Flexible working breeds innovation among employees

More and more businesses are realizing the importance of nurturing some of their employees as entrepreneurs to help drive growth and believe that flexible working is a key to inspire such a practice, says a study.

The latest research by Regus, a flexible workspace provider, showed that 48% of business people surveyed in country consider flexible working can breed innovation among employees.

The survey canvassed the views of over 19,000 senior business people and owners in 98 countries.

“With small businesses accounting for over 90% of businesses and over three fifths of employment in most economies, it is evident why entrepreneurship should be fostered and nurtured,” Regus India Chief Operating Officer Sahil Verma said.

The respondents said entrepreneurship among employees can be nurtured through various measures like updating programmes, mixing staff from different functions and access to senior management.

The survey noted that 90% of respondents think entrepreneurship has increased in the past five years in their sector.

About 14% said that female entrepreneurship and 11% that serial entrepreneurship (people who set up a series of new businesses, one after the other) is on the rise.

“…businesses have cottoned on to the powerful innovative drive of entrepreneurs too and are looking to foster entrepreneurship among their own employees,” Verma said.

“So how can entrepreneurial behaviour be encouraged? Flexible working not only taps into employee demand for a better work:life balance, by allowing them to work their own hours and from different locations, but it also helps employees mingle with workers from different functions, and even different firms, vastly widening their outlook and experience,” he said.

Flexibility and diverse inputs can really help employees think outside the box and seek out innovation, he added.

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Build a profitable career in the Non-profit sector

The non-profit sector reported 8 per cent increase in hiring in March 2014, according to the TimesJobs.com RecruiteX.  The sector has been performing well since past few months indicating that it has attractive career opportunities to offer…

Who are they hiring?

Demand is buoyant for administration (20%) profiles and HR (16%) staff, according to the TimesJobs.com data.  Sales and business development professionals are also in demand.

Freshers take the biggest pie, with candidates having less than 2 years of experience accounting for nearly 45 per cent of the total demand in the non-profit sector during March ‘14.

The non-profit sector also struggles to find effective leaders. Hence, demand is huge for top management professionals also. “One of the most in-demand roles in the sector is that of the director of operations or CEO. The sector struggles to find good leaders who can sustain the vision of the organisation while constantly promoting innovation to take it to the next level,” said Shailja Mehta, executive director, Aangan. She added that field workers are also high in demand in the sector and preference is given to local candidates for this profile.

What are they looking for?

Soft skills such as dedication, team work and positive attitude are more valued by the non-profit sector. “At Aangan, we seek to hire qualified and dedicated psychologists, counselors and psychiatrists who are willing to work closely with the communities we engage with. For this, they need to be able to move out of their comfort zone and be responsive enough to identify and engage with those who need help within the community,” stated Mehta.

Dhaval Udani, CEO, GiveIndia said that employees who are meticulous and excel at creating processes and systems for the organisation using their analytical abilities are valued across organisations. He added that GiveIndia also hire talent that possess hard skills such as accounting, designing, proficiency with software and technology. Photoshop, corporate sales and MIS are other desired hard skills in the non-profit sector, according to JobBuzz.com.

Where is the talent?

According to TimesJobs.com data Delhi NCR tops the list with maximum (28%) jobs in the non-profit sector, followed by Mumbai (11%) and Bangalore (9%). These three metros accounted for close to 50 per cent of the total jobs in non-profit sector during March ’14. Among tier II and III cities Ahmedabad and Jaipur had maximum jobs in this sector.

Mehta added that the overall hiring scenario for non-profit sector in metro cities is good. “However, we struggle with finding qualified personnel in the more vulnerable districts in the country including regions within MP, UP and Bihar. It is very difficult for us to even find trained psychologists and social workers to work with within these communities,” she added.

What does the future hold?

With the growth and expansion of the non-profit sector employment opportunities are increasing. Mehta feels that there will soon be even greater opportunities in the sector with the increasing options in relevant specialisations. “Given the changing structure and functioning of the sector, support roles are now being recognised as essential in the non-profit organisations. There is renewed focus in hiring specialised personnel for HR, communication and impact assessment,” she said.

According to Udani, “With the new CSR mandate in place role of a coordinator who can liaise between the corporates and the non-profit sector has become very critical.” He added that with more clarity on the bill, there will be a huge demand for personnel who can provide valuable counsel and implement CSR strategies smoothly.

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Asus eyes 10 per cent share in India tablet market

NEW DELHI: Taiwanese technology firm Asus today said it aims to grow its share in the Indian tablet market to 10 per cent by the end of this year as it expands product portfolio and enhances retail presence across the country. 

"Currently, we have single digit market share between 3-5 per cent. The Indian tablet market is estimated to be about 50 lakh units. We want to grow our share to 10 per cent this year," Asus regional head South Asia and India manager system business group Peter Chang told PTI. 

The company, which has partnered Google for its Nexus 7 tablet, sells its own brand of tablets under the FonePad range. It sells hybrid tablets (which can be used as a netbook) under the Transformer Book range. "We have been introducing products relevant to the Indian market and will continue to do so. This year, we plan to launch 3-5 more products across our FonePad and Transformer Book range," he said. 

The company today launched its Fonepad 7 dual SIM tablet, priced at Rs 12,999. 

The seven-inch device allows 3G calling and has HD display, 5MP rear camera, 1.2 MP front camera and supports 64GB microSD memory chips. 

It is equipped with Intel Atom Z2520 1.2GHz dual core processor and runs on Android Jellybean operating system, which can be upgraded to the latest KitKat OS after June. 

"We are also looking at expanding our retail presence. We plan to double the number of our exclusive stores from 100 now to expand to tier II and III towns," he said. 

According to research firm IDC, tablet sales in India, one of the largest growth markets for the smart device, are expected to remain flat this year on account of mandatory BIS compliance and increasing demand for 'phablets'. 

Last year, tablet sales in India grew 56.4 per cent to 4.14 million units against 2.66 million units in 2012, according to industry estimates, primarily driven by strong demand for low-cost models from stables of Micromax and Lava, among others. 

According to analysts, Asia Pacific and China currently have the highest tablet penetration rates among emerging markets, though Brazil, India and Russia are also expected to experience significant growth.

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Coca-Cola sales beat estimates as China volumes soar

BEIJING: Coca-Cola Co reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue as strong sales in China more than offset a drop in Europe and flat volumes in North America. 

Coke's shares, which had fallen 3.4 per cent in the 12 months to Monday's close, were up 3 per cent in early trading. 

Global case volumes rose 2 per cent in the quarter, while those in China rose 12 per cent due to increased marketing around the Chinese New Year, the company said on Tuesday. Coke does not break out China sales separately. The business falls under its Asia-Pacific region, the company's second-biggest market by revenue. In 2013, the region accounted for 13 per cent of overall sales. 

Sales in North America, the company's biggest market, were stable despite an unusually cold winter and the general consumer shift away from fizzy drinks. 

"Our North America Group delivered even volume versus the prior year quarter while gaining value share and maintaining volume share," the company said in a statement. 

Sales declined 4 per cent in Europe, but rose 6 per cent in both India and Russia. 

"We're beginning to get our momentum back...," chief executive Muhtar Kent said on CNBC. 

Kent has been trying to boost profits by cutting costs, developing its non-soda brands and getting into new businesses. 

The company bought a 10 per cent stake in single-cup coffee brewer Keurig Green Mountain Inc - known for its K-cups in February to help compete in the home soda-making market, dominated by Israel-based Sodastream International Ltd. 

The partnership is looking to develop machines to dispense cold drinks such as juices and teas. Coke owns the Minute Maid juice brand and Honest Tea. 

Coke has said it would invest cost savings in advertising and marketing to drive sales in 2014. 

RBC Capital Markets analyst Nik Modi said Coke's global volume growth was "particularly impressive" in a quarter marked by harsh weather, a strong dollar and the effects of tensions between Russia and United States. 

"From here, we believe volumes will continue to accelerate ...," Modi wrote in the note. 

The company's net income attributable to shareholders fell to $1.62 billion, or 36 cents per share, in the first quarter ended March 28 from $1.75 billion, or 39 cents per share, a year earlier. 

Excluding items, earnings were 44 cents per share, matching the average analyst estimate. 

Revenue fell 4 per cent to $10.58 billion. Analysts on average were expecting $10.55 billion, according to Thomson Reuters. 

Separately, Wintergreen Advisers LLC, which says it owns more than 2.5 million Coke shares, sent a letter to the company's top investors on Tuesday, urging them to review Coke's equity compensation plan before the annual meeting on April 23. 

Wintergreen Chief Executive David Winters called the equity plan "deeply flawed" and said Coke may need to spend $2 billion per year to offset the dilution caused by the plan. 

Winters has previously said the plan, when combined with existing equity awards, could dilute shareholders' interests by more than 14.2 per cent. 

Coca-Cola shares were trading at $39.91 shortly after the market opened.

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India's March consumer price index inflation quickens to 8.31 per cent

Retail inflation in March inched up to 8.31 per cent from 8.03 in February, mainly on account of a rise in fruit and vegetable prices.

NEW DELHI: Retail inflation in March inched up to 8.31 per cent from 8.03 in February, mainly on account of a rise in fruit and vegetable prices. 

"Provisional annual inflation rate based on all India generalconsumer price index (combined) for March 2014 on point to point basis (over March 2013) is 8.31 per cent as compared to 8.03 per cent for February 2014," the central statistics office (CSO) said in a statement today. 

The corresponding provisional inflation rates for rural and urban areas for March were 8.89 per cent and 7.51 per cent, respectively. Inflation rates (final) for rural and urban areas for February were 8.43 per cent and 7.55 per cent, respectively. 

Overall inflation in the food basket, including beverages, increased to 9.1 per cent in March from 8.57 per cent in the previous month, according to consumer price index (CPI) data released by the CSO today. 

Vegetable prices increased 16.8 per cent in March as against a 14.04 per cent rise in February. The prices of fruits rose 17.19 per cent compared with a 15.79 per cent increase in February. 

Retail or consumer inflation in protein-rich items such as eggs, fish and meat eased to 9.54 per cent in March from 9.69 per cent in February. 

The rate of price rise for cereals and related products slowed to 9.61 per cent in March from 9.93 per cent. 

However, the price of milk and its products increased 11.02 per cent in March compared with 10.37 per cent in the previous month. 

Prices of condiments and spices rose 8.87 per cent from 8.48 per cent in February. 

Retail inflation has been easing for three months since December 2013. 

Government data earlier today showed inflation as measured by the wholesale price index rose to a three-month high of 5.7 per cent in March, mainly due to a spurt in prices of food items such as potato, onion and fruits.

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iPhone 5S tops durability test: Study

Samsung's new Galaxy S5 smartphone is more durable than last year's model and other leading Android phones.

NEW YORK: Samsung's new Galaxy S5 smartphone is more durable than last year's model and other leading Android phones, but the iPhone 5S outperformed all of them in part because of its smaller size, a new study finds.

The S5 scored well given its water resistance and a sturdy back panel made of plastic, according to SquareTrade, a provider of extended protection plans. The iPhone 5S won points for being just 4 inches (10 centimeters) diagonally, compared with about 5 inches for the Android phones. That makes the iPhone easier to grip and thus less likely to slip out of one's hands.

Nonetheless, all the smartphones tested had a medium risk of breakage, and differences between the various phones weren't major.

SquareTrade evaluated the phones based on such criteria as size, weight, grip and the quality of the front and back panels. The company measured how far the phones slide when pushed across a table on their backs and how well they withstand drops from 4 feet and being dunked in water for 10 seconds. Robots were used to ensure consistency.

SquareTrade provided The Associated Press with the results ahead of Monday afternoon's announcement.

The S5 scored a 6 on a 10-point durability scale, with 10 having the highest risk. The new HTC One phone scored a 6.5, while Google's Nexus 5 had a 7. The iPhone 5S was at 5.5.

None of those phones is as durable as last year's Moto X from Motorola. It had a 4.5 rating, thanks to a rounded back molded to the shape of a user's hand, making it easier to grip. Last year's HTC One model also had a 4.5.

Last year's Samsung Galaxy S4, meanwhile, had a score of 7.

The S5, the new HTC One, the Nexus and the iPhone all had strong front panels, despite being made of mostly glass. SquareTrade considered both the materials used and design factors such as button placement to gauge how likely a user would drop the phone while using it. The back panels on the One and the iPhone were moderate, while those on the S5 and the Nexus performed well.

The S5 and the One were the hardest to grip, while the One and the Nexus had poor marks for water resistance — the phones still worked, but had no sound. Both the S5 and the iPhone survived the dunk test, even though only the S5 is officially marketed as water resistant — for up to 30 minutes.

Only the Nexus 5 passed the slide test, but it was the only of the four to fail the drop test.

The Nexus slid 1.7 feet (0.5 meters) when pushed by a robot, compared with 2.5 feet (0.76 meters) or more for the others. The more a phone slides, the greater its chance of falling off the edge of a table. After getting dropped, the Nexus was shattered, while the others had only superficial damage.

SquareTrade said the S5's performance on the drop test was noteworthy, because the S4 had done poorly
.

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Nokia X gets a price cut

Nokia X, the company’s first Android powered smartphone, has received a price cut, just a month after its launch in India.

NEW DELHI: Nokia X, the company's first Android powered smartphone, has received a price cut, just a month after its launch in India. It is now available at a price of Rs 7,729 on the company's official online store. Nokia X dual-sim was launched at a price point of Rs 8,599, about Rs 900 more than its current price.

The price cut comes ahead of the launch of Nokia X+ and Nokia XL, two variants of Nokia X that offer relatively better hardware specifications. Nokia may price the X+ at Nokia X levels and XL slightly above it but below Nokia Lumia 620. Perhaps, it also signals that Nokia X is not doing too well in the market.



Nokia X sports a 4-inch WVGA LCD display (480 X 800p, 233ppi). The dual-sim phone is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 512MB RAM. It comes with 4GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. It features a 3MP fixed-focus camera and doesn't sport an LED flash. In terms of connectivity options, the phone offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and A-GPS. It comes with a 1,500mAh removable battery and the company claims a talk time of 10.5 hours on 3G and standby time of 28 days.

The phone runs a highly customized version of Android (based on Android 4.1.2) that has been stripped of Google services and apps including the Play Store. Apps that use some kind of Google service, for instance Google Wallet for in-app payments or Maps for location, don't work on the phone unless ported to Nokia's store by the developer.

Nokia X comes with Nokia's own app store, HERE Drive and Maps for location service, and Nokia MixRadio music service.

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Want to use Gmail? Agree to get your mails scanned

Google has updated its terms of service, informing users that their incoming and outgoing emails are automatically analyzed by software to create targeted ads.

Google Inc updated its terms of service on Monday, informing users that their incoming and outgoing emails are automatically analyzed by software to create targeted ads. 

The revisions more explicitly spell out the manner in which Google software scans users' emails, both when messages are stored on Google's servers and when they are in transit, a controversial practice that has been at the heart of litigation. 

Last month, a US judge decided not to combine several lawsuits that accused Google of violating the privacy rights of hundreds of millions of email users into a single class action. 

Users of Google's Gmail email service have accused the company of violating federal and state privacy and wiretapping laws by scanning their messages so it could compile secret profiles and target advertising. Google has argued that users implicitly consented to its activity, recognizing it as part of the email delivery process. 

Google spokesman Matt Kallman said in a statement that the changes "will give people even greater clarity and are based on feedback we've received over the last few months." 

Google's updated terms of service added a paragraph stating that "our automated systems analyze your content (including emails) to provide you personally relevant product features, such as customized search results, tailored advertising, and spam and malware detection. This analysis occurs as the content is sent, received, and when it is stored."

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Asus Fonepad Dual Sim launched at Rs 12,999

Asus has launched its new dual-sim, voice calling enabled tablet, Fonepad 7 Dual Sim in the Indian market at a price of Rs 12,999.

NEW DELHI: Asus has launched its new dual-sim, voice calling enabled tablet, Fonepad 7 Dual Sim in the Indian market at a price of Rs 12,999. The tablet was first unveiled during the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona, earlier this year. 

The tablet sports a 7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280x800pixels. Fonepad 7 Dual Sim is powered by a 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2520 dual-core processor(Clover Trail Plus) and 1GB RAM. The tablet comes with 8GB internal storage expandable up to 64GB via microSD card. It runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. 

Fonepad 7 Dual Sim sports a 5MP rear camera and a 1.2MP front-facing camera. The tablet supports voice calling and 3G connectivity. It has a 3910mAh battery promising a battery life of 10 hours. 

In terms of connectivity options, the tablet supports GPS, Wi-Fi, Miracast and Bluetooth. It weighs 340gram and measures 199.5x120.8x11.35mm. 

Asus also offers the single-sim Fonepad 7 tablet, which was launched in October 2013 at Rs 17,499. The tablet is powered by a dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2560 processor alongside 1GB of RAM and sports the same 7-inch 1280x800p display. 

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Microsoft's Cortana vs Google Now vs Apple's Siri

Thanks for asking, Cortana.And thanks for making the Windows phone software better, Microsoft.

NEW YORK : "Yay, it's Nick! How can I help?"

Thanks for asking, Cortana. And thanks for making the Windows phone software better, Microsoft.

With the new Cortana virtual assistant, Windows catches up with Apple's iOS and Google's Android in a major way. Microsoft takes some of the best parts of Apple's and Google's virtual assistants and adds a few useful tools of its own. The result is Cortana, named after an artificial-intelligence character in Microsoft's "Halo" video games.

The new Windows system, Windows Phone 8.1, has several other new features, which I'll review separately Tuesday.

The update, including Cortana, will come with new phones starting next month, while existing phones will be able to download it for free in the coming months. On Monday, Microsoft is making a preview version available to software developers. I was able to test that version over the past week.

Apple's Siri virtual assistant on iPhones and iPads has a feisty personality. She has good comebacks for such questions as, "What is the meaning of life?" She's also helpful with directions, restaurant recommendations and appointment reminders. Google Now on Android phones is boring by comparison, but it's better at anticipating your needs and giving you information before you even ask.

Cortana combines Siri's personality with Google Now's knack for anticipation.

Cortana also incorporates a feature for blocking calls, texts and notifications during times of your choosing, while letting you set exceptions for specific people or emergencies (defined as someone trying to call again within three minutes). That feature is separate on iPhones and Samsung's Android phones. Cortana will also identify the name of songs heard in a retail store or bar, while you need separate apps such as SoundHound or Shazam on other phones.

Other differences include:

- Cortana asks rather than assumes.

When you first use Cortana, she guides you through a brief questionnaire to gauge your interests. You can tap an icon on the top right to pull down a notebook and change your preferences.

Cortana also offers to scan your email for flights and other events to remind you about. Unlike Google Now, Cortana asks whether you'd like that flight tracked. Google Now does that automatically and erroneously picks up itineraries that your travel companions send you. Also, Google Now works only with Gmail, while Cortana works with all major services except Yahoo, which Microsoft says it couldn't track because of Yahoo's terms of service.

Although Cortana avoids mistakes by asking, she requires slightly more work on your part. After asking Cortana about the latest Mets game, I had to tap a link to get future updates automatically. I didn't have to do anything with Google Now. But Google Now also assumes that just because I search for a company once, I want its stock quote every day.

- Cortana lets you ask follow-up questions.

After asking Cortana for Mexican restaurants, I asked for ones that are open and got my list narrowed. I then asked for the ones that are good. Cortana responded with the Mexican restaurants that are both open and have at least four stars on Yelp.

Siri and Google Now tend to treat each request as new, though both will let you make reservations through OpenTable. Cortana tells you only that a place takes reservations.

- Cortana offers more ways to set reminders.

Like Siri and Google Now, Cortana lets you set reminders based on the time. Like Google Now, Cortana also lets you set reminders based on location. When you arrive at work, for instance, she can remind you to mail a package.

Unlike the others, Cortana also lets you set people-based reminders. Let's say your friend Mary just had a baby. You can ask Cortana to remind you to mention that the next time you call, text or email Mary.

Some of the interactions got frustrating until I manually added my work and home addresses to Cortana's notebook.

Me: "Remind me to turn off the stove when I get home."

Cortana: "All right, where should I remind you?"

Me: "Home."

Cortana: "OK, what should I remind you about?"

Me: "Turn off the stove."

Cortana: "When would you like to be reminded?"

Me: "When I get home."

Cortana: "Sure, remind you when you get to home. Is this the one you want?"

The suggestion wasn't for my home but "Home Restaurant."

Microsoft says Cortana will figure out where you work and live over time.

Cortana is still in a "beta" test mode, so these kinks are to be expected.

Cortana is fine for basic queries, though sometimes you have to ask a few times. In requesting directions, I sometimes get a simple Web search for my destination address. But repeating the address then gets me actual step-by-step directions.

I asked all three virtual assistants on Friday whether I needed an umbrella. Siri and Google Now both told me I didn't, based on the fact that it wasn't raining. Cortana answered, "I'm not entirely certain." All three then presented a forecast.

By Sunday, Cortana seemed to have figured out I didn't need an umbrella. But I asked the same question 10 minutes later and got Web results for "Do I need an umbrella?"

Both Siri and Google gave me movie times when I asked, "When is 'Frozen' showing?" Clicking on a time took me to a ticketing service. Cortana simply conducted a Web search.

Cortana warns me of conflicts when adding a calendar event, but the warning comes after the fact as a "by the way." Siri warns me ahead of time, while Google Now offers no warning at all.

Ask Cortana to "tell me a joke," and she tries to text "a joke" to my cellphone, or "Me" in the address book. Cortana also won't compose email. Siri and Google Now do both email and texts.

These are all small points that I'm sure Microsoft will address over time. The company plans to keep Cortana in beta and limited to the U.S. until the second half of the year, when the assistant will also debut in the UK and China.

Perhaps by then, Microsoft will offer a male voice, the way Apple now does with Siri.

In the meantime, enjoy interacting with Cortana. You can ask her to sing a song.

Cortana's improvements over Siri and Google Now aren't enough to compel a switch from an iPhone or Android phone, but Cortana does address an omission in Windows Phone for those already thinking of getting one
.

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Samsung says branding, not theft, pushed sales

Apple has argued that Samsung became a world leader in the mobile handset business by copying features on its iPhones and iPads. 

Becoming the world leader in the mobile handset market was no easy task. Or at least that was the point Samsung tried to make Monday in its patent trial against Apple. 

In the trial, being heard in a San Jose, California, courtroom, Apple has argued that Samsung became a world leader in the mobile handset business by copying features on its iPhones and iPads, violating patents along the way. On Monday, Samsung called one of the company's top marketing executives to the stand to argue that strong marketing was the major driver of sales. 

Todd Pendleton, the chief marketing officer for Samsung's US division, testified that when he joined Samsung in 2011, he was not even aware the company made smartphones. And that, he said, demonstrated that the company had a branding problem. 

"I think people knew Samsung for televisions," Pendleton said. "But in terms of smartphones, there was no recognition for what our product was or what it stood for." 

Samsung already had a better phone than Apple, Pendleton argued, but people just didn't know about it. At the time, Samsung was No. 4 in the market, behind Apple, HTC and BlackBerry. Pendleton said he had to build a marketing plan from scratch. He said he decided to build a brand around the idea that Samsung would stand for "relentless innovation" by shipping the best hardware on the market before anyone else. 

Eventually Samsung began a marketing campaign called the Next Big Thing, which aggressively mocked the iPhone while promoting Samsung devices as the best on the market. 

Samsung's phone sales grew quickly. In 2012, sales of Samsung's Galaxy S III surpassed those of the iPhone for a short period, making it the world's best-selling smartphone. 

When asked whether Samsung plotted to surpass Apple, Pendleton said: "Our goals at Samsung are always to be No. 1 at everything we do. To beat everyone." 

Earlier in the trial, which started two weeks ago, Apple presented evidence that suggested Apple in particular was in Samsung's cross hairs. Apple's lawyers presented a memo written by Dale Sohn, a former Samsung executive in charge of its phone business, that said: "Beating Apple is no longer merely an objective. It is our survival strategy." 

When Apple's lawyers questioned Pendleton, they showed an email written by Sohn in 2012 about the company's attack plan against the iPhone 5. 

"There will be a Tsunami when iPhone 5 is coming," the email read, and Samsung needed to find a way to counter. 

Pendleton acknowledged that Samsung had a specific plan during the release of the iPhone 5. Typically when iPhones are released, he said, sales of Samsung's phones dip, and the company was trying to prevent that dip. 

In the lawsuit, Apple is seeking about $2 billion in damages from Samsung for what it considers patent violations. Samsung, meanwhile, contends Apple has violated two of its patents. 

This is the second big patent trial between the companies. But unlike the earlier one, which Samsung lost, both sides have relied more on storytelling, rather than the actual details of the patents, to sway the jury. 

Several main witnesses in this trial, including Pendleton, Sohn and Philip W Schiller, Apple's marketing chief, have all acknowledged that they know very little, if anything, about the patents being disputed. Rather, the companies have been leaning on these executives to paint the broad strokes: Apple wants to show how hard the iPhone was to develop before Samsung copied it, while Samsung wants the jury to recognize that catching up to Apple was hard work and that it had to innovate a lot on its own. 

Throughout the trial, Apple's lawyers have insisted that the fight is about getting money from Samsung, which is based in South Korea, to discourage it from copying. But Samsung's lawyers have said Apple's real goal was more broad: to eliminate competition for the iPhone by attacking Google's Android system, which runs on more than 1 billion devices on the market. 

While Google is not a defendant in this case, Samsung's phones include Android, and some of the Apple patents in this trial involve features that Google put in Android. 

So Samsung has used Google as a shield, calling several Google employees as witnesses throughout this trial. For instance, on Monday, it called Paul Westbrook, a Google software engineer, as a witness to explain how Google's data syncing for email worked — to defend itself against Apple's accusation that Samsung infringed a patent on data syncing. 

But Apple's lawyers are not humoring any arguments from Google. They have repeatedly stressed to the jury that Google is not a defendant in this case and that Samsung is the one that gets to decide what software it loads on its phones before selling them. 

"This case is about smartphones and tablets that Samsung makes and sells in the United States, right?" Rachel Krevans, a lawyer representing Apple, said while questioning Westbrook. "Samsung made the choice what code to put on them, right?" 

Westbrook replied, "Um, sure," and Krevans soon after wrapped up her questioning
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