iOS

Android usually gets smacked around for playing host to mobile malware, but iOS isn't totally immune, according to researchers at Skycure Security.

iOS profiles, aka mobileconfig files, are used by mobile carriers to configure key settings for e-mail, Wi-Fi, and other features. But these files could be abused by attackers to sneak past Apple's normally tight security and and hijack a mobile device, the security firm revealed in a blog post today.

The process would be similar to that of a typical malware infection.

An attacker might tempt users to visit a malicious Web site by promising something … Read more

Owners of the iPhone 5S or Galaxy S4 will be able to charge their phones wirelessly, claim the folks at DigiTimes.

Based on "industry sources," Taiwan-based DigiTimes said today that the next-generation iPhone will use wireless charging technology developed by Apple. But the sources couldn't say whether the phone would be built with the wireless charging feature or rely on an attached accessory.

Samsung's Galaxy S4 is expected to support the Qi wireless charging technology, which already is used by Nokia and other mobile vendors. The S4 may not include the capability itself but instead require … Read more

The iPhone and iPad continue to outshine Android devices among businesses both large and small, says a report from cloud storage company Egnyte.

Among the 100,000 Egnyte customers tracked for the new report, iOS has carved out an increasingly higher share while Android's slice has dipped of late.

Egnyte sells online storage, file sharing, and other cloud-based services to businesses of all sizes. As such, the company is able to determine which mobile operating systems its customers use to access its services, which it did so for this latest report.

As described by TechCrunch, early data from Egnyte … Read more

New numbers by in-flight Wi-Fi service Gogo show that "Apple devices are still reigning above the clouds."

Maybe it's because Apple devices are more popular to use while traveling, or maybe it's because Android users are smart enough to download their in-flight entertainment before getting on an airplane?

Despite the reason why, Gogo's numbers are significant (see the infographic below). Eighty-four percent of in-flight Internet users are connecting with iOS vs. 16 percent with Android's operating system. Specifically for smartphones, the number is 73 percent using iPhones compared with 26 percent on Android devices. … Read more

Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller has been a semi-regular Twitter user since 2008, though mostly tweets about things like music, movies and sports.

But that changed earlier today with a post linking to F-Secure Labs' latest quarterly Mobile Threat report, with a casual mention to "be safe out there."

The 29-page report's (PDF) key finding is that malware on Google's Android is getting worse, in part because of the platform's brisk growth and a new variant of malware that spread using SMS.

"Android malware has been strengthening its position in the mobile threat scene,&… Read more

Field Trip (Android|iPhone) helps you find out more about your current location by sending you notifications when you're near landmarks, restaurants, historical sites, and other noteworthy spots. The app draws information from several sources, including Arcadia, Historvius, Food Network, Zagat, Atlas Obscura, Daily Secret, and others to enrich your experience of locations you wouldn't know were uniquely interesting otherwise. You can use it as a personal tour guide or share interesting locales over Facebook and Twitter.

The app also lets you set the frequency of notifications from none to an Explore mode that gives you all the … Read more

The most popular mobile-gaming franchise in the world is now a bit easier for you to get your hands on.

Customers who head over to the App Store today will find that the iPhone and iPad versions of Angry Birds are available for free. Previously, the iPhone version was on sale for 99 cents. Angry Birds HD for the iPad was available for $2.99. Rovio previously offered free versions of the titles, but those were limited to only a few levels. Those now appear to be gone from the App Store.

Angry Birds was the game that kicked off … Read more

Apple's suppliers have achieved a new compliance mark for employee hours, according to the iPhone maker.

To shed light on how its suppliers are behaving, Apple launched its Supplier Responsibility page early last year. This page attempts to show how suppliers are faring with such issues as excessive overtime, underage workers, and other violations of Apple's Supplier Code of Conduct.

Compliance with the 60-hour work week limit varied throughout 2012. But in January, the rate reached a record of 99 percent, Apple revealed yesterday on the Supplier Responsibility page

Apple has inched up a few points in the smartphone market, keeping its title as the No.1 smartphone maker in the U.S. and edging in slightly on Google's territory as the top smartphone platform, according to a report released by ComScore today.

The smartphone market overall continues to grow. According to the report, 129.4 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones in January, up 7 percent from October. As usual, it's an Apple vs. Google fight. The two companies continue to lead in their respective markets, with everyone else trailing behind.

Apple averaged 37.… Read more