InformationWeek Stories by Eric Zeman

InformationWeek Stories by Eric Zemanhttp://www.informationweek.comInformationWeeken-usCopyright 2012, UBM LLC.2013-01-03T11:29:00ZNexus 4 Availability Expands, But Total Sales UnclearT-Mobile restocks Google's hot Nexus 4 smartphone, but the device's "sold-out" status might not be as impressive as you think.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/nexus-4-availability-expands-but-sales-q/240145463?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/best-android-apps-of-2012/240144458"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/928/01_Android_apps_tn.jpg" alt="10 Best Android Apps Of 2012" title="10 Best Android Apps Of 2012" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">10 Best Android Apps Of 2012</div>(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>  One of the hottest smartphones during the last two months of 2012 was the Google Nexus 4. It went on sale Nov. 13 through Google's website and quickly sold out. In fact, it is still unavailable from the Google Play Store. The Nexus 4 reached T-Mobile USA stores shortly after it went on sale from Google, but only in select locations. Availability has been hit or miss. That's about to change. According to <a href="http://www.tmonews.com/2013/01/all-t-mobile-stores-to-carry-the-nexus-4-beginning-this-month/">internal documents</a> spied by TMoNews, T-Mobile USA is preparing to stock the Nexus 4 at all its stores later this month. The documents don't say when, exactly, the device's availability will improve, but the news is no doubt welcome to those seeking the hard-to-get smartphone from Google. There are some key differences between the Google and T-Mobile versions of the Nexus 4. The Google version is sold for $299/$349 for the 8- and 16-GB variants, respectively. It comes without a contract and is unlocked. This means it can work on any GSM network around the world. [ Learn why T-Mobile's new <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/bargain-blackberry-betrays-rims-high-end/240145495?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Bargain BlackBerry Betrays RIM's High-End Aspirations</a>. ] The T-Mobile version costs less -- $199 for the 16-GB version -- but it requires a two-year contract with T-Mobile. It also has some applications and services from T-Mobile that aren't part of the stock Jelly Bean experience offered by the Google version. Other features, such as the 4.8-inch HD display, 8-megapixel camera and NFC, are all the same. Despite the sellouts and scattered availability, it turns out sales of the Nexus 4 may not be all that impressive. Google was crushed by an onslaught of Nexus 4 seekers during the device's first few hours of availability. It took only a few hours to sell through the initial supply (though we have no idea what that supply was). More devices were added to Google's website in late November, but <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/google-nexus-4-ships-in-4-to-9-weeks/240142694">Google sold through that supply</a>, as well. Google has not shared sales figures for the Nexus 4, but some point to total sales of less than 400,000 so far. The number was arrived at by XDA mobile developer forum members who <a href="http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2055351">followed the production trail backwards</a>. They used the IMEI number, or International Mobile Station Equipment Identity number, to discover when their devices were produced. When devices' production histories were pooled together, the XDA members were able to arrive at some estimates concerning Nexus 4 production. They believe LG manufactured roughly 70,000 Nexus 4 smartphones in October, 90,000 in November, and 210,000 in December. (They don't yet have estimates for January for obvious reasons.) That means total sales of the device are in the ballpark of 370,000.2013-01-03T10:58:00ZBargain BlackBerry Betrays RIM's High-End AspirationsBlackBerry Curve 9315, launched Thursday for T-Mobile USA, is not the RIM smartphone you want.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/bargain-blackberry-betrays-rims-high-end/240145495?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/windows/reviews/top-10-tech-fails-of-2012/240145329"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/932/Blackberry_full.png" alt="Top 10 Tech Fails Of 2012 " title="Top 10 Tech Fails Of 2012 " class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">Top 10 Tech Fails Of 2012 </div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>  T-Mobile USA announced Thursday the BlackBerry Curve 9315, an entry-level smartphone that will cost just $50 with a new contract. Do yourself and your organization a favor: Don't buy it. The 9315 may be a cheap smartphone, but it arrives mere weeks before Research In Motion launches its next-generation operating system and smartphones. The 9315 scrapes the bottom of the smartphone barrel when it comes to specs and features. It has a QWERTY keyboard for those who need that physical feedback, and a smallish 2.44-inch display with just 240 x 320 pixels. It's no touchscreen, either. It has a standard TFT LCD display. The 9315 has a 3.2-megapixel camera that has a flash and can record video. Those images and videos can be stored on the 512 MB of onboard storage or a microSD card up to 32 GB. It supports a wide range of audio and video codecs and can send audio to standard headphones or stereo Bluetooth headphones. Other features of the 9315 are an FM radio, mobile hotspot support, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and support for the 2G/3G networks operated by T-Mobile in the United States. [ The war for mobile supremacy saw some serious casualties last year. See <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/mobiles-biggest-losers-in-2012/240145190?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Mobile's Biggest Losers In 2012</a>. ] These aren't the reasons to avoid the <a href="http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/articles/blackberry-curve-9315-smartphone-introduced-by-t-mobile-rim">Curve 9315</a>, though. The real reason is the operating system. The 9315 ships with BlackBerry OS 7.1 -- an old and outdated platform that will not and cannot be updated. RIM is officially launching <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/blackberry-10-will-be-great-please-wait/240145398">BlackBerry 10</a>, its next-generation platform, on January 30. It has promised that BB10 devices will soon follow. BlackBerry 10 is wholly different from BB7. It has a new architecture under the hood, and a brand new user interface that makes use of touch gestures to navigate from app to app. The <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/blackberry-10-l-series-hardware-hints-pr/240144248">new BlackBerry smartphones</a> will be more comparable to today's better Android devices when it comes to media features and applications. They will have large, high-res displays, good cameras and support the fastest wireless network. The 9315 is clearly meant for first-time smartphone buyers who are also likely to be consumers; it is not for business pros. This could be trouble for RIM in the long run. The new BB10 devices will be focused at the top of the market, and will probably have price tags close to $200. That's good. RIM has long needed high-end devices to compete with the iPhone and top Android phones. RIM's BB10 platform isn't likely to reach low-end devices for some time, though. This means devices such as the 9315 will have to fill in the low-cost gap. Old, outdated hardware and software will be a tough sell against new Android devices and other low-cost smartphones, such as the free iPhone 4.2013-01-02T10:50:00ZCTIA To Merge U.S. Trade Shows In 2014U.S. mobile and wireless industry's main lobbying group will combine its two yearly shows into one larger event in a bid to remain relevant.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/business/ctia-to-merge-us-trade-shows-in-2014/240145405?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authorsThe CTIA Wireless Association on Wednesday announced plans to combine its separate spring and fall events into a single bigger trade show. The CTIA will hold two events as usual this year, with the combined show kicking off in September 2014. For more than a decade, the CTIA has held a trade show each spring. Its attendance has grown to more than 40,000 wireless industry participants. The spring show has had several different names over the years, but most recently has been referred to as The CTIA Wireless show. It's the biggest annual trade show focused solely on the mobile industry in the U.S. The big show is typically followed in the fall with a smaller, more focused event that often targets IT. The fall show, however, has faltered in recent years. The CTIA hoped to revive it in 2012 by renaming the event to MobileCON and giving it a different focus. It didn't quite work out, and attendance was down compared to previous years. [ Which mobile companies had the biggest fails in 2012? See <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/mobiles-biggest-losers-in-2012/240145190?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Mobile's Biggest Losers In 2012</a>. ] Today's announcement by the CTIA shows that the wireless association finally saw the writing on the wall (or is it "got the text message?"). "The wireless industry is evolving rapidly and there is a need to have a show that centers on the entire global mobile ecosystem in a way that hasn't existed among the current shows, which is why CTIA 2014 will be unique," <a href="http://ctia.org/media/press/body.cfm/prid/2233">said</a> Rob Mesirow, CTIA vice president and show director. That's not the only reason behind the change. The spring CTIA event has struggled to remain relevant in the wake of January's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and February's Mobile World Congress (MWC). The latter of these two, which takes place each year in Barcelona, easily dwarfs the U.S. event in size and attendance. Both events see plenty of new hardware and services announced for the first half of the year, leaving less news for CTIA. This is why, rather than focusing its single event on the spring, the CTIA will hold its super mobile show in September. "The timing of the 2014 show will deliver the perfect stage for companies to debut mobile consumer products and services for the annual holiday buying season," said Mesirow. For the last two years or so, hardware makers have shunned large trade shows as stages on which to announce new gear. Large shows are noisy and crowded with announcements and news, and it's hard to stand out. Instead, hardware makers have opted for smaller events where they can grab the spotlight for themselves. This is especially true in the fall. Will the CTIA's strategy convince hardware makers to return? It's too early to tell. Even if it doesn't, the single trade show is welcome news for mobile industry players. The first CTIA super mobile show, CTIA 2014, will take place Sept. 9, 10 & 11 at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attend Interop Las Vegas May 6-10, and be the first to create an action plan to incorporate the latest transformative technologies into your IT infrastructure. Use Priority Code DIPR01 by Jan. 13 to save up to $800 with Super Early Bird Savings. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 350+ exhibiting companies and the latest technology solutions. Register for <a href="http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/?_mc=DIPR01">Interop</a> today!2013-01-02T09:40:00ZApple Tests iPhone 6? Not A ShockerServer logs show that Apple is already working on the next-generation of its iPhone and iOS platform. Um, no kidding.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/apple-tests-iphone-6-not-a-shocker/240145380?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/12-best-apple-ios-apps-of-2012/240144053"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/921/best2012-1st-screen_tn.PNG" alt=" 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012" title=" 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle"> 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>  According to server logs seen by developers, clues about the next-generation iPhone are beginning to appear. The Next Web reports having seen <a href="http://thenextweb.com/apple/2013/01/01/developers-begin-seeing-new-apple-iphone-hardware-and-ios-7-in-usage-logs/">Apple internal parlance</a> for what could be the iPhone 6, and suggests that Apple is already testing the new hardware. Well, duh. Apple releases a new iPhone and a new version of iOS every year. These things don't pop up overnight, you know. Apple designer Jony Ive doesn't walk across the water and accept the new i-device from Lady of the Lake. The iPhone takes time to design, engineer and test. In fact, there's an industry term for it: It's called "research and development." New smartphones often take between 12 and 18 months to move from blueprint to retail. Apple is likely already working on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8. In fact, it probably has two to four new iPhones in various stages of development. This is a phenomenon called a "roadmap." You know, a plan that spans several years so the company knows where it is headed. It's a handy thing to have around. [ Not every smartphone is a beauty like Apple's iPhone. Check out the <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/5-ugliest-smartphones-of-2012/240145215?itc=edit_in_body_cross">5 Ugliest Smartphones Of 2012</a>. ] So what do the server logs tell us right now? Apple uses a slightly different code to reference its i-devices. For example, we call the latest iPhone the iPhone 5, but Apple refers to it as the iPhone5,1 or iPhone 5,2 depending on the variant. The iPhone 4S was the iPhone4,1, and the iPhone 4 was the iPhone 3,1. These device names (think of them as chassis designators) are what shows up in code when the associated device is used to surf the Web. The same goes for iPads. Server logs unintentionally revealed this internal naming scheme years ago. The "iPhone6,1" is the new device popping up. This means that there are early builds of the next-generation iPhone being used by Apple's engineers for testing. One of their tests is to surf the Web, hence the server logs. The designation tells us that Apple has a new piece of hardware on deck, but that's all. It doesn't provide any details about the design, features or anything else. We could have guessed as much without the server logs, based on Apple's past behavior of yearly hardware and software upgrades. Though there's a rough correlation between the designator and the final name of the i-device products, it is not set in stone. If Apple sticks with its actual product naming scheme, the iPhone6,1 might actually be the iPhone 5S (remember, there was an iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS; followed by the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S). At the end of the day, we have to assume that Apple (and every other company, for that matter) is always working on new products.2012-12-29T09:06:00Z5 Ugliest Smartphones Of 2012Not every smartphone is a charmer. Here are five handsets with some seriously questionable designs.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/5-ugliest-smartphones-of-2012/240145215?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authorsDesigning a smartphone shouldn't be too hard. There's only so much you can do with a rectangular block of plastic, glass, and assorted other materials. Even so, plenty of smartphones turn out to be grotesque pieces of hardware that are difficult to look at, let alone use day in and day out. After reviewing more than 60 devices this year, I've reached one conclusion with respect to design: the simpler, the better. The minute designers start to overthink what they're doing is when things go bad. Here are five of the worst from 2012. [ Nokia's Lumia 920 misses the mark. Here's why: <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/nokia-lumia-920-close-but-no-cigar/240143996?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Nokia Lumia 920: Close , But No Cigar</a>. ] 1. HTC EVO 4G LTE. The EVO LTE is Sprint's variation of the One X from HTC. The One X is an attractive device made from a single piece of polycarbonate. It is simple, svelte and stylish. Sprint messed it all up. Sprint wanted its version to stand apart. It nixed the polycarbonate shell entirely and opted for a mish-mash of materials, textures and colors that end up looking more chaotic than cool. Worse, the metal band that encircles the display is painfully sharp against your skin. Some may like the black-on-red colors, but the EVO LTE was one of the devices I liked the least this year. 2. Huawei Ascend Q. This disaster of a device took a touch phone and stuck a QWERTY keyboard at the bottom. The result is an oblong smartphone of odd proportions. The lime green colors on the keyboard do nothing to help, and the materials were far from top-notch. <center><div style="font-size:.8em;"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/1354/Huawei-Ascend-Q_1.jpg" width="585" height="486" alt="Huawei Ascend Q" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" style="margin-bottom:7px;" /> Huawei Ascend Q</div></center> 3. LG Intuition. The Intuition, sold by Verizon Wireless, is LG's answer to the Samsung Galaxy Note "phablet." It has a huge screen and a stylus, just like Samsung's big phone. There's one problem: LG chose to use a 4:3 aspect ratio for the screen rather than 16:9. The result is an amazingly awkward phone that is incredibly wide and nearly impossible to hold and use. It's also so large that sticking it in your pocket is pretty much impossible. It's no doubt one of the worst of the year. <center><div style="font-size:.8em;"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/1354/lg-intuition-vs950.jpg" width="585" height="479" alt="LG Intuition" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" style="margin-bottom:7px;" /> LG Intuition</div></center> 4. Motorola Photon Q. This massive smartphone for Sprint has a big display, a big QWERTY keyboard and a huge footprint. There are a number of odd angles and other unfortunate design choices that give it a goofy look. The mixed blend of textures and materials go further to make the Photon Q look disjointed and poorly planned. 5. Nokia 808 PureView. The 808 may have had the world's first 41-megapixel camera, but it was a sin to behold. The massive camera components necessitated some ugly design choices. The 808 was thick and bulky, and the lump created by the camera module gave it an awkward appearance. Incredible as the camera was, the outdated Symbian platform made the 808 an easy smartphone to avoid. <center><div style="font-size:.8em;"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/1354/700-nokia-808-pureview-white.jpg " width="585" height="520" alt="Nokia 808 PureView" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" style="margin-bottom:7px;" /> Nokia 808 PureView</div></center> For the 16th consecutive year, InformationWeek is conducting its U.S. IT Salary Survey. To date, more than 200,000 IT professionals have participated in this survey. Take our <a href="http://informationweek.2013ITSalarySurvey.sgizmo.com/s3/?iwid=pl">InformationWeek 2013 U.S. IT Salary Survey</a> now, and be eligible to win some great prizes. Survey ends Jan. 18. 2012-12-28T09:06:00ZMobile's Biggest Losers In 2012The last twelve months have been turbulent for smartphone makers and wireless network providers. Here's who took it on the chin hardest.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/mobiles-biggest-losers-in-2012/240145190?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-one-year-after-steve-jobs-hits-and/240008271"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/879/01_Steve-Jobs_tn.jpg" alt="Apple One Year After Steve Jobs: Hits And Misses" title="Apple One Year After Steve Jobs: Hits And Misses" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">Apple One Year After Steve Jobs: Hits And Misses</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div> The ongoing war for mobile supremacy saw some serious casualties in 2012. Apple and Samsung dominated the industry with their smartphones and tablets, while other players, such as HTC and Sony, struggled to remain relevant. The strongest players got stronger and the weaker players got weaker. Two companies owned most of the profits and most of the mindshare throughout 2012, just as InformationWeek predicted a year ago. Here's where the chips stand in the smartphone and tablet industries as we close out 2012 and head into 2013. These are the companies that struggled the hardest but didn't get very far. These are the mobile losers of 2012. HTC. HTC developed some of its best handsets this year, but that didn't help reverse the smartphone maker's sagging fortunes. It has seen nearly two straight years of decline, and 2012 wasn't the turnaround year the company hoped it would be. In late 2011, HTC announced that it would skip the low-end market and focus on high-end smartphones. It thought this strategy would work. It didn't. The HTC One series were well-received by reviewers, but not by consumers. HTC didn't sell enough of them. At the end of the third quarter, HTC held onto just 4% of the smartphone market, falling behind ZTE. And let's not even talk about tablets; the company didn't release any new ones in 2012. [ Will Google thrive in 2013? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/google-in-2013-11-predictions/240143080?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Google In 2013: 11 Predictions</a>. ] Motorola. Google may have closed its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola in May, but the deal has done little (so far) to help turn Motorola's handset business around. Google recently sold off a number of Motorola manufacturing facilities and closed down a major research and design facility in Korea. The company introduced just a few new models this year, most of them sold by Sprint and Verizon Wireless. Though the company is still designing smartphones in Chicago, the future of its smartphone division is anything but clear. Google said it is committed to helping Motorola produce the best smartphones it can, but the results of those efforts likely won't be seen until midway through 2013. Motorola still sells some Android tablets, but they are the same models introduced at the end of 2011 (Xyboard 8.9 and Xyboard 10.1). Sony. As with HTC and Motorola, Sony concentrated on making fewer devices this year. Most of them ranged at the top end of the smartphone spectrum rather than the low end. Its efforts have not been rewarded. The Xperia Ion in particular was a disaster of a product, beset by bugs and other problems. None of the devices it has brought to the U.S. market this year helped turn its fortunes around. It remains committed to making Android smartphones, but its thin range of devices isn't strong enough to fend off Samsung. Sony delivered two tablets to the market earlier this year, but they failed to gain any traction. Acer and Lenovo. Plenty of hardware makers jumped into the Android tablet fray this year, but few of them made any progress. Perhaps the two companies that tried the hardest to compete with the big boys were Acer and Lenovo. There's no doubt the companies offered some decent products this year, but they were trumped by another low-cost supplier that won Google's favor: Asus. As far as low-cost, seven-inch tablets go, the Nexus 7, made by Asus, is the hands-down winner. Acer and Lenovo's efforts fell flat in comparison. When you consider the Apple iPads and Samsung Galaxy-branded tablets that are available, in addition to consumer-friendly low-cost options from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, companies such as Acer and Lenovo fall by the wayside. RIM. RIM had a rough year. More than one million users defected from the BlackBerry platform during RIM's most recent quarter. RIM has hemorrhaged customers for close to two years. It has shed thousands of workers and lost gobs of money. But I don't think it quite qualifies for the "biggest loser" list. Here's why: The company has managed to keep itself afloat. At the beginning of 2012, things were looking grim. The co-CEOs who founded the company were running RIM into the ground. It had no new smartphones, its next-gen platform was delayed for a year, and no one had any expectation that the company could turn itself around. The situation was dire. Then came new CEO Thorsten Heins, who took the helm in January. He has been incredibly successful at giving RIM some positive momentum headed into 2013. RIM is clearly down, but not out. There's no doubt that the company buckled down this year and worked its collective rear end off in order to finish work on BlackBerry 10. With BlackBerry 10 on the cusp of availability, RIM is closing out 2012 headed in the right direction. For the 16th consecutive year, InformationWeek is conducting its U.S. IT Salary Survey. To date, more than 200,000 IT professionals have participated in this survey. Take our <a href="http://informationweek.2013ITSalarySurvey.sgizmo.com/s3/?iwid=pl">InformationWeek 2013 U.S. IT Salary Survey</a> now, and be eligible to win some great prizes. Survey ends Jan. 18. 2012-12-22T09:06:00ZLast-Minute Tablet Shopping TipsNeed to score a tablet for someone on your shopping list before Tuesday? Here's advice on what you might be able to find in the nick of time.http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/last-minute-tablet-shopping-tips/240145135?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors<div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/windows/microsoft-news/8-cool-windows-8-tablets-for-home-and-of/240010621"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/889/01_Intro_tn.jpg" alt="8 Cool Windows 8 Tablets For Home And Office" title="8 Cool Windows 8 Tablets For Home And Office" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">8 Cool Windows 8 Tablets For Home And Office</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>If you haven't already bought the tablet that your relative, friend, or significant other wants for the holidays, you might be out of luck. Time is short, supplies are tight and the fact that the 25th lands on a Tuesday is not helpful. Shipping is going to be the biggest problem faced by last-minute tablet shoppers. Orders placed online Saturday or Sunday probably won't ship until Monday, which is Dec. 24. Most, if not all, parcel carriers are likely to be closed or making limited deliveries on Dec. 25. If you're shopping online this weekend, the chances of having a tablet arrive by Tuesday are extremely slim. Shopping in retail stores is probably the best way to go at this point, but be sure to call ahead if you're looking for something specific. Let's discuss your options based on the device you need to buy. Apple iPad 2 And Retina iPad. These two tablets are the most readily available. Apple lists both in stock and available for immediate shipping on its website. I checked with a handful of local retailers -- Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart -- and they all reported a good supply of Apple's full-size tablet in their stores. [ Leaning toward Android? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/samsungs-10-inch-android-tablets-which-i/240012684?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Samsung's 10-Inch Android Tablets: Which Is Best?</a> ] If you're desperate, the $399 <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/buy/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad2">iPad 2</a> or $499 <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/buy/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad">Retina iPad</a> are your two best choices, based on availability. iPad Mini. I have one thing to say about the iPad Mini: Good luck! Your loved ones probably aren't opening one of these up the morning of the 25th if you haven't found one already. Apple lists nearly all variants of the <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/buy/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad_mini">iPad Mini</a> as available to ship in one week. I checked in with my local retailers, and only my Apple Store had any stock. I was told they had a "handful" at the moment, but were selling through their inventory each day. Call ahead and hope for the best. Google Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. This section updated to reflect corrections regarding Nexus tablet availability. Google lists only one variant of the Nexus 7 as available, the rest are sold out. Even if you order the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_7_32gb">16GB Wi-Fi Nexus 7</a>, it won't ship for one or two weeks. The <a href="https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_10_16gb">Nexus 10</a> is completely sold out. Google suggests you "come back later" if you're really interested in its $399, 10-inch tablet. The Nexus 10 and Nexus 7 may be tough to score directly from Google, but they are available at scattered other online and brick-and-mortar stores. Some models can be scored from BestBuy.com, Amazon.com, Newegg.com, and other sites. Readers have also said that the devices are available at several retail stores, such as Staples. Your best chance is to call ahead to check availability. Microsoft Surface. Microsoft recently <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/microsoft-expands-production-distributio/240144240">expanded the availability</a> of its Surface tablets beyond its own outlets to several big box retailers, including Best Buy. Best Buy's <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Computing-Promotions/Surface-with-Windows-RT/pcmcat290500050018.c?id=pcmcat290500050018">website</a> lists the Surface for sale with immediate shipping, but my local Best Buy did not have any in stock. The Surface can be picked up at Microsoft stores, but they are few and far in between. It also can be ordered directly from Microsoft's website. Amazon Kindle And Kindle Fire. Amazon sells its custom Android tablets directly via its <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GGCAVM/ref=gw_c1_dualhol_kt?ie=UTF8&nav_sdd=aps&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0MA0SGF8NXQ9ZCASK2DP&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1444235142&pf_rd_i=507846">website</a> and through retailers all over the place. Aside from the Apple iPad 2 and Retina iPad, the Kindle tablets are among the easiest to find. The low prices don't hurt, either. The Kindle or Kindle Fire could be a decent substitute for the Nexus 7. Barnes & Noble Nook HD And Nook HD+. As with Amazon, Barnes & Noble sells its Nook tablets online and in its brick-and-mortar retail stores. The tablet is available for immediate shipping on Barnes & Noble's <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook/379003208">website</a>. I called two local Barnes & Noble locations and both had an ample supply of the tablet/e-reader. Random Android Tablets. If you don't care about having a Nexus-branded tablet or a Kindle or Nook, there are plenty of other tablets available running Google's Android platform. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and Tab 10.1, for example, or the Acer Iconia, Lenovo IdeaPad, Insignia Flex and Asus Transformer are all out there at electronics retailers. If any old tablet will do, just head to your nearest electronics store and snag one of these. It shouldn't be a problem. Good luck, holiday shoppers! For the 16th consecutive year, InformationWeek is conducting its U.S. IT Salary Survey. To date, more than 200,000 IT professionals have participated in this survey. Take our <a href="http://informationweek.2013ITSalarySurvey.sgizmo.com/s3/?iwid=pl">InformationWeek 2013 U.S. IT Salary Survey</a> now, and be eligible to win some great prizes. Survey ends Jan. 18. 2012-12-20T11:11:00ZFlipboard Android Tablet Version DebutsFlipboard now runs on Android tablets, including the high-resolution Nexus 10.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/business/flipboard-android-tablet-version-debuts/240145091?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href=" http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/10-best-android-apps-of-2012/240144458"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/928/01_Android_apps_full.jpg" alt=" 10 Best Android Apps Of 2012" title="10 Best Android Apps Of 2012" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">10 Best Android Apps Of 2012</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>  Flipboard Thursday released a new version of its Android application. The revised app now works on Android tablets, which previously weren't properly supported. Flipboard is a socially-connected, magazine-style application that can be used to consume web content. Flipboard first came to Android devices with the Samsung Galaxy S III in June. The app was offered to all Android smartphones several months later. Though the smartphone app functions on small tablets, such as the Nexus 7, it was not optimized for displaying content on larger screens until now. Flipboard says it works on all Android tablets with screens seven inches or larger. This includes the <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/desktop/google-nexus-10-my-first-month/240144563">Samsung-made Nexus 10</a>, as well as other Samsung tablets such as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Note 10.1. Have an 8.9-inch Motorola Xyboard? Don't worry, it will run just fine on that device, too. For those already using Flipboard on devices with 7-inch displays (Amazon Kindle Fire, Barnes & Noble Nook and <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/ipad-mini-vs-nexus-7-tablet-smackdown/240010600">Nexus 7</a>), the app supports both "smartphone" and "tablet" modes and can be set to either one. Devices that have larger displays can show more sections as a time, and the app will take advantage of the larger screens when opening stories and other content. "With the new devices that Samsung, Amazon, Google and others have brought to market in the recent months, there's a fast growing Android market," <a href="http://flipboard.com/newsroom/releases/flipboard-arrives-on-android-tablets/">said Eric Alexander</a>, head of international development at Flipboard. "As more people buy Android tablets for themselves or others over the holidays, we wanted to make sure Flipboard is part of their tablet experience." Flipboard is already available to Apple's iPad and iPhone. The application allows tablet and smartphone users to customize how they view and interact with Facebook and Twitter updates, web sites, pictures, videos and all manner of web-based content. It pulls the content together and assembles it into a digital magazine. Users then flip through the pages of the digital magazine and consume content as they go. The app makes it easy to bookmark stories for later reading, or share them via email and social networks. You can download the Android version <a href="http://beacon.flipboard.com/redirect.php?app=flipwebbutton&url=https%3A%2F%2Fplay.google.com%2Fstore%2Fapps%2Fdetails%3Fid%3Dflipboard.app%26referrer%3Dutm_source%253Dflipweb%2526utm_medium%253Dweb_button%2526utm_term%253Dandroid%2526utm_campaign%253Ddownload_button_android">here</a> and the iOS version <a href="http://beacon.flipboard.com/redirect.php?app=flipwebbutton&url=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fflipboard-your-social-news%2Fid358801284%26referrer%3Dutm_source%253Dflipweb%2526utm_medium%253Dweb_button%2526utm_term%253Dios%2526utm_content%253DUS%2526utm_campaign%253Ddownload_button_ios">here</a> Tech spending is looking up, but IT must focus more on customers and less on internal systems. Also in the new, all-digital <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/121012/?k=axxe&cid=article_axxt_os">Outlook 2013</a> issue of InformationWeek: Five painless rules for encryption. (Free registration required.)2012-12-19T10:20:00ZBlackBerry 10 Builds Carrier Support Ahead Of LaunchRIM's forthcoming smartphone platform received another bid of confidence, as a handful of European network operators have voiced their support for BlackBerry 10.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/blackberry-10-builds-carrier-support-ahe/240144982?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/cloud-computing/software/8-cloud-tools-for-road-warriors/240142591"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/914/01_Clouds_tn.jpg" alt="8 Cloud Tools For Road Warriors" title="8 Cloud Tools For Road Warriors" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">8 Cloud Tools For Road Warriors</div>(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>  Research In Motion is making a lot of noise about BlackBerry 10 ahead of its January 30, 2013, debut. The latest bit of news reveals that more wireless network operators have committed to offering BlackBerry 10 devices once they are available. A handful of European carriers Wednesday voiced support for the platform, including EE (formerly Everything Everywhere), Orange, T-Mobile, <a href="https://twitter.com/O2/status/281322909623013376">O2</a> and Vodafone. Together, these network operators cover a large swath of the European Union. <a href="https://explore.ee.co.uk/our-company/newsroom/ee-to-range-blackberry-10">EE's commitment</a> is notable, as it said it will offer BB10 devices with 4G service in its U.K. market. EE is the only carrier that offers LTE in the U.K. If there's one thing BlackBerrys have lacked, it is access to fast 4G data networks. In the U.S., the four major carriers have all said they'll support BlackBerry 10. That includes AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless. Smaller players, such as MetroPCS, Cricket and others have not yet indicated if they will offer BlackBerry devices. It is a given that any BlackBerry 10 devices released in the U.S. will support LTE 4G from the largest network providers. [ Google developers may not show RIM the same attention as it does Android and iOS. <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/development/mobility/what-if-google-ignores-blackberry-10/240144104?itc=edit_in_body_cross">What If Google Ignores BlackBerry 10?</a> ] In October, RIM delivered BlackBerry 10 to more than 50 network operators around the globe. Those operators are testing the platform and devices for compatibility with their networks. Most of the testing should be complete between late January and late February. Earlier this week, RIM announced that <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/blackberry-10-beta-begins/240144492">120 companies and governments</a> have agreed to test BlackBerry 10. RIM did not name the companies, but each is receiving free software and smartphones to test drive the platform. The companies come from a number of industries, including distribution, financial, insurance, healthcare, manufacturing and media. Of the 120 beta-testing organizations, 64 are Fortune 500 companies. Whether or not any of these companies chooses to adopt BlackBerry 10 permanently is another matter altogether. Consumers and enterprises alike have shed their love of BlackBerry and switched to Android-based smartphones and Apple iPhones. RIM's share of the smartphone market has dwindled accordingly. RIM is scheduled to launch BlackBerry 10 at an event in New York City on January 30. At that event, RIM will fully reveal the operating system as well as the first two BlackBerry 10 smartphones. One will have a touchscreen only, and the other will include a QWERTY keyboard. RIM has said that the touchscreen device will be available first, and the QWERTY phone will follow later. RIM has promised that the devices <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/rim-promises-blackberry-10-handsets-shor/240134927">will be available</a> shortly after the January 30 debut.2012-12-19T09:45:00ZGoogle Maps Spurs iOS 6 AdoptionData from mobile advertising networks suggests that many iPhone owners updated their devices to iOS 6 after Google Maps became available again.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/google-maps-spurs-ios-6-adoption/240144980?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/12-best-apple-ios-apps-of-2012/240144053"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/921/best2012-1st-screen_tn.PNG" alt=" 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012" title=" 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle"> 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>  Google may have unintentionally helped Apple increase the adoption rate of its iOS 6 platform. Two separate advertising companies saw a spike in individual iOS 6 users in the days following Google Maps' availability for the iPhone. The theory is these users decided to avoid iOS 6 (at least for a little while) due to its lack of Google Maps. Apple released iOS 6 several days ahead of the iPhone 5's launch in September. It is compatible with the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 2, iPad Retina Display, iPad Mini and the fourth- and fifth-generation iPod Touches. The initial uptake of the new operating system was very good. iOS 6 scored a <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/ios-6-adoption-rate-soars/240008291">25% adoption rate</a> across all iOS devices in the first 48 hours, reaching 100 million of them. (The iPhone 5, iPad Mini and fourth-generation iPad all ship with iOS 6 preinstalled.) By early October, estimates placed iOS 6 adoption at about 60% of all iPhones. Clearly, not everyone updated their iPhone to iOS 6. One reason some iPhone owners steered clear of iOS 6 was Apple Maps. iOS 6 ditched Google Maps in favor of Apple's navigation software. Phones that had been updated to iOS 6 no longer had access to Google Maps, an application that's been a part of the operating system since 2007. Apple Maps was not the replacement Apple hoped it might be, and many faulted its lack of accuracy. Recently, an <a href=" http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/australian-police-steer-drivers-away-fro/240144122">Australian police department</a> cautioned that travelers not rely on Apple Maps for navigation and instead use an alternative service. [ Apple's mobile market share means Google can't dismiss it, but RIM may not be so fortunate. <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/development/mobility/what-if-google-ignores-blackberry-10/240144104?itc=edit_in_body_cross">What If Google Ignores BlackBerry 10?</a> ] Things changed on December 12, however, when <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/5-ways-google-maps-beats-apple-maps/240144460">Google Maps for the iPhone</a> hit the App Store. Google recently crowed that its new application saw more than <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/10-million-iphone-users-find-way-to-goog/240144562">10 million downloads in the first 48 hours</a> it was available. This correlates with data shared by MoPub, which is a mobile advertising exchange. TechCrunch reports that MoPub saw a massive <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/18/google-maps-ios-6/">increase in iOS 6 impressions</a> in the days after Google Maps hit the iPhone. "We observed since the launch of Google Maps for iOS 6 a 30% increase in unique iOS 6 users, and we think it's related to Google Maps," said MoPub's CEO in an email to TechCrunch. "It verifies the hypothesis that people were actually holding back to upgrade until Google Maps was available." It's a plausible scenario. Despite the allure of new features, some device owners are more cautious when it comes to system updates. They'll let others adopt first, read the reports of bugs and problems, and then wait for a maintenance update to arrive before upgrading themselves. The case of Apple Maps presented a slightly different angle, but certainly could have convinced some to hold off on iOS 6. What did you think? Did any of you hold off on updating to iOS 6 because of the Apple/Google Maps issue? Please sound off in the comments below.2012-12-18T12:05:00ZSmartphone Race's Third Horse: Microsoft Or RIM?Apple and Google are the two strong leaders in the smartphone wars. Microsoft recently kicked off its comeback bid, and RIM follows next month. Which one has the best shot of being the third horse in this race?http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/smartphone-races-third-horse-microsoft-o/240144568?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authorsMicrosoft and Research In Motion both face an uphill battle to win back market share from Apple and Google. More important than taking back share from the leaders, however, Microsoft and RIM need to focus on beating each another first if they hope to take on Apple and Google later. The smartphone platform wars have evolved markedly in the last 10 years. In 2002, BlackBerry OS, Palm OS, Symbian OS, and Pocket PC 2002 were the reigning smartphone platforms (if one can say that less than 5% of the entire cellphone market counted as reigning anything). Five years later, in 2007, these platforms were still at the top, though Pocket PC 2002 had morphed into Windows Mobile 5 and Palm was already beginning to decline. Now, 10 years later, these four are all but dead. Google's Android platform and Apple's iOS platform have taken their place. Together, <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/smart-phones/android-clear-leader-in-smartphone-race/240143823">these two now hold 90%</a> of the entire smartphone market, leaving little more than scraps for the rest. A market that was briefly a five-horse race eventually dwindled to a four-, then three-, and now a two-horse race. There's one important ingredient a challenger needs, one that supersedes <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/blackberry-10-l-series-hardware-hints-pr/240144248">good hardware</a> and a solid operating system. That ingredient is an ecosystem. Ecosystems lead to customer stickiness. [ Would RIM be able to win back market share without Google apps? See <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/development/mobility/what-if-google-ignores-blackberry-10/240144104?itc=edit_in_body_cross">What If Google Ignores BlackBerry 10?</a> ] My friend Kevin Tofel, who writes for GigaOm, offered a <a href="http://gigaom.com/mobile/why-many-are-unlikely-to-switch-to-windows-phone-or-blackberry-10/">very good argument</a> with respect to ecosystems. "The longer a handset owner sticks with one platform, the more they invest in content and apps that only work with that platform. This lock-in cost is a potential barrier to switching. And for those who invested early in a platform, as much as four or five years, it's highly unlikely a switch will occur. Who wants to re-buy premium apps, books, videos and other content?" Apple and Google have been building their ecosystems for years. The ecosystem includes not just the device and the operating system, but the tie-in with desktop systems, content stores, the cloud, accessories, and so on. Apple's iTunes Store is the world's largest seller of music. Google is attempting to catch up and has greatly expanded its own Google Play Store in recent months. Consider alone the number of movies you may have purchased via iTunes, for example. If you've bought 10 movies, that's $100 to $200. Movies purchased from iTunes play only on Apple devices; you can't port them to an Android, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone device. If you give up on iOS, you lose mobile access to that content. The same example can be applied to Android or Windows Phone. That's a powerful motivator to keep people where they are. Now consider Microsoft and RIM. Which has the better ecosystem? Clearly, Microsoft does -- at least as far as consumers are concerned. Windows Phone 8 ties in to Microsoft's Xbox gaming and content services, in addition to Windows PCs. Microsoft's access to music and video content is far greater than RIM's, for the moment. (RIM plans to add video and audio content to the BlackBerry World store with the launch of BlackBerry 10.) Further, Microsoft has a great story right now with the launch of Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows Phone 8, which share their kernel and have a similar user interface. But RIM has a solid enterprise ecosystem. It has good developer relations, incredible messaging services, <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/blackberry-10-beta-begins/240144492">strong ties to the government and big business</a>, and a dedicated user base that has historically kept BlackBerrys ahead of Microsoft's mobile efforts for ten years. In the end, the battle between Microsoft and RIM may come down to which group exercises is purchasing power more freely: consumers or enterprises. Attend Interop Las Vegas May 6-10, and be the first to create an action plan to incorporate the latest transformative technologies into your IT infrastructure. Use Priority Code DIPR01 by Jan. 13 to save up to $800 with Super Early Bird Savings. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 350+ exhibiting companies and the latest technology solutions. Register for <a href="http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/?_mc=DIPR01">Interop</a> today!2012-12-18T11:25:00Z10 Million iPhone Users Find Way To Google MapsGoogle crows about Maps' triumphant return to the iPhone, scores millions of downloads in just two days.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/10-million-iphone-users-find-way-to-goog/240144562?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/12-best-apple-ios-apps-of-2012/240144053"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/921/best2012-1st-screen_tn.PNG" alt=" 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012" title=" 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle"> 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div> "More than 10 million downloads in less than 48 hours after release!" said Google's Jeff Huber in a post on Google+ Monday. Google Maps returned to the iPhone on December 12, and won an incredible adoption rate during its first few days of availability. Apple cut Google Maps from iOS 6 over its lack of voice-guided navigation. Apple replaced Google Maps with its own Apple Maps application. Though Apple Maps includes some compelling features, many found it to be lacking in comparison to Google Maps, in addition to being inaccurate. Apple suffered embarrassment at the hands of Apple Maps and its problems. The head of Apple Maps left the company, and the head of iOS development, Scott Forstall, <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/10/29Apple-Announces-Changes-to-Increase-Collaboration-Across-Hardware-Software-Services.html">was forced out</a> as well. He was replaced by Apple's superstar hardware designer, Jony Ive. [ What do you expect to see from Google next year? Check out our predictions. <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/google-in-2013-11-predictions/240143080?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Google In 2013: 11 Predictions</a>. ] The flub even forced Apple CEO Tim Cook to offer an apology within a week of the iPhone 5's release in September. "At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers," <a href="http://www.apple.com/letter-from-tim-cook-on-maps/">said Cook</a>. "With the launch of our new Maps, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better." Apple went so far as to suggest iPhone users download alternatives to Apple Maps. "You can try downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their Web app," said Cook in September. Well, another alternative hit the App Store last week in the form of Google Maps. Google Maps <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/5-ways-google-maps-beats-apple-maps/240144460">excels in some areas</a> when compared to Apple Maps, but falls behind in others. For example, Apple Maps is better at creating accurate 3-D cityscapes that have not only good representations of buildings' shape and size, but actual photographs of the buildings mapped onto the 3D structures. The effect creates a near-to-life 3-D look and feel to the maps. Even so, Google is pleased with the quick uptake of the new Google Maps. "We're excited for the positive reception of Google Maps for iPhone around the world," <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JeffHuber/posts/CfXMJ76Nfwk">continued Huber</a>. "Congratulations to the Maps Team on the recognition for the passion and hard work they poured into it, for this release and over the last 7+ years." Tech spending is looking up, but IT must focus more on customers and less on internal systems. Also in the new, all-digital <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/121012/?k=axxe&cid=article_axxt_os">Outlook 2013</a> issue of InformationWeek: Five painless rules for encryption. (Free registration required.)2012-12-17T10:51:00ZHTC Big Screen Windows Phone: Not NowDon't hold your breath waiting for HTC to launch a Windows Phone 8 smartphone with a 5-inch screen.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/htc-big-screen-windows-phone-not-now/240144519?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authorsHTC has reportedly cancelled plans to build a Windows Phone 8 device with a large screen. The reason behind HTC's decision is based, in part, on the resolution limitations of Windows Phone 8. HTC believes that a WP8 device with a large screen can't compete with the best Android devices <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-17/htc-said-to-halt-larger-windows-smartphone-on-display-resolution.html">thanks to the display</a> quality, Bloomberg reports. Microsoft expanded the screen sizes and resolutions supported in Windows Phone 8 significantly, but not far enough to please everyone. Handset makers can choose displays with 800 x 480, 1280 x 720, or 1280 x 768 pixels. The first was the original and only resolution supported in Windows Phone 7/7.5; the latter two are new. Earlier this year, HTC debuted the Windows Phone 8X and 8S. The 8X has a 4.3-inch 720p display; the 8S has a 4-inch 800 x 480 display. The 8X's 4.3-inch screen (which looks great) is apparently as big as HTC is willing to go with Windows Phone. [ Apple's been pleasantly surprised by the popularity of its 7-inch iPad. See <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/apple-macintosh/apple-doubles-ipad-mini-display-orders/240144411?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Apple Doubles iPad Mini Display Orders</a>. ] HTC offers several Android-based smartphones that have 720p displays (One X, One X+, and EVO 4G LTE) measuring 4.7. All three are quite good. The real gem in HTC's device lineup, however, is the <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/htc-droid-dna-takes-on-smartphone-rivals/240124945">Droid DNA</a>, which is sold in the U.S. by Verizon Wireless. It is one of the first smartphones to ship with a full 1080p HD display. Windows Phone 8 does not support that resolution. If HTC were to stretch a 720p display to 5 inches or larger, the pixel density would drop (though it would hardly be terrible). HTC isn't worried about competing with other Windows Phone 8 devices, however. It's worried about the displays on competing Android devices. Right now, the largest display available on an Android device is the 5.5-inch monster on Samsung's Galaxy Note II. The resolution is 1280 x 720 -- and it looks great. In fact, it's one of the best displays available on a smartphone right now, which leaves to question HTC's decision-making process. The pixel density of the Note II's display is more than adequate, so why would HTC think that the pixel density of a smaller (5-inch) screen would look bad? Is HTC worried about the <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/larger-phablet-from-samsung-tipped/240144367">Galaxy Note III</a>, which may have a 6.3-inch 1080p display? At this point, HTC has not said. It's worth pointing out that companies work on -- and then scrap -- plans for products and devices all the time. Perhaps the device Bloomberg is reporting about was a prototype that failed for other reasons. HTC's worldwide share of the smartphone market has plummeted during the last 12 months, despite the solid lineup of Android and Windows Phone devices. At this point, HTC needs a hit to help carry it through 2013. Upgrading isn't the easy decision that Win 7 was. We take a close look at Server 2012, changes to mobility and security, and more in the new <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/092412/?k=axxe&cid=article_axxt_os">Here Comes Windows 8</a> issue of InformationWeek. Also in this issue: Why you should have the difficult conversations about the value of OS and PC upgrades before discussing Windows 8. (Free registration required.) 2012-12-17T09:40:00ZiPhone 5 Sales Surpass 2 Million In ChinaApple sold more than two million iPhone 5s during its first weekend of availability in China.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/iphone-5-sales-surpass-2-million-in-chin/240144516?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/apple-macintosh/apple-itunes-11-visual-tour/240142961 "><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/916/sshot000_tn.png" alt="Apple iTunes 11: Visual Tour" title="Apple iTunes 11: Visual Tour" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">Apple iTunes 11: Visual Tour</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>  Apple announced Monday that it has already sold more than two million iPhone 5s in China since its December 14 launch. The device went on sale on Friday and surpassed sales of two million in less than three days. "Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China," <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/12/16iPhone-5-First-Weekend-Sales-in-China-Top-Two-Million.html">said Tim Cook</a>, Apple's CEO. "China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products." Apple said the iPhone 5 will be available for sale in more than 100 markets by the end of the year, which Apple calls the fastest iPhone rollout ever. Apple sold more than four million iPhone 5s when it first launched in September. At this point, Apple has not said how many iPhone 5s it has sold in total since it first went on sale. [ Apple's been pleasantly surprised by the popularity of its 7-inch iPad. See <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/apple-macintosh/apple-doubles-ipad-mini-display-orders/240144411?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Apple Doubles iPad Mini Display Orders</a>. ] Apple launched the <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-to-sell-iphone-5-ipad-mini-in-chin/240142958">iPad Mini</a> in China on December 7. It has yet to share sales figures for the smaller tablet. Apple has changed the way it sells iPhones and iPads at its retail stores in China. The devices can be picked up from official Apple retail stores only if they are first reserved by consumers. Apple began accepting in-store reservations for the iPad Mini on Thursday, December 6, and for the iPhone on Thursday, December 13. Customers must then return the following day to pick up their device. The reason behind this change is two-fold. First, Apple wanted to avoid some of the launch day shenanigans that have occurred in the past. (Earlier this year, an angry mob threw eggs at Apple's flagship store in Beijing when the iPhone 4S went on sale. Apple later decided the iPhone 4S would be available for purchase in China only through its website.) Second, it wanted to cut down on the number of scalpers purchasing i-devices and then later selling them for a profit. The iPhone 5 has a 4-inch Retina Display (640 x 1136 pixels), 8-megapixel camera, A6 processor and runs iOS 6. It is available in black or white, and in 16-GB, 32-GB and 64-GB capacities. It is thinner and lighter than previous models.2012-12-15T09:06:00Z5 Ways Google Maps Beats Apple MapsGoogle Maps' triumphant return to the iPhone exposes just how bad Apple's app really is.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/5-ways-google-maps-beats-apple-maps/240144460?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors<div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/thebrainyard/news/galleries/social_networking_consumer/240007253"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/867/Google-Plus,-1st-screen_full.PNG" alt="10 Best Business Tools In Google+" title="10 Best Business Tools In Google+" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">10 Best Business Tools In Google+</div>(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>Google published a new mapping and navigation application for Apple's iPhone this week. The app arrives three months after Apple booted Google Maps from iOS 6 over its lack of voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions. Google and Apple were unable to agree on the feature, so Apple dropped Google Maps. Since then, Apple has suffered a lot of embarrassment over its replacement service, called Apple Maps. In fact, earlier this week an Australian <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/australian-police-steer-drivers-away-fro/240144122">police department warned motorists</a> to use something other than Apple Maps due to its inaccuracies. (It appears Apple Maps was misdirecting people into the middle of the desert.) Your app really has to stink for a police department to warn against its use. The <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/google-maps-returns-to-iphone/240144321">new Google Maps for iPhone app</a> includes voice-guided navigation and much, much more. Here are five features of the new Google-developed mapping application that trounce what Apple offers. 1. Speed. There might not be a quantitative way to measure this, but Google Maps is much faster than Apple Maps. The speed is most obvious when rendering maps. Google Maps was able to render a close-up 3-D model of Manhattan faster than Apple was able to draw a 2-D map of the same area. Google Maps also is faster at configuring routes and driving directions, and it is faster to pan around maps and zoom in close. The speed of Google Maps is impressive. [ Google adds a night-time city-level satellite view to its maps. Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/google-maps-adds-nasa-nighttime-satellit/240144185?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Google Maps Adds NASA Nighttime Satellite Imagery</a>. ] 2. Mass Transit. Apple Maps doesn't offer mass transit directions. If you choose the little subway icon at the top of the screen within Apple Maps and attempt to find a route between two places, it doesn't work. Instead, it suggests mapping app alternatives from the App Store. The top suggestion is -- you guessed it -- Google Maps. Using Google Maps, finding train, bus or subway directions is a breeze. 3. Details. Apple is working hard to fill in the gaps of Apple Maps, but Google outguns it with ease when it comes to the finer details. Case in point: Apple's satellite image of my house was clearly taken before 2006, the year I had a fence installed along the edge of my driveway. The fence does not appear in Apple's picture of my house. It does in Google Maps. In fact, Google Maps' satellite imagery is from 2009 or later. How do I know? I had a big tree removed from my back yard in 2009. The tree is not present in Google Maps' image of my house. These are small, mostly insignificant details of one location. They could just as easily be of something more important, like a new highway overpass, or a new one-way street. 4. Street View. When using Google Maps, if you want to see what an address looks like from the street, you use Street View. Google's Street View cars have been scouring the country for years. The result is rich imagery that allows people to get an idea of what an address or storefront or building looks like before they make the trip. Apple Maps does not offer Street View. 5. Desktop Map Syncing. If you use Google Maps in your browser, you can easily save favorite places, routes, directions, addresses and more to your Google account. These places are then automatically available to Google Maps on the iPhone. This is an invaluable tool when you need to plot directions on one device and then use them on another. It also makes it easier to manage your mapping tasks. Stay ahead of the eCommerce technology curve. Watch our webcast, Next Generation e-Commerce Strategies for B2B Sales and Marketing, to learn the strategies and tactics you can use to more efficiently give your clients what they want, keep them happy and increase sales. <a href=https://www.techwebonlineevents.com/ars/eventregistration.do?mode=eventreg&F=1005250&K=ECOMEAIBM">Register now</a>.2012-12-14T11:30:00ZApple Doubles iPad Mini Display OrdersStronger than expected demand has led Apple to increase the number of iPad Mini displays on order from 6 million to 12 million.http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/apple-macintosh/apple-doubles-ipad-mini-display-orders/240144411?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/12-best-apple-ios-apps-of-2012/240144053"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/921/best2012-1st-screen_tn.PNG" alt=" 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012" title=" 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle"> 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>  Apple misjudged how popular the iPad Mini would be, according to NPD DisplaySearch. The company initially asked its suppliers to provide it with 6 million of the 7.85-inch display panels used by the iPad Mini. That figure is proving to be woefully short. Apple is stepping up the number of orders to 12 million in order to meet the high demand for its smaller tablet. The iPad Mini has been in short supply since its November 2 launch. Just recently, <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/personal-tech/smart-phones/ipad-mini-availability-improves- nexus-4/240143965">shipping times for the device improved</a> to one week. It was previously shipping in two to three weeks. It is still scarce at retail outlets. Apparently some didn't think it was going to play out this way. "When Apple unveiled the iPad Mini in October many criticized its $329 price as too expensive for a 7[-inch] segment tablet PC, given competition from other 7-inch tablet PCs, including Amazon Kindle Fire, Google Nexus, ASUS and many private labels," <a href="http://www.displaysearchblog.com/2012/12/apple-ipad-shipments-to-reach-100-million-in-2013/">wrote NPD's David Hsieh</a>. Many of these competing devices cost $199 or less. "However, there is always a strong base of customers who only want Apple products; recently, the iPad Mini was voted one of the hottest consumer products of 2012 in Japan," said Hsieh. [ Check out the new features in Apple iTunes 11. See <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/apple-macintosh/apple-itunes-11-visual-tour/240142961?itc=edit_in_body_cross"> Apple iTunes 11: Visual Tour</a>. ] The popularity of the iPad Mini is forcing Apple's suppliers to go into overdrive. The company has placed orders for 70 million iPad display panels this year, with 23 million slated for the iPad 2 and 47 million slated for the latest full-size iPad, released in October alongside the iPad Mini. However, the iPad 2 has remained a consistently strong seller thanks to its $399 price tag. Apple has downgraded orders for the larger iPad's screen, and boosted the number for the older iPad 2, which remains for sale. The newest full-size iPad has a 9.7-inch Retina Display, with 2048 x 1536 pixels. The iPad 2 has a 9.7-inch display with 1024 x 768 pixels. The iPad Mini has a 7.85-inch display with 1024 x 768 pixels. For 2013, NPD believes the iPad Mini may outsell the Retina Display iPad. "In 2013, it is likely that Apple will adjust its product portfolio to meet the strong demand for the iPad Mini," noted Hsieh. "We believe that Apple is targeting total iPad shipments of 100 million in 2013, half accounted for by the iPad Mini, and 40 million new iPad and 10 million iPad 2, as production continues at least until the middle of 2013." Aside from the iPad Mini's lower price point, it's smaller size and easier portability have likely played a role in its popularity when <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-ipad-mini-vs-ipad-4-which-to-buy/240009585">compared to its larger iPad brothers</a>. It is significantly lighter than the full-size iPads, and the reduced footprint makes it a snap to carry about.2012-12-13T13:44:00ZNYC Taxi-Hailing App Pilot Gets Green LightCustomers will be able to hail NYC yellow cabs with smartphones via a trial program beginning in February.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/nyc-taxi-hailing-app-pilot-gets-green-li/240144380?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors<div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/12-best-apple-ios-apps-of-2012/240144053"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/921/best2012-1st-screen_tn.PNG" alt=" 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012" title=" 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle"> 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Thursday voted in favor of using smartphone apps to hail yellow taxis. The Commission will launch a pilot program beginning in February 2013. Though the idea of hailing a taxi with an app has merit, not all the players are happy. The vote was not approved by all the commissioners. It passed 7 to 0, but two abstained from the vote. A permanent ruling on the matter was downgraded to a pilot program that will be evaluated after a year's time. "Taxi-hailing apps will be useful to customers," said TLC chairman David Yassky in an interview with <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2012/12/12/new-plan-would-allow-taxi-apps-on-temporary-basis/">The Wall Street Journal</a>. "There's a lot we don't know about how they will work in practice and what impact there will be on other parts of industry. I think it's prudent to do this in a measured way, so they can see how they work before they make it permanent." [ Google Maps is back on iPhone, and it's learned a few new tricks. See <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/google-maps-returns-to-iphone/240144321?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Google Maps Returns To iPhone</a>. ] The vote is a win for app makers such as Uber and TaxiMagic, which develop tools that let people use their smartphone to connect with nearby taxi drivers and arrange for a pickup. Limousine and car service drivers aren't exactly happy with the idea, though. They contend that the pilot amounts to pre-booking, which is generally how limo and car service drivers arrange to pick up their own customers. They believe the use of apps will lead to fewer fares. There has been a longstanding ban on arranging yellow taxi rides ahead of time in the city. There are some distance-based <a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/pilot-program-approved-for-smartphone-app-to-hail-cabs/">restrictions</a> on how the program will work. For example, below 59th Street in Manhattan, taxi hailers and drivers who respond to their electronic requests must be within a half-mile of one another. In midtown, that means about 10 blocks (streets, not avenues). Above 59th Street and in the outer boroughs, potential passengers and responding taxis need to be within 1.5 miles of one another. There doesn't appear to be a limit on the number of apps that can be used by consumers and yellow cab drivers, but there will be quarterly checkups to see how the pilot is proceeding. Today's vote follows <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/nyc-no-taxi-hailing-payment-apps-for-you/240006922">a harsh reminder</a> from the TLC earlier this year that such means for hailing taxis were verboten. Now that the pilot program has been agreed to, maybe NYC can catch up with the times. Other cities around the world have been moving in this direction for a while. What do you think? Is it about time? Do the terms seem reasonable? Will you use an app to hail a cab next time you're hoofing it down 7th Avenue in the rain? Stay ahead of the eCommerce technology curve. Watch our webcast, Next Generation e-Commerce Strategies for B2B Sales and Marketing, to learn the strategies and tactics you can use to more efficiently give your clients what they want, keep them happy and increase sales. <a href=https://www.techwebonlineevents.com/ars/eventregistration.do?mode=eventreg&F=1005250&K=ECOMEAIBM">Register now</a>.2012-12-13T11:50:00ZLarger Phablet From Samsung TippedSamsung prepping huge 6.3-inch OLED screen for its next Galaxy Note smartphone, pushing boundaries of phablets even further.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/larger-phablet-from-samsung-tipped/240144367?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors<div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/galleries/mobility/smart_phones/240002355"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/814/01_Intro_tn.jpg" alt="Samsung's Android Super Smartphone: Galaxy SIII" title="Samsung's Android Super Smartphone: Galaxy SIII" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">Samsung's Android Super Smartphone: Galaxy SIII</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>If you thought the Samsung Galaxy Note II was a big phone, wait until you see the Galaxy Note III. Samsung's component suppliers say next year's Note will boast a massive 6.3-inch screen. This begs the question, where does the boundary between phone and tablet really sit? The <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/samsung-ships-5-million-galaxy-note-ii-s/240142533">Note II</a>, which is available from most major carriers in the U.S., has a 5.5-inch screen. The Super AMOLED display is 1280 pixels by 720 pixels. It's one of the best displays available on a smartphone today. The original Note's screen measures 5.3 inches diagonally, but had a different aspect ratio and a different pixel count with 1280 pixels by 800 pixels. The Korea Times, which <a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2012/12/133_126645.html">first reported</a> the story, didn't have information on the aspect ratio of the new 6.3-inch screen nor a resolution. With competitors such as HTC delivering <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/htc-droid-dna-takes-on-smartphone-rivals/240124945">1080p HD displays</a> to its leading products, it isn't a stretch to assume the Note III will have a full 1920-pixel- by-1080p HD display. According to some quick math, such a screen would measure 5.5 inches long and 3.1 inches wide. By way of comparison, the entire iPhone 5 body measures 4.88 inches by 2.3 inches. That's a big, big screen. The pixel density would be approximately 350 pixels per inch, putting it in "Retina" territory, for sure. [ Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/should-your-next-smartphone-be-a-phablet/240001749?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Should Your Next Smartphone Be A Phablet?</a> ] Samsung has not confirmed plans to offer such a device, but it wouldn't be a surprise at all if it did. The company has devices in the market with nearly every measurement between 2.0 inches and 10.1 inches. The Galaxy Note III isn't the only leading-edge device Samsung is preparing for 2013. The Korea Times believes Samsung will use February's Mobile World Congress event to debut the Galaxy S IV, a successor to the Galaxy S III. The Galaxy S series of devices has been Samsung's best seller for the last two years, with tens of millions of units sold the world over. It is the company's top-of-the-line device. The GSIII, available in the U.S. since late June, <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/smb/mobile/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-steals-iphones-crow/240062655">displaced the Apple iPhone 4S</a> as the most popular handset during the third quarter. The GSIII has a somewhat smaller display (4.7 inches) and footprint when compared to the Note II, but they look similar thanks to Samsung's familial design language. The Korea Times' estimate of a February debut for the GSIV is questionable, though. Samsung launched the original Galaxy S at MWC in 2010 and followed it with the Galaxy S II at MWC in 2011. The Galaxy S III skipped MWC this year, though, and didn't arrive until early May, when Samsung held a special launch event specifically for that device. Whenever the Galaxy Note III and Galaxy S IV arrive, Samsung will be sure to make a big deal about it. Storing and protecting data are critical components of any successful cloud solution. Join our webcast, Cloud Storage Drivers: Auto-provisioning, Virtualization, Encryption, to stay ahead of the curve on automated and self-service storage, enterprise class data protection and service level management. <a href="https://www.techwebonlineevents.com/ars/eventregistration.do?mode=eventreg&F=1005242&K=STOEAIBM">Watch now or bookmark for later</a>.2012-12-12T11:40:00ZBlackBerry 10 'L-Series' Hardware Hints PromisingWith the official BlackBerry 10 launch just seven weeks away, leaks give a good look at RIM's work. At first glance, it looks encouraging.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/blackberry-10-l-series-hardware-hints-pr/240144248?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authorsResearch In Motion will debut BlackBerry 10, its next-generation smartphone platform and devices, on <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/rim-blackberry-10-slated-for-jan-30-reve/240115295">January 30</a>. The new platform has been delayed by nearly a year and RIM needs the software and hardware to pack some "Wow!" factor if it's to win back the millions of customers it's lost to rivals Apple and Google. Based on leaked images and video of the first wave of hardware, RIM has a decent chance. A website based in Vietnam has posted a large collection of <a href="http://www.tinhte.vn/threads/1734319/">photos of the L-Series BlackBerry 10</a> devices. The L-Series is expected to be the first BB10 to reach the market. It is an all-touch device. A second handset with a QWERTY keyboard is <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/rim-promises-blackberry-10-handsets-shor/240134927">expected to arrive later</a>. That device has not yet been spied. [ Can RIM take back customers lost to iOS and Android <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/development/mobility/what-if-google-ignores-blackberry-10/240144104?itc=edit_in_body_cross">If Google Ignores BlackBerry 10</a>? ] The L-Series device seen in the images is clearly based on the current Dev Beta hardware that RIM has made available to BlackBerry developers. The overall shape, button placement and features are similar, though it is obviously refined when compared to the beta device. It is a monoblock slab that has a sizable touchscreen and a conservative design. It is somewhat blocky, but the design clearly says "BlackBerry." The usual assortment of buttons and controls is visible, such as volume toggle and user-assignable action key, power button, headphone port, microHDMI and microUSB port. The device boasts front and back cameras (with a flash), and what appear to be light or proximity sensors on the front. With the back cover removed, the battery, microSD card and NFC radio coil are clearly visible. None of the internals are shown, so that leaves plenty of room for speculation about L-Series devices' other features. Things that are a given include a dual-core processor, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and so on. (It's not clear if this L-Series device is the same "<a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/rim-preps-hero-smartphone-codenamed-aris/240008483">Aristo</a>" device that was spec'd out earlier this year.) The video provides a good look at the hardware, as well as a walkthrough of the user interface. RIM has already revealed a number of the user interface features, such as BlackBerry Flow and BlackBerry Hub. Flow is used to navigate through the user interface, and Hub is the Grand Central Station (if you will) of the new platform's messaging features. Take a look for yourself. What do you think? Does this hardware and software give RIM a fighting chance against Android, iOS and Windows Phone? <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TSs5Q_rcgX4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>2012-12-12T11:10:00ZYahoo Gets Serious About MobileNew email and Flickr apps show that CEO Mayer is pushing to make Yahoo a contender in the mobile market.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/business/yahoo-gets-serious-about-mobile/240144277?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authorsYahoo has introduced two rewritten mobile applications in the last two days: Yahoo Mail and Flickr. Both are key properties that the listing Internet giant has ignored for far too long. Under former Googler Marissa Mayer's leadership, Yahoo appears to be ready to step up and compete. In the last five or six years, Yahoo has failed to capitalize on the growing importance of mobility. In 2006, smartphone penetration was at about 15%. Now, more than 50% of new device sales are smartphones. If there are two activities that smartphone users love, it is to send mobile email and take and share pictures. That's why the new Yahoo Mail and Flickr apps are so important. Mayer herself explained the new Yahoo email system. "Email is the ultimate daily habit," she wrote. "It's often the first thing we check in the morning and the last thing before going to bed. Why? Because it's one of the simplest and most basic forms of communication." The Web interface has been fully revised, and the company pushed out dedicated Windows 8 <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yahoo.mobile.client.android.mail">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yahoo!-mail/id577586159?mt=8">iOS</a> Yahoo Mail apps to accompany the Web redesign. They all share the same look and feel. [ Is RIM still a viable player in the mobile field? Read <a href=" http://www.informationweek.com/development/mobility/what-if-google-ignores-blackberry-10/240144104?itc=edit_in_body_cross">What If Google Ignores Blackberry 10?</a> ] "You've told us loud and clear that you want fewer distractions when it comes to email," continued Mayer. "You want to quickly log in, communicate, and get on with your day ... We've redesigned the new version of Yahoo Mail with speed in mind -- getting through your emails is faster than ever before. We've also made your inbox more intuitive and easier to navigate, allowing you to focus on what matters most: your messages." Mayer knows the importance of mobile email all too well. Her former employer, Google, delivers an excellent mobile version of Gmail to its Android smartphones. It's no surprise that Mayer made a new mobile email experience a priority. The same can be said about mobile photos. Yahoo's Flickr app has been languishing. The last update was pushed out a year ago, in December 2011. Flickr is one of the many properties that photo lovers were hoping Mayer would take seriously after taking the reins, and it appears that she has. Yahoo revamped both the Web-based Flickr experience and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flickr/id328407587?mt=8">the iPhone application</a>. (There's no word yet if new Android and Windows Phone apps are on the way, but they likely are.) The new app is significantly better. It makes improvements across the board, in terms of the user interface and design as well as raw functionality. It now supports filters for photos and makes sharing with various social networks a breeze. These two apps are a solid first step, but Yahoo has to go further. For example, Yahoo Messenger, its instant messaging service, could make a comeback if Yahoo makes it a cross-platform messaging service, similar to Skype, ChatOn, What'sApp, or RebTel. Yahoo can still turn itself around and compete with Apple, Google and Microsoft in the mobile arena. If it can deliver a good core set of mobile apps to today's leading smartphone platforms, it has a chance. Attend Interop Las Vegas May 6-10, and be the first to create an action plan to incorporate the latest transformative technologies into your IT infrastructure. Use Priority Code DIPR01 by Jan. 13 to save up to $800 with Super Early Bird Savings. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 350+ exhibiting companies and the latest technology solutions. Register for <a href="http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/?_mc=DIPR01">Interop</a> today! 2012-12-11T13:22:00ZGoogle's Motorola Acquisition: All About The PatentsSlew of facility closures and divestitures prove that Google was never interested in Motorola's hardware business.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/googles-motorola-acquisition-all-about-t/240144181?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors"I'm confident the team at Motorola will be creating the next generation of mobile devices that will improve lives for years to come." Those are the words of Google CEO Larry Page, which he <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/weve-acquired-motorola-mobility.html">wrote</a> when the company closed its acquisition of Motorola Mobility in May of this year. The acquisition was valued at $12.5 billion. "Creating" is an interesting choice of words. Motorola certainly won't be manufacturing many more smartphones, thanks to Google's recent sales of Motorola's manufacturing facilities. The company <a href="http://news.flextronics.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=235792&p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=1765897">announced today</a> that it has sold two manufacturing plants -- one in Tianjin, China, and the other in Jaguariuna, Brazil -- to ODM Flextronics. Further, on Monday Google announced plans to shutter a Motorola research and design facility located in Korea. Google also plans to close Motorola's marketing and sales organization in Korea, and effectively exit the market. Korea is home to Samsung and LG, which hold a significant portion of the country's market share for mobile devices. Google didn't say it couldn't compete in Korea. Rather, it wants to save costs. The facility closures will mean about 500 jobs can be eliminated. [ Will Google continue to develop apps for RIM's beleaguered device? See <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/development/mobility/what-if-google-ignores-blackberry-10/240144104?itc=edit_in_body_cross">What If Google Ignores Blackberry 10?</a> ] Last, Motorola is <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/hardware/Motorola-to-shut-down-Chennai-manufacturing-facility/articleshow/17570074.cms">shutting down</a> a manufacturing facility in Chennai, India. The operation there is small; only 76 people will lose jobs. It is used to install software on mobile devices, as well as prepare packaging. The facility will be idled in February of next year. These sales and closures shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. In fact, Google warned in October that it was exiting the entry-level device business and that more facilities would get the ax before the end of the year. Google was never really interested in Motorola's hardware business. It even said so. John Lagerling, Google director of Android business development, said earlier this year in an interview with the New York Times, "It's mostly about the patents, [that] way you can sort of disarm this huge attack against Android." Lagerling was, of course, referencing Apple's patent-related assault of hardware manufacturers that make Android smartphones. So what will become of Motorola's hardware business? Well, it's not going to go away entirely. Google has committed to making high-end smartphones. Google may have consolidated Motorola's offices and facilities in the U.S. and abroad, but the company still calls Chicago home and will continue to design devices for U.S. wireless network operators. As part of its deal with Google, Flextronics signed a contract with Google to manufacture mobile devices for its Motorola subsidiary. In other words, the same plants that made Motorola phones this year will make them next year, but under different ownership. Google is simply reducing Motorola's manufacturing footprint and business operations -- it's a software company, after all -- and will hold onto those 17,000+ patents for protection when it needs them. InformationWeek is conducting our fourth annual State of Enterprise Storage Survey on data management technologies and strategies. Take our <a href="http://informationweek.2013socialnetworking.sgizmo.com/s3/?iwid=pl">State Of Enterprise Storage Survey</a> now. Survey ends Dec. 14. 2012-12-11T12:36:00ZMicrosoft Surface, Google Nexus Drive Little TrafficAfter about one month of sales, Microsoft Surface tablets are not generating much Web traffic. Google's Nexus fares only slightly better, while iPad dominates.http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/microsoft-surface-google-nexus-drive-lit/240144211?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/windows/microsoft-news/8-cool-windows-8-tablets-for-home-and-of/240010621"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/889/01_Intro_tn.jpg" alt="8 Cool Windows 8 Tablets For Home And Office" title="8 Cool Windows 8 Tablets For Home And Office" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">8 Cool Windows 8 Tablets For Home And Office</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>  The Microsoft Surface, which has been available for just over a month, has so far had little impact on the Web. New data from Chikita Insights shows that it accounted for just 0.13% of all tablet Web traffic for a six-day period in mid-November. Chitika Insights <a href="http://insights.chitika.com/2012/microsoft-surface-report/">sampled</a> tens of millions of tablet impressions on its U.S. and Canadian ad network between November 12 and November 18th. At just over one-tenth of 1%, Chikita's data suggests sales of the Surface may not be <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/tablets/for-microsoft-surface-modest-sales-are-g/240144101">as strong as Microsoft hoped</a>. The Surface, which runs Windows RT, went on sale October 26. It can be purchased directly from Microsoft's website or at a Microsoft store. The 32GB model costs $499. Meanwhile, Google's Nexus-branded tablets are doing much better -- at least compared to the Surface. The Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 combined accounted for 0.91% of all tablet Web traffic -- which means Google's top-shelf Android tablets together still didn't break 1% of all tablet Web traffic. [ For more on the marketplace success of Microsoft's new tablet, see <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/tablets/for-microsoft-surface-modest-sales-are-g/240144101?itc=edit_in_body_cross">For Microsoft Surface, Modest Sales Are Good Enough</a>. ] Even so, the Nexus tablets managed to scrape together seven times more traffic that the Surface did. It's worth noting that the Nexus 7 has been available since July -- much longer than the Surface. The Nexus 10 went on sale in the middle of November, so the Nexus 7 likely accounted for the lion's share (such as it is) of that 0.91% figure. Comparing the Nexus tablets' combined 0.91% Web traffic share to the iPad's traffic tells a different story. The iPad, which kick-started the tablet craze nearly three years ago and continues to be the best-selling tablet, accounts for about 88% of all tablet Web traffic. No other device or platform comes even close to matching <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/ipad-is-top-black-friday-shopping-tablet/240142545">the iPad's share</a>. The remaining 11% of tablet Web traffic belongs to a smattering of devices, such as the Amazon Kindle Fire, Barnes & Noble Nook, RIM PlayBook, and various non-Nexus branded Android tablets. The 2012 holiday season is sure to be a big one for tablets, as the availability of high-quality inexpensive tablets has never been better. The Nexus 7, which just got a small spec boost, sells for just $199. The iPad Mini, which went on sale in early November, sells for $329. At $500, the Surface will have a hard time competing with entry-level tablets, much less the full-sized iPad. Join Cloud Connect for a free webcast with "Cloudnomics" author Joe Weinman. Cloudnomics is a new way to discuss the benefits of private clouds. Many have focused on the cost reduction possibilities while others have focused on business agility. However, private clouds can play a strategic role, as well. The <a href="http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=543922&s=1&k=03050B993D09D35972131EDAF5030AD5&partnerref=jdpl">Cloudnomics</a> webcast happens Dec. 12. (Free registration required.)2012-12-10T12:33:00ZWhat If Google Ignores BlackBerry 10?Google's long-time support for RIM's BlackBerry platform seems to be waning. Will BlackBerry 10 be able to win back Android and iPhone users without mobile apps from Google?http://www.informationweek.com/development/mobility/what-if-google-ignores-blackberry-10/240144104?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors<div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/thebrainyard/news/galleries/social_networking_consumer/240007253"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/867/Google-Plus,-1st-screen_full.PNG" alt="10 Best Business Tools In Google+" title="10 Best Business Tools In Google+" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">10 Best Business Tools In Google+</div>(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>Google offers a single application to Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 platform: Google Search. A thorough examination of the Windows Phone Store shows nothing else officially developed by Google. There is no version of Google Maps for Windows Phone, nor is there Google+, Google Chrome, Google Drive, Google Music, Google Reader, Google Voice, nor even YouTube. There are alternatives developed by third parties. For example, both HTC and Microsoft offer their own YouTube apps for Windows Phone devices. Plenty others hook into Google services in order to bring them to Windows Phone, but they aren't officially made by Google. Many of them offer compromised experiences at best. This is, perhaps, one reason why Microsoft's Windows Phone platform <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/smart-phones/android-clear-leader-in-smartphone-race/240143823">has struggled</a> against Android and iOS. Sure, you get your Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google Calendar on a Windows Phone device, or use the IE 10 browser to access Google+ and other Google services, but it's not the same without native apps. In fact, it is the biggest reason why I can't use Windows Phone as a daily driver. I'm too reliant on Google's apps and services, and I'd have to give many of them up (or deal with annoying workarounds) to make the switch full time. [ Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/software/productivity-applications/google-releases-gmail-20-for-ios/240143781?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Google Releases Gmail 2.0 For iOS</a>. ] On the other hand, Google supports its chief competitor, Apple's iPhone and iPad. Google offers users of Apple's mobile platform dedicated <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/mobile-applications/gmail-20-catches-up-with-competition/240144095">Gmail</a>, Drive, Google+, <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/chrome-for-ios-a-failure/240143761">Chrome</a>, Search, Voice, YouTube, and other apps. For many iOS device users, these apps and services are essential. If Google cut off all support for iOS tomorrow morning, I'd wager plenty of iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users would find themselves looking at Android-powered devices before lunch. But what about RIM? Recently, CrackBerry.com <a href="http://crackberry.com/where-did-google-maps-blackberry-go">pointed out</a> that Google's mobile apps for BlackBerry 7 have become difficult to find. In fact, the links needed to download Google apps to BlackBerry handsets are more or less buried, making them all but impossible to locate. Google has already ceased development work on stand-alone BlackBerry apps, such as its age-old Java Gmail app. Further, AllAboutSymbian.com <a href="http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/flow/item/16364_Googles_mobile_page_now_Symbia.php">recently noted</a> a similar change in how Google treats Symbian. In fact, the AAS folks term Google's treatment of Symbian as hostile. They note, "The famous m.google.com is now distinctly Symbian-hostile, with a 3MB or so content stash, all aimed at promoting Android and iOS software." As with the Crackberry folks, the AAS folks were able to find the links needed to download Google apps to their Symbian devices, but it took some digging. Symbian and BlackBerry 7 are on their way out. Their day has come and gone. RIM is banking on Blackberry 10 to save its skin in 2013. Can RIM do that without Google's support? Many former BlackBerry users have transitioned to Android smartphones or the iPhone. The bulk of them probably rely on Google services, whether for email, social networking, or whatever. Android, in particular, is a hub of all things Google. Naturally, BlackBerry 10 users will be able to get Gmail, Contacts, and Calendar support. That is a given. Will BlackBerry 10 get YouTube? What about Google+ or Google Voice? Will millions of consumers who've become accustomed to Google's services make the switch to a platform that doesn't support them? So far, Microsoft hasn't been that lucky. The worldwide share of Windows Phone, which has been in the market for more than two years, is still less than 5%. Officially, there's been no word from either RIM or Google about what Google apps will be available to BlackBerry 10. RIM will struggle to win back customers, though, without at least a little help from its competitor. The question is, will Google step in or won't it? Stay ahead of the eCommerce technology curve. Watch our webcast, Next Generation e-Commerce Strategies for B2B Sales and Marketing, to learn the strategies and tactics you can use to more efficiently give your clients what they want, keep them happy and increase sales. <a href=https://www.techwebonlineevents.com/ars/eventregistration.do?mode=eventreg&F=1005250&K=ECOMEAIBM">Register now</a>.2012-12-10T09:40:00ZAustralian Police Steer Drivers Away From Apple MapsError in iOS mapping app strands drivers in the middle of a desert, 45 miles from their intended destination. Australian police are not amused.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/australian-police-steer-drivers-away-fro/240144122?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/apple-macintosh/apple-itunes-11-visual-tour/240142961 "><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/916/sshot000_tn.png" alt="Apple iTunes 11: Visual Tour" title="Apple iTunes 11: Visual Tour" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">Apple iTunes 11: Visual Tour</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>  The Australian desert is no joke. With temperatures that reach a searing 115 degrees Fahrenheit, it's not a place anyone needs to get stranded with no food or water. That's why the police in Mildura, Australia, are telling motorists to steer clear of Apple Maps. Mildura police officers have responded to motorists in need of help after becoming lost and stranded thanks to the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20663447">directions supplied by Apple Maps</a>, reported the BBC. Some people the police assisted had been stranded without food and water for more than 24 hours. The authorities then ran their own trials of the software and found it lacking. "Tests on the mapping system by police confirm the mapping systems lists Mildura in the middle of the Murray Sunset National Park, approximately [45 miles] away from the actual location of Mildura," said senior sergeant Sharon Darcy. "Police are extremely concerned as there is no water supply within the park and temperatures can reach as high as [115 degrees F], making this a potentially life-threatening issue." [ Google is prepping a new maps app for iOS. Learn <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/why-apple-cant-deny-google-maps-on-iphon/240142256?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Why Apple Can't Deny Google Maps On iPhone</a>. ] The police are strongly suggesting that travelers find an alternative to Apple Maps until Apple fixes its software. (Of course, it wouldn't hurt if travelers heading into the desert also brought along a couple gallons of water.) Apple Maps debuted in September with iOS 6 and has been roundly criticized since for its inaccuracies and other problems. The debacle forced Apple to make a public apology. "We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better," <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/mobile-applications/apple-apologizes-for-ios-6-maps/240008107">said CEO Tim Cook</a> earlier this year. The employees chiefly responsible for both Apple Maps and the iOS platform have since left Apple. Apple wanted to supply its iPhone users with voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation. Google Maps, which was a part of iOS until September, did not provide that feature. Apple and Google were unable to come to an agreement about the feature, so Apple dropped Google Maps in favor of its own software. The company has since admitted that this was a mistake. It is <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/science-technology/is-apple-maps-salvageable/240142645">working hard</a> to fix the software.2012-12-07T11:45:00ZApple Scoffs At Judge's Notion Of 'Global Peace'Apple, Samsung trial judge makes a plea for peace, but Apple isn't having any of it.http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-scoffs-at-judges-notion-of-global/240144042?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_authors <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-one-year-after-steve-jobs-hits-and/240008271"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/879/01_Steve-Jobs_tn.jpg" alt="Apple One Year After Steve Jobs: Hits And Misses" title="Apple One Year After Steve Jobs: Hits And Misses" class="img175" /></a> <div class="storyImageTitle">Apple One Year After Steve Jobs: Hits And Misses</div> (click image for larger view and for slideshow)</div>Apple and Samsung fought another battle in their global patent war in a San Jose courtroom Thursday, where they wrangled over the jury's decision-making process and other minutiae of the case. Samsung wants the jury's $1.05 billion guilty verdict to be negated entirely, and asked for a retrial. One of <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-vs-samsung-returns-to-court/240143913">Samsung's key arguments</a> revolves around jury foreman Velvin Hogan. Samsung claims Hogan lied about his past involvement with technology companies and litigation. Meanwhile, Apple wants Samsung to cough up some money and stop selling the offending devices in the U.S. U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh clearly wants the whole spectacle ended. After the two companies were done presenting their arguments, she said, "When is this case going to resolve? Are there additional data points you're waiting for? Is there an event?" [ For more on the Apple Vs. Samsung case, see <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-vs-samsung-returns-to-court/240143913?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Apple Vs. Samsung Returns To Court</a>. ] According to the Financial Times, <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9d8e6728-400c-11e2-9f71-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2ENbybzR9">Koh's remarks</a> brought out laughter from the courtroom. "I'm not joking," she interjected. "I've said this all along. I think it's time for global peace.  If there is any way this court can facilitate some sort of resolution, I'd like to do that. I think it would be good for consumers and good for the industry." Last month, a Samsung senior executive said the company would never settle with Apple. Even so, Samsung's counsel, Charles Verhoeven, indicated the company might be willing to talk, but said, "The ball's in their court." No way, said Apple. Harold McElhinny, Apple's lawyer, said the $1.05 billion fine levied by the court is "slap on the wrist" for Samsung, which willfully chose to copy Apple's products and designs. "Eventually it will come to the power of this court to establish a line, which the jury has done, and to enforce it. Both parties will be able to assess whether the American [legal] system that we hold true provides a remedy to change behaviors," said McElhinny. Apple wants more than just money from Samsung. It appears as though the company wants the results of this trial to set the tone for its other patent skirmishes. Apple has had mixed results in dealing with Samsung in the courtrooms of the U.K., The Netherlands, Germany, and Australia. It has won injunctions in some countries, but was <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apples-non-apology-annoys-judge/240012706">forced to apologize</a> in others. Judge Koh did not make any final decisions during Thursday's hearing. Instead, she'll publish a series of rulings on the individual matters over the coming weeks. InformationWeek's last Enterprise Social Networking Survey found huge interest, widespread use -- and lukewarm satisfaction with the results from enterprise social networking. Now in its fifth year, our annual survey assesses the growth of enterprise social networking and its impact on internal and external operations. Take our <a href="http://informationweek.2013socialnetworking.sgizmo.com/s3/?iwid=pl">Enterprise Social Networking Survey Survey</a> now. Survey ends Dec. 7.