Samsung Leans on Android

SUWON, South Korea—Samsung Electronics Co. plans to depend on Google Inc.'s Android mobile-device software to run future versions of its tablets, the chief of its mobile division said, as it ramps up in the competitive tablet-computer sector.
Samsung, which competes with Apple Inc.'s iPad in the tablet sector, has long been developing its own mobile-phone software, Bada, and those phones have competed with smartphones using Google's Android software. But Android has already given Samsung's smartphone business a shot in the arm, and the company is looking to replicate that success in tablets.

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Samsung Electronics.

Samsung Electronics will launch a 10.1-inch version of its Galaxy Tab tablet computer in June, and a 4G version later this year.

The electronics giant, which makes everything from memory chips and phones to flat-screen TVs and home appliances, is the world's second-largest cellphone maker by shipments behind Nokia Corp. but it still trails Apple's iPhone and iPad in smartphones and tablets. Like many other competitors, it was caught off guard by the success of the iPad when the tablet was launched in early 2010. Compared with other manufacturers, though, Samsung was one of the first few to embrace Android in tablets, introducing the seven-inch Galaxy Tab in October to rival the iPad.
Samsung will launch new versions of the Galaxy Tab this summer in two other sizes, an 8.9-inch and a 10.1-inch model, both running the latest version of Android, known as Honeycomb. The 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab is scheduled to be launched in June for $499 to $599.
"We'll continue to work with Android on future tablets," J.K. Shin said in an interview at Samsung's headquarters in Suwon, south of Seoul.
During the first quarter, Samsung was the world's second- largest tablet vendor behind Apple but it was the world's No. 1 Android tablet provider, based on data from market research firm Strategy Analytics.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303745304576354312309980754.html#ixzz1NtgGxC3f

Nokia Plans For Frequent Windows Phone Releases

After the first Windows Phone device rolls off the Nokia assembly line sometime this fall, expect to see a new model every few months after that. That should help kick start the new mobile phone platform. Everything Nokia makes will be based on the Mango update.

PC Magazine notes that since Windows Phone was first launched, there haven't been a lot of new models. That is probably because most manufacturers and carriers, after launching the initial round of phones, were waiting on sales figures to determine when and if it was worth coming out with a new model.

For musicians, podcasters, voice over artists, the iRig Microphone is an excellent mobile recording companion for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

At the end of the first quarter, Windows Phone had sold less than 5 million units since it was launched in October. When you spread that out over at least nine manufactures in dozens of countries, the sales per company get pretty thin.
While companies like Samsung, LG, and HTC aren't ready to get out of the Windows Phone market, if the platform folded their sales wouldn't miss a beat since they are enjoying far greater sales with Android. Even Samsung's own Bada was shipped on more phones in the first quarter of 2011 than Windows Phone did.

Nokia, on the other hand, has bet the farm on the platform. It will need to keep things fresh on the hardware side to generate enthusiasm for their devices. Say what you want about Nokia, but they have had some interesting designs over the years, even if powered by the uninspiring Symbian platform.

While a new phone every few months isn't new for Nokia, phones with a CDMA radio will be. Nokia has traditionally focused on GSM networks used by T-Mobile, AT&T, all carriers in Europe, and most carriers in other parts of the world. CDMA does have some strongholds though, and the U.S. is one of them. The largest carrier, Verizon, uses CDMA as does Sprint, and Nokia plans on supporting that technology, which means any carrier in the U.S. will be able to sell a Nokia phone, and that is what Microsoft and Nokia want to see happen.

Android This Week: Google Wallet; Smarter Keyboard; Flyer Lands

Six months after debuting a handset with mobile payment capabilities, Google this week launched it’s Google Wallet service with Sprint as its carrier parter. The operator’s Nexus S handset, with integrated near-field communications (NFC) chip can be used for wireless purchases at MasterCard PayPass terminals, initially in New York City and San Francisco. Consumers with the Nexus S and a Google Wallet account can pay for goods or services simply by entering a PIN on their phone and tapping or waving it near the wireless terminal at check-out.

Consumers outside of the two trial areas will have to wait for Google Wallet, which will also support merchant reward cards and digital coupons, but Android device owners don’t have to wait for a smarter third-party keyboard. SwiftKey has long been a popular input option due to its ability to predict the next word when typing. The software does this by learning from past input as well as scans of a user’s SMS conversations. SwiftKey X, a new public beta, leverages the cloud to become even smarter.

To improve word prediction, SwiftKey X can scan and learn from conversations in Gmail, Facebook and Twitter, in addition to SMS on the handset. Users can choose which, if any, web services SwiftKey X can access, and the company’s privacy policy ensures the personal information will not be transmitted from the handset. Within just a few minutes of setup, the software is already predicting the correct word in my usage more often than not.

The folks at SwiftKey have a tablet version of the keyboard in the works, but its not yet available. While waiting for it, I’m getting acquainted with the HTC Flyer; the newest 7-inch slate from the company that makes a wide range of Android handsets. My first impressions are generally favorable: The slate fits in a back pocket, has unique touch buttons that rotate between portrait and landscape mode and runs on a fast 1.5 GHz processor.

URL : http://gigaom.com/mobile/android-this-week-google-wallet-smarter-keyboard-flyer-lands/

HTC Pays Microsoft for Every Android Phone It Makes

Smartphone manufacturer HTC is required to pay $5 to Microsoft for every Android phone it makes. The fee is the result of a legal settlement between the two companies over patent claims. HTC makes and sells Android phone and tablets as well as Windows Phone 7 units. This might be small change for the Taiwanese phone maker but it could add up to a large amount. HTC

Microsoft sued Barnes & Noble and Motorola for patent infringement claims on Google’s Android mobile operating system. Android is an open source mobile platform that Google lets manufacturers use at no charge. On the other hand, Microsoft sues manufacturers that install the software on every device they sell. People are speculating that the software giant is doing this to push its Windows Phone mobile platform.

Microsoft declined to comment on the reported settlement but the two companies said they settled the patent disputes last April 27. Microsoft and HTC have a long history of commercial and technical relationship and the settlement shows how two companies can work on an agreement regarding intellectual property. According to a Citigroup analyst report, Microsoft is looking for $7.50 to as high as $12.50 for unit license for the infringement of Microsoft patents.

URL : http://www.toptechreviews.net/microsoft/htc-pays-microsoft-for-every-android-phone-it-makes/