Smartphones

Schmidt: One Google OS to Rule Them All Not Happening Soon
March 21, 2013

Google will keep its Chrome and Android operating systems separate, but company executive chairman Eric Schmidt said this week that the two will have more features in common. Schmidt's comments at a conference in India came a week after Google reassigned Android head honcho Andy Rubin and gave his duties to Chrome OS boss Sundar Pichai.

Apple's Painful Cry in the Wilderness
March 21, 2013

When I first heard about Apple's new "Why iPhone" marketing page that went live shortly after Samsung's big Galaxy S4 smartphone launch, I thought, "Uh oh, Apple's really playing defense." The page makes it clear that Apple is either worried about the rising power of Samsung, or misguided in how it can best do battle with the Korean superstar.

Street View Captures Sky-High Mountain Views
March 20, 2013

Google Street View has unveiled shots from some of the world's highest mountains. In addition to Argentina's Mount Aconcagua, Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro and Russia's Mount Elbrus, Google has now also captured photos from Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Because Street View's camera-equipped vehicles were unable to make the trek, a tripod and digital camera were used.

BlackBerry CEO on Apple: What We Have Here Is a Failure to Innovate
March 18, 2013

BlackBerry's new Z10 handset will be available in the U.S. later this week, and CEO Thorstein Heins believes it to be a quite the game changer. Despite BlackBerry's massive struggles, Heins said in an interview ahead of the Z10's release Down Under that he didn't believe it was a make-it-or-break-it moment for the company, and he emphasized that the pressure to innovate has shifted to Apple.

Dropbox Sends a Message to Google With Mailbox Buy
March 18, 2013

Dropbox announced Friday it has inked a deal to acquire Orchestra, owner of the popular Mailbox iOS email app that aims to help users with crowded in-boxes simplify their lives. The Mailbox app's 14-person team will join Dropbox, but will continue to develop separately as its own app.

Samsung's Galaxy S4: The Real iPhone Killer Just Stood Up
March 15, 2013

Samsung used all the marketing and showmanship power at its disposal Thursday to take the wraps off its new Galaxy S4 smartphone, which highlights new ways for users to interact with a mobile device while improving the hardware that forms the foundation of its Galaxy product line.

Cool Million Gets BlackBerry's Juices Flowing
March 14, 2013

BlackBerry announced that an unnamed customer has placed an order for 1 million BlackBerry Z10 smartphones, making it the largest-ever single purchase in its history. Shipments are to begin immediately. BlackBerry executives hailed the order as a "tremendous vote of confidence" in BlackBerry 10.

Mystery Motorola-Google Phone Dials Up Web Speculation
March 13, 2013

A video and photos of what could be the first Motorola-Google smartphone have appeared on the Web, showing a standard Android phone with a Motorola logo at the top left of the device's screen and the words "Motorola Confidential Property" along the screen's bottom edge. The Vietnamese website hosting the images, Tinhte, lists the mystery phone as having a 720p 4.65-inch AMOLED 320 ppi screen.

GPS and the Law: You Can Run but You Can't Hide
March 13, 2013

There are more than 6 billion mobile devices in the world. As of last July, there were more than 321 million wireless subscriber connections in the U.S. alone. Given the wide penetration of wireless gadgets, it is no surprise that GPS location devices are now getting a great deal of attention in both civil and criminal courts.

Lenovo Exec Floats BlackBerry Buyout Trial Balloon
March 12, 2013

Lenovo's CEO told a French newspaper this week that the computer maker would be open to exploring a BlackBerry buyout. It is not the first time a Lenovo executive has publicly stated interest in the struggling smartphone company. In January, Chief Financial Officer Won Wai Ming said that his company was exploring a variety of opportunities, including a BlackBerry buyout deal.

China Suggests Setting Rules for Cyberwar Games
March 11, 2013

As it continues to deny accusations that its army is involved in serial computer hacking, China is now also asking for worldwide rules and cooperation on Web-based espionage. China cited the lack of international definitions and regulations on cyberespionage as part of its first round of denials against the landmark report by security firm Mandiant.

BlackBerry Z10 May Arrive With a Lot of ZZZs
March 11, 2013

There may be a big red circle around March 22 on the calendars in BlackBerry's offices. That is when it will release its Z10 handset in the U.S., widely regarded as a do-or-die effort. The new touchscreen-enabled device will be available from AT&T for pre-order on March 12. The BlackBerry Z10 will cost $199.99 with a two-year contract and will be the first BlackBerry handset to operate on the carrier's 4G LTE network.

New Layoffs Show Google Still Trying to Connect Motorola to Profitability
March 11, 2013

Motorola Mobility announced another round of layoffs Friday, alerting its workers that it plans to cut 1,200 jobs, or about 10 percent of its current work force. It is the second round of layoffs since the company was acquired by Google last May in a $12.4 billion deal. Motorola announced the first round of 4,000 job cuts -- about 20 percent of its employees -- last August.

HTC May Be Taking Another Swipe at a Facebook Phone
March 09, 2013

A day after Facebook announced a mobile-centric makeover of its News Feed, rumors have resurfaced that HTC may be working on a phone that features special integration with the social network. The spark for speculation is the Friday publication on the Web of the device's specifications.

New Facebook News Feed Features In-Your-Face Photos
March 07, 2013

Facebook on Thursday announced a major makeover of its News Feed page with an emphasis on bigger images, more user control and a recognition that more members are accessing the social network on mobile devices. "News Feed has become primarily about visual content," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.

Apple Widens US Lead but Rivals' New Phones Are Coming
March 07, 2013

Apple's iPhone grabbed the first place spot in U.S. smartphone sales during the holiday quarter, increasing its lead over rival handsets before Samsung, BlackBerry and other competitors launch new devices this spring. The company took a 37.8 percent share of the domestic smartphone market during the three months ending in January,

China Starts Arm Wrestling Android
March 07, 2013

Android -- and, by extension, Google -- has too much control over China's smartphone industry, according to a white paper from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Android is used by handset manufacturers such as Huawei and ZTE, as well as Samsung, which has a solid footprint in China.

Verizon May Pay Dearly for Full Control of Its Precious
March 06, 2013

Verizon wants complete control of its joint Verizon Wireless division with Vodafone, so it is reportedly considering a merger of the two companies or a buyout. Vodafone currently holds a 45 percent stake in the wireless venture, estimated to be worth about $115 billion. The two have discussed a merger as recently as December.

Apple May Put The Squeeze on iPhone
March 06, 2013

Apple wants to make a future iPhone your main squeeze. The company received approval Tuesday from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent that would allow you to control a device by squeezing its housing. According to Patent No. 8,390,481, Apple has invented a way to measure a user's interaction with the housing of a device independent of the user's electrical characteristics.

Galaxy S IV Scrolling: The Eyes May Have It
March 06, 2013

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S IV smartphone, which will be revealed later this month, could offer users an eye scrolling feature, according to published reports. The S IV's front-facing camera will reportedly track a user's eyes to determine where to scroll.