Google staves off Oracle code copyright claim

Google staves off Oracle code copyright claim: "Putting an end to a contentious trial, a jury on Thursday found that Google's implementation of 37 Java APIs in Android represented fair use — rebuffing complaints by Java's nominal owner, Oracle."

Giving a tentative yay for this but not because I like Java. Without the ability to re-implement declared APIs, there would be no Mono Project, no GNU LIBC and a whole host of other reimplementaions of pre-existing library code.

Apple supplier Foxconn replaces 60,000 workers with robots

Apple supplier Foxconn replaces 60,000 workers with robots: "Apple's primary manufacturing partner, Foxconn, has replaced 60,000 people with robots at a single factory in Kunshan, China, a report said on Wednesday."

Hello Skynet! Robots building always-connected UNIX devices. Need I say more?

Adonit ships new Pixel stylus to compete with Apple Pencil

Adonit ships new Pixel stylus to compete with Apple Pencil: "One of the most important improvements is predictive touch, which should boost accuracy and reduce latency, two of the main perks of choosing Apple's stylus. The Pixel also has 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, offset correction, and palm rejection in supported apps. Full feature support must be implemented by app developers using a provided SDK — compatible apps so far include titles like Astropad and Autodesk SketchBook."

Tough sailing ahead, good luck guys!

Touch ID, OLED touch bar to highlight thinner MacBook Pro models in Q4

Touch ID, OLED touch bar to highlight thinner MacBook Pro models in Q4: "Specifically, Kuo believes Apple plans to introduce a Touch ID fingerprint reader into the new MacBook Pro chassis, which if true will be the first non-iOS implementation of the biometric security system."

More of the worst design; when ideas that are great concepts for mobile are incredulously stapled onto the Mac. Among the worst iOS features ever introduced on the Desktop: notifications which interrupt your train of thought to tell you some irrelevant and highly distracting "information" that you never asked for. My favorite feature of 10.8 is that notifications can only be disabled by removing the appropriate framework from the /System/Library folder. That works quite well.

Apple, Maine Department of Education working to swap 'toy' iPads for MacBooks

Apple, Maine Department of Education working to swap 'toy' iPads for MacBooks: "The Maine Department of Education is working with Apple to give some schools the option of trading in classroom-based iPads for new MacBooks at no cost, as teachers have found the tablets "provide no educational function in the classroom.""

OTOH, a MacBook could change your life by raising your IQ.

To halt smartphone slide, Samsung rewrites playbook

Cover Stories on Flipboard: "We've now gotten to a point where we can secure a baseline profit even if the market stagnates, so long as we don't make a bad mistake," said Kim Gae-youn, vice president in charge of Samsung's smartphone product planning. "I'm confident we can hold our ground."

It's adapt or die and they adapted.

Fresh on Designspiration

Fresh on Designspiration: "Artist Nick Smith Presents NSFW Modern"

So original and inside baseball on the Pantone front.

From drone racers to pinball: Maker Faire Bay Area 2016 doesn’t disappoint | Ars Technica

From drone racers to pinball: Maker Faire Bay Area 2016 doesn’t disappoint | Ars Technica: "SAN MATEO, Calif.—Maker Faire never gets old. While we only scratched the surface after a 90 minute walk through the fairgrounds, the drone racing was the coolest thing that we saw on Friday afternoon. Every 10 minutes, a few drone pilots would sit with headsets and zoom their aircraft through a netted raceway, replete with an illuminated track. (Check the video below!)"

Lord of the things!

iFixit 64 Bit Driver Kit | StackSocial

iFixit 64 Bit Driver Kit | StackSocial: "Constantly taking your favorite gadgets in for quick repairs can get pricey. With 64 purpose-driven screwdriver bits curated from thousands of repair guides, you can take quick repairs into your own hands and save major cash. Armed with an Ergonomic Aluminum Handle, this is the all-encompassing kit to solve all "

Torx on that!