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Windows Phone to own 12 percent of smartphone market by 2017

Microsoft's Windows Phone will account for 12.7 percent of all global smartphone shipments in another four years, Canalys said in a forecast released Tuesday.

The growth from just 2.4 percent in 2012 means that Windows Phone will capture third place among all smartphone platforms in 2017, just behind Apple's iOS. To obtain that growth, Microsoft will require an assist not just from Nokia but from Chinese vendors such as Lenovo, Huawei, and ZTE, according to Canalys.

"Nokia is the most active vendor in the Microsoft camp and it continues to make steady progress with its … Read more

Apple WWDC predictions: Deutsche Bank chimes in

The overhaul of iOS will be the marquee attraction at Apple's upcoming WWDC, according to Deutsche Bank.

In a note to investors Monday, Deutsche Bank Equity Research's Chris Whitmore said the focus will be on iOS 7 and Mac OS upgrades.

The note has a lot to say about the expected iOS 7 announcement.

We believe iOS is due for a material upgrade in order to freshen and reinvigorate the 'cool' factor around Apple's products. The general look and feel of iOS is 6 years old and is in need of an update and some spark. It … Read more

iPhones can apparently be hacked with malicious charger

Most people have heard of malicious software as a way to hack into an iPhone, but what about a malicious charger?

Three researchers with the Georgia Institute of Technology say they have come up with a proof-of-concept malicious iPhone charger that lets them hack into the mobile device running the latest version of Apple's iOS in less than one minute. No jailbreaking required.

"Apple iOS devices are considered by many to be more secure than other mobile offerings. In evaluating this belief, we investigated the extent to which security threats were considered when performing everyday activities such as … Read more

Is Grokr Apple's foray into predictive search?

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced last week that Apple had acquired nine startups since October. And, Cult of Mac's Mike Elgan believes one of these companies could be the predictive search app Grokr.

While neither Apple nor Grokr has given any signals that this is the case, such an acquisition would indeed make sense for the tech giant.

Grokr is an app that can be used with iOS. Like Google search, it uses a type of knowledge graph that takes bits of information from across the Web and synthesizes it for users. In a sense, Grokr works a bit … Read more

Apple and DOJ's e-books court battle kicks off

NEW YORK -- Apple and the U.S. Department of Justice finally headed to court on Monday for a high-profile trial over e-book price fixing, and one side already has expressed worries about an unfair disadvantage.

The Justice Department is trying to prove to the court that Apple was the ringleader in a scheme to push book publishers toward raising their prices, and change the pricing model to better compete with Amazon. Apple's fought back, arguing that the U.S. government took the various e-mails between Apple executives and publishers out of context, and that its entry into the … Read more

Android invasion on the PC

CNET Update has a split-personality PC:

In this episode of Update:

- Prepare to find Android on more computers. The Asus Transformer Book Trio runs both Windows 8 and Android, and Acer's new all-in-one desktop comes loaded only with Android.

- Play rough with the scratch-resistant Asus Zenbook Infinity with Gorilla Glass 3.

- Pick your size for the new Galaxy Tab 3. The new Samsung tablets will come with screen sizes of 7, 8, or 10.1 inches.

- Crank up the iRadio rumors before WWDC, as Apple reaches a deal with Warner Music.

- Watch the Vine … Read more

Here's the Justice Department's case against Apple

The Department of Justice has just released the 81-slide deck of its opening statements against Apple, as the two sides begin their first day in court.

The trial, which is expected to run about three weeks, kicked off Monday with opening statements from both sides. The DOJ says Apple colluded with publishers ahead of the 2010 launch of the iPad and iBookstore to raise prices on e-books. Apple is the staunch holdout among the others that the DOJ originally named in its complaint, but that have since settled.

Included in the slide deck are numerous e-mails between executives, pullouts from … Read more

Apple's new Mac Pro said to ditch expansions, arrive this fall

As Apple's developers conference approaches, the rumors are coming hot and heavy. The latest? More scuttlebutt on the Mac Pro, Apple's one and only desktop tower, which the company has promised to overhaul and rerelease this year.

New tidbits come from longtime video producer Lou Borella, the creator of the Facebook group "We Want a New Macpro," who on Monday posted details on the changes from "a source or two that has some credibility."

The gist:

• It will be heavily reliant on Thunderbolt • There will be no internal expandability • It will have support for … Read more

Apple launches WWDC app in time for big show

Apple has launched its official Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) application for iPhone and iPad.

The free application popped up on Apple's App Store on Monday. The app lets conference attendees keep track of when and where sessions are taking place. It also offers up maps to help them find their way around the Moscone Center in San Francisco, where WWDC is being held.

For those who won't be in attendance, the app provides a way to watch daily session videos and get other information coming out of the conference.

Apple's WWDC event kicks off next Monday with a keynote by the iPhone maker. … Read more