The week in gadgets


2 Aug 2011

A look at gadget happenings as Apple tries to block Samsung from selling the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, Skype pulls its iPad app and the possible UK release date of the PlayStation Vita is leaked.

Apple attempts to block Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales in Australia

An agreement has been reached to prevent Samsung from selling the Galaxy Tab 10.1 variant in Australia until a patent lawsuit between Apple and Samsung is resolved.

Bloomberg reports that Apple wants Samsung to stop advertising and selling its Android tablet in Australia until the court approves of it doing so. If Apple loses the lawsuit, it will pay Samsung the damages.

Ausdroid has a statement from Samsung, which says that the patent only applies to its US variant of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, which it never intended to sell in Australia.

“No injunction was issued by the court and the parties in the case reached a mutual agreement which stipulates that the variant in question will not be sold in Australia,” said Samsung.

Samsung will still sell the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia and it said it will continue to defend its intellectual property.

Apple claims the Galaxy Tab 10.1 infringes 10 of its patents and seeks to stop Samsung selling the tablet, along with its Galaxy range of smartphones, worldwide.

Skype pulls iPad app after its ‘premature’ release

Skype prematurely uploaded its iPad app to the App Store before being forced to remove it “temporarily.”

“To ensure your best Skype experience, we’ve temporarily removed Skype for iPad which went live prematurely today,” said Skype on its Twitter account.

“We know you’ve been eagerly awaiting Skype for iPad and apologise for the inconvenience.”

The app was expected to appear more than a month ago for the Apple tablet. It will offer video chat over Wi-Fi and 3G and will include phone dialling and text chat.

PlayStation Vita arriving in October?

An advertisement from retailer Blockbuster in the UK has been leaked, suggesting that the PlayStation Vita could be arriving in October.

According to IGN, the flyer states that both the Wi-Fi only and 3G and Wi-Fi versions of Sony’s upcoming portable console will be available on 28 October.

The console will have a 5-inch OLED display and dual analogue sticks. It will have a touch display at the front and a multi-touch pad at the back of the device.

In Ireland, the PlayStation Vita will cost €249 for the Wi-Fi-only model and €299 for the Wi-Fi and 3G model.