Mobile Computing

Eventually most of our computing efforts will go mobile (and in the cloud), but until that happens here's where we keep you up to date with the latest developments on smartphones, tablets, laptops and wireless technologies.

Samsung's new mobile memory chip combines 3GB of RAM, 32GB of flash into a single package

By Shawn Knight, February 4, 2015, 8:00 PM Filed in Mobile Computing, Electronics

Samsung has started mass producing what’s being called the industry’s first ePoP, or embedded package on package. By combining two key smartphone elements into a single package, Samsung’s solution promises to offer high-end handset makers up to 40 percent more space. …

Android 5.1 Lollipop surfaces on Android One smartphones

By Shawn Knight, February 4, 2015, 7:00 PM Filed in Mobile Computing, Software

Google has quietly launched the first major update to its newest mobile operating system. Android 5.1 Lollipop was first spotted on Google’s Android One website (references to it have since been removed) and has even shown up on some users’…

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Adware infected apps on Google Play reached millions of Android devices

By Himanshu Arora, February 4, 2015, 8:15 AM Filed in Mobile Computing, Software

Several apps available in the Google Play Store that have been downloaded by a large number of users are harboring a form of malware that waits days or weeks until turning the adware on, popping up advertisements or trying to trick users…

HTC filmed a rap video to diss its rivals and it's as bad as you think

By Shawn Knight, February 4, 2015, 7:30 AM Filed in The Web, Mobile Computing

Smartphone vendors have used all sorts of promotions and marketing gimmicks to advertise their wares but this rap video from HTC may be the strangest yet.

Smartphones, wearables and IoT devices to fuel unprecedented wireless data growth

By Shawn Knight, February 4, 2015, 6:15 AM Filed in Mobile Computing, Industry News

AT&T recently revealed that mobile data traffic on its nationwide network has increased 100,000 percent since 2007 and according to estimates from networking giant Cisco Systems, the demand for mobile data isn’t going to slow down anytime soon.

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Samsung mobile marketing chief resigns ahead of Galaxy S6 launch

By Shawn Knight, February 3, 2015, 7:45 PM Filed in Mobile Computing, Industry News

After just over a month on the job, the Samsung executive in charge of the company’s next flagship smartphone launch has abruptly resigned. Lee Sang-chul, who is currently overseeing Samsung’s Russian operations, will take over in place of the departed…

ARM announces next-generation Cortex-A72 CPU and Mali-T880 graphics

By Shawn Knight, February 3, 2015, 6:45 PM Filed in Mobile Computing, Industry News

The recipe for success as a mobile chip maker is reminds me of a formula that one of my journalism teachers often recited. He would implore us to provide more information in less time and less space. How does that…

WhatsApp voice calling becomes available to select users

By Justin Kahn, February 3, 2015, 2:45 PM Filed in Mobile Computing, The Web

Popular messaging service WhatsApp recently introduced a new desktop feature to its offerings, and now a new voice calling feature has been spotted. While announcing that it now services more than 700 million users, a select few appear to have a…

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Android 5.0 Lollipop is finally on the map with 1.6% adoption

By Himanshu Arora, February 3, 2015, 8:45 AM Filed in Software, Mobile Computing

Google has updated its Android platform versions page, and the good news is that Android 5.0 Lollipop, the company's latest version of the mobile operating system, is finally on the official radar -- as of February 2, around 1.6 percent…

Samsung teases Galaxy S6, sends press invites for Unpacked event

By Shawn Knight, February 3, 2015, 6:15 AM Filed in Mobile Computing

Samsung has issued press invitations to its next Unpacked media event in which the company is largely expected to unveil its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S6. The Korean tech giant didn’t give us much to go on in the…

Finding success in the App Store has become incredibly difficult

By Shawn Knight, February 2, 2015, 12:45 PM Filed in Apple, Mobile Computing

The amount of money being pumped into the mobile app economy is absolutely ridiculous. For the lucky few that have what it takes to get prominently featured in the charts, the payout is well worth the investment of time and…

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Lenovo ThinkPad Helix Review: A Core M tablet-laptop hybrid

FEATUREBy Tim Schiesser, February 2, 2015, 2:15 AM Filed in TechSpot, Mobile Computing

Now that low-power Intel Broadwell Core M CPUs are out, Lenovo is back with a refresh of the ThinkPad Helix, their detachable tablet-laptop hybrid. The new Helix offers a similar feature set than its predecessor, but Lenovo claims it's now 15% slimmer and will last several hours longer on battery. It's also over $500 cheaper than the original.

Google Now update adds third-party app support on Android

By Shawn Knight, February 1, 2015, 3:00 PM Filed in Mobile Computing, Software

Third-party app support has finally arrived for Google Now, the search giant’s predictive personal assistant. As of now, the Google app on Android can pull in information from 40 different apps and present them as Now cards that can be…

First look at the mid-range Samsung Galaxy A5

By Tim Schiesser, January 31, 2015, 1:00 PM Filed in Mobile Computing

Another smartphone just landed at the TechSpot labs: Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A5. The device is similar to the Galaxy Alpha we looked at last year but comes with a 64-bit capable Snapdragon 410 SoC inside the part-metal body. It's also super…

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AT&T, Dish and Verizon were among the top spenders in the FCC's wireless spectrum auction

By Shawn Knight, January 31, 2015, 9:00 AM Filed in Industry News, Mobile Computing

The Federal Communications Commission has revealed the winners of its latest wireless spectrum auction and as expected, AT&T was the biggest spender. Interestingly enough, it was Dish Network – not Verizon – that finished in second place in terms of money…

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Verizon gives in to pressure, will let users opt out of 'permacookie'

By Shawn Knight, January 30, 2015, 6:30 PM Filed in IT Security, Mobile Computing

The discovery of Verizon’s “permacookies” caused an uproar among privacy advocates and average consumers alike that the company has simply been unable to ignore. As a result, Verizon will soon allow its customers to opt out of its controversial identifier-based tracking…

Over a billion Android-powered smartphones shipped last year

By Himanshu Arora, January 30, 2015, 12:30 PM Filed in Mobile Computing, Industry News

Last year saw over a billion Android-powered smartphones being shipped worldwide, up from nearly 800 million units in 2013, making Google's smartphone OS the first ever to cross the milestone in a single year, according to a report from market…

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America's smartphone addiction fueled record-setting FCC spectrum auction

By Shawn Knight, January 29, 2015, 2:15 PM Filed in Industry News, Mobile Computing

The Federal Communications Commission’s wireless spectrum auction has come to a close following 341 rounds of bidding. The FCC had hoped to raise $10.5 billion but the cost of supporting Americans’ smartphone habit drove bids far higher than anyone anticipated. …

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Qualcomm confirms a 'large customer' won't be using its Snapdragon 810 SoC, likely Samsung

By Shawn Knight, January 29, 2015, 9:30 AM Filed in Mobile Computing, Industry News

In the fast-paced world of technology, things can change at the drop of a hat. Such appears to be the case with Qualcomm, a company that was cruising along in the smartphone industry until word got out that there might…

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Apple tied with Samsung as world's largest smartphone maker in Q4, 2014

By Himanshu Arora, January 29, 2015, 8:30 AM Filed in Apple, Mobile Computing

Led by blockbuster sales of the iPhone 6 and its larger sibling the iPhone 6 Plus, Apple tied with Samsung to become the world's largest smartphone vendor based on global shipments during the fourth quarter of 2014, according to the latest report…

Blackphone vulnerability would have let attacker read messages, steal contacts and more

By Shawn Knight, January 28, 2015, 4:30 PM Filed in IT Security, Mobile Computing

A recently patched vulnerability in Blackphone allowed hackers to circumvent its security measures, more or less giving them free roam of the device. If you can’t trust a device whose sole purpose of existence is to be secure, what can…

Dell takes a shot at Apple with refreshed M3800 mobile workstation

By Shawn Knight, January 28, 2015, 1:30 PM Filed in Hardware, Mobile Computing

Dell is using the Sundance Film Festival as the setting to unveil its latest creation, a refresh of its Precision M3800 notebook that Dell claims is the world’s thinnest and lightest true 15-inch mobile workstation. It’s also better than Apple’s…

Sony said to cut another 1,000 jobs in its smartphone division

By Himanshu Arora, January 28, 2015, 10:30 AM Filed in Mobile Computing, Industry News

Sony is planning to cut another 1,000 jobs in its money-losing smartphone division, which would mainly affect its workforce in China and Europe. The move is expected to be announced in the company's April-December earnings report, scheduled for February 4, according…

iOS 8.1.3 is now available, reduces amount of free space needed to install updates

By Shawn Knight, January 27, 2015, 4:30 PM Filed in Apple, Mobile Computing

Apple has released iOS 8.1.3 which, among other things, addresses an issue related to the amount of free space needed on a device to install over-the-air updates.

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Twitter strengthens core functionality with group direct messaging, mobile video camera

By Shawn Knight, January 27, 2015, 1:30 PM Filed in The Web, Mobile Computing

Twitter has announced a pair of new features that’ll give the microblogging platform some much-needed core functionality in the face of stiff competition.

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