Sony Ericsson reveals it has made the 2011 Xperia line the first Androids with WebGL support

For reason unbeknownst Sony Ericsson didn't boast a very interesting feature that came with the Android 2.3.4 update to its 2011 Xperia lineup not long ago. We knew that it brought WiFi DLNA, 16x digital zoom while filming, screen capture and USB-on-the-go from the LiveDock  accessory, but nothing about it including WebGL support.

Yet Sony Ericsson chose yesterday to enlighten us on the matter, saying that this year's Xperias are the first smartphones to support this fashionable Java-based web graphics standard that is used to create 3D imagery without resorting to plug-ins and relying on the GPU for acceleration, which takes pressure off the processor.

Yet WebGL is still in its infancy and not as widely supported or efficient, but with software like the web version of Angry Birds built with it, the standard might have a future. Watch a demo of the tech below, and enjoy the support if you own a Sony Ericsson Xperia arc, arc S, neo, neo V, mini, mini pro, ray, pro, active or Play.

Developer of the Flashlight app for iPhone 4 and 4S reaches one million sold on Black Friday

One million people have apparently been very fond of the Flashlight app for the iPhone 4 and 4S, which was released in July last year and updated in September 2010. It consistently scores a 5 star ranking despite that now we have quite a bit of similar apps, and with richer functionality.

The 99-cent application differed from other efforts to illuminate your way with an iPhone in the fact that it uses the LED flash for the purpose, instead of lighting up the LCD display, and starts faster than similar apps.

The app has crossed the one million copy sold threshold precisely on Black Friday, proving once again that you can have a fairly simple app idea, but execute well and make bank.

IGNIS develops technology for 300ppi+ AMOLED displays with regular RGB matrix, someone has to actually make them

The Canadian researchers from IGNIS have developed a production method for AMOLED displays that allows them to break that elusive 300ppi pixel density barrier, and do it without the PenTile matrix arrangement used in phones like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

The company, however, does not have the manufacturing capabilities and is planning to license the tech to other manufacturers. Samsung is expected to run the conveyor belts with similar HD Super AMOLED + displays, or whatever they get named, in Q2 of next year.


IGNIS also has an alternative to the RGB pixel arrangement, called HR pixel structure, which, just like Samsung's PenTile, allows for >330ppi AMOLED displays with existing production methods for OLED evaporation. The new >300ppi AMOLED tech, however, seems to be a true RGB matrix,


judging from the short press release below:

IGNIS has developed techniques to push the conventional manufacturing techniques to >300 ppi AMOLED with true RGB pixels. Also, it has developed pixel circuit and driving scheme to compensate for the non-uniformity and enhance the lifetime of such a high-ppi display.

These techniques can make AMOLED displays with similar resolution as IPS displays but with much better color quality, higher contrast ratio, and wider viewing angle.

How close is IGNIS's technology to what Samsung is working on we don't know, but it would be nice if some competition can be injected in the AMOLED fight, where Samsung is leading by leaps and bounds. IGNIS's moto is to make "AMOLED displays look better, last longer and cost less", and we are all for that.

iFixit transparent iPhone rear panels go on sale

Ever wondered what’s hiding behind the back of your brand new iPhone 4S? Why, the battery of course, and if you want everyone else with a fetish for gadget internals to know right away, this transparent replacement for your iPhone back panel will certainly help. It’s now on sale coming along with all the tools you’d need to unscrew those pentalobe screws Apple has tightened its latest phone with.

If for some reason you’re afraid to pop open your new iPhone, we should also mention that this kit is sold by iFixit - the crafty surgeons which give us teardown guides and repair instructions every once in a while when a product deserves the attention. So, what this means is that changing the rear cover is something pretty easy to do, which will definitely make you stand out in the army of iPhone owners.

Additionally, you’d also get a screen protector and a Thirsty Bag. The latter is basically a bag that will suck the liquid out of your gadget (not only iPhone) if you dropped it in the shower or any other wet place. It doesn’t guarantee that it will survive, though, but increases the chances, which is something.

That entire package is now on sale for $29.99 with limited supplies. After all the kits sell out, iFixit will only sell the rear panel at the same price, so the deal won’t look that good. There's also a similar package selling for the iPhone 4. Hit the source link below for more images and a step-by-step guide to outfitting your new iPhone with a transparent back.

Nokia's market share tumbles at home, company loses more than half of its presence in a year

Nokia might still hold the number one spot for phone sales worldwide, but it has recently lost its smartphone king crown outranked by both Samsung and Apple in the last quarter. Now, the company has lost its standings in one more area - this time it’s the company’s biggest stronghold, its home market in Finland. Nokia’s market share there has tumbled from 76% last year to only 31% in the third quarter of 2011.

Figures recently released by IDC reveal that even the loyal Finns are now flocking to other platforms and manufacturers, cutting the company’s share by more than a half.

The biggest beneficiaries of Nokia’s downfall are Samsung, Huawei and Apple. Samsung for once grew from virtually non-present 3% share to just behind Nokia. Apple grew slowly but steadily to capture a 16% share in Q3 2011. Huawei emerged from literally zero presence in Finland in the third quarter of last year to the respectable 11% in Q3 2011. The rest of the companies that sold well in Finland were Sony Ericsson with 11%, and ZTE holding 6% of the market.

Finland's phone market in Q3 2011.

Now, this shouldn’t be seen as a big hit to Nokia sales - after all, Finland is a small nation with a population of just 5 million. It’s more about the perception of Nokia’s products which has always been great at home where the overwhelming majority of users were proud to carry a phone made by the Finnish manufacturer.

Apple Store app tells employees when you arrive at a store

Apple Stores have taken off from just a couple of stores to a global retail network, a place where creatives (and baristas) hang out in an Apple-incensed atmosphere. An Apple Store stands out with the Genius Bar offering personal assistance, but the newest addition to the retail experience is possibly even more interesting. A new system allows employees to track users who have already made a purchase via the free Apple Store application in the store. This is aimed at speeding up shopping, but could it be a bit too much for those who value their security and privacy?

 

To answer that, one would first need to understand the way the system functions. Basically, Apple Store employees have an iPod touch with the feature pre-loaded. It alerts in-store staff when someone who has made a purchase via the app enters the store. The application  then highlights the shopper who has already purchased something via the Apple Store app in red. Now, a similar application is already in use - iPads stand near products showing relevant information and allowing you to call a representative with a single tap. The representatitve then gets your position hightlighted on the shopping floor.

White DROID RAZR a possibility?

We’ve been seeing a bunch of reports about devices being launched in white in various regions around the world. Earlier today, Samsung announced several phones in its Galaxy line would get the white treatment for the holidays in Germany. In the latest news of handsets going white, a screenshot has emerged, allegedly from Verizon’s device management system, which shows an item labeled “Motorola DROID RAZR White.”

It is listed underneath the regular “Motorola DROID RAZR”, but, oddly enough, they both show that they were loaded into the system on the same date. Since there are no official details on the device, one of the readers over at Droid Life whipped up a render of what they think an all white DROID RAZR would look like.

Do you think the DROID RAZR’s slim figure would look even sleeker in white?

Benefits and drawbacks of Galaxy Nexus having "No OEM Customization"

A new comparison chart from Verizon shows the Galaxy Nexus listed as having "No OEM Customization", the question still remains: will Verizon employees explain why that's a good thing? Verizon employees receive extensive training, so they undoubtedly understand the differences between stock and customized Android, but it is a very different thing to actually explain those differences to potential customers.  

 

Many of the features of the Galaxy Nexus are fairly easy to explain, including NFC and Android Beam, the 720p screen or the lack of capacitive buttons. OEM customization is a much more convoluted idea that many people don't fully understand, and many potential consumers may not care to understand. We're hoping that Verizon employees will explain the benefits and drawbacks (yes, there are drawbacks) of stock Android properly, because all consumers should be able to make informed decisions. 

Benefits

The benefits side is relatively easy to explain though it could become a lengthy discussion about faster updates, all features being open and available, performance boosts over customized phones, and easy root/unlock options. Faster OS updates not only mean getting the newest major version of the OS when it is released, but also in getting all bug fixes and minor feature updates as fast as Google can push them. Although, there is a chance that those updates will see a delay for Verizon testing now, they will still be released far faster for Nexus owners than anyone else. 

Having all features of Android open and available for use has traditionally been by far one of the best reasons to go with a Nexus device, but we're not sure that it fits here. In strict terms, we would assume that a device with "no OEM customization" means that no features have been turned off. The trouble is that we're not sure if the main target here - free tethering/WiFi hotspot - is still a part of stock Android. As we've mentioned before, Google did remove free tethering/hotspot from Nexus S devices with one of the incremental updates, so there is a fair chance that it isn't part of stock Android any more. Still, knowing that no other features will be removed is a benefit to stock. 

Custom UIs take up system resources, some far more than others (HTC Sense). With the power of today's smartphones, this may not translate to a big difference in performance, but there will be a difference. Especially moving forward, because the resource requirements for custom UIs tends to grow faster than the resource requirements for stock Android. 

The last benefit may not be one that many customers will care about, and if they do care, it's likely they wouldn't need the explanation of benefits/drawbacks to stock Android, but easy root access and device unlocking can be quite useful. As nice as stock Android may be, a lot of people prefer custom ROMs, which can add features to stock Android without sacrificing performance. Verizon Nexus owners may not have much reason to unlock because it's not as if they could swap in a new SIM card for a different carrier, but root access can be nice. Still, this is definitely not something Verizon employees would bother explaining anyway, because rooting/unlocking breaks your warranty.

Drawbacks

The drawbacks mostly fall under one major heading: do it yourself. With many OEM UIs, a lot of the things you may want are already there on screen, and you don't even need to drill into app folders or widgets lists too much to put what you want on your homescreens. For those who love the customization options of Android, this is a benefit of stock; it is a clean palette to work with. However, many people are lazy and don't want to do that. And, beyond having some customization done for you, some UIs, like HTC Sense, offer a number of extra features, like flipping the phone onto its screen to turn off the ringer, that users would only be able to get by installing 3rd party apps. Again, maybe you don't want these features built-in, but many customers won't go digging into the Android Market to replicate these features even if they want to have them. 

Another drawback of having stock Android is one that most don't consider: having the newest version of Android isn't always a good thing. Let's face it, developers can be lazy, and some may not update their apps in a timely manner to support the new version of Android. We have seen it with every Android update, and we already know that it will be happening with Ice Cream Sandwich. When Gingerbread first launched, we had to switch to a new default keyboard, because one of our favorites, FlexT9, took months to update for Gingerbread support. Now, we already know that the Adobe Flash player has not yet been updated for ICS. Adobe has promised the update before the end of the year, but it still illustrates the issue. It may be a somewhat minor annoyance, because there are often alternatives for any app that hasn't been updated for compatibility, but it is still an annoyance and something that will be a factor both in purchasing the Galaxy Nexus right now, and as a Nexus owner a year from now when Android Jelly Bean is released. 

Lastly, there is the general issue with being an early adopter: it can be a relatively lonely place. Granted, the Galaxy Nexus should sell far better than any previous Nexus device, but users still won't have too much practical use for things like Android Beam or even video chat through Google Talk because the requisite hardware (NFC and front-facing cameras) and software (Android 4.0 and Android 2.3.4 respectively) haven't been pushed out to all devices yet. If you do video chat with friends who are on PCs, that works fine, but unless your friends all have a Galaxy Nexus or Nexus S, Android Beam isn't too useful right now. And, with projections putting NFC adoption at just 50% of handsets within 2-3 years, you may not see much use in it all that soon. 

Conclusion

It is very nice to finally have clean stock Android as a choice on Verizon, but there is just as much to consider when choosing stock Android as there is when choosing a device with a custom manufacturer UI. As always, it comes down to choice. Some want to have full control over every aspect of their device, and want to be able to start fresh and choose everything that is put on that device. Stock Android offers this. 

However, many people don't want to have a clean slate when buying a new phone, and may want some of the customization and extra features added for them. Of course, there are drawbacks to this option in overall device performance and speed of OS updates, custom UIs take care of some of this work for you. Just because Android offers options for full customization doesn't mean that all consumers want to exercise those options, and that's where OEM customization can be a good thing for some users. 

Of course, the perfect option would be if all manufacturer UIs were made optional, and could be removed from devices. As far as we know, that may be the biggest unconfirmed benefit of Ice Cream Sandwich, and the new feature allowing users to remove any app could extend to manufacturer UIs, but we still need to see about that. Until that happens though, custom UIs fall under the realm of manufacturer differentiation, and consumer choice, and that includes the option for stock Android.

Cyan Nokia Lumia 800 now available on 3 UK

The initial launch shipment of the Nokia Lumia 800 sold out in the UK according to Nokia, but now those who missed out on that batch can get a cyan Lumia 800 on Three UK. 

The initial shipment of Lumia 800s were the black colored models, and Nokia had promised the cyan version would be coming shortly. Shortly is now here. UK carrier Three had said the cyan Nokia Lumia 800 would be available on the 24th, but it took an extra day. As of yesterday, the cyan Lumia was available in-store only, and is still not available on the Three website. 

Also, still no word on a US release for the phone, but we'll let you know when that announcement comes.

Apple leads in loyalty: 84% of iPhone users, 60% of Android users plan to stay loyal, study finds

Wireless users who currently own an iPhone are more likely to stay loyal to their current smartphone platform than owners of any other OS, a recent study found. Market research firm GfK conducted a survey of 4,500 consumers in various regions around the world and found that 84% of current iPhone owners plan to purchase another iPhone as their next handset. 60% of Android users plan to stay loyal according to the study, and 48% of BlackBerry owners intend to purchase another BlackBerry smartphone as their next device. ”Apple is clearly ahead of the game, but developments next year will challenge that,” GfK analyst Ryan Garner told Reuters without elaborating. The consensus at GfK paints a slightly different picture, however, as the firm suggests that loyal customers are difficult to sway. ”The scope for brands to lure customers from rivals has diminished and the richest rewards will go to those providers that can create the most harmonious user experience and develop this brand loyalty,” the firm said in its report.

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus release date to be December 9th at third-party retailers?

Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy Nexus is coming soon and the latest inside scoop from third-party retailer Negri Electronics pin-points the exact date to December 9th. Previously, we’ve heard various other sources agree on an official release slated for December 8th or 9th. 

“Based on the information we were given by OUR contact at #Verizon, we are set to have stock on 12/9. We will update here when we know more,” US-based Negri Electronics tweeted.

 

The Verizon-branded Samsung Galaxy Nexus is now up for pre-order on the website of Negri Electronics for $678.50. The retailer also confirmed that Big Red will have the first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich handset on December 8th.

T-Mobile Vivacity makes a UK landing: affordable 3.5-inch Android hiding ZTE origins

The T-Mobile Vivacity hit the UK carrier’s website a couple of days ago and even back then we could tell that it was going to be in the affordable Android business. Today, the Vivacity hits T-Mobile UK shelves exclusively and packs quite a punch for the zero on-contract price.

It appears that the T-Mobile Vivacity is ZTE-made, but it only carries the carrier brand. It has a 3.5-inch WVGA display and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Overall, it covers all the basics and a bit more with 3G and Wi-Fi support, a 5-megapixel rear camera and a front-facing one, and finally with extendible memory via microSD cards of up to 32GB.

It retails for around $150 off contract, which places it comfortably right in the Android low-end segment. At such a low price point, the 3.5-inch screen is definitely a huge bonus and something that might turn some eyes. Currently, the device is only selling in the UK, but we’ll update you as soon as we find out more about its possible US arrival.

Nokia Drive not for sharing

Nokia's free sat nav app will not be available to other Windows Phone 7 handsets

A tweet this morning from Nokia's Communications Director Mark Squires has put paid to a rumour that the Nokia Drive sat nav app might appear on other Windows Phone 7 handsets.

'Folks Nokia Drive will not be made available for other WP OEMs. It comes on our Lumia range and there are currently no plans to change that.'

As we reported  Nokia Drive is a proper, fully-functioning sat nav app with free maps and voice directions.

The quashing of the rumour by Nokia is bad news for other Windows users feeling let down by the disappointing offering from Bing Maps.

We can't help but think that Nokia might be missing a trick by not licensing the software for other handset manufacturers or at least making it available as a paid-for app via the WP Marketplace.

 

LG Prada 3 will launch in early 2012

               LG and Prada sign to collaborate on more 'premium' smartphones


Remember the LG Prada, that early smartphone targeting – obviously – fashion-conscious phone buyers?

LG reckons it did so well it's signed on the dotted line again with Prada to make more LG-Prada collaborations from next year forth.

This new Prada-branded smartphone will be the LG Prada 3, and will feature input from Prada on software and user interface, as well as hardware design and packaging.

'Our working relationship with Prada is unique in its longevity and success, something no other phone company and fashion brand have been able to replicate,' said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics mobile communications company. 'Having successfully launched two Prada phones by LG, we look forward to collaborating further to develop premium handsets representing the most sophisticated style.'

The original LG Prada sold over one million units and is in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, as well as Shanghai's Museum of Contemporary Art.

No specs have been publicly confirmed for Prada 3, but given that LG's smartphone portfolio is largely Android – save the Windows-powered Optimus 7 – we suspect we'll be looking at a Gingerbread-fuelled smartie.

LG isn't the only manufacturer reviving history – Motorola recently launched the RAZR, a super-slim Android phone bearing the same name as its cult clamshell series of 2004.

HTC share price plummets

             Sales of HTC smartphoens in December not expected to exceed last year's


Taiwanese manufacturer HTC has seen its share-price drop 7% – the maximum permissible for a single day – following a 20% slashing of its revenue predictions for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Despite announcing sales of 13.2 million handsets in Q3, HTC isn't expecting any growth year on year in the traditionally profitable run up to Christmas.

Commentators are suggesting the slump in sales is down to a lack of new HTC products to take on the iPhone 4S and Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the Android corner. The most recent handsets from HTC have been the Sensation XE and XL, both revamped versions of the Sensation rather than truly new handsets.

The current share price is the company's lowest in 16 months.

Samsung GALAXY Nexus volume issues are software related, fix coming soon

Over the past several days, a number of Samsung GALAXY Nexus owners have been complaining about a strange issue related with the volume level of their smartphone. Dubbed SAV-Ghost, the glitch causes the volume level of the device to drop unexpectedly, all the way down to mute on some occasions, after which the phone would sometimes even become unresponsive for a couple of seconds.

Fortunately, we now have a confirmation that the bug is entirely software related and that a fix is on its way. Word comes from Google itself, which made several medias aware that a solution has already been developed.

We are aware of the volume issue and have developed a fix. We will update devices as soon as possible.

However, no release time frame has been given regarding the software fix, but knowing that Google will release the patch in a timely manner is always a good thing. It is also good to know that the glitch has nothing to do with the hardware of the Samsung GALAXY Nexus, as it would have probably made us wait for the smartphone's U.S. launch even longer.

Samsung smartphones go white for the holidays in Germany

If you live in Germany and have been waiting for a white colored version of Samsung's latest Android smartphones then you're in luck. Because this Christmas Samsung will be making your wish come true.


Samsung has announced that they will be launching white colored versions of some of their recent Android smartphones in Germany. This includes the Galaxy Y, Galaxy Ace, Galaxy S II, Galaxy S Plus and the Galaxy Note.

Apart from the new color scheme though, there is not much else new on these devices, with both the specifications and the pricing remaining the same.

LG Optimus 3D Gingerbread now rolling out to users

Well, after the LG Optimus 2X got its Gingerbread treat now it's time for the company's 3D enabled device to taste the sweetness of Android 2.3, too. Many owners are reporting that the Gingerbread update for the LG Optimus 3D is now rolling.


Unfortunately though, the majority of owners don't see any of the improvements LG promised to make in the Gingerbread update, such as 3D video editor (which works for 2D videos as well), image stabilization for 2D shooting, and faster download 3G speeds.
Make sure you check the update center on your Optimus 3D for the latest Gingerbread update and if you are rocking with it already drop us a line. Tell us in the comments section what of the promised features have been or have not been included in the update.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus available from Clove

Possibly the most hyped Android phone yet, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is now shipping SIM-free from online retailer Clove.

If you don't want to trek onto the high street where Phones 4u had first dibs, or buy into a locked version from Three or O2, Clove is putting up the Nexus, the first Android Ice Cream Sandwich handset, for a princely £514.80 – but it is unlocked and strings-free.

So why all the buzz? Well, we had a hands on with the Galaxy Nexus when it launched, and as the flagship handset for the 'pure Google experience' and debut device of the latest Android version, it is a pretty exciting phone – and a very compelling alternative to the iPhone 4S.

Fujitsu Arrows F-07D measured 0.26" at the FCC

Move over, Motorola DROID RAZR, you've been served. The Fujitsu Arrows F-07D just strutted its stuff around the FCC catwalk, revealing a 0.26" (6.7mm) thin body, thus nailing the "world's thinnest smartphone" title.

The Japanese were evidently annoyed when the DROID RAZR was claiming it, despite the camera bulge at the top. The Fujitsu Arrows F-07D has its own thickest parts, where it is 8.5mm, and that's still less than stalwarts like the iPhone 4S, which is 9.3mm throughout.




It is one of the phones in the newest NTT DoCoMo crop, sports 4" OLED screen, 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon, 5MP camera and is, of course, waterproof, as has become customary in Japan.

HTC rumored to be building a true Facebook phone

A new rumor has surfaced that has HTC working closely with social networking giant Facebook on a smartphone that is codenamed Buffy that will feature a modified version of Android making it a true Facebook phone.

Let’s face it; the HTC Status hasn’t been a very successful offering by AT&T. However, the HTC Status is nothing more than a low-end Android device with a blue Facebook button stationed below the keyboard that gives users the ability to post to their account quickly. What HTC and Facebook are believed to be working on now is something much more.

It is possible that the device simply known as Buffy will have a modified version of the Android platform that will make Facebook the front and center attraction. It is not yet clear what kind of visual changes will be made. It is also possible that the blue button will remain somewhere on the device. According to a Facebook spokesperson, they believe that every mobile device is better when it is deeply social.

Until there is more hard evidence regarding HTC and Facebook working closely on a true Facebook phone take this with a grain of salt. There were plenty of rumors about a Facebook phone earlier in the year that was placed on the back burner when the HTC Status hit the shelves. Would a smartphone with a Facebook oriented version of Android interest any of you?

BlackBerry Bold 9790 hitting the UK in January

A few days ago, we reported that the BlackBerry Bold 9790’s first release is scheduled to occur in Indonesia on November 26th, followed by Singapore in December.  Now, it looks as though the phone will be arriving in the UK in January.

O2 and Vodafone are both expected to offer the BlackBerry Bold 9790 in the UK. O2’s website already features a product page for the device which, in addition to an overview and key features listing, simply states “Coming Soon: January.”

Vodafone will also carry the device, but only for its enterprise customers. Recombu acquired a statement from Vodafone on the matter which said, “We'll be bringing the Bold 9790 into our enterprise range, alongside existing devices like the Bold 9900 , Curve 9360 and Torch 9860. We don't plan to offer it as part of our broader consumer smartphone line-up.”

Google goes poetic in new Galaxy Nexus commercial

Along with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the UK, Google has released a new commercial for the device entitled "Calling all..." which shows off the more poetic side of Google that we've seen in many of the new Chrome commercials.

We're not sure who Google hired in its marketing department, but we're liking the results. The commercial is shot beautifully and includes a poem, which we'll assume is entitled "Calling all". The poem highlights the main features of the Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich, while easily relating those features to everyday activities for casual users rather than focusing on the coolest options for the most hardcore users. 

Overall, we think it's a very well done commercial. Now, we'll just have to see if it helps move product. If it eventually comes out that the commercial itself was shot with a Nexus, we'll be far more impressed, but that seems unlikely.

In addition to the commercial, there are a number of new videos on the official Google Nexus YouTube page, including a "Getting Started" video for US and international users as well as videos on the major features of the Nexus and ICS.

Google Confirms Flash Unavailable for Android 4.0

 

 Following up, reports have surfaced from the UK release of the Galaxy Nexus that have confirmed that the phone is shipping without mobile Flash capability, with no way to force compatibility via earlier versions, as the mobile Flash players for Honeycomb, Gingerbread and Froyo have also been confirmed to be incompatible with Ice Cream Sandwich.




For its part, Google has released this statement regarding the lack of Flash support on the Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich as a whole:

 “Flash hasn’t been released for ICS yet so as far as we know, Adobe will support Flash for ICS.”

The discovery of the lack of Flash support on Android 4.0 follows the surprise announcement of the immediate halt to mobile Flash development made by Adobe earlier this month, which included halting in-house development of mobile Flash for multiple platforms, including Android.

However, Adobe made explicit mention that the halt to mobile Flash development would not affect those that have their own licenses to the platform, such as RIM who confirmed continuing development for Flash on its PlayBook tablet outside of Adobe’s own development as well as the commitment to open source the platform so that others can continue development if necessary.

This would mean that if Adobe were to not make Flash for Ice Cream Sandwich available for whatever reason directly, Google and/or Samsung could take up development for the Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0, provided the investment in development makes sense and enough demand exists to justify it, as well as the availability of licenses to develop compatibility to begin with.

As Adobe is moving to HTML5 development on mobile after years of touting Flash on Android as the superior alternative to the iPhone with mixed results, this puts the onus on both hardware manufacturers and software developers to speed up the transition away from Flash on Android, although it won’t happen without a loud minority refusing to give up Flash for the sake of a bullet point advantage over the perceived inferiority of Apple’s iOS and iPhone/iPad, which was the catalyst for Adobe making the move to abandon Flash on mobile in the first place.

AT&T blessing the skies of 6 more cities with LTE today

They may have shown up late to the 4G LTE party, but at least AT&T appears to be trying to catch up to front-runner Verizon as the carrier is lighting up 6 more city skies with their 4G LTE network today.

The addition of these six new markets brings AT&T’s grand total to 15. However that pales in comparison to the number of cities Verizon has blanketed with their own LTE network as their totals creep towards 179. Don’t expect any more cities to get the LTE treatment from AT&T this year unfortunately because the company’s goal from the beginning was to have 15 markets covered by the end of the year.


The six new markets getting their serving of LTE today are Las Vegas, NV, Oklahoma City, OK, Kansas City, MO, Charlotte, NC, Indianapolis, IN and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Although their goal was only 15 by the end of the year maybe AT&T will surprise us and add some more markets to the mix before the end of 2011.

Even though AT&T is adding a few 4G LTE markets here and there, they still have a long way to go to catch up to Verizon. They had to start somewhere though and with the launch of devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and the HTC Vivid to accompany their 4G LTE network they were able to hit the ground running. Will AT&T ever catch up to Verizon? Tell us what you think.

Motorola likely to win an injunction against Apple iCloud in Germany

Fresh off a legal victory against Apple with a preliminary injunction against Apple’s mobile products, a German court is likely to hand Motorola another victory in February. According to Florian Mueller, renowned observer of international patent disputes, the court appeared sympathetic to Motorola’s request for an injunction against Apple’s iCloud and MobileMe products.

The German court consistently rejected Apple’s attempts to narrow the scope of the requested injunction. At issue is a patent that controls how device data is synchronized with a server. The patent is not part of any international standard, so Apple is unable to raise a FRAND defense. Apple attempted to restrict the patent scope since the original lawsuit was against MobileMe instead of the more recently launched iCloud, but the judge ruled that any technology that contained the offending patent would be subject to an injunction. That could require Apple to remove all forms of cloud sync from the iPhone if it wishes to try and get around the patent infringement.

Apple is asking for a bail of nearly $2.7 billion dollars. Bail in this case is an insurance policy; if an injunction is awarded but the case were to be eventually decided in Apple’s favor, the bail money would be available to reimburse Apple for damages it incurred while the products could not be sold. Apple will have to satisfy the court that it is asking for a fair amount before a bail request could be granted, and according to Mueller the court remained skeptical about the amount.

Both sides get to submit a post-judgment filing to the court in the next couple weeks, and it’s always possible that evidence will be submitted that could change the mind of the court, but according to Mueller, Motorola Mobility is in a strong position. He stated that if the court had ruled today he has no doubt that Apple would have lost.

ZTE wants to concentrate on putting higher margin devices in more markets

Chinese telecommunications and handset manufacturer ZTE has set its sight on markets outside of China, where they hope to find success with higher-margin devices. Long a produce of low-priced feature phones and discount smartphones, ZTE is hoping to produce premium smartphones that can go head to head with the likes of Samsung, HTC, and Motorola.

ZTE sells telecom equipment to carriers worldwide, and hopes to supply an even larger amount of the world’s telecom equipment as carriers upgrade to LTE in the coming years. While their enterprise deals have maintained a healthy profit margin, ZTE’s aggressive marketing of low-cost phones in emerging markets has led to a steady decline in the margins of their consumer devices division. By phasing out feature phones and selling more high-end devices they hope to improve those margins.

To foster in the transition, ZTE will be investing more into producing innovative smartphone designs, according to chief executive Shi Lirong. Shi referred to the smartphone market as a marathon rather than a sprint, and they hope to challenge some of the major players with their future products. ZTE currently ranks in the top five cell phone makers worldwide, but their share of the smartphone market is currently much smaller.

Apple iPad 3 to be slightly thicker, iPhone 5 longer so as to accommodate a 4" display

Welcome, new season of leaks about the next iDevices, we've hardly had reruns of the last one. And so it goes - the iPad 3 we've heard ad nauseam about already, is now rumored to be slightly thicker than iPad 2, in order to accommodate the twin LED light bars needed for the high-resolution display, which was supposedly the culprit for its delays. This one is supposed to come in March the latest, and supposedly announced as soon as January, if its screen makers LG, Samsung and Sharp get their ducks in a row on time.




Most of the iPad 3 stuff we've heard already, but the Fresh Prince of rumors now is that the iPhone 5 has lost its teardrop shape, that was supposedly in a prototype canned this year by Steve Jobs himself. It is now allegedly 0.31" (8mm) longer, in order to accommodate a larger 4" display, and will have metal casing. That one could be aluminum, or maybe it will be that Liquid Metal alloy stuff that Apple bought, which keeps the same color even if you scratch it deep, like Nokia's new polycarbonate chassis on the Lumia 800 Windows Phone.

All rumors and speculation at this point, and will likely stay that way until next summer, when the iPhone 5 is said to be released, but we'll undoubtedly have fun guessing in the meantime.

Nokia Lumia 800 named Mobile of the Year by What Mobile

The Nokia Lumia 800 has been on sale in the UK for only two days now, but Brit magazine What Mobile awarded the Windows Phone handset the Mobile of the Year title.

The award was voted on by the magazine's readers during the month of October - before they even get to touch the Nokia Lumia 800. They must really be excited about the new handset.
Here's what Richard Melville, editor at What Mobile, had to say about the Nokia 800:

“It’s no secret that Nokia make great phones but with a new Windows Phone Mango operating system, great design and a competitive price, the Lumia 800 feels like real innovation for smartphones and, importantly, one that’s cool enough to attract everyone from gadget geeks to casual, fashion conscious phone users.”

To find out the winners of other categories in the What Mobile Awards 2011 ballot, you can read the magazine that comes out on November 24.

The award sounds all fishy, but it may be just us. Voting for a phone you've never seen in person? Now that's beyond us. Plus we hardly see the "real innovation" in the Lumia 800 that the magazine editor speaks of. We guess, it's one of those things.

Samsung Galaxy S gets Android 2.3.5 update in the UK

The original Samsung Galaxy S resigned from the role of a flagship quite some time ago, but it's good to know that it's still getting good treatment by its maker. Samsung just started seeding the Android 2.3.5 update to the I9000 units in the UK, or at least to those of them who didn't already get it by the dark means of manually flashing one of the leaked ROMs.

The changelog includes a batch of bugfixes to the system apps, some performance tweaks and the stock Gingerbread glow when you reach the end of a list. The messaging app got some improvements as well and it should now launch and operate much faster.
Battery life should also see an improvement after the update as Samsung have done some work to optimize the power consumption of the smartphone.

The update is said to wipe your apps and data so you'd to well to back them up before starting. And don't forget to drop a line in the comments, saying how are you liking your Galaxy S after the update.

Samsung Galaxy S III to be powered by quad-core Exynos processor?

Back in September, we passed along to you some speculation on what the specs of the Samsung Galaxy S III might look like. The information had come from a poster on 4Chan who had seen images of the device and had talked with Samsung employees about it. The 4Chan poster had subsequently given out some rather prescient info on the Samsung GALAXY Nexus, so like the old E.F. Hutton ads, when this guy talks, we should listen. And this mysterious poster revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S III would be equipped with a 2.0 quad-core CPU with 1.5GB of RAM.

Fast forward to present time and a source for Android and Me is saying that Samsung is going to release some handsets early next year that will blow away the Samsung GALAXY Nexus in every conceivable way. That would infer that the new models will have a quad-core CPU at the heart of the phones. If the Samsung Galaxy S III is introduced at the 2012 MWC in Barcelona as the 4Chan poster expects, we could be looking at the Samsung Exynos 4412, a 32nm quad-core product with speeds as high as 1.5GHz using ARM Cortex-A9 cores. The Korean manufacturer is said to be testing the processor and it recently appeared in the Linux Kernel archives.

As for a GPU for the handset, the Mali-T604 was a suggestion made by Android and Me which pointed out that it runs 5 times faster than previous Mali graphics processors. Using a tri-pipe architecture, the Mali-T604 was originally introduced by ARM in 2010 and Samsung became the first partner with access to it, although it has never been used.

We are still a few months away from the MWC in February 2012, so until Samsung takes the wraps off the Samsung Galaxy S III, it's all just a guessing game, albeit one that is fun to play.

Apple's new chairman: "There is an arrogance" in the company

Apple's 8-men board of directors has often been described as being almost family-like. Starting from yesterday, it has accepted Arthur Levinson to the role of non-executive chairman. Levinson has been on the board since 2000, so this might not seem like a change that would change the way Apple works. However, Levinson shared some of his thoughts about Cupertino's ways of talking to the public right away.

The former CEO of biotech company Genentech, mentioned that the company sometimes shows off its swagger and this attitude is not the right one for the world's biggest firm by market value.

"There is an arrogance," at Apple, which has to subside after Cupertino's growth to the top of the most valuable companies' list. "We need to make the transition to being a big company and dealing with the hubris issue," Levinson told Steve Jobs' biographer Walter Isaacson.

Interestingly, Isaacson also reveals that Levinson pushed Steve Jobs on introducing the App Store for the iPhone, but at the same time was a big opponent of Apple Stores. Well, it seems that he was right about one of these things, but what about Apple's attitude – does it really need to change in your opinion, or does it give you one more reason to be proud of owning an Apple device (if you do!)? Let us know in the

BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 announced

Today RIM announced two new additions to its lineup of smartphones. The QWERTY-packing Bold 9790 and the full-touch Curve 9380 both run on BlackBerry OS 7 and feature HVGA+ (480 x 360 pixels) screens.

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 comes with a 2.45" touchscreen display, a 1GHz Marvel Tavor MG1 processor, 768MB RAM, 8GB internal storage, 5 megapixel camera with VGA video capturing and a microSD card slot. The Bold 9790 is well geared connectivity-wise too - Wi-Fi, 3G with HSPA, GPS and even NFC.

BlackBerry Bold 9790

The compact new Bold comes with a full four-row portrait QWERTY keyboard and an optical trackpad. The phone runs on the RIM's latest BlackBerry OS 7 and will hit the stores in the following few weeks.
The BlackBerry Curve 9380 is the first Curve ever to come with a touchscreen. It measures 3.2" in diagonal and, as we said, comes with HVGA+ resolution.

The rest of the specs are not quite impressive though - the new Curve runson a 806MHz processor and has 512MB RAM and 512MB internal memory expandable via the microSD slot. The connectivity package is quite good, though, featuring Wi-Fi, GPS, 3G with HSPA and NFC capabilities.

BlackBerry Curve 9380

The Curve 9380 does not have a physical keyboard but still keeps the optical trackpad. The phone is also expected to hit the shelves in the next couple of weeks.

HTC Zeta image leak, has a 2.5GHz processor and runs ICS

Possible design and specs of an upcoming handset codenamed HTC 'Zeta' have been leaked courtesy of Engadget. This phone is supposed to have a 2.5GHz quad-core APQ8064 CPU and 1GB of RAM. Other interesting items on the spec sheet are a 4.5-inch 1280 x 720 display and Ice Cream Sandwich pre-installed along with Sense UI.

The handset supposedly measures 109.8 x 60.9 x 9.8mm and weighs 146g. Inside you'll find 32GB of storage space, 8 megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash and 1080p video recording, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, Bluetooth 4.0, Beats Audio and an 1,830mAh battery.

On the outside the device has an interesting pincushion design that is narrow in the middle and widens towards the top and bottom. We can see the earpiece grille right at the top edge along with the camera sensor. What is curious though is the presence of the keys below the display. Since this phone will come with Ice Cream Sandwich pre-installed, ideally it should not have any keys. Unless, HTC has decided to go their own way and stick with the keys for now.

On the back we can see the two plastic portions with a metal band running around the middle. The middle portion is significantly raised and then tapers towards the sides. On the top is the loudspeaker, camera lens and flash and near the bottom is the beats logo and a bump for the headphone jack.

As is usually the case with these things this image could be fake but there are enough details in there to prove otherwise. Note the slight mismatched fitting on the top left side of the metal band on the back of the phone.

Also, on the side shot on the right, you can see an L-shaped cut showing where the battery cover comes off.

And although we were initially thrown off by the lack of volume control buttons on the left side of the phone, we realized that HTC has moved them on to the right side on their recent phones. So for all we know this could probably even be a photograph of the real thing. We should find out for sure soon enough.

Sony Ericsson details the ICS update for the Xperia lineup

Sony Ericsson promised that their 2011 Xperia lineup will be updated to the latest version of Android, 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, back in September, but now the company has stepped up to bring some further details about the update.
Sony Ericsson confirmed that the following devices will be getting the Ice Cream Sandwich update:

• Xperia arc
• Xperia arc S
• Xperia PLAY
• Xperia neo
• Xperia neo V
• Xperia mini
• Xperia mini pro
• Xperia pro
• Xperia active
• Xperia ray
• Live with Walkman

As you can see there are no absentees to the list and the company will really deliver on its promise.
Sony Ericsson also mentioned that its developers are working on merging our current Xperia experience with the new features in Android 4.0, which suggests that they will be bringing their launcher customization to ICS, as well.
Unfortunately, we still don't have an exact date for the update roll-out start, but hopefully they the Sony Ericsson R&D won't take much longer than the CyanogenMod Team to finish it.

O2 UK starts tests of its 4G LTE network, London will be first

Great news for everyone eagerly waiting the arrival of the LTE network in the UK. O2 is starting to test their newly built 4G network in London.

The test run of the network will cover Canary Wharf, Soho, Westminster, South Bank and Kings Cross, and 20 additional sites with a total area of 40 square kilometers. O2 has engaged more than a thousand testers to gather performance statistics and feedback.

While this all sounds very encouraging, don't expect the LTE revolution to begin by the end of the year. If the network tests go well, O2 plans to launch the network some time in 2012, but when exactly is yet to be known.

Google finally releases Ice Cream Sandwich source code

After a few weeks of waiting, Google has finally released the source code for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

This means you will soon be able to get the latest update running on your Android devices, assuming you have the programming skills. Or you could just wait for your favorite custom ROM to be made available in Ice Cream Sandwich flavor.

But before we get all excited, there are a few things to note. Google is saying that the code is still being pushed due to its large size and if synced at the moment it will end up being useless.

Their advise is to wait for them to tell you when it's ready to sync.







The code is actually the 4.0.1 update, the exact same one that the Galaxy Nexus will be running on.

This code will have to be modified in order to run on other devices. It also comes with a full history of the Android source code tree, including Honeycomb, which was till now unavailable. However, Google wants developers to concentrate on ICS instead, for obvious reasons.

We guess it won't be long now devices other than the Galaxy Nexus will be running ICS.

BlackBerry London leaks out

It is no secret, that RIM is going through difficult times these days. The Canadian company's recently announced BBX platform is expected to change its current state of affairs for the better by (finally) integrating BlackBerry OS and QNX.

Today, we have the first leaked shot of a BlackBerry device sporting the new OS. Dubbed "London", the smartphone is likely to become the company's flagship sometimes next year.

In terms of specs, the handset reportedly packs a dual-core TI OMAP CPU, clocked at 1.5GHz and a gig of RAM. The expected built-in storage is 16GB. An 8MP camera is on board, accompanied by a 2MP front-facing unit. The device is rumored to be thinner than iPhone 4S.

While we were preparing the news for you, another report popped up on the web, confirming the existence of the above shown BlackBerry. Q3 of 2012 is expected to be the launch time for the device.

Since we are talking rumors here, we advise you to take all the information with a tiny pinch of salt. As always, we will keep you posted on any developments on the subject.

Apple allegedly scrapped plans for the iPhone 5 with a larger screen months before the 4S launch

Apple has reportedly indeed been working on a prototype iPhone 5 with everything we've heard about it - larger screen, thin chassis with aluminum or Liquid Metal backing, 10MP camera, touch-sensitive home button area, the works.

It was allegedly scrapped about three months before the launch, since Steve Jobs concluded it's a device that will fragment the iPhone line too much. It was also eventually loaded with Siri, which was called Assistant, according to a murky source, who is reported to have played with a prototype for two weeks.

It's an interesting theory, but the reporter acknowledges that he hasn't been able to verify the claims with a second source, so for now it might be just a theory put quickly together by someone, not to mention the publication has a penchant for sensationalist stories.

Motorola DROID RAZR gets a version with HD display and 13MP camera for China

Now what's better than the thinnest Android phone the Motorola DROID RAZR other than a RAZR with mightily improved specs. That's exactly what was caught on camera - version with a 13MP camera instead of the standard 8MP shooter, and with an HD display.

The 13MP variant on the left is for China Telecom's CDMA2000 network. It is coded as XT928 and only gets the camera upgrade, while externally it looks like something from the DROID X series, suggesting that it might come to the US as the DROID X3 or something similar.


The real deal is what the biggest carrier in the world China Mobile will get on its not-so-standard TD-SCDMA network, since its RAZR (pictured in the middle) packs both the 13MP snapper and a 4.5" 720x1280 pixels display. We'd wager to say this is pobably LG's True HD screen found in AT&T's upcoming LG Nitro HD, of which we got a blurry photo today.

Motorola DROID RAZR for China Mobile (middle) gets a 13MP camera and HD screen

Chine Mobile's 600 million subscribers will indeed be spoiled with their Motorola RAZR this holiday season, as the rumors are the handset will hit the shelves there before year-end. Google said that the company is uniquely positioned to take on China with Android handsets as one of the reasons for the Motorola buyout, and it wasn't kidding.