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 »
Verizon’s new “Share Everything” plans use one bucket of data for up to 10 devices on an account. Instead of buying a data plan for each device, one monthly charge covers voice, messages and data to be shared. And it will likely save you money. Read more »
Unlike last year’s product launch, the Galaxy S III will hit the U.S. on multiple carriers soon after the product debuts internationally. Five carriers are ready to sell Samsung’s flagship; a single model for all. HTC’s patent woes continue and Toshiba’s new small slate shines. Read more »
Smartphone owners are driving tablet demand in the U.S. as 23.6 percent of those with a smartphone now own a slate: Nearly 1 in 4 consumers with a smartphone purchased a tablet between February and April of this year. Half of those slates are video players. Read more »
Once a rising star, HTC continues to lose lustre as it not only faces increased competition from Apple and Samsung, but also due to alleged patent infringements and limitations on future products. With three issues at once, this may be the worst week in HTC’s history. Read more »
Confirming earlier reports that Virgin Mobile would be the next pre-paid seller of iPhones in the U.S., Sprint announced it would begin doing so on June 29. The iPhone 4 and 4S arrive that day with a unique twist: A low monthly rate starting at $30. Read more »
German e-reading service txtr hopes to take on Amazon and Apple by becoming the biggest provider of third party reading apps — and a deal with four major American publishers and a New York office could be the latest steps in that journey. Read more »
Since I only have two arms, capturing myself on video with an iPhone is basically a non-event. It’s not that I’m narcissistic; I often do reviews on camera or interview folks at trade shows. With Swivl, an intelligent, swiveling tripod base I can use my iPhone. Read more »
Research firm IDC offers up its look at smartphone market share through 2016 and suggests several surprising trends: Android may peak this year while Windows Phone will jump past iOS in 2016. A year ago, IDC said the same thing for 2015. Here’s the problem. Read more »
Android enthusiasts have a new way to control their smartphone or tablet, courtesy of Microsoft. The company released a new Android app and supporting web service Tuesday called on{X}, which lets users create JavaScript code or simple recipes that add automated tasks to their connected device. Read more »
Microsoft unlocked an new achievement this month, surpassing 100,000 apps for its Windows Phone mobile platform. But there are several reasons why this number isn’t equating into sales of Windows Phones. There’s a still a key question Microsoft hasn’t answered about its mobile platform. Read more »
In this week’s audio podcast, Matt and Kevin cover all the recent Google Nexus 7 tablet rumors: what sounds reasonable and how much will it cost? Plus new Google Chromebooks have arrived — along with the updated ChromeOS — and Flipboard comes to Android. Read more »
Details of the expected Nexus 7 tablet, appeared in server logs this week. It appears Google has a 7-inch, quad-core slate to debut at its I/O event later this month. Flipboard opened a beta for Android users while Motorola’s smart watch gains Twitter and Facebook. Read more »
While Apple has welcomed Twitter into iOS, the biggest social network of them all has not been integrated into Apple’s mobile operating system. But it looks like that’s about to change. Apple is reportedly set to announce Facebook integration for iOS 6, said TechCrunch. Read more »
ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, approved specifications for SIM cards even smaller than the micro SIM used in Apple’s iPhone 4/4S. Several handset makers submitted proposals, but the approved design is similar to that of Apple’s, adding evidence that Apple wants to own subscriber relationships. Read more »
Cricket Wireless will offer two Apple iPhone handset models with monthly pre-paid plans beginning on June 22. The iPhone 4 and 4S will cost $399 and $499 respectively, without a contract, using Cricket’s $55 plan, advertised as unlimited voice minutes, text messages and data usage. Read more »
The adoption of tablets, social media and new interfaces and the changing nature of the TV itself mean the digital living room will continue on its path of rapid change, thanks to new ways of creating, viewing, bundling, distributing and selling content. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Nokia has launch the Lumia 610 at a low, £15 per month price point with service in the UK. It’s not high performing hardware, but Windows Phone runs well on meager silicon. The bigger issue is limited memory, which means some top tier apps are incompatible. Read more »
After waiting a few months, Verizon customers who own a Galaxy Nexus LTE smartphone should soon see their phones get updated to from Android 4.0.2 to 4.0.4. Aside from app-specific improvements, this version should boost camera performance and rotate the screen orientation faster than before. Read more »
LG has created a 5-inch screen with 1920 by 1080 resolution. There’s a tradeoff between screen resolution and smartphone size, but the trend is more pixels per inch and larger devices. And it’s all because on a smartphone, the screen is the most used component. Read more »
If you haven’t yet head of “phablets,” you might want get familiar with them because ABI Research expects 208 million of them to sell in 2015. Thanks to more media consumption and web browsing consumers may shift from one- to two-handed use for these larger devices. Read more »
Cloud storage provider Box adds a more advanced administrative console, enterprise-wide search, enterprise license agreements and support for multiple email domains to its service. Enterprise features like these are a battle ground for cloud service providers trying to convince IT to make the cloud move. Read more »
My do-it-yourself smarthome system may be getting an upgrade with an Internet connected front door lock. Lockitron just caught my eye for a few reasons, but the two main ones are support for near-field communications or NFC and no wiring needed for installation. Read more »
After waiting months and finally gaining approval from China on the deal, Google’s $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola closed on Tuesday. While the deal is still about patents to protect Android partners, Google finally has a vehicle to gain control of Android over the long term. Read more »
Folks that like valet parking may like it even more thanks to Flash Valet, a mobile app and platform that speeds both a car’s return as well as the valet payment. The app lets customers request their car or pay their fee and tip by phone. Read more »
Apple may be planning to add 3G data support for FaceTime on iOS devices, based on some recently published screenshots. Many have wanted FaceTime on a mobile broadband instead of Wi-Fi networks. But I’m not sold that it’s a good idea. Here’s why. Read more »
Motorola explained why certain smartphones and tablets it makes won’t be getting the Google Android 4.0 software update. Not all Motorola device owners are happy though; especially those that bought a Droid 3 in the past 10 months. These folks are stuck on Android 2.3. Read more »
A new intelligent home screen app for Android tablets appears on Kickstarter and for $5, it looks well worth it. Google is finally taking more control by planning several Nexus device partners and more direct sales, plus Samsung’s Galaxy S III is already in great demand. Read more »
A security hole was found in the ZTE Score, a handset model sold on both by Metro PCS and Cricket in the U.S. The breach appears to be a “backdoor” put in by ZTE, which is already under U.S. scrutiny as a China-based company. Read more »
After waiting for Samsung’s highly anticipated Galaxy S III handset, it’s possible you could be waiting some more: Samsung has 9 million pre-orders for the new smartphone; 3x more than last year’s model. And it says it can only build 5 million each month. Read more »
