Apple is trying to patent a gesture unlock method that’s dangerously close to Android

For the last couple of weeks, in a courtroom in California, Apple has been trying to convince jurors to award it hundreds of millions of dollars as compensation for Samsung’s alleged infringement of its infamous slide-to-unlock patent.

Meanwhile, the Cupertino-based company is applying for two patents on a screen unlocking method which channels a feature that Android had for years.

Unlock pattern on a Motorola Droid (2010) running Android 2.0.1

To be clear, Apple is not trying to patent the specific gesture unlock system we know from Android. It probably couldn’t, as the prior art is undeniable. Rather than that, the company is proposing an evolution of the idea of drawing a specific pattern across a matrix of elements to unlock a mobile device.

Apple’s idea is to make the matrix of dots configurable and to add invisible dots, that the user would need to be aware of in order to enter the correct pattern. The applications also mention variations in the pattern entry, such as different speeds and pauses, that would add an element of complexity, making it much harder for an unauthorized user to guess the pattern. The system also includes a pattern strength meter, similar to the password strength meters used on many sites.

To be granted a patent, an invention must be novel and non-trivial. Apple’s applications may meet these conditions, at least at first glance. The US Patent and Trademark Office will decide if indeed these core conditions are satisfied.

Apple has clearly channeled the Android implementation of pattern unlock, and arguably enhanced it. There’s nothing wrong with that, as there’s nothing wrong with protecting one’s ideas with patents.

But these patent applications do raise a question – why? It seems unlikely that Apple would adopt pattern unlock for its devices, with Touch ID being well received on the iPhone and rumored to come to the iPads. Adopting the feature would also expose Apple to accusations of copying and, potentially, legal action from Google, who holds several patents on pattern unlock.

So if Apple won’t (or can’t) use pattern unlock on its devices, why would it try to patent this evolution of the idea? Probably just to make it unavailable to competitors. If Apple is granted the patents it seeks, Google would have a harder time enhancing pattern unlock to make it more secure or more useful for Android users.

If that’s the case, we’re again witnessing one of the uglier sides of the tech industry. Of course, it’s not just Apple that’s resorting to preventive patenting, as the entire industry is furiously seeking legal protection even for the most insignificant features. The problem is users are hardly winning anything from this state of affairs.

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How to root the Galaxy S5 – updated CF-Root method

If you keep an eye on XDA Developers you'd know that root for the Galaxy S5 appeared not long after the device was made available to the press courtesy of senior XDA Developer Chainfire. CF-Root is the ''easy root'' method for those new to the process and Chainfire has just updated the method to cover more S5 models. If you're looking to root your S5 and remove some of that Samsung bloatware, here's how to do it.

Rooting the Galaxy S5 is super easy thanks to Chainfire's CF-Auto-Root tool. / © AndroidPIT

Prerequisites

First up, you need to make sure you have a supported Galaxy S5 variant. The list is below. You'll also need Chainfire's CF-Auto-Root tool which will install SuperSU (binary and APK) and stock recovery on your S5. The zip file also includes Odin v3.07.

Note: rooting your device increases your flash counter and trips Knox's warranty flag, meaning you lose your warranty, so don't take this step lightly if you are not comfortable with this. This root method also disables Private mode, which Loie explained yesterday. Do not try this root method on any device other than the following:

SM-G900F (International Qualcomm)
SM-G900H (International Exynos)
SM-G900I (Oceania)
SM-G900M (Middle and South America)
SM-G900R4 (US Cellular)
SM-G900T (T-Mobile US)
SM-G900P (Sprint)
SM-G900T1 (Metro PCS)
SM-G900W8 (Canada)

As always, neither AndroidPIT, myself, Chainfire, the old gods or the new will accept any responsibility for any damage done to your device using the following process.

How to root Galaxy S5

1. Assuming your device model is in the list above (go to Settings > About Device Model Number) install the USB drivers for your device on your computer, download CF-Auto-Root.zip and extract it. You should see the following contents:

When you extract the CF-Root zip file you should see the above contents (this is for the G900F). / © AndroidPIT

2. Open Odin (which is included in the zip), click on the PDA field and browse to the following file (from the zip file you extracted earlier): CF-Auto-Root-klte-kltexx-smg900f.tar.md5 (this is the file for the G900F, if you have a different model you will have a slightly different md5 file name). Do NOT check the re-partition box.

This is Odin v3.07. You may have a newer version, but this is the version included in Chainfire's zip file. © AndroidPIT

3. On your device, boot into Download Mode. From a powered off state, press and hold Volume Down and the Home button and then press Power. You'll see a warning screen, from here just press Volume Up to enter Download Mode.

© AndroidPIT

4. Connect your S5 via USB cable and ensure Odin has recognized your phone is attached. Again, ensure repartition is NOT checked.

© AndroidPIT

5. Hit Start and wait for Odin to do its thing. Your S5 will restart and Odin will display a Pass message. You should now have SuperSU installed on your device. If not, you can simply install it from the Play Store. To confirm you now have root access on your S5, just use the classic Root Checker app. That's it. If you have any problems, head over to Chainfire's XDA thread for issues and solutions.

Have you rooted your Galaxy S5? What are your main reaosn for rooting?

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Chainfire’s Galaxy S5 root method now works with US Cellular, T-Mobile and several other models

Even though the Samsung Galaxy S5 is just now touching down to retailers across the globe, the handset has actually had a root method in place for nearly a month thanks to the efforts of well-known developer Chainfire!

When we first reported on Chainfire’s root method, it only directly supported Galaxy S5 model SM-G900F. Fast-forwarding to today, Chainfire has now formally added a few other models to the support list: SM-900H (International Exynos), SM-G900M (Middle and South America), SM-G900R4 (US Cellular), SM-G900T (T-Mobile US), SM-G900T1 (Metro PCS) and SM-G900W8 (Canada).

So what’s involved here? Chainfire’s method is designed to be as beginner friendly as possible and utilizes the latest version of the CF-Auto-Root tool. Once downloaded, the tool can be flashed to your device using Samsung’s ODIN on your PC. The process works by temporarily modifying your device’s recovery, it then installs the SuperSU app and re-flashes your recovery back to stock form.

For more detailed instructions and to grab the proper files, you’ll want to head on over to the XDA developer forum. Has anyone already tried out Chainfire’s CF-Auto-Root method on any of the above-model Galaxy S5 devices? If so, let us know how it went.

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IN 5 Productivity Tool – Indie app of the day

Use the "Gas or Brake" Method to Make Better Spending Decisions

When it comes to saving for the future, we all know we should, but getting in the mindset of doing it is the real trick. Finance blog Early Retirement Extreme offers a mental test for all spending decisions: will this press the accelerator towards your financial goals, or the brakes?

It's one thing for us to view our financial decisions as a worthwhile indulgence. It's another to assume that, because we've socked $20 away this month, that all of our other purchases are valid because, "Well, I saved!" To get a perspective on what's really getting in your way, Early Retirement Extreme offers a simple analogy:

A very simple way to think about personal finance, and this is really all you need to learn, is to think of yourself as driving a car towards a destination. Let's assume the car is an automatic. Then it will have an accelerator and a brake. For every action, you take, you have to stop and consider this: If I do this; if I engage in this activity am I pressing the accelerator or the brake?

...To get ahead, you must either press the accelerator harder or ease on the brake. Apparently lots of people are not fully aware of just how hard they're flooring the brake. Therefore try this exercise. Every time you touch something, ask yourself whether this item has accelerated your income or whether it has decreased your savings.

Of course, we all have to hit the brakes sometimes. However, if you can count $1,000 worth of braking decisions every month versus $100 worth of acceleration, it may be time to re-evaluate your priorities.

The real reason it is so easy/hard to get ahead | Early Retirement Extreme via Rockstar Finance

Photo by Tim.

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