The list of many different places you can go to buy Amazon Kindle devices has just gotten smaller. Reuters is reporting that Walmart is dropping all things Kindle. They apparently see no need for Amazon’s devices with the likes of, say, Barnes and Noble, Sony, and others with fine products on the market. It follows a similar move by Target, which also gave a similar spiel about how the Kindle line just doesn’t fit between their many options anymore. Right away it all sounds like bitter drivel to me, and I know I’m not the only one that feels that way
Tag Archives: industry news
Six more cities also getting AT&T 4G
The other day we learned AT&T would be bringing 4G LTE to Birmingham and Memphis, but it looks like even more cities than that are set to get the high speed mobile data network. Portland, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Detroit, Sacramento, and
SIM-free Sony Xperia T could be delayed until January
Sony hasn’t managed to make it to the top three Android manufacturer list yet, but they have some great options when it comes to SIM-free devices. SIM-free Sony Xperia devices usually come very affordable, while still being very capable devices. The Xperia T is a great option for those that want a powerful device that doesn’t break the pocket, but those looking to get it unlocked might have to wait until January. According to Expansys, a popular cellphone retailer, the unlocked phone could be released as late as January, while the carrier-locked versions will be available between the 27th and 29th of September.
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs iPhone 5 – “It doesn’t take a genius”
A rather controversial advertisement has been hitting the inter webs today, with a bold statement that is bound to make some people upset. Samsung took a huge hit after losing against Apple in Northern California, but Sammy is here to prove that the war is far from over. The company’s latest ad is a direct comparison between the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S3, with the play-on-words “It doesn’t take a genius” plastered all over the top. For those that may not know, an Apple Genius is an Apple expert working at one of the company’s stores. Samsung makes reference to this, while playfully stating the idea that Samsung’s products are obviously different from Apple’s smartphones
ITC rules Apple did not violate Samsung patents
A preliminary ruling by an International Trade Commission judge has found Apple not guilty of violating Samsung-owned patents in the production of their iOS lineup. Samsung claimed that the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch infringed upon four patents covering such technologies as 3G integration, the transmission of data packets, and the integration of web surfing into a mobile device. The complaint was filed last year and sought the ban of the offending devices in the United States. The initial ruling is not the end of the road for Samsung, however. The full commission will meet in January to decide if the judge’s preliminary verdict will stand.
Amazon extends in-app purchases to physical goods
In-app purchases have been paying off for developers. They provide a middle ground between offering software at a premium price and free but ad-filled apps and games. Amazon is looking to expand the ability to monetize apps by taking in-app purchases to the next level. Using their unique position as both a retailer of digital and physical goods, the company announced alongside its new Kindle Fire lineup the ability for devs to sell physical goods using their apps as a storefront. To start, Activision will be peddling a line of toys within their game Skylanders, a console title with a mobile companion app
Google granted patent for Smart Glove
Project Glass isn’t the only augmented reality project Google happens to be working on: they’ve recently been granted a patent for what can best be called a “Smart Glove”, somewhat similar to what Tom Cruise wore in the movie
Sony Xperia Tablet S now available, will you bite?
Sony was not the best Android tablet manufacturer last year, but the company now holds power over its mobile department (previously known as Ericsson) and aims to turn it all around. The Sony Xperia Tablet S was announced at IFA 2012 with a slightly better, yet similar design and better specs. But just in case you missed it, the tablet was released yesterday, September 7, in the US. The Xperia Tablet S comes with a 1.4 GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1 GB of RAM, Android 4.0 and a 9.4-inch display; all for $399 for the base version. It won’t win any awards with those specs, but it should be a great tab for many users
Samsung says Android’s multi-touch isn’t as good as iOS’, Apple says it is
Just when you think these patent lawsuits are starting to calm down, more drama comes around. Samsung and Apple are now going at it in the Netherlands, disputing over “touch event model” multi-touch software – it basically stops users from accidentally tapping two buttons at once. According to Apple, Samsung has taken iOS’ functionality to use it on its own devices. Samsung disagrees, and throws a statement that may make Android fans raise an eyebrow. As a cry during desperate times, Samsung claims that Android’s multi-touch software simply isn’t as good as that of iOS
Should Barnes & Noble leave Android to make a Windows 8 Nook tablet?
Rumors of a new tablet from Barnes & Noble are starting to circle the internet, with an announcement said to come by late September. This is no surprise, as we are getting close to a year since the NOOK Tablet’s release. Speculations seem to favor the probability of this new tablet being a Windows 8 device, though, which is much more shocking. Microsoft and Barnes & Noble have been getting very cozy since the first-mentioned company decided to invest $605 million to step into the e-reader and college business. After the fact, it would not surprise us one bit if something like this took place. Barnes & Noble has been a relatively important player in the Android ecosystem since the release of the NOOK Color .