Apple loses bid for sales ban in Samsung patent case

A U.S. judge has denied Apple's request for a permanent sales ban in a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung in California.

A U.S. judge has denied Apple's request for a permanent sales ban in a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung in California.

Apple had asked the court to block Samsung from selling phones and tablets that include patented technologies that a jury found Samsung infringed earlier this year.

But in her order Wednesday, Judge Lucy Koh of the federal district court in San Jose, California, said Apple failed to show it suffered "irreparable harm" as a result of Samsung's actions.

"Apple has not established that it suffered significant harm in the form of either lost sales or reputational injury," Koh wrote. Moreover, she said, Apple hasn't shown that the harm it suffered was a direct result of the infringement.

It's another setback for Apple in a high-profile lawsuit that has failed to provide the returns it was looking for. In May, a jury at the San Jose court awarded it just $119.65 million in damages for Samsung's infringement, while Apple had been seeking $2.2 billion. Both companies have challenged parts of the verdict.

The patents at issue in the case include the so-called "slide to unlock" patent and the "auto correct" patent, which covers technology for fixing words as they're typed. The Samsung devices accused of infringement include its Galaxy Nexus smartphone.

Since the May verdict, Apple and Samsung have agreed to a settlement of their disputes outside the U.S., which included lawsuits in nine countries. Their battles in the U.S. continue.

How to prepare your iPhone & iPad for iOS 8: How to upgrade to iOS 8 & advice about whether you should

We bring you advice about how to prepare for the release of iOS 8 next month, including installation tips and advice about whether you should upgrade or not

iOS 8, the next version of Apple's operating system software for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, is expected to be released to the public alongside the iPhone 6 in early September. Here, we bring you advice about how to prepare for the release of iOS 8, including tips about the upgrading process and advice about whether iOS 8 is right for you. See also: 8 new features in iOS 8 that we can't wait for

Many users have been caught out, one way or another, by iOS upgrades in the past. Some have upgraded recklessly and found that they don't like the new iOS, but can't go back because they didn't save the right files beforehand. Others have upgraded on launch day and hit massive server overload, making the process last for hours and occasionally losing apps in the process.

However, we hope that you'll be able to fully prepare for iOS 8 by reading this article and taking the necessary actions to help make upgrading a smooth and pleasant process. See also: Everything you need to know about the iOS 8 beta versions

How to prepare for iOS 8: Which devices are compatible with iOS 8?

First things first: will you be able to download and run iOS 8 at all?

Apple has revealed which devices will be able to run the new software, and we've explained everything you need to know about whether your device is supported in ourWill my iPad or iPhone be able to run iOS 8 article.

How to prepare for iOS 8: 3 things to do before you upgrade

1. Check your connection

Once you've double-checked that your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad is capable of running iOS 8, you'll need to decide how to install the OS. If you plan to install wirelessly, confirm that you have an available WiFi connection.

If you intend to install via iTunes, you need your computer and the latest version of iTunes.

2. Back up your device

To make a backup using your computer, you can go through iTunes. Just plug your device into your computer (or use the WiFi Sync option) and open iTunes.

Once the program is open, click the Devices button, select your device and scroll down in the summary section to Backups. There, under 'Manually Back Up and Restore,' click Back Up Now.

To make a wireless backup directly from your device, you need an iCloud account. Once you're logged in to iCloud, make sure your device is connected to a WiFi network – you can't create a backup over a cellular network. See: iCloud backup tricks for the iPhone and iPad

After you've done so, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup, turn on the iCloud Backup toggle and tap Back Up Now.

Also read: How to manage iCloud Storage and Backup Settings for iOS

3. Make sure you're up to date

We'd also advise you to check that you're up to date with the current iOS 7 updates before iOS 8 arrives. This should help speed up the upgrade process when iOS 8 becomes available. Make sure you've backed up your device as described above, then go to Settings > General > Software Update. Your device will check for updates, and if there are any available you'll be able to click 'Install Now'.

See also: 10 amazing new Messages features in iOS 8

How to upgrade to iOS 8

When iOS 6 launched, Apple somehow underestimated user demand, and its servers struggled to cope. People found that upgrading took them hours and hours. Worse still, some discovered after the upgrade was complete that they had lost some apps.

These days losing apps is less of a worry because most of us download them through iCloud rather than syncing with a Mac. If an app disappears during the upgrade, track it down on the App Store on your iDevice and you should be able to redownload it at no cost. If this doesn't work, get in touch with Apple.

But for the lesser issue of slow upgrades, we’d suggest waiting at least a day before upgrading. This fits in with our general message of caution - you want to read about users’ experience with the new software and try it out on a friend's device or in an Apple store, so it makes to wait. See also: iOS 8 FAQs

How to prepare for the iOS 8 launch: What if I hit problems? 

If even all this preparation isn’t enough to protect you from an unexpected problem - you can't check everything, and it's possible that you didn’t notice some small but crucial element of iOS 7 that's been altered - then don't despair.

Check online for discussion of the problem you’re having, since it's unlikely that you’ll be the only one experiencing it; other users may find a workaround, and there’s a good chance that Apple will deal with the issue in a subsequent update.

Finally, what we said to many iOS 7 haters who discovered that they couldn't downgrade was this: give it a chance. If there are major aesthetic changes, it's likely to feel weird at first. But when we go back to iOS 6 these days it looks horrible. Operating systems can grow on you. See also: New features coming in iOS 8's Camera app

How to prepare for the iOS 8 launch: Downgrading, and saving your blobs

Will you be able to downgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 7 (or, for that matter, iOS 6 or earlier)? Yes, probably - but it won't be easy, if history can teach us anything.

You could downgrade from iOS 7 to iOS 6 in the first weeks after it was unveiled but then the window clanged shut. Right now, the only way to downgrade is if you use one particular model of iPhone, and happened to save your blobs at the right time. Don't know what 'blobs' are? Lots of people don't.

If you're planning on upgrading to iOS 8, it might be worth finding out what they are, and getting into the habit of saving them - although, as I said, it's possible that you still won’t be able to downgrade because you're using the wrong hardware, or because Apple finds a way to close this loophole. Here's how to save your SHSH blobs.

Now, there's been so much annoyance at Apple's strict downgrading policies that it's possible that things will get easier for iOS 8. But don't bet on it. We would suggest reading our article on downgrading from iOS 7 to iOS 6 carefully, to see what files you would need to have saved to pull off that process - maybe you can prepare for the next upgrade in such a way that downgrading is possible. But this isn't guaranteed to work; indeed, reading the article will also give you an idea of how hard it can be to reverse the upgrade, so you know what you're committing to.

Once we know more about iOS's details, we'll update our article How to downgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 7.

How to prepare for the iOS 8 launch: Read the reviews, and try it out if possible

Ultimately the best plan for the iOS 8 launch is to frequently check tech sites you trust for reviews (our iOS 8 review based on the beta is already available to take a look at), with details of new features and design changes from iOS 7, and then if possible (and if one of your friends takes the plunge) try the new software on a friend's device. See also: New features coming to the Mail app in iOS 8

Bear in mind that hardware on the lower fringes of the compatibility list may only just be able to run iOS 8; iOS 7 caused performance problems with the iPhone 4, for instance, and you not get all the new features. Check for user reports from people using the same generation of iPhone or iPad as you.

In other words, make your mind up as far as possible, then upgrade. You don't want to be looking for ways to downgrade afterwards. It may be a free upgrade, but you should treat iOS 8 as a massively expensive purchase - because if you hate it, or your device struggles to run it, you've spoiled your experience with a piece of consumer hardware worth hundreds of pounds.