VMware takes on the BYOD problem with — you guessed it — virtualization
photo: GigaOM
A new service — two years in the making — from VMware and Verizon claims to enable true “dual persona” smart phones for enterprise use. Read more »
Google turns up location data usage on Android apps
photo: Janko Roettgers
Google said it will introduce location-oriented APIs so Android developers can build richer applications that make the most of the sensors on Android devices. Read more »
Live blog: Google I/O 2013 showcases Android, Chrome, YouTube and more
Starting at 9am PT we’ll bring you live coverage of Google I/O 2013 right here. Don’t miss Google’s most significant public event of the year. Read more »
Live blog: Google I/O 2013 showcases Android, Chrome, YouTube and more
Our live coverage from Google I/O 2013, Google’s most significant public event of the year, can be found right here. Read more »
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Survey: How apps can solve photo management
A recent survey found that 76 percent of respondents store their digital photos on multiple devices using multiple services.That means ample opportunity exists for companies offering solutions that tackle this “dispersed photo problem.” This report analyzes the aforementioned survey’s results, and also measures 18 different vendors against what respondents value most when it comes to photo-organizing solutions. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
GigaOM hits Google I/O 2013 (roundup)
Here you’ll find all our coverage of Google I/O 2013, Google’s annual showcase of its technology prowess. Read more »
What to expect for Chrome and Android at Google I/O 2013
Google’s annual I/O developer event will be heavy on Chrome and light on Android based on the event schedule. While Google execs suggest that this year I/O is less about devices, that could be a smokescreen for what’s to come. Read more »
Report: AT&T to discontinue HTC First Facebook phone
Reports are surfacing that AT&T plans to discontinue Facebook’s HTC First phone, which just launched last month. The carrier had already dropped the price of the phone to 99 cents, it announced last week, and could spell bad news for Facebook’s mobile plans. Read more »
With $3.5M in funding, Any.DO proves an “Android first” app strategy can pay off
Task management app Any.DO surprised many by launching first on Google’s Android platform and finding success. An iOS version followed and it’s proving popular too. Now the Any.DO team has $3.5M in seed funding to keep expanding. Read more »
Sony’s water-resistant Xperia ZR shows why now is a great time for Android hardware
From phones that can take pictures underwater to handsets with larger screens in a small phone body, the quality of design in current Android flagships is at an all-time high. Read more »
Android this week: New Nexus 7 specs; Android @Home thoughts; Google X Phone tests
In advance of Google I/O more Nexus 7 refresh thoughts hit the web this week. Will Google move to a 1080p or better display? Android @Home could be a surprise feature at I/O, while Google’s X Phone may have been FCC tested Read more »
Take that, iPad mini: Retina display Nexus 7 at Google I/O says analyst
photo: Google
The expectations of a new Nexus 7 keep rising. This week an analyst notes that Google will use a 1920 x 1200 display and Snapdragon 600 chip for an updated small tablet. Read more »
In Nook, Microsoft sees a chance to compete against Amazon and Apple
Microsoft already has a stake in Nook Media, and now it is reportedly seeking to buy out the entire company. In Nook, Microsoft sees a shot at competing against Amazon and Apple — in a way it might not be able to do from scratch. Read more at paidContent »
A $0.99 HTC First shows that people may not like a phone built around Facebook
While it’s just a promotion that could end at any time, AT&T is now discounting the HTC First to under a buck with contract. Something tells me that Facebook’s phone is a solution in search of a problem. Read more »
Hotel Tonight is revamping the hotel review for mobile devices
Relying on the smartphone’s built-in camera, the app for last-minute, day-of bookings is looking to enhance its curated hotel choices with photo-oriented user reviews. Read more »
First impressions of a new flagship, the LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T
AT&T’s exclusive LG Optimus G Pro arrives on May 10. An early review unit shows another contender for the flagship phone market but there’s a few design decisions that puzzle me. Read more »
Android this week: Nexus 11 leaked; Wii Fit turns into smart scale; LG Optimus Pro here
Is a Nexus 11 tablet coming later this month? Leaked information suggests it could happen. LG’s new Optimus G Pro is here and first impressions are very positive, while a free app turns the Wii Fit Balance Board into a smart scale. Read more »
Acer teases a $169 Aspire A1 Android tablet, debuts the P3 convertible Ultrabook
Acer has a pair of new tablets to show off. The Aspire A1 looks like an iPad mini, runs Android and costs $169. Acer’s Aspire P3 is a convertible Ultrabook with Windows 8 and starts at $799. Read more »
Free Android app turns Nintendo Wii Fit board into a smart scale
Before you spend upwards of $100, $200 or more on a web-connected intelligent scale, you might want to dig around the house for a Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board. With the FitScales Android app, you already have what you need. Read more »
HTC barely ekes out a profit, expects HTC One to turn fortunes around
Once the brightest rising stars in this new smartphone era, HTC has been falling from grace for nearly two years. The company’s latest quarterly results reflect the situation. Can the HTC One help a turnaround or is there more HTC needs to do? Read more »
iPad is top selling tablet, but Android now most common tablet OS, says IDC
Tablet sellers had a really good first quarter. As a result, Apple’s overall share of tablet sales is slipping. Read more »
AT&T gets another exclusive: LG Optimus G Pro for $199 with contract
The LG Optimus G Pro arrived in Asia early this year and it’s a hot seller. No wonder AT&T wanted an exclusive for this smartphone. If larger phones appeal, this 5.5-inch beast is worth the look. Read more »
Leap2 gets $1.6M to change mobile search
Leap2 has a new mobile search app that’s pretty useful as well as a $1.6 million first round of funding. The Kansas City, Mo. startup combines web searching and social in a compelling package. Read more »
Subscriber Content
Forecast: Global mobile subscribers and handsets, 2012-2017
Saturated markets and a slumping global economy shrank sales of mobile phones in 2012. But demand for smartphones will help restore growth moving forward, as shipments of smartphones worldwide will surpass those of feature phones in 2013. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Get ready for Google I/O: reported Nexus 11 tablet specs leak
Google may be up-sizing its tablet line in a few weeks: A reported Samsung road-map shows a Nexus 11 tablet with two potential firsts. This could be a Nexus with memory expansion and also use an octa-core Samsung Exynos chip. Read more »
Android this week: Galaxy S 4 reviewed; HP Slate 7 arrives; Mailbox for Android coming
Reviews for the Samsung Galaxy S 4 generally agree: Nice hardware improvements and a possibly complicated feature set. HP’s $169 Slate 7 goes up against Google’s $199 Nexus 7 tablet while Mailbox, a hot iOS app for Gmail, could land on Android. Read more »
HP Slate 7 hits US for $169. How does it stack up against Google’s $199 Nexus 7?
You can finally buy an HP Slate 7 in the U.S. for $169.99, but will you? I think it’s a tough sell for HP when the Nexus 7 is priced just $30 more and has a better screen. Read more »
Must-have Android app, AirDroid, adds remote access and more in AirDroid 2
My pick for a must-have Android app in 2013 was AirDroid, but now I have to update that selection. It was just displaced with AirDroid 2 which adds remote phone access over 3G/4G and more features. Read more »
Pushing for better tablet apps, Google adds new developer optimization tool
Google continues to make it easier for developers to improve the Android app experience on tablets. When submitting apps to Google Play, a new optimization tip tool alerts developers when they’re missing out on tablet support. Read more »
Tasks for teams: Wunderlist Pro is out for Apple devices and the web
The team-oriented version of the Wunderlist task manager has finally arrived for the iPhone, iPad, OS X and the web. Android and Windows versions will follow in a week’s time. Read more »
The WhatsApp-friendly Asha 210 is a reminder of Nokia’s low-end capabilities
Nokia’s latest Series 40 handset represents a welcome boost for WhatsApp in emerging markets, and a useful reminder of how Nokia continues to eke relevance out of its ageing platform. Read more »
Samsung Galaxy S 4 reviewed: Too many features or just right?
The Samsung Galaxy S 4 looks a lot like last year’s model; until you turn it on. The improved screen is crisp and the device is filled with software improvements. Are there too many for the casual smartphone user? Read more »
The first Firefox OS dev phones are on sale
Produced by the obscure Spanish outfit Geeksphone, the Keon and Peak are the first devices to ship bearing Mozilla’s HTML5-centric operating system. Prices start at $119 before taxes. Read more »
Android this week: HTC One arrives; TweetDeck gone soon; Galaxy Note 8.0 impresses
HTC’s flagship phone is here for some, but not for the most passionate consumers that would likely provide the company free marketing. TweetDeck is getting pulled from Google Play soon and I’m still debating my Galaxy Note 8.0 purchase. Read more »
HTC One launch: Available at 2 carriers; web orders for 1; delays for Dev Edition
The HTC One is available today, but only from two U.S. carriers: AT&T and Sprint. T-Mobile announced price plans and availability while those who pre-ordered the $649 HTC One Developer Edition only got an email: Their phones are delayed. Read more »
Archos expands from low-cost Android tablets to low-cost Android phones
After selling low-cost tablets for a half-dozen years, French company Archos is shrinking down its mobile device expertise into a trio of Google Android smartphones ranging in price from $99 to $249 without a contract. Read more »
MoPub says 3/4 of mobile ad spending went to iOS devices during Q1
MoPub’s report says the share of ad buying on Apple phones increase 12 percent between January and March. Android tablets saw less than 1 percent of money spent on ads for the quarter. Read more »
Yahoo outs new Weather, Mail apps for iOS, Android. And they’re nice!
The newest Weather app for iPhone and iPod touch to hit the market uses gorgeous photography, well-designed informational icons and simple navigation. And it’s from Yahoo. Really! The company also has a new take on email for tablets. Read more »
Subscriber Content
Sector RoadMap: Content personalization in 2013
Content owners, whether they are publishers, retailers, or marketers, are always looking for new ways to deliver a unique experience to their customers. We call this content personalization. Key trends in this area are led by a collection of technologies that we call post-programming curation. These technologies use the best of behavioral tracking, collaborative filtering, audience targeting, and dynamic content presentation. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Android on track for 1B total activations later this year, Google chairman says
Eric Schmidt also suggested the Android OS and the Chrome OS won’t be merging: “Don’t confuse organization design and product design.” Read more »
