Android Security Update - Bouncer

Remember the Android Market Security Update from Google last year? We learned that a number of malicious applications published to Android Market have been removed, and the associated developer accounts have been suspended. As a follow-up to the report, Google has recently announced that the company is getting better at improving its Android Security. The Mountain View California- based Google has added a new layer to Android security. A new service they’ve developed, codenamed Bouncer, now provides automated scanning of Android Market for potentially malicious software without disrupting the user experience of Android Market or requiring developers to go through an application approval process. The service has been looking for malicious apps in Market for a while now, and between the first and second halves of 2011, Google claims a 40% decrease in the number of potentially-malicious downloads from Android Market.

Google Docs Android app adds Offline access and improved tablet experience

Google Docs Android app has been updated with Offline access and Improved Google documents reading experience for tablet users. Now you can select any file you've saved in Google Docs to make it available offline. Google Docs automatically updates your offline files when you’re on Wi-Fi. You can also manually update files anytime you have a data connection by opening the file or tapping ‘Update’ from the Offline section of the app.

Pantech Element LTE tablet and its Patents for Waterproof technology

Pantech has announced that it applies patents for its waterproof Pantech Element LTE. The new waterproof technology is applied to the LTE tablet which is already available via AT&T. The Pantech Element P4100 is now patent pending in order to protect the new waterproof technology. Pantech has obtained a domestic patent for the new technology and has now applied for international patents. Pantech has already completed a patent application in Korea for its waterproof LTE smartpad.

Sprint Kyocera DuraPlus rugged-phone with Push-to-Talk Capabilities

Sprint has added a new rugged device with candy-bar form factor to its portfolio - the Kyocera DuraPlus. As the newest Sprint Direct Connect device, Kyocera DuraPlus offers a candy-bar form factor with Push-to-Talk capabilities, military-grade durability, long-lasting battery, and an embedded LED flashlight. Sprint Kyocera DuraPlus is certified to Military Standard 810G for resistance to dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, humidity, blowing rain and water immersion (up to 30 minutes in up to 1 meter of water). Joining Kyocera DuraMax and Kyocera DuraCore in Kyocera’s Dura Series that specialize in handling the abuse of harsh working conditions, Kyocera DuraPlus is the ultimate communication tool for a variety of industries, including construction and transportation.

Square Credit Card Readers coming to T-Mobile retail stores

T-Mobile USA has announced that the mobile operator is the first wireless carrier to offer Square credit card readers from San Francisco-based Square Inc. in select retail stores. The availability of Square card readers as an accessory in T-Mobile retail stores will make it easy for many small businesses to accept credit card payments for the first time. For those who haven't yet heard of it, Square allows small businesses to accept credit card payments in the U.S. by swiping a credit card through the Square dongle, which can be plugged into the end of a smartphone. The money from transactions sent for deposit into their bank accounts the next business day.

T-Mobile unveils exclusive FamilyWhere check in service in the U.S.

T-Mobile has unveiled a new check-in feature that enables families to share location via free mobile app. Powered by Safely, a division of Location Labs, the FamilyWhere Check In service is only available to T-Mobile customers and can be downloaded from the Android Market. The new service joins T-Mobile's bonus apps and services program, which allows customers to get more and do more with their data plans running on the network. With just one click, the service enables kids to quickly and easily send an SMS with their location to family and friends. As an SMS with a link to a map, the check-in may be viewed from any Web browser-enabled device on any network.

Exclusive to T-Mobile, FamilyWhere Check In expands the functionality of FamilyWhere, a location-based suite of services that helps customers keep track of the most important people in their lives. Upgrading will give families with active kids greater peace of mind with the following features:

BlackBerry 7 and 7.1 devices get FIPS 140-2 Certification

Research In Motion (RIM) has announced that BlackBerry smartphones running on the new BlackBerry 7 and BlackBerry 7.1 OS have been awarded FIPS 140-2 certification by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC). FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) 140-2 is recognized by the U.S. and Canadian governments and is required under the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA). All BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry 7 and BlackBerry 7.1 benefit from this certification, including the BlackBerry Bold 9900, 9930 and 9790, BlackBerry Torch 9850, 9860 and 9810, and BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360, 9370 and 9380.

BlackBerry Bold 9900 in Pure White for Hong Kong

Research In Motion (RIM) has recently announced the launch of the Pure White BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone for customers in Hong Kong. As you may well be aware already, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 comes with a 1.2 GHz processor, 8 GB of onboard memory, 720p HD video recording, Wi-Fi, a built-in compass (magnetometer) and NFC technology. It is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone yet at only 10.5mm, and the first to offer the perfect union of a high performance keyboard and touch display integrated within the iconic BlackBerry Bold design. The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to include built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications), a new technology that is enabling many new and exciting capabilities, including the ability to make mobile payments, pair with NFC-enabled accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone.

BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365 launched by RIM

Research In Motion (RIM) has announced the availability of BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365. It is a new service for business and government organizations that extends Microsoft Exchange Online to BlackBerry smartphones and allows users to manage their BlackBerry deployments in the cloud. The service is available at no additional charge to current medium-sized or enterprise subscribers of the Office 365 suite or standalone Exchange Online and works with BlackBerry smartphones on business or consumer data plans.

For those of you who are new to the BlackBerry Business Cloud Services, it offers advanced administration and flexible smartphone self-service features to support an organization's BlackBerry deployment in the cloud. The service features wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange Online email, calendar and organizer data from a BlackBerry smartphone. With BlackBerry Balance technology, you get a unified view of work and personal content on a BlackBerry smartphone while keeping the content separate and secure. There's an intuitive web-based console for IT administrators to provision, manage and secure BlackBerry smartphones from anywhere.

Samsung Galaxy S Advance coming soon to 3UK

Three UK has announced that the Samsung Galaxy S Advance will be coming soon to the network. The carrier said that information on pricing and availability will be announced soon. For those of you who are new to the Galaxy S Advance, it's Samsung's latest addition to Android-powered GALAXY portfolio. Coming with a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy S Advance brings rich media content like videos and images to life.

Samsung GALAXY S Advance is powered by 1.0 GHz dual core processor and boasts 5MP camera capable of recording 720p HD video, 8GB internal memory, A-GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 High Speed, USB 2.0, multiple sensors, and many more.