Samsung Mobile has hired Steve Kodnik, the founder of CyanogenMod as a software engineer. CyanogenMod was released in 2009 and became the most popular aftermarket ROM for Android devices. CyanogenMod is not affiliated in any way with Samsung Mobile going forward so don’t expect Samsung to dump the TouchWiz UI and replace it with the ROM.

LinkedIn Corporation (NYSE:LNKD) started focusing heavily on their mobile strategy. Today they updated their iPhone, Android, and other mobile web apps. LinkedIn Mobile is growing 400% year-over-year in terms of users.

[Left: Sanjay Jha, Right: Carl Icahn]

Through the Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc (NYSE:MMI), two people that will make a substantial amount from the deal includes Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha and investor Carl Icahn. Sanjay Jha will make $90 million through the acquisition according to Footnoted’s Michelle Leder that looked through the company’s proxy statement.

Verizon Wireless is now selling the BlackBerry Bold 9930 by RIM. The BlackBerry Bold 9930 sells for $249.99 on contract. The 9930 is available online at www.verizonwireless.com and will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores on August 25th. The Bold 9930 is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone so far as it measures at 10.5mm. The Bold is the first to integrate a touch display with a BlackBerry keyboard. The Bold 9930 runs on the BlackBerry 7 operating system. Press release is below:

Alex Andon, the founder of Jellyfish Art, launched a new project called Desktop Jellyfish Tank. He sought funding for his new product on Kickstarter. He was seeking $3,000, but ended up making $52,880. His goal was to allow anyone to be able to have their own pet jellyfish. Kickstarter donors can pre-order the first tanks to get produced. Jellyfish can’t go into a regular fish tank because they get sucked into filtration intakes and liquefied. Andon started Jellyfish Art in his cousin’s garage. Jellyfish Art is based in San Francisco.

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) may have been pressured into snapping up Motorola. If Google did not buy them, the chances of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) may have been high. According to GigaOM, Motorola was in acquisition talks with several companies, including Microsoft.

HTC has filed a lawsuit against Apple to seek the halt of U.S. imports and sales of Mac computers, iPods, iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices because of alleged patent infringement. The lawsuit was filed with the U.S. ITC and the U.S. District Court in Delaware.

Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC) has agreed to acquire Insight Communications for $3 billion. Insight Communications is a large cable television operator that is owned by Carlyle Group and several other private equity firms.