Google Pixel Phone Patent
"Google patent could mean that future Pixel phones will sport a rear touchpad"…"Google writes in its filing, "It would be advantageous to have an improved touch sensitive surface that offers additional modes of operation." This rear touchpad could handle many different tasks depending on the app or operation that the user currently has open.
For example, if a music app is open, the rear touchpad would control music volume. If the browser was in use, the rear touchpad could allow the user to zoom in and out or scroll through web pages, all without having to touch the front screen."
Google lures Apple chip Designer away:
Google Hires Veteran Chip Designer Away From Apple to Build Custom Chips For Pixel Smartphones
Tuesday June 13, 2017 8:55 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Google has hired veteran chip architect Manu Gulati, who worked at Apple for the past eight years, according to Variety. Gulati is now a Lead SOC Architect at Google, where he began in May, according to his recently updated LinkedIn profile.
Google buys entire HTC Team:
Google Buys the Pixel R&D Team from HTC for $1.1 Billion
The company also acquired all the patents they needed
Sep 21, 2017 06:45 GMT · By Silviu Stahie · Share:
Google will purchase a part of HTC’s team that worked on the Pixel and Pixel XL devices for the measly sum of $1.1 billion.
The Pixel line of devices have been a success for Google, and it’s clear that the company is moving forward in building its own phones, without the help of other businesses. As it stands right now, that might be difficult to achieve from scratch. They lack the manpower and expertise, but they do have a lot of money.
Everyone thought that Google would simply buy HTC when the phone maker announced yesterday that it’s halting all stock transactions. A takeover seemed imminent. It turns out that Google doesn’t really need the entire company, but only the people working for it.
"It’s like buying your own sports team"
Google decided to buy just the “Powered by HTC” team, which worked at the Pixel and Pixel 2 devices. It seems a little odd to buy just the people and not the company, although this is something that happens in sports all the time. All in all, about 2000 employees will move from HTC to Google.
What’s even more interesting is that HTC will continue to make its line of flagship phones and that Google also made a non-exclusive license deal for various patents.
“HTC will continue to have best-in-class engineering talent, which is currently working on the next flagship phone, following the successful launch of the HTC U11 earlier this year,” reads the announcement from the company.
"Partnership with Valve is intact, for now"
HTC also specifically mentioned their VIVE virtual reality business, which is developed in collaboration with Valve, and said that it’s not going to be affected, although it might be the kind of statement that should not be needed. It was most likely for the benefit of the shareholders.