Tag archive: android

The world of patent licensing often seems like a maze of twisty little passages, all alike, but every so often the industry stumbles into a new tunnel — or, at least, one that seems new at first glance. Such is the case with Apple, which has asked the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to establish a set of basic principles governing so-called fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing of patented… Read More

The Droid 4 is the latest addition to the ever-extending family of QWERTY-slider Android phones from Motorola. Rumored for many months prior to its CES 2012 unveiling, it was left down to Verizon to provide the last two pieces of the puzzle — when would it launch and how much would it cost. Last rumored to appear on February 9, Verizon has finally issued a press release confirming the Droid 4′s arrival, and it's out on February… Read More

With all the gloomy news regarding the economy doing the rounds these days, it’s good to hear that there are some industries doing well. For example, research sponsored by TechNet, a group of bipartisan business executives from the tech world, has revealed that America’s app economy currently accounts for nearly half a million jobs. Not bad for an industry that didn’t even exist before 2007, when Apple’s app-hungry iPhone was introduced to the… Read More

Due in part to its popular native email system and effective security measures, Research In Motion’s BlackBerry mobile phones were once the must-have device for those working in business. But since Apple’s iPhone and handsets powered by Google’s Android OS have come on the scene, RIM’s smartphones have been losing ground in the corporate world. RIM’s efforts to hold on to business customers suffered another blow this week when oil field services… Read More

Eventually Google's Chrome Web browser had to come to Android. In my heart of hearts, I knew it would happen, but I never thought it would take so long. Senior Googlers have been quoted as far back as 2008, hinting that Chrome would come to Android. Today, it finally made the jump. This morning, Google released the first beta of Chrome for Android on all devices running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Since I happen to own just about… Read More

Today Google finally introduced Chrome for Android after three long, impatient years. It’s now available as a beta release for smartphones and tablets running Ice Cream Sandwich – which, unfortunately is incredibly limited. Right now that means that only the Galaxy Nexus and Wi-Fi only Xoom tablets will be able to access Chrome. First, the bad: It’s a bit of a slap in the face for Android owners: Chrome for mobile has been one of the most… Read More

Once the king of the Android smartphone world, Taiwanese handset maker HTC has slipped from its throne in recent months, usurped by Samsung's powerhouse lineup, as well as stiff competition from Apple and Nokia. In a trading update (pdf) released Monday, HTC said that it earned revenues of NT$16.6 billion (US$564 million) during the month of January 2012 — a drop of more than 52 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Thanks to a… Read More

Research in Motion is finding good uses for its stockpile of unsold BlackBerry PlayBook tablets. Yesterday, Alec Saunders, the company's VP of developer relations, announced on Twitter that any Android developer that submits an app by Feb. 13 will get a free BlackBerry PlayBook. This comes as RIM once again slashes the price of the PlayBook to help re-ignite interest in the tablet now that its new BlackBerry Tablet OS 2.0 update is about… Read More

Sony Ericsson has announced a limited edition of its Xperia Active smartphone, after teaming up with extreme sports clothing brand Billabong. The Xperia Active Billabong edition comes with a redesigned rear panel, plus a wealth of branded material stored on the phone, such as wallpapers, videos, screensavers and a special surf game. The phone remains the same as the standard Active, with Android 2.3 Gingerbread (although the Active will be… Read More

While Apple may have made a mountain of money by putting a bunch of electronics inside brushed aluminum cases, a design student from the UK is wondering if his bamboo-based idea will yield a similar bounty. Frustrated by the lack of designs in the smartphone market, Middlesex University student Kieron-Scott Woodhouse recently came up with his own concept—a unibody smartphone with its casing carved from a single block of bamboo. He put his ideas… Read More

When IT security firm Juniper Networks said last November that the presence of malware targeting devices running Android had surged by 472 percent in four months, many owners of such devices must have taken a long hard look at their smartphone or tablet and wondered what on earth was contained within. In response to growing concerns about malware on Android devices, the folks behind Google's mobile operating system are of course keen to… Read More

Almost everything about Android phones is getting bigger and better. The screens, processors, and antennas are larger and faster but one thing just can’t keep up with the rest – the battery. Batteries are being taxed further and further with all of these new technologies, and they haven't quite caught up. Here's a quick guide to make sure that you get the most out of your Android’s battery so your phone spends less time plugged into… Read More

It’s said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, but in the case of a Taiwanese TV ad featuring the late Steve Jobs—complete with angel wings and a halo—extolling the virtues of an Android tablet, other words and expressions may also come to mind. The ad, which at no point mentions Steve Jobs by name, shows famous Taiwanese impersonator Ah-Ken dressed up in Jobs’ trademark black top, blue jeans and white sneakers. The actor stands on a… Read More

It may not be the kind of burning issue that keeps you awake at night, but the findings of a recent survey carried out by dating website Match.com may raise a smile nevertheless. The survey looked at the dating habits of Canadians and how they corresponded with the type of smartphone they own. The results showed that Android owners were more likely to have sex on a first date compared to owners of Apple’s iPhone or those with BlackBerry devices.… Read More

UPDATE: Samsung has confirmed the launch of the Galaxy S III will be at an event later in the year. For a long time, the unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S III at Mobile World Congress 2012 seemed to be an almost foregone conclusion, however recent rumors suggest the device will not make an appearance, due to Samsung wanting to co-ordinate an international launch instead of the staggered release seen with the Galaxy S II. If that's the… Read More