Android OS - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Facebook reveals 'Home' software for Android phones

  Facebook has released new software for Android phones that gives quick access to Facebook services and aims to further boost use of the social network on mobile devices.

• Mozilla, Google, Opera introduce new Web browser engines

  There could be big changes coming to the fiddly and sometimes annoying Web browsing experience on cellphones.

• Google+ Sign-In feature expands with Janrain, Gigya integration

  Google is aiming to expand the reach of users' Google+ profiles and social data across the Web through new partnerships with Janrain and Gigya.

• Facebook woos serious gamers

  If 2012 was the year of arcade, casino and hidden object games on Facebook, such as "Diamond Dash," "Bubble Witch Saga" and "Bubble Safari," the social network hopes 2013 will be the year of more immersive, strategy-oriented games.

• 'Android' watchmaker Oko sues Google for trademark infringement

  Just as rumors begin to surface that Google is getting into the smartwatch game, Oko International, the maker of a wide range of watches and timepieces sold under the brand name 'Android,' is suing the company for trademark infringement.

• Temporary fixes released for Samsung Android lock-screen glitch

  Two security vendors have released temporary fixes for a flaw in some Samsung Android phones that could allow an attacker to bypass a locked screen.

• Google launches Keep for personal notes

  Google is looking to replace physical sticky notes with Keep, a new product designed for storing notes and other pieces of information.

• Citrix adds editing capabilities to ShareFile, updates Podio mobile apps

  Citrix Systems has upgraded its Podio applications for Android and iOS, as well as the ShareFile app for the latter, which can now be used to edit Microsoft Office documents.

• Twitter gives small businesses more advertising options

  Twitter is beefing up its self-service ad platform to give smaller businesses more targeting and analytics tools to reach potential customers on the site.

• Addressing Android's fragmentation seen as first job for Google's Pichai

  Google's decision to bring its Android and Chrome divisions together under Sundar Pichai should result in greater work between the two platforms, but Pichai first needs to rein in the fast expanding operating system and bring some order to the business, analysts said Wednesday.

• Galaxy S IV launch sets stage for cutthroat 2013 smartphone battle

  The launch of Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S IV will set the stage for this year's battle for smartphone market share. Competitors such as HTC and Sony will face an uphill battle, even if they release great products, according to analysts.

• iOS will surrender top tablet spot to Android in 2013, says IDC

  Aggressive sales of smaller tablets triggered a revised tablet sales forecast today by IDC, which upped its projections by 11 per cent for 2013 and said Android would supplant Apple's iOS as the dominant operating system this year.

• Second Apple-Samsung lawsuit in California to go ahead

  A judge in California has ruled that a patent infringement lawsuit between Apple and Samsung Electronics will continue, after indicating earlier that she would like to put the case on hold pending resolution of an appeal in another patent dispute between the two companies before the same court.

• At SXSW, techies dish anonymously with GhostPost

  Could anonymous chat be the next big thing? At this year's South by Southwest Interactive, the place that helped put Twitter and FourSquare on the map, a fledgling app for anonymous chatting is gaining some traction.

• Thread app aims to modernize caller ID on smartphones

  Brooklyn-based Sprezzat wants to modernize caller ID for people's smartphones with a little help from Twitter and Facebook.