Six awesome Android apps to get your creative juices flowing

Channel your inner ceramicist with Let’s Create! Pottery. Infinite Dreams Life’s too short to only use your phone and tablet for practical stuff. There are a ton of great apps to unlock your creativity and let you make something beautiful or fun. Related Links 5 fun multiplayer games for your Google Chromecast 7 great keyboard …

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GOP lacks votes to challenge FCC’s Net neutrality ruling, senator concedes

Emotions have run high over Net neutrality. Here, protesters interrupt a meeting of the FCC commissioners in December. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images Senate Republicans appear to have largely abandoned efforts to fight an FCC vote later this week that’s expected to reclassify broadband as a public utility-like service. After years of grappling with how much or even whether the federal government …

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China’s leading taxi apps join forces in $6B merger

Kuaidi Dache and Didi Dache are merging to form a $6 billion company. Kuaidi Dache and Didi Dache China’s two largest taxi-hailing apps Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache have announced a merger valued at a cool $6 billion. Collectively the pair command nearly the entire market in their homeland, Reuters reports. The merger will benefit users who will be able …

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Google Chromebook Pixel 2 confirmed, but don’t expect much supply

Google’s Chromebook Pixel hasn’t been especially popular, likely due to its hefty price tag compared with other Chromebook models. Josh Miller/CNET A second generation of Google’s pricey Chromebook Pixel is coming, the head of the company’s Android and Chrome work programs may have let slip on Monday. Speaking at the TeamWork 2015 event Monday in San Diego, Google’s Renee Niemi …

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Apple scoops up UK audio developer

Apple’s Logic Pro X could become a beneficiary of Camel Audio’s tech. Sarah Tew/CNET Apple may have quietly acquired a small audio developer, according to filings with a UK government agency. Companies House, the UK’s corporation-listing entity, on Monday published a new address for Camel Audio that matches Apple’s UK headquarters. In addition, the company’s director is now listed as …

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​Video beautification app Looksery reaches Android too

Looksery analyzes faces and applies special effects to video. Looksery It’s Android time for Looksery, maker of a special-effects video app that does everything from beautify faces to give them X-ray skulls and lipstick kisses. The company got its start last year with a version of its app for Apple’s mobile operating system. That iOS app now has 2 million …

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Panasonic debuts a pair of fast telephoto lenses

The 42.5mm lens looks more like an Olympus than a Panasonic. Panasonic Two new fast Micro Four Thirds lenses are on the horizon from Panasonic, one targeted at portrait photographers and one telephoto macro model. Both lenses incorporate image stabilization and sport metal mounts. The Lumix G 42.5 f1.7, 85mm equivalent, will be able to focus as close as 12.2 …

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U.S. Cellular shakes up prices for shared data plans

U.S. Cellular looks to keep pace with the competition with new shared data plan pricing. Screen shot by Scott Webster/CNET Following the lead of some of its competitors, U.S. Cellular, in keeping pace with competition, has lowered the price for fair amount of its Shared Connect plans. Related Links Price drop: US Cellular lowers cost for its prepaid plans Latest …

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Get a pair of bed

Bedphones As a general rule, headphones and beds don’t mix. The typical earbud design makes it uncomfortable at best to lie on your side, and anything worn on or over the ear? Fuhggedaboudit. So what happens if you want to listen to music, podcasts, white noise or your favorite mindfulness-meditation app as part of your bedtime routine? It’s a challenge, …

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LG’s 2015 4K OLEDs start at $5K, according to retailer leak

The new OLED TVs come in both flat and curved varieties. David Katzmaier/CNET Update February 24: As of this morning B&H has removed all of the 2015 OLED TVs, and Adorama has removed all but the two EF9500 models, from the search results linked below. The prices listed were current yesterday, however, so we’re keeping this article otherwise unchanged for …

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Dallas Buyers Club not sold on new anti

Pinnacle Films The publication of an industry code to address copyright infringement may hold no bearing on the case between Dallas Buyers Club LLC and iiNet, with the decision on the case due to be handed down in three weeks. On the third day of a preliminary discovery hearing, Justice Perram was pointed towards the copyright code, released late last …

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Net Fix: 8 burning questions about Net neutrality

Protesters lined up outside the FCC headquarters in May in reaction to Chairman Tom Wheeler’s initial Net neutrality proposal. Getty Images Depending on whom you listen to, the Federal Communications Commission is either about to save the Internet or destroy it. The agency, led by Democrat Tom Wheeler, who was appointed as FCC chairman by President Barack Obama in 2013, …

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Sony boosts Bluetooth headphone line with four new affordable models

Enlarge ImageThe new MDR-ZX770BN features both active noise cancelling and Bluetooth. David Carnoy/CNET Over the last few years Sony’s put out a number of wireless Bluetooth headphones, some better than others. Now we get four new models — the MDR-ZX770BN ($230), MDR-ZX770BT ($150), MDR-ZX330BT ($100) and MDR-AS600BT ($100) — which form the core of Sony’s entry-level and mid-range Bluetooth headphone …

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Denon and Spotify announce HEOS 3 for $99

Screenshot: Ty Pendlebury/CNET The Denon HEOS 3 is a compact multi-room speaker featuring Spotify Connect which enables users to control the speaker directly from the Spotify app. The speaker promotion began on February 17 and runs until March 19, 2015, or until stock runs out. The range, which also include the HEOS 5 and HEOS 7, is able to be …

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eBay offers ‘click & collect’ from Woolworths and Big W stores

eBay Online giant eBay has paired with the bricks and mortar retailer Woolworths for a trial kicking off in Sydney and Tasmania across 90 Woolworths and Big W stores. Buyers will be able to choose from 40,000 items on eBay stores and, at the checkout stage, simply choose their nearest store for delivery. According to research commissioned by eBay, one …

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