Mobile Apps and Services - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Facebook blocks access to hidden iPad app

  Researchers over the weekend uncovered a Facebook app for Apple's iPad, and showed how "jailbroken" tablets could run the still-unreleased software.

• Mac security firm ships first-ever iPhone malware scanner

  A French security company known for its Mac OS X antivirus software today released the first malware-scanning app for the iPhone and iPad and iPod touch.

• Facebook reportedly readying iPad app ... finally

  The Internet is abuzz with reports that Facebook will finally come out with a dedicated iPad app.

• Google pulls more malware from Android Market

  Google removed more malware-infected applications from its Android Market last week, according to a security researcher who reported the rogue software to the company.

• Apple likely to settle iCloud trademark lawsuit, says legal expert

  An Arizona company sued Apple in federal court last week over the "iCloud" trademark, court documents show.

• Lady Gaga and the 'big head' effect in mobile apps

  Apple now has more than 350,000 apps in its App Store, offering developers a large -- and growing -- market in which to sell their wares.

• Photon smartphone heads list of 10 Motorola devices coming to Sprint

  Sprint's renewed partnership with Motorola, announced today, will result in more than 10 smartphones and tablets for sale in 2011, including Motorola's first WiMax phone for Sprint, the Photon 4G.

• Google, Samsung and Sprint probe Nexus S problems

  Sprint, Samsung and Google are investigating customer complaints about problems with Nexus S smartphone connections and the deletion of photos taken with the devices, a Sprint spokesman said.

• 1B smartphones to ship in 2015, IDC says

  Nearly 1 billion smartphones will be shipped globally in 2015, almost double the amount for all of 2011, as millions of people seek out the more powerful mobile phones that are dropping in price, market research firm IDC said.

• Apple plays customer loyalty, anti-Google cards with iCloud, say analysts

  Apple's strategy isn't about making money with iCloud, analysts said today. Instead, it's all about using the free service to keep customers and battle Google for smartphone and tablet supremacy.

• Apple offers preview of iCloud music feature

  Apple is letting customers try out one feature of its upcoming iCloud months before the service is set to debut. Late Monday, Apple made a beta of iTunes 10.3 available for downloading, and switched on "iTunes in the Cloud" for that application as well as for the iTunes apps bundled with iOS 4.3.3, the current version that powers the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

• Major damages sought in Oracle-Google patent dispute

  A new document in a year-old patent lawsuit filed by Oracle against Google over Android intellectual property suggests Oracle could be seeking huge damages from Google.

• Jobs unveils free iCloud sync, storage service

  Apple CEO Steve Jobs today took the stage at his company's annual developers conference to tout the new iOS 5, the upcoming Lion edition of Mac OS X and the firm's new cloud service, iCloud.

• Microsoft's browser share slide accelerates as IE9 fails to hold users

  Internet Explorer's usage share again dipped last month, even as Microsoft's newest browser, IE9, posted record gains, a Web metrics company said today.

• Apple launches iWork productivity apps for iPhone

  Apple today released new versions of its iWork apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch, adding support for the productivity programs to its smaller devices.