Handheld consoles don't seem to be the hot commodities that they used to be back before everyone owned smartphones, but don't tell Archos there isn't a market for such a thing. Not only does Archos believe there is, the company is betting big on it by launching its Android-powered 'GamePad' device with a 7-inch capacitive display and physical gaming control buttons and analog sticks.
The Curiosity rover on Mars isn't the only thing NASA is busy with these days. According to reports, NASA is getting ready to send a pair of cube-shaped nano-satellites weighing just over 2 pounds into space, but just as interesting as the size and weight is the fact that they're powered by Android smartphones. It's part of a nifty project called PhoneSat overseen by the agency's Small Spacecraft Technology program.
Apple scored over a billion dollars in damages from Samsung in what can be considered a sweeping victory over patent infringement claims in the U.S. and was quick to gloat. In a statement provided to The New York Times, Apple spokeswoman Katie Cotton said her company was "grateful to the jury" that found Samsung guilty of ripping off the look and feel of iPhone and iPad devices. Samsung also provided a statement, saying the "verdict should not be viewed as a win for Apple, but as a loss for the American consumer." Google, meanwhile, was eerily quiet in the aftermath of the trial, until now.
The high profile Samsung vs. Apple trial has finally come to a conclusion, and the Jury has delivered a stunning $1.05 billion settlement in favor of Apple. The fine isn’t unsubstantial, but the bigger message here is that Apple now has legal precedent for many of the patents that cover the gadgets we love, and the rest of the industry will need to quickly fall into line. This will mean higher licensing fees, and ultimately, higher prices for consumers. 
Improved camera optics are a staple of each new generation of smartphones, and at the current pace, its not hard to imagine a future in which point-n-shoot cameras are just a relic of how we used to take photos. Then again, there's nothing stopping camera makers from integrating smartphone-like capabilities into digital cameras, and that's precisely what Nikon has done with its new Android powered Coolpix S800c.
One advantage Apple users have had over their Google brethren is the ability to stock up on iTunes currency in the form of gift cards, which make great stocking stuffers and birthday gifts for anyone wielding an iOS device. At long last, it looks as though Google has finally gotten on the ball with gift cards of its own, redeemable in the Google Play store (formerly known as Android Market).
The Apple vs. Samsung saga has been unfolding at a rapid pace over the last few weeks, and several new developments about what went on behind the scenes is starting to emerge. According to court fillings, Apple considered Samsung a “strategic partner”, and offered them the option to 
Ouya's Kickstarter campaign has come to a close, though not before raising just shy of $8.6 million in non-refundable funding from backers anxious to see this project through. The $99 Android console struck a chord with gamers and promises to deliver a low-cost entertainment experience to the living room comprised of freemium titles and a wealth of media center and streaming functionality, all from a tiny console about the size of a Rubik's Cube. Oh, and it's already available for pre-order.
We have both good news and bad news to share with HTC One X owners today. Starting with the former, HTC said it's issuing an over-the-air (OTA) update that will include an upgraded version of Android and an improved Sense experience. So what's the bad news? It's not a Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update, just an improved version of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.4), albeit one that brings with it some neat improvements.
With all due respect to Symbian, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and any other mobile platform not named Android or iOS, you're all just a bunch of also-rans in what's becoming "unquestionably a two-horse race," according to data and analysis by International Data Corporation (IDC). Android and iOS set a new combined smartphone OS record in the second quarter of 2012, with the two platforms feasting on an 85 percent share of the market, leaving just 15 percent in scraps for all others to fight over.
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