CNN Mobile — GigaOM

CNN Mobile

T-Mobile’s first 4G phone with a 21 Mbps radio is the Samsung Galaxy S 4G, a variant of the current Galaxy S devices. The smartphone will ship with Android 2.2, but Samsung’s update history isn’t all that great — will it affect sales of the new … Read More »

The iOS 4.3 beta, despite being covered by Apple’s NDA, is leaking signs of new hardware and software features like a sieve. The latest find is support for multi-touch gestures on the iPhone. Is the feature also a sign of a buttonless future for iOS devices? Read More »

 
 

Google’s immediate strategic initiatives are all about mobile, according to CEO Eric Schmidt. Writing in Harvard Business Review, Schmidt said 2011 comes down to three priorities for Google: developing fast wireless networks, building up mobile payments and increasing the number of inexpensive smartphones around the world. Read More »

Samsung has acquired Liquavista, a display company that uses an electrowetting technology for color screens. The process uses electrical charges to move colored oil and can use reflective sunlight to consume less power. With refresh rates at 60 frames per second, could smartphones use these displays? Read More »

Apple’s pre-release software betas are often a veritable treasure trove of information about what’s in store for devices in future hardware updates. iOS 4.3 Beta 2 is no exception, bringing strong evidence that the iPad 2 will indeed have at least one camera, and likely two. Read More »

Flash gaming site Kongrate launched the free Kongregate Arcade app earlier today in Android Market, only to have it yanked after Google reportedly said it violated the Market’s non-compete rules in the terms of service. The rejection, if upheld, raises questions about Android’s celebrated openness. Read More »

Launch rumors of the Nokia X7, a new Symbian smartphone, appear to be squashed as the phone will reportedly not be available on AT&T next month. Without carrier support for subsidies and marketing, the odds of Nokia gaining a foothold in the U.S. continue to decrease. Read More »

Yesterday, Microsoft launched its first Office app for iOS, a mobile version of the digital notebook application OneNote. If you’ve never heard of it, it may be because you’re using the Mac version of Office, which lacks OneNote, greatly reducing the usability of the iOS app. Read More »

With more chips, our cars are getting smarter. That paves the road for more mobile apps that work between a phone and a vehicle: 129 million will use such apps by 2016, up from the 3.2 million consumers this year. What will the apps look like? Read More »

Some of Apple’s technologies stop just a little short of greatness. That’s where third-party applications come in to complete the picture (and the sound). Airfoil helps extend Apple’s AirPlay on Macs and iOS devices, and a brand new app called AirView improves AirPlay’s video playback abilities. Read More »

Verizon is launching four LTE handsets in the first half of 2011, but one, the HTC Thunderbolt, is expected to offer simultaneous voice and data. It’s likely Verizon will keep voice and data traffic separate meaning the solution will only work in areas of LTE coverage. Read More »

Starbucks is taking mobile payments nationwide with the rollout of payments by smartphone at more than 7,500 locations. The payment system builds off a limited trial from last year and has the potential to push mobile payments into the mainstream for the first time. Read More »

More Must Reads

Google Voice has long been tied to Android devices, but now a free iOS app I’m testing on my iPod touch brings voice calling to contacts over Wi-Fi or 3G. Talktatone is also a multitasking Google Talk chat client and allows location sharing with your friends. Read More »

Bandwidth.com and Verizon Communications today signed an agreement that could make it easier from companies such as Skype and Twilio to build out cool VoIP applications and service as well as set precedent ahead of any regulatory policy on how phone companies charge for VoIP calls. Read More »

New iPad ads show users effortlessly printing with the tap of a finger. Unfortunately, the reality doesn’t match the ads: AirPrint, introduced in iOS 4.2, only works with 16 printers, all from HP. Luckily, there are third-party solutions to this limitation. Read More »

After dumping its mobile phone group in 2008, Lenovo bought it back for double in 2009. Now the company has formed a new Mobile Internet and Digital Home Business Group, just as computer sales are eclipsed by smartphones. Is it too late for Lenovo? Read More »

While the iPhone has received a couple Microsoft apps like Bing and Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft Office programs have been no shows — until now. Microsoft announced today it is releasing an iPhone version of OneNote, it’s note-syncing app for the iPhone. Read More »

Independent, off-deck, app stores will become the major driver of mobile app downloads by 2015, eclipsing on-deck app store. That’s the word from a new report from research firm MarketsandMarkets, which forecast the growth of the mobile app market. Read More »

Apple is finally bringing AirPlay to home movies shot on the iPhone or iPod touch in iOS 4.3. I’d like to have some actual videos to show friends and family using the feature. A couple of new apps promise to make those videos more visually interesting. Read More »

iPhone owners are the most satisfied with their mobile platform, but Android owners are the most likely to stick with their handset OS for their next phone. Better Google apps may be the reason, but regardless, it’s potentially bad news for Apple and Google smartphone competitors. Read More »

While competitors have introduced smaller and cheaper mobile data plans, Sprint is increasing the price of its data plans for smartphones by $10 a month, applying a “premium data” add-on charge to all smartphones, not just devices that run on Sprint’s 4G network. Read More »

The iPad 2 is said by some to be arriving as early as February (at least in the U.S.), and the rumor mill is working overtime. As consensus grows, we end up with a much better picture of what to expect from Apple’s next iPad. Read More »

MG Siegler notes that few Android handsets run version 2.3, the most current version of Google’s mobile platform, but the argument is disingenuous when he says that nearly 90 percent of iPhones are current. You can’t count minor versions for one platform and not the other. Read More »

iPad 2 is expected to have a “retina display,” but the pixel per inch count is far less than the 330 found on iPhone 4. That means a future iPhone with 4-inch display could use a retina display while improving the experience for browsing and video. Read More »

I spent this week running Gingerbread on my Nexus One, and although it’s not leaps and bounds better than the prior version of Android, it offers nice UI changes. Google Music sync is likely on the way and there’s a great third-party keyboard on sale now. Read More »

Don’t want to wait until iOS 4.3 becomes publicly available to share your iPhone’s data connection? There’s a way to do it, but you’ll need to also have a Mac handy. It isn’t the most portable solution, but it gets the job done. Read More »

Wireless hotspot provider Boingo filed paperwork for an initial public offering today as it looks to capitalize on the growth of mobile devices. While the number of shares offered and the price range have not been determined, the company said it hopes to raise $75 million. Read More »

The mobile app ecosystem has been one of those amazing stories in the last couple years as millions of users have latched on to smartphone applications. But the rising competition in apps has me wondering how soon before we may see feature creep overtake mobile apps. Read More »

Apple has posted a downloads countdown page on its site as it approaches 10 billion apps downloaded. This year marks the App Store’s third birthday, so that’s an average of over 3 billion app downloads per year. iTunes took eight years to reach the same milestone. Read More »

Critics have waited for years for someone to challenge AT&T’s stranglehold over the iPhone, but despite predictions that millions could defect to Verizon next month now that it can sell the iconic handset, history actually suggests that losing exclusivity could help AT&T rather than hurt it. Read More »

In one of the first indications about manufacturer satisfaction with the Windows Phone 7 launch, an LG executive said the big Microsoft roll-out was, “less than we expected.” But he said the platform still has a chance as an easy-to-use alternative to Android. Read More »

It wasn’t consciously a New Year’s resolution, but shortly after Christmas after years of tripping over my guitar cases, I decided it was time to start playing again. Luckily, there’s a healthy stock of iPad amp apps to help me get back on the horse. Read More »

Rebtel is hoping a new update to its BlackBerry app will help it make up some ground on VoIP leader Skype. The app now allows Rebtel BlackBerry users to make free international phone calls to other Rebtel users on BlackBerry and Android apps. Read More »

Yesterday, we learned that iOS 4.3 will have new features including more multi-touch gestures, the ability to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot, and third-party support for AirPlay streaming. Today, more features continue to be revealed, and at least one previously removed option has been added back. Read More »

A plan to bring a nationwide wholesale LTE network to the U.S. is in trouble. LightSquared has a troubled private equity backer and may be losing ground in Washington as it seeks a way around regulations that are making its planned network a long shot. Read More »

Discovering music with Shazam was always magical, but it gets even better today with Spotify integration on Android and iOS handsets. Shazam is used in 150 countries while Spotify is only available in a half-dozen, so does this mean Spotify availability is about to expand? Read More »

Verizon announced the iPhone’s ability to act as a personal hotspot Jan. 11, but yesterday’s release of the iOS 4.3 beta confirmed that the feature will eventually make its way out to all iPhones, carriers willing. Where does that leave the 3G iPad? Read More »

Android has finally surged past iOS in ad impressions on Millennial’s ad network for the first time, breaking a two-month tie. The numbers reflect the obvious growth of the Android platform and solidifies the idea that Android has become the top platform for mobile advertising. Read More »

Apple finally allows third-party apps to broadcast video to Apple TV 2 in the new iOS 4.3 beta released today. Also new in the beta is support for a variety of multi-touch gestures for the iPad, and settings for creating a Personal Hotspot. Read More »

Vevo’s music videos are coming to Android phones, thanks to a dedicated app released this week. The music video site has had huge success with iOS apps, clocking 3 million installs on iPads, iPhones and iPod touch devices. Connected devices haven’t shown any similar interest yet. Read More »

While you’re busy pondering whether or not you’ll be getting the new iPhone on Verizon, we thought we’d take the opportunity to tally up all the iPhone solar options we’ve seen on the market. And as you can see, there’s a lot of ‘em. Read More »

After spending much of 2010 boosting its network to 21 Mbps, T-Mobile is poised to offer smartphones that can take full advantage of the faster speeds. The first may be the Samsung Vibrant Plus although current Vibrant owners may be put out by the upgrades. Read More »

The Verizon iPhone finally became a reality yesterday, and it brought with it one feature the existing GSM AT&T version lacked: Personal Hotspot, which lets you share your data connection with up to five other devices via Wi-Fi. That feature might not remain exclusive long. Read More »

Only six months after introducing a $40 unlimited prepaid 3G data plan, Virgin Mobile is adding a 5 GB soft-cap of data each billing period. Users that reach the limit will see their bandwidth slowed until the next month of service begins. Read More »

Now that Verizon has the iPhone, will I switch? No, for the simple reason that AT&T has done a good job of making sure that switching would be detrimental to a number of my relationships: with AT&T itself, with other iPhone users, and with business contacts. Read More »

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