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Microsoft to expand Bing Vision app with newspaper matching next month

By Dan Seifert on Friday February 17, 2012

Bing Vision, Microsoft's answer to Google Goggles for its Windows Phone 7.5 operating system, is slated to be upgraded with more capabilities next month. The Bing Vision feature is built into Bing search on Windows Phone and currently recognizes QR codes, Microsoft tags, barcodes, CDs, DVDs, and books when they are placed in front of the phone's camera. In March, Microsoft will upgrade the feature to also identify print versions of magazine and newspaper articles and then link the user to digital versions. Microsoft says the service will be able to recognize and link to over 3,000 publications world wide.
source: Microsoft, via: The Verge

windows phone · software

news

Wireless carriers to gain access to TV spectrum through federal auctions

By Michael Oryl on Friday February 17, 2012

A payroll tax cut bill that has just passed through the U.S. House and Senate will make it possible for desirable low-frequency TV spectrum to be reallocated for wireless data network use. More

carrier

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Apple giving away $10,000 gift card to the 25 billionth app downloader

By Dan Seifert on Friday February 17, 2012

Apple's iTunes App Store is rapidly nearing the 25 billion app download mark, To celebrate, Apple is giving away a $10,000 App Store gift card to the lucky user that grabs app number 25 billion. You can go to Apple's contest page to check out the full rules and regulations and then head over to the App Store and start downloading apps.
source: Apple

apple · ios · software

news

HTC adds Verizon Wireless smartphones to Android 4.0 ICS upgrade list

By Dan Seifert on Friday February 17, 2012

HTC has added more smartphones to the list of devices that will be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich at some point in the future. This time HTC has added more Verizon Wireless smartphones, including the HTC Rhyme, HTC Thunderbolt, and DROID Incredible 2, which join the already announced HTC Rezound. HTC Raider owners on Rogers or Bell in Canada can also expect to see an upgrade to Android 4.0 at some point. Now if only HTC would actually release these updates, we can stop complaining about not having Android 4.0 on our smartphones.
source: HTC

verizon · htc · android · smartphone

news

Samsung introduces rugged microSD cards with dashing good looks

By Dan Seifert on Friday February 17, 2012

Samsung has announced a new line of microSD cards (and full-size SD cards) that feature a tough build and attractive exteriors. More

samsung · memory

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Google dodges privacy settings, hides cookies in Safari for iPhone

By Michael Oryl on Friday February 17, 2012

Google is caught up in what has the potential to be a rather large privacy scandal. The company has acknowledged using a hack in ads served by its Google Ads/DoubleClick service that allowed it to bypass a privacy setting in the iPhone and iPad's Safari browser. More

google · ios · software

news

Renesas MP5232 smartphone processor packs 1.5GHz speed with HSPA+, LTE radios for cheap

By Dan Seifert on Friday February 17, 2012

Renesas has unveiled a new processor for smartphones that combines high performance dual-core processing with HSPA+ and LTE radios on the same chip. The chip is expected to be found in smartphones that cost as little as $150. More

bluetooth / wireless

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Amazon Kindle Fire nabs number two slot in tablet market, claims new report

By Dan Seifert on Friday February 17, 2012

Though Amazon refuses to spill the beans when it comes to the actual number of Kindle Fire units it has sold to date, we do know that it had a strong holiday quarter with its entertainment slate. A new report from IHS iSuppli seems to back that up. According to iSuppli's research, Amazon is now the number two tablet maker in the world, leap frogging Samsung and taking a distant second to market leader Apple. More

kindle fire · amazon · android · tablet

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Nokia Lumia 800 bundle now available in Microsoft Stores

By Dan Seifert on Friday February 17, 2012

Nokia has announced that the Lumia 800 bundle that was tipped earlier this month is now available for purchase at Microsoft's retail locations. The bundle includes an unlocked Lumia 800 smartphone that is compatible with AT&T's 3G network, a Nokia Purity HD Stereo Headset by Monster, a Nokia Luna Bluetooth Headset, and a Nokia Play 360° speaker. The bundle sells for a steep $899. Interested buyers will be able to choose from a bundle with all black components, or one that comes with a white Play 360 speaker and the rest of the pieces in magenta. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the luscious cyan Lumia 800 will be sold through Microsoft Stores.
source: Nokia

lumia 800 · nokia · windows phone · smartphone

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NHTSA issues guidelines to limit car texting, email access

By Michael Oryl on Thursday February 16, 2012

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed a set of non-binding guidelines for auto manufacturers that deal with the issue of distracted driving due both to in-car electronics as well as dashboard integration with portable electronic devices that car drivers carry with them, such as mobile phones. More

industry

news

Mozilla offers first peek at Boot2Gecko user interface, promises more news at MWC

By Dan Seifert on Thursday February 16, 2012

Last year, Mozilla announced a project called Boot2Gecko that is essentially a mobile operating system built with existing web development tools. Now we have our first look at the Gaia UI that Boot2Gecko will use, and Mozilla has promised more announcements to come at Mobile World Congress later this month. More

software

news

Swype keyboard now works with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

By Dan Seifert on Thursday February 16, 2012

Swype has updated its virtual tracing keyboard for Android deices to be compatible with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. As well as gaining compatibility for the latest version of Google's mobile OS, accuracy has been improved and there are downloadable languages for tablets and support for add-ins with DragonGo. Swype beta only works on phones that do not have Swype pre-installed from the factory, though that isn't much of a concern for you if you have an Android 4.0 device at the moment. The updated version can be downloaded from Swype's website now.
source: Swype, via: Android Central

cell phone

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U.S. Cellular adds to its list of markets with 4G LTE

By Dan Seifert on Thursday February 16, 2012

U.S. Cellular has announced the next wave of markets that it will bring 4G LTE services to. By the end of 2012, U.S. Cellular plans to have 54 percent of its customers covered with LTE. More than 3,600 additional towns in Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin will be added to the markets that already have 4G LTE coverage. U.S. Cellular has also announced that it will offer a 4G LTE mobile hotspot from Samsung alongside the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with LTE and the Samsung Galaxy S Aviator smartphone that it will launch in the near future.
source: U.S. Cellular

u.s. cellular · cell phone

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Clik turns your smartphone into a dead simple YouTube remote

By Dan Seifert on Thursday February 16, 2012

Clik, a new smartphone app from the makers of Kik, lets you control YouTube video playback in your desktop or laptop browser directly from your iPhone or Android smartphone. More

software

news

Apple wins against Motorola in German slide-to-unlock patent case

By Dan Seifert on Thursday February 16, 2012

Apple has won an important victory against Motorola in its German patent case concerning slide-to-unlock screen gestures. The court decided that Motorola infringes on Apple's patent in two implementations, both of which concern slide-to-unlock gestures on smartphones. More

apple · industry