Latest Articles
Google makes the open source parts of Android freely available, but those aren't the parts everyone wants. The Google apps and services are what make Android devices desirable, and Google keeps those firmly under its control. A new report from The Guardian alleges that Google's device certification process for OEMs to get Gapps isn't free – the OEM has to pay a small per-device license fee for Google's services.
A nice update for the VoIP app Viber has just been dropped into Google Play with some highly desired features, so get ready to call everyone you know to deliver the good news. Presumably you will call them with Viber.
We heard rumors a number of months ago that Samsung was mulling a plan to begin restricting the functionality of uncertified accessories like cases and chargers on its devices. It seems that the company has started doing just that with the Android 4.4.2 update for the Note 3. Users who have updated are reporting that third-party S-View cases, like the one sold by Spigen, are no longer working.
There are oh so many options for a nice pair of headphones, but how many of them can survive being trampled by an adult hippopotamus? Only one that that I'm aware of. The Philips O'Neill CRASH headphones are on sale through Amazon and they claim to be able to survive almost anything and continue rocking out.
Jury Finds Google Infringed SimpleAir Patent For Push Messaging, Faces Up To $125 Million In Damages
When you hear about a patent case in the Eastern District of Texas, you can bet there will be shenanigans. This time a jury in the capital of software patent lawsuits has found that Google infringed on a patent held by a company called SimpleAir that reportedly covers push messaging systems used in Android.
You can't spend all day sitting at the computer, but sometimes remote access is almost as good. VNC Viewer from Real VNC is a way for you to connect to a computer through any number of VNC clients, and it's pretty popular. However, it used to be a $10 app. Put your wallet away – it's free now.
Candy Crush Saga has three words in the title, but game developer King only got a trademark approved for the first one. That doesn't mean, however, that the second two are fair game. It turns out a few weeks ago King filed a Notice of Opposition with the USPTO regarding someone else's trademark request. The application in question was for The Banner Saga, a turn-based PC RPG. King objects because it includes the word 'saga.' Yes, seriously.
T-Mobile is doing a lot of unconventional things for the mobile industry, and now it's branching out to banking as well. The carrier has announced a new service called Mobile Money that works like any number of other online banks. You set up the account, deposit your checks through an app, and use a Visa debit card to spend. As for the fees, most of them are waived for T-Mobile customers.
The Sony Xperia Z Ultra has a 6.4-inch screen, which is dangerously close to the the tablet side of things. Apparently Sony agrees – a new version of the Xperia Z Ultra has been announced in Japan that does away with the cellular connectivity. Now it's just a tiny tablet instead of a monstrously huge phone.
CONTENT ERROR: The marker [<p - </p>] does not have the same number of opener and closer. A review is necessary to identify and resolve any issues.
Motorola Will Include Handsome Wood Paneling On The Back Of Your Moto X For $25 Starting Today
Motorola Will Include Handsome Wood Paneling On The Back Of Your Moto X For $25 Starting Today
Motorola announced new pricing for the long-delayed wood back option for the Moto X last week. The excitement of the $25 price point was tempered by the indeterminate release date of "coming soon." Well, it was pretty soon – the Moto X is now available with ebony, teak, walnut, or bamboo backs for just $25 extra.
Getting content from your old phone to a new one can be a hassle, but Motorola Migrate makes it surprisingly simple. Just install the app on both devices, scan a QR code or NFC, and the transfer happens over a direct WiFi connection. With today's update, Migrate expands beyond the Android ecosystem to include the ability to get your data from iDevices backed up with iCloud.
The US Patent and Trademark Office, in its infinite and infallible wisdom, has opted to approve a trademark filing from King, the developer of the wildly popular game Candy Crush Saga. King was seeking a trademark on the word 'candy' in the context of games and clothing (for some reason), and it appears the attorney who examined the request thought King had a sufficiently strong case, so here we are.
LG's curvalicious smartphone made the jump straight from Asia to North America, but now it's going to cover some of the ground in between. Starting next month, the G Flex will start arriving in Europe. It is expected to be on sale in more than 20 nations in short order.
One of the many vectors which delivers leaked information on upcoming phones is the device benchmark score. Many apps upload the results to online leaderboards for all to see. There's quite a bit of information to be gleaned from these online listings – basically the entire spec list. Now Sony is looking to plug this leak by blocking benchmarking apps.
Samsung saw fit to sneak Android 4.4.2 out on the international Snapdragon-based Note 3 last week (starting with Poland, for some reason), but now things are picking up steam. The first 4.4.2 updates are arriving for the Exynos Note 3 (SM-N900). First up on the update list this time is Russia.
Nexus devices might be a great deal compared to other devices in the market, but you pay the price when it comes to accessories. They're either horrendously expensive or take so long to go on sale it's almost time for a new version of the device. We might be lining up for the second one here, as Asus has just now posted English listings for the wired and wireless charging docks for the 2013 Nexus 7.
It's all about the wearable tech these days, right? The market certainly isn't lacking in fitness trackers, but the folks behind Atlas claim to have a better product. Atlas is packed with sensors to monitor your movements along all three axes. That movement data allows Atlas to actually figure out what exercise you're doing and how well.
T-Mobile seems to be making waves in the industry as of late. Not even two weeks after the magenta carrier announced it would be paying customers' ETFs, Verizon is experimenting with a 30 day upgrade cycle on its Edge plan. However, it's not a free lunch – there is some fine print to contend with.
Have you heard about the company that just announced a smart watch? Which one? All of them. The people who decide what kind of products are going to be made have universally decided that wearable tech is the next big thing. Whether that's Google Glass, the Pebble, or something else, everyone wants to strap more technology to your person. The new site What The F*** Is My Wearable Strategy successfully lampoons the plethora of bizarre wearable tech ideas with a simple (and amusing) formula.