It may look like a standard sync/charge cable, but it also has flash storage for automatic backups. Maayan Goren For many a smartphone user, a backup is something they wish they had — right after their phone gets lost, stolen or broken. Indiegogo project Bleep promises to back up your smartphone every time you charge …
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Apple Did you preorder a T-Mobile iPhone 6 or 6 Plus from Apple? I did. Read on for my tale of woe, or skip ahead to “Options for Activation,” below, if you just want help getting service. No more two-year phone contracts. Not now, not ever. That was my thinking when I splurged on the no-contract iPhone 6 from T-Mobile. …
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Republic Wireless Think you can’t afford a smartphone? Think again. Next month, Republic Wireless will begin selling the Android-powered Motorola Moto E for $99 without a contract. And as with the carrier’s other phones, monthly service plans start at $5. The Moto E is a decidedly entry-level model, with a 4.3-inch screen, 4GB of storage (expandable, thankfully), a 5-megapixel camera, …
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Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET As you’ve probably heard, today is iOS 8 launch day. As you might have discovered, although the new operating system is contained in a 1.1GB download, you can’t install it unless your iPhone has nearly 6GB of free space. That was the message I faced today upon trying to commence an over-the-air update. Traditionally, less space …
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The iPhone 6 next to its larger Plus sibling. Is the latter too big to be practical? Josh Miller/CNET For anyone who’s been patiently awaiting a new, larger iPhone, last week’s announcement was good news indeed. In fact, maybe too good: the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus present an awfully tough decision. Namely: big or bigger? On the one …
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For as long as I can remember, I’ve championed cheap cables. Fifty bucks for six feet of HDMI cord?! Don’t be silly; the $5 jobs are just as good. Same goes for optical, Ethernet, Micro-USB — you name it. But Lightning cables? That’s another story. Apple charges $19 and $29 for 3- and 6-foot versions, which is just plain ridiculous. …
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LinearFlux During my recent trip to Chicago, when I spent a lot more time out in the world (and away from power outlets) than usual, I realized I’m ill-prepared for those times when my phone battery gets low — or runs out altogether. Indeed, for those of us who rely heavily on our phones (read: everyone), it’s critical to keep …
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Here’s where the math gets fuzzy. An unlocked 5.5-inch OnePlus One smartphone with 64GB of storage: $349. An unlocked 5.5-inch iPhone Plus with 16GB: $749. The iPhone faithful may well be drooling over the new models Apple unveiled earlier today , but for anyone hoping to bypass the two-year contract in favor of an unlocked, carrier-agnostic edition, well, it’s gonna …
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zBoost How’s the cellular coverage in your home or office? Depending on your proximity to your carrier’s towers and the composition of your walls, it might be sufficient — or it might drive you to dropped-call madness. If you fall into the latter category, consider a signal booster. Like this one: for a limited time, and while supplies last, Best …
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Just $25? Yes, please. Sarah Tew Every TV should be “smart,” able to stream stuff from the likes of Netflix and Pandora and YouTube. Thankfully, it’s a simple matter to add this kind of intelligence to just about any TV, without venturing into murky “Flowers for Algernon” territory. And today, while supplies last, the science is cheap: Groupon has the …
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