Anthony Myers

Google plans to debut Ice Cream Sandwich, an updated version of their mobile operating system, with the launch of the Galaxy Nexus smartphone in November. Android 4.0 is designed to be a system that works on smartphones and tablet computers.

Two Best Mobile Software Systems Battle for the Top

When HTC's Titan smartphone goes on sale Nov. 20, there could be a little more fanfare than usual for a smartphone launch, in part because of its name. Titan. It just sounds cool. It's also apt because the Titan comes with a 4.7-inch screen, the second-largest smartphone screen available.

Google sent out invitations for an event in Los Angeles that is scheduled for Nov. 16, and in it, Google made an obscure reference to rock mockumentary This is Spinal Tap. Google may be hinting in the invitation that it is ready to unveil its online music store, tech blog Engadget reported.

Apple's iTunes Match feature has been delayed since the iOS 5 update came out over a month ago, but Apple is getting close to launching the unique cloud-based service to the public.

iPad 2 and Motorola's Xoom 2 battle it out in a tablet duel of deuces to see who gets to make an iPad 3 or Xoom 3. No, we can't force the winner of this battle to begin preparations for the next version of its established moniker, but it's good to check how the latest 10-inch Android tablet would do against its Apple nemesis.

iPhone 4S is an incredible gadget that is meant for people to have fun with, but Apple also wants their devices to be super easy to use. If you are reading this, you probably agree and are always looking to simplify things in your life.

Steve Jobs would have been proud of the unavoidable iPhone 4S collision with the Samsung Focus S. He famously called former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates unimaginative in the Walter Isaacson biography, 'Steve Jobs.' Gates probably didn't have anything to do with the Focus S, the newest and arguably finest device to wear the Microsoft operating system, so maybe that's why this new Samsung device has its sights set on Apple?

Yes, a tablet war between Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet has broken out because somebody has to battle it out for third place behind the iPad and Amazon's Kindle Fire. That's not as harsh as it sounds, rather a reflection of how insanely popular the Kindle Fire has been, at least when measured by the number of pre-orders.

Ice Cream Sandwich has yet to make its debut, but the Microsoft system has been out for a while now, so let's see how the two systems' social features compare. As with Apple's iOS 5 update, the Android and Windows Phone operating systems are moving toward integrating the functions of social network apps right into the fabric of mobile devices.

iPhone 4S has had a bit of a rocky debut, but when the Droid Razr launches Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m., the smartphone war will lurch forward once more. Motorola is taking the fight to Apple with the debut of its flagship Droid Razr, a refresh of a long-gone ultra-thin clam shell phone once known simply as the Motorola Razr

Motorola will begin selling the new Droid Razr smartphone Nov. 11 at 11:11 am, but you should wait to buy the Galaxy Nexus in a couple weeks. They both will be on Verizon, so they can take advantage of the 4G network, and even though Galaxy Nexus doesn't have a price yet, it won't be much more than the $300 Droid Razr.

Motorola will begin selling the Droid Razr Nov. 11 and the recasting of the highly successful Razr brand that began in 2004 will be complete. Back then, Razr was a clam shell feature phone, but in 2011, it will live again as a next level smartphone that boasts the thinnest profile in the world.

Galaxy Nexus and Droid Razr are two of the thinnest smartphones out there, but they are also two of the most compelling, powerful and fastest of the bunch. Where iPhone 4S was an upgrade to the iPhone 4 (a serious upgrade to be sure), Samsung and Motorola have totally new designs with all the tech trimmings.

iPhone 4S' Siri and Samsung's Voice Talk are two similar features on two of 2011's hottest mobile phones. Both features allow users to send text messages, make phone calls and play music among other things.

Apple's App Store is huge, so to help you comb through the thousands of potentially awesome apps, be sure to try Crosswalk, the Pandora-like app finder that suggests new apps for you.

Samsung is almost through rolling out their holiday lineup of smartphones in 2011, and two of the best available now are the Galaxy S2 and Focus S. Galaxy S2 is the pinnacle of Samsung technology and their bestselling device the world over. In November, Samsung will debut the Galaxy Nexus, a true next generation device, but it's really a Google phone manufactured by Samsung.

Apple's newest update to its mobile system, iOS 5, brought with it some changes to the Safari Web browser, and Microsoft did the same to their system when they updated Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) with Internet Explorer 9.

Besides already being the most popular mobile system in the world, Google will be adding yet another update to the Android system, nicknamed Ice Cream Sandwich. So far, all of the Android versions in use have been identified using a designated sweet treat as its moniker.

More and more smartphone makers are releasing new devices this month, and almost all of them have bigger screens than the iPhone 4S. It's holiday time, and that means retailers bring out their best wares in time for the shopping rush.

Kindle-Fire ships Nov. 14, just in time for Black Friday, and because it's the shopping season, there are a slew of tablets out there vying for a piece of the Amazon action. Kindle-Fire has the advantage of being tied right to Amazon's online store, something none of the other devices in this list have (besides access to Amazon.com)

Barnes & Noble's new Nook Tablet e-reader debuted Nov. 7, just in time for the shopping season and exactly one week before the Amazon Kindle-Fire ships out to people who pre-ordered it.

Samsung's Focus Flash and the HTC Radar are two new smartphones that don't cost $200, but also probably will be lost in the shuffle of high-end devices now coming out for the shopping season.

If you are planning on buying the soon-to-be-released Droid Razr or Galaxy Nexus, then Verizon has just the promotion to get you to purchase a contract before the devices launch. For a limited time, Verizon is offering to double a capped data plan for 4G users.

Samsung's Galaxy S2 Skyrocket debuted Nov. 6 and it's iPhone 4S' biggest challenger yet, at least until Samsung releases the highly-anticipated Galaxy Nexus later this month. Samsung has used the Galaxy line of deluxe smartphones to chip away at Apple's dominance to the point where Samsung is now the world's leading smartphone maker.

Samsung launched its newest high-end smartphones Nov. 6, the Focus S and the Galaxy S2 Skyrocket, but they're both very different from the iPhone 4S. That's because they're both 4G capable and running two different software packages

HTC launched the Vivid for AT&T Nov. 6, and the very next day said the new smartphone would be updated to Android's newest version 4.0. Motorola's new Droid Razr will also get the operating system update, but with the added caveat that Droid will be updates six weeks after they system debuts on the Galaxy Nexus.

Samsung's Galaxy S2 has sold millions of devices around the world in 2011, and now the world's number one smartphone manufacturer is set to release two more high end devices this week - the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy S2 Skyrocket.

A group of scientists working with NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has found a very powerful, fast rotating star that is far younger than others of its type previously discovered.