Google Acquires Motorola

AUG. 15, 2011 • Google Inc. will pay nearly $12.5 billion to acquire Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. Although Google has marketed its own Android phones with hardware sourced from partner electronics manufacturers, the acquisition of Motorola puts the company in direct competition with smartphone makers who use the Android OS. No change is expected in Google’s policy of giving rights to use Android to these hardware manufacturers for free in order to buil.....

Amazon Preps Tablet

JULY 14, 2011 • The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon.com will release its own tablet computer by October. Whether the device was developed in-house by the online retailer, or sourced from a third-party manufacturer, was not known. Amazon.com declined to comment on the report. Impact: On the short list of major consumer facing companies that could break into the ever more crowded table.....

100 Million Android Devices Worldwide

MAY 11, 2011 • Google reported that there were now more than 100 million Android devices operating worldwide. What’s more, 400,000 new Android devices are registered every day. Impact: DFC Intelligence forecasts that the number of Andorid devices is expected to grow to over 500 million by 2016.  This will compare to an estimated 200 million users of the iOS.  Of course, in terms of app.....

Sony’s New Android Tablets

APRIL 26, 2011 • Sony Electronics will widen the field of tablet computers available this fall with two new units: codenamed S1 and S2. Both devices are slated to be built around Google’s Android operating system. Both tablets will feature 3G and 4G mobile Internet support, as well as WiFi connectivit. The S1 is a 9.4-inch model, while the S2 sports a clamshell design that comes with two 5.5-inch touch screens. .....

Mobile Game Sales Grow

APRIL 16, 2011 • According to research firm Flurry Analytics, from 2009 to 2010, iOS and Android mobile game sales increased from 5% to 8% market share within the U.S. video game market. Flurry estimates that iOS and Android game revenue increased from $500 million in 2009 to mo.....

Yobongo Raises 1.35 Million

MARCH 24, 2011 • Yobongo Inc. is a new studio based in San Francisco that just released an iPhone app by the same name. The app enables users to chat randomly with others in the same geographic area that have Yobongo installed. Following the launch, Yobongo raised $1.35 million from True.....