mobile phones

Digital Trends – Market analysis firm Strategy Analytics has released its analysis of the worldwide tablet market during the fourth quarter of 2011, and finds that while the Apple iPad continues to dominate with a 58 percent share, Android tablets are catching up, accounting for 39 percent of the market. And even Windows tablets put in an appearance, accounting for roughly one percent of the global market. The figures represent a solid year-on-year improvement for Android, which Strategy Analytics pegged at holding 29 percent of the tablet market a year ago.

Digital Trends – Market analysis firm Strategy Analytics has released its analysis of the worldwide tablet market during the fourth quarter of 2011, and finds that while the Apple iPad continues to dominate with a 58 percent share, Android tablets are catching up, accounting for 39 percent of the market. And even Windows tablets put in an appearance, accounting for roughly one percent of the global market. The figures represent a solid year-on-year improvement for Android, which Strategy Analytics pegged at holding 29 percent of the tablet market a year ago.

Appolicious – Yes, your smartphone sometimes causes you embarrassment. Think unrecognized voice commands, text sent to the wrong recipient and so on. But with apps like RingDimmer, it can also be your salvation.

Digital Trends – Nokia is seeing some good initial success from its transition to exclusively supporting Windows Phone for its high-end handsets. Initial sales of the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710, Nokiaâ??s first 2 Windows Phones, are likely hovering around 1.3 million units, according to Bloomberg. This is, of course, unverified data, but for 2 handsets that only launched in November, thatâ??s not bad. Add in the fact that Windows Phone is not a well known or sought-after OS yet and the fact that Nokia only just launched its first device in the US a week or 2 ago, and the numbers are all the more impressive.

Reuters – Sony Ericsson (6758.T) (ERICb.ST) was sucked back into a loss in 2011 by an industry slowdown and cut-throat competition, leaving new owner Sony facing an uphill struggle to join the top tier of handset providers.

AP – A United Nations telecom meeting has approved the next generation of mobile technology, which experts say will make devices 500 times faster than 3G smartphones and eliminate the wait time between the tap of a finger and the appearance of a Web page.

Digital Trends – The Apple iPhone 4S is a hit, if the new numbers from market research firm Nielsen are any indication. During the final 3 months of 2011, 44.5 percent of respondents purchased an iPhone 4S. Thatâ??s up from just 25.1 percent who went with an iPhone in October. This boost in sales helped Apple steal market share from the still-dominant Android during the fourth quarter of 2011.

Appolicious – The Wikimedia Foundation has finally released an official Wikipedia app for the Android Market, and just in time, too. The mobile version of Wikipedia was one of the few ways you could access the popular Wiki’s content during its site black out, part of the Foundation’s protest against the proposed SOPA bill.? Airbnb also had a notable launch this week, giving you a mobile outlet for listing and searching homes for short-term stays.

Digital Trends – Motorolaâ??s Droid Razr, one of Verizonâ??s high-end 4G smartphones, now costs $100 less than it used to â?? but those savings come at a price. At the $300 price point, the Droid Razr came with 32GB of internal storage. Now, itâ??s down to just 16GB, thanks to the removal of an included 16GB microSD card. The $300 package is no longer available.

Appolicious – Android is an increasingly popular platform for the gaming industry, even attracting interest from venture capitalists. Bionic Panda video games is the latest startup to receive funding, with seed financing from SoftTech VC, Norwest Venture Partners, Google Ventures, 500 Startups and angels Craig Sherman and Kal Vepuri. Bionic Panda has proven successful with the hit video game Aqua Pets, reaching more than 3 million downloads as a top-grossing app in the Android Market. …

Appolicious – Google has a lot invested in its Android platform, and regularly finds new ways to help its developer community. The latest offering is a much needed one. Google launched an Android style guide in an effort to improve Android app design and user interfaces. The new style guide is actually a site, with step-by-step instructions and documentation for the development and publication of apps. There’s suggestions on how to utilize images, and other recommendations on engaging the end user.

Reuters – Microsoft Corp is starting the new year much as it did the one just ended – grappling with weak computer sales tearing a hole in its core Windows business, while it gropes its way slowly into the faster-growing mobile phone and tablet markets.

Appolicious – There are tons of addictive video games for the iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones and tablet devices that won’t cost you a dime.

Appolicious – Connected TVs were a highlight at CES this week, so it is not surprising to see so many media-related apps heading to the Android Market. This week brought the launch of TiVo’s Android app for managing your television programs and recordings, while DirecTV teamed up with Thuuz to offer sports alerts on the go. You can create your own video content with Vimeo’s new Android app, or get paid for being a couch potato with SwagBucks. Here’s this week’s top Android apps.

AP – It’s the dreaded sound at any live performance — a ringing cellphone.

Appolicious – Whether you got your first smartphone or tablet over the holidays or are an experienced user, there are plenty of great new mobile applications for iPhones, iPads and Android devices to tap into.

Reuters – Ilan Ben-Dov plans to step down as chairman of Partner Communications , Israel’s second largest mobile phone operator, the company said on Sunday.

Reuters – The Algeria state announced on Sunday it will acquire a 51 percent stake in Vimpelcom’s Djezzy mobile phone unit and keep Vimpelcom on as operator, but it has still not decided how much it will pay for the stake.

Appolicious – Learn how to cook something new this year and you might as well start with the perfect plate of pasta using Mister Spaghetti. For fun, check out Blobby Volleyball or Bingo Heaven HD.

Reuters – Global mobile phone shipments is likely to grow at a much slower pace of 2 percent this year as customers hold back on new phone purchases, Credit Suisse said.