I wasn’t suggesting it had anything to with pinch-to-zoom (which does appear in a number of Google apps..Maps..GMail..) – just that it was another one of the big Apple patents being used to sue others and that it has been invalidated.

It’s a simple gesture which is a small feature of a bit of software – it’s not like they’ve discovered a new chemical element or a unified theory of physics. There isn’t much of an inventive step to be honest – it’s an implementation detail. An implementation which was first demonstrated by a group of academics well before Apple claimed they invented it and that it could change your world. It’s not worth $1 let alone millions or billions. On the other hand, the discoveries of fundamental properties of information theory or radio propagation which led to patents required by LTE standards are significant – yet Apple don’t want to pay a fair price for them (they offered $1 per iPhone for the hundreds of LTE patents – even the judge laughed) , nor cross-license their patents. They deserve a good kicking. One of their crap patents at a time.

Who discovered that turning a steering wheel clockwise will turn the car right? Who the hell cares?!

It’s a simple gesture which is a small feature of a bit of software – it’s not like they’ve discovered a new chemical element or a unified theory of physics. There isn’t much of an inventive step to be honest – it’s an implementation detail. An implementation which was first demonstrated by a group of academics well before Apple claimed they invented it and that it could change your world. It’s not worth $1 let alone millions or billions. On the other hand, the discoveries of fundamental properties of information theory or radio propagation which led to patents required by LTE standards are significant – yet Apple don’t want to pay a fair price for them (they offered $1 per iPhone for the hundreds of LTE patents – even the judge laughed) , nor cross-license their patents. They deserve a good kicking. One of their crap patents at a time.

Who discovered that turning a steering wheel clockwise will turn the car right? Who the hell cares?!

The critical thinking can be extended to the whole of iTunes and the controlled nature of it – but anyone > 40 years old who remembers communism up close (through friends, distant family, East Germany) should see right through it. Ask your parents maybe.

In terms of which company to go with – get the phone that suits YOU – if you need the Apple logo – great! get one. If you prefer a more open eco-system, not being over-charged, customisable devices, perhaps try Android. Remember however, that like PCs, there are a number of manufacturers and they each have their pluses and minuses. If you like colourful and simple in a device with lots of promised enterprise features in the future – try WinPhone. Compare the phones/systems on their own merits, *don’t make it an impulse buy*, realise that with some systems you’re locking yourself in effectively by buying into an accessory system that will only work with that system and could be dropped at the next iteration of the device. A standard connector such as USB would work on Blackberrys, Nokias, pretty much any device which isn’t an Apple.

Think for yourself. Take a step back. Ask questions. Sometimes, think different. Be rational, not emotional. It’s only a phone. Read. Listen. Think. Don’t fall for marketing and flashy things – it’s a con.

Also, when it comes to journalism and especially blogs and sites like SG – follow the money – it leads the opinion.

The critical thinking can be extended to the whole of iTunes and the controlled nature of it – but anyone > 40 years old who remembers communism up close (through friends, distant family, East Germany) should see right through it. Ask your parents maybe.

In terms of which company to go with – get the phone that suits YOU – if you need the Apple logo – great! get one. If you prefer a more open eco-system, not being over-charged, customisable devices, perhaps try Android. Remember however, that like PCs, there are a number of manufacturers and they each have their pluses and minuses. If you like colourful and simple in a device with lots of promised enterprise features in the future – try WinPhone. Compare the phones/systems on their own merits, *don’t make it an impulse buy*, realise that with some systems you’re locking yourself in effectively by buying into an accessory system that will only work with that system and could be dropped at the next iteration of the device. A standard connector such as USB would work on Blackberrys, Nokias, pretty much any device which isn’t an Apple.

Think for yourself. Take a step back. Ask questions. Sometimes, think different. Be rational, not emotional. It’s only a phone. Read. Listen. Think. Don’t fall for marketing and flashy things – it’s a con.

Also, when it comes to journalism and especially blogs and sites like SG – follow the money – it leads the opinion.

Glad to see common sense is slowly prevailing.