Report: Apple Victory Over Samsung Affecting Android Resale Prices

Could Apple's $1.05 billion victory over Samsung last week be causing Android users to jump ship? That appears to be the case for at least one reseller who has noted a 50 percent increase in customers dumping their Android smartphones since the verdict.

Marketwatch is reporting that online reseller Gazelle.com has noted a 50 increase in Android-powered Samsung handsets being traded in since Friday's courtroom victory for Apple, which is causing resale values of those handsets to fall accordingly.



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Report: Apple Buys Fingerprint Sensor Firm AuthenTec for $356 Million

Apple acquiring most any company would certainly be worthy of headlines, but a new report claims Cupertino is snatching up the creator of "award-winning smart fingerprint sensors" which could point to the company's future plans for digital payments.

Reuters filed the briefest of reports on Friday morning on Apple's plans to purchase AutenTec Inc. for "about $356 million." That amounts to an $8 per-share offer of the company, and "a premium of 58 percent over AuthenTec's Thursday close of $5.07."

Described as a company who "makes fingerprint sensor chips used in personal computers," AuthenTec's own fact sheet describes them as "a leading provider of mobile and network security."

"AuthenTec encryption technology, fingerprint sensors and identity management software are deployed by the leading mobile device, networking and computing companies, content and service providers, and governments worldwide," the fact sheet reveals.

Exactly what Apple's intentions might be with AuthenTec are unclear and neither company is saying, but it's not hard to imagine that Cupertino could incorporate the security firm's fingerprint technology into something like iOS 6's Passbook app or even the mobile OS as a whole to make the iPhone more secure than simply password or four-digit codes.

"AuthenTec's award-winning smart fingerprint sensors provide multiple touch-powered features that extend beyond user authentication to include convenience, personalization and touch control," the fact sheet concludes. "The Company's TouchChip area fingerprint sensors and modules comply with government and industry standards and offer the ruggedness, strong security and ease of integration needed for quick and broad deployment."

Ironically, AuthenTec's "top tier customers" include Apple smartphone rivals LG, Motorola Mobility, Nokia and Samsung.

Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter

Tags: NewsacquisitionsApple Inc.AuthenTecfingerprintiOS 6iPhonenew technologyPassbookReutersSamsungSecuritysensors Here's What You'll Get:The latest Apple news, reviews and how-tosThe hottest articles from MacLife.comYour recommended daily dose of awesome Also, send me e-mail announcements and special offers from Mac

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Report: Amazon Planning to Follow Kindle Fire with Its Own Smartphone

It's been awhile since we've heard this one, but a report this week is dragging out new details about Amazon's ambitions to release a smartphone of its own to follow up the company's Kindle Fire success.

Bloomberg is reporting that Amazon is developing its own smartphone with Chinese manufacturer Foxconn International Holdings Ltd., the company who assembles Apple's iconic iPhone, among others.

"Amazon is seeking to complement the smartphone strategy by acquiring patents that cover wireless technology and would help it defend against allegations of infringement," said the usual people familiar with the situation who decline to be named.

The report isn't clear if Amazon plans to follow up its initial success with the Kindle Fire, which ran a forked version of Android largely indistinguishable from anything released by Google and its OEM partners. Given the company's investment in its own Android-based Appstore, however, it would make sense.

Amazon recently attempted to purchase wireless patents owned by InterDigital Inc. of Pennsylvania, a sale that instead fetched the tidy sum of $375 million from Intel. Sources claim Amazon continues to have discussions from other patent holders.

"Adding patents would help Amazon protect itself against lawsuits alleging illegal use of technology," Bloomberg notes. "Amazon has been involved in five patent-related cases this year, and 20 cases last year," according to the news outlet's own data.

Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter

 

Tags: NewsacquisitionsAmazonandroidbloombergforkingFoxconnInteliPhoneKindle FirePatentsRumorssmartphones Here's What You'll Get:The latest Apple news, reviews and how-tosThe hottest articles from MacLife.comYour recommended daily dose of awesome Also, send me e-mail announcements and special offers from Mac

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Report: Steve Jobs “Worked Closely” on Next iPhone Prior to Death

Ever wonder how far in advance Apple works on their products? According to a new report, the 2012 iPhone was in progress even before co-founder Steve Jobs’ death last year, which he reportedly worked closely on.

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple plans an

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Report: Geekbench Results Reveal New MacBook Pro, iMac Models

Given that it’s mid-May and there has yet to be a new Mac introduced in 2012 thus far, it should come as little surprise to see rumors ramping up about new MacBook Pro and iMac computers. But could they be closer to release than we think?

MacRumors is reporting on a pair of curious benchmark results that have turned up in the last several days on Geekbench, which could be the best evidence yet that Apple is inching closer to releasing new MacBook Pro and iMac models this summer. While it’s important to note that Geekbench results can be faked with relative ease, the benchmarks fall in line with what pundits are expecting from the 2012 models.



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Report: Location-based Services Will See High Demand

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Report: RIM Co-Founder Quit After BlackBerry Strategy Changes Rebuffed

While pundits have been quick to lay the blame for Research in Motion’s problems at the feet of its co-founders, a new report reveals that one of them actually attempted

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