Intel may owe quite a bit of cash to a semiconductor company that hasn’t existed for 20 years. A Texas jury has asked Intel to pay $2.18 billion for infringing two patents owned by VLSI Technology, according to Bloomberg . VLSI seemingly rose from the dead in 2019 specifically to sue. The last time it was an independent company was in 1999, when Philips purchased the semiconductor design firm for $1 billion . Its assets later traveled to Philips spinoff NXP (which you may know from its tap-to-pay NFC chips, among other things). NXP will reportedly get some of Intel’s money, too. One of VLSI’s claims to fame was being part of the original project with Apple and Acorn to produce the first ARM processors — and the ARM company — responsible for the underpinnings of the chips that now appear in every smartphone, most tablets, and a growing number of laptops and servers. how it started: how it’s going: pic.twitter.com/R5bPcH1aOQ — Ken Shirriff (@kenshirriff) … [Read more...] about A jury says Intel owes $2.18 billion for infringing a zombie chip company’s patents
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The best home security systems of 2021: From DIY devices to professionally monitored systems
Tectonic shifts have shaken the home security industry over the past 15 years. Traditional, professionally installed and monitored systems like ADT and Comcast Xfinity, which have been around for decades in some cases, have been forced to make room for brash new competitors. Affordable and accessible DIY systems and standalone internet-connected devices like cameras , smart locks and video doorbells have all elbowed their way into the space and captured consumer attention. It's not just dedicated home security developers muscling into the industry, either. Tech giants like Amazon, Google and Apple have acquired smaller security-focused companies and launched their own gadgets for years now. Smarten up Get the best reviews, videos and comparisons in CNET's Smart Home and Appliances newsletter. What's more, new technologies often mean new vulnerabilities, whether it's the rise in package theft that has accompanied Amazon delivery's explosive growth or the … [Read more...] about The best home security systems of 2021: From DIY devices to professionally monitored systems
Intel told to pay $2.2 billion in patent infringement lawsuit
In a nutshell: Intel has been ordered to pay $2.18 billion in damages to VLSI Technology LLC, marking one of the largest awards in patent-infringement trial history. As reported by Bloomberg Law , a jury in Waco, Texas, ruled that Intel must pay $1.5 billion for infringement of one patent and $675 million for the second. Tom's Hardware tracked down the processor-related patents in question, finding that the ' 759 patent ' describes clock speed management, and the ' 373 patent ' is a method to reduce the memory's minimum operating voltage. NXP Semiconductors Inc. had owned the patents before VLSI bought them in 2019. The Dutch chipmaker, which was spun out of Philips, will receive a cut of the award. The patents were initially issued to Freescale Semiconductor Inc. and SigmaTel Inc. before NXP bought the firms. Intel lawyer William Lee told jurors that VLSI, founded four years ago, has no products, and its only potential revenue is this lawsuit, suggesting the firm … [Read more...] about Intel told to pay $2.2 billion in patent infringement lawsuit
Australia Finds 2 Objects That May Be From Missing Malaysia Airlines Plane
Highlights: 3 things you need to know now Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said satellites have detected two objects of significant size — about 79 feet — floating about 1,500 miles from Perth. Australian aircraft are already searching the area. Assistance from the U.S. and New Zealand is on its way. Although it's the most solid and credible lead so far, Abbott is still cautious. Search teams are on their way to investigate two objects that may have come from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 after they appeared on satellite imagery, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said. A Royal Australian Air Force plane has already arrived in the area — about 1,553 miles southwest of Perth — but so far it has only reported weather conditions, and hasn't yet seen any debris due to low visibility. Three more aircrafts and a ship that is equipped to recover debris are also en route. New Zealand and the U.S. Navy are both helping with the search effort. See also: The Tiny … [Read more...] about Australia Finds 2 Objects That May Be From Missing Malaysia Airlines Plane