Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Facebook's era of breaking things is over: F8 brings new tools for mobile developers

Facebook used its annual developers conference to make your mobile experience better—and not just on Facebook.

Google launches stand-alone Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps

After bringing its Google Apps apps into its Drive cloud storage, Google has decided to separate them again.

Facebook’s Anonymous Login is a way for apps to earn your trust

The new login tool means you don’t have to sign up for countless apps you might never use again.

Report: First quarter smartphone shipments up 28 percent, Samsung still on top

Samsung ships twice as many smartphones as Apple, and everyone else is fighting for scraps.

OnePlus firms up the release details of its One uber-phone

The $300 high-end phone should be fairly easy to get in June, OnePlus says.

Report: LG's G Watch will sell in France for 199 euro this June

That converts to about $275, keeping one of the world's most anticipated smartwatches in pricey territory—unless LG adjusts its "barrier to entry" for the U.S. market.

DryBox looks to make a splash, drying out wet smartphones

Get your mobile device to a DryBox Drying Station within 36 hours of its unexpected dunk in the drink, and you stand a 75 to 80 percent chance of reviving your phone. And now the company is looking to expand into self-service units.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Premium 'Android Silver' phones may replace Google's Nexus program

Google will reportedly push stock Android with paid incentives for phone makers and unique features for users.

Harman/Kardon turns Sprint's exclusive HTC One (M8) up to 11

Available May 9, Sprint's version has killer speakers and high-end headphones.

Netflix strikes deal with Verizon to speed up streaming, too

Netflix continues to pay money to improve streaming speeds for its services among major U.S. ISPs.

Apple bumps processor on MacBook Airs, drops price

A minor increase in the processor for the MacBook Air line brings with it a not insubstantial price cut.

Nod is a gesture-control ring that aims to make your finger the ultimate input device

Wave your hand to control a brave new world of connected devices. That's the Nod promise. But do you really need another wearable in your life?

F-Secure says 99 percent of mobile malware targets Android, but don't worry too much

Of all the mobile platforms Android has by far the biggest malware problem—but it's still pretty rare.

Hands on with LG's webOS Smart+ TVs

Finally, a smart TV interface that isn't stupid.

Monday, April 28, 2014

In pictures: Unearthing Atari's legendary E.T. graveyard in the New Mexico desert

In 1983 at the height of the video game crash Atari dumped millions of game cartridges in a New Mexico landfill. This past weekend, Microsoft and a documentary crew dug them up.

Google shows off the street smarts of its self-driving cars

Forget freewways: Google's self-driving cars are being tested on the raucous and rowdy city streets.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Automatic looks to fuel you with data for driving more efficiently

We go for a test drive with a $100 gadget that plugs into a computer socket on your car and sends data about your driving habits to your iPhone or Android device.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Gimme shelter: new Google Search filters make it easier to find restaurants and hotels on the fly

It's just a click away: The new filters include pricing, ratings, hours, and other handy info.

Netflix is finally coming to (some) U.S. cable boxes

Some U.S. cable subscribers are going to be able to ditch their Roku this week and just watch Netflix through their cable provider's TiVo.

Why Japanese watchmakers have no time for smartwatches

The fad of wearables-on-the-wrist doesn't resonate with Casio, Seiko and Citizen

Supermarket tablets, Apple results, and cord cutting UK style

Apple's slowing iPad growth, how Apple TV is lagging behind in the UK, Tim Cook's product promises, and what a supermarket tablet tells us about technology markets. With special IDG UK guests Karen Haslam, Matt Egan, and David Price.

7 Internet fakes we wish were real

Spend a little time on the Web, and you'll know better than to trust your eyes. Still, we've come across a few online pranks that we wish were more truth than fiction.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Google Glass is now officially a normal, everyday product that anyone can buy

Amble on over to Google's shopping page and pick up a pair. Glass is just sitting there, with an "Add to Cart" button like anything else you may buy online.

Facebook, the fitness tracker: The social network buys Moves to see your activity

Is the world’s largest social network jumping on the wearables bandwagon?

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Facebook’s winning streak continues with another $2.5 billion quarter

Now that the social network has figured out advertising, it has greater ambitions.

Watch out Nexus: Cyanogen-powered, $299 OnePlus One finally revealed in full

We already know a lot about the device, but the OnePlus One smartphone running CyanogenMod is finally here.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Sony updates Smartwatch 2 with new features, clockfaces and wallpapers

It may not be the most talked-about wearable, but the Smartwatch 2 continues to benefit from feature updates and a growing apps ecosystem.

The 39 stunningly obvious reasons why Nike is exiting the wearables market

Do we really need to spell this out for you? OK, gather around. We'll make this short.

LG's G Watch will be water resistant and always on

LG is getting ready to enter the increasingly competitive smartwatch market

Monday, April 21, 2014

Google finally adds integrated messaging to Hangouts in latest Android update

You'll no longer have to switch between individual instant messages and text messages.

Netflix plans price hike for new U.S. customers

The company's rosy first-quarter results included a record $1 billion in revenue, but not all the news is good: get ready to pay a little more for your streaming fix.

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8): Which phone reigns supreme?

They're both great phones, but you only need one phone. It's time to declare a winner.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Friday, April 18, 2014

Why, and how, to encrypt your Android device

We know the days of digital privacy are long gone. You can start to claw a smattering of it back by encrypting your Android phone or tablet.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Amazon's Fire TV voice search to improve this summer

The company is integrating more services into the unified voice search, starting with Hulu Plus, Crackle, and Showtime.

Finally, Flickr's Android app gets the UI overhaul it needs

It's prettier, easier to use, and it's available now to download in the Google Play store.

Developers aim to do more with Project Ara than just make a modular smartphone

A phone with swappable parts is certainly a cool idea, but it's all the underlying technology associated with the project that has developers excited.

PlayStation 4 update adds video editor, strips HDCP

The PlayStation 4's new update is welcome news if you're a budding YouTube personality or just like uploading the occasional video.

Minor Google Calendar update offers autocomplete for addresses

The latest Google Calendar update for Android now includes autocomplete for event addresses.

Dropbox weaves cloud photo service Loom into Carousel

Cloud photo service Loom is joining forces with Dropbox, presumably to beef up the storage company's newly launched Carousel app.

Google highlights its focus on design in YouTube series

This year at Google I/O, we can probably expect to hear a lot about making Google products look and work better.

Samsung and Amazon customize Kindle app, offer free e-books

The smartphone maker is increasingly relying on content to differentiate its products

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Travel gear, HBO, Passbook, and Amazon buys some comics

Amazon buys yet another company, the changing world of travel tech, using Apple services on non-Apple devices, and HBO's "Silicon Valley." With guests Susie Ochs and Dan Frakes.

When it comes to what shoppers want, Fujitsu thinks the eyes have it

Fujitsu is experimenting with a gaze-tracking sensor aimed at discovering which products may have caught the eyes of shoppers. We'll take a closer look in this video report.

San Francisco wants to end Airbnb abuses with proposed rules

New regulations would require San Francisco Airbnb host to register with the city and limit rentals to 90 days a year.

Developers get access to more Sony camera features

The Camera Remote SDK allows access to settings such as touch autofocus and exposure

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Here's your rumored Amazon phone, 3D interface and all, now in allegedly leaked photos

Yep, yep. It definitely looks like a phone. And BGR says it will have a 4.7-inch display, a 3D interface, and four front-facing cameras.

Netflix pays off Comcast, discovers that speeds magically improve

In fact, Comcast streaming speeds shot up 65 percent since Netflix struck an interconnectivity deal with the ISP that gives it better access to Comcast's network.

How to hack Adobe Flash onto your modern Android phone

Flash support on Android died several years ago, but you can get it back.

With these Android apps, you'll never again pay full price when eating out

Harness the power of the purse with these discount services, designed to get you the most meal for your buck at restaurants and take-out.

HondaLink Navigation app gives you GPS for less

Built-in nav can be pricey, but buy this app and a cable, and your Honda can have something just as good that runs off your phone.

Monday, April 14, 2014

I'm OK, you're… 8K? 8K broadcasts coming in 2020

As 4K TV prices become more reasonable and content starts to trickle out, Japanese broadcaster NHK has its sights set on the next step: 8K.

Nature documentarian David Attenborough working on an Oculus Rift film

The man behind dozens of nature documentaries spanning six decades is now entering virtual reality.

T-Mobile stops overage fees, starts petition pressuring other carriers to follow suit

The carrier continues to wage war against its rivals with a petition to eliminate overage penalties across the board.

Samsung Gear Fit review: A dazzling wrist wearable with serious software deficits

Half activity tracker, half smartwatch, the Gear Fit shows Samsung understands addition by subtraction.Sadly, though, its exercise tracking is inaccurate.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Friday, April 11, 2014