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Skyfire iOS update, Nokia Apple war wages on, Windows Phone adding NFC: US Update
Microsoft to bake in NFC support with next Windows Phone update?
Samsung Smart TVs turn genius with bluetooth QWERTY remote
Nokia strikes back at Apple: ITC complaint round two
HTC Merge becomes first smartphone pre-loaded Amazon AppStore for Android
iOS web browsing improves: Skyfire 3.1.0 for iPhone released
The best Android apps of the week, Vimeo for iPhone and try a tablet for free: Teatime Tech
Free Android tablets for all, says ViewSonic
Vimeo iPhone app hits the store
Best iPhone apps: app of the day = Instacast

Skyfire iOS update, Nokia Apple war wages on, Windows Phone adding NFC: US Update

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 06:27 PM PDT

Fire up that pot of coffee, it's time to deal the best tech stories on the net in your daily US Update. In this morning's news round up we start things off with new on a Skyfire update for iOS. We head back over to the legal drama between Apple and Nokia, then round out the day with rumors of NFC support headed to Windows Phone 7.

First up a Skyfire update for iOS. Skyfire 3.1.0 promises to deliver a better user experience with new site and feature specific tips and tricks, a consolidated user agent interface and an updated support system. There's also a localized version of Skyfire in seven new languages. Remember that Amazon Appstore for Android we told you about last week, well apparently it's here to stay. According to this afternoon's press release, the HTC Merge will come pre-loaded with Amazon's Appstore, is this a sign of the future?

Nokia has filed a second complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC). According to the complaint, Nokia is alleging that Apple infringes additional patents in virtually all of its mobile phones, portable music players, tablets and computers. Here we go again. Those Samsung Smart TVs we tested out at CES 2011 this year seem to be the talk of the town. Samsung has announced a new bluetooth QWERTY remote control that could be the perfect remote.

Last up this morning is a rumor from Bloomberg that suggests Microsoft will release an update to Windows Phone 7 this year which will enable NFC support. With all the recent chatter about mobile payment solutions, this could be Microsoft's chance to set the table for battle with iOS and Android. That wraps up your daily dose of tech news. As always I'm Nick Marshall and I'll see you again tomorrow.

Microsoft to bake in NFC support with next Windows Phone update?

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 06:18 PM PDT

Near-Field Communications (NFC) support could be headed to Windows Phone 7 very soon. According to a Bloomberg report released today, two of their anonymous sources have said Microsoft will outfit the next version of WP7 with NFC support. With all the recent chatter about mobile payment solutions, this could be Microsoft's chance to set the table for battle with iOS and Android.

After forming a union with Nokia, Microsoft still falls short when it comes to number of apps and spec sheets. As of late, Android has become even more dominant — even the 2016 forecasts show an Android-dominated future. Besides smartphone market share, the other staggering technology forecast is mobile payments, which are expected to reach $245 billion in transactions by 2014 (up from $32 billion in 2010).

According to Bloomberg, NFC features "may be crucial to Microsoft's efforts to boost shrinking market share". With less than 6-percent of the mobile market in its pocket, Microsoft could certainly benefit by courting wireless payments. So is there any evidence to suggest these rumors are true?

Why of course. Microsoft holds 14 patents referencing NFC, the most recent was awarded on March 22, according to the U.S. Patent Office. Also, Nokia has said it will make NFC a standard feature of its 2011 smart phones based on Symbian — this support should extend to the Nokia Windows Phone 7 devices set to debut this year.

So what's the verdict? Will NFC help Microsoft recapture the mobile market? Or is this just one of many steps the Redmond camp needs to nail down before challenge the likes of Apple and Google?

via BusinessWeek

Samsung Smart TVs turn genius with bluetooth QWERTY remote

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 05:54 PM PDT

How do you take a Samsung Smart TV to the next level? Simple, add an ultra-sleek bluetooth QWERTY remote that makes web browsing and accessing apps a breeze. Introducing the new Samsung Smart TV remote, complete with all the bells and whistles to make gadget lovers celebrate.

The new Samsung Smart TV remote looks to have taken a page from Boxee, but then flipped the switch into overdrive with several key enhancements. For starters, there's a LCD display on the remote above the QWERTY keyboard. When you are entering a web address or typing away 140 characters of magic on Twitter, you don't want to have to look up at the TV — the Smart TV remote has you covered.

At the heart of the remote is Bluetooth, providing exception range. There's motion sensors for navigation and even an optical track pad (Optical Finger Navigation) to make navigating the TV menu fast and friendly. Since Samsung Smart TVs are focused on apps, social networking and web browsing, Samsung has also included plenty of shortcut buttons.

The only bad news about the Samsung smart remote control is that it is only available in Korea (for now). Samsung has it listed for 99,000 won (50.65 GBP) on their website and shows that it is compatible with the D6400 and D8000 series TVs.

Coming Soon | Samsung | 50.65 GBP

Nokia strikes back at Apple: ITC complaint round two

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 05:33 PM PDT

Sometimes companies just don't get along. Such is the case for Apple and Nokia, whose latest legal dispute has surfaced in a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC). According to the complaint, Nokia is alleging that Apple infringes additional patents in virtually all of its mobile phones, portable music players, tablets and computers.

For those keeping score, the latest ITC complaint brings the grand total of alleged patent infringements to a staggering 46 count. To Nokia's credit, many of these patents were filed more than 10 years before Apple released the first iPhone in 2007. However, the initial complaint filed by Nokia did not go over well and on March 25, the ITC's initial determination was that there was no violation of Section 337.

It is also worth noting that Nokia has filed cases on the same patents and others in n Delaware, US and has further cases proceeding in Mannheim, Dusseldorf and the Federal Patent Court in Germany, the UK High Court in London and the District Court of the Hague in the Netherlands.

Will the second ITC complaint gain the traction Nokia hopes? Let us know what you think the future holds for the two companies.

via Nokia

HTC Merge becomes first smartphone pre-loaded Amazon AppStore for Android

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 05:22 PM PDT

The world's first smartphone pre-loaded with the new Amazon Appstore for Android is set to hit the largest privately owned wireless provider in the US, Cellular South. According to this afternoon's press release, the HTC Merge will come pre-loaded with Amazon's Appstore, is this a sign of the future?

Let's get down to business with a quick recap of the HTC Merge. The Merge is powered by Android 2.2 Froyo, runs HTC Sense and features a 3.8-inch touchscreen and full QWERTY slide-out keyboard. On the rear is a 5-megapixel camera capable of shooting 720p HD video. There's also the standard suite of connectivity options you'd expect in a smarpthone — GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G data/voice. The HTC Merge's real claim to fame is that it is HTC's first dual-mode CDMA/GSM handset to run Android.

Now let's cover the significance of the Amazon/Cellular South deal. In the US, Verizon Wireless made the first notable partnership to augment the Android experience by replacing Google Search with Bing. Today, a similar trends looks to be developing for carrier's hoping to offer an alternative app store experience. By pre-loading the Amazon AppStore for Android on the HTC Merge, Cellular South could be a setting an industry trend. If you're wondering why a carrier would pre-load the new Appstore, we'd imagine Amazon is offering a nice bit of revenue sharing for the effort.

via Cellular South

iOS web browsing improves: Skyfire 3.1.0 for iPhone released

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 05:08 PM PDT

The world without flash or as we like to call it, iOS, has just received a formal update for the Skyfire browser. Skyfire 3.1.0 promises to deliver a better user experience with new site and feature specific tips and tricks, a consolidated user agent interface and an updated support system. There's also a localized version of Skyfire in seven new languages.

Let's rundown the what's new in Skyfire 3.1.0. The Skyfire UI is now translated and accessible in seven new languages: Italian, French, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish. The key ingredient to Skyfire is flash video support, the updated version makes it easy to connected with Skyfire engineers and support team to identify sites than need immediate attention.

Since not every Flash-enabled video website works with Skyfire, the team has added a 'Related Sites' button, clicking the button searches the web for comparable video sites and content. One of the killer features in Skyfire is the ability to switch between browsing mode (desktop/mobile), the new version offers quicker access to jump between Safari, Desktop or iPad view.

Out Now | Skyfire | $2.99

The best Android apps of the week, Vimeo for iPhone and try a tablet for free: Teatime Tech

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 10:59 AM PDT

Sure, it’s the end of the working day, but that doesn’t mean you’re not hungry for tech news. If anything, you must be famished after that long meeting. Right this way then good people: we’ve got a plate of it for you right here in teatime tech.

First up, let’s talk tablets. Specifically, Android tablets. They’ve struggled to stand out with Apple’s iPad looming large, but one manufacturer, ViewSonic, is trying to change that. It’s offering your money back plus postage if you don’t like its new Google slate, so it’s surely worth a go.

Sticking with Android meanwhile, we rounded up the best Android apps of the week for your digital delectation, while on the iOS side of the fence, film makers’ video site Vimeo finally launched its own (free) iPhone app.

Hungry for more headlines still? Roll on over to the homepage and help yourself to them all as they break.

Free Android tablets for all, says ViewSonic

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 08:43 AM PDT

Well, this is a nice offer. ViewSonic, peddler of Android tablets and ingenious TVs with Boxee built in, is offering all your money back, plus postage up to £10, if you don’t like its ViewPad 7 Android tablet – one of a new breed of 7-inch Android slates that actually come with Google’s core apps like Gmail and the all important Android Market on board. The offer runs from Friday through to 28 April if you’re interested, and you’ve got 30 days to test it out thoroughly and make up your own mind.

Us, we’ll stick with our iPad 2, but an Android 2.2 slate with Flash is still a tempting proposition – you can check out all the details at the link below.

(via Viewpadtryforfree)

Vimeo iPhone app hits the store

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 07:40 AM PDT

A Vimeo iPhone app has just hit the iPhone App Store, for all you budding filmmakers. It’s not just a native app to watch videos either (Vimeo’s website is already iPhone friendly), but a free video editor that lets you shoot, edit, add transitions and music, adjust volume levels, and of course upload to the site (including in HD). It’s out on the iPhone App Store for iPhone 4, iPad 2 and fourth generation iPod touch, so if you own one, let us know how you get on.

Out Now | £free | Vimeo (Available on the iPhone App Store)

Best iPhone apps: app of the day = Instacast

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 07:25 AM PDT

If you’re a big podcast consumer, the iPod app on your iPhone is probably not good enough at managing your subscriptions and ensuring you’ve got a fresh supply of things to listen to. Today’s best iPhone apps entry is a great solution.

Instacast earns its spot in our best iPhone apps library by making it really simple to keep up with audio and video podcasts. Read on for more info…

You can subscribe to new podcast via Instacast, update your subscriptions wherever you are, select multiple episodes to download or stream via WiFi and 3G and preload episodes for when you’re traveling.

Instacast also displays shownotes and descriptions and the it works well playing in the bakground while you mess about with other apps. It’s definitely improved my life considerably since I listen to podcasts on my iPhone almost constantly (yes, my life is that exciting).

Hit the comments to share your suggestions for best iPhone apps.

Out now | £1.19 | iTunes