Nokia Planning To Bring Its Social Apps To Android And iOS Too

Nokia has introduced its Pulse application in November of last year, a software bit which allows users to keep in touch taking advantage of the GPS functionality inside phones. With Pulse you can check in to places and share that info with only a closed group of other users. 

However, Nokia's plans go beyond Nokia devices and those powered by Windows Phone 7. "These are social applications. To be social, you have to be on every platform", said Basak Ozer, Nokia's Lead for social and location applications. As such, Pulse will be coming soon to Android and iOS users too, though an exact launch date was not unveiled. However, Nokia Pulse -- which is complementary to services like Facebook and Twitter -- is not the only app the Finnish company has in mind for its social and location offerings. 

iPad 3 Rumored To Have 8MP Camera, Further Tapered Design

The closer we're getting to that certain iPad 3 event -- believed to be happening at the beginning of next month -- the more the rumors we hear about the next Apple tablet. We've already heard of alleged "Retina" display, upgraded processor and even a possible announcement date but the rumor mill doesn't stop here. 

The picture you see above is claimed to be taken of an actual, existing and very much real iPad 3. NextMedia claims they also have some specs to go with the next Apple tablet, which will generally look very much like the iPad 2, except for the more pronounced tapering on its edges. 

Today's rumors seem to fall nicely in place with previous reports of a possible March 7 announcement, high-resolution "Retina" display, and A6 quad-core chip -- even though there are mixed reports in this department. However, we are now hearing that Apple will be upgrading the camera at the back of the tablet to an eight-megapixel shooter. If the company manages to fit the camera on the iPhone 4S inside the iPad 3, we'll have a serious camera-tablet on the market. 

Is the Nokia X7-Like Lumia 805 Render Real Or Fake?

Nokia has been known to reuse its own designs making current and future phones look like some from the recent past. The Nokia N9, Lumia 800, and the Lumia 900 all look the same while the Lumia 710 and the C7 look very much alike, just to name a few.

The device rendered above -- dubbed the Nokia Lumia 805 -- looks exactly like the Nokia X7 we reviewed last summer. The image comes from Chinese forums and the specs attached to the render/concept reveal a 3.9-inch ClearBlack WVGA screen, 16GB internal memory, 1450 mAh battery and a 12-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED flash. As a quick comparison, the X7 packs a four-inch screen, eight-megapixel camera and 1200mAh battery.

We liked the design of the Nokia X7 back last year -- and many users wanted the same design running Windows Phone 7. The question is: did Nokia like it that much in order to reuse it for a Lumia Windows Phone? Let us know what you think: real or fake?

Droid X Update Set to Deliver Numerous Bugfixes

Aging Androids are really enjoying a fresh dose of attention over at Verizon. Earlier today, we told you about how the Samsung Continuum is getting a ridiculously-overdue update to Android 2.2 Froyo. Now there are signs that the another 2010 model is due for some fresh software, with the publication of update notes for the Motorola Droid X.

This update hardly seems as exciting as the Continuum's, if only because the Droid X is already running a relatively modern build of Android, but there are still a whole bunch of bugfixes that make this one sound pretty decent, all the same.

The first listed on the changelog just sounds scary, promising to fix a condition that would cause the phone to lock up or reset following the OTA update process itself – let's hope that problem doesn't strike you while your in the process of installing this release. The numerous bugfixes in system software 4.5.621.MB810 deal with everything from apps crashing, to out-of-memory errors, to properly saving settings, and even one where the phone would power itself on for no apparent reason. For the full list, head on over to Verizon's support site through the source link below.

HTC Confirms Ice Cream Sandwich for Additional Androids

A little earlier this month, HTC updated us all on its plans for bringing its stable of Androids up to Ice Cream Sandwich, committing to the first updates arriving for Sensation-series models sometime during March. Today the company had even more Android 4.0 news to share, especially concerning its phones available on Verizon.

We already knew that HTC was planning to bring Ice Cream Sandwich to the Rezound on Verizon, but considering that handset's current hardware specs, that's hardly surprising. Today the manufacturer adds to that list of Verizon phones that are confirmed for ICS with promises to deliver updates to the Thunderbolt, Rhyme, and Droid Incredible 2. The Thunderbolt in particular was one model we know many of you were hoping to see updated to ICS, so this comes as great news.

Besides all those Verizon phones, HTC also confirmed ICS for the Raider 4G on Canadian carriers. HTC previously announced that AT&T's Raider, the Vivid, would get the update but hadn't mentioned international versions.

Unlike the earlier news of updates for Sensation-line Androids, HTC didn't attach any timetables to today's announcement.