Mobile | featured news

Why Did LinkedIn Acquire Pulse For $90 Million?

Content has become a large initiative on LinkedIn’s web property, but it hasn’t translated as well to its mobile apps. More users are shifting to mobile, and as the Pulse team was mostly focused on mobile, they can contribute to LinkedIn’s content efforts specifically on mobile platforms.

 

The joke may be on Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerber - CNN

Douglas Rushkoff says Facebook's new app just increases disorientation and isn't getting rave reviews from users... And when I looked up Facebook Home online to try to find out just what it was, the first search results that came up were from users sharing how to disable it. This way, consumers can buy the discounted phones on which Facebook Home ships, and turn them back into a regular Android smartphones, where Facebook is just another app we can use in our own good time.

 

Thousands urge Verizon to nix contracts

Verizon Wireless - CNN

A movement urging Verizon to get rid of wireless contracts appears to be gaining steam. A petition calling for the carrier to end contracts for smartphones and "create an affordable way for consumers to purchase their devices" had attracted more than 55,000 signatures by midday Tuesday on Change.org, the online petition platform.

 

Turn phone into a biometric scanner

iPhone Iris Scanner - CNN

Smartphones are powerful tools, and with the right apps and accessories, they can become even more so. A California-based tech company has launched a tool that turns a regular iPhone 4 or 4S into a powerful biometrics scanning tool. AOptix has unveiled its app and a wrap-around device for turning the smartphone into a portable iris, face, fingerprint and voice scanner.

 

Alibaba steps up battle with Android

Alibaba Amos Smartphones - BCC

Alibaba seeks to weaken Google's dominance of the Chinese smartphone market with subsidies and other support for its rival Amos operating system. The firm has set up a one billion yuan ($162m; £105m) programme to support app developers and is offering monthly payments to handset makers for every phone using its platform they sell.

 

Dish Network offering to buy Sprint in $25.5B deal

Dish Network - AP

Dish Network Corp. is trying to snag U.S. wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. away from its Japanese suitor in recognition of the way satellite dishes are losing their relevance in the age of cellphones that play YouTube videos.

 

Looks Like Facebook Home Is Not For Me

There’s been lots of news lately regarding Facebook Home. I use Facebook on a daily basis, but I’m not sure if I want them to take over my phone. I don’t even want Google to take over my phone; the first thing I did with my new phone was get rid of their search bar.

 

Why you would — and wouldn’t — want Facebook Home

All in all, Facebook Home is ideal for true social network addicts. But those who aren’t constantly checking Facebook mobile for updates might find it more distracting than helpful.

 

Got the Galaxy Note 2

Galaxy Note 2 Drawings

Ever since Samsung came out with the Galaxy Note, I was already interested. It has a 5.3” screen and a pressure-sensitive stylus.

Because I use my phone mostly for web browsing, the larger screen allows me to see more of a website without zooming in and out. I’m also not one who fears big phones. I got HTC’s HD2 a couple years ago when its 4.3” screen was the largest of its time.

 

Facebook Home Is Now Available in the Play Store

Facebook announced their new social home screen replacement called Facebook Home last week, and today it's available in the Play Store for certain devices. The suite of apps puts more focus on your friends and social sharing than the separate apps you use to communicate, with a new home and lock screen, a new notifications area, and (of course) serious Facebook integration. Facebook Home is available for the HTC First, HTC One X and One X+, the Samsung Galaxy S III, and the Galaxy Note II. Support for the HTC One and Galaxy S4 are coming in the future, along with (hopefully) other devices. Check out the video above to see it in action, read our original post for more information, and if you have a supported device, hit the link below to try it out.

 

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