HTC has come a long way from the Jetstream with its rumored Volantis tablet. James Martin/CNET After sitting on the sidelines for the last few years, HTC could return to the tablet game in a big way. New rumors hitting the Internet suggest that the HTC Volantis could be a performance beast when — and …

Wrist-worn wearable fitness trackers including the Fitbit Flex (left), Samsung Gear Fit (center), and Nike FuelBand. Sarah Tew/CNET Wearable technology is top of mind for large tech companies hoping to cash in on the rising trend of strapping devices to our wrists that count steps, track sleep, and communicate with our smartphones. Now, Microsoft may be getting off the sidelines …

Stripped of user interface control, companies like Motorola will focus on industrial design with Android Wear. When it comes to preserving the integrity of the Android user experience, Google is becoming a lot more like Microsoft by using the launching point of platforms such as Android TV and Android Mobile to rein in its hardware partners. Observing the three big …

T-Mobile may soon let customers spread out the cost of accessories such as the Beats HD Solo headpones. T-Mobile T-Mobile is about to make it easier to purchase a smartwatch or headphones when buying a smartphone, according to a TmoNews report. Related Links T-Mobile profited from bogus fees for premium messages, FTC says T-Mobile unveils ‘UnRadio’ service, offers data-free music …

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images China boasts an early-adopter attitude toward technology, according to a report by GfK’s Roper Reports Worldwide, with 44 percent of Chinese Internet users willing to discover and try new technologies. Chinese millennials have been declared the “smartphone” generation, with as much as 92 percent of Chinese between the ages of 18 and 30 owning a smartphone, …

An example of Facebook’s “missed call” advertising in India. Facebook Facebook is testing out a novel type of advertising in India: the “missed call” ad. The social-networking company helmed by Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday that its employees have been researching cell-phone usage in countries including India, Brazil, and Indonesia, to find out how people connect on their devices. Facebook said …

The reset button combined with a SIM tool creates a power button. Jason Cipriani/CNET During the setup process of an LG G Watch while at Google I/O, I placed it into its charging cradle and the watch powered up. The thought of looking for a power on button or an “on” gesture (since the G Watch lacks physical buttons) never …

A Lyft driver displays the service’s iconic pink mustache on his car. Lyft Pittsburgh is the latest city to take issue with the idea of ride-sharing apps. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has hit both Uber and Lyft with emergency cease-and desist-orders to keep them from doing business Pittsburgh. Judges Mary D. Long and Jeffrey A. Watson issued the orders …

The Nvidia Shield gaming device. Josh Miller/CNET Evidence continues to pile up that graphics chipmaker Nvidia may be working on the next iteration of its Shield gaming device, though specifics about such a gadget have been more elusive. After reports in recent weeks pointed out Federal Communications Commission paperwork and a Web page on Nvidia’s own TegraZone site, The Verge …

This Samsung Galaxy Gear mounted to a Trek bicycle can record information such as cycling speed, distance, cadence, and location. Camilla Sjodin/Samsung Samsung is taking its fitness fascination to a whole other level. The company announced Wednesday that it’s partnering with Trek bicycles to see how its gadgets can better the cycling experience of riders of all levels — from …

Kindle Fire HDX tablet James Martin/CNET Amazon would rather go to court than accept the Federal Trade Commission’s terms for policy changes and fines related to children spending money through apps on mobile devices. The company faces a lawsuit from the FTC, which wants Amazon and other tech companies to change policies affecting how kids make in-app purchases through their …

Now playing: Watch this: T-Mobile, FTC butt heads over bogus fees 2:50 In this tech-roundup: The Federal Trade Commission has accused T-Mobile of profiting from bogus fees for premium messages. The news against T-Mobile comes shortly after the company announced plans to carry the budget-friendly Nokia Lumia 635 smartphone. Google takes aim at Apple and the company’s recent Beats acquisition …

The Pantech Vega Note may have sold well in Korea, but it isn’t enough to save the ailing company. Pantech In Korea’s mobile phone landscape, after Samsung and LG, Pantech plays third fiddle. Mostly operating in the domestic market, Pantech offers budget-friendly alternatives to rival companies and some of its flagship models, such as the Vega Secret Note, have been …

Xiaomi’s handsets, such as the Redmi Note pictured above, have been selling well. Aloysius Low/CNET Xiaomi has announced that the company sold 26.1 million smartphones in the first half of 2014, a 271 percent increase over the last year in the same period. The company sold a total of 18.7 million phones in 2013, and it appears that Xiaomi is …

Spendor SP2/3R2 speakers (left), Stein Music Stateline Amp2 (right) Steve Guttenberg/CNET You don’t see a lot of big bookshelf speakers anymore, and that’s a shame. Granted, they’re nowhere as fashionable as skinny towers or pint-size mini-speakers, but big speakers deliver a scale and power that more stylish contenders fail to muster. That’s what crossed my mind as I checked out …