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AT&T Samsung Galaxy S III finesses a potential sales ban with a security update

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AT&T Samsung Galaxy S III finesses a potential sales ban with a security update
A security update to the Samsung Galaxy S III is rolling out for AT&T subscribers, and, besides fixes for a few small issues, like prematurely asking for unlock pin and such, it also "dumbs down" Google's unified search function, making contacts, apps and mail search unavailable there. The same procedure was done with Sprint's version just recently.

Why would Samsung and Google do that, you ask? Well, the patent for these searches on a mobile device is held by Apple, and after the sales ban that the Galaxy Nexus went through recently because of it, Samsung doesn't want to take any chances.

It is a bit ironic to limit a search function in a mobile OS from a company whose bread-and-butter activity is search, but we are sure there will be ways around that, if not by 3rd party apps, then from the modding community. For now, if you accept the OTA update on your AT&T Galaxy S III, know that it will make your text search function rather crippled, but you'll still be able to search for apps, contacts and mail with your voice, which is not part of Apple's patent.

Thanks for the tip, Bryan!

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2. Droid_X_Doug posted on 12 Jul 2012, 03:02 5

Another way to circumvent Apple's patent would be to provide a setting/option selection page/screen where the user could select web or phone as search options.

This whole routine about a patent for unified search is just so much nonsense. It ultimately will be proved invalid, but in the interim....

3. omacmagics posted on 12 Jul 2012, 04:06 4

I can't rap my head around this patented s**t called " universal search " Isn't this Google's idea they used for their search engine way back in 2007??? All Apple did is take the idea from the Google's search engine and implemented it in their phone to work as such, and boldly patented it. Wow! Good going to the idiots at the patent office. There was a time I liked Apple but now I see who they truly are, a bunch of maniacs, thieving, patenting trolls.

10. darkkjedii posted on 12 Jul 2012, 08:51

Ur rite but unfortunately apple patented first. And u know how that goes.

4. bawalove posted on 12 Jul 2012, 05:13 2

what the f***k is all this patent about.....patent on universal search?,i mean this is bulls**t....you dont see this patent war in the pc world ,why is it with mobile phones...is it that there should be only one mobile phone in the world

6. SlimSoulja86 posted on 12 Jul 2012, 06:23 5

Im really beggining to hate Apple, i love technology and innovation, as much as im a fan of some Apple products, im beginning to doubt Apple as a brand and what it stands for. Dont they think they are damaging their image by doing things like these, blocking innovations from blossoming. Feel like smashing my iPhone against the wall, better yet at Tim Cook and go spit on Steve Job's grave, this is a disgrace if u ask me. Then again its just my opinion.

And hell no, i wont smash my iPhone against the wall, its just a thought, luv it stax! But beginning to hate the company behind it and their brand

7. marchels14 posted on 12 Jul 2012, 06:31 4

i hate you apple.you ruined a great phone,apple is only suing everyone,see you in hell apple.

8. roscuthiii posted on 12 Jul 2012, 07:50 1

Who the frig works at the USPTO?! This "universal" search patent needs to be invalidated and the patent office needs an overhaul.
Google, go ahead and do it... just say f**k it and patent "infinite" search. That ought to just about nip it in the bud.

11. spinz posted on 12 Jul 2012, 11:38 1

I think Google should patent having widgets in their android os before apple decide to bring it to their iphones.

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