Apple started to tight its control over the App store even more than before, by announcing Sony that they can't sell content - such as ebooks - in it. Apple wants their users to only be able to buy content from their own company, so rejected Sony's application which would have allowed Sony Reader Store ebooks to be bought by Apple users.

Though an iPad user does not need a Kindle to read Kindle ebooks bought from Amazon, this move might affect Amazon.com too. If Apple will continue tightening its control over the App Store, Kindle ebooks might be rejected from selling too. This changes lots of things on the market, because Apple seemed to offer more support to other companies, but it might just have been for a short period. 

What's sure is that Apple rejected Sony's Reader and, from now on, more companies might have to stop selling their content in the App Store.

The microUSB is winning its ways into becoming the default port for lots of mobile phone companies, letting smaller companies ask themselves if they should also adapt to the trends. Two years ago the GSMA announced to have managed to persuade a large group of mobile phone producers to move to microUSBs by 2012.

The microUSB is becoming the main port for mobile producers such as Nokia, Apple, RIM, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Alcatel - is Alcatel even on the market anymore? Didn't heard anything from their company lately.

Sure, now everybody will ask if the next generation iPhone will feature a microUSB too, but I seriously doubt. The USB port is not proprietary for Apple and it might take a longer time until we will really see it happening.

Android has become in the last quarter of 2010 the best sold operating system in the world, overcoming Nokia's Symbian. With almost 39 million handsets sold around the world in Q4, Android passes over Nokia, which stalls at a level of 31 million handsets sold in the same amount of time.

Android is right now spreading around the world fastest than even the iPhone, so this is a remarkable achievement. The battle at the top is between Google, RIM and Apple, and it seems Google is taking over the mobile phone world. Nokia, on the other side, seems to lose a lot of ground - and fast. Apple and Android are growing quarter after quarter, while Nokia stalls or goes down. The Finnish producer's future ideas does not even seem interesting for the market anymore, so I can't see a very shiny future for them.

Source: MobileCrunch

The Taiwanese produces said they will introduce on the market several devices this year. They may reach the incredible 8.5 million in the last quarter and achieve the release of six other models in the same time. Three of those devices seem to be Android devices: the Europe version of the HTC Vision and two other outbound devices (Vanguard and Emeral). The last two seem to head to T-Mobile in the US.

Anyway, this goal can't be met if they don't surpass their shortage issues. Two of their best devices, Droid Incredible and Evo 4G weren't so successful as everybody tipped them to be. Some of devices are difficult to find in Europe too, so it's not just a US problem. Anyway, it remains to be seen if HTC will sell 8.5 million devices in the fourth quarter. But with six new devices, this goal may not be so difficult to meet.

Via PhAndroid

Samsung's brand new handset, Galaxy Apollo, is heading to UK, according to different sources. They also say the phone is going to be found in T-Mobile's stores in the United Kingdom this August. Sure, the phone is not coming with so many features as other Samsung devices, but on a lower deal than the three-year deal, this device can be bough at a fair price. Maybe people are looking at the Apollo as a solution to this problem. The phone can also be bought on a two-year deal, and the price is affordable.

Apollo will probably also be sold under several agreements, but they may want to push it as a cheap device to attract more people.

Via PhAndroid

The HTC Desire will be available soon at Telus, announced the carrier through a press release today. We believed that's the carrier to sell HTC, but there was nothing sure. Now there is. Desire will definitely be found soon in Telus' stores. Desire will come with a 3.7 inch capacitive touch screen (800x480 resolution) and a 5MP camera. The handset will run Android 2.1 and will be powered up by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor.

Telus will probably release the pgone in "back to school special", so the device will probably be on the market before the summers ends. As fast as we know the official release date, we will tell it to you, so stay tuned!

Via PhAndroid

We have waited a lot for this moment. The improved Motorola Droid X is now available to buy at Verizon on different monthly plans. You can buy it from Verizon's online store. You can also buy it from stores (probably starting tomorrow), but I doubt it would be easier for you than just some mouse clicks. You'd probably have to stay in line tomorrow in the store.

On a two year deal, the phone can be bought for $199.99, after a $100 online discount (another reason for buying it online). The full retail price is $569.99, so to buy it so cheap you just have to access Verizon's webpage. Cool, I must say!

Via Engadget

After launching Opera Mini 5.1 upgrade yesterday, Opea is launching another software update today, and we talk about the same Opera for Mobile, but now is the one for Symbian S60, not the one for Android. The first beta of Opera Mobile 10.1 is now available to download. Some of the new features include accelerated browsing speed and support for geolocation. Speed Dial, tabs in the browser, Opera Link and Turbo are also included in this beta version.

The software update is available for both 3rh and 5th edition S60 smartphones. You can download it by visiting m.opera.com/next from your phone.

Via Unwired View

Android Market is set to reach an incredible milestone those days. Upon almost reaching 100.000 applications available to download, they've also reached 1 billion apps downloaded already. Sure, Google didn't confirmed yet, but there are enough sources on the internet who think Android Market surpasses 1 billion already. Google is probably waiting for the 100.000 applications to be available and then they will announce both things. Anyway, 1 billion applications is an impressive number, no doubt about the fact that they fight for supremacy with iTunes.

Via Unwired View

Australia's largest phone carrier, Telstra, announced they will release HTC Wildfire in the Oceanic country starting soon. The phone will probably arrive in August and will feature the same specs as the smartphones released in Europe and US. People in Australia will be able to stay connected through the same HTC Sense.

Some of its feature include a 3.2 inch capacitive touch screen, a 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash. The operating system is Android 2.1 with the latest versions of Sense. Some other specs include an optical trackpad for navigation and text editing and many other things.

Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but the press release says that Telstra will have exclusivity in Australia for the Wildfire.

Via PhAndroid