Reporter: Jonathan Charles
What's App
Google Play, the Android app store, experienced surprisingly fast growth despite launching after the iPhone's app store. While reports have variously claimed that both app stores are outpacing the other, a recent report suggests that the Apple App Store could boast of 1 million apps by the end of 2012 -- just ahead of the pace of Android's Google Play store.
Jonathan Charlesmost read
OS / Software
For TechNet subscribers and developers, Windows 8's releaseito-manufacturing build has arrived. While the desktop environment is very similar to Windows 7, criticism came quickly for the Modern UI (formerly "Metro") side of the operating system.
Jonathan CharlesMobile
Recent images of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 suggested that it would launch at Samsung's Aug. 29 event. Additional images reveal the "phablet" again, bearing a strong resemblance to the UK-bound Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Jonathan CharlesMobile
Samsung posted photos of a black version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 in a tube station on its official Olympics page earlier in August, and now phone retailer Clove says that the device will arrive in the UK during October. The launch of the black Samsung Galaxy S3 could be around the time the next iPhone goes on sale.
Jonathan CharlesWhat's Hot
Grifball is an e-sport in Halo 4 where players have to carry a ball - in the form of a bomb - and score by detonating said bomb. Forge spawned the sport, and the creators interviewed developers 343 Industries on the map creator.
Jonathan CharlesGadgets
While the Kinect gaming console has sold over 10 million units, its software is used for practical purposes in the real world. The latest real-world use for Kinect is remote tracking of stroke victims in recovery.
Jonathan CharlesMobile
Finding out whether a device is getting updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich can be a daunting task. In 2011, LG said that it would bring Ice Cream Sandwich to the Optimus 2X; the update was then delayed, and LG Canada claimed that it was cancelled. However, a recent tweet from LG Korea claims the update is in development and seems destined for the Optimus 2X.
Jonathan CharlesWhat's App
News of the lack of a native YouTube iOS app received a lukewarm reaction from consumers. The removal of the long-running iOS YouTube app is due to the end of a deal between Apple and Google, the same reason Apple also launched its map service "Maps" to replace Google Maps.
Jonathan CharlesWhat's Hot
HTC admitted that it needs to be innovative to regain ground from Apple and Android smartphone manufacturers. An internal memo seen by The Wall Street Journal calls on the company's more than 16,700 employees to ignore the negativity from the market.
Jonathan CharlesWhat's Hot
Halo 4's Limited Edition includes the War Games Map Pass, a season pass-esque subscription to map packs released for the shooter. The War Games Map Pack Access includes 9 maps and "three future competitive multiplayer maps" which players cannot download immediately, Microsoft said. War Games refers to the umbrella covering Halo's multiplayer modes: Spartan Ops and traditional multiplayer.
Jonathan CharlesGadgets
Split screens when playing video games with friends may become a thing of the past with Wii U, Nintendo's next-generation gaming console, as the GamePad controller's screen allows players to have individual screens.
Jonathan CharlesOS / Software
The Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the Samsung Galaxy S3 is approaching. It could be released alongside the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on August 29. A video from YouTube shows the update in detail.
Jonathan CharlesWhat's App
On Wednesday, Pinterest launched a major update across iPad, iPhone, and Android devices. User experiences on the smartphone and tablet versions of the Pinterest app are quite different.
Jonathan Charles