So yeah, Firefox comes on mobile phones now. But would you actually use it? Well, if you’re looking for something nice on the low end, you might, according to CNET. (photo by Stephen Shankland/CNET)
Apple Inc. (AAPL) has fired the manager responsible for its troubled mapping software, seeking to win back the trust of users disappointed after the program debuted in September, according to people familiar with the move.
Richard Williamson, who oversaw the mapping team, was pushed out by Senior Vice President Eddy Cue, said the people, who asked not to be named because the information wasn’t yet public. Cue, who took over last month as part of a management shakeup, is seeking advice from outside mapping-technology experts and prodding digital maps providerTomTom NV (TOM2) to fix landmark and navigation data it shares with Apple.
Given the public reaction to Apple’s in-house Maps app, we can’t say we’re entirely surprised by this announcement, though we sort of expected Williamson to be shown the door weeks ago if it was going to happen. The decision was apparently made by new Senior Vice President Eddy Cue following last month’s Apple executive shuffle. Of course, many people probably think the entire situation is being blown out of proportion. What say you, dear reader?E
According to a new study, commissioned by device warranty provider Squaretrade, approximately 51 percent of broken smartphones are damaged inside the phone owner’s home. We’ve posted a portion of the accompanying infographic, depicting the most common household smartphone “danger zones”. So how does Squaretrade’s report stack up against your own usage? Whose kitchen has the highest kill/death ratio? source
They’re more in a dictatorship mode where they say, ‘This is what you have to do or you don’t get the iPhone.’ Being arrogant with your partners in big markets doesn’t pay off.Vasyl Latsanych, Vice President of Marketing at Russian mobile carrier OAO Mobile TeleSystems • Offering his employers’ explanation for the iPhone’s extremely high price — which have reportedly topped $1000 at times — compared to other smartphones available in Russia. As the author also notes, the majority Russian consumers do not sign long term contracts for mobile service, removing any incentive for carriers themselves to help subsidize the high cost of some devices. Think this is the sort of thing investor’s were worried about last week when asking Apple CEO Tim Cook about entry barriers in emerging markets? source (via • follow)
cnet:
This new Facebook phone: Why would anyone want one?
Rumors have it that the social network is again working on some sort of phone. But what could Facebook put into that phone to make it a must-buy?
What would you like to see in a Facebook phone?
A screensaver with Mark Zuckerberg’s face constantly staring at us.
» Blackberry addicts, don’t go to Fort Lee, N.J.: In what’s perhaps the first ordinance of its kind in the country, the city is aggressively taking on people who attempt to multitask while walking down the street, citing three fatal pedestrian-related accidents in 2012 so far. ”It’s a big distraction. Pedestrians aren’t watching where they are going and they are not aware,” said police chief Thomas Ripoli, whose department has handed out 117 citations since the department first started going after texters. Many residents are upset about the rule, with some saying that the ticket’s cost is too expensive and that they’re not causing a danger to others while walking down the street. What do you guys think?
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Did Microsoft rig their new promotion? Some are crying foul after reports surfaced over the weekend that Microsoft coached store employees prior to launching the nationwide competition. After Skatter Tech’s Sahas Katta was disqualified for questionable reasons, many began to wonder if the “Smoked by Windows Phone” competition was rigged. Further investigation revealed that management warned staff about “power users”, phones that should not be allowed to compete in certain challenges, and a slew of other potential pitfalls in the Windows Phone platform that employees should learn to identify. (photo by clintonjeff) source
How do smart phones work? Sony’s attempt to kickstart its mobile phone line begins anew with the help of the Wes Anderson-directed clip above. Creation of the 62-second ad required 9 unique sets, 37 custom-made models, and over 10,000 man hours of labor. While charming, we have to wonder, was the ad really worth it? Did the combined imaginations of an eight-year old and Wes Anderson make you an Xperia convert? source
» One question: Who uses “gunna” as shorthand for “going to?” We thought “gonna” was the standard abbreviation. But all jokes aside, we’re glad this was all just a technological snafu, and not an actual threat.
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Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
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Years ago, researchers envisioned these tiny computers transmitting information to the Internet. It wasn’t what we envisioned, but it happened. It’s called the smartphone.Yael Maguire, a visiting scientist at M.I.T. and Harvard • On the advancement of phone technologies in more wearable directions. Secret projects led by Google and Apple could allow users to carry around lightweight, connected devices that fit in with what you’re already wearing — think a bracelet-style iPod with the ability to talk to Siri whenever you want. All of this is possible thanks to the invention of the smartphone, which is kind of a wearable computer already. We bet these toys will work perfectly with mock turtlenecks. source (via • follow)
» A fast ramp-up for Samsung: Samsung entered the smartphone market in earnest just last year, and suddenly they’re bigger than Apple. How the heck did that happen? Well, Samsung gained a rep as having the best execution for mobile devices outside of Apple, and as a result, they were able to grow quickly. But it’s entirely possible that Apple could still top Samsung in the next quarter — part of the reason their sales are down is that they took longer than they usually do to iterate to a new iPhone. The iPhone 4S, it’s worth noting, is selling pretty well. (Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story claimed that both numbers reflected sales; as it turns out, Apple’s number reflects sales, while Samsung’s number reflects shipments, according to clarification MacWorld gathered from Apple and Strategy Analytics, the company that put out the report these numbers were based upon. We apologize for the confusion.)
Today in side effects that say more about the devices than the outage itself. Gives new meaning to the phrase “Research in Motion.” (via Percolate)
According to data from Nielsen, 40% of mobile users over 18 in the United States now carry a smartphone. Android carries a 40% share of those smartphone owners, follwed by Apple at 28% and RIM falling to 19%. Windows Mobile users still far exceed Windows Phone 7 users at a 7:1 ratio.
Under the fold is perhaps the more interesting bit: Amongst those who plan on getting a smartphone in the future, more intend to purchase Android phones than iPhones.
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