Press Play: Netflix arrives on the $249 Samsung Chromebook
Nearly five months after it launched, Samsung’s $249 Chromebook gets Netflix. We knew this was coming but the surprising thing is that Microsoft helped out. Read more »
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How fourth-quarter 2012 will affect IT spending in 2013
Worldwide IT spending finished out 2012 with a growth rate of 3.8 percent over 2011, the lowest growth rate since 2009. Fourth-quarter 2012 earnings reports and guidance were notable in their lack of any decisively positive news to raise 2013 spending expectations much. Those optimistic about […] Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Alleged Galaxy S 4 images show Samsung may (smartly) stick with a proven design
Leaked images of what are allegedly the Samsung Galaxy S 4 show very little change in the smartphone’s design from prior models. That’s not bad because the design works: Software and improved components are driving Samsung’s sales. Read more »
Report: Samsung planning $100 LTE smartphone, possible JV, for India
photo: Samsung
Samsung appears poised to strengthen its position in the highly populous nation of India if reports of a low-cost LTE handset and possible joint venture with an LTE operator are accurate. Read more »
Comscore: Android still top US smartphone OS, but iPhone top smartphone and iOS gaining
photo: Samsung
Even though it fell 1.3 percent between October and December to 52.3 percent share, Android still is the most popular smartphone operating system in the U.S. Apple’s share grew 3.5 percent to 37.8 percent. Read more »
Surprised Samsung is pulling Windows RT from Germany? I’m not
First Samsung decided not to even sell its Windows RT tablet in the U.S. Now it appears to be pulling the product out of Germany and unspecified other European regions. Here’s why. Read more »
Call-in show: Why the “I’m leaving iPhone” trend?
On this week’s audio call-in podcast, we kick things off with news on the cell phone unlocking front. After that, we take your questions about Android switchers, Samsung’s influence, the Pebble watch and OTT services. Read more »
Apple’s $1B Samsung verdict slashed, some products to get new trial
U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh knocked $450.5 million off of the patent infringement verdict Apple was awarded by a jury last summer. Read more »
Keep all your revenue (for now): Chillingo and Samsung try to lure mobile developers
Samsung could gain even more influence over Android with its new Chillingo partnership. The two are offering developers 100 percent of revenues for titles sold in the Samsung Apps store. Read more »
Oh no, Samsung has a Passbook wallet app, too
Android fans that want something akin to Apple’s Passbook wallet features will get their wish as Samsung has the solution. Here’s why that’s good and bad. Read more »
A plea to HP: make your mobile products pop
The Slate7 isn’t terrible, but it ain’t great either. It looks like HP rushed this one, and it needs to do better next time if it wants to be a contender in consumer tablets. Read more »
Apple in India: a lost opportunity?
Apple is enamored with China — and rightfully so. However, in not paying attention to India, it has allowed world’s second-largest mobile market to become a mostly Android phenomenon, leaving upper end of the market to Samsung. Wrong strategy, if you ask me. Read more »
Box woos the enterprise with more security features, partnerships
File-share-and-sync vendor Box will announce more enterprise-friendly security features and alliances at the RSA Conference on Monday. Read more »
Digital lighting slowly claiming a spot in the Internet of Things
LED lighting companies are embracing new business models that go beyond just the sales of LEDs, bulbs and fixtures, and LEDs are slowing starting to occupy a spot in the widening web of Internet-dependent goods and services. Read more »
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The growth and promise of the LED market
LED production has grown tremendously, accompanied by a significant fall in prices that will further propel the sale of this energy-efficient digital-lighting technology. But challenges remain on the road to widespread adoption. Figuring out ways to use power efficiently for lighting will be crucial for a future when the world’s population will likely be much larger. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The year-old iPhone 4S was world’s 2nd most popular smartphone in Q4
Both the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S outsold Samsung’s Galaxy S III juggernaut, which after five months of availability, sold 15.4 million units during the fourth quarter. Read more »
LG reveals 5.5-inch Optimus Pro G, taking on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2
The handset is LG’s answer to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, only with more pixels, a slightly beefier processor and no stylus. It’s out in South Korea this week, and elsewhere – including the U.S. – later. Read more »
Fighting dirty data, UI veterans unveil GetSalesDone app for a better Salesforce front-end
Dexplora, the co-founders of which were also behind The Astonishing Tribe, is about to launch an iPhone app to make salespeople actually want to use the CRM systems they’re supposed to use. Read more »
Following Raspberry Pi, the $89 Odroid U2 continues small, cheap computing movement
As chips for smartphones and tablets improve, there’s a growing market for small computers running on this silicon. Take a look at the $89 Odroid 2 and what it can do. Read more »
Android this week: Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 spec’d; HTC M7 yelled; Nexus 4 ships
The closer we get to Mobile World Congress, the more information leaks about new Android tablets and phones. Here’s a recap, along with good news for those wanting a Nexus 4. Read more »
Judge denies new trial, keeps Apple’s $1B verdict over Samsung intact
A set of rulings issued late Tuesday mean there won’t be a retrial of Apple v. Samsung, but neither will Apple be getting more money: Judge Lucy Koh found Samsung patent infringement was “not willful.” Read more »
Acer Chromebook sales eating away at Windows 8 revenues
Acer hasn’t been kind to Microsoft of late and is now trumpeting its Chromebook sales, which account for between 5 and 10 percent of all sales in just two months. Read more »
Android this week: Galaxy Note 8.0 pics; App finds best network; a Google smart watch?
This week brought more images of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet, a new mobile app that helps you find the fastest network and speculation on a Google smart watch. Read more »
You’ll never guess who was the big smartphone winner last quarter
IDC reported its smartphone sales data for the final quarter of 2012 and if I gave you three guesses as to who increased sales the most from the year ago quarter, you still might not guess right. Read more »
The Samsung juggernaut widens its lead over Apple
The Korean manufacturer’s supremacy in the smartphone business is now entrenched, while the demand it’s seeing in other lines provides a timely reminder of a wider shift from the desktop to mobile. Read more »
Galaxy Note 8.0 images appear, looks like super-sized Galaxy S III
We’ve gone from leaks to benchmarks to executives confirming the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and now there are photos. They look legit, but if you expected some unique design, you’ll be disappointed. Read more »
Samsung zooms past Apple in semiconductor buying in 2012
Spending on chips actually shrank 3 percent in 2012, but was helped out by Samsung and Apple’s seemingly insatiable appetite for semiconductors. Read more »
GigaOM Research highs and lows from CES 2013
Given how CES is now a barometer for such a wide array of technology segments, GigaOM Research decided to ask our readers which way the tech winds will blow over the next year based on what they saw in Las Vegas. (Subscription required) Read more »
How to deliver the next-generation web experience
Delivering and managing the web experience isn’t just about mobile. Companies are also faced with new challenges in the desktop environment, including browser fragmentation, network evolution, and client-side technologies. They must invest in both the desktop environment as well as to create an optimized experience for mobile. Read more »
Report: Samsung official confirms Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet
First we had benchmarks for the elusive Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet and now there’s a report that a key Samsung exec has confirmed the slate’s debut at Mobile World Congress. Read more »
Android this week: Galaxy Note 8.0 tipped; Note 10.1, Tab 2 updated; Optimus G Pro leaked
Few major Android devices debuted at this month’s CES, but next month’s Mobile World Congress is looking up when it comes to hardware. And some old devices got new software this week. Read more »
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Tab 2 get Android 4.1 update
Got a Galaxy Note 10.1 or Galaxy Tab 2? Samsung has a software update for both Wi-Fi models that will bring Android 4.1 to the slates. The larger tablet also gains the useful Premium Suite. Read more »
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8.0 may have a secret weapon against iPad mini
Is the power of the digital pen mightier than the sword? We may find out next month, when Samsung is reportedly launching the Galaxy Note 8.0, an Android 4.2 tablet similar in size to Apple’s iPad mini. Read more »
The fourth quarter of 2012 in mobile
The mobile platform wars heated up in a big way as 2012 came to a close. Among other trends, Microsoft launched Windows Phone 8, Android’s dominant market share grew, and mobile commerce reached record highs during the holidays. Read more »
Sorry Windows RT, Windows 8 on an Atom has your number
Microsoft’s Windows RT software had an opportunity to bring limited Windows 8 functionality to low-cost tablets, but that window may already be closing. Intel Atom-based slates with full Windows 8 and long run-times on a single charge have fewer restrictions and cost about the same. Read more »
Why BuzzFeed’s photo spat with Reddit could be just the tip of the iceberg
photo: Shutterstock / mtkang
BuzzFeed has been criticized for taking images from other sites such as Reddit without giving credit to the original creator — something that the web’s “remix culture” is making more and more difficult. But BuzzFeed’s desire to create sponsored content makes it more important than ever. Read more at paidContent »
One less Windows RT choice in US: So long Samsung Ativ Tab
U.S. consumers have one less Windows RT tablet to choose: Samsung has decided not to sell its Ativ Tab, citing weak demand for Windows RT and a lack of product understanding by consumers. That’s OK, the Ativ with full Windows 8 and Intel’s Atom is $599. Read more »
How better tech makes for a lighter CES 2013 gear bag
After eight consecutive years of covering the International Consumer Electronics Show, it’s interesting to see how technology has evolved; this year I’m taking less gear than ever before and yet, I’ll likely be more productive. Here’s a glimpse of my CES gear bag over time. Read more »
Android this week: More Jelly Beans; free magazines; Galaxy S4 pops up
For the first time since passing the 50 percent market, less than half of all Android devices are running version 2.3. Instead, nearly 40 percent use Android 4.x. It’s easier to get digital magazines in Google Play and a pic of the Galaxy S4 popped up. Read more »
Ahead of CES: 4 questions to ask about the internet of things
The internet of things is set to be a hot topic this year at CES, but before going gaga over the latest connected device, there are some hard questions industry watchers should ask — or at least think about– when evaluating the latest announcements and gadgets. Read more »
