A new class action suit accuses Apple of intentionally hamstringing the iPhone 3G with iOS 4 to boost iPhone 4 sales. The update seriously affected performance on the 3G, making it sluggish and unreliable. iOS 4.1 helped alleviate the problem, but didn’t fix it. Read more »
Many signs suggest Sony will soon launch a Playstation Portable Phone. It’s a move that invites comparison to Microsoft’s plan of integrating Xbox Live with Windows Phone 7, a far more software-centric method of attack than Sony’s hardware-focused strategy. Which has a better shot at ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Breaking down the Galaxy Tab into a list of components shows the 16-GB tablet carries an estimated price tag of $205 to make. This compares to the iPad’s estimated cost to build of $264, a difference due to the iPad’s larger screen and form factor. Read more »
Two noted analysts are predicting good times for Qualcomm, and not just because the chipmaker provides the processing and connectivity for many of the top-rated Android handsets. Qualcomm is ready to add sales of 10 million more chips per quarter by powering the CDMA Apple iPhone. Read more »
Apple has filed suit against Motorola, claiming the Droid-maker infringed on patents held by Apple relating to smartphone technologies. It’s a return fire gesture by Cupertino, since Motorola filed suit first against Apple last month, claiming it had violated 18 patents. Read more »
Google’s Android operating system solidified its place at the top of the charts in the U.S. with 44 percent of the market, according to a pair of reports out today. Both Android and Apple are putting pressure on Research in Motion. Read more »
Earlier this week, I reported on rumors that Apple and Gemalto were developing a SIM that Apple could integrate onto its iPhone motherboard, and through the comments pouring in, I’ve received further confirmation on the rumors and more context on what this might mean. Read more »
The tech industry has a new favorite sport: guessing who Apple will buy with its $50 billion-plus cash hoard. Since October 18, when Steve Jobs mentioned the company was keeping its powder dry for possible deals, speculation over potential Apple acquisitions has run rampant and even ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Just over three years since introducing its first phone, Apple is now among the top five handset vendors on the planet. How did this happen? Apple improves on the product mistakes by competitors and marches in with many of the problems solved at an opportune time. Read more »
More and more, open source search looks to be a viable alternative for organizing unstructured data in the enterprise. The open source community believes it has advantages in scalability, flexibility and speed over enterprise-specific behemoths like Autonomy and Microsoft. But more importantly the functionality, cost structure ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Google improved the web version of its Gmail application for Apple iPhone and iPod touch devices, further blending the lines between web and native applications. Client apps are still hot, but developers should look to Google for examples of a mobile future filled with web apps. Read more »
Sources inside European carriers said Apple is working with SIM-card manufacturer Gemalto to create a special SIM card that would allow consumers in Europe to buy a phone via the web or at the Apple Store and get the phones working using the iTunes App Store. Read more »
A majority of web video is now HTML5-ready, showing that web standards — and Apple — are winning the day when it comes to how video is delivered online. Video viewable in an HTML5 video player now accounts for 54 percent of all video online. Read more »
Apple made a lot of money from direct sales last year, so it isn’t surprising that it would expand its online store to China, a market with huge growth potential. Extending the App Store’s reach there isn’t shocking either. So what does Apple stand to gain? Read more »
The latest rumor to hit says Apple might be interested in buying Spotify, a hot music startup based in Sweden. There’s news that Google almost bought them for $1 billion last year. What does the company say to all that? It’s not for sale. Read more »
Along with Google’s recent rollout of Google Instant comes the expectation for quicker, more dynamic results on a search page. From the point of view of a user, such demands are obvious. But search marketers — those who want to promote their sites by increasing visibility ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Greenpeace has been a thorn in the side of the consumer electronics industry with its Guide to Greener Electronics for years. The latest edition shows shuffling in the ranks of top companies as they launch new products and sail past deadlines for eliminating hazardous substances. Read more »
Today at its annual developer conference, Innovate 2010, PayPal will start outlining its plans to become a major force in the world of mobile payments. From new apps to new payment offerings for digital subscriptions, PayPal wants to become the third option to Google and Apple. Read more »
There was a time when Java ruled the enterprise computing world, and showed signs of dominating the mobile world, too. That time is gone. It’s not that developers have abandoned Java wholesale, but given recent moves by apple, Oracle and Google there is room for concern. Read more »
Android Market eclipsed the 100,000 app milestone today, according to a tweet from the Android Developer Twitter account. This puts Android Market on a solid pace though still trailing Apple’s App Store by a wide margin. Read more »
Adobe announced today a new version of Adobe AIR 2.5 that will include expanded capabilities on Android, BlackBerry Tablet OS and iOS; Windows, Mac and Linux as well as support for TVs. Adobe is also launching a new store for AIR apps called InMarket. Read more »
Wi-Fi Direct, the standard for device-to-device connections without a traditional network, is finally getting out of the gates officially with the Wi-Fi Alliance certifying the first generation of products today. The initial devices, mostly laptop mini-cards, are now available and testing is open to new gadgets. Read more »
A few months ago, it seemed there still was plenty of room in the tablet market despite the runaway success of the iPad. But no real threat has yet come to market, and potential competitors are stumbling with delays, less attractive offerings, and sky-high price tags. Read more »
Now television broadcasters are blocking Google TV from getting access to the content broadcasters put online to make sure they don’t lose advertising dollars. But the cat is out of the bag. All information is nothing more than bits on one network — the Internet. Read more »
Research In Motion today added purchase and download functionality to its BlackBerry App World website, which could increase the number of app installs. Apple’s web storefront only supports discovery and still requires iTunes on the desktop, while Google has only demonstrated a web-based store for Android. Read more »
The iPad is a pretty nice mobile web working tool. But the new MacBook Air, with more processing muscle, better graphics and access to OS X and all the applications that go along with it, is the better tool for the road warrior. Read more »
Apple unveiled the two new MacBook Air models today and that 11-inch model is calling my name. GigaOM has a 13-inch model in our HQ, those lucky devils. Janko Roettgers unboxed this beauty, and the video of the new notebook shows how nice it is. Read more »
Earlier today, Steve Jobs addressed the Mac faithful at an event focused on Apple computers and software. The announcements weren’t all that surprising, but it’s all good news for consumers and developers alike. New Macbook Airs and a preview of OS X 10.7 stole the show. Read more »
Apple will soon have a whole bunch of new users for its FaceTime video chat application. At today’s “Back to the Mac” event, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that the company is making a beta version of FaceTime video chat available today from Apple.com. Read more »
For third-quarter social media and real-time technologies, most of the action was in consumer services, and much of it — from social gaming to location-based services and advertising dollars — was influenced by Facebook. Here is a brief look back at the NewNet action highlights from last quarter. Read more »
Verizon Wireless will begin selling Samsung’s Galaxy S tablet for $600 next month. Many are bemoaning the no-contract price for this Android 2.2 slate, but it does offer features that Apple’s iPad doesn’t yet. There’s a market for 7-inch tablets, no matter what Steve Jobs says. Read more »
Somebody jumped the gun at Apple’s official Discussions page early this morning, adding new sections for iMovie ’11, iPhoto ’11 and GarageBand ’11. There’s also one called “MBA (Need official name)” which means a new MacBook Air is all but certain at today’s event. Read more »
The third quarter saw the continuation of important trends in mobile, from the astounding growth of Android to soaring sales of Apple’s iPad. Perhaps the biggest trend, though, is the march towards 4G, which will have a tremendous impact on the industry in the coming months. Read more »
AdAge bestowed a major honor on Apple on Monday, naming it the first marketer of the decade for this millennium. There’s no denying that Apple’s brand is stronger than ever right now, but how did it get there, and can it stay that way? Read more »
Mozilla today announced a proposed open ecosystem for web apps that’s built on standards such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The concept sounds great in theory, as developers won’t need to rely on a centralized storefront, but does the web really need yet another app store? Read more »
Freedom-loving developers have long used open-source licenses as a tactic to maintain the open availability of their source code. With the rise of closed hardware/software platforms like Apple’s iPhone, however, that tactic is being challenged. And that may not be a bad thing. Read more »
iOS remained the top operating system on Millennial Media’s ad network in September, but for the first time, Android revenue eclipsed iPhone-only revenue. The figures show that Apple is still in the driver seat with 46 percent of smartphone operating system impressions, though its dominance continues to erode. Read more »
Fundamental changes in networking and computing are leading to new business models, new services and shifts in corporate and consumer behavior. It’s also leading to a lot of M&A activity as companies jockey for position before the ongoing technology shift settles into the new status quo. Read more »
Apple is busy building a new way for publishers to serve video ads through iOS devices to be rolled out early next year. New research shows why advertisers will want to target the iPad and why Apple wants to own the technology to serve ads there. Read more »
Apple will be adding a video angle to its advertising offerings, and will soon begin delivering in-stream ads to videos shown on iOS devices. A new video ad product, slated to launch early next year, could boost videos available on the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. Read more »
