Nov 01

Android Market v3.3.11 APK now available, adds auto-update by default and other new settings

Posted in: Android, android market, AndroidMarket, Google, market, mobilepostmini, Today's Chili, update, upgrade

The latest revision of Google’s Android Market app is hitting handsets now, and while it doesn’t bring any new tabs for music, Android Police mentions a few changes you might find notable. Among them are the ability to select auto updating for apps as the default option, as well as a setting to auto update only when connected via to the internet via WiFi. One change stolen from Honeycomb is a setting to automatically add homescreen shortcuts for new apps, while the UI has also been tweaked with a smaller font, new app drawer icon, and voice search button. As usual, it will probably automatically appear on your device eventually, but those who can’t wait can hit the source link and download the ripped APK of v3.1.11 right now.

Android Market v3.3.11 APK now available, adds auto-update by default and other new settings originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phone Arena  |  sourceAndroid Police  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 31

Canalys: HTC nips Apple, Samsung to become top smartphone vendor in US for Q3 2011

Posted in: Android, business, Google, GoogleAndroid, HTC, htc sense, HtcSense, industry, market, market share, marketshare, mobilepostcross, sense, smartphone, Today's Chili

Boo! No, that’s not your doorbell ringing again, that’s HTC popping out of nowhere in order to toss a Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo in the direction of Samsung and Apple. Just days after Strategy Analytics published a global smartphone shipment report for Q3 2011, Canalys — another formidable name in the sector — has pushed out a report of its own. Not surprisingly, the global figures line up almost precisely with what we’d already heard, with Samsung’s Q3 numbers rising above those from Apple, Nokia and the rest of the industry. The difference here, however, is the focal point on the US of A. Here in the States, Taiwan’s own HTC is pulling rank; the aforesaid handset maker edged out Apple and Samsung by shipping 5.7 million smartphones.

All told, it owned “around a quarter of the market,” with Samsung (4.9 million) claiming the second spot and Apple (4.6 million) pulling in for the bronze. Conspicuously absent from the leader board? RIM, which saw its volume decline 58 percent from a year ago and its US market share sink from 24 percent in Q3 2010 to just 9 percent this quarter. Our take? HTC (and Samsung, from a global perspective) best enjoy it while the quarter lasts — as soon as the iPhone 4S and Nokia’s spate of Windows Phone devices start figuring in, we’re guessing that the top spots will be completely up for grabs all over again.

Continue reading Canalys: HTC nips Apple, Samsung to become top smartphone vendor in US for Q3 2011

Canalys: HTC nips Apple, Samsung to become top smartphone vendor in US for Q3 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  sourceCanalys  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 28

IDC: Samsung, ZTE see jump in mobile shipments, Apple slides to fifth place

Posted in: Apple, business, LG, market, market share, marketshare, mobile, mobilepostcross, money, nokia, research, samsung, smartphone, statistics, Today's Chili
Q3 earnings reports have been pouring in over the past few days, which means it’s time to check in with IDC on the state of the mobile market. The research firm’s latest report, released today, is something of a mixed bag. On the one hand, Q3 global shipments increased by 12.8 percent year-over-year — higher than the 9.3 percent that IDC had predicted for the quarter and the 9.8 percent growth observed last quarter. At the same time, however, the market grew at the second slowest pace in two years and shipments to Western Europe and the US actually declined over the year, something the company attributes to more restrained consumer spending and more widespread economic uncertainty.

On the company level, both Samsung and ZTE came away as the biggest winners this quarter; Sammy’s shipments increased by 23 percent over the year, good for second place, while ZTE’s shot up by a whopping 57.9 percent, launching the company into fourth place. Apple, meanwhile, saw 26.2 percent growth in its shipments and a slight bump in market share, but still couldn’t avoid getting leapfrogged by ZTE and dropping down to fifth place. And then there’s LG, which had by far the worst quarter, relative to Q3 2010. The manufacturer saw shipments decline by nearly 26 percent over the year, while its market share slipped to 5.4 percent. All these horses, however, are still chasing Nokia, which saw a small drop in shipments, but managed to hang on to the top spot, with over 106 million shipments during the quarter — good for 27 percent of the market. For more numbers and insight, check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading IDC: Samsung, ZTE see jump in mobile shipments, Apple slides to fifth place

IDC: Samsung, ZTE see jump in mobile shipments, Apple slides to fifth place originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 25

ARM doubles Q3 profit, sees surge in revenue, is understandably pleased

Posted in: arm, business, earnings, financial, financials, market, processor, Today's Chili
The news just keeps getting better and better for ARM Holdings. Today, the chip designer reported third quarter net profits of £31.5 million ($50.4 million), more than double the £14.8 million it reported during Q3 2010. Revenue, meanwhile, rose to $192.3 million — a 22 percent increase over the previous year, and a slightly higher figure than previously expected. In a statement, chief executive Warren East attributed these results to a “continued high level of design activity, with many new customers licensing ARM technology for the first time, driven by end-market requirements for smarter, low-power chips.” Indeed, a total of one billion ARM mobile chips were shipped this quarter (up ten percent from last year), and the company expects to rake in about $763 million in total revenue, by the end of 2011. Find figures and facts galore, at the source link below.

ARM doubles Q3 profit, sees surge in revenue, is understandably pleased originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Wall Street Journal, Stock Market Wire  |  sourceARM Holdings  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 20

Major Chinese supplier halts rare earths production in attempt to boost prices

Posted in: europe, government, industry, market, politics, price, Today's Chili, us
With prices sliding and uncertainty rising, China’s biggest producer of rare earth minerals has suddenly decided to suspend all operations, in a move that could strain already tense relations with the West. Baotou Steel, a miner, refiner and vendor located in Inner Mongolia, announced the decision in a statement today, explaining that it’s simply looking to “balance supply and demand” in response to a prolonged price slump within China. Since June, in fact, prices of neodymium oxide and europium oxide have declined by 34 and 35 percent, respectively, with many analysts attributing the drop to mounting economic uncertainty in the US and Europe. Earlier this year, the Chinese government announced plans to merge or close some 35 rare earths producers within the mineral-rich northern region of Inner Mongolia, effectively crowning Baotou Steel as the industry’s epicenter. Now, of course, that’s all changed, though the shutdown will only last for one month. It’s also worth noting that China still exerts rather considerable influence upon the market, accounting for roughly 97 percent of all production of rare earths — a group of 17 minerals used to manufacture gadgets like cellphones, flat-screen TVs and EV batteries, among others. And while new deposits and market projections may point to a transforming landscape, it’s unlikely that Chinese influence will wane anytime soon — much to the chagrin of Western free trade advocates.

Major Chinese supplier halts rare earths production in attempt to boost prices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceYahoo!  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 20

iPhone 4S supports GLONASS satellite system, much to the delight of Russia

Posted in: Apple, business, gps, iPhone, iphone 4s, market, mobilepostmini, money, navigation, satellite, smartphone, Today's Chili

What does a Russian satellite system have to do with the iPhone 4S’ GPS capabilities? Allow us to explain. Russian site iPhones.ru recently noticed that the 4S’ spec page lists support for both assisted GPS and GLONASS — the Kremlin’s global navigation satellite system and acronym for GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema. The country launched GLONASS 35 years ago in the hopes that it would eventually provide an alternative to GPS and the EU’s forthcoming Galileo, thereby reducing Russia’s dependence upon US- or Europe-operated systems. The global system has since been beset by delays and budgetary setbacks, but last week, a Russian rocket successfully launched the 24th and final GLONASS satellite, completing the constellation and inching the infrastructure closer to full activation.

News of the iPhone 4S’ support has already elicited a delightfully surprised response from the Russian media, with daily Vedomosti writing: “If the iPhone 4S really does have Glonass navigation, this would be the first time the Russian system reached the world market.” (Nokia, it’s worth noting, announced in August that it would manufacture GLONASS-compliant handsets, while Samsung’s High Fidelity Position app offers similar compatibility.) In light of Russia’s economic and regulatory climate, however, the move may not seem so shocking. The Kremlin already imposes import taxes on handsets that don’t support GLONASS and, as Russia’s iGuides.ru points out, has even threatened non-compliant devices with an outright ban. Apple, meanwhile, has made no secret of its interest in expanding its influence within the country, with CEO Tim Cook recently referring to the Russian market as “more promising.” It remains to be seen whether this added support results in sharper navigation capabilities, or if it enhances Apple’s presence within Russia, but it’s certainly a compelling development, nonetheless.

[Thanks, AXR]

iPhone 4S supports GLONASS satellite system, much to the delight of Russia originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink 9to5Mac  |  sourceiPhones.ru (Russian), iGuides.ru  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 14

Sony Ericsson posts lower Q3 profits, will shift ‘entire portfolio’ to smartphones in 2012

Posted in: Android, business, earnings, industry, market, mobilepostcross, money, sales, smartphone, Sony Ericsson, SonyEricsson, Today's Chili, xperia
It’s been a rough couple of quarters for Sony Ericsson, but things are looking slightly rosier, according to its Q3 earnings report. Today, the company announced break even year-on-year results for the third quarter of 2011, blaming the outcome on lower profit margins and higher taxes, which rose from €12 million to €17 million over the course of a year. According to the report, net profits fell to zero this quarter after reaching €49 million ($67.26 million) during Q3 2010, while sales dropped to €1.59 billion ($2.18 billion) from €1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) last year. It’s not exactly an encouraging trend, but it’s certainly an improvement over the last quarter, when Sony Ericsson posted a net loss of €50 million. As far as its portfolio goes, the company says its Xperia smartphones now comprise 80 percent of all sales, with some 22 million handsets already shipped to consumers. President and CEO Bert Nordberg, meanwhile, confirmed that his company will focus on this market with even more intensity, next year: “We will continue to invest in the smartphone market, shifting the entire portfolio to smartphones during 2012.” You can dig through the numbers for yourself, in the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson posts lower Q3 profits, will shift ‘entire portfolio’ to smartphones in 2012

Sony Ericsson posts lower Q3 profits, will shift ‘entire portfolio’ to smartphones in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 12

Google TV 2.0: app developers get final add-on for Android SDK

Posted in: Android, android market, AndroidMarket, app, apps, developers, Google, GoogleAndroid, GoogleTv, hdpostcross, honeycomb, market, sdk, Today's Chili

If you hadn’t heard, Google TV is (over)due to get a major boost with Honeycomb and access to the Android Market. We’ve seen a few compatible apps leak out thanks to Google’s early efforts to woo developers, but it’s only now that we’re getting the final add-on for the Android SDK. It brings a couple of revisions, like better placement options for the action and navigation bars, but more importantly it delivers the message that two-point-oh is almost two-point-here.

Google TV 2.0: app developers get final add-on for Android SDK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 11

Verizon set to drop some LTE on 13 more cities November 17th

Posted in: 4G, lte, market, minipost, mobilepostcross, Today's Chili, verizon, Verizon Wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw

Get ready Little Rock, Kansas City, Cedar Rapids and the greater Providence area, because Verizon is getting ready to unleash some serious LTE on all of you. The carrier is expending its coverage by 13 more cities on November 17th, bringing the total to more than 175. That date will also see coverage expansions in five areas, including Minneapolis / St. Paul, Louisville, Grand Rapids, Pittsburgh, and Nashville. Check out a full list of new cities and the accompanying press release after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Verizon set to drop some LTE on 13 more cities November 17th

Verizon set to drop some LTE on 13 more cities November 17th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 06

ComScore: Android extends lead over Apple, holds 44 percent of smartphone market

Posted in: Android, Apple, BlackBerry, business, Google, ios, LG, market, market share, marketshare, mobile, mobilepostcross, motorola, operating system, OperatingSystem, os, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, samsung, smartphone, statistics, Today's Chili

Gather ’round, everyone, because a fresh batch of ComScore numbers has just arrived. According to the research firm, Android remains in firm control of the smartphone platform market, commanding 43.7 percent, followed by Apple (27.3 percent) and RIM (19.7 percent). In fact, Google extended its share by nearly two points over last month’s figures, while Apple’s iOS grew by just 0.3 points, but further distanced itself from RIM, which now sits 7.6 points behind. On the manufacturing side of the equation, Samsung remains top dog, accounting for 25.3 percent of all mobile subscribers (including both smartphone and feature phone users), followed by LG (21 percent) and Motorola (14 percent). Apple, meanwhile, sits a distant fourth, at 9.8 percent, followed by RIM, which rounds out the top five with 7.1 percent market share. Number crunchers can find more fodder in the full PR, after the break.

Continue reading ComScore: Android extends lead over Apple, holds 44 percent of smartphone market

ComScore: Android extends lead over Apple, holds 44 percent of smartphone market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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