Brits will from today be able to pay to own digital copies of BBC programmes, in a new service from the publicly funded broadcaster that will help it generate cash from areas other than the licence fee. The BBC Store — plans for which were first detailed back in 2013 — marks a big step …

DUBLIN — Pop stars complaining about the money they get from Spotify “should go back and talk to their record labels,” according to dance music veteran Steve Angello of Size Records and Swedish House Mafia. Angello was speaking here today at Ireland’s annual Internet conference Web Summit. A DJ and producer who has worked with the likes of Will.i.am, Nicole …

Consumers who find the latest iPhone displays a tad too large for their tastes may get a small victory in 2016. An iPhone with a 4-inch-screen could debut alongside next year’s expected iPhone 7, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a Tuesday note to investors picked up by AppleInsider. The phone reportedly would be similar in functionality to the …

The new Apple TV has arrived. The streaming box from Apple features a redesigned remote control, a revamped interface and a full App Store. In addition to streaming content from Netflix, Hulu and other services, the Apple TV doubles as a gaming console. Read on to learn more about all of the cool new features the Apple TV is capable …

There are few rock formations more recognizable than the Rock of Gibraltar, a towering white and green peak jutting out from Spain and up from the Mediterranean. Its location, so close to the Strait of Gibraltar and within sight of North Africa, has been a key defensive position for centuries. A British Overseas Territory for 300 years, it’s now mostly …

Apple’s newest mobile software has seen a small gain in adoption over the past couple of weeks. As of November 2, iOS 9 was gracing 66 percent of all iOS devices, a group that includes iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches, according to Apple’s App Store Distribution page. That’s up from 61 percent on October 19, a decent gain following a …

The Monoprice Hi-Fi Lightweight On-Ear Headphone looks cheap, and it is. Even so, the all-plastic on-ear headphone feels sturdy enough to withstand some rough handling and it’s not going to fall apart in a month or two. The upside to plastic is that it’s light — this headphone weighs a mere 4.5 ounces, so comfort is good, though the ear …

Smartphones can complete a dizzying array of tasks, but they arguably have one weakness when compared to the feature phones of old: fragility. Chinese phonemaker Oukitel is trying to address that constant source of woe as it promotes its new Android-powered U7 Pro smartphone. The Shenzen-based company on Tuesday released a video showing the resilience of the phone’s screen. In …

Facebook attracts more than a billion users every day. Now the social network needs to find its next billion. The Menlo Park, California-based Internet titan has been expanding a series of projects aimed at reaching that goal. That takes striking a delicate balance between pleasing its dedicated members, who are used to the site’s current feel, while doing more to …

DUBLIN — Today, smartphones are a rarity, but a pioneer in the market predicts they’ll account for more than half of watch sales within a decade. “I believe in 5 to 10 years the majority of all watches in the world will be smart or have smart capabilities,” Eric Migicovsky, co-founder and CEO of smartwatch maker Pebble, said here at …

On Tuesday Microsoft published a blog post detailing how those interested in helping the company test Cortana, its personal assistant similar to Siri, on an iOS device. Cortana is currently available on Android and of course Windows 10. Those interested in testing Cortana on iOS can sign up by filling out this survey, detailing how often you use Cortana, type …

Still want to buy a PC that comes with Windows 7 or 8.1 from the get-go? You’ve got less than a year. Updated late October, Microsoft’s “Windows lifecycle fact sheet” shows October 31, 2016, as the “end of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled” for both Windows 7 Professional and Windows 8.1, a change spotted by CNET sister site ZDNet. …

Running into screen flicker woes with your new Surface Book or Surface Pro 4? Microsoft’s latest patch should fix the problem. Some owners of the new Surface devices had been complaining that their screens would flicker. Even those who installed the latest updates, including Microsoft’s October firmware update, said they were seeing the problem. Now the company says it has …

Budget phone service FreedomPop will expand its smartphone lineup with a new phone that can use Wi-Fi for mobile voice, text and data. Los Angeles-based FreedomPop is one of a number of companies looking for new ways to offer cheap phone service. T-Mobile, Cablevision and other companies also offer Wi-Fi service and hotspots to help keep costs low and lure …

Samsung is known for its cutting-edge premium Galaxy S line of smartphones, but it’s prepared a different flavour of device for India and China. The South Korean electronics behemoth on Tuesday unveiled its new line of On smartphones via a webcast in India. The 5-inch On5 and 5.5-inch On7 are being marketed as multimedia-focused smartphones sold at the budget prices …