HTC to Open Own App Store

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HTC is reportedly working on its own app store, according to The Financial Times. HTC has been in contact with content providers in order to begin generating content to fill in its app store. HTC's apparent goal is to create an experience with their smartphones that is much more than the typical experience. They want to create an environment in which HTC is thoroughly integrated into the whole smartphone experience.

There is no timetable for when HTC plans to launch their app store as of yet, but as soon as it is announced it will be available here!

Samsung Continuum Confirmed

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Tonight Samsung confirmed details about their newest phone, the Samsung Continuum. The device will feature a 3.4 inch screen, as well as a 1.8 inch ticker. The ticker is expected to show info about phone calls and information from your "favorite data sources"

The Samsung Continuum is part of Samsung's Galaxy S line of phones. It will be offered on the Verizon network and will go on sale November 11th for $199 with a two year agreement. As a Samsung Galaxy S phone, you can expect it to obtain the same version of Android as the rest of the Galaxy S line.

Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) coming to Nexus One

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According to a new report, Nexus One users can expect the latest version of Android, Gingerbread, to come out via an over the air update in the next few days. One rumored date is expected to be November 11th.

Included in the update is expected to be an overhauled user interface, as well as hardware acceleration. The Gingerbread update is not going to be the major update initially expected, therefore only becoming Android 2.3, and not 3.0, which is likely to be reserved for Honeycomb.

Over the next few days, a lot is expected to be learned about the new operating system. Stay tuned for the latest news!

I'm back!

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After a month absence, I am back and will resume posting your latest news in mobile technology. It will be about a week or so before I post at the regular frequency, but keep your eyes peeled for new articles!

I apologize for not posting lately

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I know I have not posted any news lately, but i have been in poor health and have at had a lot of stuff going on. I probably wont post for the next week, as I get stuff for school out of the way, but after that I should be back.

Thanks for your understanding!

Galaxy S Devices to get Android 2.2 in the Next Month

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Based on information in an announcement from the Spanish version of Samsung Mobile, the Samsung Galaxy S phones will obtain the Android 2.2 in the next month. The Samsung Galaxy S phones include the Epic 4G, Captivate, Fascinate, and Vibrant.

The update is expected in mid to late October, and will be a greatly anticipated update for these devices.

For the time being however, this is another update to be released in the next few days that users of the Epic 4G can try out. This update is being released in order to correct a problem with 3G upload speed on these phones. The update was originally planned to be released 9/30, but has been pushed back.

Expect more news about the Android 2.2 update in the next few weeks, as more details are uncovered.

AT&T Likely to be Exclusive Windows Phone 7 Carrier

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A report by the Wall Street Journal reports that AT&T will be the exclusive carrier with Windows Phone 7. According to the article, AT&T will begin selling 3 new devices, the HTC Mondrian, the Samsung Cetus, and the LG Optimus 7, on November 8th. Official names and specifications of these devices are expected to be released October 11th.

AT&T is gearing up for a busy fall with many phones being released soon, including a Blackberry Curve 3G and Blackberry Pearl 3G, in addition to the Windows Phone 7 devices. By the end of November, AT&T will have released 12 new devices since June.

It may seem curious that Microsoft has decided to with AT&T as an exclusive carrier, but when you think about it, this may be just another opportunity to compete with Apple.

Samsung Continuum May Have 2nd display

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According to a recent report, a new Samsung Galaxy S phone is on its way to Verizon, dubbed the Samsung Continuum. What is particularly interesting about this device is that in addition to the standard display, the Samsung Continuum will have a small secondary display. This display will be located beneath the main display and buttons, and will likely be used for scrolling information typically provided by widgets such as weather, feeds, and the time.

From what is known about this phone, it is expected to be a standard Galaxy S phone, including a 5 megapixel camera, a 4 inch screen, Android OS, and a 1Ghz processor. Being on Verizon, it is expected to have Bing as the default search engine as opposed to Google.

There has been no pricing information or release date details released, but it is expected that we could perhaps hear more information very soon.

Amazon App Store Near Certain

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In just a span of a few days (in which I did not cover the original story as i took a couple days off from blogging), an Amazon app store as gone from just another rumor to nearly confirmed.

Slashgear has obtained a copy of the initial terms and conditions for the Amazon App Store in which Amazon has asked developers to read and sign. A few things that stand out in the agreement include that developers will have to pay a $99 developer fee, as well as allow Amazon the rights to modify the code and add DRM protection.

The Amazon App Store is expected to be a boost to the Android platform, but not all critics are convinced. Some believe that another storefront will just add to Android's fragmentation problems and confuse the average user. However, the benefits could be substantial, and if anything, the Amazon App Store will at least push Google's App Market to keep improving.

2/3 of Android Apps Leak Private Data

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According to a study of 30 of the most popular applications in Google's App Market, as much as 2/3 of apps access personal information in a way not desirable for users. The study stated that of the 30 apps studied, 15 reported a user's location to remote advertising servers and 7 broadcast the device number or phone number to outside servers. Nearly 100 percent of the time, the data was being collected without the users knowledge.

The study shows a large flaw in security on the Android platform, as Android users do not have much of a way to discover what information is actually being used when they install an app from the App Market. This study was made possible because the Android operating system is open source, so it is unclear how the Apple App Store would fare in a similar experiment. For the time being, however, one must be cautious when downloading applications until improvements are made.

Droid X 2.2 Update Issues

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With the release of Android 2.2 for the Droid X, many users finally got their long anticipated upgrade. However, that upgrade has not necessarily gone smoothly. According to several reports, an issue with SMS (text) messaging has been discovered on the 2.2 update. Apparently some incorrect time and date settings in the software have affected the order of messages received, which can really be a hassle for users. There is no current workaround for this problem, but Motorola has stated that they are working on solving the issue, and we should expect a solution soon.

This problem was around during all of the beta builds of Android 2.2 for the Droid X, but was not addressed before releasing the official version for some reason.

Hopefully we will see a fix over the next few days (or perhaps weeks). Then we can finally turn our attention to Android 3.0, Gingerbread.

No Verizon iPhone?

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Despite very reliable information earlier this regarding the iPhone 4 going to Verizon, it appears talks between Apple and Verizon have stalled due to the prominence of Verizon's Android line. According to the report, Verizon has been very reluctant to come to a final agreement, as Apple wants to have the iPhone as the phone with all the focus on it for the carrier. The stronger the Android platform performs, the less likely Verizon is going to want to sacrifice it to obtain the iPhone.

It appears that both sides are unwilling to give in, so we may not be seeing an iPhone quite yet. If talks fail with Verizon, look for T-Mobile or Sprint to begin talks with Apple. With the Verizon iPhone almost certain earlier this week, it is disappointing that they have not yet resolved their dispute.

Keep a look out for new stories on the iPhone, I will be keeping very close tabs on this one, as it would be really big news if we get an iPhone on a new carrier.

Samsung Considering 10 inch Galaxy Tab

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According to a report, Samsung may be considering developing a model of the Galaxy Tab that measures up at 10 inches. This is the same size as the iPad, and would more directly put the tablet against Apple's device. This news seems contradictory to what Samsung has previously said, when it stated that according to a survey, the consumer would prefer a 7 inch device over a 10 inch device.

According to a report, the tablet will come with Android 3.5 (Honeycomb), which would suggest that the 10 inch tablet is still a long way off, as Honeycomb is not expected to be released until at least mid to late 2011. This does show that the tablet race is heating up however, and there will probably be many more rumors from multiple manufacturers about these potential tablet devices.

On another note, Samsung has released a new 9 minute video showing off what the Galaxy Tab can do (Watch below). Obviously Samsung is trying to hype up this device with it being the first Android based tablet on the market. As I stated earlier, it is very apparent that the tablet race is heating up. Stay tuned, because its going to be exciting.

Confirmed: iPhone coming to Verizon

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Today, Apple suppliers have released information confirming a CDMA iPhone is coming, with information suggesting that Apple will begin manufacturing the devices in December. Apple is expected to make 3 million devices during the month in order to support a early 2011 launch. Although both Verizon and Sprint use CDMA networks, it is pretty apparent that it will be Verizon receiving the iPhone, as they have the largest network and many rumors had already suggested that the iPhone would go to Verizon.

At this point in time, it is unclear whether there will be an specification changes to the new iPhone, but one could expect the antenna issue to be fixed. There are not many more details known, but it will be interesting to see how Android phones fare with this news. Now finally people will be able to enjoy an iPhone on a network other than AT&T, and who knows, maybe we will end up with an even better iPhone.

Android 2.2 Froyo Finally on Droid X

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Finally, as many have been waiting for, the Android 2.2 upgrade has been made available for the Motorola Droid X today. This update has been delayed several times by Verizon, and is just now being released, despite the fact that many other phones received the update a while ago.

Currently, the update is being pushed out it waves, but if you would like to download it today, it is easily possible. Droid X users can "pull" the update by pressing "Menu" > "Settings" > "About Phone" > "System Updates." 


For those who don't know, the benefits of Android 2.2 (Froyo) is that allows for faster performance, support of Adobe Flash 10.1, USB tethering, and other minor enhancements. However, Android 2.2 is entering the last portion of its build cycle, as Gingerbread (Android 3.0) is expected to be released sometime this fall. Only the Samsung Galaxy S phones are still scheduled to receive the update to Froyo.

Hopefully, the Droid X will get the next update in a more timely fashion.

MetroPCS and Samsung Release the First LTE phone

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Today, MetroPCS revealed that they would hold their promise to be the first to offer LTE services by releasing the Samsung Craft, the first LTE enabled phone. An interesting note about this launch is that Samsung actually provided the LTE infrastructure, and it is only avaliable in Las Vegas, NV. Omar Khan, chief strategy officer for Samsung Mobile, stated the following in the press release:

“It is extremely gratifying to introduce the Samsung Craft as the world’s first commercially available LTE-enabled handset operating on infrastructure by Samsung as part of the first LTE commercial network and services to be offered in the U.S. The Craft combines 4G speed and a multimedia device packed with full Web, entertainment and productivity features.”

Don't get to excited about this news though. This is not an Android phone as many would have hoped. In fact, its just a BREW-based feature phone. The phone does have a number of decent specs though, with a 3.3 inch AMOLED touchscreen, sliding QWERTY keyboard, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, 3.2 megapixel camera, and a microSD card slot (comes with a 2GB card).

The Samsung Craft is avaliable in the Las Vegas area in stores and online for a price of $299 after a $50 instant rebate. However, coverage is restricted to just Las Vegas, and good luck getting any 3G services outside of Dallas and Detroit. However, MetroPCS does say that more LTE covered areas are coming soon, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, and more.

This exciting news for LTE, as now we finally have a supported device. However, with MetroPCS's coverage, I think I would rather wait until Verizon rolls out their LTE service in the next few months.

HTC Tablet Rumor is Impressive

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Another tablet rumor has been floating around lately about a HTC branded tablet. Now some specifications have surfaced and they are extremely impressive. To begin with, the tablet is expected to have a 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor and 720p multi-touch screen. These details alone are very impressive but it doesn't stop there.

Here is a list of what is speculated:
     -1 Ghz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor (with a powerful GPU)
     -720p (1280x720) multi-touch screen
     -2 GB of RAM
     -32 GB SSD (Solid State Drive) for storage
     -Front facing camera
     -WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth
     -Support for Android Market

These specs are impressive and are certainly going to attract geeks all over. However, these impressive specs are going to come at a price. The likely price is just shy of $800, which is much more expensive than the WiFi only iPad. However, the HTC tablet will have the ability to provide a much better multimedia experience than the iPad thanks to its impressive processor.

Also, with the new HTC Sense coming, the tablet could be much more compelling than Samsung's Galaxy Tab.

As of right now, HTC's tablet is not expected to have 3G service, but it is still early, and anything could happen. Nonetheless, the tablet will surely bring much hype to the tablet battle.

*Note: Another rumor suggests that HTC's tablet could come with Chrome OS instead of Android, and is expected around Black Friday.

HP to Bundle Tablet With Printer

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HP has announced a new Photosmart eStation multi-function printer for $399... and it comes with a free 7 inch Android tablet. The tablet is really the controller to the printer, that is loaded with the Android operating system.

The tablet is a WiFi enabled basic version of an Android tablet that can run a few specialized Android applications, including incorporation of Yahoo and Facebook. Even though the tablet runs Android 2.1, unfortunately it will not support the Android Market, and only supports Yahoo search, and not Google (strange, when on Google's operating system).

Specifications of the printer also include the following:
     -printer, scanner, and fax capabilities
     -supports direct printing from iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.
     -33 pages per minute in black, 32 ppm in color.
     -125 sheet input tray, 20 sheet photo tray, and 50 sheet output tray
     -connect with multiple PCs via network.
     -uses HP 564 cartridges

This is an interesting idea from HP, and will likely be a popular one. It is also rumored that HP will be coming out with WebOS and Windows based tablets, so having OS choices with printers is likely just around the corner.

iPhone 4 Officially Arrives in China September 25th

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Shortly after last Friday's China iPad launch, it has been announced that the iPhone 4 will be released in China September 25th through wireless carrier China Unicorn. China Unicorn carried the iPhone 3GS so it was not surprising that they would be the carrier to get the iPhone 4.

Those in China looking to get this phone will be looking to pay roughly $740 for the 16 GB model or $890 for the 32 GB model through the Apple Store. Those looking to cut that cost can by directly through China Unicorn for subsidized pricing.

The Chinese version of the iPhone 4 is identical to the U.S. model. Now, Apple can attempt to make a bigger splash into the Chinese smartphone market, in which it currently holds a 7.1 percent market share.

Galaxy Tab to All Major Carriers, As Well As WiFi Version

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On Thursday, Samsung held an event for its new Galaxy Tab device. In the event they announced that the 7 inch tablet will be coming to all major carriers. In addition, a new welcomed development is that they will release a WiFi only version, which is something originally thought would not be done. However, the Galaxy Tab will not support any 4G services, even from Sprint.

Also, Samsung's Media Hub will be a U.S. exclusive. The device is intended to be used to download and rent movies and TV shows at a competitive price.

Many questions at Samsung's event went unanswered, in regards to how much the Galaxy Tab will cost and when it will be available. This is unfortunate, but it is not expected to be too long before the information becomes known.

Details that are known about the Galaxy Tab however state that it will run Android 2.2, have a 3 megapixel rear facing and a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, as well as have a 1Ghz Hummingbird processor.

One other thing that is uncertain in the U.S. model, is will the tablet have a phone? It seems as if Samsung has yet to make up its mind, although one source says that it will likely not.

Will this be the next big thing this holiday season? We look forward to finding out.