Barring any further delays, Freeview Plus is set to launch at the start of September, bringing a wider HbbTV framework integrating free-to-air broadcast TV with the catch-up TV offerings in Australia. However, with about two weeks until launch, we’re still waiting for the influx of devices that are compatible with Freeview Plus. As we’ve discussed …

Telstra has revealed that it responded to almost 85,000 requests from law enforcement agencies to disclose data on its customers in the last financial year, including more than 75,000 warrantless requests for customer metadata. While the telco was conforming to its obligations under current legislation, the statistics shed light on the potential scope of data retention plans being proposed by …

Even the Samsung Galaxy S3 allowed for mobile payments — this one done at a McDonald’s in the UK. Rich Trenholm/CNET It’s Labor Day weekend in the US, a time for barbecues, back-to-school shopping — and iPhone rumors of course. Recode on Sunday reported that American Express has agreed to “work together” with Apple on its new iPhone payment system, …

Fingerprint readers like the one found in the Galaxy S5 will be more prevalent next year, according to Synaptics. CNET For Synaptics, the business of making fingerprint readers a part of smartphones is still in its infancy. Last year, Apple drummed up attention for the benefits of unlocking a smartphone with the simple press of a finger when it introduced …

Eric Valor, 45, at his home in Aptos, Calif. He uses an eye-tracking camera to help him communicate and a sensor taped to his cheek to alert an attendant. James Martin/CNET All of a sudden, Eric Valor struggled to surf. His left foot started dragging while he tried to pop up on his board, causing more wipeouts than normal for …

The Psion 5mx boasted a usable keyboard in a pocketable size. Georg Dembowski Schoschi The clamshell has proved as hard to push aside in the PC world as it’s been hard to bring back in the mobile world. In the late ’90s, operating systems such as Windows CE and Symbian powered palmtops such as the Philips Velo and the Psion …

Wireless operators throughout the world are getting ready to retire their older 2G voice networks and replace them with service that runs over the new superspeedy 4G LTE networks they’ve built during the past couple of years. The benefit to wireless operators is crystal clear: more-efficient use of their network resources, which will result in lower operational costs. But the …

You won’t easily run out of things to do with the Galaxy S5. Including taking it to fancy medieval-looking halls. Josh Miller/CNET The Samsung Galaxy S5 is out now and for a full evaluation of all it has to offer, check out Jessica Dolcourt’s full exhaustive review . However, if you already own the S5 and are itching to delve …

The wireless wars continue with AT&T’s announcement Friday that it will give new and existing wireless subscribers a $100 bill credit to activate a new line of service for a smartphone on its device finance program. AT&T Wireless carriers are doing all they can to pull in new customers and to get more revenue from new and existing customers. In …

Nicole Cozma/CNET Our brains have a funny way of remembering that we need to do something at the strangest moments. For instance: It’s 2 p.m. and you just remembered that you want your significant other to stop at the store on the way home from work. You can’t call, so you’d text, but the timing isn’t right. Will he/she remember …

T-Mobile wants to get in on the September craziness. T-Mobile In a month already packed with product announcements and conferences, T-Mobile is scheduling its “Uncarrier 7.0” event on Sept. 10 — a day after Apple’s iPhone 6 event and a week after Samsung’s , which will see the debut of the Galaxy Note 4 smartphone. The event will be held …

The red-wigged Miss IFA is the Berlin show’s mascot. IFA The eyes of the tech world will be on Berlin, Germany next week for IFA, the biggest European gadget show in existence. CNET will be there in force to cover all the cool new kit from Samsung, Sony, Nokia, Asus, Huawei, Acer and more. This year, we’ll be writing about …

Now playing: Watch this: Giant Mate 2 wants to be your wallet’s friend 3:23 This summer, Chinese phone-maker Huawei ran an experiment, to see if it could sell its well-priced, midrange Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G smartphone without the help of a US distribution partner. Instead, Huawei sold the phone on its own site, GetHuawei.com, for the competitive off-contract price …

CNET Update waits for the iDrone: Now playing: Watch this: Google tests drone delivery, iPhone 6 may have NFC 2:54 In this tech-news roundup: Watch the skies for Google’s delivery drones, a new project brought to you by the same folks who created self-driving cars and Google Glass . It seems the iPhone 6 will have NFC for mobile payments. …

NFC’s logo NFC Forum Apple has been working with Dutch chipmaker NXP Semiconductors to include pay-by-touch technology in the next iPhone, according to a report. The tech giant is planning to add secure near-field communications (NFC) technology to the new iPhone, which will allow users to pay for items by touch, the Financial Times reported Friday. Citing people familiar with …