Stories by Armando Rodriguez

Android's permission problems

Mobile apps are a privacy nightmare. Some apps are constantly connected to the Internet, and can upload your personal data--such as your private photos or documents--to a remote server without your knowledge or consent.

Asus unveils PadFone and Transformer Pad family

The Asus PadFone made an appearance last May, but we haven't heard much about it in the time since. Now, at the Barcelona-based Mobile World Congress, Asus has given us a few more details about its phone-tablet hybrid.

Hands-on with the Motorola Atrix 2

AT&T sneakily announced a small batch of new phones this week, one of which is the sequel to the well-received Motorola Atrix--the Atrix 2.

Mobile malware is on the rise, but there's no need to panic

Using data collected from its Mobile Threat Network, Lookout today released a full report on the state of mobile malware and security. The report covers both Android and iOS, and compares the risks that both platforms face. You can view and download the full report on Lookout's blog, but here are a few of the highlights:

Mobile malware reality check

Malicious software is leaping from PCs to cell phones, as malware makers target the platform in hopes of making a quick buck. Examples include the infected Droid­Dream and Plankton Android apps. An infected app released into the Android Market can infect several thousand users’ phones before anyone discovers the presence of the malware. Though the extent of Android malware has been overstated, it's best to learn now how to protect yourself and your data from attacks, instead of waiting until mobile malware becomes a more serious problem.

Motorola Droid 3 review: Specs aren’t everything

As an example of the truism that specs don't always matter, the Droid 3 is it. On paper, this heir to Verizon's Motorola Droid line ($200 with a new 2-year contract as of 7/15/2011) sounded extremely promising: It has a dual-core processor, a 960-by-540-pixel qHD display, and a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard (complete with number row). The specs were enough to have me ready to dump my trusty old Droid Incredible and pick up one of these bad boys.

Will a multitude of App Stores hurt Android?

GetJar, Opera, Amazon and now Barnes & Noble-seems like these days everyone has their own Android app store with their own apps that can't be found anywhere else. While the joke these past few months has been that Steve Jobs doesn't "get "all these Android app stores, the real joke may be on the consumer.

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