50,000 Apps for Windows Phone

Sure it may not have passed the half-million mark like Apple's App Store, but http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifWindows Phone's digital download platform has reached a nice new milestone.

A report from Allaboutwindowsphone.com claims the number of Windows Phone apps has eclipsed 50,000. Keeping in mind that Microsoft's new mobile platform just launched last year, that's not too bad.



It took the iPhone about 12 months to reach the same milestone, so Windows Phone is only a couple months behind. Also, the report noted, "It took just over a year to get to 40,000 apps, but just 40 days to add the next 10,000 apps. That bodes well for Windows Phone in 2012."

The Microsoft platform has gained a substantial amount of new attention thanks to the maturing of its partnership with Nokia. The first Windows Phone-powered Nokia device will hit the US next month on T-Mobile, at a mass market-friendly price of $50 (after mail-in rebate).

Read More at: http://www.tgdaily.com/mobility-brief/60450-windows-phone-now-has-50000-apps

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Android Will Be Bigger in 2012

It looks like 2012 will be another eventful year for Android. Now that the latest OS version, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, has hit the market, several device makers are expected to release ICS handsets for a ready consumer market. LG is the latest to reveal its plans around ICS, kicking into high hear during the second quarter of next year. Among the first phones to get the upgrade are the Optimus 2X, which made waves as the world’s first dual-core smartphone earlier this year, and the Optimus LTE. Others in the Optimus lineup, including the 3D, Black and Big, will also receive the ICS update by Q3 of next year.



It seems like a long time to wait for ICS, but the roll out of Android’s latest edition has been a slow one. Fragmentation remains an issue with Android’s OS, and could continue to cause hiccups in 2012. PC Magazine highlights some of Android’s key developments throughout 2011, with fragmentation tripping up Honeycomb’s tablet capabilities and stalling Android’s rise in the tablet market. While Gingerbread is the top OS across Android smartphones, it’s ICS consumers want, and as usual, Android’s gotten ahead of itself when it comes to new product hype and the reality of mass access.

For new and “old” Android users

Nevertheless, many existing Android users, as well as newbies that received Android devices over the holiday weekend, will have to work with what they’ve got. ZDnet has a few suggestions on how to clean up your Android device and make it good as new, citing the end of the year as a prime opportunity to reset your phone. And whether you have an “older” Android or a new Samsung Galaxy Nexus, a few tips on preserving your device’s battery life never hurt.

Read full article written by Kristen Nicole at http://www.androidapps.com/tech/articles/10589-android-will-be-bigger-in-2012

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Intel Shows Off Its Smart Phone and Tablet for 2012

The era of the personal computer dawned thanks in no small part to the chip maker Intel. But the company has been only a spectator to the rise of smart phones and tablets in recent years. These mobile devices use chips based on designs licensed by the U.K. company ARM, which deliver the power efficiency the powerful, compact gadgets require.


Intel is about to fight back.

Last week, Technology Review tried out prototype smart phones and tablets equipped with Intel's latest mobile chip, dubbed Medfield, and running the Android mobile operating system created by Google. "We expect products based on these to be announced in the first half of 2012," says Stephen Smith, vice president of Intel's architecture group.

Known as "reference designs," the devices are sent out to inspire and instruct manufacturers interested in building products around Intel's latest technology. "They can use as much or as little of the reference design as they like," says Smith, who hinted that the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in January could bring news of gadgets in which Intel's chips will appear.

Intel's Medfield is the latest in its "Atom" line of mobile chips. So far none of them have seriously threatened the dominance of ARM-based chips in mobile devices, in part because they are more power-hungry. However, the new chip represents a significant technological step toward lower power consumption.

Read this article in detail at: http://www.technologyreview.in/computing/39378/

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Review of Sony Ericsson Xperia Active

See the detail Review of Sony Ericsson Xperia Active by WILL HARVIE.

REVIEW: Last month, I went through a long process identifying which mid-range smartphone suited my needs, and settled on Sony Ericsson's Xperia Active.

I have now operated the phone for some weeks.

Does it meet expectations? Yes. Almost everything I anticipated about the phone has come true.

For example, I expected the relatively small touchscreen (three inches v 3.5 inches on an iPhone) would hamper some activities, and that's true. I sometimes hit the wrong button, but it's a flaw I can live with, given the modest $400 price.

The battery needs charging almost every day, and I paid extra for a car lighter jack and cable. The biggest disappointment is the five-megapixel camera. Photos look great on the amazing Sony Bravia screen, but are disappointing when transferred to a computer or printer.



The Active is "slightly rugged" – meaning it's shock, dust and water resistant. I've already dropped the phone on concrete and it survived. A friend with the same phone left his in a bucket of water for 20 minutes without issues.

Sony targets the phone at "consumers with an active lifestyle" and Telecom says the handset can "take the rough and tumble of outdoor sports".

They mean the ruggedness and built-in GPS, barometer and compass, and preloaded fitness software of various capabilities.

So far, I've mostly used a pedometer (step counter), with mixed success because it can't be calibrated. Some day soon I'll download a better product from Google's Android Market.

The Active is powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and I love it. The Android Market is a treasure trove of great and grim apps (software) that provide hours of fun and frustration.

Android, ruggedness and price were the main reasons I bought this phone and I'm happy with all three.

Sony and Vodafone sell a companion phone, called the Xperia With Walkman (also for $400, handset only) that targets people wanting a "social music experience". That's not me, but I'm satisfied Sony has fine-tuned that phone with the same skill and finesse it did with the Active.

I've been watching the mid-range smartphone market since I bought my phone and competition is still driving down prices. It's a great time to buy an unpretentious phone.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Active smartphone

$400 handset

Read detail full review at: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/gadget-reviews/6162644/Review-Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-Active

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Samsung's Galaxy Nexus Review

As fans of Google's Android mobile software well know, each new version is named after a sugary treat, such as Gingerbread or Honeycomb. Android is about to get even sweeter with Ice Cream Sandwich a smooth, feature-rich operating system that will run first on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone.

The combination of Google's software and Samsung's hardware makes the Galaxy Nexus one of the best candidates to compete with Apple's latest iPhone, though its price is steep. It began selling last week in the U.S. for $300 with a two-year Verizon Wireless contract.



Like the previous phone in the Nexus line, the Nexus S, the Galaxy Nexus was jointly developed by Google Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. It features a slim frame with a large, curved glass screen that's comfortable for chatting with friends and excellent for watching videos. There are 32 gigabytes of built-in storage space on the Verizon version of the phone, but no external slot for a microSD memory card.

The screen, a pocket-busting 4.65 inches at the diagonal, makes the iPhone's 3.5-inches look diminutive. And despite the size, the Galaxy Nexus manages to weigh just 4.8 ounces, slightly less than Apple's offering.

On it, videos and Web pages looked crisp and bright, with rich colors. I started watching a video during testing — an HD copy of "The Help" that I rented from Google's Android Market — and had to force myself to break away to test other features of the device.

Continue to read detail review at: http://www.statesman.com/business/technology/review-samsungs-galaxy-nexus-a-sweet-smartphone-2039932.html

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Review of Nokia Lumia 800

Anyone who has seen the Meego-running Nokia N9 will instantly recognise the Lumia 800 as a spiritual successor. It has a sturdy polycarbonate unibody shell and feels great in the hand.

On top is a magnetically-held flap that hides a microUSB port. Next to it is a 'push and slide' compartment that houses the microSIM and a 3.5mm port. The speaker grill and buttons for power, volume and camera shutter are the only other 'openings'http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif.



It has a 3.7-inch anti-glare amoled polarizer display that makes it easy to view content even under direct sunlight. Although the display looks good on its own, the super amoled screen on the less cheaper Samsung Omnia W Windows Phone looks better when compared side-to-side.

Overall, the Lumia gets our vote for the best Windows Phone as far as overall looks and construction go. Inside is a 1.4Ghz processor with 512MB RAM and 16GB of non-expandable storage (no microSD slot). Metro UI works in the similar fashion we have seen on earlier phones - live tiles, smooth navigation and cool effects.

Read More: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/hardware/et-review-nokia-lumia-800/articleshow/11101755.cms

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First Look: Motorola’s Xoom Sequel, The Xyboard Tablet

Motorola is taking another shot at the tablet game with the Droid Xyboard, the company’s latest Android device to hit Verizon stores. After getting our hands on one this afternoon, we found that it’s a solid, well-performing slate that’s easy on the eyes. Too bad it has such a stupid name.



The 4G Xyboard is Motorola’s follow-up to its pricey, not terribly popular Xoom tablet, which was released in February. Available in 8.2-inch and 10.1-inch versions, the Honeycomb-powered Xyboard enters the market hot on the heels of the super-hot Kindle Fire. It’s on sale today for $430 (for the 8.2-inch) or $530 (for the 10.1-inch) with a two-year contract from Verizon, with options for 16GB or 32GB of memory on the smaller version, and up to 64GB on the larger one.

The first thing that struck me about the Xyboard is its industrial design. Rather than being perfectly rectangular in shape, the 8.2-inch slate has clipped corners, which actually makes it fit more comfortably when you hold it one-handed. The back, too, shows some stylistic creativity. A rubberized outer rim houses a power button and volume rocker, while centered in the back of the tablet is a sheet of dark gray brushed metal held in place by six visible screws. Think robot chic.

Read More : http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/hands-on-droid-xyboard/

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16 Mobile Apps for Surviving Holiday ‘Fun’

The holidays are a smorgasbord of sensory overload. The traveling. The cooking. The shopping. Even the “quality” family time. It’s all packaged into two nightmarish rollercoasters scheduled at the blunt ends of November and December.

Luckily, however, if you’ve got a smartphone or tablet, you can get by with a little help from your app-based friends.

Read More at: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/holiday-survival-apps/

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New Mobile app JaxtrSMS to send free SMSes worldwide

Bangalore: Jaxtr, set up by Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia and Yogesh Patel, today announced the launch of JaxtrSMS, an open texting application which allows users to send free SMSes across the world. "JaxtrSMS is completely unique in terms that a mobile user can send a text SMS to any mobile phone in the world without requiring the receiver to have the JaxtrSMS application installed on their phone," the company said in a statement.

This "open" facet of JaxtrSMS distinguishes it from other free mobile messaging applications where messages can only be sent within a closed network to people who also have the same app installed, the company claimed. Jaxtr Inc CEO and Co-Founder Sabeer Bhatia said, "Now, mobile users can leverage our free and open application to send messages to their contacts anywhere across the world without having to pay anything.



"The fact that our application has been downloaded by users across 197 countries in just a few weeks since our soft launch amply reflects our belief that JaxtrSMS will prove to be immensely useful to mobile users across the world," he added. Jaxtr Inc President and Co-Founder Yogesh Patel said that JaxtrSMS was completely developed in India.

Read More: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/a-new-app-jaxtrsms-to-send-free-smses-worldwide/205001-11.html

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Facebook Phone from HTC “Coming Next Year”

Facebook is working with mobile manufacturer HTC on its first official phone.




Face book is reported that “tweaked [Android] heavily to deeply integrate its services, as well as to support HTML5 as a platform for applications, according to sources familiar with the project”.

Facebook Chief Technology Officer Bret Taylor is said to be leading the project, which will build on the previous ‘Facebook phones’ that have launched with a dedicated button for access to the social network.


Read More:- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/8906119/Facebook-phone-coming-next-year-from-HTC.html

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