It's not paranoia -- you really are surrounded by Androids. Google's mobile OS is now running on 200 million activated gadgets, matching the number running Apple's iOS. And recently, the 10 billionth Android app was downloaded.
Nokia smartphone users starving for app extras may finally get some new toys for their handsets. App developers who previously stuck to iOS and Android are probably going to branch out, thanks to Nokia's Windows 7 deal.
"When it comes to curing acne, there's no app for that," said Federal Trade Commission Chairman, Jon Leibowitz, in response to a settlement reached on Wednesday between the FTC and three men charged with misleading claims that their smartphone apps could get rid of pimples.
AT&T is now offering a $9 iPhone. Granted, that's for a refurbished iPhone 3 G3S-8G. But those have most features people want in an iPhone, and the upcoming iPhone 5 doesn't offer the one thing that could differentiate it from its predecessors: 4G compatibility.
Apple has been on fire, posting its best quarter ever with unabated iPhone growth and the iPad holding off all tablet challengers. Apple's stock, however, is cool, trailing the broader market and trading at historically cheap levels. But is that a danger sign, or an opportunity?
Apple's shares are trading at about $347, just shy of their all-time high of $364.90, which they hit in February. It's second quarter earnings were record-breaking. So why are some analysts beginning to worry about Apple's stock?
Remember Beta vs VHS? Windows vs Mac? Once again, competing global standards are preparing to do battle, this time over smartphones and other mobile devices. A flood of new tablets is coming on a number of platforms, but only two or three are likely to win.
While the first wave of magazines made available on the iPad consisted largely of male-oriented titles like Popular Mechanics and Sports Illustrated, women's publications are starting to follow -- led by Glamour, whose Apple app goes live today.
According to a recent report from Morgan Stanley, Apple is the big leader in the mobile segment: The iPhone keeps growing, and iPads are selling at an incredible pace. But Google's Android operating system is gaining ground and 160,000 smartphones using it are activated every day.
