With the growth of sensors and microelectronics, the potential uses of wearable-computing technologies now reach to health and fitness, gaming, fashion, disabilities and augmented reality. Most importantly, the widespread adoption of wearables will drive the form function and market for mobiles in vital ways. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
We already knew that Windows Phone 8 would support better hardware and here’s proof. A pair of planned phones from Samsung indicate that the company won’t miss out on the next generation of Microsoft’s mobile platform, even though Android is such a success for Samsung. Read more »
Last week it was Android tablets, this week was about Android smartphones. Sprint announced a QWERTY keyboard version of the Photon Q with LTE, while Samsung’s Galaxy S III continues to set sales records. Can the leaked HTC One X+ slow Samsung’s momentum? Read more »
There’s an unprecedented amount of digital video coverage for this year’s Olympic Games and yet analysts suggest that the TV will easily trump viewing on other screens again. The numbers look low because of our time- and place-shifting mentality: Share your viewing plans in our poll. Read more »
Sprint’s strategy to curb subscriber losses by converting Nextel customers is working but what will help the operator’s cause more is the addition of hot smartphones. With the Photon Q 4G LTE, Sprint is gambling that people still want physical keyboards on their handset. Read more »
When HTC brought the One series of smartphones to the U.S. it left Nvidia’s Tegra 3 behind due to LTE network support. That could change sinceT-Mobile still uses an HSPA+ 42 network; according to leaked information, the HTC One X+ with Tegra 3 could be arriving. Read more »
Samsung’s Galaxy S III is the official phone of the 2012 Olympic Games and if you’re staying at the Holiday Inn near Olympic Park, you’ll see how a smartphone can improve the guest experience. The handset can control in-room features and is also a room key. Read more »
Relying on a wireless home network is typically far cheaper than using mobile broadband for smartphones and tablets. Even with today’s new Wi-Fi products, however, coverage can still be an issue and thus use up precious cellular data. Netgear’s $39 Wi-Fi extender aims to solve that. Read more »
Amazon is expected to introduce up to 6 new tablets, including a 10-inch model. Why not? Few besides Amazon have the consumer data, shopping experience and content to make multiple screen sized tablets, proving that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to mobile devices. Read more »
Honda on Wednesday became the latest big automaker to unveil an in-car connected infotainment system. Called HondaLink, the platform uses Harman’s Aha technology to connect to reams of different content sources and customized software to let new Fit EV customers manage their cars’ power systems. Read more »
Kickstarter continues to drain my monthy mobile gadget budget, this time for POP, which is short for “portable power.” The nicely designed device looks like a small trash can in shape, holding a 25,000 mAh battery and four retractable cords for iOS and micro-USB devices. Read more »
Apple and Google still dominate the smartphone space, but look out for Microsoft, which finally has some muscle behind its mobile strategy. Meanwhile mobile-browser developers went head-to-head with native apps, and Facebook continued to buy mobile expertise via acquisition. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Your next smartphone or tablet may have richer, deeper sound even with the small speakers usually found in such devices. On Tuesday, NXP Semiconductors introduced a new integrated circuit and algorithm that boasts 5x more output power for sound while also protecting the speaker. Read more »
Social TV is any application, website or software that allows viewers to interact with television programming and share that interaction with others. Startups in this space hope to combine ubiquitous second-screen technology with well-established audience behavior to drive new value around shows. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
A trio of Sony Mobile’s Xperia smartphones are now available in the U.S., but you won’t find them in carrier stores. Instead, the company is selling the full-priced phones directly to consumers through Sony Stores, and various web retailers; a tough sell in the U.S. Read more »
Starting Sunday, AT&T is offering Nokia’s Lumia 900 smartphone in a new color and a lower price for all models. The Lumia 900 is now available for $49 .99 with contract. For these 3 reasons, the new pink version and a cheaper line-up won’t matter much. Read more »
Motorola’s Atrix HD for AT&T just arrived for review and I’ve already taken a quick video to give you an idea of what the phone is like. Yes it’s thin and the HD screen impresses; especially for $99 with contract. I particularly like the landscape dock. Read more »
A survey of mobile application developers shows falling confidence in the future of BlackBerry devices. Aside from waning support for RIM’s mobile platform, recently announced to be a late delivery, nearly a third of BlackBerry programmers are shifting to Google Android efforts. Read more »
AT&T will exclusively offer the Motorola Atrix HD when the Android 4.0 smartphone launches on July 15. The handset shares many features with Moto’s Razr line, but boasts a 1280 x 800 resolution screen. Noticeably absent is any mention of an optional LapDock accessory. Read more »
Cloud-based storage and cross-device syncing of media content are two of the most competitive areas in consumer IT. Apple, Google and Amazon see cloud-based media services both as a way to increase attachment to their platforms and a means to extend and amplify their broader strategic goals. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
After escalating for the past two years, there could be relief in sight for the ongoing mobile patent wars, as the International Telecommuncations Union is planning an October meeting in Geneva with handset makers, platform providers and standards boards. It’s about time. Read more »
AT&T could soon let customers sign up lost or stolen devices to a “block” list that will shut off voice, data and texts but not turn off the account, according to The Verge. A device would be unusable, even if the SIM card was swapped out. Read more »
Between February and May, Apple’s iPhone saw a sliver of growth in U.S. smartphone market share at 1.7 percent. Android saw smaller growth (0.8 percent) but is still most prevalent and is on a little over half of all smartphones, according to a report released Monday. Read more »
Simon & Schuster is adding QR codes to the back jackets of all its hardcover and trade paperback titles starting this fall. The publisher hopes to use the the codes to build direct-to-consumer relationships, but will readers actually scan them? Read more at paidContent »
For the Android crowd, this was an eventful week, thanks to the many announcements at Google I/O. Here’s my first look at the Nexus 7 tablet and Android 4.1 on the Galaxy Nexus, which is temporarily unable to be sold due to Apple winning an injunction. Read more »
Starting Thursday, the U.S. National Weather Service will broadcast weather alerts to smartphones. Severe weather warnings, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and snow blizzards will be sent via a text message in 90 characters or less. The service is free and users can opt-out at any time. Read more »
At its I/O conference Google unveiled the next update to Android, version 4.1, aka Jelly Bean. The update, which will first become available as an over-the-air download next month, brings a lot of nice improvements and some cool enhancements to search, notifications and navigation. Read more »
Your phone may be smart today, but Qualcomm thinks it can and should be smarter, announcing a number of new technologies on Wednesday at its annual Uplinq event. These new and improved features would be welcome by any smartphone user. Read more »
Need to share your location for a limited amount of time and with just a single person? Mapfia is an easy method on iOS and Android. You simply call someone and Mapfia shares the location of both people for the length of the call. Read more »
All eyes of the Android faithful will be squarely on Google this week, as the company is holding its annual Google I/O event in San Francisco. Here’s a look at what is likely to be introduced, even though Google could yet have some additional surprises. Read more »
Gmail users on iOS have an early gift prior to this week’s Google developer event: The Gmail on iOS app was updated on Monday with Notification Center support and more, suggesting that Google wants users to access its services everywhere on all sorts of mobile devices. Read more »
Among several options Research In Motion is currently reviewing for its continued transition is the sale of its BlackBerry handset division. That would keep the company alive, but only as a services provider; a bad situation given that 79 percent of RIM’s revenues come from hardware. Read more »
Google tipped its hand early this week, outing the news that Android 4.1 — Jelly Bean — will soon be on the GSM Galaxy Nexus. The Galaxy S III impressed so many that it’s playing hard to get while not one, but two, Android keyboards improve. Read more »
Next week is Google’s I/O developer conference, but it appears that news is leaking this week. Anyone purchasing a GSM Galaxy Nexus on the Google Play site will see the following message at the time of checkout: “[S]oon the first phone with Android 4.1, Jell….” Read more »
Microsoft took the wraps off Windows Phone 8, which will not just gain many needed features but also share common core code with Windows 8 on the desktop. That means apps can be made to run on phones, tablets, laptops and other Windows computers. Read more »
GigaOM’s Structure event this week reminds me of the well-documented relationship between economic crises and technological innovation: Hard times bring out the best in entrepreneurs, precipitating a creative destruction that resets the technology infrastructure and transforms business. From my vantage point here in the Silicon Valley, […] Read more »
On this week’s audio podcast, Matt and Kevin offer early hands-on impressions of iOS 6 and a discuss the pros and cons of Verizon’s new Share Everything plans. Matt’s Kobo Vox turns into a full Android tablet this week while Kevin is loving his new ChromeBook. Read more »
Has one single Android phone outsold the iPhone 4S? Apparently so, at least at Verizon, where the Motorola Razr and its 4G LTE radio is tops. Acer is taking on Apple’s iPad with a $449 tablet while an Intel phone — yes, Intel — gets a nice review. Read more »
You might not be James Bond, but you could be mistaken for him if you carry Vodafone’s Booster Brolly: With a dozen solar panels, the umbrella can charge a phone while also boosting cellular reception and later lighting your path with the touch of a button. Read more »
Once a Google Android exclusive, Amazon released an iOS version of its Cloud Player app for iPhone and iPod touch devices. The free software provides streaming and download access to audio files on Amazon servers either purchased from Amazon’s music store or later uploaded by customers. Read more »
