Apple has been using Google Maps since it launched the iPhone in 2007. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt even joined Steve Jobs on the stage during the handset’s announcement. The two companies’ relationship has dwindled, however, with the success of Google’s own Android mobile operating system that competes directly with the iPhone.

T-Mobile has acknowledged internally that Apple’s iPhone offers a “poor customer experience” on its network, but the nation’s No.4 carrier is working as quickly as it can to change that. The company announced this past February that it will be performing upgrades to its network that bring faster data speeds to users who purchase an iPhone on their own and unlock it for use on T-Mobile, and on Tuesday the carrier said the work will be performed ahead of schedule.

After weeks of teasing, Justin Bieber has finally released the music video for his latest single “Boyfriend.”

Market research firm Ovum estimates that smartphone shipments will continue to grow and reach 1.7 billion units in 2017. The company cites increased demand from emerging markets, alongside the growth of Android, which will fuel ballooning handset shipments.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Verizon Wireless plans to put its marketing weight behind Microsoft Corp’s next mobile phone software to help develop a strong competitor to Apple Inc and Google Inc, according to the chief financial officer of Verizon Communications.

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop reportedly stated that multi-core mobile processors are a waste of battery life in a recent interview with a Chinese newspaper. Yangcheng Evening News quotes Elop as having said, “the so-called dual-core, quad-core mobile phones can only waste batteries, but not be useful for consumers all the time.” Microsoft’s Windows Phone mobile operating system does not support multi-core chipsets, but the company has been highlighting the “real world performance” of its handsets through the “Smoked by Windows Phone” challenge.

Just in time for the release of the new Windows phone, the Nokia Lumia 900, we learn all about how Microsoft plans to beef up its skimpy app store. Microsoft’s app store has only 70,000 offerings compared to the 600,000 and 400,000 available in the iPhone’s and Android’s respective stores. This bareness was one of the drawbacks for reviewers, who otherwise found the phone pleasant

Reviewers are impressed by Microsoft’s latest phone, the Nokia Lumia 900, but many still doubt that what some have called “a gorgeous device” and “a phone that every single person should consider owning” can overtake the iPhone or Android. As of late, Microsoft has made a slow attempt at a comeback, and it’s working, at least on a PR level.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – In a landmark development for the way Western companies do business in China, Apple Inc said on Thursday it had agreed to work with partner Foxconn to tackle wage and working condition violations at the factories that produce its popular products. Foxconn – which makes Apple devices from the iPhone to the iPad – will hire tens of thousands of new workers, clamp down on illegal overtime, improve safety protocols and upgrade worker housing and other amenities

Nokia is building a Windows 8 tablet. While plenty of other companies will likely follow suit, the Finnish company’s position is unique.

SEOUL (Reuters) – Samsung Electronics Co said on Wednesday it has filed another lawsuit against Apple Inc in South Korea, claiming the iPhone 4S and iPad2 infringed on three of its patents.

Appolicious – Make your iPhone or iPad a little more of a work device with today’s leading Fresh App, WinZip. The zip-file reader is much the same as its well-known PC counterpart and allows you to manipulate, unzip and use files just as you might on your computer. It’s followed by an official map app for the popular role-playing title The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which is just packed with information that’s useful for players

Appolicious – I’ve tried several video editors on my iPhone, and new app Game Your Video is one of the best I’ve seen. You’ll need to have an iPhone 4 or 4S, fourth generation iPod Touch or iPad 2 to get in on Game Your Video, but any user who has ever wanted to manipulate video footage with sounds or effect enhancements will not be let down by this app.

ContributorNetwork – Apple has released a developers-only preview of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, the latest version of its proprietary operating system for Macs. The update adds many new features which are inspired by iOS, Apple’s operating system used on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

AP – Apple Inc.

Appolicious – Roll out the red carpet, it’s time for the 2012 Oscars. The Academy has set the date for Sunday, Feb

Appolicious – It’s been a little more than one full fiscal quarter since the iPhone 4S brought Apple’s smartphone to Sprint’s network, and already, the carrier is reporting the device is responsible for 40 percent of new customers joining up.

also tries to simplify the process of defining your required output format, by providing a few presets: iPhone, iPod 5.5g, DVD, Zune, Sony PlayStation Portable, and so on. So if you’ve opened a movie which you’d like to prepare for the iPhone, say, then