Mobile Tech

EC Mulls Potential US Threat to Europeans' Privacy
June 11, 2013

The European Commission is concerned that U.S. data collection practices such as PRISM may pose a threat to Europeans' privacy rights. Commission Vice President Viviane Reding, who is in charge of justice, plans to raise the issue at an EU-U.S. meeting later this week in Dublin. That announcement comes after last week's revelation of the headline-grabbing PRISM program.

Sprint Launches Spunky $99 Vital Smartphone
June 11, 2013

Sprint this week released the $99 ZTE Vital, a high mid-range Android smartphone that could rock the market. The device, which has been pegged as a competitor to Samsung's highly regarded Galaxy S4, has a host of power-packed features and has already divided analysts. "The price is the key," said Richard Karpinski, a senior analyst at the Yankee Group.

Google Now First in Line to Acquire Waze
June 10, 2013

Google appears to have supplanted Facebook -- which had supplanted Apple -- as the likely candidate to acquire Israeli start-up Waze. Google is reportedly prepared to pony up $1.3 billion for the company. Last month, reports surfaced that Facebook was working on a $1 billion deal for Waze. And that was only after Apple, in late 2012, offered $500 million for the company.

Microsoft's Uncanny Transformation
June 10, 2013

For much of the last decade, Microsoft has set an example more of doing things wrong than right, but at TechEd last week, Microsoft suddenly was showcasing a number of really smart decisions and best practices. It almost felt like an event from a different company -- or the company I remember from the 1990s, before it got arrogant; when it was younger, more vital and a bit more fun.

Radar Cast Pro Puts a Meteorologist in Your Pocket
June 10, 2013

I'm not a weather junkie, but when it's time to get up and go -- a wintertime road trip or a fishing or hiking expedition -- I usually take a peek into the mountains with a weather app that I've now replaced with an even better version. The new app? Radar Cast Pro - NOAA Hi-Def FutureCast, Push Notifications, Lightning Strikes & Weather by WeatherSphere.

FreedomPop Calls for Mobile Revolution
June 07, 2013

Homing in on consumers' frustration with the escalating costs of wireless services, FreedomPop this week announced a mobile plan that offers voice, text and data -- for free. The FreedomPop service utilizes mobile VoIP on Sprint's cellular network. The company will offer a number of Android phones for purchase, or subscribers can use their own compatible phones.

It's a Smart Smart Smart Smartphone World
June 07, 2013

More than half of the adults in the United States now own a smartphone, constituting a new milestone in the history of the device, according to the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Specifically, smartphone adoption has grown to 56 percent of American adults. That's the largest percentage since Pew began tracking smartphone adoption two years ago.

Plume Earns Its Perch With the Best Twitter Apps
June 07, 2013

If there's one app that has been synonymous with an innovative, high-quality Twitter experience in the Android environment, it's Joaquim Verges' paid Falcon Pro. One of the killer features in Falcon Pro is its ability to live-stream a Twitter timeline. With a 2-minute synchronize refresh rate, Falcon will live-stream your timeline in real-time when you're using WiFi.

Microsoft Repairs Windows' Cracks
June 05, 2013

At this week's Computex trade show in Taiwan, Microsoft applied some polish to its beleaguered Windows platform. That included announcing that Outlook will finally arrive on Windows RT as well as making the first public demonstration of its forthcoming Windows 8.1. Also on hand at the show were a variety of new devices decked out to show off Windows' consistent experience across screens.

Even Hands-Free Phone Use May Be Hazardous in Cars
June 05, 2013

We all know by now that using a cellphone while driving can be a dangerous practice, but talking on a hands-free phone may not be much better. That's because people talk on the phone so regularly that they have developed learned habits that take over their awareness, according to Robert Rosenberger, an assistant professor in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology.

It's Game On for Wikipad
June 05, 2013

After considerable delay and a significant redesign, Wikipad announced that it will release its gaming tablet on June 11 at a price of $249. A global launch is planned for this summer. Featuring a capacitive, multitouch 7-inch screen, the new tablet runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and slips into a cradle that adds digital and analog controls to make the Wikipad 7 a full-fledged game device.

All Things Appy: Top 5 Android Fashion and Beauty Apps
June 05, 2013

The fashion and beauty industry is fast-moving, and apps are a good way to keep track of developments, because app content lead time can be significantly shorter than for print magazines. This week's All Things Appy takes a look at the must-have apps in this genre for the Android platform, including apps to buy the gear, track trends, and social network with like-minded fashionistas.

Samsung Gives Galaxy Tab 3 Another Inch
June 04, 2013

Samsung on Monday announced two additions to its Galaxy Tab 3 line: 8-inch and 10.1-inch models. Both run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. There's some talk that the 8-inch tablet might cannibalize Samsung's previously announced 7-inch device. However, Samsung's strategy is hypersegmentation -- that is, identifying and exploiting a need not addressed by existing devices.

Windows Phone, iOS Outpace Android
June 04, 2013

Google's Android operating system leads the smartphone market with a majority 51.7 percent share in the United States, but competitors are gaining ground, according to a report released Monday by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. Apple's iOS and Microsoft's Windows Phone platforms are now actually surpassing Android in terms of growth rates.

Foxconn Jumps on Firefox OS Bandwagon
June 04, 2013

Foxconn Technology Group, best known as the go-to maker of Apple's iPads and iPhones, said Monday it had embraced Mozilla's Firefox OS and would use the mobile platform on a raft of new devices, including a tablet it showed off at Computex. The company also demoed several smartphones running the Firefox OS and said it would make tablets, laptops and other devices supporting it.

Twitter's Vine Climbs Over to Android
June 04, 2013

Twitter's Vine has sprouted on Android, allowing users to post 6-second videos with tweets. Vine became available for Apple's iOS months ago, but until now, Android users have been left out of the fun. Now they can get into the thick of it as well. "Android owners: Welcome to Vine," said Android engineer Sara Haider. "Starting today, you can begin to shoot, share and watch short looping videos."

US, China to Hold Regular Cybersecurity Chats
June 03, 2013

Increasingly testy rhetoric and increasingly legitimate concerns have prompted the United States and China to announce that they will hold regular high-level talks on standards of cyberbehavior. The announcement precedes a meeting between President Obama and Chinese president Xi Jinping scheduled for Friday.

Make Your Kids Stars With a Little Disney Movie Magic
June 03, 2013

If you're a parent, there's a great chance that your iPhone will house a whole series of photos and videos featuring your kids following a road trip, a visit to the beach, a hike or a soccer game. Enter Story, a free app from Disney for the iPhone. Story accesses the photos and video stored on your iPhone and -- using the metadata -- combines them into a story. There are some limited editing options, but not enough to overwhelm.

Next Galaxy Tab May Roll In With Intel's Clover
June 03, 2013

Samsung's rumored selection of Intel's Clover Trail+ mobile system on a chip for at least one version of its upcoming Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 was given fresh strength by a Reuters report last week. The rumor had been floating around for weeks, fueled by the publication online of 3D graphics bench test results of a Samsung "Santos 103" tablet running Android 4.2.2.

Google Goes All-American With Moto X
May 31, 2013

Google company Motorola has announced a new smartphone that will be designed, engineered and assembled in the United States -- the Moto X. It will be manufactured in a factory in Fort Worth, Texas. "There are more than 130 million smartphones in use in the U.S., but not one of them is made here. That changes with Moto X," said Motorola spokesperson Danielle McNally.