Mobile operating systems - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Chrome OS tablet from HTC reported to ship in November

  An HTC tablet running Google's Chrome operating system will be sold by Verizon Wireless in late November, according to an unnamed source cited by the blog Downloadsquad.

• Experts argue over merits of 7-in. iPad

  Analysts split today over reports that Apple may be readying a smaller iPad for launch later this year.

• HP details tablet plans, confirms Windows 7 and WebOS versions

  Hewlett Packard definitely plans to be in the tablet business, but questions remain about whether it will create different hardware for each of three expected tablet operating systems -- Android , Windows 7 and WebOS.

• Samsung Epic smartphone sales date coming soon

  The Samsung Epic, an Android 2.1 smartphone with a physical slideout keyboard that will run on Sprint's WiMax 4G network, could ship by Aug. 21, based on various reports citing unnamed sources.

• New Android malware texts premium-rate numbers

  Researchers at Russian security company Kaspersky Lab say they've discovered the first malicious software program to target Google's Android mobile operating system.

• Elcomsoft releases iPhone 4 password cracker

  Russian password-cracking company Elcomsoft has released new software that can in some instances figure out the password used to encrypt backed-up iPhone data.

• Cortado's Corporate Server becomes Android-friendly

  German software vendor Cortado has added Android-based smartphones to the list of devices using version 5.0 of its Corporate Server platform that can access network printers and documents stored in corporate networks, the company said on Tuesday.

• AT&T to be 'premier' Windows Phone 7 vendor

  Say all you want about whether Windows Phone 7 (WP7) will succeed, but AT&T continues to back the platform wholeheartedly after endorsing it -- and Microsoft 's mobile efforts -- repeatedly over the last year.

• UAE says BlackBerry data handling violates the law

  The offshore storage of data by Research In Motion for its BlackBerry smartphones conflicts with a 2007 law passed in the United Arab Emirates, the country's telecommunications regulator has said.

• New Nook for Android e-reader tool supports Android 1.6 and higher

  Barnes & Noble Thursday launched Nook for Android, a version of its free e-reading app for devices running Android 1.6 or higher, which include smartphones such as the Droid X.

• 5 makers for Windows Phone 7 now official

  Microsoft has officially divulged names of at least five manufacturers for its coming Windows Phone 7 devices, with Asus recently added to a list of four revealed at the company's Worldwide Partner Conference on July 13.

• iOS 4.1 beta seeded to developers- 'death grip' fix soon?

  Today, Apple began seeding an iOS 4.1 pre-release to developers. As per usual, the beta requires an iPhone Developer account and an Intel Mac running the latest OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.4. Included is Xcode 3.2.4, which mainly brings support for iOS 4.1 iPhones and iPod Touches (still no iOS 4 for iPad), as well as a few new features designed to make life easier for iOS developers.

• Windows Live to integrate WP7 phones, PCs, Xbox in the cloud

  Microsoft officials today described how upcoming Windows Phone 7 smartphones will perform within a network of Windows 7 PCs and Xbox gaming consoles through a new Windows Live cloud platform to make the mobile experience easier and more powerful for workers and consumers.

• Droid X goes on sale Thursday amid flurry of ad promotions

  The Droid X smartphone. The Droid X smartphone ships on Thursday, following an unusual pre-sales publicity campaign designed to entice the savvy tech crowd that might also include some in the iPhone 4 camp as well.

• Android, Samsung gaining mobile share in U.S.

  Android is gaining on all the major smartphone platforms in the U.S., though it was only the fourth-most-used mobile operating system in May, market data firm comScore reported on Thursday.