The Google Drive mobile application has got an upgrade. The initial application did not allow for editing of spreadsheets on iOS and Android. Google just added this ability to the Drive application with its latest update. This adds to an already robust application that allows users to create, share, and edit content on the go.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/28/3702734/google-spreadsheet-editing-drive-mobile-apps
The Rounds Video Chat Hangout was released to the public today. The application, with over 6 million users, is making its splash into the mobile application market. Features of the application allow users to “hangout” by watching YouTube videos together, upload and view photos together, and create/edit video content that can be viewed together.
Google employees in San Francisco are now able to order products through a mobile device and have them delivered the same day. This thrusts Google into commerce, new territory for them. Google does not plan on operating warehouses or handling the shipping of items, they are planning to work with retailers and delivery companies. Several retailers, many national chains, in San Francisco are already participating in the program.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/google-is-offering-same-day-delivery-in-san-francisco/
LEAP Commerce, a mobile shopping start-up, released its app called ‘Best Decision’ today. The application works across 23 e-commerce sites including Amazon, Wal-Mart, and Gilt. There are currently over 110 million items available for purchase through the ‘Best Decision’ application. The company plans to increase partners and availability of products in the future.
Whims is a social networking application that was released on October 10th for iOS devices. The application is similar in UI design and function to Instagram. There is, however, one distinct difference: instead of posting pictures, users express themselves with words, numerous fonts, and colors. The application allows you to follow friends, ‘like’ posts, forward posts to facebook and twitter.
If Instagram Were More About Words Than Things, You’d Have Whims for iOS
The International Telecommunication Union reports that there were over six billion mobile subscriptions throughout the world at the end of last year. This is a 600 million subscription increase from the end of 2010. Leading the charge in mobile connectivity is South Korea with nearly 97% of all households online. Mobile subscriptions have topped one billion in China, and India is expected to top one billion subscriptions by the end of the year. The world is continuing to adopt and utilize mobile technology.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/12/3494364/worldwide-mobile-subscriptions-six-billion
Flat-fee, dongle-free mobile payment service Emu has opened its doors for business in the United Kingdom today and is registering people for a broader launch across Europe. Emu, founded in January of this year, offers a monthly flat-fee of $8.50 for unlimited swipes. This is a selling point for Emu that may offer an advantage over Square, who charges 2.75% per swipe. Their cloud based software system works on mobile phones, tablets, and computers.
Flat-Fee, Dongle-Free Card Payments Startup Emu Opens For Business In U.K., Registrations In Europe
The Apple App Store homepage now boasts a large icon that suggests map applications for disgruntled iOS 6 users. This comes as a reaction to many upset iOS users who find the application to be far below their expectations. Tim Cook, Apple CEO, offered an open letter to the public today in apology for the poor performance of the new Apple Maps application.
Apple App Store now prominently suggesting Maps app alternatives
The Mobile Device Privacy Act was introduced to the House of Representatives this past Wednesday. This bill would make companies that sell mobile devices tell the user if any “monitoring software” is on a device that is being purchased. If monitoring software is used, the user must be informed of what data is being collected, who its being sent to, and how it will be used. The bill is currently in committee and will not come to vote in the immediate future.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/14/3332018/mobile-device-privacy-act-introduced
A Western Digital subsidiary has developed a new hard drive that is full of helium. The technology is going to be available to consumers in 2013. The helium filled hard disc reduces the mechanical effort required by 23%.
http://www.informationweek.com/storage/systems/western-digital-boosts-hard-drive-capaci/240007389
Motorola unveiled the new RAZR family early this September. They released the RAZR HD, the RAZR HD MAXX, and the M. The M is the most notable of the new RAZR family, it is available this instant for a cost of $99. The M boasts a very thin body and a large screen. It matches up very closely to the proportions of the iPhone 4S. It’s a touch longer, but the two phones have virtually the same thickness and the M is just bit wider. Not everyone is in the market for a $200 smartphone, and the Motorola RAZR M offers a cheaper, quality alternative.
Amazon is rolling out an upgrade for their ‘Silk’ browser that will come on all new Kindle Fires. The browser will be tracking the online behavior of users in order to find sites that are getting an exorbitant amount of hits. Amazon believes that these sites will contain noteworthy information. In addition to the this news, ‘Silk’ will also be accompanied by better page load speeds and a more organized user interface.