Shopping online on Walmart is set to get better. The company is today launching an updated iPhone and a new iPad app that claims to significantly improve online shopping experience. The to-be-released mobile applications are expected to include a host of new features, particularly in the iPhone app which will support creating voice enabled shopping list (Yes!, you just have to say bread, milk, cheese etc., and your list will be created), integrated manufacturer’s coupons, barcode scanning. The Walmart app for iPad will make it easy for online shoppers to search for their desired items both in online as well as local store.

Reports suggest that social integration will not be available in the iPhone and iPad apps but is expected to be introduced soon.

The month of October has witnessed mobile communication’s entry into the next generation with the introduction of Apple iPhone 4S, Samsung Google Nexus and Motorola Droid Razr. Mobile users must be contemplating on switching to all powerful and new feature packed new generation smartphones. But, which one is the best? How they stack up against one another? We, at iphonedeveloperlabs, decided to help you compare iPhone 4S with Google Nexus and Motorola Droid Razr; so that you can take an informed decision and pick the best for yourself. So, have a look at our smartphone comparison table and make your own choice. But, do let us know which one you liked and are willing to buy.

Not long ago, smartphones were considered to be a gadget of rich and elite. However, in recent times, its popularity has increased manifolds. So much so that smartphones are now replacing feature phones. People at [x]cubeLABS have come up with an interesting and elegant infographic showcasing smartphone user behavior and app usage trends. The infographic has some interesting data that 48% users in United States watch videos on their smartphones, 58% use it to find a retailer while 48% use it to find vouchers and coupons. The infographic also tell us that games are the most popular app category followed by weather and social networking. So, enjoy this interesting and informative infographic from [x]cubeLABS-

Smartphone Mobile App Usage by[x]cubeLABS

Speciality mobile development company, [x]cubeLABS has published an excellent presentation on the history of iPhones. The attractive presentation takes us through the release date of each iPhone model- iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and the latest iPhone 4S- with key features and specification. The presentation also provides a graphical account of worldwide iPhone sales- quarterly and yearly. Enjoy the presentation …

Is the newly launched iPhone 4S standing up to the competition? Which one you should buy- iPhone 4S or a Samsung Galaxy S II? Where does Motorola Droid Bionic or HTC Titan stand? These and several such questions must be occupying your mind since the launch of Apple iPhone 4S. We thought it prudent to help you answer all the questions by presenting before you a smartphone comparison chart wherein we have pitted iPhone 4S vs. Samsung Galaxy S II vs. Motorola Droid Bionic vs. BlackBerry Bold 9900 vs.HTC Titan for you to check, compare and choose.

Apple will hold “Let’s talk iPhone” event today and true to its style it is keeping all its cards close to its chest. Majority opinion suggests that it will unveil its next generation iPhone or (as called) iPhone 5 in the event. For almost a year, the mobile industry has witnessed unprecedented rumors and speculations-right from the iPhone 5 release date to the features it will bring. Will Apple release two iPhones? Will the new iPhone 5 support Near Field Communications? These and many such questions have been debated and discussed ad nauseum. And, all or most of it will be answered today.

Apple is widely expected to release its next-generation iPhone (it may be iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, or both as speculated in some circles). The event may also discuss software and services such as iOS 5 and iCloud. There are also rumors that Facebook may launch its iPad application.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports the US carrier Sprint is betting heavily on the iPhone, and has got into a nearly $20 billion agreement with Apple.

So let’s wait for a few hours. And see what Apple offers this time…

Smartphones not only provide seamless connectivity but are also a window to the world, through a wide range of mobile applications, for a user. The future stores more for mobile applications and is destined to go beyond accessing mails, social networking, mobile banking and entertainment etc., playing a bigger role and touching every sphere of a human life.

As apps grow smarter and sophisticated, the critical challenge before various stakeholders in the mobile app ecosystem would be to leverage from futuristic technologies to balance power with performance so as to optimize user experience. One of the most talked about future technologies, Mobile Cloud Computing with its recent success and potential has the power to become a disruptive and dominant force and aid iPhone app developers and others in facing the challenges of the future.

What is Mobile Cloud Computing?

Mobile cloud computing refers to an environment where both the storage of data and its processing happens outside the mobile device. The app is run on a remote server and a user can get access to it through the browser available in his mobile device. Gmail, Google Maps etc., are some of the examples of applications making use of mobile cloud computing.

In most mobile applications today, except a few that has already adopted the Cloud, data storage and processing is done within the device. However, with apps getting more feature rich and expected to handle volumes of data, on-the-device storage and processing would not only be difficult but to an extent impossible. In such a scenario, Mobile Cloud Computing with its capability to store data and process it outside the device, on the internet, without disturbing the real performance of the app would come handy to app developers.

Advantages of Mobile Cloud Computing for iPhone app developers

iPad and iPhone app developers have some genuine advantages in adopting Mobile Cloud Computing. The major benefit for developers from cloud would be that it will address the issue of platform fragmentation. App developers will no longer be required to develop different versions of their application for various platforms. Apps built using cloud computing will run on browsers and will not depend on the operating system of the device. It means that apps will not be restricted to a specific platform thereby allowing iOS app developers to target all mobile devices with suitable browser capability. This, in turn, will help developers get access to a bigger market.

The other major benefit of adopting cloud computing would be a significant reduction in costs of developing a mobile application. And, most importantly cloud based mobile apps will provide developers with the freedom to bypass app stores and save on their revenues as they no longer would be dependent on app stores to sell their creations. Currently if you have built an app for an iPhone or iPad, you are required to submit it in the Apple App Store or any other compatible third party store from where users get access to it. All major app stores charge a part of the revenue, generally 30 percent, every time your app is downloaded from the store. However, a mobile cloud computing application can be accessed by the user via the browser on his device thereby saving revenue for you.

Challenges for Mobile Cloud Computing

However, all is not hunky-dory in the adoption of Mobile Cloud Computing. There are a few major challenges which need to be adequately addressed to make large-scale integration of cloud computing with mobile app development. One of the key challenges is continuous internet connectivity, latency and bandwidth. For on-the-go and seamless running of cloud applications, mobile devices would require incessant internet access at all places which is presently not available. However, new technologies such as 4G and HTML5 with its ApplicationCache interface, wherein users can get access to your app even when they are offline, can address the issue.

Another significant issue with Mobile Cloud Computing is the limitation of mobile phone and Tablet devices. These devices have smaller screen size, less processing power and memory when compared to desktops where cloud computing has met notable success. The feature deficiency of mobile devices may restrict app developers in utilizing the full potential of mobile cloud computing and may generally limit it only to SaaS cloud, wherein only data storage and processing would be performed outside the device. Security is also a key concern in mobile cloud. Sensitive data may be at a threat if a device is lost.

The future of Mobile Cloud Computing

Mobile cloud computing is still in its nascent stage. As said earlier, there are only a handful of applications that use cloud computing. But the situation is fast changing as developers realize the benefit of cloud and begin adopting it in their development process. The mobile cloud computing market is expected to peak and soar in the next 4 to 5 years. A forecast by ABI Research predicts the market to grow over 100 times in the next 4 years from $200 million in 2010 to $20 billion.

iPhone application development using Mobile Cloud Computing may be in infancy but it is surely poised for rapid growth and wide expansion as app usage pattern changes and applications go more powerful. It provides some major benefits to iOS app developers and has the potential to seriously alter the current app ecosystem.

The iPhone 5 rumor mills have again started spinning. The current iPhone 5 rumor is on the release date of Apple’s next generation iPhone. If reports in various tech websites is to be believed then Apple could release its next generation iPhone, either an “iPhone 4S” or an “iPhone 5” on October 7^th. The reports also say that pre-orders for the iPhone may begin from September 30. The “iPhone 4S” will be an improvement of its currently available iPhone 4 whereas iPhone 5 is said to be a complete revamp from the current iPhone model.

Earlier it was rumored that the Cupertino based company will release its next generation iPhone in September.

Inneractive has come-up with a really cool and informative infographic showcasing how two of the hottest operating systems- Apple iOS and Google Android are performing in the mobile advertising space. This android vs. iOS infographic provides informs and compares on eCPM, Global Fill Rate and CTR. Moreover, it also showcases the average app life cycle and top 5 countries by traffic. A must-see for all Android, iOS fans and tech enthusiasts.

If you are surprised by the above headline then please read it again. It’s ‘hiPhone’- a fake of Apple’s next generation iPhone- and not the much anticipated iPhone 5. The ‘hiPhone 5’ is based on leaked designs of the real Apple iPhone and is extremely light in weight much like most fake mobile phones available in the market.

The Chinese market is well-known for the availability of pirated goods. A few days, many fake Apple stores were also found in the country.

The iPhone 5 release date is speculated to be in September or early October. Till then it’s hiPhone 5.