According to a study from VisionMobile, Android is the least open among the eight open source mobile platforms.

Android, Eclipse, the Linux kernel, MeeGo, Firefox, Qt, Symbian (based on the governance model of the Symbian Foundation prior to the the platform's transition back to a closed model), and WebKit were analyzed.

While openness may seem all well and good for a platform's success, fans of the walled garden platform iOS may argue the other side. After all isn't investment an even more important factor in developing a quality and successful product?

I have and like Android, iOS, Linux and Symbian devices, but I can't tell any real user advantage to one being more open.
 

Those pining for a new iPhone suffered through the summer without Apple's customary update. Then came the rumors of a September release. Now they may have to wait even longer for that new iPhone.

The latest report shatters the rumored September release for the new iPhone.

John Paczkowski of AllThingsD says that rumors of a September release are wrong. The September timeframe is based on a report that AT&T has blacked out vacations during the last two weeks of the month for the new iPhone release, but Paczkowski's source says that is misinformation.

His source says look to October instead, but did not reveal any device details.
 

Today Verizon Wireless officially launches its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in the Triangle.

VZW says the high speed wireless network covers the areas of Cary, Durham, Apex, Clayton, Morrisville, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Wake Forest, Garner, Rolesville, Knightdale, Wendell, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Gorman, Smithfield and of course Raleigh.

Don't forget that Verizon Wireless' 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network is scheduled go live in the Triangle on July 21.

VZW says the high speed wireless network will cover the areas of Cary, Durham, Apex, Clayton, Morrisville, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Wake Forest, Garner, Rolesville, Knightdale, Wendell, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Gorman, Smithfield and of course Raleigh.

We're expecting to have a compatible device in hand for the launch and I'll share my experience.

A few readers report seeing LTE service already.

If you can say it, Nuance's Dragon Go! can probably get it.

Want the weather forecast? Seeking movie times? Make dinner reservations? Call a local business?

If you search a song, it can play it on installed music apps like Pandora. An Android app is coming soon, but right now it is only for the iPhone.

Nuance's new app Dragon Go! appears to be a redesign of its previous search app which was pretty cool when it first came out. I've only had a few minutes with it and it seems very similar to Siri which is not a bad thing. It is free so try it out. Here is the link.

Via YouTube

T-Mobile is aggressively pushing its network enhancements to appeal to 4G users. The carrier has doubled the speed over its 4G HSPA+ wireless network up to a theoretical 42 Mbps. The upgrade adds 56 new metro areas to the carrier's coverage map including Raleigh, Cary, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Asheville for those of us in N.C..

Currently, T-Mo's phones peak at 21 Mbps, not capable of taking full advantage of 42 Mbps, but it does have the Rocket - a USB 4G modem. the carrier does plan to bring 42 Mbps smartphones to consumers later this year.

It would appear T-Mobile is still swinging hard in the dogfight among carriers including AT&T despite the proposed merger.

You can read the full press release on the jump.

Many Android users know and love Swype. Instead of pecking at the letters, you drag your finger letter to letter spelling the words.  Once you get the hang of it, Swype can be faster than conventional typing especially the one digit variety.

It is beta and you cant get it unless your phone is rooted or "jailbroken," but for a taste you can see it in the video below.

You can cut to the chase with this link that goes straight to the 49 second mark where the demo appears. The start of the video provides the information for installation for the jailbroken devices.
 

First don't let the ominous term jailbreak scare you. There are plenty of honest hacks worth jailbreaking your phone for. My favorite is a shortcut to my settings. With SBSettings installed from Cydia, in just two gestures  I can toggle Wi-Fi on or off or adjust the brightness. This lets me tuck away the settings icon and place something more valuable on my home screen, like Words With Friends.

iPhoneSchool show just how easy it is.

Apple's iPhone 3GS can be had for $49 with AT&T, but will the price drop to zero?

AppleInsider reports analyst Mike Abramsky with RBC Capital Markets says Apple is "expected" to offer the device for free alongside the iPhone 5 launch.

Offering a free iPhone 3GS with a contract is a  mostly psychological strategy that could reach out to lower cost consumers.

A free Apple device may seem like far reach, but Apple's upcoming mobile operating system will support the aging iPhone 3GS which does give credence to the idea. The offer could also be used to clear left over 3GS inventory still left on the shelves by then. Apple takes the competition with Android seriously and this could be an aggressive move in the smartphone OS wars.

Previous reports have also claimed Apple will unveil two new iPhones later this year: the iPhone 5 and a second lower spec model. Apple could announce the devices at an August music event allegedly being planned.
 

Your smartphone may soon be able to automatically tag photos.

An app developed by students from Duke University and the University of South Carolina uses the various sensors on a mobile device and those of others in the vicinity to chose the tags. The software is being called TagSense, but should not be confused with the TagSense RFID app currently in the Android Market.

"In our system, when you take a picture with a phone, at the same time it senses the people and the context by gathering information from all the other phones in the area," explains Xuan Bao, a Ph.D. student in computer science at Duke.

Smartphones and other mobile devices commonly have multiple sensors including accelerometers and light sensors. Gyroscopes and barometers can even be found in some.

An accelerometer might indicate if a person is posing or in action during a photograph. A light sensor could detect cloudy or sunny skies. The mic might recognize a laugh.

Check out the attached PDF for more details.

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