Observing Ramzan? There's an app for that

New Jersey: The most ancient traditions of Islam are going high-tech, with a slew of modern offerings for those observing the holy month of Ramzan, which begins this week.

Cell phone applications such as 'iPray' or 'iQuran' offer a beeping reminder of requisite prayer times, while the 'Find Mecca' and 'Mosque Finder' programs help the Muslim traveller in an unfamiliar city find the nearest place to pray.

Google to bring intelligence to dumb gizmos

Amit Singhal, one of only 4 'Google Fellows' in the world, says back-end innovations will make phones and PCs more 'intelligent'. But a 'personality'? That's still a long shot

NEW DELHI: The mobile phone may soon be your best friend in need, but even Google can't give it a personality, according to Amit Singhal, the Indian in charge of keeping up Google's search experience and one of only four 'Google Fellows' in the world.

Media owners wince as Google, Apple prepare for mobile advertising battle

LONDON:

Mobile users are confronted with an epic showdown beteen Apple and Google. iAds, Apple's bid to run advertisements inside apps, is expected to make its UK debut in September.

Google has adopted what its chief executive, Eric Schmidt, calls a "mobile first" approach, prioritising investment in a medium that has become "fundamental to everything we do".

Software out to attack Android cell phones

London: According to Lookout, a US-based security firm, more than 80 Google Android wallpaper apps were collecting mobile phone numbers and personal details, including unique subscriber numbers, according to a report by The Telegraph.

Many of the apps also "dialled home" to their developers, transmitting unencrypted sensitive data back to remote servers.