Samsung strikes first in the smart ring patent battle against Oura

Photo: Samsung

Samsung isn't waiting for a potential legal fight—it's going on the offensive. The tech giant has filed a preemptive lawsuit against Oura, a leader in the smart ring market, seeking a court declaration that its upcoming Galaxy Ring doesn't infringe on five of Oura's patents.

Samsung accuses Oura of a concerning pattern: suing competitors over features typical to most smart rings, like sensors, batteries, and metric-based scores. The lawsuit cites instances where Oura targeted rivals like Ultrahuman, Circular, and RingConn—sometimes before their products even launched in the US.

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Meta Connect 2024 dates announced

Image: Meta

Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta Connect 2024—a two-day event on September 25-26—via Instagram story. The focus, according to Meta's social media channels, will be on "exploring the future of AI and mixed reality, and sharing progress on building the metaverse."

While details are scarce, Meta's emphasis on AI before mixed reality (XR) seems strategic. Following Google's two-hour AI showcase at I/O 2024, Meta might follow suit, highlighting advancements in its Meta AI and Llama 3 models. This might not excite those solely interested in XR hardware.

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Airbnb partners with ChargePoint to electrify rentals, offering hosts discounts on charging stations

An Airbnb listing with a Kia EV charging out front (Photo: Airbnb)

Electric vehicles (EVs) are rising, and Airbnb is taking steps to ensure its rentals cater to this growing trend. The company has partnered with ChargePoint, an EV infrastructure provider, to offer hosts discounts on charging stations. This move comes as searches using Airbnb's EV charging filter skyrocketed by over 80% year-over-year. The appeal is clear: listings with EV chargers not only get booked for more nights, but they also generate higher income for hosts.

Under the new program, Airbnb hosts in the US will receive significant savings on ChargePoint's EV charging technology. Discounts include up to 36% off on the chargers and an additional US$100 (around CA$137) off on installation costs.

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Apple's iPhone 16 Pro poised to break bezel barrier

Image: Photo

Leaked details suggest Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 Pro series, launching this September, will boast the thinnest bezels ever seen on a smartphone. With the Pro model measuring in at a mere 1.2mm and the Pro Max even slimmer at 1.15mm (compared to the iPhone 15 Pro's 1.71mm), these phones will push the boundaries of display real estate.

This significant reduction surpasses not only the current iPhone lineup but also competitors like the Galaxy S24 series. It's a major step towards the long-desired bezel-less phone design.

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