Microsoft Cortana James Martin/CNET Microsoft has added its virtual assistant software to Skype — though it’s limited to the Windows Phone platforms. Update 2.19 for Skype on Windows Phone 8 and Phone 8.1 (in the US) now integrates Cortana, a voice recognition technology that was introduced at the company’s Build conference in April. “Now you …

Walmart slashes the price of the iPhone 5C. CNET In a move that could signal the imminent launch of iPhone 6, Walmart is drastically cutting its iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S prices. A Walmart spokesperson told CNET that as of Friday, the iPhone 5C 16GB will cost $29, down from $49, and the iPhone 5S 16GB will cost $99, down …

Don’t expect this phone to give you Putin-like superpowers. Perla Penna When Apple first debuted the gold-colored iPhone 5S in 2013, it sold out everywhere. That probably won’t be a problem for Italian company Perla Penna and its unusual gold-plated iPhone 5S. Painting some gaudy gold onto an Apple product is nothing new, but Caviar went the extra mile and …

A successful check of Android Wear compatibility Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET Google fully revealed Android Wear Wednesday at its annual Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco. With both the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live already being available for preorder, it’s not a bad idea to double-check that your Android device is compatible with Android Wear. Related stories …

Goodluz/Shutterstock Tablets are replacing computers, according to new figures, as we voraciously eat up online video from YouTube to Netflix. Industry analysts IDG polled 23,500 people across 43 countries about their use of mobile devices. The survey focuses on the habits of business executives as well as comparing the behaviour of members of generation X — people roughly in their …

James Martin/CNET Google on Wednesday announced an update to the Android operating system at its I/O developer conference in San Francisco. The latest version, code-named Android L, includes a revamped notification system, an updated user interface, smarter unlock features, and a new battery-saving mode. The update, which will officially arrive on devices later this year, also promises to double app …

LG Electronics LG, which acquired WebOS from HP last year, says it’s working on a new version of the operating system for its next-generation of Smart TVs. LG is working on the new platform now and will unveil it sometime next year, Lee In-kyu, LG’s senior vice president of TV, told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published on …

The Rocki Play (in green) is a music streamer with a 3.5mm output and is designed to be connected to a existing hi-fi. Sarah Tew/CNET Music streamer startup Rocki says it wants to “revolutionize the industry” and plans additions to its Play product series, such as more music services, better support and new devices. The Rocki Play is a $40 …

Sarah Tew/CNET Aereo promised a breakthrough service for cord-cutters: the ability to watch and record over-the-air TV without the hassle of an antenna or additional hardware for $8 to $12 a month. Wednesday’s Supreme Court decision against Aereo means the company’s current service is effectively illegal. (CBS, the parent company of CNET, is one of the companies that brought the …

Voice recognition in Google Now is getting better and can now handle up to seven languages at once. CNET MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — OK, Google. Why can’t I have chocolate? That’s one question that Google Now’s voice search can’t answer easily, and it’s an often-asked one from kids with access to their parents’ phones, said Google Search team Vice President …

Google sees an opportunity with fitness and, like Apple before it, the company is building a service to help the growing list of wearable devices talk to one another. Dubbed Google Fit, Google said its new platform will help users keep track of their fitness goals across various platforms and wearables. “Fit takes away the complexity of handling multiple sources,” …

Stripe San Francisco-based startup Stripe has secured a deal with Chinese company Alibaba’s third-party payment service Alipay in a partnership that opens up western businesses to what accounts for half of China’s internet transactions. Stripe offers businesses and individuals the ability to make payments easily over the Internet, similar to PayPal. According to a blog post from Stripe, the company …

Cricket says hello to Samsung’s flagship smartphone. Cricket Cricket Wireless has become the latest US carrier to announce support for the Samsung Galaxy S5 . Available starting Friday, June 27, the smartphone costs $540 after a mail-in rebate. Related Links AT&T rolls out the ‘new’ contract-free Cricket Samsung Galaxy S5 review Four apps that can transform any Android device into …

James Martin/CNET During the kickoff to its annual I/O developers conference, Google boasted of the success of its Android mobile operating system. The Android platform has 1 billion active monthly users, up from the 538 million active monthly users logged last year, Google’s Sundar Pichai said at the Google I/O conference Wednesday. By topping that figure, Android is now the …

The Nexus 7 still awaits a successor. CNET Google spent more than two hours and forty minutes unveiling a bevy of products, software, and features at its annual developer conference. The Nexus 8, unfortunately, wasn’t in the mix. The tablet was among the more eagerly anticipated announcements at Google I/O, seen as a potential upgrade to Google’s Nexus 7 tablet, …