SMARTPHONE

The Android Marketplace, where Google smartphone users went for apps, has been re-branded as the Google Play store. Google made the switch on March 6, 2012, releasing a short video on YouTube and redirecting users from the old web site, market.android.com, to the new Google Play homepage. Google also put dozens of apps and games on sale for just 49 cents in celebration of the shift.

While customers and investors need to wait a little more before Apple introduces its update to the iPad2, here are three key items to bear in mind.

The smartphone market is becoming more like a battlefield day-by-day. The war between Apple and Samsung is set to climb to a whole new level especially after both the tech giants unveil their flagship devices later this year – iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3.

While Apple enthusiasts are eagerly waiting to see the latest iPhone 5, HTC’s new series of flagship smartphones in the form of HTC One X, S and V has taken away the spotlight from every other device presented at the MWC 2012. Check out how the HTC One X will fare against the speculated iPhone 5.

Once the next-gen iPad is unveiled -- whether it's called the iPad 3 or iPad HD -- there will be no more mysteries, no more inaccurate reports, no more conjecture, and no more what ifs. But just like in October, this Apple event is bound to leave many fans high and dry, and wishing for more.

The iPhone 5 may be one of the most anticipated electronic releases of the year, but Apple may be excluding one target audience: gamers. Competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 may surpass Apple’s next generation smartphone in the mobile gaming community.

Shares of Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM), the No. 1 designer of chips for smartphones, rose Tuesday morning after the company announced a $4 billion share buyback and dividend boost.

Research In Motion will be forced to slash the fees it charges carriers for BlackBerry service this year, an analyst said on Monday as another U.S. government customer edged away from the service, cutting into a pillar of the struggling smartphone company's business model.

Chris Brown and Rihanna's torrid relationship has cranked the rumor mill into high gear as fans and friends do everything they can to keep the two Hip Hop stars apart. Brown, who was put on probation after physically abusing RiRi three years ago when the couple was dating, may be arrested for violating the terms by stealing a woman's iPhone in miami. In a recent interview with Fader, Andre 3000 spoke out in support of Breezy.

The iPad 3 isn't the only Apple product creating a buzz. Hype about the iPhone 5 has also begun to surface, and some 4S owners may be out of luck in terms of upgrades from cellphone carriers. No official release date has been set yet for the next generation smartphone, but rumors have said that the iPhone will be seeing a summer or fall 2012 launch.

Daylight Savings Time is approaching. Here is all the information you need to know for when to turn clocks forward for the new spring time change.

Last year, Nintendo launched its latest portable gaming device -- the 3DS, though it slipped on sales initially however eventually, it became the company's fastest-selling DS console till present. Further, last week during Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2012, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the official launch of its PSP successor - Sony PS Vita.

There is no denying that the Smartphone Battle of the Year 2012 will be between two giants, the Apple iPhone 5, and Samsung Galaxy S3, both of which are yet to be released. MWC (Mobile World Congress) came and went and nothing about the Galaxy S3 was shown by Samsung, which means, the company could be playing its cards close to the chest, or waiting to see what Apple has in store before it does anything. Apple on the other hand, remains tightlipped as usual, about what the next generation iPhone...

When the entire world is counting almost every moment in anticipation of the grand release of Apple's iPad 3, iPhone 5 speculation is slowly yet steadily gaining strength among the smartphone enthusiasts.

Let' assume that iPad 3 does come with all these new features, but you have already been using an iPad 2. Will you put another $500 on a second iPad? If you will, don't you think your iPad 2 is still a really excellent product?

A U.S. senator has called on the Federal Trade Commission to initiate an investigation subsequent to reports that applications on the Apple and Google mobile systems are violating privacy of users, according to a report.

At the Mobile World Congress 2012, Japanese-based cellular mobile operator NTT Docomo introduced a unique technology of breathalyzer specifically designed for smartphones. According to the company, the device would use a sensor technology to measure alcohol concentration and breath odor of its users.

Apple's new toy, the iPad 3 (or iPad HD, according to some), is expected to make a splash on March 7. Whenever the next iPad is unveiled, the device will be going up against a host of other tablets all running Android. It is inevitable, the next iPad will face stiffer competition from, and probably might not be as successful as the previous versions, but one thing is certain, 2012 will be one interesting year when it comes to tablets.

It's been over a week since Chris Brown was accused of stealing Christal Spann's cellphone after she snapped a few photo of the rapper-singer-dancer leaving a Miami club with two groupies.

Rumor mills are all buzzing about iPad 3, as the next generation Apple tablet is expected to be unveiled on Wednesday, March 7. However, let’s not forget that something bigger (though not literally) is expected to debut later this year (supposed in Fall) – iPhone 5 – a device that has generated more hype than all iPads combined.

With rumors about the upcoming flagship smartphones of both Apple and Samsung getting momentum day by day, the two rivals are gearing up for the release of their best weapons - iPhone 5 (or whatever Apple will name it) and Galaxy S3 respectively.