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  • Top 5 Best Car Warranties 2018

    Top 5 Best Car Warranties 2018

    Car warranties are agreements that cover vehicle malfunctions and defects for a certain period of time. For new cars, warranties generally protect the owner from paying repair costs for an average of three years, or 60,000 miles driven, from the date of purchase.

    When the warranty expires, or when purchasing a used vehicle, drivers can opt for the security of an extended warranty from an independent provider.

    Car warranties are best for people unable to cover the large potential costs associated with a sudden repair, which can amount to thousands of dollars. Without a warranty, and depending on the severity of the breakdown, it may sometimes be more cost-efficient to replace the car entirely. Depending on the plan, warranties are also useful as they provide services like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement.

    When selecting a car warranty, consider the vehicle’s specific coverage needs. There are three main types of coverage: powertrain, inclusionary, and exclusionary. Powertrain warranties only cover the main generative components, and are the least comprehensive. Inclusionary warranties provide a list of specifically covered components. Exclusionary warranties are the most comprehensive, and therefore will usually only list what is not covered rather than what is.

    Finally, before committing to a car warranty agreement, look at the fine print, and make sure you understand all the terms of the contract. Some good questions to ask include: How long is the initial enrollment waiting period? Which documents are needed to file a claim? Are repairs covered by the warranty company, or are they reimbursed later? Will deductibles be charged?

    Our Top Picks

    #1. Endurance

    • 24/7 roadside assistance
    • 350,000 certified mechanics in US and Canada
    • Vehicles up to 160,000 miles
    • 30-day money back guarantee
    • Rental car benefits
    • Waiting period
    • No upfront payments
    • Consistently #1 in customer satisfaction

    #2. CarChex
    • Wide selection of extended warranty plans
    • 150,000 miles
    • 10 year vehicles
    • Corporate credit card payments
    • 30 day money back guarantee
    • Deductibles

    #3. Infinite Auto Protection
    • Online quote process
    • 30 days money back guarantee
    • Cars with up to 150,000 miles
    • 24/7 claims processing
    • 100% payment of all covered repairs minus applicable deductibles
    • Call center hours are Monday–Thursday, 9am-6pm GMT-4 and Friday 9am-1pm GMT-4

    #4. Complete Car Warranty
    • A+, BBB Accredited Business
    • Get instant quote online
    • Accepted at all dealers and mechanics
    • Unlimited repair claims
    • Full protection for up to 60% off of dealer prices

    #5. AutoPom!
    • Licensed California Agents
    • Specializing in CA mechanical breakdown insurance
    • Offers vehicle service contracts in most states nationwide
    • Unlimited starting mileage (most brands up to 14 years old)
    • 30 or 60 day money back guarantee
    • Rental car assistance
    • 24/7 roadside assistance
    • Choose your own repair facility
    • Consultative, low-pressure selling style
    • A+ BBB Accredited


  • Galaxy Note 9 and Other Top Android Phones

    If you’re looking for the very best Android phones, odds are good the name Galaxy has come up a lot in your searches. Of course, Galaxy is an awesome brand. However, it’s not the only game in Android! Today, we’re looking at the top Android phones!

    Top Android Phones

    5. OnePlus Six

    One Plus Six equals a great phone, not seven! This Chinese smartphone maker is a well-respected name in the Far East. Sporting a great portrait mode, a bright, vivid display and a good price tag, this is hard to beat. You can get the OnePlus Six online for around $650, making it a pretty reasonable purchase for a high-end Android smartphone. The only downsides are no waterproofing and unavailability on Verizon and Sprint.

    4. Huawei P20 Pro

    Stellar cameras make this a must-have for shutterbugs. The three cameras can snap amazing photos in low light, making it great for those night owls. It’s a little pricey, at around $760 or more, but it’s a rather premium device. It lacks a headphone jack and doesn’t support wireless charging, though, so that’s a bummer.

    3. LG V30

    LG is a perennial smartphone maker for a reason: they make good products. The V30 is no exception: it’s waterproof, sports a great camera and has exceptional battery life. There’s a lot to love about this little wonder! The ergonomics are a bit lacking, sadly, making this a slightly awkward phone to hold. That said, it’s still a great purchase at $650, easily one of the best Android phones on the market.

    2. Samsung Galaxy S9

    Unsurprisingly, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy phone snags the number 2 spot. It’s not as expensive as it was, coming in around $620. That said, it’s got premium features: wireless charging, water resistance and a blazing fast processor all make this phone great. The face-unlock feature is a joke, though, clearly a rushed attempt to match Apple’s Face ID. However, it’s a small spot for an otherwise stellar phone.

    1. Samsung Galaxy Note 9

    The current cream of the crop when it comes to Android phones, the Galaxy Note 9 is a beast. The huge, gorgeous display catches the eye, and looks great in any lighting. The S Pen is awesome for productivity, allowing you to doodle and scribble and take notes. The built-in Bluetooth button on the pen can allow for some neat remote functionality, too. It can be a shutter for the selfie cam, flip the pages in a slideshow presentation and more.

    Oh, did we mention the Dex mode that emulates a desktop? Yeah, this phone is so strong it can pass as a laptop for a second. That said, you pay for these features: the Galaxy Note 9 retails for $1,000, the same as the iPhone X. That’s a huge price for this huge phone! However, you get what you pay for, as this is easily the best Android phone on the market.

  • Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    The 128GB Galaxy Note 9 can be purchased through carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity, along with Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target, Walmart, Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app.

    The Great

    • Slamtastic Screen
    • Instalike worthy camera
    • Adequate long battery
    • Interesting new S-Pen tricks
    • All the Specs needed

    The Conclusion

    The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s Ultimate cry for tech geek attention. It has all the specs, a gigantic, magnificent, Fortnite worthy screen, a Bluetooth-powered S Pen, and a headphone jack… you know just all the essentials on the checklist for the kind of Android user that Samsung is targeting with a Note update. It’s a Phablets lover’s dream come true!

    I’m sure we all remember the note 7 scandle, but that is all history for the Galaxy Note brand. That was two years ago, this is the Note 9 we are talking about today.

    Galaxy Note 9 puts powerful technology in the hands of the tech geeks and gamers who demand more powerful and more screen from their smartphones. It certainly boast Innovative features and design make it the only phone to keep up with the next generation of users. Yes the rumors we have been telling you are true. Packed with a huge battery, a massive screen, and a powerful stylus, the Note 9 has more of everything than any other phone on the US market.

    How does it look and feel

    It’s large, I mean this phone is obscenely large. And when you put it in a case, it will become a liability. This is not a one-handed phone for any but the largest hands. Samsung moved the fingerprint sensor so no longer will the Note 9 fit into Note 8 case. On the bright side no more inadvertently smudging the camera lens.

    The Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4-inch quad HD Super AMOLED curved screen, and USB-C and standard headphone jacks, it is IP68 Waterproof. We have been through this, the checklist of required wants and needs are covered. Not only that but it is stunning, think Charlene Theron on the red carpet elegant.

    No 5g on The Galaxy Note 9

    We have talked about 5G coming next year, Don’t get hung up on that; it will be another year before 5G is widespread and before chipset makers work out the power-management kinks that come with new wireless data systems. Yes write that down you are hearing it here first. Next year’s Note 10 will be 5G. Wanna wait that long? Anyways, The existing X20 modem get speeds up to 700Mbps with the right carrier setup, showing there’s still plenty of room in 4G. That’ll do, That’ll do just fine.

    Sounds and Stuff

    The Note 9 brings the S9+’s dual speakers to the Note line. The two speakers are by the earpiece, and along the bottom. Compared to the previous Note 8’s single bottom speaker, the speakers here aren’t much louder but clarity and treble are off the charts. Outside of the iPhone X I don’t think I have heard a better device speaker.

    The Biggest Difference

    The Galaxy Note 9’s biggest upgrade is its enhanced and gargantuan 4,000mAh battery hit it with a 10-hour battery test video. Yes you know the one where I leave it on the10 hour loop of He-Man singing 4 non blondes “what’s going on”. Results, 13% left, astounding. This leads me into projecting screen-on battery life out to 12 and half hours. That Destroys all other flagship smartphone on the market. The battery is significantly larger than the one in the Galaxy S9+ (3,500mAh, 10+ hours), the Galaxy Note 8 (3,300mAh, 6 hours), or the Galaxy Note 5 (3,020mAh, 8 hours and 30 minutes).

    Quick Speck Look

    • Graphics Mali-G72 MP18
    • Processor Octa core (2.7 GHz, Quad core, M3 Mongoose + 1.7 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A55)
    • Architecture 64 bit
    • Ram 6 GB
    • Audio Features Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
    • Display Type Super AMOLED
    • Aspect Ratio 18.5:9
    • Screen Size 6.4 inches (16.26 cm)
    • Screen Resolution 1440 x 2960 pixel

    The Final Thought

    The screen alone will improve your Fortnite results instantly giving you an unfair advantage over any other player on a regular smartphone.


  • Locked or Unlocked Smartphone: Which is Right for You?

    Locked or Unlocked Smartphone: Which is Right for You?

    The history of phone carriers has been pretty cut-and-dry. If you want a new phone, you go through a carrier. Carriers dictate which phones you can and can’t get, and you usually have to lock into a contract with them to get the phone. Typically, once that contract is up, you can’t really do much with the phone, as it’s locked in with the old carrier. However, in recent years, a new trend in phones is emerging. Lately, it’s much more appealing to many customers to buy unlocked versions of the phones they want. An unlocked smartphone is one that doesn’t require you use a specific carrier and can opt to use whichever you want. What are some of the pros and cons of using an unlocked smartphone, and how you can get one!

    How to Get an Unlocked Smartphone

    One of the simplest ways to get an unlocked phone is just to go through the phone’s manufacturer. If you want an unlocked iPhone X, for instance, you can get one from Apple. The same goes for Google Pixel and Huawei, to name a few. Another way to get an unlocked phone would be to buy one from a distributor, like Amazon or Best Buy. After buying one, you’ll have to get a carrier SIM card to use it.  Typically, it costs the same to buy an unlocked phone as it does to buy a locked one. That said, resale on an unlocked phone is usually higher, as it can be used on any carrier.

    All four major carriers (AT&T, Spring, T-Mobile and Verizon) have “bring your own phone” plans, but not every phone works on every network. Check the carrier you’d like to use and make sure you can use the phone you want on it!

    Pros to Using an Unlocked Phone

    The pros for having an unlocked phone are numerous. The most obvious, of course, is that you can use them on any network. This means that you can swap your SIM card for another one on the fly when you travel, letting you avoid exorbitant international charges. Additionally, you can pick from a much wider selection of phones when you’re buying unlocked. You’re not stuck with what specific carriers have available, so you can get whatever phone you like!

    Cons to Unlocked Phones

    Typically, when you buy an unlocked phone, you pay full MSRP for it. Carrier often offer incentives for going through them and signing contracts. Financing is usually available for unlocked phones, but you still can usually find some considerable discounts when going for a locked phone. Make sure to do your research on the individual phone you’re looking at to make sure you get the best deal!

  • Moto G6 Feature Roundup: Surprisingly High-End for Low Price

    Moto G6 Feature Roundup: Surprisingly High-End for Low Price

    Normally, if you want a high-end phone, you have to pay high-end money. In the case of the new Moto G6, though, that’s not quite the case. Motorola’s been making handsets for years now, but this may be their best balancing act yet. In nearly every respect, this is a step up from the G5 of last year. For the price, you’re not going to find a better smartphone value. 

    Upgrades This Year 

    If you’ve used a Moto G5, you know that it’s a great budget phone. However, this phone is an upgrade in nearly every way. This year’s model comes with a USB-C port instead of micro-USB, for one. For another, it sports two cameras, allowing for portrait mode photos (which are totally in right now, just check Instagram). The design has been modernized, too, with an ultra-long 18×9 display and curved edges. Not to mention, that smooth, enviable Gorilla Glass back. If those design notes sound familiar, it’s because they echo the excellent (if pricey) iPhone X.  

    The Downsides 

    The drawbacks to this phone aren’t numerous and are mostly forgiven for the low price point. For one, it has a relatively small battery when compared to the G5. That alone isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s a slight bummer. It does support Turbo Charging through its USB-C port, though! The only other drawback is the somewhat lackluster camera. But, at the low price, it’s hard to fault this phone much for those gripes. 

    Moto G6: Bottom Line 

    The final word on this phone? For $250, you’re not going to find a more premium-feeling phone. If you like the Android operating system and want a great deal on a modern phone, you should check out the Moto G6. If you’re in the market for something that is a bit more premium, of course, the Samsung Galaxy family of phones is probably more your speed. However, if you’re not looking to spend a fortune on a smartphone but don’t want to look like you didn’t, this is the phone for you. 

  • Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    The 128GB Galaxy Note 9 can be purchased through carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity, along with Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target, Walmart, Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app.

    The Great

    • Slamtastic Screen
    • Instalike worthy camera
    • Adequate long battery
    • Interesting new S-Pen tricks
    • All the Specs needed

    The Not

    • Way, way too pricey
    • Possibilities of Violent Explosions

    The Conclusion

    The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s Ultimate cry for tech geek attention. It has all the specs, a gigantic, magnificent, Fortnite worthy screen, a Bluetooth-powered S Pen, and a headphone jack… you know just all the essentials on the checklist for the kind of Android user that Samsung is targeting with a Note update. It’s a Phablets lover’s dream come true, if it doesn’t kill you

    Who still remembers the terror Samsung bestowed amongst the world two years ago? Who remembers when the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 launched to much fanfare with ravastious acclimates from all. Shouting from the heavens this is sciences gift to man. A short while after the device made it into the worlds hands the batteries violently exploded it was seemed like a coordinated terrorist attack.

    Y’all remember when that happened? At the time, Samsung had initially responded with assurances that it was an isolated problem that it would handle on a case-by-case basis, but eventually realized the issue was beyond control. Eventually, it issued a full recall for all Note 7 devices around the world. That was two years ago, this is the Note 9 we are talking about today.

    Galaxy Note 9 puts powerful technology in the hands of the tech geeks and gamers who demand more powerful and more screen from their smartphones. It certainly boast Innovative features and design make it the only phone to keep up with the next generation of users. Yes the rumors we have been telling you are true. Packed with a huge battery, a massive screen, and a powerful stylus, the Note 9 has more of everything than any other phone on the US market.

    How does it look and feel

    It’s large, I mean this phone is obscenely large. And when you put it in a case, it will become a liability. This is not a one-handed phone for any but the largest hands. Samsung moved the fingerprint sensor so no longer will the Note 9 fit into Note 8 case. On the bright side no more inadvertently smudging the camera lens.

    The Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4-inch quad HD Super AMOLED curved screen, and USB-C and standard headphone jacks, it is IP68 Waterproof. We have been through this, the checklist of required wants and needs are covered. Not only that but it is stunning, think Charlene Theron on the red carpet elegant.

    No 5g on The Galaxy Note 9

    We have talked about 5G coming next year, Don’t get hung up on that; it will be another year before 5G is widespread and before chipset makers work out the power-management kinks that come with new wireless data systems. Yes write that down you are hearing it here first. Next year’s Note 10 will be 5G. Wanna wait that long? Anyways, The existing X20 modem get speeds up to 700Mbps with the right carrier setup, showing there’s still plenty of room in 4G. That’ll do, That’ll do just fine.

    Sounds and Stuff

    The Note 9 brings the S9+’s dual speakers to the Note line. The two speakers are by the earpiece, and along the bottom. Compared to the previous Note 8’s single bottom speaker, the speakers here aren’t much louder but clarity and treble are off the charts. Outside of the iPhone X I don’t think I have heard a better device speaker.

    The Biggest Difference

    The Galaxy Note 9’s biggest upgrade is its enhanced and gargantuan 4,000mAh battery hit it with a 10-hour battery test video. Yes you know the one where I leave it on the10 hour loop of He-Man singing 4 non blondes “what’s going on”. Results, 13% left, astounding. This leads me into projecting screen-on battery life out to 12 and half hours. That Destroys all other flagship smartphone on the market. The battery is significantly larger than the one in the Galaxy S9+ (3,500mAh, 10+ hours), the Galaxy Note 8 (3,300mAh, 6 hours), or the Galaxy Note 5 (3,020mAh, 8 hours and 30 minutes).

    Quick Speck Look

    • Graphics Mali-G72 MP18
    • Processor Octa core (2.7 GHz, Quad core, M3 Mongoose + 1.7 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A55)
    • Architecture 64 bit
    • Ram 6 GB
    • Audio Features Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
    • Display Type Super AMOLED
    • Aspect Ratio 18.5:9
    • Screen Size 6.4 inches (16.26 cm)
    • Screen Resolution 1440 x 2960 pixel

    The Final Thought

    If this thing doesn’t explode in our face we have a monster here. The screen alone will improve your Fortnite results instantly giving you an unfair advantage over any other player on a regular smartphone. It’s the battery though, it’s just too good to be true. Add in their shaky past and it’s something to be weary off.


  • HTC U12 Plus: Too Ambitious For its Own Good?

    HTC U12 Plus: Too Ambitious For its Own Good?

    The highly unusual and ambitious HTC U12 Plus is here. What’s the verdict? Well, it’s certainly weird. Let’s get into the specifics.  

    Buttonless Design 

    The lack of buttons on this phone is a lot more awkward than it needs to be. While the design decision makes sense, given that real buttons act as weak points in normal phones, the execution is poor. It feels forced, like it was a box to be checked off on a list titled “futuristic phone features.” While the side-squeeze customization is nice, it’s tiring to use. Being able to call up specific apps by squeezing the phone is certainly unique though, and we hope to see similar designs incorporated into future phones. It is worth wondering if the phone wouldn’t have been better off just having normal buttons. 

    Screen and Cameras 

    The screen is large and pretty, which is to be expected from a modern smartphone. It looks fine and is truly nothing special. It washes out in direct sunlight, unfortunately, making it feel a bit cheaper than most modern smartphones.  

    Similarly, the cameras are fine. You won’t be taking studio-quality pictures or filming any breathtaking footage, but they’ll suffice. The phone uses a dual-camera setup that works pretty well, which, again, is to be expected. It offers bokeh-style portraits, which has become industry standard, and they look quite good.  

    HTC U12 Plus Processor 

    HTC’s newest phone sports a Snapdragon 845 processor, which makes it speedy and responsive. It keeps up with modern smartphones like the Galaxy S9, but lags behind the iPhone X’s excellent A11 Bionic processor. That said, so does every other phone currently on the market, so it’s hard to knock the U12 Plus too much in that regard. 

    Battery Life 

    The battery life on the HTC U12 Plus is a joke, which is a shame. Testing has shown that the phone barely gets through 12 hours of video playback. This means you’ll have to charge it daily, and if you watch videos or play games often, consider carrying a charger with you. This would have disappointing in 2008, and it’s inexcusable in 2018. 

    Bottom Line 

    HTC’s newest phone costs $800 for the 64GB model, or $850 for the 128GB version. For a phone that is as awkward and disappointing as this, that price point is a deal breaker. Unless you particularly love the idea of a button-free phone, give this one a pass. Check out the Galaxy S9 or iPhone X for better phones in this price range, you won’t be disappointed. 

  • Red Hydrogen One Smartphone Promises to be “Holographic”

    Red Hydrogen One Smartphone Promises to be “Holographic”

    Holograms are a mainstay of sci-fi film and fiction. When you hear “hologram,” I’m sure you’re thinking of Darth Sidious appearing as a ghostly image to threaten Darth Vader. Or maybe you think of hardlight constructions like Halo’s Cortana. Well, the Red Hydrogen One smartphone promises to be holographic, but not like that.  

    Holohraphic Means Depth, This Time 

    According to early reports of the phone, it’s not so much holographic as it is three-dimensional. Looking into the display, things have a depth to them that is impressive for naked-eye viewing. This sounds like a refinement of the technology that powered the Nintendo 3DS. The technology is referred to as “4V holographic,” and is still in its early stages. However, Red seems confident that filmmakers and game makers will be excited for the platform.  

    Red Hydrogen One Specs 

    The Red Hydrogen One will be available on Verizon and AT&T plans. The phone boasts some impressive specifications, like its Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and A3D Spatial Surround sound. It comes in two configurations, one that’s aluminum and one that’s titanium. The phone has an industrial, hard-edge look to it and reports say that it feels heavy and sturdy. Red, well-known for their high-end cameras used in Hollywood films, seems poised to compete with Apple and Samsung in the premium smart phone space.  

    Release Details 

    The phone is slated to ship sometime later this summer. Preliminary reports say that the two constructions will be priced differently. The aluminum-bodied version will go for $1,295, while the titanium one will be $1,595. Wait a minute, sixteen hundred dollars for a smart phone? Red must be incredibly satisfied with the way their holographic screen looks. Since they’ve priced their phone as even more expensive than the iPhone X, Red must be confident. Later this summer, when the experimental holographic smartphone arrives, we’ll find out whether it’s worth the investment.  

  • Facebook Remains Popular, but Not Among Teenagers

    Facebook Remains Popular, but Not Among Teenagers

    A Pew Research Center study has collected some interesting data regarding teenagers’ online usage. Surprisingly, teens are using Facebook much less in recent years. What did the study find they were using more? And what other sites have less teens engaged with them than they used to? 

    What Sites Are Teenagers Visiting?  

    The poll shows that the sites receiving the most teen visitors are YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat. 32 percent of teens stated they used YouTube most of the time, while Snapchat snagged 35 percent of teens and Instagram got 15 percent. Facebook, by comparison, was only 10 percent of teens’ most visited sites.  

    Which Other Sites are Receiving Less Teen Visitors? 

    Other sites once regarded as teenage destinations online are also seeing less traffic from that age group. Tumblr, a popular blogging site, barely showed up in the poll. The same goes for Twitter, which is quite surprising, and Reddit. It seems that teens are mostly drawn to visual apps, finding their entertainment in pictures, videos and music, not text-based apps that are more static. 

    Other Findings 

    Other interesting findings in the study include smartphone ownership. A positively massive 95 percent of teenagers polled stated they had a smartphone. With regards to internet usage, 45 percent of the teens thought that it had neither a positive nor a negative impact on their lives. This relative disinterest in the medium with which many of them spend all their time is concerning.  

    What Does this Mean?

    What do you make of these findings? Were you surprised at the apps they’re using more often, and how little they’re using Facebook now? Is it a good thing that teens are connecting with one another with these platforms? And how do you feel about the overwhelming number of smartphone-equipped teens with internet addictions who think nothing of it? 

    We all have our own answers to these questions, of course. For my part, I understand the desire to stay connected. I do, however, worry that these kids are spending so much time wishing they were somewhere- or someone- else, that they forget to be happy with who they are. Studies have linked social media with more feelings of alienation and loneliness. I just hope these trends reverse in the coming years and kids learn to be okay just being where they are. 

  • Samsung vs. Apple Ruling: What this Means for the Future of Smartphone Design

    Samsung vs. Apple Ruling: What this Means for the Future of Smartphone Design

    The long-running and high-profile court case between Samsung and Apple has finally wound down. The verdict? Samsung is to pay $539 million to Apple for infringed patents. That’s a lot of money, but not quite the billion dollars Apple claimed it was owed. The final number is, however, markedly higher than Samsung’s conservative estimate of $28 million in damages owed to Apple. What will this decision mean in the long run with regards to smartphone design?

    Apple: Design First 

    Apple fought tooth and nail in this suit. The company has always maintained that they are a design-first firm. To that end, they were adamant in their assertion that Samsung’s infringement of their design patents constituted significant damages. The nitty-gritty of the case got pretty obscure, but here’s the broad strokes. Apple had patents for a rectangular-face, round-cornered smart phone (with and without bezels.) They also had a patent of a colorful grid of apps. 

    Samsung’s phones sold between 2010 and 2011, Apple argued, infringed on these patents. The courts found in Apple’s favor, but things didn’t end there. The issue came down to the difference between the individual phone components versus the phone as a whole. Apple claimed that Samsung owed damaged based on the sales of each entire phone they sold. Samsung, however, claimed that they only owed damages on the components Apple had patents for. 

    Samsung’s Point of View 

    Samsung argued that Apple only had patents on certain aspects of the phone designs they had sold in the timeframe of 2010-2011. They felt as though the damages they would need to pay should reflect this, as well as deducting the cost of business for marketing and designing said phones. While their points were well-made in some respects the jury found them unconvincing.  

    The jury found that the display screen couldn’t be considered a separate entity from the phone. How could it? The bulk of the smart phone is its screen, and the screen hardly works without the phone components. If one were to disassemble a smart phone, they would have nothing of real practical use. Samsung’s argument would work better in a case with bigger, more distinct components. The screen, however, was found to be an integral part of the phone. 

    What This Means for Smartphone Design 

    The huge fine slapped on Samsung will certainly give manufacturers pause with regards to smartphone design. Apple’s patents are somewhat broad, though in some ways they can be seen as fair. Apple did kick off the modern smartphone, after all, so isn’t it only fair they hold these patents? The other side of that coin, of course, is a concern for monopolization. If Apple can defend a patent this broad in court, smaller competitors may well be swallowed whole by them.  

    Samsung will feel the sting of this ruling, but they won’t be going away anytime soon. The Korean tech giant is worth billions, and they can afford to go toe-to-toe with Apple in court. Smaller underdogs wouldn’t stand a chance, though. This case has left an odd taste in the mouths of onlookers. Many are happy to see creative design defended by a federal court. Many of those same people are also wary of a giant like Apple tightening its chokehold on the smartphone market.