Google Hangouts for iOS can call US & Canada for free, receive Google Voice calls

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The Google Hangouts app for iOS is getting a major update this evening that gives it all new calling features on Apple's mobile hardware. Users can call phone numbers directly from the app itself, with no charge for any calls to US & Canadian numbers (international calls work too, for a fee). If they have a Google Voice account it's even more useful since it can both make and receive calls now, with outgoing calls showing your GV number and incoming calls popping up in the Hangouts app itself. Also new, are the better visible indicators of who is reachable right now that recently popped up in the Android version, inline animated GIF support and now incoming calls don't stop user's music -- they just pause it. We're already expecting Hangouts to take a step to the forefront in Android 4.4 KitKat -- check the app's placement in yesterday's Nexus 5 leak for a peek -- and this update will probably make things easier for users that cross back and forth between platforms.

Report by : Richard Lawler

ComScore: Facebook Is Now the Most Used Mobile App in US

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Everyone from potty-training toddlers to Web-surfing seniors have a working knowledge of mobile devices, and now, so do primates.

At 13 zoos around the world, including the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., orangutans are playing online games, with the help of Orangutan Outreach and the Apps for Apes program.

The D.C.-based zoo joined the program last year; in the past few months, the zoo's application repertoire has grown to more than 10 apps, including musical instruments, cognitive games, and drawing programs.

"Apps for Apes fits perfectly in this new era of zoo keeping," Becky Malinsky, great ape keeper at the National Zoo, said in a statement. "It's about changing up the day-to-day lives of our animals. We already vary their food, toys and social interactions every day, but the iPad offers another way to engage their sight, touch and hearing."

The tablet isn't exactly a new learning tool for the National Zoo's orangutans, who have been using touch-screen monitors since 1994 as part of a cognitive study to test the mammals' memory, tool use, and social learning. But the zoo was inspired to join the app-based program when a keeper's family member donated an iPad to the Great Ape House last year.

According to animal keeper Erin Stromberg, the program stresses the orangutan's own choices — "If they're engaged in the app, we'll keep going," she said. "If not, they have the choice to walk away."

Use of the tablet is meant to tap less into critical thinking and more into a creative outlet, Stromberg said. It seems to be working, especially for 36-year-old orangutan Bonnie, who likes to bang on virtual drums, while 16-year-old Kyle prefers to tap piano keys. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Iris (pictured) is happy to just relax to the soothing sounds of the koi pond app while watching animated fish splash.

"Primarily, we want the Apps for Apes program to help people understand why we need to protect wild orangutans from extinction," Orangutan Outreach founding director Richard Zimmerman said in a statement. "We do that when we show Zoo visitors how similar humans and apes are, be it through observation, talking with wildlife experts or seeing the apes use the same technology we use every day."

Eventually, the National Zoo hopes to connect its orangutans with primates at other zoos using video conferencing.

Anyone looking to ditch their old iPad or who just wants to donate to the National Zoo's program can purchase an iTunes gift card or find out more about sending tablets to orangutans around the world via the zoo's website.

Get a look at the Apps for Apes program in action with the Smithsonian's video below.

Report by : Stephanie Mlot

ComScore: Facebook Is Now the Most Used Mobile App in US

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Facebook is the most popular mobile app in the U.S. in terms of unique users — at least for now.

The signature Facebook app passed Google Maps in October of last year to become the most used mobile app in the U.S. and held onto the top spot through the end of the year, according to data released Wednesday by comScore Mobile Metrix.

Facebook's app enjoyed strong growth in 2012 with 85.5 million monthly unique users in the U.S. in December across iOS, Android and RIM's mobile platforms, up from just under 65 million in March, when comScore first started tracking mobile app data. (In October, Facebook reported 604 million monthly mobile users worldwide.) Google Maps, on the other hand, saw its active user numbers dip from about 80 million in August and September to a little more than 70 million in October after it was removed as a default app on iOS 6.

"Both Google Maps and Facebook were growing nicely throughout the year until that happened," Andrew Lipsman, VP of industry analysis at comScore, told Mashable. "Facebook continued that trend and Google Maps took a dip that one month and now it's climbing back." Google launched a new Maps app for iOS 6 in mid-December, and Lipsman says it's likely Maps will grow its user numbers at a faster rate going forward, though it's unclear whether and when the app will return to the top spot.

ComScore's mobile app data is based on browsing behavior tracks from a panel of users as well as supplemental data from publishers showing app usage. The numbers represent active visitors to apps — rather than app downloads — similar to the way that comScore tracks visitors to websites.

While Facebook currently held the top spot at the end of the year, Google had the next five most used apps, including Google Maps, Gmail and YouTube. Lipsman credited this to the growth of Android and the popularity of Google services in general.

Aside from having the largest audience, Facebook's app also has by far the highest level of engagement. According to comScore, Facebook's app accounted for 23% of time spent on mobile apps while all of Google's apps collectively account for 10% of time spent.

Who says Facebook doesn't get mobile?

Report by : Seth Fiegerman

US ITC to review Apple patent complaint against Samsung

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A U.S. trade panel that specializes in patent disputes will review a potentially key decision in the patent fight between Samsung Electronics and Apple Inc over smartphones and tablets.

The panel, the International Trade Commission, also sent part of the dispute back to judge, who ruled in October that Samsung, the world's top maker of smartphones, infringed four Apple patents but did not violate two others.

The full commission said on Wednesday it would review the judge's decision, and asked the agency judge to take a second look at portions of two patents where he had found that Samsung infringed.

Apple and Samsung are still going at it (image credit: GettyImages)

One of the patents in question allows the use of a headset with the smartphone while the other allows the device to show an image on a screen with a second, translucent image over it.

Apple had filed a complaint in mid-2011, accusing Samsung of infringing its patents in making its Captivate, Transform and Fascinate smartphones, as well as the Galaxy Tablet.

Apple is waging war on several fronts against Google, whose Android software powers many of Samsung's devices. The battles between Apple and Samsung have taken place in some 10 countries as they vie for market share in the booming mobile industry.

The case at the International Trade Commission is No. 337-796.

Report by : Reuters

iPhone most popular in US, while Android popular worldwide in Q4 2012: Report

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Apple's iPhone remained the most popular smartphone among US buyers in the closing months of 2012 while Android handsets were on top worldwide, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech reported on Tuesday.

"At the end of 2012, the global (operating system) picture shows Android on top, but clearly the rate of growth it experienced over the past year is beginning to slow as easy wins from first-time smartphone buyers begin to reduce," said Kantar global consumer insight director Dominic Sunnebo.

Apple iPhones accounted for 51.2 percent of smartphone sales in the United States during the 12-week period ending December 23rd of last year, according to Kantar.

Smartphones powered by Google-backed Android software made up slightly more than 44 percent of sales while handsets based on Microsoft's Windows operating system were a distant third-place with 2.6 percent, the report indicated.

Android smartphones continued to be best sellers in major markets including Britain, China, Spain, Australia, and Germany while iPhones were favored in Japan as well as the United States, according to Kantor.

Windows smartphones appeared to be catching on in Europe, with its shares of sales in Britain and Italy climbing to 5.9 and 13.9 percent respectively, the reported indicated.

"Windows Phone is now starting to gain respectable shares in a number of key European countries," Sunnebo said.

"However, its performance in the Chinese and US markets remains underwhelming; these remain key challenges for Microsoft to overcome during 2013."

Report by : Agence France-Presse

US blocks fraud websites linked to India

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US officials said they shut down a series of so-called tech support scams, mostly operating from India.

WASHINGTON: US officials said that they shut down a series of so-called tech support scams, mostly operating from India, which duped consumers into paying to clean their computers of bogus virus infections.

The Federal Trade Commission said a US judge has ordered a halt to six "scareware" operations and has frozen their assets following an investigation in cooperation with Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said the schemes involved calls to consumers in English-speaking countries from call centers in India, informing consumers of bogus infections.

The groups also used online ads which informed computer users of the infections, and then sold "fixes" at prices ranging from $49 to $450.

"In these outrageous and disturbing cons you get a call from someone pretending to be from a major computer company who dupes you into thinking you have a virus on your computer," Leibowitz told a news conference, which also played an audio tape of one of the calls.

"At one level, it's like a bad Bollywood movie, but at another level it's a ripoff of consumers."

The FTC six firms with deceptive commercial practices and other violations and asked the court to permanently halt the scams and order restitution for consumers.

The FTC cases targeted 14 corporate defendants and 17 individuals in six separate legal filings. The companies included Pecon Software Ltd., Finmaestros LLC, Zeal IT Solutions Pvt Ltd, Virtual PC Solutions, Lakshmi Infosoul Services Pvt Ltd, and PCCare247, Inc.

Canada's top telecom regulatory official, Andrea Rosen of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, said two related enforcement actions were filed in Canada.

Leibowitz said the FTC was sending a delegation to India to help work with authorities in such cases.

Report by: AFP