Latest on Android: News, reviews and more 
FAQ: Windows on ARM explained In an 8,600-word epistle, Microsoft's top Windows executive pulled aside the curtain on the first version of the company's iconic OS that targets tablets. We dig into the details for you. Japan's largest carrier looks to combat Android fragmentation Japan's largest mobile operator is prepping an elaborate testing center, with hundreds of handsets monitored by streaming web cameras, to help software developers debug their apps on the growing morass of Android devices and software versions. Election fever: 6 mobile apps that can keep you informed The race to the U.S. presidency is on, and there are mobile apps out there to help keep you informed. We review 6 iOS and Android apps to see how well they do the job. Google may be working on computerized eyeglasses A report Tuesday, from the website 9to5Google, said Google is close to coming out with eyeglasses, or goggles, equipped with processing power, storage and Android phone functionality. Adobe confirms no Flash for Chrome on Android Chrome for Android will not run Flash Player, the popular software that Apple has famously banned, Adobe confirmed. Smartphone data shake-up: The end of 'unlimited' Now that most smartphone plans offer only tiered plans (rather than unlimited data usage), how close are you to pushing past your limit -- and paying more than you want? Google accelerates Android browser updates with mobile Chrome Google's launch Tuesday of Chrome for Android may be a move to accelerate the pace of browser updates, an analyst said. Want to Build an App? Consider These 7 Points First Smartphones and tablets are dominating technology, and apps are among the top selling points for each mobile OS. With Apple's and Google's app stores each having over 500,000 apps and tens of billions of downloads, the desire to be a part of this growing market is strong. Apps can be useful for internal use by your company, or as a way to collaborate with clients, vendors, customers, and the public. Before deciding to develop an app for your business, though, take these considerations into account. Motorola Droid 4 to land at Verizon on Friday Motorola's Droid 4, with its physical QWERTY keyboard, arrives Friday for $200 to round out Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE smartphone roster. Upcoming Microsoft CRM clients may mean more productivity The productivity of salespeople could jump with the upcoming release of native Microsoft Dynamics CRM applications for specific mobile platforms and put the software vendor ahead of some of its competitors, an expert says. Lenovo's ThinkPad Tablet to get Android 4.0 in May Lenovo's ThinkPad Tablet will get an upgrade to Google's latest Android 4.0 OS starting in May, Lenovo said on Monday. Mobile device management: Apple's extra little tricky requirement Anyone wanting to buy mobile-device management (MDM) software to manage Apple iOS devices will find they need a special digital certificate from Apple to activate it, a requirement that doesn't apply to the same MDM software that would be used to manage Google Android devices, for instance. HTC aims to improve its smartphones with better 4G products After facing a disappointing financial fourth quarter, HTC has reviewed its under-performing products from last year, making changes in design and components for its future smartphones, according to its CFO Winston Yung. Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G: Affordable LTE, but bundled with bloatware At $250 without a contract, the Attain is one of the most budget-friendly LTE phones currently available. However,the overabundance of adware on the phone might drive some shoppers away. Google reveals Android malware 'Bouncer,' scans all apps Google yesterday unveiled an automated system that scans Android apps for potential malware or unauthorized behavior, a move critics have long called the company to make. Sprint to sell $100 tablet from ZTE Sprint is rolling out one of the lowest cost tablets on the market -- a ZTE tablet with midrange specs -- but you'll have to sign a two-year service contract to get the low US$100 price tag. Samsung scores win in German patent battle with Apple over its tablets Samsung can continue to sell the Galaxy Tab 10.1N, after a regional court in Munich rejected an Apple motion to block sales due to a patent violation. Google Docs for Android gets offline access Google Docs users can now get offline access to documents on their Android-based smartphones and tablets, Googlesaid in a blog post on Wednesday. Could Facebook IPO help it dominate Google? With the Facebook IPO now official, industry and financial analysts say that a huge influx of cash could allow it to topple Google from its dominant position in the online world. Symantec recants Android malware claims Symantec has backtracked from assertions that 13 Android apps distributed by Google's Android Market were malicious. It now says the code in question comes from an aggressive ad network that provides revenue to the smartphone programs. London calling with BlackBerry 10 smartphone Research in Motion's incipient BlackBerry 10 smartphone, code-named London, has a thin and long design, according a photo obtained by CrackBerry.com. Ira Winkler: Is Google evil? The jury is out Google's changes to its privacy policy should have been expected. It's what any corporation intent on maximizing value would do. But does that make it right? Lenovo to upgrade ThinkPad Tablet to Android 4.0 Lenovo plans to upgrade its popular ThinkPad Tablet to the latest version of the Android 4.0 operating system in the second quarter this year, the company said on Monday. Samsung's Galaxy Note to hit AT&T stores Feb. 19 for $300 The Galaxy Note smartphone with tablet features and a stylus hits AT&T stores Feb. 19 for $299.99 and a two-year agreement, the carrier announced Monday. Lookout Security rebuts rival's Android malware claims Researchers from Lookout Security disagreed with rival Symantec that 13 apps on the Android Market were malicious, instead saying that they showed the same behaviors as other ad-supported apps. Massive Android malware op may have infected 5 million users The largest-ever Android malware campaign may have duped as many as 5 million users into downloading infected apps from Google's Android Market, Symantec said today. Samsung loses again in German patent suit against Apple The district court in Mannheim, Germany, has again sided with Apple in a patent suit brought by Samsung Electronics, saying on Friday that the company had not infringed on a second patent asserted by Samsung against the iPhone and iPad. Apple is the No. 1 smartphone vendor again, say research firms Apple has emerged as the No. 1 smartphone vendor worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2011, by a small margin, after losing ground to Samsung in the previous quarter, research firms Strategy Analytics and IHS iSuppli said Thursday. Android's tablet share at 39% as sales triple, says study Sales of Android-based tablets more than tripled during the fourth quarter of 2011. But Apple still dominates, even as its market share dropped, according to Strategy Analytics. Motorola files new lawsuit against Apple Motorola filed a new lawsuit in Florida charging Apple with infringing six patents in the iPhone 4S and four of those patents in iCloud. Mozy releases 'Stash' file syncing service Mozy released the beta of a new file synchronization service called Stash, which allows photos, videos or documents to be uploaded automatically to the cloud and shared across any device. Android 4.0 tablets coming for under $250 Inexpensive tablets with screen sizes up to 10 inches and Google's new Android 4.0 OS will soon become available at prices ranging from US$100 to $250. Image gallery: Ice Cream Sandwich on Android tablets Image gallery: Ice Cream Sandwich on an Android tablet: A visual tour Samsung wins against Apple in the Netherlands on tablet design The Court of Appeal in The Hague has ruled that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is sufficiently different from Apple's European design patent that the tablet can remain on sale in the Netherlands. Apple is biggest buyer of semiconductors, Gartner says Apple became the biggest buyer of semiconductors last year, ahead of Samsung Electronics and Hewlett-Packard, Gartner said on Tuesday. Apple approves fake iPhone app for App Store Apple let a fake app slip through its approval process for the iOS App Store, the makers of the popular Camera+ program said over the weekend. Judge rejects Oracle's proposed plan to speed up Android trial A judge on Friday shot down Oracle's offer to put its Java patent-infringement claims against Google over the Android mobile OS on hold, in exchange for a speedier trial on its copyright claims. Apple scores small patent victory against Samsung in Germany The district court in Mannheim, Germany has decided that Apple did not infringe on a patent asserted by Samsung Electronics against the iPhone and iPad, as the legal battle between the two companies continues unabated. Galaxy Nexus smartphone a worthy upgrade Review of the Galaxy Nexus smartphone, by Samsung. Windows Phone to bump iPhone for second place in '15, IHS predicts Windows Phone could represent nearly 17% of the smartphones shipped in 2015, edging out Apple's iPhone for the second-place ranking behind Android smartphones. Android camp's troubles show in Sony Ericsson's struggles Sony Ericsson reported a net loss and a fall in revenue for the fourth quarter, further highlighting the struggles of many vendors who rely on Google's Android to power its smartphones. Apple's iPhone narrows gap with Android among recent buyers Apple's iPhone made major inroads among recent buyers in its battle against smartphones running Google's Android, but still lagged behind its OS rival, pollster Nielsen said today. Motorola confirms Wi-Fi Android upgrade for Xoom Motorola Mobility has confirmed the Android Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade to the Xoom Wi-Fi tablet will arrive over-the-air via Wi-Fi to U.S.-based owners on Wednesday. Oracle, Google must focus on patents and people at trial Both Oracle and Google would be well-advised to center their cases around people along with a painstaking discussion of patents once their lawsuit over the Android mobile OS goes to trial, according to experts. NSA releases security-enhanced version of Android The National Security Agency (NSA) has released SE Android, a security-enhanced version of Android, which provides and enforces stricter access-control policies than those found in the popular mobile operating system by default. Apple files new lawsuit against Samsung in Germany Apple continues to hound Samsung Electronics at the district court in Düsseldorf, and has now filed another lawsuit aimed at 10 models in its Galaxy family of smartphones, according to Peter Schütz, spokesman at the court. Elgan: Voice, gestures dominate CES CES 2012 ushered in three new ways that we will interact with our electronics: multitouch, voice and in-the-air gestures. Insecure Android a myth, Motorola exec says It's a myth that Android isn't secure and is difficult for IT managers to control, contended a top Motorola Mobile executive in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show. Android device makers chase Apple with cloud strategies The importance of bundling services and software with mobile devices is finally resonating with Android device makers as they compete with Apple. Kodak sues HTC, Apple over patent infringement Struggling Eastman Kodak is alleging that Apple's and HTC's smartphones and tablets infringe on its digital imaging technology, and has filed a complaint and lawsuits with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, it said on Tuesday. Do mobile devices really need multi-core chips? Multi-core processors for tablets and smartphones are being touted by chip maker Nvidia and others at the CES trade show, but some in the industry question their value. Intel enters smartphone market after uphill battle Intel on Tuesday announced its first smartphone customers, signaling the arrival of Intel Inside smartphones after years of uphill struggle by the chip maker. Google's Schmidt says devices, apps need to be friends Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt told an audience at CES that the future of technology revolves around connecting all of the electronic devices in our lives. Sony to launch 'SmartWatch' that syncs with, controls Android phones Sony plans later this year to launch a small device it is calling the SmartWatch, which links to Android phones via Bluetooth and runs a suite of custom mini-apps. Visa certifies more smartphones for NFC payments Visa has added smartphones from Samsung Electronics, Research In Motion and LG Electronics to the list of devices it has certified to work with the 185,000 NFC-based payWave payment terminals in Europe. Vizio's new 10-in. tablet to have Intel chip, Android A new tablet from Vizio will come with Intel's upcoming Atom chip, code-named Medfield, and will run Google's Android operating system, a source with knowledge of the product plans said. Huawei introduces 'world's slimmest smartphone' At about 6.8 millimeters thick, Huawei Technologies' Android 4.0-based Ascend P1 S is the thinnest smartphone yet introduced, the company said on Monday. Preston Gralla: Microsoft's App Blitz Bodes Well for Its Future Microsoft is facing the cold fact that its own mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7, has a very tiny base. Lenovo unveils quad-core IdeaTab K2 multimedia tablet Lenovo on Sunday announced the 10-inch IdeaTab K2 gaming and multimedia tablet, which has a quad-core ARM processor and a premium IPS display like the one found on Apple's iPad. How Google and Apple will control TV The future of TV is going to be pretty awesome. The addition of compute power, apps and Internet access are inevitable for TVs over the next few years and Google and Apple will be at the forefront, writes columnist Mike Elgan. Sprint set to sell white Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch on Sunday Sprint announced it will sell the Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch in a frost white color starting on Jan. 8 for $199.99 with a new two year plan. Michael Gartenberg: 5 things I really like and dislike about Android Even the things I don't like speak to the flexibility of the platform. Judge splits decision on evidence in Oracle-Google trial Oracle and Google have both won and lost in a number of their efforts to keep evidence out of the upcoming trial in Oracle's lawsuit against Google over the Android mobile OS. At issue is whether Google has infringed on Oracle's intellectual property rights by using Java without properly licensing it. Oracle-Google trial over Android to begin as soon as March Oracle's lawsuit against Google over alleged Java patent and copyright violations in the Android mobile OS will go to trial as soon as mid-March after well over a year of heated back-and-forth wrangling between the two sides. Samsung upgrades Galaxy Ace with more memory, faster processor Samsung Electronics has launched the Android-based Galaxy Ace Plus, which has more memory, a faster processor and a slightly larger screen compared to its predecessor, the company said on Thursday. Camera and Camera-Phone Trends to Expect in 2012 First, let's get the obvious out of the way: In 2012, cameras will become smaller, more powerful, and more specialized. Meanwhile, smartphone cameras will continue to improve at a blistering pace, approaching the imaging capabilities and features found in stand-alone cameras of a few years ago. Over the next 12 months, you can expect another great round of "phones versus cameras." Google, Facebook rivalry to heat up in 2012 As Google works to make its Google+ social network a major competitor to market leader Facebook, the battle between the two could reach a critical point in 2012, analysts say. Tech Trends You'll See in 2012 We're living in an exciting time in technology: From consumer products such as phones and tablets to the way your home computer accesses the Internet, everything is changing, and mostly for the better. We predict that next year the following ten developments will change the way you interact with the digital world. Apple iOS, Google Android new device activations skyrocket Activations of new iOS and Android devices soared on Christmas Day, jumping by 142% over the same day last year, a Web metrics company said. 10 IT news stories to expect in 2012 Well, we erred in our 2011 predictions in not repeating a 2010 forecast that Carol Bartz would be ousted as Yahoo CEO -- it was bound to happen, we just called that one too early. Then again, we also predicted last year that Oracle would buy Salesforce.com and have decided not to repeat ourselves this year, so we'll see if we were just ahead on that one, too. Meanwhile, these are our predictions for the next 12 months: QuickPoll: What was the top story of 2011? IT made headlines throughout 2011, from social media's role in Arab Spring to the popularity of Google's Android and Google+ and more. What was the top story of the year? Dropbox optimizes app for Android 4.0 Cloud storage company Dropbox has added offline storage and bulk upload to an redesigned version of its Android application, which has been optimized for Android 4.0. Samsung scores victory against Apple in Germany The changes Samsung Electronics has made to its Galaxy Tab 10.1 are enough so that it is no longer a copy of Apple's iPad, a judge at the district court in Düsseldorf, Germany, said on Thursday. Mobile Management: Expert Guide InfoWorld.com has put together a free, 20-page "Mobile Management Deep Dive" PDF special report that explains the innate security capabilities of the key mobile platforms (BlackBerry, iOS, Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone 7, and WebOS), surveys the major mobile device management vendors' main areas of focus, explains how to embrace the "bring your own device" movement without compromising enterprise needs, and provides a set of recommended policies to use as a starting point for creating your own. Insider (registration required) Verizon confirms software update coming to Galaxy Nexus The Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone is going to get a software update that will adjust the device's signal strength indicator, Verizon Wireless confirmed on Wednesday, less than a week after the new Android 4.0 phone began shipping. Security minefield: 'Bring your own device' will bedevil IT security in 2012 The rapid adoption of the newest mobile devices -- especially the Apple iPhone and iPad and the Google Android-based equivalents -- will be a huge disruptive force in enterprise security next year. Not only will there be pressure to decide how to protect and manage these devices, which are growing as malware targets, the complexity of this task is magnified many times over because companies are allowing employees to use their own personal smartphones and tablets for business purposes -- what's sometime called "bring your own device" (BYOD). ITC favors Microsoft in Motorola tiff In another blow to Android, a judge at the U.S. International Trade Commission issued an initial determination that Motorola Mobility infringes four claims of a Microsoft patent. The judge also found that Motorola does not infringe claims related to six other Microsoft patents. Twitter to open source Android security tech Twitter plans to open source some of the Android security products built by the developers behind Whisper Systems, which Twitter acquired last month. Patent win will boost Apple fight against Android The partial legal victory that Apple won Monday against HTC won't affect either company's short-term sales but could play an important part in Apple's long-range attempt to stymie Android's march, expert said today. Oracle wants January trial in Google-Android case Google and Oracle continue to differ over when their lawsuit over alleged Java intellectual property violations in the Android mobile OS should begin, according to a joint filing the companies made late Monday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Google planning Nexus-style tablet You didn't really think Google was going to let Amazon hog all the Android tablet glory, did you? Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, others launch HD content security initiative Five major Blu-ray and memory manufactures are collaborating to create a new security protocol to protect hi-def content that will be available across multiple consumer platforms, including smartphones and tablets. BT files patent suit against Google British Telecommunications has filed a civil suit in a Delaware court alleging that some Google products and services including Android, and its search, music, map, and location-based advertising infringe on one or more of six of its patents. Steve Jobs, Google+ and iPhone top Google's 2011 search list Google offers its take on what technology and technologists most interested the online world this year. Sony Ericsson Xperia owners get 50GB of free online storage Sony Ericsson is offering owners of its Xperia smartphones 50GB of free online data storage in partnership with cloud storage company Box, the smartphone maker said on Thursday. Update: Galaxy Nexus 4G LTE finally goes on sale Thursday Verizon Wireless finally announced that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone running Android 4.0 on its 4G LTE network will be available on Thursday in stores and online for $299.99 with a two-year agreement. Microsoft spins Android malware into Windows Phone giveaway Microsoft is using the latest malware campaign aimed at rival Android to give away new Windows 7 Phones to the five Android users who tell the best tales of woe. Top tech stories of 2011: From Jobs to Android, Anonymous to Egypt In 2011, the increasingly mobile and socially networked world of technology became more intertwined than ever with politics and the law. Patent wars shaped competition in tablets and smartphones, hacktivists attacked a widening array of political and corporate targets, repressive regimes unplugged citizens from the Internet, and the U.S. government moved to block the giant merger of AT&T and T-Mobile USA. With the passing of Steve Jobs, the world lost a technology icon who redefined the computer, entertainment and consumer electronics industries. These are the IDG News Service's picks for the top 10 technology stories of the year: Microsoft releases first Office app for iPad Microsoft today released an update to its OneNote application for iOS that it said has been tweaked for the iPad. Google pulls 22 more malicious Android apps from Market Google has removed nearly two dozen malware-infected apps from its official Android Market in the last several days, according to San Francisco-based Lookout Security. Talk turns to running webOS on Android phones In a reversal of sorts, some people are keen to load webOS on their Android devices, now that Hewlett-Packard has announced plans to make the software open source. Image gallery: 'Cool stuff' 2011 holiday tech gift guide From tablets and smartphones to HDTVs and a few surprises, we've rounded up the best tech gear to give and get this year. Cool stuff: Your 2011 holiday tech gift guide From tablets and smartphones to laptops, HDTVs and a few surprises, we've rounded up the best tech gear to give and get this year. ZTE to launch high-end smartphones in the U.S. next year ZTE plans to launch high-end smartphones in the U.S. next year, according to a company spokeswoman, breaking out of its mold as primarily a player in the low-end phone market. Google offers Currents, a Flipboard-like app Google has released a free mobile app that pulls content from different websites into one place and lets people build what looks a bit like their own personalized online magazine. Twitter unveils redesign, touts ease-of-use Twitter announced a redesign today aimed at making the site more customizable and easier to use. Microsoft: We can remotely delete Windows 8 apps Microsoft will be able to throw a "kill switch" to disable or even remove an app from users' Windows 8 devices, the company revealed in documentation for its upcoming Windows Store. Mobile device management -- what you should know As more and more iPads, iPhones and Android devices show up in the workplace -- the 'bring your own device' trend writ large -- IT shops have to figure out how to manage and secure them all. Columnist Ryan Faas has some advice. (Insider, registration required) The amazing shrinking computer Gibbs is really impressed with a tiny computer with an amazing set of features. Update: No Google Wallet on Verizon's coming Galaxy Nexus Google Wallet, a mobile payment app, won't appear on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone from Verizon Wireless.
|