MS cash grab, Nexus Prime rumor and Google's piece of the pi

Samsung is next to pay up to Microsoft

In a previous episode, we mentioned that for every HTC Android handset sold, Microsoft was getting a fairly sizeable cut thanks to its library of patents. Apparently, Android infringes on some of these patents and HTC was the first to pay the price.

Now, it's everyone else's turn. Specifically, Samsung is next up. Microsoft is going after Samsung for $15 per Android device it sells.

A settlement is all but imminent and as these things go, there will likely be a lot of back and forth before it's reached.

Google, the owner of Android, has been quiet on the subject as they lack the patents to back their partners up in legal wranglings with Microsoft.

With Google losing its bid to buy up all of Nortel's patents for a hefty and particularly nerdy sum (more on that in a moment), that doesn't look to be changing in the near future.

In other words, Android's free license terms where just about anyone can use the Android code to create a phone, a tablet, an e-reader or just about any other device, are becoming a lot less free. Google may not charge licensing fees but as is their wont, Microsoft sure doesn't mind...

The next Nexus - Nexus Prime

We've been waiting on word of the next Nexus. Now, it seems, some details are trickling out. The device, codenamed Nexus Prime, is apparently being made by Samsung. Considering the previous story in this episode, that could mean 15 bucks per Nexus Prime will go straight into Microsoft's pocket.

It'll be the first Ice Cream Sandwich phone, eschewing physical buttons in favor of the on-screen buttons that are a part of Android 4.0.

If Boy Genius Report is to be believed, we're expecting a 720p Super AMOLED screen and an OMAP4460 processor which is a dual-core processor running up to 1.5GHz.

The summer release calendar for Android handsets looks pretty sweet. There are some compelling handsets on the horizon. If you can hold off though, the fall looks even hotter.

We've stated before that we're proponents of stock Android and the Nexus Prime, as with the whole Nexus series, is as stock as it comes.

As someone who bought in on the Nexus One and upgraded to the Nexus S on launch day, it's fair to say we'll have this one in the studio for review just as soon as it launches.

Google bids Pi
In an effort to build out its patent war chest, Google went up against Apple, Microsoft, RIM, Sony and others in a bid to win 6,000 Nortel patents. This would have given Google and Android specifically some leg to stand on in patent disputes.

So far, these disputes have seen a decidedly silent Google watching on the sidelines as more and more manufacturer partners start paying dividends to Microsoft.

Google started the bidding process with a $900 million bid back in April.

They then grabbed attention with a bid of Pi or $3.14159 billion dollars.

The bidding war saw over 20 bids laid: Some other Google bids of note $1,902,160,540, AKA Brun's constant, and $2,614,972,128, Meissel–Mertens constant.

Google also bid the distance of the earth from the sun and several other at first blush mystifying numbers.

After messing with its opponents heads with uneven bids, Google finally dropped out of the running once the bidding breached $4 billion. That left the consortium of six rival bidders to walk away with the portfolio for $4.5 billion.
Way more than anyone expected.

Review of the Day
Alchemy
Free ad-supported, $3.95 for premium version