Week in review: Google defends Android and hoovers up patents; Milton Keynes is rubbish

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Unusually for Britain the sun is shining and temperatures are on the up. This means our thoughts inevitably turn away from servers and software to more frivolous activities such as frolicking in sun-kissed fields, basting slabs of meat in the back garden and ignoring a certain upcoming televised nuptial ceremony.

For those of us hopelessly addicted to the ebbing flow of money, greed, power and energy slurping bits of plastic that is the technology industry, however, a few things caught our eye this week.

Google has lots of money and isn't afraid to use it

Google has bid $900 million for patents from bankrupt Canadian telecoms giant Nortel. This might seem like an odd use of Google's cash hoard, but it's probably a wise investment given the extremely litigious world of smartphones with almost every major player suing each other.

As amused as we are with smartphone patents and patent infringement lawsuits, the incestuous exchange of legal briefs is starting to resemble a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Initially quite fun, it's now all so convoluted that only the most die-hard watchers can keep track of what's going on.

Android schmandroid part 2

Last week we mentioned a Bloomberg article containing claims about Google's attempts to more closely control the Android user experience by placing more restrictions on what handset manufacturers can do.

The resulting torrent of angst, spittle, outrage and comment prompted Google honcho Andy Rubin to blog a defence of the company's actions and how Android still remains open and open source.

The blog post is an interesting read both for what it says and what it doesn't say. Notably, the post doesn't address Bloomberg's claim that Google is now seeking approval rights over changes to Android and denying manufacturers early access to new versions of the operating system if it doesn't get it. Interesting.

3G broadband in Milton Keynes? Don't count on it

It's hard to bring up Milton Keynes in a conversation without incurring the inevitable comments about roundabouts, bland architecture and general urban boredom. If a zombiepocalypse suddenly engulfed the UK, the shuffling, groaning hordes of the undead would probably think twice about a visit to the Buckinghamshire city.

If you do find yourself there you might be tempted to reach for your 3G-enabled smartphone and amuse yourself on the internet by playing that fun game called email. Except Milton Keynes has the slowest 3G connections in the entire country, so you'd be staring at an endless progress bar which would double your already considerable dosage of boredom.

Another reason to avoid Milton Keynes? Although, our News Editor is from Basingstoke so we can't say much...

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