Lance Whitney

Android 4.4 KitKat starts to hit Galaxy Note 3

Owners of the international version of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 should expect Android 4.4.2 KitKat to flavor their phablets before too long. The latest version of Android for the Note 3 has already begun showing up in Poland, according to blog site Sammobile, where users must download and install it via Samsung’s Kies software. An …

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iPhone, iPad most popular devices among NYC crooks

The iPhone and iPad are chart-toppers among criminals as well as consumers. The New York Police Department recorded more than 8,000 thefts of Apple’s mobile products last year, The Wall Street Journal said late Sunday. That number is more than 18 percent of all the grand larcenies reported to the department in 2013. In comparison, there were only 25 grand …

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo photo leaks online

Samsung’s alleged Galaxy Note 3 Neo or Note 3 Lite may have gotten its first public exposure courtesy of a leaked photo. Tweeted by Sammobile on Friday, the image reportedly displays the Note 3 Neo side by side with the regular Note 3. The two phones look alike except the Neo is slightly smaller. Beyond the model number, SM-N750/5, Sammobile’s …

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Sony chatting with Microsoft about adopting Windows Phone

Sony apparently has an eye on Microsoft’s Windows Phone, at least according to comments made by its mobile chief in Europe. Speaking with blog site TechRadar, Pierre Perron, head of Sony Mobile Europe, said the company doesn’t want to rely on just one single mobile OS. Sony currently sells a line of Android phones. Pointing to Windows Phone, Perron revealed …

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AT&T adds 32GB Nokia Lumia 1520 to its lineup

Consumers searching for the 32GB version of the Noka Lumia 1520 can now find it through AT&T. The 1520 is available through AT&T’s Web site and retail stores in a matte black color. The phone runs $250 with a two-year agreement and $640 without a contract. Buyers who opt for AT&T’s Next installment plan pay either $24.62 or $32 a …

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Amazon sale trims $30 off Kindle Fire tablets

Amazon’s Kindle Fire lineup is on sale once again. David Carnoy/CNET Amazon has unveiled yet another Kindle Fire sale — but this one won’t be around for long. As of Thursday, consumers can trim $30 off the price of any Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Kindle Fire HDX, and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 tablet by using the promo …

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Android device shipments to top 1 billion this year

Android devices will wend their way to more than 1 billion people in 2014, research firm Gartner predicted on Tuesday. The 1.1 billion shipments would render Android far and away the leader among all PC, tablet, and mobile phone operating systems. Windows was tagged for second place with 359 million shipments, followed by Apple’s iOS and Mac OS with 344 …

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People growing more hip to wearables, NPD study finds

Smart glasses, smartwatches, and other wearable tech gadgets are ekeing out more interest among consumers. A hefty 52 percent of people recently polled by the NPD Group said they’re aware of wearable technology devices. And among those, a third said they’re likely to buy one. The smartwatch proved to be the most well-known type of wearable gadget with 36 percent …

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LG reveals the future for its WebOS smart TVs

LG plans to tune up most of its new TVs this year with a shot of WebOS. Revealing its plans in a Korean press release on Monday, LG said that 70 percent of this year’s smart TVs will come with the new interface, which it purchased from HP almost a year ago. The company also touted the three major benefits …

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BlackBerry hires former HTC exec to run its devices unit

BlackBerry has made another key hire in its battle to turn itself around. Announced by BlackBerry on Monday, former HTC executive Ron Louks will join the company as the president of the Devices and Emerging Solutions unit. He’ll report directly to CEO John Chen. “Ron will focus on BlackBerry’s long-term product road map, including hardware, software, and design, as well …

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