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Mobile Breaking News You May Have Missed, March 2013

March 29, 2013 by jenn Leave a Comment

Once in a while a blog or media outlet will post a little blurb about this newfangled “mobile technology” stuff. We kid! There are hundreds of important, interesting, fun and just plain cool mobile stories out there every day. Since mobile is our wheelhouse at Handset Detection, we thought we’d make it a point to round up the ones you don’t want to miss. Check back every Friday for the weekly roundup!

1. The Blackberry Recovery

Blackberry’s Hail Mary pass seems to have worked as they made over $94 million revenue and shipped over 1 million Blackberry 10 devices in Q4. Whether or not this upswing stays is another thing, but this is a good sign for the company.

2. Cheap iPhone Rumor #83297489

It’s happening, it’s not happening – every day or so the story changes. The latest rumor has the cheap version of the iPhone coming out in August. Is it true? We’ll just have to wait and see.

3. Nexus 5 – Too Much Too Soon?

Excited about the Nexus 5? Think it’s going to be the greatest thing since the Nexus 4? You might be a little premature, in that literally everything you’ve heard may be completely untrue.

4. Lockscreen Security Bug

Smartphones are having some security issues, and one of the latest in March was the lockscreen security bug with Samsung Android phones. The exploit lets sneaky people into your phone with a series of spy-worthy button presses.

5. Car Apps

Tired of playing with apps on your tablet or phone? In a few years you’ll be able to play Angry Birds 19 with an app in your car! Looks like we have some work to do when customers start shopping at your store from their windshield…

6. White House on Unlocking Phones

Surprises all around when not only did a petition to the White House to investigate unlocking phones get enough signatures but the White House actually agreed customers should be able to do so! Next step: an investigation, and what it means for businesses everywhere.

7. LTE on its Way

T-Mobile announced earlier this month the LTE is on its way, and by the time you read this they should be around the country. They’ve also included a nice update on the Galaxy Note 2 software updates.

8. Google Glass Apps

More information is coming out about Google Glass, including the programs and apps it will run. Power hitters like Gmail (obviously), New York Times, and Evernote are some of the first to announce support. Who knows what’s to come in the future?

9. Wireless Charging

Plugging in your phone to charge is and always will be a pain. Luckily several companies out there are plugging away at creating the proper tech for wireless charging, with one company sponsored by none other than AT&T.

10. Hate Your Phone?

Do you hate your mobile device? You’re certainly not alone, at least according to mobile video service Vuclip. A survey of more than 120,000 users revealed 48% of people hate their current device. With so many options out there, it may just be a case of “grass is greener.”

Did we miss any big news from March? Let us know in the comments!

Filed Under: Mobile News Tagged With: Amazon, Android, Apple, Blackberry, Blackberry 10, Google, handsets, iPhone, iPhone 5, LTE, mobile, mobile news, tablets, what you missed in mobile this week

The Holiday Season in 2013

January 9, 2013 by jenn Leave a Comment

Ok, wait a second. We’re just now reaching the end of the holiday season of 2012. Why are we talking about next year’s holiday season already? Can’t we have at least a few days of peace for crying out loud?

Well, we’re not trying to make you start preparing a year in advance or anything. However, there’s one thing that’s guaranteed in 2013 that you can prepare for all throughout the year: an increase in mobile sales.

Every year the numbers for online sales go up and handset sales go up right with them. 2012 was the biggest year for mcommerce with smartphones alone contributing to a 221% rise on Thanksgiving Day. There’s no indication the trend will cease in 2013. So now’s the time to get ready for it!

The Rising Trend

Why is mobile commerce becoming more of a big deal as time goes by? Consumers are less interested in hanging around their house or office while shopping on a dusty ol’ laptop now that their handheld devices are just as effective for browsing. In fact, the very act of going outside may be contributing to the trend.

For example, if you’re walking around a park on a bright sunny day and see someone with a unique dog leash, you may ask them about it. They tell you it’s the PuppyTron 5000 and it comes with a free dog bone dispenser. Normally, you’d have to head back home, remember the name of the leash, and buy it – if you recall the conversation at all.

Now that you have your mini-computers with you at all times, you simply whip out your smartphone and pull up the website for the leash. Boom, you have it, and you go on with your day. People make snap decisions, and that’s easier if you have the “store” right in front of you always.

Preparing for Holidays in 2013

Ok, that’s all fine and dandy, but what’s that got to do with the holiday season next year? It’s literally a year away!

You say that now, but that will quickly change. Soon after this goes up Christmas will have passed and you’ll be focusing on post-Christmas issues like returns and lost product. Then, the first couple months of 2013 will be spent dealing with beginning of year problems and figuring out taxes.

Suddenly it’s summertime, and you notice everyone around you is talking about what they’re going to do for Christmas. There’s no denying the holidays are seeping more and more into the rest of the year, and businesses need to keep up or fall by the wayside.

You may not want to think you’re already dealing with next year’s holidays, so focus instead on what makes your store marketable towards your mobile customers instead. When Holiday Bonanza 2013 rolls around, you’ll be more prepared than if you just pretended they were so far off you didn’t have to worry about them!

Filed Under: Mobile Cool Tagged With: Amazon, Android, Apple, Blackberry, ecommerce, Google, handsets, iPad Mini, iPhone, iPhone 5, mcommerce, mobile, mobile browsing, mobile device, mobile devices, tablets

Mobile Breaking News You May Have Missed 1/03/12

January 4, 2013 by jenn Leave a Comment

1. Google Glass in 2013?

Google says their augmented reality glasses will hit this year. However, the feature set is “still in flux” according to some experts and the effects of the glasses on the eye are up in the air. Still, it’s a step forward to truly never having to talk to another human being in person ever again, which is what we’re all working towards, right? Right?

2. Step on Your Battery

Want to recharge your phone battery? Stomp on it! Wait, wait, don’t do it yet, because the technology to recharge a battery by abusing it is still being developed at Georgia Tech. The technology may effectively change the recharger market forever in the future, though.

3. Nexus 4 “Sells Out”

Sure, the Nexus 4 is sold out everywhere, but sales may or may not be all that great. T-Mobile has started restocking shelves, but it may only be because the company was unprepared for the onslaught.

4. Samsung & Android on Top in USA

Apple had a great quarter due to sales of the iPhone 5, but Android still owns the US right now with almost 54% of smartphone sales. Samsung is having a great quarter as well with almost 27% of the smartphone population using a Samsung device.

5. App Development Costs

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to build an app? One of the major factors is cost – but how much does it actually cost to make an app? This infographic can give you an idea, though the final answer will be up to you!

6. Tech 150 Years in the Future

What will the world be like in 2163? Oh, wait, they’re looking at 2150, which is actually 137 years in the future…hmmm. Well, anyway, an interesting look at what could tech be out in the next 150 or so years, including cloning, the singularity, and Half Life 3.

7. iPhone 5S Colors

The iPhone 5S (or 6 or whatever) will possibly come in June, so what can we expect? Well, for one, tons of color options, plus an improved battery, a new camera, and tons of storage.

8. Blackberry Curve 9315

Want an affordable Blackberry for your T-Mobile service? You could pick up the Curve 9315…even though it’s actually just a rebranded Curve 9310, made to look “affordable” before Blackberry 10 hits (potentially) soon.

Did we miss any mobile news from the past week? Let us know in the comments!

Filed Under: Mobile News Tagged With: Amazon, Android, Apple, Blackberry, ecommerce, handsets, iPad Mini, mobile, mobile apps, mobile news, RIM, Samsung, tablet, tablets, TMobile, what you missed in mobile this week

How Engage:BDR Solved the Analytics Puzzle with Handset Detection

November 6, 2012 by jenn 1 Comment

Engage:BDR is an international display ad network that offers advertisers marketing solutions fully integrated with the latest technology and branded entertainment. They offer clients a full service and self-service ad network, a mobile/video network, and an advertiser network ad server they license out in order to drive performance.

However, as wonderful as the web analytics they offered their clients were, Engage:BDR didn’t have a solution on hand for reporting which mobile handsets were accessing their clients’ sites. So they decided to hit Google and see what came up.

As engage:BDR accelerated its mobile strategy, it looked to Handset Detection to help report which mobile handsets were accessing their clients sites.

“We discovered Handset Detection about 6 months ago when we first started setting up the mobile side of our platform,” said Ted Dhanik, president, engage:BDR. “We use them in our self-serve mobile platform so advertisers can target specific kinds of handsets when they are buying media.”

“Handset targeting is a prerequisite to using any platform to buy mobile. Handset Detection is providing industry leading targeting that helps us in every mobile campaign we perform for our clients,” he continues.

In fact, that’s exactly how we at Handset Detection got our start – we just couldn’t keep up with mobile device detection and realized that doing so would require a whole separate company.

We hope you’ll follow Engage:BDR’s example for when you need mobile device detection for your company. Just head to our website at handsetdetection.com.

Filed Under: Mobile Cool Tagged With: Amazon, Android, Apple, Blackberry, device detection, engage, engage bdr, Handset Detection, iPhone, mcommerce, mobile device detection, mobile devices

Mobile Breaking News You May Have Missed 10/19/12

October 19, 2012 by jenn Leave a Comment

1. iPad Mini Coming Next Week

Ready for the iPad Mini? If not, too bad, as it’s hitting the shelves next week according to Reuters. Sources say the Mini is less about making money and more about keeping competitors from dominating any aspect of the market.

2. Facebook Offering Money for Mobile Signups

In football (soccer to you Yanks) the team that wins is often the one that doesn’t stop pushing for results. Facebook must follow the same philosophy as the company isn’t satisfied with 1 billion customers – they want another billion, and are offering $1 for Facebook mobile signups in India.

3. Apple Patents Cool Things

Two big Apple patents to potentially bring cool stuff – one is echolocation, which determines how close the iPhone is near your face and other objects for better sound and pickup, the other is text to speech voice that uses contextual data to speak in your dialect!

4. Acer Iconia Tab A110 for $230

Acer unveiled the Iconia Tab A110 to compete with the Nexus 7. The tablet goes for just $230 so it’s not exactly a powerhouse but great for those looking for a cheaper alternative.

5. Another Nexus?

Leaked photos of a supposed “Nexus X” caused an uproar, especially since how close the phone looks to the Xperia ion and Xperia T. However, the pics could be totally fraudulent, so it remains to be seen if this is for real or not.

6. Quick Settings on Android 4.2

Will there be a “Quick Settings” feature for 4.2 users? A video showed this feature which nobody knows exactly what it means or does. Speculation includes Wi-Fi and display/brightness settings.

7. Global Smartphones Pass 1 Billion

Smartphone users now number over 1 billion, which took 16 years. Projections say the next billion could come in as short a time as three years, in 2015!

8. Sprint Takes Majority Share of Clearwire

While Sprint is getting bought out by Japanese company Softbank, they’re not exactly lying down in the mobile world either. They recently gained majority share of struggling provider Clearwire, which has plan to roll out the 4G TD-LTE network in the US next year.

9. Samsung Galaxy SIII Drops to $99

To better compete with the Droid Razr HD and HD Maxx Hit VZW, Amazon has dropped the price of the Galaxy SIII to $99 on Verizon and Sprint. The holiday war for your bucks has definitely begun in mobile world!

10. Disappearing Apps

A great opinion piece about technology and apps – while we in the business care about all the new devices and constant flow of apps, the public at large only want stuff that works for them! A very important reminder what we’re all in this for.

Did we miss any big news in mobile this week? Let us know in the comments!

Filed Under: Mobile News Tagged With: Amazon, Android, Apple, Blackberry, device detection, Google, Handset Detection, iPad Mini, mobile, mobile apps, mobile devices, mobile news, Samsung, what you missed in mobile this week

Mobile News You May Have Missed This Week 9/14/12

September 14, 2012 by jenn Leave a Comment

1. Apple Rewind

Did you miss the Apple announcements yesterday? Fear not – the entire thing is online! Watch for updates on the new iPhone, iPod, iTunes, and iEverythingelse!

2. Patent Wars!

The Samsung/Apple/Google patent issues are just the tip of the iceberg. If we’re talking about patenting round corners, what on earth ELSE can we patent?

3. Patches for Android

There’s a 1 in 2 chance your Android device needs patching says Duo Security. Malware filled apps are on the rise and more than likely you’ve gotten a bad one at some point.

4. Hotspots for All – Except for iPhones

More than 4000 hotspots are soon to appear in the world courtesy of Boingo and Google. However, if you have an iPhone – tough luck! It’s easy to imagine this is a blowback from the recent lawsuit.

5. More Siri Leavings

Quietly, another developer for Siri left Apple. This leaves only one Siri co-founder left at Apple. No real details are available yet, but what could this mean for Siri and will they form a new company?

6. Wearable Comps

Google’s Project Glass is just the start, says Singularity Hub. This is the damn of “wearable computing” that will surely transition into computers integrated into our very biology! I don’t know about you, but at this point I’d settle for a wearable charger.

7. Skip Ads for a Price

Tired of ads on your Kindle Fire? Now you can skip them…for a fee. Pay $15 and you’re good to go. Amazon initially balked at the idea, but customer complaints finally made them change their mind.

8. Nintendo Wii U Coming Soon

Look for the next gen Nintendo system to come November 18^th, starting at $299.99. The system features the tablet-esque controller and Nintendo TVii, which promises to be a new way to watch and engage with your favorite programs.

9. Galaxy S III to get Jelly Bean in the Fall

While some hoped the Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy S III would come this month, it’s now looking more like October/November will be the release date. This date will also see the Ace 2 i8160 and Galaxy S Advance i9070 get an update to Jelly Bean.

10. Toys ‘r Us Tablet

While all the talk is about the new iPhone and patent issues, Toys ‘r Us announced they are launching a tablet just for kids! It comes out on Monday and focuses on entertainment and education. Plus, it runs on Ice Cream Sandwich!

Did we miss any big mobile news this week? Let us know in the comments!

Filed Under: Mobile News Tagged With: Amazon, Android, Apple, iPhone 5, Jelly Bean, Kindle Fire, mobile news, Nintendo Wii U, Samsung, Siri, tablets, wireless news

9 Things You May Have Missed in Mobile this Week 7/27/12

July 27, 2012 by jenn Leave a Comment

1. Facebook Smartphone?

Instead of fixing their always broken mobile app, Facebook has decided to just release their own phone! Well, maybe, if the rumors are to be believed. We have to admit – a phone designed around social interaction could be interesting if done right. [Update: Not gonna happen! Zuckerberg put the kibosh on that rumor.)

2. NYT Kills RIM App

Ouch. If the news about RIM and Blackberry wasn’t bad enough, now word comes that the New York Times has tabled their app for now. They say they may bring it back for Blackberry 10, but it doesn’t take a crack reporter to figure out that’s largely dependent on how the phone does.

3. Google Fiber

Google has announced plans to bring the Internet to, well, everywhere. Google Fiber would allow users to download at 1 GB a SECOND for $70 a month or keep regular speeds for no monthly fee. The trial will start in Kansas City but keep an eye out for further updates!

4. Don’t Call it an App Store

Apple doesn’t mind if you sell apps, but it sure objects to anyone else using the term “app store!” They’re going after Amazon for such an infraction saying they have dominion over the term. Considering that Amazon’s app store is, in fact, a store for apps, it remains to be seen how this will play out.

5. Samsung Trounces Apple

Perhaps an explanation for the above story is Apple’s recent loss to Samsung in the smartphone world. In fact, Samsung’s numbers are literally double Apple’s, though the figures may be skewed due to no difference between sold vs. shipped phones. Still, they can’t be happy either way.

6. Smartphone Buyer’s Guide

Want a new smartphone but really lost when it comes to all the options you have? Check out Engadget’s handy smartphone buyer’s guide – it’s a breakdown of everything you need to know, including keyboards, download speed, and cost effectiveness.

7. HTC One X Camera Specs

Cameras on smartphones continue to get more sophisticated and the HTC One X is the latest in in the line of innovation. It has two cameras; one 8 megapixel in the back and a 1.3 megapixel in the front. Plus, you can take up to ten photos per second!

8. 2012 Most Influential Women in Wireless

Fierce Wireless released its list of the most influential women in wireless, and there are some real power hitters here. Reps from T-Mobile, Verizon, and Cisco show up with a surprise guest from Sheryl Sandberg of…Facebook?

9. Spy vs. Spy

Our older readers will undoubtedly be more excited about this, but Spy vs. Spy is coming to the iPhone! Now you can hide bombs and booby trap safes anywhere you go. The coolest part is you can play the upgraded version or a “retro” version.

And on that note…

Filed Under: Mobile News Tagged With: Amazon, App Store, Apple, Facebook, Google, Google Fiber, HTC, mobile news, RIM, Samsung, what you missed in mobile this week

10 Things You May Have Missed in Mobile this Week

July 13, 2012 by jenn Leave a Comment

1. Amazon to Release Smartphone

Since the Kindle Fire was a fairly successful experiment in the tablet industry, Amazon has gone after the mobile arena with the announcement of a smartphone in works. The fight is fiercer in the mobile sector, though, and Amazon may have a tough time breaking in.

2. Phone Surveillance Request Numbers

We generally hear when a carrier reveals sensitive customer information to a government agency (or do we?). But how often are they asked to hand over that info? Congressman Edward Markey wanted to know, and the numbers he got as an answer may shock and horrify you.

3. Pay Phones into Hotspots

What a great idea: New York City wanted to do something with their now useless pay phones, so they’re turning them into free wi-fi hotspots. There will be 10 locations in various areas of NYC and they’ll have a range of roughly 200 feet.

4. Is this the 2012 iPhone?

A picture of the new iPhone has possibly leaked, and boy is it…tall! Way more screen means a better view and more room to work with apps. But if it the 4S barely fits in your pocket now, better hold onto it for a while or invest in new pants.

5. A Purely Gaming Smartphone

Pretty much all smartphones have some sort of games available to them, but ZTE is releasing a smartphone that’s all about gaming, much like Sony’s Xperia Play released last year. ZTE’s gaming smartphone will likely have a tough time with consumers like the Play did, though. In any case, look for it on July 18^th.

6. Samsung Galaxy Note Due in August…Maybe

Well, July 11^th has come and gone, and still no Galaxy Note smartphone. Now the “super-sized” phone might be released in August. No reason was given for the delay, which is especially strange since the phone has been approved by the FCC and accessories are already available.

7. Rovio Releases Angry Bi…Wait, a New Game?

Instead of launching the angry birds into a new dimension or whatever (where do you go after launching them into bloody space?), Rovio has finally launched a 100% brand new game called Amazing Alex. Will it be as big of a deal on the mobile/tablet market as those irritated fowl were?

8. Starbucks Extends Mobile Payments

It’s not just for the States anymore – now you can order a slightly overpriced cup of joe with just your smartphone in the UK and Canada. No word if it comes with a shot of espresso… or to Australia, home of Handset Detection.

9. Microsoft + Blackberry = ???

RIM is in pretty serious trouble, so what would the Blackberry look like if Microsoft bought them out? A designer took that idea and ran with it, and the final design isn’t half bad honestly.

10. Smartphone Users Want Security

More than apps, features, and voice recognition, what do smartphone users want? Security, at least according to a poll by Snap MyLife. An overwhelming 76% of users said they value their privacy over everything else. Is this a marketing angle missed by the phone makers?

Filed Under: Mobile News Tagged With: Amazon, Blackberry, microsoft, mobile news, mobile payments, Rovio, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy, smartphone, things you might have missed in mobile this week