nxp

Research In Motion hit with patent lawsuit by NXP

Research In Motion got slapped with a patent lawsuit by NXP Semiconductors, Reuters reported today.

The lawsuit deals with patents that relate to design, data transmission, and other features found on RIM's BlackBerry smartphones and PlayBook tablet, Reuters said.

A RIM representative declined to comment to CNET.

It's just the latest problem for RIM, which last week reported another set of disappointing quarterly results as its BlackBerry continues to cede market share to its competitors. RIM shook up the company's management team and opened the door to explore options, including partnerships, licensing deals, and even a sale, … Read more

NFC-enabled car keys do more than open doors

You carry your car keys everywhere, so you may as well put them to work. NXP Semiconductor launched KeyLink Lite, a near field communications-enabled car key that can do a lot more than just unlock doors and start the car.

The KeyLink Lite transfers data between a vehicle and mobile devices or computers. Based on NFC standards and utilizing the 13.56MHz frequency and cryptography, the multifunction car key lets users wave the smart key over an NFC-enabled device to access data. The KeyLink Lite securely stores sensitive data, such as the car's GPS coordinates or destination directions, and … Read more

How secure is your wallet in Google's hands? (FAQ)

Google unveiled its Google Wallet mobile payment plans today, with private field trials starting in San Francisco and New York followed by a public launch sometime during the summer on the Nexus S. The system lets smartphones with NFC (near-field communication) chips use wireless technology to transmit transaction data to special NFC readers at retail stores at very close range.

This means people will eventually be able to wave their Android phones in front of a reader instead of swiping a credit or debit card or using cash. These "electronic wallets" will be a boon for consumer convenience, … Read more

These smart light bulbs heed iOS, Android devices

NXP Semiconductors has developed chipsets for CFL and LED light bulbs that allow the devices to be operated remotely via wireless networks and portable devices, the Dutch chipmaker announced this week.

The GreenChip iCFL chipset for CFLs and GreenChip iSSL chipset for LEDs have been adopted by lighting manufacturer TCP.

The bulbs can be turned on, turned off, or dimmed.

Both chips operate at the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, the low-rate wireless personal area network (LR-WPAN) standard for many wireless networks, including ZigBee, used to support home smart meters, smart appliances, and security systems.

But the bulb chipset has … Read more

D-Day for RFID-based transit card systems

Want to ride the subway for free without having to jump the turnstiles? Well, as of Monday, you'll be able to do that by making a fake transit card.

A scientific paper detailing the security flaws in the Mifare Classic wireless smart card chip used in transit systems around the world is being published by the Radboud University Nijmegen. And a researcher at Humboldt University in Berlin has published a full implementation of the algorithm (PDF).

"Combining these two pieces of information, attacks can now be implemented by anyone," RFID researcher Karsten Nohl told CNET News. "… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 744: A date with Firefox

Firefox 3 comes out June 17, and that's all we have to say, except we hope it fixes Molly's Flash problems so she doesn't have to get a Mac--or Opera. In other news of the day, you can now find out once and for all whether your car mechanic is giving you a good deal. Hint: No.

Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 744

Buzz Out Loud San Francisco Meetup! TONIGHT! http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/780695

Firefox 3 to release 17 June http://developer.mozilla.org/devnews/index.php/2008/06/11/coming-tuesday-june-17th-firefox-3/ http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200824/1225/Mozilla-Corp-confirms-Firefox-3-launch-for-July-17 … Read more

Who profits from semiconductor spin-offs?

We've seen a horde of semiconductor spin-offs these past 10 years. Why all of a sudden? Companies are refocusing on core competencies and unloading unprofitable, sometimes debt-ridden businesses. There's also an ongoing and apparently interminable disaggregation of the electronics industry.

The latest trend is for semiconductor companies to spin off product or application-focused companies. I'm not sure that's always the right move, but you'll see a lot more of that in the coming years.

Here are 10 notable chip divestitures. A bunch of them went public during the tech bubble--exciting for them, not so much for long-term investors who, for the most part, took it in the shorts.… Read more

A different approach to GPS-enabled cameras

Photography's essential use of GPS differs from the typical GPS application in one significant way: You don't need it to tell you where you are, only where you've been. Why does this distinction matter? Because the former requires far more real-time horsepower and precision than the latter does. For digital photography, that translates into the difference between bulky, expensive power-draining solutions or small-footprint, cheap, energy-efficient ones.

At least, that's the thinking behind NXP Software's swGPS technology, and I think it has a lot of merit. With the swGPS software embedded in a camera along with … Read more