OlegDoroshin/Shutterstock I’m on the train. On the train. I’M ON THE TRAI — oh you’ve gone. We’ve all known the frustration of dropped calls or failed connections while journeying by rail, and new research suggest commuters on London’s railways are particularly badly served. US company Global Wireless Solutions used a range of Samsung Galaxy S4 …

Skype Qik lets people send short videos to each other or to groups. Skype Skype on Tuesday launched a new app called Skype Qik that lets people send each other 42-second videos, a move the Microsoft division hopes will extend its communications clout from PCs to smartphones. “Skype Qik is a lightweight, spontaneous, mobile-first video messaging app,” said Piero Sierra, …

Despite heavy losses, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich has signaled a continued commitment to mobile chips. Intel Intel said its third-quarter profit rose a better-than-expected 12 percent, as the chip giant’s PC and server-system sales continued to make up for dismal results in its mobile unit. The company on Tuesday posted a profit of 66 cents a share, compared with estimates …

Jason Butcher/Vertu Jeeves, bring the Bentley round — I need to make a phone call. Luxury phone flinger Vertu has revealed the Vertu for Bentley smartphone, yours for a mere £10,700. Formerly owned by Nokia but based in Church Crookham, England, Vertu makes fancy phones for people with more money than sense. Bentley is the legendary English car manufacturer, founded …

Recoil So about yesterday… The best laid schemes of mice and men, am I right? Because I’m traveling this week, I had queued up both deals (the Bluetooth speaker and Lenovo tablet ) a few days ahead. ShopTronics had assured me there was ample speaker inventory, and the tip on the Lenovo deal had come more or less straight from …

The Windows 10 Technical Preview. Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET Microsoft’s Windows 10 may be on the examining table of 1 million people so far. The Windows Insider Program hit 1 million registered users this past weekend, said Microsoft Windows VP Joe Belfiore in a blog posted on Monday. Just what is the Windows Insider Program? Well, it’s a program Microsoft …

Does this image hint at Google’s Nexus 6? Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET A couple of Google video spots may be playing a version of “Where’s Waldo?” with two new Nexus devices that could pop up very soon. The animated ads were initially spotted and revealed by a Google+ user who said he caught them during a commercial break while watching …

goCatch Australia’s consumer watchdog has promised to scrutinise the use of taxi booking apps after cracking down on a taxi company that blocked drivers from accepting bookings via mobile phone and app. The news follows an investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that heard allegations Townsville Taxis was breaching competition law by restricting its drivers from using third-party …

Ampy wants to go along for the ride. Ampy Smartphones have some pretty sweet capabilities, but a super-long battery life is elusive. Some people have turned to portable backup batteries to keep their phones juiced up, but you still have to deal with finding a wall socket or USB port to recharge the devices. Ampy, a Kickstarter project that has …

Sprint wants to reward its existing customer base for its loyalty. The Apple iPhone 6 (left) and iPhone 6 Plus. Apple The company said on Tuesday that it is offering a “Loyalty Service Credit” of $15 to Sprint customers looking to lease Apple’s new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus . When applied to the lease cost of $20 for …

James Martin/CNET Google wants to get the word out that all the cool kids — and at least a few hip adults — are all about talking to Google. At least, that’s the subtext that I took away from a study commissioned by the great scion of search that looked at how both teens and adults use voice search (including …

Can Hotelpower deliver the cheap rates that it promises? It says it will. Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET I think of the battle between hotels and Airbnb as Goliath facing David. Only with David played by Damien from “The Omen.” The pressure on hotels to be ever cheaper is enormous. However, if they appear too cheap, they lose their cachet. Enter, …

The invitations are here! Verizon will officially introduce the next member of its Droid family of smartphones on October 28. Related Links Leaked Motorola Droid Turbo tips specs and software features Alleged Droid Turbo photos leak online Verizon, Motorola to unveil fast-charging Droid in October In addition to the invitation received by media outlets such as CNET, visitors of the …

Now you can match the sparkling conversation of Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo. HBO Struggling to fill the months until “Game of Thrones” stabs its way back onto our screens? Then why not use your time learning to speak the language of the Dothraki, the nomadic warriors featured on the hit show. Game of Thrones, the enormously popular HBO TV show …

The $200 PadFone X Mini, with its companion tablet. Intel Intel finally gets its break in the US mobile device market, courtesy of Taiwanese device manufacturer Asus. The chipmaker said Tuesday that it will power the Asus PadFone X Mini , a smartphone-tablet hybrid that will be offered for $200 without a contract exclusively on AT&T. Inline with Asus’ Russian …