Recode reported on Microsoft’s lawsuit against Samsung’s breach of contract.

Microsoft’s lawsuit against Samsung was unsealed on Friday, revealing that the software maker believes it is owed $6.9 million in unpaid interest from last year.

Of course, Samsung would not intentionally avoid paying.

A lot is at stake in the case, as is made clear by the details unsealed Friday. Microsoft notes in the suit that Samsung paid it $1 billion last year under the patent agreement.

We already know that Microsoft earns a lot from Android patents.

Trevor Timm wrote for The Guardian about the misleading information FBI is disseminating regarding phone encryption.

FBI director James Comey:

I am a huge believer in the rule of law, but I also believe that no one in this country is beyond the law. … What concerns me about this is companies marketing something expressly to allow people to place themselves beyond the law.

Encrypting your files doesn’t put you beyond the law. Are you beyond the law if you locked your houses to keep out intruders and police?

Comey:

I get that the post-Snowden world has started an understandable pendulum swing. … What I’m worried about is, this is an indication to us as a country and as a people that, boy, maybe that pendulum swung too far.

Timm makes a very good point:

This might be a good time to point out that Congress has not changed surveillance law at all in the the nearly 16 months since Edward Snowden’s disclosures began, mostly because of the vociferous opposition from intelligence agencies and cops. The pendulum is still permanently lodged squarely on law enforcement’s side.

CNN reported on Erich Schmidt defending Google’s privacy policies

Tim Cook:

But at Apple, we believe a great customer experience shouldn’t come at the expense of your privacy.

Eric Schmidt:

“We have always been the leader in security and encryption,” Eric Schmidt told CNNMoney. “Our systems are far more secure and encrypted than anyone else, including Apple. They’re catching up, which is great.”

“Someone didn’t brief him correctly on Google’s policies,” Schmidt said. “It’s unfortunate for him.”

Unfortunately, someone didn’t brief Schmidt correctly. My customer experience with Google could have been better if Google respected my privacy. Just look at the ads that tries to look like emails in my Gmail inbox.

Pebble launched a new branding campaign but shoots themselves in the foot by taking a swipe at Jony Ive.

I have to agree with John Gruber:

What gives me pause, though, is the “Breathe, Jony” headline. That seems a little petty. Personal, not playful.

9to5 Google reported on Samsung saying that the screen Gap on the Galaxy Note 4 is a feature.

Android Central reported that Samsung acknowledged the issue in the Note 4 manual:

A small gap appears around the outside of the device case

• This gap is a necessary manufacturing feature and some minor rocking or vibration of parts may occur.
• Over time, friction between parts may cause this gap to expand slightly.

It is appalling to see Samsung trying to wriggle its way out of a manufacturing issue and actually claim that it is a feature. And while the media blew Bendgate out of proportions, they seem to be turning a blind eye to an actual defect in the Note 4. This also highlights the engineering feat that Apple accomplished in making the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus screens blend so seamlessly into the aluminium back.

The New York Times reported on literary lions uniting in protest over Amazon’s e-book tactics.

“Sons of Wichita” by Daniel Schulman, a writer for Mother Jones magazine, came out in May. Amazon initially discounted the book, a well-received biography of the conservative Koch brothers, by 10 percent, according to a price-tracking service. Now it does not discount it at all. It takes as long as three weeks to ship.

“The Way Forward: Renewing the American Idea” by Representative Paul Ryan has no such constraints, an unusual position these days for a new Hachette book.

Amazon refused to take advance orders for “The Way Forward,” as it does with all new Hachette titles. But once the book was on sale, it was consistently discounted by about 25 percent. There is no shipping delay. Not surprisingly, it has a much higher sales ranking on Amazon than “Sons of Wichita.”

Should we be surprised that Amazon is manipulating sales of books? No, not when we are experiencing the same on Facebook where you are shown what Facebook thinks you want to see. But should we accept such manipulation by big corporations?