Although Microsoft invested $300 million in a Barnes & Noble spin-off on Monday, this isn’t the first time Microsoft played the e-book game. Typical for the company, it often has great ideas, but it errs on the timing: Microsoft debuted e-book software back in 2000! Read more »
Cloud computing, mobile computing and the consumerization of IT combine to create another force that overwhelms IT departments: complexity, including complexity of devices and applications, physical and virtual computing environments, and related challenges for IT staff. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Embattled Nokia is hoping it can become faster and more competitive by shifting the heart of its manufacturing operations to Asia, a move which will see 4,000 jobs cut in Finland, Hungary and Mexico but will be seen as long overdue. Read more »
If you’re like many of us, you’re already thinking over some New Year’s resolutions that will make you a better “you” in 2012. But how are the tech industries’ thought leaders approaching the new year? We asked 12 of them for their resolutions. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
There’s a trend building, and it’s not good for the PC industry. It’s not tablet and smartphone growth — although that’s part of the trend — but virtualization on mobile devices. This allows remote PC access from a tablet, for example, and could hurt already slowing PC sales. Read more »
The last four years have shown remarkable growth in smartphone ownership, changing the mobile landscape as the phone becomes central to our lives. This year I’ll be looking for cross-platform apps, centralized notification services and solutions that intelligently handle more mundane tasks around my smart home. Read more »
By 2015, the worldwide sales of NFC-equipped handsets will reach 263.6 million units, with the cumulative total at more than half a billion compatible devices. This report covers the current landscape for NFC, examines the technology’s different forms of deployment and forecasts its future. It also examines the various deployments of NFC technology — mobile payments, point of purchase, augmented reality — and the challenges businesses, carriers and handset makers face moving forward. Companies mentioned in this report include Google, TapIt, Amazon and NTT DoCoMo. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Joint Matt and Kevin as they return to the mobile tech podcast after a short summer break. Hands on thoughts with the HP TouchPad, myTouch 4G Slide, HTC Status Facebook phone and Nokia E6. Participate in the live show through the chat room! Read more »
While almost no one is looking forward to Los Angeles’ so-called Carmageddon, an upcoming closure of a busy freeway, crowd-sourced traffic app Waze sees an opportunity to shine. The company is teaming with the local ABC affiliate to beef up ABC’s real-time traffic information for drivers. Read more »
Tablets have gone mainstream, and now those devices — from the iPad to Research in Motion’s new PlayBook — are headed to the enterprise. This trend is largely driven by end users who prefer to bring their own devices to work, which is creating a fruitful marketplace for both hardware manufacturers and app developers. This report examines the current state of tablets in the enterprise, from use cases to market drivers, and analyzes which players will be worth watching in the coming months. Additional companies mentioned in this report include Apple, Google, Samsung and Nokia. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Research firm IDC reiterated that it expects Windows Phone 7 to soar to number two by 2015 with 20 percent of the market, trailing only Android. But with the market moving so fast and competition so fierce, predictions like this seem premature. Read more »
Within the next five years, smartphones will account for more than one-third of all handsets sold worldwide, thanks largely to platforms like Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. This research covers the global handset platforms market for the period between 2011 and 2015. We first examine the factors contributing to this worldwide growth, from a slowly recovering economy to the rise of technologies like 4G and LTE. Regional factors affect growth, too, and our research includes a forecast for the following areas: the Americas; Europe; the Middle East and Africa; and Asia-Pacific. Forecasts are on a global and regional basis for the most important platforms: Android, Apple iOS, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Mobile. Companies mentioned in this report include Apple, Google, Nokia, Research in Motion and Microsoft. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The always exciting World Cup kicks off today and I’m using a free mobile application from Goal.com to keep track of it all. While I’d rather watch streaming video of the matches, this software gives me a quick fix and runs on most major mobile platforms. Read more »
Many gadgets come through Mobile Tech Manor for review; it’s a big part of my week. I now own the HTC EVO 4G that was released a week ago, and this week has been once of exploration and adopting it into my routine. Read more »
LG Electronics hopes to turn around profits in its mobile communications division by building 20 new Google Android devices by the end of this year. Last year, LGE was vocally committed to Microsoft’s Windows Mobile platform. My, how one year can change everything. Read more »
J. Allard and Robbie Bach — instrumental in the successes of Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division — are both leaving. For now, Steve Ballmer will have more direct control over this group, which might not be the best move in the long term for Microsoft. Read more »
Windows Phone 7 is due out by the holiday season, but Microsoft isn’t allowing Windows Mobile 6.x to wither away like a raisin in the sun. Today, the Bing team announced new turn-by-turn directions from Microsoft’s Tellme unit, but only on three U.S. carriers. Read more »
Google’s upstart smartphone OS has taken the industry by storm. Sure, Android isn’t the biggest phone platform, but with 60,000 handsets shipping daily, it’s become a force to be reckoned with. Want proof? A sure sign of success for a product is the point when competitors ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Microsoft today launched its Kin line of handsets — web-enabled touchscreen phones built around social networking features, messaging, video sharing and the company’s Zune music offering. The new line is aimed squarely at the pre-smartphone demographic — a group that few competitors are targeting. Read more »
Our iPad Accessories Series focuses on cases for the iPad. Case manufacturers are coming out of the woodwork almost hourly; we’ve gathered up the best at the time of publication. The cases run the gamut from simple cloth bags to expensive leather covers for your precious. Read more »
The mobile industry has gathered in Las Vegas for CTIA, its annual dog-and-pony show featuring the latest handsets and technology. This year’s show is all about the mobile operating system, as evidenced by the first wave of announcements out this morning. Here’s what they mean. Read more »
It is no secret I love infographics, those charts that tell an entire story using pictures. So much information can be conveyed using the right combination of charts and figures. GigaOM has another great infographic that tells the story of the smartphone market at a glance. Read more »
Microsoft is taking a page from Apple’s playbook and will require developers to sell Windows Phone apps exclusively through the company’s upcoming flagship store. It’s a move that will surely destroy some of the goodwill Microsoft has been working so hard to build up. Read more »
Netflix streaming could be coming to mobile devices by the end of the year, but the iPhone might not be the first platform to support it, as has been widely anticipated. Instead, that honor might belong to devices that are built on Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 […] Read more »
Microsoft is betting that that Silverlight can help lure third-party developers to its Windows Phone operating system, which is scheduled to be released by the end of the year. It’s a strategy that seems to be paying dividends — so far. Read more »
Microsoft faces a tough assignment when it comes to regaining its relevance in mobile, but there’s no shortage of players who have a vested interest in seeing Windows Phone succeed. Here are some of those rooting for Microsoft’s upcoming mobile OS to challenge iPhone and Android. Read more »
Pining for a better browser on your Windows Moible 5 or 6 handset? Opera Mini just became another option, even if you don’t have a Java ME client. But why would Opera go native now when others are focusing on Windows Phone 7? Read more »
Microsoft is making a clean break with the Windows Phone 7 Series and new handset requirements. But there’s a handset or two that might have the necessary “oomph” to handle the new operating system. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like any official upgrades will be appearing. Read more »
The week marches on and today being Saturday means it is time to recap the recent happenings in the world of Windows Mobile. Microsoft has confirmed details on the new Windows Phone Starter Edition. Adobe will not provide Flash for WinMo 6.5 as previously thought. Read more »
Skype yesterday pulled support for Windows Mobile 6.5, and today it’s Adobe’s turn. The promise of Flash 10.1 on Microsoft’s current handsets is a broken one, but the reason provided simply doesn’t make sense. Is this the sign of a bad trend for Microsoft’s phones? Read more »
If you’re looking to install Skype on your Windows Mobile handset, you can stop looking. Skype pulled the software and there’s actually a very good reason. It’s been the same issue that’s hampered the Skype experience for years on Windows Mobile devices. Read more »
How many Windows Phone 7 Series chassis designs are there? “Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceedest on to three.” Read more »
Google’s Android platform continues to show up on more unexpected places. With the right tools and instructions, you can now run Android 2.1 on some Windows Mobile handsets that are two years old. This is a great way to re-use an older device. Read more »
The week marches on and today being Saturday means it is time to recap the recent happenings in the world of Windows Mobile. This feature may soon be called the WinPho Wrap, as this week Windows Phone 7 Series was publicly unveiled in Spain. Read more »
Many can’t seem to break the habit of driving while texting or sending email. ZoomSafer has a software solution that leverages the GPS in your handset to disable the display and keyboard. The app can even respond to email automatically for you while driving. Read more »
The unveiling of Windows Phone 7 this week left current Windows Mobile phone owners wondering what would happen once the new version hits the market. Microsoft has revealed that Windows Mobile 6.5 will be rebranded as Windows Phone Classic, and coexist alongside the new version. Read more »
Firefox Mobile for Maemo arrived last month, but without many devices to take advantage of it, people are wondering which platform will be the next one to see Mozilla’s browser. Microsoft’s clean break with Windows Phone 7 just might push Mozilla to Android first. Read more »
HTC announced 3 new smartphones to carry both the Android and Windows Mobile platforms into the new year. The Legend and Desire are new Android phones, while the HD mini is the company’s latest Windows Mobile offering. The phones will be released outside the U.S. initially. Read more »
Microsoft wowed attendees at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona today with an overhauled version of its venerable mobile operating system. But for Redmond to regain its mobile relevance and challenge players like Apple and Google, it will have to address three key challenges. Read more »
Starting today, T-Mobile’s MyTouch 3G enjoys a new keyboard input method in Swype. Instead of pecking away at the keys, you simply swipe your words without lifting a finger. And it’s not just for Android devices — an upcoming Windows Mobile handset will see it too. Read more »
