Motorola Xoom WiFi getting Android 3.1 update in Canada

Motorola has announced the availability of Android 3.1 for Xoom WiFi owners in Canada. This update will bring support for resizing widgets, use a Bluetooth headset during video chats and much more.The software update includes:Improved multi-tasking providing instant visual access to a larger number of applications Support for USB-connected peripherals and accessories, such as keyboards, mice, game controllers and digital cameras Expanded Bluetooth® features to support Bluetooth® headsets in Google Talk™ video chats, Bluetooth® mouse support, and additional shortcut keys with the Bluetooth® keyboard SD Card support for up to 32GB expandable memory Preloaded File Manager Easy photo file transfer to a PC with the Picture Protocol Feature...

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Microsoft moves to block sale of Motorola Android phones

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), the world’s largest software maker, began arguing its U.S. trade case that Android- based smartphones made by Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. use technology derived from Microsoft inventions. In a trial that began today before the International Trade Commission in Washington, Microsoft accused Motorola Mobility of infringing seven of its patents and requested a halt to imports of certain Motorola phones. The ITC has the power to stop imports of products that violate U.S. patent rights. The case is the first smartphone dispute to be heard by the agency since Google Inc. (GOOG) said Aug. 15 it would buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion to obtain patents that could be used as a bulwark against a surge of lawsuits...

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Apple prepping cheaper iPhone 4 to launch in September alongside iPhone 5

Apple is preparing to launch a new, less expensive iPhone 4 model that will become available at the end of September alongside the iPhone 5, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Citing multiple anonymous sources, the news organization says that the retooled iPhone 4 will feature a smaller 8GB flash drive manufactured by an unnamed South Korean company. Apple has sourced flash drives for its current iPhone models from Toshiba and Samsung. Reuters also contradicts recent reports that the iPhone 5 will launch in early October, writing instead that Apple is “targeting an end-September launch for the next-generation iPhone 5.” The report restates numerous others that claim the iPhone 5 will feature a larger display, a new antenna design and an...

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RIM unveils BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370 smartphones

Continuing on its peculiar path for BlackBerry 7 device announcements, RIM finally took the wraps off three new additions to its Curve smartphone line in the middle of the night. The BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370 smartphones, like the Curve models that came before them, take the best of what RIM has to offer and stuff it into an affordable package that sheds the bells and whistles. Spec highlights include RIM’s slimmest Curve design ever, GPS and Wi-Fi support, 5-megapixel cameras and the BlackBerry 7 OS. ”These new models will build on the incredible success of the BlackBerry Curve line and further expand the largest global launch of BlackBerry smartphones in our history,” said RIM Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis in a statement. “The...

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Microsoft sues Motorola for patent infringement

We all know that one of the key reasons that Google gobbled up Motorola Mobility was for the patent treasure trove that Motorola owned. Microsoft was said to be eying the purchase of Motorola Mobility as well, strictly for the patents. In fact, some sources claimed that Motorola went with Google over Microsoft because Microsoft planned to shutter the mobile operations.Microsoft has now decided to fight the Google and Motorola Mobile tie up by filing a patent infringement suit against Motorola. Microsoft is alleging that Motorola is infringing on some of the patents that it owns covering Android devices. Microsoft is seeking a ban on the import of Motorola handsets into the US.Microsoft claims that Motorola is infringing on seven...

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Acer Iconia Tab A510/A500 gets Android 3.2 update

 This tablet was cool because it was the first tablet to hit the market that ran Android 3.0 Honeycomb. If you purchased one of the tablets or the A501, you will be glad to hear that a new Android update is reportedly available for the tablet right now. The update should be available OTA and will take the tablet from 3.0 to 3.2.There are several new features that the update brings to the tablet including the ability to scale the smaller apps made for smartphones up to the full screen size of the tablet. The app zooming is done by scaling the pixels. The update also reportedly brings with it the ability to sync media from the SD card and increases the overall performance on the tablet. The tip comes from a Polish website called...

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HTC Sensation 2.3.4 update now available on Vodafone UK

Good news for those of you who grabbed the HTC Sensation through Vodafone UK. The Big Red carrier has released a small firmware update for HTC’s baby to address several performance and stability issues. More precisely, the new software brings stability and performance updates, reduces heating in some scenarios by optimizing processor load, and improves browser performance.To see if the new software version is available for your Sensation, hit “Settings,” scroll down to “About phone,” tap “System software updates,” and then “Check now.” Hit update and wait for several minutes for the update to complete. Make sure your battery is fully charged and that you’re in a fast Wi-Fi hotspot to make the download faster. If that’s on place – you’re...

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Google TV To Be Added To The Next Update of The Android SDK; Developers, Start Your Engines!

Google TV users will be happy to know that support for the platform is finally coming soon to the Android SDK. This will allow developers to unleash their apps on all Google TVs on the market, which in turn could help manufacturers eventually push more units given the renewed interest.Since the Google TV Market announcement at Google I/O, the platform has had a lot of road bumps in both TV network and user adoption. However, since the SDK update will provide new APIs (such as channel line-ups),developers will have a wider array of tools to use while crafting applications.These new options take the form of an add-on pack to the Android SDK, which interested parties can download here.If you have a Logitech Revue and are interested...

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Some Images of new purported iPhone 5 parts leak

China-based parts supplier TVC-Mall has published more images of various components claimed to be genuine parts from Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5. The supplier has gained access to genuine iPhone parts ahead of launch in the past, so it is possible that these components are once again authentic. Last week we saw what were claimed to be headphone jacks and camera lens replacement modules from Apple’s upcoming fifth-generation iPhone, and now TVC-Mall has posted images and information surrounding OEM rear camera lens assemblies, batteries and headphone jack flex cables said to belong to Apple’s iPhone 5. Little can be gleaned from the new images, though the camera lens module shows space for a single LED flash while earlier reports claimed...

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