Juniper Research: Mobile app store downloads to reach 25 billion by 2015

As we have a growing number of app stores, Juniper Research is forecasting that the annual number of consumer-oriented handset downloads will rise from less than 2.6 billion in 2009 to more than 25 billion in 2015. The research company argues that players across the mobile value chain are seeking to emulate Apple’s AppStore success. Hence we have a rising number of carriers unveiling their solutions – China Unicom has “Mobile Market,” India’s Bharti “Airtel App Central” and Vodafone “Apps & Games Shop.” At the same time there are manufacturer and platform specific storefronts, as well as independents such as GetJar and Handango

More:
Juniper Research: Mobile app store downloads to reach 25 billion by 2015

Windows Phone 7 To Feature Only Bing As Search Engine

While  Apple has recently expanded the iPhone ’s search capabilities to include Microsoft’s Bing search engine, it seems that Microsoft won’t be returning the favor. Pocket-Lint recently sat down with Microsoft’s senior product manager Greg Sullivan to question him over Windows Phone 7’s search capabilities.

Read more here:
Windows Phone 7 To Feature Only Bing As Search Engine

Dueling $300 15.6″ laptops at Walmart and Best Buy – competition is good!

It’s the pre-back-to-school rush (or maybe the pre -pre rush) and every electronics retailer and e-tailer knows that students love new laptops. Best Buy and Walmart both have a Celeron 900-based 15.6″ laptop with 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive.

Continued here:
Dueling $300 15.6″ laptops at Walmart and Best Buy – competition is good!

Take perfect panoramas with a modified egg timer

I’m going to have to file this one under “Why didn’t I think of that?” Camarush took a simple egg timer, modified it to have a tripod mount on the bottom and the top, and then put their idea up on a website for sale. Good on ‘em, I say

Read the original post:
Take perfect panoramas with a modified egg timer

Netflix makes right with PS3: Dedicated Software Announced

Just like the Wii , if you want to stream Netflix movies to the PS3, you have to use a dedicated disc in the drive for the PS3 to run the Netflix app. During Netflix’s Q2 results report there was a mention of a dedicated streaming for the PS3. We aren’t sure of the DRM being used, but Netflix is confident that they will release the “major” update in October.

Originally posted here:
Netflix makes right with PS3: Dedicated Software Announced

Please stop encouraging tricky apps like Handy Light

By now, you should be aware that Apple pulled the Handy Light app this morning because the flashlight app could be secretly turned into a tethering program with a secret code. I would like all the people encouraging other developers to include secret functionality in apps to kindly shut up. Tricking the gatekeepers leads us down a bad path that hurts all parts of the mobile app ecosystem

More:
Please stop encouraging tricky apps like Handy Light

Bloatware Creeps Into Android Phones

Android-based smartphones are falling victim to something that has plagued PC users for years: bloatware. Android phones are being pre-loaded with trial software and apps that can’t be deleted off the device by the user. These apps touting mobile TV, football games, location-based search and games are the new face of bloatware, also known as crapware or craplets in the PC world

Read more:
Bloatware Creeps Into Android Phones

Is the iPhone Coming to T-Mobile? I Don’t Think So…

The rumor of the day is that the iPhone might be coming to T-Mobile, according to a “highly placed source” of Cult of Mac . While this rumor makes more sense to me than a Verizon iPhone , I still don’t believe the hype. To be honest with you, I think this was completely made up by Cult of Mac just so they can get other people (like me) to talk about them.

Continue reading here:
Is the iPhone Coming to T-Mobile? I Don’t Think So…

Flipboard magazine for the iPad, made for you, literally

We’ve reported on a lot of iPad magazines, like Wired , and the new exclusive iPad mag Maverick . This is the first time I have seen anything like Flipboard. Flipboard is essentially an auto-generated contents page that is take from your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Read the rest here:
Flipboard magazine for the iPad, made for you, literally

Review: Clickfree C2N Portable backup

Short Version : The Clickfree C2N USB drive provides a simple way to back up multiple computers without a NAS. The software is functional and user-friendly, but better network access might have set the device apart a bit more. Features : Includes Clickfree backup software Built in USB cable, as well as a dock Works with both Mac and PC MSRP: $179.99 (500GB) as reviewed Pros : Included software works great Plug the drive into each computer you want to back up once, and then it works over your network, wireless or not Compact size Cons : USB speed makes larger files take a while to back up Backup software is always running in the background Can’t connect to network without a computer Full review : Clickfree’s C2N is a portable USB drive that comes pre-installed with software for both the Mac and the PC.

Continue reading here:
Review: Clickfree C2N Portable backup

Apple’s 27" iMac only supports native or 720p video input, no 1080p

Apple’s revised 27″ iMac introduced this spring debuted a new feature: a Mini DisplayPort video port that worked in both directions, enabling external video sources to output video to the screen. That feature is largely limited to 720p in HDTV applications however.

See the article here:
Apple’s 27" iMac only supports native or 720p video input, no 1080p

AT&T defensively publishes private dropped call data

While Apple’s chief executive Steve Jobs said AT&T wouldn’t let him reveal its proprietary data about dropped call statistics for competitive reasons, the mobile provider has revealed some numbers in an effort to defend its network from poor dropped call scores collected by ChangeWave.

Read the rest here:
AT&T defensively publishes private dropped call data

A quick PSA on “dots” versus “pixels” in LCDs

These days, when you go to look up the specs on a new camera or camcorder, one of the first things you check out is the LCD. But as often as not, you’ll be hit with an unfamiliar number: some huge quantity of “dots.” Most people aren’t familiar with this metric, as it is a slightly technical one — which is the reason it was chosen instead of the more common plain resolution numbers.

Here is the original post:
A quick PSA on “dots” versus “pixels” in LCDs

How to use UIAutomation to create iPhone UI tests – What’s new in O’Reilly Answers: iPhone UI tests, beautiful code, Objective-c, cloud computing,…

One of the more useful (from a developer standpoint) features coming in iOS 4 (formerly iPhone OS 4) is the UIAutomation tool.

The rest is here:
How to use UIAutomation to create iPhone UI tests – What’s new in O’Reilly Answers: iPhone UI tests, beautiful code, Objective-c, cloud computing,…

Dell Inspiron iM501R notebook now available for purchase

The Dell Inspiron iM501R notebook is finally available for purchase online via Amazon with prices ranging from $580 to $765 depending on the model. The less powerful model is named Dell Inspiron iM501R-1459MRB and boasts an AMD Athlon II Dual-Core P320 processor running at 2.1GHz. On the other hand, the iM501R-2272MRB comes with a better processor – a AMD Phenom II Quad-Core P920 at 1.6Ghz and on the graphics card an ATI Radeon HD550v with 1GB

Read more here:
Dell Inspiron iM501R notebook now available for purchase

MSI presents FX600 laptop

MSI has recently added a new laptop to its F Series which is codenamed MSI FX600 and boasts a 15,6-inch screen. At the moment the MSI FX600 is available for purchase online at Newegg and there are two options: – MSI FX600-002US that comes with an Intel Core i5 450M processor and a DVD burner; – MSI FX600-003US that features an Intel Core i3 350M processor and a Blu-ray drive; Both laptop models have a nVidia GeForce GT325M as the graphics card, as well as 4GB of DDR3 RAM memory and a hard-drive with 500GB. The usual extras include WiFi, a 6-cell battery, a 4-in-1 media card reader, and an Express Card Slot

Continue reading here:
MSI presents FX600 laptop

Foursquare version 1.9.0 for BlackBerry

We have already mentioned some past upgrades of the Foursquare application for BlackBerry and the good news is that there is a new version – 1.9.0. The Foursquare version 1.9.0 brings an interesting pack of features with the special one being the upload of a profile photo directly via your BlackBerry. Other features of the new version include sorting check-ins by time or distance; checking specials nearby; integration with BlackBerryMaps and an improved battery life.

Original post:
Foursquare version 1.9.0 for BlackBerry

Rapid transit fare evasion in Atlanta, a study

While we can’t condone these low-tech methods for evading the fare on MARTA, Atlanta’s rapid transit system, there are a few clever methods here including the Macguyver and the Slider. I wonder what the first guy did to get out

Continue reading here:
Rapid transit fare evasion in Atlanta, a study

Nexus One Reaches Its End in Google Store

Seven months after Google launched its first phone, the HTC-designed Nexus One, it has stopped selling the devices through its online store. “Sorry, folks…The Nexus One is no longer available for purchase directly from Google,” the company announced

Here is the original post:
Nexus One Reaches Its End in Google Store

Hey, NASA! Need a cheaper space suit for your astronauts? Call the Final Frontier Design guys.

This is what I like to see, homebrew space equipment. It’s a spacesuit that was invented by the two gentlemen at Final Frontier Design , one that made its debut at the Eyebeam Center for Art + Technology in New York last week.

Read this article:
Hey, NASA! Need a cheaper space suit for your astronauts? Call the Final Frontier Design guys.

Cellular South Offering Android 2.1 to HTC Hero

Cellular South today announced that customers with the HTC Hero can download and install Android 2.1 Eclair on their devices. Aside from all the new features found in Android 2.1, (Google Maps Navigation, pinch-to-zoom, Yahoo Mail support and better …

Excerpt from:
Cellular South Offering Android 2.1 to HTC Hero

Two DIY guitars make it easy to start your N3RDCOR3 band

I got my Millenium Falcon six-string Bought it down on Tatooine Played ’til my fingers bled It was summer of ‘69 Me and some guys from school Had a Band and we tried real hard Mario quit and Chewie got married I shoulda’ known we’d never get far Oh when I look back now Those instruments seemed out of place And if I had the choice I’d play a Bullet Bill bass Those were the best days of my life

Continue reading here:
Two DIY guitars make it easy to start your N3RDCOR3 band