drag2share: Google Voice for iOS Opens the Party Line with Group Texts [IPhone Apps]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5870059/google-voice-for-ios-opens-the-party-line-with-group-texts

Group texts can be liberating and educational, as long as it's done with consenting, trustworthy partners. So rejoice, iOS Google Voice users. With today's update, you can finally be an SMS swinger.

Other app improvements include integration with Sprint iPhones, an expanded text entry field, and one-touch copy/paste in the dialpad. They're welcome upgrades to an already terrific service. Just remember that safe text is especially important in a large group. [http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-voice/id318698524?mt=8iTunes]

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drag2share: Apple buys flash storage maker Anobit for $500 million, aims to establish R&D lab in Israel

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/apple-buys-flash-storage-maker-anobit-for-500-million-aims-to/

The rumor mill has been churning on this one for the last few days, but it's now as official as it's ever apt to get: Apple has decided to splash out the $500 million to buy Israeli flash-chip outfit Anobit. The fabless designer of MLC NAND flash chips should be a good fit, given Cupertino's reliance on solid state storage technology for its iPad, iPod, iPhone and Macbook Air lines. With $84 billion in the bank, the purchase has cost the company just over half a percent of its war chest, and we're guessing it'll just barely feel the pinch when said funds are transferred over. The story was originally reported in the Calcalist financial daily newspaper, with the verified Twitter account of the Prime Minister of Israel chiming in with the following:

"Welcome to Israel, Apple Inc. on your [first] acquisition here. I'm certain that you'll benefit from the fruit of the Israeli knowledge."

Moreover, Apple's expected to open up a research and development center in the nation, marking its first outside of the USA. If history has anything to say about it, we highly doubt Apple will ever open its mouth one way or the other on this, but it'll be interesting to see what related nuggets are uncovered in the company's next quarterly filing with the SEC.

Apple buys flash storage maker Anobit for $500 million, aims to establish R&D lab in Israel originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Daring Fireball  |  Reuters, Israeli Prime Minister (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: Google's Andy Rubin defines 'Android activation,' trumpets 700,000 per day clip

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/googles-andy-rubin-defines-android-activation-trumpets-700-0/

Looking for growth? You've found it. If you'll recall, Google's own Senior Vice President of Mobile Andy Rubin confirmed that over 500,000 Android devices were being activated back in June, and during last month's Galaxy Nexus reveal, we learned that said figure had increased to 550,000 per day. In just over a month, the tally has now climbed to 700,000 per 24 hour period. That's according to a post by Andy himself on Google+, which he followed with this:

"For those wondering, we count each device only once (i.e., we don't count re-sold devices), and "activations" means you go into a store, buy a device [and] put it on the network by subscribing to a wireless service."

In other words, there are many, many more Android devices being ushered into use every single day that don't connect to any monitored wireless service, but naturally, keeping track of those is something even Google isn't about to attempt. Any guesses as to what this figure jumps to after the holiday season concludes?

Google's Andy Rubin defines 'Android activation,' trumpets 700,000 per day clip originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Andy Rubin (Google+)  | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: Nuance gobbles up Vlingo, yearns to transcribe its own announcement

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/nuance-gobbles-up-vlingo-yearns-to-transcribe-its-own-announcem/

Apparently, if you can't (legally) beat them, you buy them. Such is the thinking over at Nuance, who has decided to acquire its competitor and former courtroom dance partner, Vlingo. Should make for some nice additions to the former's voice recognition tubes -- technology which powers everything from Apple's Siri, Dragon dictation and even various autos. No indications as to how many greenbacks exchanged hands, but the newlyweds were happy to boast their "complementary research and development efforts" will result in a company "stronger together than alone." We'll have to see about that. PR after the break.

Continue reading Nuance gobbles up Vlingo, yearns to transcribe its own announcement

Nuance gobbles up Vlingo, yearns to transcribe its own announcement originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink 9to5Google  |  AllThingsD  | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: Procter & Gamble partners with Mobeam to deliver coupons to your phone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/procter-and-gamble-partners-with-mobeam-to-deliver-coupons-to-your/

Ah, remember those good 'ol days when we actually used those things called scissors and clipped our coupons when we wanted to save 50 cents from a bottle of Tide? Those activities have already been teetering on the brink of obsolescence since early last year, when Target introduced a program featuring mobile scannable coupons. Google Wallet and Walgreen's have furthered along the concept by offering them as well, and now Procter & Gamble are jumping on board. The company's teamed up with mobeam, a startup which has found a way to make mobile coupons readable using normal laser scanners, still the weapon of choice for many retailers. Next up, the two partners are hoping to work with OEMs to integrate the tech into new phones, push out an app to take advantage of it and begin field testing the process with shoppers and retailers sometime in 2012.

Once it kicks off, any company should be able to issue digital coupons; those who choose to partner with mobeam, however, will have access to opted-in consumer information that tracks which couponing websites the consumer visits, the location and time each coupon is redeemed and other items purchased using the app. Physical coupons will still be around for a while -- P&G asserts that there will still be plenty of coupon-clippers that hunt through newspaper inserts or print them out -- so the old-fashioned method isn't completely dead yet. We'd sure love to see mobile couponing grow to a point where more and more trees are getting saved, though.

Continue reading Procter & Gamble partners with Mobeam to deliver coupons to your phone

Procter & Gamble partners with Mobeam to deliver coupons to your phone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Wall Street Journal  |  mobeam  | Email this | Comments

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