Boston University patent suit over Apple's iPhone 5 could net $75M

By Kevin Bostic Apple's iPhone is at the center of another patent dispute, as the Trustees of Boston University have filed suit against the Cupertino company, alleging that not only the iPhone 5 but also the iPad and MacBook Air infringe on a BU professor's patent. At issue in the suit is U.S. Patent No. 5,686,738, covering a method of "highly insulating monocrystalline gallium nitride thin films." Theodor D. Moustakas, Ph.D., a BU professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is listed as the inventor of the '738 patent, and the University as the assignee owns the right, title, and interest to the patent. The process...

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Questions for Google about Android security, Glass privacy

As European officials continue to voice concerns about privacy, surveillance, and Google’s products, researchers released a report this week on the security of the search engine company’s operating system: Security researchers believe they have found a major security flaw in Google’s Android mobile operating system, which could affect up to 99 percent of Android phones now in consumers’ hands . . . The problem lies in the security verification process that has been used on the Google Play applications store since the release of Android 1.6. It could leave up to 900 million devices open to hackers. The flaw, the research firm said, is a weakness in the way that Android applications verify changes to their code. The weakness would allow hackers to “turn any legitimate application...

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Hidden Google Glass code hints at 'Boutique' app store

As Google continues to shape its pre-release version of Google Glass, the latest firmware update has brought new features such a web browser - but it turns out that there are also a few other hints below the surface. The most interesting new discovery lying dormant in the XE7 APK update code is a "Boutique" which hints at being a centralised app store. Google Glass is currently lacking a go-to destination for applications, and the new discovery reveals that something is coming to fill that gap, well ahead of its consumer release. Lock 'n' load Another welcome new feature hinted at is a locking mechanism, which would function by the wearer swiping in a specific pattern. This is something Google has mentioned in the past in response to questions over what happens when someone steals...

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