Mobile and Wireless

Mobile Apps and Services Topic Center

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

FAQ: WOA vs. x86, which Windows tablet to pick?

Which Windows tablet makes sense -- the upcoming ARM-based devices that might include Office apps for free or x86-based Windows 8 tablets? Matt Hamblen walks you through some of the pros and cons.
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FAQ: Windows on ARM explained

In an 8,600-word epistle, Microsoft's top Windows executive pulled aside the curtain on the first version of the company's iconic OS that targets tablets. We dig into the details for you.

Motorola Mobility fails to make patent case against Apple in German court

A German court has thrown out a Motorola Mobility patent lawsuit against Apple, breaking a recent run of courtroom successes for the company.

Windows 8 on ARM, dubbed WOA, to include Office apps for tablets

Windows 8 on ARM, dubbed WOA by Microsoft, could offer a big 'Whoa!' moment for workers wanting to run Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and other Office apps on a touchscreen tablet.

Google, Microsoft and Apple letters aim to keep regulators at bay

As patent infringement lawsuits continue to pile up in the mobile industry, Google, Apple and Microsoft appear to be trying individually to reassure regulators and standards bodies that they won't use their patents to build a monopoly, experts said.

March debut of 'iPad 3' a sure bet, says analyst

Apple will introduce a new iPad the first full week of March, and will start selling it the following week, according to reports and industry analyst expectations.

Oracle buying Taleo for $1.9B in direct hit at SAP

Oracle is buying cloud-based talent management and employee recruitment software vendor Taleo for roughly $1.9 billion, the company announced Thursday. The move comes shortly after SAP's move to acquire SuccessFactors, a close competitor of Taleo, for $3.4 billion in a deal that has yet to close.

Phoenix Suns deploy Galaxy Tab 10.1 for use on and off the court

The Phoenix Suns have deployed more than 100 Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets over Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network for use by the team's business personnel, players and managers in the current basketball season.

Salesforce.com shakes up Standard support plan features

Salesforce.com has made a series of changes to its support services that include the removal of certain features from the Standard tier, but which the company says overall will provide a better experience for customers.

New social site Pinterest attracts enthusiasm, scrutiny

Just as it enjoys an initial surge of popularity, a new social networking site called Pinterest is also experiencing its first bout of controversy. Observers are accusing the site of secretly embedding code in user content to generate revenue.

Election fever: 6 mobile apps that can keep you informed

The race to the U.S. presidency is on, and there are mobile apps out there to help keep you informed. We review 6 iOS and Android apps to see how well they do the job.

Flexing NoSQL: MongoDB in review

MongoDB shines with broad programming language support, SQL-like queries, and out-of-the-box scaling

Smartphone data shake-up: The end of 'unlimited'

Now that most smartphone plans offer only tiered plans (rather than unlimited data usage), how close are you to pushing past your limit -- and paying more than you want?

Send Faxes From the Web: Three Services Tested

Though you might be tempted to ditch your office fax machine, you probably have to send out at least a few faxes every year. Windows lets you fax from the OS itself; but it requires you to use a landline that your small business may not want tied up, and it lacks security and mobile features that your business may need.

Evernote vs. OneNote: Note-Taking Apps Showdown

Among the many options for storing information digitally, the biggest players in the note-taking software market are OneNote and Evernote. These applications come in handy for taking notes, making lists, managing projects, storing and organizing information, and sharing it with others.

Expo Notes: more work tools for the iPad

I met with a bunch of the vendors at Macworld | iWorld who are touting tools they say will make iPads and iPhones better business tools. Two in particular stood out.

Holding out for an ePub hero

Against my better judgment, I let myself get swept up by the wave of e-publishing rumors in the days leading up to Apple's education-themed announcement. Apple could do it, I thought to myself. The company had both the resources to build a great tool, and the reasons to do so.

Apple's new vision of education

Apple made it clear this week that one of the industries it hopes to reinvent is education -- an area in which the company has a long history. Columnist Ryan Faas explains what Apple has in mind for schools.

Apple's textbook plan feels like a blast from the past

I had to check that my computer wasn't an old black-and-white television set showing blocky white text Thursday morning and that I wasn't clacking away on a 6502 computer over a 110-baud modem when I heard about Apple's announcements relating to iBooks 2, iBooks Author, and its new multimedia textbooks. That's because I've heard it all before.

When new apps and old iOS devices don't mix

Reader Steve Paulson finds that old and new iOS devices don't always mix in pleasing ways. He writes: