically trying to get banned then no sense of urgency would have been shown and the injunction would get thrown out.

My understanding is that it is the 10" Tab that Apple specifically feel is copying the iPad.

Graham

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by Graham

My understanding is that it is the 10" Tab that Apple specifically feel is copying the iPad.

[kartu]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

I don't think the larger picture is about Samsung. Is there any evidence that its tablets sales are growing and are cannibalizing iPad sales? This feels more like a warning shot across the bow of all the tablet makers.

Well, Samsung smartphone market share is close to Apple's (17.5% vs 18%), 7" tablet was successfully, so they have quite a momentum to sell tablets.

For evidence of Samsung "stealing market share" they first have to start selling damn things. Which they still haven't...

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by kartu

For evidence of Samsung "stealing market share" they first have to start selling damn things. Which they still haven't...

Reminds me of daring fireball yesterday:
<
Big meeting at Samsung headquarters:

“We tried 7 inches and it didn’t sell. We tried 10 inches and it didn’t sell. What can we do to make the Galaxy Tab popular?”

“Let’s try 8.9 inches.”

“Genius!”

(Also, regarding the new Galaxy S II phone, I like how they changed the Home button to an actual hardware button, rectangular with rounded corners, centered in the front face under the display. Haven't seen that before.)
<

[Graham]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

(Also, regarding the new Galaxy S II phone, I like how they changed the Home button to an actual hardware button, rectangular with rounded corners, centered in the front face under the display. Haven’t seen that before.)
<

Changed from when?

The original Galaxy S also has this button, at least as distributed in Europe.

Grahan

[RockdaMan]

He links to this review: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/28/s...y-s-ii-review/

It was rated a 9/10 on engadgets reviewers scale.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

He links to this review: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/28/s...y-s-ii-review/

It was rated a 9/10 on engadgets reviewers scale.

The only bit I can find in that review where he refers to this is:

The Menu and Back keys are purely capacitive, whereas the Home button is, well, an actual button -- it requires you to physically depress it in order to register input.

The layout and hardware button is the same as on the original Galaxy S (except for a little styling on the rim of the S2 button). You can see it best in the first image in the review. The other photos may have been taken with the lighting washing out the two capacitive buttons, but they're pretty clear from all angles on my Galaxy S. I've never thought of it as having a single button; it always looks like it's got three along the bottom.

Unless this is a territory thing, and the buttons are different outside Europe? But I can't see how that would work, as you need the other two buttons to use Android.

Graham

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by Graham

Unless this is a territory thing, and the buttons are different outside Europe? But I can't see how that would work, as you need the other two buttons to use Android.

Graham

Technically, and this is a nitpick, you don't need hardware buttons to use Android -- there are "softkey" programs for Android. See also the rooted Nook Color tablets.

[kjk]

I'm reasonably sure Apple's case against Samsung in Australia just got torpedoed

Bennett’s exact words, according to Bloomberg, were that “[u]nless Apple puts on evidence showing the impact in the U.S. or U.K., I can’t draw any positive assumptions.”

How is Apple going to show iPad sales have been impacted by anything?

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by kjk

I'm reasonably sure Apple's case against Samsung in Australia just got torpedoed

How is Apple going to show iPad sales have been impacted by anything?

It should be pretty easy for them to show that they have been affected by production capacity. Not that that would help their case, but it would be pretty easy for them to show.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by kjk

I'm reasonably sure Apple's case against Samsung in Australia just got torpedoed

I see your torpedo and raise you a bomb!

Apple has been asked by the Australian court to provide iPad sales data from the U.S. and the U.K. Samsung originally sent Apple

=X=