3 ms·

Why Microsoft's Snapdragon Windows 10 Cellular PC Is Walking Dead

Zekio 9y ago
wouldn't they be able to argue that since intel haven't sued companies like https://eltechs.com/ https://eltechs.com/ they havn't tried to protect their IP?
Nomentatus 9y ago
The vast majority of x86 ISA is no longer patent-encumbered. This article assumes full emulation of every current, patent-encumbered x86 instruction so that no applications would need to be recompliled. Do we know that's the approach, yet? Also many instructions are designed to be replacements for combinations of earlier (no longer patent-encumbered) instructions so; expanding them again wouldn't usually be illegal.
- terminalcommand 9y ago
  I've made further research into the latest news. During IFA fair (two days ago) Qualcomm stated that Windows 10 ARM devices are coming, it seems to me that they're not backing down from the fight. [1] It is good news to hear that the vast majority of x86 ISA is no longer patent-encumbered. [1][http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/qualcomm-snapdragon-835-windows-10-laptops-2950300 http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/qualcomm-snapdragon-835-w...]
  - Nomentatus 9y ago
    More specifically, according to something a RISC-V guy wrote, Intel has kept its (and AMD's) x86 ISA network effect alive by regularly introducing not-so-useful new patented instructions that at least someone will use (or be persuaded to use); so that others can't claim compatibility with the accumulating ISA for their now-public-domain ISA CPUs. If so, that rather requires Microsoft's connivance, since they could refuse to use any such new instructions in their OS, and even refuse to allow programs to employ them, theoretically. I'm blue-skying here, but I wonder if Microsoft hasn't withdrawn that kind of cooperation a long time ago; or been able to use the threat of doing so as a bargaining chip, here. There is also the legal angle - Microsoft could sue on the grounds of patent misuse re that RISC-V allegation, and hope to invalidate the current x86 IP. Trouble is, that area of law has been deliberately allowed to fall into contradiction and confusion over decades in the U.S.; because corporations like to misuse patents to extend their monopolies and network effects - so I don't know how much luck Microsoft would have (and of course, they're vulnerable to similar accusations.)

wouldn't they be able to argue that since intel haven't sued companies like https://eltechs.com/ https://eltechs.com/ they havn't tried to protect their IP?

Nomentatus 9y ago

The vast majority of x86 ISA is no longer patent-encumbered. This article assumes full emulation of every current, patent-encumbered x86 instruction so that no applications would need to be recompliled. Do we know that's the approach, yet? Also many instructions are designed to be replacements for combinations of earlier (no longer patent-encumbered) instructions so; expanding them again wouldn't usually be illegal.

terminalcommand 9y ago
I've made further research into the latest news. During IFA fair (two days ago) Qualcomm stated that Windows 10 ARM devices are coming, it seems to me that they're not backing down from the fight. [1] It is good news to hear that the vast majority of x86 ISA is no longer patent-encumbered. [1][http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/qualcomm-snapdragon-835-windows-10-laptops-2950300 http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/qualcomm-snapdragon-835-w...]
- Nomentatus 9y ago
  More specifically, according to something a RISC-V guy wrote, Intel has kept its (and AMD's) x86 ISA network effect alive by regularly introducing not-so-useful new patented instructions that at least someone will use (or be persuaded to use); so that others can't claim compatibility with the accumulating ISA for their now-public-domain ISA CPUs. If so, that rather requires Microsoft's connivance, since they could refuse to use any such new instructions in their OS, and even refuse to allow programs to employ them, theoretically. I'm blue-skying here, but I wonder if Microsoft hasn't withdrawn that kind of cooperation a long time ago; or been able to use the threat of doing so as a bargaining chip, here. There is also the legal angle - Microsoft could sue on the grounds of patent misuse re that RISC-V allegation, and hope to invalidate the current x86 IP. Trouble is, that area of law has been deliberately allowed to fall into contradiction and confusion over decades in the U.S.; because corporations like to misuse patents to extend their monopolies and network effects - so I don't know how much luck Microsoft would have (and of course, they're vulnerable to similar accusations.)