'Tailored tweets' make their debut on iOS, Android apps

Twitter has tweaked its iOS and Android apps to show tweets tailored just for you, much the way its Web site has done since September.

A tap on the Discover page in the apps now displays a few select stories at the top, all considered relevant to you but not ones that you're necessarily already following. Tapping on the "View all stories" link brings up even more tweets that Twitter believes will interest you.

Each story offers a brief description, photo, and link, so you can quickly browse through the list and just tap on the ones … Read more

Facebook iOS, Android apps now let you share stories with one tap

Facebook has tweaked its mobile apps and Web site with an eye toward sharing.

Released yesterday, FB's latest iOS and Android apps now sport a Share button at the bottom of any post that links to a Web page or other item. Clicking on that button lets you share that post with the entire Facebook public, just your friends, or only certain friend lists.

"You can now use the Share button on News Feed stories from your phone whether you're using the Facebook for Android app, the Facebook for iPhone and iPad app, or the Facebook mobile … Read more

Google's Maps app for iOS in near final testing

Google is testing a pre-release version of its mapping service for Apple's iOS devices, according to a new report.

The Wall Street Journal says Google is "putting the finishing touches" on the software ahead of submitting it to Apple.

The software, which the Journal says is already undergoing testing beyond Google employees, is "expected to contain" turn-by-turn navigation, just like its Android counterpart. That very same feature was said to be one of the main sticking points in negotiations between the two companies that led to Apple creating its own mapping software.

The report comes … Read more

Blogger updates apps for Android and iOS, adds iPad support

Google updated its blogger app today with a new look and a handful of new features, all designed to make posting on the go a bit easier.

The updates, as shared in a blog post on the topic:

Landscape support for composing posts  Sharing to Google+  Ability to view a scheduled post time  International support in 30+ languages  iPad support

The updates are live in the Google Play store and the App Store.

When Samsung talks strategy, it thinks of Apple

Samsung's worldwide war with Apple will be one of the main focuses at the South Korean company's annual strategy meeting next month, according to a report.

Some 200 "chiefs" as well as top Samsung executives will meet in South Korea next month as part of the company's annual strategy meeting, local news outlet The Chosun Ilbo reports.

According to the report, the company plans to talk shop about its goals, which include changes to its product sales and its legal strategy with Apple.

The two rivals are currently entrenched in a massive legal battle with … Read more

Apple patent aims to stifle noise from iPhone's vibrate mode

Annoyed by that buzzing sound triggered by your phone's vibrate mode? Apple may one day provide a solution.

Dubbed "Vibration In Portable Devices," a patent filed today with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office details an Apple invention in which that annoying sound can be monitored and reduced.

Apple's technology would use sensors to detect the vibrations of the phone when in vibrate mode. If the sensors determine that the sound given off by the vibration exceeds a certain level, that noise is automatically toned down. The technology could also decrease the sound and even … Read more

Android takes 90 percent smartphone share in China in Q3

Android's dominance in the Chinese smartphone market only strengthened in the third quarter, according to new data.

During the third quarter, Android owned 90.1 percent of China's smartphone market, up from from 83 percent in the second quarter, according to Beijing-based research firm Analysys International. Meanwhile, Apple's iOS, which owned 6 percent of the market in the second quarter, fell to 4.2 percent in the third quarter. Symbian dropped to 2.4 percent market ownership, according to Analysys.

News outlet Tech in Asia was first to report on the Analysys report.

The smartphone market in … Read more

A display that resizes as your face moves? Apple zooms in

Your iPhone or iPad may one day be able to resize its display based on the distance from your face.

Filed today with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a new Apple patent application dubbed "Scaling of Visual Content Based Upon User Proximity," details a method by which the display automatically scales as your face moves toward or away from the device.

The content on the display would initially size itself based on how near or far your face is. Moving your face (or the device) would then trigger the display to resize itself accordingly based on a different scaling factor.… Read more

iPhone, iPad sales to surge over next two quarters, says analyst

The iPhone 5 and new iPads will trigger a surge in sales for Apple this quarter and next, says Morgan Stanley's Katy Huberty.

In an investors note out today, Huberty pointed out that key suppliers for both devices say their own revenue will be higher than anticipated for the current quarter. They're also seeing above-average orders from Apple for next year's first quarter. And demand could rise even higher before the year is over.

The analyst believes the iPhone 5 will drive more customers to upgrade this quarter and on into next year. At the same time, … Read more