Mobile

The battle between Apple and Google in the smartphone market heated up further Monday with the introduction of the iPhone 4 and new information about iOS 4, the next-generation operating system for iPhones, iPod touches and iPads. In the other corner of the ring stands Android, and it's fired up as ...

A group of high-tech firms, led by ARM, Freescale Semiconductor, IBM, Samsung, ST-Ericsson and Texas Instruments, have formed a nonprofit organization to promote the use of Linux software on smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. To that end, the organization, called "Linaro," will develop t...

Pandigital, the company best known for its digital photo frames, on Monday entered the e-book reader fray with an Android-powered device featuring a $199 price point and a 7-inch color display. Through a partnership with Barnes & Noble, the Pandigital Novel also includes an integrated e-bookstor...

Google on Thursday took the wraps off "Froyo," the next version of Android that's been bolstered with new speed, tethering capabilities and Flash support. Announced at Google I/O, version 2.2 of Android -- the seventh platform release since it was launched in 2008 -- includes a raft of new features ...

Google's Android Market website got a face-lift sometime in the past few days, but the update has many scratching their heads over the continuing lack of search and other capabilities. Layout changes have resulted in a simpler, more straightforward desktop interface, with incrementally easier browsi...

Users of Google Goggles can now put the technology to work translating text from other languages, Google announced Thursday. Whereas a prototype demonstrated at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year could recognize only German text, Goggles version v1.1 can read English, French, I...

Some technology-company sparring comes in the form of public wars of words, as has been the case with Apple and Adobe in recent weeks. However, as it turns out, some maneuvers can be perfectly silent -- deafeningly so. Such is the case with Adobe's latest slap at Apple in the form of a booth at the ...

Microsoft on Tuesday announced that it has signed a patent agreement with HTC covering the phone maker's Android-based devices, and it's talking with other phone vendors as well about its "concerns" regarding Google's mobile operating platform. The deal with HTC provides broad coverage under Microso...

Targeting a market already replete with numerous contenders, a consortium of six Japanese firms announced plans to build a new mobile operating system that will be compatible at least with Linux and Symbian -- and possibly with Android too. NTT Docomo, Renesas Electronics, Fujitsu, NEC, Panasonic Mo...

The Garmin-Asus partnership Wednesday announced the new Garminfone, an Android-based smartphone that will be available on the T-Mobile USA network. This 3G device has a 3.5-inch screen and will be available later this year. The Garminfone follows last year's release of the Nuvifone G60, which was no...

Apple's newly launched iPad may be taking up the majority of consumer mindshare in the tablet category following its launch earlier this month, but Google is furtively working on a device of its own that will be powered exclusively by Android. That's according to reports of comments made by Google C...

You need spend only five minutes with Motorola's Devour smartphone to realize how appropriate its moniker is. It's an information gourmand's delight. What sets Devour apart from other Android phones is Motorola's MotoBlur software. The phone, which is offered by Verizon Wireless, allows you to funne...

The MeeGo community, formed by Intel and Nokia, on Thursday released the MeeGo distribution infrastructure and operating system base to developers. Images released are Intel Atom-based netbooks; ARM-based Nokia N900; and Intel Atom-based handsets running on the Moorestown chip. The Thursday release ...

Samsung has given the audience at the International CTIA Wireless trade show a sneak preview of its forthcoming Galaxy S smartphone. At less than 10 millimeters, it is expected to be the thinnest Android phone on the market. It also has a 1-Ghz processor and sports a 4-inch, 800 by 480-pixel AMOLED ...

The Nexus One smartphone is now compatible with AT&T's 3G network in the United States. Though the unlocked device can be used with SIM cards from most GSM operators worldwide, frequency differences meant its 3G compatibility was previously limited to T-Mobile's network in the U.S. The Android-b...