A new over-the-air update is rolling out for the international Galaxy S III (GT-i9300)Â that removes local search functionality. You will recall that being the same functionality that got the Galaxy Nexus banned for a week in a recent Apple vs Samsung lawsuit. This will serve as a way for Samsung to cover its butt while they wait for an appeal to go through.
What’s weird is that they pushed this update to the international version. Some US versions already received this update as a precaution to the US injunction of the Nexus. But this functionality is perfectly legal in all other parts of the world. This makes it reasonable to believe that Samsung thinks Apple might get an injunction outside the US-based on this patent as well. Otherwise why would they remove a feature everywhere, that is only deemed illegal to have in the US? We can only hope that an appeal goes through and everybody plays nice for a couple of days before the Samsung-fueled lawsuits pick up speed.
It seems that if the world indeed does come to an end in December 2012, it is my guess that it will be fueled by patents.
Source Android Central
