Microsoft has released a new Bing mobile App for iPhone and Android devices. Surprisingly, it has not done so for its own mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7.

The new update uses HTML5, this means that users will get the same experience whether they are using the app or are accessing it through m.bing.com from their browser.

On the new app, the company says, “Rather than tightly binding functions into a mobile client, we want to embrace the drive towards exposing our functions via an HTML5 experience”.

The update includes several new features such as maps/List Split View. This means that users can synchronise a list, such as business listings and directions and a map, in a single view making it easy to see the location of what you’re searching for. Also, it provides driving directions and transit.

There is a new deals option which offers one-stop deal shopping and convenient mobile phone access for local deals from more than 100 deal providers, but this is currently available for USA only.

Microsoft has also added a video domain, which was launched last month on m.bing, and is now available on iPhone.

The Android app now features transit routing/real-time transit and news, all these features were previously only available on m.bing.com only.

The new app is currently available for iPhone devices and select Android devices in the United States. A version for RIM and Windows Phone 7 devices will be launched in the future but no timeline has been shared.

Users can go to the Android Market or iPhone App store to download the latest version. Once downloaded, future updates of the app will arrive automatically to the device. Users in India will not be able to enjoy the experience fully as the maps and deals section will not be available, however videos can certainly be enjoyed.

Of the popular Android device manufacturers only LG had not shown interest in adopting Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Now, however, the Korean company has announced on its official Facebook account that Optimus 2X, along with other Android smartphones compatible with Ice Cream Sandwich will get the update.

LG hasn’t communicated a release date and said it would do so once Google announces Android ICS.

“LG firmly denies the rumours that claim LG will not be providing the Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) OS update for the LG Optimus 2X. These rumors are not true. LG is currently in the process of planning the ICS OS update for the LG Optimus 2X as
well as other LG high-end smartphones. Detailed information on the ICS OS update schedule for specific models will be announced once the ICS OS is publicly released by Google,” the company said in its Facebook post.

Apple has acknowledged the bugs leading to battery issues in iOS 5.0 devices. iOS 5.0 has several new features and improvements for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices, and was released on October 12.

After loading this update, though, several users complained about the battery draining faster than usual. Apple has said that the company will release a software update to address the bugs in a few weeks.

AllThingsD received the official statement from Apple that stated, “A small number of customers have reported lower than expected battery life on iOS 5 devices. We have found a few bugs that are affecting battery life and we will release a software update to address those in a few weeks.”

iPhone 4S users also complained about drastic battery consumption at the Apple Support Communities.

Apple engineers even contacted some users to understand their usage pattern and thereby develop a fix. Meanwhile, several blog posts and forum posts floated around the web for configuring the best settings that will prevent drastic battery consumption.

A couple of hours ago, Apple seeded iOS 5.0.1 beta to iOS developers for testing and repairs.

Microsoft has added two very popular game titles from Xbox Live to Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system. These games have been added to the application catalogue on Windows Phone Marketplace and can be downloaded now.

The new titles include Kinectimal, a virtual cub you can play with, feed and pet. There are a variety of toys and activities to play different games with your cub.

Users can touch the screen to pet the cub behind the ears and make him purr and flick the ball on the screen. They can also teach their cub tricks like jumping rope or running an agility course. As you continue to play, the bond between you and your cub grows the more you do and interact with your favorite cub.

These games are linked to Xbox Live, which means its possible to synchronise saved games and high scores between devices. The games aren’t free of cost though and users will have to pay up to $3 (Rs 140 approximately) for each game they download on their phone. Microsoft will add many more such titles to Windows Marketplace soon.

So keep watching this space for more updates.

The games can be downloaded directly from the marketplace or from the following links.

Kinectimal: www.windowsphone.com

Orbital: www.windowsphone.com

Norton has announced a new security App for the Android tablets dubbed as the Norton Tablet Security. This security software has been designed specifically for the Android tablets and carries the web-based anti-theft as well as anti-malware features. Apart from that, the new Norton Mobile Security for smartphones gets a new “scream” feature which enables loud alarm on receiving as pre-defined text message.

Norton Tablet Security app meant for Honeycomb tablets covers all the features already offered by the Norton Mobile Security app for Android smartphones. The web-based anti-theft feature will allow the users to log in through a web Browser to remotely lock the tablet or wipe data. Also the usual device tracking feature comes handy in case the tablet has been lost, misplace or stolen.

There’s one interesting feature in this app &#151 Sneak Peek. With this feature, the app is capable of taking picture using the front facing camera of the tablet and quietly uploading it to Norton anti-theft site which also stores couple of recent features.

The tablet security app also brings web-based anti-malware protection and web protection with Norton Safe Web technology against fraudulent websites.

Norton Mobile Security App comes with new SMS-based anti-theft option along with the new Scream locator feature that lets users to send a text message to the tablet and remotely activate the alarm on the device to make a loud noise. The SMS-based anti-theft options allows user to send number of specific commands via SMS to lock their device, and even wipe the data.

The Norton Tablet Security app will be available thorough select retailers for $40 (Rs 1970 approx.) per year of subscription and Norton Mobile Security will be available for $30 (Rs 1478 approx.)