Jury: Apple should duke it out with Google over patents

Tom Dunham, the jury foreman in Apple v. Samsung, talks to reporters following the patent infringement trial. Shara Tibken/CNET SAN JOSE, Calif. — If Apple believes Android features infringe its technology, it should battle directly with Google instead of handset makers, jurors from the Apple v. Samsung patent-infringement trial said. Apple took pains to make …

Read More »

Why smartphone design matters (Smartphones Unlocked)

These dimples on the Samsung Galaxy S5’s back cover are no accident. Josh Miller/CNET Here’s a question: Does cell phone design matter at all once you buy a phone? A CNET reader recently asked this, and he got me thinking about whether design is essential to the success of a product or just window dressing. “Curb-appeal is important before buying,” …

Read More »

Shoot time

Now playing: Watch this: Shoot time-lapse videos with your phone 3:35 Time-lapse photography — when done right — can reveal the beautiful, imperceptible slow movements of an otherwise mundane scene. By speeding up time, a sunset plunges into the horizon, and the slow crawl of cars in traffic take on a look of blood pumping through asphalt arteries. Capturing scenes …

Read More »

Leaked photo shows HTC One Mini 2 in three colors

An apparently leaked photo of the HTC One Mini 2. @evleaks Serial leaker @evleaks has apparently let the cat out of the bag again. This time, it’s an alleged photo of the upcoming HTC One Mini 2. Based on the picture, the phone would appear to come in three colors — gray, silver and gold — and would bolster earlier …

Read More »

Get a SlideStand stick

The SlideStand can prop up your phone at a variety of angles. SlideStand In my ideal universe, pizza is a health food, “The Matrix” sequels were never created, and all smartphones come with built-in stands. It’s getting there. I order my pizza with light cheese and extra sauce (it’s less unhealthy, anyway), and I pretend those two “Matrix” abominations don’t …

Read More »

Sweet tooth for Jelly Bean still too strong for KitKat

Google Android 4.4, or KitKat, is having a tough time catching up to its predecessor, new data from the Android Developers page shows. During the seven-day period ended May 1, Android 4.1 – 4.3 (Jelly Bean) owned a combined 60.8 percent market share around the world, easily besting KitKat’s 8.5 percent share. Google’s Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) is still …

Read More »

Text

Soon, more local police will be able to take your emergency texts. Josh Miller/CNET Beginning May 15, wireless carriers in the US will uniformly and voluntarily support Text-to-911, a program that lets you send text messages to emergency services as an alternative to placing a phone call. While carriers will climb on board, this just means they’re making the service …

Read More »

Google Wallet is said to be landing on Google Glass

Google Wallet is said to be coming to Google Glass. Sarah Tew/CNET With a couple of gestures and a voice command, Glass users could soon send money to friends via their wearable device. According to TechCrunch, Google is planning to debut Google Wallet on Google Glass. Inside sources told the news site that the company is already well into testing …

Read More »

Samsung still owes Apple $119.6M after jury reshuffles damages

Attorneys for Apple and Samsung discuss the damages tally. Vicki Behringer SAN JOSE, Calif. — The latest clash in an epic legal war waged by Apple and Samsung ended with a whimper on Monday as the jury came back with a final decision that left the previously determined damages unchanged. An eight-person jury on Friday returned a mixed verdict in …

Read More »

Boost Mobile overhauls prepaid plans to stay in competitive mix

The ZTE Boost Max for Boost Mobile. Josh Miller/CNET Boost Mobile radically shook up its phone service plans on Monday as it looks to keep pace with amped-up rivals. The provider of prepaid wireless service, which is a unit of Sprint, rolled out three new plans: a $40 plan that includes 500 megabytes of data; a $50 plan with 2.5GB …

Read More »

LG’s Lifeband Touch comes to Australia

LG has announced Australian pricing and availability for the Lifeband Touch, though the device will not be accompanied by the brand’s complementary Heart Rate Earphones when it hits local stores. LG’s Lifeband Touch. (Credit: LG) First unveiled at CES 2014, the wearable activity tracker will be hitting Australian retail stores from “late May 2014” according to LG, and will be …

Read More »

Virgin Mobile apologises for network outage; refunds customers

Virgin Mobile has been forced to apologise to its customers after a network outage knocked out its voice, data and SMS services, drawing the ire of thousands of Virgin users across Australia. Virgin first jumped on the problem on Friday 2 May, saying there was a network outage affecting some of its postpaid customers. “The fault began early this morning …

Read More »

Nokia Here gets come

Nokia Nokia’s Here, the company’s lineup of mapping and navigation applications, could be expanding for iOS and Android. Nokia posted job listings on LinkedIn last week seeking software engineers with specialties in Android and iOS. The job postings say that the employees will “design and build advanced location-based services applications for the Android and iOS platforms.” Here apps have resided …

Read More »

Verizon scoops up Galaxy S5 Developer Edition with unlocked bootloader

Josh Miller/CNET Samsung’s Galaxy S5 is hardly a product you’d expect to slip beneath the radar, especially on a network as loud and proud as Verizon. Yet, you’d have to pay attention to know that Big Red now carries the Developer Edition of Samsung’s flagship smartphone. An up-front payment of $600 nets you the 16GB black version of the S5, …

Read More »

Microsoft announces ‘small’ Surface event in NYC on May 20

Vostrostone Is it time for a newer, smaller addition to the Surface family? The so-called Surface Mini? Could be. Microsoft has just invited us to a “small gathering” the morning of May 20 in New York City. We don’t have any further details now, but if you enjoy cheeky attempts at wordplay, this could be a strong indication that a …

Read More »