Android

iPad Users Have Downloaded 3 Billions Apps Since 2010

Apple keeps hitting new app download milestones, with the latest number being all about the iPad and its huge popularity since its initial introduction in early 2010.

Since Apple made the iPad available to purchase, a massive 3 billion apps have been downloaded from Apple's App Store for the tablet. To put that into some kind of perspective, it took the equally-as-popular iPhone a whole six months longer to reach the same milestone after the App Store's opening in 2008.

The news comes as rumors begin to circulate about what Apple could be working on for the next-generation iPad...

iOS Finishes 2011 With 52% Share of Mobile Web Browsing

Apple's iOS platform finished 2011 with a strong showing in the mobile web browsing department, with iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches combining to capture 52.1% of mobile devices accessing the web.

Apple was top of the list in 2011 with over half of all devices. Jave ME came second with 21.3% share, while Google's Android took third, coming in with a respectable 16.2% share.

The numbers, courtesy of Net Applications, show iOS actually dropping in share when compared to November (54%) and October (61.5%), although December's result was not Apple's lowest of the year...

Google Pulls Fake Siri Android App from Android Market

It seems that someone at Google has been pretty busy. You may remember how we told you about "Siri for Android," an app on Google's Android Market which claimed to be just what the name suggested.

Siri has obviously has not been ported to Android, as the app was discovered to merely be a shortcut with a Siri-like icon that pointed to Google's own built-in voice recognition engine. The app's developer also called itself "Official App," which was clearly designed to confuse people into thinking the app was, well, official.

Google has since taken note, and the offending app is now gone from the Android Market...

“Siri” Comes to Google’s Android Marketplace

Yes, you read that correctly. Siri for Android has apparently hit the Android Marketplace. A developer by the name of "Official App" has published a supposed Android version of Siri.

Apple introduced Siri alongside the iPhone 4S, and the virtual assistant has been the most talked-about feature of the new smartphone since. Does Android's version of Siri have what it takes to steal the limelight?

iPhone 4S Pushes Apple’s US Smartphone Marketshare to 29%

The iPhone 4S was met with much criticism when Apple debuted the handset back in October. Some publications have even listed the device as one of 2011's biggest flops, but sales have suggested otherwise.

In fact, according to popular marketing research firm comScore, the 4S has been so popular that it's managed to push Apple's US smartphone marketshare up more than 1% percent in the short time it's been available...

How Apple Could Make $10 for Every Android Device

The patent wars that Apple and leading Android device makers are fighting is costing a lot of money in legal fees for everyone. Intellectual property expert Kevin Rivette speculates on how Apple could stop wasting money on attorney fees, and start cashing in from Android:

Tim Cook, who took over in August when Jobs announced he would be unable to come back as CEO, has many other ways to take advantage of the company’s patent portfolio. The company could probably collect as much as $10 in royalties for every device sold, more than the amount analysts speculate Microsoft (MSFT) receives from Samsung and HTC, which use its mobile technology, said Rivette at 3LP.

Not a bad idea, except when we know that Steve Jobs swore to go on a "thermonuclear war" with Google instead of settling. There's a new boss at Apple, though...

Apple Awarded Core Multitouch Patent, Android Partners Beware

Apple had a hunch that its iPhone would be popular enough with consumers to "inspire" the competition. That's why the company was so adamant about protecting its technology in the handset, filing for over 200+ patents. But it didn't help.

Apple's legal team has seen mixed results in its ongoing patent war with Android manufacturers over the above-mentioned intellectual property. But the company was just awarded a core multi-touch patent that could turn the tide in its favor...

ICS Paper Cuts, Critiquing Android, and Attacks on Fanboyism

Most jailbreakers will recognize the hacker known as chpwn. Grant Paul is responsible for many of the most popular iOS jailbreak tweaks in Cydia, including Infinidock and Gridlock. He also helps manage sites like JailbreakQA and works on jailbreaks with the Dev Team.

Grant has started a new blog called "ICS Paper Cuts." His site is dedicated to critiquing the Android platform, particularly the recent 4.0 version, Ice Cream Sandwich. Needless to say, he's been dealing with plenty of hate for his critiques of the operating system's design and usability.

iPhone’s US and UK Share Grows, Rest of Europe Turning to Android

A new report from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech today claims that the iPhone 4S is responsible for a growth in market share for Apple's iPhone in both the UK and US, with consumers rushing out to pick up Apple's latest tech.

The situation is not quite so rosy in some of Apple's other European markets, though, with some seeing a reduction in iPhone demand, rather than the usual increase.

It is better news Down Under, however, with Australia seeing strong iPhone demand and the 4S continuing to "fly off the shelf" as we close in on the end of 2011...

HTC Announces It’s Completed Patent Workaround

Apple received its first big win earlier this week in its ongoing patent war with Android manufacturers. The International Trade Commission ruled in favor of the iPhone-makers in its patent infringement lawsuit against HTC.

The ITC's decision was expected to have major ramifications for the Taiwanese company because it banned several products from the United States. But as it turns out, HTC may not lose much business (if any at all) due to the ruling...

HTC Already Working to Remove Patent-Infringing Apple Feature From Its Devices

Apple's recent court victory that saw the International Trade Commission ban HTC smartphones from sale in the United States may not be as useful as we originally thought.

HTC's Chief Executive Peter Chou shared today that his company is already hard at work removing or altering the functionality that the ITC deemed as violating one of Apple's patents. The patent was in relation to technology which allows software to recognise data such as phone numbers or addresses and then format them as tappable links.

HTC, for its part, believes that the technology is rarely used in their software, and that its removal will have little impact on the overall experience of using its products...

Football Fans Will be Able to Watch the Super Bowl on their iPads and iPhones

Apple iPhone and iPad-toting football fans will be able to watch the Super Bowl streamed live to their devices according to Electronista.

The NFL has finally given the go-ahead for the streaming service to go live this year, with the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl being made available online on iOS devices and Android hardware.

NBC will provide the streaming service, as will the NFL's mobile applications, both of which will offer an improved experience when compared to their traditional television counterpart, thanks to multiple camera angles and other extras being made available...