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Android

In UK, HTC Defeats Apple's "Obvious" Slide Unlock Patent 165

An anonymous reader writes "In a move that is likely to have wide-ranging implications for patent rulings around the world, a High Court Judge in the UK has ruled that HTC did not infringe on a number if Apple's patents. 'He said Apple's slide-to-unlock feature was an "obvious" development in the light of a similar function on an earlier Swedish handset.' Two other patents that Apple had claimed were infringed were ruled invalid, while a third was found not to apply to HTC. A statement from the Taiwanese firm said: 'HTC is pleased with the ruling, which provides further confirmation that Apple's claims against HTC are without merit. We remain disappointed that Apple continues to favour competition in the courtroom over competition in the marketplace.' Apple declined to comment on the specifics of the case. Instead it re-issued an earlier statement, saying: 'We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.'" This after a similar victory for HTC in a different venue, when Apple's request for an injunction on some HTC devices was rejected in the U.S.

Comment Re:Use a specialized Window Manager (Score 2, Interesting) 460

Agreed. DWM is a 2000 lines of elegant art for programmers. It also has exactly the behavior the questioner is asking for. One changes the workspace on each screen separately, and it is easy to move applications between screens.

Although I prefer DWM for myself, I rarely recommend it to others. Perhaps that is a bit snobbish, but I just think most people are unable to appreciate it properly.

Power

A New Way To Produce Hydrogen 204

Iddo Genuth writes "Scientists at Pennsylvania State University and Virginia Commonwealth University are producing hydrogen by exposing clusters of aluminum atoms to water. Rather than relying on the electronic properties of the aluminum, this new process depends on the geometric distribution of atoms within the clusters. It requires the presence of 'Lewis acids' and 'Lewis bases' in those atoms (water can act as either). Unlike most hydrogen production processes, this method can be used at room temperature and doesn't require the application of heat or electricity to work. The researchers experimented with a variety of different aluminum cluster patterns, discovering three that result in hydrogen production."

Comment Coffee shops. (Score 2) 654

I work almost exclusively at coffee shops, but not that I like coffee or anything.

When I take a break in an office, I spent a few minutes reading slashdot and feel slightly refreshed.

But in the coffe shop, I spend a few minutes talking to some hot girl studying. And then I feel really refresehed.

And I work more. I'm much more willing to think "Yeah, lets go back to the coffee shop for anouther couple hours" as oppose to "lets go work in our slightly dark offices again"

In fact, I'm pretty sure if I ever own my own company, I'll just give the employees starbucks cards, cell phones, and laptops. Screw this whole office or cubical bullshit.

Ben

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