Editor’s Note: Related Tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Apple Tightens The Noose On Apps For Recommending Apps, Going After Sharing And Search Tools (eu.techcrunch)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has recently taken action against apps that violate clause 2.25 of its App Review Guidelines according to PocketGamer, a rule that says no app should replicate functionality of the App Store in order to promote or offer for purchase apps other than your own.
The rules recently saw two high-profile app removals, including AppGratis and AppShopper (which subsequently returned after changes were made) but more could follow as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is not also reportedly rejecting apps that replication App Store search features, as well as social network sharing of app recommendations.
Every single BlackBerry smartphones to date has had a removable battery pack, at least that I can remember. But a new rumor suggests Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY)’s upcoming mid-range-QWERTY BlackBerry 10 handset will be the first BlackBerry smartphone ever with a fixed, non-removable battery. BlackBerry is expected to release one all-touch device and one full-QWERTY device in high-end, midrange, and entry-level tiers, with the BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 representing the top-level tier. The Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) “R10,” or the new “Curve,” as it is currently being referred to, will have a fixed, 1800mAh battery, according to a report from Chinese site bbs.dgtle.com. The report also includes a number of new images of the purported mid-range, full QWERTY device, which, based on the images, will available in a variety of colors including black, white and red.
In UAE, Nokia is King of Mobile Phones, Apple’s iPhone 4S is Most Popular Smartphone (International Business Times AU)
Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) may already pale in comparison to the rise and creative inventions of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung Electronics Co, but in the UAE, it still remains king of mobile phones, at least according to a review by the country’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). In terms of general phones or non-smartphones, it is Nokia that is lord of them all in the UAE market, where it was found that 50 per cent of all handsets registered on networks are manufactured by Nokia, the TRA report said. Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK)’s wide range of budget phones enabled it to capture a huge share of the market, the TRA report noted.
Apple Misses IPhone Customers as Global Carriers Balk (Businessweek)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is missing out on a chance to court as many as 2.8 billion new smartphone customers, many of them in Asia, as wireless-service providers balk at conditions imposed by the iPhone maker and drag their heels in signing on as partners. Apple has announced fewer than a dozen new wireless-service providers to sell the device since September 2011, leaving the total at about 240. Holdouts represent billions of would-be subscribers in countries such as China, Japan, India and Russia, said Horace Dediu, a market analyst who runs Asymco.com. Samsung Electronics Co. (005930), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s biggest smartphone rival, sells devices through almost all of the world’s 800 carriers, Asymco said.
The Next Xbox Will Still Work Without An Internet Connection (WebProNews)
One of the more controversial rumors surrounding the next Xbox is that it would require an always online Internet connection. Some rumors even said that the next Xbox can only remain offline for three minutes before interrupting a game to troubleshoot the connection. Those concerned will be happy to know then that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) won’t require an always online connection, at least for some activities, in the next Xbox. Ars Technica got its hands on an internal Microsoft email that lays out its policy regarding Internet connections on the next Xbox. It’s pointed out that the email seemingly confirms that…
…the next Xbox will route through a set-top box to deliver an Xbox-branded TV experience to consumers. It’s good then that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) won’t be forcing any kind of online connectivity on those who just want to watch TV.
Google Glass And Lending Club Signal Changes At Google (Forbes)
Last week Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) invested in Lending Club, the peer-to-peer lending platform. That’s interesting in light of how they made use of the crowd to generate ideas for Google Glass. Peer-to-peer and crowdsourcing are closely linked. Both are more human centric than enterprise centric. Both imply new business models. It’s interesting also because Google Ventures, the search engine’s venture capital arm, has become a significant investor in crowd-based projects (Google Glass is a great example of a crowdsourced project at work). Is there a fundamental change in business model behind it? With Google Glass, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has relied heavily on the crowd to generate ideas for how Glass should be used.
Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) Q10 practically sold out in Canada, Britain: Analyst (Openglobe)
The new QWERTY smartphone from Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) stable Q10 is selling well both in Canada and Britian. The second smartphone from the company having the latest operating system was released by the company in this week in the two countries. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek said that the phone is a sell out and there is limited availability in Toronto as well as a good part of U.K. The agency having “buy” rating on Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) shares said that the finding were based on checks with mobile carriers in both countries including top ones like Bell and Telus in Canada and Vodafone and Orange in Britain.
Israel says Google ‘Palestine’ page damages prospects for peace (The Guardian)
Israeli officials have reacted sternly to Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s decision last week to change the label on its home page in the occupied territories from “Palestinian territories” to “Palestine”. The deputy Israeli foreign minister, Zeev Elkin, said the move to recognize Palestine would backfire. “I think that the Google decision from the last few days is very, very problematic,” Elkin told Israel’s Army Radio, according to Reuters. “When a company like Google comes along and supports this line, it actually pushes peace further away, pushes away negotiations, and creates among the Palestinian leadership the illusion that in this manner they can achieve the result. “Without direct negotiation with us, nothing will happen.”
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Lync Server 2013-Skype federation soon (Market News Call)
The company’s communications product Lync Server 2013 will be integrated with Skype, the company it acquired. Lync Server 2013, offers a host of services right across instant messaging, presence, enterprise telephony, conferencing and collaboration features out of the box. The latest version of the product offers better integration with Microsoft office as well as a robust mobile version for the three major platforms. “Lync Server federates today with the major public IM providers such as MSN, Yahoo and AOL Instant Messenger, as well as XMPP based services like Google Talk. The genius in adding federation support for Skype is how this will significantly change the way many see the product as a solution for bridging business and consumer communications.”
Nokia to Announce Lumia 925 and Lumia 928 on May 14? (Gotta Be Mobile)
The latest Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) rumors suggest that the company may use its May 14 event to announce the Lumia 925 Windows Phone 8 smartphone, a variant of the oft-rumored Verizon-bound Lumia 928 model. The Lumia 925 has been rumored in the past to be called the Catwalk under its code name, and the device is now believed to…
…make a debut alongside the Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) Lumia 928 at the same venue. Externally, the Catwalk, or Lumia 925, will be aesthetically different than the Lumia 928. The Lumia 925 has been rumored to feature a high-end aluminum shell and will come with a thinner and lighter footprint.
The iPhone case Apple should have built: Now on sale (ZDNet)
The world’s ugliest phone cases are used to protect the world’s most beautiful mobile device. The evidence is in abundance from Midtown Manhattan to your local grocery store. There are plastic ones, purple ones, rugged ones, flimsy ones, cartooned ones, bumper ones, and just-plain-ridiculous ones. However, two guys from Florida have now crowdfunded a product to fix it. They designed a thin aluminum iPhone case that looks remarkably like something that could have come from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). In fact, this is the case Apple should have made. Called the AL13, referring to the abbreviation for aluminum in the periodic table and the fact the case only weighs 13 grams, the product has the same brushed metal look as the iPhone 5.
Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) Services Disrupted Again, Customers Furious (US Market Buzz)
Customers of Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) phones in India and some other parts in the world were not able to send messages or emails through their BlackBerry Messenger as the services of the company were disrupted for a few hours in Friday. Angry BlackBerry users left no stone unturned to share their frustration on Twitter, demanding answer from the Canadian company. Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) has stated that the services were disrupted only for some time and it was working on restoring connectivity as soon as possible. After BlackBerry users started pouring their rage out on Twitter, the company issued an apology and said that all relevant support teams are working together to find a solution to the problem.
Nokia support confirms FM receiver will be activated in the Nokia Lumia 520 (WMPoweruser.com)
The Verge claimed a month ago that an upcoming update to Windows Phone would activate the FM Radio built into the devices, and now Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) support have also confirmed in a chat that this function will indeed be coming in the future to the Nokia Lumia 520. The news is significant because, while the Qualcomm chipsets used all have FM Radio functions, unless these are connected to an antenna no software update will make it useful. It’s good to hear that Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) took the trouble to do this, even in their cheapest Windows Phone.
