Google-branded streaming music device in development, report says

Google is allegedly working on creating a company-branded entertainment device capable of streaming music in multiple locations throughout a person’s home.

The information about the Google-branded device comes from a Wall Street Journal report that cites unnamed people briefed on the project. If true, it would mark the Google’s first attempt at creating a hardware product without the aid of an electronics manufacturing partner. The search giant has historically concentrated its resources on developing web-based … Continue Reading

Nivio pulls in $21M to make cloud computing cheaper and more student-friendly

Cloud computing and desktop virtualization are rapidly growing trends in the tech world, and one company has spent a considerable amount of time developing this technology. Nivio, which started as an idea in 2004, announced today it has received $21 million in its first round of venture capital funding.

Nivio lets you store up to 10GB of your documents, music, and movies in the cloud for free with nDrive. Your files sync across all of … Continue Reading

Gameloft Live enters the social mobile fray on Android, coming to iOS soon

Global games publisher Gameloft announced today its new gaming hub service, Gameloft Live. In a move that should surprise no one, the company has taken the concept and the name of a console gaming service (Xbox Live) and repurposed it for the mobile space with a dedicated Android app, available now, and a soon-to-be-released iOS app.

According to the press release, Gameloft Live is a new version of the multiplayer service already in many Gameloft-published … Continue Reading

Chrome finally comes to Android, get the new beta now

If you’re running the Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, a.k.a. Android 4.0, on your smartphone or tablet, you can run along right now and download Chrome for Android.

The latest addition to the Chrome family is a mobile beta that brings a (purportedly) better and faster browsing experience to Android devices. Perhaps most exciting of all, it allows for the desktop-to-mobile syncing and sign-ins we have loved so much in competitor Firefox for Android.

“Like … Continue Reading

Razr-like Motorola Droid 4 lands on Verizon Feb. 10 for $200

Motorola’s fourth-generation Droid smartphone with 4G LTE data speeds will launch on Verizon Wireless Friday, Feb. 10 for $200 on a 2-year contract, the company announced today.

The first Motorola Droid smartphone was one of the earliest great Android devices when it was released in November 2009. The Droid 4 closely resembles the Droid RAZR, except the Droid 4 features a full QWERTY keyboard. The Droid RAZR was released to much hype in November, but … Continue Reading

After a drop in profits, HTC forecasts cloudy quarter ahead

The next quarter will be tough-going for HTC as it tries to recover from its first big profit drop in two years.

HTC reported revenues of NT$101.42 billion (New Taiwanese dollars) for the fourth quarter, but the company projects revenues of up to 36 percent less in the first quarter, from NT$65 billion to NT$70 billion ($2.20-$2.37 billion U.S.).

HTC previously announced that its profits fell in the fourth quarter, so this news is basically … Continue Reading

Samsung’s Galaxy S III may be just 7mm thick, making it world’s thinnest phone

At some point, the mad quest to create the thinnest phone on the market will end — but not today.

Samsung is reportedly aiming to make its upcoming Galaxy S III flagship device just 7 millimeters thick, a full 1.49mm thinner than the Galaxy S II and 2.3mm thinner than the iPhone 4S, according to the Korean site ETNews.

The phone could debut as soon as this May, the site says, though as is always … Continue Reading

iPhone tops US handset sales, Android attracts more newbies, says NPD

Corroborating what just about every other research firm has noted by this pointed, the NPD Group announced today in its latest report that the iPhone has become the best-selling handset in the U.S. during the fourth quarter.

No big surprises there, but the group also pointed out another interesting statistic: Despite the iPhone’s dominance, first-time smartphone buyers still overwhelmingly jump to Android.

In the fourth quarter, Apple overtook LG and Samsung with the iPhone 4S, … Continue Reading

The free ride is over: Facebook likely adding mobile ads “within weeks”

With Facebook’s financial situation firmly in the spotlight after its IPO filing, the company will finally address the problem of generating revenues from mobile users by introducing mobile ads in the next few weeks.

One of Facebook’s biggest risks Facebook listed in last week’s IPO filing was “mobile,” and the company said it generates no “meaningful revenue from the use of Facebook mobile products.” One solution would be to launch a Facebook-branded phone that would … Continue Reading

Sorry Facebook, mobile users just want to text

Mobile content usage spanning everything from downloading apps to browser and social network usage continues to escalate, but nothing is taking off quite like texting.

Nearly 75 percent of all U.S. mobile subscribers now send text messages, according to new data from analytics firm comScore.

The data, gathered from a monthly online survey of 30,000 mobile subscribers ages 13 and up, reflects an ongoing shift in the changing behaviors of the more than 234 million … Continue Reading

Security! Android’s Bouncer to prevent malware from making it to the Market

Whether accurate or exaggerated, claims of rampant malware apps have haunted the Android Market. Now, Google’s Android team is announcing Bouncer, a new security mechanism that should prevent bad apps from ever making it into the Market.

It’s a programmatic solution that’s allegedly good for both the goose (or users, in this case) and the gander (honest mobile developers who don’t want to wait through a lengthy application process à la the Apple App Store’s).… Continue Reading

In light of Facebook’s huge mobile risk, a “Facebook phone” looks like a smart solution

One of the biggest risks Facebook listed in yesterday’s high-profile IPO filing was “mobile.” The company hasn’t quite figured out what to do with advertising on phones, so it could struggle to bring in the bank as more users choose phones over PCs.

But Chris Silva, mobile analyst for Altimeter Group, told VentureBeat that the company has a possible way to help solve this issue: the highly rumored “Facebook phone.”

“If they are taking this … Continue Reading

Android fragmentation: it’s not as bad as you think, as long as you compromise

There has been a lot of hand wringing in the developer community about fragmentation on Android. Device makers are delivering dozens of unique units with their own screen size and resolution, and Google hasn’t had any way to ensure that phones running Android stay up to date on the latest release of the operating system.

But a new study from Localytics reports the problem may not be quite as bad as imagined. “Across all apps … Continue Reading

Android users are more likely to have sex on first date

A recent survey by Match.com has revealed Android users need lovin’ a little quicker than iPhone and Blackberry users.

The survey was broken down by Match.com’s “Relationship Insider” Kimberly Moffit, who revealed that 75 percent of Canadian singles believe e-mail and texting have significantly improved their dating life. “More so than zodiac signs or astrology, smart phones are the new way Canadian singles can decode their dating style and determine if they’ve met their match,” … Continue Reading

IBM buys Worklight, launches its own BYOD manager

IBM announced its own “bring your own device” manager today, as well as its most recent acquisition, Worklight, which helps companies focus on developing applications for multiple operating systems.

BYOB, or bring your own beer, used to be the simple way to get a party going. You’re at a party, you’re thirsty, but oh wait, you brought that six pack. Now you don’t have to awkwardly ask the hostess where the fridge is, wonder if … Continue Reading

Rypple, hot off Salesforce acquisition, launches Android app for social management on-the-go

Just a month and half after agreeing to be acquired by Salesforce, social performance management service Rypple has launched a native Android app to make sure managers and employees can connect no matter where they are.

Rypple’s software helps managers improve employee performance through “social goals” and consistent feedback and recognition. It’s in an increasingly competitive market for cloud-based human resource management services. Leading competitors include SuccessFactors, which enterprise giant SAP agreed to acquire for … Continue Reading

Got big pockets? Samsung’s Galaxy Note headed to AT&T on Feb. 19 for $300

Skinny jeans wearers need not apply. AT&T announced Tuesday that Samsung’s massive 5.3-inch Galaxy Note — which was one of the most intriguing devices at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show — will be available in the U.S. on February 19 for $300 with contract.

The Galaxy Note occupies a weird space between a smartphones and a tablets, but for some it may just be the perfect balance of the two form factors. Pre-orders for the … Continue Reading

Android devs go face-to-face with Android overlords on new Google+ page

Google has just opened up a new channel for Android developers to learn about the platform, ask questions, and get updates.

The +Android Developers page launched today to help devs stay abreast of changes in the rapidly iterating mobile operating system.

“One of my favourite things about Google+ is the quality of conversation around posts, so +Android Developers will focus on being a place for the people behind the Android developer experience, and Android developers … Continue Reading

iPhones accounted for a quarter of smartphones shipped in Q4, says Juniper

While the success of the iPhone 4S was a big deal for Apple last quarter, it was the free (with contract) iPhone 3GS that helped Apple truly dominate the smartphone market in Q4, according to Juniper Research.

The 37 million iPhones Apple shipped accounted for almost a quarter of the 149 million smartphones shipped globally in the last quarter, the research firm said in its latest report.

That’s on-par with Strategy Analytics’ figures, which counted … Continue Reading

Symantec may have identified a botnet string of Android apps

Symantec claims to have found a string of “malicious” applications in the Android app store that resemble botnets.

According to a blog post by the company, these applications are pushing out a type of malware called Android.Counterclank, which is said to be related to a botnet-like virus called Android.Tonclank. Botnets generally extend from a commanding device, which then takes control of other devices via spam messages. On mobile, this control can be achieved through malicious … Continue Reading