Mobile and Wireless

Mobile Apps and Services Topic Center

Trends, news, analysis and reviews of mobile applications and mobile services

Inside Apple's secret plan to kill the cash register

Apple's plans for a Bluetooth 4.0-based iWallet could be the beginning of the end for the venerable cash register.
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Android in enterprises 'severely limited' by weak management support from Google

Adoption of Android devices in large businesses has been 'severely limited' because of the complexities of managing the wide variety of Android models and versions, according to research firm Gartner.

We're not waiting for Android 5 'Jelly Bean,' developers say

Despite the rumors, developers are focused on making apps -- and money -- from today's Android

Google to sell Nexus smartphones, tablets direct, report says

Google is reportedly moving to more direct sales of its Android smartphones and tablets in a move to wrest control away from wireless carriers that install their own services on Android gear or block Google apps like Google Wallet.

SAP puts its HANA in-memory database in the spotlight

SAP seems to be betting its future on its HANA in-memory database, spotlighting the technology once again at the Sapphire conference in Orlando Wednesday, announcing a slew of new applications, partnerships and functional enhancements for the system.

LightSquared's bankruptcy is a cautionary tale

After more than a year of active testing and debate over LightSquared's plan for a nationwide, wholesale 4G network, the now bankrupt company may end up as no more than a cautionary tale for mobile investors.

Voyager postpones mobile service launch, citing Web attack

Voyager Mobile, a startup promising cheap, unlimited mobile service around the U.S., has postponed the launch it planned for Tuesday, saying a malicious attack took down its website.

NetSuite rolls out commerce-as-a-service platform

NetSuite is going up against vendors such as Demandware and Venda in the market for cloud-based e-commerce platforms, announcing a new product, SuiteCommerce, during the SuiteWorld conference in San Francisco on Tuesday.

SAP lays out cloud strategy post-SuccessFactors deal

SAP announced a broad set of plans to become a player in cloud computing, spanning from a "loosely coupled suite" of business applications to data integration and PaaS (platform as a service) Tuesday during the Sapphire conference in Orlando.

Consumer love for mobile sparks discontent with Microsoft's software

Satisfaction with Microsoft's software slipped last year, part of an industrywide downturn driven by U.S. consumer discontent with traditional PC programs, a national survey said today.

Wunderkit for iPhone

Wunderkit helps you work. That's what a productivity app should do, of course, but some unnecessarily bog you down in details. In contrast, Wunderkit--a free iPhone offering from 6 Wunderkinder--makes it easy to create projects and schedule tasks. And it's better than many competing apps at recognizing the realities of the workplace.

BYOD: New animal, new taming techniques

Bottom Line

ChannelCaster for iPhone and iPad

The best news aggregation apps make it very easy for you to assemble your favorite social networks and news sources into one attractive package. ChannelCaster--a free offering for both the iPhone and iPad from OneLouder--doesn't quite measure up to that standard. At least, not yet.

Team Stream for iPhone and iPad

Sports fans have it easy nowadays. We have team blogs, websites, Twitter feeds and up-to-the-minute video clips on demand. Yet for all these conveniences, fans still have to do the legwork of subscribing to feeds or following the tweets of players or beat writers. The Team Stream and Team Stream HD apps from Bleacher Report aim to make it easier for fans to find and follow content on their favorite teams.

Backgammon NJ and FaceMe Backgammon for iPhone and iPad

Backgammon is a board game that is perfectly suited to iOS devices. The shape of the board fits the iPhone and iPad, and the gameplay--rolling dice and moving pieces--is greatly simplified when you tap to perform these tasks. Over the past few months, I've tried out a number of backgammon apps, and two stand out: Backgammon NJ (available for the iPad in a separate version called Backgammon NJ HD), and FaceMe Backgammon.

6 Ways to Use Multiple Displays With Your Laptop

Dual monitors improve productivity, but it can be hard to get laptops to use multiple displays. It's not impossible, though. Check out these six tips for connecting laptops to external monitors.

PDFpen for iPad

Mac users should be more than acquainted with PDFpen, the feature-packed PDF offering from Smile Software, that's become a credible alternative to Adobe's Acrobat PDF creation software. Now iPad owners can enjoy all that PDFpen has to offer on their devices as well.

Pinpoint your location

Reader Catherine Bailey is interested in marking her territory. She writes:

Adventure Bar Story for iPhone

Adventure Bar Story from RideonJapan looks like a classic JRPG, but with a crucial difference. You're not an adventurer who happens to take part in a cooking/crafting mini-game--you're a chef who goes on adventures to support her restaurant business. Wandering the wilderness and killing monsters yields ingredients to toss in the oven once you get back home. Characters don't gain levels through combat, but through eating the food you prepare. Your first nemesis is not an evil sorcerer, but a rival restauranteur.

Bobsled Calling for iPhone and iPad

It's tempting to treat Bobsled Calling as a variation on Skype. And while there are a lot of similarities between the two apps, there are also some crucial differences.