Apple's iPad 3 to usher in pixel-packing tablets

Pixels per inch will jump to an average of 200 in the second quarter of 2012.
(Credit: DisplaySearch)
iPhone 4S' retina display.


Apple's next-gen iPad won't be the only new tablet design with lots more pixels. Market researcher DisplaySearch said today that the average pixel density of tablets will surge next year.

The forecast calls for the average resolution of tablet displays to grow to more than 200 pixels per inch (PPI) in the second quarter of 2012 (see chart above), according to David Hsieh, an analyst at NPD DisplaySearch. Currently, displays average just shy of 150 PPI.
















iPhone 4S' retina display.
(Credit: Apple)

The transition to very-high-resolution 9.7-inch tablet displays will begin with a bang on the iPad 3's 2048x1536 display likely due in the first quarter of next year. This is expected to have a PPI of 264, twice that of the iPad 2.

DisplaySearch's Richard Shim said Apple will pretty much eat up all supply of the 9.7-inch 2048x1536 displays. (Note that 9to5Mac has found new references by Apple to next-gen iPads here.)

But Apple isn't the whole story. Android tablet makers dominate the 10.1-inch display size and these will jump to resolutions of 1920x1200 at the high end, according to DisplaySearch. Right now, the top Android tablet makers making products in this size range include Samsung, Motorola, Acer, and Asus. It's highly likely that most or all of them will turn to higher resolution displays as more tablets are populated by faster silicon like Nvidia's Tegra 3, Qualcomm's Krait, and Texas Instruments OMAP 5.

Tags: iPad 3, Android, 9.7-inch, Motorola, Samsung, iPad, 2048×1536, 10.1-inch, Ice Cream Sandwich, 1920×1200, Android Ice Cream Sandwich

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-57333310-64/apples-ipad-3-to-usher-in-pixel-packing-tablets/

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Apple selling unlocked, contract-free iPhone 4S

iPhone 4S buyers looking for an unlocked version of the new phone can now grab one directly from Apple.

The company has just started selling an unlocked and contract-free version of its new phone. In a nutshell, that means you can use the iPhone 4S without shelling out money for the usual two-year carrier contract. You can then jump from one network to another by picking up and inserting a micro-SIM card, which is available from each supported carrier.

An unlocked phone is especially handy for people who travel around the world and want to be able to use it across a range of countries and carriers.











The iPhone 4S is now available unlocked and contract-free.
(Credit: Apple)
Of course, there are one or two catches.

The unlocked edition of the iPhone 4S supports only GSM carriers, so using the phone with CDMA-based Verizon Wireless or Sprint is not an option. And since there's no two-year contract, you'll pay the full, non-subsidized price for the phone. The 16GB iPhone 4S runs $649, the 32GB version costs $749, and the 64GB model is priced at $849.

Apple's Web site currently shows a wait time of one to two weeks for the unlocked iPhone, the same number of weeks you'd wait for the regular subsidized version. As usual, you can buy the phone in either black or white.

Apple had initially teased users in early October that it would unveil an unlocked iPhone 4S sometime this month.

The company also sells an unlocked iPhone 4 for $549 and an unlocked 3GS for $375.

Tags: GSM, Apple, unlocked, smartphones, , micro-SIM card, Apple iPhone 4S, Apple unlocked iPhone 4S, Apple smartphones, Apple iPhone 4, Apple iPhone 4S Price

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57323098-37/apple-selling-unlocked-contract-free-iphone-4s/

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iOS 5 on almost 40 percent of iPhones

(Credit: Apple)

Just a few weeks after its debut, iOS 5 finds itself nestled on almost 40 percent of iPhones, according to stats from online ad network Chitika.

Analyzing iOS traffic on its own mobile network from October 22 to October 28, Chitika broke down the percentage of iOS 5 upgrades among Apple's three major mobile devices: the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

The iPhone came in first, with 38 percent of users having already updated their phones to the latest mobile OS. In second place was the iPad with 30 percent of its owners already using or updating to iOS 5 during the last week of October. And bringing up the rear was the iPod Touch with 12 percent of its users bumping themselves up to the new OS.

The large majority of users of all three devices are on iOS 4, while a small number are still stuck on version 3.

(Credit: Chitika)

Chitika speculated as to why there were differences in iOS 5 adoption among the three devices.

Obviously, the iPhone 4S, which comes with iOS 5, has to account for a certain portion of the 38 percent, especially since 4 million units of the new phone flew off the shelves during the first weekend. But Chitika also notes that many people use their smartphone as their primary communications device, so they might feel a greater tendency to keep it freshly updated.

iPad owners may interact more frequently with the tablet's interface, says Chitika, prompting them to also keep their devices updated with the latest software. But iPod Touch owners are more likely to use their devices on the go for music and entertainment and may not feel as much of a need to run the latest OS.

Of course, that's all conjecture on Chitika's part because the company didn't actually poll users to find out why they did or did not upgrade. Looking at just the raw data, someone could even assume that iPhone and iPad owners are early adopters compared with iPod Touch users. But that wouldn't tell the full picture since many Apple users own more than one mobile device.


iOS 5 untapped a variety of new features, including iCloud, iMessage, Reminders, Twitter integration, and Wi-Fi syncing. But it's also introduced a few bugs, most notably a battery drain issue. Apple has already been working on an update to iOS 5 to address the battery problem and various other glitches. That update is now being tested by developers and select users.


Tags: Apple iOS 5, Apple, Chitika, iPhone,Apple iPhone,iPod Touch, Apple iPod Touch, Apple iPad, iPad 2

Source:http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57321295-37/ios-5-on-almost-40-percent-of-iphones/

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Android 4.0 due in early 2012 for 7 HTC phones

The new HTC Rezound is among the phones that will get Google's Ice Cream Sandwich release of Android in early 2012.
(Credit: HTC)

HTC, which rose to smartphone prominence with Google's Android operating system, will begin offering the new Ice Cream Sandwich version in "early 2012," the company said today.

Expect Android 4.0 on some, but not all devices. HTC offered this preliminary list on its Facebook page:

HTC knows how excited our fans are to get their hands on Google's latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, so we're thrilled today to announce the first wave of HTC phones that will receive upgrades: We can confirm the brand new HTC Vivid, on sale beginning today, is upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich. In addition, Ice Cream Sandwich is coming in early 2012 to a variety of devices including the HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation XL and HTC Sensation XE, as well as the HTC Rezound, HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Design 4G and HTC Amaze 4G through close integration with our carrier partners.

There likely will be more, but HTC isn't committing yet. "We're continuing to assess our product portfolio, so stay tuned for more updates on device upgrades, timing, and other details about HTC and Ice Cream Sandwich," HTC said.

Android updates are a contentious matter. Google's new operating systems must filter through phone makers and mobile network operators before arriving in customers' hands, and that can be a long process even in the cases where it happens. Older Android phones can't handle new Android versions, and carriers that have customized the OS with their own features have to re-customize it for updates.

In a study of 18 Android phones, Michael Degusta found the Android phones lagged iPhone models in support for new versions of the operating system. Owners of even newer Android models aren't wrong to wonder if they'll see Ice Cream Sandwich on their phones.

Tags:Rezound, update, Android 4.0, HTC, Ice Cream Sandwich, Android Ice Cream Sandwich, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation XL and HTC Sensation XE, HTC Rezound, HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Design 4G, HTC Vivid, HTC Amaze 4G, Google Android 4.0, Google Android Ice Cream Sandwich

Source:http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-57319534-264/android-4.0-due-in-early-2012-for-7-htc-phones/

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Motorola Motokey Social Finally Official

The Motokey Social has a dedicated Facebook button to access and share via the social network on the go.

Budget handsets are always a huge hit in the market. While most major brands like Samsung, LG, Motorola, and Nokia have more or less cemented their position in the entry-level smartphone segment, there's always room for more additions to the list. Now, since Facebook is an integral part of the youth culture, companies are more inclined towards rolling out FB phones. We saw HTC announce the fairly decent ChaCha and Salsa, which somehow didn't manage to impress or attract that many customers. As a matter of fact, retailers have pulled out the HTC Salsa off their listing. That doesn't tell a good story about how FB phones have fared so far. Then there was iNQ's FB phone (Cloud Touch) which we haven't heard a lot about. Nevertheless, Motorola has decided to step into the scene with a FB phone of its own called the Motokey Social. The handset in fact is the one we saw in September when it was listed on Bluetooth SIG under the serial EX-225.





Motorola now has now made the phone official with the handset going live on it's official website and listed as coming soon. Though there's no official word on the release date, we can guess that it will not take long to hit the retailer shelves. As far as the price is concerned, we don't see this handset going hard on the customer's wallet. The Motokey Social features a 2.4" capacitive touchscreen, a 3 MP camera on the back, 64 MB RAM with 128 MB ROM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a dedicated FB hardware button for quick access to the social network. Since this is a feature phone, you will not find Android running inside. Instead this will run on a stock OS seen on most of Motorola's low end devices. The Motokey Social (EX-225) looks like a pretty decent feature phone with the potential to make it big in the market if priced right, though that is a question which only time can answer. There is no doubt that Motorola will start selling the handset in India as well. We should see the company make an announcement by the end of this month.

Tags: Motorola Motokey, Motokey, c, Motokey, MotoKey Social EX225, Motorola MotoKey Social EX225, Motorola Motokey Social Price, Motorola's Facebook Phone

Source: http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Motorola_Motokey_Social_Finally_Official/551-116093-615.html

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Motorola launches Xoom 2 tablets

Motorola is hitting the market with all new Xoom tablets.

Dubbed the Xoom 2, the new Android tablets are making their initial debut today for consumers in the U.K. and Ireland. The tablets come in two flavors--a traditional 10-inch Xoom 2 with built-in options for business users and an 8.2-inch Xoom 2 Media Edition.

Both tablets are powered by dual-core 1.2 GHz processors, run Android 3.2 Honeycomb, and offer Wi-Fi connectivity. The displays are strengthened with Corning's Gorilla glass and come with a special splash-guard coating designed to make them more durable and stain resistant.


The two tablets sport a 1.3 megapixel camera in front and a 5 MP camera on the back, both with digital zoom, auto focus, and LED flash. Both come with 1 gigabyte of RAM and 16 GB of storage.

Each tablet inclues a new MotoCast app that allows users to wirelessly stream music, photos, videos, and other content between their tablets and their PCs. A special "Work and Play" kit lets people connect the tablets to an HDTV and control them via a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.




Motorola's new Xoom 2 tablet
(Credit: Motorola Mobility)
The larger Xoom 2 is similar to the original Xoom in size and shape, but with a brighter and more vibrant display, according to Motorola. The edges have been designed with a flattened edge that's supposed to make the tablet easier to hold. The battery on this model promises more than 10 hours of life on a single charge.

And with a nod toward business users, the Xoom 2 comes preloaded with data encryption, VPN support, and Active Sync for synchonizing e-mail, contacts, and calendar appointments. It also includes both USB and Ethernet ports.

The smaller Xoom 2 Media Edition is geared more toward entertainment. The screen offers a 178 degree viewing angle to let more than one person watch movies or videos at the same time. Motorola claims a 20 percent improvement in graphics performance and has added virtual surround sound, turning the Media Edition into a gaming device. This model can also double as a remote control for TVs and other equipment courtesy of a pre-loaded remote control app. Battery life is rated at only around six hours per charge.

Rumors about the new tablets popped up recently but had pegged them as offering 64 GB of storage and 4G access.

"Tablets are quickly becoming a must-have tool for staying connected, getting work done and having fun at home and on the road," Victoria McManus, marketing director U.K. & Ireland for Motorola Mobility, said in a statement. "We are very excited about these two new additions to our tablet portfolio that build on the success of the original Motorola Xoom to now deliver more powerful tablet experiences to the European market."

Both tablets will sell at Carphone Warehouse in the U.K. and Ireland, as well as Best Buy, PC World, Dixons, and Currys in the U.K.

We've reached out to Motorola to find out when the new tablets might be available in other countries, including the U.S.



Tags:Android, MotoCast, Honeycomb, Xoom 2 Media Edition, Motorola, tablets, Xoom 2 , motorola xoom, motorola xoom 2, motorola xoom 2 media edition, motorola xoom 2 price, motorola xoom 2 news

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57317576-93/motorola-launches-xoom-2-tablets/?tag=mncol;cnetRiver

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Ice Cream Sandwich makes tough security taste better

There's more to Ice Cream Sandwich than just better camera controls, near-field communication support, and the redesigned interface. Google has also been working on making the latest version of Android the safest yet, and several of the features are mighty sharp for a melty brick of ice cream.

The biggest of them all is that you'll be able to fully encrypt your ICS device. This means that all your data will be on lockdown, inaccessible even to you until you enter in the passcode or personal identification number.

The benefit of this obvious: if lose your phone, you won't have to worry about remotely wiping it. The downside, of course, is that if you forget your password, you're locked out and the only way to get your phone back is to factory restore it. Expect to see renewed interest in cloud-based backup services for Android.

How apps manage authentication and secure sessions will get easier in ICS, thanks to a new keychain API that works in conjunction with the underlying encrypted storage. Any app will be able to use the keychain API to install and store user certificates and certificate authorities securely. It's a very technical change that will nevertheless allow apps to be written more safely from the get-go.

The lockscreen itself has received some effective enhancements, too. The first, and the most widely-talked about, is that you'll be able to unlock your phone using native facial-recognition technology. Called Face Unlock, this tech has been around for a while for other systems, such as Windows, so it's good to see it being ported to a high-profile mobile platform natively.

The most common concern with facial recognition technology is that it can be fooled by a photograph. Android developer Tim Bray says that it can't; and my own tests in 2010 with the Windows facial recognition software Blink failed to fool it then. Obviously, a Windows program and an Android feature are not the same, but given that I wasn't able to log in with a photo two years ago, it'd be a massive failure for the feature if it could happen now.

Other potential facial recognition problems include alterations to your appearance, such as facial hair or make-up, or poor lighting conditions. If the feature can't tell that you're you, it'll open the passcode box for manual unlocking.

Android 4.0 will also let you customize a lockscreen message. This isn't world-shaking, to be sure, but it will allow you to set a "please return to" message for anybody who finds your phone, potentially improving your chances of getting a lost device returned to you.

Lastly, big improvements have been made to app control. You'll be able to disable bloatware, those apps that come pre-installed on your device, and you'll have the ability to disable background data on a per-app basis.

The disable option promises to let you render an app fully inactive. It won't be able to send or receive data, it won't be able to launch, and it won't display an icon in your app tray. However, because those apps are part of the system partition, you won't be able to fully remove them. That will still require rooting your phone. Nevertheless, this is a massive improvement for people wondering what the heck a Citrix is.

Being able to disable data transfers for apps running in the background provides a stopgap measure for controlling apps without taking the harsher measure of disabling the app outright. While some apps such as JuiceDefender already give users that kind of control, it's enormously helpful to have that as a default Android feature.

These are solid improvements to Android security, although I'd like to see more in the way of exposing permissions and either simplifying them, or helping users understand them, or both. For instance, you might notice that your violent bird-throwing game has permission to send out your location. On the face of it, that sounds bad. But what if the game has a new social networking component that allows you to compete against nearby friends? Making clear how a particular permission is used by an app would be a big boon.

If there are security improvements you'd like to see made to Android, tell me in the comments below.

Tags: facial recognition, Android 4.0, Face Unlock, bloatware, lockscreen, Ice Cream Sandwich, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0

Source: http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-20124010-12/ice-cream-sandwich-makes-tough-security-taste-better/

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Verizon's iPhone 4S vs. Android? (Ask Maggie)

It was only a few years ago when Verizon Wireless customers complained they didn't have enough choices when it came to cool new phones. Now it looks Verizon is the place to be for the latest and greatest in smartphones.

But what's an average smartphone consumer to do? It seems like every week, Verizon is adding a new "flagship" device to its offering. While Verizon representatives say they are simply trying to offer customers more choice, they're also creating some confusion. In this Friday's Ask Maggie, I help one reader get a handle on what Verizon has to offer.

I also offer some advice on whether I think it's wise for Google Android customers to wait for the new Ice Cream Sandwich update to Android or not.

Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions. The column now appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double dosage of Ask Maggie's advice. If you have a question, I'd love to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put "Ask Maggie" in the subject header. You can also follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.
Decisions, decisions

Dear Maggie,
I'm a Verizon Wireless customer and I'm looking to upgrade my phone. I've been a long time BlackBerry user for years, but I'm so done with BlackBerry. And I'm ready for a much cooler smartphone. I don't have an allegiance to Apple or Google, so I need some advice on what to get. I'm leaning toward an iPhone, but I'm wondering if there are some cool Android phones I should consider. Can you help me decide?

Thanks,
Undecided

Dear Undecided,
It was only a few years ago that Verizon Wireless customers were singing the blues because the carrier didn't have any cool new phones. As a CDMA carrier, it wasn't always first on the list to get the latest and greatest devices. But since the original Motorola Droid and Verizon's big push into 4G LTE, the carrier is on top when it comes to getting the hottest phones on the market.

As a BlackBerry user looking for a richer smartphone experience, I'd say that whether you go Android or iOS, you'll likely be happy either way. Since you seem open to either Android Apple, I've put together a quick cheat sheet including some of the new phones that Verizon already offers and will soon offer. By no means is this comprehensive list or assessment of every phone that Verizon has to offer. But it will give you an idea of what's out there and what will likely be coming soon.

Apple iPhone 4S
While some people were disappointed that the new iPhone 4S didn't have a new design and lacked some expected features, like near field communications (NFC) and LTE, my guess is it's still going to be the hottest phone on the market. Apple already said that it sold four million devices in the first weekend.

There are still plenty of features that makes this version of the iPhone 4S an improvement over the iPhone 4. In addition to a faster process and better camera, the iPhone 4S also has the latest iOS 5 software running on it. Some of the cool features included in this release are iMessage, which lets you chat with other iOS device users just like you could with BlackBerry's BBM. There's also an improved alert and easier editing of photos, just to name a few.

But the most important new feature on the iPhone 4S is Siri, the personal assistant app. This intelligent speech recognition app allows you to tell your phone what you need and Siri can find it for you or do it for you. For example, Siri can help find a nearby sushi restaurant or it knows to remind you to call your mother when you home from work. Unfortunately, it can't pick up your dry-cleaning. That task still requires a real-life personal assistant. Darn!

Pros: Dual core processor, 8 megapixel camera, Siri

Cons: No 4G LTE (3G only)

Release date: October 14

Price: 16GB $199; 32GB $299; 64GB $399

Motorola Droid Bionic
Until this week, the Motorola Droid Bionic was the flagship Google Android phone for Verizon. It is the first 4G LTE device that also has a dual-core processor on Verizon's network. But the Droid Bionic's time as top dog on Verizon's network will be short-lived. This week Motorola announced yet another 4G LTE Android device, the Droid Razr. And Samsung announced the Galaxy Nexus, the first phone to sport the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS.

It seems strange that Motorola would release two high-end devices exclusively on the same carrier within just a couple of months. But Alain Mutricy, senior vice president of product and portfolio management at Motorola, said the company is innovating so quickly that it needs to push out new devices as soon as it can.

Indeed, part of the Droid Bionic's problem is that it is months late. The phone was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. But after delays, it didn't hit store shelves until last month. This gives the Droid Bionic, which is a fine phone, a short window of availability before newer devices, such as the Motorola Droid Razr and the Samsung Nexus Galaxy hit the market.

Pros: 4G LTE, dual core processor

Cons: Doesn't run the latest Android OS

Release date: September 2011

Price: $299.99

Samsung Stratosphere
The Samsung Stratosphere is part of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S II line of Android smartphones. The original Galaxy devices have been a tremendous hit for Samsung. And this next generation of devices is also expected to sell well. The big benefit of this phone is that it's the only 4G LTE phone from Verizon with an actual QWERTY keyboard. So if you are nervous about giving up the physical keypad of the BlackBerry, this might be the phone for you. But just keep in mind that some of its features are not as advanced as some of the other Android devices on Verizon's network. For example, it doesn't have a dual core processor. The camera is not quite as good as the others. And it's not running the very latest Google Android software. But it's a fine phone. And at $149.99, it's also half the price of some of the other 4G LTE phones offered by Verizon.

Pros: 4G LTE, QWERTY keyboard, relatively inexpensive

Cons: Doesn't support the latest Android OS, single core processor, 5 megapixel camera

Release date: October 16, 2011

Price: $149.99 (after a $50 mail-in rebate)

Motorola Droid Razr
Thin is in. And that in a nutshell is what makes the Motorola Droid Razr cool. It's the thinnest smartphone on the market. And the fact that Motorola managed to also put 4G LTE capability into such a slim package is impressive. If you're looking for a phone that won't weigh you down and fits easily into your pocket, this is a good choice. Like the iPhone 4S and other top Android phones at Verizon it has an 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p HD video capture and image stabilization, as well as a front-facing HD camera for video chat.

The biggest downside of this phone is that it uses the slightly older version of Android, 2.3.5 Gingerbread. This may not necessarily be a deal breaker, considering that Alain Mutricy, senior vice president of product and portfolio management at Motorola told me at the Droid Razr's coming out party in New York City this week, that it will likely get the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS in the first part of 2012.

Pros: Super thin 7.1mm (0.28 inch); dual-core processor

Cons: Doesn't support the latest version of Android OS

Release date: November

Price: $299.99

Samsung Galaxy Nexus
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus hasn't been officially announced for Verizon Wireless. But it's expected that Verizon will be the first U.S. carrier to sell the phone. And it could end up on other U.S. carrier networks later. The biggest selling point of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is it will be the first phone to support the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS. While it's not as thin and lightweight as the Droid Razr, the Galaxy Nexus is still pretty thin at 8.9 mm (0.35-inch) thick. And like the previous version of the Nexus device, the Galaxy Nexus has an NFC or near field communications chip embedded, which means you can use Google Wallet to tap and pay for things.

Pros: 4G LTE, NFC chip, dual-core processor, latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS.

Cons: 5 megapixel camera

Release date:Not announced yet

Price:Not announced yet

So which smartphone is right for you? That's a tough question to answer. You said you were leaning toward the iPhone 4S. And that's a fine choice. Apple's iOS software makes using the iPhone very easy. And if you're already an Apple iTunes user, it's simple to integrate the iPhone 4S into your life. But keep in mind, that it will only operate on Verizon's slower 3G network. All the other Android devices I've listed for you will support the faster 4G LTE network. Some people have complained about battery life issues on some 4G LTE devices, so this might also be a concern for you. But barring that issue, the network speeds are much faster on these devices than other 3G smartphones, including the iPhone 4S.

To help you make your decision, I asked my CNET colleagues for their opinions as well. CNET Reviews editors, Bonnie Cha, Jessica Dolcourt and Nicole Lee chimed in, as did CNET News senior writer Roger Cheng. While most agreed the iPhone 4S is a good choice for a smartphone, they all also agreed that if you're going to go for an Android phone, you should wait for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

As Jessica Dolcourt put it, "I like the Droid Razr, and I personally wouldn't be surprised if in many ways the hardware is more exciting. However, Ice Cream Sandwich is the Galaxy Nexus ace in the hole and there's just no question that it will be the most powerful Android phone on the market when it comes out."

Roger Cheng, who has been a long time BlackBerry user and has also dabbled with a few Android phones, just recently bought the new iPhone 4S. He said that if simplicity is what you're looking for, then go with the Apple iPhone 4S. But if Android and all the fancy hardware specs strikes your fancy, go with the Nexus Galaxy.

"If I bought the Droid Bionic now, what would I be missing with Ice Cream Sandwich just few weeks later?" he said.

Of course, all of the new Android phones sporting Gingerbread today will likely get upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich in the first half of 2012. But given how long it has taken some manufacturers to update some phones, it's hard to predict exactly when the update will be pushed to these devices.

I hope this helps. And good luck!
Should I care about Ice Cream Sandwich?

Dear Maggie,
I keep hearing so much about the new Google Android Ice Cream Sandwich update. I'm thinking of getting one of the new Android smartphones. But what I'd like to know is if it's really worth it to wait to buy one with the new Ice Cream Sandwich software. I know there are a lot of new features, but should I really care about these features? And which ones do you think are the most important?

Thanks,
Greybeard1156

Dear Greybeard1156,
The new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich version is a major upgrade to Android. It's supposed to unite the software that Google has developed for tablets with the software for smartphones. And because of this change, it has completely changed the look and feel of the user interface.

There are tons of new features that have been added to the Android OS as part of this update. And CNET has already written several stories outlining some of these new features. But I think you aren't just asking for a list of new features, you want to know why you should care about this update.

Indeed, that's a good question to ask. The pace of innovation in the smartphone market is increasing. Manufacturers are churning out new devices and software developers, such as Google, are coming out with new versions of their platforms. All of this can make average users feel like they're on a constant upgrade treadmill.

It's not essential that you buy a phone with the latest and greatest software, but the truth is that with each new level of innovation, Google seems to be making the Android platform easier to use. It's not just the cool new features that are added, such as the facial recognition feature that allows you to lock and unlock your phone using a snapshot of your face. But it's also the small things, such as the ability to disable pre-installed apps that you don't want to use, that makes the device simply easier to use.

While software is important, I don't think that's the only reason to buy a certain Android phone. I'd recommend buying the phone that fits your needs the best. Currently, only one device, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, has been announced with Ice Cream Sandwich pre-installed. But other phones will be getting it as well. And I expect that the high-end Android devices that are coming on the market right now with the Gingerbread version of Android will be upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich sometime in the first half of 2012.

So which features of Ice Cream Sandwich do I think are the most worthwhile? First let me start by saying, there are tons of new enhancements to Android with this updated version of the OS. But here's a list of the top 5 features that I think are the most important:

Facial recognition: This feature allows you to secure your phone by taking a picture of your face. And then your phone uses that picture to identify you when you try to log into your phone. When you try to unlock your phone, it compares your face to your picture to identify you.

Improved Web browser: The new Ice Cream Sandwich OS has simplified Web browsing by allowing users to open tabs and add bookmarks. Users can swipe across the tab to close it, much like users could do with Palm's WebOS.

Improved camera software: The new software has a"zero shutter lag" feature, which means you can take one picture after another very quickly. And there are also a lot of new photo-editing tools build into the camera app. The software also allows you to capture snapshots while you're recording video. And the panoramic feature allows you to pan your camera across a wide area, and then the software puts the photo together in one long panoramic view.

Data usage monitoring: This feature lets you track and monitor your data usage by app. And it warns you or can even cut you off from using data when you hit a predefined level.

Disable pre-installed apps: Now Android users can easily get rid of apps that they don't use and don't want on their phones.

Tags: Apple iPhone 4S, Motorola Droid Bionic, Samsung Stratosphere,Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Ask Maggie, Cell phones, smartphones,Price, Release date
source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20123408-266/verizons-iphone-4s-vs-android-ask-maggie/

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Nokia to unveil first Windows phone this quarter

Nokia is promising to launch its first Windows Phone during the current quarter.

CEO Stephen Elop made the announcement yesterday at a technology event in the company's home base of Helsinki, Finland, according to Reuters and other news sources. Nokia has been eyeing a 2011 launch for its first Windows Phone devices since this summer, so it has little choice but to hit the market this quarter to reach that goal.

The first handset could come as early as the end of this month to coincide with the Nokia World trade show taking place in London on October 26 and 27. If so, that would force the company to push out the new phone early next month if it wants to reach consumers in time for the crucial holiday season, Reuters noted.

Microsoft Canada reportedly and accidentally tipped off the names of Nokia's initial Windows phones last week, referring to the Nokia Sabre and Nokia Sea Ray in a promotional competition, according to CNET's UK site and other sources.


Nokia has been hit hard by growing competition from Apple and Android. Once the leader in the global mobile phone market, Nokia's Symbian OS has since been surpassed by Android, according to the latest data from research firms Gartner and Canalys.

The company just announced plans to slash another 3,500 jobs on top of the 4,000 due to be cut by the end of next year and the 3,000 Symbian employees being transferred to consulting firm Accenture.

Nokia is now banking on Microsoft's Windows Phone to pull itself out of its current quagmire. In an interview last month with AllThingsD's Ina Fried, Chris Weber, the head of Nokia's U.S. division, confessed that the company is putting all its efforts into Windows Phone.

"When we launch Windows Phones we will essentially be out of the Symbian business, the S40 business, etc., " Weber said. "It will be Windows Phone and the accessories around that. The reality is if we are not successful with Windows Phone, it doesn't matter what we do (elsewhere)."

Tags: Nokia, mobile phones, Apple, smartphones, Android, Windows Phone, Nokia Sabre, Nokia Sea Ray, Microsoft, Symbian, Nokia Windows Phone release date, Nokia Windows Phone


Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20115939-93/nokia-to-unveil-first-windows-phone-this-quarter/#ixzz1Zv2WDZX1

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Mozilla loses strategy exec Mike Shaver

Mike Shaver, vice president of technical strategy at Mozilla and an influential Firefox executive, is leaving the non-profit that develops the open-source browser.

Shaver had worked directly for Mozilla for six years, though he worked longer before that as part of the volunteer community around the software project. He announced the departure on his blog yesterday:

I've decided that it's time for me to move on from the Mozilla Corporation, where I have enjoyed 6 years surrounded by incredible people doing incredible things on (and to) the Web. I haven't yet decided what's next, though I have some exciting opportunities to explore. I am still truly, madly, deeply in love with Mozilla and the Web it is building, and grateful for the opportunities that it's created for me.

Mozilla's executive face has a bit changed over the last year. Former Chief Executive John Lilly left to join venture capital firm Graylock Partners. He was replaced by Gary Kovacs. And in 2011, Mike Beltzner, Mozilla's director of Firefox, departed. Mozilla also re-absorbed its messaging group that develops the Thunderbird e-mail software.

Several Mozilla faithful, including Beltzner, Andreas Gal, Lilly praised Shaver after he announced his departure. "You know the folks that speak fast & deep? Where you learn something with each interaction? That is @shaver," said Dion Almaer, a former Mozilla employee.

Tags: Mozilla, Mike Shaver, browsers, management, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Firefox 6.0, Mozilla Firefox 5

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20107661-264/mozilla-loses-strategy-exec-mike-shaver/#ixzz1YDOrBEgi

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Facebook plans artsy photo filters? Groan.

Hipstamatic is one of many applications that let people use filters to add effects to photos.
(Credit: screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET)

I'm probably going against the will of the people here, but sighed heavily this morning when I read in the New York Times that Facebook plans to release filters to give photos artsy effects.

You know what I'm talking about--the shots with the heavily darkened corners that old cameras produced, the desaturated colors from faded Polaroids, the sepia tones and cyanotype blues from 19th-century photography techniques, the wacky hues when one type of film was processed with another type's chemistry, the smeary Vaseline-on-the-lens look of old portraits.

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with this kind of thing--sometimes it's fun to give a retro 1962 look to your snapshot or to punch up the contrast and colors a bit. It can add flavor to an otherwise bland shot. So it's no surprise that Facebook would want to add the feature--or indeed, as the Times reported, that it tried to acquire Instagram, which lets people share the fiddled photos.

The problem is just that I'm sick of it.

There are plenty of mobile apps to do this for you--Instagram, Hipstamatic, Picplz, and many more. Many cameras will let you fiddle with the photos before or after you take them--Olympus' art filters being an early example. It seems likely, based on beta reports, that iOS 5 will get photo filters.

As I see it, though, photo filter have moved from clever to cliche. The novelty has worn off, and novelty was the main reason to do it in the first place.

OK, to be fair, another part of the problem is that I didn't like the effects much to begin with, for the most part: I prefer realistic photos. That's just personal taste, though, and I try not to inflict it on others, but it does color my opinions, so to speak.

I admit to being a bit conflicted here. I enjoy watching people experiment with photography, and the filters are an easy, fun way to do that. So I hate to rain on the parade of the countless people who are just about to discover photo filters.

But with the filters so pervasive now, it's going to be harder use them to make your shots stand out.

And given how many millions of photos are shared on the Facebook, if the social network does in fact launch photo filters, it'll become even harder to use them to make your photos to stand out.

Tags:Facebook, Polaroid, photography, acquisitions, filters, Instagram, social networking, Facebook artsy photo filters, Facebook artsy , Facebook photo filters, Facebook photos artsy effects, iOS 5 photo filters.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20097143-264/facebook-plans-artsy-photo-filters-groan/#ixzz1W3Jk9ub7

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New Aurora 8 works on memory, guts, and add-ons

Mozilla upgraded its developer's edition of Firefox today to version 8, including changing how forced third-party add-ons are handled and debuting a series of under-the-hood tweaks that continue a renewed assault on performance gains made in Firefox 7 Beta. Firefox 8 Aurora can be downloaded for Windows, Mac and Linux, and it marks the first release of Aurora for Android.

Firefox's new add-on confirmation window, debuting in Aurora 8.
(Credit: Mozilla)

Two add-on changes were revealed last week that represent, for the first time in possibly years, that Mozilla has forced changes on how third-party programs and Firefox interact. Basically, Mozilla is disabling the ability of a third-party program, like security suites, to forcibly install add-ons without user permission. The change comes in two parts: one automatically disables those add-ons, and when you start Firefox after the add-on has been installed for the first time, a notification window prompts users to either activate the add-on or ignore it.

The second feature kicks in the first time Firefox runs after upgrading to version 8. It goes through your add-ons and sorts them into two categories: ones you've installed, and add-ons from third-party programs. All active add-ons that you have installed will be kept active, while all third-party add-ons will be deactivated unless you choose to reactivate them. As an additional level of protection against unwanted deactivation, the feature will offer a confirmation list of the add-ons you want killed.

The company continues to develop its Firefox channels into separate beasts. Aurora 8 debuts a light-blue button color to help distinguish from the Nightly build, which has a deep blue button, and the stable build's orange button. More important than that aesthetic tweak are changes to provide better icons when dragging and reordering tabs, and a new choice in the Options menu to load tabs only on demand. This will let people who have many tabs open start the browser faster.

In Windows, the option is available in the General tab of the Options menu. On Macs, go to the Aurora menu, then Preferences, then General, and check "Don't load tabs until selected."
The new Master Password option in Firefox 8 Aurora for Android.
(Credit: Mozilla)

Under the hood, Mozilla continues to work on its flagship product. How the browser creates threads for HTML5 media elements has been changed, which will allow for a large number of media calls without killing the browser, and a new media APIs sees support to improve the overall performance of video and audio in the browser. Newer HTML5 standards will work in Aurora 8, including the crossorigin and insertAdjacentHTML attributes, as well as native right-click menus via HTML5. There's been a WebSocket update to the latest APIs, and a security tweak forces WebGL textures to use CORS.

Two notable changes have also landed in the new Firefox 8 Aurora for Android. The first creates the option of a master password, for one-password entry when browsing. This is available under the Privacy and Security section of the Preferences tab. You also can add Firefox bookmarks directly to your home screen in the new build.

While Mozilla continues to push ahead with its rapid release cycle, and face opposition from a vocal minority of fans that Google didn't encounter when it moved Chrome to rapid release, it is also beginning to look at changing how version numbers are counted. One blog post proposes ditching the current whole-number format and counting major versions released in a single year. For example, the fifth major release in a particular calendar year would be "Firefox 2011.5".

Tags: extension, Aurora, Mozilla, Firefox, add-on, HTML5, rapid release, Aurora 8, Mozilla Firefox, Firefox 7 Beta, Firefox 8 Aurora, Aurora for Android.

Read more: http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-20094869-12/new-aurora-8-works-on-memory-guts-and-add-ons/

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Apple to face fast Android tablets

 around the CES 2012 timeframe," Nvidia said in a statement to CNET on Friday.

It's safe to presume that Nvidia isn't just blowing smoke. Its processors today power all of the most popular Android Honeycomb tablets, including the Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Toshiba Thrive, and Acer Iconia Tab A500. Future Sony tablets will use Tegra too.

Nvidia claims its upcoming quad-core processor will offer higher performance while being more power efficient.
(Credit: Nvidia)

And listening to Nvidia's earnings conference call on Thursday provided some more food for thought. "Our next-generation Kal-El processor had a very strong quarter of design wins," CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said. "And we have a great working relationship with [Google]. And so as soon as our next generation processor Kal-El is ready for production, we can run like the wind."

One of the more intriguing points Huang made was about Kal-El's power consumption. The seemingly logical assumption is that a quad-core processor will be more power hungry. Not necessarily, said Huang. "Kal-El is so much better performance than Tegra 2. And so much lower power. Very few people have internalized that Kal-El is lower power in every use case compared to Tegra 2," he said.

So, now that we know that high-performance Android tablets are coming, we're left to speculate on brands. Motorola is one of those most likely candidates. The company will come out with "much more aggressive form factors" for tablets later this year, CEO Sanjay Jha said when speaking at a tech conference this week. Asus is another prospect.

Texas Instruments--likely a leading chip provider for upcoming Android Ice Cream Sandwich tablets and smartphones--and Qualcomm also have plans for quad-core chips but, those aren't due until 2012 sometime.

How will Apple respond? Well, theories abound. One being that Apple will offer a premium iPad for professionals, sporting a higher resolution screen, among other tweaks. Then, of course, there are plenty of rumors about an iPad 3. But when that will land in Apple stores is a crapshoot. Apple may wait until next year when it can pack in plenty of new goodies like a quad-core A6 processor, better graphics, and a revamped design.

Ironically, despite different production schedules, Apple and Nvidia may get their silicon from the same source. Nvidia historically sources its chips from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company or TSMC, one of the largest chip manufacturers in the world. Many industry experts believe that Apple will also consign production to TSMC of either a future version of the A5 processor or the next generation A6.

Linley Gwennap, who heads The Linley Group, a chip consulting firm, thinks Apple may turn to TSMC. "Nvidia quad-core late this year, Apple A6 early next year. So Nvidia could be out a little sooner than Apple, but not by much," said Gwennap.

As long as Apple gets the iPad 3 out reasonably soon after quad-core Android tablets begin to proliferate, most consumers probably won't care. That said, all bets are off with Windows 8 running on ARM processors like Nvidia's Kal-El.

Tags: Tegra, Windows 8, Kal-El, Android, Honeycomb, Qualcomm, Motorola, quad-core, Nvidia, Ice Cream Sandwich, Google, Apple, tablet, Texas Instruments, iPad, ARM
Read More: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20092208-64/apple-to-face-fast-android-tablets/

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Amazon cloud outage downs Netflix, Quora

Amazon Web Services' cloud-computing infrastructure experienced a brief network outage this evening that knocked offline popular sites such as Netflix, Quora, Reddit, and Foursquare.
The network connectivity issues struck Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) at Amazon's northern Virginia site, which handles AWS operations for the U.S. East Coast at 7:39 p.m. PDT and were resolved about 25 minutes later, according to the Amazon Web Services Health Dashboard.

AWS is a flagship example of one facet of cloud computing, a flexible collection of online computing services that can ramp up and down according to varying needs, with customers getting a flexible infrastructure and paying only for what they consume.

At the same time, though, when a widely used service goes down, many suffer. In April, the cloud storage service experienced a two-day outage that brought many Web site operations to a halt.

Amazon representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Other recent service outages:
    • April 21: Amazon cloud outage derails Reddit, Quora
    • May 13: Google revives Blogger after outage
    • June 20: Netflix outage not caused by hackers
    • July 14: Google App Engine suffers availability problems
    • July 14: Spotify promo downs Klout. Was it avoidable?
    • July 20: Netflix outage prevents streaming to some devices
    • August 3: Yahoo Mail suffers outage; users react

Tags: outage, cloud services, Amazon, EC2, Amazon cloud, Quora, Netflix, Amazon Web Services
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20089866-93/amazon-cloud-outage-downs-netflix-quora/#ixzz1UXopfmpG

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Vizio launches 8-inch tablet for $299

The 8-inch Vizio tablet costs $299.
(Credit: Vizio)

Vizio has launched its 8-inch tablet at a price that could make it a key player in the Android tablet space.

Customers looking to get their hands on the device can head over to Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, Costco, and Amazon, among other retailers, and pick up the tablet for $299.

Vizio's decision to drop the price of its tablet to $299 comes as a surprise. In June, reports surfaced, claiming Wal-Mart would be selling the tablet for $349. Last month, Vizio started offering the device on pre-order for $399.99. However, at the time, customers could go to Costco or Wal-Mart and order it for $329 or $348, respectively.

Vizio is currently selling its tablet for $369 on its Web site.


Aside from its 8-inch display, Vizio's tablet comes with built-in GPS and 2GB of onboard storage, which is expandable up to 32GB with a microSD card. The Android-based device allows users to connect to the Web via Wi-Fi, and download apps from the Android Market. The tablet also doubles as a universal remote, allowing users to control their home theater devices.

At $299, Vizio is offering one of the better deals on the market. Apple's iPad 2, the leader in the space, starts at $499, making Vizio's option a strikingly more affordable option for some customers. It also puts it within striking distance of the Barnes & Noble Nook Color, which comes with a 7-inch display and Android for $249.

What's more, Vizio has decided to cut the price before customers get their hands on the device, rather than do so soon after its launch, like HP did.

HP last week offered a $50 "instant rebate" on its TouchPad tablet, just a month after the tablet launched. The TouchPad now retails for $449.99 and $549.99 for the 16GB and 32GB models, respectively. To address early-adopter outcry, HP said over the weekend that it would offer TouchPad owners a $50 credit for its App Catalog app store.

Tags: Vizio, Vizio tablet, Android tablet, Apple's iPad 2,instant rebate



Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20089981-17/vizio-launches-8-inch-tablet-for-$299/#ixzz1UXmkDwrP

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Apple sued over speedy Mac OS X startup

                     Mac OS X is being cited in a new suit against Apple.
                   (Credit: Apple)

Apple has been sued for the Mac OS X startup process.

Operating Systems Solutions, a Florida company, recently sued Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleging that the Mac maker's desktop operating system violates a patent it owns for quickly booting an OS. The patent was originally issued to LG Electronics in 2002.

The patent reads, "a method for fast booting a computer system, comprising the steps of: A. performing a power on self test (POST) of basic input output system (BIOS) when the system is powered on or reset is requested; B. checking whether a boot configuration information including a system booting state which was created while executing a previous normal booting process exists or not; C. storing the boot configuration information from execution of the POST operation before loading a graphic interface (GUI) program, based on the checking result; and D. loading the graphic user interface (GUI) program."

Patently Apple was first to report on the suit.

Operating Systems Solutions doesn't cite a specific version of Apple's Mac OS X in its suit. However, the company does claim that "Apple sells or offers to sell within this district, computer systems, including but not limited to the MacBook Pro, that utilize the Mac OS X operating system that infringes" its patent.

It's currently unclear what Operating Systems Solutions actually does. Several Google searches by CNET yielded no results for the company. The firm also doesn't appear to have contact information. However, CNET did contact the company's attorney, who has not immediately responded to a request for comment or for information on the firm.


One of the more surprising elements of the suit is the patent's history, given that it was originally issued to consumer electronics giant LG in 2002. However, as Operating Systems Solutions points out in its lawsuit, the patent was reissued in 2008, and the company now owns "all right, title, and interest" in the patent.

It doesn't appear that LG is included in the lawsuit. The company did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment.

According to the court filing, Operating Systems Solutions wants injunctive relief. The company is also seeking damages and the immediate "destruction [of] all remaining advertisements, circulars, brochures, or other promotional or advertising items, Web site, or other materials for the infringing method."

Like many other large companies, Apple has been a lightning rod for lawsuits over the last several years. The company is currently entangled in suits related to everything from its mobile devices to the name of its cloud-based service, iCloud.

Tags: Apple, Mac OS X, software, lawsuit, Apple Mac OS X
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20089381-17/apple-sued-over-speedy-mac-os-x-startup/#ixzz1US0Kq6jJ

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Apple launches sub-$1,000 iMac

Is a new, cheaper iMac launching next week?

(Credit: Apple)
Apple has quietly launched a cheaper iMac more than a week before earlier reports expected.

Apple's new offering costs $999, and comes with a 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3 processor and a 250GB hard drive. The computer is running the AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics card.

The cheaper iMac is designed for education institutions only, which means individuals cannot purchase the computer at the discounted rate.

Citing a source named, "Mr. X," 9to5Mac reported yesterday that Apple would launch a new iMac as early as next Tuesday for less than $1,000. According to the Apple-focused blog, the computer would come with a 3.06GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 250GB hard drive.

Apple refreshed its iMac line in May. The company offers two 21.5-inch models, boasting quad-core processors and 4GB of memory. The cheapest 21.5-inch model has a 500GB hard drive and retails for $1,199. The slightly more powerful option comes with a 1TB hard drive and sells for $1,499.

  In addition, Apple sells two 27-inch iMac models, which retail for $1,699 and $1,999, respectively. They also come with quad-core processors, sport 2,560- by 1,440-resolution displays, and offer 1TB hard drives.

This isn't the first time Apple has offered a cheaper iMac for educational institutions. In 2006, the company announced a 17-inch iMac for education customers that cost $899.

Tags: Apple, computer, iMac, Mac, education customer,Apple Inc
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20089405-17/apple-launches-sub-$1000-imac/#ixzz1URuxCiGb

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Apple iPhone tops smartphone charts in 2nd quarter

Apple reigns supreme in the second quarter, according to IDC.
(Credit: IDC Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker) In one short year, Apple has toppled Nokia and taken control of the worldwide smartphone market.
According to research firm IDC, Apple's sales of 20.3 million iPhones worldwide during the second quarter of 2011 helped the company secure 19.1 percent market share and lead all other vendors. The company's shipments grew 141.7 percent compared to the second quarter of 2010 when it sold just 8.4 million iPhones and secured 13 percent share.
Apple's growth is all the more impressive when one considers that the iPhone 4 has been on store shelves for over a year now, and speculation abounds that it could be replaced with a new version of the device within weeks. However, Apple hasn't confirmed that it will, in fact, launch a new iPhone this year, and even the rumor mill can't seem to agree over whether the iPhone 5 will ship or if Apple will offer up an updated version of the iPhone 4.

Although Apple's year-over-year growth was strong, it was Samsung that stole the show. That company saw its shipments grow 380.6 percent year over year to settle at 17.3 million in the second quarter. At that level, Samsung was able to secure 16.2 percent share. Samsung's success is due mainly to the company's high-end devices, like the Galaxy S, IDC said.

"What originally began as a series of high-end smartphones has proliferated well into the mass-market, but has not strayed too far from its high-end roots," wrote about Samsung in its report on smartphone shipments. "Moreover, its steady cadence of device releases and updates has kept Samsung's smartphones well out in front of the competition."


While Apple and Samsung had a strong quarter, Nokia didn't fare so well. That company saw its shipments decline 30.4 percent during the second quarter from 24 million last year to 16.7 million this year. What's more, Nokia, which was easily dominating the smartphone space last year with 37.3 percent share, was only able to secure 15.7 percent of the market last quarter.
"Nokia ceded the number one position for the first time in the history of IDC's Mobile Phone Tracker, with smartphone volumes dipping below the 20 million unit mark for the first time since 3Q09," IDC said. "Even as the company released new smartphones running on Symbian^3, demand for its products running on the aged Symbian platform has shifted to other devices."
That said, IDC acknowledged that Nokia's market share dip also has something to do with the state of its operation. Earlier this year, the company announced that Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform would become the "principal" operating system on its line of smartphones. Nokia is currently focusing much of its efforts there, and will likely continue to take a short-term hit for the eventual goal of reestablishing its brand over the long-term.
Even so, Nokia is still leading the pack in total mobile phone shipments. Last month, IDC reported that Nokia shipped 88.5 million handsets during the second quarter, helping it to secure 24.2 percent share. Although its shipments were down 20.3 percent, the company still easily bested second-place Samsung, which shipped 70.2 million mobile phones during the period, securing 19.2 percent market share. LG came in third with 6.8 percent share on 24.8 million phone shipments.
Back to smartphones, Research In Motion and HTC rounded out the top five, securing 11.6 percent and 11 percent market share, respectively. RIM's shipments were up 10.7 percent year over year, while HTC's grew by 165.9 percent.
Overall, the worldwide smartphone market grew by 65.4 percent to 106.5 million shipments, IDC said.
IDC's findings follow a similar report last week from research firm Strategy Analytics. That company said 110 million smartphones shipped during the second quarter, and the market was led by Apple with 18.5 percent share. Samsung, the firm said, secured the second spot with 17.5 percent share on 19.2 million smartphones shipped. Nokia came in third in Strategy Analytics' report with 15.2 percent share.

Tags: Nokia, Study, Apple, Smartphones,  iPhone, samsung, Apple iPhone, IDC, iPhone 4, indows Phone 7, iPhone 5, HTC

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20088561-17/apple-iphone-tops-smartphone-charts-in-2nd-quarter/#ixzz1UFzO4oOJ

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